USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Bradford's history "of Plimoth plantation" from the original manuscript > Part 34
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laborious. But yet he ever bore his condition with much cherfullnes and contentation. Towards ye later parte of those 12. years spente in Holland, his outward condition was mended, and he lived well & plentifully ; for he fell into a way (by reason he had ye Latine tongue) to teach many students, who had a disire to lerne ye English tongue, to teach them English; and by his method they quickly attained it with great facilitie; for he drew rules to lerne it by, after ye Latine maner; and many gentlemen, both Danes & Germans, resorted to him, as they had time from other studies, some of them being great mens sones. He also had means to set up printing, (by ye help of some freinds,) and so had imploymente inoughg, and by reason of many books which would not be alowed to be printed in England, they might have had more then they could doe. But now removeing into this countrie, all these things were laid aside againe, and a new course of living must be framed unto; in which he was no way unwilling to take his parte, and to bear his burthen with ye rest, living many times without bread, or corne, many months together, having many times nothing but fish, and often wanting that also ; and drunke nothing but water for many years togeather, yea, till within 5. or 6. years of his death. And yet he lived (by ye blessing of God) in health till very old age. And besids yt, he would labour with his hands in ye feilds as long as he was able; yet when the
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church had no other minister, he taught twise every Saboth, and yt both powerfully and profitably, to ye great contentment of ye hearers, and their comfortable edification ; yea, many were brought to God by his ministrie. He did more in this behalfe in a year, then many that have their hundreds a year doe in all their lives. For his personall abilities, he was qualified above many; he was wise and discreete and well spoken, having a grave & deliberate utterance, of a very cherfull spirite, very sociable & pleasante amongst his freinds, of an humble and modest mind, of a peace- able disposition, under vallewing him self & his owne abilities, and some time over valewing others; inoffen- cive and inocente in his life & conversation, wch gained him ye love of those without, as well as those within ; yet he would tell them plainely of their faults & evills, both publickly & privatly, but in such a maner as usu- ally was well taken from him. He was tender harted, and compassionate of such as were in miserie, but espetialy of such as had been of good estate and ranke, and were fallen unto want & poverty, either for good- nes & religions sake, or by ye injury & oppression of others ; he would say, of all men these deserved to be pitied most. And none did more offend & dis- please him then such as would hautily and proudly carry & lift up themselves, being rise from nothing, and haveing litle els in them to comend them but a few fine cloaths, or a litle riches more then others. In
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teaching, he was very moving & stirring of affections, also very plaine & distincte in what he taught; by which means he became ye more profitable to ye hearers. He had a singuler good gift in prayer, both publick & private, in ripping up ye hart & conscience before God, in ye humble confession of sinne, and begging ye mercies of God in Christ for ye pardon of ye same. He always thought it were better for ministers to pray oftener, and devide their prears, then be longe & te- dious in ye same (excepte upon sollemne & spetiall occations, as in days of humiliation & ye like). His reason was, that ye harte & spirits of all, espetialy ye weake, could hardly continue & stand bente (as it were) so long towards God, as they ought to doe in yt duty, without flagging and falling of. For ye govermente of ye church, (which was most [256] proper to his office, ) he was carfull to preserve good order in' ye same, and to preserve puritie, both in ye doctrine & comunion of ye same; and to supress any errour or contention that might begine to rise up amongst them; and accordingly God gave good success to his indeavors herein all his days, and he saw ye fruite of his labours in that behalfe. But I must breake of, having only thus touched a few, as it were, heads of things.
I cannot but here take occasion, not only to men- tion, but greatly to admire ye marvelous providence of God, that notwithstanding ye many changes and
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hardships that these people wente throwgh, and ye many enemies they had and difficulties they mette with all, that so many of them should live to very olde age ! It was not only this reved mans condition, (for one swallow maks no summer, as they say,) but many more of them did ye like, some dying aboute and before this time, and many still living, who attained to 60. years of age, and to 65. diverse to 70. and above, and some nere 80. as he did. It must needs be more then ordinarie, and above naturall reason, that so it should be; for it is found in experience, that chaing of aeir, famine, or unholsome foode, much drink- ing of water, sorrows & troubls, &c., all of them are enimies to health, causes of many diseaces, consumers of naturall vigoure and ye bodys of men, and shortners of life. And yet of all these things they had a large parte, and suffered deeply in ye same. They wente from England to Holand, wher they found both worse air and dyet then that they came from; from thence (induring a long imprisonmente, as it were, in ye ships at sea) into New-England; and how it hath been with them hear hath allready beene showne; and what crosses, troubls, fears, wants, and sorrowes they had been lyable unto, is easie to conjecture; so as in some sorte they may say with ye Apostle, 2. Cor: 11. 26, 27. they were in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perills of robers, in perills of their owne nation, in perils among ye heathen, in perills in ye willdernes, in perills in ye sea,
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in perills among false breethern; in wearines & painfull- nes, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in could and nakednes. What was it then that upheld them? It was Gods vissitation that preserved their spirits. Job 10. 12. Thou hast given me life and grace, and thy vissitation hath preserved my spirite. He that upheld ye Apostle upheld them. They were persecuted, but not forsaken, cast downe, but perished not. 2. Cor: 4. 9. As unknowen, and yet knowen; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yett not kiled. 2. Cor : 6. 9. God, it seems, would have all men to behold and observe such mercies and works of his providence as these are towards his people, that they in like cases might be incouraged to depend upon God in their trials, & also blese his name when they see his goodnes towards others. Man lives not by bread only, Deut : 8. 3. It is not by good & dainty fare, by peace, & rest, and harts ease, in injoying ye contentments and good things of this world only, that preserves health and prolongs life. God in such examples would have ye world see & behold that he can doe it without them; and if ye world will shut ther eyes, and take no notice therof, yet he would have his people to see and consider it. Daniell could be better liking with pulse then others were with ye kings dainties. Jaacob, though he wente from one nation to another people, and passed thorow famine, fears, & many afflictions, yet he lived till old age, and
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dyed sweetly, & rested in ye Lord, as infinite others of Gods servants have done, and still shall doe, (through Gods goodnes,) notwithstanding all ye malice of their enemies ; when ye branch of ye wicked shall be cut of before his day, Job. 15. 32. and ye bloody and deceitfull men shall not live out halfe their days. Psa: 55. 23.
By reason of ye plottings of the Narigansets, (ever since ye Pequents warr,) the Indeans were drawne into a generall conspiracie against ye English in all parts, as was in part discovered ye yeare before; and now made more plaine and evidente by many discoveries and free-conffessions of sundrie Indeans (upon severall occasions) from diverse places, concuring in one; with such other concuring circonstances as gave them suffis- sently to understand the trueth therof, and to thinke of means how to prevente ye same, and secure them selves. Which made them enter into this more nere union & confederation following.
[257] Articles of Conffederation betweene ye Plantations un- der ye Govermente of Massachusets, ye Plantations under ye Govermente of New-Plimoth, ye Plantations under ye Govermente of Conightecute, and ye Govermente of New- Haven, with ye Plantations in combination therwith.
Wheras we all came into these parts of America with one and ye same end and aime, namly, to advance the kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ, & to injoye ye liberties of ye Gospell in puritie with peace; and wheras in our setling (by a wise providence of God) we are further disperced upon ye sea
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coasts and rivers then was at first intended, so yt we cannot, according to our desires, with conveniencie comunicate in one govermente & jurisdiction ; and wheras we live encompassed with people of severall nations and strang languages, which hereafter may prove injurious to us and our posteritie ; and for as much as ye natives have formerly comitted sundrie inso- lencies and outrages upon severall plantations of ye English, and have of late combined them selves against us; and seeing, by reason of those distractions in England (which they have heard of) and by which they know we are hindered from yt humble way of seeking advice or reaping those com- furtable fruits of protection which at other times we might well expecte; we therfore doe conceive it our bounden duty, without delay, to enter into a presente consociation amongst our selves, for mutuall help & strength in all our future concernments. That as in nation and religion, so in other respects, we be & continue one, according to ye tenor and true meaning of the insuing articles. (1) Wherfore it is fully agreed and concluded by & betweene ye parties or jurisdictions above named, and they joyntly & severally doe by these presents agree & conclude, that they all be and henceforth be called by ye name of The United Colonies of New-England.
2. The said United Collonies, for them selves & their pos- terities, doe joyntly & severally hereby enter into a firme & perpetuall league of frendship & amitie, for offence and defence, mutuall advice and succore upon all just occasions, both for preserving & propagating ye truth of ye Gospell, and for their owne mutuall saftie and wellfare.
3. It is further agreed that the plantations which at presente are or hereafter shall be setled with[in] ye limites of ye Massachusets shall be for ever under ye Massachusets, and shall have peculier jurisdiction amonge them selves in all cases, as an intire body. And yt Plimoth, Conightecutt, and
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New-Haven shall each of them have like peculier jurisdition and govermente within their limites and in refference to ye plantations which allready are setled, or shall hereafter be erected, or shall setle within their limites, respectively ; pro- vided yt no other jurisdition shall hereafter be taken in, as a distincte head or member of this confederation, nor shall any other plantation or jurisdiction in presente being, and not allready in combination or under ye jurisdiction of any of these confederats, be received by any of them; nor shall any tow of ye confederats joyne in one jurisdiction, without consente of ye rest, which consete to be interpreted as is expresed in ye sixte article ensewing.
4. It is by these conffederats agreed, yt the charge of all just warrs, whether offencive or defencive, upon what parte or member of this confederation soever they fall, shall, both in men, provissions, and all other disbursments, be borne by all ye parts of this confederation, in differente proportions, according to their differente abillities, in maner following : namely, yt the comissioners for each jurisdiction, from time to time, as ther shall be occasion, bring a true accounte and number of all their males in every plantation, or any way belonging too or under their severall jurisdictions, of what qualitie or condition soever they be, from 16. years old to 60. being inhabitants ther; and yt according to ye differente numbers which from time to time shall be found in each jurisdiction upon a true & just accounte, the service of men and all charges of ye warr be borne by ye pole; each juris- diction or plantation being left to their owne just course & custome of rating them selves and people according to their differente estates, with due respects to their qualities and exemptions amongst them selves, though the confederats take no notice of any such priviledg. And yt according to their differente charge of each jurisdiction & plantation, the whole advantage of ye warr, (if it please God to blesse their
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indeaours,) whether it be in lands, goods, or persons, shall be proportionably devided amonge ye said confederats.
5. It is further agreed, that if these jurisdictions, or any plantation under or in combynacion with them, be invaded by any enemie whomsoever, upon notice & requeste of any 3. [258] magistrats of yt jurisdiction so invaded, ye rest of ye confederats, without any further meeting or expostu- lation, shall forthwith send ayde to ye confederate in danger, but in differente proportion ; namely, ye Massachusets an hundred men sufficently armed & provided for such a service and journey, and each of ye rest forty five so armed & pro- vided, or any lesser number, if less be required according to this proportion. But if such confederate in danger may be supplyed by their nexte confederates, not exeeding ye number hereby agreed, they may crave help ther, and seeke no further for ye presente ; ye charge to be borne as in this article is exprest, and at ye returne to be victuled & suplyed with powder & shote for their jurney (if ther be need) by yt juris- diction which imployed or sent for them. But none of ye jurisdictions to exceede these numbers till, by a meeting of ye comissioners for this confederation, a greater aide appear nessessarie. And this proportion to continue till upon knowlege of greater numbers in each jurisdiction, which shall be brought to ye nexte meeting, some other proportion be ordered. But in such case of sending men for presente aide, whether before or after such order or alteration, it is agreed yt at ye meeting of ye comissioners for this confeder- ation, the cause of such warr or invasion be duly considered ; and if it appeare yt the falte lay in ye parties so invaded, yt then that jurisdiction or plantation make just satisfaction both to ye invaders whom they have injured, and beare all ye charges of ye warr them selves, without requiring any allow- ance from ye rest of ye confederats towards ye same. And further, yt if any jurisdiction see any danger of any invasion
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approaching, and ther be time for a meeting, that in such a case 3. magistrats of yt jurisdiction may sumone a meeting, at such conveniente place as them selves shall thinke meete, to consider & provid against ye threatened danger, provided when they are mett, they may remove to what place they please ; only, whilst any of these foure confederats have but 3 magistrats in their jurisdiction, their requeste, or sum- mons, from any 2. of them shall be accounted of equall force with ye 3. mentioned in both the clauses of this arti- cle, till ther be an increase of majestrats ther.
6. It is also agreed yt, for ye managing & concluding of all affairs propper, & concerning the whole confederation, tow comissioners shall be chosen by & out of each of these 4. jurisdictions ; namly, 2. for ye Massachusets, 2. for Plim- oth, 2. for Conightecutt, and 2. for New-Haven, being all in church fellowship with us, which shall bring full power from their severall Generall Courts respectively to hear, ex- amene, waigh, and detirmine all affairs of warr, or peace, leagues, aids, charges, and numbers of men for warr, divis- sions of spoyles, & whatsoever is gotten by conquest ; re- ceiving of more confederats, or plantations into combination with any of ye confederates, and all things of like nature, which are ye proper concomitants or consequences of such a confederation, for amitie, offence, & defence ; not inter- medling with ye govermente of any of ye. jurisdictions, which by ye 3. article is preserved entirely to them selves. But if these 8. comissioners when they meete shall not all agree, yet it concluded that any 6. of the 8. agreeing shall have power to setle & determine ye bussines in ques- tion. But if 6. doe not agree, that then such propositions, with their reasons, so farr as they have been debated, be sente, and referred to ye 4. Generall Courts, viz. ye Massa- chusets, Plimoth, Conightecutt, and New-haven; and if at all ye said Generall Courts ye bussines so referred be con-
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cluded, then to be prosecuted by ye confederats, and all their members. It was further agreed that these 8. comis- sioners shall meete once every year, besids extraordinarie meetings, (according to the fifte article,) to consider, treate, & conclude of all affaires belonging to this confederation, which meeting shall ever be ye first Thursday in September. And yt the next meeting after the date of these presents, which shall be accounted ye second meeting, shall be at Boston in ye Massachusets, the 3. at Hartford, the 4. at New-Haven, the 5. at Plimoth, and so in course succes- sively, if in ye meane time some midle place be not found out and agreed on, which may be comodious for all ye jurisdictions.
7. It is further agreed, yt at each meeting of these 8. comissioners, whether ordinarie, or extraordinary, they all 6. of them agreeing as before, may chuse a presidente out of them selves, whose office & work shall be to take care and directe for order, and a comly carrying on of all pro- ceedings in ye present meeting; but he shall be invested with no such power or respecte, as by which he shall hin- der ye propounding or progrese of any bussines, or any way cast ye scailes otherwise then in ye precedente article is agreed.
[259] 8. It is also agreed, yt the comissioners for this confederation hereafter at their meetings, whether ordinary or extraordinarie, as they may have comission or oppor- tunitie, doe indeaover to frame and establish agreements & orders in generall cases of a civill nature, wherin all ye plantations are interessed, for ye preserving of peace amongst them selves, and preventing as much as may be all occasions of warr or difference with others ; as aboute ye free & speedy passage of justice, in every jurisdiction, to all ye confederats equally as to their owne; not receiving those yt remove from one plantation to another without due
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certificate ; how all ye jurisdictions may carry towards ye Indeans, that they neither growe insolente, nor be injured without due satisfaction, least warr breake in upon the con- federats through such miscarriages. It is also agreed, yt if any servante rune away from his maister into another of these confederated jurisdictions, that in such case, upon ye certificate of one magistrate in ye jurisdiction out of which ye said servante fledd, or upon other due proofe, the said servante shall be delivered, either to his maister, or any other yt pursues & brings such certificate or proofe. And yt upon ye escape of any prisoner whatsoever, or fugi- tive for any criminall cause, whether breaking prison, or getting from ye officer, or otherwise escaping, upon ye cer- tificate of 2. magistrats of ye jurisdiction out of which ye escape is made, that he was a prisoner, or such an offender at ye time of ye escape, they magistrats, or sume of them of yt jurisdiction wher for ye presente the said prisoner or fugi- tive abideth, shall forthwith grante such a warrante as ye case will beare, for ye apprehending of any such person, & ye delivering of him into ye hands of ye officer, or other person who pursues him. And if ther be help required, for ye safe returning of any such offender, then it shall be granted to him yt craves ye same, he paying the charges therof.
9. And for yt the justest warrs may be of dangerous consequence, espetially to ye smaler plantations in these United Collonies, it is agreed yt neither ye Massachusets, Plimoth, Conightecutt, nor New-Haven, nor any member of any of them, shall at any time hear after begine, under- take, or ingage them selves, or this confederation, or any parte therof, in any warr whatsoever, (sudden * exegents, with ye necessary consequents therof excepted, which are also to be moderated as much as ye case will permitte,)
* Substituted for sundry on the authority of the original MS. Records.
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without ye consente and agreemente of ye forementioned 8. comissioners, or at ye least 6. of them, as in ye sixt article is provided. And yt no charge be required of any of they confederats, in case of a defensive warr, till ye said comis- sioners have mett, and approved ye justice of ye warr, and have agreed upon ye sume of money to be levied, which sume is then to be paid by the severall confederats in pro- portion according to ye fourth article.
10. That in extraordinary occasions, when meetings are summoned by three magistrates of any jurisdiction, or 2. as in ye 5. article, if any of ye comissioners come not, due warning being given or sente, it is agreed yt 4. of the comissioners shall have power to directe a warr which can- not be delayed, and to send for due proportions of men out of each jurisdiction, as well as 6. might doe if all mett ; but not less then 6. shall determine the justice of ye warr, or alow ye demands or bills of charges, or cause any levies to be made for ye same.
11. It is further agreed, yt if any of ye confederats shall hereafter breake any of these presente articles, or be any other ways injurious to any one of ye other jurisdictions, such breach of agreemente or injurie shall be duly consid- ered and ordered by ye comissioners for ye other jurisdic- tion ; that both peace and this presente confederation may be intirly preserved without violation.
12. Lastly, this perpetuall confederation, and ye severall articles therof being read, and seriously considered, both by ye Generall Courte for ye Massachusets, and by ye comis- sioners for Plimoth, Conigtecute, & New-Haven, were fully alowed & confirmed by 3. of ye forenamed confederats, namly, ye Massachusets, Conightecutt, and New-Haven ; only ye comissioners for Plimoth haveing no comission to conclude, desired respite till they might advise with their Generall Courte ; wher upon it was agreed and concluded
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by ye said Courte of ye Massachusets, and the comissioners for ye other tow confederats, that, if Plimoth consente, then the whole treaty as it stands in these present articls is, and shall continue, firme & stable without alteration. But if Plimoth come not in, yet ye other three confederats doe by these presents [260] confeirme ye whole confederation, and ye articles therof ; only in September nexte, when ye second meeting of ye comissioners is to be at Boston, new consid- eration may be taken of ye 6. article, which concerns num- ber of comissioners for meeting & concluding the affaires of this confederation, to ye satisfaction of ye Courte of ye Massachusets, and ye comissioners for ye other 2. confed- erats, but ye rest to stand unquestioned. In ye testimonie wherof, ye Generall Courte of ye Massachusets, by ther Secretary, and ye comissioners for Conightecutt and New- Haven, have subscribed these presente articles this 19. of ye third month, comonly called May, Anno Dom: 1643.
At a meeting of ye comissioners for ye confederation held at Boston ye 7. of Sept : it appearing that the Generall Courte of New-Plimoth, and ye severall towneshipes therof, have read & considered & approved these articles of confederation, as appeareth by comission from their Generall Courte bearing date ye 29. of August, 1643. to M'. Edward Winslow and Mr. William Collier, to ratifie and confirme ye same on their behalfes. We, therfore, ye Comissioners for ye Massachusets, Conightecutt, & New Haven, doe also, for our severall gover- ments, subscribe unto them.
JOHN WINTHROP, Govr. of ye Massachusest.
THO : DUDLEY. THEOPH : EATON.
GEO: FENWICK. EDWA : HOPKINS.
THOMAS GREGSON.
These were ye articles of agreemente in ye union and confederation which they now first entered into; and in
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this their first meeting, held at Boston ye day & year abovesaid, amongst other things they had this matter of great consequence to considere on : the Narigansets, after ye subduing of ye Pequents, thought to have ruled over all ye Indeans aboute them; but ye English, espe- tially those of Conightecutt holding correspondencie & frenship with Uncass, sachem of ye Monhigg Indeans which lived nere them, (as ye Massachusets had done with ye Narigansets,) and he had been faithfull to them in ye Pequente warr, they were ingaged to supporte him in his just liberties, and were contented yt such of ye surviving Pequents as had submited to him should remaine with him and quietly under his protection. This did much increase his power and augmente his greatnes, which ye Narigansets could not indure to see. But Myantinomo, their cheefe sachem, (an ambitious & politick man,) sought privatly and by trearchery (according to ye Indean maner) to make him away, by hiring some to kill him. Sometime they assayed to poyson him; that not takeing, then in ye night time to knock him on ye head in his house, or secretly to shoot him, and such like attempts. But none of these taking effecte, he made open warr upon him (though it was against ye covenants both betweene ye English & them, as also betweene them selves, and a plaine breach of ye same). He came suddanly upon him with 900. or 1000. men (never denouncing any warr before). Ye others power at yt presente was not above halfe so many ;
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