This action constituted them freemen of Massachusetts, on taking the Oath, without the prerequisite of church membership. It was followed by a growing discontent against the chief officers in New Plymouth being lessees of the trade. The large returns which had been confidently expected were not being realized, and a jealousy of the people against those in power, finally led to the sale of the Patent, embracing seven hundred square miles, to a committee representing the Massachusetts-Bay Colony, for four hundred pounds. In 1677, after much controversy and trouble with the heirs, Ferdinando Gorges, a grandson of the Lord-Proprietary, sold his rights to the Massachusetts-Bay Colony for one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds sterling, and the Territory of Maine became a District of Massachusetts down to the year 1820. * * * * * The power of an Oath is a subject for the Casuist. But, in the brief period of this paper—less than the span of life the Psalmist gives to man—we have seen an Oath throne and dethrone monarchs; build up and destroy flourishing Commonwealths; make and unmake Statehoods; be a guarantee of peace, and an incentive for war. Who, under these conflicting conditions, can measure their influence but Him in whose name and power they are made! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcriber’s note: 1. Spelling in oaths or quoted sections is uncorrected. 2. Silently corrected typographical errors. 3. Table of contents added by transcriber.