would stay at Naumkeag, and give timely notice thereof, he would provide a patent for them, and likewise send them whatever they should write for, either men or provision, or goods wherewith to trade with the Indians. Answer was returned that they would all stay, on those terms, intreating that they might be encouraged accordingly; yet it seems, before they received any return according to their desires, the three last mentioned began to recoil, and repenting of their engagement to stay at Naumkeag, for fear of the Indians, and other inconveniences, resolved rather to go all to Virginia, especially because Mr. Lyford, their minister, upon a loving invi tation, was thither bound. But Mr. Conant, as one inspired by some superiour instinct, though never so earnestly pressed to go along with them, peremptorily declared his mind to wait the providence of God in that place, where now they were, yea, though all the rest should forsake him; not doubting, as he said, but if they departed he should soon have more company. The other three, observing his confident resolution, at last concurred with him, and soon after sent back John Woodberry for England to procure necessaries for a plantation. But that God, who is ready to answer his people before they call, as he had filled the heart of that good man, Mr. Conant, in New England with courage and resolution to abide fixed in his purpose, notwithstanding all opposition and persuasion he met with to the contrary, had also inclined the hearts of several others in England to be at work about the same design. For about this time the Council, established at Plymouth for the planting, ruling, ordering, and governing of New England, had by a deed indented under the common seal, bearing date March 19, 1627, bargained and sold unto some knights and gentlemen about Dorchester, viz. Sir Henry Roswell, Sir John Young, knights; Thomas Southcoat, John Humphry, John Endicot, and Simon Whetcomb, Gent. that part of New England that lies between Merrimack and Charles River, in the bottom of the Massachusetts Bay. And not long after, by the means of Mr. White, the foresaid gentlemen were

brought into acquaintance with several other religious persons of like quality in and about London, such as Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dudly, Mr. Cradock, and Mr. Goffe, and Sir Richard Saltonstall, who being first associated to them, at last bought of them all their right and interest in New England aforesaid, and consulting together about settling some plantation in New England upon the account of religion, where such as were called Non-conformists might, with the favour and leave of the king, have a place of reception if they should transport themselves into America, there to enjoy the liberty of their own persuasion in matters of worship and church discipline, without disturbance of the peace of the kingdom, and without offence to others, not like minded with themselves, did at the last resolve, with one joint consent, to petition the king's majesty to confirm unto the forenamed and their associates, by a new grant, or patent, the tract of land in America forementioned, which was accordingly obtained.

Soon after, the company having chosen Mr. Cradock governour, and Mr. Goffe deputy governour, with several others for assistants, sent over Mr. Endicot, scil. in the year 1628, to carry on the plantation of the Dorchester agents at Naumkeag, or Salem, and make way for the settling of another colony in the Massachusetts. He was fully instructed with power from the company to order all affairs in the name of the patentees, as their agent, until themselves should come over, which was at that time intended, but could not be accomplished till the year 1630. With Mr. Endicot, in the year 1628, came Mr. Gotte, Mr. Brakenberry, Mr. Davenport, and others, who being added to Capt. Traske, and John Woodberry, (that was before this time returned with a comfortable answer to them that sent him over,) went on comfortably together to make preparation for the new colony, that were coming over; the late controversy that had been agitated with too much animosity betwixt the forementioned Dorchester planters, and their new agent Mr. Endicot and his company, then sent over, being by the prudent moderation of Mr. Conant, agent before for the Dor

chester merchants, quietly composed; that so meum and tuum that divide the world, should not disturb the peace of good christians, that came so far to provide a place, where to live together in christian amity and concord.

In the same year were sent over several servants upon the joint stock of the company, who arriving there in an uncultivated desert, for want of wholesome diet and convenient lodgings, were many of them seized with the scurvy and other distempers, which shortened many of their days, and prevented many of the rest from performing any great matter of labour that year, for advancing the work of the plantation. Yet was the good hand of God upon them, so far as that something was done, which tended to advantage; nor was upon that account an evil report brought upon the place by any of them, so as to discourage others from coming after them.

During this whole lustre of years from 1625, there was little matter of moment acted in the Massachusetts, till the year 1629, after the obtaining of the patent; the former years being spent in fishing and trading by the agents of the Dorchester merchants, and some others of the West Country.

In one of the fishing voyages about the year 1625, under the charge and command of one Mr. Hewes, employed by some of the West Country merchants, there arose a sharp contest between the said Hewes and the people of New Plymouth, about a fishing stage, built the year before, about Cape Anne by Plymouth men, but was now, in the absence of the builders, made use of by Mr. Hewes his company, which the other, under the conduct of Capt. Standish, very eagerly and peremptorily demanded for the company of New Plymouth, having themselves obtained an useless patent for Cape Anne, about the year 1623, sent some of the ships which their adventurers employed to transport passengers over to them, to make fish there, for which end they had built a stage there, in the year 1624. The dispute grew to be very hot, and high words passed between them, which might have ended in blows, if not in blood and slaughter,

had not the prudence and consideration of Mr. Roger Conant, at that time there present, and Mr. Perise his earce : interposition, that lay just by with his ship, timely prevented. For Mr. Hewes had barricadoed his company with hogsheads on the stagehead, while the demandants stood upon the land, and might easily have been cut off; but the ship's crew by advice promising them to help them build another, the difference was thereby ended. Capt. Standish had been bred a soldier in the Low Countries, and never entered the school of our Saviour Christ, or of John Baptist, his harbinger; or if he was ever there, had forgot his first lessons, to offer violence to no man, and to part with the cloak rather than needlessly contend for the coat, though taken away without order. A little chimney is soon fired; so was the Plymouth captain, a man of very little stature, yet of a very hot and angry temper. The fire of his passion soon kindled, and blown up into a flame by hot words, might easily have consumed all, had it not been seasonably quenched.

In transactions of this nature were the first three years spent, in making way for the planting of the Massachu

setts.

CHAP. XIX.

Several planters transport themselves into New England. Ministers invited to join with them. The first plantation in the Massachusetts, called Salem.

Now those that first promoted the design in England, were not unmindful that this fair beginning being made, unless it were followed with proportionable endeavours for an orderly settlement of this, all would come to nothing, as the attempts of some others had done before; therefore were they very solicitous, not without all due preparation, to proceed in this solemn undertaking.

In the first place, therefore, they considered where to find two or three-able ministers, to send over to them that or the next year; not doubting but if they could meet with any such, they should be sure not to fail of a

considerable number of serious and religious people, that would be willing to go over with them in order to a plantation, specially if there were any grounded hopes of a settled and orderly government, to direct, protect, and defend the people, and promote the cause of God and of religion amongst them, as well as their civil rights and liberties. Before that spring was over, they were informed of one Mr. Higginson, an eminent minister of Leicester, silenced for nonconformity, of whom they were probably assured that he might be obtained to make a beginning that way. Upon an address made unto him by Mr. Humphry and Mr. White, he looked at it as a call from God, and as Peter did the message from Cornelius, a motion which he could not withstand; so as within a few weeks after this intimation of theirs, himself with his whole family were ready to take their flight into this American wilderness; with whom also was sent Mr. Skelton, a minister of Lincolnshire, another nonconformist, as also a Mr. Bright, a godly minister, though not altogether of the same persuasion as to church discipline.

With these three ministers came over sundry honest and well affected people, in several ships that were employed to transport planters into New England, in the year 1629; all who arrived safe at Naumkeag, intending to settle a plantation there.

Besides the three forementioned ministers, came over one Mr. R. Smith, soon after called to supply the place of a teaching elder at Plymouth. The prospect of New England did at that time more resemble a wilderness, than a country whose fields were white unto the harvest, that needed labourers to be thrust thereinto.

The number of planters being at that time but few, and all resident at that one plantation, two of their four ministers were supernumerary.

Naumkeag at that time received the christian name of Salem. All that were present were ambitious to have an hand in the christening of this infant plantation; for some, that liked not such affected names, had provided another, but "usus obtinuit," &c. for ever since, custom hath imposed that name, by which it is like to be known