EDWARD JOHNSON (1599-1672). Came to New England in 1630. Was a representative in the General Court or legislature of Massachusetts for several terms. Author of "Wonder-working Providence of Zion's Saviour in New England."

JOHN ELIOT (1604-1690). Graduated at Cambridge in 1623, and came to Boston in 1631. "The Apostle to the Indians," into whose language he translated the Bible. In 1660 he published, in England, "The Christian Commonwealth; or, The Civil Policy of the Rising Kingdom of Jesus Christ."

ANNE BRADSTREET (1612-1672). Wife of Governor Bradstreet. The earliest writer of verse in America. Her first volume was published in England under the title, "The Tenth Muse lately Sprung up in America." (See text.)

INCREASE MATHER (1638–1723). Graduated at Harvard in 1656; took his M.A. degree at Trinity College, Dublin. Pastor of Second Church in Boston; for sixteen years (1685-1701) president of Harvard College. His publications number one hundred and sixty.

CONTEMPORARY WRITERS IN ENGLAND

SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616); BACON (1561-1626); MILTON (1608-1674); DRYDEN (1631-1700); RALEIGH (1552-1618); BEN JONSON (1573-1637); JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667); EDMUND WALLER (1605-1687); ABRAHAM COWLEY (1618-1667); FRANCIS QUARLES (1592-1644); JOHN BUNYAN (1628-1688); SAMUEL BUTLER (1612-1680).

I

FIRST COLONIAL PERIOD

(1607-1689)

17. Colonization of the New World. The English were slow in establishing colonies in the New World. While Spain was subduing Mexico and a large part of South America, they remained comparatively inactive. The French were ahead of them in Canada. But when at last the English undertook the work of colonization, the Anglo-Saxon vigor asserted its superiority, and took possession of the fairest part of the American continent. From insignificant and unpromising beginnings, the English colonies rapidly developed into a great nation, rivalling the mother country not only in commercial interests, but also in science and literature.

18. First English Settlements. - The English occupation of this country began early in the seventeenth century with the establishment of two colonies, which were as different in character as they were widely removed from each other in space. The first of these colonies was founded in 1607 at Jamestown in Virginia; the other in 1620 at Plymouth in New England.

CONTEMPORARY EVENTS IN ENGLAND

James I, 1603-1625.

Charles I, 1625-1649.

Civil War, 1642-1646.

The Commonwealth, 1649-1660.

The Restoration, 1660.
Charles II, 1660-1685.

James II, 1685-1688.

The Revolution, 1688.

Accession of William and Mary, 1689.

!

Both settlements, in their subsequent development, were destined to play an important part in the political and literary history of our country. In a measure they represented two different tendencies in politics and religion: the Virginia

colonists upholding the Church of England and standing by the king; the New England colonists favoring a change in the English Church, and adhering to the Parliament. The one was thus conservative; the other, progressive, characteristics that are perceptible at the present day.

19. Early Hardships.

1. Virginia

It is beyond the scope of the present work to follow in detail the various trials and vicissitudes of the young settlement at Jamestown. The story is well known.

Nearly the whole century was consumed in getting the colony firmly on its feet. For a time disease carried off a large number of the colonists and discouraged the rest. The Indians frequently became unfriendly, and made repeated attempts to massacre the colonists. Many of the governors were incompetent and selfish; and the energies of the people were at times wasted by dissension and strife. One man alone, during this early period, was able to plan and execute wisely; and that was Captain John Smith.

20. Cavalier Tone. At various times during the century the colony received new accessions of immigrants. After the Civil War in England, and the establishment of the Protectorate under Cromwell, many of the Royalists, adherents of Charles I, sought a home in the New World, and gave a distinct Cavalier tone to Virginia society. The manners of the mother country were in a measure reproduced. "The Virginian planter was essentially a transplanted Englishman in tastes and convictions, and emulated the social amenities and the culture of the mother country. Thus in time was formed a society distinguished for its refinement, executive ability, and generous hospitality, for which the Ancient Dominion is proverbial." "" 1

21. Unfavorable Conditions. It will be readily understood that the conditions in Virginia during this period were not favorable to the production of literature. For the greater part of the first century, after the planting of the colony, the energies of the people were almost entirely absorbed in the difficult work of establishing for themselves a permanent home. This task included not only the building of houses and the clearing of farms, but also the subduing of hostile and treacherous tribes of Indians. Under the stress of this toil

1 Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. III, p. 153.

some and dangerous life, there could be but little leisure for the cultivation of literature as an art. The writings of the time were, for the most part, of a practical nature, designed either to preserve the history of the planting of the young nation, or to acquaint the people of the mother country with the wonders of the New World.

22. Population Agricultural. In addition to these unfavorable surroundings, it can hardly be claimed that the social conditions in Virginia, during the period under consideration, were likely to foster literary taste and literary production. The colonists, devoted to tobacco-planting and agriculture, settled on large plantations. There were no towns; and even Jamestown, the capital, had at the close of the century only a state-house, one church, and eighteen private dwellings. But little attention was paid to education. There is scarcely any mention of schools before 1688; and learning fell into such general neglect that Governor Spottswood in 1715 reproached the colonial assembly for having furnished two of its standing committees with chairmen who could not "spell English or write common sense.' There was no printing-press in Virginia before 1681; and the printer was required to give bond not to print anything “until his Majesty's pleasure shall be known."

23. Sir William Berkeley. For nearly forty years of this period, from 1641 to 1677, Sir William Berkeley exerted his influence and power "in favor of the fine old conservative policy of keeping subjects ignorant in order to keep them submissive." 1 When questioned in 1670 about the condition of Virginia, he said: "I thank God there are no free schools nor printing; and I hope we shall not have, these hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects