Journal of the Settlements of Massachusets and Other Colonies, Journal (5 of 8)

Journal of the Settlements of Massachusets and Other Colonies · Journal (5 of 8)

p. 147Another plantation was began and called Sandwich about 15 miles beyond Plimouth towards Cape Cod by many families which removed from Sagus, otherwise Linn.

Upon occasion of the censures of the court upon Mrs. Hutchinson and others, divers other foul errors were discovered which had been secretly carried by way of inquiry, but after were maintained by Mrs. Hutchinson and others, and so many of Boston were tainted with them, as Mr. Cotton finding how he had been abused, and made (as himself said) their stalking horse (for they pretended to hold nothing but what Mr. Cotton held and himself did think the same) did spend most of his time both publicly and privately, to discover these errors, and to reduce such as were gone astray. And also the magistrates calling together such of the elders as were near, did spend two days in consulting with them about the way to help the growing evils. Some of the secret opinions were these, That there is no inherent righteousness in a child of God— That neither absolute nor conditional praises belong to a christian—That we are not bound to the law not as a rule &c.—That the sabbath is but as other days—That the soul is mortal 'till it be united to Christ, and then it is annihilated, and the body also, and a new given by Christ —That there is no resurrection of the body.

Divers gentlemen and others being joined in a military company, desired to be made a corporation,Mo. 12. but the council considering from the example of the P…etorian band among the Romans and the templers in Europe, how dangerous it might be to erect a standing authority of military men, which might easily in time overthrow the civil power, thought fit to stop it betimes, yet they were allowed to be a company, but subordinate to all authority.

About this time the Indians which were in our families p. 148were much frighted with Hobbanock (as they called the Devil) appearing to them in divers shapes, and persuading them to forsake the English, and not to come at the assemblies, nor to learn to read &c.

26Mr. Pierce in the Salem …, the Desire, returned from the W. Indies after seven months. He had been at Providence and brought some cotton and tobacco and negroes &c. and salt from Tertugos. Dry fish and strong liquors are the only commodities for those parts. He met there two men of war set forth by the Lords &c. of Providence, with letters of marque who had taken divers prizes from the Spaniards▪ and many negroes.

Mo. 1.While Mrs. Hutchinson continued at Roxbury divers of the elders and others reso…ted to her, and finding her to persist in maintaining those gross errors beforementioned, and many others to the number of 30 or thereabout, some of them wrote to the church at Boston, offering to make proof of the same before the church &c. whereupon she was called (the magistrates being desired to give her licence to come) and the lecture was appointed to begin at 10.15 The general court being then at Newtown, the Governor and Treasurer, being members of Boston, were permitted to come down, but the rest of the court continued at Newtown. When she appeared the errors were read to her. The 1st. was, that the souls of men are mortal by generation, but after, made immortal by Christ's purchase. This she maintained a long time, but at length she was so clearly convinced by reason and scripture, and the whole church agreeing that sufficient had been delivered for her conviction, that she yielded she had been in an error. Then they proceeded to three other errors. 1. That there was no resurrection of these bodies▪ & that these bodies are not united to Christ, but every person united hath a new body &c. These were also clearly confuted, but yet she held her error, so as the church all, but two of her sons, agreed she should be admonished, and because her sons would not agree to it, they were admonished also. Mr. Cotton pronounced the sentence of admonition with great solemnity, and with much zeal and detestation of her errors and pride of spirit. The assembly continued 'till 8 at night, and all did acknowledge the special presence of God's spirit therein: and she was appointed to appear again the next lecture day.

While the general court sat, there came a letter directed p. 149to the court from John Green of Providence who not long before had been imprisoned and fined for saying that the magistrates had usurped upon the power of Christ in his church,1638. Mo. …and had persecuted Mr. Williams and another whom they had banished for disturbing the peace by divulging their opinions against the authority of the magistrates &c. but upon his submission, his fine was remitted, and now by his letter he retracted his former submission and charged the court as he had done before. Now because the court knew that divers others of Providence were of the same ill affection to the court, and were probably suspected to be confederate in the same letter; the court ordered that if any of that plantation were found within our jurisdiction, he should be brought before one of the magistrates, and if he would not disclaim the charge in the said letter, he should be sent home and charged to come no more into this jurisdiction upon pain of imprisonment and further censure.

At this court divers of our chief military officers who had declared themselves favorers of the familistical persons and opinions were sent for, and being told that the court having some jealousy of them for the same, and therefore did desire some general satisfaction from them, they did ingeniously acknowledge how they had been deceived and misled by the pretence which had been held forth of advancing Christ and debasing the creature, which since they had found to be otherwise, and that their opinions and practice led to disturbance and delusions, and so blessed God that had so timely discovered their error and danger to them.

At this court a committee was appointed of some magist…a…es, some ministers and some others to compile a body of fundamental laws. Also the elders who had been requested to deliver their judgment concerning the law of adultery, about which three had been kept long in prison, returned their answer with reasons thereof, to this effect—That if the law had been sufficiently published they ought to be put to death. Whereupon the court considering that there had been some dispute in that point, and especially for that it had been often questioned among the deputies and others whether that law were of force or not, being made by the court of assistants by allowance of the General Court, therefore it was thought safest that these three persons should be whipped and banished, and the law was confirmed and published.

p. 150The Castle Island being found to be very chargeable to maintain the garrison there, and of little use but only to have some command of ships which should come hither with passengers &c. there was a committee appointed to dispose of the ammunition there &c.Mo. 1.22

Mrs. Hutchinson appeared again. She had been licensed by the court, in regard she had given hope of her repentance, to be at Mr. Cotton's house, that both he and Mr. Davenport might have the more opportunity to deal with her, and the articles being again read to her, and her answer required, she delivered it in writing, wherein she made a retraction of near all, but with such explanations and circumstances as gave no satisfaction to the church, so as she was required to speak further to them. Then she declared that it was just with God to leave her to herself as he had done, for slighting his ordinances, both magistracy and ministry; and confessed that what she had spoken against the magistrates at the court by way of revelation, was rash and ungrounded▪ and desired the church to pray for her. This gave the church good hope of her repentance, but when she was examined about some particulars as that she had denied inherent righteousness &c. she affirmed that it was never her judgment: and though it was proved by many testimonies that she had been of that judgment, and so had persisted, and maintained it by argument against divers, yet she impudently persisted in her affirmation to the astonishment of all the assembly, so that after much time and many arguments had been spent to bring her to see her sin▪ but all in vain, the church with one consent cast her out. Some moved to have her admonished once more, but it being for manifest evil in matter of conversation, it was agreed otherwise; and for that reason also the sentence was denounced by the pastor, matter of manners belonging properly to his place. Af…r she was excommunicated, her spirit which seemed before to be somewhat dejected▪ revived again, and she gloried in her sufferings, saying that it was the greatest happiness next to Christ, that ever befel her. Indeed it was a happy day to the church of Christ here, and to many poor so…ls who had been seduced by her who by what they heard and saw that day, were, thro' the grace of God, brought off quite from her errors, and settled again in the truth.

At this time the good providence of God so disposed, divers of the congregation (being the chief men of the party, her husband being one) were gone to Naragansett p. 151to seek out a new place for plantation, and taking liking of one in Plimouth patent, they went thither to have it granted them, but the magistrates there knowing their spirit, gave them a denial, but consented they might buy of the Indians an Island in the Naragansett Bay.

After two or three days the Governor sent a warrant to Mrs. Hutchinson to depart this jurisdiction before the last of this month, according to the order of court, and for that end set her at liberty from her former constraint, so as she was not to go forth of her own house 'till her departure; and upon the 28th. she went by water to her farm at the Mount. where she was to take water with Mr. Wheelwright's wife and family to go to Piscat: but she changed her mind and went by land to Providence and so to the Island in the Naragansett Bay, which her husband and the rest of that sect had purchased of the indians and prepared with all speed to remove unto. For the court had ordered that except they were gone with their families by such a time, they should be summoned to the General Court.

Mr. Davenport & Mr. …dden & a brother of Mr. Ea…on being ministers also, went by water to Q…inepiack,30 & with them many families removed out of this jurisdiction to plant in those parts, being much taken with the opinion of the fruitfulness of that place, and more safety (as they conceived) from the danger of a General Governor, who was feared to be sent this summer; which tho' it were a great weakening to these parts, yet we expected to see a good providence of God in it (for all possible means had been used to accommodate them here. Charlestown offered them largely—Newbury their whole town—the court any place which was free) both for possessing those parts which lay open for an enemy, and for strengthening our friends at Connecticut, and for making room here for many who were expected out of England this year, and for diverting the thoughts and intentions of such in England as intended evil against us; whose designs might be frustrated by our scattering so far, and such as were now gone that way were as much in the eye of the state of England as we here.

There came letters from Connecticut to the Governor of the Massachusetts to desire advice from the magistrates and elders here about Sequin and the Indians of the river, who had underhand, as was conceived, procured the Pequods to do that at Wethersfield the last year. p. 152The case fell out to be this. Sequin gave the Englis… land there upon Connecticut that he might sit down by them and be protected. When he came to Wethersfield and had set down his wigwam they drave him away by force; whereupon he not being of strength to …epair this injury by open force, he secretly draws in the Pequods. Such of the magistrates and elders as could meet on the sudden returned this answer, viz. That if the cause were thus, Sequin might upon this injury first offered by them right himself either by force or fraud, and that by the law of nations; and tho' the damage he had done them had been one hundred times more than what he sustained from them, that is not considerable in point of a just war, neither was he bound, upon such an open act of hostility publickly maintained, to seek satisfaction first in a peaceable way, it was enough that he had complained of it as an injury and breach of covenant. According to this advice they proceeded and made a new agreement with the indians of the river.

Another plantation was now in hand at Mattakeese **Now Yarmouth.six miles beyond Sandwich. The undertaker of this was one Mr. Batchellor late pastor at Sagus (since called Linn) being about 76 years of age, yet he walked thither on foot in a very hard season. He and his company being all poor men, finding the difficulty, gave it over, and others undertook it.

The indians of Block Island sent three men with 10 fathom of wampom for part of their tribute.

The wife of one William Dyer a millener in the new exchange, a very promp and fair woman, and both of them notoriously infected with Mrs. Hutchinson's errors, and very censorious and troublesome, and she being of a very proud spirit and much addicted to revelations, had been delivered of a child some four months before, and the child buried (being still born) and viewed of none but Mrs. Hutchinson and the midwife one Hawkin's wife, a rank familist also▪ and another woman had a glimpse of it, who not being able to keep counsel, as the other two did, some rumour began to spread that the child was a monster. One of the elders hearing of it asked Mrs. Hutchinson when she was ready to depart▪ whereupon she told him how it was, and said she meant to have it chronicled, but excused her concealing of it until then, by advice (as she said) of Mr. Cotton, which coming to the Governor's knowledge, he called another of the magistrates p. 153and that elder, and sent for the midwife, and examined her about it. At first she confessed only that the head was defective and misplaced, but being told that Mrs. Hutchinson had recalled all, and that he intended to have it taken up and viewed, she made this report of it, viz. It was a woman child still born, about two months before the just time, having life a few hours before. It came hiplings 'till she turned it. It was of ordinary bigness—it had a face, but no head, and the ears stood upon the shoulders and were like an ape's. It had no forehead, but over the eyes four horns hard and sharp; two of them were about one inch long, the other two shorter— the eyes standing out and the mouth also—the nose hooked upwards—all over the breast and back full of sharp pricks and scales like a thornback.—The navel and all the belly with the distinction of the sex, were where the back should be, and the back and hips before where the belly should have been. Behind between the shoulders it had two mouths, and in each of them a piece of red flesh sticking out. It had arms and legs as other children, but instead of toes it had on each foot three claws like a young fowl with sharp talons.

The Governor speaking with Mr. Cotton about it, he told him the reason why he advised them to conceal it. 1. Because he saw a providence of God in it, that the rest of the women which were coming and going in the time of travail should then be absent. 2. He considered that if it had been his own case he should have desired to have had it concealed. 3. He had known other monstrous births which had been concealed, and that he thought God might intend only the instruction of the parents and such other to whom it was shown &c. The like apology he made for himself in public which was well accepted.

The Governor, with advice of some other of the magistrates and of the elders of Boston, caused the said monster to be taken up, and tho' it were much corrupted, yet most of these things were to be seen, as the horns and claws, the scales &c. When it died in the mother's body (which was about two hours before the birth) the bed whereon the mother lay did shake, and withal there was such a noisome Tavour as most of the women were taken with convulsions (which they never had before nor after) and so were sent for home, so as by these occasions it came to be concealed.

Another thing observable was the discovery of it, which was just when Mrs. Hutchinson was cast out of the p. 154church, for Mrs. Dyer going forth with her, a stranger asked what young woman it was, the other answered it was the woman which had the monster,Mo. 2. which gave the first occasion to some that heard it to speak of it. The midwife presently after this discovery went out of the jurisdiction, and indeed it was time for her to be gone, for it was known that she used to give young women oil of mandrakes and other stuff to cause conception; and she grew into great suspicion to be a witch, for it was credibly reported that when she gave any medicines (for she practised physic) she would ask the patient if she did believe she could help her &c.

Another observable passage was, that the father of this monster coming home at this very time, was the next Lords day questioned in the church for divers monstrous errors, as for denying all inherent righteousness &c. which he maintained, and was for the same admonished.

1…A general fast was kept thro' all the churches by advice from the court, for seeking the Lord to prevent evil that we feared to be intended against us from England by a general Governor—for the safe arrival of our friends from thence (very many being expected) and for establishment of peace and truth amongst us.

21Owsamekin the sachem of Acooemeck on this side Connecticut, came to the Governor and brought a present of eighteen skins of beaver from himself and the sachems of Mohegan beyond Connecticut, and Pakontuckett. The occasion was, (as he said) it was reported that we were angry with him, and intended to war upon them, so they came to seek peace. The Governor received the present, and having none of the other magistrates at hand to advise with, answered them, that if they had done no wrong to the English, nor aided our enemies, we would be at peace with them, and according signified so much to the magistrates at Connecticut. They took this answer well, and departed with the letter.

23This was a very hard winter. The snow lay from Nov. 4th. to March 23d. one and an half yard deep about the Massachusetts, and a yard deep beyond Merrimack, and so the more North the deeper, and the spring was very backward. This day it did snow two hours together (after much rain from N. East) with flakes as great as shillings. This was in the year 1637.

26Mr. Coddington who had been an assistant from the first coming over of the Governor, being with his wife, p. 155taken with the familistical opinions, removed to Aquiday Island in the Naragansett Bay.

At the court of elections the former Governor John Winthrop was chosen again.Mo. 3.2 The same day at night he was taken with a sharp fever which brought him near death, but many prayers were put up to the Lord for him, and he was restored after one month.

This court the name of Newtown was altered and it was called Cambridge.

The spring was so cold that men were forced to replant their corn two or three times, for it rotted in the ground▪ but when we feared a great dearth God sent a warm season▪ which brought on corn beyond expectation.

Between three and four in the afternoon,Mo. 4.1 being clear warm weather, the wind Westerly, there was a great earthquake; it came with a noise like a continued thunder, o… the rattling of coaches in London, but was presently gone. It was at Connecticut, at Naragansett, at Piscat: and all the parts round about. It shook the ships which rode in the harbour and all the Islands. The noise and the shaking continued about four minutes. The earth was unquiet 20 days after by times.

Unkus (alias Oko…o) the Mohegan sachem in the twist of Pequod river came to Boston with 37 men.5 He came from Connecticut with Mr. Haynes, and tendred the Governor a present of 20 fathom of wampom. This was at the court, and it was thought fit by the council to refuse it 'till he had given satisfaction about the Pequods he kept &c. Upon this he was much dejected, and made account we would have killed him, but two days after, having received good satisfaction of his inocency &c. and he promising to submit to the order of the English touching the Pequods he had, and the difference between the Naragansetts and him, we accepted his present. And about half an hour after he came to the Governor, and entertained him with these compliments. This heart (laying his hand upon his breast) is not mine but yours. I have no men, they are all yours. Command me any difficult thing, I will do it. I will not believe any indians words against the English. If any man shall kill an Englishman, I will put him to death were he ever so dear to me. So the Governor gave him a fair red coat, and defrayed his and his men's due, and gave them corn to relieve them homeward, and a letter of protection to all men &c. and he departed very joyful.

p. 156Many ships arrived this year with people of good quality and estate, notwithstanding the councils order that none should come without the King's licence,Mo. 4. but God so wrought that some obtained, and others came away without. The troubles which arose in Scotland about the book of common prayer, and the canons which the King would have forced upon the Scotch churches, did so take up the King and council that they had neither heart nor leisure to look after the affairs of New-England, yet upon report of the many thousands which were preparing to come away, the archbishops caused all ships to be stayed, but upon the petition of the masters, and suggestion of the great danger it would be to the commonwealth in hindering the Newfoundland trade, which brought in much money &c. they were presently released, and in this and other passages it plainly appeared that near all the Lords of the council did favor this plantation, and all the officers of the custom house were very ready to further it, for they never made search of any goods &c. but let men bring what they would without question or controul, for since the Lords avowed their party &c. they and others who favored not religion were amazed to see men of all conditions, rich and poor, servants and others, offering themselves so readily for New-England, when for furnishing of other plantations they were forced to send about their stalls, and when they had gotten any they were forced to keep them as prisoners from running away.Mo. 6.3

In the night was a very great tempest or hurricane at S.W. which drave a ship on ground at Charlestown and brake down the windmill there, and did much other harm, It flowed twice in six hours, and about Naragansett it raised the tide 14 or 15 foot above the ordinary spring tides, upright.

Janemoh the sachem of Nian…ick had gone to Long Island and rifled some of those indians which were tributaries to us. The sachem complained to our friends of Connecticut who wrote us about it, and sent Capt. Mason with seven men to require satisfaction. The Governor of Massachusetts wrote also to Mr. Williams to …reat with Miantonomoh about satisfaction, or otherwise to bid them look for war. Upon this Janemoh went to Connecticut and made his peace and gave full satisfaction for all injuries.

Two ships which came over this year much pestured, p. 157lost many passengers, and some principal men, and many fell sick after they were landed, and many of them died.Mo. 6.

Four servants of Plimouth ran from their masters, and coming to Providence, they killed an indian. He escaped after he was deadly wounded in the belly and got to other indians, so being discovered they fled and were taken at the Isle Aquiday. Mr. Williams gave notice to the Governor of Massachusetts and desired advice. He returned answer, that se…ing they were of Plimouth they should certify Plimouth of them, and if they would send for them to deliver them, otherwise, seeing no Englishman had jurisdictiction in the place where the murder was committed, neither had they at the Island any Governor established, it would be safest to deliver the principal (who was certainly known to have killed the party) to the Indians his friends, with caution that they should not put him to torture, and to keep the other three to further consideration. After this Plimouth men sent for them, but one had escaped, and the Governor there wrote to the Governor here for advice, especially for that he heard they intended to appeal into England. The Governor returned answer of encouragement to proceed notwithstanding seeing no appeal did lie, for that they could not be tried in England, and that the whole country here were interested in the case and would expect to see justice done, whereupon they proceeded as appears after.

Many of Boston and others who were of Mrs. Hutchinson's judgment and party removed to the Isle of Aquiday, and many who were of the rigid seperatists and savoured anabaptism removed to Providence, so as those parts began to be well peopled.

There came over this summer 20 ships, and at least, 300 persons, so as they were forced to look out new plantations. One was began at Merrimack and another four or five miles above Concord, and another at Winicowett.

The three prisoners being brought to Plimouth and examined, did all confess the murder, and that they did it to get his wampom &c. but all the question was about the death of the indian, for no man could witness that he saw him dead, but Mr. Williams and Mr. James of Providence made oath that his wound was mortal;—at last two indians, who with much difficulty were procred p. 158to come to the trial (for they still feared that the English were conspired to kill all the indians) made oath after this manner, viz. that if he were not dead of that wound then they would suffer death. Upon this they three were condemned and executed. Two of them died very penitently, especially Arthur Peach, a young man of good parentage and fair conditioned, and who had done very good service against the Pequods.

The fourth escaped to Piscat: the Governor sent after him, but those of Piscat: conveyed him away and openly withstood his apprehension. It was their usual manner (some of them) to countenance all such lewd persons as fled from us to them.

Mo. 7.The General Court was assembled, in which it was agreed, that whereas a very strict order was sent from the Lords Commissioners for plantations for the sending home our Patent, upon pretence that judgment had passed against it upon a Quo Warranto, a letter should be written by the Governor in the name of the court to excuse our not sending of it, for it was resolved to be best not to send it, because then such of our friends and others in England would conceive it to be surrendered, and that thereupon we should be bound to receive such a Governor and such orders as should be sent to us, and many bad minds, yea, and some weak ones among ourselves would think it lawful, if not necessary, to accept a General Governor. The copy of the letter is reserved &c. in form of a petition. See the after fol. pag.

At this court a law was made about such as should continue excommunicated six months, and for public thanksgiving for the arrival of the ships and for the coming in of harvest beyond expectation &c. This law was after repealed.

At this court also Capt. Underhill being about to remove to Mr. Wheelwright, petitioned for three hundred acres of land promised him formerly, by occasion whereof he was questioned about some speeches he had used in the ship lately in his return out of England, viz. that he should say that we were zealous here as the Scribes and Pharisees were, and as Paul was before his conversion &c. which he denying, they were proved to his face by a sober godly woman whom he had seduced in the ship, and drew to his opinion, but she was after freed again. Among other passages he told her how he came to his assurance, and that was thus—He had lain under p. 159a spirit of bondage and a legal way five years, and could get no assurance 'till at length as he was taking a pipe of tobacco,Mo. 7. the spirit set home an absolute promise of free grace, with such assurance and joy as he never since doubted of his good estate, neither should he, tho' he should fall into sin. He would not confess nor deny this, but took exceptions at the court for crediting one witne… against him, and withal said he was still of the same opinion he had been &c. whereupon he was demanded if he were of the same opinion he had been in about the petition or remonstrance, he answered yes, and that his retraction was only of the manner, not the matter. Whereupon his retraction which he had lately delivered to the Governor to be presented to this court was read, wherein he professeth how the Lord had brought him to see his sin in condemning the court and pasing the bounds of modesty and submission which is required in private persons &c. and in what trouble of spirit he had been for it. Upon this the court committed him for abusing the court with a shew of retraction and intending no such thing, and the next day he was called again and banished. The Lords day following he made a speech in the assembly, shewing that as the Lord was pleased to convert Paul, as he was in persecuting &c. so he might manifest himself to him as he was taking the moderate use of the creature called tobacco. He professed withal that he knew not wherein he had deserved the sentence of the court, and that he was sure that Christ was his &c. The elders reproved him for his speech, and Mr. Cotton told him that he brake a rule in condemning publickly the sentence of the court, before he had privately convinced the magistrates or some of them, and told him also that altho' God doth often lay a man under a spirit of bondage when he is walking in sin as Paul was, yet he never sends such a spirit of comfort but in an ordinance, as he did to the same Paul by Ananias, and so advised him well to examine the revelation and joy which he had.

The next Lord's day the same Capt. Underhill having been privately dealt with upon suspicion of incontinency with a neighbour's wife, and not hearkening to i…, was publickly questioned and put under admonition. The matter was, for that the woman being young and beautiful, and withal of a jovial spirit and behaviour he did daily frequent her house, and was divers times found there p. 160alone with her, the door being locked in the inside. He confessed it was ill because it had an appearance of evil in it, but his excuse was that the woman was in great trouble of mind and sore temptation, and that he resorted to her to comfort her, and that when the door was found locked upon them they were in private prayer together, but this practice was clearly condemned also by the elders, affirming that it had not been of good report for any of them to have done the like, and that they ought in such case to have called in some brother or sister, and not to have locked the door &c. They also declared that once he procured them to go visit her, telling them that she was in great trouble of mind, but when they came to her, taking her it seems upon the sudden, they perceived no such thing. See the issue of this after.

Mrs. Hutchinson being removed to the Isle of Aquiday in the Naragansett Bay, after her time was fulfilled that she expected deliverance of a child, was delivered of a monstrous birth, which being diversly related in the country, and in the open assembly at Boston upon a lecture day declared by Mr. Cotton to be, 27 singula frusta vel globulos seminis masculini sine ulla mutatione aut mixtura de femina—and thereupon gathered that it might signify her error in denying inherent righteousness, but that all was Christ in us, and nothing of ours in our faith, love &c. Hereupon the Governor wrote to Mr. Clark a physician and a preacher to those of the Island to know the certainty thereof, who returned him this answer. Mrs. Hutchinson, six weeks before her delivery, perceived her body to be greatly distempered, and her spirits failing, and in the regard doubtful of life, she sent to me &c. and not long after (in immoderate fluor and urine) it was brought to light, and I was called to see it, which I beheld first unwashed, and afterwards in warm water, several lumps, every one of them greatly confused, and if you consider each of them according to the representation of the whole, they were altogether without form, but if they were considered in respect of the parts of each lump of flesh, there was then a representation of innumerable distinct bodies in the form of a globe, not much unlike the skins of some fish, so confusedly knit together by so many several strings (which I conceive were the beginnings of veins and nerves) so that it was impossible either to number the small round pieces in every lump, p. 161much less to discern from whence every string did fetch its original, they were so snarled one with another. The small globes I likewise opened, and perceived the matter of them (setting aside the membrane in which they were involumed) to be partly wind and partly water. Of these several lumps there were about 26, according to the relation of those who more narrowly searched into the number of them. I took notice of six or seven of some bigness, the rest were small, but all, as I have declared, except one or two which differed much from the rest both in matter and form; and the whole was like the of the being simular and every where like itself. When I had opened it the matter seemed to be hard congealed.

The Governor not satisfied with this relation, spake after with the said Mr. Clark, who thus cleared all the doubts. The lumps were 26 or 27 distinct and not joined together; there came no secundines after them—six of them were as great as his fist, and one as great as his two fists; the rest each less than other, and the smallest about the bigness of the top of his thumb. The globes were round things included in the lumps, about the bigness of a small indian bean, and like the pearl in a man's eye. The two lumps which differed from the rest were like liver or congealed blood, and had no small globes in them as the rest had. Mr. Cotton next lecture day acknowledged his error, and that he had his information by a letter from her husband.

A ship of Barnstable arrived with about 80 passengers, near all western people.21 There came with them a godly minister, one Mr. Matthews. Here arrived a small Spanish frigate with hides and tallow, she was a prize taken by Capt. Newman who was set out with letters of marque by the Lords &c. of the Isle of Providence.

This year there came a letter from Mr. Thomas M… Clerk of the Council in England, directed to Mr. Winthrop the present Governor, and therein an order from the Lords Commissioners for foreign plantations (being all of the Council) wherein they straightly required the Patent to be sent home by the first ship. This letter and order were produced at the General Court last past, and there agreed not to send home the Patent, but to return answer to the Lords by way of humble petition, which was drawn up and sent accordingly. These instruments p. 162are all among the Governor's papers, and the effect of them would be here inserted.

25Being the third day of the week, and two days before the change, the wind having blown at N.E. all the day and rainy in the night, was a mighty tempest, and withal the highest tide which had been seen since our coming into this country, but thro' the good providence of God, it did little harm. About 14 days after the wind having been at N.W. and then calm turn, came in the greatest eastern sea which had been in our time. Mr. Pierce who came in a week after had that time a very great tempest three days at N. East.

A remarkable providence appeared in a case which was tried at the last court of assistants. Divers neighbours of Linn, by agreement, kept their cattle by turns. It fell out to the turn of one Gillow to keep them, and as he was driving them forth, another of these neighbours went along with him and kept so earnestly in talk that his cattle strayed and got in the corn, then this other neighbour left him and would not help him recover his cattle, but went and told another how he had kept Gillow in talk that he might lose his cattle &c. The cattle getting into the indian corn eat so much 'ere they could be gotten out, that two of them fell sick of it, and one of them died presently, and these two cows were that neighbours cows who had kept Gillow in talk, &c. The man brings his action against Gillow for his cow, not knowing that he had witness of his speech, but Gillow producing witness &c. barred him of his action, and had good cost &c.

The court taking into considaration the great disorder proceeding thro' the country in costliness of apparel, and following new fashions, sent for the elders of the churches, and conferred with them about it, and laid it upon them, as belonging to them to redress it, by urging it upon the consciences of their people, which they promised to do. But little was done about it, for divers of the elders wives &c. were in some measure partners in this general disorder.

8ber.About two years since, one Mr. Bernard a minister at Batcomb in Somers…tshire in England sent over two books in writing, one to the magistrates, and the other to the elders▪ wherein he laid down arguments against the manner of gathering our churches &c. which the elders could not answer 'till this time, by reason of the many p. 163troubles about Mrs. Hutchinson's opinions &c. Mr. Cotton also answered another book sent over in defence of set form of prayer. This I suppose was Mr. Balls' book.

About this time was very much rain and snow; in six weeks together, scarce two days …ithout rain or snow. This was observed by some … effect of the earthquake.

A church was gathered at Dedham with good approbation—and 28th Mr. P…ck ordained teacher at Hingham.9ber. 8

By order of the last general court the Governor wrote a letter to Mr. Burdet, …. Wiggin and another of the plantation of Piscat: … effect, That whereas there had been good corresp…ency between us formerly, we could not but be sensibl… of their entertaining and countenancing some that we had cast out, and that our purpose was to survey our utmost limits, and m…ke use of them. Mr. Burdet returned a scornful answer, and would not give the Governor his title &c. This was very ill taken, for that he was one of our body and sworn to our government, and a member of the church of Salem, so as the Governor was purposed to summon him to appear at our court to answer his contempt, but advising with the Deputy about it, he was dissuaded from it, the rather for that if he should suffer in this cause, it would ingratiate him more with the archbiship (with whom he had intelligence &c.) but his council was rather to undermine him by making him thoroughly known &c. to his friends in Piscat: and to take them from him. Whereupon the Governor wrote to Edward Hilton declaring his ill dealing, and sent a copy of his letter, and advising them to take heed how they put themselves under his power, but rather to give us a proof of their respect towards us &c.—He intimated withal how ill it would relish if they should advance Capt. Underhill whom we …ad cast out for abusing the court with framing a retraction both of his seditious practice and also of his corrupt opinions, and after, denying it again; and also for casting reproach upon our churches &c. signifying withal that he was now found to have been an unclean person, for h… was charged by a godly young woman to have sollicite …her chastity under pretence of christian love, and to have confessed to her that he had his will often times of the cooper's wife, and all out of p. 164strength of love, and the church had sent for him, and sent him a licence to come and go, under the hands of the Governor and Deputy, but he refused to come, excusing himself by letters to the elders, that the licence was not sufficient &c. and by letters to the Governor, that he had no rule to come answer to any offence, except his banishment were released, but to the matter he was charged with, he gave no answer, but sought an evasion. Piscat: men had chosen him their Governor before the letter came to them.

13The Governor went by water to Salem where he was entertained with all the respect that they could shew him. The 14th he returned by land, and they sent six of their military officers with carbines to guard him to Boston.

17Roger Herlakenden one of our magistrates, about 30 years of age, second son of Herlakenden of Karlscoke in Essex Esqr. died at Cambridge of the small pox. He was a very godly man and of good use both in commonwealth and in church. He was buried with military honor▪ bec…use he was Lieut. Colonel. He left behind a virtuous gentlewoman and two daughters. He died in great peace, and left a sweet memorial behind him of his piety and virtue.

Mo. 10.6Dorothy Talby was hanged at Boston for murdering her own daughter a child of three years old. She had been a member of the church of Salem and of good esteem for godliness &c. but falling at difference with her husband thro' melancholy or spiritual delusions, she sometimes attempted to kill him and her children and herself, by refusing water, saying it was so revealed to her &c. After much patience and divers admonitions, not prevailing, the church cast her out; whereupon she grew worse, so as the magistrates caused her to be whipped, whereupon she was reformed for a time, and carried herself more dutifully to her husband &c. but soon after she was so possessed with Satan, that he persuaded her by his delusions, which she listened to as revelations from God, to break the neck of her own child, that she might free it from future misery. This she confessed upon her apprehension, yet at her arraignment she stood mute a good space, 'till the Governor told her she should be pressed to death, and then she confessed the indictment. When she was to receive judgment she would not uncover her face nor stand up but as she was forced, nor give any testimony p. 165of her repentance, either then or at her execution. The cloth which should have covered her face she plucked off and put between the rope and her neck.Mo. 10. She desired to have been beheaded, giving this reason, that it was less painful and less shameful. After a swing or two she catched at the ladder. Mr. Peter her late pastor and Mr. Wilson went with her to the place of execution, but could do no good with her. Mr. Peter gave an exhortation to the people to take heed of revelations &c. and of despising the ordinance of excommunication as she had done; for when it was to have been denounced against her she turned her back, and would have gone forth if she had not been stayed by force.

One Capt. Newman being set forth with commission from the earl of Holland Governor of the Westminster company, and the earl of Warwick and others of the same company, to spoil the Spaniards within the limits of their gran… in the West Indies, after he had taken many of their small vessels &c. returned home by the Massachusetts in a small pinnace with which he had taken all the prizes (for his great ship was of no use for that purpose.) He brought many hides and much tallow. The hides he sold here for £17 10. the stone, the tallow at 29s the C. and set sail for England (10.) 1st.—He was cast away at with a very rich prize, in the great hurricance 1642.

A general fast was kept upon the motion of the elders to the Governor and Council.13 The chief occasion was the much sickness of pox and fevers spread thro' the country (…et …t was to the East and South also)—the apparent decay of power of religion, and the general declining of professors to the world &c. Mr. Cotton in his exercise that day at Boston did confess and bewail, as the churches, so his own security, sloth and credulity, whereupon so many and dangerous errors had gotten up and spread in the church, and went over all the particulars, and shewed how he came to be deceived;—the errors being framed in words, so were the truths which he had preached, and the falshood of the maintainers of them, who usually would deny to him what they had delivered to others &c. He acknowledged that such as had been seducers of others (instancing in some of those of the island, tho' he named them not) had been justly banished. Yet he said that such as had been only misled, and others who had done any thing out of a misguided conscience p. 166(not being greatly evil) should be borne withal, and first referred to the church, and if that could not heal them, they should rather be imprisoned, fined &c. than banished, tho' it was likely no other church would receive them.

Those who were gone with Mrs. Hutchinson to Aquiday fell into new errors daily. One Nic: Eason a tanner taught that gifts and graces were that Antichrist mentioned Thess. 2.2. that which witheld &c. was the preaching of the law, and that every of the elect had the Holy Ghost, and also the Devil indwelling. Another, one Herne taught that women had no souls, and that Adam was not created in true holiness &c. for then he could not have lost it.

Those who went to the falls of Piscataqua gathered a church and wrote to our church to desire us to dismiss Mr. Wheelwright to them for an officer, but because he desired it not himself, the elders did not propound it. Soon after came his own letter with theirs for his dismission, which thereupon was granted, and others likewise, upon their request, were also dismissed thither.

The Governor's letter to Mr. Hilton about Mr. Burdet and Capt Underhill, was by …em intercepted and opened; and thereupon they wrote presently into England against us; for they were extremely moved by the Governor's letter, but could take no advantage by it, for he made account when he wrote it, that Mr. Hilton would show it them. And upon this Capt. Underhill wrote a letter to Mr. Cotton, full of high and threatning words against us, but he wrote another at the same time to the Governor in very fair terms, intreating an obliterating of all that was past, and a bearing with human infirmities &c. disavowing all purpose of revenge &c. See after (1) 1639.

The devil would never cease to disturb our peace and to raise up insurgents one after another. Amongst the rest there was a woman in Salem, one Oliver his wife, who had sufferred somewhat in England for refusing to bow at the name of Jesus, tho' otherwise she was conformable to all their orders. She was for ability of speech and appearance of zeal and devotion, far before Mrs. Hutchinson, and so the fitter instrument to have done hurt, but that she was poor and had little acquaintance. She took offence at this, that she might not be admitted to the Lord's supper without giving public satisfaction p. 167to the church of her faith &c. and covenanting or professing to walk with them according to the rule of the gospel, so as upon the sacrament day she openly called fo… it, and stood to plead her right, tho' she were denied, and would not forbear before the magistrate Mr. Endicott did threaten to send the constable to put her forth. This woman was brought to the court for disturbing the peace in the church, and there she gave such peremptory answers as she was committed 'till she should find sureties for her good behaviour. After she had been in prison three or four days, she made to the Governor and submitted herself, and acknowledged her fault in disturbing the church:—whereupon he took her husband's bond for her good behaviour, and discharged her out of prison; but he found after, that she still held her former opinions, which were very dangerous. As 1. That the church is the head of the people, both magistrates and ministers met together, and that these have power to ordain ministers &c. 2. That all that dwell in the same town and will profess their faith in Christ Jesus ought to be received to the sacraments there, and that she was persuaded that if Paul were at Salem he would call all the inhabitants there saints. 3. That excommunication is no other but where christians withdraw private communion from one that hath offended,

About five years after this woman was adjudged to be whipped for reproaching the magistrates. She stood without tying, and bore her punishment with a masculine spirit, glorying in her suffering. But after when she came to consider the reproach which would stick by her &c. she was much dejected about it. She had a cleft stick put on her tongue half an hour for reproaching the elders. (6) 1646.

At Providence also the Devil was not idle. For whereas at their first coming thither Mr. William's and the rest did make an order that no man should be molested for his conscience, now men's wives and children and servans claimed liberty hereby to go to all religious meetings, tho' never so often, or tho' private upon the week days; and because one Udrin refused to let his wife go to Mr. Williams so often as she was called for, they required to have him censured. But there stood up one Arnold a witty man of their own company, and withstood it, telling them that when he consented to that order, he never intended it should extend to the breach of p. 168any ordinance of God such as the submission of wives to their husbands &c. and gave divers solid reasons against it. Then one Green (who hath married the wife of one Beggerly, whose husband is living, and no divorce, but only it was said that he lived in adultery and had confessed it) he replied, that if they should restrain their wives &c. all the women in the country would cry out of them. Arnold answered him thus. Did you pretend to leave Massachusetts because you would not offend God to please men, and would you now break an ordinance and commandment to please women? Some were of opinion that if Udrin would not suffer his wife to have her liberty, the church should dispose her to some other man who would use her better. Arnold told them that it was not the woman's desire to go so often from home, but only Mr. Williams' and others. In court after, when they would have censured Udrin, Arnold told them that it was against their own order, for Udrin did that, and did it out of conscience, and their order was that no man should be censured for his conscience.

Another plot the old serpent had against us by sowing jealousies and differences between us and our friends at Connecticut and also Plimouth. This latter was about our bounds. They had planted Scituate, and had given out all the lands to Conyhassett. We desired only so much of the marshes there as might accommodate Hingham, which being denied, we caused Charles River to be surveyed, and found it came so far southward as would fetch in Scituate and Concord, but this was referred to a meeting between us.

The differences between us and those of Connecticut were divers, but the ground of all was their sickness of coming under our government, which tho' we never intended to make them subordinate to us, yet they were very jealous, and therefore in the articles of confederation which we propounded to them, and whereby order was taken that all differences which might fall out should be ended by way of peace, and never to come to a necessity or danger of force: they did so alter the chief article as all would have come to nothing. For whereas the article was, That upon any matter of difference, two, three or more commissioners of every of the confederate colonies should assemble, and have absolute power (the greater number of them) to determine the matter: they would have them only to meet, and if they could agree, so; if p. 169not then to report to their several colonies, and to return with their advice, and so to go on 'till the matter might be agreed, which besides that it would have been infinitely tedious and extremely chargeable, it would never have attained the end, for it was very unlikely that all the churches in all the plantations would ever have acco…ded upon the same propositions.

These articles with their alterations, they sent to our general court at Newtown the of the 5th. by Mr. Haynes, Mr. Pincheon and Jo: Steele. The court finding their alteration, and the inconveniences thereof, would take the like liberty to add and alter (for the articles were drawn only by some of the council and never allowed by the court.) This they excepted against, and would have restrained us of that liberty which they took themselves: and one of their three commissioners falling in debate with some of our deputies, said that they would not meddle with any thing that was within our limits; which being reported to the court, they thought it seasonable we should stand upon our right, so as tho' we were formerly willing that Agawam (now Springfield) should have fallen into their government, yet seeing they would not be beholden to us for any thing, we intended to keep it, and accordingly we put it in as an article that the line between us should be one way the Pequod river, viz. South and North, and the other way, viz. E. and W. the limits of our own grant. And this article we added, That we should have liberty to pass to and fro upon Connecticut, and they likewise. To these articles all their commissioners offered to consent, but it was thought by our court (because of the new articles) that they should first acquaint their own court with it▪ and so their Commissioners departed.

After this we understood that they went on to exercise their authority at Agawam; whereupon the Governor wrote to him to desire them to forbear untill the line were laid out, with advice about some other things, as by the copy of the letter appears. After a long time Mr. Ludlow, in the name of their court, returned answer, which was very harsh—in fine declared that they thought it not fit to treat any further before they had advice from the gentlemen of Say brook &c. The Governor acquainted the council and magistrates with this letter; and because they had tied our hands, in a manner, from replying, he wrote a private letter to Mr. Haynes, wherein p. 170he lays open their mistakes (as he called them) and the apparent causes of offence which they had given us; as by disinclining the Naragansetts to be bound by our former agreement with them (which they would never make sure of 'till the wars were ended) by making a treaty of agreement with the Naragansetts and the Monhegans, without joining us, or mentioning us to that end, tho' we had by letter given them liberty to take us in, and by binding all the indians who had received any Pequods, to pay tribute for them all to them of Connecticut &c. All these things are clearly to be seen in the letters.

15The wind at N.E. there was so great a tempest of wind and snow all the night, and the next day, as had not been since our time. Five men and youths perished between Mattapam and Dorchester, and a man and a woman between Boston and Roxbury. Arthur Dick in a bark of 30 tons cast away upon the head of Cape Cod. Three were starved to death with the cold, the other two got some fire and so lived there by such food as they saved. 7 weeks, 'till an indian found them. Two vessels bound for Quinipiack were cast away at Aquiday, but the people saved. Much other harm was done in staving of boats &c. and by the great tides which exceeded all before. This happened the day after a general fast, which occasioned some of our ministers to stir us up to seek the Lord better, because he seemed to discountenance the means of our reconciliation. Whereupon the next general court, by advice of the elders, agreed to keep another day, and to seek further into the causes of such displeasure &c. which accordingly was performed.

Mo. 11.14The earthquake which had continued at times since the 1st. of the 4th. was more generally felt, and the same noise heard in many places.

30A church was gathered at Weymouth with approbation of the magistrates and elders. It is observeable this church having been gathered before, and so that of Linne, could not hold together▪ nor could have any elders join or hold with them. The reason appeared to be because they did not begin according to the rule of the gospel, which when Linn… had found and humbled themselves for it, and began again upon a new foundation, they went on with a blessing.

The people of this town of Weymouth had invited one Mr. Leathall to come to them, with intention to call him to be their minister. This man tho' of good report in p. 171England, coming hither, was found to have drank in some of Mrs. Hutchinson's opinions, as of justification before faith &c. and opposed the gathering of our churches in such a way of mutual stipulation as was practised among us.Mo. 11. From the former he was soon taken off upon conference with Mr. Cotton, but he stuck close to the other, that only baptism was the door of entrance into the church &c. so as the common sort of people did eagerly embrace his opinions, and some laboured to get such a church on foot as all baptized ones might communicate in without any further trial of them &c. For this end they procured many hands in Weymouth to a blank, intending to have Mr. Leathall's advice to the form of their call, and he likewise was very forward to become a minister to them in such a way, and did openly maintain the cause; but the magistrates hearing of this disturbance and combination thought it needful to stop it betimes, and so they called Mr. Leathall, and some of the chief of the faction to the next general court in the 1st Month, where Mr. Leathall, having before conferred with some of the magistrates and of the elders, and being convinced both of his error in judgment, and of his sin in practice the disturbance of our peace &c. did openly and freely retract, with expression of much grief of heart for his offence, and did deliver his retraction in writing under his hand in the open court. Whereupon he was injoined to appear at the next court, and in the mean time to make and deliver the like recantation in some public assembly at Weymouth. So the court stopped for any further censure by fine or &c. though it was much urged by some.

At the same court one Smith was convicted and fined twenty pounds for being a chief stirrer in the business, and one Silvester was disfranchised, and one Britton who had spoken reproachfully of the answer which was sent out to Mr. Barnard his book against our church covenant and of some of our elders, and had sided with Mr. Leathall &c. was openly whipped, because he had no estate to answer.

A printing house was begun at Cambridge by one Daye at the charge of Mr Glover who died on sea hitherward.Mo. 1. The first thing which was printed was the freeman's oath, the next was an almanack made for New England by Mr. Peirce, mariner—the next was the psalms newly turned into metre.

p. 1721639.Another plantation was began upon the N. side of Merrimack, called Sarisbury—another at Winicowett called Hampton,Mo. 1. which gave occasion of sore difference between us and some of Piscat: which grew thus. Mr. Wheelwright being banished from us gathered a company and sat down by the falls of Piscat: and called their town Exeter, and for their enlargement they dealt with an indian there, and bought of him Winicowett, and then wrote to us what they had done, and that they intended to lot out all these lands in farms, except we could shew a better title. They wrote also to those whom we had sent to plant Winicowett to have them desist &c. These letters coming to the General Court, they returned answer▪ that they looked at this their dealing as against good neighbourhood, religion and common honesty—that knowing we claimed Winicowett as within our patent, or as vacuum domicilium, and had taken possession thereof by building an house there above two years since, they should now go and purchase an unknown title and then come to deny of our right. It was in the same letter also manifestly proved, that the indians having only a natural right to so much land as they had or could improve, so as the rest of the country lay open to any that could and would improve it, as by said letter more at large doth appear.

In this year one James Everett a sober, discreet man, and two others saw a great light in the night at Muddy River; when it stood still it flamed up, and was about three yards square, when it ran it was contracted into the figure of a swine, it ran as swift as an arrow towards Charlestown, and so up and down about 2 or 3 hours. They were come down in their lighter about a mile, and when it was over they found themselves carried quite back against the tide to the place they came from. Divers other credible persons saw the same light after about the same place.

The General Court in the 7th Mo. last gave order to the Governor to write to them of Piscat: to signify to them that we looked at it as an unneighbourly part that they should encourage and advance such as we had cast out from us for their offences, before they had inquired of us the cause. The occasion of this letter was that they had aided Mr. Wheelwright to begin a plantation there, and intended to make Capt. Underhill their Governor i… the room of Mr. Burdett, who had thrust out Capt. Wiggin p. 173set in there by the lords &c. Upon this, Capt. Underhill (being chosen Governor there) wrote a letter to a young gentleman who sojourned in the house of our Governor, wherein he reviles our Governor with reproachful terms and imprecations of vengeance upon us all. This letter being shewed to the Governor and Council▪ the Governor, by advice, wrote the letter to Edward Hilton as is before mentioned, pag. Mo. 10.13—The Capt. was so nettled with this letter, and especially, because his adulterous life with the coopers wife at Boston was now discovered, and the church had called him to come and make answer to it; but he made many excuses, as want of liberty, being a banished man▪ yet the Governor and Council had sent him a safe conduct, and upon his presence of the insufficiency of that, the General Court sent him another for three months, but instead of coming, he procured a new church at Pisca…aqua of some few loose men (who had chosen one Mr. Knolles a weak minister lately come out of England and rejected by us, for holding some of Mrs. Hutchinson's opinions) to write to our church at Boston in his commendation, wherein they stile him The Right Worshipful their Honored Governor, all which, notwithstanding, the church of Boston proceeded with him; and in the mean time the General Court wrote to all the chief inhabitants of Piscat: and sent them a copy of his letters (wherein he professeth himself to be an instrument ordained of God for our ruin) to know whether it were with their privity and consent that he sent us such a defiance; and whether they would maintain him in such practices against us. Those of Piscat: returned answer to us by two several letters— those of the plantation disclaimed to have any hand in his miscarriages &c. and offered to call him to account whensoever we would send any to inform against him. The others at the river's mouth disclaimed likewise, and shewed their indignation against him for his insolences, and their readiness to join in any fair course for our satisfaction; only they desired us to have some compassion of him, and not to send any forces against him.

After this Capt. Underhill's courage was abated, for the chiefest in the river fell from him, and the rest little regarded him, so as he wrote letters of retraction to divers, and to shew his wisdom, he wrote a letter to the Deputy and the Court, not mentioning the Governor, wherein he sent the copies of some of the Governor's letters to p. 174Piscat: supposing that something would appear in them either to extenuate his fault or to lay blame upon the Governor, but he failed in both, for the Governor was able to make good what he had written.

16There was so violent a wind at S.S.E. and S. as the like was not since we came into this land. It began in the evening and increased 'till midnight▪ it overturned some new strong houses, but the Lord miraculously preserved old weak cottages. It tare down fences—people came out of their houses in the night. There came such a rain withal, as raised the waters at Connecticut 20 feet above their meadows.

The indians near Aquiday being pawwawing in this tempest, the Devil came and fetched away five of them▪ Query.

At Providence things grew still worse for a sister of Mrs. Hutchinson, the wife of one Scott being infected with Anabaptistry, and going last year to live at Providence, Mr. Williams was taken or rather emboldened by her to make open profession thereof, and accordingly was rebaptised by one Holyman a poor man late of Salem. Then Mr. Williams rebaptised him and some ten more. They also denied the baptising of infants, and would have no magistrates.

At Aquiday also Mrs. Hutchinson exercised publickly, and she and her party, some three or four families, would have no magistracy. She sent also an admonition to the church of Boston, but the elders would not read it publickly, because she was excommunicated. By these examples we may see how dangerous it is to slight the censures of the church, for it was apparent that God had given them up to strong delusions. Those of Aquiday also had entertained two men whom the church of Roxbury had excommunicated, and one of them did exercise publickly there. For this the church of Boston called in question such of them as were yet their members, and Mr. Coddington being present; not freely acknowledging his sin, tho he confessed himself in some fault, was solemnly admonished.

This is further to be observed in the delusions which this people were taken with. Mrs. Hutchinson and some of her adherents happened to be at prayer when the earthquake was at Aquiday &c. and the house being shaken thereby, they were pursuaded and boasted of it, that p. 175the Holy Ghost did shake it in coming down upon them, as he did upon the apostles.

A plantation was began between Ipswich and Newbury; the occasion was this.Mo. 2. Mr. Eaton and Mr. Davenport having determined to sit down at Quinipiack, there came over one Ez. Rogers, second son of that truly faithful servant of God, Mr. Richard Rogers of Wethersfield in England, and with him some 20 families, godly men, and most of them of good estate. This Mr. Rogers being a man of special note in England for his zeal, piety, and other parts, they laboured by all means to draw him to Quinipiack, and had so far prevailed with him (being newly come, and unacquainted with the state of the country) as they had engaged him, yet being a very wise man, and considering that many of quality in England did depend upon his choice of a fit place for them, he agreed upon such proposals and cautions, as tho' they promised to fulfill them all (whereupon he sent divers of his people thither before winter) yet when it came to they were not able to make good what they had promised. Whereupon he consulted with the elders of the Bay, and by their advice &c. holding his former engagement released, he and his people took that place by Ipswich and because some farms had been granted by Ipswich and Newbury, which would be prejudicial to their plantation, they bought out the owners, disbursing therein about £800—and he sent a pinnace to Quinipiack to fetch back the rest of his people; but Mr. Eaton and Mr. Davenport and others of Connecticut being impatient of the loss of him and his people, staid the pinnace and sent a messenger with letters of purpose to recover him again. This made him to desire the elders to assemble again, and he shewed them the letters they sent, which wanted no arguments, tho' some truth, but he made the case so clear by letter which had passed between them &c. as they held him still free from all engagement, and so he returned answer to them and went on with his plantation.

The indians of Block Island sent for their tribute this year, ten fathom of Wampompeague.

One Mr. Howe of Linne a godly man and deputy of the last General Court, after the court was ended, and he had dined, being in health as he used to be, went to pass over to Charlestown, and being alone, he was presently after found dead upon the strand, being there, as it seemed waiting for the boat which came soon after.

p. 176Mr. Cotton preaching out of the 8. of Kings 8. taught, that when magistrates are forced to provide for the maintenance of ministers,Mo. 3.2 then the churches are in a declining condition: there he shewed that the ministers maintemance should be by voluntary contribution, not by lands or revenues or tithes &c. for these things had always been accompanied with pride, contention and sloth.

11The two chief sachems of Naragansett sent the Governor a present of 30 fathom of Wampom, and Sequin the sachem of Connecticut sent 10 fathom.

At Aquiday the people grew very tumultuous and put out Mr. Coddington and the other three magistrates, and chose Mr. William Hutchinson only, a man of a very mild temper and weak parts, and wholly guided by his wife, who had been the beginner of all the former troubles in the country, and still continued to breed disturbance. They also gathered a church in a very disorderly way, for they took some excommunicated persons, and others who were members of the church of Boston and not dismissed.

The two regiments in the bay were mustered at Boston to the number of one thousand soldiers, able men and well armed and exercised. They were headed, the one by the Governor who was General of all, and the other by the Deputy who was Colonel. The captains &c. shewed themselves very skilful and ready in divers sorts of skirmishes …nd other military actions, wherein they spent the whole day.

One of Piscat: having opportunity to go into Mr. Burdet his study, and finding there the copy of his letter to the archbishops▪ sent it to the Governor, which was to this effect.—That he did delay to go into England, because he would fully inform himself of the state of the people here in regard of allegiance, and that it was not discipline that was now so much aimed at as sovereignty, and that it was accounted piracy and treason in our General Court to speak of appeals to the King.

The first ships which came this year brought him letters from the archbishops and the lords commissioners for plantations, wherein they gave him thanks for his care of his Majesty's service &c. and that they would take a time to redress such disorders as he had informed them of: but by reason of the much business which now lay upon them they could not at present accomplish his desire. p. 177These letters lay above fourteen days in the Bay, and some moved the Governor to open them, but himself and others of the council thought it not safe to meddle with them, nor would take any notice of them,Mo. 3. and it fell out well by God's good providence, for the letters, by some means, were opened, yet without any of their privity or consent, and Mr. Burdett threated to complain of it to the Lords; and afterwards we had knowledge of the contents of them by some of his own friends.

The Governor received letters from Mr. Cradock, and in them an other order from the lords commissioners, to this effect—That whereas they had received our petition upon their former order &c. by which they perceived that we were taken with some jealousies and fears of their intentions &c. they did accept of our answer, and did now declare their intentions to be only to regulate all plantations to be subordinate to the said commission, and that they meant to continue our liberties, and therefore did now again peremptorily require the Governor to send them our patent by the first ship, and that in the meantime they did give us by that order full power to go on in the government of the people, untill we had a new patent sent us; and withal they added threats of further course to be taken with us if we failed.

This order being imparted to the next General Court, some advised to return answer to it—others thought fitter to make no answer at all, because being sent in a private letter, and not delivered by a certain messenger as the former order was, they could not proceed upon it, because they could not have any proof that it was delivered to the Governor, seeing his master had not laid any charge upon him to that end.

Mr. Haynes the Governor of Connecticut and Mr. Hooker &c. came into the Bay, and staid near a month. It appeared by them that they were desirous to renew the treaty of confederation with us, and though themselves would not move it, yet by their means it was moved by our General Court and accepted, for they were in some doubt of the Dutch who had lately received a new Governor, a more discreet and sober man than the former, and one who did complain much of the injury done to them at Connecticut, and was very forward to hold correspondency with us, and very inquisitive how things stood between us and them of Connecticut, which occasioned p. 178us the more readily to renew the former treaty, that the Dutch might not take notice of any breach or alienation between us.

22The Court of Elections was, at which time there was a small eclipse of the sun. Mr. Winthrop was chosen Governor again, tho' some labouring had been by some of the elders to have changed, not out of any dislike of him, for they all loved and esteemed him, but out of their fear les… it might make way for having a Governor for life, which some had propounded as most agreeable to God's institution and the practice of all well ordered states. But neither the Governor nor any other attempted the thing, tho' some jealousies arose which were increased by two occasions. The first was, there being want of assistants, the Governor and other magistrates thought fit in the warrant for the court, to propound three, amongst which Mr. Downing the Governor's brother in law was one, which they conceived to be done to strengthen his party, and therefore, tho' he were known to be a very able man, and one who had done many good offices for the country for these ten years, yet the people would not choose him. Another occasion of their jealousy was—The court finding the number of deputies to be much increased by the addition of new plantations, thought fit, for the ease both of the country and the court, to reduce all towns to two deputies. This occasioned some to fear that the magistrates intended to make themselves stronger, and the deputies weaker, and so in time to bring all power into the hands of the magistrates, so as the people in some towns were much displeased with their deputies for yielding to such an order: Whereupon at the next session it was propounded to have the number of deputies restored, and allegations were made that it was an infringement of their liberty, so as after much debate and such reasons given for diminishing the number of deputies, and clearly proved that their liberty consisted not in the number▪ but in the thing, divers of the deputies who came with intent to reverse the last order, were by force of reason, brought to uphold it; so that when it was put to the vote, the last order for two deputies only was confirmed, yet the next day a petition was brought to the court from the freemen of Roxbury to have the three deputies restored▪ whereupon the reasons of the court's proceedings were set down in writing, and all objections answered and sent to such towns as were p. 179dissatisfied, with this advice, that if any could take away those reasons, or bring us better for what they did desire, we should be ready at the next court to repeal the said order.

The hands of some of the elders, learned and godly men, were to this petition, tho suddenly drawn in, and without due consideration, for the lawfulness of it may well be questioned: for when the people have chosen men to be their rulers and to make their laws, and bound themselves by oath to submit thereto, now to combine together (a lesser part of them) in a public petition to have any order repealed which is not repugnant to the law of God, savours of resisting an ordinance of God, for the people having deputed others, have no power to make or alter laws, but are to be subject; and if any such order seem unlawful or inconvenient, they had better prefer some reasons to the court with manifestation of their desire to move them to a review, than peremptorily to petition to have it repealed, which amounts to a plain reproof of those whom God hath set over them, and putting dishonor upon them against the tenor of the fifth commandment.

There fell out at this court another occasion of increasing the people's jealousy of their magistrates, viz. One of the elders being present with those of his church when they were to prepare their votes for the election, declared his judgment that a Governor ought to be for his life, alledging for his authority the practice of all the best commonwealths in Europe, and especially that of Israel by God's own ordinance, but this was opposed by some other of the elders with much zeal, and so notice was taken of it by the people, not as a matter of dispute, but as if there had been some plot to put it in practice, which did occasion the deputies at the next session of this court to deliver in an order drawn to this effect.—That whereas our sovereign Lord King Charles, had by his patent established a Governor, Deputy and Assistants, that therefore no person chosen a counseller should have any authority as magistrate, except he were chosen in the annual elections to one o… the said places of mgistracy established by the said patent. This being thus bluntly tendred (no mention being made thereof before) the Governor took time to consider of it before he would put it to vote; so when the court was risen, the magistrates advised of it p. 180and drew up another order to this effect.—That whereas at the court in it was ordered that a certain number of magistrates should be chosen to be a standing council for life &c. whereupon some had gathered that we had erected a new order of magistrates not warranted by our patent—this court doth therefore declare that the intent of the said order was, that the said standing council should always be chosen out of the magistrates &c. and therefore it is now ordered that no such counsellor shall have any power as a magistrate, or shall do any act as a magistrate &c. except he be annually chosen according to the patent; and this order was after passed by vote. That which led those of the council to yield to this desire of the deputies was. because it concerned themselves, and they did more study to remove those jealousies out of the people's heads, than to preserve any power or dignity to themselves above others, for 'till this court those of the council, viz. Mr. Endicott, had stood and executed as a magistrate without any annual election, and so they had been reported by the elders and all the people 'till this present. But the order was drawn up in this form that it might be of less observation, and freeer from any note of injury to make this alteration rather by way of explanation of the fundamental order, than without any cause shewn to repeal that which had been established by serious advice of the elders, and had been in practice two or three years without any inconvenience. And here may be observed how strictly the people would seem to stick to their patent where they think it makes for their advantage, but are content to decline it where it will not warrant such liberties as they have taken up without warrant from thence, as appears in their strife for three deputies &c whereas the patent allows them none at all, but only by inference, voting by proxies &c.

The Governor acquainted the General Court that in these two last years of his government he had received from the indians in presents, to the value of about £40. and that he had spent about £20. in entertainment of them and in presents to their Sachems &c. The court declared that the presents were the Governor's due, but the tribute was to be paid to the treasurer.

Mo. 4.15Mr. Endicott and Mr. Stoughton, commissioners for us, and Mr. Bradford and Mr. Winslow for Plimouth, met at Hingham about deciding the difference between us concerning bounds. Our comissioners had full power p. 181to determine &c. but theirs had not, altho' they had notice of it long before, and themselves had appointed the day:Mo. 4. Whereupon the court ordered that those of Hingham should make use of all the lands near Conyhassett to the crook next Scituate 'till the court should take further order; and a letter was directed to the Governor at Plimouth to the same effect, with declaration of the reasons of our proceeding, and readiness to give them a further meeting. The charges of their commissioners diet were defrayed by us, because they met us within our own jurisdiction.

Those of Exeter replied to our answer, standing still to maintain the indians' right and their interest thereby. But in the mean time we had sent men to discover Merrimack, and found some part of it about Penkook to lie more northerly than 43 ½. We returned answer to them, that tho' we would not relinquish our interest by priority of possession for any right they could have from the indians, yet seeing they had professed not to claim any thing which should fall within our patent, we would look no further than that in respect of their claim.

One Mr. Ryall having gotten a patent at Sagadaho… out of the grand patent, wrote to our Governor and tendered it to our government, so as we would send people to possess it. The Governor acquainted the general court with it, but nothing was done about it, for we were not ready for such a business, having enough besides at home.

Mr. Hooker being to preach at Cambridge,26 the Governor and many others went to hear him (tho' the Governor did very seldom go from his own congregation upon the Lord's day.) He preached in the afternoon, and having gone on with much strength of voice and intention of spirit about a quarter of an hour, he was at a st…d, and told the people that God had deprived him both of his strength and matter &c. and so went forth, and about half an hour after returned again and went on to very good purpose about two hours.

There was at this time a very great dearth all over the country both east and west, there being little or no rain from the 26th of the 2d month to the 10th of the 4th, so as the corn generally began to wither, and great fear there was it would all be lost. Whereupon the general court conferred with the elders, and agreed upon a day of humiliation about a weak after. The very day after the p. 182stast was appointed there fell a good shower, and within one week after the day of humiliation was past we had such store of rain, and so seasonably, as the corn revived and gave hope of a very plentiful harvest. When the court and the elders were met about it, they conferred of such things as were amiss which might provoke God against us, and agreed to acquaint their churches therewith that they might be stirred up to bewail and reform them.

We were much afraid this year of a step in England by reason of the complaints which had been sent against us, and the great displeasure which the archbishops, and other the commissioners for plantations had conceived and uttered against us both for those complaints, and also for our not sending home our patent. But the Lord wrought for us beyond all expectation, for the petition which we returned in answer of the order sent for our patent was read before the lords and well accepted, as is before expressed; and ships came to us from England and divers other parts with great store of people and provisions of all sorts.

About this time our people came from Isle Sable; a bark went for them the 2d of the 1st month, but by foul weather she was wrecked there, and of her ruins they made a small one wherein they returned. It was found to be a great error to send thither before the middle of the 2d month. They had gotten store of seal, oil and skins, and some horse teeth and black fox skins: but the loss of the vessel &c. overthrew the hope of the design. The island is very healthful and temperate. We lost not one man in two years, nor any sick &c.

Mo. 5.The rent at Connecticut grew greater notwithstanding the great pains we had been taking for healing it, so as the Church of Weathersfield itself was not only divided from the rest of the town &c. but of those seven which were the church, four fell off, so as it was conceived that thereby the church was dissolved, which occasioned the church of Watertown here (which had divers of her members there not yet … send two of their church to look after their members, and to take order with them. But the contention and alienation of minds was such as they could not bring them to any other accord than this, that the one party must remove to some other place, which they both consented to, but still the difficulty remained, for those three who pretended themselves p. 183to be the church pleaded that privilege for their stay, and the others alledged their multitude &c. so as neither would give place, whereby it seemed,Mo. 5. that either they minded not the example of Abraham's offer to Lot, or else they wanted Abraham's spirit of peace and love.

This controversy having called in Mr. Davenport and others of Quilipiack, for mediation, and they not according with those of Connecticut about the case, gave advantage to satan to straw some seeds of contention between those plantations also, but being godly and wise men on both parts, things were easily reconciled.

In this month there arrived two ships of Quilipiack, one was of 350 tons, wherein came Mr. Fenwick and his lady and family to make a plantation at Saybrook upon the mouth of Connecticut. Two other plantations were began beyond Quilipiack, and every plantation intended a peculiar government.

There were also divers new plantations begun this summer here and at Plimouth—as Colchester upon Merrimack—Sudbury by Concord—(Winicowett was named Hampton)—Yarmouth and Barnstaple by Cape Cod.

Capt. Underhill having been dealt with and convinced of his great sin against God and the churches and state here &c. returned to a better mind, and wrote divers letters to the Governor and Deputy &c. bewailing his offences, and craving pardon. See after.

There was sent to the Governor a copy of a letter written into England by Mr. Hanyard Knolles of Piscat: wherein he had most falsly slandered this government, as that it was worse than the high commission &c. and that here was nothing but oppression, and not so much as a face of religion. The Governor acquainted one of Piscat: Mr. Knolles his special friend with it, whereupon Mr. Knolles became very much perplexed, and wrote to the Governor acknowleding the wrong he had done us, and desired that his retraction might be published. The Governor sent his letter into England and kept a copy of it. See more of this after.

At Providence matters went after the old manner. Mr. Williams and many of his company a some months since were in all haste rebaptized and denied communion with all others, and now he was come to question his second baptism, not being able to derive the authority of it from the apostles, otherwise than by the ministers of England (whom he judged to be ill authority) so as he conceived p. 184God would raise up some apostolic power, therefore he bent himself that way, expecting (as was supposed) to become an apostle, and having no title before, refused communion with all save his own wife—now he would preach and pray with all comers: whereupon some of his followers left him and returned back from whence they went.

6.27.There came a small bark from the W. Indies, one Capt. Sackett in her with commission from the Westminster company to take prizes from the Sp…niards. He brought much wealth in money, plate, indigo and sugar. He sold his indigo and sugar here for £1400. whereby he furnished himself with commodities and departed again for the W. Indies.

A fishing trade was began at Cape Anne by one Mr. Maverick Tomson a merchant of London, and an order was made that all stocks employed in fishing should be free from public charge for seven years. This was not done to encourage foreigners to set up fishing among us, for all the gains would be returned to the place where they dwelt, but to encourage our own people to set upon it, and in expectation that Mr. Tomson &c. would e're long come settle with us.

Here was such store of exceeding large and fat mackrell upon our coast this season as was a great benefit to all our plantations. Some one boat with three men would take in a week ten hundreds, which was sold at Connecticut for £3.12 the hundred.

There were such swarms of small flies like moths came from the southward that they covered the sea, and came flying like drifts of snow, but none of them were seen upon the land.

Mo. 4.At the general court at Boston one Mr. Nathaniel Eaton brother to the magistrate at Quilipiack, was convented and censured. The occasion was this. He was a schoolmaster and had many scholars the sons of gentlemen and others of best note in the country, and had entertained one Nathaniel Bristoe, a gentleman born, to be his usher, and to do some other things for him which might not be unfit for a scholar. He had not been with him above three days but he fell out with him for a very small occasion, and with reproachful terms discharged him, and turned him out of his doors: but it being then about 8 of the clock after the sabbath, he told him he should stay 'till next morning, and some words growing p. 185between them, he struck him and pulled him into his house; Bristoe defended himself and closed with him, and being parted he came in and went up to his chamber to lodge there. Mr. Eaton sent for the constable,Mo. 4. who advised him first to admonish him &c. and if he could not by the power of a master reform him, then he should complain to the magistrate. But he caused his man to fetch him a cudgel, which was a walnut tree plant, big enough to have killed a horse, and a yard in length, and taking his two men with him, he went up to Bristoe, and caused his men to hold him 'till he had given him two hundred stripes about the head and shoulders &c. and so kept him under blows, with some two or three short intermissions, about the space of two hours, about which time Mr. Shepherd and some others of the town came in at the outcry, and so he gave over. In this distress Bristoe got at his knife and struck at the man that held him, but hurt him not: he also fell to prayer, supposing he should have been murdered, and then Mr. Eaton beat him for taking the name of God in vain. After this Mr. Eaton and Mr. Sh: who knew not then of these passages, came to the Governor and some other of the magistrates, and complaining of Bristoe for his insolent speech, and for crying out murder and drawing his knife, and desired that he might be enjoined to a public acknowledgment &c. The magistrates answered that they must first hear him speak, and then they would do as they should see cause. Mr. Eaton was displeased at this and went away discontented, and being after called into the court to make answer to the information that had been given by some who knew the truth of the case, and also to answer for his neglect and cruelty and other ill usage towards his scholars, one of the elders, not suspecting such miscarriages by him, came to the Governor and shewed himself much grieved that he should be publickly produced, alledging that it would de…ogate from his authority and reverence among his scholars &c. but the cause went on notwithstanding, and he was called, and these things laid to his charge in the open court. His answers were full of pride and disdain, telling the magistrates that they should not need to do any thing herein▪ for he was intended to leave his employment. And being asked why he used such cruelty to Bristoe his usher, and to other his scholars (for it was testified by an other of his ushers and divers of his scholars that he p. 186would give them between twenty and thirty stripes at a time, and would not leave 'till they had confessed what he required) his answer was that he had this rule, that he would not give over correcting 'till he had subdued the party to his will. Being also questioned about the ill and scant diet of his boarders (for tho' their friends gave large allowance, yet their diet was ordinarily nothing but porridge and pudding, and that very homely) he put it off to his wife: so the court dismissed him at present and commanded him to attend the next day. When being called, he was commanded to the lower end of the table (where all offenders usually stand) and being openly convict of all the former offences by the oaths of four or five witnesses, he yet continued to justify himself, so it being near night he was committed to the marshall 'till the next day. When the court was set in the morning, many of the elders came into the court (it being then private for matter of consultation) and declared how the evening before they had taken pains with him to convince him of his fault, yet for divers hours he had still stood to his justification, but in the end he was convinced, and had freely and fully acknowledged his sin and that with tears, so as they did hope he had truly repented, and therefore desired of the court that he might be pardoned and continued in his employment, alledging such further reasons as they thought fit. After the elders were departed the court consulted about it and sent for him, and there in the open court, before a great assembly, he made a very solid, wise, eloquent and serious (seeming) confession, condemning himself in all the particulars &c. Whereupon being put aside, the court consulted privately about his sentence, and tho' many were taken with his confession, and none but had a charitable opinion of it, yet because of the scandal of religion, and offence which would be given to such as might intend to send their children hither, they all agreed to censure him, and put him from that employment. So being called in, the Governor after a short preface, declared the sentence of the court to this effect, viz. that he should give Bristoe £30—fined 100 and debarred teaching of children within our jurisdiction. A pause being made, and expectation that according to his former confession he would have given glory to God, and acknowledged the justice and clemency of the court—the Governor giving him occasion by asking him if he had ought p. 187to say—he turned away with a discontented look, saying, If sentence be passed then it is to no end to speak. Yet the court remitted his fine to £20. and willed Bristoe to take but £20.—