18 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



which prevailed amongst these old-time magnates. But 

 it will do more, unless language has lost its meaning, — 

 unless words possess no longer a current value as the 

 coinaofe of the heart. Let me read this letter of Governor 

 Endecott's, and let us see if any better-conceived message 

 of grateful acknowledgment, official or personal, has ever 

 passed between these two communities before or since. 



It may be true, far be it from me to deny — that our 

 fine old Governor may have been a little hasty at times, 

 with the emblem of popery in the King's colors, for in- 

 stance ; with the Anabaptists and Quakers and other schis- 

 matics and heretics ; somewhat rough and rigorous at 

 times, in correcting some little eccentricities in this neigh- 

 borhood, in connection with certain May-pole proceedings, 

 for instance ; and your too practical free-trade views, in 

 dealins: in fire-arms and fire-water with that red-skinned 

 fraternity, the Unimproved Order of Red Men. Allowing 

 for all this I wish you would listen kindly to the old Puri- 

 tan's letter, and see if you have any doubt , when you 

 have heard it, about its being written by a gentleman. 

 Here it is : 



" To the worshipful and my right worthy friend, William 

 Bradford, Esqr., Governor of New Plymouth, these, — 



Right Worthy Sir : 



It is a thing not usual, that servants to one master and 

 of the same household should be strangers ; I assure you 

 I desire it not ; nay to speak more plainly, I cannot be so to 

 you : God's people are all marked with one and the same 

 mark, and sealed with one and the same seal, and have 

 for the main, one and the same heart, guided l)y one and 

 the same spirit of truth ; and where this is there can be no 

 discord, nay, here must needs be sweet harmony ; and the 

 same request (with you) I make unto the Lord that we 

 may, as Christian brethren, be united by an heavenly and 



