Page:The Red Man and the White Man in North America.djvu/451

Rh friend, to St. Francis Xavier. His mission, founded upon previous correspondence with Governor Winthrop, was to induce the Massachusetts to enter into an alliance with the French for protection, and even warfare, against the Iroquois, or the Mohawks or Maquas. Winslow took Druillettes to the house of Major-General Edward Gibbons, a man of multiform and varied experience, serviceable, and of some repute, but of dubitable sanctity as a Puritan under church covenant. He was a most cordial host, giving the Jesuit a private room, with “a key,” in his own house, and being thus probably an abettor of the first service of the Mass in Boston. The Jesuit was next taken to visit the Governor (Dudley) at Roxbury, to whom he presented his letters. Here, too, he was most cordially received, the Governor promising to notify the magistrates, with whom, in strange grouping, the Jesuit dined on the 13th. He represented himself as ambassador in the interest and for the protection of his catechumens at Kennebec, as against their deadly foes the Iroquois, who sooner or later would be in hostility against the English. He was turned over to the authorities of Plymouth, as having jurisdiction over the region from which he came. Winslow accompanied him to the Pilgrim colony, where he arrived December 22, lodging with Mr. Paddy. The excellent Governor Bradford, with much courtesy, received him at dinner, which, it being Friday, was considerately one of fish, and paid all his expenses. He returned to Boston by land on the 24th December. He had further interviews with Ellery and Dudley, and, embarking for the Kennebec Jan. 5, 1651 (N. S.), was compelled by bad weather to put into Marblehead. Here, he says, the minister “received me with great affection, and took me to Salem to visit Governor Endicott.” This stern Puritan of the Puritans was most friendly and hospitable to the Jesuit, conversing with him in French, giving him money, as he was penniless, and inviting him to dine with the local magistrates.