New-Englands memoriall, or, A brief relation of the most memorable and remarkable passages of the providence of God manifested to the planters of New-England in America with special reference to the first colony thereof, called New-Plimouth : as also a nomination of divers of the most eminent instruments deceased, both of church and common-wealth, improved in the first beginning and after-progress of sundry of the respective jurisdictions in those parts, in reference unto sundry exemplary passages of their lives, and the time of their death / published for use and benefit of present and future generations, by Nathaniel Morton ...

1653.

MR. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth:

were Chosen his Assi∣stants in Government.

• Mr. Thomas Prince,
• Captain Miles Standish,
• Mr. Timothy Hatherly,
• Mr. John Brown,
• Mr. John Alden,
• Captain Thomas Willet, &
• Lieut. Thomas Southworth,

Mr. Thomas Dudley, who was a principal Founder and Pil∣lar of the Colony of the Massachusets in New-England, and sundry times Governour and Deputy Governour of that Ju∣risdiction, died at his house in Roxbury, July 31. in the seventy seventh Year of his age: he was a person of quick un∣derstanding, and solid Judgement in the fear of the Lord; he was a lover of (1) Justice. (2) Order. (3) the People. (4) Chri∣stian Religion; the supream virtues of a good Magistrate. 1. His love to Justice appeared at all times, and in special upon the Judgement seat, without respect of persons in Judgement: and in his own particular transactions, with all men he was exact and exemplary. 2. His zeal to Order appeared in con∣triving good Laws, and faithfully executing them upon criminal offenders, Hereticks, and Underminers of true Religion. He had a piercing Judgement to discover the Wolf, though cloathed

with a sheep-skin. 3. His love to the People was evident in serving them in a publick capacity many Years, at his own cost, and that as a nursing Father to the Churches of Christ. 4. He loved the true Christian Religion, and the pure Worship of God, and cherished as in his bosom, all godly Ministers and Christians: he was exact in the practice of Piety, in his person and family all his life; in a word, he lived desired, and died lamented by all good men.

The Verses following were found in his Pocket after his death, which may further illustrate his Character, and give a taste of his poetical fancy: wherein (it is said) he did excel.

DIm Eyes, deaf Ears, cold stomack shew My dissolution is in view. Eleven times seven near liv'd have I, And now God calls, I willing die: My Shuttle's shot, my race is run, My Sun is set, my Deed is done; My Span is measur'd, Tale is told, My Flower is faded and grown old, My Dream is vanish'd, Shadow's fled, My Soul with Christ, my Body dead. Farewel dear Wife, Children, and Friends, Hate Heresie, make blessed ends; Bear Poverty, live with good men, So shall we meet with joy agen.

Let men of God in Courts and Churches watch O're such as do a Toleration hatch; Lest that ill Egg bring forth a Cockatrice, To poyson all with Heresie and Vice. If men be left and otherwise combine, My Epitaph's, I dy'd no Libertine.

This Year Mr. John Laythrop did put off his Earthly Taber∣nacle: He was sometimes Preacher of Gods Word in Egerton

in Kent, from whence he went to London, and was chosen Pa∣stor of a Church of Christ there; he was greatly troubled & im∣prisoned for witnessing against the errours of the times: during the time of his imprisonment, his wife fell sick, of which sick∣ness she died. He procured liberty of the Bishop to visit his Wife, before her death, and commended her to God by Prayer, who soon after gave up the ghost: at his return to Prison, his poor Children being many, repaired to the Bishop to Lambeth, and made known unto him their miserable condition, by reason of their good Father his being continued in close durance; who commiserated their condition so far, as to grant him his liberty, who soon after came over into New-England, and setled for some time at the Town of Scituate, and was chosen Pastour of their Church, and faithfully dispensed the Word of God amongst them: and afterwards the said Church dividing, a part whereof removing to Barnstable, he removed with them, and there remained until his death. He was a man of an humble and broken heart and spirit, lively in dispensation of the Word of God; studious of peace, furnished with godly con∣tentment; willing to spend and to be spent for the Cause and Church of Christ. He fell asleep in the Lord, Nov. 8. 1653.