Good News from New England, Poem 3
Of the arrivall of our Engliſh Nation at the Mattachuſets Bay, &c.
WIth hearts revived in conceit, new land and trees they eye,
Senting the Caedars and ſweet ferne from heats reflection drye.
Much like the bird from dolſome Romes inclos'd in cage of wyre,
Set forth in fragrant fields, doth skip in hope of her deſire.
So leap the hearts of theſe mixt men by ſtreights o're ſeat inured,
To following hard ſhips wilderneſſe, doth force to be endured.
In clipping armes of ont-ſtretcht Capes, there ſhips now gliding enter,
In bay where many little Iſles doe ſtand in waters Center.
Where Sea-calves with their hairy heads gaze 'bove the waters brim,
Wondring to ſee ſuch unconth ſights their ſporting place to ſwim.
The ſeas vaſt length makes welcome ſhores unto this wandring race,
Who now found footing freely for, Chriſts Church his reſting place.
This people landing, ſoonly ſhewd diverſity of minds,
As various heads, ſo actions did declare their divers kinds.
Now patience, John, give eare a while unto a briefe digreſſion,
The better ſhalt thou underſtand the following progreſſion.
Diverſity of cenſure have paſt on this people, why
Moſt judge the whole by leſſer part, and parts run much awry.
By parts the giver, nor to part, and thou a part ſhalt ſee,
To be partakers with the truth in hearts ſimplicity.
Yet further let me mind thee more from Satans ſullin fits,
Great rancour doth againſt them riſe, enlarg'd by divers wits.
Yea male-contents none well content but diſcontentedly,
They breath out ill, being croſt in will to all lamentingly.
But now let's on my honeſt John, to land this people came,
'Mongſt trees and men that naked been, whom labour did not tame.
Small entrance did they make therein, for why diſeaſes ſtay,
Their long unwonted legs to walke, in wilderneſſe the way.
In booths and huts lamenting lye, both men and women eake,
Some breathing out their lateſt breath, and others faintly ſpeak.
Ʋnto their friends for ſuccour ſoone that ſtrength they might recover,
Which once attain'd, they ſearch the land, tracing the Countrey over.
To raiſing Townes and Churches new, in wilderneſſe they wander,
Firſt Plymouth, and then Salem next, were placed far aſunder.
Charles river where they nextly land, a Towne like name they built
Poore Cottages them populate, with winters wet ſoone ſpilt.
Brave Boſton ſuch beginning had, Dorcheſter ſo began,
Roxbury roſe as mean as they, Cambridge forth from them ran.
Lin likewiſe built, when Watertowne firſt houſes up did reare,
Then large limb'd Ipſwich brought to eye 'mongſt woods & waters cleer.
Hartford, New-haven, ſcituate, Sandwich and Dover all,
In wilderneſſe 'mongſt people wilde, there Scituations fall,
Newbery, Weymouth, Hingham, Hall, have their firſt nomination,
Rude Iſland Providence brought forth by baniſhed their ſtation.
Springfield, Hamlton, Concord, eke Deddam and Rowly, …
New peopled in this Weſtern world, where lands lye waſt and free.
Salisbury, Sudbury, both began, to bore the Land, and plant,
Braintre, Gloceſter, Exeter, plac'd where the wilde beaſts haunt.
Wooborn, Wickham, Redding built, with little ſilver mettle,
Andover, Haverhill, Berri's-banks, their habitations ſettle.
Southampton, Martins-vineyard, and ſome new nam'd Towns beſide,
All by this brood of travellers, were peopled far and wide.
With what they had ſtord'd up for time of ſcarcity, they live,
Till tubs were empty, and the Land, could them ſmall ſuccour give.
God ne're denyes them freſh ſupplyes, with joy oft ſhips they eye,
That bring in bread & meate for food when in thoſe ſtraights they cry.
Till labour bleſſe the earths encreaſe, and food each Towne doth fill,
The land being ſowne with man and beaſt, great ſtore retaining ſtill.