USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the colonial period. 1492-1692 v. I > Part 7
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
The messengers -" God going along with them " - bore a missive signed by the principal members of the church commending them to favor, and conducted their mission with discretion and propriety ; but as their instructions were not plenary, they soon returned, bearing a letter from Nov. 12, Sir Edwin Sandys4 approving their dilligence and prof- 1617. fering aid. The next month a second embassy was des- Dec. 15, patched,5 with an answer to Sir Edwin's letter, in which, 1617.
1 Bradford, in Chron. Pil., 52-5 ; Hubbard, 44-5.
? For fuller accounts of these gen- tlemen, see the valuable notes ap- pended to Dr. Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims.
3 Gorges, in 3 M. H. Coll., 6. 73. + This letter is in Young's Chron. Pil., 58, and Hubbard, 46.
5 Consisting of John Carver, and " S. B." See Chron. Pil., 66-7.
-
68
NEW AGENTS DESPATCHED.
CHAP. for his encouragement, the exiles say : "We believe a. III. trust the Lord is with us, .... and will graciously prost our endeavors according to the simplicity of our hear therein. We are well weaned from the delicate milk our mother country, and inured to the difficulties of strange and hard land. The people are, for the body (. · them, industrious and frugal .... We are knit together i: a strict and sacred bond and covenant of the Lord, of # violation whereof we make great conscience, and by virtu- whereof we hold ourselves strictly tied to all care of other's goods .... It is not with us, as with others, whom small things can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish themselves at home again." 1
For the information of the Council of the Company, the " requests " of the church were sent, signed by nearly the Jan. 27. whole congregation ; and in a letter to Sir John Wolsten-
1617-8. holme, explanation was given of their "judgments " upon three points named by His Majesty's Privy Council, in which they affirmed that they differed nothing in doctrine, and but little in discipline from the French Reformed Churches, and expressed their willingness to take the Oath of Supremacy, if required, " if that convenient satisfaction be not given by our taking the Oath of Allegiance." 2
The new agents, upon their arrival in England, found the Virginia Company anxious for their emigration to America, and " willing to give them a patent with as ample privi- leges as they had or could grant to any ;" and some of the chief members of the Company " doubted not to obtain their suit of the king for liberty in religion." But the last " proved a harder work than they took it for." Neither James nor his bishops would grant such a request. The "advancement of his dominions," and "the enlargement of the Gospel," his Majesty acknowledged to be " an hon-
2 Bradford, in Chron. Pil., 63-5, in Chron. Pil., 60-1; Hubbard, 47.
1 Bradford, in Prince, 51-2, and
and Winslow, in ibid., 388-91.
المعركة النشيد ت
-
69
THE FINAL AND SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT.
orable motive ; " and " fishing " - the secular business they CHAP. expected to follow -" was an honest trade, the Apostle's III. own calling ;" but for any further liberties, he referred them to the prelates of Canterbury and London. All that could be obtained of the King after the most diligent " sounding," was a verbal promise that " he would connive at them, and not molest them, provided they conducted themselves peaccably : but to allow or tolerate them under his seal," he would not consent.1
With this answer the messengers returned ; and their report was discouraging to the hopes of the exiles. Should they trust their Monarch's word, when bitter experience had taught them the case with which it could be broken ? And yet, reasoned some, " his word may be as good as his bond ; for if he purposes to injure us, though we have a scal as broad as the house-floor, means will be found to recall or reverse it." In this as in other matters, therefore, they relied upon Providence, trusting that distance would prove as effectual a safeguard as the word of a Prince which had been so often forfeited.
Accordingly other agents were sont, 2 to procure a patent, and to negotiate with such merchants as had expressed a willingness to aid them with funds.3 On reaching England, these agents found a division existing in the Virginia Com- pany, growing out of difficulties between Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Edwin Sandys ; and disagrecable intelligence had been received from Virginia of disturbances in the colony which had there been established. For these reasons, little could be immediately effected. At length, after tedious delays, and " messengers passing to and fro," a patent was
May, 1618.
..
Fcb., 1618-9.
1 Bradford, in Prince, 56-7, and many authors. Mr. Brewster very probably took his family with him at this time, and remained in England until his embarkation for America.
in Chron. Pil., 56; Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 382; Morton's Mem., 5 ; Hubbard, 45.
: Robert Cushman, and Wm. 3 Bradford, in Chron. Pil., 57; Brewster : - not Bradford, as in Hubbard, 47.
-
70
A PATENT OBTAINED.
CHAP. obtained, which, by the advice of friends, was taken in th III. name of John Wincob, a gentleman in the family of the
Countess of Lincoln ; and with this document, and the pro- 1619. posals of Mr. Thomas Weston, one1 of the agents returned. and submitted the same to the church for inspection. The nature of these proposals has never transpired, nor is the original patent - the first which the Pilgrims received - known to be in existence. Future inquirers may discover this instrument, as recently other documents have been res- cued from oblivion. We should be glad to be acquainted with its terms, were it only to know definitely the region it embraced. But if ever discovered, we will hazard the conjecture that it will be found to cover territory now included in New York.
Upon the reception of the patent and the accompanying proposals, as every enterprise of the Pilgrims began from God, a day of fasting and prayer was appointed to seek divine guidance ; and Mr. Robinson, whose services were ever appropriate, discoursed to his flock from the words in 1. Sam., Samuel : " And David's men said unto him, Scc, we be 23: 3, 4. afraid here in Judah : how much more if we come to Kei- lah, against the host of the Philistines." Next followed a discussion " as to how many and who should go first." All . were ready and anxious to embark; but funds were wanting to defray their expenses. It was concluded, there- fore, that the youngest and strongest should be the pio- neers of the church, and that the eldest and weakest should follow at a future date. If the Lord "frowned " upon their proceedings, the first emigrants were to re- turn ; but if He prospered and favored them, they were to " remember and help over the ancient and poor." As the cmigrants proved the minority, it was agreed that the pastor should remain in Holland, and that Mr. Brew- ster, the Elder, should accompany those who were to
1 Mr. Cushman. See note 2, p. 69.
71
PREPARATIONS TO LEAVE HOLLAND.
I.ve. Each party was to be an absolute Church in itself ; CHAP. and as any went or came, they were to be admitted to fel- ~ III. lowship without further testimonies. Thus the Church at Plymouth was the first in New England established upon the basis of Independent Congregationalism.1
Early the next spring Mr. Weston visited Leyden to 1620. conclude the arrangements for " shipping and money ;" and Messrs. Carver and Cushman returned with him to England to "receive the money and provide for the voyage." The latter was to tarry in London, and the former was to pro- ceed to Southampton; Mr. Christopher Martin, of Billerrica, in Essex, was to join them; and from the "county of Essex came several others, as also from London and other places."2
Pending these negotiations, the property of those who were to embark was sold, and the proceeds were added to the common fund, with which vessels, provisions, and other necessaries were to be obtained. But Mr. Weston already half repented his engagements, and more inter- ested in trade than in religion, he informed his associates that "sundry honorable lords and worthy gentlemen " were treating for a patent for New England, distinct from the Virginia patent, and advised them to alter their plans, and ally with the new Company. , At the same time their agents sent word that " some of those who should have gone, fell off, and would not go; other merchants and friends that professed to adventure their money, withdrew, and pre- tended many excuses; some disliking they went not to Guiana ; others would do nothing unless they went to Vir- ginia ; and many who were most relied on, refused to adventure if they went thither." Such discouragements would have disheartened men of a less sanguine tempera- ment, and for a time the Pilgrims werc " driven to great
1 Bradford, in Prince, 66; Cot- ton's Way, 16; Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 383.
2 Bradford, in Prince, 66.
-
.
.
72
COMPACT WITH THE MERCHANT ADVENTURERS.
CHAP. straits ;" but as the Patent for New England had not III. passed the Seals, it was deemed useless to linger longer in
1620. uncertainty, anc. they "resolved to adventure with that patent they had." 1
Their greatest hardship was the compact with the mer- chants. The Pilgrims were poor, and their funds were limited. They had no alternative, therefore, but to asso- ciate with others ; and, as often happens in such cases, wealth took advantage of their impoverished condition. By their instructions, the terms on which their agents were to engage with the adventurers were definitely fixed, and no alteration was to be made without consultation. But time was precious ; the business was urgent ; it had already been delayed so long that many were impatient ; and to satisfy the Merchants, who drove their bargain sharply and shrewdly, some changes were made, and by ten tight articles the emigrants were bound to. them for the term of seven years.2 At the end of this period, by the original compact, the houses and improved lands were to belong wholly to the planters ; and cach colonist, having a family to support, was to be allowed two days in each week to labor for their benefit. The last is a liberty enjoyed by " even a Vallachian serf, or a Spanish slave ;"" and the refusal of the Merchants to grant so reasonable a request caused great complaint ; but Mr. Cushman answered per- emptorily that, unless they had consented to the change, " the whole design would have fallen to the ground; and necessity having no law, they were constrained to be silent."4 As it was, it threatened a seven years' check to the pecuniary prosperity of the colony ; but as it did not interfere with their civil or religious rights, it was sub- mitted to with the less reluctance, though never acceptable.
1 Hubbard, 48. 251; and for the names of forty-two of them, see 1 M. HI. Coll .. 3. 48.
' Hubbard, 48-9 ; Hazard, 1. 87- 91; Plym. Col. Laws, 303-4. For an account of the Merchant Adven- turers, see Smith's Gen. Ilist., 2.
3 Sumner, in 3 M. II. Coll., 9. 61. + Hubbard, 50.
-------
-
73
OVERTURES OF THE DUTCH.
At this critical juncture, while the Pilgrims were in such CHAP. Iwrplexity, and surrounded by so many difficulties, the III. Dutch, who were perfectly acquainted with their proceed- 1620. ings, and who could not but be sensible that the patent they had obtained of the Virginia Company, if sanctioned by the government of England, would interfere seriously with their projected West India Company, and with their settle- ment at New Netherland, stepped forward with proposals of the most inviting, and apparently disinterested and lib- eral character. Knowing that but a portion of the church were preparing to embark for America, and that all would be glad to emigrate in a body, overtures were made to Mr. Robinson as pastor, that if he and his flock, and their friends in England, would embark under the auspices of the Lords States General, themselves should be transported to America free of expense, and cattle should be furnished for their subsistence on their arrival. These are the " liberal offers" alluded to in general terms by early Pil- grim writers, and which are uniformly represented as hav- ing originated with the Dutch,1 though recently it has been suggested, and even asserted, that the overtures came from the Pilgrims themselves.2 But there is an inherent improb- ability in this last representation, arising from the fact that much time had been spent in procuring a patent in England, and in negotiating with the Adventurers for the requisite funds ; and an avowed object with the Pilgrims in leaving Holland was to preserve their nationality. They had no motive, therefore, to originate such a proposition,
1 See Bradford, in Chron. Pil. 42, and Winslow, in ibid., 385. But the clearest reference we have seen to these offers, is in the Petition of Plymouth, presented to James II., May 30, 1688, in Vol. 7, Mather, state, notwithstanding any offers MISS .: " We have humbly suppli- cated," says this Document, " for the ... 2 Broadhead's New York, 123-6. confirmation of these lands unto us,
whose predecessors out of that in- nate loyalty engraven on their hearts to their natural prince, could not bear to think of settling themselves and their posterity under a foreign made to them," &c.
7
1
.
74
PETITION OF THE DUTCH MERCHANTS REJECTED.
CHAP. though when made to them by the Dutch, it may have III. proved so attractive, that they were willing to accept it upon certain conditions, of which one was that the govern- ment of Holland should guarantee to protect them.
. This concession was enough for the merchants to act upon. . " They saw at once that so many families going in a body to New Netherland could hardly fail to form a successful colony." But the political part of the question they were unable to decide. "They were ready to expend their capital in carrying the emigrants to New Netherland, and in supplying them with necessaries ; but they had no authority to promise that the Dutch government would afford to the colonists special protection after their arrival there." "They therefore determined to apply directly to the general government at the Hague."
The Prince of Orange was then in the zenith of his Feb. 12, power ; and to him, as stadtholder, the merchants repaired 1619-20. with a memorial, professedly in the name of the " English preacher at Leyden," praying that " the aforesaid preacher and 400 families may be taken under the protection of the United Provinces, and that two ships of war may be sent to secure, provisionally, the said lands to this government, since such lands may be of great importance whenever the West India Company shall be organized."
Apr. 11, 1 1620.
The stadtholder was too wary a politician to approbate immediately so sweeping a proposal, and referred it to the States General. For two months it was before this body, where it was several times discussed ; and finally, after repeated deliberations, it was resolved "peremptorily to reject the prayer of the memorialists." Nor can we doubt the wisdom of the policy which prompted this decision. It was well known in Holland that the English claimed the territory of New Netherland. The Dutch had hitherto been tolerated in settling there, because they had not openly
· interfered with the trade of the English. But should they
-----
75
THE SPEEDWELL AND THE. MAYFLOWER.
now send over a body of English emigrants, under the tri- CHAP colored flag, designed to found a colony for the benefit of the Batavian republic, the prudent foresaw that a collision 1020. would be inevitable, and might result disastrously to the interests of their nation. Mr. Robinson and his associates, though exiles, werc Englishmen, and would be held as such in Holland or in America. Hence, had the Pilgrims emigrated under the auspices of the Dutch, and had James I., demanded of them the allegiance of subjects, they would have been compelled to submit, or the nation which backed them would have been forced into a war. There was wis- dom, therefore, in the policy which rejected the memorial of the merchants.
In consequence of the disaffection of Mr. Weston, there were complaints of his delay in providing the necessary shipping ; but at last the "Speedwell," of sixty tons- miserable misnomer - was purchased in Holland for the use of the emigrants ; and the Mayflower, of one hundred and eighty tons - whose name is immortal - was chartered in England, and was fitting for their reception.1 The cost of the outfit, including a trading stock of £1,700, was but £2,400 :- about $12,000 of the currency of the United States! It marks the poverty of the Pilgrims that their own funds were inadequate to meet such a disbursement ; and it marks the narrowness of the Adventurers that they doled the sum so grudgingly, and exacted such securities for their personal indemnity. There were some generous hearts among the members of this company, - true and tried friends of the exiles in their troubles ; but many of them were illiberal and selfish, and had very little sympathy with the principles of their partners. 2
1 Capt. John Smith says the Speed- well was of 70 tons, and the May- flower of 160. But we follow the statement of Gov. Bradford.
2 The truth of this statement will
appear more fully, when we treat of the proceedings by which their connection with the Adventurers was dissolved. See Chap. 5.
1
-
٠
76
MR. ROBINSON'S FAREWELL SERMON.
CHAP. III. As the time of departure drew near, a day of public humiliation was observed, - the last that the emigrants 1620. kept with their pastor, -and on this memorable occasion Mr. Robinson discoursed to them from the words in Ezra : Ezra, " And there, at the river, by Ahava, I proclaimed a fast, that we might humble ourselves before God, and seek of him a right way for us, and for our children, and for all of our substance." The catholic advice of this excellent man was worthy to be addressed to the FOUNDERS OF NEW ENGLAND.
viii. 21.
" We are now, ere ong, to part asunder ; and the Lord only knoweth whether ever I shall live to see your faces again. But, whether the Lord hath appointed this or not, I charge you, before God and his blessed angels, to follow me no further than I have followed Christ ; and if God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument of his, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry ; and I am confident that the Lord hath more light and truth yet to break forth out of his holy word. For my part, I cannot but bewail the con- dition of the Reformed Churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go no further than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans, for example, cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw ; and whatever part of God's will he hath further imparted to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace ; and so the Calvinists stick where he left them. This is a misery much to be lamented ; for though they were precious shining lights in their times, God hath not revealed his whole will to them; and were they now living, they would be as ready and willing to embrace further light, as that they did receive.
"Remember, also, your church covenant, and especially that part of it whereby you promise and covenant with God and one with another, to receive whatsoever light or truth shall be made known to you from his written word. But
-
1
77
THE PILGRIMS LEAVE LEYDEN.
take heed what you receive for truth, and examine, com_ CHAP. pare, and weigh it well with the Scriptures. It is not pos- III. sible that the Christian world should come so lately out 1620. of such thick anti-christian darkness, and that full perfec- tion of knowledge should break forth at once. Shake off, too, the name of Brownists, for it is but a nickname, and a brand to make religion odious, and the professors of it to the Christian world. And be ready to close with the godly party of the kingdom of England, and rather study union than disunion,- how near you may, without sin, close with them, than in the least manner to affect disunion or separation." 1
At the conclusion of this discourse, those who were to leave were feasted at their pastor's house, where, after " tears," warm and gushing from the fulness of their hearts, the song of praise and thanksgiving was raised; and " truly," says an auditor, "it was the sweetest melody that ever mine ears heard."2 But the parting hour has come ! The Speedwell lics at Delfthaven, twenty-two miles South of Leyden ; and thither the emigrants are accompanied by their friends, and by others from Amsterdam who are present to pray for the success of their voyage. "SO THEY LEFT THAT GOODLY AND PLEASANT CITY, WHICH HAD BEEN THEIR RESTING PLACE NEAR TWELVE YEARS. BUT THEY KNEW THEY WERE PILGRIMS, AND LOOKED NOT MUCH ON THOSE THINGS, AND QUIETED THEIR SPIRITS."
The last night was spent " with little sleep by the most, July 21. but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse, and other real expressions of true Christian love." On the July 22. morrow3 they sailed : "and truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting ; to see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them ; what tears did gush
1 Winslow, in Chron, Pil., 396-7; Neal's Puritans, 1. 269
2 Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 384.
3 Morton and Mather mistake in saying July 2; it was the 22d.
.
-
-----
-
7*
-
78
ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.
CHAP. from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each other's III. hearts ; that sundry of the Dutch strangers, that stood on
1620. the quay as spectators, could not refrain from tears. Yet comfortable and sweet it was to see such lively and true expressions of dear and unfeigned love. But the tide, which stays for no man, calling them away that were thus loth to depart, their reverend pastor, falling down on his knees, and they all with him, with watery cheeks commended them, with most fervent prayers, to the Lord and his blessing ; and then, with mutual embraces, and many tears, they took their leave one of another, which proved to be the LAST LEAVE to many of them." 1
At starting, they gave their friends "a volley of small shot, and three pieces of ordnance;" and so, "lifting up their hands to each other, and their hearts for each other to the Lord God," they set sail, and found his presence with them "in the midst of the manifold straights he carried them through."2 Favored by a prosperous gale, they soon reached Southamp- ton, where lay the Mayflower in readiness with the rest of their company; and after a joyful welcome and mutual con- gratulations, they "fell to parley about their proceedings.""
Aug. 5.
In about a fortnight the Speedwell, commanded by Capt. Reynolds, and the Mayflower, commanded by Capt. Jones,- both having one hundred and twenty passengers on board,- were ready to set out to cross the Atlantic. Overseers of the provisions and passengers were selected ; Mr. Weston and others were present to witness their departure ; and the farewell was said to the friends they were to leave. But "not every cloudless morning is followed by a pleasant day." Scarcely had the two barks 4 left the harbor, ere
-
1 Bradford, in Prince, 70, and in Chron. Pil., 87-8; Morton's Mem., 5-6,
2 Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 384. Letters sent to the emigrants by Mr. Robinson, may be seen in Chron. Pil., 89-96, and Morton's Mem.,6-10.
3 Chron. Pil., 88-9; Morton's Mem.
4 Gorges, in 3 M. H. Coll., 6. 73, errs in saying they sailed in three ships, of which two proved unservice- able.
-
79
DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA.
Capt. Reynolds complained of the leakiness of the Speed- CHAP. well, and both put in at Dartmouth for repairs.1 At the III. end of eight precious days they started again, but had Aug. 13. sailed " only a hundred leagues beyond the land's end," Aug. 21. when the former complaints were renewed, and the vessels put in at Plymouth, where, "by the consent of the whole company," the Speedwell was dismissed; and as the May- flower could accommodate but one hundred passengers, twenty of those who had embarked in the smaller vessel - including Mr. Cushman and his family - were compelled to return ; and matters being ordered with reference to this arrangement, " another sad parting took place."
Finally, after the lapse of two more precious weeks, the Sep. G. Mayflower, " freighted with the destinies of a continent," and having on board one hundred passengers, -resolute men, women and children, -"loosed from Plymouth,"- "her inmates having been kindly entertained and cour- teously used by divers friends there dwelling ; " - and, with the wind " east-north-east, a fine small gale," was soon far at sea.
1 Capt. Jno. Smith, N. Eng. has never before been published in Trials, 13, says " the next day," or Aug. 6 ; but Prince, 71, says Aug. 13. ? The charge of " timidity " and " discouragement " preferred against the twenty who returned, is incor- rect. It was by the "consent of the whole " that they tarried behind. In a work published at London, in 1846, from the pen of Samuel, Lord Bp.of Oxford,and entitled a "History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America," I find extracts which pur- port to be from a MS. Hist. of the Plym. Plant., in the Fulham Libra- ry, which, from their similarity to the extracts in Morton and Prince from Gov. Bradford's Hist. of the Colony, I am led to hope may result in the discovery of this long lost, but eminently desirable MS. The following, from p. 62, purporting to be a letter written on board the Speedwell, contains matter which
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.