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Subject: [GM-L] Marshfield- Pt. 8
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 13:52:35 EDT

Arthur Howland's Letter from Plimoth Gaol

It was difficult to read Arthur Howland's handwriting as it is reproduced in
the book...and I have copied it exactly as it was written...no corrections to
the spelling or

The Sufferings Of Arthur Howland
About the beginning of the year 1679: the so called church of Marshfield
because of some scruples that were one my conscience I did refraine from
pertak=ing with them in that which they c all the sacrament of bread & wine
took ocation to be ofended with me & so ton proceed according to there order
which was as followeth. First they required me to come to the church meeting
the which
I did at that time although I tould them that I could not partake with them
without sinning against my conscience they tould me that if I did not promise
them to partake with them & come to there meeting they should proceed to
their sentence of excommunication against me. after this I sent a wrighting
in answer to what they denied to say to my charge desiring that they would
give me an answer in wrighting. instead where of Samuell Arnold their teacher
& John Bourne an emanient brother came to speak with me to perswade me to
come to there metting on the first day of the weeke following & tould me that
the wrighting I had sent them gave them more grounds to proceed against me
many things they had before to which I replied when they prest me to come to
there meeting that being they so sayd if they would ingage then I should have
liberty to read the wrighting & to speak to it in the perticulars of it in
the publick congregation, I would come to meeting. Samuel Arnolld answeted
come to meeting & I will ingage that that wrighting shall not be read nor you
shall not speake to it. I answered that I think I shall not come. SA sayd why
I said because if I should come it was like he would require me to pull of my
hat & stand befoure the church & seeing I did believe that they had no ground
from the scriptures for what they did it would be no better to me than bowing
to an idolle.
S Arnolld replyd come to meeting & it is like I shall doe as you say for
there was a man delt with in the church of Boston & the man sat up in the
gallery & ye minister required him to come downe & stand before the church &
ye man refused but the gouvvoure sayd son now come down or I will fetch you
down to which I replied if the gouevnour should so command me the which I did
believe he would not I should not obey him unles he did it by forse for I did
not know that he had any more power in the church then another man: Samuell
Arnald sayd it was honourably don of the gouernour to asiste the minister
; so quickly after they proseeded to there sentance in which Samuall Arnald
observed this order. I not being present he caled me by my name and as he
sayd delivered me to Satan when he had done. Then he charged all his church
members that they should not eat or drinke with me in common eating or
drinking then charged the neighbours of the towne that they should not carry
femillerly with me and for a close he prayed to his god that the devill might
be set to worke one me - - - - acursed prayer it being against the end for
which the Lord
Jesus came into the world Job 3:8
When they had accomplisheed these matters with me they then begune with my
wife she being unsatisfied with tehir proseding with me desired that they
would show her some rule in the scriptures for their actings they did
imp.,isctly persuade her not to eat or drink with me & Samuell Arnald did
several times positively urge her to told her it would be her honour to doe
as (undecipherable) did as it is written in the 32 Exodus:27:28
; this not satisfying her she withdrue from them & tould them that if they
would not or could not produce sume cleare scripture rule for what they had
done to her husband she could not pertake with them in that which she thought
was such an unchristiasn act without sinning against her conscience the which
they never did nor indeed could doe for thare was not three of them that
agreed together for what it was that they so so sensured me & the greatest
part of them knew not for what it was thare being as they accounted but two
offecers in thare church & they were in absolute contrarydiction on(e) to the
other one saying that it was for that which the other said he abhored should
be mentioned somde of thare church said it was because I prayed the minister
no better but to seesfye her once for all they as far as they had proven gave
her to trhe devill tow but not withstanding thare so cussing us & refusing to
eat & drink with us In the 3 month 1682 on wich (undecipherable) table: for
the rate of Samuell Arnald aforesayd came to our house & tooke away our
putter charge leaving us a conveninant dish or basin to eat our vittles in:
againe in the yeare 1684 the 22 day of ye 3 month the constable with John
Bourne aforementioned came to my house &v made demand of 15 shilling & 3
pence for the said Arnalds rate for preaching the year that was past &v be
cause I refused to pay it he seased on my pearson to carry me to prison & one
the 4 day of the forth month following I was by the constable aforesaid
without any heareing at all put up in the common gaole & thare am not alowed
nether bread nor water nor any thing to lye one but the flore nor anything to
cover me with nor liberty to goe with the gayler to any other house to get
anything for my mony to sostaine nature nor so much as fire by theire
order---this is a true account of these proceedings with us--to which wee
have set our hands at Plymouth goale this the the 6 day of the 4 mth 1684
Arthur
Arthur Howland
Elisabeth Howland

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