call'd the Procession Oake, two cut-throates started out, and striking with long staves at ye horse and taking hold of the reines threw me downe, tooke my sword, and haled me into a deepe thickett some quarter of a mile from the highway, where they might securely rob me, as they soone did. What they got of money was not considerable, but they took two rings, the one an emerald with diamonds, the other an onyx, and a pair of bouckles set with rubies and diamonds, which were of value, and after all bound my hands behind me, and my feete, having before pull'd off my bootes; they then set me up against an oake, wth most bloudy threats to cutt my throat if I offer'd to crie out or make any noise, for they should be within hearing, I not being the person they looked for. I told them if they had. not basely surpriz'd me they should not have had so easy a prize, and that it would teach me never to ride neere an hedge, since had I ben in ye mid-way they durst not have adventur'd on me; at which they cock'd their pistols, and told me they had long guns too, and were 14 companions. I begg'd for my onyx, and told them it being engraven with my armes would betray them, but nothing prevail'd. I heard afterwards that had it not been for his companion, a younger man, he would probably have kill'd me. He was afterwards charg'd with some other crime, but refusing to plead, was press'd to death. . . . 25 [Dec.]. Christmas day, no sermon any where, no Church being permitted to be open, so observ'd it at home. The next day we went to Lewesham, where an honest divine preach'd. 31 Dec. to Almighty God for his mercys to me the yeare past. I adjusted all accompts, and render'd thanks 11 April [1653]. I went to take the aire in Hide Park, where every coach was made to pay a shilling, and horse Such advenhighwaymen were frequent times. tures with in those So in New England at this time. 6d. by the sordid fellow who had purchas'd it of the State Le. of as they were cal'd. . . Cromwell's government. At Oxford, "schools" mean exam inations; the ceremony to our Commence 11 [May, 1654]. I now observed how the women began to paint themselves, formerly a most ignominious thing. 10 [July]. On Monday I went againe to ye Scholes [schools] to heare the severall Faculties, and in ye afternoone tarried out the whole Act in St. Marie's, the long corresponds speeches of the Proctors, the Vice-Chancellor, the severall Professors, creation of Doctors by ye cap, ring, kisse, &c. those antient ceremonies and institution being as yet not wholy abolish'd. Dr. Kendal, now Inceptor amongst others, candidate for performing his Act incomparably well, concluded it with an excellent oration, abating his Presbyterian animosities, which he witheld not even against that learned and pious divine Dr. Hammond. ment. = Inceptor = degree of master of arts. Evelyn was tiful views and land scape gardening. Went back to Cadenham, and on ye 19th to Sir Ed. Baynton's at Spie Park, a place capable of being made a noble seate; but the humourous old Knight has built a long fond of beau- single house of 2 low stories on ye precipice of an incomparable prospect, and landing on a bowling greene in ye park. The house is like a long barne, and has not a window on ye prospect side. After dinner they went to bowles, and in the meanetime our coach-men were made so exceedingly drunk, that in returning home we escap'd greate dangers. This it seems was by order of the Knight, that all gentlemen's servants be so treated; but the custome is barbarous, and much unbecoming a Knight, still lesse a Christian. Evelyn's ideals of conduct were stricter than those generally entertained by the nobility of the Restoration period. For New Quakers, see 30. 22 July. We departed and din'd at a ferme [farm] of my uncle Hungerford's, call'd Darneford Magna, situate in a vally under y plaine, most sweetly water'd, abounding in trouts catch'd by speare in the night when they come attracted by a light set in ye sterne of a boate. [8 July, 1656]. I had y curiosity to visite some Quakers here in prison; a new phanatic [fanatic] sect, of dangerous principles, who shew no respect to any man, magistrate or other, and seeme a melancholy proud sort of people, and exceedingly ignorant. One of these was said to have fasted John Evelyn, Memoirs (edited by William Bray, London, 1819), 8. Reasons for Emigration (1641) WHE WHEN a Kingdom beginneth to be over-burthened with a multitude of people (as England and Scotland now do) to have a convenient place where to send forth Coloniesis no smal benefit: And such are the Northeast and North-west parts of America, betweene the degrees of 25. and 45. of the North latitude, which, at this time doe even offer themselves unto us, to bee protected by us, against the knowne cruelty of the over-neare approaching Spaniard. A very large tract of ground containing spacious, healthfull, pleasant, and fruitfull countries, not only apt, but already provided of all things necessary for mans sustentation, Corne, Grasse, and wholsome cattell [cattle] in good competencie; but Fish, Fowle, Fruits and Herbes in abundant variety. If wee should looke no further, then [than] the South of Virginia, (which is our owne) wee shall find there all manner of provision for life; besides Merchantable Commodities, Silke, Vines, Cotton, Tobacco, Deer-skins, Goat-skins, rich Furre, and Beavers good store, Timber, Brasse, Iron, Pitch, Tarre, Rosin; and almost all things necessary for shipping, which if they shall bee employed that way; they who are sent away may (with Gods blessing) within short Found in later. For opinions time in due recompence of their setting forth, returne this Kingdome store of silver and gold, pearles and precious two centuries stones; for undoubtedly (if there be not a generall mistake in all Authors, who have written of these places) such treasure is to bee had, if not there, yet in places not farre remote, where (as yet) the Spaniard hath nothing to doe. And in case the Spaniard will bee troublesome to our Plantations, or shall (as it is generally conceived) bee found an Enemy to this Kingdome, there is no way more likely to secure England, then [than] by having a strong Navie there; hereby wee may come to share, if not utterly to defeat him of that vaste Indian Treasure, wherewith hee setteth on fire so great a part of the Christian World, corrupteth many Counsellors of state, supporteth the Papacie, and generally perplexeth all reformed Churches. of Spain, see Contemporaries, I, Nos. 25, 30, 46. Ultimately the ruin of Spain. Bull of 1494. See Contemporaries, I, No. 18. Nor need any scrupulous quere [query] bee made, whether wee may not assault an enemy in any place, or not esteeme them such as shall assault us in those places, where wee have as much to doe as they. The Spaniard claimeth indeed an Interest, little lesse then hereditarie in almost all America, and the West Indies, but it is but by vertue of the Popes grant, which is nothing worth, as was long since determined by Queene Elizabeth, and her Councell; so as for the Spaniard to debarre us in the liberty of our Plantations, or freedome of commerce in those spacious countries, were over proudly to take upon him; and for us to permit it were over-much to yeeld of our own right. Especially, when we may, as now we may, so easily helpe our selves: For your Petitioner conceiveth there is no great difficulty in the preparation here, or tediousnesse in the passage thither, or hazard when wee come there. The preparation of men and shipping, in respect of the daily happy expected accord betweene us and the Scots, is (upon the matter) already made; and as for money it is in the power of this Honourable House to give sufficient, without any grievance, or dislike of the Commonwealth, who (undoubtedly) in the generall will thinke nothing grievous, which shall bee concluded by your wisedomes, expedient to such a pious and charitable worke. And as for the passage, how can it be thought either tedious or dangerous. it being ordinarily but six weekes sayle, in a sea much more secure from Pirats, and much more free from shipwrack, and enemies coasts, then [than] our ten or twelve moneths voyage into the East-Indies. And as for our good successe there, wee need not feare it. The natives being now every where more then [than] ever, out of an inveterate hatred to the Spaniard, ready and glad to entertaine us. Our best friends the Netherlanders being with eight and twenty ships gone before to assist and further See below, us. And which is much more, our going with a generall consent in Gods cause, for the promoting of the Gospel, and inlarging of his Church, may assure us of a more then [than] ordinary protection and direction. That hitherto wee have beene lesse successefull in our voyage that way, wee may justly impute it to this, that as yet they have not beene undertaken with such a generall consent, and with such a full reference to Gods glory as was requisite. A Petition of W. C. exhibited to the High Court of Parliament I 9. T Indian Life (1609–1613) No. 16. By HENRY Virginia as a Indians in giue sum [some] satisfaction to my frends and contentment unto others, wch wish well to this viage [voy-boy, was capage], and are desir [o]us to heare ye fashions of that cuntrye: I haue set doune [down] as well as I can, what I obserued in ye time I was amonge them. And therfore first concerninge ther [their] gods, yow [you] must understand that for ye tured by the 1614, and them for several years. lived among |