The Danger of Tolerating Levelers in a Civil State, Title page – Table of contents
THE Danger of Tolerating LEVELLERS In a Civill State: OR, An Historicall Narration of the dangerous pernicious practices and opinions, wherewith SAMVEL GORTON and his Levelling Accomplices so much disturbed and molested the severall Plantations in NEW-ENGLAND; (Parallel to the positions and proceedings of the present Levellers in OLD-ENGLAND.). Wherein their severall Errors dangerous and very destructive to the peace both of Church and State, their cariage and reviling language against Magistracy and all Civill power, and their blasphemous speeches against the holy things of God: TOGETHER, With the Course that was there taken for suppressing them, are fully set forth: With a Satisfactory Answer to their Complaints made to the PARLIAMENT: By Edw. Winslow of Plymouth in New-England.
London, Printed by Rich. Cotes for Iohn Bellamy at the three Golden Lions in Corn-hill, neare the Royall Exchange, 1649.
The Contents.
THe Magistrates proceedings at Boston in New-England, against Samuel Gorton and his Accomplices pag. 1.
The first Letter of Samuel Gorton and his Accomplices to the Magistrates of Boston in New-England p. 9.
The second Letter of Samuel Gorton and his Accomplices to the Magistrates of Boston in New-England. p. 28.
Certain observations collected out of both their Letters, containing their reproachfull Speeches of the government and Magistrates of the Massachusets. p. 38.
Their reviling language against Magistracy it self, and all Civill power. p. 43.
Their blasphemous speeches against the holy things of God. p. 47.
The sum of the presentment of Samuel Gorton, at Portsmouth in Roade Island, by the grand Iury. p. 54.
Mr. Roger Williams his Letter unto Mr. Winthrop concerning Samuel Gorton. p. 55.
A Letter from the Inhabitants of Providence against Gorton and his Accomplices. p. 56.
The true Cause of Gortons sufferings in New-England. p. 66.
The ground of a War like to ensue. p. 71.
Gortons abuse of Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Ward answered. p. 76.
A false Glosse of State service discovered. p. 80.
Gorton Preached against Magistracie, and yet accepts it in his own person. p. 83.
The ground or Cause of our first planting in New-England p. 88.
The Church at Leyden, and the Churches in New-England, hold Communion with the Reformed Churches. p. 93.
New-Englands practice toward them that differ from them in Religion. p. 100.
A TRVE RELATION OF THE Proceedings of the Governour and Company of the Massachusets in New: England, against Samuel Gorton and his Accomplices; with the grounds and reasons thereof, examined and allowed by their Generall Court holden at Boston in November, 1646.
SAMVEL GORTON lived sometime at Plymouth, where his behaviour was so turbulent and offensive both to the Magistrates and others, as they were necessitated to drive him out of their Jurisdiction. From thence hee went to Roade-Island, where hee began to raise sedition, and to make a party against the Authority there; for which hee was apprehended and whipped, and so sent away. From thence (with some others whom hee had gathered to his part) …ee removed to Providence, where Mr. Roger Williams then lived. Hee (with some others) opposed his sitting down there as an Inhabitant, onelyonly in regard of his present distresse, they gave way for his abode for a time. But being once housed, hee soon drew so great a party to him, as it was beyond the power of Mr. Williams and his party to drive them out, or to rule them there; so as both parties came armed into the field each against other, and had fought it out, had not Mr. Williams used meanes for pacification. Hereupon many of the chiefe of Providence sent messengers with a Letter to the Governour and Councell of the Massachusets, desiring aide against Gorton and his company; but they were answered, that not being within our Jurisdiction nor consederation we had no ground to interpose in their quarrells. Soone after some of those men tendred themselves and their lands to come under our Government, and were received.
There live neere to Providence two small Indian Sachims called Pumham and Socononoco, who though they are as free as the great Sachim o… the Nanohigganset: Yet Myantonimo the then Sachim of of Nanoligganset (being a very proud and sterne man) kept them in great awe. This poore Sachim Pumham had a large parcell of land neer Providence, very convenient for plantation, which Gorton and his company (being now about 13, or 14.) taking notice of, and fearing they should not be able to keep their power long where they were, dealt with Myantonimo for this parcell of land, promising him a good parcell of Wampam for it. And because they knew that Pamham was the true owner of it, they dealt with him also; but he refusing to sell it (for hee dwelt upon it, or very neare to it) they caused Myantonimo to send for him, and having drawn a Writing purporting the sale thereof for a certaine consideration to bee given to both of them, Myantonimo signed it, and hee for feare of Myantonimo set his mark to it also, not knowing what it was. But when Gorton tendred him the consideration for it, hee utterly refused it, it being the Indians manner not to account any thing sold, till the party have received the thing it is sold for.
But upon this colourable title Gorton and his company enter upon the land, and build some houses, and withall much wrong the Indians with their cattle, and having Myantonimo their friend, behave themselves very insolently toward the poor Indians, who (having no friends or meanes to relieve themselves) came and tendred themselves and their lands to the government of the Massachusets, who (by order of the Court) gave notice thereof to Myantonimo, and appointed him to come or send to the next Court at Boston, to shew his title or interest (if hee had any) to the said Pumham and Socono…oco or their lands. At the time appointed hee came, and pretended that they were his vassalls, but it appeared clearly both by a w…lting from Mr. Williams, and the testimony of some other English in those parts, and of divers other Indians no way related to them, that they were free Sachims; so as Myantonimo having nothing to reply, the Court received the two Indian Sachims with their subjects and lands under the government and protection of the Massachusetts; and upon that writ to our neighbours of Providence, intimating the same to them, and advising Gorton and his company, that if they had any just title to the lands they possessed, they should come, or send some for them to shew the same to the Court, and offered them safe conduct. This letter from the Court they tooke in great disdaine, and returned scornfull and menacing answers by word of mouth, and a good time after they wrote a letter to the Court full of reproach and blasphemies, not onelyonly against the Magistrates, but against the Churches and Ordinances, as by the Copy thereof hereafter following will appeare. Notwithstanding these provocations and daily wrongs offered to those few English their neighbours (who had formerly submitted themselves to our Government) wee sate still neare halfe a yeare, and before we attempted any thing against them, wee advised with the Commissioners of the united Colonies, who (upon testimony of their insolent and injurious courses, and perusall of the letter they sent to us) left them to us to proceed according to Justice. Whereupon the Court sent againe to them by two of their members, who carryed letters (to require and perswade them to come and give satisfaction,) and a safe Conduct withall; but they entertained those Messengers as they had done the former, threatening to whip one, whom they tooke along with them; and sent us word, that if wee had any thing to say to them, wee should come to them, and wee should have justice there, and that if wee came with force, they would meet us half the way. Our messengers returning with these scornfull answers, the Court resolved to send some force to fetch them in; and in the mean time there came a second letter from them; (the Copy whereof is hereafter also set downe) but before wee sent forth our souldiers, wee wrote to them to this effect: Viz. That although the injuries and provocations wee had indured from them were very grievous, yet that our Justice and moderation might appeare to all men, wee had condescended so farre to their owne proposition, as wee would send some Commissioners to them, to heare their answers and allegations, and if thereupon they would give us such satisfaction as should bee just, wee would leave them in peace; if otherwise, wee would right our selves by force of Armes: And signified withall, that wee would send a sufficient guard with our Commissioners; for seeing they would not trust thems…lves with us upon our safe conduct, wee had no reason to trust any of ours with them upon their bare curtesie. Accordingly about a week after wee sent three Commissioners, and 40 Musqueteers with them, with instructions, first to speak and treate with them, and to require satisfaction according to Justice, and if it were denyed, then to take them by force, and bring them prisoners to Boston; and to take with all so much of their substance as should satisfie our charges. By the way as they went they met with another letter from them, letting them know, that they feared them not, but were prepared for them: And accordingly they had fortified themselves in one house (some 12 of them) and had lined the walls with earth (…usket proofe) and had made Flanckers, and provided victualls, &c. to indure a siege. So that when our Commissi…ners came to the place, they would admit no parly. But after a while, by the mediation of some of their neighbours, they were content to parley, and offered to referre the cause to Arbitrators, so as some of …hem might bee of Providence, or of Roade Island. Our Commissioners were content to send to us to know our minds about it, and in the meane time sate still. Such of the Court as could meet, returned answer that their Proposition was neither seasonable nor reasonable, nor could it bee safe or honourable for us to accept thereof: 1 Because they would never offer nor hearken to any terms of agreement before our souldiers had them in their power. 2 Because the ground of their Proposition was false, for wee were not parties (as they pretended) but equall Judges between the Indians and others who were complainants, and themselves, (and yet in a case of warre, parties may bee Judges.) 3 They were no State, or Body politique, but a few fugitives living without Law or Government, and so not honourable for us to joyne with them in such a way of reference. 4 The parties whom they would referre it unto, were such as had been rejected by us, and all the Governments in the Country, and so not likely to bee equall to us, nor able to judge of the cause: and their blasphemous and reproachfull writings, &c. were not matters fit to bee composed by Arbi…ement, (being deeply criminall) but either to bee purged away by repentance and publique satisfaction, or else by publique punishment. For these and other reasons, the Commissioners were required to proceed according to their Instructions. And thereupon they intrenched themselves about the house, and in few dayes forced them to yeeld, and so brought them to Boston, where they were kept in prison till the Court sate, and had their dyet from the Cookes (as good meat and drinke as the Towne afforded.) The next Lords day they refused to goe to the Church assembly, except they might have liberty to speake there, as occasion should be. They were answered by some of the Magistrates that it appertained to the Elders to order the affairs of the Church, but they might presuppose they should not bee denyed such liberty, speaking words of truth and sobernesse. So in the afternoon they came, and were placed in a convenient seate before the Elders. Mr. Cotton the Teacher taught then (in his ordinary course) out of Acts 19. of Demetrius speech for Diana her silver shrine. After Sermon Gorton desired leave to speake, which being granted, hee tooke occasion from the Sermon to speake to this effect, That in the Church now there was nothing but Christ, so that all our Ordinances, Ministers, and Sacraments, &c. were but mens inventions, for shew and po…p, and no other then those silver shrines of Diana. He said also, that if Christ lives eternally, then he died eternally, and other speeches of like kinde. And indeed it appeareth both by his speeches and letters, that it was his opinion, that Christ was incarnate in Adam, and was that image of God, wherein Adam was created; and that the chiefe worke and merit lay in his Inanition, when he became such a thing, so meane, &c. and that his being borne after of the Virgin Mary, and suffering, &c. was but a manifestation of his suffering, &c. in Adam. Another of them said that the Sabbath was Christ, and so was borne of the Virgin Mary. They called Magistracy among Christians an Idol; yet they did acknowledge a Magistracy in the world to bee subjected to as an Ordinance of God, but onelyonly as naturall; as the father over his wife and children, and an hereditary Prince over his subjects.
Their first appearance before the Court was upon the Lecture day at Boston, before a very great Assembly, where first the Governour declared the cause and manner of all the proceedings against them, and their Letters were openly read, and they had liberty to object, and anwers were given, as followeth:
First, to their plea, That they were not within our Jurisdiction; it was answered: 1 If they were not within ours, yet they were within the Jurisdiction of one of our confederates, who had referred them to us. 2 If they were within no Jurisdiction, then was there none to complaine to for redresse of our injuries in way of ordinary Justice, and then we had no way of relief but by force of Armes.
Secondly, to their plea Of persecution for their Conscience, &c. It was answered, that wee did not meddle with them for their opinions, otherwise then they had given us occasion, by their owne Letters and free speeches amongstus, for wee wrote to them about civill Controversies onelyonly, and gave them no occasion to vent their blasphemies and revilings against the Ordinances of Religion set up with us.
Thirdly, for their title to the Indians lands: wee had divers times desired them to make it appeare; but they alwayes refused, even to our Commissioners, whom (according to their owne motion) wee sent last to them: and since they were in prison, wee offered them to send for any witnesses they would name to us for that end, but this also they refused. So that our title (by the Indians surrender) appeareth good, and having regained possession, we need not question them any further about that.
Their Letters being read and their Subscriptions acknowledged, they were demanded severally if they would maintaine those things which were contained therein. Their answer was, that they would, in that sense they wrote them, and so were returned to prison. The next day they were brought before the Court severally to be examined upon particulars, (many of the Elders being desired to bee present) because they had said they could give a good interpretation of every part of their Letters. But the interpretation they gave being contrary to the words, they were demanded if they would then retract those words, so plainely different from their pretended meanings. But this they refused to doe, saying, that then they should deny the Truth; for instance in one or two. Their Letters were directed, one of them, To their Neighbours of the Massachusets: and the other, To the great honoured Idoll Generall of the Massachusets, and by a messenger of their owne delivered to our Governour, and many passages in both Letters particularly applyed to our Courts, our Magistrates, our Elders, &c. and yet upon their examinations about their meanings in their reproachfull passages, they answered that they meant them, of the corrupt estate of mankinde in generall, and not of us. So, whereas in their Letter they charged it upon us, as an errour that we teach, That Christ dyed Actually onelyonly, when he suffered under Pontius Pilate; and before, onelyonly in Types, &c. upon their examination they said, that their meaning was, that his death was actuall to the faith of the Fathers under the Law, (which is in effect the same which we hold:) Yet they would not retract their words they had written. The Elders conferred many houres with them before the Court, and by occasion there of they discovered divers blasphemous opinions, which they maintained, we will instance one which was mentioned before, delivered by Gort…n, viz. that the Image of God wherein Adam was created, was Christ; and Adams loosing that Image was the death of Christ, and the restoring of that Image in the Regeneration, was the resurrection of Christ: and so the death of him that was borne of the Virgin Mary was but a manifestation of the former. Master William Tompson one of the Elders had spent some time with them before in the prison about the opinions which they held forth, and they had professed their agreement with him (for substance) in every point, so as he came to the Court with a purpose to speak in their behalf, but when he heard themselves discover thus upon their publique examinations, he shewed how he had beene deluded by them, For they excell the Iesuites in the art of equivocation, and regard not how false they speake, to all other mens apprehensions, so they keepe to the rules of their owne secret intentions. Being asked why they spake against the Ordinances of the Ministery, Sacraments, &c. seeing the Scripture allowes them? They answered that they were ordained onelyonly for the time of Nonage, but after the Revelation was written, they were to cease, because we finde no mention▪ of them in that booke.
They were unlearned men, the ablest of them could not write true english, no not in common words, yet they would take upon them to interpret the most difficult places of Scripture, and wrest them any way to serve their owne turne. As for instance, Mr. Cotton pressing Gorton with that in Act. 10. Who can forbid water, why these should not be baptised. &c. He interpreted thus, who can deny but these h…ve beene baptised, s…eing they have received the Holy Ghost, &c. so he allowed them to have beene baptised. This shift he was put to, that he might maintaine his opinion, viz: that such as have beene baptized with the Holy Ghost, need not the baptisme of water. Divers dayes were spent both by the Court and the Elders in labouring to bring them to repentance, but all in vaine. They continued obstinate. Whereupon they agreed to sentence them, but first they brought them in publique before a great Assembly, and there (out of their Letters and Speeches) they laid upon them this charge, viz. they were found to be blasphemous enemies of the true Religion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of all his holy Ordinances, and likewise of all Civill Government among his people, and particularly within this jurisdiction. Then they were demanded, if they did acknowledge this charge to be just, and would submit to it, or what exception they had against it? They answered, they did not acknowledge it to be just, but they fell into some cavilling speeches, so they were returned unto prison againe. Being in prison they behaved themselves insolently towards their keeper, and spake evill of the Magistrates, so as the keeper was forced to threaten them with Irons, to keepe them quiet.
After all meanes used to reclaime them, and not prevailing, they were brought before the Court to receive their sentence, which was this. Gorton and six more of them, were to be sent to severall townes, there to bee kept to worke for their livings, and to weare an Iron chaine upon one leg, and not to depart the limits of the Towne, nor by word or writing to maintaine any of their blasphemous or wicked errours upon paine of death, except in conference with any of the Elders, or any other allowed by some Magistrate to conferre with them; and this to continue during the pleasure of the Court. Three of the Company (because they had not their hands to the Letters) were set at libertie, two of them upon a small ransome as prisoners taken in warre, and the other, freely, for that he was amongst them in his Masters house, where they were taken; a fourth being found to be a plaine ignorant young man was discharged also, onelyonly enjoyned to abide a time in one of our Townes, but hee went away and returned no more, contrary to his promise. There were two other who were brought in after; (but not by force) the one of them disclaiming to have any hand in the Letters, was discharged presently; the other was kept a while in prison, and after upon his submission &c. was released.
Gor…on and the other fix remained in the severall Townes all that Winter; and then in regard of their wives and children (who were like to be much distressed by their husbands absence) they were set at liberty, and banished upon paine of death if they were found in any part of our jurisdiction.
After the Court had passed sentence upon them for their confinement, we sent to fetch so many of their Cattle, as might defray the charges they had put us to, which amounted to about one hundred and sixty pounds, but the Cattle came not to so much, for we left every of them a part for the support of their families, and some of them had no Cattle at all.
The Letters follow▪