Volume 1 (of 2) 4/26 that their existence was legally recognized by a royal charter. See the "History of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay," by Hutchinson, vol.i.p. 9.] [Footnote n: See "Pitkin's History," pp. 42, 47.] This frequently renders its it difficult to detect the link which connected the emigrants with the land of their forefathers in studying the earliest historical and legislative records of New England. They exercised the rights of sovereignty; they named their magistrates, concluded peace or declared war, made police regulations, and enacted laws as if their allegiance was due only to God. |