USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 11
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Youer very Loueing Brother JOHN ROBINSON ?
Leyden december 20 1623
By the aboue written Letter it may appeer how much the ad- versary hindered the Coming of this Blessed servant of Christ from Coming into New England; although hee soe much longed to be with his fflock and his fflock for him, a worthy patern vnto all Churchs and theire Minesters to be Imitated;
1623
In the springe ariued att New Plymouth a preacher; one m" John Lyford whoe when hee Came on shore salluted the principall men amongst vs; with that seeming humillitie as is seldom to be seen and Indeed Made them ashamed hee soe bowed and Cringed vnto
1 Here the words "and for those adversaries" are crossed out.
" This letter is printed in Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, pp. 475-477.
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55
TROUBLE CAUSED BY JOHN LYFORD AND JOHN OLDHAM
them and would haue kised theire hands if they would have suffered him (of which were many witnesses [)] hee likwise blessed God also that had brought him to see theire faces and admireing the thinges they had done in theire wants &c: as if hee had bin made all of Loue and the humblest p"son in the world his words being alsoe accom- panied with teares; and all the while, if wee may Judge by his after Carriages hee was but like him Mensioned in Psa. 10: 10: that Croucheth and boweth that heapes of poor may fall by his Might, or like to decembling Ishmaell whoe when hee had slaine Gedelia went out weeping and made them which were Coming to offer In- cence in the house of the Lord, saying come to Gedelia when hee ment to slay them; they Gaue him the best entertainment they Could (in all simplisitie) and a larger allowance of ffood and of the Store then any other had; and as the Gou" had used in all waighty affaires to Consult with theire Elder m' Brewster together with theire Assistants soe Now hee Called m" Lyford alsoe to Counsell in theire waightiest businesses after some short time hee desired to Joyne himself a member of the Church heer and accordingly was Received hee made a large Confession of his faith and acknowlidgment of his former disorderly walkeing [29] And his being Intangled with many Corruptions which had bin a burden to his Consience and . blessed God for this opportunity of ffreedome and libertie to Injoy See Now the ordinances of God in puritie amongst his people with many more such like expressions; afterwards Joyning with one John Oldum folio 54 a factious speritted man they shewed a speritt of Mallignitie draw- ing as many Into faction as they Could were they Neuer soe vild1 or prophane they did Norish and backe them in all theire doeinges soe they would but Cleaue to them and speak against the Church heer soe as there was Nothing but private meetings and whispering amongst them; they feeding themselues and others with what they should 2 bring to passe in England by the ffaction of theire frinds there; which brought others as well as themselues into a fooles Parradice yett they Could not Carry soe closly but much of both theire doeings and 3 sayings were discouered and outwardly they still sett a fare face of thinges; and they Conspired together and
1 Perhaps "vile."
" Here a letter is crossed out.
. Here "and" is crossed out.
Englands
56
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
sent letters for England in Complaints against vs to our adversaries which were of the Marchant adventorers; which letters were Inter- cepted by the Gou"; and the said Lyford was detected for opening of letters and other mischeiffes which hee acheiued against 1 the Church and this poor Infant Comonwelth; Att length matters Grew to such height that Lyford with his Complices without euer speaking one word 2 either to the Gou": Church or Elder 3 with- drew themselues and sett vp a publicke meeting apart on the Lords day with sundry such Insolent Carriages to longe heer to Relate; And the said Oldum brake forth into open Rebellion against the Gou ment of the Collonie which p'ticulars being " proued to theire faces in open Court by the letters the said Lyford sent which were Intercepted as aforsaid, the said Oldum Continewed in his obsti- nacye a while but was Curbed att last as will afterwards be Mani- fest and as for Lyford first they dealt with him in the Church for his disimulation att his Admition therinto; in that hee then pro- fessed to Concurr with them in All thinges; and that hee held not him self a minnester till hee had a New Calling &c. and yett hee Now Contested against them and drew a Companie apart and se- questered him self; and would Goe and adminnester the Sacrements (by his Episcopall) Calling without euer speaking a word vnto them either as Majestrates or bretheren
In Conclusion hee was fully Convicted and brak forth into teares and Confessed hee was a Reprobate his sins were soe Great that hee doubted God would Not pardon them hee was vnsauory salt &c: and that hee had soe wronged them as hee could Neuer make them amens Confessing all hee had written against them was ffalse and Nought both for matter and manor; and all this hee did with as much fulnes as words and tears Could expresse;
After theire tryall and Conviction the Court Censured both hee and Oldum to " depart the Gou ment Oldum pasently; though his wife and family had liberty to stay all winter or Longer vntill hee Could make provision to Remoue & them Comfortably; Lyford had
1 Here "against" is crossed out.
' Here "to" is crossed out.
' Apparently altered from "Elders."
" Here "openly" is crossed out.
Here the letters "depa" are crossed out.
· Written above "Releiue," crossed out.
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57
CONFESSION AND RELAPSE OF JOHN LYFORD
liberty to stay sixe monthes It was Indeed with some eye to his Re- lease if hee Carryed him self well in the mean time and that his Repentance proued sound Lyford acknowledged his sentance was farr lesse then hee deserued; Afterwards hee Confessed his sin publickly in the Church with tears more largely then before; I shall heer sett it downe as I find it in writing as it was taken from his mouth That hee had don very euill and Slaunderously abused them; and thinking most of the people would tak p'te with him; hee thought to Carry all by violence and stronge hand against them; and that God migh Justly lay Inosent blood1 to his Charge for hee knew Not what hurt might haue Come of these his writings; and blessed God they were Stayed; and that hee spared not to tak knowlidge from Any of any Euill; but shutt his eyes and eares against all the Good; and if God should make him a 2 vagabond in the earth as was Caine It was but Just for hee had sined in Envie and mallice against his bretheren as hee did; and hee Confessed 3 three thinges to be the Ground and Causes of these his doeinges Prid Vaine Glory and selfe loue amplyfying these heads with Many other sad expressions in the p'ticulars of them soe as they began againe to Conceiue Good thoughts of him vpon this his Repentance, and admitted him to teach amongst them as before; and m' Samuell ffuller a deacon amongst them and some other tender harted men amongst them were soe taken with his [80] synes of sorrow and Repentance as they pro- fessed they would fall vpon theire knees to haue his Censure Re- leased;
But that which made them all Stand amased; In the end, and May doe all others that shall Come to heare the same (for a Rarer Presedent can Scarce be seen or shewen) was that after " a month or two; Nowithstanding all his former Confessions Convictions and former acknowlidgments, both in the face of the Church and whole Companie with soe many teares and sad Censures of himself before God and man, hee should Goe againe to Justify what hee had don;
ffor Secretly hee writt a second letter to the adventorers in Eng-
1 This word is obscure.
' Here the letters "vab" are crossed out.
' Here the letters "thr" are crossed out.
. Here "an" is crossed out.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
land in which hee Justifyed all his former writinges (saue in some thinges which tended to theire damage) the which because it is soe large I shall heer 1 omitt with the answare heervnto 2 least I should treaspus too much on the patience of the Reader;
But before I draw to a Conclusion of this matter I shall Insert a few objections of many that this euill sperited man made against the people of God ' in this place which I shall faithfully enter with theire Answares;
1 hee saith the Church would haue none to liue heer but them selues;
2 Neither are any willing soe to doe if they had Company to liue else where;
Answ theire Answare was that this is ffalse in both prtes of it for they were willing and desirous of any honest men " to " liue with them that will Carry them selues peacably and seek the Comon Good, or att least doe them noe hurt, and againe there are many that will not liue else where soe longe as they may liue with them;
2 That if " there Comes ouer any honest man; they would soon distast them &c:
Answ There answare was as before that it was a ffalse Callumna- tion; for they had many Amongst them that they liked well of and were Glad of theire Companie, and should be of any such like as should Come amongst them;
3 That they excepted against 7 him for these 2 doctrines Raised from 2 Samu 12 first that minnesters must some times particularly apply theire doctrine to speciall p"sons secondly that Great men may be Reproued as well as meaner
Answ: theire Answar was that both these were without either truth, or couller of the same as was proued to his face; and that they had taught and beleiued these thinges longe before they knew m' Lyford:
1 Here two or three letters are crossed out.
" Here "heervnto" is crossed out.
* Here a letter is crossed out.
Here "that" is interlined and crossed out.
" Written above "may," crossed out.
. Here "they C" is crossed out.
7 Here "them" is crossed out.
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59
CHARGES OF JOHN LYFORD AGAINST THE PILGRIMS
And with these objections hee comes to Giue his frinds Councell these prticu- one p'ticular wher[of] was that the Leyden Companie (m' Robinson and the Rest) must still be kept Back or else all wilbe spoyled, and least any of them should be taken in priuately some where on the Coast of England (as it was feared might be done) they must Change the M' of the shipp m' Willam Peirse; and put another alsoe in m' Winslowes Rome for Marchant, or otherwise it would not be prevented,
Then hee would haue such a Number prouided as would ouersway them heer; and further proposeth to them some wayes, and meanes wherby this may be effected:
Then hee showes that if by the said meanes they Cannot be strengthened to Carry and ouer beare; thinges; it would be best for him and his Confeaderats; to plant else where by themselu[es]
Lastly hee concludes that if some Number Comes not ouer to beare them vp viz. him and his " Confeaderates heer, then there would be noe abiding for them but by Joyning with these heer Then hee adds since hee began to write, there are letters Come from youer ª Companie wherin they would Giue sole Authoritie in diuers thinges vnto theire Gou": heer which if it take place then Ve nobis") but I hope you wilbe more Vigelent heerafter that Nothinge May passe in such a Manor,
Thus I haue breiffly touched some of the Cheiff thinges Contained and expressed in his Letters and otherwise; wherby his hipocresye ffalcenes and mallice appeered; But being loth to be burthensom[e] to the Reader with the more full Relation of matters Concering this Instrument of Sathan to worke " mischiffe and Inded to " Indeauor the ouerthrow of this poor Church and Collonie, I 7 shall Indeauor to Contract matters, into as Narrow a Rome as I Can if any shall haue a desire to know more of them; I shall Refer them to New Englands Memoria[l]] wherin In p'te these prticulares are Related,
1 Perhaps "were."
" Here the letters "Con" are crossed out.
' Written above "the," crossed out.
' The words "Ve nobis" are underscored twice.
" Here a word is crossed out.
. Here "Indeuer" is crossed out.
7 Here the words "might haue bin large" are crossed out.
lars are 1 sent by him to the adverse pite of the Ad- venturers
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
I should have noted that there was some frindly Corespond- ency between the Collonie & oldum be- fore his death
and more especially unto 1 m" Bradfords history wherin att large hee may haue a full Relation of these matters in theire seuerall ? Ceroinst[ances] [81] Relateing vnto his trayterous Indeauors against vs and his abseane Carriages in Ireland which were discouered on these occations, finally after all these transactions of Matters about him and Oldum fore Namned whoe was Copartenor and a Great stickeler in these thinges; both hee the said oldum and Lyford being banished the Collonie for theire aforsaid misdemenors they went into the Massachusetts Bay, and ' the said Oldum Goeing on a voyage in a storm " like to haue bin Cast away about Cape Codd shoules in the Greatnes of his danger and extremity, being in terror of Consience Confessed his fault in his Indeauors against this Col- lonie; and vowed that if God would please to " bring him safe to land; hee would; Reforme in that behalf; afterwards hee went on a voyage towards Conecticott, and Neare vnto blocke Iland was & Crewelly murdered by the India[ns]
And as for John Lyford hee went to Nantaskett being Banished and from thence to Salem where after hee had lived a while hee went to Veginnia and there hee died; in 7 all which former discourse with much More that might haue bine said Respecting the p"mises; It doth plainly appeer and is verifyed; that noe weapon that was formed against this poor fflock of Christ did prosper; and euery toungue that Rose vp in Judgment against them God did Con- demne;
Before I Pase on to other matteriall Relations lett the Reader take Notice of a speciall fauor of God and expression of his Goodnes that many whoe before stood somthing off from the Church Now seeing Lyfords vnrighteousnes in his Cariages and dealings and Mallignitie against the Church; Now tendered themselues to the Church and were Joyned to the same professing that it was not out of dislike of any thinge that they had stood of soe longe but a desire to fitt them selues better for such a state; and they saw Now the
1 Written above "and," crossed out.
" This word is obscure.
* Here "in" is crossed out.
' Here five or six words are crossed out.
" Here "Restore" is crossed out.
' Written above "with," crossed out.
" Written above "and," crossed out.
61
·
DEATH OF JOHN ROBINSON, 1625
Lord Called 1 for theire healp and soe the fornamed troubles pro- duced a quite Contrary effect in sundry heer then these Adversa- ries hoped for which was looked att as a Great worke of God to draw on men by vnlikely meanes, and that in Reason which might Rather haue sett them further of;
Annº: 1626
this yeer Robinsons death; further brought them notice of the death of theire [a]ncient frind [m]" Cushman whom the lord tooke away [a]lsoe this yeer [a]bout this time whoe was as theire Right hand with theire frinds the Adventerours and for diuers yeers had don and agitated all their busines [wi]th them to theire Great Ad- vantage 2
About the begining of Aprill Capt: Standish whoe was sent our agent for the Collonie to the Marchant adventerors to this Col- lonie in England ' Ariued in New England; Welcome hee was; but the News hee brought was sad in Many Regards but especially in Respect of the Great losse of our former worthy Pastour of whose death hee was the first that brought the sad tidinges therof which struck our Church and the Godly heer with much sorrow and sad- nes as they had Great Cause; " his and theire adversaries had bin Longe and Continewally ploting how they might hinder his Coming hither But the Lord had appointed him a better place Concerning whose death and the Manor therof; It will appeer by these few lines writt to the Gou" and m' Brewster;
LOUEING AND KIND FRINDS &c:
I know not whether this will euer Come to youer hands or miscarry as other my letters haue done yett in Regard of the Lords dealing with vs heer I haue had a Greatt desire to write vnto you knowing youer desire to bear a part with vs both in our Joyes and sorrowes as wee doe with you; these are therfore to Giue you to vnderstand that it hath pleased the Lord to take out of this vale of teares youer and our loueing and faithfull pastour and my dear and Reuerend brother m" John Rob- inson; whoe was sick some eight dayes; hee began to bee sicke on saterday in the morning yett the next day being the Lords day hee taught vs
1 Here "them" is crossed out.
' This paragraph is written in the margin.
' Here "Came" is crossed out.
' Here "and" is crossed out.
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62 PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
twise and soe the week after Grew weaker and weaker euery day more then other yett hee felt Noe paine but weaknes all the time of his sicknes; the Phisicke hee took wrought kindly in Mans Judgment but hee Grew weaker euery day feeling litle or Noe paine and sensible to the very last hee fell sick the 22cond of ffebruary and departed this life the first of March hee had a Continuall Inward Ague but free from Infection soe that all his frinds Came freely to him; and if either prayers teares or meanes would haue saued his life hee had not Gon hence; but hee haue- ing faithfully finished his Course and prformed his work which the lord had appointed him heer to doe hee Now Resteth with the [Lo]rd in eternall happines; wee wanting him and all our Church Gou'nors [82]1 yett wee still by the Mercye of God Continew and hold Close together in peace and quiet[nes] And soe hope wee shall doe although wee be very weake wishing if such were the will of God that you and wee were againe vnited together in one either there or heer, but seeing it is the will of ' the Lord thus to dispose of thinges wee must labour with Patience to Rest Contented vntill it please the Lord to dispose for vs otherwise Newes heer is Not much only as In England wee haue lost our old Kinge James whoe departed this life about a month agoe soe heer they haue lost theire old Prince; Graue Mauris whoe [both] departed this life since my brother Robinson and as in England wee haue a New kinge Charles of whom there is Great hope; soe heer they have made Prince Hendrick Generall in his brothers Place; Thus with my Loue Remembered I tak Leaue and Rest Youer Assured Loueing frind
ROGER WHITE 3
Leyden 28 Aprill Ano 1625
[Thus] these two Great [princes] and theire Pastour [left] this world neare about [one] time; death makes noe [differe]nce;
[A] few poems made by a frind on the deplored death of m+ John Robinson the worthy Pastour of the Church of God att Leyden as followeth
[1] Blessed Robinson hath Run his Race from earth to heauen is Gon to be with Christ in heavenly place the blessed saints amonge
1 Here the words "yett wee shally by the Mercye of God" are crossed out.
" Here "God" is crossed out.
" This letter is printed in Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, pp. 478-480.
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63
POEM ON JOHN ROBINSON
[2] A burning and a shining Light was hee whiles hee was heer a preacher of the Gospell Bright whom wee did loue most deare
[3] What tho hee dead his workes aliue and liue will to all Age The Comfort of them pleasant is To liueing saints each day
4 Oh Blessed holy Sauiour the fountaine of all Grace from whom such blessed Instruments are sent and Run theire Race
5 To lead vs to and Guid vs in the way to happines That soe oh Lord wee may alwaies for euermore Confesse
6 That whosoeuer Gospell preacher be or waterer of the same Wee may alwayes most Constantly Giue Glory to thy Name
About Annº: dom 1628 a Certaine young man Came ouer to be a Minnester to the people] heer whether att the motion of some frinds or Noe I well know not, but am sure is with[out] any In- vitation from the Church for they had smarted; by m' Lyford soe as they desir[ed] to know the p"son well whome they should Invite amongst them his Name was m" Roger[s] but they p"seiued vpon some tryall that hee was Crased in his braine soe they were fai[n] to be att further Charge to send him back againe the Next yeer and lose all the Charge that was expended in his hither bringing; which was not smale; and after hee departed hee Grew qvite destracted;
About this time Not long after m' Rogers his departure; one m' Ralph Smith and his wif[e] and family Came ouer into the Massa- chusetts Bay and sojourned att p'sent with th[e] stragling people which liued at Nantaskett; heer being a boate off this place put in there on some occation; hee earnestly desired they would Giue him
64
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
and his pas[sage] for Plymouth and som such thinges as they Could well Carry; haueing before hear[d that] there was likelyhood hee might procure housrome for some time vntill hee should [r]esolue to settle if hee might there or elswhere as God should dispose for hee [was w]eary of being in that vncoth place and in a poor house that would Neither [keep him n]or his Goods dry soe seeing him to be [a Grave man] and [understood] hee had bin a Minnester [though they had no order for any shuch thing, yet they presumed and brought him. He was here accordingly kindly entertained and housed, and had the rest of his goods and servants sente for, and ex- ercised his gifts amongst them, and afterwards was chosen into the ministrie, and so remained for sundrie years.] [33]
In Annº 1629 a Considerable Number of the bretheren of the Church which were le[ft] in holland were Transported ouer to vs that were of the Church in New England which although it was att About 500"b charge yett it was bourne Chearfully by 1 the [poor bretheren heer Concerned in It; alsoe about that time seuerall Godly pisons; some wherof had bin of m" Laythorps Church in England and others alsoe Came to vs out of England; soe that wee becaime through the Goodnes of God pretty 2 Numerous and were in the best estate Respecting the Church that wee had as yett bine in New England; Althoug for minnestry it was low with vs; ª for as was before Noted; they had Chosen m' Ralph Smith fore Named to be theire Pastour yett hee proued but a [poor] healp" to them in that being but of very weake" p"tes in the [ ] of the Minnestry; onely they had a Great healp by theire Reuer[ed] m' Brewster whoe was well Accomplished with Gifts and G[ ] for such worke; they had alsoe some Good healp by a Godly y[ ] Called m' Roger Williams of whom I would Craue libertie to [ ] a few words;
Mr Roger Williams A man Godly and Zealous (saith m" Brad- [ford] haueing Many p'sious p'tes but very vnsettled in Judgment) Came o[ver first] to the Massachusetts bat vpon some discontent; left that place and Came [hither] where hee was frindly entertained
1 Here "our" is crossed out.
" Here "New" is crossed out.
· Written above "them," crossed out.
" Here something is crossed out.
" Here something is crossed out.
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65
ROGER WILLIAMS DISMISSED FROM PLYMOUTH TO SALEM
according to theire abillitie and exer[cised] his Gifts amonst them; And after some time was Admitted a Member [of the] Church and his teaching well approued for the benifitt thereof (saith h[e) I] Still blesse God and am thankefull to him euen for his sharpest Ad- m[onitions] & Reproffes soe farr as they agreed with truth; hee this yeer fell [into] some strange oppinions; and from oppinion to prac- tice, which caused some Controuersye between the Church and him; and in the end some disconten[t] on his p'te; By occation wherof hee left them somthing abruptly; yett afterwards sued for his dis- mission to the Church of Salem which w[as] Graunted with some Caution to them Concerning him but hee 1 soon fell into more thinges there both to theire and the Gou ments trouble and dis- turbance I shall not need to Name p'ticulars they are to well knowne now to all though for a time the Church here went vnder some hard sensures by his occation from some that afterwards smarted them- selues; But hee is to be pittied and prayed for; And soe I shall leaue the matter and desire the lord to shew him his errors and Re- duce him into the way of truth and Giue him a setled Judgment and Constancy in the same; for I hope hee belongs to the Lord;
Wheras seuerall of those which Came from Leyden Came ouer in the shipps which Came to Salem where m' Indicott had Cheiffe Command and by Infection which Grew amongst the passengers; It spread alsoe in them on shore; of which many died some of the Scirvey and [others of] Infectious 2 feauors which Continewed som- time amon[gst them] though our people through Gods Goodnes escaped vpon wh[ich occasion] hee wrote to Plymouth for some healp vnderstanding that th[ere was one] that had skill that way and had Cu[red divers of the scurvie] and others of other deseases by lett[ing blood and other means] [vp]on which his Request [the Governer here sent him unto them, and also write to him, from whom he received an answere; the which, because it is breefe, and shows the begining of their acquaintance, and closing in the truth and ways of God, I thought it not unmeete, nor without use, hear to inserte it; and another showing the begining of their fellowship and church estate ther.] [94]
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