Northeast storm of snow. Neither of them it seems had experience or skill, yet would adventure in that dangerous time of the year, which might serve for a warning to ali not to tempt God, by undertaking what they have no ability to perform. There was great lamentation for them at Boston, yet needed they not sorrow for them as without hope, in that they were both accounted very religious. Two boats were sent after them when they were first missing, but they could find neither men, nor boat, nor wood, it being ebbing water wherein they were supposed to be lost; but three days after, the boat was found at Muddy river, with the bottom upward.

An old man that used to go to sea in a small boat, without any other help save a dog, whom he had taught to steer, sailing down Ipswich river, was warned of a storm that approached, but he answered that he would go to sea, though the devil were there. Whether the devil were there at sea or no (the storm happening on the 15th of August, 1635) it is no matter. vessel was never seen more by them on the land.

This his

In the year 1632, one Henry Wey of Dorchester, having gone in a shallop to trade with the Eastern Indians the winter before, and was long missing, this summer it was found that himself and his company were all treacherously killed by the Indians. Another shallop of his being sent out in the spring to seek after the other, was cast away at Agamenticus, and two of the men that were in her drowned. Thus oft times he that is greedy of gain, troubles his own house, and instead of gaining a little pelf of this world, loses his own life in the conclusion, which hath been observed as very remarkable on many that have followed that course of life.

In the year 1633, one John Edy, a religious man, of Watertown congregation, fell distracted; and getting out one evening could not be heard of in eight days, at the end of which time he came again of himself. He kept his strenght and colour all that time, yet was conceived to have eaten nothing all that time. By that means it was thought he recovered his understanding, and lived very orderly, only now and then would be a little distempered in his mind.

For a conclusion of the memorable accidents during this lustre, it will not be unworthy the reader's consideration to take notice of a sad tempest that happened in the year 1635, on the 15th of August; when there was such a sudden dismal storm of wind and rain, as the like was never in this place known, in the memory of men before or since; so universal, which passed through the whole country, overturning sundry houses, uncovering divers others, beating down their Indian corn to the ground, which never rose any more, which if it had not been very near the harvest, all the corn had been utterly lost, to the undoing of many poor families. Some thousands of trees were torn up by the roots thereby, others broken in pieces, and wound about like withs, though of considerable bigness. The monuments of which sad storm, were many years after visible in some parts of the country; nor were the effects of it less terrible on the sea, where it raised the tide to twenty feet in some places right up and down; forcing some of the Indians to climb up the trees to save themselves from drowning, which others not being able to do, perished in the attempt; as befel eight Indians at Narraganset, as was credibly reported. And in other places it was observed that the tide was brought into the land twice in twelve hours, or else that it never ebbed all the time that storm lasted, (which was five or six hours,) or was brought back before the ebb was half made.

Some ships were then upon the coast, fraught with passengers and their goods. The veering of the wind to another point, was the occasion of preserving one, (wherein Mr. Richard Mather with his family, and Mr. Jonathan Mitchell, but a youth at that time, that proved a worthy minister, and of much use in the country afterwards,) and of dashing another on the rocks near Pemaquid; which was called the Angel Gabriel of Bristol; but that holy seraphim proved not a tutelar Angel thereunto, although the passengers were all preserved alive, losing only their goods. Many things were observed as ominous about which vessel, that threatened some great disaster to like to befal them, as well as the name, from the time of their first setting out.

Another vessel sailing that day between Pascataqua and Boston, bound for Marblehead, wherein were many passengers that came over in the foresaid ship, called the Angel Gabriel, was cast away, and but two persons left alive, to bring tidings to their friends of what had happened. Amongst them that were lost, was one Mr. Avery, a minister of good note, who, with his wife and five children, all perished together. This minister it seems with some others was cast upon some rocks, where they had a little respite from death, in which interim this good man, lifting up his eyes to Heaven, yet expecting every moment to be washed off from that place where he was cast, into the devouring sea, uttered these his last words: "Lord, I cannot challenge a preservation of my life, but according to thy coyenant I challenge Heaven;" which words as soon as ever he had expressed, the next wave gave him a present dismission into his eternal rest. This is the only vessel which was known to have been lost with many of its passengers, in their way towards New England; which ought to be acknowledged as a signal mercy, that none else in so long a space of time, should miscarry in sea voyages of that length.

The week before the forementioned storm, that happened August 15 came up, the wind was observed to blow all the while hard at South, and Southwest; and then on the sudden it came up with such extreme violence at Northeast, that it drove many ships in the harbour before Boston and Charlestown, from their anchors. A ship called the Great Hope of Ipswich, of four hundred tons, was driven aground on a point beyond Charlestown, but by a sudden change of the wind to the Northwest, it was brought back again from thence, and ran ashore at Charlestown. The ship before mentioned, that was preserved, was called the James of Bristol, having about one hundred passengers, some of whom, with Mr. Mather their minister, came out of Lancashire, (four of whose sons were ministers afterwards of eminent note and use). Their preservation was very remarkable; for being put into the Isle of Shoals, (which

is no harbour but an open road,) they lost their three anchors; and setting sail, no canvass or ropes would hold, and so were driven within a cable's length of the rocks at Pascataqua, when the wind coming suddenly to the northwest, put them back to the Isle of Shoals, and being there ready to strike upon the rocks, they let out a piece of their mainsail, and by that means weathered those rocks, and so were brought safe into their desired harbour, leaving others behind them, and in the way they passed by, either buried in the rude waves of the swelling ocean, or mournfully beholding their shipwrecked goods floating in the waters; much of which they were despoiled of by the boisterous seamen, no less unmerciful therein than the devouring waves of the sea, that, without regard to the tears or sighs of the poor owners, usually swallow down whatever comes in their way. On such accounts, the people travelling into New England had occasion, more than others, to meditate on the 107th Psalm; which, though it were not penned purposely for them, yet, in especial manner is suited to their condition: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

Much hurt was done in the country this year by tempestuous weather. Two shallops, going laden to Connecticut, were taken in the night with an easterly storm, and cast away near the mouth of Plymouth harbour, and the men all drowned.

In the month of October, the same year, a ship's long boat at the Dutch plantation, with five men in her, was overset by a gust. The men all got upon her keel, and were driven to sea, and were there floating the space of four days, in which time three of them dropt off and were drowned. On the fifth day, the fourth man being sore pained with hunger and thirst, and sore bruised with the waves, wilfully fell off into the sea and was drowned. Soon after the wind, coming up at southeast, carried the boat with the fifth man to Long Island, and being scarce able to creep ashore, was found by the Indians, and preserved by them. He was quite spent with hunger, cold, and watching, and must of necessity (according to

reason) have perished by that time; but he said he saw such and such (either really or in conceit) come to give him meat.

November 2d, 1632, Mr. William Pierse his ship, going back for England, was cast away on the shoals near Virginia, and twelve seamen and passengers drowned. It happened through negligence of one of the mates that had the watch, and kept not the lead going, as he was appointed, which added much to the sadness of the loss.

April the 10th, 1633, news was brought to Boston, of the loss of Mr. Pierse his ship, on the coast of Virginia, wherein were 28 seamen, and 10 passengers: seven of them that were drowned were seamen, and five of them passengers. This loss proved no small trial to this poor plantation; whereby it is evident that many are the afflictions of the righteous, and that in outward changes all things come alike to all.

But not to stay the reader any longer in beholding the backside of the cloud that overshadowed New. England in this lustre: There were other more beautiful providences worthy to be observed during that space of time, as full of light and comfort, as the other were of affliction and sorrow; especially in their peaceable and quiet enjoyment of the purity of God's worship, in all the ordinances of the gospel, of which something hath been spoken in the foregoing chapters.

CHAP. XXX.

Disturbance, both civil and ecclesiastical, in the Massachusetts, occasioned by Mr. Roger Williams, in the year

1654.

FEBRUARY the 5th, 1630, arrived Mr. William Pierse at Nantasket; with him came one Mr. Roger Williams, of good account in England for a godly and zealous preacher, but after he came here, he soon discovered himself. He had been some years employed in the ministry in England. He was one of whom it may be affirmed by all that knew him, that he had a zeal, and