[Record of disasters; the return of the Lyon] ... Also, to increase the heape of our sorrous, wee received advertisement by letters from our friends in England and by the reports of those who came hether in this shipp to abide with us ... that those who went discontentedly from us last yeare, out of their evill affections towards us, have raised many false and scandelous reports against us, affirminge us to be Brounists in religion and ill affected to our state at home, and that theis vile reports have wonne creditt with some who formerly wished us well. But wee doe desire, and cannot but hope, that wise and impartiall men will at length consider that such malcontents have ever pursued this manner of casting dirt to make others seeme as fowle as themselves, and that our godly friends to whom wee have ben knowne will not easily believe that wee are soe soon turned from the profession wee soe long have made in our native Country. And for our further clearing, I truely affirme that I know noe one person who came over with us the last yeare to bee altered in his judgment and affection eyther in ecclesiasticall or civill respects since our comeinge hether; but wee doe continue to pray dayley for our soveraigne lord the Kinge, the Queene, the Prince, the royal blood, the counsaile, and the whole state, as dutye bindes us to doe and reason persuades others to believe. For how ungodly and unthankfull should wee be if wee should not thus doe ... Lett our friends therefore give no creditt to such malicious aspersions, but bee more ready to answer for us than wee heare they have bene. Wee are not like those which have dispensation to lye.... FOOTNOTES: [37] No doubt the movement that culminated in _b_ below was already under way. [38] See _b_ above. [39] The first document under this number should logically be a repetition of the Cambridge Agreement, above. [40] Observe the setting off of this "lady" from the women of the gentry families. A like sequence occurs below. Hawthorne's _Grandfather's Chair_ has acquainted all young people with the story of Lady Arbella. [41] Dunkirk was held by Spain, with whom England was still practically at war. Ships from Dunkirk preyed upon English commerce in the Channel. [42] Winthrop uses the official plural, for the dignity of his office. The first person was soon discarded for the third. [43] Two ministers, a _teacher_ and a _pastor_, were customary. The differences in duties were not very important. [44] But cf. the entry for November 22, 1632, when no such protestation is made: "A fast was held by the congregation of Boston, and Mr. Wilson (formerly their teacher) was chosen pastor and ---- Oliver a ruling elder; and both _were ordained_ by imposition of hands." This illustrates the gradual tendency to separate from the Church of England. [45] This is an old use of the word family, to include Winthrop's many dependents, even married servants. [46] The Lady Arbella was of the house of Lincoln.