Chapter 4, The Way to a New England Summary and Analysis

On July 28th, 1629, Winthrop and other prominent Puritans meet to discuss emigration. Corporate charters like that of the Massachusetts Bay Company usually specify that corporate meetings must be held in a specific place, but, for whatever reason, their charter has no specification. So they propose to hold their meeting in New England to remove control of the colony from the Crown. They cannot be watched in New England. The membership of the company sees the advantages of the move. They can in effect become self-governing and can thereby obtain divine favor. As part of a holy enterprise, they can justify leaving larger responsibilities they have committed themselves to.

Matthew Cradock is governor of the company and officially informs members of the proposal. They consider it on August 29th and...