The Wedding Trip and Where Then.
Whether Master Mather did make any
serious effort to prevent the “Storm King”
from leaving the harbor, I am unable to say; but as
I find no reference to this affair either in his biography
or his numerous works, I am inclined to think that
like a wise man, he held his peace as to what had
occurred, and resolved never to go on board another
vessel after nightfall.
Certainly no cannon ball cut the waves
as the “Storm King” sailed swiftly past
the castle, and no signal was displayed signifying
that she must come at once to anchor.
And the little trip to New York was
as pleasant in all respects as a young couple on a
bridal tour could desire even if the mere
relief from the anxieties and threatened dangers of
the previous long months had not been of itself a
cause of happiness.
Arrived at New York, Master Philip
English and his wife received them with open arms.
Master Raymond had brought letters from England to
Governor Fletcher and others, and soon made warm friends
among the very best people. There was no sympathy
whatever in New York at that time with the witchcraft
persécutions in Massachusetts; and all fugitives
were received, as in the case of the Englishes, with
great sympathy and kindness.
Much to my regret, at this point,
the old manuscript book to which I have been so largely
indebted, suddenly closes its record of the fortunes
of Master and Mistress Raymond. Whether they went
to England, and took up their residence there among
Master Raymond’s friends, or found a home in
this new world, I am therefore not able with absolute
certainty to say. From what I have been able,
however, to gather from other quarters, I have come
to the conclusion that they were so much pleased with
their reception in New York, that Master Raymond purchased
an estate on the east side of the Hudson River, where
he and the charming Dulcibel lived and loved to a
good old age, leaving three sons and three daughters.
If this couple really were our hero and heroine, then
the Raymonds became connected, through the three daughters,
with the Smiths, the Joneses and the Browns.
In one way, perhaps, the question might be set at
rest, were it not too delicate a one for successful
handling. There is little doubt that among the
descendants of Mistress Dulcibel, on the female side,
the birth-mark of the serpent, more or less distinct,
will be found occasionally occurring, even now, at
the lapse of almost two centuries. Therefore,
if among the secret traditions of any of the families
I have mentioned, there be one relative to this curious
birth-mark, doubtless that would be sufficient proof
that in their veins runs the rich blood of the charming
Dulcibel Raymond.