USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 13
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 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
I would now demand of any what hee was the worse for any former sufferings what doe I say the worse Nay surely hee was the 1 better and they now aded to his honor* ? [89]
It is 3
Christian and beloued Reader I humbly Craue Libertie heer to Interpose a few lines in this vacant place of this book Concerning an other passage of Gods Prouidence as followeth; Not longe after the decease of our Reuerend Elder m' William Brewster And the Reuerent M' John Reiner left alone in the minnestrey The Church saw Cause to adde vnto him; 5 another Ruleing Elder and Pitched theire thoughts on M' Thomas Cushman whoe was the son of that worthy servant of Christ M' Robert Cushman of whom honorable mension is elswher made in this Book; the said M' Cushman Jun": being by Generall Consent aproued elected and ordained to that worthy office and function for which hee was Competently fited and prepared by the Lord; and " Longe after his election Itt appeered that there was Great Nessetie of this gracious healp; for our Teacher leaueing vs as is alsoe elswhere mensioned; troubles Came on apace Not to mension againe the troubles which were occationed by some of the Church of Barnstable which was blowne vp by John Cooke and others fore Named There arose a prverse sect Called Quakers whose tenetts and principles (if I may soe call them) are . and may ezely be demonstrated to be heretticall and abominable; and then and att seuerall other times did strike att the very being (or att least the welbeing of the Church soe as) it was much Indan- gered But the Lord healped vs vnanimously to withstand these
1 Here a word is crossed out.
" The sketch of Brewster is continued on p. [40] of the text, or p. 78 of this volume.
* Here the words "a manife" are crossed out, as should also have been the words "It is."
. Here a word is crossed out.
" Here "an" is crossed out.
. Here "Not" is crossed out.
" The reference is to p. [37] of the text, or pp. 72-73 of this volume.
p. 371
77
THOMAS CUSHMAN AN INSTRUMENT AGAINST THE QUAKERS
Incendiarys of mischiffe; soe as by the mutuall and faithfull healp of this our worthy and beloued Elder with the Concurrance of seuerall other of the bretheren; Itt plased the Lord to 1 vphold vs in our In- tegrety and in a Constant withstanding and opposeing of those horred and damable tenetts; although wee were att this time as sheep without a minesteryall Shephard; and diuers of our ablest brethern fallen asleep in the Lord; to our Great losse and detriment; yee att such a time alsoe as this efficacy of delusion grew very preuelent to the pruerting and turning aside of diuers outsyde proffessors from the wayes of God; and wee desire this specialty of Gods good proui- dence and protextion; may Neuer be forgotten but that the Lord may haue all the praise and Glory thereof; for how ezely might these woulues in sheep clotheing haue Ruined this poor flock of Christ, if the Lord had not Interposed with his Almighty power and Goodnes; Improeing this our Good Elder as a speciall Instrument in this worthy worke both by teackeing the will of God euery Lords; day for a Considerable time both plainly pouerfully and profittable and seconding the same by a blamles life and Conversation; blessed be his holy Name foreuer and euer; In a word this blessed servant of Christ is a good man (as was " said of Barnabas) ' & full of the holy Goast; expressed by both Commication " and Conversation; " and hath bin a good healp to this poor flock of Christ and being striken in yeers and noe doubt Reddy prepared for the Coming of his Lord; stands Redy for his Gracious Recompence of Reward which is layed vp for all those that loue his appeering;
Good Reader lett not the Reading of this digression hinder the serious Reading of what followes in the following pages Respecting our other beloued Elder M' Brewster fore Named; (or what else is enserted in this booke) the blame of the misplaceing of this discours in this page I willingly owne take & 6 to be my ouersight and weak- nes of Memory; I pray you take Notice of the starrs placed the one att the foot of the foregoeing page and the other to the head of the following page; and they will bring you into youer way againe; and
1 Here "hold" is crossed out.
" Here the words "and is" are interlined and crossed out.
* Here the words "was & is full" are interlined and crossed out.
4 Perhaps "Commitation."
" Here the words "being now stricken in yeers" are crossed out.
" Here "take" is crossed out.
78
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
if 1 euer this book be either Transcribed or printed I hope it wilbe Remembered to be enserted in it Right place; [40]
* It 2 is a manifest token saith the Apostle 2 thesalonians 1: 5: 6: 7: of the Righteouse Judgment of God that wee may be Counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which yee alsoe suffer seing it is a Righteouse thing with God to Recompence tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you whoe are troubled Rest with vs when the Lord Jesus shalbe Reveiled from heauen with his mighty angells; and 1 peter 4th: 14 If you be Reproched for the Name of Christ happy are yee for the sperit of God and of Glory Resteth vpon you;
What tho hee wanted the Riches and pleasures of the world in his life and Pompiouse moniments att his funerall yett the memo- riall of the Just shalbe Blessed when the Name of the wicked shall Rott; prou: 10: 7:
I should say somthing of his life; if to say a little were not worse then to be silent But I Can not wholy forbear; tho happily more may be don heerafter; after hee had Attained some learning viz: the knowledge of the lattine toungue and some Insight in the Greeke; and spent some smale time att Cambridge; and then being first seasoned with the seeds of Grace; and vertue hee went to the Court and serued that Religious and Godly Gentleman m' dauison diuers yeers when hee was Secretary of State whoe found him soe discreet and faithfull as hee trusted him aboue all other that were about him; and onely Imployed him in matters of Greatest Trust and Secrecye; hee esteemed him Rather as a son then a servant and for his wisdom and Godlines (in private) hee would Converse with him more like a famillyar then a Master; hee Attended his master when hee was sent in Ambassage by the Queen; into the Low Countryes (in the Earle of Lecesters time) as for other waighty affaires of State; soe to Receive posession of the Cautionary townes; 3 and in token and signe therof the kees of fflushing being delivered to him
1 Here a word is crossed out.
" The sketch of Brewster is continued from p. [38] of the text, or p. 76 of this volume.
" "The town of Flushing, the Castle of Ramakins in Zealand, and Brill in Holland, which were held by way of caution from the United Provinces, to in- sure their dependency upon England, the King resolved to render them up, as being meerly cautionary" (Rushworth, Historical Collections, 1659, i. 3). They were held from 1584 to 1616, when they were surrendered by James I.
79
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF WILLIAM BREWSTER
in her Mation Name; hee kept them some time and Comitted them to his servant; whoe kept them vnder his pillow on which hee slept the first night; and att his Returne the states honored him with a Gould Chaine and his Master Comitted it to him and Comaunded him to weare it as they 1 ariued in England as they Rode through the Country vntill they Came to the Court; hee afterwards Re- mained with him vntill his troubles when hee was put from his place about the death of the Queen of Scots and some Good time after doeing him many offices of service in the time of his troubles; after- wards hee went and liued in the Country in Good esteeme amongst his frinds and the Good Gentlmen of those prtes especially the Godly and Religious; hee? did much Good in the Country where hee liued in promoting and furthering Religion; and not onely by his practice and example and prouoking and Incurraging of others; but by procuring of Good preachers to the places therabouts and draw- ing on of others to Assist and healp to ' forward in such a worke; hee himself most Comonly deepest in the Charge; and somtims aboue his Abillitie, and in this State hee Continued many yeers doeing the best Good hee Could; and walking according to the light hee saw vntill the Lord Reveiled further vnto him; and in the end by the tirany of the Bishopps against Godly preachers and people in silenceing the one and prsecuting the other; hee and many more of those times began to looke further into p'ticulars and to see into the vnlawfulnes of theire Callings and the burden of many Anti- christian Corruptions; which both hee and they Indeauored to Cast of; as they alsoe did; as in the beginning of this treatis is to be seen;‘ after they were Joyned together into Comunion; hee was a speciall stay and healp to them they ordinarily mett att his house on the lords day (wh was a manor of the Bishopps) and with Great loue hee entertained them when they Came makeing prouision for them to 5 his Great Charge and Continewed soe to doe whiles they Could stay in England; and when they were to Remoue on out of the Countrey hee was one of the first in all adventures and forwardest
1 Here "Rid" is crossed out.
2 Something is here crossed out.
* Here the words "Assist and healp" are crossed out.
' See p. 13, above.
" Here "the" is crossed out.
-
80
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
D. 6: 7:1
in any hee was the Cheife of those that were taken att Boston in lincolnesheire and suffered the Greatest lose; and of the seven that were kept longest in prison and after boun[d] [41] bound ouer to the Assises After hee Came into holland hee suffered much hard- shipp after hee had spent the most of his meanes haueing a Great Charge and Many Children; and in Regard of his former breeding and Course not soe fitt for many Imployments as others were, es- pecially such as were toilsome and laboriouse yett hee euer bore his Condition with much Cheerfulnes and Contentation towards the latter p'te of those 12 yeers spent in holland his outward Condition- was mended and hee liued well and plentifully for hee fell into a way by Reason hee had the lattin toungue to teach many students whoe had a desire to Learne the English tongue to teach them English and by his Meathod they quickley Attained it with great facillitie for hee drue Rules to learne it by after the lattine manor; and many Gentlemen both danes and Germaines Resorted to him as they had time from other studdies some of them being Great mens sons hee alsoe had meanes to sett vp printing (by the healp of some frinds and soe had Imployment enough and by Reason of many bookes which would not be allowed to be printed in England they might haue had more then they Could doe; But now Remoueing into this Coun- try all these thinges were layed ? Aside againe and a new Course of liueing must be framed vnto In which hee was Noe way vnwilling to take his p'te and to beare his burden with the Rest liueing Many times without bread or Corne many monthes together; haueing Many times Nothing but ffish and often wanting that alsoe; and drank Nothing but water for many years together yee vntill within fiue or six yeers of his death; and yett hee liued (by the blessing of God) in health vntill very old age and besides that hee would labour with his hands in the feilds as longe as hee was Able; yett when the Church had noe other Minnester hee taught twise euery sabbath and that both powerfully and profittably to the Great Contentment of the hearers and theire Comfortable edification yee many were brought to God by his Minnestry; hee did more in this behalfe in a yeer; then many that haue theire hundreds a yeer doe in all theire liues; for his p"sonall Abillities hee was quallifyed aboue many; hee was
1 The reference is to pp. [6-7] of the text, or pp. 16-17 of this volume.
? Here a word is crossed out.
81
CHARACTER OF WILLIAM BREWSTER
wise and discreet and well spoken haueing a Graue deliberate vtter- ance; of a very Cheerfull speritt very sociable and pleasent amonst his frinds of an humble and modest mind of a 1 peacable disposition vndervallueing him selfe and his owne abillities and somtimes ouervalluing others Innofensiue and Innocent in his life and Con- versation which Gained him the loue of those without as well as those within; yett hee would tell them plainly of theire faults and euills both publickly and privately But in'such a manor as vsually was well taken from him; hee was tender harted and Compassionate of such as were in Missery but especially of such as had bin of Good estate and Ranke and were fallen into want & pouertie either for Goodnes and Religions sake or by. the Injury and oppression of others; hee would say of all men these deserued to be most pittied; and none did more offend and displease him then such as would haughtely and proudly Carry and lift vp themselues being Risen from Nothing; and haueing little else in them but a few fine Clothes or a little Riches more then others; In Teaching hee was very stir- ing and moueing the affections alsoe very plaine and distinct in what hee taught; by which means hee became the More profitable to the hearers hee had a singulare Good Gift in prayer both publick and private in Riping vp the hart and Consience be fore God in the humble Confession of sin and beging the mercyes of God in Christ for the p'don therof hee alwayes thought it2 were better for Min- nesters to pray oftener and devid theire prayers then to be longe and tediouse in the same except vpon sollemne and speciall occations as on dayes of humilliation and the like, his Reason was that the ª hart and speritts of all especially the weake Could hardly Continew and stand bent (as it were) for longe towards God as'they ought to doe in that duty without flaging and falling of; for the Gou ment of the Church which was most proper to his office; hee was Care- full to preserue [12] preserue Good order in the same and to pre- serue puritie both in the doctrine and Comunion of the same and to suppresse any errour or Contention that might begin to Arise amongst them and accordly God Gaue good successe to his In- deauors heerin all his dayes and hee saw the fruite of his labours in
1 Here "pleasant" is crossed out.
. ' Here a word, perhaps "more," is crossed out.
' Here "hart" is crossed out.
1
82
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
that behalf but I must break off haueing thus touched a few heads 1 of thinges 2
I Can not but heer take occation not onely to mension but Greatly to Admire the marvelous prouidence of God that Notwithstanding * the many Changes and hardshipps that this poor Church and people went through; and the many enimies they had and difficulties they mett withall that soe many of them should liue to very old age Itt was not onely this Reuerend mans Condition but many more of them did the like; " some dieing about and before this time and many still liueing whoe attained to sixty years of age and to sixty fiue diuers to 70 and aboue; and some Neare 80 as hee did It must needs be more then ordinary and aboue Naturall Reason that it should be for it is found in experience that Change of aire famine or vnwhol- some ffood much drinking of water sorrowes and troubles &c: all of them are enimies to health Causes of many deseacs Consumers of Naturall vigour and the bodyes of men and shortenors of life; and yett of all these thinges they had a large p'te and suffered deeply in the same they went from England to holland where they found both worse aire and diett when5 they Came from thence Induring a longe Imprisonment as it were in the shipps att sea into New England and how it hath bin with them heer hath alreddy bin showen and what Crosses troubles feares wants and sorrowes they haue bin lyable vnto is easey to Conjecture soe as in some sort they may say with the Apostle 2 Cor: 11: 26 27 "They were in Journeyings often in p'rills of waters in p'rills of Robers in p'rill[s] of theire owne Nation in p'rills amonge the heathen in p'rills in the wildernes in p'rills in the sea in p'rills amongst ffalce bretheren in wearines and painfulnes in watching oftens in hunger and thirst in fasting oftens in Could and Nakednes."
What was it that vpheld them; It was Gods visittation that vpheld their speritt[s] Job the 10th and 12 Thou hast Giuen mee life and Grace and thy visitation hath preserued my speritt hee that vpheld the apostle vpheld them they were p'secuted but not forsaken Cast
1 Here a word is crossed out.
" This sketch of Brewster is printed in Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, pp. 461-469.
' Altered from "Notwithstandinging."
" Here a word is crossed out.
" Altered from "then."
83
DEACONS FULLER, MASTERSON, AND BLOSSOM
downe but perished not 2 Cor 4: 9: as vnknowne and yett knowne as dying and behold wee liue; as Chasted and yett not killed
God it seemes would haue all men to behold and obserue such mersyes and workes of his Prouidence as these are towards his people that they in like Cases might b[e] Incurraged to depend vpon God in theire tryalls and alsoe to blesse his Name when "they see his Goodnes towards others; Man liues not by bread onely" dutrino: 8: 3 It is not by Good and dainty fare by peace and Rest and harts ease in Injoying the Contentments and Good thinges of this world onely that preserues health and prolonges life God in such examples would haue the world see and behold that hee Can doe it without them; and if the world will shutt theire eyes and take noe Notice therof; yett hee would haue his people to see and Consider daniell Could be better likeing with pulse then others were with the kinges dainties Jacob tho hee went from one Nation to another people and passed through famine feares and 1 many afflictions yett hee liued vntill old age and died sweetly and Rested in the lord; as many others of Gods servants haue don and still shall doe; through Gods Goodnes Notwithstanding all the Mallice of theire enimies when the Branch of the wicked shalbe Cutt of before his day Job 15: 32: And the bloody and 2 deseitfull men shall not liue half theirs dayes: Psa: 55: 23:
When the Church Came away out of holland they brought with about the them one deacon M' Samuell ffuller whoe officiated in that office year 1626 not amongst them vntill his death hee was a Good man and full of the holy speritt; hee died before our Reuerend Elder before Named; And the Church saw Cause to Chose two others to that office: (viz:) Richard Masterson and Thomas Blossom two holy men; whoe were experienced saints; the said Richard Masterson haueing bin officious with p'te of his estate for publick Good; and a man of Abilitie as a second steuen to defend the truth by sound argument Grounded on the scriptures of truth; and the other alsoe & Competently accom- plished with abillities in that behalfe these two blessed saints liued not longe after they were Cosen but Changed this life for a better within a little time one after another; [48]
1 Here "wants" is crossed out.
" Here "deceigh " is crossed out.
. Here a word is crossed out.
84
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
1044
Many haueing left this place (as is before noted) by Reason of the straightnes and barrenes of the same and theire finding of better accomodations elswhere more suitable to theire ends and minds; and sundry others still vpon euery 1 occation desiring theire dis- missons the Church began seriously to think whether it were not better Joyntly to Remoue to some other place then to be this weak- ened, and as it were Insensibly desolued many meetings and much Consultation was held therabouts; and diuers mens minds and oppinions some were still for staying together in this place (viz: wher Plymouth was then seated) alledging men might heer liue" if they would be Content with theire Condition and that it was not for want or Nessesitie soe much that they Remoued as to Inrich them selues, others were Resolute vpon Remouall and soe signifyed that heer they Could not stay but if the Church did not Remoue they must ' In soe much as many were swayed Rather then there should be a desolution to Condecend to a Remouall, if a fitt place Could be found that might more Conveniently and Comfortably Receiue the whole with such accession of others as might Come to them for theire better strength and subsistence and some such like Cautions and limitations; soe as with the aforsaid prouisoes a Greater p'te Consented to a Remouall to a place Called Nawsett which had bin superffishally .viewed; and the Good will of the purchassers (To whom it belonged) obtained with some addition therto from the Court, But now they began to see theire ' errour that they had Giuen away alreddy the best and most Comodious places to others and Now wanted them; them selues for this place was about 50 miles from hence; and att an outside of the Country Remote from all societie; alsoe that it would proue soe straight as it would not be Competent to Receive the body much less to be Capeable of Any addition or Increase soe as att least in a short time they should be worse there then they were Now heer these with sundry other like Considerations and Inconveniencies made them Chang theire Resolu- tions, but such as were before Resolued vpon Remouall tooke ad- vantage of this Agreement and went on Notwithstanding Neither
1 Here some letters are crossed out.
" Written above "find," crossed out.
" Here a word is crossed out.
" Here a word or letter is crossed out.
85
CHURCH ORGANIZED AT EASTHAM
could the Rest hinder them they haueing made some begining; and thuse was this poor Church left like an Ancient Mother Growne old and forsaken of her Children (tho Not in theire affections) yett in Regard of theire bodily prsence and p"sonall healpfulnes; her ancient members being most of them worn away by death; and these of latter times being like Children translated into other families; and shee like a widdow left onely to trust in God thuse shee that had made many Rich, became her selfe poor;
The Principall of the Members that then Remoued was that the third honorable Gentleman m" Thomas Prence whoe went away with seuerall others of the Church who were very desirable and they be- came a body of themselues destinct from the Church of Plymouth, and settled att Nausett; by them Named Eastham; and in some succes of time being destitute of Minnestry 1 there being two in office of minestry att Barnstable, they obtained M" John Mayo the Reuerend Teacher of that ? Church; to Goe ouer to them, and hee became theire Teacher; afterwards; which is sad to Relate) some differences and Controuersies falling out amongst them, M' Mayo left them and went to Boston; and was in office in the Minnestrey in the second Church of [Boston wherof & Reuerend M' Mather is Teacher; but the said M' Mayo Growing aged " and vnable to Carry on his office hee Remoued into this Collonie; and liued neare Yar- mouth and Not longe after, fell asleep in the lord; after these thinges m' Barnabas Chauncye was sollisetted to Goe ouer to healp them but hee being a weake man and Insuffient for such worke, soon left them, and seuerall of the members of theire Church, went away to New Garnsey; Neuer the lesse it pleased God to Raise them vp an- other one M" Samuell Treate, a Godly able man; whoe hath and doth Carry on the worke of the lord amongst them; soe as they Remaine an exemplary fflock of Christ att this day; [44]
By the vnderworkeings of some enimies to the Churches in New England the following Comission was procured of his Mate Charles the first Kinge of England &c: wherby the Reader may vnderstand, enimies haue bin att worke formerly to destroy that plante which
1 Here a word, perhaps "ther," is crossed out.
" Here a word is crossed out.
' Here "m"" is crossed out.
' Here "hee" is crossed out.
Church which it were out of our bowel
.
86
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
was planted by the Lords Right in this Wildernes What the Reason was that it was not put in execution I Can not learne M' Bradford is altogether silent Concerning it; surely it was the lords work in a speciall manor; and it is and ought to be Marueilous in our eyes and wee ought to Render praises to his holy Name for the same; I haue transcribed it into this book that after ages may Improue it as an experiment of Gods Goodnes to this poor Church att Plymouth whoe with the other Churches In New England was In as Great danger to share 1 in drinking as deep of this bitter Cupp as any other; if the Lord had not preuented it; in a way to mee vnknowne;
Charles By the Grace of God Kinge of England Scotland ffrance And Ireland defender of the ffaith &c:
To the most Reuerend father in Christ our welbeloued and faithfull counceller Willam by divine Prouidence Archbishopp of Canterberry of all England primate metrepollitant; Thomas Lord Couentrey keeper of our Great seale of England; The most Reuerent father in Christ our welbeloued and most faithfull Counceller Richard By divine Prouidence Archbishop of Yorge Primate and Metrepolitan; our welbeloued and most ffaithfull Coussens and Councellers Richard Earle of Portland our high Treasurer of England; Henery Earle of Manchester keeper of our privye seal; Thomas Earle of Aroundell and Surrey Earle Marshall of England; Edward Earle of dorcett Chamberline of our deare Consort the Queen; and our beloued and faithfull Councellers ffrancis Lord Cottington Counceller and vnder Treasurer of our Exchequer; Sir Thomas Edmonds Knight Treasurer of our houshold Sir Henery Vane Knight Controuler of the same houshold Sir John Cooke Knight one of our privie Secretaryes and Sir ffrancis Windebank Knight another of our privie Secretaryes Greeting;
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.