OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION
by William Bradford
1620-1647 Book Two / pp. 267 - 310
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 267
They now sent (with ye returne of ye ships) Mr.
Allerton againe into England, giveing him full power,
under their hands & seals, to conclude the former bar-
gaine with ye adventurers; and sent ther bonds for ye
paimente of the money. Allso they sent what beaver
they could spare to pay some of their ingagementes,
& to defray his chargs; for those deepe interests still
kepte them low. Also he had order to procure a patente
for a fitt trading place in ye river of Kenebec; for being
emulated both by the planters at Pascataway & other
places to ye eastward of them, and allso by ye fishing
ships, which used to draw much profite from ye Indeans
of those parts, they threatened to procure a grante,
& shutte them out from thence; espetially after they
saw them so well furnished with comodities, as to carie
the trade from them. They thought it but needfull to
prevente such a thing, at least that they might not be
excluded from free trade ther, wher them selves had
first begune and discovered the same, ad brought it to
so good effecte. This year allso they had letters, and
messengers from ye Dutch-plantation, sent unto them
from ye Govr ther, writen both in Dutch & French.
The Dutch had traded in these southerne parts, diverse
years before they came; but they begane no plantation.
hear till 4. or 5. years after their coming, and here
begining. Ther letters were as followeth. It being
their maner to be full of complementall titles.
268 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
Eedele, Eerenfeste Wyse Voorsinnige Heeren, den Goveer-
neur, ende Raeden in Nieu-Pliemuen residerende; onse seer
Goede vrinden den directeur ende Raed van Nieu-Nederlande,
wensen vwe Edn: eerenfesten, ende wijse voorsinnige geluck
salichitt [gelukzaligheid?], In Christi Jesu onsen Heere; met
goede voorspoet, ende gesonthijt, naer siele, ende lichaem.
Amen.*
The rest I shall render in English, leaving out the
repetition of superfluous titles.
[150] We have often before this wished for an opportunitie
or an occasion to congratulate you, and your prosperous and
praise-worthy undertakeings, and Goverment of your colony
ther. And the more, in that we also have made a good
begining to pitch ye founda.tion of a collonie hear; and seeing
our native countrie lyes not farr from yours, and our fore-
fathers (diverse hundred years agoe) have made and held
frendship and alliance with your ancestours, as sufficently
appears by ye old contractes, and entrecourses, confirmed
under ye hands of kings & princes, in ye pointe of warr &
trafick; as may be seene and read by all ye world in ye old
chronakles. The which are not only by the king now reign-
ing confirmed, but it hath pleased his majesty, upon mature
deliberation, to make a new covenante, (and to take up
armes,) with ye States Generall of our dear native country,
against our comone enemie the Spaniards, who seeke nothing
*The orthography of some of these words differs from the modern way
of spelling them; and we have no means of ascertaining the accuracy of
Bradford's copy from the original letter. This passage may be rendered
thus:--
"Noble, worshipful, wise, and prudent Lords, the Governor and Council-
lors residing in New Plymouth, our very dear friends: -- The Director and
Council of New Netherland wish to your Lordships, worshipful, wise, and
prudent, happiness in Christ Jesus our Lord, with prosperity and health, in
soul and body."
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 269
else but to usurpe and overcome other Christian kings and
princes lands, that so he might obtaine and possess his pre-
tended monarchie over all Christendom; and so to rule and
comand, after his owne pleasure, over ye consciences of so
many hundred thousand sowles, which God forbid.
And also seeing it hath some time since been reported unto
us, by some of our people, that by occasion came so farr
northward with their shalop, and met with sundry of ye
Indeans, who tould them that they were within halfe a days
journey of your plantation, and offered ther service to cary
letters unto you; therfore we could not forbear to salute you
with these few lines, with presentation of our good will and
servise unto you, in all frendly-kindnes & neighbourhood.
And if it so fall out that any goods that comes to our hands
from our native countrie, may be serviceable unto you, we
shall take our selves bound to help and accomadate you ther
with; either for beaver or any other wares or marchandise
that you should be pleased to deale for. And if in case we
have no comodity at present that may give you contente,
if you please to sell us any beaver, or otter, or such like
comodities as may be usefull for us, for ready money, and
let us understand therof by this bearer in writing, (whom we
have apoynted to stay 3. or 4. days for your answer,) when
we understand your minds therin, we shall depute one to
deale with you, at such place as you shall appointe. In ye
mean time we pray the Lord to take you, our honoured
good freinds and neighbours, into his holy protection.
By the appointment of ye Govr and Counsell, &c.
ISAAK DE RASIER, Secrectaris.
From ye Manhatas, in ye fort Amsterdam,
March 9. Ano: 1627.
To this they returned answer as followeth, on ye
other side.
270 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
[151] To the Honoured, &c.
The Gover & Counsell of New-Plim: wisheth, &c. We have
received your leters, &c. wherin appeareth your good wills
& frendship towards us; but is expresed wth over high titls,
more then belongs to us, or is meete for us to receive. But
for your good will, and congratulations of our prosperitie in
these smale beginings of our poore colonie, we are much
bound unto you, and with many thanks doe acknowledg ye
same; taking it both for a great honour done unto us, and
for a certaine testimoney of your love and good neighbourhood.
Now these are further to give your Worpps to understand,
that it is to us no smale joye to hear, that his majestie hath
not only bene pleased to confirme yt ancient amitie, aliance,
and frendship, and other contracts, formerly made & ratified
by his predecessors of famous memorie, but hath him selfe
(as you say) strengthened the same with a new-union the
better to resist ye prid of yt comone enemy ye Spaniard, from
whose cruelty the Lord keep us both, and our native coun-
tries. Now forasmuch as this is sufficiente to unite us
togeather in love and good neighbourhood, in all our deal-
ings, yet are many of us further obliged, by the good and
curteous entreaty which we have found in your countrie; have-
ing lived ther many years, with freedome, and good contente,
as also many of our freinds doe to this day; for which we,
and our children after us, are bound to be thankfull to your
Nation, and shall never forgett ye same, but shall hartily
desire your good & prosperity, as our owne, for ever.
Likwise for your freindly tender, & offer to acomodate
and help us with any comodities or marchandise you have,
or shall come to you, either for beaver, otters, or other wares,
it is to us very acceptable, and we doubte not but in short
time we may have profitable comerce & trade togeather.
But for this year we are fully supplyed with all necessaries,
both for cloathing and other things; but hereafter it is like
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 271
we shall deale with you, if your rates be reasonable. And
therfore when you please to send to us againe by any of
yours, we desire to know how you will take beaver, by ye
pounde, & otters, by ye skine; and how you will deale per
cent. for other comodities, and what you can furnishe us
with. As likwise what other commodities from us may be
acceptable unto you, as tobaco, fish, corne, or other things,
and what prises you will give, &c.
Thus hoping that you will pardon & excuse us for our rude
and imperfecte writing in your language, and take it in good
parte, because [152] for wante of use we cannot so well
express that we understand, nor hapily understand every thing
so fully as we should. And so we humbly pray the Lord for
his mercie sake, that he will take both us and you into his
keeping & gratious protection.
By ye Gover and Counsell of New-Plimoth,
Your Worpps very good freinds & neigbours, &c.
New-Plim: March 19.
After this ther was many passages betweene them
both by letters and other entercourse; and they had
some profitable commerce togither for diverce years, till
other occasions interrupted ye same, as may happily
appear afterwards, more at large.
Before they sent Mr. Allerton away for England this
year, ye Gover and some of their cheefe freinds had
serious consideration, not only how they might discharge
those great ingagments which lay so heavily upon them,
as is affore mentioned, but also how they mIght (if pos-
siblie they could) devise means to help some of their
freinds and breethren of Leyden over unto them, who
272 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
desired so much to come to them, ad they desired as
much their company. To effecte which, they resolved
to rune a high course, and of great adventure, not
knowing otherwise how to bring it aboute. Which was
to hire ye trade of ye company for certaine years, and
in that time to undertake to pay that 1800li. and all ye
rest of ye debts that then lay upon ye plantation, which
was aboute some 600li. more; and so to set them free,
and returne the trade to ye generalitie againe at ye
end of ye terme. Upon which resolution they called
ye company togeither, and made it clearly appear unto
all what their debts were, and upon what terms they
would undertake to pay them all in such a time, and
sett them clear. But their other ends they were faine
to keepe secrete, haveing only privatly acquaynted some
of their trusty freinds therwith; which were glad of ye
same, but doubted how they would be able to performe
it. So after some agitation of the thing wth ye com-
pany, it was yeelded unto, and the agreemente made
upon ye conditions following.
Articles of agreemente betweene ye collony of New-Plimoth
of ye one partie, and William Bradford, Captein Myles
Standish, Isaack Allerton, &c. one ye other partie; and
shuch others as they shall thinke good to take as part-
ners and undertakers with them, concerning the trade
for beaver & other furrs & comodities, &c. made July,
1627.
First, it is agreed and covenanted betweexte ye said
parties, that ye afforsaid William Bradford, Captain Myles
1627.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 273
Standish, & Isaack Allerton, &c. have undertaken, and doe
by these presents, covenante and agree to pay discharge
and acquite ye said collony of all ye debtes both due for
ye purchass, or any other belonging to them, at ye day of
ye date of these presents.
[153] Secondly, ye above-said parties are to have and
freely injoye ye pinass latly builte, the boat at Manamett,
and ye shalop, called ye Bass-boat, with all other implements
to them belonging, that is in ye store of ye said company;
with all ye whole stock of furrs, fells, beads, corne, wam-
pam peak, hatchets, knives, &c. that is now in ye storre, or
any way due unto ye same uppon accounte.
31y. That ye above said parties have ye whole trade to them
selves, their heires and assignes, with all ye privileges therof,
as ye said collonie doth now, or may use the same, for 6. full
years, to begine ye last of September next insuing.
41y. In furder consideration of ye discharge of ye said
debtes, every severall purchaser doth promise and covenante
yearly to pay, or cause to be payed, to the above said par-
ties, during ye full terme of ye said 6. years, 3. bushells of
corne, or 6li. of tobaco, at ye undertakers choyse.
51y. The said undertakers shall dureing ye afforesaid terme
bestow 50li. per annum, in hose and shoese, to be brought
over for ye collonies use, to be sould unto them for corne
at 6s. per bushell.
61y. That at ye end of ye said terme of 6. years, the whole
trade shall returne to ye use and benefite of ye said collonie,
as before.
Lastly, if ye afforesaid undertakers, after they have aquainted
their freinds in England with these covenants, doe (upon ye first
returne) resolve to performe them, and undertake to dis-
charge ye debtes of ye said collony, according to ye true mean-
ing & intente of these presents, then they are (upon such
notice given) to stand in full force; otherwise all things to
274 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
remaine as formerly they were, and a true accounte to be
given to ye said collonie, of the disposing of all things
according to the former order.
Mr. Allerton carried a coppy of this agreemente with
him into England, and amongst other his instructions
had order given him to deale with some of their special
freinds, to joyne with them in this trade upon ye above
recited conditions; as allso to imparte their further
ends that moved them to take this course, namly, the
helping over of some of their freinds from Leyden, as
they should be able; in which if any of them would
joyne with them they should thankfully acceptt of their
love and partnership herein. And with all (by their
letters) gave them some grounds of their hops of the
accomplishmente of these things with some advantage.
Anno Dom: 1628.
AFTER Mr. Allertons arivall in England, he aquainted
them with his comission and full power to conclude ye
forementioned bargan & purchas; upon [154] the veiw
wherof, and ye delivery of ye bonds for ye paymente of
ye money yearly, (as is before mentioned,) it was fully
concluded, and a deede* fairly ingrossed in partch-
mente was delivered him, under their hands & seals
confirming the same. Morover he delte with them
aboute other things according to his instructions. As
*Nov. 6. 1627. Page 238. [Reference is here made to the page of the
original manuscript.]
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 275
to admitt some of these their good freinds into this
purchass if they pleased, and to deale with them for
moneys at better rates, &c. Touching which I shall
hear inserte a letter of Mr. Sherleys, giving light to
what followed therof, writ to ye Govr as followeth.
Sr: I have received yours of ye 26. of May by Mr. Gibs,
& Mr. Goffe, with ye barrell of otter skins, according to ye
contents; for which I got a bill of store, and so tooke them
up, and sould them togeather at 78li. 12s. sterling; and
since, Mr. Allerton hath received ye money, as will apear by
the accounte. It is true (as you write) that your ingag-
ments are great, not only the purchass, but you are yet
necessitated to take up ye stock you work upon; and yt not
at 6. or 8. pr cent. as it is here let out, but at 30. 40. yea,
& some at 50. pr cent. which, were not your gaines great,
and Gods blessing on your honest indeaours more then
ordinarie, it could not be yt you should longe subsiste in ye
maintaining of, & upholding of your worldly affaires. And
this your honest & discreete agente, Mr. Allerton, hath seri-
ously considered, & deeply laid to mind, how to ease you
of it. He tould me you were contented to accepte of me
& some few others, to joyne with yon in ye purchass, as
partners; for which I kindly thanke you and all ye rest,
and doe willingly accepte of it. And though absente, shall
willingly be at shuch charge as you & ye rest shall thinke
meete; and this year am contented to forbear my former 501i.
and 2. years increase for ye venture, both which now makes
it 80li. without any bargaine or condition for ye profite, you
(I mean ye generalitie) stand to ye adventure, outward, and
homeward. I have perswaded Mr. Andrews and Mr. Beachamp
to doe ye like, so as you are eased of ye high rate, you were
at ye other 2. yeares; I say we leave it freely to your selves
276 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
to alow us what you please, and as God shall blesse. What course
I rune, Mr. Beachamp desireth to doe ye same; and
though he have been or seemed somwhat harsh heretofore,
yet now you shall find he is new moulded. I allso see by
your letter, you desire I should be your agente or factore
hear. I have eyer found you so faithfull, honest, and upright
men, as I have even resolyed with my selfe (God assisting
me) to doe you all ye good lyeth in my power; and therfore
if you please to make choyse of so weak a man, both for
abillities and body, to performe your bussines, I promise
(ye Lord enabling me) to doe ye best I can according to those
abillities he hath given me; and wherin I faile, blame your
selves, yt you made no better choyce. Now, because I am
sickly, and we are all mortall, I have advised Mr. Allerton
to joyne Mr. Beachamp with me in your deputation, which
I conceive to be very necessary & good for you; your charge
shall be no more, for it is not your salarie maks me under-
take your [156*] bussines. Thus comending you & yours,
and all Gods people, unto ye guidance and protection of ye
Allmightie, I ever rest,
Your faithfull loving freind,
London, Nov. 17. 1628. JAMES SHERLEY.!
*155 omitted in original MS. -- COM.
! Another leter of his, that should have bene placed before: --
We cannot but take notice how ye Lord hath been pleased to crosse our
proseedings, and caused many disasters to befale us therin. I conceive ye
only reason to be, we, or many of us, aimed at other ends then Gods glorie;
but now I hope yt cause is taken away; the bargen being fully concluded, as
farr as our powers will reach, and confirmed under our hands & seals, to
Mr. Allerton & ye rest of his & your copartners. But for my owne parte,
I confess as I was loath to hinder ye full confirming of it, being ye first pro-
pounder ther of at our meeting; so on ye other side, I was as unwilling to
set my hand to ye sale, being ye receiver of most part of ye adventurs, and
a second causer of much of ye ingagments; and one more threatened, being
most envied & aimed at (if they could find any stepe to ground their malice
on) then any other whosoever. I profess I know no just cause they ever
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 277
With this leter they sent a draught of a formall depu-
tation to be hear sealed and sent back unto them, to
authorise them as their agents, according to what is
mentioned in ye above said letter; and because some
inconvenience grue therby afterward I shall here in-
serte it.
had, or have, so to doe; neither shall it ever be proved yt I have wronged
them or any of ye adventurers, wittingly or willingly, one peny in ye dis-
bursing of so many pounds in those 2, year's trouble. No, ye sole cause why
they maligne me (as I & others conceived) was yt I would not side with
them against you, & the going over of ye Leyden people. But as I then card
not, so now I litle fear what they can doe; yet charge & trouble I know they
may cause me to be at. And for these reasons, I would gladly have per-
swaded the other 4. to have sealed to this bargaine, and left me out, but they
would not; so rather then it should faile, Mr. Alerton having taken so much
pains, I have sealed wth ye rest; with this proviso & promise of his, yt if any
trouble arise hear, you are to bear halfe ye charge. Wherfore now I doubt
not but you will give your generallitie good contente, and setle peace amongst
your selves, and peace with the natives; and then no doubt but ye God of
Peace will blese your going out & your returning, and cause all yt you sett
your hands unto to prosper; the which I shall ever pray ye Lord to grante
if it be his blessed will. Asuredly unless ye Lord be mercifull unto us & ye
whole land in generall, our estate & condition is farr worse then yours.
Wherfore if ye Lord should send persecution or trouble hear, (which is much
to be feared,) and so should put into our minds to flye for refuge, I know
no place safer then to come to you, (for all Europ is at varience one with
another, but cheefly wth us,) not doubting but to find such frendly enter-
tainmente as shall be honest & conscionable, notwithstanding what hath latly
passed. For I profess in ye word of an honest man, had it not been to pro-
cure your peace & quiet from some turbulent spirites hear, I would not have
sealed to this last deed; though you would have given me all my adventure
and debte ready downe. Thus desiring ye Lord to blesse & prosper you,
I cease ever resting,
Your faithfull & loving freind,
to my power,
Des: 27. JAMES SHERLEY.
[The above letter was written on the reverse of page 154 of the original
manuscript.]
278 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
To all to whom these prets shall come greeting; know yee
that we, William Bradford, Govr of Plimoth, in N. E. in
America, Isaak Allertoll, Myles Standish, William Brewster,
& Ed: Winslow, of Plimoth aforesaid, marchants, doe by
these presents for us & in our names, make, substitute, &
appointe James Sherley, Goldsmith, & John Beachamp, Salter,
citizens of London, our true & lawfull agents, factors, sub-
stitutes, & assignes; as well to take and receive all such
goods, wares, & marchandise what soever as to our said
substitutes or either of them, or to ye citie of London, or
other place of ye Relme of Engl: shall be sente, transported,
or come from us or any of us, as allso to vend, sell, barter,
or exchaing ye said goods, wares, and marchandise so from
time to time to be sent to such person or persons upon
credite, or other wise in such maner as to our said agents
& factors joyently, or to either of them severally shall seeme
meete. And further we doe make & ordaine our said sub-
stituts & assignes joyntly & severally for us, & to our uses,
& accounts, to buy and consigne for and to us into New-
Engl: aforesaid, such goods and marchandise to be provided
here, and to be returned hence, as by our said assignes, or
either of them, shall be thought fitt. And to recover, receive,
and demand for us & in our names all such debtes & sumes
of money, as now are or hereafter shall be due incidente
accruing or belonging to us, or any of us, by any wayes
or means; and to acquite, discharge, or compound for any
debte or sume of money, which now or hereafter shall be
due or oweing by any person or persons to us, or any of us.
And generally for us & in our names to doe, performe, and
execute every acte & thing which to our said assignes, or
either of them, shall see me meete to be done in or aboute ye
premissies, as fully & effectually, to all intents & purposes,
as if we or any of us were in person presente. And what-
soever our said agents & factors joyntly or severally shall
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 279
doe, or cause to be done, in or aboute ye premisses, we will
& doe, & every of us doth ratife, alow, & confirme, by
these presents. In wittnes wherof we have here unto put
our hands & seals. Dated 18. Novbr 1628.
This was accordingly confirmed by the above named,
and 4. more of the cheefe of them under their hands
& seals, and delivered unto them. Also Mr. Allerton
formerly had authoritie under their hands & seals for
ye transacting of ye former bussines, and taking up of
moneys, &c. which still he retained whilst he was
imployed in these affaires; they mistrusting neither
him nor any of their freinds faithfullnes, which made
them more remisse in looking to shuch acts as had
passed under their hands, as necessarie for ye time;
but letting them rune on to long unminded or recaled,
it turned to their harme afterwards, as will appere in
its place.
[157] Mr. Allerton having setled all things thus in
a good and hopfull way, he made hast to returne in ye
first of ye spring to be hear with their suppLy for trade,
(for ye fishermen with whom he came used to sett forth
in winter & be here betimes.) He brought a resonable
supply of goods for ye plantation, and without those
great interests as before is noted; and brought an
accounte of ye beaver sould, and how ye money was
disposed for goods, & ye paymente of other debtes,
having paid all debts abroad to others, save to Mr.
Sherley, Mr. Beachamp, & Mr. Andrews; from whom
280 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
likwise he brought an accounte which to them all
amounted not to above 400li. for which he had passed
bonds. Allso he had rayed the first paymente for ye
purchass, being due for this year, viz. 200li. and brought
them ye bonae for ye same canselled; so as they now
had no more foreine debtes but ye abovesaid 400li. and
odde pownds, and ye rest of ye yearly purchass monie.
Some other debtes they had in ye cuntrie, but they
were without any intrest, & they had wherwith to dis-
charge them when they were due. To this pass the
Lord had brought things for them. Also he brought
them further notice that their freinds, the abovenamed,
& some others that would joyne with them in ye
trad & purchass, did intend for to send over to Leyden,
for a competente number of them, to be hear the next
year without fayle, if ye Lord pleased to blesse their
journey. He allso brought them a patente for Kene-
beck, but it was so straite & ill bounded, as they were
faine to renew & in large it the next year, as allso that
which they had at home, to their great charge, as will
after appeare. Hithertoo Mr. Allerton did them good
and faithfull service; and well had it been if he had
so continued, or els they had now ceased for imploy-
ing him any longer thus into England. But of this
more afterwards.
Having procured a patente (as is above said) for
Kenebeck, they now erected a house up above in ye
river in ye most convenientest place for trade, as they
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 281
conceived, and furnished the same with comodities for
yt end, both winter & somer, not only with corne, but
also with such other commodities as ye fishermen had
traded with them, as coats, shirts, ruggs, & blankets,
biskett, pease, prunes, &c.; and what they could not
have out of England, they bought of the fishing ships,
and so carried on their bussines as well as they could.
This year the Dutch sent againe unto them from
their plantation, both kind leterss, and also diverse
comodities, as suger, linen cloth, Holand finer &
courser stufes, &c. They came up with their barke
to Manamete, to their house ther, in which came their
Secretarie Rasier; who was accompanied with a noyse
of trumpeters, and some other attendants; and desired
that they would send a boat for him, for he could
not travill so farr over land. So they sent a boat
to Manonscussett, and brought him to ye plantation,
with ye cheefe of his company. And after some few
days entertainmente, he returned to his barke, and
some of them wente with him, and bought sundry of
his goods; after which begining thus made, they sente
often times to ye same place, and had entercourse to-
geather for diverce years; and amongst other comodi-
ties, they vended [158] much tobaco for linen cloath,
stuffs, &c., which was a good benefite to ye people,
till the Virginians found out their plantation. But
that which turned most to their profite, in time, was
an entrance into the trade of Wampampeake; for they
282 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
now bought aboute 50li. worth, of it of them; and they
tould them how vendable it was at their forte Orania;
and did perswade them they would find it so at Kene-
beck; and so it came to pass in time, though at first
it stuck, & it was 2. years before they could put of
this small quantity, till ye inland people knew of it;
and afterwards they could scarce ever gett enough for
them, for many years togeather. And so this, with
their other provissions, cutt of they trade quite from
ye fisher-men, and in great part from other of ye strag-
ling planters. And strange it was to see the great all-
teration it made in a few years amonge ye Indeans
them selves; for all the Indeans of these parts, & ye
Massachussets, had none or very litle of it,* but ye
sachems & some spetiall persons that wore a litle of
it for ornamente. Only it was made & kepte amonge
ye Nariganssets, & Pequents, which grew rich & potent
by it, and these people were poore & begerly, and had
no use of it. Neither did the English of this planta-
tion, or any other in ye land, till now that they had
knowledg of it from ye Dutch, so much as know what
it was, much less yt it was a comoditie of that worth
& valew. But after it grue thus to be a comoditie
in these parts, these Indeans fell into it allso, and to
learne how to make it; for ye Narigansets doe geather
ye shells of which yey make it from their shors. And
it hath now continued a current comoditie aboute this
* Peag.
1628 PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 283
20. years, and it may prove a drugg in time. In ye
mean time it maks ye Indeans of these parts rich &
power full and also prowd therby; and fills them with
peeces, powder, and shote, which no laws can restraine
by reasone of ye bassnes of sundry unworthy persons,
both English, Dutch, & French, which may turne to
ye ruine of many. Hithertoo ye Indeans of these parts
had no peeces nor other armes but their bowes &
arrowes, nor of many years after; nether durst they
scarce handle a gune, so much were they affraid of
them; and ye very sight of one (though out of kilter)
was a terrour unto them. But those Indeans to ye east
parts, which had comerce with ye French, got peces of
them, and they in ye end made a commone trade of it;
and in time our English fisher-men, led with ye like
covetoussnes, followed their example, for their owne
gaine; but upon complainte against them, it pleased
the kings ,majestie to prohibite ye same by a stricte
proclaimation, commanding that no sorte of armes, or
munition, should by any of his subjects be traded with
them.
Aboute some 3. or 4. years before this time, ther
came over one Captaine Wolastone, (a man of pretie
parts,) and with him 3. or 4. more of some eminencie,
who brought with them a great many servants, with
provissions & other implements for to begine a planta-
tion; and pitched them selves in a place within the
Massachusets, which they called, after their Captains
284 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
name, Mount-Wollaston. Amongst whom was one Mr.
Morton, who, it should seeme, had some small adventure
(of his owne or other mens) amongst them; but had
litle respecte [159] amongst them, and was sleghted
by ye meanest servants. Haveing continued ther some
time, and not finding things to answer their expecta-
tions, nor profite to arise as they looked for, Captaine
Wollaston takes a great part of ye sarvants, and trans-
ports them to Virginia, wher he puts them of at good
rates, selling their time to other men; and writs back
to one Mr. Rassdall, one of his cheefe partners, and
accounted their marchant, to bring another parte of
them to Verginia likewise, intending to put them of
ther as he had done ye rest. And he, wth ye consente
of ye said Rasdall, appoynted one Fitcher to be his
Livetenante, and governe ye remaines of ye planta-
tion, till he or Rasdall returned to take further order
theraboute. But this Morton abovesaid, haveing more
craft then honestie, (who had been a kind of petie-
fogger, of Furnefells Inne, in ye other absence
watches an oppertunitie, (commons being but hard
amongst them,) and gott some strong drinck & other
junkats, & made them a feast;. and after they were
merie, he begane to tell them, he would give them
good counsell. You see (saith he) that many of your
fellows are carried to Virginia; and if you stay till
this Rasdall returne, you will also be carried away
and sould for slaves with ye rest. Therfore I would
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 285
advise you to thruste out this Levetenant Fitcher. and
I, having a parte in the plantation, will receive you
as my partners and consociats; so may you be free
from service, and we will converse, trad, plante, &
live togeather as equalls, & supporte & protecte one
another, or to like effecte. This counsell was easily
received; so they tooke oppertunitie, and thrust Leve-
tenante Fitcher out a dores, and would suffer him to
come no more amongst them, but forct him to seeke
bread to eate, and other releefe from his neigbours,
till he could gett passages for England. After this
they fell to great licenciousnes, and led a dissolute
life, powering out them selves into all profanenes.
And Morton became lord of misrule, and maintained
(as it were) a schoole of Athisme. And after they
had gott some good into their hands, and gott much
by trading with ye Indeans, they spent it as vainly,
in quaffing & drinking both wine & strong waters in
great exsess, and, as some reported, 10li. worth in a
morning. They allso set up a May-pole, drinking and
dancing aboute it many days togeather, inviting the
Indean women, for their consorts, dancing and frisk-
ing togither, (like so many fairies, or furies rather,)
and worse practises. As if they had anew revived &
celebrated the feasts of ye Roman Goddes Flora, or
ye beasly practieses of ye madd Bacchinalians. Mor-
ton likwise (to shew his poetrie) compose sundry
rimes & verses, tending to lasciviousness, and
286 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
others to ye detraction & scandall of some persons,
which he affixed to this idle or idoll May-polle. They
chainged allso the name of their place, and in stead
of calling it Mounte Wollaston, they call it Merie-
mounte, [160] as if this joylity would have lasted
ever. But this continued not long, for after Morton
was sent for England, (as follows to be declared,)
shortly after came over that worthy gentlman, Mr.
John Indecott, who brought over a patent under ye
broad seall, for ye govermente of ye Massachusets, who
visiting those parts caused yt May-polle to be cutt
downe, and rebuked them for their profannes, and
admonished them to looke ther should be better walk-
ing; so they now, or others, changed ye name of their
place againe, and called it Mounte-Dagon.
Now to maintaine this riotous prodigallitie and pro-
fuse excess, Morton, thinking him selfe lawless, and
hearing what gaine ye French & fisher-men made by
trading of peeces, powder, & shotte to ye Indeans, he,
as ye head of this consortship, begane ye practise of ye
same in these parts; and first he taught them how to
use them, to charge, & discharg, and what proportion
of powder to give ye peece, according to ye sise or
bignes of ye same; and what shotte to use for foule,
and what for deare. And having thus instructed them,
he imployed some of them to hunte & fowle for him,
so as they became farr more active in that imploy-
mente then any of ye, English, by reason of ther
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 287
swiftnes of foote, & nimblnes of body, being also
quick-sighted, and by continuall exercise well know-
ing ye hants of all sorts of game. So as when they
saw ye execution that a peece would doe, and ye bene-
fite that might come by ye same, they became madd,
as it were, after them, and would not stick to give
any prise they could attaine too for them; account-
ing their bowes & arrowes but bables in comparison
of them.
And here I may take occasion to bewaile ye mis-
chefe that this wicked man began in these parts, and
which since base covetousnes prevailing in men that
should know better, has now at length gott ye upper
hand, and made this thing comone, notwithstanding any
laws to ye contrary; so as ye Indeans are full of peeces
all over, both fouling peeces, muskets, pistols, &c.
They have also their moulds to make shotte, of all
sorts, as muskett bulletts, pistoll bullets, swane & gose
shote, & of smaler sorts; yea, some have seen them
have their scruplats to make scrupins them selves, when
they wante them, with sundery other implements, wher-
with they are ordinarily better fited & furnished then
ye English them selves. Yea, it is well knowne that
they will have powder & shot, when the English want
it, nor cannot gett it; and yt in a time of warr or
danger, as experience hath manifested, that when lead
hath been scarce, and men for their owne defence would
gladly have given a groat a li., which is dear enoughe,
288 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
yet hath it bene bought up & sent to other places,
and sould to shuch as trade it with ye Indeans, at
12. pence ye li.; and it is like they give 3. or 4.s. ye
pound, for they will have it at any rate. And these
things have been done in ye same times, when some of
their neigbours & freinds are daly killed by ye Indeans,
or are in deanger therof, and live but at ye Indeans
mercie. [161] Yea, some (as they have aquainted them
with all other things) have tould them how gunpowder
is made, and all ye materialls in it, and that they are
to be had in their owne land; and I am confidente,
could they attaine to make saltpeter, they would teach
them to make powder. O the horiblnes of this vilanie!
how many both Dutch & English have been latly slaine
by those Indeans, thus furnished; and no remedie pro-
vided, nay, ye evill more increased, and ye blood of
their brethren sould for gaine, as is to be feared; and
in what danger all these colonies are in is too well
known. Oh! that princes & parlements would take
some timly order to prevente this mischeefe, and at
length to suppress it, by some exemplerie punishmente
upon some of these gaine thirstie murderers, (for they
deserve no better title,) before their collonies in these
parts be over throwne by these barbarous savages,_thus
armed with their owne weapons, by these evill instru-
ments, and traytors to their neigbors and cuntrie. But
I have forgott my selfe, and have been to longe in this
digression; but now to returne. This Morton having
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATI0N. 289
thus taught them ye use of peeces, he sould them all
he could spare; and he and his consorts detirmined
to send for many out of England, and had by some
of ye ships sente for above a score. The which being
knowne, and his neigbours meeting ye Indeans in ye
woods armed with guns in this sorte, it was a terrour
unto them, who lived straglingly, and were of no
strenght in any place. And other places (though more
remote) saw this mischeefe would quietly spread over
all, if not prevented. Besides, they saw they should
keep no servants, for Morton would entertaine any,
how vile soever, and all ye scume of ye countrie, or
any discontents, would flock to him from all places,
if this nest was not broken; and they should stand
in more fear of their lives & goods (in short time)
from this wicked & deboste crue, then from ye sal-
vages them selves.
So sundrie of ye cheefe of ye stragling plantations,
meeting togither, agreed by mutuall consente to sollissite
those of Plimoth (who were then of more strength then
them all) to joyne with them, to prevente ye further
grouth of this mischeefe, and suppress Morton & his
consortes before yey grewe to further head and strength.
Those that joyned in this acction (and after contributed
to ye charge of sending him for England) were from
Pascatataway, Namkeake, Winisimett, Weesagascusett,
Natasco, and other places where any English were seated.
Those of Plimoth being thus sought too by their mes-
290 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
sengers & letters, and waying both their reasons, and
the comone danger, were, willing to afford them their
help; though them selves had least cause of fear or
hurte. So, to be short, they first resolved joyntly to
write to him, and in a freindly & neigborly way
to admonish him to forbear these courses, & sent
a messenger with their letters to bring his answer.
But he was so highe as he scorned all advise, and
asked who had to doe with him; he had and would
trade peeces with ye Indeans in dispite of all, with
many other scurillous termes full of disdaine. They
sente to him a second time, and bad him be better
advised, and more temperate in his termes, for ye
countrie could not beare ye injure he did; it was
against their comone saftie, and against ye king's proc-
lamation. He answerd in high terms as before, and
that ye kings proclaimation was no law; demanding
what penaltie was upon it. It was answered, more
then he could [162] bear, his majesties displeasure.
But insolently he persisted, and said ye king was dead
and his displeasure with him & many ye like things;
and threatened withall that if any came to molest
him, let them looke to them selves, for he would pre-
pare for them. Upon which they saw ther was ,no
way but to take him by force; and having so farr
proceeded, now to give over would make him farr
more hautie & insolente. So they mutually resolved to
proceed, and obtained of ye Govr of Plimoth to send
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 291
Captaine Standish, & some other aide with him, to
take Morton by force. The which accordingly was
done; but they found him to stand stifly in bis de-
fence, having made fast his dors, armed his consorts,
set diverse dishes of powder & bullets ready on ye
table; and if they had not been over armed with drinke,
more hurt might have been done. They somaned him
to yeeld, but he kept his house, and they could gett
nothing but scofes & scorns from him; but at length,
fearing they would doe some violence to ye house, he
and some of his crue came out, but not to yeeld, but
to shoote; but they were so steeld with drinke as their
peeces were to heavie for tbem; him selfe with a car-
bine (over charged & allmost halfe fild with powder
& shote, as was after found) had thought to have shot
Captaine Standish; but he stept to him, & put by his
peece, & tooke him. Neither was ther any hurte done
to any of either side, save yt one was so drunke yt he
rane his owne nose upon ye pointe of a sword yt one
held before him as he entred ye house; but he lost
but a litle of his hott blood. Morton they brought
away to Plimoth, wher he was kepte, till a ship went
from ye Ile of Shols for England, with which he was
sent to ye Counsell of New England; and letters writen
to give them information of his course & cariage; and
also one was sent at their comone charge to informe
their Hors more perticulerly, & to prosecute against
him. But he foold of ye messenger, after he was_gone
292 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
from hence, and though he wente for England, yet
nothing was done to him, not so much as rebukte for
ought was heard; but returned ye nexte year. Some
of ye worst of ye company were disperst, and some
of ye more modest kepte ye house till he should be
heard from. But I have been too long about so un-
worthy a person, and bad a cause.
This year Mr. Allerton brought over a yonge man
for a minister to ye people hear, wheather upon his
owne head, or at ye motion of some freinds ther, I
well know not, but it was without ye churches send-
ing; for they had bene so bitten by Mr. Lyford, as
they desired to know ye person well whom they should
invite amongst them. His name was Mr. Rogers; but
they perceived, upon some triall, that he was crased in
his braille; so they were faine to be at further charge
to send him back againe ye nexte year, and loose all
ye charge that was expended in his hither bringing,
which was not smalle by Mr. Allerton's accounte, in
provissions, aparell, bedding, &c. After his returne
he grue quite distracted, and Mr. Allerton's was much
blamed yt he would bring such a man over, they hav-
ing charge enough otherwise.
Mr. Allerton, in ye years before, had brought over
some small quantie of goods, upon his owne perticuler,
and sould them for his owne private benefite; which
was more then any man had yet hithertoo attempted.
But because he had other wise done them good ser-
1628.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 293
vice, and also he sould them among ye people at ye
plantation, by which their wants were supplied, and
he aledged it was the [163] love of Mr. Sherley and
some other freinds that would needs trust him with
some goods, conceiveing it might doe him some good,
and none hurte, it was not much lookt at, but past
over. But this year he brought over a greater quan-
titie, and they were so intermixte with ye goods of
ye generall, as they knew not which were theirs, &
wch was his, being pact up together; so as they well
saw that, if any casualty had beefalne at sea, he might
have laid ye whole on them, if he would; for ther was
no distinction. Allso what was most vendible, and
would yeeld presente pay, usualy that was his; and
he now begane allso to sell abroad to others of forine
places, which, considering their comone course, they
began to dislike. Yet because love thinkes no evill,
nor is susspitious, they tooke his faire words for ex-
cuse, and resolved to send him againe this year for
England; considering how well he had done ye former
bussines, and what good acceptation he had with their
freinds ther; as also seeing sundry of their freinds
from Leyden were sente for, which would or might
be much furthered by his means. Againe, seeing the
patente for Kenebeck must be inlarged, by reason of
ye former mistaks in the bounding of it, and it was
conceived, in a maner, ye same charge would serve to
inlarge this at home with it, and he that had begane
294 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
ye former ye last year would be ye fittest to effecte
this; so they gave him instructions and sente him
for England this year againe. And in his instructions
bound him to bring over no goods on their accounte,
but 50li. in hose & shoes, and some linen cloth, (as
yey were bound by covenante when they tooke ye
trad;) also some trading goods to such a value; and
in no case to exseed his instructions, nor rune them
into any further charge; he well knowing how their
state stood. Also yt he should so provide yt their
trading goods came over betimes, and what so ever
was sent on their accounte should be pact up by it
selfe, marked with their marke, and no other goods
to be mixed with theirs. For so he prayed them to
give him such instructions as they saw good, and he
would folow them, to prevente any jellocie or farther
offence, upon the former forementioned dislikes. And
thus they conceived they had well provided for all
things.
Anno Dom. 1629.
MR. ALLERTON safly arriving in England, and deliv-
ering his leters to their freinds their, and aquainting them
with his instructions, found good acceptation with
them, and they were very forward & willing to joyne
with them in ye partnership of trade, & in ye charge
to send over ye Leyden people; a company wherof
were allready come out of Holand, and prepared to
come over, and so were sent away before Mr. Allerton
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 295
could be ready to come. They had passage with ye
ships that came to Salem, that brought over many
godly persons to begine ye plantations & churches of
Christ ther, & in ye Bay of Massachussets; so their
long stay & keeping back [164] was recompensed by
ye Lord to ther freinds here with a duble blessing,
in that they not only injoyed them now beyond ther
late expectation, (when all their hops seemed to be
cutt of,) but, with them, many more godly freinds
& Christian breethren, as ye begining of a larger har-
vest unto ye Lord, in ye increase of his churches &
people in these parts, to ye admiration of many, and
allmost wonder of ye world; that of so small begin-
ings so great things should insue, as time after mani-
fested; and that here should be a resting place for so
many of ye Lords people, when so sharp a scourge
came upon their owne nation. But it was ye Lords
doing, & it ought to be marvellous in our eyes.
But I shall hear inserte some of their freinds letters,
which doe best expresse their owne minds in these thir
proceedings.
A leter of Mr. Sherleys to ye Govr.
May 25,1629.*
Sr: &c. Here are now many of your and our freinds
from Leyden coming over, who, though for ye most parte
be but a weak company, yet herein is a good parte of that
*1629, May 25, the first letter concerning the former company of Leyden
people. -- Prince.
296 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
end obtained which was aimed at, and which hath been so
strongly opposed by some of our former adventurers. But
God hath his working in these things, which man cannot
frustrate. With them we have allso sent some servants in
ye ship called the Talbut, that wente hence latly; but these
come in ye May-flower. Mr. Beachamp & my selfe, with
Mr. Andrews & Mr. Hatherly, are, with your love and lik-
ing, joyned partners with you, &c.
Your deputation we have received, and ye goods have
been taken up & sould by your freind & agente, Mr. Aller-
ton, my selfe having bine nere 3. months in Holland, at
Amsterdam & other parts in ye Low-Countries. I see further
the agreemente you have made with ye generallitie, in which
I cannot understand but you have done very well, both for
them & you, and also for your freinds at Leyden. Mr.
Beachamp, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Hatherley, & my selfe, doe
so like and approve of it, as we are willing to joyne with
you, and, God directing and inabling us, will be assisting
and helpfull to you, ye best yt possiblie we can. Nay, had
you not taken this course, I doe not see how you should
accomplish ye end you first aimed at, and some others in-
devored these years past. We know it must keep us from
ye profite, which otherwise by ye blessing of God and your
indeaours, might be gained; for most of those that came
in May, & these now sente, though I hope honest & good
people, yet not like to be help full to raise profite, but rather,
ney, certaine must, some while, be chargable to you & us;
at which it is lickly, had not this wise & discreete course
been taken, many of your generalitie would have grudged.
Againe, you say well in your letter, and I make no doubte
but you will performe it, that now being but a few, on
whom ye burthen must be, you will both menage it ye beter,
and sett too it more cherfully, haveing no discontente nor
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 297
contradiction, but so lovingly to joyne togeither, in affection
and counsell, as God no doubte will blesse and prosper your
honest labours & indeavors. And therfore in all respects
I doe not see but you have done marvelously discreetly, &
advisedly, and no doubt but it gives all parties good con-
tente; I mean yt are reasonable & honest men, such as
make conscience of giving ye best satisfaction they be able
for their debts, and yt regard not their owne perticuler so
much as ye accomplishing of yt good end for which this
bussines was first intended, &c. Thus desiring ye Lord
to blese & prosper you, & all yours, and all our honest
endeavors, I rest
Your unfained & ever loving freind,
JAMES SHERLEY.
Lon: March 8. 1629.*
[165] That I may handle things together, I have
put these 2. companies that came from Leyden in this
place; though they came at 2. severall times, yet they
both came out of England this year. The former com-
pany, being 35. persons, were shiped in May, and
arived here aboute August. The later were shiped in
ye begining of March, and arived hear ye later end of
May, 1630. Mr. Sherleys 2. letters, ye effect wherof
I have before related, (as much of them as is perti-
nente,) mentions both. Their charge, as Mr. Allerton
brought it in afterwards on accounte, came to above
550li. besids ther fetching hither from Salem & ye
Bay, wher they and their goods were landed; viz.
* 1629-30, March 8th, the second letter concerning the latter company of
Leyden people. -- Prince.
298 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
their transportation from Holland to England, & their
charges lying ther, and passages hither, with clothing
provided for them. For I find by accounte for ye one
company, 125. yeards of karsey, 127. ellons of linen
cloath, shoes, 66. pr, with many other perticulers. The
charge of ye other company is reckoned on ye severall
families, some 50li., some 40li., some 30li., and so more
or less, as their number & expencess were. And besids
all this charg, their freinds & bretheren here were to
provid corne & other provissions for them, till they
could reap a crope which was long before. Those that
came in May were thus maintained upward of 16. or 18.
months, before they had any harvest of their owne, &
ye other by proportion. And all they could doe in ye
mean time was to gett them some housing, and prepare
them grounds to plant on, against the season. And
this charg of maintaining them all this while was litle
less then ye former sume. These things I note more
perticulerly, for sundry regards. First, to shew a rare
example herein of brotherly love, and Christian care
in performing their promises and covenants to their
bretheren, too, & in a sorte beyonde their power;
that they should venture so desperatly to ingage them
selves to accomplish this thing, and bear it so cheer-
fully; for they never demanded, much less had, any
repaymente of all these great sumes thus disbursed.
2ly. It must needs be that ther was more then of man
in these acheevements, that should thus readily stire up
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION 299
ye harts of shuch able frinds to joyne in partnership
with them in shuch a case, and cleave so faithfullie
to them as these did, in so great adventures; and the
more because the most of them never saw their faces
to this day; ther being neither kindred, aliance, or
other acquaintance or relations betweene any of them,
then hath been before mentioned; it must needs be
therfore the spetiall worke and hand of God. 3ly.
That these poore people here in a wilderness should,
notwithstanding, be inabled in time to repay all these
ingagments, and many more unjustly brought upon
them through the unfaithfullnes of some, and many
other great losses which they sustained, which will be
made manifest, if ye Lord be pleased to give life and
time. In ye mean time, I cannot but admire his ways
and workes towards his servants, and humbly desire
to blesse his holy name for his great mercies hithertoo.
[166] The Leyden people being thus come over,
and sundry of ye generalitie seeing & hearing how great ye
charg was like to be that was that way to be expended,
they begane to murmure and repine at it, notwith-
standing ye burden lay on other mens shoulders;
espetialIy at ye paying of ye 3. bushells of corne
a year, according to ye former agreemente, when ye
trad was lett for ye 6. years aforesaid. But to give
them contente herein allso, it was promised them, that
if they could doe it in ye time without it, they would
never demand it of them; which gave them good con-
300 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
tente. And indeed it never was paid, as will appeare
by ye sequell.
Concerning Mr. Allertons proceedings about ye in-
larging & confirming of their patent, both yt at home
& Kenebeck, will best appere by another leter of
Mr. Sherleys; for though much time & money was
expended aboute it, yet he left it unaccomplisht this
year, and came without it. See Mr. Sherleys letter.
Most worthy & loving freinds, &c.
Some of your letters I received in July, & some since
by Mr. Peirce, but till our maine bussines, ye patent, was
granted, I could not setle my mind nor pen to writing. Mr.
Allerton was so turrmoyled about it, as verily I would not
nor could not have undergone it, if I might have had a
thousand pounds; but ye Lord so blessed his labours (even
beyond expectation in these evill days) as he obtained ye
love & favore of great men in repute & place. He got
granted from ye Earle of Warwick & Sr. Ferdinandou Gorge
all that Mr. Winslow desired in his letters to me, & more
also, which I leave to him to relate. Then he sued to ye
king to confirme their grante, and to make you a corporation,
and so to inable you to make & execute lawes, in such
large & ample maner as ye Massachusett plantation hath it;
which ye king graciously granted, referring it to ye Lord
Keeper to give order to ye solisiter to draw it up, if ther
were a presidente for it. So ye Lord Keeper furthered it all
he could, and allso ye solissiter but as Festus said to Paule,
With no small sume of money obtained I this freedom; for
by ye way many ridells must be resolved, and many locks
must be opened with ye silver, ney, ye golden key. Then
it was to come to ye Lord Treasurer, to have his warrente
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 301
for freeing ye custume for a certaine time; but he would not
doe it, but refferd it to ye Counsell table. And ther
Mr. Allerton atended day by day, when they sate, but could
not gett his petition read. And by reason of Mr. Peirce
his staying with all ye passengers at Bristoll, he was forct
to leave ye further prosecuting of it to a solissiter. But ther
is no fear nor doubte but it will be granted, for he hath ye
cheefe of them to freind; yet it will be marvelously need-
full for him to returne by ye first ship yt comes from thence;
for if you had this confirmed, then were you compleate,
and might bear such sway & goverment as were fitt for
your ranke & place yt God hath called you unto; and stope
ye moueths of base and scurrulous fellowes, yt are ready
to question & threaten you in every action you [167] doe.
And besids, if you have ye custome free for 7. years inward,
& 21. outward, ye charge of ye patent will be soone re-
covered, and ther is no fear of obtaining* it. But such
things must work by degrees; men cannot hasten it as they
would; werefore we (I write in behalfe of all our partners
here) desire you to be ernest with Mr. Allerton to come,
and his wife to spare him this one year more, to finish this
great & waighty bussines, which we conceive will be much
for your good, & I hope for your posteritie, and for many
generations to come.
Thus much of this letter. It was dated ye 19. March,
1629.
By which it appears what progress was made herein,
& in part what charge it was, and how left unfinished,
and some reason of ye same; but in truth (as was
* This word is here substituted for recovering in the manuscript, on the
authority of Bradford's Letter-Book.
302 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
afterwards appehended) the meaine reason was Mr.
Allerton's policie, to have an opportunitie to be sent
over againe, for other regards; and for that end pro-
cured them thus to write. For it might then well
enough have been finshed, if not with yt clause aboute
ye custumes, which was Mr. Allertons & Mr. Sherleys
device, and not at all thought on by ye colony here,
nor much regarded, yet it might have been done with-
out it, without all queston, having passed ye kings hand;
nay it was conceived it might then have beene done
with it, if he had pleased; but covetousnes never brings
ought home, as ye proverb is, for this oppertunytie
being lost, it was never accomplished, but a great deale
of money veainly & lavishly cast away aboute it, as
doth appear upon their accounts. But of this more in
its place.
Mr. Alerton gave them great and just ofence in this
(which I had omited* and almost forgotten), -- in
bringing over this year, for base gaine, that unworthy
man, and instrumente of mischeefe, Morton, who was
sent home but ye year before for his misdemenors. He
not only brought him over, but to ye towne (as it were
to nose them), and lodged him at his owne house, and
for a while used him as a scribe to doe his bussines,
till he was caused to pack him a way. So he wente to
his old nest in ye Massachusets, wher it was not long
* This paragraph is written on the reverse of the page immediately pre-
ceding, in the original manuscript.
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 303
but by his miscariage he gave them just occation to
lay hands on him; and he was by them againe sent
prisoner into England, wher he lay a good while in
Exeter Jeole. For besids his miscariage here, he was
vemently suspected for ye murder of a man that had
adventured moneys with him, when he came first, into
New-England. And a warrente was sente from ye Lord
Cheefe Justice to apprehend him, by vertue wherof he
was by the Govr of ye Massachusets sent into England;
and for other his misdemenors amongst them, they
demolisht his house, that it might be no longer a roost
for shuch unclaine birds to nestle in. Yet he got free
againe, and write an infamouse & scurillous booke
against many godly & cheefe men of ye cuntrie; full
of lyes & slanders, and fraight with profane callumnies
against their names and persons, and ye ways of
God. After sundry years, when ye warrs were hott
in England, he came againe into ye cuntrie, and was
implisoned at Boston for this booke and other things,
being grown old in wickednes.
Concerning ye rest of Mr. Allertons instructions, in
which they strictly injoyned him not to exceed above
yt 50li. in ye goods before mentioned, not to bring any
but trading comodities, he followed them not at all,
but did the quite contrarie; bringing over many other
sorts of retaile goods, selling what he could by the
way on his owne accounte, and delivering the rest,
which he said to be theirs, into ye store; and for
304 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
trading goods brought but title in comparison; excusing
the matter, they had laid out much about ye Laiden
people, & patent, &c. And for other goods, they had
much of them of ther owne dealings, without present
disbursemente, & to like effect. And as for passing
his bounds & instructions, he laid it on Mr. Sherley,
&c., who, he said, they might see his mind in his
leters; also that they had sett out Ashley at great
charg; but next year they should have what trading
goods they would send for, if things were now well
setled, &c. And thus were they put off; indeed Mr.
Sherley write things tending this way, but it is like he
was overruled by Mr. Allerton, and harkened more to
him then to their letters from hence.
Thus he further writs in ye former leter.
I see what you write in your leters concerning ye over-
coming & paying of our debts, which I confess are great,
and had need be carfully looked unto; yet no doubt but
we, joyning in love, may soone over-come them; but we
must follow it roundly & to purposs, for if we pedle out
ye time of our trad, others will step in and nose us. But
we know yt you have yt aquaintance & experience in ye coun-
trie, as none have the like; wherfore, freinds & partners, be
no way discouraged with ye greatnes of ye debt, &c., but let
us not fulfill ye proverbe, to bestow 12d. on a purse, and put
6d. [168] in it; but as you and we have been at great charg,
and undergone much for setling you ther, and to gaine ex-
perience, so as God shall enable us, let us make use of it.
And think not with 50li. pound a yeare sent you over, to
rayse shuch means as to pay our debts. We see a possi-
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLAKTATION. 305
billitie of good if you be well supplied, and fully furnished;
and cheefly if you lovingly agree. I know I write to godly
and wise men, such as have lerned to bear one an others
infirmities, and rejoyce at any ones prosperities; and if
I were able I would press this more, because it is hoped
by some of your enimies, that you will fail out one with
another, and so over throw your hopfull bussines. Nay,
I have heard it crediblie reported, yt some have said, that
till you be disjoynted by discontents & factions* amongst
your sellves, it bootes not any to goe over, in hope of getting
or doing good in those parts. But we hope beter things of
you, and that you will not only bear one with another, but
banish such thoughts, and not suffer them to lodg in your
brests. God grant you may disappointe ye hopes of your
foes, and procure ye hartie desire of your selves & freinds
in this perticuler.
By this it appears that ther was a kind of concurrance
betweene Mr. Allerton and them in these things, and
that they gave more regard to his way & course in
these things, then to ye advise from hence; which made
him bould to presume above his instructions, and to
rune on in ye course he did, to their greater hurt after-
wards, as will appear. These things did much trouble
them hear, but they well knew not how to help it,
being loath to make any breach or contention hear
aboute; being so premonished as before in ye leter
above recited. An other more secrete cause was here-
with concurrente; Mr. Allerton had maried ye daughter
of their Reverend Elder, Mr. Brewster (a man beloved
*Fractions in the manuscript.
306 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
& honoured amongst them, and who tooke great paines
in teaching & dispenceing ye word of God unto them),
whom they were loath to greeve or any way offend,
so as they bore with much in that respecte. And with
all Mr. Allerton carried so faire with him, and procured
such leters from Mr. Sherley to him, with shuch ap-
plause of Mr. Allertons wisdom, care, and faithfullnes,
in ye bussines; and as things stood none were so fitte
to send aboute them as he; and if any should suggest
other wise, it was rather out of envie, or some other
sinister respecte then other wise. Besids, though pri-
vate gaine, I doe perswade my selfe, was some cause
to lead Mr. Allerton aside in these beginings, yet I
thinke, or at least charitie caries me to hope, that he
intended to deale faithfully with them in ye maine, and
had such an opinion of his owne abillitie, and some
experience of ye benefite that he had made in this
singuler way, as he conceived he might both raise him
selfe an estate, and allso be a means to bring in such
profite to Mr. Sherley, (and. it may be ye rest,) as
might be as lickly to bring in their moneys againe
with advantage, and it may be sooner then from the
generall way; or at least it was looked upon by some
of them to be a good help ther unto; and that neither
he nor any other did intend to charge ye generall
accounte with any thing that rane in perticuler; or
yt Mr. Sherley or any other did purposs but yt ye
generall should be first & fully supplyed. I say charitie
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 307
makes me thus conceive; though things fell out other
wise, and they missed of their aimes, and ye generall
suffered abundantly hereby, as will afterwards apear.
[169] Togeither herewith sorted an other bussines
contrived by Mr. Allerton and them ther, wthout any
knowledg of ye partners, and so farr proceeded in as
they were constrained to allow therof, and joyne in
ye same, though they had no great liking of it, but
feared what might be ye evente of ye same. I shall
relate it in a further part of Mr. Sherley's leter as
foloweth.
I am to aquainte you that we have thought good to joyne
with one Edward Ashley (a man I thinke yt some of you
know); but it is only of yt place wherof he hath a patente
in Mr. Beachamps name; and to that end have furnished
him with larg provissions, &c. Now if you please to be
partners with us in this, we are willing you shall; for after
we heard how forward Bristoll men (and as I hear some
able men of his owne kindrid) have been to stock & sup-
ply him, hoping of profite, we thought it fitter for us to lay
hould of such an opportunitie, and to keep a kind of runing
plantation, then others who have not borne ye burthen of
setling a plantation, as we have done. And he, on ye other
side, like an understanding yonge man, thought it better to
joyne with those yt had means by a plantation to supply
& back him ther, rather then strangers, that looke but only
after profite. Now it is not knowne that you are partners
with him; but only we 4., Mr. Andrews, Mr. Beachamp, my
selfe, & Mr. Hatherley, who desired to have ye patente, in
consideration of our great loss we have allready sustained
in setling ye first plantation ther; so we agreed togeather to
308 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
take it in our names. And now, as I said before, if you
please to joyne with us, we are willing you should. Mr.
Allerton had no power from you to make this new con-
tracte, neither was he willing to doe any thing therin with-
out your consente & approbation. Mr. William Peirce is
joyned with us in this, for we thought it very conveniente,
because of landing Ashley and his goods ther, if God please;
and he will bend his course accordingly. He hath a new
boate with him, and boards to make another, with 4. or 5.
lustie fellowes, wherof one is a carpenter. Now in case
you are not willing in this perticuler to joyne with us, fear-
ing ye charge & doubting ye success, yet thus much we in-
treate of you, to afford him all the help you can, either by
men, commodities, or boats; yet not but yt we will pay
you for any thing he hath. And we desire you to keep
ye accounts apart, though you joyne with us; becase ther
is, as you see, other partners in this then ye other; so, for
all mens wages, boats-hire, or comodities, which we shall
have of you, make him debtore for it; and what you shall
have of him, make ye plantation or your selves debtore
for it to him, and so ther will need no mingling of ye ac-
counts.
And now, loving freinds & partners, if you joyne in Ashles
patent & bussines, though we have laid out ye money and
taken up much to stock this bussines & the other, yet I
thinke it conscionable and reasonable yt you should beare
your shares and proportion of ye stock, if not by present
money, yet by securing us for so much as it shall come
too; for it is not barly ye interest yt is to be alowed & con-
sidered of, but allso ye adventure; though I hope in God,
by his blessing & your honest indeavors, it may soon be
payed; yet ye years yt this partnership holds is not long,
nor many; let all therfore lay it to harte, and make ye best
use of ye time that possiblie we cann, and let every man
1629.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION 309
put too his shoulder, and ye burthen will be the lighter.
I know you are so honest & conscionable men, as you will
consider hereof, [170] and returne shuch an answer as may
give good satisfaction. Ther is none of us that would ven-
ture as we have done, were it not to strengthen & setle you
more then our owne perticuler profite.
Ther is no liclyhood of doing any good in buying ye debte
for ye purchas. I know some will not abate ye interest, and
therfore let it rune its course; they are to be paied yearly,
and so I hope they shall, according to agreemente. The
Lord grant yt our loves & affections may still be united,
and knit togeither; and so we rest your ever loving friends,
JAMES SHERLEY.
TIMOTHY HATHERLEY.
Bristoll, March 19. 1629.
This mater of ye buying ye debts of ye purchass
was parte of Mr. Allertons instructions, and in many
of them it might have been done to good profite for
ready pay (as some were); but. Mr. Sherley had no
mind to it. But this bussines aboute Ashley did not
a litle trouble them; for though he had wite & abillitie
enough to menage ye bussines, yet some of them knew
him to be a very profane yonge man; and he had for
some time lived amonge ye Indeans as a savage, &
wente naked amongst them, and used their maners (in
wch time he got their language), so they feared he
might still rune into evill courses (though he prom-
ised better), and God would not prosper his ways.
As soone as he was landed at ye place intended, caled
Penobscote, some 4. score leagues from this place, he
310 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
write (& afterwards came) for to desire to be sup-
plyed with Wampampeake, corne against winter, and
other things. They considered these were of their
cheefe comodities, and would be continually needed by
him, and it would much prejudice their owne trade
at Kenebeck if they did not joyne with him in ye
ordering of things, if thus they should supply him;
and on ye other hand, if they refused to joyne with
him, and allso to afford any supply unto him, they
should greatly offend their above named friends, and
might hapily lose them hereby; and he and Mr. Aller-
ton, laying their craftie wits togither, might gett sup-
plies of these things els wher; besids, they considered
that if they joyned not in ye bussines, they knew Mr.
Allerton would be with them in it, & so would swime,
as it were, betweene both, to ye prejudice of boath,
but of them selves espetially. For they had reason
to thinke this bussines was cheefly of his contriving,
and Ashley was a man fitte for his turne and dealings.
So they, to prevente a worse mischeefe, resolved to
joyne in ye bussines, and gave him supplies in what
they could, & overlooked his proceedings as well as
they could; the which they did ye better, by joyning
an honest yonge man,* that came from Leyden, with
him as his fellow (in some sorte), and not merely as
a servante. Which yonge man being discreete, and
one whom they could trust, they so instructed as
* Thomas Willett.
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