John Winthrop

We took many mackerels, and met a shallop, which stood from Cape Ann towards the Isles of Shoals, which belonged to some English fishermen.

4.] The governor, his wife and children, went on shore, with Mr. Peirce, in his ship's boat. The ship gave them six or seven pieces. At their landing, the captains, with their companies in arms, entertained them with a g…

17.] A general court at Boston.[78] The former governor was chosen again, and all the freemen of the commons were sworn to this government. At noon, Cheeseborough's house was burnt down, all the people being present.

14.] We began a court of guard upon the neck between Roxbury and Boston, whereupon should be always resident an officer and six men. An order was made last court, that no man should discharge a piece after sunset, except…

The lady Arbella and the gentlewomen, and Mr. Johnson[29] and some others went on shore to refresh themselves.

A maid-servant in the ship, being stomach-sick, drank so much strong water, that she was senseless, and had near killed herself. We observed it a common fault in our young people, that they gave themselves to drink hot w…

We went to Mattachusetts,[52] to find out a place for our sitting down. We went up Mistick River about six miles.

We lay at Mr. Maverick's, and returned home on Saturday. As we came home, we came by Nataskott, and sent for Capt. Squib ashore ' (he had brought the west-country people, viz., Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Rossiter, Mr. Maverick, etc…

Friday, 2.] The Talbot arrived there. She had lost fourteen passengers. My son, Henry Winthrop, was drowned at Salem.[55] Saturday, 3.] The Hopewell and William and Francis arrived. Monday, 5.] The Trial arrived at Charl…

Mr. Phillips, the minister of Watertown, and others, had their hay burnt. The wolves killed some swine at Saugus. A cow died at Plymouth, and a goat at Boston,[60] with eating Indian corn.

December 6.] The governor and most of the assistants, and others, met at Roxbury, and there agreed to build a town fortified upon the neck between that and Boston, and a committee was appointed to consider of all things…

Liberty is the proper end and object of authority, and cannot subsist without it; and it is a liberty to that only which is good, just, and honest. This liberty you are to stand for, with the hazard (not only of your goo…

Another question fell out with him, about some bargains he had made with some poor men, members of the same congregation, to whom he had sold seven bushels and an half of corn to receive ten for it after harvest, which t…

The governor took notice of these speeches, and bare them with more patience than he had done, upon a like occasion, at another time. Upon this there arose another question, about his house. The governor having formerly…

These and other speeches passed before dinner. After dinner, the governor told them, that he had heard, that the people intended, at the next general court, to desire, that the assistants might be chosen anew every year,…

Upon this, Mr. Ludlow grew into passion, and said, that then we should have no government, but there would be an interim, wherein every man might do what he pleased, etc. This was answered and cleared in the judgment of…

Every town chose two men to be at the next court, to advise with the governor and assistants about the raising of a public stock, so as what they should agree upon should bind all, etc.

Upon the intelligence of these unwarranted proceedings, and considering that Passaconamy would look at it as a manifest injury, (as indeed we conceived it to be, and had always shunned to give them any just occasion agai…

The governor answered that he could say nothing to it till he had conferred with other of the magistrates; so after supper he went with him to Boston in La Tour's boat, having sent his own boat to Boston to carry home Mr…

La Tour being now in desperate distress, he is first to be succoured, before the cause be further inquired into, according to the example of Abraham, who, hearing of the distress of his kinsman Lot, staid not till he mig…

But two things appeared to carry men on in this course as it were in captivity. One was, the deputies stood only upon this, that their towns were not satisfied in the cause (which by the way shows plainly the democratica…

The governor and assistants met at Boston to consider of the deputy his deserting his place.

Capt. John Stone (of whom mention is made before) 'carried himself very dissolutely in drawing company to drink, etc., and being found upon the bed in the night with one Barcroft's wife, he was brought before the governo…

March.] The governor's son, John Winthrop, went, with twelve more, to begin a plantation at Agawam, after called Ipswich.

June 2.] Capt. Stone arrived with a small ship with cows and some salt. The governor of Plymouth sent Capt. Standish to prosecute against him for piracy. The cause was, being at the Dutch plantation,[130] where a pinnace…

Capt. Walter Neal, of Pascataquack, and some eight of his company, went with him. He had been in the bay above ten days, and came not all that time to see the governor. Being persuaded by divers of his friends, his answe…

The 13th day he wrote to the governor, to excuse his not coming to see him, upon the same reasons. The governor returned him answer, that his entertainment was such as time and place could afford, (being at their first c…

It wrought much with them, that when their own people forsook them, yet the English came daily and ministered to them; and yet few, only two families, took any infection by it. Among others, Mr. Maverick[139] of Wineseme…

22.] The grampus[142] came up towards Charlestown against the tide of ebb. This season Mr. Allerton fished with eight boats at Marble Harbor. By this time seventeen fishing ships were come to Richman's Isle and the Isles…

One Abigail Gifford, widow, being kept at the charge of the parish of Wilsden in Middlesex, near London, was sent by Mr. Ball's ship into this country, and being found to be sometimes distracted, and a very burdensome wo…

Mo. 3. (May) 6.] A general court was held at Newtown, where John Haynes, Esq., was chosen governor, Richard Bellingham, Esq., deputy governor, and Mr. Hough and Mr. Dummer chosen assistants to the former; and Mr. Ludlow,…

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 serious…

When he came to Acomenticus, now called Bristol,[7] he found all out of order, for Mr. Burdett ruled all, and had let loose the reigns of liberty to his lusts, that he grew very notorious for his pride and adultery; and…

Three men coming in a shallop from Braintree, the wind taking them short at Castle Island, one of them stepping forward to hand the sail, caused a fowling piece with a French lock, which lay in the boat, to go off.

Upon the warrant which went to Ipswich, Rowley, and Newbury, to disarm Passaconamy, who lived by Merrimack, they sent forth 40 men armed the next day, being the Lord's day. But it rained all the day, as it had done diver…

The wife of one Onion of Roxbury died in great despair

About this time two plantations began to be settled upon Merrimack, Pentuckett called Averill, and Cochichawick called Andover.

12. Lastly, this perpetual confederation, and the several articles and agreements thereof being read and seriously considered both by the general court for the Massachusetts and the commissioners for the other three, wer…

29.] The governor and council, and divers of the ministers, and others, met at Castle Island,[153] and there agreed upon erecting two platforms and one small fortification to secure them both, and, for the present furthe…

Mr. Pelham's house in Cambridge took fire in the dead of the night by the chimney. A neighbor's wife hearing some noise among her hens, persuaded her husband to arise, which, being very cold, he was loth to do, yet throu…

Mo. 10 (December).] 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 Scots entering into England,…

Mo. 12. (February) 2.] The church of Dorchester being furnished with a very godly and able pastor, one Mr. Mather, and having invited to them one Mr. Burr, who had been a minister in England, and of very good report ther…

But when it was propounded to the church of Salem, Mr. Endecott, being a member thereof, and having formerly opposed it, did now again the like in the church. Some reasons were there alleged, as that officers should not…

Mo. 2. (April) 13.] A negro maid, servant to Mr. Stoughton of Dorchester, being well approved by divers years'experience, for sound knowledge and true godliness, was received into the church and baptized.

9.] Query, whether the following be fit to be published. The governor, Mr. Bellingham, was married, (I would not mention such ordinary matters in our history, but by occasion of some remarkable accidents). The young gent…

The church likewise dealing with him, he stiffly denied it, but soon after, when the Lord's supper was to be administered, he did voluntarily confess the attempt, and that he did intend to have defiled her, if she would…

Mo. 8 (October).] The elders had moved at a general court before, that the distinction between the two jurisdictions might be set down, that the churches might know their power, and the civil magistrate his. The same had…

The court was much affected with it, and entreated him, with manifestation of much affection and respect towards him, to leave off these thoughts, and offered him any ease and liberty that his age and infirmities might s…

This session continued three weeks, and established 100 laws, which were called the Body of Liberties.[41] They had been composed by Mr. Nathaniel Ward, (sometime pastor of the church of Ipswich: he had been a minister i…

5. God hath not confined all wisdom, etc., to any one generation, that they should set rules for all others to walk by.