Note 2 — 1637, April 30.

Adam Anderson, the early historian of British commerce, in referring to this proclamation, says: "This was levelled against the Puritans, then going in great numbers to New England, to avoid persecution at home; and a better example need not be desired of the wisdom and character of this King, and his favourites and ministers" (Origin of Commerce, ii, 492). The proceedings against the Massachusetts charter had just been brought to a close in April, 1637, with a judgment decreeing that it should be vacated. On April 30 came this proclamation. On May 3 the Privy Council ordered that the attorney-general should "call in" for the patent for New England and present it to the Committee for Foreign Plantations (Acts of Privy Council, i, 217). A commission was issued which arrived at Boston, June 3, establishing a general government for New England (Winthrop, History of New England, i, 269). Among the papers in the Public Record Office is the draft of a "Manifesto" of the King, dated July 23, 1637, establishing a general government in New England and declaring his intention of appointing Sir Ferdinand Gorges as governor (Cal. State Papers, Colonial, 1574-1660, p. 256). These various restrictive measures all grew out of the Anglican unwillingness to countenance this Puritan asylum in the New World.