This book charts the evolution of legal institutions and practices in colonial Massachusetts during the first half-century of English settlement. The author focuses on the emergence of the common law tradition in the colony, as well as the role of courts, juries, and legal codes in shaping governance and social order. By contextualizing legal developments within broader economic and political trends, this book offers new insights into the legal heritage of Massachusetts and the United States more broadly.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.