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The New English Canaan of Thomas Morton with Introductory Matter and Notes cover

The New English Canaan of Thomas Morton with Introductory Matter and Notes

Chapter 7: Sir Christoffer Gardiner, Knight. In laudem Authoris.
By Thomas Morton
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History - AmericanHistory - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)

About This Book

A first-person colonial narrative combines satirical social criticism with detailed observation of the region’s environment and inhabitants. The author alternates between polemic aimed at prevailing religious and civic authorities and attentive descriptions of landscape, plants, animals, fish, birds, and Indigenous customs, using anecdote, classical and scriptural allusion, and legal complaint. The work shifts tone from humor to invective to empirical reporting, creating a hybrid of natural history, social commentary, and personal defense; many later editions append extensive notes to clarify archaic terms, names, and scientific references.

Sir Christoffer Gardiner, Knight.[198]
In laudem Authoris.

This worke a matchles mirror is, that shewes
The Humors of the seperatiste, and those
So truely personated by thy pen.
I was amaz’d to see’t; herein all men
May plainely see, as in an inter-lude,
Each actor figure; and the scæne well view’d
In Comick,[199] Tragick, and in a pastorall strife,[200]
For tyth of mint[201] and Cummin, shewes their life
Nothing but opposition gainst the right
Of sacred Majestie: men full of spight,
Goodnes abuseing, turning vertue out
Of Dores, to whipping, stocking, and full bent
To plotting mischeife gainst the innocent,
Burning their houses, as if ordained by fate,
In spight of Lawe, to be made ruinate.
This taske is well perform’d, and patience be
Thy present comfort, and thy constancy
Thine honor; and this glasse, where it shall come,
Shall sing thy praises till the day of doome.
Sir C. G.