The peopling of these three last colonies was owing chiefly to the _Puritan Ministers_, who, being silenced at home, repaired to _New-England_, that they might enjoy liberty of conscience; and drew after them vast numbers of their friends and favorers. They amounted to seventy-seven before 1641; and though all were not person of the greatets learning and abilities, they had a better share of each than most of sheir neighbouring clergy at that period; and were men of eminent soberiety and virtue, plain, serious, affectionate preachers, exactly conformable to the doctrines of the church of _England_, and laboured much to promate a reformation of manners in their several parishes.—Many planters who accompained or followed them, were gentlemen of considerable fortunes and of no mean education, who spent their estates in New-England, and were at the charge of bringing over many poor families, that were not able of themselves to bear the expence.[24] The body of laity and clergy, collectively considered, furnishes such a glorious constellation of characters, as would employ the pen of a first-rate writer to do them justice; notwithstanding what has been above remarked of their governmental mistake. The dangers to which the _New-England_ colonies were early exposed, induced them to think of confederating for their mutual safety. Articles were drawn up in 1638; but they were not finished and ratified till the seventh of September 1643; from which time we are to look upon _Plymouth_, _Massachusetts_, _Connecticut_ and _New-Haven_ as one body, in regard to all public transactions with their neighbours, though the private affairs of each colony were still managed by their own courts and magistrates. Pass we on to the settlement of the other _New-England_ colonies. Mr. _Roger Williams_, who succeeded Mr. _Skelton_, upon his decease, as pastor of the church at Salem, being banished from the Massachusetts, repaired with twelve companions to the _Narraganset_ country, [1635] and had land given him by the _Indian Sachem Canonicus_; of whom he afterwards purchased the large tract, lying between _Pawtucket_ and _Pawtuxet_ rivers (the great falls and the little falls, as the Indian names signify,) and stiled it _Providence_ “from a sense of God’s merciful providence to him in his distress.” The authority and power of _Miantonomy_, another Sachem, and his uncle _Canonicus_, awed all the Indians round to assist him and his few associates. When the determinations of the Massachusetts general court (occasioned, by what they called antinomian disputes) banished many, and induced others to leave the colony, the heads of the party were entertained in a friendly manner by Mr. _Williams_; [1638.] who advised them to seek a settlement on _Rhode-Island_, and was very instrumental in procuring it of the Indian Sachems.