Nathaniel Ward
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Ward was a Puritan
clergyman and pamphleteer in England and Massachusetts
. He wrote the first constitution in North America in 1641.
A son of John Ward, a noted Puritan minister, he was born in Haverhill, Suffolk
, England. He studied law and graduated from Emmanuel College
, Cambridge University
in 1603. He practised as a barrister
and travelled in continental Europe. In Heidelberg
he met a German Protestant reformer, David Pareus
, who persuaded him to enter the ministry. In 1618 he was a chaplain to a company of English merchants at Elbing
, in Prussia. He returned to England and in 1628 he was appointed rector of Stondon Massey
in Essex
. He was soon recognised as one of the foremost Puritan
ministers in Essex, and so in 1631 was reprimanded by the Bishop of London, William Laud
. Although he escaped excommunication, in 1633 he was dismissed for his Puritan beliefs. (Ward's two brothers also suffered for their non-conformity.)
In 1634 Ward emigrated to Massachusetts
and became a minister in Ipswich
for two years. He then resigned because of ill-health. While still living in Ipswich, he wrote for the colony of Massachusetts The Body of Liberties
, which was adopted by the General Court
of the Massachusetts Bay Company in December 1641. This was the first code of laws established in New England
. The Body of Liberties defined liberty in terms that were advanced in their day, establishing a code of fundamental principles based on Common Law
, the Magna Carta
and the Old Testament
. However, Ward believed in theocracy
rather than democracy. One of his epigrams was:
Ward thought that justice and the law were essential to the liberty of the individual. Some have said that The Body of Liberties began the American tradition of liberty, leading eventually to the United States Constitution
.
In 1645 Ward began his second book, The Simple Cobler of Aggawam
in America. This was published in England in January, 1646-7, before Ward's return there, under the pseudonym of Theodore de la Guard. Three other editions, with important additions and changes, soon followed. The Simple Cobbler is a small book, which "in spite of its bitterness, and its lack of toleration" is "full of quaint originality, grim humor and power", according to the anthology Colonial Prose and Poetry: The Transplanting of Culture 1607-1650 (1903).
According to the anthology, the book is "probably the most interesting literary performance" in the first half of the seventeenth century in the English colonies that later became the United States. The book was later reprinted in 1713 and 1843 in Boston, Massachusetts.
He also wrote several religious-political pamphlets.
At the end of the English Civil War
, when Puritan beliefs were acceptable, Ward returned to England. Ward became the minister of the church at Shenfield in Essex and died shortly after in Shenfield.
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
clergyman and pamphleteer in England and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He wrote the first constitution in North America in 1641.
A son of John Ward, a noted Puritan minister, he was born in Haverhill, Suffolk
Haverhill, Suffolk
Haverhill is an industrial market town and civil parish in the county of Suffolk, England, next to the borders of Essex and Cambridgeshire. It lies southeast of Cambridge and north of central London...
, England. He studied law and graduated from Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1603. He practised as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and travelled in continental Europe. In Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
he met a German Protestant reformer, David Pareus
David Pareus
David Pareus was a German Reformed Protestant theologian and reformer.-Life:He was born at Frankenstein December 30, 1548. He was apprenticed to an apothecary and again to a shoemaker...
, who persuaded him to enter the ministry. In 1618 he was a chaplain to a company of English merchants at Elbing
Elbing
Elbing is the German name of Elbląg, a city in northern Poland which until 1945 was a German city in the province of East Prussia.Elbing may also refer to:- Ships :* SMS Elbing, light cruiser of the Imperial Germany Navy...
, in Prussia. He returned to England and in 1628 he was appointed rector of Stondon Massey
Stondon Massey
Stondon Massey is a village in south Essex. It is situated to the north of Brentwood, between Blackmore and Doddinghurst. The village possesses a rural feel to it, and in its first entry to the 'Best kept village in Essex' competition, won 'Best New Entry'....
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. He was soon recognised as one of the foremost Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
ministers in Essex, and so in 1631 was reprimanded by the Bishop of London, William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
. Although he escaped excommunication, in 1633 he was dismissed for his Puritan beliefs. (Ward's two brothers also suffered for their non-conformity.)
In 1634 Ward emigrated to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and became a minister in Ipswich
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
for two years. He then resigned because of ill-health. While still living in Ipswich, he wrote for the colony of Massachusetts The Body of Liberties
Massachusetts Body of Liberties
The Massachusetts Body of Liberties was the first legal code established by European colonists in New England. Compiled by the Puritan minister Nathaniel Ward, the laws were established by the Massachusetts General Court in 1641...
, which was adopted by the General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
of the Massachusetts Bay Company in December 1641. This was the first code of laws established in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. The Body of Liberties defined liberty in terms that were advanced in their day, establishing a code of fundamental principles based on Common Law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
, the Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
and the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
. However, Ward believed in theocracy
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
rather than democracy. One of his epigrams was:
- The upper world shall Rule,
- While Stars will run their race:
- The nether world obey,
- While People keep their place.
Ward thought that justice and the law were essential to the liberty of the individual. Some have said that The Body of Liberties began the American tradition of liberty, leading eventually to the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
.
In 1645 Ward began his second book, The Simple Cobler of Aggawam
Agawam
- Native Americans :* Agawam of native Americans, eastern Essex County, Massachusetts, during colonial times, or their language- Municipalities :* Agawam, Massachusetts, USA* Agawam, Oklahoma, USA, a ghost town in Grady County- Rivers :...
in America. This was published in England in January, 1646-7, before Ward's return there, under the pseudonym of Theodore de la Guard. Three other editions, with important additions and changes, soon followed. The Simple Cobbler is a small book, which "in spite of its bitterness, and its lack of toleration" is "full of quaint originality, grim humor and power", according to the anthology Colonial Prose and Poetry: The Transplanting of Culture 1607-1650 (1903).
According to the anthology, the book is "probably the most interesting literary performance" in the first half of the seventeenth century in the English colonies that later became the United States. The book was later reprinted in 1713 and 1843 in Boston, Massachusetts.
He also wrote several religious-political pamphlets.
At the end of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, when Puritan beliefs were acceptable, Ward returned to England. Ward became the minister of the church at Shenfield in Essex and died shortly after in Shenfield.