Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

136 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
Sabbath m"'' act he acknowledged to be soe for his calling Isaak Sheldon a mem-
ber of Old Nick & a member of the Devill Ami for his contempt of the Au-
thority in Springfeild in saying he thought he might as well believe his boy (when
he said Springfeild commissioners threatened him with y*" Stocks & praised him
some new clotlies) as the said Commissioners in declaring w* his boy said ag*
liim : This court judged the said to pay as a fyne to y'= Courte the summe of
20s.
John Webb was before the same court.
John Webb Senr, being presented by y^ Jury for abusing y*^ Constable in ex-
ecution of his office in Elizur Holyokes case in saying of the Constables he would
make it too hott for him if he lay there. & his neck so stretch before the morrow
if he tooke any liarme by his lodging there ; also for that he said he could afford
to thumb both y*^ Constables and his man that attended him & for his contempt-
uous Ijehavior toward Nortliampton Commissioners, he is fyned to y*^ county by
this Courte in y'^ summe of iOs.
Ministers and judges alike shared the ill-will of those unruly spirits.
In 1668 our bibulous acquaintance, John Matthews, was led to the
post and severely flogged for the ofitence referred to below —
:
John [Matthews of Springfield being by Capt. Pynchon bound over to this
Courte to answer for his exceeding contemptuous behavior towards M'' Glover
minister of y'^' Word : the sd Matthews appearing at this Courte & the evidences
pduced & read, it appearetli that his carriage was very odious & shamefuU to
wards M'' Glover in a ver}- vile manner much after the custome of y*^ Quakers
reviling M' Glover as by the testimonys more at large appearetli
This Courte therefore doth judge the sd John Matthews to be well whipped on
the naked body with fifteen stripes & that he be bounde in y^ summe of tenn
pounds for his good behavior till the Courte at Springfield in Sept next & that he
pay costs of Courte vizt 20s for Courte charges.
Execution also was pformed according to y'^' sentence.
It is sad to relate that the duties of beating the drum for divine
service did not have a more salutary influence upon Matthews. This
reference to the Quakers brings up a subject not quite in the line of
: