Category: Poetry
“And surely betweene my friends of the Bay and Plimouth, I was sorely tost for fourteen weeks, in a bitter cold winter season, not knowing what bed or bread did meane.”--_Roger Williams’s Letter to Mason._
And Williams issued from his humble cot, Not as of late in solitary mood, With cheerless heart and ill-foreboding thought, But with light step and breast of quietude; And by him...
13. Part 13_Aquene_ signified, in the Narraganset dialect, peace. It is possible that Aquetnet, as the name of this island has been sometimes written, may be its derivative; _et_ is a term...
12. Part 12Under the general name of Narraganset, was included Narraganset proper and Coweset. Narraganset proper extended south from what is now Warwick to the ocean; Coweset, from Narrag...
4. Part 4Amid the train came Massasoit old, But not too old for direst battle fray; Strong was his arm as was his spirit bold; His judgment, bettered by experience gray, The wildest pass...
2. Part 2Growling they come, and in dark groups they stand, Show the white fang, and roll the brightening eye; Till urged by famine’s rage, the shaggy band Seemed even the flame’s bright...
1. Part 1“And surely betweene my friends of the Bay and Plimouth, I was sorely tost for fourteen weeks, in a bitter cold winter season, not knowing what bed or bread did meane.”--_Roger...
8. Part 8Not long he brooks this torturing delay, But soon tow’rd Salem through the forest goes, Nor will the Muse go with him on his way, And sing in horrid shades each night’s repose,...
5. Part 5“Waban,” said Williams, “dost thou fear to go? Wilt thou thy Yengee sachem leave alone? How will thy Sagamore the speeches know, If homeward now his messenger should run? Not th...
6. Part 6“This question seeks the Sachem’s plain reply: Takes he the pipe--lays he the axe aside? Have I his peace, or does he peace deny, Nor in my honest counsels aught confide? Still...
7. Part 7Gladly he heard from Waban’s faithful tongue Sire Williams’ speeches and the answers given, And wildly shouted all that warrior throng, To learn the dire enchanter’s spell was r...
11. Part 11“ROGER WILLIAMS was born of reputable parents in Wales, A. D. 1598. He was educated at the University of Oxford; was regularly admitted to Orders in the Church of England, and p...
3. Part 3“And now, my brother, rightly worship we, When to Cawtantowit we make our prayer? Or when for help to Chepian we flee, And pray that us from every harm he spare? For every harm...
10. Part 10“Well can thy mind that stormy night recall, The last in Salem that I dared abide,-- In fleecy torrents did the tempest fall, Our little dwelling reeled from side to side; The f...
14. Part 14Williams was soon joined at Providence by a number of his friends from Salem. In a short time their number amounted to forty persons. They then adopted a form of government, by...