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William Priest - Travels in the United States of America
compared to the smoke of the bottomless pit. Drinking of healths, and
wearing long hair, were also forbidden, under the same penalty: the first was considered as a
heathenish and idolatrous practice, grounded on the ancient libations.
"Previous to putting the laws in execution against the latter, the following proclamation was issued, and
is now preserved among the records at Havard College, Cambridge, near Boston: -
"Forasmuch as the wearing of long hair, after the manner of ruffians and barbarous indians, has begun to
invade New England, contrary to the rule of God's word, Corinthians xi, 14, which says it is a
shame for a man to wear long hair; as also the commendable custom generally of all the godly of
our nation, until these few years; we, the magistrates who have subscribed this paper, (for the showing of
our own innocency in this behalf,) do declare and manifest our dislike and detestation against the
wearing of such long hair, as against a thing uncivil and unmanly; whereby men do
deform themselves, and offend sober and modest men, and do corrupt good
manners. We do therefore, earnestly intreat all the elders of this jurisdiction, as often as they shall
see cause, to manifest their zeal against it in their public administrations, and to take care that
the members of their respective churches be not defiled therewith, that so, such as shall
prove obstinate, and will not reform themselves, may have God and man to witness against them.
"The 3d month, 10th day, 1649.
"Jo. Endicott, Governor. Tho. Dudley, Dep. Governor Rich. Bellingham. Rich. Salton
Stall. Increase Nowell. William Hibbins. Tho. Flint. Rob. Bridges. Simon Bradstreet.'
"Laws were made to regulate the intercourse between the sexes, and the advances towards matrimony.
They had a ceremony of betrothing, which preceded that of marriage. Pride and levity
came under the cognizance of the magistrates. Not only the richness, but the mode of dress, and cut of
the hair, were subject to regulations. Women were forbidden to expose their arms or
bosoms to view. It was ordered, that their sleeves should reach down to their wrists, and their
gowns to be closed round the neck. Women offending against these laws were
presentable by the grand jury.
"The following were some of their favourite arguments in favour of persecution. The celebrated Cotton,
in a treatise published in 1647, laboured to prove the lawfulness of the magistrate using the civil sword,
to extirpate heretics, from the command given to the jews, to put to death blasphemers
and idolaters!
"After saying it was toleration, which made the world antichristian, he concludes his
work with this singular ejaculation: - 'The Lord keep us from being bewitched with the whore's cup, lest
while we seem to reject her with our profession, we bring her in by a back door of
toleration, and so drink deeply of the cup of the Lord's wrath, and be filled with her plagues!'
"During a war with the eastern Indians, a council was called, and a proposal made to draw upon them
the Mohawks, their ancient enemy, though then at peace: the lawfulness of this proceeding was
doubted by some tender consciences; but all their doubts vanished, when it was urged, that
Abraham had entered into a confederacy with the Amorites, among whom he dwelt, and
made use of their assistance in recovering his kinsman Lot from the hands of their
common enemy."
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