Good News from New England, Poem 1
Good news from NEVV-ENGLAND: WITH An exact relation of the firſt planting that Countrey: A deſcription of the profits accruing by the Worke. Together with a briefe, but true diſcovery of their Order both in Church and Common-wealth, and maintenance allowed the painfull Labourers in that Vineyard of the LORD. WITH The names of the ſeverall Towns, and who be Preachers to THEM.
LONDON; Printed by Matthew Simmons, 1648.
A New Relation by Obſervation, and ſerious Cogitation touching the Tranſplantation of our Engliſh Nation.
TO ſpend no time in complement honeſt John, caſt not away theſe lines, becauſe the meeter and ruſticall harmony rings but rudely without rhetorick, let me lead thy affections to theſe following premiſes: ſuppoſe thou ſee thy face not ſo amiable as thy fancy deemes it to be, fling not furiouſly to breake the glaſſe, moderate thy anger, and I have my deſire. Miſſe not my meaning, by turning my diſcourſe to perſonate any, but many: Its paſt my intention to leſſen or inlarge for favour or affection. Applauſe I looke not for: ſome Latine and Eloquent phraſes I have pickt from others, as commonly clowns uſe to doe, yet be ſure I am not in jeſt: for the ſubject I write of requires in many particulars the moſt ſolemn and ſerious meditation that ever any of like nature have done. Favour my clown-ſhip if I prove too harſh, and I ſhall remaine yours.
Of the reaſons moving this people to tranſplant themſelves and Families to thoſe remote parts.
THe great Jehova's working word effecting wondrouſly,
This earths vaſt globe, thoſe parts unknown, to civill people by,
Columbus or Alkmerricus by providence direction,
Found out this Weſtern world with ſtore of mettels cleer extraction.
The Spaniſh project working well, tooke ſudden ſuch impreſſion
In minds of many Europe held, who fell to like progreſſion.
It's ſtrange to ſee the Spaniſh fleete ſo many ſhould provoke,
In Engliſh ſearching for like prize, they are vaniſht into ſmoake.
Yet theſe undaunted hearts ſtir'd up a Colony to plant,
Hight Nova Anglia, for which they gain'd a patten grant.
Now all ancient ſeild and read in lands new population,
No parallell like this (I deeme) you'l finde in any Nation.
Theſe people now begin with care to veſe and plot, each man
That heares of this new Colony, with diligence doth ſcan.
Such motives as he hath in Eye, one he deſires land,
Quoth he I ſee here landed men in reputation ſtand.
Hundreds and thouſands I have not to purchaſe, but I will
Through ſeas much wood-land to atchieve, and medow ground my fill.
Ʋp ſtarts another from a ſad and ſerious contemplation,
How he a Gentleman might be, good man is his vexation.
Houſe implements being turn'd to coyne, his cloath of faſhion new,
To ſhip he hyes, much welcome Sir, for none his perſon knew.
New rais'd from ſleepe, another cries, my earnings are but ſmall,
I'le venter to this new-found world, and make amends for all.
In haſt halfe breathleſſe running, comes a man with longing ſore
For novelties of new-found lands, the Seas he would leap o're.
His kindreds letters looking in, ha ha here's newes indeed,
From Brothers, Siſters, Ʋncles, Aunts, I'le ſhip my ſelfe with ſpeed.
Theſe but the ſtraglers now remaines the chiefeſt troopes to eye,
Truth 'tis, their ſtandard of reſort was Chriſtianity.
Couragious Captaines leading on, their coynes and lands 'way throwing,
Made many Souldiers follow faſt, their bands in number growing.
When England by Elizabeth began a Reformation,
It was a joyfull day to all, the godly of that Nation.
Proh Dolor, it did not goe on, with joyfull acclamation.
But hirarchy and lordly throne of Prelacy invading,
The government of Chriſts deare flocke, then godlineſſe was fading,
Some men impute it to the pride of Biſhops, others ſay,
The looſeneſſe of the Laity did carry moſt away.
But ſure it is that godlineſſe, and purities deriding,
Mov'd many godly ones to ſeek, a place of new abiding.
Proud Biſhops skil'd in policie of machivilian learning,
Fore-ſaw their pomp would fall to ground by Scripture cleer diſcerning,
New fangled fetches were devis'd for ſoone intrapping thoſe
Who to the people faithfully truth wholly did diſcloſe.
While things thus craftly were contriv'd, Preachers to priſons packe,
The Biſhops Courts were fill'd with worke, and conſciences on racke.
Come ſirrah quoth the Commiſſary, you will no Surplice weare,
Nor yet proclaime our Sunday ſports, a Puritan I feare
You are, and ſhall no more preach forth to people ſtir to reare
Againſt my Lords grace, I know well, your preaching doth him ſcare.
And to another: as for you, your faction is ſo much,
Whole townes run from their Pariſh Church to heare your word, are ſuch.
As for to overthrow my Lord, and his commanding power,
If I live in this Dioceſſe, you ſhall not ſtand one houre.
In midſt of all theſe wofull ſtirs grave godly men ſit muſing,
How they their talents might improve, to honour God in uſing.
Nine hundred leagues of roaring ſeas diſhearten feeble parts,
Till cruell handling haſten on, and God doth ſtrengthen hearts.
Come quoth the husband, my deare wife, canſt thou the ſeas endure,
With all our young and tender babes, let's put our faith in ure.
With watry eyes the wife replies, what remedie remaines,
Forſaking all for Chriſt his ſake, will prove the greateſt gaines.
From in-land parts poore Chriſtians packe to Sea-ports ſhips to enter,
A wonderment, in ſtreets they paſſe, dividing their ſtrange venter.
What meane theſe mad men ſoone ſayes one, witleſſe to run away,
From Engliſh beere, to water, where, no hoone companions ſtay,
But its the Surplice ſcares them hence, the Tippet and the Croſſe,
Nay more they feare, my Lords grace here, will bring againe the maſſe.
Yea further I have heard of late our Puritans much wonder,
Becauſe our Metropolitan intends to bring them under:
Thus paſſe the people to their ſhips, ſome grieve they ſhould goe free,
But make them ſweare, and ſearch them bare, taking what coyne they ſee.
Now Satan ſeeing God had croſt, his minde in making way,
For's people and his Paſtors too, in wilderneſſe to ſtay.
Fearing Chriſts Kingdom would encreaſe, and his to ground be falling,
Stirs up freſh inſtruments like ſheepe that wolfiſhly were haling.
Proud errour brochers, theſe croud in for liberty pretending,
The overthrow of Romiſh traſh, their words againſt it bending.
Quoth one here none but Scholler may in pulpit be a Preacher,
Pleſhip my ſelfe, for ſure I am, full gifted for a Teacher.
Ʋp ſtarts another from a crowd, of women, her admiring,
An able tongue in Scripture learn'd, to preach forſooth deſiring.
With revelations ſtrange, yet true, as Scripture them accounting,
Another comes to ſhip himſelfe, in knowledge all ſurmounting.
'Gainſt Magiſtrates another cries, none ſuch on earth ſhould ſtand,
I'le venture o're the broadeſt Seas for freedome from their hand.
Thus diver ſly diſpos'd doe people pack up away,
To populate new Collonies, where none but Heathen ſtay.