CHAPTER VI.

New England.

Company for Colonizing the Northern Coast-Expeditions under Chalons-Popham - Smith - His Captivity - Darmer and Rocraft-New Patent-Successful Fishery-The Brownists -They land at Cape Cod-Various Adventures-Settlement at New Plymouth-Stations in New Hampshire and Maine -Persecution of the Puritans-A great Number sail for America-Foundation of Salem and Boston-Constitution and Laws of Massachusetts-Opposition at Home-Suspended by the civil Wars-Religious Dissensions-Roger Williams-He founds Rhode Island-The Antinomians-Mrs Hutchinson-Her Banishment-Union of the New England Colonies-Disturbances raised by Gorton-The Anabaptists -The Quakers-Severe Proceedings against this BodyEffects of the Restoration-Commissioners sent out-Resistance by the Colonists-Their Constitution subverted-Tyrannical Proceedings-Changes after the Revolution-Indian Wars The Pequods-General Confederacy- Overcome Hostilities in New Hampshire and Maine-Indian Conversions-Delusion respecting Witchcraft-Violent Proceedings -Their Termination-Successive Governors-BellamontDudley- Shute-Burnet - Belcher - Shirley - PownallBernard-Progress of Connecticut - Of Rhode Island-Of New Hampshire and Maine.

WE have already observed that in the grand scheme concerted in 1606 for colonizing Virginia, one company had been authorized to form establishments on the southern, another on the northern part of the extensive coast which bears that name. taken by certain merchants in capitalists in the western ports.

The first was underLondon, the other by The former, whose for

tune we have already traced, undertook their task with more ample means, carried it on with greater perseverance, and, though amid many disasters, rose sooner into importance. The latter, however, was not destitute of powerful supporters, among whom were Sir John Popham, at that time chief-justice of England, and Sir Ferdinand Gorges, governor of Plymouth. In August 1606, they had fitted out a vessel of fifty-five tons, with a crew of twenty-nine Englishmen and two savages. Captain Chalons, the commander, took the circuitous route of the West Indies, and having been involved, near the coast of Hispaniola, in thick fogs and tempestuous weather, found himself surrounded by eight vessels manned by Spaniards. They rushed on board with drawn swords, and made prisoners of the crew, who were distributed among the different ships and conveyed to Europe. The captain and pilot with some others were brought to Seville, thrown into prison, and treated with the utmost indignity. Robert Cooke, one of their number, having died, his body was dragged naked through the prison, amid cries of "behold the Lutheran ;" and Humfries, the boatswain, was assassinated. Through the humane intercession, however, of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, they obtained a mitigation of their sufferings, and, by following the advice of a respectable ecclesiastic, had even the satisfaction of getting the murderer hanged. At length they escaped to England.*

Another party, sent out with supplies to Chalons, were much dismayed upon not finding any trace of him or his companions. They were pleased, however, with the aspect of the country, and brought home such a favourable report as incited the adventurers to fresh efforts. In 1607, they sent two ships with 100 men, conducted by Captain Popham, a son of the chief-justice, and a brother of Sir John Gilbert. The crews, having landed near the mouth of the Kennebec, built a fort named St George ; but they found the winter intensely cold; a quantity of their

VOL. I.

* Purchas, part iv. p. 1832-1836.

L

stores was consumed by fire; and Popham, their principal leader, died. Next season, a vessel arrived with fresh supplies, but conveying tidings of the death of the chief-justice, and also of Sir John Gilbert, which induced their president, who was his heir, to come to England and take possession of the estate. All these inauspicious circumstances so discouraged the settlers, that, like some of the more southern colonists, they determined in a body to return home, thus rendering all the exertions of the company completely abortive.*

This unwelcome arrival proved it is said " a wonderful discouragement" to such undertakings, which there was long "no more speech" of renewing. Sir Francis Popham, however, who succeeded as governor, sent out vessels on his own account to fish and carry on the furtrade. His adventure, being found profitable, was followed by others; and at least one crew wintered on the coast. A powerful impulse was given to colonization, when Smith, unable now to find employment in Virginia, directed all the powers of his intelligent mind into this new sphere. In 1614, he prevailed upon four merchants of London to furnish him with two traders, and also fifteen men to form a settlement. No mention is made of any connexion with the Plymouth company, who, indeed, when they effected so little themselves, could not with a good grace have opposed the attempt. The whale-fishery, apparently the leading object, failed; whence the plan of settlement seems to have been relinquished. By boat-fishing, however, and by collecting martin, beaver, and otter skins, a value of £1500 was realized, which was considered a very favourable return. While the others, too, were thus employed, Smith contrived to make a survey of the coast, from the Penobscot to Cape Cod, and gave to the country the memorable name of New England, which it has ever since retained. This voyage, however, was followed by a most distressing event. Thomas Hunt, left in charge of one of

* A briefe Relation of the Discovery and Plantation of New England. By the President and Councell. London, 1622.

the ships, inveigled on board thirty of the natives, whom he carried to Malaga, and sold as slaves. The consequence was that Captain Hobson, who arrived a short time after, without any knowledge of the crime, was killed, with several of his crew; and much pains were necessary to assuage the resentment thus kindled.

Meantime, the arrival of Smith in this country produced so favourable an impression, that the Virginia and Plymouth companies vied with each other in soliciting his services. The former offered four ships, which he declined in consequence of a previous engagement to their western rivals; a circumstance he afterwards found reason to repent, since, nothing being in readiness, he was involved in a labyrinth of trouble before he could procure two vessels, with only fifteen settlers. Upon going to sea, a violent storm, which broke his masts, obliged him to return. Being provided with a smaller vessel, he again set sail, but when in the vicinity of the Azores, he was captured by French pirates, who carried him to Rochelle, whence he contrived to escape. A great part of his property, however, was lost in this voyage.*

The company did not altogether discontinue their exertions; and Captain Darmer, who sailed with Smith in 1615, reached the coast and made a good fishery. During the succeeding years, he and Rocraft displayed very considerable activity. Darmer made a voyage along the coast to Virginia, proving for the first time its continuity with New England; and meeting some Dutchmen, who had opened a trade on the Hudson, he gave on the whole a highly favourable account of the country. An attempt was made to conciliate the natives by means of Squanto, called sometimes Tisquantum, one of Hunt's victims, who had found his way to Newfoundland, whence he was sent home by Mason, the governor. Much distress was, however, experienced, both from their enmity and from the violence and insubordination of the English sailors. Rocraft, after suppressing a violent mutiny,

Smith ap. Pinkerton, vol. xiii. p. 225-229. Briefe Relation, &c.

was killed in a conflict with one of his own people; while Darmer, severely wounded by a band of savages, was constrained to retire into Virginia, where he soon afterwards died. These disasters checked greatly the progress of the few scattered settlements.* Smith, meantime, after his return, strained every nerve to inspire his countrymen with colonizing zeal. He went from city to city, applied to various individuals who had shown an interest in the subject, and circulated at great expense 7000 copies of books and maps. He complains, that he might as well have attempted to " cut rocks with oyster-shells." Besides this prevailing apathy, he was objected to as an unfortunate man; for all his undertakings had failed, and a contrast was drawn between the poor state of Virginia under him, and its present prosperous condition, when the planters were living in ease and luxury on the juice of tobacco. Though he could show that this arose from causes which he could not control, he found it difficult to shake the influence of fortune over men's minds.† At length the Plymouth company began to make a movement; but it was altogether in a false direction. Their patent had hitherto been so limited, that they had not been able to prevent the rivalry of the London merchants, and even of the Virginia association. They conceived, that if they could obtain the same exclusive privileges which had been lavished on the latter, they might be equally prosperous. By continued solicitation during two years, and by receiving into their number some influential individuals, they gained from James I., on the 3d November 1620, a most ample charter for all the country between the 40th and 48th degrees of north latitude, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, comprising about a million of square miles, and including New York and New England, with all the northern states of the Union. Within these vast limits they obtained the exclusive right not only of settlement but of trade and fishery. No stipulation

* Briefe Relation, &c.

+ Smith's New England's Trials, 2d edition, 1622.