SOURCE: De Costa, B. F. “Morton of Merry Mount.” The Magazine of American History VIII, No. 2 (February 1882): 81-94.

In the following essay, De Costa paints a sympathetic portrait of Morton—whom he finds to be one of the most interesting and misunderstood figures in the history of New England—using information gleaned from William Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation, John Winthrop's History of New England, and Morton's own New English Canaan.

Historic truth often contains elements stranger and more dramatic than fiction, yet writers of romance incline to fling their opportunities away. Motley did this, when dealing with the character of Thomas Morton, in his maiden effort called Merry Mount; while Hawthorne, in his Twice Told Tales, was still more heedless of the true value of the same theme. These attractive writers, therefore, have made the general reader familiar with Morton's name, but little more. Prompted by a...