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- Jamestown Identification* Due Date: January 18 at 11:30 p.m. (Evening) Read the literature on the syllabus before completing weekly assignments.
• (For credit, you must give the source of the information in parenthesis at the end of the entry. Both the assignment and source must be submitted AT THE SAME TIME. Credit will not be given for source sent separately by message; do not send source separately. If you use Internet, you must give the address.)
• Submit 75 words to give the date, place, and literary significance. Identifying without giving the significance (literary importance, influence) of the identification is not sufficient.
• Use the textbook, Internet, the AVL, or SSCC Library.
- *William Bradford–“Compact with the Indians 1621” pgs. 59-60 PRQ # 5Due Date: January 18 at 11:30 p.m. Read the literature on the syllabus before completing weekly assignments.
• With critical thinking, look at the heading of this assignment and use the named personal response question (PRQ) located at the end of the Bradford Author Study Sheet to discuss the one question in 50 words. What would have been my attitude toward the Native Americans I encountered?
• In order to receive credit, use specific material (characters, setting, events) from the named literary work to guide your personal response. A quote is not required; however, if you use a quote, do not just give a quote without explanation of the context.
• Use NO OUTSIDE sources; use only your opinion and specifics from your reading of the literature.
- *Identification–Puritanism 17th CenturyDue Date: January 18 at 11:30 p.m. evening Read the literature on the syllabus before completing weekly assignments.
• Use ONLY the material posted on Content / Unit I / Background Study Notes / ENG 251 Puritan Characteristics / Eight Chief Points of Puritan Theology for credit.
• Use correct standard English.
• Submit a paragraph written in sentences and not listing to identify the Eight Chief Points of Puritan Theology. You are taking information given in a list to adapt it to logical sentences to form a paragraph with a topic sentence. Do not include any material that is not on the posted notes. Use no outside source.
The skill you are using is to take information in one format (list) and to present it in another format (sentences to form a paragraph).
- *Anne Bradstreet–“Before the Birth of One of Her Children” PRQ #6Due Date: Jan. 22 at 11:30 p.m. Read the literature on the syllabus before completing weekly assignments.
• With critical thinking, look at the heading of this assignment and use the named personal response question (PRQ) located at the end of the Bradstreet Author Study Sheet to discuss the question in 50 words. How would I feel if my baby and older children were to be left to a stepmother [stepfather for males] due to my death?
• In order to receive credit, use specific material (characters, setting, events) from the named literary work to guide your personal response. A quote is not required; however, if you use a quote, do not just give a quote without explanation of the context.
• Deductions will be made for grammar errors and misspelled words.
• Use NO OUTSIDE sources; use only your opinion and specifics from your reading of the literature.
- *Mary Rowlandson–A Narrative of the Captivity . . . Pgs. 119-24 PRQ #3Due Date: Jan. 22 at 11:30 p.m. Read the literature on the syllabus before completing weekly assignments.
• With critical thinking, look at the heading of this assignment and use the named personal response question (PRQ) located at the end of the Rowlandson Author Study Sheet to discuss the question in 50 words. Would I have had the same attitude toward God’s role in my experience if I had endured what Rowlandson endured?
• In order to receive credit, use specific material (characters, setting, events) from the named literary work to guide your personal response. A quote is not required; however, if you use a quote, do not just give a quote without explanation of the context.
• Deductions will be made for grammar errors and misspelled words.
• Use NO OUTSIDE sources; use only your opinion and specifics from your reading of the literature.
- *Identification–Salem Witch TrialsDue Date: Jan. 22 at 11:30 p.m. Read the literature on the syllabus before completing weekly assignments.
• (For credit, you must give the source of the information in parenthesis at the end of the entry. Both the assignment and source must be submitted AT THE SAME TIME. Credit will not be given for a source sent separately by message; do not send source separately. If you use Internet, you must give the address.)
• Submit 75 words written in sentences and not listing to give the date, place, and literary significance. Identifying without giving the significance (literary importance, influence) of the identification is not sufficient.
• Use the textbook, Internet, the AVL, or SSCC Library.
- *Cotton Mather–“The Trial of Bridget Bishop” Pgs. 175-79 PRQ #3 Due Date: Jan. 22 at 11:30 p.m. Read the literature on the syllabus before completing weekly assignments.
• With critical thinking, look at the heading of this assignment and use the named personal response question (PRQ) located at the end of the Mather Author Study Sheet to discuss the question in 50 words. Do I believe in supernatural beings who can do harm to humans?
• In order to receive credit, use specific material (characters, setting, events) from the named literary work to guide your personal response. A quote is not required; however, if you use a quote, do not just give a quote without explanation of the context.
• Deductions will be made for grammar errors and misspelled words.
• Use NO OUTSIDE sources; use only your opinion and specifics from your reading of the literature.
JohnSmith’s 1616 Letter to Queen Anne of Great Britain:
Most admired Queen,
The love I bear my God, my King and country, hath so oft emboldened me in the worst of
extreme dangers, that now honesty doth constrain me to presume thus far beyond myself,
to present your Majesty this short discourse: if ingratitude be a deadly poison to all honest
virtues, I must be guilty of that crime if I should omit any means to be thankful.
So it is, that some ten years ago being in Virginia, and taken prisoner by the power of
Powhatan their chief King, I received from this great Salvage exceeding great courtesy,
especially from his son Nantaquaus, the most manliest, comeliest, boldest spirit, I ever saw
in a Salvage, and his sister Pocahontas, the Kings most dear and well-beloved daughter,
being but a child of twelve or thirteen years of age, whose compassionate pitiful heart, of
my desperate estate, gave me much cause to respect her: I being the first Christian this
proud King and his grim attendants ever saw: and thus enthralled in their barbarous power,
I cannot say I felt the least occasion of want that was in the power of those my mortal foes
to prevent, notwithstanding all their threats. After some six weeks fatting amongst those
Salvage courtiers, at the minute of my execution, she hazarded the beating out of her own
brains to save mine; and not only that, but so prevailed with her father, that I was safely
conducted to Jamestown: where I found about eight and thirty miserable poor and sick
creatures, to keep possession of all those large territories of Virginia; such was the
weakness of this poor commonwealth, as had the salvages not fed us, we directly had
starved. And this relief, most gracious Queen, was commonly brought us by this Lady
Pocahontas.
Notwithstanding all these passages, when inconstant fortune turned our peace to war, this
tender virgin would still not spare to dare to visit us, and by her our jars have been oft
appeased, and our wants still supplied; were it the policy of her father thus to employ her,
or the ordinance of God thus to make her his instrument, or her extraordinary affection to
our nation, I know not: but of this I am sure; when her father with the utmost of his policy
and power, sought to surprise me, having but eighteen with me, the dark night could not
affright her from coming through the irksome woods, and with watered eyes gave me
intelligence, with her best advice to escape his fury; which had he known, he had surely
slain her.
Jamestown with her wild train she as freely frequented, as her fathers habitation; and
during the time of two or three years, she next under God, was still the instrument to
preserve this colony from death, famine and utter confusion; which if in those times, had
once been dissolved, Virginia might have lain as it was at our first arrival to this day.
Since then, this business having been turned and varied by many accidents from that I left
it at: it is most certain, after a long and troublesome war after my departure, betwixt her
father and our colony; all which time she was not heard of.
About two years after she herself was taken prisoner, being so detained near two years
longer, the colony by that means was relieved, peace concluded; and at last rejecting her
barbarous condition, she was married to an English Gentleman, with whom at this present
she is in England; the first Christian ever of that Nation, the first Virginian ever spoke
English, or had a child in marriage by an Englishman: a matter surely, if my meaning be
truly considered and well understood, worthy a Princes understanding.
Thus, most gracious Lady, I have related to your Majesty, what at your best leisure our
approved Histories will account you at large, and done in the time of your Majesty’s life; and
however this might be presented you from a more worthy pen, it cannot from a more
honest heart, as yet I never begged anything of the state, or any: and it is my want of
ability and her exceeding desert; your birth, means, and authority; her birth, virtue, want
and simplicity, doth make me thus bold, humbly to beseech your Majesty to take this
knowledge of her, though it be from one so unworthy to be the reporter, as myself, her
husbands estate not being able to make her fit to attend your Majesty. The most and least I
can do, is to tell you this, because none so oft hath tried it as myself, and the rather being
of so great a spirit, however her stature: if she should not be well received, seeing this
Kingdom may rightly have a Kingdom by her means; her present love to us and Christianity
might turn to such scorn and fury, as to divert all this good to the worst of evil; whereas
finding so great a Queen should do her some honor more than she can imagine, for being so
kind to your servants and subjects, would so ravish her with content, as endear her dearest
blood to effect that, your Majesty and all the Kings honest subjects most earnestly desire.
And so I humbly kiss your gracious hands,
Captain John Smith, 1616
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/pocohontas/pocahontas_smith_letter.cfm
JohnSmith’s 1616 Letter to Queen Anne of Great Britain:
Most admired Queen,
The love I bear my God, my King and country, hath so oft emboldened me in the worst of
extreme dangers, that now honesty doth constrain me to presume thus far beyond myself,
to present your Majesty this short discourse: if ingratitude be a deadly poison to all honest
virtues, I must be guilty of that crime if I should omit any means to be thankful.
So it is, that some ten years ago being in Virginia, and taken prisoner by the power of
Powhatan their chief King, I received from this great Salvage exceeding great courtesy,
especially from his son Nantaquaus, the most manliest, comeliest, boldest spirit, I ever saw
in a Salvage, and his sister Pocahontas, the Kings most dear and well-beloved daughter,
being but a child of twelve or thirteen years of age, whose compassionate pitiful heart, of
my desperate estate, gave me much cause to respect her: I being the first Christian this
proud King and his grim attendants ever saw: and thus enthralled in their barbarous power,
I cannot say I felt the least occasion of want that was in the power of those my mortal foes
to prevent, notwithstanding all their threats. After some six weeks fatting amongst those
Salvage courtiers, at the minute of my execution, she hazarded the beating out of her own
brains to save mine; and not only that, but so prevailed with her father, that I was safely
conducted to Jamestown: where I found about eight and thirty miserable poor and sick
creatures, to keep possession of all those large territories of Virginia; such was the
weakness of this poor commonwealth, as had the salvages not fed us, we directly had
starved. And this relief, most gracious Queen, was commonly brought us by this Lady
Pocahontas.
Notwithstanding all these passages, when inconstant fortune turned our peace to war, this
tender virgin would still not spare to dare to visit us, and by her our jars have been oft
appeased, and our wants still supplied; were it the policy of her father thus to employ her,
or the ordinance of God thus to make her his instrument, or her extraordinary affection to
our nation, I know not: but of this I am sure; when her father with the utmost of his policy
and power, sought to surprise me, having but eighteen with me, the dark night could not
affright her from coming through the irksome woods, and with watered eyes gave me
intelligence, with her best advice to escape his fury; which had he known, he had surely
slain her.
Jamestown with her wild train she as freely frequented, as her fathers habitation; and
during the time of two or three years, she next under God, was still the instrument to
preserve this colony from death, famine and utter confusion; which if in those times, had
once been dissolved, Virginia might have lain as it was at our first arrival to this day.
Since then, this business having been turned and varied by many accidents from that I left
it at: it is most certain, after a long and troublesome war after my departure, betwixt her
father and our colony; all which time she was not heard of.
About two years after she herself was taken prisoner, being so detained near two years
longer, the colony by that means was relieved, peace concluded; and at last rejecting her
barbarous condition, she was married to an English Gentleman, with whom at this present
she is in England; the first Christian ever of that Nation, the first Virginian ever spoke
English, or had a child in marriage by an Englishman: a matter surely, if my meaning be
truly considered and well understood, worthy a Princes understanding.
Thus, most gracious Lady, I have related to your Majesty, what at your best leisure our
approved Histories will account you at large, and done in the time of your Majesty’s life; and
however this might be presented you from a more worthy pen, it cannot from a more
honest heart, as yet I never begged anything of the state, or any: and it is my want of
ability and her exceeding desert; your birth, means, and authority; her birth, virtue, want
and simplicity, doth make me thus bold, humbly to beseech your Majesty to take this
knowledge of her, though it be from one so unworthy to be the reporter, as myself, her
husbands estate not being able to make her fit to attend your Majesty. The most and least I
can do, is to tell you this, because none so oft hath tried it as myself, and the rather being
of so great a spirit, however her stature: if she should not be well received, seeing this
Kingdom may rightly have a Kingdom by her means; her present love to us and Christianity
might turn to such scorn and fury, as to divert all this good to the worst of evil; whereas
finding so great a Queen should do her some honor more than she can imagine, for being so
kind to your servants and subjects, would so ravish her with content, as endear her dearest
blood to effect that, your Majesty and all the Kings honest subjects most earnestly desire.
And so I humbly kiss your gracious hands,
Captain John Smith, 1616
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/pocohontas/pocahontas_smith_letter.cfm
JohnSmith
Be sure to read the introductions to each assigned author in the book.
John Smith wrote the first book in English in the New World. He established the first
permanent English Settlement (Jamestown in 1607, named for King James I), but it was not the
first permanent European settlement. St. Augustine, settled by the Spanish, was the first
permanent European settlement. The English had a settlement at Roanoke, which is called the
Lost Colony because the men abandoned it in the late 1580s.
Smith and his companions (all men with no families) endured harsh conditions. Many of
them listed their occupations as “gentlemen.” In just a few months, their number diminished
from 100 to 38.
They were able to survive partly because of the help they received from the Native
Americans. Powhatan, the Chief, provided assistance. His daughter Pocahontas is associated
with John Smith mostly through the story he wrote describing her saving his life. This story is
considered to be a myth by most historians. There may have been a ceremony where she
symbolically kept him from having his brains bashed out, but the actual fact of his being in
danger is doubted.
If you know John Smith/Pocahontas from the Disney movie, you do not have a clear
picture of the two. He was a man in his late twenties when she was a child of twelve or so.
Check the syllabus—John Smith wrote to Queen Anne, wife of James I, when
Pocahontas visited England. He describes the “incident” in this letter. Smith gives some
biographical information about her, including her marriage to tobacco farmer John Rolfe. She
and Rolfe had a son, Thomas. Pocahontas became ill during the trip to London and died there at
the young age of twenty-two. John Rolfe returned to Virginia. Their son Thomas later returned to
Virginia as well.
The colony at Jamestown was founded for materialistic reasons. The colonists were
trying to make their fortune. Smith wrote about Virginia in glowing terms because he was trying
to find financial backers to continue the settlement effort. He was burned in a fire and returned to
English not long after arriving, never coming back to Virginia.
Eventually Powhatan and the other Native Americans realized that more ships were
going to continue to arrive with these Europeans who would want more and more land. There
was frequent fighting. Pocahontas was captured and kept for several years by the colonists.
Ultimately, there were too many colonists and too few Native Americans.
Because of the climate, tobacco became a major crop. Tobacco needed field hands to
harvest the crop. The first “slaves” to come to the New World were indentured servants from
Africa. They would work for a period of years, often for seven years, after which they would be
free. Some were poor whites who saw an opportunity. However, it did not take long for the
European colonists to realize it was more “economical” to import human beings from Africa to
be enslaved for life. The slave trade was established early in the European settlement of the New
World with Jamestown bringing in the first ship of Africans in 1619, one year before the
Mayflower landed in New England.
PURITANBACKGROUND
Puritans—Puritans sought to reform the Anglican Church from within. They were
prosperous, with a university-educated man for every thirty families.
Pilgrims—Pilgrims were Separatists who withdrew from the “corrupt” state church.
They were poor and in general less educated.
Chief Points of Puritan Theology
Absolute sovereignty of God
Predestination—An omniscient Deity decides who will be saved.
Providence—God directly intervenes in the world. Example: God caused mice to
eat the Anglican prayer book but not the New Testament.
Natural depravity—Since Adam’s fall, all human beings are born in sin and
deserve damnation.
Election—Through God’s mercy a few are saved, but by grace alone, not through
their own efforts.
Evil is inner—Human beings need to reform themselves rather than be reformed
by institutions.
Perseverance of the saints—One must live as if one is among the elect.
Covenant-agreement between God and humanity that God will save the righteous
William Bradford—“The Mayflower Compact 1620: Personal Response Question”
My religious beliefs would give me the chances that the pilgrims took to cross the Atlantic Ocean since the beliefs are based on faith that is so unrelenting. According to Bradford pilgrims trusted in their faith and they knew that crossing the Atlantic Ocean was dangerous but they could not give up due to their strong faith and so do I.
Reference
Perkins, George, and Barbara Perkins, eds. The American Tradition in Literature. 12th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Vol. I
WilliamBradford
from Of Plymouth Plantation, Book II
[The Mayflower Compact 1620]
I SHALL a litle returne backe and begine with a. combination I made by them before they
came ashore, being the first foundation of their govermente in this place; occasioned partly by
the discontented and mutinous speeches that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall
from them in the ship-That when they came a shore they would use their owne libertie; for none
had power to command them, the patente they had being for Virginia, and not for New-england,
which belonged to an other Goverment, with which the Virginia Company had nothing to doe.
And partly that shuch an acte by them done (this their condition considered) might be as firme as
any patent, and in some respects more sure.130.
The forme was as followeth.131.
In the narre of God, Amen. We whose names are under-writen, the loyall subjects of our dread
soveraigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, Frane, and Ireland king,
defender of the faith, cte., haveing undertaken, for the glorie of God, and advancemente of the
Christian faith, and honour of our king and countrie, a voyage to plant the first colonie in the
Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutualy in the presente of God,
and one of another, covenant and combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our
better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to
enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and
offices, from time ta time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the generall good of
the Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obediente. In witnes wherof we have
hereunder subscribed our narres at Cap-Codd the 11. of November, in the year of the raigne of
our soveraigne lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth, and of
Scotland the fiftie fourth.132.
An: Dom. 1620.
After this they chose, or rather confirmed,z Mr. John Carver (a man godly and well approved
amongst them) their Governour for that year. And after they had provided a place for their goods,
or combne store, (which were long in unlading for want of boats, foulnes of winter weather, and
sicknes of diverce,) and begune some small cottages for their habitation, as time would admitte,
they mette and consulted of lawes and orders, both for their civill and military Govermente, as
the necessitie of their condition did require, still adding therunto as urgent occasion in severall
times, and as cases did require.133.
In these hard and difficulte beginings they found some discontents and murmurings arise
amongst some, and mutinous speeches and carriags in other; but they were soone quelled and
overcome by the wisdome, patience, and just and equall carrage of things by the Govr and better
part, which clave faithfully togeather in the maine.
[Compact with the Indians 1621]
All this while the Indians carne skulking about them, and would sometimes show them selves
aloofe of, but when any aproached near them, they would rune away. And once they stoale away
their tools wher they had been at worke, and were gone to diner. But about the 16. of March a
certaine Indian carne bouldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they
could well understand, but marvelled at it. At length they understood by discourse with him, that
he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastrene parts, wher some English-ships carne to
fhish, with whom he was aquainted, and could name sundrie of them by their names, amongst
whom he had gott his language. He became proftable to them in aquainting them with many
things concerning the state of the cuntry in the east-parts wher he lived, which was afterwards
profitable unto them; as also of the people hear, of their names, number, and strength; of their
situation and distance from this place, and who was cheefe amongst them. His name was
Samaset;he tould them also of another Indian whos name was Squanto,a native of this place, who
had been in England and could speake better English then him selfe. Being, after some time of
entertainmente and gifts, dismist, a while after he carne againe, and 5. more with him, and they
brought againe all the tooles that were stolen away before, and made way for the coming of their
great Sachem, called Massasoyt ; who, about 4. or 5. days after, carne with the cheefe of his
freinds and other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto. With whom, after frendly
entertainment, and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which hath now continued
this 24. years)in these terms.136.
1. That neither he nor any of his, should injurie or doe hurte to any of their peopl.137.
2. That if any of his did any hurte to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might
punish him.138.
3. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and
they should doe the like to his.139.
4. If any did unjustly warr against him, they would aide him; if any did warr against them, he
should aide them.140.
5. He should send to his neighbours confederats, to certifie them of this, that they might not
wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.141.
6. That when ther mea carne to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind
them.142.
]First Thanksgiving 1621]
They begane now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and
dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strenght, and had all things in
good plenty; for as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing,
aboute codd, and bass, and other fish, of which they tooke good store, of which every family had
their portion. All the sommer ther was no wante. And now begane to come in store of foule, as
winter aproached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased
by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke
many, besids venison, etc. Besids they had aboute a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now
since harvest, Indean coree tb that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of
their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports.162.
http://www.mith2.umd.edu/eada/html/display.php?docs=bradford_history.xml
Before the Birth of One of Her
Children
All things within this fading world hath end,
Adversity doth still our joys attend;
No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet,
But with death’s parting blow are sure to meet.
The sentence past is most irrevocable,
A common thing, yet oh, inevitable.
How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend,
How soon’t may be thy lot to lose thy friend,
We both are ignorant, yet love bids me
These farewell lines to recommend to thee,
That when the knot’s untied that made us one,
I may seem thine, who in effect am none.
And if I see not half my days that’s due,
What nature would, God grant to yours and you;
The many faults that well you know I have
Let be interred in my oblivious grave;
If any worth or virtue were in me,
Let that live freshly in thy memory
And when thou feel’st no grief, as I no harmes,
Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms,
And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains
Look to my little babes, my dear remains.
And if thou love thyself, or loved’st me,
These O protect from stepdame’s injury.
And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse,
With some sad sighs honor my absent hearse;
And kiss this paper for thy dear love’s sake,
Who with salt tears this last farewell did take.
To my Dear and
Loving
Husband
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov’d by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cAnneot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Verses upon the
Burning of our
House
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I waken’d was with thund’ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
That fearful sound of “fire” and “fire,”
Let no man know is my Desire.
I starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To straighten me in my Distress
And not to leave me succourless.
Then coming out, behold a space
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so ’twas just.
It was his own; it was not mine.
Far be it that I should repine,
He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruins oft I past
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sate and long did lie.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,
There lay that store I counted best,
My pleasant things in ashes lie
And them behold no more shall I.
Under the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant talk shall ‘ere be told
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle ‘ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom’s voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lie.
Adieu, Adieu, All’s Vanity.
Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast a house on high erect
Fram’d by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished
Stands permanent, though this be fled.
It’s purchased and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A price so vast as is unknown,
Yet by his gift is made thine own.
There’s wealth enough; I need no more.
Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store.
The world no longer let me love;
My hope and Treasure lies above.
The Author to Her Book
Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain,
Who after birth didst by my side remain,
Till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true,
Who thee abroad, exposed to public view,
Made thee in rags, halting to th’ press to trudge,
Where errors were not lessened (all may judge).
At thy return my blushing was not small,
My rambling brat (in print) should mother call,
I cast thee by as one unfit for light,
The visage was so irksome in my sight;
Yet being mine own, at length affection would
Thy blemishes amend, if so I could.
I washed thy face, but more defects I saw,
And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw.
I stretched thy joints to make thee even feet,
Yet still thou run’st more hobbling than is meet;
In better dress to trim thee was my mind,
But nought save homespun cloth i’ th’ house I find.
In this array ‘mongst vulgars may’st thou roam.
In critic’s hands beware thou dost not come,
And take thy way where yet thou art not known;
If for thy father asked, say thou hadst none;
And for thy mother, she alas is poor,
Which caused her thus to send thee out of door.
In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet, Who Deceased
August, 1665, Being a Year and Half Old
Farewell dear babe, my heart’s too much content,
Farewell sweet babe, the pleasure of mine eye,
Farewell fair flower that for a space was lent,
Then ta’en away unto eternity.
Blest babe, why should I once bewail thy fate,
Or sigh thy days so soon were terminate,
Sith thou art settled in an everlasting state.
By nature trees do rot when they are grown,
And plums and apples thoroughly ripe do fall,
And corn and grass are in their season mown,
And time brings down what is both strong and tall.
But plants new set to be eradicate,
And buds new blown to have so short a date,
Is by His hand alone that guides nature and fate.
http://www.123helpme.com/search.asp?text=grandchild
http://www.123helpme.com/search.asp?text=elizabeth+bradstreet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rowlandson
Mary (White) Rowlandson (c. 1637 – January 1711) was a colonial American woman who was
captured by Native Americans
[1][2]
during King Philip’s War and held for 11 weeks before being
ransomed. Years after her release, she wrote a book about her experience, The Sovereignty and
Goodness of God: Being a Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson,
which is considered a seminal American work in the literary genre of captivity narratives. It went
through four printings in a short amount of time and garnered widespread readership, making it
in effect the first American “bestseller.”
After her return, Rowlandson wrote a narrative of her captivity recounting the stages of her
odyssey in twenty distinct “Removes” or journeys. During the attack on Lancaster, she witnessed
the murder of friends and family, some stripped naked and disemboweled. Upon her capture, she
travelled with her youngest child Sarah, suffering starvation and depression en route to an Indian
village. Sarah, aged 6 years and 5 months, died shortly after arriving in the village. Mary and her
other surviving child were kept separately and sold as property, until she was finally reunited
with her husband. During her captivity, Rowlandson sought her guidance from the Bible; the text
of her narrative is replete with verses and references describing conditions similar to her own.
Rowlandson’s book became one of the era’s best-sellers, going through four editions in one year.
The tensions between colonists and Native Americans, particularly in the aftermath of King
Philip’s War, were a source of anxiety in the colonies. While fearing losing connection to their
own society, colonists were intensely curious about the experience of one who had been “over
the line”, as a captive of American Indians, and returned to colonial society. Many literate
English people were familiar with the captivity narratives written by British sailors and
passengers during the 17th century, who were often taken captive at sea off North Africa and
sometimes sold into slavery in the Middle East.
[7]
The narratives were often expressed as
spiritual journeys and redemptions.
Rowlandson’s book earned the colonist an important place in the history of American literature.
A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is a frequently cited
example of a captivity narrative.
From A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
On the tenth of February 1675, came the Indians with great numbers upon Lancaster: their first
coming was about sunrising; hearing the noise of some guns, we looked out; several houses
were burning, and the smoke ascending to heaven. There were five persons taken in one house;
the father, and the mother and a sucking child, they knocked on the head; the other two they took
and carried away alive. There were two others, who being out of their garrison upon some
occasion were set upon; one was knocked on the head, the other escaped; another there was
who running along was shot and wounded, and fell down; he begged of them his life, promising
them money (as they told me) but they would not hearken to him but knocked him in head, and
stripped him naked, and split open his bowels. Another, seeing many of the Indians about his
barn, ventured and went out, but was quickly shot down. There were three others belonging to
the same garrison who were killed; the Indians getting up upon the roof of the barn, had
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rowlandson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rowlandson#cite_note-2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Philip%27s_War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_genre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captivity_narrative
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rowlandson#cite_note-9
advantage to shoot down upon them over their fortification. Thus these murderous wretches went
on, burning, and destroying before them.
At length they came and beset our own house, and quickly it was the dolefulest day that ever
mine eyes saw. The house stood upon the edge of a hill; some of the Indians got behind the hill,
others into the barn, and others behind anything that could shelter them; from all which places
they shot against the house, so that the bullets seemed to fly like hail; and quickly they wounded
one man among us, then another, and then a third. About two hours (according to my
observation, in that amazing time) they had been about the house before they prevailed to fire it
(which they did with flax and hemp, which they brought out of the barn, and there being no
defense about the house, only two flankers at two opposite corners and one of them not finished);
they fired it once and one ventured out and quenched it, but they quickly fired it again, and that
took. Now is the dreadful hour come, that I have often heard of (in time of war, as it was the case
of others), but now mine eyes see it. Some in our house were fighting for their lives, others
wallowing in their blood, the house on fire over our heads, and the bloody heathen ready to knock
us on the head, if we stirred out. Now might we hear mothers and children crying out for
themselves, and one another, “Lord, what shall we do?” Then I took my children (and one of my
sisters’, hers) to go forth and leave the house: but as soon as we came to the door and appeared,
the Indians shot so thick that the bullets rattled against the house, as if one had taken an handful
of stones and threw them, so that we were fain to give back. We had six stout dogs belonging to
our garrison, but none of them would stir, though another time, if any Indian had come to the
door, they were ready to fly upon him and tear him down. The Lord hereby would make us the
more acknowledge His hand, and to see that our help is always in Him. But out we must go, the
fire increasing, and coming along behind us, roaring, and the Indians gaping before us with their
guns, spears, and hatchets to devour us. No sooner were we out of the house, but my brother-in-
law (being before wounded, in defending the house, in or near the throat) fell down dead, whereat
the Indians scornfully shouted, and hallowed, and were presently upon him, stripping off his
clothes, the bullets flying thick, one went through my side, and the same (as would seem) through
the bowels and hand of my dear child in my arms. One of my elder sisters’ children, named
William, had then his leg broken, which the Indians perceiving, they knocked him on [his] head.
Thus were we butchered by those merciless heathen, standing amazed, with the blood running
down to our heels. My eldest sister being yet in the house, and seeing those woeful sights, the
infidels hauling mothers one way, and children another, and some wallowing in their blood: and
her elder son telling her that her son William was dead, and myself was wounded, she said, “And
Lord, let me die with them,” which was no sooner said, but she was struck with a bullet, and fell
down dead over the threshold. I hope she is reaping the fruit of her good labors, being faithful to
the service of God in her place. In her younger years she lay under much trouble upon spiritual
accounts, till it pleased God to make that precious scripture take hold of her heart, “And he said
unto me, my Grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12.9). More than twenty years after, I
have heard her tell how sweet and comfortable that place was to her. But to return: the Indians
laid hold of us, pulling me one way, and the children another, and said, “Come go along with us”;
I told them they would kill me: they answered, if I were willing to go along with them, they would
not hurt me.
Oh the doleful sight that now was to behold at this house! “Come, behold the works of the Lord,
what desolations he has made in the earth.” Of thirty-seven persons who were in this one house,
none escaped either present death, or a bitter captivity, save only one, who might say as he,
“And I only am escaped alone to tell the News” (Job 1.15). There were twelve killed, some shot,
some stabbed with their spears, some knocked down with their hatchets. When we are in
prosperity, Oh the little that we think of such dreadful sights, and to see our dear friends, and
relations lie bleeding out their heart-blood upon the ground. There was one who was chopped
into the head with a hatchet, and stripped naked, and yet was crawling up and down. It is a
solemn sight to see so many Christians lying in their blood, some here, and some there, like a
company of sheep torn by wolves, all of them stripped naked by a company of hell-hounds,
roaring, singing, ranting, and insulting, as if they would have torn our very hearts out; yet the Lord
by His almighty power preserved a number of us from death, for there were twenty-four of us
taken alive and carried captive.
I had often before this said that if the Indians should come, I should choose rather to be killed by
them than taken alive, but when it came to the trial my mind changed; their glittering weapons so
daunted my spirit, that I chose rather to go along with those (as I may say) ravenous beasts, than
that moment to end my days; and that I may the better declare what happened to me during that
grievous captivity, I shall particularly speak of the several removes we had up and down the
wilderness.
The First Remove
Now away we must go with those barbarous creatures, with our bodies wounded and bleeding,
and our hearts no less than our bodies. About a mile we went that night, up upon a hill within
sight of the town, where they intended to lodge. There was hard by a vacant house (deserted by
the English before, for fear of the Indians). I asked them whether I might not lodge in the house
that night, to which they answered, “What, will you love English men still?” This was the dolefulest
night that ever my eyes saw. Oh the roaring, and singing and dancing, and yelling of those black
creatures in the night, which made the place a lively resemblance of hell. And as miserable was
the waste that was there made of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, calves, lambs, roasting pigs, and
fowl (which they had plundered in the town), some roasting, some lying and burning, and some
boiling to feed our merciless enemies; who were joyful enough, though we were disconsolate. To
add to the dolefulness of the former day, and the dismalness of the present night, my thoughts
ran upon my losses and sad bereaved condition. All was gone, my husband gone (at least
separated from me, he being in the Bay; and to add to my grief, the Indians told me they would
kill him as he came homeward), my children gone, my relations and friends gone, our house and
home and all our comforts–within door and without–all was gone (except my life), and I knew not
but the next moment that might go too. There remained nothing to me but one poor wounded
babe, and it seemed at present worse than death that it was in such a pitiful condition,
bespeaking compassion, and I had no refreshing for it, nor suitable things to revive it. Little do
many think what is the savageness and brutishness of this barbarous enemy, Ay, even those that
seem to profess more than others among them, when the English have fallen into their hands.
Those seven that were killed at Lancaster the summer before upon a Sabbath day, and the one
that was afterward killed upon a weekday, were slain and mangled in a barbarous manner, by
one-eyed John, and Marlborough’s Praying Indians, which Capt. Mosely brought to Boston, as
the Indians told me.
The Second Remove
But now, the next morning, I must turn my back upon the town, and travel with them into the vast
and desolate wilderness, I knew not whither. It is not my tongue, or pen, can express the sorrows
of my heart, and bitterness of my spirit that I had at this departure: but God was with me in a
wonderful manner, carrying me along, and bearing up my spirit, that it did not quite fail. One of
the Indians carried my poor wounded babe upon a horse; it went moaning all along, “I shall die, I
shall die.” I went on foot after it, with sorrow that cannot be expressed. At length I took it off the
horse, and carried it in my arms till my strength failed, and I fell down with it. Then they set me
upon a horse with my wounded child in my lap, and there being no furniture upon the horse’s
back, as we were going down a steep hill we both fell over the horse’s head, at which they, like
inhumane creatures, laughed, and rejoiced to see it, though I thought we should there have
ended our days, as overcome with so many difficulties. But the Lord renewed my strength still,
and carried me along, that I might see more of His power; yea, so much that I could never have
thought of, had I not experienced it.
After this it quickly began to snow, and when night came on, they stopped, and now down I must
sit in the snow, by a little fire, and a few boughs behind me, with my sick child in my lap; and
calling much for water, being now (through the wound) fallen into a violent fever. My own wound
also growing so stiff that I could scarce sit down or rise up; yet so it must be, that I must sit all this
cold winter night upon the cold snowy ground, with my sick child in my arms, looking that every
hour would be the last of its life; and having no Christian friend near me, either to comfort or help
me. Oh, I may see the wonderful power of God, that my Spirit did not utterly sink under my
affliction: still the Lord upheld me with His gracious and merciful spirit, and we were both alive to
see the light of the next morning.
The Third Remove
The morning being come, they prepared to go on their way. One of the Indians got up upon a
horse, and they set me up behind him, with my poor sick babe in my lap. A very wearisome and
tedious day I had of it; what with my own wound, and my child’s being so exceeding sick, and in a
lamentable condition with her wound. It may be easily judged what a poor feeble condition we
were in, there being not the least crumb of refreshing that came within either of our mouths from
Wednesday night to Saturday night, except only a little cold water. This day in the afternoon,
about an hour by sun, we came to the place where they intended, viz. an Indian town, called
Wenimesset, northward of Quabaug. When we were come, Oh the number of pagans (now
merciless enemies) that there came about me, that I may say as David, “I had fainted, unless I
had believed, etc” (Psalm 27.13). The next day was the Sabbath. I then remembered how
careless I had been of God’s holy time; how many Sabbaths I had lost and misspent, and how
evilly I had walked in God’s sight; which lay so close unto my spirit, that it was easy for me to see
how righteous it was with God to cut off the thread of my life and cast me out of His presence
forever. Yet the Lord still showed mercy to me, and upheld me; and as He wounded me with one
hand, so he healed me with the other. This day there came to me one Robert Pepper (a man
belonging to Roxbury) who was taken in Captain Beers’s fight, and had been now a considerable
time with the Indians; and up with them almost as far as Albany, to see King Philip, as he told me,
and was now very lately come into these parts. Hearing, I say, that I was in this Indian town, he
obtained leave to come and see me. He told me he himself was wounded in the leg at Captain
Beer’s fight; and was not able some time to go, but as they carried him, and as he took oaken
leaves and laid to his wound, and through the blessing of God he was able to travel again. Then I
took oaken leaves and laid to my side, and with the blessing of God it cured me also; yet before
the cure was wrought, I may say, as it is in Psalm 38.5-6 “My wounds stink and are corrupt, I am
troubled, I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long.” I sat much alone with a poor
wounded child in my lap, which moaned night and day, having nothing to revive the body, or
cheer the spirits of her, but instead of that, sometimes one Indian would come and tell me one
hour that “your master will knock your child in the head,” and then a second, and then a third,
“your master will quickly knock your child in the head.”
This was the comfort I had from them, miserable comforters are ye all, as he said. Thus nine days
I sat upon my knees, with my babe in my lap, till my flesh was raw again; my child being even
ready to depart this sorrowful world, they bade me carry it out to another wigwam (I suppose
because they would not be troubled with such spectacles) whither I went with a very heavy heart,
and down I sat with the picture of death in my lap. About two hours in the night, my sweet babe
like a lamb departed this life on Feb. 18, 1675. It being about six years, and five months old. It
was nine days from the first wounding, in this miserable condition, without any refreshing of one
nature or other, except a little cold water. I cannot but take notice how at another time I could not
bear to be in the room where any dead person was, but now the case is changed; I must and
could lie down by my dead babe, side by side all the night after. I have thought since of the
wonderful goodness of God to me in preserving me in the use of my reason and senses in that
distressed time, that I did not use wicked and violent means to end my own miserable life. In the
morning, when they understood that my child was dead they sent for me home to my master’s
wigwam (by my master in this writing, must be understood Quinnapin, who was a Sagamore, and
married King Philip’s wife’s sister; not that he first took me, but I was sold to him by another
Narragansett Indian, who took me when first I came out of the garrison). I went to take up my
dead child in my arms to carry it with me, but they bid me let it alone; there was no resisting, but
go I must and leave it. When I had been at my master’s wigwam, I took the first opportunity I
could get to go look after my dead child. When I came I asked them what they had done with it;
then they told me it was upon the hill. Then they went and showed me where it was, where I saw
the ground was newly digged, and there they told me they had buried it. There I left that child in
the wilderness, and must commit it, and myself also in this wilderness condition, to Him who is
above all. God having taken away this dear child, I went to see my daughter Mary, who was at
this same Indian town, at a wigwam not very far off, though we had little liberty or opportunity to
see one another. She was about ten years old, and taken from the door at first by a Praying Ind.
and afterward sold for a gun. When I came in sight, she would fall aweeping; at which they were
provoked, and would not let me come near her, but bade me be gone; which was a heart-cutting
word to me. I had one child dead, another in the wilderness, I knew not where, the third they
would not let me come near to: “Me (as he said) have ye bereaved of my Children, Joseph is not,
and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin also, all these things are against me.” I could not sit
still in this condition, but kept walking from one place to another. And as I was going along, my
heart was even overwhelmed with the thoughts of my condition, and that I should have children,
and a nation which I knew not, ruled over them. Whereupon I earnestly entreated the Lord, that
He would consider my low estate, and show me a token for good, and if it were His blessed will,
some sign and hope of some relief. And indeed quickly the Lord answered, in some measure, my
poor prayers; for as I was going up and down mourning and lamenting my condition, my son
came to me, and asked me how I did. I had not seen him before, since the destruction of the
town, and I knew not where he was, till I was informed by himself, that he was amongst a smaller
parcel of Indians, whose place was about six miles off. With tears in his eyes, he asked me
whether his sister Sarah was dead; and told me he had seen his sister Mary; and prayed me, that
I would not be troubled in reference to himself.
