University of Virginia Library

Oct'r ye 9th.

Goodwife Nowell, an ancient gossip of mine Aunt's,
looking in this Morning, and talking of the tryal of the
Dutchman, Van Valken, spake of the coming into these
parts manie Years ago of one Sir Christopher Gardiner,
who was thought to be a Papist. He sought

Lodgings at her House for one whom he called his
Cousin, a faire young Woman, together with her serving
girl, who did attend upon her. She tarried about
a Month, seeing no one, and going out onlie towards
the Evening, accompanied by her Servant. She spake
little, but did seem melancholie, and exceeding mournful,
often crying very bitterlie. Sir Christopher came
onlie once to see her, and Nowell saith she well
remembers seeing her take leave of him on the road
side, and come back weeping and sobbing dolefullie;
and that a little Time after, hearing that he had gotten
into trouble in Boston as a Papist, and Man of loose
Behavior, she suddenlie took her departure in a Vessel
sailing for the Massachusetts, leaving to her, in pay for
House-room and Diet, a few coins, a gold Cross, and
some silk Stuffs and kerchiefs. The Cross being such
as the Papists doe worship, and therefore unlawful,
her husband did beat it into a solid wedge privatelie,
and kept it from the knowledge of the Minister and the
Magistrates. But as the poor man never prospered
after, but lost his Cattell and Grain, and two of their
children dying of Measles the next year, and he himself
being sicklie, and neare his End, he spake to her
of the Golden Cross, saying that he did believe it was
a great Sin to keep it, as he had done, and that it had
wrought evil upon him, even as the Wedge of Gold,
and the Shekels and Babylonish garment did upon
Achan, who was stoned, with all his house, in the
Valley of Achor; and the Minister coming in, and
being advised concerning it, he judged that although
it might be a sin to keep it hidden from a love of
Riches, it might, nevertheless, be safelie used to support
Gospel preaching and ordinances, and soe did
himself take it away. The Goodwife says, that notwithstanding
her husband died soon after, yet herself
and household did from thenceforth begin to amend
their Estate and Condition.

Seeing me curious concerning this Sir Christopher
and his cousin, Goodwife Nowell said there was a little
Parcel of Papers which she found in her room after
the young Woman went away, and she thought they
might yet be in some part of her House, though she
had not seen them for a score of years. Thereupon,
I begged of her to look for them, which she promised
to do.