You have now a sketch of the settlement of all _New-England_. It would have been far more concise, had it not been necessary, to correct the mistakes frequently committed, by those who publish on the subject; and to remove the reproaches cast upon the bulk of the inhabitants, on account of their religious profession. Whether there was any material difference between them and the other colonies, in regard to the opinion they entertained of their civil rights, you will be able to observe in the course of your reading. Their judgment in respect to the exercise of parliamentary powers over them, may be further known by what _Randolph_ wrote concerning the Massachusetts, in his narrative and letters, after the restoration; from whence “_it seems to have been a general opinion that acts of parliament had no other force than what they derived from acts passed by the general court to establish or confirm them_.” [1676.] _Randolph_ declared, “No law is in force or esteem there, but such as are made by the general court; and therefore it is accounted a breach of their privileges, and a betraying the liberties of the commonwealth to urge the observation of the laws of _England_.”—“No oath shall be urged, or required to be taken by any person, but such oath as the general court hath considered, allowed and required.”—“there is no notice taken of the act of navigation, plantation, or any other laws made in _England_ for the regulation of trade.”—“All nations have free liberty to come into their ports, and vend their commodities without any restraint; in this as well as in other things, that government would make the world believe they are a free state, and do act in all matters accordingly.”—“The magistrates have continually disobeyed his majesty’s command in his royal letters, of 1662, 64, 65, and those of March last; ever reserving to themselves a power to alter, evade and disannul any law or command not agreeing with their humour, or the absolute authority of their government, acknowledging no superior.”—” He (the governor) freely declared to me, that the laws made by your majesty and your parliament obligeth them in nothing, but what consists with the interest of the colony; that the legislative power is and abides in them _solely_.[27]