hands; and it was above six weeks before they could get the boat from Plymouth; and in their returne they were much distressed. Yet their boat was very well manned, the want whereof before was the cause of their loss. 1 1631 shift by a long pole to climb up into the house. In the morning there came thither an Indian squaw, but perceiving her before she had opened the door, he barred her out; yet she stayed there a great while essaying to get in. And at last she went away, and he returned safe home, his servants having been much perplexed for him, and having 10 walked about, and shot off pieces, and halloed in the night, but he heard them January 27. 1632 March 26. The night before, alarm was given in divers of the plantations. It arose through the shooting off some pieces at Watertown, by occasion of a calf, which Sir Richard Saltonstall had lost. And the soldiers were sent out with their pieces to try the wilderness from thence till they might find it. April 14. An order was made last. court that no man should discharge a 20 on the north side of the river, (being a piece after sunset, except by occasion of alarm. June 14. At this court one Philip Ratcliff, a servant of Mr. Cradock, being convict, ore tenus," of most, foul, scandalous invectives against our churches and government, was censured to be whipped, lose his ears, and be banished the plantation. Which was presently executed. The Governour, and some company with him, went up by Charles River about eight miles above Watertown, and named the first brook, fair stream, and coming from a pond a mile from the river,) Beaver Brook, because the beavers had shorn down divers great trees there, and__made divers dams across the river. Thence they went to a great rock, upon which stood a high stone, cleft in sunder, that four men might go through, which they called Adam's Chair, because the 30 youngest of their company was Adam Winthrop. Thence they came to another brook, greater than the former, which they called Masters' Brook, because the eldest of their company was one John Masters. Thence they came to another high pointed rock, having a fair ascent on the west side, which they called Mount Feake, from one Robert Feake, who had married the Governour's daughter-in-law. . October 11. The governour, being at his farm house at Mistick, walked out after supper, and took a piece in his hand, supposing he might see a wolf, (for they came daily about the house, and killed swine and calves, etc.). And being about half a mile off, it grew suddenly dark, so as, in coming home, he mistook his path, and went till he came to a little house of Sagamore 40 John, which was empty. There he stayed, and having a piece of match in his pocket, (for he always carried about him match and a compass, and in summer time snake-weed,) he made a good fire near the house, and lay down upon some old mats which he found there, and so spent the night, sometimes walking by the fire, sometimes singing psalms, and sometimes getting wood. It was (through God's mercy) a warm night; but a little before day it began to rain; and, having no cloak, he made February 7. The Governour, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Eliot, and others, went over Mistick River at Medford, and going N. and by E. among the rocks about two or three miles, they came to a very great pond, having in the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and beech; and the pond had divers small rocks, stand50 ing up here and there in it, which they therefore called Spot Pond. They went all about it upon the ice. From thence (towards the N. W. about half a mile,) they came to the top of a very high rock. This place they called Cheese Rock, because, when they went to eat somewhat, they had only cheese, (the Governour's men forgetting, for haste, to put up some bread). June 14. One Abraham Shurd, of Pemaquid, and one Capt. Wright, and others, coming to Pascataquack, being bound for this bay in a shallop with £200 worth of commodities, one of the 10 seamen, going to light a pipe of tobacco, set fire on a barrel of powder, which tare the boat in pieces. That man was never seen; the rest were all saved, but the goods lost. August 6. Two men, servants to one Moodye, of Roxbury, returning in a boat from the windmill, struck upon an oyster bank. They went out to gather oysters, and, not making fast their boat, when the flood came, it floated away, and they were both drowned, although they might have waded out on either side. But it was an evident judgment of God upon them, for they were wicked persons. One of them, little before, being reproved for his lewdness, and put in mind of hell, answered that if hell were ten times hotter, he had rather be there than he would serve his master, etc. The occasion was, because he had bound himself for divers years, and saw that, if he had been at liberty, he might have his master used him very well. The man that was blown away with the powder in the boat at Pascataquack was after found with his hands and feet torn off. This fellow, being wished by another to forbear to take any to- 20 had greater wages, though otherwise bacco till they came to shore, which was hard by, answered, that if the devil should carry him away quick,' he would take one pipe. Some in the boat were so drunk and fast asleep, as they did not wake with the noise. July 5. At Watertown there was (in the view of divers witnesses) a great combat between a mouse and a snake; 1634 November 5. At the court of the assistants complaint was made by some of the country . . . that the ensign at Salem was defaced; viz. one part of the red cross taken out. Upon this, an at and, after a long fight, the mouse pre- 30 tachment was awarded against Richard vailed, and killed the snake. The pastor of Boston, Mr. Wilson, a very sincere, holy man, hearing of it, gave this interpretation: that the snake was the devil; the mouse was a poor contemptible people, which God had brought hither, which should overcome Satan here, and dispossess him of his kingdom. 1633 February 26. Two little girls of the Governour's family were sitting under a great heap of logs, plucking of birds; and the wind driving the feathers into the house, the Governour's wife caused them to remove away. They were no sooner gone, but the whole heap of logs fell down in the place, and had crushed them to death, if the Lord, in his special providence, had not delivered them. 1 alive Davenport, ensign-bearer, to appear at the next court to answer. Much matter was made of this, as fearing it would be taken as an act of rebellion, or of like high nature, in defacing the king's colors; though the truth were, it was done upon this opinion, that the red cross was given to the king of England by the pope, as an ensign of victory, and 40 so a superstitious thing, and a relique of antichrist. 1645 May 14. The court of elections was held at Boston. . . . The day appointed being come, the court assembled in the meeting house at Boston. Divers of the elders were present, and a great 50 assembly of people. The deputy governour,2 coming in with the rest of the magistrates, placed himself beneath, within the bar, and so sate uncovered. 2 John Winthrop Some question was in the court about his being in that place (for many both of the court and the assembly were grieved at it). But the deputy telling them that, being criminally accused, he might not sit as a judge in that cause; and if he were upon the bench, it would be a great disadvantage to him, for he could not take that liberty to was publicly charged, and I am publicly and legally acquitted, which is all I did expect or desire. And though this be sufficient for my justification before men, yet not so before the God, who hath seen so much amiss in my dispensations (and even in this affair) as calls me to be humble. For to be publicly and criminally charged in this plead the cause, which he ought to be 10 court, is matter of humiliation, (and I allowed at the bar. Upon this the court was satisfied. July 5. The deputies . . . sent to desire that six of themselves might come and confer with the magistrates; which being granted, they came, and at last came to this agreement, viz., the chief petitioners and the rest of the offenders were severally fined (all their fines not amounting to 50 pounds,) the rest of the petitioners to bear equal share to 50 pounds more towards the charges of the court . . . lieutenant Emes to be under admonition, the deputy governour to be legally and publicly acquit of all that was laid to his charge. 30 desire to make a right use of it,) notwithstanding I be thus acquitted. If her father had spit in her face, (saith the Lord concerning Miriam,) should she not have been ashamed seven days? Shame had lien upon her, whatever the occasion had been. "I am unwilling to stay you from your urgent affairs, yet give me leave 20 (upon this special occasion) to speak a little more to this assembly. It may be of some good use, to inform and rectify the judgments of some of the people, and may prevent such distempers as have arisen amongst us. The great questions that have troubled the country, are about the authority of the magistrates and the liberty of the people. It is yourselves who have called us to this office, and being called by you, we have our authority from God, in way of an ordinance, such as hath the image of God eminently stamped upon it, the contempt and violation whereof hath been vindicated with examples of divine vengeance. I entreat you to consider, that when you choose magistrates, you take them from among yourselves, men subject to like passions as you are. Therefore when you see infirmities in us, you should reflect upon your own, and that would make you bear the more with us, and not be severe censurers of the failings of your magistrates, when you have continual experience of the like infirmities in yourselves and others. According to this agreement, presently after the lecture the magistrates and deputies took their places in the meeting house, and the people being come together, and the deputy governour placing himself within the bar, as at the time of the hearing, etc., the governour read the sentence of the court, without speaking any more, for the deputies had (by importunity) obtained a promise of silence from the magistrates. Then was the deputy governour desired by the court to go up and take his place again upon the 40 bench, which he did accordingly. And the court being about to arise, he desired leave for a little speech, which was to this effect: "I suppose something may be expected from me, upon this charge that is befallen me, which moves me to speak now to you; yet I intend not to intermeddle in the proceedings of the court, or with any of the persons concerned therein. Only I 50 bless God, that I see an issue of this troublesome business. I also acknowledge the justice of the court, and, for mine own part, I am well satisfied. I The "We account him a good servant, who breaks not his covenant. covenant between you and us is the oath you have taken of us, which is to this purpose, that we shall govern you and judge your causes by the rules of God's laws and our own, according to our best skill. When you agree with "For the other point concerning liberty, I observe a great mistake in the country about that. There is a twofold liberty, natural (I mean as our nature is now corrupt) and civil or federal. The first is common to man 30 with beasts and other creatures. By and cannot subsist without it; and it is a liberty to that only which is good, just, and honest. This liberty you are to stand for, with the hazard not only of your goods, but of your lives, if need be. Whatsoever crosseth this, is not authority, but a distemper thereof. This liberty is maintained and exercised in a way of subjection to authority; it is of the same kind of liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. The woman's own choice makes such a man her husband; yet being so chosen, he is her lord, and she is to be subject to him, yet in a way of liberty, not of bondage; and a true wife accounts her subjection her honor and freedom, and would not think her condition safe and free, but in her subjection to her husband's authority. "Such is the liberty of the church under the authority of Christ, her king and husband; his yoke is so easy and sweet to her as a bride's ornaments; and if through frowardness or wantonness, etc., she shake it off at any time, she is at no rest in her spirit, until she take it up again; and whether her lord. smiles upon her, and embraceth her in his arms, or whether he frowns, or rebukes, or smites her, she apprehends the sweetness of his love in all, and is refreshed, supported, and instructed by every such dispensation of his authority over her. "On the other side, ye know who they are that complain of this yoke, and say, let us break their bands, etc.; we will not have this man to rule over this, man, as he stands in relation to man simply, hath liberty to do what he lists; it is a liberty to evil as well as to good. This liberty is incompatible and inconsistent with authority, and cannot endure the least restraint of the most just authority. The exercise and maintaining of this liberty makes men grow more evil, and in time to be 40 us. Even so, brethren, it will be beworse than brute beasts: omnes sumus licentia deteriores. This is that great enemy of truth and peace, that wild beast, which all the ordinances of God are bent against, to restrain and subdue it. "The other kind of liberty I call civil or federal; it may also be termed moral, in reference to the covenant between God and man, in the moral law, and 50 the politic covenants and constitutions, amongst men themselves. This is the proper end and object of authority, 1 we are all weakened through license tween you and your magistrates. If you stand for your natural corrupt liberties, and will do what is good in your own eyes, you will not endure the least weight of authority, but will murmur, and oppose, and be always striving to shake off that yoke; but if you will be satisfied to enjoy such civil and lawful liberties, such as Christ allows you, then will you quietly and cheerfully submit unto that authority which is set over you, in all the administrations of it, for your good. Wherein, if we fail at any time, we hope we shall be will ing (by God's assistance) to hearken to good advice from any of you, or in any other way of God; so shall your liberties be preserved, in upholding the honor and power of authority amongst you." THOMAS MORTON (?-1646) · From NEW ENGLISH CANAAN [THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY] where lives her store. If this land be not rich, then is the whole world poore. What I had resolved on, I have really performed; and I have endeavoured to use this abstract as an instrument, to bee the meanes to communicate the knowledge which I have gathered, by my many yeares residence in those parts, unto my countrymen; to the end 10 that they may the better perceive their error, who cannot imagine that there is any country in the universall world which may be compared unto our native soyle. I will now discover unto them a country whose indowments are by learned men allowed to stand in a paralell with the Israelites' Canaan, which none will deny to be land farre more excellent then Old England, in her proper nature. 20 This I consider I am bound in duety (as becommeth a Christian man) to performe for the glory of God, in the first place; next (according to Cicero,) to acknowledge that, Non nobis solum nati sumus, sed partim patria, partim parentes, partim amici vindicant. In the moneth of June, anno salutis 1622, it was my chaunce to arrive in the parts of New England with 30. servants, and provision of all sorts fit for a plantation; and whiles our howses were building, I did indeavour to take a survey of the country. The more I looked, the more I liked it. And when I had more seriously considered of the bewty of the place, with all her faire indowments, I did not thinke that in all the knowne world it could be paralel'd; for so many goodly groves of trees, dainty fine round rising hillucks, delicate faire large plaines, sweete cristall fountaines, and cleare 30 running streames that twine in fine meanders through the meads, making so sweete a murmering noise to heare as would even lull the sences with delight a sleepe, so pleasantly doe they glide upon the pebble stones, jetting most jocundly where they doe meete and hand in hand runne downe to Neptune's Court, to pay the yearely tribute which they owe to him as sov- 40 some have gone for their conscience eraigne Lord of all the springs. Contained within the volume of the land, fowles in abundance, fish in multitude; and discovered, besides, millions of turtledoves on the greene boughes, which sate pecking of the full ripe pleasant grapes that were supported by the lusty trees, whose fruitfull loade did cause the armes to bend; while here For which cause I must approove of the indeavoures of my countrymen, that have bin studious to inlarge the territories of his Majesties empire by planting colonies in America. And of all other, I must applaude the judgement of those that have made choise of this part, (whereof I now treat,) being of all other most absolute, as I will make it appeare hereafter by way of paralell. Among those that have setled themselvs in new England, sake, (as they professe,) and I wish that they may plant the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as becommeth them, sincerely and without scism or faction, whatsoever their former or present practises are, which I intend not to justifie. Howsoever, they have deserved (in mine opinion) some commendationes, in that they have fur and there dispersed, you might see 50 nished the country so commodiously in lillies and of the Daphnean-tree; which made the land to mee seeme paradice. For in mine eie t'was Nature's masterpeece; her cheifest magazine of all so short a time; although it hath bin but for their owne profit, yet posterity will taste the sweetnes of it, and that very sodainly. |