Journal of the Settlements of Massachusets and Other Colonies, Journal · Part 2 · Letter 4 – Letter 5
My very good Gossip,
If I should commend myself to you, you reply with this proverb propria laus sondet in ore: but to leave impertinent salute, and really to proceed.—You shall hereby understand that altho' when I was first sent to England to make complaint against Ananias and the brethren, I effected the business but superficially (thro' the brevity of time) I have at this time taken more deliberation and brought the matter to a better pass. And it is thus brought about, that the king hath taken the business into his own hands. The Massachusetts Patent, by order of the council, was brought in view—the privileges there granted well scanned upon: and at the council board in public, and in the presence of Sir Richard Saltonstall and the rest, it was declared, for manifest abuses there discovered, to be void. The king hath reassumed the whole business into his own hands—appointed a committee of the board, and given order for a general government of the whole territory to be sent over. The commission is passed the privy seal, I did see it, and the same was 10th May sent to the Lord Keeper to have it pass the great seal for confirmation; and I now stay to return with the Governor, by whom all complainants shall have relief: So that now Jonas being set ashore may safely cry—Repent you cruel seperatists, Repent: there are as yet but 40 days, if you vouchsafe to thunder, the Charter and kingdom of the seperatists will fall asunder. Repent you cruel repent. These things have happened, and I shall see (notwithstanding their boasting and false alarms in the Massachusetts with feigned cause of thansgiving) their merciless cruelty rewarded, according to the merit of the fact, with condign punishment for coming into these parts like Sampson's foxes, with fire-brands at their tails. The king and council are really possessed of their preposterous loyalty and irregular proceedings and are incensed against the… ▪ and altho' they be so oppposite to the catholic opinions, yet they will be compelled to perform them, or at least must suffer them to be put in practice to their sorrow. In matter of restitution and satisfaction, more than mistically, it must be performed visibly, and in such sort as may be subject to the senses in a very lively image. My Lord Canterbury having, with my Lord Privy Seal, caused all Mr. Craddock's letters to be viewed, and his apology in particular; for the brethren here protested against him and Mr. Humphry's, that they were a couple of imposterous knaves; so that for all their great friends, they departed the council chamber in our view with a pair of cold shoulders. I have staid long, yet have not lost my labour, altho' the brethren have found their hopes frustrated; so that it follows by consequence, I shall see my desire upon mine enemies: and if Jo: Grant had not betaken him to flight I had taught him to sing clamavi in the fleet before this time, and if he return before I depart, he will pay dear for his presumption; for here he finds me a second Perseus. I have uncased Medusa's head, and struck the brethren into astonishment. They find, and will yet more to their shame, that they abuse the word and are to blame to presume so much—that they are but a word and a blow to them that are without. Of these particulars I thought good by so convenient a messenger, to give you notice, lest you should think I had died in obscurity, as the brethren vainly intended I should, and basely practised, abusing justice by their sinister practices, as by the whole body of the committee, una voce, it was concluded to be done, to the dishonor of his master.—And as for Ratcliffe, he was comforted by their lordships with the cropping of Mr. Winthrop's ears: which shews what opinion is held amongst them of K. Winthrop with all his inventions and his Amsterdam fantastical ordinances—his preachings, marriages and other abusive ceremonies, which do exemplify his detestation to the church of England, and the contempt of his master's authority and wholesome laws which are and will be established in these parts invita Minerva. With these I thought fit to salute you as a friend, by an epistle, because I am bound to love you, as a brother, by the gospel—resting your loving friend,
THOMAS MORTON. Dated … mo. May 1634.
The patent was called for An. 1634. by order of council.
Having been kept in prison about a year, in expectation of further evidence out of England, he was again called before the court, and after some debate what to do with him, he was fined £100—and set at liberty. He was a charge to the country, for he had nothing, and we tho't not fit to inflict corporeal punishment upon him, being old and crazy, but thought better to fine him and give him his liberty, as if it had been to procure his fine, but indeed to leave him opportunity to go out of the jurisdiction, as he did soon after, and he went to Acomenticus, and living there poor and despised, he died within two ye…rs after.
Here arrived a ship from Dartmouth,(7) 16. she was impressed into the king's service, and sent to sea in the Earl of Marlborough's fleet, but she left the fleet and took in wine and salt at the S. Islands and went to Virginia, where he left his merchants and divers of his men, and not putting off his goods there he came to Boston, where the London ship, Capt. Balye commander, having commission from the parliament, would have taken him, but he stood upon his defence, and was able to keep his ship against the other. But another question arose about her upon this occasion—Our merchants of Boston had set out a small ship worth £1500—which being trading in Wales was taken by the king's ships, whereupon the merchants desired leave to seize this ship for their satisfaction—on the other side, the master being come under our command, desired our protection. Our answer was, that if he would deliver his sailors on shore we would protect him 'till the court &c. See more next leaf.
The lady La Tour arrived here from London in a ship commanded by Capt Baylye.17 They had been six months from London, having spent their time in trading about Canada &c. They met with D'Aulnay near Cape Sable, and told him they were bound for the Bay, and had stowed the lady and her people under hatches, so he not knowing it was Capt. Baylye, whom he ernestly sought for to have taken or sunk him, he wrote by the master to the Dep. Governor to this effect—That his master the king of France understanding that the aid La Tour had here the last year was upon the commissi… he shewed from the Vice Admiral of France, gave him in charge not to molest us for it, but to hold all good correspondency with us and all the English, which he professed he was desirous of so far as might stand with his duty to his master, and withal that he intended to send to us so soon as he had settled his affairs, to let us know what further commission he had, and his sincerity in the business of La Tour &c.
Here arrived also Mr. Roger Williams of Providence, and with him two or three families. He brought with him a le…ter from divers lords and others of the parliament, the copy whereof ensueth.
Our much honored friends.
Taking notice, some of us of long time, of Mr. Roger Williams his good affections and conscience, and of his sufferings by our common enemies and oppressors of God's people the prelate: as also of his great industry and travail in his printed indian labours in your parts, the like whereof we have not seen extant from any part of Ameria, and in which respect it hath pleased both houses of parliament freely to grant unto him and friends with him, a free and absolute character of civil govenment for these parts of his abode: and withal sorrowfully resenting, that amongst good men (our friends) driven to the ends of the world, exercised with the trials of a wilderness, and who mutually give good testimony each of other, as we observe you do of him, and he abundantly of you; there should be such a distance. We thought it fit upon divers considerations, to profess our great desires of both your utmost endeavours of nearer closing, and of ready expressing of those good affections, which we perceive you bear each to other, in the actual performance of all friendly offices; the rather because of those bad neighbours you are like to find too near unto you in Virginia, and the unfriendly visits from the West of England and from Ireland: that howsoever it may please the Most High to shake our foundations, yet the report of your peaceable and prosperous plantations may be some refreshing to
Your true and faithful friends
NORTHUMBERLAND,
RO. HARLYE,
WM. MASHAM,
P. WHARTON,
THOS. BARRINGTON,
OB. St. JOHN,
JO. GURDON,
COR. HOLLAND,
J. BLAKISTON,
ISAAC PENNINGTON,
GIL. PYKERING,
MILES CORBET.