Alarming Drought.

patent of greater extent; intending to keep it to himself, and allow them no more than he pleased, holding them as his te nants, to sue and be sued at his courts. In pursuance of this design, having obtained a patent, he bought a ship, which he named the Paragon; loaded her with goods, took on board upwards of sixty passengers, and sailed from London, for the colony of New Plymouth. In the Downs he was overtaken by a tempest, which so damaged the ship that he was obligd to put her into dock; where she lay several weeks, and her repairs cost him one hundred pounds. In December, 1622, he sailed a second time, having on board one hundred and nine persons; but a series of tempestuous weather, which continued fourteen days, disabled his ship, and forced him back to Portsmouth. These repeated disappointments proved so discoura ging to him, that he was easily prevailed upon by the company of adventurers to assign his patent to them for five hundred pounds. The passengers came over in other ships."

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This spring (1623) there was an alarming drought. For six weeks after planting, there was scarcely a drop of rain. The corn changed its colour, and was just withering to death. They had changed their mode of labouring in common, which they had before practised, and each laboured by himself on his own plot. By this they hoped to compel the idle to diligence, and to excite all to greater exertions. But the drought threatened to blast all. In this crisis of trouble the wreck of a vessel was driven on the coast, which they supposed was the one which they heard had sailed several months before to bring them relief. A deep concern was fixed on every countenance. Individuals examined their hearts before God. The magistrates appointed a day of fasting and prayer. In the morning the heavens were clear, the earth powder and dust. The religious exercises continued eight or nine hours. Before they separated the sun was obscured, the clouds gathered, and the next morning began soft and gentle showers, which continued, with some intervals of delightful weather, for fourteen days. The corn revived and grew luxuriantly, and the hearts of the people were filled with hope and praise. The Indians in town inquired the cause of the public solemnity, and were deeply impressed with the consequences; saying that their "conju rations" for rain were followed with storms and tempests, which often did more harm than good. In July and August arrived two ships with supplies, and a number of new settlers. In September one of the ships returned, in which Mr. Winslow

30

Death of Rev. Mr. Robinson.

went passenger, as an agent for the colony. The other went south on a voyage of discovery.

In the year 1624, the charter of the Plymouth council was attacked by the British parliament, and some vigorous resolu tions were passed in the House of Commons, which so far deprived the council of their resources, that, it seems, they no longer thought it practicable to settle a plantation, though it appointed a governor general for New England. In conse quence the patentees prudently concluded to divide the country among themselves. Accordingly, in the presence of King James, they drew lots for the shares that each one was to possess, as his exclusive property; the royal confirmation was to be obtained to each particular portion. This was not, however, immediately given, and they continued a few years longer to act as a body politic, and to make grants of different portions of the country to various societies. In March, 1624, Mr. Winslow, who had been previously sent to England for the purpose, arrived with a supply of clothing, and brought with him a bull and three heifers, which were the first neat cattle imported into New England. None of the domestic animals were found in America, by the first European settlers. At the close of this year, the Plymouth colony consisted of one hundred and eighty persons only, who lived in thirty-two dwelling houses. Their stock consisted of the cattle brought over by Mr. Winslow, a few goats, and a plenty of swine and poultry. Their town, half a mile in compass, was impaled. On a high mount in the town, they had erected a fort of wood, lime, and stone, and a handsome watch tower.

The year following, (March, 1625) that truly venerable and good man, the Rev. Mr. Robinson, whose memory is precious in New England, died at Leyden, in the 50th year of his age, greatly lamented, both in Holland and by that part of his congregation who had settled at Plymouth. In a few years after part of his people, who had remained with him in Holland, removed, and joined their brethren at Plymouth.

Among these were his widow and children. His son Isaac lived to be ninety, and left male posterity in the county of Barnstable. Mr. Robinson, though never in the country, deserves to be numbered among the founders of New England. He possessed a strong mind, cultivated with a good education. His doctrines were Calvinism; he admitted the articles of the church of England, and the confession of faith professed by the French reformed churches. He held that every church of

Character of Mr. Robinson.

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Christ is to consist only of such as appear to believe in and obey him; that infants are to receive baptism only when, at least, one of the parents is a member of the church, which is also declared in the French confession of faith. As a disputant he was celebrated. At the time of his living in Leyden the dispute was warm between the Calvinists and Arminians. Polyander, a professor of divinity in the university, with the ministers of the city, invited Mr. Robinson to hold a public disputation with Episcopius, the Arminian professor of divinity in the university. At first Mr. Robinson modestly declined the combat, but being importuned, he thought it his duty, and "in view of a numerous assembly, he defended the truth, foiled his learned opposer, and put him to an apparent nonplus." Evidences of his goodness meet us in every incident of his life. Several months before the removal of his people to New England, to confirm the wavering, and remove the scruples of those who doubted, he set apart a day for solemn prayer, and preached from 1 Sam. xxiii. 3, 4. " And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah, how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand." In July following, another day of prayer was observed, when he preached from Ezra, viii. 21. In this sermon are the following passages worthy of notice. “Brethren,” said he, 66 we are now quickly to part from one another; and whether I may live to see your face on earth any more, the God of heaven only knows; but whether the Lord hath appointed that or not, I charge you before God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveal any thing to you by any other instruments of his, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry; for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, that the Lord has yet more truth to break forth from his holy word. For my part I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will at present go no further than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. Whatever part of his will our good God has revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace. And the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all

32

Character of Mr. Robinson.

things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God: were they now living they would be as willing to embrace further light as that which they first received. I beseech you, remember it is an article of your church covenant, "That you be ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written word of God."

Such was the mutual love and respect between this worthy man and his flock, that it was hard to judge whether he de lighted more in having such a people, or they in having such a pastor. His love toward them was constant, and his care al ways good. Beside his singular abilities in divine things, he was discreet in civil affairs, to foresee dangers and inconve niences, by which he assisted his people in their temporal as well as spiritual concerns. None were so odious to him as the selfish, “those who were close and cleaving to themselves, and retired from the common good." Those who were stiff and rigid in small affairs: those who inveighed against the faults of others, but were careless of their own conduct, were odious in his view. His people esteemed and revered him while living, but more after his death; when they felt the want of his assistance. Not only his own flock, but the people of Leyden, held him in high esteem. They gave him the use of one of their churches, in the chancel of which he was buried. The whole city and university regarded him as a great and good man: his death they sincerely lamented, and honoured his funeral with their presence.

CHAP. VI.

A larger Patent obtained-Difficulties between the Company in England and the Planters-Persecution of the PuritansSports on the Lord's Day established-Cromwell and others contemplate a Removal to America-Character of the First Settlers-Massachusetts purchased-Settled-Charter obtained -Its Contents-First Church formed at Salem-Addition of One Thousand Five Hundred to the Colony-Indian Conspiracy---Scarcity--- Mortality---A Number Discouraged---Return to England.

IN 1629, when the plantation consisted of about three hundred souls, a patent of larger extent than the one which Pierce

A larger Patent obtained.

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had obtained and relinquished, was solicited by Isaac Allerton, and taken out in the name of "William Bradford, his heirs, associates, and assigns." This patent confirmed their title, (as far as the crown of England could confirm it) to a tract of land, bounded on the east and south by the Atlantic ocean, and by lines drawn west from the rivulet of Conohasset, and north from the river of Narraganset, which lines meet in a point, comprehending all the country then called Pokanokit. To this tract they supposed they had a prior title from the depopulation of a great part of it by a pestilence, from the gift of Massasoit, his voluntary subjection to the crown of England, and his having protection of them. In a declaration published by them in 1636, they asserted their "lawful right in respect of vacancy, donation, and purchase of the natives," which, together with their patent from the crown through the council of New England, formed "the warrantable ground and foundation of their government, of making laws, and dispos ing of lands." In the same patent was granted a large tract bordering on the river Kennebec, where they had carried on a traffic with the natives for furs, as they did also at Connecticut river, which was not equally beneficial, because they had the Dutch for rivals. The fur trade was found to be much more advantageous than the fishery. Sometimes they exchanged corn of their own growth for furs; but European coarse cloths, hard ware, and ornaments, were good articles of trade, when they could command them.

The company in England with which they were connected, did not supply them in plenty. Losses were sustained by sea; the returns were not adequate to their expectations; they be came discouraged; threw many reflections on the planters, and finally refused them any further supplies; but still de manded the debt due from them, and would not permit them to connect themselves in trade with any other person. The planters complained to the council of New England, but obtained no redress. After the expiration of seven years, (1628) for which the contract was made, eight of the principal persons in the colony, with four of their friends in London, became bound for the balance; and from that time took the whole trade into their own hands. These were obliged to take up money at an exorbitant interest, and to go deeply into trade at Kennebec, Penobscot, and Connecticut; by which means, and their own great industry and economy, they were enabled to discharge.

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