in Fairfield. Ludlow was present at this socalled "Swamp Fight," having joined the forces of Mason and Stoughton and their Indian allies at Saybrook. After a gallant defence, several of the sachems and warriors were killed; about two hundred prisoners were taken and allotted to the Mohegans and Narragansetts, and an end forever put to the " Pequoitt Potencie"; and after the death of the noted Sassacus, a compact of peace was made at Hartford with Uncas and Miantonomo, by the magistrates of Connecticut in behalf of the colonies, under which full mastery was given to the English, until King Philip's war. It was not a "bene

volent assimilation."

It was on this march, and in scouting the adjacent country, that Englishmen first saw the beautiful region about Quinnipiac. Fair Unquowa, "beyond Pequannocke," with its hills and streams, rich intervales and forest lands, captured the imagination of Ludlow. At the earliest moment he made another visit there, sent out some planters from Windsor, and there he stood for his last service to his state, when in his conscientious and hazardous defence of this frontier post against the Dutch and Mohawks he was left alone, and made the

target of criticism and reproof by his associates in office.

Ludlow's services to Connecticut, from the inception of its colonization to the adoption of the Fundamental Orders at Hartford, Jan. 14, 1639,- as shown in a later summary,— were of the highest order, and always equal to the greatest demands upon his experience, tact, courage, foresight, and judicial qualities.

What was his share in that great historic work, his honor on that great history-making day in this commonwealth, its birthday two hundred and sixty years ago, when the colonists came to declare their independence?

CHAPTER IX.

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The Fundamental Orders - No Record None Desired - Opinions of Hoadley and Trumbull -At their Adoption - LeadersNew Chapter in History — Text of the Constitution — Law of the People - Views of Jurists and Historians - Bancroft Palfrey Fiske Green Tarbox Bryce Sanford Trumbull - Robinson-Johnston - Hamersley — Bushnell Day - Brinley.

No record exists of the proceedings at the adoption of the constitution of 1639, but the constitution itself. No record of the court, no report of the debates, is known to history. It is the judgment of the most learned scholars, Dr. Charles J. Hoadley and the late Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull, that the men who were foremost in that great matter desired that no record of the transactions should be preserved; that they knew the Fundamental Orders would explain themselves—they needed no interpreter; that in letter and spirit they would find instant response and approval in the minds and hearts of the people; and it was so. It has

been justly called a self-appointed constitu

tion.

But there were other reasons for the silence of the records. England was watchful and suspicious of this vigorous infant colony; and the commission from Massachusetts had expired. The men of the three towns were a law only to themselves. It is known that they were in earnest for the establishment of a government on broad lines; and it is certain that the ministers and captains, the magistrates and men of affairs, forceful in the settlements from the beginning, were the men who took the lead, guided the discussions, and found the root of the whole matter in the first written declaration of independence in these historic orders. Who were they? Surely these men were there: From Windsor, Ludlow, Mason, Hull, Phelps, and Marshall; from Wethersfield, Mitchell, Ward, Raynor, Plum, and Hubbard; from Hartford, Haynes, Hooker, Welles, Webster, Talcott, Steele, and Hopkins. With these leaders in thought and action are grouped other strong personalities: Wareham, Rossiter, Wolcott, Seeley, Wyllys, Allyn, Chester, Bull, and Goodwin,—all the chief planters of the towns (not alone the dignitaries of the

General Court, as some authorities hold),inspired, providentially directed, to one great purpose. They wrote a new chapter in the world's history on that day, January 14, 1639. It was this:

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1639.

Forasmuch as it hath pleased the Allmighty God by the wise disposition of his diuyne providence so to Order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Harteford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and vppon the River of Conectecotte and the Lands thereunto adioyneing; And well knowing where a people are gathered togather the word of God requires that to mayntayne the peace and vnion of a such people there should be an orderly and decent Gouerment established according to God, to order and dispose of the affayres of the people at all seasons as occation shall require; doe therefore associate and conioyne our selues to be as one Publike State or Commonwelth; and doe, for our selues and our Successors and such as shall be adioyned to vs att any tyme hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederačon togather, to mayntayne and presearue the liberty and purity of the gospell of our Lord Jesus which we now professe, as also the disciplyne of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said gospell is now practised amongst vs; As also in our Ciuell Affaires to be guided and gouerned according to such Laws, Rules, Orders and decrees as shall be made, ordered & decreed, as followeth :