the cause as it standeth both with you and us; we see, alas! what
frustrations and disappointments it pleaseth the Lord to send in
this our course, good in itself and according to godliness taken in
hand and for good and lawful ends, who yet pleaseth not to prosper
us we see, for reasons best known to himself: And which also nearly
concerns us to consider of, whether we have sought the Lord in it,
as we ought, or not; that the Lord hath singularly preserved life in
the business to great admiration, giveth me good hope that he will
(if our sins hinder not) in his appointed time, give a happy end
unto it. On the contrary when I consider how it pleaseth the Lord to
cross those means that should bring us together, being now as far
off or farther than ever, in our apprehension; as also to take that
means away, which would have been so comfortable unto us in that
course, both for wisdom of council as also for our singular help in
our course of godliness, whom the Lord (as it were) took away even
as fruit falleth before it was ripe, (he means Mr. Robinson) when
neither length of days, nor infirmity of body, did seem to call for
his end. The Lord even then took him away, as it were in his anger,
whom if tears would have held, he had remained to this day. The loss
of his ministry was very great unto me, for I ever counted myself
happy in the enjoyment of it, notwithstanding all the crosses and
losses otherwise I sustained. Yet indeed the manner of his taking
away hath more troubled me, as fearing the Lord’s anger in it,
that, as I said, in the ordinary course of things might still have
remained, as also, the singular service he might have yet done in the
church of God. Alas, dear friends, our state and cause in religion!
by his death being wholly destitute of any that may defend our cause
as it should against our adversaries. That we may take up that
doleful complaint in the Psalm, that there is no prophet left among
us, nor any that knoweth how long.
Alas! you would fain have had him with you, and he would as fain have
come to you; many letters and much speech hath been about his coming
to you, but never any solid course propounded for his going; if the
course propounded the last year had appeared to have been certain,
he would have gone though with two or three families. I know no man
amongst us knew his mind better than I did, about those things; he
was loath to leave the church, yet I know also, that he would have
accepted the worst conditions which in the largest extent of a good
conscience could be taken, to have come to you. For myself and all
such others as have formerly minded coming, it is much what the same,
if the Lord afford means. We only know how things are with you by
your letters, but how things stand in England we have received no
letters of any thing, and it was November before we received yours.
If we come at all unto you, the means to enable us so to do must
come from you. For the state of our church, and how it is with us
and of our people, it is wrote of by Mr. White. Thus praying you to
pardon my boldness with you in writing as I do, I commend you to the
keeping of the Lord, desiring, if he see it good, and that I might be
serviceable unto the business, that I were with you. God hath taken
away my son, that was with me in the ship, when I went back again;
I have only two children which were born since I left you: Fare you
well.
Yours to his power,
THOMAS BLOSSOM.
_Leyden, December 15, Anno 1625._
_To his very loving friend, Mr. William Bradford, Governour of
Plymouth in New England, these be._
My loving and kind friend, and brother in the Lord; my own and my
wife’s true love and hearty salutations to yourself and yours and all
the rest of our loving friends with you; hoping in the Lord of your
good healths, which I beseech him long to continue for the glory of
his name and good of his people. Concerning your kind letter to the
church, it was read publicly; whereunto (by the church) I send you
here inclosed an answer. Concerning my brother Robinson’s sickness
and death and our practice, I wrote you at large, some five or six
months since; but lest it should miscarry, I have now written to Mr.
Brewster thereof, to whom I refer you. Now concerning your course of
choosing your Governours yearly, and in special of their choosing
yourself year after year, as I conceive they still do, and Mr.
Allerton your assistant; howsoever I think it the best way that can
be, so long as it please the Lord to continue your lives, and so good
Governours offer you; yet, considering man’s mortality, whose breath
is in his nostrils, and the evils of the times wherein we live, in
which it is ordinarily seen that worse follow them that are good,
I think it would be a safer course, for after time, the government
was sometime removed from one to another; so the assistant one year
might be Governour next and a new assistant chosen in his place,
either of such as have or have not been in office; sometimes one,
sometimes another, as it shall seem most fit to the corporation.
My reasons are, first, because other officers that come after you,
will look (especially if they be ambitiously minded) for the same
privileges and continuance you have had; and if he have it not, will
take great offence, as though unworthy of the place, and so greatly
disgraced, whom to continue, might be very dangerous, and hazard
(at least) the overthrow of all; men not looking so much at the
reasons why others were so long continued as at the custom. 2dly,
because others that are unexperienced in government might learn by
experience; and so there might be fit and able men continually, when
it pleaseth the Lord to take any away. 3dly, by this means, you may
establish the things begun, or done before; for the Governour this
year, that was assistant last, will in likelihood, rather ratify and
confirm, and go on with that he had a hand in the beginning of, when
he was assistant, than otherwise, or persuade the new to it; whereas
new Governours, especially when there are factions, will many times
overthrow that which is done by the former, and so scarcely any thing
goeth forward for the general good; neither that I see, can this be
any prejudice to the corporation; for the new may always have the
counsel and advice of the old, for their direction, though they be
out of office; these things I make bold to put to your godly wisdom
and discretion, intreating you to pardon my boldness therein; and so
leave it to your discretion to make use of as you see it fitting,
not having written the least inkling hereof to any other. Now I
entreat you, at your best leisure to write to me, how you think it
will in likelihood go with your civil and church estate; whether
there be hope of the continuance of both, or either; or whether you
fear any alteration to be attempted in either; the reason of this my
request is, the fear of some amongst us (the which if that hinder
not, I think will come unto you) occasioned partly by your letter to
your father in law, Mr. May, wherein you write of the troubles you
have had with some, who it is like (having the times and friends on
their sides) will work you what mischiefs they can; and that they
may do much, many here do fear: And partly by reason of this king’s
proclamation, dated the 13th of May last, in which he saith, that
his full resolution is, to the end that there may be one uniform
course of government, in, and through all his whole monarchy; that
the government of Virginia shall immediately depend on himself,
and not be committed to any company or corporation, etc. so that
some conceive he will have both the same civil and ecclesiastical
government that is in England, which occasioneth their fear. I desire
you to write your thoughts of these things, for the satisfying of
others; for my own part and some others, we durst rely upon you for
that, who we persuade ourselves, would not be thus earnest, for our
pastor and church to come to you; if you feared the danger of being
suppressed. Thus desiring you to pardon my boldness, and remember us
in your prayers; I for this time and ever, commit you and all your
affairs to the Almighty, and rest
Your assured loving friend
And brother in the Lord,
ROGER WHITE.
_Leyden, Dec. 1, Anno 1625._
P. S. The church would entreat you to continue your writing to them,
which is very comfortable.
_To our most dear, and entirely beloved brethren, Mr. William
Bradford and Mr. William Brewster, grace mercy and true peace be
multiplied, from God our Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen._
Most dear christian friends and brethren, as it is no small grief
unto you, so is it no less unto us, that we are constrained to live
thus disunited each from other, especially considering our affections
each unto other, for the mutual edifying and comfort of both, in
these evil days wherein we live: if it pleased the Lord to bring
us again together, than which as no outward thing could be more
comfortable unto us, or is more desired of us, if the Lord see it
good; so see we no hope of means of accomplishing the same, except
it come from you, and therefore, must with patience rest in the work
and will of God, performing our duties to him and you assunder; whom
we are not any way able to help, but by our continual prayers to
him for you, and sympathy of affections with you, for the troubles
which befal you; till it please the Lord to reunite us again. But our
dearly beloved brethren, concerning your kind and respective letter,
howsoever written by one of you, yet as we continue with the consent
(at least in affection) of you both, although we cannot answer your
desire and expectation, by reason it hath pleased the Lord to take to
himself out of this miserable world our dearly beloved pastor, yet
for ourselves we are minded as formerly, to come unto you, when and
as the Lord affordeth means, though we see little hope thereof at
present, as being unable of ourselves, and that our friends will help
us we see little hope. And now, brethren, what shall we say further
unto you; our desires and prayers to God, is (if such were his good
will and pleasure) we might be reunited for the edifying and mutual
comfort of both, which, when he sees fit, he will accomplish. In the
mean time, we commit you unto him and to the word of his grace; whom
we beseech to guide and direct both you and us, in all his ways,
according to that, his word, and to bless all our lawful endeavours,
for the glory of his name and good of his people. Salute, we pray
you, all the church and brethren with you to whom we would have sent
this letter. If we knew it could not be prejudicial unto you, as
we hope it cannot; yet fearing the worst, we thought fit either to
direct it to you, our two beloved brethen, leaving it to your goodly
wisdom and discretion, to manifest our mind to the rest of our loving
friends and brethren, as you see most convenient. And thus intreating
you to remember us in your prayers, as we also do you; we for this
time commend you and all your affairs to the direction and protection
of the Almighty, and rest,
Your assured loving friends
And brethren in the Lord,
FRANCIS JESSOPP,
THOMAS NASH,
THOMAS BLOSSOM,
ROGER WHITE,
RICHARD MAISTERSON.
_Leyden, Nov. 30, A.D. 1625._
* * * * *
_Before I pass to other things, I will here insert a letter of
Mr. Robinson’s, which, though it is out of place, yet coming now
to hand, I thought better to put it here, than to omit it. It was
written to the church as followeth_:
_To the church of God, at Plymouth, in New England._
Much beloved brethren, neither the distance of place, nor distinction
of body, can at all either dissolve or weaken that bond of true
christian affection in which the Lord by his spirit hath tied us
together. My continual prayers are to the Lord for you; my most
earnest desire is unto you; from whom I will not longer keep (if
God will) than means can be procured to bring with me the wives and
children of divers of you and the rest of your brethren, whom I could
not leave behind me without great, both injury to you and them, and
offence to God and all men. The death of so many our dear friends
and brethren; oh! how grievous hath it been to you to bear, and to us
to take knowledge of, which, if it could be mended with lamenting,
could not sufficiently be bewailed; but we must go unto them and they
shall not return unto us: And how many even of us, God hath taken
away here, and in England, since your departure, you may elsewhere
take knowledge. But the same God has tempered judgment with mercy, as
otherwise, so in sparing the rest, especially those by whose godly
and wise government, you may be, and (I know) are so much helped.
In a battle it is not looked for but that divers should die; it is
thought well for a side, if it get the victory, though with the loss
of divers, if not too many or too great. God, I hope, hath given you
the victory, after many difficulties, for yourselves and others;
though I doubt not, but many do and will remain for you and us all
to strive with. Brethren, I hope I need not exhort you to obedience
unto those whom God hath set over you, in church and commonwealth,
and to the Lord in them. It is a christian’s honour, to give honour
according to men’s places; and his liberty, to serve God in faith,
and his brethren in love orderly and with a willing and free heart.
God forbid, I should need to exhort you to peace, which is the bond
of perfection, and by which all good is tied together, and without
which it is scattered. Have peace with God first, by faith in his
promises, good conscience kept in all things, and oft renewed by
repentance; and so, one with another, for his sake, who is, though
three, one; and for Christ’s sake who is one, and as you are called
by one spirit to one hope. And the God of peace and grace and all
goodness be with you, in all the fruits thereof, plenteously upon
your heads, now and for ever. All your brethren here, remember you
with great love, a general token whereof they have sent you.
Yours ever in the Lord,
JOHN ROBINSON.
_Leyden, (Holland) June 30, Anno 1621._
* * * * *
This next year being Anno. 1626, we sent Mr. Allerton into England,
partly to make some supply for us, and to see if he could make any
reasonable composition with the adventurers and because we well knew
that nothing can be done without money, we gave him an order to
procure some, binding ourselves to make payment thereof, as followeth:
Know all men by these presents, that whereas we William Bradford,
Governour of Plymouth in New England, and William Brewster, Capt.
Miles Standish, Isaac Allerton, Samuel Fuller, Edward Winslow,
John Jeney, John Howland, and John Allden; being all inhabitants
of Plymouth, aforesaid, are for ourselves, and divers others, our
associates, &c. And whereas the said Isaac Allerton (by God’s
providence) for the necessary occasions of the colony abovesaid,
is bound for England; and whereas divers of us above named, have
acquainted divers of our worthy and approved friends (by our
letters[4]) with our raw and weak estate, and want of ability of
ourselves to manage so great an action, as the upholding of the
plantation aforesaid. If therefore God shall move the heart or
hearts of any of our friends, in compassion of our wants and present
straits, to lend us above named, the sum of one hundred pounds
sterling, for the space of two years, upon any such terms as shall
be agreed upon, between him or them and the said Isaac Allerton,
our partner and agent, and deliver the same into his hands for our
use; that we, the said William Bradford, William Brewster, &c.
together with the said Isaac Allerton, do bind ourselves, our heirs,
&c. jointly and severally, for the faithful performance of such
obligations, conditions, or covenants, as shall be agreed on, &c. In
witness whereof, we have put to our hands and seals, this 2d of July,
Anno 1626, &c.
Upon this order, he got two hundred pounds, but it was at thirty
in the hundred interest, by which appears in what straits we were;
and yet this was upon better terms than the goods which were sent
us the year before, being at forty-five per cent. so that it was
God’s marvellous providence, that we were ever able to wade through
things, as will better appear if God give me life and opportunity to
handle them more particularly, in another treatise more at large, as
I desire and purpose (if God permit) with many other things, in a
better order.
Besides the obtaining of this money, he with much ado made a
composition and agreement with the body of the adventurers, Mr.
Allden (something now softened by my letter before mentioned) who was
one of our powerfulest opposers, did not only yield thereunto, but
was a furtherer of the same. I will shew the heads of it, as it was
drawn in a deed as followeth:
_To all christian people, to whom this present writing indented
shall come greeting_,
Whereas, at a meeting the 26th of October last past, divers and
sundry persons, whose names to the one part of these presents
are subscribed in a schedule hereunto annexed, adventurers to
New-Plymouth, in New England in America, were contented and agreed
(in consideration of the sum of one thousand and eight hundred pounds
sterling, to be paid unto the said adventurers in manner and form
following) to sell and make sale of all and every the stocks, shares,
lands, merchandize and chattles whatsoever, to the said adventurers
and other their fellow adventurers to New Plymouth aforesaid accruing
or belonging, to the generality of the said adventurers aforesaid,
as well by reasons of any sum or sums of money, or merchandize at
any time heretofore adventured by them, or otherwise howsoever; for
the better expression and setting forth of which said agreement, the
parties to these presents subscribing, do for themselves severally,
and as much as in them is, grant, bargain, alien, sell and transfer,
all and every the said shares, goods, lands, merchandize and chattles
to them belonging as aforesaid, unto Isaac Allerton, one of the
planters resident at New Plymouth aforesaid, assigned and sent over
as agent for the rest of the planters residing there, and unto such
other planters at New Plymouth aforesaid, as the said Isaac Allerton,
his heirs or assignees, at his, or their arrival shall by writing or
otherwise think fit to join, or partake in the premises, their and
every of their heirs and assigns in as large and ample and beneficial
manner and form, to all intents and purposes, as the said several
subscribing adventurers here could or may do, or perform; all which
stocks, shares, lands, &c. to the said adventurers, in severalty
alloted, apportioned or belonging; the said adventurers do warrant,
and defend unto the said Isaac Allerton his heirs and assigns,
against them, their heirs and assigns, by these presents: And
therefore, the said Isaac Allerton for him, his heirs and assigns,
doth covenant, promise, and grant to and with the said adventurers,
whose names are hereunto subscribed, their heirs, &c. well and truly
to pay, or cause to be paid unto the said adventurers or five of
them, which were at the meeting aforesaid, nominated and deputed,
viz. John Pocock, John Beauchamp, Robert Kean, Edward Bass, and James
Shirley, their heirs, &c. to, and for the use of the generality of
them, the sum of eighteen hundred pounds, of lawful money of England,
at the place appointed for the receipts of money, on the west side
of the Royal Exchange in London, by two hundred pounds yearly and
every year, on the feast day of St. Michael, which shall be in the
year 1628: And the said Isaac Allerton, for him, his heirs, &c. doth
covenant and grant to, and with the said adventurers, their heirs,
&c. to do his, and their good endeavours, to procure, obtain, and get
of, and from all the planters, at New Plymouth aforesaid, or so many
of them as he or they by persuasion and entreaty can or may, security
by several obligations, or writing obligatory, to make payment of the
said sum of eighteen hundred pounds, in form aforesaid, according to
the true meaning of these presents. In testimony whereof, to this
part of these presents, remaining with the said Isaac Allerton, the
said subscribing adventurers have set to their names, &c. And to the
other part of these presents remaining with the said adventurers, the
said Isaac Allerton hath subscribed his name, the 15th of November,
Anno 1626, and in the second year of the reign of our sovereign Lord,
King Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, &c: Subscribed
thus as followeth:
_John White_,
_John Pocock_,
_Robert Kean_,
_Edward Bass_,
_William Hobson_,
_William Penington_,
_William Quarles_,
_Daniel Poynton_,
_Richard Andrews_,
_Newman Rookes_,
_Henry Browning_,
_Richard Wright_,
_John Ling_,
_Thomas Goffe_,
_Samuel Sharp_,
_Robert Holland_,
_James Shirley_,
_Thomas Mott_,
_Thomas Fletcher_,
_Timothy Hatherly_,
_Thomas Brewer_,
_John Thorned_,
_Myles Knowles_,
_William Collier_,
_John Revell_,
_Peter Gudburn_,
_Emnu. Alltham_,
_John Beauchamp_,
_Thomas Hudson_,
_Thomas Andrews_,
_Thomas Ward_,
_Fria. Newbald_,
_Thomas Heath_,
_Joseph Tilden_,
_William Penrin_,
_Eliza Knight_,
_Thomas Coventry_,
_Robert Allden_,
_Laurence Anthony_,
_John Knight_,
_Matthew Thornhill_,
_Thomas Millsop_,
In all forty-two.
* * * * *
This year, Anno 1627, Mr. Allerton was sent again as for other
things, so especially to ratify and confirm this bargain; and for
that end we gave him full authority under our hands, and seal, and
became bound in several bonds for the payment of the money yearly: So
the thing was fully concluded, and the bargain fairly engrossed in
parchment, under their hands and seals, as legally and formally done,
as by the learnedest lawyers could be devised, as by the deed itself
will better appear; which I will not here insert, being long, but
the substance may be seen in the former, to which it hath reference;
only I will mention this particular clause, how we were bound thereby
to forfeit thirty shillings a week, for every week that we failed of
due payment, at any the several days. Thus all now is become our
own, as we say in the proverb, when our debts are paid. And doubtless
this was a great mercy of God unto us, and a great means of our peace
and better subsistence, and wholly dashed all the plots and devises
of our enemies, both there and here, who daily expected our ruin,
dispersion and utter subversion by the same; but their hopes were
thus far prevented, though with great care and labour, we were left
to struggle with the payment of the money.
_A letter of Mr. Sherley’s to myself upon this conclusion, as
followeth_:
_To his very loving and much respected friend, Mr. William
Bradford, Governour of Plymouth, in New-England, these._
_Most Worthy and Beloved_
SIR,
I have received your letter of the 14th of June last, by your and
my loving friend, Mr. Allerton, wherein it pleaseth you to express
more thankfulness than I have deserved; I confess my desire is much
larger than my power, to do you and those good friends with you, the
good I would. We cannot but all take notice how the Lord hath been
pleased to cross our proceedings and caused many disasters to befal
us therein; and sure I conceive the only cause to be, we, or _many of
us here, aimed at other ends than God’s glory_: But now I hope that
cause is taken away, the bargain being fully concluded and, as far
as our powers will reach, confirmed under our hands and seals to Mr.
Allerton and the rest of his and your co-partners: But for my own
part, I confess, as I was loath to hinder this bargain, being the
first propounder thereof at our meeting, so, on the contrary side, I
was as unwilling to set my hand to the sale, being the receiver of
the most part of the adventures and a second causer of much of the
engagements, and one more threatened, being most envied and aimed
at (if they could find any step to ground their malice on) than any
other of the adventurers whosoever: I profess I know no just cause
they ever had, or have so to do, neither shall it ever be proved
that I have wronged them or any of the adventurers, wittingly or
willingly, one penny in the disbursement of the best part of five
thousand pounds, in those two years’ troubles: No, the sole cause why
they malice me (as I and others have conceived) was that I would not
side with them against you and the going over of the Leyden; but as
I then cared not, so now I little fear what they can do; yet charge
and trouble I know they may cause me to be at; and for these reasons,
I would gladly have persuaded the other four to have sealed to this
bargain and so have left me out; but Mr. Allerton knoweth they would
not; so rather than it should now fail, Mr. Allerton having taken so
much pains (as I am even ashamed to relate) I have sealed with the
rest, with this proviso and promise of Mr. Allerton’s, that if any
troubles arise here, you are to be at half the charge: Wherefore now
I doubt not but you will give your generality good content and self
peace amongst yourselves, and peace with the natives, then, no doubt
but the God[5] of peace will bless your going out and returning in,
and cause all that you set your hand to to prosper: The which I shall
ever pray the Lord to grant, if it be his most blessed will, and that
for Jesus Christ his sake.