world of particular wrongs offered by some members of that Company to the poore Plantors here but I spare them as not the miscarriage of the body with whom I have to deale and not with the body neither but with the feet and toes of it I proceed now to reflect on the government in the Island as it lyes in order in the Petition confining my selfe to the time since Captaine Turner was sent over by the trading party who being one of them acts their principles and from beginning told us of private instructions under which its like we have suffered much though not under that plea but by an assumed power and a high hand I shall branch the fifth head into particulars First Captaine Turner refused to take his oath at his enstalment which other Governors never did this will be witnessed by men of fidelity if he hath since taken it before his counsell in a clandestine manner it is unknowne to us and I suppose if done at all it was neare two yeares after he tooke his place I meane not the oath of Supremacy Allegeance or Covenant but that proper to the Deputy-governour of Summer-Islands His excuse was he tooke it in England but that was denyed by the Deputy and Secretary of that Company in open Court Secondly calls an assembly pretending the Company so ordered it but that also was denyed and the lawes of the Company say the second yeare it may be lawfull for the Governour to call an Assembly he within twenty dayes 'T is probable this plot was laid at Barbadus where Captaine Turner meeting with Captaine Parker who not long before stole away from Barmuda thither and since comming well from his companions in his way homeward dyed of an impostume blood issuing out of his mouth eares and nostrills The grand ingenier of trouble to the Congregation in Summer-Islands put Captaine Turner upon this designe and named the men fittest to act therein who for the most part were made choice of This Assembly thus met call themselves a grave Assembly Truly there were many grave and grey headed drunkards of that * Convention who proved the grave of piety justice and civility But this is too low a style for them therefore by their Speaker they are called a Parliament and by the Governour summoned downe under the name of Burgesses that under this pretence without respect to the Parliament of England or Company under whom they stand they might exercise an independent power over the Congregation Thirdly being met an oath of Secrecie is imposed viz. You shall sweare by all meanes to conceale the secrets of the house and not impart or discover either by word or writing or by any other meanes to any one not being of this present Assembly the passages or carriage of any affaires or businesse that shall be treated of and disputed during the whole time of the sitting and continuance of the said Assembly c. I shall not tell you how their grave wisdomes spent seven or eight dayes in little else then finding out who it was should say a Cole merchant was come our Governour as though this had been a greater disparagement Then to feed Hogs and Ducks cleanse ponds and such like drudgery I proceed to higher trans-actions Fourthly they make new Lawes viz. of purpose to snare the Congregation Dongson of the Assembly at Assizes when one of the Congregation pleaded he had transgressed no Law of England answered you have transgressed our Lawes otherwise we could have had no advantage against you An Act for casting out Independent Magistrates and Commanders WHereas by common experience we finde that where people will not readily and chearfully obey the Lawes Orders Rules Government under which they live undoubtedly there must follow upon that state and people inevitable misery and confusion And the rather when the Magistrates and those who fill the seats of justice shall apparently withstand the same Now whereas we the Inhabitants of the Summer-Islands have at this present many Magistrates and publicke Officers placed over us members of the Independent Church and will not yeeld obedience to the established fundamentall Lawes of the King nor yet submit to the Ordinance of the high Court of Parliament nor direction of the honourable Company We the Generall Assembly for prevention of so great disturbance which we have cause to feare may suddenly fall upon us by the power of those Magistrates Independent Covenanters desire it should be enacted And by the power and authority of the Generall Assembly be it enacted That no manner of person or persons who hath or have entred into Covenant and is admitted a member of the Independent Church being at this present a publick Officer or Magistrate and being hereof lawfully convicted by proof or his or their owne confession shall ipso facto be discharged from his or their office or offices of command and others chosen to their places by this Assembly Joh. Vaughan Secretary Dat. 14. April 1646. This Act was forthwith put in execution before any crime was objected or proved against them whom it did concerne Die Jovis 16. July 1646. WHereas at the a last sitting of this present Generall Assembly it was amongst other things enacted That all manner of Ministers and other persons inhabiting and residing within these Islands should conforme themselves in all things touching the publicke worship of God in obedience to the Directory of the Parliament of England And whereas Mr. Nath. White Mr. Paâ—rick Copland and Mr. Wil. Golding and divers other persons adhering to them have most presumptuously in contempt of authority taken upon them to congregate themselves together in a publicke place of meeting and there set up a new forme of Discipline according to their owne wills not acquainting the Governour and Councell here although by their petition to the Honourable Houses of Parliament they promise obedience to the Civill Magistrate b which practice of theirs is against the Lawes and government of this place hereby drawing unto them many of the Inhabitants from their Parish Churches upon such dayes and times as our faithfull Ministers now sent unto us by the honourable Company are exercising the Ministery in preaching Gods word unto the people and have likewise received into their Church-covenant divers and sundry persons contrary to all Lawes and rules of government which doings of theirs if not timely prevented must and will be destructive to the long established peace of these Islands Wherefore this Grave and Generall Assembly do order and by the authority and power of the same be it ordered that the said M. White Mr. Copland and Mr. Golding and other members of their congregation nor all nor any of them doe from henceforth presume to practice or set up any other discipline or order in Church-government other then what is commanded by Parliament and Directory set forth unto us And we doe further order by the Authority aforesaid that
Servants on HORSE-BACK OR A Free-People bestrided in their persons and Liberties by worthlesse men BEING A Representation of the dejected state of the Inhabitants of Summer Islands CONTAINING Short Illustrations upon a Petition presented to the High Court of Parliament for REDRESSE Published by Will Golding Master of Arts and Teacher to the Congregation in that Island 2 Chron. 16. 10. Then Asa was wroth with the Seer and put him in a prison-house for he was in a rage with him because of this thing and Asa oppressed some of the people the same time Quam quisque pessimè fecit tam maximè tutus est Salust Printed in the Yeare 1648. THE EPISTLE To the Honourable Committee of Lords and Commons Intrusted to examine the Petition presented unto the Parliament in the behalfe of the Inhabitants of the Summer Islands by Captaine Sayle and William Golding June Anno 1646. Honourable Sirs IT pleased the high Court of Parliament to accept a Petition in behalfe of the Summer Islands and to recommit it unto your selves for examination your care and readinesse in attending that trust was very eminent onely you met with obstructions partly from the Company who are concerned in the Petition partly from the sad breach between City and Armies emergent in that nick of time and since by the necessitated absence of Captaine Sayle and my selfe whose attendance was requisite In pursuance thereof Honourable Sirs I beseech you resume the Complaints which are before you That your Petitioners may not languish under an usurped power nor the power and honour of Parliament be trampled on by the vilest of our English Nation Sirs to set this wheele on motion I have presumed to publish the copy of the Petition and papers affixed as presented unto the High Court of Parliament As also some few Acts and Lawes made by governours Councell and Assembly with us with some Animadversions upon them for your better information leaving it to the wisdome and justice of Parliament to judge thereof Sirs I have taken this course not with desire to asperse the Honourable Company the Nobility and Gentry of that Court from whom we have alwayes found helpe when their leasure would permit their presence at the Court but to discover the practice of the trading-party who hold the people in bondage and study to vex those who plead for liberty Besides Sirs Those of the Company concerned in the Petition will be ready to give out that your Petitioners durst not owne their act and therefore withdrew and declined the prosecution thereof whereas the world shall know that was not the reason But the attendance upon places care of our families a good providence opening a way for our returne with our great expence under long delayes were the true causes of it Sirs Mr. Steele who is of Councell hath the copy of papers at large if you desire further satisfaction then what is Printed The wise God make you as Angels to judge righteously and as Gods to relieve the oppressed Sirs I am you humble Servant William Golding ΠΡΟΛΕΓΟΜΕÎΑ OR The Preface to the READER MY purpose is not to compile a History nor to enter upon a distinct Narration of all trans-actions with us I suppose that will be performed by a better hand but onely to give a briefe assay of things that the Honourable Court of Parliament with others may clearly perceive wee have not complained without a cause I shall briefly premise a few things to cleare a way to the ensuing Treatise viz. The Reader is desired to take notice 1. That the Island called Summer Islands alias Bermuda is governed by a Company of Merchant Adventurers of London who hold their power by Patent from King James who keep Courts make Lawes and reverse them at pleasure chose Deputy governours Magistrates and Commanders over the Inhabitants there all which depend for direction in their respective places upon the Company of London 2. That though there be many noble Lords and worthy Gentlemen of that Company yet are they strangers for the most part how things are carried in the Bermuda Court for their more weighty imployments take them off from so low and inconsiderable affaires The Court is upheld by a Deputy and a few assistants many of whom being of the trading party wait upon the quarterly Courts to consult what may tend to their advantage and the government of the Island in subordination to that end 3. That the pretence of the present difference in the Islands is about a congregation gathered there into Gospel-fellowship the beginning whereof and by what authority gathered the manner of its proceeding with the oppositions it met with in its infancy is faithfully reported by Mr. White Pastor of that Congregation in his answer to a scandalous paper sent from the Island and Printed under the Patronage of Mr. Prynn all which I shall passe over to prevent tediousnesse 4. That through the indulgence of the High Court of Parliament and Honourable Committee for the American plantations the Congregation in Summer Islands is indempnified in matters of Gods worship by their orders These things premised I shall give a briefe account of the proceed of things occasioned since the Company of London chose Captaine Turner to be Governour of these Islands Servants on Horse-back IT pleased the Company or part of them Anno 1645. to change their Governour in Summer Islands how regularly they proceeded I say not and chose Captaine Thomas Turner pretending that he being an honest and dis-ingaged person and now cloathed with authority might the better heale the distempers of the Island who arriving at the Island soon discovered his purpose and designe and within six or seven months acted so excentrically that many of the Inhabitants finding themselves agrieved did earnestly intreat Cap. Sayle and William Golding to addresse themselves for England to seek shelter for themselves and others against the blacke storme which was fallen upon them who casting themselves and families upon the Lord undertooke that * Province and by the good hand of God upon them comming to London they besought the Company to heare their complaints and put them into a way of security and peace The complaints were read and committed to examination but no report made after five months attendance At length it pleased the Lords and many Gentry to be present at Court resolving to heare and issue matters But the trading assistants with their friends perceiving this businesse would be now called upon left the Court in whose absence though thirty or forty still remained yet according to their orders requiring seven Assistants at least with the Governour or his Deputy there was not that number to make a Court which lost us that opportunity and clearly taught us what to trust too upon which Captaine Sayle and William Golding besought the Parliament The Copy of whose Petition was as followeth To the Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses assembled in Parliament The Petition of Wil. Sayle and Wil.
office by the Governours owne profession he is no Independent but an honest man and not for the Governours turne Instance the imprisoning of Mr. Moore for saying he was Councellour as he thought of Pagets Tribe and therefore refused to pay his levy and before his censure or imprisonment The London ship arrived and Mr. Moore was chosen Counsellour as he had information it should be by the Company yet is he committed to common Gaole and denyed the place of e Counsellour notwithstanding the Companies order Capt. Turner knowes no authority above himselfe but is come in Conquerour over the Summer Islands Sleighted the power of Parliament which appeares First by denying the liberty granted M. White and others by that supreame Court Secondly by the words spoken in the Assembly the Governour present by Th. Wood a member thereof when that foresaid grant was publickly read it is said he but a peece of parchment and a little wax Thirdly by that secret charge of Apostacy and Rebellion on Parliament and Nation See the act for suppressing Independents supra Fourthly by the anticipation of any power to possesse the Kings Castle except from the Company See act for the establishing Captaine Turner to have the command of the Castle in his owne hand supra Fifthly their sleighting the Ordinance and power granted to the Committee for the American plantations When pleaded by the Magistrates against the Act for casting them out The Governour and Assembly turned out of place Magistrates of knowne integrity which is first against the Ordinance of Parliament to the Committee of Plantations then pleaded to by the Magistrates but none regarded the power and authority thereof Secondly It is also against the Companies Declaration which was likewise urged but without successe in which course the Governour and Councell still persist for Anno 1647. Mr. Moore chosen Counsellour by the Company was rejected likewise Captaine Turner making an overture in the vacancy of a Counsellour in Smiths Tribe that the Tribe should have liberty of naming two men and he with his Councell would agree to choose one of them but when it came to acting the Governour set by the men in nomination and chose one Thomas Burrows formerly censured at an Assizes as unworthy to beare the place of Constable for misdemeanours there proved against him Of known integrity to the Parliament This Island Captaine Sayle being Governour assisted with the Councel since cast out by Captain Turner owned the Parliament when the most of the Plantation stood either newter or in open defiance to it the report whereof occasioned one Ferns a Kings Man of warre to make prize of goods belonging to Captaine Sayle and other friends to the Parliament to their damage at least five hundred pound The Governour forbids appeales The Magistrates aforementioned after some dayes imprisonment sent their appeale to the Parliament and Company unto the Governour but were kept in prison at least three weeks after Mr. White hath beene denyed his appeale to the Assizes held in this Island to Honourable Committee and High Court of Parliament So in Robert Naltons cause whose appeale to Assizes would not be granted the Governour at Councell table is above all The Governour with his Assembly forbids Ministers to preach witnesse the order of Assembly which is as followeth Die Mercuriae 29. Aprilis 1646. WHereas we finde by daily experience what great distractions doth arise by the intrusions of M. White M. Copland and M. Golding into our Churches who will not conforme themselves to the Directory of Parliament to the great disturbance of the present Ministers and other well disposed people We the Generall Assembly tendring the peace and well-governing of the Church of God and for the prevention of further mischiefe doe order and prohibit the said M. White M. Copland and Mr. Golding to preach in any of our Churches or Chappels unlesse they submit to the Directory of Parliament as aforesaid not prohibiting them to exercise their gifts according to the extent and limitation given unto them by the High Court of Parliament untill we receive further order and direction from them Ordered that this be sent under the Clerkes hand to the said Mr. White Mr. Copland and Mr. Golding John Vaughan Secret This Order hath no truth in it unlesse in that passage to the great disturbance of the present Ministers to wit Mr. Vyner M. Hooper both of them professing they will administer no Sacrament which yet was the condition they made with the Company to the people of those Tribes where M White or M. Golding should be suffered to preach publickly the onely engine to keepe up the spirits of the people in opposition to M. White and M. Golding These Ministers whom the Assembly silence are allowed by the Company sent over by them at first with approbation Secondly even since the difference about the Congregationall way the Company wrote thus unto M. Copland and M. Golding for the satisfaction of the people wee have sent over two Ministers who we doubt not will be ready according to the Directory to give them due satisfaction in point of administring Sacraments and Marriage Wee will not take upon us to prescribe you any thing Our desire is that you and they as fellow labourers may joyne hand in hand for the good of the people We are farre from pressing you against your consciences we know well that conscience is a tender thing and must be tenderly dealt withall Your owne discretion we doubt not will sufficiently instruct you to be peaceable not to vent your selves one against another in the Pulpit but to minde your maine worke which as we conceive is to preach Christ to the people c. Subscribed with nine of the Companies hands Now our adversaries cannot charge us with disobedience unto the wise and Religious counsell given by the Company in this their letter though to our faces and in the hearing of others we and the Congregation have beene in Pulpits charged with Schisme Heresie Errors to be as Choraâ— Dathan and Abiram the disease of the land and the Magistrate as Physitians stirred up to cut us off and resembled to Sampsons foxes with firebrands at their tayles and to bring us yet further into contempt the people have been publickly taught that God is not present at the Mill though Christ saith two shall be grinding at the Mill the one taken and the other left with such like stuffe which we forbeare to publish whose labour were desired by the people The most considerable of Sandios Tribe petitioned the Governour to enjoy M. Whites Ministery and many of Smiths tribe M. Goldings but the Governour would not hearken to the desires of either and yet if we may beleeve him and I have heard him speake it forty times he doth all for the glory of God and the good of the Country Conceals good orders An. 1647. The Company required that the Congregation should injoy their liberty and the