In the general laws of Plymouth, published in 1671, it was provided as a condition of receiving the franchise that "the candidate should be of sober and peaceable conversation, orthodox in the fundamentals of religion," which was probably only a recognition of the custom of earlier times.[31] The earliest New England code of statutes was that of Plymouth, adopted in 1636.

It was digested under fifty titles and recognized seven capital offences, witchcraft being one.[32] In the Plymouth colony, as in other colonies of New England, the unit of government was the town, and this town system was borrowed from Massachusetts, where, as we shall see, the inhabitants of Dorchester set the example, in 1633, of coming together for governmental purposes.

Entitled to take part in the town-meetings under the Plymouth laws were all freemen and persons "admitted inhabitants" of a town.

They elected the deputies of the general court and the numerous officers of the town, and had the authority to pass local ordinances of nearly every description.[33] During the early days, except for the short time of Lyford's service, Elder William Brewster was the spiritual guide for the people.

For a long time they kept the place of minister waiting for Robinson, but when he died they secured, in 1628, the services of Mr.Rogers, who proved to "be crazed in his brain" and had to be sent back the following year.