USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 10
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Thus hoysing sayle with a prosperous wind they Came in short time to Southampton where they found the bigger shipp Come from london lying Reddy with all the Rest of theire Companie after a Joyfull welcome and mutuall Congratulation, with other frindly entertainments; they fell to parley ' about theire future proceed- inges;
A breife letter written by m" John Robinson to m' John Caruer att theire prteing aboue said in which the tender loue and Godly Care of a true Pastour appeers;
MY DEAR BROTHER
I Received enclosed youer last letter and Note of Information which I shall Carefully keep and mak vse of, as theire shalbe occation, I haue a true feeling of youer p'plexety of mind [28] and toyle of body; but I hope that you; haueing alwayes bin able soe plentifully to adminnester Comfort vnto others, in theire tryalls are soe well furnished for your self, as that farr Greater difficulties then you haue yett vndergon; though I
1 Here the letters "th" are crossed out.
" Here the letters "de" are crossed out.
* Here a word is crossed out.
" Here a word is crossed out.
45
LETTER OF JOHN ROBINSON, JULY 27, 1620
Conceiue them to be Great; enough; Can not oppresse you though1 they presse you as the Apostle speaketh; the sperit of a man (sustained by the speritt of God) will sustaine his Infermities; I doubt not soe will youers, and the better much when you shall Injoy the p'sence and healp of soe many Godly and wise bretheren, for the bearing of p'te of youer burden; whoe alsoe will not Admitt into theire harts, the least thought of sus- pision; of Any the least Negligence att least presumption to haue bin in you; whatsoeuer they think in others; Now what shall I say " or writt vnto you, and youer Good wife my loueing sister; euen onely this; I desire (and alwaies shall) mercy and blessing vnto you from the Lord as vnto my owne soule; and Assure youer self that my hart is with you; and that I will not foreslow my bodily Comeing att the first opportunetie; I have written a large letter to the whole and am sorry I shall nott Rather speak then write to them, and the more Considering the want of a preacher which I shall alsoe mak some spurr to my hastening to- wards you, I doe euer Comend my best affection vnto you: which, if I thought you made any doubt of; I would expresse in more and the same more ample and full words And the lord in whom you ' trust: and whom you serue, euer in this busines; and Journey, Guid you with his hand, protect you with his winge, and shew you and vs, his saluation, in the end, and bringe vs in the mean while together in the place desired, (if such be his Good will) for his Christ " his sake
Amen youers JOHN ROBINSON
July 27th 1620
This was the last letter that m' Caruer liued to see from him;
Att theire p'teing m' Robinson writt a letter to the whole Com- panie which although it hath alreddy bin printed yett I thought Good heer likwise to Insert it;
LOUEING CHRISTIAN FRINDS.
I doe hartily and in the Lord sallute you as being those with whom I am prsent in my best affections and most earnest longings after you; though I be Constrained for a while to be bodily absent from you I say Constrained, God knowing5 how willingly much Rather then otherwise I would haue bourne my prte with you in this first brunt were I Not by
1 Here a word or letter is crossed out.
" Here the words "or write" are crossed out.
3 Written above "wee," crossed out.
' Altered from "Christes."
" Here the letter "w" is crossed out.
1
1
1
1
!
46
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
strong Nessesitie held back for the prsent, Make accoumpt of mee in the mean while as of a man deuided in my selfe with Great paine and as (Naturall bonds sett asside) haueing my better pte with you and though I doubt not but in youer 1 Godly wisdome you both " forsee & Resolue vpon that which Concerneth youer prsent state, and Condition both seuerally and Joyntly yett haue I thought it but my duty to adde some further spurr of prouocation to them that Run well alreddy, if not because you need it, yett because I owe it, in loue and duty; and first as wee are dayly to Renew our Repentance with our God especially for our sins known and Generally for our vnknowne sines, and treaspasses soe doth the Lord Call vs in a singular Manor vpon occations of such diffi- culty, and danger as lyeth vpon you to a both more Narrower serch and Carefull Reformation of our waies in his sight, least hee Calling to Remembrance our sines forgotton by vs or vnrepented of, tak advantage against vs and in Judgment leaue vs for the same, to be swallowed vp in one danger or other, wheras on the Contrary sin being taken away by earnest Repentance and the prdon therof from the Lord sealed vp from & mans Conscience by his speritt Great shalbe the securitie and peace in all dangers sweet his Comfort in all destresses with happ deliverance from all euill whether in life or in death;
Now next after this heavenly peace with God, and our owne Con- siences wee are Carefully to prouide for peace with all men what in vs lyeth [24] especially with our Associates and for that watchfulnes must be had that wee Neither att all in our selues doe Giue noe Nor easily take offence being Given by others woe be vnto the world for offences, for although it be Nessesary Considering the Mallice of Satan, and Mans Corruption, that offences come yett woe vnto that man or woman either, by whom the offence Cometh saith Christ Mat: 18-7: and if offences in vnseasonable vse of thinges in themselues Indifferent be more to be 3 feared then death it selfe as the Apostle teacheth 1 Cor. 9: 15. how much more in thinges simply euill in which neither honor of God nor loue of man is thought worthy to be Regarded; Neither yett is it sufficient that wee keep ourselues by the Grace of God from Giueing offence except with all wee be armed against the takeing of them; when they be Given by others, for how vnperfect and lame is the worke of Grace in that p'son whoe wants Charity to Couer a multitude of offences," or wisdome
1 Written above a word crossed out.
" Here "foresee" is crossed out.
' Here "hated" is crossed out.
' Here Morton has omitted Bradford's "as the scriptures speaks. Neither
are you to be exhorted to this grace only upon the commone grounds of Chris-
.
47
LETTER OF ROBINSON TO THE PILGRIMS, 1620
duely to wey humaine frailties or lastly and Grossely though Close hipocrites as Christ our lord teacheth mat: 7: 1: 2: 3: as indeed in my owne experience few or none haue bin found which sooner Giue offence; then such as easely tak it; Neither haue they euer proued sound and profittable Members in societies which haue Nurrished this touchey humer but besides these there are diuers motiues provoaking you aboue others to Great care and Conscience this way;
as first you are many of you strangers as to the p'sons soe to the In- feirmities one of another and soe stand in Need of more watchfulnes this way least when such thinges fall out in men and weomen, as you sus- pected not you be Inordinately affected with them; which doth Require att youer hands much wisdom and Charritie for the Couering and pre- uenting of Insident offences that way And lastly youer Intended Course of Ciuill Comunity will minnester Continuall occation of offence; and wilbe as fewell for that fier except you dilligently quench it; with brotherly forbearance; and if takeing of offence Causlesly or ezely att Mens doeinges; be soe Carefully to be1 avoided how much more heed is to be taken that wee take Not offence att God himselfe which yett wee Cer- tainly doe soe oft as wee doe murmer att his prouidence in our Crosses or beare Impatiently such afflictions as wherwith hee pleaseth to visite vs, Stor vp therefore " Patience against the euill day without which wee take offence att the Lord himself in his holy and Just workes;
A further thinge there is Carefully to be prouided for towitt that with our Comon Imployments you Joyne Comon affections truly bent vpon the Generall Good; avoiding as a deadly plague of youer both Comon and speciall Comfort all Retirednes of mind for proper advantagee and all singularly affected any manor of way; lett euery man Represse in him- selfe and the whole body in each p"son as soe many Rebells against the Comon Good all private Respect of mens selues not sorting with the Generall Conveniency; and as men are Carefull not to haue a New house shaken with any violence before it be well settled and the p'tes feirmly knitt soe be you I beseech you much more Carefull; that the house of God which you are and are to be: be not shaken with vnessesary Nouel- ties or other oppositions att the first settleing therof lastly wheras you are to become a body Politique vseing amongst youer selues Ciuill Gou ment; and are Not ffurnished with any p'sons of speciall eminency about the Rest to be Chosen by you into office of Gou ment; lett youer wisdom,
tianity, which are, that persons ready to take offence, either wante charitie, to cover offences" (History, i. 132).
1 Here one or two letters are crossed out.
? Here "the" is crossed out.
48
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
and Godlynes appeer not onely in Chosing such pisons; as doe Intirely loue and will promote the Comon Good; but alsoe in yeilding vnto them all 1 due honor and obeidience in theire lawfull adminnestrations; Not beholding in them the ordinarines of theire p"sons; but Gods or- dinarines for youer Good; not being like the folish; multitude; whoe more honor a Gay Coate then either the' vertuouse mind of the Man or Gloriouse ordinance of God [25] But you know better thinges and that the Image of the Lords power And Authoritie which the Majestrate beareth is honorable in how meane p'sons soeuer; and this duty you both may the more willingly and ought the More Consionably to prforme because you are att least for the prsent, to haue them for youer ordinary Gou'nors which youer selues shall make Choise of, for that work;
Sundry other thinges ' of Importance I Could put you in Mind of; and of those before mensioned in More words, but I will not soe farr wrong youer Godly minds as to think you heedles of these thinges there being alsoe diuers among you well able to Admonish both them " selues and others; of what Concerneth them; These few thinges therfore and the same in few words; I doe earnestly Comend vnto youer Care and Consience Joyning therwith my dayly Inceasent prayers vnto the Lord; that hee whoe hath made the heavens and the earth the sea and all Riuers of waters and whose prouidence is ouer all his workes especially ouer all his deare Children for Good would soe Guid and Gaurd you in youer wayes, as Inwardly by his speritt soe outwardly by the hand of his power; as that you and wee alsoe for and with you may haue after matter of praiseing his Name all the dayes of youer & our lives, fare you well in him in whom you trust and in home I Rest
An vnfeigned wellwiller of youer happy succes in this hopefull voyage JOHN ROBINSON;
This letter though large being soe fruitfull in it self and suitable to theire occations I thought meet to Insert in this place;
All thinges being Gott Reddy And euery busines dispatched the Companie was Called together and this Letter Read Amongst them; which had Good Acceptation with all and after ffruite with many then they ordered and distributed theire Companie for either shipp as they Conceiued for the best; and Chose a Gou" and two or three
1 Here "dew" is crossed out.
" Written above "a," crossed out.
" Here "and" is crossed out.
" Here the letters "sel" are crossed out.
49
ARRIVAL AT CAPE COD, NOVEMBER 11, 1620
Assistants for each 1 shipp, to order the people by the way and to see to the disposing of theire prouisions, and such like affaires, all which was Not onely with the likeing of the Masters of the shipps, but According to theire desires, which being done; they sett sayle from thence about the fift of August, But what befell them fur- ther vpon the Coast of England will Appear in the2 book Intitled New Englands Memoriall page 10
And likewise of the voyage and how they passed the sea and of theire safe Ariuall att Cape Codd; see New Englands Memoriall page 12 [26]
Being Now passed the vast occean and a sea of troubles before they arived theire preparation vnto further proceedings as to seeke out a place Codd the 11th att Gape for habitation &c: They fell downe vpon theire Knees and blessed of Nouemb: 1620 in safty the God of heauen whoe had brought them ouer the vast and furious Ocean, and delivered them from all p'rills and Misseryes thereof againe to sett theire ffeet on the feirme and stable earth theire proper Ellement; and Noe Maruell if they were thus Joyfull seeing wise Senica was soe affected with sayleing a few miles on the Coast of his owne Italy as hee affeirmed hee had Rather Remaine twenty yeers in his way by land then pas by sea to any place in a short Epint 58 time soe tedious and dreadfull was the same to him;
But heer I Can not but stay and make a Pause and stand half amased att these poor peoples Condition and soe I think will the Reader to, when hee well Considers the same for haueing passed through many troubles, both before and vpon the voyage as afor- said; They had now Noe frinds to welcome them Noe Inns to en- tertaine or Refresh them, noe houses much lesse townes to Repaire vnto to seek for succor It is recorded in Scripture as a mercye to the Apostle; and his shipwracked companie that the barbarians shewed them noe smale kindnes in Refreshing them; but these salvage Barba- rians when they mett with them, as after will appeer; were Reddier to fill theire sydes full of Arrowes then otherwise and, for the season; it was winter; and they that know the winters of that Countrey, know them to be sharp and violent and subject to violent stormes dangerouse to trauell to knowne places much more to serch out
1 Written above "either," crossed out.
" Here one or two words are crossed out.
50
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
vnknowne Coasts; besides what could they see 1 but a heidious and desolate 2 wildernes full of wild beastes and wild men and what multitudes there might be of them they knew not Neither could they (as it were) Goe vp to the topp of Pisgae to view from this wildernes a more Goodly Companies to feed theire Hopes, for which way soe^ euer they turned theire eyes (saue vpward to the heauens) they could haue little solace or Content in Respect of any outward objects, for somer being done all thinges stand for them to look vpon 5 with a weatherbeaten face, and the whole Country being full of woods and thicket[s] Represented a wild and saluage hiew if they looked behind them there was the mighty ocean which they had passed; and was now as a maine barr and Gulf to separate them from all the Ciuill p'tes of the world; if it be said they had a shipp to succour them it is true but what heard they dayly from the Master and Companie but that with speed they should look out a place with theire shallopp where they would " be att some Neare distance for the season was such as hee would not stirr from thence vntill a safe harbour was discouered by them where they would be and hee might goe without danger; and that victuales Consumed apace but hee must and would keep sufficient for him self, and Companie for theire Return yee it was muttered by some that if they Gott Not a place in time they would turne them and theire Goods on shore and leaue them; lett it be alsoe Considered what weak hopes of supply and succor they left behind them that might beare vp theire minds in this sad Condition and tryalls they were vnder and they Could not but be very smale; It is true Indeed the affections and loue of theire bretheren att Leyden was Cordiall and Intire but they had little power to healp them or themselues; and how the Case stood between them and the Marchants att theire Coming away, hath alreddy bin declared what could now sustaine them but the speritt of God, and his Grace; may not and ought Not the Children of these fathers Rightly say our fathers were Englishmen which Came ouer this Great ocian and were Reddy to perish in this wildernes; But
1 Here "but" is crossed out.
" Here "Companie" is crossed out.
' Morton's error for Bradford's "cuntrie" (History, i. 156).
" Here a letter is crossed out.
" Here "them" is crossed out.
" Written above "should," crossed out.
51
DEATH OF JOHN CARVER, APRIL, 1621
they Cryed vnto the lord; and hee heard theire voyce; and looked on theire adversitie; And lett them therfore praise the lord because hee is Good and his mercyes Indure for euer yee lett them which baue bin the Redeemed of the lord shew how hee hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor; when they wandered in the dewtry 26: desert wildernes out of the way, and found noe Cittey to dwell in, 5: 7: both hungry and thirsty theire soule was ouerwhelmed in them; lett them Confesse before the lord his loueing kindnes and his wonderfull Paa: 107 1: 2: 8: 5: 8 workes before the Children of Men;
of the troubles that befell them after theire ariuall with sundry other prticulares Concerning theire theire transactings with the Marchant adventerers and many other passages not soe prtinent to this prsent discourse I shall Refer the Reader to; New Englands memoriall and vnto m' Bradfords book where they are att large pened to his plentifull satisfaction 1 and therefore I shall Gather vp some speciall p'ticulars; more properly Relateing to this history as it may 2 be called Eclesiasticall; [27]
Before I pas on I may not omitt to take Notice of the sad losse the Church and this Infant Comonwealth sustained by the death of m" John Caruer whoe was one of the deacons of the Church in leyden m" John but Now had bine and was theire first Gou": this worthy Gentleman was one of singular Piety and Rare for humillitie which appeered (as otherwise) soe by his Great Condesendencye when as this miser-
1 Here "and" is crossed out.
The portion thus far given is printed in Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, pp. 3-108. In a footnote he said:
"Here we take leave of Morton's copy of Gov. Bradford's History. As the rest of it is lost, except the few scattered passages preserved by Prince and Hutch- inson, and as we have a Journal of 'the troubles that befell them after their arrival,' written at the time, and chiefly, as I conceive, by Gov. Bradford, and much more copious and minute than the account in Morton's Memorial, the narrative will proceed in the words of that Journal" (p. 108).
Young then prints what is commonly known as "Mourt's Relation," pp. 109-251. Young was mistaken in supposing that "the rest of" Bradford's His- tory was "lost, except the few scattered passages preserved by Prince and Hutchinson." What here follows is partly Morton's own, but is largely taken from Bradford's History, sometimes paraphrased by Morton. Indeed, Young himself recognized a few passages as taken from Bradford's History and printed them in his Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers: see pp. 52, 54, 62, 82, 115, below.
" Here "be" is crossed out.
Carvers death
:
52
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
-
able people were in Great sicknes hee shuned not to doe very meane 1 services for them yee the meanest of them; hee bore a share likewise of theire labour in his owne p'son; according as theire Great Nes- sesitie Required; whoe being one alsoe of a Considerable estate spent the Maine p'te of it, in this enterprise and from first to last approued himself, not onely as theire agent in the first Transacting of thinges, but alsoe all alonge to the Period of his life; to be a pious faithfull and very benificiall Instrument; hee deceased in the Month 2 of Aprill in the yeer 1621, and Now is Reaping the fruite of his labour with the lord; 3
January 25 1623
" With a letter written by M' Sherly to M' Bradford these fol- lowing objections were sent, which were not his, but were made by Adversaries against the Church; and theire proceedings; which I thought meet to Insert with theire Answares; as followeth;
1 objection was diuersitie about Religion
Answar Wee know Noe such Matter for heer was neuer any Controversye or opposition either publicke or private to our knowl- idge since wee Came;
2 obj Neglect of family dutyes on the Lords day
Answ Wee allow noe such thinge but blame it in our selues and others, and they that thus Report it should haue shewed theire Chris- tian loue the more if they had in loue tould the offenders of it Rather then thuse to Reproach them behind theire backes; But to say noe more; wee wish them selues had Giuen better example;
3 object Want of both the Sacraments;
Answ the more is our Greiff that our Pastour is Kept from vs by whom wee might Injoy them; for wee vsed to haue the Lords Supper euery sabbath and Baptismee as often as there was occa- tion of Children to Baptise;
4 object Children not Cattachised nor taught to Read;
Answ; This is Not true in Neither p'te therof for diuers take paines with theire owne as they Can; Indeed wee haue noe Comnon scoole for want of a fitt prson or hitherto meanes to maintaine one though wee desire now to begin;
1 Written above another word, crossed out.
" Here "of" is crossed out.
' This paragraph is printed in Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 200 note.
" Three or four words are crossed out before "With."
53
LETTER OF JOHN ROBINSON, DECEMBER 20, 1623
When the Answars to these objections aboue mensioned were sent ouer att the Returne of the shipp; the aforsaid letter came in; the objectors were soe Confounded as some of them Confessed theire faults and others deneyed what they had said; and eat theire words, and some others of them haue since Come ouer againe and heer liued to Convince themselues sufficiently both in their owne and other 1 Judgments seuerall other objections of other Nature were made besides those aboue Named which with theire Answares I will not att prsent trouble the Reader with But these aboue I thought meet to Insert that the Reader may desern with what difficulties of all sorts our deare honored predesessors Grappled with;
heer followeth a letter from m' Robinson to m' Brewster our Elder wherin the Reader may descene the sollisitous Care of a faith- full Pastour to his fflock and the singular loue that mutually was expressed between those two holly men whoe were ffellow Elders in the same fflock; &c:
LOUEING AND DEARE FRIND AND BROTHER that which I most desired of God in Regard 2 of you; Namely the Continuance of youer life and health and the safe Coming of these sent vnto you; That I most Gladly heare of and praise God for the same; and I hope m"" 3 Brewsters weak and decayed state of Body will haue some Repaireing by the coming of her daughters; and the prouisions in this and other shipps sent; which I heare is made for you; which makes vs with [28] the more Patience beare our Languishing state and the defering of the desireing of our desired transportation (which I call desired Rather then hoped for) whatsoueuer you are bourn in hand with by others for first there is Noe hope att all that I know nor Can Conceiue off of any New stock to be Raised for that end soe that all must depend vpon Returnes from you in which are soe may vncertaintyes; as that Nothing with any Certainty Can thence be Concluded besides howsoeuer for the p'sent the adventerers alledge Nothing but want of Mony; which is an Invinceable difficulty yett if that be taken away by you, others without doubt wilbe found; for the better clearing of this wee must dispose the adventerers into three pītes and off them some fiue or six (as I conceiue) are absolutely bent for vs aboue others, other 5: or 6: are our bitter professed adversaries,
1 Perhaps "others."
" Here the words "for you" are crossed out.
' Perhaps "mtris."
.
54
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
The Rest being the body; I Conceiue to be honestly minded and loue- ingly alsoe towards vs; yett such as haue others; Namly the forward preachers nearer vnto them then vs; and whose Course soe farr as there is any difference they would advance Rather then ours; Now what a hanke these men haue ouer the professors you know and I p'swade my selfe that for mee they of all others are vnwilling I should be transported especially such as haue an eye that way themselues as thinking if I come there theire markett wilbe Mared in Many Regards; and for those adversaries,1 if they haue but halfe theire will to theire Mallice they will stopp my Course when they see it Intended; for which this delaying serueth them very opportunly; and as one Rusty Jade Can hinder by hanging backe more then two or three Can or will att least if they be not very free) draw forward, soe will it be in this case A Noteable ex- periment of this they Gaue in youer Messengers prsence Constraining the Companie to promise that none of the Mony Now Gathered should be expended or Imployed to the healp of any of vs towards you; Now touching the question propounded by you I judge it Not lawfull for you being a Ruleing Elder, as Rom 12: 7: 8: and first of tim: 5: 17 opposed to the Elders that teach and exhort and labour in the word and doctrin to which the Sacrament[s] are anexed: to Adminnester them Nor Con- venient if it were lawfull; Be you hartily salluted and youer wife with you, both from mee and mine; youer God and ours and the God of all his; bring vs together if it be his will and keep vs in the mean while and alwaies to his Glory; and make vs seruiceable to his Matie and faithful to the end Amen;
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