may be remembred by that which Besides, what could they see but a For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a wether beaten face; and the whole countrie, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage heiw. If they looked behind them, ther was the mighty ocean which they had passed, and was now would keepe sufficient for them selves 3 and their returne. Yea, it was muttered by some, that if they gott not a place in time, they would turne them. and their goods ashore and leave them. Let it also be considered what weake hopes of supply and succoure they left behinde them, that might bear up their minds in this sade condition and trialls they were under, and they could not but be very smale. It is true, indeed, the affections and love of their brethren at Leyden was cordial and entire towards them; but they had litle power to help them, or them selves; and how the case stood betweene them and the marchants at their coming away, hath allready been declared. Let What could now sustaine them but 20 the spirite of God and his Grace? May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this willderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voyce, and looked on their adversitie, etc. them therfore praise the Lord, because he is good, and his mercies endure for ever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, shew how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressour. When they wandered in the deserte willdernes out of the way, and found no citie to dwell in, both hungrie, and thirstie, their sowle was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord his loving kindnes, and his wonderfull works before the [TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS] BOOK II, ANNO 1621 as a maine barr and goulfe to seperate 40 sons of men. After the departure of this ship, (which stayed not above 14. days,) the Governor and his assistante haveing disposed these late commers into severall families, as they best could, tooke an exacte accounte of all their provissions in store, and proportioned the same to the number of persons, and found that it would not hould out above 6. months at halfe alowance, and hardly that. And they could not well give less this winter time till fish came in againe. So they were presently put to half alowance, one as well as another, which begane to be hard; but they bore it patiently under hope of supply. was used,) but the most of this newcompany excused themselves and said it wente against their consciences to work on that day. So the Governor told them that if they made it a mater of conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed. So he led away the rest and left them. But when they came home at noone from 10 their worke, he found them in the streete at play, openly; some pitching the barr, and some at stooleball, and shuch like sports. So he went to them, and tooke away their implements, and tould them that was against his conscience, that they should play and others worke. If they made the keeping of it mater of devotion, let them keepe their houses; but ther should be no gameing or revelling in the streets. Since which time nothing hath been atempted that way, at least openly. Sone after this ship's departure, the great people of the Ñarigansetts, in a braving maner, sente a messenger unto them with a bundle of arrows tyed aboute with a great sneak-skine; which their interpretours tould them was a threatening and a chaleng. Upon which the Governor, with the advice of others, sente them a round answere, that if they had rather have warre then peace, they might begine when they would; they had done them no wrong, 20 neither did they fear them, or should they find them unprovided. And by another messenger sente the sneakeskin back with bullets in it; but they would not receive it, but sent it back againe.. But this made them the more carefully to looke to them selves, so as they agreed to inclose their dwellings with a good strong pale, and make flankers 30 in convenient places, with gates to shute, which were every night locked, and a watch kept; and when neede required ther was also warding in the day time. And the company was by the Captaine and the Governor's advise, devided into 4. squadrons, and every one had ther quarter apoynted them, unto which they were to repaire upon any suddene alarme. And if ther 40 should be any crie of fire, a company were appointed for a gard, with muskets, whilst others quenchet the same, to prevent Indean treachery. This was accomplished very cherfully, and the towne impayled rounde by the beginning of March, in which evry family had a prety garden plote secured. And herewith I shall end this year. Only I shall remember one passage more, rather of mirth than of waight. On the day called Chrismas-day, the Governor caled them out to worke, (as [AN ARGUMENT AGAINST SOCIALISM] ANNO 1623 All this while no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they might expecte any. So they begane to thinke how they might raise as much corne as they could, and obtaine a beter crope. then they had done, that they might not still thus languish in miserie. At length, after much debate of things, the Governor (with the advise of the cheefest amongest them) gave way that they should set corne every man for his owne perticuler, and in that regard trust to them selves; in all other things to goe on in the generell way as before. And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number for that end, only for present use (but made no devission for inheritance), and ranged all boys and youth under some familie. This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corne was planted then 50 other waise would have bene by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave farr better contente. The women now wente willingly into the feild, and tooke their little-ons with them to set corne, which before would aledge weaknes, and inabilitie; whom to have compelled would have beene thought great tiranie and oppression. The experience that was had in this commone course and condition, tried sundrie years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in his wisdome saw another course fiter for them. [TROUBLESOME NEIGHBORS] ANNO 1628 Aboute some 3. or 4. years before this vanitie of that conceite of Plato's and 10 time, ther came over one Captaine Wolastone, (a man of pretie parts,) and with him 3. or 4. more of some eminencie, who brought with them a great many servants, with provissions and other impliments for to begine a plantation; and pitched them selves in a place within the Massachusets, which they called, after their captain's name, Mount-Wollaston. Amongst whom was 1 other ancients, applauded by some of later times, that the taking away of propertie, and bringing in communitie into a comone wealth, would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God! For this communitie (so farr as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much imployment that would have been to their benefite and 20 one Mr. Morton, who, it should seeme, comforte. For the yong men that were had some small adventure (of his owne most able and fitte for labour and or other men's) amongst them; but had service did repine that they should litle respecte amongst them, and was spend their time and strength to worke sleghted by sleghted by the meanest servants. for other men's wives and children, Haveing continued ther some time, and with out any recompence. The strong, not finding things to answer their exor man of parts,1 had no more in devis- pectations, nor profite to arise as they sion of victails and cloaths, then he looked for, Captaine Wollaston takes a that was weake and not able to doe a great part of the sarvants, and transquarter the other could; this was 30 ports them to Virginia, wher he puts thought injuestice. The aged and graver them of at good rates, selling their men to be ranked and equalised in time to other men; and writs back to labours, and victails, cloaths, etc., with one Mr. Rassdall, one of his cheefe partthe meaner and yonger sorte, thought it ners, and accounted their marchant, to some indignite and disrespect unto bring another parte of them to Virginia them. And for men's wives to be com- likewise, intending to put them of ther manded to doe servise for other men, as as he had done the rest. And he, with dressing their meate, washing their the consente of the said Rasdall, apcloaths, etc., they deemd it a kind of poynted one Fitcher to be his Livetenslaverie; neither could many husbands 40 ante, and governe the remaines of the well brooke it. Upon the poynte all plantation, till he or Rasdall returned being to have alike, and all to doe to take further order theraboute. But alike, they thought themselves in the this Morton abovesaid, haveing more like condition, and one as good as an- craft then honestie, (who had been a other; and so, if it did not cut off those kind of petiefogger, of Furnefell's relations that God hath set amongest Inne,) in the other's absence, watches men, yet it did at least much diminish an oppertunitie, (commons 2 being but and take off the mutuall respects that hard amongst them,) and gott some should be preserved amongst them. And strong drinck and other junkats, and would have bene worse if they had been 50 made them a feast; and after they were men of another condition. Let none object this is men's corruption, and nothing to the course it selfe. I answer, 1 of special ability merie, he begane to tell them, he would 1 off are carried to Virginia; and if you stay till this Rasdall returne, you will also be carried away and sould for slaves with the rest. Therfore I would advise you to thruste out this Levetenant Fitcher; and I, having a parte in the plantation, will receive you as my partners and consociats; so may you be free from service, and we will converse, trad, plante, and live togeather as 10 equalls, and supporte and protecte one another, or to like effecte. 1 This counsell was easily received; so they tooke oppertunitie, and thrust Levetenante Fitcher out a dores, and would suffer him to come no more amongst them, but forct him to seeke bread to eate, and other releefe from his neighbours, till he could gett passages for England. After this they 20 fell to great licenciousnes, and led a dissolute life, powering out them selves into all profanenes. And Morton became lord of misrule, and maintained (as it were) a schoole of Athisme. And after they had gott some good into their hands, and gott much by trading with the Indeans, they spent it as vainly, in quaffing and drinking both wine and strong waters in great exsess, and, as 30 some reported 10£. worth in a morning. They allso set up a May-pole, drinking and dancing aboute it many days togeather, inviting the Indean women for their consorts, dancing and frisking togither, (like so many fairies, or furies rather,) and worse practises. As if they had anew revived and celebrated the feasts of the Roman Goddes Flora, or the beastly practieses of the madd 40 Bacchinalians. Morton likwise (to shew his poetrie) composed sundry rimes and verses, some tending to lasciviousnes, and others to the detraction and scandall of some persons, which he affixed to this idle or idoll May-polle. They chainged allso the name of their place, and in stead of calling it Mounte Wollaston, they call it Merie-mounte, as if this joylity would 50 have lasted ever. But this continued not long, for after Morton was sent for England, (as 1 pouring 1 follows to be declared,) shortly after came over that worthy gentlman, Mr. John Indecott, who brought over a patent under the broad seall, for ye govermente of the Massachusets, who visiting those parts caused that Maypolle to be cutt downe, and rebuked them for their profannes, and admonished them to looke ther should be better walking; so they now, or others, changed the name of their place againe, and called it Mounte Dagon. 2 Now to maintaine this riotous prodigallitie and profuse excess, Morton, thinking him selfe lawless, and hearing what gaine the French and fisher-men made by trading of peeces, powder, and shotte to the Indeans, he, as the head of this consortship, begane the practise of the same in these parts. And first he taught them how to use them, to charge and discharg, and what proportion of powder to give the peece, according to the sise or bigness of the same, and what shot to use for foule, and what for deare. And having thus instructed them, he imployed some of them to hunt and fowle for him, so as they became farr more active in that imploymente then any of the English, by reason of ther swiftness of foot and nimblnes of body, being also quicksighted, and by continuall exercise well knowing the hants of all sorts of game. So as when they saw the execution that a peece would doe, and the benefite that might come by the same, they became madd, as it were, after them, and would not stick to give any prise they could attain to for them, accounting their bowes and arrowes but bables in comparison of them. And here I may take occasion to bewaile the mischefe that this wicked man began in these parts, and which since base covetousnes prevailing in men that should know better, has now at length gott the upper hand, and made this thing commone, notwithstanding any laws to the contrary; so as the Indeans are full of peeces all over, both fouling peeces, muskets, pistols, etc. They have also their subject to no law 2 guns moulds to make shotte of all sorts, as muskett bulletts, pistoll bullets, swane and gose shot, and of smaler sorts. Yea, some have seen them have their scruplats to make scrupins themselves, when they want them, with sundery other implements, wherewith they are ordinarily better fited and furnished then the English them selves. Yea, it quictly spread over all, if not prevented. Besides, they saw they should keep no servants, for Morton would entertaine any, how vile soever, and all the scume of the countrie, or any discontents, would flock to him from all places, if this nest was not broken; and they should stand in more fear of their lives and goods (in short time) from from the salvages them selves. is well knowne that they will have 10 this wicked and deboste1 crue, then powder and shott when the English want it, nor cannot gett it. .. Yea, some (as they have acquainted them with all other things) have tould them how gunpowder is made, and all the materials in it, and that they are to be had in their owne land; and I am confident, could they attaine to make saltpeter, they would teach them to make powder. O the horiblnes of this 20 vilanie! How many both Dutch and English have been latly slaine by these. Indeans thus furnished; and no remedie provided, nay, the evill more increased, and the bloud of their brethren sould for gaine, as is to be feared; and in what danger all these colonies are in is too well known. Oh! that princes and parlements would take some timly order to prevente this mischeefe, and at 30 length to suppress it, by some exemplerie punishmente upon some of these gaine thirstie murderers, (for they deserve no better title,) before their collonies in these parts be over throwne by these barbarous savages, thus armed with their owne weapons, by these evill instruments, and traytors to their neighbors and cuntrie. But I have forgott my selfe, and have 40 been to longe in this digression; but now to returne. This Morton having thus taught them the use of peeces, he sould them all he could spare; and he and his consorts detirmined to send for many out of England, and had by some of the ships sente for above a score. The which being knowne, and his neighbours meeting the Indeans in the woods armed with guns in this sorte, it was a terrour unto them who lived straglingly, and were of no strength in any place. And other places (though more remote) saw this mischeefe would 50 So sundrie of the cheefe of the stragling plantations, meeting togither, agreed by mutuall consente to sollissite those of Plimoth (who were then of more strength then them all) to joyne with them, to prevente the further grouth of this mischeefe, and suppress Morton and his consortes before they grewe to further head and strength. Those that joyned in this acction (and after contributed to the charge of sending him for England) were from Pascataway, Namkeake, Winisimett, Weesagascusett, Natasco, and other places wher any English were seated. Those of Plimoth being thus sought too by their messengers and letters, and waying both their reasons and the commone danger, were willing to afford them their help; though themselves had least cause of fear or hurte. So, to be short, they first resolved joyntly to write to him, and in a friendly and neighborly way admonish him to forbear these courses, and sent a messenger with their letters to bring his answer. But he was so highe as he scorned all advise, and asked who had to doe with him? He had and would trade peeces with the Indeans in dispite of all, with many other scurillous termes full of disdaine. They sente to him a second time, and bad him be better advised, and more temperate in his termes, for the countrie could not beare the injure he did; it was against their comone saftie, and against the king's proclamation. He answered in high terms as before, and that the king's proclamation was no law; demanding what penaltie was upon it. It was answered, more than he could bear: his majestie's dis1 debauched crew |