H105, American History I

Book II, Chapter 32, Anno Dom: 1642 (Wickedness Breaks Forth)

Marvelous it may be to see and consider how some kind of wickedness did grow and break forth here, in a land where the same was so much witnessed against and so narrowly looked unto, and severely punished when it was known, as in no place more, or so much, that I have known or heard of; insomuch that they have been somewhat censured even by moderate and good men for their severity in punishments.  And yet all this could not suppress the breaking out of sundry notorious sins (as this year, besides other, gives us too many sad precedents and instances), especially drunkenness and uncleanness.  Not only incontinency between persons unmarried, for which many both men and women have been punished sharply enough, but some married persons also.  But that which is worse, even sodomy and buggery (things fearful to name) have broke forth in this land oftener than once.

I say it may justly be marveled at and cause us to fear and tremble at the consideration of our corrupt natures, which are so hardly bridled, subdued and mortified; nay, cannot by any other means but the powerful work and grace of God’s Spirit.  But (besides this) one reason may be that the Devil may carry a greater spite against the churches of Christ and the gospel here, by how much the more they endeavour to preserve holiness and purity amongst them and strictly punisheth the contrary when it ariseth either in church or commonwealth; that he might cast a blemish and stain upon them in the eyes of [the] world, who use to be rash in judgment.  I would rather think thus, than that Satan hath more power in these heathen lands, as some have thought, than in more Christian nations, especially over God’s servants in them.

Another reason may be, that it may be in this case as it is with waters when their streams are stopped or dammed up.  When they get passage they flow with more violence and make more noise and disturbance than when they are suffered to run quietly in their own channels; so wickedness being here more stopped by strict laws, and the same more nearly looked unto so as it cannot run in a common road of liberty as it would and is inclined, it searches everywhere and at last breaks out where it gets vent.

A third reason may be, here (as I am verily persuaded) is not more evils in this kind, nor nothing near so many by proportion as in other places; but they are here more discovered and seen and made public by due search, inquisition and due punishment; for the churches look narrowly to their members, and the magistrates over all, more strictly than in other places.  Besides, here the people are but few in comparison of other places which are full and populous and lie hid, as it were, in a wood or thicket and many horrible evils by that means are never seen nor known; whereas here they are, as it were, brought into the light and set in the plain field, or rather on a hill, made conspicuous to the view of all.

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And after the time of the writing of these things befell a very sad accident of the like foul nature in this government, this very year, which I shall now relate.  There was a youth whose name was Thomas Granger.  He was servant to an honest man of Duxbury, being about 16 or 17 years of age.  (His father and mother lived at the same time at Scituate.)  He was this year detected of buggery, and indicted for the same, with a mare, a cow, two goats, five sheep, two calves and a turkey.  Horrible it is to mention, but the truth of the history requires it.  He was first discovered by one that accidentally saw his lewd practice towards the mare.  (I forbear particulars.)  Being upon it examined and committed, in the end he not only confessed the fact with that beast at that time, but sundry times before and at several times with all the rest of the forenamed in his indictment.  And this his free confession was not only in prlvate to the magistrates (though at first he strived to deny it) but to sundry, both ministers and others; and afterwards, upon his indictment, to the whole Court and jury; and confirmed it at his execution.  And whereas some of the sheep could not so well be known by his description of them, others with them were brought before him and he declared which were they and which were not.  And accordingly he was cast by the jury and condemned, and after executed about the 8th of September, 1642.  A very sad spectacle it was.  For first the mare and then the cow and the rest of the lesser cattle were killed before his face, according to the law, Leviticus xx. 15, and then he himself was executed.  The cattle were all cast into a great and large pit that was digged of purpose for them, and no use made of any part of them.

Upon the examination of this person and also of a former that had made some sodomitical attempts upon another, it being demanded of them how they came first to the knowledge and practice of such wickedness, the one confessed he had long used it in old England; and this youth last spoken of said he was taught it by another that had heard of such things from some in England when he was there, and they kept cattle together.  By which it appears how one wicked person may infect many, and what care all ought to have what servants they bring into their families.