The Settlement of Massachusetts

WHEN England began to decline in religion, like lukewarm Laodicea, and instead of purging out popery, a farther compliance was sought, not only in vain, idolatrous ceremonies, but also in profaning the Sabbath, and by proclamation throughout their parish churches, exasperating lewd and profane persons to celebrate a Sabbath like the heathen to Venus, Bacchus and insomuch that the multitude of irreligious, lascivious and popish affected persons spread the whole land like grasshoppers, in this very time Christ the glorious King of his churches, raises an army out of our English nation, for freeing his people from their long servitude under usurping prelacy; and because every corner of England was filled with the fury of malignant adversaries, Christ creates a new England to muster up the first of his forces in; whose low condition, little number, and remoteness of place made these adversaries triumph, despising this day of small things, but in this height of their pride the Lord Christ brought sudden, and unexpected destruction upon them. Thus have you a touch of the time when this work began.

Christ Jesus intending to manifest His kingly office toward His churches more fully than ever yet the sons of men saw,. . . stirs up His servants as the heralds of a King to make this proclamation for volunteers as follows.

"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All you the people of Christ that are here oppressed, imprisoned and scurrilously derided, gather yourselves together, your wives and little ones, and answer to your several names as you shall be shipped for His service, in the western world, and more especially for planting the united colonies of New England; Where you are to attend the service of the King of Kings, upon the divulging of this proclamation by his heralds at arms….

This proclamation being audibly published through the isle of Great Britain by sundry heralds, which Christ had prepared for that end: the rumor ran through cities, towns and villages; when those that were opposites heard it, some cried one thing, and some another….

The place picked out by this people to settle themselves in, was in the bosom of the outstretched arm of Cape Anne, now called Gloucester, but at the place of their abode they began to build a town, which is called Salem, after some little space of time having made trial of the sordid spirits of the neighboring Indians, the most bold among them began to gather to divers places, which they began to take up for their own, those that were sent over servants, having itching desires after novelties, found a readier way to make an end of their master’s provision, than they could find means to get more; they that came over their own men had but little left to feed on, and most began to repent when their strong beer and full cups ran as small as water in a large land, but little corn, and the poor Indians so far from relieving them, that they were forced to lengthen out their own food with acorns, and that which added to their present distracted thoughts, the ditch between England and their now place of abode was so wide, that they could not leap over with a lope-staff, yet some delighting their eye with the rarity of things present, and feeding their fancies with new discoveries at the spring’s approach, they made shift to rub out the winter’s cold by the fireside, having fuel enough growing at their very doors, turning down many a drop of the bottle, and burning tobacco with all the ease they could, discoursing between times, of the great progress they would make after the summer’s sun had changed the earth’s white furred gown into a green mantle….

This year 1629 came over three godly ministers of Christ Jesus, intending to show His power in His people’s lowest condition as His manner is, thereby to strengthen their faith in following difficulties, and now although the number of the faithful people of Christ were but few, yet their longing desires to gather into a church were very great;. . . Wherefore they elected and ordained one Mr. Higgingson to be teacher of this first church of Christ….

AND now behold the several regiments of these A soldiers of Christ, as they are shipped for His service in the western world, part thereof being come to the town and port of Southampton in England, where they were to be shipped, that they might prosecute this design to the full, one ship called the Eagle, they wholly purchase, and many more they hire, filling them with the seed of man and beast to sow this yet untilled wilderness withal, making sale of such land as they possess, to the great admiration of their friends and acquaintance,. . .

But to go on with the story, the 12th of July or thereabout 1630 these soldiers of Christ first set foot on this western end of the world; where arriving in safety, both men, women and children. On the north side of Charles River, they landed near a small island, called Noddell’s Island, where one Mr. Samuel Mavereck then living, a man of a very loving and courteous behavior, very ready to entertain strangers, yet an enemy to the reformation in hand, being strong for the lordly prelatical power on this island, he had built a small fort with the help of one Mr. David Tompson, placing therein four murderers to protect him from the Indians. About one mile distant upon the river ran a small creek, taking its name from Major General Edward Gibbons, who dwelt there for some years after; On the south side of the river on a point of land called Blaxton’s Point, planted Mr. William Blaxton; to the south-east of him, near an island called Tompson’s Island lived some few planters more, these persons were the first planters of those parts, having some small trading with the Indians for beaver skins, which moved them to make their abode in those parts, whom these first troops of Christ’s army found as fit helps to further their work. At their arrival those small number of Christians gathered at Salem, greatly rejoicing and the more, because they saw so many that came chiefly for promoting the great work of Christ in hand, the Lady Arrabella and some other godly women abode at Salem, but their husbands continued at Charlestown, both for the settling the civil government, and gathering another church of Christ.

The first court was held aboard the Arrabella the 23rd of August. When the much honored John Winthrop Esq. was chosen Governor for the remainder of that year, 1630. Also the worthy Thomas Dudley Esq. was chosen Deputy Governor, and Mr. Simon Bradstreet Secretary, the people after their long voyage were many of them troubled with the scurvy, and some of them died: the first station they took up was at Charlestown, where they pitched some tents of cloth, other built them small huts, in which they lodged their wives and children. The first beginning of this work seemed very dolorous….