University of Virginia Library

Newbury on ye Merrimack, May ye 14th, 1678.

We were hardly on our Way Yesterday, from Agawam,
when a dashing young Gallant rode up very fast
behind us. He was fairly clad, in rich stuffs, and rode
a Nag of good Mettle. He saluted us with much Ease
and Courtliness, offering especial compliments to Rebecca,
to whom he seemed well known, and who I
thought was both glad and surprised at his coming.
As I rode near, she said it gave her great joy to bring
to each others Acquaintance, Sir Thomas Hale, a
good Friend of her Father's and her cousin Margaret,

who, like himself, was a new Comer. He replied,
that he should look with Favor on any one who was
near to her in Friendship or Kindred; and, on learning
my Father's name, said he had seen him at his Uncle's,
Sir Matthew Hale's, many Years ago, and could vouch
for him as a worthie Man. After some pleasant and
merrie Discoursing with us, he and my brother fell into
converse upon the state of Affairs in the Colonie, the
late lamentable Warre with the Narraganset and
Pequod Indians, together with the Growth of Heresie
and Schism in the Churches, which latter he did not
scruple to charge upon the wicked Policy of the Home
Government, in checking the wholesome severity of
the Laws here enacted against the Schemers and
Ranters. “I quite agree,” said he, “with Mr. Rawson,
that they should have hanged ten where they did
one.” Cousin Rebecca here said she was sure her
Father was now glad the Laws were changed, and that
he had often told her that, although the Condemned
deserved their Punishment, he was not sure that it was
the best way to put down the Heresie. If she was
Ruler, she continued in her merrie way, she would
send all the Schemers and Ranters, and all the sour,
crabbed, Busy-bodies in the Churches, off to Rhode
Island, where all kinds of Folly, in Spirituals as well
as Temporals, were permitted, and one crazy Head
could not reproach Another.

Falling back a little, and waiting for Robert Pike
and cousin Broughton to come up, I found them
marvelling at the coming of the young Gentleman,
who it did seem had no special concernment in these
parts, other than his Acquaintance with Rebecca, and
his Desire of her Companie. Robert Pike, as is
natural, looks upon him with no great partialitie, yet he
doth admit him to be well-bred, and of much and
varied knowledge, acquired by far Travel as well as
Study. I must say, I like not his confident and bold
Manner, and bearing, toward my faire Cousin; and he
hath more the likeness of a cast-off Dangler at the
Court, than of a modest and seemly country Gentleman,
of a staid and well-ordered House. Mistress
Broughton says he was not at first accredited in
Boston, but that her father, and Mr. Atkinson, and the
chief people there now, did hold him to be not only
what he professeth as respecteth his gentlemanly
Lineage, but also learned and ingenious, and well
versed in the Scriptures, and the works of godly
Writers, both of ancient and modern Time. I noted
that Robert was very silent during the rest of our
Journey, and seemed abashed and troubled in the
presence of the gay Gentleman; for, although a fair
and comely Youth, and of good Familie and Estate,
and accounted solid and judicious beyond his Years, he

does, nevertheless, much lack the Ease and ready Wit
with which the latter commendeth himself to my sweet
Kinswoman.

We crossed about Noon a broad Stream near to
the Sea, very deep and miry, so that we wetted our
Hose and Skirts somewhat; and soon to our great
joy, beheld the pleasant cleared Fields and Dwellings
of the Settlement, stretching along for a goodlie Distance,
while, beyond all, the great Ocean rolled, blue
and cold, under an high easterly Wind. Passing
through a broad Path, with well tilled Fields on each
Hand, where Men were busy planting Corne, and
young Maids dropping the Seed, we came at length to
uncle Rawson's Plantation, looking well-nigh as faire
and broad as the Lands of Hilton Grange, with a good
frame House, and large Barns thereon. Turning up
the Lane, we were met by the House-keeper, a respectable
Kinswoman, who received us with great
civilitie. Sir Thomas, although pressed to stay,
excused himself for the Time, promising to call on the
Morrow, and rode on to the Ordinary. I was sadly
tired with my Journey, and was glad to be shown to a
Chamber and a comfortable Bed.

I was awakened this Morning by the pleasant Voice
of my Cousin, who shared my Bed. She had arisen
and thrown open the Window looking towards the Sunrising,

and the Aire came in soft and warm, and laden
with the sweets of Flowers and green growing things.
And when I had gotten myself ready, I sat with her at
the Window, and I think I may say it was with a
Feeling of Praise and Thanksgiving that mine Eyes
wandered up and down over the green Meadows, and
Corn-fields, and Orchards of my new Home. Where,
thought I, foolish one, be the Terrors of the Wilderness
which troubled thy daily Thoughts and thy nightly
Dreams! Where be the gloomy Shades, and desolate
Mountains, and the wild Beasts, with their dismal
Howlings and Rages! Here all looked peaceful, and
bespoke Comfort and Contentedness. Even the great
Woods which climbed up the Hills in the Distance
looked thin and soft, with their faint young leaves a
yellowish grey, intermingled with pale, silvery Shades,
indicating, as my Cousin saith, the different Kinds of
Trees, some of which, like the Willow, do put on their
Leaves early, and others late, like the Oak, with which
the whole Region aboundeth. A sweet, quiet Picture it
was, with a warme Sun very bright and clear, shining
over it, and the great Sea, glistening with the exceeding
light, bounding the view of mine Eyes, but bearing
my thoughts, like swift Ships, to the Land of my birth,
and so uniting, as it were, the Newe World with the
Old. Oh, thought I, the merciful God, who reneweth
the Earth and maketh it glad and brave with greenery
and Flowers of various Hues and Smells, and causeth
his South winds to blow and his Rains to fall, that
Seed-time may not fail, doth even here, in the ends of
his Creation, prank and beautify the Work of his
Hands, making the Desert places to rejoice, and the
Wilderness to blossom as the Rose. Verily his Love
is over All—the Indian Heathen as well as the English
Christian. And what abundant cause for Thanks have
I, that I have been safely landed on a Shore so faire
and pleasant, and enabled to open mine Eyes in Peace
and Love on so sweet a May morning! And I was
minded of a verse which I learned from my dear
and honored Mother when a child—

When we went Below, we found on the Window
seat which looketh to the Road-way a great Bunch of
Flowers of manie kinds, such as I had never seen in
mine own Countrie, very fresh, and glistening with the
Dew. Now, when Rebecca took them up, her sister
said, “Nay, they are not Sir Thomas's gift, for young
Pike hath just left them.” Whereat, as I thought, she
looked vexed, and ill at ease. “They are yours, then,

cousin Margaret,” said she, rallying, “for Robert and
you did ride aside all the way from Agawam, and he
scarce spake to me the Day long. I see I have lost
mine old Lover, and my little Cousin hath found a new
one. I shall write cousin Oliver all about it.”
“Nay,” said I, “old Lovers are better than new; but I
fear my sweet Cousin hath not so considered it.” She
blushed, and looked aside, and for some space of Time
I did miss her Smile, and she spake little.