ned bearing a silver salver, on which
were placed wine and a venison pasty, (for the robuster appetites of
our ancestors would have scorned more delicate viands,) which he
placed on a sideboard.

Before the knight addressed himself to the pasty, which he soon did,
with an appetite sharpened by his morning ride, he filled two goblets
with wine, and presenting one to his host, begged to pledge him in a
health to the prosperity of the infant Commonwealth.

"The building up of our Zion lies nearest my heart, and unceasingly do
my prayers ascend on her behalf," answered Winthrop; "but--think me
not discourteous--I may not, without sin, comply with your request in
the drinking of healths."

"How!" exclaimed the knight, "is there any forbidding thereof in Holy
Scripture?"

"Nay, I find no interdiction therein, but manifold cause in the reason
of the thing itself for the suppressing of a vain custom. Thus do I
argue: Every empty and ineffectual representation of serious things is
a way of vanity. But this custom is such; for it is intended to hold
forth love and wishes of health, which are serious things, by
drinking, which neither in the nature nor use it is able to effect,
for it is looked at as a mere compliment, and is not taken as an
argument of love, which ought to be unfeigned. Or the same proposition
may be proved diversely, as thus: To employ the custom, out of its
natural use, without warrant of authority, necessity or conveniency,
is a way of vanity. But this custom doth. Or, again; such a resolution
as frees a man from frequent and needless temptations, to dissemble
love, _et cetera_, (quatenus it doth so,) is a wholesome resolution.
But this resolution doth. _Ergo_, Sir Christopher, pray have me (with
protestation of no discourtesy) excused."

"Although your scruples appear strange, yet will I respect them, my
honored host, as it becomes me to, any opinion entertained by you,"
replied the knight; "but if the tongue be tied, the spirit, at least,
is free to indulge in wishes for your welfare."

So saying, he raised the goblet to his lips, and drained it of its
contents. Nor did the Governor, though refusing to join in the idle
custom of drinking healths, which, by his influence, had been pretty
generally banished from the tables of the principal inhabitants,
decline a draught, therein bearing in mind the advice of Paul to
Timothy, and considering it an allowable solace and strengthener to
enable him the bett