Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation' Part 7

Then aboute y^e oath, as in y^e former.

Subscribed, JOHN R.

W. B.

_Part of another letter from him that delivered these._

London. Feb: 14.

1617.

Your letter to S^r. John Worstenholme I delivered allmost as soone as I had it, to his owne hands, and staid with him y^e opening & reading.

Ther were 2. papers inclosed, he read them to him selfe, as also y^e letter, and in y^e reading he spake to me & said, Who shall make them?

viz. y^e ministers; I answered his Wor^pp that y^e power of making was in y^e church, to be ordained by y^e imposition of hands, by y^e fittest instruments they had. It must either be in y^e church or from y^e pope, & y^e pope is Antichrist. Ho! said S^r. John, what y^e pope houlds good, (as in y^e Trinitie,) that we doe well to a.s.sente too; but, said he, we will not enter into dispute now. And as for your letters he would not show them at any hand, least he should spoyle all. He expected you should have been of y^e archb[~p] minde for y^e calling of ministers, but it seems you differed. I could have wished to have known y^e contents of your tow inclosed, at w^ch he stuck so much, espetially y^e larger. I asked his Wor^p what good news he had for me to write to morrow. He tould me very good news, for both the kings majestie and y^e bishops have consented. He said he would goe to M^r. Chancelor, S^r. Fulk Grivell, as this day, & nexte weeke I should know more. I mett S^r. Edw: Sands on Wedensday night; he wished me to be at the Virginia Courte y^e nexte Wedensday, wher I purpose to be.

Thus loath to be troublsome at present, I hope to have somewhate nexte week of certentie concerning you. I co[=m]itte you to y^e Lord. Yours,

S. B.

[24] These things being long in agitation, & messengers pa.s.sing too and againe aboute them, after all their hopes they were long delayed by many rubs that fell in y^e way; for at y^e returne of these messengers into England they found things farr otherwise then they expected. For y^e Virginia Counsell was now so disturbed with factions and quarrels amongst them selves, as no bussines could well goe forward. The which may the better appear in one of the messengers letters as followeth.

To his loving freinds, &c.

I had thought long since to have write unto you, but could not effecte y^t which I aimed at, neither can yet sett things as I wished; yet, notwithstanding, I doubt not but M^r. B. hath writen to M^r. Robinson.

But I thinke my selfe bound also to doe something, least I be thought to neglecte you. The maine hinderance of our proseedings in y^e Virginia bussines, is the dissentions and factions, as they terme it, amongs y^e Counsell & Company of Virginia; which are such, as that ever since we came up no busines could by them be dispatched. The occasion of this trouble amongst them is, for that a while since S^r.

Thomas Smith, repining at his many offices & troubls, wished y^e Company of Virginia to ease him of his office in being Treasurer & Gover^r. of y^e Virginia Company. Wereupon y^e Company tooke occasion to dismisse him, and chose S^r. Edwin Sands Treasure^r & Gover^r of y^e Company. He having 60. voyces, S^r. John Worstenholme 16. voices, and Alderman Johnsone 24. But S^r. Thomas Smith, when he saw some parte of his honour lost, was very angrie, & raised a faction to cavill & contend aboute y^e election, and sought to taxe S^r. Edwin with many things that might both disgrace him, and allso put him by his office of Governour. In which contentions they yet stick, and are not fit nor readie to intermedle in any bussines; and what issue things will come to we are not yet certaine. It is most like S^r.

Edwin will carrie it away, and if he doe, things will goe well in Virginia; if otherwise, they will goe ill enough allways. We hope in some 2. or 3. Court days things will setle. Mean s.p.a.ce I thinke to goe downe into Kente, & come up againe aboute 14. days, or 3. weeks hence; except either by these afforesaid contentions, or by y^e ille tidings from Virginia, we be wholy discouraged, of which tidings I am now to speake.

Captaine Argoll is come home this weeke (he upon notice of y^e intente of y^e Counsell, came away before S^r. Georg Yeardley came ther, and so ther is no small dissention). But his tidings are ill, though his person be wellcome. He saith M^r. Blackwells shipe came not ther till March, but going towards winter, they had still norwest winds, which carried them to the southward beyond their course. And y^e m^r of y^e ship & some 6. of y^e mariners dieing, it seemed they could not find y^e bay, till after long seeking & beating aboute. M^r. Blackwell is dead, & M^r. Maggner, y^e Captain; yea, ther are dead, he saith, 130.

persons, one & other in y^t ship; it is said ther was in all an 180.

persons in y^e ship, so as they were packed togeather like herings.

They had amongst them y^e fluxe, and allso wante of fresh water; so as it is hear rather wondred at y^t so many are alive, then that so many are dead. The marchants hear say it was M^r. Blackwells faulte to pack so many in y^e ship; yea, & ther were great mutterings & repinings amongst them, and upbraiding of M^r. Blackwell, for his dealing and dispossing of them, when they saw how he had dispossed of them, & how he insulted over them. Yea, y^e streets at Gravsend runge of their extreame quarrelings, crying out one of another, Thou hast brought me to this, and, I may thanke the for this. Heavie newes it is, and I would be glad to heare how farr it will discourage. I see none hear discouraged much, [25] but rather desire to larne to beware by other mens harmes, and to amend that wherin they have failed. As we desire to serve one another in love, so take heed of being inthraled by any imperious persone, espetially if they be discerned to have an eye to them selves. It doth often trouble me to thinke that in this bussines we are all to learne and none to teach; but better so, then to depend upon such teachers as M^r. Blackwell was. Such a strategeme he once made for M^r. Johnson & his people at Emden, w^ch was their subversion. But though he ther clenlily (yet unhonstly) plucked his neck out of y^e collar, yet at last his foote is caught. Hear are no letters come, y^e ship captain Argole came in is yet in y^e west parts; all y^t we hear is but his report; it seemeth he came away secretly. The ship y^t M^r. Blackwell went in will be hear shortly. It is as M^r. Robinson once said; he thought we should hear no good of them.

M^r. B. is not well at this time; whether he will come back to you or goe into y^e north, I yet know not. For my selfe, I hope to see an end of this bussines ere I come, though I am sorie to be thus from you; if things had gone roundly forward, I should have been with you within these 14. days. I pray G.o.d directe us, and give us that spirite which is fitting for such a bussines. Thus having su[=m]arily pointed at things w^ch M^r. Brewster (I thinke) hath more largly write of to M^r.

Robinson, I leave you to the Lords protection.

Yours in all readines, &c.

ROBART CUSHMAN.

London, May 8.

An^o: 1619.

A word or tow by way of digression touching this M^r. Blackwell; he was an elder of y^e church at Amsterdam, a man well known of most of them.

He declined from y^e trueth w^th M^r. Johnson & y^e rest, and went with him when y^ey parted a.s.sunder in y^t wofull maner, w^ch brought so great dishonour to G.o.d, scandall to y^e trueth, & outward ruine to them selves in this world. But I hope, notwithstanding, through y^e mercies of y^e Lord, their souls are now at rest with him in y^e heavens, and y^t they are arrived in y^e Haven of hapines; though some of their bodies were thus buried in y^e terrable seas, and others sunke under y^e burthen of bitter afflictions. He with some others had prepared for to goe to Virginia. And he, with sundrie G.o.dly citizens, being at a private me[=e]ing (I take it a fast) in London, being discovered, many of them were apprehended, wherof M^r. Blackwell was one; but he so glosed w^th y^e b[~p]s,[N] and either dissembled or flatly denyed y^e trueth which formerly he had maintained; and not only so, but very unworthily betrayed and accused another G.o.dly man who had escaped, that so he might slip his own neck out of y^e collar, & to obtaine his owne freedome brought others into bonds. Wherupon he so wone y^e b[~p]s favour (but lost y^e Lord's) as he was not only dismiste, but in open courte y^e arch-bishop gave him great applause and his sollemne blessing to proseed in his vioage. But if such events follow y^e b[~p]s blessing, happie are they y^t misse y^e same; it is much better to keepe a good conscience and have y^e Lords blessing, whether in life or death.

But see how y^e man thus apprehended by M^r. Blackwells means, writs to a freind of his.

Right dear friend & christian brother, _M^r. Carver_, I salute you & yours in y^e Lord, &c. As for my owne presente condition, I doubt not but you well understand it ere this by our brother Maistersone, who should have tasted of y^e same cupp, had his place of residence & his person been as well knowne as my selfe. Some what I have written to _M^r. Cushman_ how y^e matter _still continues_. I have pet.i.tioned _twise_ to M^r. Sherives, and _once_ to my Lord Cooke, and have used such reasons to move them to pittie, that if they were not overruled by some others, I suppose I should soone gaine my libertie; as that I was a yonge man living by my [26] credite, indebted to diverse in our citie, living at more then ordinarie charges in a close & tedious prison; besids great rents abroad, all my bussines lying still, my only servante lying lame in y^e countrie, my wife being also great with child. And yet no answer till y^e lords of his majesties Counsell gave consente. Howbeit, M^r. Blackwell, a man as deepe in this action as I, was delivered at a cheaper rate, with a great deale less adoe; yea, with an addition of y^e Arch[~p]: blessing. I am sorie for M^r.

Blackwels weaknes, I wish it may prove no worse. But yet he & some others of them, _before their going_, were not sorie, but thought it was for y^e best that I was nominated, not because y^e Lord sanctifies evill to good, but that y^e action was good, yea for y^e best. One reason I well remember he used was, because this trouble would encrease y^e Virginia plantation, in that now people begane to be more generally inclined to goe; and if he had not nomminated some such as I, he had not bene free, being it was knowne that diverse citizens besids them selves were ther. I expecte an answer shortly what they intende conscerning me; I purpose to write to some others of you, by whom you shall know the certaintie. Thus not haveing further at present to acquaint you withall, co[=m]ending myselfe to your prairs, I cease, & co[=m]itte you and us all to y^e Lord.

From my chamber in Wodstreete Compter.

Your freind, & brother in bonds, SABIN STARESMORE.

Sept^r: 4. An^o: 1618.

But thus much by y^e way, which may be of instruction & good use.

But at last, after all these things, and their long attendance, they had a patent granted them, and confirmed under y^e Companies seale; but these devissions and distractions had shaken of many of ther pretended freinds, and disappointed them of much of their hoped for & proffered means. By the advise of some freinds this pattente was not taken in y^e name of any of their owne, but in y^e name of Mr. John Wincob (a religious gentleman then belonging to y^e Countess of Lincoline), who intended to goe with them. But G.o.d so disposed as he never went, nor they ever made use of this patente, which had cost them so much labour and charge, as by y^e sequell will appeare. This patente being sente over for them to veiw & consider, as also the pa.s.sages aboute y^e propossitions between them & such marchants & freinds as should either goe or adventure with them, and espetially with those[O] on whom y^ey did cheefly depend for shipping and means, whose proffers had been large, they were requested to fitt and prepare them selves with all speed. A right emblime, it may be, of y^e uncertine things of this world; y^t when men have toyld them selves for them, they vanish into smoke.

The 6. Chap.

_Conscerning y^e agreements and artickles between them, and such marchants & others as adventured moneys; with other things falling out aboute making their provissions._

Upon y^e receite of these things by one of their messengers, they had a sollemne meeting and a day of humilliation to seeke y^e Lord for his direction; and their pastor tooke this texte, 1 _Sam_. 23. 3, 4. _And David's men said unto him, see, we be afraid hear in Judah, how much more if we come to Keilah against the host of the Phillistines? Then David asked counsell of y^e Lord againe, &c._ From which texte he taught many things very aptly, and befitting ther present occasion and condition, strengthing them against their fears and perplexities, and incouraging them in their resolutions. [27] After which they concluded both what number and what persons should prepare them selves to goe with y^e first; for all y^t were willing to have gone could not gett ready for their other affairs in so shorte a time; neither if all could have been ready, had ther been means to have trasported them alltogeather.

Those that staied being y^e greater number required y^e pastor to stay with them; and indeede for other reasons he could not then well goe, and so it was y^e more easilie yeelded unto. The other then desired y^e elder, M^r. Brewster, to goe with them, which was also condescended unto. It was also agreed on by mutuall consente and covenante, that those that went should be an absolute church of them selves, as well as those y^t staid; seing in such a dangrous vioage, and a removall to such a distance, it might come to pa.s.s they should (for y^e body of them) never meete againe in this world; yet with this proviso, that as any of y^e rest came over to them, or of y^e other returned upon occasion, they should be reputed as members without any further dismission or testimoniall. It was allso promised to those y^t wente first, by y^e body of y^e rest, that if y^e Lord gave them life, & me[=a]s, & opportunitie, they would come to them as soone as they could.

Aboute this time, whilst they were perplexed with y^e proseedings of y^e Virginia Company, & y^e ill news from thence aboute M^r. Blackwell & his company, and making inquirey about y^e hiring & buying of shiping for their vioage, some Dutchmen made them faire offers aboute goeing with them. Also one M^r. Thomas Weston, a m^{r}chant of London, came to Leyden aboute y^e same time, (who was well aquainted with some of them, and a furtherer of them in their former proseedings,) haveing much conferance w^th M^r. Robinson & other of y^e cheefe of them, perswaded them to goe on (as it seems) & not to medle with y^e Dutch, or too much to depend on the Virginia Company; for if that failed, if they came to resolution, he and such marchants as were his freinds (togeather with their owne means) would sett them forth; and they should make ready, and neither feare wante of shipping nor money; for what they wanted should be provided. And, not so much for him selfe as for y^e satisfing of such frends as he should procure to adventure in this bussines, they were to draw such articls of agreemente, and make such propossitions, as might y^e better induce his freinds to venture. Upon which (after y^e formere conclusion) articles were drawne & agreed unto, and were showne unto him, and approved by him; and afterwards by their messenger (M^r. John Carver) sent into England, who, togeather with Robart Cushman, were to receive y^e moneys & make provissione both for shiping & other things for y^e vioage; with this charge, not to exseede their co[=m]ission, but to proseed according to y^e former articles. Also some were chossen to doe y^e like for such things as were to be prepared there; so those that weare to goe, prepared them selves with all speed, and sould of their estats and (such as were able) put in their moneys into y^e commone stock, which was disposed by those appointed, for y^e making of generall provissions. Aboute this time also they had heard, both by M^r. Weston and others, y^t sundrie Hon^bl: Lords had obtained a large grante from y^e king, for y^e more northerly parts of that countrie, derived out of y^e Virginia patente, and wholy secluded from their Govermente, and to be called by another name, viz. New-England. Unto which M^r. Weston, and y^e cheefe of them, begane to incline it was [28] best for them to goe, as for other reasons, so cheefly for y^e hope of present profite to be made by y^e fishing that was found in y^t countrie.

But as in all bussineses y^e acting parte is most difficulte, espetially wher y^e worke of many agents must concurr, so it was found in this; for some of those y^t should have gone in England, fell of & would not goe; other marchants & freinds y^t had offered to adventure their moneys withdrew, and pretended many excuses. Some disliking they wente not to Guiana; others againe would adventure nothing excepte they wente to Virginia. Some againe (and those that were most relied on) fell in utter dislike with Virginia, and would doe nothing if they wente thither. In y^e midds of these distractions, they of Leyden, who had put of their estats, and laid out their moneys, were brought into a greate streight, fearing what issue these things would come too; but at length y^e generalitie was swaid to this latter opinion.

But now another difficultie arose, for M^r. Weston and some other that were for this course, either for their better advantage or rather for y^e drawing on of others, as they pretended, would have some of those conditions altered y^t were first agreed on at Leyden. To which y^e 2.

agents sent from Leyden (or at least one of them who is most charged with it) did consente; seeing els y^t all was like to be dashte, & y^e opportunitie lost, and y^t they which had put of their estats and paid in their moneys were in hazard to be undon. They presumed to conclude with y^e marchants on those termes, in some things contrary to their order & co[=m]ission, and without giving them notice of y^e same; yea, it was conceled least it should make any furder delay; which was y^e cause afterward of much trouble & contention.

It will be meete I here inserte these conditions, which are as foloweth.

An^o: 1620. July 1.

1. The adventurers & planters doe agree, that every person that goeth being aged 16. years & upward, be rated at 10^li., and ten pounds to be accounted a single share.

2. That he that goeth in person, and furnisheth him selfe out with 10^li. either in money or other provissions, be accounted as haveing 20^li. in stock, and in y^e devission shall receive a double share.

3. The persons transported & y^e adventurers shall continue their joynt stock & partnership togeather, y^e s.p.a.ce of 7. years, (excepte some unexpected impedimente doe cause y^e whole company to agree otherwise,) during which time, all profits & benifits that are gott by trade, traffick, trucking, working, fishing, or any other means of any person or persons, remaine still in y^e co[=m]one stock untill y^e division.

4. That at their co[=m]ing ther, they chose out such a number of fitt persons, as may furnish their ships and boats for fishing upon y^e sea; imploying the rest in their severall faculties upon y^e land; as building houses, tilling, and planting y^e ground, & makeing shuch co[=m]odities as shall be most usefull for y^e collonie.

5. That at y^e end of y^e 7. years, y^e capitall & profits, viz. the houses, lands, goods and chatles, be equally devided betwixte y^e adventurers, and planters; w^ch done, every man shall be free from other of them of any debt or detrimente concerning this adventure.

[29] 6. Whosoever cometh to y^e colonie herafter, or putteth any into y^e stock, shall at the ende of y^e 7. years be alowed proportionably to y^e time of his so doing.

7. He that shall carie his wife & children, or servants, shall be alowed for everie person now aged 16. years & upward, a single share in y^e devision, or if he provid them necessaries, a duble share, or if they be between 10. year old and 16., then 2. of them to be reconed for a person, both in tr[=a]sportation and devision.

8. That such children as now goe, & are under y^e age of ten years, have noe other shar in y^e devision, but 50. acers of unmanured land.

9. That such persons as die before y^e 7. years be expired, their executors to have their parte or sharr at y^e devision, proportionably to y^e time of their life in y^e collonie.

10. That all such persons as are of this collonie, are to have their meate, drink, apparell, and all provissions out of y^e co[=m]on stock & goods of y^e said collonie.

The cheefe & princ.i.p.all differences betwene these & the former conditions, stood in those 2. points; that y^e houses, & lands improved, espetialy gardens & home lotts should remaine undevided wholy to y^e planters at y^e 7. years end. 2^ly, y^t they should have had 2. days in a weeke for their owne private imploymente, for y^e more comforte of them selves and their families, espetialy such as had families. But because letters are by some wise men counted y^e best parte of histories, I shall shew their greevances hereaboute by their owne letters, in which y^e pa.s.sages of things will be more truly discerned.