trust to an unfaithful friend do but wade in unknown waters, and lean on a broken reed, which both woundeth as well as deceiveth those that rely thereon. CHAP. LV.1 The general affairs of New England, from the year 1646 to 1651. MR. WINTHROP was this year, the ninth time, chosen Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts, and Mr. Dudley Deputy Governor, on the 13th' day of May, which was the day of election there in the year 1646. Mr. Pelham3 and Mr. Endicot were chosen Commissioners for the same Colony, by the vote of the freemen. The magistrates and deputies had hitherto chosen them, since the first Confederation, but the freemen, looking at them as general officers, would now choose them themselves, and the rather because of some of the deputies had formerly been chosen to that office, which was not, as was said, so acceptable to some of the Confederates, no more than to some of themselves; for it being an affair of so great moment, the most able gentlemen in the whole country were the fittest for it. This Court lasted but three weeks, and notice was taken, that all things were therein carried on with much peace and good correspondence to the end of the session, when they departed home in much love. It was by special Providence so ordered, that there should be so good accord and unanimity in the General Court, when the minds of so many dissenters were so resolutely bent to make an assault upon the very foundation of their government; for if the tackling had been loosed, so as they could not have strengthened their mast, the lame would at that time have easily taken the prey. For Mr. William Vassal, one of the Patentees, that came over in the year 1630, (when he was also chosen an Assistant,) but not complying with the rest of his colleagues, nor yet able to make a party amongst them, returned for England Herbert Pel- LIV in the MS.-H. 26th, says Winthrop.-H. ham. He was chosen, Dec. 27, 1643, first treasurer of Harvard College.4 A slight mistake; he was chosen Assistant, Oct. 20, 1629. See page 124.-H. soon after; but not satisfying himself in his return, came back again to New England in the year 1635, and then settled himself at Scituate, in the jurisdiction of New Plymouth; a man of a pleasant and facetious wit, and in that respect complacent in company; but for his actings and designs of a busy and §a§ factious spirit, and indeed a meer salamander by his disposition, that could take content in no element but that of the fire; and in his discourse did usually, in all companies, bear the part of Antilegon, as he was called by a friend of his, and was always found opposite to the government of the place, where he lived, both ecclesiastical and civil. It was the less wonder that he appeared such, in the Colony of the Massachusetts, both while he was an inhabitant there, and where else he came. He had practised with such as were not freemen to take some course, first by petitioning the Courts of the Massachusetts and of Plymouth, and if that succeeded not, to apply themselves to the Parliament of England, pretending that here they were subjected to an arbitrary power and extrajudicial proceedings, &c. Here was the source of that petition, presented to the Court of the Massachusetts, under the hands of several inhabitants of Boston, in the name of themselves and many others in the country. That Court they pressed to have had a present answer. It was delivered in to the deputies, and subscribed by Doctor Child,1 Mr. Thomas Fowle, and Mr. Samuel Maverick, and four more.2 But the Court being then near at an end, and the matter being very weighty, they referred the further consideration thereof to the next sessions. But in the mean time they were encountered with other difficulties, in reference to some of Gorton's company, with whom they had been much troubled in the former lustre; for on the 13th of September, Randall Holden arrived at Boston, in a ship from London, bringing with him an Order from the Commissioners for Foreign Plantations, drawn up upon the complaint, and in favor, of the forementioned Familists, which were too much Robert Child, whom Hutchinson speaks of as 66 a young gentleman just come from Padua, where he studied physic, and, as was reported, had taken the degree of doctor.”—H. Mr. Thomas Burton, Mr. John Smith, Mr. David Yale, and Mr. John Dand.-H. countenanced by some of those Commissioners. A copy of which Order here follows. By the Governor-in-chief, the Lord High Admiral, and Commissioners appointed by the Parliament, for the English Plantations in America. Whereas we have thought fit to give an order for S. G., R. H., and J. G.,' and others, late inhabitants of a tract of land, called the Narraganset Bay, [near the Massachusetts Bay] in New England, to return with freedom to the said tract of land, and there to inhabit [and abide2] without interruption; These are therefore to pray and require you, and all other whom this may concern, to permit and suffer the said S. G. &c., with their company, goods, and necessaries, carried with them out of England, to land at any port in New England, where the ship wherein they [do2] embark themselves shall arrive, and from thence to pass, without any of your lets or molestations, through any part of the country3 of America, within your jurisdiction, to the said [tract of land called Narragansett2] Bay, or any part thereof, they carrying themselves without offence, and paying according to the custom of the country [and their contract,] for all things they shall make use of in their way, for victuals, carriage, and other accommodation. Hereof you may not fail; and this shall be your warrant. Dated at Westminster, May 15, 1646. To the Governor and Assistants of the English Plantation in the Massachusetts [Bay'] in New England, and to all other Governors and other inhabitants of New England and all others whom this may concern. Nottingham, With the order, came also a letters of like tenor from the Commissioners. This Order being sent to the Governor to desire leave to land, &c., the Governor answered, that he could not give them leave of himself, 1 "Mr. Samuel Gorton, Mr. Randall Holden, Mr. John Greene, and others."-H. Supplied from the copy of the Order preserved by Win"Continent in Winthrop.-H. The MS. has, in place throp.-H. cum multis nor dispense with any order of the General Court; but the Council being to meet within two or three days, he would impart it to them, and in the mean time he would not seek after them. When the Council was met, though they were of different minds about the case, the more part agreed to suffer them to pass quietly away, according to the protection given them, and at the General Court to consider further about their possessing the land they claimed. But when the General Court came together, they judged it needful to send some discreet person into England, with commission and instructions, to satisfy the Commissioners for Plantations about these matters; and to that end made choice of Mr. Edward Winslow, one of the magistrates of Plymouth, as a fit man to be employed in the present affairs, both in regard of his abilities of presence, speech, and courage, as also being well known to divers of the Council. And accordingly he accepted of the service, and prepared for the journey, in the end of the year 1646, being furnished with a Commission, instructions, and other necessaries, and also with a remonstrance and petition to the foresaid Lords and gentlemen, Commissioners for Foreign Plantations. To the Right Honorable ROBERT, Earl of Warwick, Governor-in-chief, Lord Admiral, and other the Lords and gentlemen, Commissioners for Foreign Plantations. The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts [Bay in New England in America,'] in way of answer to the Petition and Declaration of S. Gorton, &c. Whereas, by virtue of his Majesty's Charter, granted to the Patentees in the fourth year of his Highness' reign, we were incorporated into a body politic with divers liberties and privileges extending to that part of New England where we now inhabit: We do acknowledge, (as we have always done, and as in duty we are bound,) that, although we are removed out of our native country, yet we still have dependence upon that state, and owe allegiance and subjection thereunto, according to our Charter, and accordingly we have mourned and rejoiced therewith, and have had friends and enemies in common 1 Supplied from the copy preserved by Winthroр.-H. Your petitioners in Winthrop.-H. with it, in all the changes which have befallen it. Our care and endeavor [also'] hath been to frame our government and administrations to the fundamental rules thereof, so far as the different condition of this place and people, and the best light we have from the Word of God, will allow. And whereas, by Order ||from|| your Honors, bearing date May 15, 1646, we find that your Honors have still that good opinion of us, as not to credit what hath been informed against us before we be heard, we render humble thanks to your Honors for the same; yet forasmuch as our answer to the information of the said Gorton, &c., is expected, and something also required of us, which (in all humble submission) we conceive may be prejudicial to the liberties granted us by the said Charter, and to our well-being in these remote parts of the world, (under the comfort whereof, by the blessing of the Lord, his Majesty's favor, and the special care and bounty of the High Court of Parliament, we have lived in peace and prosperity these seventeen years,) our humble petition in the first place is, that our present and future conformity to your orders and directions may be accepted with a salvo jure, that when times may be changed, (for all things here below are subject unto vanity,) and other Princes or Parliaments may arise, the generations succeeding may not have cause to lament, and say, England sent our fathers forth with happy liberties, which they enjoyed many years, notwithstanding all the enmity and opposition of the prelacy, and other potent adversaries: how came we then to lose them, under the favor and protection of that State, in such a season, when England itself recovered its own? In freto viximus, in portu morimur. But we confide in your Honors' justice, wisdom, and goodness, that our posterity shall have cause to rejoice under the fruit and shelter thereof, as ourselves and many others do; and therefore we are bold to represent to your Honors our apprehensions, whereupon we have thus presumed to petition you in this behalf. It appears to us, by the said Order, that we are con of 'Supplied from Winthrop.-H. |