Anne Bradstreet and Her Time

, and one chief one was now very near. Probably no event in the first years of Anne Bradstreet's life in the little colony had as much significance for her as th

him by King James who admired his learning, having ended so thoroughly that he was hunted like an escaped convict. Fearless and almost reckless, the Colonial ministers wondered at his boldness, a brother of Nathaniel Ward saying a

not later than ten days after birth, had been delayed, and Winthrop gives a characteristic picture of the scene: "The Lord's day following, he (Mr. Cotton) exercised in the afternoon, and being to be admitted, he signified his desire and readiness to make his confession according to order, which he said might be sufficient in declaring his faith about bapt

difficulty, and on Sept. 10, another gathering from all the neighboring towns, witnessed his induction into the new church a ce

ston, was much as if Phillips Brooks should bestow himself upon the remotest English settlement in Australia, or a missionary station in northern Minnesota, and a ripple of excitement ran through the whole community. It meant keener political as well as religio

ver forgot it. If ever men, for real worth and greatness, deserved such pre-eminence, they did; they had wisdom, great learning, great force of will, devout consecration, philanthropy, purity of life. For once in the history of the world, the sovereign places were filled by the s

niel Ward, whose caustic wit spared neither himself nor the most reverend among his brethren, wrote in his "Simple Cobbler": "We have a strong weakness in New England, that when we are speaking, we know not how to conclude. We make many ends, before we make

simple meeting house in the new Boston. The one man alive, who, perhaps, has gone through his works conscientiously and hopefully, Moses Coit Tyler, writes of John Cotton's works: "These are indeed clear and cogent in reasoning; the language is well enough, but that is all. There are almost no remarkable merits in thought or style.

chariot of his rhetoric ceased to be triumphant when the master himself ceased to drive it," and we shall never know the spell of his genius. For one who had shown himself so uncompromising in action where his own belie

th; let me have your prayer

ng that belonged to every church, and it is easy to see how his hold on his cong

are in confirming her faith and stimulating her thought. Dudley and he remained friends to the end, and conferred often on public as well as private matters,

gland relish for petty detail may have had its origin in this religious gossip. As usual the first trouble would seem to have arisen from envy, though undoubtedly its originator strenuously denied any such suspicion. The houses at Cambridge had gradually been made more and more comfortable, though even in the beginning, they were the rudest of structures, the roofs covered with thatch, the fire-places generally

as stately and well-ordered a home as theirs, the old castle still testifying to the love of beauty in its ancient owners." Dudley's excuse was, howev

ar, had criticised sharply the former's unexpected removal to Boston, and placable as Winthrop always was, a little feeling had arisen, which must have affected both families. The first open indication of Dudley's money-loving propensities had also been made a matt

dgment of his services to the Colony, than permanent home at Cambridge could have done. Objections were urged against the removal, and after long discussion waxing hotter and hotter Dudley resigned, in a most Puritan fit of temper, leaving the council in a passion and "clapping the door behind him." Better thoughts came to all. The gentle temper of both wife and daughter quieted him, and disposed him to look favora

stinctive books in early American literature, "The Simple Cobbler of Agawam." That he became the strong personal friend of the Bradstreet family was natural, for not only were they of the same social status, but sympathetic in many points, though Simon Bradstreets' moderation and tolerant spirit undoubtedly fretted the uncompromising Puritan whose opinions were as stiff and incisive as his way of putting them. An extensive traveller, a man of ripe culture, having been a successful lawyer before the ministry attracted him, he was the friend of Francis Bacon, of Archbishop Usher and the famous Heidelberg theologian, David Pareus. He had travelled widely and knew men and manners, and into the exhortations and expoundings of his daily life, the unfoldings of the complicated religious experience demanded of every Puritan, must have crept many a rem

matter with such stuff," and then announces that he proposes, "for this once to borrow a little of their loose-tongued liberty, and mis-spend a word or two upon their long-waisted but short-skirted patience." "I honor the woman that can honor herself with her attire," he goes on, his wrath rising as he writes; "a good text always deserves a fair margent, but as for a woman who lives but to ape the newest court- fashions, I look at her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the product of a quarter of a cipher, the epitome of nothing; fitter to be kicked, if she were of a kickable substance, than either honored or humored. To speak moderately, I truly confess, it is beyond the ken of my understanding to conceive how those women should have any true grace or valuable virtue, that have so little wit as

but the generations have danced to it since the world began, each with a profound conviction of its newness, and their own success in following its lead. Nor was he al

debate, the governor, perceiving it to grow to some earnestness, interposed, and so it brake off." Isaiah had protested, before Nathaniel Ward or the Council echoed him, but if this is the attitude the sturdy preacher held toward the women of his congregation, he must have found it well to resign his place to his su

nied him from England becoming the President of Harvard College. His sympathy with Simon Bradstreet's moderate and tolerant views, at once brought them together, and undou

in Courts and

s do a Tole

egg bring fort

l with Heres

ht false charges against the king, and as a result, was accused of being one of the king's agents in New England. Anne Bradstreet's sympathies were even more strongly with him than those of her h

The spring of 1636-7 brought still more stringent care. Watches were kept and no one allowed to travel without arms. The Pequot war was the culmination for the time, the seed of other and more atrocious conflicts to come, and whatever the judgment of to-day may be on the causes which brought such results, the terror of the settlers was a very real a

and the perpetual apprehension of every woman who dreaded the horrible possibilities of Indian outrage, must have gone far toward intensifying and grinding in the morbid sensitiveness which even to-day is part of the genuine New England woman's character. The grim details of expeditions against them were known to every child. The same impatience of any word i

safety to their vessels, where they take account of their prisoners. The squaws and some young youths they brought home wit

the general administration of affairs. In these affairs every woman was interested to a degree that has had no parallel since, unless it may be, on the Southern side during our civil war. Politics and religion were one, and removal

. had then begun his reign, loyalty was a necessity, and no strictures upon kings could be allowed. The poem, which is rather a summary of political difficulties, has its own interest, as showing how thoroughly she had caught th

ND AND NEW, CONCERNING THEIR

ENGL

her, fairest Q

alth and peace

ang thy head and

dust, to sigh t

f new woes th

of thy ever

wailing tone, th

aughter, she m

ENGL

indeed of t

ced tongue my

f dissect my t

istendome stand

ld, a Limbe, a

weakened bod

urging portion

sumption, or a

rdial, thou fe

t help may e

dost think tho

ng state dost

case, if't be

alone, while

ENGL

) your state y

s, but will not

shall I seek t

so dangerous

s, would have m

Hengist like th

ce usurp'd thy

us warrs thy fi

us, that brav

efull Scepter

man, whose vi

ood bedews thy

tine warrs th

ephen for the

and side agai

reign aid to h

e deposed? or

hard must be cl

fatal jarr

ed white pricki

s aid, the Nob

reak the Tush

e, dear Mother,

ear Spain's b

fair France, co

s play false b

uit you ill fo

torm from Earth

s't famine, or

smart or fear

d intreats you,

Purse she hath

overty; yet s

r your help, a

ENGL

some of those

body at this

oe, nor feigne

k enough, (thou k

's Son nor Hen

ntention cause

ding to make

justly to the

hard, to lose

trians to ren

k nor Earl of

indred's blood w

rant now usu

ew that so he

Tudor Ros

h is the Red or

g Fleet a seco

ow oft my fury

rd, and Henry

n mine Arms a

tland hurts m

h been injurio

is I am in

much unto hi

some I feel, b

stilence, who

gue, two Siste

o a Land doth

punishment or

ears prevent

swer not wha

ievance of my

he Effect I'le

ns, the breach

upplanter o

Superstitio

countenanced b

dden down and

were sold and b

hoped to find

d Blasphemie

himself such

f the saints of

s did daily

ts, what nick-na

wn but for thei

oul, wert jeer'd

r the truth w

eaking, and fo

profaneness

lood yet clea

others, dyin

ely heads on b

t title to a

crueltyes by g

ths, and Claren

st thou dye in

al stem, that

y, Adulter

nation I ca

extortion an

draes of my sto

tter fountains,

urce, the sprigs, th

thou canst he

hand I still

e threatened

reachers, put

yet upon Rec

struction to

ed not, now I

of stubborn

livings, some

house and friend

gues to heaven d

ongs, and hath j

y it seven fo

runner of my

ning by my nei

rmany's dism

ple famish'd,

land a barren

her Armyes f

abes toss'd, he

Rochel yielde

tarved Christi

eland bleedin

as all report

durate stood

that cup, and

reggs reserve

ENGL

said, sad Mo

s great cause th

s in part, hol

your punishm

ay amounts to

feel but what

erms what is yo

heads and hearts

ENGL

ter then, there

d Peers a Ques

ief, the law or

he, the other

y beter part

ning land, shew

oud, and right

urch, and stay

acles came i

a stand what

new prerogat

ld Law fast, al

rudence stood th

Strafford low

be't spoke, they

s Metropolit

ct they would h

ould his Bish

y hard (indeed)

done by Gospe

litia they

d (I need not

eas'd at York

g return, shew

rinting, posti

one, I'll there

e to speak of

'twixt Subjects

so long, they

ay on heaps, her

s so many yea

d and slaughter

ield alone this

wo or three

be beginning

this may be

in this sad

owns, my house

gins and my yo

ing fall'n, my

come, but ploug

ws not who sha

t their pay, thei

Mothers' tea

y in thy h

like love tho

do what there

that good I'v

ENGL

se complaints an

dust, chear u

her Nurse, and

owels gladly

pity, but so

oubles much go

atter days of

ouded all with

opery the da

in's brightnes

Nobles of t

es for Truth's de

ommons, who fo

nged Laws hav

unties, who did

States to test

eachers, who di

word of God

t on them with

ot with prayers,

elf let mis

f thy State I

ayes the Church

ings, head, tail,

s' vestments for

Surplices, and

Crossiers, and

ames consume, b

ome, and all th

whore, with al

Essex, with a

ing, nor to th

hurt his people

, expel and t

Nobles, chase

opeful Cause

you weep and h

ne, then drown y

p so much, tha

an will o'erf

they I trust, wit

, such glorious

es beholding mu

ed peace, thy wea

weal establish'

y, that then disp

ine erected

gs shall come an

ll in all thy co

ect of perso

cease, and Suits s

urse of Client

issions shall

and Catchpoles

happy nation

ghteousness they

ce, thine Armies

ome, and all he

ame, thy fame a

Ancestors i

yls full pay wi

ly once she po

s thou canst,

ur the vengea

ast that rul'd the

sh, and set your

filthy Den

ment of all tha

brandish'd Swo

't, but English

ste for so 's

s thou hast

ed lift up your

ay of your Red

fall from your

hall adore wh

f the Nations

Gentile to o

days of happi

fall, to live t

all then be fou

n horses bell'

ay thereto, th

thou did'st not

Mother, rightes

e, you'll tel

in somewhat more lively strain. But lively was an adjective to which Mistress Anne had a rooted objection. Her contemporaries indulged in an occasional solemn pun, b

g with a faint-very faint-suggestion of S

been, even su

y, say I, and

e, youth's wild

exed middle

ers and anxiet

tage am come

ng and strong a

pueri senes,

e I've foun

ll perfecti

alour, honor,

se now fallin

arning Rhetori

er, death's warf

odly state, no

h, or ease, if

iance can I

e done well th

uth is Godly,

aff then to s

t, some joyful

pilgrimage I

eavens with ple

in rain'd al

onor, sometime

bject, then a

anges oft mine

mes of state

ingdom nouris

uled by that

edar, others

ubs they did the

ce and Holland

nd Albertus

ce at home, t

at last those

ght the clay at

st that radian

iefs I saw our

opes then kept o

queen for king

ny blest and p

rince, the gl

h seiz'd by heav

arts with fears, w

ate, and our

m Rome an exe

w up nobles a

horrid fact so

s say'd with t

een to live on

gifts from st

r their ma

rince-dome a

gns for Ree an

latinate fo

worthy men a

ones suffer

avour, riches

r days or once re

b'd, and some to

struck both with

so have you, f

ion of a go

cted so that

unsel, but the

thousand slaug

opish, helli

ve, and so you

ill in blood u

by force thrust

er subt'ly m

ate unmoulded,

ve to see't m

nder'd, taxt and

ill you may s

ughts, this is

freely spea

-wives tales, bu

to tell what's

re and there of the spirit of the time. Gentle as was Anne Bradstreet's nature, i

ve, and so you

ll in blood unt

story holds. The numbers butchered were something appaling, and Hume writes: "By some computations, those who perished by all these cruelties are supposed to be a hundred and fifty or two hundred t

he rule, and her verses hold various fierce and unexpected outbursts against enemies of her faith or country. The constant discussion of mooted points by the ministers as well as people, made each man the judge of questions that agitated every mind, and problems of all natures from national down to town meeting debates, were pondered over in every Puritan home. Cotton's interest in detail never flagged, and his influence was felt at every point in the Colony, and though Ipswich, both in time and facilities for reaching it, was more widely separated fro

chiefly on divinity and history, and from the latter source Anne obtained the minute historical knowledge shown in her rhymed account of "The Four Monarchies." It

honored and

me, or ought

ght better de

orthy self from

s an anxious one. The General Court called for the presence of both Dudley and Bradstreet, the latter spending much of his time away, and some of the tenderest and most natural of Anne Bradstreet's poems, was written at this time, though regarded as too purely personal to find place in any ed

rt, mine Eyes, m

agazine of e

ne as surel

there, whilst I

head from the

, soon would

th this season

ne so far in

yed, nor storms

frigid colds d

mbs now numme

n sweet Sol,

time, alas, w

ruits which throu

tentment yield

ctures of their

t! now thou art

, the tediou

Northward to m

n may never

ncer of my gl

use of him my

ver stay, and

ad decree shall

flesh, bone

there, yet

ral in expression, but st

ste, the day's t

ts, the fittest

once, unto my

riefs in eith

ling of thy whee

cents of my d

Carrier thou c

oon, this Erra

the man more l

sorrows of hi

hts, my groans,

ging hopes, my

e, how can he

ore than all th

ll the Starrs

ss that in the

woods, the hail

field numbe

that in the

ighs, and numb

ntless steps that

, thy Spouse th

anst not treat

salute her f

nth I see no d

r scituate un

day long wait

when thou dost

t thou but thus

beams of thy

if so thou co

os blacker t

worse than a c

rld's a fatho

e fervor of h

ry the torrent

ld say more bu

ds, abruptest

double speed,

es, conjure hi

ry; with its conceits and twisted meanings, its mannerisms and baldness, but still the feeling i

that (Hartless

woods and Fern w

very bush and

eer might ans

ous soul, which

(far dearer He

doubts and hopes

hear or per

nsive Dove d

bough) most u

f her Love an

th made her s

I, with many a

tle true, who

d his safe retu

oleful sighs an

ing Mullet th

t, nor joy nor

that shore th

captive husb

one I lead a

ng sphere, ye

l, to him can't

re, alas, both

ear, my Joy,

e, thy Mullet

s in pasture, h

one, O me, thes

one Tree, O

urtles roost w

Mullets in on

emain one til

Love and De

broad and

.

of straining or of imitation in the quiet fervor of the words, that must have carried

r and lovi

were one the

re loved by wi

fe was hap

me ye women

e more than who

hes that the E

h that Rivers

ove from thee g

such I can n

eward thee, m

ive in love let

ve no more, we

natural expression. One must seek, however, to discover why she failed even when admitting that failure was the only thing to be expected, and the causes are in the na