Simplicity's Defence against Seven-Headed Policy: with Notes Explanatory of the Text, and Appendices containing original documents referred to in the work Collections of the Rhode-Island Historical Society, Volume II

Gorton, Samuel

Published by Marshall, Brown and Company, Providence, 1835

Faded cloth, 9 x 6 inches, backstrip chipped with loss, old ex library matter (bookplate inside front, emboss stamp on title page), some underlining and notes in the text. 278 pages. Published in London, 1647, the original title page reads: Simplicities Defence against Seven-Headed Policy. Or, A True Complaint of a Peaceable People, being part of the English in New-England, Made unto the State of Old England, against Cruell Persecutors, United in Church-Government in those parts. Wherein is made manifest the maniforld outrages, cruelties, oppressions, and taxations, by cruell and close imprisonments, fire and sword, deprivation of goods, lands, and livelyhood; and such like barbarous inhumanities, exercised upon the people of Providence Plantations in the Nanhyganset Bay, by those of the Massachusetts, with the rest of the United Colonies, stretching themselves beyond the bounds of all their own jurisdictions, perpetrated and acted in such an unreasonable and barbarous manner, as many thereby have lost their lives. As it hath been faithfully declared to the Honorable Committee of Lords and Commons for Forrain Plantations; whereupon they gave present order for redress. The sight and consideration whereof hath moved a great Country of the Indians and Natives in those parts, Princes and people, to submit unto the crown of England, and earnestly to sue to the State thereof, for safeguard and shelter from like cruelties.Samuel Gorton (1593-1677), baptized at Manchester, England; d. Warwick, Colony of Rhode Island. Gorton was a dissenter among the Puritans who emigrated to New England in 1637. He was captured in Providence Plantations and taken to Massachusetts where he was put on trial for his beliefs. He narrowly escaped the punishment of execution and was instead jailed in Charlestown; at another time in his life he was publically whipped. After his release he returned to England to secure protection for himself and his small settlement, which he renamed "Warwick" after securing protection from the Earl of Warwick. Although Gorton was initially opposed to magistrates and almost all forms of civil government, including that of Providence Plantations, he later served in civil capacites in Warwick, was named in Rhode Island's Royal Charter of 1663, and was a deputy to the General Assembly of that colony for four years. Today Morton is recognized as an important figure in the founding of Rhode Island and as an early proponent of religious liberty. Seller Inventory # 10493

Bibliographic Details

Title: Simplicity's Defence against Seven-Headed ...
Publisher: Marshall, Brown and Company, Providence
Publication Date: 1835
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good