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CHAPTER V.

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THOMAS

THOMAS Dudley.

HOMAS DUDLEY, Governor, and the father of Anne Bradstreet, was a gentleman of character and position. There is a tradition among the family of Dudley, that he was descended from John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. There is a doubt upon this point. Much of family pedigree among the early settlers was lost to vision when they left their native land. Thomas Dudley was an only son of Captain Rogers Dudley, who was killed in battle about the year 1577. After pursuing Latin studies and then a clerkship in the office of a kinsman, who was a sergeant-at-law, he was made a captain in Queen Elizabeth's army. He was sent to aid Henry IV of France in the Spanish war against Phillip II of Spain, after whom the Phillipines were named. Captain Dudley was at the siege of Amiens in 1597, and was mustered out of the service, only then barely of age, having already acquired distinction as a brave and skillful soldier.

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But the polish and learning acquired by a residence abroad, associating with army officers, learning the French language, with the grace and gentlemanly manners thereof, gave a new stamp to young Dudley, which, with his sterling honesty and courage, were the foundations of his character, became a part of his practical life. He was soon married to "Dorothy a gentlewoman, whose extract and estate were considerable." No record of her maiden name is given. Puritanism had not yet an established name, but

the seed had been sown which after became so strong and vigorous as to overthrow the English monarchy.

Thomas Dudley listened to the ardent preaching of wellknown Puritan and non-conformist teachers, and soon became an earnest opposer of the ancient and established forms of church worship and creeds. Dudley, with eleven others, in August, 1629, signed an agreement, whereby they pledged themselves to emigrate to New England by the next March. Their object was not so much to flee from oppression, but to form a government according to their own ideas and "the order of the gospell."

In pursuance of this plan they sailed the twenty-ninth of March, 1630, and landed at Salem on June 12, and on going ashore "supped with a good venison, pasty and good beer." Winthrop and Dudley soon became the master and ruling spirits of the Colony. When one was not governor the other was likely to be, or their influence decided who should be. And in one way or another the Dudleys have been important factors in controlling New England affairs in its government, its religion and its literature.

Bancroft says that, "Dudley had hardly, reached this country before he repented that he had come; the country had been described in too favorable light."

It would appear that Governor Dudley must have been a book-worm and a "diner out," as also a "table talker" full of wit, from the following epitaph that Mather translates :

"In books a prodigal, they say

A living Cyclopedia:

Of histories of church and priest,

A full compendium at least:

A table talker, rich in sense,

And witty without wits pretence."

JOHN G. PALFREY'S OPINIOn of Governor Dudley.

"In the year 1653, July 31, the days of Thomas Dudley were numbered and finished. Dudley was fifty-four when he came to New England in 1630, which made him seventy-seven years old at his death. He had been twice governor, deputy-governor thirteen times, and major-general of the militia in other years. His wellknown capacity, experience, and scrupulous fidelity to every trust, made him an object of implicit confidence and respect. His integrity was unimpeachable; his superiority to influences of human blame or favor was above question; the fear of God was an everpresent and deciding motive to him; no man, in public action, had a more single eye to the public welfare. But Dudley's was one of those characters in which virtue does not put on her gracious aspect. He belonged to the class who are commended, confided in and revered, but not loved. If hasty, he was not revengeful; he never meant to be unjust, and he did sincerely mean to be magnanimous, but he wanted the qualities to conciliate and win. He was positive, prejudicial, undemonstrative, austere. When he was gentle and generous, it seemed to be more from conscience than from sympathy; so that even benefits from him won approval rather than affection. It might be expected of such a man, that he would find it hard to tolerate a difference of religious opinion, and it is recorded of Dudley, that after his decease, some lines expressive of that form of narrowness were found in a pocket of his dress. The lines, twenty in number, were preserved by Mather. Magnalia, Book II, Chap. V, §1."

THOMAS DUDLEY'S LINES.

Dim Eyes, deaf Ears, cold Stomach, shew

My dissolution is in view,

Eleven times seven near liv'd have I.

And now God calls I willing Die,

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VIEW OF HIGH STREET, IPSWICH.

From front of President Rogers' House, looking West.

(See page 48.)

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