Jews in America, Part 3 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. To the Engliſh here, and firſt in behalfe of the Planters there.
THey ſhould have our hearts and love for many reaſons, How many felicities did they forſake, both of the right hand, and of the left, in reſpect of eſtate, friends, and the comfort of their owne native ſoile? It was ſaid by the Prophet, Weepe for him that goeth out, for hee ſhall returne no more to ſee his owne Countrey, Jer. 22. 20. beſides, that dulcis amor patriae, how many hazards did they runne into by dangerous and tedious ſea-voyages? they were expoſed to divers certaine inconveniences, not only in regard of externalls, change of aire, diet, &c. but change of men eſpecially, having little ſecurity, becauſe they were in daily dread of Indian trechery, which might then fall upon them, when they ſuppoſed it moſt remote; they have alſo left more roome at home, of which wee were wont to have more need than company, which encreaſed ſo faſt, that wee were ready to extrude one another; and by them we have more ſtrength abroad, becauſe tranſplanted colonies aClapmar arcan. Reip. p. 52.be domeſtique fortifications, though they have been invented ſometimes, and uſed to abate popular undertakings, but I meane it in the Roman interpretation, the Nations where they fix, are reduced by degrees to their faſhions, lawes, and commands: yet ſome have unnaturally followed thoſe our Countrey men with reproaches, accounting them ſo baſe, as not worthy to be ſet with the dogs of their flocke, as one to them applyed that of Job 30. 1.
To the Weſterne Plantation indeed, at firſt men of meane condition generally reſorted, but ſoon after people of better ranke followed; divers of good families, and competent eſtates went into Virginia, and ſetled in ſome Iſlands thereabouts, but becauſe thoſe of New-England pretended more to Religion than the reſt, they are more loaden with uncivill language, but moſt injuriouſly; for the tranſplanting Novangles were many of them ſeverally eminent, ſome of noble extract, divers Gentlemen deſcended from good Families; their firſt Charter mentions three Knights, among other 40 Caroli.men of worth; and it ſeemes their example, or ſomewhat elſe was like to prevaile with many others of no meane condition, ſo that eleven of the then Privy Counſell directed their letters in December, one thouſand ſix hundred thirty foure, to the Warden of the Cinque ports, taking notice that ſeverall perſons went over with their families, and whole eſtates, forbidding ſubſidy men, or of the value of ſubſidy men to be imbarqued without ſpeciall licence and atteſtation of their taking the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, ſubmiſſion alſo to the Orders and diſcipline of the Church of England: And three yeeres after, viz. one thouſand ſix hundred thirty ſeven, a proclamation iſſued from the King to the ſame purpoſe, and in the ſame words.
Others inſtead of affections and hearts, ſling darts after them, and ſay, they are gone out from us indeed, but they were not of us, 1 Joh. 2. 19. neither liking our doctrine nor governement. Yet ſurely they differ not at all from us in Religion, witneſſe our owne confeſſion and their profeſſion; and for the firſt, our learned men have continually acknowledged the Puritans to conſent with them in Doctrinalls, Archbiſhop Sands bSerm. p. 81, 82. &c.in his Sermon before Queene Elizabeth more than once aſſerteth this, We have here ſaith he, to praiſe our God, that in publique doctrine touching the ſubſtance of religion wee all agree in one truth, the greater pitty it is we ſhould ſo much diſſent in matters of ſmall importance, in rites and circumſtanees; the Puritanicall errors did not at all oppoſe any part of our Religion, but it continued moſt ſound even to the dying day of that moſt renowned Princeſs, ſaith he that cRogers pref. p. 19.analyſed our thirty nine Articles, and ſo printed them by authority; and King Iames dPref. Baſil. Dor.averreth the like of his Scottiſh Puritans, We all God be thanked agree in the grounds, and after his reception of this Crowne, hee calls eParlia. ſpe? Anno. 1603.the Engliſh Puritan a Sect rather than a Religion; and in his Declaration againſt Vorſtius fHis workes. p. 358.hee joyneth his Churches of great Britaine with thoſe of France and Germany, oppoſing them all againſt Vorstius, Bertius, and the Arminians; Notwithſtanding the Diſciplinarian quarrell ſaith gReſ. ad Apol. p. 28.Biſhop Andrewes, we have the ſame faith, the Cardinall is deceived, or deceiveth, in uſing the word Puritans, as if they had another Religion differing from that publiquely profeſſed, and this hath been the unanimous aſſeveration of Engliſh Biſhops, and other learned Divines, as were eaſie abundantly to declare. But themſelves have ſpared us that labour, by their conſtant acknowledgement thereof; Mr. Rogers hRogers paſſim.in his forecited Analyſis, produceth their owne writings to this purpoſe, and what one of them can be named that refuſed ſubſcription to thoſe 39 Articles in reference to matters of Doctrine; Mr. Browne tis thought, went as farre aſtray as any here, yet I have ſeen his owne iM. S.hand declaring at that time his allowance of all thoſe Synodicall Articles; and leſt any ſhould imagine the Novangles differing from us in dogmaticall truths, beſides many, very many printed bookes teſtifying their concurrence with us herein, beſide divers private Letters, that ſubſcribed by the Governour and principall aſſiſtants ſufficiently manifeſts their judgement and affection, wherein they deſire to be accounted our brethren, and implore our prayers; adding, howſoever our charity may have met with ſome diſcouragements through the miſreport of our intentions, or through diſaffection, or indiſcretion of ſome among us, for wee dreame not of perfection in this world, yet would you be pleaſed to take notice of the principall and body of this Company, as thoſe that are not aſhamed to call the Church of England our deare Mother, and cannot part from her without teares in our eyes, but ſhall ever acknowledge that ſuch part and hope as we have obtained in the common ſalvation, we received it in her boſome, and ſucked it from her breaſts, &c.
From South-Hampton.
Iohn Winthrop, Governour.
Rich: Saltonſtall.
Tho: Dudly, &c.