Things went not well at Connecticut, their cattle did many of them cast their young, as they had done the year before.

Mo. 12, 1637. Divers gentlemen and others being joined in a military company, desired to be made a corporation, but the council considering from the example of the Prætorian band among the Romans and the templars in Europe, how dangerous it might be to erect a standing authority of military men, which might easily in time overthrow the civil power, thought fit to stop it betimes, yet they were allowed to be a company, but subordinate to all authority.

About this time the Indians which were in our families were much frightened with Hobbanock (as they called the Devil) appearing to them in divers shapes, and persuading them to forsake the English, and not to come at the assemblies, nor to learn to read, &c.

Mo. 1, 1638. At this court divers of our chief military officers who had declared themselves favorers of the familistical persons and opinions were sent for, and being told that the court having some jealousy of them for the same, and therefore did desire some general satisfaction from them, they did ingenuously acknowledge how they had been deceived and misled by the pretence which had been held forth of advancing Christ and debasing the creature, which since they had found to be otherwise, and that their opinions and practice led to disturbance and delusions, and so blessed God that had so timely discovered their error and danger to them.

Mo. 6. Four servants of Plimouth ran from their masters, and coming to Providence, they killed an Indian. He escaped after he was deadly wounded in the belly, and got to other Indians, so being discovered they fled and were taken at the Isle Aquiday. Mr. Williams gave notice to the Governor of Massachusetts and desired advice. He returned answer, that seeing they were of Plimouth they should certify Plimouth of them, and if they would send for them to deliver them, otherwise, seeing no Englishman had jurisdiction in the place where the murder was committed, neither had they at the Island any Governor established, it would be safest to deliver the principal (who was certainly known to have killed the party) to the Indians his friends, with caution that they should not put him to torture, and to keep the other three to further consideration. After this Plimouth men sent for them, but one had escaped, and the Governor there wrote to the Governor here for advice, especially for that he heard they intended to appeal into England. The Governor returned answer of encouragement to proceed notwithstanding, seeing no appeal did lie, for that they could not be tried in England, and that the whole country here were interested in the case and would expect to see justice done, whereupon they proceeded as appears after.

The three prisoners being brought to Plimouth and examined, did all confess the murder, and that they did it to get his wampom, &c. but all the question was about the death of the Indian, for no man could witness that he saw him dead, but Mr. Williams and Mr. James of Providence made an oath that his wound was mortal ;-at last two Indians, who with much difficulty were procured to come to the trial

(for they still feared that the English were conspired to kill all the Indians), made oath after this manner, viz. that if he were not dead of that wound then they would suffer death. Upon this they three were condemned and executed. Two of them died very penitently, especially Arthur Peach, a young man of good parentage and fair conditioned, and who had done very good service against the Pequods.

Mo. 7, 25. A remarkable providence appeared in a case which was tried at the last court of assistants. Diver neighbours of Linn, by agreement, kept their cattle by turns. It fell out to the turn of one Gillow to keep them, and as he was driving them forth, another of these neighbours went along with him and kept so earnestly in talk that his cattle strayed and got in the corn, then this other neighbour left him and would not help him recover his cattle, but went and told another how he had kept Gillow in talk that he might lose his cattle &c. The cattle getting into the Indian corn eat so much ere they could be gotten out, that two of them fell sick of it, and one of them died presently, and these two cows were that neighbours cows who had kept Gillow in talk, &c. The man brings his action against Gillow for his cow, not knowing that he had witness of his speech, but Gillow producing witness &c. barred him of his action, and had good cost &c.

The court taking into consideration the great disorder proceeding thro' the country in costliness of apparel, and following new fashions, sent for the elders of the churches, and conferred with them about it, and laid it upon them, as belonging to them to redress it, by urging it upon the consciences of their people, which they promised to do. But little was done about it, for divers of the elders wives &c, were in some measure partners in this general disorder.

Mo. 1, 1639. A printing house was begun at Cambridge by one Daye at the charge of Mr. Glover who died on sea hitherward. The first thing which was printed was the freeman's oath, the next was an almanack made for New England by Mr. Pierce, mariner-the next was the psalms newly turned into metre.

Mo. 3, 2. Mr. Cotton preaching out of the 8. of Kings 8. taught, that when magistrates are forced to provide for the maintenance of ministers, then the churches are in a declining condition: there he shewed that the ministers maintenance should be by voluntary contribution, not by lands or revenues or tithes &c, for these things had always been accompanied with pride, contention and sloth.

The two regiments in the bay were mustered at Boston to the number of one thousand soldiers, able men and well armed and exercised. They were headed, the one by the Governor who was General of all, and the other by the Deputy who was Colonel. The captains &c. shewed themselves very skilful and ready in divers sorts of skirmishes and other military actions, wherein they spent the whole day.. One of Piscat: having opportunity to go into Mr. Burdet his study, and finding there the copy of his letter to the archbishops, sent it to the Governor, which was to this effect. That he did delay to go into

England, because he would fully inform himself of the state of the people here in regard of allegiance, and that it was not discipline that was now so much aimed at as sovereignty, and that it was accounted piracy and treason in our General Court to speak of appeals to the King.

The first ships which came this year brought him letters from the archbishops and the lords commissioners for plantations, wherein they gave him thanks for his care of his Majesty's service &c. and that they would take a time to redress such disorders as he had informed them of: but by reason of the much business which now lay upon them they could not at present accomplish his desire. These letters lay above fourteen days in the Bay, and some moved the Governor to open them, but himself and others of the council thought it not safe to meddle with them, nor would take any notice of them, and it fell out well by God's good providence, for the letters, by some means, were opened, yet without any of their privity or consent, and Mr. Burdett threatened to complain of it to the Lords; and afterwards we had knowledge of the contents of them by some of his own friends.

The Governor acquainted the General Court that in these last two years of his government he had received from the Indians in presents, to the value of about £40. and that he had spent about £20. in enter. tainment of them and in presents to their Sachems &c. The court declared that the presents were the Governor's due, but the tribute was to be paid to the treasurer.

Mo. 4. 26. Mr. Hooker being to preach at Cambridge, the Governor and many others went to hear him (tho' the Governor did very seldom go from his own congregation upon the Lord's day.) He preached in the afternoon, and having gone on with much strength of voice and intention of spirit about a quarter of an hour, he was at a stand, and told the people that God had deprived him both of his strength and matter &c. and so went forth, and about half an hour after returned again and went on to a very good purpose about two hours.

A fishing trade was began at Cape Anne by one Mr. Maverick Tomson a merchant of London, and an order was made that all stocks employed in fishing should not be free from public charge for seven years. This was not done to encourage foreigners to set up fishing among us, for all the gains would be returned to the place where they dwelt, but to encourage our own people to set upon it, and in expectation that Mr. Tomson &c. would e're long come settle with us.

Here was such store of exceeding large and fat mackrell upon our coast this season as was a great benefit to all our plantations. Some one boat with three men would take in a week ten hundreds, which was sold in Connecticut for £3. 12 the hundred.

Mo. 10. At the general court an order was made to abolish that vain custom of drinking one to another, and that upon these and other grounds. 1. It was a thing of no good use. 2. It was an inducement to drunkenness and occasion of quarrelling and bloodshed. 3. It occasioned much waste of wine and beer. 4. It was very

troublesome to many, especially the masters and mistresses of the feast, who were forced thereby to drink more often than they would. Yet divers, even godly persons, were very loth to part with this idle ceremony, tho' when disputation was tendred, they had no life, nor indeed could find any arguments to maintain it, such power hath cus. tom &c.

Mo. 3, 13, 1640. The court of elections was at Boston, and Thomas Dudley Esq. was chosen Governor. Some trouble there had been in making way for his election, and it was obtained with some difficulty, for many of the elders laboured much in it, fearing lest the long continuance of one man in the place should bring it to be for life, and in time, hereditary. Besides this gentleman was a man of approved wisdom and godliness, and of much good service to the country, and therefore it was his due to serve in such honor and benefit as the country had to bestow. The elders being met at Boston about this matter, sent some of their company to acquaint the old Governor with their desire and the reasons moving them, clearing themselves of all dislike of his government, and seriously professing their sincere affections and respect towards him, which he kindly and thankfully accepted, concurring with them in their motion, and expressing his unfeigned desire of more freedom, that he might a little intend his private occasions, wherein they well knew how much he had lately suffered (for his bailiff whom he trusted with managing his farm had engaged him £.2500 without his privity) in his outward estate.

One Baker, master's mate of the ship-being in drink, used some reproachful words of the Queen. The Governor and Council were much in doubt what to do with him, but having considered that he was distempered and sorry for it, and being a stranger and a chief officer in the ship, and many ships were then in harbour, they thought it not fit to inflict corporeal punishment upon him, but after he had been two or three days in prison, he was set an hour at the whipping post with a paper on his head and so dismissed.

Mo. 8. The scarcity of money made a great change in all commerce. Merchants would sell no wares but for ready money-men could not pay their debts tho' they had enough-prices of lands and cattle fell soon to the one half and less, yea to a third, and after one fourth part.

Mo. 10. About the end of this month a fishing ship arrived at Isle of Shoals, and another soon after, and there came no more this season for fishing. They brought us news of the Scotts entering into England, and the calling of a parliament, and the hope of a thorough reformation &c. whereupon some among us began to think of returning back to England. Others dispairing of any more supply from thence, and yet not knowing how to live there if they should return, bent their minds wholly to removal to the south parts, supposing they should find better means of subsistence there, and for this end put off their estates here at very low rates. These things, together with the scarcity of money, caused a sudden and very great abatement of the prices of all our own commodities. Corn (Indian) was sold ordinarily at

three shillings the bushel, a good cow at seven or eight pounds, and some at £5—and other things answerable (see the order of court in 8ber. about these things) whereby it came to pass that men could not pay their debts, for no money or beaver was to be had, and he who last year, or but three months before was worth £.1000 could not now if he should sell his whole estate raise £.200 whereby God taught us the vanity of all outward things &c.

One Taylor of Linne having a milch cow in the ship as he came over, sold the milk to the passengers for 2d the quart, and being after at a sermon wherein oppression was complained of &c. he fell distracted. This evil was very notorious among all sorts of people, it being the common rule that most men walked by in all their commerce, to buy as cheap as they could, and to sell as dear.

The general fear of want of foreign commodities now our money was gone, and that things were like to go well in England, set us on work to provide shipping of our own, for which end Mr. Peters, being a man of very public spirit and singular activity for all occasions, procured some to join for building ship at Salem of 300 tons, and the inhabitants of Boston stirred up by his example, set upon the building another at Boston of 150 tons. The work was hard to accomplish for want of money &c. but our shipwrights were content to take such pay as the country could make. The shipwright at Salem, thro' want of care of his tackle &c. occasioned the death of one Baker who was desired with five or six more to help hale up a piece of timber, which, the rope breaking, fell down upon them. The rest by special providence were saved. This Baker going forth in the morning very well, after he had prayed, told his wife he should see her no more, tho' he could not foresee any danger toward him.

The court having found by experience that it would not avail by any law to redress the excessive rates of labourer's and workmen's wages &c. for being restrained, they would either remove to other places where they might have more or else being able to live by planting and other employments of their own, they would not be hired at all. It was therefore referred to the several towns to set down rates among themselves. This took better effect, so that in a voluntary way, by the counsel and persuasion of the elders, and example of some who led the way, they were brought to more moderation than they could be by compulsion, but it held not long.

Mo. 4, 2. 1641. The parliament of England sitting upon a general reformation both of church and state, the earl of Strafford being beheaded, and the archbishop (our great enemy) and many others of the great officers and judges, bishops and others imprisoned and called to account, this caused all men to stay in England in expectation of a new world, so as few coming to us, all foreign commodities grew scarce, and our own of no price. Corn would buy nothing-a cow which cost last year £20 might now be bought for four or £5 &c. and many gone out of the country, so as no man could pay his debts, nor the merchants make return into England for their commodities, which occasioned many there to speak evil of us. These streights set our