most quickened and revived; such was the bounty and good ness of our God."

At this seasonable and happy change, the neighboring Indians were struck with surprise; especially, says Winslow, at "the difference between their conjuration, and our invocation to God for rain; theirs being mixed with such storms and tempests, as sometimes, instead of doing them good, it layeth the corn flat on the ground, to their prejudice; but ours in so gentle and seasonable a manner, as they had never observed the like." A plentiful harvest relieved all apprehensions of famine. In July and August came two ships, with sixty additional settlers. In a letter dispatched to the Pilgrims by their friends who yet remained, occurs the following affectionate and prophetic sentiment: "Let it not be grievous to you that you have been the instruments to break the ice for others who come after you with less difficulty; the honor shall be yours to the world's end; we bear you always in our breasts, and our hearty affection is towards you all, as are the hearts of hundreds more who never saw your faces."

CHAPTER VI.

FORMATION OF NEW SETTLEMENTS-DISSOLUTE COMMUNITY OF MERRY MOUNT-BROKEN UP-MAY-POLE CUT DOWN-SETTLEMENT OF the MASSACHUSETTS-BOSTON-CHARACTER OF THE EMIGRANTS—

AMUSING REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES-INTOLERANCE.

WE now leave the fortunes of the little colony of Plymouth, which, however, had taken firm root, and during the whole season of religious persecution, continued to increase and to send its offshoots into the neighboring regions. Other plantations were rapidly springing up in its neighborhood. In 1624, a colony was planted at Cape Ann, and four years afterwards, another at Naumkeag (Salem) under the famous Captain John Endicott,

A small settlement, called Mount Wallaston (Quincy), had fallen into the hands of one Thomas Morton, described as "a petty fogging attorney of Furnival's Inn," who, with a crew of dissolute companions, lived there in much excess and licentiousness. He changed the name of the place to Merry Mount, -("as if this jollity could have lasted always,”)—and besides selling fire-arms to the Indians, kept a haunt for all the idle serving-men and lewd companions in the country. Thus they lived for some time, "vainly quaffing and drinking both wine and strong liquors in great excess (as some have reported, ten pounds worth in a morning)-setting up a May-pole, drinking and dancing about it, and frisking about it like so many fairies or furies rather-yea and worse practices. The said Morton, likewise, to show his poetry, composed sundry rhymes and verses, some tending to lasciviousness, and others to the detraction and scandal of some persons names, which he affixed to his idle or idol may-pole."*

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These dissolute courses received their first check from "that worthy gentleman Mr. John Endicott," who, soon after the foundation of his new settlement, paid them a visit, cut down their May-pole, read them a terrible lecture, and once more changed the name of their abode, calling it Mount Dagon. The whole community was finally broken up by a small force. dispatched from Plymouth, under Captain Standish. This party seized Morton, and "demolished his house, that it might no longer be a roost for such unclean birds." The culprit was sent over seas. "Notwithstanding, in England he got free again, and wrote an infamous and scurrilous book against many of the godly and chief men of the country, full of lies and slanders, and full fraught with profane calumnies against their names and persons and the ways of God." Returning imprudently to Boston, he was imprisoned "for the aforesaid book and other things," and finally, "being grown old in wickedness, at last ended his life in Piscataqua."

A royal charter had been obtained, in 1628, for the formation

* New England's Memorial.

of a new company to settle the Massachusetts, and many persons of wealth and eminence in the ranks of the Puritans hastened to join in the formation of a new and powerful colony. A small settlement was made at Dorchester, and during the months of June and July, 1630, no less than eleven ships, bringing a great number of passengers, arrived in Massachu setts Bay. These people, under their governor, the famous John Winthrop, at first settled in Charlestown, where a small colony had already been established. The only person living on the peninsula of Shawmut, at that time, was the Rev. William Blackstone, an Episcopal clergyman, who had left England on account of scruples in his profession, and who had built a cottage and planted an orchard where the city of Bos ton now stands. On his beautiful little domain was a spring of fine water, and the governor, with other persons of distinc tion, readily accepted his invitation to settle there. More fol lowed, and by degrees the principal seat of the new plantation was established at Shawmut. Five more vessels came over during the year, swelling the list of emigrants to the new colony to the number of fifteen hundred. During the three following years such numbers flocked over to this settlement, that an Order in Council was issued to restrain the tide of emigration; but for a long time it continued steadily to flow to Massachusetts. The year 1635 was memorable for the arrival at Boston of a large number of emigrants from England, among whom were Hugh Peters, afterwards chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, and Mr. Vane, (afterwards Sir Henry,) who, the year after his arrival, was elected governor. This man, destined to play such a conspicuous part in the great English Revolution, "first displayed his wily and subtle disposition, and his profound genius for politics, in the controversies of Massachusetts; and nothing but that disastrous fate, which seemed to influence all the acts of Charles I., prevented this humble colony from being the theatre to which the prodigious energies of Hampden, Cromwell, Hazelrigg, and Pym would have been confined, for they had actually embarked, but were compelled to return by a royal order."

The wealth and importance of this new community were commensurate with the growing power of the Puritan party. That party, originally so humble and depressed, was already beginning to uplift its voice in the councils of the English nation, and to provoke fresh and suicidal efforts of that arbitrary power, which was destined, ere long, to fall, with such terrible circumstances, before it. Accordingly, the men who now transferred their fortunes to the New World, though aiming, as earnestly as their predecessors, at the foundation of a religious commonwealth, brought with them somewhat of that insolence which is always the handmaid of prosperity. Their characters," says the candid and judicious Baylies, "were more elevated, but their dispositions were less kindly, and their tempers more austere, sour, and domineering, than those of their Plymouth brethren. They had brought themselves to a positive conviction of their own evangelical purity and perfect godliness, and therefore they tolerated not even the slightest difference in theological opinions." They were composed, in short, of that stuff, which, according to circumstances, makes a martyr or a persecutor, and, unfortunately for their reputation, the latter had opportunity for development. This, however, can hardly be laid to the door of their faith. Having power to persecute, they persecuted; and where is the religious community which, having such power, ever forbore to use it?

Until aroused by opposition, (which did not occur for many years,) the arbitrary and intolerant spirit of the authorities, for the most part, lay dormant, only indulging itself in municipal regulations and fantastic penalties, rather fitted to provoke mirth than indignation. A "Maine Law," quite characteristic of the times, was in operation at a very early day. In 1634, according to the notes of an aggrieved traveller, "there were in Boston but two houses of entertainment, called Ordinaries, into which if a stranger went, he was presently followed by one appointed to that office, who woo'd thrust himself into his company uninvited, and if he called for more

drink than the officer, in his judgment, tho't he cou'd soberly bear, he wo'd presently countermand it, and appoint the propor tion, beyond which he could not get one drop."

Numerous laws, regulating apparel, were made, and though such as had brought over vain and expensive articles of attire, were allowed, for the most part, to wear them out, no mercy was granted to "immoderate great sleeves, slash-apparel, and long wigs." Any person might be arraigned before the General Court, "who may give offence to his neighbor by the excessive length of his hair." All people, under penalty of a fine, were compelled to attend church. Constables were ordered to "take special notice of all common coasters," (loafers) "unprofitable fowlers, and tobacco takers." But the severity of the ordinances against the last-named culprits was, after a time, relaxed, in favor of the clergy, who had begun to patronize the forbidden weed.

For many years, no regular system of law was adopted, and sentences of punishment, framed according to the ingenious fancy of the Court, were often whimsical in the extreme. Thus, one Josias Plaistowe, for stealing from the Indians, was fined, and condemned "hereafter to be called Josias, and not Mr. as he formerly used to be;" and Mrs. Cornish, "found suspicious of incontinency," was "seriously admonished to take heed." We find "Robert Shorthose, for swearing by the blood of God, sentenced to have his tongue put into a cleft stick, and to stand so for the space of half an hour." And finally, Mr. Edward Palmer, for extortioning the good town of Boston in the sum of two pounds, thirteen shillings, and four pence, for a new pair of stocks, was adjudged to pay a fine of double that amount, and to make personal trial of his own handiwork for the space of one hour.

Reviling of dignities, or any question of their authority, always met with sharp rebuke and punishment. According to the record, 1632, "Thomas Knower was set in the bilboes for threat'ning ye Court, that if he should be punished, he would have it tried in England, whether he was lawfully pun