not one of the surviving Pilgrims took the opportunity to return to his native land.*

In December of the first year, Edward Winslow wrote to a friend in England, that they had built seven dwelling-houses, and four for the public use of the plantation; and had several others in a state of forwardness!-they had planted twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed six acres of barley and peas. And now, harvest being gathered, they kept the first New England Thanksgiving,-thus commencing a custom which the sons and daughters of New England, unless they shall prove sadly degenerate, will continue to observe till the end of time.

The cold weather had brought into the harbor an abundance of water-fowl. Deer and wild turkeys were found near the settlement. The governor sent four men with their guns to procure the materials for a feast, that they "might after a special manner rejoice, after they had gathered the fruit of their labors." "They four, in one day, killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week."

It was on the 9th of November, A. D. 1621, that the friendly Indians of Cape Cod sent the colonists word that a ship had arrived there and by the description it was concluded that this vessel must be a Frenchman, and probably come on a hostile errand. Not long after, the people of Plymouth looking out from their hill, see the strange sight of a sail making for their harbor. Supposing her an enemy, the Governor, says Winslow, "commanded a great piece to be shot off, to call home such as were at work. Whereupon, every man, yea, boy that could handle a gun, were ready, with full resolution, that if she were an enemy, we would stand in our just defence, not fearing them."

It proves to be the good ship " Fortune,"-small indeed,-of only fifty-five tons-but bringing over thirty-five new settlers; a part of whom were the persons left by the Speedwell. She had sailed in the beginning of July, and it was now the 11th of November when she came into the harbor of Plymouth.

On the 13th of December the Fortune sails, laden with two hogsheads of beaver and other articles which the colonists had collected; together with "good clap-boards, and sassafras, as full as she can hold;" the fruit of the industry of the colonists in their first season. The whole was estimated at £500; but as the ship drew near to the English coast she was taken by the French, and all was lost.

By this ship, Winslow wrote to his friends who might be about to come over, to use great caution in packing their pro

*Six more died before the end of November. Most of the survivors were suffered to live to extreme old age.

visions, and not to rely upon supplies from the colony, as the new company already arrived would create a scarcity before the next harvest. "Bring every man a musket or a fowling-piece," said he. "Let your piece be long in the barrel, and fear not the weight of it, for most of our shooting is from stands." Bring paper and linseed oil for your windows, and cotton for your lamps."

66

Before the end of May, 1622, their store of provision was spent; and they had for some time lived on short allowance. The last company had not landed so much as a barrel of bread or meal; and the ship had to be furnished from the stores of the colony for her voyage home. A ship also arrived at the fishinggrounds some hundred and twenty miles distant, and sent several colonists more. These also brought no more provisions than were necessary for their boats' crew on their return.

The colonists were now destitute of bread. The Indians began to cast forth insulting speeches, reminding them of their weakness and threatening their destruction. The colonists erect a fort on the hill, from which a few men may defend the town, while the rest are employed in necessary affairs. And though this took the greatest part of their strength from dressing corn, yet," said they, "life being continued, we hoped God would raise some means instead for our further preservation." It was now June; harvest was yet at a distance. The people were weakened, and some bloated and swelled for want of suitable provisions. "Strong men," said Winslow, "staggered for want of food." A party was dispatched to the fishinggrounds, who obtained some small supplies from the ships resorting thither. In July, two ships with colonists for Virginia came in. Part of these emigrants were left, while the others were on an exploring expedition; and these committed such depredations on the green corn of the colony, as prepared the way for a scarcity in the coming year. In August two trading ships came, from which they obtained some supplies. With great hazard and toil some further supplies were obtained from the Indians at a distance. These supplies saved the colony.

The spring opened fairly in the next year, and the colonists made such efforts as they supposed would secure them from want. But Providence seemed to frown. From the end of May a severe drought continued till all their crops seemed withered and burnt up. In addition to this, a ship sent to them with supplies, of which they had had notice several months, failed to arrive. Fragments of a wreck were discovered on the coast, which they concluded to be the remains of their expected vessel.

Then every man began to look into his own conscience before

God. A day was set apart for fasting and prayer. The morning of that day was clear and sultry, like many which had preceded it. The exercises of the fast continued eight or nine hours; and ere the people separated the sky was overcast. From that evening there distilled a succession of gentle showers for fourteen days. Their crops revived. They became cheerful with hope. News came of their supply-ship, which having been twice driven back was now prosperously on her way. "And therefore," says Winslow, "another solemn day was set apart, wherein we returned glory and honor and praise, with all thankfulness to God, who had dealt so graciously with us." In the latter part of August their expected supply-ship, the Ann, arrives; bringing, together with supplies, about sixty new colonists. Among these are some of the wives and children whom several of the first adventurers had left behind them in Holland.

"The

"When these passengers see our poor condition," says Bradford, "they are much dismayed, and full of sadness: only our old friends rejoice to see us, and that it is no worse." best dish we could present them with, is a lobster or piece of fish, without bread, or anything else but a cup of fair spring

water."

A few days after came in the ship, the "Little James," of fortyfour tons, new-built, and designed to remain in the country.

On the 10th of September, 1623, the pinnace is fitted and ready to sail for trade. The Ann sails for London laden with what clap-boards, and beaver and other furs, the colonists have procured. "And now," says Bradford, "our harvest comes. Instead of famine we have plenty. The face of things is changed to the joy of our hearts; nor has there been any general want of food among us since to this day."

Thus, through the good providence of God, the colony is established. Amid perils and distresses the foundations are laid. We must now return to England, and trace the further progress of the persecutions, which resulted in driving off the people who laid the foundations of the other early colonies and churches of New England.

XIII.

THE STORM GATHERING IN ENGLAND.

Vacillating and Irritating Policy of James. Sycophantic bearing of the Bishops. Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance. Attempts of James to establish Episcopacy in Scotland. Assembly of Perth. Change in the King's Theology. Original Calvinism of the English Church. Lambeth Articles. Book of Sports. Perfidy of James.

THE Wrongs of the Puritans at length aroused the sympathies of the nation. Their principles and arguments had awakened the people to some just perception of their rights; and from this time the spirit of freedom in the House of Commons had become too daring to be overawed, and too strong to be crushed. It is questionable whether even the resolute Henry VIII., or the imperious Elizabeth, could have checked the rising spirit of liberty. Elizabeth, however, always had sagacity to discern when it was necessary to yield, and the good policy to yield in such time, that instead of allowing her subjects to learn their strength by driving her from her positions, she always made her concessions appear to be the fruit of her goodness. In this manner her very concessions increased her popularity and augmented her real power. Her people were not disposed to inquire concerning their rights, while they were rather inclined to seek how they should show their gratitude, and exhibit further their confidence in so beneficent a sovereign. Thus Elizabeth continued an absolute despot, and yet a most popular sovereign to her life's end.

James never knew when to yield, or how to do it with grace. He was self-conceited and obstinate enough, but he had neither courage, vigor, magnanimity, nor any true sagacity. Without necessity, he was for ever fond of declaring on all occasions his own divine and indefeasible prerogatives as an absolute king. The assertion of these prerogatives without occasion, induced people to examine their nature and foundation; and the perpetual efforts of James to break down his people's liberties, without doing anything effectual, not only taught his people their power, but goaded them up to desperation. This craving desire to play

the despot, these high notions of the regal prerogatives, without courage or energy to meet the resistance which these irritating claims and these petty acts of tyranny awakened, drove James into a perpetual course of dissimulation. "His reign," says Burnet, "was a constant course of mean practices." And while steering amid these breakers, and dodging, turning, twisting and lying, to effect his purposes, and to escape from difficulties which an upright and magnanimous prince would never have encountered, his perceptions of moral obligation were so distorted, that he prided himself on these acts of dishonesty and falsehood, as though he had now become a proficient in the art and mystery of "Kingcraft;" as though no truth, nor honesty, nor honor were requisite in one who sits upon a throne!

The bishops were ever ready to maintain his royal prerogatives in their fullest extent. On all occasions they approached him with flatteries; and no flattery ever seemed fulsome to King James. Passive obedience and Non-Resistance, was their constant doctrine; and the king in return was ever ready to lend himself to the furtherance of their views. The Puritans dared to talk of rights, and therefore the king hated them. He thought them weak, and therefore he ventured to oppress them.

James had penetration enough to discern the inevitable tendencies of the antagonist principles of High Churchism and Puritanism. The friends of freedom saw it too; and from this moment the principles which had been antagonists in religion, began to form the elementary basis of two great political parties. The bishops, the king, the admirers of arbitrary authority, and the despisers of popular rights, were ranged on one side; on the other side the friends of popular freedom, of every name, and however differing in religious preferences, rallied round the Puritans. Here were planted the germs of those commotions which in a few years overturned the throne; and as the Hierarchy, under the name of The Church, joined their destinies to the destinies of arbitrary power, when the king fell, the hierarchy fell with him. This is an outline of the affairs which are now to come under review.

When James summoned his first Parliament in 1604, he took it upon himself to direct his people what sort of representatives they should elect; and threatened, that if any other sort were elected, and should take upon themselves the office, he would fine or imprison them. "He threatened to fine and disfranchise those corporations that did not choose to his mind."* When the Commons assembled, he interfered with their examination of elections. He required a conference between the House and his judges, which, he said, he "commanded as an absolute king."+