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be such a Union as might draw the Heathen by our good example to the embracing of Christ and his Gosple. And above all, wee pray you bee careful that there be none in our Precincts permitted to doe any injurie (in the least kinde) to the Heathen people; and if any offend in that way, let them receive due correccon."

This order the Governor was required, by repeated directions, to enforce, and that all might be aware of their intentions, he was directed to fix up a proclamation to that effect, under the seal of the company, in some public conspicuous place.

"If any of the salvages," they continue, " pretend Right of Inheritance to all or any part of the Lands granted in our Patent, wee pray you endeavor to purchase their Tytle, that we may avoid the least scruple of Intrusion."

They urge him also, to "be careful to discover and find out all pretenders," to the soil, and "to make such reasonable composition, as may free us from any scruple of intrusion." In addition to their importunate desire that the Indians should be treated kindly and courteously, and that provision should be made for the instruction and Christian training of some of their youths, they particularly guard against one danger:

"We pray you endeavor, though there be much strong Waters sent for sale, yett soe to order it that the Salvages may not for our Lucre Sake be induced to the excessive use, or rather abuse of it;" charging also that if any one of the English became intoxicated he should receive exemplary punishment.

The new comers brought an ordinance of the company establishing a form of government for the colony.

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stock received fifty acres, each, for himself and family, or more at the discretion of the court, according to their "charge and quality." Deeds of the land thus assigned were given under the seal of the Company. Of the servants, who have been repeatedly mentioned, some were hired by the plan. ters, and some hired or indented to the service of the company. Contracts were made with most of this latter sort, by which they received some share of the profits of their labors; and thus all were excited to industry, by their own interest, as well as by strict laws. That few of them remained idle may be inferred from the circumstance that, in September of this year, the colonists sent to England three ships freighted with the produce of their labor, consisting of beaver, fish, timber, &c.

The condition of the colony on the arrival of this new company, and during the summer of 1629, is fairly set forth in an account of the country, written at the time by Rev. Francis Higginson, and sent home to his friends in England.

"When we came first to Nehumkek, we found about half a score of houses; we found also abundance of corn planted by them very good and well liking. And we bro't with us about two hundred passengers and planters more, which by common consent of the old planters were combined together into one body politic, under the same Governor. There are in all of us, both old and new planters, about three hundred, whereof two hundred are settled at Nehumkek, now Salem. And the rest have planted themselves at Masathulets Bay, beginning to build a town there, which we do call Cherto or Charlestown. We that are settled at Salem make what haste we can to build houses; so that in s a short time we shall have a fair town. We have great ordinance, where with we doubt not but we shall fortify ourselves in a short time to keep out a potent adversary. But that which is our greatest comfort, and means of defence above all others, is, that we have the true religion and holy ordinances of Almighty God taught among us. Thanks be to God, we have here plenty of preaching, and diligent catechising with strict and careful exercise, and good and commendable orders to bring our people into a Christian conversation."

Having" say they, "taken into due consideration the Merritt, Worth, and good Desert of Capt. John Endicott, we have with full consent and authority of this Court, and by erection of hands, chosen and elected the said Captain John Endicott to the place of present Governour in our said Plantation." The government was committed to him, aided by a council of thirteen assistants, seven of whom were chosen by the company in England, three chosen by these seven, and three by the former settlers. This election was made for one year, and these officers were empowered to es"For their dealing with us, we neither fear them tablish all manner of wholesome and reasonable nor trust them, for forty of our musketeers will Laws and Orders, so as the same be no way con- drive five hundred of them out of the field. We trary to the Laws of the realm of England." The use them kindly; they will come into our houses, oaths of office were accordingly administered to the sometimes by half a dozen or half a score at a new Governor, and by him to the other officers. One time, when we are at victuals, but will ask or take of the first acts of the government, thus constituted, nothing but what we give them."

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Each

was a division of lands among the colonists. adventurer received lands at the rate of two hundred acres for every £50 embarked in the enterprise. Each received also fifty acres in his own person, and the same for every servant transported by him. Those who were not adventurers in the common

Of the Indians he says,

Of their means of shelter and sustenance he has left us some account.

"At this instant (1629) wee are setting a brick kiln on work to make bricks or tiles for the building of our houses."

They found the woods richly stored with game

and the ocean with fish. Among the latter he trial. Their choice was after this manner,-every mentions the turbot and the mullet, which species fit member wrote in a note his name whom the Lord are not now found in those waters. For lights, moved him to think was fit for a pastor, and so likehowever, they used their slips of pitch pine, which wise whom they would have for a teacher;-so the though a homely substitute for lamps, yet served most voice was for Mr. Skelton to be pastor, and them well. Mr. Higginson to be teacher; and they accepting In the midst of all their trials and labors in build- the choice, Mr. Higginson with three or four more ing up a new settlement, they did not forget that of the gravest members of the church, laid their which was in their hearts a chief desire, and a so- hands on Mr. Skelton, using prayers therewith. lace under every privation. They were Christian This being done, then there was imposition of men, exiled from home for their dislike of imposi- hands on Mr. Higginson. Then there was protions which their consciences could not tolerate, ceeding in election of elders and deacons." and a prelacy whose hand had been, as they felt This acceptance of the clerical office by a renewdeeply, stretched out to oppress them. They had ed imposition of hands, and especially of the hands learned somewhat of the simpler worship, and severer of lay members of the church, was a virtual renoundiscipline of Geneva, which they loved for its free-cing of their Episcopal ordination, by the two mindom, and approved as according to the model of the isters, both of whom had been in orders in England. Scriptures. Their necks had been galled by the That it was approved by Mr. Endicott, cannot be iron yoke of a strictly required conformity, and they would, in their slight forms, encroach as little as might be on liberty of conscience and of will. The individual man was in their esteem of higher worth than any system of polity. He, for whom nature was framed, and over whom watched an unsleeping Providence, was not to be put in the scale with the orders and devices of man. They reverenced what is noble in man, and remembered the price of his redemption.

doubted. He had received his strongest religious impressions under the preaching of Mr. Skelton, and did not hesitate to use his authority as Governor to suppress any deviation from the established order and what he doubtless deemed the scriptural polity.

His views on the subject were soon put to the test. The body of the colonists thought and felt with him; but two persons of character and influence, Messrs. John and Samuel Brown, one of However unwilling some of the colonists may whom was a member of his council, condemned the have been to bear the name of separatists, we be- ecclesiastical proceedings, we have referred to, as lieve they were so substantially in their theory; irregular, separated themselves from the estabthey have left no room for a doubt that they were lished public worship, and drew away others by so in practice. The letter of Endicott to Brad- their example. They met by themselves on the ford, already quoted, proves how far he was from Sabbath and adhered to the service of the Church a wish to remain in the communion of the Church of England. They were called, by the Governor, of England; and the first public and notable eccle- to account, and defended themselves with some siastical act of the colony proves that a majority of warmth, and the subject soon produced mutual reBoth parties sent their the settlers went with him in the full length of his proaches and criminations. departure. It is thus narrated by an eye witness. charges and defence to the company in England; "The 20th of July, it pleased God to move the but before their orders in the case were received, heart of our Governor to set it apart for a solemn Governor Endicott, exercising a power which he day of humiliation for the choice of a pastor and possessed in virtue of his general instructions, exteacher: the former part of the day being spent in pelled the two principal offenders from the colony praise and teaching; the latter part was spent about and sent them to England. the election, which was after this manner. The This act which might, indeed, with a slight depersons thought on were demanded concerning gree of mutual toleration, have been avoided has their callings. They acknowledged there was a been severely censured, and yet seems to have been two-fold calling, the one inward calling, when the natural enough to us in the position and with the He felt that he had a Lord moved the heart of a man to take that calling opinions of Mr. Endicott. upon him, and filled him with gifts for the same; right by his commission to banish the disorderly, the second was from the people, when a company of and that it was his duty to preserve the colony pure The heat and disquiet believers are joined together in covenant, to walk from erroneous practices. together in all the ways of God, every member is which the controversy produced, left him hardly an to have a free voice in the election of their officers. alternative. Indeed, in his day, the distinction of These two servants having cleared all things by Church and State was hardly known practically in their answers, we saw no reason but that we might New England. The same persons who were the freely give our voices for their election after this one, were also the other. The interests of both were the same. An injury to the one was felt as

* Mr. Charles Gott, in a letter to Gov. Bradford of Ply- an insult to the other; and the guardian of the one

mouth.

was also set to defend the other.

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Mr. Endicott was chosen

The Governor soon had occasion to exercise his | eighteen Assistants. authority in another way. Some years earlier, in into the number of assistants. 1625, a settlement had been made at Mount Wol- Preparations were made for the removal of the laston, since called Braintree. This proving un- new emigrants, and in the course of the next year successful, the principal undertakers in it became nineteen vessels reached New England. They discouraged and removed to Virginia. A few of brought more than 1,500 passengers. The Arathem remained, among whom was one Thomas bella, which brought out the newly elected GorMorton "having been a petty fogger at Furnival's ernor, arrived on the 12th of June at Salem, where Inn," who having a plausible tongue, persuaded the the company went on shore, and were welcomed most of them who were with him to thrust out" | and courteously entertained by Mr. Endicott. Lieutenant Filcher, the commander of the com- Though removed by the arrival of Governor pany, and having seized on the property, to live in Winthrow from the heaviest cares and responsiidleness and ease. Having disposed of Filcher, bilities of government, Mr. Endicott retained an they fell," says . ،، Morton,* to great licentiousness honorable share in the councils of the new adminof life, in all profaneness, . . . and after they had istration. His judgment and experience were of got much gain by trading with the Indians, they too great value to the colony, to be set aside for spent it as vainly in quaffing both wine and strong slight cause. He was chosen into the body of Asliquors in great excess, as some have reported ten sistants to Governor Winthrop; and appointed by pounds worth in a morning, setting up a may-pole the court the Justice of the peace for Salem. To drinking and dancing about it, and frisking about the office of Assistant he was many times reelectit like so many fairies, or furies rather." These ir-ed, and sat, of course, with the Magistrates when regularities at Merry Mount, as they now called it, the General Court was made up of Magistrates and reported perhaps with some excess of statement by Deputies. the worthy chronicler, vexed the soul of the aus- In August, 1630, Mr. Endicott was married a tere puritans of Salem. Their dissolute manner of second time. While in business, in London, he life was somewhat dangerous to the morals of the had married a lady of fortune and of an influential new colony, and their free trade in guns and pow- family, by the name of Anna Gour, who died soon der with the natives put the safety if not the exis- after her arrival in New England: by this lady, it tence of all the neighboring settlements in great is believed, he had no children. Some needlework peril. These things aroused the indignation of wrought by her is still in existence in the museum Mr. Endicott, who forthwith proceeded to Merry of the Salem East India Marine Society. His Mount, "caused the May-pole to be cut down, and second wife was Elizabeth Gibson, of Cambridge, rebuked them for their profaneness, and admonished who survived him, and by whom he had two sons, them to look to it that they walked better; so the John and Zerubbabel. name was again changed and called Mount Dagon."| The events of the next year furnish an instance Meanwhile a great change was going on in af- of the irascible temper of Mr. Endicott, which, it fairs at home. Several gentlemen of character seems, neither his office nor the rigid self-control and property proposed to the company in London which the Puritans so habitually practised, could July 28th, 1629, to remove with their families to always restrain. On the 18th of April the Court New England, provided the charter and patent entertained a charge against him for "striking should be transferred to America. After much Goodman Dexter," and having found him guilty, deliberation the company voted, in August, "that fined him ten shillings. Mr. Endicott's account of the government and patent should be settled in this transaction is given in a letter to Governor New England. The company had been disap- | Winthrop.

pointed in respect to the profitableness of the col

ony, and seeing no prospect of a speedy return of with you in person at the Court, and to that end, Right Worshipful:-I did expect to have beene their outlay, were easily induced to give up their I put to sea yesterday and was driven back again, interest in a scheme which promised loss rather the wind being stiffe against us. And there being than gain. The privileges of the charter were noe canoe or boate at Sagust, I must have been accordingly transferred on the condition that the constrained to goe to Mystie and thence about to company in England should retain a share in the bold, my bodie being at this present in an ill conCharlestown, which at that time I durst not be so trading stock for seven years, and that at the expi-dition to wade or take cold, and therefore I desire ration of that term the stock and profits, if any, you to pardon mee. Though otherwise I could should be divided, and the householders in England much have desired it, by reason of many occasions released from any further responsibility. These and business. * Sir, I desired the rather to terms having been accepted, a new election of offi- have beene at Court, because I heare I am much cers was made in October, when John Winthrop him. I acknowledge I was too rash in strikeing complained on by Goodman Dexter for strikeing was chosen Governor with a Deputy Governor and him, understanding since it is not lawful for a jus

* Morton's Memorial, Davis, ed., p. 137.

tice of peace to strike. But if you had seene the manner of his carriage—with such daring of mee

with his arms on kimbo, &c., it would have pro- | King-superstitious, as turning to a matter of ofvoked a very patient man. But I will write noe fence of conscience, a symbol that was innocent if more of it, but leave it till we speak before you face not most appropriate. It had been the custom for to face. Only thus farr further, that he hath given the military companies of the colony to carry in their oot, if I had a purse he would make mee empty it, and if he cannot have justice heere, he will doe won- colors the sign of the cross. This sign was retained ders in England, and if he prevaile not then he in token of public deference to the royal orders, will trie it out with mee heere at blowes. Sir, I though it was regarded with a lurking disaffection desire that you will take all into consideration. If and dislike, as a relic of Popish superstition. This it were lawful to trie it at blowes, and he a fitt man feeling grew naturally out of the sentiments of the for mee to deal with, you should not hear mee complairing but I hope the Lord hath brought me off Puritans towards the Romish Church, which in from that course. I thought good further to write England extended to all the emblems and appurwhat my judgment is for the dismissing of the tenances of it, and in New England where words Court till corne be sett. It will hinder us that are uttered were not so near the royal ear, broke out far off exceedingly, and not further you there. into open expressions of discontent. Mr. EndiMens labour is precious here in corne setting time, the Plantations being yet so weak. I will be with cott, who shared largely in this general dissatisfacyou, the Lord assisting me, as soon as convenient- tion, and whose decisions were always followed by ly I can. In the meane while, I committ you to bold and prompt action, openly cut out the obnoxious his protection and safeguard, that never fails his symbol from the colors in Salem. Mr. Williams children, and rest had been loud and foremost in the opposition to Your unfeigned loving friend to command, "the anti-christian thing," and from the debates Jo. ENDICOTT. Salem, the 12th of Aprill, 1631. on the subject in the General Court, we cannot doubt that they heartily approved the act of Mr. This act, though unbecoming a magistrate and a Endicott, though prudence compelled them to dischristian, seems to have been committed under avow it. The Court ordered the defaced colors great provocation, and though it demonstrated a to be brought before them, and submitted to the aswarm temper and a hasty hand, his apology was sembled ministers of the colony the question, half deemed sufficient and his regret sincere. This theological and half political, "Whether it were somewhat passionate disposition, while it occasion- right to retain the cross in the colors?"-a quesally brought him under censure, did not alienate tion too, on which the clergy were unable to the regard or affection of his friends. A few months after Gov. Winthrop and Capt. Underhill, visited Salem, travelling in the simplicity of the times, on foot. Their errand was on public affairs, and chiefly to Mr. Endicott, by whom they were courteously entertained.

agree. When Mr. Endicott was called before the court, to answer for this breach of order, the court itself could not agree, whether to condemn him, and put off the case to the next session. (That a large party in the court was in his favor, is clear

from the fact that he continued one of the commis

The famous Roger Williams came to Salem in sioners for military affairs.) And such was the 1631, and soon rendered himself popular by the popular excitement on the subject, that an order mild attractiveness of his manners, and the ardor was issued, that for the present no colors should of his religious feelings. Mr. Endicott became his be used, whether with or without the red cross. warm friend and firm supporter. How far he agreed At the next session of the court, though, the case with his peculiar and changeable theological opin- came up again, and Mr. Endicott was sentenced, ions, we have no means of ascertaining, but we can" for his rashness, uncharitableness, and indiscrehave no doubt that he became largely identified tion, and exceeding the limits of his commission to with his policy, and felt as a personal wrong the be sadly admonished, and also disabled for bearing injuries that were inflicted on that excellent man. any office in the commonwealth for the space of a He concurred with the church of Salem in calling year next ensuing." The real reason of his conMr. Williams to the pastoral office among them, demnation undoubtedly was to clear the colony from and may well be supposed to have had a principal the charge of rebellion, into which this insult to the influence in their decision. When the Governnor King's colors had been construed; though among and Assistants saw fit to interfere, and forbid his the reasons assigned for it in the court was his settlement, they wrote to Mr. Endicott, as to the "uncharitableness," in impliedly accusing the other one most deeply concerned in the case, and most magistrates of countenancing "idolatry." censurable, if any deserved censure.

It was

Though Mr. Endicott lost his place as assistant in consequence of this sentence, he seems not at once to have learned to exercise the prudence, which perhaps became one so severely rebuked.

perhaps through the influence of this erratic divine, that Mr. Endicott was led to an action, which exposed him to severe reproof, and which we may not judge too harshly if we call it rash, disloyal, and superstitious-rash as tending to * In about eighteen months after, by order of the Military bring himself into difficulty and discredit,-disloy- Commissioners, the cross was left out from all the colors, al, as carrying the appearance of disrespect to the and the King's arms put in those used in the harbor.

found it impossible to bring the Indians to a conference, as they always fled at the intimation of his message, or to any decisive engagement, though be met them in several skirmishes. Finding it therefore almost useless to proceed, and fearing that the approach of winter would render his position more difficult, he thought it best to withdraw his troops and return home. Mr. Endicott was severely censured at the time for the failure of the expedi tion, though he seems to have done all he could with his small force, and to have given up the enterprise only because it was really prudent to do so. However severely he may have been censured

Perhaps a truer account would be that in every wards been sheltered by the Pequods. Captain excited state of the community he was made fore-Endicott's company consisted of about ninety men, most in attempting a redress of grievances, and with which he entered the Pequod country. He was thus forced to bear the heaviest burden of punishment or censure, which ill-advised proceedings might bring upon the actors in them. A few weeks after the sentence referred to, the people of Salem petitioned the General Court for lands at Marblehead, to which they supposed themselves entitled. The court, however, refused to entertain the petition, as the inhabitants of Salem had disregarded the declared will of the court in respect to the settlement of Mr. Williams. The petitioners, being thus touched in their ecclesiastical independence, determined to proceed ecclesiastically in the premises; and the church of Salem, to which most of them belonged, sent letters to the other by individuals, the general estimate of the value churches in the colony, requiring them to censure and admonish those of their number who had been members of the court, and had joined in refusing the claimed lands. In these proceedings of the church at Salem, Mr. Endicott was actively en-which, in the whole, amounted to very nearly 2000 gaged. The General Court could not allow such a reflection upon it to pass without notice, and summoned Mr. E. to answer for the misdemeanor. He appeared and justified the course they had taken, as regular and according to ecclesiastical usage. The defence was construed, by the court, into a contempt, and they "voted by general erection of hands, that Mr. Endicott be committed for his contempt in protesting against the proceedings of the court." Their wrath was however appeased by some concessions which he thought it prudent to make. This occurrence, while it shows how ill defined were then the relations of the civil and the church power, shows also that the legislature were sensitively jealous of any encroachments, on their clear rights, from that quarter.

of his public services does not seem to have been abated. Tho court testified their sense of his worth to the state by various and large grants of land, several of which were made at this time, and

acres. It may not be amiss to refer to another grant made in 1660 to his son, by the Indians, who entertained a grateful sense of the many kindnesses they had received at the hands of the father. The General Court, on his petition, did not think it proper to confirm this grant, but in lieu of it they decreed "that considering the many kindnesses that were shown the Indians, by our honored Gov. Endicott, in the infancy of these plantations, tending to the common good of the first planters, in consideration whereof the Indians were moved to such gratuity to his son, do judge meet to give the petitioner four hundred acres of land."

Though so often in opposition to the court, and not seldom reproved in public and in private, Mr. Endicott was a man of too marked a charac

The people of Salem finally succeeded in obter and of too useful talents to be left out of the taining from the court a confirmation of their title public service. He was chosen Deputy Governor to Marblehead Neck. When the question of a division of it was debated in the town meeting, Mr. Endicott made a speech, from which it appears to have been his, and the general wish, to reserve a portion of it for the erection of a College. This was in 1636. So strong and prevailing a sense was there, even then, of the importance of the means of sound learning to the country. Mr. Endicott was a member early in 1642, if not in the first instance, of the corporation of Harvard College, being appointed to it by the General Court, with several of the magistrates, and "the teaching elders of the six next adjoining towns."

in the years 1642 and '43, having been continued in the body of assistants till this time. The next year, 1644, (May 29th,) he was elected Governor. We have several letters from Deputy Gov. Endicott addressed to Gov. Winthrop, during the year 1643, still preserved to us. They relate to public affairs and the exercise of his magistracy. They show a deliberate and sober judgment, with a disposition for prompt action, and a temper fretted perhaps too easily by the faults of good men as well of the perverse. A single expression of one of them betrays a tinge of the intolerance with which the age was deeply stained. Speaking of La Tour and D'Aulney, both Roman Catholics, and both seeking aid from the colony against each other, he says, "I must needs say, that I fear we shall have little comfort in having anything to do with these idolatrous French."

In the year 1636, the troops who were sent to the Pequod war, were put under the command of Capt. Endicott. The commission given him was to obtain of the Pequods by treaty the murderers of Oldham, or by fighting, force them to give them up. This Oldham had been barbarously murdered * They may be found in Hutchinson's Original Papers, at Block Island by some Indians, who had after- and in Hasard's His. Coll. Vol. I.

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