Sir Christopher Gardiner,[563] (a Knight, that had bin a traveller both by Sea and Land; a good judicious gentleman in the Mathematticke and other Sciences usefull for Plantations, Kimistry, &c. and also being a practicall Enginer,) came into those parts, intending discovery.
But the Seperatists love not those good parts, when they proceede from a carnall man, (as they call every good Protestant); in shorte time [they] had found the meanes to pick a quarrell with him. The meanes is that they pursue to obtaine what they aime at: the word is there, the meanes.
So that, when they finde any man like to proove an enemy to their Church and state, then straight {183} the meanes must be used for defence. The first precept in their Politiques is to defame the man at whom they aime, and then hee is a holy Israelite in their opinions who can spread that same brodest, like butter upon a loafe: no matter how thin, it will serve for a vaile: and then this man, (who they have thus depraved,) is a spotted uncleane leaper: hee must out, least hee pollute the Land, and them that are cleane.
If this be one of their guifts, then Machevill[564] had as good gifts as they. Let them raise a scandall on any, though never so innocent, yet they know it is never wiped cleane out: the staind marks remaines; which hath bin well observed by one in these words of his,
And thus they dealt with Sir Christopher: and plotted by all the wayes and meanes they could, to overthrow his undertakings in those parts.
And therefore I cannot chuse but conclude that these Seperatists have speciall gifts: for they are given to envy and mallice extremely.
The knowledge of their defamacion could not please the gentleman well, when it came to his eare; which would cause him to make some reply, as they supposed, to take exceptions at, as they did against Faire cloath:[565] and this would be a meanes, they thought, to blow the coale, and so to kindle a brand that might fire him out of the Country too, and send him after mine Host of Ma-re-Mount.
They take occasion, (some of them,) to come to his howse when hee was gone up into the Country, and {184} (finding hee was from home,) so went to worke that they left him neither howse nor habitation nor servant, nor any thing to help him, if hee should retorne: but of that they had noe hope, (as they gave it out,) for hee was gone, (as they affirmed,) to leade a Salvage life, and for that cause tooke no company with him: and they having considered of the matter, thought it not fit that any such man should live in so remoate a place, within the Compas of their patent. So they fired the place, and carried away the persons and goods.
Sir Christopher was gone with a guide, (a Salvage,) into the inland parts for discovery: but, before hee was returned, hee met with a Salvage that told the guide, Sir Christopher would be killed: Master Temperwell, (who had now found out matter against him,) would have him dead or alive. This hee related; and would have the gentleman not to goe to the place appointed, because of the danger that was supposed.
But Sir Christopher was nothing dismaid; hee would on, whatsoever come of it; and so met with the Salvages: and betweene them was a terrible skermish: But they had the worst of it, and hee scaped well enough.
The guide was glad of it, and learnd of his fellowes that they were promised a great reward for what they should doe in this imployment.
Which thing, (when Sir Christopher understood,) hee gave thanks to God; and after, (upon this occasion to sollace himselfe,) in his table booke hee composed this sonnet, which I have here inserted for a memoriall.
This Sonnet the Gentleman composed as a testimony of his love towards them, that were so ill-affected towards him; from whome they might have receaved much good, if they had bin so wise to have imbraced him in a loving fashion.
But they despise the helpe that shall come from a carnall man, (as they termed him,) who, after his retorne from those designes, finding how they had used him with such disrespect, tooke shipping, and disposed of himselfe for England; and discovered their practises in those parts towards his Majesties true harted Subjects, which they made wery of their aboade in those parts.