98 



Sfeeclicdl — lliat craz.y, leaky bark-— was ■ bought for tne purpose of 

 comphnng with this stipulation.* 



Stilf turlher. And to settle the question, we may refer to "A brief 

 Narrative of the true grounds and causes of the first planting of New 

 England," by Edward Winslow, one of the most distinguished of their 

 number, and who succeeded Bradford as their governor. No original 

 copy of this tract is supposed to be in America; but a few years since 

 the Rev. Mr. Ellis, of Charlestown, found 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 of the Puritans who went over to England irom 

 Leyden in 1618 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 soul, 'tis an honest trade ; 'twas the Apostle's own calling."f 



Can anything be more conclusive? 



Having arrived in the country which they had sacrificed so much 

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

 land,) what did the Pilgrims do? 



*The partuers of the Pilgrims in England were mimerocs. They made a conditional sals 

 of their interest in the property at Plymouth in October, 1626, which was completed in 1627, 

 The contract was between Isaac Allerton, agent of the Pljiuouth settlers, and forty-two per- 

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

 Governor Bradfoi'd, in commenting upon the temis of the bargain, says that " we were bound 

 tJiereby to forfeit thirty shillings a week for overy week that we failed of dae payment" at tlio 

 times specified. The purchase money was £1,800 sterling, in instalments of £200 annually, 

 " on the feast day of St. Michael." 



t The " Mysteries, Moralities, Farces, and Sotties" of the Eoman church conld not have 

 been unknown to King James. Some account of them is preserved in the " Cm'iosittes of 

 Literature." 



"It appears," says D'Israeli, "that the Pilgi-ims introdnced these devout spectacles. Those 

 who returned from the Holy 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 mstniction of the people. So attractive were 

 these gross exhibitions in the dark ages, that they formed one of the principal ornaments of 

 the reception which was given to princes when they entered 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 incoi-porated themselvea 

 under the title of Confreres de la Passion." 



John Bouchet mfoims us that he saw one of these mysteries performed at Poitiers in great 

 trimnph and splendor, and that most of the ladies and gentlemen of the neighboring coimtries 

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

 of the mysteries had for its subject the election of an apostle to supply the place of the 

 traitor Judas. In this, Anne and Caiaphas are introdnced, 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." 



" Caiaphas. Is this true?" 



''Anne. By God it is trae: my servants remember them very 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, who has taught them magic : the fellow under- 

 stands necromancy, and is the greatest magician alive, as far as Rome itself." 



According to Lord Woodhouselee, (late professor of civil history, and Greek and Hebrew 

 antiquities, in the University 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 12th century, and continued to be performed in 

 England even to the 16th century. In the reign of Henry the 8th, the Bishop of LondoB 

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



