USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Lives of the governors of New Plymouth, and Massachusetts bay; from the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620, to the union of the two colonies in 1692 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
153
THOMAS PRENCE.
Governor Prence was not altogether happy in his administration of the government. The severe proceed- ings against sectaries, especially against the Quakers, which were favored by him, and in which his conduct was intolerant, and in some instances overbearing, creat- .ed dissatisfaction even amongst those who were hostile to the introduction of new sects. Governor Prence himself, in temper and spirit, more closely resembled the stern puritans who settled upon the Bay of Massa- chusetts, than his predecessors in the government of Plymouth. He saw with dread and misgiving the in- creasing indifference of the people to the support of the clergy. He knew that before the death of Governor ·Bradford, that venerable man had spoken of it with apprehension. He had endeavored, with Winslow, ten years before, to check the growing influence of the new sects among the deputies, and the people. Men began to doubt the benefit of stated preaching, and chose to exercise their own spiritual gifts; and so inadequate was the support given to the clergy, that many left the colony. Gorton's extravagances had excited disgust ; and now when the Quakers, whose tenets and practices bore some resemblance to his, began to appear, a large majority of the people were ready to adopt the severe policy pursued in Massachusetts, which was now advo- cated by Governor Prence.
There were still influential men in the colony who were open friends of toleration, and had the nerve to op- pose the popular current. James Cudworth and Thomas Hatherly, two of the assistants, whose views were in advance of the age, objected to the persecution of the Quakers. They were at once proscribed and omitted
20
.
154
THOMAS PRENCE.
from the magistracy; and in 1659, when the people of Scituate returned General Cudworth as a deputy to the general court, such was the bigotry of the majority, that they unceremoniously denied him a seat .*
In a letter, written in 1658, General Cudworth thus describes the state of public feeling at that time exist- ing in the colony : "The state and condition of things amongst us is sad, and so like to continue. The anti- christian, persecuting spirit is very active, and that in the powers of this world. He that will not lash, punish and persecute men that differ in matters of religion, must not sit on the bench, nor sustain any office in the commonwealth. Last election, Mr. Hatherly and my- self were left off the bench, and myself discharged of my Captainship, because I had entertained some of the Quakers at my house, thereby that I might be better acquainted with their principles. I thought it better to
* Gen. Cudworth, who was one of the most estimable men in the colony, came from England in 1632, settled at Scituate, where he was chosen a deputy in 16-19, and for several succeeding years. In 1656, he was chosen assistant, in which office he continued until displaced as above stated. On the election of Governor Josiah Winslow, in 1673, he endeavored and with success, to make honorable amends for the abuse and neglect which Cudworth had suffered from his predecessor, Gov. Prence. In the colony records, July 1673, is an entry, that " Capt. Cudworth, by a full and clear vote, is accepted and re-established, in the association and body of this Commonwealth." He was chosen an assistant again from 1674, to 16-0, inclusively. In 1675, he was chosen " General and Commander in Chief of all the forces that are or may be sent forth against the enemy," and he continued in that place until Philip's war was ended. In 1631, he was appointed an agent for the colony to England. He was also Deputy Governor the same year. On his arrival in London in the autumn of 1682, he unfortunately took the small pox, of which he died.
Mr. Hatherly was originally from Devonshire, afterwards a merchant of London, and came to Plymouth in the ship Anne in 1623. He became a great landholder, was one of the founders of Scituate, and was among the most enter- prising men of the Colony. He was an assistant thirteen years, treasurer of the colony, and one of the commissioners of the United Colonies, He died in 1666, without issue.
155
THOMAS PRENCE.
-do so, than with the blind world to censure, condemn, rail at, and revile them, when they neither saw their persons, nor knew any of their principles. But the Qua- kers and myself cannot close, in divers things, and so I signified to the Court; but told them withal, that as I was no Quaker, so I would be no persecutor."
The Quakers, who had endured persecution in Eng- land, appeared in this country in 1656, and immediately attracted the notice of the authorities. The leaders of the sect in New Plymouth were Humphrey Norton and John Rouse. They were turbulent men, violent in all their proceedings, and in a very short time provoked a persecution, which might not have followed, had their conduct been as wise and discreet as that of Penn and his followers in Pennsylvania. Severe laws were enacted against them, and enforced with the rigor characteristic of the times.
In October, 1657, Norton was summoned before the court of magistrates, and being convicted of "divers horrid errors," was ordered to depart from the jurisdic- tion, and he was conducted by a marshal to the boundary of Rhode Island. But the spirit of these enthusiasts was not thus to be subdued. Norton returned not long afterwards, and was imprisoned. When arraigned before the governor, and charged with his offences against the laws, he said to the governor, "Thomas, thou liest! thou art a malicious man !" His companion Rouse being equally turbulent, they were both sentenced to be whip- ped. The punishment was inflicted, when, after another short imprisonment, they left the colony. Others of the sect were banished, but no one suffered death, as in the neighboring colony of Massachusetts.
I
156
THOMAS FRENCE,
Norton had offered a written paper to the governor, which he refused to receive. Smarting under a sense of the severity and cruelty with which he had been . treated, he addressed letters to Governor Prence and to Mr. Alden, who was one of the assistants, in which he vented his resentment, in strains approaching to elo- quence, and claimed to be a prophet, a delusion which he probably cherished in all sincerity. A portion of the letter to the governor, here follows :
" Thomas Prence, thou who hast bent thy heart to work wickedness, and with thy tongue hast set forth deccit; thou imaginest mischief upon thy bed, and hatchest thy hatred in thy secret chamber ; the strength of darkness is over thec, and a malicious mouth hast thou opened against God and his anointed, and with thy tongue and lips hast thou uttered perverse things ; thou hast slandered the innocent by railing, lying, and false accusations, and with thy barbarous heart hast thou caused their blood to be shed. Thou hast through these things broken and transgressed the laws and ways of God, and equity is not before thy eyes ; the curse causeless can- not come upon thee, nor the vengeance of God unjustly cannot fetch thee up; thou makest thyself merry with thy secret malice, and when thou actest or executest it, it is in derision and scorn. The deadly drink of the cup of indignation thou cannot escape, and the grief and cause of travail will not be greater than thine. Since first I saw thee, and before, thy false and lying tongue hath been forged against me. I shall not write nor speak this without ground, as thou hast done by me, but plainly shall present thy doings before thy face ; as firstly, shy former warrant was forged upon a filthy lie, and
157
THOMAS PRENCE.
therein thou titlest me an extravagant person; thy sec- ond had helping hand in causing me to be recorded for several errors, and like a shameless man would neither acknowledge nor deny ; thy third, that John Rouse and I were inordinate fellows, and never in the least made it ap- pear wherein ; thy fourth that I intended within two days after the time thou spake it, to make a preachment, as thou in thy derision called it thereaways ; thy fifth, thy promise that I should have the law, and afterwards went about to deny it, so as from thee I never had it yet ; thy sixth, popish and jesuitical names, withal thy lying slan- ders and false aspersions cast upon us from thy clamor- ous tongue ; thy seventh, acting contrary to law, equity and justice, and judgment, according to the evil of thine own heart,-all these art thou guilty of, besides the de- nying of my paper, which was presented to thee, contain- ing part of my grounds of my coming ; thy eighth, thy striving to dash my words back upon me, and to hinder me to speak in the people's hearing, striving what thou could to stain the truth of God with thy envious tongue, all which things are charged upon thy head, and as a peal of hail stones will pelt upon thy heart; thou hast perverted justice and true judgment, and hast defrauded the poor and needy ; thou hast caused to defraud the righteous owner of his goods, and art heaping it up as upon a hill, wherewith thou wilt purchase to thyself and others a field of blood, wherein to bury your dead. John Alden is to thee like unto a packhorse, whereupon thou layest thy beastly bag ; cursed are all they that have a hand therein ; the cry of vengeance will pursue thee day and night, for other men's goods, hard speeches, unrighteous actions, which thou hast done and spoken against others
158
THOMAS PRENCE.
and us, without and contrary to the righteous law; so shall rest upon thee as frontlets upon thy head, and as we have suffered without law, so shalt thou perish with- out law, if thou repent not. The days of thy wailing will be like unto that of a woman that murthers the fruit of her womb; the anguish and pain that will enter thy reins will be like gnawing worms lodging betwixt thy heart and liver. When these things come upon thee, and thy back bowed down with pain, in that day and hour thou shalt know to thy grief that prophets of the Lord God we are, and the God of vengeance is our God. "HUMPHREY NORTON."
Language of extreme bitterness like this, however it may have been provoked by persecution, was not likely to soften the hearts of those in power; and during the year 1658, several disfranchising laws were passed against the Quakers. " No Quaker, Ranter, or any such corrupt person," was permitted to be a freeman of the corporation. All such as were opposers to the good and wholesome laws of the colony, or manifest opposers of the true worship of God, or such as refused to do the country service, being called thereunto, on conviction, were denied the privileges of freemen. Any freemen of the corporation being Quakers, or such as were mani- fest encouragers of them, and so judged by the court; and such as spoke contemptuously of the court and the Jaws; and such as were adjudged by the court, " grossly scandalous, as lyers, drunkards, and swearers," &c. were to lose the freedom of the corporation. All such as re- fused to take the oath of fidelity, as Quakers, and their abettors, were denied a vote in the choice of public offi- cers, and were restricted from holding offices of trust.
159
-
THOMAS PRENCE.
The court also passed another law, with this pregnant preamble : " Whereas sundry persons, both Quakers and others, wander up and down in this jurisdiction, and fol- low no lawful calling, to earn their bread, and also do use all endeavours to subvert the civil state, and pull down all churches and ordinances of God, to thrust us out of the ways of God, notwithstanding all former laws provided for the contrary :"
The court therefore directed, that a work-house or house of correction should be erected, " for the restraint of all such vagabonds as wander up and down without any lawful calling, and also all idle persons, or rebellious children, or servants that are stubborn and will not work, to earn their own bread, and yet have not wherewith to maintain themselves," &c.
Much censure has been thrown upon the govern- ment of Plymouth, for the severity of these laws, and the cruelty of the punishments which were inflicted on the Quakers. They were severe beyond what the necessity of the case required, and were enforced with rigor. But the task of palliation, in this case, is not very difficult, however difficult it might be to find grounds for a full justification. The circumstances of the times, and the spirit of the age, should be considered in pronouncing judgment upon these dark passages in the history of New Plymouth.
The Quakers who first appeared in the colony, were not inhabitants of the country. They came from abroad, originally from England, but immediately from Barba- does. - Although they professed to inculcate the principles of peace and benevolence, they waged a most furious. war against a religion, which was much endeared to the
160
THOMAS PRENCE.
1
people whom they were endeavoring to proselyte ; for which that people had suffered much, and who were ready to suffer much more, if necessary, to attest their strong conviction of its truth. Their laws, their govern- ment, their forms of worship, all which they had been taught to venerate, and were accustomed to love, were denounced in harsh and vulgar terms, by utter stran- gers. Their magistrates were openly insulted, and their ministers were reviled, in language of insolent abuse. It is not surprising, therefore, that they should have attempted to check what appeared to them to be blas- phemy and impiety. Although these new expounders of the scriptures styled themselves the Prophets of God, yet it was not an unnatural nor strange result in that day, that they should have been regarded by those among whom they came, as men " possessed with demons."
It is very probable, that the deportment of Gov- ernor Prence towards Norton, was domineering and arrogant ; for he was a man who detested schismatics of every shade, and had no particular sympathy for those who affected to despise and deride all " human learn- ing." Yet one far more indulgent than he was, placed in the same situation, would have been himself possessed of uncommon self-command, if he could have tolerated personal insult, and tamely suffered himself to be charged with falsehood and malice, while in the very exercise of his high authority on the judgment seat, and presiding in court. Even in our own times, under a much more tolerant system, and with a mitigated penal code, "con- tempt of court," is deemed a high offence, and is pun- ished accordingly. Still it is better that the hands of power should fall gently on all enthusiasts in morals or
161
THOMAS PRENCE.
religion, and on any who make pretence-even if it be nothing but pretence ---- of acting under the strong impulses of religious feeling. The Pope of Rome, when he dis- missed the too zealous Quaker without injury, who even within the walls of the Vatican denounced him as the " Man of Sin," and as "the Antichrist," acted wisely, by choosing to consider this effusion of zeal, as an out- pouring of insanity ; and, intolerant as he was to reli- gious heresy, he could be charged with no want of in- dulgence to human infirmity.
It has been observed, that the tolerant spirit which ruled in the councils of Rhode Island, gave offence to the other colonies. It was, beyond a doubt, the main cause of her exclusion from the league of 1643. After the Quakers had begun to flee to that colony, as a "city of refuge," the commissioners of the United Colonies requested the government of Rhode Island to prohibit the Quakers coming into that colony, and to expel those who were already there. Governor Prence, at that time a commissioner, joined in this arrogant request, the only commissioner who refused his assent being General Cudworth of Scituate. The answer of the government of Rhode Island, is in admirable spirit. "As concerning these Quakers, (say they, ) which are now among us, we have no law among us whereby to punish any for only declaring by words, &c., their minds and under- standings concerning the things and ways of God, as to salvation and an eternal condition. And we moreover find, that in those places where these people in this colony are most of all suffered to declare themselves freely, and are only opposed by arguments in discourse, there they least of all desire to come."
21
,
.
162
THOMAS PRENCE.
In 1658, the exasperation had increased to such a degree, that the commissioners recommended to the colo- nies the punishment of death against all of that "cursed set of heretics," who should be found in the country after sentence of banishment. A panic seized the good people of the colony, and further oppressive laws were enacted against the Quakers; but fortunately the manda- mus of Charles II., in 1661, finally put an end to their persecutions in New England. The most obnoxious laws against them were soon afterwards repealed.
Public prejudice during all this time had prevailed to such a degree in New Plymouth as to exclude from her councils some of the best citizens in the colony, who had been honest and bold enough to encounter it ; but upon the accession of the second Governor Winslow, these men were promptly restored to public trusts, and regained the general confidence. The Quakers them- selves, hitherto so turbulent, when left unmolested by penal regulations, settled down into a quiet, orderly life, and became the most peaceful, industrious and moral of all religious sects.
Beside the difficulties already stated, which Governor Prence had to encounter, he also met with serious em- barrassments from the hostile feeling, which was increas- ing among the Indians. The demise of. the great and good sachem Massasoit; the accession of his son Alex- ander, and his early death, under circumstances causing great excitement and apprehension; the movements of the warlike and resolute Philip, and the decisive meas- ures, which it became necessary to take with the Squaw Sachem of Pocasset, and the heads of other Indian tribes, more or less under the influence of Philip, required the
163
THOMAS PRENCE.
most constant vigilance and attention, on the part of the government.
After the death of Massasoit, his two sons, Wamsutta and Metacomet, appeared before the court at Plymouth, and requested that English names might be given them. Governor Prence gave to Wamsutta the name of Alex- ander, and to Metacomet, that of Philip. In 1662, Gov- ernor Prence received information, by letters, from Bos- ton, that Alexander was contriving mischief against the English, and that he had solicited the Narragansetts to engage in his hostile enterprises, denominated, by the writers of that period, " a designated rebellion." Capt. Willett, who lived near Mount Hope, was appointed to confer with Alexander, and to request his attendance at the next court at Plymouth, to explain his proceedings. From his conversation with Capt. Willett, his appearance at court was expected. He did not attend, however, but still continuing his intercourse with the Narragan- setts, the government of Plymouth directed Major Josiah Winslow, to bring him before them by force. Major Winslow immediately proceeded, with ten men, to exe- cute his instructions. On his way from Marshfield to Mount Hope, he unexpectedly found Alexander at his hunting house, about half way between Plymouth and Bridgewater. He had with him a number of his men, (Hubbard says, eighty,) well armed. Major Winslow, it appears, came upon the party by surprise, and having secured their arms, which were without doors, entered the wigwam, and communicated his instructions. "The proud Sachem," says Dr. I. Mather, " fell into a raging passion, at this surprise, saying that the Governor had no reason to credit rumors, or to send for him in such a
1
164
THOMAS PRENCE.
way, nor would he go to Plymouth but when he saw cause." By the advice of his interpreter, a brother of John Sausaman, he was prevailed upon to submit. It was a warm summer day, and the Major kindly offered his prisoner the use of a horse ; but his squaw and sever- al other Indian women, being of the party, who could not be furnished with horses, Alexander politely declin- ed the offer, observing, that he could go on foot as well as they, only entreating that they might march with a slow pace, to accommodate the women. In this request he was indulged ; and Major Winslow treated his royal prisoner with every attention, consistent with the object he was required to accomplish. It was necessary to wait, until Governor Prence could be informed of the circumstances, and should arrive at Plymouth, from Eastham, where he then resided. The prisoner in the mean time was taken to the Major's house, at Marshfield, and was there courteously entertained. But the high spirit of the savage king could not brook the affront. " Vexing and fretting in his spirit," says Dr. Mather, "that such a check was given him, he suddenly fell sick of a fever." Every proper humane attention appears to have been afforded him in his sickness. He was nursed as a choice friend, and Dr. Fuller, a neighboring physi- cian, prescribed for his relief.
His disease continuing, the Indians, in his train, en- treated that he might be dismissed ; and their request was finally granted, upon his engagement to appear at the next court ; but he soon after died, Hubbard says, " be- fore he got half way home."
There can be no doubt that the surprisal of Alexan- der, followed as it was by his sudden death, greatly
165
THOMAS PRENCE.
incensed the Indians; and an examination of all the facts disclosed in the case, will justify the received opin- ion, that, from the hour of Alexander's death, the hearts of his warriors were steeled against the English. The account of the transaction which we have here given, is almost in the words of Mather and Hubbard, who wrote at the same time. It presents the conduct of the Ply- mouth authorities in an unenviable light ; for at the time there seems to have been no evidence whatever of the hos- tile designs attributed to the successor of the great sachem of the Wampanoags, who had been so truc a friend to the English. The seizure of Alexander was therefore an outrage, that might well wound the spirit of the savage king, and animate his successor with the purposes of revenge. Judge Davis, in his edition of Morton, presents a different view of the case, and one which would go to relieve the government of Plymouth from the harsh judgment to which previous accounts had given rise. It is contained in a letter from the Rev. John Cotton of Plymouth, to Dr. Increase Mather, without date, but probably written in 1677, and refers to the account which had been drawn up by the authorities of Ply- mouth, styled " Narrative de Alexandro."*
The letter begins, "Major Bradford [who was with Mr. Winslow when Alexander was surprised] confi- dently assures me, that in the Narrative de Alexandro, . there are many mistakes, and, fearing lest you should, through information, print some mistakes on that subject, from his mouth I this write. Reports being here that Alexander was plotting, or privy to plots, against the English, authority sent to him to come down. He
* This Narrative, in manuscript, is in the library of the Mass. Hist. Society.
166
THOMAS PRENCE.
came not. Whereupon Major Winslow was sent to fetch him. Major Bradford with some others, went with him. At Munponset River, a place not many miles hence, they found Alexander with about eight men and sundry squaws. He was there about getting canoes. He and his men were at breakfast under their shelter, their guns being without. They saw the English coming, but con- tinued eating; and Mr. Winslow telling their business, Alexander, freely and readily, without the least hesitancy, consented to go, giving his reason why he came not to the court before, viz : because he waited for Capt. Willett's return from the Dutch, being desirous to speak with him first .* They brought him to Mr. Collier's that day, and Governor Prence living remote at Eastham, those few magistrates who were at hand issued the matter peacea- bly, and immediately dismissed Alexander to return home, which he did part of the way; but, in two or three days after, he returned and went to Major Wins- low's house, intending thence to travel into the bay and so home; but, at the major's house, he was taken very sick, and was, by water, conveyed to Mr. Bradford's, and thence carried upon the shoulders of his men to Tetehquet River, and thence in canoes home, and, about two or three days after, died."t
* Capt. Thomas Willett, who is here referred to, was one of the Leyden Pil- grims ; came over in 1620; was an assistant from 1651 to 1665, when he re- moved to New York, and became the first English mayor of that city. Owning lands in the Narragansett country, he afterwards settled near Mount Hope, where he had much intercourse and influence with the Indians. He died at Barrington, R. I., 1 Aug. 1674, aged 61. Francis Willett, distinguished in Rhode Island, was Ins grandson, and Colonel Marinus Willett, of New York, a distinguished officer of the revolutionary war, and mayor of the city, was his descendant.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.