New-Englands salamander, discovered by an irreligious and scornefull pamphlet, called New-Englands Jonas cast up at London, &c. Owned by Major Iohn Childe, but not probable to be written by him. Or, A satisfactory answer to many aspersions cast upon New-England therein. Wherein our government there is shewed to bee legall and not arbitrary, being as neere the law of England as our condition will permit. Together with a briefe reply to what is written in answer to certaine passages in a late booke called Hypocrisie unmasked. / By Edw. Winslow.

An answer to the imperfect relation of the Hingam case.

Were I not so well acquainted with our New-England-Sa∣lamanders wayes, and what a puther hee made in the Coun∣trey about this businesse, I should stand amazed at the malice of men to see this brought against the government. To answer either this case or the next at length would ask so much paines, and bee so great a bulke, as their booke being but a two penny jeering Gigge, penned rather to please the fancy of common understandings, then to satisfie any solid judgements; would goe much further then ever the answer would bee like to fol∣low, that so he might bemire us with a witnesse. And if he can cause any reproach to lie upon us (whether just or unjust, that matters not) then hath hee hit the marke hee shoots at. And therefore to avoyd the many particulars would fall in a distinct answer by giving an account of the whole businesse, I shall de∣sire the Reader to accept this generall.

The Inhabitants of Hingam were knowne to bee a peacea∣ble and industrious people, and so continued for many yeers; The Lord supporting them in the midst of many straights in their first beginnings, crowning their indeavours with his blessing, and raising them up to a comfortable and prosperous outward condition of life, and such is their state through Gods mercy and goodnesse this day, living very plentifully. But Satan envying their happinesse (the Lord permitting as it seemes) on a suddaine cast a bone of division amongst them, which tooke mightily, to the great griefe and admiration of

their neighbours on every side; which controversie indeed arose about the choyce of their Captaine as is related. But our Salamander living too neere them, and being too well acquain∣ted with them, blew up this to such an height by his continuall counsell and advise which the major part of the Towne follow∣ed to their owne smart, and the great griefe and trouble of Church and Common-weale, as they not onely filled their Court with complaints against each other, and wearied out the chiefe Magistrates in place, but complained openly against one of them, viz. the Deputie Governour, who upon hearing the Case thought good to bind some of them over to the Court; some submitted and gave bond, others refused, and were sent to prison, &c. This Gentleman, as on all other occasions so in this particular much honored himselfe, by leaving his place upon the Bench and going to the Bar, and would not bee perswa∣ded to cover his head or take his place till the case was heard and ended, which continued many dayes, partly by reason of the great liberty the Court gave the Plaintiffes in regard it re∣flected upon one of themselves, (and I thinke the first case that ever befell in that kind;) but more especially because our Sala∣mander was got to Boston, where though hee would not o∣penly shew himselfe, yet kept close in a private roome where they had recourse unto him many dayes, yea many times a day for advice, and followed it to the utmost, to the great charge of the Countrey (which came to much more, as I have heard, then the hundred pounds fine which was laid upon them) in providing the diet of their Court.

But the Court finding for the Defendant after much trouble in many dayes agitation fined the Plaintiffes in an hundred pound, and laid it upon sundry of them in particular amerce∣ments according to their severall demeanours in the action, and left the Deputie Governour to take his course with them, who onely rested in the vindication of his name; which the Countrey so farre cleared, as not long after, their election day falling by course, they chose him their Governour, a place not strange to him, in which wee left him, having more often borne it then all others in that Government. And for the diffe∣rences which befell them in their Church; whether the Court or the Churches I know not, but the one entreated divers of

the Elders to goe unto them, who through Gods mercy and blessing upon their endeavours prevented a division amongst them, though they could not at first settle things so well as they desired. And thus much for answer to the Hi••gam case which may bee sufficient to satisfie any judicious Reader: and foe those whose hearts are fraught with malice, the Lord onely can convict such, to whom I leave them.