Thus was established the province of Rhode Island, which was confirmed by free charter, granted by the parliament, in 1651, to Roger Williams and his twelve friends under the title of “Providence Plantation, in the Narragansett Bay in New England.” A still more liberal charter was granted to them by Charles II., which empowered them to “rule themselves, and such as should inhabit within their bounds, by such a form of civil government as by the voluntary agreement of the greater number should be found most serviceable, and to make suitable and agreeable to the laws of England so far as the nation and constitution of the place would admit.” In a letter from Roger Williams to Captain John Mason we read, “our grant is crowned with the king’s extraordinary favour to this colony, as being a banished one, in which his majesty declared himself that he would experiment whether civil government could consist with such liberty of conscience. This, his majesty’s grant, startled his majesty’s high officers of state who were to view it, in course, before the sealing, but fearing the lion’s roaring, they crouched against their wills in obedience to his majesty’s pleasure. “Some of yours, as I lately heard,” continues he, “told tales to the Archbishop of Canterbury, that we are a profane people, and do not keep the Sabbath, but some do plough, etc. But first you told him not how we suffer freely all other persuasions, yea the Common Prayer, which you yourselves will not suffer.” But leaving Roger Williams established now at the head of a province, we will return to the year after his banishment, when, as he says, “the Lord drew the bow of the Pequod warriors against the country.” The English had at this time extended themselves into Connecticut, which was inhabited by Pequods, a fierce tribe which could muster at least 700 warriors. In 1634, the Pequods murdered the crew of a small trading vessel on the Connecticut river, but pleading self-defence as their excuse, and making submission, the government of Massachusetts passed over the offence, and a league of amity was formed between them, the Pequods being at the same time reconciled with their old enemies, the Narragansetts. The Pequods, however, were no sooner relieved from fear of the Narragansetts, than, naturally false and treacherous, they resolved to attack the English, and accordingly murdered a man with horrible circumstances of cruelty. This outrage and breach of faith were only inadequately punished, and the Pequods, emboldened by what seemed the feebleness of the English, determined on forming an alliance with the Narragansetts and Mohegans for the complete extermination of the English. This became known to Roger Williams, then a banished man among the Narragansetts, and with a noble Christian spirit he informed his persecutors of the dangers which impended. A universal terror prevailed, and there was none to help them but Roger Williams. The governor and