Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
How the Separatists Paid Debts to Them That Were without
By Thomas Morton (15751646)T
“Are these your members? If they be all like these, I believe the devil was the setter of their church.”
This was called in question, when Mr. Fairecloath least thought of it. Captain Littleworth must be the man must press it against him, for blasphemy against the Church of Salem, and to great Josua Temperwell he goes with a bitter accusation, to have Master Innocence made an example for all carnal men, to presume to speak the least word that might tend to the dishonor of the Church of Salem, yea, the mother Church of all that holy land.
And he convented was before their synagogue, where no defence would serve his turn, yet was there none to be seen to accuse him save the court alone.
The time of his sickness nor the urgent cause were not allowed to be urged for him; but whatsoever could be thought upon against him was urged, seeing he was a carnal man of them that are without. So that it seems by those proceedings there the matter was adjudged before he came, he only brought to hear his sentence in public, which was to have his tongue bored through; his nose slit; his face branded; his ears cut; his body to be whipped in every several plantation of their jurisdiction; and a fine of forty pounds imposed, with perpetual banishment; and (to execute this vengeance) Shackles (the deacon of Charles Town) was as ready as Mephistopheles when Doctor Faustus was bent upon mischief.
He is the purser-general of New Canaan, who (with his whip, with knots most terrible) takes this man unto the counting house, there capitulates with him, why he should be so hasty for payment, when God’s dear children must pay as they are able; and he weeps, and sobs, and his handkerchief walks as a sign of his sorrow for Master Fairecloath’s sin, that he should bear no better affection to the Church and the saints of New Canaan; and strips Innocence the while and comforts him.
Though he be made to stay for payment, he should not think it long; the payment would be sure when it did come, and he should have his due to a doit; he should not wish for a token more, and then told it him down in such manner, that he made Fairecloath’s innocent back, like the picture of Rawhead and bloody bones, and his shirt like pudding wife’s apron. In this employment Shackles takes a great felicity and glories in the practice of it. This cruel sentence was stopped in part by Sir Christopher Gardiner (then present at the execution) by expostulating with Master Temperwell, who was content (with that whipping, and the cutting of part of his ears) to send Innocence going, with the loss of all his goods to pay the fine imposed and perpetual banishment out of their lands of New Canaan in terrorem populi.
Lo, this is the payment you shall get, if you be one of them they term “without.”