1600 AD Mostly American Authors

THE AGE OF COLONISTS IN AMERICA:

1616, "A Description of New England" John Smith (b1580, d1631) in 1606, The London Company sent John to America. In 1607 John was a leader of a colony, and he was captured by the Indians and condemned to death, however Pocahontas saved him. In 1608, John wrote "A True Revelation." In 1609, John was wounded from a gun explosion and went to England for medical help -- he then did not return to Jamestown. In 1614, John sailed to the coast of Maine. In 1615 John and his crew were attacked by French Pirates which after John did not return to America again. In 1629, he wrote "New England Trials," In 1631 He wrote "Advertisements for the Inexperienced Planters of New England." And in 1616 he wrote a detailed description of New England. He continued to write about his travels until he died in 1631.
Electronic Text for "A Description of New England" -- http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/etas/4/

1624, the General History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles" by John Smith. An excerpt: "...now falleth every man to work, the council contrives the fort, the rest cut down trees to make place to pitch their tents, some provide clapboard to reload the ships. Some make gardens; some nets...The savages often visit us kindly... (Interesting account and easy to read)
He also writes short lyrics occasionally in-between the paragraphs: "They say he bore a pleasant show, but sure his heart was sad, for who can pleasant be, and rest, that lives in fear and dread: And having life suspected, doth it still suspected lead."

1637, "New English Canaan" Thomas Merton (b.1579, d.1647) His work was published around 1630, an excerpt: "In the month of June, Anno Salutis, 1622, it was my chance to arrive in the parts of New England with 20 servants and provision of all sorts fit for a plantation, and while our houses were building, I did endeavor to take a survey of the country. The more I looked, the more I liked it. And when I had more seriously considered of the beauty of the place, with all her endowments, I did not think that in all the known world it could be paralleled for so many good groves of trees, dainty fine round rising hillocks, delicate fair large plains, sweet crystal fountains, and clear running streams..." Merton wrote in clear and simple language. However, Merton was considered a "Pagan Pilgrim" and wrote from London lifting the images of the native Indian while wittingly chastising the Puritans.
For further research of Thomas Merton see: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h576.html

John Winthrop, (b.1588, d. 1649) see: http://www.winthropsociety.org/texts.php
This is an excerpt from "Christian Experience: A Happiness Better than All the World" -- "...I had an insatiable thirst after the Word of God and could not miss a good sermon, though many miles off, especially of such as did search deep into the conscience. I had also a great striving in my heart to draw others to God. It pitied my heart to see men so little to regard their souls and to despise that happiness which I knew to be better than all the world besides..."
A letter from John's wife read: "My Most Sweet Husband, How dearly welcome thy kind letter was to me, I am not able to express the sweetness of it did much refresh me...I blush to hear myself commended, knowing my own wants..."

William Bradford, (b. 1590, d.1657) "Of Plymouth Plantation" -- an excerpt: "When as by the travail and diligence of some godly and zealous preachers, and God's blessing on their labors, as in other places of the land, so in the north parts, many became enlightened by the Word of God and had their sins and ignorance discovered into them, and began by His Grace to reform their lives and make conscience of their ways; the work of God was no sooner manifest in them but presently they were both scoffed and scorned by the profane multitude; and the ministers urged with the yoke of subscription, or else must be silenced. And the poor people were so vexed with apparitions and pursuivants and the commissary courts, as truly their affliction was not small...the lordly and tyrannous power of the prelates ought not to be submitted to..." (Not leisurely reading) Bradford had a spirit of determination as a pilgrim of self-sacrifice. He taught the arts of farming and learned weaving. He sailed on the "Mayflower Compact" to escape English persecution as "separatists" from the Church of England.

1643, "A Key into the Language of America" Roger Williams (Governor of Massachusetts wanted to send Williams back to England for causing divisiveness -- but he ran away to stay with the Narragansett Indians in Rhode Island.)
Excerpt: "To My Dear and Well-Beloved Friends and Countrymen, in Old and New England: "I present you with a key; I have not heard of the like, yet framed, since it pleased God to bring that mighty continent of America to light. Others of my countrymen have often, and excellently, and lately written of the country (and none that I know beyond the goodness and worth of it)...This key, respects the native language of it, and happily many unlock some rarities concerning the natives themselves, not yet discovered."

1650, "The Tenth Muse" Anne Bradstreet (b. 1612) Anne was born in Northampton, New England, the daughter of wealthy parents able to provide her with 8 tutors. In 1628 she married Simon Bradstreet and in 1630 her family immigrated to the American Colonies in Salem Massachusetts. He had 8 children and was a strong woman, finding time to write among her daily and constant chores. "The Tenth Muse" was published in 1650. Excerpt taken from the prologue: "I am obnoxious to each carping tongue, Who says my hand a needle better fits, A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong, For such despite they cast on female wits: If what I do prove well, it won't advance, They'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance."
This was Ann's epitaph written for her father, Thomas Dudley -- "Within this tomb a patriot lies, that was both pious, just and wise, To truth a shield, to right a wall, To secretaries a whip and maul, A magazine of history, A prize of good company, In manners pleasant and severe; The good him loved, the bad did tear, And when his time with years was spent, If some rejoiced, more did lament."
Anne's "The Flesh and The Spirit":
In secret place where once I stood
Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood, I heard two sisters reason on Things that are past and things to come. One Flesh was call'd, who had her eye on worldly wealth and vanity; the other Spirit, who did rear her thoughts unto a higher sphere. "Sister," quoth Flesh, "what liv'st thou on Nothing but Meditation? Doth Contemplation feed thee so Regardless to let earth go? Can Speculation satisfy Notion without Reality? Dost dream of things beyond the Moon And dost thou hope to dwell there soon? Hast treasures there laid up in store That all in the' world thou count'st but poor? Art fancy-sick or turn'd a Sot To catch at shadows which are not? Come, come. I'll show unto thy sense, Industry hath its recompense. What canst desire, but thou mayst see True substance in variety? Dost honour like? Acquire the same, As some to their immortal fame; And trophies to thy name erect Which wearing time shall ne'er deject. For riches dost thou long full sore? Behold enough of precious store. Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold Than eyes can see or hands can hold. Affects thou pleasure? Take thy fill. Earth hath enough of what you will. Then let not go what thou mayst find For things unknown only in mind."
Spirit. "Be still, thou unregenerate part, Disturb no more my settled heart, For I have vow'd (and so will do) Thee as a foe still to pursue, And combat with thee will and must Until I see thee laid in th' dust. Sister we are, yea twins we be, Yet deadly feud 'twixt thee and me, For from one father are we not. Thou by old Adam wast begot, But my arise is from above, Whence my dear father I do love. Thou speak'st me fair but hav’st me sore. Thy flatt'ring shews I'll trust no more. How oft thy slave hast thou me made When I believ'd what thou hast said And never had more cause of woe Than when I did what thou bad'st do. I'll stop mine ears at these thy charms And count them for my deadly harms. Thy sinful pleasures I do hate, Thy riches are to me no bait. Thine honours do, nor will I love, For my ambition lies above. My greatest honour it shall be When I am victor over thee, And Triumph shall, with laurel head, When thou my Captive shalt be led. How I do live, thou need'st not scoff, For I have meat thou know'st not of. The hidden Manna I do eat; The word of life, it is my meat. My thoughts do yield me more content Than can thy hours in pleasure spent. Nor are they shadows which I catch, Nor fancies vain at which I snatch But reach at things that are so high, Beyond thy dull Capacity. Eternal substance I do see With which enriched I would be. Mine eye doth pierce the heav'ns and see What is Invisible to thee. My garments are not silk nor gold, Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold, But Royal Robes I shall have on, More glorious than the glist'ring Sun. My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold, But such as Angels' heads enfold. The City where I hope to dwell, There's none on Earth can parallel. The stately Walls both high and throng Are made of precious Jasper stone, The Gates of Pearl, both rich and clear, And Angels are for Porters there. The Streets thereof transparent gold Such as no Eye did e're behold. A Crystal River there doth run Which doth proceed from the Lamb's Throne. Of Life, there are the waters sure Which shall remain forever pure. Nor Sun nor Moon they have no need For glory doth from God proceed. No Candle there, nor yet Torch light, For there shall be no darksome night. From sickness and infirmity Forevermore they shall be free. Nor withering age shall e're come there, But beauty shall be bright and clear. This City pure is not for thee, For things unclean there shall not be. If I of Heav'n may have my fill, Take thou the world, and all that will."
Anne's works online: http://www.annebradstreet.com/

1662, "Doomsday Verses" by Michael Wigglesworth -- (b. 1631, d. 1705) These were popular verses for Puritans and many memorized them. Day of Doom -- "Still was the night, serene and bright, Where all men sleeping lay; Calm was the season, and carnal the reason thought so 'twould last for aye. Soul, take thine ease, let sorrow cease, much good thou hast in store': This was their song, their cups among, the evening before. Wallowing in all kind of sin, vile wretches lay secure: The best of men had scarcely then their lamps kept in good ure, Virgins unwise, who through good disguise amongst the best were numbered, Had closed their eyes: yea, and the wise through slough and frailty slumbered," (Then guess what.......) Since he was called "The Judgment Day Preacher" it isn't difficult to guess how his poetry ends.

1676, "A History of the War with the Indians" by Increase Mather. (This work was written after the King Philips War) Increase was a minister at the North Baptist Church at the time of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. He also was the first president of Harvard College.

1682, Account of Mary Rowlandson Captive by the Indians during the King Philips War. (Transformed into fictional form by J. Fenimore Cooper in the "Last of the Mohicans" and by William Faulkner is "Sanctuary.") Excerpt from Mary's account: "But now, the next morning, I must turn my back upon the town, and travel with them into the vast and desolate wilderness. I knew not wither. It is not my tongue, or pen, can express the sorrows of my heart, and bitterness of my spirit that I had at this departure: but God was with me in a wonderful manner, carrying me along, and bearing up my spirit, that it did not quite fail. One of the Indians carried my poor wounded babe upon a horse; it went moaning all along. 'I shall die, I shall die.' I went after it with sorrow that cannot be expressed. At length I took it off the horse I fell down with it. Then they set me upon the horse with my wounded child in my lap, and there being no furniture upon the horse's back, as we were going down a steep hill, we both feel over the horse's head at which, like inhumane creatures, laughed, and rejoiced to see it, though I thought we should there have ended our days, as overcome with so many difficulties. But the Lord renewed my strength still, and carried me along, that I might see more of His Power; yea, so much that I could never have thought of, had I not experienced it."
"After this it quickly began to snow, and when night came on, they stopped, and now down I must sit by the snow, by a little fire, and a few boughs behind me, with my sick child in my lap; and calling much for water, being now (through the wound) fallen into a violent fever. My own wound also growing so stiff that I could scarce sit down or rise up; yet so it must be, that I must sit all this cold winter night upon the cold snowy ground with my sick child in my arms, looking that every hour would be the last of its life; and having no Christian friend near me, either to comfort or to help me. Oh, I may see the wonderful power of God, that my spirit did not utterly sink under my affliction: still the Lord upheld me with His Gracious and Merciful Spirit, and we were both alive to see the light of the next morning."

1682 to 1725, "Preparatory Mediations" by Edward Taylor (b.1642, d.1729) Edward was born in Leicestershire County, England. In 1668 Edward would not take the oath of loyalty to the Church of England and was exiled to the American wilderness. In 1671 Edward joined the ministry in Westfield Massachusetts in the old New England way -- a public account of conversion before membership and communion. His preparatory meditations were meant to prepare for a sermon -- and were discovered by Thomas H. Johnson in Yale University Library -- deposited by Taylor's grandson, Ezra Stiles. (I love his poetry) An Excerpt:
MEDITATION 42: Rev. 3.21 "I will give him to sit with me in my throne -- Apples of Gold, in sliver pictures shrined, Enchant the appetite, make mouths to water, And loveliness in lumps, tunn'd and enrined, In jasper caske, when tapped, doth briskly vapor: Bring forth a birth of keys t'unlock love's chest, That love, like birds, may fly to't from its nest, Such is my Lord, and more. But what strange thing am I become? Sin rusts my lock all o'er. Thought he ten thousand keys all on a string take out, scare one is found unlocks the door. Which hope, my love crinched in a corner lies Like some shrunk crickling and scarce can rise."
"Lord, ope the door: rub off my rust, removed my sin, and oil my lock. (Dust there doth shelf) My wards will trig before thy key: my love then, as enlivened, leap will on Thyself. It needs must be, that giving hands receive again receivers, hearts furled in love wreath.
"Unlikely my heart; unlock Thy wardrobe: bring out royal robes: adorn my soul, Lord: so, my love in rich attire shall on my King attend, and honor Him well bestow. In glory He prepares for His a place whom He doth all beglory here with grace.
"He takes them to the shining threshold clear of His bright palace, clothed in grace's flame. Then takes them in thereto, not only there to have a prospect, but possess the same, the crown of life, the throne of glory's place, The father's house blanched o'er with orient grace.
"Canaan in gold print enwalled with gems: A Kingdom rimmed with glory round: in fine a glorious crown paled thick with all the stems of grace, and of all properties divine. How happy wilt Thou make me when these shall as a blest heritage unto me fall?
"Adorn me, Lord, with holy huswifry. All blanch my robes with clusters of Thy Graces: Thus lead me to Thy Threshold: give mine eye a peephole there to see bright glory's chases. Then take me in: I'll pay, when I possess Thy Throne, to Thee the rent in happiness." Aug. 2, 1691 -- First Series Published 1939
see for more of his works: http://www.puritansermons.com/poetry/taylor.htm
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS: "My lovely One, I fain would love Thee much, But all my Love is none at all I see; Oh! Let they beauty give a glorious touch upon my heart, and melt to Love all mee. Lord, melt me all up into Love for Thee whose loveliness excels what love can bee."
"Make me, O Lord, they Spinning Wheele compleat; Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee. Make mine affections thy Swift Flyers neate, And make my Soule thy Holy Spoole to bee. My conversation make to be thy reele, and reele the year thereon spun of thy Wheele."

1692, " A Brief and True Narrative of Some Remarkable Passages Relating to Sundry Persons Afflicted by Witchcraft, at Salem Village" by Deodat Lawson. Rev. Lawson was a minister in Salem from 1684 to 1688. His relatives in Salem were hurt by the "malicious operations of infernal powers." He wrote this 10 page pamphlet to tell his version of the story -- for more of the narrative see: http://www.piney.com/ColDeoLawSurp.html
Excerpt" On the Nineteenth day of March last I sent to Salem Village, and lodged at Nathaniel Ingersolls...Walcut's daughter, Mary, came to Lieutenant Ingersoll's and spake to me, but suddenly after as she stood by the door, was bitten, so that she cried out of her wrist, and looking on it with a candle we apparently saw the marks of teeth both upper and lower set, on each side of the wrist.
"Abigail Williams (about 12 years of age) had a grievous fit; she was first hurried with violence to and from the room...stretching up her arms as high as she could, and crying, "Whish, whish, whish!" Several times; Presently after she said there was Goodw. Nurse and presently said, "Do you not see her? Why there she stands!" And said the Goodw. Nurse offered her the book, but she was resolved that she would not take it, often saying, 'I won't, I won't, I won't take it!' I do not know what the book is: I am sure it is none of God's Book, it is the Divel's Book, for ought I know! After that she ran to the fire...and attempted to go in the fire in other fits.
Lawson returned to Salem in 1692 because of the witch trials. "He was not completely convinced that witchcraft abounded in Salem Village and he wished to express his caution towards believing spectral evidence." Although Lawson was swayed to believe that the innocent were being hurt by the accused and he did not try to stop the trials.
After publishing his accounts, Lawson faded from the scenes. No one would hire a minister that had approved of the events that crucified so many innocent people. Lawson eventually returned to London where he wasted away.
For more information about the witchcraft trials see: http://www.salemweb.com/guide/witches.shtml

1689, "Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possession," by Cotton Mather helped to stir the wave of hysterical fear of witchcraft. He also wrote in 1692, "Wonders of the Invisible World" -- articles about Satanic Possession. In 1710, "Essays to do Good" and in 1721, "Christian Philosopher." Cotton Mather's account of the reality of witchcraft and satanic possession was in the thoughts of many before the Salem Trials. Even though Cotton Mather was not in the jury, his influence was strong. For more information see: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/ASA_MATH.HTM
Regardless of his influence in the trials, he was still accepted as a favorite minister of New England. Cotton was of the third generation of ministers -- He was grandson of Richard Mather and John Cotton. And he was the oldest son of Increase Mather, and the heir to a congregational hierarchy. Cotton authored 450 books and was the minister of the Old North Church in Boston.
Cotton Mather's ETERNAL GOD, HOW THEY'RE INCREASED:
"Eternal God, how they're increased who greatly trouble me! How many are the men that stand in triumph over me! Many there be who ever are saying to my soul, There's no salvation to be had for him in God at all. But now about me Thou'rt a Shield, O Thou eternal God; Thou art my Glory and Thou art th'uplifter of my head. I laid me down, and took my sleep, and then I did awake; Because that the eternal God Sustained me all along. Salvation is what does belong to the Eternal God; On those that are Thy people is, Thy Benediction still."
My opinion: I believe that Cotton actually thought he was doing God's will -- even though many are those who "troubled him." Maybe he was himself terrified of the "Spirits of Darkness."