The New English Canaan of Thomas Morton with Introductory Matter and Notes

In Short

First published in 1637, this work combines detailed observation with biting colonial satire. Written by a lawyer and trader who spent years in Massachusetts, the text divides into three distinct parts: a respectful examination of Native American customs, a lavish catalog of the region's flora and fauna, and a mocking account of the Puritans at Plymouth. Through wit, legal arguments, and classical references, it challenges the authority of the Separatist leaders who ultimately exiled its author. The book remains a crucial alternative counter-narrative to early New England history, offering a rare glimpse of colonial life outside strict Puritan orthodoxy.

The Story

The book opens with an investigation into the Indigenous peoples of New England, assessing their origins, language, and everyday customs. The author views them as a hospitable, tractable group whose lifestyle and spiritual rituals, such as the performances of their Powahs, deserve careful observation rather than immediate condemnation. From this social examination, the narrative transitions into a grand inventory of the land's natural wealth. The author catalogs towering spruce trees fit for ship masts, vast beds of oysters and fat mussels, abundant game, and fertile soil, painting the region as a true earthly paradise—a New Canaan—capable of supporting thriving settlements if approached with enterprise rather than rigid austerity.

The narrative turns sharply in its final section, shifting into a dramatic confrontation between the author and the Plymouth colonists. Setting up a trading post at Ma-re-Mount, the author embraces an open, lively lifestyle that includes erecting a Maypole and bartering freely with the local Native population. This behavior quickly draws the ire of nearby Puritan leaders, whom the author derides under satirical titles like Captain Shrimp and Master Temperwell. The Puritans view the author's festivities, legal arguments, and commercial success as a direct threat to their religious order and public safety.

Tensions culminate when an armed party of nine men arrives at Ma-re-Mount to arrest the author in the middle of a thunderstorm. Refusing to yield quietly, he challenges their legal grounds, arguing that royal proclamations do not carry the force of statutory law and pointing out that King James has passed away. Despite his arguments, the militia detains him, brings him to Plymouth, and eventually leaves him isolated on a desolate island before shipping him back to England.

Even in exile, the author continues his campaign against the colonial authorities. Back in London, he allies himself with court figures such as Sir Ferdinando Gorges to lobby against the Massachusetts charter and undermine his rivals. The text concludes with a sharp critique of the Puritans' legal system and religious practice, portraying their governance as an arbitrary exercise where strict religious dogma routinely overrides established English law and basic fairness.

How It Unfolds

The customs of the land The narrative begins with a study of the Indigenous population, detailing their social gatherings, language, and the miraculous feats performed by their Powahs. The author notes their generosity toward English travelers and argues that civilized readers might learn better manners from their tractable nature.

The bounty of nature The focus shifts to an exhaustive survey of New England's natural resources, from massive cedar and spruce trees suitable for building to abundant shellfish and game. The land is presented as a rich, fertile domain that promises prosperity to any settlers willing to cultivate its gifts.

The clash at Ma-re-Mount The author recounts his growing rift with the Plymouth authorities over his lively trading post and his refusal to conform to their strict religious rules. Nine armed men pursue him through a stormy night, surrounding his home to force his surrender and curtail his influence in the region.

Arrest and exile After capitulating on agreed terms, the author is taken to Plymouth, mocked by his captors, and stranded on a remote northern island. Despite Captain Shrimp's threats, the colony elders decide to send him to England rather than execute him, setting the stage for his continued opposition from abroad.

Critique of colonial law The narrative finishes with a scathing evaluation of Puritan governance, detailing twelve specific church practices and pointing out how their court system balances legal precedent against religious conscience to suit their own ends.

The People

• Thomas Morton (Mine Host of Ma-re-Mount): An educated lawyer, trader, and writer who seeks financial opportunity and a free-spirited life in New England. Armed with classical learning and legal knowledge, he defends his liberties against Puritan authorities, only to be arrested and repeatedly banished.
• Captain Shrimp (Miles Standish): The military leader of the Plymouth settlement who views Morton as a dangerous, armed threat. He leads the force sent to capture Morton, displaying a heated temper and threatening lethal violence during the arrest.
• Master Temperwell (John Winthrop): The central magistrate and political authority in Massachusetts who enforces the colony's laws and religious standards. He uses both legal mechanisms and religious conscience to dismantle Morton's operations and maintain order in the colony.
• Sir Ferdinando Gorges: An influential English courtier and colonial proprietor who works behind the scenes in Whitehall. He uses Morton's legal knowledge and complaints to challenge the Massachusetts Bay charter and attempt to establish royal control over New England.

In Its Own Voice

"he is at their Revels ... hath advaunced his honor in his feats or jugling tricks (as I may right tearme them) to the admiration of the spectators" The author describes how a local Powah uses impressive displays of illusion to gain respect and authority among his people.

"he hath shewed a firme peece of Ice to flote in the middest of the bowl in the presence of the vulgar people, which doubtles was done by the agility of Satan, his consort." The text details an extraordinary feat of winter magic performed in the middle of summer before amazed onlookers.

"they, contrary wise, abused him, and carried him to theire towne of Plimmouth, where ... they would have dispatched him, as Captaine Shrimpe in a rage profest that hee would doe with his Pistoll" The author recounts his forced capture by Plymouth's military commander following their tense standoff at Ma-re-Mount.

What It's Really About

At its core, the text is a fierce debate over authority, liberty, and the true purpose of the New World. It contrasts two radically different visions of colonization: one based on commercial enterprise, classical culture, and peaceful co-existence with Indigenous neighbors, and another driven by strict religious separatism, moral regulation, and exclusive communal control. Through its satire, the book argues that English legal rights extend across the Atlantic and cannot be set aside by local religious leaders. Beneath the personal grievances lies a broader critique of ideological intolerance, questioning whether a society built on rigid conformity can ever truly flourish in a vast, open landscape.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in early American history will find this work a fascinating, irreverent counterweight to traditional Pilgrim narratives. It offers a rare, high-spirited perspective from inside the seventeenth-century Atlantic world, blending natural history with sharp political commentary. Reading the text requires some patience, as its early modern English style, old-fashioned spellings, and frequent classical references can occasionally slow down the narrative flow. Additionally, the author's period attitudes toward native populations and his opponents reflect the sharp prejudices of his era. However, the vivid descriptions of New England's untouched wilderness and the lively, satirical portrayal of the conflict between Ma-re-Mount and Plymouth make it an essential read for anyone wanting a fuller, more complex picture of colonial beginnings.