University of Virginia Library

Boston, May ye 28th, 1679.

Through God's mercy, I got here safe and well,
saving great weariness, and grief at parting with my
Brother and his Wife. The first day we went as far
as a place they call Rehoboth, where we tarried over
Night, finding but small comfort therein; for the house
was soe filled, that Leonard and a friend who came
with us, were fain to lie all night in the Barn, on the
mow before their Horses; and, for mine own part, I
had to choose between lying in the large room, where
the Man of the house and his Wife and two Sons,
grown Men, did lodge, or to climb into the dark loft,
where was barelie space for a Bed — which last I
did make choice of, although the Woman thought it
strange, and marvelled not a little at my unwillingness
to sleepe in the same room with her Husband and
Boys, as she called them. In the evening, hearing
loud voices in a house near by, we enquired what it
meant, and were told that some People from Providence
were holding a Meeting there, the owner of the
House being accounted a Quaker. Whereupon, I went
thither with Leonard, and found nigh upon a score of
People gathered, and a man with loose haire and beard
speaking to them. My Brother whispered to me that
he was no Friend, but a noted Ranter, a noisie, unsettled
man. He screamed exceeding loud, and stamped

with his Feet, and foamed at the Mouth, like one possessed
with an Evil Spirit, crying against all order in
State or Church, and declaring that the Lord had a
controversy with Priests and Magistrates, the Prophets
who prophecie falsely, and the Priests who bear rule
by their means, and the People who love to have it so.
He spake of the Quakers as a tender and hopeful
People in their beginning, and while the arm of the
wicked was heavie upon them; but now he said that
they, even as the rest, were settled down into a dead
order, and heaping up worldlie goods, and speaking
evil of the Lord's Messengers. They were a part of
Babylon, and would perish with their Idols; they should
drink of the Wine of God's Wrath; the day of
their Visitation was at hand. After going on thus for
a while, up gets a tall, wild-looking Woman, as pale as
a Ghost, and trembling from head to foot, who,
stretching out her long arms towards the Man who had
spoken, bade the People take notice that this was the
Angel spoken of in Revelations, flying through the
midst of Heaven, and crying, Woe! woe! to the inhabitants
of the earth! with more of the like wicked
rant, whereat I was not a little discomposed, and, beckoning
my Brother, left them to foam out their shame to
themselves.

The next morning, we got upon our horses at an

earlie hour, and, after a hard and long ride, reached
Mr. Torrey's, at Weymouth, about an hour after dark.
Here we found Cousin Torrey in bed with her second
child, a boy, whereat her husband is not a little rejoiced.
My brother here took his leave of me, going back to
the Plantations. My Heart is truly sad and heavie with
the great grief of parting.