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LIBRARY 


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1895 


Gl  FT    OF 


WESTFIELD  STATE  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 


ORIGINAL  NARRATIVES 
OF   EARLY   AMERICAN    HISTORY 

REPRODUCED  UNDER  THE  AUSPICES  OF  THE 
AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION 

General  Editor,  J.   FRANKLIN  JAMESON,  Ph.D.,   LL.D. 

DIRECTOR  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OP  HISTORICAL  RESEARCH  IN  THE 
CAKNBGIB   INSTITUTION   OF  WASHINGTON 


WINTHROFS    JOURNAL 

1630  — 1649 

Volume  I 


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FIRST   PAGE   OF  THE  WINTHROP  MANUSCRIPT 
From  the  original  in  the  Library  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society 


ORIGINAL    NARRATIVES 
OF   EARLT  AMERICAN   HISTORY 


WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL 

"HISTORY  OF  NEW  ENGLAND" 
1630—1649 


EDITED   BY 

JAMES  KENDALL  HOSMER,  LLD. 

CORRESPONDING    MEMBER    OF    THE    MASSACHUSETTS    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 
AND    OF    THE    COLONIAL    SOCIETY    OF    MASSACHUSETTS 


WITH  MAPS  AND  FA  CI 


^^eStF^^ 


VOLUME  I 


NORMAL  SCHOOL 


CHARLES    SCRIBNER'S    SONS 
NEW    YORK 1908 


\^    c-4 


COPYRIGHT,    1908,    BY 
CHARLES    SCRIBNER'S   SONS 


Published  June,  1908 


\J .  1 


NOTE 

While  in  this  edition  of  Winthrop's  Journal  we  have  followed,  as 
Dr.  Hosmer  explains  in  his  Introduction,  the  text  prepared  by  Savage, 
it  has  been  thought  wise  to  add  devices  which  will  make  the  dates 
easier  for  the  reader  to  follow;  but  these  have,  it  is  hoped,  been  given 
such  a  form  that  the  reader  will  have  no  difficulty  in  distinguishing 
added  words  or  figures  from  those  belonging  to  the  original  text. 
Winthrop  makes  no  division  into  chapters.  In  this  edition  the  text 
has,  for  the  reader's  convenience,  been  broken  by  headings  repre- 
senting the  years.  These,  however,  in  accordance  with  modern 
usage,  have  been  set  at  the  beginning  of  January,  not  at  the  date 
with  which  Winthrop  began  his  year,  the  first  of  March.  The  dates 
set  in  the  inner  margins  of  the  headlines  to  our  pages  have  been 
arranged  on  the  same  plan.  Early  in  1635  Winthrop  abandons  in 
his  text  the  Roman  names  of  the  months,  substituting,  in  accordance 
with  Puritan  sentiment,  a  system  of  numbering,  beginning  with 
March  as  the  first  month.  In  this  edition  the  more-  familiar  names 
of  the  months  are  inserted  in  italics. 

With  respect  to  the  first  of  the  illustrations,  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  the  first  volume  of  the  original  manuscript  has  pages  of  about 
7|  by  5^  inches,  so  that  the  facsimile  here  presented  is  somewhat 
reduced.  The  second  facsimile  exhibits  the  famous  patent  of  1629 
to  the  Massachusetts  Company,  the  conveyance  of  which  to  New 
England  was  of  so  momentous  consequences  to  the  colony.  Though 
annulled  in  1684,  the  original  patent  has  remained  in  Massachusetts, 
and  is  now  exhibited  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  permission  to  reproduce  it.  The  next  illustration, 
reproducing  the  map  given  in  William  Wood's  book  called  New 
England's  Prospect,  bears  date  of  1634,  the  year  in  which  that  book 
was  published.  Wood  was  an  intelligent  traveller,  whose  book  is  of 
much  value.  It  was  reproduced  by  the  Prince  Society  in  1634,  edited 
by  Dr.  Charles  Deane.  Wood  left  New  England  August  15,  1633, 
and  the  map  no  doubt  represents  the  state  of  settlement  at  the  time  of 
his  departure.     It  is  closely  related  to  the  map  reproduced  in  Winsor's 


\'^0\^ 


vi  NOTE 

Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  III.  381,  which,  by  whom- 
soever draughted,  bears  a  marginal  key  in  the  handwriting  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop.  Perhaps  Wood  depended  in  part  on  this  map,  now 
in  the  British  Museum;  perhaps  both  were  based  in  greater  or  less 
degree  on  the  same  original  survey.  Of  the  two  maps.  Wood's  has 
been  selected  for  reproduction  in  this  volume,  because  it  is  much 
more  easily  read.  It  is  here  presented  in  the  size  of  the  original. 
For  the  opportunity  to  photograph  it,  and  also  the  title-page  of  the 
Short  Story,  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Wilberforce  Eames  of  the  Lenox 
Library;  for  similar  permission  in  the  case  of  the  precious  original 
manuscript  of  Winthrop,  to  Dr.  Samuel  A.  Green,  Librarian  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 

J.  F.  J. 


CONTENTS 

WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL 
"HISTORY  OF  NEW  ENGLAND" 
Edited  by  James  Kendall  Hosmer 

PAGE 

Introduction 3 

Journal 23 

1630 

Winthrop's  Fleet  sails  from  the  Isle  of  Wight 24 

A  Fast  kept  on  the  Ships ,         .  25 

Matthew  Cradock  bids  Farewell  to  the  Fleet 26 

Danger  feared  from  Hostile  Ships 27 

Captain  Kirk  encountered  on  the  High  Seas        .....  36 

Tempest  strikes  the  Fleet 37 

Mount  Desert  sighted ...  47 

Arbella  casts  Anchor  in  Salem  Harbor 50 

Expedition  to  Massachusetts  Bay 50 

Marriage  of  John  Endicott 51 

Settlement  at  Charlestown 52 

Death  of  the  Lady  Arbella  and  Isaac  Johnson 52 

Boston  occupied  and  a  Church  organized    ......  52 

Salem,  Dorchester,  Watertown  and  Roxbury  named    ....  52 

The  Plantation  set  in  Order 53 

Winter  Severities 55 

1631 

Prevalence  of  Illness 58 

Friendly  Overtures  from  Chickatabot  and  other  Sachems    ...  59 

Rev.  John  Wilson  departs  for  England 60 

Roger  Williams  at  Salem     ....                 ....  61 

Sir  Christopher  Gardiner 63 

Philip  Ratcliffe  disciplined  for  traducing  Church  and  Government      .  64 

The  Blessing  of  the  Bay  launched 65 

vii 


vm 


CONTENTS 


Piscataqua  heard  from 

The  Lyon  arrives,  with  important  Succor 

Bradford  of  Plymouth  visits  Boston     . 


1632 


Winthrop  explores  the  Neighborhood 

People  press  for  more  Power 

Winthrop  reelected  Governor;   Deputies  chosen  by  the  Towns 
The  French  to  the  Eastward  heard  from     .... 
Churches  consult  after  the  Congregational  Way  . 

Winthrop  and  Dudley  disagree 

Narragansetts  send  Envoys 

Return  of  Rev.  John  Wilson 

Winthrop  visits  Plymouth 

Pirates  give  Trouble  to  the  Eastward 


1633 

Gorges  and  Mason  Petition  against  us         ...        . 

Gardiner,  Morton  and  Ratcliffe  make  Trouble    . 

Thanksgiving  over  Friends  preserved  and  Foes  confounded 

Arrival  of  John  Cotton,  Thomas  Hooker  and  John  Haynes 

John  Oldham  goes  Overland  to  the  Connecticut 

The  Blessing  of  the  Bay  sails  to  the  Connecticut  and  the  Dutch 

John  Cotton  made  Teacher  of  the  Boston  Church 

Roger  Williams  at  Salem  takes  Exception   .... 

Two  Sagamores  and  Most  of  their  Folks  die  of  Smallpox  . 

The  Lord  directs  through  John  Cotton  the  Support  of  the  Ministers 

1634 

The  Narragansetts  lose  Seven  Hundred  by  Smallpox 

Controversy  as  to  Women's  wearing  Veils    . 

Satan  bestirs  himself  to  Distract  the  Churches 

Deputies  sent  from  Towns  to  General  Court 

The  Killing  of  Hockin  .... 

Thomas  Dudley  chosen  Governor 

Four  General  Courts  a  Year,  of  Magistrates  and  Deputies 

News  of  the  Founding  of  Maryland     .... 

Archbishops  and  Others  try  to  stay  the  Ships  and  annul  the  Patent 

Profitable  Trade  with  Manhattan  and  the  Kennebec  Country     . 

Newtown  desires  to  Remove  to  Connecticut 

Legislation  against  Tobacco,  Costly  Apparel,  etc. 

Threatenings  of  the  Privy  Council  against  our  Patent 

The  Cross  cut  out  of  the  Ensign  at  Salem  . 

Pequots  desire  our  Friendship 

John  Eliot,  Friend  of  Massachusetts  Indians 
The  Dutch  to  the  Westward  cause  Anxiety 


PAGE 

69 
70 
71 


73 

74 
79 
82 
83 
84 
89 
91 
92 
95 


99 
100 
102 
105 
108 
109 
110 
112 
115 
116 


118 
120 
121 
122 
123 
125 
125 
126 
127 
130 
132 
134 
135 
137 
138 
142 
144 


CONTENTS 
1635 


IX 


Interference  from  England  feared         .... 

Military  Commission  established 

John  Haynes  chosen  Governor 

Endicott  questioned  about  Defacing  the  Ensign  . 

Disturbed  Relations  between  Magistrates  and  Deputies 

Fear  of  the  Schemes  of  Gorges  and  Mason 

Roger  Williams  called  to  Account  for  Dangerous  Opinions 

The  French  capture  Penobscot,  a  Plantation  of  Plymouth 

Arrival  of  Thomas  Shepard  and  Hugh  Peter 

Young  Henry  Vane,  called  to  the  Obedience  of  the  Gospel,  arrives 

Hugh  Peter's  Practical  Good  Sense 


1636 


Roger  Williams  gives  Trouble      .... 
Hugh  Peter's  Practical  Benevolence     . 
Vane  and  Peter  set  themselves  up  as  Arbiters 
Flag  devised  leaving  out  the  Cross 
Henry  Vane  elected  Governor      .... 
The  King's  Colors  set  up  at  Castle  Island  . 
Murder  of  John  Oldham  brings  on  the  Pequot  War 
Narragansetts  remain  Friendly     .... 
Endicott's  Expedition  to  Block  Island 
Miantonomo  received  in  Boston  .... 
Anne  Hutchinson  gives  Trouble  .... 
Distraction  in  the  New  England  Churches  . 
The  French  claim  most  of  the  Maine  Coast 
General  Court  and  the  Elders  take  Council 
John  Cotton  intervenes  and  is  disapproved 

1637 


General  Fast  over  the  miserable  Estate  of  the  Churches 

Wheelwright  questioned  on  Account  of  his  Sermon 

Underbill  sent  to  Connecticut  with  Soldiers 

Reluctance  of  Plymouth  to  take  Part  in  the  War 

Winthrop  made  Governor  at  stormy  Session 

Cotton  and  Shepard  as  Reconcilers 

John  Mason's  Victory  over  the  Pequots 

Discontent  of  Henry  Vane   .... 

Pequots  dispersed  and  destroyed  . 

Three  hundred  and  sixty  Immigrants  in  one  Day 

Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  wishes  to  be  Governor-General 

Pequot  Survivors  deported  and  enslaved 

Henry  Vane  departs  for  England 

A  Movement  toward  Confederation  of  the  Colonies 

Synod  convened  to  deal  with  the  Errors 


X  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Case  of  William  Schooler 236 

Thanksgiving  for  Success  in  War  and  in  the  Synod     ....  238 

Hutchinsonians  disfranchised  and  banished 239 

Mrs.  Hutchinson  summoned  before  the  Court 240 

A  Short  Story,  etc.,  Composed  and  Sent  to  England  ....  241 

Extract  from  the  Short  Story 242 

The  Accusations  of  the  Church  against  Mrs.  Hutchinson    .         .         .  243 

Her  Defense 247 

Cotton's  Admonition 248 

Her  Unsatisfactory  Answers 249 

She  is  Excommunicated 251 

Reflections  upon  her  Conduct 252 

Journal  resumed;  Winthrop's  Defense 256 

1638 

Erroneous  Opinions  still  Prevailing 259 

Mrs.  Hutchinson  dealt  with  by  the  Church 260 

She  is  Excommunicated 263 

Hutchinsonians  buy  Aquidneck,  an  Island  in  Narragansett  Bay          .  264 

God's  Displeasure  at  Mrs.  Hutchinson  shown  by  a  monstrous  Birth  .  266 

A  great  Earthquake  experienced 270 

Uncas  the  Mohican  proffers  Friendship 271 

Many  Hutchinsonians  go  to  Aquidneck       ...         .         .        .         .  273 

Excuse  given  for  not  surrendering  the  Patent      .....  274 

Underbill  suspected  of  Incontinence 275 

Evil  of  new  Fashions  and  costly  Apparel 279 

Massachusetts  displeased  with  the  Piscataqua  Plantations  .         .         .  280 

The  Rowley  Church  bewail  their  Shortcomings 281 

Fast  over  Illness  and  Decay  of  Religion 283 

Cotton's  Self-accusation 284 

The  Devil  bestirs  himself 285 

Jealousies  among  the  Colonies 287 

Letter  to  Mr.  Hooker 290 

The  Lord's  Displeasure  shown  by  heavy  Snowstorm   ....  291 


1639 

Error  in  the  Church  at  Weymouth       .... 

A  Printing-House  set  up  at  Cambridge 

Hanserd  Knollys  at  Piscataqua  disapproved 

The  Devil  fetches  away  five  Indians  while  powwowing 

Cotton  defines  how  Ministers  should  be  maintained     . 

A  thousand  Soldiers  exercised  at  Boston 

An  embarrassing  Letter  from  the  Lords  Commissioners 

Connecticut  desires  a  Confederation  of  the  Colonies    . 


292 
293 
295 
297 
299 
299 
300 
301 


CONTENTS 


XI 


Winthrop  reelected;  the  Towns  jealous  of  their  Liberties    .        .         .  302 

Discussion  as  to  a  Standing  Council  for  Life 303 

Popular  Jealousy  of  the  Magistrates 305 

God  deprives  Hooker,  while  preaching,  of  his  Strength  and  Matter     ,  306 

Many  People  arrive  and  new  Towns  founded 308 

Vagaries  of  Roger  Williams  at  Providence 309 

The  College  suffers  at  the  Hands  of  Nathaniel  Eaton          .         .         .  310 
Captain  Robert  Keayne  con  vented  for  Extortion         .                 .         .315 

Commercial  Ethics  expounded  by  John  Cotton 317 

Dispute  over  the  Location  of  a  new  Mee ting-House    .         ,         .         .318 

A  Thief  and  a  Murderer  baulked  by  a  special  Providence  .         .         .  322 

The  Body  of  Laws  submitted  to  the  Towns  for  Consideration     .         .  323 

An  Ordinance  against  drinking  Healths 325 

The  Elders  and  the  Court  on  excessive  Church-going         .        .        .  325 


1640 


Knollys  and  Underbill  make  Acknowledgment  of  Guilt       .         .         .  328 

Messengers  of  the  Boston  Church  ill-received  in  Rhode  Island   .         .  330 

Heresies  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Chauncy 331 

John  Humphrey  and  Lord  Saye  disparage  New  England  and  divert 

Men  from  thence 332 


CONTENTS 


Captain  Cromwell  visits  Plymouth  and  Boston  .... 
The  Civil  Magistrate  may  suggest  but  not  convene  the  Synod    . 
John  Winthrop,  jr.,  settles  at  Pequot  River        .... 
LaTour,  Treacherous  to  his  Friends,  turns  Pirate 
Mrs.  Hutchinson's  Young  Daughter  restored  safe  by  the  Indians 
The  Dutch  accuse  New  Haven  of  Encroachment 

A  Synod  convened 

Gorton  and  Followers  complain  in  England        .... 

Letter  from  the  Commissioners  for  Plantations  sustaining  Gorton 

Messengers  arrive  from  d'Aulnay  and  make  an  Agreement 

Uncas  remonstrated  with  for  Attacking  at  Pequot  River     . 

The  General  Court  makes  Defence  against  Gorton     . 

Order  of  the  Parliamentary  Commissioners         .... 

The  Court  defines  the  Nature  of  our  Dependence  on  England  . 

Mr.  Edward  Winslow  to  speak  for  us  in  England 

Robert  Child  and  other  Petitioners  against  us  dealt  with    . 

The  Petitioners  fined 

Bellingham,  Saltonstall  and  Bradstreet  dissent;   Dr.  Child  detained 
Text  of  the  Remonstrance  by  Winslow  in  England     . 
Winslow 's  Commission  and  Instructions 


2. 

275 

275 

276 
278 
278 
282 
282 
284 
287 
289 
292 
294 
295 
296 
304 
305 
309 
313 


1647 


Rev.  John  Eliot's  Methods  of  Instructing  Indians      .... 
Special  Judgment  upon  those  who  have  petitioned  against  us     . 
Winthrop  chosen  Governor  in  spite  of  Opposition  of  Petitioners 
Synod  reassembles  at  Cambridge;   Rev.  Ezekiel  Rogers  gives  Offence 
Sickness  prevails;   Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  and  Mistress  Winthrop  die 
Meeting  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies 

Fort  at  Saybrook  burned 

Strict  Order  against  selling  Indians  Fire-arms    . 

A  Quarantine  established 

Peter  Stujrvesant  makes  Courteous  Overtures  for  Friendship 
The  Dutch  seize  a  Ship  at  New  Haven       .... 
Bitter  Controversies  between  Dutch  and  English 
Hand  of  God  against  the  Dutch  in  a  Fearful  Ship-wreck  . 
The  Gortonists  give  Trouble  at  their  Settlement,  now  Warwick 
Winslow's  Mission;   Letters  from  the  English  Commissioners 


318 
321 
323 
324 
326 
327 
328 
328 
329 
330 
331 
332 
333 
334 
335 


1648 


Dr.  Robert  Child's  111  Success  in  Traducing  us  in  England 

The  Gortonists  make  Overtures  for  Peace 

Stuyvesant  desires  to  meet  Winthrop  and  Bradford  at  Connecticut 

Arrival  of  Sir  Edmund  Plowden 

Margaret  Jones  indicted  for  Witchcraft 

The  Welcome  falls  a-rolling  through  Witchcraft  .... 
A  Phantom  Ship  seen  by  many  at  New  Haven  .... 


339 
340 
342 
343 
344 
346 
346 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

)d  at  Cambridge 347 

^lan  War  against  Uncas  prevented  .         . 348 

.  he  Narragansetts  are  dealt  with  by  the  Commissioners    ....  349 

The  Church  at  Nansemond,  Virginia,  seeks  our  Aid  and  Advice        .         .  351 

The  Power  of  Prayer  made  evident  in  Saving  Men  from  Shipwreck  .         .  353 

1649 

The  Righteous  Hand  of  God  shown  against  Profaners  of  his  Day     .        .  354 


MAPS  AND  FACSIMILE  REPRODUCTIONS 

First  Page  of  the  Winthrop  Manuscript.    From  the  original  in  the 

Library  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  .         .         .        Frontispiece 

PAGE 

The  Royal  Patent  or  Charter  of  March  4,  1629,  to  the  Governor 
AND  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay.  From  the  original  in 
the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts      .       52 

William  Wood's  Map  of  the  South  Part  of  New  England  in  1634. 
From  a  copy  of  Wood's  New  England's  Prospect,  edition  of  1634,  in  the 
New  York  Public  Library  (Lenox  Building) 118 

Title-page  op  "A  Short  Story  of  the  Rise,  Reign  and  Ruine  op  the 
Antinomians."  From  a  copy  of  the  original  edition  in  the  New  York 
Public  Library  (Lenox  Building) 242 


WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL 

"THE   HISTORY   OF   NEW   ENGLAND" 

I 630-1 649 

Vol.  I 


INTRODUCTION 

The  Journal  of  John  Winthrop,  founder  of  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  recording  the  story  of 
that  colony  during  the  first  nineteen  years  of  its  existence, 
must  always  have  an  interest  not  only  for  New  England  but 
for  America  in  general,  and  indeed  for  the  world  at  large. 
Though  a  few  Englishmen  may  have  made  a  precarious  lodg- 
ment on  the  New  England  coast  before  1620,  no  proper  settle- 
ment took  place  until  December  of  that  year,  when  the  Pilgrims 
landed  at  Plymouth.  Ten  years  later,  in  1630,  came  Winthrop 's 
company.  After  the  lapse  of  another  ten  years,  during  which 
time  the  English  in  New  England  increased  to  about  twenty 
thousand,  the  immigration  suddenly  ceased ;  with  the  opening 
of  the  Long  Parliament  the  grievances  which  had  driven  into 
exile  so  many  of  the  non-conformists  no  longer  pressed  heavily. 
For  almost  two  hundred  years  the  New  England  stock  received 
no  further  accretion  from  home  and  almost  no  new  elements. 
An  isolated,  homogeneous  population,  it  multiplied  largely 
within  itself,  and  began  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century 
to  send  its  children  westward.^ 

What  the  twenty  thousand  Puritan  Englishmen  and  their 
descendants  have  accompUshed  is  worth  taking  note  of. 
Almost  at  once,  dating  from  the  early  years  of  the  settlement,  a 
curious  reaction  set  back  from  the  new  world  across  the  At- 
lantic: New  England  became  the  leader  of  Old  England.  As 
the  combat  deepened  between  Court  and  Parhament  the  ''New 
England  Way"  began  more  and  more  to  prevail,  and 
the  New  England  way  was  Independency.  This,  finding  such 
promoters  as  Cromwell,  Milton  and  Vane,  at  last  resulted  in 
the  Commonwealth,  a  political  construction  short-Uved,  but 

*  Palfrey,  History  of  New  England,  I.,  Preface. 
3 


4  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL 

under  which  England  was  indeed  a  mighty  and  puissant 
nation/ 

As  New  England  waxed  in  numbers  her  vigor  and  influence 
continued  to  be  impressively  manifest.  When  a  hundred 
years  had  passed,  the  pre-natal  throes  of  the  great  Federal 
Repubhc  were  convulsing  the  Thirteen  Colonies  which  now 
fringed  the  coast  of  the  Atlantic.  In  this  agitation  New 
England  had  the  initiative:  within  her  borders  it  was  that  a 
spirit  of  resistance  to  British  encroachments  upon  freedom 
first  awoke ;  it  was  her  sons  who  devised  most  of  the  methods 
through  which  resistance  became  effective ;  and  it  was  her  soil 
which  was  first  bloodstained  when  at  last  the  clash  took  place. 
In  establishing  the  United  States,  while  Washington,  Jefferson, 
Madison,  Marshall,  Hamilton,  are  figures  of  supreme  interest, 
the  New  Englanders  James  Otis,  Franklin,  Samuel  and  John 
Adams  were  perhaps  not  less  indispensable.  Massachusetts, 
one  of  the  thirteen,  furnished  probably  more  than  one-quarter 
of  the  fighting  men.^ 

In  the  civilized  world  in  general  during  the  century  and  a 
quarter  that  has  followed  our  Revolution,  nations  everywhere 
have  accommodated  themselves  more  and  more  to  a  demo- 
cratic basis  ^  and  in  this  vast  and  widespread  reconstruction  a 
live  wire  of  influence  may  be  traced  back  even  to  dynamos  in 
the  popularly  governed  communities  that  sprang  out  of  the 
enterprises  of  Winthrop  and  Bradford. 

Nor  is  the  vigor  of  the  twenty-thousand  and  their  children 
yet  spent :  it  may  be  traced  at  the  present  moment  in  each  one 
of  the  forty-six  United  States  and  in  the  world  beyond:  in  its 
ancient  home,  though  wave  after  wave  of  new-comers,  Celtic, 

*  J.  Wingate  Thornton,  The  Historical  Relations  of  New  England  to  the 
English  Commonwealth  (Boston,  1874);  Charles  Borgeaud,  Ri^e  of  Modern 
Democracy  in  Old  and  New  England,  p.  37;  J.  K.  Hosmer,  Young  Sir  Harry 
Vane,  p.  166  et  seqq. 

'  For  a  summary  of  authority  on  which  to  base  the  claim  for  New  England's 
initiative  in  our  Revolution,  see  J.  K.  Hosmer,  Samuel  Adams,  p.  11  et  seqq. 

'  J.  K.  Hosmer,  Short  History  of  Anglo-Saxon  Freedom,  ch.  xviii. 


INTRODUCTION  5 

Latin,  Slav,  have  within  the  two  past  generations  overswept 
the  EngUsh  seed  which  the  Mayflower  and  Arbella  with  their 
httle  consorts  distributed,  it  is  the  old  stock  that  is  still  in  the 
fore-front.  Winthrop,  Bradford,  Adams,  Quincy,  Lowell, 
Hoar,  Sherman,  Savage,  Saltonstall,  Brewster,  Eliot,  Phillips, 
Brooks,  Emerson,  Hawthorne,  Endicott,  Winslow,  Cushman, 
Higginson,  and  many  more,  are  names  in  om-  own  day,  domi- 
nant, often  briUiantly  distinguished,  in  various  ways,  the  same 
names  that  are  borne  on  the  hsts  of  men  who  shipped  for  New 
England  when  the  Star  Chamber  and  the  High  Commission 
Court  were  pressing  with  heavy  hand. 

A  stock  so  persistent,  so  virile,  so  widely  eminent,  claims 
attention  in  every  period  of  its  course,  and  naturally  a  special 
interest  attaches  to  its  earliest  American  memorials.  The  dis- 
covery and  restoration  to  Massachusetts  of  the  long-lost  journal 
of  William  Bradford,  governor  of  Plymouth,  was  a  matter  of 
almost  national  rejoicing.  A  reprint  of  this  is  included  in 
the  present  series.*  Scarcely  less  treasured  is  the  journal 
of  John  Winthrop,  governor  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  a  reprint 
of  which  is  here  introduced; — and  what  of  the  man  and  his 
book? 

The  fortunes  of  the  Winthrop  family^  were  established  by 
Adam  Winthrop,  whose  life  extended  from  1498  to  1562;  after 
a  prosperous  career  as  a  clothier,  he  was  granted  the  freedom 
of  the  city  of  London  in  1526,  and  after  1548  was  permitted  to 
write  himself  armiger,  or  esquire,  so  attaining  to  the  gentry. 
In  1544  he  had  obtained  the  manor  of  Groton,  in  Suffolk,  till 
then  belonging  to  the  monastery  of  Bury  St.  Edmimds,  thus 
profiting  as  did  so  many  Englishmen,  high  and  low-born,  from 
the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries.  A  fine  contemporary  por- 
trait presents  a  face  marked  by  resolution  and  good  sense, 
surmounted  by  such  a  cap  as  often  marks  the  portraits  of  the 

*  Bradford's  History  of  Plymouth  Plantation,  edited  by  W.  T.  Davis. 
^  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Life  and  Letters  of  John  Winthrop;  C.  Harding  Firth, 
article  "John  Winthrop"  in  Dictionary  of  National  Biography. 


6  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL 

Reformation  period,  the  figure  below  attired  in  a  rich  fur- 
trimmed  over-garment.  His  third  son,  Adam,  being  educated 
as  a  lawyer,  reached  responsibilities  and  distinctions  that  ad- 
vanced the  family.  For  fifteen  years,  1594  to  1609,  he  was 
auditor  of  St.  John's  and  Trinity  Colleges,  Cambridge.  Dying 
in  1623,  after  being  twice  married,  he  left  four  daughters,  their 
mother  being  a  sister  of  Bishop  John  Still ;  and,  by  a  second 
wife,  an  only  son,  John,  who  became  founder  of  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England. 

John  Winthrop  was  born  in  1588,  his  mother  being  Anne 
Browne,  daughter  of  a  well-to-do  tradesman,  through  whom 
presumably  the  possessions  of  the  Winthrops  were  enhanced. 
In  boyhood  he  was  admitted  to  Trinity  College,  Cambridge, 
but  his  course  was  interrupted  by  his  sudden  marriage,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen,  with  Mary  Forth,  an  heiress,  the  mother  of 
John  Winthrop,  jr.,  governor  of  Connecticut,  and  other  sons 
and  daughters.  Mary  Winthrop  died  in  1615,  whereupon 
Winthrop  speedily  married  Thomasine  Clopton ;  who  surviving 
only  a  year,  he  took  as  third  wife  Margaret  Tyndale,  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Tyndale.  This  lady,  though  dying  before  her  hus- 
band, in  1647,  giving  place  to  a  fourth  wife,  is  the  Mistress 
Winthrop  whom  we  know  best.^ 

When  John  Winthrop  thus  in  1605  assumed,  as  we  should 
say  so  prematurely,  the  responsibilities  of  a  man,  James  I.  had 
been  two  years  on  the  throne.  From  the  days  of  Henry  VIII. 
the  family  at  Groton  had  been  devotedly  Protestant,  a  loyalty 
perhaps  helped  by  the  fact  that  a  return  of  England  to  the 
ancient  church  would  impair  the  title  to  their  handsome  estate. 
As  the  Church  of  England  took  shape  with  the  sovereign  at 
its  head  and  the  establishment  of  an  elaborate  hierarchy  below, 
no  family  was  more  zealous  for  the  new  order  than  the  Win- 
throps. From  the  old  Romanism  they  held  strictly  aloof;  and 
on  the  other  hand  they  had  nothing  in  common  with  the 

'Alice  Morse  Earle,  Margaret  Winthrop  (1895);  J.  Anderson,  Margaret 
Tyndale,  in  Memorable  Women  of  the  Puritan  Times,  p.  120  et  seqq.  (1862). 


INTRODUCTION  7 

Separatists,  the  Protestants  who  as  the  sixteenth  century  ad- 
vanced, dissatisfied  with  what  they  held  to  be  the  half-way 
reformation  of  the  EstabUshed  Church,  broke  out  from  its 
fold  into  various  extremes  of  belief.  Far  on  in  life,  John 
Winthrop  was  destined  to  show  sympathy  with  the  ideas  of 
Robert  Browne,  one  of  the  best  known  and  perhaps  least 
esteemed  among  the  Separatists,  the  founder  of  certain  inde- 
pendent congregations  some  of  which  were  driven  out  of 
England  for  their  refusal  to  submit  to  authority.  But,  in  an 
earlier  time,  while  steadfast  in  their  allegiance  to  the  Church 
of  England,  it  was  with  the  so-called  non-conformists  that  the 
Winthrops  ranged  themselves,  the  large  class  who,  when  the 
sovereigns  and  higher  prelates  sought  to  set  up  a  rituahstic 
order  akin  to  the  ecclesiasticism  which  the  country  had  for- 
saken, declared  for  a  ceremonial  simpler  and  without  Romish 
taint. 

From  the  family  memorials,  which  have  been  preserved  to 
a  remarkable  extent,  we  know  that  the  elder  Adam  Winthrop, 
though  for  the  most  part  a  man  of  affairs,  was  intellectually 
active;  still  more  so  was  the  second  Adam,  who,  while  manag- 
ing the  business  of  the  Cambridge  colleges,  yet  was  a  profuse 
inditer  of  letters  and  diaries;  John  Winthrop,  carrying  still 
farther  the  tradition,  became  one  of  the  most  voluminous  of 
writers,  letters,  journals,  tracts  and  books  following  each  other 
abundantly  from  his  youth  to  the  day  of  his  death.  An 
atmosphere  of  stem  Puritanism  pervades  the  memorials  of 
grandfather,  father  and  son.  In  particular  the  letters  of  John 
Winthrop,  even  on  the  ordinary  occasions  of  life,  are  so  clouded 
by  a  Calvinistic  piety  that  it  is  hard  to  get,  through  the 
theologizing,  the  simple  fact  he  desires  to  convey.  Yet 
evidence  is  not  wanting  that  the  Winthrops  in  these  early 
generations  had  plenty  of  worldly  wisdom,  steering  shrewdly 
in  the  public  turmoil,  swelling  the  patrimony  prudently 
by  marriage  jointures,  and  wasting  nothing  in  unprofitable 
ventures.    John  Winthrop  in  private  life  was  certainly  an 


8  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL 

excellent  husband,  father  and  householder;  and  as  a 
citizen  early  obtained  through  good  judgment,  balance, 
and  steadfast  courage,  a  wide  influence  among  the  Puritan 
gentry. 

Winthrop's  plan  for  emigrating  to  America  was  not  long 
entertained  before  it  was  carried  out.  In  1626  he  became  an 
attorney,  and  in  1628  a  member  of  the  Inner  Temple,  thus  as- 
suming positions  which  seem  to  imply  an  intention  of  fixed 
residence.  The  earliest  hint  of  his  purpose  to  remove  is  con- 
veyed in  a  letter  to  his  wife  of  May  15,  1629,  in  which  his  dis- 
content with  the  condition  of  England  is  made  plain,  with  an 
intimation  of  his  future  course.  Charles  I.  had  just  dissolved 
Parliament,  the  antagonism  between  the  High  Church  and 
Prerogative  men  on  the  one  hand  and  those  of  a  freer  spirit 
on  the  other,  having  become  acute.  To  earnest  men  of  Win- 
throp's views  England  was  becoming  a  place  no  longer  fit  to 
dwell  in.  He  had  passed  into  middle  age  and  was  bound  by 
many  ties  to  his  native  land,  but  he  now  embarked  upon  an 
enterprise  of  the  boldest. 

As  Winthrop  here  turns  his  face  toward  the  new  world,  we 
must  note  briefly  the  facts  of  its  exploration  and  settlement  up 
to  this  time.^  The  basis  of  the  English  claim  to  rights  in 
North  America  rested  on  the  discoveries  of  Cabot;  since  the 
French  were  equally  well  provided  with  a  title  through  the 
voyage  of  Verrazano,  a  contention  arose  not  settled  until  the 
days  of  Pitt  and  Wolfe.  In  the  first  years  of  the  seventeenth 
century  lived  in  southern  England  an  active  knight.  Sir 
Ferdinando  Gorges,  who,  though  bearing  a  name  of  Spanish  or 
Italian  sound,  was  nevertheless  a  thorough  Englishman  in 
quality  and  birth.  Associated  with  the  Earl  of  Essex,  in 
Elizabeth's  time,  he  drew  upon  himself,  and  probably  merited, 
odium,  by  later  testifying  against  him.  But  he  was  persistent 
and  courageous,  and  after  a  career  against  Spain  in  the  navy 
received  the  post  of  governor  of  Plymouth. 

*  jPalfrey,  History  of  New  England,  vol.  I, 


INTRODUCTION  9 

Gorges,  in  connection  with  Sir  John  Popham,  chief-justice 
of  the  King's  Bench,  brought  into  existence  in  1606  the  Virginia 
Company,  a  corporation  with  a  patent  from  the  King,  which 
presently,  divided  into  two  sections  known  as  the  London 
Company  and  the  Plymouth  Company,  set  forth  strenuously 
to  possess  the  great  territory.  The  earliest  result  of  the 
effort  was  Jamestown,  founded  in  1607.  The  attempts  farther 
north  were  at  first  less  successful.  A  colony  sent  to  the 
Kennebec  neighborhood  by  Gorges  and  Popham,  in  1607,  dis- 
heartened by  misfortune  and  winter  severities,  had  no  success. 
Popham  died,  but  Gorges  continued  indefatigable:  his  enter- 
prises followed  each  other,  never  resulting  in  anything  more 
than  Uttle  groups  of  fishermen  or  traders  clinging  precariously 
to  the  coast.  As  the  century  proceeded  and  in  England  the 
strife  arose  between  King  and  Parliament,  Sir  Ferdinando 
sided  with  the  King.  The  successes  in  New  England  coloniza- 
tion were  won  by  the  Pmitans,  but  for  many  a  year,  as  Win- 
throp's  Journal  often  evidences,  the  enterprises  of  the  old 
cavaher,  in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire,  disquieted  the  Puritan 
plantations. 

Of  the  settlement  of  the  Mayflower  Pilgrims  no  account  is 
required  here.^  In  the  years  following  their  establishment  in 
1620,  Bradford's  colonists  ranged  north  and  south  making  well 
known  the  coast  of  New  England,  from  Manhattan,  where  the 
Dutch  had  fixed  themselves  in  1613,  to  the  region  of  Maine, 
where  they  met  the  French  from  Port  Royal  and  its  outposts. 
Adventurers  from  Plymouth,  or  brought  in  by  the  ships  which 
now  frequented  these  waters,  settled  around  Massachusetts 
Bay.  Thomas  Weston  attempted  a  post  at  Wessagusset,  now 
Weymouth,  in  1622;  Thomas  Morton  in  1625,  was  at  Merry 
Mount;  John  Oldham  at  Hull  or  Natascott;  Wilham  Black- 
stone  built  a  house  on  the  peninsula  of  Trimount,  as  did  Thomas 
Walford  at  Mishawum,  now  Charlestown,  and  Samuel  Maverick 
at  Winnisimmet,  now  Chelsea.    A  few  years  after  the  May- 

*  See  Bradford's  History,  edited  by  W.  T.  Davis. 


10  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL 

flower's  coming,  an  enterprise  more  markedly  Puritan  than 
before  sought  to  gain  a  footing  on  Cape  Ann.  Its  ruhng 
spirit  was  John  White,  minister  of  Dorchester  in  England. 
Forsaking  the  bleak  promontory  for  Naumkeag,  now  Salem, 
and  receiving  reinforcements,  among  whom  John  Endicott  in 
1628  and  Francis  Higginson  in  1629  were  the  leaders,  these 
planters  were  the  immediate  precursors  of  the  settlement  with 
which  at  present  we  have  to  deal. 

The  London  Company,  the  part  of  the  Virginia  Company 
designed  to  exploit  the  southern  field,  falling  into  difficulties 
and  incurring  the  royal  displeasure.  Gorges  and  his  friends 
obtained,  in  1620,  a  new  incorporation,  the  Council  for  New 
England.  Its  membership  was  distinguished,  and  the  terri- 
tory which  it  was  authorized  to  administer  extended  from  sea 
to  sea  between  the  fortieth  and  forty-eighth  parallels.  In 
1628  this  Council  for  New  England  granted  to  Sir  Henry 
Roswell,  Sir  John  Young,  Thomas  Southcote,  John  Humfrey, 
John  Endicott,  and  Simon  Whitcomb,  Massachusetts,  a  strip 
running  from  sea  to  sea,  with  its  northward  limit  three  miles 
north  of  the  Merrimac,  and  its  southward  limit  three  miles  south 
of  the  Charles.  That  this  grant  became  something  more  than 
a  mere  voluntary  partnership  without  corporate  powers,  is 
due  especially  to  the  agency  of  John  White,  of  Dorchester.  He 
was  zealous  and  widely  influential  among  the  Puritans,  and 
it  is  attributed  to  him  that,  the  company  having  been  much 
enlarged  by  royal  charter,  a  corporation  was  sanctioned, 
under  the  title  of  ^'The  Governor  and  the  Company  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England."  The  charter  gave 
power  forever  to  the  freemen  of  the  company  to  elect  each  year 
a  governor,  deputy-governor,  and  eighteen  assistants,  on  the 
last  Wednesday  of  Easter  term,  and  to  make  laws  consistent 
with  those  of  England.  Four  meetings  were  to  be  regularly 
held,  with  provision  also  for  special  occasions.  The  magistrates 
were  empowered  to  administer  the  oaths  of  supremacy  and 
allegiance ;  new  associates  might  be  admitted,  and  the  corpora- 


INTRODUCTION  11 

tion  was  empowered  to  defend  itself  against  attack  by  sea  or 
land.    As  to  religious  liberty  the  charter  has  nothing  to  say/ 

Under  this  charter  a  new  government  was  now  organized, 
April  30,  1629.  Thirteen  councillors  were  elected,  to  hold 
office  for  a  year,  of  whom  seven  beside  the  governor  were  to 
be  appointed  by  the  company  at  home;  these  eight  were  to 
appoint  three  others ;  the  two  remaining  were  to  be  elected  by 
the  "old  planters,"  the  men  on  the  spot,  the  pioneers  of  the 
colony.  Matthew  Cradock,  a  London  merchant  of  repute,  who 
appears  later  in  the  Long  ParHament,  being  named  as  governor, 
instructs  Endicott,  who  had  gone  over  the  previous  year,  and 
is  agent,  that  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  is'Hhe  thing  they  do 
profess  above  all  other  aims;"  the  colonists  are  to  be  carefully 
watched  and  restrained.  Tobacco  is  to  be  cultivated  only  under 
severe  restrictions ;  Massachusetts  Bay,  by  which  was  then  xm- 
derstood  Boston  harbor  and  its  neighborhood,  is  to  be  secured ; 
persons  who  may  prove  "not  conformable  to  their  government" 
shall  not  be  allowed  to  remain  within  the  limits  of  their  grant. 

Six  vessels  were  now  dispatched  containing  three  hundred 
men,  eighty  women  and  maids,  twenty-six  children,  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  head  of  cattle,  and  forty  goats,  with  all  needful 
furnishings  and  appliances.  Francis  Higginson,  the  most  in- 
teresting figure  of  this  large  and  well-provided  company,  was 
a  Cambridge  scholar,  of  Emmanuel  College,  and  later  had  been 
rector  of  a  church  in  Leicester.  Cotton  Mather,  writing  in  1697, 
gives  a  tradition  of  Higginson  which  perhaps  may  be  accepted  :^ 

"They  sailed  from  the  Isle  of  Wight  about  the  1st  of  May, 
1629,  and  when  they  came  to  the  Land's  End,  Mr.  Higginson, 
calling  up  his  children  and  other  passengers  to  the  stern  of  the 
ship  to  take  their  last  sight  of  England,  said:  We  will  not 
say,  as  the  Separatists  were  wont  to  say  at  their  leaving  of 

*  The  venerable  document  is  still  preserved  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
State  in  Massachusetts.  The  text  is  given  in  Poore's  Charters  and  Constitutions, 
and  elsewhere. 

*  Magnolia  Christi  Americana,  Book  iii.,  part  2,  chap,  ii.,  section  12. 


12  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL 

England,  Farewell  Babylon,  farewell  Rome!  but  we  will  say, 
farewell  dear  England!  farewell  the  Church  of  God  in  England, 
and  all  the  Christian  friends  there!  We  do  not  go  to  New 
England  as  Separatists  from  the  Church  of  England,  though 
we  cannot  but  separate  from  the  corruptions  in  it,  but  we  go 
to  practise  the  positive  part  of  church  reformation,  and  propa- 
gate the  gospel  in  America."  He  concluded  with  a  fervent 
prayer  for  the  Iling  and  church  and  state  in  England  and  all 
the  Christian  friends  there. 

The  six  ships,  though  not  saiUng  together,  all  arrived  in 
June,  and  at  once  the  plantation,  till  then  but  an  unorganized 
knot  of  adventurous  people,  became  estabhshed  as  a  proper 
commimity.  Steps  were  taken  to  form  a  church  with  Samuel 
Skelton  for  teacher  and  Higginson  for  pastor.^  Even  thus 
early  can  be  noted  a  drifting  away  from  old  moorings.  Where- 
as Higginson  in  his  affectionate  leavetaking,  just  quoted,  dis- 
claimed sympathy  with  the  Separatists  and  spoke  with  love 
of  the  Church  of  England,  now  the  Plymouth  Separatists  were 
invited  to  the  ordination,  Bradford  and  other  delegates  taking 
pains  to  come.  Though  the  Plymouth  men  did  not  arrive  in 
time  to  take  part  they  gave  their  sanction  to  the  ceremonies, 
which  showed  a  wide  departure  from  church  methods — a  lay- 
ing-on  of  hands  and  other  forms  of  consecration,  more  than  fore- 
shadowing the  Congregationalism  that  was  about  to  prevail. 

At  once  appeared  disapproval  of  such  departures  from  the 
old  order.  The  brothers  John  and  Samuel  Browne,  prominent 
among  the  councillors,  took  exception  to  the  new  religious 
methods,  setting  up  worship  with  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
and  leading  a  group  faithful  to  the  old  Church.  These  men 
were  promptly  seized  and  sent  back  to  England,  Endicott 
being  the  leader,  and  here  began  the  policy  of  intolerance,  so 
marked  a  feature  of  early  New  England. 

'  In  important  churches  the  heavy  duty  made  two  ministers  necessary,  whose 
functions  seem  to  have  differed  little,  though  one  was  called  pastor  and  the  other 
teacher.     See  Mr.  Davis's  note  in  Bradford,  p.  26. 


INTRODUCTION  13 

Since  the  seventeenth  century  the  civilized  world  has  come 
to  see  in  toleration  one  of  the  first  virtues  of  a  community. 
The  narrowness  of  the  founders  of  New  England  has  received 
heavy  condemnation.  It  was  a  marked  trait  and  Winthrop's 
Journal  illustrates  its  prevalence  in  the  record  of  each  year. 
But  the  intolerance  of  our  forefathers  has  found  apologists  in 
authorities  whom  we  must  respect.  Says  Palfrey :  ' '  ReUgious 
intolerance  is  criminal  wherever  it  is  not  necessary  to  the 
public  safety;  it  is  simply  self-defense  whenever  tolerance 
would  be  public  ruin.  ...  It  is  an  idle  casuistry  which  con- 
demns the  earlier  comer  and  the  stronger  possessor  for  insisting 
on  the  unshared  occupation  of  his  place  of  residence.  ...  It  is 
preposterous  to  maintain  that  the  right  to  exclude  is  not  his, 
or  that  its  exercise  is  not  his  bounden  duty."^  Of  the  early 
New  England  intolerance,  first  plainly  shown  in  the  persecu- 
tion of  the  Brownes,  and  so  often  appearing  during  the  period 
with  which  we  have  to  do,  against  Antinomians,  Familists, 
Baptists,  Quakers,  Catholics,  this  may  certainly  be  said,  that 
although  unamiable,  repulsive  indeed  to  the  modem  spirit, 
it  preserved  the  colony  from  being  wiped  out  of  existence. 

The  first  enterprise  after  the  plantation  had  been,  so  to 
speak,  set  on  its  feet  after  Higginson's  arrival,  was  the  dis- 
patching of  a  party  to  survey  and  occupy  Mishawum,  now 
Charlestown,  on  Massachusetts  Bay,  an  imdertaking  enjoined 
by  the  heads  of  the  company,  who  feared  a  forestalling  by 
Englishmen  not  of  their  Company  who  might  assert  rights 
under  a  supposed  patent  issued  to  Gorges.  Before  the  summer 
of  1629  closed,  therefore,  the  Salem  men,  for  the  Indian  name 
of  Naumkeag  was  now  exchanged  for  a  Hebrew  title,  occupied 
a  point  on  what  is  now  Boston  harbor,  which  henceforth  be- 
comes the  centre  of  interest  in  the  story  of  New  England. 

'  Palfrey,  I.  300.  See  also  H.  M.  Dexter,  As  to  Roger  Williams,  and  John  A. 
Vinton,  The  Antinomian  Controversy  of  1637.  For  strong  arraignments  of  the 
Puritans,  see  Peter  Oliver,  Puritan  Commonwealth,  and  Brooks  Adams,  Emanci- 
pation of  Massachusetts.  See  also  an  interesting  passage  in  C.  F.  Adams,  Three 
Episodes  of  Massachusetts  History,  1.  248. 


14  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL 

Meantime  important  events  were  taking  place  in  England. 
The  public  trouble,  becoming  always  more  acute,  caused  many- 
men  to  despair  of  England;  and  on  August  26  a  company 
of  such  persons,  possessing  means  and  good  position,  meeting 
at  Cambridge,  resolved  as  follows: 

''We  will  be  ready  in  our  persons,  and  with  such  of  our 
several  families  that  are  to  go  with  us,  to  embark  (for  New 
England)  by  the  1st  of  March  next,  .  .  .  provided  always  that 
before  the  last  of  September  next  the  whole  government, 
together  with  the  patent  for  the  said  plantation,  be  first  legally 
transferred."^  The  first  suggestion  of  a  transfer  of  the  govern- 
ment and  patent  came  from  Matthew  Cradock.  Such  a  trans- 
ference was  pronounced  legal  by  the  lawyers  consulted,  though 
since  that  time  the  transformation  of  a  hcense  for  a  trading 
corporation  into  a  charter  for  a  political  establishment  has 
been  pronounced  fraudulent  and  without  color  of  the  law.^ 
These  twelve  considerable  men,  of  most  of  whom  Winthrop's 
Journal  has  much  to  record,  were  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall, 
Thomas  Dudley,  Wilham  Vassall,  Nicholas  West,  Jolin  Win- 
throp,  Kellam  Browne,  Isaac  Johnson,  John  Humfrey,  John 
Sharpe,  Increase  Nowell,  William  Pinchon,  and  William  Col- 
bron.^  On  September  19,  1629,  Winthrop's  presence,  on  a 
committee,  at  a  court  of  the  company  is  recorded,  on  which 
date,  therefore,  began  his  active  part  in  the  momentous  un- 
dertaking. 

Winthrop  writes  July  28, 1629,  ''My  brother  Downing  and 
myself,  riding  into  Lincolnshire  by  Ely,  my  horse  fell  under 
me  in  a  bogge  in  the  fennes  so  as  I  was  almost  to  the  waist 
in  water;  but  the  Lord  preserved  me  from  further  danger, 
Blessed  be  his  name."* 

Winthrop  here  had  a  narrow  escape,  perhaps  from  death, 

'  Hvichinson  Papers,  Prince  Society  ed.,  I.  28. 

'  Oliver,  Puritan  Commonwealth,  19  et  seqq.  See  Palfrey's  argument  and 
citations,  I.  306. 

'  Winthrop,  Lije  and  Letters,  I.  347. 
*Ibid.,  1.  304. 


INTRODUCTION  15 

on  the  threshold  of  his  New  England  service.  Emanuel 
Downing,  his  companion,  we  shall  often  encounter  hereafter. 
The  two  rode  out  of  Suffolk  to  meet  at  Sempringham  Isaac 
Johnson,  son-in-law  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln.  Another  son-in-law 
was  John  Humfrey;  both  men  embarked  in  the  New  England 
experiment.  This  visit  of  Winthrop,  which  so  nearly  proved 
disastrous,  had  no  doubt  an  important  relation  to  his  decision. 
On  October  20,  at  a  court  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Goffe, 
Winthrop  was  elected  governor,  Humfrey  deputy-governor, 
and  eighteen  others  assistants.  Humfrey's  departure  from 
England  being  delayed,  Thomas  Dudley  became  deputy- 
governor  in  his  place. 

Winthrop,  now  forty-two  years  old,  had  gone  through 
experiences  to  ripen  him  thoroughly.  He  had  thrice  married, 
had  many  children  and  grandchildren.  He  had  a  property  of 
six  or  seven  hundred  pounds  a  year,  perhaps  equivalent  to  eight 
times  as  much  at  the  present  day.  In  administering  this,  and 
in  discharging  the  functions  of  the  legal  profession  which  he 
had  followed  many  years,  he  had  gained  a  wide  knowledge  of 
affairs  and  exhibited  abilities  which  made  him  conspicuous.^ 
All  efforts  were  now  bent  toward  the  equipment  and  despatch 
of  an  expedition  such  as  had  never  before  left  England  for 
America.  When  things  were  ready  Reverend  John  Cotton, 
selected  probably  as  being  the  most  noted  of  the  non-conform- 
ist divines  of  the  times,  proceeded  to  Southampton  to  the 
assembling  fleet  and  performed  the  same  office  which  had 
been  performed  ten  years  before  by  John  Robinson,  on  the 
departure  of  the  Plymouth  pilgrims  from  Delfshaven.  Cotton's 
sermon,  God's  Promise  to  his  Plantation,  is  still  extant.^ 

Leaving  Winthrop  to  tell  the  further  story  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts settlement,  it  is  now  in  place  to  describe  the  venerable 
manuscript  and  the  fortunes  that  have  befallen  it.  The 
Journal  was  contained  in  three  note-books,  which  appear  to 

'  Winthrop,  Life  and  Letters,  I.  348. 
'  Old  South  Leaflet,  no.  53. 


16  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL 

have  been  cared  for  after  Winthrop's  death  in  1649  by  his 
Connecticut  descendants.  The  first  note-book  has  no  title, 
but  the  second  and  third  were  inscribed  by  him  ''Continuation 
of  the  History  of  New  England," — a  misnomer  certainly,  for  of 
New  England  outside  of  Massachusetts  Bay  it  is  a  most  im- 
perfect account.  The  three  manuscripts  were  in  the  hands 
of  the  older  New  England  historians,  Wilham  Hubbard,  Cotton 
Mather  and  Thomas  Prince.  In  our  revolutionary  period, 
Governor  Jonathan  Trumbull  of  Connecticut  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Journal.  But  two  note-books,  however,  had  come 
back  to  the  Connecticut  Winthrops,  the  third  manuscript  for 
a  time  being  lost. 

Governor  Trumbull  and  his  intelligent  secretary,  John 
Porter,  carefully  deciphered  and  copied  the  two  documents, 
and  the  transcript  coming  to  the  notice  of  Noah  Webster,  of 
dictionary  fame,  he  caused  it  to  be  printed  at  Hartford  in  1790, 
himself  furnishing  a  short  introduction  and  a  few  notes.  The 
value  of  the  Journal  was  generally  recognized,  and  much 
regret  was  felt  that  the  work  was  incomplete.  It  was  an  oc- 
casion of  rejoicing  therefore,  when  in  1816  the  long-lost  third 
book  of  the  manuscript  was  discovered  in  the  tower  of  the  Old 
South  Church,  in  Boston.  Its  pubhcation,  as  an  addition  to 
the  Hartford  book  of  1790,  was  at  once  undertaken  by  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  the  work  being  committed 
to  the  editorship  of  James  Savage,  a  young  and  zealous  mem- 
ber. Savage  was  a  man  most  accurate  and  indefatigable: 
having  transcribed  the  third  note-book,  he  proceeded  to  com- 
pare the  1790  publication  with  the  first  and  second  note-books 
which  it  reproduced.  He  found  that  the  work  of  his  prede- 
cessors, though  in  general  correct,  contained  many  minor 
inaccuracies.  He  concluded  that  a  new  transcription  of  the 
two  note-books  was  necessary,  and  planned  to  supplement 
the  text  with  an  elaborate  body  of  notes.  The  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society  having  secured  legislative  aid,  the  work 
was  vigorously  prosecuted,  and  in  1825-1826  the  entire  Journal 


INTRODUCTION  17 

appeared,  profusely  annotated,  in  two  substantial  well-printed 
volumes,  entitled  The  History  of  New  England  from  1630  to 
1649,  by  John  Winthrop,  Esq.,  First  Governour  of  the  Colony 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay. 

The  Winthrop  of  1825-1826  took  its  place  at  once  in  the 
minds  of  men  as  the  foundation  of  Massachusetts  history,  and 
the  importance  of  the  services  of  Savage  was  imiversally 
recognized:  he  became  henceforth  a  man  of  mark,  attained  to 
the  position  of  president  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  genealogical  and  antiqua- 
rian work  into  which  he  had  been  led  through  his  labors  upon 
Winthrop.  When,  after  twenty-five  years,  the  edition  of 
1825-1826  was  out  of  print,  he  revised  his  work,  made  some 
additions  to  his  notes,  and  gave  to  the  world  in  1853  a  new 
edition.  This,  too,  after  having  served  a  most  excellent 
purpose  for  more  than  half  a  century,  is  out  of  print,  making 
necessary  still  another  reproduction. 

Savage  having  long  since  passed,  greatly  honored,  to  his 
account,  the  present  editor,  with  the  approval  of  the  general 
editor  of  the  series,  has  proceeded  as  follows:  First,  he  has 
adopted  without  change  the  transcript  of  the  text  made  by 
Savage.  Careful  tests  of  the  accuracy  of  Savage's  work  here 
have  been  made,  a  comparison  having  been  instituted  in  many 
parts  between  the  original  and  the  copy.  It  is  plain  that 
Savage  was  in  the  highest  degree  painstaking,  and  the  examina- 
tion renders  it  certain  that  the  transcript  could  not  well  be 
more  correct.  Savage,  as  many  think  unfortunately,  modern- 
ized Winthrop 's  spelling,  and  wrote  out  in  full  abbreviated 
words.  It  is  desirable  that  the  manuscript  as  it  lies  in  the 
archives  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  should  be 
carefully  photographed.  Some  day  perhaps  it  will  be  worth 
while  to  transcribe  and  reprint  verbatim  et  literatim.  As  regards 
historical  ends,  however,  Winthrop's  record  is  satisfactorily 
rendered  by  Savage,  and  to  make  a  new  transcript  is  unneces- 
sary.  It  must  be  said  that  the  second  note-book  of  the  original, 


18  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL 

while  in  Savage's  hands,  was  through  ill-luck  in  1825  destroyed 
by  fire ;  this  portion  of  the  record  therefore  is  extant  only  in 
the  copies. 

Secondly,  as  to  the  annotation,  the  work  of  Savage  has 
been  replaced  in  the  present  reprint  by  a  scheme  much  more 
compendious  and  simple.  The  former  editor  had  peculiarities 
of  character  making  him  personally  racy  and  interesting,  but 
impairing  the  excellence  of  his  commentary.  His  successor  in 
the  presidency  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  Mr. 
Charles  Francis  Adams,  aptly  compares  him  to  Dr.  Samuel 
Johnson.  Like  Johnson,  Savage  while  most  laborious,  scrupu- 
lously honest,  and  always  resolute  and  unshrinking,  was  testy, 
prejudiced  and  opinionated;  he  was  prone  to  measure  by  small 
local  standards.  These  pecuharities  constantly  appear  in  his 
notes,  which  are  often  in  a  high  degree  prolix,  in  some  portions 
of  the  books  largely  exceeding  in  bulk  the  text.  They  are 
encumbered  with  genealogies  of  unimportant  people  and  de- 
tails as  to  trivial  events  and  obscure  localities.  WTiile  pos- 
sessed thus  by  the  spirit  of  the  county  antiquary  rather  than 
by  the  broad  temper  of  the  proper  historian,  his  hates  and 
loves,  equally  undiscriminating,  are  curiously,  often  amusingly, 
manifest:  he  has  his  betes  noires,  like  William  Hubbard, 
Thomas  Welde  and  Cotton  Mather,  whom  he  cannot  mention 
without  dealing  a  stout  Johnsonian  cuff ;  and  also  his  favorites, 
of  whose  shortcomings  he  is  always  blandly  unconscious.  It 
will  be  worth  while  some  day  to  reprint  the  vast  body  of 
Savage's  notes  not  only  because  they  are  a  mine  of  learning, 
(bearing  often  upon  trifles,  but  often  too  upon  important 
things),  but  also  because  the  annotation  has  much  interest  as 
a  ''human  document,"  pleasantly  tart  from  the  individuaUty 
of  a  quaintly  provincial  but  sincere  and  vigorous  mind.* 

'  In  1906  a  fine  bust  of  Savage  was  placed  in  the  rooms  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society,  on  which  occasion  he  was  elaborately  and  happily  characterized 
by  the  president,  Mr.  Charles  Francis  Adams.  See  Proceedings  of  the  Society 
for  that  year. 


INTRODUCTION  19 

In  making  the  notes  to  the  present  edition  the  point  of 
view  sought  has  been  that  of  a  student  of  history  in  a  large 
sense.  The  Anglo-Saxon  race  is  but  one  of  the  races  of  the 
world ;  the  United  States  forms  but  one  of  the  Enghsh-speaking 
nations;  Massachusetts  is  one  of  forty-six  commonwealths, 
the  story  of  each  of  which  is  an  essential  part  of  the  story  of  our 
country.  There  were  many  other  settlements  upon  our  shores 
beside  those  made  by  Englishmen,  and  several  other  English 
settlements  beside  that  guided  by  Winthrop,  which  have 
affected  powerfully  America  and  the  world.  Winthrop's 
Journal  is  only  one  among  a  group  of  interesting  records,  an 
important  one  of  the  group,  but  the  incidents  it  relates  must 
not  be  unduly  magnified;  just  proportioning  must  not  be  neg- 
lected in  the  perspective.  In  the  notes  nothing  more  has  been 
attempted  than  to  make  plain  the  language  of  the  narrative, 
to  fill  out  the  story  when  too  meagrely  related,  and  to  describe 
more  at  length  the  principal  personages.  Winthrop's  work  is 
rough  and  hurried;  he  probably  intended  to  base  upon  it  an 
account  more  carefully  written ;  it  needs  to  be  supplemented, 
but  the  attempt  has  been  made  to  do  no  more  than  is  neces- 
sary to  a  clear  understanding. 

The  work  of  preparing  this  edition  has  been  done  in  the 
Boston  Pubhc  and  Harvard  Libraries,  with  some  use  also  of 
the  Boston  Athenseum,  and  especially  of  the  original  manu- 
scripts in  the  archives  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
Nearly  all  the  literature  extant  bearing  upon  the  topic  has 
been  at  hand.  Winthrop  and  his  circle  left  many  letters  and 
documents  that  are  illuminative,  which  are  contained  in  the 
appendix  to  Savage's  edition,  in  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Life  and 
Letters  of  John  Winthrop,  and  in  the  Collections  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Historical  Society,  fourth  series,  vols.  VI.,  VII.  (1863, 
1865),  and  fifth  series,  vol.  I.  (1871) ;  the  manuscripts  of  the 
Winthrop  family,  extant  to  a  remarkable  degree,  are  also  pre- 
served by  the  Society.  The  Massachusetts  Colonial  Records, 
complete  from  the  year  1630,  the  records  of  the  First  Church 


20  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL 

in  Boston,  and  of  the  neighboring  churches,  now  in  general 
printed,  letters  of  Thomas  Dudley,  and  of  other  companions, 
Johnson's  Wonder-Working  Providence,  Ward's  Simple  Cohler 
of  Aggawam,  Thomas  Morton's  New  English  Canaan,  the  narra- 
tive of  Bradford,  governor  of  Plymouth,  tracts  and  sermons  of 
John  Cotton  and  other  ministers — these  and  many  more  con- 
temporary documents  throw  light  on  the  time. 

Of  the  general  histories  of  New  England  and  Massachusetts, 
written  since  Winthrop's  time,  may  be  mentioned  as  secondary 
authorities  of  more  or  less  value,  Hubbard,  General  History  of 
New  England  from  1620  to  1680,  published  about  the  latter 
date.  Cotton  Mather,  Magnolia  Christi  Americana  (1702); 
Prince,  Chronological  History  of  New  England  (1736) ;  Hutchin- 
son, History  of  Massachusetts  Bay  (1764);  Barry,  History  of 
Massachusetts  (1855) ;  Palfrey,  History  of  New  England  (1858) ; 
Justin  Winsor,  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  vol. 
III.,  and  Memorial  History  of  Boston,  vol.  I.  Special  phases  of 
Massachusetts  history,  including  aspects  of  Winthrop's  com- 
munity, are  treated  in  C.  F.  Adams,  Three  Episodes  of  Massa- 
chusetts History  (1892);  Oliver,  The  Puritan  Commonwealth 
(1856);  Brooks  Adams,  The  Emancipation  of  Massachusetts 
(1893);  Ellis,  The  Puritan  Age  and  Rule  (1888);  M.  C.  Tyler, 
History  of  American  Literature,  vol.  I.  (1878,  1897),  and 
J.  A.  Doyle,  English  in  America,  vol.  11.  (1887).  The  bi- 
ographical dictionaries  of  John  Eliot  and  William  Allen,  both 
published  in  1809,  and  the  Genealogical  Dictionary  of  Savage, 
relating  especially  to  New  England,  are  valuable.  All  these 
have  aided  the  present  editor  in  his  work.  In  the  case  of 
many  notes,  however,  the  information  has  been  condensed  from 
the  learning  of  Savage,  and  sometimes  his  work  has  been 
quoted  in  full. 

James  Kendall  Hosmer. 


WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL 

"THE    HISTORY  OF  NEW   ENGLAND" 

I 63 0-1649 


.^o?StFB> 


'}KMAL  SCHOOL 

/ 

WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL.,  i^:^^ 
"THE   HISTORY   OF   NEW   ENGLAND" 
I 630-1 649 


Anno  Domini  1630,  March  29,  Monday. 

Easter  Monday.]*  Riding  at  the  Cowes,  near  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  in  the  Arbella,^  a  ship  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  tons, 
whereof  Capt.  Peter  Milbome  was  master,  being  manned  with 
fifty-two  seamen,  and  twenty-eight  pieces  of  ordnance,  (the 
wind  coming  to  the  N.  by  W.  the  evening  before,)  in  the  morn- 
ing there  came  aboard  us  Mr.  Cradock,^  the  late  governor,  and 

•The  use  of  the  designation  "Easter  Monday"  is  significant.  Winthrop 
has  not  yet  broken  from  the  Church  of  England,  and  retains  the  ecclesiastical 
name.  After  reaching  New  England  came  a  sudden  dropping  of  all  reference 
to  church  holidays.  Note  that  in  Winthrop's  chronology,  March  is  the  first 
month  of  the  year,  and  February  the  twelfth, — September,  October,  November 
and  December  becoming  thus  literally  the  seventh,  eighth,  ninth  and  tenth 
months.  As  to  New  Year's  Day  an  awkward  diversity  prevailed  in  the  seven- 
teenth century;  it  was  sometimes  the  1st,  sometimes  the  25th  of  March.  In  the 
Journal  New  Year's  Day  is  generally  March  1st,  but  not  always.  Winthrop 
gives  dates  sometimes  by  means  of  two  numerals,  the  first  denoting  the  month, 
the  second  the  day;  for  instance,  "7,  6"  is  the  6th  of  September;  more  rarely 
the  day  precedes;  sometimes  "Mo."  stands  before  the  figure  denoting  a  month; 
when  but  one  number  precedes  an  entry,  it  usually  denotes  the  day,  the  month 
number  having  been  given  previously  once  for  all,  when  the  month  begins. 

*  The  ship  was  named  for  the  Lady  Arbella  Johnson,  who  was  of  the  com- 
pany. 

'  Matthew  Cradock,  a  rich  London  merchant,  the  first  head  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Company,  who,  however,  never  came  to  the  colony.  A  noteworthy 
service  of  Cradock's  was  the  proposal,  July  28,  1629,  to  transfer  the  government 
by  the  company  from  London  to  the  colony  itself,  a  measure  fraught  with  im- 
portant consequences.  Cradock  maintained  a  small  plantation  on  the  Mystic 
River.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Long  Parliament,  and  is  believed  to  have  died 
about  1644. 

23 


24  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

the  masters  of  his  two  ships,  Capt.  John  Lowe,  master  of  the 
Ambrose,  and  Mr.  Nicholas  Hurlston,  master  of  the  Jewel,  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Beecher,  master  of  the  Talbot,  (which  three  ships 
rode  then  by  us, — the  Charles,  the  Mayflower,^  the  William  and 
Francis,  the  Hopewell,  the  Whale,  the  Success  and  the  Trial 
being  still  at  Hampton^  and  not  ready,)  when,  upon  conference, 
it  was  agreed,  that  (in  regard  it  was  uncertain  when  the  rest  of 
the  fleet  would  be  ready)  these  four  ships  should  consort  to- 
gether; the  Arbella  to  be  admiral,'  the  Talbot  vice-admiral, 
the  Ambrose  rear-admiral,  and  the  Jewel  a  captain;  and  ac- 
cordingly articles  of  consortship  were  drawn  between  the  said 
captains  and  masters;  whereupon  Mr.  Cradock  took  leave  of 
us,  and  our  captain  gave  him  a  farewell  with  four  or  five  shot. 

About  ten  of  the  clock  we  weighed  anchor  and  set  sail,  with 
the  wind  at  N.,  and  came  to  an  anchor  again  over  against  Yar- 
mouth, and  the  Talbot  weighed  likewise,  and  came  and  an- 
chored by  us.  Here  we  met  with  a  ship  of  Hampton,  called 
the  Plantation,  newly  come  from  Virginia.  Our  captain  sa- 
luted her,  and  she  us  again;  and  the  master,  one  Mr.  [blank] 
Graves  [?],  came  on  board  our  ship,  and  stayed  with  us  about 
two  or  three  hours,  and  in  the  meantime  his  ship  came  to 
an  anchor  by  us. 

Tuesday,  30.]  In  the  morning,  about  ten  of  the  clock, 
the  wind  being  come  to  the  W.  with  fair  weather,  we  weighed 
and  rode  nearer  Yarmouth.  When  we  came  before  the  town, 
the  castle  put  forth  a  flag;  our  captain  saluted  them,  and 
they  answered  us  again.  The  Talbot,  which  rode  farther  off, 
saluted  the  castle  also. 

Here  we  saw,  close  by  the  shore  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  a 
Dutch  ship  of  one  thousand  tons,  which,  being  bound  to  the 
East  Indies,  about  two  years  since,  in  passing  through  the 
Needles,  struck  upon  a  rock,  and  being  forced  to  run  ashore 

'  This  has  been  supposed  to  be  the  Mayflower  of  the  Plymouth  Pilgrims. 

^  Southampton. 

^  In  modern  phrase,  flag-ship. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  25 

to  save  her  men,  could  never  be  weighed  since,  although  she 
lies  a  great  height  above  the  water,  and  yet  she  hath  some  men 
aboard  her. 

Wednesday,  31.]  The  wind  continued  W.  and  S.  W.  with 
rain.  Our  captain  and  some  of  our  company  went  to  Yar- 
mouth for  supply  of  wood  and  other  provisions ;  (our  captain 
was  still  careful  to  fill  our  empty  casks  with  water). 

Thursday,  April  1.]  The  wind  continued  veiy  strong  at 
W.  and  by  S.  with  much  rain. 

Friday,  2.]  We  kept  a  fast  aboard  our  ship  and  the  Talbot. 
The  wind  continued  still  very  high  at  W.  and  S.  and  rainy. 
In  the  time  of  our  fast,  two  of  our  landmen  pierced  a  rundlet 
of  strong  water,  and  stole  some  of  it,  for  which  we  laid  them 
in  bolts  all  the  night,  and  the  next  morning  the  principal  was 
openly  whipped,  and  both  kept  with  bread  and  water  that  day. 

Saturday,  3.]  The  wind  continued  still  at  W.  and  with 
continual  storms  and  rain. 

Sunday,  4.]  Fair,  clear  weather.  In  the  morning  the  wind 
W.  and  by  N.,  but  in  the  afternoon  S.  S.  W.  This  evening 
the  Talbot  weighed  and  went  back  to  the  Cowes,  because  her 
anchor  would  not  hold  here,  the  tide  set  with  so  strong  a  race. 

Monday,  5.]  The  wind  still  W.  and  S.  with  fair  weather. 
A  maid  of  Sir  Richard  SaltonstalP  fell  down  at  the  grating  by 
the  cook-room,  but  the  carpenter's  man,  who  occasioned  her 
fall  unwittingly,  caught  hold  of  her  with  incredible  nimbleness, 
and  saved  her;  otherwise  she  had  fallen  into  the  hold. 

Tuesday,  6.]  Capt.  Burleigh,  captain  of  Yarmouth  castle, 
a  grave,  comely  gentleman,  and  of  great  age,  came  aboard  us 
and  stayed  breakfast,  and,  offering  us  much  courtesy,  he  de- 
parted, our  captain  giving  him  four  shot  out  of  the  forecastle 
for  his  farewell.  He  was  an  old  sea  captain  in  Queen  EHza- 
beth's  time,  and,  being  taken  prisoner  at  sea,  was  kept  prisoner 

'  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  son  of  a  lord  mayor  of  London,  was  founder  of  a 
family  prominent  in  every  generation  of  Massachusetts  history,  and  still  well 
maintained.  The  knight  himself  returned  to  England,  leaving  sons  to  transmit 
the  name. 


26  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1630 

in  Spain  three  years.  Himself  and  three  of  his  sons  were 
captains  in  Roe's  voyage.^ 

The  wind  was  now  come  about  to  N.  E.  with  very  fair 
weather. 

In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Cradock  came  aboard  us,  and  told  us, 
that  the  Talbot,  Jewel  and  Ambrose  were  fallen  down  into 
Stoke's  Bay,  intending  to  take  their  way  by  St.  Helen's  Point, 
and  that  they  desired  we  could  come  back  to  them.  Hereupon 
we  came  to  council,  and  wrote  unto  them  to  take  the  first 
opportunity  of  the  wind  to  fall  down  to  us,  and  Mr.  Cradock 
presently  went  back  to  them,  our  captain  giving  him  three 
shot  out  of  the  steerage  for  a  farewell. 

Our  captain  called  over  our  landmen,  and  tried  them  at 
their  muskets,  and  such  as  were  good  shot  among  them  were 
enrolled  to  serve  in  the  ship,  if  occasion  should  be. 

The  lady  Arbella  and  the  gentlewomen,  and  Mr.  Johnson  ^ 
and  some  others  went  on  shore  to  refresh  themselves. 

Wednesday,  7.]^  Fair  weather,  the  wind  easterly,  in  the 
morning  a  small  gale,  but  in  the  afternoon  it  came  about  to 
the  south.  This  afternoon  our  other  consorts  came  up  to  us, 
and  about  ten  or  twelve  Flemings,  and  all  anchored  by  us, 
and  the  masters  of  the  Jewel  and  of  the  Ambrose  came  aboard 
us,  and  our  captain  and  they  went  on  shore. 

Towards  night  there  came  from  the  W.  a  Fleming,  a  small 
man-of-war,  with  a  Brazil  man  which  he  had  taken  prize,  and 
came  to  anchor  by  us. 

Thursday,  8.]    About  six  in  the  morning  (the  wind  being 

•  Doubtless  the  voyage  which  Sir  'Thomas  Roe  made  to  Guiana  in  1610. 
'Mr.  Isaac  Johnson  and  his  wife,  Lady  Arbella,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of 

Lincoln,  were  in  position  and  wealth  the  most  important  members  of  the  ship's 
company.  Johnson,  a  gentleman  of  Rutlandshire,  contributed  to  the  enterprise 
more  liberally  than  any  other,  and  was  very  zealous.  It  was  a  severe  blow  to  the 
colony  that  the  death  of  the  Lady  Arbella  occurred  in  August,  but  two  months 
after  the  arrival,  followed  next  month  by  that  of  her  husband. 

*  On  this  day  the  Farewell  to  the  Church  of  England  was  addressed  from 
the  Arbella,  lying  at  Yarmouth.  See  Hutchinson,  HiMory  of  M assachmetts  Bay, 
I.,  Appendix  1.    The  Congregationalism  of  a  later  day  finds  no  expression  here. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  27 

E.  and  N.  and  fair  weather)  we  weighed  anchor  and  set  sail, 
and  before  ten  we  gat  through  the  Needles,  having  so  Httle 
wind  as  we  had  much  to  do  to  stem  the  tide,  so  as  the  rest  of 
our  fleet  (we  being  nine  in  all,  wherof  some  were  small  ships, 
which  were  bound  for  Newfoundland)  could  not  get  out  all 
then  till  the  ebb.  In  the  afternoon  the  wind  came  S.  and  W. 
and  we  were  becalmed,  so  as  being  not  able  to  get  above  three 
or  four  leagues  from  the  Needles,  our  captain  tacked  about, 
and  putting  his  fore-sheets  aback  stays,  he  stayed  for  the  rest 
of  the  fleet,  and  as  they  came  by  us  we  spake  to  them,  and 
about  eight  in  the  evening  we  let  fall  an  anchor,  intending  to 
stop  till  the  ebb.  But  before  ten  at  night  the  wind  came 
about  to  the  N.  a  good  gale ;  so  we  put  up  a  light  in  the  poop, 
and  weighed  and  set  sail,  and  by  dayUght,  Friday  9,  we  were 
come  to  Portland ;  but  the  other  ships  being  not  able  to  hold 
up  with  us,  we  were  forced  to  spare  our  mainsail,  and  went 
on  with  a  merry  gale.  In  the  morning  we  descried  from  the  top 
eight  sail  astern  of  us,  (whom  Capt.  Lowe  told  us  he  had  seen 
at  Dunnose  in  the  evening).  We  supposing  they  might  be 
Dunkirkers,*  our  captain  caused  the  gunroom  and  gundeck 
to  be  cleared;  all  the  hammocks  were  taken  down,  our  ord- 
nance loaded,  and  our  powder-chests  and  fireworks  made 
ready,  and  our  landmen  quartered  among  the  seamen,  and 
twenty-five  of  them  appointed  for  muskets,  and  every  man 
written  down  for  his  quarter. 

The  wind  continued  N.  [blank]  with  fair  weather,  and  after- 
noon it  calmed,  and  we  still  saw  those  eight  ships  to  stand  tow- 
ards us;  having  more  wind  than  we,  they  came  up  apace,  so 
as  our  captain  and  the  masters  of  our  consorts  were  more  oc- 
casioned to  think  they  might  be  Dunkirkers,  (for  we  were  told 
at  Yarmouth,  that  there  were  ten  sail  of  them  waiting  for  us ;) 
whereupon  we  all  prepared  to  fight  with  them,  and  took  down 
some  cabins  which  were  in  the  way  of  our  ordnance,  and  out 
of  every  ship  were  thrown  such  bed  matters  as  were  subject  to 

'  Dunkirk  was  then  a  possession  of  Spain,  at  that  time  at  war  with  England. 


28  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1630 

take  fire,  and  we  heaved  out  our  long  boats,  and  put  up  our 
waste  cloths,  and  drew  forth  our  men,  and  armed  them  with 
muskets  and  other  weapons,  and  instruments  for  fireworks; 
and  for  an  experiment  our  captain  shot  a  ball  of  wild-fire  fast- 
ened to  an  arrow  out  of  a  cross-bow,  which  burnt  in  the  water 
a  good  time.  The  lady  Arbella  and  the  other  women  and  chil- 
dren were  removed  into  the  lower  deck,  that  they  might  be  out 
of  danger.  All  things  being  thus  fitted,  we  went  to  prayer 
upon  the  upper  deck.  It  was  much  to  see  how  cheerful  and 
comfortable  all  the  company  appeared ;  not  a  woman  or  child 
that  showed  fear,  though  all  did  apprehend  the  danger  to  have 
been  great,  if  things  had  proved  as  might  well  be  expected,  for 
there  had  been  eight  against  four,  and  the  least  of  the  enemy's 
ships  were  reported  to  carry  thirty  brass  pieces ;  but  our  trust 
was  in  the  Lord  of  Hosts;  and  the  courage  of  our  captain, 
and  his  care  and  diligence,  did  much  encourage  us.  It  was 
now  about  one  of  the  clock,  and  the  fleet  seemed  to  be  within 
a  league  of  us;  therefore  our  captain,  because  he  would  show 
he  was  not  afraid  of  them,  and  that  he  might  see  the  issue  be- 
fore night  should  overtake  us,  tacked  about  and  stood  to  meet 
them,  and  when  we  came  near  we  perceived  them  to  be  our 
friends, — the  Little  Neptune,  a  ship  of  some  twenty  pieces 
of  ordnance,  and  her  two  consorts,  bound  for  the  Straits;  a 
ship  of  Flushing,  and  a  Frenchman,  and  three  other  English 
ships  bound  for  Canada  and  Newfoundland.  So  when  we 
drew  near,  every  ship  (as  they  met)  saluted  each  other,  and 
the  musketeers  discharged  their  small  shot;  and  so  (God  be 
praised)  our  fear  and  danger  was  turned  into  mirth  and  friendly 
entertainment.  Our  danger  being  thus  over,  we  espied  two 
boats  on  fishing  in  the  channel;  so  every  of  our  four  ships 
manned  out  a  skiff,  and  we  bought  of  them  great  store  of  ex- 
cellent fresh  fish  of  divers  sorts. 

Saturday,  10.]  The  wind  at  E.  and  by  N.  a  handsome 
gale  with  fair  weather.  By  seven  in  the  morning  we  were 
come  over  against  Plymouth. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  29 

About  noon  the  wind  slacked,  and  we  were  come  within 
sight  of  the  Lizard,  and  towards  night  it  grew  very  calm  and 
a  great  fog,  so  as  our  ships  made  no  way. 

This  afternoon  Mr.  Hurlston,  the  master  of  the  Jewel,  came 
aboard  our  ship,  and  our  captain  went  in  his  skiff  aboard  the 
Ambrose  and  the  Neptune,  of  which  one  Mr.  Andrew  Cole 
was  master.  There  he  was  told,  that  the  bark  Warwick  was 
taken  by  the  Dunkirkers,  for  she  came  single  out  of  the  Downs 
about  fourteen  days  since,  intending  to  come  to  us  to  the 
Wight,  but  was  never  heard  of  since.  She  was  a  pretty  ship 
of  about  eighty  tons  and  ten  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  was  set 
out  by  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  Capt.  Mason,^  and  others,  for 
discovery  of  the  great  lake  in  New  England,^  so  to  have  inter- 
cepted the  trade  of  beaver.  The  master  of  her  was  one  Mr. 
Weatherell,  whose  father  was  master  of  one  of  the  cattle 
ships,  which  we  left  at  Hampton. 

This  day  two  young  men,  falling  at  odds  and  fighting, 
contrary  to  the  orders  which  we  had  published  and  set  up  in 
the  ship,  were  adjudged  to  walk  upon  the  deck  till  night  with 
their  hands  bound  behind  them,  which  accordingly  was  exe- 
cuted; and  another  man,  for  using  contemptuous  speeches  in 

*Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  already  described  in  the  Introduction,  an  im- 
portant figure  in  the  setdement  of  New  England.  He  failed  in  Maine,  in  1607, 
nor  were  other  enterprises  more  successful.  The  success  of  the  Leyden  Pilgrims 
in  1620  encouraged  further  trial.  In  1622  he  became  connected  with  Captain 
John  Mason,  an  adventurous  London  merchant,  and  the  two  obtained  a  patent 
for  a  tract  bounded  by  the  Merrimac  and  Kennebec  rivers  and  running  back  to 
the  lakes  which  were  the  sources.  In  1623  Gorges  made  an  establishment  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua.  In  1629  Mason  obtained  a  new  patent  for  New 
Hampshire,  and  Mason  and  Gorges  and  others  a  patent  for  "Laconia,"  farther 
inland.  Through  Gorges  and  Mason,  Winthrop's  colony  was  embarrassed  from 
the  first,  and  soon  brought  close  to  ruin.  A  scheme  was  attempted  for  organiz- 
ing a  colony  to  extend  from  the  St.  Croix  to  Maryland,  which  would  have  in- 
volved an  abrogation  of  the  Massachusetts  charter.  This  fell  through  by  reason 
of  the  commotions  at  home  preceding  the  Civil  War.  But  in  1639  Gorges  was 
confirmed  as  lord-palatine  of  Maine,  and  taking  the  royal  side,  vexed  to  his  life's 
end  his  Puritan  neighbors.     He  died  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War. 

'  The  Lake  of  the  Iroquois,  or  Lake  Champlain.  The  Warwick  sailed  for 
the  Laconia  Company  under  the  Laconia  patent  of  November  17,  1629. 


30  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1630 

our  presence,  was  laid  in  bolts  till  he  submitted  himself,  and 
promised  open  confession  of  his  offence. 

I  should  have  noted  before,  that  the  day  we  set  sail  from 
the  Cowes,  my  son  Henry  Winthrop  went  on  shore  with  one  of 
my  servants  to  fetch  an  ox  and  ten  wethers,  which  he  had 
provided  for  our  ship,  and  there  went  on  shore  with  him,  Mr. 
Pelham  and  one  of  his  servants.  They  sent  the  cattle  aboard, 
but  returned  not  themselves.  About  three  days  after,  my 
servant  and  a  servant  of  Mr.  Pelham's  came  to  us  to  Yar- 
mouth, and  told  us  they  were  all  coming  to  us  in  a  boat  the 
day  before,  but  the  wind  was  so  strong  against  them,  as  they 
were  forced  on  shore  in  the  night,  and  the  two  servants  came 
to  Yarmouth  by  land,  and  so  came  on  ship-board,  but  my  son 
and  Mr.  Pelham  (we  heard)  went  back  to  the  Cowes  and  so 
to  Hampton.  We  expected  them  three  or  four  days  after,  but 
they  came  not  to  us,  so  we  have  left  them  behind,  and  sup- 
pose they  will  come  after  in  Mr.  Goffe's  ships.*  We  were  very 
sorry  they  had  put  themselves  upon  such  inconvenience,  when 
they  were  so  well  accommodated  in  our  ship.  This  was  not 
noted  before,  because  we  expected  daily  their  return ;  and  upon 
this  occasion  I  must  add  here  one  observation,  that  we  have 
many  young  gentlemen  in  our  ship,  who  behave  themselves 
well,  and  are  conformable  to  all  good  orders. 

About  ten  at  night  it  cleared  up  with  a  fresh  gale  at  N. 
and  by  W.,  so  we  stood  on  our  course  merrily. 

Sunday,  11.]  The  wind  at  N.  and  by  W.  a  very  stiff 
gale. 

About  eight  in  the  morning,  being  gotten  past  Scilly,  and 
standing  to  the  W.  S.  W.  we  met  two  small  ships,  which  fall- 
ing in  among  us,  and  the  Admiral  coming  under  our  lee,  we 
let  him  pass,  but  the  Jewel  and  Ambrose,  perceiving  the  other 
to  be  a  Brazil  man,  and  to  take  the  wind  of  us,  shot  at  them 
and  made  them  stop  and  fall  after  us,  and  sent  a  skiff  aboard 

'  Thomas  Goffc,  a  London  merchant,  was  one  of  the  patentees  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  31 

them  to  know  what  they  were.  Our  captain,  fearing  lest 
some  mistake  might  arise,  and  lest  they  should  take  them  for 
enemies  which  were  friends,  and  so,  through  the  unruliness 
of  the  mariners  some  wrong  might  be  done  them,  caused  his 
skiff  to  be  heaved  out,  and  sent  Mr.  Graves  [?],  one  of  his  mates 
and  our  pilot,  (a  discreet  man,)  to  see  how  things  were,  who 
returned  soon  after,  and  brought  with  him  the  master  of  one  of 
the  ships  and  Mr.  Lowe  and  Mr.  Hurlston.  When  they  were 
come  aboard  us,  they  agreed  to  send  for  the  captain,  who  came 
and  showed  his  commission  from  the  Prince  of  Orange.  In 
conclusion  he  proved  to  be  a  Dutchman,  and  his  a  man-of-war 
of  Flushing,  and  the  other  ship  was  a  prize  he  had  taken  laden 
with  sugar  and  tobacco;  so  we  sent  them  aboard  their  ships 
again,  and  held  on  our  course.  In  this  time  (which  hindered 
us  five  or  six  leagues)  the  Jewel  and  the  Ambrose  came  foul 
of  each  other,  so  as  we  much  feared  the  issue,  but,  through 
God's  mercy,  they  came  well  off  again,  only  the  Jewel  had  her 
foresail  torn,  and  one  of  her  anchors  broken.  This  occasion, 
and  the  sickness  of  our  minister  and  people,  put  us  all  out  of 
order  this  day,  so  as  we  could  have  no  sermons. 

Monday,  12.]  The  wind  more  large  to  the  N.  a  stiff  gale, 
with  fair  weather.  In  the  afternoon  less  wind,  and  our  people 
began  to  grow  well  again.  Our  children  and  others,  that  were 
sick,  and  lay  groaning  in  the  cabins,  we  fetched  out,  and  having 
stretched  a  rope  from  the  steerage  to  the  mainmast,  we 
made  them  stand,  some  of  one  side  and  some  of  the  other,  and 
sway  it  up  and  down  till  they  were  warm,  and  by  this  means 
they  soon  grew  well  and  merry. 

Tuesday,  13.]  The  night  before  it  was  calm,  and  the  next 
day  calm  and  close  weather,  so  as  we  made  little  way,  the 
wind  with  us  being  W. 

Wednesday,  14.]  The  wind  S.  W.,  rainy  weather,  in  the 
morning. 

About  nine  in  the  forenoon  the  wind  came  about  to  N.  N.  W. 
a  stiff  gale ;  so  we  tacked  about  and  steered  our  course  W.  S.  W. 


32  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

This  day  the  ship  heaved  and  set  more  than  before,  yet 
we  had  but  few  sick,  and  of  these  such  as  came  up  upon  the 
deck,  and  stirred  themselves,  were  presently  well  again ;  there- 
fore our  captain  set  our  children  and  young  men  to  some 
harmless  exercises,  which  the  seamen  were  very  active  in,  and 
did  our  people  much  good,  though  they  would  sometimes  play 
the  wags  with  them.  Towards  night  we  were  forced  to  take 
in  some  sail  to  stay  for  the  vice-admiral,  which  was  near  a 
league  astern  of  us. 

Thursday,  15.]  The  wind  still  at  N.  N.  W.  fair  weather, 
but  less  wind  than  the  day  and  night  before,  so  as  our  ship 
made  but  little  way. 

At  noon  our  captain  made  observation  by  the  cross-staff,^ 
and  found  we  were  in  forty-seven  degrees  thirty-seven  min- 
utes north  latitude. 

All  this  forenoon  our  vice-admiral  was  much  to  leeward  of 
us ;  so  after  dinner  we  bare  up  towards  her,  and  having  fetched 
her  up  and  spoken  with  her,  the  wind  being  come  to  S.  W. 
we  tacked  about  and  steered  oiu*  course  N.  N.  W.  lying  as 
near  the  wind  as  we  could,  and  about  four  of  the  clock,  with  a 
stiff  gale,  we  steered  W.  and  by  N.  and  at  night  the  wind  grew 
very  strong,  which  put  us  on  to  the  W.  amain. 

About  ten  at  night  the  wind  grew  so  high,  and  rain  withal, 
that  we  were  forced  to  take  in  our  topsail,  and  having  lowered 
our  mainsail  and  foresail,  the  storm  was  so  great  as  it  split  our 
foresail  and  tore  it  in  pieces,  and  a  knot  of  the  sea  washed  our 
tub  overboard,  wherein  our  fish  was  a-watering.  The  storm 
still  grew,  and  it  was  dark  with  clouds,  (though  otherwise 
moonlight,)  so  as  (though  it  was  the  Jewel's  turn  to  carry  the 
light  this  night,  yet)  lest  we  should  lose  or  go  foul  one  of 
another,  we  hanged  out  a  light  upon  our  mizzen  shrouds,  and 
before  midnight  we  lost  sight  of  our  vice-admiral. 

'  The  cross-staflF  was  a  simple  instrument  of  observation,  which  preceded 
the  quadrant.  It  was  a  cross  the  intersection  of  which  was  surrounded  by  a 
graduated  circle,  the  periphery  being  thus  broken  into  four  equal  arcs. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  33 

Our  captain,  so  soon  as  he  had  set  the  watch,  at  eight  in  the 
evening  called  his  men,  and  told  them  he  feared  we  should  have 
a  storm,  and  therefore  commanded  them  to  be  ready  upon  the 
deck,  if  occasion  should  be ;  and  himself  was  up  and  down  the 
decks  all  times  of  the  night. 

Friday,  16.]  About  four  in  the  morning  the  wind  slacked 
a  httle,  yet  it  continued  a  great  storm  still,  and  though  in  the 
afternoon  it  blew  not  much  wind,  yet  the  sea  was  so  high  as 
it  tossed  us  more  than  before,  and  we  carried  no  more  but  our 
mainsail,  yet  our  ship  steered  well  with  it,  which  few  such  ships 
could  have  done. 

About  four  in  the  afternoon,  the  wind  still  W.  and  by  S.  and 
rainy,  we  put  on  a  new  foresail  and  hoisted  it  up,  and  stood 
N  W.  All  this  day  our  rear-admiral  and  the  Jewel  held  up 
with  us. 

This  night  was  very  stormy. 

All  the  time  of  the  storm  few  of  our  people  were  sick, 
(except  the  women,  who  kept  under  hatches,)  and  there  ap- 
peared no  fear  or  dismay edness  among  them. 

Saturday,  17.]  The  wind  S.  W.  very  stormy  and  boister- 
ous. All  this  time  we  bore  no  more  sail  but  our  mainsail  and 
foresail,  and  we  steered  our  course  W.  and  by  N. 

This  day  our  captain  told  me,  that  our  landmen  were  very 
nasty  and  slovenly,  and  that  the  gundeck,  where  they  lodged, 
was  so  beastly  and  noisome  with  their  victuals  and  beastliness, 
as  would  much  endanger  the  health  of  the  ship.  Hereupon, 
after  prayer,  we  took  order,  and  appointed  four  men  to  see  to 
it,  and  to  keep  that  room  clean  for  three  days,  and  then  four 
others  should  succeed  them,  and  so  forth  on. 

The  wind  continued  all  this  day  at  S.  W.  a  stiff  gale.  In 
the  afternoon  it  cleared  up,  but  very  hazy.  Our  captain,  about 
four  of  the  clock,  sent  one  to  the  top  to  look  for  our  vice-ad- 
miral, but  he  could  not  descry  him,  yet  we  saw  a  sail  about  two 
leagues  to  the  leeward,  which  stood  toward  the  N.  E. 

We  were  this  evening   (by  our  account)   about    ninety 


34  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1630 

leagues  from  Scilly,  W.  and  by  S.  At  this  place  there  came  a 
swallow  and  lighted  upon  our  ship. 

Sunday,  18.]  About  two  in  the  morning  the  wind  N.  W. ; 
so  we  tacked  about  and  steered  our  course  S.  W.  We  had 
still  much  wind,  and  the  sea  went  very  high,  which  tossed  our 
ship  continually. 

After  our  evening  sermon,  about  five  of  the  clock,  the  wind 
came  about  to  S.  E.  a  good  gale,  but  rainy;  so  we  steered  our 
course  W.  S.  W.  and  the  ship's  way  was  about  nine  leagues  a 
watch;  (a  watch  is  four  hours). 

This  day  the  captain  sent  to  top  again  to  discover  our  vice- 
admiral.  We  descried  from  thence  to  the  eastward  a  sail,  but 
we  knew  not  what  she  was. 

About  seven  of  the  clock  the  Jewel  bare  up  so  near  as  we 
could  speak  each  to  other,  and  after  we  bated  some  sail;  so 
she  went  ahead  of  us,  and  soon  after  eight  put  forth  her  light. 

Monday,  19.]  In  the  morning  the  wind  was  come  about  to 
the  N.  W.  a  good  gale  and  fair  weather;  so  we  held  our  course, 
but  the  ship  made  not  so  good  way  as  when  the  wind  was  large. 

This  day,  by  observation  and  account,  we  found  ourselves 
to  be  in  forty-eight  degrees  north  latitude,  and  two  hundred  and 
twenty  leagues  W.  from  the  meridian  of  London. 

Here  I  think  good  to  note,  that  all  this  time  since  we  came 
from  the  Wight,  we  had  cold  weather,  so  as  we  could  well  en- 
dure our  warmest  clothes.  I  wish,  therefore,  that  all  such  as 
shall  pass  this  way  in  the  spring  have  care  to  provide  warm 
clothing ;  for  nothing  breeds  more  trouble  and  danger  of  sick- 
ness, in  this  season,  than  cold. 

In  the  afternoon  the  wind  came  to  S.  W.  a  stiff  gale,  with 
rain;  so  we  steered  westerly,  till  night;  then  the  wind  came 
about  to  N.  W.  and  we  tacked  again  and  stood  S.  W. 

Our  rear-admiral  being  to  leeward  of  us,  we  bare  up  to 
him.  He  told  us  all  their  people  were  in  health,  but  one  of 
their  cows  was  dead. 

Tuesday,  20.]    The  wind  southerly,  fair  weather,  and  little 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  35 

wind.  In  the  morning  we  stood  S.  and  by  E.,  in  the  afternoon 
W.  and  by  N. 

Wednesday,  21.]  Thick,  rainy  weather;  much  wind 
atS.W. 

Our  captain,  over  night,  had  invited  his  consorts  to  have 
dined  with  him  this  day,  but  it  was  such  foul  weather  as  they 
could  not  come  aboard  us. 

Thursday,  22.]  The  wind  still  W.  and  by  S.  fair  weather; 
then  W.  N.  W. 

This  day  at  noon  we  found  ourselves  in  forty-seven  degrees 
and  forty-eight  minutes,  and  having  a  stiff  gale,  we  steered 
S.  W.  about  four  leagues  a  watch,  all  this  day  and  all  the  night 
following. 

Friday,  23.]  The  wind  still  W.  N.  W.  a  small  gale,  with 
fair  weather.  Our  captain  put  forth  his  ancient*  in  the  poop, 
and  heaved  out  his  skiff,  and  lowered  his  topsails,  to  give  sign 
to  his  consorts  that  they  should  come  aboard  us  to  dinner,  for 
they  were  both  a  good  way  astern  of  us,  and  our  vice-admiral 
was  not  yet  seen  of  us  since  the  storm,  though  we  sent  to  the 
top  every  day  to  descry  her. 

About  eleven  of  the  clock,  our  captain  sent  his  skiff  and 
fetched  aboard  us  the  masters  of  the  other  two  ships,  and  Mr. 
Pynchon,^  and  they  dined  with  us  in  the  roimd-house,  for  the 
lady  and  gentlewomen^  dined  in  the  great  cabin. 

This  day  and  the  night  following  we  had  little  wind,  so 
as  the  sea  was  very  smooth,  and  the  ship  made  little  way. 

Saturday,  24.]  The  wind  still  W.  and  by  N.,  fair  weather 
and  calm  all  that  day  and  night.  Here  we  made  observation 
again,  and  found  we  were  in  forty-five  degrees  twenty  minutes, 
north  latitude. 

Sunday,  25.]    The  wind  northerly,  fair  weather,  but  still 

'  Ancient  was  often  used  for  ensign  in  old  times,  whether  denoting  the  flag 
or  the  flag-bearer. 

^  William  Pynchon,  founder  of  Roxbury  and  afterwards  of  Springfield,  Mass. 

'  The  Lady  Arbella  Johnson,  the  daughters  of  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  and 
the  wives  of  several  of  the  more  prominent  men. 


36  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1630 

calm.  We  stood  W.  and  by  S.  and  saw  two  ships  ahead  of 
us  as  far  as  we  could  descry. 

In  the  afternoon  the  wind  came  W.  and  by  S.  but  calm  still. 
About  five  of  the  clock,  the  rear-admiral  and  the  Jewel  had 
fetched  up  the  two  ships,  and  by  their  saluting  each  other  we 
perceived  they  were  friends,  (for  they  were  so  far  to  windward 
of  us  as  we  could  only  see  the  smoke  of  their  pieces,  but  could 
not  hear  them).  About  nine  of  the  clock,  they  both  fell  back 
towards  us  again,  and  we  steered  N.  N.  W.  Now  the  weather 
begins  to  be  warm. 

Monday,  26.]  The  wind  still  W.  and  by  S.  close  weather, 
and  scarce  any  wind. 

The  two  ships,  which  we  saw  yesterday,  were  bound  for 
Canada.  Capt.  Kirk*  was  aboard  the  admiral.  They  bare  up 
with  us,  and  falling  close  under  our  lee,  we  saluted  each  other, 
and  conferred  together  so  long  till  his  vice-admiral  was  be- 
calmed by  our  sails,  and  we  were  foul  one  of  another;  but 
there  being  little  wind  and  the  sea  calm,  we  kept  them  asunder 
with  oars,  etc.,  till  they  heaved  out  their  boat,  and  so  towed 
their  ship  away. 

They  told  us  for  certain,  that  the  king  of  France  had  set  out 
six  of  his  own  ships  to  recover  the  fort  from  them. 

About  one  of  the  clock  Capt.  Lowe  sent  his  skiff  aboard  us, 
(with  a  friendly  token  of  his  love  to  the  governor,)  to  desire 
our  captain  to  come  aboard  his  ship,  which  he  did,  and  there 
met  the  masters  of  the  other  ships  and  Capt.  Kirk,  and  before 
night  they  all  returned  to  their  ships  again,  Capt.  Lowe  be- 
stowing some  shot  upon  them  for  their  welcome. 

The  wind  now  blew  a  pretty  gale,  so  as  our  ship  made  some 
way  again,  though  it  were  out  of  our  right  course  N.  W.  by  N. 

Tuesday,  27.]  The  wind  still  westerly,  a  stiff  gale,  with 
close  weather.  We  steered  W.  N.  W.  About  noon  some 
rain,  and  all  the  day  very  cold.    We  appointed  Tuesdays 

'  A  brother  of  Sir  David  Kirk,  Savage  surmises,  who  the  year  before  had, 
with  Sir  David,  been  concerned  in  the  capture  of  Quebec. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  37 

and  Wednesdays  to  catechize  our  people,  and  this  day  Mr. 
Phillips*  began  it. 

Wednesday,  28.]  All  the  night,  and  this  day  till  noon,  the 
wind  very  high  at  S.  W.,  close  weather,  and  some  rain.  Be- 
tween eleven  and  twelve,  in  a  shower,  the  wind  came  W.  N. 
W.,  so  we  tacked  about  and  stood  S.  W. 

Thursday,  29.]  Much  wind  all  this  night  at  W.  and  by  N. 
and  the  sea  went  very  high,  so  as  the  ship  rolled  very  much, 
because  we  sailed  but  with  one  course ;  therefore,  about  twelve, 
our  captain  arose  and  caused  the  foretopsail  to  be  hoisted,  and 
then  the  ship  went  more  steady.  He  caused  the  quartermas- 
ter to  look  down  into  the  hold  to  see  if  the  cask  lay  fast  and 
the  ....  [illegible]. 

In  the  morning  the  wind  continued  with  a  stiff  gale ;  rainy 
and  cold  all  the  day. 

We  had  been  now  three  weeks  at  sea,  and  were  not  come 
above  three  hundred  leagues,  being  about  one  third  part  of  our 
way,  viz.,  about  forty-six  north  latitude,  and  near  the  meri- 
dian of  the  Terceras.^ 

This  night  Capt.  Kirk  carried  the  light  as  one  of  our  consorts. 

Friday,  30.]  The  wind  at  W.  N.  W.,  a  strong  gale  all  the 
night  and  day,  with  showers  now  and  then. 

We  made  observation,  and  found  we  were  in  forty-four 
north  latitude.  At  night  the  wind  scanted  towards  the  S. 
with  rain ;  so  we  tacked  about  and  stood  N.  W.  and  by  N. 

Saturday,  May  1.]  All  the  night  much  wind  at  S.  S.  W. 
and  rain.  In  the  morning  the  wind  still  strong,  so  as  we  could 
bear  little  sail,  and  so  it  continued  a  growing  storm  all  the  day, 
and  towards  night  so  much  wind  as  we  bore  no  more  sail  but 
so  much  as  should  keep  the  ship  stiff.  Then  it  grew  a  very 
great  tempest  all  the  night  with  fierce  showers  of  rain  inter- 
mixed, and  very  cold. 

'  The  first  pastor  of  Watertown,  ancestor  of  a  numerous  and  distinguished 
line.  Phillips  was  one  of  the  first  to  urge  Congregationalism  as  an  ecclesiastical 
basis.     See  Hubbard,  General  History  of  New  England,  186.  ^  The  Azores. 


38  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

Lord's  day,  2.]  The  tempest  continued  all  the  day,  with 
the  wind  W.  and  by  N.,  and  the  sea  raged  and  tossed  us  ex- 
ceedingly; yet,  through  God's  mercy,  we  were  very  comfortable, 
and  few  or  none  sick,  but  had  opportunity  to  keep  the  Sabbath, 
and  Mr.  Phillips  preached  twice  that  day.  The  Ambrose  and 
Jewel  were  separated  far  from  us  the  first  night,  but  this  day 
we  saw  them  again,  but  Capt.  Kirk's  ships  we  saw  not  since. 

Monday,  3.]  In  the  night  the  wind  abated,  and  by  morning 
the  sea  was  well  assuaged,  so  as  we  bare  our  foresail  again, 
and  stood  W.  S.  W. ;  but  all  the  time  of  the  tempest  we  could 
make  no  way,  but  were  driven  to  the  leeward,  and  the  Am- 
brose struck  all  her  sails  but  her  mizzen,  and  lay  a  hull.  She 
brake  her  main  yard.  This  day  we  made  observation,  and 
found  we  were  in  forty-three  and  a  half  north  latitude.  We 
set  two  fighters  in  the  bolts  till  night,  with  their  hands  bound 
behind  them.  A  maid-servant  in  the  ship,  being  stomach- 
sick,  drank  so  much  strong  water,  that  she  was  senseless,  and 
had  near  killed  herself.  We  observed  it  a  common  fault  in 
our  young  people,  that  they  gave  themselves  to  drink  hot 
waters  very  inmaoderately. 

Tuesday,  4.]  Much  wind  at  S.  W.,  close  weather.  In  the 
morning  we  tacked  about  and  stood  N.  W.  and  about  ten  in 
the  morning  W.  N.  W.,  but  made  httle  way  in  regard  of  the 
head  sea. 

Wednesday,  5.]  The  wind  W.  and  by  S.  thick,  foggy 
weather,  and  rainy;  so  we  stood  N.  W.  by  W.  At  night  the 
Lord  remembered  us,  and  enlarged  the  wind  to  the  N. ;  so 
we  tacked  about  and  stood  our  course  W.  and  by  S.  with  a 
merry  gale  in  all  our  sails. 

Thursday,  6.]  The  wind  at  N.  a  good  gale,  and  fair  weather. 
We  made  observation  and  found  we  were  forty-three  and  a 
half  north  latitude ;  so  we  stood  full  west,  and  ran,  in  twenty- 
four  hours,  about  thirty  leagues. 

Four  things  I  observed  here.  1.  That  the  declination  of 
the  pole  star  was  much,  even  to  the  view,  beneath  that  it  is  in 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  39 

England.  2.  That  the  new  moon,  when  it  first  appeared,  was 
much  smaller  than  at  any  time  I  had  seen  it  in  England.  3. 
That  all  the  way  we  came,  we  saw  fowls  flying  and  swimming, 
when  we  had  no  land  near  by  two  hundred  leagues.  4.  That 
wheresoever  the  wind  blew,  we  had  still  cold  weather,  and  the 
sun  did  not  give  so  much  heat  as  in  England. 

Friday,  7.]  The  wind  N.  and  by  E.  a  small  gale,  very  fair 
weather,  and  towards  night  a  still  calm.  This  day  our  captain 
and  Mr.  Lowe  dined  aboard  the  Jewel. 

Saturday,  8.]  All  the  night  calm.  In  the  morning  the  wind 
S.  W.  a  handsome  gale;  so  we  tacked  and  stood  N.  W.  and 
soon  after,  the  wind  growing  more  large,  we  stood  W.  N.  W. 
with  a  good  gale.  About  four  of  the  clock  we  saw  a  whale, 
who  lay  just  in  our  ship's  way,  (the  bunch  of  his  back  about  a 
yard  above  water).  He  would  not  shun  us;  so  we  passed 
within  a  stone's  cast  of  him,  as  he  lay  spouting  up  water. 

Lord's  day,  9.]  The  wind  still  S.  W.  a  good  gale,  but  close 
weather  and  some  rain;  we  held  on  our  course  W.  N.  W. 
About  nine  it  cleared  up,  and  towards  night  a  great  fog  for  an 
hour  or  two. 

We  were  now  in  forty-four  and  a  half  north  latitude,  and  a 
little  west  of  Corvos.* 

Monday,  10.]  The  wind  S.  S.  W.  a  good  gale  and  fair 
weather;  so  we  stood  W.  and  by  N.  four  or  five  leagues  a 
watch,  all  this  day.  The  wind  increased,  and  was  a  great 
storm  all  the  night.  About  midnight  our  rear-admiral  put 
forth  two  hghts,  whereby  we  knew  that  some  mischance  had 
befallen  her.  We  answered  her  with  two  lights  again,  and 
bare  up  to  her,  so  near  as  we  durst,  (for  the  sea  went  very  high, 
and  she  lay  by  the  lee)  and  having  hailed  her,  we  thought 
she  had  sprung  aleak ;  but  she  had  broken  some  of  her  shrouds ; 
so  we  went  a  little  ahead  of  her,  and,  bringing  our  foresail 
aback  stays,  we  stayed  for  her,  and,  about  two  hours  after, 
she  filled  her  sails,  and  we  stood  our  course  together,  but  our 

*  One  of  the  Azores, 


40  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

captain  went  not  to  rest  till  four  of  the  clock,  and  some  others 
of  us  slept  but  little  that  night. 

Tuesday,  11.]  The  storm  continued  all  this  day,  till  three 
in  the  afternoon,  and  the  sea  went  very  high,  so  as  our  ship 
could  make  no  way,  being  able  to  bear  no  more  but  our  main- 
sail about  midmast  high.  At  three  there  fell  a  great  storm  of 
rain,  which  laid  the  wind,  and  the  wind  shifting  into  the  W. 
we  tacked  and  stood  into  the  head  sea,  to  avoid  the  rolling  of 
our  ship,  and  by  that  means  we  made  no  way,  the  sea  beating 
us  back  as  much  as  the  wind  put  us  forward. 

We  had  still  cold  weather,  and  our  people  were  so  acquaint- 
ed with  storms  as  they  were  not  sick,  nor  troubled,  though 
we  were  much  tossed  forty-eight  hours  together,  viz.,  twenty- 
four  during  the  storm,  and  as  long  the  next  night  and  day  fol- 
lowing, Wednesday,  12,  when  as  we  lay  as  it  were  a  hull,^  for 
want  of  wind,  and  rolled  continually  in  a  high  grown  sea. 
This  day  was  close  and  rainy. 

Complaint  was  made  to  our  captain  of  some  injury  that  one 
of  the  under  officers  of  the  ship  had  done  to  one  of  our  land- 
men. He  called  him  and  examined  the  cause,  and  com- 
manded him  to  be  tied  up  by  the  hands,  and  a  weight  to  be 
hanged  about  his  neck ;  but,  at  the  intercession  of  the  governor, 
(with  some  difficulty,)  he  remitted  his  punishment. 

At  night  the  wind  blew  at  S.  E.  a  handsome  gale,  with  rain; 
so  we  put  forth  our  sails  and  stood  W.  and  by  S. 

Thursday,  13.]  Toward  morning  the  wind  came  to  the 
south-westerly,  with  close  weather  and  a  strong  gale,  so  as  be- 
fore noon  we  took  in  our  topsails,  (the  rear-admiral  having  split 
her  fore-topsail)  and  we  stood  west-southerly. 

Friday,  14.]  The  wind  W.  S.  W.,  thick,  foggy  weather,  and 
in  the  afternoon  rainy.  We  stood  W.  and  by  S.  and  after  W. 
and  by  N.  about  five  leagues  a  watch.  We  were  in  forty-four 
and  a  half.  The  sun  set  N.  W.  and  by  N.  one  third  northerly. 
And  towards  night  we  stood  W. 

'  A-hull  means  drifting  without  sail. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  41 

Saturday,  15.]  The  wind  westerly  all  this  day;  fair 
weather.    We  tacked  twice  to  small  purpose. 

Lord's  day,  16.]    As  the  15  was. 

Monday,  17.]  The  wind  at  S.  a  fine  gale  and  fair  weather. 
We  stood  W.  and  by  S.  We  saw  a  great  drift;  so  we  heaved 
out  our  skiff,  and  it  proved  a  fir  log,  which  seemed  to  have 
been  many  years  in  the  water,  for  it  was  all  overgrown  with 
barnacles  and  other  trash.  We  sounded  here  and  found  no 
ground  at  one  hundred  fathom  and  more.  We  saw  two 
whales.  About  nine  at  night  the  wind  grew  very  strong  at 
S.  W.  and  continued  so,  with  much  rain,  till  one  of  the  clock ; 
then  it  ceased  raining,  but  the  wind  came  to  the  W.  with 
more  violence.  In  this  storm  we  were  forced  to  take  in  all 
our  sails,  save  our  mainsail,  and  to  lower  that  so  much  as 
we  could. 

Tuesday,  18.]  In  the  morning  the  wind  slacked,  but  we 
could  stand  no  nearer  our  course  than  N.  and  we  had  much 
wind  all  this  day.  In  the  afternoon  we  tacked  and  stood  S.  by 
E.  Towards  night  (our  rear-admiral  being  near  two  leagues 
to  leeward  of  us)  we  bare  up,  and  drawing  near  her,  we  de- 
scried, some  two  leagues  more  to  leeward,  two  ships,  which 
we  conceived  were  those  two  of  Capt.  Kirk's,  which  parted 
from  us  in  the  storm.  May  2.    We  had  still  cold  weather. 

Wednesday,  19.]  The  wind  S.  S.  W.;  close  and  rainy; 
little  wind.  We  tacked  again  and  stood  W. ;  but  about  noon 
the  wind  came  full  W.  a  very  strong  gale ;  so  we  tacked  again 
and  stood  N.  by  E.  and  at  night  we  took  off  our  main  bonnet, 
and  took  in  all  our  sails,  save  our  main-course  and  mizzen. 
We  were  now  in  forty-four  degrees  twelve  minutes  north,  and 
by  our  account  in  the  midway  between  the  false  bank  and  the 
main  bank.^    All  this  night  a  great  storm  at  W.  by  N. 

Thursday,  20.]  The  storm  continued  all  this  day,  the  wind 
as  it  was,  and  rainy.  In  the  forenoon  we  carried  our  fore- 
course  and  stood  W.  S.  W.,  but  in  the  afternoon  we  took 

*  Grand  Banks. 


42  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

it  in,  the  wind  increasing,  and  the  sea  grown  very  high;  and 
lying  with  the  helm  a-weather,  we  made  no  way  but  as  the 
ship  drove.    We  had  still  cold  weather. 

[Fast]  in  the  great  cabin,  at  nine  at  night,  etc.,  and  the  next 
day  again,  etc.    The  storm  continued  all  this  night. 

Friday,  21.]  The  wind  still  N.  W.;  little  wind,  and  close 
weather.  We  stood  S.  W.  with  all  our  sails,  but  made  Uttle 
way,  and  at  night  it  was  a  still  calm. 

A  servant  of  one  of  our  company  had  bargained  with  a 
child  to  sell  him  a  box  worth  Sd.  for  three  biscuits  a  day  all  the 
voyage,  and  had  received  about  forty,  and  had  sold  them  and 
many  more  to  some  other  servants.  We  caused  his  hands  to 
be  tied  up  to  a  bar,  and  hanged  a  basket  with  stones  about  his 
neck,  and  so  he  stood  two  hours. 

Saturday,  22.]    The  wind  S.  S.  W.  much  wind  and  rain. 

Our  spritsail  laid  so  deep  in  as  it  was  spHt  in  pieces  with  a 
head  sea  at  the  instant  as  our  captain  was  going  forth  of  his 
cabin  very  early  in  the  morning  to  give  order  to  take  it  in.  It 
was  a  great  mercy  of  God,  that  it  did  split,  for  otherwise  it 
had  endangered  the  breaking  of  our  bowsprit  and  topmasts  at 
least,  and  then  we  had  no  other  way  but  to  have  returned  for 
England,  except  the  wind  had  come  east.  About  ten  in  the 
morning,  in  a  very  great  fret  of  wind,  it  chopt  suddenly  into 
the  W.  as  it  had  done  divers  times  before,  and  so  continued 
with  a  small  gale  and  [we]  stood  N.  and  by  W.  About  four 
in  the  afternoon  there  arose  a  sudden  storm  of  wind  and  rain, 
so  violent  as  we  had  not  a  greater.  It  continued  thick  and 
boisterous  all  the  night. 

About  seven  we  descried  a  sail  ahead  of  us,  towards  the  N. 
and  by  E.  which  stood  towards  us.  Our  captain,  supposing  it 
might  be  our  vice-admiral,  hoisted  up  his  mainsail,  which  be- 
fore was  struck  down  aboard,  and  came  up  to  meet  her. 
When  we  drew  near  her  we  put  forth  our  ancient,  and  she 
luffed  up  to  get  the  wind  of  us;  but  when  she  saw  she  could 
not,  she  bare  up,  and  hoisting  up  her  foresail,  stood  away 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  43 

before  the  wind ;  yet  we  made  all  the  signs  we  could,  that  we 
meant  her  no  harm,  but  she  would  not  trust  us.  She  was 
within  shot  of  us,  so  as  we  perceived  she  was  a  small  French- 
man, which  we  did  suppose  had  been  driven  off  the  bank. 
When  she  was  clear  of  us,  she  stood  her  course  again,  and  we 
ours. 

This  day  at  twelve  we  made  observation,  and  were  about 
forty-three,  but  the  storm  put  us  far  to  the  N.  again.  Still  cold 
weather. 

Lord's  day,  23.]  Much  wind,  still  westerly,  and  very  cold 
weather. 

Monday,  24.]  The  wind  N.  W.  by  N.  a  handsome  gale, 
and  close  weather  and  very  cold.  We  stood  S.  W.  About 
noon  we  had  occasion  to  lie  by  the  lee  to  straighten  our  miz- 
zen  shrouds,  and  the  rear-admiral  and  Jewel,  being  both  to 
windward  of  us,  bare  up  and  came  under  our  lee,  to  inquire  if 
anything  were  amiss  with  us;  so  we  heard  the  company  was 
in  health  in  the  Jewel,  but  that  two  passengers  were  dead  in 
the  Ambrose,  and  one  other  cow. 

Tuesday,  25.]  The  wind  still  N.  W.;  fair  weather,  but 
cold.  We  went  on  with  a  handsome  gale,  and  at  noon  were 
in  forty-three  and  a  half;  and  the  variation  of  the  compass 
was  a  point  and  one-sixth.  All  this  day  we  stood  W.  S.  W. 
about  five  or  six  leagues  a  watch,  and  towards  night  the 
wind  enlarged,  with  a  cold  dash  of  snowy  rain,  and  then  we 
ran  in  a  smooth  sea  about  eight  or  nine  leagues  a  watch,  and 
stood  due  W. 

Wednesday,  26.]  The  wind  still  N.  W.  a  good  gale  and 
fair  weather,  but  very  cold  still;  yet  we  were  about  forty- 
three.    At  night  we  sounded,  but  found  no  ground. 

Thursday,  27.]  The  wind  N.  W.  a  handsome  gale;  fair 
weather.  About  noon  it  came  about  to  the  S.  W.  and  at  night 
rain,  with  a  stiff  gale,  and  it  continued  to  rain  very  hard  till 
it  was  near  midnight. 

This  day  our  skiff  went  aboard  the  Jewel  for  a  hogshead  of 


44  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

meal,  which  we  borrowed,  because  we  could  not  come  by 
our  own,  and  there  came  back  in  the  skiff  the  master  of  the 
Jewell  and  Mr.  Revell;*  so  our  captain  stayed  them  dinner, 
and  sent  for  Capt.  Lowe;  and  about  two  hours  after  dinner, 
they  went  aboard  their  own  ships,  our  captain  giving  Mr. 
Revell  three  shot,  because  he  was  one  of  the  owners  of  our 
ship. 

We  understood  now,  that  the  two  which  died  in  the  Am- 
brose were  Mr.  Cradock's  servants,  who  were  sick  when  they 
came  to  sea ;  and  one  of  them  should  have  been  left  at  Cowes, 
if  any  house  would  have  received  him. 

In  the  Jewel,  also,  one  of  the  seamen  died — a  most  profane 
fellow,  and  one  who  was  very  injurious  to  the  passengers, 
though  much  against  the  will  of  the  master. 

At  noon  we  tacked  about  and  stood  W.  and  by  N.  and  so 
continued  most  part  of  that  day  and  night  following,  and  had 
much  rain  till  midnight. 

Friday,  28.]  In  the  morning  the  wind  veered  to  the  W. 
yet  we  had  a  stiff  gale,  and  steered  N.  W.  and  by  N.  It  was 
so  great  a  fog  all  this  day,  as  we  had  lost  sight  of  one  of  our 
ships,  and  saw  the  other  sometimes  much  to  leeward.  We 
had  many  fierce  showers  of  rain  throughout  this  day. 

At  night  the  wind  cleared  up,  and  we  saw  both  our  consorts 
fair  by  us;  so  that  wind  being  very  scant,  we  tacked  and 
stood  W.  and  by  S.  A  child  was  bom  in  the  Jewel  about 
this  time. 

Saturday,  29.]  The  wind  N.  W.  a  stiff  gale,  and  fair 
weather,  but  very  cold;  in  the  afternoon  full  N.  and  towards 
night  N.  and  by  E. ;  so  we  stood  W. 

Lord's  day,  30.]  The  wind  N.  by  E.  a  handsome  gale,  but 
close,  misty  weather,  and  very  cold;  so  our  ship  made  good 
way  in  a  smooth  sea,  and  our  three  ships  kept  close  together. 
By  our  account  we  were  in  the  same  meridian  with  Isle  Sable, 
and  forty-two  and  a  half. 

'  One  of  the  assistants. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  45 

Monday,  31.]  Wind  N.  W.  a  small  gale,  close  and  cold 
weather.  We  sounded,  but  had  no  ground.  About  noon  the 
wind  came  N.  by  E.,  a  stiff,  constant  gale  and  fair  weather,  so 
as  our  ship's  way  was  seven,  eight,  and  sometimes  twelve 
leagues  a  watch.  This  day,  about  five  at  night,  we  expected 
the  echpse,  but  there  was  not  any,  the  sun  being  fair  and  clear 
from  three  till  it  set. 

June  1,  Tuesday.]  The  wind  N.  E.  a  small  gale,  with  fair, 
clear  weather;  in  the  afternoon  full  S.,  and  towards  night  a 
good  gale.  We  stood  W.  and  by  N.  A  woman  in  our  ship 
fell  in  travail,  and  we  sent  and  had  a  midwife  out  of  the  Jewel. 
She  was  so  far  ahead  of  us  at  this  time,  (though  usually  we 
could  spare  her  some  sail,)  as  we  shot  off  a  piece  and  lowered 
our  topsails,  and  then  she  brailed  her  sails  and  stayed  for  us. 

This  evening  we  saw  the  new  moon  more  than  half  an  hour 
after  sunset,  being  much  smaller  than  it  is  at  any  time  in 
England. 

Wednesday,  2.]  The  wind  S.  S.  W.,  a  handsome  gale; 
very  fair  weather,  but  still  cold;  in  the  evening  a  great  fog. 
We  stood  W.  and  by  N.  and  W.  N.  W. 

Our  captain,  supposing  us  now  to  be  near  the  N.  coast,  and 
knowing  that  to  the  S.  there  were  dangerous  shoals,  fitted  on  a 
new  mainsail,  that  was  very  strong,  and  double,  and  would 
not  adventure  with  his  old  sails,  as  before,  when  he  had  sea- 
room  enough. 

Thursday,  3.]  The  wind  S.  by  W.  a  good  steady  gale,  and 
we  stood  W.  and  by  N.  The  fog  continued  very  thick,  and 
some  rain  withal.  We  sounded  in  the  morning,  and  again 
at  noon,  and  had  no  groimd.  We  sounded  again  about  two, 
afternoon,  and  had  ground  about  eighty  fathom,  a  fine  gray 
sand;  so  we  presently  tacked  and  stood  S.  S.  E.,  and  shot 
off  a  piece  of  ordnance  to  give  notice  to  our  consorts,  whom 
we  saw  not  since  last  evening. 

The  fog  continued  all  this  night,  and  a  steady  gale  at  S.  W. 

Friday,  4.]    About  four  in  the  morning  we  tacked  again 


46  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

(the  wind  S.  W.)  and  stood  W.  N.  W.  The  fog  continued  all 
this  day,  so  as  we  could  not  see  a  stone's  cast  from  us ;  yet  the 
sun  shone  very  bright  all  the  day.  We  sounded  every  two 
hours,  but  had  no  ground.  At  night  we  tacked  again  and 
stood  S.    In  the  great  cabin,  fast. 

Saturday,  5.]  In  the  morning  the  wind  came  to  N.  E.  a 
handsome  gale,  and  the  fog  was  dispersed ;  so  we  stood  before 
the  wind  W.  and  by  N.,  all  the  afternoon  being  rainy.  At 
night  we  sounded,  but  had  no  groimd.  In  the  great  cabin, 
thanksgiving. 

It  rained  most  part  of  this  night,  yet  our  captain  kept 
abroad,  and  was  forced  to  come  in  in  the  night  to  shift  his 
clothes. 

We  sounded  every  half  watch,  but  had  no  ground. 

Lord's  day,  6.]  The  wind  N.  E.  and  after  N.,  a  good  gale, 
but  still  foggy  at  times,  and  cold.  We  stood  W.  N.  W.,  both 
to  make  Cape  Sable,  if  we  might,  and  also  because  of  the  cur- 
rent, which  near  the  west  shore  sets  to  the  S.,  that  we  might 
be  the  more  clear  from  the  southern  shoals,  viz.,  of  Cape  Cod. 

About  two  in  the  afternoon  we  sounded  and  had  ground  at 
about  eighty  fathom,  and  the  mist  then  breaking  up,  we  saw 
the  shore  to  the  N.  about  five  or  six  leagues  off,  and  were  (as 
we  supposed)  to  the  S.  W.  of  Cape  Sable,  and  in  forty-three 
and  a  quarter.  Towards  night  it  calmed  and  was  foggy 
again,  and  the  wind  came  S.  and  by  E.  We  tacked  and 
stood  W.  and  by  N.,  intending  to  make  land  at  Aquamenticus, 
being  to  the  N.  of  the  Isles  of  Shoals. 

Monday,  7.]  The  wind  S.  About  four  in  the  morning  we 
sounded  and  had  ground  at  thirty  fathom,  and  was  somewhat 
calm;  so  we  put  our  ship  a-stays,  and  took,  in  less  than  two 
hours,  with  a  few  hooks,  sixty-seven  codfish,  most  of  them 
very  great  fish,  some  a  yard  and  a  half  long,  and  a  yard  in 
compass.  This  came  very  seasonably,  for  our  salt  fish  was 
now  spent,  and  we  were  taking  care  for  victuals  this  day 
(being  a  fish  day). 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  47 

After  this  we  filled  our  sails,  and  stood  W.  N.  W.  with  a 
small  gale.  We  hoisted  out  a  great  boat  to  keep  our  sound- 
ing the  better.  The  weather  was  now  very  cold.  We  sounded 
at  eight,  and  had  fifty  fathoms,  and,  being  calm,  we  heaved 
out  our  hooks  again,  and  took  twenty-six  cods ;  so  we  all  feast- 
ed with  fish  this  day.  A  woman  was  delivered  of  a  child  in 
our  ship,  stillborn.  The  woman  had  divers  children  before, 
but  none  lived,  and  she  had  some  mischance  now,  which  caused 
her  to  come  near  a  month  before  her  time,  but  she  did  very 
well.  At  one  of  the  clock  we  had  a  fresh  gale  at  N.  W.  and 
very  fair  weather  all  that  afternoon,  and  warm,  but  the  wind 
failed  soon. 

All  the  night  the  wind  was  W.  and  by  S.  a  stiff  gale,  which 
made  us  stand  to  and  again,  with  small  advantage. 

Tuesday,  8.]  The  wind  still  W.  and  by  S.,  fair  weather,  but 
close  and  cold.  We  stood  N.  N.  W.  with  a  still  gale,  and, 
about  three  in  the  afternoon,  we  had  sight  of  land  to  the  N. 
W.  about  ten  leagues,  which  we  supposed  was  the  Isles  of 
Monhegan,  but  it  proved  Mount  Mansell.^  Then  we  tacked 
and  stood  W.  S.  W.  We  had  now  fair  sunshine  weather,  and 
so  pleasant  a  sweet  air  as  did  much  refresh  us,  and  there  came 
a  smell  off  the  shore  hke  the  smell  of  a  garden. 

There  came  a  wild  pigeon  into  our  ship,  and  another  small 
land  bird. 

Wednesday,  9.]  In  the  morning  the  wind  easterly,  but 
grew  presently  calm.  Now  we  had  very  fair  weather,  and 
warm.  About  noon  the  wind  came  to  S.  W. ;  so  we  stood  W. 
N.  W.  with  a  handsome  gale,  and  had  the  main  land  upon  our 
starboard  all  that  day,  about  eight  or  ten  leagues  off.  It  is 
very  high  land,  lying  in  many  hills  very  unequal.  At  night 
we  saw  many  small  islands,  being  low  land,  between  us  and 
the  main,  about  five  or  six  leagues  off  us;  and  about  three 

1  Named  by  Champlain,  in  1604,  Mount  Desert.  The  name  Mount  Man- 
sell  came,  Savage  presumes,  from  Sir  Robert  Mansell,  at  one  time  the  highest 
naval  officer  of  England,  who  was  interested  in  the  New  England  settlements. 


48  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1630 

leagues  from  us,  towards  the  main,  a  small  rock  a  little  above 
water.  At  night  we  sounded  and  had  soft  oozy  ground  at 
sixty  fathom;  so,  the  wind  being  now  scant  at  W.  we  tacked 
again  and  stood  S.  S.  W.  We  were  now  in  forty-three  and 
a  half.  This  high  land,  which  we  saw,  we  judged  to  be  at 
the  W.  cape  of  the  great  bay,  which  goeth  towards  Port  Royal, 
called  Mount  Desert,  or  Mount  Mansell,  and  no  island,  but 
part  of  the  main.     In  the  night  the  wind  shifted  oft. 

Thursday,  10.]  In  the  morning  the  wind  S.  and  by  W.  till 
five.  In  the  morning  a  thick  fog;  then  it  cleared  up  with 
fair  weather,  but  somewhat  close.  After  we  had  run  some 
ten  leagues  W.  and  by  S.  we  lost  sight  of  the  former  land,  but 
made  other  high  land  on  our  starboard,  as  far  off  as  we  could 
descry,  but  we  lost  it  again. 

The  wind  continued  all  this  day  at  S.  a  stiff,  steady  gale, 
yet  we  bare  all  our  sails,  and  stood  W.  S.  W.  About  four  in 
the  afternoon  we  made  land  on  our  starboard  bow,  called  the 
Three  Turks'  Heads,  being  a  ridge  of  three  hills  upon  the  main, 
whereof  the  southmost  is  the  greatest.  It  lies  near  Aquamen- 
ticus.  We  descried,  also,  another  hill,  more  northward,  which 
lies  by  Cape  Porpus.  We  saw,  also,  ahead  of  us,  some  four 
leagues  from  shore,  a  small  rock,  called  Boone  Isle,  not  above 
a  flight  shot  over,  which  hath  a  dangerous  shoal  to  the  E.  and 
by  S.  of  it,  some  two  leagues  in  length.  We  kept  our  luff  and 
weathered  it,  and  left  it  on  our  starboard  about  two  miles 
off.  Towards  night  we  might  see  the  trees  in  all  places  very 
plainly,  and  a  small  hill  to  the  southward  of  the  Turks'  Heads. 
All  the  rest  of  the  land  to  the  S.  was  plain,  low  land.  Here  we 
had  a  fine  fresh  smell  from  shore.  Then,  lest  we  should  not  get 
clear  of  the  ledge  of  rocks,  which  lie  under  water  from  within 
a  flight  shot  of  the  said  rock,  (called  Boone  Isle,)  which  we 
had  now  brought  N.  E.  from  us,  towards  Pascataquac,  we 
tacked  and  stood  S.  E.  with  a  stiff  gale  at  S.  by  W. 

Friday,  11.]  The  wind  still  S.  W.,  close  weather.  We 
stood  to  and  again  all  this  day  within  sight  of  Cape  Ann.    The 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  49 

Isles  of  Shoals  were  now  within  two  leagues  of  us,  and  we 
saw  a  ship  He  there  at  anchor,  and  five  or  six  shallops  under 
sail  up  and  down. 

We  took  many  mackerels,  and  met  a  shallop,  which  stood 
from  Cape  Ann  towards  the  Isles  of  Shoals,  which  belonged 
to  some  English  fishermen. 

Saturday,  12.]  About  four  in  the  morning  we  were  near 
our  port.  We  shot  off  two  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  sent  our 
skiff  to  Mr.  Peirce  his  ship  (which  lay  in  the  harbor,  and  had 
been  there  [blank]  days  before).  About  an  hour  after,  Mr. 
Allerton^  canie  aboard  us  in  a  shallop  as  he  was  sailing  to 
Pemaquid.  As  we  stood  towards  the  harbor,  we  saw  another 
shallop  coming  to  us ;  so  we  stood  in  to  meet  her,  and  passed 
through  the  narrow  strait  between  Baker's  Isle  and  Little 
Isle,  and  came  to  an  anchor  a  httle  within  the  islands. 

After  Mr.  Peirce  came  aboard  us,  and  returned  to  fetch  Mr. 
Endecott,^  who  came  to  us  about  two  of  the  clock,  and  with 
him  Mr.  Skelton^  and  Capt.  Levett.  We  that  were  of  the 
assistants,  and  some  other  gentlemen,  and  some  of  the  women, 
and  our  captain,  returned  with  them  to  Nahumkeck,^  where 
we  supped  with  a  good  venison  pasty  and  good  beer,  and  at 
night  we  returned  to  our  ship,  but  some  of  the  women  stayed 
behind. 

1  William  Peirce,  an  experienced  sailor,  and  Isaac  Allerton,  a  leading  man 
of  Plymouth,  were  at  this  time  in  the  service  of  that  colony.  Their  names  will 
often  recur  hereafter.     Pemaquid  lies  some  fifteen  miles  east  of  the  Kennebec. 

*  "This  distinguished  father  of  Massachusetts  had,  near  two  years  before, 
been  sent  to  found  the  plantation  in  the  settlement  of  Salem,  the  oldest  town  in 
the  colony.  He  had  a  commission,  in  1629,  from  the  company  to  act  as  governor, 
which  was,  of  course,  superseded  by  the  arrival  of  Winthrop  with  the  charter. 
With  the  history  of  his  adopted  country,  that  of  Endecott  is  interwoven,  till  the 
time  of  his  death,  15  March,  1655.  He  served  four  years  as  deputy  governor, 
and  sixteen  years  as  governor."     (Note  by  Savage.) 

^  "Samuel  Skelton,  pastor  of  Salem,  came  the  year  before  in  the  same  fleet 
with  Higginson.  The  notices  of  his  history  are  very  brief;  that  of  his  death  will 
be  found  in  this  volume,  2  August,  1634.  His  wife  died  15  March,  1631,  as  we 
learn  from  Dudley,  who  says,  'she  was  a  godly  and  helpful  woman;  she  lived 
desired,  and  died  lamented,  and  well  deserves  to  be  honorably  remembered.'" 
(Savage.)  *  Naumkeag,  the  Indian  name  of  Salenx 


50  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1630 

In  the  mean  time  most  of  our  people  went  on  shore  upon 
the  land  of  Cape  Ann,  which  lay  very  near  us,  and  gathered 
store  of  fine  strawberries. 

An  Indian  came  aboard  us  and  lay  there  all  night. 

Lord's  day,  13.]  In  the  morning,  the  sagamore  of  Aga- 
wam^  and  one  of  his  men  came  aboard  our  ship  and  stayed 
with  us  all  day. 

About  two  in  the  afternoon  we  descried  the  Jewel;  so  we 
manned  out  our  skiff  and  wafted  them  in,  and  they  went  as 
near  the  harbor  as  the  tide  and  wind  would  suffer. 

Monday,  14.]  In  the  morning  early  we  weighed  anchor, 
and  the  wind  being  against  us,  and  the  channel  so  narrow  as 
we  could  not  well  turn  in,  we  warped  in  our  ship,  and  came 
to  an  anchor  in  the  inward  harbor. 

In  the  afternoon  we  went  with  most  of  our  company  on 
shore,  and  our  captain  gave  us  five  pieces. 

Thursday,  17.]  We  went  to  Mattachusetts,^  to  find  out  a 
place  for  our  sitting  down.  We  went  up  Mistick  River  about 
six  miles. 

We  lay  at  Mr.  Maverick's,  and  returned  home  on  Saturday. 
As  we  came  home,  we  came  by  Nataskott,  and  sent  for  Capt. 
Squib  ashore — (he  had  brought  the  west-country  people, 
viz.,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Rossiter,  Mr.  Maverick,  etc.,  to  the  bay, 
who  were  set  down  at  Mattapan,)^ — and  ended  a  difference 
between  him  and  the  passengers;  wherupon  he  sent  his  boat 
to  his  ship,  (the  Mary  and  John,)  and  at  our  parting  gave  us 
five  pieces.  At  our  return  we  found  the  Ambrose  in  the  harbor 
at  Salem. 

Thursday,  July  1.]    The  Mayflower  and  the  Whale  arrived 

'  Agawam,  meaning  river,  given  as  a  name  to  Ipswich  (as  here),  to  Spring- 
field and  other  places. 

2  Boston  harbor,  where  the  Blue  Hills,  from  which  Massachusetts  ulti- 
mately derives  its  name,  were  in  sight.  Samuel  Maverick  had  already  estab- 
lished himself  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mystic,  at  Winnisimmet,  now  Chelsea.  Blaxton 
or  Blackstone,  too,  was  at  Shawmut,  about  to  become  Boston,  while  Morton 
and  Westo'n,  as  descriBed  in  the  Introduction,  were  at  points  in  the  same  bay 
farther  south.  'These  were  the  settlers  of  Dorchester. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  51 

safe  in  Charlton  harbor.*  Their  passengers  were  all  in  health, 
but  most  of  their  cattle  dead,  (whereof  a  mare  and  horse  of 
mine).     Some  stone  horses  came  over  in  good  pUght. 

Friday,  2.]  The  Talbot  arrived  there.  She  had  lost  fom*- 
teen  passengers. 

My  son,  Henry  Winthrop,  was  drowned  at  Salem.^ 

Saturday,  3.]  The  Hopewell  and  William  and  Francis  ar- 
rived. 

Monday,  5.]  The  Trial  arrived  at  Charlton,  and  the 
Charles  at  Salem. 

Tuesday,  6.]  The  Success  arrived.  She  had  [blank]  goats 
and  lost  [blank]  of  them,  and  many  of  her  passengers  were 
near  starved,  etc. 

Wednesday,  7.]    The  Lion  went  back  to  Salem. 

Thursday,  8.]  We  kept  a  day  of  thanksgiving  in  all  the 
plantations. 

Thursday,  August  18.]  Capt.  Endecott  and  [blank]  Gibson 
were  married  by  the  governor  and  Mr.  Wilson.^ 

Saturday,  20.]  The  French  ship  called  the  Gift,  came  into 
the  harbor  at  Charlton.  She  had  been  twelve  weeks  at  sea, 
and  lost  one  passenger  and  twelve  goats;   she  delivered  six. 

Monday  we  kept  a  court.^ 

Friday,  27.]    We,  of  the  congregation,  kept  a  fast,  and 

*  Charlestown  harbor.  Charlestown  replaced  at  once  the  Indian  name, 
Mishawum.  The  form  Charlton  is  derived  from  Captain  John  Smith's  map  of 
New  England. 

'  The  affliction  disposed  of  here  in  such  brief  terms  was  a  sad  blow  to  Win- 
throp. See  his  first  letters  to  his  wife  and  son  in  England.  R.  C.  Winthrop, 
Life  and  Letters  of  John  Winthrop,  11.  36,  39. 

*  The  second  marriage  of  Endicott  introduces  the  Rev.  John  Wilson,  the 
noted  pastor  of  the  Boston  church.  He  was  grand-nephew  of  Grindal,  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  had  much  energy  and  was  powerfully  befriended.  He 
was  now  a  man  of  forty-two.  John  Wilson  is  one  of  Cotton  Mather's  heroes, 
described  in  Magrudia  Christi  Americana,  book  in.  "entituled  Polybius,"  with 
other  "divines  by  whose  evangelical  ministry  the  churches  of  New  England  have 
been  illuminated." 

*  Court  means  general  meeting  of  the  company^^ififrtEraMJBglwiffliction  or 
absorption  in  business,  Winthrop's  record  is  in/'^^es^lpaj*  4«l^«^gr&^'*'"§up- 
pl3^ng  from  other  sources  necessary  details,  we  may  note  as  most  imporcai<x/ ti 

iNOKMAL  SCHOOL 


52  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1630 

chose  Mr.  Wilson  our  teacher,  and  Mr.  Nowell  an  elder,  and 
Mr.  Gager  and  Mr.  Aspinwall,  deacons.  We  used  imposition  of 
hands,  but  with  this  protestation  by  all,  that  it  was  only  as  a 
sign  of  election  and  confirmation,  not  of  any  intent  that  Mr. 
Wilson  should  renounce  his  ministry  he  received  in  England. 

September  20.]    Mr.  Gager  died. 

30.]  About  two  in  the  morning,  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson  died ; 
his  wife,  the  lady  Arbella,  of  the  house  of  Lincoln,  being 
dead  about  one  month  before.  He  was  a  holy  man,  and  wise, 
and  died  in  sweet  peace,  leaving  some  part  of  his  substance  to 
the  colony.^ 

rapid  process  of  separation  from  old  religious  ties.  Some  of  the  Massachusetts 
emigrants,  before  leaving  England,  practically  adopted  Congregationalism.  A 
band  from  the  southern  shires,  sailing  a  few  weeks  before  Winthrop,  practised 
the  new  way  at  Plymouth  before  departure,  which  was  countenanced  by  the  Rev. 
John  White  of  Dorchester.  These  emigrants,  landing  at  Nantasket  a  fortnight 
before  Winthrop's  arrival,  presently  proceeded  to  Mattapan  and  founded  Dor- 
chester (Palfrey,  I.  318  n.)  Before  the  summer  ended  Winthrop's  company 
organized  as  a  Congregational  church  with  John  Wilson  for  its  minister,  definitely 
cutting  loose  from  the  Church  of  England,  and  seeking  fellowship  with  the  Sepa- 
ratists. June  28  of  this  year,  Samuel  Fuller,  of  Plymouth,  then  visiting  the  new- 
comers, wrote  Bradford  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Phillips  openly  discarded  his  old  ties, 
and  that  Winthrop  sought  aid  and  countenance  from  Plymouth.  Endicott  was 
a  "dear  friend,"  while  Coddington,  an  assistant,  declared  that  John  Cotton,  at 
Southampton,  had  counselled  "that  they  should  take  advice  of  them  at  Plym- 
outh, and  should  do  nothing  to  offend  them."  {Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  first 
series.  III.  74.) 

The  first  Court  of  Assistants  on  this  side  of  the  water  was  held  at  Charles- 
town,  August  23,  1630,  followed  by  others  at  short  intervals.  (Mass.  Colonial 
Records,  under  date.)  Theocracy  asserted  itself  at  once,  the  first  business  being 
to  provide  for  the  ministers.  Captains  Patrick  and  Underbill,  military  heads, 
were  also  taken  care  of;  measures  were  adopted  to  keep  firearms  from  the  In- 
dians, for  the  husbanding  of  corn,  and  the  prevention  of  drunkenness.  Disci- 
pline was  vigorous  and  most  impartial,  whipping  and  the  "bilbowes"  often 
being  resorted  to.  Not  only  did  Thomas  Morton,  of  Merry  Mount,  and  many 
an  obscure  servant  suffer,  but  the  Brownes,  important  men,  were  sent  back  to 
England  for  maintaining  prelacy,  and  even  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  was  twice 
fined.  Charlestown  proving  unhealthy,  as  was  believed  through  bad  water, 
the  river  was  crossed  to  Shawmut  where  there  were  good  springs,  and  where 
Blaxton,  who  had  perhaps  come  over  with  Robert  Gorges  in  1623,  had  settled. 
Here,  October  18,  was  held  the  first  formal  quarterly  General  Court,  provided 
or  in  the  charter.  Boston,  Dorchester  and  Watertown  received  the  names 
which  they  have  ever  since  borne. 

*  The  loss  of  these  high-born  and  generous  friends  was  a  severe  blow. 


m  m-M^ 


^  . 

-<*■;:  - 


"'  "^'^6;^^:. 


_^Wr^>  '*/y-^\ 


X-. ,,.... 


THE  ROYAL  PATENT   OR  CHARTER  OF  MARCH  4,    1629,   TO  THE   GOVERNOR  AND   COMPANY   OF  THE   MASSACHUSETTS   l^Ai 
From  the  original  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  53 

The  wolves  killed  six  calves  at  Salem,  and  they  killed  one  wolf. 

Thomas  Morton  adjudged  to  be  imprisoned,  till  he  were 
sent  into  England,  and  his  house  burnt  down,  for  his  many 
injuries  offered  to  the  Indians,  and  other  misdemeanors. 
Capt.  Brook,  master  of  the  Gift,  refused  to  carry  him.^ 

Finch  [?],  of  Watertown,  had  his  wigwam  burnt  and  all  his 
goods. 

Billington  executed  at  Plymouth  for  murdering  one. 

Mr.  PhilHps,  the  minister  of  Watertown,  and  others,  had 
their  hay  burnt. 

The  wolves  killed  some  swine  at  Saugus. 

A  cow  died  at  Plymouth,  and  a  goat  at  Boston,^  with 
eating  Indian  com. 

October  23.]    Mr.  Rossiter,  one  of  the  assistants,  died. 

25.]  Mr.  Colburn  (who  was  chosen  deacon  by  the  congre- 
gation a  week  before)  was  invested  by  imposition  of  hands  of 
the  minister  and  elder. 

The  governor,  upon  consideration  of  the  inconveniences 
which  had  grown  in  England  by  drinking  one  to  another,  re- 
strained it  at  his  own  table,  and  wished  others  to  do  the  like, 
so  as  it  grew,  by  little  and  little,  to  disuse. 

29.]  The  Handmaid  arrived  at  Plymouth,  having  been 
twelve  weeks  at  sea,  and  spent  all  her  masts,  and  of  twenty- 
eight  cows  she  lost  ten.  She  had  about  sixty  passengers,  who 
came  all  well;  John  Grant,  master. 

Mr.  Goffe  wrote  to  me,  that  his  shipping  this  year  had  ut- 
terly undone  him. 

*  Thomas  Morton,  whose  performances  at  Merry  Mount,  or  Mount  Wol- 
laston,  brought  down  upon  his  head  the  vengeance  both  of  Plymouth  and  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  now  returned  to  England,  where  he  posed  as  a  Church  of 
England  martyr,  and  in  1637  published  at  Amsterdam  The  New  English  Canaan, 
a  most  curious  book,  reprinted  in  1883  by  the  Prince  Society  under  the  editor- 
ship of  Mr.  Charles  Francis  Adams.  For  an  interesting  and  elaborate  account 
of  this  picturesque  reprobate,  see  C.  F.  Adams,  Three  Episodes  of  Massachusetts 
History,  I.,  chaps,  x.  and  xi. 

^  Here  for  the  first  time  Winthrop  uses  the  designation  "  Boston,"  the  town 
in  England  most  familiar  to  the  settlers  in  general  affording  the  name. 


54  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1630 

She  brought  out  twenty-eight  heifers,  but  brought  but 
seventeen  ahve. 

November  11.]  The  master  came  to  Boston  with  Capt. 
Standish  and  two  gentlemen  passengers,  who  came  to  plant 
here,  but  having  no  testimony,  we  would  not  receive  them. 

10.]     [blank]  Firmin,  of  Watertown,  had  his  wigwam  burnt. 

Divers  had  their  hay-stacks  burnt  by  burning  the  grass. 

27.]  Three  of  the  governor's  servants  were  from  this  day 
to  the  1  of  December  abroad  in  his  skiff  among  the  islands,  in 
bitter  frost  and  snow,  being  kept  from  home  by  the  N.  W. 
wind,  and  without  victuals.  At  length  they  gat  to  Mount 
Wollaston,  and  left  their  boat  there,  and  came  home  by  land. 
Laus  Deo. 

December  6.]  The  governor  and  most  of  the  assistants, 
and  others,  met  at  Roxbury,  and  there  agreed  to  build  a  town 
fortified  upon  the  neck  between  that  and  Boston,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  of  all  things  requisite,  etc. 

14.]  The  committee  met  at  Roxbury,  and  upon  further 
consideration,  for  reasons,  it  was  concluded,  that  we  could  not 
have  a  town  in  the  place  aforesaid:  1.  Because  men  would 
be  forced  to  keep  two  famihes.  2.  There  was  no  running 
water;  and  if  there  were  any  springs,  they  would  not  suffice 
the  town.  3.  The  most  part  of  the  people  had  built  already, 
and  would  not  be  able  to  build  again.  So  we  agreed  to  meet 
at  Watertown  that  day  sen'night,  and  in  the  meantime  other 
places  should  be  viewed. 

Capt.  Neal^  and  three  other  gentlemen  came  hither  to  us. 
He  came  in  the  bark  Warwick,  this  summer,  to  Pascataqua, 
sent  as  governor  there  for  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  others. 

21.]  We  met  again  at  Watertown,  and  there,  upon  view  of 
a  place  a  mile  beneath  the  town,  all  agreed  it  a  fit  place  for 
a  fortified  town,  and  we  took  time  to  consider  further  about  it. 

*  Walter  Neal,  of  whom  we  shall  have  several  mentions,  came  to  the  Pisca- 
taqua  in  the  interest  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  having  promised  that  he  would 
make  available  the  "lakes,"  either  Champlain  or  Winnepesaukee  and  the  head- 
waters of  the  Merrimae,  where  beaver  were  abundant. 


1630]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  55 

24.]  Till  this  time  there  was  (for  the  most  part)  fair,  open 
weather,  with  gentle  frosts  in  the  night;  but  this  day  the 
wind  came  N.  W.,  very  strong,  and  some  snow  withal,  but  so 
cold  as  some  had  their  fingers  frozen,  and  in  danger  to  be  lost. 
Three  of  the  governor's  servants,  coming  in  a  shallop  from 
Mistick,  were  driven  by  the  wind  upon  Noddle's  Island,  and 
forced  to  stay  there  all  that  night,  without  fire  or  food;  yet 
through  God's  mercy,  they  came  safe  to  Boston  next  day, 
but  the  fingers  of  two  of  them  were  bUstered  with  cold,  and 
one  swooned  when  he  came  to  the  fire. 

26.]  The  rivers  were  frozen  up,  and  they  of  Charlton  could 
not  come  to  the  sermon  at  Boston  till  the  afternoon  at  high 
water. 

Many  of  our  cows  and  goats  were  forced  to  be  still  abroad 
for  want  of  houses. 

28.]  Richard  Garrett,  a  shoemaker  of  Boston,  and  one  of 
the  congregation  there,  with  one  of  his  daughters,  a  young 
maid,  and  four  others,  went  towards  Plymouth  in  a  shallop, 
against  the  advice  of  his  friends;  and  about  the  Gurnett's 
Nose  the  wind  overblew  so  much  at  N.  W.  as  they  were  forced 
to  come  to  a  killock  *  at  twenty  fathom,  but  their  boat  drave 
and  shaked  out  the  stone,  and  they  were  put  to  sea,  and  the 
boat  took  in  much  water,  which  did  freeze  so  hard  as  they 
could  not  free  her;  so  they  gave  themselves  for  lost,  and, 
commending  themselves  to  God,  they  disposed  themselves 
to  die ;  but  one  of  their  company  espying  land  near  Cape  Cod, 
then  made  shift  to  hoist  up  part  of  their  sail,  and,  by  God's 
special  providence,  were  carried  through  the  rocks  to  the 
shore,  where  some  gat  on  land,  but  some  had  their  legs  frozen 
into  the  ice,  so  as  they  were  forced  to  be  cut  out.  Being 
come  on  shore  they  kindled  a  fire,  but,  having  no  hatchet,  they 
could  get  little  wood,  and  were  forced  to  He  in  the  open  air  all 
night,  being  extremely  cold.  In  the  morning  two  of  their 
company  went  towards  Plymouth,   (supposing  it  had  been 

1  A  rude  anchor  consisting  of  a  stone  enclosed  within  a  frame  of  wood. 


56  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1630 

within  seven  or  eight  miles,  whereas  it  was  near  fifty  miles 
from  them).  By  the  way  they  met  with  two  Indian  squaws, 
who,  coming  home,  told  their  husbands  that  they  had  met  two 
Englishmen.  They  thinking  (as  it  was)  that  they  had  been 
shipwrecked,  made  after  them,  and  brought  them  back  to  their 
wigwam,  and  entertained  them  kindly ;  and  one  of  them  went 
with  them  the  next  day  to  Plymouth,  and  the  other  went  to 
find  out  their  boat  and  the  rest  of  their  company,  which  were 
seven  miles  off,  and  having  found  them,  he  holp  them  what  he 
could,  and  returned  to  his  wigwam,  and  fetched  a  hatchet,  and 
built  them  a  wigwam  and  covered  it,  and  gat  them  wood  (for 
they  were  so  weak  and  frozen,  as  they  could  not  stir;)  and 
Garrett  died  about  two  days  after  his  landing ;  and  the  ground 
being  so  frozen  as  they  could  not  dig  his  grave,  the  Indian 
hewed  a  hole  about  half  a  yard  deep,  with  his  hatchet,  and 
having  laid  the  corpse  in  it,  he  laid  over  it  a  great  heap  of 
wood  to  keep  it  from  the  wolves.  By  this  time  the  governor 
of  Plymouth  had  sent  three  men  to  them  with  provisions,  who 
being  come,  and  not  able  to  launch  their  boat,  (which  with 
the  strong  N.  W.  wind  was  driven  up  to  the  high  water  mark,) 
the  Indian  returned  to  Plymouth  and  fetched  three  more ;  but 
before  they  came,  they  had  launched  their  boat,  and  with  a 
fair  southerly  wind  were  gotten  to  Plymouth,  where  another 
of  their  company  died,  his  flesh  being  mortified  with  the  frost ; 
and  the  two  who  went  towards  Plymouth  died  also,  one  of 
them  being  not  able  to  get  thither,  and  the  other  had  his  feet 
so  frozen  as  he  died  of  it  after.  The  girl  escaped  best,  and  one 
Harwood,  a  godly  man  of  the  congregation  of  Boston,  lay  long 
under  the  surgeon's  hands;  and  it  was  above  six  weeks  before 
they  could  get  the  boat  from  Plymouth;  and  in  their  return 
they  were  much  distressed;  yet  their  boat  was  very  well 
manned,  the  want  whereof  before  was  the  cause  of  their  loss. 


1631 

January.]    A  house  at  Dorchester  was  burnt  down. 

February  11.]  Mr.  Freeman's  house  at  Watertown  was 
burned  down,  but,  being  in  the  daytime,  his  goods  were  saved. 

5.]  The  ship  Lyon,  Mr.  WilUam  Peirce,  master,  arrived 
at  Nantasket.  She  brought  Mr.  WiUiams,^  (a  godly  minis- 
ter,) with  his  wife,  Mr.  Throgmorton,  [blank]  Perkins,  [blank] 
Ong,  and  others,  with  their  wives  and  children,  about  twenty 
passengers,  and  about  two  hundred  tons  of  goods.  She  set 
sail  from  Bristol,  December  1.  She  had  a  very  tempestuous 
passage,  yet,  through  God's  mercy,  all  her  people  came  safe, 
except  Way  his  son,  who  fell  from  the  spritsail  yard  in  a 

1  Here  enters  upon  our  stage  Roger  Williams,  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
and  important  characters  concerned  with  early  New  England.  During  his  life 
of  eighty  years  (1603-1683)  he  affected  the  course  of  history  in  both  the  old 
and  the  new  world  as  a  conspicuous  pioneer  in  vindicating  freedom  of  con- 
science. Born  probably  in  London,  he  was  connected  as  a  boy  with  Sir  Edward 
Coke,  the  great  lawyer,  through  whom  he  became  a  scholar  of  the  Charterhouse, 
and  afterwards  of  Pembroke  College,  Cambridge.  He  appears  to  have  taken 
orders,  and  served  as  chaplain  in  the  household  of  Sir  W.  Masham,  in  Essex, 
whose  wife  was  a  cousin  of  Cromwell.  Fine  opportunities  lay  before  him,  but 
he  early  became  a  zealous  non-conformist,  and  when  twenty-seven  years  old  landed, 
as  here  related,  from  the  Lyon,  at  Nantasket,  to  take  part  with  the  exiles.  His 
name  frequently  recurs  in  the  Journal,  and  his  eventful  career,  so  far  as  it  affects 
Massachusetts  Bay,  will  be  touched  upon  in  subsequent  notes.  Though  out- 
spoken for  toleration,  Roger  Williams  in  his  later  years  made  it  plain  that  he  was 
ready  to  repress  anarchy  by  force,  and  in  secular  affairs  to  maintain  proper 
subordination;  a  memorable  utterance  of  his  views  is  contained  in  a  letter  of 
1655,  which  has  his  oft-quoted  comparison  of  a  distressed  commonwealth  to  a 
laboring  ship  {Narragansett  Club  Publications,  VI.  278).  With  all  his  nobleness 
a  certain  extravagance  must  be  noted  in  Roger  Williams.  Probably  the  best 
contemporary  judgment  is  that  of  Bradford,  governor  of  Plymouth:  "a,  man 
godly  and  zealous,  having  many  precious  parts,  but  very  unsettled  in  judgment." 
{History  of  Plymouth  Plantation,  p.  299  of  the  edition  in  the  present  series.) 
That  the  Massachusetts  General  Court  acted  unjustly  in  the  banishment  of  Roger 
Williams  in  1635  is  by  no  means  universally  admitted.  See  Henry  M.  Dexter, 
As  to  Roger  Williams  and  his  Banishment  from  the  Massachusetts  Plantation 
(Boston,  1876). 

57 


58  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1631 

tempest,  and  could  not  be  recovered,  though  he  kept  in  sight 
near  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  Her  goods  also  came  all  in  good 
condition. 

8.]  The  governor  went  aboard  the  Lyon,  riding  by  Long 
Island. 

9.]  The  Lyon  came  to  an  anchor  before  Boston,  where  she 
rode  very  well,  notwithstanding  the  great  drift  of  ice. 

10.]  The  frost  brake  up;  and  after  that,  though  we  had 
many  snows  and  sharp  frost,  yet  they  continued  not,  neither 
were  the  waters  frozen  up  as  before.  It  hath  been  observed, 
ever  since  this  bay  was  planted  by  Englishmen,  viz.,  seven 
years,  that  at  this  day  the  frost  hath  broken  up  every  year. 

The  poorer  sort  of  people  (who  lay  long  in  tents,  etc.) 
were  much  afflicted  with  the  scurvy,  and  many  died,  espe- 
cially at  Boston  and  Charlestown;  but  when  this  ship  came 
and  brought  store  of  juice  of  lemons,  many  recovered  speedily. 
It  hath  been  always  observed  here,  that  such  as  fell  into  dis- 
content, and  lingered  after  their  former  conditions  in  England, 
fell  into  the  scurvy  and  died. 

18.]  Capt.  Welden,  a  hopeful  young  gentleman,  and  an 
experienced  soldier,  died  at  Charlestown  of  a  consumption, 
and  was  buried  at  Boston  with  a  military  funeral. 

Of  the  old  planters,  and  such  as  came  the  year  before,  there 
were  but  two,  (and  those  servants,)  which  had  the  scurvy 
in  all  the  country.  At  Plymouth  not  any  had  it,  no  not  of 
those,  who  came  this  year,  whereof  there  were  above  sixty. 
Whereas,  at  their  first  planting  there,  near  the  half  of  their 
people  died  of  it. 

A  shallop  of  Mr.  Glover's  was  cast  away  upon  the  rocks 
about  Nahant,  but  the  men  were  saved. 

Of  those  which  went  back  in  the  ships  this  summer,  for  fear 
of  death  or  famine,  etc.,  many  died  by  the  way  and  after  they 
were  landed,  and  others  fell  very  sick  and  low,  etc. 

The  Ambrose,  whereof  Capt.  Lowe  was  master,  being  new 
masted  at  Charlton,  spent  all  her  masts  near  Newfoundland, 


1631]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  59 

and  had  perished,  if  Mr.  Peirce,  in  the  Lyon,  who  was  her  con- 
sort, had  not  towed  her  home  to  Bristol.  Of  the  other  ships 
which  returned,  three,  viz.,  the  Charles,  the  Success,  and 
the  Whale,  were  set  upon  by  Dunkirkers,  near  Pl5rmouth  in 
England,  and  after  long  fight,  having  lost  many  men,  and 
being  much  torn,  (especially  the  Charles,)  they  gat  into 
Plymouth. 

The  provision,  which  came  to  us  this  year,  came  at  exces- 
sive rates,  in  regard  of  the  deamess  of  corn  in  England,  so  as 
every  bushel  of  wheat-meal  stood  us  in  fourteen  shilUngs,  peas 
eleven  shillings,  etc.    Tonnage  was  at  £6.11. 

22.]  We  held  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  this  ship's  ar- 
rival, by  order  from  the  governor  and  council,  directed  to 
all  the  plantations. 

March  16.]  About  noon  the  chimney  of  Mr.  Sharp's 
house  in  Boston  took  fire,  (the  splinters  being  not  clayed 
at  the  top,)*  and  taking  the  thatch  burnt  it  down,  and  the 
wind  being  N.  W.,  drove  the  fire  to  Mr.  Colburn's  house,  being 
[blank]  rods  off,  and  burnt  that  down  also,  yet  they  saved  most 
of  their  goods. 

23.]  Chickatabot^  came  with  his  sannops  and  squaws, 
and  presented  the  governor  with  a  hogshead  of  Indian  com. 

After  they  had  all  dined,  and  had  each  a  small  cup  of  sack 
and  beer,  and  the  men  tobacco,  he  sent  away  all  his  men  and 
women,  (though  the  governor  would  have  stayed  them,  in 
regard  of  the  rain  and  thunder).  Himself  and  one  squaw 
and  one  sannop  stayed  all  night,  and,  being  in  English  clothes, 
the  governor  set  him  at  his  own  table,  where  he  behaved  him- 
self as  soberly,  etc.,  as  an  Englishman.  The  next  day  after 
dinner  he  returned  home,  the  governor  giving  him  cheese 
and  peas  and  a  mug  and  some  other  small  things. 

^  The  chimney  was  plainly  after  the  backwoods  fashion  of  later  times,  of 
sticks,  the  interstices  filled  by  mud. 

*  Chickatabot's  domain  was  on  the  Neponset  River.  For  "sannop"  the 
modern  frontiersman  would  write  "buck." 


60  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1631 

26.]  John*  Sagamore  and  James  his  brother,  with  divers 
sannops,  came  to  the  governor  to  desire  his  letter  for  recovery  of 
twenty  beaver  skins,  which  one  Watts  in  England  had  forced  [?] 
him  of.  The  governor  entertained  them  kindly,  and  gave  him 
his  letter  with  directions  to  Mr.  Downing^  in  England,  etc. 

The  night  before,  alarm  was  given  in  divers  of  the  planta- 
tions. It  arose  through  the  shooting  off  some  pieces  at^Water- 
town,  by  occasion  of  a  calf,  which  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  had 
lost;  and  the  soldiers  were  sent  out  with  their  pieces  to  try 
the  wilderness  from  thence  till  they  might  find  it. 

29.]  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  and  his  two  daughters,  and 
one  of  his  younger  sons,  (his  two  eldest  sons  remained  still  in 
the  country,)  came  down  to  Boston,  and  stayed  that  night  at 
the  governor's,  and  the  next  morning,  by  seven  of  the  clock, 
accompanied  with  Mr.  Peirce  and  others  in  two  shallops,  they 
departed  to  go  to  the  ship  riding  at  Salem.  The  governor 
gave  them  three  drakes  ^  at  their  setting  sail,  the  wind  being 
N.  W.  a  stiff  gale  and  full  sea.  Mr.  Sharp  went  away  at  the 
same  time  in  another  shallop. 

About  ten  of  the  clock,  Mr.  Coddington  *  and  Mr.  Wilson, 
and  divers  of  the  congregation,  met  at  the  governor's,  and 
there  Mr.  Wilson,  praying  and  exhorting  the  congregation  to 
love,  etc.,  commended  to  them  the  exercise  of  prophecy^  in  his 
absence,  and  designed  those  whom  he  thought  most  fit  for  it, 
viz.,  the  governor,  Mr.  Dudley,"  and  Mr.  Nowell  the  elder. 

*  The  sway  of  this  sachem  extended  from  the  Charles  River  near  Watertown, 
toward  the  Mystic  River. 

^  Emanuel  Downing,  brother-in-law  of  Winthrop,  a  man  of  wealth  and  in- 
fluence, was  an  immigrant  of  a  later  time.  He  was  father  of  Sir  George  Down- 
ing, a  man  of  great  but  not  always  savory  reputation,  who  will  be  mentioned 
later.  *  Salutes  from  cannon  so  denominated. 

*  William  Coddington,  a  leading  man  through  wealth  and  high  character, 
for  several  years  treasurer  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  He  was  driven  forth  at  a  later 
time  during  the  "antinomian  excitement",  and  became  founder  and  governor  of 
the  Rhode  Island  or  Aquidneck  plantation,  as  Roger  Williams  was  of  Providence. 

""Prophecy,"  the  Puritan  equivalent  of  preaching. 

'Thomas  Dudley,  now  deputy-governor,  afterward  governor,  stood  second 
only  to  Winthrop  among  the  lay  citizens  of  the  colony.    Savage's  judgment  of  him 


1631]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  61 

Then  he  desired  the  governor  to  commend  himself  and  the 
rest  to  God  by  prayer;  which  being  done,  they  accompanied 
him  to  the  boat,  and  so  they  went  over  to  Charlestown  to  go 
by  land  to  the  ship.  This  ship  set  sail  from  Salem,  April  1, 
and  arrived  at  London  (all  safe)  April  29. 

April.]  The  beginning  of  this  month  we  had  very  much 
rain  and  warm  weather.  It  is  a  general  rule,  that  when  the 
wind  blows  twelve  hours  in  any  part  of  the  east,  it  brings 
rain  or  snow  in  great  abundance. 

4.]  Wahginnacut,  a  sagamore  upon  the  River  Quonehta- 
cut  ^  which  hes  west  of  Naragancet,  came  to  the  governor  at 
Boston,  with  John  Sagamore,  and  Jack  Straw,  (an  Indian,  who 
had  lived  in  England  and  had  served  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  [?],  and 
was  now  turned  Indian  again,)  and  divers  of  their  sannops, 
and  brought  a  letter  to  the  governor  from  Mr.  Endecott  to 
this  effect:  That  the  said  Wahginnacut  was  very  desirous  to 
have  some  Englishmen  to  come  plant  in  his  country,  and  offered 
to  find  them  com,  and  give  them  yearly  eighty  skins  of  beaver, 
and  that  the  country  was  very  fruitful,  etc.,  and  wished  that 
there  might  be  two  men  sent  with  him  to  see  the  country. 
The  governor  entertained  them  at  dinner,  but  would  send 
none  with  him.  He  discovered  after,  that  the  said  sagamore 
is  a  very  treacherous  man,  and  at  war  with  the  Pekoath^  (a  far 
greater  sagamore).  His  country  is  not  above  five  days' 
journey  from  us  by  land. 

12.]  At  a  court  holden  at  Boston,  (upon  information  to  the 
governor,  that  they  of  Salem  had  called  Mr.  Williams  to  the 
office  of  a  teacher,)'  a  letter  was  written  from  the  court  to  Mr. 

is  harsh,  and  has  been  controverted  of  late  years.  See  Augustine  Jones,  Life  of 
Thomas  Dudley.  He  was  undoubtedly  a  worthy  and  serviceable  character, 
though  severely  Puritan,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  a  long  and  distinguished  line. 
Before  the  immigration,  as  steward  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln  he  became  a  well 
trained  man  of  affairs,  in  touch  with  the  great  world.  In  early  life  he  served  as 
a  soldier  under  Henry  IV.  of  France.  His  figure  in  the  story  is  only  less  promi- 
nent than  that  of  Winthrop. 

*  Connecticut.  *  Pequot. 

'  Roger  Williams,  who  reached  New  England  in  1631,  was  soon  invited  to 


62  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1631 

Endecott  to  this  effect :  That  whereas  Mr.  Williams  had  refused 
to  join  with  the  congregation  at  Boston,  because  they  would 
not  make  a  public  declaration  of  their  repentance  for  having 
communion  with  the  churches  of  England,  while  they  Hved 
there;  and,  besides,  had  declared  his  opinion,  that  the  magis- 
trate might  not  punish  the  breach  of  the  Sabbath,  nor  any  other 
offence,  as  it  was  a  breach  of  the  first  table;  therefore,  they 
marvelled  they  would  choose  him  without  advising  with  the 
council;  and  withal  desiring  him,  that  they  would  forbear  to 
proceed  till  they  had  conferred  about  it. 

13.]  Chickatabot  came  to  the  governor,  and  desired  to  buy 
some  EngHsh  clothes  for  himself.  The  governor  told  him, 
that  English  sagamores  did  not  use  to  truck ;  but  he  called  his 
tailor  and  gave  him  order  to  make  him  a  suit  of  clothes; 
whereupon  he  gave  the  governor  two  large  skins  of  coat  beaver, 
and,  after  he  and  his  men  had  dined,  they  departed,  and  said 
he  would  come  again  three  days  after  for  his  suit. 

14.]  We  began  a  court  of  guard  upon  the  neck  between 
Roxbury  and  Boston,  whereupon  should  be  always  resident  an 
officer  and  six  men. 

An  order  was  made  last  court,  that  no  man  should  dis- 
charge a  piece  after  sunset,  except  by  occasion  of  alarm. 

15.]  Chickatabot  came  to  the  governor  again,  and  he  put 
him  into  a  very  good  new  suit  from  head  to  foot,  and  after  he 
set  meat  before  them;  but  he  would  not  eat  till  the  governor 
had  given  thanks,  and  after  meat  he  desired  him  to  do  the  like, 
and  so  departed. 

fill  the  place  of  John  Wilson,  who  had  gone  to  England  on  a  visit.  Finding 
fault  with  his  conp;regation  as  "  unseparated "  from  the  Church  of  England,  or 
not  formally  withdrawn,  and  disliking  the  control  assumed  by  the  Boston  church 
over  the  individual  conscience,  he  went  in  April  to  Salem,  succeeding  there  as 
teacher  Francis  Higginson,  who  had  lately  died.  The  passage  makes  plain  the 
disapproval  by  those  in  power  of  the  haste  of  the  Salem  church.  Williams  con- 
tinued uncompromising  in  his  opposition.  "The  first  table",  breaches  of  which 
the  magistrates,  in  his  idea,  had  no  right  to  punish,  included  the  four  command- 
ments of  the  decalogue  first  in  order.  In  a  few  months,  he  left  Salem  for  the 
more  congenial  atmosphere  of  Plymouth. 


1631]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  63 

21.]  The  house  of  John  Page  of  Watertown  was  burnt  by 
carrying  a  few  coals  from  one  house  to  another:  a  coal  fell  by 
the  way  and  kindled  in  the  leaves. 

One  Mr.  Gardiner,  (calling  himself  Sir  Christopher  Gardi- 
ner/ knight  of  the  golden  mehce,)  being  accused  to  have 
two  wives  in  England,  was  sent  for;  but  he  had  intelligence, 
and  escaped,  and  travelled  up  and  down  among  the  Indians 
about  a  month ;  but,  by  means  of  the  governor  of  Plymouth, 
he  was  taken  by  the  Indians  about  Namasket,^  and  brought 
to  Plymouth,  and  from  thence  he  was  brought,  by  Capt. 
UnderhilP  and  his  Lieut.  Dudley,  May  4,  to  Boston. 

16]  There  was  an  alarm  given  to  all  our  towns  in  the  night, 
by  occasion  of  a  piece  which  was  shot  off,  (but  where  could 
not  be  known,)  and  the  Indians  having  sent  us  word  the  day 
before,  that  the  Mohawks  were  coming  down  against  them 
and  us. 

17.]  A  general  court  at  Boston."  The  former  governor 
was  chosen  again,  and  all  the  freemen  of  the  commons  were 
sworn  to  this  government.  At  noon,  Cheeseborough's  house 
was  burnt  down,  all  the  people  being  present. 

'  As  to  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner's  true  character  and  purposes  much  doubt 
prevails.  He  is  surmised  to  have  been  a  spy  or  agent  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges. 
His  Hfe  was  not  reputable,  nor  did  he  avoid  giving  occasion  for  suspicion.  Prob- 
ably it  was  not  treatment  unduly  harsh  to  send  him  out  of  the  country,  but  it 
was  impolitic.  Together  with  Thomas  Morton  and  Ratcliffe  (presently  to  be 
mentioned,  an  humbler  associate,  who  had  suffered  the  New  England  discipHne), 
he  bitterly  denounced  in  England  the  administration  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 
See  Adams,  Three  Episodes,  250  et  seqq. 

^  Namasket,  later  Middlcborough.  See  Bradford,  History  of  Plymouth 
Plantation,  in  this  series,  pp.  286-288. 

^  Captain  John  Underbill  often  appears  in  Winthrop's  narrative — a  forceful 
personality  sometimes  serviceable,  as  in  the  Pequot  war,  but  often  troublesome 
and  dangerous.  We  find  him  hypocritical  and  licentious,  under  a  religious  mask 
practising  evil.  He  was  subjected  to  merited  punishment,  and  in  later  years 
played  a  part  in  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  and  Long  Island. 

*  The  General  Court  was  the  annual  meeting  of  the  members  or  stockholders 
of  the  Massachusetts  Company.  According  to  the  charter  a  general  court  for 
elections  should  take  place  April  18  [not  17],  1631.  The  General  Court  was  at 
the  beginning,  and  until  1634,  a  primary  assembly;  but  by  recent  and  temporary 
legislation  the  choice  of  governor  was  entrusted  to  the  assistants. 


64  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1631 

27.]  There  came  from  Virginia  into  Salem  a  pinnace  of 
eighteen  tons,  laden  with  corn  and  tobacco.  She  was  bound 
to  the  north,  and  put  in  there  by  foul  weather.  She  sold 
her  corn  at  ten  shillings  the  bushel. 

June  14.]  At  a  court,  John  Sagamore  and  Chickatabot 
being  told  at  last  court  of  some  injuries  that  their  men  did  to 
our  cattle,  and  giving  consent  to  make  satisfaction,  etc.,  now 
one  of  their  men  was  complained  of  for  shooting  a  pig,  etc., 
for  which  Chickatabot  was  ordered  to  pay  a  small  skin  of 
beaver,  which  he  presently  paid. 

At  this  court  one  PhiHp  Ratchff,^  a  servant  of  Mr.  Cradock, 
being  convict,  ore  tenus,  of  most  foul,  scandalous  invectives 
against  our  churches  and  government,  was  censured  to  be 
whipped,  lose  his  ears,  and  be  banished  the  plantation,  which 
was  presently  executed. 

25.]  There  came  a  shallop  from  Pascataqua,  which  brought 
news  of  a  small  English  ship  come  thither  with  provisions  and 
some  Frenchmen  to  make  salt.  By  this  boat,  Capt.  Neal,  gov- 
ernor of  Pascataqua,  sent  a  packet  of  letters  to  the  governor, 
directed  to  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,  which,  when  the  governor 
had  opened,  he  found  it  came  from  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges, 
(who  claims  a  great  part  of  the  Bay  of  Massachusetts).  In 
the  packet  was  one  letter  to  Thomas  Morton,  (sent  prisoner 
before  into  England  upon  the  lord  chief  justice's  warrant:) 
by  both  which  letters  it  appeared,  that  he  had  some  secret 
design  to  recover  his  pretended  right,  and  that  he  reposed 
much  trust  in  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner. 

These  letters  we  opened,  because  they  were  directed  to  one, 
who  was  our  prisoner,  and  had  declared  himself  an  ill  wilier  to 
our  government.^ 

27.]    There  came  to  the  governor  Capt.  Southcot  [?]  of 

^  However  Ratcliffe  may  have  offended,  the  barbarity  of  his  punishment 
is  very  shocking.     Savage  cites  evidence  that  it  excited  notice  in  England. 

*  The  fact  that  this  paragraph  was  inserted  at  a  later  time  into  the  margin 
of  the  Journal,  suggests,  thinks  Savage,  that  the  governor  felt  some  compunction 
here. 


1631]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  65 

Dorchester,  and  brought  letters  out  of  the  White  Angel, 
(which  was  lately  arrived  at  Sauco).  She  brought  [blank] 
cows,  goats,  and  hogs,  and  many  provisions,  for  the  bay  and 
for  Plymouth.  Mr.  Allerton  returned  in  this  ship,  and  by  him 
we  heard,  that  the  Friendship,  which  put  out  from  Barnstable 
[blank]  weeks  before  the  Angel,  was  forced  home  again  by  ex- 
tremity of  foul  weather,  and  so  had  given  over  her  voyage. 
This  ship,  the  Angel,  set  sail  from  [blank].^ 

July  4.]  The  governor  built  a  bark  at  Mistick,  which  was 
launched  this  day,  and  called  the  Blessing  of  the  Bay. 

6.]  A  small  ship  of  sixty  tons  arrived  at  Natascott,  Mr. 
Graves  master.  She  brought  ten  passengers  from  London .  They 
came  with  a  patent  to  Sagadahock,  but,  not  liking  the  place, 
they  came  hither.  Their  ship  drew  ten  feet,  and  went  up  to 
Watertown,  but  she  ran  on  ground  twice  by  the  way.  These 
were  the  company  called  the  Husbandmen,  and  their  ship  called 
the  Plough .    Most  of  them  proved  f amilists  ^  and  vanished  away. 

13.]  Canonicus'  son,  the  great  sachem  of  Naraganset, 
came  to  the  governor's  house  with  John  Sagamore.  After 
they  had  dined,  he  gave  the  governor  a  skin,  and  the  governor 
requited  him  with  a  fair  pewter  pot,  which  he  took  very  thank- 
fully, and  stayed  all  night. 

*From  Bristol.  The  Friendship  and  the  White  Angel  figure  largely  in 
Bradford's  pages,  under  this  year. 

'  Through  ignorance  and  fanaticism  many  strange  and  even  dangerous  doc- 
trines prevailed  in  the  seventeenth  century,  as  the  old  repression  relaxed.  Ed- 
wards, a  Presbyterian,  a  little  later  than  this  when  the  Independents  were  en- 
forcing toleration,  wrote  a  book  called  Gangraena,  in  which  are  enumerated  one 
hundred  and  seventy-six  forms  of  false  belief,  some  of  which  certainly  were  of 
a  character  to  disquiet  the  friends  of  law  and  order.  The  Familists  professed  the 
principle  that  religion  lay  in  love  irrespective  of  faith,  a  tenet  no  doubt  harmless 
when  intelligently  held,  but  liable  in  rude  minds  to  run  into  licentious  extremes. 
The  magistrates  can  hardly  be  blamed  for  looking  askance  at  the  "Husband- 
men" who  arrived  in  the  Plough.  The  "Plough  patent"  which  this  forlorn  com- 
pany were  designed  to  occupy,  lay  in  Maine,  between  Capes  Porpoise  and  Eliza- 
beth: it  was  sometimes  called  Lygonia.  The  title  was  soon  held  to  have  no 
validity,  and  Lygonia  "vanished  away."  For  an  account  of  its  fortunes,  see 
Charles  Deane  in  Winsor,  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  III.  322, 
and  The  Genealogist,  new  series,  XIX.  270. 


66  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1631 

14.]  The  ship  called  the  Friendship,  of  Barnstable,  ar- 
rived at  Boston,  after  she  had  been  at  sea  eleven  weeks,  and 
beaten  back  again  by  foul  weather.  She  set  sail  from  Barn- 
stable again  about  the  midst  of  May.  She  landed  here  eight 
heifers,  and  one  calf,  and  five  sheep. 

21.]  The  governor,  and  deputy,  and  Mr.  Nowell,  the  elder 
of  the  congregation  at  Boston,  went  to  Watertown  to  confer 
with  Mr.  PhiUips,  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Brown,  the  elder  of  the 
congregation  there,  about  an  opinion,  which  they  had  pub- 
lished, that  the  churches  of  Rome  were  true  churches.  The 
matter  was  debated  before  many  of  both  congregations, 
and,  by  the  approbation  of  all  the  assembly,  except  three,  was 
concluded  an  error. 

22.]  The  White  Angel  came  into  the  bay.  She  landed 
here  twenty-one  heifers. 

26.]  A  small  bark  of  Salem,  of  about  twelve  tons,  coming 
towards  the  bay,  John  Elston  and  two  of  Mr.  Cradock's  fish- 
ermen being  in  her,  and  two  tons  of  stone,  and  three  hogs- 
heads of  train  oil,  was  overset  in  a  gust,  and,  being  buoyed 
up  by  the  oil,  she  floated  up  and  down  forty-eight  hours,  and 
the  three  men  sitting  upon  her,  till  Henry  Way  his  boat,  com- 
ing by,  espied  them  and  saved  them. 

29.]  The  Friendship  set  sail  for  the  Christopher  Islands,^ 
and  ran  on  ground  behind  Conant's  Island. 

30.]  The  White  Angel  fell  down  for  Plymouth,  but,  the 
wind  not  serving,  she  came  to  an  anchor  by  Long  Island,  and 
ran  on  ground  a  week  after,  near  Gurnett's  Nose. 

Mr.  Ludlow,  in  digging  the  foundation  of  his  house  at  Dor- 
chester, found  two  pieces  of  French  money:  one  was  coined 
in  1596.  They  were  in  several  places,  and  above  a  foot  within 
the  firm  ground. 

August  8.]  The  Tarentines,  to  the  number  of  one  hundred, 
came  in  three  canoes,  and  in  the  night  assaulted  the  wigwam 
of  the  sagamore  of  Agawam,^  by  Merimack,  and  slew  seven 

'  St.  Christopher,  in  the  West  Indies.  *  Later,  Ipswich. 


1631]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  67 

men,  and  wounded  John  Sagamore,  and  James,  and  some 
others,  (whereof  some  died  after,)  and  rifled  a  wigwam  where 
Mr.  Cradock's  men  kept  to  catch  sturgeon,  took  away  their 
nets  and  biscuit,  etc. 

19.]  The  Plough  returned  to  Charlestown,  after  she  had 
been  on  her  way  to  the  Christopher  Islands  about  three  weeks, 
and  was  so  broke  she  could  not  return  home. 

31.]  The  governor's  bark,  called  the  Blessing  of  the  Bay, 
being  of  thirty  tons,  went  to  sea. 

September  6.]  The  White  Angel  set  sail  from  Marble 
Harbor. 

About  this  time  last  year  the  company  here  set  forth  a 
pinnace  to  the  parts  about  Cape  Cod,  to  trade  for  corn,  and  it 
brought  here  above  eighty  bushels.  This  year  again  the  Sa- 
lem pinnace,  being  bound  thither  for  corn,  was,  by  contrary 
winds,  put  into  Plymouth,  where  the  governor,  etc.,  fell  out 
with  them,  not  only  forbidding  them  to  trade,  but  also  telling 
them  they  would  oppose  them  by  force,  even  to  the  spending  of 
their  lives,  etc. ;  whereupon  they  returned,  and  acquainting  the 
governor  of  Massachusetts  with  it,  he  wrote  to  the  governor 
of  Plymouth  this  letter,  here  inserted,  with  their  answer,  which 
came  about  a  month  after.* 

The  wolves  did  much  hurt  to  calves  and  swine  between 
Charles  River  and  Mistick. 

At  the  last  court,  a  young  fellow  was  whipped  for  soliciting 
an  Indian  squaw  to  incontinency.  Her  husband  and  she 
complained  of  the  wrong,  and  were  present  at  the  execution, 
and  very  well  satisfied. 

At  the  same  court,  one  Henry  Linne  was  whipped  and  ban- 
ished, for  writing  letters  into  England  full  of  slander  against 
our  government  and  orders  of  our  churches. 

17.]  Mr.  Shurd  of  Pemaquid  sent  home  James  Saga- 
more's wife,  who  had  been  taken  away  at  the  surprise  at  Aga- 

*  These  documents  are  not  in  the  manuscripts  of  the  Journal,  and  have 
disappeared. 


68  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1631 

warn,  and  writ  that  the  Indians  demanded  [blank]  fathom  of 
wampampeague  and  [blank]  skins  for  her  ransom. 

27.]  At  a  court,  one  Josias  Plaistowe  and  two  of  his  ser- 
vants were  censured  for  stealing  com  from  Chickatabot  and 
his  men,  (who  were  present,)  the  master  to  restore  two  fold, 
and  to  be  degraded  from  the  title  of  a  gentleman,  and  fined 
five  pounds,  and  his  men  to  be  whipped.* 

October  4.]  The  Blessing  went  on  a  voyage  to  the  east- 
ward. 

11.]  The  governor,  being  at  his  farm  house  at  Mistick, 
walked  out  after  supper,  and  took  a  piece  in  his  hand  suppos- 
ing he  might  see  a  wolf,  (for  they  came  daily  about  the  house, 
and  killed  swine  and  calves,  etc. ;)  and,  being  about  half  a  mile 
off,  it  grew  suddenly  dark,  so  as,  in  coming  home,  he  mistook 
his  path,  and  went  till  he  came  to  a  Uttle  house  of  Sagamore 
John,  which  stood  empty.  There  he  stayed,  and  having  a 
piece  of  match  in  his  pocket,  (for  he  always  carried  about  him 
match  and  a  compass,  and  in  summer  time  snake- weed,)  he 
made  a  good  fire  near  the  house,  and  lay  down  upon  some 
old  mats,  which  he  found  there,  and  so  spent  the  night,  some- 
times walking  by  the  fire,  sometimes  singing  psalms,  and  some- 
times getting  wood,  but  could  not  sleep.  It  was  (through 
God's  mercy)  a  warm  night ;  but  a  little  before  day  it  began 
to  rain,  and,  having  no  cloak,  he  made  shift  by  a  long  pole 
to  chmb  up  into  the  house.  In  the  morning,  there  came 
thither  an  Indian  squaw,  but  perceiving  her  before  she  had 
opened  the  door,  he  barred  her  out ;  yet  she  stayed  there  a  great 
while  essaying  to  get  in,  and  at  last  she  went  away,  and  he 
returned  safe  home,  his  servants  having  been  much  perplexed 

^  "  Copying  exactly  the  sentence  of  the  court,  appears  to  me  the  best  ex- 
planation of  this  passage:  'It  is  ordered,  that  Josias  Plastowe  shall  (for  stealing 
four  baskets  of  corn  from  the  Indians)  return  them  eight  baskets  again,  be  fined 
£5,  and  hereafter  to  be  called  by  the  name  of  Josias  and  not  Mr.  as  formerly 
he  used  to  be;  and  that  William  Buckland  and  Thomas  Andrew  shall  be 
whipped  for  being  accessory  to  the  same  offence.'  We  must  conclude,  therefore, 
that  our  fathers  thought  the  whipping  of  the  servants  a  lighter  punishment  than 
the  degradation  of  the  master."     (Savage.) 


1631]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  69 

for  him,  and  having  walked  about,  and  shot  off  pieces,  and 
hallooed  in  the  night,  but  he  heard  them  not. 

22.]  The  governor  received  a  letter  from  Capt.  Wiggin* 
of  Pascataquack,  informing  him  of  a  murder  committed  the 
third  of  this  month  at  Richman's  Isle,  by  an  Indian  sagamore, 
called  Squidrayset,  and  his  company,  upon  one  Walter  Bag- 
nail,  called  Great  Watt,  and  one  John  P ,  who  kept  with 

him.  They,  having  killed  them,  burnt  the  house  over  them, 
and  carried  away  their  guns  and  what  else  they  liked.  He 
persuaded  the  governor  to  send  twenty  men  presently  to  take 
revenge ;  but  the  governor,  advising  with  some  of  the  council, 
thought  best  to  sit  still  awhile,  partly  because  he  heard  that 
Capt.  Neal,  etc.,  were  gone  after  them,  and  partly  because  of 
the  season,  (it  being  then  frost  and  snow,)  and  want  of  boats 
fit  for  that  expedition.  This  Bagnall  was  sometimes  servant 
to  one  in  the  bay,  and  these  three  years  had  dwelt  alone  in  the 
said  isle,  and  had  gotten  about  £400  most  in  goods.  He  was 
a  wicked  fellow,  and  had  much  wronged  the  Indians. 

25.]  The  governor,  with  Capt.  Underbill  and  others  of  the 
officers,  went  on  foot  to  Sagus,^  and  next  day  to  Salem,  where 
they  were  bountifully  entertained  by  Capt.  Endecott,  etc., 
and,  the  28th,  they  returned  to  Boston  by  the  ford  at  Sagus 
River,  and  so  over  at  Mistick. 

A  plentiful  crop. 

30.]  The  governor,  having  erected  a  building  of  stone  at 
Mistick,  there  came  so  violent  a  storm  of  rain,  for  twenty-four 
hours,  from  the  N.  E.  and  S.  E.  as  (it  being  not  finished,  and 
laid  with  clay  for  want  of  Hme)  two  sides  of  it  were  washed 

1 "  Thomas  Wiggin  was  agent, -or  governor,  of  the  upper  plantation,  as  Neal 
was  of  the  lower.  He  was  a  worthy  man,  without  doubt;  for  the  Puritan  peers, 
Say  and  Brooke,  employed  him  as  their  representative,  and  he  gave  evidence  in 
favor  of  our  people  against  Gorges  and  Mason.  In  1650,  after  the  union  of 
New  Hampshire  with  our  colony,  he  became  one  of  the  assistants,  Hutch.  I. 
150,  and,  two  years  later,  was  among  the  commissioners  to  receive  the  submis- 
sion of  the  inhabitants  of  Maine."  (Savage.)  Bagnall  had  been  one  of 
Morton's  men  at  Merry  Mount.  Richmond  Island  is  on  the  coast  of  Maine, 
just  south  of  Cape  Elizabeth.  *  Sagus  or  Saugus,  later  Lynn. 


70  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1631 

down  to  the  ground ;  and  much  harm  was  done  to  other  houses 
by  that  storm. 

Mr.  P3Tichon's  boat,  coming  from  Sagadahock,  was  cast 
away  at  Cape  Ann,  but  the  men  and  chief  goods  saved,  and 
the  boat  recovered. 

November  2.]  The  ship  Lyon,  Wilham  Peirce  master,  ar- 
rived at  Natascot.^  There  came  in  her  the  governor's  wife, 
his  eldest  son,  and  his  wife,  and  others  of  his  children,  and 
Mr  Eliot, ^  a  minister,  and  other  families,  being  in  all  about 
sixty  persons,  who  all  arrived  in  good  health,  having  been  ten 
weeks  at  sea,  and  lost  none  of  their  company  but  two  children, 
whereof  one  was  the  governor's  daughter  Ann,  about  one  year 
and  a  half  old,  who  died  about  a  week  after  they  came  to 
sea. 

3.]  The  wind  being  contrary,  the  ship  stayed  at  Long 
Island,  but  the  governor's  son  came  on  shore,  and  that  night 
the  governor  went  to  the  ship,  and  lay  aboard  all  night; 
and  the  next  morning,  the  wind  coming  fair,  she  came  to  an 
anchor  before  Boston. 

4.]  The  governor,  his  wife  and  children,  went  on  shore, 
with  Mr.  Peirce,  in  his  ship's  boat.  The  ship  gave  them  six 
or  seven  pieces.  At  their  landing,  the  captains,  with  their 
companies  in  arms,  entertained  them  with  a  guard,  and  divers 
vollies  of  shot,  and  three  drakes;  and  divers  of  the  assistants 
and  most  of  the  people,  of  the  near  plantations,  came  to  welcome 
them,  and  brought  and  sent,  for  divers  days,  great  store 
of  provisions,  as  fat  hogs,  kids,  venison,  poultry,  geese,  par- 

^  Captain  Peirce  and  the  Lyon,  so  serviceable  to  the  new  colony,  brought 
over  on  this  trip,  beside  much-needed  supplies,  important  people.  Margaret 
Winthrop,  third  wife  of  the  governor,  was  a  most  worthy  matron.  Her  piety, 
affection,  and  helpfulness,  appear  in  her  many  letters,  preserved  in  R.  C.  Win- 
throp, Life  and  Letters  of  John  Winthrop,  where  also  are  abundant  genealogical 
details  as  to  the  governor's  family.  John  Winthrop,  jr.,  stepson  of  Margaret, 
became  the  honored  governor  of  Connecticut,  and  is  only  less  distinguished  in 
New  England  history  than  his  father. 

*  John  Eliot,  born  in  1604,  and  educated  at  Jesus  College,  Cambridge, 
became  in  1632  teacher  at  Roxbury,  and  later  the  famous  apostle  to  the  Indians. 
There  will  be  mention  of  him  hereafter. 


1631]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  71 

tridges,  etc.,  so  as  the  like  joy  and  manifestation  of  love  had 
never  been  seen  in  New  England.  It  was  a  great  marvel,  that 
so  much  people  and  such  store  of  provisions  could  be  gathered 
together  at  so  few  hours'  warning. 

11.]    We  kept  a  day  of  thanksgiving  at  Boston. 

17.]  The  governor  of  Plymouth^  came  to  Boston,  and 
lodged  in  the  ship. 

23.]  Mr.  Peirce  went  down  to  his  ship,  which  lay  at  Nan- 
tascot.  Divers  went  home  with  him  into  England  by  Virginia, 
as  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  his  eldest  son  and  others ;  and  they 
were  six  weeks  in  going  to  Virginia. 

The  congregation  at  Watertown  (whereof  Mr.  George  Phil- 
lips was  pastor)  had  chosen  one  Richard  Brown  for  their  elder, 
before  named,  who,  persisting  in  his  opinion  of  the  truth  of  the 
Romish  church,  and  maintaining  other  errors  withal,  and 
being  a  man  of  a  very  violent  spirit,  the  court  wrote  a  letter 
to  the  congregation,  directed  to  the  pastor  and  brethren,  to 
advise  them  to  take  into  consideration,  whether  Mr.  Brown 
were  fit  to  be  continued  their  elder  or  not;  to  which,  after 
some  weeks,  they  returned  answer  to  this  effect:  That  if  we 
would  take  the  pains  to  prove  such  things  as  were  objected 
against  him,  they  would  endeavor  to  redress  them. 

December  8.]  The  said  congregation  being  much  divided 
about  their  elder,  both  parties  repaired  to  the  governor  for 
assistance,  etc.;  whereupon  he  went  to  Watertown,  with  the 
deputy  governor  and  Mr.  Nowell,  and  the  congregation  being 
assembled,  the  governor  told  them,  that  being  come  to  settle 
peace,  etc.,  they  might  proceed  in  three  distinct  respects::  1. 
As  the  magistrates,  (their  assistance  being  desired).  2.  As 
members  of  a  neighboring  congregation.  3.  Upon  the  an- 
swer which  we  received  of  our  letter,  which  did  no  way  satisfy 
us.  But  the  pastor,  Mr.  PhilHps,  desired  us  to  sit  with  them 
as  members  of  a  neighboring  congregation  only,  whereto  the 
governor,  etc.,  consented. 

1  William  Bradford, 


72  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1631 

Then  the  one  side,  which  had  first  complained,  were  moved 
to  open  their  grievances ;  which  they  did  to  this  effect :  That 
they  could  not  communicate  with  their  elder,  being  guilty  of 
errors,  both  in  judgment  and  conversation.  After  much  de- 
bate of  these  things,  at  length  they  were  reconciled,  and  agreed 
to  seek  God  in  a  day  of  humiliation,  and  so  to  have  a  solemn 
imiting;  each  party  promising  to  reform  what  hath  been 
amiss,  etc.;  and  the  pastor  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  the  as- 
sembly brake  up. 


1632 

January  27.]  The  governor,  and  some  company  with  him, 
went  up  by  Charles  River  about  eight  miles  above  Watertown, 
and  named  the  first  brook,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
(being  a  fair  stream,  and  coming  from  a  pond  a  mile  from  the 
river,)  Beaver  Brook,  because  the  beavers  had  shorn  down 
divers  great  trees  there,  and  made  divers  dams  across  the 
brook.  Thence  they  went  to  a  great  rock,  upon  which  stood 
a  high  stone,  cleft  in  sunder,  that  four  men  might  go  through, 
which  they  called  Adam's  Chair,  because  the  youngest  of  their 
company  was  Adam  Winthrop.  Thence  they  came  to  another 
brook,  greater  than  the  former,  which  they  called  Masters' 
Brook,  because  the  eldest  of  their  company  was  one  John 
Masters.  Thence  they  came  to  another  high  pointed  rock, 
having  a  fair  ascent  on  the  west  side,  which  they  called  Mount 
Feake,  from  one  Robert  Feake,  who  had  married  the  gov- 
ernor's daughter-in-law.  On  the  west  side  of  Mount  Feake, 
they  went  up  a  very  high  rock,  from  whence  they  might  see  all 
over  Neipnett,  and  a  very  high  hill  due  west,  about  forty 
miles  off,  and  to  the  N.  W.  the  high  hills  by  Merrimack,  above 
sixty  miles  off.^ 

February  7.]  The  governor,  Mr.  Nowell,  Mr.  EHot,  and 
others,  went  over  Mistick  River  at  Medford,  and  going  N.  and 
by  E.  among  the  rocks  about  two  or  three  miles,  they  came  to 
a  very  great  pond,  having  in  the  midst  an  island  of  about  one 
acre,  and  very  thick  with  trees  of  pine  and  beech;  and  the 
pond  had  divers  small  rocks,  standing  up  here  and  there  in  it, 
which  they  therefore  called  Spot  Pond.^    They  went  all  about 

'  It  is  easy  to-day  to  trace  the  governor's  routes.  Beaver  Brook  still  retains 
its  name;  the  mountain  seen  to  the  west  was  Wachusett;  the  spurs  of  Monadnoc 
are  the  highlands  northward.  ^  It  is  still  "Spot  Pond." 

73 


74  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1632 

it  upon  the  ice.  From  thence  (towards  the  N.  W.  about  half 
a  mile,)  they  came  to  the  top  of  a  very  high  rock,  beneath 
which,  (towards  the  N.)  Hes  a  goodly  plain,  part  open  land, 
and  part  woody,  from  whence  there  is  a  fair  prospect,  but  it 
being  then  close  and  rainy,  they  could  see  but  a  small  distance. 
This  place  they  called  Cheese  Rock,  because,  when  they  went 
to  eat  somewhat,  they  had  only  cheese,  (the  governor's  man 
forgetting,  for  haste,  to  put  up  some  bread). 

14.]  The  governor  and  some  other  company  went  to  view 
the  country  as  far  as  Neponsett,  and  returned  that  night. 

17.]  The  governor  and  assistants  called  before  them,  at 
Boston,  divers  of  Watertown;  the  pastor  and  elder  by  letter, 
and  the  others  by  warrant.  The  occasion  was,  for  that  a  war- 
rant being  sent  to  Watertown  for  levying  of  £8,  part  of  a  rate 
of  £60,  ordered  for  the  fortifying  of  the  new  town,^  the  pastor 
and  elder,  etc.,  assembled  the  people  and  deUvered  their  opin- 
ions, that  it  was  not  safe  to  pay  moneys  after  that  sort,  for  fear 
of  bringing  themselves  and  posterity  into  bondage.  Being 
come  before  the  governor  and  council,  after  much  debate,  they 
acknowledged  their  fault,  confessing  freely,  that  they  were  in 
an  error,  and  made  a  retractation  and  submission  under  their 
hands,  and  were  enjoined  to  read  it  in  the  assembly  the  next 
Lord's  day.  The  ground  of  their  error  was,  for  that  they  took 
this  government  to  be  no  other  but  as  of  a  mayor  and  aldermen, 
who  have  not  power  to  make  laws  or  raise  taxations  without 
the  people;  but  understanding  that  this  government  was 
rather  in  the  nature  of  a  parliament,  and  that  no  assistant 
could  be  chosen  but  by  the  freemen,  who  had  power  hkewise 
to  remove  the  assistants  and  put  in  others,  and  therefore  at 
every  general  court  (which  was  to  be  held  once  every  year) 
they  had  free  liberty  to  consider  and  propound  anj^hing  con- 
cerning the  same,  and  to  declare  their  grievances,  without  being 

*  Newtown,  later  Cambridge.  Old  willows  still  exist  which  perhaps  de- 
scend from  stocks  in  the  ancient  palisade.  Jones,  Life  of  Dudley,  gives  an  interest- 
ing picture  of  a  group  till  lately  standing  in  Holmes  Field. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  75 

subject  to  question,  or,  etc.,  they  were  fully  satisfied;  and  so 
their  submission  was  accepted,  and  their  offence  pardoned/ 

March  5.]  The  first  court  after  winter.  It  was  ordered, 
that  the  courts  (which  before  were  every  three  weeks)  should 
now  be  held  the  first  Tuesday  in  every  month. 

Conamissioners  appointed  to  set  out  the  bounds  of  the  towns. 

14.]  The  bark  Warwick  arrived  at  Natascott,  having  been 
at  Pascataquack  and  at  Salem  to  sell  corn,  which  she  brought 
from  Virginia.  At  her  coming  into  Natascott,  with  a  S.  E. 
wind,  she  was  in  great  danger,  by  a  sudden  gust,  to  be  cast 
away  upon  the  rocks. 

19.]    She  came  to  Winysemett. 

Mr.  Maverick,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Dorchester,  in  drying 
a  little  powder,  (which  took  fire  by  the  heat  of  the  fire  pan,) 
fired  a  small  barrel  of  two  or  three  pounds,  yet  did  no  other 
harm  but  singed  his  clothes.  It  was  in  the  new  meeting-house, 
which  was  thatched,  and  the  thatch  only  blacked  a  little. 

April  3.]  At  a  court  at  Boston,  the  deputy,  Mr.  Dudley, 
went  away  before  the  court  was  ended,  and  then  the  secretary 

^  The  new  government  was  changing  essentially,  and  Winthrop's  account 
being  meagre,  Savage's  note  may  be  quoted.  "  In  the  objection  of  these  gentle- 
men of  Watertown,  there  was  much  force,  for  no  power  was  by  the  charter  granted 
to  the  governor  and  assistants  to  raise  money  by  levy,  assessment  or  taxation. 
Indeed,  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  right  of  making  general  orders  or  laws;  for 
the  directors  of  the  company,  or  court  of  assistants,  could  only  be  executive. 
The  company,  or  great  body  of  the  corporation,  however,  submitted  at  first  to 
the  mild  and  equal  temporary  usurpation  of  the  officers,  chosen  by  themselves, 
which  was  also  justified  by  indisputable  necessity.  So  simply  patriarchal  was  the 
government,  and  so  indifferent  was  the  majority  of  the  settlers  to  retain  their  full 
charter  rights,  that,  at  the  first  general  court,  or  meeting  of  the  whole  company, 
held  at  Boston,  19  October  after  their  arrival,  'for  the  establishing  of  the  govern- 
ment, it  was  propounded,  if  it  were  not  the  best  course,  that  the  freemen  should 
have  the  power  of  choosing  assistants,  when  there  are  to  be  chosen,  and  the 
assistants,  from  amongst  themselves,  to  choose  a  governor  and  deputy  governor, 
who,  with  the  assistants,  should  have  the  power  of  making  laws  and  choosing 
officers  to  execute  the  same.  This  was  fully  assented  unto  by  the  general  vote  of 
the  people  and  erection  of  hands.'  Col.  Rec,  I.  62.  Such  an  extraordinary  sur- 
render of  power  proves,  that  no  jealousy  was  excited  by  the  former  assumption, 
by  the  .governor  and  assistants,  of  the  legislative,  in  addition  to  the  executive  and 
judicial  fimctions,  with  which  the  charter  seems  to  invest  them." 


76  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1632 

delivered  the  governor  a  letter  from  him,  directed  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  assistants,  wherein  he  declared  a  resignation  of  his 
deputyship  and  place  of  assistant;  but  it  was  not  allowed. 

At  this  court  an  act  was  made  expressing  the  governor's 
power,  etc.,  and  the  office  of  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  etc. 

9.]  The  bark  Warwick,  and  Mr.  Maverick's  pinnace,  went 
out  towards  Virginia. 

12.]  The  governor  received  letters  from  Plymouth,  signify- 
ing, that  there  had  been  a  broil  between  their  men  at  Sowam- 
set  and  the  Naraganset  Indians,  who  set  upon  the  English 
house  there  to  have  taken  Owsamequin,^  the  sagamore  of 
Packanocott,^  who  was  fled  thither  with  all  his  people  for 
refuge ;  and  that  Capt.  Standish,  being  gone  thither  to  relieve 
the  three  English,  which  were  in  the  house,  had  sent  home  in 
all  haste  for  more  men  and  other  provisions,  upon  intelHgence 
that  Canonicus,  with  a  great  army,  was  coming  against  them. 
Withal  they  writ  to  our  governor  for  some  powder  to  be  sent 
with  all  possible  speed,  (for  it  seemed  they  were  unfurnished). 
Upon  this  the  governor  presently  despatched  away  the  mes- 
senger with  so  much  powder  as  he  could  carry,  viz.,  twenty- 
seven  pounds. 

16.]  The  messenger  returned,  and  brought  a  letter  from 
the  governor,  signifying,  that  the  Indians  were  retired  from 
Sowams  to  fight  with  the  Pequins,  which  was  probable,  be- 
cause John  Sagamore  and  Chickatabott  were  gone  with  all 
their  men,  viz.,  John  Sagamore  with  thirty,  and  Chickatabott 
with  [blank]  to  Canonicus,  who  had  sent  for  them. 

A  wear  was  erected  by  Watertown  men  upon  Charles 
River,  three  miles  above  the  town,  where  they  took  great 
store  of  shads. 

A  Dutch  ship  brought  from  Virginia  two  thousand  bushels 
of  corn,  which  was  sold  at  four  shillings  sixpence  the  bushel. 

May  1.]    The  governor  and  assistants  met  at  Boston  to 

*  Osamequin,  better  known  as  Massasoit,  was  a  friend  of  the  English  and 
father  of  the  more  famous  Metacom,  or  King  Phihp.  '  Pokanoket. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  77 

consider  of  the  deputy  his  deserting  his  place/  The  points  dis- 
cussed were  two.  The  1st,  upon  what  grounds  he  did  it:  2d, 
whether  it  were  good  or  void.  For  the  1st,  his  main  reason 
was  for  pubhc  peace ;  because  he  must  needs  discharge  his  con- 
science in  speaking  freely;  and  he  saw  that  bred  disturbance, 
etc.  For  the  2d,  it  was  maintained  by  all,  that  he  could  not 
leave  his  place,  except  by  the  same  power  which  put  him  in ; 
yet  he  would  not  be  put  from  his  contrary  opinion,  nor  would 
be  persuaded  to  continue  till  the  general  court,  which  was  to 
be  the  9th  of  this  month. 

Another  question  fell  out  with  him,  about  some  bargains  he 
had  made  with  some  poor  men,  members  of  the  same  congre- 
gation, to  whom  he  had  sold  seven  bushels  and  an  half  of  corn 
to  receive  ten  for  it  after  harvest,  which  the  governor  and 
some  others  held  to  be  oppressing  usury,  and  within  compass 
of  the  statute ;  but  he  persisted  to  maintain  it  to  be  lawful,  and 
there  arose  hot  words  about  it,  he  telling  the  governor,  that, 
if  he  had  thought  he  had  sent  for  him  to  his  house  to  give  him 
such  usage,  he  would  not  have  come  there ;  and  that  he  never 
knew  any  man  of  understanding  of  other  opinion;  and  that 
the  governor  thought  otherwise  of  it,  it  was  his  weakness. 
The  governor  took  notice  of  these  speeches,  and  bare  them 
with  more  patience  than  he  had  done,  upon  a  like  occasion,  at 
another  time.  Upon  this  there  arose  another  question,  about 
his  house.  The  governor  having  formerly  told  him,  that 
he  did  not  well  to  bestow  such  cost  about  wainscotting  and 
adorning  his  house,  in  the  beginning  of  a  plantation,  both  in 
regard  of  the  necessity  of  public  charges,  and  for  example,  etc., 
his  answer  now  was,  that  it  was  for  the  warmth  of  his  house, 
and  the  charge  was  little,  being  but  clapboards  nailed  to  the 
wall  in  the  form  of  wainscot.  These  and  other  speeches 
passed  before  dinner.  After  dinner,  the  governor  told  them, 
that  he  had  heard,  that  the  people  intended,  at  the  next 

*  Dudley's  dissatisfaction  with  the  Winthrop  regime  will  before  long  mani- 
fest itself  more  violently. 


78  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1632 

general  court,  to  desire,  that  the  assistants  might  be  chosen 
anew  every  year,  and  that  the  governor  might  be  chosen 
by  the  whole  court,  and  not  by  the  assistants  only.  Upon 
this,  Mr.  Ludlow  grew  into  passion,  and  said,  that  then  we 
should  have  no  government,  but  there  would  be  an  interim, 
wherein  every  man  might  do  what  he  pleased,  etc.  This  was 
answered  and  cleared  in  the  judgment  of  the  rest  of  the  as- 
sistants, but  he  continued  stiff  in  his  opinion,  and  protested  he 
would  then  return  back  into  England. 

Another  business  fell  out,  which  was  this.  Mr.  Clark*  of 
Watertown  had  complained  to  the  governor,  that  Capt.  Pat- 
rick, being  removed  out  of  their  town  to  Newtown,  did  com- 
pel them  to  watch  near-  Newtown,  and  desired  the  governor, 
that  they  might  have  the  ordering  within  their  own  town.  The 
governor  answered  him,  that  the  ordering  of  the  watch  did 
properly  belong  to  the  constable ;  but  in  those  towns  where  the 
captains  dwelt,  they  had  thought  fit  to  leave  it  to  them,  and 
since  Capt.  Patrick  was  removed,  the  constable  might  take 
care  of  it;  but  advised  him  withal  to  acquaint  the  deputy 
with  it,  and  at  the  court  it  should  be  ordered.  Clark  went 
right  home  and  told  the  captain,  that  the  governor  had  ordered, 
that  the  constable  should  set  the  watch,  (which  was  false;) 
but  the  captain  answered  somewhat  rashly,  and  hke  a  soldier, 
which  being  certified  to  the  governor  by  three  witnesses,  he 
sent  a  warrant  to  the  constable  to  this  effect,  that  whereas  some 
difficulty  was  fallen  out,  etc.,  about  the  watch,  etc.,  he  should, 
according  to  his  office,  see  due  watch  should  be  kept  till  the 
court  had  taken  order  in  it.  This  much  displeased  the  captain, 
who  came  to  this  meeting  to  have  it  redressed.  The  governor 
told  the  rest  what  he  had  done,  and  upon  what  ground; 
whereupon  they  refused  to  do  anything  in  it  till  the  court. 

While  they  were  thus  sitting  together,  an  Indian  brings  a 

*  John  Clark,  as  constable  of  Watertown,  was  a  civil  oflScial,  while  Patrick 
belonged  to  the  class  of  whom  Miles  Standish,  John  Mason,  and  John  Underbill 
were  types,  veteran  soldiers  who  trained  to  good  purpose  the  planters,  exposed 
to  many  perils. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  79 

letter  from  Capt.  Standish,  then  at  Sowams,  to  this  effect,  that 
the  Dutchmen  (which  lay  for  trading  at  Anygansett  or  Nara- 
gansett)  had  lately  informed  him,  that  many  Pequins  (who 
were  professed  enemies  to  the  Anagansetts)  had  been  there 
divers  days,  and  advised  us  to  be  watchful,  etc.,  giving  other 
reasons,  etc. 

Thus  the  day  was  spent  and  no  good  done,  which  was  the 
more  uncomfortable  to  most  of  them,  because  they  had  com- 
mended this  meeting  to  God  in  more  earnest  manner  than 
ordinary  at  other  meetings. 

May  8.]  A  general  court  at  Boston.  Whereas  it  was 
(at  our  first  coming)  agreed,  that  the  freemen  should  choose 
the  assistants,  and  they  the  governor,  the  whole  court  agreed 
now,  that  the  governor  and  assistants  should  all  be  new 
chosen  every  year  by  the  general  court,  (the  governor  to  be 
always  chosen  out  of  the  assistants;)  and  accordingly  the  old 
governor,  John  Winthrop,  was  chosen;  accordingly  all  the 
rest  as  before,  and  Mr.  Humfrey*  and  Mr.  Coddington  also, 
because  they  were  daily  expected. 

The  deputy  governor,  Thomas  Dudley,  Esq.,  having  sub- 
mitted the  validity  of  his  resignation  to  the  vote  of  the  court, 
it  was  adjudged  a  nuUity,  and  he  accepted  of  his  place  again, 
and  the  governor  and  he  being  reconciled  the  day  before,  all 
things  were  carried  very  lovingly  amongst  all,  etc.,  and  the 
people  carried  themselves  with  much  silence  and  modesty. 

John  Winthrop,  the  governor's  son,  was  chosen  an  assistant. 

A  proposition  was  made  by  the  people,  that  every  company 
of  trained  men  might  choose  their  own  captain  and  officers; 
but  the  governor  giving  them  reasons  to  the  contrary,  they 
were  satisfied  without  it. 

Every  town  chose  two  men  to  be  at  the  next  court,  to  advise 
with  the  governor  and  assistants  about  the  raising  of  a  public 
stock,  so  as  what  they  should  agree  upon  should  bind  all,  etc. 

*  Humfrey  did  not  arrive  until  1634  nor  Coddington  till  1633 — noteworthy 
men,  accounts  of  whom  are  deferred  for  the  present. 


80  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1632 

This  court  was  begun  and  ended  with  speeches  for  the,  etc., 
as  formerly. 

The  governor,  among  other  things,  used  this  speech  to 
the  people,  after  he  had  taken  his  oath:  That  he  had  received 
gratuities  from  divers  towns,  which  he  received  with  much 
comfort  and  content;  he  had  also  received  many  kindnesses 
from  particular  persons,  which  he  would  not  refuse,  lest  he 
should  be  accounted  imcourteous,  etc.;  but  he  professed, 
that  he  received  them  with  a  trembUng  heart,  in  regard  of 
God's  rule,  and  the  consciousness  of  his  own  infirmity;  and 
therefore  desired  them,  that  hereafter  they  would  not  take 
it  ill,  if  he  did  refuse  presents  from  particular  persons,  except 
they  were  from  the  assistants,  or  from  some  special  friends; 
to  which  no  answer  was  made ;  but  he  was  told  after,  that  many 
good  people  were  much  grieved  at  it,  for  that  he  never  had  any 
allowance  towards  the  charge  of  his  place. 

24.]  The  fortification  upon  the  Corn  Hill  at  Boston  was 
begun. 

25.]  Charlestown  men  came  and  wrought  upon  the  forti- 
fication. 

Roxbury  the  next,  and  Dorchester  the  next. 

26.]  The  Whale  arrived  with  Mr.  Wilson,  Mr.  Dummer,* 
and  about  thirty  passengers,  all  in  health ;  and  of  seventy  cows 
lost  but  two.  She  came  from  Hampton,  April  8th.  Mr. 
Graves  was  master. 

June  5.]  The  William  and  Francis,  Mr.  Thomas  master, 
with  about   sixty   passengers,  whereof  Mr.  Welde^  and   old 

1  John  Wilson,  who  had  been  much  missed,  now  returns  with  a  wife.  Rich- 
ard Dummer  will  appear  hereafter  as  an  engaging  character.  He  was  ancestor 
of  Jeremy  and  William  Dummer,  eminent  citizens  of  a  later  time.  The  name 
of  the  family  is  still  commemorated  in  Dummer  Academy,  Newbury. 

"  Thomas  Welde,  coming  from  Essex,  at  once  became  pastor  at  Roxbury,  as 
John  Eliot  was  teacher.  He  will  appear  often  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  strictest 
upholders  of  the  theocracy,  being  particularly  active  against  Anne  Hutchinson. 
Savage  and  others  have  wrongly  ascribed  to  him  the  authorship  of  a  book  really 
written  by  Winthrop,  A  Short  Story  of  the  Rise,  Reign,  and  Ruin  of  the  Antino- 
mians,  Familists,  and  Libertines  that  infested  the  Churches  of  New  England, 
portions  of  which  are  included  in  this  volume.     Welde  returned  to  England  in 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  81 

Mr.  Batchelor*  (beirig  aged  71)  were,  with  their  families, 
and  many  other  honest  men ;  also,  the  Charles  of  Barnstable, 
with  near  eighty  cows  and  six  mares,  Mr.  Hatherly,^  the  mer- 
chant, and  about  twenty  passengers,  all  safe,  and  in  health. 
They  set  sail,  viz.,  the  William  and  Francis  from  London, 
March  the  9th,  and  the  Charles  from  Barnstable,  April  10th, 
and  met  near  Cape  Ann.  Mr.  Winslow^  of  Plymouth  came  in 
the  William  and  Francis. 

12.]  The  James,  Mr.  Grant  master,  arrived.  Her  passage 
was  eight  weeks  from  London.  She  brought  sixty-one  heifers 
and  lost  forty,  and  brought  twelve  passengers. 

1641,  with  Hugh  Peter,  as  agent  of  the  colony.  He  was  more  in  sympathy  with 
the  intolerance  of  the  Presbyterians  than  with  the  free  spirit  of  Independency. 
He  bore  himself  with  consistency,  conforming  neither  to  Independency  when  it 
was  in  power,  nor  later  to  the  restored  Church  of  England,  being  ejected  at  the 
Restoration  from  his  living  in  Durham. 

'  Stephen  Batchelor,  who  soon  became  minister  at  Lynn,  was,  like  Dummer, 
one  of  the  "  Company  of  Husbandmen." 

^  Timothy  Hatherley,  frequently  mentioned  by  Bradford  as  one  of  the  mer- 
chants who  aided  the  Pilgrims,  was  the  founder  of  Scituate. 

^  Edward  Winslow,  a  Worcestershire  gentleman,  born  in  1595,  was  socially 
highest  in  station  among  the  Plymouth  men.  He  became  later  the  most  con- 
spicuous in  the  band  and  was  surpassed  in  usefulness  only  by  Bradford  and 
Brewster,  if  by  them.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the  Plymouth  men  whose  portrait 
has  been  transmitted  to  us.  His  marriage  with  the  widow  of  William  White, 
mother  of  Peregrine  White,  the  first  white  child  born  in  New  England,  was  the 
earliest  marriage  in  New  England,  May  12,  1621.  He  travelled  over  Europe 
before  coming  to  America,  and  after  coming  was  the  trusted  agent  of  his  colony 
on  various  distant  commissions,  both  in  America  and  England.  In  1633  he 
became  governor  of  Plymouth  for  a  year,  but  his  tact  and  experience  fitted  him 
especially  for  work  of  a  different  kind.  In  1635  he  was  again  sent  to  England 
to  represent  not  only  Plymouth  but  Massachusetts  Bay  at  the  English  court. 
Here  he  encountered  the  malcontents,  who,  smarting  under  Puritan  discipline, 
were  traducing  New  England.  Through  Thomas  Morton  of  Merry  Mount  he 
suffered  imprisonment.  Returning  to  America,  he  was  again  chosen  governor 
of  Plymouth,  but  soon  took  the  position  of  magistrate,  becoming  in  1643  a  com- 
missioner of  the  United  Colonies.  As  he  before  pleaded  and  suffered  in  the 
presence  of  the  King  and  Laud  in  behalf  of  the  colonies,  so  now  he  confronted 
Gorton  and  others,  who  accused  New  England  before  the  powers  of  the  new 
regime.  In  1646  we  find  him  again  in  the  old  world,  where  he  gained  favor 
under  the  Commonwealth,  and  in  1655  was  sent  by  Cromwell  as  one  of  the  com- 
missioners to  direct  an  expedition  to  the  West  Indies.  Here  soon  after  the 
capture  of  Jamaica  he  died.  He  was  humane  as  well  as  wise,  his  work  with 
and  for  the  Indians  especially  showing  his  kindly  spirit. 


82  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1632 

13.]  A  day  of  thanksgiving  in  all  the  plantations,  by 
public  authority,  for  the  good  success  of  the  king  of  Sweden, 
and  Protestants  in  Germany,  against  the  emperor,  etc.,* 
and  for  the  safe  arrival  of  all  the  ships,  they  having  not  lost 
one  person,  nor  one  sick  among  them. 

14.]  The  governor  was  invited  to  dinner  aboard  the 
Whale.  The  master  fetched  him  in  his  boat,  and  gave  him 
three  pieces  at  his  going  off. 

The  French  came  in  a  pinnace  to  Penobscot,  and  rifled  a 
trucking  house  belonging  to  Plymouth,  carrying  thence  three 
hundred  weight  of  beaver  and  other  goods  .^  They  took  also 
one  Dixy  Bull  and  his  shallop  and  goods. 

One  Abraham  Shurd  of  Pemaquid,  and  one  Capt.  Wright, 
and  others,  coming  to  Pascataquack,  being  bound  for  this 
bay  in  a  shallop  with  £200  worth  of  commodities,  one  of  the 
seamen,  going  to  light  a  pipe  of  tobacco,  set  fire  on  a  barrel 
of  powder,  which  tare  the  boat  in  pieces.  That  man  was 
never  seen:  the  rest  were  all  saved,  but  the  goods  lost. 

The  man,  that  was  blown  away  with  the  powder  in  the  boat 
at  Pascataquack,  was  after  found  with  his  hands  and  feet  torn 
off.  This  fellow,  being  wished  by  another  to  forbear  to  take 
any  tobacco,  till  they  came  to  the  shore,  which  was  hard  by, 
answered,  that  if  the  devil  should  carry  him  away  quick,  he 
would  take  one  pipe.  Some  in  the  boat  were  so  drunk  and 
fast  asleep,  as  they  did  not  awake  with  the  noise. 

A  shallop  of  one  Henry  Way  of  Dorchester,  having 
been,  missing  all  the  winter,  it  was  found  that  the  men  in 
her,  being  five,  were  all  killed  treacherously  by  the  eastern 
Indians. 

Another  shallop  of  his  being  sent  out  to  seek  out  the  other, 
was  cast  away  at  Aquamenticus,  and  two  of  the  men 
drowned.     A  fishing  shallop  at  Isle  of  Shoals  was  overset. 

^The  victory  of   Gustavus  at   Breitenfeld,  followed  by  his  occupation  of 
Frankfort  and  Mainz,  and  the  successes  of  the  elector  of  Saxony  in  Bohemia. 
'  See  Bradford,  pp.  284,  285,  in  this  series. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  83 

One  Noddle,  an  honest  man  of  Salem,  carrying  wood  in  a 
canoe,  in  the  South  River,  was  overturned  and  drowned. 

July.]  At  a  training  at  Watertown,  a  man  of  John  Old- 
ham's,* having  a  musket,  which  had  been  long  charged  with 
pistol  bullets,  not  knowing  of  it,  gave  fire,  and  shot  three 
men,  two  into  their  bodies,  and  one  into  his  hands;  but  it 
was  so  far  off,  as  the  shot  entered  the  skin  and  stayed  there, 
and  they  all  recovered. 

The  congregation  at  Boston  wrote  to  the  elders  and  brethren 
of  the  churches  of  Plymouth,  Salem,  etc.,  for  their  advice  in 
three  questions:  1.  Whether  one  person  might  be  a  civil 
magistrate  and  a  ruHng  elder  at  the  same  time?  2.  If  not, 
then  which  should  be  laid  down?  3.  Whether  there  might 
be  divers  pastors  in  the  same  church? — ^The  1st  was  agreed 
by  all  negatively;  the  2d  doubtfully;   the  3d  doubtful  also. 

The  strife  in  Watertown  congregation  continued  still;  but 
at  length  they  gave  the  separatists  a  day  to  come  in,  or  else 
to  be  proceeded  against. 

5.]  At  the  day,  all  came  in  and  submitted,  except  John 
Masters,  who,  though  he  were  advised  by  divers  ministers  and 
others,  that  he  had  offended  in  turning  his  back  upon  the 
sacrament,  and  departing  out  of  the  assembly,  etc.,  because 
they  had  then  admitted  a  member  whom  he  judged  unfit,  etc. ; 
yet  he  persisted.  So  the  congregation  (being  loath  to  proceed 
against  him)  gave  him  a  further  day;  8,  at  which  time,  he 
continuing  obstinate,  they  excommunicated  him;  but,  about 
a  fortnight  after,  he  submitted  himself,  and  was  received  in 
again. 

At  Watertown  there  was  (in  the  view  of  divers  witnesses) 
a  great  combat  between  a  mouse  and  a  snake;  and,  after  a 

^  John  Oldham  came  to  Plymouth  in  1623,  and  proving  to  be  a  disturber 
of  the  colony,  became  a  rover.  He  had  more  courage  and  enterprise  than  piety, 
settling  at  Nantasket,  then  at  Cape  Ann,  then  at  Watertown.  In  1633,  with  three 
companions  he  made  his  way  through  the  woods  to  the  Connecticut,  becoming  the 
pioneer  of  the  English  occupation  there.  In  1636,  as  we  shall  see,  his  murder 
by  the  Indians,  in  his  shallop,  near  Block  Island,  brought  on  the  Pequot  war. 


84  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1632 

long  fight,  the  mouse  prevailed  and  killed  the  snake.  The 
pastor  of  Boston,  Mr.  Wilson,  a  very  sincere,  holy  man,  hearing 
of  it,  gave  this  interpretation :  That  the  snake  was  the  devil ; 
the  mouse  was  a  poor  contemptible  people,  which  God  had 
brought  hither,  which  should  overcome  Satan  here,  and  dis- 
possess him  of  his  kingdom.  Upon  the  same  occasion,  he  told 
the  governor,  that,  before  he  was  resolved  to  come  into  this 
country,  he  dreamed  he  was  here,  and  that  he  saw  a  church 
arise  out  of  the  earth,  which  grew  up  and  became  a  marvellous 
goodly  church. 

After  many  imparlances  and  days  of  humiliation,  by  those 
of  Boston  and  Roxbury,  to  seek  the  Lord  for  Mr.  Welde  his 
disposing,  and  the  advice  of  those  of  Plymouth  being  taken, 
etc.,  at  length  he  resolved  to  sit  down  with  them  of  Roxbury. 

August  3.]  The  deputy,  Mr.  Thomas  Dudley,  being  still 
discontented  with  the  governor,  partly  for  that  the  governor 
had  removed  the  frame  of  his  house,  which  he  had  set  up  at 
Newtown,  and  partly  for  that  he  took  too  much  authority  upon 
him,  (as  he  conceived,)  renewed  his  complaints  to  Mr.  Wilson 
and  Mr.  Welde,  who  acquainting  the  governor  therewith,  a 
meeting  was  agreed  upon  at  Charlestown,  where  were  present 
the  governor  and  deputy,  Mr.  Nowell,  Mr.  Wilson,  Mr.  Welde, 
Mr.  Maverick,  and  Mr.  Warham.  The  conference  being  be- 
gun with  calling  upon  the  Lord,  the  deputy  began, — that  how- 
soever he  had  some  particular  grievances,  etc.;  yet,  seeing 
he  was  advised  by  those  present,  and  divers  of  the  assistants, 
to  be  silent  in  them,  he  would  let  them  pass,  and  so  come  first 
to  complain  of  the  breach  of  promise,  both  in  the  governor 
and  others,  in  not  building  at  Newtown.  The  governor  an- 
swered, that  he  had  performed  the  words  of  the  promise ;  for 
he  had  a  house  up,  and  seven  or  eight  servants  abiding  in  it, 
by  the  day  appointed:  and  for  the  removing  of  his  house,  he 
alleged,  that,  seeing  that  the  rest  of  the  assistants  went  not 
about  to  build,  and  that  his  neighbors  of  Boston  had  been 
discouraged  from  removing  thither  by  Mr.  Deputy  himself, 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  85 

and  thereupon  had  (under  all  their  hands)  petitioned  him, 
that  (according  to  the  promise  he  made  to  them  when  they 
first  sate  down  with  him  at  Boston,  viz.,  that  he  would  not 
remove,  except  they  went  with  him)  he  would  not  leave  them ; 
— this  was  the  occasion  that  he  removed  his  house.  Upon 
these  and  other  speeches  to  this  purpose,  the  ministers  went 
apart  for  one  hour;  then  returning,  they  delivered  their 
opinions,  that  the  governor  was  in  fault  for  removing  of  his 
house  so  suddenly,  without  conferring  with  the  deputy  and 
the  rest  of  the  assistants ;  but  if  the  deputy  were  the  occasion 
of  discouraging  Boston  men  from  removing,  it  would  excuse 
the  governor  a  tanto,  but  not  a  toto.  The  governor,  professing 
himself  willing  to  submit  his  own  opinion  to  the  judgment 
of  so  many  wise  and  godly  friends,  acknowledged  himself 
faulty. 

After  dinner,  the  deputy  proceeded  in  his  complaint,  yet 
with  this  protestation,  that  what  he  should  charge  the  governor 
with,  was  in  love,  and  out  of  his  care  of  the  public,  and  that 
the  things  which  he  should  produce  were  but  for  his  own 
satisfaction,  and  not  by  way  of  accusation.  Then  demanded 
he  of  him  the  ground  and  limits  of  his  authority,  whether  by 
the  patent  or  otherwise.  The  governor  answered,  that  he  was 
willing  to  stand  to  that  which  he  propounded,  and  would  chal- 
lenge no  greater  authority  than  he  might  by  the  patent.  The 
deputy  replied,  that  then  he  had  no  more  authority  than  every 
assistant,  (except  power  to  call  courts,  and  precedency,  for 
honor  and  order).  The  governor  answered,  he  had  more; 
for  the  patent,  making  him  a  governor,  gave  him  whatsoever 
power  belonged  to  a  governor  by  common  law  or  the  statutes, 
and  desired  him  to  show  wherein  he  had  exceeded,  etc.;  and 
speaking  this  somewhat  apprehensively,  the  deputy  began 
to  be  in  passion,  and  told  the  governor,  that  if  he  were  so  roimd, 
he  would  be  round  too.  The  governor  bad  him  be  round,  if 
he  would.  So  the  deputy  rose  up  in  great  fury  and  passion, 
and  the  governor  grew  very  hot  also,  so  as  they  both  fell  into 


86  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1632 

bitterness;  but,  by  mediation  of  the  mediators,  they  were 
soon  pacified.  Then  the  deputy  proceeded  to  particulars,  as 
f  olloweth : 

1st.  By  what  authority  the  governor  removed  the  ord- 
nance and  erected  a  fort  at  Boston. — ^The  governor  answered, 
that  the  ordnance  lying  upon  the  beach  in  danger  of  spoiling, 
and  having  often  complained  of  it  in  the  court,  and  nothing 
done,  with  the  help  of  divers  of  the  assistants,  they  were 
mounted  upon  their  carriages,  and  removed  where  they  might 
be  of  some  use:  and  for  the  fort,  it  had  been  agreed,  above 
a  year  before,  that  it  should  be  erected  there :  and  all  this  was 
done  without  any  penny  charge  to  the  pubhc. 

2d.  By  what  authority  he  lent  twenty-eight  pounds  of 
powder  to  those  of  Plymouth. — Governor  answered,  it  was  of 
his  own  powder,  and  upon  their  urgent  distress,  their  own 
powder  proving  naught,  when  they  were  to  send  to  the  rescue 
of  their  men  at  Sowamsett. 

3d.  By  what  authority  he  had  Hcensed  Edward  Johnson  * 
to  sit  down  at  Merrimack. — Governor  answered,  that  he  had 
licensed  him  only  to  go  forth  on  trading,  (as  he  had  done 
divers  others,)  as  belonging  to  his  place. 

4th.  By  what  authority  he  had  given  them  of  Watertown 
leave  to  erect  a  wear  upon  Charles  River,  and  had  disposed  of 
lands  to  divers,  etc. — Governor  answered,  the  people  of  Wa- 
tertown, falling  very  short  of  corn  the  last  year,  for  want  of 
fish,  did  complain,  etc.,  and  desired  leave  to  erect  a  wear;  and 
upon  this  the  governor  told  them,  that  he  could  not  give  them 
leave,  but  they  must  seek  it  of  the  court ;  but  because  it  would 
be  long  before  the  courts  began  again,  and,  if  they  deferred  till 
then,  the  season  would  be  lost,  he  wished  them  to  do  it,  and 

*  Edward  Johnson  probably  came  with  Winthrop,  a  man  from  Kent.  His 
service  was  both  mlHtary  and  civil,  and  in  1G42  he  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
Woburn.  He  lived  long,  his  name  occurring  in  various  honorable  connections. 
He  is  best  known  as  author  of  a  history  of  New  England  from  1G28  to  1652,  The 
W onder-W orking  Providence  of  Sion's  Saviour  in  New  England  (London,  1654), 
which  is  to  be  reprinted  in  this  series. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  87 

there  was  no  doubt  but,  being  for  so  general  a  good,  the  court 
would  allow  of  it;  and,  for  his  part,  he  would  employ  all  his 
power  in  the  court,  so  as  he  should  sink  under  it,  if  it  were  not 
allowed;  and  besides,  those  of  Roxbury  had  erected  a  wear 
without  any  license  from  the  court.  And  for  lands,  he  had 
disposed  of  none,  otherwise  than  the  deputy  and  other  of  the 
assistants  had  done, — he  had  only  given  his  consent,  but 
referred  them  to  the  court,  etc.  But  the  deputy  had  taken 
more  upon  him,  in  that,  without  order  of  court,  he  had  em- 
paled, at  Newtown,  above  one  thousand  acres,  and  had  as- 
signed lands  to  some  there. 

5th.  By  what  authority  he  had  given  Ucense  to  RatcUff  and 
Grey  (being  banished  men)  to  stay  within  our  hmits. — Gov- 
ernor answered,  he  did  it  by  that  authority,  which  was  granted 
him  in  court,  viz.,  that,  upon  any  sentence  in  criminal  causes, 
the  governor  might,  upon  cause,  stay  the  execution  till  the 
next  court.  Now  the  cause  was,  that,  being  in  the  winter,  they 
must  otherwise  have  perished. 

6th.  Why  the  fines  were  not  levied. — Governor  answered, 
it  belonged  to  the  secretary  and  not  to  him:  he  never  refused 
to  sign  any  that  were  brought  to  him;  nay,  he  had  called 
upon  the  secretary  for  it;  yet  he  confessed,  that  it  was  his 
judgment,  that  it  were  not  fit,  in  the  infancy  of  a  common- 
wealth, to  be  too  strict  in  levying  fines,  though  severe  in  other 
punishments. 

7th.  That  when  a  cause  had  been  voted  by  the  rest  of  the 
court,  the  governor  would  bring  new  reasons,  and  move  them 
to  alter  the  sentence: — which  the  governor  justified,  and  all 
approved. 

The  deputy  having  made  an  end,  the  governor  desired  the 
mediators  to  consider,  whether  he  had  exceeded  his  authority 
or  not,  and  how  little  cause  the  deputy  had  to  charge  him  with 
it;  for  if  he  had  made  some  slips,  in  two  or  three  years'  gov- 
ernment, he  ought  rather  to  have  covered  them,  seeing  he  could 
not  be  charged  that  he  had  taken  advantage  of  his  authority 


88  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1632 

to  oppress  or  wrong  any  man,  or  to  benefit  himself;  but,  for 
want  of  a  public  stock,  had  disbursed  all  common  charges 
out  of  his  own  estate ;  whereas  the  deputy  would  never  lay  out 
one  penny,  etc.;  and,  besides,  he  could  shew  that  under  his 
hand,  that  would  convince  him  of  a  greater  exceeding  his 
authority,  than  all  that  the  deputy  could  charge  him  with, 
viz.,  that  whereas  Binks  and  Johnson  were  bound  in  open 
court  to  appear  at  next  court  to  account  to,  etc.,  he  had,  out 
of  court,  discharged  them  of  their  appearance.  The  deputy 
answered,  that  the  party,  to  whom  they  were  to  account,  came 
to  him  and  confessed  that  he  was  satisfied,  and  that  the  parties 
were  to  go  to  Virginia ;  so  he  thought  he  might  discharge  them. 
Though  the  governor  might  justly  have  refused  to  answer 
these  seven  articles,  wherewith  the  deputy  had  charged  him, 
both  for  that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  them  before,  (the  meet- 
ing being  only  for  the  deputy  his  personal  grievances,)  and  also 
for  that  the  governor  was  not  to  give  account  of  his  actions  to 
any  but  to  the  court ;  yet,  out  of  his  desire  of  the  public  peace, 
and  to  clear  his  reputation  with  those  to  whom  the  deputy  had 
accused  him,  he  was  willing  to  give  him  satisfaction,  to  the 
end,  that  he  might  free  him  of  such  jealousy  as  he  had  con- 
ceived, that  the  governor  intended  to  make  himself  popular, 
that  he  might  gain  absolute  power,  and  bring  all  the  assistants 
under  his  subjection;  which  was  very  improbable,  seeing  the 
governor  had  propounded  in  court  to  have  an  order  established 
for  limiting  the  governor's  authority,  and  had  himself  drawn 
articles  for  that  end,  which  had  been  approved  and  established 
by  the  whole  court;  neither  could  he  justly  be  charged  to  have 
transgressed  any  of  them.  So  the  meeting  breaking  up,  with- 
out any  other  conclusion  but  the  commending  the  success  of 
it  by  prayer  to  the  Lord,  the  governor  brought  the  deputy 
onward  of  his  way,  and  every  man  went  to  his  own  home.^ 
See  two  pages  after. 

1  Winthrop  and  Dudley  were  men  differently  constituted.     While  the  former 
was  mild,  disposed  to  lenity,  and  always  a  seeker  of  peace,  the  latter  was  intol- 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  89 

5.]  The  sachem,  who  was  joined  with  Canonicus,  the  great 
sachem  of  Naragansett,  called  Mecumeh,  after  Miantonomoh, 
being  at  Boston,  where  [he]  had  lodged  two  nights  with  his 
squaw,  and  about  twelve  sanapps,  being  present  at  the  sermon, 
three  of  his  sanapps  went,  in  the  meantime,  and  brake  into  a 
neighbor's  house,  etc.  Complaint  being  made  thereof  to  the 
governor,  after  evening  exercise,  he  told  the  sachem  of  it,  and 
with  some  difficulty  caused  him  to  make  one  of  his  sanapps  to 
beat  them,  and  then  sent  them  out  of  the  town;  but  brought 
the  sachem  and  the  rest  of  [the]  company  to  his  house,  and 
made  much  of  them,  (as  he  had  done  before,)  which  he  seemed 
to  be  well  pleased  with ;  but  that  evening  he  departed. 

At  a  court  not  long  before,  two  of  Chickatabott's  men 
were  convented  and  convicted  for  assaulting  some  English 
of  Dorchester  in  their  houses,  etc.  They  were  put  in  the  bil- 
boes, and  Chickatabot  required  to  beat  them,  which  he  did. 

The  congregation  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  began  the 
meeting-house  at  Boston,  for  which,  and  Mr.  Wilson's  house, 
they  had  made  a  voluntary  contribution  of  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds. 

14.]  Fair  weather  and  small  wind,  and  N.  E.  at  Boston, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  such  a  tempest  of  wind  N.  E.  a  little 
without  the  bay,  as  no  boat  could  bear  sail,  and  one  had  her 
mast  borne  by  the  board.  So  again,  when  there  hath  [been]  a 
very  tempest  at  N.  W.  or  W.  in  the  bay,  there  hath  been  a 
stark  calm  one  league  or  two  off  shore. 

This  summer  was  very  wet  and  cold,  (except  now  and  then 
a  hot  day  or  two,)  which  caused  great  store  of  musketoes  and 
rattle-snakes.  The  corn,  in  the  dry,  sandy  grounds,  was  much 
better  than  other  years,  but  in  the  fatter  grounds  much  worse, 
and  in  Boston,  etc.,  much  shorn  down  close  by  the  ground 
with  worms. 

erant,  uncompromising,  of  quick  temper,  and  disposed  to  ride  roughshod.  This 
is  not  the  end  of  the  discord  between  the  two  men.  For  full  presentation  of  the 
matter  see  Winthrop,  Lije  and  Letters  of  John  Winthrop,  and  Jones,  Thomas 
Vudley.    The  concluding  four  words  refer  to  p.  91  post. 


90  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1632 

The  windmill  was  brought  down  to  Boston,  because,  where  it 
stood  near  Newtown,  it  would  not  grind  but  with  a  westerly  wind. 

Mr.  Oldham  had  a  small  house  near  the  wear  at  Water- 
town,  made  all  of  clapboards,  burnt  down  by  making  a  fire  in 
it  when  it  had  no  chimney. 

This  week  they  had  in  barley  and  oats,  at  Sagus,  above 
twenty  acres  good  com,  and  sown  with  the  plough. 

Great  store  of  eels  and  lobsters  in  the  bay.  Two  or  three 
boys  have  brought  in  a  bushel  of  great  eels  at  a  time,  and  sixty 
great  lobsters. 

The  Braintree  company,  (which  had  begun  to  sit  down  at 
Mount  Wollaston,)  by  order  of  court,  removed  to  Newtown. 
These  were  Mr.  Hooker's  company.^ 

The  governor's  wife  was  delivered  of  a  son,  who  was  bap- 
tized by  the  name  of  William.  The  governor  himself  held 
the  child  to  baptism,  as  others  in  the  congregation  did  use. 
William  signifies  a  common  man,  etc. 

30.]  Notice  being  given  of  ten  sagamores  and  many  In- 
dians assembled  at  Muddy  River,^  the  governor  sent  Capt. 
Underhill,  with  twenty  musketeers,  to  discover,  etc.;  but  at 
Roxbury  they  heard  they  were  broke  up. 

September  4.]  One  Hopkins,  of  Watertown,  was  convict 
for  selling  a  piece  and  pistol,  with  powder  and  shot,  to  James 
Sagamore,  for  which  he  had  sentence  to  be  whipped  and 
branded  in  the  cheek.  It  was  discovered  by  an  Indian,  one 
of  James's  men,  upon  promise  of  concealing  him,  (for  other- 
wise he  was  sure  to  be  killed). 

*  This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  great  figure  in  New  England  history.  Thomas 
Hooker  was  born  in  Leicestershire  in  1586.  He  was  a  scholar  and  fellow  of 
Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge,  and  at  this  time,  a  man  of  mature  years,  was  a 
"lecturer"  at  Braintree  in  Essex;  the  non-conforming  ministers  often  con- 
tinued their  ministrations  under  this  name.  In  due  time  we  shall  have  mention 
of  his  arrival  in  New  England,  and  of  his  emigration,  with  many  followers,  to 
Connecticut,  perhaps  a  democratic  secession  from  Massachusetts.  Of  Hooker's 
influence  in  establishing  the  institutions  of  Connecticut,  and  their  subsequent 
importance  as  related  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  see  Johnston, 
Connecticut  (Amt^rican  Commonwealths  Series),  pp.  19,  69. 

'  Muddy  River,  now  Brookline. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  91 

The  ministers  afterward,  for  an  end  of  the  difference  be- 
tween the  governor  and  deputy,  ordered,  that  the  governor 
should  procure  them  a  minister  at  Newtown,  and  contribute 
somewhat  towards  his  maintenance  for  a  time ;  or,  if  he  could 
not,  by  the  spring,  effect  that,  then  to  give  the  deputy,  toward 
his  charges  in  building  there,  twenty  pounds.  The  governor 
accepted  this  order,  and  promised  to  perform  it  in  one  of  the 
kinds.  But  the  deputy,  having  received  one  part  of  the  order, 
returned  the  same  to  the  governor,  with  this  reason  to  Mr. 
Wilson,  that  he  was  so  well  persuaded  of  the  governor's  love 
to  him,  and  did  prize  it  so  much,  as  if  they  had  given  him  one 
hundi'ed  pounds  instead  of  twenty  pounds,  he  would  not  have 
taken  it. 

Notwithstanding  the  heat  of  contention,  which  had  been 
between  the  governor  and  deputy,  yet  they  usually  met  about 
their  affairs,  and  that  without  any  appearance  of  any  breach 
or  discontent ;  and  ever  after  kept  peace  and  good  correspond- 
ency together,  in  love  and  friendship. 

One  Jenkins,  late  an  inhabitant  of  Dorchester,  and  now 
removed  to  Cape  Porpus,^  went  with  an  Indian  up  into  [the] 
country  with  store  of  goods  to  truck,  and,  being  asleep  in  a 
wigwam  of  one  of  Passaconamy's  men,  was  killed  in  the 
night  by  an  Indian,  dwelling  near  the  Mohawks'  country,  who 
fled  away  with  his  goods,  but  was  fetched  back  by  Passacona- 
my.  There  was  much  suspicion,  that  the  Indians  had  some 
plot  against  the  English,  both  for  that  many  Naragansett  men, 
etc.,  gathered  together,  who,  with  those  of  these  parts,  pretend- 
ed to  make  war  upon  the  Neipnett  men,  and  divers  insolent 
speeches  were  used  by  some  of  them,  and  they  did  not  frequent 
om*  houses  as  they  were  wont,  and  one  of  their  pawawes  told 
us,  that  there  was  a  conspiracy  to  cut  us  off  to  get  our  victuals 
and  other  substance.  Upon  this  there  was  a  camp  pitched 
at  Boston  in  the  night,  to  exercise  the  soldiers  against  need 
might  be ;  and  Capt.  Underbill  (to  try  how  they  would  behave 

*  Cape  Porpoise,  near  the  mouth  of  Saco  River,  Maine. 


92  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1632 

themselves)  caused  an  alarm  to  be  given  upon  the  quarters, 
which  discovered  the  weakness  of  our  people,  who,  like  men 
amazed,  knew  not  how  to  behave  themselves,  so  as  the  officers 
could  not  draw  them  into  any  order.  All  the  rest  of  the 
plantations  took  the  alarm  and  answered  it;  but  it  caused 
much  fear  and  distraction  among  the  common  sort,  so  as  some, 
which  knew  of  it  before,  yet  through  fear  had  forgotten,  and 
believed  the  Indians  had  been  upon  us.  We  doubled  our 
guards,  and  kept  watch  each  day  and  night. 

14.]  The  rumor  still  increasing,  the  three  next  sagamores 
were  sent  for,  who  came  presently  to  the  governor. 

16,  being  the  Lord's  day.]  In  the  evening  Mr.  Peirce, 
in  the  ship  Lyon,  arrived,  and  came  to  an  anchor  before  Boston. 
He  brought  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  passengers,  whereof 
fifty  children,  all  in  health;  and  lost  not  one  person  by  the 
way,  save  his  carpenter,  who  fell  overboard  as  he  was  caulking 
a  port.  They  had  been  twelve  weeks  aboard,  and  eight  weeks 
from  the  Land's  End.  He  had  five  days  east  wind  and  thick 
fog,  so  as  he  was  forced  to  come,  all  that  time,  by  the  lead; 
and  the  first  land  he  made  was  Cape  Ann. 

22.]  The  Barnstable  ship  went  out  at  Pullen  Point  ^  to 
Marble  Harbor. 

27.]  A  day  of  thanksgiving  at  Boston  for  the  good 
news  of  the  prosperous  success  of  the  king  of  Sweden,  etc.,^ 
and  for  the  safe  arrival  of  the  last  ship  and  all  the  passengers, 
etc. 

October  18.]  Capt.  Camock,  and  one  Mr.  Godfry,  a  mer- 
chant, came  from  Pascataquack  in  Captain  Neal  his  pinnace, 
and  brought  sixteen  hogsheads  of  corn  to  the  mill.  They 
went  away  November  \hlank\ 

25.]  The  governor,  with  Mr.  Wilson,  pastor  of  Boston, 
and  the  two  captains,  etc.,  went  aboard  the  Lyon,  and  from 

*  Pullen's  Point,  in  Boston  harbor,  still  retains  its  name. 
» The  defeat  and  death  of  Tilly,  and  the  entrance  of  Gustavus  Adolphus 
into  Munich. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  93 

thence  Mr.  Peirce  carried  them  in  his  shallop  to  Wessaguscus/ 
The  next  morning  Mr.  Peirce  retmned  to  his  ship,  and  the 
governor  and  his  company  went  on  foot  to  Plymouth,  and  came 
thither  within  the  evening.  The  governor  of  Plymouth,  Mr. 
William  Bradford,^  (a  very  discreet  and  grave  man,)  with  Mr. 
Brewster,^  the  elder,  and  some  others,  came  forth  and  met  them 
without  the  town,  and  conducted  them  to  the  governor's  house, 
where  they  were  very  kindly  entertained,  and  feasted  every 
day  at  several  houses.  On  the  Lord's  day  there  was  a  sacra- 
ment, which  they  did  partake  in;  and,  in  the  afternoon,  Mr. 
Roger  WiUiams  (according  to  their  custom)  propounded  a 
question,  to  which  the  pastor,  Mr.  Smith,*  spake  briefly;  then 
Mr.  Williams  prophesied ;  and  after  the  governor  of  Plymouth 
spake  to  the  question ;  after  him  the  elder ;  then  some  two  or 
three  more  of  the  congregation.  Then  the  elder  desired  the 
governor  of  Massachusetts  and  Mr.  Wilson  to  speak  to  it, 
which  they  did.    When  this  was  ended,   the  deacon,  Mr. 

^  Now  Weymouth. 

'  William  Bradford,  who  died  in  1657,  after  having  been  governor  of  Plym- 
outh for  thirty  years,  was  born  in  1588,  at  Austerfield,  in  southern  Yorkshire, 
whence  while  still  a  youth  he  went  to  Holland.  Here  Bradford  toiled  as  a  silk 
worker,  connecting  himself  with  the  Leyden  company,  and  emigrating  with  them 
in  the  Mayflower.  After  the  death  of  Carver,  the  first  governor,  he  became  the 
head  and  main-stay  of  the  enterprise  until  his  death;  though  for  a  few  years, 
Edward  Winslow  and  Thomas  Prence  reHeved  him  in  the  chief  place.  He  was 
widely  accomplished,  speaking  Dutch  and  French  and  versed  also  in  Latin, 
Greek,  and  Hebrew.  The  testimony  as  to  his  moderation  and  wisdom  is  uni- 
form; and  his  History  of  Plymouth  Plantation,  recovered  amid  national  rejoic- 
ings, after  being  long  lost,  is  one  of  the  most  precious  of  American  documents. 
It  is  reprinted  in  the  present  series. 

^  William  Brewster  was  sixty  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  voyage  of  the 
Mayflower,  and  possessed  a  character  which  made  his  influence  truly  patriarchal. 
He  had  mingled  in  great  affairs,  having  accompanied  the  envoy  of  Elizabeth  to 
Holland  on  an  important  diplomatic  errand,  as  secretary.  Though  never  for- 
mally ordained,  yet  as  ruling  elder  he  exercised  most  of  the  functions  of  teacher 
and  pastor  of  the  congregation.  Until  his  death  in  1644  he  stood  by  Bradford, 
a  main  pillar  of  the  colony,  and  remains  one  of  the  most  venerated  figures  of 
American  history. 

*  Rev.  Ralph  Smith,  after  painful  experiences  at  Salem  and  Nantasket, 
became  minister  at  Plymouth,  where,  though  not  highly  esteemed,  he  remained 
some  years.  Roger  Williams,  a  veritable  bird-of-passage,  was  for  the  moment  in 
Plymouth. 


94  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1632 

Fuller/  put  the  congregation  in  mind  of  their  duty  of  contribu- 
tion; whereupon  the  governor  and  all  the  rest  went  down  to 
the  deacon's  seat,  and  put  into  the  box,  and  then  returned. 

27.]    The  wind  N.  W.,  Mr.  Peirce  set  sail  for  Virginia. 

31,  being  Wednesday.]  About  five  in  the  morning  the 
governor  and  his  company  came  out  of  Plymouth;  the  gov- 
ernor of  Plymouth,  with  the  pastor  and  elder,  etc.,  accompany- 
ing them  near  half  a  mile  out  of  town  in  the  dark.  The  Lieut. 
Holmes,  with  two  others,  and  the  governor's  mare,  came 
along  with  them  to  the  great  swamp,  about  ten  miles.  When 
they  came  to  the  great  river,  they  were  carried  over  by  one 
Luddam,  their  guide,  (as  they  had  been  when  they  came,  the 
stream  being  very  strong,  and  up  to  the  crotch;)  so  the  gov- 
ernor called  that  passage  Luddam's  Ford.  Thence  they  came 
to  a  place  called  Hue's  Cross.  The  governor,  being  displeased 
at  the  name,  in  respect  that  such  things  might  hereafter  give 
the  Papists  occasion  to  say,  that  their  religion  was  first  planted 
in  these  parts,  changed  the  name,  and  called  it  Hue's  Folly. 
So  they  came,  that  evening,  to  Wessaguscus,  where  they  were 
bountifully  entertained,  as  before,  with  store  of  turkeys,  geese, 
ducks,  etc.,  and  the  next  day  came  safe  to  Boston. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Dudley,  his  house,  at  Newtown,  was 
preserved  from  burning  down,  and  all  his  family  from  being 
destroyed  by  gunpowder,  by  a  marvellous  deliverance; — the 
hearth  of  the  hall  chimney  burning  all  night  upon  a  prin- 
cipal beam  and  store  of  powder  being  near,  and  not  discov- 
ered till  they  arose  in  the  morning,  and  then  it  began  to 
flame  out. 

Mr.  John  Eliot,  a  member  of  Boston  congregation,  and  one 
whom  the  congregation  intended  presently  to  call  to  the 
office  of  teacher,  was  called  to  be  a  teacher  to  the  church  at 
Roxbury;    and  though  Boston  labored  all  they  could,  both 

*  Samuel  Fuller,  associated  with  Governor  John  Carver  as  a  deacon  of  the 
Pilgrim  Church  at  the  coming  from  Holland,  a  useful  and  respected  man.  He 
possessed  some  medical  skill,  and  was  even  sent  for  from  Boston  and  Salem. 


1632]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  95 

with  the  congregation  of  Roxbury  and  with  Mr.  EHot  himself, 
alleging  their  want  of  him,  and  the  covenant  between  them, 
etc.,  yet  he  could  not  be  diverted  from  accepting  the  call  of 
Roxbury,  November  5.     So  he  was  dismissed. 

About  a  fortnight  before  this,  those  of  Charlestown,  who 
had  formerly  been  joined  to  Boston  congregation,  now,  in 
regard  of  the  difficulty  of  passage  in  the  winter,  and  having 
opportunity  of  a  pastor,  one  Mr.  James,*  who  came  over  at 
this  time,  were  dismissed  from  the  congregation  of  Boston. 

The  congregation  of  Watertown  discharged  their  elder, 
Richard  Brown,  of  his  office,  for  his  unfitness  in  regard  of 
his  passion  and  distemper  in  speech,  having  been  oft  admon- 
ished and  declared  his  repentance  for  it. 

21.]  The  governor  received  a  letter  from  Capt.  Neal,  that 
Dixy  Bull  and  fifteen  more  of  the  English,  who  kept  about  the 
east,  were  turned  pirates,  and  had  taken  divers  boats,  and 
rifled  Pemaquid,  etc., — 23.  Hereupon  the  governor  called  a 
council,  and  it  was  agreed  to  send  his  bark  with  twenty  men, 
to  join  with  those  of  Pascataquack,  for  the  taking  of  the  said 
pirates. 

22.]  A  fast  was  held  by  the  congregation  of  Boston,  and 
Mr.  Wilson  (formerly  their  teacher)  was  chosen  pastor,  and 
[blank]  Oliver^  a  ruling  elder,  and  both  were  ordained  by  im- 
position of  hands,  first  by  the  teacher,  and  the  two  deacons,  (in 
the  name  of  the  congregation,)  upon  the  elder,  and  then  by  the 
elder  and  the  deacons  upon  the  pastor. 

December  4.]  At  a  meeting  of  all  the  assistants,  it  was 
agreed,  in  regard  that  the  extremity  of  the  snow  and  frost  had 
hindered  the  making  ready  of  the  bark,  and  that  they  had 
certain  intelligence,  that  those  of  Pascataquack  had  sent  out 
two  pinnaces  and  two  shallops,  above  a  fortnight  before,  to 
defer  any  further  expedition  against  the  pirates  till  they  heard 

'  Thomas  James,  predecessor  of  John  Harvard  as  minister  of  Charlestown, 
went  soon  to  New  Haven,  whence  probably  he  returned  to  England. 

'  Thomas  Oliver,  ancestor  of  an  honorable  line,  prominent  especially  in  the 
Revolution,  during  which  his  descendants  were  strongly  opposed  to  independence. 


96  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1632 

what  was  done  by  those ;  and  for  that  end  it  was  agreed,  to 
send  presently  a  shallop  to  Pascataquack  to  learn  more,  etc. 

5.]  Accordingly,  the  governor  despatched  away  John 
Gallopp*  with  his  shallop.  The  wind  being  very  great  at  S. 
W.,  he  could  reach  no  farther  than  Cape  Ann  harbor  that 
night;  and  the  winds  blowing  northerly,  he  was  kept  there  so 
long,  that  it  was  January  the  2d  before  he  returned. 

By  letters  from  Capt.  Neal  and  Mr.  Hilton,^  etc.,  it  was 
certified,  that  they  had  sent  out  all  the  forces  they  could  make 
against  the  pirates,  viz.,  four  pinnaces  and  shallops,  and  about 
forty  men,  who,  coming  to  Pemaquid,  were  there  windbound 
about  three  weeks. 

It  was  further  advertised,  by  some  who  came  from  Penob- 
scott,  that  the  pirates  had  lost  one  of  their  chief  men  by  a 
musket  shot  from  Pemaquid;  and  that  there  remained  but 
fifteen,  whereof  four  or  five  were  detained  against  their  wills; 
and  that  they  had  been  at  some  English  plantations,  and  taken 
nothing  from  them  but  what  they  paid  for ;  and  that  they  had 
given  another  pinnace  in  exchange  for  that  of  Mr.  Maverick, 
and  as  much  beaver  and  otter  as  it  was  worth  more,  etc.; 
and  that  they  had  made  a  law  against  excessive  drinking; 
and  that  their  order  was,  as  such  times  as  other  ships  use  to 
have  prayer,  they  would  assemble  upon  the  deck,  and  one  sing 
a  song,  or  speak  a  few  senseless  sentences,  etc.  They  also 
sent  a  writing,  directed  to  all  the  governors,  signifying  their 
intent  not  to  do  harm  to  any  more  of  their  countrymen,  but 
to  go  to  the  southward,  and  to  advise  them  not  to  send  against 
them;  for  they  were  resolved  to  sink  themselves  rather  than 
be  taken :  Signed  underneath,  Fortune  le  garde,  and  no  name 
to  it. 

*  John  Gallop,  a  bold  sailor  who  comes  up  hereafter  in  picturesque  connec- 
tions.    Gallop's  Island  in  Boston  harbor  perpetuates  the  name. 

*  Edward  and  William  Hilton  founded  in  1G23  the  settlement  at  Dover,  N.  H. 


1633 

January  1.]  Mr.  Edward  Winslow  chosen  governor  of 
Plymouth,  Mr.  Bradford  having  been  governor  about  ten 
years,  and  now  by  importunity  gat  off/ 

9.]  Mr.  Ohver,  a  right  godly  man,  and  elder  of  the  church 
of  Boston,  having  three  or  four  of  his  sons,  all  very  young, 
cutting  down  wood  upon  the  neck,  one  of  them,  being  about 
fifteen  years  old,  had  his  brains  beaten  out  with  the  fall  of  a 
tree,  which  he  had  felled.  The  good  old  father  (having  the 
news  of  it  in  as  fearful  a  manner  as  might  be,  by  another  boy, 
his  brother)  called  his  wife  (being  also  a  very  godly  woman) 
and  went  to  prayer,  and  bare  it  with  much  patience  and 
honor. 

17.]  The  governor,  having  intelligence  from  the  east,  that 
the  French  had  bought  the  Scottish  plantation  near  Cape 
Sable,  and  that  the  fort  and  all  the  ammunition  were  delivered 
to  them,  and  that  the  cardinal,^  having  the  managing  thereof, 
had  sent  some  companies  already,  and  preparation  was  made 
to  send  many  more  the  next  year,  and  divers  priests  and 
Jesuits  among  them, — called  the  assistants  to  Boston,  and  the 
ministers  and  captains,  and  some  other  chief  men,  to  advise 
what  was  fit  to  be  done  for  our  safety,  in  regard  the  French 
were  like  to  prove  ill  neighbors  (being  Papists;)  at  which 
meeting  it  was  agreed,  that  a  plantation  and  a  fort  should  forth- 
with be  begun  at  Natascott,  partly  to  be  some  block  in  an 

*  High  office  was  a  burden  rather  than  an  honor,  fines  being  sometimes 
exacted  of  those  who  refused  to  serve. 

^  RicheHeu  is  here  referred  to,  who  was  guiding  the  interests  of  France. 
The  French  were  now  at  Port  Royal.  Of  the  friction  among  themselves  and  the 
anxieties  with  which  they  filled  their  English  neighbors  the  Journal  has  much  to 
say.  See  also  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Historical  Society,  new  series,  XVI.  95, 
for  details  in  the  Admiralty  Records. 

97 


98  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1633 

enemy's  way,  (though  it  could  not  bar  his  entrance,)  and 
especially  to  prevent  an  enemy  from  taking  that  passage  from 
us ;  and  also,  that  the  fort  begun  at  Boston  should  be  finished 
— also,  that  a  plantation  should  be  begun  at  Agawam,  (being 
the  best  place  in  the  land  for  tillage  and  cattle,)  least  an  enemy, 
finding  it  void,  should  possess  and  take  it  from  us.  The  gov- 
ernor's son  (being  one  of  the  assistants)  was  to  undertake 
this,  and  to  take  no  more  out  of  the  bay  than  twelve  men ;  the 
rest  to  be  supplied  at  the  coming  of  the  next  ships. 

A  maid  servant  of  Mr.  Skelton  of  Salem,  going  towards 
Sagus,  was  lost  seven  days,  and  at  length  came  home  to  Salem. 
All  that  time  she  was  in  the  woods,  having  no  kind  of  food, 
the  snow  being  very  deep,  and  as  cold  as  at  any  time  that 
winter.  She  was  so  frozen  into  the  snow  some  mornings,  as 
she  was  one  hour  before  she  could  get  up;  yet  she  soon  re- 
covered and  did  well,  through  the  Lord's  wonderful  providence. 

About  the  beginning  of  this  month  of  January  the  pinnaces, 
which  went  after  the  pirates,  returned,  the  cold  being  so  great 
as  they  could  not  pursue  them;  but,  in  their  return,  they 
hanged  up  at  Richman's  Isle  an  Indian,  one  Black  Will,  one 
of  those  who  had  there  murdered  Walter  Bagnall.  Three  of 
the  pirates'  company  ran  from  them  and  came  home. 

February  21.]  The  governor  and  four  of  the  assistants, 
with  three  of  the  ministers,  and  others,  about  twenty-six  in 
all,  went,  in  three  boats,  to  view  Natascott,  the  wind  W., 
fair  weather;  but  the  wind  arose  at  N.  W.  so  strong,  and 
extreme  cold,  that  they  were  kept  there  two  nights,  being 
forced  to  lodge  upon  the  ground,  in  an  open  cottage,  upon  a 
little  old  straw,  which  they  pulled  from  the  thatch.  Their 
victuals  also  grew  short,  so  as  they  were  forced  to  eat  muscles, 
— yet  they  were  very  mean, — and  came  all  safe  home  the  third 
day  after,  through  the  Lord's  special  providence.  Upon  view 
of  the  place,  it  was  agreed  by  all,  that  to  build  a  fort  there 
would  be  of  too  great  charge,  and  of  httle  use ;  whereupon  the 
planting  of  that  place  was  deferred. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  99 

22,  or  thereabouts.]  The  ship  William,  Mr.  Trevore  master, 
arrived  at  Plymouth  with  some  passengers  and  goods  for  the 
Massachusetts  Bay;  but  she  came  to  set  up  a  fishing  at  Scitu- 
ate,  and  so  to  go  to  trade  at  Hudson's  River. 

By  this  ship  we  had  intelhgence  from  our  friends  in  Eng- 
land, that  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  ^  and  Capt.  Mason  (upon  the 
instigation  of  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,  Morton,  and  Ratchff) 
had  preferred  a  petition  to  the  lords  of  the  privy  council  against 
us,  charging  us  with  many  false  accusations ;  but,  through  the 
Lord's  good  providence,  and  the  care  of  our  friends  in  England, 
(especially  Mr.  Emanuel  Downing,  who  had  married  the  gov- 
ernor's sister,  and  the  good  testimony  given  on  our  behalf  by 
one  Capt.  Wiggin,  who  dwelt  at  Pascataquack,  and  had  been 
divers  times  among  us,)  their  malicious  practice  took  not  effect. 
The  principal  matter  they  had  against  us  was,  the  letters  of 
some  indiscreet  persons  among  us,  who  had  written  against  the 
church  government  in  England,  etc.,  which  had  been  inter- 
cepted by  occasion  of  the  death  of  Capt.  Levett,  who  carried 
them,  and  died  at  sea. 

26.]  Two  little  girls  of  the  governor's  family  were  sitting 
under  a  great  heap  of  logs,  plucking  of  birds,  and  the  wind 
driving  the  feathers  into  the  house,  the  governor's  wife  caused 
them  to  remove  away.  They  were  no  sooner  gone,  but  the 
whole  heap  of  logs  fell  down  in  the  place,  and  had  crushed 
them  to  death,  if  the  Lord,  in  his  special  providence,  had  not 
delivered  them. 

March.]  The  governor's  son,  John  Winthrop,  went,  with 
twelve  more,  to  begin  a  plantation  at  Agawam,  after  called 
Ipswich. 

One  John  Edye,  a  godly  man  of  Watertown  congregation, 
fell  distracted,  and,  getting  out  one  evening,  could  not  be  found ; 
but,  eight  days  after,  he  came  agaki  of  himself.  He  had 
kept  his  strength  and  color,  yet  had  eaten  nothing  (as  must 

*  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  to  do  his  rivals  harm,  here  employs  men  driven  out 
of  Massachusetts. 


100  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1633 

needs  be  conceived)  all  that  tijne.  He  recovered  his  under- 
standing again  in  good  measure,  and  lived  veiy  orderly,  but 
would,  now  and  then,  be  a  little  distempered. 

April  10.]  Here  arrived  Mr.  Hodges,  one  of  Mr.  Peirce  his 
mates.  He  came  from  Virginia  in  a  shallop,  and  brought  news 
that  Mr.  Peirce's  ship  was  cast  away  upon  a  shoal  four  miles 
from  Feake  Isle,  ten  leagues  to  the  N.  of  the  mouth  of  Vir- 
ginia Bay,^  November  2d,  about  five  in  the  morning,  the  wind 
S.  W.,  through  the  neghgence  of  one  of  his  mates,  who  had 
the  watch,  and  kept  not  his  lead  as  he  was  exhorted.  They 
had  a  shallop  and  their  ship's  boat  aboard.  All  that  went  into 
the  shallop  came  safe  on  shore,  but  the  ship's  boat  was  sunk  by 
the  ship's  side,  and  [blank]  men  drowned  in  her,  and  ten  of  them 
were  taken  up  alive  into  the  shallop.  There  were  in  the  ship 
twenty-eight  seamen  and  ten  passengers.  Of  these  were 
drowned  seven  seamen  and  five  passengers,  and  all  the  goods 
were  lost,  except  one  hogshead  of  beaver;  and  most  of  the 
letters  were  saved,  and  some  other  small  things,  which  were 
driven  on  shore  the  next  day,  when  the  ship  was  broken  in 
pieces.  They  were  nine  days  in  much  distress,  before  they 
found  any  English.  Plymouth  men  lost  four  hogsheads,  900 
pounds  of  beaver,  and  200  otter  skins.  The  governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts lost,  in  beaver  and  fish,  which  he  sent  to  Virginia,  etc., 
near  £100.    Many  others  lost  beaver,  and  Mr.  Humfrey,  fish. 

May.]  The  William  and  Jane,  Mr.  Burdock  master,  ar- 
rived with  thirty  passengers  and  ten  cows  or  more.  She  came 
in  six  weeks  from  London. 

The  Mary  and  Jane  arrived,  Mr.  Rose  master.  She  came 
from  London  in  seven  weeks,  and  brought  one  hundi'ed  and 
ninety-six  passengers,  (only  two  children  died).  Mr.  Codding- 
ton,  one  of  the  assistants,  and  his  wife,  came  in  her.  In  her 
return  she  was  cast  away  upon  Isle  Sable,  but  [blank]  men 
were  saved. 

By  these  ships  we  understood,  that  Sir  Christopher  Gar- 

^  Chesapeake  Bay. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  101 

diner,  and  Thomas  Morton,  and  Philip  Ratchff,  (who  had  been 
punished  here  for  their  misdemeanors,)  had  petitioned  to  the 
king  and  council  against  us,  (being  set  on  by  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorges  and  Capt.  Mason,  who  had  begun  a  plantation  at  Pascat- 
aquack,  and  aimed  at  the  general  government  of  New  England 
for  their  agent  there,  Capt.  Neal).  The  petition  was  of  many 
sheets  of  paper,  and  contained  many  false  accusations,  (and 
among  some  truths  misrepeated,)  accusing  us  to  intend  rebel- 
lion, to  have  cast  off  our  allegiance,  and  to  be  wholly  separate 
from  the  church  and  laws  of  England ;  that  our  ministers  and 
people  did  continually  rail  against  the  state,  church,  and 
bishops  there,  etc.  Upon  which  such  of  our  company  as 
were  then  in  England,  viz.,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Mr.  Hum- 
frey,  and  Mr.  Cradock,  were  called  before  a  committee  of  the 
council,  to  whom  they  dehvered  in  an  answer  in  wTiting ;  upon 
reading  wherof,  it  pleased  the  Lord,  our  gracious  God  and 
Protector,  so  to  work  with  the  lords,  and  after  with  the  king's 
majesty,  when  the  whole  matter  was  reported  to  him  by  Sir 
Thomas  Jermin,  one  of  the  council,  (but  not  of  the  committee, 
who  yet  had  been  present  at  the  three  days  of  hearing,  and 
spake  much  in  the  commendation  of  the  governor,  both  to  the 
lords  and  after  to  his  majesty,)  that  he  said,  he  would  have 
them  severely  punished,  who  did  abuse  his  governor  and 
the  plantation;  that  the  defendants  were  dismissed  with  a 
favorable  order  for  their  encouragement,  being  assm'ed  from 
some  of  the  council,  that  his  majesty  did  not  intend  to  impose 
the  ceremonies  of  the  church  of  England  upon  us;  for  that 
it  was  considered,  that  it  was  the  freedom  from  such  things 
that  made  people  come  over  to  us;  and  it  was  credibly  in- 
formed to  the  council,  that  this  country  would,  in  time,  be 
very  beneficial  to  England  for  masts,  cordage,  etc.,  if  the  Sound 
should  be  debarred,* 

We  sent  forth  a  pinnace  after  the  pirate  Bull,  but,  after 

*  I.  e.,  at  times  when  the  importation  of  naval  stores  from  the  Baltic  was 
interrupted  by  the  closing  of  the  Sound,  then  a  Danish  strait. 


102  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1633 

she  had  been  forth  two  months,  she  came  home,  having  not 
found  him.     After,  we  heard  he  was  gone  to  the  French. 

A  Dutch  pink  arrived,  which  had  been  to  the  southward  a 
trading. 

June  2.]  Capt.  Stone  arrived  with  a  small  ship  with  cows 
and  some  salt.  The  governor  of  Plymouth  sent  Capt.  Standish 
to  prosecute  against  him  for  piracy.  The  cause  was,  being 
at  the  Dutch  plantation,^  where  a  pinnace  of  Plymouth  coming, 
and  Capt.  Stone  and  the  Dutch  governor  having  been  drinking 
together,  Capt.  Stone,  upon  pretence  that  those  of  Plymouth 
had  reproached  them  of  Virginia,  from  whence  he  came, 
seized  upon  their  pinnace,  (with  the  governor's  consent,) 
and  offered  to  carry  her  away,  but  the  Dutchmen  rescued 
her;  and  the  next  day  the  governor  and  Capt.  Stone  entreated 
the  master  of  the  pinnace  (being  one  of  the  council  of  Ply- 
mouth) to  pass  it  by,  which  he  promised  by  a  solemn  instru- 
ment under  his  hand;  yet,  upon  their  earnest  prosecution 
at  court,  we  bound  over  Capt.  Stone  (with  two  sureties)  to 
appear  in  the  admiralty  court  in  England,  etc.  But,  after, 
those  of  Plymouth,  being  persuaded  that  it  would  turn  to 
their  reproach,  and  that  it  could  be  no  piracy,  with  their 
consent,  we  withdrew  the  recognizance. 

15.]  Mr.  Graves,  in  the  ship  Elizabeth  Bonadventure,  from 
Yarmouth,  arrived  with  ninety-five  passengers,  and  thirty- 
four  Dutch  sheep,  and  two  mares.  They  came  from  Yarmouth 
in  six  weeks;   lost  not  one  person,  but  above  forty  sheep. 

19.]  A  day  of  thanksgiving  was  kept  in  all  the  congrega- 
tions, for  our  dehvery  from  the  plots  of  om-  enemies,  and  for 
the  safe  arrival  of  our  friends,  etc. 

July  2.]  At  a  court  it  was  agreed,  that  the  governor, 
John  Winthrop,  should  have,  towards  his  charges  this  year, 
£150,  and  the  money,  which  he  had  disbm-sed  in  pubUe  busi- 
ness, as  officers'  wages,  etc.,  being  between  two  and  three 
hundred  pounds,  should  be  forthwith  paid. 

*  Manhattan.     See  Bradford,  in  this  series,  pp.  310,  311. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  103 

12.]  Mr.  Edward  Winslow,  governor  of  Plymouth,  and 
Mr.  Bradford,  came  into  the  bay,  and  went  away  the  18th. 
They  came  partly  to  confer  about  jommg  m  a  trade  to  Con- 
necticut, for  beaver  and  hemp.  There  was  a  motion  to  set  up 
a  trading  house  there,  to  prevent  the  Dutch,  who  were  about 
to  build  one;  but,  in  regard  the  place  was  not  fit  for  planta- 
tion, there  being  three  or  four  thousand  warlike  Indians,  and 
the  river  not  to  be  gone  into  but  by  small  pinnaces,  having  a 
bar  affording  but  six  feet  at  high  water,  and  for  that  no  vessels 
can  get  in  for  seven  months  in  the  year,  partly  by  reason  of 
the  ice,  and  then  the  violent  stream,  etc.,  we  thought  not  fit 
to  meddle  with  it.^ 

24.]  A  ship  arrived  from  Weymouth,  with  about  eighty 
passengers,  and  twelve  kine,  who  sate  down  at  Dorchester. 
They  were  twelve  weeks  coming,  being  forced  into  the  West- 
ern Islands  by  a  leak,  where  they  stayed  three  weeks,  and  were 
very  courteously  used  by  the  Portugals ;  but  the  extremity  of 
the  heat  there,  and  the  continual  rain  brought  sickness  upon 
them,  so  as  [blank]  died. 

Much  sickness  at  Plymouth,  and  above  twenty  died  of 
pestilent  fevers. 

Mr.  Graves  returned,  and  carried  a  freight  of  fish  from 
hence  and  Pl\Tnouth. 

By  him  the  governor  and  assistants  sent  an  answer  to  the 
petition  of  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,  and  withal  a  certificate 
from  the  old  planters  concerning  the  carriage  of  affairs,  etc. 

August  6.]  Two  men  servants  to  one  Moodye,  of  Roxbury, 
returning  in  a  boat  from  the  windmill,  struck  upon  the  oyster 
bank.  They  went  out  to  gather  oysters,  and,  not  making  fast 
their  boat,  when  the  flood  came,  it  floated  away,  and  they  were 
both  drowned,  although  they  might  have  waded  out  on  either 
side;  but  it  was  an  evident  judgment  of  God  upon  them,  for 
they  were  wicked  persons.  One  of  them,  a  Uttle  before,  being 
reproved  for  his  lewdness,  and  put  in  mind  of  hell,  answered, 
*  But  see  Bradford,  in  this  series,  p.  300. 


104  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1633 

that  if  hell  were  ten  times  hotter,  he  had  rather  be  there  than 
he  would  serve  his  master,  etc.  The  occasion  was,  because  he 
had  bound  himself  for  divers  years,  and  saw  that,  if  he  had 
been  at  liberty,  he  might  have  had  greater  wages,  though 
otherwise  his  master  used  him  very  well/ 

Mr.  Graves  retm^ned.  He  earned  between  five  and  six 
thousand  weight  of  beaver,  and  about  thirty  passengers. 
Capt.  Walter  Neal,  of  Pascataquack,  and  some  eight  of  his 
company,  went  with  him.  He  had  been  in  the  bay  above  ten 
days,  and  came  not  all  that  time  to  see  the  governor.  Being 
persuaded  by  divers  of  his  friends,  his  answer  was,  that  he  was 
not  well  entertained  the  first  time  he  came  hither,  and,  be- 
sides, he  had  some  letters  opened  in  the  bay;  ergo,  except  he 
were  invited,  he  would  not  go  see  him.  The  13th  day  he  wrote 
to  the  governor,  to  excuse  his  not  coming  to  see  him,  upon  the 
same  reasons.  The  governor  returned  him  answer,  that  his 
entertainment  was  such  as  time  and  place  could  afford,  (being 
at  their  first  coming,  before  they  were  housed,  etc.)  and  re- 
torted the  discourtesy  upon  him,  in  that  he  would  thrust  him- 
self, with  such  a  company,  (he  had  five  or  six  gentlemen  with 
him,)  upon  a  stranger's  entertainment,  at  such  an  unseason- 
able time,  and  having  no  need  so  to  do ;  and  for  his  letters,  he 
protested  his  innocency,  (as  he  might  well,  for  the  letters  were 
opened  before  they  came  into  the  bay) ;  and  so  concluded  cour- 
teously, yet  with  plain  demonstration  of  his  error.  And,  in- 
deed, if  the  governor  should  have  invited  him,  standing  upon 
those  terms,  he  had  blemished  his  reputation. 

There  is  mention  made  before  of  the  answer,  which  was 
returned  to  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  his  .accusations,  to  which 
the  governor  and  all  the  assistants  subscribed,  only  the  deputy 
refused.  He  made  three  exceptions:  1.  For  that  we  termed 
the  bishops  reverend  bishops;  which  was  only  in  repeating 
the  accuser's  words.    2.  For  that  we  professed  to  believe  all 

*  The  condition  of  indentured  servants  was  often  scarcely  better  than  that  of 
slaves.     The  man  may  well  have  had  reason  to  be  unhappy. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  105 

the  articles  of  the  Christian  faith,  according  to  the  scriptures 
and  the  common  received  tenets  of  the  churches  of  England. 
This  he  refused,  because  we  differed  from  them  in  matter  of 
discipline,  and  about  the  meaning  of  Christ's  descension  into 
hell;  yet  the  faithful  in  England  (whom  we  account  the 
churches)  expound  it  as  we  do,  and  not  of  a  local  descent,  as 
some  of  the  bishops  do.  3.  For  that  we  gave  the  king  the 
title  of  sacred  majesty,  which  is  the  most  proper  title  of  princes, 
being  the  Lord's  anointed,  and  the  word  a  mere  civil  word, 
never  apphed  in  scripture  to  any  divine  thing,  but  sanctus  used 
always,  (Mr.  Knox  called  the  queen  of  Scotland  by  the  same 
title).  Yet  by  no  reasons  could  he  be  drawn  to  yield  to  these 
things,  although  they  were  allowed  by  divers  of  the  ministers 
and  the  chief  of  Plymouth.^ 

There  was  great  scarcity  of  corn,  by  reason  of  the  spoil  our 
hogs  had  made  at  harvest,  and  the  great  quantity  they  had 
even  in  the  winter,  (there  being  no  acorns;)  yet  people  Uved 
well  with  fish  and  the  fruit  of  their  gardens. 

Sept.  4.]  The  Griffin,  a  ship  of  three  hundred  tons,  arrived, 
(having  been  eight  weeks  from  the  Downs).  This  ship  was 
brought  in  by  John  Gallop  a  new  way  by  Lovell's  Island,  at 
low  water,  now  called  Griffin's  Gap.  She  brought  about  two 
hundred  passengers,  having  lost  some  four,  whereof  one  was 
drowned  two  days  before,  as  he  was  casting  forth  a  line  to  take 
mackerel.     In  this  ship  came  Mr.  Cotton,^  Mr.  Hooker,  and 

^  Dudley's  ultra-Puritanism  appears  here. 

^  The  arrival  of  John  Cotton  in  New  England  almost  marks  an  epoch. 
This  man,  perhaps  the  most  influential  of  the  non-conformist  ministers  in  Old 
or  New  England,  was  born  in  Derby  in  1584.  At  Cambridge,  a  brilliant  scholar, 
he  became  fellow  and  dean  of  Emmanuel  College,  and  soon  after  rector  of  St. 
Botolph's  Church  in  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  a  conspicuous  post.  Here  for  many 
years  he  so  wrought  that  he  quite  transformed  the  town,  moulded  opinion  through- 
out the  shire,  and  became  widely  known  through  England.  His  non-conformity 
was  marked  and  brought  upon  him  displacement.  In  these  days  his  spirit  was 
liberal:  like  John  Robinson  he  seems  to  have  held  that  more  light  yet  might  be 
expected  to  break  out  from  God's  word,  which  believers  must  be  ready  to  accept, 
and  it  may  be  surmised  that  had  he  remained  in  England  he  would  have  adopted 
the  free  spirit  of  the  Independents.     When  Winthrop  sailed  in  1630,  John  Cotton 


106  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1633 

Mr.  Stone,  ministers,  and  Mr.  Peirce,  Mr.  Haynes,  (a  gentleman 
of  great  estate,)  Mr.  Hoffe,  and  many  other  men  of  good 
estates.  They  gat  out  of  England  with  much  difficulty,  all 
places  being  belaid  to  have  taken  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Hooker, 
who  had  been  long  sought  for  to  have  been  brought  into  the 
high  commission ;  but  the  master  being  bound  to  touch  at  the 
Wight,  the  pursuivants  attended  there,  and,  in  the  mean  time, 
the  said  ministers  were  taken  in  at  the  Downs.     Mr.  Hooker 

preached,  at  Southampton,  a  farewell  sermon,  as  John  Robinson  did,  ten  years 
before,  for  the  Pilgrims  at  Delfshaven.  Cotton's  decision  to  follow  to  America 
was  momentous  for  the  colony.  (See  his  reasons  for  emigrating  to  New  Eng- 
land in  the  HutcJiinson  Papers,  ed.  1865,  I.  60.)  To  his  death  in  1652  he  was 
the  dominant  figure  in  church  and  state,  the  ultimate  appeal  in  matters  civil  and 
religious,  the  shaper  as  much  as  Winthrop  of  the  New  England  world,  and  the 
initiator  of  policies  and  institutions  that  have  persisted  to  the  present  time.  He 
was  not  always  consistent:  the  straits  of  his  New  England  environment,  where 
tolerance,  perhaps,  would  have  brought  destruction,  forced  him  into  a  narrowness 
of  spirit  not  in  line  with  the  breadth  he  earlier  had  shown;  we  shall  come  upon 
painful  instances  of  his  turning  his  back  and  worse,  upon  friends  in  distress. 
But  his  shortcomings  of  this  sort  admit  of  palliation. 

Modern  writers,  chief  among  them  Thornton,  in  The  Historical  Relation 
of  New  England  to  the  English  Commonwealth  (1874),  plausibly  maintain  that 
John  Cotton  was  the  source  and  spring  from  whom  flowed  Independency,  both 
in  Old  and  New  England,  therefore  asserting  for  him  a  claim  to  a  high  place 
among  the  great  names  of  the  English  Commonwealth.  Independency,  how- 
ever, did  not  begin  with  Cotton,  nor  do  we  find  in  his  profession  of  it  some  of 
its  finer  characteristics;  nevertheless  he  had  a  great  part  in  a  most  honorable 
development. 

Though  the  prestige  of  Cotton  was  shaken  by  his  vacillations  and  mistakes 
(it  would  have  been  more  than  human  perhaps  not  to  have  swayed  and  bent  in 
such  a  troubled  sea),  he  recovered  all  he  lost,  and  died  at  the  height  of  influence. 
His  death  was  accompanied  by  portents  in  the  heavens,  and  from  that  day  to 
this  he  has  stood  as  one  of  the  mightiest  and  worthiest  of  the  earlier  pillars.  Cot- 
ton wrote  much,  and  the  modern  reader  is  puzzled  to  understand  how  his  writings, 
to  our  taste  often  tedious,  produced  such  an  effect.  He  must  have  possessed 
extraordinary  magnetism,  and  a  character  in  which  Puritan  strength  was  some- 
what mitigated  by  traits  of  amiability. 

Thomas  Hooker  now  begins  his  American  career,  departing  soon  for  Con- 
necticut; and  Samuel  Stone,  equally  sturdy  in  character,  if  less  in  the  foreground. 
He  plays  hereafter  a  picturesque  part  as  chaplain  of  John  Mason  in  the  Pequot 
war. 

John  Haynes  and  Atherton  Hough,  men  of  repute  and  means,  strengthened 
the  plantation.  The  former  soon  became  governor,  but  casting  in  his  lot  with 
the  Connecticut  pioneers,  appears  but  for  a  moment  upon  the  Massachusetts 
staee. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  107 

and  Mr.  Stone  went  presently  to  Newtown,  where  they  were 
to  be  entertained,  and  Mr.  Cotton  stayed  at  Boston.  On 
Saturday  evening,  the  congregation  met  in  their  ordinary 
exercise,  and  Mr.  Cotton,  being  desired  to  speak  to  the  question, 
(which  was  of  the  church,)  he  showed,  out  of  the  Canticles,  6, 
that  some  churches  were  as  queens,  some  as  concubines,  some 
as  damsels,  and  some  as  doves,  etc.  He  was  then  (with  his 
wife)  propounded  to  be  admitted  a  member.  The  Lord's  day 
following,  he  exercised  in  the  afternoon,  and  being  to  be  ad- 
mitted, he  signified  his  desire  and  readiness  to  make  his  con- 
fession according  to  order,  which  he  said  might  be  sufficient  in 
declaring  his  faith  about  baptism,  (which  he  then  desired  for 
his  child,  born  in  their  passage,  and  therefore  named  Seaborn). 
He  gave  two  reasons  why  he  did  not  baptize  it  at  sea,  (not  for 
want  of  fresh  water,  for  he  held,  sea  water  would  have  served :) 
1,  because  they  had  no  settled  congregation  there;  2,  because 
a  minister  hath  no  power  to  give  the  seals  but  in  his  own 
congregation.  He  desired  his  wife  might  also  be  admitted  a 
member,  and  gave  a  modest  testimony  of  her,  but  withal  re- 
quested, that  she  might  not  be  put  to  make  open  confession, 
etc.,  which  he  said  was  against  the  apostle's  rule,  and  not  fit 
for  women's  modesty;  but  that  the  elders  might  examine  her 
in  private.  So  she  was  asked,  if  she  did  consent  in  the  con- 
fession of  faith  made  by  her  husband,  and  if  she  did  desire  to 
be  admitted,  etc. ;  whereto  she  answered  affirmatively ;  and  so 
both  were  admitted,  and  their  child  baptized,  the  father  present- 
ing it,  (the  child's  baptism  being,  as  he  did  then  affirm,  in  an- 
other case,  the  father's  incentive  for  the  help  of  his  faith,  etc.) 

The  said  4th  of  September,  came  in  also  the  ship  called  the 
Bird,  (Mr.  Yates  master).  She  brought  [blank]  passengers, 
having  lost  [blank] ;  and  [blank]  cows,  having  lost  [blank] ;  and 
four  mares.  She  had  been  twelve  weeks  at  sea,  being,  at 
her  first  coming  out,  driven  northerly  to  fifty- three. 

About  ten  days  before  this  time,  a  bark  was  set  forth  to 
Connecticut  and  those  parts,  to  trade. 


108  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1633 

John  Oldham,  and  three  with  him,  went  over  land  to  Con- 
necticut, to  trade.  The  sachem  used  them  kindly,  and  gave 
them  some  beaver.  They  brought  of  the  hemp,  which  grows 
there  in  great  abundance,  and  is  much  better  than  the  Eng- 
Hsh.  He  accounted  it  to  be  about  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles.  He  brought  some  black  lead,  whereof  the  Indians  told 
him  there  was  a  whole  rock.  He  lodged  at  Indian  towns  all 
the  way. 

[2.]  Capt.  John  Stone  (of  whom  mention  is  made  before) 
'carried  himself  very  dissolutely  in  drawing  company  to  drink, 
etc.,  and  being  found  upon  the  bed  in  the  night  with  one  Bar- 
croft's  wife,  he  was  brought  before  the  governor,  etc.,  and 
though  it  appeared  he  was  in  drink,  and  no  act  to  be  proved, 
yet  it  was  thought  fit  he  should  abide  his  trial,  for  which  end 
warrant  was  sent  out  to  stay  his  pinnace,  which  was  ready  to 
set  sail ;  whereupon  he  went  to  Mr.  Ludlow,  one  of  the  assist- 
ants, and  used  braving  and  threatening  speeches  against  him, 
for  which  he  raised  some  company  and  apprehended  him, 
and  brought  him  to  the  governor,  who  put  him  in  irons,  and 
kept  a  guard  upon  him  till  the  court,  (but  his  irons  were  taken 
off  the  same  day).  At  the  court  his  indictment  was  framed 
for  adultery,  but  found  ignoramus  by  the  great  jury;  but, 
for  his  other  misdemeanors,  he  was  fined  £100,  which  yet  was 
not  levied  of  him;  and  ordered  upon  pain  of  death  to  come 
here  no  more,  without  license  of  the  court;  and  the  woman 
was  bound  to  her  good  behavior. 

17.]  The  governor  and  council  met  at  Boston,  and  called 
the  ministers  and  elders  of  all  the  churches,  to  consider  about 
Mr.  Cotton  his  sitting  down.  He  was  desired  to  divers  places, 
and  those  who  came  with  him  desired  he  might  sit  down  where 
they  might  keep  store  of  cattle;  but  it  was  agreed,  by  full 
consent,  that  the  fittest  place  for  him  was  Boston,  and  in  that 
respect  those  of  Boston  might  take  farms  in  any  part  of  the 
bay  not  belonging  to  other  towns ;  and  that  (keeping  a  lecture) 
he  should  have  some  maintenance  out  of  the  treasury.    But 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  109 

divers  of  the  council,  upon  their  second  thoughts,  did  after 
refuse  this  contribution. 

October  2.]  The  bark  Blessing,  which  was  sent  to  the 
southward,  returned.  She  had  been  at  an  island  over  against 
Connecticut,  called  Long  Island,  because  it  is  near  fifty  leagues 
long,  the  east  part  about  ten  leagues  from  the  main,  but  the 
west  end  not  a  mile.  There  they  had  store  of  the  best  wam- 
pampeak,  both  white  and  blue.  The  Indians  there  are  a  very 
treacherous  people.  They  have  many  canoes  so  great  as 
one  will  carry  eighty  men.  They  were  also  in  the  River  of 
Connecticut,  which  is  barred  at  the  entrance,  so  as  they  could 
not  find  above  one  fathom  of  water.  They  were  also  at  the 
Dutch  plantation  upon  Hudson's  River,  (called  New  Nether- 
lands,) where  they  were  very  kindly  entertained,  and  had  some 
beaver  and  other  things,  for  such  commodities  as  they  put  off. 
They  showed  the  governor  (called  Gwalter  Van  Twilly)*  their 
commission,  which  was  to  signify  to  them,  that  the  king  of 
England  had  granted  the  river  and  country  of  Connecticut 
to  his  own  subjects;  and  therefore  desired  them  to  forbear 
to  build  there,  etc.  The  Dutch  governor  wrote  back  to  our 
governor,  (his  letter  was  very  courteous  and  respectful,  as 
it  had  been  to  a  very  honorable  person,)  whereby  he  signified, 
that  the  Lords  the  States  had  also  granted  the  same  parts  to 
the  West  India  Company,  and  therefore  requested  that  we 
would  forbear  the  same  till  the  matter  were  decided  between 
the  king  of  England  and  the  said  lords. 

The  said  bark  did  pass  and  repass  over  the  shoals  of  Cape 
Cod,  about  three  or  four  leagues  from  Nantucket  Isle,  where 
the  breaches  are  very  terrible,  yet  they  had  three  fathom 
water  all  over. 

The  company  of  Plymouth  sent  a  bark  to  Connecticut,  at 
this  time,  to  erect  a  trading  house  there.  When  they  came, 
they  found  the  Dutch  had  built  there,  and  did  forbid  the 
Plymouth  men  to  proceed;  but  they  set  up  their  house  not- 

'  Wouter  van  Twiller. 


110  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1633 

withstanding,  about  a  mile  above  the  Dutch.  This  river  runs 
so  far  northward,  that  it  comes  within  a  day's  journey  of  a 
part  of  Merrimack  called  [blank]  and  so  runs  thence  N.  W.  so 
near  the  Great  Lake,  as  [allows]  the  Indians  to  pass  their 
canoes  into  it  over  land.  From  this  lake,  and  the  hideous 
swamps  about  it,  come  most  of  the  beaver  which  is  traded 
between  Virginia  and  Canada,  which  runs  forth  of  this  lake;  and 
Patomack  River  in  Virginia  comes  hkewise  out  of  it,  or  very 
near,  so  as  from  this  lake  there  comes  yearly  to  the  Dutch  about 
ten  thousand  skins,  which  might  easily  be  diverted  by  Mer- 
rimack, if  a  course  of  trade  were  settled  above  in  that  river.* 
10.]  A  fast  was  kept  at  Boston,  and  Mr.  Leverett,^  an 
ancient,  sincere  professor,  of  Mr.  Cotton's  congregation  in 
England,  was  chosen  a  ruling  elder,  and  Mr.  Firmin,  a  godly 
man,  an  apothecary  of  Sudbury  in  England,  was  chosen  dea- 
con, by  imposition  of  hands ;  and  Mr.  Cotton  was  then  chosen 
teacher  of  the  congregation  of  Boston,  and  ordained  by  impo- 
sition of  the  hands  of  the  presb5^ery,  in  this  manner:  First, 
he  was  chosen  by  all  the  congregation  testifying  their  consent 
by  erection  of  hands.  Then  Mr.  Wilson,  the  pastor,  demanded 
of  him,  if  he  did  accept  of  that  call.  He  paused,  and  then  spake 
to  this  effect:  that  howsoever  he  knew  himself  unworthy  and 
unsufficient  for  that  place;  yet,  having  observed  all  the  pas- 
sages of  God's  providence,  (which  he  reckoned  up  in  particular) 
in  calling  him  to  it,  he  could  not  but  accept  it.  Then  the  pas- 
tor and  the  two  elders  laid  their  hands  upon  his  head,  and  the 
pastor  prayed,  and  then,  taking  off  their  hands,  laid  them  on 
again,  and,  speaking  to  him  by  his  name,  they  did  thenceforth 
design  him  to  the  said  office,  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  did  give  him  the  charge  of  the  congregation,  and  did 
thereby  (as  by  a  sign  from  God)  indue  him  with  the  gifts  fit 
for  his  office ;  and  lastly  did  bless  him.    Then  the  neighboring 

*  Winthrop's  geography,  based  on   Indian  reports  imperfectly  understood, 
is  naturally  confused. 

*  Thomas  Leverett,  father  of  John  Leverett,  eminent  in  the  next  generation. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  111 

ministers,  which  were  present,  did  (at  the  pastor's  motion) 
give  him  the  right  hands  of  fellowship,  and  the  pastor  made  a 
stipulation  between  him  and  the  congregation.  When  Mr. 
Cotton  accepted  of  the  office,  he  commended  to  the  congrega- 
tion such  as  were  to  come  over,  who  were  of  his  charge  in 
England,  that  they  might  be  comfortably  provided  for. 

The  same  day,  Mr.  Grant,  in  the  ship  James,  arrived  at  Sa- 
lem, having  been  but  eight  weeks  between  Gravesend  and 
Salem.  He  brought  Capt.  Wiggin  and  about  thirty,  with  one 
Mr.  Leveridge,  a  godly  minister^  to  Pascataquack,  (which 
the  Lord  Say  and  the  Lord  Brook  had  purchased  of  the  Bristol 
men,)  and  about  thirty  for  Virginia,  and  about  twenty  for 
this  place,  and  some  sixty  cattle.  He  brought  news,  that  the 
Richard,  a  bark  of  fifty  tons,  which  came  forth  with  the  Griffin, 
being  come  above  three  hundred  leagues,  sprang  such  a  leak, 
as  she  was  forced  to  bear  up,  and  was  put  in  at  Weymouth. 

IL]  A  fast  at  Newtown,  where  Mr.  Hooker  was  chosen 
pastor,  and  Mr.  Stone  teacher,  in  such  a  manner  as  before  at 
Boston. 

The  wolves  continued  to  do  much  hurt  among  our  cattle; 
and  this  month,  by  Mr.  Grant,  there  came  over  four  Irish  grey- 
hounds, which  were  sent  to  the  governor  by  Mr.  Downing,  his 
brother-in-law. 

November.]  A  great  mortality  among  the  Indians.  Chick- 
atabot,  the  sagamore  of  Naponsett,  died,  and  many  of  his 
people.  The  disease  was  the  small  pox.  Some  of  them  were 
cured  by  such  means  as  they  had  from  us;  many  of  their 
children  escaped,  and  were  kept  by  the  EngUsh. 

Capt.  Wiggin  of  Pascataquack  wrote  to  the  governor,  that 
one  of  his  people  had  stabbed  another,  and  desired  he  might  be 
tried  in  the  bay,  if  the  party  died.  The  governor  answered, 
that  if  Pascataquack  lay  within  their  hmits,  (as  it  was  sup- 
posed,) they  would  try  him. 

A  small  ship  of  about  sixty  tons  was  built  at  Medford,  and 
called  the  Rebecca. 


112  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1633 

This  year  a  watermill  was  built  at  Roxbury,  by  Mr.  Dum- 
mer. 

The  scarcity  of  workmen  had  caused  them  to  raise  their 
wages  to  an  excessive  rate,  so  as  a  carpenter  would  have  three 
shillings  the  day,  a  laborer  two  shillings  and  sixpence,  etc.; 
and  accordingly  those  who  had  commodities  to  sell  advanced 
their  prices  sometime  double  to  that  they  cost  in  England, 
so  as  it  grew  to  a  general  complaint,  which  the  court,  taking 
knowledge  of,  as  also  of  some  further  evils,  which  were  spring- 
ing out  of  the  excessive  rates  of  wages,  they  made  an  order, 
that  carpenters,  masons,  etc.,  should  take  but  two  shillings 
the  day,  and  laborers  but  eighteen  pence,  and  that  no  com- 
modity should  be  sold  at  above  four  pence  in  the  shilling  more 
than  it  cost  for  ready  money  in  England;  oil,  wine,  etc.,  and 
cheese,  in  regard  of  the  hazard  of  bringing,  etc.,  [excepted]. 
The  evils  which  were  springing,  etc.,  were:  1.  Many  spent 
much  time  idly,  etc.,  because  they  could  get  as  much  in  four 
days  as  would  keep  them  a  week.  2.  They  spent  much  in 
tobacco  and  strong  waters,  etc.,  which  was  a  great  waste  to 
the  commonwealth,  which,  by  reason  of  so  many  foreign 
commodities  expended,  could  not  have  subsisted  to  this  time, 
but  that  it  was  supplied  by  the  cattle  and  corn,  which  were  sold 
to  new  comers  at  very  dear  rates,  viz.,  corn  at  six  shillings  the 
bushel,  a  cow  at  £20, — yea,  some  at  £24,  some  £26, — a  mare 
at  £35,  an  ewe  goat  at  3  or  £4;  and  yet  many  cattle  were  every 
year  brought  out  of  England,  and  some  from  Virginia.  Soon 
after  order  was  taken  for  prices  of  commodities,  viz.,  not  to 
exceed  the  rate  of  four  pence  in  the  shilling  above  the  price  in 
England,  except  cheese  and  hquors,  etc. 

The  ministers  in  the  bay  and  Sagus  did  meet,  once  a  fort- 
night, at  one  of  their  houses  by  course,  where  some  question 
of  moment  was  debated.  Mr.  Skelton,  the  pastor  of  Salem, 
and  Mr.  Williams,*  who  was  removed  from  Plymouth  thither, 
(but  not  in  any  office,  though  he  exercised  by  way  of  prophecy,) 

'  Roger  Williams  here  enters  upon  his  career  of  criticism  and  dissent. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  113 

took  some  exception  against  it,  as  fearing  it  might  grow  in  time 
to  a  presbytery  or  superintendency,  to  the  prejudice  of  the 
chm-ches'  hberties.  But  this  fear  was  without  cause ;  for  they 
were  all  clear  in  that  point,  that  no  church  or  person  can  have 
power  over  another  church ;  neither  did  they  in  their  meetings 
exercise  any  such  jurisdiction,  etc. 

News  of  the  taking  of  Machias  by  the  French.  Mr.  Aller- 
ton  of  Plymouth,  and  some  others,  had  set  up  a  trading  wig- 
wam there,  and  left  in  it  five  men  and  store  of  commodities. 
La  Tour,  governor  of  the  French  in  those  parts,  making  claim 
to  the  place,  came  to  displant  them,  and,  finding  resistance, 
killed  two  of  the  men,  and  carried  away  the  other  three,  and 
the  goods. 

Some  differences  fell  out  still,  now  and  then,  between  the 
governor  and  the  deputy,  which  yet  were  soon  healed.  It  had 
been  ordered  in  court,  that  all  hands  should  help  to  the  fin- 
ishing of  the  fort  at  Boston,  and  all  the  towns  in  the  bay 
had  gone  once  over,  and  most  the  second  time;  but  those  of 
Newtown  being  warned,  the  deputy  would  not  suffer  them 
to  come,  neither  did  acquaint  the  governor  with  the  cause, 
which  was,  for  that  Salem  and  Sagus  had  not  brought  in  money 
for  their  parts.  The  governor,  hearing  of  it,  wrote  friendly 
to  him,  showing  him  that  the  intent  of  the  court  was,  that  the 
work  should  be  done  by  those  in  the  bay,  and  that,  after,  the 
others  should  pay  a  proportionable  sum  for  the  house,  etc., 
which  must  be  done  by  money;  and  therefore  desired  him 
that  he  would  send  in  his  neighbors.  Upon  this,  Mr.  Haynes 
and  Mr.  Hooker  came  to  the  governor  to  treat  with  him  about 
it,  and  brought  a  letter  from  the  deputy  full  of  bitterness  and 
resolution  not  to  send  till  Salem,  etc.  The  governor  told  them 
it  should  rest  till  the  court,  and  withal  gave  the  letter  to  Mr. 
Hooker  with  this  speech:  I  am  not  willing  to  keep  such  an 
occasion  of  provocation  by  me.  And  soon  after  he  wrote  to 
the  deputy  (who  had  before  desired  to  buy  a  fat  hog  or  two  of 
him,  being  somewhat  short  of  provisions)  to  desire  him  to 


114  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1633 

send  for  one,  (which  he  would  have  sent  him,  if  he  had  known 
when  his  occasion  had  been  to  have  made  use  of  it,)  and  to 
accept  it  as  a  testimony  of  his  good  will;  and,  lest  he  should 
make  any  scruple  of  it,  he  made  Mr.  Haynes  and  Mr.  Hooker 
(who  both  sojourned  in  his  house)  partakers  with  him.  Upon 
this  the  deputy  returned  this  answer:  ''Your  overcoming 
yourself  hath  overcome  me.  Mr.  Haynes,  Mr.  Hooker,  and 
myself,  do  most  kindly  accept  your  good  will;  but  we  desire, 
without  offence,  to  refuse  your  offer,  and  that  I  may  only 
trade  with  you  for  two  hogs;"  and  so  very  lovingly  concluded. 
— ^The  court  being  two  days  after,  ordered,  that  Newtown 
should  do  their  work  as  others  had  done,  and  then  Salem,  etc., 
should  pay  for  three  days  at  eighteen  pence  a  man. 

11.]  The  congregation  of  Boston  met  to  take  order  for 
Mr.  Cotton's  passage  and  house,  and  his  and  Mr.  Wilson's 
maintenance.  Mr.  Cotton  had  disbm'sed  eighty  pounds  for  his 
passage,  and  towards  his  house,  which  he  would  not  have 
again ;  so  there  was  about  £60  raised  (by  voluntary  contribu- 
tion) towards  the  finishing  of  his  house,  and  about  £100  tow- 
ards their  maintenance.  At  this  meeting  there  arose  some 
difference  between  the  governor  and  Mr.  Cottington,  who 
charged  the  governor,  that  he  took  away  the  liberty  of  the 
rest,  because  (at  the  request  of  the  rest)  he  had  named  some 
men  to  set  out  men's  lands,  etc.,  which  grew  to  some  heat  of 
words;  but  the  next  Lord's  day  they  both  acknowledged 
openly  their  failing,  and  declared  that  they  had  been  recon- 
ciled the  next  day. 

26.]  Mr.  Wilson  (by  leave  of  the  congregation  of  Boston, 
whereof  he  was  pastor)  went  to  Agawam  to  teach  the  people 
of  that  plantation,  because  they  had  yet  no  minister.  Whiles 
he  was  there,  December  4,  there  fell  such  a  snow  (knee  deep) 
as  he  could  not  come  back  for  [blank]  days,  and  a  boat,  which 
went  thither,  was  frozen  up  in  the  river. 

December  5.]  John  Sagamore  died  of  the  small  pox,  and 
almost  all  his  people;   (above  thirty  buried  by  Mr.  Maverick 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  115 

of  Winesemett  in  one  day).  The  towns  in  the  bay  took  away 
many  of  the  children ;  but  most  of  them  died  soon  after. 

James  Sagamore  of  Sagus  died  also,  and  most  of  his  folks. 
John  Sagamore  desired  to  be  brought  among  the  English,  (so 
he  was;)  and  promised  (if  he  recovered)  to  Uve  with  the  Eng- 
lish and  serve  their  God.  He  left  one  son,  which  he  disposed 
to  Mr.  Wilson,  the  pastor  of  Boston,  to  be  brought  up  by  him. 
He  gave  to  the  governor  a  good  quantity  of  wampompeague, 
and  to  divers  others  of  the  English  he  gave  gifts,  and  took 
order  for  the  payment  of  his  own  debts  and  his  men's.  He 
died  in  a  persuasion  that  he  should  go  to  the  Englishmen's 
God.  Divers  of  them,  in  their  sickness,  confessed  that  the 
Englishmen's  God  was  a  good  God;  and  that,  if  they  recov- 
ered, they  would  serve  him. 

It  wrought  much  with  them,  that  when  their  own  people 
forsook  them,  yet  the  English  came  daily  and  ministered  to 
them;  and  yet  few,  only  two  families,  took  any  infection  by  it. 
Among  others,  Mr.  Maverick*  of  Winesemett  is  worthy  of  a 
perpetual  remembrance.  Himself,  his  wife,  and  servants, 
went  daily  to  them,  ministered  to  their  necessities,  and  buried 
their  dead,  and  took  home  many  of  their  children.  So  did 
other  of  the  neighbors. 

This  infectious  disease  spread  to  Pascataquack,  where  all 
the  Indians  (except  one  or  two)  died. 

One  Cowper  of  Pascataquack,  going  to  an  island,  upon  the 
Lord's  day,  to  fetch  some  sack  to  be  drank  at  the  great  house, 
he  and  a  boy,  coming  back  in  a  canoe,  (being  both  drunk,) 
were  driven  to  sea  and  never  heard  of  after. 

At  the  same  plantation,  a  company  having  made  a  fire  at  a 
tree,  one  of  them  said.  Here  this  tree  will  fall,  and  here  will  I 
lie ;  and  accordingly  it  fell  upon  him  and  killed  him. 

'  This  estimable  man  was  on  account  of  his  Episcopal  leanings  looked  upon 
askance  in  the  community,  where,  though  recognized  as  a  man  of  substance  and 
worth,  he  was  given  no  public  place.  An  evidence  of  the  Puritan  bitterness 
exists  in  the  fact  that  Winthrop,  or  some  successor,  has  in  the  manuscript  drawn 
a  pen  through  the  word  "perpetual"  in  the  tribute  to  his  humanity. 


116  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1633 

It  pleased  the  Lord  to  give  special  testimony  of  his  presence 
in  the  church  of  Boston,  after  Mr.  Cotton  was  called  to  office 
there.  More  were  converted  and  added  to  that  church,  than 
to  all  the  other  churches  in  the  bay,  (or  rather  the  lake,  for  so  it 
were  more  properly  termed,  the  bay  being  that  part  of  sea 
without  between  the  two  capes.  Cape  Cod  and  Cape  Ann). 
Divers  profane  and  notorious  evil  persons  came  and  confessed 
their  sins,  and  were  comfortably  received  into  the  bosom  of  the 
church.  Yea,  the  Lord  gave  witness  to  the  exercise  of  proph- 
ecy, so  as  thereby  some  were  converted,  and  others  much  edi- 
fied. Also,  the  Lord  pleased  greatly  to  bless  the  practice  of 
discipline,  wherin  he  gave  the  pastor,  Mr.  Wilson,  a  singular 
gift,  to  the  great  benefit  of  the  church. 

After  much  dehberation  and  serious  advice,  the  Lord 
directed  the  teacher,  Mr.  Cotton,  to  make  it  clear  by  the  script- 
ure, that  the  minister's  maintenance,  as  well  as  all  other 
charges  of  the  church,  should  be  defrayed  out  of  a  stock,  or 
treasury,  which  was  to  be  raised  out  of  the  weekly  contribu- 
tion; which  accordingly  was  agreed  upon. 

27.]  The  governor  and  assistants  met  at  Boston,  and  took 
into  consideration  a  treatise,  which  Mr.  Williams  (then  of 
Salem)  had  sent  to  them,  and  which  he  had  formerly  written 
to  the  governor  and  council  of  Plymouth,  wherein,  among 
other  things,  he  disputes  their  right  to  the  lands  they  pos- 
sessed here,  and  concluded  that,  claiming  by  the  king's  grant, 
they  could  have  no  title,  nor  otherwise,  except  they  com- 
poimded  with  the  natives.^  For  this,  taking  advice  with  some 
of  the  most  judicious  ministers,  (who  much  condemned  Mr. 
Williams's  error  and  presumption,)  they  gave  order,  that  he 
should  be  convented  at  the  next  court,  to  be  censured,  etc. 
There  were  three  passages  chiefly  whereat  they  were  much 
offended:  1,  for  that  he  chargeth  King  James  to  have  told 
a  solemn  public  lie,  because  in  his  patent  he  blessed  God  that 
he  was  the  first  Christian  prince  that  had  discovered  this  land; 

*  A  just  and  generous  assertion  of  Indian  rights. 


1633]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  117 

2,  for  that  he  chargeth  him  and  others  with  blasphemy  for 
calhng  Europe  Christendom,  or  the  Christian  world;  3,  for 
that  he  did  personally  apply  to  our  present  king,  Charles, 
these  three  places  in  the  Revelations,  viz.,  [blank]. 

Mr.  Endecott  being  absent,  the  governor  wrote  to  him  to 
let  him  know  what  was  done,  and  withal  added  divers  argu- 
ments to  confute  the  said  errors,  wishing  him  to  deal  with  Mr. 
Williams  to  retract  the  same,  etc.  Whereto  he  returned  a 
very  modest  and  discreet  answer.  Mr.  Williams  also  wrote 
to  the  governor,  and  also  to  him  and  the  rest  of  the  council, 
very  submissively,  professing  his  intent  to  have  been  only  to 
have  written  for  the  private  satisfaction  of  the  governor,  etc.,  of 
Plymouth,  without  any  purpose  to  have  stirred  any  further 
in  it,  if  the  governor  here  had  not  required  a  copy  of  him; 
withal  offering  his  book,  or  any  part  of  it,  to  be  bm-nt. 

At  the  next  court  he  appeared  penitently,  and  gave  satis- 
faction of  his  intention  and  loyalty.  So  it  was  left,  and  nothing 
done  in  it.^ 

*  Neither  the  character  of  Roger  WilHams  nor  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
as  far  as  we  know  them,  allow  us  to  believe  that  he  abandoned  his  position. 


1634 

January  21 .]  News  came  from  Plymouth,  that  Capt.  Stone, 
who  this  last  summer  went  out  of  the  bay  or  lake,  and  so  to 
Aquamenticus,  where  he  took  in  Capt.  Norton,  putting  in  at 
the  mouth  of  Connecticut,  in  his  way  to  Virginia,  where  the 
Pequins  inhabit,  was  there  cut  off  by  them,  with  all  his  com- 
pany, being  eight.  The  manner  was  thus:  Three  of  his 
men,  being  gone  ashore  to  kill  fowl,  were  cut  off.  Then  the 
sachem,  with  some  of  his  men,  came  aboard,  and  staid  with 
Capt.  Stone  in  his  cabin,  till  Capt.  Stone  (being  alone  with 
him)  fell  on  sleep.  Then  he  knocked  him  on  the  head,  and  all 
the  rest  of  the  English  being  in  the  cook's  room,  the  Indians 
took  such  pieces  as  they  found  there  ready  charged,  and  bent 
them  at  the  English;  whereupon  one  took  a  piece,  and  by 
accident  gave  fire  to  the  powder,  which  blew  up  the  deck; 
but  most  of  the  Indians,  perceiving  what  they  went  about, 
shifted  overboard,  and  after  they  retm-ned,  and  killed  such  as 
remained,  and  burned  the  pinnace.  We  agreed  to  write  to 
the  governor  of  Virginia,  (because  Stone  was  one  of  that 
colony,)  to  move  him  to  revenge  it,  and  upon  his  answer  to 
take  further  counsel. 

20.]  Hall  and  the  two  others,  who  went  to  Connecticut 
November  3,  came  now  home,  having  lost  themselves  and 
endured  much  misery.  They  informed  us,  that  the  small  pox 
was  gone  as  far  as  any  Indian  plantation  was  known  to  the 
west,  and  much  people  dead  of  it,  by  reason  whereof  they 
could  have  no  trade. 

At  Naragansett,  by  the  Indians'  report,  there  died 
seven  hundred;  but,  beyond  Pascataquack,  none  to  the 
eastward. 

24.]    The  governor  and  council  met  again  at  Boston,  to 

118 


1634]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  119 

consider  of  Mr.  Williams's  letter,  etc.,  when,  with  the  advice 
of  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wilson,  and  weighing  his  letter,  and 
further  considering  of  the  aforesaid  offensive  passages  in  his 
book,  (which,  being  written  in  very  obscure  and  impHcative 
phrases,  might  well  admit  of  doubtful  interpretation,)  they 
found  the  matters  not  to  be  so  evil  as  at  first  they  seemed. 
Whereupon  they  agreed,  that,  upon  his  retractation,  etc.,  or 
taking  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  king,  etc.,  it  should  be 
passed  over. 

An  Englishman  of  Sacoe,  travelUng  into  the  country  to 
trade,  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 

30.]  John  Scales,  who  ran  from  his  master  to  the  Indians, 
came  home  again.  He  was  at  a  place  twelve  miles  off,  where 
were  seven  Indians,  whereof  four  died  of  the  pox  while  he  was 
there. 

February  1 .]  Mr.  Cradock's  house  at  Marblehead  was  burnt 
down  about  midnight  before,  there  being  then  in  it  Mr.  Aller- 
ton,  and  many  fishermen,  whom  he  employed  that  season,  who 
all  were  preserved  by  a  special  providence  of  God,  with  most 
of  his  goods  therein,  by  a  tailor,  who  sate  up  that  night  at 
work  in  the  house,  and,  hearing  a  noise,  looked  out  and  saw  the 
house  on  fire  above  the  oven  in  the  thatch. 

This  winter  was  very  mild,  little  wind,  and  most  S.  and  S. 
W.  but  oft  snows,  and  great.  One  snow,  the  15th  of  this 
month,  was  near  two  feet  deep  all  over. 

Such  of  the  Indians'  children  as  were  left  were  taken  by  the 
English,  most  whereof  did  die  of  the  pox  soon  after,  three  only 
remaining,  whereof  one,  which  the  governor  kept,  was  called 
Know-God,  (the  Indians'  usual  answer  being,  when  they  were 
put  in  mind  of  God,  Me  no  know  God). 

22.]  The  grampus^  came  up  towards  Charlestown  against 
the  tide  of  ebb. 

This  season  Mr.  Allerton  fished  with  eight  boats  at  Mar- 
ble Harbor. 

'  It  is  doubtful  whether  "grampus"  means  a  ship,  or  the  fish  of  that  name. 


120  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

By  this  time  seventeen  fishing  ships  were  come  to  Rich- 
man's  Isle  and  the  Isles  of  Shoals. 

March  4.]  By  order  of  com-t  a  mercate^  was  erected  at 
Boston,  to  be  kept  upon  Thm-sday,  the  fifth  day  of  the  week, 
being  the  lecture  day.  Samuel  Cole  set  up  the  first  house  for 
common  entertainment,  and  John  Cogan,  merchant,  the  first 
shop. 

Upon  offer  of  some  new  comers  to  give  liberally  towards  the 
building  of  a  galley  for  defence  of  the  bay,  and  upon  consulta- 
tion with  divers  experienced  seamen  and  others,  it  was  thought 
fitter  for  oui'  condition  to  build  a  vessel  forty  feet  in  length, 
and  twenty-one  in  breadth,  to  be  minion^  proof,  and  the  up- 
per deck  musket  proof,  to  have  one  sail,  and  to  carry  whole 
culverin  and  other  small  pieces,  eight  in  all.  This  was  found 
to  be  so  chargeable,  and  so  long  time  ere  it  could  be  finished, 
that  it  was  given  over. 

At  this  court  all  swamps,  above  one  hundred  acres,  were 
made  common,  etc.  Also  Robert  Cole,  having  been  oft  pun- 
ished for  drunkenness,  was  now  ordered  to  wear  a  red  D  about 
his  neck  for  a  year. 

7.]  At  the  lecture  at  Boston  a  question  was  propounded 
about  veils.  Mr.  Cotton  concluded,  that  where  (by  the  cus- 
tom of  the  place)  they  were  not  a  sign  of  the  women's  sub- 
jection, they  were  not  commanded  by  the  apostle.  Mr.  En- 
decott  opposed,  and  did  maintain  it  by  the  general  arguments 
brought  by  the  apostle.  After  some  debate,  the  governor, 
perceiving  it  to  grow  to  some  earnestness,  interposed,  and  so  it 
brake  off. 

Among  other  testimonies  of  the  Lord's  gracious  presence 
with  his  own  ordinances,  there  was  a  youth  of  fourteen  years 
of  age  (being  the  son  of  one  of  the  magistrates)  so  wrought 
upon  by  the  ministry  of  the  word,  as,  for  divers  months,  he 
was  held  under  such  affliction  of  mind,  as  he  could  not  be 
brought  to  apprehend  any  comfort  in  God,  being  much  hum- 

'  Market.  '  A  small  piece  of  ordnance. 


1634]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  121 

bled  and  broken  for  his  sins,  (though  he  had  been  a  dutiful 
child,  and  not  given  up  to  the  lusts  of  youth,)  and  especially 
for  his  blasphemous  and  wicked  thoughts,  whereby  Satan 
buffeted  him,  so  as  he  went  mourning  and  languishing  daily; 
yet,  attending  to  the  means,  and  not  giving  over  prayer,  and 
seeking  counsel,  etc.,  he  came  at  length  to  be  freed  from  his 
temptations,  and  to  find  comfort  in  God's  promises,  and  so, 
being  received  into  the  congregation,  upon  good  proof  of  his 
understanding  in  the  things  of  God,  he  went  on  cheerfully  in  a 
Christian  course,  falhng  daily  to  labor,  as  a  servant,  and  as  a 
younger  brother  of  his  did,  who  was  no  whit  short  of  him  in  the 
knowledge  of  God's  will,  though  his  youth  kept  him  from  dar- 
ing to  offer  himself  to  the  congregation/ — Upon  this  occasion 
it  is  not  impertinent  (though  no  credit  nor  regard  be  to 
be  had  of  dreams  in  these  days)  to  report  a  dream,  which 
the  father  of  these  children  had  at  the  same  time,  viz., 
that,  coming  into  his  chamber,  he  found  his  wife  (she  was 
a  very  gracious  woman)  in  bed,  and  three  or  four  of  their 
children  lying  by  her,  with  most  sweet  and  smiling  counte- 
nances, with  crowns  upon  their  heads,  and  blue  ribbons  about 
their  leaves.  When  he  awaked,  he  told  his  wife  his  dream, 
and  made  this  interpretation  of  it,  that  God  would  take 
of  her  children  to  make  them  fellow  heirs  with  Christ  in  his 
kingdom. 

Satan  bestirred  himself  to  hinder  the  progress  of  the  gospel, 
as,  among  other  practices,  appeared  by  this :  He  stirred  up  a 
spirit  of  jealousy  between  Mr.  James,  the  pastor  of  Charlton, 
and  many  of  his  people,  so  as  Mr.  Nowell,  and  some  others, 
who  had  been  dismissed  from  Boston,  began  to  question  their 
fact  of  breaking  from  Boston,  and  it  grew  to  such  a  principle 
of  conscience  among  them,  as  the  advice  of  the  other  ministers 
was  taken  in  it,  who,  after  two  meetings,  could  not  agree  about 
their  continuance  or  return. 

One  Mr.  Morris,  ensign  to  Capt.  Underhill,  taking  some  dis- 

*  Conjectured  by  Savage  to  have  been  the  governor's  son  Deane. 


122  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

taste  in  his  office,  requested  the  magistrates,  that  he  might 
be  discharged  of  it,  and  so  was,  whereby  he  gave  offence  to 
the  congregation  of  Boston,  so  as,  being  questioned  and  con- 
vinced of  sin  in  forsaking  his  calling,  he  did  acknowledge  his 
fault,  and,  at  the  request  of  the  people,  was  by  the  magistrates 
chosen  heutenant  to  the  same  company,  for  he  was  a  very  stout 
man  and  an  experienced  soldier. 

April  1.]  Order  was  taken  for  ministering  an  oath  to  all 
house  keepers  and  sojourners,  being  twenty  years  of  age  and 
not  freemen,  and  for  making  a  survey  of  the  houses  and  lands 
of  all  freemen. 

Notice  being  sent  out  of  the  general  court  to  be  held  the 
14th  day  of  the  third  month,  called  May,  the  freemen  deputed 
two  of  each  town  to  meet  and  consider  of  such  matters  as  they 
were  to  take  order  in  at  the  same  general  court ;  who,  having 
met,  desired  a  sight  of  the  patent,  and,  conceiving  thereby  that 
all  their  laws  should  be  made  at  the  general  court,  repaired  to 
the  governor  to  advise  with  him  about  it,  and  about  the  abro- 
gating of  some  orders  formerly  made,  as  for  killing  of  swine 
in  corn,  etc.  He  told  them,  that,  when  the  patent  was  granted, 
the  number  of  freemen  was  supposed  to  be  (as  in  like  corpora- 
tions) so  few,  as  they  might  well  join  in  making  laws;  but  now 
they  were  grown  to  so  great  a  body,  as  it  was  not  possible  for 
them  to  make  or  execute  laws,  but  they  must  choose  others  for 
that  purpose:  and  that  howsoever  it  would  be  necessary 
hereafter  to  have  a  select  company  to  intend  that  work,  yet 
for  the  present  they  were  not  furnished  with  a  sufficient  number 
of  men  qualified  for  such  a  business,  neither  could  the  com- 
monwealth bear  the  loss  of  time  of  so  many  as  must  intend  it. 
Yet  this  they  might  do  at  present,  viz.,  they  might,  at  the  gen- 
eral court,  make  an  order,  that,  once  in  the  year,  a  certain  num- 
ber should  be  appointed  (upon  summons  from  the  governor) 
to  revise  all  laws,  etc.,  and  to  reform  what  they  found  amiss 
therein;  but  not  to  make  any  new  laws,  but  prefer  their 
grievances  to  the  court  of  assistants;  and  that  no  assessment 


1634]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  123 

should  be  laid  upon  the  country  without  the  consent  of  such 
a  committee,  nor  any  lands  disposed  of.^ 

3.]  The  governor  went  on  foot  to  Agawam,  and  because 
the  people  there  wanted  a  minister,  spent  the  Sabbath  with 
them,  and  exercised  by  way  of  prophecy,  and  returned  home 
the  10th. 

20.]  John  Coggeshall,^  gentleman,  being  dismissed  from  the 
church  of  Roxbury  to  Boston,  though  he  were  well  known  and 
approved  of  the  church,  yet  was  not  received  but  by  confession 
of  his  faith,  etc. 

May  3.]  News  came  of  the  death  of  Hockin  and  the 
Plymouth  man  at  Kenebeck,^  (and  of  the  arrival  of  the  ship  at 
Pemaquid,  which  brought  thirty  passengers  for  this  place). 

The  occasion  of  the  death  of  those  men  at  Kenebeck  was 
this:  The  Plymouth  men  had  a  grant,  from  the  grand  patentees 
of  New  England,  of  Kenebeck,  with  hberty  of  sole  trade,  etc. 

^  On  this  beginning  of  representative  government  in  Massachusetts,  it  is 
pertinent  to  quote  Savage.  "No  country  on  earth  can  afford  the  perfect  history 
of  any  event  more  interesting  to  its  own  inhabitants  than  that  which  is  here 
related.  Winthrop  seems  to  have  spoken  hke  an  absolute  sovereign,  designing 
to  grant  a  favor  to  his  subjects,  by  admitting  them  to  a  representation  at  court. 
Such  was  the  origin  of  most  of  the  assemblies,  in  other  nations,  of  delegates  of 
the  people,  by  whom  some  influence  of  the  majority  is  imparted  to  the  government. 
.  .  .  The  very  humble  powers,  he  proposed  that  the  representative  should 
receive  from  his  constituent,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  add,  were  immediately 
transcended;  and  the  assembly,  as  it  ought,  was  ever  afterwards  by  itself  thought 
competent  to  the  enaction  of  any  regulation  for  the  public  welfare."  He  quotes 
from  the  Records,  I.  115,  the  following  action  of  the  representatives:  "It  was 
further  ordered,  that  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  freemen  of  every  plantation  to 
choose  two  or  three  of  each  town,  before  every  general  court,  to  confer  of  and 
prepare  such  public  business  as  by  them  shall  be  thought  fit  to  consider  of  at 
the  next  general  court;  and  that  such  persons  as  shall  be  hereafter  so  deputed 
by  the  freemen  of  [the]  several  plantations,  to  deal  in  their  behalf  in  the  public 
affairs  of  the  commonwealth,  shall  have  the  full  power  and  voice  of  all  the  said 
freemen  derived  to  them  for  the  making  and  establishing  of  laws,  granting  of 
lands,  etc.,  and  to  deal  in  all  other  affairs  of  the  commonwealth,  wherein  the  free- 
men have  to  do,  the  matter  of  election  of  magistrates  and  other  officers  only 
excepted,  wherein  every  freeman  is  to  give  his  own  voice." 

^  John  Coggeshall,  a  man  much  trusted  and  esteemed,  forfeited  later  the 
good-will  of  Massachusetts  by  his  heterodoxy,  and  proceeding  to  Rhode  Island, 
took  a  leading  part  in  its  affairs. 

*  See  the  account  of  the  episode  in  Bradford,  pp.  304^306. 


124  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

The  said  Hockin  came  in  a  pinnace,  belonging  to  the  Lord  Say 
and  Lord  Brook  at  Pascataquack,  to  trade  at  Kenebeck.  Two 
of  the  magistrates  of  Plymouth,  being  there,  forbad  him;  yet 
he  went  up  the  river;  and,  because  he  would  not  come  down 
again,  they  sent  three  men  in  a  canoe  to  cut  his  cables.  Hav- 
ing cut  one,  Hockin  presented  a  piece,  and  sware  he  would 
kill  him  that  went  to  cut  the  other.  They  bad  him  do  if 
he  durst,  and  went  on  to  cut  it.  Thereupon  he  killed  one  of 
them,  and  instantly  one  in  the  Plymouth  pinnace  (which  rode 
by  them,  and  wherein  five  or  six  men  stood  with  their  pieces 
ready  charged)  shot  and  killed  Hockin. 

15.]  At  the  general  court  at  Boston,  upon  the  complaint  of 
a  kinsman  of  the  said  Hockin,  John  Alden,  one  of  the  said 
magistrates  of  Plymouth,  who  was  present  when  Hockin  was 
slain,  being  then  at  Boston,  was  called  and  bound  with  sureties 
not  to  depart  out  of  our  jurisdiction  without  leave  had;  and 
withal  we  wrote  to  Plymouth  to  certify  them  what  we  had 
done,  and  to  know  whether  they  would  do  justice  in  the  cause, 
(as  belonging  to  their  jurisdiction,)  and  to  have  a  speedy 
answer,  etc.  This  we  did,  that  notice  might  be  taken,  that  we 
did  disavow  the  said  action,  which  was  much  condemned  of 
all  men,  and  which  was  feared  would  give  occasion  to  the  king 
to  send  a  general  governor  over;  and  besides  had  brought  us 
all  and  the  gospel  under  a  common  reproach  of  cutting  one 
another's  throats  for  beaver. 

By  this  time  the  fort  at  Boston  was  in  defence,  and  divers 
pieces  of  ordnance  moimted  in  it. 

Those  of  Newtown  complained  of  straitness  for  want  of 
land,  especially  meadow,  and  desired  leave  of  the  court  to 
look  out  either  for  enlargement  or  removal,  which  was  granted ; 
whereupon  they  sent  men  to  see  Agawam  and  Merimack,  and 
gave  out  they  would  remove,  etc. 

14.]  At  the  general  court,  Mr.  Cotton  preached,  and  de- 
livered this  doctrine,  that  a  magistrate  ought  not  to  be  turned 
into  the  condition  of  a  private  man  without  just  cause,  and  to 


1634]  THOMAS   DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  125 

be  publicly  convict,  no  more  than  the  magistrates  may  not 
turn  a  private  man  out  of  his  freehold,  etc.,  without  hke  public 
trial,  etc.  This  falhng  in  question  in  the  court,  and  the  opinion 
of  the  rest  of  the  ministers  being  asked,  it  was  referred  to 
further  consideration. 

The  court  chose  a  new  governor,  viz.,  Thomas  Dudley,  Esq., 
the  former  deputy;  and  Mr.  Ludlow  was  chosen  deputy;  and 
John  Haines,  Esq.,  an  assistant,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  assist- 
ants chosen  again. 

At  this  court  it  was  ordered,  that  four  general  courts  should 
be  kept  every  year,  and  that  the  whole  body  of  the  freemen 
should  be  present  only  at  the  court  of  election  of  magistrates, 
etc.,  and  that,  at  the  other  three,  every  town  should  send  their 
deputies,  who  should  assist  in  making  laws,  disposing  lands, 
etc.^  Many  good  orders  were  made  this  court.  It  held  three 
days,  and  all  things  w^ere  carried  very  peaceably,  notwithstand- 
ing that  some  of  the  assistants  were  questioned  by  the  freemen 
for  some  errors  in  their  government,  and  some  fines  imposed, 
but  remitted  again  before  the  court  brake  up.  The  court  was 
kept  in  the  meeting-house  at  Boston,  and  the  new  governor 
and  the  assistants  were  together  entertained  at  the  house  of  the 
old  governor,  as  before. 

The  week  the  court  was,  there  came  in  six  ships,  with  store 
of  passengers  and  cattle. 

Mr.  Parker,  a  minister,  and  a  company  with  him,  being 

1  The  changes  here  mentioned  were  for  the  little  colony  quite  revolutionary. 
The  election  of  Dudley  to  the  chief  place,  and  the  coming  into  power  of  the  popular 
deputies,  were  acquiesced  in  by  Winthrop,  whose  ideas  were  not  democratic, 
with  much  moderation  of  spirit.  He  writes  at  a  later  time:  "The  best  part  of  a 
community  is  always  the  least,  and  of  that  best  part  the  wiser  is  always  the  lesser." 
(Savage's  Winthrop,  II.  428.)  Cotton,  too,  condemned  democracy.  In  1636  he 
wrote  Lord  Say:  "Democracy,  I  do  not  conceive  that  ever  God  did  ordain  as  a 
fit  government  either  for  church  or  commonwealth.  If  the  people  be  governor 
who  shall  be  governed  ?  As  for  monarchy  and  aristocracy,  they  are  both  of  them 
clearly  approved  and  directed  in  scripture,  yet  so  as  referreth  the  sovereignty  to 
himself  and  setteth  up  theocracy  in  both,  as  the  best  form  of  government  in  the 
commonwealth  as  in  the  church."  Hutchinson,  History  of  Massachusetts,  I. 
497,  Appendix  m. 


126  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1634 

about  one  hundred,  went  to  sit  down  at  Agawam,  and  divers 
others  of  the  new  comers. 

One  [blank,]  a  godly  minister,  upon  conscience  of  his  oath 
and  care  of  the  commonwealth,  discovered  to  the  magistrates 
some  seditious  speeches  of  his  own  son,  delivered  in  private  to 
himself;  but  the  court  thought  not  fit  to  call  the  party  in 
question  then,  being  loath  to  have  the  father  come  in  as  a 
pubhc  accuser  of  his  own  son,  but  rather  desired  to  find  other 
matter,  or  other  witness  against  him. 

24.]  Mr.  Fleming,  master  of  a  ship  of  Barnstable,  went 
hence  to  the  eastward  to  cut  masts  there,  and  so  to  return  to 
England.  There  returned  with  him  Ensign  Motham  and 
another. 

These  ships,  by  reason  of  their  short  passage,  had  store  of 
provisions  left,  which  they  put  off  at  easy  rates,  viz.  biscuit  at 
20s.  the  hundred;  beef  at  £6  the  hogshead,  etc. 

Newtown  men,  being  straitened  for  ground,  sent  some  to 
Merimack  to  find  a  fit  place  to  transplant  themselves 

June  1.]  The  Thunder,  which  went  to  Bermuda  the  17th 
October,  now  returned,  bringing  corn  and  goats  from  Virginia, 
(for  the  weavils  had  taken  the  corn  at  Bermuda  before  they 
came  there).  Ensign  Jenyson  went  in  her  for  pilot,  and  re- 
lated, at  his  return,  that  there  was  a  very  great  change  in 
Bermuda  since  he  dwelt  there,  divers  lewd  persons  being  be- 
come good  Christians.  They  have  three  ministers,  (one  a 
Scotchman,)  who  take  great  pains  among  them,  and  had  lately 
(by  prayer  and  fasting)  dispossessed  one  possessed  with  a 
devil.  They  obtained  his  recovery  while  the  congregation 
were  assembled. 

He  brought  news,  also,  of  a  great  ship  arrived  in  Patomack 
River  in  Virginia,  with  a  governor  and  colony  sent  by  the  Lord 
Bartimore,  who  was  expected  there  shortly  himself,  and  that 
they  resisted  those  of  Virginia,  who  came  to  trade  in  that  river. 

It  appeared  after,  that  the  king  had  written  to  Sir  John 
Harvey,  knight,  governor  of  Virginia,  to  give  all  assistance 


1634]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  127 

to  that  new  plantation,  which  was  called  Maryland  by  the 
queen  of  England;  and  those  who  came  over  were,  many  of 
them,  Papists,  and  did  set  up  mass  openly. 

July.]  The  Hercules  of  Dover  returned  by  St.  George's  to 
cut  masts  to  carry  to  England. 

The  last  month  arrived  here  fourteen  great  ships,  and  one 
at  Salem. 

Mr.Humfrey^  and  the  lady  Susan,  his  wife,  one  of  the  Earl 
of  Lincoln's  sisters,  arrived  here.  He  brought  more  ordnance, 
muskets,  and  powder,  bought  for  the  pubHc  by  moneys  given 
to  that  end;  for  godly  people  in  England  began  now  to  ap- 
prehend a  special  hand  of  God  in  raising  this  plantation,  and 
their  hearts  were  generally  stirred  to  come  over.  Among 
others,  we  received  letters  from  a  godly  preacher,  Mr.  Levinston 
a  Scotchman  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  whereby  he  signified, 
that  there  were  many  good  Christians  in  those  parts  resolved 
to  come  hither,  if  they  might  receive  satisfaction  concerning 
some  questions  and  propositions  which  they  sent  over.  Like- 
wise, Mr.  Humfrey  brought  certain  propositions  from  some 
persons  of  great  quality  and  estate,  (and  of  special  note  for 
piety,)  whereby  they  discovered  their  intentions  to  join  with 
us,  if  they  might  receive  satisfaction  therein.  It  appeared 
further,  by  many  private  letters,  that  the  departure  of  so  many 
of  the  best,  both  ministers  and  Christians,  had  bred  sad  thoughts 
in  those  behind  of  the  Lord's  intentions  in  this  work,  and  an 
apprehension  of  some  evil  days  to  come  upon  England.  Then 
it  began  now  to  be  apprehended  by  the  archbishops,  and 
others  of  the  council,  as  a  matter  of  state,  so  as  they  sent 
out  warrant  to  stay  the  ships,  and  to  call  in  our  patent ;  but, 
upon  petition  of  the  shipmasters,  (attending  how  beneficial 

^  John  Humfrey  or  Humphrey,  who  was  interested  in  New  England  from  the 
beginning,  and  had  been  long  expected,  now  arrived  with  his  wife,  sister  of  the 
Lady  Arbella  Johnson.  Much  was  expected  from  his  wealth  and  influence,  and 
he  was  immediately  made  assistant.  Lacking  resolution  and  experiencing  ill- 
luck,  he  played  no  great  part.  Settling  in  Lynn,  he  lost  his  home  by  fire  and 
at  length,  disheartened,  abandoned  the  country. 


128  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1634 

this  plantation  was  to  England)  in  regard  of  the  Newfoundland 
fishing,  which  they  took  in  their  way  homeward,  the  ships 
were  at  that  time  released.  But  Mr.  Cradock  (who  had  been 
governor  in  England  before  the  government  was  sent  over) 
had  strict  charge  to  deliver  in  the  patent ;  whereupon  he  wrote 
to  us  to  send  it  home.  Upon  receipt  of  his  letter,  the  governor 
and  council  consulted  about  it,  and  resolved  to  answer  Mr. 
Cradock's  letter,  but  not  to  return  any  answer  or  excuse  to 
the  council  at  that  time. 

For  the  success  of  the  passengers  and  cattle  in  the  ships: 
Divers  of  the  ships  lost  many  cattle ;  but  the  two  which  came 
from  Ipswich,  of  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty,  lost  but 
seven.  None  of  the  ships  lost  any  passengers,  but  the  Eliza- 
beth Dorcas,  which,  having  a  long  passage,  and  being  hurt 
upon  a  rock  at  Scilly,  and  very  ill  victualled,  she  lost  sixty 
passengers  at  sea,  and  divers  came  sick  on  shore,  who  all  re- 
covered, (through  the  mercy  of  God,)  except  [blank]. 

Mr.  Humfrey  brought  sixteen  heifers  given  by  a  private 
friend,  viz.  Mr.  Richard  Andrews,^  to  the  plantation,  viz.  to 
every  of  the  ministers  one,  and  the  rest  to  the  poor,  and  one 
half  of  the  increase  of  the  ministers'  to  be  reserved  for  other 
ministers.  Mr.  Wilson,  so  soon  as  he  had  his,  gave  it  to  Mr. 
Cotton.  By  Mr.  Humfrey's  means  much  money  was  procured, 
and  divers  promised  yearly  pensions. 

Six  of  Newtown  went  in  the  Blessing,  (being  bound  to  the 
Dutch  plantation,)  to  discover  Connecticut  River,  intending  to 
remove  their  town  thither. 

9.]  Mr.  Bradford  and  Mr.  Winslow,  two  of  the  magistrates 
of  Plymouth,  with  Mr.  Smith,  their  pastor,  came  to  Boston  by 
water,  to  confer  with  some  of  our  magistrates  and  ministers 
about  their  case  of  Kenebeck.  There  met  hereabout  Mr. 
Winthrop,  Mr.  Cotton,  and  Mr.  Wilson,  and  after  they  had 

*  "  Of  the  liberality  of  this  distinguished  friend  of  Massachusetts  and 
Plymouth  colonies,  further  notice  will  occur  in  our  progress.  He  was  an  alderman 
of  the  city;  and  Thomas,  probably  his  brother,  became  mayor  of  London." 
(Savage.) 


1634]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,  GOVERNOR  129 

sought  the  Lord,  they  fell  first  upon  some  passages  which  they 
had  taken  some  offence  at,  but  those  were  soon  cleared.  Then 
for  the  matter  itself,  it  fell  into  these  two  points:  1,  whether 
their  right  of  trade  there  were  such,  as  they  might  lawfully 
hinder  others  from  coming  there;  2,  admitting  that,  whether 
in  point  of  conscience,  they  might  so  far  stand  upon  their  right 
as  to  take  away  or  hazard  any  man's  life  in  defence  of  it. 

For  the  first,  their  right  appeared  to  be  good ;  for  that,  be- 
sides the  king's  grant,  they  had  taken  up  that  place  as  vacuum 
domicilium,  and  so  had  continued,  without  interruption  or 
claim  of  any  of  the  natives,  for  divers  years ;  and  also  had,  by 
their  charge  and  providence,  drawn  down  thither  the  greatest 
part  of  the  trade,  by  carrying  wampampeage  thither,  which 
none  of  the  English  had  known  the  use  of  before.  For  the 
second,  they  alleged,  that  their  servant  did  kill  Hockin  to  save 
other  of  their  men,  whom  he  was  ready  to  have  shot.  Yet 
they  acknowledged,  that  they  did  hold  themselves  under  guilt 
of  the  breach  of  the  sixth  commandment,  in  that  they  did 
hazard  man's  life  for  such  a  cause,  and  did  not  rather  wait  to 
preserve  their  right  by  other  means,  which  they  rather  ac- 
knowledged, because  they  wished  it  were  not  done ;  and  here- 
after they  would  be  careful  to  prevent  the  like. 

The  governor  and  Mr.  Winthrop  wrote  their  letters  into 
England  to  mediate  their  peace,  and  sent  them  by  Mr.  Win- 
slow. 

Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  Capt.  Mason  sent  [blank]  to 
Pascataquack  and  Aquamenticus,  with  two  sawmills,  to  be 
erected,  in  each  place  one. 

Mr.  Cradock  wrote  to  the  governor  and  assistants,  and  sent 
a  copy  of  the  coimcil's  order,  whereby  we  were  required  to 
send  over  our  patent.  Upon  long  consultation  whether  we 
should  return  answer  or  not,  we  agreed,  and  returned  answer 
to  Mr.  Cradock,  excusing  that  it  could  not  be  done  but  by  a 
general  court,  which  was  to  be  holden  in  September  next.^ 

*  Cradock's  letter  was  of  a  character  to  awaken  grave  apprehensions. 


130  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1634 

Mr.  Winthrop,  the  late  governor,  received  a  letter  from  the 
Earl  of  Warwick,  wherein  he  congratulated  the  prosperity  of 
our  plantation,  and  encouraged  our  proceedings,  and  offered 
his  help  to  further  us  in  it. 

29.]  The  governor  and  council,  and  divers  of  the  ministers, 
and  others,  met  at  Castle  Island,^  and  there  agreed  upon 
erecting  two  platforms  and  one  small  fortification  to  secure 
them  both,  and,  for  the  present  furtherance  of  it,  they  agreed 
to  lay  out  £5  a  man  till  a  rate  might  be  made  at  the  next  gen- 
eral court.  The  deputy,  Roger  Ludlow,  was  chosen  overseer 
of  this  work. 

August  2.]    Mr.  Samuel  Skelton,  pastor  of  Salem,  died. 

4.]  At  the  court,  the  new  town  at  Agawam  was  named 
Ipswich,  in  acknowledgment  of  the  great  honor  and  kindness 
done  to  our  people  which  took  shipping  there,  etc. ;  and  a  day 
of  thanksgiving  appointed,  a  fortnight  after,  for  the  prosperous 
arrival  of  the  others,  etc. 

A  letter  was  delivered  to  Mr.  Winthrop  by  Mr.  Jeffery, 
an  old  planter,  written  to  him  from  Morton,  wherein  he  related, 
how  he  had  obtained  his  long  suit,  and  that  a  commission  was 
granted  for  a  general  governor  to  be  sent  over,  with  many 
railing  speeches  and  threats  against  this  plantation,  and  Mr. 
Winthrop  in  particular.  Mr.  Winthrop  acquainted  the  gov- 
ernor and  council  with  it,  and  some  of  the  ministers. 

This  summer  was  hotter  than  many  before. 

12.]  About  midnight,  one  Craford,  (who  came  this  sum- 
mer,) with  his  brother  and  servant,  having  put  much  goods  in 
a  small  boat  in  Charles  River,  over  against  Richard  Brown  his 
house,  overset  the  boat  with  the  weight  of  some  hogsheads,  (as 
was  supposed,)  so  as  they  were  all  three  drowned;  yet  one  of 
them  could  swim  well,  and  though  the  neighbors  came  running 
forth,  instantly,  upon  their  cry,  yet  none  could  be  saved. 

Our  neighbors  of  Plymouth  and  we  had  oft  trade  with  the 
Dutch  at  Hudson's  River,  called  by  them  New  Netherlands. 

*  Still  so  called,  in  Boston  harbor. 


1634]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  131 

We  had  from  them  about  forty  sheep,  and  beaver,  and  brass 
pieces,  and  sugar,  etc.,  for  sack,  strong  waters,  hnen  cloth,  and 
other  commodities.  They  have  a  great  trade  of  beaver, — about 
nine  or  ten  thousand  skins  in  a  year.  Our  neighbors  of  Plym- 
outh had  great  trade  also  this  year  at  Kenebeck,  so  as  Mr. 
Winslow  carried  with  him  into  England,  this  year,  about  twenty 
hogsheads  of  beaver,  the  greatest  part  whereof  was  traded  for 
wampampeage. 

One  pleasant  passage  happened,  which  was  acted  by  the 
Indians.  Mr.  Winslow,  coming  in  his  bark  from  Connecticut 
to  Narigansett  — and  he  left  her  there, — and  intending  to 
return  by  land,  he  went  to  Osamekin^  the  sagamore,  his  old 
ally,  who  offered  to  conduct  him  home  to  Pl3rmouth.  But, 
before  they  took  their  journey,  Osamekin  sent  one  of  his  men 
to  Pljnnouth  to  tell  them  that  Mr.  Winslow  was  dead;  and 
directed  him  to  show  how  and  where  he  was  killed.  Where- 
upon there  was  much  fear  and  sorrow  at  Plymouth.  The 
next  day,  when  Osamekin  brought  him  home,  they  asked  him 
why  he  sent  such  word,  etc.  He  answered,  that  it  was  their 
manner  to  do  so,  that  they  might  be  more  welcome  when  they 
came  home. 

19.]  Mr.  Bradford  and  Mr.  Collier  of  Plymouth  came  to 
Boston,  having  appointed  a  meeting  here  the  week  before,  but 
by  reason  of  foul  weather  were  driven  back.  They  had  written 
to  Capt.  Wiggin  of  Pascataquack  about  the  meeting  for  hearing 
the  cause  of  Hockin's  death. 

Com  was  this  year  at  four  shillings  the  bushel,  and  some  at 
three  shillings,  and  some  cheaper. 

29.]  The  Dove,  a  pinnace  of  about  fifty  tons,^  came  from 
Maryland  upon  Patomack  River,  with  corn,  to  exchange  for 
fish  and  other  commodities.  The  governor,  Leonard  Calvert, 
and  two  of  the  commissioners,  wrote  to  the  governor  here, 

^  Osamekin,  thus  naively  mendacious,  was  Massasoit,  it  will  be  remembered. 
^  The  Ark  and  Dove,  ship  and  pinnace,  had  in  the  preceding  spring  brought 
to  Maryland  its  first  colonists. 


132  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

to  make  offer  of  trade  of  corn,  etc.,  and  the  governor  of  Vir- 
ginia wrote  also  on  their  behalf,  and  one  Capt.  Young  wrote 
to  make  offer  to  deUver  cattle  here.  Near  all  their  company 
came  sick  hither,  and  the  merchant  died  within  one  week  after. 
September  4.]  The  general  com-t  began  at  Newtown,  and 
continued  a  week,  and  then  was  adjourned  fourteen  days. 
Many  things  were  there  agitated  and  concluded,  as  fortifying 
in  Castle  Island,  Dorchester,  and  Charlestown;  also  against 
tobacco,  and  costly  apparel,  and  immodest  fashions;  and 
committees  appointed  for  setting  out  the  bounds  of  towns; 
with  divers  other  matters,  which  do  appear  upon  record.  But 
the  main  business,  which  spent  the  most  time,  and  caused  the 
adjourning  of  the  court,  was  about  the  removal  of  Newtown. 
They  had  leave,  the  last  general  court,  to  look  out  some  place 
for  enlargement  or  removal,  with  promise  of  having  it  con- 
firmed to  them,  if  it  were  not  prejudicial  to  any  other  planta- 
tion; and  now  they  moved,  that  they  might  have  leave  to  re- 
move to  Connecticut.^  This  matter  was  debated  divers  days, 
and  many  reasons  alleged  pro  and  con.  The  principal  reasons 
for  their  removal  were,  1.  Their  want  of  accommodation  for 
their  cattle,  so  as  they  were  not  able  to  maintain  their  ministers, 
nor  could  receive  any  more  of  their  friends  to  help  them ;  and 
here  it  was  alleged  by  Mr.  Hooker,  as  a  fundamental  error,  that 
towns  were  set  so  near  each  to  other. 

2.  The  fruitfulness  and  commodiousness  of  Connecticut,  and 
the  danger  of  having  it  possessed  by  others,  Dutch  or  English. 

3.  The  strong  bent  of  their  spirits  to  remove  thither. 
Against  these  it  was  said,  1.  That,  in  point  of  conscience, 

they  ought  not  to  depart  from  us,  being  knit  to  us  in  one  body, 
and  bound  by  oath  to  seek  the  welfare  of  this  commonwealth. 

^  This  record  of  the  discussion  preceding  a  most  important  undertaking  is 
of  great  interest.  For  an  intelligent "  reading  between  the  lines  "  as  to  the  settle- 
ment of  Connecticut,  see  Johnston,  Connecticut,  ch.  iii.  Hooker  may  have  felt 
that  he  and  John  Cotton  could  hardly  dwell  together  in  the  same  community  in 
peace.  The  more  democratic  spirit  also  of  the  outgoing  man  was  plainly  evi- 
dent in  what  presently  followed. 


1634]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  133 

2.  That,  in  point  of  state  and  civil  policy,  we  ought  not  to 
give  them  leave  to  depart.  1.  Being  we  were  now  weak  and 
in  danger  to  be  assailed.  2.  The  departure  of  Mr.  Hooker 
would  not  only  draw  many  from  us,  but  also  divert  other 
friends  that  would  come  to  us.  3.  We  should  expose  them  to 
evident  peril,  both  from  the  Dutch  (who  made  claim  to  the 
same  river,  and  had  already  built  a  fort  there)  and  from  the 
Indians,  and  also  from  our  own  state  at  home,  who  would  not 
endure  they  should  sit  down  without  a  patent  in  any  place 
which  our  king  lays  claim  unto. 

3.  They  might  be  accommodated  at  home  by  some  enlarge- 
ment which  other  towns  offered. 

4.  They  might  remove  to  Merimack,  or  any  other  place 
within  our  patent. 

5.  The  removing  of  a  candlestick  is  a  great  judgment,  which 
is  to  be  avoided. 

Upon  these  and  other  arguments  the  court  being  divided,  it 
was  put  to  vote  ,*  and,  of  the  deputies,  fifteen  were  for  their  de- 
parture, and  ten  against  it.  The  governor  and  two  assistants 
were  for  it,  and  the  deputy  and  all  the  rest  of  the  assistants 
were  against  it,  (except  the  secretary,  who  gave  no  vote;) 
whereupon  no  record  was  entered,  because  there  were  not  six 
assistants  in  the  vote,  as  the  patent  requires.  Upon  this  grew 
a  great  difference  between  the  governor  and  assistants,  and 
the  deputies.  They  would  not  yield  the  assistants  a  negative 
voice,  and  the  others  (considering  how  dangerous  it  might  be 
to  the  commonwealth,  if  they  should  not  keep  that  strength  to 
balance  the  greater  number  of  the  deputies)  thought  it  safe  to 
stand  upon  it.  So,  when  they  could  proceed  no  farther,  the 
whole  court  agreed  to  keep  a  day  of  humiliation  to  seek  the 
Lord,  wliich  accordingly  was  done,  in  all  the  congregations,  the 
18th  day  of  this  month;  and  the  24th  the  court  met  again. 
Before  they  began,  Mr.  Cotton  preached,  (being  desired  by  all 
the  coiut,  upon  Mr.  Hooker's  instant  excuse  of  his  unfitness 
for  that  occasion).     He  took  his  text  out  of  Hag.  ii.  4,  etc., 


134  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

out  of  which  he  laid  down  the  nature  or  strength  (as  he  termed 
it)  of  the  magistracy,  ministry,  and  people,  viz., — the  strength 
of  the  magistracy  to  be  their  authority;  of  the  people,  their 
liberty;  and  of  the  ministry,  their  pm-ity;  and  showed  how  all 
of  these  had  a  negative  voice,  etc.,  and  that  yet  the  ultimate 
resolution,  etc.,  ought  to  be  in  the  whole  body  of  the  people, 
etc.,  with  answer  to  all  objections,  and  a  declaration  of  the 
people's  duty  and  right  to  maintain  their  true  liberties  against 
any  unjust  violence,  etc.,  which  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the 
company.  And  it  pleased  the  Lord  so  to  assist  him,  and  to 
bless  his  own  ordinance,  that  the  affairs  of  the  court  went  on 
cheerfully ;  and  although  all  were  not  satisfied  about  the  nega- 
tive voice  to  be  left  to  the  magistrates,  yet  no  man  moved  aught 
about  it,  and  the  congregation  of  Newtown  came  and  accepted 
of  such  enlargement  as  had  formerly  been  offered  them  by 
Boston  and  WatertowTi;  and  so  the  fear  of  their  removal  to 
Connecticut  was  removed. 

At  this  court  Mr.  Goodwin,  a  very  reverend  and  godly  man, 
being  the  elder  of  the  congregation  of  Newtown,  having,  in 
heat  of  argument,  used  some  imreverend  speech  to  one  of  the 
assistants,  and  being  reproved  for  the  same  in  the  open  com't, 
did  gravely  and  humbly  acknowledge  his  fault,  etc. 

18.]  At  this  court  were  many  laws  made  against  tobacco, 
and  immodest  fashions,  and  costly  apparel,  etc.,  as  appears 
by  the  Records;  and  £600*  raised  towards  fortifications  and 
other  charges,  which  were  the  more  hastened,  because  the 
Gjifjin  and  another  ship  now  arriving  with  about  two  himdred 
passengers  and  one  hundred  cattle,  (Mr.  Lothrop  and  Mr. 
Simmes,  two  godly  ministers,  coming  in  the  same  ship,)"  there 

^  "The  apportionment,"  says  Savage,  "is  worth  transcribing  from  the 
Records,  I.  128,  as,  we  may  be  confident,  it  represents  the  relative  weahh  of  the 
settlements:  'Boston,  Dorchester,  and  Newtown,  each,  £S0;  Roxbury,  £70; 
Watertown,  £&);  Sangus  and  Ipswich,  each,  £50;  Salem  and  Charlestown, 
each,  £45;   IVIedford,  £20;    Wessaguscus,  £10;    Barecove,  £4.'" 

^  Most  celebrated  among  the  passengers,  though  not  mentioned  here,  was 
Anne  Hutchinson,  now  soon  to  declare  herself. 


1634]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  135 

came  over  a  copy  of  the  commission  granted  to  the  two  arch- 
bishops and  ten  others  of  the  council,  to  regulate  all  plantations, 
and  power  given  them,  or  any  five  of  them,  to  call  in  all  patents, 
to  make  laws,  to  raise  tythes  and  portions  for  ministers,  to  re- 
move and  punish  governors,  and  to  hear  and  determine  all 
causes,  and  inflict  all  punishments,  even  death  itself,  etc.^ 
This  being  advised  from  our  friends  to  be  intended  specially 
for  us,  and  that  there  were  ships  and  soldiers  provided,  given 
out  as  for  the  carrying  the  new  governor,  Capt.  Woodhouse,  to 
Virginia,  but  suspected  to  be  against  us,  to  compel  us,  by  force, 
to  receive  a  new  governor,  and  the  discipUne  of  the  church 
of  England,  and  the  laws  of  the  commissioners, — occasioned 
the  magistrates  and  deputies  to  hasten  om-  fortifications, 
and  to  discover  our  minds  each  to  other;  which  grew  to  this 
conclusion,  viz.^ 

At  this  com*t,  as  before,  the  assistants  had  their  diet  at  the 
governor's  at  NewtowTi,  and  the  first  day  all  the  deputies. 
He  had  £100  allowed  him  for  his  charges,  and  £500  more  was 
raised  towards  fortifications,  etc. 

30.]  About  this  time  one  Alderman,  of  Bear  Cove,  being 
about  fifty  years  old,  lost  his  way  between  Dorchester  and 
Wessaguscus,  and  wandered  in  the  woods  and  swamps  three 
days  and  two  nights,  without  taking  any  food,  and,  being  near 
spent,  God  brought  him  to  Scituate;  but  he  had  torn  his  legs 
much,  etc.     Other  harm  he  had  none. 

October  5.]  It  being  found,  that  the  four  lectures  did 
spend  too  much  time,  and  proved  over  bui'densome  to  the 
ministers  and  people,  the  ministers,  with  the  advice  of  the 
magistrates,  and  with  consent  of  their  congregations,  did  agree 
to  reduce  them  to  two  days,  viz.,  Mr.  Cotton  at  Boston  one 

^  This  commission  may  be  seen  in  Bradford,  this  series,  pp.  415-419. 

'  How  far  the  colony  had  abandoned  the  temper  shown  in  the  Farewell  to 
the  Church  of  England,  of  three  years  before,  Winthrop's  entry  makes  plain, 
though  the  "conclusion"  is  not  stated.  It  would  have  gone  hard  with  Puritan- 
ism in  New  England,  had  not  King  and  bishops  now  begun  to  feel  the  heat  of  a 
back-fire  at  home. 


136  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

Thursday,  or  the  5th  day  of  the  week,  and  Mr.  Hooker  at 
Newtown  the  next  5th  day,  and  Mr.  Warham  at  Dorchester 
one  4th  day  of  the  week,  and  Mr.  Welde  at  Roxbury  the  next 
4th  day. 

Mr.  Lathrop,  who  had  been  pastor  of  a  private  congrega- 
tion in  London,  and  for  the  same  kept  long  time  in  prison, 
(upon  refusal  of  the  oath  ex-officio,)^  being  at  Boston  upon  a 
sacrament  day,  after  the  sermon,  etc.,  desired  leave  of  the  con- 
gregation to  be  present  at  the  administration,  etc.,  but  said 
that  he  durst  not  desire  to  partake  in  it,  because  he  was  not 
then  in  order,  (being  dismissed  from  his  former  congregation,) 
and  he  thought  it  not  fit  to  be  suddenly  admitted  into  any 
other,  for  example  sake,  and  because  of  the  deceitfulness  of 
man's  heart.  He  went  to  Scituate,  being  desired  to  be  their 
pastor. 

14.]  It  was  informed  the  governor,  that  some  of  our  peo- 
ple, being  aboard  the  bark  of  Maryland,  the  sailors  did  revile 
them,  calling  them  holy  brethren,  the  members,  etc.,  and  withal 
did  curse  and  swear  most  horribly,  and  use  threatening 
speeches  against  us.  The  governor  wrote  to  some  of  the  as- 
sistants about  it,  and,  upon  advice  with  the  ministers,  it  was 
agreed  to  call  them  in  question ;  and  to  this  end  (because  we 
knew  not  how  to  get  them  out  of  their  bark)  we  apprehended 
the  merchant  of  the  ship,  being  on  shore,  and  committed 
him  to  the  marshal,  till  Mr.  Maverick  came  and  undertook  that 
the  offenders  should  be  forthcoming.  The  next  day  (the 
governor  not  being  well)  we  examined  the  witnesses,  and  found 
them  fall  short  of  the  matter  of  threatening,  and  not  to  agree 
about  the  revihng  speeches,  and,  beside,  not  able  to  design 
certainly  the  men  that  had  so  offended.  Whereupon  (the  bark 
staying  only  upon  this)  the  bail  was  discharged,  and  a  letter 
written  to  the  master,  that,  in  regard  such  disorders  were  com- 

*  The  oath  ex-officio,  a  part  of  the  procedure  of  the  court  of  high  commission, 
was  used  to  eHcit  confession  from  clergymen  suspected  of  tendencies  toward  non- 
conformity. 


1634]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  137 

mitted  aboard  his  ship,  it  was  his  duty  to  inquire  out  the 
offenders  and  punish  them;  and  withal  to  desire  him  to  bring 
no  more  such  disordered  persons  among  us. 

Mr.  Wilson's  hay,  being  stacked  up  not  well  dried,  fell  on 
fire,  to  his  great  prejudice  at  this  season;  fired  by  his  own  ser- 
vants, etc.,  as  they  intended  to  prevent  firing. 

The  weather  was  very  fine  and  hot,  without  rain,  near  six 
weeks. 

The  Lords  Say  and  Brook  wrote  to  the  governor  and  Mr. 
Bellingham,*  that  howsoever  they  might  have  sent  a  man  of 
war  to  beat  down  the  house  at  Kenebeck,  for  the  death  of 
Hockin,  etc.,  yet  they  thought  better  to  take  another  course; 
and  therefore  desired  that  some  of  ours  might  be  joined  with 
Capt.  Wiggin,  their  agent  at  Pascataquack,  to  see  justice 
done,  etc. 

20.]  Six  men  of  Salem,  going  on  fowling  in  a  canoe,  were 
overset  near  Kettle  Island,  and  five  of  them  drowned. 

November  5.]  At  the  court  of  assistants  complaint  was 
made  by  some  of  the  country,  (viz.,  Richard  Brown  of  Water- 
town,  in  the  name  of  the  rest,)  that  the  ensign  at  Salem  was 
defaced,  viz.  one  part  of  the  red  cross  taken  out.  Upon  this, 
an  attachment  was  awarded  against  Richard  Davenport, 
ensign-bearer,  to  appear  at  the  next  court  to  answer.  Much 
matter  was  made  of  this,  as  fearing  it  would  be  taken  as  an 
act  of  rebellion,  or  of  like  high  nature,  in  defacing  the  king's 
colors ;  though  the  truth  were,  it  was  done  upon  this  opinion, 
that  the  red  cross  was  given  to  the  king  of  England  by  the  pope, 
as  an  ensign  of  victory,  and  so  a  superstitious  thing,  and  a 
rehque  of  antichrist.^    What  proceeding  was  hereupon,  will 

*  Richard  Bellingham,  afterward  governor,  a  man  contentious  and  more 
democratic  than  many,  survived  to  a  great  age — his  Hfe  being,  as  Hubbard  says, 
"a  long  thread  of  above  eighty  years."  His  talents  were  adapted  less  for  elo- 
quence than  advice,  "like  a  vessel  whose  vent  holds  no  good  proportion  with 
its  capacity."     Hubbard,  General  History  of  New  England,  quoted  by  Savage. 

*  The  picturesque  incident  here  referred  to,  than  which  scarcely  any  other 
incident  of  early  New  English  history  is  better  known,  was  a  bold  defiance  of 
King  and  Church,  who  at  this  time  were  threatening  heavily. 


138  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1634 

appear  after,  at  next  court,  in  the  first  month ;  (for,  by  reason 
of  the  great  snows  and  frosts,  we  used  not  to  keep  courts  in 
the  three  winter  months). 

The  Rebecka  came  from  Narigansett  with  five  hundred 
bushels  of  corn  given  to  Mr.  John  Oldham.  The  Indians  had 
promised  him  one  thousand  bushels,  but  their  store  fell  out 
less  than  they  expected.  They  gave  him  also  an  island  in  the 
Narigansett  Bay,  called  Chippacursett,  containing  about  one 
thousand  acres,  six  miles  long,  and  two  miles  broad.  This  is 
a  very  fair  bay,  being  above  twelve  leagues  square,  with  divers 
great  islands  in  it,  a  deep  channel  close  to  the  shore,  being 
rocky.  Mr.  Peirce  took  the  height  there,  and  found  it  forty- 
one  degrees,  forty-one  minutes,  being  not  above  half  a  degree 
to  the  southward  of  us.  In  his  voyage  to  and  fro,  he  went  over 
the  shoals,  having,  most  part,  five  or  six  fathom,  within  half 
a  mile  and  less  of  the  shore  from  the  north  part  of  Cape  Cod  to 
Natuckett^  Island,  which  is  about  twenty  leagues — and,  in 
the  shallowest  place,  two  and  an  half  fathom.  The  country 
on  the  west  of  the  Bay  of  Naragansett  is  all  champaign  for 
many  miles,  but  very  stony,  and  full  of  Indians.  He  saw  there 
above  one  thousand  men,  women,  and  children,  yet  the  men 
were  many  abroad  on  hunting.  Natuckett  is  an  island  full 
of  Indians,  about  ten  leagues  in  length  east  and  west. 

6.]  There  came  to  the  deputy  governor,  about  fourteen 
days  since,  a  messenger  from  the  Pekod  sachem,  to  desire  our 
friendship.^  He  brought  two  bundles  of  sticks,  whereby  he 
signified  how  many  beaver  and  otter  skins  he  would  give  us 
for  that  end,  and  great  store  of  wampompeage,  (about  two 
bushels,  by  his  description).  He  brought  a  small  present  with 
him,  which  the  deputy  received,  and  returned  a  moose  coat  of 
as  good  value,  and  withal  told  him,  that  he  must  send  persons 

*  Nantucket. 

*  The  contact  with  the  Pequots  thus  described  marks  a  critical  time.  These 
savages  were  of  a  fiercer  character  than  the  New  England  tribes  in  general,  a 
recent  intrusion  into  Connecticut  from  west  of  the  Hudson  of  a  sept  probably 
allied  with  the  Mohawks.     Johnston,  Connecticut,  p.  28. 


1634]  THOMAS    DUDLEY,  GOVERNOR  m 

of  greater  quality,  and  then  our  governor  would  treat  with 
them.  And  now  there  came  two  men,  who  brought  another 
present  of  wampompeage.  The  deputy  brought  them  to  Bos- 
ton, where  most  of  the  assistants  were  assembled,  by  occasion 
of  the  lecture,  who,  calling  to  them  some  of  the  ministers, 
grew  to  this  treaty  with  them:  That  we  were  willing  to  have 
friendship  etc.;  but  because  they  had  killed  some  English- 
men, viz.  Capt.  Stone,  etc.,  they  must  first  dehver  up  those 
who  were  guilty  of  his  death,  etc.  They  answered,  that  the 
sachem,  who  then  lived,  was  slain  by  the  Dutch,  and  all  the 
men,  who  were  guilty,  etc.,  were  dead  of  the  pox,  except  two, 
and  that  if  they  were  worthy  of  death,  they  would  move  their 
sachem  to  have  them  delivered,  (for  they  had  no  commission 
to  do  it ;)  but  they  excused  the  fact,  saying  that  Capt.  Stone, 
coming  into  their  river,  took  two  of  their  men  and  bound  them, 
and  made  them  show  him  the  way  up  the  river,  which  when 
they  had  done,  he  with  two  others  and  the  two  Indians,  (their 
hands  still  bound,)  went  on  shore,  and  nine  of  their  men  watched 
them,  and  when  they  were  on  sleep  in  the  night,  they  killed 
them;  then  going  towards  the  pinnace  to  have  taken  that,  it 
suddenly  blew  up  into  the  air.  This  was  related  with  such 
confidence  and  gravity,  as,  having  no  means  to  contradict  it, 
we  inclined  to  beheve  it.  But,  the  governor  not  being  present, 
we  concluded  nothing;  but  some  of  us  went  with  them  the 
next  day  to  the  governor. 

The  reason  why  they  desired  so  much  our  friendship  was, 
because  they  were  now  in  war  with  the  Naragansetts,  whom, 
till  this  year,  they  had  kept  imder,  and  likewise  with  the  Dutch, 
who  had  killed  their  old  sachem  and  some  other  of  their  men, 
for  that  the  Pekods  had  killed  some  Indians,  who  came  to  trade 
with  the  Dutch  at  Connecticut ;  and,  by  these  occasions,  they 
could  not  trade  safely  any  where.  Therefore  they  desired  us 
to  send  a  pinnace  with  cloth,  and  we  should  have  all  their 
trade. 

They  offered  us  also  all  their  right  at  Connecticut,  and  to 


140  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

further  us  what  they  could,  if  we  would  settle  a  plantation 
there. 

When  they  came  to  the  governor,  they  agreed,  according  to 
the  former  treaty,  viz.  to  deliver  us  the  two  men,  who  were 
guilty  of  Capt.  Stone's  death,  when  we  would  send  for  them; 
to  yield  up  Connecticut;  to  give  us  four  hundred  fathom  of 
wampompeage,  and  forty  beaver,  and  thirty  otter  skins ;  and 
that  we  should  presently  send  a  pinnace  with  cloth  to  trade 
with  them,  and  so  should  be  at  peace  with  them,  and  as  friends 
to  trade  with  them,  but  not  to  defend  them,  etc. 

The  next  morning  news  came,  that  two  or  three  hundred 
of  the  Naragansetts  were  come  to  Cohann,  viz.  Neponsett, 
to  kill  the  Pekod  ambassadors,  etc.  Presently  we  met  at 
Roxbury,  and  raised  some  few  men  in  arms,  and  sent  to  the 
Naragansett  men  to  come  to  us.  When  they  came  there  were 
no  more  but  two  of  their  sachems,  and  about  twenty  more, 
who  had  been  on  hunting  thereabouts,  and  came  to  lodge  with 
the  Indians  at  Cohann,  as  their  manner  is.  So  we  treated 
with  them  about  the  Pekods,  and,  at  our  request,  they  prom- 
ised they  should  go  and  come  to  and  from  us  in  peace,  and  they 
were  also  content  to  enter  further  treaty  of  peace  with  them; 
and  in  all  things  showed  themselves  very  ready  to  gratify  us. 
So  the  Pekods  returned  home,  and  the  Naragansetts  departed 
well  satisfied ;  only  they  were  told  in  private,  that  if  they  did 
make  peace  with  the  Pekods,  we  would  give  them  part  of  that 
wampompeage,  which  they  should  give  us;  (for  the  Pekods 
held  it  dishonorable  to  offer  them  any  thing  as  of  themselves, 
yet  were  willing  we  should  give  it  them,  and  indeed  did  offer 
us  so  much  for  that  end). 

The  agreement  they  made  with  us  was  put  in  writing,  and 
the  two  ambassadors  set  to  their  marks — one  a  bow  with  an 
arrow  in  it,  and  the  other  a  hand. 

13.]  The  Regard,  a  ship  of  Barnstable,  of  about  two 
hundred  tons,  arrived  with  twenty  passengers  and  about  fifty 
cattle. 


1634]  THOMAS   DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  141 

One  thing  I  think  fit  to  observe,  as  a  witness  of  God's 
providence  for  this  plantation.  There  came  in  this  ship  one 
Mansfield,  a  poor  godly  man  of  Exeter,  being  very  desirous  to 
come  to  us,  but  not  able  to  transport  his  family.  There  was 
in  the  city  a  rich  merchant,  one  Marshall,  who  being  troubled 
in  his  dreams  about  the  said  poor  man,  could  not  be  quiet  till 
he  had  sent  for  him,  and  given  him  £50,  and  lent  him  £100, 
wilUng  him  withal,  that,  if  he  wanted,  he  should  send  to  him 
for  more.  This  Mansfield  grew  suddenly  rich,  and  then  lost 
his  godliness,  and  his  wealth  soon  after. 

18.]  About  this  time  an  open  pinnace  of  one  Mr.  Sewall  *  of 
Ipswich,  going  deep  laden  from  Boston,  was  cast  away  upon 
the  rocks  at  the  head  of  Cape  Ann,  in  a  N.  E.  storm;  but  all 
the  men  were  saved. 

21.]  One  Willys,  a  godly  man,  and  member  of  Boston 
church,  and  one  Dorety,  an  honest  man,  and  two  boys,  going 
over  to  Noddle's  Island  to  fetch  wood,  in  a  small  boat,  and 
none  of  them  having  any  skill  or  experience,  were  cast  away 
in  a  N.  E.  tempest,  as  they  came  home  in  the  night  laden,  being 
then  ebbing  water.  We  sent  two  boats  on  the  Lord's  day, 
(so  soon  as  they  were  missing,  being  the  23d,)  but  they  could 
not  find  men,  or  boat,  or  wood,  in  any  part  of  the  bay. 
Three  days  after,  the  boat  was  found  at  Muddy  River,  over- 
turned. 

27.]  The  assistants  met  at  the  governor's,  to  advise  about 
the  defacing  of  the  cross  in  the  ensign  at  Salem,  where  (taking 
advice  with  some  of  the  ministers)  we  agreed  to  write  to  Mr. 
Downing  in  England,  of  the  truth  of  the  matter,  under  all  our 
hands,  that,  if  occasion  were,  he  might  show  it  in  our  excuse; 
for  therein  we  expressed  our  dislike  of  the  thing,  and  our  pur- 
pose to  punish  the  offenders,  yet  with  as  much  wariness  as  we 
might,  being  doubtful  of  the  lawful  use  of  the  cross  in  an 

*  The  ancestor  of  a  distinguished  and  widely  distributed  American  family, 
of  which  the  famous  chief-justice,  in  the  next  generation,  was  the  most  interesting 
Massachusetts  member. 


142  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1634 

ensign,  though  we  were  clear  that  fact/  as  concerning  the  mat- 
ter, was  very  unlawful. 

It  was  then  informed  us,  how  Mr.  Eliot,  the  teacher  of  the 
church  of  Roxbury,  had  taken  occasion,  in  a  sermon,  to  speak 
of  the  peace  made  with  the  Pekods,  and  to  lay  some  blame 
upon  the  ministry  for  proceeding  therein,  without  consent 
of  the  people,  and  for  other  faihngs,  (as  he  conceived).  We 
took  order,  that  he  should  be  dealt  with  by  Mr.  Cotton,  Mr. 
Hooker,  and  Mr.  Welde,  to  be  brought  to  see  his  error,  and 
to  heal  it  by  some  public  explanation  of  his  meaning;  for 
the  people  began  to  take  occasion  to  mm^mur  against  us  for  it.^ 

It  was  likewise  informed,  that  Mr.  Williams  of  Salem  had 
broken  his  promise  to  us,  in  teaching  publickly  against  the 
king's  patent,  and  our  great  sin  in  claiming  right  thereby  to 
this  country,  etc.,  and  for  usual  terming  the  churches  of  England 
antichristian.  We  granted  summons  to  him  for  his  appear- 
ance at  the  next  court.' 

The  aforesaid  three  ministers,  upon  conference  with  the 
said  Mr.  Eliot,  brought  him  to  acknowledge  his  error  in  that 
he  had  mistaken  the  ground  of  his  doctrine,  and  that  he  did 
acknowledge,  that,  for  a  peace  only,  (whereby  the  people  were 
not  to  be  engaged  in  a  war,)  the  magistrates  might  conclude, 
plehe  inconsulto,  and  so  promised  to  express  himself  in  public 
next  Lord's  day. 

24.]  One  Scott  and  Eliot  of  Ipswich  were  lost  in  their 
way  homewards,  and  wandered  up  and  down  six  days,  and 
eat  nothing.  At  length  they  were  found  by  an  Indian,  being 
almost  senseless  for  want  of  rest,  etc. 

About  the  same  time  one  \blank'\  was  twenty-one  days 

^  Fact  in  the  sense  of  action,  Lat.  factum,. 

'  Eliot  probably  knew  well  the  character  of  the  Pequots,  and  remonstrated 
as  a  friend  of  the  Massachusetts  Indians,  with  whom  his  relations  were  becoming 
close,  and  whose  welfare  was  seriously  threatened.  Evidently  his  disposition  was 
more  democratic  than  that  of  some  of  his  contemporaries. 

'  An  evidence  that  Roger  Williams  meant  to  be  just,  though  sometimes  his 
judgments  were  strained. 


1634]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  143 

upon  Plumb  Island,  and  found  by  chance  frozen  in  the  snow, 
yet  ahve,  and  did  well.  He  had  been  missing  twenty  days, 
and  himself  said  he  had  no  food  all  that  time. 

December  4.]  Was  an  extraordinary  tempest  of  wind  and 
snow,  at  N.  N.  E.  which  continued  twenty-fom'  hours,  and  after 
that  such  frost  as,  within  two  days,  the  whole  bay  was  frozen 
over,  but  free  again  before  night. 

11.]  The  lectures  at  Boston  and  Newtown  returned  again 
to  their  former  course,  because  the  weather  was  many  times  so 
tedious  as  people  could  not  travel,  etc. 

This  day,  after  the  lecture,  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  met 
to  choose  seven  men  who  should  divide  the  town  lands  among 
them.  They  chose  by  papers,^  and  in  their  choice  left  out 
Mr.  Winthrop,  Coddington,  and  other  of  the  chief  men;  only 
they  chose  one  of  the  elders  and  a  deacon,  and  the  rest  of  the 
inferior  sort,  and  Mr.  Winthrop  had  the  greater  number  before 
one  of  them  by  a  voice  or  two.  This  they  did,  as  fearing  that 
the  richer  men  would  give  the  poorer  sort  no  great  proportions 
of  land,  but  would  rather  leave  a  great  part  at  liberty  for  new 
comers  and  for  common,  which  Mr.  Winthrop  had  oft  per- 
suaded them  unto,  as  best  for  the  town,  etc.  Mr.  Cotton  and 
divers  others  were  offended  at  this  choice,  because  they  de- 
chned  the  magistrates;  and  Mr.  Winthrop  refused  to  be  one 
upon  such  an  election  as  was  carried  by  a  voice  or  two,  teUing 
them,  that  though,  for  his  part,  he  did  not  apprehend  any 
personal  injury,  nor  did  doubt  of  their  good  affection  towards 
him,  yet  he  was  much  grieved  that  Boston  should  be  the 
first  who  should  shake  off  their  magistrates,  especially  Mr. 
Coddington,^  who  had  been  always  so  forward  for  their  en- 

*  7.  e.,  by  secret  ballot. 

'  William  Coddington,  already  mentioned,  served  as  colonial  treasurer  and 
as  assistant.  Winthrop  and  Cotton  here  strongly  disapproved  the  public  action 
vi^hich  left  out  of  the  commission  for  the  distribution  of  the  lands,  a  worthy  magis- 
trate. Coddington  before  long  departed  as  an  exile  to  Aquidneck,  where  he 
lived  until  nearly  fourscore,  the  most  eminent  citizen  of  Rhode  Island,  a  fellow- 
spirit  of  Roger  Williams  at  Providence.  But  he  grew  weary  at  last  of  his  radical 
environment. 


144  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1634 

largement;  adding  further  reason  of  declining  this  choice,  to 
blot  out  so  bad  a  precedent.  Whereupon,  at  the  motion  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  who  showed  them,  that  it  was  the  Lord's  order 
among  the  Israehtes  to  have  all  such  businesses  committed 
to  the  elders,  and  that  it  had  been  nearer  the  rule  to  have 
chosen  some  of  each  sort,  etc.,  they  all  agreed  to  go  to  a  new 
election,  which  was  referred  to  the  next  lecture  day. 

The  reason  why  some  were  not  wilHng  that  the  people  should 
have  more  land  in  the  bay  than  they  might  be  likely  to  use  in 
some  reasonable  time,  was  partly  to  prevent  the  neglect  of 
trades,  and  other  more  necessary  employments,  and  partly  that 
there  might  be  place  to  receive  such  as  should  come  after; 
seeing  it  would  be  very  prejudicial  to  the  commonwealth,  if 
men  should  be  forced  to  go  far  off  for  land,  while  others  had 
much,  and  could  make  no  use  of  it,  more  than  to  please  their 
eye  with  it. 

One  Abigail  Gifford,  widow,  being  kept  at  the  charge  of 
the  parish  of  Wilsden  in  Middlesex,  near  London,  was  sent  by 
Mr.  Ball's  ship  into  this  comitry,  and  being  found  to  be  some- 
times distracted,  and  a  very  burdensome  woman,  the  governor 
and  assistants  returned  her  back  by  warrant,  18,  to  the  same 
parish,  in  the  ship  Rebecca. 

22.]  A  fast  was  kept  by  the  church  of  Charlton,  and  Mr. 
Symmes  chosen  their  teacher. 

By  a  letter  from  Plymouth  it  was  certified,  that  the  Dutch 
of  Hudson's  River  had  been  at  Connecticut,  and  came  in  war- 
like manner  to  put  the  Plymouth  men  out  of  their  house 
there ;  but  when  they  stood  upon  their  defence,  they  departed, 
without  offering  any  violence. 


1635 

11  mo.  13.]^  The  church  of  Boston  kept  a  day  of  humilia- 
tion for  the  absence  of  their  pastor  and  other  brethren,  gone 
to  England,  and  hke  to  be  troubled  and  detained  there,  and 
for  that  the  Lord  had  made  a  breach  upon  them  by  those  four 
which  were  drowned,  as  is  before  set  down ;  at  which  fast  Mr. 
Cotton  preached  out  of  Numbers  xxxv.  13,  and  one  of  the 
members  taught  out  of  that  in  Lamentations  iii.  39:  Where- 
fore doth  a  living  man  complain? 

19.]  All  the  ministers,  except  Mr.  Ward^  of  Ipswich,  met 
at  Boston,  being  requested  by  the  governor  and  assistants, 
to  consider  of  these  two  cases:  1.  What  we  ought  to  do,  if  a 
general  governor  should  be  sent  out  of  England?  2.  Whether 
it  be  lawful  for  us  to  carry  the  cross  in  our  banners? — In  the 
first  case,  they  all  agreed,  that,  if  a  general  governor  were  sent, 
we  ought  not  to  accept  him,  but  defend  our  lawful  possessions, 
(if  we  were  able;)  otherwise  to  avoid  or  protract.  For  the 
matter  of  the  cross,  they  were  divided,  and  so  deferred  it  to 
another  meeting. 

About  the  middle  of  this  month,  Mr.  Allerton's  pinnace 
came  from  the  French  about  Port  Royal.    They  went  to  fetch 

^  Here  for  the  first  time  the  author  abandons  the  Roman  names  of  the 
months,  substituting  in  accordance  with  Puritan  sentiment  a  system  of  numbering, 
beginning  with  March  as  the  first  month.  In  this  edition  the  more  familiar  names 
of  the  months  are  inserted  in  itahcs.     The  date  above  is  for  January  13,  1634/5. 

^  Nathaniel  Ward,  minister  of  Ipswich,  author  of  the  Body  of  Liberties, 
presently  to  be  mentioned,  was  a  most  curious  and  racy  personality.  He  was 
bred  a  lawyer,  but  taking  orders,  was  deprived  for  non-conformity,  and  came  to 
New  England  in  1634.  Though  quite  in  accord  with  his  contemporaries  in 
orthodoxy,  and  the  special  spokesman  of  the  prevailing  intolerance,  he  stands 
in  refreshing  contrast  with  the  exaggerated  gravity  and  dulness  of  so  many  of 
his  brethren.  See  Tyler,  American  Literature,  I.  271.  His  Simple  Cohler  of 
Aggawam  Savage  calls  "very  attractive  for  its  humor,  and  curious  for  its  execrable 
spirit." 

145 


146  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1635 

the  two  men,  which  had  been  carried  by  the  French  from  Ma- 
chias,  and  to  demand  the  goods  taken,  etc.  But  Mr.  La  Tout 
made  them  answer,  that  he  took  them  as  lawful  prize,  and  that 
he  had  authority  from  the  king  of  France,  who  challenged  all 
from  Cape  Sable  to  Cape  Cod,  wishing  them  to  take  notice, 
and  to  certify  the  rest  of  the  English,  that,  if  they  traded  to  the 
east  of  Pemaquid,  he  would  make  prize  of  them.  Being  de- 
sired to  show  his  commission,  he  answered,  that  his  sword  was 
commission  sufficient,  where  he  had  strength  to  overcome; 
where  that  wanted,  he  would  show  his  commission.^ 

In  the  end  of  this  month,  three  men  had  their  boat  frozen 
up  at  Bird  Island,  as  they  were  coming  from  Deer  Island,  so 
as  they  were  compelled  to  lodge  there  all  night;  and  in  the 
morning  they  came  over  the  ice  to  Noddle's  Isle,  and  thence 
to  Molten's  Point  in  Charlestown,  and  thence  over  the  ice, 
by  Mr.  Hoffe's,  to  Boston.  At  the  same  time  six  others  were 
kept  a  week  at  the  Governor's  Garden;  and  in  the  end  gate 
with  their  boat  to  Mattapan  Point;  for,  near  all  that  time, 
there  was  no  open  place  between  the  Garden  and  Boston, 
neither  was  there  any  passing  at  Charlestown  for  two  or  three 
days,  the  wind  about  the  N.  W.  three  weeks,  with  much  snow 
and  extreme  frost. ^ 

Mo.  12.  (February.)]  About  the  middle  of  this  month,  a 
proper  young  man,  servant  to  Mr.  Bellingham,  passing  over 

^  Massachusetts,  in  particular  Boston,  stood  from  this  time  forward  in  the 
fore-front  of  the  EngHsh  settlements  as  they  faced  the  French.  The  latter  came 
at  last  to  call  English  colonists  in  general  "Bostonnais";  and  so  late  as  our 
Revolution,  George  Rogers  Clark  in  the  far  West  found  that  the  French  and 
savages  confronting  him  had  been  incited  "to  fight  Boston."  At  the  present 
moment,  two  Frenchmen,  La  Tour  and  d'Aulnay,  had  been  appointed  to  govern 
the  French  claim,  the  jurisdiction  of  the  former  extending  east  of  the  St.  Croix 
River;  of  the  latter,  to  the  west.  As  the  western  limits  of  "Acadie"  were  quite 
undetermined,  disputes  early  arose  with  the  English  on  the  Maine  coast.  La 
Tour  and  dAulnay  presently  also  fell  out  between  themselves.  The  relations 
of  Massachusetts  with  these  two  men  were  very  trying,  and  occasion  some  of 
Winthrop's  liveliest  pages.     Winsor,  Memorial  History  of  Boston,  I.  282. 

^  Bird  Island  has  disappeared.  The  Governor's  Garden  was  no  doubt  the 
present  Governor's  Island.  To  a  large  extent  the  localities  of  the  harbor  retain 
their  ancient  names. 


1635]  THOMAS  DUDLEY,   GOVERNOR  147 

the  ice  to  Winnesemett,  fell  in,  and  was  drowned.  Divers 
others  fell  in,  in  that  and  other  places,  but,  by  God's  provi- 
dence, were  saved. 

14.]  Capt.  Wiggin,  governor  at  Pascataquack,  under  the 
Lords  Say  and  Brook,  wrote  to  our  governor,  desiring  to  have 
two  men  tried  here,  who  had  committed  sodomy  with  each 
other,  and  that  on  the  Lord's  day,  in  time  of  public  exercise. 
The  governor  and  divers  of  the  assistants  met  and  conferred 
about  it,  but  did  not  think  fit  to  try  them  here. 

Mo.  1.  (March)  4.]  A  general  court  at  Newtown.  Mr. 
Hooker  preached,  and  showed  the  three  great  evils. 

At  this  court,  one  of  the  deputies  ^  was  questioned  for  deny- 
ing the  magistracy  among  us,  affirming  that  the  power  of 
the  governor  was  but  ministerial,  etc.  He  had  also  much  op- 
posed the  magistrates,  and  slighted  them,  and  used  many 
weak  arguments  against  the  negative  voice,  as  himself 
acknowledged  upon  record.  He  was  adjudged  by  all  the 
court  to  be  disabled  for  three  years  from  bearing  any  public 
office. 

One  of  the  assistants  was  called  to  the  lower  end  of  the 
table  to  answer  for  refusing  to  pay  towards  a  rate  made  by  the 
court,  and  was  fined  £5,  which  was  after  released. 

Mr.  Endecott  was  called  to  answer  for  defacing  the  cross  in 
the  ensign;  but,  because  the  court  could  not  agree  about  the 
thing,  whether  the  ensigns  should  be  laid  by,  in  regard  that 
many  refused  to  follow  them,  the  whole  cause  was  deferred 
till  the  next  general  court ;  and  the  commissioners  for  military 
affairs  gave  order,  in  the  mean  time,  that  all  the  ensigns  should 
be  laid  aside,  etc. 

1  This  deputy,  so  democratic  in  his  ideas,  was  Israel  Stoughton,  who  later 
returning  to  England,  rose  to  a  lieutenant-colonelcy  among  the  Ironsides.  His 
son  William  was  the  first  lieutenant-governor  under  the  charter  of  William  and 
Mary,  and  chief-justice  during  the  witch-trials,  where  he  shared  in  the  delusion 
to  which  few  of  his  contemporaries  were  superior.  He  is  more  honorably  re- 
membered for  his  gift  to  Harvard  College,  where  Stoughton  Hall  perpetuates 
his  name. 


148  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1635 

At  this  court  brass  farthings  were  forbidden,  and  musket 
bullets  made  to  pass  for  farthings. 

A  commission  for  military  affairs  was  established,  which 
had  power  of  life  and  limb,  etc.* 

15.]  Two  of  the  elders  of  every  church  met  at  Sagus, 
and  spent  there  three  days.  The  occasion  was,  that  divers 
of  the  brethren  of  that  church,  not  liking  the  proceedings  of 
the  pastor,  and  withal  making  question,  whether  they  were 
a  church  or  not,  did  separate  from  church  communion.  The 
pastor  and  other  brethren  desired  the  advice  and  help  of  the 
rest  of  the  churches,  who,  not  thinking  fit  to  judge  of  the  cause, 
without  hearing  the  other  side,  offered  to  meet  at  Sagus  about 
it.  Upon  this  the  pastor,  etc.,  required  the  separate  members 
to  deHver  their  grievances  in  writing,  which  they  refusing  to  do, 
the  pastor,  etc.,  wrote  to  all  the  churches,  that,  for  this  cause, 
they  were  purposed  to  proceed  against  them  as  persons  ex- 
communicated; and  therefore  desired  them  to  stay  their 
journey,  etc.  This  letter  being  read  at  a  lecture  at  Boston, 
(where  some  of  the  elders  of  every  church  were  present,)  they 
all  agreed  (with  consent  of  their  churches)  to  go  presently  to 
Sagus,  to  stay  this  hasty  proceeding,  etc.  Accordingly,  being 
met,  and  both  parties  (after  much  debate)  being  heard,  it  was 
agreed,  that  they  were  a  true  church,  though  not  constituted, 
at  first,  in  due  order,  yet  after  consent  and  practice  of  a  church 
estate  had  supplied  that  defect;  and  so  all  were  reconciled. 

Mo.  2.  (April.)]  Some  of  our  people  went  to  Cape  Cod,  and 
made  some  oil  of  a  whale,  which  was  cast  on  shore.  There  were 
three  or  four  cast  up,  as  it  seems  there  is  almost  every  year. 

26.]  An  alarm  was  raised  in  all  our  towns,  and  the  governor 
and  assistants  met  at  Boston,  and  sent  forth  a  shallop  to 
Cape  Ann,  to  discover  what  ships  were  there.  For  the  fisher- 
men had  brought  in  word  to  Marblehead,  that  two  ships  had 
been  hovering  upon  the  coast  all  the  day;  one  of  about  four 

*  For  a  full  account  of  the  great  power  granted  this  commission,  see  Massa- 
chusetts Colonial  Records,  I.  139. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  149 

hundred  tons,  and  the  other  three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  were 
gone  in  to  Cape  Ann.  But  it  proved  to  be  only  one  ship  of 
eighty  tons,  bound  for  Richman's  Isle,  and  the  other  a  small 
pinnace  of  ten  tons. 

30.]  The  governor  and  assistants  sent  for  Mr.  WiUiams. 
The  occasion  was,  for  that  he  had  taught  publicly,  that  a 
magistrate  ought  not  to  tender  an  oath  to  an  unregenerate 
man,  for  that  we  thereby  have  communion  with  a  wicked  man 
in  the  worship  of  God,  and  cause  him  to  take  the  name  of  God 
in  vain.  He  was  heard  before  all  the  ministers,  and  very 
clearly  confuted.  Mr.  Endecott  was  at  first  of  the  same 
opinion,  but  he  gave  place  to  the  truth. 

Mo.  3.  (May)  6.]  A  general  court  was  held  at  Newtown, 
where  John  Haynes,  Esq.,  was  chosen  governor,  Richard 
Bellingham,  Esq.,  deputy  governor,  and  Mr.  Hough  and  Mr. 
Dummer  chosen  assistants  to  the  former ;  and  Mr.  Ludlow,  the 
late  deputy,  left  out  of  the  magistracy.  The  reason  was,  partly, 
because  the  people  would  exercise  their  absolute  power,  etc., 
and  partly  upon  some  speeches  of  the  deputy,  who  protested 
against  the  election  of  the  governor  as  void,  for  that  the  depu- 
ties of  the  several  towns  had  agreed  upon  the  election  before 
they  came,  etc.  But  this  was  generally  discussed,  and  the 
election  adjudged  good. 

Mr.  Endecott  was  also  left  out,  and  called  into  question 
about  the  defacing  the  cross  in  the  ensign;  and  a  committee 
was  chosen,  viz.,  every  town  chose  one,  (which  yet  were  voted 
by  all  the  people,)  and  the  magistrates  chose  four,  who,  taking 
the  charge  to  consider  of  the  offence,  and  the  censure  due  to  it, 
and  to  certify  the  court,  after  one  or  two  hours  time,  made 
report  to  the  court,  that  they  found  his  offence  to  be  great,  viz., 
rash  and  without  discretion,  taking  upon  him  more  authority 
than  he  had,  and  not  seeking  advice  of  the  court,  etc.;  un- 
charitable, in  that  he,  judging  the  cross,  etc.,  to  be  a  sin,  did 
content  himself  to  have  reformed  it  at  Salem,  not  taking  care 
that  others  might  be  brought  out  of  it  also ;  laying  a  blemish 


150  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1635 

also  upon  the  rest  of  the  magistrates,  as  if  they  would  suffer 
idolatry,  etc.,  and  giving  occasion  to  the  state  of  England  to 
think  ill  of  us; — for  which  they  adjudged  him  worthy  admoni- 
tion, and  to  be  disabled  for  one  year  from  bearing  any  pubUc 
office ;  declining  any  heavier  sentence,  because  they  were  per- 
suaded he  did  it  out  of  tenderness  of  conscience,  and  not  of  any 
evil  intent.^ 

Some  petitions  of  grievances  were  tendered  to  the  court  in 
the  beginning  of  it,  but  the  court  refused  to  hear  any,  or  to 
meddle  in  any  courses  but  making  freemen,  until  the  elections 
were  passed.  The  governor  and  deputy  were  elected  by  papers, 
wherein  their  names  were  written;  but  the  assistants  were 
chosen  by  papers,  without  names,  viz.  the  governor  propounded 
one  to  the  people ;  then  they  all  went  out,  and  came  in  at  one 
door,  and  every  man  delivered  a  paper  into  a  hat.  Such  as 
gave  their  vote  for  the  party  named,  gave  in  a  paper  with  some 
figures  or  scroll  in  it;  others  gave  in  a  blank. 

The  new  governor,  in  his  speech  to  the  people,  declared  his 
purpose  to  spare  their  charge  towards  his  allowance  this  year, 
partly  in  respect  of  their  love  showed  towards  him,  and  partly 
for  that  he  observed  how  much  the  people  had  been  pressed 
lately  with  public  charges,  which  the  poorer  sort  did  much 
groan  under.^ 

A  petition  was  preferred  by  many  of  Dorchester,  etc.,  for 
releasing  the  sentence  against  Mr.  Stoughton  the  last  general 
court;  but  it  was  rejected,  and  the  sentence  affirmed  by  the 
country  to  be  just. 

Divers  jealousies,  that  had  been  between  the  magistrates 
and  deputies,  were  now  cleared,  with  full  satisfaction  to  all 
parties. 

The  matter  of  altering  the  cross  in  the  ensign  was  referred 
to  the  next  meeting,   (the  court  being  adjourned  for  three 

^  That  spirits  like  Williams  and  Endicott,  extremists  in  different  directions, 
caused  constant  anxiety  to  the  wary  and  tactful  leaders  is  in  these  years  often 
evidenced. 

*  The  well-to-do  Haynes  could  no  doubt  afford  to  perform  this  gracious  act. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  151 

weeks,)  it  being  propounded  to  turn  it  to  the  red  and  white 
rose,  etc.,  and  every  man  was  to  deal  with  his  neighbors, 
to  still  their  minds,  who  stood  so  stiff  for  the  cross,  until  we 
should  fully  agree  about  it,  which  was  expected,  because  the 
ministers  had  promised  to  take  pains  about  it,  and  to  write  into 
England,  to  have  the  judgments  of  the  most  wise  and  godly 
there. 

The  deputies  having  conceived  great  danger  to  our  state,  in 
regard  that  our  magistrates,  for  want  of  positive  laws,  in 
many  cases,  might  proceed  according  to  their  discretions,  it 
was  agreed  that  some  men  should  be  appointed  to  frame  a 
body  of  grounds  of  laws,  in  resemblance  to  a  Magna  Charta, 
which,  being  allowed  by  some  of  the  ministers,  and  the  general 
court,  should  be  received  for  fundamental  laws. 

At  this  general  court,  some  of  the  chief  of  Ipswich  desired 
leave  to  remove  to  Quascacunquen,  to  begin  a  town  there, 
which  was  granted  them,  and  it  was  named  Newberry. 

Also,  Watertown  and  Roxbury  had  leave  to  remove 
whither  they  pleased,  so  as  they  continued  under  this  gov- 
ernment. The  occasion  of  their  desire  to  remove  was,  for 
that  all  towns  in  the  bay  began  to  be  much  straitened  by 
their  own  nearness  to  one  another,  and  their  cattle  being  so 
much  increased. 

21.]  A  Dutch  ship  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  tons  arrived 
at  Marblehead.  Capt.  Hurlston  came  merchant.  She  came 
from  Christopher  Island.  She  brought  one  himdred  and  forty 
tons  of  salt,  and  ten  thousand  weight  of  tobacco. 

This  island  hes  in  eighteen  degrees,  and  is  about  thirty 
miles  in  compass,  inhabited  by  two  colonies,  one  EngUsh  and 
another  French.  There  is  in  it  about  four  thousand  persons. 
They  have  three  English  churches,  but  the  people  are  very 
wicked,  as  the  merchant  (who  dwelt  there  five  years)  com- 
plained. The  salt  is  made  with  the  sun  in  a  natural  pan,  half 
a  mile  from  the  sea.  Their  rain  begins  in  September,  and  con- 
tinues till  February. 


152  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1635 

Mo.  4.  (June)  3.]  Here  arrived  two  Dutch  ships,  who 
brought  twenty-seven  Flanders  mares,  at  £34  a  mare,  and 
three  horses;  sixty-three  heifers,  at  £12  the  beast;  and  eighty- 
eight  sheep,  at  50s.  the  sheep.  They  came  from  the  Tessell** 
in  five  weeks  three  days,  and  lost  not  one  beast  or  sheep.  Here 
arrived  also,  the  same  day,  the  James,  a  ship  of  three  hundred 
tons,  with  cattle  and  passengers,  which  came  all  safe  from 
Southampton  within  the  same  time.  Mr.  Graves  was  master, 
who  had  come  every  year  for  these  seven  years.  7.  The 
Lord's  day  there  came  in  seven  other  ships,  and  one  to  Salem, 
and  four  more  to  the  mouth  of  the  bay,  with  store  of  passengers 
and  cattle.    They  came  all  within  six  weeks. 

For  preventing  the  loss  of  time,  and  drunkenness,  which 
sometimes  happened,  by  people's  running  to  the  ships,  and  the 
excessive  prices  of  commodities,  it  was  ordered,  that  one  in  each 
town  should  buy  for  all,  etc.,  and  should  retail  the  same 
within  twenty  days  at  five  per  himdred,  if  any  came  to  buy  in 
that  time.  But  this  took  no  good  effect ;  for  most  of  the  peo- 
ple would  not  buy,  except  they  might  buy  for  themselves ;  and 
the  merchants  appointed  could  not  disburse  so  much  money, 
etc.;  and  the  seamen  were  much  discontented,  yet  some  of 
them  brought  their  goods  on  shore  and  sold  them  there. 

16.]  A  bark  of  forty  tons  arrived,  set  forth  with  twenty 
servants,  by  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  to  go  plant  at  Connecti- 
cut. 

By  a  letter  from  the  Lord  Say,  and  report  of  divers  passen- 
gers, it  was  certified  to  us,  that  Capt.  Mason  and  others,  the 
adversaries  of  this  colony,  had  built  a  great  ship  to  send  over 
the  general  governor,  etc.,  which,  being  launched,  fell  in  sunder 
in  the  midst. 

It  appeared  likewise,  by  a  copy  of  a  petition  sent  over  to  us, 
that  they  had  divided  all  this  country  of  New  England,  viz. 
between  St.  Croix  in  the  east,  and  that  of  Lord  Bartimore, 
called  Maryland,  into  twelve  provinces,  disposed  to  twelve  in 

1  Texel,  North  Holland. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  153 

England,  who  should  send  each  ten  men  to  attend  the  general 
governor  coming  over;  but  the  project  [took]  not  effect. 
The  Lord  frustrated  their  design/ 

Two  carpenters,  going  to  wash  themselves  in  the  river 
between  Mount  Woollaston  and  Wessaguscus,  were  carried 
away  with  the  tide,  and  drowned. 

24.]  Mr.  Graves,  in  the  James,  and  Mr.  Hodges,  in  the 
Rebecka,  set  sail  for  the  Isle  of  Sable  for  sea-horse  (which  are 
there  in  great  number)  and  wild  cows.  Mr.  John  Rose,  being 
cast  ashore  there  in  the  [Mary  and  Jane]  two  years  since, 
and  making  a  small  pinnace  of  the  wreck  of  his  ship,  sailed 
thence  to  the  French  upon  the  main,  being  thirty  leagues  off, 
by  whom  he  was  detained  prisoner,  and  forced  to  pilot  them  to 
the  island,  where  they  had  great  store  of  sea-horse  teeth,  and 
cattle,  and  store  [of]  black  foxes ;  and  they  left  seventeen  men 
upon  the  island  to  inhabit  it.  The  island  is  thirty  miles 
long,  two  miles  broad  in  most  places,  a  mere  sand,  yet  full  of 
fresh  water  in  ponds,  etc.  He  saw  about  eight  hundred  cattle, 
small  and  great,  all  red,  and  the  largest  he  ever  saw,  and  many 
foxes,  whereof  some  perfect  black.  There  is  no  wood  upon  it, 
but  store  of  wild  peas  and  flags  by  the  ponds,  and  grass.  In 
the  middle  of  it  is  a  pond  of  salt  water,  ten  miles  long,  full  of 
plaice,  soles,  etc.  The  company,  which  went  now,  carried 
twelve  landmen,  two  mastiffs,  a  house,  and  a  shallop. 

August  26.]  They  returned  from  their  voyage.  They 
found  there  upon  the  island  sixteen  Frenchmen,  who  had 
wintered  there,  and  built  a  little  fort,  and  had  killed  some  black 
foxes.  They  had  killed  also  many  of  the  cattle,  so  as  they 
found  not  above  one  hundred  and  forty,  and  but  two  or  three 
calves.  They  could  kill  but  few  sea-horse,  by  reason  they  were 
forced  to  travel  so  far  in  the  sand  as  they  were  too  weak  to  stick 
them,  and  they  came  away  at  such  time  as  they  used  to  go  up 

'  The  friends  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  were  too  much  engrossed  at  home 
to  aid  in  this  sweeping  obHteration  of  what  had  been  estabHshed.  For  the  quo 
warranto  writ  issued  against  Massachusetts,  see  Hutchinson  Papers,  ed.  1865,  I, 
114. 


154  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1635 

highest  to  eat  green  peas.  The  winter  there  is  very  cold,  and 
the  snow  above  knee  deep. 

Mo.  5.  (July)  8.]  At  the  general  court,  Mr.  Williams  of 
Salem  was  summoned,  and  did  appear.  It  was  laid  to  his 
charge,  that,  being  under  question  before  the  magistracy  and 
churches  for  divers  dangerous  opinions,  viz.  1,  that  the  magis- 
trate ought  not  to  punish  the  breach  of  the  fu'st  table,  other- 
wise than  in  such  cases  as  did  disturb  the  civil  peace;  2,  that 
he  ought  not  to  tender  an  oath  to  an  unregenerate  man;  3, 
that  a  man  ought  not  to  pray  with  such,  though  wife,  child, 
etc. ;  4,  that  a  man  ought  not  to  give  thanks  after  the  sacra- 
ment nor  after  meat,  etc.;  and  that  the  other  churches  were 
about  to  write  to  the  church  of  Salem  to  admonish  him  of  these 
errors;  notwithstanding  the  church  had  since  called  him  to 
[the]  office  of  a  teacher.  Much  debate  was  about  these  things. 
The  said  opinions  were  adjudged  by  all,  magistrates  and 
ministers,  (who  were  desired  to  be  present,)  to  be  erroneous, 
and  very  dangerous,  and  the  calling  of  him  to  office,  at  that 
time,  was  judged  a  great  contempt  of  authority.  So,  in  fine, 
time  was  given  to  him  and  the  church  of  Salem  to  consider  of 
these  things  till  the  next  general  court,  and  then  either  to 
give  satisfaction  to  the  court,  or  else  to  expect  the  sentence; 
it  being  professedly  declared  by  the  ministers,  (at  the  request 
of  the  court  to  give  their  advice,)  that  he  who  should  obstinately 
maintain  such  opinions,  (whereby  a  church  might  run  into 
heresy,  apostacy,  or  tjranny,  and  yet  the  civil  magistrate 
could  not  intermeddle,)  were  to  be  removed,  and  that  the  other 
churches  ought  to  request  the  magistrates  so  to  do. 

At  this  court  Wessaguscus  was  made  a  plantation,  and 
Mr.  Hull,  a  minister  in  England,  and  twenty-one  families 
with  him,  allowed  to  sit  down  there — after  called  Weymouth. 

A  plantation  was  likewise  erected  at  Bear's  Cove,  after 
called  Hingham. 

12.]  Mr.  Luxon  arrived  here  in  a  small  pinnace.  He 
fished  at  the  Isle  of  Shoals,  as  he  had  done  many  years,  and, 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  155 

returning  to  sell  his  fish  at  market,  was  taken  in  foggy  weather, 
and  carried  into  the  bay  of  Port  Royal,  and  there  wrecked  upon 
a  small  island  about  [blank]  leagues  from  the  main.  So  he 
built  a  pinnace,  and  came  hither  in  her/ 

Salem  men  had  preferred  a  petition,  at  the  last  general 
court,  for  some  land  in  Marblehead  Neck,  which  they  did 
challenge  as  belonging  to  their  town;  but,  because  they  had 
chosen  Mr.  Williams  their  teacher,  while  he  stood  under 
question  of  authority,  and  so  offered  contempt  to  the  magis- 
trates, etc.,  their  petition  was  refused  till,  etc.  Upon  this 
the  church  of  Salem  write  to  other  churches,  to  admonish  the 
magistrates  of  this  as  a  heinous  sin,  and  likewise  the  deputies ; 
for  which,  at  the  next  general  court,  their  deputies  were  not 
received  until  they  should  give  satisfaction  about  the  letter. 

Mo.  6.  Aug.  16.]  The  wind  having  blown  hard  at  S.  and 
S.  W.  a  week  before,  about  midnight  it  came  up  at  N.  E.  and 
blew  with  such  violence,  with  abundance  of  rain,  that  it  blew 
down  many  hundreds  of  trees,  near  the  towns,  overthrew 
some  houses,  [and]  drave  the  ships  from  their  anchors.  The 
Great  Hope,  of  Ipswich,  being  about  four  hundred  tons,  was 
driven  on  ground  at  Mr.  Hoff's  Point,  and  brought  back  again 
presently  by  a  N.  W.  wind,  and  ran  on  shore  at  Charlestown. 
About  eight  of  the  clock  the  wind  came  about  to  N.  W.  very 
strong,  and,  it  being  then  about  high  water,  by  nine  the  tide 
was  fallen  about  three  feet.  Then  it  began  to  flow  again  about 
one  hour,  and  rose  about  two  or  three  feet,  which  "was  con- 
ceived to  be,  that  the  sea  was  grown  so  high  abroad  with 
the  N.  E.  wind,  that,  meeting  with  the  ebb,  it  forced  it  back 
again. 

This  tempest  was  not  so  far  as  Cape  Sable,  but  to  the 
south  more  violent,  and  made  a  double  tide  all  that  coast. 

*  The  ship-captains,  messengers  back  and  forth  across  the  sea,  and  guides 
and  protectors  of  those  who  came  over,  were  naturally  held  in  great  respect,  no 
doubt  with  good  reason,  for  only  bold  and  skilful  men  were  adequate  to  the 
navigation.  They  were  accorded  the  title  of  "Mr.,"  which  in  those  days  meant 
something.     Luxon  appears  as  master  of  the  Fellowship,  of  170  tons. 


156  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1635 

In  this  tempest,  the  James  of  Bristol,  having  one  hundred 
passengers,^  honest  people  of  Yorkshire,  being  put  into  the 
Isle  of  Shoals,  lost  there  three  anchors;  and,  setting  sail,  no 
canvas  nor  ropes  would  hold,  but  she  was  driven  within  a 
cable's  length  of  the  rocks  at  Pascataquack,  when  suddenly 
the  wind,  coming  to  N.  W.,  put  them  back  to  the  Isle  of 
Shoals,  and,  being  there  ready  to  strike  upon  the  rocks,  they 
let  out  a  piece  of  their  mainsail,  and  weathered  the  rocks.  In 
the  same  tempest  a  bark  of  Mr.  Allerton's  was  cast  away  upon 
Cape  Ann,  and  twenty-one  persons  drowned;  among  the 
rest  one  Mr.  Avery,  a  minister  in  Wiltshire,  a  godly  man, 
with  his  wife  and  six  small  children,  were  drowned.  None 
were  saved  but  one  Mr.  Thacher  and  his  wife,  who  were  cast 
on  shore,  and  preserved  by  a  powder  horn  and  a  bag  with  a 
flint,  and  a  goat  and  a  cheese,  cast  on  shore  after  them,  and 
a  truss  of  bedding,  and  some  other  necessaries:  and  the  third 
day  after  a  shallop  came  thither  to  look  for  another  shallop, 
which  was  missing  in  the  storm,  and  so  they  were  preserved. 
So  as  there  did  appear  a  miraculous  providence  in  their  preser- 
vation. The  general  court  gave  Mr.  Thacher  £26.13.4, 
towards  his  losses,  and  divers  good  people  gave  him  besides. 
The  man  was  cast  on  shore,  when  he  had  been  (as  he  thought) 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  beaten  up  and  down  by  the  waves,  not 
being  able  to  swim  one  stroke ;  and  his  wife  sitting  in  the  scuttle 
of  the  bark,  the  deck  was  broke  off,  and  brought  on  shore, 
as  she  stuck  in  it.  One  of  the  children  was  then  cast  dead 
on  shore,  and  the  rest  never  found.^ 

Gabriel  lost  at  Pemaquid;   and  Mr.  Witheridge  and  the 

^  Among  these  storm-tost  people  was  Rev.  Richard  Mather,  from  Lanca- 
shire, ancestor  of  the  famous  Mather  family.  Of  the  voyage  in  which  he  so 
nearly  perished,  he  kept  an  interesting  diary,  preserved  in  Young,  Chronicles  of 
Massachusetts,  xxii. 

*The  sufferings  of  Parsons  Avery  and  Thacher  are  described  by  Cotton 
Mather  in  an  interesting  and  characteristic  passage  {Magnalia,  book  I.,  ch.  li.). 
Here  we  are  told  that  these  outer  ledges  were  named  from  the  event  Airry's 
Fall  and  Thacher's  Woe,  names  not  yet  forgotten.  Parson  Avery  of  Newbury 
and  his  "swan-song"  find  noble  commemoration  in  the  ballad  of  Whittier. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  157 

Dartmouth  ships  cut  all  their  masts  at  St.  George.  The  tide 
rose  at  Naragansett  fourteen  feet  higher  than  ordinary,  and 
drowned  eight  Indians  flying  from  their  wigwams. 

At  this  time  a  French  ship  came  with  commission  from  the 
king  of  France,  (as  they  pretended,)  and  took  Penobscott,  a 
Plymouth  trading  house,  and  sent  away  the  men  which  were  in 
it,  but  kept  their  goods  and  gave  them  bills  for  them,  and  bad 
them  tell  all  the  plantations,  as  far  as  forty  degrees,  that  they 
would  come  with  eight  ships,  next  year,  and  displant  them  all. 
But,  by  a  letter  which  the  captain  wrote  to  the  governor  of 
Plymouth,  it  appeared  they  had  commission  from  Mons. 
Roselly,*  commander  at  the  fort  near  Cape  Breton,  called  La 
Havre,  to  displant  the  English  as  far  as  Pemaquid,  and  by 
it  they  professed  all  courtesy  to  us  here. 

Mr.  Williams,  pastor  of  Salem,  being  sick  and  not  able  to 
speak,  wrote  to  his  church  a  protestation,  that  he  could  not 
communicate  with  the  churches  in  the  bay;  neither  would  he 
communicate  with  them,  except  they  would  refuse  communion 
with  the  rest;  but  the  whole  church  was  grieved  herewith. 

The  Dorchester  men  being  set  down  at  Connecticut,  near 
the  Plymouth  trading  house,  the  governor,  Mr.  Bradford,  wrote 
to  them,  complaining  of  it  as  an  injury,  in  regard  of  their 
possession  and  purchase  of  the  Indians,  whose  right  it  was,  and 
the  Dutch  sent  home  into  Holland  for  commission  to  deal  with 
our  people  at  Connecticut.^ 

September  1.]  At  this  general  court  was  the  first  grand 
jury,  who  presented  above  one  hundred  offences,  and,  among 
others,  some  of  the  magistrates. 

At  this  court  Mr.  Endecott  made  a  protestation  in  justifica- 
tion of  the  letter  formerly  sent  from  Salem  to  the  other  churches 
against  the  magistrates  and  deputies,  for  which  he  was  com- 
mitted; but,  the  same  day,  he  came  and  acknowledged  his 
fault,  and  was  discharged. 

^  Claude  Razilly,  governor  of  Acadia  and  Canada. 
*  See  Bradford,  in  this  series,  p.  325, 


158  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1635 

Divers  lewd  servants  (viz.,  six)  ran  away,  and  stole  a 
skiff  and  other  things.  A  commission  was  granted,  at  the 
general  court,  to  Capt.  Trask  to  fetch  them  and  other  such 
from  the  eastward.  He  pursued  them  to  the  Isle  of  Shoals, 
and  so  to  Pascataquack,  where,  in  the  night,  he  surprised 
them  in  a  house,  and  brought  them  to  Boston.  At  next  court 
they  were  severely  whipped,  and  ordered  to  pay  all  charges, 
etc. 

At  this  court  there  was  granted  to  Mr.  Buckly  and  [UankY 
merchant,  and  about  twelve  more  famihes,  to  begin  a  town  at 
Musketaquid,  for  which  they  were  allowed  six  miles  upon  the 
river,  and  to  be  free  from  pubhc  charges  three  years;  and  it 
was  named  Concord.  A  town  was  also  begun  above  the  falls 
of  Charles  River. 

At  the  Dutch  plantation,  this  summer,  a  ship's  long  boat 
was  overset  with  a  gust,  and  five  men  in  her,  who  gat  upon  her 
keel,  and  were  driven  to  sea  four  days,  in  which  time  three  of 
them  dropt  off  and  were  drowned;  and  the  fifth  day  the 
fourth,  being  sore  beaten,  and  pained  with  hunger  and  thirst, 
wilfully  fell  off  and  was  drowned.  Soon  after  the  wind  came 
up  at  S.  E.  and  carried  the  boat,  with  the  fifth  man,  to  the 
Long  Island,  and,  being  only  able  to  creep  on  shore,  he  was 
found  by  the  Indians,  and  preserved.  He  was  grown  very 
poor,  and  almost  senseless,  with  hunger  and  watching,  and 

^  This  was  the  Rev.  Peter  Bulkeley,  who  with  Major  Simon  Willard  now 
founded  the  first  town  beyond  tide-water,  Concord.  Bulkeley  came  from  Bed- 
fordshire, a  youth  of  good  family,  a  fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  and 
later  married  to  a  gentlewoman  whose  nephew  was  Thomas  Allen,  lord  mayor  of 
London.  Late  in  life,  a  second  wife  was  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Chitwood. 
In  the  well-placed  Puritan  families,  alHance  with  the  ministers  was  held  desirable 
and  honorable.  Bulkeley,  though  of  quick  temper,  was  greatly  respected,  and 
from  his  ample  estate  was  liberal  to  Harvard  College  and  to  his  indentured  ser- 
vants. The  founders  of  Concord  were  twelve  families  who  seem  to  have  followed 
Simon  Willard  from  Kent.  R  was  an  excellent  stock,  the  names  of  the  settlers 
appearing  and  reappearing  in  historical  and  literary  connections  down  to  the 
present  moment.  Cotton  Mather,  Magnolia,  part  ii.,  ch.  x.,  compares  Bulkeley 
to  Farel,  the  Genevan  divine,  quo  nemo  tonuit  fortius,  than  whom  no  one  thun- 
dered louder. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  159 

would  say,  that  he  saw  such  and  such  come  to  give  him  meat, 
etc.* 

The  Plymouth  men  had  hired  the  Great  Hope,  to  go  to  dis- 
plant  the  French,  and  regain  their  possession  at  Penobscott. 
The  master,  Mr.  Girling,  was  to  have  for  it  £200.  They 
sent  their  bark  with  him  and  about  twenty  men;  but  when 
they  came,  they  found  the  French  had  notice,  and  had  so 
strongly  intrenched  themselves,  (being  eighteen,)  as,  having 
spent  near  all  their  powder  and  shot,  the  bark  left  the  ship 
there,  and  came  here  to  advise  with  us  what  further  to  do; 
for  they  had  lately  lost  another  bark  laden  with  corn,  and 
could  not  spare  this  to  send  back  again.  The  general  court, 
being  assembled,  agreed  to  aid  them  with  men  and  muni- 
tion, and  therefore  wrote  to  them  to  send  one  with  commission 
to  treat  with  us  about  it,  resolving  to  drive  them  out,  whatso- 
ever it  should  cost,  (yet  first  to  put  them  to  bear  the  charge, 
if  it  might  be ;)  for  we  saw  that  their  neighborhood  would  be 
very  dangerous  to  us.^ 

The  next  week  they  sent  Mr.  Prence  and  Capt.  Standish 
to  us,  with  commission  to  treat.  Four  of  the  commissioners 
gave  them  a  meeting,  which  grew  to  this  issue, — that  they 
refused  to  deal  further  in  it,  otherwise  than  as  a  common 
cause  of  the  whole  country,  and  so  to  contribute  their  part. 
We  refused  to  deal  in  it,  otherwise  than  as  in  their  aid,  and  so 
at  their  charge;  for  indeed  we  had  then  no  money  in  the 
treasury,  neither  could  we  get  provision  of  victuals,  on  the 
sudden,  for  one  hundred  men,  which  were  to  be  employed.  So 
we  deferred  all  to  further  counsel.' 

Mo.  8.  {October)  6.]    Two  shallops,  going  laden  with  goods 

^  The  episode  is  graphically  described  in  the  "  Voyages  of  David  Pieterszoon 
de  Vries";  see  Collections  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  second  series,  iii. 
75.     The  boat's  crew  belonged  to  de  Vries's  ship. 

» See  Bradford,  pp.  319-321. 

'  The  pressure  from  the  French  had  a  certain  good  effect  in  causing  the 
English  colonies  to  stand  closely  together.  The  Dutch,  though  looked  on  with 
jealousy,  were,  as  Protestants,  less  objectionable  than  the  Catholic  neighbors. 


160  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1635 

to  Connecticut,  were  taken  in  the  night  with  an  easterly  storm, 
and  cast  away  upon  Brown's  Island,  near  the  Gurnett's  Nose, 
and  the  men  all  drowned/ 

Here  arrived  two  great  ships,  the  Defence  and  the  Abigail, 
with  Mr.  Wilson,  pastor  of  Boston,  Mr.  Shepard,  Mr.  Jones, 
and  other  ministers ;  amongst  others,  Mr.  Peter,  pastor  of  the 
English  church  in  Rotterdam,  who,  being  persecuted  by  the 
English  ambassador, — who  would  have  brought  his  and  other 
churches  to  the  English  discipline, — and  not  having  had  his 
health  these  many  years,  intended  to  advise  with  the  ministers 
here  about  his  removal.^ 

'  The  island  has  nearly  disappeared,  a  dangerous  shoal  remaining,  on  which 
from  Burial  Hill  in  Plymouth,  one  to-day  may  see  the  surf  beating. 

*  These  were  important  arrivals,  the  freight  of  the  two  ships  counting  for 
much,  and  several  of  the  personages  on  board  surpassing  in  consequence  all  but 
two  or  three  of  their  predecessors.  Thomas  Shepard,  of  Emmanuel  College, 
Cambridge,  soon  took  the  place  of  Hooker  at  Newtown,  and  was  a  light  of  es- 
pecial brilliancy.  Though  but  thirty  years  old  he  soon  made  a  great  name, 
dying,  however,  in  his  prime  before  his  usefulness  was  fully  rounded.  Wilson 
always  affected  powerfully  his  environment,  and  the  younger  John  Winthrop  was 
only  inferior  to  his  father  as  a  state-founder.  No  man  was  more  profoundly 
involved  in  the  currents  of  this  troubled  time,  as  well  in  Europe  as  in  America, 
than  the  Rev.  Hugh  Peter,  or  Peters.  He  landed  in  Boston,  a  man  of  thirty- 
seven,  already  widely  experienced  and  distinguished.  A  boy  from  Cornwall  he 
came  to  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  and  at  once  after  attaining  maturity  became 
a  famous  preacher,  drawing  great  crowds  at  St.  Sepulchre's,  in  London.  He 
went  to  Germany  in  the  Thirty  Years'  War  to  see  Gustavus  Adolphus  and 
afterward  settled  at  Rotterdam  as  friend  and  successor  of  Dr.  William  Ames,  a 
Puritan  worthy  of  the  first  rank.  Adopting  the  principles  of  the  Independents, 
he  at  last  sought  New  England,  his  steps  thitherward  being  hastened  perhaps 
by  the  fact  that  through  his  wife  he  was  allied  with  the  Winthrops.  From  the 
first  he  played  a  leading  part,  helping  the  colony  more  through  an  energetic 
pushing  of  practical  schemes — fisheries,  ship-building,  trade  enterprises — than  by 
his  professional  ministrations.  In  the  church  his  spirit  was  less  liberal  than  it 
afterward  became  among  different  surroundings.  Particular  acts  of  his  may  be 
disapproved,  but  on  the  whole  the  colony  was  much  the  better  from  his  being 
in  it.  After  his  return  to  England  in  1641,  his  life  became  in  the  highest  degree 
eventful.  He  threw  himself  as  an  Independent  into  the  Civil  War,  showing 
surpassing  power  as  a  preacher,  but  using  his  practical  ability  and  narrative 
skill  in  the  most  varied  ways.  Fairfax  and  Cromwell  valued  his  counsel  and 
used  his  executive  ability.  He  was  the  especial  b7te  noire  of  the  cavaliers  and 
Presbyterians,  who  regarded  him  as  a  character  almost  infernal.  Yet  to  indi- 
vidual opponents  he  often  showed  great  kindness,  and  did  much  to  ameliorate 
the  horrors  of  war.     Through  clouds  of  unmeasured  abuse,  we  at  this  distance 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  161 

The  special  goodness  of  the  Lord  appeared  in  this,  that 
the  passengers  came  safe  and  hale  in  all  [the]  ships,  though 
some  of  them  long  passages, — the  Abigail  ten  weeks  from 
Plymouth,  with  two  hundred  and  twenty  persons,  and  many 
cattle,  infected  also  with  the  small  pox;  yet,  etc.  There 
came  also  John  Winthrop,  the  younger,  with  commission 
from  the  Lord  Say,  Lord  Brook,  and  divers  other  great  per- 
sons in  England,  to  begin  a  plantation  at  Connecticut,  and 
to  be  governor  there.  They  sent  also  men  and  ammunition, 
and  £2000  in  money,  to  begin  a  fortification  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river. 

Here  came  also  one  Mr.  Henry  Vane,*  son  and  heir  to  Sir 

can  make  out  a  figure  beset  with  limitations,  but  endowed  with  large  ability, 
intense  zeal  and  sincerity,  who  strove  to  good  purpose  for  worthy  ends.  At  the 
Restoration  he  was  a  particular  mark  for  vengeance,  it  being  alleged  that  he 
and  Cornet  Joyce  were  the  masked  headsmen  who  did  duty  on  the  scaffold  at 
the  execution  of  Charles  I.  This  he  denied,  and  also  many  other  accusations; 
the  prosecution  was  pitiless,  and  he  perished  in  1660  through  unspeakable  humil- 
iation and  torture.     Firth,  in  the  Dictionary  of  National  Biography,  s.  v. 

^  Henry  Vane,  for  his  abilities,  his  heroic  life  and  death,  his  services  to 
Anglo-Saxon  freedom,  which  make  him  a  significant  figure  even  to  the  present 
moment,  may  well  be  regarded  as  the  most  illustrious  character  who  touches 
early  New  England  history.  While  his  personal  contact  with  America  was  only 
for  a  brief  space,  his  life  became  a  strenuous  upholding  of  American  ideas:  if 
government  of,  by,  and  for  the  people  is  the  principle  which  English-speaking 
men  feel  especially  bound  to  maintain,  the  life  and  death  of  Vane  contributed 
powerfully  to  cause  this  idea  to  prevail.  He  was  born  in  1612,  of  an  ancient 
lineage,  his  father  being  famed  as  a  diplomatist  and  statesman,  a  courtier  favored 
by  both  king  and  queen.  Though  Vane  was  scarcely  beyond  boyhood,  he  had 
travelled  widely  in  Europe,  seen  much  of  great  men  and  events,  and  shown 
independence  of  character  by  embracing  austere  Puritanism,  thus  sacrificing  his 
prospects  and  incurring  the  displeasure  of  friends.  His  course  in  New  England, 
which  Winthrop  will  describe,  though  showing  boyish  indiscretion  and  short- 
coming, is  prophetic  of  great  things  both  as  to  his  force  and  high  purpose.  Re- 
turning to  England  after  less  than  two  years'  stay,  he  becomes  the  friend  of  Pym, 
Hampden,  Milton  and  Cromwell,  and  in  due  time,  as  his  adversary  Baxter  puts 
it,  became  "within  the  Long  Parliament  that  which  Cromwell  was  without," 
the  recognized  leader.  Republican  ideas  sprang  up  first  among  the  rank  and 
file  of  the  victorious  Ironsides,  but  Vane  embraced  them  in  due  time,  striving  in 
the  forefront  for  popular  government  during  the  era  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Long  the  warm  friend  of  Cromwell,  he  parted  from  Cromwell  when  the  latter  at 
last  despaired  of  popular  government.  He  sought  for  England  not  freedom 
alone  but  order  as  well,  maintaining  in  The  Healing  Question  that  by  a  people's 


162  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1635 

Henry  Vane,  comptroller  of  the  king's  house,  who,  being  a 
young  gentleman  of  excellent  parts,  and  had  been  employed  by 
his  father  (when  he  was  ambassador)  in  foreign  affairs;  yet, 
being  called  to  the  obedience  of  the  gospel,  forsook  the  honors 
and  preferments  of  the  court,  to  enjoy  the  ordinances  of  Christ 
in  their  purity  here.  His  father,  being  very  averse  to  this  way, 
(as  no  way  savoring  the  power  of  religion,)  would  hardly  have 
consented  to  his  coming  hither,  but  that,  acquainting  the 
king  with  his  son's  disposition  and  desire,  he  commanded  him  to 
send  him  hither,  and  gave  him  Hcense  for  three  years'  stay  here. 

This  noble  gentleman,  having  order  from  the  said  lords  and 
others,  treated  with  the  magistrates  here,  and  those  who  were 
to  go  to  Connecticut,  about  the  said  design  of  the  lords,  to  this 
issue, — that  either  the  three  towns  gone  thither  should  give 
place,  upon  full  satisfaction,  or  else  sufficient  room  must  be 
found  there  for  the  lords  and  their  companions,  etc.,  or  else 
they  would  divert  their  thoughts  and  preparations  some  other 
ways. 

November  1.]  Mr.  Vane  was  admitted  a  member  of  the 
church  of  Boston. 

October.]  At  this  general  court,  Mr.  WilHams,  the  teacher 
at  Salem,  was  again  convented,  and  all  the  ministers  in  the 
bay  being  desired  to  be  present,  he  was  charged  with  the  said 
two  letters, — that  to  the  churches,  complaining  of  the  magis- 
trates for  injustice,  extreme  oppression,  etc.,  and  the  other 
to  his  own  church,  to  persuade  them  to  renounce  communion 
with  all  the  churches  in  the  bay,  as  full  of  antichristian  pollu- 
tion, etc.  He  justified  both  these  letters,  and  maintained 
all  his  opinions;  and,  being  offered  further  conference  or  dis- 
putation, and  a  month's  respite,  he  chose  to  dispute  presently. 

convention  "fundamentals"  should  be  laid  down  for  the  guidance  and  restraint 
of  the  law-makers — a  written  constitution  therefore  framed  according  to  the 
American  idea.  He  went  down  fighting  to  the  last  in  a  struggle  that  was  prema- 
ture, sealing  his  faith  by  martyrdom  in  1662.  See  Firth,  in  the  Dictionary  of 
National  Biography,  and  lives  of  Vane  by  Sikes,  Upham,  Forster,  Ireland,  and 
Hosmer. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  163 

So  Mr.  Hooker  was  appointed  to  dispute  with  him,  but  could 
not  reduce  him  from  any  of  his  errors.  So,  the  next  morning, 
the  court  sentenced  him  to  depart  out  of  our  jurisdiction  within 
six  weeks,  all  the  ministers,  save  one,  approving  the  sentence; 
and  his  own  church  had  him  under  question  also  for  the  same 
cause;  and  he,  at  his  return  home,  refused  communion  with 
his  own  church,  who  openly  disclaimed  his  errors,  and  wrote 
an  humble  submission  to  the  magistrates,  acknowledging  their 
fault  in  joining  with  Mr.  WiUiams  in  that  letter  to  the  churches 
against  them,  etc. 

15.]  About  sixty  men,  women,  and  little  children,  went  by 
land  toward  Connecticut  with  their  cows,  horses,  and  swine, 
and,  after  a  tedious  and  difficult  journey,  arrived  safe  there. 

The  pinnace,  which  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  sent  to  take  pos- 
session of  a  great  quantity  of  land  at  Connecticut,  was,  in  her 
return  into  England,  cast  away  upon  the  Isle  Sable.  The  men 
were  kindly  entertained  by  the  French  there,  and  had  passage 
to  Le  Havre,  some  twenty  leagues  east  of  Cape  Sable,  where 
Monsieur  commander  of  Roselle^  was  governor,  who  enter- 
tained them  very  courteously,  and  furnished  them  with  a  shal- 
lop to  return  to  us,  and  gave  four  of  their  company  passage  into 
France,  but  made  them  pay  dear  for  their  shallop ;  and  in  their 
return,  they  put  into  Penobscot,  at  such  time  as  Girling's 
ship  lay  there ;  so  that  they  were  kept  prisoners  there  till  the 
ship  was  gone,  and  then  sent  to  us  with  a  courteous  letter  to 
our  governor.  A  little  before,  our  governor  had  written  to 
him,  (viz.  Mons.  D'Aulnay,)  to  send  them  home  to  us;  but 
they  were  come  before. 

It  is  useful  to  observe,  as  we  go  along,  such  especial  provi- 
dences of  God  as  were  manifested  for  the  good  of  these  planta- 
tions. 

Mr.  Winslow,  the  late  governor  of  Plymouth,  being  this 

^  The  Chevalier  Rasilly  was  chief  governor  of  Acadia,  La  Tour  and  d'Aulnay, 
already  mentioned,  being  his  subordinates.  Winsor,  Memorial  History  of 
Boston,  I.  283. 


164  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1635 

year  in  England,  petitioned  the  council  there  for  a  commission 
to  withstand  the  intrusions  of  the  French  and  Dutch,  which 
was  hkely  to  take  effect,  (though  undertaken  by  ill  advice,  for 
such  precedents  might  endanger  oui  liberty,  that  we  should  do 
nothing  hereafter  but  by  commission  out  of  England ;)  but  the 
archbishops,  being  incensed  against  him,  as  against  all  these 
plantations,  informed  the  rest,  that  he  was  a  separatist,  etc., 
and  that  he  did  marry,  etc.,  and  thereupon  gate  him  com- 
mitted ;  but,  after  some  few  months,  he  petitioned  the  board, 
and  was  discharged. 

Another  providence  was  in  the  voyage  of  Mr.  Winthrop,  the 
younger,  and  Mr.  Wilson  into  England,  who,  returning  in  the 
winter  time,  in  a  small  and  weak  ship,  bound  for  Barnstaple, 
were  driven  by  foul  weather  upon  the  coast  of  Ireland,  not 
known  by  any  in  the  ship,  and  were  brought,  through  many 
desperate  dangers,  into  Galloway,  where  they  parted,  Mr. 
Winthrop  taking  his  journey  over  land  to  Dublin,  and  Mr. 
Wilson  by  sea,  and  being  come  within  sight  of  Lundy,  in  the 
mouth  of  Severn,  they  were  forced  back  by  tempest  to  Kinsale, 
where  some  ships  perished  in  their  view.  Mr.  Wilson,  being 
in  Ireland,  gave  much  satisfaction  to  the  Christians  there 
about  New  England. 

Mr.  Winthrop  went  to  Dublin,  and  from  thence  to  Antrim  in 
the  north,  and  came  to  the  house  of  one  Sir  John  Clotworthy,* 
the  evening  before  the  day  when  divers  godly  persons  were 
appointed  to  meet  at  his  house,  to  confer  about  their  voyage  to 
New  England,  by  whom  they  were  thoroughly  informed  of  all 
things,  and  received  great  encouragement  to  proceed  on  in  their 
intended  course.  From  thence  he  passed  over  into  Scotland, 
and  so  through  the  north  of  England ;  and  all  the  way  he  met 
with  persons  of  quality,  whose  thoughts  were  towards  New 
England,  who  observed  his  coming  among  them  as  a  special 
providence  of  God. 

•  Sir  John  Clotworthy  became  eminent  later  as  a  member  of  the  Long 
Parliament. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  165 

November  3.]  At  the  court  of  assistants,  John  Pratt  of 
Newtown  was  questioned  about  the  letter  he  wrote  into  Eng- 
land, wherein  he  affirmed  divers  things,  which  were  untrue  and 
of  ill  report,  for  the  state  of  the  country,  as  that  here  was  noth- 
ing but  rocks,  and  sands,  and  salt  marshes,  etc.  He  desired 
respite  for  his  answer  to  the  next  morning ;  then  he  gave  it  in 
writing,  in  which,  by  making  his  own  interpretation  of  some 
passages,  and  acknowledging  his  error  in  others,  he  gave  satis- 
faction. This  was  delivered  in  imder  his  own  hand,  and  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Hooker  and  some  of  the  ministers,  and  satisfac- 
tion acknowledged  under  the  hands  of  the  magistrates. 

Mr.  Winthrop,  jun.,  the  governor  appointed  by  the  lords 
for  Connecticut,  sent  a  bark  of  thirty  tons,  and  about  twenty 
men,  with  all  needful  provisions,  to  take  possession  of  the 
mouth  of  Connecticut,  and  to  begin  some  building. 

9.]  About  this  time  an  open  pinnace,  returning  from  Con- 
necticut, was  cast  away  in  Manemett  Bay;  but  all  the  men 
(being  six)  were  saved,  and  came  to  Plymouth,  after  they  had 
wandered  ten  days  in  extreme  cold  and  deep  snow,  not  meeting 
with  any  Indian  or  other  person. 

26.]  There  came  twelve  men  from  Connecticut.  They  had 
been  ten  days  upon  their  journey,  and  had  lost  one  of  their 
company,  drowned  in  the  ice  by  the  way;  and  had  been  all 
starved,  but  that,  by  God's  providence,  they  lighted  upon  an 
Indian  wigwam.  Connecticut  River  was  frozen  up  the  15th  of 
this  month. 

Mr.  Hugh  Peter,  preaching  at  Boston  and  Salem,  moved  the 
country  to  raise  a  stock  for  fishing,  as  the  only  probable  means 
to  free  us  from  that  oppression,  which  the  seamen  and  others 
held  us  under. 

28.]  Here  arrived  a  small  Norsey  bark,  of  twenty-five 
tons,  sent   by  the   Lords   Say,  etc.,  with  one  Gardiner,^  an 

^  This  was  Lyon  Gardiner,  builder  and  commander  of  the  fort  at  Saybrook 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  during  the  Pequot  war.  He  was  brave  and 
intelligent.     Work  base  is  the  Dutch  werkbaas,  engineer  (work-boss). 


166  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1635 

expert  engineer  or  work  base,  and  provisions  of  all  sorts, 
to  begin  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  Connecticut.  She  came  through 
many  great  tempests ;  yet,  through  the  Lord's  great  providence, 
her  passengers,  twelve  men,  two  women  and  goods,  all  safe. 
Mr.  Winthrop  had  sent,  four  days  before,  a  bark,  with  car- 
penters and  other  workmen,  to  take  possession  of  the  place, 
(for  the  Dutch  intended  to  take  it,)  and  to  raise  some  build- 
ings. 

A  great  shallop,  coming  from  Pascataquack  in  a  N.  E.  wind 
with  snow,  lost  her  way,  and  was  forced  into  Anasquam; 
and  going  out  with  a  N.  W.  wind,  through  the  unskilfulness 
of  the  men,  was  cast  upon  the  rocks,  and  lost  £100  worth  of 
goods. 

A  shallop  of  William  Lovell,  laden  with  goods  to  Salem, 
worth  £100,  was,  by  foul  weather,  put  into  Plymouth,  and, 
coming  out,  the  men  went  aboard  a  small  bark  by  the  way, 
and  their  shallop  brake  loose  and  was  lost,  and,  about  two 
months  after,  was  found  about  Nawset,^  not  much  hurt,  and 
the  goods  were,  most  of  them,  saved  by  some  Plymouth  men, 
who  had  notice  of  it  by  the  Indians. 

lOber,  (December)  10.]  The  ship  Rebecka,  about  sixty 
tons,  came  from  Connecticut,  and  brought  in  her  about  seventy 
men  and  women,  which  came  down  to  the  river's  mouth  to 
meet  the  barks  which  should  have  brought  their  provisions; 
but,  not  meeting  them,  they  went  aboard  the  Rebecka,  which, 
two  days  before,  was  frozen  twenty  miles  up  the  river,  but  a 
small  rain  falling  set  her  free;  but  coming  out,  she  ran  on 
ground  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  was  forced  to  unlade. 
They  came  to  Massachusetts  in  five  days,  which  was  a  great 
mercy  of  God,  for  otherwise  they  had  all  perished  with  famine, 
as  some  did. 

While  the  Rebecka  lay  there,  the  Dutch  sent  a  sloop  to 
take  possession  of  the  mouth  of  the  river;  but  our  men  gate 
two  pieces  on  shore,  and  would  not  suffer  them  to  land. 

*  Eastham. 


1635]  JOHN  HAYNES.   GOVERNOR  167 

The  2d  and  3d  of  this  month  fell  a  snow  about  knee  deep, 
with  much  wind  from  the  N.  and  N.  E. 

Mr.  Norton/  a  godly  man,  and  a  preacher  in  England, 
coming  with  his  family  to  the  Massachusetts,  the  ship,  wherein 
he  was,  was  by  contrary  winds  put  into  Plymouth,  where  he 
continued  preaching  to  them  all  the  winter ;  and  although  Mr. 
Smith,  their  pastor,  gave  over  his  place,  that  he  might  have  it, 
and  the  church  used  him  with  all  respect,  and  large  offers,  etc., 
yet  he  left  them  and  came  to  Massachusetts,  alleging  that  his 
spirit  could  not  close  with  them,  etc. 

^  John  Norton,  from  Hertfordshire,  after  the  usual  shaping  at  Cambridge, 
emerged  into  non-conformity,  and  now  at  twenty-nine,  with  a  reputation  for 
good  parts,  appeared  in  America.  He  became  teacher  at  Ipswich,  and  during 
Winthrop's  Hfe  makes  no  great  figure  in  affairs.  On  Cotton's  death  he  became 
his  successor,  which  some  hold  to  have  been  unfortunate  on  account  of  the  fierce 
fanaticism  with  which  he  prosecuted  Quakers  and  Baptists.  (Brooks  Adams, 
Emancipation  of  Massachusetts,  pp.  102  et  seqq.)  At  the  Restoration,  the  colony 
sent  him  with  Simon  Bradstreet  to  England  to  make  peace  with  Charles  H. 
Naturally  the  representatives  of  a  colony  so  well  known  for  its  sympathy  with 
the  lost  cause  underwent  hardship  and  contumely,  which  perhaps  contributed 
to  Norton's  death  in  1663. 


1636 

11  mo.  January.]  The  governor  and  assistants  met  at 
Boston  to  consider  about  Mr.  Williams,  for  that  they  were 
credibly  informed,  that,  notwithstanding  the  injunction  laid 
upon  him  (upon  the  liberty  granted  him  to  stay  till  the  spring) 
not  to  go  about  to  draw  others  to  his  opinions,  he  did  use  to 
entertain  company  in  his  house,  and  to  preach  to  them,  even  of 
such  points  as  he  had  been  censured  for ;  and  it  was  agreed  to 
send  him  into  England  by  a  ship  then  ready  to  depart.  The 
reason  was,  because  he  had  drawn  above  twenty  persons  to  his 
opinion,  and  they  were  intended  to  erect  a  plantation  about 
the  Naragansett  Bay,  from  whence  the  infection  would  easily 
spread  into  these  churches,  (the  people  being,  many  of  them, 
much  taken  with  the  apprehension  of  his  godhness).  Wliere- 
upon  a  warrant  was  sent  to  him  to  come  presently  to  Boston, 
to  be  shipped,  etc.  He  returned  answer,  (and  divers  of 
Salem  came  with  it,)  that  he  could  not  come  without  hazard  of 
his  life,  etc.  Whereupon  a  pinnace  was  sent  with  commission 
to  Capt.  Underhill,  etc.,  to  apprehend  him,  and  carry  him 
aboard  the  ship,  (which  then  rode  at  Natascutt;)  but,  when 
they  came  at  his  house,  they  found  he  had  been  gone  three 
days  before;  but  whither  they  could  not  learn. 

He  had  so  far  prevailed  at  Salem,  as  many  there  (especially 
of  devout  women)  did  embrace  his  opinions,  and  separated 
from  the  churches,  for  this  cause,  that  some  of  their  members, 
going  into  England,  did  hear  the  ministers  there,  and  when  they 
came  home  the  churches  here  held  communion  with  them. 

This  month  one  went  by  land  to  Connecticut,  and  returned 
safe. 

Mr.  Hugh  Peter  went  from  place  to  place  laboring,  both 
publicly  and  privately,  to  raise  up  men  to  a  public  frame  of 

168 


1636]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  169 

spirit,  and  so  prevailed,  as  he  procured  a  good  sum  of  money 
to  be  raised  to  set  on  foot  the  fishing  business,  to  the  value  of 
[blank,]  and  wrote  into  England  to  raise  as  much  more.  The 
intent  was  to  set  up  a  magazine  of  all  provisions  and  other 
necessaries  for  fishing,  that  men  might  have  things  at  hand, 
and  for  reasonable  prices;  whereas  now  the  merchants  and 
seamen  took  advantage  to  sell  at  most  excessive  rates,  (in 
many  things  two  for  one,  etc.) 

Mr.  Batchellor  of  Sagus  was  convented  before  the  magis- 
trates. The  cause  was,  for  that,  coming  out  of  England  with 
a  small  body  of  six  or  seven  persons,  and  having  since  received 
in  many  more  at  Sagus,  and  contention  growing  between  him 
and  the  greatest  part  of  his  church,  (who  had,  with  the  rest, 
received  him  for  their  pastor,)  he  desired  dismission  for  himself 
and  his  first  members,  which  being  granted,  upon  supposition 
that  he  would  leave  the  town,  (as  he  had  given  out,)  he  with  the 
said  six  or  seven  persons  presently  renewed  their  old  covenant, 
intending  to  raise  another  church  in  Sagus;  whereat  the 
most  and  chief  of  the  town  being  offended,  for  that  it  would 
cross  their  intentions  of  calling  Mr.  Peter  or  some  other  minis- 
ter, they  complained  to  the  magistrates,  who,  foreseeing  the 
distraction  which  was  hke  to  come  by  this  course,  had  for- 
bidden him  to  proceed  in  any  such  church  way,  until  the  cause 
were  considered  by  the  other  ministers,  etc.  But  he  refused 
to  desist.  Whereupon  they  sent  for  him,  and  upon  his  delay, 
day  after  day,  the  marshal  was  sent  to  fetch  him.  Upon  his 
appearance  and  submission,  and  promise  to  remove  out  of 
the  town  within  three  months,  he  was  discharged. 

18.]  Mr.  Vane*  and  Mr.  Peter,  finding  some  distraction  in 
the  commonwealth,  arising  from  some  difference  in  judgment, 
and  withal  some  alienation  of  affection  among  the  magistrates 

^  The  deference  shown  Vane  at  his  coming  partook  almost  of  infatuation, 
and  was  due  no  doubt  to  his  wealth  and  high  connections,  and  in  some  measure, 
too,  to  the  remarkable  character  which  he  manifested  even  as  a  youth.  It  was 
certainly  presumptuous  that,  young  and  inexperienced  as  he  was,  he  should  have 
set  himself  up  to  be  an  arbiter  in  the  disputes  of  the  fathers  and  founders. 


170  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

and  some  other  persons  of  quality,  and  that  hereby  factions 
began  to  grow  among  the  people,  some  adhering  more  to  the 
old  governor,  Mr.  Winthrop,  and  others  to  the  late  governor, 
Mr.  Dudley, — the  former  carrying  matters  with  more  lenity, 
and  the  latter  with  more  severity, — they  procured  a  meeting, 
at  Boston,  of  the  governor,  deputy,  Mr.  Cotton,  Mr.  Hooker, 
Mr.  Wilson,  and  there  was  present  Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Dudley, 
and  themselves;  where,  after  the  Lord  had  been  sought,  Mr. 
Vane  declared  the  occasion  of  this  meeting,  (as  is  before  noted,) 
and  the  fruit  aimed  at,  viz.  a  more  firm  and  friendly  uniting  of 
minds,  etc.,  especially  of  the  said  Mr.  Dudley  and  Mr.  Winthrop, 
as  those  upon  whom  the  weight  of  the  affairs  did  lie,  etc.,  and 
therefore  desired  all  present  to  take  up  a  resolution  to  deal 
freely  and  openly  with  the  parties,  and  they  each  with  other, 
that  nothing  might  be  left  in  their  breasts,  which  might  break 
out  to  any  jar  or  difference  hereafter,  (which  they  promised  to 
do).  Then  Mr.  Winthrop  spake  to  this  effect:  that  when  it 
pleased  Mr.  Vane  to  acquaint  him  with  what  he  had  observed, 
of  the  dispositions  of  men's  minds  inclining  to  the  said  faction, 
etc.,  it  was  very  strange  to  him,  professing  solemnly  that  he 
knew  not  of  any  breach  between  his  brother  Dudley  and  him- 
self, since  they  were  reconciled  long  since,  neither  did  he  suspect 
any  aUenation  of  affection  in  him  or  others  from  himself,  save 
that,  of  late,  he  had  observed,  that  some  new  comers  had  es- 
tranged themselves  from  him,  since  they  went  to  dwell  at 
Newtown;  and  so  desired  all  the  company,  that,  if  they  had 
seen  any  thing  amiss  in  his  government  or  otherwise,  they  would 
deal  freely  and  faithfully  with  him,  and  for  his  part  he  promised 
to  take  it  in  good  part,  and  would  endeavor,  by  God's  grace, 
to  amend  it.  Then  Mr.  Dudley  spake  to  this  effect:  that  for 
his  part  he  came  thither  a  mere  patient,  not  vnth  any  intent 
to  charge  his  brother  Winthrop  with  any  thing;  for  though 
there  had  been  formerly  some  differences  and  breaches  between 
them,  yet  they  had  been  healed,  and,  for  his  part,  he  was  not 
willing  to  renew  them  again;  and  so  left  it  to  others  to  utter 


1636]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  171 

their  own  complaints.  Whereupon  the  governor,  Mr.  Haynes, 
spake  to  this  effect :  that  Mr.  Winthrop  and  himself  had  been 
always  in  good  terms,  etc. ;  therefore  he  was  loath  to  give  any 
offence  to  him,  and  he  hoped  that,  considering  what  the  end 
of  this  meeting  was,  he  would  take  it  in  good  part,  if  he  did 
deal  openly  and  freely,  as  his  manner  ever  was.  Then  he  spake 
of  one  or  two  passages,  wherein  he  conceived,  that  [he]  dealt 
too  remissly  in  point  of  justice;  to  which  Mr.  Winthrop  an- 
swered, that  his  speeches  and  carriage  had  been  in  part  mis- 
taken ;  but  withal  professed,  that  it  was  his  judgment,  that  in 
the  infancy  of  plantation,  justice  should  be  administered  with 
more  lenity  than  in  a  settled  state,  because  people  were  then 
more  apt  to  transgress,  partly  of  ignorance  of  new  laws  and 
orders,  partly  through  oppression  of  business  and  other  straits ; 
but,  if  it  might  be  made  clear  to  him,  that  it  was  an  error,  he 
would  be  ready  to  take  up  a  stricter  course.  Then  the  ministers 
were  desired  to  consider  of  the  question  by  the  next  morning, 
and  to  set  down  a  rule  in  the  case.  The  next  morning,  they 
dehvered  their  several  reasons,  which  all  sorted  to  this  con- 
clusion, that  strict  discipline,  both  in  criminal  offences  and  in 
martial  affairs,  was  more  needful  in  plantations  than  in  a  settled 
state,  as  tending  to  the  honor  and  safety  of  the  gospel.  Where- 
upon Mr.  Winthrop  acknowledged  that  he  was  convinced,  that 
he  had  failed  in  over  much  lenity  and  remissness,  and  would 
endeavor  (by  God's  assistance)  to  take  a  more  strict  course 
hereafter.  Whereupon  there  was  a  renewal  of  love  amongst 
them,  and  articles  drawn  to  this  effect: — 

1.  That  there  should  be  more  strictness  used  in  civil 
government  and  mihtary  discipline. 

2.  That  the  magistrates  should  (as  far  as  might  be)  ripen 
their  consultations  beforehand,  that  their  vote  in  pubhc  might 
bear  (as  the  voice  of  God). 

3.  That,  in  meetings  out  of  court,  the  magistrates  should 
not  discuss  the  business  of  parties  in  their  presence,  nor  deliver 
their  opinions,  etc. 


172  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1636 

4.  That  trivial  things,  etc.,  should  be  ended  in  towns,  etc. 

5.  If  differences  fall  out  among  them  in  pubHc  meetings, 
they  shall  observe  these  rules: — 

1.  Not  to  touch  any  person  differing,  but  speak  to  the 
cause. 

2.  To  express  their  difference  in  all  modesty  and  due  re- 
spect to  the  court  and  such  as  differ,  etc. 

3.  Or  to  propound  their  difference  by  way  of  question. 

4.  Or  to  desire  a  deferring  of  the  cause  to  further  time. 

5.  After  sentence,  (if  all  have  agreed,)  none  shall  intimate 
his  dislike  privately ;  or,  if  one  dissent,  he  shall  sit  down,  with- 
out showing  any  further  distaste,  pubHcly  or  privately. 

6.  The  magistrates  shall  be  more  familiar  and  open  each 
to  other,  and  more  frequent  in  visitations,  and  shall,  in  tender- 
ness and  love,  admonish  one  another,  (without  reserving  any 
secret  grudge,)  and  shall  avoid  all  jealousies  and  suspicions, 
each  seeking  the  honor  of  another,  and  all,  of  the  court,  not 
opening  the  nakedness  of  one  another  to  private  persons;  in 
all  things  seeking  the  safety  and  credit  of  the  gospel. 

7.  To  honor  the  governor  in  submitting  to  him  the  main 
direction  and  ordering  the  business  of  the  court. 

8.  One  assistant  shall  not  seem  to  gratify  any  man  in 
undoing  or  crossing  another's  proceedings,  without  due  advice 
with  him. 

9.  They  shall  grace  and  strengthen  their  under  officers  in 
their  places,  etc. 

10.  All  contempts  against  the  court,  or  any  of  the  magis- 
trates, shall  be  specially  noted  and  punished ;  and  the  magis- 
trates shall  appear  more  solemnly  in  public,  with  attendance, 
apparel,  and  open  notice  of  their  entrance  into  the  court.* 

1  "Though  several  principles  of  sound  policy  were  established,  the  general 
result  of  this  conference  must,  I  think,  be  regretted.  When  the  administration 
of  Winthrop  was  impeached  by  Gov.  Haynes  for  too  great  lenity,  it  seems  natural 
that  such  severe  tempers  as  Dudley,  and  Vane,  and  Peter,  should  unite  in  the 
attack;  and  as  the  rest  of  the  clergy  probably  agreed  with  their  ardent  brother 
Peter,  the  maxims  of  the  first  governor  of  the  colony  would  be  overruled;   but 


1636]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  173 

Mo.  12.  {February)  1.]  Mr.  Shepherd,  a  godly  minister, 
come  lately  out  of  England,  and  divers  other  good  Christians, 
intending  to  raise  a  church  body,  came  and  acquainted  the 
magistrates  therewith,  who  gave  their  approbation.  They 
also  sent  to  all  the  neighboring  churches  for  their  elders  to  give 
their  assistance,  at  a  certain  day,  at  Newtown,  when  they 
should  constitute  their  body.  Accordingly,  at  this  day,  there 
met  a  great  assembly,  where  the  proceeding  was  as  followeth: 

Mr.  Shepherd  and  two  others  (who  were  after  to  be  chosen 
to  office)  sate  together  in  the  elder's  seat.  Then  the  elder  of 
them  began  with  prayer.  After  this,  Mr.  Shepherd  prayed 
with  deep  confession  of  sin,  etc.,  and  exercised  out  of  Eph.  v. — 
that  he  might  make  it  to  himself  a  holy,  etc. ;  and  also  opened 
the  cause  of  their  meeting,  etc.  Then  the  elder  desired  to 
know  of  the  churches  assembled,  what  number  were  needful 
to  make  a  church,  and  how  they  ought  to  proceed  in  this 
action.  Whereupon  some  of  the  ancient  ministers,  conferring 
shortly  together,  gave  answer :  That  the  scripture  did  not  set 
down  any  certain  rule  for  the  number.  Three  (they  thought) 
were  too  few,  because  by  Matt,  xviii.  an  appeal  was  allowed 
from  three;  but  that  seven  might  be  a  fit  number.  And,  for 
their  proceeding,  they  advised,  that  such  as  were  to  join  should 
make  confession  of  their  faith,  and  declare  what  work  of  grace 
the  Lord  had  wrought  in  them;  which  accordingly  they  did, 
Mr.  Shepherd  first,  then  four  others,  then  the  elder,  and  one 
who  was  to  be  deacon,  (who  had  also  prayed,)  and  another 
member.  Then  the  covenant  was  read,  and  they  all  gave  a 
solemn  assent  to  it.  Then  the  elder  desired  of  the  churches, 
that,  if  they  did  approve  them  to  be  a  church,  they  would  give 

when  their  united  influence  was  strong  enough  to  compel  him  to  acknowledge 
his  remissness  in  discipline,  we  are  bound,  as  in  our  early  history  we  often  are, 
to  lament  the  undue  dictation  of  the  church.  It  should  be  remembered,  that 
Haynes  and  Hooker  were,  at  this  very  time,  preparing  to  establish  themselves 
as  the  Moses  and  Aaron  of  a  new  plantation;  and  they  might  decently  have  left 
Massachusetts  to  be  governed  by  rules,  which,  though  not  always  observed,  had 
been  found  beneficial  by  the  earlier  inhabitants."         (Savage.) 


174  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1636 

them  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  Whereupon  Mr.  Cotton, 
(upon  short  speech  with  some  others  near  him,)  in  the  name  of 
their  churches,  gave  his  hand  to  the  elder,  with  a  short  speech 
of  their  assent,  and  desired  the  peace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  be 
with  them.  Then  Mr.  Shepherd  made  an  exhortation  to  the 
rest  of  his  body,  about  the  nature  of  their  covenant,  and  to 
stand  firm  to  it,  and  commended  them  to  the  Lord  in  a  most 
heavenly  prayer.  Then  the  elder  told  the  assembly,  that  they 
were  intended  to  choose  Mr.  Shepherd  for  their  pastor,  (by  the 
name  of  the  brother  who  had  exercised,)  and  desired  the 
churches,  that,  if  they  had  any  thing  to  except  against  him, 
they  would  impart  it  to  them  before  the  day  of  ordination. 
Then  he  gave  the  churches  thanks  for  their  assistance,  and  so 
left  them  to  the  Lord.^ 

At  the  last  general  court,  it  was  referred  to  the  military 
commissioners  to  appoint  colors  for  every  company;  who  did 
accordingly,  and  left  out  the  cross  in  all  of  them,  appointing 
the  king's  arms  to  be  put  into  that  of  Castle  Island,^  and 
Boston  to  be  the  first  company. 

3.]  Mr.  John  Maverick,  teacher  of  the  church  of  Dor- 
chester, died,  being  near  sixty  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
[blank]  man  of  a  very  humble  spirit,  and  faithful  in  furthering 
the  work  of  the  Lord  here,  both  in  the  churches  and  civil 
state. 

24.]  Mr.  Winslow  of  Pl3Tiiouth  came  to  treat  with  those 
of  Dorchester  about  their  land  at  Connecticut,  which  they  had 
taken  from  them.  It  being  doubtful  whether  that  place  were 
within  our  patent  or  not,  the  Plymouth  men,  about  three  years 
since,  had  treaty  with  us  about  joining  in  erecting  a  planta- 

*  Since  the  former  church  in  Newtown  was  now  removing  in  its  corporate 
capacity  to  Connecticut,  a  new  one  must  be  formed.  The  elaborate  detail  shows 
that  Congregationalism  was  completely  developed,  the  usages  of  the  Church  of 
England,  in  which  the  elders  were  bred,  being  entirely  cast  off. 

'  The  spirit  of  Endicott  prevailed  as  regards  the  idolatrous  emblem;  though 
a  few  years  later,  when  it  was  found  the  Parliamentary  army  in  England  retained 
the  cross,  it  was  restored  in  the  colony. 


1636]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  175 

tion  and  trade  there.  We  thought  not  fit  to  do  any  thing 
then,  but  gave  them  leave  to  go  on.  Whereupon  they  bought 
a  portion  of  land  of  the  Indians,  and  built  a  house  there,  and 
the  Dorchester  men  (without  their  leave)  were  now  setting 
down  their  town  in  the  same  place ;  but,  after,  they  desired  to 
agree  with  them;  for  which  end  Mr.  Winslow  came  to  treat 
with  them,  and  demanded  one  sixteenth  part  of  their  lands, 
and  £100,  which  those  of  Dorchester  not  consenting  unto,  they 
brake  off,  those  of  Plymouth  expecting  to  have  due  recom- 
pense after,  by  course  of  justice,  if  they  went  on.  But  divers 
resolved  to  quit  the  place,  if  they  could  not  agree  with  those 
of  Plymouth.^ 

25.]  The  distractions  about  the  churches  of  Salem  and 
Sagus,  and  the  removal  of  other  churches,  and  the  great 
scarcity  of  com,  etc.,  occasioned  a  general  fast  to  [be]  pro- 
claimed, which,  because  the  court  was  not  at  hand,  was 
moved  by  the  elders  of  the  churches,  and  assented  unto  by 
the  ministers.  The  church  of  Boston  renewed  their  covenant 
this  day,  and  made  a  large  explanation  of  that  which  they 
had  first  entered  into,  and  acknowledged  such  failings  as  had 
fallen  out,  etc. 

Mo.  1.  {March)  8.]  A  man's  servant  in  Boston,  having 
stolen  from  his  master,  and  being  threatened  to  be  brought 
before  the  magistrates,  went  and  hanged  himself.  Herein 
three  things  were  observable:  1.  That  he  was  a  very  profane 
fellow,  given  to  cursing,  etc.,  and  did  use  to  [go]  out  of  the 
assembly,  upon  the  Lord's  day,  to  rob  his  master.  2.  The 
manner  of  his  death,  being  with  a  small  codline,  and  his  knees 
touching  the  floor  of  the  chamber,  and  one  coming  in  when  he 
was  scarce  dead,  (who  was  a  maid,  and  while  she  went  to  call 
out,  etc.,  he  was  past  recovery).  3.  His  discontent,  arising 
from  the  long  time  he  was  to  serve  his  master,  (though  he  were 
well  used).  The  same  day  came  a  letter  from  his  father,  out 
of  the  Bermuda,  with  money  to  buy  out  his  time,  etc. 

1  See  Bradford,  in  this  series,  p.  327. 


176  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

The  Rehecka  came  from  Bermuda  with  thirty  thousand 
weight  of  potatoes,  and  store  of  oranges  and  Hmes,  which 
were  a  great  rehef  to  our  people;  but  their  corn  was  sold  to 
the  West  Indies  three  months  before.  Potatoes  were  bought 
there  for  two  shilhngs  and  eight  pence  the  bushel,  and  sold 
here  for  two  pence  the  pound. 

11.]  Some  occasions  of  difference  had  fallen  out  between 
the  church  of  Charlton  and  Mr.  James,  their  pastor.  The 
teacher,  Mr.  Simmes,  and  the  most  of  the  brethren,  had  taken 
offence  at  divers  speeches  of  his,  (he  being  a  very  melancholick 
man,  and  full  of  causeless  jealousies,  etc.,)  for  which  they  had 
dealt  with  him,  both  privately  and  publicly;  but,  receiving  no 
satisfaction,  they  wrote  to  all  the  neighboring  churches  for 
their  advice  and  help  in  the  case,  who,  sending  chosen  men, 
(most  elders,)  they  met  there  this  day,  and  finding  the  pastor 
very  faulty,  yet  because  they  had  not  proceeded  with  him  in  a 
due  order, — for  of  the  two  witnesses  produced,  one  was  the 
accuser, — they  advised,  that,  if  they  could  not  comfortably 
close,  himself  and  such  as  stood  on  his  part,  (if  they  would,) 
should  desire  dismission,  which  should  be  granted  them,  for 
avoiding  extremities;  but  if  he  persisted,  etc.,  the  church 
should  cast  him  out. 

30.]  Mr.  Allerton  returned  in  his  pinnace  from  the  French 
at  Penobscott.  His  bark  was  cast  upon  an  island,  and  beat 
out  her  keel,  and  so  lay  ten  days ;  yet  he  gate  help  from  Pema- 
quid,  and  mended  her,  and  brought  her  home. 

Mr.  Wither,  in  a  vessel  of  fifty  tons,  going  to  Virginia,  was 
cast  away  upon  Long  Island  with  a  W.  N.  W.  wind.  The 
company  (being  about  thirty)  were,  most  of  them,  very  profane 
persons,  and  in  their  voyage  did  much  reproach  our  colony, 
vowing  they  would  hang,  drown,  or,  etc.,  before  they  would 
come  hither  again.  Seven  were  drowned  in  landing;  some 
gate  in  a  small  boat  to  the  Dutch  plantation ;  two  were  killed 
by  the  Indians,  who  took  all  such  goods  as  they  left  on  shore. 
Those  who  escaped,  went  towards  Virginia  in  a  Dutch  bark, 


1636]  JOHN  HAYNES,  GOVERNOR  177 

and  were  never  heard  of  after ;  but  were  thought  to  be  wrecked, 
by  some  Dutch  pails,  etc.,  which  were  found  by  the  Indians 
thereabout. 

Mo.  2.  {April)  1.]  Mr.  Mather^  and  others,  of  Dorchester, 
intending  to  begin  a  new  church  there,  (a  great  part  of  the  old 
one  being  gone  to  Connecticut,)  desired  the  approbation  of 
the  other  churches  and  of  the  magistrates;  and,  accordingly, 
they  assembled  this  day,  and,  after  some  of  them  had  given 
proof  of  their  gifts,  they  made  confession  of  their  faith,  which 
was  approved  of;  but  proceeding  to  manifest  the  work  of 
God's  grace  in  themselves,  the  churches,  by  their  elders,  and 
the  magistrates,  etc.,  thought  them  not  meet,  at  present,  to  be 
the  foundation  of  a  church ;  and  thereupon  they  were  content 
to  forbear  to  join  till  further  consideration.  The  reason  was, 
for  that  most  of  them  (Mr.  Mather  and  one  more  excepted) 
had  builded  their  comfort  of  salvation  upon  unsound  grounds, 
viz.,  some  upon  dreams  and  ravishes  of  spirit  by  fits;  others 
upon  the  reformation  of  their  fives;  others  upon  duties  and 
performances,  etc.;  wherein  they  discovered  three  special  er- 
rors: 1.  That  they  had  not  come  to  hate  sin,  because  it  was 
filthy,  but  only  left  it,  because  it  was  hurtful.  2.  That,  by 
reason  of  this,  they  had  never  truly  closed  with  Christ,  (or 
rather  Christ  with  them,)  but  had  made  use  of  him  only  to 
help  the  imperfection  of  their  sanctification  and  duties,  and  not 
made  him  their  sanctification,  wisdom,  etc.    3.  They  expected 


^Though  in  general  the  reader  finds  Savage's  genealogies  quite  too  par- 
ticular, the  Mather  family  in  Massachusetts  was  so  famous  that  space  may  prop- 
erly be  taken  to  describe  it.  He  says:  "This  was  the  father  of  Increase  Mather, 
president  of  Harvard  College,  who  was  father  of  the  more  celebrated  Cotton 
Mather,  a  name  that  will  forever  be  perpetuated,  while  the  strange  contents  of 
the  Magnolia,  in  which  are  equally  striking  his  voracious  appetite  and  ill  digestion 
of  learning,  excite  the  curiosity  of  antiquaries.  Three  other  sons  of  Richard, 
the  gentleman  named  in  our  text,  were  clergymen,  as  also  a  great  grandson,  who 
was  a  minister  in  Boston.  Richard  and  his  wife,  Katharine,  were  received  into 
Boston  church  25  October  preceding.  He  married,  in  his  old  age,  the  widow  of 
the  great  Cotton,  and  his  son.  Increase,  married  a  daughter,  whence  the  author 
of  the  Magnalia  obtained  his  name  of  baptism." 


178  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1636 

to  believe  by  some  power  of  their  own,  and  not  only  and  wholly 
from  Christ. 

Those  of  Dorchester,  who  had  removed  their  cattle  to  Con- 
necticut before  winter,  lost  the  greatest  part  of  them  this 
winter ;  yet  some,  which  came  late,  and  could  not  be  put  over 
the  river,  hved  very  well  all  the  winter  without  any  hay.  The 
people  also  were  put  to  great  straits  for  want  of  provisions. 
They  eat  acorns,  and  malt,  and  grains.  They  lost  near  £2000 
worth  of  cattle. 

7.]  At  a  general  court  it  was  ordered,  that  a  certain  num- 
ber of  the  magistrates  should  be  chosen  for  life;  (the  reason 
was,  for  that  it  was  showed  from  the  word  of  God,  etc.,  that  the 
principal  magistrates  ought  to  be  for  Hf e) .  Accordingly,  the  25th 
of  the  3d  mo.  John  Winthrop  and  Thomas  Dudley  were  chosen 
to  this  place,  and  Heniy  Vane,  by  his  place  of  governor,  was 
president  of  this  council  for  his  year.^  It  was  hkewise  ordered, 
that  quarter  courts  should  be  kept  in  several  places  for  ease  of 
the  people,  and,  in  regard  of  the  scarcity  of  victuals,  the  remote 
towns  should  send  their  votes  by  proxy  to  the  court  of  elec- 
tions; and  that  no  church,  etc.,  should  be  allowed,  etc.,  that  was 
gathered  without  consent  of  the  churches  and  the  magistrates. 

Mr.  Benjamin's  house  burnt,  and  £100  in  goods  lost. 

12.]  The  Chanty,  of  Dartmouth,  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  tons,  arrived  here,  laden  with  provisions.  She  came 
in  with  a  strong  N.  W.  wind,  and  was  in  great  danger  to  have 
been  lost  between  Allerton  Point  and  Natascott ;  but  the  Lord, 
in  mercy  to  his  people,  deUvered  her,  after  she  had  struck 
twice,  and  upon  the  ebb.  Mr.  Peter  bought  all  the  provisions 
at  fifty  in  the  hundred,  (which  saved  the  country  £200,)  and 
distributed  them  to  all  the  towns,  as  each  town  needed.^ 


^This  council  for  life  lasted  for  three  years  only,  it  being  found  to  excite 
popular  jealousy  against  the  magistrates.  It  seems  to  have  been  constituted  in 
the  hope  of  tempting  over  some  of  the  peers,  or  gentry  likely  to  become  peers. 
The  members  of  such  a  council  were  assured  a  place  of  dignity. 

'  An  instance  of  Hugh  Peter's  fine  spirit  of  practical  benevolence. 


1636]  JOHN  HAYNES,   GOVERNOR  179 

The  church  of  Salem  was  still  infected  with  Mr.  Williams 
his  opinions,  so  as  most  of  them  held  it  unlawful  to  hear  in  the 
ordinary  assembUes  in  England,  because  their  foundation  was 
antichristian,  and  we  should,  by  hearing,  hold  communion  with 
them;  and  some  went  so  far  as  they  were  ready  to  separate 
from  the  church  upon  it.  Whereupon  the  church  sent  two 
brethren,  and  a  letter,  to  the  elders  of  the  other  churches,  for 
their  advice  in  three  points:  1.  Whether  (for  satisfjdng  the 
weak)  they  might  promise  not  to  hear  in  England  any  false 
church.  This  was  not  thought  safe,  because  then  they  would 
draw  them  to  the  like  towards  the  other  churches  here,  who 
were  all  of  opinion,  that  it  was  lawful,  and  that  hearing  was 
not  church  communion.  2.  If  they  were  not  better,  to  grant 
them  dismission  to  be  a  church  by  themselves.  This  was 
also  opposed,  for  that  it  was  not  a  remedy  of  God's  ordering; 
neither  would  the  magistrates  allow  them  to  be  a  church,  being 
but  three  men  and  eight  women ;  and  besides,  it  were  danger- 
ous to  raise  churches  on  such  grounds.  3.  Whether  they  ought 
then  to  excommunicate  them,  if  they  did  withdraw,  etc.  This 
was  granted,  yet,  withal,  that  if  they  did  not  withdraw  or  run 
into  contempt,  they  ought,  in  these  matters  of  difference  of 
opinion  in  things  not  fundamental  nor  scandalous,  etc.,  to  bear 
each  with  other. 

Mo.  3.  {May)  15.]  Mr.  Peter,  preaching  at  Boston,  made 
an  earnest  request  to  the  church  for  [blank]  things:  1.  That 
they  would  spare  their  teacher,  Mr.  Cotton,  for  a  time,  that  he 
might  go  through  the  Bible,  and  raise  marginal  notes  upon  all 
the  knotty  places  of  the  scriptures.  2.  That  a  new  book  of 
martjTS  might  be  made,  to  begin  where  the  other  had  left.* 
3.  That  a  form  of  church  government  might  be  drawn  accord- 
ing to  the  scriptures.  4.  That  they  would  take  order  for  em- 
ployment of  people,  (especially  women  and  children,  in  the 

^  The  suggestion  of  a  continuation  of  Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs  is  pathetic  as 
coming  from  one  whose  own  martyrdom  twenty-four  years  later  was  so  note- 
worthy. 


180  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

winter  time ;)  for  he  feared  that  idleness  would  be  the  ruin  both 
of  church  and  commonwealth. 

Here  arrived  a  ship,  called  the  St.  Patrick,  belonging  to  Sir 
Thomas  Wentworth/  deputy  of  Ireland,  one  Palmer  master. 
When  she  came  near  Castle  Island,  the  lieutenant  of  the  fort 
went  aboard  her,  and  made  her  strike  her  flag,  which  the  master 
took  as  a  great  injury,  and  complained  of  it  to  the  magistrates, 
who,  calling  the  lieutenant  before  them,  heard  the  cause,  and 
declared  to  the  master  that  he  had  no  commission  so  to  do. 
And  because  he  had  made  them  strike  to  the  fort,  (which  had 
then  no  colors  abroad,)  they  tendered  the  master  such  satis- 
faction as  he  desired,  which  was  only  this,  that  the  lieutenant, 
aboard  their  ship,  should  acknowledge  his  error,  that  so  all 
the  ship's  company  might  receive  satisfaction,  lest  the  lord 
deputy  should  have  been  informed,  that  we  had  offered 
that  discourtesy  to  his  ship,  which  we  had  never  offered  to 
any  before. 

25.]  Henry  Vane,  Esq.,  before  mentioned,  was  chosen 
governor;  and,  because  he  was  son  and  heir  to  a  privy  coun- 
sellor in  England,  the  ships  congratulated  his  election  with 
a  volley  of  great  shot.  The  next  week  he  invited  all  the 
masters  (there  were  then  fifteen  great  ships,  etc.,)  to  dinner. 
After  they  had  dined,  he  propounded  three  things  to  them: 
1.  That  all  ships,  which  should  come  after  this  year,  should 
come  to  an  anchor  before  they  came  at  the  fort,  except  they 
did  send  their  boat  before,  and  did  satisfy  the  commander  that 
they  were  friends.  2.  That,  before  they  offered  any  goods  to 
sale,  they  would  dehver  an  invoice,  etc.,  and  give  the  governor, 
etc.,  twenty-four  hours'  liberty  to  refuse,  etc.  3.  That  their 
men  might  not  stay  on  shore  (except  upon  necessary  business) 
after  sunset.  These  things  they  all  wilHngly  condescended 
unto. 

31.]  Mr.  Hooker,  pastor  of  the  church  of  Newtown,  and 
the  most  of  his  congregation,  went  to  Connecticut.  His  wife 
*  Sir  Thomas  Wentworth  was  later  the  great  Earl  of  Strafford. 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,  GOVERNOR  181 

was  carried  in  a  horse  litter;  and  they  drove  one  hundred  and 
sixty  cattle,  and  fed  of  their  milk  by  the  way/ 

The  last  winter  Capt.  Mason  died.  He  was  the  chief  mover 
in  all  the  attempts  against  us,  and  was  to  have  sent  the  general 
governor,  and  for  this  end  was  providing  shipping;  but  the 
Lord,  in  mercy,  taking  him  away,  all  the  business  fell  on  sleep, 
so  as  ships  came  and  brought  what  and  whom  they  would, 
without  any  question  or  control.^ 

Divers  of  the  ships  this  spring,  both  out  of  the  Downs  and 
from  Holland,  came  in  five  weeks ;  and  Mr.  Ball  his  ship  went 
from  hence  to  England  the  16th  of  January,  and  saw  land  there 
in  eighteen  days. 

One  Miller,  master's  mate  in  the  Hector,  spake  to  some  of 
our  people  aboard  his  ship,  that,  because  we  had  not  the  king's 
colors  at  our  fort,  we  were  all  traitors  and  rebels,  etc.  The 
governor  sent  for  the  master,  Mr.  Feme,  and  acquainted  him 
with  it,  who  promised  to  dehver  him  to  us.  Whereupon  we 
sent  the  marshal  and  four  sergeants  to  the  ship  for  him,  but 
the  master  not  being  aboard,  they  would  not  dehver  him; 
whereupon  the  master  went  himself  and  brought  him  to  the 
court,  and  the  words  being  proved  against  him  by  two  wit- 
nesses, he  was  committed.  The  next  day  the  master,  to 
pacify  his  men,  who  were  in  a  great  tumult,  requested  he  might 
be  delivered  to  him,  and  did  undertake  to  bring  him  before  us 
again  the  day  after,  which  was  granted  him,  and  he  brought 
him  to  us  at  the  time  appointed.  Then,  in  the  presence  of  all 
the  rest  of  the  masters,  he  acknowledged  his  offence,  and  set 
his  hand  to  a  submission,^  and  was  discharged.  Then  the 
governor  desired  the  masters,  that  they  would  deal  freely,  and 
tell  us,  if  they  did  take  any  offence,  and  what  they  required  of 

^  Hooker's  departure  with  the  Newtown  church  was  an  epoch-making  event. 
For  a  good  account  of  its  significance  see  Johnston,  Connecticut,  ch.  iii. 

^  John  Mason,  patentee,  under  the  Council  for  New  England,  of  "Mari- 
ana" (1622),  of  New  Hampshire  and  Maine  jointly  with  Gorges  (1622),  of 
New  Hamphire  separately  (1629),  and  of  "Laconia"  jointly  with  Gorges  (1629). 

'  For  the  language  of  Miller's  submission,  see  Colonial  Records,  I.  179. 


182  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  (1636 

us.  They  answered,  that,  in  regard  they  should  be  examined 
upon  their  return,  what  colors  they  saw  here,  they  did  desire 
that  the  king's  colors  might  be  spread  at  our  fort.  It  was 
answered,  that  we  had  not  the  king's  colors.  Thereupon  two 
of  them  did  offer  them  freely  to  us.  We  replied,  that  for  our 
part  we  were  fully  persuaded,  that  the  cross  in  the  ensign  was 
idolatrous,  and  therefore  might  not  set  it  in  our  ensign;  but, 
because  the  fort  was  the  king's,  and  maintained  in  his  name, 
we  thought  that  his  own  colors  might  be  spread  there.  So 
the  governor  accepted  the  colors  of  Capt.  Palmer,  and  prom- 
ised they  should  be  set  up  at  Castle  Island.  We  had  conferred 
over  night  with  Mr.  Cotton,  etc.,  about  the  point.  The  gover- 
nor, and  Mr.  Dudley,  and  Mr.  Cotton,  were  of  opinion,  that 
they  might  be  set  up  at  the  fort  upon  this  distinction,  that  it 
was  maintained  in  the  king's  name.  Others,  not  being  so 
persuaded,  answered,  that  the  governor  and  Mr.  Dudley,  being 
two  of  the  council,  and  being  persuaded  of  the  lawfulness,  etc., 
might  use  their  power  to  set  them  up.  Some  others,  being 
not  so  persuaded,  could  not  join  in  the  act,  yet  would  not 
oppose,  as  being  doubtful,  etc. 

[June  28,  1636.  The  governor  and  John  Winthrop  returned  a 
letter  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Robert  Houghton  of  Southwark,  brewer,  and 
Mr.  Wm.  Hiccock,  etc.,  for  ten  barrels  of  gunpowder,  which  they  sent 
to  this  colony  the  last  year  upon  the  motion  of  Captain  Underbill.]^ 

Mo.  5.  (July)  9.]    The  governor,  etc.,  went  to  Salem. 

Many  ships  lying  ready  at  Natascott  to  set  sail,  Mr.  Peter 
went  down  and  preached  aboard  the  Hector,  and  the  ships 
going  forth  met  with  an  east  wind,  which  put  them  in  again; 
whereupon  he  stayed  and  kept  the  sabbath  with  them. 

5.]  Mr.  Buckly  and  Mr.  Jones,  two  English  ministers,  ap- 
pointed this  day  to  gather  a  church  at  Newtown,  to  settle  at 
Concord.    They  sent  word,  three  days  before,  to  the  governor 

'This  passage  was  written  by  Winthrop  in  another  part  of  the  manuscript 
volume,  but  we  are  apparently  warranted  in  treating  it  as  a  portion  of  the  Journal. 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  183 

and  deputy,  to  desire  their  presence;  but  they  took  it  in  ill 
part,  and  thought  not  fit  to  go,  because  they  had  not  come 
to  them  before,  (as  they  ought  to  have  done,  and  as  others  had 
done  before,)  to  acquaint  them  with  their  purpose. 

Mr.  V^inthrop,  jim.,  gave  £5  towards  the  building  of  the 
meeting-house  at  Charlton.    I  sent  it  by  James  Brown. 

20.]  John  Gallop,  with  one  man  more,  and  two  httle  boys, 
coming  from  Connecticut  in  a  bark  of  twenty  tons,  intending 
to  put  in  at  Long  Island  to  trade,  and  being  at  the  mouth  of 
the  harbor,  were  forced,  by  a  sudden  change  of  the  wind,  to 
bear  up  for  Block  Island  or  Fisher's  Island,  lying  before 
Naragansett,  where  they  espied  a  small  pinnace,  which,  draw- 
ing near  unto,  they  found  to  be  IVIr.  Oldham's  (an  old  planter,* 
and  a  member  of  Watertown  congregation,  who  had  been 
long  out  a  trading,  having  with  him  only  two  Enghsh  boys, 
and  two  Indians  of  Naragansett).  So  they  hailed  him,  but 
had  no  answer;  and  the  deck  was  full  of  Indians,  (fourteen  in 
all,)  and  a  canoe  was  gone  from  her  full  of  Indians  and  goods. 
Whereupon  they  suspected  they  had  killed  John  Oldham,  and 
the  rather,  because  the  Indians  let  slip  and  set  up  sail,  being 
two  miles  from  shore,  and  the  wind  and  tide  being  off  the 
shore  of  the  island,  whereby  they  drove  towards  the  main  at 
Naragansett.  Whereupon  they  went  ahead  of  them,  and 
having  but  two  pieces  and  two  pistols,  and  nothing  but  duck 
shot,  they  bear  up  near  the  Indians,  (who  stood  ready  armed 
with  guns,  pikes,  and  swords,)  and  let  fly  among  them,  and  so 
galled  them  as  they  all  gate  under  hatches.  Then  they  stood 
off  again,  and  returning  with  a  good  gale,  they  stemmed  her 
upon  the  quarter  and  almost  overset  her,  which  so  frightened 
the  Indians,  as  six  of  them  leaped  overboard  and  were  drowned. 
Yet  they  durst  not  board  her,  but  stood  off  again,  and  fitted 
their  anchor,  so  as,  stemming  her  the  second  time,  they  bored 

*  John  Gallopp  and  John  Oldham,  heretofore  described  as  adventurous 
sailors  and  traders  along  the  coast,  stand  now  as  the  prominent  figures  at  the 
outset  of  the  Pequot  war. 


184  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

her  bow  through  with  their  anchor,  and  so  sticking  fast  to  her, 
they  made  divers  shot  through  her,  (being  but  inch  board,) 
and  so  raked  her  fore  and  aft,  as  they  must  needs  kill  or  hurt 
some  of  the  Indians;  but,  seeing  none  of  them  come  forth, 
they  gate  loose  from  her  and  stood  off  again.  Then  four  or 
five  more  of  the  Indians  leaped  into  the  sea,  and  were  likewise 
drowned.  So  there  being  now  but  four  left  in  her,  they  boarded 
her;  whereupon  one  Indian  came  up  and  jdelded;  him  they 
bound  and  put  into  hold.  Then  another  yielded,  whom  they 
bound.  But  John  Gallop,  being  well  acquainted  with  their 
skill  to  untie  themselves,  if  two  of  them  be  together,  and  having 
no  place  to  keep  them  asunder,  he  threw  him  bound  into  [the] 
sea;  and,  looking  about,  they  found  John  Oldham  under  an 
old  seine,  stark  naked,  his  head  cleft  to  the  brains,  and  his 
hand  and  legs  cut  as  if  they  had  been  cutting  them  off,  and 
yet  warm.  So  they  put  him  into  the  sea ;  but  could  not  get  to 
the  other  two  Indians,  who  were  in  a  Httle  room  imderneath, 
with  their  swords.  So  they  took  the  goods  which  were  left, 
and  the  sails,  etc.,  and  towed  the  boat  away;  but  night 
coming  on,  and  the  wind  rising,  they  were  forced  to  turn  her 
off,  and  the  wind  carried  her  to  the  Naragansett  shore. 

26.]  The  two  Indians,  which  were  with  Mr.  Oldham,  and 
one  other,  came  from  Canonicus,  the  chief  sachem  of  Naragan- 
sett, with  a  letter  from  Mr.  WiUiams  to  the  governor,  to  certi- 
fy him  what  had  befallen  Mr.  Oldham,  and  how  grievously 
they  were  afflicted,  and  that  Miantunnomoh  was  gone,  with 
seventeen  canoes  and  two  hundred  men,  to  take  revenge, 
etc.  But,  upon  examination  of  the  Indian  who  was  brought 
prisoner  to  us,  we  found  that  all  the  sachems  of  the  Naragan- 
sett, except  Canonicus  and  Miantunnomoh,  were  the  contrivers 
of  Mr.  Oldham's  death ;  and  the  occasion  was,  because  he  went 
to  make  peace,  and  trade  with  the  Pekods  last  year,  as  is 
before  related.  The  prisoner  said  also,  that  Mr.  Oldham's 
two  Indians  were  acquainted  with  it;  but,  because  they 
were  sent  as  messengers  from  Canonicus,  we  would  not  im- 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  185 

prison  them.  But  the  governor  wrote  back  to  Mr.  Williams  to 
let  the  Naragansetts  know,  that  we  expected  they  should  send 
us  the  two  boys,  and  take  revenge  upon  the  islanders;  and 
withal  gave  Mr.  WilUams  a  caution  to  look  to  himself,  if  we 
should  have  occasion  to  make  war  upon  the  Naragansetts,  for 
Block  Island  was  under  them.  And  the  next  day,  27,  he  wrote 
to  Canonicus  by  one  of  those  two  Indians,  and  that  he  had 
suspicion  of  him,  etc.,  yet  he  had  sent  him  back,  because  he 
was  a  messenger,  but  did  expect  that,  if  he  should  send  for  the 
said  two  Indians,  he  should  send  them  to  us  to  clear  them- 
selves. 

30.]  Mr.  Oldham's  two  boys  were  sent  home  by  one  of 
Miantunnomoh  his  men,  with  a  letter  from  Mr.  Williams,  signi- 
fying that  Miantunnomoh  had  caused  the  sachem  of  Niantick 
to  send  to  Block  Island  for  them;  and  that  he  had  near  one 
hundred  fathom  of  wampom  and  other  goods  of  Mr.  Oldham's, 
which  should  be  reserved  for  us ;  and  that  three  of  the  seven, 
which  were  drowned,  were  sachems;  and  one  of  the  two, 
which  were  hired  by  the  sachem  of  Niantick,  was  dead  also. 
So  we  wrote  back  to  have  the  rest  of  those,  which  were  acces- 
sory, to  be  sent  to  us,  and  the  rest  of  the  goods,  and  that  he 
should  tell  Canonicus  and  Miantunnomoh,  that  we  held  them 
innocent;  but  that  six  other  under-sachems  were  guilty,  etc. 

Mo.  6.  (August)  3.]  Samuel  Maverick,  who  had  been  in 
Virginia  near  twelve  months,  now  returned  with  two  pinnaces, 
and  brought  some  fourteen  heifers,  and  about  eighty  goats, 
(having  lost  above  twenty  goats  by  the  way).  One  of  his 
pinnaces  was  about  forty  tons,  of  cedar,  built  at  Barbathes,^ 
and  brought  to  Virginia  by  Capt.  Powell,  who  there  dying,  she 
was  sold  for  a  small  matter.  There  died  in  Virginia,  (by  his 
relation,)  this  last  year,  above  eighteen  hundred,  and  corn 
was  there  at  twenty  shillings  the  bushel,  the  most  of  the  people 
having  lived  a  great  time  of  nothing  but  purslain,  etc.  It  is 
very  strange,  what  was  related  by  him  and  many  others, 

*  Barbadoeg, 


186  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

that,  above  sixty  miles  up  James  River,  they  dig  nowhere 
but  they  find  the  ground  full  of  oyster  shells,  and  fishes'  bones, 
etc. ;  yea,  he  affirmed  that  he  saw  the  bone  of  a  whale  taken 
out  of  the  earth  (where  they  digged  for  a  well)  eighteen  feet 
deep. 

8.]  Lieutenant  Edward  Gibbons,^  and  John  Higginson, 
with  Cutshamekin,  the  sagamore  of  Massachusetts,  were  sent 
to  Canonicus  to  treat  with  him  about  the  murder  of  John 
Oldham.  13.  They  returned,  being  very  well  accepted,  and 
good  success  in  their  business.  They  observed  in  the  sachem 
much  state,  great  command  over  his  men,  and  marvellous 
wisdom  in  his  answers  and  the  carriage  of  the  whole  treaty, 
clearing  himself  and  his  neighbors  of  the  murder,  and  offering 
assistance  for  revenge  of  it,  yet  upon  very  safe  and  wary 
conditions. 

25.]  The  governor  and  coimcil,  having  lately  assembled 
the  rest  of  the  magistrates  and  ministers,  to  advise  with  them 
about  doing  justice  upon  the  Indians  for  the  death  of  Mr. 
Oldham,  and  all  agreeing  that  it  should  be  attempted  with 
expedition,  did  this  day  send  forth  ninety  men,  distributed 
to  four  commanders, — Capt.  John  Underhill,  Capt.  Nathaniel 
Turner,  Ensign  Jenyson,  and  Ensign  Davenport;  and  over 
them  all,  as  general,  John  Endecott,  Esq.,  one  of  the  assistants, 
was  sent.  They  were  embarked  in  three  pinnaces,  and  carried 
two  shallops  and  two  Indians  with  them.  They  had  commis- 
sion to  put  to  death  the  men  of  Block  Island,  but  to  spare  the 
women  and  children,  and  to  bring  them  away,  and  to  take 
possession  of  the  island ;  and  from  thence  to  go  to  the  Pequods 
to  demand  the  murderers  of  Capt.  Stone  and  other  English,  and 
one  thousand  fathom  of  wampom  for  damages,  etc.,  and  some 
of  their  children  as  hostages,  which  if  they  should  refuse, 
they  were  to  obtain  it  by  force.  No  man  was  impressed  for 
this  service,  but  all  went  voluntaries. 

26.]    Miantunnomoh,  sachem  of  Naragansett,  sent  a  mes- 

•  Gibbons  rose  to  the  rank  of  assistant  and  major-general  of  the  forces. 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  187 

senger  to  us,  with  a  letter  from  Mr.  Williams,  to  signify  to  us, 
that  they  had  taken  one  of  the  Indians,  who  had  broken  prison 
and  was  escaped  away,  and  had  him  safe  for  us,  when  we 
would  send  for  him,  (we  had  before  sent  to  him  to  that  end ;) 
and  the  other  (being  also  of  Block  Island)  he  had  sent  away, 
(not  knowing,  as  it  seemed,  that  he  had  been  our  prisoner,) 
according  to  their  promise,  that  they  would  not  entertain  any 
of  that  island,  which  should  come  to  them.  But  we  conceived 
it  was  rather  in  love  to  him;  for  he  had  been  his  servant 
formerly. 

We  sent  for  the  two  Indians.  One  was  sent  us ;  the  other 
was  dead  before  the  messengers  came. 

A  ship  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  was  built  at  Marble- 
head,  and  called  the  Desire. 

7ber,  (September)  8.]  At  a  general  court,  a  levy  was  made 
of  £1200  to  pay  the  country's  debts. 

The  trade  of  beaver  and  wampom  was  to  be  farmed,  and  all 
others  restrained  from  trading. 

23.]  A  new  church  was  gathered  at  Dorchester,  with 
approbation  of  the  magistrates  and  elders,  etc. 

August  24.]^  John  Endecott,  Esq.,  and  four  captains  under 
him,  with  twenty  men  a-piece,  set  sail.  They  arrived  at  Block 
Island  the  last  of  the  same.  The  wind  blowing  hard  at  N.  E. 
there  went  so  great  a  surf,  as  they  had  much  to  do  to  land; 
and  about  forty  Indians  were  ready  upon  the  shore  to  enter- 
tain them  with  their  arrows,  which  they  shot  oft  at  our  men ; 
but,  being  armed  with  corslets,  they  had  no  hurt,  only  one 
was  Hghtly  hurt  upon  his  neck,  and  another  near  his  foot. 
So  soon  as  one  man  leaped  on  shore,  they  all  fled.  The  island 
is  about  ten  miles  long,  and  four  broad,  full  of  small  hills, 
and  all  overgrown  with  brush-wood  of  oak, — no  good  timber 
in  it, — so  as  they  could  not  march  but  in  one  file  and  in  the 

*  This  entry  is  put  in  by  Winthrop  out  of  course,  a  September  entry  having 
preceded :  he  no  doubt  desired  to  have  in  one  narrative  his  account  of  Endicott's 
expedition,  and  goes  back  here  to  the  outset  of  the  undertaking. 


188  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1636 

narrow  paths.  There  were  two  plantations,  three  miles  in 
sunder,  and  about  sixty  wigwams, — some  very  large  and  fair, — 
and  above  two  hundred  acres  of  corn,  some  gathered  and  laid 
on  heaps,  and  the  rest  standing.  When  they  had  spent  two 
days  in  searching  the  island,  and  could  not  find  the  Indians, 
they  burnt  their  wigwams,  and  all  their  matts,  and  some  com, 
and  staved  seven  canoes,  and  departed.  They  could  not  tell 
what  men  they  killed,  but  some  were  wounded  and  carried 
away  by  their  fellows. 

Thence  they  went  to  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  where 
they  lay  wind-bound  four  days,  and  taking  thence  twenty  men 
and  two  shallops,  they  sailed  to  the  Pequot  harbor,  where  an 
Indian  came  to  them  in  a  canoe,  and  demanded  what  they 
were,  and  what  they  would  have.  The  general  told  him, 
he  came  from  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  to  speak  with 
their  sachems.  He  told  him,  Sassacus  was  gone  to  Long 
Island.  Then  he  bade  him  go  tell  the  other  sachem,  etc.  So 
he  departed;  and  in  the  mean  time  our  men  landed,  but  with 
much  danger,  if  the  Indians  had  made  use  of  their  advantage, 
for  all  the  shore  was  high,  rugged  rocks,  etc.  Then  the  mes- 
senger returned,  and  the  Indians  began  to  gather  about  our 
men  till  there  were  about  three  hundred  of  them;  and  some 
four  hours  past  while  the  messenger  went  to  and  fro,  bringing 
still  excuses  for  the  sachem's  not  coming.  At  last  the  general 
told  the  messenger,  and  the  rest  of  the  Indians  near,  the 
particulars  of  his  commission,  and  sent  him  to  tell  the  sachem, 
that  if  he  would  not  come  to  him,  nor  yield  to  those  demands, 
he  would  fight  with  them.  The  messenger  told  him,  that  the 
sachem  would  meet  him,  if  our  men  would  lay  down  their 
arms,  as  his  men  should  do  their  bows,  etc.  When  the  general 
saw  they  did  but  dally,  to  gain  time,  he  bad  them  be  gone,  and 
shift  for  themselves;  for  they  had  dared  the  English  to  come 
fight  with  them,  and  now  they  were  come  for  that  purpose. 
Thereupon  they  all  withdrew.  Some  of  our  men  would  have 
made  a  shot  at  them,  but  the  general  would  not  suffer  them; 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  189 

but  when  they  were  gone  out  of  musket  shot,  he  marched  after 
them,  supposing  they  would  have  stood  to  it  awhile,  as  they 
did  to  the  Dutch.  But  they  all  fled,  and  shot  at  our  men  from 
the  thickets  and  rocks,  but  did  us  no  harm.  Two  of  them  our 
men  killed,  and  hurt  others.  So  they  marched  up  to  their 
town,  and  burnt  all  their  wigwams  and  matts,  but  their  corn 
being  standing,  they  could  not  spoil  it.  At  night  they  returned 
to  their  vessels,  and  the  next  day  they  went  ashore  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  and  burnt  all  their  wigwams,  and  spoiled  their 
canoes;  and  so  set  sail,  and  came  to  the  Naragansett,  where 
they  landed  their  men,  and,  the  14th  of  7ber,  they  came  all  safe 
to  Boston,  which  was  a  marvellous  providence  of  God,  that  not 
a  hair  fell  from  the  head  of  any  of  them,  nor  any  sick  or  feeble 
person  among  them.  As  they  came  by  Naragansett,  Cutsha- 
makin,  an  Indian,  who  went  with  them  for  an  interpreter,  who, 
being  armed  with  a  corslet  and  a  piece,  had  crept  into  a 
swamp  and  killed  a  Pequot,  and  having  flayed  off  the  skin  of 
his  head,*  he  sent  it  to  Canonicus,  who  presently  sent  it  to 
all  the  sachems  about  him,  and  returned  many  thanks  to 
the  English,  and  sent  four  fathom  of  wampom  to  Cut- 
shamakin. 

The  soldiers  who  went  were  all  voluntaries,  and  had  only 
their  victuals  provided,  but  demanded  no  pay.  The  whole 
charge  of  the  voyage  came  to  about  £200.  The  seamen  had 
all  wages.^ 

The  Naragansett  men  told  us  after,  that  thirteen  of  the 

^  Scalping,  though  usual  in  Canada,  was  not  at  this  time  customary  among 
the  Indians  of  southern  New  England. 

*  The  reprisals  of  Endicott,  as  to  ruthlessness,  appear  to  be  of  a  piece  with 
the  harsh  warfare  against  Indians  of  later  times.  Palliation  may  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  the  Pequots  were  interlopers,  a  body  perhaps  of  Iroquois  extraction, 
which  had  thrust  itself  in  between  the  Mohegans  and  Narragansetts,  and  preyed 
like  wolves  upon  its  neighbors  right  and  left.  The  condition  of  the  colonies  was 
indeed  very  critical:  had  the  Pequots  succeeded  (as  but  for  Roger  Williams 
they  probably  would  have  done)  in  forming  a  union  with  the  Narragansetts,  the 
English  could  hardly  have  maintained  themselves.  See  Ellis,  John  Mason,  in 
Sparks's  American  Biography,  second  series,  vol.  III.,  p.  360. 


190  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1636 

Pequods  were  killed,  and  forty  wounded;  and  but  one  of 
Block  Island  killed. 

At  the  last  general  court,  order  was  taken  to  restrain  the 
trade  with  the  Indians,  and  the  governor  and  council  appointed 
to  let  it  to  farm,  for  a  rent  to  be  paid  to  the  treasury. 

The  inhabitants  of  Boston,  who  had  taken  their  farms  and 
lots  at  Mount  Woollaston,  finding  it  very  burdensome  to  have 
their  business,  etc.  so  far  off,  desired  to  gather  a  church  there. 
Many  meetings  were  about  it.  The  great  let  was,  in  regard  it 
was  given  to  Boston  for  upholding  the  town  and  church  there, 
which  end  would  be  frustrate  by  the  removal  of  so  many  chief 
men  as  would  go  thither.  For  helping  of  this,  it  was  pro- 
pounded, that  such  as  dwelt  there  should  pay  six-pence  the 
acre,  yearly,  for  such  lands  as  lay  within  a  mile  of  the  water, 
and  three-pence  for  that  which  lay  further  off. 

A  ship  of  Barnstaple  arrived  here  with  eighty  heifers. 

Another  from  Bristol  arrived,  a  fortnight  after,  with  some 
cattle  and  passengers;  but  she  had  dehvered  most  of  her 
cattle  and  passengers  at  Pascataquack  for  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorge  his  plantation  at  Aquamenticus. 

Canonicus  sent  word  of  some  English,  whom  the  Pequods 
had  killed  at  Saybrook;  and  Mr.  WiUiams  wrote,  that  the 
Pequods  and  Naragansetts  were  at  truce,  and  that  Miantun- 
nomoh  told  him,  that  the  Pequods  had  labored  to  persuade 
them,  that  the  English  were  minded  to  destroy  all  Indians. 
Whereupon  we  sent  for  Miantunnomoh  to  come  to  us. 

Another  windmill  was  erected  at  Boston,  and  one  at  Charles- 
town  ;  and  a  watermill  at  Salem,  and  another  at  Ipswich,  and 
another  at  Newbury. 


A    CONTINUATION    OF    THE    HISTORY    OF 
NEW   ENGLAND^ 


1636 

8ber  (October).]  After  Mr.  Endecott  and  our  men  were 
departed  from  the  Pequod/  the  twenty  men  of  Say  brook  lay 
wind-bound  there,  and  went  to  fetch  some  of  the  Indians' 
corn ;  and  having  fetched  every  man  one  sackful  to  their  boat, 
they  returned  for  more,  and  having  loaded  themselves,  the 
Indians  set  upon  them.  So  they  laid  down  their  corn  and 
gave  fire  upon  them,  and  the  Indians  shot  arrows  at  them. 
The  place  was  open  for  the  distance  of  musket  shot,  and  the 
Indians  kept  the  covert,  save  when  they  came  forth,  about 
ten  at  a  time,  and  discharged  their  arrows.  The  English  put 
themselves  into  a  single  file,  and  some  ten  only  (who  had  pieces 
which  could  reach  them)  shot ;  the  others  stood  ready  to  keep 
them  from  breaking  in  upon  our  men.  So  they  continued  the 
most  part  of  the  afternoon.  Our  men  killed  some  of  them,  as 
they  supposed,  and  hurt  others;  and  they  shot  only  one  of 
ours,  and  he  was  armed,  all  the  rest  being  without  arms.^  He 
was  shot  through  the  leg.    Their  arrows  were  all  shot  compass,* 

'  The  manuscript  of  this,  the  second,  part  of  the  Journal,  after  having  been 
copied  by  Savage,  while  still  in  his  possession  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1825. 
Though  his  transcript,  as  he  tells  us,  had  not  undergone  "perfect  verification" 
beyond  1639,  there  is  no  reason  to  think  that  his  usual  faithfulness  is  lacking; 
while  therefore  the  loss  is  greatly  to  be  regretted,  we  can  be  confident  of  having 
an  accurate  story,  '^  Now  the  Thames  River. 

'  "Armed,"  that  is,  provided  with  defensive  armor. 

*"To  keep  compass"  is  in  archery,  according  to  the  Century  Dictionary, 
"to  preserve  a  due  elevation."  To  reach  the  distant  foe  the  arrows,  of  necessity, 
described  a  high  arc  within  view  of  the  soldiers,  who  had  time  to  dodge.  The 
helplessness  of  the  savages  before  fire-arms  is  very  apparent. 

191 


192  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

so  as  our  men,  standing  single,  could  easily  see  and  avoid 
them;  and  one  was  employed  to  gather  up  their  arrows.  At 
last  they  emptied  their  sacks,  and  retired  safe  to  their  boat. 

About  two  days  after,  five  men  of  Saybrook  went  up  the 
river  about  four  miles,  to  fetch  hay  in  a  meadow  on  Pequot 
side.  The  grass  was  so  high  as  some  Pequots,  being  hid  in  it, 
set  upon  our  men,  and  one,  that  had  hay  on  his  back,  they 
took;  the  others  fled  to  their  boat,  one  of  them  having  five 
arrows  in  him,  (but  yet  recovered).  He  who  was  taken  was 
a  godly  young  man,  called  [blank]  Butterfield ;  (whereupon  the 
meadow  was  named  Butterfield  Meadow).  About  fourteen 
days  after,  six  of  Saybrook,  being  sent  to  keep  the  house  in 
their  corn-field,  about  two  miles  from  the  fort,  three  of  them 
went  forth  on  fowHng,  (which  the  lieutenant  had  strictly  for- 
bidden them).  Two  had  pieces,  and  the  third  only  a  sword. 
Suddenly  about  one  hundred  Indians  came  out  of  the  covert, 
and  set  upon  them.  He  who  had  the  sword  brake  through 
them,  (and  received  only  two  shot,  not  dangerous,)  and 
escaped  to  the  house,  which  was  not  a  bow-shot  off,  and  per- 
suaded the  other  two  to  follow  him;  but  they  stood  still  till 
the  Indians  came  and  took  them,  and  carried  them  away 
with  their  pieces.  Soon  after  they  burnt  down  the  said  house, 
and  some  outhouses  and  haystacks  within  a  bow-shot  of  the 
fort,  and  killed  a  cow,  and  shot  divers  others;  but  they  all 
came  home  with  the  arrows  in  them. 

21.]  Miantunnomoh,  the  sachem  of  Naragansett,  (being  sent 
for  by  the  governor,)  came  to  Boston  with  two  of  Canonicus's 
sons,  and  another  sachem,  and  near  twenty  sanaps.  Cutsha- 
makin  gave  us  notice  the  day  before.  The  governor  sent 
twenty  musketeers  to  meet  him  at  Roxbury.  He  came  to 
Boston  about  noon.  The  governor  had  called  together  most 
of  the  magistrates  and  ministers,  to  give  countenance  to  our 
proceedings,  and  to  advise  with  them  about  the  terms  of  peace. 
It  was  dinner  time,  and  the  sachems  and  their  council  dined  by 
themselves  in  the  same  room  where  the  governor  dined,  and 


1G36]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  193 

their  sanaps  were  sent  to  the  inn.  After  dinner,  Miantimnomoh 
declared  what  he  had  to  say  to  us  in  [blank]  propositions,  which 
were  to  this  effect: — That  they  had  always  loved  the  English, 
and  desired  firm  peace  with  us :  That  they  would  continue  in 
war  with  the  Pequods  and  their  confederates,  till  they  were  sub- 
dued; and  desired  we  should  so  do:  They  would  deliver  our 
enemies  to  us,  or  kill  them:  That  if  any  of  theirs  should  kill 
our  cattle,  that  we  would  not  kill  them,  but  cause  them  to 
make  satisfaction:  That  they  would  now  make  a  firm  peace, 
and  two  months  hence  they  would  send  us  a  present. 

The  governor  told  them,  they  should  have  answer  the 
next  morning. 

In  the  morning  we  met  again,  and  concluded  the  peace  upon 
the  articles  underwritten,  which  the  governor  subscribed,  and 
they  also  subscribed  with  their  marks,  and  Cutshamakin  also. 
But  because  we  could  not  well  make  them  understand  the  arti- 
cles perfectly,  we  agreed  to  send  a  copy  of  them  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, who  could  best  interpret  them  to  them.*  So,  after 
dinner,  they  took  leave,  and  were  conveyed  out  of  town  by 
some  musketeers,  and  dismissed  with  a  volley  of  shot. 

THE  ARTICLES. 

1.  A  firm  peace  between  us  and  our  friends  of  other  plantations, 
(if  they  consent,)  and  their  confederates,  (if  they  will  observe  the 
articles,  etc.,)  and  our  posterities. 

2.  Neither  party  to  make  peace  with  the  Pequods  without  the 
other's  consent. 

3.  Not  to  harbor,  etc.,  the  Pequods,  etc. 

4.  To  put  to  death  or  deliver  over  murderers,  etc. 

5.  To  return  our  fugitive  servants,  etc. 

6.  We  to  give  them  notice  when  we  go  against  the  Pequods,  and 
they  to  send  us  some  guides. 

7.  Free  trade  between  us. 

^  Roger  Williams  had  especial  skill  in  the  Indian  languages,  as  is  evidenced 
by  his  Key  unto  the  Langtiage  of  America  (London,  1643),  reprinted  in  1866  by 
the  Narragansett  Club. 


194  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1636 

8.  None  of  them  to  come  near  our  plantations  during  the  wars 
with  the  Pequods,  without  some  Englishman  or  known  Indian. 

9.  To  continue  to  the  posterity  of  both  parties. 

The  governor  of  Plymouth  wrote  to  the  deputy/  that  we 
had  occasioned  a  war,  etc.,  by  provoking  the  Pequods,  and  no 
more,  and  about  the  peace  with  the  Naragansetts,  etc.  The 
deputy  took  it  ill,  (as  there  was  reason,)  and  returned  answer 
accordingly,  and  made  it  appear,  1.  That  there  was  as  much 
done  as  could  be  expected,  considering  they  fled  from  us,  and 
we  could  not  follow  them  in  our  armour,  neither  had  any 
to  guide  us  in  their  country.  2.  We  went  not  to  make  war 
upon  them,  but  to  do  justice,  etc.,  and  having  killed  thirteen 
of  them  for  four  or  five,  which  they  had  murdered  of  ours, 
and  destroyed  sixty  wigwams,  etc.,  we  were  not  much  behind 
with  them.  3.  They  had  no  cause  to  glory  over  us,  when  they 
saw  that  they  could  not  save  themselves  nor  their  houses 
and  corn  from  so  few  of  ours.  4.  If  we  had  left  but  one  hun- 
dred of  them  living,  those  might  have  done  us  as  much  hurt 
as  they  have  or  are  likely  to  do.  5.  It  was  very  Ukely  they 
would  have  taken  notice  of  our  advantage  against  them,  and 
would  have  sitten  still,  or  have  sought  peace,  if  God  had  not 
deprived  them  of  common  reason. 

About  the  middle  of  this  month,  John  Tilley,  master  of  a 
bark,  coming  down  Connecticut  River,  went  on  shore  in  a  canoe, 
three  miles  above  the  fort,  to  kill  fowl;  and  having  shot  off 
his  piece,  many  Indians  arose  out  of  the  covert  and  took 
him,  and  killed  one  other,  who  was  in  the  canoe.  This  Tilley 
was  a  very  stout  man,  and  of  great  understanding.  They  cut 
off  his  hands,  and  sent  them  before,  and  after  cut  off  his  feet. 
He  lived  three  days  after  his  hands  were  cut  off;  and  them- 
selves confessed,  that  he  was  a  stout  man,  because  he  cried  not 
in  his  torture. 

About  this  time  two  houses  were  burnt,  and  all  the  goods  in 

*  Winthrop. 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  195 

them,  to  a  great  value ;  one  was  one  Shaw  at  Watertown,  and 
the  other  one  Jackson  of  Salem,  both  professors,  and  Shaw  the 
day  before  admitted  of  the  former  church.  This  was  very  ob- 
servable in  Shaw,  that  he  concealed  his  estate,  and  made  show 
as  if  he  had  been  poor,  and  was  not  clear  of  some  unrighteous 
passages. 

One  Mrs.  Hutchinson,*  a  member  of  the  church  of  Boston, 
a  woman  of  a  ready  wit  and  bold  spirit,  brought  over  with  her 
two  dangerous  errors:  1.  That  the  person  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
dwells  in  a  justified  person.  2.  That  no  sanctification  can 
help  to  evidence  to  us  our  justification. — From  these  two  grew 
many  branches;  as,  1.  Our  union  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  so  as 
a  Christian  remains  dead  to  every  spiritual  action,  and  hath  no 

*  Here  begins  the  story  of  a  most  painful  and  memorable  episode  of  our 
early  history.  No  other  chapter  of  Massachusetts  history  is  so  full  of  perplex- 
ities. Mrs.  Hutchinson  came  from  Lincolnshire  to  America,  with  her  husband, 
a  worthy  but  not  notable  man,  and  their  children,  drawn  to  America  through 
her  admiration  for  John  Cotton,  whose  ministration  while  he  was  rector  of  St. 
Botolph's  Church  she  had  much  enjoyed.  She  was  a  woman  of  kind  heart  and 
practical  capacity  of  various  kinds,  possessed,  too,  of  a  fervent  spirit  and  an 
intellect  so  keen  that  she  was  held  to  be  the  "masterpiece  of  woman's  wit"  (John- 
son, W otider-W orking  Providence,  book  I.,  ch.  42.)  She  attained  great  influence 
among  the  women  of  the  settlement,  which  soon  extended  to  the  men  as  well; 
and  when  she  denounced  the  ministers  of  the  colony,  excepting  Cotton  and  her 
brother-in-law  Wheelwright,  as  essentially  lacking,  she  carried  with  her  the 
Boston  church,  hardly  any  but  Winthrop  and  Wilson  the  pastor  withstanding 
her.  Since  the  other  churches  of  the  settlement  took  opposite  ground,  a  quarrel 
arose  very  bitter  and  dangerous,  the  details  of  which  may  be  best  learned  from 
Winthrop.  The  ecclesiastical  dispute  as  to  justification  by  faith  and  justifica- 
tion by  works  is  as  old  as  the  apostles  Paul  and  James.  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  idea 
was  that  saving  grace  went  only  to  such  as  possessed  faith,  and  that,  this  grace 
having  been  received,  the  recipient  was  above  law.  Hence  the  term  "antino- 
mian"  was  hurled  at  her  and  her  sympathizers,  a  term  expressly  repudiated  by 
Wheelwright,  and  certainly  unwarranted;  for  the  Hutchinsonians,  while  scorning 
"legalism,"  did  not  mean  to  cut  loose  from  moral  obligations.  Undoubtedly, 
however,  there  was  danger  that  in  minds  confused  with  the  controversial  jargon, 
Mrs.  Hutchinson's  ideas  might  be  taken  as  countenancing  licentiousness,  and 
in  one  memorable  case,  that  of  John  Underhill,  hereafter  narrated,  they  certainly 
were  taken  as  a  cloak  for  loose  living. 

Winthrop  in  the  Journal  tells  the  story  only  briefly;  but  in  his  other  work, 
A  Short  Story  of  the  Rise,  Reign,  and  Ruin  of  the  Antinomians ,  Familists,  and 
Libertines  that  infected  the  Churches  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  a  book,  some  extracts 
from  which  are  included  within  the  present  reprint,  he  gives  a  detailed  account. 


196  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

gifts  nor  graces,  other  than  such  as  are  in  hypocrites,  nor  any 
other  sanctification  but  the  Holy  Ghost  himself. 

There  joined  with  her  in  these  opinions  a  brother  of  hers, 
one  Mr.  Wheelwright,  a  silenced  minister  sometimes  in  Eng- 
land. 

25.]  The  other  ministers  in  the  bay,  hearing  of  these 
things,  came  to  Boston  at  the  time  of  a  general  court,  and 
entered  conference  in  private  with  them,  to  the  end  they  might 
know  the  certainty  of  these  things ;  that  if  need  were,  they 
might  write  to  the  church  of  Boston  about  them,  to  prevent  (if 
it  were  possible)  the  dangers,  which  seemed  hereby  to  hang 
over  that  and  the  rest  of  the  churches.  At  this  conference, 
Mr.  Cotton  was  present,  and  gave  satisfaction  to  them,  so  as  he 
agreed  with  them  all  in  the  point  of  sanctification,  and  so  did 
Mr.  Wheelwright;  so  as  they  all  did  hold,  that  sanctification 
did  help  to  evidence  justification.  The  same  he  had  delivered 
plainly  in  public,  divers  times;  but,  for  the  indwelling  of 
the  person  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  held  that  still,  as  some  others 
of  the  ministers  did,  but  not  union  with  the  person  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  (as  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  others  did,)  so  as  to 
amount  to  a  personal  union. 

Mr.  Cotton,  being  requested  by  the  general  court,  with 
some  other  ministers,  to  assist  some  of  the  magistrates  in 
compiling  a  body  of  fundamental  laws,  did  this  court,  present 
a  model  of  Moses  his  judicials,  compiled  in  an  exact  method, 
which  were  taken  into  further  consideration  till  the  next 
general  court.* 

30.]  Some  of  the  church  of  Boston,  being  of  the  opinion  of 
Mrs.  Hutchinson,  had  labored  to  have  Mr.  Wheelwright^  to 

*  Mr.  Worthington  C.  Ford,  in  Proceedings  of  the  Massachisetts  Historical 
Society,  second  series,  XVI.  274-284,  gives  reasons  for  identifying  this  code 
drafted  by  Cotton  with  the  Abstract  of  the  Lawes  of  New  England  (London,  1641), 
reprinted  in  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  III.,  but  never  adopted. 

*  John  Wheelwright,  born  near  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  hved  till 
1679,  the  patriarch  of  the  New  England  clergy.  Educated  at  Cambridge,  min- 
ister of  Alford,  near  old  Boston,  married  to  a  sister  of  Anne  Hutchinson,  like  her 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  197 

be  called  to  be  a  teacher  there.  It  was  propounded  the  last 
Lord's  day,  and  was  moved  again  this  day  for  resolution. 
One  of  the  church  stood  up  and  said,  he  could  not  consent, 
etc.*  His  reason  was,  because  the  church  being  well  furnished 
already  with  able  ministers,  whose  spirits  they  knew,  and 
whose  labors  God  had  blessed  in  much  love  and  sweet  peace, 
he  thought  it  not  fit  (no  necessity  urging)  to  put  the  welfare 
of  the  church  to  the  least  hazard,  as  he  feared  they  should  do, 
by  calUng  in  one,  whose  spirit  they  knew  not,  and  one  who 
seemed  to  dissent  in  judgment,  and  instanced  in  two  points, 
which  he  delivered  in  a  late  exercise  there;  1.  That  a  believer 
was  more  than  a  creature.  2.  That  the  person  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  a  behever  were  united.  Hereupon  the  governor 
spake,  that  he  marvelled  at  this,  seeing  Mr.  Cotton  had  lately 
approved  his  doctrine.  To  this  Mr.  Cotton  answered,  that  he 
did  not  remember  the  first,  and  desired  Mr.  Wheelwright  to 
explain  his  meaning.  He  denied  not  the  points,  but  showed 
upon  what  occasion  he  delivered  them.  Whereupon,  there  being 
an  endeavor  to  make  a  reconciliation,  the  first  rephed,  that, 
although  Mr.  Wheelwright  and  himself  might  likely  agree  about 
the  point,  and  though  'he  thought  reverendly  of  his  godliness 
and  abilities,  so  as  he  could  be  content  to  Uve  under  such  a 
ministry ;  yet,  seeing  he  was  apt  to  raise  doubtful  disputations, 
he  could  not  consent  to  choose  him  to  that  place.  Whereupon 
the  church  gave  way,  that  he  might  be  called  to  a  new  church, 
to  be  gathered  at  Mount  Woollaston,  now  Braintree. 

he  came  under  the  influence  of  Cotton,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1636.  In 
the  Antinomian  controversy  he  was  a  conspicuous  champion  of  the  "covenant 
of  grace,"  undergoing  exile  at  the  hands  of  the  upholders  of  a  "covenant  of 
works"  for  a  fast-day  sermon  preached  in  January,  1637.  This  sermon  is  still 
extant,  but  of  it  and  the  whole  Antinomian  controversy  we  may  say,  with  C.  F. 
Adams,  "Not  only  were  the  points  obscure,  but  the  discussion  was  carried  on 
in  a  jargon  which  has  become  unintelligible."  {Three  Episodes  of  Massachusetts 
History,  pp.  367,  439).  Most  of  the  Antinomian  exiles  went  to  Rhode  Island, 
but  Wheelwright  went  to  New  Hampshire,  where  he  is  venerated  as  the  founder 
of  Exeter  and  Hampton.  In  middle  life,  during  a  sojourn  in  England,  he  was 
made  much  of  by  Cromwell. 

*  This  was  no  doubt  Winthrop. 


198  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1636 

Divers  of  the  brethren  took  offence  at  the  said  speech 
against  Mr.  Wheelwright;  whereupon  the  same  brother  spake 
in  the  congregation  the  next  day  to  this  effect :  That,  hearing 
that  some  of  the  brethren  were  offended  at  his  former  speech, 
and  for  that  offences  were  dangerous,  he  was  desirous  to  give 
satisfaction.  The  offence,  he  said,  was  in  three  things:  1. 
For  that  he  had  charged  the  brother  in  pubhc,  and  for  a  thing 
so  long  since  delivered,  and  had  not  first  dealt  with  him  pri- 
vately. For  this  he  acknowledged  it  was  a  failing;  but  the 
occasion  was,  that,  when  he  heard  the  points  delivered,  he  took 
them  in  a  good  sense,  as  spoken  figuratively,  seeing  the  whole 
scope  of  his  doctrine  was  sound,  and  savoring  of  the  spirit 
of  God ;  but  hearing,  very  lately,  that  he  was  suspected  to 
hold  such  opinions,  it  caused  him  to  think,  he  spake  as  he 
meant.  The  2d  cause  of  offence  was,  that  in  his  speech  ap- 
peared some  bitterness.  For  that  he  answered,  that  they 
well  knew  his  manner  of  speech  was  always  earnest  in  things, 
which  he  conceived  to  be  serious;  and  professed,  that  he  did 
love  that  brother's  person,  and  did  honor  the  gifts  and  graces 
of  God  in  him.  The  3d  was,  that  he  had  charged  him  to  have 
held  things  which  he  did  not.  For  this  he  answered,  that  he 
had  spoken  since  with  the  said  brother ;  and  for  the  two  points, 
—that  a  believer  should  be  more  than  a  creature,  and  that  there 
should  be  a  personal  union  between  the  Holy  Ghost  and  a 
behever, — he  had  denied  to  hold  either  of  them;  but  by 
necessary  consequence,  he  doth  hold  them  both ;  for  he  holds, 
(said  he,)  that  there  is  a  real  union  with  the  person  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  then  of  jiecessity  it  must  be  personal,  and  so 
a  believer  must  be  .more  than  a  creature,  viz.,  God-man,  even 
Christ  Jesus.  For  though,  in  a  true  union,  the  two  terms  may 
still  remain  the  same,  etc.,  as  between  husband  and  wife,  he 
is  a  man  still,  and  she  a  woman,  (for  the  union  is  only  in 
sympathy  and  relation,)  yet  in  a  real  or  personal  union  it  is  not. 
Now,  whether  this  were  agreeable  to  the  doctrine  of  the  church 
or  not,  he  left  to  the  church  to  judge;  hoping  that  the  Lord 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  199 

would  direct  our  teacher  to  clear  these  points  fully,  as  he  had 
well  done,  in  good  measure,  already.  Withal  he  made  this 
request  to  the  brother,  (which  he  said  he  did  seriously  and 
affectionately,)  that,  seeing  these  variances  grew  (and  some 
estrangement  withal)  from  some  words  and  phrases,  which 
were  of  human  invention,  and  tended  to  doubtful  disputation, 
rather  than  to  edification,  and  had  no  footing  in  scripture, 
nor  had  been  in  use  in  the  purest  churches  for  three  hundred 
years  after  Christ, — that,  for  the  peace  of  the  church,  etc., 
they  might  be  forborn ;  (he  meant,  person  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  real  union;)  and  concluded,  that  he  did  not  intend  to 
dispute  the  matter,  (as  not  having  place  or  calling  thereunto 
then ;)  yet,  if  any  brother  desired  to  see  what  light  he  walked 
by,  he  would  be  ready  to  impart  it  to  him.  How  this  was 
taken  by  the  congregation,  did  not  appear,  for  no  man  spake 
to  it. 

A  day  or  two  after,  the  same  brother  wrote  his  mind  fully, 
with  such  scriptm"es  and  arguments  as  came  to  hand,  and  sent 
it  to  Mr.  Cotton. 

(9.)  {November)  8.]  A  new  church  was  gathered  at  Sagus, 
now  Lynn.  The  governor  and  deputy  were  not  there,  being 
letted  by  the  coming  in  of  a  ship,  and  other  occasions.  It  held 
the  company  two  days,  Mr.  Whiting,^  who  was  to  be  the 
pastor,  being  very  unskilful  in  church  matters,  and  those  who 
were  to  be  members  not  fit  for  such  a  work.  At  last  six  were 
accepted,  with  Mr.  A^Tiiting,  but  with  much  ado. 

12.]  A  commission  was  sent  out  of  the  chancery  in  Eng- 
land to  some  private  men  here,  to  examine  witnesses  in  a  cause 
depending  there;  but  nothing  was  done  in  it,  nor  any  return 
made. 

17.]  Two  ships  arrived  here  from  London,  and  one  a 
week  before.    They  were  full  of  passengers, — men,  women, 

'Samuel  Whiting  had  been  a  minister  at  Lynn  Regis,  in  Norfolk,  and 
Savage  surmises,  gave  the  name  to  Lynn.  He  was  a  respected  figure  in  the 
colonial  church, 


200  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

and  children.  One  of  them  had  been  from  London  twenty-six 
weeks,  and  between  land  and  land  eighteen  weeks ;  (the  other 
two  something  less  time;)  their  beer  all  spent  and  leaked  out  a 
month  before  their  arrival,  so  as  they  were  forced  to  stinking 
water  (and  that  very  little)  mixed  with  sack  or  vinegar,  and 
their  other  provisions  very  short  and  bad.  Yet,  through  the 
great  providence  of  the  Lord,  they  came  all  safe  on  shore,  and 
most  of  them  sound  and  well  liking.  They  had  continual 
tempests,  and  when  they  were  near  the  shore,  (being  brought 
two  or  three  days  with  a  strong  east  wind,)  the  weather  was 
so  thick  all  that  time  as  they  could  not  make  land,  and  the  sea- 
men were  in  great  perplexity,  when  on  the  sudden  the  fog 
cleared,  so  as  they  saw  Cape  Ann  fair  on  their  starboard  bow, 
and  presently  grew  thick  again;  yet  by  their  compass  tliey 
made  their  harbor.  There  were  aboard  that  ship  two  godly 
ministers,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Rogers,  and  Mr.  Partridge,^  and 
many  good  people  in  that  and  the  other  ships;  and  we  had 
prayed  earnestly  for  them ;  (for  a  small  pinnace  of  thirty  tons, 
which  came  out  with  them,  and  was  come  in  three  weeks  be- 
fore, brought  us  news  of  their  coming).  In  one  of  the  other 
ships,  the  passengers  had  but  half  a  pint  of  drink  for  a  day, 
fourteen  days  together;  yet,  through  the  Lord's  mercy,  did  all 
well.  One  of  the  ships  was  overset  in  the  night  by  a  sudden 
gust,  and  lay  so  half  an  hour,  yet  righted  of  herself. 

Cattle  were  grown  to  high  rates ; — a  good  cow,  £25  or  £30 ; 
a  pair  of  bulls  or  oxen,  £40.  Corn  was  now  at  5s.  the  bushel, 
and  much  rye  was  sown  with  the  plough  this  year,  for  about 
thirty  ploughs  were  at  work.  Bread  was  at  9  and  10s.  the  C. ; 
carpenters  at  3s.  the  day,  and  other  workmen  accordingly. 

Things  went  not  well  at  Connecticut.  Their  cattle  did, 
many  of  them,  cast  their  young,  as  they  had  done  the  year 
before. 

v>  0  *■  ■^^^^'fe^*  ^0  J^'Ntfidge  were  installed  respectively  at  Ipswich  and  Duxbury, 
and  are  celebratecTin  Co|ton  Mather's  Magnalia,  like  many  more  of  the  preachers 
who  pass  in  the^reyipw-  \ 

iiiVi  All  SOxiOOL ) 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  201 

Mons.  D'Aulney/  captain  of  Penobscott  or  Pentagouett, 
returned  answer  to  the  governor's  letter,  wherein  he  professed, 
that  they  claimed  no  further  than  to  Pemaquid,  nor  would 
unless  he  had  further  order;  and  that  he  supposed,  that  the 
cause  why  he  had  no  order,  etc.,  was,  that  the  Enghsh  ambas- 
sador had  dealt  effectually  with  the  cardinal  of  France  for 
settling  the  hmits  for  our  peace,  etc. 

The  governor,  Mr.  Vane,  a  wise  and  godly  gentleman,  held, 
with  Mr.  Cotton  and  many  others,  the  indwelling  of  the  person 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  a  believer,  and  went  so  far  beyond  the 
rest,  as  to  maintain  a  personal  union  with  the  Holy  Ghost; 
but  the  deputy,^  with  the  pastor  and  divers  others,  denied 
both;  and  the  question  proceeded  so  far  by  disputation,  (in 
writing,  for  the  peace  sake  of  the  church,  which  all  were 
tender  of,)  as  at  length  they  could  not  find  the  person  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  in  scripture,  nor  in  the  primitive  churches  three 
hundred  years  after  Christ.  So  that,  all  agreeing  in  the  chief 
matter  of  substance,  viz.  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  God,  and  that 
he  doth  dwell  in  the  behevers,  (as  the  Father  and  Son  both  are 
said  also  to  do,)  but  whether  by  his  gifts  and  power  only,  or 
by  any  other  manner  of  presence,  seeing  the  scripture  doth  not 
declare  it, — it  was  earnestly  desired,  that  the  word  person 
might  be  forborn,  being  a  term  of  human  invention,  and  tending 
to  doubtful  disputation  in  this  case. 

lOber  (December).]  The  governor,  receiving  letters  from 
his  friends  in  England,  which  necessarily  required  his  presence 
there,  imparted  the  same  to  the  council  and  some  others; 
and,  being  thereupon  resolved  of  his  return  into  England,  called 
a  court  of  deputies,  to  the  end  he  might  have  free  leave  of  the 
coimtry,  etc.    They,  being  assembled  in  court,  and  himself 

'  Charles  de  Menou,  Sieur  d'Aulnay-Charnis^.  For  a  detailed  account  of 
the  French  enterprises  with  which  Massachusetts  became  connected,  see  C.  C. 
Smith,  "Massachusetts  and  the  Neighboring  Jurisdictions,"  in  the  Memorial 
History  of  Boston,  I.  282  et  seqq. 

*Winthrop,  now  deputy-governor,  magnanimously  opens  here  the  record  of 
his  difTerence  with  Vane,  now  governor,  who  supported  Mrs.  Hutchinson. 


202  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1636 

declaring  the  necessity  of  his  departure,  and  those  of  the  coun- 
cil affirming  the  reasons  to  be  very  urgent,  though  not  fit  to 
be  imparted  to  the  whole  court,  they  desired  respite  to  consider 
thereof  till  the  morning ;  when  one  of  the  assistants  using  some 
pathetical  passages  of  the  loss  of  such  a  governor  in  a  time  of 
such  danger  as  did  hang  over  us,  from  the  Indians  and  French, 
the  governor  brake  forth  into  tears,  and  professed,  that  how- 
soever the  causes  propounded  for  his  departure  were  such  as 
did  concern  the  utter  ruin  of  his  outward  estate,  yet  he  would 
rather  have  hazarded  all,  than  have  gone  from  them  at  this 
time,  if  something  else  had  not  pressed  him  more,  viz.  the 
inevitable  danger  he  saw  of  God's  judgments  to  come  upon  us 
for  these  differences  and  dissensions,  which  he  saw  amongst  us, 
and  the  scandalous  imputations  brought  upon  himself,  as  if 
he  should  be  the  cause  of  all ;  and  therefore  he  thought  it  best 
for  him  to  give  place  for  a  time,  etc.  Upon  this  the  court  con- 
cluded that  it  would  not  be  fit  to  give  way  to  his  departure 
upon  these  grounds.  Whereupon  he  recalled  himself,  and  pro- 
fessed, that  the  reasons  concerning  his  own  estate  were  sufficient 
to  his  own  satisfaction  for  his  departure,  and  therefore  desired 
the  court  he  might  have  leave  to  go ;  as  for  the  other  passage, 
it  shpped  him  out  of  his  passion,  and  not  out  of  judgment. 
Upon  this  the  court  consented,  silently,  to  his  departure.  Then 
the  question  was  about  supply  of  his  place.  Some  were  of 
opinion,  that  it  should  be  executed  by  the  deputy;  but  this 
scruple  being  cast  in,  that  if  the  deputy  should  die,  then  the 
government  would  be  vacant,  and  none  have  power  to  call  any 
court,  or  to  preside  therein,  etc.,  it  was  agreed  to  call  a  court  of 
elections,  for  a  new  governor  and  deputy,  in  case  the  present 
deputy  should  be  chose  governor;  and  an  order  was  made, 
(in  regard  of  the  season,)  that  such  as  would  might  send  their 
votes  by  proxy,  in  papers  sealed  up  and  delivered  to  the 
deputies.  And  so  this  court  was  adjourned  four  days,  and  two 
days  after  the  court  of  elections  was  to  assemble.  These  things 
thus  passed,  divers  of  the  congregation  of  Boston  met  together, 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,  GOVERNOR  203 

and  agreed  that  they  did  not  apprehend  the  necessity  of  the 
governor's  departure  upon  the  reasons  alleged,  and  sent  some 
of  them  to  declare  the  same  to  the  court ;  whereupon  the  gov- 
ernor expressed  himself  to  be  an  obedient  child  to  the  church, 
and  therefore,  notwithstanding  the  license  of  the  court,  yet, 
without  the  leave  of  the  church,  he  durst  not  go  away. 

WTiereupon  a  great  part  of  the  court  and  country,  who 
understood  hereof,  declared  their  purpose  to  continue  him  still 
in  his  place,  and  therefore,  so  soon  as  the  day  of  election  came, 
and  the  country  were  assembled,  it  was  thought  the  best  way 
for  avoiding  trouble,  etc.,  not  to  proceed  to  election,  but  to 
adjourn  the  court  to  the  great  general  court  in  May.  And  so 
the  court  of  deputies,  etc.,  continued  still,  (for  the  other  court 
was  not  called). 

At  this  court  the  elders  of  the  churches  were  called,  to  ad- 
vise with  them  about  discovering  and  pacif>dng  the  differences 
among  the  churches  in  point  of  opinion.  The  governor 
having  declared  the  occasion  to  them,  Mr.  Dudley  desired, 
that  men  would  be  free  and  open,  etc.  Another  of  the  magis- 
trates spake,  that  it  would  much  further  the  end  they  came  for, 
if  men  would  freely  declare  what  they  held  different  from 
others,  as  himself  would  freely  do,  in  what  point  soever  he 
should  be  opposed.  The  governor  said,  that  he  would  be 
content  to  do  the  like,  but  that  he  understood  the  ministers 
were  about  it  in  a  church  way,  etc.,  which  he  spake  upon  this 
occasion:  the  ministers  had  met,  a  httle  before,  and  had 
drawn  into  heads  all  the  points,  wherein  they  suspected  Mr. 
Cotton  did  differ  from  them,  and  had  propounded  them  to  him, 
and  pressed  him  to  a  direct  answer,  affirmative  or  negative,  to 
every  one ;  which  he  had  promised,  and  taken  time  for.  This 
meeting  being  spoke  of  in  the  court  the  day  before,  the  governor 
took  great  offence  at  it,  as  being  without  his  privity,  etc.,  which 
this  day  Mr.  Peter  told  him  as  plainly  of,  (with  all  due  rever- 
ence,) and  how  it  had  sadded  the  ministers'  spirits,  that  he 
should  be  jealous  of  their  meetings,  or  seem  to  restrain  their 


204  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

liberty,  etc.  The  governor  excused  his  speech,  as  sudden  and 
upon  a  mistake.  Mr.  Peter  told  him  also,  that  before  he  came, 
within  less  than  two  years  since,  the  churches  were  in  peace, 
etc.  The  governor  answered,  that  the  light  of  the  gospel 
brings  a  sword,  and  the  children  of  the  bondwoman  would 
persecute  those  of  the  freewoman.  Mr.  Peter  also  besought 
him  humbly  to  consider  his  youth,  and  short  experience  in  the 
things  of  God,  and  to  beware  of  peremptory  conclusions,  which 
he  perceived  him  to  be  very  apt  unto.  He  declared  further, 
that  he  had  observed,  both  in  the  Low  Countries  and  here,  three 
principal  causes  of  new  opinions  and  divisions  thereupon: 
1.  Pride,  new  notions  hft  up  the  mind,  etc.  2.  Idleness. 
3.  [blank.] 

Mr.  Wilson  made  a  very  sad  speech  of  the  condition  of  our 
churches,  and  the  inevitable  danger  of  separation,  if  these 
differences  and  alienations  among  brethren  were  not  speedily 
remedied;  and  laid  the  blame  upon  these  new  opinions  risen 
up  amongst  us,  which  all  the  magistrates,  except  the  governor 
and  two  others,  did  confirm,  and  all  the  ministers  but  two. 

In  this  discourse  one  question  arose  about  sanctification. 
Mr.  Cotton,  in  his  sermon  that  day,  had  laid  down  this  ground, 
that  evident  sanctification  was  an  evidence  of  justification, 
and  thereupon  had  taught,  that  in  cases  of  spiritual  desertion, 
true  desires  of  sanctification  was  found  to  be  sanctification; 
and  further,  if  a  man  were  laid  so  flat  upon  the  ground,  as  he 
could  see  no  desires,  etc.,  but  only,  as  a  bruised  reed,  did  wait 
at  the  feet  of  Christ,  yet  here  was  matter  of  comfort  for  this, 
as  found  to  be  true. 

The  question  here  grew,  whether  any  of  these,  or  evident 
sanctification,  could  be  evidence  to  a  man  without  a  concur- 
rent sight  of  his  justification.  The  governor  and  Mr.  Cotton 
denied  it. 

The  speech  of  Mr.  Wilson  was  taken  very  ill  by  Mr.  Cotton 
and  others  of  the  same  church,  so  as  he  and  divers  of  them 
went  to  admonish  him.     But  Mr.  Wilson  and  some  others  could 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  205 

see  no  breach  of  rule,  seeing  he  was  called  by  the  court  about 
the  same  matter  with  the  rest  of  the  elders,  and  exhorted  to 
deHver  their  minds  freely  and  faithfully,  both  for  discovering 
the  danger,  and  the  means  to  help ;  and  the  things  he  spake  of 
were  only  in  general,  and  such  as  were  under  a  common  fame. 
And  being  questioned  about  his  intent,  he  professed  he  did  not 
mean  Boston  church,  nor  the  members  thereof,  more  than 
others.  But  this  would  not  satisfy,  but  they  called  him  to 
answer  publicly,  31 ;  and  there  the  governor  pressed  it  violently 
against  him,  and  all  the  congregation,  except  the  deputy  and 
one  or  two  more,  and  many  of  them  with  much  bitterness  and 
reproaches ;  but  he  answered  them  all  with  words  of  truth  and 
soberness,  and  with  marvellous  wisdom.  It  was  strange  to 
see,  how  the  common  people  were  led,  by  example,  to  condemn 
him  in  that,  which  (it  was  very  probable)  divers  of  them  did 
not  understand,^  nor  the  rule  which  he  was  supposed  to  have 
broken;  and  that  such  as  had  known  him  so  long,  and  what 
good  he  had  done  for  that  church,  should  fall  upon  him  with 
such  bitterness  for  justifying  himself  in  a  good  cause;  for  he 
was  a  very  holy,  upright  man,  and  for  faith  and  love  inferior 
to  none  in  the  country,  and  most  dear  to  all  men.  The  teacher 
joined  with  the  church  in  their  judgment  of  him,  (not  without 
some  appearance  of  prejudice,)  yet  with  much  wisdom  and 
moderation.  They  were  eager  to  proceed  to  present  censure, 
but  the  teacher  staid  them  from  that,  telhng  them  he  might 
not  do  it,  because  some  opposed  it,  but  gave  him  a  grave 
exhortation.  The  next  day  Mr.  Wilson  preached,  notwith- 
standing, and  the  Lord  so  assisted  him,  as  gave  great  satisfac- 
tion, and  the  governor  himself  gave  public  witness  to  him. 

One  of  the  brethren''  wrote  to  Mr.  Cotton  about  it,  and  laid 
before  him  divers  failings,  (as  he  supposed,)  and  some  reasons 

'  It  may  well  be  believed  that  plain  men  and  women  were  deeply  embar- 
rassed in  trying  to  understand  what  Savage  calls  "the  deadly,  unintelligible 
opinions"  to  which  those  whom  they  loved  and  respected  were  giving  currency. 

'  Winthrop  himself,  no  doubt,  whose  suffering  over  being  out  of  sympathy 
with  Cotton,  and  in  general  over  the  distractions,  was  acute. 


206  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1636 

to  justify  Mr.  Wilson,  and  dealt  very  plainly  with  him.  Mr. 
Cotton  made  a  very  loving  and  gentle  answer,  clearing  his 
intentions,  and  persisting  in  his  judgment  of  Mr.  Wilson's  of- 
fence, laying  down  divers  arguments  for  it.  The  said  brother 
rephed  to  him  in  like  loving  manner,  and  desired  leave  to  show 
his  letter  to  Mr.  Wilson,  which  he  readily  assented  unto.  But 
for  answer  to  his  arguments,  he  forbore  to  reply  to  Mr.  Cotton, 
(because  he  was  overburdened  with  business,)  but  wrote  to  the 
two  ruhng  elders,  (whom  the  matter  most  concerned,)  and,  by 
way  of  defence  of  Mr.  Wilson,  answered  all  Mr.  Cotton's 
arguments. 

Upon  these  public  occasions,  other  opinions  brake  out  pub- 
hcly  in  the  church  of  Boston, — as  that  the  Holy  Ghost  dwelt 
in  a  believer  as  he  is  in  heaven;  that  a  man  is  justified  before 
he  believes;  and  that  faith  is  no  cause  of  justification.  And 
others  spread  more  secretly, — as  that  the  letter  of  the  scripture 
holds  forth  nothing  but  a  covenant  of  works;  and  that  the 
covenant  of  grace  was  the  spirit  of  the  scripture,  which  was 
known  only  to  believers ;  and  that  this  covenant  of  works  was 
given  by  Moses  in  the  ten  commandments;  that  there  was  a 
seed  (viz.,  Abraham's  carnal  seed)  went  along  in  this,  and  there 
was  a  spirit  and  life  in  it,  by  virtue  whereof  a  man  might  at- 
tain to  any  sanctification  in  gifts  and  graces,  and  might  have 
spiritual  and  continual  communion  with  Jesus  Christ,  and 
yet  be  damned.  After,  it  was  granted,  that  faith  was  before 
justification,  but  it  was  only  passive,  an  empty  vessel,  etc.; 
but  in  conclusion,  the  ground  of  all  was  found  to  be  assurance 
by  immediate  revelation. 

All  the  congregation  of  Boston,  except  four  or  five,  closed 
with  these  opinions,  or  the  most  of  them;  but  one  of  the 
brethren^  wrote  against  them,  and  bore  witness  to  the  truth; 
together  with  the  pastor,  and  very  few  others  joined  with  them. 

About  this  time  the  rest  of  the  ministers,  taking  offence  at 
some  doctrines  delivered  by  Mr.  Cotton,  and  especially  at 

^  Winthrop  himself. 


1636]  HENRY  VANE,  GOVERNOR  207 

some  opinions,  which  some  of  his  church  did  broach,  and  for 
he  seemed  to  have  too  good  an  opinion  of,  and  too  much 
famiharity  with  those  persons,  drew  out  sixteen  points,  and 
gave  them  to  him,  entreating  him  to  deliver  his  judgment 
directly  in  them,  which  accordingly  he  did,  and  many  copies 
thereof  were  dispersed  about.  Some  doubts  he  well  cleared, 
but  in  some  things  he  gave  not  satisfaction.  The  rest  of  the 
ministers  rephed  to  these  answers,  and  at  large  showed  their 
dissent,  and  the  grounds  thereof;  and,  at  the  next  general 
court,  held  9th  of  the  Ist,^  they  all  assembled  at  Boston,  and 
agreed  to  put  off  all  lectures  for  three  weeks,  that  they  might 
bring  things  to  some  issue. 

One  Mr.  Glover  of  Dorchester,  having  laid  sixty  pounds  of 
gunpowder  in  bags  to  dry  in  the  end  of  his  chimney,  it  took 
j&re,  and  some  went  up  the  chimney :  other  of  it  filled  the  room 
and  passed  out  at  a  door  into  another  room,  and  blew  up  a 
gable  end.  A  maid,  which  was  in  the  room,  having  her  arms 
and  neck  naked,  was  scorched,  and  died  soon  after.  A  httle 
child,  in  the  arms  of  another,  was  scorched  upon  the  face,  but 
not  killed.  Two  men  were  scorched,  but  not  much.  Divers 
pieces,  which  lay  charged  in  several  places,  took  fire  and  went 
off,  but  did  no  harm.  The  room  was  so  dark  with  smoke,  as 
those  in  the  house  could  neither  find  door  nor  window,  and 
when  neighbors  came  in,  none  could  see  each  other  a  good 
time  for  smoke.  The  house  was  thatched,  yet  took  not  fire; 
yet  when  the  smoke  was  gone,  many  things  were  found  burnt. 
Another  great  providence  was,  that  three  little  children,  being 
at  the  fire  a  little  before,  they  went  out  to  play,  (though  it  were 
a  very  cold  day,)  and  so  were  preserved. 

»  March  9,  1636/7. 


1637 

12  mo.  (February)  22.]  The  lieutenant  of  Saybrook,  at  the 
mouth  of  Connecticut,  going  out  with  nine  men,  armed  with 
swords  and  pieces,  they  started  three  Indians,  whom  they 
pursued  till  they  were  brought  into  an  ambush  of  fifty,  who 
came  upon  them,  and  slew  four  of  their  men,  and  had  they  not 
drawn  their  swords  and  retired,  they  had  been  all  slain.  The 
Indians  were  so  hardy,  as  they  came  close  up  to  them,  notwith- 
standing their  pieces. 

(11.)  (January)  10.]  Capt.  Turner's  house  in  Sagus  took 
fire  by  an  oven  about  midnight,  and  was  burnt  down,  with  all 
that  was  in  it,  save  the  persons.  About  fourteen  days  since, 
a  ship  called  the  George  of  Bristol,  laden  with  cattle  and  pas- 
sengers, (having  been  some  time  at  the  Western  Islands,)*  and 
having  spent  her  mainmast  about  Cape  Cod,  and  after  come 
near  Brewster's  Islands,  was,  by  N.  W.  winds,  forced  to  put 
into  Plymouth. 

20.]  A  general  fast  was  kept  in  all  the  churches.  The  occa- 
sion was,  the  miserable  estate  of  the  churches  in  Germany; 
the  calamities  upon  our  native  country,  the  bishops  making 
havock  in  the  churches,  putting  down  the  faithful  ministers, 
and  advancing  popish  ceremonies  and  doctrines,  the  plague 
raging  exceedingly,  and  famine  and  sword  threatening  them; 
the  dangers  of  those  at  Connecticut,  and  of  ourselves  also,  by 
the  Indians;  and  the  dissensions  in  our  churches. 

The  differences  in  the  said  points  of  religion  increased  more 
and  more,  and  the  ministers  of  both  sides  (there  being  only 
Mr.  Cotton  of  one  party)  did  publicly  declare  their  judgments 
in  some  of  them,  so  as  all  men's  mouths  were  full  of  them. 

*  Azores. 
208 


1637]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  209 

And  there  being,  12  mo.  (February)  3,  a  ship  ready  to  go  for 
England,  and  many  passengers  in  it,  Mr.  Cotton  took  occasion 
to  speak  to  them  about  the  differences,  etc.,  and  willed  them 
to  tell  om-  comitrjrmen,  that  all  the  strife  amongst  us  was  about 
magnifying  the  grace  of  God;  one  party  seeking  to  advance 
the  grace  of  God  within  us,  and  the  other  to  advance  the  grace 
of  God  towards  us,  (meaning  by  the  one  justification,  and  by 
the  other  sanctification ;)  and  so  bade  them  tell  them,  that,  if 
there  were  any  among  them  that  would  strive  for  grace,  they 
should  come  hither;  and  so  declared  some  particulars.  Mr. 
Wilson  spake  after  him,  and  declared,  that  he  knew  none  of 
the  elders  or  brethren  of  the  churches,  but  did  labor  to  advance 
the  free  grace  of  God  in  justification,  so  far  as  the  word  of  God 
required ;  and  spake  also  about  the  doctrine  of  sanctification, 
and  the  use  and  necessity,  etc.,  of  it ;  by  occasion  whereof  no 
man  could  tell  (except  some  few,  who  knew  the  bottom  of  the 
matter)  where  any  difference  was:  which  speech,  though  it 
offended  those  of  Mr.  Cotton's  party,  yet  it  was  very  seasonable 
to  clear  the  rest,  who  otherwise  should  have  been  reputed  to 
have  opposed  free  grace.  Thus  every  occasion  increased  the 
contention,  and  caused  great  alienation  of  minds;  and  the 
members  of  Boston  (frequenting  the  lectures  of  other  minis- 
ters) did  make  much  disturbance  by  public  questions,  and  ob- 
jections to  their  doctrines,  which  did  any  way  disagree  from 
their  opinions;  and  it  began  to  be  as  common  here  to  distin- 
guish between  men,  by  being  under  a  covenant  of  grace  or  a 
covenant  of  works,  as  in  other  countries  between  Protestants 
and  papists.* 

February  6.]    A  man  of  Weymouth  (but  not  of  the  church) 

'  How  hurtful  to  the  churches  the  controversy  was,  appears  from  the  fact 
that  for  two  years,  while  it  was  raging,  the  records  show  that  no  member  was 
received  into  the  Boston  church.  Yet  so  slight  were  the  differences  that  both 
Cotton  and  Wilson  unite  in  stating  the  trouble  in  such  terms,  that  passengers  to 
England  may  make  no  report  of  discord.  Stoppage  of  immigration  and  inter- 
ference from  the  authorities  were  to  be  feared  if  the  melancholy  story  of  the 
schism  were  related;  both  sides  therefore  tried  to  put  a  good  face  on  things. 


210  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1637 

fell  into  some  trouble  of  mind,  and  in  the  night  cried  out,  ' '  Art 
thou  come.  Lord  Jesus?"  and  with  that  leaped  out  of  his  bed 
in  his  shirt,  and,  breaking  from  his  wife,  leaped  out  at  a  high 
window  into  the  snow,  and  ran  about  seven  miles  off,  and 
being  traced  in  the  snow,  was  found  dead  next  morning.  They 
might  perceive,  that  he  had  kneeled  down  to  prayer  in  divers 
places. 

(1.)  (March)  9.]  The  general  court  began.  When  any 
matter  about  these  new  opinions  was  mentioned,  the  court 
was  divided ;  yet  the  greater  number  far  were  sound.  They 
questioned  the  proceeding  against  Mr.  Wilson,  for  his  speech  in 
the  last  court,  but  could  not  fasten  upon  such  as  had  prejudiced 
him,  etc. ;  but,  by  the  vote  of  the  greater  party,  his  speech  was 
approved,  and  declared  to  have  been  a  seasonable  advice,  and 
no  charge  or  accusation. 

The  ministers,  being  called  to  give  advice  about  the  author- 
ity of  the  court  in  things  concerning  the  churches,  etc.,  did 
all  agree  of  these  two  things:  1.  That  no  member  of  the 
court  ought  to  be  publicly  questioned  by  a  church  for  any 
speech  in  the  court,  without  the  license  of  the  court.  The 
reason  was,  because  the  court  may  have  sufficient  reason  that 
may  excuse  the  sin,  which  yet  may  not  be  fit  to  acquaint  the 
church  with,  being  a  secret  of  state.  The  second  thing  was, 
that,  in  all  such  heresies  or  errors  of  any  church  members 
as  are  manifest  and  dangerous  to  the  state,  the  court  may 
proceed  without  tarrying  for  the  church ;  but  if  the  opinions  be 
doubtful,  etc.,  they  are  first  to  refer  them  to  the  church,  etc. 

At  this  court,  when  Mr.  Wheelwright  was  to  be  questioned 
for  a  sermon,  which  seemed  to  tend  to  sedition,  etc.,  near 
all  the  church  of  Boston  presented  a  petition  to  the  court  for 
two  things:  1.  That  as  freemen  they  might  be  present  in 
cases  of  judicature.  2.  That  the  court  would  declare,  if  they 
might  deal  in  cases  of  conscience  before  the  church,  etc.  This 
was  taken  as  a  groimdless  and  presumptuous  act,  especially  at 
this  season,  and  was  rejected  with  this  answer :    That  the  court 


1637]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  211 

had  never  used  to  proceed  judicially  but  it  was  openly;  but  for 
matter  of  consultation  and  preparation  in  causes,  they  might 
and  would  be  private. 

One  Stephen  Greensmith,  for  saying  that  all  the  ministers, 
except  A.  B.  C,  did  teach  a  covenant  of  works,  was  censured 
to  acknowledge  his  fault  in  every  church,  and  fined  £40. 

Mr.  Wheelwright,  one  of  the  members  of  Boston,  preach- 
ing at  the  last  fast,  inveighed  against  all  that  walked  in  a 
covenant  of  works,  as  he  described  it  to  be,  viz.,  such  as 
maintain  sanctification  as  an  evidence  of  justification,  etc.  and 
called  them  antichrists,  and  stirred  up  the  people  against  them 
with  much  bitterness  and  vehemency.  For  this  he  was  called 
into  the  court,  and  his  sermon  being  produced,  he  justified  it, 
and  confessed  he  did  mean  all  that  walk  in  such  a  way.  Where- 
upon the  elders  of  the  rest  of  the  churches  were  called,  and 
asked  whether  they,  in  their  ministry,  did  walk  in  such  a  way. 
They  all  acknowledged  they  did.  So,  after  much  debate,  the 
court  adjudged  him  guilty  of  sedition,  and  also  of  contempt, 
for  that  the  court  had  appointed  the  fast  as  a  means  of  recon- 
ciliation of  the  differences,  etc.,  and  he  purposely  set  himself 
to  kindle  and  increase  them.^  The  governor  and  some  few 
more  (who  dissented)  tendered  a  protestation,  which,  because 
it  wholly  justified  Mr.  Wheelwright,  and  condemned  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court,  was  rejected.  The  church  of  Boston  also 
tendered  a  petition  in  his  behalf,  justifying  Mr.  Wheelwright's 
sermon.  The  court  deferred  sentence  till  the  next  court,  and 
advised  with  the  ministers,  etc.,  whether  they  might  enjoin 
his  silence,  etc.    They  answered,  that  they  were  not  clear  in 


'  Savage  quotes  from  Wheelwright's  sermon  a  passage  characterized  not 
only  by  piety,  but  by  a  quality  in  those  days  apparently  more  rare — sound  com- 
mon sense.  He  in  particular  rejects  the  name  "antinomian,"  which  though  not 
employed  here  by  Winthrop,  was  by  many  others  aflSxed  as  a  stigma  to  the  heresies 
of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  her  followers.  Cotton  upheld  Wheelwright,  and  in 
1654,  the  General  Court  rendered  to  Wheelwright,  who  as  an  exile  in  New  Hamp- 
shire effected  much  good,  a  tardy  but  substantial  justice.  See  Mather,  Mag- 
nolia, book  VII.,  chap,  iii.,  sec.  3. 


212  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1637 

that  point,  but  desired  rather,  that  he  might  be  commended 
to  the  church  of  Boston  to  take  care  of  him,  etc.,  which  ac- 
cordingly was  done,  and  he  enjoined  to  appear  at  the  next 
court.  Much  heat  of  contention  was  this  court  between  the 
opposite  parties;  so  as  it  was  moved,  that  the  next  court 
might  be  kept  at  Newtown.  The  governor  refused  to  put  it 
to  the  vote;  the  deputy  was  loath  to  do  it,  except  the  court 
would  require  him,  because  he  dwelt  in  Boston,  etc.  So  the 
court  put  it  to  Mr.  Endecott. 

21.]  Miantunnomoh,  etc.,  sent  twenty-six,  with  forty 
fathom  of  wampom  and  a  Pequod's  hand.  We  gave  four  of 
the  chief  each  a  coat  of  fourteen  shillings  price,  and  deferred 
to  return  our  present  till  after,  according  to  their  manner. 

Mo.  2.  (April)  1.]  Those  of  Connecticut  returned  answer  to 
our  public  letters,  wherein  they  showed  themselves  unsatisfied 
about  our  former  expedition  against  the  Pequods,  and  their 
expectations  of  a  further  prosecution  of  the  war,  to  which  they 
offer  to  send  men,  and  signify  their  unpreparedness  to  declare 
themselves  in  the  matter  of  government,  in  regard  of  their 
engagement  to  attend  the  answer  of  the  gentlemen  of  Say- 
brook  about  the  same  matter. 

10.]  Capt.  Underbill  was  sent  to  Saybrook,  with  twenty 
men,  to  keep  the  fort,  both  in  respect  of  the  Indians,  and 
especially  of  the  Dutch,  who,  by  their  speeches  and  suppHes 
out  of  Holland,  gave  cause  of  suspicion  that  they  had  some 
design  upon  it.  The  men  were  sent  at  the  charge  of  the  gentle- 
men of  Saybrook,  and  lent  by  order  of  the  council  here,  for  fear 
any  advantage  should  be  taken  by  the  adverse  party,  through 
the  weakness  of  the  place. 

6.]  The  church  of  Concord  kept  a  day  of  humiliation  at 
Newtown,  for  ordination  of  their  elders,  and  they  chose  Mr. 
Buckly*  teacher,  and  Mr.  Jones  pastor.  Upon  a  question 
moved  by  one  sent  from  the  church  of  Salem,  it  was  resolved 

'  The  Reverend  Peter  Bulkeley. 


1637]  HENRY  VANE,   GOVERNOR  213 

by  the  ministers  there  present,  that  such  as  had  been  ministers 
in  England  were  lawful  ministers  by  the  call  of  the  people  there, 
notwithstanding  their  acceptance  of  the  call  of  the  bishops, 
etc.,  (for  which  they  humbled  themselves,  acknowledging  it 
their  sin,  etc.,)  but  being  come  hither,  they  accounted  them- 
selves no  ministers,  until  they  were  called  to  another  church, 
and  that,  upon  election,  they  were  ministers  before  they  were 
solemnly  ordained. 

The  governor,  and  Mr.  Cotton,  and  IVIr.  WTieelwright,  and 
the  two  ruhng  elders  of  Boston,  and  the  rest  of  that  church, 
which  were  of  any  note,  did  none  of  them  come  to  this  meeting. 
The  reason  was  conceived  to  be,  because  they  accounted  these 
as  legal  preachers,  and  therefore  would  not  give  approbation 
to  their  ordination. 

3.  (May)  2.]  Mr.  Haynes,  one  of  our  magistrates,  removed 
with  his  family  to  Connecticut. 

12.]  We  received  a  letter  from  him  and  others,  being  then 
at  Saybrook,  that  the  Pequods  had  been  up  the  river  at  Weath- 
ersfield,  and  had  killed  six  men,  being  at  their  work,  and  twenty 
cows  and  a  mare,  and  had  killed  three  women,  and  carried 
away  two  maids. 

Mr.  Winslow  was  sent  from  the  governor  and  council  of 
Plymouth  to  treat  with  us  about  joining  against  the  Pequods. 
He  declared  first  their  wilhngness  to  aid  us ;  but  that  they  could 
not  do  any  thing  till  their  general  court,  which  was  not  till  the 
first  Tuesday  in  the  4th  month.  Then  he  made  some  objec- 
tions: as,  1.  Our  refusal  to  aid  them  against  the  French.  2. 
Our  people's  trading  at  Kenebeck.  3.  The  injury  offered  them 
at  Connecticut  by  those  of  Windsor,  in  taking  away  their  land 
there.  4.  Their  own  poverty,  and  our  abihty,  which  needed 
not  any  help  from  them. 

To  this  answer  was  made  by  our  governor  and  deputy: 
that,  1.  We  did  not  desire  them  to  afford  aid  unto  us,  but  to 
join  against  the  common  enemy,  who,  if  he  were  not  subdued, 
would  prove  as  dangerous  to  them  as  to  us,  and,  he  prevaiUng, 


214  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1637 

would  cause  all  the  Indians  in  the  country  to  join  to  root  out 
all  the  English.  2.  For  our  refusal  to  aid  them  against  the 
French,  the  case  was  not  alike,  for  it  was  their  private  quarrel, 
and  they  were  supposed  to  have  commission  from  the  king  of 
France,  and  we  thought  it  no  wisdom  for  us  to  engage  ourselves 
in  a  war  with  the  king  of  France ;  yet  we  acknowledged  some 
failing  in  it.  For  our  people's  trading  at  Kenebeck,  we  an- 
swered, that  we  gave  no  allowance  to  it,  nor  had  we  heard  of 
more  than  a  boat  or  two  that  had  been  there.  For  the  injury 
done  them  at  Connecticut,  we  had  dealt  with  them  to  give 
satisfaction,  but  it  was  not  in  our  power  to  do  them  justice  in 
it.  He  alleged  also,  that  this  war  did  not  concern  them,  seeing 
the  Pequods  had  not  killed  any  of  theirs.  We  answered,  that 
Capt.  Stone,  etc.,  for  whom  this  war  was  begun,  were  none 
of  ours  neither.  He  alleged  further,  that,  in  our  first  under- 
taking, they  were  not  acquainted  with  it  till  two  or  three  days 
before  our  forces  were  to  go  forth.  We  answered,  we  intended 
at  the  first  to  send  only  to  Block  Island,  and  for  that  we  thought 
it  not  needful  to  trouble  them,  and  our  sending  them  thence 
to  the  Pequods  was  with  hope  to  draw  them  to  parley,  and 
so  to  some  quiet  end.  We  concluded  to  write  further  to  them 
from  our  next  court.  And  whereas  they  propounded  to  have 
us  promise  to  aid  them  in  all  their  occasions,  etc.,  we  answered 
that,  seeing,  when  we  now  treated  with  them  about  joining 
with  us,  they  were  at  liberty  and  might  withhold,  except  they 
saw  reason  to  move  them;  so  we  desired  to  be  left  free,  that 
we  might  judge  of  the  reason  of  any  such  occasion  as  might 
fall  out.  According  hereunto  we  writ  to  them  the  20th  of  the 
3d  month,  and  gave  them  some  considerations,  why  they 
should  join  with  us:  as,  1.  because,  if  we  should  be  overcome, 
it  would  cost  them  more  to  help  us,  and  be  less  acceptable ;  2. 
if  we  should  prevail  without  them,  it  would  occasion  ill  thoughts 
in  our  people  towards  theirs,  etc.     So  we  left  it  to  them.^ 

>  This  letter  of  Winthrop's,  of  May  20,  1637,  is  given  in  full  by  Bradford, 
pp.  335-337. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  215 

17.]  Our  court  of  elections  was  at  Newtown.  So  soon  as 
the  court  was  set,  being  about  one  of  the  clock,  a  petition  was 
preferred  by  those  of  Boston.  The  governor  would  have  read 
it,  but  the  deputy  said  it  was  out  of  order ;  it  was  a  court  for 
elections,  and  those  must  first  be  despatched,  and  then  their 
petitions  should  be  heard.  Divers  others  also  opposed  that 
course,  as  an  ill  precedent,  etc. ;  and  the  petition,  being  about 
pretence  of  Uberty,  etc.,  (though  intended  chiefly  for  revoking 
the  sentence  given  against  Mr.  Wheelwright,)  would  have  spent 
all  the  day  in  debate,  etc. ;  but  yet  the  governor  and  those  of 
that  party  would  not  proceed  to  election,  except  the  petition 
was  read.  Much  time  was  already  spent  about  this  debate, 
and  the  people  crying  out  for  election,  it  was  moved  by  the 
deputy,  that  the  people  should  divide  themselves,  and  the 
greater  number  must  carry  it.  And  so  it  was  done,  and  the 
greater  number  by  many  were  for  election.  But  the  governor 
and  that  side  kept  their  place  still,  and  would  not  proceed. 
Whereupon  the  deputy  told  him,  that,  if  he  would  not  go  to 
election,  he  and  the  rest  of  that  side  would  proceed.  Upon 
that,  he  came  from  his  company,  and  they  went  to  election; 
and  Mr.  Winthrop  was  chosen  governor,  Mr.  Dudley  deputy 
and  Mr.  Endecott  of  the  standing  council;  and  Mr.  Israel 
Stoughton  and  Mr.  Richard  Saltonstall  were  called  in  to  be 
assistants;  and  Mr.  Vane,  Mr.  Coddington,  and  Mr.  Dummer, 
(being  all  of  that  faction,)  were  left  quite  out. 

There  was  great  danger  of  a  tumult  that  day ;  for  those  of 
that  side  grew  into  fierce  speeches,  and  some  laid  hands  on 
others;  but  seeing  themselves  too  weak,  they  grew  quiet. 
They  expected  a  great  advantage  that  day,  because  the  remote 
towns  were  allowed  to  come  in  by  proxy;  but  it  fell  out,  that 
there  were  enough  beside.  But  if  it  had  been  otherwise,  they 
must  have  put  in  their  deputies,  as  other  towns  had  done,  for 
all  matters  beside  elections.  Boston,  having  deferred  to  choose 
deputies  till  the  election  was  passed,  went  home  that  night,  and 
the  next  morning  they  sent  Mr.  Vane,  the  late  governor,  and 


216  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1637 

Mr.  Coddington,  and  Mr.  Hoffe,  for  their  deputies;  but  the 
court,  being  grieved  at  it,  found  a  means  to  send  them  home 
again,  for  that  two  of  the  freemen  of  Boston  had  not  notice  of 
the  election.  So  they  went  all  home,  and  the  next  morning 
they  returned  the  same  gentlemen  again  upon  a  new  choice; 
and  the  court  not  finding  how  they  might  reject  them,  they 
were  admitted. 

Upon  the  election  of  the  new  governor,  the  Serjeants,  who 
had  attended  the  old  governor  to  the  court,  (being  all  Boston 
men,  where  the  new  governor  also  dwelt,)  laid  down  their 
halberds  and  went  home ;  and  whereas  they  had  been  wont  to 
attMid  the  former  governor  to  and  from  the  meetings  on  the 
Lord's  days,  they  gave  over  now,  so  as  the  new  governor  was 
fain  to  use  his  own  servants  to  carry  two  halberds  before  him; 
whereas  the  former  governor  had  never  less  than  four. 

Divers  writings  were  now  published  about  these  differ- 
ences. Among  the  rest,  the  magistrates  set  forth  an  apology* 
to  justify  the  sentence  of  the  court  against  Mr.  Wheelwright, 
which  the  adverse  party  had  much  opposed  and  spoken  evil 
of,  and  did  also  set  forth  a  remonstrance  to  that  end,  in  which 
they  did  not  deal  fairly;  for,  in  abbreviating  Mr.  Wheelwright 
his  sermon,  they  clear  altered  both  the  words  and  meaning  of 
such  passages  in  it,  whereat  the  offence  was  taken,  and  which 
were  the  ground  of  the  court's  sentence. 

Mr.  Wheelwright  also  himself  set  forth  a  small  tractate 
about  the  principal  doctrine  of  his  sermon,  viz.,  about  the  cove- 
nant of  grace,  which  was  also  differing  from  his  sermon. 

The  other  ministers  also  set  out  an  answer  to  his  sermon, 
confuting  the  same  by  many  strong  arguments. 

Mr.  Cotton  also  replied  to  their  answer  very  largely,  and 
stated  the  differences  in  a  very  narrow  scantling;  and  Mr. 
Shepherd,  preaching  at  the  day  of  election,  brought  them  yet 
nearer,  so  as,  except  men  of  good  understanding,  and  such  as 
knew  the  bottom  of  the  tenets  of  those  of  the  other  party,  few 

*  Printed  in  the  Short  Story,  of  which  more  later. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  217 

could  see  where  the  difference  was;  and  indeed  it  seemed  so 
small,  as  (if  men's  affections  had  not  been  formerly  ahenated, 
when  the  differences  were  formerly  stated  as  fundamental) 
they  might  easily  have  come  to  reconciliation.  For  in  these 
particulars  they  agreed:  1.  That  justification  and  sanctifica- 
tion  were  both  together  in  time;  2.  That  a  man  must  know 
himself  to  be  justified,  before  he  can  know  himself  to  be  sanc- 
tified; 3.  That  the  spirit  never  witnesseth  justification  without 
a  word  and  a  work. 

The  difference  was,  whether  the  first  assurance  be  by  an 
absolute  promise  always,  and  not  by  a  conditional  also,  and 
whether  a  man  could  have  any  true  assurance,  without  sight 
of  some  such  work  in  his  soul  as  no  hypocrite  could  attain  unto.^ 

At  the  court  Mr.  Wheelwright,  according  as  he  was  enjoined, 
did  appear;  but,  because  a  general  day  of  humihation  was 
appointed,  and  it  was  agreed,  that  all  the  churches  should 
choose  certain  men  to  meet  and  confer  about  the  differences, 
the  court  gave  him  respite  to  the  next  session,  (which  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  Tuesday  in  August,)  to  bethink  himself,  that, 
retracting  and  reforming  his  error,  etc.,  the  court  might  show 
him  favor,  which  otherwise  he  must  not  expect.  His  answer 
was,  that  if  he  had  committed  sedition,  then  he  ought  to  be  put 
to  death ;  and  if  we  did  mean  to  proceed  against  him,  he  meant 
to  appeal  to  the  king's  court;  for  he  could  retract  nothing. 
The  court  told  him,  that  they  were  clear  in  the  justice  of  their 
proceeding,  and  should  judge  of  his  offence  as  they  had  done, 
if  it  were  to  do  again ;  but  if,  upon  the  conference  among  the 
churches,  the  Lord  should  discover  any  further  light  to  them 
than  as  yet  they  had  seen,  they  should  gladly  embrace  it. 

'  The  folly  and  pitiableness  of  this  dissension  over  matters  which  the  com- 
batants themselves  admitted  to  be  so  trifling  is  brought  home  to  us  in  reading 
that  in  these  days  the  Boston  men  gathered  for  the  Pequot  war,  a  most  important 
contingent  of  the  force,  came  near  refusing  to  march,  because  the  chaplain,  John 
Wilson,  was  under  a  "covenant  of  works."  And  yet  there  has  never  been  in  New 
England  a  call  for  men  more  imperative.  Palfrey,  History  of  New  England, 
I.  492. 


218  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1637 

The  intent  of  the  court  in  deferring  the  sentence  was,  that, 
being  thus  provoked  by  their  tumultuous  course,  and  divers 
insolent  speeches,  which  some  of  that  party  had  uttered  in  the 
court,  and  having  now  power  enough  to  have  crushed  them, 
their  moderation  and  desire  of  reconcihation  might  appear 
to  all. 

Having  received  intelligence  from  Miantunnomoh,  that  the 
Pequods  had  sent  their  women  and  children  to  an  island  for 
their  safety,  we  presently  sent  away  forty  men  by  land  to  the 
Narigansetts,  and  there  to  take  in  Miantunnomoh,  (and  he 
offered  to  send  sixteen  men  with  ours,)  and  so,  in  the  night, 
to  set  upon  them. 

We  also  provided  to  send  one  hundred  and  sixty  ^  more 
after  them  to  prosecute  the  war;  and  Mr.  Stoughton,  one  of 
the  magistrates,  was  sent  with  them,  and  Mr.  Wilson,  the  pastor 
of  Boston.  These  two  were  chosen  thus  in  the  open  court: 
Three  magistrates  were  set  apart,  and  one  was  designed  by  a 
lot ;  also  the  elders  set  apart  two ;  and  a  lot  was  cast  between 
them  in  a  solemn  public  invocation  of  the  name  of  God. 

22.]  Miantunnomoh  sent  us  word,  that  Capt.  Mason,^  with 
a  company  of  the  English  upon  the  river,  had  surprised  and 
slain  eight  Pequods,  and  taken  seven  squaws,  and  with  some 
of  them  had  redeemed  the  two  English  maids. 

24.]  By  letters  from  Mr.  Wilhams  we  were  certified,  (which 
the  next  day  was  confirmed  by  some  who  came  from  Say- 
brook,)  that  Capt.  Mason  was  come  to  Saybrook  with  eighty 

1  The  relative  strength  of  the  towns  of  the  colony  at  this  time  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  apportionment  of  this  body — Boston,  26;  Salem,  18;  Ipswich, 
17;  Lynn,  16;  Watertown,  14;  Dorchester,  13;  Charlestown,  12;  Roxbury,  10; 
Newtown,  9;  Newbury,  8;  Hingham,  6;  Weymouth,  5;  Medford,  3;  Marble- 
head,  3.     (Savage.) 

^  Captain  John  Mason  led  the  little  army  with  great  courage  and  skill.  A 
better  or  more  necessary  piece  of  Indian  fighting  has  perhaps  never  been  done: 
it  saved  the  colony  from  extinction.  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax,  Mason's  old  comrade 
in  England,  desired  his  services  in  the  army  of  the  Parliament.  An  account  of 
the  Pequot  war  was  written  by  Mason  himself,  Massachusetts  Historical  Society's 
Collections,  second  series,  VIII.  232,  and  another  by  Lyon  Gardiner,  ibid.,  third 
series,  III.  136,  173.     Mason's  life  has  been  written  by  George  E.  Ellis. 


1637]  JOHN  WLNTHROP,   GOVERNOR  219 

English  and  one  hundred  Indians;  and  that  the  Indians  had 
gone  out  there,  and  met  with  seven  Pequods ;  five  they  killed ; 
one  they  took  alive,  whom  the  English  put  to  torture ;  and  set 
all  their  heads  upon  the  fort.  The  reason  was,  because  they 
had  tortured  such  of  our  men  as  they  took  alive. 

The  Dutch  governor  sent  a  sloop  to  Pequod  to  redeem  the 
two  English  maids  by  what  means  soever,  though  it  were  with 
breach  of  their  peace  with  the  Pequods.*  The  sloop  offered 
largely  for  their  ransom;  but  nothing  would  be  accepted. 
So  the  Dutch,  having  many  Pequods  aboard,  stayed  six  of 
them,  (the  rest  leaped  overboard,)  and  with  them  redeemed  the 
two  maids,  who  had  been  well  used  by  the  Pequods,  and  no 
violence  offered  them. 

The  former  governor  and  IVIr.  Coddington,  being  discontent- 
ed that  the  people  had  left  them  out  of  all  pubhc  service,  gave 
further  proof  of  it  in  the  congregation ;  for  they  refused  to  sit 
in  the  magistrate's  seat,  (where  Mr.  Vane  had  always  sitten 
from  his  first  arrival,)  and  went  and  sate  with  the  deacons, 
although  the  governor  sent  to  desire  them  to  come  in  to  him. 
And  upon  the  day  of  the  general  fast,  they  went  from  Boston 
to  keep  the  day  at  the  Mount  with  Mr.  Wheelwright. 

Another  occasion  of  their  discontent,  and  of  the  rest  of  that 
party,  was  an  order,  which  the  court  had  made,  to  keep  out  all 
such  persons  as  might  be  dangerous  to  the  commonwealth,  by 
imposing  a  penalty  upon  all  such  as  should  retain  any,  etc., 
above  three  weeks,  which  should  not  be  allowed  by  some  of  the 
magistrates ;  for  it  was  very  probable,  that  they  expected  many 
of  their  opinion  to  come  out  of  England  from  Mr.  Brierly  his 
church,  etc.^ 

*  The  humanity  and  bravery  of  the  Dutch  in  risking  a  war  with  the  Pequots 
to  ransom  the  EngHsh  maids,  is  commendable.  Johnson  says,  W onder-W orking 
Providence,  book  ii.,  chap,  i.,  that  the  Pequots  asked  the  maids  if  they  could 
make  gunpowder.     They  plainly  felt  their  disadvantage. 

^  Wmthrop  wrote  at  this  time  a  "  Defense  of  the  Order  of  the  Court,"  to 
which  Vane  wrote  "A  Brief  Answer,"  of  which  interchange  of  papers  no  men- 
tion is  made  here.     The  papers  are  preserved  in  Hutckinson  Papers,  I.  79,  84. 


220  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

This  order,  and  other  differences  between  the  new  governor 
and  them,  was  the  cause,  that,  at  his  return  to  Boston,  none 
of  them  met  him;  and  the  Serjeants,  which  had  constantly 
attended  the  former  governor  to  all  public  meetings  with 
four  halberds,  did  now  refuse  to  do  any  such  office  to  the  new, 
alleging  that  they  had  done  it  to  the  former  voluntarily,  in  re- 
spect of  his  person,  not  his  place.  To  which  it  was  answered, 
that  there  was  a  double  error;  1.  Because  the  place  drowns 
the  person,  be  he  honorable  or  base;  2.  In  that  any  compli- 
ment of  honor,  being  once  conferred  upon  an  office,  (though 
voluntarily,)  cannot  after  be  taken  away  without  contempt  and 
injury.  The  country,  taking  notice  of  this,  offered  to  send  in 
some  from  the  neighboring  towns  to  carry  the  halberds  by 
course ;  and  upon  that  the  town  of  Boston  offered  to  send  some 
men,  but  not  the  Serjeants;  but  the  governor  chose  rather  to 
make  use  of  two  of  his  own  servants. 

25.]  Our  English  from  Connecticut,  with  their  Indians,  and 
many  of  the  Naragansetts,  marched  in  the  night  to  a  fort  of  the 
Pequods  at  Mistick,  and,  besetting  the  same  about  break  of  the 
day,  after  two  hours'  fight  they  took  it,  (by  firing  it,)  and  slew 
therein  two  chief  sachems,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  fighting 
men,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  old  men,  women,  and 
children,  with  the  loss  of  two  English,  whereof  but  one  was 
killed  by  the  enemy.  Divers  of  the  Indian  friends  were  hurt 
by  the  English,  because  they  had  not  some  mark  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  Pequods,  as  some  of  them  had.  The  story  is 
more  fully  described  in  the  next  leaf.* 

Presently  upon  this  came  news  from  the  Naragansett,  that 

Vane's  "Brief  Answer"  is  memorable  as  containing  the  first  adumbration  of  an 
idea  for  which  he  was  afterward  to  struggle  upon  a  larger  stage — the  idea  of 
toleration.  For  the  order  of  the  court,  see  Mass.  Col.  Records,  I.  196.  From 
Cotton's  Way  of  the  Congregational  Churches  Cleared,  a  famous  book,  it  appears 
that  he,  as  well  as  Vane,  felt  outraged  by  the  order,  thus  showing  the  more  liberal 
spirit  which  in  a  different  environment  might  have  characterized  him.  He  de- 
signed at  this  time,  says  Savage,  to  remove  to  Connecticut,  but  was  dissuaded. 

'  This  account  has  been  lost,  if  it  were  ever  written,  but  Mason's  report 
(Ellis,  Mason)  is  very  vivid,  recording  much  ruthlessness  as  well  as  valor. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  221 

all  the  English,  and  two  hundred  of  the  Indians,  were  cut  off  in 
their  retreat,  for  want  of  powder  and  victuals.  Three  days 
after,  this  was  confirmed  by  a  post  from  Plymouth,  with  such 
probable  circumstances,  as  it » was  generally  beheved.  But, 
three  days  after,  Mr.  Williams,  having  gone  to  the  Naragansetts 
to  discover  the  truth,  found  them  mourning,  as  being  confident 
of  it;  but  that  night  some  came  from  the  army,  and  assured 
them  all  was  well,  and  that  all  the  Pequods  were  fled,  and  had 
forsaken  their  forts.  The  general  defeat  of  the  Pequods  at 
Mistick  happened  the  day  after  our  general  fast.^ 

Mo.  4.  (June)  3.]  Two  ships  arrived  here  out  of  England, 
(Mr.  Peirce  was  one).  In  them  came  the  copy  of  a  commission, 
from  the  commissioners  for  New  England,  to  divers  of  the 
magistrates  here,  to  govern  all  the  people  in  New  England  till 
further  order,  etc.,  upon  this  pretence,  that  there  was  no 
lawful  authority  in  force  here,  either  mediate  or  immediate, 
from  his  majesty.^ 

Upon  the  news  from  Mr.  Wilhams,  that  the  Pequods  were 
dispersed,  and  some  come  in  and  submitted  to  the  Naragan- 
setts, (who  would  not  receive  them  before  he  had  sent  to  know 
our  mind,)  the  governor  and  council  thought  it  needless  to 
send  so  many  men,  and  therefore  sent  out  warrants  only  for 
one  half  of  the  two  hundred ;  but  some  of  the  people  hked  not 
of  it,  and  came  to  the  governor  to  have  all  sent.  He  took 
it  ill;  and  though  three  of  the  ministers  came  with  them  to 
debate  the  matter,  he  told  them,  that  if  any  one,  discerning 
an  error  in  the  proceedings  of  the  council,  had  come,  in  a  private 
manner,  to  acquaint  him  therewith,  etc.,  it  had  been  well 
done ;  but  to  come,  so  many  of  them,  in  a  public  and  popular 
way,  was  not  well,  and  would  bring  authority  into  contempt. 
This  they  took  well  at  his  hands,  and  excused  their  intentions. 

'  It  was  through  Roger  Wilhams  that  the  Narragansetts  were  held  firm  to 
the  English  (Ellis,  Mason,  p.  360),  a  fact  which  Winthrop  does  not  make  clear. 

'  In  addition  to  all  the  other  trouble,  here  was  a  new  event  full  of  evU 
import. 


222  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

So  it  was  thought  fit  to  send  about  forty  men  more,  which  was 
yielded  rather  to  satisfy  the  people,  than  for  any  need  that 
appeared. 

Upon  our  governor's  letter  to  Plymouth,  our  friends  there 
agreed  to  send  a  pinnace,  with  forty  men,  to  assist  in  the  war 
against  the  Pequods;  but  they  could  not  be  ready  to  meet  us 
at  the  first. 

15.]  There  was  a  day  of  thanksgiving  kept  in  all  the 
churches  for  the  victory  obtained  against  the  Pequods,  and  for 
other  mercies. 

About  this  time  came  home  a  small  pinnace  of  thirty  tons, 
which  had  been  forth  eight  months,  and  was  given  for  lost. 
She  went  to  the  Bermuda,  but  by  continual  tempests  was  kept 
from  thence,  and  forced  to  bear  up  for  the  West  Indies,  and, 
being  in  great  distress,  arrived  at  Hispaniola,  and  not  daring 
to  go  into  any  inhabited  place  there,  but  to  go  ashore  in  obscure 
places,  and  lived  of  turtles  and  hogs,  etc.  At  last  they  were 
forced  into  a  harbor,  where  lay  a  French  man-of-war  with 
his  prize,  and  had  surely  made  prize  of  them  also,  but  that 
the  providence  of  God  so  disposed,  as  the  captain,  one  Petfree, 
had  Uved  at  Pascataquack,  and  knew  the  merchant  of  our 
bark,  one  Mr.  Gibbons.  Whereupon  he  used  them  courteously, 
and,  for  such  commodities  as  she  carried,  freighted  her  with 
tallow,  hides,  etc.,  and  sent  home  with  her  his  prize,  which  he 
sold  for  a  small  price  to  be  paid  in  New  England.  He  brought 
home  an  ahgarto,  which  he  gave  the  governor.^ 

20.]  Three  ships  arrived  here  from  Ipswich,  with  three 
hundred  and  sixty  passengers.  The  last  being  loath  to  come 
to  an  anchor  at  Castle  Island,  though  hailed  by  the  Castle 
boat,  and  required,  etc.,  the  gunner  made  a  shot,  intending 
to  shoot  before  her  for  a  warning,  but  the  powder  in  the  touch- 
hole  being  wet,  and  the  ship  having  fresh  way  with  wind  and 
tide,  the  shot  took  place  in  the  shrouds  and  killed  a  passenger, 

*  Mr.  C.  F.  Adams,  Three  Episodes  of  Massachusetts  History,  p.  357,  sus- 
pects that  Gibbons's  story  masks  a  buccaneering  venture. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  223 

an  honest  man.  The  next  day  the  governor  charged  an  inquest, 
and  sent  them  aboard  with  two  of  the  magistrates  (one  of  them 
being  deputed  coroner)  to  take  view  of  the  dead  body,  and  who, 
upon  hearing  all  the  evidence,  etc.,  found  that  he  came  to  his 
death  by  the  providence  of  God. 

23.]  The  governor  went  to  Sagus,  and  so  to  Salem  and  to 
Ipswich,  at  all  which  places  the  men  of  the  towns  met  him,  and 
guarded  him  from  town  to  town,  (though  not  desired  nor  ex- 
pected by  him,)  to  show  their  respect  to  their  governor,  and 
also  for  his  safety,  in  regard  it  was  reported  the  Pequods  were 
come  this  way.  He  returned  again  the  28th,  being  forced  to 
travel  all  the  night  by  reason  of  the  heat,  which  was  so  extreme, 
as  divers  of  those  who  were  new  come  on  shore,  died  in  their 
travel  a  few  miles. 

26.]  There  arrived  two  ships  from  London,  the  Hector, 
and  the  [blank].  In  these  came  Mr.  Davenport  and  another 
minister,  and  Mr.  Eaton  and  Mr.  Hopkins,  two  merchants 
of  London,  men  of  fair  estate  and  of  great  esteem  for  religion, 
and  wisdom  in  outward  affairs.^ 

In  the  Hector  came  also  the  Lord  Ley,  son  and  heir  of  the 
Earl  of  Marlborough,  being  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  who 

*  John  Davenport,  Theophilus  Eaton  and  Edward  Hopkins  are  among 
the  most  distinguished  of  the  Connecticut  worthies.  The  first,  hke  Cotton  and 
Hooker,  having  achieved  eminence  in  England,  came  to  America  a  man  of  forty, 
and  though  urged  to  remain  in  Massachusetts,  threw  in  his  lot  with  the  New 
Haven  settlement,  which  he  greatly  influenced.  He  was  remembered  in  his  old 
home,  and  with  Cotton  and  Hooker,  was  invited  to  sit  in  the  Westminster  Assem- 
bly. Declining  this  honor,  he  worked  on  in  the  wilderness,  bravely  sheltering 
the  regicides  Whalley  and  Goffe,  at  his  own  peril.  Later  in  life  he  succeeded 
John  Norton  as  minister  of  the  First  Church  in  Boston,  for  him  not  a  happy 
change,  dying  there  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  Eaton,  who  before  his  emigration 
had  been  envoy  to  Denmark,  was  for  twenty  years  governor  of  New  Haven,  while 
Hopkins,  his  son-in-law,  was,  alternately  with  Haynes,  governor  of  the  neigh- 
boring colony  of  Hartford,  or  Connecticut.  The  doubling  in  New  England 
colonization  must  be  remembered  or  one  may  be  misled:  as  in  Massachusetts 
we  find  Plymouth  and  the  Bay,  so  farther  south  we  have  Providence  and  Rhode 
Island,  and  near  the  great  river,  Connecticut  and  New  Haven;  the  doubling  of 
capitals,  so  long  maintained  in  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut,  was  a  survival  of 
the  early  state  of  things.  Hopkins  returned  to  England,  where  he  was  a  man  of 
mark  during  the  Protectorate. 


224  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

came  only  to  see  the  country.  He  was  of  very  sober  carriage, 
and  showed  much  wisdom  and  moderation  in  his  lowly  and 
familiar  carriage,  especially  in  the  ship,  where  he  was  much 
disrespected  and  unworthily  used  by  the  master,  one  Feme, 
and  some  of  the  passengers ;  yet  he  bare  it  meekly  and  silently. 
When  he  came  on  shore  the  governor  was  from  home,  and  he 
took  up  his  lodging  at  the  common  inn.  When  the  governor 
returned,  he  presently  came  to  his  house.  The  governor  offered 
him  lodging,  etc.,  but  he  refused,  saying,  that  he  came  not 
to  be  troublesome  to  any,  and  the  house  where  he  was,  was 
so  well  governed,  that  he  could  be  as  private  there  as  else- 
where. 

We  had  news  of  a  commission  granted  in  England  to  divers 
gentlemen  here  for  the  governing  of  New  England,  etc. ;  but 
instead  thereof  we  received  a  commission  from  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorges  to  govern  his  province  of  New  Somersetshire,  which  is 
from  Cape  Elizabeth  to  Sagadahoc,  and  withal  to  oversee  his 
servants  and  private  affairs;  which  was  observed  as  a  matter 
of  no  good  discretion,  but  passed  in  silence.  We  excused  our 
not  intermeddling,  etc.,  because,  being  directed  to  six  or  five  of 
them,  and  one  of  their  names  being  mistaken,  and  another  re- 
moved to  Connecticut,  there  were  but  four  in  the  country ;  as 
also  for  that  it  did  not  appear  to  us  what  authority  he  had  to 
grant  such  a  commission.*  As  for  the  commission  from  the 
king,  we  received  only  a  copy  of  it,  but  the  commission  itself 
staid  at  the  seal  for  want  of  pajdng  the  fees. 

Mo.  5  (July).]  The  party,  who  procured  the  commission, 
one  George  Cleves,  brought  also  a  protection  under  the  privy 
signet  for  searching  out  the  great  lake  of  Iracoyce,^  and  for  the 
sole  trade  of  beaver,  and  the  planting  of  Long  Island,  by 
articles  of  agreement  between  the  Earl  of  Sterling,  Viscount 

'  Gorges  had  received  a  grant  of  this  territory  from  the  Council  for  New 
England,  in  February,  1635. 

^  Iroquois.  This,  it  may  be  surmised,  was  Lake  Champlain,  of  which  the 
English  settlers,  now  striking  west,  would  be  likely  to  hear. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  225 

Canada,  and  him.^  Thus  this  and  other  gentlemen  in  England 
get  large  circuits  of  lands,  etc.,  in  this  country,  and  are  very 
ready  to  grant  them  out  to  such  as  will  become  their  tenants, 
and,  to  encourage  them,  do  procure  commissions,  protections, 
etc.,  which  cost  them  nothing,  but  will  be  at  no  charge  in  any 
right  way  of  plantation,  which  should  be  by  coming  them- 
selves, or  sending  some  of  their  children,  etc.;  but  now,  as 
they  adventure  httle,  so  they  are  sure  to  lose  nothing  but  their 
vain  hope. 

Capt.  Stoughton  and  his  company,  having  pursued  the  Pe- 
quots  beyond  Connecticut,  and  missing  of  them,  returned  to 
Pequot  River,  where  they  were  advertised,  that  one  hundred 
of  them  were  newly  come  back  to  a  place  some  twelve  miles 
off.  So  they  marched  thither  by  night,  and  surprised  them  all. 
They  put  to  death  twenty-two  men,  and  reserved  two  sa- 
chems, hoping  by  them  to  get  Sasacus,  (which  they  prom- 
ised). All  the  rest  were  women  and  children,  of  whom  they 
gave  the  Naragansetts  thirty,  and  our  Massachusetts  Indians 
three,  and  the  rest  they  sent  hither. 

A  pinnace,  returning,  took  a  canoe  with  four  Indians  near 
Block  Island.  We  sent  to  Miantunnomoh  to  know  what  they 
were,  and  after  we  discharged  all  save  one,  who  was  a  Pequod, 
whom  we  gave  Mr.  Cutting  to  carry  into  England. 

The  differences  grew  so  much  here,  as  tended  fast  to  a 
separation;  so  as  Mr.  Vane,  being,  among  others,  invited  by 
the  governor  to  accompany  the  Lord  Ley  at  dinner,  not  only 
refused  to  come,  (alleging  by  letter  that  his  conscience  with- 
held him,)  but  also,  at  the  same  hour,  he  went  over  to  Nottle's 
Island  to  dine  with  Mr.  Maverick,  and  carried  the  Lord  Ley 
with  him. 

6.]  There  were  sent  to  Boston  forty-eight  women  and  chil- 
dren. There  were  eighty  taken,  as  before  is  expressed.  These 
were  disposed  of  to  particular  persons  in  the  country.    Some 

1  Sir  William  Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling,  Viscount  Canada,  poet  and  courtier, 
had  in  1635  received  Long  Island  by  grant  from  the  Council  for  New  England. 


226  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

of  them  ran  away  and  were  brought  again  by  the  Indians  our 
neighbors,  and  those  we  branded  on  the  shoulder. 

12.]  Ayanemo,  the  sachem  of  Niantick,  came  to  Boston 
with  seventeen  men.  He  made  divers  propositions,  which  we 
promised  to  give  answer  unto  the  next  day;  and  then,  under- 
standing he  had  received  many  of  the  Pequods,  submitting  to 
him  since  the  former  defeat,  we  first  demanded  the  dehvery  of 
them,  which  he  sticking  at,  we  refused  further  conference  with 
him;  but  the  next  morning  he  came,  and  offered  what  we 
desired.  So  the  governor  referred  him  to  treat  with  our  cap- 
tains at  the  Pequod,  and  wrote  instructions  to  them  how  to 
deal  with  him,  and  received  his  present  of  ten  fathom  of  wam- 
pom.  He  was  lovingly  dismissed,  with  some  small  things 
given  him.^ 

Here  came  over  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and  some 
other  of  Mr.  Wheelwright's  friends,  whom  the  governor 
thought  not  fit  to  allow,  as  others,  to  sit  down  among  us,  with- 
out some  trial  of  them.  Therefore,  to  save  others  from  the 
danger  of  the  law  in  receiving  of  them,  he  allowed  them  for 
fom-  months.  This  was  taken  very  ill  by  those  of  the  other 
party,  and  many  hot  speeches  given  forth  about  it,  and  about 
their  removal,  etc. 

13.]  Mr.  Stoughton,  with  about  eighty  of  the  English, 
whereof  Mr.  Ludlow,  Capt.  Mason,  and  [blank,]  of  Connecti- 
cut, were  part,  sailed  to  the  west  in  pursuit  of  Sasacus,  etc.  At 
Quinepiack,^  they  killed  six,  and  took  two.  At  a  head  of  land 
a  little  short  they  beheaded  two  sachems;  whereupon  they 
called  the  place  Sachem's  Head.  About  this  time  they  had 
given  a  Pequod  his  life  to  go  find  out  Sasacus.  He  went,  and 
found  him  not  far  off;  but  Sasacus,  suspecting  him,  intended 
to  kill  him,  which  the  fellow  perceiving,  escaped  in  the  night, 


'The  severities  of  seventeenth-century  warfare  were  perhaps  no  more 
marked  in  New  than  in  old  England,  the  prisoners  captured  at  Dunbar  and 
Worcester,  for  instance,  faring  little  better  than  the  Pequots. 

"  Now  New  Haven. 


1637]  *       JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  227 

and  came  to  the  English.  Whereupon  Sasacus  and  Mononotto, 
their  two  chief  sachems,  and  some  twenty  more,  fled  to  the 
Mohawks.  But  eighty  of  their  stoutest  men,  and  two  hundred 
others,  women  and  children,  were  at  a  place  within  twenty  or 
thirty  miles  of  the  Dutch,  whither  our  men  marched,  and,  being 
guided  by  a  Divine  Providence,  came  upon  them,  where  they 
had  twenty  wigwams,  hard  by  a  most  hideous  swamp,  so  thick 
with  bushes  and  so  quagmiry,  as  men  could  hardly  crowd  into 
it.  Into  this  swamp  they  were  all  gotten.  Lieut.  Davenport 
and  two  or  three  more,  that  entered  the  swamp,  were  danger- 
ously wounded  by  the  Indian  arrows,  and  with  much  difficulty 
were  fetched  out.  Then  our  men  surroimded  the  swamp,  being 
a  mile  about,  and  shot  at  the  Indians,  and  they  at  them,  from 
three  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon  till  they  desired  parley,  and 
offered  to  yield,  and  hfe  was  offered  to  all  that  had  not  shed 
English  blood.  So  they  began  to  come  forth,  now  some  and 
then  some,  till  about  two  hundred  women  and  children  were 
come  out,  and  amongst  them  the  sachem  of  that  place,  and 
thus  they  kept  us  two  hours,  till  night  was  come  on,  and  then 
the  men  told  us  they  would  fight  it  out ;  and  so  they  did  all  the 
night,  coming  up  behind  the  bushes  very  near  our  men,  and 
shot  many  arrows  into  their  hats,  sleeves,  and  stocks,  yet 
(which  was  a  very  miracle)  not  one  of  ours  wounded.  When 
it  was  near  morning,  it  grew  very  dark,  so  as  such  of  them  as 
were  left  crept  out  at  one  place  and  escaped,  being  (as  was 
judged)  not  above  twenty  at  most,  and  those  hke  to  be  wounded ; 
for  in  the  pursuit  they  found  some  of  them  dead  of  their 
wounds.  Here  our  men  gat  some  booty  of  kettles,  trays, 
wampom,  etc.,  and  the  women  and  children  were  divided,  and 
sent  some  to  Connecticut,  and  some  to  the  Massachusetts.  The 
sachem  of  the  place,  having  yielded,  had  his  life,  and  his  wife 
and  children,  etc.  The  women,  which  were  brought  home, 
reported  that  we  had  slain  in  all  thirteen  sachems,  and  that 
there  were  thirteen  more  left.  We  had  now  slain  and  taken, 
in  all,  about  seven  hundred.     We  sent  fifteen  of  the  boys  and 


228  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

two  women  to  Bermuda,  by  Mr.  Peirce;  but  he,  missing  it, 
carried  them  to  Providence  Isle/ 

Mo.  6  (August).]  Mr.  Stoughton  sailed,  with  some  of  his 
company,  from  Pequod  to  Block  Island.  They  came  thither 
in  the  night,  yet  were  discovered,  and  our  men  having  killed 
one  or  two  of  them,  and  burnt  some  of  their  wigwams,  etc., 
they  came  to  parley,  and,  submitting  themselves  to  become 
tributaries  in  one  hundred  fathom  wampompeague,  and  to 
deUver  any  that  should  be  found  to  have  any  hand  in  Mr. 
Oldham's  death,  they  were  all  received,  and  no  more  harm  done 
them. 

3.]  At  our  general  court,  one  Greensmith,  being  censured 
for  saying  that  all  the  elders,  etc.,  except  two,  did  preach  a 
covenant  of  works,  etc.,  he  did  appeal  to  the  king;  but  the 
court,  notwithstanding,  committed  him  till,  etc. 

The  Lord  Ley,  being  told  that  one  Ewre  had  spoken  treason 
against  the  king,  sent  for  the  party,  one  Brooks,  and  inquiring 
of  him,  he  told  him  that  Ewre  had  said,  about  twelve  months 
before,  that,  if  the  king  did  send  any  authority  hither  against 
our  patent,  he  would  be  the  first  should  resist  him.  This 
coming  to  the  governor's  knowledge,  he  sent  for  the  parties, 
and  bound  them  over  to  the  general  court.  Wlien  they  came 
there.  Brooks  brought  his  wife  to  witness  with  him;  but  her 
testimony  agreed  not  with  his ;  also  three  others  (whom  he  had 
told  it  unto)  reported  it  otherwise.  So  at  length  they  all  agreed, 
and  set  it  under  their  hands,  that  Ewre  said,  that,  if  there  came 
any  authority  out  of  England  contrary  to  the  patent,  he  would 
withstand  it.  Now,  because  here  was  no  mention  of  the  king, 
and  because  he  never  informed  any  of  the  magistrates  of  it, 
and  for  that  it  was  evident  that  he  bare  mahce  to  the  said 
Ewre,  we  saw  no  cause  to  take  any  other  of  the  parties  inform- 
ing, (the  rather  because  themselves  did  urge  it,  and  she  re- 

*  An  island  in  the  Caribbean,  off  the  Nicaraguan  coast.  In  1630  Charles  I. 
granted  it,  by  a  patent  similar  to  that  of  Massachusetts,  to  a  company  of  Eng- 
lishmen, mostly  Puritans,  who  held  it  till  1641,  when  the  Spaniards  captured  it. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  229 

fused  longer  to  speak  at  all,  except  she  might  be  put  to  her 
oath,)  nor  any  offence  which  deserved  punishment,  seeing 
it  is  lawful  to  resist  any  authority,  which  was  to  overthrow  the 
lawful  authority  of  the  king's  grant;  and  so  the  governor 
did  openly  declare,  in  the  court,  as  justifiable  by  the  laws  of 
England. 

3.]  The  Lord  Ley  and  Mr.  Vane  went  from  Boston  to  the 
ship,  riding  at  Long  Island,  to  go  for  England.  At  their 
departure,  those  of  Mr.  Vane's  party  were  gathered  together, 
and  did  accompany  him  to  the  boat,  (and  many  to  the  ship ;) 
and  the  men,  being  in  their  arms,  gave  him  divers  vollies  of 
shot,  and  five  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  he  had  five  more  at 
the  castle.  But  the  governor  was  not  come  from  the  court, 
but  had  left  order  with  the  captain  for  their  honorable  dis- 
mission.^ 

There  was  an  old  woman  in  Ipswich,  who  came  out  of 
England  blind  and  deaf,  yet  her  son  could  make  her  understand 
any  thing,  and  know  any  man's  name,  by  her  sense  of  feeling. 
He  would  write  upon  her  hand  some  letters  of  the  name,  and  by 
other  such  motions  would  inform  her.  This  the  governor 
himself  had  trial  of  when  he  was  at  Ipswich. 

5.]  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  came,  with  Mr.  Wilson,  from 
Connecticut  by  Providence;  and,  the  same  day,  Mr.  Ludlow, 
Mr.  Pincheon,  and  about  twelve  more,  came  the  ordinary  way 
by  land,  and  brought  with  them  a  part  of  the  skin  and  lock  of 
hair  of  Sasacus  and  his  brother,  and  five  other  Pequod  sachems, 
who,  being  fled  to  the  Mohawks  for  shelter,  with  their  wampom, 
being  to  the  value  of  five  hundred  pounds,  were  by  them  sur- 
prised and  slain,  with  twenty  of  their  best  men.  Mononottoh 
was  also  taken,  but  escaped  wounded.  They  brought  news 
also  of  divers  other  Pequods,  which  had  been  slain  by  other 

*  The  present  editor  has  in  another  work  ventured  to  declare  that  Harry 
Vane's  career  in  America,  while  characterized  by  shortcominifs  attributable 
largely  to  the  immaturity  of  one  scarcely  beyond  boyhood,  nevertheless  fore- 
shadows the  course  of  the  able  and  virtuous  statesman  Vane  afterward  became. 
Hosmer,  Lije  of  Young  Sir  Henry  Vane,  77. 


230  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

Indians,  and  their  heads  brought  to  the  Enghsh ;  so  that  now 
there  had  been  slain  and  taken  between  eight  and  nine  hundred. 
Whereupon  letters  were  sent  to  Mr.  Stoughton  and  the  rest,  to 
call  them  all  home. 

A  woman  of  Boston  congregation,  having  been  in  much 
trouble  of  mind  about  her  spiritual  estate,  at  length  grew 
into  utter  desperation,  and  could  not  endure  to  hear  of  any 
comfort,  etc.,  so  as  one  day  she  took  her  little  infant  and  threw 
it  into  a  well,  and  then  came  into  the  house  and  said,  now  she 
was  sure  she  should  be  damned,  for  she  had  drowned  her  child ; 
but  some,  stepping  presently  forth,  saved  the  child.  See  more 
after. 

Mr.  Hooker  and  the  rest  of  the  elders,  meeting  divers  days, 
they  agreed  (with  consent  of  the  magistrates)  upon  a  day  of 
humihation  to  be  kept  in  all  the  churches  the  24th  of  this 
month ;  the  day  for  the  conference  to  be  the  30th  day.  At  their 
private  meetings  some  reconcihation  was  made  between  Mr. 
Cotton  and  Mr.  Wheelwright  and  Mr.  Wilson,  he  professing, 
that,  by  his  speech  in  the  court,  he  did  not  intend  the  doctrine 
of  Mr.  Cotton  or  Mr.  Wheelwright  delivered  in  the  pubhc  con- 
gregation, but  some  opinions,  (naming  three  or  four,)  which 
were  privately  carried  in  Boston  and  other  parts  of  the  country ; 
and  accordingly  Mr.  Cotton  declared  so  much  in  the  congrega- 
tion the  Lord's  day  following.  And  for  the  rest  of  liis  speech, 
it  was  agreed  by  all  the  elders  to  be  inoffensive,  considering  his 
call  thereto  by  the  court.  This  sudden  change  was  much  ob- 
served by  some,  who  were  privy  that  Mr.  Wilson  had  professed 
as  much  before,  both  privately  to  the  elders,  and  pubhcly  in  the 
congregation,  and  that  the  said  opinions  had  been  dehvered  to 
the  elders  of  Boston  in  writing  as  those  which  Mr.  Wilson 
intended. 

17.]  Mr.  Davenport  preached  at  Boston  (it  being  the 
lecture  day)  out  of  that  in  1  Cor.,  I  exhort  you  brethren,  etc., 
that  there  be  no  division  among  you,  etc. ;  wherein,  as  he  fully 
set  forth  the  nature  and  danger  of  divisions,  and  the  disorders 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  231 

which  were  among  us,  etc.,  so  he  clearly  discovered  his  judg- 
ment against  the  new  opinions  and  bitter  practices  which 
were  sprung  up  here. 

Mr.  Cotton,  expounding  that  in  2  Chron.  [blank]  of  the 
defection  of  the  ten  tribes  from  Rehoboam,  and  his  prepara- 
tions to  recover  them  by  war,  and  the  prophet's  prohibition, 
etc.,  proved  from  that  in  Numbers,  27.  21,  that  the  rulers  of 
the  people  should  consult  with  the  ministers  of  the  churches 
upon  occasion  of  any  war  to  be  undertaken,  and  any  other 
weighty  business,  though  the  case  should  seem  never  so  clear, 
as  David  in  the  case  of  Ziglag,  and  the  Israehtes  in  the  case  of 
Gibeah.    Judges,  etc. 

26.]  The  captain  and  soldiers  returned  all  from  Pequod, 
having  lost  but  one  man,  and  he  died  of  a  flux,  and  another 
fell  sick  of  an  old  infirmity,  an  asthma.  The  Indians  about 
sent  in  still  many  Pequods'  heads  and  hands  from  Long  Island 
and  other  places,  and  [blank]  sachems  of  Long  Island  came 
voluntarily,  and  brought  a  tribute  to  us  of  twenty  fathom  of 
wampom,  each  of  them;  and  Miantimnomoh  sent  here  some 
Pequod  squaws,  which  had  run  from  us. 

31.]  The  Naragansetts  sent  us  the  hands  of  three  Pe- 
quods, — one  the  chief  of  those  who  murdered  Capt.  Stone. 

Twenty  men  went  in  a  pinnace  to  kill  sea  horse  at  the  Isle 
of  Sable,  and  after  six  weeks  returned  home,  and  could  not  find 
the  island;  but,  after  another  month,  viz.,  about  the  [blank]  of 
September,  they  set  forth  again  with  more  skilful  seamen,  with 
intent  to  stay  there  all  winter. 

Mr.  Eaton,  and  some  others  of  Mr.  Davenport's  company, 
went  to  view  Quinepiack,  with  intent  to  begin  a  plantation 
there.  They  had  many  offers  here  and  at  Plymouth,  and  they 
had  viewed  many  places,  but  none  could  content. 

Some  of  the  magistrates  and  ministers  of  Connecticut  being 
here,  there  was  a  day  of  meeting  appointed  to  agree  upon 
some  articles  of  confederation,  and  notice  was  given  to  Plym- 
mouth,  that  they  might  join  in  it,  (but  their  warning  was  so 


232  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1637 

short  as  they  could  not  come).  This  was  concluded  after. 
See  (3.)  1643. 

30.]  The  synod,  called  the  assembly,  began  at  Newtown. 
There  were  all  the  teaching  elders  through  the  country,  and 
some  new  come  out  of  England,  not  yet  called  to  any  place 
here,  as  Mr.  Davenport,  etc. 

The  assembly  began  with  prayer,  made  by  Mr.  Shepherd, 
the  pastor  of  Newtown.  Then  the  erroneous  opinions,  which 
were  spread  in  the  country,  were  read,  (being  eighty  in  all;) 
next  the  unwholesome  expressions ;  then  the  scriptures  abused. 
Then  they  chose  two  moderators  for  the  next  day,  viz.,  Mr. 
Buckly  and  Mr.  Hooker,  and  these  were  continued  in  that  place 
all  the  time  of  the  assembly.  There  were  about  eighty  opinions, 
some  blasphemous,  others  erroneous,  and  all  unsafe,  condemned 
by  the  whole  assembly ;  whereto  near  all  the  elders,  and  others 
sent  by  the  churches,  subscribed  their  names;  but  some  few 
hked  not  subscription,  though  they  consented  to  the  con- 
demning of  them.^ 

Some  of  the  church  of  Boston,  and  some  others,  were  offend- 
ed at  the  producing  of  so  many  errors,  as  if  it  were  a  reproach 
laid  upon  the  country  without  cause;  and  called  to  have  the 
persons  named,  which  held  those  errors.  To  which  it  was 
answered  and  affirmed  by  many,  both  elders  and  others,  that 
all  those  opinions  could  be  proved,  by  sufficient  testimony, 
to  be  held  by  some  in  the  country ;  but  it  was  not  thought  fit 
to  name  the  parties,  because  this  assembly  had  not  to  do  with 
persons,  but  doctrines  only.  Yet  this  would  not  satisfy  some, 
but  they  oft  called  for  witnesses;  and,  because  some  of  the 
magistrates  declared  to  them,  (when  they  refused  to  forbear 

*  Boston  in  these  days  was  not  a  pleasant  place  to  dwell  in.  What  with 
the  home-coming  of  the  ministers  and  the  notable  men  from  the  Pequot  war  with 
such  gruesome  trophies  as  the  scalps  of  Sassacus  and  his  tribesmen,  with  the 
weak-minded  becoming  insane  through  religious  excitement,  and  the  convening 
of  a  synod  whose  acts  were  to  be  marked  by  much  severity,  the  harsh  features  of 
the  picture  are  very  salient.  Winthrop  omits  many  details  here,  but  treats  the 
subject  at  length  in  A  Short  Story,  of  which  more  presently. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  233 

speech  unseasonably,  though  the  moderators  desired  them), 
that,  if  they  would  not  forbear,  it  would  prove  a  civil  dis- 
turbance, and  then  the  magistrate  must  interpose,  they  ob- 
jected against  this,  as  if  the  magistrate  had  nothing  to  do  in 
this  assembly.  So  as  he  was  forced  to  tell  one  of  them,  that, 
if  he  would  not  forbear,  but  make  trial  of  it,  he  might  see  it 
executed.  Upon  this  some  of  Boston  departed  from  the  assem- 
bly, and  came  no  more.* 

After  the  errors  condemned,  there  were  five  points  in  ques- 
tion, between  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wheelwright  on  the  one 
part,  and  the  rest  of  the  elders  on  the  other  part,  which  were 
after  reduced  to  three,  and  those  after  put  into  such  expres- 
sions as  Mr.  Cotton  and  they  agreed,  but  Mr.  Wheelwright 
did  not: — 

1.  The  first  was  about  our  union  with  Christ.  The  ques- 
tion was,  whether  we  were  united  before  we  had  active  faith. 
The  consent  was,  that  there  was  no  marriage  union  with  Christ 
before  actual  faith,  which  is  more  than  habitual. 

2.  The  second  was,  about  evidencing  justification  by  sanc- 
tification.  The  consent  was,  that  some  saving  sanctifications 
(as  faith,  etc.)  were  coexistent,  concurrent,  and  coapparent  (or 
at  least  might  be)  with  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  always. 

3.  That  the  new  creature  is  not  the  person  of  a  beHever, 
but  a  body  of  saving  graces  in  such  a  one ;  and  that  Christ,  as 
a  head,  doth  enliven  or  quicken,  preserve  and  act  the  same,  but 
Christ  himself  is  no  part  of  this  new  creature. 

4.  That  though,  in  effectual  calHng,  (in  which  the  answer 
of  the  soul  is  by  active  faith,  wrought  at  the  same  instant  by 
the  Spirit,)  justification  and  sanctification  be  all  together  in 

* "  In  his  Way  of  Congregational  Churches,  p.  63,  Cotton,  answering  many 
gross  charges  of  Bailey's  Dissuasive,  as  to  his  concurrence  in  Mrs.  Hutchinson's 
errors,  says  with  much  force:  'Such  as  endeavored  the  heaHng  of  these  distempers 
did  seem  to  me  to  be  transported  with  more  jealousies,  and  heats,  and  paroxysms 
of  spirit  than  would  well  stand  with  brotherly  love,  or  the  rule  of  the  gospel.' 
Ten  years  after  the  agitations,  this  was  his  opinion;  and  it  may  safely  be  taken 
for  the  judgment  of  all  succeeding  time."     (Savage.) 


234  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1637 

them;  yet  God  doth  not  justify  a  man,  before  he  be  effectually 
called,  and  so  a  behever. 

5.  That  Christ  and  his  benefits  may  be  offered  and  exhib- 
ited to  a  man  under  a  covenant  of  works,  but  not  in  or  by  a 
covenant  of  works. 

In  the  first  handUng  of  these  questions,  either  party  de- 
livered their  arguments  in  writing,  which  were  read  in  the 
assembly,  and,  after,  the  answers  to  them,  which  spent  much 
time  without  any  effect ;  but  after  they  came  to  open  dispute, 
the  questions  were  soon  determined ;  for  so  they  came  to  under- 
stand each  other  better. 

Mo.  7  (September).]  The  last  day  of  the  assembly  other 
questions  were  debated  and  resolved: — 

1.  That  though  women  might  meet  (some  few  together) 
to  pray  and  edify  one  another;  yet  such  a  set  assembly,  (as 
was  then  in  practice  at  Boston,)  where  sixty  or  more  did  meet 
every  week,  and  one  woman  (in  a  prophetical  way,  by  resolving 
questions  of  doctrine,  and  expounding  scripture)  took  upon  her 
the  whole  exercise,  was  agreed  to  be  disorderly,  and  without 
rule.* 

2.  Though  a  private  member  might  ask  a  question  pub- 
licly, after  sermon,  for  information ;  yet  this  ought  to  be  very 
wisely  and  sparingly  done,  and  that  with  leave  of  the  elders: 
but  questions  of  reference,  (then  in  use,)  whereby  the  doctrines 
delivered  were  reproved,  and  the  elders  reproached,  and  that 
with  bitterness,  etc.,  was  utterly  condemned. 

3.  That  a  person,  refusing  to  come  to  the  assembly,  to 
abide  the  censure  of  the  church,  might  be  proceeded  against, 
though  absent;  yet  it  was  held  better,  that  the  magistrates' 
help  were  called  for,  to  compel  him  to  be  present. 

4.  That  a  member,  differing  from  the  rest  of  the  church  in 

*  Savage  has  the  following  characteristic  note:  "A  prophetical  way  has  been 
often  followed,  at  meetings  of  women  in  Boston,  and  is,  I  think,  in  our  days, 
without  censure.  The  conduct  of  the  female  assembly  in  1637,  however,  so  much 
resembles  party  making,  that  the  resolution  of  the  synod  is  approved  by  the  editor, 
though  it  bears  hard  on  his  great,  great,  great,  great  grandmother." 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  235 

any  opinion,  which  was  not  fundamental,  ought  not  for  that  to 
forsake  the  ordinances  there ;  and  if  such  did  desire  dismission 
to  any  other  church,  which  was  of  his  opinion,  and  did  it  for 
that  end,  the  church  whereof  he  was  ought  to  deny  it  for  the 
same  end. 

22.]  The  assembly  brake  up;  and  it  was  propounded  by 
the  governor,  that  they  would  consider,  that,  seeing  the  Lord 
had  been  so  graciously  present  in  this  assembly,  that  matters 
had  been  carried  on  so  peaceably,  and  concluded  so  comforta- 
bly in  all  love,  etc.,  if  it  were  not  fit  to  have  the  like  meeting 
once  a  year,  or,  at  least,  the  next  year,  to  settle  what  yet  re- 
mained to  be  agreed,  or  if  but  to  nourish  love,  etc.  This 
motion  was  well  liked  of  all,  but  it  was  not  thought  fit  to  con- 
clude it. 

There  was  a  motion  made  also  by  the  governor,  that, 
whereas  there  was  difference  among  the  churches  about  the 
maintenance  of  their  ministers,  it  might  be  agreed  what  way 
was  most  agreeable  to  the  rule  of  the  gospel;  but  the  elders 
did  not  like  to  deal  in  that,  lest  it  should  be  said,  that  this  as- 
sembly was  gathered  for  their  private  advantage. 

26.]  Mr.  Davenport  (as  he  had  been  before  requested  by 
the  assembly)  preached  out  of  Phil.  3: 16,  wherein  he  laid  down 
the  occasions  of  differences  among  Christians,  etc.,  and  de- 
clared the  effect  and  fruit  of  the  assembly,  and,  with  much 
wisdom  and  sound  argument,  persuaded  to  unity,  etc. 

The  diet  of  the  assembly  was  provided  at  the  coimtry's 
charge,  as  also  the  fetching  and  sending  back  of  those  which 
came  from  Connecticut.     It  came  to,  in  all,  [blank]. 

28.]  Two  men  were  hanged  at  Boston  for  several  murders. 
The  one,  John  Williams,  a  ship-carpenter,  who,  being  lately 
come  into  the  country,  and  put  in  prison  for  theft,  brake  out  of 
prison  with  one  John  Hoddy,  whom,  near  the  great  pond,  in 
the  way  to  Ipswich,  beyond  Salem,  he  murdered,  and  took 
away  his  clothes  and  what  else  he  had,  and  went  in  them  to 
Ipswich,  (where  he  had  been  sent  to  prison,)  and  was  there 


236  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

again  apprehended;  and  though  his  clothes  were  all  bloody, 
yet  he  would  confess  nothing,  till  about  a  week  after,  that  the 
body  of  Hoddy  was  found  by  the  kine,  who,  smelhng  the  blood, 
made  such  a  roaring,  as  the  cow-keeper,  looking  about,  found 
the  dead  body  covered  with  a  heap  of  stones. 

The  other,  William  Schooler,  was  a  vintner  in  London,  and 
had  been  a  common  adulterer,  (as  himself  did  confess,)  and  had 
woimded  a  man  in  a  duel,  for  which  he  fled  into  the  Low 
Country,  and  from  thence  he  fled  from  his  captain  and  came 
into  this  country,  leaving  his  wife  (a  handsome,  neat  woman) 
in  England.  He  lived  with  another  fellow  at  Merrimack,  and 
there  being  a  poor  maid  at  Newbury,  one  Mary  Sholy,  who  had 
desired  a  guide  to  go  with  her  to  her  master,  who  dwelt  at 
Pascataquack,  he  inquired  her  out,  and  agreed,  for  fifteen 
shillings,  to  conduct  her  thither.  But,  two  days  after,  he 
retiuned,  and,  being  asked  why  he  returned  so  soon,  he  an- 
swered, that  he  had  carried  her  within  two  or  three  miles  of  the 
place,  and  then  she  would  go  no  farther.  Being  examined 
for  this  by  the  magistrates  at  Ipswich,  and  no  proof  found 
against  him,  he  was  let  go.  But,  about  a  year  after,  being 
impressed  to  go  against  the  Pequods,  he  gave  ill  speeches,  for 
which  the  governor  sent  warrant  for  him,  and  being  appre- 
hended, (and  supposed  it  had  been  for  the  death  of  the  maid, 
some  spake  what  they  had  heard,  which  might  occasion  sus- 
picion,) he  was  again  examined,  and  divers  witnesses  produced 
about  it.  Whereupon  he  was  committed,  arraigned,  and  con- 
demned, by  due  proceeding.  The  effect  of  the  evidence  was 
this : — 

1.  He  had  lived  a  vicious  life,  and  now  lived  like  an 
atheist. 

2.  He  had  sought  out  the  maid,  and  undertook  to  carry 
her  to  a  place  where  he  had  never  been. 

3.  When  he  crossed  Merrimack,  he  landed  in  a  place  three 
miles  from  the  usual  path,  from  whence  it  was  scarce  possible 
she  should  get  into  the  path. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  237 

4.  He  said  he  went  by  Winicowett  house/  which  he  said 
stood  on  the  contrary  side  of  the  way. 

5.  Being,  as  he  said,  within  two  or  three  miles  of  Swam- 
scote,^  where  he  left  her,  he  went  not  thither  to  tell  them  of 
her,  nor  staid  by  her  that  night,  nor,  at  his  return  home,  did  tell 
any  body  of  her,  till  he  was  demanded  of  her. 

6.  When  he  came  back,  he  had  above  ten  shillings  in  his 
purse,  and  yet  he  said  she  would  give  him  but  seven  shillings, 
and  he  carried  no  money  with  him. 

7.  At  his  return,  he  had  some  blood  upon  his  hat,  and  on 
his  skirts  before,  which  he  said  was  with  a  pigeon,  which  he 
killed. 

8.  He  had  a  scratch  on  the  left  side  of  his  nose,  and,  being 
asked  by  a  neighbor  how  it  came,  he  said  it  was  with  a  bramble, 
which  could  not  be,  it  being  of  the  breadth  of  a  small  nail ;  and 
being  asked  after  by  the  magistrate,  he  said  it  was  with  his 
piece,  but  that  could  not  be  on  the  left  side. 

9.  The  body  of  the  maid  was  found  by  an  Indian,  about 
half  a  year  after,  in  the  midst  of  thick  swamp,  ten  miles  short 
of  the  place  he  said  he  left  her  in,  and  about  three  miles  from 
the  place  where  he  landed  by  Merrimack,  (and  it  was  after  seen, 
by  the  EngUsh,)  the  flesh  being  rotted  off  it,  and  the  clothes 
laid  all  on  an  heap  by  the  body. 

10.  He  said,  that  soon  after  he  left  her,  he  met  with  a  bear 
and  he  thought  that  bear  might  kill  her,  yet  he  would  not  go 
back  to  save  her. 

11.  He  brake  prison,  and  fled  as  far  as  Powder  Horn  Hill, 
and  there  hid  himself  out  of  the  way,  for  fear  of  pursuit,  and 
after,  when  he  arose  to  go  forward,  he  could  not,  but  (as  him- 
self confessed)  was  forced  to  return  back  to  prison  again. 

At  his  death  he  confessed  he  had  made  many  lies  to  excuse 
himself,  but  denied  that  he  had  killed  or  ravished  her.  He  was 
very  loath  to  die,  and  had  hope  he  should  be  reprieved ;  but  the 
court  held  him  worthy  of  death,  in  undertaking  the  charge  of  a 

>  Hampton,  N.  H.  » Exeter,  N.  H. 


238  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

shiftless  maid,  and  leaving  her  (when  he  might  have  done  other- 
wise) in  such  a  place  as  he  knew  she  must  needs  perish,  if  not 
preserved  by  means  unknown.  Yet  there  were  some  ministers 
and  others,  who  thought  the  evidence  not  sufficient  to  take 
away  his  life. 

(8.)  (October)  7.]  The  Wren,  a  small  pinnace,  coming  from 
Connecticut,  was  taken  in  a  N.  E.  storm,  and  forced  to  anchor 
near  Conyhassett,  where  she  drave  upon  the  rocks,  and  was 
wrecked,  but  all  the  men  were  saved. 

12.]  A  day  of  thanksgiving  kept  in  all  the  churches  for 
our  victories  against  the  Pequods,  and  for  the  success  of  the 
assembly ;  but,  by  reason  of  this  latter,  some  of  Boston  would 
not  be  present  at  the  public  exercises.  The  captains  and  sol- 
diers, who  had  been  in  the  late  service,  were  feasted,  and,  after 
the  sermon,  the  magistrates  and  elders  accompanied  them  to 
the  door  of  the  house  where  they  dined. 

(9.)  (November)  1.]  Miantunnomoh,  the  Naragansett 
sachem,  came  to  Boston.  The  governor,  deputy,  and  treasurer, 
treated  with  him,  and  they  parted  upon  fair  terms.  He  ac- 
knowledged that  all  the  Pequod  country  and  Block  Island  were 
ours,  and  promised  that  he  would  not  meddle  with  them  but 
by  our  leave.  We  gave  him  leave  to  right  himself  for  the 
wrongs  which  Janemoh  and  Wequash  Cook  had  done  him; 
and  for  the  wrong  they  had  done  us,  we  would  right  ourselves 
in  our  own  time. 

A  young  man,  coming  alone  in  a  skiff  from  Newtown,  in  a 
N.  E.  storm  of  wind  and  snow,  was  found  dead  in  his  boat, 
with  a  half-crown  piece  in  his  mouth. 

One  Jewell,  master  of  a  bark,  was  drowned.  The  manner 
was  this.  He  was  bound  to  the  Isle  of  Sable,  to  reheve  our  men 
there.  His  bark  had  lain  near  a  week  at  Natascott,  waiting  for 
him,  but  he  staid  at  Boston  drinking,  and  could  not  be  gotten 
away.  Mo.  x.  (December.)  When  he  went,  there  was  com- 
mitted to  his  care  a  rundlet  of  strong  water,  sent  to  some  there, 
he  promising,  that  upon  his  life,  it  should  not  be  touched; 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  239 

but,  as  he  went  down  in  his  bark's  skiff,  he  went  on  shore  at 
the  castle,  and  there  drank  out  about  a  gallon  of  it,  and  at 
night  went  away ;  but,  it  being  very  cold  and  dark,  they  could 
not  find  their  bark,  and  Jewell  his  hat  falhng  into  the  water, 
as  they  were  rowing  back  to  look  for  it,  he  fell  into  the  water, 
near  the  shore,  where  it  was  not  six  feet  deep,  and  could  not  be 
recovered. 

There  was  great  hope  that  the  late  general  assembly  would 
have  had  some  good  effect  in  pacifying  the  troubles  and  dis- 
sensions about  matters  of  rehgion;  but  it  fell  out  otherwise. 
For  though  Mr.  Wheelwright  and  those  of  his  party  had  been 
clearly  confuted  and  confoimded  in  the  assembly,  yet  they 
persisted  in  their  opinions,  and  were  as  busy  in  nourishing 
contentions  (the  principal  of  them)  as  before.  Whereupon 
the  general  court,  being  assembled  in  the  2  of  the  9th  month 
{November),  Siiid  finding,  upon  consultation,  that  two  so  opposite 
parties  could  not  contain  in  the  same  body,  without  apparent 
hazard  of  ruin  to  the  whole,  agreed  to  send  away  some  of  the 
principal;  and  for  this  a  fair  opportunity  was  offered  by  the 
remonstrance  or  petition,  which  they  preferred  to  the  court  the 
9th  of  the  1st  month  (March),  wherein  they  affirm  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright to  be  innocent,  and  that  the  court  had  condenmed  the 
truth  of  Christ,  with  divers  other  scandalous  and  seditious 
speeches,  (as  appears  at  large  in  the  proceedings  of  this  court, 
which  were  faithfully  collected  and  published  soon  after  the 
court  brake  up,)  subscribed  by  more  than  sixty  of  that  faction, 
whereof  one  William  Aspinwall,  being  one,  and  he  that  drew 
the  said  petition,  being  then  sent  as  a  deputy  for  Boston,  was 
for  the  same  dismissed,  and  after  called  to  the  court  and  dis- 
franchised and  banished.  John  Coggeshall  was  another  deputy, 
who,  though  his  hand  were  not  to  the  petition,  yet,  professing 
himself  to  approve  it,  etc.,  was  also  dismissed,  and  after  dis- 
franchised. Then  the  court  sent  warrant  to  Boston  to  send 
other  deputies  in  their  room;  but  they  intended  to  have  sent 
the  same  men  again ;  but  Mr.  Cotton,  coming  amongst  them, 


jg^40  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1637 

dissuaded  them  with  much  ado.  Then  the  court  sent  for  Mr. 
Wheelwright,  and,  he  persisting  to  justify  his  sermon,  and  his 
whole  practice  and  opinions,  and  refusing  to  leave  either  the 
place  or  his  pubUc  exercisings,  he  was  disfranchised  and  ban- 
ished. Upon  which  he  appealed  to  the  king,  but  neither  called 
witnesses,  nor  desired  any  act  to  be  made  of  it.  The  court 
told  him,  that  an  appeal  did  not  He;  for  by  the  king's  grant 
we  had  power  to  hear  and  determine  without  any  reservation, 
etc.  So  he  relinquished  his  appeal,  and  the  court  gave  him 
leave  to  go  to  his  house,  upon  his  promise,  that,  if  he  were  not 
gone  out  of  our  jurisdiction  within  fourteen  days,  he  would 
render  himself  to  one  of  the  magistrates. 

The  court  also  sent  for  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and  charged  her 
with  divers  matters,  as  her  keeping  two  pubhc  lectures  every 
week  in  her  house,  whereto  sixty  or  eighty  persons  did  usually 
resort,  and  for  reproaching  most  of  the  ministers  (viz.,  all  ex- 
cept Mr.  Cotton)  for  not  preaching  a  covenant  of  free  grace, 
and  that  they  had  not  the  seal  of  the  spirit,  nor  were  able 
ministers  of  the  New  Testament;  which  were  clearly  proved 
against  her,  though  she  sought  to  shift  it  off.  And,  after  many 
speeches  to  and  fro,  at  last  she  was  so  full  as  she  could  not 
contain,  but  vented  her  revelations;  amongst  which  this  was 
one,  that  she  had  it  revealed  to  her,  that  she  should  come  into 
New  England,  and  should  here  be  persecuted,  and  that  God 
would  ruin  us  and  our  posterity,  and  the  whole  state,  for  the 
same.  So  the  court  proceeded  and  banished  her ;  but,  because 
it  was  winter,  they  committed  her  to  a  private  house,  where 
she  was  well  provided,  and  her  own  friends  and  the  elders  per- 
mitted to  go  to  her,  but  none  else. 

The  court  called  also  Capt.  Underbill,  and  some  five  or 
six  more  of  the  principal,  whose  hands  were  to  the  said  peti- 
tion; and  because  they  stood  to  justify  it,  they  were  dis- 
franchised, and  such  as  had  public  places  were  put  from  them. 

The  court  also  ordered,  that  the  rest,  who  had  subscribed 
the  petition,  (and  would  not  acknowledge  their  fault,  and  which 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  241 

near  twenty  of  them  did,)  and  some  others,  who  had  been 
chief  stirrers  in  these  contentions,  etc.,  should  be  disarmed. 
This  troubled  some  of  them  very  much,  especially  because 
they  were  to  bring  them  in  themselves ;  but  at  last,  when  they 
saw  no  remedy,  they  obeyed.* 

All  the  proceedings  of  this  court  against  these  persons 
were  set  down  at  large,  with  the  reasons  and  other  observa- 
tions, and  were  sent  into  England  to  be  published  there,  to  the 
end  that  all  our  godly  friends  might  not  be  discouraged  from 
coming  to  us,  etc. 

*  One  almost  wonders  that  the  colony  survived  the  agitations  here  narrated. 
Aspinwall,  Coddington,  Coggeshall,  Underbill,  Wheelwright,  Mrs.  Hutchinson 
and  those  of  her  name,  and  many  others  now  subjected  to  discipline,  were  people 
of  the  first  distinction.  It  is  plain  that  Cotton,  with  his  disposition  toward 
liberality  and  his  affection  for  many  among  the  heretics,  was  in  an  agonized 
frame  of  mind;  while  Winthrop,  who  not  long  before  had  been  reprimanded  for 
his  lenity,  must  have  executed  with  acute  suffering  the  sentences  of  the  court. 
The  social  "Order  seemed  rocking  to  destruction,  and  if  ever  there  is  occasion  to 
judge  men  with  charity,  it  is  found  here.  We  quote  a  passage  from  the  Colonial 
Records,  I.  207:  "Whereas  the  opinions  and  revelations  of  Mr.  Wheelwright  and 
Mrs.  Hutchinson  have  seduced  and  led  into  dangerous  errors  many  of  the  people 
heare  in  Newe  England,  insomuch  as  there  is  just  cause  of  suspition  that  they, 
as  others  in  Germany,  in  former  times,  may,  upon  some  revelation,  make  some 
suddaine  irruption  upon  those  that  differ  from  them  in  judgment:  for  prevention 
whereof,  it  is  ordered,  that  all  those  whose  names  are  underwritten  shall  (upon 
warning  given  or  left  at  their  dwelling  houses)  before  the  30th  day  of  this  month 
of  November,  deliver  in  at  Mr.  Cane's  house,  at  Boston,  all  such  guns,  pistols, 
swords,  powder,  shot,  and  match  as  they  shall  bee  owners  of,  or  have  in  their 
custody,  upon  paine  of  ten  pound  for  evry  default  to  bee  made  thereof;  which 
armes  are  to  bee  kept  by  Mr.  Cane  till  this  court  shall  take  further  order  therein. 
Also  it  is  ordered,  upon  like  penulty  of  XI,  that  no  man  who  is  to  render  his  armes 
by  this  order  shall  buy  or  borrow  any  guns,  swords,  pistols,  powder,  shot,  or 
match,  untill  this  court  shall  take  further  order  therein."  A  list  of  names  of 
those  disarmed  throughout  the  colony  follows,  in  which  are  many  of  the  best. 


FROM  "A  SHORT  STORY  OF  THE  RISE,  REIGN 
AND    RUIN  OF  THE   ANTINOMIANS/'^ 

[The  reference  in  the  last  sentence  is  to  the  Short  Story  of  the 
Rise,  Reign,  and  Ruin  of  the  Antinomians,  and  Libertines  that  In- 
fected the  Churches  of  New  England  (London,  1644),  some  extracts 
from  which  are  here  introduced.  Although  Savage  maintained  to 
the  day  of  his  death  that  the  Short  Story  was  the  work  of  Thomas 
Welde,  who  from  his  Roxbury  pastorate  had  gone  to  England  in  1641, 
as  agent  of  the  colony,  all  other  important  authorities,  Charles  Deane, 
Samuel  G.  Drake,  J.  G.  Palfrey,  Joseph  B.  Felt,  and  Charles  Francis 
Adams,  assert  confidently  that  it  was  the  work  of  Winthrop,  excepting 
the  preface  to  which  Thomas  Welde  signed  his  name.  Mr.  Adams 
in  particular,  who  edited  the  document  in  1894  for  the  Prince  Society, 
appending  to  it  two  important  papers,  "The  Examination  of  Anne 
Hutchinson,"  and  "The  Trial  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  before  the  Church 
in  Boston,"  treats  the  subject  elaborately  in  his  Introduction,  declar- 
ing that  the  Short  Story  is  as  much  a  part  of  the  Journal  as  the  Journey 
to  the  Hebrides  is  part  of  Boswell's  Life  of  Samuel  Johnson,  and  that 
separation  is  as  inappropriate  in  one  case  as  the  other. 

In  this  edition  the  conclusion  of  the  scholars  mentioned  is  ac- 
cepted. Savage's  persistent  attribution  of  the  authorship  to  Welde  is 
to  be  regarded  as  a  characteristic  instance  of  that  tenacity,  which 
though  often  serviceable,  was  sometimes  perverted  and  ran  into  un- 
reasonable obstinacy.  The  limits  of  this  work  forbid  consideration 
of  the  question  of  the  authorship  of  the  Short  Story,  and  also  the 
printing  of  the  document  entire.  We  give  only  the  more  interesting 
and  significant  part,  referring  the  seeker  for  fuller  knowledge  to  books 
easily  found.  The  whole  text  of  the  Short  Story  can  be  best  studied 
in  C.  F.  Adams's  reprint,  where  the  contemporary  tracts  bearing  upon 
the  matter  are  also  given.  In  the  same  author's  Three  Episodes  of 
Massachusetts  History,  the  case  of  Anne  Hutchinson  is  again  treated, 
in  the  second  division.     Peter  Oliver,   Puritan  Commonwealth,   and 

^  The  portion  which  we  quote  is  on  pp.  59-66  of  the  original,  pp.  217-233 
of  Mr.  C.  F.  Adams's  Prince  Society  volume,  Antinomianism  in  the  Colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  (Boston,  1894). 

242 


i^.  m^p,  .--.la  n;>oe  of  the  ^mimmkns, 
F^nmj^s  c^  Lfc;;:;.-,digc  iofcared  she  Cimches^ 


®  ^ 
^  ^ 


^  Ana  .loA'  tiiey  were  confBfkl'  bv  the  Aile.x.bV  of  i^^i  I 

%i'  -'^  Cc'iiT  a(i!2ia.(t  tiicm*'       .  ^. 


•*^  Cc'iiT  agaia.(t  tiicm* 
J  Tcge'rh'er  widi  G.;i.  sL^snle^  «rid  rewariabli;  judge 
*         '""1"^  ?;■"■'?  Heaven  apon  fomeof  thsch'sf  fop;rnt<-rs  of*'' 


.-n^  carc-WKnciTe  of  ehe  carrk-c  of  niattv-rs  there. 


r        •  /.;,    i     ,     ;?^  '^5^"  °^-"^-  BiDkm  ar/4»//X 

TITLE-PAGE  OF   "A  SHORT  STORY  OF  THE  RISE,  REIGN  AND  RUINE 

OF  THE  ANTINOMIANS" 
From  a  copy  of  the  original  edition  in  the  New  York  Public  Library  (Lenox  Building) 


1637]  JOHN  VVINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  243 

Brooks  Adams,  Emancipation  of  Massachusetts,  handle  the  subject 
without  sympathy  for  the  party  in  power,  while  the  intolerant  Fathers 
receive  at  the  hands  of  Palfrey  treatment  more  judicial,  and  are  sturdily 
championed  by  Henry  M.  Dexter,  As  to  Roger  Williams  and  his 
Banishment  from  the  Massachusetts  Plantation,  and  John  A.  Vinton, 
The  Antiyiomian  Controversy  of  1637. 

A  facsimile  of  the  title-page  of  the  Short  Story  is  given  in  the  present 
volume.] 

MiSTRis  Hutchison  being  banished  and  confined,  till  the 
season  of  the  yeere  might  be  fit,  and  safe  for  her  departure; 
she  thought  it  now  needlese  to  conceale  herselfe  any  longer, 
neither  would  Satan  lose  the  opportunity  of  making  choyce 
of  so  fit  an  instrument,  so  long  as  any  hope  remained  to 
attaine  his  mischievous  end  in  darkning  the  saving  truth  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  disturbing  the  peace  of  his  Churches. 
Therefore  she  began  now  to  discover  all  her  mind  to  such  as 
came  to  her,  so  that  her  opinions  came  abroad  and  began  to 
take  place  among  her  old  disciples,  and  now  some  of  them 
raised  up  questions  about  the  immortality  of  the  soule,  about 
the  resurrection,  about  the  morality  of  the  Sabbath,  and  divers 
others,  which  the  Elders  finding  to  begin  to  appeare  in  some 
of  their  Churches,  they  took  much  paines  (both  in  publike 
and  private)  to  suppresse;  and  following  the  sent  from  one 
to  another,  the  root  of  all  was  found  to  be  in  Mistris  Hutchison ; 
whereupon  they  resorted  to  her  many  times,  labouring  to 
convince  her,  but  in  vaine;  yet  they  resorted  to  her  still, 
to  the  end  they  might  either  reclaime  her  from  her  errours, 
or  that  they  might  bear  witnesse  against  them  if  occasion 
were :  For  in  a  meeting  of  the  Magistrates  and  Elders,  about 
suppressing  these  new  sprung  errours,  the  Elders  of  Boston 
had  declared  their  readinesse  to  deale  with  Mistris  Hutchison 
in  a  Church  way,  if  they  had  sufficient  testimony:  for  though 
she  had  maintained  some  of  them  sometimes  before  them,  yet 
they  thought  it  not  so  orderly  to  come  in  as  witnesses ;  where- 
upon other  of  the  Elders,  and  others  collecting  which  they  had 
heard  from  her  owne  mouth  at  severall  times,  drew  them  into 


244  "A  SHORT  STORY  "  [1637 

severall  heads,  and  sent  them  to  the  Church  of  Boston,  where- 
upon the  Church  (with  leave  of  the  Magistrates,  because  she 
was  a  prisoner)  sent  for  her  to  appeare  upon  a  Lecture  day, 
being  the  fifteenth  of  the  first  moneth,  and  though  she  were 
at  her  owne  house  in  the  Towne,  yet  she  came  not  into  the 
Assembly  till  the  Sermon  and  Prayer  were  ended,  (pretending 
bodily  infirmity).  When  she  was  come,  one  of  the  ruling 
Elders  called  her  forth  before  the  Assembly  (which  was  very 
great  from  all  the  parts  of  the  Countrey),  and  telling  her  the 
cause  why  the  Church  had  called  her,  read  the  severall  heads, 
which  were  as  followeth. 

1.  That  the  soules  of  all  men  (in  regard  of  generation) 
are  mortall  hke  the  beasts,  Eccl.  3.  8. 

2.  That  in  regard  of  Christs  purchase  they  are  immortall, 
so  that  Christ  hath  purchased  the  soules  of  the  wicked 
to  etemall  paine,  and  the  soules  of  the  elect  to  eternall 
peace. 

3.  Those  who  are  united  to  Christ  have  in  this  life  new 
bodies,  and  2  bodies,  1  Cor.  6.  19.  she  knowes  not  how  Jesus 
Christ  should  be  united  to  this  our  fleshly  bodies. 

4.  Those  who  have  union  with  Christ,  shall  not  rise  with 
the  same  fleshly  bodies,  1  Cor.  15.  44. 

5.  And  that  the  resurrection  mentioned  there,  and  in 
John  5.  28.  is  not  meant  of  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  but 
of  our  union  here  and  after  this  life. 

6.  That  there  are  no  created  graces  in  the  Saints  after 
their  union  with  Christ,  but  before  there  are,  for  Christ  takes 
them  out  of  their  hands  into  his  owne. 

7.  There  are  no  created  graces  in  the  humane  nature 
of  Christ,  but  he  was  onely  acted  by  the  power  of  the  God- 
head. 

8.  The  Image  of  God  wherein  Adam  was  made,  she  could 
see  no  Scripture  to  warrant  that  it  consisted  in  hohnesse,  but 
conceived  it  to  be  in  that  he  was  made  like  to  Christs  man- 
hood. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  245 

9.  She  had  no  Scripture  to  warrant  that  Christs  manhood 
is  now  in  Heaven,  but  the  body  of  Christ  is  his  Church. 

10.  We  are  united  to  Christ  with  the  same  union,  that  his 
humanity  on  earth  was  with  the  Deity,  Jo.  17.  21. 

11.  She  conceived  the  Disciples  before  Christ  his  death 
were  not  converted,  Matth.  18.  3. 

12.  There  is  no  evidence  to  be  had  of  our  good  estate, 
either  from  absolute  or  conditionall  promises. 

13.  The  Law  is  no  rule  of  life  to  a  Christian. 

14.  There  is  no  Kingdome  of  Heaven  in  Scripture  but 
onely  Christ. 

15.  There  is  first  engrafling  into  Christ  before  union,  from 
which  a  man  might  fall  away. 

16.  The  first  thing  God  reveales  to  assure  us  is  om-  election. 

17.  That  Abraham  was  not  in  a  saving  estate  till  the  22. 
chap,  of  Gen.  when  hee  offered  Isaac,  and  saving  the  firme- 
nesse  of  Gods  election,  he  might  have  perished  notwithstanding 
any  work  of  grace  that  was  wrought  in  him  till  then. 

18.  That  union  to  Christ  is  not  by  faith. 

19.  That  all  commands  in  the  word  are  Law,  and  are  not 
a  way  of  life,  and  the  command  of  faith  is  a  Law,  and  there- 
fore killeth;  she  supposed  it  to  be  a  Law  from  Rom.  Z.  21. 

20.  That  there  is  no  faith  of  Gods  elect  but  assurance, 
there  is  no  faith  of  dependance  but  such  as  an  hypocrite  may 
have  and  fall  away  from,  proved  John  15.  for  by  that  she  said 
they  are  in  Christ,  but  Christ  is  not  in  them. 

21.  That  an  hypocrite  may  have  Adams  righteousnesse 
and  perish,  and  by  that  righteousnes  he  is  bound  to  the  Law, 
but  in  union  with  Christ,  Christ  comes  into  the  man,  and  he 
retaines  the  seed,  and  dieth,  and  then  all  manner  of  grace  in 
himself e,  but  all  in  Christ. 

22.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  inherent  righteousness. 

23.  We  are  not  bound  to  the  Law,  no  not  as  a  rule  of  life. 

24.  We  are  dead  to  all  acts  in  spirit uall  things,  and  are 
onely  acted  by  Christ. 


246  "A  SHORT  STORY"  [1637 

25.  Not  being  bound  to  the  Law,  it  is  not  transgression 
against  the  Law  to  sinne,  or  breake  it,  because  our  sinnes 
they  are  inward  and  spirituall,  and  so  are  exceeding  sinfull, 
and  onely  are  against  Christ. 

26.  Sanctification  can  be  no  evidence  at  all  of  our  good 
estate. 

27.  That  her  particuler  revelations  about  future  events 
are  as  infalUble  as  any  part  of  Scripture,  and  that  she  is  bound 
as  much  to  believe  them,  as  the  Scripture,  for  the  same  holy 
Ghost  is  the  author  of  them  both. 

28.  That  so  farre  as  a  man  is  in  union  with  Christ,  he  can 
doe  no  duties  perfectly,  and  without  the  communion  of  the 
unregenerate  part  with  the  regenerate. 

29.  That  such  exhortations  as  these,  to  worke  out  our 
salvation  with  feare,  to  make  our  calling  and  election  sure, 
&c.  are  spoken  onely  to  such,  as  are  under  a  Covenant  of 
workes. 

All  which  she  did  acknowledge  she  had  spoken,  (for  a  coppy 
of  them  had  been  sent  to  her  divers  dayes  before,  and  the 
witnesses  hands  subscribed,  so  as  she  saw  it  was  in  vaine  to 
deny  them).  Then  she  asked  by  what  rule  such  an  Elder 
could  come  to  her  pretending  to  desire  light,  and  indeede  to 
entrappe  her,  to  which  the  same  Elder  answered  that  he  had 
beene  twice  with  her,  and  that  he  told  her  indeed  at  St.  Ives, 
that  he  had  beene  troubled  at  some  of  her  speeches  in  the 
Court,  wherein  he  did  desire  to  see  light  for  the  ground  and 
meaning  of  them,  but  he  professed  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
that  he  came  not  to  entrap  her,  but  in  compassion  to  her 
Soule,  to  helpe  her  out  of  those  snares  of  the  Devill,  wherein 
he  saw  she  was  entangled,  and  that  before  his  departure  from 
her  he  did  beare  witnesse  against  her  opinions,  and  against 
her  spirit,  and  did  leave  it  sadly  upon  her  from  the  word  of 
God ;  then  presently  she  grew  into  passion  against  her  Pastor* 
for  his  speech  against  her  at  the  Court  after  the  sentence  was 

*  John  Wilson. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  247 

passed,  which  he  gave  a  full  answer  unto,  shewing  his  zeale 
against  her  errors,  whereupon  she  asked  for  what  errors  she 
had  beene  banished,  professing  withall  that  she  held  none 
of  these  things  she  was  now  charged  with,  before  her  imprison- 
ment; (supposing  that  whatsoever  should  be  found  amisse, 
would  be  imputed  to  that,  but  it  was  answered  as  the  truth 
was,  that  she  was  not  put  to  durance,  but  onely  a  favourable 
confinement,  so  as  all  of  her  Family  and  divers  others,  resorted 
to  her  at  their  pleasure).  But  this  allegation  was  then  proved 
false,  (and  at  her  next  convention  more  fully)  for  there  were 
divers  present,  who  did  know  she  spake  untruth.  Her 
answer  being  demanded  to  the  first  Articles,  she  maintained  her 
assertion  that  the  Soules  were  mortall,  &c.  alledging  the  place 
in  the  Eccles.  cited  in  the  Article,  and  some  other  Scriptures 
nothing  to  the  purpose,  she  insisted  much  upon  that  in  Gen.  1. 
In  the  day  thou  eatest,  &c.  thou  shalt  dye,  she  could  not  see 
how  a  Soule  could  be  immortally  miserable,  though  it  might 
be  eternally  miserable,  neither  could  shee  distinguish  betweene 
the  Soule  and  the  Life ;  and  though  she  were  pressed  by  many 
Scriptures  and  reasons  alleadged  by  the  Elders  of  the  same, 
and  other  Churches,  so  as  she  could  not  give  any  answer  to 
them,  yet  she  stood  to  her  opinion,  till  at  length  a  stranger^ 
being  desired  to  speake  to  the  point,  and  hee  opening  to  her 
the  difference  betweene  the  Soule  and  the  Life,  the  first  being 
a  spirituall  substance,  and  the  other  the  union  of  that  with  the 
body ;  she  then  confessed  she  saw  more  light  then  before,  and 
so  with  some  difficulty  was  brought  to  confesse  her  error  in 
that  point.    Wherein  was  to  be  observed  that  though  he  spake 

*  "The  'stranger'  was  probably  the  Rev.  John  Davenport,  at  the  time  a 
guest  of  John  Cotton.  ...  He  came  to  New  England  in  1637,  reaching 
Boston  on  the  26th  of  June,  in  the  midst  of  the  Antinomian  excitement.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  Cambridge  Synod  of  the  following  September;  but 
in  March,  1638,  at  the  time  of  the  occurrence  of  the  events  referred  to  in  the 
text,  having  perfected  all  his  arrangements,  was  about  to  migrate  to  Connecticut 
in  company  with  many  of  those  who  had  come  with  him  from  England,  being, 
in  the  language  of  Cotton  Mather,  'more  fit  for  Zebulon's  ports  than  for  Issa- 
char's  tents.'"     (C.  F.  Adams.) 


248  "A  SHORT  STORY"  [1637 

to  very  good  purpose,  and  so  clearely  convinced  her  as  she 
could  not  gainsay,  yet  it  was  evident  shee  was  convinced  be- 
fore, but  she  could  not  give  the  honour  of  it  to  her  owne  Pastor 
or  teacher,  nor  to  any  of  the  other  Elders,  whom  she  had  so 
much  slighted. 

Then  they  proceeded  to  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  Arti- 
cles, about  the  body  and  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  which 
she  maintained  according  to  the  Articles,  and  though  shee 
were  not  able  to  give  any  reasonable  answer  to  the  many 
places  of  the  Scripture,  and  other  arguments  which  were 
brought  to  convince  her,  yet  shee  still  persisted  in  her  errour, 
giving  froward  speeches  to  some  that  spake  to  her,  as  when 
one  of  the  Elders  used  this  argument,  that  if  the  resurrection 
were  only  our  union  with  Christ,  then  all  that  are  united,  are 
the  children  of  the  resurrection,  and  therefore  are  neither 
to  marry,  nor  to  give  in  marriage,  and  so  by  consequence, 
there  ought  to  be  community  of  women;  shee  told  him  that 
hee  spake  like  the  Pharisees,  who  said  that  Christ  had  a  devill, 
because  that  Abraham  were  dead  and  the  Prophets,  and  yet 
hee  had  said,  that  those  which  eate  his  flesh,  should  never 
dye,  not  taking  the  speech  in  the  true  meaning,  so  did  hee 
(said  shee)  who  brought  that  argument,  for  it  is  said  there, 
they  should  bee  like  the  Angels,  &c.  The  Elders  of  Boston 
finding  her  thus  obstinate,  propounded  to  the  Church  for  an 
admonition  to  bee  given  her,  to  which  all  the  Church  consented, 
except  two  of  her  sons,  who  because  they  persisted  to  defend 
her,  were  under  admonition  also.  Mr.  Cotton  gave  the  ad- 
monition, and  first  to  her  sons,  laying  it  sadly  upon  them,  that 
they  would  give  such  way  to  their  naturall  affection,  as  for 
preserving  her  honour,  they  should  make  a  breach  upon  the 
honour  of  Christ,  and  upon  their  Covenant  with  the  Church, 
and  withall  teare  the  very  bowels  of  their  soule,  by  hardning 
her  in  her  sin:  In  this  admonition  to  her,  first,  hee  remem- 
bred  her  of  the  good  way  shee  was  in  at  her  first  comming, 
in  helping  to  discover  to  divers,  the  false  bottom  they  stood 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  249 

upon,  in  trusting  to  legall  works  without  Christ;  then  hee 
shewed  her,  how  by  falling  into  these  grosse  and  fundamental! 
errors,  she  had  lost  the  honour  of  her  former  service,  and 
done  more  wrong  to  Christ  and  his  Church,  then  formerly 
shee  had  done  good,  and  so  laid  her  sin  to  her  conscience 
with  much  zeale  and  solemnity.  Hee  admonished  her  also 
of  the  height  of  spirit,  then  hee  spake  to  the  sisters  of  the 
Church,  and  advised  them  to  take  heed  of  her  opinions,  and 
to  with-hold  all  countenance  and  respects  from  her,  lest  they 
should  harden  her  in  her  sin:  so  shee  was  dismissed  and 
appointed  to  appeare  againe  that  day  sevennight. 

The  Court  had  ordered  that  shee  should  return  to  Rox- 
bury  again,  but  upon  intimation  that  her  spirit  began  to  fall, 
shee  was  permitted  to  remain  at  Mr.  Cottons  house  (where 
Davenport  was  also  kept)  who  before  her  next  appearing, 
did  both  take  much  pains  with  her,  and  prevailed  so  far,  that 
shee  did  acknowledge  her  errour  in  all  the  Articles  (except 
the  last)  and  accordingly  she  wrote  down  her  answers  to 
them  all.  When  the  day  came,  and  shee  was  called  forth 
and  the  Articles  read  again  to  her,  shee  delivered  in  her 
answers  in  writing,  which  were  also  read,  and  being  then 
willing  to  speak  to  the  Congregation  for  their  further  satis- 
faction, shee  did  acknowledge  that  shee  had  greatly  erred,  and 
that  God  had  left  her  to  her  self  herein,  because  she  had  so 
much  under-natured  his  Ordinances,  both  in  slighting  the 
Magistrates  at  the  Court,  and  also  the  Elders  of  the  Church, 
and  confessed  that  when  shee  was  at  the  Court,  shee  looked 
only  at  such  failings  as  shee  apprehended  in  the  Magistrates 
proceedings,  without  having  regard  to  the  place  they  were  in, 
and  that  the  speeches  shee  then  used  about  her  revelations 
were  rash,  and  without  ground,  and  shee  desired  the  prayers 
of  the  Church  for  her. 

Thus  farre  shee  went  on  well,  and  the  Assembly  conceived 
hope  of  her  repentance,  but  in  her  answers  to  the  severall 
articles,  shee  gave  no  satisfaction,  because  in  diverse  of  them 


250  "A   SHORT  STORY"  [1637 

shee  answered  by  circumlocutions,  and  seemed  to  lay  all  the 
faults  in  her  expressions,  which  occasioned  some  of  the  Elders 
to  desire  she  might  expresse  her  self  more  cleerly,  and  for 
that  ever  shee  was  demanded  about  the  Article,  whether 
she  were  not,  or  had  not  been  of  that  judgement,  that  there 
is  no  inherent  righteousnesse  in  the  Saints,  but  those  gifts 
and  graces  which  are  ascribed  to  them  that  are  only  in  Christ 
as  the  subject?  to  which  shee  answered,  that  shee  was  never 
of  that  judgement,  howsoever  by  her  expressions  shee  might 
seem  to  bee  so;  and  this  shee  affirmed  with  such  confidence 
as  bred  great  astonishment  in  many,  who  had  known  the 
contrary,  and  diverse  alledged  her  own  sayings  and  reason- 
ings, both  before  her  confinement  and  since,  which  did  mani- 
fest to  all  that  were  present,  that  shee  knew  that  shee  spake 
untruth,  for  it  was  proved  that  shee  had  alledged  that  in 
Esay  ^53.  By  his  knowledge  shall  my  righteous  servant 
justifie  many;  which  shee  had  maintained  to  bee  meant  of  a 
knowledge  in  Christ,  and  not  in  us;  so  hkewise  that  in  Gala- 
tians,^  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  which  shee  said 
was  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  not  any  faith  inherent  in  us; 
also,  that  shee  had  maintained,  that  Christ  is  our  sanctifica- 
tion  in  the  same  sort  that  hee  is  our  justification,  and  that 
shee  had  said,  that  shee  would  not  pray  for  grace,  but  for 
Christ,  and  that  (when  she  had  been  pressed  with  diverse 
Scriptures,  which  spake  of  washing  and  creating  a  new  heart, 
and  writing  the  Law  in  the  heart,  etc.)  shee  had  denyed,  that 
they  did  mean  any  sanctification  in  us:  There  were  diverse 
v/omen  also  with  whom  shee  had  dealt  about  the  same  point, 
who  (if  their  modesty  had  not  restrained  them)  would  have 
born  witnesse  against  her  herein  (as  themselves  after  confessed), 
wherefore  the  Elders  pressed  her  very  earnestly  to  remember 
her  self,  and  not  to  stand  so  obstinately  to  maintain  so  mani- 
fest an  untruth,  but  she  was  deafe  of  that  eare,  and  would  not 
acknowledge  that  shee  had  been  at  any  time  of  that  judge- 

>  Isaiah.  '  ii.  20. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  251 

ment,  howsoever  her  expressions  were ;  Then  Mr.  Cotton  told 
the  Assembly,  that  whereas  shee  had  been  formerly  dealt  with 
for  matter  of  doctrine,  he  had  (according  to  the  duty  of  his 
place  being  the  teacher  of  that  Church)  proceeded  against 
imto  admonition,  but  now  the  case  being  altered,  and  she 
being  in  question  for  maintaining  of  untruth,  which  is  matter 
of  manners,  he  must  leave  the  businesse  to  the  Pastor,  Mr. 
Wilson,  to  goe  on  with  her,  but  withall  declared  his  judge- 
ment in  the  case  from  that  in  Revel.  22.  that  such  as  make  and 
maintaine  a  lye,  ought  to  be  cast  out  of  the  Church;  and 
whereas  two  or  three  pleaded  that  she  might  first  have  a  second 
admonition,  according  to  that  in  Titus  3.  10.^  he  answered 
that  that  was  onely  for  such  as  erred  in  point  of  doctrine,  but 
such  as  shall  notoriously  offend  in  matter  of  conversation, 
ought  to  be  presently  cast  out,  as  he  proved  by  Ananias  and 
Saphira,^  and  the  incestuous  Corinthian;'  (and  as  appeares 
by  that  of  Simon  Magus)  *  and  for  her  owne  part  though  she 
heard  this  moved  in  her  behalfe,  that  she  might  have  a  further 
respite,  yet  she  her  self e  never  desired  it :  so  the  Pastor  went 
on,  and  propounding  it  to  the  Church,  to  know  whether  they 
were  all  agreed,  that  she  should  be  cast  out,  and  a  full  consent 
appearing  (after  the  usuall  manner)  by  their  silence,  after  a 
convenient  pause  he  proceeded,  and  denounced  the  sentence 
of  excommunication  against  her,  and  she  was  commanded  to 
depart  out  of  the  Assembly.  In  her  going  forth,  one  standing 
at  the  dore,  said.  The  Lord  sanctifie  this  unto  you,  to  whom 
she  made  answer.  The  Lord  judgeth  not  as  man  judgeth,  better 
to  be  cast  out  of  the  Church  then  to  deny  Christ. 

Thus  it  hath  pleased  the  Lord  to  have  compassion  of  his 
poore  Churches  here,  and  to  discover  this  great  imposter, 
an  instnmient  of  Satan  so  fitted  and  trained  to  his  service 
for  interrupting  the  passage  [of  the]  Kingdome  in  this  part  of 
the  world,  and  poysoning  the  Churches  here  planted,  as  no 

*  "A  man  that  is  an  heretick  after  the  first  and  second  admonition  reject." 
'Acts,  V.  1-11.  '  1  Corinthians,  V.  5.  *  Acts,  viii.  18-24. 


252  "A  SHORT  STORY"  [1637 

story  records  the  like  of  a  woman,  since  that  mentioned  in  the 
Revelation]  it  would  make  a  large  volume  to  lay  downe  all 
passages,  I  will  onely  observe  some  few,  which  were  obvious  to 
all  that  knew  her  course. 

(1.  Her  entrance. 
1.  In  her  entrance  I  observe,  (2.  Her  progresse. 

(3.  Her  downfall. 

1.  The  foundation  she  laid  was  (or  rather  seemed  to  be) 
Christ  and  Free-Grace. 

2.  Rule  she  pretended  to  walke  by,  was  onely  the  Scripture. 

3.  The  light  to  disceme  this  rule,  was  onely  the  holy  Ghost. 

4.  The  persons  she  conversed  with  were  (for  the  most 
part)  Christians  in  Church  Covenant. 

5.  Her  ordinary  talke  was  about  the  things  of  the  King- 
dome  of  God. 

6.  Her  usuall  conversation  was  in  the  way  of  righteous- 
nesse  and  kindnesse. 

Thus  she  entred  and  made  up  the  first  act  of  her  course. 

In  her  progresse  I  observe, 

First,  her  successe,  she  had  in  a  short  time  insinuated  her 
selfe  into  the  hearts  of  much  of  the  people  (yea  of  many  of  the 
most  wise  and  godly)  who  grew  into  so  reverent  an  esteeme  of 
her  godlinesse,  and  spirituall  gifts,  as  they  looked  at  her  as  a 
Prophetesse,  raised  up  of  God  for  some  great  worke  now  at 
hand,  as  the  calUng  of  the  Jewes,  &c.  so  as  she  had  more  resort 
to  her  for  counsell  about  matter  of  conscience,  and  clearing 
up  mens  spirituall  estates,  then  any  Minister  (I  might  say  all 
the  Elders)  in  the  Country. 

Secondly,  Pride  and  Arraigning  of  her  spirit. 

1.  In  framing  a  new  way  of  conversation  and  evidencing 
thereof,  carried  along  in  the  distinction  betweene  the  Covenant 
of  workes,  which  she  would  have  no  otherwise  differenced, 
but  by  an  immediate  Revelation  of  the  Spirit. 

2.  In  despising  all  (both  Elders  and  Christians)  who  went 
not  her  way,  and  laying  them  under  a  Covenant  of  workes. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  253 

3.  In  taking  upon  her  infallibly  to  know  the  election  of 
others,  so  as  she  would  say,  that  if  she  had  but  one  halfe 
houres  talke  with  a  man,  she  would  tell  whether  he  were 
elect  or  not. 

4.  Her  impatience  of  opposition,  which  appeares  in  divers 
passages  before. 

Thirdly,  Her  skill  and  cimning  to  devise. 

1.  In  that  she  still  pretended  she  was  of  Mr.  Cottons 
judgement  in  all  things. 

2.  In  covering  her  errors  by  doubtfull  expressions. 

3.  In  shadowing  the  true  end,  and  abuse  of  her  weekely 
meetings  under  the  name  of  repeating  Mr.  Cottons  Sermons. 

4.  In  her  method  of  practise  to  bring  the  conscience  under 
a  false  terror,  by  working  that  an  argument  of  a  Covenant  of 
workes,  which  no  Christian  can  have  comfort  without,  viz. 
of  sanctification,  or  qualifications,  (as  she  termed  it.) 

5.  In  her  confident  profession  of  her  owne  good  estate,  and 
the  clearnesse  and  comfort  of  it,  obtained  in  the  same  way  of 
waiting  for  immediate  Revelation  which  she  held  out  to  others. 

In  her  downefall  there  may  be  observed  the  Lords  faith- 
fulnesse  in  honouring  and  justifying  his  owne  Ordinances. 

1.  In  that  hee  made  her  to  cleare  the  justice  of  the  Court, 
by  confessing  the  vanity  of  her  revelations,  &c.  and  her 
sinne  in  despising  his  Ministers. 

2.  In  that  the  judgement  and  sentence  of  the  Church  hath 
concurred  with  that  of  the  Court  in  her  rejection,  so  that 
she  is  cast  out  of  both  as  an  unworthy  member  of  either. 

3.  The  Justice  of  God  in  giving  her  up  to  those  delusions, 
and  to  that  impudency  in  venting  and  maintaining  them,  as 
should  bring  her  under  that  censure,  which  (not  long  before) 
she  had  endeavoured  and  expected  to  have  brought  upon  some 
other,  who  opposed  her  proceedings. 

4.  That  she  who  was  in  such  esteeme  in  the  Church  for 
soundnesse  of  Judgement  and  sincerity  of  heart  (but  a  few 
moneths  before)   should  now   come   under  admonition   for 


254  "A  SHORT  STORY"  [1637 

many  foule  and  fundamental!  errors,  and  after  be  cast  out 
for  notorious  lying. 

5.  That  shee  who  was  wont  to  bee  so  confident  of  her 
spirituall  good  estate,  and  ready  (undesired)  to  hold  it  forth 
to  others  (being  pressed  now  at  her  last  appearance  before 
the  Church  to  give  some  proofs  of  it)  should  bee  wholly  silent 
in  that  matter. 

6.  Whereas  upon  the  sentence  of  the  Court  against  her, 
shee  boasted  highly  of  her  sufferings  for  Christ,  &c.  it  was 
noted  by  one  of  the  Elders  (who  bare  witnesse  against  her 
errors)  that  the  spirit  of  glory  promised  in  Pet.^  to  those  who 
suffer  for  well-doing,  did  not  come  upon  her,  but  a  spirit  of 
delusion,  and  damnable  error,  which  as  it  had  possessed  her 
before,  so  it  became  more  effectuall  and  evident  by  her  suf- 
ferings. 

7.  Here  is  to  bee  seen  the  presence  of  God  in  his  Ordi- 
nances, when  they  are  faithfully  attended  according  to  his 
holy  will,  although  not  free  from  human  infirmities:  This 
American  Jesabel  kept  her  strength  and  reputation,  even 
among  the  people  of  God,  till  the  hand  of  Civill  Justice  laid 
hold  on  her,  and  then  shee  began  evidently  to  decline,  and 
the  faithfull  to  bee  freed  from  her  forgeries;  and  now  in  this 
last  act,  when  shee  might  have  expected  (as  most  likely  shee 
did)  by  her  seeming  repentance  of  her  errors,  and  confessing 
her  undervaluing  of  the  Ordinances  of  Magistracy  and  Min- 
istracy,  to  have  redeemed  her  reputation  in  point  of  sincerity, 
and  yet  have  made  good  all  her  former  work,  and  kept  open 
a  back  doore  to  have  returned  to  her  vomit  again,  by  her 
paraphrasticall  retractions,  and  denying  any  change  in  her 
judgement,  yet  such  was  the  presence  and  blessing  of  God  in 
his  own  Ordinance,  that  this  subtilty  of  Satan  was  discovered 
to  her  utter  shame  and  confusion,  and  to  the  setting  at  liberty 
of  many  godly  hearts,  that  had  been  captivated  by  her  to 
that  day;  and  that  Church  which  by  her  means  was  brought 

1 1  Peter,  iii.  17;  iv.  14. 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  255 

under  much  infamy,  and  neere  to  dissolution,  was  hereby 
sweetly  repaired,  and  a  hopefull  way  of  establishment,  and 
her  dissembled  repentance  cleerly  detected,  God  giving  her 
up  since  the  sentence  of  excommunication,  to  that  hardnesse 
of  heart,  as  shee  is  not  affected  with  any  remorse,  but  glories 
in  it,  and  feares  not  the  vengeance  of  God,  which  she  lyes 
under,  as  if  God  did  work  contrary  to  his  own  word,  and 
loosed  from  heaven,  while  his  Church  had  bound  upon  earth/ 

•  As  to  the  accounts  in  the  History  and  the  Short  Story  Mr.  Adams  remarks: 
"The  inference  is  strong  that  both  accounts  were  prepared  by  the  same  hand; 
but  while  that  in  the  Short  Story  was  written  at  once  and  hurried  off  to  Enoland 
in  some  vessel  then  about  to  sail,  that  in  the  History  was  set  down  subsequently 
and  more  at  leisure.  This  also  would  account  for  the  greater  warmth  of  expres- 
sion in  the  Short  Story — a  thing  not  characteristic  of  Winthrop." 


(WINTHROP^S   JOURNAL   RESUMED.) 

After  this,  many  of  the  church  of  Boston,  being  highly- 
offended  with  the  governor  for  this  proceeding,*  were  earnest 
with  the  elders  to  have  him  called  to  account  for  it;  but  they 
were  not  forward  in  it,  and  himself,  understanding  their  intent, 
thought  fit  to  prevent  such  a  pubhc  disorder,  and  so  took  occa- 
sion to  speak  to  the  congregation  to  this  effect: — 

1.  That  if  he  had  been  called,  etc.,  he  would  have  desired, 
first,  to  have  advised  with  the  elders,  whether  the  church  had 
power  to  call  in  question  the  proceedings  of  the  civil  court. 

2.  He  would  have  consulted  with  the  rest  of  the  court, 
whether  he  might  discover  the  counsels  of  the  court  to  this 
assembly. 

3.  Though  he  knew,  that  the  elders  and  some  others  did 
know,  that  the  church  could  not  inquire  into  the  justice  and 
proceedings  of  the  court,  etc. ;  yet,  for  the  satisfaction  of  such 
as  did  not,  and  were  willing  to  be  satisfied,  he  would  declare 
his  mind  herein. 

4.  He  showed,  that,  if  the  church  had  such  power,  they 
must  have  it  from  Christ,  but  Christ  had  disclaimed  it  in  his 
practice  and  by  rule,  as  Luke  [blank,]  Matt,  [blank']  and  the 
scripture  holds  not  out  any  rule  or  example  for  it ;  and  though 
Christ's  kingly  power  be  in  his  church,  yet  that  is  not  that 
kingly  power  whereby  he  is  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords, 
for  by  that  kings  reign  and  princes,  etc.  It  is  true,  indeed,  that 
magistrates,  as  they  are  church  members,  are  accountable  to 
the  church  for  their  failings,  but  that  is  when  they  are  out  of 
their  calling ;  for  we  have  examples  of  the  highest  magistrates 
in  the  same  kind,  as  Uzzia,  when  he  would  go  offer  incense  in 
the  temple,  the  officers  of  the  church  called  him  to  account,  and 

'  The  proceedings  of  the  court  against  the  Hutchinsonians. 
256 


1637]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  ^57 

withstood  him.  But  when  Asa  put  a  prophet  in  prison,  and 
when  Salam  put  out  Abiathar  from  the  priesthood,  (the  one 
being  a  good  act  and  the  other  ill,)  yet  the  officers  of  the  church 
did  not  call  either  of  them  to  account  for  it.  If  a  magistrate 
shall,  in  a  private  way,  take  away  a  man's  goods  or  his  servants, 
etc.,  the  church  may  call  him  to  accoimt  for  it;  but  if  he  doth 
thus  in  pursuing  a  course  of  justice,  (though  the  thing  be  un- 
just,) yet  he  is  not  accountable,  etc. 

5.  For  himself,  he  did  nothing  in  the  cases  of  the  brethren, 
but  by  the  advice  and  direction  of  our  teacher  and  other  of  the 
elders.  For  in  the  oath,  which  was  administered  to  him  and 
the  rest,  etc.,  there  was  inserted,  by  his  advice,  this  clause, — 
In  all  causes  wherein  you  are  to  give  your  vote,  etc.,  you  are  to 
give  your  vote  as  in  your  judgment  and  conscience  you  shall 
see  to  be  most  for  the  pubhc  good,  etc. ;  and  so  for  his  part  he 
was  persuaded,  that  it  would  be  most  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  public  good,  to  pass  sentence  as  they  did. 

6.  He  would  give  them  one  reason,  which  was  a  ground 
for  his  judgment,  and  that  was,  for  that  he  saw,  that  those 
brethren,  etc.,  were  so  divided  from  the  rest  of  the  country  in 
their  judgment  and  practice,  as  it  could  not  stand  with  the 
public  peace,  that  they  should  continue  amongst  us.  So,  by 
the  example  of  Lot  in  Abraham's  family,  and  after  Hagar  and 
Ishmael,  he  saw  they  must  be  sent  away.^ 

*  Winthrop's  justification  of  himself  is  interesting  as  coming  from  one 
naturally  candid  and  gentle  who  in  a  great  strait,  in  a  fierce  contest  between 
liberal  and  illiberal  minds,  provides  for  the  public  good  as  well  as  he  can  accord- 
ing to  his  lights. 


1638 

Mo.  11  (January).]  The  church  at  Roxbury  dealt  with 
divers  of  their  members,  (who  had  their  hands  to  the  petition,) 
and  spent  many  days  in  public  meetings  to  have  brought  them 
to  see  their  sin  in  that,  as  also  in  the  corrupt  opinions  which 
they  held,  but  could  not  prevail  with  them.  So  they  pro- 
ceeded to  two  or  three  admonitions,  and,  when  all  was  in 
vain,  they  cast  them  out  of  the  church.  In  their  dealing  with 
them,  they  took  some  of  them  in  plain  hes  and  other  foul 
distempers. 

9.]  Divers  of  the  elders  went  to  Weymouth,  to  reconcile  the 
differences  between  the  people  and  Mr.  Jenner,  whom  they 
had  called  thither  with  intent  to  have  him  their  pastor.  They 
had  good  success  of  their  prayers. 

13.]  About  thirty  persons  of  Boston  going  out  in  a  fair  day 
to  Spectacle  Island  to  cut  wood,  (the  town  being  in  great  want 
thereof,)  the  next  night  the  wind  rose  so  high  at  N.  E.  with 
snow,  and  after  at  N.  W.  for  two  days,  and  then  it  froze  so  hard, 
as  the  bay  was  all  frozen  up,  save  a  little  channel.  In  this 
twelve  of  them  gate  to  the  Governor's  Garden,  and  seven  more 
were  carried  in  the  ice  in  a  small  skiff  out  at  Broad  Sound,  and 
kept  among  Brewster's  Rocks,  without  food  or  fire,  two  days, 
and  then  the  wind  forbearing,  they  gate  to  Pullin  Point,  to  a 
little  house  there  of  Mr.  Aspenwall's.  Three  of  them  gate  home 
the  next  day  over  the  ice,  but  their  hands  and  feet  frozen. 
Some  lost  their  fingers  and  toes,  and  one  died.  The  rest  went 
from  Spectacle  Island  to  the  main,  but  two  of  them  fell  into 
the  ice,  yet  recovered  again.* 

In  this  extremity  of  weather,  a  small  pinnace  was  cast  away 

*  Since  most  of  the  localities  of  Boston  harbor  retain  the  old  names,  the  story 
will  be  easily  followed, 

258 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  259 

upon  Long  Island  by  Natascott,  but  the  men  were  saved  and 
came  home  upon  the  ice. 

16.]  The  powder  and  arms  of  the  country,  which  were  kept 
at  Boston,  were,  by  order  of  the  last  court,  carried  to  Roxbury 
and  Newtown. 

This  year  a  plantation  was  begun  at  Tecticutt  by  a  gentle- 
woman, an  ancient  maid,  one  Mrs.  Poole.  She  went  late 
thither,  and  endured  much  hardship,  and  lost  much  cattle. 
Called,  after,  Taunton.^ 

Another  plantation  was  begun  (and  called  Sandwich) 
about  fifteen  miles  beyond  Plymouth,  towards  Cape  Cod,  by 
many  families,  which  removed  from  Sagus,  otherwise  L3nin. 

Upon  occasion  of  the  censures  of  the  court  upon  Mrs. 
Hutchinson  and  others,  divers  other  foul  errors  were  discov- 
ered, which  had  been  secretly  carried  by  way  of  inquiry,  but 
after  were  maintained  by  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  others ;  and  so 
many  of  Boston  were  tainted  with  them,  as  Mr.  Cotton,  finding 
how  he  had  been  abused,  and  made  (as  himself  said)  their 
stalking  horse,  (for  they  pretended  to  hold  nothing  but  what 
Mr.  Cotton  held,  and  himself  did  think  the  same,)  did  spend 
most  of  his  time,  both  publicly  and  privately,  to  discover  those 
errors,  and  to  reduce  such  as  were  gone  astray.  And  also  the 
magistrates,  calling  together  such  of  the  elders  as  were  near, 
did  spend  two  days  in  consulting  with  them  about  the  way  to 
help  the  growing  evils. 

Some  of  the  secret  opinions  were  these : — 

That  there  is  no  inherent  righteousness  in  a  child  of  God. 

That  neither  absolute  nor  conditional  promises  belong  to 
a  Christian. 

That  we  are  not  bound  to  the  law,  not  as  a  rule,  etc. 

That  the  Sabbath  is  but  as  other  days. 

That  the  soul  is  mortal,  till  it  be  united  to  Christ,  and  then 
it  is  annihilated,  and  the  body  also,  and  a  new  given  by  Christ. 

That  there  is  no  resurrection  of  the  body. 

*  The  foundress  is  still  held  in  honor  in  Taunton. 


260  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1638 

Mo.  12  (February).]  Divers  gentlemen  and  others,  being 
joined  in  a  military  company,  desired  to  be  made  a  corporation, 
etc.  But  the  council,  considering  (from  the  example  of  the 
Pretorian  band  among  the  Romans,  and  the  Templars  in  Eu- 
rope) how  dangerous  it  might  be  to  erect  a  standing  authority  of 
mihtary  men,  which  might  easily,  in  time,  overthrow  the  civil 
power,  thought  fit  to  stop  it  betimes.  Yet  they  were  allowed 
to  be  a  company,  but  subordinate  to  all  authority.* 

About  this  time  the  Indians,  which  were  in  our  famiUes, 
were  much  frightened  with  Hobbamock  (as  they  call  the 
devil)  appearing  to  them  in  divers  shapes,  and  persuading  them 
to  forsake  the  English,  and  not  to  come  at  the  assembUes, 
nor  to  learn  to  read,  etc. 

26.]  Mr.  Peirce,  in  the  Salem  ship,  the  Desire,  returned 
from  the  West  Indies  after  seven  months.  He  had  been  at 
Providence,^  and  brought  some  cotton,  and  tobacco,  and  ne- 
groes, etc.,  from  thence,  and  salt  from  Tertugos.  Dry  fish 
and  strong  hquors  are  the  only  commodities  for  those  parts. 
He  met  there  two  men-of-war,  set  forth  by  the  lords,  etc.,  of 
Providence'  with  letters  of  mart,  who  had  taken  divers  prizes 
from  the  Spaniard,  and  many  negroes. 

Mo.  1  (March).]  While  Mrs.  Hutchinson  continued  at  Rox- 
bury,  divers  of  the  elders  and  others  resorted  to  her,  and  finding 
her  to  persist  in  maintaining  those  gross  errors  beforemen- 
tioned,  and  many  others,  to  the  number  of  thirty  or  thereabout, 
some  of  them  wrote  to  the  church  at  Boston,  offering  to  make 
proof  of  the  same  before  the  church,  etc.,  15;  whereupon  she 
was  called,  (the  magistrates  being  desired  to  give  her  Hcense 
to  come,)  and  the  lecture  was  appointed  to  begin  at  ten.  (The 
general  court  being  then  at  Newtown,  the  governor  and  the 
treasurer,  being  members  of  Boston,  were  permitted  to  come 

'  Here  we  have  the  origin  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company, 
still  a  cherished  and  flourishing  organization. 

'  In  the  Caribbean.     We  here  have  plain  evidence  of  a  trade  in  slaves. 
'  See  ante,  p.  228,  note  1. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  261 

down,  but  the  rest  of  the  court  continued  at  Newtown.) 
When  she  appeared,  the  errors  were  read  to  her.  The  first 
was,  that  the  souls  of  men  are  mortal  by  generation,  but,  after, 
made  immortal  by  Christ's  purchase.  This  she  maintained  a 
long  time ;  but  at  length  she  was  so  clearly  convinced  by  rea- 
son and  scripture,  and  the  whole  church  agreeing  that  sufRcient 
had  been  dehvered  for  her  conviction,  that  she  yielded  she  had 
been  in  an  error.  Then  they  proceeded  to  three  other  errors: 
1.  That  there  was  no  resurrection  of  these  bodies,  and  that 
these  bodies  were  not  united  to  Christ,  but  every  person  united 
hath  a  new  body,  etc.  These  were  also  clearly  confuted,  but 
yet  she  held  her  own ;  so  as  the  chiirch  (all  but  two  of  her  sons) 
agreed  she  should  be  admonished,  and  because  her  sons  would 
not  agree  to  it,  they  were  admonished  also. 

Mr.  Cotton  pronoimced  the  sentence  of  admonition  with 
great  solemnity,  and  with  much  zeal  and  detestation  of  her 
errors  and  pride  of  spirit.^  The  assembly  continued  till  eight  at 
night,  and  all  did  acknowledge  the  special  presence  of  God's 
spirit  therein;  and  she  was  appointed  to  appear  again  the 
next  lecture  day. 

While  the  general  court  sate,  there  came  a  letter,  directed 
to  the  court,  from  John  Greene  of  Providence,  who,  not  long 
before,  had  been  imprisoned  and  fined,  for  saying  that  the 

*  Nothing  in  Cotton's  life  is  so  hard  to  excuse  as  his  pronouncing  sentence 
at  this  time  upon  Anne  Hutchinson.  Her  affection  for  him  brought  her  across 
the  sea;  it  was  under  his  ministrations  that  her  ideas  developed;  while  con- 
demning the  teaching  of  the  ministers  in  general,  she  always  made  an  exception 
of  him.  On  his  side,  too,  his  sympathy  with  her  was  so  strong  that  his  standing 
had  been  much  imperilled.  It  would  be  wrong  to  believe  that  in  turning  against 
her  now  he  was  selfishly  thinking  of  himself.  In  his  honest  opinion  she  had  gone 
too  far,  endangering  the  material  and  spiritual  welfare  of  her  environment.  The 
situation  is  full  of  pathos.  The  strong,  well-purposed  man,  bound  by  many 
limitations,  yearning  no  doubt  toward  the  pupil  he  had  moulded,  but  alarmed 
at  her  perverseness,  sits  in  the  judgment-seat  confronting  the  enthusiast  against 
whom  the  world  is  turning.  Though  many  of  her  utterances  are  scarcely  in- 
telligible to  modern  readers,  an  occasional  light  breaks  forth  of  wisdom  before 
her  age;  she  was  brave,  sincere,  and  possessed  of  womanly  sweetness.  The 
world  will  always  with  tender  thoughts  follow  her  sad  fortunes  to  their  tragic 
close. 


262  WINTHROP^S  JOURNAL  [1638 

magistrates  had  usurped  upon  the  power  of  Christ  in  his 
church,  and  had  persecuted  Mr.  WiUiams  and  another,  whom 
they  had  banished  for  disturbing  the  peace  by  divulging  their 
opinions  against  the  authority  of  the  magistrates,  etc.;  but 
upon  his  submission,  etc.,  his  fine  was  remitted;  and  now,  by 
his  letter,  he  retracted  his  former  submission,  and  charged  the 
court  as  he  had  done  before.  Now,  because  the  court  knew,  that 
divers  others  of  Providence  were  of  the  same  ill  affection  to 
the  court,  and  were  probably  suspected  to  be  confederate  in 
the  same  letter,  the  court  ordered,  that,  if  any  of  that  planta- 
tion were  found  within  our  jurisdiction,  he  should  be  brought 
before  one  of  the  magistrates,  and  if  he  would  not  disclaim  the 
charge  in  the  said  letter,  he  should  be  sent  home,  and  charged 
to  come  no  more  into  this  jurisdiction,  upon  pain  of  imprison- 
ment and  further  censure.^ 

At  this  court,  divers  of  our  chief  mihtary  officers,  who  had 
declared  themselves  favorers  of  the  famihstical  persons  and 
opinions,  were  sent  for,  and  being  told,  that  the  court  having 
some  jealousy  of  them  for  the  same,  and  therefore  did  desire 
some  good  satisfaction  from  them,  they  did  ingenuously  ac- 
knowledge, how  they  had  been  deceived  and  misled  by  the 
pretence,  which  was  held  forth,  of  advancing  Christ,  and 
debasing  the  creature,  etc.,  which  since  they  have  found  to  be 
otherwise,  and  that  their  opinions  and  practices  tended  to  dis- 
turbance and  delusions;  and  so  blessed  God,  that  had  so  timely 
discovered  their  error  and  danger  to  them. 

At  this  court,  a  committee  was  appointed,  of  some  magis- 
trates, some  ministers,  and  some  others,  to  compile  a  body  of 
fundamental  laws. 

Also  the  elders  (who  had  been  requested  to  deliver  their 
judgments  concerning  the  law  of  adultery,  about  which  three 
had  been  kept  long  in  prison)  returned  their  answer,  with  the 
reasons  thereof,  to  this  effect :    That,  if  the  law  had  been  suffi- 

'  From  John  Greene  was  descended  the  revolutionary  general  Nathaniel 
Greene. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  263 

ciently  published,  they  ought  to  be  put  to  death.*  Whereupon 
the  court,  considering  that  there  had  been  some  defect  in  that 
point,  and  especially  for  that  it  had  been  oft  questioned  among 
the  deputies  and  others,  whether  that  law  were  of  force  or  not, 
being  made  by  the  court  of  assistants  by  allowance  of  the 
general  court ;  therefore  it  was  thought  safest,  that  these  three 
persons  should  be  whipped  and  banished;  and  the  law  was 
confirmed  and  published. 

The  Castle  Island  being  found  to  be  very  chargeable  to 
maintain  the  garrison  there,  and  of  Httle  use,  but  only  to  have 
some  conunand  of  ships,  which  should  come  hither  with  pas- 
sengers, etc.,  there  was  a  committee  appointed  to  dispose  of 
the  ammunition  there,  etc. 

22.]  Mrs.  Hutchinson  appeared  again;  (she  had  been 
licensed  by  the  court,  in  regard  she  had  given  hope  of  her  re- 
pentance, to  be  at  Mr.  Cotton's  house,  that  both  he  and  Mr. 
Davenport  might  have  the  more  opportunity  to  deal  with  her ;) 
and  the  articles  being  again  read  to  her,  and  her  answer  re- 
quired, she  delivered  it  in  writing,  wherein  she  made  a  retracta- 
tion of  near  all,  but  with  such  explanations  and  circumstances 
as  gave  no  satisfaction  to  the  church;  so  as  she  was  required 
to  speak  further  to  them.  Then  she  declared,  that  it  was  just 
with  God  to  leave  her  to  herself,  as  he  had  done,  for  her  slight- 
ing his  ordinances,  both  magistracy  and  ministry;  and  con- 
fessed that  what  she  had  spoken  against  the  magistrates  at  the 
court  (by  way  of  revelation)  was  rash  and  ungrounded;  and 
desired  the  church  to  pray  for  her.  This  gave  the  church  good 
hope  of  her  repentance;  but  when  she  was  examined  about 
some  particulars,  as  that  she  had  denied  inherent  righteous- 
ness, etc.,  she  affirmed  that  it  was  never  her  judgment;  and 
though  it  was  proved  by  many  testimonies,  that  she  had  been 
of  that  judgment,  and  so  had  persisted,  and  maintained  it  by 
argument  against  divers,  yet  she  impudently  persisted  in  her 

*The  reference  is  to  a  law  passed  in  October,  1631,  providing  death  for 
both  parties, 


264  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1638 

affirmation,  to  the  astonishment  of  all  the  assembly.  So  that, 
after  much  time  and  many  arguments  had  been  spent  to  bring 
her  to  see  her  sin,  but  all  in  vain,  the  church,  with  one  consent, 
cast  her  out.  Some  moved  to  have  her  admonished  once 
more ;  but,  it  being  for  manifest  evil  in  matter  of  conversation, 
it  was  agreed  otherwise ;  and  for  that  reason  also  the  sentence 
was  denounced  by  the  pastor,  matter  of  manners  belonging 
properly  to  his  place. 

After  she  was  excommunicated,  her  spirits,  which  seemed 
before  to  be  somewhat  dejected,  revived  again,  and  she  gloried 
in  her  sufferings,  saying,  that  it  was  the  greatest  happiness,  next 
to  Christ,  that  ever  befel  her.  Indeed,  it  was  a  happy  day  to 
the  churches  of  Christ  here,  and  to  many  poor  souls,  who  had 
been  seduced  by  her,  who,  by  what  they  heard  and  saw  that 
day,  were  (through  the  grace  of  God)  brought  off  quite  from 
her  errors,  and  settled  again  in  the  truth. 

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

After  two  or  three  days,  the  governor  sent  a  warrant  to  Mrs. 
Hutchinson  to  depart  this  jurisdiction  before  the  last  of  this 
month,  according  to  the  order  of  court,  and  for  that  end  set  her 
at  liberty  from  her  former  constraint,  so  as  she  was  not  to  go 
forth  of  her  own  house  till  her  departure;  and  upon  the  28th 
she  went  by  water  to  her  farm  at  the  Mount,  where  she  was 
to  take  water,  with  Mr.  Wheelwright's  wife  and  family,  to  go 
to  Pascataquack ;  but  she  changed  her  mind,  and  went  by  land 
to  Providence,  and  so  to  the  island  in  the  Naragansett  Bay, 

^  Here  we  find  the  beginnings  of  the  colony  of  Rhode  Island  as  distinguished 
from  Providence,  to  which  we  have  seen  Roger  Williams  depart. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  265 

which  her  husband  and  the  rest  of  that  sect  had  purchased  of 
the  Indians,  and  prepared  with  all  speed  to  remove  unto. 
For  the  court  had  ordered,  that,  except  they  were  gone  with 
their  famiHes  by  such  a  time,  they  should  be  summoned  to  the 
general  court,  etc. 

30.]  Mr.  Davenport  and  Mr.  Prudden,  and  a  brother  of  Mr. 
Eaton,  (being  ministers  also,)  went  by  water  to  Quinepiack; 
and  with  them  many  families  removed  out  of  this  jurisdiction 
to  plant  in  those  parts,  being  much  taken  with  the  opinion  of 
the  fruitfulness  of  that  place,  and  more  safety  (as  they  con- 
ceived) from  danger  of  a  general  governor,  who  was  feared  to 
be  sent  this  summer;  which,  though  it  were  a  great  weakening 
to  these  parts,  yet  we  expected  to  see  a  good  providence  of  God 
in  it,  (for  all  possible  means  had  been  used  to  accommodate 
them  here;  Charlestown  offered  them  largely,  Newbury  their 
whole  town,  the  court  any  place  which  was  free,)  both  for  pos- 
sessing those  parts  which  lay  open  for  an  enemy,  and  for 
strengthening  our  friends  at  Connecticut,  and  for  making  room 
here  for  many,  who  were  expected  out  of  England  this  year, 
and  for  diverting  the  thoughts  and  intentions  of  such  in 
England  as  intended  evil  against  us,  whose  designs  might 
be  frustrate  by  our  scatterings  so  far;  and  such  as  were  now 
gone  that  way  were  as  much  in  the  eye  of  the  state  of  England 
as  we  here.^ 

There  came  letters  from  Connecticut  to  the  governor  of  the 
Massachusetts,  to  desire  advice  from  the  magistrates  and  elders 
here  about  Sequin  and  the  Indians  of  the  river,  who  had,  un- 
derhand, (as  was  conceived,)  procured  the  Pequods  to  do  that 
onslaught  at  Weathersfield  the  last  year.  The  case  fell  out 
to  be  this:  Sequin  gave  the  Enghsh  land  there,  upon  con- 
tract that  he  might  sit  down  by  them,  and  be  protected,  etc. 
When  he  came  to  Weathersfield,  and  had  set  down  his  wigwam, 
they  drave  him  away  by  force.    Whereupon,  he  not  being  of 

*  New  Haven  must  be  distinguished  from  the  enterprise  of  Hooker  and 
Haynes  at  Hartford,  or  Connecticut. 


266  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1638 

strength  to  repair  this  injury  by  open  force,  he  secretly  draws 
in  the  Pequods.  Such  of  the  magistrates  and  elders  as  could 
meet  on  the  sudden  returned  this  answer,  viz.:  That,  if  the 
cause  were  thus.  Sequin  might,  upon  this  injury  first  offered  by 
them,  right  himself  either  by  force  or  fraud,  and  that  by  the 
law  of  nations ;  and  though  the  damage  he  had  done  them  had 
been  one  hundred  times  more  than  what  he  sustained  from 
them,  that  is  not  considerable  in  point  of  a  just  war;  neither 
was  he  bound  (upon  such  an  open  act  of  hostility  publicly 
maintained)  to  seek  satisfaction  first  in  a  peaceable  way;  it 
was  enough,  that  he  had  complained  of  it  as  an  injury 
and  breach  of  covenant.  According  to  this  advice,  they 
proceeded  and  made  a  new  agreement  with  the  Indians  of 
the  river. 

Another  plantation  was  now  in  hand  at  Mattakeese,*  six 
miles  beyond  Sandwich.  The  undertaker  of  this  was  one  Mr. 
Batchellor,  late  pastor  at  Sagus,  (since  called  Lynn,)  being 
about  seventy-six  years  of  age ;  yet  he  walked  thither  on  foot 
in  a  very  hard  season. 

He  and  his  company,  being  all  poor  men,  finding  the  diffi- 
culty, gave  it  over,  and  others  imdertook  it. 

27.]  The  Indians  of  Block  Island  sent  three  men  with 
ten  fathom  of  wampom  for  part  of  their  tribute. 

The  wife  of  one  WilHam  Dyer,  a  milliner  in  the  New  Ex- 
change, a  very  proper  and  fair  woman,  and  both  of  them 
notoriously  infected  with  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  errors,  and  very 
censorious  and  troublesome,  (she  being  of  a  very  proud  spirit, 
and  much  addicted  to  revelations,)  had  been  dehvered  of  [a] 
child  some  few  months  before,  October  17,  and  the  child 
buried,  (being  stillborn,)  and  viewed  of  none  but  Mrs.  Hutch- 
inson and  the  midwife,  one  Hawkins's  wife,  a  rank  familist 
also ;  and  another  woman  had  a  ghmpse  of  it,  who,  not  being 
able  to  keep  counsel,  as  the  other  two  did,  some  rumor  be- 
gan to  spread;  that  the  child  was  a  monster.    One  of  the 

*  Later  Yarmouth. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  267 

elders,  hearing  of  it,  asked  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  when  she  was 
ready  to  depart ;  whereupon  she  told  him  how  it  was,  and  said 
she  meant  to  have  it  chronicled,^  but  excused  her  concealing  of 
it  till  then,  (by  advice,  as  she  said,  of  Mr.  Cotton,)  which 
coming  to  the  governor's  knowledge,  he  called  another  of  the 
magistrates  and  that  elder,  and  sent  for  the  midwife,  and  exam- 
ined her  about  it.  At  first  she  confessed  only,  that  the  head 
was  defective  and  misplaced,  but  being  told  that  Mrs.  Hutchin- 
son had  revealed  all,  and  that  he  intended  to  have  it  taken 
up  and  viewed,  she  made  this  report  of  it,  viz. :  It  was  a  woman 
child,  stillborn,  about  two  months  before  the  just  time,  having 
hfe  a  few  hours  before;  it  came  hiplings  till  she  turned  it;  it 
was  of  ordinary  bigness;  it  had  a  face,  but  no  head,  and  the 
ears  stood  upon  the  shoulders  and  were  like  an  ape's;  it  had 
no  forehead,  but  over  the  eyes  four  horns,  hard  and  sharp; 
two  of  them  were  above  one  inch  long,  the  other  two  shorter; 
the  eyes  standing  out,  and  the  mouth  also;  the  nose  hooked 
upward ;  all  over  the  breast  and  back  full  of  sharp  pricks  and 
scales,  like  a  thornback ;  the  navel  and  all  the  belly,  with  the 
distinction  of  the  sex,  were  where  the  back  should  be,  and  the 
back  and  hips  before,  where  the  belly  should  have  been;  be- 
hind, between  the  shoulders,  it  had  two  mouths,  and  in  each 
of  them  a  piece  of  red  flesh  sticking  out ;  it  had  arms  and  legs 
as  other  children ;  but,  instead  of  toes,  it  had  on  each  foot  three 
claws,  like  a  young  fowl,  with  sharp  talons. 

The  governor  speaking  with  Mr.  Cotton  about  it,  he  told 
him  the  reason  why  he  advised  them  to  conceal  it:  1.  Be- 
cause he  saw  a  providence  of  God  in  it,  that  the  rest  of  the  wo- 
men, which  were  coming  and  going  in  the  time  of  her  travail, 
should  then  be  absent.  2.  He  considered,  that,  if  it  had  been 
his  own  case,  he  should  have  desired  to  have  had  it  concealed. 
3.  He  had  known  other  monstrous  births,  which  had  been  con- 
cealed, and  that  he  thought  God  might  intend  only  the  in- 

^  Public  registration  of  births,  marriages  and  deaths  was  maintained  in  the 
Bay  colony  with  great  care. 


268  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1638 

struction  of  the  parents,  and  such  other  to  whom  it  was 
known,  etc.  The  hke  apology  he  made  for  himself  in  public, 
which  was  well  accepted.' 

(2.)  (April.)]  The  governor,  with  advice  of  some  other  of 
the  magistrates  and  of  the  elders  of  Boston,  caused  the  said 
monster  to  be  taken  up,  and  though  it  were  much  corrupted, 
yet  most  of  those  things  were  to  be  seen,  as  the  horns  and 
claws,  the  scales,  etc.  When  it  died  in  the  mother's  body, 
(which  was  about  two  hours  before  the  birth,)  the  bed 
whereon  the  mother  lay  did  shake,  and  withal  there  was 
such  a  noisome  savor,  as  most  of  the  women  were  taken 
with  extreme  vomiting  and  purging,  so  as  they  were  forced 
to  depart;  and  others  of  them  their  children  were  taken 
with  convulsions,  (which  they  never  had  before  nor  after,) 
and  so  were  sent  for  home,  so  as  by  these  occasions  it  came 
to  be  concealed. 

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

Another  observable  passage  was,  that  the  father  of  this 
monster,  coming  home  at  this  very  time,  was,  the  next  Lord's 
day,  by  an  unexpected  providence,  questioned  in  the  church 
for  divers  monstrous  errors,  as  for  denying  all  inherent  right- 

'  The  repulsive  notion  that  the  displeasure  of  Heaven  was  revealed  by  mon- 
strous births  was  entertained  by  men  of  the  best  intelligence. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  269 

eousness,  etc.,  which  he  maintained,  and  was  for  the  same 
admonished/ 

12.]  A  general  fast  was  kept  through  all  the  churches,  by 
advice  from  the  court,  for  seeking  the  Lord  to  prevent  evil,  that 
we  feared  to  be  intended  against  us  from  England  by  a  general 
governor;  for  the  safe  arrival  of  our  friends  from  thence,  (very 
many  being  expected;)  and  for  estabhshment  of  peace  and 
truth  amongst  us. 

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

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

24.]  The  governor  and  deputy  went  to  Concord  to  view 
some  land  for  farms,  and,  going  down  the  river  about  four 
miles,  they  made  choice  of  a  place  for  one  thousand  acres  for 
each  of  them.  They  offered  each  other  the  first  choice,  but 
because  the  deputy's  was  first  granted,  and  himself  had  store 

*  The  putting  to  death  of  Mary  Dyer,  the  Quakeress,  who  now  in  this  sad 
fashion  emerges  into  history,  is  the  tragedy  of  a  later  time.  Her  execution  took 
place  in  1660. 


270  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1638 

of  land  already,  the  governor  yielded  him  the  choice.  So,  at 
the  place  where  the  deputy's  land  was  to  begin,  there  were 
two  great  stones,  which  they  called  the  Two  Brothers,  in  re- 
membrance that  they  were  brothers  by  their  children's  mar- 
riage, and  did  so  brotherly  agree,  and  for  that  a  Httle  creek 
near  those  stones  was  to  part  their  lands.  At  the  court  in  the 
4th  month  after,  two  hundred  acres  were  added  to  the  gov- 
ernor's park.^ 

26.]  Mr.  Coddington  (who  had  been  an  assistant  from 
the  first  coming  over  of  the  government,  being,  with  his  wife, 
taken  with  the  famihstical  opinions)  removed  to  Aquiday 
Island  in  the  Naragansett  Bay. 

(3.)  (May)  2.]  At  the  court  of  elections,  the  former  gov- 
ernor, John  Winthrop,  was  chosen  again.  The  same  day,  at 
night,  he  was  taken  with  a  sharp  fever,  which  brought  him  near 
death;  but  many  prayers  were  put  up  to  the  Lord  for  him, 
and  he  was  restored  again  after  one  month. 

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

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

(4.)  (June)  1.]  Between  three  and  four  in  the  afternoon, 
being  clear,  warm  weather,  the  wind  westerly,  there  was  a 
great  earthquake.  It  came  with  a  noise  hke  a  continued 
thunder  or  the  ratthng  of  coaches  in  London,  but  was  presently 
gone.    It  was  at  Connecticut,  at  Naragansett,  at  Pascataquack, 


*  The  "Two  Brothers"  still  hold  their  place  on  the  river-bank.  See  photo- 
graph in  Augustine  Jones,  Thomas  Dudley.  The  reconciliation  between  Win- 
throp and  Dudley  seems  to  have  been  complete. 

*  Savage  estimates  that  there  were  forty  or  fifty  Cambridge  men  dwelling  in 
the  colony,  and  not  a  few  from  Oxford.  The  college  was  established  by  order 
of  the  General  Court  in  October,  1636;  Rev.  John  Harvard  died  later  in  this 
year  1638;  the  name  Harvard  College  was  bestowed  in  March,  1639,  in  recog- 
nition of  his  bequest. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  271 

and  all  the  parts  round  about.  It  shook  the  ships,  which  rode 
in  the  harbor,  and  all  the  islands,  etc.  The  noise  and  the 
shakings  continued  about  four  minutes.  The  earth  was  un- 
quiet twenty  days  after,  by  times. 

5.]  Unkus,  ahas  Okoco,  the  Monahegan  sachem  in  the 
twist  of  Pequod  River,^  came  to  Boston  with  thirty-seven 
men.  He  came  from  Connecticut  with  Mr.  Hajnies,  and 
tendered  the  governor  a  present  of  twenty  fathom  of  wampom. 
This  was  at  the  court,  and  it  was  thought  fit  by  the  council  to 
refuse  it,  till  he  had  given  satisfaction  about  the  Pequods  he 
kept,  etc.  Upon  this  he  was  much  dejected,  and  made  ac- 
count we  would  have  killed  him;  but,  two  days  after,  having 
received  good  satisfaction  of  his  innocency,  etc.,  and  he  prom- 
ising to  submit  to  the  order  of  the  EngUsh  touching  the  Pequods 
he  had,  and  the  differences  between  the  Naragansetts  and  him, 
we  accepted  his  present.  And,  about  half  an  hour  after,  he 
came  to  the  governor,  and  entertained  him  with  these  comph- 
ments:  This  heart  (laying  his  hand  upon  his  breast)  is  not 
mine,  but  yours ;  I  have  no  men ;  they  are  all  yours ;  command 
me  any  difficult  thing,  I  will  do  it;  I  will  not  beheve  any 
Indians'  words  against  the  Enghsh;  if  any  man  shall  kill  an 
Enghshman,  I  will  put  him  to  death,  were  he  never  so  dear  to 
me.  So  the  governor  gave  him  a  fair,  red  coat,  and  defrayed 
his  and  his  men's  diet,  and  gave  them  corn  to  reheve  them 
homeward,  and  a  letter  of  protection  to  all  men,  etc.,  and  he 
departed  very  joyful. 

Many  ships  arrived  this  year,  with  people  of  good  quality 
and  estate,  notwithstanding  the  council's  order,  that  none 
such  should  come  without  the  king's  license;  but  God  so 
wrought,  that  some  obtained  Hcense,  and  others  came  away 
without.  The  troubles  which  arose  in  Scotland  about  the 
book  of  common  prayer,  and  the  canons,  which  the  king 
would  have  forced  upon  the  Scotch  churches,  did  so  take  up 

*  The  Mohegans  lay  west  of  the  Pequot  territory,  as  the  Narragansetts  lay 
to  the  east. 


272  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1638 

the  king  and  council,  that  tliey  had  neither  heart  nor  leisure 
to  look  after  the  affairs  of  New  England ;  yet,  upon  report  of 
the  many  thousands,  which  were  preparing  to  come  away,  the 
archbishops  caused  all  the  ships  to  be  stayed.  But,  upon  the 
petition  of  the  masters,  and  suggestion  of  the  great  damage 
it  would  be  to  the  commonwealth  in  hindering  the  Newfound- 
land trade,  which  brought  in  much  money,  etc.,  they  were  pres- 
ently released.  And  in  this  and  other  passages  it  plainly  ap- 
peared, that  near  all  the  lords  of  the  council  did  favor  this 
plantation ;  and  all  the  officers  of  the  custom  house  were  very 
ready  to  further  it,  for  they  never  made  search  for  any  goods, 
etc.,  but  let  men  bring  what  they  would,  without  question  or 
control.  For  sure  the  Lord  awed  their  hearts,  and  they  and 
others  (who  savored  not  religion)  were  amazed  to  see  men 
of  all  conditions,  rich  and  poor,  servants  and  others,  offering 
themselves  so  readily  for  New  England,  when,  for  furnishing 
of  other  plantations,  they  were  forced  to  send  about  their 
stalls,^  and  when  they  had  gotten  any,  they  were  forced  to 
keep  them  as  prisoners  from  rimning  away. 

Mo.  (6.)  (August)  3.]  In  the  night  was  a  very  great  tempest 
or  hiracano  at  S.  W.  which  drave  a  ship  on  ground  at  Charles- 
town,  and  brake  down  the  windmill  there,  and  did  much  other 
harm.  It  flowed  twice  in  six  hours,  and  about  Naragansett  it 
raised  the  tide  fourteen  or'  fifteen  foot  above  the  ordinary 
spring  tides,  upright. 

Janemoh,  the  sachem  of  Niantick,^  had  gone  to  Long  Island 
and  rifled  some  of  those  Indians,  which  were  tributaries  to  us. 
The  sachem  complained  to  our  friends  of  Connecticut,  who 
wrote  us  about  it,  and  sent  Capt.  Mason,  with  seven  men,  to 
require  satisfaction.  The  governor  of  the  Massachusetts 
wrote  also  to  Mr.  Williams  to  treat  with  Miantunnomoh  about 
satisfaction,  or  otherwise  to  bid  them  look  for  war. 

^  Decoys. 

^  The  Niantics  were  a  tribe  near  and  closely  allied  to  the  Narragansetts,  in 
territory  towards  which  the  English  were  now  departing. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  273 

Upon  this  Janemoh  went  to  Connecticut,  and  made  his 
peace,  and  gave  full  satisfaction  for  all  injuries. 

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

Four  servants  of  Plylnouth  ran  from  their  masters,  and, 
coming  to  Providence,  they  killed  an  Indian.  He  escaped, 
after  he  was  deadly  wounded  in  the  belly,  and  gat  to  other 
Indians.  So,  being  discovered,  they  fled  and  were  taken  at 
the  Isle  Aquiday.^  Mr.  Williams  gave  notice  to  the  governor 
of  Massachusetts,  and  desired  advice.  He  returned  answer, 
that,  seeing  they  were  of  Plymouth,  they  should  certify 
Plymouth  of  them,  and,  if  they  would  send  for  them,  to  deliver 
them;  otherwise,  seeing  no  English  had  jurisdiction  in  the 
place  where  the  murder  was  committed,  neither  had  they  at 
the  Island  any  government  estabhshed,  it  would  be  safest 
to  dehver  the  principal,  who  was  certainly  known  to  have  killed 
the  party,  to  the  Indian  his  friends,  with  caution  that  they 
should  not  put  him  to  tortm-e,  and  to  keep  the  other  three  to 
further  consideration. 

After  this,  Plymouth  men  sent  for  them,  (but  one  had 
escaped,)  and  the  governor  there  wrote  to  the  governor  here 
for  advice,  especially  for  that  he  heard  they  intended  to  appeal 
into  England.  The  governor  returned  answer  of  encourage- 
ment to  proceed  notwithstanding,  seeing  no  appeal  did  he, 
for  that  they  could  not  be  tried  in  England,  and  that  the 
whole  country  here  were  interested  in  the  case,  and  would 
expect  to  have  justice  done.^  Whereupon  they  proceeded  as 
appears  after. 

Many  of  Boston  and  others,  who  were  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson's 
judgment  and  party,  removed  to  the  Isle  of  Aquiday;   and 

*  Aquiday,  Aquidneck,  or  Rhode  Island,  now  becoming  important  as  the 
seat  of  the  new  plantation  beyond  Providence. 

'See  Bradford,  pp.  344-346.  The  Plymouth  governor  at  this  time  was 
Thomas  Prence. 


274  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1638 

others,  who  were  of  the  rigid  separation,  and  savored  ana- 
baptism,  removed  to  Providence,  so  as  those  parts  began  to  be 
well  peopled. 

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

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

The  fourth  escaped  to  Pascataquack.  The  governor  sent 
after  him,  but  those  of  Pascataquack  conveyed  him  away,  and 
openly  withstood  his  apprehension.  It  was  their  usual  man- 
ner (some  of  them)  to  countenance,  etc.,  all  such  lewd  persons 
as  fled  from  us  to  them. 

(7.)  {September.)  The  general  court  was  assembled,  in 
which  it  was  agreed,  that,  whereas  a  very  strict  order  was  sent 
from  the  lords  commissioners  for  plantations  for  the  sending 
home  oui'  patent,  upon  pretence  that  judgment  had  passed 
against  it  upon  a  quo  warranto,  a  letter  should  be  written  by 
the  governor,  in  the  name  of  the  court,  to  excuse  our  not  send- 
ing of  it ;  for  it  was  resolved  to  be  best  not  to  send  it,  because 

^  The  immigration,  which  two  years  later  suddenly  ceased,  was  now  at  its 
height. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  275 

then  such  of  our  friends  and  others  in  England  would  conceive 
it  to  be  surrendered,  and  that  thereupon  we  should  be  bound 
to  receive  such  a  governor  and  such  orders  as  should  be  sent 
to  us,  and  many  bad  minds,  yea,  and  some  weak  ones,  among 
ourselves,  would  think  it  lawful,  if  not  necessary,  to  accept  a 
general  governor.  The  copy  of  the  letter  is  reserved,  etc., 
in  form  of  a  petition.    See  the  after  fol.  74.* 

At  this  court  a  law  was  made  about  such  as  should  continue 
excommunicated  six  months,  and  for  pubUc  thankgiving  for 
the  arrival  of  the  ships,  and  for  the  coming  on  of  harvest  be- 
yond expectation,  etc.    This  law  was  after  repealed. 

At  this  court,  also,  Capt.  Underbill  (being  about  to  remove 
to  Mr.  Wheelwright)  petitioned  for  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
promised  him  formerly ;  by  occasion  whereof  he  was  questioned 
about  some  speeches  he  had  used  in  the  ship  lately,  in  his  re- 
turn out  of  England,  viz.,  that  he  should  say,  that  we  were 
zealous  here,  as  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  were,  and  as  Paul 
was  before  his  conversion,  etc.,  which  he  denying,  they  were 
proved  to  his  face  by  a  sober,  godly  woman,  whom  he  had 
seduced  in  the  ship,  and  drawn  to  his  opinions,  (but  she  was 
after  freed  again).  Among  other  passages,  he  told  her  how 
he  came  to  his  assurance,  and  that  was  thus:  He  had  lain 
under  a  spirit  of  bondage  and  a  legal  way  five  years,  and  could 
get  no  assurance,  till  at  length,  as  he  was  taking  a  pipe  of  to- 
bacco, the  Spirit  set  home  an  absolute  promise  of  free  grace 
with  such  assurance  and  joy,  as  he  never  since  doubted  of  his 
good  estate,  neither  should  he,  though  he  should  fall  into  sin. 
He  would  not  confess  nor  deny  this,  but  took  exceptions  at  the 
court  for  crediting  one  witness  against  him,  etc.,  and  withal 
said,  that  he  was  still  of  the  same  opinion  he  had  been,  etc. 
Whereupon  he  was  demanded,  if  he  were  of  the  same  opinion 

^  It  was  important  in  this  age,  that  a  charter  should  be  beyond  the  control 
of  the  grantor,  not  Hghtly  to  be  set  aside,  but  only  after  quo  warranto  proceedings 
embarrassing  to  those  in  power.  See  Brooks  Adams,  Emancipation  of  Massa- 
chusetts, p.  17.  Winthrop  refers  to  a  page  in  his  second  note-book  where  Savage 
found  nothing. 


276  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1638 

he  had  been  in  about  the  petition  or  remonstrance.  He  an- 
swered, yes,  and  that  his  retractation  was  only  of  the  manner, 
not  of  the  matter.  Whereupon  his  retractation  (which  he  had 
lately  delivered  to  the  governor,  to  be  presented  to  this  court) 
was  read,  wherein  he  professeth  how  the  Lord  had  brought  him 
to  see  his  sin  in  conderoning  the  court,  and  passing  the  bounds 
of  modesty  and  submission,  which  is  required  in  private  per- 
sons, etc.,  and  in  what  trouble  of  spirit  he  had  been  for  it,  etc. 
Upon  this,  the  court  committed  liim  for  abusing  the  court  with 
a  show  of  retractation,  and  intending  no  such  thing;  and  the 
next  day  he  was  called  again  and  banished.  The  Lord's  day 
following,  he  made  a  speech  in  the  assembly,  showing  that,  as 
the  Lord  was  pleased  to  convert  Paul  as  he  was  in  persecuting, 
etc.,  so  he  might  manifest  himself  to  him  as  he  was  taking  the 
moderate  use  of  the  creature  called  tobacco.  He  professed 
withal,  that  he  knew  not  wherein  he  had  deserved  the  sentence 
of  the  court,  and  that  he  was  sure  that  Christ  was  his,  etc. 
The  elders  reproved  him  for  this  speech ;  and  Mr.  Cotton  told 
him,  that  he  brake  a  rule  in  condemning  pubhcly  the  sentence 
of  the  court,  before  he  had  privately  convinced  the  magistrates, 
or  some  of  them;  and  told  him,  also,  that,  although  God  doth 
often  lay  a  man  under  a  spirit  of  bondage,  when  he  is  walking 
in  sin,  as  Paul  was,  yet  he  never  sends  such  a  spirit  of  comfort 
but  in  an  ordinance,  as  he  did  to  the  same  Paul  by  Ananias; 
and  ergo  advised  him  well  to  examine  the  revelation  and  joy 
which  he  had. 

The  next  Lord's  day,  the  same  Capt.  Underhill,  having  been 
privately  dealt  with  upon  suspicion  of  incontinency  with  a 
neighbor's  wife,  and  not  barkening  to  it,  was  publicly  ques- 
tioned, and  put  under  admonition.  The  matter  was,  for  that 
the  woman  being  young,  and  beautiful,  and  withal  of  a  jovial 
spirit  and  behavior,  he  did  daily  frequent  her  house,  and  was 
divers  times  found  there  alone  with  her,  the  door  being  locked 
on  the  inside.  He  confessed  it  was  ill,  because  it  had  an 
appearance  of  evil  in  it ;  but  his  excuse  was,  that  the  woman 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  277 

was  in  great  trouble  of  mind,  and  sore  temptations,  and 
that  he  resorted  to  her  to  comfort  her ;  and  that  when  the  door 
was  found  locked  upon  them,  they  were  in  private  prayer  to- 
gether. But  this  practice  was  clearly  condenmed  also  by  the 
elders,  affirming,  that  it  had  not  been  of  good  report  for  any  of 
them  to  have  done  the  hke,  and  that  they  ought,  in  such  case, 
to  have  called  in  some  brother  or  sister,  and  not  to  have  locked 
the  door,  etc.  They  also  declared,  that  once  he  procured  them 
to  go  visit  her,  telhng  them  that  she  was  in  great  trouble  of 
mind ;  but  when  they  came  to  her,  (taking  her,  it  seems,  upon 
the  sudden,)  they  perceived  no  such  thing.*  See  the  issue  of 
this  after,  (9,)  1638,  and  (10,)  13,  38. 

Mrs.  Hutchinson,  being  removed  to  the  Isle  of  Aquiday,  in 
the  Naragansett  Bay,  after  her  time  was  fulfilled,  that  she  ex- 
pected dehverance  of  a  child,  was  dehvered  of  a  monstrous 
birth,  which,  being  diversely  related  in  the  country,  (and,  in  the 
open  assembly  at  Boston,  upon  a  lecture  day,  declared  by  Mr. 
Cotton  to  .  .  .  signify  her  error  in  denying  inherent  right- 
eousness, but  that  all  was  Christ  in  us,  and  nothing  of  ours  in 
our  faith,  love,  etc.)  hereupon  the  governor  wrote  to  Mr. 
Clarke,  a  physician  and  a  preacher  to  those  of  the  island,  to 
know  the  certainty  thereof.^  .  .  . 

21.]  A  ship  of  Barnstaple  arrived  with  about  eighty  pas- 
sengers, near  all  western  people.  There  came  with  them  a 
godly  minister,  one  Mr.  Matthews. 

Here  arrived  a  small  Spanish  frigate  with  hides  and 
tallow.     She  was  a  prize  taken  by  Capt.  Newman,  who  was 

*This  passage  makes  it  plain  that  the  Hutchinsonian  doctrines  admitted 
of  a  perilous  interpretation.  John  Underhill  was  a  dangerous  character  in  the 
community.  As  the  successful  soldier  of  the  colony  he  had  great  prestige,  and 
his  bad  example  would  work  evil.  Being  a  subject  of  the  "covenant  of  grace," 
he  made  it  a  cloak  for  licentiousness.  His  acknowledgments  of  sin  and  pro- 
fessions of  repentance  were  justly  held  in  suspicion.  He  was  long  an  object  of 
fear  in  New  England. 

^  The  repulsive  details  which  Winthrop  took  pains  to  gather  are  here  omitted. 
They  are  not  inaccessible,  and  they  only  show  how  far  bigotry  could  carry  a  mind 
naturally  noble  and  magnanimous. 


278  WINTHROP'S   journal  [1638 

set  out  with  letters  of  mart  by  the  lords,  etc.,  of  the  Isle  of 
Providence.* 

This  year  there  came  a  letter  from  Mr.  Thomas  Mewtis, 
clerk  of  the  council  in  England,  directed  to  Mr.  Winthrop,  (the 
present  governor,)  and  therein  an  order  from  the  lords  com- 
missioners for  foreign  plantations,  (being  ,all  of  the  coimcil,) 
wherein  they  straightly  required  the  patent  to  be  sent  home  by 
the  first  ship,  etc.  This  letter  and  order  were  produced  at  the 
general  court  last  past,  and  there  agreed  not  to  send  home  the 
patent,  but  to  return  answer  to  the  lords  by  way  of  humble  pe- 
tition, which  was  drawn  up  and  sent  accordingly.  These  in- 
struments are  all  among  the  governor's  papers,  and  the  effect 
of  them  would  be  here  inserted.^ 

25.]  Being  the  third  day  of  the  week,  and  two  days  before 
the  change,  the  wind  having  blown  at  N.  E.  all  the  day,  and 
rainy  in  the  night,  was  a  mighty  tempest,  and  withal  the  high- 
est tide,  which  had  been  seen  since  our  coming  into  this  coun- 
try; but,  through  the  good  providence  of  God,  it  did  Uttle 
harm.  About  fourteen  days  after,  the  wind  having  been  at 
N.  W.  and  then  calm  here,  came  in  the  greatest  eastern  sea, 
which  had  been  in  our  time.  Mr.  Peirce  (who  came  in  a  week 
after)  had  that  time  a  very  great  tempest  three  days  at  N.  E. 

A  remarkable  providence  appeared  in  a  case,  which  was 
tried  at  the  last  court  of  assistants.  Divers  neighbors  of  Lynn, 
by  agreement,  kept  their  cattle  by  turns.  It  fell  out  to  the 
turn  of  one  Gillow  to  keep  them,  and,  as  he  was  driving  them 
forth,  another  of  these  neighbors  went  along  with  him,  and 
kept  him  so  earnestly  in  talk,  that  his  cattle  strayed  and  gate 
in  the  corn.  Then  this  other  neighbor  left  him,  and  would  not 
help  him  recover  his  cattle,  but  went  and  told  another  how  he 
had  kept  Gillow  in  talk,  that  he  might  lose  his  cattle,  etc.    The 

*The  context  always  shows,  when  "Providence"  is  named,  whether  the 
spot  in  New  England  or  that  in  the  Caribbean  Sea  is  intended.  See  ante,  p.  228, 
note  1. 

*See  Hubbard's  New  England,  pp.  268-271,  for  their  text. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  279 

cattle,  getting  into  the  Indian  com,  eat  so  much  ere  they  could 
be  gotten  out,  that  two  of  them  fell  sick  of  it,  and  one  of  them 
died  presently ;  and  these  two  cows  were  that  neighbor's  who 
had  kept  Gillow  in  talk,  etc.  The  man  brings  his  action  against 
Gillow  for  his  cow,  (not  knowing  that  he  had  witness  of  his 
speech);  but  Gillow,  producing  witness,  etc.,  barred  him  of 
his  action,  and  had  good  costs,  etc. 

The  com-t,  taking  into  consideration  the  great  disorder  gen- 
eral through  the  country  in  costliness  of  apparel,  and  follow- 
ing new  fashions,  sent  for  the  elders  of  the  churches,  and  con- 
ferred with  them  about  it,  and  laid  it  upon  them,  as  belonging 
to  them,  to  redress  it,  by  urging  it  upon  the  consciences  of  their 
people,  which  they  promised  to  do.  But  little  was  done  about 
it;  for  divers  of  the  elders'  wives,  etc.,  were  in  some  measure 
partners  in  this  general  disorder. 

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

About  this  time  was  very  much  rain  and  snow,  in  six  weeks 
together;  scarce  two  days  without  rain  or  snow.  This  was 
observed  by  some  as  an  effect  of  the  earthquake. 

(9.)  (November)  8.]  A  church  was  gathered  at  Dedham 
with  good  approbation ;  and,  28th,  Mr.  Peck  ordained  teacher 
at  Hingham. 

By  order  of  the  last  general  court,  the  governor  wrote 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Burdet,^  Mr.  Wiggin,  and  others  of  the  planta- 

^  Burdet  was  a  minister  who,  finding  the  Salem  atmosphere  too  strict,  went 
north  to  Piscataqua,  there  joining  Wiggin,  agent  of  the  Puritan  Lords  Saye  and 
Brooke,  who  had  the  power  of  a  governor  thereabouts. 


280  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1638 

tion  of  Pascataquack,  to  this  effect:  That,  whereas  there 
had  been  good  correspondency  between  us  formerly,  we  could 
not  but  be  sensible  of  their  entertaining  and  countenancing, 
etc.,  some  that  we  had  cast  out,  etc.,  and  that  our  purpose  was 
to  survey  our  utmost  limits,  and  make  use  of  them.  Mr. 
Burdet  returned  a  scornful  answer,  and  would  not  give  the 
governor  his  title,  etc.  This  was  very  ill  taken,  for  that  he  was 
one  of  our  body,  and  sworn  to  our  government,  and  a  member 
of  the  church  of  Salem;  so  as  the  governor  was  purposed  to 
summon  him  to  appear  at  our  court  to  answer  his  contempt; 
but,  advising  with  the  deputy  about  it,  he  was  dissuaded  from 
it,  the  rather  for  that,  if  he  should  suffer  in  this  cause,  it  would 
ingratiate  him  more  with  the  archbishops,  (with  whom  he  had 
intelligence,  etc.)  but  his  council  was  rather  to  undermine  him 
by  making  him  thoroughly  known,  etc.,  to  his  friends  in  Pas- 
cataquack, and  to  take  them  from  him.  Whereupon  the  gov- 
ernor wrote  to  Edward  Hilton,  declaring  his  ill  dealing,  (and 
sent  a  copy  of  his  letter,)  and  advising  them  to  take  heed  how 
they  put  themselves  into  his  power,  etc.,  but  rather  to  give  us 
a  proof  of  their  respect  towards  us,  etc. — He  intimated  withal 
how  ill  it  would  relish,  if  they  should  advance  Capt.  Underhill, 
whom  we  had  thrust  out  for  abusing  the  court  with  feigning 
a  retractation  both  of  his  seditious  practice  and  also  of  his 
corrupt  opinions,  and  after  denying  it  again,  and  for  casting 
reproach  upon  our  churches,  etc.;  signifying  withal,  that  he 
was  now  found  to  have  been  an  unclean  person,  (for  he  was 
charged  by  a  godly  young  woman  to  have  solicited  her  chastity 
under  pretence  of  Christian  love,  and  to  have  confessed  to  her, 
that  he  had  his  will  oftentimes  of  the  cooper's  wife,  and  all 
out  of  strength  of  love,)  and  the  church  had  sent  for  him,  and 
sent  him  a  license  to  come  and  go,  under  the  hands  of  the 
governor  and  deputy ;  but  he  refused  to  come,  excusing  himself, 
by  letters  to  the  elders,  that  the  license  was  not  sufficient,  etc., 
and,  by  letters  to  the  governor,  that  he  had  no  rule  to  come 
and  answer  to  any  offence,  except  his  banishment  were  re- 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  281 

leased;  but  to  the  matter  he  was  charged  with,  he  gave  no 
answer,  but  sought  an  evasion.  Pascataquack  men  had 
chosen  him  their  governor  before  the  letter  came  to  them. 

13.]  The  governor  went  by  water  to  Salem  where  he  was 
entertained  with  all  the  respect  that  they  could  show  him. 
The  12  he  returned  by  land,  and  they  sent  six  of  their  chief 
miUtary  officers  with  carbines  to  guard  him  to  Boston. 

17.]  Roger  Herlakenden,^  one  of  our  magistrates,  about 
thirty  years  of  age,  second  son  of  [blank]  Herlakenden  of 
Earl's  Colne  in  Essex,  Esq.,  died  at  Cambridge  of  the  small 
pox.  He  was  a  very  godly  man,  and  of  good  use  both  in  the 
commonwealth  and  in  the  church.  He  was  buried  with 
mihtary  honor,  because  he  was  lieutenant  colonel.  He  left 
behind  a  virtuous  gentlewoman  and  two  daughters.  He  died 
in  great  peace,  and  left  a  sweet  memorial  behind  him  of  his 
piety  and  virtue. 

10.  {December)  2.]  Ezekiel  Rogers,  son  of  Richard  Rogers 
of  Weathersfield  in  Essex,  a  worthy  son  of  so  worthy  a  father, 
lying  at  Boston  with  some  who  came  out  of  Yorkshire  with  him, 
where  he  had  been  a  painful  preacher  many  years,  being  de- 
sirous to  partake  in  the  Lord's  supper  with  the  church  of  Bos- 
ton, did  first  impart  his  desire  to  the  elders,  and  having  given 
them  satisfaction,  they  acquainted  the  church  with  it,  and 
before  the  sacrament,  being  called  forth  by  the  elders,  he  spoke 
to  this  effect,  viz.:  that  he  and  his  company  (viz.  divers 
families,  who  came  over  with  him  this  summer)  had,  of  a  good 
time,  withdrawn  themselves  from  the  church  communion  of 
England,  and  that  for  many  corruptions  which  were  among 
them.  But,  first,  he  desired,  that  he  might  not  be  mistaken, 
as  if  he  did  condemn  all  there ;  for  he  did  acknowledge  a  special 
presence  of  God  there  in  three  things:   1,  in  the  soundness  of 

*  This  young  magistrate,  whose  promise  for  usefulness  was  so  prematurely 
blighted,  was  of  noble  lineage,  his  line  running  to  the  Plantagenets.  His  sister 
Mabel  married  John  Haynes,  governor  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  from 
which  union  came  a  long  and  distinguished  line. 


282  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1638 

doctrine  in  all  fundamental  truths;  2,  in  the  excellency  of 
ministerial  gifts ;  3,  in  the  blessing  upon  the  same,  for  the  work 
of  conversion  and  for  the  power  of  reUgion,  in  all  which  there 
appeared  more,  etc.,  in  England  than  in  all  the  known  world 
besides.  Yet  there  are  such  corruptions,  as,  since  God  let 
them  see  some  hght  therein,  they  could  not,  with  safe  con- 
science, join  any  longer  with  them.  The  first  is,  their  national 
church;  second,  their  hierarchy,  wholly  antichristian ;  third, 
their  dead  service;  fourth,  their  receiving  (nay,  compelhng) 
all  to  partake  of  the  seals ;  fifth,  their  abuse  of  excommunica- 
tions, wherein  they  enwrap  many  a  godly  minister,  by  causing 
him  to  pronounce  their  sentence,  etc.,  they  not  knowing  that 
the  fear  of  the  excommunication  lies  in  that.  Hereupon  they 
bewailed  before  the  Lord  their  sinful  partaking  so  long  in  those 
corruptions,  and  entered  a  covenant  together,  to  walk  together 
in  all  the  ordinances,  etc.* 

1639.  10.  {December)  3.]  Being  settled  at  Rowley,  they 
renewed  their  church  covenant,  and  their  call  [blank]  of  Mr. 
Rogers  to  the  office  of  pastor,  according  to  the  course  of  other 
churches,  etc. 

(10.)  (December)  6.]  Dorothy  Talbye  was  hanged  at  Boston 
for  murdering  her  own  daughter,  a  child  of  three  years  old. 
She  had  been  a  member  of  the  church  of  Salem,  and  of  good 
esteem  for  godhness,  etc.;  but,  falling  at  difference  with  her 
husband,  through  melancholy  or  spiritual  delusions,  she  some- 
times attempted  to  kill  him,  and  her  children,  and  herself,  by 
refusing  meat,  saying  it  was  so  revealed  to  her,  etc.  After 
much  patience,  and  divers  admonitions  not  prevaihng,  the 
church  cast  her  out.  Whereupon  she  grew  worse;  so  as  the 
magistrate  caused  her  to  be  whipped.  Whereupon  she  was 
reformed  for  a  time,  and  carried  herself  more  dutifully  to  her 

^  Ezekiel  Rogers  stood  a  powerful  figure  in  the  New  England  church. 
Rowley,  of  which  he  was  the  first  minister,  took  its  name  from  the  Yorkshire 
village  from  which  he  came,  and  his  influence  was  felt  far  and  wide.  He  is 
especially  commemorated  in  the  Mmjnalia  of  Cotton  Mather.  The  ensuing 
item  of  1639  is  inserted  by  Winthrop,  out  of  place,  to  complete  the  story. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  283 

husband,  etc. ;  but  soon  after  she  was  so  possessed  with  Satan, 
that  he  persuaded  her  (by  his  delusions,  which  she  hstened  to 
as  revelations  from  God)  to  break  the  neck  of  her  own  child, 
that  she  might  free  it  from  future  misery.  This  she  confessed 
upon  her  apprehension;  yet,  at  her  arraignment,  she  stood 
mute  a  good  space,  till  the  governor  told  her  she  should  be 
pressed  to  death,  and  then  she  confessed  the  indictment. 
When  she  was  to  receive  judgment,  she  would  not  uncover  her 
face,  nor  stand  up,  but  as  she  was  forced,  nor  give  any  testi- 
mony of  her  repentance,  either  then  or  at  her  execution.  The 
cloth,  which  should  have  covered  her  face,  she  plucked  off  and 
put  between  the  rope  and  her  neck.  She  desired  to  have  been 
beheaded,  giving  this  reason,  that  it  was  less  painful  and  less 
shameful.  After  a  swing  or  two,  she  catched  at  the  ladder. 
Mr.  Peter,  her  late  pastor,  and  Mr.  Wilson,  went  with  her  to  the 
place  of  execution,  but  could  do  no  good  with  her.  Mr.  Peter 
gave  an  exhortation  to  the  people  to  take  heed  of  revelations, 
etc.,  and  of  despising  the  ordinance  of  excommunication  as  she 
had  done ;  for  when  it  was  to  have  been  denounced  against  her, 
she  turned  her  back,  and  would  have  gone  forth,  if  she  had 
not  been  stayed  by  force. 

One  Capt.  Newman,  being  set  forth  with  conmiission  from 
the  Earl  of  Holland,  governor  of  the  Westminster  company, 
and  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  others  of  the  same  company,* 
to  spoil  the  Spaniard  within  the  Umits  of  their  grant  in  the 
West  Indies,  after  he  had  taken  many  of  their  small  vessels, 
etc.,  returned  home  by  the  Massachusetts  in  a  small  pinnace, 
with  which  he  had  taken  all  his  prizes,  (for  his  great  ship  was 
of  no  use  for  that  purpose).  He  brought  many  hides  and  much 
tallow.  The  hides  he  sold  here  for  £17.10  the  score;  the 
tallow  at  29s.  the  hundred;  and  set  sail  for  England  (10,) 
1.  He  was  after  cast  away  at  Christopher's  with  a  very  rich 
prize,  in  the  great  h3Tracano,  1642. 

13.]    A  general  fast  was  kept  upon  the  motion  of  the  elders 

*  The  Company  of  the  Isle  of  Providence.    See  p.  228,  note  1. 


284  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1638 

to  the  governor  and  council.  The  chief  occasion  was,  the 
much  sickness  of  pox  and  fevers  spread  through  the  country, 
(yet  it  was  to  the  east  and  south  also,)  the  apparent  decay  of 
power  of  religion,  and  the  general  declining  of  professors  to  the 
world,  etc.  Mr.  Cotton,  in  his  exercise  that  day  at  Boston,  did 
confess  and  bewail,  as  the  churches',  so  his  own  security,  sloth, 
and  credulity,  whereupon  so  many  and  dangerous  errors  had 
gotten  up  and  spread  in  the  church ;  and  went  over  all  the  par- 
ticulars, and  showed  how  he  came  to  be  deceived;  the  errors 
being  framed  (in  words)  so  near  the  truths  which  he  had 
preached  and  the  falsehood  of  the  maintainers  of  them,  who 
usually  would  deny  to  him  what  they  had  dehvered  to  others, 
etc.  He  acknowledged,  that  such  as  had  been  seducers  of 
others  (instancing  in  some  of  those  of  the  Island,  though  he 
named  them  not)  had  been  justly  banished.  Yet  he  said,  that 
such  as  had  been  only  misled,  and  others,  who  had  done  any 
thing  out  of  a  misguided  conscience,  (not  being  grossly  evil,) 
should  be  borne  withal,  and  first  referred  to  the  church, 
and  if  that  could  not  heal  them,  they  should  rather  be  impris- 
oned, fined,  or,  etc.,  than  banished,  qua  it  was  likely  no 
other  church  would  receive  them.* 

Those  who  were  gone  with  Mrs.  Hutchinson  to  Aquiday  fell 
into  new  errors  daily.  One  Nicholas  Easton,  a  tanner,  taught, 
that  gifts  and  graces  were  that  antichrist  mentioned  Thess., 
and  that  which  withheld,  etc.,  was  the  preaching  of  the  law; 
and  that  every  of  the  elect  had  the  Holy  Ghost  and  also  the 
devil  indwelling.  Another,  one  Heme,  taught,  that  women 
had  no  souls,  and  that  Adam  was  not  created  in  true  hohness, 
etc.,  for  then  he  could  not  have  lost  it. 

Those  who  went  to  the  falls  at  Pascataquack,  gathered  a 
church,  and  wrote  to  our  church  to  desire  us  to  dismiss  Mr. 


'  In  this  passage  we  see  the  mental  suffering  of  Cotton.  Such  cases  as  that 
of  Underhill  no  doubt  appalled  him,  and  he  was  driven  to  strictness.  The  con- 
cluding sentences  show  that  his  heart  was  tender  toward  those  who  wandered, 
and  averse  to  severe  discipline. 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  285 

Wheelwright  to  them  for  an  officer;  but,  because  he  desired  it 
not  himself,  the  elders  did  not  propound  it.  Soon  after  came 
his  own  letter,  with  theirs,  for  his  dismission,  which  thereupon 
was  granted.  Others  hkewise  (upon  their  request)  were  also 
dismissed  thither. 

The  governor's  letter  to  Mr.  Hilton,  about  Mr.  Burdet  and 
Capt.  Underbill,  was  by  them  intercepted  and  opened;  and 
thereupon  they  wrote  presently  into  England  against  us,  dis- 
covering what  they  knew  of  our  combination  to  resist  any 
authority,  that  should  come  out  of  England  against  us,  etc. ; 
for  they  were  extremely  moved  at  the  governor's  letter,  but 
could  take  no  advantage  by  it,  for  he  made  accoimt,  when 
he  wrote  it,  that  Mr.  Hilton  would  show  it  them.  And,  upon 
this,  Capt.  Underhill  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Cotton,  full  of  high 
and  threatening  words  against  us ;  but  he  wrote  another,  at  the 
same  time,  to  the  governor  in  very  fair  terms,  entreating  an 
obliterating  of  all  that  was  past,  and  a  bearing  with  human 
infirmities,  etc.,  disavowing  all  purpose  of  revenge,  etc.  See 
after,  (1,)  1639. 

The  devil  would  never  cease  to  disturb  our  peace,  and  to 
raise  up  instruments  one  after  another.  Amongst  the  rest, 
there  was  a  woman  in  Salem,  one  Oliver  his  wife,  who  had 
suffered  somewhat  in  England  for  refusing  to  bow  at  the  name 
of  Jesus,  though  otherwise  she  was  conformable  to  all  their 
orders.  She  was  (for  abihty  of  speech,  and  appearance  of  zeal 
and  devotion)  far  before  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and  so  the  fitter  in- 
strument to  have  done  hurt,  but  that  she  was  poor  and  had 
little  acquaintance.  She  took  offence  at  this,  that  she  might 
not  be  admitted  to  the  Lord's  supper  without  giving  pubhc 
satisfaction  to  the  church  of  her  faith,  etc.,  and  covenanting 
or  professing  to  walk  with  them  according  to  the  rule  of  the 
gospel ;  so  as,  upon  the  sacrament  day,  she  openly  called  for  it, 
and  stood  to  plead  her  right,  though  she  were  denied;  and 
would  not  forbear,  before  the  magistrate,  Mr.  Endecott,  did 
threaten  to  send  the  constable  to  put  her  forth.    This  woman 


286  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1638 

was  brought  to  the  court  for  disturbing  the  peace  in  the  church, 
etc.,  and  there  she  gave  such  peremptory  answers,  as  she  was 
committed  till  she  should  find  sureties  for  her  good  behavior. 
After  she  had  been  in  prison  three  or  four  days,  she  made  means 
to  the  governor,  and  submitted  herself,  and  acknowledged  her 
fault  in  distm'bing  the  church;  whereupon  he  took  her  hus- 
band's bond  for  her  good  behavior,  and  discharged  her  out  of 
prison.  But  he  found,  after,  that  she  still  held  her  former 
opinions,  which  were  very  dangerous,  as,  1.  That  the  church 
is  the  heads  of  the  people,  both  magistrates  and  ministers,  met 
together,  and  that  these  have  power  to  ordain  ministers,  etc. 
2.  That  all  that  dwell  in  the  same  town,  and  will  profess  their 
faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  ought  to  be  received  to  the  sacraments 
there ;  and  that  she  was  persuaded,  that,  if  Paul  were  at  Salem, 
he  would  call  all  the  inhabitants  there  saints.  3.  That  ex- 
communication is  no  other  but  when  Christians  withdraw 
private  communion  from  one  that  hath  offended. 

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

At  Providence,  also,  the  devil  was  not  idle.  For  whereas,  at 
their  first  coming  thither,  Mr.  Williams  and  the  rest  did  make 
an  order,  that  no  man  should  be  molested  for  his  conscience, 
now  men's  wives,  and  children,  and  servants,  claimed  liberty 
hereby  to  go  to  all  religious  meetings,  though  never  so  often,  or 
though  private,  upon  the  week  days;  and  because  one  Verin 
refused  to  let  his  wife  go  to  Mr.  Williams  so  oft  as  she  was 
called  for,  they  required  to  have  him  censured.  But  there 
stood  up  one  Arnold,  a  witty  man  of  their  own  company, 
and  withstood  it,  telling  them  that,  when  he  consented  to  that 
order,  he  never  intended  it  should  extend  to  the  breach  of  any 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  287 

ordinance  of  God,  such  as  the  subjection  of  wives  to  their  hus- 
bands, etc.,  and  gave  divers  soUd  reasons  against  it.  Then 
one  Greene  (who  hath  married  the  wife  of  one  Beggerly,  whose 
husband  is  Hving,  and  no  divorce,  etc.,  but  only  it  was  said, 
that  he  had  Uved  in  adultery,  and  had  confessed  it)  he  repUed, 
that,  if  they  should  restrain  their  wives,  etc.,  all  the  women  in 
the  country  would  cry  out  of  them,  etc.  Arnold  answered 
him  thus:  Did  you  pretend  to  leave  the  Massachusetts,  be- 
cause you  would  not  offend  God  to  please  men,  and  would  you 
now  break  an  ordinance  and  commandment  of  God  to  please 
women?  Some  were  of  opinion,  that  if  Verin  would  not  suffer 
his  wife  to  have  her  hberty,  the  church  should  dispose  her  to 
some  other  man,  who  would  use  her  better.  Arnold  told  them, 
that  it  was  not  the  woman's  desire  to  go  so  oft  from  home,  but 
only  Mr.  Williams's  and  others.  In  conclusion,  when  they 
would  have  censured  Verin,  Arnold  told  them,  that  it  was 
against  their  own  order,  for  Verin  did  that  he  did  out  of  con- 
science ;  and  their  order  was,  that  no  man  should  be  censured 
for  his  conscience. 

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

The  differences  between  us  and  those  of  Connecticut  were 
divers;  but  the  ground  of  all  was  their  shyness  of  coming 
under  our  government,  which,  though  we  never  intended  to  make 
them  subordinate  to  us,  yet  they  were  very  jealous,  and  there- 
fore, in  the  articles  of"  confederation,  which  we  propounded  to 
them,  and  whereby  order  was  taken,  that  all  differences,  which 
might  fall  out,  should  be  ended  by  a  way  of  peace,  and  never 


288  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1638 

to  come  to  a  necessity  or  danger  of  force, — they  did  so  alter 
the  chief  article,  as  all  would  have  come  to  nothing.  For 
whereas  the  article  was,  That,  upon  any  matter  of  difference, 
two,  three,  or  more  commissioners  of  every  of  the  confederate 
colonies  should  assemble,  and  have  absolute  power  (the  greater 
number  of  them)  to  determine  the  matter, —  they  would  have 
them  only  to  meet,  and  if  they  could  agree,  so;  if  not,  then 
to  report  to  their  several  colonies,  and  to  return  with  their  ad- 
vice, and  so  to  go  on  till  the  matter  might  be  agreed;  which, 
beside  that  it  would  have  been  infinitely  tedious  and  extreme 
chargeable,  it  would  never  have  attained  the  end;  for  it  was 
very  unUkely,  that  all  the  churches  in  all  the  plantations  would 
ever  have  accorded  upon  the  same  propositions/ 

These  articles,  with  their  alterations,  they  sent  to  our 
general  court  at  Newtown,  the  [blank]  of  the  5th,  by  Mr. 
Haynes,  Mr.  Pincheon,  and  John  Steele.  The  court,  finding 
their  alteration,  and  the  inconveniences  thereof,  would  take  the 
like  hberty  to  add  and  alter ;  (for  the  articles  were  drawn  only 
by  some  of  the  council,  and  never  allowed  by  the  court).  This 
they  excepted  against,  and  would  have  restrained  us  of  that 
hberty,  which  they  took  themselves;  and  one  of  their  three 
commissioners,  falling  in  debate  with  some  of  our  deputies, 
said,  that  they  would  not  meddle  with  any  tiling  that  was 
within  our  hmits;  which  being  reported  to  the  court,  they 
thought  it  seasonable  we  should  stand  upon  our  right,  so  as, 
though  we  were  formerly  willing  that  Agawam  (now  Spring- 
field) should  have  fallen  into  their  government,  yet,  seeing 
they  would  not  be  beholden  to  us  for  any  thing,  we  intended  to 
keep  it ;  and  accordingly  we  put  it  in  as  an  article,  that  the  line 
between  us  should  be,  one  way,  the  Pequod  River,  (viz.  south 
and  north,)  and  the  other  way,  (viz.  east  and  west,)  the  Hmits 

^  Though  the  relations  of  Connecticut  with  the  parent  colony  were  here  in- 
harmonious the  emigrants  at  first  remembered  with  affection  their  old  homes. 
Hartford  was  originally  called  Newtown,  whence  most  of  the  settlers  were  drawn; 
Windsor  was  Dorchester,  and  Westfield,  Watertown, 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  289 

of  our  own  grant.  And  this  article  we  added:  That  we,  etc., 
should  have  Uberty  to  pass  to  and  fro  upon  Connecticut,  and 
they  hkewise.  To  these  articles  all  their  commissioners  offered 
to  consent,  but  it  was  thought  by  our  court,  (because  of  the  new 
articles,)  that  they  should  first  acquaint  their  own  court  with 
it.    And  so  their  commissioners  departed. 

After  this,  we  understood  that  they  went  on  to  exercise 
their  authority  at  Agawam.^  Whereupon  the  governor  wrote 
to  them  to  desire  them  to  forbear  until  the  line  was  laid  out, 
with  advice  about  some  other  things,  as  by  the  copy  of  the 
letter  appears.  After  a  long  time,  Mr.  Ludlow  (in  the  name  of 
their  court)  returned  answer,  which  was  very  harsh;  and  in 
fine  declared,  that  they  thought  it  not  fit  to  treat  any  further 
before  they  had  advice  from  the  gentlemen  of  Saybrook,  etc. 
The  governor  acquainted  the  council  and  magistrates  with  this 
letter;  and,  because  they  had  tied  our  hands  (in  a  manner) 
from  replying,  he  wrote  a  private  letter  to  Mr.  Haynes,  wherein 
he  lays  open  their  mistakes  (as  he  called  them)  and  the  ap- 
parent causes  of  offence,  which  they  had  given  us ;  as  by  dis- 
claiming to  their  Naragansetts  to  be  bound  by  our  former 
agreement  with  them,  (which  they  would  never  make  till  the 
wars  were  ended,)  by  making  a  treaty  of  agreement  with  the 
Naragansetts  and  Monhigans,  without  joining  us,  or  mention- 
ing us  to  that  end,  (though  we  had  by  letter  given  them  hberty 
to  take  us  in,)  and  by  binding  all  the  Indians  (who  had  received 
any  Pequods)  to  pay  tribute  for  them  all  to  them  at  Connecti- 
cut, etc.  (All  these  things  are  clearly  to  be  seen  in  the  letters.) 
These  and  the  like  miscarriages  in  point  of  correspondency 
were  conceived  to  arise  from  these  two  errors  in  their  govern- 
ment: 1.  They  chose  divers  scores  men,  who  had  no  learning 
nor  judgment,  which  might  fit  them  for  those  affairs,  though 
otherwise  men  holy  and  religious.  2.  By  occasion  hereof,  the 
main  burden  for  managing  of  state  business  fell  upon  some  one 
or  other  of  their  ministers,  (as  the  phrase  and  style  of  these 

'  Agawam,  or  Springfield;  also  the  Indian  name  of  Ipswich. 


290  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1638 

letters  will  clearly  discover,)  who,  though  they  were  men  of 
singular  wisdom  and  godhness,  yet,  stepping  out  of  their 
course,  their  actions  wanted  that  blessing,  which  otherwise 
might  have  been  expected/ 

[August  28,  1638.  In  my  letter  to  Mr.  Hooker,  I  complain  of 
three  things: — 

1.  That  they  told  the  Narragansetts,  that  they  were  not  tied  to 
the  agreement  we  made  with  the  Indians;  and  that  they  did  this, 
to  advance  their  own  reputation  with  the  Indians,  and  to  abase  ours; 
that  it  was  a  point  of  state  policy  in  them  not  to  dissent,  while  the  war 
was  at  their  doors,  for  they  had  need  of  our  help,  etc. ;  that  it  was  done 
without  any  pressing  occasion;  that  it  was  done  unseasonably,  after 
their  own  commissioners  had  propounded  that  before  the  Indians  we 
should  in  all  things  appear  as  one. 

2.  That  they  altered  the  articles  of  confederation  in  the  most 
material  point,  and  all  because  some  preeminence  was  therein  yielded 
to  the  Massachusetts,  and  being  again  agreed,  (only  referred  to  con- 
sent, etc.)  in  three  months  we  had  no  answer  from  them;  that  the 
way  which  they  would  have  taken,  of  referring  differences  to  the 
churches,  would  occasion  infinite  trouble  and  expense,  and  yet  leave 
the  issue  to  the  sword. 

I  expostulated  about  the  unwarrantableness  and  unsafeness  of 
referring  matter  of  counsel  or  judicature  to  the  body  of  the  people, 
quia  the  best  part  is  always  the  least,  and  of  that  best  part  the  wiser 
part  is  always  the  lesser.  The  old  law  was,  choose  ye  out  judges, 
etc.,  and  thou  shalt  bring  the  matter  to  the  judge,  etc. 

3.  That  they  did  still  exercise  jurisdiction  at  Agawam,  though 
one  of  their  commissioners  disclaimed  to  intermeddle  in  our  line,  and 
thither  we  challenged  our  right,  and  it  was  agreed  so,  and  I  had  wrote 
to  them  to  desire  them  to  forbear  until,  etc.,  that  Mr.  Pincheon  had 
small  encouragement  to  be  under  them;  that  if  his  relation  were  true, 
I  could  not  see  the  justice  of  their  proceeding  against  him,  etc. 

That  the  end  of  my  writing  to  him  was,  that  he  might  help  quench 
these  sparks  of  contention;    that  I  did  open  our  grievances  to  him  in 

*  Savage's  note  here  gives  an  idea  of  the  care  with  which  his  transcript, 
adopted  in  the  present  edition,  was  made.  "These  lines  were  so  effectually 
erased,  that,  for  some  years,  my  desire  of  decyphering  them  was  baflBed;  but, 
after  twice  abandoning  the  task,  I  gradually  obtained,  with  the  aid  of  a  gentleman 
much  skilled  in  reading  difficult  MS.,  a  sufficient  confidence  in  all  but  one  word." 


1638]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  291 

their  most  true  and  reasonable  intendment;  that  though  I  be  strict  for 
our  right  in  public,  quia  their  magistrates  are  so,  yet  I  am  willing  to 
listen  to  advice,  and  my  aim  is  tjie  common  good.]^ 

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

'  This  passage  was  written  by  Winthrop  in  another  part  of  the  manuscript 
volume,  but  we  are  apparently  warranted  in  treating  it  as  a  portion  of  the  Journal. 
The  letter  here  summarized,  though  described  as  addressed  to  Hooker,  not 
Haynes,  is  plainly  a  part  of  the  correspondence  mentioned  in  the  paragraph  to 
which  we  have  subjoined  this  extract. 


1639 

(11.)  (January)  14.]  The  earthquake,  which  had  continued 
at  times  since  the  1st  of  the  4th,  was  more  generally  felt,  and 
the  same  noise  heard  in  many  places. 

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

The  people  of  this  town  of  Weymouth  had  invited  one  Mr. 
Lenthall  to  come  to  them,  with  intention  to  call  him  to  be 
their  minister.  This  man,  though  of  good  report  in  England, 
coming  hither,  was  found  to  have  drank  in  some  of  Mrs. 
Hutchinson's  opinions,  as  of  justification  before  faith,  etc., 
and  opposed  the  gathering  of  our  churches  in  such  a  way  of 
mutual  stipulation  as  was  practised  among  us.  From  the 
former  he  was  soon  taken  off  upon  conference  with  Mr.  Cotton ; 
but  he  stuck  close  to  the  other,  that  only  baptism  was  the  door 
of  entrance  into  the  church,  etc.,  so  as  the  common  sort  of 
people  did  eagerly  embrace  his  opinions,  and  some  labored  to 
get  such  a  church  on  foot  as  all  baptized  ones  might  communi- 
cate in  without  any  further  trial  of  them,  etc.  For  this  end 
they  procured  many  hands  in  Weymouth  to  a  blank,  intending 
to  have  Mr.  LenthalFs  advice  to  the  frame  of  their  call;  and 
he  likewise  was  very  forward  to  become  a  minister  to  them  in 
such  a  way,  and  did  openly  maintain  the  cause.  But  the 
magistrates,  hearing  of  this  disturbance  and  combination, 
thought  it  needful  to  stop  it  betimes,  and  ergo  they  called 

292 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  293 

Mr.  Lenthall,  and  some  of  the  chief  of  the  faction,  to  the  next 
general  court  in  the  1  month,  where  Mr.  Lenthall,  having 
before  conferred  with  some  of  the  magistrates  and  of  the 
elders,  and  being  convinced  both  of  his  error  in  judgment,  and 
of  his  sin  in  practice  to  the  distrubance  of  our  peace,  etc.,  did 
openly  and  freely  retract,  with  expression  of  much  grief  of 
heart  for  his  offence,  and  did  deliver  his  retractation  in  writing, 
imder  his  hand,  in  the  open  court;  whereupon  he  was  enjoined 
to  appear  at  the  next  court,  and  in  the  mean  time  to  make  and 
deliver  the  like  recantation  in  some  public  assembly  at  Wey- 
mouth. So  the  court  stopped  for  any  further  censure  by  fine, 
or,  etc.,  though  it  was  much  urged  by  some. 

At  the  same  court  one  Smith  was  convicted  and  fined  £20 
for  being  a  chief  stirrer  in  the  business ;  and  one  Silvester  was 
disfranchised ;  and  one  Britton,  who  had  spoken  reproachfully 
of  the  answer,  which  was  sent  to  Mr.  Barnard  his  book  against 
our  church  covenant,  and  of  some  of  our  elders,  and  had  sided 
with  Mr.  Lenthall,  etc.,  was  openly  whipped,  because  he  had 
no  estate  to  answer,  etc. 

Mo.  1  (March).]  A  printing  house  was  begun  at  Cambridge 
by  one  Daye,  at  the  charge  of  Mr.  Glover,  who  died  on  sea 
hitherward.  The  first  thing  which  was  printed  was  the  free- 
men's oath ;  the  next  was  an  almanac  made  for  New  England  by 
Mr.  William  Peirce,  mariner;  the  next  was  the  Psalms  newly 
turned  into  metre.* 

A  plantation  was  begun  by  Sandwich,  and  was  called  Yar- 
mouth, in  Plymouth  jurisdiction. 

Another  plantation  was  begun  upon  the  north  side  of  Mer- 
rimack, called  Sarisbury,  now  Colchester ;  ^  another  at  Win- 
icowett,  called  Hampton,  which  gave  occasion  of  some  differ- 
ence between  us  and  some  of  Pascataquack,  which  grew  thus: 

>  See  R.  F.  Roden,  The  Cambridge  Press,  163S-1692  (New  York,  1905). 
William  Peirce,  maker  of  the  almanac,  was  the  active  and  versatile  captain  of  the 
Lion  and  other  ships,  who  has  been  often  mentioned.  Though  this  was  the 
first  press  of  New  England,  the  Spaniards  had  been  printing  in  Mexico  since 
1539.  ^  Now  Salisbury. 


294  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

Mr.  Wheelwright,  being  banished  from  us,  gathered  a  company 
and  sat  down  by  the  falls  of  Pascataquack,  and  called  their 
town  Exeter;  and  for  their  enlargement  they  dealt  with  an 
Indian  there,  and  bought  of  him  Winicowett,  etc.,  and  then 
wrote  to  us  what  they  had  done,  and  that  they  intended  to  lot 
out  all  these  lands  in  farms,  except  we  could  show  a  better 
title.  They  wrote  also  to  those  whom  we  had  sent  to  plant 
Winicowett  to  have  them  desist,  etc.  These  letters  coming 
to  the  general  court,  they  returned  answer,  that  they  looked 
at  this  their  deahng  as  against  good  neighborhood,  rehgion, 
and  common  honesty;  that,  knowing  we  claimed  Winicowett 
as  within  our  patent,  or  as  vacuum  domicilium,  and  had  taken 
possession  thereof  by  building  an  house  there  above  two  years 
since,  they  should  now  go  and  purchase  an  unknown  title, 
and  then  come  to  inquire  of  our  right.  It  was  in  the  same 
letter  also  manifestly  proved,  that  the  Indians  having  only  a 
natural  right  to  so  much  land  as  they  had  or  could  improve, 
so  as  the  rest  of  the  country  lay  open  to  any  that  could  and 
would  improve  it,  as  by  the  said  letter  more  at  large  doth 
appear. 

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

The  general  court,  in  the  7th  mo.  (September)  last,  gave 
order  to  the  governor  to  write  to  them  of  Pascataquack,  to 
signify  to  them,  that  we  looked  at  it  as  an  unneighborly  part, 
that  they  should  encourage  and  advance  such  as  we  had  cast 

'  Muddy  River  became  Brookline,  Massachusetts. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  295 

out  from  us  for  their  offences,  before  they  had  inquired  of  us 
the  cause,  etc.  (The  occasion  of  this  letter  was,  that  they  had 
aided  Mr.  Wheelwright  to  begin  a  plantation  there,  and  in- 
tended to  make  Capt.  Underhill  their  governor  in  the  room  of 
Mr.  Burdett,  who  had  thrust  out  Capt.  Wiggin,  set  in  there  by 
the  lords,  etc.)  Upon  this,  Capt.  Underhill  (being  chosen 
governor  there)  wrote  a  letter  to  a  young  gentleman,  (who 
sojourned  in  the  house  of  our  governor,)  wherein  he  reviles  the 
governor  with  reproachful  terms  and  imprecations  of  vengeance 
upon  us  all.  This  letter  being  showed  to  the  governor  and 
council,  the  governor,  by  advice,  wrote  the  letter  to  Edward 
Hilton  as  is  before  mentioned,  page  [blank],  mo.  10,  (December) 
13.  The  captain  was  so  nettled  with  this  letter,  and  especially 
because  his  adulterous  Hfe  with  the  cooper's  wife  at  Boston  was 
now  discovered,  and  the  church  had  called  him  to  come  and 
make  answer  to  it;  but  he  made  many  excuses,  as  want  of 
liberty,  being  a  banished  man,  (yet  the  governor  and  council 
had  sent  him  a  safe  conduct,)  and  upon  his  pretence  of  the 
insufficiency  of  that,  the  general  court  sent  him  another  for 
three  months.  But,  instead  of  coming,  he  procured  a  new 
church  at  Pascataquack  of  some  few  loose  men  (who  had  chosen 
one  Mr.  Ejiolles,^  a  weak  minister,  lately  come  out  of  England, 
and  rejected  by  us  for  holding  some  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson's 
opinions)  to  write  to  our  church  at  Boston  in  his  commenda- 

'  This  was  Hanserd  Knollys,  famous  among  the  early  Baptists.  A  Lin- 
colnshire man,  of  Cambridge  training,  he  found  a  patron  in  the  liberal  Bishop 
Williams  of  Lincoln,  through  whom  he  obtained  a  living  as  a  Church  of  England 
priest.  Becoming  a  separatist  he  fled  to  New  England,  and  appears  in  Winthrop's 
Journal  as  minister  of  Dover,  on  the  Piscataqua.  Returning  to  England  after 
a  few  disturbed  years  of  sojourn,  he  found  the  tolerant  spirit  of  the  Common- 
wealth congenial.  As  schoolmaster  and  preacher,  he  was  successful  and  obtained 
offices  lucrative  and  influential.  After  the  Restoration  he  was  persecuted,  under- 
going banishment,  imprisonment  and  confiscation  of  property.  He  lived  to  the 
age  of  92,  preaching  even  when  he  could  no  longer  stand,  and  writing  much. 
Though  stigmatized  as  weak,  he  played  a  conspicuous  part,  and  was  buried  in 
Bunhill  Fields  with  many  other  great  non-conformists.  See  Gordon,  in  the 
Dictionary  of  National  Biography,  s.  v.  He  appears  to  poor  advantage  in  Win- 
throp,  who  could  hardly  be  a  candid  judge  of  such  a  man. 


296  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

tion,  wherein  they  style  him  the  right  worshipful,  their  honored 
governor;  all  which  notwithstanding,  the  church  of  Boston 
proceeded  with  him ;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  the  general  court 
wrote  to  all  the  chief  inhabitants  of  Pascataquack,  and  sent 
them  a  copy  of  his  letters,  (wherein  he  professeth  himself  to 
be  an  instrument  ordained  of  God  for  our  ruin,)  to  know, 
whether  it  were  with  their  privity  and  consent,  that  he  sent  us 
such  a  defiance,  etc.,  and  whether  they  would  maintain  him  in 
such  practices  against  us,  etc. 

Those  of  Pascataquack  returned  answer  to  us  by  two  several 
letters.  Those  of  the  plantation  disclaimed  to  have  any  hand 
in  his  miscarriages,  etc.,  and  offered  to  call  him  to  account,  etc., 
whensoever  we  would  send  any  to  inform  against  him.  The 
others  at  the  river's  mouth  disclaimed  likewise,  and  showed 
their  indignation  against  him  for  his  insolences,  and  their  readi- 
ness to  join  in  any  fair  course  for  our  satisfaction;  only  they 
desired  us  to  have  some  compassion  of  him,  and  not  to  send 
any  forces  against  him. 

After  this,  Capt.  Underhill's  courage  was  abated,  for  the 
chief  est  in  the  river  fell  from  him,  and  the  rest  httle  regarded 
him,  so  as  he  wrote  letters  of  retractation  to  divers;  and,  to 
show  his  wisdom,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  deputy  and  the 
court,  (not  mentioning  the  governor,)  wherein  he  sent  the 
copies  of  some  of  the  governor's  letters  to  Pascataquack,  sup- 
posing that  something  would  appear  in  them  either  to  extenu- 
ate his  fault,  or  to  lay  blame  upon  the  governor ;  but  he  failed 
in  both,  for  the  governor  was  able  to  make  good  what  he  had 
written. 

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


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  297 

The  Indians  near  Aquiday  being  pawwawing  in  this  tempest , 
the  devil  came  and  fetched  away  five  of  them.    Quere/ 

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

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

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

(2.)  (April.)]    A  plantation  was  begun  between  Ipswich 

*  "Quere"  here  is  the  interpolation  of  a  later  hand. 

'  Ezekiel  Holiman,  one  of  eleven  who  founded  the  first  Baptist  church  in 
America,  a  helper  of  Roger  Williams  and  an  honored  man.  Magistracy  was 
not  wholly  rejected  either  in  Providence  Plantation,  or  on  Rhode  Island,  though 
government  was  in  most  particulars  reduced  to  its  lowest  terms. 


298  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

and  Newbury.  The  occasion  was  this:  Mr.  Eaton  and  Mr. 
Davenport  having  determined  to  sit  down  at  Quinipiack,  there 
came  over  one  Mr.  Ezekiel  Rogers/  second  son  of  that  truly 
faithful  servant  of  God,  Mr.  Richard  Rogers  of  Weathersfield 
in  England,  and  with  him  some  twenty  famiUes,  godly  men, 
and  most  of  them  of  good  estate.  This  Mr.  Rogers,  being  a 
man  of  special  note  in  England  for  his  zeal,  piety,  and  other 
parts,  they  labored  by  all  means  to  draw  with  them  to  Quini- 
piack, and  had  so  far  prevailed  with  him,  being  newly  come, 
and  unacquainted  with  the  state  of  the  country,  as  they  had 
engaged  him ;  yet,  being  a  very  wise  man,  and  considering  that 
many  of  quality  in  England  did  depend  upon  his  choice  of  a 
fit  place  for  them,  he  agreed  upon  such  propositions  and  cau- 
tions, as,  though  they  promised  to  fulfil  them  all,  (whereupon 
he  sent  divers  of  his  people  thither  before  winter,)  yet,  when 
it  came  to,  they  were  not  able  to  make  good  what  they  had 
promised.  Whereupon  he  consulted  with  the  elders  of  the 
bay,  and,  by  their  advice,  etc.,  holding  his  former  engagement 
released,  he  and  his  people  took  that  place  by  Ipswich;  and 
because  some  farms  had  been  granted  by  Ipswich  and  Newbury, 
which  would  be  prejudicial  to  their  plantation,  they  bought 
out  the  owners,  disbursing  therein  about  £800;  and  he  sent 
a  pinnace  to  Quinipiack  to  fetch  back  the  rest  of  his  people; 
but  Mr.  Eaton  and  Mr.  Davenport,  and  others  of  Connecticut, 
(being  impatient  of  the  loss  of  him  and  his  people,)  staid  the 
pinnace,  and  sent  a  messenger  with  letters  of  purpose  to  re- 
cover him  again.  This  made  him  to  desire  the  elders  to  as- 
semble again,  and  he  showed  them  the  letters  they  sent, 
(which  wanted  no  arguments,  though  some  truth;)  but  he 
made  the  case  so  clear,  by  letters  which  had  passed  between 
them,  etc.,  as  they  held  him  still  free  from  all  engagement; 
and  so  he  returned  answer  to  them,  and  went  on  with  his 
plantation. 

^  Ezekiel   Rogers,  already  mentioned,  preferred  Massachusetts  to   Quini- 
piack (New  Haven),  founding  Rowley  as  described. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  299 

The  Indians  of  Block  Island  sent,  for  their  tribute  this  year, 
ten  fathom  of  wampompeak. 

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

(3.)  (May)  2.]  Mr.  Cotton,  preaching  out  of  the  8  of  Kings, 
8,  taught,  that  when  magistrates  are  forced  to  provide  for  the 
maintenance  of  ministers,  etc.,  then  the  churches  are  in  a  de- 
chning  condition.  There  he  showed,  that  the  ministers'  main- 
tenance should  be  by  voluntary  contribution,  not  by  lands,  or 
revenues,  or  tithes,  etc.;  for  these  have  always  been  accom- 
panied with  pride,  contention,  and  sloth,  etc.^ 

11.]  The  two  chief  sachems  of  Naragansett  sent  the  gov- 
ernor a  present  of  thirty  fathom  of  wampom,  and  Sequin,  the 
sachem  of  Connecticut,  sent  ten  fathom. 

At  Aquiday  the  people  grew  very  tumultuous,  and  put  out 
Mr.  Coddington  and  the  other  three  magistrates,  and  chose  Mr. 
William  Hutchinson  only,  a  man  of  a  very  mild  temper  and 
weak  parts,  and  wholly  guided  by  his  wife,  who  had  been  the 
beginner  of  all  the  former  troubles  in  the  country,  and  still 
continued  to  breed  disturbance.^ 

They  also  gathered  a  church  in  a  very  disordered  way; 
for  they  took  some  excommunicated  persons,  and  others 
who  were  members  of  the  church  of  Boston  and  not  dismissed. 

6.]    The  two  regiments  in  the  bay  were  mustered  at  Bos- 


*  Cotton's  adoption  of  Congregationalism  was  gradual,  but  now  he  had 
been  long  thoroughly  committed  to  its  principles. 

'  Probably  William  Hutchinson  does  not  deserve  such  contemptuous  treat- 
ment. Though  no  doubt  less  able  and  forceful  than  his  wife,  he  stood  by  her 
loyally  as  did  their  children.  He  had  the  respect  of  his  neighbors,  as  this  elec- 
tion to  high  office  shows,  and  was  the  progenitor  of  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
of  Massachusetts  families.  Savage,  in  a  "protracted  note,"  gives  reasons  for 
doubting  the  accuracy  of  this  picture  of  affairs  in  Aquiday. 


300  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1639 

ton,  to  the  number  of  one  thousand  soldiers,  able  men,  and 
well  armed  and  exercised.  They  were  led,  the  one  by  the 
governor,  who  was  general  of  all,  and  the  other  by  the  deputy, 
who  was  colonel,  etc.  The  captains,  etc.,  showed  themselves 
very  skilful  and  ready  in  divers  sorts  of  skirmishes  and  other 
military  actions,  wherein  they  spent  the  whole  day.^ 

One  of  Pascataquack,  having  opportunity  to  go  into  Mr. 
Burdet  his  study,  and  finding  there  the  copy  of  his  letter  to  the 
archbishops,  sent  it  to  the  governor,  which  was  to  this  effect: 
That  he  did  delay  to  go  into  England,  because  he  would  fully 
inform  himself  of  the  state  of  the  people  here  in  regard  of  alle- 
giance; and  that  it  was  not  discipline  that  was  now  so  much 
aimed  at,  as  sovereignty;  and  that  it  was  accounted  perjury 
and  treason  in  our  general  courts  to  speak  of  appeals  to  the 
king.^ 

The  first  ships,  which  came  this  year,  brought  him  letters 
from  the  archbishops  and  the  lords  commissioners  for  planta- 
tions, wherein  they  gave  him  thanks  for  his  care  of  his  majesty's 
service,  etc.,  and  that  they  would  take  a  time  to  redress  such 
disorders  as  he  had  informed  them  of,  etc.,  but,  by  reason  of  the 
much  business  now  lay  upon  them,  they  could  not,  at  present, 
accomplish  his  desire.  These  letters  lay  above  fourteen  days 
in  the  bay,  and  some  moved  the  governor  to  open  them ;  but 
himself  and  others  of  the  council  thought  it  not  safe  to  meddle 
with  them,  nor  would  take  any  notice  of  them ;  and  it  fell  out 
well,  by  God's  good  providence;  for  the  letters,  (by  some 
means)  were  opened,  (yet  without  any  of  their  privity  or  con- 
sent,) and  Mr.  Burdet  threatened  to  complain  of  it  to  the  lords; 
and  afterwards  we  had  knowledge  of  the  contents  of  them  by 
some  of  his  own  friends. 

The  governor  received  letters  from  Mr.  Cradock,  and  in 
them  another  order  from  the  lords  commissioners,  to  this  effect : 

'  For  an  interesting  contemporary  account  of  the  military  organization  of 
early  Massachusetts,  see  Johnson,  Wondrr-Working  Providence,  book  ii.,  chap. 
XXVI.  '  The  temper  of  the  colonists  is  not  misrepresented  here. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  301 

That,  whereas  they  had  received  our  petition  upon  their 
former  order,  etc.,  by  which  they  perceived,  that  we  were 
taken  with  some  jealousies  and  fears  of  their  intentions,  etc., 
they  did  accept  of  our  answer,  and  did  now  declare  their 
intentions  to  be  only  to  regulate  all  plantations  to  be  sub- 
ordinate to  the  said  commission;  and  that  they  meant  to 
continue  our  hberties,  etc.,  and  therefore  did  now  again  per- 
emptorily require  the  governor  to  send  them  our  patent  by  the 
first  ship ;  and  that,  in  the  mean  time,  they  did  give*us,  by  that 
order,  full  power  to  go  on  in  the  government  of  the  people  until 
we  had  a  new  patent  sent  us ;  and,  withal,  they  added  threats 
of  further  course  to  be  taken  with  us,  if  we  failed. 

This  order  being  imparted  to  the  next  general  court,  some 
advised  to  return  answer  to  it.  Others  thought  fitter  to  make 
no  answer  at  all,  because,  being  sent  in  a  private  letter,  and  not 
delivered  by  a  certain  messenger,  as  the  former  order  was, 
they  could  not  proceed  upon  it,  because  they  could  not  have 
any  proof  that  it  was  deUvered  to  the  governor;  and  order 
was  taken,  that  Mr.  Cradock's  agent,  who  dehvered  the  letter 
to  the  governor,  etc.,  should,  in  his  letters  to  his  master,  make 
no  mention  of  the  letters  he  delivered  to  the  governor,  seeing 
his  master  had  not  laid  any  charge  upon  him  to  that  end. 

Mr.  Haynes,  the  governor  of  Connecticut,  and  Mr.  Hooker, 
etc.,  came  into  the  bay,  and  staid  near  a  month.  It  appeared 
by  them,  that  they  were  desirous  to  renew  the  treaty  of  con- 
federation with  us,  and  though  themselves  would  not  move 
it,  yet,  by  their  means,  it  was  moved  to  our  general  court, 
and  accepted ;  for  they  were  in  some  doubt  of  the  Dutch,  who 
had  lately  received  a  new  governor,  a  more  discreet  and 
sober  man  than  the  former,^  and  one  who  did  complain  much  of 
the  injury  done  to  them  at  Connecticut,  and  was  very  forward 
to  hold  correspondency  with  us,  and  very  inquisitive  how 
things  stood  between  us  and  them  of  Connecticut,  which  occa- 
sioned us  the  more  readily  to  renew  the  former  treaty,  that  the 

*  The  new  Dutch  governor  was  William  Kieft. 


302  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1639 

Dutch  might  not  take  notice  of  any  breach  or  ahenation  be- 
tween us. 

22.]  The  court  of  elections  was;  at  which  time  there  was  a 
small  eclipse  of  the  sun.  Mr.  Winthrop  was  chosen  governor 
again,  though  some  laboring  had  been,  by  some  of  the  elders 
and  others  to  have  changed,  not  out  of  any  dislike  of  him, 
(for  they  all  loved  and  esteemed  him,)  but  out  of  their  fear  lest 
it  might  make  way  for  having  a  governor  for  life,  which  some 
had  propounded  as  most  agreeable  to  God's  institution  and  the 
practice  of  all  well  ordered  states.  But  neither  the  governor 
nor  any  other  attempted  the  thing;  though  some  jealousies 
arose  which  were  increased  by  two  occasions.  The  first  was, 
there  being  want  of  assistants,  the  governor  and  other  magis- 
trates thought  fit  (in  the  warrant  for  the  court)  to  propound 
three,  amongst  which  Mr.  Downing,  the  governor's  brother- 
in-law,^  was  one,  which  they  conceived  to  be  done  to  strength- 
en his  party,  and  therefore,  though  he  were  known  to  be  a 
very  able  man,  etc.,  and  one  who  had  done  many  good  offices 
for  the  country,  for  these  ten  years,  yet  the  people  would 
not  choose  him.  Another  occasion  of  their  jealousy  was,  the 
court,  finding  the  number  of  deputies  to  be  much  increased 
by  the  addition  of  new  plantations,  thought  fit,  for  the  ease 
both  of  the  country  and  the  court,  to  reduce  all  towns  to  two 
deputies.  This  occasioned  some  to  fear,  that  the  magistrates 
intended  to  make  themselves  stronger,  and  the  deputies  weaker, 
and  so,  in  time,  to  bring  all  power  into  the  hands  of  the  mag- 
istrates ;  so  as  the  people  in  some  towns  were  much  displeased 
with  their  deputies  for  yielding  to  such  an  order.  Whereupon, 
at  the  next  session,  it  was  propounded  to  have  the  number  of 
deputies  restored;  and  allegations  were  made,  that  it  was  an 
infringement  of  their  liberty;  so  as,  after  much  debate,  and 
such  reasons  given  for  diminishing  the  number  of  deputies, 
and  clearly  proved  that  their  liberty  consisted  not  in  the  num- 

'  Emanuel  Downing  and  his  wife  Lucy,  sister  of  the  governor,  arrived 
shortly  before,  and  were  properly  held  in  great  consideration. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  303 

ber,  but  in  the  thing,  divers  of  the  deputies,  who  came  with 
intent  to  reverse  the  last  order,  were,  by  force  of  reason, 
brought  to  uphold  it ;  so  that,  when  it  was  put  to  the  vote, 
the  last  order  for  two  deputies  only  was  confirmed.  Yet,  the 
next  day,  a  petition  was  brought  to  the  court  from  the  freemen 
of  Roxbury,  to  have  the  third  deputy  restored.  Whereupon 
the  reasons  of  the  court's  proceedings  were  set  down  in  writing, 
and  all  objections  answered,  and  sent  to  such  towns  as  were 
unsatisfied  with  this  advice,  that,  if  any  could  take  away  those 
reasons,  or  bring  us  better  for  what  they  did  desire,  we  should 
be  ready,  at  the  next  court,  to  repeal  the  said  order. 

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

There  fell  out  at  this  court  another  occasion  of  increasing 
the  people's  jealousy  of  their  magistrates,  viz.:  One  of  the 
elders,  being  present  with  those  of  his  church,  when  they  were 
to  prepare  their  votes  for  the  election,  declared  his  judgment, 
that  a  governor  ought  to  be  for  his  hfe,  alleging  for  his  authority 
the  practice  of  all  the  best  commonwealths  in  Europe,  and 
especially  that  of  Israel  by  God's  own  ordinance.  But  this 
was  opposed  by  some  other  of  the  elders  with  much  zeal, 


304  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1639 

and  so  notice  was  taken  of  it  by  the  people,  not  as  a  matter 
of  dispute,  but  as  if  there  had  been  some  plot  to  put  it  in 
practice,  which  did  occasion  the  deputies,  at  the  next  session 
of  this  court,  to  deliver  in  an  order  drawn  to  this  effect :  That, 
whereas  our  sovereign  lord,  King  Charles,  etc.,  had,  by  his 
patent,  established  a  governor,  deputy  and  assistants,  that 
therefore  no  person,  chosen  a  counsellor  for  life,  should  have 
any  authority  as  a  magistrate,  except  he  were  chosen  in  the 
annual  elections  to  one  of  the  said  places  of  magistracy  es- 
tabhshed  by  the  patent.  This  being  thus  bluntly  tendered, 
(no  mention  being  made  thereof  before,)  the  governor  took 
time  to  consider  of  it,  before  he  would  put  it  to  vote.  So, 
when  the  court  was  risen,  the  magistrates  advised  of  it,  and 
drew  up  another  order  to  this  effect:  That  whereas,  at  the 
court  in  [blank,]  it  was  ordered,  that  a  certain  number  of  mag- 
istrates should  be  chosen  to  be  a  standing  council  for  life,  etc., 
whereupon  some  had  gathered  that  we  had  erected  a  new  or- 
der of  magistrates  not  warranted  by  our  patent,  this  court 
doth  therefore  declare,  that  the  intent  of  the  order  was,  that 
the  standing  council  should  always  be  chosen  out  of  the  magis- 
trates, etc. ;  and  therefore  it  is  now  ordered,  that  no  such  coun- 
sellor shall  have  any  power  as  a  magistrate,  nor  shall  do  any 
act  as  a  magistrate,  etc.,  except  he  be  annually  chosen,  etc., 
according  to  the  patent;  and  this  order  was  after  passed  by 
vote.  That  which  led  those  of  the  council  to  yield  to  this 
desire  of  the  deputies  was,  because  it  concerned  themselves, 
and  they  did  more  study  to  remove  these  jealousies  out  of  the 
people's  heads,  than  to  preserve  any  power  or  dignity  to  them- 
selves above  others;  for  till  this  court  those  of  the  council,  viz., 
Mr.  Endecott,  had  stood  and  executed  as  a  magistrate,  without 
any  annual  election,  and  so  they  had  been  reputed  by  the  elders 
and  all  the  people  till  this  present.  But  the  order  was  drawn 
up  in  this  form,  that  it  might  be  of  less  observation  and  freer 
from  any  note  of  injury  to  make  this  alteration  rather  by  way 
of  explanation  of  the  fundamental  order,  than  without  any 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  305 

cause  shown  to  repeal  that  which  had  been  established  by 
serious  advice  of  the  elders,  and  had  been  in  practice  two  or 
three  years  without  any  inconvenience.  And  here  may  be 
observed,  how  strictly  the  people  would  seem  to  stick  to  their 
patent,  where  they  think  it  makes  for  their  advantage,  but  are 
content  to  decline  it,  where  it  will  not  warrant  such  hberties 
as  they  have  taken  up  without  warrant  from  thence,  as  appears 
in  their  strife  for  three  deputies,  etc.,  when  as  the  patent  allows 
them  none  at  all,  but  only  by  inference,  etc.,  voting  by  proxies, 
etc/ 

The  governor  acquainted  the  general  court,  that,  in  these 
two  last  years  of  his  government,  he  had  received  from  the 
Indians,  in  presents,  to  the  value  of  about  £40,  and  that  he 
had  spent  about  £20  in  entertainments  of  them  and  in  presents 
to  their  sachems,  etc.  The  court  declared,  that  the  presents 
were  the  governor's  due,  but  the  tribute  was  to  be  paid  to  the 
treasurer. 

15.]  Mr.  Endecott  and  Mr.  Stoughton,  commissioners  for 
us,  and  Mr.  Bradford  and  Mr.  Winslow  for  Plymouth,  met  at 
Hingham  about  deciding  the  difference  between  us  concerning 
our  bounds.  Our  commissioners  had  full  power  to  determine, 
etc.;  but  theirs  had  not,  although  they  had  notice  of  it  long 
before,  and  themselves  had  appointed  the  day.  Whereupon 
the  court  ordered,  that  those  of  Hingham  should  make  use  of 
all  the  land  near  Conyhassett^  to  the  creek  next  Scituate,  till 
the  court  should  take  further  order ;  and  a  letter  was  directed 
to  the  governor  of  Plymouth  to  the  same  effect,  with  declara- 
tion of  the  reasons  of  our  proceeding,  and  readiness  to  give 
them  a  further  meeting.    The  charges  of  their  commissioners* 

*  At  the  Court  at  which  Vane  was  elected  a  Council  for  Life,  appointed 
from  the  magistrates,  was  determined  upon,  following  a  suggestion  of  Lord  Saye 
and  Sele.  Into  this  council  were  put  Winthrop,  Dudley,  and  a  year  later  Endi- 
cott.  Palfrey  thinks  this  aristocratic  innovation  was  set  up  in  the  hope  of  at- 
tracting over  some  high-born  men.  But  it  found  no  favor  with  the  people  and 
dropped  out  of  the  polity.     Palfrey,  History  of  New  England,  I.  441,  555,  614. 

^  Conyhasset,  now  Cohasset.  See  Bradford's  account  of  the  dispute, 
History  of  Plymouth  Plantation,  pp.  349,  350. 


306  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

diet  was  defrayed  by  us,  because  they  met  us  within  our  own 
jurisdiction. 

Those  of  Exeter  repHed  to  our  answer,  standing  still  to  main- 
tain the  Indians'  right,  and  their  interest  thereby.  But,  in  the 
mean  time,  we  had  sent  men  to  discover  Merrimack,  and  found 
some  part  of  it  about  Penkook^  to  he  more  northerly  than 
forty-three  and  a  half.  So  we  returned  answer  to  them,  that, 
though  we  would  not  relinquish  our  interest  by  priority  of 
possession  for  any  right  they  could  have  from  the  Indians,  yet, 
seeing  they  had  professed  not  to  claim  any  thing  which  should 
fall  within  our  patent,  we  would  look  no  further  than  that  in 
respect  of  their  claim. 

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

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

There  was  at  this  time  a  very  great  drouth  all  over  the 
country,  both  east  and  west,  there  being  little  or  no  rain  from 
the  26th  of  the  2d  month  to  the  10th  of  the  4th ;  so  as  the  corn 
generally  began  to  wither,  and  great  fear  there  was  it  would  all 
be  lost.     Whereupon  the  general  court  conferred  with  the 

*  Penkook  or  Pennacook,  now  Concord,  N.  H. 

*  Presumably  the  royal  patent  of  April  3,  1639,  by  which  Maine  was  granted 
to  Gorges. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  307 

elders,  and  agreed  upon  a  day  of  humiliation  about  a  week 
after.  The  very  day  after  the  fast  was  appointed  there  fell 
a  good  shower,  and,  within  one  week  after  the  day  of  humiUa- 
tion  was  past,  we  had  such  store  of  rain,  and  so  seasonably, 
as  the  corn  revived  and  gave  hope  of  a  very  plentiful  harvest. 
When  the  court  and  the  elders  were  met  about  it,  they  con- 
sidered of  such  things  as  were  amiss,  which  might  provoke 
God  against  us,  and  agreed  to  acquaint  their  churches  there- 
with, that  they  might  be  stirred  up  to  bewail  and  reform  them. 

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

About  this  time  our  people  came  from  Isle  Sable.  A  bark 
went  for  them,  on  the  2  of  the  1  month,  but  by  foul  weather 
she  was  wrecked  there,  and  of  her  ruins  they  made  a  small 
one,  wherein  they  returned.  It  was  found  to  be  a  great  error 
to  send  thither  before  the  middle  of  the  2  month.  They  had 
gotten  store  of  seal  oil  and  skins,  and  some  horse  teeth  and 
black  fox  skins;  but  the  loss  of  the  vessel,  etc.,  overthrew  the 
hope  of  the  design. 

The  island  is  very  healthful  and  temperate.  We  lost  not 
one  man  in  two  years,  nor  any  sick,  etc. 

(5.)  (July.)]  The  rent  at  Connecticut  grew  greater,  not- 
withstanding the  great  pains  which  had  been  taken  for  healing 
it ;  so  as  the  church  of  Weathersfield  itself  was  not  only  divided 
from  the  rest  of  the  town,  etc.,  but,  of  those  seven  which  were 
the  church,  four  fell  off ;  so  as  it  was  conceived,  that  thereby  the 


308  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

church  was  dissolved,  which  occasioned  the  church  of  Water- 
town  here  (which  had  divers  of  their  members  there,  not  yet 
dismissed)  to  send  two  of  their  church  to  look  after  their  mem- 
bers, and  to  take  order  with  them.  But  the  contention  and 
aUenation  of  minds  was  such,  as  they  could  not  bring  them  to 
any  other  accord  than  this,  that  the  one  party  must  remove  to 
some  other  place,  which  they  both  consented  to,  but  still  the 
difficulty  remained ;  for  those  three,  who  pretended  themselves 
to  be  the  church,  pleaded  that  privilege  for  their  stay,  and 
the  others  alleged  their  multitude,  etc.,  so  as  neither  would 
give  place,  whereby  it  seemed,  that  either  they  minded  not  the 
example  of  Abraham's  offer  to  Lot,  or  else  they  wanted  Abra- 
ham's spirit  of  peace  and  love. 

This  controversy  having  called  in  Mr.  Davenport  and 
others  of  Quihpiack,  for  mediation,  and  they  not  according 
with  those  of  Connecticut  about  the  case,  gave  advantage  to 
Satan  to  sow  some  seeds  of  contention  between  those  planta- 
tions also ;  but,  being  godly  and  wise  men  on  both  parts,  things 
were  easily  reconciled. 

In  this  month  there  arrived  two  ships  at  Quilipiack.  One 
was  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  wherein  came  Mr.  Fen- 
wick^  and  his  lady  and  family  to  make  a  plantation  at  Say- 
brook  upon  the  mouth  of  Connecticut.  Two  other  plantations 
were  begun  beyond  Quilipiack,  and  every  plantation  intended 
a  peculiar  government. 

There  were  also  divers  new  plantations  begun  this  summer 
here  and  at  Plymouth,  as  Colchester^  upon  Merrimack,  Sud- 
bury by  Concord,  (Winicowett  was  named  Hampton,)  Yar- 
mouth and  Barnstaple  by  Cape  Cod. 

Capt.  Underhill,  having  been  dealt  with  and  convinced  of 

'  George  Fenwick,  a  man  of  high  birth  and  fortune,  had,  as  a  wife,  Savage 
believes,  a  daughter  of  Sir  Arthur  Haselrig,  a  statesman  and  soldier  of  much 
note  in  the  English  Commonwealth.  His  part  in  Connecticut  was  important, 
but  his  name  fails  of  frequent  mention,  perhaps  because  of  his  return  to  Eng- 
land, where  he  attained  distinction.  See  Hutchinson,  History  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  I.  100.  '  Colchester  soon  became  Salisbury. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  309 

his  great  sin  against  God  and  the  churches  and  state  here,  etc., 
returned  to  a  better  mind,  and  wrote  divers  letters  to  the 
governor  and  deputy,  etc.,  bewaihng  his  offences,  and  craving 
pardon.    See  after,  (1,)  5,  39,  and  (7,)  3,  40.' 

There  was  sent  to  the  governor  the  copy  of  a  letter  written 
into  England  by  Mr.  Hansard  Knolles  of  Pascataquack,  where- 
in he  had  most  falsely  slandered  this  government,  as  that 
it  was  worse  than  the  high  commission,  etc.,  and  that  here  was 
nothing  but  oppression,  etc.,  and  not  so  much  as  a  face  of 
religion.  The  governor  acquainted  one  of  Pascataquack,  Mr. 
Knolles  his  special  friend,^  with  it.  Whereupon  Mr.  Knolles 
became  very  much  perplexed,  and  wrote  to  the  governor,  ac- 
knowledging the  wrong  he  had  done  us,  and  desired  that  his 
retractation  might  be  published.^  The  governor  sent  his  letter 
into  England,  and  kept  a  copy  of  it.  See  more  of  this  after, 
(12,)  20,  1639.' 

At  Providence  matters  went  after  the  old  manner.  Mr. 
WilUams  and  many  of  his  company,  a  few  months  since,  were 
in  all  haste  rebaptized,  and  denied  communion  with  all  others, 
and  now  he  was  come  to  question  his  second  baptism,  not  being 
able  to  derive  the  authority  of  it  from  the  apostles,  otherwise 
than  by  the  ministers  of  England,  (whom  he  judged  to  be  ill 
authority,)  so  as  he  conceived  God  would  raise  up  some  apos- 
toUc  power.  Therefore  he  bent  himself  that  way,  expecting 
(as  was  supposed)  to  become  an  apostle;  and  having,  a  little 
before,  refused  communion  with  all,  save  his  own  wife,  now 
he  would  preach  to  and  pray  with  all  comers.  Whereupon 
some  of  his  followers  left  him  and  returned  back  from  whence 
they  went. 

(6.)  (August)  27.]    Here  came  a  small  bark  from  the  West 

1/.  e.,  March  5,  1639/40,  and  September  3,  1640.  See  those  dates,  post, 
the  former  under  February  20.  "  /.  e.,  Mr.  Knolles's  special  friend. 

^  Hanserd  Knollys  had  grounds  for  criticism,  as  the  Journal  shows.  Re- 
tractation seems  to  have  been  common  among  these  heretics  and  dissentients, 
when  brought  to  account;  but  exile,  prison,  the  "bilbowes,"  and  the  whip  were 
terrifying  penalties.  */.  e.,  February  20,  1639/40. 


310  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1639 

Indies,  one  Capt.  Jackson  [?]  in  her,  with  commission  from  the 
Westminster  company  to  take  prize,  etc.,  from  the  Spaniard. 
He  brought  much  wealth  in  money,  plate,  indico,  and  sugar. 
He  sold  his  indico  and  sugar  here  for  £1400,  wherewith  he  fur- 
nished himself  with  commodities,  and  departed  again  for  the 
West  Indies. 

A  fishing  trade  was  begun  at  Cape  Ann  by  one  Mr.  Maurice 
Tomson,  a  merchant  of  London ;  and  an  order  was  made,  that 
all  stocks  employed  in  fishing  should  be  free  from  public 
charge  for  seven  years.  This  was  not  done  to  encourage 
foreigners  to  set  up  fishing  among  us,  (for  all  the  gains  would 
be  returned  to  the  place  where  they  dwelt,)  but  to  encourage 
our  own  people  to  set  upon  it,  and  in  expectation  that  Mr. 
Tomson,  etc.,  would,  ere  long,  come  settle  with  us. 

(7.)  (September.)]  Here  was  such  store  of  exceeding  large 
and  fat  mackerel  upon  our  coast  this  season,  as  was  a  great 
benefit  to  all  our  plantations.  Some  one  boat  with  three  men 
would  take,  in  a  week,  ten  hogsheads,  which  was  sold  at 
Connecticut  for  £3.12  the  hogshead. 

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

(7.)  (September)  17.]    A  church  was  gathered  at  the  Mount.^ 

4.]  At  the  general  court  at  Boston,  one  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Eaton,  brother  to  the  merchant  at  Quihpiack,^  was  convented 
and  censured.  The  occasion  was  this:  He  was  a  school- 
master, and  had  many  scholars,  the  sons  of  gentlemen  and 
others  of  best  note  in  the  country,  and  had  entertained  one 
Nathaniel  Briscoe,  a  gentleman  born,  to  be  his  usher,  and  to 
do  some  other  things  for  him,  which  might  not  be  unfit  for  a 
scholar.  He  had  not  been  with  him  above  three  days  but  he 
fell  out  with  him  for  a  very  small  occasion,  and,  with  reproach- 
ful terms,  discharged  him,  and  turned  him  out  of  his  doors; 
but,  it  being  then  about  eight  of  the  clock  after  the  Sabbath, 

^  Mount  Wollaston.  *  /.  e.,  to  Theophilus  Eaton  of  New  Haven. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  311 

he  told  him  he  should  stay  till  next  morning,  and,  some  words 
growing  between  them,  he  struck  him  and  pulled  him  into  his 
house.  Briscoe  defended  himself,  and  closed  with  him,  and, 
being  parted,  he  came  in  and  went  up  to  his  chamber  to  lodge 
there.  Mr.  Eaton  sent  for  the  constable,  who  advised  him 
first  to  admonish  him,  etc.,  and  if  he  could  not,  by  the  power  of 
a  master,  reform  him,  then  he  should  complain  to  the  magis- 
trate. But  he  caused  his  man  to  fetch  him  a  cudgel,  which 
was  a  walnut  tree  plant,  big  enough  to  have  killed  a  horse,  and 
a  yard  in  length,  and,  taking  his  two  men  with  him,  he  went 
up  to  Briscoe,  and  caused  his  men  to  hold  him  till  he  had  given 
him  two  hundred  stripes  about  the  head  and  shoulders,  etc., 
and  so  kept  him  under  blows  (with  some  two  or  three  short  in- 
termissions) about  the  space  of  two  hours,  about  which  time 
Mr.  Shepherd  and  some  others  of  the  town  came  in  at  the  out- 
cry, and  so  he  gave  over.  In  this  distress  Briscoe  gate  out 
his  knife,  and  struck  at  the  man  that  held  him,  but  hurt  him 
not.  He  also  fell  to  prayer,  (supposing  he  should  have  been 
murdered,)  and  then  Mr.  Eaton  beat  him  for  taking  the  name 
of  God  in  vain.  After  this  Mr.  Eaton  and  Mr.  Shepherd  (who 
knew  not  then  of  these  passages)  came  to  the  governor  and 
some  other  of  the  magistrates,  complaining  of  Briscoe  for  his 
insolent  speeches,  and  for  crjdng  out  murder  and  drawing  his 
knife,  and  desired  that  he  might  be  enjoined  to  a  pubhc  ac- 
knowledgment, etc.  The  magistrates  answered,  that  they 
must  first  hear  him  speak,  and  then  they  would  do  as  they 
should  see  cause.  Mr.  Eaton  was  displeased  at  this,  and  went 
away  discontented,  etc.,  and,  being  after  called  into  the  court 
to  make  answer  to  the  information,  which  had  been  given  by 
some  who  knew  the  truth  of  the  case,  and  also  to  answer  for 
his  neglect  and  cruelty,  and  other  ill  usage  towards  his  scholars, 
one  of  the  elders  (not  suspecting  such  miscarriages  by  him) 
came  to  the  governor,  and  showed  himself  much  grieved,  that 
he  should  be  pubhcly  produced,  alleging,  that  it  would  derogate 
from  his  authority  and  reverence  among  his  scholars,  etc. 


312  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1639 

But  the  cause  went  on  notwithstanding,  and  he  was  called,  and 
these  things  laid  to  his  charge  in  the  open  court.  His  answers 
were  full  of  pride  and  disdain,  telling  the  magistrates,  that 
they  should  not  need  to  do  any  thing  herein,  for  he  was  in- 
tended to  leave  his  employment.  And  being  asked,  why  he 
used  such  cruelty  to  Briscoe  his  usher,  and  to  other  his  scholars, 
(for  it  was  testified  by  another  of  his  ushers  and  divers  of  his 
scholars,  that  he  would  give  them  between  twenty  and  thirty 
stripes  at  a  time,  and  would  not  leave  till  they  had  confessed 
what  he  required,)  his  answer  was,  that  he  had  this  rule,  that 
he  would  not  give  over  correcting  till  he  had  subdued  the  party 
to  his  will.  Being  also  questioned  about  the  ill  and  scant 
diet  of  his  boarders,  (for,  though  their  friends  gave  large  al- 
lowance, yet  their  diet  was  ordinarily  nothing  but  porridge 
and  pudding,  and  that  very  homely,)  he  put  it  off  to  his  wife.* 
So  the  court  dismissed  him  at  present,  and  commanded  him  to 

'  Savage  gives  here  a  curious  paper,  apparently  the  confession  of  Mrs. 
Eaton,  detailing  the  hardships  of  old-time  students.  Of  this  we  quote  some 
portions.  "For  their  breakfast,  that  it  was  not  so  well  ordered,  the  flour  not 
so  fine  as  it  might,  nor  so  well  boiled  or  stirred,  at  all  times  that  it  was  so,  it  was 
my  sin  of  neglect,  and  want  of  that  care  that  ought  to  have  been  in  one  that  the 
Lord  had  intrusted  with  such  a  work.  .  .  ,  And  that  they  had  not  so  good  or 
so  much  provision  in  my  husband's  absence  as  presence,  I  conceived  it  was, 
because  he  would  call  sometimes  for  butter  or  cheese,  when  I  conceived  there 
was  no  need  of  it;  yet,  forasmuch  as  the  scholars  did  otherways  apprehend,  I 
desire  to  see  the  evil  that  was  in  the  carriage  of  that  as  well  as  in  the  other,  and 
to  take  shame  to  myself  for  it.  And  that  they  sent  down  for  more,  when  they 
had  not  enough,  and  the  maid  should  answer,  if  they  had  not,  they  should  not, 
I  must  confess,  that  I  have  denied  them  cheese,  when  they  have  sent  for  it,  and 
it  have  been  in  the  house;  for  which  1  shall  humbly  beg  pardon  of  them,  and 
own  the  shame,  and  confess  my  sin.  .  .  .  For  the  Moor  [probably  a  slave]  his 
lying  in  Sam.  Hough's  sheet  and  pillow-bier,  it  hath  a  truth  in  it:  he  did  so  one 
time,  and  it  gave  Sam.  Hough  just  cause  of  offence;  and  that  it  was  not  pre- 
vented by  my  care  and  watchfulness,  I  desire  [to]  take  the  shame  and  the  sorrow 
for  it.  .  .  .  For  beer  and  bread,  that  it  was  denied  them  by  me  betwixt  meals, 
truly  I  do  not  remember,  that  ever  I  did  deny  it  unto  them;  and  John  Wilson 
will  affirm  that,  generally,  the  bread  and  beer  was  free  for  the  boarders  to  go 
unto.  .  .  .  And  for  their  wanting  beer,  betwixt  brewings,  a  week  or  half  a 
week  together,  I  am  sorry  that  it  was  so  at  any  time,  and  should  tremble  to  have 
it  so,  were  it  in  my  hands  to  do  again."  Hough  and  Wilson,  mentioned  in  the 
passage,  were  sons  respectively  of  a  magistrate  and  elder,  and  the  institution  was 
Harvard  College. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  313 

attend  again  the  next  day,  when,  being  called,  he  was  com- 
manded to  the  lower  end  of  the  table,  (where  all  offenders  do 
usually  stand,)  and,  being  openly  convict  of  all  the  former 
offences,  by  the  oaths  of  four  or  five  witnesses,  he  yet  continued 
to  justify  himself;  so,  it  being  near  night,  he  was  committed 
to  the  marshall  till  the  next  day.  When  the  court  was  set 
in  the  morning,  many  of  the  elders  came  into  the  court,  (it 
being  then  private  for  matter  of  consultation,)  and  declared 
how,  the  evening  before,  they  had  taken  pains  with  him,  to 
convince  him  of  his  faults;  yet,  for  divers  hours,  he  had  still 
stood  to  his  justification ;  but,  in  the  end,  he  was  convinced, 
and  had  freely  and  fully  acknowledged  his  sin,  and  that  with 
tears ;  so  as  they  did  hope  he  had  truly  repented,  and  therefore 
desired  of  the  court  that  he  might  be  pardoned,  and  continued 
in  his  employment,  alleging  such  further  reasons  as  they 
thought  fit.  After  the  elders  were  departed,  the  court  con- 
sulted about  it,  and  sent  for  him,  and  there,  in  the  open  court, 
before  a  great  assembly,  he  made  a  very  solid,  wise,  eloquent, 
and  serious  (seeming)  confession,  condemning  himself  in  all 
the  particulars,  etc.  Whereupon,  being  put  aside,  the  court 
consulted  privately  about  his  sentence,  and,  though  many  were 
taken  with  his  confession,  and  none  but  had  a  charitable 
opinion  of  it;  yet,  because  of  the  scandal  of  reUgion,  and 
offence  which  would  be  given  to  such  as  might  intend  to  send 
their  children  hither,  they  all  agreed  to  censure  him,  and  put 
him  from  that  employment.  So,  being  called  in,  the  governor, 
after  a  short  preface,  etc.,  declared  the  sentence  of  the  court  to 
this  effect,  viz.:  that  he  should  give  Briscoe  £30,  fined  100 
marks,  and  debarred  teaching  of  children  within  our  jurisdic- 
tion. A  pause  being  made,  and  expectation  that  (according 
to  his  former  confession)  he  would  have  given  glory  to  God, 
and  acknowledged  the  justice  and  clemency  of  the  court,  the 
governor  giving  him  occasion,  by  asking  him  if  he  had  ought  to 
say,  he  turned  away  with  a  discontented  look,  saying,  ''If 
sentence  be  passed,  then  it  is  to  no  end  to  speak."    Yet  the 


314  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1639 

court  remitted  his  fine  to  £20,  and  willed  Briscoe  to  take  but 
£20. 

The  church  at  Cambridge,  taking  notice  of  these  proceedings, 
intended  to  deal  with  him.  The  pastor  moved  the  governor, 
if  they  might,  without  offence  to  the  court,  examine  other  wit- 
nesses. His  answer  was,  that  the  court  would  leave  them  to 
their  own  liberty ;  but  he  saw  not  to  what  end  they  should  do 
it,  seeing  there  had  been  five  ah'eady  upon  oath,  and  those 
whom  they  should  examine  should  speak  without  oath,  and  it 
was  an  ordinance  of  God,  that  by  the  mouths  of  two  or  three 
witnesses  every  matter  should  be  established.  But  he  soon 
discovered  himself;  for,  ere  the  church  could  come  to  deal  with 
him,  he  fled  to  Pascataquack,  and,  being  pursued  and  appre- 
hended by  the  governor  there,  he  again  asknowledged  his 
great  sin  in  flying,  etc.,  and  promised  (as  he  was  a  Christian 
man)  he  would  return  with  the  messengers.  But,  because  his 
things  he  carried  with  him  were  aboard  a  bark  there,  bound  to 
Virginia,  he  desired  leave  to  go  fetch  them,  which  they  assented 
unto,  and  went  with  him  (three  of  them)  aboard  with  him.  So 
he  took  his  truss  and  came  away  with  them  in  the  boat ;  but, 
being  come  to  the  shore,  and  two  of  them  going  out  of  the  boat, 
he  caused  the  boatsmen  to  put  off  the  boat,  and  because 
the  third  man  would  not  go  out,  he  turned  him  into  the 
water,  where  he  had  been  drowned,  if  he  had  not  saved  him- 
self by  swimming.  So  he  returned  to  the  bark,  and  presently 
they  set  sail  and  went  out  of  the  harbor.  Being  thus  gone,  his 
creditors  began  to  complain ;  and  thereupon  it  was  found,  that 
he  was  run  in  debt  about  £1000,  and  had  taken  up  most  of 
this  money  upon  bills  he  had  charged  into  England  upon  his 
brother's  agents,  and  others  whom  he  had  no  such  relation  to. 
So  his  estate  was  seized,  and  put  into  commissioners'  hands, 
to  be  divided  among  his  creditors,  allowing  somewhat  for  the 
present  maintenance  of  his  wife  and  children.  And,  being 
thus  gone,  the  church  proceeded  and  cast  him  out.  He 
had  been  sometimes  initiated  among  the  Jesuits,  and,  coming 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  315 

into  England,  his  friends  drew  him  from  them,  but,  it  was 
very  probable,  he  now  intended  to  return  to  them  again, 
being  at  this  time  about  thirty  years  of  age,  and  upwards. 
See  after. 

7.  {September)  17.]  Mount  Woollaston  had  been  formerly 
laid  to  Boston ;  but  many  poor  men  having  lots  assigned  them 
there,  and  not  able  to  use  those  lands  and  dwell  still  in  Boston, 
they  petitioned  the  town  first  to  have  a  minister  there,  and 
after  to  have  leave  to  gather  a  church  there,  which  the  town 
at  length  (upon  some  small  composition)  gave  way  unto.  So, 
this  day,  they  gathered  a  church  after  the  usual  manner,  and 
chose  one  Mr.  Tomson,  a  very  gracious,  sincere  man,  and  Mr. 
FUnt,  a  godly  man  also,  their  ministers. 

Mo.  9  (November).]  At  a  general  court  holden  at  Boston, 
great  complaint  was  made  of  the  oppression  used  in  the  country 
in  sale  of  foreign  commodities;  and  Mr.  Robert  Keaine,*  who 
kept  a  shop  in  Boston,  was  notoriously  above  others  observed 
and  complained  of;  and,  being  con  vented,  he  was  charged 
with  many  particulars ;  in  some,  for  taking  above  six-pence  in 
the  shilling  profit;  in  some  above  eight-pence;  and,  in  some 
small  tilings,  above  two  for  one ;  and  being  hereof  convict,  (as 
appears  by  the  records,)  he  was  fined  £200,  which  came  thus 
to  pass:  The  deputies  considered,  apart,  of  his  fine,  and  set 
it  at  £200;  the  magistrates  agreed  but  to  £100.  So,  the  court 
being  divided,  at  length  it  was  agreed,  that  his  fine  should  be 
£200,  but  he  should  pay  but  £100,  and  the  other  should  be 
respited  to  the  further  consideration  of  the  next  general  court. 
By  this  means  the  magistrates  and  deputies  were  brought  to  an 
accord,  which  otherwise  had  not  been  likely,  and  so  much 
trouble  might  have  grown,  and  the  offender  escaped  censure. 
For  the  cry  of  the  country  was  so  great  against  oppression,  and 

» Robert  Keayne,  here  disciplined  for  extortion,  lived  long  in  the  colony,  a 
rich  and  well  connected  man.  His  daughter  married  a  son  of  Thomas  Dudley, 
and  he  himself  was  brother-in-law  of  John  Wilson.  He  appears  again  in  the 
story,  sometimes  falling  into  disfavor,  though  commonly  a  man  well  at  the  front. 


316  WINTHROFS   JOURxNAL  [1639 

some  of  the  elders  and  magistrates  had  declared  such  detesta- 
tion of  the  corrupt  practice  of  this  man  (which  was  the  more 
observable,  because  he  was  wealthy  and  sold  dearer  than  most 
other  tradesmen,  and  for  that  he  was  of  ill  report  for  the  like 
covetous  practice  in  England,  that  incensed  the  deputies  very 
much  against  him).  And  sure  the  course  was  very  evil, 
especial  circumstances  considered:  1.  He  being  an  ancient 
professor  of  the  gospel:  2.  A  man  of  eminent  parts:  3. 
Wealthy,  and  having  but  one  child :  4.  Having  come  over  for 
conscience'  sake,  and  for  the  advancement  of  the  gospel  here: 
5.  Having  been  formerly  dealt  with  and  admonished,  both  by 
private  friends  and  also  by  some  of  the  magistrates  and  elders, 
and  having  promised  reformation ;  being  a  member  of  a  church 
and  commonwealth  now  in  their  infancy,  and  under  the  curious 
observation  of  all  churches  and  civil  states  in  the  world. 
These  added  much  aggravation  to  his  sin  in  the  judgment  of  all 
men  of  understanding.  Yet  most  of  the  magistrates  (though 
they  discerned  of  the  offence  clothed  with  all  these  circum- 
stances) would  have  been  more  moderate  in  their  censure:  1. 
Because  there  was  no  law  in  force  to  Hmit  or  direct  men  in  point 
of  profit  in  their  trade.  2.  Because  it  is  the  common  practice, 
in  all  countries,  for  men  to  make  use  of  advantages  for  raising 
the  prices  of  their  commodities.  3.  Because  (though  he  were 
chiefly  aimed  at,  yet)  he  was  not  alone  in  this  fault.  4.  Be- 
cause all  men  through  the  country,  in  sale  of  cattle,  corn,  labor, 
etc.,  were  guilty  of  the  Hke  excess  in  prices.  5.  Because  a 
certain  rule  could  not  be  found  out  for  an  equal  rate  between 
buyer  and  seller,  though  much  labor  had  been  bestowed  in  it, 
and  divers  laws  had  been  made,  which,  upon  experience,  were 
repealed,  as  being  neither  safe  nor  equal.  Lastly,  and  es- 
pecially, because  the  law  of  God  appoints  no  other  punishment 
but  double  restitution ;  and,  in  some  cases,  as  where  the  offend- 
er freely  confesseth,  and  brings  his  offering,  only  half  added  to 
the  principal.  After  the  court  had  censured  him,  the  church 
of  Boston  called  him  also  in  question,  where  (as  before  he  had 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  317 

done  in  the  court)  he  did,  with  tears,  acknowledge  and  bewail 
his  covetous  and  corrupt  heart,  yet  making  some  excuse  for 
many  of  the  particulars,  which  were  charged  upon  him,  as 
partly  by  pretence  of  ignorance  of  the  true  price  of  some  wares, 
and  chiefly  by  being  misled  by  some  false  principles,  as  1. 
That,  if  a  man  lost  in  one  commodity,  he  might  help  himself  in 
the  price  of  another.  2.  That  if,  through  want  of  skill  or 
other  occasion,  his  commodity  cost  him  more  than  the  price  of 
the  market  in  England,  he  might  then  sell  it  for  more  than  the 
price  of  the  market  in  New  England,  etc.  These  things  gave 
occasion  to  Mr.  Cotton,  in  his  public  exercise  the  next  lecture 
day,  to  lay  open  the  error  of  such  false  principles,  and  to  give 
some  rules  of  direction  in  the  case. 
Some  false  principles  were  these: — 

1.  That  a  man  might  sell  as  dear  as  he  can,  and  buy  as 
cheap  as  he  can. 

2.  If  a  man  lose  by  casualty  of  sea,  etc.,  in  some  of  his 
commodities,  he  may  raise  the  price  of  the  rest. 

3.  That  he  may  sell  as  he  bought,  though  he  paid  too  dear, 
etc.,  and  though  the  commodity  be  fallen,  etc. 

4.  That,  as  a  man  may  take  the  advantage  of  his  own  skill 
or  abihty,  so  he  may  of  another's  ignorance  or  necessity. 

5.  Where  one  gives  time  for  payment,  he  is  to  take  Hke 
recompense  of  one  as  of  another. 

The  rules  for  trading  were  these: — 

1.  A  man  may  not  sell  above  the  current  price,  i.e.,  such  a 
price  as  is  usual  in  the  time  and  place,  and  as  another  (who 
knows  the  worth  of  the  commodity)  would  give  for  it,  if  he 
had  occasion  to  use  it ;  as  that  is  called  current  money,  which 
every  man  will  take,  etc. 

2.  When  a  man  loseth  in  his  commodity  for  want  of  skill, 
etc.,  he  must  look  at  it  as  his  own  fault  or  cross,  and  therefore 
must  not  lay  it  upon  another. 

3.  Where  a  man  loseth  by  casualty  of  sea,  or,  etc.,  it  is  a 
loss  cast  upon  himself  by  providence,  and  he  may  not  ease 


318  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

himself  of  it  by  casting  it  upon  another;  for  so  a  man  should 
seem  to  provide  against  all  providences,  etc.,  that  he  should 
never  lose;  but  where  there  is  a  scarcity  of  the  commodity, 
there  men  may  raise  their  price;  for  now  it  is  a  hand  of  God 
upon  the  commodity,  and  not  the  person. 

4.  A  man  may  not  ask  any  more  for  his  commodity  than 
his  selling  price,  as  Ephron  to  Abraham,  the  land  is  worth  thus 
much.^ 

The  cause  being  debated  by  the  church,  some  were  earnest 
to  have  him  excommunicated;  but  the  most  thought  an  admo- 
nition would  be  sufficient.  Mr.  Cotton  opened  the  causes, 
which  required  excommunication,  out  of  that  in  1  Cor.  5.  11. 
The  point  now  in  question  was,  whether  these  actions  did  de- 
clare him  to  be  such  a  covetous  person,  etc.  Upon  which  he 
showed,  that  it  is  neither  the  habit  of  covetousness,  (which  is 
in  every  man  in  some  degree,)  nor  simply  the  act,  that  declares  a 
man  to  be  such,  but  when  it  appears,  that  a  man  sins  against 
his  conscience,  or  the  very  light  of  nature,  and  when  it  appears 
in  a  man's  whole  conversation.  But  Mr.  Keaine  did  not  appear 
to  be  such,  but  rather  upon  an  error  in  his  judgment,  being 
led  by  false  principles;  and,  beside,  he  is  otherwise  Hberal,  as 
in  his  hospitality,  and  in  church  communion,  etc.  So,  in  the 
end,  the  church  consented  to  an  admonition. 

Upon  this  occasion  a  question  grew,  whether  an  admonition 
did  bar  a  man  from  the  sacrament,  etc.  Of  this  more  shall  be 
spoken  hereafter. 

Being  now  about  church  matters,  I  will  here  insert  another 
passage  in  the  same  church,  which  fell  out  about  the  same 
time.  Their  old  meeting-house,  being  decayed  and  too  small, 
they  sold  it  away,  and  agreed  to  build  another,  which  workmen 
undertook  to  set  up  for  £600.  Three  himdred  they  had  for  the 
old,  and  the  rest  was  to  be  gathered  by  voluntary  contributions, 
as  other  charges  were.  But  there  grew  a  great  difference 
among  the  brethren,  where  this  new  one  should  stand.     Some 

This  laying  down  by  John  Cotton  of  commercial  ethics  is  interesting. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  319 

were  for  the  green,  (which  was  the  governor's  first  lot,  and  he 
had  yielded  it  to  the  church,  etc. ;)  others,  viz.,  the  tradesmen, 
especially,  who  dwelt  about  the  market  place,  desired  it  might 
stand  still  near  the  market,  lest  in  time  it  should  divert  the 
chief  trade  from  thence.  The  church  referred  it  to  the  judg- 
ment and  determination  of  five  of  the  brethren,  who  agreed, 
that  the  fittest  place  (all  things  considered)  would  be  near  the 
market;  but,  understanding  that  many  of  the  brethren  were 
unsatisfied,  and  desired  rather  it  might  be  put  to  a  lot,  they 
declared  only  their  opinions  in  writing,  and  respited  the  full 
determination  to  another  general  meeting,  thinking  it  very 
unsafe  to  proceed  with  the  discontent  of  any  considerable  part 
of  the  church.  When  the  church  met,  the  matter  was  debated 
to  and  fro,  and  grew  at  length  to  some  earnestness,  etc. ;  but, 
after  Mr.  Cotton  had  cleared  it  up  to  them,  that  the  removing 
it  to  the  green  would  be  a  damage  to  such  as  dwelt  by  the 
market,  who  had  there  purchased  and  built  at  great  charge,  but 
it  would  be  no  damage  to  the  rest  to  have  it  by  the  market, 
because  it  would  be  no  less,  but  rather  more  convenient  for 
them,  than  where  the  former  stood,  they  all  yielded  to  have 
it  set  by  the  market  place ;  and,  though  some  remained  still  in 
their  opinion,  that  the  green  were  the  fitter  place,  yet,  for  peace 
sake,  they  yielded  to  the  rest  by  keeping  silence  while  it  passed.^ 
This  good  providence  and  overruhng  hand  of  God  caused 
much  admiration  and  acknowledgment  of  special  mercy 
to  the  church,  especially  considering  how  long  the  hke  conten- 
tion had  held  in  some  other  churches,  and  with  what  difficulty 
they  had  been  accorded. 

(7.)  (September.)]  At  the  court  of  assistants,  one  Marma- 
duke  Percy,  of  Salem,  was  arraigned  for  the  death  of  one 
[blank],  his  apprentice.  The  great  inquest  found  the  bill  for 
murder;  the  jury  of  life  and  death  could  not  agree;  so  they 
were  adjourned  to  the  next  court,  and  Percy  was  let  to  bail  by 

*  The  Green  included  the  present  site  of  the  Old  South  Church.  The  new 
church  was  finally  placed  at  the  head  of  the  present  State  Street. 


320  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

the  governor  and  some  other  of  the  magistrates,  after  the  court. 
At  the  court  in  lOber  (December),  the  prisoner  appeared,  and 
the  jury  being  called,  had  further  evidence  given  them,  which 
tended  to  the  clearing  of  Percy;  yet  two  of  the  jury  dissented 
from  the  rest,  who  were  all  agreed  to  acquit  him.  In  the  end 
it  had  this  issue,  that  these  two  were  silent,  and  so  the  verdict 
was  received.  The  cause  was  this :  The  boy  was  ill  disposed, 
and  his  master  gave  him  unreasonable  correction,  and  used 
him  ill  in  his  diet.  After,  the  boy  gate  a  bruise  on  his  head, 
so  as  there  appeared  a  fracture  in  his  skull,  being  dissected 
after  his  death.  Now,  two  things  were  in  the  evidence,  which 
made  the  case  doubtful ;  one,  the  boy  his  charging  his  master, 
before  his  death,  to  have  given  him  that  wound  with  his  meat- 
yard^  and  with  a  broomstaff  (for  he  spake  of  both  at  several 
times ;)  the  other  was,  that  he  had  told  another,  that  his  hurt 
came  with  the  fall  of  a  bough  from  a  tree ;  and  other  evidence 
there  was  none. 

4.]  At  the  general  court,  etc.,  the  inhabitants  of  the  upper 
part  of  Pascataquack,  viz.  Dover,  etc.,  had  written  to  the  gov- 
ernor to  offer  themselves  to  come  under  our  government. 
Answer  was  returned  them,  that,  if  they  sent  two  or  three  of 
their  company,  with  full  commission,  under  all  their  hands,  to 
conclude,  etc.,  it  was  hke  the  court  would  agree  to  their  propo- 
sitions. And  now,  at  this  court,  came  three  with  commission 
to  agree  upon  certain  articles  annexed  to  their  commission, 
which  being  read,  the  court  appointed  three  to  treat  with  them ; 
but,  their  articles  being  not  reasonable,  they  stood  not  upon 
them,  but  confessed  that  they  had  absolute  commission  to  con- 
clude by  their  discretion.  Whereupon  the  treaty  was  brought 
to  a  conclusion  to  this  effect :  That  they  should  be  as  Ipswich 
and  Salem,  and  have  courts  there,  etc.,  as  by  the  copy  of  the 
agreement  remaining  with  the  recorder  doth  appear.  This 
was  ratified  under  our  public  seal,  and  so  dehvered  to  them; 
only  they  desired  a  promise  from  the  court,  that,  if  the  people 

^  Meteyard,  a  stick  for  meting  or  measuring. 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  321 

did  not  assent  to  it,  (which  yet  they  had  no  fear  of,)  they  might 
be  at  Uberty,  which  was  granted  them. 

Those  of  Exeter  sent  the  Hke  propositions  to  the  court ;  but 
not  hking  (it  seems)  the  agreement,  which  those  of  Dover  had 
made,  they  repented  themselves,  and  wrote  to  the  court,  that 
they  intended  not  to  proceed/ 

At  this  court  there  fell  out  some  contestation  between  the 
governor  and  the  treasurer.^  Nicholas  Trerice  being  defend- 
ant in  a  cause,  wherein  Mr.  Hibbins,'  brother-in-law  to  the 
treasurer,  was  plaintiff,  for  £500,  which  the  searchers  took 
from  him  in  the  ship,  whereof  Trerice  was  master,  and  the 
defendant  having  answered  upon  oath  to  certain  interrogatories 
ministered  unto  him,  (and  which  were  read  to  him  before  he 
took  his  oath,)  and  the  treasurer  pressing  him  again  with  the 
same  interrogatory,  the  governor  said,  he  had  answered  the 
same  directly  before.  The  treasurer  thereupon  said,  (angrily,) 
Sir,  I  speak  not  to  you.  The  governor  replied,  that  time  was 
very  precious,  and,  seeing  the  thing  was  already  answered,  it 
was  fit  to  proceed.  Thereupon  the  treasurer  stood  up,  and 
said,  if  he  might  not  have  Hberty  to  speak,  he  would  no  longer 
sit  there.  The  governor  repHed,  that  it  was  his  place  to  man- 
age the  proceedings  of  the  court,  etc.  The  treasurer  then  said, 
You  have  no  more  to  do  in  managing  the  business  here  than  I. 
At  which  the  governor  took  offence,  as  at  an  injury  done  to 
his  place,  and  appealed  to  the  comt  to  declare,  whether  he 
might  not  enjoin  any  of  the  magistrates  silence,  if  he  saw 
cause.  The  deputy  governor,  at  first  apprehension,  gainsaid 
it;  but,  presently,  both  himself  and  the  rest  of  the  magistrates 
(for  the  deputies  were  without,  staying  till  this  cause  should  be 
ended)  did  agree,  that  he  might  so  do  for  a  particular  time; 

*  Here  we  see  the  stirrings  of  an  impulse  to  come  together  which  before 
long  brought  about  the  confederation  of  the  colonies,  at  which  we  shall  soon 
glance.  '  The  treasurer  was  Bellingham,  afterward  governor. 

^  William  Hibbins  was  a  citizen  of  repute  whose  wife  attained  a  tragic 
notoriety.  Disordered  in  mind,  as  Hubbard  relates,  General  History  of  New 
England,  p.  574,  she  was  put  to  death  as  a  witch  in  1656. 


322  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

and  if  the  party,  so  enjoined  silence,  were  unsatisfied,  he  might 
appeal  to  the  whole  court,  who  might  give  him  liberty  to  speak, 
though  the  governor  had  restrained  him.  So  the  governor 
pressed  it  no  further,  yet  expected  that  the  court  would  not 
have  suffered  such  a  public  affront  to  the  governor  to  have 
passed  without  due  reproof,  etc.  But  nothing  was  done,  save 
only  the  secretary  and  some  one  other  spake  somewhat  of  their 
dislike  of  it;  neither  did  it  occasion  any  falling  out  between 
the  governor  and  treasurer,  for  the  governor  held  himself 
sufficiently  discharged,  after  he  had  referred  it  to  the  considera- 
tion of  the  court,  so  as,  if  they  did  not  look  at  it  as  a  pubfic 
injury,  he  was  willing  to  account  of  it  accordingly. 

There  happened  a  memorable  thing  at  Plymouth  about  this 
time.  One  Kcysar,  of  Lynn,  being  at  Plymouth  in  his  boat, 
and  one  Dickcrson  with  him,  a  professor,  but  a  notorious  thief, 
was  coming  out  of  the  harbor  with  the  ebb,  and  the  wind 
southerly,  a  fresh  gale ;  yet,  with  all  their  skill  and  labor,  they 
could  not,  in  three  hours,  get  the  boat  above  one  league,  so  as 
they  were  forced  to  come  to  an  anchor,  and,  at  the  flood,  to  go 
back  to  the  town ;  and,  as  soon  as  they  were  come  in,  the  said 
Dickerson  was  arrested  upon  suspicion  of  a  gold  ring  and  some 
other  pieces  of  gold,  which,  upon  search,  were  found  about  him, 
and  he  was  there  whipped  for  it. 

The  like  happened  at  Boston  about  two  years  before. 
Schooler,  who  was  executed  for  murder,  as  before  is  men- 
tioned, had  broke  prison  and  was  escaped  beyond  Winisemett, 
but  there  he  was  taken  with  such  an  astonishment,  etc.,  as  he 
could  go  no  further,  but  was  forced  to  return  to  Boston.  These 
and  many  other  examples  of  discovering  hypocrites  and  other 
lewd  persons,  and  bringing  them  under  their  deserved  punish- 
ments, do  (among  other  things)  show  the  presence  and  power 
of  God  in  his  ordinances,  and  his  blessing  upon  his  people, 
while  they  endeavor  to  walk  before  him  with  uprightness. 

At  Kenncbeck,  the  Indians  wanting  food,  and  there  being 
store  in  the  Plymouth  trading  house,  they  conspired  to  kill  the 


1G39]  JOHN  VVINTlIllOP,   GOVERNOR  323 

English  there  for  their  provisions;  and  some  Indians  coming 
into  the  house,  Mr.  Willet/  the  master  of  the  house,  being 
reading  in  the  Bible,  his  countenance  was  more  solemn  than 
at  other  times,  so  as  he  did  not  look  cheerfully  upon  them,  as 
he  was  wont  to  do;  whereupon  they  went  out  and  told  their 
fellows,  that  their  purpose  was  discovered.  They  asked  them, 
how  it  could  be.  The  others  told  them,  that  they  knew  it  by 
Mr.  Willet's  countenance,  and  that  he  had  discovered  it  by  a 
book  that  he  was  reading.  Wliereupon  they  gave  over  their 
design. 

The  people  had  long  desired  a  body  of  laws,^  and  thought 
their  condition  very  unsafe,  while  so  much  power  rested  in  the 
discretion  of  magistrates.  Divers  attempts  had  been  made  at 
former  courts,  and  the  matter  referred  to  some  of  the  magis- 
trates and  some  of  the  ciders;  but  still  it  came  to  no  effect;  for, 
being  committed  to  the  care  of  many,  whatsoever  was  done  by 
some,  was  still  disliked  or  neglected  by  others.  At  last  it  was 
referred  to  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Nathanic^I  Warde,  etc.,  and 
each  of  them  framed  a  model,  whi(^h  were  presented  to  this 
general  court,  and  by  them  committetl  to  the  governor  and 
deputy  and  some  others  to  consider  of,  and  so  prepare  it  for  the 
court  in  the  3d  month  next.  Two  great  reasons  there  were, 
which  caused  most  of  the  magistrates  and  some  of  the  elders 
not  to  be  very  forward  in  this  matter.  One  was,  want  of 
sufficient  experience  of  the  nature  and  disposition  of  the  people, 
considered  with  the  condition  of  the  country  and  other  cir- 
cumstances, which  made  them  conceive,  that  such  laws  would 

*  Thomas  Willett,  afterward  the  first  mayor  of  New  York. 

'  The  Body  of  Liberties,  which  at  length  came  into  existence  in  response  to 
the  desire  of  the  people  here  referred  to,  is  a  code  of  great  interest,  esteemed  in 
its  time  comparable  only  to  Magna  Charta  and  the  (^ommon  Law  of  England, 
and  important  in  the  history  of  constitutional  development.  It  was  mainly  the 
work  of  Nathaniel  Ward,  of  Ipswich,  a  man  of  bright  mind,  well  versed  in  the 
law;  though  Cotton  had  a  hand  in  it.  A  work  of  value  here  is  Whitmore,  The 
Colonial  Laws  of  Massachusetts  (Boston,  1889).  See  also  Old  Smith  Leaflets, 
no.  164,  The  Massachusetts  Body  of  Liberties,  with  scholarly  annotation  by 
Edwin  D.  Mead. 


324  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

be  fittest  for  us,  which  should  arise  pro  re  nata  upon  occasions, 
etc.,  and  so  the  laws  of  England  and  other  states  grew,  and 
therefore  the  fundamental  laws  of  England  are  called  customs, 
consuetudines.  2.  For  that  it  would  professedly  transgress 
the  Umits  of  our  charter,  which  provide,  we  shall  make  no 
laws  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  England,  and  that  we  were  as- 
sured we  must  do.  But  to  raise  up  laws  by  practice  and  custom 
had  been  no  transgression ;  as  in  our  church  discipline,  and  in 
matters  of  marriage,  to  make  a  law,  that  marriages  should  not 
be  solemnized  by  ministers,  is  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  Eng- 
land; but  to  bring  it  to  a  custom  by  practice  for  the  magis- 
trates to  perform  it,  is  no  law  made  repugnant,  etc.  At 
length  (to  satisfy  the  people)  it  proceeded,  and  the  two 
models  were  digested  with  divers  alterations  and  additions, 
and  abbreviated  and  sent  to  every  town,  (12,)  to  be  con- 
sidered of  first  by  the  magistrates  and  elders,  and  then  to  be 
pubUshed  by  the  constables  to  all  the  people,  that  if  any  man 
should  think  fit,  that  any  thing  therein  ought  to  be  altered, 
he  might  acquaint  some  of  the  deputies  therewith  against  the 
next  court. 

By  this  time  there  appeared  a  great  change  in  the  church  of 
Boston ;  for  whereas,  the  year  before,  they  were  all  (save  five 
or  six)  so  affected  to  Mr.  Wheelwright  and  Mrs.  Hutchinson, 
and  those  new  opinions,  -as  they  slighted  the  present  governor 
and  the  pastor,  looking  at  them  as  men  under  a  covenant  of 
works,  and  as  their  greatest  enemies;  but  they  bearing  all 
patiently,  and  not  withdrawing  themselves,  (as  they  were 
strongly  solicited  to  have  done,)  but  carrying  themselves  lov- 
ingly and  helpfully  upon  all  occasions,  the  Lord  brought  about 
the  hearts  of  all  the  people  to  love  and  esteem  them  more  than 
ever  before,  and  all  breaches  were  made  up,  and  the  church 
was  saved  from  ruin  beyond  all  expectation;  which  could 
hardly  have  been,  (in  human  reason,)  if  those  two  had  not  been 
guided  by  the  Lord  to  that  moderation,  -etc.  And  the  church 
(to  manifest  their  hearty  affection  to  the  governor,  upon  occa- 


1639]  JOHN  WINTHROP,   GOVERNOR  325 

sion  of  some  strait  he  was  brought  into  through  his  baihff's 
unfaithfuhiess)  sent  him  £200. 

There  was  now  a*  church  gathered  at  the  Mount,  and  Mr. 
Tomson  (a  very  holy  man,  who  had.  been  an  instrument  of 
much  good  at  Acomenticus)  was  ordained  the  pastor  the  19th 
of  the  9th  month. 

(10.)  (December.)]  At  the  general  court,  an  order  was  made 
to  abohsh  that  vain  custom  of  drinking  one  to  another,  and 
that  upon  these  and  other  grounds: 

1.  It  was  a  thing  of  no  good  use. 

2.  It  was  an  inducement  to  drunkenness,  and  occasion  of 
quarrelling  and  bloodshed. 

3.  It  occasioned  much  waste  of  wine  and  beer. 

4.  It  was  very  troublesome  to  many,  especially  the  masters 
and  mistresses  of  the  feast,  who  were  forced  thereby  to  drink 
more  oft  than  they  would,  etc.  Yet  divers  (even  godly  persons) 
were  very  loath  to  part  with  this  idle  ceremony,  though  (when 
disputation  was  tendered)  they  had  no  list,  nor,  indeed, 
could  find  any  arguments,  to  maintain  it.  Such  power  hath 
custom,  etc.^ 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Rogers,  of  whose  gathering  of  a  church  in  Eng- 
land mentioned  was  made  before,  being  now  settled  with  his 
company  at  Rowley,  was  there  ordained  pastor,  etc. 

3.]  There  were  so  many  lectures  now  in  the  country,  and 
many  poor  persons  would  usually  resort  to  two  or  three  in  the 
week,  to  the  great  neglect  of  their  affairs,  and  the  damage  of 
the  pubUc.  The  assembhes  also  were  (in  divers  churches)  held 
till  night,  and  sometimes  within  the  night,  so  as  such  as  dwelt 
far  off  could  not  get  home  in  due  season,  and  many  weak  bodies 
could  not  endure  so  long,  in  the  extremity  of  the  heat  or  cold, 
without  great  trouble,  and  hazard  of  their  health.  Whereupon 
the  general  court  ordered,  that  the  elders  should  be  desired  to 

*  We  have  frequent  occasion  to  remark  in  Winthrop  superstition  and  limita- 
tion of  various  kinds.  With  all  this  he  had  also  strong  good  sense,  and  that 
appears  in  this  passage  relating  to  the  drink  habit. 


326  WINTHROP'S   JOURNAL  [1639 

give  a  meeting  to  the  magistrates  and  deputies,  to  consider 
about  the  length  and  frequency  of  church  assemblies,  and  to 
make  return  to  the  court  of  their  determinations,  etc.  This  was 
taken  in  ill  part  by  most  of  the  elders  and  other  of  the  churches, 
so  as  that  those  who  should  have  met  at  Salem,  did  not  meet, 
and  those  in  the  bay,  when  they  met  with  the  magistrates,  etc., 
at  Boston,  expressed  much  disHke  of  such  a  course,  alleging 
their  tenderness  of  the  chm-ch's  hberties,  (as  if  such  a  precedent 
might  enthrall  them  to  the  civil  power,  and  as  if  it  would  cast 
a  blemish  upon  the  elders,  which  would  remain  to  posterity, 
that  they  should  need  to  be  regulated  by  the  civil  magistrate, 
and  also  raise  an  ill  savor  of  the  people's  coldness,  that  would 
complain  of  much  preaching,  etc., — when  as  liberty  for  the 
ordinances  was  the  main  end  (professed)  of  our  coming  hither). 
To  which  it  was  answered,  1.  That  the  order  was  framed  with 
as  much  tenderness  and  respect  as  might  be  in  general  words, 
without  mentioning  sermons  or  lectures,  so  as  it  might  as  well 
be  taken  for  meetings  upon  other  occasions  of  the  churches, 
which  were  known  to  be  very  frequent.  2.  It  carried  no  com- 
mand, but  only  an  expression  of  a  desire.  3.  It  concluded 
nothing,  but  only  to  confer  and  consider.  4.  The  record  of 
such  an  order  will  be  rather  an  argument  of  the  zeal  and  for- 
wardness of  the  elders  and  churches,  as  it  was  of  the  Israehtes', 
when  they  offered  so  Uberally  to  the  service  of  the  tabernacle, 
as  Moses  was  forced  to  restrain  them.  Upon  tliis  interpreta- 
tion of  the  court's  intent,  the  elders  were  reasonably  satisfied, 
and  the  magistrates  finding  how  hardly  such  propositions 
would  be  digested,  and  that,  if  matters  should  be  further 
pushed,  it  might  make  some  breach,  or  disturbance  at  least, 
(for  the  elders  had  great  power  in  the  people's  hearts,  which 
was  needful  to  be  upheld,  lest  the  people  should  break  their 
bonds  through  abuse  of  hberty,  which  divers,  having  surfeited 
of,  were  very  forward  to  indte  others  to  raise  mutinies  and 
foment  dangerous  and  groundless  jealousies  of  the  magistrates, 
etc.,  which  the  wisdom  and  care  of  the  elders  did  still  prevail 


1639J  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  327 

against ;  and  indeed  the  people  themselves,  generally,  through 
the  churches,  were  of  that  understanding  and  moderation,  as 
they  would  easily  be  guided  in  their  way  by  any  rule  from 
scripture  or  sound  reason:)  in  this  consideration,  the  magis- 
trates and  deputies,  which  were  then  met,  thought  it  not  fit  to 
enter  any  dispute  or  conference  with  the  elders  about  the  num- 
ber of  lectures,  or  for  appointing  any  certain  time  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  assembUes,  but  rested  satisfied  with  their  affir- 
mative answer  to  these  two  propositions :  1.  That  their  church 
assembUes  might  ordinarily  break  up  in  such  season,  as  people 
that  dwell  a  mile  or  two  off  might  get  home  by  dayhght.  2. 
That,  if  they  were  not  satisfied  in  the  declaration  of  our  inten- 
tions in  this  order  of  court,  that  nothing  was  attempted  herein 
against  the  church's  hberties,  etc.,  they  would  truly  acquaint 
us  with  the  reasons  of  their  unsatisfiedness ;  or,  if  we  heard  not 
from  them  before  the  next  court,  we  should  take  it  for  granted, 
that  they  were  fully  satisfied.  They  desired,  that  the  order 
might  be  taken  off  the  record;  but  for  that  it  was  answered, 
that  it  might  not  be  done  without  consent  of  the  general  court ; 
only  it  was  agreed  unto,  that  the  secretary  might  defer  to  enter 
it  in  the  book  till  the  mind  of  the  court  might  be  known. 


1640 

(12.)  (February)  20.]  One  Mr.  Hanserd  Knolles,  a  minister 
in  England,  who  came  over  the  last  summer  in  the  company  of 
om*  famihstical  opinionists,  and  so  being  suspected  and  exam- 
ined, and  found  incUning  that  way,  was  denied  residence  in  the 
Massachusetts ;  whereupon  he  went  to  Pascataquack,  where  he 
began  to  preach;  but  Mr.  Burdett,  being  then  their  governor 
and  preacher,  inhibited  him.  But,  he  being  after  removed  to 
Acomenticus,  the  people  called  Mr.  Knolles,  and  in  short  time 
he  gathered  some  of  the  best  minded  into  a  church  body,  and 
became  their  pastor,  and  Capt.  Underbill  being  their  governor, 
they  called  their  town  Dover.  But  this  Mr.  Knolles,  at  his 
first  coming  thither,  wrote  a  letter  to  his  friends  in  London, 
wherein  he  bitterly  inveighed  against  us,  both  against  our 
magistrates  and  churches,  and  against  all  the  people  in  general, 
(as  by  the  copy  of  his  letter  sent  over  to  our  governor  may 
appear).  The  governor  gave  him  notice  thereof,  and,  being 
brought  to  a  better  judgment  by  further  consideration  and 
more  experience,  he  saw  the  wrong  he  had  done  us,  and  was 
deeply  humbled  for  it,  and  wrote  to  the  governor  to  that  effect, 
and  desired  a  safe  conduct,  that  he  might  come  into  the  bay  to 
give  satisfaction,  etc.,  for  he  could  have  no  rest  in  his  spirit 
until,  etc. ;  which  being  sent  him  under  the  governor  his  hand, 
(with  consent  of  the  council,)  he  came,  and,  upon  a  lecture  day 
at  Boston,  (most  of  the  magistrates  and  elders  in  the  bay  being 
there  assembled,)  he  made  a  very  free  and  full  confession  of 
his  offence,  with  much  aggravation  against  himself,  so  as  the 
assembly  were  well  satisfied.  He  wrote  also  a  letter  to  the 
same  effect  to  his  said  friends  in  England,  which  he  left  with 
the  governor  to  be  sent  to  them. 

Capt.  Underbill,  also,  being  struck  with  horror  and  remorse 

328 


1640]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  329 

for  his  offences,  both  against  the  church  and  civil  state,  could 
have  no  rest  till  he  had  obtained  a  safe  conduct  to  come  and 
give  satisfaction;  and  accordingly,  (1,)  5,  at  a  lecture  at  Bos- 
ton, (it  being  then  the  court  time,)  he  made  a  pubUc  confession 
both  of  his  hving  in  adultery  with  Taber's  wife,  (upon  sus- 
picion whereof  the  church  had  before  admonished  him,)  and 
attempting  the  hke  with  another  woman,  and  also  the  injury  he 
had  done  to  our  state,  etc.,  and  acknowledged  the  justice  of  the 
court  in  their  proceeding  against  him,  etc.  Yet  all  his  con- 
fessions were  mixed  with  such  excuses  and  extenuations,  as 
did  not  give  satisfaction  of  the  truth  of  his  repentance,  so  as 
it  seemed  to  be  done  rather  out  of  poHcy,  and  to  pacify  the 
sting  of  his  conscience,  than  in  sincerity.  But,  however, 
his  offences  being  so  foul  and  scandalous,  the  church  presently 
cast  him  out;  which  censure  he  seemed  to  submit  unto,  and, 
for  the  time  he  staid  in  Boston,  (being  four  or  five  days)  he  was 
very  much  dejected,  etc. ;  but,  being  gone  back,  he  soon  recov- 
ered his  spirits  again,  or,  at  least,  gave  not  that  proof  of  a 
broken  heart,  as  he  gave  hope  of  at  Boston.  For  (to  ingratiate 
himself  with  the  state  of  England,  and  with  some  gentlemen 
at  the  river's  mouth,  who  were  very  zealous  that  way,  and  had 
lately  set  up  common  prayer,  etc.)  he  sent  thirteen  men  armed 
to  Exeter  to  fetch  one  Gabriel  Fish,  who  was  detained  in  the 
officer's  hands  for  speaking  against  the  king,  the  magistrates 
of  Exeter  being  then  in  the  bay  to  take  advice  what  to  do 
with  him;  and  besides,  when  the  church  and  people  of  Dover 
desired  him  to  forbear  to  come  to  the  next  court,  till  they  had 
considered  of  his  case,  and  he  had  promised  so  to  do,  yet, 
hearing  that  they  were  consulting  to  remove  him  from  his 
government,  he  could  not  refrain,  but  came  and  took  his  place 
in  the  court ;  and  though  he  had  offered  to  lay  down  his  place, 
yet,  when  he  saw  they  went  about  it,  he  grew  passionate,  and 
expostulated  with  them,  and  would  not  stay  to  receive  his  dis- 
mission, nor  would  be  seen  to  accept  it,  when  it  was  sent  after 
him.    Yet  they  proceeded,  and  chose  one  Roberts  to  be  presi- 


330  WINTHROFS   JOURNAL  [1640 

dent  of  the  court,  and,  soon  after,  they  returned  back  Fish  to 
Exeter,  which  was  considerately  done  of  them,  for  it  had 
been  a  dangerous  precedent  against  them,  being  a  weak  planta- 
tion, if  the  commissioners  from  the  lords  of  the  council,  who 
were  daily  expected,  should  have  taken  occasion  to  have  done 
the  hke  by  them,  though  they  held  themselves  to  be  out  of 
that  province,  which  was  granted  to  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges. 
Besides  this,  in  the  open  court  he  committed  one  of  his  fellow 
magistrates  for  rising  up  and  saying  he  would  not  sit  with  an 
adulterer,  etc.  But  the  chief  matter,  which  they  produced 
against  him,  was,  that,  whereas  he  himself  was  the  mover  of 
them  to  break  off  their  agreement  with  us,  he  had  written  to 
our  governor,  and  laid  it  upon  the  people,  especially  upon 
some  among  them;  and  for  this  they  produced  against  him 
a  letter  from  our  governor,  written  to  one  of  their  commissioners 
in  answer  to  a  letter  of  his,  wherein  he  had  discovered  the 
captain's  proceeding  in  that  matter.  Soon  after  this  the  cap- 
tain came  by  water  into  the  bay  to  tender  (as  he  said)  satis- 
faction to  the  church.  This  was  taken  by  some  of  the  magis- 
trates as  a  very  presumptuous  act,  and  they  would  have  had 
him  imprisoned,  supposing  that  his  safe  conduct  would  not  bear 
him  out,  having  been  once  here  and  returned  back  again ;  but 
that  counsel  was  not  approved,  because  the  time  of  his  safe 
conduct  was  not  expired,  and  it  was  thought  very  dangerous  to 
our  reputation  to  give  the  least  occasion  of  reproach  in  this 
kind,  seeing  it  might  be  objected  against  us  to  our  great  preju- 
dice, where  we  should  not  have  opportunity  to  clear  our 
innocency.  But  the  church,  not  being  satisfied  of  his  repent- 
ance, would  not  admit  him  to  pubHc  speech.  So,  after  one 
week,  he  returned  home. 

In  this  winter,  in  a  close,  calm  day,  there  fell  divers  flakes  of 
snow  of  this  form  *,  very  thin,  and  as  exactly  pointed  as  art 
could  have  cut  them  in  paper,  or,  etc. 

(1.)  (March)  24.]  The  church  of  Boston  sent  three  brethren, 
viz.,  Capt.  Edward  Gibbons,  Mr.  Hibbins,  and  Mr.  GUver  the 


1640]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  331 

younger,  with  letters  to  Mr.  Coddington  and  the  rest  of  our 
members  at  Aquiday,  to  understand  their  judgments  in  divers 
points  of  rehgion,  formerly  maintained  by  all,  or  divers  of  them, 
and  to  require  them  to  give  account  to  the  church  of  their 
unwarrantable  practice  in  communicating  with  excommuni- 
cated persons,  etc.  When  they  came,  they  found  that  those  of 
them,  who  dwell  at  Newport,  had  joined  themselves  to  a  church 
there  newly  constituted,  and  thereupon  they  refused  to  hear 
them  as  messengers  of  our  church,  or  to  receive  the  church's 
letters.  Whereupon,  at  their  return,  the  elders  and  most  of 
the  church  would  have  cast  them  out,  as  refusing  to  hear  the 
church;  but,  all  being  not  agreed,  it  was  deferred.* 

18.]  Mr.  Norris  was  ordained  teacher  of  the  church  of 
Salem,  there  being  present  near  all  the  elders  of  the  other 
churches,  and  much  people  besides. 

21.]  The  White  Angel,  sl  small  ship  of  Bristol,  went  from 
hence,  and  arrived  there  in  twenty-four  days;  and,  the  same 
year,  the  Desire,  sl  ship  built  at  Marblehead,  of  one  hundred 
tons,  went  from  hence  in  the  summer,  and  arrived  at  Graves- 
end,  in  the  Thames,  in  twenty-three  days. 

Our  neighbors  of  Plymouth  had  procured  from  hence,  this 

'Modem  sympathy  is  with  the  moderate  men  in  opposition  to  the  harsh 
and  repugnant  policy  of  the  elders. 

The  report  of  Oliver,  quoted  by  Savage,  says  that  "they  denied  our  com- 
mission, and  refused  to  let  our  letter  be  received;  and  they  conceive,  one  church 
hath  not  power  over  the  members  of  another  church,  and  do  not  think  they  are 
tied  to  us  by  our  covenant.  So  we  were  fain  to  take  all  their  answers  by  going 
to  their  several  houses.  Mr.  Hutchinson  told  us,  he  was  more  nearly  tied  to  his 
wife  than  to  the  church:  he  thought  her  to  be  a  dear  saint  and  servant  of  God. 
We  came  then  to  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  and  told  her,  that  we  had  a  message  to  do  to 
her  from  the  Lord  and  from  our  church.  She  answered.  There  are  lords  many, 
and  gods  many;  but  I  acknowledge  but  one  Lord.  Which  lord  do  you  mean? 
We  answered,  we  came  in  the  name  but  of  one  Lord,  and  that  is  God.  Then, 
saith  she,  so  far  we  agree;  and  where  we  do  agree,  let  it  be  set  down.  Then  we 
told  her,  we  had  a  message  to  her  from  the  church  of  Christ  in  Boston.  She 
replied,  she  knew  no  church  but  one.  We  told  her,  in  scripture  the  Holy  Ghost 
calls  them  churches.  She  said,  Christ  had  but  one  spouse.  We  told  her,  he  had 
in  some  sort  as  many  spouses  as  saints.  But  for  our  church,  she  would  not 
acknowledge  it  any  church  of  Christ." 


332  WINTHROP'S  JOURNAL  [1640 

year,  one  Mr.  Chancey,  a  great  scholar,  and  a  godly  man, 
intending  to  call  him  to  the  office  of  a  teacher;*  but,  before  the 
fit  time  came,  he  discovered  his  judgment  about  baptism,  that 
the  children  ought  to  be  dipped  and  not  sprinkled;  and,  he 
being  an  active  man,  and  very  vehement,  there  arose  much 
trouble  about  it.  The  magistrates  and  the  other  elders  there, 
and  the  most  of  the  people,  withstood  the  receiving  of  that 
practice,  not  for  itself  so  much,  as  for  fear  of  worse  conse- 
quences, as  the  annihilating  our  baptism,  etc.  Whereupon 
the  church  there  wrote  to  all  the  other  churches,  both  here 
and  at  Connecticut,  etc.,  for  advice,  and  sent  Mr.  Chancey's 
arguments.  The  churches  took  them  into  consideration,  and 
returned  their  several  answers,  wherein  they  showed  their 
dissent  from  him,  and  clearly  confuted  all  his  arguments,  dis- 
covering withal  some  great  mistakes  of  his  about  the  judgment 
and  practice  of  antiquity.  Yet  he  would  not  give  over  his 
opinion;  and  the  church  of  Plymouth,  (though  they  could  not 
agree  to  call  him  to  office,  yet,)  being  much  taken  with  his  able 
parts,  they  were  very  loath  to  part  with  him.  He  did  main- 
tain, also,  that  the  Lord's  supper  ought  to  be  administered 
in  the  evening,  and  every  Lord's  day;  and  the  church  at 
Sandwich  (where  one  Mr.  Leveridge  was  minister)  fell  into  the 
practice  of  it;  but  that  being  a  matter  of  no  great  ill  conse- 
quence, save  some  outward  inconvenience,  there  was  little  stir 
about  it.  This  Mr.  Chancey  was  after  called  to  office  in  the 
church  of  Scituate. 

One  Palmer,  of  Hingham,  and  two  others,  (being  ancient 
and  skilful  seamen,)  being  in  a  shallop  of  ten  tons,  in  an  easterly 
wind,  by  Paddock's  Island,  were  overset;  yet  one  of  them  had 

•  Edward  Norris  and  Charles  Chauncy  were  both  conspicuous  divines;  but 
the  latter,  becoming  president  of  Harvard  College,  has  a  better  hold  on  fame. 
Chauncy,  to  whom  two  professorships  were  offered  at  the  English  Cambridge, 
a  marked  token  of  appreciation,  began  his  American  career  at  Plymouth,  going 
soon  to  Scituate.  Though  like  his  predecessor  Dunster,  held  in  Massachusetts 
to  be  unsound  in  his  views  as  to  baptism,  he  was  trusted  with  the  great  educa- 
tional responsibility,  and  made  himself  powerfully  influential. 


1640]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  333 

the  sheet  in  his  hand,  and  let  fly;  but  it  was  too  late,  having 
but  little  ballast  in  her;  yet  it  pleased  God,  there  came  by,  soon 
after,  a  pinnace,  which  espied  them  sitting  upon  her  side,  yet 
deep  in  the  water,  and  took  them  up,  but  the  shallop  was  not 
heard  of  after. 

Many  men  began  to  inquire  after  the  southern  parts;  and 
the  great  advantages  supposed  to  be  had  in  Virginia  and  the 
West  Indies,  etc.,  made  this  country  to  be  disesteemed  of  many; 
and  yet  those  countries  (for  all  their  great  wealth)  have  sent 
hither,  both  this  year  and  formerly,  for  supply  of  clothes  and 
other  necessaries ;  and  some  families  have  forsaken  both  Provi- 
dence and  other  the  Caribbee  Islands  and  Virginia  to  come  live 
here.  And  though  our  people  saw  what  meagre,  unhealthful 
countenances  they  brought  hither,  and  how  fat  and  well  liking 
they  became  soon,  yet  they  were  so  taken  with  the  ease  and 
plenty  of  those  countries,  as  many  of  them  sold  their  estates 
here  to  transport  themselves  to  Providence;  among  whom  the 
chief  was  John  Humfrey,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  special  parts 
of  learning  and  activity,  and  a  godly  man,  who  had  been  one 
of  the  first  beginners  in  the  promoting  of  this  plantation,  and 
had  labored  very  much  therein.  He,  being  brought  low  in 
his  estate,  and  having  many  children,  and  being  well  known 
to  the  lords  of  Providence,*  and  offering  himself  to  their 
service,  was  accepted  to  be  the  next  governor.  Whereupon  he 
labored  much  to  draw  men  to  join  with  him.  This  was  looked 
at,  both  by  the  general  court,  and  also  by  the  elders,  as  an 
unwarrantable  course ;  for  though  it  was  thought  very  needful 
to  further  plantation  of  churches  in  the  West  Indies,  and  all 
were  willing  to  endeavor  the  same ;  yet  to  do  it  with  disparage- 
ment of  this  country,  (for  they  gave  out  that  they  could  not 
subsist  here,)  caused  us  to  fear,  that  the  Lord  was  not  with 
them  in  this  way.  And,  withal,  some  considerations  were  pro- 
pounded to  them  by  the  court,  which  diverted  some  of  them, 
and  made  others  to  pause,  upon  three  points  especially:    1. 

'  See  p.  228,  note  1. 


334  WINTHROFS  JOURNAL  [1640 

How  dangerous  it  was  to  bring  up  an  ill  report  upon  this  good 
land,  which  God  had  found  out  and  given  to  his  people,  and  so 
to  discourage  the  hearts  of  their  brethren,  etc.  2.  To  leave  a 
place  of  rest  and  safety,  to  expose  themselves,  their  wives  and 
children,  to  the  danger  of  a  potent  enemy^  the  Spaniard.  3. 
Their  subjection  to  such  governors  as  those  in  England  shall 
set  over  them,  etc.  Notwithstanding  these  considerations, 
divers  of  them  persisted  in  their  resolutions,  and  went  about  to 
get  some  ship  or  bark  to  transport  them ;  but  they  were  still 
crossed  by  the  hand  of  God. 

Mo.  3.  (May)  17.]  Joseph  Grafton  set  sail  from  Salem,  the 
2d  day  in  the  morning,  in  a  ketch  of  about  forty  tons,  (three 
men  and  a  boy  in  her,)  and  arrived  at  Pemaquid  (the  wind 
easterly)  upon  the  third  day  in  the  morning,  and  there  took  in 
some  twenty  cows,  oxen,  etc.,  with  hay  and  water  for  them 
and  came  to  an  anchor  in  the  bay  the  6th  day  about  three 
after  noon. 

It  came  over  by  divers  letters  and  reports,  that  the  Lord 
Say  did  labor,  by  disparaging  this  country,  to  divert  men  from' 
coming  to  us,  and  so  to  draw  them  to  the  West  Indies;  and, 
finding  that  godly  men  were  unwilling  to  come  under  other 
governors  than  such  as  they  should  make  choice  of  themselves, 
etc.,  they  condescended  to  articles  somewhat  suitable  to 
our  form  of  government,  although  they  had  formerly  declared 
themselves  much  against  it,  and  for  a  mere  aristocracy,  and 
an  hereditary  magistracy  to  be  settled  upon  some  great  per- 
sons, etc. 

The  governor  also  wrote  to  the  Lord  Say  about  the  report 
aforesaid,  and  therein  showed  his  lordship,  how  evident  it  was, 
that  God  had  chosen  this  country  to  plant  his  people  in,  and 
therefore  how  displeasing  it  would  be  to  the  Lord,  and  danger- 
ous to  himself,  to  hinder  this  work,  or  to  discourage  men  from 
supplying  us,  by  abasing  the  goodness  of  the  country,  which  he 
never  saw,  and  persuading  men,  that  here  was  no  possibility  of 
subsistence ;  whereas  there  was  a  sure  ground  for  his  children's 


1640]  JOHN  WINTHROP,  GOVERNOR  335 

faith,  that,  being  sent  hither  by  him,  either  he  saw  that  the  land 
was  a  good  land,  and  sufficient  to  maintain  them,  or  else  he 
intended  to  make  it  such,  etc.  To  this  letter  his  lordship  re- 
turned answer,  (not  denying  that  which  was  reported  of  him, 
nor  the  evidence  of  the  Lord's  owning  the  work,  but)  alleging, 
that  this  was  a  place  appointed  only  for  a  present  refuge,  etc., 
and  that,  a  better  place  being  now  found  out,  we  were  all  called 
to  remove  thither.* 

*  Apparently  New  England  was  now  in  danger  of  being  uprooted,  though 
hardly  yet  fixed.  It  is  not  strange  that  Humfrey  and  Lord  Saye  and  Sele  thought 
the  position  too  bleak  and  barren  now  that  the  advantages  of  Virginia  and  the 
West  Indies  were  fully  known.  See  Frank  Strong,  "A  Forgotten  Danger  to  the 
New  England  Colonies,"  in  Annual  Report  of  the  American  Historical  Associa- 
tion for  1898,  pp.  77-94. 


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Lv  i 


^S 


Li. 


c-_  «;;!f). 


LI 


MAR 


3  1990 


9  mi 


5n 


_jDii 


JUt 


Wi 


yfi^ 


sloofe 


—  t    fn 


/BO'/^