S^r: Your large letter writen to M^r. Carver, and dated y^e 6. of

July, 1621, I have received y^e 10. of Novemb^r, wherin (after y^e

apologie made for your selfe) you lay many heavie imputations upon him

and us all. Touching him, he is departed this life, and now is at rest

[68] in y^e Lord from all those troubls and incoumbrances with which

we are yet to strive. He needs not my appologie; for his care and

pains was so great for y^e commone good, both ours and yours, as that

therwith (it is thought) he oppressed him selfe and shortened his

days; of whose loss we cannot sufficiently complaine. At great charges

in this adventure, I confess you have beene, and many losses may

sustaine; but y^e loss of his and many other honest and industrious

mens lives, cannot be vallewed at any prise. Of y^e one, ther may be

hope of recovery, but y^e other no recompence can make good. But I

will not insiste in generalls, but come more perticulerly to y^e

things them selves. You greatly blame us for keping y^e ship so long

in y^e countrie, and then to send her away emptie. She lay 5. weks at

Cap-Codd, whilst with many a weary step (after a long journey) and the

indurance of many a hard brunte, we sought out in the foule winter a

place of habitation. Then we went in so tedious a time to make

provission to sheelter us and our goods, aboute w^ch labour, many of

our armes & leggs can tell us to this day we were not necligent. But

it pleased God to vissite us then, with death dayly, and with so

generall a disease, that the living were scarce able to burie the

dead; and y^e well not in any measure sufficiente to tend y^e sick.

And now to be so greatly blamed, for not fraighting y^e ship, doth

indeed goe near us, and much discourage us. But you say you know we

will pretend weaknes; and doe you think we had not cause? Yes, you

tell us you beleeve it, but it was more weaknes of judgmente, then of

hands. Our weaknes herin is great we confess, therfore we will bear

this check patiently amongst y^e rest, till God send us wiser men. But

they which tould you we spent so much time in discoursing &

consulting, &c., their harts can tell their toungs, they lye. They

cared not, so they might salve their owne sores, how they wounded

others. Indeed, it is our callamitie that we are (beyound expectation)

yoked with some ill conditioned people, who will never doe good, but

corrupte and abuse others, &c.

The rest of y^e letter declared how they had subscribed those conditions

according to his desire, and sente him y^e former accounts very

perticulerly; also how y^e ship was laden, and in what condition their

affairs stood; that y^e coming of these [69] people would bring famine

upon them unavoydably, if they had not supply in time (as Mr. Cushman

could more fully informe him & y^e rest of y^e adventurers). Also that

seeing he was now satisfied in all his demands, that offences would be

forgoten, and he remember his promise, &c.

After y^e departure of this ship, (which stayed not above 14. days,) the

Gove^r & his assistante haveing disposed these late co[=m]ers into

severall families, as y^ey best could, tooke an exacte accounte of all

their provissions in store, and proportioned y^e same to y^e number of

persons, and found that it would not hould out above 6. months at halfe

alowance, and hardly that. And they could not well give less this winter

time till fish came in againe. So they were presently put to half

alowance, one as well as an other, which begane to be hard, but they

bore it patiently under hope of supply.

Sone after this ships departure, y^e great people of y^e Narigansets, in

a braving maner, sente a messenger unto them with a bundl of arrows tyed

aboute with a great sneak-skine; which their interpretours tould them

was a threatening & a chaleng. Upon which y^e Gov^r, with y^e advice of

others, sente them a round answere, that if they had rather have warre

then peace, they might begine when they would; they had done them no

wrong, neither did y^ey fear them, or should they find them unprovided.

And by another messenger sente y^e sneake-skine back with bulits in it;

but they would not receive it, but sent it back againe. But these

things I doe but mention, because they are more at large allready put

forth in printe, by M^r. Winslow, at y^e requeste of some freinds. And

it is like y^e reason was their owne ambition, who, (since y^e death of

so many of y^e Indeans,) thought to dominire & lord it over y^e rest, &

conceived y^e English would be a barr in their way, and saw that

Massasoyt took sheilter allready under their wings.

But this made them y^e more carefully to looke to them selves, so as

they agreed to inclose their dwellings with a good strong pale, and make

flankers in convenient places, with gates to shute, which were every

night locked, and a watch kept, and when neede required ther was also

warding in y^e day time. And y^e company was by y^e Captaine and y^e

Gov^r [70] advise, devided into 4. squadrons, and every one had ther

quarter apoynted them, unto which they were to repaire upon any suddane

alarme. And if ther should be any crie of fire, a company were appointed

for a gard, with muskets, whilst others quenchet y^e same, to prevent

Indean treachery. This was accomplished very cherfully, and y^e towne

impayled round by y^e begining of March, in which evry family had a

prety garden plote secured. And herewith I shall end this year. Only I

shall remember one passage more, rather of mirth then of waight. One y^e

day called Chrismasday, y^e Gov^r caled them out to worke, (as was

used,) but y^e most of this new-company excused them selves and said it

wente against their consciences to work on y^t day. So y^e Gov^r tould

them that if they made it mater of conscience, he would spare them till

they were better informed. So he led-away y^e rest and left them; but

when they came home at noone from their worke, he found them in y^e

streete at play, openly; some pitching y^e barr, & some at stoole-ball,

and shuch like sports. So he went to them, and tooke away their

implements, and tould them that was against his conscience, that they

should play & others worke. If they made y^e keeping of it mater of

devotion, let them kepe their houses, but ther should be no gameing or

revelling in y^e streets. Since which time nothing hath been atempted

that way, at least openly.

_Anno 1622._

At y^e spring of y^e year they had apointed y^e Massachusets to come

againe and trade with them, and begane now to prepare for that vioag

about y^e later end of March. But upon some rumors heard, Hobamak, their

Indean, tould them upon some jealocies he had, he feared they were

joyned w^th y^e Narighansets and might betray them if they were not

carefull. He intimated also some jealocie of Squanto, by what he

gathered from some private whisperings betweene him and other Indeans.

But [71] they resolved to proseede, and sente out their shalop with 10.

of their cheefe men aboute y^e begining of Aprill, and both Squanto &

Hobamake with them, in regarde of y^e jelocie betweene them. But they

had not bene gone longe, but an Indean belonging to Squantos family came

runing in seeming great fear, and tould them that many of y^e

Narihgansets, with Corbytant, and he thought also Massasoyte, were

coming against them; and he gott away to tell them, not without danger.

And being examined by y^e Gov^r, he made as if they were at hand, and

would still be looking back, as if they were at his heels. At which the

Governor caused them to take armes & stand on their garde, and supposing

y^e boat to be still within hearing (by reason it was calme) caused a

warning peece or 2. to be shote of, the which y^ey heard and came in.

But no Indeans apeared; watch was kepte all night, but nothing was

scene. Hobamak was confidente for Massasoyt, and thought all was false;

yet y^e Gov^r caused him to send his wife privatly, to see what she

could observe (pretening other occasions), but ther was nothing found,

but all was quiet. After this they proseeded on their vioge to y^e

Massachusets, and had good trade, and returned in saftie, blessed be

God.

But by the former passages, and other things of like nature, they begane

to see y^t Squanto sought his owne ends, and plaid his owne game, by

putting y^e Indeans in fear, and drawing gifts from them to enrich him

selfe; making them beleeve he could stur up warr against whom he would,

& make peece for whom he would. Yea, he made them beleeve they kept y^e

plague buried in y^e ground, and could send it amongs whom they would,

which did much terrifie the Indeans, and made them depend more on him,

and seeke more to him then to Massasoyte, which proucured him envie, and

had like to have cost him his life. For after y^e discovery of his

practises, Massasoyt sought it both privatly and openly; which caused

him to stick close to y^e English, & never durst goe from them till he

dyed. They also made good use of y^e emulation y^t grue betweene

Hobamack and him, which made them cary more squarely. And y^e Gov^r

seemed to countenance y^e one, and y^e Captaine y^e other, by which they

had better intelligence, and made them both more diligente.

[72] Now in a maner their provissions were wholy spent, and they looked

hard for supply, but none came. But about y^e _later end of May_, they

spied _a boat_ at sea, which at first they thought had beene some

Frenchman; but it proved a shalop which came from a ship which M^r.

Weston & an other had set out a fishing, at a place called

Damarins-cove, 40. leagues to y^e eastward of them, wher were y^t year

many more ships come a fishing. This boat brought 7. passengers and some

letters, but no vitails, nor any hope of any. Some part of which I shall

set downe.

M^r. Carver, in my last leters by y^e Fortune, in whom M^r Cushman

wente, and who I hope is with you, for we daly expecte y^e shipe back

againe. She departed hence, y^e begining of July, with 35. persons,

though not over well provided with necesaries, by reason of y^e

parsemonie of y^e adventurers.[AQ] I have solisited them to send you a

supply of men and provissions before shee come. They all answer they

will doe great maters, when they hear good news. Nothing before; so

faithfull, constant, & carefull of your good, are your olde & honest

freinds, that if they hear not from you, they are like to send you no

supplie, &c. I am now to relate y^e occasion of sending _this ship_,

hoping if you give credite to my words, you will have a more

favourable opinion of it, then some hear, wherof Pickering is one, who

taxed me to mind my owne ends, which is in part true, &c. _M^r.

Beachamp and my selfe_ bought _this litle ship_, and have set her out,

partly, if it may be, to uphold[AR] y^e plantation, as well to doe

others good as our selves; and partly to gett up what we are formerly

out; though we are otherwise censured, &c. This is y^e occasion we

have sent _this ship_ and these passengers, on our owne accounte; whom

we desire you will frendly entertaine & supply with shuch necesaries

as you cane spare, and they wante, &c. And among other things we pray

you lend or sell them some seed corne, and if you have y^e salt

remaining of y^e last year, that y^u will let them have it for their

presente use, and we will either pay you for it, or give you more when

we have set our salt-pan to worke, which we desire may be set up in

one of y^e litle ilands in your bay, &c. And because we intende, if

God plase, [73] (and y^e generallitie doe it not,) _to send within a

month another shipe_, who, having discharged her passengers, _shal goe

to Virginia_, &c. And it may be we shall send a _small ship to abide

with you_ on y^e coast, which I conceive may be a great help to y^e

plantation. To y^e end our desire may be effected, which, I assure my

selfe, will be also for your good, we pray you give them

entertainmente in your houses y^e time they shall be with you, that

they may lose no time, but may presently goe in hand to fell trees &

cleave them, to y^e end lading may be ready and our ship stay not.

Some of y^e adventurers have sent you hearwith all some directions for

your furtherance in y^e co[=m]one bussines, who are like those S^t.

James speaks of, y^t bid their brother eat, and warme him, but give

him nothing; so they bid you make salt, and uphold y^e plantation, but

send you no means wherwithall to doe it, &c. By _y^e next_ we purpose

_to send more people on our owne accounte_, and _to take a patente_;

that if your peopl should be as unhumane as some of y^e adventurers,

not to admite us to dwell with them, which were extreme barbarisme,

and which will never enter into my head to thinke you have any shuch

Pickerings amongst you. Yet to satisfie our passengers I must of force

doe it; and for some other reasons not necessary to be writen, &c. I

find y^e generall so backward, and your freinds at Leyden so could,

that I fear you must stand on your leggs, and trust (as they say) to

God and your selves.

Subscribed,

your loving freind,

THO: WESTON.

Jan: 12. 1621.

Sundry other things I pass over, being tedious & impertinent.

All this was but could comfort to fill their hungrie bellies, and a

slender performance of his former late promiss; and as litle did it

either fill or warme them, as those y^e Apostle James spake of, by him

before mentioned. And well might it make them remember what y^e psalmist

saith, Psa. 118. 8. _It is better to trust in the Lord, then to have

confidence in man._ And Psa. 146. _Put not you trust in princes_ (much

less in y^e marchants) _nor in y^e sone of man, for ther is no help in

them._ v. 5. _Blesed is he that hath y^e God of Jacob for his help,

whose hope is in y^e Lord his God._ And as they were now fayled of suply

by him and others in this their greatest neede and wants, which was

caused by him and y^e rest, who put so great a company of men upon them,

as y^e former company were, without any food, and came at shuch a time

as they must live almost a whole year before any could [74] be raised,

excepte they had sente some; so, upon y^e pointe they never had any

supply of vitales more afterwards (but what the Lord gave them

otherwise); for all y^e company sent at any time was allways too short

for those people y^t came with it.

Ther came allso _by y^e same ship_ other leters, but of later date, one

from M^r. Weston, an other from a parte of y^e adventurers, as foloweth.

M^r. Carver, since my last, to y^e end we might y^e more readily

proceed to help y^e generall, at a meeting of some of y^e principall

adventurers, a proposition was put forth, & alowed by all presente

(save Pickering), to adventure each man y^e third parte of what he

formerly had done. And ther are some other y^t folow his example, and

will adventure no furder. In regard wherof y^e greater part of y^e

adventurers being willing to uphold y^e bussines, finding it no reason

that those y^t are willing should uphold y^e bussines of those that

are unwilling, whose backwardnes doth discourage those that are

forward, and hinder other new-adventurers from coming in, we having

well considered therof, have resolved, according to an article in y^e

agreemente, (_that it may be lawfull by a generall consente of y^e

adventurers & planters, upon just occasion, to breake of their joynte

stock_,) to breake it of; and doe pray you to ratifie, and confirme

y^e same on your parts. Which being done, we shall y^e more willingly

goe forward for y^e upholding of you with all things necesarie. But in

any case you must agree to y^e artickls, and send it by y^e first

under your hands & seals. So I end

Your loving freind,

THO: WESTON.

Jan: 17. 1621.

Another leter was write from part of y^e company of y^e adventurers to

the same purpose, and subscribed with 9. of their names, wherof M^r.

Westons & M^r. Beachamphs were tow. Thes things seemed strang unto them,

seeing this unconstancie & shufling; it made them to thinke ther was

some misterie in y^e matter. And therfore y^e Gov^r concealed these

letters from y^e publick, only imparted them to some trustie freinds for

advice, who concluded with him, that this tended to disband & scater

them (in regard of their straits); and if M^r. Weston & others, who

seemed to rune in a perticuler way, should come over with shiping so

provided as his letters did intimate, they most would fall to him, to

y^e prejudice of them selves & y^e rest of the adventurers,[AS] their

freinds, from whom as yet they heard nothing. And it was doubted whether

he had not sente [75] over shuch a company in y^e former ship, for

shuch an end. Yet they tooke compassion of those 7. men which _this

ship, which fished to y^e eastward, had kept till planting time was

over_, and so could set no corne; and allso wanting vitals, (for y^ey

turned them off w^{th}out any, and indeed wanted for them selves,)

neither was their salt-pan come, so as y^ey could not performe any of

those things which M^r. Weston had apointed, and might have starved if

y^e plantation had not succoured them; who, in their wants, gave them as

good as any of their owne. _The ship wente to Virginia_, wher they sould

both ship & fish, of which (it was conceived) M^r. Weston had a very

slender accounte.

_After this came another of his ships_, and brought letters dated y^e

10. of Aprill, from M^r. Weston, as followeth.

M^r. Bradford, these, &c. _The Fortune_ is arived, of whose good news

touching your estate & proce[=e]ings, I am very glad to hear. And how

soever he was robed on y^e way by y^e Frenchmen, yet I hope your loss

will not be great, for y^e conceite of so great a returne doth much

animate y^e adventurers, so y^t I hope some matter of importance will

be done by them, &c. As for my selfe, I have sould my adventure &

debts unto them, so as I am quit[AT] of you, & you of me, for that

matter, &c. Now though I have nothing to pretend as an adventurer

amongst you, yet I will advise you a litle for your good, if you can

apprehend it. I perceive & know as well as another, y^e dispositions

of _your adventurers_, whom y^e hope of gaine hath drawne on to this

they have done; and yet I fear y^t hope will not draw them much

furder. Besids, _most of them are against the sending of them of

Leyden, for whose cause this bussines was first begune_, and some of

y^e most religious (as M^r. Greene by name) excepts against them. So

y^t my advice is (you may follow it if you please) that you forthwith

break of your joynte stock, which you have warente to doe, both in law

& conscience, for y^e most parte of y^e adventurers have given way

unto it by a former letter. And y^e means you have ther, which I hope

will be to some purpose by y^e trade of this spring, may, with y^e

help of some freinds hear, bear y^e charge of tr[=a]sporting those of

Leyden; and when they are with you I make no question but by Gods help

you will be able to subsist of your selves. But I shall leave you to

your discretion.

I desired diverce of y^e adventurers, as M^r. Peirce, M^r. Greene, &

others, if they had any thing to send you, either vitails or leters,

to send them _by these ships_; and marvelling they sent not so much as

a letter, I asked our passengers what leters they had, and with some

dificultie one of them tould me he had one, which was delivered him

with [76] great charge of secrecie; and for more securitie, to buy a

paire of new-shoes, & sow it betweene y^e soles for fear of

intercepting. I, taking y^e leter, wondering what mistrie might be in

it, broke it open, and found this treacherous letter subscribed by y^e

hands of M^r. Pickering & M^r. Greene. Wich leter had it come to you^r

hands without answer, might have caused y^e hurt, if not y^e ruine, of

us all. For assuredly if you had followed their instructions, and

shewed us that unkindness which they advise you unto, to hold us in

distruste as enimise, &c., it might have been an occasion to have set

us togeather by y^e eares, to y^e distruction of us all. For I doe

beleeve that in shuch a case, they knowing what bussines hath been

betweene us, not only my brother, but others also, would have been

violent, and heady against you, &c. I mente to have setled y^e people

I before and now send, with or near you, as well for their as your

more securitie and defence, as help on all occasions. But I find y^e

adventurers so jealous & suspitious, that I have altered my

resolution, & given order to my brother & those with him, to doe as

they and him selfe shall find fitte. Thus, &c.

Your loving friend,

THO: WESTON.

Aprill 10. 1621.

_Some part of Mr. Pickerings letter before mentioned._

To M^r. Bradford & M^r. Brewster, &c.

My dear love remembred unto you all, &c. The company hath bought out

M^r. Weston, and are very glad they are freed of him, he being judged

a man y^t thought him selfe above y^e generall, and not expresing so

much y^e fear of God as was meete in a man to whom shuch trust should

have been reposed in a matter of so great importance. I am sparing to

be so plaine as indeed is clear against him; but a few words to y^e

wise.

M^r. Weston will not permitte leters to be sent in _his ships_, nor

any thing for your good or ours, of which ther is some reason in

respecte of him selfe, &c. His brother Andrew, whom he doth send as

principall _in one of these ships_, is a heady yong man, & violente,

and set against you ther, & y^e company hear; ploting with M^r. Weston

their owne ends, which tend to your & our undooing in respecte of our

estates ther, and prevention of our good ends. For by credible

testimoney we are informed his purpose is to come to your colonie,

pretending he comes for and from y^e adventurers, and will seeke to

gett what you have in readynes [77] into _his ships_, as if they came

from y^e company, & possessing all, will be so much profite to him

selfe. And further to informe them selves what spetiall places or

things you have discovered, to y^e end that they may supres & deprive

you, &c.

The Lord, who is y^e watchman of Israll & slepeth not, preserve you &

deliver you from unreasonable men. I am sorie that ther is cause to

admonish you of these things concerning this man; so I leave you to

God, who bless and multiply you into thousands, to the advancemente of

y^e glorious gospell of our Lord Jesus. Amen. Fare well.

Your loving freinds,

EDWARD PICKERING.

WILLIAM GREENE.

I pray conceale both y^e writing & deliverie of this leter, but make

the best use of it. _We hope to sete forth a ship our selves with in

this month._

_The heads of his answer._

M^r. Bradford, this is y^e leter y^t I wrote unto you of, which to

answer in every perticuler is needles & tedious. My owne conscience &

all our people can and I thinke will testifie, y^t my end in sending

_y^e ship Sparrow_ was your good, &c. Now I will not deney but ther

are many of our people rude fellows, as these men terme them; yet I

presume they will be governed by such as I set over them. And I hope

not only to be able to reclaime them from y^t profanenes that may

scandalise y^e vioage, but by degrees to draw them to God, &c. I am so

farr from sending rude fellows to deprive you either by fraude or

violence of what is yours, as I have charged y^e m^r. of y^e _ship

Sparrow_, not only to leave with you 2000. of bread, but also a good

quantitie of fish,[AU] &c. But I will leave it to you to consider what

evill this leter would or might have done, had it come to your hands &

taken y^e effecte y^e other desired.

Now if you be of y^e mind y^t these men are, deale plainly with us, &

we will seeke our residence els-wher. If you are as freindly as we

have thought you to be, give us y^e entertainment of freinds, and we

will take nothing from you, neither meat, drinke, nor lodging, but

what we will, in one kind or other, pay you for, &c. I shall leave in

y^e countrie _a litle ship_ (if God send her safe thither) with

mariners & fisher-men to stay ther, who shall coast, & trad with y^e

savages, & y^e old plantation. It may be we shall be as helpfull to

you, as you will be to us. I thinke I shall see you y^e next spring;

and so I comend you to y^e protection of God, who ever keep you.

Your loving friend,

THO: WESTON.

[78] Thus all ther hops in regard of M^r. Weston were layed in y^e dust,

and all his promised helpe turned into an empttie advice, which they

apprehended was nether lawfull nor profitable for them to follow. And

they were not only thus left destitute of help in their extreme wants,

haveing neither vitails, nor any thing to trade with, but others

prepared & ready to glean up what y^e cuntrie might have afforded for

their releefe. As for those harsh censures & susspitions intimated in

y^e former and following leters, they desired to judg as charitably and

wisly of them as they could, waighing them in y^e ballance of love and

reason; and though they (in parte) came from godly & loveing freinds,

yet they conceived many things might arise from over deepe jealocie and

fear, togeather with unmeete provocations, though they well saw M^r.

Weston pursued his owne ends, and was imbittered in spirite. For after

the receit of y^e former leters, the Gov^r received one from M^r.

Cushman, who went home in y^e ship, and was allway intimate with M^r.

Weston, (as former passages declare), and it was much marveled that

nothing was heard from him, all this while. But it should seeme it was

y^e difficulty of sending, for this leter was directed as y^e leter of a

wife to her husband, who was here, and brought by him to y^e Gov^r. It

was as followeth.

Beloved S^r: I hartily salute you, with trust of your health, and many

thanks for your love. By Gods providence we got well home y^e 17. _of

Feb_. Being robbed by y^e French-men by y^e way, and carried by them

into France, and were kepte ther 15. days, and lost all y^t we had

that was worth taking; but thanks be to God, we escaped with our lives

& ship. I see not y^t it worketh any discouragment hear. I purpose by

Gods grace _to see you_ shortly, _I hope in June nexte, or before_. In

y^e mean space know these things, and I pray you be advertised a

litle. M^r. Weston hath quite broken of from our company, through some

discontents y^t arose betwext him and some of our adventurers, & hath

sould all his adventurs, & _hath now sent 3. smale ships for his

perticuler plantation_. The _greatest_ wherof, _being 100. tune_, M^r.

Reynolds goeth m^r. and he with y^e rest purposeth to come him selfe;

for what end I know not.

The people which they cary are no men for us, wherfore I pray you

entertaine them not, neither exchainge man for man with them, excepte

it be some of your worst. He hath taken a patente for him selfe. If

they offerr to buy any thing of you, let it be shuch as you can spare,

and let them give y^e worth of it. If they borrow any thing of you,

let them leave a good pawne, &c. It is like he [78[AV]] will plant to

y^e southward of y^e Cape, for William Trevore hath lavishly tould but

what he knew or imagined of Capewack, Mohiggen, & y^e Narigansets. I

fear these people will hardly deale so well with y^e savages as they

should. I pray you therfore signifie to Squanto, that they are a

distincte body from us, and we have nothing to doe with them, neither

must be blamed for their falts, much less can warrente their

fidelitie. We are aboute to recover our losses in France. Our freinds

at Leyden are well, and will come to you as many as can _this time_. I

hope all will turne to y^e best, wherfore I pray you be not

discouraged, but gather up your selfe to goe thorow these dificulties

cherfully & with courage in y^t place wherin God hath sett you, untill

y^e day of refreshing come. And y^e Lord God of sea & land bring us

comfortably togeather againe, if it may stand with his glorie.

Yours,

ROBART CUSHMAN.

On y^e other sid of y^e leafe, in y^e same leter, came these few lines

from M^r. John Peirce, in whose name the patente was taken, and of whom

more will follow, to be spoken in its place.

Worthy S^r: I desire you to take into consideration that which is

writen on y^e other side, and not any way to damnifie your owne

collony, whos strength is but weaknes, and may therby be more

infeebled. And for y^e leters of association, by y^e next ship we

send, I hope you shall receive satisfaction; in y^e mean time whom you

admite I will approve. But as for M^r. Weston's company, I thinke them

so base in condition (for y^e most parte) as in all apearance not

fitt for an honest mans company. I wish they prove other wise. My

purpose is not to enlarge my selfe, but cease in these few lins, and

so rest

Your loving freind,

JOHN PEIRCE.

All these things they pondred and well considered, yet concluded to give

his men frendly entertainmente; partly in regard of M^r. Weston him

selfe, considering what he had been unto them, & done for them, & to

some, more espetially; and partly in compassion to y^e people, who were

now come into a willdernes, (as them selves were,) and were by _y^e

ship_ to be presently put a shore, (for she was _to cary other

passengers to Virginia_, who lay at great charge,) and they were

alltogeather unacquainted & knew not what to doe. So as they had

received his former company of 7. men, and vitailed them as their owne

hitherto, so they also received _these_ (being aboute 60. lusty men),

and gave [79] housing for them selves and their goods; and many being

sicke, they had y^e best means y^e place could aford them. They stayed

hear y^e most parte of y^e so[=m]er till _y^e ship came back againe from

Virginia_. Then, by his direction, or those whom he set over them, they

removed into y^e Massachusset Bay, he having got a patente for some part

ther, (by light of ther former discovery in leters sent home). Yet they

left all ther sicke folke hear till they were setled and housed. But of

ther victails they had not any, though they were in great wante, nor

any thing els in recompence of any courtecie done them; neither did they

desire it, for they saw they were an unruly company, and had no good

govermente over them, and by disorder would soone fall into wants if

M^r. Weston came not y^e sooner amongst them; and therfore, to prevente

all after occasion, would have nothing of them.

Amids these streigths, and y^e desertion of those from whom they had

hoped for supply, and when famine begane now to pinch them sore, they

not knowing what to doe, the Lord, (who never fails his,) presents them

with an occasion, beyond all expectation. This boat which came from y^e

eastward brought them a letter from a stranger, of whose name they had

never heard before, being a captaine of a ship come ther a fishing. This

leter was as followeth. Being thus inscribed.

To all his good freinds at Plimoth, these, &c.

Freinds, cuntrimen, & neighbours: I salute you, and wish you all

health and hapines in y^e Lord. I make bould with these few lines to

trouble you, because unless I were unhumane, I can doe no less. Bad

news doth spread it selfe too farr; yet I will so farr informe you

that my selfe, with many good freinds in y^e south-collonie of

Virginia, have received shuch a blow, that 400. persons large will not

make good our losses. Therfore I doe intreat you (allthough not

knowing you) that y^e old rule which I learned when I went to schoole,

may be sufficente. That is, Hapie is he whom other mens harmes doth

make to beware. And now againe and againe, wishing all those y^t

willingly would serve y^e Lord, all health and happines in this world,

and everlasting peace in y^e world to come. And so I rest,

Yours,

JOHN HUDLSTON.

By this boat y^e Gov^r returned a thankfull answer, as was meete, and

sent a boate of their owne with them, which was piloted by them, in

which M^r. Winslow was sente to procure what provissions he could of y^e

ships, who was kindly received by y^e foresaid gentill-man, who not only

spared what he [90[AW]] could, but writ to others to doe y^e like. By

which means he gott some good quantitie and returned in saftie, by which

y^e plantation had a duble benefite, first, a present refreshing by y^e

food brought, and secondly, they knew y^e way to those parts for their

benifite hearafter. But what was gott, & this small boat brought, being

devided among so many, came but to a litle, yet by Gods blesing it

upheld them till harvest. It arose but to a quarter of a pound of bread

a day to each person; and y^e Gov^r caused it to be dayly given them,

otherwise, had it been in their owne custody, they would have eate it up

& then starved. But thus, with what els they could get, they made pretie

shift till corne was ripe.

This so[=m]er they builte a fort with good timber, both strong & comly,

which was of good defence, made with a flate rofe & batllments, on which

their ordnance were mounted, and wher they kepte constante watch,

espetially in time of danger. It served them allso for a meeting house,

and was fitted accordingly for that use. It was a great worke for them

in this weaknes and time of wants; but y^e deanger of y^e time required

it, and both y^e continuall rumors of y^e fears from y^e Indeans hear,

espetially y^e Narigansets, and also y^e hearing of that great massacre

in Virginia, made all hands willing to despatch y^e same.

Now y^e wellcome time of harvest aproached, in which all had their

hungrie bellies filled. But it arose but to a litle, in comparison of a

full years supplie; partly by reason they were not yet well aquainted

with y^e ma[=n]er of Indean corne, (and they had no other,) allso their

many other imployments, but cheefly their weaknes for wante of food, to

tend it as they should have done. Also much was stolne both by night &

day, before it became scarce eatable, & much more afterward. And though

many were well whipt (when they were taken) for a few ears of corne, yet

hunger made others (whom conscience did not restraine) to venture. So as

it well appeared y^e famine must still insue y^e next year allso, if not

some way prevented, or supplie should faile, to which they durst not

trust. Markets there was none to goe too, but only y^e Indeans, and

they had no trading comodities. Behold now another providence of God; a

ship comes into y^e [91] harbor, one Captain Jons being cheefe therin.

They were set out by some marchants to discovere all y^e harbors

betweene this & Virginia, and y^e shoulds of Cap-Cod, and to trade along

y^e coast wher they could. This ship had store of English-beads (which

were then good trade) and some knives, but would sell none but at dear

rates, and also a good quantie togeather. Yet they weere glad of y^e

occasion, and faine to buy at any rate; they were faine to give after

y^e rate of cento per cento, if not more, and yet pay away coat-beaver

at 3^s. per^li, which in a few years after yeelded 20^s. By this means

they were fitted againe to trade for beaver & other things, and intended

to buy what corne they could.

But I will hear take liberty to make a litle digression. Ther was in

_this ship_ a gentle-man by name M^r. John Poory; he had been secretarie

in Virginia, and was now going home passenger _in this ship_. After his

departure he write a leter to y^e Gov^r in the postscrite wherof he hath

these lines.

To your selfe and M^r. Brewster, I must acknowledg my selfe many ways

indebted, whose books I would have you thinke very well bestowed on

him, who esteemeth them shuch juells. My hast would not suffer me to

remember (much less to begg) M^r. Ainsworths elaborate worke upon y^e

5. books of Moyses. Both his & M^r. Robinsons doe highly commend the

authors, as being most conversante in y^e scripturs of all others. And

what good (who knows) it may please God to worke by them, through my

hands, (though most unworthy,) who finds shuch high contente in them.

God have you all in his keeping.

Your unfained and firme friend,

JOHN PORY.

Aug. 28. 1622.

These things I hear inserte for honour sake of y^e authors memorie,

which this gentle-man doth thus ingeniusly acknowledg; and him selfe

after his returne did this poore-plantation much credite amongst those

of no mean ranck. But to returne.

[92] _Shortly after harvest_ M^r. Westons people who were now seated at

y^e Massachusets, and by disorder (as it seems) had made havock of their

provissions, begane now to perceive that want would come upon them. And

hearing that they hear had bought trading comodities & intended to trade

for corne, they write to y^e Gov^r and desired they might joyne with

them, and they would imploy their small ship in y^e servise; and furder

requested either to lend or sell them so much of their trading

comodities as their part might come to, and they would undertake to make

paymente when M^r. Weston, or their supply, should come. The Gov^r

condesended upon equall terms of agreemente, thinkeing to goe aboute y^e

Cap to y^e southward with y^e ship, wher some store of corne might be

got. Althings being provided, Captaint Standish was apointed to goe

with them, and Squanto for a guid & interpreter, about y^e _latter end

of September_; but y^e winds put them in againe, & putting out y^e 2.

time, he fell sick of a feavor, so y^e Gov^r wente him selfe. But they

could not get aboute y^e should of Cap-Cod, for flats & breakers,

neither could Squanto directe them better, nor y^e m^r. durst venture

any further, so they put into Manamoyack Bay and got w^t[AX] they could

ther. In this place Squanto fell sick of an Indean feavor, bleeding much

at y^e nose (which y^e Indeans take for a simptome of death), and within

a few days dyed ther; desiring y^e Gov^r to pray for him, that he might

goe to y^e Englishmens God in heaven, and bequeathed sundrie of his

things to sundry of his English freinds, as remembrances of his love; of

whom they had a great loss. They got in this vioage, in one place &

other, about 26. or 28. hogsheads of corne & beans, which was more then

the Indeans could well spare in these parts, for y^e set but a litle

till they got English hows. And so were faine to returne, being sory

they could not gett about the Cap, to have been better laden. After ward

y^e Gov^r tooke a few men & wente to y^e inland places, to get what he

could, and to fetch it home at y^e spring, which did help them

something.

[93] After these things, in _Feb_: a messenger came from John Sanders,

who was left cheefe over M^r. Weston's men in y^e bay of Massachusets,

who brought a letter shewing the great wants they were falen into; and

he would have borrowed a hh of corne of y^e Indeans, but they would lend

him none. He desired advice whether he might not take it from them by

force to succore his men till he came from y^e eastward, whither he was

going. The Gov^r & rest deswaded him by all means from it, for it might

so exasperate the Indeans as might endanger their saftie, and all of us

might smart for it; for they had already heard how they had so wronged

y^e Indeans by stealing their corne, &c. as they were much incensed

against them. Yea, so base were some of their own company, as they wente

& tould y^e Indeans y^t their Gov^r was purposed to come and take their

corne by force. The which with other things made them enter into a

conspiracie against y^e English, of which more in y^e nexte. Hear with I

end this year.

_Anno Dom: 1623._

It may be thought strang that these people should fall to these

extremities in so short a time, being left competently provided when y^e

ship left them, and had an addition by that moyetie of corn that was got

by trade, besids much they gott of y^e Indans wher they lived, by one

means & other. It must needs be their great disorder, for they spent

excesseivly whilst they had, or could get it; and, it may be, wasted

parte away among y^e Indeans (for he y^t was their cheef was taxed by

some amongst them for keeping Indean women, how truly I know not). And

after they begane to come into wants, many sould away their cloathes and

bed coverings; others (so base were they) became servants to y^e

Indeans, and would cutt them woode & fetch them water, for a cap full of

corne; others fell to plaine stealing, both night & day, from y^e

Indeans, of which they greevosly complained. In y^e end, they came to

that misery, that some starved & dyed with could & hunger. One in

geathering shell-fish was so weake as he stuck fast in y^e mudd, and was

found dead in y^e place. At last most of them left their dwellings &

scatered up & downe in y^e [94] woods, & by y^e water sids, wher they

could find ground nuts & clames, hear 6. and ther ten. By which their

cariages they became contemned & scorned of y^e Indeans, and they begane

greatly to insulte over them in a most insolente maner; insomuch, many

times as they lay thus scatered abrod, and had set on a pot with ground

nuts or shell-fish, when it was ready the Indeans would come and eate it

up; and when night came, wheras some of them had a sorie blanket, or

such like, to lappe them selves in, the Indeans would take it and let

y^e other lye all nighte in the could; so as their condition was very

lamentable. Yea, in y^e end they were faine to hange one of their men,

whom they could not reclaime from stealing, to give y^e Indeans

contente.

Whilst things wente in this maner with them, y^e Gov^r & people hear

had notice y^t Massasoyte ther freind was sick & near unto death. They

sent to vissete him, and withall sente him such comfortable things as

gave him great contente, and was a means of his recovery; upon which

occasion he discovers y^e conspiracie of these Indeans, how they were

resolved to cutt of M^r. Westons people, for the continuall injuries

they did them, & would now take opportunitie of their weaknes to doe it;

and for that end had conspired with other Indeans their neighbours their

aboute. And thinking the people hear would revenge their death, they

therfore thought to doe y^e like by them, & had solisited him to joyne

with them. He advised them therfore to prevent it, and that speedly by

taking of some of y^e cheefe of them, before it was to late, for he

asured them of y^e truth hereof.

This did much trouble them, and they tooke it into serious delibration,

and found upon examenation other evidence to give light hear unto, to

longe hear to relate. In y^e mean time, came one of them from y^e

Massachucets, with a small pack at his back; and though he knew not a

foote of y^e way, yet he got safe hither, but lost his way, which was

well for him, for he was pursued, and so was mist. He tould them hear

how all things stood amongst them, and that he durst stay no longer, he

apprehended they (by what he observed) would be all knokt in y^e head

shortly. This made them make y^e more hast, & dispatched a boate away

w^th Capten Standish & some men, who found them in a miserable

condition, out of which he rescued them, and helped them to some releef,

cut of some few of y^e cheefe conspirators, and, according to his order,

offered to bring them all hither if they thought good; and they should

fare no worse then them selves, till M^r. Weston or some supplie came to

them. Or, if any other course liked them better, he was to doe them any

helpfullnes he could. They thanked him & y^e rest. But most of them

desired he would help them with some corne, and they would goe with

their smale ship to y^e eastward, wher hapily they might here of M^r.

Weston, or some supply from him, seing y^e time of y^e year was for

fishing ships to [95] be in y^e land. If not, they would worke among y^e

fishermen for their liveing, and get ther passage into England, if they

heard nothing from M^r. Weston in time. So they shipped what they had of

any worth, and he got them all y^e corne he could (scarce leaving to

bring him home), and saw them well out of the bay, under saile at sea,

and so came home, not takeing y^e worth of a peny of any thing that was

theirs. I have but touched these things breefly, because they have

allready been published in printe more at large.

This was y^e end of these that some time bosted of their strength,

(being all able lustie men,) and what they would doe & bring to pass,

in comparison of y^e people hear, who had many women & children and weak

ons amongst them; and said at their first arivall, when they saw the

wants hear, that they would take an other course, and not to fall into

shuch a condition, as this simple people were come too. But a mans way

is not in his owne power; God can make y^e weake to stand; let him also

that standeth take heed least he fall.

Shortly after, M^r. Weston came over with some of y^e fishermen, under

another name, and y^e disguise of a blacke-smith, were he heard of y^e

ruine and disolution of his colony. He got a boat and with a man or 2.

came to see how things were. But by y^e way, for wante of skill, in a

storme, he cast away his shalop in y^e botome of y^e bay between Meremek

river & Pascataquack, & hardly escaped with life, and afterwards fell

into the hands of y^e Indeans, who pillaged him of all he saved from the

sea, & striped him out of all his cloaths to his shirte. At last he got

to Pascataquack, & borrowed a suite of cloaths, and got means to come to

Plimoth. A strang alteration ther was in him to such as had seen & known

him in his former florishing condition; so uncertaine are y^e mutable

things of this unstable world. And yet men set their harts upon them,

though they dayly see y^e vanity therof.

After many passages, and much discourse, (former things boyling in his

mind, but bit in as was discernd,) he desired to borrow some beaver of

them; and tould them he had hope of a ship & good supply to come to him,

and then they should have any thing for it they stood in neede of. They

gave litle credite to his supplie, but pitied his case, and remembered

former curtesies. They tould him he saw their wants, and they knew not

when they should have any supply; also how y^e case stood betweene them

& their adventurers, he well knew; they had not much bever, & if they

should let him have it, it were enoughe to make a mutinie among y^e

people, seeing ther was no other means to procure them foode which they

so much wanted, & cloaths allso. Yet they tould him they would help him,

considering his necessitie, but must doe it secretly for y^e former

reasons. So they let him have 100. beaver-skins, which waighed 170^li.

odd pounds. Thus they helpt him when all y^e world faild him, and with

this means he went againe to y^e ships, and stayed his small ship & some

of his men, & bought provissions and fited him selfe; and it was y^e

only foundation [96] of his after course. But he requited them ill, for

he proved after a bitter enimie unto them upon all occasions, and never

repayed them any thing for it, to this day, but reproches and evill

words. Yea, he divolged it to some that were none of their best freinds,

whilst he yet had y^e beaver in his boat; that he could now set them all

togeather by y^e ears, because they had done more then they could

answer, in letting him have this beaver, and he did not spare to doe

what he could. But his malice could not prevaile.

All this whille no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they

might expecte any. So they begane to thinke how they might raise as much

corne as they could, and obtaine a beter crope then they had done, that

they might not still thus languish in miserie. At length, after much

debate of things, the Gov^r (with y^e advise of y^e cheefest amongest

them) gave way that they should set corne every man for his owne

perticuler, and in that regard trust to them selves; in all other things

to goe on in y^e generall way as before. And so assigned to every family

a parcell of land, according to the proportion of their number for that

end, only for present use (but made no devission for inheritance), and

ranged all boys & youth under some familie. This had very good success;

for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corne was

planted then other waise would have bene by any means y^e Gov^r or any

other could use, and saved him a great deall of trouble, and gave farr

better contente. The women now wente willingly into y^e feild, and tooke

their litle-ons with them to set corne, which before would aledg

weaknes, and inabilitie; whom to have compelled would have bene thought

great tiranie and oppression.

The experience that was had in this co[=m]one course and condition,

tried sundrie years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well

evince the vanitie of that conceite of Platos & other ancients,

applauded by some of later times;--that y^e taking away of propertie,

and bringing in co[=m]unitie into a comone wealth, would make them happy

and florishing; as if they were wiser then God. For this comunitie (so

farr as it was) was found to breed much confusion & discontent, and

retard much imploym[=e]t that would have been to their benefite and

comforte. For y^e yong-men that were most able and fitte for labour &

service did repine that they should spend their time & streingth to

worke for other mens wives and children, with out any recompence. The

strong, or man of parts, had no more in devission of victails & cloaths,

then he that was weake and not able to doe a quarter y^e other could;

this was thought injuestice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and

[97] equalised in labours, and victails, cloaths, &c., with y^e meaner &

yonger sorte, thought it some indignite & disrespect unto them. And for

mens wives to be commanded to doe servise for other men, as dresing

their meate, washing their cloaths, &c., they deemd it a kind of

slaverie, neither could many husbands well brooke it. Upon y^e poynte

all being to have alike, and all to doe alike, they thought them selves

in y^e like condition, and one as good as another; and so, if it did not

cut of those relations that God hath set amongest men, yet it did at

least much diminish and take of y^e mutuall respects that should be

preserved amongst them. And would have bene worse if they had been men

of another condition. Let none objecte this is men's corruption, and

nothing to y^e course it selfe. I answer, seeing all men have this

corruption in them, God in his wisdome saw another course fiter for

them.

But to returne. After this course setled, and by that their co[=r]e was

planted, all ther victails were spente, and they were only to rest on

Gods providence; at night not many times knowing wher to have a bitt of

any thing y^e next day. And so, as one well observed, had need to pray

that God would give them their dayly brade, above all people in y^e

world. Yet they bore these wants with great patience & allacritie of

spirite, and that for so long a time as for y^e most parte of 2. years;

which makes me remember what Peter Martire writs, (in magnifying y^e

Spaniards) in his 5. Decade, pag. 208. _They_ (saith he) _led a

miserable life for 5. days togeather, with y^e parched graine of maize

only, and that not to saturitie_; and then concluds, _that shuch pains,

shuch labours, and shuch hunger, he thought none living which is not a

Spaniard could have endured_. But alass! these, when they had maize (y^t

is, Indean corne) they thought it as good as a feast, and wanted not

only for 5. days togeather, but some time 2. or 3. months togeather, and

neither had bread nor any kind of corne. Indeed, in an other place, in

his 2. Decade, page 94. he mentions how others of them were worse put to

it, wher they were faine to eate doggs, toads, and dead men, and so dyed

almost all. From these extremities the[AY] Lord in his goodnes kept

these his people, and in their great wants preserved both their lives

and healthes; let his name have y^e praise. Yet let me hear make use of

his conclusion, which in some sorte may be applied to this people: _That

with their miseries they opened a way to these new-lands; and after

these stormes, with what ease other men came to inhabite in them, in

respecte of y^e calamities these men suffered; so as they seeme to goe

to a bride feaste wher all things are provided for them._

They haveing but one boat left and she not over well fitted, they were

devided into severall companies, 6. or 7. to a gangg or company, and so

wente out with a nett they had bought, to take bass & such like fish, by

course, every company knowing their turne. No sooner was y^e boate

discharged [98] of what she brought, but y^e next company tooke her and

wente out with her. Neither did they returne till they had cauight

something, though it were 5. or 6. days before, for they knew ther was

nothing at home, and to goe home emptie would be a great discouragemente

to y^e rest. Yea, they strive who should doe best. If she stayed longe

or got litle, then all went to seeking of shel-fish, which at low-water

they digged out of y^e sands. And this was their living in y^e so[=m]er

time, till God sente y^m beter; & in winter they were helped with

ground-nuts and foule. Also in y^e so[=m]er they gott now & then a dear;

for one or 2. of y^e fitest was apoynted to range y^e woods for y^t end,

& what was gott that way was devided amongst them.

At length they received some leters from y^e adventurers, too long and

tedious hear to record, by which they heard of their furder crosses and

frustrations; begining in this maner.

Loving freinds, as your sorrows & afflictions have bin great, so our

croses & interceptions in our proceedings hear, have not been small.

For after we had with much trouble & charge sente y^e _Parragon_ away

to sea, and thought all y^e paine past, within 14. days after she came

againe hither, being dangerously leaked, and brused with tempestious

stormes, so as shee was faine to be had into y^e docke, and an 100^li.

bestowed upon her. All y^e passengers lying upon our charg for 6. or

7. weeks, and much discontent and distemper was occasioned hereby, so

as some dangerous evente had like to insewed. But we trust all shall

be well and worke for y^e best and your benefite, if yet with patience

you can waite, and but have strength to hold in life. Whilst these

things were doing, M^r. Westons ship came and brought diverce leters

from you, &c. It rejoyseth us much to hear of those good reports y^t

diverce have brought home from you, &c.

These letters were dated Des. 21: 1622.

So farr of this leter.

This ship was brought by M^r. John Peirce, and set out at his owne

charge, upon hope of great maters. These passengers, & y^e goods the

company sent in her, he tooke in for fraught, for which they agreed with

him to be delivered hear. This was he in whose name their _first

patente_ was taken, by reason of aquaintance, and some aliance that some

of their freinds had with him. But his name was only used in trust. But

when he saw they were hear hopfully thus seated, and by y^e success God

gave them had obtained y^e favour of y^e Counsell of New-England, he

goes and sues to them for _another patent_ of much larger extente (in

their names), which was easily obtained. But he mente to keep it to him

selfe and alow them what he pleased, to hold of him as tenants, and sue

to his courts as cheefe Lord, as will appear by that which follows. But

y^e Lord marvelously crost him; for after this first returne, and y^e

charge above mentioned, when shee was againe fitted, he pesters him

selfe and taks in more passengers, and those not very good to help to

bear his losses, and sets out y^e 2. time. But [99] what y^e event was

will appear from another leter from one of y^e cheefe of y^e company,

dated y^e 9. of Aprill, 1623. writ to y^e Gov^r hear, as followeth.

Loving freind, when I write my last leter, I hope to have received one

from you well-nigh by this time. But when I write in Des: I litle

thought to have seen M^r. John Peirce till he had brought some good

tidings from you. But it pleased God, he brought us y^e wofull tidings

of his returne when he was half-way over, by extraime tempest, werin

y^e goodnes & mercie of God appeared in sparing their lives, being

109. souls. The loss is so great to M^r. Peirce, &c., and y^e companie

put upon so great charge, as veryly, &c.

Now with great trouble & loss, we have got M^r. John Peirce to assigne

over y^e grand patente to y^e companie, which he had taken in his owne

name, and made quite voyd our former grante. I am sorie to writ how

many hear thinke y^t the hand of God was justly against him, both y^e

first and 2. time of his returne; in regard he, whom you and we so

confidently trusted, but only to use his name for y^e company, should

aspire to be lord over us all, and so make you & us tenants at his

will and pleasure, our assurance or patente being quite voyd &

disanuled by his means. I desire to judg charitably of him. But his

unwillingnes to part with his royall Lordship, and y^e high-rate he

set it at, which was 500^li. which cost him but 50^li., maks many

speake and judg hardly of him. The company are out for goods in his

ship, with charge aboute y^e passengers, 640^li., &c.

We have agreed with 2. marchants for a ship of 140. tunes, caled y^e

_Anne_, which is to be ready y^e last of this month, to bring 60.

passengers & 60. tune of goods, &c.

This was dated Aprill 9. 1623.

These were ther owne words and judgmente of this mans dealing &

proceedings; for I thought it more meete to render them in theirs then

my owne words. And yet though ther was never got other recompence then

the resignation of this patente, and y^e shares he had in adventure, for

all y^e former great sumes, he was never quiet, but sued them in most of

y^e cheefe courts in England, and when he was still cast, brought it to

y^e Parlemente. But he is now dead, and I will leave him to y^e Lord.

This ship suffered y^e greatest extreemitie at sea at her 2. returne,

that one shall lightly hear of, to be saved; as I have been informed by

M^r. William Peirce who was then m^r. of her, and many others that were

passengers in her. It was aboute y^e _midle of Feb_: The storme was for

y^e most parte of 14. days, but for 2. or 3. days & nights togeather in

most violent extremitie. After they had cut downe their mast, y^e storme

beat of their round house and all their uper works; 3. men had worke

enough at y^e helme, and he that cund y^e ship before y^e sea, was faine

[100] to be bound fast for washing away; the seas did so over-rake them,

as many times those upon y^e decke knew not whether they were within

bord or withoute; and once she was so foundered in y^e sea as they all

thought she would never rise againe. But yet y^e Lord preserved them,

and brought them at last safe to _Ports-mouth_, to y^e wonder of all men

y^t saw in what a case she was in, and heard what they had endured.

About y^e later end of _June_ came in a ship, with Captaine Francis

West, who had a comission to be admirall of New-England, to restraine

interlopers, and shuch fishing ships as came to fish & trade without a

licence from y^e Counsell of New-England, for which they should pay a

round sume of money. But he could doe no good of them, for they were to

stronge for him, and he found y^e fisher men to be stuberne fellows. And

their owners, upon complainte made to y^e Parlemente, procured an order

y^t fishing should be free. He tould y^e Gov^r they spooke with a ship

at sea, and were abord her, y^t was coming for this plantation, in which

were sundrie passengers, and they marvelled she was not arrived, fearing

some miscariage; for they lost her in a storme that fell shortly after

they had been abord. Which relation filled them full of fear, yet mixed

with hope. The m^r. of this ship had some 2. [=h][=h] of pease to sell,

but seeing their wants, held them at 9^li. sterling a hoggshead, & under

8^li. he would not take, and yet would have beaver at an under rate. But

they tould him they had lived so long with out, and would doe still,

rather then give so unreasonably. So they went from hence to

Virginia.[AZ]

About 14. days after came in this ship, caled y^e _Anne_, wherof M^r.

William Peirce was m^r., and aboute a weeke or 10. days after came in

y^e pinass which in foule weather they lost at sea, a fine new vessell

of about 44. tune, which y^e company had builte to stay in the cuntrie.

They brought about 60. persons for y^e generall, some of them being very

usefull persons, and became good members to y^e body, and some were y^e

wives and children of shuch as were hear allready. And some were so bad,

as they were faine to be at charge to send them home againe y^e next

year. Also, besids these ther came a company, that did not belong to y^e

generall body, but came one[BA] their perticuler, and were to have lands

assigned them, and be for them selves, yet to be subjecte to y^e

generall Goverment; which caused some diferance and disturbance [101]

amongst them, as will after appeare. I shall hear againe take libertie

to inserte a few things out of shuch leters as came in this shipe,

desiring rather to manefest things in ther words and apprehentions, then

in my owne, as much as may be, without tediousness.

Beloved freinds, I kindly salute you all, with trust of your healths &

wellfare, being right sorie y^t no supplie hath been made to you all

this while; for defence wher of, I must referr you to our generall

leters. Naitheir indeed have we now sent you many things, which we

should & would, for want of money. But persons, more then inough,

(though not all we should,) for people come flying in upon us, but

monys come creeping in to us. Some few of your old freinds are come,

as, &c. So they come droping to you, and by degrees, I hope ere long

you shall enjoye them all. And because people press so hard upon us to

goe, and often shuch as are none of y^e fitest, I pray you write

ernestly to y^e Treasurer and directe what persons should be sente. It

greeveth me to see so weake a company sent you, and yet had I not been

hear they had been weaker. You must still call upon the company hear

to see y^t honest men be sente you, and threaten to send them back if

any other come, &c. We are not any way so much in danger, as by

corrupte an noughty persons. Shuch, and shuch, came without my

consente; but y^e importunitie of their freinds got promise of our

Treasurer in my absence. Neither is ther need we should take any lewd

men, for we may have honest men enew, &c.

Your assured freind,

R. C.

The following was from y^e genrall.

Loving freinds, we most hartily salute you in all love and harty

affection; being yet in hope y^t the same God which hath hithertoo

preserved you in a marvelous maner, doth yet continue your lives and

health, to his owne praise and all our comforts. Being right sory that

you have not been sent unto all this time, &c. We have in this ship

sent shuch women, as were willing and ready to goe to their husbands

and freinds, with their children, &c. We would not have you

discontente, because we have not sent you more of your old freinds,

and in speciall, him[BB] on whom you most depend. Farr be it from us

to neclecte you, or contemne him. But as y^e intente was at first, so

y^e evente at last shall shew it, that we will deal fairly, and

squarly answer your expectations to the full. Ther are also come unto

you, some honest men to plant upon their particulers besids you. A

thing which if we should not give way unto, we should wrong both them

and you. Them, by puting them on things more inconveniente, and you,

for that being honest men, they will be a strengthening to y^e place,

and good neighbours [102] unto you. Tow things we would advise you of,

which we have likwise signified them hear. First, y^e trade for skins

to be retained for the generall till y^e devidente; 2^ly. y^t their

setling by you, be with shuch distance of place as is neither

inconvenient for y^e lying of your lands, nor hurtfull to your speedy

& easie assembling togeather.

We have sente you diverse fisher men, with salte, &c. Diverse other

provissions we have sente you, as will appear in your bill of lading,

and though we have not sent all we would (because our cash is small),

yet it is y^t we could, &c.

And allthough it seemeth you have discovered many more rivers and

fertill grounds then y^t wher you are, yet seeing by Gods providence

y^t place fell to you^r lote, let it be accounted as your portion; and

rather fixe your eyes upon that which may be done ther, then languish

in hops after things els-wher. If your place be not y^e best, it is

better, you shall be y^e less envied and encroached upon; and shuch as

are earthly minded, will not setle too near your border.[BC] If y^e

land afford you bread, and y^e sea yeeld you fish, rest you a while

contented, God will one day afford you better fare. And all men shall

know you are neither fugetives nor discontents. But can, if God so

order it, take y^e worst to your selves, with content,[BD] & leave y^e

best to your neighbours, with cherfullnes.

Let it not be greeveous unto you y^t you have been instruments to

breake y^e ise for others who come after with less dificulty, the

honour shall be yours to y^e worlds end, &c.

We bear you always in our brests, and our harty affection is towards

you all, as are y^e harts of hundreds more which never saw your faces,

who doubtles pray for your saftie as their owne, as we our selves both

doe & ever shall, that y^e same God which hath so marvelously

preserved you from seas, foes, and famine, will still preserve you

from all future dangers, and make you honourable amongst men, and

glorious in blise at y^e last day. And so y^e Lord be with you all &

send us joyfull news from you, and inable us with one shoulder so to

accomplish & perfecte this worke, as much glorie may come to Him y^t

confoundeth y^e mighty by the weak, and maketh small thinges great. To

whose greatnes, be all glorie for ever & ever.

This leter was subscribed with 13. of their names.

These passengers, when they saw their low & poore condition a shore,

were much danted and dismayed, and according to their diverse humores

were diversly affected; some wished them selves in England againe;

others fell a weeping, fancying their own miserie in what y^ey saw now

in others; other some pitying the distress they saw their freinds had

been long in, and still were under; in a word, all were full of sadnes.

Only some of their old freinds rejoysed to see them, and y^t it was no

worse with them, for they could not expecte it should be better, and now

hoped they should injoye better days togeather. And truly it was [103]

no marvell they should be thus affected, for they were in a very low

condition, many were ragged in aparell, & some litle beter then halfe

naked; though some y^t were well stord before, were well enough in this

regard. But for food they were all alike, save some y^t had got a few

pease of y^e ship y^t was last hear. The best dish they could presente

their freinds with was a lobster, or a peece of fish, without bread or

any thing els but a cupp of fair spring water. And y^e long continuance

of this diate, and their labours abroad, had something abated y^e

freshnes of their former complexion. But God gave them health and

strength in a good measure; and shewed them by experience y^e truth of

y^t word, Deut. 8. 3. _Y^t man liveth not by bread only, but by every

word y^t proceedeth out of y^e mouth of y^e Lord doth a man live._

When I think how sadly y^e scripture speaks of the famine in Jaakobs

time, when he said to his sonns, Goe buy us food, that we may live and

not dye. Gen. 42. 2. and 43. 1, that the famine was great, or heavie in

the land; and yet they had such great herds, and store of catle of

sundrie kinds, which, besids flesh, must needs produse other food, as

milke, butter & cheese, &c., and yet it was counted a sore affliction;

theirs hear must needs be very great, therfore, who not only wanted the

staffe of bread, but all these things, and had no Egipte to goe too. But

God fedd them out of y^e sea for y^e most parte, so wonderfull is his

providence over his in all ages; for his mercie endureth for ever.

On y^e other hand the old planters were affraid that their corne, when

it was ripe, should be imparted to y^e new-co[=m]ers, whose provissions

w^ch they brought with them they feared would fall short before y^e year

wente aboute (as indeed it did). They came to y^e Gov^r and besought him

that as it was before agreed that they should set corne for their

perticuler, and accordingly they had taken extraordinary pains ther

aboute, that they might freely injoye the same, and they would not have

a bitte of y^e victails now come, but waite till harvest for their owne,

and let y^e new-co[=m]ers injoye what they had brought; they would have

none of it, excepte they could purchase any of it of them by bargaine or

exchainge. Their requeste was granted them, for it gave both sides good

contente; for y^e new-co[=m]ers were as much afraid that y^e hungrie

planters would have eat up y^e provissions brought, and they should

have fallen into y^e like condition.

This ship was in a shorte time laden with clapbord, by y^e help of many

hands. Also they sente in her all y^e beaver and other furrs they had, &

M^r. Winslow was sent over with her, to informe of all things, and

procure such things as were thought needfull for their presente

condition. By this time harvest was come, and in stead of famine, now

God gave them plentie, and y^e face of things was changed, to y^e

rejoysing of y^e harts of many, for which they blessed God. And y^e

effect of their particuler planting was well seene, for all had, one way

& other, pretty well to bring y^e year aboute, and some of y^e abler

sorte and more [104] industrious had to spare, and sell to others, so as

any generall wante or famine hath not been amongst them since to this

day.

Those that come on their perticuler looked for greater matters then they

found or could attaine unto, aboute building great houses, and such

pleasant situations for them, as them selves had fancied; as if they

would be great men & rich, all of a sudaine; but they proved castls in

y^e aire. These were y^e conditions agreed on betweene y^e colony and

them.

First, that y^e Gov^r, in y^e name and with y^e consente of y^e company,

doth in all love and frendship receive and imbrace them; and is to

allote them competente places for habitations within y^e towne. And

promiseth to shew them all such other curtesies as shall be reasonable

for them to desire, or us to performe.

2. That they, on their parts, be subjecte to all such laws & orders as

are already made, or hear after shall be, for y^e publick good.

3. That they be freed and exempte from y^e generall imployments of the

said company, (which their presente condition of comunitie requireth,)

excepte commune defence, & such other imployments as tend to y^e

perpetuall good of y^e collony.

4^ly. Towards y^e maintenance of Go[~v]^rt, & publick officers of y^e

said collony, every male above y^e age of 16. years shall pay a bushell

of Indean wheat, or y^e worth of it, into y^e commone store.

5^ly. That (according to y^e agreemente y^e marchants made with y^m

before they came) they are to be wholy debared from all trade with the

Indeans for all sorts of furrs, and such like commodities, till y^e time

of y^e comunallitie be ended.

About y^e midle of September arrived Captaine Robart Gorges in y^e Bay

of y^e Massachusets, with sundrie passengers and families, intending

ther to begine a plantation; and pitched upon y^e place M^r. Weston's

people had forsaken. He had a co[=m]ission from y^e Counsell of

New-England, to be generall Gove^r of y^e cuntrie, and they appoynted

for his counsell & assistance, Captaine Francis West, y^e aforesaid

admirall, Christopher Levite, Esquire, and y^e Gov^r of Plimoth for y^e

time beeing, etc. Allso, they gave him authoritie to chuse such other as

he should find fit. Allso, they gave (by their co[=m]ission) full power

to him and his assistants, or any 3. of them, wherof him selfe was

allway to be one, to doe and execute what to them should seeme good, in

all cases, Capitall, Criminall, and Civill, etc., with diverce other

instructions. Of which, and his comission, it pleased him to suffer y^e

Gov^r hear to take a coppy.

He gave them notice of his arivall by letter, but before they could

visite him he went to y^e eastward with y^e ship he came in; but a

storme arising, (and they wanting a good pilot to harbor them in those

parts,) they bore up for this harbor. He and his men were hear kindly

entertained; he stayed hear 14. days. In y^e mean time came in M^r.

Weston with his small ship, which he had now recovered. [105[BE]]

Captaine Gorges tooke hold of y^e opportunitie, and acquainted y^e Gov^r

hear, that one occasion of his going to y^e eastward was to meete with

M^r. Weston, and call him to accounte for some abuses he had to lay to

his charge. Wherupon he called him before him, and some other of his

assistants, with y^e Gov^r of this place; and charged him, first, with

y^e ille carriage of his men at y^e Massachusets; by which means the

peace of y^e cuntrie was disturbed, and him selfe and the people which

he had brought over to plante in that bay were therby much prejudised.

To this M^r. Weston easily answered, that what was that way done, was in

his absence, and might have befalen any man; he left them sufficently

provided, and conceived they would have been well governed; and for any

errour co[=m]itted he had sufficiently smarted. This particuler was

passed by. A 2^d. was, for an abuse done to his father, S^r. Ferdenando

Gorges, and to y^e State. The thing was this; he used him & others of

y^e Counsell of New-England, to procure him a licence for y^e

transporting of many peeces of great ordnance for New-England,

pretending great fortification hear in y^e countrie, & I know not what

shipping. The which when he had obtained, he went and sould them beyond

seas for his private profite; for which (he said) y^e State was much

offended, and his father suffered a shrowd check, and he had order to

apprehend him for it. M^r. Weston excused it as well as he could, but

could not deney it; it being one maine thing (as was said) for which he

with-drew himself. But after many passages, by y^e mediation of y^e

Gov^r and some other freinds hear, he was inclined to gentlnes (though

he aprehended y^e abuse of his father deeply); which, when M^r. Weston

saw, he grew more presumptuous, and gave such provocking & cutting

speches, as made him rise up in great indignation & distemper, and vowed

y^t he would either curb him, or send him home for England. At which

M^r. Weston was something danted, and came privatly to y^e Gov^r hear,

to know whether they would suffer Captaine Gorges to apprehend him. He

was tould they could not hinder him, but much blamed him, y^t after they

had pacified things, he should thus breake out, by his owne folly &

rashnes, to bring trouble upon him selfe & them too. He confest it was

his passion, and prayd y^e Gov^r to entreat for him, and pacifie him if

he could. The which at last he did, with much adoe; so he was called

againe, and y^e Gov^r was contente to take his owne bond to be ready to

make further answer, when either he or y^e lords should send for him.

And at last he tooke only his word, and ther was a fre[=i]dly parting on

all hands.

But after he was gone, M^r. Weston in lue of thanks to y^e Gov^r and his

freinds hear, gave them this quib (behind their baks) for all their

pains. That though they were but yonge justices, yet they wear good

beggers. Thus they parted at this time, and shortly after y^e Gov^r

tooke his leave and went to y^e Massachusets by land, being very

thankfull for his kind entertainemente. The ship stayed hear, and fitted

her selfe to goe for Virginia, having some passengers ther to deliver;

and with her returned sundrie of those from hence which came over on

their perticuler, some out of discontente and dislike of y^e cuntrie;

others by reason of a fire that broke out, and burnt y^e houses they

lived in, and all their provisions [106[BF]] so as they were

necessitated therunto. This fire was occasioned by some of y^e sea-men

that were roystering in a house wher it first begane, makeing a great

fire in very could weather, which broke out of y^e chimney into y^e

thatch, and burnte downe 3. or 4. houses, and consumed all y^e goods &

provissions in y^m. The house in which it begane was right against their

store-house, which they had much adoe to save, in which were their

co[=m]one store & all their provissions; y^e which if it had been lost,

y^e plantation had been over-throwne. But through Gods mercie it was

saved by y^e great dilligence of y^e people, & care of the Gov^r & some

aboute him. Some would have had y^e goods throwne out; but if they had,

ther would much have been stolne by the rude company y^t belonged to

these 2. ships, which were allmost all ashore. But a trusty company was

plased within, as well as those that with wet-cloaths & other means kept

of y^e fire without, that if necessitie required they might have them

out with all speed. For y^ey suspected some malicious dealling, if not

plaine treacherie, and whether it was only suspition or no, God knows;

but this is certaine, that when y^e tumulte was greatest, ther was a

voyce heard (but from whom it was not knowne) that bid them looke well

aboute them, for all were not freinds y^t were near them. And shortly

after, when the vemencie of y^e fire was over, smoke was seen to arise

within a shed y^t was joynd to y^e end of y^e storehouse, which was

watled up with bowes, in y^e withered leaves wherof y^e fire was

kindled, which some, ru[=n]ing to quench, found a longe firebrand of an

ell longe, lying under y^e wale on y^e inside, which could not possibly

come their by cassualtie, but must be laid ther by some hand, in y^e

judgmente of all that saw it. But God kept them from this deanger, what

ever was intended.

Shortly after Captaine Gorges, y^e generall Gov^r, was come home to y^e

Massachusets, he sends a warrante to arrest M^r. Weston & his ship, and

sends a m^r. to bring her away thither, and one Captain Hanson (that

belonged to him) to conducte him along. The Gov^r & others hear were

very sory to see him take this course, and tooke exception at y^e

warrante, as not legall nor sufficiente; and withall write to him to

disswade him from this course, shewing him y^t he would but entangle and

burthen him selfe in doing this; for he could not doe M^r. Weston a

better turne, (as things stood with him); for he had a great many men

that belonged to him in this barke, and was deeply ingaged to them for

wages, and was in a ma[=n]er out of victails (_and now winter_); all

which would light upon him, if he did arrest his barke. In y^e mean time

M^r. Weston had notice to shift for him selfe; but it was conceived he

either knew not whither to goe, or how to mend him selfe, but was rather

glad of y^e occasion, and so stirred not. But y^e Gov^r would not be

perswaded, but [107] sent a very formall warrente under his hand &

seall, with strict charge as they would answere it to y^e state; he also

write that he had better considered of things since he was hear, and he

could not answer it to let him goe so; besids other things that were

come to his knowledg since, which he must answer too. So he was suffered

to proceede, but he found in the end that to be true that was tould him;

for when an inventorie was taken of what was in y^e ship, ther was not

vitailes found for above 14. days, at a pare allowance, and not much

else of any great worth, & the men did so crie out of him for wages and

diate, in y^e mean time, as made him soone weary. So as in conclusion it

turned to his loss, and y^e expence of his owne provissions; and

_towards the spring_ they came to agreement, (after they had bene to y^e

eastward,) and y^e Gov^r restord him his vessell againe, and made him

satisfaction, in bisket, meal, and such like provissions, for what he

had made use of that was his, or what his men had any way wasted or

consumed. So M^r. Weston came hither againe, and afterward shaped his

course for Virginie, & so for present I shall leave him.[BG]

The Gov^r and some y^t depended upon him returned for England, haveing

scarcly saluted y^e cuntrie in his Govermente, not finding the state of

things hear to answer his quallitie & condition. The peopl dispersed

them selves, some went for England, others for Virginia, some few

remained, and were helped with supplies from hence. The Gov^r brought

over a minister with him, one M^r. Morell, who, about a year after y^e

Gov^r returned, tooke shipping from hence. He had I know not what power

and authority of superintendancie over other churches granted him, and

sundrie instructions for that end; but he never shewed it, or made any

use of it; (it should seeme he saw it was in vaine;) he only speake of

it to some hear at his going away. This was in effect y^e end of a 2.

plantation in that place. Ther were allso this year some scatering

beginings made in other places, as at Paskataway, by M^r. David Thomson,

at Monhigen, and some other places by sundrie others.

It rests now y^t I speake a word aboute y^e pi[=n]ass spoken of before,

which was sent by y^e adventurers to be imployed in y^e cuntrie. She was

a fine vessell, and bravely set out,[BH] and I fear y^e adventurers did

over pride them selves in her, for she had ill success. How ever, they

erred grosly in tow things aboute her; first, though she had a

sufficiente maister, yet she was rudly ma[=n]ed, and all her men were

upon shars, and none was to have any wages but y^e m^r. 2^ly, wheras

they mainly lookt at trade, they had sent nothing of any value to trade

with. When the men came hear, and mette with ill counsell from M^r.

Weston & his crue, with others of y^e same stampe, neither m^r. nor

Gov^r could scarce rule [108] them, for they exclaimed that they were

abused & deceived, for they were tould they should goe for a man of

warr, and take I know not whom, French & Spaniards, &c. They would

neither trade nor fish, excepte they had wages; in fine, they would obey

no co[=m]and of y^e maisters; so it was apprehended they would either

rune away with y^e vessell, or get away w^th y^e ships, and leave her;

so as M^r. Peirce & others of their freinds perswaded the Gov^r to

chaing their condition, and give them wages; which was accordingly done.

And she was sente about y^e Cape to y^e Narigansets to trade, but they

made but a poore vioage of it. Some corne and beaver they got, but y^e

Dutch used to furnish them with cloath & better co[=m]odities, they

haveing only a few beads & knives, which were not ther much esteemed.

Allso, in her returne home, at y^e very entrance into ther owne harbore,

she had like to have been cast away in a storme, and was forced to cut

her maine mast by y^e bord, to save herselfe from driving on y^e flats

that lye without, caled Browns Ilands, the force of y^e wind being so

great as made her anchors give way and she drive right upon them; but

her mast & takling being gone, they held her till y^e wind shifted.

_Anno Dom: 1624._

The time of new election of ther officers for this year being come,

and[BI] y^e number of their people increased, and their troubls and

occasions therwith, the Gov^r desired them to chainge y^e persons, as

well as renew y^e election; and also to adde more Assistans to y^e Gov^r

for help & counsell, and y^e better carrying on of affairs. Showing that

it was necessarie it should be so. If it was any honour or benefite, it

was fitte others should be made pertakers of it; if it was a burthen,

(as doubtles it was,) it was but equall others should help to bear it;

and y^t this was y^e end of A[=n]uall Elections. The issue was, that as

before ther was but one Assistante, they now chose 5. giving the Gov^r a

duble voyce; and aftwards they increased them to 7. which course hath

continued to this day.

They having with some truble & charge new-masted and rigged their

pinass, in y^e begining of March they sent her well vitaled to the

eastward on fishing. She arrived safly at a place near Damarins cove,

and was there well harbored in a place wher ships used to ride, ther

being also some ships allready arived out of England. But shortly after

ther [109] arose such a violent & extraordinarie storme, as y^e seas

broak over such places in y^e harbor as was never seene before, and

drive her against great roks, which beat such a hole in her bulke, as a

horse and carte might have gone in, and after drive her into deep-water,

wher she lay sunke. The m^r. was drowned, the rest of y^e men, all save

one, saved their lives, with much a doe; all her provision, salt, and

what els was in her, was lost. And here I must leave her to lye till

afterward.

Some of those that still remained hear on their perticuler, begane

privatly to nurish a faction, and being privie to a strong faction that

was among y^e adventurers in England, on whom sundry of them did depend,

by their private whispering they drew some of the weaker sorte of y^e

company to their side, and so filld them with discontente, as nothing

would satisfie them excepte they might be suffered to be in their

perticuler allso; and made great offers, so they might be freed from y^e

generall. The Gov^r consulting with y^e ablest of y^e generall body what

was best to be done hear in, it was resolved to permitte them so to doe,

upon equall conditions. The conditions were the same in effect with y^e

former before related. Only some more added, as that they should be

bound here to remaine till y^e generall partnership was ended. And also

that they should pay into y^e store, y^e on halfe of all such goods and

comodities as they should any waise raise above their food, in

consideration of what charg had been layed out for them, with some such

like things. This liberty granted, soone stopt this gape, for ther was

but a few that undertooke this course when it came too; and they were

as sone weary of it. For the other had perswaded them, & M^r. Weston

togeather, that ther would never come more supply to y^e generall body;

but y^e perticulers had such freinds as would carry all, and doe for

them I know not what.

Shortly after, M^r. Winslow came over, and brought a prety good supply,

and the ship came on fishing, a thing fatall to this plantation. He

brought 3. heifers & a bull, the first begining of any catle of that

kind in y^e land, with some cloathing & other necessaries, as will

further appear; but withall y^e reporte of a strong faction amongst y^e

adventurers[BJ] against them, and espetially against y^e coming of y^e

rest from Leyden, and with what difficulty this supply was procured, and

how, by their strong & long opposision, bussines was so retarded as not

only they were now falne too late for y^e fishing season, but the best

men were taken up of y^e fishermen in the west countrie, and he was

forct to take such a m^r. & company for that imployment as he could

procure upon y^e present. Some letters from them shall beter declare

these things, being as followeth.

[110] Most worthy & loving freinds, your kind & loving leters I have

received, and render you many thanks, &c. It hath plased God to stirre

up y^e harts of our adventurers[BJ] to raise a new stock for the

seting forth of this shipe, caled the Charitie, with men &

necessaries, both for the plantation and the fishing, though

accomplished with very great difficulty; in regard we have some

amongst us which undoubtedly aime more at their owne private ends, and

the thwarting & opposing of some hear, and other worthy

instruments,[BK] of Gods glory elswher, then at the generall good and

furtherance of this noble & laudable action. Yet againe we have many

other, and I hope the greatest parte, very honest Christian men, which

I am perswaded their ends and intents are wholy for the glory of our

Lord Jesus Christ, in the propagation of his gospell, and hope of

gaining those poore salvages to the knowledg of God. But, as we have a

proverbe, One scabed sheep may marr a whole flock, so these

malecontented persons, & turbulente spirits, doe what in them lyeth to

withdraw mens harts from you and your freinds, yea, even from the

generall bussines; and yet under show and pretence of godlynes and

furtherance of the plantation. Wheras the quite contrary doth plainly

appeare; as some of the honester harted men (though of late of their

faction) did make manifest at our late meeting. But what should I

trouble you or my selfe with these restles opposers of all goodnes,

and I doubte will be continuall disturbers of our frendly meetings &

love. On Thurs-day the 8. of Jan: we had a meeting aboute the artickls

betweene you & us; wher they would rejecte that, which we in our late

leters prest you to grante, (an addition to the time of our joynt

stock). And their reason which they would make known to us was, it

trobled their conscience to exacte longer time of you then was agreed

upon at the first. But that night they were so followed and crost of

their perverse courses, as they were even wearied, and offered to sell

their adventurs; and some were willing to buy. But I, doubting they

would raise more scandale and false reports, and so diverse waise doe

us more hurt, by going of in such a furie, then they could or can by

continuing adventurers amongst us, would not suffer them. But on y^e

12. of Jan: we had another meting, but in the interime diverse of us

had talked with most of them privatly, and had great combats &

reasoning, pro & con. But at night when we mete to read y^e generall

letter, we had y^e loveingest and frendlyest meeting that ever I

knew[BL] and our greatest enemise offered to lend us 50_{li}. So I

sent for a potle of wine, (I would you could[BM] doe y^e like,) which

we dranke freindly together. Thus God can turne y^e harts of men when

it pleaseth him, &c. Thus loving freinds, I hartily salute you all in

y^e Lord, hoping ever to rest,

Yours to my power,

JAMES SHERLEY.

Jan: 25. 1623.

[111] _Another leter._

Beloved S^r., &c. We have now sent you, we hope, men & means, to setle

these 3. things, viz. fishing, salt making, and boat making; if you

can bring them to pass to some perfection, your wants may be supplyed.

I pray you bend you selfe what you can to setle these bussinesses. Let

y^e ship be fraught away as soone as you can, and sent to Bilbow. You

must send some discreete man for factore, whom, once more, you must

also authorise to confirme y^e conditions. If M^r. Winslow could be

spared, I could wish he came againe. This ship carpenter is thought

to be the fittest man for you in the land, and will no doubte doe you

much good. Let him have an absolute comand over his servants & such as

you put to him. Let him build you 2. catches, a lighter, and some 6.

or 7. shalops, as soone as you can. The salt-man is a skillfull &

industrious man, put some to him, that may quickly apprehende y^e

misterie of it. The preacher we have sent is (we hope) an honest

plaine man, though none of y^e most eminente and rare. Aboute chusing

him into office use your owne liberty & discretion; he knows he is no

officer amongst you, though perhaps custome & universalitie may make

him forget him selfe. M^r. Winslow & my selfe gave way to his going,

to give contente to some hear, and we see no hurt in it, but only his

great charge of children.

We have tooke a patente for Cap Anne, &c. I am sory ther is no more

discretion used by some in their leters hither.[BN] Some say you are

starved in body & soule; others, y^t you eate piggs & doggs, that dye

alone; others, that y^e things hear spoaken of, y^e goodnes of y^e

cuntry, are gross and palpable lyes; that ther is scarce a foule to be

seene, or a fish to be taken, and many such like. I would such

discontented men were hear againe, for it is a miserie when y^e whole

state of a plantation shall be thus exposed to y^e passionate humors

of some discontented men. And for my selfe I shall hinder for

hearafter some y^t would goe, and have not better composed their

affections; mean space it is all our crosses, and we must bear them.

I am sorie we have not sent you more and other things, but in truth we

have rune into so much charge, to victaile y^e ship, provide salte &

other fishing implements, &c. as we could not provid other comfortable

things, as buter, suger, &c. I hope the returne of this ship, and the

James, will put us in cash againe. The Lord make you full of courage

in this troublesome bussines, which now must be stuck unto, till God

give us rest from our labours. Fare well in all harty affection.

Your assured friend,

R. C.

Jan: 24. 1623.

With y^e former letter write by M^r. Sherley, there were sente sundrie

objections concerning which he thus writeth. "These are the cheefe

objections which they [112] that are now returned make against you and

the countrie. I pray you consider them, and answer them by the first

conveniencie." These objections were made by some of those that came

over on their perticuler and were returned home, as is before mentioned,

and were of y^e same suite with those y^t this other letter mentions.

I shall here set them downe, with y^e answers then made unto them, and

sent over at y^e returne of this ship; which did so confound y^e

objecters, as some confessed their falte, and others deneyed what they

had said, and eate their words, & some others of them have since come

over againe and heere lived to convince them selves sufficiently, both

in their owne & other mens judgments.

1. obj. was diversitie aboute Religion. Ans: We know no such matter, for

here was never any controversie or opposition, either publicke or

private, (to our knowledg,) since we came.