The iron-breasted company straightened their line , and each man drew the heavy butt of his matchlock close to his left foot , thus awaiting the orders of the captain . But as Endicott glanced right and left along the front he discovered a personage at some little distance with whom it behoved him to hold a parley . It was an elderly gentleman wearing a black cloak and band and a high-crowned hat beneath which was a velvet skull-cap , the whole being the garb of a Puritan minister . This reverend person bore a staff which seemed to have been recently cut in the forest , and his shoes were bemired , as if he had been travelling on foot through the swamps of the wilderness . His aspect was perfectly that of a pilgrim , heightened also by an apostolic dignity . Just as Endicott perceived him he laid aside his staff and stooped to drink at a bubbling fountain which gushed into the sunshine about a score of yards from the corner of the meeting-house . But ere the good man drank he turned his face heavenward in thankfulness , and then , holding back his gray beard with one hand , he scooped up his simple draught in the hollow of the other . `` What ho , good Mr. Williams ! '' shouted Endicott . `` You are welcome back again to our town of peace . How does our worthy Governor Winthrop ? And what news from Boston ? '' `` The governor hath his health , worshipful sir , '' answered Roger Williams , now resuming his staff and drawing near . `` And , for the news , here is a letter which , knowing I was to travel hitherward to-day , His Excellency committed to my charge . Belike it contains tidings of much import , for a ship arrived yesterday from England . '' Mr. Williams , the minister of Salem , and of course known to all the spectators , had now reached the spot where Endicott was standing under the banner of his company , and put the governor 's epistle into his hand . The broad seal was impressed with Winthrop 's coat-of-arms . Endicott hastily unclosed the letter and began to read , while , as his eye passed down the page , a wrathful change came over his manly countenance . The blood glowed through it till it seemed to be kindling with an internal heat , nor was it unnatural to suppose that his breastplate would likewise become red hot with the angry fire of the bosom which it covered . Arriving at the conclusion , he shook the letter fiercely in his hand , so that it rustled as loud as the flag above his head .
`` Black tidings these , Mr. Williams , '' said he ; `` blacker never came to New XXXXX .
Boston Endicott England Williams Winthrop coat-of-arms epistle matchlock meeting-house skull-cap