1650.] EDWARD GIBBONS. 325 



fast friend, the Piuitan Winslow, gave him a warm 

 welcome, entertained him hospitably, and promised 

 to forward the object of his mission. He went with 

 him, at great personal inconvenience, to Merrymeet- 

 ing Bay, where Druilletes embarked in an English 

 vessel for Boston. The passage was stormy, and 

 the wind ahead. He was forced to land at Cape 

 Ann, or, as he calls it, Kepane^ whence, partly on 

 foot, partly in boats along the shore, he made his 

 way to Boston. The three-hilled city of the Puri- 

 tans lay chill and dreary under a December sky, as 

 the priest crossed in a boat from the neighboring 

 penmsula of Charlestown. 



Winslow was agent for the merchant, Edward 

 Gibbons, a personage of note, whose life presents 

 curious phases, — a reveller of Merry Mount, a 

 bold sailor, a member of the church, an adventur- 

 ous trader, an associate of buccaneers, a magistrate 

 of the commonwealth, and a major-general.^ The 

 Jesuit, with credentials from the Governor of Can- 

 ada and letters from Winslow, met a reception 

 vridely diiferent from that which the law enjoined 

 against persons of his profession.^ Gibbons wel- 

 comed him heartily, prayed him to accept no other 

 lodging than his house while he remained in Bos- 

 ton, and gave him the key of a chamber, in order 

 that he might pray after his Own fashion, without 

 fear of distiu'bance. An accurate Catholic writer 



1 An account of him will be found in Palfrey, Hist, of New England, 

 n. 225, note. 



2 In the Act, an exception, however, was made in favor of Jesuits 

 coming as ambassadors or envoys from their government, who were de- 

 clared not liable to the penalty of hanging. 



28 



