efore this time there had been a school; but
the name of college was not assumed until the above date. The teacher of
this school was Mr. Nathaniel Eaton, who has left an unenviable
reputation, and made an inauspicious beginning of that institution which
was to attain to such distinction. He finally got into serious trouble,
in consequence of his brutal conduct and for one act in particular,
which led to his leaving the school and town. Governor Winthrop, in his
History of New England has given a graphic description of the event,
which Mr. Sibley has also reproduced, in a note, and which will interest
more readers than would ever have the privilege of reading either work.
I will therefore give the extract in full. Speaking of Eaton and the
pupil whom he punished, Winthrop says: "The occasion was this: He was a
schoolmaster and had many scholars, the sons of gentlemen and others of
best note in the country, and had entertained one Nathaniel Briscoe, a
gentleman born, to be his usher, and to do some other things for him,
which might not be unfit for a scholar. He had not been with him above
three days but he fell out with him for a very small occasion, and, with
reproachful terms, discharged him, and turned him out of his doors; but,
it being then about eight of the clock after the Sabbath, he told him he
should stay till next morning, and, some words growing between them, he
struck him and pulled him into his house. Briscoe defended himself and
closed with him, and, being parted, he came in and went up to his
chamber to lodge there. Mr. Eaton sent for the constable, who advised
him first to admonish him, etc., and if he could not, by the power of a
master, reform him, then he should complain to the magistrate. But he
caused his man to fetch him a cudgel, which was a walnut tree plant, big
enough to have killed a horse, and a yard in length, and, taking his two
men with him, he went up to Briscoe, and caused his men to hold him till
he had given him two hundred stripes about the head and shoulders, etc.,
and so kept him under blows (with some two or three short intermissions)
about the space of two hours, about which time Mr. Shepherd (the
clergyman) and some others of the town came in at the outcry, and so he
gave over. In this distress Briscoe gate out his knife and struck at the
man that held him, but hurt him not. He also fell to prayer, (supposing
he should have been murdered), and then Mr. Eaton beat him for taking
th