many points, though Simon Bradstreets' moderation and tolerant
spirit undoubtedly fretted the uncompromising Puritan whose
opinions were as stiff and incisive as his way of putting them. An
extensive traveller, a man of ripe culture, having been a
successful lawyer before the ministry attracted him, he was the
friend of Francis Bacon, of Archbishop Usher and the famous
Heidelberg theologian, David Pareus. He had travelled widely and
knew men and manners, and into the exhortations and expoundings of
his daily life, the unfoldings of the complicated religious
experience demanded of every Puritan, must have crept many a
reminiscence of old days, dear to the heart of Anne Bradstreet,
who, no matter what theory she deemed it best to follow, was at
heart, to the end of her life a monarchist. We may know with what
interest she would listen, and may fancy the small Simon and
Dorothy standing near as Puritan discipline allowed, to hear tales
of Prince Rupert, whom Nathaniel Ward had held as a baby in his
arms, and of whom he wrote what we may be sure he had often said:
"I have had him in my arms; . . . I wish I had him there now. If I
mistake not, he promised then to be a good prince; but I doubt he
hath forgot it. If I thought he would not be angry with me, I
would pray hard to his Maker to make him a right Roundhead, a
wise-hearted Palatine, a thankful man to the English; to forgive
all his sins, and at length to save his soul, notwithstanding all
his God-damn-me's."

Even in these early days, certain feminine pomps and vanities had
emigrated with their owners, and much disconcerted the energetic
preacher. Anne Bradstreet had no share in them, her gentle
simplicity making her always choose the least obtrusive form of
speech and action, as well as dress, but she must have smiled over