98 



Speedwell — that crazy, leaky hnrk — was bouglit for the purpose of 

 complying with this stipuialion.* 



Siill furlher. And to settle the question, we may refer to "A brief 

 Narnitive ol' the true grounds and causes of the first planting of New 

 Enghmd," by Edward Winslow, one of ihe most distinguished of their 

 number, and who succeeded Bradford as their governor. i\o original 

 copv of this tract is supposed lo be in America; but a few years since 

 the Rev. Mr. Ellis, of Charlestown, Ibund one in a printed volume in 

 the British museum, copied it for the Rev. Dr. Young, who has placed 

 it in the "Chronicles of the Pilgrims." 



Winslow, in this narrative, speaks of an interview between King 

 James and the agents pf the Puritans who went over to England from 

 Leyden in 1G18 to solicit his consent to their going to America. The 

 monarch asked them, " What profit might arise''"' He was answered 

 in a single word — "Fishing." Whereupon James replied: " So God 

 have my s(jul, 'tis an honest trade ; 'twas the Apostle's own calling."! 



Can anything be more conclusive? 



Having arrived in the country which thej' had sacrificed so much 

 to reach, (though north of the place of their destination on leaving Hol- 

 land,) what did the Pilgrims do? 



* The partners of the Pilgrims in England were nnmorons. They made a conditional saler 

 Off their interest in the property at Plymouth in October, ]()2G, which was completed in 1627. 

 The contract was between Isaac Allerton, agent of the PivTiionth f-«ttlers, and forty-two per- 

 sons, who style themselves " adventurers to New Plymouth, in New England, in America.'* 

 Governor Bradford, in commenting upon the terms of the bargain, says that " \;e were bound 

 thereby to forfeit thirty shillings a week for orery week that we failed of due pajanent" at the 

 times specified. The purchase money was £1^00 sterling, iu instalments of £200 auimally, 

 " on the feast day of St. Michael." 



tThe " Mysteries, Moralities, Farces, and Sotties" of the Roman church conld not haTe 

 been unknown to King James. Some account of them is preserved in the " Curiosities of 

 Literature." 



"It appears," says D'Tsraeli, " that ths Pilgrims introduced these devout spectacles. Thoso 

 who returned from the Tlcdy Land, or other consecrated places, composed canticles of their 

 travels, and amused their religious fancies by interweaving scenes, of which Christ, the Apos- 

 tles, and other objects of devotion, served as the themes." He remarks further, that " these 

 spectacles served as the amusement and the instruction of the people. So attractive wcKe 

 these gross exhibiti(ms in the dark ages, that they fonued one of the principal ornaments of 

 the reception which was given to princes when they entei'ed towns. When the mysteries were 

 performed at a more improved period, the actors were distinguished characters, and fre- 

 quently consisted of ecclesiastics of the neighboring villages, who incorporated themselvee 

 tinder the title of Confreres dr. la Passio7i." 



John Bonchet informs us that he saw one of these mysteries performed at Poitiers in great 

 triuni[)h and splendor, and that most of the ladies and gentlemen of the ncighlmriug countries 

 were present. It was called "TheNaiivity, Passion, and Kesurrection of Christ." Another 

 of the luystevie.s had for its subject the election of an apostle to supply the place of the 

 traitor Judas. In this, Anne and Caiaphas are introduced, conversing about St. Peter and St. 

 John : 



"Anne. I remember them once very honest people. They have often brought their fish to 

 my house to sell." 



" Caiapluis. Is this true?" 



"Anne. By God it is true: my servants remember them veiy well. To live more at their 

 ease they left off the business ; or perhaps they were in want of customers. Since that time 

 they have followed Jesus, that wicked heretic, wlio has taught them magic: the fellow under- 

 stands necn.iuancy, and is the greatest magician alive, as far as Kome itself" 



According to Lord Woodhonselee, (late ])roless()r of civil history, and (ireek and Hebrew 

 antiiiiiities, in the I'niversity of Edinburgh,) these mysteries were the first dramatic represent- 

 taions known in Europe. They were acted, he says, in his Universal History, by the monks 

 in their churches. They originated in the 12rh century, and C(uitinued to be i)erfonned in 

 En'-slaud even to the lOth century. In the reign of Ileniy th 8th, the Bishop of LonuoH 

 proiiibiled the performance of any plays or interludes in churches or chapels. 



