To your properly understanding the nature and origin of the uneasiness that has so strongly agitated the colonies of late years, and still exists, though now somewhat abated; and which has been occasioned by parliamentary taxation and the modern measures of government; you must be acquainted with the sentiments and history of the first settlers, no less than of their descendants and successors. Several of the most zealous and eminent protestants, in the reign of _Edward_ the VIth, opposed the popish ceremonies and habits, though otherwise united to their brethren in religious tenets. The opposition became more general and determined, after hundreds of them fled to, and resided in foreign parts, in order to escape the _Marian_ persecutions. There the sentiments of numbers, through their intercourse with protestants of other nations, were much changed and improved; and they were more than ever desirous of proceeding further in the reformation, than was directed by the service-book of king _Edward_. Upon the accession of _Elizabeth_, the refugees returned to _England_, [1558.] loaded with experience and learning, but in the utmost distress and poverty. Those of the clergy, who could comply with the queen’s establishment, were quickly preferred. The rest, after being admitted to preach a while, were suspended, and reduced to former indigence. Several were offered bishopricks, but declined the tender, on account of the garments, ceremonies, &c. while the necessity of the times and the flattering hope of obtaining hereafter an amendment in the constitution of the church, induced others to accept preferments, though with trembling. The queen affected much pomp in religion; was fond of the old popish ceremonies, in which she had been educated; and thought her brother, king _Edward_, had gone too far in demolishing ornaments. The clergy and laity, who sought after greater ecclesiastic purity, in vain struggled hard for the abolishment of popish ceremonies and habits; or, at least, leaving the use of them, in divine service, indifferent. They obtained nothing but the honorable nick-name of PURITANS. The queen proved an inflexible bigot, and would be obeyed, or punish. The parliament, in their first session, had very injudiciously passed the two acts of supremacy and uniformity, without guarding them properly; and by a clause in the latter, delivered up to the crown, all ecclesiastic jurisdiction. Men of solid learning and piety, of sober lives, popular preachers, professed enemies to popery and superstition, and of the same faith in point of doctrine, with the conformists, were suspended, deprived, imprisoned and ruined, for not complying with the use of those garments and ceremonies, which their opponents acknowledged to be indifferent in themselves; while the sufferers adjudged such compliance sinful, from their having been abused to idolatry, and serving as marks and badges of that religion they had renounced.