_To all well-willers and furtherers of Plantations in New England,
especially to such as ever have or desire to assist the people of
Plymouth in their just proceedings, grace and peace be multiplied._
RIGHT HONORABLE AND WORSHIPFUL
GENTLEMEN, OR WHATSOEVER,
Since it hath pleased God to stir you up to be instruments of
his glory in so honorable an enterprise as the enlarging of his
Majesty’s dominions by planting his loyal subjects in so healthful
and hopeful a country as New-England is, where the church of God
being seated in sincerity, there is no less hope of convincing
the heathen of their evil ways, and converting them to the true
knowledge and worship of the living God, and so consequently the
salvation of their souls by the merits of Jesus Christ, than
elsewhere, though it be much talked on and lightly or lamely
prosecuted,--I therefore think it but my duty to offer the view
of our proceedings to your worthy considerations, having to that
end composed them together thus briefly, as you see; wherein, to
your great encouragement, you may behold the good providence of
God working with you in our preservation from so many dangerous
plots and treacheries as have been intended against us, as also
in giving his blessing so powerfully upon the weak means we had,
enabling us with health and ability beyond expectation in our
greatest scarcities, and possessing the hearts of the salvages
with astonishment and fear of us; whereas if God had let them
loose, they might easily have swallowed us up, scarce being a
handful in comparison of those forces they might have gathered
together against us; which now, by God’s blessing, will be more
hard and difficult, in regard our number of men is increased, our
town better fortified, and our store better victualled. Blessed
therefore be his name, that hath done so great things for us and
hath wrought so great a change amongst us.
Accept, I pray you, my weak endeavours, pardon my unskilfulness,
and bear with my plainness in the things I have handled. Be not
discouraged by our former necessities, but rather encouraged with
us, hoping that God hath wrought with us in our beginning of this
worthy work, undertaken in his name and fear, so he will by us
accomplish the same to his glory and our comfort, if we neglect
not the means. I confess it hath not been much less chargeable to
some of you[1] than hard and difficult to us, that have endured the
brunt of the battle, and yet small profits returned. Only, by God’s
mercy, we are safely seated, housed, and fortified, by which means
a great step is made unto gain, and a more direct course taken for
the same, than if at first we had rashly and covetously fallen upon
it.
Indeed three things are the overthrow and bane, as I may term it,
of plantations.
1. The vain expectation of present profit, which too commonly
taketh a principal seat in the heart and affection, though God’s
glory, &c. is preferred before it in the mouth with protestation.
2. Ambition in their governors and commanders, seeking only to
make themselves great, and slaves of all that are under them, to
maintain a transitory base honor in themselves, which God oft
punisheth with contempt.
3. The carelessness of those that send over supplies of men
unto them, not caring how they be qualified; so that ofttimes
they are rather the image of men endued with bestial, yea,
diabolical affections, than the image of God, endued with reason,
understanding, and holiness. I praise God I speak not these things
experimentally, by way of complaint of our own condition, but
having great cause on the contrary part to be thankful to God for
his mercies towards us; but rather, if there be any too desirous of
gain, to entreat them to moderate their affections, and consider
that no man expecteth fruit before the tree be grown; advising all
men, that as they tender their own welfare, so to make choice of
such to manage and govern their affairs, as are approved not to be
seekers of themselves, but the common good of all for whom they are
employed; and beseeching such as have the care of transporting men
for the supply and furnishing of plantations, to be truly careful
in sending such as may further and not hinder so good an action.
There is no godly, honest man but will be helpful in his kind,
and adorn his profession with an upright life and conversation;
which doctrine of manners[2] ought first to be preached by giving
good example to the poor savage heathens amongst whom they live.
On the contrary part, what great offence hath been given by many
profane men, who being but seeming Christians, have made Christ and
Christianity stink in the nostrils of the poor infidels, and so
laid a stumbling-block before them. But woe be to them by whom such
offences come.
These things I offer to your Christian considerations, beseeching
you to make a good construction of my simple meaning, and take in
good part this ensuing Relation, dedicating myself and it evermore
unto your service; beseeching God to crown our Christian and
faithful endeavours with his blessings temporal and eternal.
Yours in this service,
Ever to be commanded,
E. W.[3]