USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Bradford's history "of Plimoth plantation" from the original manuscript > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
184
HISTORY OF
BOOK II.
[107] sent a very formall warrente under his hand & seall, with strict charge as they would answere it to ye state ; he also write that he had better considered of things since he was hear, and he could not answer it to let him goe so; besids other things that were come to his knowledg since, which he must answer too. So he was suffered to proceede, but he found in the end that to be true that was tould him; for when an inventorie was taken of what was in ye ship, ther was not vitailes found for above 14. days, at a pare allow- ance, and not much else of any great worth, & the men did so crie out of him for wages and diate, in ye mean time, as made him soone weary. So as in con- clusion it turned to his loss, and ye expence of his owne provissions ; and towards the spring they came to agreement, (after they had bene to ye eastward,) and ye Gov" restord him his vessell againe, and made him satisfaction, in bisket, meal, and such like provissions, for what he had made use of that was his, or what his men had any way wasted or consumed. So Mr. Weston came hither againe, and afterward shaped his course for Virginie, & so for present I shall leave him .*
The Gov" and some yt depended upon him returned for England, haveing scarcly saluted ye cuntrie in his Govermente, not finding the state of things hear to
* He dyed afterwards at Bristoll, in ye time of the warrs, of ye sicknes in yt place.
185
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1623.]
answer his quallitie & condition. The peopldispersed them selves, some went for England, others for Vir- ginia, some few remained, and were helped with sup- plies from hence. The Govr brought over a minister with him, one Mr. Morell, who, about a year after ye Govr returned, tooke shipping from hence. He had I know not what power and authority of superintendancie over other churches granted him, and sundrie instruc- tions for that end ; but he never shewed it, or made any use of it; (it should seeme he saw it was in vaine ;) he only speake of it to some hear at his going away. This was in effect ye end of a 2. plantation in that place. Ther were allso this year some scatering be- ginings made in other places, as at Paskataway, by Mr. David Thomson, at Monhigen, and some other places by sundrie others.
It rests now yt I speake a word aboute ye piñass spoken of before, which was sent by ye adventurers to be imployed in ye cuntrie. She was a fine vessell, and bravely set out,* and I fear ye adventurers did over pride them selves in her, for she had ill success. How ever, they erred grosly in tow things aboute her ; first, though she had a sufficiente maister, yet she was rudly mañed, and all her men were upon shars, and none was to have any wages but ye mr. 2ly, wheras they mainly lookt at trade, they had sent nothing of any value to trade with. When the men came hear, and mette with
* With her flages, & streamers, pendents, & wastcloaths, &c.
186
HISTORY OF
[BOOK II.
ill counsell from Mr. Weston & his crue, with others of ye same stampe, neither mr. nor Govr could scarce rule [108] them, for they exclaimed that they were abused & deceived, for they were tould they should goe for a man of warr, and take I know not whom, French & Spaniards, &c. They would neither trade nor fish, excepte they had wages ; in fine, they would obey no comand of ye maisters; so it was appre- hended they would either rune away with ye vessell, or get away wth ye ships, and leave her; so as Mr. Peirce & others of their freinds perswaded the Gov" to chaing their condition, and give them wages; which was ac- cordingly done. And she was sente about ye Cape to ye Narigansets to trade, but they made but a poore vioage of it. Some corne and beaver they got, but ye Dutch used to furnish them with cloath & better comod- ities, they haveing only a few beads & knives, which were not ther much esteemed. Allso, in her returne home, at ye very entrance into ther owne harbore, she had like to have been cast away in a storme, and was forced to cut her maine mast by ye bord, to save her- selfe from driving on ye flats that lye without, caled Browns Ilands, the force of ye wind being so great as made her anchors give way and she drive right upon them ; but her mast & takling being gone, they held her till ye wind shifted.
187
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1624.]
Anno Dom: 1624.
THE time of new election of ther officers for this year being come, and* ye number of their people in- creased, and their troubls and occasions therwith, the Gov" desired them to chainge ye persons, as well as renew ye election ; and also to adde more Assistans to ye Gov" for help & counsell, and ye better carrying on of affairs. Showing that it was necessarie it should be so. If it was any honour or benefite, it was fitte others should be made pertakers of it; if it was a burthen, (as doubtles it was,) it was but equall others should help to bear it; and yt this was ye end of Anuall Elections. The issue was, that as before ther was but one Assistante, they now chose 5. giving the Gov" a duble voyce ; and aftwards they increased them to 7. which course hath continued to this day.
They having with some truble & charge new-masted and rigged their pinass, in ye begining of March they sent her well vitaled to the eastward on fishing. She arrived safly at a place near Damarins cove, and was there well harbored in a place wher ships used to ride, ther being also some ships allready arived out of England. But shortly after ther [109] arose such a violent & extraordinarie storme, as ye seas broak over such places in ye harbor as was never seene be- fore, and drive her against great roks, which beat such
* And is repeated in the MS.
188
HISTORY OF
[BOOK II.
a hole in her bulke, as a horse and carte might have gone in, and after drive her into deep-water, wher she lay sunke. The m". was drowned, the rest of ye men, all save one, saved their lives, with much a doe; all her provision, salt, and what els was in her, was lost. And here I must leave her to lye till afterward.
Some of those that still remained hear on their per- ticuler, begane privatly to nurish a faction, and being privie to a strong faction that was among ye adventur- ers in England, on whom sundry of them did depend, by their private whispering they drew some of the weaker sorte of ye company to their side, and so filld them with discontente, as nothing would satisfie them excepte they might be suffered to be in their perticuler allso; and made great offers, so they might be freed from ye generall. The Gov" consulting with ye ablest of ye generall body what was best to be done hear in, it was resolved to permitte them so to doe, upon equall conditions. The conditions were the same in effect with ye former before related. Only some more added, as that they should be bound here to remaine till ye generall partnership was ended. And also that they should pay into ye store, ye on halfe of all such goods and comodities as they should any waise raise above their food, in consideration of what charg had been layed out for them, with some such like things. This liberty granted, soone stopt this gape, for ther was but a few that undertooke this course when it
189
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1624.7
came too; and they were as sone weary of it. For the other had perswaded them, & Mr. Weston to- geather, that ther would never come more supply to ye generall body ; but ye perticulers had such freinds as would carry all, and doe for them I know not what.
Shortly after, Mr. Winslow came over, and brought a prety good supply, and the ship came on fishing, a thing fatall to this plantation. He brought 3. heifers & a bull, the first begining of any catle of that kind in ye land, with some cloathing & other necessaries, as will further appear; but withall ye reporte of a strong faction amongst the adventurers * against them, and espetially against ye coming of ye rest from Leyden, and with what difficulty this supply was procured, and how, by their strong & long opposision, bussines was so retarded as not only they were now falne too late for ye fishing season, but the best men were taken up of ye fishermen in ye west countrie, and he was forct to take such a mr. & company for that imployment as he could procure upon ye present. Some letters from them shall beter declare these things, being as fol- loweth.
[110] Most worthy & loving freinds, your kind & loving leters I have received, and render you many thanks, &c. It hath plased God to stirre up ye harts of our adventurers *
* Adventures in the manuscript.
190
HISTORY OF
[BOOK II.
to raise a new stock for ye seting forth of this shipe, caled ye Charitie, with men & necessaries, both for ye plantation and ye fishing, though accomplished with very great diffi- culty ; in regard we have some amongst us which undoubt- edly aime more at their owne private ends, and ye thwarting & opposing of some hear, and other worthy instruments,* of Gods glory elswher, then at ye generall good and further- ance of this noble & laudable action. Yet againe we have many other, and I hope ye greatest parte, very honest Chris- tian men, which I am perswaded their ends and intents are wholy for ye glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, in ye propaga- tion of his gospell, and hope of gaining those poore salvages to ye knowledg of God. But, as we have a proverbe, One scabed sheep may marr a whole flock, so these malecontented persons, & turbulente spirits, doe what in them lyeth to withdraw mens harts from you and your freinds, yea, even from ye generall bussines ; and yet under show and pretence . of godlynes and furtherance of ye plantation. Wheras the quite contrary doth plainly appeare ; as some of ye honester harted men (though of late of their faction) did make manifest at our late meeting. But what should I trouble you or my selfe with these restles opposers of all goodnes, and I doubte will be continuall disturbers of our frendly meetings & love. On Thurs-day ye 8. of Jan: we had a meeting aboute the artickls betweene you & us; wher they would rejecte that, which we in our late leters prest you to grante, (an addition to ye time of our joynt stock). And their reason which they would make known to us was, it trobled their con- science to exacte longer time of you then was agreed upon at ye first. But that night they were so followed and crost of their perverse courses, as they were even wearied, and offered to sell their adventurs; and some were willing to buy. But I, doubting they would raise more scandale and false
* He means Mr. Robinson.
191
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1624.]
reports, aud so diverse waise doe us more hurt, by going of in such a furie, then they could or can by continuing adven- turers amongst us, would not suffer them. But on ye 12. of Jan : we had another meting, but in the interime diverse of us had talked with most of them privatly, and had great combats & reasoning, pro & con. But at night when we mete to read ye generall letter, we had ye loveingest and frendlyest meeting that ever I knew * and our greatest ene- mise offered to lend us 50}. So I sent for a potle of wine, (I would you could ; doe ye like,) which we dranke freindly together. Thus God can turne ye harts of men when it pleaseth him, &c. Thus loving freinds, I hartily salute you all in ye Lord, hoping ever to rest,
Yours to my power,
Jan : 25. 1623.
JAMES SHERLEY.
[111] Another leter.
Beloved Sr., &c. We have now sent you, we hope, men & means, to setle these 3. things, viz. fishing, salt making, and boat making; if you can bring them to pass to some perfection, your wants may be supplyed. I pray you bend you selfe what you can to setle these bussinesses. Let ye ship be fraught away as soone as you can, and sent to Bil- bow. You must send some discreete man for factore, whom, once more, you must also authorise to confirme ye conditions. If M. Winslow could be spared, I could wish he came
* But this lasted not long, they had now provided Lyford & others to send over.
t It is worthy to be observed, how ye Lord doth chaing times & things ; for what is now more plentifull then wine? and that of ye best, coming from Malago, ye Cannaries, and other places, sundry ships lading in a year. So as ther is now more cause to complaine of ye excess and ye abuse of wine (through mens corruption) even to drunkennes, then of any defecte or wante of ye same. Witnes this year 1646. The good Lord lay not ye sins & un- thankfullnes of men to their charge in this perticuler.
192
HISTORY OF
BOOK II.
againe. This ship carpenter is thought to be the fittest man for you in the land, and will no doubte doe you much good. Let him have an absolute comand over his servants & such as you put to him. Let him build you 2. catches, a lighter, and some 6. or 7. shalops, as soone as you can. The salt-man is a skillfull & industrious man, put some to him, that may quickly apprehende ye misterie of it. The preacher we have sent is (we hope) an honest plaine man, though none of ye most eminente and rare. Aboute chusing him into office use your owne liberty & discretion ; he knows he is no officer amongst you, though perhaps custome & universalitie may make him forget him selfe. M. Winslow & my selfe gave way to his going, to give contente to some hear, and we see no hurt in it, but only his great charge of children.
We have tooke a patente for Cap Anne, &c. I am sory ther is no more discretion used by some in their leters hither .* Some say you are starved in body & soule ; others, yt you eate piggs & doggs, that dye alone; others, that ye things hear spoaken of, ye goodnes of ye cuntry, are gross and palpable lyes ; that ther is scarce a foule to be seene, or a fish to be taken, and many such like. I would such discontented men were hear againe, for it is a miserie when ye whole state of a plantation shall be thus exposed to ye passionate humors of some discontented men. And for my selfe I shall hinder for hearafter some yt would goe, and have not better composed their affections ; mean space it is all our crosses, and we must bear them.
I am sorie we have not sent you more and other things, but in truth we have rune into so much charge, to victaile ye ship, provide salte & other fishing implements, &c. as we could not provid other comfortable things, as buter, suger, &c. I hope the returne of this ship, and the James, will
* This was John Oldome & his like.
193
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1624.]
put us in cash againe. The Lord make you full of courage in this troublesome bussines, which now must be stuck unto, till God give us rest from our labours. Fare well in all harty affection.
Your assured freind,
Jan : 24. 1623. R. C.
With ye former letter write by Mr. Sherley, there were sente sundrie objections concerning which he thus writeth. "These are the cheefe objections which they [112] that are now returned make against you and the countrie. I pray you consider them, and answer them by the first conveniencie." These objections were made by some of those that came over on their pertic- uler and were returned home, as is before mentioned, and were of ye same suite with those yt this other letter mentions.
I shall here set them downe, with ye answers then made unto them, and sent over at ye returne of this ship; which did so confound ye objecters, as some confessed their falte, and others deneyed what they had said, and eate their words, & some others of them have since come over againe and heere lived to con- vince them selves sufficiently, both in their owne & other mens judgments.
1. obj. was diversitie aboute Religion. Ans : We know no such matter, for here was never any con- troversie or opposition, either publicke or private, (to our knowledg,) since we came.
194
HISTORY OF
BOOK II.
2. ob : Neglecte of familie duties, one ye Lords day.
Ans. We allow no such thing, but blame it in our selves & others ; and they that thus reporte it, should have shewed their Christian love the more if they had in love tould ye offenders of it, rather then thus to reproach them behind their baks. But (to say no more) we wish them selves had given better example. 3. ob: Wante of both the sacrements.
Ans. The more is our greefe, that our pastor is kept from us, by whom we might injoye them; for we used to have the Lords Supper every Saboth, and baptisme as often as ther was occasion of children to baptise.
4. ob : Children not catechised nor taught to read.
Ans : Neither is true; for diverse take pains with their owne as they can; indeede, we have no comone schoole for want of a fitt person, or hithertoo means to maintaine one; though we desire now to begine.
5. ob : Many of ye perticuler members of ye planta- tion will not work for ye generall.
Ans : This allso is not wholy true; for though some doe it not willingly, & other not honestly, yet all doe it; and he that doth worst gets his owne foode & something besids. But we will not excuse them, but labour to reforme them ye best we cane, or else to quitte ye plantation of them.
6. ob : The water is not wholsome.
Ans : If they mean, not so wholsome as ye good
195
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1624.]
beere and wine in London, (which they so dearly love,) we will not dispute with them; but els, for water, it is as good as any in ye world, (for ought we knowe,) and it is wholsome enough to us that can be contente therwith.
7. ob: The ground is barren and doth bear no grasse.
[113] Ans : It is hear (as in all places) some better & some worse; and if they well consider their words, in England they shall not find such grasse in them, as in their feelds & meadows. The catle find grasse, for they are as fatt as need be; we wish we had but one for every hundred that hear is grase to keep. Indeed, this objection, as some other, are ridiculous to all here which see and know ye contrary.
8. ob : The fish will not take salt to keepe sweete.
Ans : This is as true as that which was written, that ther is scarce a foule to be seene or a fish to be taken. Things likly to be true in a cuntrie wher so many sayle of ships come yearly a fishing; they might as well say, there can no aile or beere in Lon- don be kept from sowering.
9. ob : Many of them are theevish and steale on from an other.
Ans : Would London had been free from that crime, then we should not have been trobled with these here ; it is well knowne sundrie have smarted well for it, and so are ye rest like to doe, if they be taken.
196
HISTORY OF
BOOK II.
10. ob: The countrie is anoyed with foxes and woules.
Ans : So are many other good cuntries too; but poyson, traps, and other such means will help to destroy them.
11. ob : The Dutch are planted nere Hudsons Bay, and are likely to overthrow the trade.
Ans : They will come and plante in these parts, also, if we and others doe not, but goe home and leave it to them. We rather commend them, then condemne them for it.
12. ob: The people are much anoyed with mus- keetoes.
Ans : They are too delicate and unfitte to begine new-plantations and collonies, that cannot enduer the biting of a muskeeto; we would wish such to keepe at home till at least they be muskeeto proofe. Yet this place is as free as any, and experience teacheth that ye more ye land is tild, and ye woods cut downe, the fewer ther will be, and in the end scarse any at all.
Having thus dispatcht these things, that I may handle things togeather, I shall here inserte 2. other letters from Mr. Robinson their pastor; the one to ye Govt, ye other to Mr. Brewster their Elder, which will give much light to ye former things, and express the tender love & care of a true pastor over them.
197
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1624.]
His leter to ye Gour.
My loving & much beloved freind, whom God hath hithertoo preserved, preserve and keepe you still to his glorie, and ye good of many; that his blessing may make your godly and wise endeavours answerable to ye valuation which they ther have, & set upon ye same. Of your love too and care for us here, we never doubted ; so are we glad to take knowledg of it in that fullnes we doe. Our love & care to and for you, is mutuall, though our hopes of com- ing [114] unto you be small, and weaker then ever. But of this at large in Mr. Brewsters letter, with whom you, and he with you, mutualy, I know, comunicate your letters, as I desire you may doe these, &c.
Concerning ye killing of those poor Indeans, of which we heard at first by reporte, and since by more certaine rela- tion, oh! how happy a thing had it been, if you had con- verted some, before you had killed any ; besids, wher bloud is onc begune to be shed, it is seldome stanched of a long time after. You will say they deserved it. I grant it; but upon what provocations and invitments by those heathenish Christians? * Besids, you, being no magistrats over them, were to consider, not what they deserved, but what you were by necessitie constrained to inflicte. Necessitie of this, espetially of killing so many, (and many more, it seems, they would, if they could,) I see not. Methinks on or tow principals should have been full enough, according to that approved rule, The punishmente to a few, and ye fear to many. Upon this occasion let me be bould to exhorte you seriouly to consider of ye dispossition of your Captaine, whom I love, and am perswaded ye Lord in great mercie and for much good hath sent you him, if you use him aright. He is a man humble and meek amongst you, and towards all
* Mr. Westons men.
198
HISTORY OF
BOOK II.
in ordinarie course. But now if this be meerly from an humane spirite, ther is cause to fear that by occasion, espetially of provocation, ther may be wanting yt tendernes of ye life of man (made after Gods image) which is meete. It is also a thing more glorious in mens eyes, then pleas- ing in Gods, or conveniente for Christians, to be a terrour to poore barbarous people; and indeed I am afraid least, by these occasions, others should be drawne to affecte a kind of rufling course in the world. I doubt not but you will take in good part these things which I write, and as ther is cause make use of them. It were to us more comfortable and convenient, that we comunicated our mutuall helps in presence, but seeing that canot be done, we shall always long after you, and love you, and waite Gods apoynted time. The adventurers it seems have neither money nor any great mind of us, for ye most parte. They deney it to be any part of ye covenants betwixte us, that they should trasporte us, neither doe I looke for any further help from them, till means come from you. We hear are strangers in effecte to ye whole course, and so both we and you (save as your owne wisdoms and worths have intressed you further) of principals intended in this bussines, are scarce accessa- ries, &c. My wife, with me, resalute you & yours. Unto him who is ye same to his in all places, and nere to them which are farr from one an other, I comend you and all with you, resting,
Yours truly loving,
Leyden, Des : 19. 1623.
JOHN ROBINSON.
His to Mr. Brewster.
Loving and dear freind and brother: That which I most desired of God in regard of you, namly, ye continuance of your life and health, and the safe coming of these sent unto
199
PLYMOUTH PLANTATION.
1624.]
you, that I most gladly hear of, and praise God for the same. And I hope Mrs. Brewsters weake and decayed state of body will have some reparing by the coming of her daughters, and the provissions in this and former ships, I hear is made for you; which maks us with more patience bear our languishing state, and ye deferring of our desired trasportation ; wch I call desired, rather than hoped for, whatsoever you are borne in hand by any others. For first, ther is no hope at all, that I know, or can conceive of, of any new stock to be raised for that end; so that all must depend [115] upon returns from you, in which are so many uncertainties, as that nothing with any certaintie can thence be concluded. Besids, howsoever for ye presente the adven- turers aledg nothing but want of money, which is an in- vincible difculty, yet if that be taken away by you, others without doubte will be found. For the beter clearing of this, we must dispose ye adventurers into 3. parts; and of them some 5. or 6. (as I conceive) are absolutly bent for us, above any others. Other 5. or 6. are our bitter professed adversaries. The rest, being the body, I conceive to be honestly minded, & loveingly also towards us; yet such as have others (namly ye forward preachers) nerer unto them, then us, and whose course so farr as ther is any differance, they would rather advance then ours. Now what a hanck these men have over ye professors, you know. And I per- swade my selfe, that for me, they of all others are unwilling I should be transported, espetially such of them as have an eye that way them selves; as thinking if I come ther, ther market will be mard in many regards. And for these ad- versaries, if they have but halfe ye witte to their malice, they will stope my course when they see it intended, for which this delaying serveth them very opportunly. And as one restie jade can hinder, by hanging back, more then two or 3. can (or will at least, if they be not very free) draw for-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.