From the journal of William
Bradford... |
William Bradford and Christmas (the Pilgrim Separatists did not
believe in celebrating Christmas, as not being sanctioned by Scripture):
"And herewith I shall end this year [1621]. Only I shall remember one passage
more, rather of mirth then of waight. One ye day called Christmas-day, ye Govr [William
Bradford] caled them out to worke, (as was used,) but ye most of this new-company excused
them selves and said it wente against their consciences to work on yt day. So ye Govr
tould them that if they made it mater of conscience, he would spare them till they were
better informed. So he led-away ye rest and left them; but when they came home at noone
from their worke, he found them in ye streete at play, openly; somepitching ye barr, &
some at stoole-ball, and shuch like sports. So he went to them, and tooke away their
implements, and tould them that was against his conscience, that they should play &
others worke. If they made ye keeping of it mater of devotion, let them kepe their houses,
but ther should be no gameing or revelling in ye streets. Since which time nothing hath
been atempted that way, at least openly." |
William Bradford's strong religious beliefs did not allow him
to permit "gameing or revelling" at Christmas. These same beliefs did not,
however, lead him into discourtesy towards visitors whose religious beliefs differed from
his own. Click HERE for a passage from the "Jesuit
Relations" describing the visit of the Jesuit priest Gabriel Druillettes to Plymouth
in 1650. |
