Sept. 28. THE 3d Court of Assistants at Charleston. Present, the Governour, Dep. Governour, Capt. Endicot, Mr. Ludlow, Nowell, Coddington, Brad-street, Rossiter, Pynchon. Order'd that no Person permit any Indian to use any Peece [or Gun] on any Occasion, under £. 10 for the first Offence; for the second, to be Fined and Imprisoned at the Discretion of the Court:—that no Person give, sell, truck or send any Indian Corn to any English out of this Jurisdiction, nor to any Indian, without Licence from the Governour and Assistants:—^* That £. 50 be levied out of the several Plantations, for Mr. Patrick and Mr. Underhill; [I suppose for some Military Purpose] viz.

Sept. 30. Thursday, About 2 in the Morning, Mr. Isaac Johnson Dies: He was a holy Man and wise, and died in sweet Peace; leaving Part of his Substance to the Colo­ny. (w) This Gentleman was a prime Man among us, having the best Estate of any; zealous for Religion, one [Page 2] of the Five Undertakers, ^* and the greatest Furtherer of this Plantation: He made a most godly End; dying willing­ly; professing his Life better spent in promoting this Plantation, than it could have been any other Way: He left to us a great Loss. (d) The first Magistrate that died in the Massachusetts: (s d) [And Capt. Johnson says] The Beginning of this Work seemed very dolorous; first for the Death of that worthy Personage, Isaac Johnson, Esq whom the Lord had endued with many precious Gifts; insomuch as he was had in high Esteem among all the People of God, and as a chief Pillar to support this new erected Building. He very much rejoiced at his Death, that the Lord had been pleas'd to keep his Eyes open so long, as to see one Church of Christ gathered before his Death: At whose Departure, their were not only many weeping Eyes, but some fainting Hearts, fearing the Fall of the present Work. (j)[And the late chief Justice Samuel Sewall, Esq inform'd me; That this Mr. Johnson was the principal Cause of settling the Town of Boston, and so of its becoming the Metropolis, and had removed hither; had chose for his Lot the great Square lying between Cornhill on the S E, Tree­mount-Street on the N W, Queen-Street on the N E, and School-Street on the S W; and on his Death-Bed desir­ing to be Buried at the upper End of his Lot, in Faith of his rising in it, He was accordingly Buried there; which gave Occasion for the first Burying Place of this Town to be laid out round about his Grave.]

[Oct.]‘The first Execution in Plymouth Colony: which is a Matter of great Sadness to us, is of one John Billington; for Way-laying and Shooting John Newcomen, a young Man, (br) in the Shoulder, (h) whereof he died: The said Billington was one of the profanest among us: He came from London, and I know not by what Friends shuffled into our Company. We used all due Means [Page 3] about his Trial: was found Guilty both by Grand and Petty Jury: and we took the Advice of Mr. Win­throp, and others, the ablest Gentlemen in the Massa­chusetts-Bay, who all concurred with us, that he ought to Die, and the Land be purg'd from Blood. (br)’ ^*

Mr. Phillips the Minister of Watertown, and others, have their Houses burnt. (w)

Octob. 19. The first General Court of the Massachusetts Colony—and this at Boston: Present the Governor, Dep. Governor, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlow, Capt. Endicot, Mr. Nowell, Pynchon, Bradstreet. (Mcr) [N.B. For the Form of Government in the Massachusetts under Dep. Governor Endicot, subordinate to the Governor and Company in Eng­land before they arrived with the Charter; See April 20. 1628, and April 30. 1629: But since their Arrival Here; the (1st) Form of their Government was that of Governor, Dep. Governor, and Assistants; the Patentees with their Heirs, Assigns and Associates being Freemen, &c. But now in this General Court, they agree on a (2d) Form as follows—] Proposed as the best Course—For the FREEMEN to have the Power of chusing ASSISTANTS, when they are to be chosen: and the ASSISTANTS, from among themselves to chuse the GOVERNOR, & Dep. GOVERNOR, who with the Assistants to have the Power of making Laws, and chusing Officers to exe­cute the same: This was fully assented to by the General Vote of the People. (Mcr)

And now the Mcr gives the first List of Persons desir­ing to be made Freemen, to the Number of 108, as follows.

• [Page 4]Mr. Samuel Maverick,
• Mr. Edward Johnson,
• Mr. Edward Gibbins [or Gib­bons, after, Major General]
• Mr. William Jeffries,
• Mr. Samuel Sharp,
• Mr. Thomas Graves [after, a Rear Admiral in England]
• Mr. Roger Conant,
• Mr. Nathaniel Turner,
• Mr. Samuel Freeman,
• Mr. William Clerks,
• Mr. Abraham Palmer,
• Mr. William Pelham,
• Mr. William Blackstone [for­merly a Minister; after, went to Providence.
• Mr. Richard Brown,
• Mr. George Ludlow,
• James Penn [after—Ruling Elder of the Ist Church in Boston]
• Henry Woolcot,
• Thomas Stoughton,
• Roger Williams [a Minister, who went (1) to Plymouth ( [...]) to Salem ( [...]) to Providence]
• Capt. Walter Norton,
• James Pemberton,
• Mr. John Dillingham,
• John Johnson,
• George Alcock,
• Thomas Lamb,
• Mr. Charles Gott,
• Mr.George Phillips [Minister of Watertown]
• Mr. John Wilson [Minister of Boston.]
• Mr. John Maverick And, Mr. John Wareham Ministers of Dorchester
• Mr. Samuel Skelton [Minister of Salem]
• Mr. William Colbron [after, Ruling Elder of the Ist Church in Boston]
• Mr. William Aspinwall [after, Secretary of Rh. Island Colony]
• Edward Converse,
• Richard Church,
• Richard Silvester,
• William Balstone,
• John Phillips,
• Nathaniel Bowman,
• Daniel Abbot,
• Mr. Samuel Pool, &c.(Mcr)

[But many of them seem not to be made Freemen till May 18. 1631; which see. But Capt. Johnson says, that] at the Court in October many of the Ist Plan­ters came and were made free; yet afterwards none were ad­mitted to this Fellowship, but such as were at first join'd in Fellowship with one of the Churches of Christ; their chief­est Aim being bent to promote this Work altogether; [and that] the Number of Freemen this Year was about 110. (j) [But he mistakes in calling this their 2d Court on the S. Side of the River.]

Oct. 23. Mr. Rossiter, one of the Assistants Dies: (w) a godly Man, and of a good Estate; which still weakens [Page 5] us: so that now there are left, of the 5 Undertakers, but 3, viz. Gov Winthrop, D. Gov Dudley, and Sir R. Salton­stall; and 7 other Assistants, (d) [viz. Capt. Endicot, Mr. Ludlow, Nowell, Pynchon, Coddington, Bradstreet & T Sharp: See Oct. 20. 1629, March 23, Aug. 23. & Sept. 7. 1630.]

Oct. 25. Mr. Colborn, who was chosen Deacon by the Congregation a Week before, [is now] invested by Im­position of Hands of the Minister [i. e. Mr. Wilson] and Elder [i.e. Mr. Nowell] (w)

The Governor, in Consideration of the Inconvenien­cies which had grown in England by Drinking one to another, restrain'd it at his own Table, and wished others to do the like: so as it grows by little and little to [be] dis­used. (w)

Oct. 29.‘TheHandmaid arrives at Plymouth; having been 12 Weeks at Sea, and spent all her Masts: Of 28 Cows, lost 10: has about 60 Passengers, who come all well.’ (w)

The first Recorded as Baptized in Boston Church, are said to be Baptized in said Church in this Month, and are only 3; viz. Joy & Recompence, Daughters of Brother John Milles; and Pitie, Daughter of our Brother William Baulstone.(bcr)

Oct. e. The Gov, D. Gov and Mr. [Samuel] Maverick join in sending out our Pinace to the Narragansets, to trade for Corn to supply our Wants. After doubling Cape-Cod, she put into the next Harbour she found: and there meeting with Indians who shewing their Willingness to truck, she made her Voyage there, and bro't us an 100 Bushels of Corn, which help'd us something. From the Coast where they traded, they saw a very large Island 4 Leagues to the East, which the Indians commended as a fruitful Place, full of good Vines, and free from sharp Frosts; having one only Entrance into it by a Navigable River; inhabited by a few Indians, which for a Trifle wou'd leave the Island, if the English would [...] them upon the Main. (d) [This is, no doubt, the [...], after call'd Rhode-Island.]

[Page 6] About November, the Gov, and Dep. Gov, with most of the Assistants, remove their Families to Boston. (b)

Nov. 9. The 4th Court of Assistants, but the 1st at Boston: Present, Gov, D. Gov, Mr, Ludlow, Capt. Endi­cot, Mr. Coddington, Pynchon, Bradstreet: Order'd that every Englishman who kills a Wolf within this Patent, shall have I Penny for every Beast and Horse, and 1 Farthing for every weaned Swine and Goat, in every Plantation, to be levied by the Constables of said Plantations: And whoever will first give in his Name to the Gov, that he will undertake to set up a Ferry between Boston & Charles­town, and begin the same at such Time as the Gov shall appoint; shall have 1 Penny for every Person, and 1 Penny for every 100 Pound Weight of Goods he shall so trans­port. (Mcr)

Nov 10. Firmin of Weterton has his Wigwam burnt, (w) Divers have their Hay-Stacks burnt, by burning the Grass. (w)

Nov. 11. The Master [of the Handmaid] comes to Boston, with Capt. Standish, and 2 Gentlemen Passengers who come to Plant Here; but having no Testimonials, we wou'd not receive them. (w)

Nov. 30. The 5th & last Court of Assistants this Year, but the 2d at Boston. Present, Gov, D. Gov, Sir R. Sal­tonstall, Mr. Ludlow, Nowell, Pynchon, Coddington, Bradstreet: 1 of the Assistants fined £. 5 for whipping 2 Persons with­out the Presence of another Assistant, contrary to an Act of Court formerly made: Ordered that a Man be whipt for shooting at Fowl on the Sabbath Day; and that £. 60 be collected for the Maintenance of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Phillips; viz. out of

Of the People who came over with us, from the Time of their setting Sail from England in April [this Year] to December, there Died by Estimation 200 at the least: So [Page 7] low hath the Lord brought us. Yet they who survived were not discouraged, but bareing God's Corrections with Humility, and trusting in his Mercies; and considering how after a lower Ebb he had raised up our Neighbours at Plymouth, we began again, in December, to consult about a fit Place to build a Town upon. (d)

Dec. 6. The Gov and most of the Assistants and others meet at Roxbury, and agree to build a Town fortified upon the Neck between That and Boston: And a Committee is appointed to consider of all Things requisite, &c. (w)

Dec. 16. The Committee meet at Roxbury: And upon further Consideration, for [3] Reasons it is concluded we shou'd not have a Town in the Place aforesaid; (1) Because Men wou'd be forc'd to keep 2 Families; (2) There is no running Water; and if there are any Springs, they won't suffice the Town; (3) The most of the People have built already, and wou'd not be able to build again: So we agree to meet at Waterton, this Day sennet, and in the mean Time other Places shou'd be viewed. (w)

Capt. Neale and 3 other Gentlemen come to us [at Boston]: He came in the Bark Warwick this Summer to Pascatoway, sent as Governor There for Sir Ferdinand Gorge and others. (w)

Dec. 21. We meet again at Waterton: And Here, upon View of a Place a Mile beneath the Town, all agree it a fit Place for a fortified Town; and we take Time to con­sider farther about it.

Dec. 24. Till this Time there was (for the most Part fair open Weather, with gentle Frosts in the Night: But this Day the Wind comes N W very sharpe and some Snow; but so Cold that some have their Fingers froze and in Danger to be lost. (w)

Dec. 26. [Lord's-Day] The Rivers are froze up: and they of Charleston cou'd not come to the Sermole at Boston till the Afternoon at High-Water. (w)

Many of the Cowes and Goats are forced to be still Abroad for want of Houses. (w)

[Page 8] Dec. 28. After many Consultations at Boston, Roxbury and Watertown, by Gov Winthrop [D. Gov Dudley] and Assistants, about a fit Place to build a Town for the Seat of Government, they this Day agree on a Place on the W [rather N W Side of Charles-River, about 3 Miles W from Charlestown: And all, except Mr. Endicot and [T] Sharp, ^* oblige themselves to build Houses there the following Spring, and remove their Ordnance and Munition thither: and first call the Place Newtown, but after—[viz. in 1638] Cambridge. ( [...])

Dec. 22. Richard Garret of Boston, with 1 of his Daugh­ters a young Maid, and 4 others, against the Advice of their Friends, went towards Plymouth in a Shallop: and about the Gurnet's Nose, the Wind blew so much at N W, as they were put to Sea, and the Boat took in much Water, which froze so hard as they cou'd not free her: so that they gave themselves for Lost; and com­mitting themselves to God, dispos'd themselves to die. But one of their Company espying Land near Cape-Cod, they made a shift to hoist up Part of their Sail, and by God's special Providence were carried thro' the Rocks to the Shoar: where some got on Land; but some had their Leggs frozen in the Ice, so as they were forced to be cut out. Being now on Shoar they kindle a Fire; but hav­ing no Hatchet, they can get but little Wood, and are forc'd to lie in the open Air all Night, being extreamly cold. In the Morning 2 of their Company go towards Plymouth. (Supposing it within 7 or 8 Miles, where as it is near 50 from them) [and not an English House nearer] By the Way they meet 2 Indian Squaws, who telling their Husbands they had met 2 Englishmen that had been Ship­wrack't, make after them and bring them back to their Wigwam, and entertain them kindly: and one of them [viz. of the Indians] next Day goes with them to Ply­mouth: and the other [Indian] goes to find out their Boat [Page 9] and the Rest of their Company which are 7 Miles off: and having found them, helps them what he can, returns to his Wigwam, fetches a Hatchet, builds them a Wigwam, covers it, gets them Wood: (for they were so weak and frozen, as they cou'd not stir) and Garret dies about 2 Days after his Landing; and the Ground so frozen as they cou'd not dig his Grave, the Indian, with his Hatchet, hews a Hole about half a Yard deep, [puts the] Corps in it, and lays over it a great Heap of Wood to keep it from the Wolves. By this Time the Gov of Plymouth sends 3 Men to them with Provisions; who launch'd their Boat, (which the Wind had driven up to high Water Mark) and with a fair Wind get to Plymouth: where another of their Company dies, his Flesh being mortified with the Frost: and the 2 who went towards Plymouth died also; one of them being not able to get thither, and the other had his Foot so frozen as he died of it after. The Girl escaped best: and one Harwood, a godly Man of the Congregation of Boston, lies long under the Surgeon's Hand. (w)

Jan. A House at Dorchester burnt down. (w) Jan. 3. Dies [at Boston] the Daughter of Mr. Sharp [I suppose Thomas Sharp Esq one of the Assistants] a godly Virgin, making a comfortable End after a long Sickness. The Plantation here [i. e. I suppose at Boston] received not the like Loss of any Woman since we came hither: and therefore she well deserves to be remembred in this Place. And among those who died [at Boston] about the End of Jan, was the Daughter of John Ruggles, a Girl of Eleven Years old; who in the Time of her Sickness, express'd to the Minister and [Page 18] those about her, so much Faith and Assurance of Salva­tion, as is rarely found in any of that Age; which I tho't not unworthy here to commit to Memory: and if any tax me with wasting Paper with Recording these small Mat­ters, such may consider, that small Things in the Beginning of Politick Bodies, are as remarkable as greater in Bodies full grown. (d)

As the Winter came on, Provisions are very scarce [in the Massachusetts-Bay] and People necessitated to feed on Clams and Musles, and Ground Nuts & Acorns; and these got with much Difficulty in the Winter-Season. Upon which People grow much tired and discouraged; espe­cially when they hear that the Gov himself has his last Batch of Bread in the Oven. And many are the Fears of the People that Mr. Pierce, who was sent to Ireland for Provision, is either Cast-away or taken by the Pirates. Upon this a Day of Fasting and Prayer to God for Relief is appointed [to be on the 6th of Feb.] But God, who delights to appear in the greatest Straits, works marvel­lously at this Time: (ctr) For on

Feb. 5. (w) The very Day before the appointed Fast, in comes (ctr) the Ship Lyon, Mr. William Pierce Master, now arriving at Natasket, (w) laden with Provisions. Upon which joyful Occasion the Day is chang'd, and ordered to be kept [on the 22d] as a Day of Thanksgiving. (ctr)

Feb. 8. The Gov goes aboard the Lyon riding at Long-Island: [next Day] the Ship comes to an Anchor before Boston [to the great Joy of the People] where she rides very well, notwithstanding the great Drifts of Ice. (w) And the Provisions are by the Gov distributed to the People proportionable to their Necessities. (ctr)

The Lyon [had] set Sail from Bristol Dec. 1, brought about 20 Passengers, and had a very stormy Passage: yet thro' God's Mercy all the People come safe; except one (w) of the Sailors, who not far from our Shoar, in a Tempest having help'd to take in the Sprit-sail, as he was coming down fell into the Sea, where after long [Page 19] Swiming, was drowned, to the great Dolour of those in the Ship, who beheld so lamentable a Spectacle, without being able to help him; the Sea was so high, and the Ship drove so fast before the Wind, tho' her Sails were taken down. (d)

By this Ship (d) [we hear that] the Ambrose [having been] masted at Charleston, [returning to Eng] spent all her Masts near Newfoundland, and had perished if Mr. Pierce in the Lyon her Consort had not towed her home to Bristol. Of the other Ships which returned (w) last Summer (d) 3, viz. the Charles, the Success & the Whale were (w) with 2 English Men of War (d) set upon (w) by 14 Dankirks (d) near Plymouth in England: and after a long Fight, having lost (w) 13 or 14 Men out of our 3 Ships (d) and being much torn, especially the Charles (w) a stout Ship of 300 Tuns, so torn that she had not much of her left whole above Water; (d) they got into Ply­mouth. Of those who went back in the Ships [last] Summer for Fear of Death or Famine, many Dy'd by the Way, and after they were landed, and others fell very sick and languishing. (w)

Feb. 10. The Frost breaks up in [Boston Harbour]: and it has been observ'd ever since this Bay was planted by English, viz. 7 Years, that the Frost hath broke up every Year at this Day. (w)

The Poorer Sort of People who by long lying in Tents (w) and small Huts (j) are much afflicted with the Scurvy, and many Die, especially at Boston and Charleston. And it has been always observ'd here, that such as fell into Discontent, and linger'd after their former Conditions in England, fell into the Scurvey & Died. Of the old Plan­ters and such as came the Year before, there were but 2 which have the Scurvy in all the Country. At Plymouth not any have it, no not of those who came this [last] Year, whereof there were above 60: whereas at their 1st Planting there, near half their People died of it. (w) Of which Mortality, it may be said of us almost as of [Page 20] the AEgyptians, there is not an House wherein there was not one Dead, and in some Houses many. The natural Causes seem to be; the Want of warm Lodging & good Diet, to which English [People] are habituated at Home; and the sudden Increase of Heat they endured who landed here in the Summer; the Salt Meats at Sea having prepared their Bodies thereto: For those only these 2 last Years Died of Fevers, who landed in June and July; as those of Plymouth who [formerly] landed in Winter, died of the Scurvy; as did our Poorer Sort, whose Houseing and Bedding kept them not sufficiently warm, nor their Diet sufficiently in Heart. (d) But when this Ship came, which bro't Store of Juice of Lemmons; many recover spee­dily. (w)

Feb. 18. ^* (w) Among others who died about this Time, was Mr. Robert Welden (d) a hopeful young Gen­tleman, and an experienc'd Soldier, (w) whom in the Time of his Sickness we had chosen to be Captain of 100 Foot: but before He [cou'd] take his Place, He Dies (d) at Charleston of a Consumption, and is buried at Boston with a Military Funeral (w) 3 Vollies &c, (d)

A Shallop of Mr. Glover's cast-away on the Rocks about Nehant; but the Men are saved. (w)

The Provisions came this [last] Year at excessive Rates, in Regard of the Dearness of Corn in Eng; so as every Bushel of Wheat Meal stands us in 14s. Sterl. Pease 11s; &c. (w) besides the Adventure (d) Tunnage £. 6 11s. (w) which is 3 or 4s. a Strike: An higher Price than I ever tasted Bread before. (d)

Feb. 22. We hold a Day of Thanksgiving for this Ship's Arrival, by Order from the Gov & Council, directed to all the Plantations (w) throughout the [Massachusetts] Colo­ny. d.

March 4. First Court of Assistant this Year at Boston: Present, Gov, D. Gov, Sir R. Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlow, Capt. [Page 21] Endicot, Mr. Pynchon, Nowell, [T] Sharp, Coddington, Brad­street. (1.) Ordered that 6 Persons be sent to Eng in the Ship Lyon, now returning thither, as Persons unmeet to inhabit here; also that Sir Christopher Gardiner ^* & another be sent as Prisoners in her. (2.) A Man fined £. 5 for taking upon him to cure the Scurvey, by a Water of no Value, which he sold at a very dear Rate; to be im­prison'd till he pay his Fine, or give Security for it, or else be whipt; and shall be liable to any Man's Action of whom he has receiv'd Money for the said Water. (Mcr)

March 8. From fair Day-light till 8 a m, fly over all the Towns in our Plantations, so many Flocks of Doves; each Flock containing many Thousands; and some so many that they obscure the Light; that it passeth Credit, if but the Truth should be written, they are all Turtles;—somewhat bigger than those of Europe; and fly from N E to S W. (d)

March 8. At a Court at Watertown: Present, Gov, D. Gov, Sir R. Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlow, Nowell, Pynchon, Cod­dington, Bradstreet. (1.) Sagamore John and [his Subject] Peter complaining of 2 Wigwams burnt, occasioned by a Servant of Sir. R. Saltonstall; Ordered that Sir Richard satisfy the Indians; which he did by 7 Yards of Cloth; and that his Servant pay him for it at the End of his Time 50s. [Sterl.]^*: (2.) In Regard that the Number of Assistants is but few, and some of them are going for Eng; Order'd, that when the Number of Assistants re­sident [Page 22] within this Jurisdiction shall be fewer than 9; it shall be lawful for the major Part of them to keep a Court; and whatever Orders or Acts they make, shall be as legal & authentical, as if there were the full Number of 7 or more. (Mcr)

March 15. Dies at Salem, Mrs. Skelton, the Wife of the Minister there: a godly, helpful Woman, liv'd de­sired, dies lamented, and well deserves to be honourably remembred. (d)

The Ship Lyon now waits but for Wind, which when it blows [fair] there are ready to go aboard for Eng; Sir R. Saltonstall, Mr. [T] Sharp, Mr. Coddington and many others: the most of which purpose, if God will, to return to us again. In the mean Time we are left a People, poor and contemptible; yet such as trust in God, and are contented with our Condition; being well assured, that he will not fail us nor forsake us. (d)

March 16. [In D. Gov Dudley's printed Letter tis March 17: but I keep to Gov Winthrop's Mss.] About Noon, the Chimney of Mr. [T] Sharp's House in Boston takes Fire; and taking the Thatch, burns it down: and the Wind being N W, drives the Fire to Mr. Colbron's House, [some] Rods off, burns that down also. (w) Which Houses, as Good and as well furnished as the most in the Plantation, are in 2 Hours burned to the Ground, with much of their Houshold Stuff, Apparel, and other Things, as also some Goods of others who sojourned with them: God so pleasing to exercise us with this Kind of Correction: [Page 23] For Prevention whereof, in our new Town intended to be built this Summer; we have order'd that no Man There shall build his Chimney with Wood, nor cover his House with Thatch; which was readily assented to; for that diverse other Houses have been burned since our Arri­val. (d)

March 22. Court of Assistant at Boston: Present Gov, D. Gov, Mr. Ludlow, Coddington, Nowell, Sir R. Saltonstall, Mr. Pynchon, [T] Sharp, Bradstreet. Order'd (1.] That Artificers be left at Liberty to agree for Wages: [See Aug. 23. 1630] (2.) That every Town within this Pa­tent, before April 5, take Care that every Person in them (excepting Magistrates and Ministers) as well Servants as others be furnish'd with sufficient Arms, allowable by the Captains or other Officers; those who are able, to buy them; the Town to provide for those who are unable, and to receive Satisfaction from them when they are able: (3.) That all who have Cards, Dice or Tables in their Houses, shall make away with them before the next Court. (Mcr)

March 23. Chickatabat [the chief Sachim of the Massa­chusetts] comes with his Sannups and Squaws [i. e. married Men and their Wives] to Boston, Presents the Gov with a Hogshead of Indian Corn. After they had all Dined, had each a Cup of Sack & Beer, and his Men Tobacco; He sent away all his Men and Women: (tho' the Gov wou'd have stay'd them in Regard of the Rain & Thun­der) Himself and 1 Squaw and 1 Sannup stay all Night: and [He] being in English Cloaths, the Gov sets Him at his Table; where he behaves himself as soberly &c. as an Englishman. Next Day, after Dinner, they return Home; the Gov giving him Cheese and Pease, a Mug and some other Things. (w)

March 25. One of Watertown having lost a Calf; about 10 at Night hearing the Howling of Wolves, raises his Neighbours out of their Beds, that by discharging [...] [Page 24] Muskets, they might put the Wolves to Flight and save his Calf: the Wind serving to carry the Report of the Muskets to Roxbury, the Inhabitants There take an Alarm, beat up their Drum, arm themselves, and send in Post to us to Boston: [But] in the Morning, the Calf is found safe, our Danger past, &c. (d)

March 28. D. Gov Dudley seals his Letter at Boston in the Massachusetts-Bay to the Countess of Lincoln; wherein he writes as follows.

Having some Leisure to discourse of the Motives for other Mens coming to this Place, or their abstaining from it; after my brief Manner, I say this; That if any come hither to Plant for Worldly Ends that can live well at Home, he commits an Er­ror of which he will soon repent him. But if for Spiritual, he may find here what may well content him; viz. Materials to build, Fewel to burn, Ground to plant, Seas and Rivers to fish in, a pure Air to breath in, good Water to drink till Wine or Beer can be made; which with the Cows, Hoggs and Goats bro't hither already, may suffice for Food. For Cloaths and Bedding, they must bring them with them, till Time and Industry pro­duce them here. In a Word, we yet enjoy little to be envied, but endure much to be pittied, in the Sickness and Mortality of our People. If any godly Men out of Religious Ends will come over to help us in the good Work we are about; I think they can­not dispose of themselves, nor their Estates more to God's Glory, and the Furtherance of their own Reckoning: But they must not be of the poorer Sort yet for divers Years.—And for profane and de­bauched Persons; their Oversight in coming hither, is wondred at, where they shall find Nothing to content them. If there be any endued with Grace, and furnished with Means to feed them­selves and their's for 18 Months, and to build and plant; let them come into our Macedonia and help us, and not spend them­selves and their Estates in a less profitable Employment: For others, I conceive they are not yet fitted for this Business. (d)

March 29. Sir R. Saltonstall, and his 2 Daughters, and 1 of his younger Sons, (his 2 Elder still remaining in the Country) come down to Boston, stay this Night with the Governour: (w) and

[Page 25] March 30. This Morning, at 7, They, with Mr. Pierce and others in 2 Shallops, depart [for] the Ship at Salem. Mr. [T] Sharp goes away at the same Time in another Shallop. At 10, Mr. Coddington, Mr. Wilson, and divers of the Congregation, meet at the Governour's, and there Mr. Wilson praying and exhorting the Congregation to Love, recommends to them [in their Necessity] the Exercise of Prophesy [i.e. Exhorting to Christian Duties] in his Absence, and designed those whom he thought most fit for it, viz. the Gov, Mr. Dudley, and Mr. Nowell the Elder; [who were Men of eminent Piety and Learning.] Then he desires the Gov to commend Himself & the Rest to God in Prayer: which being done, they accompany him to the Boat; and so they go over to Charlestown, to go by Land to the Ship: which sets Sail from Salem April 1. ^* and arrives at London (all safe) April 29. (w)

April 4. Wahgumacut a Sagamore up the River Conaata­cut, which lies W of Narraganset, comes to the Gov at Boston, with John Sagamore & Jack Straw (an Indian who had liv'd in England [with] Sir Walter Raleigh and divers of their Sannups, and brings a Letter to the Gov from Mr. Endicot to this Effect; that the said Wahgum is very de­sirous to have some English to Plant in his Country, and offers to find them Corn, and give them yearly 80 Skins of Bever; [says] the Country is very fruitful, and wishes there may be 2 Men sent with him to see the Country. The Gov entertains them at Dinner; but would send none with him: discovers after, that the said Sagamore is a very treacherous Man, and at War with the Pekash [or Pequots, under] a far greater Sagamore. His Country is not above 5 Days Journey from us by Land. (w)

April 12. Court of Assistants at Boston: Present the Gov, D. Gov, Mr. Ludlow, Nowell, Pynchon, Bradstreet. Order'd (1.) That a Watch of 4 be kept every Night [Page 26] at Dorchester, and another of 4 at Watertown, to begin at Sun-set: (2.) That whoever shoots off any Peece after the Watch is set, shall forfeit 40s; or if the Court judge him unable, then to be whipt: (3.) That every Man who finds a Musket, shall before the 18th of this Month, and so always after have ready 1 Pound of Powder, 20 Bullets, and 2 Fathom of Match, under Penalty of 10s. for every Fault: (4.) That every Captain shall train his Company every Saturday: (5.) That none shall travel single between their Plantations and Plymouth; nor with­out some Arms, tho' 2 or 3 together. (Mcr) (6.) Upon Information that they of Salem had call'd Mr. [Roger] Williams to the Office of a Teacher; a Letter is written from the Court to Mr. Endicot to this Effect; That whereas Mr. Williams had refus'd to join with the Con­gregation at Boston, because they would not make a pub­lick Declaration of their Repentance for having Com­munion with the Churches of England while they lived There, and besides had declared his Opinion that the Magistrate might not punish the Breach of the Sabbath, nor any other Offence as it was a Breach of the first Table; therefore they, [i. e. the Court] marvelled they would chuse him without advising with the Counsel; and with­all advising him that they would forbare to proceed till they had confer'd about it. (w)

April 13. Chickatabot comes to the Gov, and desires to buy some English Cloaths for Himself: the Gov tells him that English Sagamores did not use to truck; but calls his Taylor and gives him Order to make him a Suit of Cloaths: whereupon he gives the Gov 2 large Skins of Coat Bever: and after He and his Men had dined, they depart, and said they would come for his Suit 3 Days after. (w)

April 15. Chickatabot comes to the Gov again; [who] puts him into a good new Suit from Head to Foot: and after, sets Meat before him; but he would not eat, till the Gov had given Thanks; and after Meat, desired him to do the like, and so departed. (w)

[Page 27] April 21. The House of Jo Page of Waterton burnt: by carrying a few Coals from one House to another, a Coal fell by the Way and kindled the Leaves, (w)

May 3. Court of Assistants at Boston: Present Gov. D. Gov, Mr. Ludlow, Capt. Endicot, Mr. Nowell, Pynchon, Bradstreet. [A Man] fined £. 10, and He and his Wife, enjoin'd to depart this Patent before Oct. 20, under Pain of Confiscation of Goods; for Contempt of Authority and confronting Officers. (Mcr)

But after Sir Christopher gets to Eng, he shows his Malice; but God prevents him. (br) [See next Year]

May 16. An Alarm to all our Towns in the Night, by a Peece shot off; (but where, cou'd not be known) and the Indians having sent us Word the Day before, that the Mohawks are coming down against them and us.

May 18. Wednesday, [and not 17, as by a Mistake in Gov Winthrop General Court at Boston: Present Mr. Winthrop Gov, Mr. Dudley D. Gov, Mr. Ludlow, Capt. Endicot, Mr. Nowell, Pynchon, Bradstreet, Assistants. JOHN WINTHROP, Esq chosen Gov for this Year by the general Consent of the Court, and THOMAS DUDLEY, Esq D. Gov. In the like Manner did the Choice proceed among the Assistants. (b) [And that which makes me think Mr. Bradstreet was again chosen Secretary, is; that in the Mcr, the Title of Captain is always put before Endicot, and of Mr. prefixed to every other Assistant, but before his own Name He in Excess of Modesty only puts the Letter S.] (1.) For Explanation of an Order of last General Court of Oct. 19, now Order'd with full Consent of all the Company present; that once every Year at least a General Court be holden, at which it shall be lawful for the Commons to propound any Person or Persons whom they shall desire to be chosen Assistants. (2.) The like Course to be held, when the said Commons shall see Cause for any Defect or Misbehaviour to remove any one or more of the Assistants: And (3.) To the End the Body of the Commons may be preserv'd of honest & good Men; Order'd and agreed that for the Time to come, no Man shall be admitted to [Page 29] the Freedom of this Body Politick, but such as are Members of some of the Churches within the Limits of the same. (4.) Thomas Williams having undertaken to set up a Ferry be­tween Winnesemet and Charleston; he is to have 3d. a Per­son, and from Winnesemet to Boston 4d. (5.) Chickatabot and Sagamore John promise the Court to make Satisfaction for whatever Wrong any of their Men shall do, to any of the English, to their Cattle or any otherwise. (6.) 116 take the Oath of Freemen, of whom are

• 1 Mr. John Maverick,
• 2 Mr. John Warham,
• 3 Mr. William Blackstone,
• 4 Mr. George Philips, Mr. Richard Brown, Capt. Daniel Patrick, Capt. John Underhill,
• 5 Mr. Thomas Graves,
• 6 Capt. Walter Norton,
• 7 Mr. William Colbron,
• 8 Mr. Roger Conant,
• 9 Thomas Stoughton, Robert Seely, William Agar, Mr. William Clarke, William Noddle, ^†
• 10 William Balstone,
• 11 Mr. George Alcock,
• 12 Robert Moulton, Mr. Edward Belchar,
• 13 Roger Williams, Mr. Richard Saltonstall,
• 14 Edward Gibbons,
• 15 Mr. William Jeffry,
• 16 Edward Converse
• 17 Mr. John Dillingham,
• 18 Thomas Lamb,
• 19 Mr. Edward Johnson, &c. (Mcr)

At Noon a House burnt down, all the People being present. (w)

May 27. There comes from Virginia into Salem a Pinace of 18 Tuns, laden with Corn and Tobacco: was bound to the North; and [happily] put in here by fowl Weather: she sells her Corn at 10s. [Sterl.] the Bushel. (w)

[Page 30] June 14. Court at Boston: Present Gov, D. Gov, Mr. Ludlow, Capt. Endicot, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pynchon, S. Brad­street. Order'd (1.) That none shall travel out of this Patent by Sea or Land without Leave from the Gov, D. Gov or some Assistant, under such Penalty as the Court shall think meet to inflict: (2.) Mr. John Maisters hav­ing undertaken to make a Passage from Charles-River to the new Town, 12 Feet broad, and 7 deep; the Court promises him Satisfaction: (3.) Order'd, that none buy Corn or other Provision, or any Merchantable Commo­dity of any Ship or Bark that comes into this Bay, with­out Leave from the Gov or some Assistant: (4.) Edward Converse having undertaken to set up a Ferry between Charlestown and Boston; he is to have 2d. for a single Per­son, and 1d. a [Person] if there be 2 or more. (Mcr)

June 25. [not 14, as by Mistake in Mr. Hubbard] comes [to Boston] a Shallop from Piscatoway, which brings News of a small English Ship come thither with Provisions, and some Frenchmen to make Salt. By this Boat Capt. Neal Gov of Piscatoway sends a Pacquet of Letters to Gov [Win­throp] directed to Sir Christopher Gardiner; which are opened because directed to one who is our Prisoner, and had declared himself an Ill-Willer to our Government: which when the Gov opened, he finds it came from Sir Ferdinando Gorges: in the Packet is [another] Letter to Thomas Morton (sent Prisoner before to Eng) By both which Letters it appears, He [i. e. Sir Ferdinand] had some Design to recover his pretended Right to Part of the Massachusetts-Bay, and repos'd much Trust in Sir Christopher. (w)

June 27. Come to Gov [Winthrop] Letters out of the White-Angel, lately arriv'd at Saco: [which] bro't Cows, Goats, Hogs, and many Provisions both for the Bay and Plymouth: Mr. Allerton returns [hither] in this Ship; and by him we hear that the Friendship, which put out from Bastable [some] Weeks before the Angel was forc'd Home again by a Tempest. (w)

[Page 31] July 4. The Bark which Gov [Winthrop] built at Mistick, launch'd; and call'd the Blessing of the Bay, (w)

July 5. Court of Assistant at Boston: Present Gov, D. Gov, Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pynchon, S. Bradstreet: (1.) Order'd there be levy'd out of the several Plantati­ons, £. 30 for making the Creek from Charles-River to Newtown, viz.

[ M [...]adford omitted ]

(2.) That every Assistant have Power to grant War­rants, Summons and Attachments: (3.) The Sagamore of Agawam [after, called Ipswich] is banished from com­ing into any Englishman's House for a Year, under Penalty of 10 Beverskins. (Mcr)

July 6. A small Ship of 60 Tun arrives at Natasket, [T] Graves Master: brings 10 Passengers from London: They came with a patent for Sagadehock; (w) but not lik­ing the Place, they come hither: their Ship draws 10 Foot, goes up to Waterton, but runs a-ground twice by the Way (w) and lays her Bones there. (h) These were the Company call'd the Husbandmen, and their Ship call'd the Plow: (w) their Patent call'd the Plow-Patent; (h) the most of them prove Familists; and (w) soon after (h) vanish away. (w).

July 14. The Ship Friendship of Barstable arrives at Natasket; had been at Sea eleven Weeks, and beaten back again by fowl Weather; set sail from Barstable again, about the middle of May; [and] lands here 8 Heifers, 1 Calf and 5 Sheep. (w)

July 21. The Gov, D. Gov, and Mr. Nowell, the Elder of the Congregation at Boston, go to Waterton, to confer with Mr. Phillips the Pastor and Mr. Brown the Elder [Page 32] of the Congregation there, about an Opinion they had published that the Churches of Rome were true Churches: the Matter is debated before many of both Congregati­ons, and by the Approbation of all the Assembly, except 3, is concluded an Error. (w)

July 22. The White-Angel comes into the Bay, [and] lands there 21 Heifers. (w)

July 26. Court at Boston: Present Gov, D. Gov, Mr. Ludlow, Capt. Endicot, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pynchon, S. Brad­street. Order'd (1.) That there be a Watch of 6, and an Officer kept every Night at Boston; 2 whereof to be of Boston, 2 of Charleston, and 2 of Roxbury: (2.) That every 1st Thursday in every Month there be a general Train­ing of Capt. Underhill's Company at Boston and Roxbury; and every 1st Friday in every Month, there be a general Training of the Remainder of them [who] inhabit at Charles­ton, Mistick and the new Town, at a convenient Place about the Indian Wigwams: the Trainings to begin at 1 p. m: (3.) Mr. Francis Aleworth chosen Lieut. to Capt. Southcot; and Capt. Southcot hath Liberty to go for Eng, promising to return with all convenient Speed. (Mcr)

July 26. A small Bark of Salem of about 12 Tun, coming towards the Bay; 3 of Mr. Cradock's Fishermen being in her, 2 Tun of Stores & 3 Hogsheads of Train Oyl, is overset in a Gust: and being buyed up by the Oyl, floats up & down 48 Hours, and the Men sitting on her; till a Boat coming by, espies & saves them. (w)

July 29. The Friendship sets sail for Christopher-Island. (w)

‘July 30. The white Angel falls down for Plymouth: but the Wind not serving comes to an Anchor; and a Week after runs a-ground near the Gurnet's Nose. (w)’

Aug. 8. The Tarrontines [i. e. Eastern Indians] to the Num­ber of 100, come in 30 Canoes; and in the Night assault the Wigwam of the Sagamore of Agawam by Merrimack, slay 7 Men, and wound John Sagamore, and Jones and some others (whereof some, after, Dye) and rifle a Wig­wam where Mr. Cradock's Men kept to [...] Sturgeon, taking away their Nets [...]