finger in it," not only refused to it a contribution of his own, when he was "of a committee in the army for the advance of it,” but "told Mr. Winslow, in plain terms, he heard the work was but a plain cheat, and that there was no such thing as Gospel conversion among the natives."1 There were men not without consideration, who, looking to wants nearer home, did not see it to be their duty "to raise great sums to promote the Gospel among naked people;" and there were others, who "would have nothing to do to promote human learning," inasmuch as, in their judgment, there was "too much of it already."2 The Corporation challenged confidence by giving public notice that "their books were open at Coopers' Hall, London, between the hours of ten and twelve every Saturday, when all might without offence see what was given, and by whom, when brought in, and how employed or improved." And by the publication of a series of pamphlets, they solicited attention to their object, and made known their progress.

1 Records, &c., in Hazard, II. 175,311; comp. 177, where it appears that the "former gifts" referred to were those which were "expended in foundationwork, not only before the Colonies did combine, but before two of them had any being." See Vol. I. 310.

In the Rawlinson MS. in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford, (see Vol. I. 584, note 1; also, see above, p. 176, note 1,) is a collection of accounts and other papers of Weld, relating to his agency for Massachusetts. The accounts of his receipts and expenditures are minute, and look as if they ought to have been satisfactory, though Nathaniel Duncan, Auditor-General of the Colony (Mass. Rec., II. 141), wrote, as the result of his examination of an account rendered in 1647, after Winslow went to England: "So it appeareth that the country in general hath little benefit by all these moneys, and less

considering how great trouble the Court hath had about it." Weld specifies the objects for which he had received contributions from charitable persons as follows; namely, "a common stock; the poor children; the College; the advance of learning; the library; the poor of New England; and the conversion of the Indians.”

In Weld's catalogue of his books sold to the English corporation for the use of Mr. Eliot (see above, p. 333), appears a copy of Aristophanes. Greek and drollery were not distasteful to these men.

2 Records, &c., in Hazard, II. 179.

3 "Strength out of Weakness, &c., or a Glorious Manifestation of the Further Progress of the Gospel among the Indians in New England," &c. Preface.

4 The pamphlet referred to in the last note was the first, relating to this subject, which was issued by the Cor

Their friends exulted in what appeared to be the smile of Providence upon their efforts. Eliot was indefatigable, though in the face of discouragements, some of which even his sanguine temper could not disregard. The chiefs of the great tribes all opposed him. It was evident that his success would impair their authority. "Some tribute" the converts were "willing to pay, but not as formerly;" and the Commissioners thought it prudent to instruct Eliot to "be slow in withdrawing Indian professors from paying accustomed tribute, and performing other lawful services, to their sagamores." 2

The caution thus enforced upon him was scarcely to be reconciled with the execution of a project, which he had entertained from the first, and which, as soon as possible, he proceeded to realize. He thought it material to collect his native followers into a separate society. Nonantum, the place of his early successes, did not seem to him well adapted for this purpose. He looked for some spot "somewhat remote from the English, where the word might be constantly taught, and government constantly exercised, means of good subsistence provided, encouragements for the industrious, means of instructing them in letters, trades, and labors, as building, fishing, flax and hemp dressing, planting orchards, &c."4 On Charles River, about eighteen miles west from of converts Boston, he found a site, called by the Indians Natick, which appeared well suited to his purpose. He laid out lands on both sides of the stream,

Community

at Natick,

1650.

July.

which was not fordable at all seasons, and under his direction the Indians built a foot-bridge across, eighty feet in length, and prepared timber for a house. Along two streets on one side of the river, and one street on the

other side, parcels of land, each sufficient for a 1651. dwelling, a garden, and an orchard, were enclosed, and one such homestead was assigned to each native head of a family. A palisaded fort was erected, and a "common house," fifty feet long and twenty-five feet wide. The latter, constructed by the natives with a little assistance from an English carpenter, contained a hall which served on Sundays for a place of worship, and on other days for a school-room, a second story being divided between a store-room and an apartment for Mr. Eliot.1

1

The converts of Nonantum having been here brought together, the first thing to be done was to provide for the keeping of order among them. Eliot's scheme of a government was simple, and he did not anticipate any practical difficulties in carrying it out. "I propound this," he said, "as my general rule through the help of the Lord; they shall be wholly governed by the Scriptures in all things both in church and state; they shall have no other lawgiver." Having explained his plan in those of its details which required to be first considered, he convoked a meeting to put it in operation. After prayer, he expounded the eighteenth chapter of Exodus; and the Indians then proceeded to elect a "ruler of an hundred," two" rulers of fifties," and ten " rulers of tens," otherwise called tithing-men. After a few weeks, the community further imitated the example of the Israelites

1651.

who should be his ruler of ten, the rulers standing in order, and every man going to the man he chose." The teacher and rulers were compensated by a collection of tithes of the "yearly increase of all sorts of grain and pulse." (Gookin, in Mass. Hist. Coll., I. 178.)

by entering, with public solemnities, "into covenant with God and each other to be the Lord's people, and

Sept. 24.

1654.

1652.

1

to be governed by the word of the Lord in all things." The Governor, with Mr. Wilson and others, came to satisfy themselves as to what had been Oct. 8. done, and "declared their joy to see such beginnings." After a cautious delay of three years, eight converts were examined at Roxbury by some ministers convened by Eliot for the purpose of ascertaining whether they were in a state of preparation ❝to enter into church covenant." Their proficiency was approved, but that important measure was still postponed.3 The General Court appointed a committee "to lay out meet bounds for the Indian plantation at NaOct. 26. tick," the town of Dedham having already enlarged it by the gift of two thousand acres. A similar community, less numerous, was collected at Punkapog, now Stoughton. It was for the advantage of all parties that such establishments should be wisely superintended; and Daniel Gookin, an Assistant, was chosen to be "ruler over the praying Indians in the Colony of Massachusetts." He faithfully executed this office for many years, till his death, with the excep tion of two or three years, during which it was sustained by Humphrey Atherton, Gookin being most of that time absent in England."

1656.

1658-1661.

1 "Further Progress," &c., 10; comp. "Tears of Repentance," &c., 2; Ex.

xxiv. 3-8.

5

called Littleton, Marlborough, and Grafton, to "erect Indian towns, with convenient accommodation." (Mass. Rec.,

2 "Further Progress," &c., 13, 19, IV. (i) 192.) But, so far as I know, the measure was fruitless for the present.

33-35.

3 "Late and Further Manifestation," &c., 4, 5, 20 – 22; Magnalia, III. 198. 4 Mass. Rec., IV. (i.) 112.

"Gookin, "Historical Collections of the Indians," &c., in Mass. Hist. Coll., I. 213. Gookin finished this composition in 1674. Atherton was instructed to "take care that the Indians live according to our laws, so far as they are capable, and to that end

Martha's

Vineyard.

The evangelical labors of Thomas Mayhew, the younger, in Martha's Vineyard, had preceded those of Eliot, at least in respect to systematic instruction. They were so successful, that, in his first communication to the Society for Propagating the Gospel, he was able to report: "Through the mercy of God, there are an hundred ninety- Mayhew at nine men, women, and children, that have professed themselves to be worshippers of the great and ever-living God." In the next year the number of his converts had increased to "two hundred eighty-three Indians, not counting young children." Public worship was conducted by natives in two places on the Lord's day, and "about thirty Indian children were at school."2 The prospect which he had opened was

to constitute and appoint Indian Commissioners in their several plantations, to hear and determine all such matters that do arise among themselves as one magistrate may do amongst the English;" and Atherton and these Commissioners, sitting together, were to have the power of a County Court within the plantations. (Mass. Rec., IV. (i.) 334.)

Gookin first came to Boston, from Virginia, May 20, 1644, and was admitted to be a freeman nine days afterwards (Mass. Rec., II. 293), being then called Captain. He was probably one of the "divers godly disposed persons," who, according to Winthrop (II. 165), left Virginia on account of the massacre perpetrated there by the Indians in that year; a calamity which Winthrop connected with the Virginians' "reviling the Gospel and those faithful ministers [Tompson and others] God had sent among them" from New England. Gookin established himself at Cambridge, where he was presently appointed captain of the train-band, having formerly been "a Kentish soldier," and "a very forward man to

1651.

Oct. 16.

1652.

Oct. 22.

advance martial discipline, and withal the truths of Christ." (Wonder-Working Providence, 192.) In 1649, he was a Deputy to the General Court (Mass. Rec., II. 265); in 1651, he was Speaker of the House (Ibid., III. 221); and in the following year he was made an Assistant. (Ibid., 258.)

Atherton took the freeman's oath, May 2, 1638 (Mass. Rec., I. 374), and was a Deputy from Dorchester to the General Court in the autumn of the same year (Ibid., 235), in the next year (Ibid., 255), and in several other years. In 1646, he was chosen to be a captain (Ibid., II. 146), and in 1653, Speaker of the House (Ibid., III. 297), being then Deputy for Springfield, though his home was still in Dorchester, residence in a place not being required in those days as a qualification for representing it. The next year he was made an Assistant (Ibid., 339); and in 1661, Major-General (Ibid., IV. (ii.) 1). See above, p. 231.