idj 



and Laws. 



Chap. II. <U M E%^1 C J. 



much that one of the moft remarkable Oppofers of Epfcopal 'Government, Doctor 

 tBaJlmck (.who, ipoil'd fo much Paper in railing at the Church Government of 

 England and crymg up Liberty of Confciencc) finding the Apoftacy of his own Bre- 

 thren of <BoJbn from their firft Principles, and his,generally prevail over them, even 

 to the denying that liberty to others, which they feem'd only to aim at, did write 

 a large and vehement Dehortatory Epijtle to them from their N<?» lights or Paths fay. 

 ing, That according to their prefent Tenents, they could not pretend to be better, or other than a 

 Cbrifiian Synagogue. 



Their Laws and Methods of Government are wholly of their own framing, G £^ 

 each Colony for themlelves, makes an Annual choice of Governor, Deputy Go! 

 vernor and la certain number of Affiftants, by the plurality of Suffrages collected 

 frorn their feveral Towns, the Electors are only Free-men and Church-Members- 

 for he that is not a Member of their Church, can neither chafe, nor be chofen a 

 Mag.ftrate, nor have his Children Baptiz'd . befides the lofs of many otherPri. 

 viledges.and liable moreover to frequent,if not conftant Mulcts for abfentino them- 

 felves from Divine IVor/hy (fo call'd) in their Meeting- houfes. 



Since the tranfmitting of the Patent in Tfa» England, the Election is not by Voi- 

 ces, nor erection of Hands as formerly, but by Papers, thus : 



The general Court-eleftory fitting, where arc prefent in the Church, or Meet- 

 wg-houfe uSoJhm, the old Governor, Deputy, and all the Magiflrates, and two 

 Deputies or Burgeffes for every Town , or at leaft one . all the Freemen are bid 

 to come m at one Door, and bring their Votes in Paper for the new Governor, 

 and deliver them down upon the Table, before the Court, and fo pafs forth at 

 another Door . thofe that are abfent, fend their Votes by Proxies. All being de- 

 liver'd in, the Votes are counted, and according to the major part, the old Gover- 

 nor pronounceth, That Jitcb an one is chofen Governor for the year enfuing. Then the 

 Freemen, in like manner, bring their Votes for the Deputy Governor, who bein<r 

 alfo chofen, the Governor propounded the Affiftants one after another. New 

 Affiftants are, of late, put in nomination, by an Order of general Court, before- 

 hand to be confider'd of: If a Freeman give in a Blank, that rejects the Man 

 nam'd ; if the Freeman makes any mark with a Pen upon the Paper which he 

 brings, that elects the Man nam'd : Then the Blanks and mark'd Papers are num. 

 ber'd, and according to the major part of either, the Man in Nomination ftands 

 elected or rejected ; and fo for all the Affiftants. And after every new Election, 

 which is, by their Patent, to be upon the laft Wednefday in Eafttr Term, the new 

 Governor and Officers are all new Sworn. The Governor and Affiftants chufe the 

 Secretary. And all the Court confifting of Governor, Deputy, Affiftants, and De- 

 puties of Towns, give their Votes as welt as the reft; and the Miniftcrs and El- 

 ders, and all Church -Officers, have their Votes alfo in all thefe Elections of chief 

 Magiflrates : Conftables, and all other inferior Officers, are fworn in the general, 

 quarter, or other Courts, or before any Affiftant. 



Every Freeman when he is admitted, takes a ftrict Oath, to be true to the So- 

 ciety or Jurifdiction. 



There are two general Courts, one every half year, wherein they make Laws or 

 Ordinances : The Minifters advifc in making of Laws, efpecially Ecclefiaftical.and 

 are prefent in Courts, and advife in fome fpecial Caufes Criminal, and in framing 

 of Fundamental Laws. - 



There are befides four Qyarter-Courts for the whole Jurifdiction, befides other 

 petty Courts, one every quarter at 'Boflon, Salem, and Ipfoicb, with their feveral Ju- 

 rifdiftions; befides every Town, almoft, hatha petty Court for fmall Debts and 

 Trelpaffes, under twenty Shillings. la 



