Good News from New England, Account 1
Of their Civill Government
THe Tranſplantation of this people and patten inrevaded, (though rare yet) honeſt advice in law was had by wiſe, ſober, and godly Gentlemens, fore-ſeeing the daily adding ſtones to ſuch a work, would be more envyed then the Golden fleece of Calchos. God giving favour, they attain'd a large patten under the bro…d Seale of England, to ſet up government, not only for the orderly execution of judgment and juſtice among themſelves, but for the ſuppreſſing of all malignant adverſaries to the kingdome of Chriſt, that at any time ſhould invade or diſturb this government: for proofe ask their adverſaries, who though Doeg like will tel you both Magiſtrates and Miniſters joyne heart and hand herein, yet the latter meddle not with Civill Juſtice, as ſome would beare men in hand: But lets on, this patten hath proved corraſive to ſome, eſpecially in not admitting appeales: Some ſeeking to have it reca'd; others crying out it's forfeit, yet hitherto held, and meet men yearly choſe for Governour, Deputy, and Aſſiſtants, (whoſe acts of juſtice have paſſed ſundry cenſures) as alſo from each Towne two Deputies are ſent in the name of the Free-men, who joyning together in one body or generall Court, have according to their patten made many Cauſes agreeable to the word of God, and their wilderneſſe condition both for Engliſh and Indian to follow. Quarter Seſſion, or Goale-delivery are kept by ſeven Magiſtrates, the Governour or Deputy being one: as alſo in the ſeverall Shires for tryals between man and man, are conſtant Courts kept, and in every Town certain perſons are yearly choſen to end cauſes of leſſer vertue, with free acceſſe for any perſons that finde themſelves grieved, to appeal from one Court to another, even to the higheſt, which is the generall Court. Their laws are of three ſorts; 1. The lawes of England, ſo far as the people and place can be capable. 2. Lawes wholly of their own. 3. When caſes fall out, that neither of theſe will reach, they are to follow ſuch rules as are cleerly drawn from the word of God: and becauſe many men take upon them to interpret the Scriptures now adays: ſo that inſtead of one of a thouſand, there appears a thouſand to one, which makes them endeavour (with the ableſt gifted men God hath given them) to obtaine poſitive lawes: for all matters may come in judgment, that Arbitrarineſſe may be avoided. And now becauſe the courage, dexterity, and skill of Commanders appeareth moſt when they meete with their enemie: know foure ſorts of perſons have battered this government not only with their greater Artillery, at 900. leagues diſtance, but with continuall ſmall ſhot at 10. or 12. and ſometimes at piſtoll-ſhot, raiſing over-topping batteries, breſt-works, & outfacing Galleries, delving deepe to undermine the foundation (though built on the ſureſt rocke) caſting forth fierce fireing granadoes, uſing all the ſtratagems ſuch cunning Engineers could poſſibly invent. The firſt onſet was given by Bonaſoſias under the conduct of their hoſt of Merri-mount, who having ſome tryals in the Courts of Juſtice, aſſaid to mend his bad cauſe with bribes: but finding repulſe in both, began to make uſe of an Engine for battery called Pontifieatus (conſulting with ſuch as were beſt skil'd herein) to beate downe this new erected government, yet did little dammage it, being of ſmall force in theſe American parts: at length was intreated to depart, which he refuſing, was ſhipt with a takele for the fertile Iſle of great Brittain, which thoſe Gentlemen now ruling this Collony ſo loſtly left, where he arriving, made his complaint to thoſe, whoſe lordly injunctions enforced the greater part of this people to make choiſe of a baniſhed condition for them and theirs, enduring rather the wants of a wilderdeſſe, than a Prelats priſon his (complaint being heard) appeales to England, being of purpoſe left out in the Mattachuſets Patten, no Somner nor Purſevant was found to venter ſo far: yet the Hoſt to make a merriment of the departure of ſo many reverend, learned, godly and judicious men (a ſad Omen of ſome following tragedy) ſet forth a Pamphlet in print, full fraught with loud lies to make his Bonaſoſia's laugh. But prevailing little, ventured another voyage in theſe parts to find a new place for ſtorming this government afreſh, tracing the Countrey to and fro, was apprehended of Indian ammunition, arrow heads of a more mortal nature than any yet uſed among them. The ſecond onſet was given by greater troops of Sexs, not marſhal'd under the command of any one in chief: but thoſe that could beſt uſe their battering Engine, were leaders of the reſt: and verily they handled the matter ſo, that they came to handy gripes undiſcovered: their new Engine was called Populatri aure Captator, ſomewhat like the Trojan horſe for rarity, it was covered with womens aprons, and bolſtered out with the judgement and deep diſcerning of the godly and reverent: but to ſay truth, they fouly belied him; Theſe Sectaries having made a breach in moſt Townes in the countrey, publiſhing as through a trunk the great tyranny of thoſe that rule over their own ſpecies, perſwading Authority is ſo farre from maintaining liberty, that they cannot ſtand together: inſomuch that Governours and governed began to wonder at the ſudden alteration in Courts and countrey: ſo that it would have put an able Politick to a non-plus. But the Lord graciouſly aſſiſting, they couragiouſly goe on, firſt unarming all ſuſpected perſons: and then to prevent the ſpreading of this gangrin, they endeavour the diſperſing of this red Regiment. Some at loſſe of eſteeme voluntarily depart, others were baniſhed, and others with-drawing ſubmitted againe to the godly government of this Common wealth.
The third ſtorm this government felt was from the ſcum of the former under the command of Samuel Gorton, who knowing ſome of his Sectaries were cloſely lurking behind in this government; ſent forth his blaſphemies to thunder downe all government as diabolicall, raging and railing againſt Magiſtrates and generall Courts, as murtherers, abſolving from their obedience all ſuch as would follow their opinion; had not the conceitedneſſe of their own elegancy hindered, they might have done much hurt, their leader being a very dangerous, bold-ſpoken fellow, and full of ſawning; with which, having gained ſome 12. or 13. families to cide with him, inforcing land from the poore Indians by meanes of the moſt potent Sachim of thoſe parts, under whoſe friendſhip they bare themſelves bold againſt the united Colonies, building on the Indians land, having outed themſelves from all governement, would not ſubmit to any law or common reaſon, deſperately going on, threatning bloud and death to any ſhould come to apprehend them; Yet at length were handſomely apprehended without one drop of bloud ſpilt, for all their great boaſter, brought to a generall Court, and there proceeded againſt: yet ſo ſlenderly (their offence being very deſtructive to all government: And of ſuch an high nature) that their malice encreaſing, their Cenſure did but exaſperate, and not at all diſinabled them to proſecute as formerly the great diſturbance, if not overthrow of this little common-wealth; theſe perſons yet remain, battering the united Colonies with all the force they are able to make: and as they deny government among Chriſtians, ſo they endeavour to overthrow one government with another.
The 4th onſet was made by a Doctor of phyſick, as Commander in chiefe, with ſixe other inferiour Officers, who pretended they had thouſands on their ſide: & therefore to muſter up al the force they could, proclaim (at a generall Court) themſelves to be leaders to all diſcontented perſons, who diſliked any thing this government had done (plauſable to all the ſtragling Bonaſoſia's and Prelaticall faction, that had hid themſelves in holes ſince the former bickering) and furniſhing them with freſh weapons, teaching them to diſſemble, as if ſiding with Englands government, promiſing to themſelves the procurement of all the old Ceremonies and odds Holidayes. Next this blacke Regiment, appeared a red Regiment of fiery contentious perſons, who for want of their wils againſt their adverſaries in law, make many ſad complaints; and now are perſwaded, could they but caſt down this government, they ſhould have ſuch laws, Lawyers, and Magiſtrates, that the caſe would goe alway on their ſide, whether Plaintiffe or defendant. In order followed a white Regiment, conſiſting of ſundry Sectaries, in hope of attaining liberty, or rather liſcentiouſneſſe; were this government but once ſuppreſt to bring up the reare: under an Enſigne part, argent part, or colour, lappeared two ſorts of people: the one deeming it a way for encreale of trade, not only to blind-fold Juſtice, but ſtay her ſword from falling on the heads of ſuch as could cover their crime with pretence of conſcience: The other poſſeſt with ſtrong conceits, that if this government were not caſt down, they ſhould never come to govern. Thus furniſhed, they made ſtrong oppoſition, ſome of them boaſting what a day they ſhould get: but their great numbers failing them, and in ſtead of thouſands, there appeared not thirty: and further being apprehended in midſt of their project, were impriſoned, and fined forther folly: yet but little in reſpect of their offence. Only thus much ſome have learned, to ſhew ſo much clemency to their adverſaries, that it proves cruelty to their friends. What faithfulneſſe, courage and juſtice in all theſe paſſages have been ſhewed by thoſe in authority, cannot be waned by the reproachfull words, and piercing lookes of palefac'd envy. And now my friend John, when thou heareſt any upbraiding, deriding, condemning, and exclaiming againſt this government of this little Common-wealth, for my ſake examine them before thou believe them, and you ſhall find them to have fled from one of theſe Regiments, or at leaſt a wel-willer of theirs that could have wiſht them the day: And now to end this ſlender touch of their Civill government, eye this following meeter.