USA > Massachusetts > Chronicles of the first planters of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1623-1636 > Part 16
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200
THE ALLOTMENT OF LANDS.
CHAP. safely and peaceably enjoy their said lands allotted VIII. unto them or chosen by them, and the houses they 1629. build thereupon, as abovesaid, it is thought fit and May 21. ordered by this Court, that conveyances shall be made thereof unto each particular man for the land he possesseth, in the Company's name, and the com- mon seal of the Company to be thereunto affixed by the Governor and Council there, at the charge of the Company ; which common seal is by this Court thought fit and ordered to be committed to the charge and keeping of the Governor for the time being, and in his absence, to his Deputy there.
All which premises before mentioned the Compa- ny do by general consent ratify, establish and con- firm ; and do also order, that copies of these Acts shall be sent over to the Governor and Council there resident, subscribed by the Governor, Deputy, and six of the Assistants here, and sealed with the com- mon seal of the Company.1
1 See page 78.
This Act for the allotment of the lands is also taken from the Compa-
ny's Records, in the handwriting of Secretary Burgess, fol. 11-16 ..
CHAPTER IX.
OATHS OF OFFICE FOR THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL.1
The Oath of the Governor in New-England.2
You shall be faithful and loyal unto our Sovereign CHAP. Lord, the King's Majesty, and to his heirs and suc- IX. cessors. You shall support and maintain, to your 1629. May.
power, the government and Company of the Matta- chusetts Bay, in New-England, in America, and the privileges of the same, having no singular regard to yourself in derogation or hindrance of the common wealth of this Company ; and to every person under your authority you shall administer indifferent and equal justice. Statutes and ordinances shall you none make without the advice and consent of the Council for the government of the Mattachusetts Bay in New-England. You shall admit none into the freedom of this Company but such as may claim the same by virtue of the privileges thereof. You shall not bind yourself to enter into any business or process for or in the name of this Company, without
1 See page 69.
2 " This oath is also to be admin-
istered to the Deputy." Marginal note in the MS.
202
THE GOVERNOR'S OATH.
CHAP. the consent and agreement of the Council aforesaid, IX. but shall endeavour faithfully and carefully to carry 1629. yourself in this place and office of Governor, as long May. as you shall continue in it. And likewise you shall do your best endeavour to draw on the natives of this country, called New-England, to the knowledge of the True God, and to conserve the planters, and others coming hither, in the same knowledge and fear of God. And you shall endeavour, by all good means, to advance the good of the Plantations of this Company, and you shall endeavour the raising of such commodities for the benefit and encouragement of the adventurers and planters as, through God's blessing on your endeavours, may be produced for the good and service of the kingdom of England, this Company, and their Plantations. All these premises you shall hold and keep to the uttermost of your power and skill, so long as you shall continue in the place of Governor of this fellowship. So help you God !
The Oath of the Council in New-England.
You swear to be faithful and loyal to our Sovereign Lord, the King's Majesty, and to his heirs and succes- sors. You shall from time to time give your best advice and counsel for supporting and maintaining the common wealth and corporation of The Governor and Company of the Mattachusetts Bay, in New-Eng- land ; not sparing for love nor dread, for favor nor meed, but according to the statutes and ordinances
203
THE OATH OF THE COUNCIL.
made and to be made by virtue of the Charter of the CHAP. IX.
said Company, shall effectually assist the Governor, or his Deputy and Council of the said Company, in 1629. executing the said statutes and ordinances ; having May. no singular regard to yourself in derogation of the common wealth of the same. All these premises you shall hold and truly keep to your power, so long as you shall continue in the place or office of one of the said Council. So help you God !1
1 These Oaths of Office for the Governor and Council, are copied from the first volume of the Records of the General Court of Massachu-
setts, pages 75 and 76, having been inserted there out of place, by some mistake. They are in the hand- writing of Secretary Burgess.
-
THE COMPANY'S AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTERS.
CHAPTER X.
AGREEMENT OF THE NEW-ENGLAND COMPANY WITH THE MINISTERS.1
The Agreement with Mr. Bright.
I, FRANCIS BRIGHT, of Roily,? in Essex, clerk, CHAP. have this present 2d February, 1628, agreed with X. the Company of Adventurers for New-England, in 1629. Feb. 2. America, to be ready with my wife, two children, and one maid-servant, by the beginning of March next, to take our passage to the Plantation at or near Massachusetts Bay, in New-England, as aforesaid ; where I do promise, God sparing me life and health, to serve the said Company in the work of the minis- try, by my true and faithful endeavours, for the space of three years. For and in consideration whereof, these several particulars are this day agreed upon by the said Company, and by me accepted, namely :
1. That £20 shall be forthwith paid me by the Company's treasurer towards charges of fitting
1 See page 143.
? The name of this town is now spelt Rayleigh. It is 26 miles from
London. See Newcourt's Reperto- rium, ii. 482.
208
FRANCIS BRIGHT'S AGREEMENT.
x. voyage.
CHAP. myself with apparel and other necessaries for the -
1629. Feb. 2. That £10 more shall be paid me by him to- 2. wards providing of books ; which said books, upon my death or removal from the charge now intended to be transferred upon me, are to be and remain to such minister as shall succeed in my place for the said Company ; and before my departure out of Eng- land, I am to deliver a particular of the said books.
3. That £20 yearly shall be paid me for three years, to begin from the time of my first arrival in New-England, and so to be accounted and paid at the end of each year.
4. That during the said time, the Company shall provide for me and my family aforementioned, neces- saries of diet, housing, firewood, and shall be at the charge of the transportation of us into New-England ; and at the end of the said three years, if I shall not like to continue longer there, to be at charges of transporting us back for England.
5. That in convenient time a house shall be built, and certain lands allotted thereunto ; which, during my stay in the country and continuing in the minis- try, shall be for my use, and after my death or re- moval, the same to be for succeeding ministers.
6. That at the expiration of the said three years, one hundred acres of land shall be assigned unto me, for me and my heirs forever.
7. That in case I shall depart this life in that country, the said Company shall take care for my widow, during her widowhood and abode in that country and Plantation ; the like for my children whilst they remain on the said Plantation.
209
FRANCIS HIGGINSON'S AGREEMENT.
8. That the milk of two kine shall be appointed CHAP. me toward the charge of diet for me and my family, x. as aforesaid, and half their increase during the said 1629. three years, to be likewise mine ; but the said two Feb. 2. kine and the other half of the increase to return to the Company at the end of the said three years.
9. That I shall have liberty to carry bedding, linen, brass, iron, pewter, of my own, for my neces- sary use during the said time.
10. That if I continue seven years upon the said Plantation, that then one hundred acres of land more shall be allotted to me for me and my heirs forever.1
The Agreement with Mr. Higginson.
A true note of the allowance that the New-England April Company have, by common consent and order of 8. their Court and Council, granted unto Mr. Francis Higginson,2 minister, for his maintenance in New- England, April 8, 1629.
1. Imprimis, that £30 in money shall be forth- with paid him by the Company's treasurer towards the charges of fitting himself with apparel and other necessaries for his voyage.
2. Item, that £10 more shall be paid over by the said treasurer towards the providing of books for present use.
3. Item, that he shall have £30 yearly paid him for three years, to begin from the time of his first
1 See Felt's Annals of Salem, i. 510.
2 See page 65.
14
210
FRANCIS HIGGINSON'S AGREEMENT.
CHAP. arrival in New-England, and so to be accounted and X. paid him at the end of every year.
April 8.
1629. 4. Item, that during the said time, the Company shall provide for him and his family necessaries of diet, housing and firewood, and shall be at charges of transporting him into New-England ; and at the end of the said three years, if he shall not like to continue there any longer, to be at the charge of transporting him back for England.
5. Item, that in convenient time a house shall be built, and certain lands allotted thereunto ; which, during his stay in the country, and continuance in the ministry, shall be for his use; and after his death or removal, the same to be for succeeding ministers.
6. Item, at the expiration of the said three years, a hundred acres of land shall be assigned to him and his heirs forever.
7. Item, that in case he shall depart this life in that country, the said Company shall take care for his widow during her widowhood and abode in that country and Plantation ; and the like for his child- ren whilst they remain upon the said Plantation.
8. Item, that the milk of two kine shall be ap- pointed towards the charges of diet for him and his family as aforesaid, and half the increase of calves during the said three years ; but the said two kine, and the other half of the increase, to return to the Company at the end of the said three years.
9. Item, that he shall have liberty of carrying over bedding, linen, brass, iron, pewter, of his own, for his necessary use during the said time.
10. Item, that if he continue seven years upon the
211
HIGGINSON AND SKELTON'S AGREEMENT.
said Plantation, that then a hundred acres of land more shall be allotted him for him and his forever.1
CHAP. X.
- 1629. April 8.
The 8th of April, 1629. Mr. Francis Higgeson and Mr. Samuel Skelton, intended ministers for this Plantation, and it being thought meet to consider of their entertainment, who expressing their willing- ness, together also with Mr. Francis Bright, being now present, to do their endeavour in their places of the ministry, as well in preaching, catechising, as also in teaching or causing to be taught the Compa- ny's servants and their children, as also the salvages and their children, whereby to their uttermost to further the main end of this Plantation, being, by the assistance of Almighty God, the conversion of the salvages-the propositions and agreements conclud- ed on with Mr. Francis Bright the 2d of February last were reciprocally accepted of by Mr. Francis Higgeson and Mr. Samuel Skelton ;2 who are in every respect to have the like conditions as Mr. Bright hath. Only, whereas Mr. Higgeson hath eight3
1 This Agreement is printed from an early MS.
2 In Felt's Annals of Salem, i. 511-513, is an account of moneys due to him from the Company in 1629 and 1630, including his charges for provisions and clothing.
3 Their names, and their ages at this time, so far as I have been able to determine them from the data I have, were as follows : - 1. John, thirteen, concerning whom see note 1 on p. 166. 2. Francis, twelve, who after studying at Leyden and other universities on the continent, return- ed to England, and was settled in the ministry at Kirkby-Stephen,
in Westmoreland, where he died in 1672, aged 55. 3. Timothy, ten. 4. Theophilus, nine. 5. Samuel, eight, who at his mother's death in 1640, was bound as a servant to Gov. Eaton, of New Haven, for two years. 6. Ann, six. 7. Mary, four, who died on the passage, May 19. 8. Charles, one, who. in 1640, was bound apprentice to Thomas Fugill for nine years. There was a 9th child, born in Salem, called Neo- phytus, who had been placed with Atherton Hough, at Boston, to be brought up. See Kingsley's Hist. Disc. p. 103 ; Mather's Magnalia, i. 330.
212
HIGGINSON AND SKELTON'S AGREEMENT.
CHAP. children, it is intended that £10 more yearly shall X. be allowed him towards their charges. And it is 1629. April 8. agreed that the increase to be improved of all their grounds, during the first three years, shall be at the Company's disposing, who are to find their diet during that time; and £10 more to Mr. Higgeson, towards his present fitting him and his for the voyage.
FRANCIS HIGGESON. SAMUEL SKELTON.
Further, though it was not mentioned in the Agreement, but forgotten, Mr. Higgeson was pro- mised a man-servant, to take care and look to his things, and to catch him fish and fowl, and provide other things needful, and also two maid-servants, to look to his family.
--
HIGGINSON'S JOURNAL OF
HIS VOYAGE TO NEW-ENGLAND.
A TRUE Relation of the last Voyage to New England, declaring all circumstances, with the manner of the passage we had by sea, and what manner of country and inhabitants we found when we came to land ; and what is the present state and condition of the English people that are there already.
Faithfully recorded according to the very truth, for the satisfaction of very many of my loving friends, who have earnestly requested to be truly certified in these things.
Written from New-England, July 24, 1629.
If any curious critic that looks for exactness of phrases, or expert seaman that regards propriety of sea terms, &c.
CHAPTER XI.
HIGGINSON'S JOURNAL OF HIS VOYAGE.
A TRUE Relation of the last Voyage to New-Eng- CHAP. XI. land, made the last summer, begun the 25th of April, ~ being Saturday, Anno Domini, 1629.
1629. April.
The Company of New-England, consisting of many worthy gentlemen in the city of London, Dorchester, and other places, aiming at the glory of God, the propagation of the Gospel of Christ, the conversion of the Indians, and the enlargement of the King's Majesty's dominions in America, and being author- ized by his royal letters patents for that end, at their very great costs and charge furnished five ships to go to New-England, for the further settling of the English Plantation that they had already begun there.1
The names of the five ships were as followeth :
The first is called the Talbot,2 a good and strong ship, of three hundred tons, and nineteen pieces of
1 Under Endicott, in 1628, the year before. See pageș 13 and 30.
2 Francis Higginson, with his family, sailed in the Talbot. See page 143.
216
NAMES OF THE SHIPS.
CHAP. ordnance, and served with thirty mariners. This XI. ship carried above a hundred planters, six goats, five 1629. April. great pieces of ordnance, with meal, oatmeal, pease, and all manner of munition and provision for the Plantation for a twelvemonth.
The second the George,1 another strong ship also, about three hundred tons, twenty pieces of ordnance, served with about thirty mariners. Her chief car- riage were cattle, twelve mares, thirty kine, and some goats.2 Also she had in her fifty-two planters, and other provision.
The third is called the Lion's Whelp,3 a neat and nimble ship, of a hundred and twenty tons, eight pieces of ordnance, carrying in her many mariners and above forty planters, specially from Dorches- ter4 and other places thereabouts, with provision, and four goats.
The fourth is called The Four Sisters, as I hear, of about three hundred tons ; which fair ship carried many cattle, with passengers and provision. .
The fifth is called the Mayflower,5 carrying pas- sengers and provision.6
Now amongst these five ships, the George having some special and urgent cause of hastening her pas-
1 Samuel Skelton, with his wife, went in the George. See page 143. The Colony of Massachusetts Bay was, in this particular, much earlier and better provided than the Colony of New Plymouth had been. The latter had no cattle till March, 1624, when Mr. Edward Winslow brought over a bull and three heifers ; whereas as early as 1626, twelve cows at least had been sent over to Cape Ann. See pages 9 and 12, and Prince's Annals, p. 225.
3 Francis Bright, with his wife and two children, was in the Lion's Whelp. See page 143.
+ See page 50.
5 Thirty-five of the Leyden con- gregation, with their families, came over to Plymouth at this time in the Mayfower and Talbot. See Mass. Hist. Coll. iii. 66 ; Prince, pp. 261, 264; Chronicles of Plymouth, page 482.
" There was a sixth vessel sent, called the Pilgrim. See page 175.
217
THE SHIPS DROP DOWN THE THAMES.
sage,1 set sail before the rest, about the midst of CHAP. XI.
1629. April.
April. And the Four Sisters and the Mayflower, ~ being not thoroughly furnished, intended, as we heard, to set forth about three weeks after us. But we that were in the Talbot and the Lion's Whelp, being ready for our voyage, by the good hand of God's providence, hoisted up sail from Gravesend on Saturday the 25th of April, about seven o'clock in 25. the morning. Having but a faint wind we could not go far that day, but at night we anchored against Leigh,2 which is twelve miles from Gravesend, and there we rested that night, and kept Sabbath the 26. next day.
On Monday we set forward and came to the Flats,3 a passage somewhat difficult by reason of the narrow- ness of the channel4 and shallowness of the water ; and going over this we were in some danger ; for our ship being heavy laden and drawing deep water, was sensibly felt of us all to strike three or four times on the ground. But the wind blowing some- what strong, we were carried swiftly on, and at last, by God's blessing, came safe to anchor at Gorin 5 road.
Tuesday we went a little further, and anchored over against Margate town, staying for a wind for the Downs.
27.
28.
1 On account of the cattle she had on board-and also on account of the instructions she was carrying out to Endicott to anticipate Oldham in occupying Massachusetts Bay. See pages 68 and 150.
Leigh is near the mouth of the Thames.
3 These Flats, under . different names, extend from the Nore and
Sheerness to the North Foreland. See Norie's British Channel Pilot, pp. 13-17.
4 The channel is called the Five Fathoms Channel.
5 The Gore is one of the anchor- ages most commonly used, especially by large ships bound to the Downs, before coming to Margate and the North Foreland. See Norie, p. 17.
218
THE SHIPS IN THE DOWNS.
CHAP. XI. Wednesday, we came safely, though with much - turning and tacking, through the Gulls,1 into the Downs,2 and stayed that night.
1629. April 30. May 1, 2.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the wind blew hard from south-west, and caused our ship to dance ; and divers of our passengers, and my wife specially, were sea-sick. Here the King's ship called the As- surance pressed two of our mariners. Here we saw many porpoises playing in the sea, which they say is a sign of foul weather.
3.
Sabbath day, a windy day and cold. We kept Sabbath, staying still at the Downs.
4.
Monday, God sent us a fair gale of wind, north north-east, whereby we came merrily from the Downs ; and passing Dover we saw six or seven sail of Dunkirkers3 wafting after us. But it seemed they saw our company was too strong for them, for then we had with us three or four ships that went for the Straits ;4 so they returned back from pursu- ing us any longer. But sailing with a good wind, we went speedily, and at night came near the Isle of Wight ; but being dark, we durst not put into the channel,5 but put back for sea-room four hours, and then other four hours sailed back again the same way.
1 The common track for large icles of Plymouth, note 4 on page ships to the Downs is through the 123, and Norie, p. 28. Gull Stream. This is bounded on 3 Dunkirk was at this time part of the Spanish Netherlands, and there was war between England and Spain. the eastern side by the Goodwin Sands, and on the western side by the Elbow, Gull, and Brake Sands. See Norie, p. 23.
2 The Downs, or Dunes, properly signify sand-hills on the coast. But the word is now used to designate the well-known anchorage off Deal, inside of the Goodwin. See Chron-
4 Of Gibraltar, bound up the Me- diterranean.
5 The channel between the Isle of Wight and the coast of Hampshire, entering at St. Helen's, and com- ing out at the Needles.
219
THE SHIPS AT COWES.
Tuesday, early in the morning, we entered the CHAP. channel, the wind being weak and calm, and passed XI. by Portsmouth very slowly ; but in the afternoon 1629. May 5. the wind quickened, and we were forced to anchor a little on this side Cowcastle ;1 but the wind growing more favorable, we weighed and came to anchor again right against Cowcastle, thinking to stay that night, the wind being very calm. Here I and my wife, and my daughter Mary, and two maids, and some others with us, obtained of the master of the ship to go ashore to refresh us and to wash our linens ; and so we lay at Cowes? that night. But the wind turning when we were absent, they hoisted sail and left us there, and anchored eight miles fur- ther, over against Yarmouth,3 about eight of the clock at night.
Wednesday, betime in the morning, the shallop was sent from the ship to fetch us to Yarmouth. But the water proved rough, and our women desired to be set on shore three miles short of Yarmouth ; and so went on foot by land, and lodged in Yarmouth that night.
6.
On Thursday and Friday, there master Beecher,4 7, 8.
A small castle, in the form of a crescent, was built at West Cowes, on each side of the river Medina, in the reign of Henry VIII. The part on the west side still remains. See Parl. Gaz. i. 517.
2 See note 1 on page 127.
3 Yarmouth is in the Isle of Wight.
4 Thomas Beecher commanded the same vessel, the Talbot, in Winthrop's fleet, the next year. He was one of the early members of the church in Boston, and was ad- mitted a freeman Nov. 6, 1632. He settled in Charlestown, and his
name, with his wife's, Christian, stands second on the list of those who subscribed the covenant of the church in that place, Nov. 2, 1632, having been dismissed for that pur- pose from Boston church, Oct. 14. He was one of the first selectmen of Charlestown, and was one of its representatives at the first Court of Deputies held May 14, 1634, and again in 1635 and 1636. In May, 1635, he was appointed by the Gen- eral Court captain of the fort at Cas- tle Island. He died in 1637. See Col. Rec. i. 150; Savage's Win- throp, i. 2, ii. 363 ; Frothingham's
220
THE SHIPS AT YARMOUTH.
CHAP. allowed by the Company,1 gave me forty shillings to
XI. make our provision of what things we would for the 1629. voyage.
May 9.
Saturday, we went to board again ; and this day we had two other men pressed to serve the King's ship ; but we got one again by entreaty.
10.
The Sabbath, next day, we kept the ship, where I preached in the morning, and in the afternoon was entreated to preach at Yarmouth ; where Mr. Meare and Captain Borley? entertained us very kindly, and earnestly desired to be certified of our safe arrival in New-England, and of the state of the country.3
11.
Monday morning, blew a fair wind from east south- east ; and the Lion's Whelp having taken in all her provision for passengers, about three of the clock in the afternoon we hoisted sail for the Needles,4 and by God's guidance safely passed that narrow passage a little after four o'clock in the afternoon ; and being entered into the sea, from the top of the mast we discerned four sail of ships lying southward from us. But night coming on, we took in our long-boat and
Hist. of Charlestown, p. 80; Bud- ington's Hist. of First Church in Charlestown, pp. 33, 184.
1 The Company of Adventurers for New-England, who had made the Agreement with the ministers. Skelton charged the Company £2 10s. for the expenses he incurred at Tilbury, Cowes, and Yarmouth, be- ing wind-bound. See Felt's Salem, i. 511.
2 ." Captain Burleigh, captain of Yarmouth castle, a grave, comely gentleman, and of great age, came aboard us, and stayed breakfast ; and offering us much courtesy, he departed, our captain giving him four shot out of the forecastle for his farewell. He was an old sea-cap-
tain in Queen Elizabeth's time, and being taken prisoner at sea, was kept prisoner in Spain three years. Himself and three of his sons were captains in Roe's voyage." Win- throp, i. 4. Burleigh was probably a Puritan.
' It was partly, perhaps, to grat- 3 ify them, that Higginson wrote this Journal of his Voyage and his New- England's Plantation. See p. 214. 4 The Needles' channel is so call- ed from the sharp rocks, which, at the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, shoot up like needles. The sharp-pointed granite peaks in the neighbourhood of Mont Blanc are called Aiguilles, or Needles.
221
FAREWELL TO ENGLAND.
shallop, and the next day we had a fair gale of east- CHAP. erly wind, that brought us towards night as far as the Lizard. XI. 1629. May 13.
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