Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-21
PENIS ESCAPE.
A Letter from Cotton MathCr--Puri-
tan Plot 20 Capture William Penn,
and Sell Him in BarbadOes for
EGSUnlmc and Sugar.,

A Letter from Cotton Mathcr--Puri-
tan Plot 10 Capture William Penn,
and Sell Him in BarbadOes for
ssHUnmc and Sugar.
From the Easton PENN Argus.
Mr.. Judkins, the Librarian of the Mas
sachusetts Historical Society, in overhaul
ing a chest of old papers deposited in the
archives of that body by the late Robert
Greenleaf, of Maiden, has recently made
a curious discovery which has especial
interest for the people of Pennsyl-
vania- Among these papers was
one of ancient date, which bore
this Endorsement: eye scheme to
bagge Penne.n This curious title at
tracted the attention of Mr.. Judkins, and
he examined the contents of the dOcu-
ment with more than common interest.
1t is the familiar and quaint handwriting
Of the Rev. Cotton Mather, and is adj
dressed to eye aged and beloved Mr..
John Higginson, 1t bears date, "Sep-
TENDER We 18th, 1852, and reads thus,
the odd spelling of the original being fol-
lowed to the letter:
"There bee now at sea a shippe (for
our friend Dir. Esaias HolerOft of London
did advise me by the last packet that it
wode sail some time in August called we
Welcome, r. Greenaway, master, which
has aboard an hundred or more of We
heretics and maliguants called Quakers
with w. Penne who is We Chief Scampe
at We hedde of them. Ye General Court
has, accordinggely given secret orders to
II e h,irr
PROSE- TO waylaye we said We leone style
as near We coast of Codde as
may be and make captive yc said Penne
and his ungodlie crewe so that ye
Lord may be gIorifed and not Knocked
on We soil of this new counirie with ye
heather worshippe of these people.
Much spoyle can be made by selling ye
whole lotto to Barbados where slaves
fetch goode prices in rumme and sugar
end shall not only do We Lord great ser
vice by furnishing We wicked but we shall
make great gayne for his ministers and
people. Master Huxett feels hopeful and
/ will set down the newcs he brings when
his shippc comes back.
"Yours in We bowels of Christ,
COTTON MATHER."
MasterHuxett missed his reckoning, and
Penn sailed secure within the capes of
the Delaware. But it is curious TO re-
fleet on the narrow chance by which the
founder Of Pennsylvania escaped the
fate or many Of his religious brethren
who were cast ashore on the relentless
coast of Massachusetts,. 1t is strange to
fancy the wise lawgiycr, eEdeared to the
hearts of Great people AMI postcrity
| by his wisdom, sagacity ai.d benevolence,
hoeipg sugar in BAIbadoes under the lash
| of a Yankee oyersceT, or crushing cane
| into rum to thaw the granite gizzards
which Malhtr and his theological
brethren carried about instead OF
hearts. Al! how the ancient
| Cotton must have mourncd for the mar
ketable Quakers and the refreshing
s'rrmme" which came not. 1t is delight
| full to think how he never got bit of the
"spoyle" which his devilish old soul held
| in delicious anticipatior--ho brother
| Higsinson watched fondly for his hogs
head and dreamed OF swallowing his hall
score of herctics in pious punches.
| They would have made q 'Tum cretur" oi
the Great Founder. in literal sense, If
they got him, but thanks TO the good
steering of ''R Greenaway, master,
they didn't get lam.