University of Virginia Library

Oct'r ye 8th.

Mr. Van Valken, the Dutchman, had before Mr.
Rishworth, one of the Commissioners of the Province,
charged with being a Papist and a Jesuit. He bore
himself, I am told, haughtilie enough, denying the
right to call him in question, and threatening the interference
of his friend and Ruler, Sir Edmund, on
account of the Wrong done him. My Uncle and
others did testify that he was a civil and courteous
Gentleman, not intermeddling with matters of a religious
Nature; and that they did regard it as a foul
shame to the Town that he should be molested in this
wise. But the Minister put them to silence, by testifying
that he (Van Valken) had given away sundry
Papist Books; and, one of them being handed to the
Court, it proved to be a Latin Treatise, by a famous
Papist, intituled, “The Imitation of Christ.” Hereupon,
Mr. Godfrey asked if there was aught evil in the
Book. The Minister said it was written by a Monk,
and was full of Heresie, favorin gboth the Quakers and
the Papists; but Mr. Godfrey told him it had been
rendered into the English tongue, and printed some

years before in the Massachusetts Bay; and asked
him if he did accuse such men as Mr. Cotton and Mr.
Wilson, and the pious Ministers of their day, of
Heresie. “Nay,” quoth the Minister, “they did see
the Heresie of the Book, and, on their condemning it,
the General Court did forbid its sale.” Mr. Rishworth
hereupon said he did judge the Book to be pernicious,
and bade the Constable burn it in the Street, which he
did. Mr. Van Valken, after being gravely admonished,
was set free; and he now saith he is no Papist, but
that he would not have said that much to the Court to
save his Life, inasmuch as he did deny its right of
arraigning him. Mr. Godfrey says the Treatment
whereof he complains is but a sample of what the
People hereaway are to look for from the Massachusetts
jurisdiction. Mr. Jordan, the younger, says his Father
hath a copy of the condemned Book, of the Boston
printing; and I being curious to see it, he offers to get
it for me.

Like unto Newbury, this is an old Towne for so
new a Countrie. It was made a city in 1642, and
took the name of Gorgeana, after that of the Lord
Proprietor, Sir Ferdinando Gorges. The Government
buildings are spacious, but now falling into
decay somewhat. There be a few Stone Houses, but
the major part are framed, or laid up with square

Loggs. The look of the land a little out of the Towne
is rude and unpleasing, being much covered with
Stones and Stumps; yet the Soil is said to be strong,
and the Pear and Apple doe flourish well here; also,
they raise Rye, Oats, and Barlie, and the Indian Corn,
and abundance of Turnips, as well as Pumpkins,
Squashes, and Melons. The Warre with the Indians,
and the troubles and changes of Government, have
pressed heavilie upon this and other Towns of the
Maine, soe that I am told that there be now fewer
wealthie Planters here than there were twenty years
ago, and little increase of Sheep or horned Cattle. The
People doe seem to me less sober and grave, in their
carriage and conversation than they of the Massachusetts
— hunting, fishing, and fowling more, and working
on the land less. Nor doe they keep the Lord's
Day soe strict; manie of the young People going
abroad, both riding and walking, visiting each other,
and diverting themselves, especiallie after the Meetings
are over.