came from the altar, placed near the scaffold, and seated himself in a chair prepared for that purpose. Then the chief Inquisitor descended from the amphitheatre, dressed in his cope, and having a mitre on his head; after bowing to the altar, he advanced towards the king's balcony, and went up to it, attended by some of his officers carrying a cross and the gospels, with a book containing the oath by which the kings of Spain oblige themselves to protect the Catholic faith, to extirpate heretics, and support, with all their power, the prosecutions and decrees of the Inquisition. On the approach of the Inquisitor, and on his presenting this book to the king, his majesty rose up, bare-headed, and swore to maintain the oath, which was read to him by one of his counsellors; after which the king continued standing till the Inquisitor had returned to his place, when the secretary of the holy office mounted a sort of pulpit, and administered a like oath to the counsellors and the whole assembly.

15. The mass was begun about twelve at noon, and did not end until nine in the evening, being protracted by a proclamation of the sentences of the several criminals which were all separately rehearsed aloud one after the other. Next followed the burning of twenty-one men and women, whose intrepidity in suffering that horrid death was astonishing; some even thrusting their hands and feet into the flames with the most dauntless fortitude. The situation of the king was so near to the criminals that their dying groans were very audible to him; he could not, however, be absent from this dreadful scene, as it is esteemed a religious one; and his coronation oath obliges him to give a sanction by his presence to all the acts of the tribunal.

PLYMOUTH COLONY.

1. NEW ENGLAND owes its origin, as a civil and Christian community, to a congregation of Puritans under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Robinson. Not being tolerated in the exercise of that religious liberty which they reckoned

What number of persons were burnt?-What does the coronation oath of the king oblige him to do?-To whom does New-England owe its origin, as a religious and civil community ?

necessary for their spiritual edification and growth in grace, they resolved on emigration to some foreign country. Their views were, at once, directed to Holland, where the spirit of commerce had dictated a free toleration in matters of faith and worship. Accordingly, in 1607, a part of the congregation sailed for Amsterdam, where, in the following year, they were joined by their pastor and such others as had been obliged to remain behind. But from Amsterdam they soon judged it adviseable to remove to Leyden. In this place they continued about eleven years, and experienced much satisfaction in the enjoyment of their Christian privileges.

2. But a continuance and permanent settlement in Holland was now viewed as defeating, in a great measure, the object of leaving their native country. They were not joined in Leyden by so many of their English friends as they expected, and many of such as did come over, only speculated in trade, and added but little to their spiritual prospects. A continuance, therefore, in Holland, would finally be the means of scattering their families and descendants; the old people would die, and the young ones would soon be amalgamated with the people of their adopted country, and so the great object of preserving and promoting their peculiar state of church polity would be lost. Another removal was considered a duty; and after much inquiry, America, the newly discovered world, was fixed upon as an asylum.

3. It was determined that a part of them should go and prepare the way for others; and that if a major part should consent to go, the pastor should go with them; otherwise he should remain in Holland. It was found, on examination, that though a major part was willing to go, yet they could not get ready in season; therefore, the greater number being obliged to stay, they required Mr. Robinson to stay with them. Mr. Brewster, the ruling elder, was appointed to go with the minority, who were to be an absolute church of themselves, as well as those who should stay, with this proviso, "that as they should go over or return, they should be reputed as members, without further dismission or testimonial." The others were to follow as soon as possible.

4. On the 6th of September, 1620, the company, consist

How long did Mr. Robinson's society remain in Leyden, before resolving to remove to America?

ing of one hundred and one souls, exclusive of the crew, proceeded on their voyage in the ship May-flower, commanded by Capt. Jones. The former part of their passage was attended with nothing remarkable, but the latter exposed them to frequent and great perils. "On the ninth of November they made land, which proved to be the sandy cliffs of Cape Cod." Not the land to which they, in their own imagination, had been directing their course. Hudson's river was their object, a part of the country within the limits of Virginia, as their charter had expressed; but at Cape Cod, they were north of that tract of country nearly two degrees. But here they were compelled to stay their voyage; for though they attempted to direct their course to the south, yet adverse winds, a dangerous coast, and the unwillingness of the master of the ship, constrained them to cast anchor on this northern shore. The land which first struck their attention was so barren, and so destitute of every thing inviting, that they explored their neighboring coast with their boat, till a harbor across the bay presented too many desirable objects to justify any further perilous experiments and speculations.

5. It is evident, that the captain of the May-flower was bribed by the agents of the Dutch West India Company to take these people to the northward of their settlements, lest the new settlers should prove an annoyance to their trade. By this piece of treachery, they were landed so far to the north as to be out of the bounds expressed in their patent, and that instrument could be of no use whatever to them. Of this circumstance, some unhappy spirits on board were apprised, and began to boast, that as soon as on shore, there would be no law, no restraint. "It was therefore thought proper, before disembarcation, that they should enter into an association, and combine themselves into a political body, to be governed by a majority. To this they consented; and a written instrument being drawn, they subscribed it with their own hands, and by unanimous vote chose John Carver their governor for one year." This document was signed by forty-one individuals, twenty-four being heads of families, and the other seventeen single men.

How many made the first company of emigrants?-Where did they make land? Where did they expect to land?Why were they carried so far north? How many persons signed their articles of civil compact?