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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96686	Hypocrisie unmasked: by a true relation of the proceedings of the Governour and company of the Massachusets against Samuel Gorton (and his accomplices) a notorious disturber of the peace and quiet of the severall governments wherein he lived : with the grounds and reasons thereof, examined and allowed by their Generall Court holden at Boston in New-England in November last, 1646. Together with a particular answer to the manifold slanders, and abominable falshoods which are contained in a book written by the said Gorton, and entituled, Simplicities defence against seven-headed policy, &c. Discovering to the view of all whose eyes are open, his manifold blasphemies; as also the dangerous agreement which he and his accomplices made with ambitious and treacherous Indians, who at the same time were deeply engaged in a desperate conspiracy to cut off all the rest of the English in the other plantations. VVhereunto is added a briefe narration (occasioned by certain aspersions) of the true grounds or cause of the first planting of New-England; the president of their churches in the way and worship of God; their communion with the Reformed Churches; and their practise towards those that dissent from them in matters of religion and Church-government. / By Edw. Winslow. Published by authority.	Winslow, Edward, 1595-1655.; Gorton, Samuel, 1592 or 3-1677.; Williams, Roger, 1604?-1683.	1647 (1647)	Wing W3037; Thomason E409_23; ESTC R204435	90,941	117

a trifle not worthy the mentioning But if he will be so unfaithfull as to omit it I dare not As for his censure pag. 64. I know not whether it bee right set downe and so the charge pag. 65. wherein I dare say he wrongeth the Ministers in saying They stirred up the people to famish them As for his long and tedious Letter to Mr. Green from page 66 to 74. I passe it by as he saith Mr. Green did But in 74. hee would make it an aspersion upon Mr. Endecot for saying that God had stirred them up to goe out of their owne jurisdiction to fetch them from their owne places Take notice as it is litterally within the line of Plimouth Government in their Grant yet the Indians before mentioned having subjected themselves to the Massachusets the Commissioners for Plimouth as well as those for Con●●aeut and New-Haven upon the manifold complaints and reasons before mentioned being met together at their ordinary time and place appointed and ordered it should bee so as appeares by the copy of their act At a meeting of the Commissioners for the United Colonies of New-England holden at Boston the seventh of September 1643. Whereas complaints have beene made against Samuel Gorton and his company and some of them weighty and of great consequence And whereas the said Gorton and the rest have beene formerly sent for and now lately by the generall Court of the Massachusets with a safe conduct both for their comming and returne that they might give answer and satisfaction wherein they have done wrong If yet they shall stubbornely refuse the Commissioners for the Vnited Colonies think sit that the Magistrates in the Massachusets proceed against them according to what they shall finde just and the rest of the Jurisdictions will approve and concurre in what shall bee so warrantably done as if their Commissioners had beene present at the conclusions provided that this conclusion doe not prejudice the Government of Plimouth in any right they can justly claime unto any Tract or Tracts c. By which Order it appeares they were stirred up and allowed by Plimouth it selfe as well as the rest as afore to send for and deale with as indeed the common disturbers of the peace of the Country And whereas in pag. 76. He complaineth of the Governours last order for breaking the order of Court yet take it as he relates it and any understanding man will easily see on the other side the same leafe that they still were bound to the rest of the Articles at their confinement which they were now in a high way to break And for that little Island called Reade Island they were forced to shelter in take notice 't is 30 miles about very fruitfull and plentifully abounding with all manner of food the Country affordeth and hath two Townes besides many great Farmes well stocked in the same In pag. 79. Hee complaines of us for calling them Gortonians and so the Indians calling them Gortonoges and not Englishmen with many affected soppish vanities phrases and termes I never heard on before and yet have lived in new-New-England from the beginning being now above 26 yeares I wish hee study not nor affect these things but I much feare it In pag. 80. Hee tels a tale of a tub of Myantonimo's being slain as hee marched which is false for hee was put to death and in an house but not upon a march And is it to bee wondered at that two English were present to see the manner of their proceeding in so weighty a cause as one Prince putting another his perfidious enemy and captive to death especially when they were required by the Commissioners to forbeare their accustomed torments and to give him honourable buriall which they did and had thanks returned by the Nanhiggansets for those particulars Now if any would know how it was done It was onely at one blow with an hatchet on the side of the heade as hee walked easily in the roome expecting no lesse which fully dispatched him at once And thus much for answer to this charge To let passe pag. 81. what hee saith about Myantonimo's death as being answered before and come to pag 82. c. where he mentioneth a consultation held amongst the Indians to put themselves under the subjection of the State of England c. Answ Wee heard indeed of this desperate plot by this unfaithfull people who had beene in Covenant with the severall Governments long before but never observed any one Article farther then it might further their owne designe which was to bee absolute Lords of the Country though with the ruine of us all And truly had he not published this and the following discourse wee could never have proved it though wee heard of it both from English and Indians And however Myantonimo dyed yet the plot liveth and continueth to this day Now though I dare not say nor doe I thinke they joyne with them in aiming at the ruine of all the English yet they joyne with them in many of their Councels contrive their sturdy answers by writings and become their Secretaries Who knowes not that they cannot write and who knowes not their owne answers from those that come under your hands And if the State of England which God defend should establish your and their joynt propositions then were their plot accomplished for they might and would worke freely our ruine when as wee might not take up armes against them but by vertue of warrant or writ from hence procured upon our complaints here which also would bee six months in ordinary course in procuring and returning when as in one of these all our throates might bee cut and those hopefull beginnings so much favoured by our gracious God hitherto in a high way to bee overthrowne Indeed wee heard further and for my part I beleeve it that for the better accomplishment hereof Samuel Gorton and some of his company had perswaded the Nanohiggansets to send the King a very large Present of Beaver and otter skins which they should bring in and accordingly did but withall the English reporter saith that if he could finde favour with the Parliament then hee would rest there but if they frowned on him hee doubted not to but obtaine what was meet from the King But the times would not suffer him to publish this also else I see wee should have had all and this take notice of That as the same report testified at his departure hee wished them by no meanes to warre with us the Vnited Colonies but compound though it cost them never so deare but assured them at his returne hee would come strengthened with such authority and so many of his friends as that the Nanohiggansets and themselves should not need to feare any thing the rest of the English could doe And that we heard these things from credible testimony and are not faigned by mee I take the searcher of the heart to witnesse yea say further that I beleeve them to

to the Nanohiggansets In that troublesome time viz. being one cast out of the Church Mr. Cotton should preach It was all one to take counsell of a witch and that those that did it were worthy to die Upon which Mr. Wilbour one of the messengers was ready to die saith hee for feare hee should have been hanged This I cannot beleeve for these two Reasons 1. Because all men that know Mr. Cotton know his moderation wisdome and piety to bee such as such an expression was not like to drop from him 2. The strictest Government in New-Engl that I know takes no advantage in the law at a mans person for being excommunicated insomuch as if he have an office he holds it neverthelesse and this I know practised and therefore his relation unlike But that the Messengers were directed to another for their interpreter I know and that some took offence at their practise I know also but upon different grounds which I forbeare to mention being now to answer Mr. Gorton and not Mr. Williams In pag. 93. which is the last page in his Booke that I shall need to make answer to and the thing hee there brings against us is an answer to a doctrine one of their wives should heare delivered at Massachusets when shee came to visit them from Matth. 24. 29. and alluding to Hebr. 12. 26 27. briefly this doctrine there delivered should make the doctrine of the Apostles and the Churches in their times to ●ee but darkness● That the Ministery of the Apostles was and should be removed c. which I desire the Reader to turne to but bee assured through Gods mercy by meanes of the late Bishop of Canterburies persecutions of the godly here wee are so excellently furnished with shining Lights of the Gospel as no such blasphemous trash as this could bee there delivered and so many able hearers as if it should have been delivered by any the Lord with-drawing his presence from him it would have been forthwith excepted against and published to the world But I am confident if such a thing were there heard it was either from one of their owne company or disciples made by them And therefore I will passe by the answer also as not concerning any difference between him and us and so the rest of his writings to that end and could wish that Narcissus-like hee were not so much in love with his owne shadow lest it prove his ruine there needing no other matter against him then his owne words and writings to render him odious to the State here as well as to new-New-England from whence he came AND now that I have finished what I conceive necessary concerning Mr. Gortons scandalous and slanderous Bookes let me briefly answer some objections that I often meet withall against the Country of New-England The first that I meet with is concerning the rise and foundation of our New-England Plantations It being alledged though upon a great mistake by a late Writer that division or disagreement in the Church of Leyden was the occasion nay cause of the first Plantation in New-England for saith the Author or to this effect when they could no longer agree together the one part went to New-England and began the Plantation at Plymouth which he makes the mother as it were of the rest of the Churches as if the foundation of our New-England Plantations had been laid upon division or separation then which nothing is more untrue For I perswade my selfe never people upon earth lived more lovingly together and parted more sweetly then wee the Church at Leyden did not rashly in a distracted humour but upon joynt and serious deliberation often seeking the minde of God by fasting and prayer whose gracious presence we not onely found with us but his blessing upon us from that time to this instant to the indignation of our adversaries the admiration of strangers and the exceeding consolation of our selves to see such effects of our prayers and teares before our pilgrimage here bee ended And therefore briefly take notice of the true cause of it 'T is true that that poor persecuted flock of Christ by the malice and power of the late Hierarchy were driven to Leyden in Holland there to beare witnesse in their practise to the Kingly Office of Christ Jesus in his Church and there lived together ten yeares under the United States with much peace and liberty But our Reverend Pastor Mr. John Robinson of late memory and our grave Elder Mr. William Brewster now both at rest with the Lord considering amongst many other inconveniences how hard the Country was where we lived how many spent their estate in it and were forced to return for England how grievous to live from under the protection of the State of England how like wee were to lose our language and our name of English how little good wee did or were like to do to the Dutch in reforming the Sabbath how unable there to give such education to our children as wee our selves had received c. They I say out of their Christian care of the flock of Christ committed to them conceived if God would bee pleased to discover some place unto us though in America and give us so much favour with the King and State of England as to have their protection there where wee might enjoy the like liberty and where the Lord favouring our endeavours by his blessing wee might exemplarily shew our tender Country-men by our example no lesse burthened then our selves where they might live and comfortably subsist and enjoy the like liberties with us being freed from Antichristian bondage keep their names and Nation and not onely bee a meanes to enlarge the Dominions of our State but the Church of Christ also if the Lord have a people amongst the Natives whither hee should bring us c. Hereby in their grave Wisdomes they thought wee might more glorifie God doe more good to our Countrey better provide for our posterity and live to be more refreshed by our labours then ever wee could doe in Holland where we were Now these their private thoughts upon mature deliberation they imparted to the Brethren of the Congregation which after much private discussion came to publike agitation till at the length the Lord was solemnly sought in the Congregation by fasting and prayer to direct us who moving our hearts more and more to the worke wee sent some of good abilities over into England to see what favour or acceptance such a thing might finde with the King These also found God going alongwith them and got Sir Edwin Sands a religious Gentleman then living to stirre in it who procured Sir Robert Nawnton then principall Secretary of State to King James of famous memory to move his Majesty by a private motion to give way to such a people who could not so comfortably live under the Government of another State to enjoy their liberty of Conscience under his gracious protection in America where they would endeavour

thus briefly shewed that the foundation of our New-England Plantations was not laid upon Schisme division or Separation but upon love peace and holinesse yea such love and mutuall care of the Church of Leyden for the spreading of the Gospel the welfare of each other and their posterities to succeeding generations as is seldome found on earth And having shewed also that the Primitive Churches are the onely pattern which the Churches of Christ in New-England have in their eye not following Luther Calvin Knoxe Ai●sworth Robinson Amies or any other further then they follow Christ and his Apostles I am earnestly requested to cleare up another grosse mistake which caused many and still doth to judge the harder of New-England and the Churches there because say they The Church of Plymouth which went first from Leyden were Schismaticks Brownists rigid Separatists c. having Mr. Robinson for their Pastor who made and to the last professed separation from other the Churches of Christ c. And the rest of the Churches in New-England holding communion with that Church are to bee reputed such as they are For answer to this aspersion First he that knew Mr. Robinson either by his Doctrine daily taught or hath read his Apology published not long before his death or knew the practise of that Church of Christ under his government or was acquainted with the wholsome counsell he gave that part of the Church which went for new-New-England at their departure and afterward might easily resolve the doubt and take off the aspersion For his Doctrine I living three yeares under his Ministery before we began the worke of Plantation in New-England It was alwayes against separation from any the Churches of Christ professing and holding communion both with the French and Dutch Churches yea tendering it to the Scots also as I shall make appeare more particularly anon Ever holding forth how wary persons ought to bee in separating from a Church and that till Christ the Lord departed wholly from it man ought not to leave it onely to beare witnesse against the corruption that was in it But if any object he separated from the Church of England and wrote largely against it I acknowledge hee wrote largely against it but yet let me tell you hee allowed hearing the godly Ministers preach and pray in the publick Assemblies yea hee allowed private communion not onely with them but all that were faithfull in Christ Jesus in the Kingdome and elsewhere upon all occasions yea honored them for the power of godlinesse above all other the professors of Religion in the world nay I may truly say his spirit cleaved unto them being so well acquainted with the integrity of their hearts and care to walke blamelesse in their lives which was no small motive to him to perswade us to remove from Holland where wee might probably not onely continue English but have and maintain such sweet communion with the godly of that Nation as through Gods great mercy we enjoy this day 'T is true I confesse he was more rigid in his course and way at first then towards his latter end for his study was peace and union so far as might agree with faith and a good conscience and for schism and division there was nothing in the world more hatefull to him But for the government of the Church of England as it was in the Episcopall way the Liturgy and stinted prayers of the Church then yea the constitution of it as Nationall and so consequently the corrupt communion of the unworthy with the worthy receivers of the Lords Supper these things were never approved of him but witnessed against to his death and are by the Church over which he was to this day And if the Lord would be pleased to stir up the hearts of those in whom under him the power of Reformation lies to reform that abuse that a distinction might once be put between the precious and the vile particular Churches might be gathered by the powerfull preaching of the Word those onely admitted into communion whose hearts the Lord perswades to submit unto the Iron rod of the Gospel O how sweet then would the communion of the Churches be How thorow the Reformation How easie would the differences be reconciled between the Presbyterian and Independent way How would the God of peace which commandeth love and good agreement smile upon this Nation How would the subtle underminers of it be disappointed and the faithfull provoked to sing songs of praise and thanksgiving Nay how would the God of order be glorified in such orderly walking of the Saints And as they have fought together for the liberties of the Kingdome Ecclesiasticall and Civill so may they joyn together in the preservation of them which otherwise 't is to be feared will not long continue and in the praises of our God who hath been so good to his poore distressed ones whom he hath delivered and whom he will deliver out of all their troubles But I have made too great a digression and must return In the next place I should speak of Mr. Robinsons Apology wherein the maketh a briefe defence against many adversaries c. But because it is both in Latine and English of small price and easie to bee had I shall forbeare to write of it and onely refer the Reader to it for the differences between his congregation and other the Reformed Churches The next thing I would have the Reader take notice of is that however the church of Leyden differed in some particulars yet made no Schisme or separation from the Reformed Churches but held communion with them occasionally For we ever placed a large difference between those that grounded their practise upon the Word of God tho differing from us in the exposition or understanding of it and those that hated such Reformers and Reformation and went on in Antichristian opposition to it and persecution of it as the late Lord Bishops did who would not in deed and truth whatever their pretences were that Christ should rule over them But as they often stretched out their hands against the saints so God hath withered the Arm of their power thrown them down from their high lofty seats and slain the chiefe of their persons as well as the Hierarchy that he might become an example to all those that rise against God in his Sabbath in the preaching of his Word in his Saints in the purity of his Ordinances And I heartily desire that others may heare and feare withall As for the Dutch it was usuall for our Members that understood the language and lived in or occasionally came over to London to communicate with them as one John Jenny a Brewer long did his wife and family c. and without any offence to the Church So also for any that had occasion to travell into any other part of the Netherlands they daily did the like And our Pastor Mr. Robinson in the time when Arminianisme prevailed so much at the request