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desirable place fit for a plantation on the sea coast was taken up, so as they were then constrained to look up higher into the main, where were discovered some pleasant and fruitful places, fit for new townships, for the receiving of such inhabitants as every year resorted this way. For within the foresaid compass of years, there were plantations settled at Salem, in the first place, at Charlestown, at Boston, at Dorchester, [at] Roxbury, two miles from Boston, at Watertown, and New-Town, since Cambridge, up Charles river: then at Lynn, betwixt Salem and Boston; and next at Ipswich and Newberry, northeast from Salem; at Hingham, formerly called Bear Cove, and Weymouth, deserted by Mr. Weston's company some years before, seated on the other side of the bay, towards Plymouth; and last of all at Concord, about twelve miles westward from Watertown, right up into the woods, called by the Indians Muskeraquid.

Many new plantations going on at this time made labourers very scarce, and the scarcity made workmen demand excessive wages, for the excusing of which it was pleaded, that the prices of wares with the merchants was proportionable. For the preventing of oppression, in the one and in the other, orders were made in the general court, that artificers, such as carpenters and masons, should not receive above 2s. pr. diem, and labourers not above 18d. and proportionably, merchants should not advance above 4d. in the shilling, above what their goods cost in England. But those good orders were not of long continuance, but did expire with the first and gol den age in this new world; things being raised since to treble the value well nigh of what at first they were. This order was made in November 1633.

The form of the civil government at the first scated in the Massachusetts, may easily be gathered of what sort it was, from the premises forementioned, and from the words of the patent, according to which it was delineated, as near as well might be: it being attempered with greatest resemblance to that of our own kingdom of England, and the several corporations thereof, where the power of jurisdiction, or the executive power,

is seated in some principal persons, one or more, to whom some few others are wont to be joined in like commission, reserving to the people meet liberty by their personal approbation, or that which is done by proxy, which tantamounts both in the election of the persons that are to rule, and in joining some of themselves with them in legislation, and laying of taxes upon the people: which is so equal a temperature to suit all the main ends of government and gratify all interests, that it is much any persons should be found ready to quarrel therewith: nothing being there established which savoured of an unlimited or arbitrary power, nor any unusual form of administration of justice, nor more severity than is ordinarily inflicted by the laws of England; and in some cases less, as in many offences by the laws of England called felony. In the court of September, 1635, they began the use of grand juries, when there were an hundred offences presented by the first grand jury. It had been well that all following juries had been as quick sighted; it might have prevented a great number of evils that are ready to break out in every place by men born in sin, unless it be by due severity provided against. Ever since that time, in criminal cases, they proceed by the inquest of a grand jury, and by petit juries as to matter of fact. In civil actions the process is by writ, or attachment, as they call it there, after the manner of England; the plaintiff giving notice to the defendant five days before he commences suit. Both the laws and administration of justice, according to this, being (as much as may be,) accommodated to the condition of the place, and ease of the people, and for the avoiding all unnecessary charges by fees, long delays, and vexatious suits; which makes it the more to be admired, that any should ever appear to complain, either of the laws or administrations of justice there; unless men would plead for a general impunity, to live as they list, without ever being called to an account, than which nothing was ever heard of more destructive to the peace of societies, or general good of mankind. There were never worse times in Israel, than when there

was no king, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

CHAP. XXVII.

Various occurrences in New England, from the year 1631

to 1636.

THE 21st of November 1632, the governour of the Massachusetts received a letter from Capt. Neal, that one Bull, with fifteen more of the English who kept beyond Pascataqua, were turned pirates, and had taken divers boats, and rifled Pemaquid, &c. Hereupon the govern our called the council; and it was agreed to send his bark, (then newly built,) with twenty men, to join with those of Pascataqua for the taking the said pirates. But the extremity of the frost hindering the making ready the bark, and being informed that those of Pascataqua had sent out two pinnaces and two shallops, with forty men, above a fortnight before, they altered their resolution, and deferred any further expedition till they heard what Capt. Neal's company had done; from whom they were certified soon after, that the vessels they sent in pursuit of those pirates were wind bound three weeks at Pemaquid. From Penobscot they were informed that they had lost one of their chief men, by a musket shot from Pemaquid, and that four or five were detained amongst them against their wills, and that they had been at some English plantations, and used so much civility as to take nothing but what they paid for, and that they had compounded with Mr. Maverick, whose pinnace they had taken by force at first. They also sent a writing to all the governours, signifying their intent not to do harm to any more of their countrymen, and resolution to sink rather than be taken, and that their purpose was to go southward. This writing was signed, Fortune Le Gard.

Upon these informations, they surceased any further pursuit after them; only they took warning thereby, to look to themselves, not knowing but that some of the French in those parts might join with such loose fellows,

and mischief either their vessels or plantations. For on the 17th of January following, they had intelligence that the French had bought the Scottish plantation near Cape Sables, and that the fort there, with all the ammunition, was delivered to them, and that the cardinal of France, (supposed to be Richlieu,) having the managing of that affair, had sent some companies already, and that preparation was made to send more the next year, with divers priests and Jesuits among them. This news alarmed the governour and council to stand upon their guard, and look to themselves; and upon further debate and consultation with the chief of the country, it was agreed with all expedition to finish the fort began at Boston, and raise another at Nantasket, and to hasten the planting of Agawam, (since Ipswich,) one of the most commodious places in the country for cattle and tillage, lest an enemy should prevent them by taking possession of the place. To that end the governour's son was ordered forthwith to go and begin a plantation there, although he had but twelve men allowed him to make the attempt, which was that spring effected, but it was not long be fore many others came after. This was well advised, but as it proved in the sequel, they were more afraid than hurt, for the French aimed at nothing but trade, and therefore were not forward to molest any of the English plantations that intended something else. However it was just reason to take notice of these alarums; for the middle of June before, the French had rifled the trading house of Plymouth at Penobscot, and carried away three hundred weight of beaver, with what other goods they found there, which was but as the distressing of a landlord for his rent, for default of which it was not long before he seized the place itself, which happened in the year 1635, when a French ship came with commission from the king of France, (as was pretended,) and took the trading house of Plymouth men at Penobscot, and sent away the men which were in it, but kept their goods, and gave them bills for them, and bid them tell all the plantations as far as forty degrees, that they would come with eight ships next year, and displace them all.

But by a letter which the captain wrote to the governour of Plymouth he informed, that he had commission from Monsieur Rossillon, commander of the fort near Cape Brittain, called La Haver, to displace the English as far as Pemaquid, and by it he professed all courtesy to them that were planted westward.

The Plymouth men were not willing to put up an injury so quietly, being ready to believe they had a right to the place before God and man. Therefore they hired a great ship (called the Hope of Ipswich, Mr. Girling being master,) to displace the French and regain their possession. He was to have two hundred pounds if he effected the design. They sent a bark of their own, with him and twenty men. But the French having notice, so strongly fortified the place, and entrenched themselves, (about eighteen persons,) as that having spent near all his powder and shot, he was ready to give over the design. The Plymouth bark came to the Massachusetts to advise what to do. The General Court agreed to aid them with men and ammunition, and therefore wrote to Plymouth to send one with commission to treat with them. The next week they sent Mr. Prince and Capt. Standish with a commission so to do. They brought the matter to this issue, that they would assist their neighbours at Plymouth as their friends, and at their charge, but not as the common cause of the whole country, and every one to contribute their part. And at that time provision was so scarce, (by reason of a great hurricane that spoiled much of their corn, on the 15th of August that year,) that they knew not where, on the sudden, to find means to victual out an hundred men, which the expedition would require: so all was deferred to further counsel, by which occasion Mr. Girling was forced to return, without effecting their purpose. Nor did they find any means afterward to recover their interest there any more. In October following, a pinnace sent by Sir Richard Saltonstall upon a design for Connecticut, in her return home was cast away upon the Isle of Sables. The men were kindly entertained by the French there, and had passage to La Haver, about twenty

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