she came with her passengers to Pascataqua in the end of that summer, 1630; of whose designs there may be occasion to speak more afterwards.

In this manner, was the remaining part of the summer and autumn spent; in looking out convenient places where to bestow themselves, so as the winter came upon them before they were well aware: although it held off that year till the end of December, when it began in good earnest to bite their fingers' ends, with greater severity than ever the new planters had known in Europe; of which three of the governour's servants had a very sensible demonstration on the 24th of December, meeting with the sharpest Christmas eve that they had felt before. However, they were fairly warned for the future to betake themselves to their winter quarters before that time of the year; the necessity of which, others were taught by the sad calamity which befel one Richard Garn, and one Harwood, both counted godly, and of the congregation of Boston. They, with three or four more, would needs adventure toward Plymouth in a shallop, contrary to the advice of their friends. They set out on the 22d of December that winter, and came well to the point called Gurnett's nose, entering into Plymouth harbour: but then the wind so overblew at northwest, that they were put by the mouth of the harbour, driven from their anchor, and at last forced ashore at Cape Cod, fifty miles from the place they were bound to; and were so frozen with the severity of the cold, and boisterousness of the waves, that many of them lost either their limbs or lives thereby. And those that escaped best, yet continued long under the surgeon's hands before they recovered the use of their hands and feet: notwithstanding they might say, as Paul at Malta, that the barbarians shewed them no small kindness at their first landing. But it was to be feared that they had not so good a call to run the hazard of a winter's voyage, in an unknown country. And the words of Paul himself might have been applied to them: that they should have hearkened to their friends, and not to have sailed from a good

harbour at Boston, to have gained that harm and loss to themselves and friends.

But thus were these poor people, for want of experience and judgment in things of such a nature, ready to expose themselves to many hazards in an unknown wilderness, and met with much hardship, some by fire, as others by water, in their first settlement, before they were well acquainted with the state of new plantations, and nature of the climate. Some suffered much damage by the burning of their hay-stacks, left in the meadows, to the starving of their cattle; as others had by burning their small cottages, either framed or covered with very combustible matter, to which they were not accustomed in their former dwellings; and so were taught, by many temptations and sufferings, to stoop to a wilderness condition, which they had freely chosen to themselves, for the quiet of their minds, and good of posterity. Many of those that were compelled to live long in tents, and lie upon, or too near, the cold and moist earth, before they could be provided of more convenient dwellings, were seized of the scurvy, of which many died about Boston and Charlestown. But it pleased God of his great mercy very seasonably, the 5th of February following, to send in Mr. William Peirse, in the ship Lyon of Bristol, of about two hundred tons, who (being acquanted with the nature of the country, and state of the people,) brought in store of juice of lemons, with the use of which many speedily recovered from their scorbutick distempers, as was observed for the most part, unless it were in such persons as had the said disease in their minds, by discontent, and lingering after their English diet; of all which scarce any were known ever to recover. And many, that out of dislike to the place, and for fear of death, would return back to their own country, either found that they sought to escape, in thèir way thither, or soon after they arrived there.

It went much the harder with this poor people, in their first beginnings, because of the scarcity of all sorts of grain that year in England; every bushel of wheat meal standing them in fourteen shillings, and every bushel of

pease in ten shillings, and not easy to be procured neither; which made it the more excusable in them that at that time sold the Indian corn, which they brought from Virginia, at ten shillings per bushel. For at this time, the people of that country in general were, like the poor widow, brought to the last handful of meal in the barrel, before the said ship arrived, which made them improve part of the new supply in a solemn day of thanksgiving that spring.

Things thus happening in the plantations of New England, it carried the resemblance of a cloud of darkness to some, as of light to others; which appeared by the return of some to England the next opportunity, with intent never to see New England again, as did Mr. Sharp and some others: while others returned only to fetch over their families, and the residue of their estates, as did Mr. Wilson, who with Mr. Coddington, that went from Boston, April the 1st, 1631, and arrived at London, April the 29th of the same month, having commended the congregation of Boston to the grace of God by fervent prayers when he took his leave of them, and to the care of Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Dudley, with other godly and able Christians in the time of his absence, for carrying on the worship of God on the Lord's day, by prophesying (as they called it in those times at Plymouth,) till his return. No doubt but these prayers were heard, as well for the protection and preservation of them that staid, as of them that were going to sea, both for themselves, and them that were going that way about the same time as was found in several of the fleet that re turned not till the spring, and were at that time mercifully preserved.

The Ambrose being new masted at Charlestown, had spent all her masts by a storm about Newfoundland, and was left as a wreck upon the sea in a perishing condition, had not Mr. Peirse in the Lyon, (with whom they consorted,) towed them home to Bristol. Three other ships of the fleet, viz. the Charles, the Success, and the Whale, were set upon by the Dunkirkers, near Plymouth in England, and after long fight, having lost many men,

and being much torn, (especially the Charles,) they gat sale into Plymouth at last.

But as some were earnestly striving by prayer, travels, and other endeavours, to promote the welfare of this colony of the Massachusetts, so were others found as active and busy to obstruct and hinder the progress thereof; stirred up no doubt by the same spirit which moved Amalek of old to set upon Israel in their rear, when they were weak and unable to defend themselves.

For about the 14th of June, 1631, a shallop from Pascataqua arrived at Boston, which brought news of a small English ship, by the which Capt. Neal, governour of Pascataqua, sent a packet of letters to the governour, directed to Sir Christopher Gardiner, which were opened, because they were sent to one that was their prisoner; and thereby it was understood that they came from Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who claimed a great part of the bay of Massachusetts. In the same packet came another letter to Thomas Morton, sent prisoner before into England by order from thence. By that letter it was perceived likewise, that the writer of them had some secret design to recover his pretended right, and that he reposed much trust in Sir Christopher Gardiner, for that end. But the said Gardiner being now imprisoned at Boston, (of which more shall be said afterwards, chap. xxvi.) in order for his sending home for England, after Morton; the said letters were opened by authority of the country, being sent to them that were illwillers to the place. And Ratcliffe also being fallen under the same or worse condemnation, the colony was now at peace and quiet to attend their necessary occasions at home, leaving their three grand enemies to carry on their purposes (as they saw good) elsewhere. But it appeared in the issue, that no weapon formed against them, whom God hath a mind to preserve and bless, shall ever prosper and take place. July the 6th of this year, 1631, a small ship, called the Plough, came into Nantasket; with a company of Fami lists, called the Husband and company, bound for Sagadahock, called by some the Plough-Patent. But not liking the place, they returned to Boston, and carrying bord meant to copy Winthrop

errory the mess, prout dubii. Hub.

their vessel up towards Watertown, (a plantation for husbandmen principally,) they laid her bones there; but themselves soon after vanished away, and came to nothing.

October 22, 1631, came a letter from Capt. Wiggan of Pascataqua river, informing of a murther committed by an Indian sagamore and his company upon one Walter Bagnall, called Great Watt, and one I. P. that kept with him, at Richmond's Island. The Indians having killed the two men, burnt the house, and carried away the goods. He persuaded the governour to send twenty men presently after them to take revenge. But the gov ernour, advising with the council, understood that Capt. Neal had sent after them, and having no boats fit for such an expedition, thought it best to sit still awhile.

It was commonly reported that the said Bagnall had been servant to one in the Bay, and the last three years had lived alone with one other in his company, at the said isle, where he had shewed himself a very wicked fellow, and had much wronged the Indians, who were now, by the just hand of God, let loose upon him. "He that gathereth riches, and not by right," (for he had gotten SOO estate by such ways,) "is like a partridge that scrapeth eggs together and hatcheth them not; and in the end shall die a fool."

But these things being premised, it is in the next place to be considered, what troubles did arise among themselves. For the people at their first coming over hither, were not much unlike a stock of bees newly swarmed from their old hive, which are not ofttimes without much difficulty settled in their new one, and are very apt to be disturbed with every little occasion, and not easily quieted again, as may appear by what fell out in one of the first churches. For in the congregation settled at Watertown in the year 1630, under the charge of Mr. George Phillips, (an able and faithful minister of See p. 1/33 the gospel at Bocksted near Groton in Suffolk,) was no little trouble raised by Richard Browne, their ruling el der, (who was thought sometimes to overrule the church there,) a man of a violent disposition, and one of the separation in England, and by his natural temper fit for