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Au jour dit, la semaine d'apr?s, je revins au plateau. Je ne doutais pas du succ?s. Mes jeunes collaborateurs avaient d? parler ? leurs camarades du commerce si lucratif des pilules de bousier, et montrer les arrhes pour convaincre les incr?dules. Je trouvai, en effet, sur les lieux un groupe plus nombreux que la premi?re fois. ? mon arriv?e, ils accoururent, mais sans ?lan de triomphe, sans cris de joie. Je voyais d?j? les choses prendre une mauvaise tournure. L'appr?hension n'?tait que trop fond?e. Au sortir de l'?cole, ? bien des reprises, ils avaient cherch? sans rien trouver de conforme ? ce que je leur avais d?crit. Il me fut pr?sent? quelques pelotes trouv?es en terre avec le Scarab?e; mais c'?tait simplement des amas de vivres, ne contenant pas de ver. De nouvelles explications sont donn?es, et la partie remise au jeudi suivant. L'insucc?s fut le m?me. Les chercheurs d?courag?s n'?taient d?j? plus qu'en petit nombre. Une derni?re fois, je fais appel ? leur bonne volont?, toujours sans r?sultat. Enfin, je d?dommageai les plus z?l?s, ceux qui avaient tenu bon jusqu'au bout, et le pacte fut rompu. Je ne devais compter que sur moi seul pour des recherches qui, tr?s simples en apparence, ?taient r?ellement d'une difficult? extr?me.

Aujourd'hui m?me, apr?s bien des ann?es, les fouilles faites en lieux opportuns, les occasions ?pi?es en temps favorables ne m'ont pas encore donn? un r?sultat net et suivi. J'en suis r?duit ? raccorder entre elles des observations tronqu?es, et ? combler les lacunes par l'analogie. Le peu que j'ai vu, combin? avec les renseignements que m'ont donn? en voli?re d'autres bousiers, Gymnopleures, Copris et Onthophages, se r?sume dans l'expos? suivant.

La boule destin?e ? l'oeuf ne se confectionne pas en public, dans le p?le-m?le du chantier d'exploitation. C'est une oeuvre d'art et de haute patience, qui demande recueillement et soins minutieux, impossibles au sein de la foule. On entre en loge pour m?diter ses plans et se mettre ? l'ouvrage. La m?re se creuse donc un terrier ? un d?cim?tre ou deux dans le sable. C'est une assez vaste salle communiquant au dehors par une galerie bien moindre en diam?tre. L'insecte y introduit des mat?riaux de choix, roul?s sans doute sous forme de pilule. Les voyages doivent ?tre multiples, car, sur la fin du travail, le contenu de la loge est hors de proportion avec la porte d'entr?e et ne pourrait ?tre emmagasin? en une seule fois. J'ai en m?moire un Copris espagnol qui, au moment de ma visite, achevait une pelote de la grosseur d'une orange au fond d'un terrier ne communiquant au dehors que par une galerie o? le doigt pouvait tout juste passer. Il est vrai que les Copris ne roulent pas de pilules et ne font pas de longues p?r?grinations pour transporter les vivres au logis. Ils creusent directement un puits sous l'ordure; et brass?e par brass?e, ils entra?nent ? reculons la mati?re au fond du souterrain. La facilit? de l'approvisionnement et la s?curit? du travail, sous l'abri de la bouse, favorisent des go?ts luxueux, qu'on ne peut trouver, au m?me degr?, chez les bousiers adonn?s ? la rude profession de rouleurs de pilules; cependant, pour peu qu'il y revienne ? deux ou trois fois, le Scarab?e sacr? peut s'amasser des richesses que jalouserait le Copris espagnol.

Ce ne sont encore l? que des mat?riaux bruts, amalgam?s au hasard. Un triage minutieux est tout d'abord ? faire: ceci, le plus fin, pour les couches internes dont la larve doit se nourrir; cela, le plus grossier, pour les couches externes non destin?es ? l'alimentation et faisant seulement office de coque protectrice. Puis, autour d'une niche centrale qui re?oit l'oeuf, il faut disposer les mat?riaux assise par assise d'apr?s l'ordre d?croissant de leur finesse et de leur valeur nutritive; il faut donner consistance aux couches, les faire adh?rer l'une ? l'autre, enfin, feutrer les brins filamenteux des derni?res, qui doivent prot?ger le tout. Comment, dans une compl?te obscurit?, au fond d'un terrier qui, encombr? de vivres, laisse ? peine la place pour se mouvoir, le Scarab?e vient-il ? bout d'oeuvre pareille, lui si gauche d'allures, si raide de mouvements? Quand je songe ? la d?licatesse du travail accompli et aux grossiers outils de l'ouvrier, pattes anguleuses bonnes pour ?ventrer le sol et au besoin le tuf, l'id?e me vient d'un ?l?phant qui s'aviserait de tisser de la dentelle. Explique qui voudra ce miracle de l'industrie maternelle: quant ? moi, j'y renonce, d'autant plus qu'il ne m'a pas ?t? donn? de voir l'artiste en ses fonctions. Bornons-nous ? d?crire le chef-d'oeuvre.

La pilule o? l'oeuf est renferm? a g?n?ralement le volume d'une moyenne pomme. Au centre est une niche ovalaire d'un centim?tre environ de diam?tre. Sur le fond est fix? verticalement l'oeuf, cylindrique, arrondi aux deux bouts, d'un blanc jaun?tre, du volume ? peu pr?s d'un grain de froment mais plus court. La paroi de la niche est cr?pie d'une mati?re brune verd?tre, luisante, demi-fluide, vraie cr?me stercorale destin?e aux premi?res bouch?es de la larve. Pour cet aliment raffin?, la m?re cueillerait-elle la quintessence de l'ordure? L'aspect du mets me dit autre chose, et m'affirme que c'est l? une pur?e ?labor?e dans l'estomac maternel. Le pigeon ramollit le grain dans son jabot et le convertit en une sorte de laitage qu'il d?gorge ensuite ? sa couv?e. Selon toute apparence, le bousier a les m?mes tendresses: il dig?re ? demi des aliments de choix et les d?gorge en une fine bouillie, dont il enduit la paroi de la niche o? l'oeuf est d?pos?. ? son ?closion, la larve trouve de la sorte une nourriture de digestion facile, qui lui fortifie rapidement l'estomac et lui permet d'attaquer les couches sous-jacentes, auxquelles manque ce raffinement de pr?paration. Sous l'enduit demi-fluide est une pulpe de choix, compacte, homog?ne, d'o? tout brin filandreux est exclu. Par-del? viennent des assises grossi?res, o? les fibres v?g?tales abondent; enfin l'ext?rieur de la pelote est compos? des mat?riaux les plus communs, mais tass?s, feutr?s en coque r?sistante.

Un changement progressif dans le r?gime alimentaire est ici manifeste. En sortant de l'oeuf, le tout d?bile vermisseau l?che la fine pur?e sur les murs de sa loge. Il y en a peu, mais c'est fortifiant et de haute valeur nutritive. ? la bouillie de la tendre enfance succ?de la p?t?e du nourrisson sevr?, p?t?e interm?diaire entre les exquises d?licatesses du d?but et la nourriture grossi?re de la fin. La couche en est ?paisse et suffisante pour faire du vermisseau un robuste ver. Mais alors aux forts la nourriture des forts, le pain d'orge avec ses ar?tes, le crottin naturel plein d'aiguilles de foin. La larve en est surabondamment approvisionn?e; et toute sa croissance prise, il lui reste une couche formant cloison autour d'elle. La capacit? de l'habitacle s'est agrandie ? mesure que grossissait l'habitant, nourri de la substance m?me des murailles; la petite niche primitive ? parois tr?s ?paisses est maintenant une grande cellule ? parois de quelques millim?tres d'?paisseur; les assises int?rieures de la maison sont devenues larve, nymphe ou Scarab?e suivant l'?poque. Finalement la pilule est une solide coque, abritant dans sa loge spacieuse le myst?rieux travail de la m?tamorphose.

Pour continuer, les observations me manquent: mes actes de l'?tat civil du Scarab?e sacr? s'arr?tent ? l'oeuf. Je n'ai pas vu la larve qui, du reste, est connue et d?crite dans les auteurs; je n'ai pas vu davantage l'insecte parfait encore renferm? dans la chambre de sa pilule, avant toute pratique des fonctions de rouleur et de fouisseur. Et c'est pr?cis?ment l? ce que j'aurais surtout d?sir? voir. J'aurais voulu trouver le bousier dans sa loge natale, r?cemment transfigur?, novice de tout travail, pour examiner la main de l'ouvrier avant sa mise ? l'ouvrage. La raison de ce souhait, la voici:

Les insectes ont chaque patte termin?e par une sorte de doigt ou tarse, comme on l'appelle, compos? d'une suite de fines pi?ces que l'on pourrait comparer aux phalanges de nos doigts. Un ongle en croc termine le tout. Un doigt ? chaque patte, telle est la r?gle; et ce doigt, du moins pour les col?opt?res sup?rieurs, notamment pour les bousiers, comprend cinq phalanges ou articles. Or, par une exception bien ?trange, les Scarab?es sont priv?s de tarses aux pattes ant?rieures, tandis qu'ils en poss?dent de fort bien conform?s, avec cinq articles, aux deux autres paires. Ils sont manchots, estropi?s: ils manquent, aux membres de devant, de ce qui, dans l'insecte, repr?sente fort grossi?rement notre main. Pareille anomalie se retrouve chez les Onitis et les Bubas, ?galement de la famille des bousiers. L'entomologie a depuis longtemps enregistr? ce curieux fait sans pouvoir en donner une satisfaisante explication. L'animal est-il manchot de naissance; vient-il au monde sans doigts aux membres ant?rieurs? Ou bien est- ce par accident qu'il les perd une fois qu'il se livre ? ses travaux p?nibles?

Ais?ment on concevrait pareille mutilation comme une suite de la rude besogne de l'insecte. Fouiller, creuser, r?teler, d?pecer tant?t dans le gravier du sol, tant?t dans la masse filandreuse du crottin, n'est pas oeuvre o? des organes aussi d?licats que les tarses puissent ?tre engag?s sans p?ril. Circonstance plus grave encore: quand l'insecte roule ? reculons sa pilule, la t?te en bas, c'est par l'extr?mit? des pattes ant?rieures qu'il prend appui sur le terrain. Que pourraient devenir dans de continuel frottement contre les rudesses du sol les faibles doigts de l'insecte, aussi menus qu'un bout de fil? Inutiles, pur embarras, un jour ou l'autre ils devraient dispara?tre, ?cras?s, arrach?s, us?s au milieu de mille accidents. ? manier de lourds outils, ? soulever de pesants fardeaux, nos ouvriers, trop souvent, h?las! s'estropient; ainsi s'estropierait le Scarab?e en roulant sa pelote, faix ?norme pour lui. Ses bras manchots seraient noble certificat, attestant vie laborieuse.

Une autre raison d'ailleurs apporte un suppl?ment de preuves. Si l'absence de doigts ant?rieurs ?tait une mutilation accidentelle, suite de violents exercices, il ne manque pas d'autres insectes, de bousiers notamment, qui se livrent ? des travaux d'excavation encore plus p?nibles que ceux du Scarab?e, et qui devraient alors, ? plus forte raison, ?tre priv?s des tarses de devant, appendices sans usage, embarrassants m?me quand la patte doit ?tre un robuste outil de fouille. Les G?otrupes, par exemple, qui m?ritent si bien leur nom, signifiant troueur de terre, creusent dans le sol battu des chemins, au milieu des cailloux ciment?s d'argile, des puits verticaux tellement profonds qu'il faut, pour en visiter la cellule terminale, faire emploi de puissants instruments de fouille, et encore ne r?ussit-on pas toujours. Or, ces mineurs par excellence, qui s'ouvrent ais?ment de longues galeries dans un milieu dont le Scarab?e sacr? pourrait ? peine entamer la surface, ont leurs tarses ant?rieurs intacts, comme si perforer le tuf ?tait oeuvre de d?licatesse et non de violence. Tout porte donc ? croire qu'observ?, novice encore, dans la cellule natale, le Scarab?e se trouverait manchot et semblable au v?t?ran qui a couru le monde et s'est us? au travail.

Sur cette absence de doigts pourrait se baser un raisonnement en faveur des th?ories ? la mode aujourd'hui, concurrence vitale et transformation de l'esp?ce. On dirait: <>. ? ces raisons je veux bien me rendre si l'on me d?montre d'abord pour quels motifs, avec des travaux analogues et bien autrement rudes, le G?otrupe a conserv? ses tarses. Jusque-l?, continuons ? croire que le premier Scarab?e qui roula sa pilule, peut-?tre sur la plage de quelque lac o? se baignait le Paloeoth?rium, ?tait priv? de tarses ant?rieurs comme le n?tre.

Il est pour chacun, suivant la tournure de ses id?es, certaines lectures qui font date en montrant ? l'esprit des horizons non encore soup?onn?s. Elles ouvrent toutes grandes les portes d'un monde nouveau o? doivent d?sormais se d?penser les forces de l'intelligence: elles sont l'?tincelle qui porte la flamme dans un foyer dont les mat?riaux, priv?s de son concours, persisteraient ind?finiment inutiles. Et ces lectures, point de d?part d'une ?re nouvelle dans l'?volution de nos id?es, c'est fr?quemment le hasard qui nous en fournit l'occasion. Les circonstances les plus fortuites, quelques lignes venues sous nos yeux on ne sait plus comment, d?cident de notre avenir et nous engagent dans le sillon de notre lot.

Un soir d'hiver, ? c?t? d'un po?le dont les cendres ?taient encore chaudes, et la famille endormie, j'oubliais, dans la lecture, les soucis du lendemain, les noirs soucis du professeur de physique qui, apr?s avoir empil? dipl?me universitaire sur dipl?me et rendu pendant un quart de si?cle des services dont le m?rite n'?tait pas m?connu, recevait pour lui et les siens 1600 fr., moins que le gage d'un palefrenier de bonne maison. Ainsi le voulait la honteuse parcimonie de cette ?poque pour les choses de l'enseignement. Ainsi le voulaient les paperasses administratives: j'?tais un irr?gulier, fils de mes ?tudes solitaires. J'oubliais donc, au milieu des livres, mes poignantes mis?res du professorat, quand, de fortune, je vins ? feuilleter une brochure entomologique qui m'?tait venue entre les mains je ne sais plus par quelles circonstances.

C'?tait un travail du patriarche de l'entomologie ? cette ?poque, du v?n?rable savant L?on Dufour, sur les moeurs d'un Hym?nopt?re chasseur de Buprestes. Certes, je n'avais pas attendu jusque-l? pour m'int?resser aux insectes; depuis mon enfance, col?opt?res, abeilles et papillons ?taient ma joie; d'aussi loin qu'il me souvienne, je me vois en extase devant les magnificences des ?lytres d'un Carabe et des ailes d'un Machaon. Les mat?riaux du foyer ?taient pr?ts; il manquait l'?tincelle pour les embraser. La lecture si fortuite de L?on Dufour fut cette ?tincelle.

Des clart?s nouvelles jaillirent: ce fut en mon esprit comme une r?v?lation. Disposer de beaux col?opt?res dans une bo?te ? li?ge, les d?nommer, les classer, ce n'?tait donc pas toute la science; il y avait quelque chose de bien sup?rieur: l'?tude intime de l'animal dans sa structure et surtout dans ses facult?s. J'en lisais, gonfl? d'?motion, un magnifique exemple. ? quelque temps de l?, servi par ces heureuses circonstances que trouve toujours celui qui les cherche avec passion, je publiais mon premier travail entomologique, compl?ment de celui de L?on Dufour. Ce d?but eut les honneurs de l'Institut de France; un prix de physiologie exp?rimentale lui fut d?cern?. Mais, r?compense bien plus douce encore, je recevais bient?t apr?s, la lettre la plus ?logieuse, la plus encourageante de celui-l? m?me qui m'avait inspir?. Le v?n?r? Ma?tre m'adressait du fond des Landes la chaleureuse expression de son enthousiasme, et m'engageait vivement ? continuer dans la voie. ? ce souvenir, mes vieilles paupi?res se mouillent encore d'une larme de sainte ?motion. O beaux jours des illusions, de la foi en l'avenir, qu'?tes-vous devenus?

J'aime ? croire que le lecteur ne sera pas f?ch? de trouver ici, en extrait, le m?moire point de d?part de mes propres recherches, d'autant plus que cet extrait est n?cessaire pour l'intelligence de ce qui doit suivre. Je laisse donc la parole au Ma?tre, mais en abr?geant.

En juillet 1840, ?tant all? faire une visite, comme m?decin, dans la maison de mon ami, je lui rappelai sa capture de l'ann?e pr?c?dente, et je m'informai des circonstances qui l'avaient accompagn?e. La conformit? de saisons et de lieux me faisait esp?rer de renouveler moi-m?me cette conqu?te; mais le temps ?tait ce jour-l?, sombre et frais, peu favorable, par cons?quent, ? la circulation des hym?nopt?res. N?anmoins, nous nous m?mes en observation dans les all?es du jardin et ne voyant rien venir, je m'avisai de chercher sur le sol des habitations d'hym?nopt?res fouisseurs.

Un l?ger tas de sable, r?cemment remu? et formant comme une petite taupini?re, arr?ta mon attention. En le grattant, je reconnus qu'il masquait l'orifice d'un conduit qui s'enfon?ait profond?ment. Au moyen d'une b?che, nous d?fon?ons avec pr?caution le terrain, et nous ne tardons pas ? voir briller les ?lytres ?pars du Bupreste si convoit?. Bient?t ce ne sont plus des ?lytres isol?s, des fragments que je d?couvre; c'est un Bupreste tout entier, ce sont trois, quatre Buprestes qui ?talent leur or et leurs ?meraudes. Je n'en croyais pas mes yeux. Mais ce n'?tait l? qu'un pr?lude de mes jouissances.

Dans le chaos des d?bris de l'exhumation, un hym?nopt?re se pr?sente et tombe sous ma main: c'?tait le ravisseur des Buprestes, qui cherchait ? s'?vader du milieu des , and stop the mouthes of the gainesayers, and they Cry they were my disciples, and soe great seruice there were for the lord in these things.

J waited vpon the King which way soeuer he went, J mett him in the Parke, and gaue him two letters, which he tooke at my hand, but the people murmured because J did not Kneele, but J went along by the King and spoke as J went, but J could gett noe answer of my Letters, soe J waited for an answer many dayes, and watch for his goeing vp into the Coach in the Court, and some souldiers began to be fauourable to me, and soe let me speake to the King, and soe the power of the lord was raised in me, and J spoke freely to the King and Counsell, that J waited for Justice, and looked for an answer of what J had giuen into his hand, and the power of the lord was risen in me, and the witnesse of god rose in many that did answer me, and some wicked ones said that it was of the deuill and some present made answer and said they wish they had that spirit, and then they said they were my disiples, because they answered on truths behalfe, and the power of the lord was ouer them all, and J had pretty time to speake what the Lord gaue me to speake, till a souldier Came and tooke me away, and said it was the Kings Court, and J might not preach there, but J declared through both Courts as J went along and they put me forth at the gates, and it Came vpon me to gett a Coat of sackecloath, and it was plaine to me how J should haue it, soe we made that Coat, and the next morning J were moued to goe amongst them againe at Whitehall in sackecloath and ashes, and the people was much strucken, both great men and women was strucken into silence, the witnesse of god was raised in many, and a fine time J had amongst them, till a souldier pulled me away, and said J should not preach there, but J was moued to speak all the way J went vp to Westminster hall, and through the pallace yard, a great way of it, declareing against the Lawyers, that were vniust in their places, and warneing all people to repent, soe are they left without excuse, if they had neuer more spoken to them, but the Lord is fitting others for the same purpose, but he made me an instrument to make way, that some others may follow in the same exercise, and as they are filling vp the measure of pride and Costlynesse, and wantonnesse, persecution, lasciuiousnesse, with all manner of sin filling vp their measures, soe is the lord now filling vp his violls of wrath to poure out vpon the throne of the beast, soe that all freinds to be faithfull and bold and valliant to the measure, which god hath manifested to you, for a Crowne of life is laid vp for all that abide faithfull.

ELIZABETH HUTTON.

London the 17?? of the 8?? Month 1662.

This letter gives sufficient evidence of her determination and the fearlessness of her methods of procedure; an account which reads strangely to-day, when one considers the difficulty of access to the Sovereign and the forces and formalities which guard and hedge him about.

Another letter, undated, addressed "To you y? are Judges or Magistrates in y? Court," possibly belongs to this period. Elizabeth, in very plain language, calls attention to the licentiousness of the times.

... Take heed what you doe Least y? Lord Arise in y? feircenesse of his anger, and find you Beating yo? fellow servants, and shamefully abuseing them which doe well, and lett y? wicked goe free. You haue sett y? wicked a worke to spoyle vs of our goodes, and putt vs in prison for worshipping god, and turne yo? sword backward, which y? higher power cannot doe, soe you make yo?selues rediculouse to all people who haue sence and reason ... god will not be mocked, for such as you sowe such must you reape: for y? cry of y? Jnnocent will arise in y? eares of y? Lord, and he will terriblely shake y? wicked: then will yo? dayes of pleasure be turned into mourning, & weepeing and howleing. Oh y? you would consider this betimes, before it be too late, and instead of pulling downe y? houses of gods people, pull downe whore houses and play houses, which keepes y? people in vanitie and wickedneess. Every wicked worke is now att Libertie; and vertue Rightiousnesse & holynesse you sett yo? selues against with all yo? force. Oh what a nation would this be if you might haue yo? wills. Goe into Smythfeild & you shall see what store of play houses there is; and what abundance of wicked company resorts to them; which greiues the spirit of y? Lord in y? hearts of his people, to see y? wickednesse of this citty.

After more in the same strain the letter concludes:

J am a Louer of yo? soules y? am sent to warne you.

ELISABETH HOOTON.

And as the principal end of their Charter was liberty of conscience His Majesty requires that those who desire to perform their devotions according to the Book of Common Prayer be not denied the exercise thereof nor undergo any predjudice thereby and that all persons of good and honest lives be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper according to the Book of Common Prayer and their children to Baptism. We cannot be understood hereby to direct or wish that any indulgence should be granted to those persons commonly called Quakers, whose principles being inconsistent with any kind of Government, we have found it necessary, by the advice of our Parliament, here to make a sharp Law against them and are well contented that you do the like there.

Undeterred by the prospect of further persecution and the improbability of the King again intervening on behalf of the Quakers, Elizabeth Hooton once more believed herself called of the Lord to visit New England. This time she carried with her a licence from the King "to purchase land in any of his plantations beyond the seas." One cannot help suspecting that King Charles, wearied with her importunities, had hit upon this method of ridding himself of the necessity of an enquiry into the high-handed proceedings of the Leicestershire magistrates, of which she had so vigourously complained, and that it would be a matter of perfect indifference to him whether she succeeded in making good the purchase in the Boston Courts, or not. Fortunately, again, the account of her journey and her sufferings can be given in her own words. She says:

Afterwards was J moved of y? Lord & called by his sp? to goe to New England againe, & tooke w?? me my Daughter to beare there my 2? Testimony, where when y? persecuto?? understood J was come they would have fined y? ships M? 100??, but y? he told them J had been w?? y? King & thither was J come to buy an house so stopped them from seizing on his goods, when J had been a while in y? Country among ffriends, then came J up to Boston to buy an house & went to their Courts 4 times but they denied it me in open Court by James Oliver, who was one of their chief a persecutor, so J told y? y? if they denyed me an house y? King having promised us libertie in any of his planta?ons beyond y? Sea then might J goe to England & lay it before y? King if God was pleased.

So when J returned from them J went up Eastward toward Piscatua & there was imprisoned ffor bearing my testimony against Seaborn Cotton y? Priest who sent his Man & tooke a cow from one of o? ffriends who owed him nothing & his Church Members tooke from 2 poore men almost all y? estate they had, because of a fine they had put on them for absenting from their Worship, y? one of them they tooke away all y? fatt kines he had & a fat calfe w?? they feasted themselves w?? besides 12 bussheles of wheate & provision in his house w?? was for himself & children & threatned to take away his Children & sell them for ten pounds w?? they demanded, where also they imprisoned me, & at Salem Haythorne y? ruler whipped foure ffr?? & sought also for me, though afterwards J was moved to cry through y? towne, but had noe power to hurt me at y? time, So at Dover in Piscatua there ffor asking Priest Rayner a question when he had done they put me in y? stocks Rich? Walden being Magistraite & put me in prison 4 dayes in y? cold of winter but y? Lord upheld & preserved my life, where my service to y? Lord was profitable for strengthning of friends & leaving y? other w??out excuse, So more could Stormes did J endure & more persecution then J can expresse, so afterwards J returned to Cambridg, where they were very thirsty for bloud because none had been there before y? J knew of & J cryed repentance through some part of y? towne, So they tooke me & had me early in y? morning before Thoma? Danford & Dan? Goggins 2 of their Magistrates who by their Gailer thrust me in a very dark dungeon for y? space of 2 dayes & 2 nights w??out helping me to eith? bread or water but a fr? brought me some milk & they cast him into prison because he entertained a stranger & fined him 5?? & at 2 dayes end they fetch me to their Court & asked me who rec? me J said, if J had come to his House J should have seen if he would have rec? me for J was much wearied w?? my travel & they ought to entertaine strangers so J asked wheth? he would not receive me w?? he did deny then J said sell me an House or let me one to rent y? J may entertane strangers & laid y? Kings promisse before them concerning libertie we should enjoy beyond y? seas, but they regarded it not, but made a Warrant to whip me for a wandring vagabond Quaker at 3 townes 10 stripes at whipping poast im Cambridg & 10 at Watertowne & 10 stripes at Deddam at y? Carts tayle w?? a 3 corded whip 3 knotts at end, & a handfull of willow rods at Watertown on a cold frosty morning So they put me on a horse & carried me into y? wildernesse many miles, where was many wild beasts both beares & wolves & many deep waters where J waded through very deep but y? Lord delivered me, though J ware in y? night to goe 20 miles but he strengthned me over all troubles & feares, though they caried me thither for to have been devoured, Saying they thought they should never see me againe.

So being diliv?ed J gott among o? fr?? through much danger by y? wat? & after y? to Road Jsland whence J tooke my Daughter w?? me to fetch my cloathes & oth? things w?? was about 80 miles, So when we came there for my Cloaths there Thomas Danford made a Warrant for y? Constable of Charles towne to apprehend us & one of their own Jnhabit?? Sarah Coleman an auntient woman of Scituate where he met us in y? Woods comeing back & he asked us whether we were Quak?? for he said he was to apprehend Quak??, So J answ?? wilt y? apprehend thou Knowes not who nor for w?, so he said J suppose you are Quak?? therefore in his Maj?? name stand, w? Majesty J asked him he said y? Kings, now said J thou hast told a lye for J was later at y? King then thou & he hath made noe such Lawes, saith he J must take you to Cambridge, but y? ffriend y? was inhabiter said she would not goe except he carried her, then he met w?? a Cart & he comanded y? to aid him & set us all upon y? Cart & caried us away to Cambridg to Daniel Goggings house, but he came not home till night & in y? night they fetcht us before him & a wicked Crew of Cambridg scollars there were y? abused me both times, & Goggins said did not we charg you yee should not come hither, so J said we were forced thither in a Cart, J came thither to fetch my Cloaths, because they would not let me take y? w?? me. So he asked the Jnhabiter, if she owned me, she said she owned y? truth so he wrote her down for a wandring Vagabond Quaker y? had no dwelling place, & she dwelt but a little way of him, & he knew it & to my daughter he said dost thou own thy Moth?? religion & she said no thing, & he set her downe for a wandring Vagabond Quaker w?? had not a dwelling place, & J Eliz Hooton was set downe for a wandring Vagabond Quaker, who would have bought a House among them, & this was in y? night, when y? house was full of Cambridg Scollers being a Cage of uncleane birds y? gave us many bad languages & y? Colledg M?? & priests sons, stood mocking of old Sarah Coleman w?? had formerly fed them w? y? best things w?? she & her husband could get, & told her she should be whipt w?? thwangs & w?? ends her husband being a Shoemaker, & had given them y? making of their shoes, & mending, thus was she rewarded evill for good, & so sent us all to y? House of correction in y? night, w?? was a cold open place & had nothing but a little dirty straw, & dirty old cloath.

So early in y? morning before it was light y? Whipp? a Member of their Church came up, w?? had said to me before y? y? governo? of Boston was his God & y? Magistrates were his God, J answered many Gods many Lords blind sottish Men both Priests & people, & asked us whether we would be whipt there or below, J said wilt thou take our bloud in y? dark before y? people be rissen to see w? thou dost, so he tooke me downe & lockt them up, & said J was acquainted w?? their whipping because J had been there before. So to y? whipping post he lockt my hands, having 2 men by to beare him Witnesse y? J was whipt before it was light, then fetcht he downe Sarah Coleman being as J thought older then my selfe & whipt her & then my daughter & whipt us each 10 stripes a piece w?? a 3 corded whip, & said to my Daughter are you not glad now its yo? turne she said J am content, so they put her hands in a very streight place w?? pressed her armes very much, & so this Daniel Goggins y? Magistrate walked out of dore w?? my Bible in his hand, for it had y? Epistle to y? Laodiceans & other things opening of y? Corruption of translations then he asked me, wheth? J would promise him to goe to Scituate, J said J submit to y? will of y? Lord w?? other words J spake why he should whip us so w??out a Cause, but he ran & made anoth? warr? & fetcht y? Constable to whip us at other two townes, & y? Constable provided company to goe a long w?? us, but Sarah Coleman was not able to goe so they got a horse & y? day they went with us from towne to towne.

So when they came to Unketty y? Constable saw it was such a mercilesse thing y? he tooke y? warrant away w?? him to carrie to Boston, & left one of o? fr?? to goe w?? us. So were we persecuted from place to place till we came to Scituate, so after y? J returned back to Boston, & there was a youngman out of y? North of England w?? was moved to goe into their Meeting place & breake 2 bottles before them for a signe how they should be broken whom violently they tooke & whipt at y? great Gun in Boston 10 or 12 stripes & as many more in y? house of Correction, & y? next morn? they had him away, & J was moved of y? Lord to goe in sackcloath & ashes upon my head to beare my testimony ag?? them in Jndicots house & they put me out of dores & set Bellingam in y? place of persecution, so J was moved to goe along to Billingams house who was y? Deputie, & there bare my testimony ag?? them for shedding Jnoc? bloud, So they fetcht me in & J cleared my Conscience to them & he made a mittimg to have me to y? Goale & whip me at y? whipping post so they J told they filled up y? measure of persecution w?? their Bretheren in England left undone, so there Warrant was to whip me at other two townes, at Rocksbury & Deddam at each 10 stripes apiece, & when J came to Rocksbury y? Constable & y? oth? ffr? met us there y? they might whip him there at the Carts taile where they whipt him & me together, so when they had done w?? us J bare my testimony & we met y? Priest of y? towne who said he was going to take of our whipping & J asked him his reason he said because we tooke 5?? a time for o? whipping J asked him where we should have it he answerd in England a Company of lyers they were J said, & y? Constable y? was w?? us lost both his Warrants & when he came to Deddam he gott him to anoth? Persecuto?? house y? he might fulfill y? w?? y? oth? had lost y? Warrant for, & then they there tyed us both to y? carts taile y? youngman & J in y? cold weather & stript us as usual to y? middle & there whipt us from whence they had us to Medfield, & would fain have whipt us there also, w?? y? Priest desired & sought much for o? bloud but could not obtaine it, So y? Constable w?? his long sword went w?? anoth? man to guard us out of their Jurisdiction, into y? woods & left us to goe 20 miles in y? night among y? Bears & wild beasts & wat?? & yet we were preserved & y? Constable when he saw me returne lift up his hands & said he never expected to see me againe, And allwayes they drive us toward Road Jsl being a place of liberty to us.

So afterwards J went to one of their Meeting places & spoke to y? priest when he had done, who sent me to prison, but his wife would never give him rest till he sett me at libertie, so J went up into y? Country among ffr?? so comeing back againe, J was moved off y? Lord to goe to y? oth? Meeting place where J stood till they had done, in y? meane time they abused me as J stood, & when he had done J asked y? priest a question, y? people violently flew upon me young & old, & flung me downe on y? ground So J said this was y? fruit of their Ministry, & their Lawes J did deny & being contrary to y? Law of God & y? King & one of their Magistrates had said to me, it was y? Devils Law if it were contrary to Gods Law to take away a poore Mans Cow, So 2 dayes & 2 nights J was in prison & they fetcht me before Bellingam y? Deputy, who sentenced me to be whipt from y? prison dore to y? townes end at y? Carts taile & so all along out of their jurisdiction, w?? was between 20 & 30 miles, but they whipt me to y? towns end & y? next time J came J was to be hanged, Such a Law had they now made, So when y? Kings Comission?? came to Boston, they did desire we should Visit them there, So J & oth? ffr?? rode to Boston & my Horse they tooke away & Windlocks, to carry away y? Comission?? out of y? towne, though we were called wandring Vagabond Quakers & 3 score mile J had to goe w?? was towards Road Jsland & they had no power to execute their Law upon me, w?? was a dangerous voyage not only for me but for one y? was w?? me, neare to be lost J cannot expresse y? danger J went through in y? voyage though y? Lord delivered us both miraculously praises to his holy Name for ever & for ever, for y? end & purpose of their doing to us was for murther.

Blessed be y? Lord for ever & ever y? hath brought me to England againe to my Native Country & amongst Gods people, where we are refreshed together y? J may never forget his mercy whose Name is in y? flesh

ELIZAB. HOOTON.

This w?? J have declared is y? worke of Cains ofspring part of w? they have done to y? Jnnocent. So J end for y? present.

In April, 1663, the King in an Order in Council made a similar Declaration, at the same time promising to preserve the Massachusetts charter though he wished to know how it was maintained on the part of the Province.

Elizabeth Hooton's account, as given in the following letter, is an interesting contribution to the history of the controversy. She writes as follows:

To the King & Councell

This is to let you understand how J haue beene in service to god & to the King & his Commission??? in New England: My message for the Lord was to beare witnesse to his Truth against those persecuting people who fled from the Bishops because they would not suffer; And now in New England are become greater Persecuters then the Bishops were, both in fining imprisoning, Banishing, whipping & hanging some of those that came out of England, for vagabond Quakers, who cald their owne Country people vagabonds: And when the King sent his Commissioners amongst them J was in that Countrey, & oft had beene Jmprisoned, oft whipt, oft driven into the Wildernesse among the wild beasts in the night; yet did god preserve me, though J had many miles in it to goe amongst the wild beasts and many great waters; Now the Kings Commission??? comming thither they would not receaue them soe freely as our friends did; & therefore they durst not trust their lives with them as they did with our friends. And moreover they made a decree against them, to rise in foure & Twenty houres against them, to fight with them; & when J heard that, J went among severall of their Church-members, & warnd them to take heed what they did, for if they did fight against them they would destroy themselues, for there were enough that would take the Kings Commissioners parts; And J said to them you had better to suffer rather then fight, or else conforme as some of your brethren in old England doe; But if you doe fight you will destroy your Country.

And they seemed to looke lightly upon my words, yet they tooke them into Consideration, & George Cartwright they said he was a Papist or a Jesuit; & they had a purpose to seeke his life, But J told them J believd the man was an honest man, & noe papist, he was my neighbour at Mansfield, & J never heard any such things by him, therefore take heed what you doe, for the lord will giue you into their hands because you haue shed Jnnocent bloud, & persecuted the Just & J sent to the Commissioners at New Yorke to bid them beware how they came, & soe they came to the Towne by one at once to read the Kings Packet, & at that time there was a Court & they had their company about them, they sought for our friends very early in the morning & woke them in their beds, & had them before their Court, & Questioned them why they came thither, & one of them answerd, they came to visit the Kings Commission??? & they said they would whip the Kings Commissioners upon the Quakers backs, because our friends were willing to receaue them & had a love to them, soe they whipt them out of their Coast towards Rhode Jsland, where we had liberty of Conscience, & the Kings Commissioners had their liberty too, & for me they had me out of prison to go to the ship to ship me away & soe warned the ship master he should let me come in noe more & brought me away to Barbados but the Kings Commission??? they would not receive neither them nor their Commission, But it was reported they drove them out of the Towne, & once they did whip me, because J owned not their government, but the Kings.

And many more things J would declare, but it would be too much answering the Kings behalfe. And now J am come hither for some Justice & to haue my goods restord againe which were taken away in my absence or else my friends restord out of prison, which never did the King nor the Counsell any harme, And soe in love to all your soules J haue written this paper to let you know that by my going to New England J was made serviceable to the King & his Commission??? Therefore reward not me evil for good, as some do threaten me; & let not our friends be put into the hands of wicked & unreasonable men; Nor into the hands of the Priests who would destroy all that we haue for Tythes; that take Tythes & make a spoyle of their Corne & keepe their bodies in prison many over England. Jf they will haue their Tythes, Let our friends haue their bodies at Liberty to worke for more: for husbandmen are Jmpoverisht much, & ready to throw up their farmes, by reason of Tythes Taxes & Assessments & great Rents. And if Husbandmen cast up their farmes what will ye all doe for there is great oppression in the Country & little money to be had for any thing. the Cattle & Corne will not pay their rents, & Taxes & Assessments, chimney money & excise is a great oppression: for the King J belieue hath not the Tenth part of what is taken for when they are not able to pay their chimney money they take away their Bedding in the Country; And soe consider this all ye that sit in Authority & let Justice & equity be done in the Country: for the Lord he will arise, & he will plead the cause of the Jnnocent.

J am a lover of your Soules who came not hither in my owne will

ELIZABETH HOOTON.

To y? King & Councill Expressing her service to y? Kings Com?? in New England & thereupon pleading for justice to herselfe & liberty to friends

Further particulars of the seizing of her horse for the use of the King's Commissioners are given in the following fragment; possibly her acquaintance with George Cartwright was largely responsible for the restoration of the animal. She says:

... When J came againe with other ffreinds, the Kings Comission?? being in the Towne, they tooke away my horse J rodd on to cary away the Kings Comission?? on forth of the Towne, into the Country, soe J was necessitated to goe three score Miles through the woods a foote among the wild beasts with a woman freind that was bigg with Child, who was to goe to Barbadoes soe for want of my horse was our Lives hazarded and coming back againe myselfe through the woods, and y? snow pretty deep, a Company of woalves had gon before mee and made a path J having noe Company with mee. Soe gott J back againe to Boston, and after seaven dayes the Comission?? sent mee my horse, and told them it was a quakers horse, saying J know noe Evill by them, and rid not back on the horse, had not the Comission?? been in the Towne, the Magistrates of Boston purposed to have put me to death and never to have restored my horse againe....

There is another letter to the Lord Chamberlain again recounting her services to the King's Commissioners and on the strength of those services pleading for justice to herself. The letter is endorsed:

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