A Narrative of the Miseries of New-England

A Narrative of the Miseries of New-England. This 1688 political tract is a seminal document detailing the profound crises facing the Puritan colonies of New England in the late 17th century. Principally attributed to the influential minister Increase Mather, it serves as both a lamentation and a polemic, cataloging the devastating aftermath of King Philip's War and escalating conflicts with the Crown of England. The narrative was published in London to influence Parliamentary and public opinion during a critical period of colonial administration under the Dominion of New England.

Historical context and authorship

The document emerged during a period of intense turmoil following the Glorious Revolution and the imposition of the Dominion of New England under Governor Sir Edmund Andros. Its authorship is widely ascribed to Increase Mather, a leading Congregational minister in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and president of Harvard College, who was in London at the time lobbying for the restoration of the colony's charter. The tract was part of a broader propaganda campaign by the Puritan elite against the policies of King James II and the Lords of Trade, which threatened their political autonomy and religious covenants. The publication coincided with Mather's negotiations with the new monarchs, William and Mary, following the overthrow of James II.

Summary of grievances

The narrative presents a catalog of sufferings attributed to both divine providence and English misrule. It decries the economic devastation caused by the Navigation Acts and restrictive trade policies enforced by the English Crown. The text laments the loss of the original Massachusetts Charter and the imposition of direct rule from London, which dissolved traditional assemblies and imposed taxes without representation. Further grievances include the alleged suppression of Puritan worship, the threat of Anglican establishment, and the quartering of unpopular British regiments like those of the Royal Army. The author frames these issues as a collective punishment for the colony's moral decline, a common Jeremiad theme in Puritan writings.

King Philip's War and its impact

A central focus of the narrative is the catastrophic King Philip's War (1675–1678), a conflict between an alliance of Indigenous nations led by Metacomet (King Philip) and the New England Confederation and its allies. The tract describes the widespread destruction of towns like Springfield, Deerfield, and Providence, and the high casualty rates among colonists and Indigenous peoples alike. It details the economic ruin from burned farms and disrupted trade, as well as the ensuing frontier instability that persisted into the 1680s with ongoing conflicts such as the Abenaki wars in present-day Maine. The war is portrayed as a pivotal tragedy that weakened the colonies just before the political crises under Sir Edmund Andros.

Political and religious conflicts

The narrative intricately links political grievances with deep-seated Puritan religious anxieties. It attacks the Dominion of New England for undermining the Congregational church-state system established by the Massachusetts Bay Colony founders like John Winthrop. Specific conflicts highlighted include the revocation of the charter by the Court of Chancery, the imposition of a royal governor, and the alleged promotion of Anglicanism in Boston. The tract also references internal dissent from groups like the Quakers and the earlier Antinomian Controversy involving Anne Hutchinson, suggesting that religious disunity compounded political vulnerabilities. These conflicts are framed as a struggle for the survival of the "City upon a Hill" ideal against the encroachments of the Stuart monarchy.

Publication and historical significance

Printed in London in 1688 for bookseller Joseph Brunning, the narrative was a key piece of propaganda aimed at the English Parliament and the public. Its publication was strategically timed to coincide with Increase Mather's diplomatic mission and the fall of James II, helping to sway opinion against the Dominion of New England. The tract contributed to the eventual arrest of Sir Edmund Andros during the 1689 Boston revolt and the restoration of a new charter under William and Mary. As a primary source, it offers crucial insight into the Puritan worldview, the legacy of King Philip's War, and the complex transition of the New England Colonies from near-theocratic autonomy to a more integrated, yet resistant, part of the British Empire.

Category:1688 books Category:History of New England Category:King Philip's War