persecution, resolved to seek in the New World "freedom to worshi?? God." In 1620 they carried out their project and crossed the A?? lantic in the Mayflower, a 120-ton ship. Thirteen years later th?? Rev. John Cotton, Vicar of Boston, followed his fellow townsmen t?? the New World and became minister of the first Christian church i?? Boston, Massachusetts. No wonder that Americans make a poin?? of visiting Lincolnshire Boston, and have restored a chapel in th?? old church in memory of the Rev. John Cotton. It was the sturd?? Puritanism of Boston that gave birth to America. Noncomformit?? has been strong in Boston from the moment when conformity wa?? demanded until now. One of the Baptist churches at present in?? flourishing condition has existed since the time of the Common?? wealth. One need not be surprised that the town from which spran?? Puritan New England was in the days of the great Civil War on?? of the strongholds of the Parliamentarian party. The members a?? that time were Sir Anthony Irby of Boston and Mr. William Ell?? of Grantham. Both were ardent Roundheads. Strong opposition ?? King Charles I caused him to declare it to be "unlawful for any on?? to aid and assist that town," and threatened to send force again?? the place. To which the mayor and aldermen replied sarcasticall?? that they "were not afraid of any forces coming to their town. Fro?? the beginning to the end of the war Boston remained faithful to th?? popular cause, and was used as a base of operations by Cromwel?? The leader of the Ironsides slept in the town the night before th?? battle of Winceby (near Horncastle). In the battle he led the va?? and was twice unhorsed. Six months earlier Charles I declare?? forfeited the estates of almost the whole of South Lincolnshi?? gentry, who nearly all sided with the Parliament and rode to t?? field with Cromwell. After the Restoration the whole of the co?? poration was bundled out and a subservient lot put into office, w?? sent adulatory addresses up to Charles H, but in 1688 under Willia?? III, the "old gang" of Puritans was reinstated. Since then t?? town had very little history until the present generation. After?? standing for several hundreds of years with a population of 2,000?? 4,000, it commenced to grow as the fens were drained, and the su?? rounding district became important for agriculture. At the begi?? ning of the present century the population was 600. Now it is ov?? 20,000. In recent years some of the ancient spirit of the peop?? appears to have cropped out afresh and public works have been u?? dertaken with energy that deserves reward. What is now the "R?? Lion" Hotel was built and owned by the Guild of St. Mary in 151?? Boston has been the birthplace and home of many notable person?? John Fox, the writer of the "Book of Martyrs," first saw the lig?? in 1517 in it is said, the house which now is known as the "Ru?? Puncheon." It has been through books and newspapers chiefly th?? Boston has touched the world outside, and from time attracted ?? tention as a producing corner of the land. Reference has been ma??