THE

SIMPLE COBLER

OF

AGGAWAM IN AMERICA.

REV. NATHANIEL WARD.

EDITED BY DAVID PULSIFER.

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

OF

BOSTON:

JAMES MUNROE A'ND COMPANY 1843.

.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1843, by

DATID P'JLSIFER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

THURSTON AND TORRY, PRINTERS,

18 Deronshire Street.

NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR

THE REVEREND NATHANIEL WARD, the writer of the fol lowing work, was born at Haverhill, England, in 1570. Of this town his father was a clergyman. He was educated at Cambridge, studied and practised law, travelled on the Con tinent, afterwards commenced the study of divinity, became a preacher of the Gospel, and was settled at Standon, in Hertfordshire. He was a strong friend of the early settlers of New England before the elder Winthrop's coming over. At a General Court of the Massachusetts Company, held in London, on Wednesday the 25th of November, 1629, " Mr. Whyte did reconlend Mr. Nathaniel Ward of Stan don " to be admitted to the freedom of the Company. He was ordered before the Bishop, Dec. 12, 1631, to answer for his non-conformity. Being forbidden to preach, he em barked in April, 1634, for this country. He arrived here in June, and was settled as Pastor of the church at Ipswich, or Aggawam, the same year. By reason of indisposition,

194742

IV NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR.

he was, at his own request, in 1636, released from his en gagement with the church there. However thus disengag ed, he preached often during the time he remained in the colony. The necessities of the infant Commonwealth call ed for his time, talents, and acquirements. Nor did he refuse. Willing to do the good, which he might, he lent a ready and efficient hand to the formation of our Legal Code. He was appointed by the General Court, March 12, 1638, on a committee to draw up a system of laws, for the con sideration of the freemen. The same legislative authority, May 13, 1640, granted him six hundred acres of land for his service, at Pentucket, afterwards called Haverhill. He preached the election sermon, 1641, in which he advanced several things that savored more of liberty, than some of the magistrates were prepared to approve. The same year, Oct. 7, " The Govern'1 and mr Hauthorne were Desired to speake to mr Ward, for a coppey of the liberties, and of the Capitall lawes to bee transcribed, and sent to the several! townes." He wrote the " Simple Cobler " in 1645. In this year, May 25, he was on a committee to draw up a Body of Liberties, which were published in 1648, being the first printed volume of the kind in this Colony. Though greatly assisted by Joseph Hills and others in the composi tion and arrangement of so important a work, yet he ap pears to have been a principal agent in its accomplishment. He sold his interest at Haverhill, Nov. 25, 1646, to John Eaton, for c£12,00. Between this date and the 6th of Jan uary following, he returned to England. On June 30th, 1647, he preached before the House of Commons, and the same year published the " Simple Cobler." He was after-

NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR. V

wards settled in the ministry at Shenfield, near Brentwood, where he died in 1653, in his eighty-third year.

Fuller, in his " Worthies of England," speaking of him, says, that he, " following the counsel of the poet,

Ridentcm dicere verum, Quis velat ?

What doth forbid but one may smile, And also tell the truth the while ?

hath in a jesting way, in some of his books, delivered much smart truth of the present times." Dr. Mather, in his " Magnalia," remarks of him, " he was the author of many composures full of wit and sense ; among which, that en- tituled The Simple Cooler (which demonstrated him to be a subtil statesman) was most considered." The same author adds, that " some famous persons of old thought it a great er glory to have it enquired ; ivhy such a one had not a statue erected for him ? than to have it enquired why he had? If it be enquired, ivhy this our St. Hilary hath among our Lives no statue erected for him 1 let that enquiry go for part of one." And in the " Remarkables " of Increase Mather, he observes, " An hundred witty Speeches of our Celebrated Ward, who called himself The Simple Cobler of Agawam, [arid over whose Mantel-piece in his House, by the way, I have seen those three Words Engraved, SOBRIE, JUSTE, PIE, and a Fourth added, which was L^ETE :] have been reported ; but he had one Godly Speech, that was worth 'em all ; which was, / have only Two Comforts to 2*

Vi NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR.

Live upon; The one is in the Perfections of CHRIST ; Tke other is in The Imperfections of all CHRISTIANS."

Mr. Ward had several children. Among them, were John, settled in the ministry at Haverhill, Mass., where he died, 1693 ; James, who practised medicine, and a daugh ter, married to Gyles Fyrmin. These three last accom panied their father to England.

To illustrate how much Mr. Ward benevolently labored for the public good with but small recompense, we quote another remark of Cotton Mather, as to his son John. It follows : " He was a son most exemplarily dutiful unto his parents ; and having paid some considerable debts for his father, he would afterwards humbly observe and confess, that God had abundantly recompenced this his dutifulness." Whether these debts were paid in Old or New England is uncertain.

Thus we have given a sketch of one, who deserves well of New England and of friends to freedom every where, — so that it might be more evident how he and the subsequent work were estimated by his cotemporaries and successors.

D. P.

BOSTON, March 8, 1843.

NOTE.

THIS work passed through several editions at Lon don in 1647. It was reprinted in Boston in 1713. One of the earlier editions and that of 1713 have been used in preparing the present edition for the press. After his first impression, the author made several additions to succeeding ones, which will be found in this now issued. — The principal of these additions are as follow : " A Word of Love to the Common People of England," "A most humble Heel piece," &c., and " A respective word to the Min isters of England."

ED.

THE

SIMPLE COBLEft

OF

AGGAVVAM m AMERICA. WILLING

To help 'mend his Native Country, lamentably tattered, both in the upper-Leather and sole, with all the honest stitches he can take.

And as willing never to be paid for his work, by Old English wonted pay.

It is his trade to patch all the year long, gratis. Therefore I pray Gentlemen keep your purses.

By Theodore de la Guard.

In rebus arduis ac tenui fpe, fortijjima quceque conjitia tutijjlma funt . Cic.

In English,

When bootes and shoes are torne up to the lefts, Coblers must thrust their awles up to the hefts.

This is no time to feare Apelles gramm: Nc Sutor quidem ultra crepidam.

LONDON,

Printed by J. D. <$• R. I. for Stephen Bowtcll, at the signe of the Bible in Popes Head-Alley, 1647.

TO THE

READER.

Gentlemen

IPray make a little roome for a Cobler, his work was done in time, but a ship setting sayle one day too soon makes it appear some weeks too late ; Seeing he is so rea sonable as to demand no other pay for his labour and leather, but leave to pay us well for our faults, let it be accepted, as Counsel in our occasions to come, and as a Testimony of what is past,

By a Friend.

THE

SIMPLE COBLER

OF

AGGAVVAM in AMERICA.

]ITHER I am in an Appoplexie, or that man is in a Lethargic, who doth not now sen sibly feele God shaking the Heavens over his head, and the Earth under his feet : The Heavens so, as the Sun begins to turne into darknesse, the Moon into blood, the Starres to fall down to the ground ; So that little Light "of Comfort or Counsell is left to the sonnes of men : The Earth so, as the foundations are failing, the righteous scarce know where to finde rest, the Inhab itants stagger like drunken men ; it is in a manner dissolved both in Religions and Relations : And no marvell ; for, they have defiled it by transgressing the Laws, changing the Ordinances, and breaking the Everlasting Covenant. The Truths of God are the Pillars .of the world, whereon States and Churches may stand quiet if they will ; if they will not, He can easily shake them off into delusions, and distrac tions enough.

Sathan is now in his passions, hee feeles his pas sion approaching ; hee loves to fish in royled waters. Though that Dragon cannot sting the vitals of the 3

The Simple Cobler of

Elect mortally, yet that Beelzebub can fly-blow their Intellectuals miserably : The finer Religion grows, the finer hee spins his Cobwebs, hee will hold pace with Christ so long as his wits will serve him. Hee sees himselfe beaten out of grosse Idolatries, Heresies, Ceremonies, where the Light breakes forth with pow er ; he will therefore bestirre him to prevaricate Evan- gelicall Truths, and Ordinances, that if they will needs be walking, yet they shall lab vr are varicibus, and not keep their path : he will put them out of time and place ; Assascinating for his Engineers, men of Paracelsian parts; well complexioned for honesty; for, such are fittest, to Mountebanke his Chimistry into sicke Churches and weake Judgements.

Nor shall hee neede to stretch his strength overmuch in this worke : Too many men having not laid their foundation sure, nor ballasted their Spirits deepe with humility and feare, are prest enough of themselves to evaporate their owne apprehensions. Those that are acquainted with Story know, it hath ever been so in new Editions of Churches : Such as are least able, are most busie to pudder in the rubbish, and to raise dust in the eyes of more steady Repayrers. Civil 1 Commotions make roome for uncivill practises : Re ligious mutations, for irreligious opinions : Change of Aire, discovers corrupt bodies ; Reformation of Re ligion, unsound mindes. He that hath any well-faced phancyin his Crowne, and doth not vent it now, fears the pride of his owne heart vvi 1 dub him dunce for ever. Such a one will trouble the whole Israel of God with his most untimely births, though he makes

AGGAVVAM in America.

the bones of his vanity sticke up, to the view and griefe of all that are godly wise. The devill desires no better sport then to see light heads handle their heels, and fetch their carreers in a time, when the Roofe of Liberty stands open.

The next perplexed Question, with pious and pon derous men, will be : What should bee done for the healing of these comfortlesse exulcerations. J am the unablest adviser of a thousand, the unworthiest of <$en thousand ; yet J hope J may presume to assert what follows without just offence.

First, such as have given or taken any unfriendly reports of us Neiv-English, should do well to recol lect themselves. We have beene reputed a Colluvies of wild Opinionists, swarmed into a remote wilder- nes to find elbow-roome for our phanatick Doctrines and practises : J trust our diligence past, and constant sedulity against such persons and courses, will plead better things for us. J dare take upon me, to bee the Herauld of New-England so farre, as to proclaims to the world, in the name of our Colony, that all Fami- lists, Antinomians, Anabaptists, and other Enthusiasts, shall have free Liberty to keep away from us, and such as will come to be gone as fast as they can, the sooner the better.

Secondly, J dare averre, that God doth no where in his word tolerate Christian States, to give Tolera tions to such adversaries of his Truth, if they have power in their hands to suppresse them.

Here is lately brought us an extract of a Magna Charta, so called, compiled between the Sub-planters

The Simple Cobler of

of a West-Indian Island j whereof the first Article of constipulation. firmely provides free stable-room and litter for all kinde of consciences, be they never so dirty or jadish ; making it actionable, yea, treasona ble, to disturbe any man in his Religion, or to dis commend it, whatever it be. Wee are very sorry to see such professed profanenesse in English Profes sors, as industriously to lay their Religious Founda tions on the mine of true Religion ; which strictly binds every conscience to contend earnestly for the Truth : to preserve unity of spirit, faith and Ordinan ces, to be all like-minded, of one accord ; every man to take his brother into his Christian care : to stand fast with one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel : and by no meanes to per mit Heresies or erroneous opinions : But God abhorring such loathsome beverages, hath in his righteous judge ment blasted that enterprize, which might otherwise have prospered well, for ought I know ; I presume their case is generally knowne ere this.

If the devill might have his free option, I believe he would ask nothing else, but liberty to enfranchize all false Religions, and to embondage the true ; nor should he need : It is much to bee feared, that laxe Tolerations upon State pretences and planting neces sities, will be the next subtle Stratagem he will spread, to distate the Truth of God and supplant- the peace of the Churches. Tolerations in things tolerable, ex quisitely drawn out by the lines of the Scripture, and pensill of the Spirit, are the sacred favours of Truth, the due latitudes of Love, the faire Compartiments of

AGGAVVAM in America.

Christian fraternity : but irregular dispensations, dealt forth by the facilities of men, are the frontiers of er- rour, the redoubts of Schisnie, the perillous irritaments of carnall and spiritual! enmity.

My heart hath naturally detested foure things : The standing of the Apocrypha in the Bible ; For- rainers dwelling in my Countrey, to crowd our native Subjects into the corners of the Earth • Alchymized coines ; Tolerations of divers Religions, .or of one Religion in segregant shapes : He that willingly as sents to the last, if he examines his heart by day-light, his conscience will tell him, he is either an Atheist, or an Heretique, or an Hypocrite, or at best a captive to some lust : Poly-piety is the greatest impiety in the world. True Religion is Ignis probalionis, which doth congregare homogenea fy segregare heterogenea.

Not to tolerate things meerly indifferent to weak consciences, argues a conscience too strong : pressed uniformity in these, causes much disunity : To tole rate more than indifferents, is not. to deale indifferent ly with God ; He that doth it, takes his Scepter out of his hand, and bids him stand by. Who hath to doe to institute Religion but God. The power of all Religion and Ordinances, lies in their purity : their \ purity in their simplicity : then are mixtures perni cious. J lived in a City, where a Papist preached in one Church, a Lutheran in another, a Calvinist in a third ; a Lutheran one part of the day, a Calvinist the other, in the same Pulpit : the Religion of that place was but motly and meagre, their affections Leopardlike.

If the whole Creature should conspire to doe the 3*

The Simple Cobler of

Creator a mischiefe, or offer him an insolency. it would be in nothing more, than in erecting untruths against his Truth, or by sophisticating his Truths with humane medleyes ; the removing of some one iota in Scripture, may draw out all the life, and trav erse all the Truth of the whole Bible : but to author ise an untruth, by a Toleration of State, is to build a Sconce against the walls of heaven, to batter God out of his Chajre : To tell a practicall lye, is a great sin, but yet transient ; but to set up a Theoricall untruth, is to warrant every lye that lies from its root to the top of every branch it hath, which are not a few.

J would willingly hope that no Member of the Parliament hath skilfully ingratiated himselfe into the hearts of the House, that he might watch a time to midwife out some ungracious Toleration for his o.wn tu rue, and for the sake of that, some others. J would also hope that a word of generall caution should not be particularly misapplied. I am the freer to suggest it, because I know not one man of that mind, my aiine is generall, and I desire may be so accepted. Yet good Gentlemen, looke well about you, and remember how Tiberius plaid the Fox with the Senate of Rome, and how Fabius Maximns cropt his ears for his cun ning.

That State is wise, that will improve all paines and patience rather to compose, then tolerate differences in Religion. There is no divine Truth, but hath much Celestial fire in it from the Spirit of Truth: nor no irreligious untruth, without its proportion of Antifire from the Spirit of Error to contradict it : the zeale of

AGGAVVAM in America.

the one, the virnlency of the other, must necessarily kindle Combustions. Fiery diseases seated in the spirit, embroile the whole frame of the body : others more external I and coole, are lesse dangerous. They which divide in Religion divide in God ; they who divide in him, divide beyond Genus Generalissimum, where there is no reconciliation, without atonement ; that is, without uniting in him, who is One, and in his Truth, which is also one.

Wise are those men who will be perswaded rather to live within the pale of Truth where they may bee quiet, than in the purliev's, where they are sure to be hunted '-'ever and anon, doe Authority what it can. Every singular Opinion, hath a singular opinion of it self: and he that holds it a singular opinion of him self, and a simple opinion of all contra-sentients : he that confutes them, must confute all three at once, or else he does nothing ; which will not be done with out more stir than the peace of the State or Church can i nd »re.

And prudent are those Christians, that will rather give what may be given, then hazzardall by yeelding nothing. To sell all peace of Country, to buy some peace of Conscience unseasonably, is more avarice than thrift, imprudence than patience: they deale not equally, that set any truth of God at such a rate ; but they deale wisely that will stay till the Market is fallen.

My prognosticks deceive me not a little, if once within three seven years, peace prove riot such a pen ny-worth at most Marts in Christendome, that hee that would not lay down his money, his lust, his opin-

8 The Simple Cobler of

ion, his will, I had almost said the best flower of his Crown for it, while he might have had it ; will tell his own heart, he plaid the very ill husband.

Concerning Tolerations I may further assert.

That Persecution of True Religion, and Toleration of false, are the Jannes and Jambres to the Kingdorne of Christ, whereof the last is farre the worst. Angus- tines tongue had not owed his mouth one penny-rent though it had never spake one word more in it, but this, Nullum malum pejus libertate errandi.

Frederick Duke of Saxon, spake not one foote be yond the mark when he said. He had rather the Earth should swallow him up quick, then he should give a toleration to any opinion against any truth of God.

He that is willing to tolerate any Religion, or dis crepant way of Religion, besides his own, unlesse it be in matters meerly indifferent, either doubts of his own, or is not sincere in it.

He that is willing to tolerate any unsound Opinion, that his own may also be tolerated, though never so sound, will for a need hang Gods Bible at the Devils girdle.

Every Toleration of false Religions3 or Opinions hath as many Errours and sins in it, as all the false Religions and Opinions it tolerates, and one sound one more.

That State that will give Liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion, must give Liberty of Conscience and Conversation in their Morall Laws, or else the Fiddle will be out of tune, and some of the strings cracke.

AGGAVVAM in America.

He that will rather make an irreligious quarrell with other Religions, then try the truth of his own by val uable Arguments, and peaceable Sufferings; either his Religion, or himselfe is irreligious.

Experience will teach Churches and Christians, that it is farre better to live in a State united, though a little Corrupt, then in a State, whereof some Part is incorrupt, and all the rest divided.

I am not altogether ignorant of the eight Rules given by Orthodox Divines about giving Tolerations, yet with their favour I dare affirme,

That there is no Rule given by God for any State to give an Affirmative Toleration to any false Relig ion, or Opinion whatsoever ; they must connive in some cases, but may not concede in any.

That the State of England (so farre as my Intelli gence serves) might in time have prevented with ease, and may yet without any great difficulty deny both Toleration, and irregular Connivences, salva Repub- lica.

That if the State of England shall either willingly Tolerate, or weakly connive at such Courses, the Church of that Kingdom will sooner become the Dev- ills Dancing-Schoole, then Gods-Temple; The Civill State a Beare-garden, then an Exchange : The whole Realme a Pais base, then an England. And what pity it is, that that Country which hath been the Sta ple of Truth to all Christendome, should now become the Aviary of Errors to the whole World, let every fearing heart judge.

I take Liberty of Conscience to bee nothing but a

10 The Simple Cobler of

freedome from sinne, and error. Conscientia in tan- turn liber a, in quantum ab error e liber ata. And lib erty of Error nothing but a Prison for Conscience. Then small will bee the kindnesse of a State to build such Prisons for their Subjects.

The Scripture saith, there is nothing makes free but Truth, and Truth saith, there is no Truth but One : If the States of the World -would make it their sum- operous Care to preserve this One Truth in its purity and Authority it would ease them of all other Politi cal 1 cares. I am sure Satan makes it his grand, if not onely taske, to adulterate Truth ; Falshood is his sole Scepter, whereby he first ruffled, and ever since mined the World.

If Truth be but One, me thinks all the Opinionists in England should not be all in that One Truth, some of them I doubt are out. He that can extract an unity out of such a disparity, or contract such a dis parity into an unity ; had need be a better Artist, then ever was Drebell.

If two Centers (as we may suppose) be in one Cir cle, and lines drawn from both to all the points of the Compasse, they will certainly crosse one another, and probably cut through the Centers themselves.

There is talke of an universall Toleration, I would talke as loud as I could against it, did J know what more apt and reasonable Sacrifice England could of fer to God for his late performing all his heavenly Truths, then an universall Toleration of all hellish Er rors, or how they shall make an universall Reforma tion, but by making Christs Academy the Devils Uni-

AGGAVVAM in America.

11

versity, where any man may commence Heretiqne per saltu'tn ; where he that is filius Diabolicus, or simpliciter pessimus, may have his grace to goe to hell cum Publico Privilegio ; and carry as many after him, as he can.

Religio docenda est, non coercenda is a pretty piece of album Latinum for some kinde of throats that are willingly sore, but Haresis dedocenda est non permit- tenda, will be found a farre better Diamoron for the Gargarismes this Age wants, if timely and throughly applyed.

If there be roome in England for

	Familists ( f Manes
	Libertines		Lemures
	Erastians		Dryadcs
	Antitrinitarians		Horn adryades
	Anabaptists		Potamides
	Antiscripturists		Naiades
	Armenians		Hinnidcs
	Man ifestarians		Pierides
	MUUnaries	^ then room » Nereides
	Antinomians	for f Pales
	Sodnians		Anonidcs
	Arrians		Parcades
	Perfectists		Castalides
	Brownixt**		Monides
Religious	Mortaliam		Char it es
Men but	Seekers	Good Spir	Heliconidcs
pernicious	Enthusiasts	its, but very	Peg-asides
Heretiques	4*c. J Devils. [_ fyc.

Jn a word room for Hell above ground.

* By Brownists I moan not Independents, but dew-clavvd Sepe- ratists : farre be it from me to wrong godly Independents. I truely acknowledge that I judge my self neither able nor worthy to honour some of them as they deserve.

12 The Simple Cobler of

It is said. Though a man have light enough him- selfe to see the Truth, yet if he hath not enough to enlighten others, he is bound to tolerate them, I will engage my self, that all the Devills in Britanie shall sell themselves to their shirts, to purchase a Lease of this Position for three of their Lives, under the Scale of the Parliament.

It is said, That Men ought to have Liberty of their Conscience, and that it is Persecution to debarre them of it : I can rather stand amazed then reply to this : it is an astonishment to think that the braines of men should be parboyl'd in such impious ignorance ; Let all the wits under the Heavens lay their heads togeth er and finde an Assertion worse than this (one except- ed ) I will Petition to be chosen the universal Ideot of the world.

It is said, That Civill Magistrates ought not to med dle with Ecclesiasticall matters.

I would answer to this so well as I could, did I not know that some Papers lately brought out of New- England) are going to the Presse, wherein the Opin ions of the Elders there in a late Synod, concerning this point are manifested, which I suppose will give clearer satisfaction then I can.

The true English of all this their false Latine, is noth ing but a generall Toleration of all Opinions ; which motion if it be like to take, it were very requisite, that the City would repaire Pauls with all the speed they can, for an English Pantheon, and bestow it upon the Sectaries, freely to assemble in, then there may be some hope that London will be quiet in time.

AGGAVVAM in America. 13

But why dwell J so intolerable long about Tolera tions, J hope my feares are but panick, against which I have a double cordiall. First, that the Parliament will not though they could : Secondly, that they can not though they would grant such Tolerations. God who hath so honoured them with eminent wisdome in all other things, will not suffer them to cast both his, and their Honour in the dust of perpetuall Infamy, doe what they can; nor shall those who have spent so great a part of their substance in redeeming their Civill Liberties from Usurpation, lose all that remaines in enthralling their spiritual! Liberty by Toleration.

It is said Opinionists are many, and strong, that de sunt Vires, that it is turbata respublica, I am very sorry for it, but more sorry, if despondency of mi tide shall cause the least tergiversation in Gods Worthies, who have receiv'd such pledges of his presence in their late Counsels, and Conflicts. It is not thousands of Opinionists that can pinion his Everlasting armes, I can hardly beleeve there is a greater unbeleever then my Selfe, yet I can verily beleeve that the God of Truth will in a short time scatter them all like smoake before the wind. I confesse I am troubled to see Men so over-troubled about them ; I am rather glad to heare the Devill is breaking up house in England, and removing somewhither else, give him leave to sell all his rags, and odde-ends by the out-cry ; and let his petty Chapmen make their Market while they may, upon my poore credit it will not last long. Hee that hath done so much for England will go on to per fect his owne praise, and his Peoples Peace : let good 4

14 The Simple Cobler of

men stand still, and behold his further Salvation. He that sitteth in the Heavens laughs at them, the most High hath them in Derision, and their folly shall cer tainly be manifested to all men.

Yet I dare not but adde, and in the Name of God will adde, that if any Publique members of Church or State, have been either open fautors, or private abetters of any blasphemous, contagious Opinions ; It will be their wisdome to proportion their repentance to their Sin, before God makes them Publique monuments of Ignominie, and Apostasie.

Thirdly, That all Christian States, ought to disa vow and decry all such Errours, by some peremptory Statutary Act, and that in time, that Subjects know ing fully the minde of the State, might not delude themselves with vaine hopes of unsufferable Liberties. It is lesse to say Statuatur veritas, mat Regnum, than Fiat justitia, mat CoBlum ; but there is no such dan ger in either of them. Feare nothing Gentlemen, Rubiconem transiistis, jacta est alea, ye have turned the Devill out of doores ; fling all his old parrell after him out at the windows, lest he makes an errand for it againe. Quce relinquuntur in morbis post indica- tionem, recidivas facer e consuevere. Christ would have his Church without spot or wrinckle ; They that help make it so, shall lose neither honour nor labour : If yee be wise, suffer no more thorns in his sides or your owne. When God kindles such fires as these, hee doth not usually quench them, till the very scum on the pot sides be boyled cleane away, Ezek. 24. 10, 11. Yee were better to doe it your selves, then leave

AGGAVVAM in America. 15

it to him : the Anne of the Lord is mighty, his hand very heavy ; who can dwell with his devouring fire, and long lasting burnings ?

Fourthly, to make speedy provision against Ob stinates and disseminaries : where under favour, two things will be found requisite. First, variety of pe- naltyes, I meane certaine, not indefinite : I am a Crab- bat against Arbitrary Government. Experience hath taught us here, that politicall, domesticall, and person- all respects, will not admit one and the same remedy for all, without sad inconveniences. Secondly, just severity: persecution hath ever spread Truth, prose cution scattered Errour : Ten of the most Christian Emperors, found that way best ; Schollarsknow whom J meane : Five of the ancient Fathers perswaded to it, of whom Augustine was one, who for a time argued hard for indulgency : but upon conference with other prudent Bishops, altered his judgement, as appears in three of his Epistles, to Marcellinus, Donatus, and Boniface. J would be understood, not onely an Al- lower, but an humble Petitioner, that ignorant and tender conscienced Anabaptists may have due time and means of conviction.

Fifthly, That every Prophet, to whom God hath given the tongue of the learned, should teach, and every Angel who hath a pen and inkehorne by his side write against these grieving extravagancies : writing of many books, I grant is irkesome, reading endlesse. A reasonable man would thinke Divines had declaimed sufficiently upon these Themes. I have ever thought the Rule given, Titus 3. 10. which cuts

16 The Simple Cobler of

the work short and sharpe to be more properly preva lent, then wearisome waiting upon unweariable Spir its. It is a most toylsome taske to run the wild-goose chase after a well-brealh'd Opinionist : they delight in vitilitigation : it is an itch that loves a life to be scrub'd : they desire not satisfaction, but satisdiction, whereof themselves must be judges : yet in new erup tions of Error with new objections, silence is sinfull. As for my selfe, I am none of the disputers of this world : all I can doe, is to guesse when men speake true or false divinity : if I can but finde the parentall roote, or formall reason of a Truth, I am quiet ; if J cannot, I shore up my slender judgement as long as I can, with two or three the handsomest props I can get : J shall therefore leave Arguments to acuter heads, and onely speak a word of Love, with all Christian respect to our deare Brethren in England, which are against baptizing of Infants : I intreate them to consider these few things seriously and meekly. First, what a high pitch of boldnesse it is for man to cut a principal! Ordinance out of the Kingdome of God ; if it be but to make a dislocation, which so far dis- goods the Ordinance, J feare it altogether unhallows it, to transplace or transtime a stated Institution of Christ, without his direction, J thinke, is to destroy it. Secondly, what a Cruelty it is to devest children of that onely externall priviledge which their heavenly Father hath bequeathed them, to interest them visibly in Himselfe, His Son, His Spirit,- His Covenant of Grace, and the tender bosome of their carefull Mother the Church. Thirdly, what an Inhumanity it is, to

AGGAVVAM in America. 17

deprive Parents of that comfort they may take from the baptisme of their Infants dying in their Childehood. Fourthly, How unseasonable and unkindely it is, to interturbe the State and Church with these Amalekit- ish onsets, when they are in their extreame pangs of travell with their lives. Fifthly, to take a through view of those who have preambled this by path. Being sometimes in the Crowds of foraigne Wederdo- pers, that is, Anabaptists ; and prying into their inward frames with the best eyes I had ; I could not but ob serve these disguised guises in the generality of them.

First, a flat formality of Spirit without salt or sa vour in the spiritualties of Christ, as if their Religion began and ended in their Opinion. Secondly, a shal low slighting of such as dissent from them, appearing too often in their faces, speeches and carriages. Third ly, a feeble, yet peremptory obstinacy ; seldome are any of them reclaimed. Fourthly, a shamefull sliding into other such tarpauling tenets, to keep themselves dry from the showers of Justice, as a rationall minde would never entertain, if it were not Errour-blasted from Heaven and Hell : I should as shrewdly suspect that Opinion, that will cordially corrive with two or three sottish errours, as that faith that can professedly live with two or three sordid sins. J dare not feare our godly Brethren in England to be yetcomming to this passe ; how soon they may, themselves know not, the times are slippery : They will undoubtedly finde God as jealous of his Ordinances, as themselves are zealous of their Opinions.

Sixthly, That Authority ought to see their Sub- 4*

18 The Simple Cobler of

jects children baptized, though their Parents judge ments he against it, if there be no other Evangelicall barre in the way.

Seventhly, That prudent men, especially young, should doe well not to ingage themselves in conference with Errorists, without a good calling and great cau tion • their breath is contagious, their leprey spreading : receive not him that is weak, saith the Apostle, to doubtfull disputations ; much lesse may they run themselves into dangerous Sophistications. He usually hears best in their meetings, that stops his eares clos est ; he opens his mouth to best purpose, that keeps it shut, and he doeth best of all, that declines their com pany as wisely as he may.

Brethren, have an extraordinary care also of the late Theosophers, that teach men to climbe to Heaven upon a ladder of lying figments. Rather than the Devill will lose his game, he will out-shoot Christ in his owne bow; he will out-law the Law, quite out of the word and world : over-Gospell the Gospell, and quidanye Christ, with Sugar and Rats-bane. Hee was Professour not long since at Schelstat in Alsatia. where he learned that no poyson is so deadly as the poyson of Grace.

The wisest way, when all is said, is with all humil ity and feare, to take Christ as himselfe hath revealed himselfe in his Gospel, and not as the Devill presents him to prestigiated phansies. I have ever hated the way of the Rosie-Crucians, who reject things as Gods wisedome hath tempered them, and will have nothing but their Spirits. If I were to give physick to Spryts.

AGGAVVAM in America. 19

I would doe so too : but when 1 want physick for my body, I would not have my soule tartared : nor my Animal] Spirits purged any way, but by my Naturall, and those by my bodily humours, and those by such Ordinaries, as have the nearest vicinage to them, and not by Metaphysical! Limbeckings. I cannot thinke that materia prima or secunda, should be good for me, that am at least, Materia millessima se.rcentesima quadragesima quinta.

Here I hold my selfe bound to set up a Beacon, to give warning of a new-sprung Sect of Phrantasticks, which would perswade themselves and others, that they have discovered the Nor-west passage to Heav en. These wits of the game, cry up and downe in corners such bold ignotions of a new Gospell, new Christ, new Faith, and new gay-nothings, as trouble unsetled heads, querulous hearts, and not a little grieve the Spirit of God. I desire all good men may be saved from their Lunatick Creed, by Infidelity ; and rather beleeve these torrid overtures will prove in time, nothing but horrid raptures downe to the lowest hell, from which he that would be delivered, let him avoid these blasphemers, a late fry of croaking Frogs, not to be indured in a Religious State, no, if it were possible, not an houre.

As some are playing young Spaniels, questing at every bird that rises ; so others, held very good men, are at a dead stand, not knowing what to doe or say ; and are therefore called Seekers, looking for new Nuntio's from Christ, to assoile these benighted ques tions, and to give new Orders for new Churches. I

20 The Simple Cobler of

crave leave with all respect to tell them, that if they looke into Act. 20. 20. 25. Gal. 1. 8. 9. 1, Tim. 6. 13. 16. and find them not there; they may happily seeke as the young Prophets did for E Hall's corps, where it never was, nor ever will be found.

I cannot imagine why the Holy Ghost should give Timothy the solemnest charge, was ever given mor- tall man, to observe the Rules he had given, till the comming of Christ, if new things must be expected.

Woe be to them, whoever they be, that so trouble the wayes of God that they who have found the way to Heaven, cannot find the way to Church : And woe be to them, that so gaze at the glorious light, they say, will breake forth in the thousand yeares to come, that they make little of the gracious Truth that hath been revealed these sixteen hundred years past. And woe be to them that so under-value the first Master-Build- ers, I mean the Apostles of Christ, that unlesse he sends wiser than they, He must be accounted lesse faithfull in his house than Moses was.

I have cause enough to be as charitable to others as any man living ; yet I cannot but feare, that those men never Moored their Anchors well in the firme soile of Heaven, that are weather- waft up arid down with every eddy-wind of every new doctrine. The good Spirit of God doth not usually tie up the Helme, and sulfer passengers to Heaven to ride a drift, hither and thither, as every wave and current carries them : that is a fitter course for such as the Apostle calls wandring Starres and Meteors, without any certaine motion, hurryed about with tempests, bred of the Ex-

AGGAVVAM in America.

halations of their own pride and self-wittednesse : whose damnation sleepeth not, and to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved for ever, that they may suf fer irreparable shipwrack upon the Sands and Rocks of their owne Errours, being of old ordained to con demnation.

Eightly, let all considerate men beware of unground ed opinions in Religion : Since I knew what to feare, my timerous heart hath dreaded three things : a blaz ing starre appearing in the aire : a State Comet, I mean a favourite rising in a Kingdome, a new Opin ion spreading in Religion: these are Exorbitancies : which is a formidable word: a vacuum and an exor bitancy, are mundicidious evils. Concerning Novelties of opinions ; I shall expresse my thoughts in these briefe passages. First, that Truth is the best boone God ever gave the world : there is nothing in the world, world, any further then Truth makes it so ; it is better then any creat' Ens or Bonum, which are but Truths twins. Secondly, the least Truth of Gods Kingdome, doth in its place, uphold the whole king- dome of his Truths ; Take away the least vericiilum aut of the world, and it unworlds all, potentially, and may unravell the whole texture actually, if it be not conserved by an Arme of superiordinary power. Third ly, the least Evangelicall Truth is more worth than all the Civil Truths in the world, that are rneerly so. Fourthly, that Truth is the Parent of all Liberty whether politicall or personall ; so much untruth, so much thraldome, John 8. 32.

Hence it is, that God is so jealous of his Truths, that

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he hath taken order in his due justice : First, that no practicall sin is so sinfull as some errour in judgement ; no men so accursed with indelible infamie and dedo- lent impenitency, as Authours of Heresie. Second ly, that the least Error, if grown sturdy and pressed, shall set open the Spittle-doore of all the squint ey'd, wry-necked, and brazen-faced Errors that are or ever were of that litter ; if they be not enough to serve its turne, it will beget more, though it hath not one crust of reason to maintain them. Thirdly, that that State which will permit Errors in Religion, shall admit Er rors in policy unavoyably. Fourthly, that that Poli cy which will suffer irreligious Errors, shall suffer the losse of so much Liberty in one kind or other, I will not exempt Venice, Rhaguse, the Cantons, the Neth er-lands, or any.

An easie head may soon demonstrate, that the pre- mentioned Planters, by Tolerating all Religions, had immazed themselves in the most intolerable confu sions and inextricable thraldomes the world ever heard of. I am perswaded the Devill himselfe was never willing with their proceedings, for feare it would breake his wind and wits to attend such a Province. I speak it seriously according to my meaning. How all Religions should enjoy their Liberty, Justice its due regularity, Civill cohabitation morall honesty, in one and the same Jurisdiction, is beyond the Artique of my comprehension. If the whole conclave of Hell can so compromise, exadverse, and diametricall con tradictions, as to compolitize such a multirnonstrous inaufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets quietly ;

AGGAVVAM in America. 23

\

I trust I may say with all humble reverence, they can doe more then the Senate of Heaven. My modus lo- quendi pardoned: I intirely wish much welfare and more wisdom to that Plantation.

It is greatly to be lamented, to observe the wanton fearlessnesse of this Age, especially of younger pro fessors, to greet new opinions and Opinionists : as if former truths were grown superannuate, and saplesse, if not altogether antiquate. Non senescet veritas. No man ever saw a gray haire on the head or beard of any Truth, wrinckle, or rnorphew on its face : The bed of Truth is green all the yeare long. Hee that cannot solace himselfe with any saving truth, as affectionate ly as at the first acquaintance with it, hath not only a fastidious, but an adulterous heart.

If all be true we heare, Never was any People un der the Sun, so sick of new Opinions as English-men nor of new fashions as English-women : If God helpe not the one, and the devill leave not helping the oth er, a blind man may easily foresee what will become of both. I have spoken what I intend for the present to men ; I shall speak a word to the women anon : in the mean time I intreat them to prepare patience.

Ninthly, that godly humble Christians ought not to wonder impatiently at the wonderfull workes of God in these times : it is full Season for him to work Soveraign worke, to vindicate his Soveraignty, that men may feare before him. States are unstated, Ru lers growne Over-rulers, Subjects worse then men, Churches decayed. Tofts, Professors , empty casks filled with unholy humours ; I speake not of all, but

24 The Simple Cobler of

too many; I condemrie not the generation of the just : God hath his remnant, whom he will carefully pre serve. If it bee time for men to take up Defensive Armes against such as are called Gods, upon the point of Salus populi, it is high time for him that is God indeed, to draw his Sword against wormes and no men, upon the point of Majestas imperil: The pierc ing of his Sword shall discover the thoughts of many hearts.

Lastly,- I dare averre, that it ill becomes Christians any thing well-shod with the preparation of the Gos pel, to meditate flight from their deare Countrey upon these disturbances. Stand your ground ye Eleazars and Shammahs, stir not a foot so long as you have halfe a foot of ground to stand upon : after one or two such Worthies, a great Victory may be regain ed, and flying Israel may returne to a rich spoile. Englishmen, be advised to love England, with your hearts and to preserve it by your Prayers. I am bold to say that since the pure Primitive time, the Gospel never thrived so well in any soile on earth, as in the British ; nor is the like goodnesse of nature, or Cor- nucopian plenty else-where to be found : if ye lose that Country, and finde a better before ye come to Heaven, my Cosmography failes me. I am farre from discouraging any, whom necessity of Conscience or condition thrusts out by head and shoulders : if God calls any into a Wildernesse, Hee will be no wildernesse to them, Jer. 2. 31. witnesse his large be neficence to us here beyond expectation.

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Ye say, why come not we over to help the Lord against the Mighty, in these Sacred battailes?

I answer, many here are diligently observing the counsell of the same Prophet, 22. 10. Weepe not for him that is dead, neither bemoan him- ; but weep for him that is gone away and shall returne no more to see his Native Country. Divers make it an Article of our American Creed, which a celebrate Divine of England hath observed upon Heb. 1 1. 9. That no man ought to forsake his owne countrey, but upon ex traordinary cause, and when that cause ceaseth, he is bound in conscience to returne if he can : We are look ing to him who hath our hopes and seasons in his onely wise hand.

In the mean time wre desire to bow our knees be fore the Throne of Grace day and night, that the Lord would be pleased in his tender mercy to, still the sad unquietnesse and per-peracute contentions, of that most comfortable and renowned island, that at length He may have praise in his Churches, and his Church es peace in him, through Jesus Christ.

SHould I not keepe promise in speaking a little to Womens fashions, they would take it unkind ly: I was loath to pester better matter with such stuffe ; I rather thought it meet to let them stand by themselves, like the Qua Genus in the Grammar, being Deficients, or Redundants, not to be brought under any Rule : I shall therefore make bold for this once, to borrow a little of their loose tongued Liber ty, and mispend a word or two upon their long-wast- 5

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ed, but short-skirted patience : a little use of my stirrup will doe no harme.

Ridentem dicer e verum, quid prohibet ?

Gray Gravity it selfe can well bcteam, That Language be adapted to the Theme. He that to Parrots speaks, must parrotize : He that instructs a foole, may act tlij unwise.

It is known more then enough, that I am neither Nigard, nor Cinick, to the due bravery of the true Gentry : if any man mislikes a bully mong drossock more: then- 1, let him take her for his labour : I honour the woman that can honour her selfe with her attire : a good Text alwayes deserves a fair Marge nt : I am not much offended if I see a trimme, far trimmer than she that wears it : in a word, whatever Christianity or Civility will allow, I can afford with London mea sure : but when I heare a nugiperons Gentledame in quire what dresse the Queen is in this week : what the nudiustertian fashion of the Court ; I meane the very newest : with egge to be in it in all haste, what ever it be ; I look at her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the product of a quarter of a cypher, the epitome of noth ing, fitter to be kickt, if shee were of a kickable sub stance, than either honour'd or humour'd.

To speak moderately, I truly confesse, it is be yond the ken of my understanding to conceive, how those women should have any true grace, or valuable kle vertue, that have so little wit, as to disfigure themselves with such exotick garbes, as not only dis mantles their native lovely lustre, but transclouts

•4 LI FOB.., -

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them into gant bar-geese, ill-shapen-shotten-shell-fish, Egyptian Hyeroglyphicks, or at the best into French flurts of the pastery, which a proper English woman should scorne with her heels : it is no marvel! they weare drailes on the hinder part of their heads, hav ing nothing as it seems in the fore-part^ut a few Squirrils brains to help them frisk frornifl-favor'd fashion to another.

These whimm' Crown' d shces, these fashion-fansy ing wits, Are empty thin brain' d shells, and Jiddling Kits.

The very troublers and impoverishes of mankind, I can hardly forbear to commend to the world a say ing of a Lady living sometime with the Queen of Bohemia, I know not where shee found it, but it is pitty it should be lost.

The World is full of care, much like unto a bubble ; Women and care, and care and women, and women and care,

( and trouble.

The Verses are even enough for such odde peg- ma's. I can make my selfe sicke at any time, with comparing the dazling splender wherewith our Gen tlewomen were embellished in some former habits, with the gut-foundred goosdom, wherewith they are now surcingled and debauched. Wee have about five or six of them in our Colony : if I see any of them accidentally, I cannot cleanse my phansie of them for a moneth after. I have been a solitary widdower al most twelve yeares, purposed lately to make a step over to my Native Country for a yoke-fellow: but

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when I consider how women there have tripe- wifed themselves with their cladments, I have no heart to the voyage, least their nauseous shapes and the Sea, should work too sorely upon my stomach. I speak sad ly ; me thinkes it should breake the hearts of English men to sea^p many goodly English-women imprison ed in French Cages, peering out of their hood-holes for some men of mercy to help them with a little wit, and no body relieves them.

It is a more common then convenient saying, that nine Taylors make a man : it were well if nineteene could make a woman to her rninde : if Taylors were men indeed, well furnished but with meer morall principles, they would disdain to be led about like Apes, by such mymiek Marmosets. It is a most un worthy thing, for men that have bones in them, to spend their lives in making fidle-cases for futilous womens phansies ; which are the very pettitoes of in firmity, the gyblets of perquisquilian toyes. I am so charitable to think, that most of that mystery would worke the cheerfuller while they live, if they might bee well discharged of the tyring slavery of mis-tyr ing women : it is no little labour to be continually put ting up English-women into Out-landish caskes : who if they be not shifted anew, once in a few moneths, grow too sowre for their Husbands. What this Trade will answer for themselves when God shall take mea sure of Taylors consciences is beyond my skill to imagine. There was a time when

The, joyning of the Red-Rose until the White, Did set our State into a Damask plight.

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But now our Roses are turned to Flore de lices, our Carnations to Tulips, our Gilliflowers to Dayzes, our City-Dames, to an indenominable Qaiaemalry of overturcas'd things. Hee that makes Coates for the Moone, had need take measure every noone ; and he that makes for women, as often, to keepe them from Lunacy.

I have often heard divers Ladies vent loud femi nine complaints of the wearisome varieties and charg- able changes of fashions : I marvell themselves pre- ferre not a Bill of redresse. I would * Essex Ladies would lead the Chore, for the honour of their County and persons ; or rather the thrice honourable Ladies of the Court, whom it best beseemes : who may wel presume of a Le Roy le veult from our sober King, a Les Seigneurs ont Assentus from our prudent Peers, and the like Assentus from our considerate, I dare not say wife-wome Commons : who I beleeve had much rather passe one such Bill, than pay so many Taylors Bills as they are forced to doe.

Most deare and unparallel'd Ladies, be pleased to attempt it : as you have the precellency of the women of the world for beauty and feature ; so assume the honour to give, and not take Law from any, in matter of attire : if ye can transact so faire a motion among yourselves unanimously, I dare say, they that most renite, will least repent. What greater honour can

* All the Counties and shires of England have had wars in them since the Conquest, but Essex, which is onely free, and should be thankfull.

5*

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your Honors desire, then to build a Promontory presi dent to all foraigne Ladies, to deserve so eminently at the hands of all the English Gentry present and to come : and to confute the opinion of all the wise men in the world ; who never thought it possible for wo men to doe so good a work ?

If any man think I have spoken rather merrily than seriously he is much mistaken, I have written what I write with all the indignation I can, and no more then I ought. I confesse I veer'd my tongue to this kinde of Language de industria though unwill ingly, supposing those I speak to are uncapable of grave and rational! arguments.

I desire all Ladies and Gentlewomen to understand that all this while I intend not such as through neces sary modesty to avoyd morose singularity, follow fashions slowly, a flight shot or two off, shewing by their moderation, that they rather draw countermont with their hearts, then put on by their examples.

I point my pen only against the light -heel 'd bea gles that lead the chase so fast, that they run all civil ity out of breath, against these Ape-headed pullets, which invent Antique foole-fangles, meerly for fash ion and novelty sake.

In a word, if I begin once to declaime against fash ions, let men and women look well about them, there is somewhat in the businesse ; I confesse to the world. I never had grace enough to be strict in that kinde ; and of late years, I have found syrrope of pride very wholesome in a due Dos, which makes mee keep such store of that drugge by me, that if any body comes

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to me for a question-full or two about fashions, they never complain of me for giving them hard measure, or under-weight.

But I addresse my self to those who can both hear and mend all if they please: I seriously feare, if the pious Parliament doe not finde a time to state fash ions, as ancient Parliaments have done in some part, God will hardly finde a time to state Religion or Peace: They are the surqnedryes of pride, the wan- tonnesse of idlenesse, provoking sins, the certain pro- dromies of assured judgement, Zeph. 1. 7, 8.

It is beyond all account, how many Gentlemens and Citizens estates are deplumed by their feather- headed wives, what usefull supplies the pannage of England would afford other Countries, what rich re- turnes to it selfe, if it were not slic'd out into male and female fripperies : and what a multitude of mis- imploy'd hands, might be better improv'd in some more manly Manufactures for the publique weale : it is not easily credible, what may be said of the preterplural- ities of Taylors in London : I have heard an honest man say, that not long since there were numbered be tween Temple-barre and Charing-Crosse, eight thou sand of that Trade : let it be conjectured by that proportion how many there are in and about London, and in all England, they will appeare to be very numerous. If the Parliament would please to mend women, which their Husbands dare not doe, there need not so many men to make and mend as there are. I hope the present dolefull estate of the Real me, will perswade more strongly to some considerate course herein, than I now can.

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Knew I how to bring it in, I would speak a word to long haire, whereof I will say no more but this : if God proves not such a Barbor to it as he threatens, unlesse it be amended, Esa. 7. 20. before the Peace of the State and Church be well setled, then let my prophesie be scorned, as a sound minde scornes the ryot of that sin, and more it needs not. If those who are tearmed Rattle-heads and Impuritans, would take up a Resolution to begin in moderation of haire, to the just reproach of those that are called Puritans and Round-heads, I would honour their manlinesse, as much as the others godlinesse, so long as I knew what man or honour meant : if neither can find a Barbours shop, let them turne in, to Psal. 68. 21. Jer. 7. 29. 1 Cor. 11. 14. if it be thought no wisdome in men to distinguish themselves in the field by the Scissers, let it bee thought no injustice in God, not to distin guish them by the Sword. I had rather God should know me by my sobriety, than mine enemy not know me by my vanity. He is ill kept, that is kept by his owne sin. A short promise is a farre safer guard than a long lock : it is an ill distinction which God is loth to looke at, and his Angels cannot know his Saints by. Though it be not the mark of the Beast, yet it may be the mark of a beast prepared to slaughter. I am sure men use not to weare such manes ; I am also sure Souldiors use to weare other marklets or notadoes in time of battell.

H

Aving done with the upper part of my work, I would now with all humble willingnesse set on

AGGAVVAM in America. 33

the best peece of Soule-leather I have, did I not feare I should break my All, which though it may be a right old English blade, yet it is but little and weake. I should esteeme it the best piece of workmanship my Cobling hand every wrought, if it would please Him whose worke it is, to direct me to speake such a word over the sea, as the good old woman of Abel did over the wall, in the like exigent: but alas, I am but sim ple. What if I be ?

When States dishelv'd are, and Lawes untwist,

Wise men keep their tongues , fools speak what they list.

I would not be so unwise as to grieve the wise, if I were wise enough to foresee it : I would speake nothing to the Cause or Continuance of these weari some Warres hitherto ; the one is enough debated, the other more than enough peracted. Nor would I de- claime of the uncornlinesse, unbrotherlinesse, unsea- sonablenesse and unreasonablenesse of these direfull digladiations : every stroak strucke sounds too loud upon this harsh string. I would much rather speake perswasives to a comely brotherly seasonable and reasonable cessation of Amies on both sides, by a drawn battaile : Wherein if I shall adventure a few over-bold words, I intreat my ignorance, impartiality, and Loyalty may plead pardon for me.

Foure meanes there are, and no more, within the compasse of my consideration, conducing to what is desired. Either to get the Standard fixed in heaven^ by the Lord of Hosts taken downe, I meaue by Re-

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formation : Or to set up white colours instead of red, on one side or other, I meane by Composition : Or by furling up all the Ensignes on both sides, I meane by mutuall and generall Cessation : Or by still dis playing all the Colours and Cornets of every batal- lion, I mean by prosecution : without Reformation there will hardly be any Composition ; without Com position little hope of Cessation ; without Cessation there must and will be Prosecution ; which God forbid.

Reformation.

WHen the Roman Standard was defixed with such difficulty at the batteli between Han- niball and Flaminiiis at Thrasimene, it proved an ill Omen. When God gives quietnesse, who can make trouble ; when he hideth his face, who can behold him 1 'Whether it be against a nation or a man onely. That the Hypocrite reigne not, lest the people be in- snared, Job 34. 29, 30. How can the sword of the Lord put it selfe up into its scabbard and be quiet, when himself hath given it a charge to the contrary? Jer. 47. 6, 7. It was aCardinall Truth which Cardinall Poole spake to H. 8. Penes Reges est inferre bellurn, penes autcm Dcum terminare. If Kings will make their beginnings, God will make his ends : much more when himselfe begins: When I begin I will also make an end, I Sam. 3. 12. Farre better were it, for men to make an end with him in time, than put him to make such an end with them as he there intends.

Politicall Reformation he seemes to call for now indigitanter. When he beholds Christian Kingdomes

AGGAVVAM in America. 35

and States unsound in their foundations, illineall in their superstructures, unjust in their administrations; he kicks them in peeces with the foot of his Indigna tion : But when Religious Statesmen frame and build by the levell and plummet of his wisdome, then peo ple may say as his servants of old, Looke upon Zion the City of our Solemnities ; Your eyes shall see it a quiet habitation, a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down ; not one of the stakes thereof shall be removed, neither shall any of the coards thereof bee broken ; Isa. 33. 20. neither by civill Commotions nor foreign Invasions. When the coards of a State are exquisite ly tight, and the stakes finnely pitched ; such a Tent though but a Tent shall not easily flutter or fall : But if the Tacklings be so loose, that themaine Mast cannot stand steady, nor the Saile be well spread; then may the lame take and divide a great prey, ver. 23. If Religion, Laws, Liberties, Affections, Conver sations, and foraigne Federacies be slight ; the strength of strong men shall be" weaknesse, arid the weaknesse of the weak victorious.

Pura politeja ne uniim admittit solfzcismulum, neque valet, prcBscriptio in politicis aut moralibus. It may maintain a bright conjecture, against a rusty Truth : a legible possession, against an obliterate Claime : an inconvenience, against a convenience ; where no cleare remedy may be had : but never any thing that is for mally sinfull, or materially mischievous. When rot ten States are soundly mended from head to foot, proportions duly admeasured, Justice justly dispenced ; then shall Rulers and Subjects have peace with God

36 The Simple Cobler of

and themselves : but till then, the gayest Kingdomes shall be but ruffling scuffling, removing and commov- ing hovelis. For England, however the upper Sto ries are shroadly shattered ; yet the foundations and frame being good or mendable by the Architectors now at worke, there is good hope, when peace is set- led, people shall dwell more wind-tight and water tight than formerly. I earnestly wish our Mr. Build ers to remember, that punctuality in Divinity and Politic, is but regularity ; that what is amisse in the mould, will misfashion the prosult : and that if this market be slipt, things may grow as deare as ever they were. Most expert Gentlemen, bee intreated at length to set our Head right on our shoulders, that we may once look upwards and goe forwards like proper Englishmen.

God will also have Ecclesiasticall Reformation now, or nothing : And here he stands not upon Kings, Parliaments or Assemblies, but upon his own Termes. I feare hee will have all drosse and base metalls throughly melted away by these combustions, before Hee quenches them ; all his Ordinances and vessells cast into his owne fashion, in his own mould, to his own amussim, before he restores peace. There was not a stone left upon a stone of the old Temple, be fore the new was erected. If this first worke bee throughly and throughoutly dispatched as I hope it is, the great JRemora is removed. If the Parliament and Assembly be pleased to be as curious and industrious as I have seen a great Popish Bishop in execcrating

AGGAVVAM in America. 37

a Protestant Parish Church one day, and consecrating it the next ; they may adjourn awhile with leave enough.

Some ten or twelve years before these Wars there came to my view these two Predictions.

1. When God shall purge this Land with soap and nitre, Woe be to the Crowne, woe be to the Mitre.

The accent of the blow shall fall there. He that pities not the Crowne, pities not his owne soule. Hee that pities not those that wore the Mitre, more than they pitied themselves, or the Churches over which they insulted, or the State then corrupted and now Corruined by their pride and negligence, is to blame.

2 There is a set of Bishops comming next behind,

Will ride the devill off his legs, and break his wind.

Poore men ! they might have kept his backe till this time for ought I know, had they not put him beyond his pace : but Schollers must gallop, though they tumble for it. Yet I commend them for this, they gave him such straynes as made him blow short ever since. I doubt the Assembly troubles him ; and I doubt he troubles them. Well, the Bishops are gone : If they have carried away with them all that was in the pockets of their Holliday hose, fare them well ; let them come againe when I give them a new Conge d' slier, or send a Pursuivant for them ; which if I doe, I shall never trust myselfe more, though they 6

38 The Simple Cobler of

have ofterr done it for me, who never deserved that honour. Some of them I confesse were very honest men, and would have been honester if they dared for their fellows.

^— The sad worke now, is to institute better things in their Roome, and to induct better men in their roome ; rather where, and how to finde those things, they hav ing cunningy laid them so farre out of the way ; I doubt some good men cannot see them, when they look full upon them : it is like, the Bishops carryed away their eyes with them, but I feare they left their Spectacles behind them. I use no spectacles, yet my eyes are not fine enough, nor my hand steady enough to cut by such fine threads as are now spun. I am I know not what ; I cannot tell what to make of my selfe. nor I think no body else : My Trade is to finde more faults than others will mend ; and I am very diligent at it ; yet it scarce findes me a living, though the Country findes me more worke than I can turne my hand to.

For Church work, I am neither Presbyterian, nor plebsbyterian, but an Iiiterpendent : My task is to sit and study how shapeable the Independent way will be to the body of England, then my head akes on one side ; and how suitable the Presbyterian way, as we heare it propounded, will bee to. the minde of Christ, then my head akes on the other side : but when I con sider how the Parliament will commoderate a way out of both, then my head feaves aking : I am not, without some contri vails in my patching braines-; but I had rather suppose them to powder, than expose

AGO AW AM in America. 39

them to preregular, much lesse to preter-regular Judge ments : I shall therefore rejoyce that the work is fain into so good hands, heads, and hearts, who will weigh Rules by Troyweight, and not by the old Haber-du- pois : and rather then meddle where I have so little skill, I will sit by and tell my feares to them that have the patience to heare them, and leave the red-hot question to them that dare handle it.

I fear many holy men have not so deeply humbled themselves for their former mis-worshippings of God as he will have them before he reveales his secrets to them : as they accounted things indifferent, so they account indifferent repentance will serve turne. Son of man, if my people be ashamed of all that they have done, then shew them the forme of the house, and the fashion thereof, else not, Ezek. 43. 11. A sin in Gods worship, that seemes small in the common beame of the world, may be very great in the scales of his Sanc tuary. Where God is very jealous, his servants should be very cautelous.

I feare, the furnace wherein our new formes are cast ing, is over-heat, and casts smoake in the eyes of our founders, that they cannot well see what they doe, or ought to doe ; Omne peril judicium cum res transit in affectum. Truth and peace are the Castor and Pot- lux of the Gospell : they that seek the one without the other, are like to finde neither : Anger will hinder domestick Prayers, much more Ecclesiastique Coun- cels. What is produced by tumult, is either deficient or redundant. When the judgements of good men concurre with a harmonious Diapason, the result is me-

40 The Simple Cobler of

lodious and commodious. Warring and jarring men are no builders of houses for God, though otherwise very good. Instruments may be well made and well strung, but if they be not well fretted, the Musique is marred. The great Turke hearing Musitians so long a tuning, he thought it stood not with his state to wait for what would follow. When Christ whips Market-makers out of his Temple, he .raises dust : but when he enters in with Truth and Holinesse, he calls for deep silence, Hab. 2. 20. There must not a toole be heard when the Tabernacle is reared : Nor is that amiable or serviceable to men that passeth through so many ill animadversions of Auditors and Spectators. If the Assembly can hardly agree what to determine, people will not easily agree what to accept.

I fear, these differences and delayes have occasion ed men to make more new discoveries then otherwise they would. If publique Assemblies of Divines can not agree upon a right way, private Conventicles of illiterate men, will soon find a wrong. Bivious de- murres breed devious resolutions. Passengers to heav en are in haste, and will walk one way or other. He that doubts of his way, thinkes hee loses his day: and when men are gone awhile, they will be loth to turn back. If God hide his path, Satan is at hand to turn Convoy : If any have a minde to ride poste, he will helpe them with a fresh spaviri'd Opinion at every Stage.

Where clocks will stand, and Dials have no light, There men must goc by gucsse, bc't wrong or right.

AGGAVVAM in America. 41

I feare, if the Assembly of all Divines, doe not con sent, and concenter the sooner, God will breath a spir it of wisedome and meeknesse, into the Parliament of no Divines, to whom the Imperative and Coactive power supremely belongs, to consult such a contem- perate way, as shall best please him, and profit his Churches, so that it shall be written upon the doore of the Assembly ; The Lord was not there.

I feare, the importunity of some impatient, and sub tlety of some malevolent mindes, will put both Par liament and Assembly upon some preproperations, that will not be safe in Ecclesiasticall Constitutions. To procrastinate in matters clear, as I said even now, may be dangerous ; so, not to deliberate in dubious cases, will be as perilous. We here, though I think under favour, wee have some as able Steersmen as England affords, have been driven to tack about again to some other points of Christs Compasse, and to make better observations before we hoyse up sayles. It will be found great wisdome in disputable cases, not to walk on by twylight, but very cautelously ; rather by probationers for a time, then peremptory positives: Reelings and wheelings in Church acts, are both dif ficult and disadvantageous. It is rather Christian modesty than shame, in the dawning of Reformation, to be very perpensive. Christs mind is, that Evangel- icall policies, should be framed by Angelicall mea sures ; not by a line of flaxe, but by a golden Reed, Rev. 21. 15.

I feare, he tftat sayes, the Presbyterian and Inde pendent way, if rightly carryed, doe not meet in one, 6*

42 The Simple Cobler of

he doth not handle his Compasses so considerately as he should.

I feare, if Authority doth not establish a sutable and peaceable Government of Churches the sooner, the bells in all the steeples will ring awke so long, that they will hardly be brought into tune any more.

My last, but not least feare, is, That God will hard ly replant his Gospel in any part of Christendome, in so faire an Edition as is expected, till the whole field hath been so ploughed and harrowed, that the soile be throughly cleansed and fitted for new seed: Or whether he will not transplant it into some other Re gions, I know not : This feare I have feared these 20 years, but upon what grounds I had rather bury than broach.

I dare not but adde to what preceded about Church- Reformation, a most humble petition, that the Au thority of the Ministry be kept in its due altitude : if it be dropp'd in the dust, it will soon bee stifled: Encroachments on both sides, have bred detriments enough to the whole. The Separatists are content their teaching Elders should sit highest on the Bench, so they may sit in the Chaire over-against them; and that their ruling Elders shall ride on the saddle, so they may hold the bridle. That they may likewise have seasonable and honorable maintenance, and that certainly stated : which generally we find and prac tise here as the best way. When Elders live upon peoples good wills, people care little for their ill wills, be they never so just : Voluntary contributions or non-tributions of Members, put Ministers upon

AGGAVVAM in America. 43

many temptations in administrations of their Offices : two houres care does more dis-spirit an ingenuous man than two dayes study : nor can an Elder be giv en to hospitality, when he knowes not what will be given him to defray it : it is pity men of gifts should live upon men's gifts. I have seen most of the Re formed Churches in Europ, and scene more misery in these two respects, then it is meet others should hear : the complaints of painfull Pareus, David Pa- reus, to myselfe, with tears, concerning the Germane Churches, are not to be related.

There is yet a personall Reformation, as requisite as the Politicall. When States are so reformed, that they conforme such as are profligate, into good civili ty : civill men, into religious morality : When Churches are so constituted, that Faith is ordained Pastor, Truth Teacher, Holinesse and Righteousnesse ruling Elders : Wisedome and Charity Deacons : Knowl edge, love, hope, zeale, heavenly-mindednesse, meek- nesse, patience, watchfulnesse, humility, diligence, sobriety, modesty, chastity, constancy, prudence, con- tentation, innocency, sincerity, &c. admitted mem bers and all their opposites excluded : then there will bee peace of Country and Conscience.

Did the servants of Christ know what it is to live in Reformed Churches with unreformed spirits, under strict order with loose hearts, how formes of Religion breed but formes of Godlinesse, how men by Church- discipline, learne their Church-postures, and there rest ; they would pray as hard for purity of heart, as purity of Ordinances. If we mocke God in these,

44 The Simple Cobler of

He will mocke us; either with defeat of our hopes ; or which is worse : when we have what we so much desire, we shall be so much the worse for it. It was a well salted speech, uttered by an English Christian of a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, Wee have the good Orders here, but you have the good Chris tians in England. Hee that prizes not Old Eng land Graces, as much as New England Ordinances, had need goe to some other market before hee comes hither. In a word, hee that is not Pastor, Teacher, Ruler, Deacon and Brother to himselfe, and lookes not at Christ above all, it matters not a farthing wheth er he be Presbyterian or Independent : he may be a zealot in bearing witnesse to which he likes best, and yet an Iscariot to both, in the witnesse of his owne Conscience.

I have upon strict observation, seen so much power of godlinesse, and spirituall mindednesse in English Christians; living meerly upon Sermons and private duties, hardly come by, when the Gospell was little more than symptomaticall to the State ; such Epi- demicall and lethall formality in other disciplinated Churches, that I professe in the hearing of God, my heart hath mourned, and mine eyes wept in secret, to consider what will become of multitudes of my deare Country-men, when they shall enjoy what they now covet : Not that good Ordinances breed ill Conscien ces, but ill Consciences grow stark nought under good Ordinances ; insomuch that might I wish an hypocrite the most perilous place but Hell, I should wish him a Membership in a strict Reformed Church :

AGGAVVAM in America. 45

and might I wish a sincere Servant of God, the great est griefe earth can afford, I should wish him to live with a pure heart, in a Church impurely Reformed ; yet through the improvement of Gods Spirit, that griefe may sanctifie him for Gods service and pres ence, as much as the meanes he would have, but cannot.

I speak this the rather to prevent, what in me lyes, the imprudent romaging that is like to be in England, from Villages to Townes, from Townes to Cities, for Churches sake, to the undoing of Societies, Friend ships, Kindreds, Families, Heritages, Callings, yea, the wise Providence of God in disposing mens habi tations, now in the very Infancy of Reformation : by forgetting that a little leaven may season a large lump : and it is much better to doe good than receive. It were a most uncharitable and unserviceable part, for good men to desert their own Congregations, where many may glorifie God in the day of his Visitation, for their presence and assistance. If a Christian would picke out a way to thrive in grace, let him study to administer grace to them that want : or to make sure a blessing upon his Family ; let him labour to mul tiply the family of Christ, and beleeve, that he which soweth liberally, shall reap abundantly; and hee that spareth more than is need, from them that have more need, shall surely come to poverty : yea, let me say, that he who forsakes the meanes of grace for Christ and his Churches sake, shall meet with a better bar- gaine, namely, grace it selfe. It is a time now, when full flocks should rather scatter to leane Churches,

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than gather from other places, to make themselves fat ; when able Christians should rather ttirne Jesuites and Seminaries, than run into Covents and Frieries : had this beene the course in the Primitive time, the Gospel had been pinfolded up in a few Cities, and not spread as it is.

What more ungodly sacriledge or manstealing can there be, then to purloin from godly Ministers the first born of their fervent prayers and faithfull preachings, the leven of their flocks, the incouragement of their soules, the Crowne of their labours, their Epistle to Heaven ? I am glad to heare our New-England El ders generally detest it despuenter, and looke at it as a killing Cordolium : If men will needs gather Church es out of the world (as they say) let them first plough the world, sow it, and reap it with their own hands, and the Lord give them a liberall Harvest. He is a very hard man that will reap where he hath not sow ed, and gather where he hath not strowed, Mat. 25. 24.

He that saith, it is or was our case, doth not right ly understand himself or us, and he that takes his war rant out of Joh. 4. 37. 38. is little acquainted with Expositors. Wise men are amazed to hear that con scientious Ministers dare spoile many Congregations to make one for themselves.

In matter of Reformation, this would be remem- bred, that in premonitory judgements, God will take good words, and sincere intents j but in peremptory, nothing but reall performances.

AGGAVVAM in America. 47

Composition.

IF Reformation were come thus neer, I should hope Composition were not farre off: When hearts meet in God, they will soon meet in Gods wayes, and upon Gods termes. But to avoid prolixity, which steales upon me ; For Composition, I shall com pose halfe a dozen distichs concerning these kind of Wars ; wishing I could sing asleep these odious stirres at least on some part, with a dull Ode. He is no Cobler that cannot sing, nor no good Cobler that can sing well :

Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum ) They are Qualemcunque potest Juvenal J these.

T

1.

Hey seldome lose the field, but often win, That end their wars, before their wars begin.

2.

Their Cause is oft the worst, that Jirst begin, And they may lose the field, the field that win : *

3.

In Civill warrs, 'twixt Subjects and their King, There is no conquest got, by conquering.

4.

Warre ill begun, the onely way to mend, Is t' end the warre before the warre doe end.

5.

They that will end ill warrs, must have the skill, To make an end by Rule, and not by Will.

6.

In ending warrs 'tween Subjects and their Kings, Great things are sav'd, by losing little things.

* Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa Catoni. Lucan.

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Wee heare that Majestas Imperil hath challenged Sains Populi into the field ; the one fighting for Pre rogatives, the other defending Liberties: Were I a Constable bigge enough, I would set one of them by the heeles to keep both their hands quiet ; I meane onely in a paire of stocks, made of sound reason, handsomely fitted for the legges of their Understand ing.

If Salus Populi began, surely it was not that Sa- lus Populi which I left in England : That Salus Populi was as mannerly a Salus Populi as need bee: if I bee not much deceived, that Salus Populi suffer'd its nose to be held to the Grindstone, till it was almost ground to the grisles ; and yet grew never the sharp er for ought I could discerne ; What was, before the world was made, I leave to better Antiquaries then myselfe ; but I thinke, since the world began, it was never storied that Salus Populi began with Majestas Imperii, unlesse Majestas Imperil first unharbour'd it, and hunted it to a stand, and then it must either turne head and live, or turn taile and die : but more have been storyed on the other hand than Majestas Impe ril is willing to heare : I doubt not but Majestas Im perii knows, that Common-wealths cost as much the making as Crownes ; and if they bee well made, would yet outsell an ill-fashioned Crown, in any Market overt, even in Smithfield, if they could be well vouched. ,

But Preces fy Lachryma, are the people's weap ons : so are Swords and Pistols, when God and Par liaments bid them Arme. Prayers and Teares are

AGGAVVAM in America. 49

good weapons for them that have nothing but knees and eyes ; but most men are made with teeth and nailes ; onely they must neither scratch for Liber ties, nor bite Prerogatives, till they have wept and prayed as God would have them. If Subjects must fight for their Kings against other Kingdomes, when their Kings will ; I know no reason, but they may fight against their Kings for their own Kingdomes, when Parliaments say they may and must : but Par liaments must not say they must, till God sayes they may.

1 can never beleeve that Majestas Imperil, was ever so simple as to think, that if it extends it self beyond its due Artique at one end, but Salus Populi must Antartique it as farre at the other end, or else the world will be Excentrick, and then it will whirle ; and if it once fall a whirling, ten to one, it will whirle them off first, that sit in highest chaires on cushions fill'd with Peacocks feathers ; and they are like to stand their ground fastest, that owne not one foot of, ground to stand upon. When Kings rise higher than they should, they exhale Subjects higher than they would : if the Primum Mobile should ascend one foot higher than it is, it would hurry all the nether wheeles, and the whole world on fire in 24 houres. No Prince exceeds in Soveraignty, but his Subjects will exceed as farre in some vitious Liberty, to abate their griefe ; / or some pernicious mutiny, to abate their Prince.

The crazy world will crack, in all the middle joynts, If all the ends it hath, have not their parapoynts.

7

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Nor can I beleeve that Crownes trouble Kings Heads, so much as Kings heads trouble Crownes : nor that they are flowers of Crowns that trouble Crowns, but rather some. Nettles or Thistles mistaken for flowers.

To speake plainer English, I have wondred these thirty yeares what Kings aile : I have seen in my time, the best part of twenty Christian Kings and Princes; •Yet as Christian as they were, some or other were still scuffling for Prerogatives. It must be granted at all hands, that Pr&rogativa Regis are necessary Sup porters of State : and stately things to stately Kings : but if withall, they be Derogativa, Regno, they are but little things to wise Kings. Equity is as due to People, as Eminency to Princes: Liberty to Sub jects, as Royalty to Kings : If they cannot walk to gether lovingly hand in hand, pari passn, they must cut girdles and part as good friends as they may : Nor must it be taken offensively, that when Kings are haling up their top-gallants, Subjects lay hold on their slablines ; the head and body must move alike : it is nothing meet for me to say with Horace,

Ut tu fortunam, sic nos tc Car'le feremus. But I hope I may safely say,

The body bcares the head, the head the Crown ; If both beare not alike, then one will down.

Distracting Nature, calls for distracting Remedies ; perturbing policies for disturbing cures: If one Ex-

AGGAVVAM in America. 51

treame should not constitute its Anti-Extreame, all things would soon be in extremo : if ambitious windes get into Rulers Crownes, rebellious vapours will into Subjects Caps, bee they stopt never so close: Yet the tongues of Times tell us of ten Preter-royali Usurpa tions, to one contra-civil 1 Rebellion.

Civill Liberties and Proprieties admeasured, to eve ry man to his true suum, are the prima pura princi- pia, propria quarto modo, the sine quibus of humane States, without which, men are but women. Peoples prostrations of these things when they may lawfully helpe it, are prophane prostitutions ; ignorant Ideot- tismes, under naturall noddaries ; and just it is that such as undersell them, should not re-inherit them in haste, though they seeke it carefully with teares. And such usurpations by Rulers, are the unnaturalizings of nature, disfranchisements of Freedome, the Neronian nullifyings of Kingdomes : yea, I beleeve the Devill himselfe would turne Round-head, rather then suffer fchese Columnes of Common-wealths to be slighted : as he is a creature, he feares decreation ; as an Angell, denominations ; as a Prince, dis-common-wealthings ; as finite, these pen-infinite insolencies, which are the most finite Infinites of misery to men on this side the worlds dissolution : therefore it is, that with Gods leave, he hath sounded an alarm to all the susque de ques, pell-mels, one and alls, now harrassing sundry parts of Christendome. It is enough for God to be In finite, too. much for man to bee Indefinite. He that will flye too high a quarry for Absolutenesse, shall stoope as much too low before he remounts his proper

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pitch : If Jacob will over top his brother out of Gods time and way, he will so hamstring him, that hee shall make legs whether he will or no, at his brothers ap proach : and such as over-run all humane measure, shall seldome returns to humane mercy : There are /sins besides the sin against the Holyjjhost, which shall n o t.bs o x pia trdHbysacr 1 fic'e" for temporall revenge : I mean when they are boyled up to a full consistence of contumacy and impenitency. Let absolute Demands or Commands be put into one scale, and indefinite refusalls into the other : all the Goldsmiths in Cheape- side, cannot tell which weighs heaviest. Intolerable griefes to Subjects, breed the Iliaca passio in a body politick, which inforces that upwards which should not. I speak these things to excuse, what I may, my Countrymen in the hearts of all that look upon their proceedings.

There is a quadrobulary saying which passes cur rent in the Westerne World, That the Emperour is King of Kings, the Spaniard, King of Men, the French, King of Asses, the King of England, King of Devills. By his leave that first brayed the speech, they are pretty wise Devills and pretty honest ; the worse they doe, is to keep their Kings from-devillizing, and themselves from Assing : Were I a King (a sim ple supposall) I would not part with one good English Devill, for some two of the Emperours Kings, nor three of the Spaniards Men, nor foure French Asses; If I did I should thinke my selfe an Asse for my labour. I know nothing that Englishmen want, but true Grace, and honest pride ; let them be well furnisht

AGGAVVAM in America. 53

with those two, I feare they would make more Asses, then Spaine can make men, or the Emperour Kings. You will say I am now beyond my latchet ; but you would not say so, if you knew how high my latchet will stretch ; when I heare a lye with a latchet, that reaches up to his throat that first forged it.

He is a good King that undoes not his Subjects by any one of his unlimited Prerogatives : and they are a good People, that undoe not their Prince, by any one of their unbounded Liberties, be they the very least. I am sure either may, and I am sure neither would be trusted, how good soever. Stories tell us in effect, though not in termes, that over-risen Kings, have been the next evills to the world, unto fallen An gels ; and that over-franchised people, are devills with smooth snaffles in their mouthes. A King that lives by Law, lives by love ; and he that lives above Law, shall live under hatred doe what he can. Slave ry and knavery goe as seldome asunder, as Tyranny and Cruelty.

I have a long while thought it very possible, in a time of Peace, and in some Kings Reigne, for disert Statesmen, to cut an exquisite thred between Kings Prerogatives, and Subjects Liberties of all sorts, so as C&sar mij*ht have his due, and People their share, without such sharpe disputes. Good Casuists would case it, and case it, part it, and part it ; now it, and then it, punctually. Aquinas, Suarez, or Valentia, would have done it long ere this, had they not beene Popish, I might have said knavish ; for, if they be so any where, it is in their Tractates of Priviledges. 7*

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Our Common Law doth well, but it must doe better be fore things doe as they should. There are some Max- imes in Law, that would be taught to speake a little more mannerly, or else well Anti-Maxini'd : we say, the King can doe a Subject no wrong ; why may wee not say, the Parliament can doe the King no wrong ? We say, Nullum tempus occurrit Regi in taking wrong ; why may wee not say, Nullum tempus suc- currit Regi in doing wrong ? which I doubt will Tove as good a Canon if well examined.

Authority must have power to make and keep peo ple honest; People, honesty to obey Authority; both, a joynt-Councell to keep both safe. Morall Lawes, Royall Prerogatives, Popular Liberties, are not of Mans making or giving, but Gods : Man is but to measure them out by Gods Rule : which if mans wis- dome cannot reach, Mans experience must mend : And these Essentialls, must not be Ephorized or Tri- buned by one or a few Mens discretion, but lineally sanctioned by Supreame Councels. In pro-re-nascent occurrences, which cannot be foreseen ; Diets, Par liaments, Senates, or accountable Commissions, must have power to consult and execute against intersilient dangers and flagitious crimes prohibited by the light of Nature : Yet it were good if States would let Peo ple know so much beforehand, by some safe woven manifesto, that grosse Delinquents may tell no tales of Anchors and Buoyes, nor palliate their presumptions with pretence of ignorance. I know no difference in these Essentialls, between Monarchies, Aristocracies, or Democracies ; the rule will be found par-rationall,

AGGAVVAM in America. 55

say Schoolmen and Pretorians what they will. And in all, the best Standard to measure Prerogatives, is the Ploughstaffe ; to measure Liberties, the Scepter : if the tearms were a little altered into Loyall Prerog atives and Royall Liberties, then we should be sure to have Royall Kings and Loyall Subjects.

Subjects their King, the King Ms Subjects greets, Whilome the Scepter and the Plough-staffe meets.

But Progenitors have had them for four and twen ty predecessions : that would be spoken in the Nor man tongue or Cimbrian, not in the English or Scot tish : When a Conquerour turnes Christian, Christiani ty turns Conquerour : if they had had them time out of minde of man, before Adam was made, it is not a pin to the point in foro recta rationis : Justice and Equity were before time, and will be after it : Time hath neither Politicks nor Ethicks, good nor evill in it ; it is an empty thing, as empty as a New-English purse, and emptier it cannot bee : a man may break his neck in time, and in a lesse time then he can heale it.

But here is the deadly pang, it must now be taken by force and dint of sword : I confesse it is a deadly pang to a Spirit made all of flesh, but not to a morti fied heart : it is good to let God have his will as hee please, when we have not reason to let him have it as we should ; remembring, that hitherto he hath taken order, that ill Prerogatives gotten by the Sword, should in time be fetcht home by the Dagger, if noth ing else will doe it : Yet I trust there is both day and

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means to intervent this bargaine. But if they should ; if God will make both King and Kingdome the bet ter by it, what should either lose ? I am sure there is no great cause for either to make great brags.

Pax quo carior, eo charior.

A peace well made, is likeliest then to hold, When 'tis both dearly bought and dearly sold.

I confesse, he that parts with such pearles to be paid in old iron, had need to be pityed more by his faithfull friends, than he is like to be by his false flatterers. My heart is surcharged, I can no longer forbear.

MY Dearest Lord, and my more than dearest King-, I most humbly beseeclr you upon mine aged knees, that you would please to arme your minde with patience of proofe, and to intrench your selfe as deep as you can, in your wonted Royall meeknesse ; for I am resolved to display my unfurled soule in your very face, and to storme you with volyes of Love and Loyalty. You owe the meanest true Subject you have, a close account of these open Warres : they are no Arcana imperil. Then give mee leave to inquire of your Majesty, what you make in fields of blood, when you should be amidst your Parliament of peace : What you doe sculking in the suburbs of Hell, when your Royall Pallaces stand desolate, through your absence ? What moves you to take up Armes against your faithfull Subjects, when your Armes should bee

AGGAVVAM in America. 57

embracing your mournfull Queen ? What incenses your heart to make so many widdowes and Orphans, and among the rest your owne ? Doth it become you, the King of the stateliest Island the world hath, to forsake your Throne, and take up the Manufacture of cutting your Subjects throats, for no other sin, but for Deifying you so over-much, that you cannot be quiet in your Spirit, till they have pluckt you downe as over-low ? Doe your three Kingdomes so trouble you, that they must all three be set on fire at once, that when you have done, you may probably runiie away by their light into utter darknesse ? Doe your three Crownes sit so heavy on your head, that you will break the backs of the three bodies that set them on, and helpt you beare them so honourably ? Have your three Lamb-like flocks so molested you, that you must deliver them up to the ravening teeth of evening Wolves? Are you so angry with those that never gave you just cause to be angry, but by their too much feare to anger you at all, when you gave them cause enough ? Are yon so weary of Peace, that you will never be weary of Warre ? Are you so willing to warre at home, who were so unwilling to warre a- broad, where and when you should ? Are you so weary of being a good King, that you will leave your selfe never a good Subject ? Have you peace of Con science, in iu fore ing many of your Subjects to fight for you against their Conscience ? Are you provided with Answers at the great Tribunall, for the destruc tion of so many thousands, whereof every man was as good a man as your Self, qua man ?

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Is it not a most unworthy part for you to bee run ning away from your Subjects in a day of battel, up on whose Pikes you may come safe with your naked breast and welcome ? Is it honourable for you to be flying on horses, from those that would esteeme it their greatest honour, to beare you on their humble shoulders to your Chaire of Estate, and set you down upon a Cushion stuffed with their hearts? Is it your prudence to be inraged with your best friends, for adventuring their lives to rescue you from your worst enemies ? Were I a King, pardon the supposall, I would hang that Subject by the head, that would not take me by the heels, and dragge me to my Court, when he sees me shifting for life in the ruined Coun- trey, if nothing else would doe it ; And I would honour their very heels, that would take me by the very head, and teach me, by all just meanes, to King it better, when they saw me un-Kinging my selfe and Kingdoms : Doe you not know Sir, that, as when your people are sicke of the Kings-evill, God hath given you a gift to heale them ? so when your selfe are sicke of it, God hath given the Parliament a gift to heale you : Hath your Subjects love been so great to you, that you will spend it all, and leave your chil dren little or none ? Are you so exasperated against wise Scotland, that you will make England your foole or foot-stoole ? Is your fathers Sonne growne more Orthodox, then his most Orthodox father, when he told his Sonne, that a King was for a kingdome, and not a kingdome for a King ? parallell to that of the Apostle ; the husband is but by the wife, but the wife of the husband.

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Is Majestas Imperil growne so kickish, that it can not stand quiet with Sahis Populi, unlesse it be fet tered ? Are you well advised, in trampling your Sub jects so under your feet, that they can finde no place to be safe in, but over your head : Are you so inexo rably offended with your Parliament, for suffering you to returne as you did. when you came into their house as you did, that you will be avenged on all whom they represent ? Will you follow your very worst Councell so far, as to provoke your very best, to take better counsell than ever they did? If your Majesty be not Popish, as you professe, and I am very willing to beleeve, why doe you put the Parlia ment to resume the Sacrament of the Altar, or Con- substantions in saying, the King and Parliament, the King and Parliament ? breaking your simple Subjects braines to understand such mysticall Parlee- ment ? I question much, whether they were not bet ter speake plainer English, then such Latine as the Angels can hardly construe, and God happily loves not to perse ; I can as well admit an ubiquitary King as another, if a King be abroad in any good affaire ; but if a King be at home and will circumscribe him- selfe at Oxford, and proscribe or discribe his Parlia ment at Westminster, if that Parliament will pre scribe what they ought, without such paradoxing, I should think God would subscribe a Le Dieu le veult readily enough.

Is your Advisera such a Suavamen to you, that hath been such a Gravamen to Religion and Peace ? Shall the chiefe bearing wombe of your Kingdome,

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be ever so constituted, that it cannot be delivered of its owne deliverance, in what pangs soever it be, with out the will of one man-midwife, and such a man as will come and not come, but as he list : nor bring a Parliament to bed of a well-begotten Liberty without an entire Subsidy ? Doe not your Majesty being a Schollar, know, that it was a truth long before it was spoken, that Mundas est unus aid nullus, that there is Principum puruin unum., which unites the world and all that is in it; where that is broken, things fall asunder, that whatsoever is duable or triable, is fryable. Is the Militia of your Kingdoms, such an orient flower of your Crowne, which all good Herbalists judge but a meere nettle, while it is in any one mans hand living ? May not you as well challenge the ab solute disposall of all the wealth of the Kingdoms as of all the strength of your Kingdome ? Can you put any difference ? unlesse it bee this, that msns hearts and bones are within their skins, more proper and intrinsecall, their lands and cattell more external! : dare you not concredit the Militia, with those to whom you may betrust your heart, better then your owne breast ? Will they ever harme you with the Militia, that have no manner of malitia against you, but for mis-irnploying the Militia against them by the malitia of your ill Counsellours ? What good will the Militia doe you when you have wasted the Realme of all the best Militcs it hath ? May not your Majesty see through a paire of Spectacles, glazed with inch-board ; that while you have your Advisera in one hand, and the Militia in the other, you have

AGGAVVAM in America. 61

the neckes of your Subjects under your feet, but not your heart in your owne hand ? doe you not know that malum est, posse malum ?

Hath Episcopacy beene such a religious Jewell in your State, that you will sell all or most of your Cor onets, Caps of honour, and blue Garters, for six and twenty cloth Caps? arid your Barons Cloakes, for so many Rockets, whereof usually twenty have had scarce good manners enough to keepe the other six sweet? Is no Bishop no King, such an oraculous Truth, that you will pawne your Crowne and life up on it? if you will, God may make it true indeed on your part : Had you rather part with all, then lose a few superfluous tumours, to pare off your monstrous- nesse ? Will you be so covetous, as to get more then you ought, by losing more then you need ? Have you not driven good Subjects enough abroad, but you will also slaughter them that stay at home ? Will you take such an ill course, that no prayers can fasten that good upon you we desier ? Is there not some worse root than all these growing in your Spirit, bringing forth all this bitter fruit ? against which you should take up Arms, rather then against your harmlesse Subjects ? Doe you not foresee, into what importable head-tear- ings and heart-searchings you will be ingulfed, when the Parliament shall give you a mate, though but a Stale ? Methinkes it should breake your heart, to see such a one as I, presume so much upon your clemen cy and too much upon your Majesty, which your Selfe have so eclipsed by the interposall of your Selfe between your Selfe arid your Selfe, that it hath not 8

62 The Simple Cobler of

ray's enough left to dazle downe the height of my affections to the awe of my Judgement.

Tres-Royall Sir, I once agaitie beseech you, with teares dropping from my hoary head, to cover your Selfe as close as you may, with the best shield of goodnesse you have : I have somewhat more to say, which may happily trouble not your Selfe, but your followers, more than what is already said. There liv ed in your Realrne and Reigne two whom I may well tearme Prophets, both now in a better Kingdome; whereof one foretold two things concerning your Ma jesty, of these very proceedings, long before they be gan ; which being done and past shall bee buried in silence : the other made this prediction about the same time.

King Charles will joyne Himself e to bitter Grief e, Then joy ne to God, and prove a Godly Chief e.

His words were in prose these, King Charles will come into fetters, meaning strong afflictions, and then prove as good a King, as such a good King of Israel, whom he then named, but I need not: he was as in wardly acquainted with the minde of God, as fervent and frequent a Beadsman for your welfare, and had as religious Opticks of State, as any man I know : foure other Predictions he made, full as improbable as this, whereof three are punctually performed. A good Christian being sometime in conflicts of Conscience, hurried with long tentations, used this speech to my selfe, I am now resolved to be quiet, for I plainly see, God will save me whether I will or no : If your Ma-

AGGAVVAM in America. 63

jesty would be pleased to thinke so in your heart, and say so with your mouth, all the good Subjects you have, would say, Amen, till the heavens rang, and I hope you have few so bad, but would say, So be it.

Much lamented Sir, If you will please to retire your Selfe to your Closet, whither you may most safely come, and make your peace with God, for the vast heritage of sinne your Intombed father left upon your score, the dreadful Imprecation he poured upon the heads of his tender posterity in Summersets and Over- buryes Case, published in Starchamber by his Royall command ; your owue sinful marriage, the sophistoca- tion of Religion and Policie in your time, the luxury j-our Court and Country, your connivance with the Irish butcheries, your forgetfull breaches upon the Parliament, your compliance with Popish Doegs, with what else your Conscience shall suggest : and give us, your guilty Subjects example to doe the like, who have held pace and proportion with you in our evill wayes : we will helpe you by Gods assistance, to poure out rivers of tears, to wash away the streams of blood, which have beene shed for these heavy ac counts ; we will also helpe you, God helping us, to beleeve, that there is hope in Israel for these things ; and Balme enough in his Gilead to heale all the brok en bones of your three kingdomes, and to redouble your honour and our peace : His Arme is infinite ; to an infinite power all things are equally faisable, to an infinite mercy, all sinnes equally pardonable. The Lord worke these things in us and for us, for his com passions sake in Jesus Christ.

Sir, you may now please to discover your Selfe

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where you think meet ; I trust I have not indangered you : I presume your Ear-guard will keep farre enough from you, what ever I have said : be it so, I have dis charged my duty, let them look to theirs. If my tongue should reach your eares, which I little hope for ; Let it be once said ; the great King of great Brit- aine^ tooke advise of a simple Cobler, yet such a Cob- ler, as will not exchange either his blood or his pride, with any Shoo-maker or Tanner in your Realme, nor with any of your late Bishops which have flattered you thus in peeces : I would not speake thus in the eares of the world, through the mouth of the Presse for all the plunder your plunderers have pillaged; were it not somewhat to abate your Royall indigna tion toward a loyall Subject ; a Subject whose heart hath been long carbonadoed, des veniani verbo, in flames of affection towards you. Your Majesty knowes or may know, time was, when I did, or would have done you a better peece of service, than all your Troopes and Regiments are now doing. Should I heare any Gentleman that follows you, of my yeares, say hee loves you better than I, if it were lawfull, I would sweare by my Sword, he said more than his sword would make good.

Gracious Sir, Vouchsafe to pardon me my no other sins, but my long Idolatry towards you, and my lov ing you too hard in this speech, and I will pardon you your Treason against me, even me, by committing Treason against your Selfe my Lord and King ; * and

* I speake in termes of Divinity not of Law and am deepel)1 griev ed that I am forced to such necessary over boldnesse.

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your murther, in murthering me, even me, by mnr- thering my deare fellow Subjects, bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh, and of yours also. If you will not pardon me, I will pardon my selfe, dwell in my own clothes as long as I can. and happily make as good a shift for my proportion, as he that hath a lighter paire of heeles : And when you have done what you please and what you can, I am resolved to be

As loyall a Subject to your Majesty when I have never a head on my shoulders, as you a Royall King to me, when you have your three Crownes on your head,

Theod : de la Guard.

Sir,

I Cannot give you over thus ; I most earnestly im plore you, that you would not deferre to consid er yourselfe throughly, you are now returned to the brinke of your Honour and our Peace, stand not too long there, your State is full of distractions, your peo ple of expectations, the importune Affaires of your Kingdome perplexedly suspended, your good Subjects are now rising into a resolution to pray you on to your throne, or into your Tombe, into Grace with your Par liament and People, or into Glory with the Saints in Heaven ; but how you will get into the one, without passing first through th' other, is the riddle they can not untye. If they shall ply the Throne of Grace hard, God will certainely heare, and in a short time 8*

66 The Simple Coblcr of

mould you to his minde, and convince you, that it had and will bee farre easier to sit downe rneekely upon the Rectum, than to wander resolutely in ob liquities, which with Kings, seldome faile to dissem- bogue into bottomlesse Seas of sorrows.

Dearest Sir, be intreated to doe what you doe sin cerely ; the King of Heaven and Earth can search and discover the hiddenest corner of your heart, your Parliament understands you farre better then you may conceive, they have many eares and eyes, and good ones, I beleeve they are Religiously determined to re-cement you to your Body so exquisitely, that the Errors of State and Church, routed by these late stirs, may not re-allee hereafter, nor Themselves be made a curse to the issue of their own bodies, nor a Scoffe, to all Politique Bodies in Europe. The Lord give your Majesty and all your Royall Branches the spirit of wisedome and under standing, the Spirit of knowl edge and his fear e, for His mercy and Christ his sake.

1 Would my skill would serve me also, as well as my heart, to translate Prince Rupert, for his Queen-mothers sake, Eliz. a second. Mismeane me not. I have had him in my armes when he was younger, I wish I had him there now: if I mistake not, he promised then to be a good Prince, but I doubt he hath forgot it : if I thought he would not be an gry with me, I would pray hard to his Maker, to make him a right Roundhead, a wise hearted Palatine, a thankfull man to the English ; to forgive all his sinnes, and at length to save his soule, notwithstanding all

AGGAVVAM in America. 67

his God-damne mee's : yet I may doe him wrong ; I am not certaine hee useth that oath ; I wish no man else would. I dare say the Devills dare not. I thank God I have lived in a Colony of many thousand Eng lish almost these twelve yeares, am held a very socia ble man ; yet I may considerately say, I never heard but one Oath sworne, nor never saw one man drunk, nor ever heard of three women Adulteresses, in all this time, that I can call to rninde : If these sinnes bee amongst us privily, the Lord heale us. I would not bee understood to boast of our innocency ; there is no cause I should, our hearts may be bad enough, and our lives much better. But to follow my busi- nesse.

Prosecutions of Warres betweene a King and his Parliament, are the direfull dilacerations of the world, the cruell Catastrophes of States, dreadfull to speake of; they are nefanda fy n1 agenda: I know no grounds can be given of them but two : Either upon Reason founded upon some surmisall of Treason, which my reason cannot reach : I could never con ceive why a rational! King should commit Treason against a reasonable Parliament ; or how a faithfull Parliament against their lawful! King : the most I can imagine, is a misprision of Treason, upon a mispris- ion of Reason. Hee that knows not the Spirit of his King, is an Atheist. Our King is not Charles le simple sometime of France : he understands not our King that understands him not to bee understanding. The Parliament is supposed Omniscient, because un der God they are Omnipotent : if a Parliament have

68 The Simple Cobler of

not as much knowledge and all other vertues, as all the Kingdome beside, they are no good Abridgement of the Common-wealth. I beleeve Remonstrances have demonstrated enough concerning this point of Reason, to give satisfaction to such as satisfaction will satisfie.

Or upon Will.

The Will of a King is very numinous ; it hath a kinde of vast universality in it, it is many times great er than the will of his whole kingdome, stiffened with ill Counsell and ill Presidents : if it be not a foot and half lesser than the Will of his Councell, and three foot lesser than the Will of his Parliament, it is ^oo big. I think it were well for a King if hee had no will at all, but were all Reason. What if he com mitted his morall will to Divines, that were no Bish ops? his Politicall, to his Parliament, and a Councell chosen by Parliament ? that if ever it miscarry, they may blame themselves most, and him least. I scarce know any King that hath such advantage as ours ; his three kingdomes lye so distinct and entire, that if he please, he might keep them like three gardens with out a weed, if he would let God keep his will, with out wilfulnesse and rashnesse.

I have observed men to have two kindes of Wills, a Free-hold will, such as men hold in Capite of them selves ; or a Copy-hold will, held at the will of other Lords or Ladies. I have read almost all the Com mon Law of England, and some Statutes ; yet I nev er read, that the Parliament held their will in such

AGGAVVAM in America. 69

a Capite : their Tenure is Knight-service, and good Knight-service too, or else they are to blame. And I am sure, a King cannot hold by Copy, at the will of other Lords ; the Law calls that base tenure, incon sistent with Royalty ; much more base is it, to hold at the will of Ladies: Apron-string tenure is very weak, tyed but of a slipping knot, which a childe may uridoe, much more a King. It stands not with onr Q,ueens honour to weare an Apron, much lesse her Husband, in the strings ; that were to insnare both him and her self in many unsafeties. I never heard our King was Effeminate : to be a little Uxorious per sonally, is a vertuous vice in Oeconomicks ; but Roy ally, a vitious vertue in Politicks. To speak English, Books and tongues tell us, I wish they tell us true, that the Error of these Wars on our Kings part pro ceeds only from ill Counsel lours.

Ill Counsellours are very ill Gamesters; if they see their own stake a losing, they will play away King, dueen, Bishops, Knights, Rooks, Pawnes, and all, before they will turne up the board : they that play for lusts, will play away themselves, and not leave themselves so much as a heart to repent j and then there is no Market left but Hell ; if the case be thus, it is to no end to look for any end, till one side make an end of the other.

They that at stake their Croivncs and Honours set, Play lasting games, if Lust or Guilt doe bet.

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Cessation.

IF God would vouchsafe to give his Majesties Re ligion and Reason, power to fling his Wills head over the Wall, in matter of Composition, and his Sub jects strength to throw their lusts after it, Arms would be soon laid down, and Peace soon taken up. They that are not at peace with God, are not at peace with themselves, whatever they think ; and they that are not at peace with themselves, cannot be at peace with others, if occasion provokes, be their natures never so good.

So farre as I can conjecture, the chiefe impediment to a generall and mutuall Cessation of Armes, is, a despaire of mutuall and general! forgivenesse. If ever England had need of a generall Jubile in Heaven and Earth, it is now. Our King and Parliament have been at great strife, who should obtaine most Justice : if they would now strive, who should shew most Mercy, it would heare well throughout the world. Here also my speech must be twofold and blind-fold.

is now nine Moneths and more since the last cred ible News was acted : it is possible by this, the Par liament may be at the Kings mercy : Did I say a Kings mercy? what can I say more ? no man on earth, can shew more mercy then a King, nor shall need more, when he comes to give an Account of his Kingdome : Nor did ever any Parliament merit more mercy than this, for they never sinned, that I know, I meane against the Common and Statute Law of England : it is pity they who have given so many general pardons, should want one now. If our King

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hath lost his way, and thereby learned to looke to his path better hereafter, and taught many Success ors to King it right for many Ages ; Me thinks it should impetrate a Royall Redintegration, upon a Roy- all acknowledgement and ingagement. But how should an erring King trust a provoked Parliament ? Surely he may trust God safe enough; Avho will nev er trust that State more with a good King, that will doe ill to a King that is turned so good. Me thinks those passages of Scripture, Esa. 43. 24, 25. chap. 57. 17, 18. The strange illation, Hos. 2. 13, 14. should melt a heart of steele into floods of mercy.

fc^or others, were my head, one of the heads which first gave the King Counsell to take up these Armes, or to persist in them, when at any time he would have disbanded, I would give that head to the King- dome, whether they would or no ; if they would not cut it off, I would cut it off myselfe, and tender it at the Parliament doore, upon condition that all other heads might stand, which stand upon penitent hearts, and will doe better on than off; then I would carry it to London- Bridge, and charge my tongue to teach all tongues, to pronounce Parliament right hereafter.

When a kingdom is broken just in the neck joynt, in my poore policy, ropes and hatchets are not the kindliest instruments to set it : Next to the spilling of the blood of Christ for sin, the sparing of the blood of sinners, where it may be as well spared as spilt, is the best way of expiation. It is no rare thing for Subjects to follow a leading King ; if he will take his truncheon in his hand, it is to be expected many will

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put their swords in their Belts. Sins that rise out of mistake of judgement, are not so sinfull as those of malice ordinarily : and when multitudes sin, multi tudes of mercy are the best Anodines.

- - gratia gratis data, gratissima.

Grace will dissolve, but rigour hardens guilt : Break not with Steely blowes, what oyle should melt.

In Breaches integrant, 'tween Principally of States, Due Justice may suppressc, but Love redintegrates.

')10f Whosoever be pardoned, I pray -tts-fr \e\.fBritanicus

scape, I mean a pardon. I take him to be a very serviceable Gentleman ; Out of my entire respect to him, I shall presume to give him half a dozen stitches of advice :

I intreat him to consider that our King is not onely a man, but a King in affliction; Kings afflictions are beyond Subjects apprehensions; a Crown may hap pily ake as much as a whole Common-wealth.

I desire him also to conceale himself as deeply as he can, if he cannot get a speciall pardon, to weare a Latitat about his neck, or let him lie close under the Philosophers stone, and I'le warrant him for ever being found

If he be discovered, I covinsell him to get his head set on faster than our New-England Taylors use to set on Buttons ; Kings, and Kings Childrens memo ries are as keen as their Subjects wits.

If he fears any such thing, that he would come over to us, to helpe recruite our bewildred brains : we will

AGGAVVAM in America. 73

promise to maintain him so long as he lives, if he will promise to live no longer then we maintain him.

If he should bee discovered and his head chance to be cut off against his will, I earnestly beseech him to bequeath his wits to rne and mine in Fee-simple, for we want them, arid cannot live by our hands in this Country.

Lastly, I intreat him to keep his purse, I give him my counsell gratis, confessing him to be more then my match, and that I am very loath to fall into his hands.

Prosecution.

IF Reformation, Composition, Cessation, can finde no admittance, there must and will be Prosecution : to which I would also speak briefly and indifferently still to both sides ; and first to that, which I had ra ther call Ray_aJj^Is thetUCavaliers ; who if I mistake' not, fight against the Truth.

Foolish Cowardly man (I pray patience, for I speak nothing but the pulse of my owne heart) dreads and hates, nothing in Heaven or Earth, so much as Truth : it is not God, nor Law, nor sinne, nor death, nor hell, that he feares, but onely because he jeares there is Truth in them : Could he de-truth them all, he would defie them all : Let Perdition it self come upon him with deadly threats, fiery swords, display ed vengeance, he cares not : Let Salvation come cap in hand, with naked Reason, hannelesse Religion, lawny embracements, he will rather flye or dyer than entertaine it : come Truth in what shape it will, hee 9

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will reject it : and when hee can beat it off with most steely prowesse, he thinkes himselfe the bravest man ; when in truth it is nothing but exsanguine fee ble exility of Spirit. Thy heart, saith the Prophet Ezek. 16. 30. is weake, like the heart of an imperious whorish woman : a man would thinke, the heart of an imperious whore, were the very pummell of Scan- derbergs sword ; alas, she is hen-hearted, shee dares not looke Truth in the face ; if she dared, shee would neither be whorish, nor imperious, nor weake. He shews more true fortitude, that prayes quarter of the least Truth, at a miles distance, than hee that breakes through and hewes downe the most Theban Phalanx that ever field bore. Paul exprest more true valour, in saying, I can doe nothing against the Truth, than Goliah, in defying the whole hoste of Israel.

Couragious Gentlemen, Yee that will stab him that gives you the lye ; take heed yee spend not your bloods, limbes and soules, in fighting for some untruth : and yee that will fling out the gantlet to him that calls you Coward, dishonour not your selves with such Cowardise, as to fight against Truth, meer- ly for feare of it. A thousand pities it is, such gal lant ^pirits should spend their lives, honours, herit ages, and sweet relations in any Warres, where, for ought many of them know, some false mistake com mands in Chiefe.

Honoured Country-men, bee intreated to love Truth : if it loves not you againe, and repaires not all your losses, then install some Untruth in its roome for your Generall. If you will needs warre, be perswad-

AGGAVVAM in America. 75

ed to contend lawfully, wisely and stedfastly, against all errours in Divinity and Policy : they are the curs ed Counter-mures, dropt Portcullises, scouring Angi- ports, sulphurious Granado's, laden murtherers, peevish Galthropes, and rascall desperadoes, which the Prince of lyes imployes with all his skill and malice, to maintaine the walls and gates of his kingdome, when Truth would enter in with grace and peace to save forlorne sinners, and distressed Commonwealthes : witnesse the present deplorable estate of sundry States in Europe.

Give me leave to speake a word more : it is but this ; Yee will finde it a farre easier field, to wage warre against all the Armies that ever were or will be on Earth, and all the Angels of Heaven, than to take up Armes against any truth of God : It hath more Counsell and strength than all the world besides j and will certainely either gaine or mine, convert or sub vert every m*an that opposes it. I hope ingenuous men will rather take advice, then offence at what I have said : I had rather please ten, than grieve one intelligent man.

If this side be resolute, I turne me to the other.

Goe on brave Englishmen, in the name of God, go on prosperously, because of Truth and Righteousnes : Yee that have the Cause of Religion, the life of your Kingdome and of all the good that is in it in your hands : Goe on undauntedly : As you are Called and Chosen, so be faithfull : Yee fight the battells of the Lord, bee neither desidious nor perfidious : You serve

76 The Simple Cobler of

the King of Kings, who stiles you his heavenly Re giments : Consider well, what impregnable fighting it is in heaven, where the Lord of Hosts is your Gen- erall, his Angells your Colonels, the Stars your fel- low-souldiers, his Saints your Oratonrs, his Promises your victuallers, his Truth your Trenches ; where Drums are Harps, Trumpets joyfull sounds ; your Ensignes Christs Banners ; where your weapons and armour are spirituall, therefore irresistable, therefore impierceable ; where Sun and wind cannot disadvan tage you, you are above them ; where hell it selfe cannot hurt you, where your swords are furbushed and sharpened by him that made their metall, where your wounds are bound up with the oyle of a good Cause, where your blood runs into the veynes of Christ, where sudden death is present martyrdome and life ; your funeralls resurrections, your honour glory ; where your widows and babes are received into per- petuall pensions; your names listed among Davids Worthies ; where your greatest losses are greatest gaines ; and where you leave the troubles of war, to lye down in downy beds of eternall rest.

What good will it doe you, deare Countrymen, to live without lives, to enjoy England without the God of England, your Kingdoms without a Parlia ment, your Parliament without power, your Liberties without stability, your Lawes without Justice, your honours without vertue, your beings without wel- being, your wives without honesty, your children without morality, your servants without civility, your lands without propriety, your goods without immuni ty, the Gospel without salvation, your churches with-

AGGAVVAM in America. 77

out Ministery, your Ministers without piety, and all you have or can have, with more teares and bitternesse of heart, than all you have and shall have will sweet en or wipe away ?

Goe on therefore Renowned Gentlemen, fall on resolvedly, till your hands cleave to your swords, your swords to your enemies hearts, your hearts to victory, your victories to triumph, your triumphs to the ever lasting praise of him that hath given you Spirits to offer your selves willingly, and to jeopard your lives in high perils, for his Name and service sake.

And Wee your Brethren, though we necessarily 1 abide beyond Jordan, and remaine on the American Sea-coasts, will send up Armies of prayers to the / Throne of Grace, that the God of power and good- ' nesse, would incourage your hearts, cover your heads, • strengthen your arms, pardon your shines, save your soules, and blesse your families, in the day of Battell. Wee will also pray, that the same Lord of Hosts, would discover the Counsels, defeat the Enterprizes, deride the hopes, disdaine the insolencies, and wound the hairy scalpes of your obstinate Enemies, and yet pardon all that are unwillingly misled. Wee will likewise helpe you beleeve that God will be seen on the Mount, that it is all one with him, to save by many or few, and that he doth but humble and try you for the present, that he may doe you good at the lat ter end. All which hee bring to passe who is able to doe exceeding abundantly, above all we can aske or thinke, for his Truth and mercy sake in Jesus Christ.

Amen. Amen. 9*

78 The Simple Cobler of

A Word of IRELAND :

Not of the Nation universally, nor of any man in

it, that hath so much as one haire of Christianity

or Humanity growing- on his head or beard,

but onely of the truculent Cut-throats,

and such as shall take up Artnes

in their Defence.

THese Irish anciently called Antropophagi, man-eaters: Have a Tradition among them, That when the Devill shewed our Saviour all the kingdomes of the Earth and their glory, that he would not shew him Ireland, but reserved it for himselfe : it is probably true, for he hath kept it ever since for his own peculiar ; the old Fox foresaw it would eclipse the glory of all the rest : he thought it wisdome to keep the land for a Boggards for his unclean spirits imployed in this Hemisphere, and the people, to doe his Son and Heire, I mean the Pope, that service for which Lewis the eleventh kept his Barbor Oliver, which makes them so blood-thirsty. They are the very Offall of men, Dregges of Mankind, Reproach of Christendome, the Bots that crawle on the Beasts taile, I wonder Rome it self is not ashamed of them. I begge upon my hands and knees, that the Ex pedition against them may be undertaken while the

AGGAVVAM in America. 79

hearts and hands of our Souldiery are hot, to whom I will be bold to say briefly : Happy is he that shall reward them as they have served us, and Cursed be he that shall do that work of the Lord negligently, Cursed be he that holdeth back his Sword from blood ; yea, Cursed be he that maketh not his Sword starke drunk with Irish blood, that doth not recompense them double for their hellish treachery to the Eng lish, that maketh them not heaps upon heaps, and their Country a dwelling place for Dragons, an A- stouishnient to Nations : Let not that eye look for pity, nor that hand to be spared, that pities or spares them, and let him be accursed, that curseth not them bitterly.

80 The Simple Cobler of

A Word of Love to the Common People of England.

IT is, your, now or never, to muster up puissant Armies of Prayers to the Mercy Seate ; your Body Representative, is now to take in hand, as intricate a piece of worke, as ever fell into the hands of any , Parliament in the world, to tye an indissoluble knot upon that webb which hath been woven with so much cost and blond, wherein if they happen to make one false rnaske, it may re-imbarque themselves and you all into a deadly relapse of scorne and calamity. It is the worke of God not of man, pray speedily there fore, and speedingly, give him no rest till your rest be throughly re-established, Your God is a God whose Name is All-sufficient, abundant in Goodnesse and Truth, on whom the Sonnes of lacob never did, nor shall call in vaine, you have a Throne of Grace wher- to you may goe boldly j a Christ to give you a leading by the hand and liberty of speech, an Intercessor in Heaven to offer up your Prayers wrapp'd in his own ; a large Charter aske and have, a Spirit to helpe all your infirmities in that duty, a sure Covenant that you shall be heard, and such late incouragement as may strengthen your feeble hands for ever. If you who may command God concerning the work of his handy shall faile to demand the workemanship of his

AGGAVVAM in America. 81

hand in this worke, your children will proclaims you un-thrifts with bitter teares to the worlds end. If you see no cause to pray, read Jer. 18. 1. — 10.

Be also intreated to have a continuall and conscien tious care not to impeach the Parliament in the hearts one of another by whispering complaints, easilier told then tryed or trued. Great bodyes move but slowely, especially when they move on three leggs and are over-loden with weighty occasions. They have now sate full six years without intermission to continue your being, many of their heads are growne gray with your cares, they are the High Councell of the King- dome, the great Gilead of your Balme, the Phisitians of all your sicknesse ; if any of them doe amisse, blame yourselves, you chose them, be wiser hereafter ; you cannot doe the State, your selves, your posterity a more ungratefull office then to impaire them with disparagements and discoragements who are so stu dious to repaire your almost irreparable ruines.

Be likewise beseeched, not to slight good ministers, whom you were wont to reverence much, they are Gods Embassadours, your Ephods, your Starres, your Horse-men & Chariots, your Watchmen, & under Christ your Salvation, I know no deadlier Symptome of a dying People than to undervalue godly Ministers, whosoever despiseth them shall certainly be despis ed of God and men at one time or other.

82 The Simple Cobler of

A most humble heeLpiece.

TO THE

Most Honourable Head-piece THE

Parliament of England.

CJ

I Might excuse my selfe in Part, with a speech Lycurgus used in the like exigent of State^sera- ectutefio audacior, publica necessitate loquacior, but it much better becomes mee with all lowlinesse and uprightnesse, wherein I have failed to pray pardon on both my knees, which I most humbly and willingly doe ; only, before I rise, I crave leave to present this six-fold Petition.

That you would be pleased

To preserve the Sacred reputation of Parliaments, or, wee shall have no Common-wealth.

To uphold the due estimation of good Ministers, else, we shall have no Church.

To heale the sad dislocation of our Head, through ly, perfectly, or, wee shall have no King.

AGGAVVAM in America. S3

To oppugne the bold violation of divine Truths, else wee shall have no God.

To proceed with what zeale you began, or what you began can come to little end.

To expedite worke with what speede you safely may, else ignorant people will feare they shall have no end at all.

Hee that is great in Counsell, and Wonderfull in Working, guide and helpe you in All things, that doing All things in Him, by Him, and for Him, you may doe All things like Him.

So be it.

84 The Simple Cobler of

A respective word to the Ministers of ENGLAND.

FARRE bee it from mee, while I dehort others to slight you my selfe, or to despise any man but myselfe, whom I can never despise enough : I rather humbly intreate you to forgive my boldnesse, who have most just cause to judge my selfe lesse and lesse faithfull than the least of you all, yet I dare not but bee so faithfull to you and my selfe, as to say

They are the Ministers of England, that have lost the Land ; for Christs sake, put on His bowels, His wisdome, His zeale, and recover it.

AGGAVVAM in America. 85

1 pray let me drive in half a dozen plaine honest Country Hobnailes, such as the Martyrs were wont to weare ; to make my work hold the surer ; and I have done.

' ^ II ^ Here, lives cannot be good, J_ There, Faith cannot be sure, Where Truth cannot be quiet, Nor Ordinances pure.

2. No King can King it right,

Nor rightly sway his Rod; Who truely loves not Christ, And truely fears not God.

3. He cannot rule a Land,

As Lands should ruled been, That lets himself be ruTd By a ruling Roma?ie Queen.

4. No earthly man can be

True Subject to this State ; Who makes the Pope his Christ, An Herctique his Mate.

5. There Peace ivill goe to War,

And Silence make a noise : Where upper things will not W^ith nether equipoyse. 10

86 The Simple Cobler of

6. The upper world shall Rule,

While Stars will rim their race The nether world obey,

While People keep their place.

The Clench.

F any of these come out

So long 's the world doe last : Then credit not a word

Of wliat is said and past,

AGGAVVAM in America. 87

S E R R A T A* "SitS

AT NON CORRIGENDA.

NOW I come to rubbe over my work, I finde five or six things like faults, which would be mend ed or commended, I know not well which, nor greatly care.

1. For Levity, read, Lepidity, and that a

very little, and that very necessary, if not unavoyd- able.

Misce stultitiam Consiliis brevcm — Dulce est desipere in loco. Horat.

To speak to light heads with heavy words, were to break their necks : to cloathe Summer matter, with Winter Rugge, would make the Reader sweat. It is musick to me, to heare every Dity speak its spirit in its apt tune : every breast, to sing its proper part, and every creature, to expresse it self in its naturall note : should I heare a Mouse roare like a Beare, a Cat lowgh like an Oxe, or a Horse whistle like a Red-breast, it would scare mee.

The world 's a well strung jidlc, mans tongue the quill^ That Jills the world with fumble for want of skill,

\\hen things and words in tune and tone doe meet. The univcrsall song goes smooth and sweet*

88 The Simple Cobler of

2. For audacity, read, veracity, or Verum Gallice non libenter audis. Mart. Flattery never doth well, but when it is whispered through a paire of lisping teeth ; Truth best, when it is spoken out, through a paire of open lips. Ye make such a noyse there, with Drums and Trumpets, that if I should not speak loud, ye could not hear me : Ye talke one to another, with whole Quivering and Canon ; give us leave to talk Squibs and Pistoletto's charged with nothing but pow der of Love and shot of Reason : if you will cut such deep gashes in one ariothers flesh, we must sow them up with deep stitches, else ye may bleed to death : ye were better let us, your tender Countrymen doe it, than forraine Surgeons, who will handle you more cruelly, and take no other pay, but your Lives and Lands.

Aspice vultus,

jL

Ecce meos, utinamque oculos in pectore posses Inscrere : Sf patrias intus deprendere Cur as.

(Ovid. Phoeb.

He that to tall men spcakes, must lift up 's head, And when h' hath done, must set it where he did:

He that to proud men talkcs, must put on pride ; And when h' hath done, 'tis good to lay 't aside.

3. For, Yes, but you speak at three thousand miles distance, which every Coward dare doe, read, if my heart deceives me not, I would speak thus, in the Pres ence Chamber or House of Commons ; hoping Homer will speak a good word for me.

_____ - , - -—

AGGAVVAM in America. 89

0ccQ(faliog yuQ avig Jv naOiv auiivwv

Omnibus in rebus potior vir forth fy audax Sit licet hospes, <$• c longinquis venerit or is.

When Kings are lost, and Subjects cast away, A faithfull heart should speak what tongue can say :

It skils not where this faithfull heart doth dwell, His faithfull dealing should be taken well.

4. For, affected termes, read, / hope not - If I affect termes, it is my feeblenesse ; friends that know me, thinke I doe not : I confesse, I see I have here and there taken a few finish stitches, which may haply please a few Velvet eares ; but I cannot now well pull them out, unlesse I should seame-rend all. It seemes it is in fashion with you to sugar your pa pers with Carnation phrases, and spangle your speech es with new quodled words. Ermins in Minifer is every mans Coat : Yet we heare some are raking in old musty Charnel books, for old mouldy monosylla bles ; I wish they were all banisht to Monmouthshire, to returne when they had more wit.

Multa renascentur qua jam cecidere, cadentquc Qua nunc sunt in honore vocabula, si volet usus.

(Hor.

I honour them with my heart, that can expresse more than ordinary matter in ordinary words : it is a pleasing eloquence ; them more, that study wisely and soberly to inhance their native language ; them most of all, that esteeme the late significant speech, 10*

90 The Simple Cooler of

the third great blessing of the Land ; it being so en riched, that a man may speak 4«- many tongues in his Mothers mouth; and an uplandish Rusticke, more in one word than himselfe and all the Parish understands. Affected termes are unaffecting things to solid hear ers ; yet I hold him prudent, that in these fastidious limes, will helpe disedged appetites with convenient condiments, and bangled ears, with pretty quicke pluckes. I speake the rather because, not long since, I met with a book, the best to mee I ever saw, but the Bible ; yet under favour, it was somewhat under- clad, especially by him who can both excogitate and expresse what hee undertakes, as well as any man I know.

The world is growne so Jine in words and wit, That yens must now Sir Edward Nich'las it.

He that much matter speaks, speaks ne'r a whit, If 's tongue doth not career 't above his wit.

5. For, You verse it simply, what need have we of your thin Poetry ; read, / confesse I wonder at it my self, that I should turne Poet : I can impute it to nothing, but to the flatnousnesse of our diet : they are but sudden raptures soone up, soone downe.

—Deduction dicere Carmen^ is highly commended by Macrubius.

Virgil himselfe said, Agre&tem tenui meditabor arundine musam.

AGGAVVAM in America. 91

Poetry 's a gift wherein but few excell ;

He doth very ill, that doth not passing well. But he doth passing well, that doth his best,

And he doth best, that passeth all the rest.

6. For tediousnesse, read, / am sorry for it

Wee have a strong weaknesse in N. E. that when wee are speaking, we know not how to conclude : wee make many ends, before we make an end : the fault is in the Climate ; we cannot helpe it though we can, which is the Arch infirmity in all morality : We are so near the West pole, that our Longitudes are as long, as any wise man would wish, and some what longer. I scarce know any Adage more grate- full, than Grata Irevitas.

Verba confer maxime ad compendium. Plant.

Coblers will mend, but some will never mend, But end, and end, and end, and never end.

A well-girt houre gives every man content,

Sixe ribs of bccfe, are worth sixe weeks of Lent.

For, all my other faults, which may bee more and greater than I see, read, / am heartily sorry for them, before I know them, lest I should forget it after ; and humbly crave pardon at adventure, having nothing that I can think of, to plead but this,

Quisquis mops peccat, minor est reus. Petron.

Poore Coblers well may fault it now and then, They 'r ever mending faults for other men.

And if I worke for nought, why is it said, This bungling Cobler would be soundly paid ?

92 The Simple Cobler of,

SO farewell England old If evill times ensue, Let good men come to us,

Wee 'I welcome them to New.

And farewell Honored Friends,

If happy dayes ensue, You1 1 have some Guests from hence,

Pray welcome us to you.

And farewell simple world, If thou 'It thy Cranium mend,

There is my Last and All, And a Shoem- Alters

END.

Postscript.

THis honest Cobler has done what he might : That Statesmen in their Shoes might walk upright. But rotten Shoes of Spannish running-leather : No Coblers skill, can stitch them strong together. It were best to cast such rotten stuff away : And look for that, that never will decay,

If all were shod with GospcTs lasting Peace ; Hatred abroad, and Wars at home would cease. Jerome Bellamie.

FINIS.

APPENDIX.

The following Letters, (from Hutchinson's History and Collections,) &c., and Deed from Essex Registry of Deeds, Salem, (Lib. I., Ipswich,) are supposed to possess sufficient interest to justify their insertion here. BOSTON, 1843.

LETTER TO REV. JOHN COTTON.

Salutem in Xto nostro. Reverend and dear friend,

I WAS yesterday convented before the bishop, I mean to his court, and am adjourned to the next term. I see such giants turn their backs, that I dare not trust my own weak heart. I expect measure hard enough and must furnish apace with proportionable armour. I lacke a friend to help buckle it on. I know none but Christ him self in all our coast fitt to help me, and my acquaintance with him is hardly enough to hope for that assistance my weak spirit will want, and the assaults of tentation call for. I pray therefore forget me not and believe for me also if there be such a piece of neighbourhood among Christians. And so blessing God with my whole heart for my knowledge of you and immerited interest in you, and thanking you entirely for that faithful love I have found from you in many expressions of the best nature, I commit you to the unchangeable love of God our Fa ther in his son Jesus Christ, in whom I hope to rest for ever.

Stondon Mercy, Your's in all truth of heart

Dec. 13. 1631. NATH'L. WARDE.

94 APPENDIX.

[Extracts frum Johnson's Wonder- Working1 Providence, printed in London, 1658.]

" Of the Ninth Church of Christ gathered at Ipswitch.

THis year [1634] came over a farther supply of Emi nent instruments for furthering this admirable Worke of his, amongst whom the Reverend and judicious servant of Christ Mr. Nathaniel Ware?, who tooke up his station at the Towne of Ipsivich," " scituated on a faire and delightful! River," " in the Saggamoorcship, or Earldom of Aggawam." " The peopling of this Towne is by men of good ranke and quality, many of them having the yearly Revenue of large Lands in England before they came to this Wildernesse, but their Estates being imployed for Christ, and left in banke as you have formerly heard, they are well content till Christ shall be pleased to restore it againe to them or theirs. " Their meeting-house is a very good prospect to a great part of the Towne, and beautifully built, the Church of Christ here consists of about one hundred and sixty soules, being exact in their conversation, and free from the Epi- demicall Disease of all Reforming Churches, which under Christ is procured by their pious Learned and Orthodox Ministery, as in due place (God willing) shall be declared, in the meane time, look on the following Meeters concern ing that Souldier of Christ Master Nathaniel Ward.

«Hou ancient Sage, come Ward among

Christs foJfe, * take part in this great worke of his, [*folke.] Why do'st thou stand and gaze about so long ;

Do'st war in jest, why, Christ in earnest is, And hath thee arm'd with weapons for that end,

To wound and heale his enemies submitting, Not carnally, then to this worke attend ;

Thou hast prevailed the hearts of many hitting. Although the Presbytery unpleasant jar,

And errors daily in their braines new coyne : Dcspayer not, Christs truth they shall not mar ;

But with his helpe such drossefrom Gold refine. What Man do'st meane to lay thy Trumpet dmcne ?

Because thy son like Worrier is become, Hold out or sure lesse bright will be thy crowne,

Till death Christs servants labour is not done."

T

APPENDIX.

95

LETTER FROM GYLES FYRMIN TO GOV. WINTHROP.

Much honoured and deare Sir,

BUT that I thinke it needlesse (God havinge more than ordinarye fitted you for such trials) my letter might tell you with what griefe of spirit I received the news of that sad affliction which is lately happened to your worship, by means of that unfaithful wretch ; I hope God will find a shoulder to helpe you beare so great a burthen. But the little time there is allotted me to write I must spend in re questing your worships counsel and favour. My father in law Ward, since his sonne came over, is varey desirous that wee might sett down together, and so that he might leave us together if God should remove him from hence. Because that it cannot be accomplished in this town, is verey desirous to get mee to remove with him to a new plantation. After much perswasion used, consideringe my want of accommo dation here (the ground the town having given mee lying 5 miles from mee or more) and that the gaines of physick will not finde mee with bread, but, besides, apprehendinge that it might bee a way to free him from some temptations, and make him more cheereful and serviceable to the country or church, have yeelded to him. Herein, as I desire your coun sel, so I humbly request your favour, that you would be pleas ed to give us the libertye of choosinge .a plantation ; wee thinke it will be at Pentuckett, or Quichichchek, by Shaw- shin : So soon as the season will give us leave to goe, wee shall informe your worship which we desire : And if that, by the court of election, we cannot gather a company to beegine it, wee will let it fall. Wee desire you would not graunt any of them to any before wee have seene them. If your worship have heard any relation of the places, wee should remaine thankful to you, if you would bee pleased to counsel us to any of them. Further, I would entreate for ad vise in this: The towne gave mee the ground (100 acres) upon this condition, that I should stay in the towne 3 yeeres,

96 APPENDIX.

or else I could not sell it : Now my father supposes it being my first heritage (my father having none in the land) that it is more than they canne doe to hinder mee thus, when as others have no business, but range from place to place, on purpose to live upon the countrey. I would entreate your counsel whither or noe I canne sell it. Further : I am strongly sett upon to studye divinitie, my studyes else must be lost : for physick is but a meene helpe. In these cases I humbly referre to your worship, as my father, for your counsel, and so in much haste, with my best services pre sented to your worship, wishinge you a strong support in your affliction, and a good and comfortable issue, I rest

Your worships in what he canne to his power, Ipswich, 26. 10th 1639. GYLES FYRMIN.

Wee humbly entreate your secrecye in our desires.

November 25° i646./

CUhis prsent writing wittnesseth that I, Nathaniel Ward of Ipswich in New England have bargained & sould to John Eaton of Salsbury Coo^ all the land ground meadow &, Cofnonage wth their apprtin cs which I have or ought to have at this prsent Day in Haverhill or Pentuckett in New Eng land to $abe Wti to Jjott* the said prmisses to the said John Eaton his heires & assignes paying for the same vnto the said Nathaniel Ward his executors administr8 or assignes the full sume of twelve pounds of wheate & pipe = staves six pounds worth of one &/ six pounds worth of the other to be delitfed to mr Richard Russell or Maior Sedgwick at Charles Towne before the end of September Next ensuying the Dat hereof; such as shalbe good & merchantable at the currant price at that tyme & place £n tofttnesse to&ereof I have set to my hand & scale. Wittnes NATH WARD

THOMAS HOWLETT ^ i-

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