OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION
by William Bradford
1620-1647 Book Two / pp. 227 - 266
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 227
But he perverts ye truth in this as in other things,
for ye Lord" hath as well appoynted them to con-
verte, as to feede in their several I charges; and he
wrongs ye church to say other wise. Againe, he
saith he was taxed for preaching to all in gen-
erall. This is a meere untruth, for this dissembler
knows that every Lords day some are appointed to
visite suspected places, & if any be found idling and
neglecte ye hearing of ye word, (through idlnes or
profanes,) they are punished for ye same. Now to
procure all to come to hear, and then to blame him
for preaching to all, were to play ye mad men.
[129] 6. Next (he saith) they have had no min-
istrie since they came, what soever pretences they
make, &c. We answer, the more is our wrong, that
our pastor is kept from us by these mens means,
and then reproach us for it when they have done.
Yet have we not been wholy distitute of ye means of
salvation, as this man would make ye world beleeve;
for our reved Elder hath laboured diligently in dis-
pencing the word of God unto us, before he came;
and since hath taken equalle pains with him selfe
in preaching the same; and, be it spoaken without
ostentation, he is not inferriour to Mr. Lyford ( &
some of his betters) either in gifts or larning,
though he would never be perswaded to take higher
office upon him. Nor ever was more pretended in
this matter. For equivocating, he may take it to
228 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
him selfe; what ye church houlds, they have mani-
fested to ye world, in all plaines, both in open
confession, doctrine, & writing.
This was ye sume of ther answer, and hear I will
let them rest for ye presente. I have bene longer
in these things then I desired, and yet not so long
as the things might require, for I pass many things
in silence, and many more deserve to have been
more largly handled. But I will returne to other
things, and leave ye rest to its place.
The pinass that was left sunck & cast away near
Damarins-cove, as is before showed, some of ye fish-
ing maisters said it was a pity so fine a vessell
should be lost, and sent them word that, if they
would be at ye cost, they would both directe them
how to waygh her, and let them have their car-
penters to mend her. They thanked them, & sente
men aboute it, and beaver to defray ye charge,
(without which all had been in vaine). So they gott
coopers to trime, I know not how many tune of
cask, and being made tight and fastened to her at
low-water, they boyed her up; and then with many
hands hald her on shore in a conveniente place wher
she might be wrought upon; and then hired sundrie
carpenters to work upon her, and other to saw
planks, and at last fitted her & got her home. But
she cost a great deale of money, in thus recovering
her, and buying riging & seails for her, both now
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 229
and when before she lost her mast; so as she proved
a chargable vessell to ye poor plantation. So they
sent her home, and with her Lyford sent his last
letter, in great secrecie; but ye party intrusted with
it gave it ye Govr.
The winter was passed over in ther ordinarie
affairs, without any spetiall mater worth noteing;
saveing that many who before stood something of
from ye church, now seeing Lyfords unrighteous deal-
ing, and malignitie against ye church, now tendered
them selves to ye church, and were joyned to ye
same; proffessing that it was not out of ye dislike
of any thing that they had stood of so long, but a
desire to fitte them selves beter for such a state, and
they saw now ye Lord cald for their help. [130]
And so these troubls prodused a quite contrary effecte
in sundrie hear, then these adversaries hoped for.
Which was looked at as a great worke of God, to
draw on men by unlickly means; and that in reason
which might rather have set them further of. And
thus I shall end tills year.
Anno Dom: 1625.
AT ye spring of ye year, about ye time of their
Election Court, Oldam came againe amongst them; and
though it was a part of his censure for his former
mutinye and miscariage, not to returne without leave
first obtained, yet in his dareing spirite, he presumed
230 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
without any leave at all, being also set on & hardened
by ye ill counsell of others. And not only so, but
suffered his unruly passion to rune beyond ye limits
of all reason and modestie; in so much that some
strangers which came with him were ashamed of his
outrage, and rebuked him; but all reprofes were but
as oyle to ye fire, and made ye flame of his coller
greater. He caled them all to nought, in this his
mad furie, and a hundred rebells and traytors, and
I know not what. But in conclusion they comited
him till he was tamer, and then apointed a gard of
musketers wch he was to pass throw, and ever one
was ordered to give him a thump on ye brich, with
ye but end of his musket, and then was conveied to
ye water side, wher a boat was ready to cary him
away. Then they bid him goe & mende his maners.
Whilst this was a doing, Mr. William Peirce and
Mr. Winslow came up from ye water side, being come
from England; but they were so busie with Oldam,
as they never saw them till they came thus upon
them. They bid them not spare either him or Liford,
for they had played ye vilans with them. But that I
may hear make an end with him, I shall hear once
for all relate what befell concerning him in ye future,
& yt breefly. After ye removall of his familie from
hence, he fell into some straits, (as some others did,)
and aboute a year or more afterwards, towards win-
ter, he intended a vioage for Virginia; but it so
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 231
pleased God that ye barke that caried him, and many
other passengers, was in that danger, as they dis-
paired of life; so as many of them, as they fell to
prayer, so also did they begine to examine their con-
sciences [131] and confess such sins as did most
burthen them. And Mr. Ouldame did make a free
and large confession of ye wrongs and hurt he had
done to ye people and church here, in many pertic-
ulers, that as he had sought their mine, so God had
now mette with him and might destroy him; yea, he
feared they all fared ye worce for his sake; he prayed
God to forgive him, and made vowes that, if ye Lord
spard his life, he would become otherwise, and ye
like. This I had from some of good credite, yet
living in ye Bay, and were them selves partners in
the same dangers on ye shoulds of Cap-Codd, and
heard it from his owne mouth. It pleased God to
spare their lives, though they lost their viage; and
in time after wards, Ouldam caried him selfe fairly
towards them, and acknowledged ye hand of God to
be with them, and seemed to have an honourable
respecte of them; and so farr made his peace with
them, as he in after time had libertie to goe and
come, and converse with them, at his pleasure. He
went after this to Virginia, and had ther a great sick-
nes but recovered and came back againe to his familie
in ye Bay, and ther lived till some store of people
came over. At lenght going a trading in a smale ves-
232 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
sell among ye Indians, and being weakly mand, upon
some quarell they knockt him on ye head with a
hatched, so as he fell downe dead, & never spake
word more. 2. litle boys that were his kinsmen were
saved, but had some hurte, and ye vessell was strangly
recovered from ye Indeans by another that belonged
to ye Bay of Massachusets; and this his death was
one ground of the Pequente warr which followed.
I am now come to Mr. Lyford. His time being
now expired, his censure was to take place. He was
so farre from answering their hopes by amendmente
in ye time, as he had dubled his evill, as is before
noted. But first behold ye hand of God conceiring
him, wherin that of ye Psalmist is verified. Psa:
7. 15. He hath made a pitte, & digged it, and is
fallen into the pitte he made. He thought to bring
shame and disgrace upon them, but in stead therof
opens his owne to all ye world. For when he was
delte with all aboute his second letter, his wife was
so affected with his doings, as she could no longer
conceaill her greefe and sorrow of minde, but opens
ye same to one of their deacons & some other of her
freinds, & after uttered ye same to Mr. Peirce upon
his arrivall. Which was to this purpose, that she
feared some great judgment of God would fall upon
them, and upon her, for her husbands cause; now
that they were to remove, she feared to fall into ye
Indeans hands, and to be defiled by them, as he had
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 233
defiled other women; or some shuch like [132] judg-
mente, as God had threatened David, 2. Sam. 12.11.
I will raise up evill against ye, and will take thy
wives & give them, &c. And upon it showed how
he had wronged her, as first he had a bastard by
another before they were maried, & she having some
inkling of some ill cariage that way, when he was
a suitor to her, she tould him what she heard,
& deneyd him; but she not certainly knowing ye
thing, other wise then by some darke & secrete mut-
erings, he not only stifly denied it, but to satisfie
her tooke a solemne oath ther was no shuch matter.
Upon which she gave consente, and maried with him;
but afterwards it was found true, and ye bastard
brought home to them. She then charged him with
his oath, but he prayed pardon, and said he should
els not have had her. And yet afterwards she could
keep no maids but he would be medling with them,
and some time she hath taken him in ye manner, as
they lay at their beds feete, with shuch other cir-
cumstances as I am ashamed to relate. The woman
being a grave matron, & of good cariage all ye while
she was hear, and spoake these things out of ye sor-
row of her harte, sparingly, and yet wth some further
intimations. And that which did most seeme to
affecte her (as they conceived) was, to see his for-
mer cariage in his repentance, not only hear with
ye church, but formerly about these things; sheding
234 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
tears, and using great & sade expressions, and yet
eftsone fall into the like things.
Another thing of ye same nature did strangly con-
curr herewith. When Mr. Winslow & Mr. Peirce were
come over, Mr. Winslow informed them that they had
had ye like bickering with Lyfords freinds in England,
as they had with him selfe and his freinds hear,
aboute his letters & accusations in them. And many
meetings and much clamour was made by his freinds
theraboute, crying out, a minister, a man so godly, to
be so esteemed & taxed they held a great skandale,
and threated to prosecute law against them for it.
But things being referred to a further meeting of most
of ye adventurers, to heare ye case and decide ye mat-
ters, they agreed to chose 2. eminente men for mod-
erators in the bussines. Lyfords faction chose Mr.
White, a counselor at law, the other parte chose Reved.
Mr. Hooker, ye minister, and many freinds on both
sids were brought in, so as ther was a great assemblie.
In ye mean time, God in his providence had detected
Lyford's evill cariage in Ireland to some freinds amongst
ye company, who made it knowne to Mr. Winslow, and
directed him to 2. godly and grave witnesses, who would
testifie ye same (if caled therunto) upon their oath.
The thing was this; he being gott into Ireland, had
wound him selfe into ye esteeme of sundry godly &
zelous profess ours in those parts, who, having been
burthened with ye ceremonies in England, found ther
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 235
some more liberty to their consciences; amongst whom
were these 2. men, which gave [133] this evidence.
Amongst ye rest of his hearers, ther was a godly yonge
man that intended to marie, and cast his affection on
a maide which lived their aboute; but desiring to chose
in ye Lord, and preferred ye fear of God before all
other things, before he suffered his affection to rune too
farr, he resolved to take Mr. Lyfords advise and judg-
mente of this maide, (being ye minister of ye place,)
and so broak ye matter unto him; & he promised
faithfully to informe him, but would first take better
knowledg of her, and have private conferance with her;
and so had sundry times; and in conclusion comended
her highly to ye yong man as a very fitte wife for him.
So they were maried togeather; but some time after
mariage the woman was much troubled in mind, and
afflicted in conscience, and did nothing but weepe and
mourne, and long it was before her husband could get
of her what was ye cause. But at length she dis-
covered ye thing, and prayed him to forgive her, for
Lyford had overcome her, and defiled her body before
marriage, after he had comended him unto her for
a husband, and she resolved to have him, when he
came to her in that private way. The circumstances
I forbear, for they would offend chast ears to hear
them related, (for though he satisfied his lust on her,
yet he indeaoured to hinder conception.) These things
being thus discovered, ye womas husband tooke some
236 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
godly freinds with him, to deale with Liford for this
evill. At length he confest it, with a great deale of
seeming sorrow & repentance, but was forct to leave
Irland upon it, partly for shame, and partly for fear
of further punishmente, for ye godly withdrew them
selves from him upon it; and so coming into England
unhapily he was light upon & sente hither.
But in this great assembly, and before ye moderators,
in handling ye former matters aboute ye letters, upon
provocation, in some heate of replie to some of Lyfords
defenders, Mr. Winslow let fall these words, That he
had delte knavishly; upon which on of his freinds
tooke hold, & caled for witneses, that he cald a minister
of ye gospell knave, and would prosecute law upon it,
which made a great tumulte, upon which (to be shorte)
this matter broke out, and the witnes were prodused,
whose persons were so grave, and evidence so plaine,
and ye facte so foule, yet delivered in such modest
& chast terms, and with such circumstances, as strucke
all his freinds mute, and made them all ashamed; inso-
much as ye moderators with great gravitie declared
that ye former matters gave them cause enough to
refuse him & to deal with him as they had done, but
these made him unmeete for ever to bear ministrie any
more, what repentance soever he should pretend; with
much more to like effecte, and so wisht his freinds to
rest quiete. Thus was this matter ended.
From hence Lyford wente to Natasco, in ye Bay of
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 237
ye Massachusets, with some other of his freinds with
him, wher Oldom allso lived. From thence he removed
to Namkeke, since called Salem; but after ther came
some people over, wheather for hope of greater profite,
or what ends els I know not, he left his freinds that
followed him, and went from thence to Virginia, wher
he shortly after dyed, and so I leave him to ye Lord.
His wife afterwards returned againe to this cuntry, and
thus much of this matter.
[134] This storme being thus blowne over, yet sun-
drie sad effects followed ye same; for the Company
of Adventurers broake in peeces here upon, and ye
greatest parte wholy deserted ye colony in regarde of
any further supply, or care of their subsistance. And
not only so, but some of Lyfords & Oldoms freinds,
and their adherents, set out a shipe on fishing, on
their owne accounte, and getting ye starte of ye ships
that came to the plantation, they tooke away their
stage, & other necessary provisions that they had made
for fishing at Cap-Anne ye year before, at their great
charge, and would not restore ye same, excepte they
would fight for it. But ye Govr sent some of ye planters
to help ye fisher men to build a new one, and so let
them keepe it. This shipe also brought them some
small supply, of little value; but they made so pore
a bussines of their fishing, (neither could these men
make them any returne for ye supply sente,) so as, after
this year, they never looked more after them.
238 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
Also by this ship, they, some of them, sent (in ye
name of ye rest) certaine reasons of their breaking of
from ye plantation, and some tenders, upon certaine con-
ditions, of reuniting againe. The which because they
are longe & tedious, and most of them aboute the former
things already touched, I shall omite them; only give-
ing an instance in one, or tow. 1. reason, they charged
them for dissembling with his majestie in their petition,
and with ye adventurers about ye French discipline, &c.
2ly, for receiving* a man ! into their church, that in
his conffession renownced all, universaIl, nationall, and
diocessan churches, &c., by which (say they) it appears,
that though they deney the name of Browists, yet they
practiss ye same, &c. And therfore they should sine
against God in building up such a people.
Then they adde: Our dislikes thus laid downe, that
we may goe on in trade wth better contente & credite,
our desires are as followeth. First, that as we are
partners in trade, so we may be in Govrt ther, as the
patente doth give us power, &c.
2. That the French discipline may be practised in the
plantation, as well in the circumstances theirof, as in ye
substance; wherby ye scandallous name of ye Brownists,
and other church differences, may be taken away.
3. Lastly, that Mr. Robinson and his company may
not goe over to our plantation, unless he and they
*Receive in the manuscript.
! This was Lyford himselfe.
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 239
will reconcile themselves to our church by a recantation
under their hands, &c.
Their answer in part to these things was then as
foloweth.
Wheras you taxe us for dissembling with his majestie &
ye adventurers aboute ye French discipline, you doe us wrong,
for we both hold & practice ye discipline of ye French & other
reformed churches, (as they have published ye same in ye
Harmony of Confessions,) according to our means, in effecte
& substance. But wheras you would tye us to the French
discipline in every circumstance, you derogate from ye libertie
we have in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paule would have
none to follow him in any thing but wherin he follows Christ,
much less ought any Christian or church in ye world to doe
it. The French may erre, we may erre, and other churches
may erre, and doubtless doe in many circumstances. That
honour therfore belongs only to ye infallible word of God,
and pure Testamente of Christ, to be propounded and fol-
lowed as ye only rule and pattern for direction herin to all
churches & Christians. And it is too great arrogancie for
any man, or church [135] to thinke yt he or they have so
sounded ye word of God to ye bottome, as precislie to sett
downe ye churches discipline, without error in substance or
circumstance, as yt no other without blame may digress or
differ in any thing from ye same. And it is not difficulte to
shew, yt the reformed churches differ in many circumstances :
amongest them selves.
The rest I omitte, for brevities sake, and so leave to
prosecute these men or their doings any further, but
shall returne to ye rest of their freinds of ye company,
wch stuck to them. And I shall first inserte some part
240 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
of their letters as followeth; for I thinke it best to ren-
der their minds in ther owne words.
To our loving freinds, &c.
Though the thing we feared be come upon us, and ye evill
we strove against have overtaken us, yet we cannot forgett
you, nor our freindship and fellowship which togeather we
have had some years; wherin though our expressions have
been small, yet our harty affections towards you (unknown
by face) have been no less then to our nearest freinds, yea,
to our owne selves. And though this your freind Mr. Wins-
low can tell you ye state of things hear, yet least we should
seeme to neglecte you, to whom, by a wonderfull providence
of God, we are so nearly united, we have thought good once
more to write unto you, to let you know what is here befallen,
and ye resons of it; as also our purposes & desirs toward you
for hereafter.
The former course for the generalitie here is wholy dis-
solved from what it was; and wheras you & we were for-
merly sharers and partners, in all viages & deallings, this way
is now no more, but you and we are left to bethinke our
sellves what course to take in ye future, that your lives &
our monies be not lost.
The reasons and causes of this allteration have been these.
First and mainly, ye many losses and crosses at sea, and
abuses of sea-men, wch have caused us to rune into so much
charge, debts, & ingagements, as our estats & means were
not able to goe on without impoverishing our selves, except
our estats had been greater, and our associats cloven beter
unto us. 2ly, as here hath been a faction and siding amongst
us now more then 2. years, so now there is an uter breach
and sequestration amongst us, and in too parts of us a full
dissertion and forsaking of you, without any intente or pur-
pose of medling more with you. And though we are per-
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 241
swaded the maine cause of this their doing is wante of
money, (for neede wherof men use to make many excuses,)
yet other things are pretended, as that you are Brownists,
&c. Now what use you or we ought to make of these things,
it remaineth to be considered, for we know ye hand of God to
be in all these things, and no doubt he would admonish some
thing therby, and to looke what is amise. And allthough it
be now too late for us or you to prevent & stay these things,
yet it is* not to late to exercise patience, wisdom, and con-
science in bearing them, and in caring our selves in & under
them for ye time to come.
[136] And as we our selves stand ready to imbrace all
occasions that may tend to ye furthrance of so hopefull a
work, rather admiring of what is, then grudging for what is
not; so it must rest in you to make all good againe. And
if in nothing else you can be approved, yet let your honestie
& conscience be still approved, & lose not one jote of your
innocencie, amids your crosses & afflictions. And surly if
you upon this allteration behave your selves wisly, and goe
on fairly, as men whose hope is not in this life, you shall
need no other weapon to wound your adversaries; for when
your righteousnes is revealled as ye light, they shall cover
their faces with shame, that causlesly have sought your over-
throw.
Now we thinke it but reason, that all such things as ther
apertaine to the generall, be kept & preserved togeather, and
rather increased dayly, then any way be dispersed or imbeseled
away for any private ends or intents whatsoever. And after
your necessities are served, you gather togeather such comodi-
ties as ye cuntrie yeelds, & send them over to pay debts &
clear ingagements hear, which are not less then 1400li. And
we hope you will doe your best to free our ingagements, &c.
Let us all indeavor to keep a faire & honest course, and see
*Is it not in the MS.
242 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
what time will bring forth, and how God in his providence
will worke for us. We still are perswaded you are ye people
that must make a plantation in those remoate places when all
others faile and returne. And your experience of Gods provi-
dence and preservation of you is such as we hope your harts
will not faile you, though your freinds should forsake you
(which we our selves shall not doe whilst we live, so long
as your honestie so well appereth). Yet surly help would
arise from some other place whilst you waite on God, with
uprightnes, though we should leave you allso.
And lastly be you all intreated to walke circumspectly, and
carry your selves so uprightly in all your ways, as yt no man
may make just exceptions against you. And more espetially
that ye favour and countenance of God may be so toward you,
as yt you may find abundante joye & peace even amids tribu-
lations, that you may say with David, Though my father &
mother should forsake me, yet ye Lord would take me up.
We have sent you bear some catle, cloath, hose, shoes,
leather, &c., but in another nature then formerly, as it stood
us in hand to doe; we have comitted them to ye charge
& custody of Mr. Allerton and Mr. Winslow, as our factours,
at whose discretion they are to be sould, and comodities to
be taken for them, as is fitting. And by how much ye more
they will be chargable unto you, the better* they had need to
be husbanded, &c. Goe on, good freinds, comfortably, pluck
up your spirits, and quitte your selves like men in all your
difficulties, that notwithstanding all displeasure and threats of
men, yet ye work may goe on you are aboute, and not be
neglected. Which is so much for ye glorie of God, and the
furthrance of our countrie-men, as that a man may with
more comforte [137] spend his life in it, then live ye life
of Mathusala, in wasting ye plentie of a tilled land, or eating
ye fruite of a growne tree. Thus with harry salutations to
*Bet- in MS.
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 243
you all, and harty prayers for you all, we lovingly take our
leaves, this 18. of Des: 1624.
Your assured freinds to our powers,
J. S. W. C. T. F. R. H. &c.
By this leter it appears in what state ye affairs of ye
plantation stood at this time. These goods they bought,
but they were at deare rates, for they put 40. in ye hun-
dred upon them, for profite and adventure, outward
bound; and because of ye vnture of ye paiment home-
ward, they would have 30.* in ye 100. more, which was
in all 70. pr. cent; a thing thought unreasonable by some,
and too great an oppression upon ye poore people, as their
case stood. The catle were ye best goods, for ye other
being ventured ware, were neither at ye best (some of
them) nor at ye best prises. Sundrie of their freinds
disliked these high rates, but coming from many hands,
they could not help it.
They sent over also 2. ships on fishing on their owne
acounte; the one was ye pinass that was cast away ye last
year hear in ye cuntrie, and recovered by ye planters, (as
was before related,) who, after she came home, was at-
tached by one of ye company for his perticuler debte, and
now sent againe on this accounte. The other was a great
ship, who was well fitted with an experienced mr. & com-
pany of fisher-men, to make a viage, & to goe to Bilbo
or Sabastians with her fish; the lesser, her order was
*If I mistake not, it was not much less. [30li in the manuscript.]
244 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
to load with cor-fish, and to bring the beaver home for
England, yt should be received for ye goods sould to ye
plantation. This bigger ship made a great viage of good
drie fish, the which, if they had gone to a market wth,
would have yeelded them (as such fish was sould yt
season) 1800li. which would have enriched them. But
because ther was a bruite of warr with France, ye mr.
neglected (through timerousnes) his order, and put first
into Plimoth, & after into Portsmouth, and so lost their
opportunitie, and came by the loss. The lesser ship had
as ill success, though she was as hopfull as ye other for
ye marchants profite; for they had fild her with goodly
cor-fish taken upon ye banke, as full as she could swime;
and besids she had some 800li. weaight of beaver, besids
other furrs to a good value from ye plantation. The mr.
seeing so much goods come, put it abord ye biger ship,
for more saftie; but Mr. Winslow (their factor in this
busines) was bound in a bond of 500li. to send it to Lon-
don in ye smale ship; ther was some contending between
ye mr. & him aboute it. But he tould ye mr. he would
follow his order aboute it; if he would take it out after-
ward, it should be at his perill. So it went in ye smale
ship, and he sent bills of lading in both. The mr. was
so carfull being both so well laden, as they went joyfully
home togeather, for he towed ye leser ship at his sterne
all ye way over bound, and they had such fayr weather
as he never cast her of till they were shott deep in to
ye English Chanell, almost within ye sight of Plimoth;
1625.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 245
and yet ther she was unhaply taken by a Turks man
of warr, and carried into Saly, wher ye mr. and men
were made slaves, and many of ye beaver skins were
sould for 4d. a peece. [138] T hus was all their hops
dasht, and the joyfull news they ment to cary home
turned to heavie tidings. Some thought this a hand of
God for their too great exaction of ye poore plantation,
but Gods judgments are unseerchabIe, neither dare I be
bould therwith; but however it shows us ye uncertainty
of all humane things, and what litle cause ther is of
joying in them or trusting to them.
In ye bigger of these ships was sent over Captine Stan-
dish from ye plantation, wth leters & instructions, both
to their freinds of ye company which still clave to them,
and also to ye Honourable Counsell of New-England.
To ye company to desire yt seeing that they ment only
to let them have goods upon sale, that they might have
them upon easier termes, for they should never be able
to bear such high interest, or to allow so much per cent;
also that what they would doe in yt way that it might
be disburst in money, or such goods as were fitte and
needful1 for them, & bought at best hand; and to
aquainte them with ye contents of his leters to ye Counsell
above said, which was to this purpose, to desire their
favour & help; that such of ye adventurers as had thus
forsaken & deserted them, might be brought to some
order, and not to keepe them bound, and them selves be
free. But that they might either stand to ther former
246 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
covenants, or ells come to some faire end, by dividente,
or composition. But he came in a very bad time, for
ye Stat was full of trouble, and ye plague very hote in
London, so as no bussines could be done; yet he spake
with some of ye Honourd Counsell, who promised all
helpfullnes to ye plantation which lay in them. And
sundrie of their freinds ye adventurers were so weakened
with their losses ye last year, by ye losse of ye ship
taken by the Turks, and ye loss of their fish, wch by rea-
son of ye warrs they were forcte to land at Portsmouth,
and so came to litle; so as, though their wills were
good, yet theyr power was litle. And ther dyed such
multituds weekly of ye plague, as all trade was dead,
and litle money stirring. Yet with much adooe he
tooke up 150li. (& spent a good deal of it in expences)
at 50. per cent. which he bestowed in trading goods
& such other most needfull comodities as he knew
requiset for their use; and so returned passenger in
a fhishing ship, haveing prepared a good way for ye
compossition that was afterward made.
In ye mean time it pleased ye Lord to give ye plan-
tation peace and health and contented minds, and so to
blese ther labours, as they had corne sufficient, (and
some to spare to others,) with other foode; neither ever
had they any supply of foode but what they first brought
with them. After harvest this year, they sende out
a boats load of corne 40. or 50. leagues to ye east-
ward, up a river called Kenibeck; it being one of those
1626.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 247
2. shalops which their carpenter had built them ye year
before; for bigger vessell had they none. They had
laid a litle deck over her midships to keepe ye corne
drie, but ye men were faine to stand it out all weathers
without shelter; and yt time [139] of ye year begins to
growe tempestious. But God preserved them, and gave
them good success, for they brought home 700li, of beaver,
besids some other furrs, having litle or nothing els but
this corne, which them selves had raised out of ye earth.
This viage was made by Mr. Winslow & some of ye old
standards,* for seamen they had none.
Anno Dom: 1626.
ABOUT ye begining of Aprill they heard of Captain
Standish his arrivall, and sent a boat to fetch him home,
and ye things he had brought. Welcome he was, but
ye news he broughte was sadd in many regards; not
only in regarde of the former losses, before related,
which their freinds had suffered, by which some in a
maner were undon, others much disabled from doing
any further help, and some dead of ye plague, but also
yt Mr. Robinson, their pastor, was dead, which struck
them with much sorrow & sadnes, as they had cause.
His and their adversaries had been long & continually
plotting how they might hinder his coming hither, but
ye Lord had appointed him a better place; concerning
*First written as in the text, then altered to standerss,
248 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
whose death & the maner therof, it will appere by
these few lines write to ye Govr. & Mr. Brewster.
Loving & kind frinds, &c. I know not whether this will
ever come to your hands, or miscarie, as other my letters have
done; yet in regard of ye Lords dealing with us hear, I have
had a great desire to write unto you, knowing your desire to
bear a parte with us, both in our joyes, & sorrows, as we doe
wth you. These are therfore to give you to understand, that
it hath pleased the Lord to take out of this vaell of tears,
your and our loving & faithfull pastor, and my dear & Reved
brother, Mr. John Robinson, who was sick some 8. days. He
begane to be sick on Saturday in ye morning, yet ye next day
(being the Lords day) he taught us twise. And so ye weeke
after grew weaker, every day more then other; yet he felt
no paine but weaknes all ye time of his sicknes. The phisick
he tooke wrought kindly in mans judgmente, but he grew
weaker every day, feeling litle or no paine, aud sensible to
ye very last. He fell sicke ye 22. of Feb: and departed this
life ye 1. of March. He had a continuall inwarde ague, but
free from infection, so yt all his freinds came freely to him.
And if either prayers, tears, or means, would have saved his
life, he had not gone hence. But he having faithfully finished
his course, and performed his worke which ye Lord had
appointed him here to doe, he now resteth with ye Lord
in eternall hapines. We wanting him & all Church Govrs,
yet we still (by ye mercie of God) continue & hould close
togeather, in peace and quietnes; and so hope we shall doe,
though we be very weake. Wishing (if such were ye will of
God) that you & we were againe united togeather in one,
either ther or here; but seeing it is ye will of ye Lord thus
to dispose of things, we must labour wth patience to rest
contented, till it please ye Lord otherwise to dispose. For
[140] news, is here not much; only as in England we have
1626.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 249
lost our old king James, who departed this life aboute a
month agoe, so here they have lost ye old prince, Grave
Mourise; who both departed this life since my brother Robin-
son. And as in England we have a new-king Charls, of
whom ther is great hope, so hear they have made prince
Hendrick Generall in his brothers place, &c. Thus with my
love remembred, I take leave & rest,
Your assured loving freind,
ROGER WHITE.
Leyden, Aprill 28.
Ano: 1625.
Thus these too great princes, and their pastor, left this
world near aboute one time. Death maks no difference.
He further brought them notice of ye death of their
anciente freind, Mr. Cush-man, whom ye Lord tooke
away allso this year, & aboute this time, who was as their
right hand with their freinds ye adventurers, and for
diverce years had done & agitated all their bussines with
them to ther great advantage. He had write to ye Gover
but some few months before, of ye sore sicknes of Mr.
James Sherley, who was a cheefe freind to ye plantation,
and lay at ye pointe of death, declaring his love & help-
fullnes, in all things; and much bemoned the loss they
should have of him, if God should now take him away,
as being ye stay & life of ye whole bussines. As allso his
owne purposs this year to come over, and spend his days
with them. But he that thus write of anothers sicknes,
knew not yt his owne death was so near. It shows allso
that a mas ways are not in his owne power, but in his
250 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
hands who hath ye issues of life and death. Man may
purpose, but God doth dispose.
Their other freinds from Leyden writ many leters to
them full of sad laments for ther heavie loss; and though
their wills were good to come to them, yet they saw no
probabilitie of means, how it might be effected, but con-
cluded (as it were) that all their hopes were cutt of; and
many, being aged, begane to drop away by death.
All which things (before related) being well weighed
and laied togither, it could not but strick them with great
perplexitie; and to looke humanly on ye state of things
as they presented them selves at this time, it is a marvell
it did not wholy discourage them, and sinck them. But
they gathered up their spirits, and ye Lord so helped
them, whose worke they had in hand, as now when they
were at lowest* they begane to rise againe, and being
striped (in a maner) of all humane helps and hops, he
brought things aboute other wise, in his devine provi-
dence, as they were not only upheld & sustained, but
their proceedings both honoured and imitated by others;
as by ye sequell will more appeare, if ye Lord spare me
life & time to declare ye same.
Haveing now no fishing busines, or other things to
intend, but only their trading & planting, they sett them
selves to follow the same with ye best industrie they
could. The planters finding their corne, what they could
spare from ther necessities, to be a comoditie, (for they
*Note.
1626.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 251
sould it at 6s. a bushell,) used great dilligence in planting
ye same. And ye Gover and such as were designed to
manage the trade, (for it was retained for ye generall
good, [141] and none were to trade in perticuler,) they
followed it to the best advantage they could; and want-
ing trading goods, they understoode that a plantation
which was at Monhigen, & belonged to some marchants
of Plimoth was to breake up, and diverse usefull goods
was ther to be sould; the Gover and Mr. Winslow tooke
a boat and some hands and went thither. But Mr. David
Thomson, who lived at Pascataway, understanding their
purpose, tooke oppertunitie to goe with them, which was
some hinderance to them both; for they, perceiveing their
joynte desires to buy, held their goods at higher rates;
and not only so, but would not sell a parcell of their
trading goods, excepte they sould all. So, lest they
should further prejudice one an other, they agreed to buy
all, & devid them equally between them. They bought
allso a parcell of goats, which they distributed at home
as they saw neede & occasion, and tooke corne for them
of ye people, which gave them good content. Their
moyety of ye goods came to above 400li. starling. Ther
was allso that spring a French ship cast away at Saca-
fahock, in wch were many Biscaie ruggs & other comodi-
ties, which were falen into these mens hands, & some
other fisher men at Damerins-cove, which were allso ,
bought in partnership, and made their parte arise to
above 500li. This they made shift to pay for, for ye most
252 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
part, with ye beaver & comodities they had gott ye winter
before, & what they had gathered up yt somer. Mr.
Thomson having some thing overcharged him selfe, de-
sired they would take some of his, but they refused
except he would let them have his French goods only;
and ye marchant (who was one of Bristol) would take
their bill for to be paid ye next year. They were both
willing, so they became ingaged for them & tooke them.
By which means they became very well furnished for
trade; and tooke of therby some other ingagments wch
lay upon them, as the money taken up by Captaine
Standish, and ye remains of former debts. With these
goods, and their corne after harvest, they gott good store
of trade, so as they were enabled to pay their ingage-
ments against ye time, & to get some cloathing for ye
people, and had some comodities before hand. But now
they begane to be envied, and others wente and fild ye
Indeans with corne, and beat downe ye prise, giveing
them twise as much as they had done, and under traded
them in other comodities allso.
This year they sent Mr. Allerton into England, and
gave him order to make a composition with ye adventur-
ers, upon as good termes as he could (unto which some
way had ben made ye year before by Captaine Standish);
but yet injoyned him not to conclud absolutly till they
knew ye termes, and had well considered of them; but
to drive it to as good an issew as he could, and referr
ye conclusion to them. Also they gave him a comission
1626.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 253
under their hands & seals to take up some money, pro-
vided it exeeded not such a sume specified, for which
they engaged them selves, and gave him order how to
layout ye same for ye use of ye plantation.
And finding they rane a great hazard to goe so long
viages in a smale open boat, espetialy ye winter season,
they begane to thinke how they might gett a small
pinass; as for ye reason afforesaid, so also because
others had raised ye prise with ye lndeans above ye
halfe of what they had formerly given, so as in such
a boat they could not [143*] carry a quantity suffi-
cient to answer their ends. They had no ship-carpen-
ter amongst them, neither knew how to get one at
presente; but they having an ingenious man that was
a house carpenter, who also had wrought with ye ship
carpenter (that was dead) when he built their boats,
at their request he put forth him selfe to make a triall
that way of his skill; and tooke one of ye bigest of
ther shalops and sawed her in ye midle, and so lenth-
ened her some 5. or 6. foote, and strengthened her
with timbers, and so builte her up, and laid a deck
on her; and so made her a conveniente and wholsome
vessell, very fitt & comfortable for their use, which
did them servise 7. years after; and they gott her
finished, and fitted with sayles & anchors, ye insuing
year. And thus passed ye affairs of this year.
*Here occurs another error in the paging of the original; 142 is omitted.
254 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
Anno Dom: 1627.
AT ye usuall season of ye coming of ships Mr. Aller-
ton returned, and brought some usfull goods with him,
according to ye order given him. For upon his com-
mission he tooke up 200li. which he now gott at 30.
per cent. The which goods they gott safly home,
and well conditioned, which was much to the comfort
& contente of ye plantation. He declared unto them,
allso, how, with much adoe and no small trouble, he
had made a composition with ye adventurers, by the
help of sundrie of their faithfull freinds ther, who had
allso tooke much pains ther about. The agreement or
bargen he had brought a draught of, with a list of ther
names ther too annexed, drawne by the best counsell
of law they could get, to make it firme. The heads
wherof I shall here inserte.
To all Christian people, greeting, &c. Wheras at a meeting
ye 26. of October last past, diverse & sundrie persons, whose
names to ye one part of these presents are subscribed in a
schedule hereunto annexed, Adventurers to New-Plimoth in
New-England in America, were contented and agreed, in con-
sideration of the sume of one thousand and eight hundred
pounds sterling to be paid, (in maner and forme folling,) to
sell, and make sale of all & every ye stocks, shares, lands,
marchandise, and chatles, what soever, to ye said adventurers,
and other ther fellow adventurers to New Plimoth aforesaid,
any way accruing, or belonging to ye generalitie of ye said
adventurers aforesaid; as well by reason of any sume or sumes
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION 255
of money, or marchandise, at any time heretofore adventured
or disbursed by them, or other wise howsoever; for ye better
expression and setting forth of which said agreemente, the
parties to these presents subscribing, doe for [144] them selves
severally, and as much as in them is, grant, bargan, alien, sell,
and transfere all & every ye said shares, goods, lands, mar-
chandice, and chatles to them belonging as aforesaid, unto
Isaack Alerton, one of ye planters resident at Plimoth affore-
said, assigned, and sent over as agente for ye rest of ye
planters ther, and to such other planters at Plimoth afforesaid
as ye said Isack, his heirs, or assignes, at his or ther arrivall,
shall by writing or otherwise thinke fitte to joyne or partake
in ye premisses, their heirs, & assignes, in as large, ample,
and beneficiall maner and forme, to all intents and purposes,
as ye said subscribing adventurers here could or may doe, or
performe. All which stocks, shares, lands, &c. to the said
adven: in severallitie alloted, apportioned, or any way belong-
ing, the said adven: doe warrant & defend unto the said
Isaack Allerton, his heirs and assignes, against them, their
heirs and assignes, by these presents. And therfore ye said
Isaack Allerton doth, for him, his heirs & assigns, covenant,
promise, & grant too & with ye adven: whose names are here
unto subscribed, ther heirs, &c. well & truly to pay, or cause
to be payed, unto ye said adven: or 5. of them which were, at
yt meeting afforsaid, nominated & deputed, viz. John Pocock,
John Beachamp, Robart Keane, Edward Base, and James
Sherley, marchants, their heirs, &c. too and for ye use of ye
generallitie of them, the sume of 1800li. of lawfull money
of England, at ye place appoynted for ye receipts of money
on the west side of ye Royall Exchaing in London, by 200li.
yearly, and every year, on ye feast of St. Migchell, the first
paiment to be made Ano: 1628. &c. Allso ye said Isaack is
to indeavor to procure & obtaine from ye planters of N. P.
aforesaid, securitie, by severall obligations, or writings oblig-
256 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
atory, to make paiment of ye said sume of 1800li. in forme
afforsaid, according to ye true meaning of these presents. In
testimonie wherof to this part of these presents remaining with
ye said Isaack Allerton, ye said subscribing adven: have sett
to their names,* &c. And to ye other part remaining with
ye said adven: the said Isaack Allerton hath subscribed his
name, ye 15. Novbr. Ano: 1626. in ye 2. year of his Majesties
raigne.
*Below are the names of the adventurers subscribed to this paper, taken
from Bradford's Letter-Book, 1 Mass. Hist. ColI., III. 48; being forty-two in
number. The names of six of these persons are found subsequently among
the members of the Massachusetts Company, viz. John White, John Pocock,
Thomas Goffe, Samuel Sharpe, John Revell, and Thomas Andrews. Mr.
Haven, who edited the Records of the Massachusetts Company, is of opinion
that the first person on the list is the celebrated clergyman of Dorchester, the
reputed anthor of the Planter's Plea. Emnu. Alltham is probably the same
person named in the Council Records, under date January 21, 1622-3 : "Emanuel
Altum to command the Pinnace built for Mr. Peirce's Plantation." Smith
speaks of "Captaine Altom" as commanding this vessell, but Morton says the
name of the master of the Little James was Mr. Bridges, who it appears was
drowned at Damariscove, in March, 1624. See ColI. of the Amer. Antiq. Soc.,
III. 26, 62, Preface; Felt's MS. Memoranda from the Council Records; Smith's
Generall Historie, p. 239; Morton's Memorial, p. 48.
John White, Samuel Sharpe, Thomas Hudson,
John Pocock, Robert Holland, Thomas Andrews,
Robert Kean, James Sherley, Thomas Ward,
Edward Bass, Thomas Mott, Fria. Newbald,
William Hobson, Thomas Fletcher, Thomas Heath,
William Penington, Timothy Hatherly, Joseph Tilden,
William Quarles, Thomas Brewer, William Perrin,
Daniel Poynton, John Thorned, Eliza Knight,
Richard Andrews, Myles Knowles, Thomas Coventry,
Newman Rookes, William Collier, Robert Allden,
Henry Browning, John Revell, Lawrence Anthony,
Richard Wright, Peter Gudburn, John Knight,
John Ling, Emnu. Alltham, Matthew Thornhill,
Thomas Goffe, John Beanchamp, Thomas Millsop.
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 257
This agreemente was very well liked of, & approved
by all ye plantation, and consented unto; though they
knew not well how to raise ye payment, and discharge
their other ingagements, and supply the yearly wants
of ye plantation, seeing they were forced for their
necessities to take up money or goods at so high in-
trests. Yet they undertooke it, and 7. or 8. of ye
cheefe of ye place became joyntly bound for ye pai-
mente of this 1800li. (in ye behalfe of ye rest) at ye
severall days. In which they rane a great adventure,
as their present state stood, having many other heavie
burthens allready upon them, and all things in an un-
certaine condition amongst them. So ye next returne
it was absolutly confirmed on both sids, and ye bargen
fairly ingrossed in partchmente and in many things put
into better forme, by ye advice of ye learnedest counsell
they could gett; and least any forfeiture should fall on
ye whole for none paimente at any of ye days, it rane
thus: to forfite 30s. a weeke if they missed ye time;
and was concluded under their hands & seals, as may
be seen at large by ye deed it selfe. I
[145] Now though they had some unto warde per-
sons mixed amongst them from the first, which came
out of England, and more afterwards by some of ye
adventurers, as freindship or other affections led them,
-- though sundrie were gone, some for Virginia, and
some to other places, -- yet diverse were still mingled
amongst them, about whom ye Gover & counsell with
258 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
other of their cheefe freinds had serious consideration,
how to setle things in regard of this new bargen or
purchas made, in respecte of ye distribution of things
both for ye presente and future. For ye present, ex-
cepte peace and union were preserved, they should be
able to doe nothing, but indanger to over throw all,
now that other tyes & bonds were taken away. Ther-
fore they resolved, for sundrie reasons, to take in all
amongst them, that were either heads of families, or
single yonge men, that were of abillity, and free, (and
able to governe them selvs with meete descretion, and
their affairs, so as to be helpfull in ye comone-welth,)
into this partnership or purchass. First, yey consid-
ered that they had need of men & strength both for
defence and carrying on of bussinesses. 2ly, most of
them had borne ther parts in former miseries & wants
with them, and therfore (in some sort) but equall to
partake in a better condition, if ye Lord be pleased to
give it. But cheefly they saw not how peace would
be preserved without so doing, but danger & great dis-
turbance might grow to their great hurte & prejudice
other wise. Yet they resolved to keep such a mean in
distribution of lands, and other courses, as should not
hinder their growth in others coming to them.
So they caled ye company togeather, and conferred
with them, and came to this conclusion, that ye trade
should be managed as before, to help to pay the debts;
and all such persons as were above named should be
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 259
reputed and inrouled for purchasers; single free men
to have a single share, and every father of a familie to
be alowed to purchass so many shares as he had per-
sons in his family; that is to say, one for him selfe,
and one for his wife, and for every child that he had
living with him, one. As for servants, they had none,
but what either their maisters should give them out
of theirs, or their deservings should obtaine from ye com-
pany afterwards. Thus all were to be cast into single
shares according to the order abovesaid; and so every
one was to pay his part according to his proportion
towards ye purchass, & all other debts, what ye profite
of ye trade would not reach too; viz. a single man for
a single share, a maister of a famalie for so many as
he had. This gave all good contente. And first ac-
cordingly the few catle which they had were devided,
which arose to this proportion; a cowe to 6. persons
or shars, & 2. goats to ye same, which were first
equalised for age & goodnes, and then lotted for;
single persons consorting with others, as they thought
good, & smaler familys likwise; and swine though
more [146] in number, yet by ye same rule. Then
they agreed that every person or share should have
20. acres of land devided unto them, besids ye single
acres they had allready; and they appoynted were to
begin first on ye one side of ye towne, & how farr to
goe; and then on ye other side in like maner; and
so to devid it by lotte; and appointed sundrie by
260 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
name to doe it, and tyed them to certaine ruls to pro-
ceed by; as that they should only layout settable or
tillable land, at least such of it as should butt on ye
water side, (as ye most they were to layout did,) and
pass by ye rest as refuse and comune; and what they
judged fitte should be so taken. And they were first
to agree of ye goodnes & fitnes of it before the lott
was drawne, and so it might as well prove some of
ther owne, as an other mans; and this course they
were to hould throwout. But yet seekeing to keepe
ye people togither, as much as might be, they allso
agreed upon this order, by mutuall consente, before
any lots were cast: that whose lotts soever should fall
next ye towne, or most conveninte for nearnes, they
should take to them a neigboure or tow, whom they
best liked; and should suffer them to plant corne with
them for 4. years; and afterwards they might use as
much of theirs for as long time, if they would. Allso
every share or 20. acers was to be laid out 5. acres
in breadth by ye water side, and 4. acres in lenght,
excepting nooks & corners, which were to be measured
as yey would bear to best advantage. But no meadows
were to be laid out at all, nor were not of many years
after, because they were but streight of meadow grounds;
and if they had bene now given out, it would have
hindred all addition to them afterwards; but, every
season all were appoynted. wher they should mowe,
according to ye proportion of catle they had. This
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 261
distribution gave generally good contente, and setled
mens minds. Also they gave ye Gover & 4. or 5. of
ye spetiall men amongst them, ye houses they lived in;
ye rest were valued & equalised at an indiferent rate,
and so every man kept his owne, and he that had a
better alowed some thing to him that had a worse, as
ye valuation wente.
Ther is one thing that fell out in ye begining of ye
winter before, which I have refferred to this place, that
I may handle ye whole matter togeither. Ther was a
ship, with many passengers in her and sundrie goods,
bound for Virginia. They had lost them selves at sea,
either by ye insufficiencie of ye maister, or his ilnes;
for he was sick & lame of ye scurvie, so that he could
but lye in ye cabin dore, & give direction; and it should
seeme was badly assisted either wth mate or mariners;
or else ye fear and unrulines of ye passengers were such,
as they made them stear a course betweene ye southwest
& ye norwest, that they might fall with some land,
what soever it was they cared not. For they had been
6. weeks at sea, and had no water, nor beere, nor any
woode left, but had burnt up all their emptie caske;
only one of ye company had a hogshead of wine or 2.
which was allso allmost spente, so as they feared they
should be starved at sea, or consumed with diseases,
which made them rune this desperate course. But it
plased God that though they came so neare ye shoulds
of Cap-Codd [147] or else ran stumbling over them in
262 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
ye night, they knew not how, they came right before
a small blind harbore, that lyes about ye midle of Mana-
moyake Bay, to ye southward of Cap-Codd, with a small
gale of wind; and about highwater toucht upon a barr
of sand that lyes before it, but had no hurte, ye sea
being smoth; so they laid out an anchore. But towards
the eveing the wind sprunge up at sea, and was so
rough, as broake their cable, & beat them over the barr
into ye harbor, wher they saved their lives & goods,
though much were hurte with salt water; for wth beating
they had sprung ye but end of a planke or too, & beat
out ther occome; but they were soone over, and ran
on a drie flate within the harbor, close by a beach; so
at low water they gatt out their goods on drie shore,
and dried those that were wette, and saved most of
their things without any great loss; neither was ye ship
much hurt, but shee might be mended, and made ser-
visable againe. But though they were not a litle glad
that they had thus saved their lives, yet when they had
a litle refreshed them selves, and begane to thinke on
their condition, not knowing wher they were, nor
what they should doe, they begane to be strucken
with sadnes. But shortly after they saw some Indians
come to them in canows, which made them stand
upon their gard. But when they heard some of ye
Indeans speake English unto them, they were not a
litle revived, especially when they heard them demand
if they were the Gover of Plimoths men, or freinds;
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 263
and yt they would bring them to ye English houses, or
carry their letters.
They feasted these Indeans, and gave them many
giftes; and sente 2. men and a letter with them to ye
Gover, and did intreat him to send a boat unto them
with some pitch, & occume, and spiks, wth divers other
necessaries for ye mending of ther ship (which was re-
coverable). Al1so they besought him to help them with
some corne and sundrie other things they wanted, to
enable them to make their viage to Virginia; and they
should be much bound to him, and would make satis-
faction for any thing they had, in any comodities they
had abord. After ye Govr was well informed by ye
messengers of their condition, he caused a boate to be
made ready, and such things to be provided as they
write for; and because others were abroad upon trading,
and such other affairs, as had been fitte to send unto
them, he went him selfe, & allso carried some trading
comodities, to buy them corne of ye Indeans. It was
no season of ye year to goe withoute ye Cape, but
understanding wher ye ship lay, he went into ye bottom
of ye bay, on ye inside, and put into a crick called
Naumskachett, wher it is not much above 2. mile over
[148] land to ye bay wher they were, wher he had
ye Indeans ready to cary over any thing to them. Of
his arrivall they were very glad, and received the
things to mend ther ship, & other necessaries. Allso
he bought them as much corne as they would have;
264 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
and wheras some of their sea-men were rune away
amonge the Indeans, he procured their returne to ye
ship, and so left them well furnished and contented,
being very thankfull for ye curtesies they receaved. But
after the Gover thus left them, he went into some other
harbors ther aboute and loaded his boat with corne
which he traded, and so went home. But he had not
been at home many days, but he had notice from them,
that by the violence of a great storme, and ye bad
morring of their ship (after she was mended) she was
put a shore, and so beatten and shaken as she was now
wholy unfitte to goe to sea. And so their request was
that they might have leave to repaire to them, and
soujourne with them, till they could have means to
convey them selves to Virginia; and that they might
have means to trasport their goods, and they would
pay for ye same, or any thing els wher with ye plan-
tation should releeve them. Considering their distres,
their requests were granted, and all helpfullnes done
unto them; their goods transported, and them selves
& goods sheltered in their houses as well as they could.
The cheefe amongst these people was one Mr. Fells
and Mr. Sibsie, which had many servants belonging
unto them, many of them being Irish. Some others
ther were yt had a servante or 2. a peece; but ye most
were servants, and such as were ingaged to the former
persons, who allso had ye most goods. Affter they
were hither come, and some thing setled, the maisters
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION 265
desired some ground to imploye ther servants upon;
seing it was like to be ye latter end of ye year before
they could have passage for Virginia, and they had
now ye winter before them; they might clear some
ground, and plant a crope (seeing they had tools,
& necessaries for ye same) to help to bear their charge,
and keep their servants in imployment; and if they
had oppertunitie to departe before the same was ripe,
they would sell it on ye ground. So they had ground
appointed them in convenient places, and Fells & some
other of them raised a great deall of corne, which they
sould at their departure. This Fells, amongst his other
servants, had a maid servante which kept his house
& did his household affairs, and by the intimation of
some that belonged unto him, he was suspected to keep
her, as his concubine; and both of them were examined
ther upon, but nothing could be proved, and they stood
upon their justification; so with admonition they were
dismiste. But afterward it appeard she was with child,
so he gott a small boat, & ran away with her, for
fear of punishmente. First he went to Cap-Anne, and
after into ye bay of ye Massachussets, but could get no
passage, and had like to have been cast away; and
was forst to come againe and submite him selfe; but
they pact him away & those that belonged unto him by
the first oppertunitie, and dismiste all the rest as soone
as could, being many untoward people amongst them;
though ther were allso some that caried them selves
266 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
very orderly all ye time they stayed. And the [149]
plantation had some benefite by them, in selling them
corne & other provisions of food for cloathing; for they
had of diverse kinds, as cloath, perpetuanes, & other
stuffs, besids hose, & shoes~ and such like comodities as
ye planters stood in need of. So they both did good,
and received good one from another; and a cuple of
barks caried them away at ye later end of somer. And
sundrie of them have acknowledged their thankfullnes
since from Virginia.
That they might ye better take all convenient oppor-
tunitie to follow their trade, both to maintaine them
selves, and to disingage them of those great sumes
which they stood charged with, and bound for, they
resoloved to build a smale pinass at Manamet, a place
20. mile from ye plantation, standing on ye sea to ye
southward of them, unto which, by an other creeke on
this side, they could cary their goods, within 4. or 5.
miles, and then trasport them over land to their ves-
sell; and so avoyd the compasing of Cap-Codd, and
those deangerous shoulds, and so make any vioage to
ye southward in much shorter time, and with farr less
danger. Also for ye saftie of their vessell & goods,
they builte a house their, and kept some servants, who
also planted corne, and reared some swine, and were
allwayes ready to goe out with ye barke when ther was
occasion. All which tooke good effecte, and turned to
their profite.
Continue on to Book Two / pp. 267 - 310
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