May, 1624.
Most worthy friends,
Your loving letters I have both received much about one time (being
about the middle of April, 1624), wherein I conceive both your great
love and care over me, which for my part shall never be rewarded with
ingratitude. It pleased God that your ship called the _Charity_ arrived
at Plymouth in New England about five weeks after her departure from the
English coast, but the certain day I know not, because I was at that
time sixty leagues from thence at Pemaquid a-fishing. But after she had
delivered her passengers and goods, she went immediately to Cape Ann,
where, in all likelihoods, they are like to make a good voyage, if God
withhold it not. For in all possibility, the settled course which
yourself and the Company have taken will bring in much profit—for
indeed, it is the only means above all other. Yet notwithstanding, the
trade of furs may help, but that is not so sure a thing, by reason of
divers (as I may call them) interlopers.
So soon as Mr. Peirce his coming into the land[97] came to my ears, I
was forced much against my mind, both by the importunity of Mr. Bridge
and insolences of all our company, to make a voyage from Pemaquid to
Plymouth; which, had I not undertaken, although with much hazard of my
person, all our company had and would have dispersed themselves. And if
either myself or the master would detain them, they openly threatened a
more speedy revenge: either to kill us or to blow our ship up. But these
things are past, and the party dead who spake it, and I fear that God
who knoweth all hearts, prevented him by death from acting those
villainous projects which, by his words in his life, he professed to
do.[98] The occasions of this was two: first, in regard provisions went
very hard with us, and the next was a foolish and needless fear they had
of their wages. To prevent all this and farther mischief, I went to
Plymouth about the beginning of April; where, by the way, I was forced
with contrary winds and foul weather to stay somewhat longer than I
wished. But at my coming to Cape Ann, I there found Mr. Winslow and
master Peirce,[99] for which I was very joyful. And so, having received
of them divers commendations and letters from yourself and my other
friends, I went with all possible speed to Plymouth to know the
Governor’s resolution. For thus it was, that provisions we had but very
few before Christmas, but were fain to have some pease out of Plymouth
store.[100] And so, because we were going to fish among our countrymen,
we thought to get divers things by reason of Mr. Bridge his
acquaintance, but these our hopes were much frustrated. For, coming to
the fishermen, we could have no provision without present pay, which I
was destitute of, notwithstanding I offered to become bond for anything
I took up. But they not regarding neither the Company’s nor my word did
rather solicit our men to come work with them, for their victuals, and
to leave the ship, than to show any love or friendship to us in helping
us. Therefore, rather than our company should go away and our voyage be
overthrown, we were constrained to use a present, though unwilling
means[101] to get some provision (as bread and pease) which before we
were destitute of. So, having dispatched my business at Plymouth and
received my order from the Governor, Mr. Bradford, and his Assistants,
which was that look what fish we had caught in our pinnace should
presently be brought to Cape Ann and to deliver it to Mr. Peirce, and
afterwards to aid and help Mr. Peirce in his voyage, in what we could,
both with our men and boats. To all which, as I am in duty bound, so I
consented unto it, and with all convenient speed went away to our ship,
Mr. Winslow being with me.
And by this time, which was about the last of April, I thought Mr.
Bridge had killed about 10,000 fish, for more I think our salt would not
have saved; but by the backwardness of our people, and strange mishap,
these hopes were quite altered. For, coming within one day’s journey of
our ship, this untimely news came to me that our pinnace was cast away
and Mr. Bridge and two of our men drowned, being John Vow and Peter
Morrett. All which news did not a little trouble me, knowing what great
cost and charge you have been at for us, and also knowing that upon the
good and prosperity of the ship and voyage depended part of my
reputation and profit. But this unwelcome news did, in conceit, deprive
of both. But coming home to our ship, I there found this news true thus
far: that Mr. Bridge, our master, was drowned and the two men, and the
ship in a very strange manner spoiled. For thus it fortuned that upon
the 10th of April, 1624, happened a great storm, and some of our cables
that we were moored withal gave way and slip off on the place they were
made fast to ashore. And so, the wind and sea being very high, drave our
ship ashore upon rocks where she beat.[102] In the meantime, being
night, the master and company arose, and every man shifted for
themselves to save life; but the master going into his cabin to fetch
his whistle, could not get into any boat about the ship, the sea brake
so over the ship. And so by that means, before a boat could come, the
ship overset and drowned him and the other two. And the rest, that were
got into our shallops that hung about the ship, had much ado to recover
the shore—your cousin, for one. For the ship oversetting, pitch her
mainyard into one boat where were six or seven of our men, and so sunk
her. For those that could then swim got to the shore with much hurt; the
rest that could not swim were drowned. And so, before the next morning,
our ship was quite under water sunk, and nothing to be seen save only
the tops of her masts sometimes, for the sea did rake her to and fro
upon the rocks. All which disasters did not a little trouble me, for our
ship was not only spoiled, our men drowned, but we that were saved lost
the most part of what we had in the ship. Myself, especially, lost my
books and some clothes, and most of what I had. But my comfort is that
God will restore me something one day again, for afflictions are but
trials of his love. We lost three shallops, and our ship’s boat and
another shallop we borrowed which we[103]
After my coming to our ship and seeing how all things stood, and that
although the ship were much spoiled and bruised—insomuch that some of
our neighbors very dishonestly enticed our men to leave the ship and to
seek out for their victuals, showing them that the ship was
unrecoverable and using many arguments of disuasion to them, God
knoweth, who were willing to entertain anything against us before, but
now laying hold on of this opportunity rejoicing or[104] I here[105]
departed. But at my coming home, I got them all together and sought far
and near for help to recover our ship, if it were possible, which to do
seemed difficult. But by the help of one Mr. Cooke of Bastable[106] and
divers of his friends and my acquaintance, weighed her out of the water,
and so by the help of many hands we got the ship into a place nearby,
convenient to see what possibility there was of saving the ship. So,
having viewed her, there was broken of her starboard side six or seven
plank and some timbers, which we mended with help; and on her larboard
side, half her plank, timbers and knees were broken in such sort that
then she was thought impossible to hold together, by reason of the hurt
she had received outward and the shaking of the beams and timbers
inwardly. But blessed be God, by the help and means that I have got of
carpenters, she is now made up as strong and sufficient for the sea as
ever she was.[107] And if not one of our company come in her, yet by the
help of God, we being fitted with a sufficient man master, I will come
in her.
And do not doubt but, through God’s mercies, to do well in her, although
for this time we shall not make so good a voyage as is expected. For
whereas we thought to have got ten or twelve thousand fish, we had
scarce one thousand, and some of that was lost, and all our salt. For
the ship being beat ashore, brake down our stages, and there we lost
both the salt and fish that was in it. And all the rest of the salt,
powder, provision, and many other things (which, if God spare my life, I
will give account of) were lost. The rest of the things that we saved
shall safely and truly be delivered by me to you, with an account of all
our men’s carriages and behaviors, that so you may reward some and
reprove others.
And now, loving sir, since that I have troubled you with writing thus
far, pardon me if I be too tedious; for it makes me continually be the
more larger to you in writing, because I know both you and many other
good men have laid out much money upon Plymouth plantation, and
especially as for the goods upon this ship. So do I conceive and know
your eyes are upon us in a more especial manner. And for that this
voyage hath not begun nor ended so well as either you or I could wish,
yet I pray pardon me for a while in the same, until I shall come to
speak with you and the rest of the Company. For until then, I will
neither commend my care and diligence, nor discommend the want of either
of them, for full soon may a man err. But as my labor and care was never
wanting heretofore, so, until I shall make a full accomplishment of this
troublesome voyage and then to deliver all things into your own hand, I
will continue the same. And as at this time I have no man to assist me
that I can trust (the master being gone), so will I strain to the
uttermost of my knowledge to bring everything to the same order it was,
and then to come for England, if our Governor pleaseth. And he hath sent
me word that he will provide me a sufficient man for master,
notwithstanding Richard Gardiner[108] hath earnestly requested it,
claiming it as his due by place, but some say not by sufficiency. I will
say no more concerning him because I know you shall understand it by
others; only thus much I must needs say: that so far as he could, he was
willing to help us with the ship. And now he takes it somewhat unkindly
that, seeing the Company have sent our ship’s company assurance for
their wages, that he is not intimated therein. So much for that, which
is to be left to your and the Company’s wisdom.
And once again let me be pardoned if I seem to be overbold. I understand
by your letter to Mr. Bridge that you are somewhat discontented with me
for not taking a Frenchman which we met withal; but to the contrary,
wonderfully commend and extol Mr. Bridge for his courage and forwardness
in the same, notwithstanding my backwardness. To answer which, I will do
in few words. It so happened that about 400 leagues off the Lands End of
England, we met with a small Frenchman. As I take it, he was of
Rochelle.[109] In the morning we had sight one of another and he stood
right with us and we with him. Coming near us, he spied us to be an
Englishman, so he stood away from us and by a sudden puff of wind brake
his mainmast. For we being desirous to hear news and also to see if he
had any skins aboard or if he had been a-trading on the coast of New
England, we stood after him and hailed him what he was and whence for.
He told us he was of Rochelle and that he had but 7000 of cor-fish[110]
aboard of him and that he was come from the Bank of Newfoundland
a-fishing; and also that his ship was leaky, so he made the more haste
home before he had made his voyage. But we mistrusting him, sent our
boat aboard him to see if he had skins, but in conclusion we saw he was
very poor and had not been ashore on no place; and so gave us some fish
which at that time we stood in great need of as also of wood (of which
he had none because he had not been on land nowhere). All these things
being considered, I hope you will not blame me, for I would do in your
behalf in that kind rather more than less than my commission would bear
me out in. But this ship was 500 leagues from any part of New England
when we met her and if I should have done it, I had brought a great
trouble both upon you and myself. For I will assure you and all the
Company that if you will but get a letter of mart[111] and a safe
protection from His Majesty of England for taking of Frenchmen on
Newfoundland Bank, you might easily with this pinnace take and leave
what ships you list. For we had sight of twenty sail of Frenchmen at one
time, and I believe never a one had any ordnance. But to end, pray
pardon me if I have done amiss, but what I did, I have done (in my
opinion and in the opinion of all the companies at Plymouth) for your
peace and my own safety. For the Governor hath seen my commission and
saith, himself, I could not have answered it. Therefore, pray blame me
not for my good will and care, for I should be very loth to lose a
friend for nothing and upon no occasion, especially when friends are
hard to get. And as at this time, although I might complain of my time
all spent because it hath been a troublesome time to me, yet I am quite
of another mind; for as I was called by God to this place, so, through
his blessing, I will discharge it honestly, whether I lose or get by it.
But out of all question, the course that you have settled now[112] will
bring in profit enough, for they make salt at Plymouth, and have good
store of boats, all which is means to bring in profit. And I make no
question now but that New Plymouth will quickly return your money again.
For the most part they are honest and careful men. However, they have
had many crosses; yet now they will flourish, God blessing them, which
God grant.
I do understand that Thomas Dawson, the surgeon,[113] hath been very
large on his tongue concerning myself, or that I should be displaced by
Mr. Bradford, and many other contumelious speeches, as also he informed
you about the Frenchman. For all which, I pray, sir, if you see him,
certify him that I will make him answer it in England; and although it
cost £100, I will make him see the jail for it. And there he shall lie,
if God bless me homeward. If it please God to deal otherwise with me, I
pray God give him more grace, but I hope you do not believe him. But I
would wish you rather suspect him, for he is the veriest villain that I
ever knew, as hath been testified by his carriage both to Plymouth
company, your own self and Company, and also to me. And truly, I fear
that I shall justly lay that to his charge which if it be prosecuted
will go near to hang him.
At this time I do expect news from our Governor, Mr. Bradford, and as I
think, he will determine that we shall bring home Mr. Peirce[114] his
cor-fish and train.[115] But I think it will fall out otherwise, for I
have at this present received a letter from one of my acquaintance that
is owner of a ship in this country, and he proffers me for to hire our
ship and to take our men out and to put them into his own ship, which
goeth for the Straits.[116] And so by this means I hope to get a good
freight and to save wages and provisions for some of my own company. And
this answer I have returned him: that I demand £140 for our ship, and to
come for England presently; so that then we shall be defrayed of all
charge and have our ship brought home for nothing. And indeed, we must
be forced to come for England very soon, because we have no provisions
nor have any means to get any. But of all these things I write in what I
think, for I have (and ever will do) refer all these matters concerning
your ship to the Governor and his Assistants’ directions; and if good
suffer me, they shall be followed.
I pray, sir, let the 40_s._ I gave Mr. Mastige a bill for be paid at
first sight, for he did me a great kindness in it; for otherwise I could
not have got some bread which I did.
Thus my love being remembered to yourself and wife, with thanks for your
token I received by Mr. Winslow, being three gallons of “hot water.”
Pray remember my love [to] Mr. Terrill Bacco, Mr. Stubs and his wife,
your brother Robert, and Mr. John Sherley and his wife, to Mr. Brewer,
Mr. Collier, Dr. Ran, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Thorrell, and to Mr. Pocop (my
good friend), and especially to Robert Cushman, and all these the rest
of my loving friends of the Company and out of the Company.[117]
And I pray, sir, if you please, let the Company see my letter. For look,
what I have wrote to you in particular, so much would I have wrote to
them in general, but time did wonderfully prevent me, in such manner
that I am put to straits every way.
I pray remember me kindly to my two brothers and my sister, and the rest
of my loving friends; and pray let them know I could not have time to
write to them. Only I pray tell them I am well, and that I hope one day
to see them again, but the time is uncertain. Yet I fear we shall come
sooner than I desire, since our great expectation is so hindered by
misfortune. But I do not doubt of the profit that may be raised the next
year, for now you have laid as good a ground-plot as ever was—and better
than before, for without this course of fishing, you cannot have your
monies again.[118] Thus, praying to God daily for them and you and for
all well-willers to this foreign plantation, I ever rest
yours and others’, to my power,