As for spurious accounts of the Rogerenes to be found here and there, in ecclesiastical and town histories, the falsity of which is established in the course of this volume, mention of their authorship will be found in the places of refutation. Other minor references will be credited as they occur. * * * * * Our thanks are due to the Connecticut state librarian and his assistants, to clerks in the secretary’s office, and to Mr. Bates of the Connecticut Historical Library at Hartford, for the polite and obliging manner in which they placed before us books and manuscripts having a bearing upon this subject. Like courtesy was shown us in the county clerk’s office, in Norwich, the town clerk’s office in New London, and by the secretary of the New London Historical Society. In the Yale College Library, we were shown a copy of “An Answer to a Pamphlet,” by John Rogers, 2d, which is the only copy we have discovered. By researches in new lines, we have discovered some mistakes regarding the Rogerenes made by that gifted and honored historian, Miss Fanny M. Caulkins. Miss Caulkins was the first historian to attempt careful and intelligent search in this obscure direction. In her “History of New London” she has given a large amount of accurate information concerning the Rogerenes, much of which is quoted with advantage, in Part First, by Mr. Bolles. It is to be hoped that we, in our turn, may be supplemented by some historian favored with sources of information unknown to ourselves, who will shed a still clearer light upon this subject, by presentation of facts outside of our own field of observation. A. B. W. PART I. A VINDICATION BY JOHN R. BOLLES. THE PATHWAY OF THE YEARS. An onward path we have to tread, We cannot see the way. Faith, love and hope their radiance shed, Here and thus far the years have led; But of the steps that lie ahead We know not one to-day. Then pause, look back and courage take; How bright the road appears! Each foot that trod there helped to break Rough places down, and for our sake Were lived the lives that shining make The pathway of the years. Backward it reaches, firm and sure The steps that trod the way, In simple homes, with purpose pure, Faith to inspire, hope to allure; Men wrought for ends that still endure And make us strong to-day.