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The Story of
The Pilgrim Fathers,
1606-1623 A.D.
AT^
f
The Story oi:
The Pilgrim Father
1606-1623 A.D. ;
as told by
Themselves, their Friends, and
their Enemies,
5
EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAT, TEXTS,
FA'
EDWARD ARBER, f.s.a.
Fellow of King's College, London ; Hon. Member of the Virginia and Wisconsin
Historical Societies ; Late English Examiner at the London University, and
also at the Victoria University, Manchester ; Emeritus Professor of
English Language and Literature, IMason College, Birmingham.
Above all things, Liberty. — J. Selden.
Religion stands on tip-toe in oitr laud,
Ready to />nss to the A)i!crica>i strand. — G. Herbert.
Our 7innics,
Faxiiliar in their nrouths as household iuoriis.— \\^ . Sh.^kespe.Mv'e.
LONDON :
WARD AND DOWNEY Limited.
BOSTON AND NEW YORK:
HOIJGPITON, MIFFLIN & CO.
1897.
i
^
\
■r
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
The Preface, ... . . . 1
To OUR Readers in both hemispheres, . 12
Introduction, 22
I. Dr Cotton Mather's Life of Governor William
Bradford, .39
II. The Bradford Manuscript, 46
SCROOBY.
48
57
67
71
III. The Beginning of Things, ....
IV. The Pilgrim District in England, .
V. ScRooBY and Gainsborough, . . .
VI. William Brewster, Postmaster at Scrooby
January 1589 to 30 September 1607,
VII. The Flight into Holland. [? October] 1607 —
[? August] 1608, 87
VIII. The Entries in Zachary Clifton's Family Bible. 95
Amsterdam.
IX. The British Churches in Amsterdam, ... 98
X. The scandalous Ancient exiled English Church
AT Amsterdam. 1597 — 1623, 101
Its early days, 1592 — 1597, . . . . . 103
George Johnson. 1592—1603, . . ' . . 108
John Johnson. September — October 1602, . . 110
Christopher Lawne's books. 1612 — 1613, . . 112
The case of the Eev. Thomas White. 1603 —
1606, . 118
Peter Fairlambe. 1606, 121
vi Contents.
CHAP. PAGE
The arrival of fresh English Churches in
Amsterdam, 1607—1608, 121
That unspeakable Daniel Studley. 1592 — 1612, 122
The Ancient exiled English Church at
Amsterdam splits in two. Saturday, 15/25
December 1610, 124
The Prophets of the " Holy Discipline," and
their comical proceedings. 1602 — 1612, . . 126
The fiendish cruelty of Richard Mansfield,
1610—1612, 127
The Ancient Church is an abomination to
the citizens of Amsterdam. 1605 — 1612, . 128
The divine blessing upon the Pilgrim Church, 129
The death - bed Recantation of the Rev.
Francis Johnson. 1617, 129
The influence of the Separation, . . .130
XI. The Rev. John Smyth, Preacher of the city
of Lincoln ; afterwards Pastor of the Church
at Gainsborough ; then Pastor of the
Brethren of the Separation of the Second
English Church at Amsterdam ; and lastly,
the Se-Baptist. 1603—1612,. . . . . 131
XII. The settlement of the Scrooby Church at
Amsterdam. October 1607— August 1608, . . 141
Leyden
XIII. Beautiful Leyden, 143
XIV. The British Churches in Leyden, . . .145
XY. The Removal of the Pilgrim Church to Leyden,
by Friday, 21 April /I May 1609, .... 146
.XVI. The Purchase of the Rev. John Robinson's
house in Bell Alley, Leyden, on Thursday,
26 April /6 May 1611, 155
XVII, The Inmates of the Rev. John Robinson's
house in Bell Alley, Leyden, on Saturday,
5/15 October 1622, 159
'XVIII. The Marriages of Forefathers that were
registered at the Stadhuis, or City Hall,
Leyden ; between 1611 and 1621, . . . 161
Co7itents, vii
CHAK PAGE
XIX. Other Marriages of English Exiles registered
AT , THE StADHUIS, OR CiTY HaLL, LeYDEN ;
BETWEEN 1610 AND 1617, . . . . . 167
XX. The Eegistration at the Stadhuis, or City
Hall, of such Members of the Pilgrim
Church as were admitted Citizens, or
Freemen, of Leyden ; between 1612 and 1615, 169
XXI. The Members of the Pilgrim Church, and
some other British subjects, who matriculated
at Leyden University. 1609 — 1620, . . . 170
XXII. Governor Bradford's panegyric of the Church
Order of the exiled English Churches at
Amsterdam and Leyden, . . . . . 172
XXIII. The Rev. John Robinson and the Pilgrim
Church at Leyden ; and their relations to
OTHER Reformed Churches. 1609 — 1625, . . 174
XXIV. Bradford's Life of William Brewster, the
Ruling Elder of the Pilgrim Church, . . 189
XXV. The Pilgrim Press in Choir Alley, Leyden ;
and its suppression : together with the books
THAT were produced BY IT, BETWEEN OCTOBER
1616 AND June 1619, 195
The Resolution to migrate to America.
XXVI. The two Virginia Companies. 1606— | J^gg' 248
XXVII. The Reasons that moved most of the
Pilgrim Church to migrate to America.
■ 1617, 262
The Discussion that followed, . . . 268
The means they used for preparation to
this weighty Voyage \Expebitjon\. 1617, 271
XXVIII. Members of the Pilgrim Church who did
NOT EMIGRATE TO AMERICA, . . . . ' • 273
XXIX. Francis Blackwell leads the remnant of
the Rev. Francis Johnson's Church towards
Virginia. 1618—1619, . . . . .277
viii Contents.
CHAP. PAGE
The Negotiations of the Pilgrim Church.
XXX. The Negotiations with the London Virginia
Company. 1617—1619, . . . . .280
The Seven Articles. 1617, .... 280
XXXI. The Negotiations with the Privy Council
of England. The Three Points. January —
February 1618, 293
XXXII. The. Negotiations with the Dutch. 1620, . 297
XXXIII. The Negotiations with Master Thomas
Weston, Merchant ; and the Adventurers
in and about London. 1620, .... 302
XXXIV. Who were the Adventurers? . . . 320
XXXV. Captain John Smith, the Hero of Virginia,
offers his services to the Pilgrim Fathers ;
who decline them : and then his advice,
which they disregard, 323
The Voyage to America.
XXXVI. The Names of the Pilgrim Ships, . . 326
XXXVII. The departure from Leyden. May — July
1620, 327
XXXVIII. The Business at Southampton. [? Wednesday,
26 July /5 August] — Saturday, 5/15 August
1620, 334
XXXIX. The Story of the Speedwell, . . . 339
XL. The Voyage of the Mayflower from
Plymouth to Cape Cod. 6/16 September —
11/21 November 1620, . . . ' . .347
XLI. Who were the Pilgrim Fathers? . . 355
XLII. The Passengers in the Mayflower ; and
WHAT BECAME OF THEM, . . . ' . . 358
XLIIL The Forefathers, or Old Comers. 1620 —
1623, 381
XLIV. That the Dutch could not have bribed
Captain Jones of the Mayflower. 1620, . 389
XLV. That Captain Jones of the Mayflower was
not the Captain Thomas Jones op the
DiSOOVERY, . . 392
Contents, ix
PAGE
A Relation, or Journal, of the Beginning
AND Proceedings of the English Plantation
SETTLED AT PLYMOUTH, IN NeW ENGLAND.
[London, 1622, 4], 395-505
E. G, To HIS MUCH RESPECTED FRIEND, MASTER I. P., 397
G. MouRT. To THE Eeader, 399
I. R [Eev. John Eobinson.] A Letter of Advice
TO the Planters of New England, 401
A Eelation, or Journal, etc., . . . . . 407
[The Compact.], . . . . . . . 409
[The First Disco^t:ry.], 410
[The Second Discovery.], 417
[The Third Discovery.], 426
A Journey to Packanokik, the habitation op the
great King, Massasoyt. As also our Message, [and]
the Answer and intertainment we had of him, . , 462
A Voyage made by ten of our men to the
Kingdom of Nauset, to seek a boy that had lost
HIMSELF IN the WOODS. WiTH SUCH ACCIDENTS AS BEFELL
US IN THAT Voyage, 474
A Journey to the Kingdom of Namaschet, in
defence of the great King, Massasoyt, against the
Narrohiqgansets ; and to revenge the supposed death
OF OUR interpreter Tisquantum, . . . . , 479
A Eelation of our Voyage to the Massachusets ;
and what happened there, . . . . . . 483
E. W. [Edward Winslow.] A Letter setting
FORTH A BRIEF AND TRUE DECLARATION OF THE WORTH
OF THAT Plantation, etc., 488
E. C. [Egbert Cushman.] Eeasons and
Considerations touching the lawfulness of removing
out of England into the parts of America, . . . 495
X Contents.
PAGE
The Complaint of certain Adventurers
AND Inhabitants of the Plantation in New
England [for the robberies by the French-
men from the Fortune in February 1622], 506-508
E. W. [Edward Winslow.] Good News from
New England. [London, 1624, 4], . . 509-600
To THE Eeader, . . 611
to all well-willers and furtherers of
Plantations in New England, etc., . . . . . 513
Good News from New England, . . . . . 517
[The Religion and Customs of the Indians near
New Plymouth], 581
[A Description of New England ; and of those
who should go there], 592
A Brief Relation of a Credible Intelligence
OF the present state of Virginia 599
. A Postscript, . . . 600
Index, . . 601
THE PREFACE.
^^~^plHE appearance, last year, by the kind assent
"" of Doctor Frederick Temple, then Bishop
of London and now Archbishop of
Canterbury, of the noble photo-zincographic
Facsimile of the once lost Bradford Manuscript,
preserved at Fulham Palace, London, has naturally
suggested that the Pilgrim Story should be again told
— in a manner brief yet accurate; impartial yet
sympathetic — in accordance with the authoritative
statements of that Manuscript, and of other information
that has come to light in recent years.
What a strange thing it is, that hitherto there does
not exist any adequate account, scientifically written
but popular in form, of the Pilgrim Fathers. And this,
although there has already grown up around their noble
efforts, a considerable literature, through the incessant
efforts of American Scholars and Historical Societies :
a literature that will no doubt continue to grow till the
end of time.
Crammed as this volume is with information on the
subject, most of it of paramount authority; it has not
been found possible to bring the Pilgrim Story in it, to
a later date than 1623. If that Story is to be continued,
it must be in another similar volume ; which would
probably carry it on to the years 1628, or 1630.
What has been here attempted has been to select
those facts which are material to the Story, and which
are also absolutely, or morally, certain; to explode
The Pilgrim Fathers. a
2 The Preface.
whatever myths we may happen to have met with;
and to give exact references for everything that is
adduced. In one sense, it has been a resetting of old
material ; in another, the production of new facts. Our
great desire has been, that there should be nothing in
this Volume that the Reader may be hereafter compelled
to unlearn ; but that he may feel sure that, in respect
to all its contents, that he is standing upon the solid
rock of truth.
Although the Pilgrim Story must, after the
appearance of this Volume, assume a somewhat
different aspect from that which it has hitherto had ;
it has been rather heightened than diminished in interest.
There are two sides to every question. The Writings
of Governor Bradford, Governor Winslow, Robert
CusHMAN, &c., deeply interesting and authoritative as
they are in regard to the inner life, the actual*
experiences, the hopes and fears, of the Pilgrim Church ;
yet are they, in their nature, nothing but ex 'parte
statements. Neither do they cover the whole ground
of the Story : so that they have to be partly checked,
and partly added to, from the outside.
Hitherto these Writers have either not been read at
all : or they have been read, as if they were so much
Gospel ; and that no other opinions varying from them
were possible. Now it is quite certain that these Writers
knew of a great many things that they did not feel
called upon to put upon paper. They wrote — with
transparent honesty be it said — on behalf of the Cause
to which they had consecrated their lives. And then,
having so successfully fought through "such a sea of
troubles ; " they had, to say the least, the assurance of
their convictions : just as, so often, in private life, our
The Preface. 3
successful friends have very pronounced opinions ; which
we regard as the allowable play of character in such
energetic natures.
Especially must Governor Bradford's good-natured
and optimistic estimates of the Leaders of the English
Separation in Holland — Johnson, Clyfton and Smyth —
be considered as incomplete and misleading : for reasons
which will be found later on in this book.
A cool-headed rectification of opinions has therefore
been often necessary in this Volume.
The general Reader will find not a few notable facts
in this Volume. Of these, the following may be here
mentioned :
The story of the " Holy Discipline " : and of its vanishing
away.
The deliberate cruelty shown to the promoters of the " Holy
Discipline," through the Bishops' Courts, by John Whitgift,
Archbishop of Canterbury ; and Richard Bancroft, Bishop of
London, in the days of Queen Elizabeth.
The murderous statute of 1593, 35 Eliz. c. 1, intituled, An Act
to retain the Queen^s subjects in obedience.
The payments to William Brewster, as Post Master of Scrooby,
from January 1589 to 30 September 1607.
The identification of the Rev. John Smyth, the Se-Baptist,
with the Eev. John Smith, Preacher of the city of Lincoln.
The Entries in Zachary Clifton's Bible.
The scandalous Ancient exiled English Church at Amsterdam.
Matthew Slade's account of the burial of the Rev. Francis
Johnson at Amsterdam on 10/20 January 1617/1618 : and of the
publication by him there, a few days before his death, of a
Recantation of his opinions, with a Refutation of the Five Articles
[? of the Synod of Dort] ; in a book which no modern scholar has
ever seen, and which is now believed to be utterly lost.
The Story of the Pilgrim Press at Leyden, and of its suppression ;
together vith the fullest List, yet published, of Books that may be
assigned to it.
The fact that, for more than a year before he left Leyden in the
4 The Preface.
Speedwell, Wili^iam Brewster was a hunted man ; hiding from
the utmost efforts of the British Government to catch him. And
that, had he been caught, so far from becoming the revered Euling
Elder of the New England States ; he would probably have lain in
prison till the Meeting of the Long Parliament, as his partner
Thomas Brewer did ; if his imprisonment had not previously
killed him.
The Seven Articles of 161Y. The Three Points of 1618.
The various Negotiations of the Pilgrim Fathers, in regard to
their Exodus to America, with (1) the London Virginia Company,
(2) the Priv^' Council of England, (3) the Dutch, and (4) the
Adventurers.
A reprint of two Journals describing the adventures of the
Pilgrim Fathers during the first three years they were in New
England.
The Statement of the Claims in respect of the robberies by the
Frenchmen from the Fortune in 1622.
Evidence that Governor Bradford sent home an official
despatch in that vessel : which was stolen, and is now possibly
lost for ever.
But still more unexpected, both to the Editor
and the Reader, is the definition of the ecclesiastical
position oi tlae Pilgrim Chuxch as tlaat oi The Church.
of England — once removed. The evidence convincingly
demonstrates the strong affection of that exiled Society
to the Church of their fathers — the persecuting Bishops
apart: an affection which only deepened as time
went on, and experience of life increased. So that
the Pilgrim Church stood then much nearer to
the Anglican Church than John Wesley and his
Community did in the last century. The villagers,
that grouped themselves round the Rev. John
Robinson and William Brewster, started at first
on rigid lines: but as their continental life mellowed
their experience, they became large-hearted and
broad-souled ; and came to look on their separation
The Preface. 5
from the English Church as their misfortune, and not
as a thing to glory in.
Therefore, if the Church of England had existed
then, as it exists to-day ; the Pilgrim movement would
have never come into existence at all. Was it not
rather the Stuart tyranny, working through the
Church organization (as it did through all the other
organizations of the State ; and notably that of Justice),
that'^created it.
In respect to such points as these, it may be necessary
to say that we are absolutely impartial : having already
edited some twenty thousand pages of letterpress,
representing all sorts of opinions ; some of them Roman
Catholic, and the rest embracing all shades of Protestant
thought. We have never yet edited any book for a
purpose ; and never will do so. We always start upon
any investigation with a tabula rasa', and then just
simply follow the evidence, wherever it may lead us.
Perhaps it may be as well to warn the young
Reader at the outset, that the reproaches hurled, in
this book, at the then new School of Protestant Thinkers,
called Arminians or Remonstrants, are simply so much
unadulterated ignorance and fanaticism.
Arminianism, with its vigorous assertion of the
Freedom of the Human Will, was just the inevitable
reaction, the swinging back of the mental pendulum, from
the perfectly appalling doctrine of Divine Predestination
of the rigid Calvinism, as set forth, for instance, in the
nine Lanibeth Articles of the 20th November 1595.
At the present day, the two theological Schools
of Calvinism and Arminianism have representatives
amongst the earnest Thinkers of most Protestant
Communities. Each doctrine is, in its essence, true:
6 The Preface.
but it is beyond the power of Man to harmonize
them. Which doctrine, therefore, one would adopt
would probably depend upon one's bringing up, social
environment, mental pace, attitude of mind, and so
forth. Therefore the young Reader will come to
regard controversies on these subjects as sheer waste
of time. Let each man choose for himself.
But then it was a very wild time, an Age of
ceaseless conflict all round. The human mind,
awakening from the sleep of Feudalism and the Dark
Ages, fastened on all the problems that are inherent to
human society: problems which, even at the present
day, are not half solved. In England, during that
seventeenth century, men were digging down to the
very roots of things. They were asking. What is the
ultimate authority in human affairs ? Upon what, does
Government rest ? and for what purpose, does it exist ?
And this clash of opinions went on in all Branches
of Human Knowledge alike : in Politics, in Science,
and in Philosophy ; as well as in Religion. And yet
nobody thinks any the worse of Politics, Science, and
Philosophy ; because, in these first steps, so many
mistakes, false starts, and abortive efforts were then
made by them, as will be found as regards Religion
in this volume. Advance through making mistakes
seems to be the law of human progress.
The sharpest possible attention must be paid to the
dates : for Chronology is the life of all historical studies.
The thing to be certain about is the Day of the Week.
In the seventeenth century, the difference between
the Old Style of reckoning time, and the New Style,
> was Ten days. Thus the eleventh day of the month
The Preface, 7
Old Style was the twenty-first day New Style. It
was written, 11/21.
For instance, the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth
in New England, on
11/21 December 1620, \8ee 'page 435.]
which fell upon a Monday : a date since called
Forefathers' Day.
Another chronological point has also to be considered.
The year was reckoned to begin on different days in
different countries.
For instance, in Holland, in the seventeenth century,
the year began on the 1st of January : but, in England,
the legal year began on the 25th of March. So that the
eighty-three days, between the 1st of January and the
24th of March, were regarded as belonging to what we
should now consider as being the previous year.
For example, permission was granted by the Town
Council of Leyden to the Pilgrim Fathers to come to
that city,
" in their session at the Council House, the 12th
day of February, 1609 " \^ee page 148.]
That, according to the old English reckoning, was on
2 February 1608.
We combine the two Styles together in one formula,
thus :
2/12 February 1608/1609
which fell upon a Thursday.
Now will be seen the importance of the Day of the
Week. The two Styles must coincide on the same day.
Which Style was used, depended largely on the
nationality of the Writer. The English Ambassador,
and the Pilgrim Fathers, in Holland, generally dated
their letters in the Old Style.
8 The Preface
Another point about time, which may be useful to
remember in the present Work, is that the average time
that elapsed between the writing of a letter at the
Hague or Leyden, and its receipt in London; or vice
versa : may be put at nine or ten days. Sometimes the
post occupied only five days ; and sometimes, fifteen or
sixteen. It all depended on the wind and the weather.
The money of that period must be multiplied by
about four to represent its purchasing power: that is
£1, or 5$, then would (roughly speaking) buy as much
as £4, or 20$, would now. This is merely a rough
approximate way of expressing the present diminished
purchasing power of gold coin. Scientifically speaking,
the ratio would vary with respect to each article bought :
but as a general approximation, four times, or a little under
that, may be fairly accepted as the ratio of increased
value for the first half of the seventeenth century.
At this time of day, to hope to add anything
absolutely new, to the sum of what is already known
about the Pilgrim Fathers, is like hoping to find the
Philosopher's Stone. The New England Scholars and
Historical Societies, during the last hundred years, have
so cleanly swept this field of history, that not even a
single ear of wheat is to be hoped for. We ourselves had
no such hope at all. Therefore the more do we rejoice
in our good luck in finding the Statement of the Claims
in respect of the robbery of the Fortune by the French
in February 1622, which will be found at pages 506-508.
It is extraordinary to what a large extent we are
dealing, in this volume, with what is practically a Lost
Literature. All the English books printed in Holland
The Preface. 9
and Flanders before 1641 are rare : but those printed
there for the Separatists, in order to be sold or
distributed in England, are amongst the rarest of them all.
One simple fact will be a sufficient illustration of this :
The British Museum does not possess, at this moment
of writing, a single copy of the original editions of the
seven books written by the Rev. John Smyth, the
Se-Baptist ; and which were printed for him between
1603 and 1613. Of how many other English Authors
can it now be said, That, in their original editions, they
are totally unrepresented in the great London Library ?
Therefore we would here strenuously appeal to' all
the great Collectors and Libraries of the United States,
especially to those in New England, that instant search
should be made through their Collections, for all the
English Separatist Works known. For this purpose,
the bibliographical information contained in this volume
and in Doctor H. Martyn Dexter's Congregationalism
&c., will be found helpful. And, further, that the finds
should be reported to, and recorded by, some central
body, like the American Library Association. This is
not a sectional Literature. It is that which surrounds
the ultimate origin of the United States : and therefore
the effort may be regarded as a national one.
Especially should a ceaseless hunt be made after all
copies of Editions that can, with any probability, be
assigned to the Pilgrim Press at Leyden.
Most of all, that the following two utterly lost books
be sought for, without wearying.
Giles Thorpe. The Hunting of the Fox. Parti.
? Printed by Thorpe himself at Amsterdam, about 1610.
This is the lost scandalous chronicle of the Ancient
exiled English Church in that city.
lo The Preface,
The death-bed Kecantation of the Rev. Francis Johnson.
Printed at Amsterdam in [December] 1617.
The Title even of this book is not known ; much less
its contents.
And now we have to ask for the kind co-operation
of our Readers. We desire to give a perfectly exact,
though a modernized, text. Many of the words and
idioms in it, have, naturally enough, in the nearly three
hundred years that have since passed away, become
obsolete, or have quite changed their meanings. In all
such cases we have put the real meaning after them,
thus :
admire \wo7ider at.^ lawful {morally/ right. It
betake [entncst.'] does not usually mean
civil [civilized.^ legal.]
civil [secularj] painful [painstaking.]
condescend [agree to.] a passionate letter [a
estates [properties.] suffering, or heart-broken
indifferently [impartially.] letter ; as in the sense
of Passion Week. It
does not mean a letter
written in a rage.]
In like manner, Indian Place Names are followed
by their present English names : as, Massachusetts
[Boston Bay], Namaschet [Middlehorough], Nauset
[Eastha'in], Patuxet [Plymouth], Wessagusset
[ Weymouth].
Again, some part of the text is confessedly very
roughly written ; sometimes, in what almost might be
regarded as broken English.
As for this poor Relation, I pray you accept it, as being writ by
the several Actors themselves, after their plain and rude manner :
therefore doubt nothing of the truth thereof. If it be defective
in anything, it is their ignorance ; that are better acquainted with
planting than writing. If it satisfy those that are well affected
to the business ; it is all I care for. See page 397.
The Preface. 1 1
«
Usually the imperfection of the style is by omitting
words which were present to the mind of the Writer ;
but which he did not put down in writing. These lost,
but necessary, words have been supplied between square
brackets.
In these three ways, our Readers will have the
advantage of a rigidly exact text, unavoidably
containing many obsolete words and idioms; but
which yet will be instantly understandable.
In many cases, the Foot Notes are of equal importance
and authority with the text. In such cases, they are
merely the printer's device to bring matter relating to
the same topic into the closest possible juxtaposition.
Other Foot Notes are simply explanatory.
All Foot Notes supplied by the present Editor, are
followed by his initials — E. A.
Our grateful thanks are here tendered, for valuable
guidance and help from Professor Justin Winsor,
Librarian of Harvard University, Massachusetts. This
gentleman, so well known as a veritable Rabbin of
Bibliography, is also the greatest living authority upon
the colonial history of New England.
In conclusion. This story belongs to the Universal
Church of Christ. May it be especially helpful in
uniting all true Protestant hearts, in the Old World as
in the New, in the love, service, and worship of the
ever-blessed Trinity !
Edward Arber.
73 Shepherd's Bush road,
West Kensington,
London, W.
15 January 1897.
TO OUR READERS IN BOTH HEMISPHERES.
HE Story of the Pilgrim Fathers divides itself into
two parts : an ecclesiastical conflict in England
and Holland ; and a colonizing effort in New
England. It is as hard to make the American
understand the theological niceties of the first part ; as it is to
make the Englishman understand the geographical localities
of the second.
If we would wish to do but bare and simple justice to
the Pilgrim Fathers ; we must strip ourselves of a great many
ideas and opinions which, in our time, are the unquestioned
and universal axioms of every day life and thought.
There is not one of us but lives under conditions in which
Law is always, and under all circumstances, the supreme
authority. We can hardly realize a condition of society in
which Law itself was struggling for existence ; in which
everybody and everything was governed by the King's Will,
and was subordinate and contributory to (O amazing words !)
the royal satisfaction.
Yet it was under conditions such as these, that the Pilgrim
movement originated, and fought its way onward. Let us
endeavour, then, to go back in our thoughts to their Age and
to their circumstances.
Doctor H. Martyn Dexter has done this for us, as regards
the material things of life :
Ordinary average life, three centuries ago, was so different from
life now, as to make it well-nigh impossible, even for the most
diligent antiquary, adequately to comprehend, and describe, that
difference.
12
To our Readers in both hemispheres. 1 3
Wlien the Fratres Angli in Belgia exulantes began to change the
date of their letters to Francis Junius from the Sixteenth to the
Seventeenth Century, even the scholars of the great Universities
were still uncertain whether Copernicus had fairly out-reasoned
Ptolemy in his theory of the solar system.
It was Fourteen years, before John Napier of Merchiston, by
the invention of logarithms, as Laplace said, by reducing to a
few days the labour of months, doubled the life of all whose
occasions lead them to abstruse mathematical calculations.
It is thought to have been Two and twenty years after that
date, before England saw her first weekly newspaper.
It was Five and twenty, before hackney coaches began to be
kept for hire in London.
It was Eight and twenty, before William Harvey published
his discovery of the circulation of the blood.
It was Forty, before Gascoigne by his cross of fine wire in the
focus of the telescope, raised it from a vaguely instructive curiosity
to the dignity of an eye, accurate as well as far-seeing, to note
celestial phenomena.
It was Eight and forty, before the Barometer became available
to measure heights, and foretell storms.
It was Six and fifty, before Huyghens, applying the oscillating
pendulum to the rude clock with vibrating balance, which had
been in use for three or four hundred years, first gave to the world
a measurer of time, '" more accurate than the sun itself."
It was Four and sixty, before Thomas Willis described the
nerve centre ; and showed that the brain is a congeries of organs,
and the seat of moral and intellectual action.
It was Six and sixty, before Newton, sitting in his garden, was
started upon that train of thought which, years after, led him
on to the development of the Law of Universal Gravitation :
"indisputably and incomparably the greatest scientific discovery
ever made."
It was Two and seventy, before the same modest and
marvellous intellect which had unravelled the problem of the
celestial motions, discovered the key to the rainbow in the fact
that light consists of rays of different colours and diverse
refrangibility.
It was Three and seventy, before the first Almanack of the
present character was published in England.
14 To our Readers in both hemispheres.
It was Five and seventy, before Eomer, the Dane, discovered
and measured the progressive motion of light.
It was One hundred and nine, before a daily paper was started
in London.
It was One hundi^ed and fourteen, before Doctor John
Wo CD WORD laid the foundation of the science of Geology, by
demonstrating that the surface of the earth has an orderly
■ stratification.
It was One hundred and twenty, before Romer devised the
mercurial Thermometer ; and introduced it to the Gentleman and
the Farmer as well as the Scientist.
It was One hundred and thirty- three, before Dufay made
possible the science of electricity as it now exists.
It was One hundred and forty, before there was a Circulating
Library in London.
It was One hundred and fifty-eight, before Cronstedt, of
Sweden, published the elementary principles of the science of
Mineralogy.
It was One hundred and sixty, before there was a street light
in London.
It was One hundred and seventy-one, before Richard
Arkwright was weaving cotton cloth at Cromford in Derbyshire,
by means of spindles and looms driven by water.
It was One hundred and seventy -nine, before the steam-engine,
in the form now commonly used for manufacture and traflSc, was
first devised.
It was One hundred and eighty-four, before Henry Cavendish
published, in the Philosophical Transactions^ the proof that Water
is a compound of Oxygen and Hydrogen gases.
It was One hundred and ninety-one, before Luigi Galvani
announced the discoveries establishing that branch of science which
bears his name.
It was Two hundred and thirteen, before London Bridge was
lighted with gas.
It was Two hundred and nineteen, before the first ship, whose
sails were aided by steam, crossed the Atlantic.
It was Two hundred and twenty-nine, before Stephenson's
"Rocket" led the panting and interminable succession of the
locomotives of the nineteenth century.
It was Two hundred and thirty -nine, before Louis Daguerre
To otir Readers in both hevuspheres. 1 5
announced the possibility of almost instantaneously securing and
rendering permanent the facsimile portrait of a face or of a scene.
It was Two hundred and forty, before the invention of
prepayment by stamp, and the era of cheap postage.
It was Two hundred and forty-four, before the Telegraph was
first practically used in the transmission of messages between
distant points : Two hundred and fifty-eight, before the. first
telegram made its way from the Old World to the New under the
Atlantic : Two hundred and seventy-seven, before the still more
marvellous Telephone began to ofi'er itself to reunite the separated,
even by the hearing of the ear: and Two hundred and seventy-eight,
before the Phonograph, most wonderful of all, ofiered itself to store
up for reproduction — on the turning of a crank — whatsoever of
talk, or song, may have been admitted to its mysterious confidence.
Congregationalism Sc, pp. 683-686, Ed. 1880, 8.
Observations like these of Doctor Dexter make us
feel the great distance of time which separates us from the
Pilgrim Fathers; whose lives we are about to study so
closely : and they will also help us to avoid the folly of harshly
judging the opinions of the beginning of the Seventeenth
Century, from the standpoint of the ideas of the end of the
Nineteenth ; though, of course, Kight and Wrong are eternal.
Then our thoughts must go back to an Age when the
general drift of public affairs all over Europe was towards
tyranny and oppression : a state of things which it is now
very hard for us to realize.
Spain, under Philip III., had already become a consolidated
and illimitable autocracy. France was on its way to that
absolute royal desipotism that enabled Louis XIV,, later
on, to say, "I am the State." Ferdinand II., Emperor of
Germany, was carrying on the Thirty Years' War in order
that he might suppress Protestantism in Germany, and the
liberty with which it was associated. It is but the simple
fact that, at the time the Mayfiower was crossing the
Atlantic, there were only two powerful free States in
Europe, Great Britain and Holland. In nearly all the
other countries, the Governments were doing nothing else
1 6 To our Readers in both heinispheres.
but ceaselessly striving, and with a marked success, to
enslave the peoples committed to their care.
This had been much aided by the Counter-Reformation
carried on by the Papal Curia, from the time of the Council
of Trent onwards ; by which the Roman Catholic Church had
adapted itself to the new conditions of European life. Of
that Counter-Reformation, with its two special developments
of the Spanish Inquisition and of the Order of the Jesuits, the
Reader will find an able description in A Relation of the State
of Religion &c. London, 1605, 4. It was written by Sir
Edwin Sandys ; whom we shall meet with later on in this
Story.
Indeed, so absolutely identified was the Roman Catholic
Church of that Age, in the minds of most Englishmen,
with all forms of political tyranny, that, later on, in the
Massachusetts Colony, men were punished for saying. That it
was a Christian Church : a proposition that no sane man now-
a-days would for a moment deny. Let us then never forget
that, at the back of all the Puritanism and Separatism of that
Age, tbere ever lay the intensest hate of Roman Catholicism
and of the tyranny with which it was then so thoroughly
identified.
Such being the general state of European Affairs : in
England, Absolutism — that is, That the King was above The
Law — came in with the Stuarts. The seventeenth century
passed away in one long fight between Englishmen and that
dynasty, over the then perfectly new doctsines of
(1) The inherent Divine Right of Kings by blood or
inheritance,
(2) The absolute unconditioned Passive Obedience of
Subjects, and
(3) The unlawfulness of Resistance or Self-Defence in
cases of oppression or violence, whether national or
personal.
If we have not stated these monstrous opinions sufficiently
To our Readers in both hemispheres, 1 7
clearly : let us do so in the words of Doctor Humphrey
GowER, the Yice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge,
in 1681 :
We still believe and maintain that our Kings derive not their
Titles from the people ; but from GOD. That to him only they
are accountable. That it belongs not to subjects, either to create
or censure ; but to honour and obey, their Sovereign : who comes
to be so by a fundamental hereditary Eight of Succession ; which
no Religion, no Law, no Fault or Forfeiture, can alter or diminish.
Charles I., after having brought infinite evil upon his
people, died a martyr for such principles as these. Among
his last words upon the scaffold before the Banqueting Hall
of Whitehall Palace, immediately before he was beheaded,
were these :
For the people. And truly I desire their liberty and freedom
as much as anybody wliomsoever. But I must tell you. That their
liberty and their freedom consists in having, of Government, those
laws by which their life and their goods may be most their own.
It is not for having share in Government, Sir. That is nothing
pertaining to them. A Subject and a Sovereign are clean different
things ; and therefore until they do that, I mean, that you do put
the people in that liberty, as I say ; certainly they will never
enjoy themselves. King Charles his Speech (&c., p. 6, London, [23
Feb.] 1649, 4. British Museum Press-mark, E. 545 (5).
The answer to that dying assertion is. That the English
people had had a share in the national sovereignty long before
the Stuarts, then only Norman Barons living near Oswestry
in Shropshire, went to Scotland to seek their fortunes.
These pernicious political dogmas received their death-blow
at the happy and glorious Revolution of 1688. Then was
formulated what is known as the Whig doctrine of the
Covenant between the King and the People ; the King
in 'his Coronation Oath, and the Subjects in their Oath of
Allegiance. This meant that the Law was to be above the
King; and that he held the throne by exactly the same
authority as the subject held his house.
King William III. and Queen Mary accepted the English
The Pilgrim Fathers. B
1 8 To our Readers in both hemispheres.
Crown on these conditions on 23rd February 1689. England
had, however, to fight France for nearly a quarter of a
century before this "Whig doctrine could be regarded as an
assured political fact. From the accession of George I. in
1714, however, it has never been questioned.
Now when we consider that this arduous vindication of
the supremacy of Law amongst the English people, occurred
many years after the Pilgrim Exodus from Leyden ; we can
the better realize the wild times in which they lived.
Then our thoughts must go back to a time when the
Liberty of the Press simply did not exist in the British
Isles.
Printing was then only possible in London, Edinburgh,
and Dublin j and at the University Presses at Oxford and
Cambridge : but it was chiefly carried on in London.
Even there, if a man were so rash as to buy type and a
hand printing press ; he would be immediately sent to prison
for that oflence. For no one in London was allowed to print
anything unless he were a Freeman of the Company of
Stationers : and even of those Freemen, only a certain few
might 'print books ; though all of them were allowed to sell
or bind them.
There was a tradition amongst the London trade that,
besides the King's Printers and other Patentees, there ought
to be Twenty-two Printing Houses, and no more, in the
Metropolis. But, for years together, there were not even so
many as that. On 9th May 1615, there were nineteen of
such Printing Houses in London; possessing thirty- three
hand printing presses.
The Master Printers could not have as many hand printing
presses as they would like. Everything was regulated and
fettered. Each one, on his filling the previous vacancy,
started with one ; and, as lie rose in the Stationers' Company^
he might increase that number to two of such presses, and no
more. Of the above nineteen Master Printers, the five junior
To our Readers in both hemispheres. 19
ones had only one press each ; the fourteen senior ones had
two each.
The London compositors then usually set up the books in
type in their own houses ; and took the " formes of type " to
the residence of the Master Printer to be machined. The
custody of the hand printing press there was regarded then
as dangerous a thing as the custody of dynamite would be
now. It was most carefully locked up every night, in order
to prevent secret printing.
Regularly, every week. Searchers, appointed by the
Stationers' Company, went through the house of each
Master Printer, in order to see what boohs were at press,
and whether they had been properly licensed.
By this organization, and under these conditions, were
produced the books of the Golden Age of English literature.
The Reader will readily see how impossible it would be for
anything that the King or the Bishops might choose to
regard as obnoxious, to be printed in London. As a matter
of fact, such books were printed on the Continent, as we shall
see later on, in the case of William Brewster ; and smuggled
into England.
The Stuarts had an instinctive jealousy of the power
of a free Press ; and, so far as in them lay, kept it under a
strict supervision. Every Work, before it could be set up in
type, had to be licensed by two persons :
(a.) By a Chaplain of the Archbishop of Canterbury, or
of the Bishop of London, for the time being : which two
Prelates were more especially charged with the Censorship
of the Press, up to the meeting of the Long Parliament in-
1640. And this, not by force of any statute of the realm,
as by a survival of that illimitable authority which formerly
pertained to the Roman Catholic Bishops of England as
"guardians of faith and morals."
(b.) By one of the two Wardens of the Company of
Stationers of London.
20 To our Readers in both hemispheres.
On being licensed, the Work was usually entered in the
Registers at Stationers' Hall, London ; the entries of which,
beginning about 1553, continue, with one or two breaks,
down to the present day. Of the entries in these Registers
between 1553 and 1640; we have privately printed a
Transcript, in five quarto volumes, containing about 3,200
pages.
Such then being the genesis of an English book in the
days of the Pilgrim Fathers, one can see what a one-sided
struggle they had to carry on. The Bishops could freely
allow anything to be printed that made for their Order : but
nobody in his senses could expect them to allow for the press
anything that challenged the divine right of the Hierarchy ;
or that attacked the iniquities and illegalities of the Bishops'
Courts, as they existed up to the time that the Long
Parliament swept them all away.
So the Rev. Richard Baxter tells that the Puritan and
Separatist treatises were, in his early days, very hard to be
met with ; and were secretly read and passed from hand to
hand : and, being prohibited, they were the more eagerly
sought after.
The chiefly colonial story that we have to tell in this
volume, represents but a part of the life of the English
nation during this period. For their ceaseless and strenuous
home struggles against the Stuart Kings; we would refer
the Reader to John Forster's Sir John Elliot, 1592 — 1632.
A Biography. 2 Vols., 1872, 8; and also to Doctor Samuel
R. Gardiner's splendid History of England, 1603 — 1642. 10
Vols., 1884, 8.
Some day the Pilgrim Story will become the subject
of a Poet's Song ; of which, perhaps, this volume may be a
Ground Work. It contains every possible dramatic element :
nobleness and baseness, bravery and cowardice, purity and
To our Readers in both hemispheres, 21
impurity of life, manhood and hypocrisy, gentleness and
wrongheadedness. We very much fear, however, that
(though Dramatic Poesy is the highest form of human
expression) if that Song shapes itself into a Drama; the
Pilgrim Fathers will turn in their graves.
So we conclude here by quoting that wondrous passage
penned by Milton in 1641, in which he defines the office of a
Christian Poet : a passage that has oftentimes been present
to us during the preparation of this volume, because it so
aptly expresses the faith and aims of the Pilgrim Fathers.
These abilities, wheresoever they be found, are the inspired gift
of GOD ; rarely bestowed, but yet to some (though most abuse) in
every nation : and are of power, beside[s] the office of a Pulpit, to
inbreed and cherish in a great people the seeds of virtue and
public civility ; to allay the perturbations of the mind, and set the
affections in right tune ; to celebrate, in glorious and lofty Hymns
the throne and equipage of GOD's almightiness ; and what He
works, and what He suffers to be wrought with high Providence
in his Church ; to sing the victorious agonies of Martyrs and
Saints, the deeds and triumphs of just and pious nations doing
valiantly through faith against the enemies of Christ ; to deplore
the general relapses of Kingdoms and States from justice and
GOD's true Worship.
Lastly, whatsoever in Eeligion is holy and sublime ; in
Virtue, amiable or grave : whatsoever hath passion \miffering\ or
admiration \wonderment\ in all the changes of that which is called
Fortune, from without ; or the wily subtleties and refluxes of Man's
thoughts, from within : all these' things, with a solid and treatable
smoothness, to paint out and describe.
Teaching over the whole book, of sanctity and virtue, through
all the instances of examples, with such delight that the paths of
honesty and good life would then appear to all men, both easy and
pleasant. The Reason of Church Government c&c, p. 39.
INTRODUCTION.
E have now briefly to consider the ecclesiastical
condition of England ; out of which the Pilgrim
Church sprang.
The first thing that we have to recognize is,
That from the Reformation onwards, England, as the only
first-rate Protestant Kingdom in Europe, was in a condition
of constant and imminent peril. Spain, by means of its large
population in Europe ; its annual fleets of gold from the West
Indies ; and, later on, its annual fleets of spices (more precious
than gold) from Goa and Cochin ; had become the Colossus of
Europe. As Sir Thomas OvERBUiiY tells us, in his Observations
c&c, written in 1609, the Hope of the Western Monarchy
was the daily dream of the Spanish Kings : and as matters
then stood, if they could only but become masters of the
harbours of Flanders, Holland, and England, they would then
become the Lords of the civilized World. No one, therefore,
knows anything of our history during the reign of Elizabeth,
unless he adequately realizes the deep sense of national
peril that ever lay behind the ceaseless efforts of English
Statesmen.
For whatever they might do, or not do, Philip II. was
unhalting in bis ambition ; and so became a perpetual danger
to Europe. Ifon sufficit orhis was the badge of his ambition :
and "Time and I against the World" was the motto of his
policy.
And so, the more we know of that Age, the more important
does the Defeat of the Spanish Armada appear. It was one
of the three crushing victories wherewith England has altered
for the better, the history of modern Europe : the Defeat of the
Armada, the Battle of Blenheim, and the Battle of Waterloo.
22
Introduction, 23
For there was always this about fighting the Spaniards, that
they never gave in. It was like fighting Eternity. You might
beat them, and plunder them to your heart's content ; but that
did not stop the War : for fighting was the normal occupation
of the Spanish Gentleman. All this had been foreseen
by Queen Elizabeth and her Advisers from the very first.
One hardly knows whether to admire more the Thirty years
of Diplomacy, 1558 — 1588, which staved off the evil day : or
the splendid deeds of that Fifteen years of War, 1588 — 1603,
the history of which no man has yet written ; which conflict
only came to an end through the death of the brave-hearted
Queen and the consequent change of dynasty.
The extremity of the national peril did indeed pass away
when the Scottish Queen had been beheaded, and the Armada
had been virtually destroyed : but England had still to hold
her own, under the Divine Providence, by the strength of her
right arm.
Professor Froude tells us in his History of England,
X., p. 325, Ed, 1860, 8, that down to the defeat of the Armada,
three-fourths of the English nation, that is, about 3,600,000 out
of about 4,800,000, were Roman Catholics. Political affairs
were then managed by the vigorous one-fourth minority ; who
lived chiefly in London, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, and other
places in the south of England.
Queen Elizabeth had nothing of the Puritan in her.
She was a nationalist. Professor Frotjde thus describes her :
She was free of access to her presence, quick-witted, and
familiar of speech with men of all degrees. She rode, shot, jested,
and drank beer ; spat, and swore upon occasions — swore not like
" a comfit-maker's wife " ; but round mouth-filling oaths which
would have satisfied Hotspur — the human character showing
always tlirough the royal robes ; yet with the queenly dignity
never so impaired that liberties could be ventured in return. . . .
In her birth, she was the symbol of the revolt from the Papacy.
I
24 Introduction.
She could not reconcile herself with Eome without condemning
the marriage from which she sprang ; but her interest in
Protestantism was limited to political independence. She mocked
at Cecil and " his brothers in Christ." She affected an interest
in the new doctrines, only when the Scots or the Dutch were
necessary to her ; or when religion could serve as an excuse to
escape an unwelcome marriage. When the Spanish Ambassador
complained [in June 1578] of the persecution of the Catholics : she
answered, That no Catholic had suffered anything who acknowledged
her as his lawful Sovereign ; and that, in spiritual matters, she
believed as they did. ...
She would permit no authority in England which did not
centre in herself. The Church should be a Department of the
State, organised by Parliament, and ruled by the national
tribunals. . . . There should be no conventicles and no chapels,
to be nurseries of sedition. History of England^ Cliapter lx..
Vol. X., pp. 317, 323-4, Ed. 1860, 8.
The Queen had daily before her eyes, as a political object
lesson, the hopeless division and prostration of France : through
the Civil Wars between the Huguenots on the one side ; and
the House of Guise, followed by the Holy League, on the
other. Therefore she was not going to allow the Puritans and
Separatists, however staunch and loyal they might be to her
personally, to dismember and exhaust England as the
Huguenots had done France, even though they did not form
more than one-fifteenth of the French population.
Had she not also seen the Netherlands split up into
Protestant Holland and Roman Catholic Flanders, simply on
the score of religion %
She would keep England undivided and strong. She
therefore stiffly denied to the lower clergy and to the laity any
right of initiation in religious matters whatsoever. She
suspended Archbishop Edmund Grindal, Spenser's Algrind,
because he sympathised with " Prophesyings." She purposely
chose elderly men, whose ideas had been formed in her sister's
reign, for her Bishops. We seem to trace a distinctly uniform
policy as to Church Government all through her reign. Can
we say that she was wrong? Was not the stability of
Intro dttc Hon. 25
England, beset on so many sides with enemies, worth the
*'Holy Discipline" twenty times over?
The Anglican Church first split into two Schools of
Thinkers, amongst the English exiles at Frankfort on the
Main in 1555; as is described in A Brief Discourse of the
Troubles begun at Franhfort in Germany d&c, 1575, 4 : a "Work
that is usually attributed to William Whittingham, Dean
of Durham ; and which is certainly worthy of a new edition.
On Queen Mary's death, the exiles hastened home : and
soon after, we have in England the distinctions of Protestants,
and of Puritans or Preciscians. Later, we have the three
P's : — Protestants, Puritans, and Papists. Later still, we
have Conformists and Reformists.
In that most worthy man, Archbishop Matthew Parker,
Queen Elizabeth had a most excellent adviser in those early,
and most perilous, years of her reign.
The Act of Supremacy and the Act of Vniform/ity were
passed in 1559 ; but not strictly enforced at first. By 1565,
Parker felt strong enough to enforce, by his Advertisements
i&c., the use of the surplice in Divine Worship : whereupon
there arose what is known as the "Ministering Apparel
Controversy " of 1566.
By 1571, the Puritans h^ developed their ideas as to
Ecclesiastical Polity ; and they published a book called An
Adm,onition to the Parliament of that year : which led to the
literary conflict in 1672 that is known as " The Admonition
to the Parliament Controversy."
In this long struggle, the leaders of the opposite sides were
Thomas Cartwright and Archbishop John Whitgift : who
had, at one time, been Fellows together at the same table at
Trinity College, Cambridge.
As the first English Presbytery also met at Wandsworth
in Surrey, on the 20th November 1572; we must consider
that year as the date of the birth of the craze of the " Holy
Discipline."
26
Introduction
Let us see what this " Holy Discipline " was, for which
men so readily suffered imprisonment, and even gave up their
lives ; and for which they even more readily affirmed a special
Divine command, and a perpetual duration : but which vanished
away from off the face of the earth within two generations
of its birth, and has not left a trace behind.
The English Reformation, by the time of Queen Elizabeth,
had secured to her Protestant subjects, the Right of Private
Judgment, and the freest access to the Bible as the only rule
of faith and practice.
Many earnest seekers went to the Scriptures, and found
there, two things :
I. In the Old Testament, the rigid and elaborate organization
of the Mosaic Law and Worship : which lasted some fifteen
hundred years, until the destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor
Titus.
II. And then came the snare to their understandings, to
find the counterpart of this, in the Christian Economy. The
Church must have some kind of organization : could not they
excogitate a parallel one by the application of private judgment,
reason, and logic to the New Testament ? They found very
little to go upon; only the three following passages of
Scripture, which we give exactly in the three principal
English versions :
Geneva Veesion.
1560 A.D.
And GOD hath ordeined
some in the Church: as
first Apostles, secondly
Prophets, thirdly teachers,
then them that doe mir-
acles : after that, the giftes
of healing, helpers,* gou-
ernourSjt
tongues.
diuersitie of
Authorised Version.
IGll A.D.
1 Corinthians xii. 28.
And GOD hath set some
in the church , first apos-
tles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps,! govern-
ments, diversities of
tongues.
Side Notes.
* The offices of Deacons.
t He setteth forth the
order of Elders, which
were the mainteiners of the Churches discipline.
Revised Version.
1881 A.D.
And GOD hath set some
in the church, first apos-
tles, secondly prophets,
thirdly teachers, then mir-
acles, then gifts of heal-
ings, helps, governments,*
divers kinds of tongues.
Side Note.
* Or, wise counsels.
Introduction.
27
Geneva V£ESion.
1660 A.D.
Authorised Version.
1611 A.D.
1 Timothy v. 17.
Let the eldera that rule
well be counted worthy of
double honour, especially
they who labour in the
word and doctrine.
The Elders that rule
well, let them be had in
double honour,* specially
they which labour in the
worde and doctrine.
Side Note.
* There were two kindes
of Elders, the one attended
upon the gouernement onely, and looked to
the manners of the Congregation; the other
did, beside that, attend upon preaching and
prayers, to and for the Congregation.
Romans xii. 6-8.
Eevised Version.
1881 A.D,
Let the elders that rule
well be counted worthy of
double honour, especially
those who labour in the
word and in teaching.
Having then gifts differ-
ing according to the grace
that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let m prophesy
according to the propor-
tion of faith ; or ministry,
let v,s wait on our minister-
ing: or he that teacheth,
on teaching ; or he that
exhorteth, on ezhortation :
he that giveth , let him do it
with simplicity ; he that
ruleth, with diligence ;
he that sheweth mercy,
with cheerfulness.
And having gifts differ-
ing according to the grace
that was given to us,
whether prophecy, let m*
prophesy according to the
proportion of our faith ; or
ministry, let us give our-
selves to our ministry ; or
he that teacheth, to his
teaching ; or he that ex.
horteth, to his exhorting :
he that giveth, let him do
it with liberality ; he that
ruleth, with diligence ; he
that sheweth mercy, with
cheerfulness.
* Seeing then that we
haue gifts that are diuers,
according to the grace
that is giuen vnto us,
whether we hav^ pro-
phecie, let vs prophecie ac-
cording to the portion of
faith: or an ofiSce, let us
watte on the oflSce : or
he that teacheth, on teach-
ing: or he that exhorteth,
on exhortation : he that
distributeth, let him do
it with simplicitie : he that
ruleth, with diligence: he
that sheweth mercie, with
cheerfulnesse.
Side Note.
* And he dtuideth them
into two sortes, to wit, into
Prophets and Deacons : and againe he
diuideth the Prophets into Doctours, and
Pastours. And of Deacons he maketh three
sortes : to vnt, the one to be such as are
(as it were) treasurers of the Church Gofers,
whome he calleth properly Deacons: the
other to be the gouernours of discipline,
who are called Seniours or Elders : the
third, to be such as properly serued in
the helpe of the poore, of which sort the
companie of widowes were.
Upon the Geneva Version of the above three passages;
and more especially on its unauthorized Side Notes, was
built up the " Holy Discipline " with its considerable array of
Church Officers : Pastors, Doctors or Teachers, Ruling Elders,
Prophets, Deacons, and Widows or Helpers or Deaconesses.
This organization was a kind of exaggerated Presbyterianism.
Its full nature may be studied in the three following books :
28 Introduction.
[Walter Travers. ] A full and plain Declaration of Ecclesiastical
Discipline out of the Word of GOD ; and of the declining of the Church
of England from the same. 1574,4.
A Demonstration of the truth of that Discipline which Christ hath
prescribed in his Woj'dfor the goveiniment of his Church in all times
and places until the end of the world.
This Work was secretly printed at the Martinist Press at East
Molesey, in Surrey, in July 1588. For writing it, the Author,
the Rev. John Udall, lingered to death in. prison, through the
savage secular power of the Bishops.
Richard Hooker. The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. 1594 —
1618, fol.
And so, for years together, the conflict went on between
the Eldership and Episcopacy. The Eldership was based, to
some extent, upon popular election and choice. In theory, at
any rate, it was government from below : government " of the
people, by the people, and for the people." As regards
Episcopacy, the Bishops were appointed at the King's choice,
and were as much OflBcers of State as the Sheriffs. They
held their lands by feudal tenure. It was government from
above ; and dependent solely on the royal will and pleasure.
Both systems had a good many purely human inventions
in them. The Puritan might ask the Protestant, Where do
you find Rural Dean, Archdeacon, Chancellor, or Archbishop
in the Bible ? The Protestant might equally well retort. Where
do you find Presbytery, Classis, Synod, General Assembly,
and Moderator in the Bible 1 Of course, all these were merely
human arrangements consecrated to Divine purposes ; and
were sheer necessities in any large and widely spread
organization. But then, there was the constant endeavour to
claim for every part, and every portion, of each Ecclesiastical
Polity an immediate and positive Divine instruction.
Such then, in brief, was the " Holy Discipline " : a thing
now so dead, that but few men know anything about it. It
had two great weaknesses :
(1) That it was so pivoted upon the Eldership, that if an
Introduction, 29
Elder went wrong (as we sball see, later on, Daniel Studley
did), the system had no remedy. "Who was to watch the
Watchers r'
(2) The question that any practical Man of the World
would put was, How could it possibly be financed? Each
isolated voluntary association, fluctuating from month to
month in numbers, was to pay three Officers — the Pastor,
the Teacher, and the Ruling Elder: all of whom, being
family men, must have enough to keep them and their
families in decent respectability.
The Pilgrim Church never prided itself upon its
ecclesiastical organization ; which was, all through, of a
most make-shift description.
When it started at Scrooby, it seems to have had the
Rev. Richard Olyfton for Pastor; and the Rev. John
Robinson, when he came North, acted as Assistant or
Teacher; with probably one or more Deacons.
When it removed from Amsterdam to Leyden, and
Clypton deserted that Church, about April 1609; the Rev.
John Robinson was the only Officer, besides the Deacon or
Deacons, for a considerable time.
Then, at Leyden, at some date not later than 1613,
William Brewster was elected Ruling Elder.
All the arrangements seem to have been dictated by
their practical necessities; and not according to the "Holy
Discipline," or any other, theory. They n,ever had for their
Officers, either Prophets, or Widows.
As time went on, they rather leaned to the organization
of the French Reformed Churches ; as will appear from their
Three Points of 1618, see p. 293-296.
Later still, the migration to America split the Church
into two sections. After Robinson's death, the Leyden
section had no Minister at all, until it went across the seas
to join the Old Colony : and if the Plymouth Church had
one characteristic more than another, it was That it was
30
Introduction.
essentially a Church of Laymen; and, in that respect, it
anticipated the Quakers. At any rate, as long as Governor
Bradford lived ; no Minister even dared to aspire to lead
them, as John Robinson had done at Amsterdam and Leyden.
So it was ever a question of Men, and not of Methods :
and therefore as an example of a perfect ecclesiastical
organisation, the Pilgrim Church is simply nowhere.
It had also these other two characteristics :
That, within the limits of the Old Colony, it was a
National Church ; for it embraced the whole community.
And also. That, for many a long day to come, it would no
more suffer Dissent from its organisation and methods, within
those limits ; than James I. did from his organisation and
methods, within his three Kingdoms. History repeats itself.
Before we pass away from this subject, we may just
touch upon one other point.
There were great discussions among the Separatists as to
the meaning of the following passage :
Geneva Version.
1560 A.D.
And if hee refuse to
heare them, tell it vnto
the Church *
Authorised Vehsion.
1611 A.D.
Matthew xviii. 17.
And if he shall neglect
to hear them, tell it unto
the church.
Side Note.
* He speaketh not of any
kinde of policie, but of an
ecclestasticall assemUie, for he speaketh
afterwarde of the power of loosing and
binding, which belonged to the Church,
and hee hath regard to the order used
in those dayes, at what time the Elders
had the iudgment of Church matters in
their hands, John ix. 12, and xil, 42, and
XTi. 2, and used casting out of the
Synagogue for a punishment, as we doe
HOW excommunication.
Revised Version.
1881 A.D.
And if he refuse to hear
them, tell it unto the
church.*
Side Note.
* Or, congregation.
Will it be believed that, after the many vicissitudes which
the Ancient exiled English Church had passed through since
it originated in London in September 1592, and settled at
Introduction. ■ 31
Amsterdam five years later, that that Community was rent
asunder on 15/25 December 1610, upon a speculative point
like this? The Rev. Francis Johnson, the Rev. Richard
Clyfton, Daniel Studley, and others held that the -word
Church here meant only the Eldership : maintaining what
is known as the Barrowist viqw of Ecclesiastical Polity,
from Henry Barrow. The Rev. Henry Ainsworth, Jean
DE l'Ecluse, Giles Thorpe, and others held that it meant
all the members of the society : maintaining what is known
as the Brownist view of ecclesiastical polity, from Robert
Browne. And so these late friends, about a point like this,
mutually delivered one another over to Satan, which was then
the formula of Excommunication ; and became known to each
other, in derision, as the Franciscans and the Ainsworthians.
It would seem that in this, the Rev. Francis Johnson
made a grab for more power. What a strange fascination
spiritual power has for some men ! At any rate, he was bitterly
punished during those last seven years that remained to him in
this life. We do not know the details of the disastrous career
of his Church after it left Amsterdam for Emden about 1613 ;
but this split seems to have reduced not a few of them to
beggary. And then, at last, to return to Amsterdam, only to
recant his opinions and die ! What a miserable fiasco was it all !
Such being the clash of opinions and the vanity of
knowledge among men who were earnestly striving to be good ;
let us now consider the secular power which the Bishops put
forth for their suppression.
This secular power was not based on statue law. Indeed,
it was, many times, a flagrant defiance of it. It rested chiefly
on the undefined royal prerogative.
John Whitgift owed his Primacy in 1583, very largely
to the vigorous manner in which he had fought, in his books,
Thomas Cartwright and the " Holy Discipline." Upon his
becoming Archbishop, he fully determined, coute qui coute,
to stamp out not only Separatism or the " Holy Discipline "
3 2 Introduction, •
without the Church ; but likewise Puritanism within it : but
the more he persecuted them, the more they both grew.
Englishmen have never yet been slaves.
Let us isee what a Bishop could do in his capacity as
" Ordinary of the diocese." He could call any man or woman
before him, and question them : and, from their answers,
condemn them out of their own mouth, without the least
confirmatory evidence ; and then send them to prison, for
mere points of religious belief. This was by virtue of the
Oath ex Officio ; which was the forerunner of the even more
notorious Etcetera Oath of 1640.
If the man or woman refused to answer ; after reviling
them, he would send them to prison for that refusal.
In either case, they remained in prison as long as the
Bishop chose. The Habeas Cotjjus Writ had not yet been
invented. The lawyers might say that the procedure of the
Bishops' Courts were illegal : but what did it matter what
they said ? All that a lawyer could say, was based on Law :
and Law itself was struggling for existence. When it made
for the Sovereign, it was enforced ; when it made against him,
it was put aside. ,
The result of all this was, that the prisons of London were
crammed with good Christians; who, according to modern
ideas, were perfectly innocent of any crime. No wonder the
Bishops were hated, for this use of their secular power.
In 1588 — 1589, John Penry and Job Throgmorton
tried to reach at the Bishops, by secretly printing, at the
wandering Maitinist Press, scoffing and mocking pamphlets
against them, supposed to be written by a mock-Archbishop,
Martin Mar-Prelate. These derisive Marprelate Tracts
circulated rapidly all over England. But the only result of
this literary revolt from ecclesiastical tyranny, was the
punishment, in February 1590, of all concerned in their
production. Of this Controversy, we have given an account
in our Introduction to it, published in 1879.
Introduction, 33
Whitgift, after the utmost use for ten years of the
far-reaching powers ol the Ecclesiastical Courts, was still not
satisfied. He had not yet cowed religious Englishmen.
In 1593, Parliament sat from the 19th February to the
12th April ; and in that time passed the most disgraceful Act
of Queen Elizabeth's reign, 35 Eliz. c. 1.
Our Readers will remember the brilliant story in the sixty-
ninth Chapter of Professor Froude's History, of the itinerant
barrel of beer at Chartley Manor House in 1587, which carried
in, and out, the correspondence of Mary Queen of Scots, in
relation to the Babington Conspiracy, that brought her to the
block. This correspondence was all deciphered by Sir Francis
Walsingham's Secretary, whose name Professor Froude gives
as Phillipps ; but who is known in the State Papers as
Thomas Phelippes, alias Morice, the Decipherer : "a spare,
pock-marked, impassive, red-haired man," as the Professor
describes him.
In reward for his various services, the Government made
Phelippes, the Collector of Customs for Cloth within the
Port of London : but, though he held that appointment,
he was constantly engaged in disseminating or obtaining
information.
We now give portions of two letters written by this man.
THOMAS phelippes TO WILLIAM STERRELL.
[?9] APRIL 1593.
Sir. The Parliament is to end this week, [/if did end on I2th
April.]
The Bill preferred in the Upper House against Catholics, which
you mentioned in your last, is passed both Houses, with some
amendment. The point is, That they are tied to remain at their
dwellings : if they do [not], to be banished the realm. The other
Bill, passed in the Nether House, was thought so extreme, as it is
suppressed.
There was a Bill preferred against the Barrowists and Brownists,
making it felony to maintain any opinions against the Ecclesiastical
Government ; which, by the Bishops' means, did pass the Upper
The Pilgrim Fathers. c
34 Introduction.
House : but was found \on bth Ap'il 1593] so captious by the
Nether House, as it was thought it would never have passed in any
sort ; afor that it was thought all the Puritans would have been
drawn within the compass thereof.
Yet, by the earnest labouring of those that sought to satisfy the
Bishops' humours, it is passed ; to this effect. That whosoever
shall be an obstinate Recusant \i.e. strictly speaking, a Rejecter
of an accepted opini(m\y refusing to come to any Church; and do
deny the Queen to have any power or authority in Ecclesiastical
Causes ; and do by writing, or otherwise, publish the same ; and
be a keeper [frequenter] of conventicles also : being convicted,
he shall abjure [renounce, or give up] the realm within three
months, and lose all his goods and lands. If he return without -
licence, it shall be felony.
Thus have they minced it, as is thought, so as it will not reach
to any man that shall deserve favour ; in a concurrence of so
many faults and actions.
The week before [on 31st March], upon the late conventicle you
wrote of last, Barrow and Goodman [or rather Greenwood], with
some others, were indicted, arraigned, and condemned, upon the
statute [23 Eliz., c. 2] of writing and publishing seditious books ;
and should have been executed : but, as they were ready to be
trussed up [i.e. tiedby the necks to the tree], were reprieved.
But the day after [6th April] the Lower House had shewed
their dislike of this Bill, were, early in the morning, hanged.
It is said, The reprieval proceeded of a Supplication made to
the Lord Treasurer [William Cecil, Lord Burlegh], complaining
Thatf in a land where no Papist was touched for religion by death,
their blood [of those] concurring in opinion, touching faith, with that
[whicK] was professed in the country, should be fwst shed : desiring
therefore conference, to be removed from their erro9's by reason; or else
further satisfaction of [justifica-tion to] the World touching their
opinions.
Which was communicated by him to [John Whitgift,] the
Archbishop of Canterbury, who nevertheless was very peremptory;
so as the Lord Treasurer gave him and [Richard Fletcher]
Bishop of Worcester, some round taxing words : and used some
speech to the Queen ; but was not seconded by any [of the Privy
Council], which hath made him more remiss, as is thought.
It is plainly said> That their execution preceeded of [the]
Introduction. 35
malice of the Bishops, to spite the Nether House ; which hath
procured them much hatred of the common people affected that
way. ^S'. P. Dom. Eliz., Vol. 244, No. 124.
THOMAS PHELIPPES to WILLIAM STERRBLL.
12/22 JUNE 1593.
Penry, the son \i.e, an author o/] of Martin Marprelate, was
hanged lately [on 29th May], as two of the principal Brownists
Barrow and Greenwood were before ; so as that Sect is in effect
extinguished. S. P. Dom. Eliz.^ Vol. 245, No 30.
Our space allows us to give in full, only the first
Section of the murderous Act to retain the Queen^s subjects in
obedience, 35 Eliz. c. 1 ; a statute worthy to be put by the
side of that legal disgrace of Henry VIII.'s reign, the Act
of the Six Articles of 1539 : and the infamy of it must
be shared by all the Bench of Bishops in that Parliament
of 1593.
For the preventing and avoiding of such great inconveniences
and perils as might happen and grow by the wicked and dangerous
practices of seditious Sectaries and disloyal persons ; Be it enacted
by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, and by the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal in this present Parliament assembled, and by the
authority of the same :
That if any person or persons, above the age of sixteen years,
which shall obstinately refuse to repair to some Church Chapel or
usual place of Common Prayer, to hear Divine Service, established
by Her Majesty's laws and statutes in that behalf made ; and
shall forbear to do the same by the space of a month next
after, without lawful cause : [Or] shall, at any time after forty
days next after the end of this Session of Parliament [i.e. from
23rd May 1593], by printing, writing, or express words or
speeches, advisedly and purposely practice ; or go about to move or
persuade any of Her Majesty's subjects, or any others within Her
Highness's realms or dominions, to deny withstand and impugn
Her Majesty's power and authority in Causes Ecclesiastical united
and annexed to the imperial crown of this realm : Or to that end
or purpose, shall advisedly and maliciously move or persuade
any other person whatsoever to forbear or abstain from coming
36 Introduction.
to Church to hear Divine Service ; or to receive the Communion,
according to Her Majesty's laws and statutes aforesaid : Or to
come to, or to be present at, any unlawful assemblies conventicles
or meetings, under colour or pretence of any Exercise of Religion ;
contrary to Her Majesty's said laws and statutes : Or if any
person or persons which shall obstinately refuse to repair to
some Church Cliapel or usual place of Common Prayer, and
shall forbear, by the space of a month, to hear Divine Service
as is aforesaid ; shall, after the said forty days, either of him
and themselves, or by the motion, persuasion, inticement, or
allurement, of any others, willingly join, or be present at, any
such assemblies conventicles or meetings, under colour or pretence
of any such exercise of religion, contrary to the laws and statutes
of this realm, as is aforesaid —
That then every such person so offending as aforesaid, and
being thereof lawfully convicted, shall be committed to prison :
there to remain, without bail or mainprise, until they shall
conform and yield themselves to come to some Church Chapel or
usual place of Common Prayer, and hear Divine Service, according
to Her Majesty's laws and statutes aforesaid ; and to make such
open submission and declaration of their said conformity as
hereafter in this Act is declared and appointed. The Statutes of
the Realm, Vol. IV., Part II., p. 841, 1819, fol.
The second Section provides that Offenders convicted, not
conforming and submitting within three months shall abjure
the realm : and refusing to do so, or returning to the realm,
shall be deemed Felons ; and shall suffer [die'], as in the case
of Felony, without benefit of Clergy.
It was also provided " And this Act to continue no longer
than to the end of the next Session of Parliament " ; which
befell on 9th February 1598, 40 Eliz. So from 23rd May 1593
till 9th February 1598, this Act was the law of the land.
We are not able either to prove, or to disprove, the
following statements of Governor Bradford :
First, from Master Phit lips. A famous and godly Preacher,
having heard and seen Master Barrow's speeches and preparations
for death, said, "Barrow, Barrow, my soul be with thine !"
Introduction. 37
Tlie same author also reports, That Queen Elizabeth asked
learned Doctor [John] Rainolds, What he thought of those two
men, Master Barrow and Master Greenwood ?
And he answered Her Majesty, That it could not avail any thing
to show his judgement concerning them, seeing they were put to
death.
And being loath to speak his mind further ; Her Majesty
charged him, upon his allegiance, to speak.
Whereupon he answered. That he was persuaded, if they had
lived, they would have been two as worthy Instruments for the
Church of GOD as have been raised up in this Age.
Her Majesty sighed, and said no more.
But, after that, riding to a park by the place where they
were executed ; and, being willing to take further information
concerning them, demanded of the Right Honourable [George
Clifford, third] Earl of Cumberland, that was present when
they suffered. What end they made ?
He answered, " A very godly end ; and prayed for your
Majesty, and the State, &c."
We may also add, what some of us have heard, by credible
information, That the Queen demanded of the Archbishop [John
Whitgift], What he thought of them in his conscience ?
He answered, He thought they were the servants of GOD ;
but dangerous to the State.
" Alas ! " said she, " shall we put the servants of GOD to
death!"
And this was the true cause why no more of them were put
to death in her days.
First Dialogiie <&c. [Written about 1648.] Printed in A.
Young's ChrovMes dtc, pp. 431-433, Ed. 1841, 8.
The Reader can now sufficiently appreciate the active,
powerful, and deadly hostility that the Churches at Scrooby
and Gainsborough, about the year 1606, deliberately faced
when they " as the Lord's free people, joined themselves, by a
Covenant of the Lord, into a Church Estate, in the fellowship
of the Gospel, to walk in all his ways made known, or to be
made known, unto them, according to their best endeavours ;
whatsoever it should cost them, the Lord assisting them."
^S Introduction.
Outside names have often been accepted by those at whom
they have been flung; and thereby been made honourable.
Instances of this in religious history are not infrequent.
"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
Those who, in the time of the Commonwealth, shook in their
divine worship, were called the Quakers. John Wesley and
his associates at Oxford, were called the Methodists. In
politics likewise, reproachful names such as Whig and Tory,
have been subsequently adopted as party badges.
In the time of our Story, the word Brownist was flung at
everybody that went out of the English Church; quite regardless
as to whether they had accepted the views of Robert Browne
or not. So the Ancient exiled Church and the Gainsborough
Church, that had Httle or nothing in common with Browne,
were constantly called Brownists.
So hkewise was the Pilgrim Church : although Robinson
in his Farewell Discourse to the Mayflower Pilgrims in July
1620, at page 183, distinctly rejected, as his ecclesiastical
Leader one whom he regarded as a renegade; and of
whom, ten years earlier, he had written, "And if the
Lord had not forsaken him, he had never so returned back
into Egypt as he did : ' to live of the spoils of it,' as is
said, he speaketh." A Justification of Sparation,'p, 54, Ed.
1610, 4,
CHAPTER I
Doctor Cotton Mather's Life of Governor
William Bradford.
MONG those devout people was our William
Bradford, who was born, anno 1588.
[He was baptized on the 19th March 1589/
1590], in an obscure village called Austerfield :
where the people were as unacquainted with the Bible
as the Jews do seem to have been with part of it in the
days of JosiAH. . . Here, and in some other places, he
had a comfortable inheritance left him of his honest
parents ; who died while he was yet a child ; and cast
him on the education, first of his grandparents, and then
of his uncles ; who devoted him, like his ancestors, unto
the affairs of husbandry.
Soon [An early] and long sickness kept him, as
he would afterwards thankfully say, from the vanities
of youth ; and made him the fitter for what he was
afterwards to undergo.
When he was about a dozen years old [? 1602],
the reading of the Scriptures began to cause great
impressions upon him ; and those impressions were much
assisted and improved when he came to enjoy Master
Richard Clyfton's illuminating Ministry, not far from
his abode. [Austerfield is now 10 miles by the road from
Babworth.] He was then also further befriended by
being brought into the company and fellowship of such
39
40 The Life of Williain Bradford, Dr. c. Mather.
as were then called [Christian] Professors; though the
young man that brought him into it, did after become a
profane and wicked apostate. Nor could the wrath of
his uncles, nor the scoff of his neighbours, now turned
upon him as one of the Puritans, divert him from his
pious inclinations.
At last, beholding how fearfully the evangelical
and apostolical Church Form whereinto the Churches
of the Primitive Times were cast by the good SPIRIT
of GOD, had been deformed by the apostacy of the
succeeding Times ; and what little progress the
Reformation had yet made in many parts of Christendom
towards its recovery: he set himself, by reading, by
discourse, by prayer, to learn, Whether it was not
his duty to withdraw from the communion of the
Parish Assemblies, and [to] engage with some Society
of the Faithful that should keep close unto the written
Word of GOD as the rule of their Worship. And, after
many distresses of mind concerning it, he took up a very
deliberate and understanding resolution of doing so:
which resolution he cheerfully prosecuted; although
the provoked rage of his friends tried all the ways
imaginable, to reclaim him from it.
Unto all whom, his answer was, " Were I like[ly] to
endanger my life, or consume my estate, by any ungodly
courses ; your counsels to me were very seasonable. But
you know that I have been diligent and provident in my
Calling : and not only desirous to augment what I have,
but also to enjoy it in your company; to part from
which, will be as great a cross as can befall me.
Nevertheless, to keep a good conscience, and walk in
such a Way as GOD has prescribed in his Word, is a thing
which I must prefer before you all, and above life itself.
Wherefore, since it is for a good Cause that I am like[ly]
Dr. c. Mather. The Life of WtlHam Bradford. 41
to suffer the disasters which you lay before me; you
have no cause to be either angry with me, or sorry for
me. Yea, I am not only willing to part with everything
that is dear to me in this world for this Cause : but I
am also thankful that GOD hath given me a heart so to
do ; and will accept me so to suffer for him."
Some lamented him ; some derided him : all dissuaded
him. Nevertheless the more they did it, the more fixed
he was in his purpose to seek the Ordinances of the
Gospel, where they should be dispensed with most of the
commanded purity. And the sudden deaths of the chief
relations, which thus lay at him, quickly after, convinced
him. What a folly it had been to have quitted his
Profession in expectation of any satisfaction from them.
So to Holland he attempted a removal.
Having, with a great Company of Christians, hired
a ship to transport them for Holland ; the Master
perfidiously betrayed them into the hands of those
persecutors : who rifled and ransacked their goods ; and
clapped their persons into prison at Boston, where they
lay for a month together. But Master Bradford,
being a young man of about eighteen \^He was in his
eighteenth year in this autumn of 1607], was dismissed
sooner than the rest.
So that, within a while, he had opportunity with
some others, to get over to Zealand [in the Spring
of 1608] ; through perils both by land and sea not
inconsiderable.
Where, he was not long ashore ere a viper seized on
his hand ; that is, an Officer, who carried him unto the
Magistrates: unto whom an envious passenger [in the
ship] had accused him as having fled out of England
[i.e. for crime]. When the Magistrates understood the
42 The Life of William Bradford. Dr. c Mather.
true cause of his coming thither, they were well satisfied
with him : and so he repaired joyfully unto his brethren
at Amsterdam. Where the difficulties to which he
afterwards stooped, in learning and serving of a
Frenchman at the working of silks, were abundantly
compensated [for] by the delight wherewith he sat
under the Shadow of our Lord in his purely-dispensed
Ordinances.
At the end of two [or rather three] years [i.e. about
March 1611], he did, being of age to do it, convert his
estate [property] in England into money. But setting
up for himself ; he found some of his designs, by the
Providence of GOD, frowned upon; which he judged
a correction bestowed by GOD upon him for certain
decays of internal piety whereinto he had fallen. The
consumption of his estate [money], he thought, came to
prevent a consumption in his virtue.
But after he had resided in Holland about half a
score years [actually, from the Spring of 1608 to 22nd
July 1620] ; he was one of those who bore a part in that
hazardous and generous enterprise of removing into
New England, with part of the English Church at
Ley den : where, at their first landing, his dearest consort
[Dorothy Bradford], accidentally falling overboard,
was drowned in the harbour.
And the rest of his days were spent in the services
and the temptations of that American wilderness.
Here, was Master Bradford, in the year 1621,
unanimously chosen the Governor of the Plantation. The
difficulties whereof were such, that if he had not been a
person of more than ordinary piety, wisdom, and courage,
he must have sunk under them. He had, with a laudable
industry, been laying up a treasure of experiences ; and
Dr. o. Mather. Tkc Lifc of WUHam Bradford. 43
he had now occasion to use it. Indeed nothing but
an experienced man could have been suitable to the
necessities of the people. . . .
He was indeed a person of a well-tempered spirit, or
else it had been scarce possible for him to have kept the
Affairs of Plymouth in so good a temper for thirty-seven
years together: in everyone of which he was chosen
their Governor ; except the three years wherein Master
WiNSLOW, and the two years wherein Master Prince, at
the choice of the people, took a turn with him.
The Leader of a people in a wilderness had need to be
a Moses; and if a Moses had not led the people of
Plymouth Colony, when this worthy person was their
Governor, the people had never with so much unanimity
and importunity still called him to lead them.
Among many instances thereof, let this one piece of
self-denial be told for a memorial of him wheresoever
this History [Magnalia Ghristi Americana] shall be
considered.
The Patent of the Colony [of 13/23 January
1629/1630] was taken in his name, running in these
terms "To William Bradford, his heirs, associates,
and assigns." But when the number of the Freemen
was much increased, and many new Townships
erected ; the General Court there, desired of Master
Bradford, that he would make a surrender of the
same into their hands : which he willingly and
presently [instantly'] assented unto, and confirmed it,
according to their desire, by his hand and seal, reserving
no more for himself than was his proportion, with others,
by agreement.
But as he found the Providence of Heaven many
ways recompensing his many acts of self-denial : so he
gave this testimony to the faithfulness of the Divine
44 The Life of William Bradford. Dr. c Mather.
promises, That he had forsaken friends, houses, and
lands for the sake of the Gospel : and the Lord gave
them him again.
Here he prospered in his estate : and besides a worthy
son which he had by a former wife ; he had also two
sons and a daughter by another, whom he married in
this land.
He was a person for study as well as action : and
hence, notwithstanding the difiiculties through which he
passed in his youth, he attained unto a notable skill in
languages. The Dutch tongue was become almost as
vernacular to him as the English. The French tongue
he could also manage. The Latin and Greek he had
mastered. But the Hebrew, he most of all studied,
Because, he said, he would see with his own eyes the
ancient Oracles of GOD in their native beauty.
He was also well skilled in History, in Antiquity,
and in Philosophy. And for Theology, he became so
versed in it, that he was an irrefragable disputant against
the errors ; especially those of Anabaptism which (with
trouble) he saw rising in his Colony. Wherefore he
wrote some significant things for the confutation of
those errors.
But the crown of all was, his holy, prayerful,
watchful, and fruitful Walk with GOD : wherein he
was very exemplary.
At length he fell into an indisposition of body, which
rendered him unhealthy for a whole winter [1656 —
1657] ; and as the Spring advanced, his health yet more
declined. Yet he felt himself not what he counted
sick till one day [7^A May 1657]. In the night after
which, the GOD of Heaven so filled his mind with
Dr. c. Mather. Tke Lifcof William Bradford. 45
ineffable consolations, that he seemed little short of
Paul, rapt up unto the unutterable entertainments
of Paradise.
The next morning, he told his friends, That the
good SPIRIT of GOD had given him a pledge of his
happiness in another world ; and the first fruits of his
eternal glory.
And on the day following he died, May 9th 1657, in
the 69th [or rather Q^tK] year of his age ; lamented by
all the Colonies of New England as a common Blessing
and Father to them all. Magnolia cCrc, Book II., pp. 3-5,
Ed. 1702, fol.
CHAPTER II.
The Bradford Manuscript.
iN a note, dated 1646, Governor Bradford writes,
" Full little did I think, that the downfall of
the Bishops, with their Courts Canons and
ceremonies, had been so near, when I first
began these scribbled Writings ; which was about the year
1630 : and pieced [them] up, at times of leisure, afterward."
Bradford MS., folio 24.
Prior to that year, however, he had been the author of
two documents :
(1) His Pocket Book, which was in the possession of the
Rev. Thomas Prince, of Boston, N.E., in 1736 ; but which is
now lost. It contained a Register of the deaths &c., commencing
with that of William Butten on board the Mayflower on 6/16
November 1620, down to the end of March 1621.
(2) His Letter Book, as Governor of the Old Colony. The
surviving fragment of this manuscript was printed by the
Massachusetts Historical Society in 1794 : see pp. 321, 322 of
this volume. _^
Some Papers, as those printed at pp. 309-314, evidently
came into his possession as the successor of Governor John
Carver.
Robert Cushman's graphic letter from Dartmouth, at pp.
342-345, probably reached him through his second Wife,
Alice ; as it was addressed to her first husband, Edward
SOUTHWORTH.
Then the Bradford MS. may be regarded as a fair copy of
various memoranda letters and accounts, that was commenced in
1630, and digested into Annals down to the year 1646 ; with
the addition, in 1650, of the List of the Mayflower passengers.
46
The Bradford Manuscript. 47
But there is not space here, further to discuss its genesis,
scope, and authoritativeness.
Professor Justin Winsor, in his admirable Paper,
Governor JBradford's manuscript History of Plymouth
Plantation; and its transmission to our Times, Cambridge,
Massa, 1881, 8., gives us the following particulars of the
adventures of this document.
Prince died in 1758 ; and he left, by will, the Library (which
he had gathered ; and which he had kept in the " Steeple
Chamber" of the Old South Church [Boston, Massa.]) to that
Church, under the care of its Deacons : and it is highly probable
that this manuscript was in this Collection at that time.
The most commonly received opinion is, that it was taken from
the Old South tower by some one who knew its value, during the
time when Boston was occupied by British troops in 1775-1776 ;
and was carried, upon the evacuation, to England.
The manuscript then totally disappeared for nearly seventy
years.
The Bishop of Oxford (Samuel Wilberforce) had already
published, in 1844, his first edition of the Histoid of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in America ; and in his reference [at page 55] to
the manuscript, he speaks of it as a " Manuscript History of the
Plantation of Plymouth &c., iti the Fulham Library."
Several American Scholars have claimed the honour of
identifying, in February 1855, from the above description, the
long lost Bradford MS. : but the credit of it really belongs to
the late Mr John Wingate Thornton, of Boston, Massa.,
author of The Landing at Cape Anne, 1854, 8 ; as is stated
by Professor Winsor, in his Narrative and Critical History of
America, iii 286, 1886, 8.
The manuscript is now one of the literary treasures of
Fulham Palace, London.
CHAPTER III.
The Beginning of Things.
[ATHANIEL MORTON, Secretary to the Court
for the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth,
commences his New England^s Memorial,
published at Cambridge, New England, in
1669, with the following words:
In the year 1602, divers godly Christians of our
English nation, in the north of England, being studious
of Reformation ; and therefore not only witnessing
against human inventions and additions in the Worship
of GOD, but minding most the positive and practical
part of Divine Institutions : they entered into Covenant
to walk with GOD, and one with another, in the
enjoyment of the Ordinances of GOD, according to
the primitive pattern in the Word of GOD.
By "entering into Covenant," Morton here means the
estabUshment of a Reformist Church. Now it is clear,
from what Governor Bradford states at page 78, that the
Scrooby Church was formed about a year before the migration
to Holland; "which was in the years 1607 and 1608." We
have adduced, at pp. 133, 134, irrefutable evidence that, on
the 22nd March 1605, the Rev. John Smyth was still a
Conformist Minister, and Preacher of the city of Lincoln.
So that, at that date, he had not even come to Gainsborough ;
where, after nine months of doubting, he finally adopted
the principles of the Separation. The formation of the
Gainsborough Church cannot therefore be earlier than 1606.
48
The Beginning of Things, 49
We also think that both the Separatist Churches migrated
to Holland about the same time.
Therefore we consider that Morton's date is wrong by-
some four years.
The Rev. Doctor Henry Martyn Dexter, of New
Bedford, Massachusetts, a wealthy Congregational Minister,
and a splendid Scholar and Researcher, has made the
preparation of the present volume easier by his Works ;
and especially by his Congregationalism as seen in its
Literature^ 1880, 8. Perhaps no man has ever hunted more
strenuously, or over a long period of time, or more regardless
of expense, after the ultimate facts of the Pilgrim Story than
Doctor Dexter has done. He, however, but represents the
knowledge of the year 1880, when he tells us,
"Assuming Robinson's leaving Norwich for the North
to have been in 1604, we have little, if any, evidence of
successful Separatism then anywhere in England, except at
Gainsborough. . . . There may have been feeble efforts in the
same line, contemporaneously in Norwich, London, Chatham,
&c. : but we know of nothing anywhere comparable to Smyth's
Company on the Trent." Congregationalism Sc, p. 376.
We are not aware of any evidence tending to prove in
the slightest degree, that Robinson was ever a member of
Smyth's Church; and we have proved, at pp. 133-134, that
the Gainsborough Church was not established tiU 1606.
Therefore if Robinson went North in 1604, he must have
gone to Scrooby.
Coming down thirty-one years later in the Story, Doctor
Dexter says
*' If we remember that it is not easy at this date [1633], in
all England, to count more than one Independent, and five or
six Baptist Churches (of these two sorts) ; it becomes obvious
that Separatism, as such, had not been making large growth
within the kingdom during the first Third of the Seventeenth
Century. This was not because Puritanism was dead. One
The Pilgrim Fathers. D
50 The Beginning of Things,
explanation is, no doubt, found in the fact that Puritanism
did not take kindly to Separatism." Ihid.^ pp. 637, 638.
How did it all come about? Usually new religious
Movements originate in the busy throng of men, and through
the conflicting opinions of trained minds : as Lollardism,
Methodism, and Ritualism at the University of Oxford ; and
the *' Holy Discipline " at the University of Cambridge. But
the Pilgrim District in England consists of nothing but an
open country, dotted over with small villages and townships
that, even at the present day, have a very small population.
The Pilgrim Movement subsisted in this District for
twenty-two years ; and no longer. Let us try and look at it,
as if we were one of the oldest inhabitants in the place, that
had seen both its beginning and its end.
It had not been so very long ago, since the District had
been near spectators of, if not actual participators in, the two
Roman Catholic risings known as ** The Pilgrimage of Grace "
of 1536, and ''The Rising of the North" of 1569. Speaking
generally, the District was itself probably slowly passing
from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism. John Milton's
grandfather, as well as his own brother Christopher, were
Roman Catholics : and it is more than likely, that of the
three men who, in succession, were the Post Masters at
Scrooby ; the grandfather was a Roman Catholic, the father
a Protestant, as we know the Ruling Elder was a Separatist.
Again, it is almost impossible for us now a days to realize
the crass ignorance of the country peasantry of England in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
We know that neither Shakespeare's father, nor his
mother, with many other of his relations, could either read or
write. The great Dramatist has given us specimens of the
peasantry of his day, which is also the time of the Pilgrim Church
in England, in his Midsummer NigMa Dream^ in Nick Bottom,
the Weaver; Francis Flute, the Bellows Mender; Peter
The Beginning of Things. 5 1
Quince, the Carpenter ; Tom Snout, the Tinker ; Snug, the
Joiner ; and Robert Starveling, the Tailor : And these seem
to be the more learned of them, for they could combine together
to act a play/ Then for his Constables, who represented
the majesty of the law to such peasants \ has he not given
us Dogberry and Verges ? Undoubtedly all these were not
exaggerations ; but studies from the actual life of his day.
By what possible process then, could such men as these,
rise up to the intellectual level of the " Holy Discipline," and
sit in judgement upon the Bishops? who, whatever drawbacks
might be attributed to them, were generally learned men.
For the peasants of the Pilgrim District, the Great North
Road (itself a mere horse track, and not fenced in ; so that the
traveller needed a guide, to prevent his wandering out of the
way) was the only sign to them, of that great outside "World
in which the Bishops lived ; but of which they personally
knew little, or nothing at all.
Herein, however, they were more fortunate in their
intellectual development than Shakespeare. They had
educated Leaders. He had none.
Clyfton, Brewster, Robinson, and Smyth were all
Cambridge University men : and but for them, there never
would have been any Pilgrim Fathers at all.
So going back to the ultimate facts, we say that the Pilgrim
Movement originated in the Rectory and Church of Babworth
in Nottinghamshire ; and that it was mainly a Nottinghamshire
Movement. The West Riding of Yorkshire was not in it;
except as Austerfield was the home of Governor "W. Bradford :
but he, during the period now under review, was merely a child
growing to youthhood. Lincolnshire, through the Congregation
at Gainsborough, temporarily furthered the Movement during
the years 1606 — 1608: but this was merely an accidental
help, occasioned by the coming to that town of the Rev.
John Smyth. In the main, Nottinghamshire men founded
the Pilgrim Church.
Now Nottinghamshire, at that time, as Archbishop Sandys
5.2 The Beginning of Things,
tells us at page 62, was wholly in the diocese of York ; and
whatever official ecclesiastical documents still survive, should
be found in that city, or at Southwell.
John S. Piercy in his History of Retford^ page 205, 1828, 8,
gives the following information about the Rectors of Babworth :
Temp, Inst. Rectores. Patroni. Vacat.
11 July 1586. Rev. Richard Clyfton. By the Assigns of
John Sydenham.
Rev. Richard Chester. Privatlus'].
6 June 1605. Rev. George Turvin. Mortluus],
The important point here, for our present purpose, is
When did the Rev. Richard Clyfton give up the Living
at Babworth ; and Why did he give it up ? We cannot say.
We are told, see following pp. 95, 96, that his six children
were born at the Rectory ; and the youngest of these, Eleazar,
was born on the 1st November 1598 : so he was Rector till
that date, at any rate ; but for how long after, has not yet
been ascertained.
To this Rectory then, some forty-five months before
Governor Bradford was born, came this Derbyshire man,
the Rev. Richard Clyfton, set. 33. He was what was then
called, a " forward [advanced] Preacher," or a Reformist.
Governor Bradford (who, as a youth, attended his
Ministry) writes of him, in his First Dialogue ^ " Much good
had he done in the country where he lived ; and converted
many to GOD, by his faithful and painful Ministry, both in
preaching and catechizing." In fact, both intellectually and
spiritually, he woke up the neighbourhood. And this may
have been the easier; because, curiously enough, Babworth
parish was then, as now, pure country, with a small population.
It contains 6,190 acres, with a population in 1891 of 753
persons ; and, to this hour, it has not even a village : the
farm labourers' cottages being grouped round the several farms.
So that, although Clyfton deserted the Pilgrim Church
in 1609 ; he must ever be regarded as the senior of the
Leaders of that Separation,
The Beginning of Things. 53
The next event, in point of time, is that William
Brewster, also a Nottinghamshire man and a Cambridge
Undergraduate, took charge of the Post at Scrooby, from about
January 1589. |His particular method of helping on the Cause,
was to furnish money for the support of Reformist Preachers
in the Parish Churches round about : "he himself [being] ,"
as Governor Bradford tells us at page 190, "most commonly
deepest in the charge [expense], and sometimes above his ability."
It should ever be remembered that the Ruling Elder worked
vigorously for the common good, within the Church ; before he
went out of it : and that persecution drove him out of it.
These Preachers were not the incumbents of the Livings,
who often did not preach at all, or simply read one of the
Homilies ; but were extra Clergymen, to a large extent holding
" Holy Discipline " views, who preached vigorous and lengthy
extempore sermons.
So Clyfton and Brewster worked on, for years together,
till 1601 A.D. ; when another Nottinghamshire man makes
his appearance on the scene.
Worksop, Notts, is seven miles from Bab worth ; and just
north of Sherwood Forest and the " Dukeries."
John Holland, in his History of Worksop, page 127,
1826, 4, in his Catalogue of the Vicars of Worksop, gives the
following information :
Temp. Instit. Vicarii Ecdesice. Patroni. Vacat.
19 Junii ] 601. Ric. Bernard. Rig. Wallet Cession.
ar.
16 Febii. 1613. Oliver Bray. Idem. Mort\uus\.
This Richard Bernard (a Cambridge Graduate, and a
most excellent man; afterwards, and better known as, the
Rector of Batcombe, in Somersetshire) was all but a Separatist
himself. For a long time, he halted between two opinions :
but finally adhered to the established Church.
He seems to have known all the Leaders of this Separation
personally: and, later on, he was one of the chief Writers
against them. Here is a story of him.
54 TJu Beginning of Things,
But a speech of your own, uttered to myself \and therefore at
some time in the years 1606 — 1608], ever to be remembered with fear
and trembling, cannot I forget : when, after the Conference passing
between Master H. [? Thomas Helwts, or Helwisse] and me, you
uttered these words, " Well, I will return home, and preach as I
have done : and I must say, as Naaman did, The Lord be merciful
unto me in this thing ! " [II. Kings v. 18., Geneva Version.]
And, thereupon, you further promised, with any provocation
[thereto] by me or any other. That you would never deal against
this Cause ; nor withhold any from it. Though the very next Lord's
Day, or next but one, you taught publicly against it : and so broke
your vow ; the Lord grant, not your conscience ! Rev. John
Robinson. A Justification of Separation Sc, page 10, Ed. 1610, 4.
Then Clyfton and Brewster continued to work on for
the spiritual enlightenment of the district, probably also now
working together, until about 1604, when the Rev. John
Robinson another Nottinghamshire man and also a Cambridge
Graduate, came north from Norwich.
The Separatist Movement continued to grow ; but, as
Governor Bradford tells us at page 70, the Church at Scrooby
was not formally organised till 1606 : when the late Rector of
Babworth became its Pastor, and the Rev. John Robinson
became his Assistant; with probably one or more Deacons.
When the Rev. John Clyfton declined to migrate to
Leyden, and threw in his lot with the Ancient exiled Church
at Amsterdam; then it was, in 1609, and not earlier, that
the Rev. John Robinson became the Leader of the Pilgrim
Fathers; and so remained until his death in 1625.
About 1606, the Rev. John Smyth, likewise a Cambridge
Graduate, came from Lincoln to the edge of the Pilgrim District,
at Gainsborough, and founded there a Separatist Church;
which, after an existence of two years, migrated to Amsterdam.
This Lincolnshire Movement is entirely distinct from the one
we are now considering : though, of course, the one helped the
other. Worksop is about twenty miles from Gainsborough ;
so that the following anedote of the Rev. Richard Bernard
The Beginning of Things, 55
is a remarkable testimony to the power of the Rev. John
Smyth's Ministry at that time.
Once [1 e. between 1606 aiid 1608], you know, Master B[ernard],
you did separate from the rest, an hundred voluntary [Christian]
Professors into Covenant with the Lord, sealed up with the Lord's
Supper, "to forsake all known sin, to hear no wicked or dumb
Ministers," and the like. Which Covenant, long since, you have
dissolved : not shaming to affirm, you did it only in policy, to keep
your people from Master Smyth. Rev. John Robinson. A
Justification of Separation <&c., pp. 94, 95, Ed. 1610, 4.
With the exodus of these two Congregations, the whole of
the Separatist Movement, in the Pilgrim District, absolutely
died out ; as if it had never existed at all.
It was entirely the work of four Cambridge University men :
and when they departed out of the country, it departed with
til em.
Among the other features of this movement are these :
1. London had nothing to do with it.
2. It originated in the locality ; and nearly all its Leaders
were local men, or from the adjoining counties.
3. During this Nottinghamshire period of its history, it
produced no books : probably on account of the metropolitan
Censorship of the Press described at pp. 18-20.
I<)ndart,S£a/z/}v43r Gec^ZstxtlA
CHAPTER IV.
The Pilgrim District in England.
;HIS District lies entirely in the broad valley of
the lower Trent, about thirty to forty miles
from its junction with the Ouse; when they
together form the Humber. It is an open
country, rather pleasing than pretty : and far away from any
great centre of population. It was then, as it is now, but
thinly populated : and it is therefore the last place in the
word where a religious movement might have been expected
to originate.
Within four hours after leaving the King's Cross terminus
in London, the Great Northern Railway trains bring you to
Bawtry, co. York, 151^ miles by rail, but 153 by the Great
North Road.
Bawtry is about an equal distance, of a mile or so, from
Austerfield to the north-east ; and Scrooby to the south-east :
but, except that, later, it supplanted Scrooby as the Post town
of the locality, it does not concern our present enquiry.
Going southward from Bawtry, one immediately perceives
the spire of St Wilfrid's, Scrooby. Then on our right, the
road to Blyth, 4 miles ; and to Worksop 11 miles, turns off.
Passing tliis, we come to Ryton stream, which Leland,
at page 61, calls "Scrooby Water." It falls into the Idle
below that village.
The Great North Road used to go through Scrooby ; but,
early in this century, it was diverted, and is now placed on the
west of it.
57
58 The Pilgrim District in England.
As the roads exist at the present day :
Looking northward from Scrooby, Bawtry is 1 mile
distant, Austerfield 2 miles, Doncaster 10 miles, and York
46 miles.
Looking eastward, Scaftworth is 1 mile distant, Everton
3 miles, Gringley on the Hill 6 miles, Gainsborough 12 miles,
Lincoln 31 miles, and Boston 67 miles.
Looking southward, Babworth is 8 miles distant, Retford
8 miles, Tuxford 14^ miles, Mansfield 25 miles, and Nottingham
35 miles.
Looking westward, Blyth is 4 miles, and Worksop 11
miles.
But it is a very great question what cross roads (that
is horse paths ; for wheeled vehicles were not common), then
existed. The present road, six miles, from Gainsborough
to Gringley on the Hill, was only made about a hundred
years ago.
The Church Living at Scrooby has been annexed to the
Rectory of Sutton cum Lound : all the three villages being so
small, as that their Livings have been thrown into one.
In the same way the Living of Austerfield has been annexed
to the Rectory of Bawtry.
The Pilgrim District in England may be roughly defined
as an isosceles triangle of which Austerfield, Babworth, and
Worksop are the three points.
The first impression on reaching Scrooby, is that of perfect
wonderment how so small a place could possibly have originated
the Pilgrim Movement. It is about one half the size of
Austerfield, which contains 2,781 acres, with a population in
1891 of 351 ; whereas Scrooby has but 1,520 acres, with a
population, in that year, of 219.
As a matter of fact, it was the Great North Road that was
the proximate cause of the Pilgrim Church. That supported
William Brewster ; and he was a leading spirit in, and one of
the financiers of, that Cause.
The Pilgrim District in England. 59
It must be clearly understood that the old Manor Place at
Scrooby has absolutely disappeared. The Rev. Canon JoHir
Raine, wrote in 1860,
The Mounds of the Fish Ponds of Scrooby Palace still remain.
The Manor House itself is simply a plain farm tenement, with a
lofty and round headed arch, now blocked up, in one wall, which
probably formed once a carriage entrance ; and a niche in another.
An old and tottering mulberry tree * is recorded to have been
planted by Cardinal Wolset. And these are all the remains of
the archiepiscopal Palace of Scrooby. Sic transit ! The History and
Antiquities of the Parish of Blyth, p. 130. Westminster, 1860, 4.
The Manor House Farm has been held for many years
back by Mr Shillito ; who died, set. 76, in 1896 ; and is now
occupied by his widow, Mrs Catharine Shillito. It is held
from Lord Crewe; who himself holds it under a long lease
from the Archbishop of York.
When Mr Shillito was a boy, about 1830, the country
between Scrooby and Scaftworth was not enclosed ; and the
Idle covered more ground than it does at present.
The Farm is annually visited by some fifty persons, chiefly
Americans; but, in 1896, double that number came to see it.
We have here given a Map of the District ; but any one
desirous of more minute information, should get from London
Ordnance Map. One Inch to the Mile.
Sheet 101. (East Retford.) Price, One Shilling.
This map includes Gainsborough ; but not Austerfield.
And those who would like to go further into the matter,
should get
Ordnance Map. Six Inches to the Mile.
Nottinghamshire. Sheet VI., N.W. Price, Two Shillings.
The Map gives Scrooby very plainly; with the Manor
House Farm clearly marked thereon.
These are really two of the most authentic Memorials of
the Pilgrims that can now be procured.
This tree has since disappeared. — E. A.
6o The Pilgrim District in England,
Turning now to the history of the place : when Cardinal
WoLSEY wanted to bury himself in the country, away from
the observation and wrath of King Henry VIII., he went to
Scrooby.
And the next day, he came to Scrooby ; where he continued
until after Michaelmas [1530], ministering many deeds of charity.
Most commonly, every Sunday, if the weather did serve, he
would travel unto some parish church thereabout, and there would
say his divine service ; and either hear or say mass himself, causing
some one of his Chaplains to preach unto the people. And that
done, he would dine in some honest house of that town : where
should be distributed to the poor, a great alms ; as well of meat
and drink, as of money to supply the want of sufficient meat, if the
number of the poor did so exceed of necessity.
And thus with other good deeds practising and exercising
during his abode there at Scrooby ; as making of Love Days, and
agreements between party and party being then at variance : he
daily frequented himself there, about such business and deeds of
honest charity.
George Cavendish. The Life of Cardinal Wolsey, Vol. 1.,
pp. 260, 261, Ed. 1825, 8.
An Inventory of the implements in the 39 chambers or
apartments of the Manor House at Scrooby, on the 12th
January 1535/1536, will be found calendared in The Letters
and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII., Vol. X., page 30,
Ed. 1887, 8.
Eight years later, in 1538, John Leland the Antiquary,
gives us the following account of Scrooby and Bawtry :
From Gainsborough, over Trent, into Nottinghamshire ; and so
to Madersey \now Mattersey] village, a five miles ...
Thence I rode a mile, in low wash and somewhat fenny
ground ; and a mile farther or more, by higher ground, to
Scrooby in Nottinghamshire.
In the mean townlet of Scrooby, I marked two things :
The parish church [of St Wilfrid] not big; but very well
builded ex lapide polite quadrato.
The second was a great Manor Place, standing within a moat,
and [be]longing to the Archbishop of York ; [and] builded into
Courts. Whereof the first is very ample, and all builded of timber :
The Pilgrim District in E7igland. 6i
saving the front of the Hall, that is of brick ; to which ascenditur
per gradus lapideos. The Inner Court building, as far as I marked,
was of timber building ; and was not in compass past the fourth
part of the Utter Court.
From Scrooby to Bawtry, a mile or more.
Riding a very little beyond Scrooby Manor Place, I passed by
a ford over the [Ryton] river ; and so, betwixt the pales of two"^
Parks pDeJlonging to Scrooby, I came to Bawtry.
Bawtry is a very bare and poor market town ; standing in
Yorkshire, as the inhabitants of it told me. So that, by this, it
should seem that Scrooby Water \the Ryton stream}, in some parts,
divideth the Shires.
The Itinerary of John Leland, began about 1538, 30 Henry
VIII. Ed. (in 9 Vols.) by Thomas Hearne, Vol. I., pp. 28, 29,
Oxford, 1710, 8.
We learn from the following letters of Edwin Sandys,
Archbishop of York, that, in spite of its small size and
population, Scrooby was an important place in his day.
ARCHBISHOP EDWIN SANDYS TO QUEEN ELIZABETH.
SATURDAY, 24 NOVEMBER /4 DECEMBER 1582.
Most gracious Sovereign. Your Majesty's letter, dated at
Windsor, the 5th of November ; I received at Bishopsthorpe, the
18th of the same : and, remembering that it was in me more
dutiful to answer by myself than by any other means or message,
I presently \at once] entered on my journey towards the Court.
After I had passed three days' journey from home, such was the
weakness of my body and the grief of my mind meeting together
that I fell into such a feebleness and sickness that I could travel
no farther : by reason whereof I am, of necessity, forced to answer
by my letter, which I minded to do by word of mouth.
Most gracious Sovereign. Give me leave to put you in mind,
that I am an old man ; my body worn out with much painful
travail. This is, with me, annus climactericus onagnus [i.e. 63 : for
he died on 10 July 1588, cet. 69]. I look not to live many days.
I have lived in the Ministry, and painfully travailed in the
preaching of the Gospel these five and thirty years. I have ever
entered at the door by lawful Calling, and never at the window by
indirect Dealing. How I have laboured in GOD's vineyard, how
uprightly I have walked in GOD's house : heaven and earth will
62 The Pilgrim District in England,
record with me ! Hitherto I never impaired any ecclesiastical
Living ; but left the same in better case than I found it. I must
needs, in conscience, continue the like course.
But, alas, gracious Sovereign, your late letter has greatly
assaulted this course. For as no creature living can be more loath
than I, to shew myself unthankful in denying your Highness
anything ; at whose hands I have received all things : so may I
not yield to that, wherein I should so highly grieve GOD, kill
mine own conscience, and do that which should tend to your
Majesty's dishonour.
And when I remember your Majesty's most princely speech
uttered to me, at Richmond, touching this like matter, that was,
That you would never impair any bishopric ; but leave them in as
good state as you found them : and That if we were hurt ; we
should hurt ourselves, and no fault in your Majesty : and also
how GOD hath appointed you to be a Nurse unto the Church of
Christ : I assure myself that your Majesty was never acquainted
thoroughly with the thing which, by your letter, was required.
The request in your Highness's letter is — to lease unto your
Majesty, one Manor ; not naming any. The Lease sent withal, by
me to be sealed, compriseth in it, two great Manors, Southwell and
Scrooby ; with all their members and appurtences whatsoever ;
which are all the lands and Livings that the See of York hath in
Nottinghamshire : even so much, that they are esteemed [to be]
the third part of all the [Arch]bishop's Livings. These two Matnors
be stately, and the Countenance \maintenance\ of the [Arch]bishop ;
endowed with great liberties and Charters from your Majesty's
progenitors.
These granted away, the [Arch]bishop is excluded out of
Nottinghamshire, [it, however,] being wholly of his diocese : and
a great part thereof where I have twice, by my ordinary
jurisdiction, visited in mine own person ; and once, by authority
of the High Commission, with [Henry Hastings] the Earl of
Huntingdon and others. And also kept house amongst them, at
sundry times ; and, at some one time, by four months together, in
mine own house there.
The rent reserved, in this new conceived Lease, for the Manor
of Scrooby with its members is £40 by year : and yet the annual
rent thereof to the [Arch]bishop is £170 by year. But this is a
small loss to that which followeth.
The Pilgrim District in England. 63
I am compelled, by law, to repair two fair Houses standing
upon these two Manors : whither I resort for my lodging, at such
times as I come thither for your Majesty's service. By this Lease,
if it should pass ; I am excluded out of both.
I am restrained by your Majesty's special letter, [either] to sell
or [to] give away any timber trees ; which your Highness
count[eth] no Bishop hath better observed than I. This Lease
granteth liberty to cut down and sell all woods, underwoods, and
trees.
There pertain to these two Manors, as members thereof, 32
towns ; and, as it is thought, 1000 tenants, poor Copyholders, for
the most part ; which have enjoyed great liberties and customs
All these, by this Lease, may be racked ; and, as the Prophet
saith, the "skin pulled off their backs" [Mic. iii. 2, 3] : the cry
whereof would sound in your Majesty's ears, to your great
discontent.
The Manor of Southwell hath belonging unto it, three Parka
well furnished with deer. By virtue of this Lease, they may all
be disparked ; and turned to greater gain.
In this Lease, be all E, granted ; which thing within
the space of twenty years and less, will make the annual rent of
these two Manors above £1,000 by year ; if the land be racked
[literally s9"i^e2;eo? to the dregs. It means here, the rent raised to the
uttermost'] as now a days amongst men is commonly used.
The woods now growing are esteemed [to be] worth £5,000 : so
that the great abatement of the annual rent beforementioned [from
£170 io £40], the want \neglecting] of the Houses, the cutting down
of all the woods, the great Liberties and Boyalties pertaining to
these two Manors, the great benefit of these II with
perquisites in Courts, Felons' and Deodans' goods ; with all other
commodities belonging to these two Manors and their members ;
would, within the compass of this Lease, if it should be granted, be
a loss unto the See of York of £70,000 at the least. Too much,
most gracious Sovereign ! too much to pull away from a poor
Bishopric ! inferior to many others in revenue, but superior in
charge and countenance {maintenance]. The Lord forbid that I
should ever yield to so great inconveniences, or consent to the
ruin and spoil of this poor Bishopric ; which, in conscience, I
should help and not hurt : and it would, in time, be chronicled by
the Papists to the slander of the Gospel, and my perpetual infamy.
64 The Pilgrim District in England.
Thus much known to your Majesty, I do assure myself, such is
the great care that your Highness hath for the preservation of the
patrimony of the Church, that you will not mislike [my denial] ;
but rather me unworthy to live, if T should consent to so great an
evil.
O gracious Sovereign ! Let me have the continuance of your
gracious favour ! and suffer me to live, while I live, for my days
will be short, with a clear conscience towards GOD ! and send not
my grey head to the grave with sorrow ! For as I acknowledge
myself most bound unto your Highness ; so is there no subject
that beareth to your Majesty a more faithful true and dutiful heart
than I do.
And that it may appear to your Majesty, that I seek not myself,
but the good of the Church ; I shall most gladly give all the
substance that I have, as it shall please you to appoint ; as also to
resign up the whole Interest that I have in this [archjbishopric to
your Majesty's hands, to dispose of ; or else what thing soever
lieth in me to do, which with a good conscience towards GOD
I may, that shall be ever most ready to your Majesty's command.
Thus, with my most hearty prayer to GOD for your Majesty's
good and long preservation ; I most humbly take my leave, this
24th day of November 1582
Your Majesty's
most humble and faithful subject,
E. Ebor.
John Le Neve. The Lives . . . of the Protestant Bishops of the
Church of England. Vol. I., Part II., pp. 58-63, Ed. 1720, 8.
Landsdowne MS., No. 50. Articles 33, 34 consist of
another letter and its enclosure from Archbishop Edwin
Sandys; justifying himself from the attacks of Matthew
HuTTON the Dean of York, and also enclosing a List of the
Reversions and Leases that he had given to his six sons.
In the letter, he naively says, " I am bound in conscience to
take care of my family : " and he certainly did so.
ARCHBISHOP EDWIN SANDYS TO WILLIAM CECIL, LORD BURLEGH.
HUNTINGDON; 22 MAY /I JUNE 1586.
The List shews that Sir Samuel Sandys had had six leases ;
The Pilgrim District in England. 65
Sir Miles Sandys, five leases; Sir Edwin Sandys, four
leases ; Henry Sandys, two leases ; Thomas Sandys, two
leases ; and George Sandys the Poet, two leases.
The following Items in this List concern Scrooby.
5. Item, an other Lease, of the Manor of Scrooby to the said
Samuel Sandys.
Annui reddihts. £21, 2s. 6d.
Esteemed to [be worth] £100.
9. Item, a lease of the Mills at Scrooby to Samuel Sandys
his son.
Annui redditus. £11, 12s. 2d.
Esteemed to [be worth] £100.
It was by the granting of the above leases, that William
Brewster became acquainted with the Sandys family : for
he held the Manor House from Sir Samuel Sandys. And
when the Pilgrim Church at Leyden determined to go to
America, the first thing they did, was to approach Sir Edwin
Sandys, then one of the Council for Yirginia, through their
Ruling Elder. See page 284.
Robert Thoroton in his Antiquities of Nottinghamshire,
London, 1677, fol.
Here, within memory [say, then from 1620], stood a very fair
Palace ; a far greater House of receipt, and a better seat for
provision, than Southwell : and had attending to it, the North
Soke ; consisting of very many towns thereabouts. It hath a fair
park belonging to it.
Archbishop Sandys caused it to be demised to his son. Sir
Samuel Sandys : since which, the House hath been demolished
almost to the ground. '
The Church, a fair one too, if not ruinous, is appropriated to
the Archbishopric of York. pp. 479, 480.
To modern ideas, Austerfield Church is a discredit to the
locality. It is more like a barn than a church.
At the northern end of the village, is a cottage, now
divided into two tenements which is believed to have been
William Bradford's home. Here again there is nothing
The Pilgrim Fathers. E
66 The Pilgrim District in England.
remarkable in the scenery. It is simply open, pleasant,
breezy country.
Bradford, as a boy, used to walk from Austerfield to
Babworth, to hear the Rev. Richard Clyfton, the Reformist
Clergyman who was the Rector there.
We walked the present road, 10 miles ; which is probably
identical with that lad's tramp for the 6 miles to Barnby
Moor; where the Great North Road, going south, bears away
to the eastward. Considering the unenclosed condition of
the country then, Bradford probably made some straight cut
from there, to Babworth ; save a mile or two of the distance.
At Babworth, the Church, the Rectory, and the Hall, are
all enclosed in the same beautiful park. It requires a very
strong literary faith to realize that such a democratic
movement as that of the Pilgrim Church, should have
originated in what is now such an aristocratic locality, and
such an early Paradise.
We have now briefly noticed the Pilgrim District proper ;
which, with the exception of Austerfield, is entirely in
Nottinghamshire. After the Pilgrim Movement had been in
existence there some twenty years; in 1606, the Rev. John
Smyth came from Lincoln to Gainsborough, and dared to set
up a Separatist Church there.
There is nothing whatever in Gainsborough that can now
be definitely associated with either the Nottinghamshire, or
the Lincolnshire, Separatists.
We may mention, however, in passing, that Gainsborough
is the St Oggs of George Eliot's Mill on the Floss ; that the
Trent is the Floss; and that the Mill, which she called
Dorlcote Mill, still exists below the town.
CHAPTER V.
SCROOBY AND GAINSBOROUGH.
\.*'iin\
UT that I may come more near my intendment ;
^^^^( when as by the travail and diligence of some
'VJ^il godly and zealous Preachers [in the Parish
Churches], and GOD's blessing on their
labours : as in other places of the land [of England] so in
the north parts, many became inlightened by the Word of
GOD ; and had their ignorance and sins discovered unto
them ; and began by his grace to reform their lives and
make conscience of their ways : the work of GOD was no
sooner manifest in them, but presently they were both
scoffed and scorned by the profane multitude ; and the
Ministers urged with the yoke of Subscription [to the
Thirty -nine Articles of 1562], or else must be silenced.
And the poor people were so vexed with Apparitors and
Pursuivants, and the Commissary Courts ; as truly their
affliction was not small : which notwithstanding they
bore, sundry years, with much patience, till they were
occasioned, by the continuance and increase of these
troubles, and other means which the Lord raised up in
those days, to see further into things, by the light of the
Word of GOD. How not only these base and beggarly
Ceremonies were unlawful [morally wrong] ; but also that
the lordly and tyrannous power of the Prelates ought
not to be submitted unto : which thus, contrary to the
freedom of the Gospel, would load and burden men's
consciences; and, by their compulsive power, make a
67
68 Scrooby and Gainsborough, got. w. Bradford.
profane mixture of persons and things in the worship of
GOD. And that their Offices and Callings, Courts and
Canons &c., were unlawful and antichristian : being
such as have no warrant in the Word of GOD ; but the
same were used in Popery, and still retained.
Of which, a famous Author [Emanuel van Meteren]
thus writeth in his Dutch Commentaries, at the coming
of King James into England. "The new King," saith
he, "found there established the Reformed Religion,
according to the Reformed Religion of King Edward
the Sixth, retaining or keeping still the spiritual
[ecclesiastical] state of the Bishops, &c., after the old
manner : much varying, or differing, from the Reformed
Churches in Scotland, France, and the Netherlands,
Emden, Geneva, &c. : whose Reformation is cut, or
shapen, much nearer the first Christian Churches, as it
was used in the Apostles' times." [A General History
of the Netherlands, translated by E. Grimstone, Lib.
XXV., fol. 119, Ed. 1608, foL]
So many therefore of these Professors * as saw the
evil of these things, in these parts ; and whose hearts
the Lord had touched with heavenly zeal for his truth ;
they shook off the yoke of antichristian bondage. And,
as the Lord's free people, joined themselves, by a
Covenant of the Lord, into a Church estate, in the
fellowship of the Gospel, to walk in all his ways made
known, or to be made known, unto them, according
to their best endeavours ; whatsoever it should cost
them, the Lord assisting them. And that it cost them
something, this ensuing History will declare.
* Christian Professors. A title peculiar to some few in the land [of
England] ; which favour the forward Preachers, frequent their sermon
and advance the Cause of Reformation. Rev. John Robinson. A
Justification of Separation <fec., p. 7, Ed. 1610, 4.
Gov. w. Bradford. Scvooby and Gainsborough, 69
These people became two distinct bodies, or Churches ;
and in regard of [the] distance of place, did congregate
severally. For they were of sundry towns and villages ;
some in Nottinghamshire, some of Lincolnshire, and
some of Yorkshire : where they \tlie three Counties] border
nearest together.
In one of these Churches, besides others of note, was
Master John Smith, a man of able gifts and a good
Preacher ; who, afterwards, was chosen their Pastor.
But these, afterwards [, in 1608 — 1612], falling into
some errors in the Low Countries : there, for the
most part, buried themselves and their names.
But in this other Church, which must be the subject
of our discourse, besides other worthy men, was
Master Richard Clyfton a grave and reverend
Preacher: who, by his pains and diligence had done
much good; and, under GOD, had been the means
of the conversion of many. Also that famous and
worthy man. Master John Robinson; who afterwards
was their Pastor for many years, till the Lord took
him away by death. Also Master William Brewster,
a reverend man ; who afterwards was chosen [at Lej^^den]
an Elder of the Church, and lived with them till old age.
But, after these things, they could not long continue
in any peaceable condition ; but were hunted and
persecuted on every side : so as their former afflictions
were but as flea-bitings in comparision of these which
now came upon them. For some were taken and clapt up
in prison. Others had their houses beset and watched,
night and day ; and hardly escaped their hands : and the
most were fain to fly and leave their houses and
habitations, and the means of their livelihood. Yet these,
and many other sharper things which afterwards befell
them, were no other than they looked for : and therefore
70 Scrooby and Gainsborough. gov. w. Bradford.
were [they] the better prepared to bear them by the
assistance of GOD's grace and SPIRIT.
Yet seeing themselves thus molested ; and that there
was no hope of their continuance there [as a Church]: by a
joint consent, they resolved to go into the Low Countries,
where they heard was Freedom of Religion for all men ;
as also how sundry, from London and other parts of
the land [of England], had been exiled and persecuted
for the same Cause, and were gone thither, and lived
at Amsterdam and in other places of the land [of
Holland].
So, after they had continued together about a year ;
and kept their Meetings every Sabbath in one place or
another, exercising the Worship of GOD amongst
themselves ; notwithstanding all the diligence and malice
of their adversaries : they seeing they could no longer
continue in that condition, they resolved to get over into
Holland as they could. Which [migration] was in the
years 1607 and 1608. Bradford Manuscript, folios 27-31.
CHAPTER VI.
William Brewster, Postmaster at Scrooby.
January 1589 to 30 September 1607.
N the Public Record Office of London, are the
following "Declared Accounts. Pipe Office,"
rendered by the Master of the Posts, John
Stanhope ; afterwards the first Lord Stanhope
of Harrington.
Roll.
Dates.
Name of Accountant.
2737.
1 April 1590 to 31 March 1592.
John Stanhope.
2738.
1 April 1592 to 31 March 1594.
do.
2739.
1 April 1594 to 31 March 1597.
Sir John Stanhope.
2740.
1 April 1597 to 31 March 1599.
do.
2741.
1 April 1699 to 31 March 1602.
do.
2742.
1 April 1602 to 31 March 1605.
John, Lord Stanhope
2743.
1 April 1605 to 31 March 1607.
do.
2744.
1 April 1607 to 31 March 1609.
do.
The first thing these Rolls give is the following List of
the Posts, at this time, along the great North Road, between
London and Berwick upon Tweed : to which we have added
the exact mileage as given in Daniel Paterson's British
Itinerary . . . roads in Great Britain.
Miles.
Berwick, co. Northumb. 337J
Belford, co. Northumb. 322^
Alnwick, co. Northumb. 307f
Morpeth, co. Northumb. 288^
71
Miles.
15
29^
f
48^
72 W. Brewster, Post Master at Scroohy.
jifiles. ' Miles. Miles.
[— Carlisle, CO. Cumb. 56^ 330
20f Haltwhistle, co. Northumb. 35j 309^
35| Hexham, co. Northumb. 20| 294^
At Newcastle, the road turned of westward to Carlisle ^^
63^ Newcastle, co. Northumb. 273f
78 Durham, co. Durham. 259j
96j Darnton \i.e. Darlington\ co. Durham. 241
112^ Northallerton, co. York. 225
Here, going north, alternative routes presented themselves. The
above is the NortJiallerton route.
131i Boroughbridge, co. York. 206
1431 Wetherby, co. York. 194
160 Ferrybridge, co. York. 177i
175^ Doncaster, co. York. 162
{Later, the Post was removed from Scroohy to
184^ Bawtry, co. York. 153]
185|- Scrooby, co. Notts. 152
199| Tuxford, CO. Notts. 137^
213 Newark, co. Line. 124j
227^ Grantham, co. Line. 110
238| South Witham, co. Line. 99
248 Stamford, co. Line. 89^
262^ Stilton, co. Hunts. 75
[There were two routes from London to Alconhw^ Hill. The
shorter one, through Royston, which we give here ; which was 64 miles,
measured from Shoreditch Church, London: and the longer one,
through Hitchen ; which ivas 67| 'miles, measured from Hick^s Hall,
London!]
278^ Huntingdon, co. Hunts. 58|
288 Caxton, co. Camb. . 49i
299| Eoyston, co. Herts. 37^
316i Ware, co. Herts. 21 '
326 Waltham Cross, co. Herts. 11?
337i London. —
W. Brewste7% Post Master at Scrooby. 73
Mr Herbert Joyce, C.B., in his History of the Post Office^
page 3, 1893, 8, states
As late as 1621, all the Posts in the Kingdom, which even then
were only four in number, started from the Court :
I. The " Court to Berwick," i.e. the post to Scotland.
II. The " Court to Beaumaris," i.e. the post to Ireland.
III. The " Court to Dover," i.e. the post to the Continent.
IV. The " Court to Plymouth," i.e. the post to the Eoyal Dockyard.
We now give the contents of two rare broadside
Proclamations of January 1584, of which copies are preserved
in the British Museum, Press-mark, G. 6,463, as they will
give us some insight as to the nature of the duties that
William Brewster had to perform while he was Post Master
at Scrooby.
Orders set down and allowed by the Lords of Her Majesty's Privy
Council^ and appointed to he put in p'int^ for the Posts
between London and the Borders of Scotland.
At Westminster, the 14th of January 1583[-4].
For the avoiding of sundry inconveniences happening by the
over great liberty of late used in riding Post; and for the easing
[of] divers Her Majesty's good subjects, greatly complaining to have
been thereby oppressed ; and for sundry other good considerations :
the Lords of Her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council have
set down and established these Orders following — straitly charging
and commanding, in Her Majesty's name and behalf, as well the
Master of the Posts as all other Justices of the Peace, Mayors,
Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other persons
whatsoever, to see the same duly observed and kept in all places,
as they and every of them tender Her Majesty's service ; and
at their perils will answer to the contrary.
Inprimis. If any man, having the place or name of an ordinary
Post, shall not reside and dwell upon the same charge himself in
person ; but execute the same by a deputy : the Master of the
Post shall forthwith remove him, and take order for the placing
of a suflBcient man in his room.
Item. That it shall not be lawful [= legal] for any man riding
74 ^. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby.
in Post by Commission, to take his horses of any man, but of the
ordinary and standing Posts ; or at their appointment : whose
Commission ought to be signed, either by Her Majesty, three of
Her Highness [Privy] Council, the Lord Treasurer of England, the
Earl Marshal of England, the Lord Governor of Berwick or his
Deputy, the Lord President of the North or his Deputy, the
Wardens of the Northern Marches, Her Majesty's Secretary, and
the Master of the Posts.
Item. That eveiy one so riding Post by Commission for Her
Majesty's service and affairs, shall pay One Penny, half Penny, the
mile. But whosoever, upon any business urgent, shall be occasioned
to ride in Post without Commission, he shall be likewise horsed by
the standing Post of the place, or by his appointment : and of
every such, for their \ihe Post's] relief, it shall be lawful for the
Posts to take after the rate of Two Pence the mile.
Item. To this end, every Post shall be bound to keep a fair
paper book, well bound ; to register the names of all men
so riding in Post (with the number of their horses, and [the]
date of the[ir] Commission), as well without Commission as with
Commission.
Item. If in case, that currers \couriers\ shall come so thick,
or in such number, that the Post's own furniture \supply of horses]
shall not be able to suffice ; then it shall be lawful for him to take
up, or appoint such as have horses to hire, to supply his want.
And to this end, he shall be assisted by the Mayors, Constables,
and other Officers. [They] taking, in those cases, for the hire of
those horses [the prices] as the Posts themselves are wont to do for
their own.
Item. That no man riding in Post, shall ride without a
guide : which shall blow his horn, so oft as he meeteth company,
or passeth through any town, or at the least thrice every
mile.
Item. That all Her Majesty's Posts may the better attend
upon their charges and Offices, and faithfully perform the daily
service thereto belonging : Her Majesty's pleasure is That they
be exempted from all attendance at Assizes, Sessions, Inquests, and
Musters.
Item. That no packets or letters shall be sufficient warrant or
authority to constrain the Posts to run with them in Post ; except
they be directed for Her Majesty's affairs, and shall be signed
W. Brewster y Post Master at Scrooby. 75
eitlier by Her Majesty, her Privy Council, or any of the Personages
authorised, and above named.
Item. That every Post do daily observe the Orders sometimes
^formerlyl set down by Her Majesty's Council, for [the] expedition
of letters in Her Majesty's affairs, viz.
That they ride in summer, accounting from the Annunciation
of our Lady [25th March] to the feast of St Michael the
Archangel [29th September], Seven miles the hour
And, in the winter, which is the rest of the year, Five miles
the hour, as the way shall fall out.
Whereby, the Posts doing their duties, the Packet may be
carried in summer between London and Berwick in forty-two
hours [= 294 mi7es], and in winter, in three score [= 300 miles?^
Lastly. It is hereby commanded that, from henceforth, if any
Hackneyman, Ostlers, Tapsters, or others shall, contrary to this
Order, directly or indirectly carry Packets ; or serve any horses
with a guide or a horn, without the consent or the privity of the
ordinary Post of the place, that then the Officer or Officers of the
place, or the next Justice of thfe Peace, shall commit the same person
or persons to prison, there to abide until they have put in sufficient
bond and surety unto the said Post, for the keeping and observing
of these Orders in time to come.
All which aforesaid Orders, Her Majesty straightly chargeth
and commandeth all Justices of the Peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs,
Constables, Headboroughs, and all others, her Officers and servants,
to see observed as far as in them shall lie ; and to be aiding and
assisting unto her said ordinary Posts for the due execution of the
same, as they tender Her Majesty's service, and at their perils will
answer to the contrarj'^.
Lastly. Because, that, through the over great liberty of riding
in Post, many inconveniences fall out, through the Hackneymen in
Kent ; it shall be lawful for the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
and the Master of the Posts to take order with the Posts between
London and Dover in that behalf.
* It will be seen from this, that the distance to Berwick was reckoned
at 300 miles, instead of 337^ miles. — E. A.
76 W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby,
God save the Queen !
T. Bromley, Can<^dtarius\. W. [Lord] Bdrghlet. E. [Earl of] Lincoln.
F. [Earl of] Bedford. R. [Earl of] Leicester. C. [Lord] Howard.
[Sir] F. Knolles. H. [Lord] HuNSDON.
[Sir] C. Hatton. [Sir] F. Walsingham.
Imprinted at London, by Christopher Barker,
Printer to the Queen's most excellent IVtajesty.
Articles set down hy the Right Worshipful Thomas Randolph,
Esquire, Master and Comptroller General of all Her Majesty's Posts ;
and straightly hy him commanded to he kept hy the Posts from
London to the Northern Borders against Scotland, for the hette?'
observation and due execution of such Orders as lately
were appointed hy the Lords of Her Majesty's
Privy Council.
First. That every Post for the Service of the Packet for Her
Majesty's afifairs, shall have, in his stable, or in a readiness,
throughout the year, three good and sufficient post horses, with
saddles and furniture fit and belonging ; three good and strong
leather bags, well lined with baize or cotton, to carry the Packet
in ; and three horns, to blow by the way : as by their Lordships'
Order is commanded. Whosoever shall fail hereof, at any time
when they shall be surveyed, shall abide the punishment that the
Master of the Posts shall lay upon him.
2. That every Post, so soon as the Packet directed for Her
Majesty's affairs shall be brought unto him, shall forthwith, or
within one quarter of an hour after, with all speed and diligence
carry the same, or cause it to be carried, to the next Post :
according to the Orders by their Lordships also set down. The
breach of this Article shall also be punishable at the Master of the
Posts' pleasure.
3. That every Post, either of his own, or such as he shall keep
or appoint under him, shall have always in readiness four good
and sufficient post horses, and two horns, to serve at all occasions
for such as, either by Commission, or otherwise for better
expedition, shall ride in Post. And if the number of horses
[required] exceed their own furniture {supply'], then that they
supply their want as by their Lordships is provided for, and set
down [in the preceding Order in Council].
W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby. "]"]
4. That every Post, from henceforth, keep two fair paper Books,
or one large and great one, as well to register the names, dates,
and number of horses, of such as, either with Commission, or
without, shall run the Post ; as also to enter the Packets that, for Her
Majesty's affairs, shall pass, and be carried by them. And the
same shall signify, at the end of every month, or within ten days
after, unto the Master of the Posts : and so often as he shall, upon
occasions, either generally, or particularly, call and send for the
same.
5. That no Post shall hazard, or send any Packets directed for
Her Majesty's affairs, by any person whatsoever but by an express
[actiud] servant of his own, and that in Post : upon pain of
forfeiture of one Quarter's wages for the first offence ; whereof
the half to be given to the Informer thereof whosoever, and the other
half to be at the disposing of the Master of the Posts. And for the
second offence, expulsion out of his Office : the same being duly
proved against him.
6. That all Posts and guides riding with any Currior [CoiCT^r
or Through Post, either with Commission, or without, shall bring
the party so riding unto the house and dwelling place of the next
standing Post, that is also to furnish him of fresh horses ; or shall
signify the same unto him, the party being a Personage, or Man
of Sort, that, for his pleasure, will make choice of his lodging :
and shall not suffer him, so riding, to pass the next ordinary stage,
without the consent and liking of the Post of the place ; upon pain
of forfeiture of Ten Shillings to the Post offended, and a full
restitution of so much as he should have gained.
7. Also, be it especially and duly observed by all Her Majesty's
Posts, as they will answered to the contrary. That if any Innholder,
Hackneymen, or others whatsoever, having horse[s] to hire, shall
take upon him, contrary to their Lordships' Orders, to deliver any
horses with horn and guide to any man running the Post, either
with Commission, or without ; without the knowledge and consent
of the ordinary Post of the place where the horses were delivered,
if any Post there be appointed : the Post of the next stage by
whom he passeth, shall, in this case, stay [detain] and charge the
Officer, with safe custody of the guide or conductor ; and shall not
deliver any horses to the party so riding, till notice be given, either
to Her Majesty's Secretary [of State], or the Master of the Posts.
8. That no Post, or guide, ride without his horn : and the same
'/^ W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby.
to blow as is prescribed by their Lordships ; be it either with the
Packet, or with Through Post. Neither shall he refuse to carry
the mail, or other carriage \luggage\ of the party riding behind
him \i.e. on another Jiorse\ so that the same exceed not the weight
of forty pounds at the utmost.
9. That no Post's servant or boy riding with the Packet, shall
deliver any by -letters {^p'ivate letters], or private packets, before
he have first discharged himself of the Packet for Her Majesty's
affairs, by delivering the same unto the hands of the next standing
Post : unto whom also, he shall commit and deliver all the by -letters
and private packets, as well as the other, upon pain of the forfeiture
of Ten Shillings to the Post offended, and the displeasure of the
Master of the Posts.
10. That no Post's servant, or boy, riding with the Packet, and
having by-letters, or private packets, or other kind of carriage
[luggagel, committed unto them, shall adventure to open or break
up, or any other ways, directly or indirectly, shall fraudulently
embezzle or convey [away] the same wilfully : but shall safely
deliver the same unto the hands of the next Post, as is above said.
And whatsoever he be, that shall be found to be faulty herein,
he shall lose his Master's service ; and the Master shall underlie
such punishment as the Master of the Posts shall find him
worthy of.
11. Lastly. Because that the negligence of servants and boys
hath always been the greatest cause of the former disorders ; and
that also to grow and fall out, through the small care and want of
government in the Masters : ■ these, therefore, for a warning in
time to come, shall be to signify unto all the Posts in general,
That whose servant or boy soever shall hereafter, either directly or
indirectly, break, disobey, or be found faulty of, any of these Articles
above said ; the penalty and forfeiture thereof, shall lie upon the
Master himself, without favour or remission.
And hereunto I will all Her Majesty's Posts to have a special
care and regard, as they will answer to the contrary.
London, the 22nd January 1583[-4].
Thomas Randolph,
Comptroller of all Her Majesty's Posts.
W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby. 79
Sir Thomas Randolph having died, John Stanhope was
made Master of the Posts on 20th June 1590.
On the following 22nd August, he wrote the following
letter to William Davison; who had been lately one of
the Secretaries of State to Queen Elizabeth.
JOHN STANHOPE TO WILLIAM DAVISON.
OATLANDS; SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST /I SEPTEMBER 1590.
Sir, How willingly I would yield to any [of] your
requests, and how readily do you the best service I could ;
I hope, if ever you please to employ me, you shall not
then need to doubt. And I protest I am heartily
sorry that the party you write for, hath wronged
both himself, and the respect I would have had to
him for your sake, in estranging himself from me, and
indirectly seeking either his continuance, or preferment
to the place.
It is most true, that when old Brewster died, a
kinsman near, cousin-german full to me, Samuel
Bevercotes by name, a Lawyer [Barrister] of Gray's
Inn, one I love and owe a better turn to, wrote
earnestly unto me, praying me, for that he dwelt
near in those parts, and that the Post [Master] was
newly dead, that I would give him the credit to
recommend one to the place, fit and sufficient, of
good behaviour, and such as one as would give for
it as any other should.
Sir, I assure you, I was glad I had any means to
pleasure him ; and presently [at once] returned him
answer, That, if the place were void, I was willing to
accept one from him, fit for that service.
8o W. Breivster, Post Master at Scrooby.
Within a day or two, Master [Thomas] Mills (whom
I use still, as Master Randolph did, in this Office) coming
to me; I told him of old Brewster's death, and my
grant.
He answered me, He [had] heard nothing thereof :
and j^et his son [William Brewster afterwards the
Ruling Elder'] was then presently in town, and had
been with him the day before; but [Master Mills] said,
He would enquire : And returning to me, the next
day, said. The young man was gone down : but he
remembered Master Randolph had accepted of him, in
his lifetime, to exercise the place, for defaults of his
father's weakness.
Presently I sent one to my cousin Bevercotes', to
acquaint him therewith : who, going into the country,
wrote unto me again, That most certainly I was abused
in their part. Young Brewster had never used it in
his father's life : nor had any hope now to have it, but
by Master Mills his means. He wrote further. That
Master Mills had written, as he was credibly advertised,
to the Post of Doncaster and Tuxford, to win them
to say. That he [William Brewster] had admittance
and use of the place in his father's time : which they
refused to do as a thing untrue. Further, That he
had lately given money to him [Master Mills] for
the place.
All this while, nor to this hour ; I never heard one
word from young Brewster. He neither came to me,
being in town ; nor sent to me, being absent : but, as
though I were to be overruled by others, made his way
according to his liking.
When my cousin, whom I trusted, did advertise me
of this manner of dealing ; and instantly required the
admittance of him whom he nominated : I granted
W. Brewster, Post Master at Scroohy. 8 1
thereto, and have written my letters accordingly ; which
went away but three days since.
Now, Sir, in whom the fault is ; or how to redress
my error committed herein : I pray you help me !
First, I know my interest such as, whether he had
the place or no ; I can displace him : and think him
worthily displaced for his contempt of me, in not
seeking me at all.
But if it be true, as 1 protest two or three besides my
cousin have advertised me, that he never used the room
\Office\ in his father's life; besides, such gentlemen as
went down with [Edward Somerset] my Lord of
Worcester to Scotland [in June 1590] told me, the old
man furnished them of horses, as they went ; and, in their
return, finding him dead, the widow told them, Her son
was gone up to sue for the place : then have I done but
like a kinsman to pleasure my cousin, without just
ofience to any.
Of Master Randolph's promise to you for your man,
1 nothing doubt ; because yourself write it : but that
he was not placed presently \at once] upon that promise,
that seems by their report.
Sir, in regard of you, I will seek to be better
satisfied in the matter ; and if I find cause, and may,
without disgracing [to] my cousin and touch to myself,
I will revoke my grant : if you shall not rest satisfied
that he have any other [Postmastership] that shall fall
void with the first.
And so, Sir, sorry I have troubled you with such
circumstance [details], and with so ill a hand [writing] ;
being in bed for sloth, and yet willing to despatch your
man [messenger] ; I pray you believe of me as I have
The Pilgrim Fathers, f
82 W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby.
written : and you shall hear and see ere long, what I
will do to satisfy you.
And so, humbly recommending you to the Almighty
I take my leave. This 22nd of August. Oatlands.
Yours most assured,
John Stanhope.
Sir, I will send you the letters [that] were sent me
by a man of mine.
[Addressed] — To his honourable friend. Master
Secretary Davison.
S. P. Dom. Eliz. Vol. 233, No. 48.
On this letter, Secretary Davison has made the following
endorsement
That Brewster ought not [to] be displaced more than
the rest of the Posts.
If he were possessed of the place by Master
Kandolph's gift, long before his father's death; and
no good cause now to except against him ; then ought
he not more to be displaced than the rest of the Posts.
W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby. 83
But he was
possessed of the
place by Master
R andolph's<^
gift long before
his father's
death ; as may
appear by the
^record of his name in the Roll, among
the other Posts.
by receipt of the fee, this year and a
half.
' his Master \i.e.
Tr.i)^F7>s'0iv]that
rec om mended
him thereunto.
Master Mills,
that was privy to
the gift ; and did
both register his
name, and pay
him his wages.
the testimony of
I
his exercise of the place now above
a year and a half; which may be
testified by the Posts his next
neighbours.
Neither is there any I „„/«„• p ., ci
.„ < i. i. I sufhciency for the Service,
just cause now to except J ,. , "^ , „ '
against him, either in^ ^^«^^f g^ ^^^^reof hitherto ;
respect of his f ""^ ^^^^^ ^'^^^^^« ^^^^SO"
V ever.
Therefore he ought to be no more displaced than the
rest of the Posts.
''The charge he hath been at for
provision, this hard year, for the Service.
Other reasons.] ,7; ^^'^ "T- ^^""""^t ^""t"^^""' ""' '^^^''
utter undoing, by being suddenly
dispossessed.
.The harms of the example, &c.
S. P. Dom. Eliz. Vol. 233, No. 48.
84 W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby.
Secretary Davison's contention was evidently successful,
though we cannot prove any payment to the future Ruling
Elder earlier than on the 1st April 1594.
We now give the various payments to him ; which occur
under the heading of
SIR JOHN stanhope's ACCOUNTS.
WAGES AND ENTERTAINMENT OF ORDINARY POSTS
LAID BETWEEN LONDON AND BERWICK IN
HER majesty's SERVICE, VIZ. :
'Roll 2737. Declared Accounts. Pipe Offi.ce,
By the space of two whole years containing 731
days within the time of this Account, begun the first
day of April 1500, 32 Eliz.\ and ended the last day of
March 1592, 34 Eliz. : both days included.
The Post of Scrooby for his
ordinary wages, serving Her Majesty
all the time aforesaid, after the rate
of 20d per diem, amounting to the
sum of
The names of the Postmasters south of London are
given in this Roll ; but not of those on the Great North Road.
£60, 18s. 4d.
Roll 2738. Declared Accounts. Pipe Office.
By the space of two whole years beginning the first
day of April 1592, 34 Eliz. ; and ending the last day
of March 1594, 36 Eliz. : both days reckoned inclusive.
The Post of Scrooby for his
ordinary wages serving Her Majesty
all the time aforesaid, after the rate
of 20d per diem, amounting to the
sum of
The southern Postmasters are also named in this Roll ;
but not those on the Great North Road.
£60, 16s. 8d.
W. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby, 85
Roll 2739. Declared Accovunts. Pipe Office.
By the space of three whole years begun the first of
April 1594, and ended the last of March 1597, both days
included, containing 1,096 days.
William Brewster, Post of
:i
ScROOBY for his ordinary wages, [ -Pqi fi QA
serving Her Majesty, all the time | -" > • •
aforesaid, at 20d per diem. J
Boll 2740. Declared Accounts. Pipe Office.
By the space of two whole years begun the first of
April 1597 and ended the last of March 1599, both days
included.
William Brewster, Post of )
SCROOBY, for his ordinary wages,! ^
serving Her Majesty, all the time T '^^^' ^^^' ^^'
aforesaid, at 20d per diem. )
Roll 2741. Declared Accounts. Pipe Office.
For three whole years, containing 1096 days, begun
the first of April 1599 and ended the last of March 1602.
William Brewster, Post of^
ScROOBY, for his like wages, at r £91, 6s. 8d.
20d per diem, for the same time. J
Roll 2742. Declared Accounts. Pipe Office.
William Brewster, Post of
ScROOBY, for his wages, as well at
20d per diem, for 456 days, begun
the first of April 1602 and ended the
last of June 1603, £38 ; as also at \ £102, Os. Od.
2s per diem, for 640 days, beginning
the first of July 1603 and ended the
last of March 1605, £64 : in all the
sum of
86 TV. Brewster, Post Master at Scrooby,
Roll 2743. Declared Accounts. Pipe Office.
For two whole years, containing 730 days, begun the
first of April 1605 and ended the last of March 1607.
William Brewster, Post of'
Scrooby, for his wages, at 2s per
dierriy for the said time
£73, Os. Od.
Roll 2744. Declared Accounts.
William Brewster, Post of ^
Scrooby, for his wages, at 2s per
diem, for 183 days, begun the first
of April 1607 and ended the last of
September *1607,£1 8, 6s ; and then
Francis Hall succeeding him at 2s
2^er diem for 548 days, begun the
first of October 1607 and ended the
last of March 1609, £54, 16s
Pipe Office.
£73, 2s. Od.
*Most unfortunately the Roll is now damaged; and is
only readable in bits from here. We have therefore given the
rest of this entry from the print made of it in 1854, by
Mr Joseph Hunter, at p. 68 of his Collections concerning
the Founders of New Plymouth.
This date, the 30th September [1607], about which there is
no doubt, is most important in our Story ; because it is the
anterior date of the Flight of the Pilgrims into Holland.
Brewster would naturally hold his appointment up to
the very last moment practicable ; so the painful experience
that the Pilgrims passed through at Boston, as described at
pp. 88, 89, must have occurred in October, or November, 1607.
CHAPTER VII.
The Flight into Holland.
[? October], 1607— [? August] 1608.
EING thus constrained to leave their native
soil and country, their lands and livings,
11 and all their friends and familiar
acquaintance: it was much, and thought
marvellous by many. But to go into a country they
knew not, but by hearsay ; where they must learn a
new language, and get their livings they knew not how ;
it [also] being a dear place, and subject to the miseries
of war : it was by many thought [to be] an adventure
almost desperate, a case intollerable, and a misery worse
than death. Especially seeing they were not acquainted
with trades [handicrafts] or traffic, by which that
country doth subsist : but had only been used to
a plain country life, and the innocent trade of
husbandry.
But these things did not dismay them, though
they did sometimes trouble them : for their desires
were set on the Ways of GOD, and to enjoy his
Ordinances.
But they rested on his Providence ; and knew whom
they had believed [2 Tim. i. 12].
Yet this was not all. For though they could not
stay ; yet were they not suffered to go : but the ports
and havens were shut against them. So as they were
87
88 The Flight into Holland, gov. w. Bradford.
fain to seek secret means of conveyance ; and to bribe
and fee the mariners, and give extraordinary rates for
their passages.
And yet were they oftentimes betrayed, many of
them ; and both they and their goods intercepted and
surprised, and thereby put to great trouble and charge.
Of which I will give an instance or two ; and omit
the rest :
There was a large company of them purposed [m
1 0ctober, 1607] to get passage at Boston in Lincolnshire;
and for that end, had hired a ship wholly to themselves,
and made agreement with the Master to be ready at a
certain day, and take them and their goods in, at a
convenient place : where they accordingly would all
attend in readiness.
So, after long waiting and large expenses, though
he kept not day [his appointed time] with them ; yet
he came at length, and took them in, in the night.
But when he had them, and their goods aboard ; he
betrayed them : having beforehand complotted with
the Searchers and other Officers so to do. Who took
them, and put them into open boats ; and there rifled
and ransacked them : searching them to their shirts
for money; yea, even the women further than became
modesty.
And then carried them back into the town [of
Boston], and made them a spectacle and [a] wonder to
the multitude ; which came flocking on all sides to
behold them.
Being thus first by these catchpole Officers rifled
and stripped of their money, books, and much other
goods; they were presented to the Magistrates [of the
locality] : and messengers [were] sent to inform the
Gov. w. Bradford. Tkc Flight iftto Hollaud. 89
Lords of the [Privy] Council of them ; and so they
were committed to ward.
Indeed, the Magistrates used them courteously, and
shewed them what favour they could; but could not
deliver them till order came from the [Privy] Council
table. But the issue was that, after a month's
imprisonment, the greatest part were dismissed ; and
sent to the places from whence they came : but Seven
of the principal were still kept in prison, and bound
over to the Assizes.
The next Spring after [1608], there was another
attempt made by some of these, and others, to get over
at another place. And it so fell out, that they light of
[alighted on] a Dutchman at Hull; having a ship of
his own, belonging to Zealand. They made agreement
with him, and acquainted him with their condition :
hoping to find more faithfulness in him, than in the
former [Master] of their own nation.
He bade them not fear ; for he would do well
enough.
He was, by appointment, to take them in between
Grimsby and Hull [in the mouth of the Humber],
where was a large common a good way distant from
any town.
Now, against the prefixed time, the women and
children, with the goods, were sent to the place in a
small Bark ; which they had hired for that end : and
the men were to meet them by land. But it so fell out,
that they were there a day before the ship came : and
the sea being rough, and the women very sick; [the
women] prevailed with the seamen to put into a
creek hard by; where they lay on ground at low
water.
90 The Flight into Holland, got. w. Bradford.
The next morning, the ship came : but they [in the
Bark] were fast, and could not stir till about noon.
In the meantime, the ship Master, perceiving how
the matter was, sent his boat, to be getting the men
aboard ; whom he saw ready, walking about the shore.
But, after the first boat full [including evidently
William Bradford] was got aboard, and she was
ready to go for more; the Master espied a great
company, both horse and foot, with bills [spears with
a double-edged sword at the top of each of them] and
guns, and other weapons : for the country [Country,
here meaning the north-eastern part of Lincolnshire]
was raised to take them. The Dutchman seeing that,
swore his country's oath, Sacremente ! ; and, having the
wind fair, weighed his anchor, hoisted sails, and away !
But the poor men, which were got aboard, were in
great distress for their wives and children ; which they
saw thus to be taken, and were left destitute of their
helps : and [for] themselves also, not having a cloth to
shift them with [a change of clothing], more than they
had on their backs ; and some, scarce a penny about
them; all they had being aboard the Bark, It drew
tears from their eyes ; and anything they had, they
would have given to have been ashore again : but all in
vain. There was no remedy. They must thus sadly
part.
And, afterwards, [they] endured a fearful storm at
sea, being fourteen days or more before they arrived
at their port ; in seven whereof, they neither saw sun,
moon, nor stars: and were driven near the coast of
Norway. The mariners themselves often despairing of
life : and once, with shrieks and cries, gave over all ; as
if the ship had been foundered in the sea, and they
sinking without recovery. But when man's hope and
Gov. w. Bradford. The Flight zuto Hollaud. 9 1
help wholly failed ; the Lokd's power and mercy-
appeared in their recovery: for the ship rose again,
and gave the mariners courage again to manage her.
And if modesty would suffer me \Brabforb was
therefore on hoard], I might declare with what fervent
prayers, they cried unto the Lord in this great distress.
Especially some of them, even without any great
distraction, when the water ran into their mouths and
ears ; and the mariners cried out, " We sink ! We
sink!": they cried, if not with miraculous, yet with
a great height, or degree, of divine faith, " Yet Lord,
thou canst save ! Yet Lord, thou canst save ! " ; with
such other expressions as I will forbear [to mention].
Upon which, the ship did not only recover; but
shortly after, the violence of the storm began to abate :
and the Lord filled their afflicted minds with such
comforts as every one cannot understand. And, in the
end, brought them to their desired haven: where the
people came flocking admiring [wondering at"] their
deliverance ; the storm having been so long and sore.
In which, much hurt had been done; as the Master's
friends related unto him, in their congratulations.
But to return to the others, where we left [them].
The rest of the men, that were in [the] greatest danger,
made shift to escape away before the troops could
surprise them : those only staying that best might be
assistant unto the women. But pitiful it was to see the
heavy case of these poor women in this distress. What
weeping and crying on every side! Some for their
husbands that were carried away in the ship, as is
before related. Others not knowing what should become
of them and their little ones. Others again melted in
tears, seeing their poor little ones hanging about them ;
crying for fear, and quaking with cold.
92 The Flight into Holland, gov. w. Bradford.
Being thus apprehended, they were hurried from one
place to another; and from one Justice [of the Peace]
to another : till, in the end, they knew not what to do
with them. For to imprison so many women and
innocent children, for no other cause, many of them,
but that they must go with their husbands, seemed to
be unreasonable : and all would cry out of them. And
to send them home again was as difficult ; for they
alledged, as the truth was, they had no homes to go
to : for they had either sold, or otherwise disposed of,
their houses and livings.
To be short, after they had been thus turm oiled a
good while ; and conveyed from one Constable to
another : they were glad to be rid of them in the
end upon any terms; for all were wearied and tired
with them.
Though, in the mean time, they, poor souls ! endured
misery enough : and thus, in the end, necessity forced
a way for them.
But that I be not tedious in these things, I will omit
the rest: though 1 might relate many other notable
passages and troubles which they endured and underwent,
in these their wanderings and travels both at land and
sea. But I haste to other things.
Yet I may not omit the fruit that came hereby. For
by these so public troubles, in so many eminent places,
their Cause became famous ; and occasioned many to
look into the same: and their godly character and
Christian behaviour was such, as left a deep impression
in the minds of many. And though some few shrank
at these first conflicts and sharp beginnings, as it was
no marvel ; yet many more came on with fresh courage,
and greatly animated others.
Got. w. Bradford. The Flight luto Holland. 93
And, in the end, notwithstanding all these storms of
opposition, they all gat over at length. Some at one
time, and some at another ; and some in one place and
some in another: and met together again, according
to their desires, with no small rejoicing. Bradford
Manuscript, folios 31-39.
Let us now look at the management of these two Exoduses.
It was the law of England, that no one could go out of
the Kingdom without the King's license. When Milton
went abroad in 1639, he obtained a license for himself and his
servant, as a matter of course. But what sense there could be
in hindering the emigration of Separatists ; whom we have
seen, at pp. 35, 36, from 1593 to 1598, were banished by law :
it is hard to understand.
The first thing to notice is, that the Idle is navigable for
boats from Scaftworth, where it is the size of a large canal ; to
West Stockwith, where it flows into the Trent. Early in this
century, coals were brought up the Idle, in flat bottom barges
towed by horses, to Bawtry : and this traflic went on till
railway competition killed it.
The women, children, and luggage could therefore easily
be sent by water as far as Gainsborough : which place is
55 miles from Boston. In some way or another, they
managed to reach the river Witham near Boston ; and
embarking in the night, were betrayed on board, by the
Master, the morning. That scoundrel seems to have acted
as if these Separatists, in going out of the English Church,
had gone beyond the protection of English law ; and were
therefore only to be plundered.
In those days, a journey on foot of 50 miles was quite as
great a feat as one of 3,000 miles by rail would be now.
These inland Nottinghamshire people would be utter strangers
in many things to the Boston people.
It must ever be remembered that the Boston Magistrates
befriended the Pilgrims, so far as they could.
94 The Flight into Holland, oov. w. Bradford.
^ The next time, in the Spring of 1608, the Pilgrims
organized better : but they were still unfortunate.
The women, children, and goods probably reached the
Trent, by the Idle, as before : and there they were put in the
Bark.
The Trent at Gainsborough flows at about eight miles an
hour ; though many of its affluents, like the Idle, are sluggish
in their current.
It is 30 miles from Gainsborough to the mouth of the
Trent ; 22 miles from thence, to Hull ; and 20 miles from Hull
to Great Grimsby : or, in all, 72 miles.
Where then was the creek where the Bark lay on ground
at low water ; and " where was a large common a good way
distant from any town*?"
Local opinion would seem to favour East Halton Skitter
haven, in Lat. 53°, 41^, 30"; because that is the only break
in the specified coast line of Lincolnshire viz. between Hull
and Great Grimsby : from which latter place it is distant
some twenty miles.
If so, the Bark went down the Trent, 30 miles \ and then
some 20 miles or so along the coast : while the men must have
walked fully forty miles from West Stockwith to East Halton
Skitter.
When this attempt had also so unfortunately failed ; the
Pilgrims gave up all thoughts of any combined emigration :
and stole over to Amsterdam, in small parties.
CHAPTER VIII
The Entries in Zachary Clifton's Family Bible.
S^ N the Finch Collection of the Library of the
Taylorean Institution at Oxford, Press-mark,
W. 164, there is a copy of the Bible, Geneva
■^^ Version (which is usually called the "Breeches
Bihley" from its translation of Genesis iii. 7), that was
printed at London, in quarto, by the Deputies of Christopher
Barker, in 1599.
This Volume was the Family Bible of the Zachary
Clifton, the son of the Rector of Babworth, afterwards
the Pastor of the Separatist Church at Scrooby; whogp
name, as printed in books, is spelt Richard Clyfton :
but, m these entries, the family name is uniformily spelt
Clifton.
Of these entries, the following is a line for line modernised
reprint :
Thomas Clifton, of Normanton, in the county of Derby, had issue by
his first wife, 3 sons, Richard, Edward, and John ; and 4 daughters,
Jane, Elinor, Ann, and Dorothy : and by his second wife, 2 sons, Steven
and William ; and 1 daughter, Jane.
Richard, eldest, son to Thomas Clifton, and born at Normanton above-
said, married Ann, daughter of I. Stdffen of Wor[k]8op, in the county
of Nottingham, September anno 1586. He was Minister and Preacher
of the Gospel at Babworth in the said county ; and had issue, by his
wife, 3 sons, Zachary, Timothy, and Eleazer ; and 3 daughters, Mary,
Hanna, and Priscilla : all born at Babworth abovesaid.
Mary, born August, anno 1587 ; and died September following.
Zachary, born May 12, 1589. [He died May 26, 1671 ; see entry helow.]
Hanna, born January , anno 1590 ; and died 24 March, anno 1602.
Priscilla, born April 1593 ; and died May following.
Timothy, born 29 September 1595. He died at Amsterdam, June 7 1663.
95
96 Entries in Zachary Clifton s Bible.
Eleazar, born 1 November 1598. He died at Amsterdam, January 18 1668.
Memorandvmi, Richard Clifton, with his wife and children, came into
Amsterdam, in Holland, August 1608.
Ann, wife of the said Richard, died at Amsterdam, 3 September
anno 1613 ; and was buried in the South Church : vixit cmnos 58.
Richard Clifton died at Amsterdam, 20 May 1616 ; and was
buried in the South Church : vixit annos 63.
Zachary, son of Richard Clifton above named, married Mary the
daughter of Arthur Hopps [by his first wife Dorothy Johnson] of Richmond,
in the county of York, February 16, anno 1617 ; and had issue by her, 2 sons,
Israel and Zachary, bol^h born at Richmond aforesaid.
IsRAiiL, born 2 January, anno 1620 ; and died 28 September, anno 1622.
Zachary, born May 4, anno 1624 ; and died 25 July, anno 1629.
Memorandum. Mary, wife of the aforesaid Zachary Clifton was born
at Richmond before named, March 25, anno 1598 ; and died
there, 30 October 1625 : vixit annos 26, menses 7, dies 5.
Zachary Clifton took for his second wife, Elizabeth Wayt, daughter
Laurence and Katherine Wayt of Cookridge near Leeds, in Yorkshire,
and was married at Amsterdam, 22 April 1631. He had issue by his
said wife, these children, born at Amsterdam : viz. Elizabeth,
Zachary, Eleazar, Elizabeth, Mary, Israel, Richard, Elizabeth
Martha, Hanna. Memorandum. They were all born such a day of the month, stylo novo
Elizabeth, bom 14 January 1632. She died 2 February following,
Zachary, born 10 May 1633. {Afterwards Rector of Wishrough Oreen, co. Suss.
Eleazar, born 15 October 1635. He died at Rotterdam, June 9 1667
Elizabeth, born 11 September 1637. She died 23 February 1638
Mary, bom 28 September 1639. She died, unbaptized, 2 October following
Israel, born 6 March 1641. He died 14 of the same.
Richard, born 25 November 1642. He died 10 November (Old Style) 1664
Elizabeth, born 7 June 1644, She died 22 August following,
Martha, born 4 November 1645. She died 27' January 1646
Hanna, born 26 June 1648. She died 18 April 1671.
Memorandum. Richard, son of Zachary Cleftoi
by Elizabeth his wife, died at Newcastl
upon Tyne, the 10th of November, wnno 1664: an<
was buried there at Allhallows Church, ii
the North Alley, near the Quire door ; by th
burial place of Doctor Newton ; and next to it, o]
the north side.
Eleazkk, son of Zachary Clifton by Elizabet:
Entries in Zachary Clifton s Bible. 97
his wife, died at Rotterdam in Holland, the 9th of
June {Stylo Novo), anno 1667 ; and was buried there in the
French Church.
Hannah, daughter of Zachaby and Elizabeth Clifton
abovesaid, died at Newcastle, AprQ 18th
1671 ; and was buried there in Allhallows
Church, by {besides} her brother E-iohard.
Zachaey Clifton, son of Richard
at Newcastle, 26 of May 1671 :
in Allhallows Church, Newcastle,
29th 1671, anno cetatis 82.
Clifton
died
was
buried
May
the
Memorandum. I came from Amsterdam 1 November 1G52 ; and came to Newcastle
4th January following.
my wife with R. and H. came from Amsterdam, 29 March 1663.
they came to Newcastle, May 6 following.
"We went to hou8e[k.eeping] at Newcastle, June 6, 1653.
The importance of the above entries in regard to our
Story, lies in the statement that the Rev. Richard Clyfton,
the Pastor of the Scrooby Church, arrived with his family
at Amsterdam, in August 1608.
As Governor Bradford tells, at page 142, "Now when
Master Robinson, Master Brewster, and other principal
members were come over [to Amsterdam] (for they were of
the last, and stayed to help the weakest over before them) " ;
and as the Rev. Richard Clyfton was the Pastor and
senior Clergyman of the Scrooby Congregation, though
(from the omission of his name here by Bradford) possibly
not its leading spirit : we must accept the date of the arrival
of himself and his family at Amsterdam, August 1608, as the
posterior date of the Exodus from Scrooby.
The Pilgrim Fathers.
CHAPTER IX.
The British Churches in Amsterdam.
^HERE were, in one way or another, at different
periods in the life time of the Rev. John
Robinson, no less than seven religious
Communities of Englishmen and Scotchmen
in Amsterdam. We will take them in the order of date.
THAT POOR ENGLISH CONGREGATION IN AMSTERDAM, TO
WHOM H. C, FOR THE PRESENT, ADMINISTERETH
THE GOSPEL. 1597 1599 [, OR EVEN LATEr].
Very little is known of this Church ; and that little is
found in the Works of the Rev. Henoch Clapham before
1600. It was, however, clearly in existence before the
reorganisation in that city of the Ancient exiled English
Church in September 1597 j and it certainly lasted till 1599,
if not later.
Let us see what this Clergyman wrote of himself, after he
had renounced the " Holy Discipline," in 1600.
In my first looking after Religion, my lot was to associate with
such only as only tasted and afi'ected another kind of Ministry :
which, as they said, yet we had not in England. And that they
termed the Ministry of Pastor, Doctor, Elders, Deacons, Widows,
due to every particular [separate] Church.
Those words, I soon learned : as also. That the Pastor was to
exhort ; the Doctor, to teach and deliver doctrine ; the Elders, to
govern and exercise the disciplinal censures in common with the
Pastor and Doctor ; the Deacons, only to attend the poor and
Love Feasts ; the Widows, to wait on the sick.
All this so hanging together, [that] except I would practice
contrary to my persuasion (as many deceitfully have done), out of
the land I must I as I loved my liberty.
98
The British Churches in Amsterdam 99
I did so. First, into the Low Countries I went : afterwards,
into Scotland. After that, again into the Low Countries : then
again into Scotland. And once again into the Netherlands &c.
Sometimes hauled by this faction ; sometimes hauled by that faction.
But, the Lord being merciful unto me, howsoever I was notably
distract[ed] about external Church Government ; yet, as all my
printed books will testify, I kept me ever fast unto tbe main point
— that is, \mto the foundation of the Gospel I had before here
received, and had, in Lancashire, for some two years [1591 — 1593],
publicly ministered : being before, now some nine years since
[1591], ordained fully thereto \i.e. tool Priests Orders] by Bishop
[William] Wickham, then Bishop of Lincoln. Antidoton; or a
sovereign Remedy against Schism and Heresy, pp. 1, 2, London,
1600, 4.
Clapham dedicates his Sin against the HOLY GHOST,
Amsterdam, 1598, 4, "to his faithful Brethren, a poor
Remnant of the ever Visible Catholic and Apostolic Church,
Abraham Crottendine, John Joope, Hugh Armourer,
Christopher Symkins, Thomas Farrat, Abraham Wakefield,
&c."
One of these Brethren, John Joope, published at
Amsterdam, in 1599, The Description of a true Visible
Christian ; and, in the Pre/ace, he tells us, that this Work is
Chapter III. of a book by the Rev. Henoch Clapham,
consisting of 26 Chapters : which book apparently was never
printed.
In October 1607, Clapham was made Vicar of Northbourne
in Kent ; and held that Living till his death in 1614.
the ancient exiled ENGLISH CHURCH. 1597 — 1610.
So much of the history of this Community as concerns our
present Story will be found in the next Chapter.
THE SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 1607 — THE PRESENT DAY.
On the 5th February 1607, the Rev. John Paget preached
his first Sermon at the Scotch Presbyterian Church in the
Begyn Hof, Amsterdam ; of which Church he was Minister
till his death in 1636. Rev. William Steven. The History
loo The British Churches in Amsterdam
of the Scottish Church, Rotterdam. With Notices of the other
British Churches in the Netherlands, pp. 273, 279, Edinburgh,
1833, 8.
This Church has continued to the present time.
THE GAINSBOROUGH CHURCH. 1608 — 1609.
The history of this body, while united, in this city, will be
found in Chapter XI.
THE SCROOBY CHURCH. 1608 1609.
The experiences of this Church at Amsterdam are
described by Governor Bradford in Chapter XII.
MASTER THOMAS HELWYS'S COMPANY. 1609 1613.
In 1609, before the 12th March; the Gainsborough
Church divided asunder : and the majority, headed by the
R,ev. Thomas Helwys, drave out a minority of thirty-two
persons, headed by the Rev. John Smyth. See pp. 137, 140.
master JOHN Smyth's company. 1609 — 1615.
Some account of this Church, at the " Great Cake House,"
will be found at pp. 137-140.
the rev. FRANCIS JOHNSON's CHURCH. 1610 — 1619.
On the 15/25 December 1610, the Ancient exiled Church
split into two sections. Those who adhered to the Rev.
Francis Johnson were called the Franciscans. Some notices
of this period of their career will be found at pp. 125, 126,
129, 130, 277-279, 290 : but not very much is known of it.
the rev, henry AINSWORTH'S CHURCH. 1610 1701.
The other section of the Ancient exiled Church survived
all the other English Separatist Communities in Amsterdam.
They were called the Ainsworthians until their Pastor's death
in the Spring of 1623. The Rev. John Canne the Elder was
afterwards their Minister. Their remnant were finally
absorbed in the Scotch Presbyterian Church above mentioned,
about the 10th April 1701.
CHAPTER X.
The scandalous Ancient exiled English Church
AT Amsterdam. 1595 — 1623.
In perils among false brethren. 2 Cor. xi. 26.
Religion is the best thing : and the corruption of it the worst. Neither
hath greater mischief and villainy'' ever been found amongst men — Jews,
Gentiles, or Christians — than that which hath marched under the Flag of
Religion ; either [Religion] intended by the seduced, or pretended by
hypocrites. Rev. John Robinson, Observations Divine and Moral, p. 40,
Ed. 1625, 4.
|E are now come to the most painful part of this
book — the scandalous proceedings in the Ancient
exiled English Church at Amsterdam. That
Community consisted of knaves and dupes.
Doubtless many of the latter were well-intentioned Christians ;
though greatly misled. Of course, we must speak of this
Church as a whole.
We shall not dwell upon this disagreeable subject here
longer than is absolutely necessary : but will rather refer to
the authorities where the fuller details will be found. It is
not an actual part of the Pilgrim Story : but yet the Scrooby
Church sojourned amongst them (though they were not of
them) for a year or so.
These scandals, the "some other reasons" of Governor
Bradford, were the cause that constrained the Pilgrims to
uproot themselves for a second time ; and that at any cost, in
their pursuit not only of peace, but also of moral purity. In a
large commercial city like Amsterdam, there were many more*
possible ways of getting a living than in a smaller University
town like Leyden. If they had sought peace only, they
101
I02 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam,
might easily have formed a Third exiled English Church at
Amsterdam ; and still kept to their livelihoods in that city,
a very important matter. But, once more, they threw up
everything for principle ; and migrated to Leyden to avoid not
simply the quarrels in the Ancient Church : but also, we
think, the moral pollution that was rampant in it. Surely,
never did men more strenuously strive to do what they
thought to be right, and that in the most peaceable possible
way, than did the Pilgrim Church.
The history of this ancient Reformist Church at Amster-
dai^Q is one of the saddest chapters in the annals of Protest-
antism. It was established upon what were then considered
to be the newest principles. It was based solely upon the
rational study of the Scriptures. It was to be an object
lesson to the whole World of what the Christian Church of
the Future, in all its purity holiness and usefulness, was to
be. Especially was it to be a most vigorous protest against
the Church at home. It was the most notable English
Christian Community on the Continent, that was completely
organised on the lines of the "Holy Discipline." Whereas
the other Separatist Churches abroad, the Pilgrim Church
alone excepted, usually vanished away in a few years ; this
Ancient one actually subsisted unbroken for thirteen years
[1597—1610] together.
Yet, notwithstanding all this, the history of this Society
is nothing but a tissue of folly, wrongheadedness, and violence ;
of hypocrisy, wrangling, and immorality : so that its members
became quite odious to the inhabitants of Amsterdam.
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam, 103
The early days of the Ancient English Church.
1592—1597.
HE Ancient Church began with its first Pastor,
the Rev. Francis Johnson ; of whom Governor
Bradford gives the following remarkable
account. One might almost say, That such
sudden conversions, either to good or to evil, were
characteristic of that Age.
Doctor [William] Ames was estranged from, and opposed
Master Robinson * ; and yet afterwards there was loving-
compliance and near agreement between them.
And, which is more strange. Master [Francis] Johnson himself ,
who was afterwards Pastor of the Church of GOD at Amsterdam,
was a Preacher to the Company of the English [Merchants] of the
Staple at Middelburg in Zealand ; and had great and certain
maintenance (£200 per annum) allowed him by them, and was
highly respected by them.
And [lie] was so zealous against this Way as that [when] Master
Barrow and Master Greenwood's [A plain'] Refutation of Master
Gifford['s book, intituled A short Treatise against the Donatists of
England] was privately in printing in this city, he not only was a
means to discover it ; but was made the [English] Ambassador's
Instrument to intercept them at the press, and see them burnt.
The which charge he did so well perform, as he let them go on
until they were wholly finished ; and then surprised the whole
impression, not suffering any to escape : and then, by the
Magistrate's authority, caused them all to be openly burnt ; [he]
himself standing by, until they were all consumed to ashes. Only
he took up two of them : one to keep in his own study, that he
* The correspondence between them, before 1612, will be found at pp.
47-54 of The profane Schism &c. The Rev. John Robinson, in the
Preface to his Religious Communion of 1614, writes "Now as I neither
am, nor would be thought, insensible of this unchristian enmity," in
publishing " certain private letters passing between him and me, about
private communion [joining in private worship, as in Prayer Meetings]
betwixt the members of the true Visible Church and others."
I04 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam.
might see their errors ; and the other to bestow on a special friend,
for the like use.
But mark the sequel. When he had done this work, he went
home : and being set down in his study, he began to turn over
some pages of this book, and superficially to read some things here
and there, as his fancy led him. At length, he met with something
that began to work upon his spirit ; which so wrought with him as
[it] drew him to this resolution, seriously to read over the whole
book: the which he did once and again.
In the end, he was so taken, and his conscience was troubled so,
as he could have no rest in himself until he crossed the seas, and
came to London, to confer with the Authors [? m the summer of
1592] ; who were then in prison, and [were] shortly after executed
[6th April 1593].
After which conference, he was so satisfied and confirmed in the
truth, as he never returned to his place any more at Middelburg ;
but adjoined himself to their Society in London \of which he was
elected the Pastor in September 1592] : and was aftei'wards [on 5th
December 1592] committed to prison \in the Clinic Prison^ ; and
then [in 1597] banished.
And, in conclusion, coming to live at Amsterdam, he caused the
same books, which he had been an Instrument to burn, to be new
printed and set out [in 1605], at his own charge.
And some of us here present testify this to be a true Relation ;
which we heard from his own mouth, before many witnesses.
A very grave man he was, and an able teacher : and was the
most solemn, in all his administrations, that we have seen any ;
and especially in dispensing the Seals of the Covenant, both
Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
A good disputant he was. We heard Master [John] Smyth,
upon occasion, say, That he was persuaded no men living were able
to maintain a Cause against those two men, meaning Master
Johnson and Master Ainsworth, if they had not the truth on
their side.
He — by reason of many dissensions that fell out in the Church ;
and the subtilty of [Daniel Studley,] one of the [Ruling] Elders
of the same — came, after many years [, in 1609], to alter his
judgement about the Government of the Church, and his
practice thereupon : which caused a division among them [on
15/25 December 1610].
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 105
But he lived not many years after ; and died at Amsterdam [in
January 1618], after his return from Emden. First Dialogue &c.
[Written in 1648.] Printed in A. Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim
Fathers, pp. 423-425, 445, 1841, 8.
Here then, we think that Governor Bradford is perfectly
untrustworthy in his charitable estimate of character. It is
true that he does not say very much in his favour ; but the
general impression of it all is that Johnson was a Saint :
whereas, in this book, he is abundantly proved to be a most
remarkable Sinner. He was an arrogant, wrongheaded,
irascible man ; an unnatural son, &c. : anything, in fact, but
a Christian Gentleman. In addition to which, and apart
from all personal failings ; he was the responsible head of a
Society which became an abomination to the citizens of
Amsterdam.
Johnson's character was therefore inconsistent: having
some good points ; but many more bad ones.
Harleian MS. 7042 consists of the Baker Transcripts
from the Manuscripts (now lost) of the Lord Keeper of
the Great Seal, Sir John Puckering j who died on 30th
April 1596.
From these Transcripts we learn (, fols. 30, 60, 61, 63) that
the Ancient Church was constituted, in September 1592, at
the house of one Fox in Nicholas lane, London, with the
following Officers :
Pastor. Francis Johnson.
Teacher. John Greenwood. [Hanged on 6th
April following.]
Ruling Elders. Daniel Studley and George Kniveton.
Prophets. [Not stated.]
Deacons. Christopher Bowman and Nicholas
Lee.
Widows or Deaconesses. [? None.]
This is further confirmed by the following passage from
page 429 of A Survey of the pretended " Holy Disciplines^
io6 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam.
anonymously written by Richard Bancroft, then Bishop
of London ; and published in London, in 1593, in quarto.
One Collins, a man amongst them, not unlearned as it seemeth,
doth write in this sort hereof : " Ecdesia potenti ejus dextra adjiUa
&c. ' The Church, assisted with the mighty hand of GOD ' hath
chosen Ministers. Master Johnson for her Pastor ; Master
Greenwood for her Doctor ; Master Studley and Master
George Knife[ton, or Kniveton], for Elders ; Nicholas Lee
and Christopher Bowman for her Deacons.
" The other Assembly also (whereunto are added John Nicholas,
Thomas Michell, John Barnes, and some others, with me) with
GOD's assistance, will begin, out of hand, to create linto itself
Ministers."
So there were two Groups of Separatists in London in
September 1592.
Harleian MS. 7042 contains the Answers to a number of
Interrogatories put to these men, on or about 2/12 or 4/14
April 1593 ; in which are the following descriptions.
Francis Johnson, a Minister, of the age of 31 years ; of
uncertain abode.
George Johnson, late Schoolmaster in St Nicholas lane,
London, born in Eichmondshire in the county of York, of the
age of 29 years. He was taken in an assembly of people in a
wood beyond Islington.
George Kniveton, of Newgate Market, an Apothecary, of
the age of years. He was made Elder half a year ago \i.e, in
September 1592].
Christopher Bowman, a Goldsmith, doth dwell in "West
Smithfield, of the age of 32 years. Was chosen a Deacon in
September last. He was imprisoned five years past [in 1588], for
putting up a Petition to the Queen's Majesty ; and continued in
prison four years [1588 — 1592] for the same. He was married in
John Penrt's house. Edward Settle \the Separatist Pastor before
Johnson] did pray ; and John Greenwood was present.
Edward Boys, a Haberdasher, dwelling in Fleet street, of the
age of 33 years.
All this Church organization was a flat defiance of the
Hierarchy.
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 107
On 5/15 December 1592, Feancis Johnson and John
Greenwood were arrested at Edward Boys's house.
On 4/14 March 1592/1593, fifty-six, including George
Johnson, were arrested in the wood beyond Islington.
The Bishops kept the leaders in prison : Edward Settle,
in the Gate House; Erancis Johnson, in the Clink; George
Johnson, in the Eleet; Daniel Studley, in Newgate, &c.
The rest of the Church gradually emigrated, in 1593-4, to
Holland : at first, to Kampen ; then, to Naarden ; and finally,
by 1595, to Amsterdam.
About September 1594, Francis Johnson married
Thomasine Boys, the well-to-do Widow of the above
mentioned Edward Boys, the Haberdasher: and thereby
commenced the Old Clothes Controversy which is described
in the next Chapter.
On 25 March /4 April 1597, the Privy Council of
England directed that Francis Johijson and Daniel Studley
should be put on board the Hopewell ; and George Johnson
and John Clarke put on board the Ghancewell. These two
vessels formed a fruitless Expedition to Rainea [The Magdalen
IsleSj in the Gulf of St Laiurence]. [R. Hakluyt,
Voyages dec, iii. 242-249, Ed. 1810, 4.], and left Gravesend
on Friday 8/18 April 1597. The Chancewell was wrecked
on the 23 June /3 July following : and the Hopewell was
back in the British Channel on 1/11 September next.
Landing at Southampton, the four Separatists stole over
to Amsterdam : where the Ancient Church was reconstituted
with the following Officers, about September 1597.
F*astor. Francis Johnson.
Teacher. Henry Ainsworth.
Ruling Elders. Daniel Studley, George Kniveton, and
Master Slade. [Later on, there was
also Jean de l'Ecluse.]
io8 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam.
Prophets. Thomas Cocky. Jacob Johnson.
Deacon. Christopher Bowman.
Widow or [Governor Bradford describes this
Deaconess. "ancient widow" at page 172; but
does not tell us her name.]
George Johnson.
1592—1603.
^HE first idea of the Separatist Churches seems to
have been that — in order to maintain the
requisite high standard of purity of life — there
should be a perpetual scrutiny of each other's
faults : so that every one was to be a spy on all the rest,
and to be ever bringing them to book. What a base
conception of the Christian life !
Robert Browne's Church, in 1582 — 1583, was greatly
afflicted in this way ; so that existence there became a positive
torment.
The same conception marked the early days, at least, of the
Ancient exiled English Church : so that there has come down
to us, a most wonderful literary monument of this vulgar
nagging spirit, in the following Work.
A Discourse of some Troubles and Excommunications in the
banished English Church at Amsterdam.
Printed at Amsterdam. 1603, 4.
This book is printed in Dutch black letter ; and breaks off
abruptly at page 214 ; through the death in prison of the Author.
It was strenuously hunted for, for above sixty years together ;
but in vain : so that it was quite given up for a lost book.
However, in 1872, Doctor H. Marttn Dexter, with the kind
help of Mr William Alois Wright, then Librarian, now Vice-
Master, of Trinity College, Cambridge, after a long search, found
a copy in that CoUege Library. Press-mark, C. 4, 53.
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 109
This year, 1896, we have found another copy in the Library of
Sion College, London. Press-mark, A. 69, 3.
These are the only two copies at present known.
The Rev. Francis Johnson, about September 1594,
married, in the Clink Prison, a well-to-do Widow, Mistress
Thomasine Boys, the relict of Edward Boys the Haberdasher
in Fleet Street above referred to. She was fond, as a
haberdasher's Widow might well be, of being well dressed ;
the cost of which, be it noted, she paid for out of her own
money.
Then George Johnson made war upon her ; hurling texts
of Scripture at his brother and her, as opportunity offered.
One sees in his conduct the pitiful meanness and vulgarity of
the rigid Separation.
Then Francis Johnson and Daniel Studley made war
upon him : and the Story gets interesting in watching their
methods in dealing with him ; to see how the " Holy
Discipline " would act in real rlife. They offered to make him
an Elder, if he would only be quiet : but pragmatical George
stood firm for the principle of being disagreeable upon
principle. So this fatuous Much ado about Nothing finally
ends in Francis Johnson delivering his brother George over
to Satan, about the year 1599.
George retaliates by publishing the Story in this
unfinished Discourse, in 1603 ; being at that time in Durham
prison, where he died : thereby showing up this Old Clothes
Controversy, as Doctor Dexter calls it ; and the perversity
and narrow-mindedness of all concerned in it.
It seems to us that George Johnson richly deserved to
be cast out of a Society in which he had deliberately made
himself intolerably offensive : but that his brother Francis
committed an error in policy, in going so far as publicly to
excommunicate his own brother. Some other way should
have been found.
But while Francis may, to some extent, be excused for
no The Ancient Church at Amsterdam,
his action towards his brother in 1599; his treatment of his
father in 1602 seems to be perfectly unpardonable.
• The Pastor seems to have been steadily going from bad to
worse in that interval.
John Johnson.
September — October 1602.
E have seen, at page 106, that George Johnson
was born in Richmondshire, that is, the North
Riding of Yorkshire. It was prpbably from
there, that his father, John Johnson, a
septuagenarian, came to Amsterdam to make peace, about
September 1602.
Feancis Johnson, now a thoroughly bad man, treated
his father ; and suffered him to be treated by his Church,
with scorn and derision. Finally, though his father did not
belong to his Community, he had the amazing impudence to
deliver him over to Satan.
Christopher Lawne says
This Censure was done so violently and cruelly that no advice,
counsel, no nor threats, of the Dutch Church \wlwse Latin
Declaration of 29 October /8 November 1602, he p7'ints} might
restrain, or stay, the rage of Master Francis.
In that Master Francis did continue and persist obstinately
unto the death of his father ; without revocation of his error, or
reconciliation to his father : sending his father down to the grave
with this curse upon his back ... in all this, he hath filled [up]
the measure of his iniquity. T/ieprofane Schism (&c., p. 61.
Perhaps, in all literature, there does not exist a more
crushing rebuke to a bad son than the following paper by
John Johnson. It is written with a studied moderation.
Son. You asked me also, in the presence of Master Studley,
Wherein you were unnatural ?
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 1 1 1
I answer you, By these things following ; you urging me thereto :
1. That I coming, in my old age, so far, so hard and
dangerous, a journey, to seek and make peace between you, the
Church, and your brother : I could never see the least inclination
in you to peace. Neither tendered you my old age ; but so used
me as, if GOD strengthened not me, you might presently bring my
gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
2. Lodging in your house, the first week ; you were so far from
peace, and so unkindly used me, that you made me weary before
the week was ended : so was I forced to shift to my other son's
[? Jacob Johnson] lodging.
3. When I dealt with you for peace : you sought to catch and
ensnare me in my words ; and afterward, as I perceived, also
seduced the Elders and the people to the like dealing.
4. You upbraided me with things secret between me and my
child in the country [George Johnson] ; which were untrue : and
if they had been true, you ought not to disgrace me as Ham did.
Genesis ix. You did worse than he did : but, GOD have praise !
they were not true. Yet your unnatural and unchristian dealing
appeared herein: both in upbraiding me untruly and unjustly;
and, if it had been true, so to do, it is as to vex and disgrace me.
5. To let me stand two hours on my feet before you and the
people ; and yourself sat all the time : and not once bid me sit
down yourself; neither spake to the people to bid me.
6. Not once, in the space of six weeks, did you come to visit
me, or ask how I did : being in the same city with you ; and having
come so far for your peace.
7. You denied to give me your hand {signature] unto that,
which before you had granted to others.
8. You would not trust my word ; but forced me to
Protestations.
9. These, and such like things, made me call to mind your
unnaturalness that, in the space of five years [1597 — 1602] and
more, you had not wiitten to me. That you were desirous to see
my face ; or That I should be welcome to you, when I wrote to you
of my purpose in coming. So little thankfulness and Nature have
you shewed unto me, for all my care and pains for you, from your
youth : and, I fear, your example will make many fathers, if they
be not upright-minded, to hold their children from learning, and
studying in the Universities.
I 12
The Ancient Ckurck at Amsterdam,
10. You heard me scoffed and gibed by divers in the
Congregation, and not once rebuked them : which many children
not professing godliness, but led only by Nature, would not have
indured to hear against their father.
11. But, no wonder ! For, at length, you became so hardened
that you sat as principal ; and heard your father excommunicated :
being come to be a peace-maker. Hath the like unnaturalness
been read, or heard of ?
12. Coming afterward to you, and talking with you : you said,
You might not keep company with me. Doth Excommunication
cut off duties of children to fathers, &c. ?
The "profane Schism <&c., pp. 64-66.
We then come to this judgement as to Francis Johnson.
That by October 1602, he was a dead Christian; that, by
then, he was an utter disgrace to our sacred Faith ; and that
what he afterwards said, preached, or wrote, is not deserving
of serious attention, from a spiritual point of view.
Christopher Lawne's books, 1612 — 1618.
E must now break off the chronological sequence
of events, in order to determine the truthfulness,
or falsehood of Lawne's two books : for they
profess to describe the inner life of the Ancient
Church from the year 1602 onwards. "We may state, at once,
that we consider them worthy of an implicit belief ; and will
now give our reasons for so thinking.
On the 6/16 July 1612, there was entered at Stationers'
Hall, London, to Walter Burre the Publisher, under the
hands [signatures] of the Rev. Doctor Nidd, a Chaplain to
the Archbishop of Canterbury, and also of Richard Field
and Humphrey Lownes, the two Wardens of the Stationers'
Company, a book called The prophane [= profane] Schism of
the Brownists <tc. [E. Arber, Transcript <&;c.^ iii. 490,
1876, 4].
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 113
This book was written by four persons, Christopher
Lawne, John Fowler, Clement Saunders, and Robert
BuLWARD : who had, previous to the 9/19 July 1611, with-
drawn from the Ancient Church, and joined themselves to the
Scotch Presbyterian Church in Amsterdam ; of which Church
the Minister was the Rev. John Paget.
The full Title of this book is as follows : in respect to
which it will be noticed that the names of the Place of
Printing, of the Printer, and of the Publisher, are all
designedly omitted from it ; apparently (the book being
of a highly libellous character, if untrue) in view of possible
legal proceedings.
The profane Schism of the Brownists or Separatists ; with the
impiety, dissensions, lewd and abominable vices, of that impure
Sect :
{Christopher Lawne,
John Fowler,
Clement Saunders,
Robert Bulward ;
lately returned from the Company of Master Johnson, that wicked
Brother, into the bosom of the Church of England, their true
Mother. 1612, 4.
The Preface of this Work thus ends :
And although we be unlearned men which have composed
this book; yet we hope it will not be disliked therefore : seeing
we speak of nothing but which our own knowledge and experience
hath taught us ; and the admonition may take better place, because
that the most which are taken in the net of Brownism, are men of
our condition.
This Work we refer to as, The 'profane Schism &c.
As soon as copies of it reached Amsterdam, they led to the
production of another English book there, wdth the following
Title :
A Shield of Defence against the Arrows of Schism shot abroad
by Jean de l'Ecluse in his AdvertiseTnent against Master [Thomas]
Brightman.
The Pilgrim Fathers. H
1 14 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam,
Hereunto is prefixed a Declaration touching a book intituled,
The profane Schism of the Brovmists.
By John Fowler, Clement Saunders, Robert Bulward.
Printed at Amsterdam, by Henry Laurenson, dwelling upon
the water, at the sign of the Writing Book. 1612, 4.
Apparently the only two copies known of this "Work are in
the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Press-marks, Pamph. 10 ; and
4° 9.48. Th. L'Ecluse's Advertisement is apparently a lost book.
"We shall refer to this Work as A Shield of Defence <kc.
The parts of its Declaration that are material to our
present purpose, are as follows :
Christian Reader. There was, of late, a book published in
London, under this title, The profane Schism of the Brownists. Such
a book indeed we sent, by one of us, to be printed there ; but in
the publishing thereof, great injury hath been done unto us, and
chiefly in three ways : by Addition, by Detraction [Omissio7i], and
by Alteration of the same.
Secondly, there is, in sum, left out the greatest part of the book
which we sent to be printed : yea, in exact account, there is not a
fourth part thereof that is printed . . .
Only this we understand by a letter sent from Christopher
Lawne, who was entrusted with this business. That he, according
to the order in such like cases, seeking unto such as were
appointed for the allowance of books to be printed; and leaving it
in the hands of [the Rev. Doctor Nidd,] a certain Chaplain of the
Archbishop [George Abbot], to get it read over and viewed, until
he himself might return out of the country into which he was
fchen going down — before he could come up to London again,
he found the book already printed, contrary to his expectation :
and in the printing thereof, so mangled and defaced as is above
specified.
And howsoever we do now disclaim this book above mentioned,
as none of ours ; being thus corruptly printed, with such Additions,
Omissions, and Alterations : yet do we still acknowledge that all
the particular matters of fact recorded against the Brownists, in
that book, are such things as were taken out of our Writing
[Tnanuscnpt] ; and for proof thereof, we are able and ready to produce
our testimony and witness, as occasion shall require. The most of
them are testified and confessed by themselves ; and the most
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam, 115
heinous things, even under their own handwriting : and the rest
are such things as either we ourselves, or others, will witness.
And therefore, though we complain of injury for the manner of
publishing that book: yet let not the Brownists insult thereupon !
Though we be wronged : yet are not they cleared from the matters
there noted ; which are still in force against them.
The Rev. John Paget thus wrote, in 1618, to the Rev.
Henry Ainsworth of the same city.
You speak of disguised pamphlets that are come out of our
Congregation : but the books which you seem to aim at, are such as,
for the matter of them, are taken out of your offensive Company;
and do, in part, shew the disguised practises of your Separation.
For the persons that published them \i.e. C. Lawne and his
fellows'], they also were such as came out of your Company: who
(leaving their schism, which they once professed with you) were
more fit to witness such things as they had heard and seen among
you.
For the helpers which they had herein ; they had, beside others.
Master [Giles] Thorpe; now an Elder of your Congregation also,
but then a Deacon. Out of whose Writing \inanuscript\ which he
communicated with them, they received sundry things which they
published; and many more which should have been published, had
not their book been misprinted [in London], contrary to their
minds. For the manner of printing and publishing one of those
books, great injury hath been done unto them : as hath been noted
before. \See previous page.] An Arrow against the Separation of the
Brownists, pp. 333, 334, Amsterdam, 1618, 4.
The next point that we have to note is, That neither the
Rev, Francis Johnson's Church, nor the Rev. Henry
Ainsworth's Church, either individually or collectively,
dared to attempt, this time, to vindicate themselves from the
perfectly crushing charges of Lawne's and Fowler's books
against them, in 1612 and 1613, in a Court of Justice : as we
shall presently see, they had already failed to do, in respect
to the similar accusations of the Rev. Thomas White, in
February 1606, see pp. 118-120. The presumption therefore
is, That what these books state is perfectly true.
1 16 The Ancient Church at Amsterdmn.
But what was decided to be done was, That the Rev.
Richard Clyfton, who had now absolutely identified himself
with the Rev. Francis Johnson and his Ghurch, should write
a reply to them : which he did under the following title.
An Advertisement concerniag a Book lately published by
Christopher Lawne and others, against the English exiled Church
at Amsterdam.
By Richard Clyfton, Teacher of the same Church.
Printed in the year of our Lord, 1612, 4.
There is a copy of this rare book in the Bodleian Library.
Press-mark, Pamph. 10,
But it had been better for his friends, if Clyfton had held
his peace.
For at pages 115-125 of this book is printed the Answer
of Daniel Studley, now, in 1612, cast out of the Ruling
Eldership, to the accusations of Lawne and his fellows : an
Answer that is perfectly amazing ; for in it Studley simply
throws away his defence, confessing to immoralities even so
late as in 1610. How Clyfton could be such a fool as to
print this Answer is past all comprehension. How could he
so play into the hands of his enemies !
But having published the book; he went yet a step
further in folly, and retracted it all in writing : as the Rev.
John Paget, who had the Separatist Churches in the city
where he lived constantly under his observation, thus tells
us in 1618; when Clyfton had been dead now some twenty
months.
The principal penman, or scribe, of the Separation [Master
Clyfton, Teacher in Master Johnson his Company], that hath
written most and purposely against the book which you call a libel
[The profane Schism (&c.\ hath, long since, acknowledged his fault
for the same ; and that under his hand in writing : acknowledging
the great fruit that comes by publishing the personal sins of them
that continue in error. And thus, by his repentance, hath made
some satisfaction for his offence : as, in due time, is further to be
manifested. An Arroiv against the Separation of the Bronmists, p. 8,
Amsterdam, 1618, 4.
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 1 17
To Clyfton's book, there appeared the following reply by
the Rev. Henry Ainsworth.
An Animadversion to Master Richard Clyfton's Advertisement :
who — under pretence of answering Christopher Lawne's book —
hath published another man's [R. Ainsworte^s] private Letter ;
with Master Francis Johnson's Answer thereto.
Which Letter is here justified ; the Answer thereto refuted :
and the true causes of the lamentable breach, that hath lately fallen
out in the English exiled Church at Amsterdam, manifested.
Imprinted at Amsterdam, by Giles Thorpe, anno Domini^
1613, 4.
This Work throws some side lights on the Pilgrim Church.
At page 111, the Rev. John Robinson replies to
Johnson's censures of his Justification of the Separation (Ssc,
At pp. 133-136, is The Testimony of the Elders of the
Church at Leyden, respecting the Split at Amsterdam. It is
signed by the Rev. John Robinson and William Brewster.
Therefore Brewster was a Ruling Elder at Leyden at least
as early as 1613.
At page 136, the following passage occurs in this
TestiTYiony.
And here the work of GOD's Providence is to be observed,
That they [the Franciscans], who would have no peace with their
brethren [the Ainsworthians'] abiding in the same city with them,
are about to leave it themselves ; and to settle their abode
elsewhere.
This fixes the Exodus of the Rev. Francis Johnson's
Church to Emden in 1613. But they were not there long.
When his next book, A Christian Plea, appeared in 1617 ;
the Church was back again in Amsterdam.
It also appears from this book, that two men and a widow
of the Ainsworthians were the chief owners of the building of
the Meeting House at Amsterdam : but that the ground on
which it stood was held, in trust only, by a man who belonged
to Johnson's Church. It was upon these facts, that the
Burgomasters awarded the building to the Ainsworthians :
ii8 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam,
who, ousting the Franciscans therefrom, occasioned their
migration to Emden.
On the 15/25 May 1613, there was entered, also to Walter
BuRRE, at Stationers' Hall, London, under the license of the
same Rev. Doctor Nidd, another book on the Ancient exiled
Church. [E. Arber, Transcript d&c, iii. 523, 1876, 4.] It
has the following Title.
Brownism turned the inside outward. Being a Parallel between
the Profession and Practice of the Brownists' religion.
By Christopher Lawne, lately returned from that wicked
Separation.
London. Printed for Walter Burre, and are to be sold at
his shop in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Crane. 1613, 4.
This Work adds no new facts. It merely applies those
already known. It may be regarded as a Supplement to
The profane Schism dsc.
We have gone thus deeply into the bibliography of these
books, in order to show that Lawne's books were never really
controverted by those whom they so deadly attacked ; and
therefore, that we must, in default of their denials, accept the
statements contained in them as substantially true.
The case of the Rev. Thomas White.
1603—1606.
lETXJRNING now to the chronological sequence
of events, we have next to note that about the
year 1603, a Clergyman named the Rev. Thomas
White joined the Ancient Church. He was so
shocked with what he saw there, that he wrote a book with
the following Title.
A Discovery of Brownism ; or a brief discovery of some of the
errors and abominations daily practised, and increased, amongst
The Ancient Church at A7nsterdam, 119
the English Company of the Separation remaining, for the present,
at Amsterdam in Holland.
London. Printed by E. A. [Edward Aldee] for Nathaniel
FosBRooKE ; and are to be sold at his shop at the West End of
Paul's. 1605, 4.
British Museum Press-mark, 698, 8, 4 (7).
This book was entered at Stationers' Hall on 26 October
/5 November 1605. [E. Arber, Transcript &c.y iii. 304,
1876, 4.]
It is as strong in its accusations as anything that
Christopher Lawne and his fellows ever wrote some seven
or eight years later.
The Kev. Francis Johnson immediately published the
following reply.
An Inquiry, and Answer of Thomas White his Discovery of
Brownism. 1606, 4.
A copy of this rare book is in the Bodleian Library. Press-mark,
C. 3. 1. Line.
At pages 28, 29 of this Inquiry <&c., which was written
and published before the Trial came on, is the following
passage.
For which Master Studley hath called him before the
Magistrates here \i.e. at Amsterdam]^ for a slanderer ; desiring
that proof may be brought, or satisfaction made, according to
justice.
The woman he hath named before to be Judith Holder.
For which, also, she hath called him before the Magistrates of
this city.
Lawne, at pp. 26-30 of The profane Schism d&c, prints a
certified copy of the Arrest Roll of the city of Amsterdam^
relating to this trial. From which it would appear, that
Francis Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Henry Ainsworth,
Francis Blackwell, Daniel Studley, Christopher
Bowman, John Nicholas, Judith Holder, William Barbor,
and Thomas Bishop caused the Rev. Thomas White, and
his wife Rose White, to be arrested on account of the
1 20 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam.
accusations in the above mentioned book ; which specifically-
charged Studley with immorality; and Bowman, with
peculation, on account of which he was called "Judas the
Purse Bearer."
The trial came on upon the 14/24 February 1606. We
give the result in Lawne's words.
Concerning these Articles which they laid in against Master
White, as though he had slandered them therein : when as Master
White had once taken order, by his Attorney, to answer the
matter ; when as also he had, for proof thereof, brought sundry
witnesses before the Burgomasters, which there did testify, and by
their oaths and depositions confirm, the things which Master
White had written : then was Master White discharged ; and
had liberty from the Magistrates to go for England, as his
occasions or business should require.
After which time, there was never any other sentence given by
the Magistrates to reverse the same : insomuch that at length, the
Brownists themselves (although troublesome and contentious in
this, as in other actions) were content to let their Suit fall, and
ceased to proceed any further therein. And much better had it
been for them, never to have begun it ; than, with so much shame,
and so many rebukes, to leave it off, pp. 28, 29.
We have only one remark to make here on this subject ;
and that is, That from the date of this verdict, 14/24 February
1605/1606, the Community over which the Rev. Francis
Johnson presided, must be regarded in its collective capacity
as a Church of Christ, to be corrupt and dead. For,
notwithstanding this damaging legal exposure, matters went
on in it, for some years to come, just as they had gone on in
the past.
Here then the "Holy Discipline," in actual practice,
utterly broke down.
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 121
Peter Fairlambe. 1606.
N the 1/11 July 1606, there was entered at
Stationers' Hall London, the undermentioned
Work, [E. Arber, Transcript &c.^ iii. 326,
1876, 4.]
The Recantation of a Brownist.
By Peter Fairlambe.
At London. Printed for Henry Gosson ; and are to be sold at
the sign of the Sun in Paternoster row. 1606, 4.
This work contains a Bibliography of Works for, and
against, the Separation, up to the time of its publication.
It does not concern the Separatist Churches in Holland ; but
is connected rather with Barbary and the Rev. Thomas
Bernhere. The Rev. Francis Johnson is however
frequently mentioned in it.
The arrival of fresh English Churches in
Amsterdam. 1607 — 1608.
ETWEEN October 1607 and August 1608, the
Pilgrim Church, from Scrooby, arrived in
Amsterdam : and, for a time, joined itself to
the Ancient exiled Church there.
In 1608, the Gainsborough Church, under the Rev.
John Smyth, the Se-Baptist, arrived in Amsterdam: and
formed itself into the Second exiled English Church there.
Its history is briefly told at pp. 131-140.
122 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam,
That unspeakable Daniel Studley. 1592 — 1612.
E are not going to defile this book with any
account of the goings on of Daniel Studley in
the Ancient Church ; from, at least, 1 604 till
1612. We will merely say that this Ruling
Elder was the Falstaff of that Community; ever prowling
about after other men's wives, &c., &c., &c. The details will
be found in The 'profane Schism &c.
At pp. 15, 16, of that Work, will be found the Articles
exhibited against him, at the time of the Split on 15/25
December 1610, in order to secure his deposition. An effort
yfhich failed.
At page 11, Lawne thus refers to the two men who
took the trouble to deliver him over to Satan, on 28 July
/7 August 1611.
But who be those two subscribers that set their hands to this
Excommunication ? These two be the two special Champions of
the Franciscan Schism ; the two principal pillars of that rotten
Separation : the one [Daniel Studley] by his wit, and the other
[Edward Benet] by his wealth.
At page 16, Lawne calls Studley "that hypocritical
Chameleon."
The following additional passages are all that need be
adduced here :
But if any would further know what this Daniel Studley is,
let them ask Samuel Fuller, a Deacon of Master Robinson's
Church ; and desire to see a copy of the letter which Daniel
Studley sent unto him : or let them ask Master [Giles] Thorpe,
a Deacon, of Master Ainsworth's Church ; and desire to see a
book intitled " The First Part of The Hunting of the Fox" and
there shall he see Daniel Studley traced up and down. The
profane Schism c&c, p. 11, Ed. 1612, 4.
It is clear from this passage that Giles Thorpe, the
Printer at Amsterdam, was the author, and probably also
the printer, of The Hunting of the Fox.
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 123
The next passage shows that this, at present lost book, was
printed before the 15/25 December 1610.
Before the schism of the Ainsworthians from the Franciscans,
the sins and scandals of Daniel Studley were shewed and
manifested by divers of the Ainsworthians [see previous, page] : and
yet such opposition was made against them as that Daniel Studley
did neither soundly repent, nor lose his Office : from which he is
now [i.e. on some date between August 1611 and August 1612]
deposed.
That which the Popular Government could not then effect, is
now effected since that Government was changed by Master
Johnson \i.e. since he hecarm the autocrat of his Church]. A Shield
of Defence^ p. 37.
Surely the Rev. John Robinson was thinking of Daniel
Studley, when he wrote the following passage in the second
book which he published after his removal to Leyden. If so,
he had come to regard the Ancient Church at Amsterdam
as a " rebellious rout."
But this I hold, that if iniquity be committed in the Church ;
and complaint, and proof, accordingly made ; and that the Church
will not reform, or, reject the party offending : but will, on the
contrary, maintain presumptuously, and abet, such impiety — that
then, by abetting that party and his sin, she makes it her own
by imputation ; and enwraps herself in the same guilt with the
sinner. And, remaining irreformable (either by such members
of the same Church as are faithful, if there be any ; or by other
sister Churches), wipeth herself out of the Lord's Church Roll :
and now ceaseth to be any longer the true Church of Christ.
And whatsoever truths, or ordinances, of Christ, this rebellious
rout [crowd] still retains ; it but usurps the same, without right
unto them, or promise of blessing upon them : both the persons
and sacrifices are abominable unto the Lord. Tit. i. 16 ; Pro v.
xxi. 27. Justification of Separation, p. 247, Ed. 1610, 4.
It would seem likely that, knowing the motives for it,
the Rev. Francis Johnson resented the Exodus of the
Pilgrim Church to Leyden; which would have greatly
reduced his importance, if not his income. At any rate, we
124 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam.
have here the reply of him and his Ruling Elder to the
foregoing opinions of the Pilgrim Pastor.
Master Johnson, for the further manifestation of Master
Robinson's errors, since that time, also brought Master Robinson's
book against Master Bernard \A Justification of Separation o&c,
1610] into their Meeting House [at Amsterdam] ; and there, before
the Congregation, made a solemn testification against the manifold
errors contained in it : which he disclaimed ; and not only so, but
wrote to Master Robinson, to rebuke him for the same.
Daniel Studley is so apt in reproach that he runs upon the
Letter : making, as it were, an Alphabet of Slander ; having it so
perfect as his ABC. For trial hereof, see how he grinds his teeth
against Samuel Fuller, a Deacon of Master Robinson's Company ;
whom, with his friends, he describes [? in 1610, or 1 1611] as
being* "ignorant idiots, noddy Nabalites, dogged ^^he Flowers
DoEGS, f airfaced Pharisees, shameless Shemites, of studiey's eio-
malicious Macchiavellians." quent letter to
Thus doth this Alphabetical Slanderer flourish ^*°'''^^ ^''"^''*
among them, with the taunting and flaunting figures of his profane
conceited spirit. The profane Schism Sc, p. 76.
The Ancient exiled English Church at Amsterdam
splits in two.
Saturday, 15/25 December 1610.
I OHNSON, instigated Governor Bradford thought
by Studley, in the year 1609, developed very
autocratic views about Tell it unto the Church !
making the Eldership to be a kind of aristocracy,
and all the rest of the community to be merely dummies.
Whereupon there arose in the Church a fierce wrangle for
more than a year ; in which Ainsworth appears to have
been very patient and reasonable, and Johnson to have been
specially arrogant and violent.
At last, the inevitable Split came on Saturday,
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 125
15/25 December 1610 : when each section delivered the other
over to Satan, as the manner was.
Johnson, having deposed Ainsworth from his Office of
Teacher, appointed Clyfton in his place. He had then for
his Ruling Elders, Daniel Studley, Edward Benet, Jacob
Johnson, Stanshall Mercer : and, later, Christopher
Bowman, then a Deacon, was promoted to the Eldership.
Only one of Johnson's Elders went out with Ainsworth :
and that was Jean de L'Ecluse. He was immediately
accused by Jacob Johnson of drunkenness. The profane
Schism d'c.f p. 73. Had he not gone out, he would not have
been so accused.
Ainsworth appointed Master May for another of his
Ruling Elders ; and, later on, promoted Giles Thorpe, the
Deacon to an Eldership in his Church.
Johnson published the following defence of his opinions.
A short Treatise concerning the exposition of those words of
Christ. Tell the Church ! Sc, Matt, xviii. 17. Printed in the year
of our Lord 1611, 4.
At the beginning of this "Work, he says :
The occasions that have moved me hereunto, are not unknown
to many others besides myself : and I need not speak of them in
particular.
After that the Burgomasters decided that the Meeting
House belonged to members of Ainsworth's Church ; the
Franciscans migrated, in 1613, to Emden : apparently to
their great impoverishment. Then, for the next three or four
years, we know very little about them.
In November 1614, Doctor William Ames, in his Preface to
William Bradshaw's The Unreasonableness of the Separation
(&c., Dort, 1614, 4, writes :
Think not evil ! if thou meanest well. We intend not to insult
over him that is down, or to pursue a man that is flying of himself :
but to lend him a hand, that knoweth not well which way to take.
Master Johnson indeed is rather to be pitied than much opposed.
126 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam.
We need but stand still as lookers on. He falleth willingly on his
own sword.
Then come Johnson's printed Recantation, his death
and burial at Amsterdam ; as told by Matthew Slade
at pp. 129, 130.
Then Francis Blackwell, acting on the resolution which
the Leyden Church had already come to, leads forth the
remnant of the Franciscans to emigrate to Virginia. Governor
Bradford tells us the sad story at pp. 277-279. See also
pp. 290, 291. How, being caught by the Bishops, they threw
over their principles ; and rather than be baulked of their
voyage, caved in to them : so that Blackwell goes off with
Archbishop Abbot's blessing. How they mutually cursed
one another in the streets of Gravesend. How they were
packed in the ship like herrings. Lastly, how Blackwell
and most of them died before ever they saw Virginia.
Truly, Francis Johnson's Church was buried in the
Atlantic Ocean.
The Prophets of the "Holy Discipline," and their
COMICAL proceedings. 1602 — 1612.
^AWNE gives us two accounts of these Prophets.
Thomas Cocky and Jacob Johnson were
Prophets in the united Church, before the
Split.
Falling into variance one with another, one of them brings in
before the Church, a list of fifteen lies, wherewith he charged the
other. The other again, to requite his pains, brings in, at the
next turn, against him, a list of sixteen lies. Betwixt them both,
they make up the sum of thirty-one lies. The profane Schism.
(&c., p. 83.
At the Split, Cocky became an Ainsworthian.
At pp. 58, 59 of the same Work, there is the following
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam. 127
Statement by W. Simson, a member of Ainsworth Church j
who was troubled with
(1) Our rejecting communion with all the Eeformed Churches
on earth; and all true Christians in the same. [How contrary this,
to the practice of the Pilgrim Church /]
(2) Our own manner of Exercise on the Lord's Day is with such
confusion, and contradicting one another ; so that even our own
profession of Separation is indeed quite overthrown thereby.
For example, Thomas Cocky, in his prophesy, witnessing against
England, saith. Their Ministry is antichristian : and being so,
they can beget no true faith ; and no true faith can have no true
salvation : and so consequently in the Church of England is taught
no salvation. A fearful sentence in my judgement.
Again, our beloved Master [Jean] de l'Ecluse, in his doctrine
of prophesy, laboured to prove Separation from a true Church for
any corruption obstinately stood in. This doctrine was, by another,
in prophesying, then shewed to be absolutely contrary to that
place of Rev. ii. 24, Which how unsoundly it was concluded by
our Teacher {the Rev. Henry Ainsworth] was then observed by
many. The profane Schism (&c., pp. 58, 59.
What an affront to the Divine Majesty, in the very act of
worship, all this was, need not be dwelt upon.
The fiendish cruelty of Richard Mansfield.
1610—1612.
E next come to the case of Kichard Mansfield.
Lawne tells us, at pp. 32-41 of The profane
Schism d&c, that be was an Ainsworthian : and
therefore leads us faintly to hope that atrocious
indignities and unheard barbarities to wliich tliis brute
subjected the unfortunate Maidens of the Separation of that
Congregation, were not earlier* than the Split on the 15/25
December 1610 : otherwise the duration of his horrible
brutalities is not indicated.
Had this monster been living now, his life would not have
been worth five minutes' purchase, outside a prison.
12
8 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam,
The Ancient Church is an abomination to the
CITIZENS OF Amsterdam. 1605 — 1612.
N proof of this, Lawne, in Tlie jn-ofane Schism &c.,
p. 21, cites the two following facts.
The testimony of the Dutch Church
concerning the Brovmists.
When as they sent their messengers, with some questions, unto
the Dutch Eldership : they received this answer from them, That
they did not acknowledge their Assembly to be an Ecclesiastical
Assembly, or a lawful Church.
And when Master Johnson and others of them, were instant
[urgent] to hear reasons of this answer from them : it was further
answered, They would do it, if they saw it needful ; or if they
found anything that was worthy of answer.
The testimony of the Magistracy of Amsterdam,
concerning the Brownists.
The Magistrates — both, of old, [in the Suit] against Master
[Thomas] White [in 1606] ; and now, of late, in [the] Suit about
their Meeting House [in 1611] — when they sought to lay in their
Action in the name of the Church : they were repelled by the
Magistrates that are members of the Dutch Church. They would
not receive complaint from them, in the quality or name of a
Church ; or [in] the name of any Elder or Deacon : but as from
private men. The Magistrates told them, That they held them,
not as a Church ; but as a Sect.
This only confirms what the Rev. Thomas White had
written so far back as the 20/30 July 1605, There is no
Sect in Amsterdam, though many, in such contempt for
immoral life, as the Brownists are. The profane Schism &;c.
p. 27.
The Ancient Church at Amsterdam, 129
The divine blessing upon the Pilgrim Church.
LL this while, though they had troubles of their
own (as who has not?), one seems to see the
Divine blessing resting upon the Pilgrim Church.
The Children of Peace received peace. It was as
if the Almighty would try the Pilgrim Fathers, as he tried
Abraham ; and then bless them, as he blessed him : so that
a mighty nation has sprung from their loins. Has he not
multiplied their seed " as the stars of the heaven ; and as
sand which is upon the sea shore % "
And just as the Amsterdam people were going further
and further from the mother Church at home ; so the Leyden
Church was drawing nearer and nearer to it.
The death-bed Recantation of the Rev. Francis
Johnson. 1617.
OW we come to the death-bed acknowledgment of
the Rev. Francis Johnson, that his whole life
had been one long mistake. " If the blind lead
the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
MATTHEW SLADE TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
AMSTERDAM ; SATURDAY, 10/20 JANUARY 1617/1618.
This day we have buried Master Francis Johnson, a man that
hath, many years \8ince September 1597], been Pastor of the
Brownists : and (having cast himself, and drawn others, into great
troubles and miseries, for their opinions and schism) did, a few
days before his death, publish a Book ; * wherein he disclaimed
* This book was probably published in the previous December, and
therefore would bear the date 1617. It is certainly not A Christian
Plea etc., which Johnson published in that year. Even the Title of this
Recantation is not known, so utterly has the book perished. — E. A.
The Pilgrim Fathers. i
130 The Ancient Church at Amsterdam,
most of his former singularities, and refuted them. To which
Work, he hath also annexed a brief Refutation of the Five Articles,
[? of the Synod of Dort].
S. P., Eolland. Bundle 12a
The influence of the Sepaeation.
F we ask ourselves, What effect had all this Separ-
ation upon the Church of England 1 the answer
must be, Nothing at all. The Anglican Church
went on to its way, heedless of the Separatists.
The struggle between the King and the Hierarchy on the
one side, and the lower Clergy with the spiritually-minded,
liberty-loving Laity on the other, intensified as time went on ;
especially after Laud became the Primate in 1633. The
Separation, the Forlorn Hope of Puritanism, was a sign of
the Times ; nothing more.
One sees now so clearly how inevitable the great Civil War
was. In some shape or other, it was bound to come. The
regeneration of the British Constitution and of British society
was not possible without that great political thunderstorm.
CHAPTER XL
The Rev. John Smyth, Preacher of the city of
Lincoln; afterwards Pastor of the Church at
Gainsborough; then Pastor of the Brethren
of the Separation of the Second English
Church at Amsterdam; and lastly,
THE Se-Baptist. 1603—1612.
"rajjj^HE Bibliography of the Separation is most
difficult. This is partly because so few copies
of these Works have survived. For instance,
if a Londoner would see all the known copies of
the first editions of the Rev. John Smyth's Works, he must
travel first to Oxford, and then to Cambridge, and thence to
York ; and so back to London : a journey of some four
hundred miles. It is also difficult because the Separatists
hardly ever printed the month or day on which they finished,
or printed, their books ; but only the year.
So likewise, although Dr H. Martyn Dexter has done
much to clear the way in The true Story of John Smyth,
the Se-Baptistf Boston, Massa., 1881, 4, the biography of this
Separatist is as difficult to write as that of any Englishman's
of that Age could now possibly be. We are able to supplement
Doctor Dexter in some respects ; but cannot but feel that
what follows, is but a mere sketch. We have not space here
for a full treatment of this subject.
There are two solid facts to go upon :
1. The Rev. Francis Johnson, while a Fellow of Christ's
College, Cambridge, was his Tutor. Therefore Smyth was of
that College.
181
1 32 Smyth and the Gainsborough Church,
Doctor Dexter would identify him with the John Smyth
who matriculated as a Sizar at Christ's College on the 26th
November 1571. But that is too early, as it would make him
senior to his Tutor in the College : for Francis Johnson
matriculated as a Pensioner in that College and University gn
the 1st April 1579.
2. The Rev. Richard Bernard tells us {Plain Evidences^
page 21) that Smyth was ordained a Clergyman by William
Wickham; who was Bishop of Lincoln between the 20th
November 1584 and the 22 February 1595.
He is therefore apparently the John Smith of Christ's
College, who took his M.A. in 1593 ; and not the man of the
same name and College who took his B.A. in 1593, and his
M.A. in 1597. If this be correct ; he would have gone up to
the University about 1586, and was probably born somewhere
about 1572 ^ and would therefore be somewhere about forty
years of age, when he died in August 1612.
In his later years at any rate, he and those he came in
contact with always spelt his name Smyth : but many of his
opponents spelt it Smith, as he did himself at first.
We must therefore be on our guard in this matter. For
he had two contemporaries, of the name of John Smith, both
Clergymen, and who also wrote upon Prayer. Curiously
enough, though not related to each other, they were both of
the same College ; St John's College, Oxford :
John Smith, of Berkshire, Vicar of St Laurence's, Reading,
Berkshire ; and author of The Doctrine of Prayer in general
for all men, London, 1595, 4.
John Smith, of Warwickshire, Vicar of Clavering, Essex,
from 1592 to 1616 ; and author of The Substance and Pith of
Prayer. His collected Works were printed in 1629, under
the title of The Essex Dove dec.
The next point is to prove that John Smith the Preacher
of, or Lecturer in, the city of Lincoln from 1603 to 1605, is
Smyth and the Gainsborough Church. 133
the same man as John Smyth the Se-Baptist, that appears in
our literature from 1608 to 1613.
In the library of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, there is a
copy of the following Work, that is believed to be unique. Its
Press-mark is 7. 5. 76.
The bright Morning Star, or the Resolution and Exposition of
the 22nd Psalm ; preached publicly in four Sermons at Lincoln.
By John Smith, Preacher of the City.
Printed by John Legat, Printer to the University of
Cambridge. 1603.
And are to be sold at the Sign of the Grovm in Paul's
Churchyard by Simon Waterson.
In octavo.
The following entry was made at Stationers' Hall,
22 Martij [1605].
Master Man Entered for their copy vnder the hands of the
Senior. wardens A booke called A paterne of true Prayer
Thomas Man or exposicon vppon the lords prayer Done by John
Junior. Smythe &c. of Lincoln . . . vjd
E. Arber. Transcript (&c., iii. 285, Ed. 1876, 4.
Every copy of this first edition of 1605 has apparently
disappeared. The Work however was reprinted in 1624, with
the following Title.
A Pattern of True Prayer. A learned and comfortable
Exposition or Commentary upon the Lord's Prayer ; wherein the
doctrine of the Substance and Circumstances of true Invocation is
evidently and fully declared out of the Holy. Scriptures.
By John Smith, Minister and Preacher of the Word of GOD.
London. Printed by I. D. for Thomas Man [the Junior in the
above entry at Stationers' Hall] ; and are to be sold by William
HEFFARD, JoHN BELLAMY, and BENJAMIN FiSHER. 1624.
In octavo.
It is a considerable Work ; running, besides the introductory
matter, to 452 octavo pages. The opening lines of the Epistle
Dedicatory to Edmund Sheffield, Lord Sheffield ; afterwards
Earl of MuLGRAVE, are as follows :
"It is neither ambition, nor covetousness, Bight Honourable,
that moveth me to publish this Tieatise to the view of all ; which,
T34 Smyth and the Gainsborough Church,
not long since, I delivered to the ears of a few : being the Lecturer
in the city of Lincoln. . ."
British Museum Press-mark, 873, f. 36.
Now Richard Bernard tells us, in both his Works, Nos.
2 and 1 2 of this Controversy, that the Writer of A Pattern of
true Prayer was John Smyth, the Se-Baptist. We will here
further confirm this testimony by the witness of John Cotton
in 1647.
As for Master Smith, he standeth and falleth to his own
Master. Whilst he was Preacher to the city of Lincoln, he
wrought with GOD then. What temptations befell him after, by
the evil workings of evil men, and some good men too ; I choose
rather to tremble at, than discourse of.
(1) The Bloody Tenent washed &c.
(2) A Reply to Master [Roger] Williams' Answer to Master
Cotton's Letter^ p. 58.
London, [15 May] 1647, 4. British Museum Press-mark, E. 387 (7).
See also pp. 14, 15 of Roger Williams "Master Cotton's Letter^
lately printed, Examined and Answered." London, [5 Feb.] 1644, 4 :
where T. Ptgott's account of the death of the Se-Baptist \see
page 140] is referred to by Cotton. British Museum Press-mark,
E. 31 (16).
Therefore so late as on the 22 March 1605, the Rev. John
Smyth was still at Lincoln ; and was still a Conformist. It
was later, at Gainsborough, that, after doubting there for nine
months, he threw off the Church of England, embraced the
Separation, and became Pastor of the Church at Gainsborough.
This could not have occurred earlier than 1606 ; unless
he doubted after he became Pastor, and then the date
might possibly be 1605 : but we think 1606 the more
likely date : and that once he decided, he did not afterwards
doubt.
We also believe that the Gainsborough Church went to
Amsterdam about the same time as the Pilgrim Church, in
1608. If so, it had a very short existence in England; a
couple of years or so.
Smyth and the Gainsborough Church. 135
This Church was not organised on the lines of the " Holy
Discipline " ; but upon Smy thian principles. Its Pastor held
that Scripture knew of but one kind of Elders : in opposition
to the "Holy Discipline" theory of the three separate Offices
of Pastor, Teacher, and Elder.
We have shown at page 55 that so long as the Gainsborough
and the Scrooby Churches were in England, they printed
nothing. They only began to publish when they came into
contact with the continental printers : and this was not till
the year 1608.
On the 17th October 1608, the Second Volume (3rd and
4th Decades) of Bp. Joseph Hall's Epistles was entered for
publication at Stationers' Hall. The first Epistle in this
Volume is
To Master Smith and Master Eob[inson], Kingleaders of
the late Separation. At Amsterdam.
The coupling thus of these two names together, favours
the idea that they migrated about the same time.
Clearly then both of these Churches were settled at
Amsterdam before the 17th October 1608 : but how much
earlier than that date, Symth's Congregation arrived there,
in that year, has yet to be ascertained.
The printed Controversy against this fresh Separation
began with the following Works.
1. The Sermon preached at the Cross [i.e. PauVs Cross^ London\
February 14, 1607 [-8]. By William Crashaw, B.D. and
Preacher at the Temple, London. 1608, 4.
Entered for publication at Stationers' Hall on the 19
April 1608. (E. Arber, Transcript c^c, iii. 375, 1876, 4.) :
but the Preface is dated, The Temple, May 21st 1608.
2. Eev. Richard Bernard. Christian Advertisements and
Counsels of Peace. Also Dissuasions from the Separatists'
Schism, commonly called Brownism. London, 1608, 8.
136 Smyth and the Gainsborough Church.
The Preface is dated, " At Worksop in Nottinghamshire,
June 18 [1608] : " on which day also this book was entered
at Stationers' Hall.
This date is very important, because Bernard wrote this
book in reply to a letter which John Smyth, " Pastor of the
Church at Gainsborough," had written to him, in three days,
some six or seven months previously \ or in November or
December 1607 : and therefore the Gainsborough Church had
not migrated to Holland at those dates. This letter, Smyth
printed in his Parallels <&c. in 1609. As we know that the
Pilgrim Church migrated to Holland between October 1607
and August 1608 ; it would again seem that the two Churches
went over about the same time : but whether together or
separately, cannot at present be said.
Then comes, in the order of time,
3. Bishop Joseph Hall's Epistle to Smyth and Robinson ; in
his Epistles, The Second Volume. London. 1608, 8.
We hold that Smyth could get nothing printed until he
came to Holland; and therefore we place the next book,
which is both anonynious and undated, in 1608.
4. Principles and Inferences concerning the Visible Church
&c., 32 pp. 16 mo.
The only known copy of this " little Method," as he calls it at
page 11 of his Parallels c^c, is in York Minster Library.
It was at one time thought that theXxainsborough Church,
on its arrival at Amsterdam, joined the Ancient exiled
Church there, as the Scrooby Church certainly did : but it
is clear from the next Work that this was not the case.
Besides, the Gainsborough Church, on its settling in that
city, threw off the Calvinistic doctrines; and embraced
Arminianism. This was enough, of itself, to make a bottomless
gulf between the two Churches.
Smyth and the Gainsborough Church. 137
In the following Work, Smyth called the *' Ancient exiled
Church " there, the " Ancient Brethren of the Separation " ;
and his own Community he calls "the Brethren of the
Separation of the Second English Church at Amsterdam.
5. Eev. John Smyth. The Differences of the Churches of the
Separation. 1608, 4.
There is a copy of this Work in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Press-mark, Pamph. 6 (1).
6. H. A. [Henrt Ainsworth.] Counterpoison. 1608, 4. A
Eeply to Crashaw, No. 1 ; and Bernard, No. 2.
This Work, at page 41, states that the colleague of
Robert Browne, "Master [Richard] Harrison returned
not unto your Church of England ; but died at Middelburg
in this faith that we profess." This is quite a new fact.
Events seemed to have moved rapidly in the Gainsborough
Church.
In the year 1608, John Smyth baptized himself; and so
became the Se-Baptist of Church History.
On some date in 1609, before the 12th March (Doctor
Dexter [The true Story dtc, page '37] has verified this date,
12th March 1609 [iV.^.], by a reference to the original
manuscript in Amsterdam) ; and therefore within four years
of the foundation of the Church ; the Rev. Thomas Helwys,
William Pygott, Thomas Seamer, John Murton, and
the majority cast out from among them, the following
thirty- two persons : who shortly after applied to the
Mennonite Church, Amsterdam, for membership ; making
the following Confession of Error.
The names of the English people who confess this their error,
and repent of the same, viz. That they undertook to baptize
themselves ; contrary to the order laid down by Christ. Who
now therefore desire to get back into the true Church of Christ
as speedily as may be. We are of one accord in the desire to have
this our wish signified to the Cliurch.
;8 Smyth and the Gainsborough Church,
Men. (16).
Hugo Bromhead.
Gervase Nevill.
John Smyth.
Thomas Canadtne.
Edward Hawkins.
John Hardie.
Thomas Ptgott.
Francis Ptgott.
Robert Stavely.
Alexander Fleminge.
Alexander Hodgkins.
John Grindal.
Solomon Thomson.
Samuel Halton.
Thomas Dolphine.
Matthew Pygott.
Women. (16).
Ann Bromhead.
Jane Southworth.
Mary Smyth.
Joan Halton.
Alice Arnfield.
Isabel Thomson.
Margaret Staveley.
Mary Grindal.
Alice Pygott.
Margaret Pygott.
Betteris Dickens.
Mary Dickens.
Alice Paynter.
Alice Parsons.
Joan Briggs.
Jane Organ.
B. Evans, D.D.
Early English Bap-
tists, i. 24*4, 245, Ed.
1862, 8. H. M.
Dexter, D.D. The
true Story (&c., 36,
Ed. 1881, 4.
This application for membership was, at some date after
8/18 July 1610, declined by the Mennonite Church.
This ejection notwithstanding, the Se-Baptist vigorously
replied to Bernard, in
7. Rev. John Smyth. Parallels, Censures, and Observations.
. Printed 1609, 4.
This is a print of the above mentioned Letter of November or
December 1607 ; with Observations and Comments.
Then the Ancient exiled Church replied to Smyth's
Differences (fee. No. 5, in the following Work.
8. Rev. Henry Ainsworth (a) A Defence of the Holy
Scriptures, Worship, and Ministry used in the Christian
Churches separated from Antichrist.
(b) A few Observations upon some of Master Smyth's
Censures in his Answer [Parallels So.] made to Bernard.
Amsterdam. Giles Thorpe. 1609, 4.
Meanwhile, in March 1608 [i.e. 1609], the Se-Baptist was
engaged in another controversy with a member of the Ancient
exiled Church, the Rev. Richard Clyfton, on the subject of
Infant Baptism, which he called The Mark of the Beast. The
following books should always be read together.
Smyth and the Gainsborough Church, 1 39
9. The Character [i.e. Mark^ or Sigri] of the Beast. Published
by the Rev. John Smyth. 1609, 4.
There is a copy of this Work in the Bodleian Library.
Press-mark, Pamph. 7.
10. The Plea for Infants and Elder People concerning
their Baptism. Published by Eev. Richard Cltfton.
Amsterdam. Giles Thorpe. 1610, 4.
In this year, 1609, must have appeared the Pilgrim
Pastor's first book : now, in its original edition, utterly lost.
11. Rev John Robinson. An Answer to a censorious Epistle.
In reply to No. 3. Bp. Hall reprinted it in his
Common Apology Sc.
On the 18th December 1609, there was entered tcWiLLiAM
Welby the Publisher, Contemplative Pictures with tvholesome
Precepts <i;c.^ by Richard Bernard (E. Arber, Transcript dhc^
iii. 426, Ed. 1876, 4.) No book, with such a title, is known
to have been written by Bernard. We therefore take it to
be the entry of the following Work, also published by Welby.
12. Rev. Richard Bernard. Plain Evidences : the Church
of England is apostolical ; the Separation, schismatical.
London, 1610, 4. In reply to Nos. 6 and 7.
In this book, Bernard tells us that he had heard of the
following Work, but that he had not yet seen it : so we will
place it next.
13. Rev. John Robinson. A Justification of Separation from
the Church of England. 1610, 4. In reply to No. 2.
Then we have,
14. Bishop Joseph Hall. A common Apology of the Church
of England. London, 1610, 4. In reply to No. 11 ; which
it reprints. This Work was entered at Stationers' Hall
on 16th January 1610. (E. Arber, Transcript <&c.^ iii
426, Ed. 1876, 4).
This Work practically ends this particular Controversy.
I40 Smyth and the Gainsborough Church.
We will describe the extinction of Master Smyth's
Company in the words of Doctor Dexter.
" Jan Munter was a friendly Waterlander. He owned
a ' Great Cake House' or bakery ; which appears to have had
some sort of annex, where men might both meet and lodge.
And in the hinder part of this, John Smyth now seems to
have taken refuge, with his little band . . . and, to all
appearance, unconnected with any Church organization, spent
here the brief remainder of his earthly life.
" For years, a feeble man ; in the summer of 1612, he fell
sick with consumption. And after seven weeks of increasing
debility ; on 1st September of that year, he was borne from
the Cake House to his burial in the Niewe Kerk.
"Late in 1614, what remained of his Company, renewed
their old request for admission, to one of the Mennonite
Churches; which, 20th January 1615 [iT.iS'.] was granted.
"For a short season, a separate English Service was held
by them in the Cake House : but it was not long, before they
became absorbed among the Dutch ; leaving no trace of
separate existence visible to history. The trive Story <&^c., pp.
37, 38. .
An undated book appeared, apparently in 1613, with the
following Title,
The last book of John Smith called, The Retraction of his
Errors ; and the Confirmation of the Truth.
T. P. [Thomas Pygott]. A Declaration of the Faith of the
English People remaining at Amsterdam in Holland ; being the
Remainder of Master Smyth's Company. With an Appendix
giving an account of his Sickness and Death. 16mo.
The only known copy of this Work is in York Minster Library.
It has been reprinted in Robert Barclay's T/ie Inner Life of the
Religious Societies of the Commonwealth, London, 1876, 4.
The Rev. Thomas Helwys's Company returned to London
about 1613. So, in all, the Gainsborough Church, as such,
was in existence about ten years, from 1606 to 1615.
CHAPTER XII.
The settlement of the Scrooby Church
AT Amsterdam.
October 1607 — August 1608.
'OVERNOR BRADFORD thus describes the first
impressions of the Nottinghamshire men, on
their arrival on the Continent.
Being now come into the Low Countries,
they saw many goodly and fortified cities, strongly
walled, and guarded with troops of armed men. Also
they heard a strange and uncouth language : and beheld
the different manners and customs of the people, with
their strange fashions and attires ; all so far differing
from that of their plain country villages, wherein they
were bred and had so long lived, as it seemed they
were come into a New World.
But these were not the things, they much looked on ;
or [which] long took up their thoughts : for they had
other work in hand, and another kind of war to wage
and maintain. For though they saw fair and beautiful
cities, flowing with an abundance of all sorts of wealth
and riches : yet it was not long before they saw the grim
and grisly face of Poverty coming upon them like an
armed man ; with whom they must buckle and incoun-
ter, and from whom they could not fly. But they were
armed with faith and patience against him and all his
encounters : and though they were sometimes foiled ; yet,
by GOD's assistance, they prevailed and got the victory.
141
142 The Scrooby Church at Amsterdam.
Now when Master Robinson, Master Brewster, and
other principal members were come over [to Amsterdam]
(for they were of the last, and stayed to help the
weakest over before them) ; such things were thought
on as were necessary for their settling, and [the] best
ordering of the Church affairs. Bradford M.S.y folios
39-41.
CHAPTER XIII
Beautiful Letden.
OCTOR H. MARTYN DEXTER {Congregation,
alism (Sec, p. 383, Ed. 1880, 8.) gives us the
following translation from Les Delices de Leide,
Ed. 1712:
"Leyden was then a city of some one hundred thousand
inhabitants. It was beautiful exceedingly, in its way.
One of its French chroniclers described it thus :
The city of Leyden is, without contradiction, one of
the grandest, the comeliest, and the most charming, cities
of the world.
The cleanness and breadth of its streets ; the number
of its canals provided with bridges, bordered on either
side by lindens, which (during the summer heats) cast
delightful shadows where the people make their
promenade; the tidiness and elegance of its buildings;
and its great number of public Places embellished
likewise with lindens or elms ; and the extreme neatness
of the bricks with which the streets are paved: all
this, in former times, caused Polyander, a celebrated
Professor, who was housed on the Rapenburg, to boast
that he lived in the most beautiful spot in the world.
Which he was wont to prove familiarly thus :
"Of the four quarters of the world, Europe is the
noblest and the nicest. The Low Countries are the best
part of Europe. Of the Seventeen Provinces of the
Low Countries ; [the Province of] Holland is the richest,
143
144 Beautiful Ley den.
the most flourishing, and the finest. The most beautiful
and altogether charming city [of the Province] of
Holland is Leyden. While the handsomest canal and
the loveliest street in Leyden is the Rapenburg.
Wherefore," concluded he, "I am lodged in the mo^
beautiful spot in the world."
" PoLYANDER left Dort to be Professor of Sacred Theology
at Leyden not quite two years after Robinson and his
Company arrived."
CHAPTER XIV.
The British Churches in Leyden.
URING the period of our Story, in addition to
the Pilgrim Church, there was also at Leyden,
an organization of the Presbyterian Church of
Scotland ; to which the City Council successively
allotted, as their place of meeting,
St Catherine Gasthuis, from 1609 till 1622 ;
Jerusalem Kirk, from 1622 till 1644.
The first two Ministers of this Church were
Robert Drurie, from 1609 till his death in 1616 ;
Henry Goudgier, from 1617 till his death in 1661.
See Rev. William Steven, History of the Scottish Churchy
Rotterdam; from 1614. With Notices of the other British
Churches in the Netherlands, pp. 314, 315, Edinburgh, 1833, 8.
The PUgrim Fathers. 145
CHAPTER XV.
The Removal of the Pilgrim Church to Leyden, by
Friday, 21 April /I May 1609.
C. M. [the Hon. Henry C. Murphy, of Brooklyn
N.Y., at the time United States Minister at
^^ 7) the Hague] in the Historical Magazine, Yol. III.,
^t£)<S^^ pp. 357, 358, Boston and New York, 1859, 4.],
among some exceedingly valuable contributions to the Pilgrim
Story from the official documents at Leyden, thus refers to
Mr George Sumner :
" He brings to light the fact that no Church was assigned
them, as was customary, by the Municipal Authorities ; and
that their Pastor was buried in a hired vault : . . . without
apparently having once thought of the other fact which
overlies those he brings forward ; and which is proven by his
own examination of the Records of the city, that the Pilgrims
never applied to the city authorities, as did their countrymen
under Drurie, for a Place of Worship.
" The Records of the city, during their residence in Leyden,
are extant and complete; and show no application of the sort:
but, on the contrary, reveal another application by them, that
for denization — in which they are particular to declare, in
advance of their coming to Leyden, their independence of
all aid whatsoever; in case such liberty should be given
them. . .
"The document to which we now refei*, appeared in
print two years after Mr Sumner's article [Memoirs of the
Pilgrims at Leyden"], in the Nederlansch Archief voor Kerkelijke
Geschiedenis for 1848, in a Memoir by Professor Kist, of the
146
The Removal to Ley den. 1 47
University of Leyden, reproducing, with some explanations
and additions, the facts gathered by Mr Sumner.
" This Memoir is entitled Joei^ Eobinson, Minister of the
Brownist Congregation of Leyden^ the Mother Church of the
English Independents^ and Founder of the Colony of Plymouth
in North America : and the document is the application, by
the Pilgrims, to the authorities of Leyden for denization. . .
"It is taken from the Gerechts Dags Bceken, or Court
Registers of the city, for the 12th of February 1609; and
reads as follows : "
TO THE HONOURABLE THE BURGOMASTERS AND COURT
OF THE CITY OF LEYDEN.
With due submission and respect ; Jan Robarthse,
Minister of the Divine Word, and some of the members
of the Christian Reformed religion, born in the Kingdom
of Great Britain, to the number of one hundred persons
or thereabouts, men and women, represent t hat they
are desirous of coming to live in this city, by the first
day of May [iV^.^Sf.] next ; and to have the freedom thereof
in carrying on their trades, without being a burden in
the least to any one. They therefore address themselves
to your Honours; humbly praying that your Honours
will be pleased to grant them free consent to betake
themselves, as aforesaid.
This doing, &c.
"There is no date or signature to the document; or
name of place where it was written. It is a mere Record or
Registration of the Application ; and the phrase in this city
would seem to indicate, either that some of the applicants
were present at Leyden at the time ; or that the Registrar
entered the substance of the petition in his own words.
The action of the Court is given in the margin ; and reads
as follows : "
The Court, in making a disposition of this present
1 48 The Removal to Ley den. gov. w. Bradford,
Memorial, declare that they refuse no honest persons
free ingress to come and have their residence in this
city; provided that such persons hehave themselves,
and submit to the laws and ordinances : and, therefore,
the coming of the Memorialists will be agreeable and
welcome.
Thus done, in their session at the Council House, the
12th day of February, 1609 [i\^.>S^.].
Done in my presence.
(signed) I. Van Hout.
Governor Bradford gives us the following account of the
experiences of the Pilgrim Church at Leyden.
And when they had lived at Amsterdam about a year
[1608], Master RoBiNSON their Pastor and some others
of best discerning, seeing how Master John Smith and
his Company were already [1608] fallen into contention
with the Church that was there before them ; and no
means they could use, would do any good to cure the
same : and also that the flames of contention were
like[ly] to break out in the Ancient Church itself,
as afterwards lamentably came to pass \on 15/25
Deceviher 1610].
"Which things they prudently forseeing, thought it
was best to remove, before they were any way engaged
with the same : though they well knew it would be
much to the prejudice of their outward estates; both
at present, and in likelihood in the future — as indeed it
proved to be.
For these, and some other reasons, they removed to
Leyden, a fair and beautiful city, and of a sweet
situation : but made more famous by the University
wherewith it is adorned ; in which, of late, had been so
Got. w. Bradford. Tkc Rcmoval to Leydeu, 1 49
many learned men. But wanting that traffic by sea
which Amsterdam injoys, it was not so beneficial for
their outward means of living and estates. But being
now here pitched, they fell to such trades and
imployments as they best could ; valuing peace and
their spiritual comfort above any other riches
whatsoever : and, at length, they came to raise a
competent and comfortable living ; but with hard and
continual labour.
Being thus settled, after many difficulties; they
continued, many years S^A'pril 1609 — July 1620], in
a comfortable condition, injoying much sweet and
delightful society and spiritual comfort together in the
Ways of GOD, under the able Ministry and prudent
government of Master John Robinson ; and Master
William Brewster ; who was an Assistant unto him,
in the place of an Elder, unto which he was now \i.e.
at Ley den] called, and chosen by the Church. So as
they grew in knowledge, and other gifts and graces
of the SPIRIT of GOD ; and lived together in peace,
and love, and holiness.
And many came unto them, from divers parts of
England ; so as they grew [to] a great Congregation.
And if, at any time, any differences arose or offences
broke out, as it cannot be but some time there will, even
amongst the best of men ; they were ever so met with
and nipt in the head betimes, or otherwise so well
composed ; as still love, peace, and communion were
continued : or else the Church purged of those that
were incurable and incorrigible, when, after much
patience used, no other means would serve ; which
seldom came to pass.
Yea, such was the mutual love and reciprocal respect
1 50 The Removal to Ley den. gov. w. Bradford.
that this worthy man had to his flock ; and his flock, to
him : that it might be said of them, as it once was, of
that famous Emperor Marcus Aurelius [Antoninus]
and the people of Rome, That it was hard to judge
whether he delighted more in having such a people,
or they in having such a Pastor. Golden Book_ &c*
His love was great towards them ; and his care was
always lent for their best good, both for soul and body.
For besides his singular abilities in divine things, wherein
he excelled ; he was also very able to give directions in
civil [secular] affairs, and to foresee dangers and
inconveniences : by which means he was very helpful
to their outward estates; and so was, every way, as
a common father unto them.
And none did more offend him than those that were
close and cleaving to themselves, and retired from the
common good : as also such as would be stiff" and rigid
in matters of Outward Order ; and inveigh against the
evils of others, and yet be remiss in themselves, and not
so careful to express a virtuous conversation.
They, in like manner, had ever a reverent regard
imto him and had him in precious estimation as his
worth and wisdom did deserve. And though they
esteemed him highly whilst he lived and laboured
amongst them: yet much more after his death, when
they came to feel the want of his help; and saw, by
■ * Bradford, we fear, would have been very much horrified, if he had
known that he was here quoting from the Work of a E-oman Catholic
Bishop. The Golden Book of the Emperor MARCUS A ureljus was really
written by Antonio de Guevara, Bishop of Mondonedo ; and was
translated into English by John Bourohieb, second Lord Bebners.
Another translation of the same Work, by Sir Thomas North, was called
The Dial of Princes. Guevara's excellent Works were decidedly popular
in England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. — E. A.
Gov. w. Bradford. The Removal to Ley den, 151
woeful experience, what a treasure they had lost, to the
grief of their hearts and wounding of their souls. Yea,
such a loss, as they saw could not be repaired. For it
was as hard for them to find such another Leader and
Feeder in all respects, as for the Taborites to find another
[JoHANN Trocznov] Ziska : and, although they did not
call themselves Orphans, as the others \iKe Taborites]
did, after his death; yet they had cause, as such, to
lament, in another regard, their present condition and
after usage.
But to return. I know not but it may be spoken to
the honour of GOD, and without prejudice to any, That
such was the true piety, the humble zeal, and fervent
love, of this people, whilst they thus lived together,
towards GOD and his Ways ; and the single-heartedness
and sincere afiection, one towards another ; that they
came as near the primitive pattern of the first Churches,
as any other Church of these later Times has done,
according to their rank and quality [in life].
But seeing it is not my purpose to treat of the
several Passages that befel this people whilst they thus
lived in the Low Countries, which might worthily require
a large Treatise of itself ; but to make way to shew the
Beginning of this Plantation, which is that I aim at :
yet, because some of their adversaries did, upon the
rumour of their removal, cast out slanders against them,
as if that State [here meaning the Magistrates of Leyden]
had been weary of them ; and had rather driven them out
(as the heathen historians did feign of MosES and the
Israelites, when they went out of Egypt), than that it
was their own free choice and motion — I will therefore
mention a particular or two, to shew the contrary ; and
the goodacceptation they had in the place where they lived.
152 The Removal to Ley den. gov. w. Bradford.
And, first, though many of them were poor; yet
there was jnone so poor but [that], if they were known to
be of that Congregation, the Dutch, either bakers or
others, would trust them in any reasonable matter, when
they wanted money : because they had found by
experience, how careful they were to keep their word ;
and saw them so painful \;painsialzing\ and diligent in
their callings. Yea, they would strive to get their
custom; and to imploy them above others in their
work, for their honesty and diligence.
Again, the Magistrates of the City, about the time of
their coming away {July 1620], or a little before, in the
public Place of Justice, gave this commendable testimony
of them, in the reproof of the Walloons, who were of the
French Church in that city, " These English," said they,
"have lived amongst us, now these twelve years [April
1609 — July 1620]; and yet we never had any suit, or
accusation came against any of them : but your strifes
and quarrels are continual, ic."
In these Times also were the great troubles raised by
the Arminians ; who as they greatly molested the whole
State [of Holland], so this city in particular, in which
was the chief University : so as there were daily
and hot disputes in the Schools [of the University]
thereabout.
And as the students and other learned were divided
in their opinions herein ; so were the two Professors
or Divinity Readers themselves : the one daily teaching
for it, the other against it ; which grew to that pass, that
few of the disciples of the one, would hear the other
teach.
But Master Robinson, though he taught thrice a
week himself, and writ sundry books, besides his
aoT. w. Bradford. The Reifioval to Ley den. 1 53
manifold pains otherwise ; yet he went constantly to
hear their Readings, and heard the one as well as the
other : by which means, he was so well grounded in the
controversy, and saw the force of all their arguments,
and knew the shifts of the adversary.
And being himself very able, none was fitter to
buckle with them than himself; as appeared by sundry
disputes : so as he began to be terrible to the Arminians.
Which made [Simon Biscop, Latinized] Episcopius, the
Arminian [Divinity] Professor, to put forth his best
strength, and set forth sundry Theses ; which, by public
dispute, he would defend against all men.
Now [John] Polyander, the other Professor, and
[one of] the chief Preachers of the city, desired Master
Robinson to dispute against him : but he was loath,
being a stranger. Yet the other did importune him, and
told him, That such was the ability and nimbleness of
the adversary, that the truth would suffer, if he did
not help them. So as he condescended [agreed], and
prepared himself against the time.
And when the day came ; the Lord did so help him
to defend the truth, and foil this adversary, as he put him
to an apparent non 'plus, in this great and public audience.
And the like, he did a second, or third time, upon such
like occasions. The which as it caused many to praise
GOD, that the truth had so famous [a] victory ; so it
procured him much honour and respect from those
learned men, and others which loved the truth.
Yea, so far were they from being weary of him and
his people, or desiring their absence ; as it was said by
some of no mean note, That were it not for giving offence
to the State of England, they would have preferred l\im
otherwise, if he would; and allowed him some public
favour.
154 ^-^^ Removal to Ley den &ov. w. Bradford.
Yea, when there was speech of their removal into
these parts [of North America]; sundry of note and
eminence of that nation \t\ie Dutch] would have had
them come under them : and for that end, made them
large offers.
Now though I might alledge many other particulars
and examples of the like kind, to shew the untruth and
unlikelihood of this slander ; yet these shall suffice :
seeing it was believed of few ; being only raised by
the malice of some, who laboured [for] their disgrace.
Bradford MS., folios 41-47.
CHAPTER XVL
The Purchase of the Rev. John Robinson's house,
IN Bell Alley, Leyden, on
Thursday, 26 April /6 May 1611.
C. M. [the Hon. Henry C. Murphy] in the
Historical Magazine, Yol. III., pp. 330, 331,
Boston and New York, 1859, 4, thus writes :
"There is a space of two years, or a little
more, between the time of the arrival of Robinson and his
flock in Leyden, and the purchase of this house ; in which he
afterward lived until his death. There is nothing to show
where he resided during that short period.
"But, on the 5th of May 1611, a Transport Brief or
deed, was made to him, in conjunction with three others of
his Congregation, of the house and piece of ground in
question, nearly opposite the Belfry which stood in the rear
of St Peter's Church, and fronting on Pieter's Kerckhoff,
or the Clock Steech {literally translated Bell Alley), a street
between twenty and thirty feet wide. . . :
"Now the fact that the title was taken in the name
of four persons in connection with another circumstance,
disclosed in another Record ; namely, that Robinson was the
only one of the four who lived in the house — goes to show
that the purchase was for a general object ; of which he, the
Pastor, was the leader.
"This deed was found recorded in Register M. M., page
105, of Indemnifications (JProtocollen van Waerbrieoen) ; and
was doubtless so recorded as a security to the Granter, for
the balance of the purchase money."
155
156 Rev. John Robinsons house at Leyden.
We, PiETER Akentszoon Deyman and Amelis van
HOGEVEEN, Schepens [Aldermen or Town Magistrates] in
Leyden, make known that before us came JoHAN DE
Lalaing, declaring, for himself and his heirs, that he
had sSld, and by these presents does sell, to Jan
RoBiNSZOON, Minister of GOD's Word of the English
Congregation in this city, WiLLEM Jepson, Henry
Wood, and Raynulph [ = Ralph'] Tickens, who has
married Jane White— jointly and each for himself
an equal fourth part — a house and ground, with a
garden situated on the west side thereof, standing
and being in this city on the south side of the
Pieter's KerckhofF [grounds of Peter's Church] near
the Belfry ; formerly called the Groene Port [Green
Gate].
Bounded and having situated on the one side,
eastwardly, a certain small room, which the Comparant
[the Appearer or Granter] reserves to himself; being
over the door of the house hereby sold : next thereto is
Willem Simonszoon van der Wilde; and next to
him, the residence of the Commandarije. And on the
other side, westwardly, having the Widow and Heirs
of HuYCK van Alckemade; and next to him, the
Comparant himself; and next to him is the Donckere
Graft [the Dark Canal], which is also situated on the
west of the aforesaid garden ( ; and next to it, is the
Falide BagynhofF [Veiled Nuns' Cloister]) extending
from the street of the Kerckhofi* aforesaid, to the rear
of the Falide BagynhofF beforenamed.
All, and so, as the aforesaid house is at present built
and made, used and occupied ; with everything thereto
attached [aert-ennagelvast, fastened to the ground or
nailed], to him, the Comparant, belonging : subject to a
yearly rent charge of eleven stivers and twelve pence
Rev. John Robinsons house at Ley den. 157
[ = say 20 English pence then] * payable to the Heer van
POELGEEST.
And he, the Comparant, promises the aforesaid house
and ground, upon the conditions aforesaid, to warrant
and defend from all other incumbrances with which
the same may be charged, for a year and a day, and
for ever, as is just: hereby binding thereto all his
property, moveable and immoveable, now owned, or
hereafter to be owned by him, without any exception.
Further making known that he, the Comparant, is
paid for the aforesaid purchase, and fully satisfied
therewith, the sum of eight thousand guilders * [ = £1,400
English then], the last penny with the first : and
that with a purchase money lien — two thousand
guilders [ = £350 English then], being paid down ; and
five hundred guilders [ £87, 10s. English then] to be paid
in May 1612, and annually thereafter, until all be paid.
And this all in good faith, and without fraud.
In witness of these presents, we have set our seals,
the 5th of May 1611.
(Signed) J. Swanenburch.
"The Grantees in this conveyance, besides Robinson
himself, were members of his Congregation; as we find by
the Record of Marriages. None of them went to America.
"Jepson bought out the interest of the others, on the
13th of December 1629, after Robinson's death. He is
described in this second conveyance as a Carpenter.
"Tickens was the brother-in-law of Robinson; whose
* A Dutch Single Stiver =x 1| English Penny ; and as 20 Single Stivers
went to the Carolus Guilder, that wonld, theoretically, have been worth
23. S^d. English money. But, actually, the Carolus Guilder seems to have
been worth, in the way of exchange, 3s. 6d. — E. A.
158 Rev, John Robinson's house at Ley den.
wife Bridget was the sister of Jane White. Roger White,
who communicated from Leyden, to Governor Bradford,
the death of Robinson, was the brother of Mrs Robinson.
From the circumstance that Jane White's name is
mentioned in the deed, it may be inferred that the money
for Tickens' share came from her. Tickens is described as
a Looking-Glass Maker.
"In 1637, Jepson, who had become the sole owner, having
died; the property was conveyed by the Guardians of his
children, to Stoffel Janszoon Ellis : and thus ceased to be
held any longer by the Brownists.
" The house was taken down, with a number of others, in
1681-3, for the purpose of erecting a Hof for the Walloons ;
still remaining, called Pesyn's Hof [A Home for aged
Walloons?)^ There are over forty of these Hofs in Leyden."
CHAPTER XVII.
The Inmates of the Rev. John Robinson's house
IN Bell Alley, Leyden ; on
Saturday, 6/15 October 1622.
C. M. [the Hon. Henry 0. Murphy] states, in
the Historical Magazine III., 332, Boston and
, New York, 18.59, 4, that
" The other Record to which we referred
as showing that Robinson alone resided in the house —
excepting, of course, the room over the door, reserved by
JoHAN DE Lalaing — is a List of those rated for a Poll
Tax, on the 15th of October 1622, in the Bon or Wyk
(that is, a small district set off for municipal purposes),
called The Seven Houses.
" The only persons mentioned as living in this house are
those composing Robinson's family; making, with himself,
nine in all. They are named as follows : "
John Robinson, Minister.
Brugitt^ [Bridget] Robinson, his wife.
James
Brugitta
Isaac
Mercy
Fear
Jacob
Mary Hardy, Maid-servant
Robinson's children.
I
" The only further mention of any portion of the family
159
i6o Isaac Robinson.
that we have noticed, is the marriage of the daughter
Bridget, on the 10th and 26th May 1629 \N.S\ to John
Grynwich, Student of Theology, Young Man.
" On that occasion, Robinson's Widow attended as a
witness."
In this connection, it may be useful to record the following
fact concerning the third child above mentioned.
'O
A fragment of Judge Sewall's Journal^ during his judicial
circuit in the Old Colony, in 1702, reads thus.
Saturday, April 4th. Saw Lieut. HowLAND upon
the road ; who tells us, he was born February 24th 1626,
at our Plymouth.
Visit Master [Isaac] Robinson, who saith, He is 92
years old ; is the son of Master Robinson, Pastor of the
Church of Ley den ; part of which came to Plymouth.
But, to my disappointment, he came not to New England
till the year [1631] in which Master Wilson was
returning to England; after the settlement of Boston.
I told him [I] was very desirous to see him ; for his
father's sake, and his own. Gave him an Arabian piece
of gold, to buy a book for some of his grandchildren.
Historical Magazine, Vol. IV., p. 6, Boston and New York,
1860, 4.
CHAPTER XVIIL
The Marriages of Forefathers that were
REGISTERED AT THE StADHUIS, OR CiTY HaLL,
Leyden; between 1611 and 1621.
C. M. [the Hon. Henry C. Murphy] in the
Historical Magazine, Yol. III., pp. 261-263,
vm r^n w^* ^^^> Boston and New York, 1859, 4, states :
<^qgpQ»^ urpj^e Begistrar, or Clerk, spelt the names
according to his own ear, and the powers of the Dutch
alphabet. The consequence is that there is hardly a
name, either of a person or place, of English derivation
correctly spelt. Still, in most of the cases, the English name
shines through the Dutch covering sufficiently distinct. In
those cases, in which we have not been able to recognise it,
we give the orthography as it is in the Record, and in italics.
*' The Minute of each marriage is very full, giving, as
it were, a succinct history of the previous condition in life of
both parties. It furnishes the dates of the First Publication
of the Bans, and of the Marriage ; the names of the parties to
the ceremony ; the occupation of the Bridegroom ; the places
of birth of both; their previous condition as to marriage,
whether widowed or not ; and if widowed, the name of the
deceased : and is accompanied by the names of two or three
friends, on each side, to prove their identity.
"The names which occur of the Pilgrims are not very
numerous ; though there is a goodly number of them, and
some of the most distinguished.
"For convenience we wiU take them up in the order of
the arrival of the ships in America."
The Pilgrim Fathers. 161 L
1 62 Marriages of Forefathers at Ley den.
I. Those who came over in 1620,
in the Mayflower.
1611, October 4, November 4.— Degoky Priest, of
London, in England ; accompanied by William Lysle,
and Samuel Fuller, as witnesses, with
Sarah Vincent, of London, Widow of John
Vincent; accompanied by Jane JJiggens, and
Rosamond Jepson, as witnesses.
" Degory Priest died in the general sickness which
carried off so many of the First Comers, shortly after his
arrival in America. His Wife did not accompany him in the
Mayflower.
" It appears by a subsequent Minute in this Record, that
she married again, on the 13th of November 1621, with
GoDDARD Godbert; and is there called 'Sarah Allerton,
Widow of Degory Priest.'
" She was probably related to Isaac Allerton, as we
find the marriage of the latter on the same day as hers with
Degory Priest, as follows : " [see page 376.]
1611. October 4, November 4. — Isaac Allerton,
Young Man (that is, having never been married before),
of London, in England ; accompanied by Edward
Southworth, Richard Masterson, and Ranulph
[ = Ralph] Tickens, as witnesses, with
Mary Norris, Maid, of Newbury, in England ;
accompanied by Anna Fuller, and Dillen Carpenter
as witnesses.
" Isaac Allerton who, upon the death of John Carver
the first Governor of the Colony, was chosen Assistant, was,
as we learn from another Record, a Tailor."
1612. January 27, February 1. — William White, Wool
Marriages of Forefathers at Ley den. 163
Carder, Young Man, of England, accompanied by
William Jepson and Samuel Fuller, with
Anna Fuller, Maid, of England, accompanied by
Rosamond Jepson, and Sarah Priest.
" William White died shortly after reaching America ;
and his Widow became the second Wife of Edward Winslow,
whose first marriage we find in our Record."
1613. March 15, April 30. — Samuel Fuller, Say
\This word means Silk, also Satin, and likewise Serge]
Maker, of London, in England; Widower of Elsie
Glascock; accompanied by Alexander Carpenter,
William Hoyt his brother in law, Roger Wilson, and
Edward Southworth, with
Agnes Carpenter, Maid, of Wrentham, in England;
accompanied by Agnes White, and Alice Carpenter
her sister.
" Samuel Fuller was the future Physician of the
Colony. Agnes, his Wife by this marriage, did not live
long : and he married, as we will presently see, his third
Wife in Leyden.
" Alice Carpenter became the second Wife of Governor
Bradford. She came to America a Widow."
1613. November 8, November 30. — William
Bradford, Fustian [This word now means Corduroy,
also Moleskin, and likewise Velveteen] Maker, Young
Man, of Austerfield, in England, with
Dorothy May of Witzbuts [? Wisbeach], in England.
Is not identified ; but presents a Certificate.
"Dorothy May was drowned on the 7th of December
1620, in Cape Cod harbour. Her father is mentioned by
Roger White in a letter, from Leyden, to Governor
Bradford, ia 1625."
164 Marriages of Forefathers at Ley den.
1613. November 30, December 21.— MosES Fletcher,
Smith, of England, Widower of Maria Evans;
accompanied by William Lysle, and William Bradford,
with
Sarah Dingby, also of England, Widow of
William Dingby, accompanied by Sarah Priest, and
Margaret S a very.
"Moses Fletcher died in the general sickness."
1617. May 12, May 27. — Samuel Fuller, Say
Maker, of England, Widower of Anna Carpenter;
accompanied by Samuel Lee his future brother in
law, with
Bridget Lee, Maid, of England ; accompanied by J00&
Lee, her mother.
1618. May 27, May 16.— Edward Winslow, Printer,
Young Man, of London, in England ; accompanied by
Jonathan Williams, and Isaac Allerton, with
Elizabeth Barker, Maid, from Ohatsum (Chester?),
in England ; accompanied by Jane Phesel, her niece ;
and Mary Allerton.
II. Those who came over m 1621,
in the Fortune.
"The first of these was William Bassett. His Bans
were published first with Mary Butler, on the 19th of
March 1611 ; but she died before the third publication.
" He soon found, however, another bride."
1611. July 29, August 13. — William Bassett,
Englishm.an, Widower of Cecil Lecet\ accompanied
by Roger Wilson, and Edward Goddard, with
Margaret Oldham, Maid, from England ; accompanied
by Wybran Tavtes, [? Pantes] and Elizabeth Neal.
" In the division of the lands by the General Court of
Marriages of Forefathers at Ley den. 165
the Colony, on the 22nd of May 1627, the name of the Wife
of William Bassett is given as Elizabeth Bassett, as there
are two of that name mentioned in his family."
1617. May 19, June 3. — Kobert Cushman, Wool
Carder, of Canterbury, in England ; Widower of Sarah
Cushman ; accompanied by John ICebel with
Mary Chingleton ( ? Singleton), of Sandwich,
Widow of Thomas Chingleton ; accompanied by
Catherine Carver \i}ie wife of John Carver].
III. Those who came over in 1623, m the
Ann and Little James.
1612. July 6, July 23.— George Morton, Englishman,
of York, in England, Merchant; accompanied by his
brother Thomas Morton, and Roger Wilson ;
with
Julia Ann Carpenter, Maid, accompanied by her father,
Alexander Carpenter, her sister Alice Carpenter,
and Anna Robinson; as witnesses.
1614. Sept. 5, November 1. John Jenne[y], Young
Man, Brewer's Man, of Norwich, in England; living
in Rotterdam ; accompanied by Roger Wilson ;
with
Sarah Carey, Maid, of Moncksoon, in England;
accompanied by Joanna Lyons.
" The last of the Forefathers whom we have been enabled
to discover in this List, is Stephen Tracy."
1620. December 18, 1621, January 2nd. — Stephen
Tracy, Say Maker, Young Man, from England ;
accompanied by Anthony Clemens; with
1 66 Mar7'iages of Forefathers at Ley den,
Trifasa Le , Maid, of England ; accompanied by
Pruce Jennings.
" There were some who came to America afterwards ; but
they are not reckoned among the First Comers.
"The only one of them, however, whom we have been
enabled to discover, is Richard Masterson ; who was of the
number who, in 1625, addressed a letter to Bradford and
Brewster."
1619. November 8, November 26. — Richard Master-
son, Wool Carder, Young Man, of Sandwich, in England ;
accompanied by William Talbot, and John Ellis
his brother in law, with
Mary Goodall, Maid, of Leicester, in England ;
accompanied by Elizabeth Kibbel [ ? Keble ] and
Mary Finch.
CHAPTER XIX.
Other Marriages of English Exiles registered at
THE Stadhuis, or City Hall, Leyden;
between 1610 AND 1617.
C. M. [the Hon. Henry C. Murphy] continues,
" There are others of Robinson's Congregation,
in this Record, who did not emigrate to
America ; as we may judge from the names
of the witnesses.
" Thus William Brewster is given as a Witness :
on behalf of William Pantes, Fustian Maker,* from near
Dover, on his marriage
with Wybra Hauson, Maid, on the 4:th December 1610:
on behalf of Raynulph [ = Ealph] Tickens, Young Man, of
London ;
with Jane White, Maid, of JBehel^ on the 11th of April
1611:
and for William Buckrum, Block Maker, Young Man, ol
* With the exception of Thomas Brewer, who was a Gentleman, and
a landed proprietor, of Kent ; and of Merchants, like George Morton,
Edward Pickering, &c. : most of the members of the Pilgrim Church,
during their stay in Holland, had to support themselves by handicrafts ;
whether they had done so before in England, or not. It was the only
possible way of getting a living in a Dutch city, at that time. Governor
Bradford tells us, at page 87, that the Scrooby contingent were
agriculturists. Commerce, Fishing, Handicrafts, and Agriculture were
the four chief ways in which the Dutch then made their money. — E. A.
167
1 68 Other Marriages of English Exiles.
Ipswich ;
with Elizabeth Neal, Maid, of Scrooby, on the 17th of
December 1611,
*' William Bradford is, in the same manner, witness at the
marriage
of Henry Crullins, Bombazine Worker, Widower, of
England, residing at Amsterdam ;
with Elizabeth Pettinger, Maid, of Moortel^ on the 20th of
November 1613.
" And John Carver appears, in the same capacity, on
behalf
of John Gillies^ Merchant, of Essex ; Widower of Elizabeth
Pettinger ; on his marriage
with Rose Lysle, Maid, of Yarmouth, on the 23rd of March
1617."
CHAPTER XX.
The Registration at the Stadhuis, or City Hall, of
SUCH Members of the Pilgrim Church as were
admitted Citizens, or Freemen, of Leyden;
between 1612 AND 1615.
ROM the Book of Admissions. The number was
only three.
1612. March 30. — William Bradford,
Englishman; admitted upon the proof and
security of Roger Wilson and William Lysle.
1614. February 7. — Isaac Allerton, Englishman,
of London ; admitted upon the proof and security of
Roger Wilson and Henry Wood.
1615. November 16. — Degory Priest, Hatter, of
England ; admitted upon the proof and security of
Roger Wilson, Say Draper, and Isaac Allerton,
Tailor.
H. C. M, [the Hon. Henry C. Murphy] as before.
169
CHAPTEK XXL
The Members of the Pilgrim Church, and some
OTHER British subjects, who matriculated
AT Leyden University. 1609 — 1620.
,OCTOR W. N. DU RIETJ, the present Chief
Librarian of this famous University, has
published, as a tercentenary memorial of its
foundation, a nominal List of all the Rectors,
Curators, Professors, and Students of the University in the
city of Leyden, under the title of Album Studiosorum,
Academice Lugduno Batavce^ 1575 — 1875. Accedunt nomina
Guratorum et Professorum per eadem secula. Hagse Comitum,
1875, 4.
Prom this list, we extract six names : three only of which,
Braeber [ = Brewer], Robinson, and Brewster, seem to be
members of the Separatist Church at Leyden; though, as
appears from page 187, Bastwick attended that Church while
studying at the University.
From the fact of married men, well on in life, matriculating ;
it would seem that doing so, gave position in Leyden society.
17/27 April 1610. Robertus Dur^eus,
[set.] 55, ' Anglicanee
Ecclesiae Min.
Notice that this Minister of the Scotch Presbyterian
Church is called the Minister of the English Church.
7/17 February 1615. Thomas Braeber,
Anglus, [aet.] 35, L.
[Litterarum Studiosus.]
170
Matriculations at Leyde^t University, 171
We take this to be the matriculation of Thomas Brewer,
of whom so much is said at pp. 195-247. His name, properly-
spelt, does not occur in this Album. It happens, however,
that his Christian name, Thomas, was an extremely infrequent
one among the Students : so that, combined with the word
Englishman, would seem to settle the matter. As he is
stated, at page 247, to have been 65 when he died in December
1640; the above age also roughly agrees.
26 August /5 September 1615. Joannes Kobintsonus,
Anglus, [set.] 39, T.
[Theologise Studiosus].
Notice that the Register does not say that he was the
" Minister of the English Church," as it said of Drury.
Doctor H. Martyn Dexter {Congregationalism due, p. 360,
New York, 1880, 8.) gives us the full wording of this entry.
September 5, 1615. Coss. permissu [After leave by
the Magistrates], Joannes Robints[onus — evidently
subsequently added]] Anglus, an. xxxix, Stud. Theol:
alit familiam [He has a family].
4/14 January 1617. Joannes Bastwyck,
Anglus, [aet.] 22, P. et
[see page 186] Pol. [Philosophise et
Politices Studiosus.]
3o August /9 September 1617. Alexander Leighton,
Anglus Londinensis,
[set.] 40, M. Cand.
[Medicinae Candidatus.]
12/22 May 1619. Robertus Brewster,
Anglus, [set.] 20, L.
[Litterarum Studiosus.]
CHAPTER XXII
GovERNOK Bradford's panegyric of the Church
Order of the exiled English Churches
AT Amsterdam and Leyden.
FTER what has gone before, the Reader cannot
accept this rose-coloured description, written in
1648, some thirty years after the events, as an
accurate and complete statement of affairs.
One cause of satisfaction there would undoubtedly be. That
whatever the merits or the demerits, of the organization might
be ; it had this crowning advantage. That it originated from the
people : and was not imposed upon them from above, by an
act of royal authority.
Truly, there were in them [those two Churches that
were so long in exile] many worthy men ; and, if you had
seen them in their beauty and order as we have done, you
would have been much affected therewith, we dare say.
At Amsterdam, before their division and breach, they
were about three hundred communicants. And they
had for their Pastor and Teacher, those two eminent
men before named [Francis Johnson and Henry
Ainsworth] ; and, in our time [1607 — 1609], four grave
men for Ruling Elders ; and three able and godly
men for Deacons : one ancient Widow for a Deaconess ;
who did them service many years, though she was
sixty years of age when she was chosen. She
honoured her place, and was an ornament to the
Congregation. She usually sat in a convenient place in
the Congregation, with a little birchen rod in her hand ;
172
Gov. w. Bradford. Pauegyvic of tkc Church Order. 173
and kept little children in great awe, from disturbing
the Congregation. She did frequently visit the sick and
weak, especially women ; and, as there was need, called
out Maids and young Women to watch, and do them
other helps, as their necessity did require : and, if they
were poor, she would gather relief for them, of those
that were able ; or acquaint the Deacons. And she was
obeyed as a Mother in Israel, and an Officer of Christ.
And for the Church of Leyden, they were sometimes
not much fewer in number ; nor at all inferior in able
men : though they had not so many Officers as the
other. For they had but one Ruling Elder [William
Brewster] with their Pastor ; a man well approved and
of great integrity. Also they had three able men for
Deacons [John Carver, Samuel Fuller, and ? ].
And that which was a crown unto them, they
lived together in love and peace all their days ;
without any considerable differences, or any disturb-
ance that grew thereby, but such as was easily healed
in love : and so they continued until, with mutual
consent, they removed into New England. And what
their condition hath been since, some of you that are of
their children do see and can tell.
Many worthy and able men there were, in both places,
who lived and died in obscurity in respect of the World,
as private Christians : yet were they precious in the
eyes of the Lord, and also in the eyes of such as knew
them. Whose virtues we, with such of you as are their
children, do follow and imitate. First Dialogue &c.,
Printed in A. Young's Chronicles &c., pp. 455, 456, 1841, 8.
But for all the above ; the mutual hatred between
members of the Reverend Henry Ainsworth's Church, and
the Reverend John Robinson's, will frequently crop up
in the following Story.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Rev. John Robinson and the Pilgkim Church
AT LeYDEN ; AND THEIR RELATIONS TO THE
OTHER Reformed Churches.
1609—1625.
OYERNOR BRADFORD is very brief here, as
often elsewhere; where we should have been
very thankful, if he had said more.
Master John Robinson was Pastor of
that famous Church at Leyden in Holland ; a man not
easily to be paralleled for all things : whose singular
virtues we shall not take upon us here to describe;
neither need we, for they so well are known both by
friends and enemies.
As he was a man learned, and of solid judgement,
and of a quick and sharp wit ; so was he also of a
tender conscience, and very sincere in all his ways ; a
hater of hypocrisy and dissimulation, and would be very
plain with his best friends. He was very courteous,
affable, and sociable in his conversation ; and towards
his own people especially.
He was an acute and expert disputant, very quick
and ready ; and had much bickering with the Arminians,
who stood more in fear of him than [of] any of the
University [of Leyden].
He was never satisfied in himself until he had
searched any cause, or argument, he had to deal in,
thoroughly and to the bottom. And we have heard him
174
Robinson and the Pilgrim Church, 175
sometimes say to his familiars, That, many times, both
in writing and disputation, he knew he had sufficiently
answered others ; but, many times, not himself. And
[he] was ever desirous of any light : and the more able,
learned, and holy the persons were; the more he
desired to confer and reason with them.
He was very profitable in his Ministry, and
comfortable to his people. He was much beloved of
them : and as loving was he to them ; and entirely
sought their good for body and soul.
In a word, he was much esteemed and reverenced
of all that knew him ; and his abilities [were
acknowledged] both of friends and strangers.
But we resolved to be brief in this matter ; leaving
you to better and more large information herein from
others.
»
First Dialogue &c. [Written in 1648.] Printed in
A. Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, pp.
451-452, 1841, 8.
THE ECCLESIASTICAL POSITION OF THE PILGRIM
CHURCH AT LEYDEN. 1609 — 1625.
Governor Winslow thus defines the ecclesiastical position
of the Pilgrim Church ; and in doing so, gives us Robinson's
celebrated Farewell Address to the Mayflower Pilgrims.
Having thus briefly shewed that the foundation of
our New England Plantations was not laid upon schism,
division, or separation; but upon love, peace, and
holiness : yea, such love and mutual care of the Church
of Leyden for the spreading of the Gospel, the welfare
176 Robinson and the Pilgrim Church,
of each other, and their posterities to succeeding
generations, as is seldom found on earth. And having
shewed also that the Primitive Churches are the only
pattern which the Churches of Christ in New England
have in their eye; not following Luther, Calvin,
Knox, Ainsworth, Robinson, Ames, or any other,
further than they follow Christ and his Apostles : I am
earnestly requested to clear up another gross mistake
which caused many, and still doth, to judge the harder
of New Eno-land, and the Churches there: "because,"
say they, " the Church of Plymouth, which went first to
Leyden, were Schismatics, Brownists, Rigid Separatists,
&c. ; having Master Robinson for their Pastor : who
made, and to the last professed, separation from
other the Churches of Christ, &c. And the
rest of the Churches in New England, holding
communion with that Church, are to be reputed such
as they are." :
For answer to this aspersion. First, he that knew
Master Robinson, either by his doctrine daily taught;
or hath read his Apology published [m its English
version in 1625] not long before his death; or knew
the practice of that Church of Christ under his
government; or was acquainted with the wholesome
counsel he gave that part of the Church which went
for New England at their departure, and afterward :
might easily resolve the doubt, and take ofi" the
aspersion.
For his doctrine (I living three years [1617 — 1620]
under his Ministry, before we began the work of
Plantation in New England), it was always against
separation from any [of] the Churches of Christ;
professing and holding communion both with the French
Robinson and the Pilgrim Church. 177
and Dutch [Reformed] Churches ; yea, tendering it to the
Scots also, as I shall make appear more particularly anon :
ever holding forth how wary persons ought to be in
separating from a Church; and that till Christ the
Lord departed wholly from it, manought not to leave it,
only to bear witness against the corruption that was in it.
But if any object, He separated from the Church of
England, aud wrote largely against it. I acknowledge
he wrote largely against it : but yet, let me tell you,
he allowed hearing the godly Ministers [of that
Church] preach and pray \i.e. in extempore prayer]
in the Public Assemblies. Yea, he allowed private
communion not only with them; but [with] all that
were faithful in Christ Jesus in the Kingdom
of England] and elsewhere, upon all occasions: yea
[honoured them [the Puritan Anglican Clergy], for
the power of godliness, above all the other Professors
of religion in the world. Nay, I may truly say, his
spirit cleaved unto them [the Puritan Anglican
Clergy], being so well acquainted with the integrity of
their hearts, and care to walk blameless in their lives :
which was no small motive to him to persuade us to
remove from Holland [to] where we might probably
not only continue English; but have and maintain such
sweet communion with the godly of that nation, as
through GOD's great mercy we enjoy this day.
'Tis true, I confess, he was more rigid in his course
and way at first, than towards his latter end. For his
study was peace and union, so far as might agree with
faith and a good conscience ; and for schism and division,
there was nothing in the world more hateful to him.
But for the government of the Church of England as
it was in the Episcopal Way ; the Liturgy and stinted
Prayers of the Church then ; yea, the constitution of it
The Pilgrim Fathers. M
178 Robinson and the Pilgrim Church.
as National, and so consequently the corrupt communion
of the unworthy, with the worthy, receivers of the Lord's
Supper : these things were never approved of him, but
witnessed against, to his death ; and are by the Church
over which he was, to this day. . . .
In the next place, I should speak of Master
Robinson's Apology ; wherein he maketh a brief defence
against many adversaries, &c. But because it is both
in Latin [Apologia justa &c., 1619] and English [A just
and necessary Apology &c., 1625 and 1644], of small
price [i.e. cheap in price], and easy to be had : I shall
forbear to write of it ; and only refer the Reader to it,
for the differences between his Congregation and other
the Reformed Churches.
The next thing I would have the Reader take notice
of is. That however the Church of Leyden differed in
some particulars ; yet [it] made no schism or separation
from the Reformed Churches : but held communion with
them occasionally. For we ever placed a large difference
between those that grounded their practice upon the
Word of GOD, though differing from us in the
exposition or understanding of it ; and those that hated
such Reformers and Reformation, and went on in
antichristian opposition to it aud persecution of it, as
the late Lord Bishops did. ...
As for the Dutch, it was usual for our members that
understood the language, and lived in, or occasionally
came over to, London [? Leyden], to communicate with
them : as one John Jenney, a brewer, his wife and family,
&c., long did ; and without any offence to the Church.
So also for any that had occasion to travel into any
other part of the Netherlands ; they daily [that is, not
every day ; hut usually] did the like.
Robinson and the Pilgrim Church. 179
And our Pastor, Master Robinson, in the time when
Arminianism prevailed so much, at the request of the
most orthodox Divines as [John] Polyander, Festus
HoMMius, &c,, disputed daily [? 1616] in the Academy
at Leyden, against [Simon Bischop, or] Episcopius
and others, the grand champions of that error
\Arwjinianis7ri\ ; and had as good respect amongst
them, as any of their own Divines. Insomuch as when
GOD took him away from them and us by death ; the
University and Ministers of the city accompanied him
to his grave with all their accustomed solemnities :
bewailing the great loss that not only that particular
Church had, whereof he was Pastor; but some of the
Chief of them sadly \B6beTl'y\ affirmed. That all the
Churches of Christ sustained a loss by the death
of that worthy Instrument of the Gospel.
I could instance also divers of their members
\i.e. of the Dutch Refor'med Church] that understood
the English tongue, and betook themselves to the
communion of our Church; [who] went with us to
New England, as Godbert Godbertson [afterwards
corrupted to Cuthbert Cuthbertson], &c. Yea, at this
very instant [1646], another called MosES Symonson
[or SiMONSON; afterwards corrupted to Simmons],
because [he was] a child of one that was in communion
with the Dutch Church at Leyden, is admitted into
Church fellowship at Plymouth in New England;
and his children also to baptism as well as our
own. And other Dutch [are] also in communion
at Salem, &c.
And as for the French [Reformed] Churches, that we
held, and do hold, communion with them, take notice
of our practice at Leyden, viz. That one Samuel Terry
[Ferrier, as at page 274] was received, from the
1 80 Robinson and the Pilgrim Church.
French Church there, into communion with us. Also
[Hester Cooke] the wife of Francis Cooke, being
a Walloon, holds communion with the Church at
Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day;
by virtue of communion of Churches.
There is also one Philip de la Noye [afterwards
corrupted to Delano], born of French parents, came
to us from Leyden, to New Plymouth : who, coming
to age of discerning, demanded also communion with
us; and, proving himself to be come of such parents
as were in full communion with the French Churches,
was hereupon admitted by the Church of Plymouth.
And after, upon his removal of habitation to Duxbury,
where Master Ralph Partridge is Pastor of the Church ;
and upon Letters of Recommendation from the Church
at Plymouth : he was also admitted into fellowship with
the Church at Duxbury, being six miles distant from
Plymouth. And so, I dare say, if his occasions lead him,
may [be admitted] from Church to Church throughout
New England.
For the truth is, the Dutch and French Churches,
either of them, being a people distinct from the
World, and gathered into a holy communion (and
not National Churches — nay, so far from it, as
I verily believe, the sixth person [of the population]
is not of the [Reformed] Church); the difference is
so small, if moderately pondered, between them and
us, as we dare not, for the world, deny communion
with them.
And for the Church of Scotland, however we have
had least occasion offered to hold communion with
them ; yet thus much I can and do affirm :
That a godly Divine [David Calderwood] coming
over to Leyden in Holland, where a book was printed,
Robinson and the Pilgrim Church. 1 8 1
anno 1619, as I take it, showing the nullity of [the] Perth
Assembly * ; whom we judged to be the author of it, and
[who was] hidden in Holland for a season, to avoid the
rage of those evil times : whose name I have forgotten.
This man, being very conversant with our Pastor, Master
Robinson; and using to come to hear him on the
Sabbath : after Sermon ended, the Church being to
partake in the Lord's Supper, this Minister stood up and
desired [that] he might, without offence, stay and see
the manner of his administration [of], and [of] our
participation in, that Ordinance.
To whom our Pastor answered in these very words,
or to this effect : " Reverend Sir, You may not only
stay to behold us ; but partake with us, if you please :
for we acknowledge the Churches of Scotland to be the
Churches of Christ, &c."
The Minister also replied to this purpose, if not also
* That Calderwood was the author of the book entitled Perth
Assembly, 1619 ; he tells us himself, in the following passage in his The
True History of the Church of Scotland, p. 732, Ed. 1678, fol.
"The same day afternoon [Friday, 11/21 June 1619], after the
King's letter was read in the Secret Council [the Privy Council of Scotlandy
at Edinburgh] the Captain of the Guard was directed immediately to search
James Cathkine, Richard Lawson, and Andrew Hart, Booksellers
[at Edinburgh], their booths and houses ; for all writs [writings] books
and pamphlets, as it pleased them to call them, set forth against
[the] Perth Assembly [of 25th-27th August 1618]: and, in special, the
book entituled Perth Assembly, which was spread [distributed] in the
beginning of June [1619]. But neither the book, nor the author Master
David Calderwood, was found. ...
" The Author of the book, from this time forth, removed from place
to place, as the Lord provided for him, till the 27th of August [1619,
O.S.] ; at which time he embarked, and departed out of the country."
How the printing, by William Brewster, of Calderwood's two
books Perth Assemhly, and De regimine Ecclesice ScoticancE brevis Relation
led to the suppression of the Pilgrim Press at Leyden, is fully told
at pp., 195-247.— E. A.
1 82 Robinson and the Pilgrim Church,
in the[se] same words : " That, for his part, he could
comfortably partake with the Church; and willingly
would : but that it is possible some of his brethren of
Scotland might take offence at his act ; which he desired
to avoid, in regard of the opinion the English Churches
(which they held communion withal) had of us."
However he rendered thanks to Master Robinson ; and.
desired, in that respect, to be only a spectator of us. . .
In the next place, for the wholesome counsel,
Master Robinson gave that part of the Church whereof
he was Pastor, at their departure from him [1620], to
begin the great work of Plantation in New England.
Amongst other wholesome instructions and
exhortations, he used these expressions, or to the
same purpose :
We were now, ere long, to part asunder; and the
Lord knoweth whether ever he should live to see our
faces again. But whether the Lord had appointed it
or not ; he charged us, before GOD and his blessed
angels, to follow him no further than he followed
Christ: and if GOD should reveal anything to us
by any other Instrument of his, to be as ready to
receive it, as ever we were to receive any truth by
his Ministry. For he was very confident the Lord
had more truth and light yet to break forth out of
his holy Word.
He took occasion also miserably to bewail the state
and condition of the Reformed Churches, who were come
to a period \jvbll si<yp\ in religion ; and would go no
further than the Instruments of their Reformation. As,
for example, the Lutherans : they could not be drawn
to go beyond what LuTHER saw. For whatever part of
GOD's will, he had further imparted and revealed to
Robinson and the Pilgrim Church. 183
Calvin ; they will rather die than embrace it. " And
so, also," saith he, " you see the Calvinists. They stick
where he left them : a misery much to be lamented.
*' For though they were precious shining lights in
their Times ; yet GOD had not revealed his whole will
to them : and were they now living," saith he, " they
would be as ready and willing to embrace further light,
as that they had received."
Here also he put us in mind of our Church Covenant ;
at least that part of it whereby " we promise and
covenant with GOD, and one with another, to receive
whatsoever light or truth shall be made known to us from
his written Word " : but withal exhorted us to take heed
what we received for truth ; and well to examine and
compare, and weigh it with other Scriptures of truth
before we received it. " For," saith he, " it is not
possible the Christian World should come so lately out
of such thick antichristian darkness ; and that full
perfection of knowledge should break forth at once."
Another thing he commended to us, was that we
should use all means to avoid and shake off the name
of " Brownist " ; being a mere nickname and brand to
make religion odious, and the Professors of it, to the
Christian World. " And to that end," said he, " I should
be glad if some godly Minister would go over with you,
before my coming. For," said he, " there will be no
difference between the unconformable Ministers [the
Puritan Anglican Clergy'] and you ; when they come
to the practice of the Ordinances out of the Kingdom."
And so advised us, by all means, to endeavour to close
with the godly party of the Kingdom of England : and
rather to study union than division, viz. : How near we
might possibly, without sin, close with them ; than, in
the least measure, to aifect division or separation from
1 84 Robinson and the Pilgrim Church.
them. " And be not loath to take another Pastor or
Teacher," saith he ; " for that Flock that hath two
Shepherds is not indangered ; but secured by it."
Many other things there were of great and weighty
consequence, which he commended to us. But these
things I thought good to relate, at the request of some
well-willers to the peace and good agreement of the
godly — so distracted at present [1646] about the settling
of Church Government in the Kingdom of England —
that so both sides may truly see what this poor
despised Church of Christ, now at New Plymouth in
New England, but formerly at Leyden in Holland, was,
and is; [and] how far they were, and still are, from
separation from the Churches of Christ, especially
those that are Reformed.
'Tis true, we profess and desire to practice a
separation from the World and the works of the World ;
which are works of the flesh, such as the Apostle
speaketh of. Ephes. v. 19-21, 1 Cor. vi. 9-11, Ephes. ii.
11, 12. And as the Churches of Christ are all Saints
by Calling; so we desire to see the grace of GOD
shining forth, at least seemingly (leaving secret things
to GOD), in all we admit into Church fellow^ship with
us : and to keep ofi" such as openly wallow in the mire
of their sins : that neither the holy things of GOD,
nor the communion of the Saints, may be leavened or
polluted thereby.
And if any (joining to us formerly either when we
lived at Leyden in Holland, or since we came to New
England) have, with the manifestation of their faith and
profession of holiness, held forth therewith separation
from the Church of England : I have, divers times, both
in the one place and the other, heard either Master
Robinson and the Pilgrim Church. 185
Robinson our Pastor, or Master Brewster our Elder, ^
stop them forthwith : shewing them, That we required
no such things at their hands ; but only to hold forth
faith in Christ Jesus, holiness in the fear of GOD, and
submission to every ordinance and appointment of GOD :
leaving the Church of England to themselves and to the
Lord, before whom they should stand or fall ; and to
whom we ought to pray to reform what was amiss
amongst them. Now this Reformation we have lived
to see performed and brought about \by the abolition of
Bishops in England\ by the mighty power of GOD, this
day in a good measure ; and I hope the Lord Jesus will
perfect his work of Reformation till all be according
to the good pleasure of his will.
By all which, I desire the Reader to take notice of
our former and present practice ; notwithstanding all
the injurious and scandalous taunting reports [that]
are passed on us. And if these things will not satisfy :
but we must still suffer reproach, and others for our
sakes, because they and we thus walk — our practice
being, for aught we know, wholly grounded on the written
Word, without any addition or human invention
known to us: taking our pattern from the Primitive
Churches, as they were regulated by the blessed
Apostles in their own days; who were taught and
instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and had the
unerring and all-knowing Spirit of GOD to bring to
their remembrance .the things they had heard — I say,
if we must still suffer such reproach, notwithstanding
our charity towards them who will not be in charity
with us, GOD's will be done ! Hypocrisy unmasked
cfec, pp. 92-99, Ed. 1646, 4.
1 86 Robinson and the Pilgrim Church,
To this, we may add the testimony of the Rev. John
Paget, Minister of the Scotch Presbyterian Church at
Amsterdam ; who, in his written controversy, during the year
1618, with the Rev. Henry Ainsworth, then the only Leader
left of the Separation in that city, thus refers to the Leyden
Church :
Seeing Master Robinson and his people do now, as
divers of themselves confess, receive the members of the
Church of England into their Congregation ; and this
without any renunciation of the Church of England;
without any repentance " for their idolatries committed"
in the Church of England : how can you hold them \at
LeydcTh] to be a true Church, and communion with them
lawful ? An Arrow against the Separation of the
Brownists, p. 127, Ed. 1618, 4.
One more witness, and his testimony shall suffice. John
Bastwick, who was a fellow sufferer with Burton and
Prynne, was a strong Presbyterian. As we have seen at
page 171, he matriculated at Leyden University on 4/14
January 1617. In the following passage, he sweeps away,
as matters of no account, many things which are very precious
to English Churchmen. Still, his testimony is very important
for two things :
1. The moderate requests of the first English Reformists :
which however were stiffly denied by the Bishops,
notwithstanding; on the principle of Grant one thing;
you must grant all ! Reform coming from below, was
to be resisted to the uttermost.
2. The speech, which we have here printed in a larger
type, of the Rev. John Robinson to him at Leyden.
Writing in 1646, Bastwick tells us :
It is well known that, in the time of the Prelates' power, the
removal of a very few things would have given great content unto
the most scrupulous consciences.
Robinson and the Pilgrim Chu7xh, 187
For I myself can speak thus much, not only concerning the
conscientious Professors here in England, but the most rigid
Separatists beyond the seas ; with many of which, I had familiar
acquaintance at home and abroad : and amongst all that I ever
conversed with, I never heard them, till within these twenty
years [1627 — 1646], desire any other thing in Reformation but
that the Ceremonies might be removed with their Innovations ;
and that Episcopacy might be regulated, and their boundless
power and authority taken from them ; and that the extravagances
of the High Commission Court might be annihilated and made
void ; and that there might, through the Kingdom, be a preaching
Ministry everywhere set up.
This was all that the most, that I was then acquainted with,
desired in the Reformation of Church matters. Indeed, within
these sixteen years [1631 — 1646], I met with some that desired a
more full Reformation : and yet, if they might have enjoyed but
that I now mentioned, they would have been very thankful to
GOD and Authority, and have sat down quietly.
But yet, I say, the extremest extent of their desires reached
but to the removal of all the Ceremonies and Innovations ; the
taking away of the Service Book \_BqoTc of Common Prayer] : and
the putting down of the High Commission Court (which was
called the Court Christian, though it was rather Pagan), and the
removal of the Hierarchy, root and branch ; and the setting up
and establishing of a godly Presbytery through the Kingdom.
This was, I say, all and the uttermost Reformation that was
required by the most scrupulous men then living, that I knew.
Yea, I can speak thus much, in the presence of GOD,
That Master Robinson, of Leyden, the Pastor of the
Brownist Church there, told me, and others who are yet
living to witness the truth of what I now say :
" That if he might in England have enjoyed but the
liberty of his Ministry there, with an immunity but from
the very Ceremonies ; and that they had not forced him
to a Subscription to them, and imposed upon him the
observation of them : that he had never separated from
it, and left that Church."
This I can depose. So that all men may see, the very dispensing
1 88 Robinson and the Pilgrim Church.
with the Ceremonies would then have given great content to the
most austere Professors : how much more may any man suppose,
would they have sat down satisfied, if but the very Ceremonies
then might have been removed.
Surely, if the Prelates had not been infatuated ; and had they
but, in those things, a little connived, and would have abated
somewhat of their rigour ; for aught I know, they might have
never been questioned : but they might have enjoyed all their
honours and greatness, and whatsoever they could have desired ;
and that, with the good liking of all the people. The utter routing
of the whole Army of all the Independants and Sectaries <&c., Sig.
F. 2, 1646, 4.
There is a copy of this rare book in the Bodleian Library.
Press-mark, Mason AA., 477.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Bradford's Life of William Brewster, the Ruling
Elder of the Pilgrim Church.
SHOULD say something of his life; if to
say a little were not worse than to be silent :
but I cannot wholly forbear, though hapily
[haply] more may be done hereafter.
After he had attained some learning, viz. the
knowledge of the Latin tongue and some insight in the
Greek ; and spent some small time at Cambridge * : and
then, being first seasoned with the seeds of grace and
virtue, he went to the Court ; and served that religious
and godly Gentleman, Master [William] Davison
divers years, [before and] when he was Secretary
of State [1586—1587]. Who found him so discreet
and faithful, as he trusted him above all others
that were about him; and only imployed him in all
matters of greatest trust and secrecy. He esteemed him
rather as a son than a servant ; and, for his wisdom and
godliness, in private he would converse with him, more
like a friend and familiar than a master.
He attended his master when he was sent in
ambassage by the Queen into the Low Countries, in the
[Robert Devereux] the Earl of Leicester's time, as for
* He matriculated at Cambridge University on the 3rd December
1580, as a Pensioner of Peterhouse College. — E. A.
189
190 Life of William Brewster, got. w. Bradford.
other weighty Affairs of State, so to receive possession of
the Cautionary Towns [of Flushing, Brielle, and
Rammekins] : and in token and sign thereof, the keys
of Flushing being delivered to him, in Her Majesty's
name, he kept them some time and committed them to
this his servant ; who kept them under his pillow, on
which he slept, the first night. And at his return,
the States [General] honoured him [W. Davison] with
a gold chain : and his master committed it to him ;
and commanded him to wear it, when they arrived in
England, as they rid \rode\ through the country, till
they came to the Court.
He afterwards remained with him till his troubles
\in April 1587], that he was put from his place about
the death of [Mary] the Queen of Scots; and some
good time after [till December 1588] : doing him
many faithful offices of service in the time of his
troubles.
Afterwards he went and lived in the country [i.e
with his father at Scroohy], in good esteem amongst his
friends, and the Gentlemen of those parts ; especially the
godly and religious.
He did much good, in the country [district, or County]
where he lived, in promoting and furthering Religion ;
not only by his practice and example, and provoking
and incouraging of others : but by procuring good
Preachers to [the Parish Churches in] the places
thereabouts; and drawing on of others to assist and
help forward in such a work, he himself [being] most
commonly deepest in the charge, and sometimes above
his ability.
And in this state, he continued many years [? 1589
— ? 1606], doing the best good he could; and walking
Got. w. Bradford. Life of WilliafH Brcivster. 191
according to the light he saw, until the Lord revealed
further unto him.
And, in the end, by the tyranny of the Bishops
against godly Preachers and people, in silencing the one
and persecuting the other; he, and many more of those
times, began to look further into things ; and to see
into the unlawfulness [mrongfulness] of their Callinors,
and the burthen of many anti-christian corruptions :
.which both he, and they, endeavoured to cast off; as they
also did, as in the beginning of this Treatise is to be
seen [see pp. 67-70].
After they were joined together into communion [in
1606], he was a special stay and help unto them. They
ordinarily met at his house on the Lord's Day, which
was a Manor of the Bishop's [the Archbishop of York] ;
and with great love he entertained them when they
came, making pro\4sion for them, to his great charge :
and continued to do so, whilst they could stay in England
[1606—? October 1607].
And when they were to remove out of the country
[England], he was one of the first in all adventures, and
forwardest in any charge. He was the chief of those
that were taken [in, ? October, or ? Kovember, 1607] at
Boston [in Lincolnshire], and suffered the greatest loss ;
and of the Seven that were kept longest in prison, and
after [were] bound over to the Assizes.
After he came into Holland, he suffered much
hardship ; after he had spent the most of his means,
having a great charge and many children : and, in regard
of his former breeding and course of life, not so fit for
many imployments as others were ; especially such as
192 Life of William Brewster, gov, w. Bradford.
were toilsome and laborious. But yet he ever bore his
condition with much cheerfulness and contentation.
Towards the latter part of those twelve years [1608
— 1620] spent in Holland; his outward condition was
mended, and he lived well and plentifully. For he fell
into a way, by reason he had the Latin tongue, to teach
many students who had a desire to learn the English
tongue, to teach them English : and by his method they
quickly attained it with great facility ; for he drew
Rules to learn it by, after the Latin manner. And many
Gentlemen, both Danes and Germans, resorted to him, as
they had time from other studies : some of them being
Great Men's sons.
He also had means to set up printing, by the help of
some friends ; and so had imployment enough : and by
reason of many books which would not be allowed to be
printed in England, they might have had more than they
could do.
But now removing into this country \New England\
all those things were laid aside againe, and a new course
of living must be framed unto ; in which he was no way
unwilling to take his part, and to bear his burden with
the rest. Living many times without bread or corn,
many months together ; having many times nothing but
fish, and often wanting that also; and drunk nothing
but water for many years together, yea, till within five
or six years of his death [1638 or 1639 — 1644]: and
yet, he lived, by the blessing of GOD, in health till very
old age.
And besides that he would labour with his hands
in the fields, as long as he was able; yet, when the
Church had no other Minister, he taught twice every
QoT. w. Bradford. Lifcof William Brewster. 193
Sabbath, and that both powerfully and profitably, to
the great contentment of the hearers, and their
comfortable edification : yea, many were brought to
GOD by his Ministry. He did more in this behalf in
a year than many, that have their hundreds [of pounds]
a year, do in all their lives.
For his personal abilities, he was qualified above
many. He was wise and discreet and well spoken,
having a grave and deliberate utterance, of a very
cheerful spirit ; very sociable and pleasant amongst his
friends ; of a humble and modest mind ; of a peaceable
disposition ; undervaluing himself and his own abilities,
and sometime[s] overvaluing others. Inoffensive and
innocent in his life and conversation ; which gained him
the love of those without as well as those within : yet,
he would tell them plainly of their faults and evils,
both publicly and privately; but in such a manner as
usually was well taken from him.
He was tender hearted and compassionate of such as
were in misery : but especially of such as had been of
good estate and rank, and were fallen unto want or
poverty ; either for goodness' and religion's sake, or by
the injury and oppression of others. He would say. Of
all men, these deserved to be pitied most. And none
did more ofiend and displease him, than such as would
haughtily and proudly carry and lift up themselves,
being risen from nothing ; and having little else in them
to commend them, but a few fine clothes and a little
riches more than others.
»
In teaching, he was very moving and stirring of
affections : also very plain and distinct in what he
taught ; by which means he became the more profitable
The Pilgrim Fathers. N
194 Life of William Brewster, gov. w. Bradford.
to the hearers. He had a singular good gift in prayer,
both public and private, in ripping up the heart and
conscience before GOD ; in the humble confession of
sin; and [in] begging the mercies of GOD in Christ
for the pardon of the same. He always thought it
were better for Ministers to pray oftener, and to divide
their prayers than [to] be long and tedious in the same :
except upon solemn and special occasions, as in Days
of Humiliation, and the like. His reason was. That the
hearts and spirits of all, especially the weak, could
hardly continue, and stand bent as it were, so long
towards GOD as they ought to do in that duty, without
flagging and falling off.
For the Government of the Church, which was most
proper to his Office, he was careful to preserve good
order in the same, and to preserve purity both in the
Doctrine and Communion of the same ; and to suppress
any error or contention that might begin to rise up
amongst them. And accordingly GOD gave good
success to his indeavours herein all his days ; and he
saw the fruit of his labours in that behalf.
But I must break off: having only thus touched
a few, as it were Heads of, things. Bradford MS.,
folios 489-498.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Pilgrim Press in Choir Alley, Leyden; and
ITS SUPPRESSION : TOGETHER WITH THE BOOKS
that were produced by it, between
October 1616 and June 1619.
E suppose that we may rightly call that printing
organization, which two members of the Leyden
Church carried on — Thomas Brewer, the sleeping
Partner, finding the money, and apparently
asking no questions ; and William Brewster, the working
Partner, organizing and managing it — the Pilgrim Press. It
produced nothing but Pilgrim books : for which cause, it was
suppressed.
The Reader will do well to refer now to the method of
printing books in London, described at pp. 18-20 : and then
he will note that, in the following correspondence, there is no
hint whatever of a hand printing press. It would seem that
Brewer bought type only ; and that Brewster arranged with
some Dutch Master Printer, to print off the sheets, from the
English type sent to him : and this would be quite practical,
because the Press was by no means so stringently overseen in
Holland as it was in London.
The name of David Calderwood (the author of the History
of the Kirk of Scotland, 1560 — 1625 : and, under the name of
Edwardus Didoclavius, of The Altar of Damascus &c., 1621 ;
enlarged, in the Latin edition, Altare Damascenum &c., 1623)
must henceforth be for ever associated with that of the Pilgrim
Fathers. Eor it was their production anonymously, at the
Pilgrim Press at Leyden, of two of his Works — Perth
Assembly , 1619 ; and De regimine Ecclesicb Scoticance hrevis
195
196 The hunt after William Brewster.
Belatio, 1619, that led to the seizure of Brewer's types by
the University of Leyden; to the imprisonment of Brewer
by that town and University ; and to the ceaseless, but
unsuccessful, hunt, for more than a year, after William
Brewster by the University of Leyden, by Sir Dudley
Carleton the English Lord Ambassador in Holland,
and by Sir Robert Naunton the Secretary of State in
London.
The Ruling Elder of the Pilgrim Church was, for more
than a year before he left Delf shaven in the Speedwell on the
22 July/1 August 1620, a hunted man : and it speaks volumes
for the fidelity of that Church that, through all this storm,
they so bravely and faithfully sheltered their beloved Officer
from the fury of the English King.
Except for the few words of Governor Bradford at page
192, not the slightest hint of this business is given in the
Pilgrim literature. In reading this correspondence, we have
always to ask this question. If they did so much to Thomas
Brewer (who was a Gentleman of position, wealth, and
lands), for merely supplying the money : what would they
have done to William Brewster, who was relatively a man of
the people, for organizing and carrying on this printing work 1
At every step, we feel the constant dread lest fche Ruling
Elder should be found ; and so that he should have to share
the hard fate that ultimately overtook Brewer. If James I.
so violently bullied James Cathkin, the Edinburgh Printer,
as described at pp. 239-242, upon the baseless suspicion of his
having produced Perth Assembly : what would he have done
to the actual printer of it ?
Let it however be said at once, that, judged by modern
ideas, Brewster was perfectly within his right, in running
this secret printing business ; and in producing ecclesiastical
treatises, which now a days would be considered as perfectly
harmless : but, judged by the ideas of his own Age, he was
nothing else than a theological dynamitard.
At this time, James I. was resolutely bent upon destroying
The himt after William Brewster. 197
the Kirk of Scotland, and in forcing Episcopacy upon that
unwilling nation. This wicked work was carried on by his
son Charles I., and was the proximate cause of the great
Civil War.
We have already seen how completely the King and the
Bishops controlled the Press in Britain. The Pilgrims were
therefore materially damaging their enemies, by helping the
Scotch Kirk, through the printing, at the Pilgrim Press, of
arguments against Episcopacy, in David Calderwood's two
books. And it was these two books more especially, that
were so bitterly resented by the English King.
We now give first, the despatches preserved in the
Public Record Office, in London; together with the most
valuable information obtained at Leyden, by H. C. M. [the
Hon. Henry C. Murphy, of Brooklyn, N.Y.] : and then a
Bibliography of the books — most of them being without
either the name of the Printer, or that of the Place of
Printing — that may reasonably be assigned to the Pilgrim
Press.
It is greatly to be regretted that the various enclosures in
Sir Dudley Carleton's despatches, are not now to be found
in the Public Record Office.
Mr Murphy, in the Historical Magazine, Vol. IV., p. 4,
Boston and New York, 1860, 4, writes :
" The name of William Brewster occurs several times
besides on the occasions of the Marriages.
"It is connected with the earliest entry to be found
relating to the Pilgrims in these Records, after the application
for denization ; and we believe, with the earliest date yet
produced of their actual residence in Leyden.
" It is a Minute of the death of one of his children, on the
20th of June 1609. He then resided, it appears, in a narrow
street or alley, called Steuchsteeg.
" He subsequently removed to the Choorsteeg, Vicua
198 The hunt after William Brewster'.
Choralis ; which is an alley extending from th© Broadway,
to the Choir of St Peter's Church.
" These streets are obscure ; but eligibly situated."
" Thomas Brewer is styled in the Records, Edelman^
an Honourable. He owned a house near Robinson's, in the
Eloksteeg [Bell Alley] ; and it was in the garret of that house,
that the printing materials were found and seized.
" Two years after the death of Robinson, he sold out his
property and effects in Leyden ; and returned to England." *
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; SATURDAY, 17/27 JULY 1619.
I have seen [i.e. at the Hague], within these two days,
a certain Scottish book, called Perth Assembly, written
with much scorn and reproach of the proceedings in that
Kingdom concerning the Affairs of the Church. It is
without name, either of Author or Printer : but I am
informed it is printed by a certain English Brownist of
Leyden ; as are most of the Puritan books sent over, of
late days, into England.
Which being directly against an express Placaat
[now spelt Plakkaat = Edict] of the States General,
which was published in December last [1618] : I intend,
when I have more particular knowledge of the Printer,
to make, complaint thereof ; conceiving that His Majesty
will not dislike I should so do.
Thus I humbly take my leave. From the Hague,
this 17th of July 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 132.
* The reason of this will be seen at pp. 226-247. — E. A.
The hunt after William Brewster, 199
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; THURSDAY, 22 JULY/1 AUGUST 1619.
Right Honourable. By letters of 14th and 17th of
of this present [month] by [George] Marten the Post, of
which I sent the duplicates by [Robert Sydney] my
Lord Lisle, the 18th ; I advertised your Honour of all
we had here worth His Majesty's knowledge.
. And withal, I sent your Honour a book, intituled
Perth Assembly : of which, finding many copies dispersed
at Leyden, and from thence some sent into England,
I had reason to suspect it was printed in that town;
but, upon more particular enquiry, [I] do rest somewhat
doubtful.
Yet, in search after that book, I believe I have
discovered the Printer of another [edition of] De
regimine Ecclesice Scoticanoe ; which His Majesty was
informed to be done in Middelburg : and that is, one
William Brewster, a Brownist, who hath been, for
some years, an inhabitant and printer at Leyden ; but
is now, within these three weeks [2nd — 22nd July
1619], removed from thence, and gone back to dwell
in London. Where he may be found out, and examined,
not only of this book, De regiraine Ecclesioe Scoticanoe :
but likewise of Perth Assembly; of which, if he was
not the Printer himself, he assuredly knows both the
Printer and the Author.
For, as I am informed, he hath had, whilst he
remained here, his hand in all such books as have been
sent over into England and Scotland. As particularly,
a book in folio, intituled [Thomas Cartwright,] A
Confutation of the Rhemists' Translation, Glosses, and
Annotations on the New Testament; anno 1618, was
printed by him.
200 The hunt after William Brewster.
So was another, in decimo-sexto, Be vera et genuina
Jesu Geristi Domini et Salvatoris nostri Religione ;
of which I send your Honour herewith the Title Page.
And if you will compare that which is underlined
therein, with the other [the second edition of] De
regimine Ecclesice Scoticance, of which I send your
Honour the Title Page likewise; you will find it
is the same character [type]. And the one being
confessed, as that De vera et genuina Jesu Geristi
&c., Religione, Brewster doth openly avow; the other
cannot well be denied.
This I thought fit, for His Majesty's service, to
advertise your Honour. ...
From the Hague, this 22nd of July 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 132.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL ; TUESDAY, 3/13 AUGUST 1619.
I am told William Brewster is come again for
Leyden ; where I doubt not but your Lordship will
lay [wait] for him, if he come thither : as I will
likewise do here ; where I have already committed some
of his complices, and am commanded to make search
for the rest. . . .
Whitehall, 3rd of August 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 132.
The hunt after William Brewster, 201
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; FRIDAY, 20/30 AUGUST 1619.
I have made good enquiry after William Brewster
at Leyden, and am well assured that he is not returned
thither ; neither is [it] likely he will : having removed
from thence both his family and goods. . . .
From the Hague, this 20th of August 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 132.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL; MONDAY, 23 AUGUST / 2 SEPTEMBER 1619.
My good Lord. His Majesty doth so much resent
those Puritan pamphlets which are there [at Leyden]
imprinted underhand [secretly] by the practices of
Brewster and his complices in those parts, and in
Scotland, and here — divers of whom [his accomplices],
as we are informed, have made, very lately, an escape
from hence ; and are slipped over hither [to Leyden]
with him, the said Brewster — [that he] hath com-
manded me again, over and beside what I wrote unto
you in my former [of the 3/13 August], to require your
Lordship, in his name, to deal roundly [energetically]
with the States [General], as in his name, for the
apprehension of him, the said Brewster ; as they tender
His Majesty's friendship.
Whitehall, 23° Augusti 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 132.
202 The hunt after William Brewster.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; SATURDAY, 28 AUGUST /7 SEPTEMBER 1619.
Touching Brewster, I am now informed that
he is on this side the seas ; and that he was seen
yesterday [27 August /6 September] at Leyden : but, as
yet, is not there settled.
To complain of him in general terms, were to
small effect : but when I can certainly learn where
he is permanent[ly] ; I will then move the States
[General] to do that which belongs to them, for His
Majesty satisfaction.
From the Hague, the 28th of August 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 132.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; FRIDAY, 3/13 SEPTEMBER 1619.
I have used all diligence to enquire after Brewster ;
and finds he keeps most at Amsterdam : but, being
incerti laris, he is not yet to be lighted upon.
I understand he prepares to settle himself at a village
called Leerdorp [now spelt Leiderdorp], not far from
Leyden ; thinking there to be able to print prohibited
books without discovery : but I shall lay wait for
him, both there and in other places, so, as I doubt but
either he must leave this country ; or I shall, sooner or
later, find him out.
Thus I humbly take leave. From the Hague, this
3rd of September 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
The hunt after William- Brewster, 203
THE SCHEPENS {aLBERMEN] AND COUNCIL OF LEYDEN
to jacob von brouckhoven, deputy
of that city.
Leyden ; Thursday, 9/19 September 1619.
. To Master Jacob von Brouckhoven, Deputy
Councillor of their High Mightinesses.
We have to-day summoned into our presence
Thomas Brewer, an Englishman ; and he being heard,
we learn that his business heretofore has been printing,
or having printing done : but in consequence of the
publication of the Placaat {EdicV^ in relation to the
Printing of Books, [?in December 1618],* he had
stopped the Printing Office; which was, at that time,
mostly his own, and that his partner was a certain
William Brewster, who was also in town at present,
but sick.
We have therefore resolved, after having communi-
cated with the Rektor Magnificus [Reinerus Bontius],
to deliver the said Thomas Brewer, who is a member
of the University, in the place where it is the custom to
bring the members thereof : and in regard to William
Brewster, to bring him, inasmuch as he is sick, into
the Debtors' Chamber, provisionally; where he went
voluntarily.
Of which things we have thought proper to inform
you, and to await further orders in the matter.
Quoted by H. C. M. in Historical Magazine, Vol. IV.,
p. 5, Boston and New York, 1860, 4.
* Master Thomas Brewee was evidently a strictly honourable, and
perfectly truthful, English Gentleman. What then does he mean here,
as to the four books printed in 1619, that are described on pp. 238, 242, 245 ?
204 The hunt after William Brewster.
SIB DUDLEY CABLETON TO SIR ROBEBT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE ; FRIDAY, 10/20 SEPTEMBER 1619.
I have at length found out Brewster at Leyden,
whom the Magistrates of that town, at my instance,
apprehended yesternight [last night, that is 9/19
September], though he was sick in bed ; as likewise
one Brewer, of his profession, a Brownist, who was
an assistant to him in his printing.
By [Monsieur Brouckhoven,] the Deputy of that
town, who is continually resident here at the Hague
and is this day gone thither \to Leyden], I have
required to have their books and their printing letters
[tyjpe'] seized ; as likewise to have them strictly examined
of all the books, as well Latin as English, they
have printed, for the space of eighteen months or two
years past. [The printing however actually began
about October 1616.] Of which, I shall have answer this
night, or to-morrow.
From the Hague, this 10th of September 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
warrant of the university of leyden to seize
brewer's types.
leyden; SATURDAY, 11/21 SEPTEMBER 1619.
upon the application of Loth Huyghenszoon Gael,
Bailiff of the University, to have an Assessor and
Schepenmaster [Chief Justice, or Alderman] to assist
him in seizing the types of Thomas Brewer, a member
of the said University, now in prison ; and in searching
his library for any Works printed, or caused to be
The hunt after William Brewster, 205
printed, by him, within a year and a half or there-
abouts ; and in seizing the same ; and in examining
him as to what books he has printed, or caused to be
printed, within a year and a half either in English or
in other languages : the Rektor and Judges of the said
University have appointed, and by these presents do,
Doctor Johannes Polyander, Assessor; and Doctor
GuiLIELMUS BONTIUS, Schepenmaster, provisionally
only, for the seizure of the type ; and searching of the
Library aforesaid ; and seizing the books.
In pursuance whereof, the types found in the garret
were seized ; the garret door nailed in two places, and
the seal of the said Officer, impressed in green wax over
paper, is placed upon the lock and nails ; a Catalogue
is made of the books, and the chamber where the same
were found is sealed with the aforesaid seal upon the
lock and nails.
Done, the 21st of September 1619, in my presence.
(signed) J. Vervey.
Criminal and Civil Record, Letter A. ; quoted by
H. C. M. in Historical Magazine, Vol. IV., pp. 5, 6,
Boston and New York, 1860, 4.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE ; SUNDAY, 12/22 SEPTEMBER 1619.
In my last, I advertised your Honour, that Brewster
was taken at Leyden : which proved an error, in that
the Scout [in modern Dutch, Schout — Bailiff], who
was employed by the Magistrates for his apprehension
being a dull, drunken fellow, took one man for another.
But [Thomas] Brewer (who set him on work
2o6 The hunt after William Brewster.
and, being a man of means, bare the charge of his
printing) is fast in the University [of Ley den] s Prison :
and his printing letters [type] (which were found in
his house, in a garret where he had hid them), and
his books and papers, are all seized and sealed up.
I expect, to-morrow, to receive his voluntary Con-
fession of such books as he hath caused to be printed
by Brewster, for this year and a half or two years
past [or rather y since about October 1616] : and then
I intend to send one expressly to visit his books and
papers; and to examine him particularly touching
Perth Assembly, the discourse De regimine Ecclesice
Scoticance, and other Puritan pamphlets which I have
newly recovered. ...
From the Hague, this 12th/22nd of September 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
THE SCHEPENS AND COUNCIL OF LEYDEN TO JACOB
VON BROUCKHOVEN.
LEYDEN; MONDAY 13/23 SEPTEMBER 1619.
We have, this day, in consequence of your letter,
summoned the Officer ; and strongly enjoined upon him,
to do his best to arrest William Brewster ; in whose
person he was mistaken : which he has promised to do.
But, at the same time, said, That the said William
Brewster had already left.
A meeting was held to-day, at the llektor's, in regard
to the case of William Brewer.
Quoted by H. C. M. in Historical Magazine, Vol IV.,
p. 5, Boston and New York, 1860, 4.
The hunt after William Brewster. 207
WAKRANT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LETDEN TO EXAMINE
THOMAS BREWER; AND TO REMOVE HIS TYPE
TO THE UNIVERSITY ROOMS.
LEYDEN; MONDAY, 13/23 SEPTEMBER 1619.
On this 23r(i September 1619, the Honourable Rektor
and Judges of the University in the City of Leyden,
have, upon the application of Loth Huyghenszoon
Gael, Bailiff of the University, appointed, and by these
presents do appoint, Doctor Cornelius Swanenburg,
Assessor; and Doctor Guilielmus Bontius, Schepen-
master ; to examine Thomas Brewer, in custody of the
said Bailiff, as to what books he has, within a year and a
half past \i.e. since 13/23 March 1618], printed, or caused
to be printed in Latin, English, or other langilages.
And the said Assessor and Jan Bout Jacobszoon,
Schepenmaster, shall cause the type of the said Brewer,
which have been seized, to be brought, for better
keeping, from his house, to the University Rooms.
Which is accordingly done, the day and year
aforesaid, in my presence.
(signed) Jacob V. Vervey.
Quoted by H. C. M. in Historical Magazine, Vol.
IV., p. 6, Boston and New York, 1860, 4.
sir ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL ; SATURDAY, 18/28 SEPTEMBER 1619.
I am sorry that Brewster's person hath so escaped
you : but I hope Brewer will help you to find him out.
Whitehall, 18° Septembris 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
2o8 The hunt after William Brewster,
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; SATURDAY, 18/28 SEPTEMBER 1619.
Since my last of the 12th of this present [month],
whereby I advertised your Honour of Brewer's being
laid fast in the University's Prison at Leyden ; I have
sent an Advocate of this town \The Hague], who
understands our language, with a servant of mine,
expressly to visit his books and papers : and to present
certain Interrogatories * to those who examine him
whereof I send your Honour the translation ; with his
Answers,* which are so indirect that they give no man
satisfaction that sees them.
And therefore I have now used [Maurice] the
Prince of Orange's authority; who hath spoken
himself to [Reinerus Bontius] the Rector of the
University, not to give the prisoner any liberty until
His Majesty's pleasure be known concerning him :
which the Rector doth promise shall be fullfilled ;
notwithstanding that the whole Company of Brownists
[the Leyden Church] doth offer caution [security] for
Brewer. And he being a University man, the scholars
[students] are likewise stirred up by the Brownists to
plead Privilege in that kind, when caution [security]
is offered.
Wherefore I am requested by the Rector, and by the
Deputy of the town of Leyden, Monsieur Brouckhoven,
residing here [at the Hague] in the Council of [the
Province of] Holland, whose serious care in this business
I cannot but commend to His Majesty, to know His
Majesty's pleasure with the soonest: whereby to prevent
some disorder, which may happen upon this occasion.
* These Interrogatories and Answers are not now with the State
Papers ; and are apparently lost. — E. A.
The hunt after William Brewster. 209
Meantime I intend to have him further examined,
which Monsieur Brouckhoven will give order for on
Monday next [20/30 September], when he goeth to
Leyden for two or three days ; and if there be any things
more particular in his Confession, I will send the same
speedily to your Honour; as with these which go
herewith, I thought it my duty to despatch this
bearer expressly.
Amongst tlie books touching which I have caused
him to be examined, I have inserted some, as that
Amesii in Grevinchovium {see page 237], which as he
cannot deny [because William Brewster's name is in
the iw/prinf] so he may, and doth, confess it without
difficulty : but by that character [ type ] , he is
condemned of the rest. And certain experienced printers,
which have viewed the letters \type\ affirm that all
and every one of the books with which he is charged,
particularly those De regimine Ecclesice Scoticance and
Perth Assembly, were printed by [mt/i] them.
And it appears that this Brewer, and Brewster
whom this man set on work, having kept no open
shop, nor printed [any altered into] many books
fit for public sale in these Provinces, their practice
was to print prohibited books, to be vented underhand
\sold secretly"] in His Majesty's kingdoms.
And if, hereupon. His Majesty will be pleased that
I move the States General to take some strict order
therein, through all their Provinces ; either by further
explanation of their late Placaat [Edict] concerning
[the] Printing of Books and Libels, or [in] some other
way : as I believe they will do it very willingly, so
will it serve for [the] preventing of the like inconvenience
hereafter.
What this Brewer is, and what fantastical courses
The Pilgrim Fathers. O
2IO The hunt after William Brewster,
he hath run heretofore, your Honour will see by an
Information * which hath been given me concerning him.
Thus I humbly take leave. From the Hague, the
18th of September 1619.
Postscript. Upon some just ground of suspicion
that Master Ames hath his hand in many of these
books, which your Honour will find specified in these
Interrogatories ; I have desired the Curators of the
University of Ley den not to admit him to a place of
public Professor, to which he doth pretend [aspire]
and hath many strong recommendations, until he hath
given His Majesty full satisfaction : which they do
very willingly yield unto ; and I am very well assured,
his preferment will here stay unless His Majesty give
way unto it.
Thus I rest, your Honour's &c.,
Dudley Carleton.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
MATTHEW SLADE TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
AMSTERDAM ; SATURDAY, 18/28 SEPTEMBER 1619.
Right Honourable. My duty remembered unto your
good Lordship.
May it please the same to understand that I have
made the best enquiry that I could, concerning William
Brewster, among them that know him well. But
cannot hear otherwise than that he is yet dwelling
and resident at Leyden.
* This Information is not now with the State Papers, and is probably
lost.— E, A.
The hzcnt after William Brewster. 211
Neither is it likely that he will remove his dwelling
hither : there being another English printer named
William Thorp \or rather Giles Thorpe], also a
Brownist, settled here ; and for that there is also
variance about religion, between the Separatists \ilie
Rev. Henry A ins worth's Church] at Amsterdam and
them of Leyden.
If he lurk here, for fear of apprehension; it will
be hard to find him. But I will speak with our
Burgomaster about that business, at his return; who
is not yet, in two or three days, expected.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE ;
WEDNESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER /2 OCTOBER 1619.
Concerning Brewer, now prisoner at Leyden, who
was the chief subject of my last despatch ; I have, as
yet, no more to advertise : but I shall expect, with much
devotion, His Majesty's pleasure about him. . . .
From the Hague, this 22nd of September 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
HAMPTON COURT ;
TUESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER /8 OCTOBER 1619.
Sir. For answer to your last of the 18th of
September, it is His Majesty's pleasure that you present
his princely thanks to that noble Prince ; also to .
Monsieur Brouckhoyen, and [Reinerus Bontius] the
212 The hunt after William Brewster.
Rector [of the University of Leyden] : for their serious
care, and respect shewed, in the apprehension and
examination of Brewer. From whom, His Majesty
hopes well that j^ou will draw more particularities in
his after Confessions than yet he sees in those you
have sent us over ; which meanwhile he takes in good
part as a fair beginning and introduction to the rest.
When you shall have discovered all you can there,
His Majesty would have you move the States [General]
earnestly, in his name, that he may be remanded \8ent
over] hither. Which he promiseth himself, that they
will not take it for an unreasonable request, since he is
his own native subject : they having formerly remanded
some of their own [subjects] hither, upon His Majesty's
like motion.
But if any fond [/oo^'isA] scruple or difficulty should
be made herein, in respect of the scholars [stucZeTiis]
their pleading their Privilege in that tumultuous town,
especially in these troubled times ; or otherwise : His
Majesty will have you, rather than you should fail in
his design, to descend {stoo'p] thus much further, as to
promise them. That if they shall so require, he will
return him \T. Brewer] back again, after he shall have
informed himself from him, of divers things merely
concerning his own special service : His Majesty having
no intention to touch him, either in body or goods ; or to
punish him further than with a free Confession of his
own misdemeanours, and those of his complices.
And for the time to come, you are required to move
the States [General], to take some strict order, through
all their Provinces, for the preventing of the like abuses
and licentiousness in publishing printing and venting
underhand [secretly] such scandalous and libellous
pamphlets.
The hunt after William Brewster. 213
For Ames his preferment, His Majesty doth utterly
distaste it ; as if a new VORSTIUS were reviving in him :
and would, in no sort, have any way given unto it.
Hampton Court, this 28th of September 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
THE REFUSAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LEYDEN TO
SURRENDER THOMAS BREWER.
LEYDEN ; MONDAY, 11/21 OCTOBER 1619.
At an extraordinary Meeting of the Curators and
Burgomasters, held on the 21st October 1619.
It being represented to the Curators and Burgomasters,
that the Ambassador of His Royal Majesty, the King of
Great Britain requested that Thomas Brewer, English
Gentleman, who is now confined in the Prison of the
University, upon the complaint of the said Ambassador,
by order of the Rektor and Assessors, might be taken
from here to His Royal Majesty in England, it is
resolved :
That the said Brewer shall be still offered, as before,
to the said Ambassador,
for further examination in the presence of any one
whom His Excellency may be pleased to appoint,
or he shall go before His Excellency himself,
or otherwise, a proper Obligation shall be demanded
from His Excellency, to the effect that the said
Brewer shall be restored here ao-ain within two
months.
Which he not consenting to; the matter must be
referred to the High and Mighty Lords the States of
[the Provinces of] Holland and West Friesland.
2 1 4 The hint after William Brewster.
Register of the University, quoted by H. C. M. in
Historical Magazine, Vol. IV., p. 6, Boston and New
York, 1860, 4
It will be noticed that Sir Dudley Carleton never
informed King Jambs of the above refusal ; of which he must
have known.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; WEDNESDAY, 18/23 OCTOBER 1619.
In [A.] the further Examination of Brewer, [B.] the
remanding [sending] him into England, and [C] the
moving [of] the States [General] to take some strict
order against the like abuse [i.e. of secret printing] as
that of which he is accused ; touching which three points,
I understand His Majesty's pleasure by your Honour's
letters of the 28th of the last [month] :
[A.] In the first, I find it lost labour, he persisting
in his former Answers : only he hath written me a
long impertinent letter, * which I send your Honour
herewith.
[B.] In the second, because I know it will be a matter
of much difficulty to efifect his Majesty's desire ; in
regard of the scrupulosity of the town and University of
Leyden in point of Privilege : both [of] which are
interessed [interested] herein, as a mixed cause ; he
being apprehended by the Public Escoutete [ = Schout —
Bailif], and kept in the University Prison.
I have therefore thought best to begin the matter
there, by preparing the Curators and the Rector of the
University as likewise the Magistrates [of the town],
* This letter is not now with the State Papers, and is apparently lost.
— E. A.
The hunt after William Brewster. 1 1 5
by means of their Deputy, Monsieur Brouckhoven :
having spoken likewise with [Maurice] the Prince of
Orange, to the same effect.
The Curators are now at this present at Leyden,
upon the admission of some of their new Professors ;
and have promised me their endeavours to give His
Majesty satisfaction. Wherein I shall know, within
these two days, what to trust to.
And then I may, upon better grounds, move the
States [General] both touching that point in particular,
and likewise concerning the last in general [C], of
preventing the like abuse, not only in that town
[Leyden] but in all the Provinces. Wherein I will
neither fail of my duty in doing, nor diligence in
advertising.
Meanwhile I humbly take my leave. From the
Hague, this 13th of October 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
SIB DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER/1 NOVEMBER 1619.
Right Honourable. The business of Brewer, now
prisoner at Leyden, whom His Majesty demands to be
remanded [sent over] into England, requires a letter
apart.
Concerning which, I have been spoken with twice
since my last to your Honour, by Sir Thomas Dutton,
of the 13th of this present [month].
First, by two of the Curators of the University.
And after, by one of the Curators, [Reinerus
Bontius] the Rector, his two Assessors ; and a Deputy
from the town [of Leyden] : all which came unto me in
2 1 6 The hunt after William Brewster.
one company ; and, after large profession of due respect
to His Majesty and desire to give His Majesty all possible
satisfaction, they alledged unto me these difficulties :
First. The Privilege of the University : which any
man that is matriculated, as this Brewer is, may plead,
upon any accusation, for his trial upon the place;
without having his cause or person removed elsewhere,
contrary to his own mind.
Secondly. The nature of their University : consisting
chiefly of strangers ^foreigners] ; to whom if they should
not carefully preserve their privileges in a matter of this
consequence, they would all fly [from] their University.
Thirdly. The condition of the time : there being
now newly a general Reformation made; and if they
should neglect the preservation of their privileges, they
should expose themselves unto the scandal of such as are
deported \han{8hedL\.
Lastly. The example of one Cluverus [? Philip
Cluvier or Cluverius], a German ; who, having printed
a book against the Emperor Rodolph, and thereupon
being required of the States [General], to be sent
to Prague, there to be punished ; the University made an
absolute refusal, as that which could not be granted
without breach of their privileges.
To all which points I answered :
First, concerning their Privileges in general. It was
an argument that I sought to maintain, not to infringe,
them ; in that I addressed myself first to them, who were
the Chief of the University : before I would move the
States [General] to use authority this business.
And for Brewer in particular, though he were a
matriculate man, his printing house where he, for the
space of these three years [This fixes the beginning of the
The hunt after Willimn Brewster. 217
secret "printing in October 1616], hath printed prohibited
books and pamphlets — not for the use of the IjDiversity
of Leyden, or [of] these Provinces; but for His Majesty's
disservice, and the trouble of his Kingdoms — was in the
town.
And, in the like case, I asked them, If some busy, or
factious, Arrainian, a subject of these Provinces, should
matriculate himself in one of the Universities of Oxford
or Cambridge ; and there print, and vsend over hither,
books of that argument : of which their Ambassador
should complain, and desire to have him remanded [sent
over] ; how they would take it, if they should be answered
by a Plea of Privilege ?
Touching the Nature of the University, which
consists of strangers ; I said, They must have, in that
regard, the greater consideration of giving contentment
to stranger [foreign] Princes : otherwise they would, and
might very well, forbid their subjects from frequenting
their University.
Concerning the time of their present Reformation ;
I desired them to remember to whom they might
chiefly ascribe this Reformation : which they have often
acknowledged unto me, to proceed from His Majesty;
and then to consider. Whether it was fit to allege this
Reformation against His Majesty's satisfaction.
As for Cluverus ; I told them the case was
different, in that he was required to receive both trial
and punishment at Prague : but His Majesty demands
Brewer without intention to touch him, either in body
or goods; or to punish him further than with a free
Confession of his own misdemeanours, and those of
his complices; with purpose to return him back again
(after he shall have informed himself from him, of
such things which concern his service), if they shall so
2i8 The hunt after William Brewster.
require it. And for conclusion, I wished them to put
[a] difference between the satisfaction of that Emperor,
with whom they had little or no correspondence, and
the King my Master ; whom this State in general, and
that University in particular, could not but acknowledge
their best friend.
I found them well apprehensive of these reasons,
and to continue, in as much as depended on them,
for so they professed, in their desire of giving His
Majesty satisfaction. But because their University
acknowledgeth for Founders, the States [of the Province]
of Holland ; whose assembly is near at hand, within a
fortnight, or three weeks at the furthest, they desired
me to forbear pressing this matter any further till that
time.
Wherein I made no difficulty : knowing it would be
fruitless. Only I told them. That if they had readily
consented, I made no doubt but that Brewer might be
in England, and returned again, before the meeting of
the States of Holland.
The Curators asked me, when they alone were with
me, Whether I would give them an act [deed] in writing,
.in manner of a Safe Conduct, for Brewer's return ; in
case they should send him into England ?
Wherein, having no express order [i.e. from the
King] ; 1 prayed them to weigh. Whether that were any
way needful ; in regard, by what had passed in former
occasions, they might be well assured, that His Majesty's
word, given by any of his Ministers, will never be
infringed.
I understand they have privately appointed [John]
The hunt after William Brewster. 219
PoLYANDER and [Anthony] Walrus to deal with
Brewer, of his own accord to desire to go into England
whereby to satisfy His Majesty, and preserve their
privileges : which I do not mislike. For if he yield
thereunto, His Majesty hath what he requires. If he
make difficulty, I have the more just subject to press his
remanding ; which, at the time of the assembly of the
States of [the Province of] Holland, I will not fail to
do. And before [that], in regard the University belongs
only to this Province, it will be to no purpose to move
anything to the States General.
Of this, I beseech your Honour to advertise His
Majesty. So I humbly take leave. From the Hague,
this 22nd of October 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL; SATURDAY, 23 OCTOBER /2 NOVEMBER 1619.
His Majesty hath charged me, once more, to
require you, as from himself, that you press, with
all earnestness, the matter of Brewer, in all the three
points I recommended to you, from Hampton Court,
28^* Septembris.
Whitehall, 23° Octobris 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 133.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE ; MONDAY, 25 OCTOBER /4 NOVEMBER 1619.
What is done about Brewer at Leyden; your
2 20 The hunt after William Brewster.
Honour will see by a letter * I have, even now, received
from POLYANDER.
Thus I humbly take my leave. From the Hague,
this 25th of October 1619.
S. P. Holland, Bundle 133.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE ; WEDNESDAY, 3/13 NOVEMBER 1619.
Right Honourable. One of the Curators, and
[Reinerus Bontius] the Rector of the University of
Leyden ; with John Polyander and [Daniel] Heinsius,
came to me on Monday last, being the 1st of this present
[month], expressly from Leyden, to let me know their
resolution to send Brewer into England : which, for the
preservation of the privileges of their University, they
made appear unto me, by a Writing under Brewer's
hand, to proceed of his own desire, as a dutiful subject
to His Majesty ; and willing to give His Majesty all
satisfaction.
But, first, he requires of them, in the said Writing, to
to be assured
[1] It is His Majesty's own pleasure to have him sent.
[2] Next, That he may go as a free man under
caution [security'] of his lands and goods; not as a
prisoner.
[3] Then, That he may not be punished during his
abode in England, either in body or goods.
[4] And, That he may be sufiered to return hither,
in a competent time.
[5] And lastly, That his journey be without his own
charge.
* This Letter is not now with the State Papers. Sir Dudley states, at
p. 231, that he had not taken a copy of it. — E. A.
The hunt after William Brewster. 221
These things were requested of me by the Curator,
the Rector, and the rest, in his behalf. Wherein I made
them this verbal promise, without being further moved
by any of them, as I was formerly, to give them my act
[deed] in writing :
[1] That, for the first, It was His Majesty's express
will and pleasure : which I might the better assure them,
having the same, now a second time, reiterated unto me
by your Honour's letter of the 23rd of October ; which,
at that instant, I received.
[2] Next, That if they would take caution [secv/rity]
of him of his lands and goods, for his rendering
himself to His Majesty in England ; I left it* to their
discretions. But to send him as a free man could not
well be, as long as he remained in reatu [in the state
of a person arraigned].
[3] Then, That for his body and goods during his
abode in England, I undertook he should not be touched :
being so warranted by your Honour's former letter of
the 21st of September.
[4] And for his return, That it should be within the
space of three months at the furthest ; and sooner, if he
dealt ingenuously and freely in his Confessions.
[5] Touching the charge of his journey, I made
no difficulty to free both him and them thereof: not
doubting but His Majesty will be pleased to allow it.
So as there remaining this only point of difference
between us. Whether he should go as a prisoner, or as a free
man ? In the end we concluded of [agreed to] a middle
way betwixt both, That he should go suh libera custodia.
* The Bond, dated 2/12 November 1619, which Brewer gave the
University of Leyden, to return to that city, is printed by H. C. M. in
Historical Magazine, Vol. IV., p. 6, Boston and New York, 1860, 4. — E. A.
222 The hunt after William Brewste7\
Being attended from Ley den to Rotterdam, by one
of the Beadles, with another Officer, of the University ;
and [to] be there delivered to some such person as I
should appoint for his safe convoy into England : where I
have undertaken for him, he shall not be cast into any
common prison, nor be ill used. Though for his liberty,
I let them know, he must not expect it but according as
he shall merit it by the satisfaction he shall give His
Majesty.
Wherein if he fail of what he now seems willing to
perform, the fear of being returned back thither again
to the place \ilie Prison of the University of Leyden]
where he hath lain ever since his first apprehension ; and
where he may lie long enough, unless he be delivered
by His Majesty's grace and favour, will be a sufficient
torture.
But, on the other side, if he carry himself well and
dutifully, I beseech your Honour to be a means to His
Majesty, that he may be well treated and sent back
with contentment : the rather, because he hath taken
his resolution of presenting himself unto His Majesty,
against the minds of some stiff-necked men [? of the
Pilgrim Church] in Leyden; who endeavoured to
dissuade him. And it will give all inferior persons
encouragement by his example, according to the like
occasions, willingly to submit themselves : he being a
Gentleman of a good house, both of land and living;
which none of his profession [Brownists] in these parts
are — though through the reveries [dreams] of his
religion (he being, as I advertised your Honour, a
professed Brownist), he hath mortgaged and consumed
a great part of his estate.
This noble Gentleman, Sir William Zouche, being
The hunt after William Brewster. 223
to go into England upon his own affairs, hath, upon my
intreaty, willingly undertaken the charge of conducting
Brewer to your Honour. For which purpose, he hath
stayed his journey until this time, when I am promised
Brewer shall meet him at Rotterdam : and he being a
Gentleman of His Majesty's Privy Chamber as well as
a servant to this State [of Holland] ; His Majesty may
be pleased to take notice of his readiness to do His
Majesty service.
Thus I humbly take leave. From the Hague, the
3rd of November 1619.
[P.^.] At the assembly of the States of [the
Province of] Holland, which is to begin the 8/18 of
this present [month] ; I will not fail to move the States
to take some strict public order against these abuses
of private printing, for His Majesty's service : as well
[as 7nuc/i] as they have, not long since, carefully done
for their own.
This despatch is endorsed
By Sir William Zouche, who carries Brewer the
Printer into England, to His Majesty.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 134.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; WEDNESDAY, 10/20 NOVEMBER 1619.
I will hope that Brewer, whom Sir William Zouche
took charge to conduct to your Honour, the 3rd [day] of
this present [month], will be with you, about this time ;
if the winds have not hindered their passage.
"For that night, I understand he was delivered unto
224 T"^^ hunt after William Brewster.
Sir William Zouche, by the Beadle of the University
of Leyden, at Rotterdam; and the next day, they set
forward together by way of Zealand.
The Hague, the 10th of November 1619.
S. P. Holland. Wrongly placed in Bundle 133,
under 10 October 1619.
SIR WILLIAM ZOUCHE TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
ROTTERDAM ; SATURDAY, 13/23 NOVEMBER 1619.
Right Honourable. I did purpose to have adver-
tised your Lordship of our proceedings.
I was, last night, almost out of hope of having my
expected company : but, about ten of the clock, Master
^Brewer arrived, conveyed hither by the Beadle of the
University [of Leyden], Master [John] Robinson and
Master Kebel [John Keble] accompanied *7et i wiu
by two other of his friends; their names I t^em" b/ the
think are not worth the asking.* way. [d o.]
We go forward about two or three of the clock; and
if we find not a boat of Terveer {the present Veere on
the island of Walcheren] ready to go away, we intend
to lie at Dort this night.
The Gentleman seems very ready and willing to go
with me ; and hath good hope of his despatch and
happy issue, if he be not referred to the judgement of
the Bishops ; concerning which, he says, he made caution
[a proviso] before his departure : and if you have
not written so much already, he desires you will do so
much, when you write next to Master Secretary [Sir
Robert Naunton.]
The hunt after William Brewster, 225
He excuses his long stay [at Leyden], by reason
of the sudden warning to provide him[self for the
journey] .
He demanded of me, If I had order to defray
him ?
I have told him, " Yes."
He says, He is contented : but says, It was not his
desire ; nor mentioned by him.
I assure your Lordship, I will make no delay ; but
take the speediest opportunities to be rid of this
employment.
My best service humbly remembered to your Honour
and my honourable Lady.
I take my leave and rest.
Ready to observe and serve you,
W. ZOUCHE.
Rotterdam,
the 13th of November 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 134.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL; SATURDAY, 20/30 NOVEMBER 1619.
For Brewer, His Majesty will be well content with
the course offered in Polyander's letter to your
Lordship.
For his assurance : no good subject can refuse His
Majesty's gracious promise, signified by my former
letter to your Lordship.
Whitehall, 20^ Novembris 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 134.
The Pilgrim Fathers. P
2 26 The hunt after William Brewster.
SIR WILLIAM ZOUCHE TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
flushing; FRIDAY, 26 NOVEMBER /6 DECEMBER 1619.
Right Honourable. I have here waited a wind,
these ten days [17/26 November]; but can get none
good: nor fair weather. No day hath passed without
a storm : and some of them so rude as the streets, in
some places, have run with salt water that hath scaled
the walls ; and in other [places], it hath made pools
and lakes, and kept the people within their own
doors.
A ship, with a mast lost, brought news of a Tilt-Boat
drowned; wherein were above thirty. Of them, about
seven saved.
George Martin [the Post] is this day arrived ;
having been nine days between Rotterdam and here.
I have had scarce any opportunity to go over into
Flanders ; and Master Brewer [is] very unwilling to go
that way in so bad weather.
He hath many friends in Middelburg; and those
exceeding[ly] earnest in his Cause : as the Treasurer
General; his brother [the] Chief of the Reckon[ing]
Chamber; and his other brother [Willem], a
Minister. Their name is Teelinck. And one, Master
VosBERGHE, Chief Reckon-Master \Accountant\ ; who
was on tlie way towards Holland, to speak to His
Excellency [Maurice, Prince of Orange], in Master
Brewer's behalf : and to have advised him, to have
challenged the privileges of the University and of the
town [of Leyden] ; by which he should have had his
trial there.
They told me many stories of it ; and how an Earl of
Holland had been denied to have a prisoner out of
the town.
The hunt after William Brewster, 227
I was, on Monday was sevennight [15/25 November],
invited to dinner by them [ ? a^ Middelburg] ; wherein
they did expostulate the business.
As, how great a power our King hath here, as to
have a prisoner, after he had been kept in prison longer
[than] the law of the land doth allow, to be sent to him,
almost with breach of their privileges : and that he shall
have ever the same power, if he perform the conditions
made by your Lordship his Ambassador ; who will not
abuse them, but have authority from His Majesty for all
you do.
But if the conditions are broken, they will be more
wary to satisfy his demand again in the same kind ; or
to trust your Lordship.
And if there be any occasion, they [the University of
Ley den] will write, and send in his behalf: and have
persuaded me so to signify so much to His Majesty.
I have promised to tell so much to Master Secretary
[Sir Robert Naunton] ; and to the King, if it please him
to question with me concerning him : otherwise I durst
not, of myself, presume to speak with him about it.
I was much importuned, as if I had been a Great
Man, and have had many promises of their loves and
friendship, if I can shew him any ; and they, being my
Lords and Paymasters, may do it, if it please them.
My Lord, I pray you pardon my brevity ; for I write
in haste ; and, it may be, I forget somewhat of this
case.
The names of the other two that came with Master
Brewer to Rotterdam, are Jenkins and Lile [ William
Lysle],
My duty and service remembered to your Lordship
and my good Lady.
2 28 The hunt after William Brewster.
I commit your Lordship to GOD's protection !
Your Lordship's
as I ought, in all love, to serve you,
W. ZOUCHE.
Flushing,
the 26th of November 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 134.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE ; SUNDAY, 28 NOVEMBER /8 DECEMBER 1619.
The States [GeneralJ's Fleet against the Pirates
could not possibly put to sea until this day, which is the
first easterly wind we have had for these six weeks
past [i.6. since Villi Ocloher].
I hope it will carry over Sir William Zouche and
Master Brewer to your Honour; who have lain long
together at Flushing : and his fellow Brownists at
Ley den are somewhat scandalized, because they hear
Sir William hath taugljt him to drink healths.
The Hague, the 28th of November 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 134
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON,
WHITEHALL; FRIDAY, 3/13 DECEMBER 1619.
My Lord Ambassador. Sir William Zouche is at
length arrived with his Charge; wherewith I have
acquainted His Majesty, the best I can in both their
favour : and do now daily expect his own directions for
my proceeding in that business.
Whitehall, the 3rd of December 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 134.
The hunt after William Brewster. 229
It is delightful to find that James I., after all this mighty
preparation, came to feel that he was in a corner. Brewer's
voluntary surrender, under the protection of the University
of Leyden, had outwitted him. So he here turns round, and
rebukes his Lord Ambassador. But Sir Dudley Carleton
knew him well ; and had been sufficiently guarded, as his
reply shows.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL; THURSDAY, 16/26 DECEMBER 1619.
Brewer's manner of coming hath a little troubled His
Majesty, who saith, You should not have intermingled
those instructions which he gave for the carriage of
this business with the States [General], with any other
fashion of proceeding with himself \T. Brewjsr], or with
any other inferior Officers apart, as you have done.
For the charge of his journey, His Majesty hath no
purpose to take it upon him longer than whiles he is
within his dominions.
As for his coming hither, if it have proceeded from
his own free motion only. His Majesty oweth it to him ;
and not to the States [General] : and so he would have
you understand it, and tell them.
But if the States [General] had sent him, by their
own authority, whether he had been willing to have
come or not; His Majesty would have acknowledged
the thanks to them for it. And His Majesty had no
meaning to engage himself, nor purposes to do, further
to the States [General] touching him, than that they
should perceive he would not be cruel : and [that] his
desire of his coming over, was to no other end but
that he might know the truth.
All which. His Majesty's pleasure is, and I am
commanded to instruct you, that you should take heed
230 The hunt after William Brewster.
of being too forward hereafter in confounding matters so
different, and so punctually [exactly] to be distinguished,
as are the overtures of treating with a free State, and
the accepting of capitulations [stipulations] from a
subject delinquent [failing in his duty].
He [T. Brewer] remaineth with one of the
Messengers of the Chamber ; and is to be examined
by Sir John Benet and Sir Henry Martin.
You shall do well to cause his books and his letters,
and alphabets [types] to be kept in safe custody at
Leyden : as you advertised that they were.
Whitehall, 16*> Decembris 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 134.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; SATURDAY, 1/11 JANUARY 1619/1620.
Right Honourable. In answer of your Honour's
letter of the 16th of this last month and year; which
yesterday I received, by this bearer, William Dirston :
First, concerning the manner of sending Brewer into
England; I must humbly crave pardon for anything
[that] was done therein different from His Majesty's
pleasure : which is, and shall always be, a strict rule
of my proceedings.
And though it be true that by public proposition in
the assembly of the States General I did not press his
remanding into England; knowing — as well by the
speech I had with [Maurice] the Prince of Orange
and some of the States : as likewise by the observation
I make of their present carriage of affairs, which is full
The ktmt after William Brewster. 231
of stiffness ; out of jealousy [/ear] they should be less
curious and careful of [the] preservation of their
privileges than those who were lately in Government
— what rubs \hindTance&\ it would have met with.
And I hold it no service to His Majesty to entangle
his affairs with difficulties ; when the end may be
attained unto, by a more facile and feasible way.
Yet I did not so much forget myself, or my duty,
as to capitulate SjYhoke conditions] with him; being,
as your Honour saith, "a subject delinquent:" not
having, at any time since his remanding came in
question, so much as sent unto him; and, at his
going, I refused to speak with him. So as all which
passed was betwixt the Magistrates and chief Officers
of the town and [of the] University of Leyden and
himself. With which, it is true, they acquainted me;
and I left it to them to proceed after their manner, so
as His Majesty might be satisfied in the matter : which
was to have him sent over, whereby to know the truth
of what belonged to his printing.
And this I conceived would not have been
disagreeable to His Majesty; having understood by
your Honour's letter of the 20th of November, that
His Majesty liked well of the course set down in
Polyander's letter, which 1 sent your Honour : and
that was no other than this which is since taken, as
far as I can call to remembrance ; not having retained
a copy of Polyander's letter.
All I undertook for, was his good treatment in
England, and yet that as a prisoner, not as a free
man ; and his safe return hither : for which I had
His Majesty's order.
About the time of his going over [? 1/11 December] ;
a resolution was taken, at my motion, by the States
232 ' The hunt after William Brewster.
General, upon the first occasion to reprint and publish
anew their Placaat \Edici\ against private printings;
with addition of a clause, which might comprehend
more expressly than yet the Placaat doth, the chief
friends and allies of this State.
Which [reprint] hitherto is not effected : but I most
humbly refer it to His Majesty, Whether, at such a time
as it is his pleasure to send Brewer back, I shall not
call upon them for it? with declaration of the occasion
which moves His Majesty thereunto.
Meantime, I fail not to send to Leyden, to cause
his books, letters, and alphabets [^ypes] to be safely
kept; according as your Honour requires.
The Hague, this 1st of January 1619, stylo vetero.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 135.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; THURSDAY, 13/23 JANUARY 1619/1620.
The States General have finally published a Placaat
[Edicf] against licentious printing of libels and pamphlets,
either in strange languages or their own, which doth
concern strangers [^foreigners] in amity with this State,
as well as themselves.
And though other Princes will receive benefit hereby :
yet is it done only in His Majesty's contemplation
[behalf] ; and at my pursuit, [I] having carried the same
through divers Colleges ; as the States General ; the
States of [the Province of] Holland ; and the High
Councils, who do not usually give way to a restraint of
any thing which may touch upon liberty.
And there is not a greater argument than this, of a
The hunt after William Brewster. 233
better temper in this State than formerly. Wherefore
His Majesty may be pleased to take particular knowledge
thereof to their Ambassadors [in England], to encourage
them in well doing.
The Hague, the 13th of January 1620.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 135.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL; FRIDAY, 14/24 JANUARY 1619/1620.
My Lord Ambassador. I have cleared His Majesty's
construction the best I can, touching Brewer ; who
did all that a silly creature could, to increase his
unsatisf action : viz., standing upon Terms of Covenant
publicly passed by your Lordship, and I know not
what; as he saith, Heinsius, Polyander, and I know
not who, assevered {asseveraiedil it unto him. But I
have beaten him from his asse [a punning allusion to
Baalambs ass\ ; and drawn something from him that
hath in part contented His Majesty : who bade me
tell you, that he gives no credit to this fool's confident
and improbable assertions ; and that he will be very
good friends with you, if you can procure Brewster
to be taken, wherein he makes no doubt of your careful
endeavour.
Whitehall, 14° Januarii 1619.
I thought fit to let you know by this Postscript, that
I have discharged Brewer : who hath hitherto been
defrayed by His Majesty; but offered to return upon
his own charge.
2 34 The hunt after William Brewster.
I doubt [suspect] he will advise Brewster to
conceal himself; and therefore have thus forewarned
your Lordship.
He [T. Brewer] will be known of no privity,
or so much as conjecture that he can make, how their
pamphlets have been vented [sold]: which I presume
will be better learned from him there [a^ Leyden], upon
the place, before he shall be discharged ; by perusing
his papers, and other examinations.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 135.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE; FRIDAY, 14/24 JANUARY 1619/1620.
The enclosed from Polyander will shew your
Honour that Brewer's letters [type] and papers are
in safe custody.
That which he enlargeth further concerns Master
[William] Ames : who, seeking for a Professor's place
[in the University of Leyden] (if not in Divinity, yet
in Logic, or some of the sciences), finds friends amongst
the Curators; particularly Pauw of Amsterdam, whose
sons he hath under his tutelage.
Upon knowledge whereof, I recommended to
Polyander the care, as I have done formerly to all
the Curators, that His Majesty should not be affronted
with that man's preferment, before he had given full
satisfaction to His Majesty in those things wherein he
hath offended His Majesty.
From the Hague, this 14th of January 1619.
The hunt after William Brewster, 235
Enclosure.
JOHN POLYANDER TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
LEYDEN ; WEDNESDAY, 12/22 JANUARY 1619/1620.
Monseigneur. Les charact^res \iy'pe'\ de Thomas
Brewer sont bien gardes en la chambre de Messieurs les
Curateurs ; et ses livres et papiers en sa propre maison.
Touchant I'autre duquel votre Excellence me parla
denierement a la Haye ; j'ai advert! mes amis de se
donner garde d'ofFenser la Majesty de la Grande
Bretagne, a laquelle nous sommes tant obliges, par
line compassion imprudente. J'espere qu'ils en feront
leur profit au contentement de votre Excellence.
Au demeurant, si en quelque autre affaire je puis
faire par de 9a quelque service a votre Excellence ; je
vous prie de fair ^tat de moi, comme de votre
humble et fidele serviteur,
Jehan Polyander.
De Leyde,
le 22de Janvier 1620.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 135.
SIR ROBERT NAUNTON TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
WHITEHALL; THURSDAY, 20/30 JANUARY 1619/1620.
Master Brewer being now dismissed, as I wrote in
my last ; His Majesty would have you take occasion,
upon his coming back thither, to renew your former
motion for publishing anew their Placaat [^Edicf] in
more particular terms against printing of anything that
may touch, or give distaste or prejudice to, their friends
and allies.
Whitehall, 20° Januarii 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 135.
236 The hunt after William Brewster.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO SIR ROBERT NAUNTON.
THE HAGUE ; ,
SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY /8 FEBRUARY 1619/1620.
Right Honourable. Your Honour's letter of the 14th
of this present [month], came to my hands, by way of
Antwerp, the 23rd.
Since which time, I have acquainted the Curators
of the University of Leyden, with the good treatment
which hath been given unto Brewer, far beyond his
deserving; and with his delivery.
For which they render His Majesty their humble
thanks. And, at his return hither — unless he undertake
to them to do his uttermost in finding out of Brewster —
wherein I will not fail likewise, of all other endeavours,
he is not like[ly] to be at liberty.
The suspicion whereof, I believe, keeps him from
hence ; for, as yet, he appears not in these parts.
From the Hague, this 29th of January 1619.
S. P. Holland. Bundle 135.
the university of leyden decide still to keep
THOMAS brewer's TYPE.
LEYDEN ; SATURDAY, 29 APRIL /9 MAY 1620.
At a Meeting held the 9th of May 1620.
A certain Memorial of the Ambassador Carleton is
read, to the effect. That the types and papers of
Brewer might remain in keeping here.
It is resolved to keep the said types as hitherto.*
Quoted by H. CM. in Historical Magazine, Vol. IV.,
p. 6., Boston and New York, 1860, 4.
* This Resolution clearly proves that Brewer had not returned to
Leyden up to the date of passing it. — E. A.
Works printed at the Pilgrim Press, 237
In dealing with the publications of the Pilgrim Press, we
must proceed from the certain to the probable.
That William Brewster printed the following two books
is absolutely certain : for their imprints contain his name
and address.
1. Thomas Cartwright. Commentarii succinti et dilucidi in
Proverbia Salomonis. Quibus adhibita est Prsefatio. . . . Johannis
PoLYANDRi, Sanctse Theologise Professoris, Leidensis.
Lugduni Batavorum. Apud Guilielmum Brewsterum. In
vice Chorali. 1617. 4.
Professor Polyander's Preface is dated 31 December
/lO January 1616/1617. It would be only reasonable to
allow two months for the production of a considerable Work
like this. That would take us back to October 1616; about
which time Sir Dudley Carleton tells us, at page 216, the
printing began. Therefore this was probably the first book
that William Brewster sent to press.
King James could, of course, see nothing objectionable
in a Work of this kind. We have seen that Professor
Polyander was active in suppressing the Pilgrim Press
in 1619 ; and perhaps all the more so, from his having
contributed a Preface to this non-controversial book
printed at it.
The next book that probably issued from the Pilgrim
Press was probably the following Work, written by Doctor
William Ames against Nikolaas Grevinchovius.
2. Guilielmi Amesii ad Responsiwn Nicolai Grevinchovii,
Rescrvptio contracta.
Prostant Lugduni Batavorum. Apud Guilielmum Brewsterum.
In vico Chorali. 1617. 16.
After the production of these two books, Brewster
omitted his name and the place of printing from the
imprints of all the books produced by him.
2 7,8 Works printed at the Pilgrim Press.
Next to the above two works, as to perfect certainty of
issue from the Pilgrim Press, is the following book : which
Sir Dudley Caeleton stated on 22 July /I August 1619,
see page 200, that " Brewster doth openly avow."
3. De vera et genuina Jesu Christi Domini et Salvatoris
nostri Religione.
Authore Ministr. Angl.
Impressis Anno Domini 1618. 16.
Of this Work, the only two copies at present known are in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. Press-marks. 8° A. 13. Th. BS.; and
8' C. 687. Line.
Sir Dudley Carleton, at page 199, states that Brewster
also printed the following bulky Work.
4. Thomas Cartwrioht. A Confutation of the Rhemists'
Translation, Glosses, and Annotations on the New Testament
Printed in the year 1618, fol.
And this accords with unbroken tradition.
Here then we have four Works, printed in 1617 —
1618, of a non-contentious character as regards the British
Government; the production of which by Brewster, was
either avowed by him, or is otherwise equally certain.
Starting with these, Sir Dudley Carleton tells us, at
page 209, that certain experienced Dutch printers affirmed
that the following two books were printed from the same
type. It is very likely that they knew the type well; and
that Brewer originally bought it from some Dutch printer
or type-founder. It would be well if this opinion could be
tested by some typographical expert in the present day.
5. [David Calderwood.] Perth Assembly. 1619. 4.
De regimine Ecclesiae Scoticanae brevis Relatio. 1619. 8.
Apparently two editions of this small book were printed in
Works printed at the Pilgrim Press. 239
Holland ; the second one, in point of time, by William Brewster
at Leyden. We have only met with one of these editions. It has
no name of Author. But when Calderwood reprinted it in 1623,
at the end of his Altare Damascenum, he gave it the name of an
imaginary Author, Hierontmus Philadelphus. So the correct
full title is
6. HiERONYMUs Philadelphus [i.e. David Calderwood]. De
regimine Ecclesiae Scoticanse brevis Relatio. 1619. 8.
Before we pass from these two books, the production of
which more especially led to the suppression of the Pilgrim
Press ; we may dwell for a moment upon the Perth Assembly
of 1619.
The General Assemblies of the Kirk of Scotland were the
regular pitched battles between the British King and the
Scotch nation. In the General Assembly that sat at Perth
on 25th — 27th August 1618 ; James I. was particularly
aggressive and violent in his attempts to force Episcopacy
upon an unwilling people.
David Calderwood then wrote his book called Perth
Assembly ; which was sent over to Leyden to be printed at
the Pilgrim Press.
From the following, slightly abridged, passage from the
Rev. Thomas Thomson's Life of David Calderwood^ in Vol.
VIII. of the Woodrow Society's Ed. of his History (&c., it
would appear that copies of this invective were in Scotland
in April 1619; though they were not put into circulation
till the June following, as Calderwood tells us himself, see
page 181.
Sir Dudley Carleton first met with a copy, at the Hague
on 15/25 July of that year ; see page 198.
While these violent proceedings of the Perth Assembly were
in progress, Calderwood was still lurking in Scotland ; and
shifting from place to place, according to the emergency. His
chief concealment was in Cranstoun [near Edinburgh] ; where a
secret chamber had been prepared for him, by the kindness of
240 Works printed at the Pilgrim Press.
Lady Cranstoun; and in which he could lurk unsuspected,
notwithstanding the strict search by which he was surrounded.
It may be easily imagined that the uni'ighteous measures of
the Prelatic faction were ^'iewed by him, from the loopholes of
his retreat, with mingled indignation and sorrow. But he did
not confine himself merely to silent feeling ; and, although an
utterance of any kind was sure to complicate his dangers, he
wrote the well known tract entitled Perth Assembly: in which
he demonstrated the utter nullity of that Meeting and all its
proceedings.
It was no easy matter to embody such a work in types, and
bring it before the eyes of the Scottish public. And, therefore, it
had to be printed in Holland ; so anonymously withal, that it bore
the name neither of Author, Printer, nor Place of Publication :
and the copies were smuggled over into Scotland, in April 1619,
with great risk and difficulty — in short, the pamphlets were packed
up in vats ; as if they had been a mercantile consignment of French
wines or strong waters [hrand^l.
Even then, they had to encounter all the hazards that commonly
belong to contraband wares.
When they were landed at Burntisland, the Minister of the
parish, being a Prelatist, would fain have searched these suspicious
looking commodities : but was only prevented by the accredited
functionary of such inquests — the Collector of the Customs.
From Burntisland, these vats were brought to Leith : and
while they lay upon the landing place, among other packages
containing French articles of traffic, the sharp-eyed [John
Spottiswood] Archbishop of St Andrews passed by, and looked
at them ; but happily without suspicion.
But the matter and style of Perth Assemble/ betrayed its
authorship: so that the King and Bishops, in deep resentment,
not only denounced the Work as an atrocious and seditious Libel;
but prosecuted the search after Calderwood more keenly than
ever.
On this account, the house of James Cathkin (a distinguished
bookseller in Edinburgh ; and a well known adherent of the
Historian) was particularly suspected, and carefully rummaged :
but although there were five or six copies of the pamphlet lying
upon the very bed which Calderwood, at that time, had been in
the practice of using ; the searchers did not perceive them.
Works printed at the Pilgrim Press. 241
At length, in August 1619, he embarked at Newhaven [, on the
Firth of Forth], for Holland ; and reached that country in safety.
The generous-hearted ladies of the Scottish metropolis took
care that the uncompromising Champion of the Church they loved
so "well, should not depart into exile in a state of utter destitution.
This was sneeringly alluded to by his enemy, Spottiswood . . .
and he talked of " that knave who is now loupen over sea, with his
purse well filled by the wives of Edinburgh."
Cathkin was groundlessly suspected of having printed the tract
of the Perth Assembly : and, in consequence of this suspicion, he
was apprehended, in June 1619, at London ; whither he had
repaired in the course of his mercantile transactions.
He was examined by no less a Personage than the august
Sovereign himself.
" Where were ye born ? " demanded the King.
" In the city of Edinburgh," replied the bibliopole.
" What religion are ye of ?" rejoined the King.
"Of the religion your Majesty professes," said the bookseller.
" The devil take you away, both body and soul ! for you are
none of my religion. You are a recusant. You go not to
Church.'
The royal polemic, having now waxed warm, proceeded to
argue in favour of Holy Days ; but finding that the Presbyterian
bookseller would not be persuaded, he broke ofi" with, "Ye are
worse than Turks and Jews ! " Then, turning to the Courtiers who
were standing by, he exclaimed, in a towering passion, " I can never
get order of these people of Edinburgh ! I forgave them the
seventeenth day. The devil rive their souls and bodies all in
coUops, and cast them into hell ! "
After this unkingly outburst, James proceeded to question the
bookseller about the publishing of Perth Assembly ; but in this, the
latter denied all participation.
He was then asked, Whether Calderwood had resorted to
his house, while lurking about Edinburgh ?
And the honest bookseller, being pressed with this question,
was obliged to confess, That Calderwood had occasionally slept at
his house ; and that he had spokne with him, within these fifteen
days.
" We have found the taed ! " cried the King exultingly. " Let
The Pilgrim Fathers. q
242 Works printed at the Pilgrim Press.
us hold us here, forsooth ! Master David Calderwood is a good
brother, and a good lear father ! "
Cathkin was then charged with having declared the Assembly
of Perth to be unlawful \this word, used in 1849, = illegal] : and,
in allusion to the refusal of the Presbyterians to receive the
Communion kneeling, the King said of the bookseller, still on
his knees, " See, thir people will kneel to me ; and will not kneel
to GOD ! " James theii endeavoured alternately to puzzle and
browbeat his victim into conformity with the [Five] Articles :
but Oathkin's Presbyterianism was of too sturdy a character to
be thus overcome.
He was remanded to prison for further examination : and
it was shortly after this singular interview, that his house in
Edinburgh was searched ; as has been already mentioned.
After a confinement of three weeks, he was set at liberty : as
he made it evident that he had taken no part in the printing, or
sale, of Perth Assembly.
We have identified a Volume in Doctor Williams's Library
in Gordon square, London, Press-mark, 12-30-32, containing
the Jive following texts in octavo.
7. An Answer to the Ten Counter Demands propounded by T.
Drakes [, or Thomas Drax], Preacher of the Word at H[arwich]
and D[overcourt], in the county of Essex.
By William Euring.
Printed in the year 1619. 8.
The only copy at present known. The Ten Counter Demands is
apparently totally lost : and its existence is only known from this
reply.
8. The People's Plea for the Exercise of Prophecy. Against
Master John Yates [Preacher in Norwich] his Monopoly,
By John Eobinson.
Printed in the year 1618. 8.
It is not clear that Yates's book was actually printed. If it
was, it is now apparently quite lost.
9. Certain Keasons of a Private Christian against Conformity to
Kneeling in the very act of receiving the Lord's Supper.
By Thomas Dighton Gent[leman].
Anno 1618. 8.
Works printed at the Pilgrhn Press. 243
There is anotlier copy of this Work in the Bodleian Library,
Oxford. Pre3s-mark 8. D. 57. - Th.
10. The Second Part of a plain Discourse of an unlettered
Christian ... in refusing Conformity to Kneeling in the act of
receiving the Lord's Supper.
By Thomas Dighton Gent[leman].
Printed in the year 1619. 8.
? The only copy at present known.
11. A true, modest, and just Defence of The Petition for Refor-
mation exhibited [in 1603] to the King's most excellent Majesty.
Containing an An&iuer to the Confutation published [in 1603]
under the names of some of the University of Oxford [ ; and
reprinted in 1608 and 1612].
Imprinted 1618. 8.
Any one seeing this volume in Doctor Williams's Library,
would at once say, That all these five rare texts came from
the same Press ; but that there was nothing to show where
that Press was.
If however we look at their literary character and general
drift, we cannot but believe that they issued from the Pilgrim
Press at Leyden : for if one was printed there, the rest were.
If any one doubts this ; he must indicate where else, in
the years 1618 and^l619, it would have been possible to have
printed such English books as these. Who, for instance,
would have dared to have printed William Euring's book
but the Pilgrims themselves ?
*e>^
We now come to editions which are more uncertain ; but
which still may be reasonably assigned to the Pilgrim Press
at Leyden : mainly because, for books of such a character,
and of those dates, no other place of origin can be suggested.
Typographical experts could however settle the question.
They are all reprints of " Holy Discipline," or of Brownist,
tracts.
244 Works priiUed at the Pilgi'im Press.
[12. (Walter Travkrs.) A full and plain Declaration of
Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the "Word of GOD; and of the
declining of the Church of England from the same. Reprinted
1617. 4.
Copies of this Edition are in the British Museum, Press-mark,
4106. b.; and the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Press-mark, A. 9. 16.
Line]
[13. (John Field and Thomas Wilcox.) An Admonition to the
Parliament holden 13 Eliz., 1570—1571.
An Exhortation to the Bishops to deal brotherly with
their Bretheren.
An Exhortation to the Bishops to answer a little book
\The Admonition &cl\ that came forth the last Parliament.
(Thomas Cartwbiqht.) A Second Admonition to the
Parliament.
Imprinted 1617. 4.
A copy of this Edition is in the Bodleian Library, Oxford,
Press-mark A. 9. 6. Line]
The late Doctor H. Martyn Dexter had a copy of each
of the following reprint editions. They will probably be
found in the Dexter Collection; now in Yale University
Library, New Haven, Connecticut.
[14. R. H. (Richard Harrison). A Little Treatise upon Ps.
cxxii. 1, stirring up unto careful desiring, and dutifully labouring
for, true Church Government. 1618. 16.]
[15. (Laurence Chaderton). A fruitful Sermon on Romans,
xii. 3-8. 1618. 16.]
It is possible that the identification of other issues of the
Pilgrim Press may reward the bibliographical hunt that will
now set in aftei* them : and hunting after lost books, beats
fox-hunting.
Should, however, the above List prove to be complete ; it
abundantly witnesses to the great energy with which William
Brewster drave on this printing effort.
Works printed at the Pilgrim Press. 245
Let us arrange the "Works chronologically under the years.
A stricter sequence is not possible.
1617.
1. Thomas Cartwright. Commentarii ... in Proverbia
Salomonis. 4.
2. Doctor William Ames. Rescriptio contracta. 16.
12. [Walter Travers.] A Declaration of Ecclesiastical Dis-
cipline. 4.
13. [John Field and Thomas Wilcox.] An Admonition to the
Parliament.
[Thomas Cartwright.] A Second Admonition to the
Parliament. 4
1618.
3. De vera et genuina Jesu Christi . . . Religione. 16.
4. Thomas Cartwright. A Confutation of the Rhemists'
Translation, &c. fol.
8. John Robinson. The People's Plea. 8.
9. Thomas Dighton. Certain Reasons . . . against Conformity
to Kneeling &c. 8.
11. A Defence of The Petition for Reforrruxtion. 8.
14. R. H. [Richard Harrison.] A little Treatise upon Ps.
cxxii. 1. 16.
15. [Laurence Chaderton.] A Sermon on Rom. xii. 3-8. 16.
1619.
5. [David Calderwood.] Perth Assembly. 4.
6. [David Calderwood.] De regimine Ecclesise Scoticanae
brevis Relatio. 8.
v. William Euring. An Answer to Thomas Drakes' Ten
Counter Demands. 8.
10. Thomas Dighton. The Second Part . . . refusing Con-
formity to kneeling. 8.
The above fifteen books, if not more, were produced in the
thirty-three months, at the furthest, between October 1616
and June 1619, both inclusive. *
Considering the rate at which books were then produced,
the amount of matter, both in Latin and in English, that
was put into type, was certainly considerable; as the secret
246 Works printed at the Pilgrim Press,
organization for its production could not, in any case, have
been a large one.
We assume that the books were printed off, or as it is now
called " machined," at Dutch hand printing presses.
Thomas Brewer was nothing daunted with his Leyden
experiences. He lived for the " Holy Discipline " ; and
suffered much on its behalf.
The following extracts tell us briefly the story of the rest
of his life.
JAMBS martin's DETECTION OF BROWNISTS IN KENT.
SUNDAY, 17/27 SEPTEMBER 1626.
A Detection of certain dangerous Puritans and Brownists
in Kent.
1. Thomas Brewer, Gentleman, who hath writ a book \but
f not printed it], containing about half a quire of paper ; wherein
he propheaies the destruction of England within three years, by
two Kings : one from the North, another from the South.
The said Brewer coming, not long since, from Amsterdam,
where he became a perfect Brownist ; and being a man of good
estate, is the general patron of the Kentish Brownists : who, by
his means, daily and dangerously increase.
He, the said Brewer, hath printed a most pestilent book beyond
the seas : wherein he affirmeth. That King James would be the
ruin of Religion. To the like purpose, he published a book or two
more : which David Pareus, at Neustadt, shewed to a Knight,
who told me of it.
2. One Turner, a candle-maker or chandler, of Sutton Valence
in Kent, preaches in houses, barns, and woods. That the Church of
England is the Whore of Babylon, and the Synagogue of Satan,
&c. He hath many followers : and is maintained principally by
the said Thomas Brewer ; whose Chaplain he seems to be.
3 and 4. One Winock and [one] Crumpe at Maidstone, both
rich men, as far as in them lies, maintain these Sectaries.
Witnesses of the Premisses are
SirP. H. ; Knight.
Master Barrell, Preacher of Maidstone.
Works printed at the PilgriTu Press. 247
Master Simondson, Schoolmaster of Maidstone, and
Master Fisher, of Maidstone.
With many more.
Testified by them, September 16 and 17, 1626.
James Martin, M.A.
S.P. Dom. Ch. /., Vol. 35, No. 110.
A posthumous Work by Thomas Brewer, appeared in
London, [on 25 August] 1656, in 8vo. British Museum
Press-mark E. 1654 (1). It is entitled Gospel Public Worship
<fec., and is an Exposition of Rom. xii. 1-8, and Matthew xviii.,
already referred to at pp. 27, 30. The following extracts from
its Preface tell us of the fate which overtook Brewer ; and
which would certainly have overtaken William Brewster,
had he been caught.
Reader. In the ensuing Treatises are represented to thy view,
a few of those many excellent manuscripts penned by Master
Thomas Brewer : who (besides many former, and some long,
persecutions endured under the Prelates) suffered imprisonment
[on and from 18th October 1626] by the Bishops in the King's
Bench Prison, above the space of fourteen years [together with a
fine of £1,000], for saying
That because the Prelates did not derive their Offices from
His Majesty as they ought : therefore he durst not partake
with them, nor the derivers of their Offices from them, in
the proper works of their Offices.
Who upon the presentation of the said Petition [to the House of
Lords on 24 November 1640] was released : but, about a month
after, he died in a good old age and full of days [get. 65.]
Most of which were the Author's own experiences and practices
and experimental observations. Who, in the time of his liberty,
was a frequent publisher of them himself at Leyden in Holland ;
where he walked in communion with Master Robinson and also
with Master Ainsworth. Also, after the time of his restraint,
procuring liberty of his Keeper ; and sometimes in the Prison ; he
taught them frequently in several Congregations in London.
CHAPTER XXV L
The two Virginia Companies.
'""-{IS:
\HE two English Virginia Companies were the
stepping stones to our colonization of New
England. In themselves, they did not prosper :
the London one became bankrupt, and had
its Charter annulled; and the Plymouth one voluntarily
surrendered up its Charter to King Charles I. But it is
hard to conceive how New England and Virginia could ever
have been peopled by Enghshmen, but for these Societies.
King James I. created them, by giving them Charters on
the 10/20 April 1606, as
The First, or London, Virginia Company ; to which
was assigned American territory between 34 and 41°
N. Lat.
The Second, or Plymouth, Virginia Company; to
which was assigned American territory between 38°
and 45° N. Lat.
We will now very briefly sketch the history of each
Company; and then gather from their Minutes, what
information they can give us respecting the Pilgrim Fathers,
down to 1623.
24
The two Virginia Companies, 249
THE FIRST, OR LONDON, VIRGINIA COMPANY.
TUESDAY, 10/20 APRIL 1606— WEDNESDAY,
16/26 JUNE 1624.
AFTER WHICH THERE WERE
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS FOR VIRGINIA.
THURSDAY, 15/25 JULY 1624 — ?
E shall see, at page 289, Robert Cushman's
account of the Split in this Society on the
28th April 1619. From that day, until the
16th June 1624, when Milton's James Ley
(afterwards the 1st Lord Ley, and later on, the 1st Earl of
Marlborough), Lord Chief Justice, pronounced a Judgement
against the Company, and annulled its Charter : during
all these years, the Council of this Society was torn in
sunder by two factions. This was however nothing but
what was going on all over Great Britain. Everywhere there
was a struggle between the Royal Prerogative and Popular
Election.
What may be regarded as the King's Party, being those
to whom he shewed favour, was headed by Robert Rich,
2nd Earl of Warwick; Sir Thomas Smith; Sir Nathaniel
Rich; Sir Henry Mildmay; and Alderman Sir Robert
Johnson.
What may be regarded as the People's Party, was
headed by Henry Wriothesly, 3rd Earl of Southampton
(the Patron of Shakespeare) ; William Cavendish, 1st Earl
of Devonshire; Sir Edward Sackville; Sir John Ogle;
and Sir Edwin Sandys.
(S. P. Colonial, Yol. XL, 11 & 25 March 1623).
According to modern ideas, the action of Sir Thomas
250 The two Virginia Companies.
Smith, after he had voluntarily laid down the Treasurership
of the Society, was perfectly indefensible.
The State Papers represent the views of the Popular
Party : and the Duke of Manchester's Papers, now
temporarily lodged in the Public Record Office, represent
the views of the King's Party.
On the 7/17 May 1623, the Council, in which the Popular
Party (of which Sir Edwin Sandys was the moving spirit)
had then the majority, issued a Declaration setting forth,
That the one chief root of all these divisions has been some
Instruments of the Earl of Warwick. This Declaration will
be found in John Burk's History of Virginia, i. 316, Ed.
1822,8.
Arthur Woodnoth, who was also of the Popular Party,
published A Short Collection of the inost remarkable Passages,
from the Original to the Dissolution of the Virginia Company,
London, 1651, 4. British Museum Press-mark, B. 626 (3).
Mr Conway Robinson has edited for the Virginia
Historical Society (Collections, New Series, Vol. 7), An
Abstract of the Proceedings of the Virginia Company of
London, 1619—1621, Richmond, Va., 1888, 8. ; from Two
Volumes which contain the duplicate Minutes of the Company,
from the 28th April 1619 (the day Sir Edwin Sandys was
made Treasurer) until the 7th June 1624, nine days before
Lord Chief Justice Ley annulled the Company's Charter.
These two Volumes of Minutes, after many wanderings,
are now amongst the manuscript treasures of the Library of
Congress at Washington.
The original Minutes have apparently perished. It
would have been distinctly to the interest of Sir Thomas
Smith and his party, that they should perish.
The history of the preservation of a contemporaneous
Copy of the original Records is thus given.
The two Virginia Companies, 251
" In one of the old mansions of rural Chelsea (which, tradition
sajs, was the home of Sir Thomas More, the warm friend of
Erasmus, and author of the political romance of Utopia), there
dwelt, in 1624, Sir John Danvers, a prominent member of the
Virginia Company ; who had married the gentle and comely
Widow Herbert : already the mother of ten children ; two of
whom were George the holy Poet, and Edward the philosophical
Deist.
"After the King had resolved to annul the Charter of the
Company ; an attempt was made to obtain the Records by their
opponents.
"The Secretary of the Company [Edward] Collinqwood,
probably under the direction of Deputy [Governor] Nicholas
Ferrar, one day visited Sir John Danvers ; and mentioned, That
thi^ee London merchants had lately called upon him, to obtain
information.
"A Clerk of Collinqwood's [Edward Waterhouse] was
immediately secured as [a] copyist : and, to preclude discovery, [he]
Avas locked up in a room in Danvers' house ; while he transcribed
the Minutes.
" After the Transactions were copied on folio paper ; to
prevent interpolation, each page was carefully compared with the
originals by Collinqwood; and then subscribed Con [i.e. Congruit]
CoLLiNGWooD : [when] Danvers took them to the President of the
Company, Henry Wriotheslet, Earl of Southampton.
" The Earl was highly gratified in the possession of a duplicate
copy of the Company's Transactions : and expressed it, by throwing
his arms around the neck of Sir John ; and then, turning to his
brother, said, ' Let them be kept at my house at Tichfield. Thoy
are the Evidences [Title-deeds] of my honour : and I value them
more than the Evidences of my lands.' " Rev. Dr. E. D. Neill,
History c&c, pp. iii. iv., Ed. 1869, 4. ,
The Rev. Doctor Edward D. Neill searched these
duplicate Minutes at Washington, and printed his gatherings
in his History of the Virginia Company of London, Ed.
1869, 4.
We give at pp. 253, 254, such Minutes from this Work,
as relate to our present Story.
252 The two Virginia Companies,
THE SECOND, OR PLYMOUTH, VIRGINIA COMPANY.
TUESDAY, 10/20 APRIL 1606— MONDAY,
2/12 NOVEMBER 1620.
THEN, ON THE GRANTING OF THE GREAT GHARTERy
THE COUNCIL FOR THE AFFAIRS OF NEW ENGLAND
IN AMERICA,
OR MORE BRIEFLY,
THE COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND.
TUESDAY, 3/13 NOVEMBER 1620 — SUNDAY,
7/17 JUNE 1635.
N spite of its title, the Council of this Society
usually met for business in London.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges was the ruling spirit
of this Company.
Many of the original Minutes of the Council of this
Company are preserved in the PubHc Record Office at
London, in S. P. Colonial^ Vols. I. and II.
Those of these Minutes which are material to our present
purpose will be found quoted at pp. 255-261.
The firm settlement, under another Charter^ of the
Massachusetts Bay, by Governor John Winthrop and his
associates, practically superseded this • Company.
The following documents tell the end of this effort.
1635.
25 April. Declaration of the Council for New England, for the
resignation of the great Charter.
1st May. The presentation of this Declaration \,o King Charles I.
7th June. The Act of Surrender of the great Charter to the
King.
S. P. Colonial, Vol. VIII., Nos. 54, 58, 60.
The two Virginia Companies, 253
MINUTES OF THE TWO VIRGINIA COMPANIES,
RELATING TO THE PILGRIM FATHERS,
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
1619—1624.
THE MINUTES OF THE LONDON VIRGINIA COMPANY.
From the Rev. Dr. E. D. Neill's History of
the Virginia Company, Ed. 1869, 4.
WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY /5 JUNE 1619.
May 26, 1619. One Master Wencop, commended to the
Company by [Theophilus Clinton, alias Fiennes], the [4th] Earl of
Lincoln, intending to go in person to Virginia and there to plant
himself and his Associates [the Pilgrim Fathers'], presented his
Patent now to the Court : which was referred to the Committee
that meeteth upon Friday morning [28th May] at Master
Treasurer's [Sir Edwin Sandys'] house [, near Aldersgate], to
consider ; and if need be, to correct the same. p. 128.
WEDNESDAY, 9/19 JUNE 1619.
By reason it grew late, and the Court [was] ready to break up ;
and as yet Master John Whincop's Patent for him and his
Associates to be read : it was ordered. That the seal should be
annexed unto it. And have referred the trust thereof to the
Auditors to examine that it agree with the original : which if it
do not, they have promised to bring it into the Court, and cancel
it. p. 128.
WEDNESDAY, 2/12 FEBRUARY 1619/1620.
At a great and general Quarter Court holden for Virginia, at
Sir Edwin Sandys' house, near Aldersgate, the 2nd of February
1619 [1620].
The Treasurer, Sir Edwin Sandys, of Grants of Land : he
acquainted them of four several pair of Indentures lying, all
engrossed, before them. . . .
254 Th^ ^^^ Virginia Companies,
Fourth. To John Peirce and his Associates \the Pilgvim
Fathers], their heirs and assigns.
Which — being, all four, now read and examined ; and finding
them agree with the drafts perused and allowed by the Auditors
— were all of them allowed ; and sealed, in view of the Court, with
a total approbation, p. 168.
The Mayflower returned to London on the 6th May
1621 ; and on the following 1st June, John Peirce took a
Patent from the Council for New England.
MONDAY, 16/26 JULY 1621.
July 16th. It was moved, seeing that Master John Peirce
had taken a Patent of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and thereupon [had]
seated his Company within the limits of the Northern Plantations,
as by some was supposed ; whereby, as by some was supposed, he
seemed to relinquish the benefit of the Patent he took of this
Company : that therefore the said Patent might be called in ;
unless it might appear [that] he would begin to plant within the
limits of the Southern Colony, p. 133.
WEDNESDAY, 13/23 FEBRUARY 1621/1622.
February 13th, 1621. Master Deputy [Treasurer, John Ferrar]
acquainted the Court, that one Master John Clarke, being taken,
[coming] from Virginia, long since \in 1612], by a Spanish ship
that came to discover that Plantation, That forasmuch as he hath
since that time, done the Company good service in many voyages
to Virginia ; and, of late \i.e. in 1619, see page 316], went into
Ireland, for transportation of cattle to Virginia : he was a
humble suitor to this Court, that he might be a Free Brother of the
Company, and have some shares of land bestowed upon him.
The Rev. Doctor E. D. Neill adds, " He was hired by Daniel
GooKiN, owner of the Providence, to take that ship to Virginia ;
which arrived April 10th 1623. [See S. P. Colonial, Vol. II., 14
April 1623]. And, soon after this, he died in the Colony." pp.
132, 133. .
The two Virginia Companies. 255
THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL FOB NEW ENGLAND.
31 MAY 1622—5 MAY 1623.
S. p. Colonial, Vol. II. ; in the Public Record
Office at London.
WHITEHALL ; FRIDAY, 31 MAY /lO JUNE 1622.
Present.
[LoDOVicK Stuart,] the [1st]
Duke of Lenox.
[Thomas Howard,] the [14th]
Earl of Arundel.
[Edward Gorges] the [1st]
Lord Gorges [of Dundalk].
Sir Robert Mansell.
First, it is ordered, That, concerning the Complaint made of
Master Weston ; Petition shall be made to His Majesty for the
forfeiture of his ship and goods to the President and Council's
use.
It is ordered that Doctor Goche shall be Treasurer.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir Samuel Arqall.
Doctor Barnaby Goche.
FRIDAY, 5/15 JULY 1622.
The Lord Gorges.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir Samuel Arqall.
Dr B. Goche, Treasurer.
First, it is ordered. That David Thompson do attend the Lords
[of the Privy Council], with a Petition to His Majesty, for forfeits
committed by Thomas Weston.
SATURDAY, 2/12 NOVEMBER 1622.
Dr B. Goche, Treasurer.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir Samuel Argall.
Captain Thomas Love.
256 The two Virginia Companies.
It is ordered, That a Commission be engrossed for Captain
Francis West ; and afterwards sealed.
[It was sealed on 30th November /lO December 1622.]
FRIDAY, 8/18 NOVEMBER 1622.
Master Treasurer. Sir Samuel Arqall.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
It is agreed on. That there shall be a Commission granted to
Captain Francis West, to go to New England, Captain of the
ship called the Plantation] and Admiral of that coast during this
voyage.
And this clause to be inserted in the Commission, That he hath
power to take any to associate [with] him there, for the despatch
of his employments, according as he shall think meet.
And that a Patent be granted to Captain Thomas Squibb, to be
aiding and assisting to the Admiral.
[It was sealed on 22nd November 1622.]
WEDNESDAY, 13/23 NOVEMBER 1622.
The Lord Gorges.
Master Treasurer.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir Samuel Argall.
Dr. Matthew Sutcliffe.
[, Dean of Exeter.]
Sir Egbert Mansell's Note for payment in of his Adventure
of £110, is accepted p'ow^ joa^ef.
" I am contented to pay this sum this time two years certain ;
or within six months after such time, as I shall receive letters of
advertisement from Captain Squibb, after his discovery and survey
of Mount Mansell ; or else, within six months after his return
thence.
"And hereunto I subscribe, this 19th of November 1622.
Testatur. Eo: Mansell."
Francis Shelden.
Thomas Squibb.
[This Note of Hand was accepted on 22nd November 1622.]
The two Virginia Companies. 257
TUESDAY, 19/29 NOVEMBER 1622.
Master Treasurer.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir Samuel Argall.
Dr. Matthew Sutcliffe.
It is ordered, That a letter be written from the Council to
Master Weston, to deliver to Leonard Peddock, a boj, native of
New England, called Papa Whinett, belonging to Abbadakest,
Sachem of Massachusets \i.e. Boston Bay] : which boy, Master
Peddock is to carry over [to New England] with him.
[For Minute of Vlj'^1 December 1622, respecting Captain Thomas
Jones ; see page 393.]
TUESDAY, 21/31 JANUARY 1622/1623.
Master Treasurer. Sir Samuel Argall.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Emanuel Altum \or rather Alltham] goeth Captain in the
new pinnace [the Little James], built for Master Peirce's
Plantation.
TUESDAY, 18/28 FEBRUARY 1622/1623.
[John Ramsay,] the Earl of
Holderness. Yice-President.
[Robert Rich,] the [2nd] Earl
of Warwick.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir John Bourchier.
Sir Henry Spelman.
Sir Samuel Argall.
Captain Thomas Love.
Whereas a Petition was exhibited to this Council, in the behalf
of Master Peirce and his Associates, for a certificate unto the
Mayor of Norwich, to redeliver certain barrels of meal which they
had provided to transport to New England, for relief of the
Planters there ; being stayed by the Mayor or his Officers.
The Council answered their Petition prout etc.
rj,, 0 u ii '^^^ Mayor and Aldermen answer hereunto, by
misinformed by letter dated the day [of March 1622, seepage 259] ;
Plymouth Com- whereby it appeared the Council were misinformed
^"'°^' by the Company, and by one Rounce.
TUESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY /7 MARCH 1622/1623.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Sir Samuel Argall.
Sir Henry Spelman.
The Pilgrim Fathers. B
258 The two Virginia Companies,
Whereas the Adventurers for Master Peirce's Plantation
exhibited their Petition for the altering of some part of the
Licence granted for the lAttle James to Samuel Althem [or rather
Alltham] Captain, viz.
That in consideration of many crosses and losses hj them
lately sustained, they might have to themselves the Moiety —
formerly rese^rved unto the Council — [of] all such prizes as they
should seize and lawfully take upon the coasts of New England ;
as by the Petition and Licence appeareth.
It is ordered and agreed accordingly. And a Licence is now
sealed and signed by Robert [Rich, 2nd Earl of] Warwick, [Sir]
Ferdinando Gorges, [Sir] Samuel Arqall ; and the former
Licence is cancelled, in the presence of the said Council.
TUESDAY, 11/21 MARCH 1622/1623.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges. | Sir Henry Spelman.
It is ordered. That the Clerk give notice to Master John
Peirce, to attend the Council on Tuesday next, to answer such
Complaints as his Associates shall object.
Emmanuel Altham, Captain of the Little James of London, and
other of the Adventurers of New Plymouth, crave the aid of the
Council, for [the] discharging of some of their ship's company ;
which were lately pressed \i.e. hy a Press Gang] by the Marshal
of the Admiralty, for His Majesty's service.
WTiereupon, the Clerk was willed to acquaint the Marshal,
That these persons were shipped in the Little James to go to New
England ; and therefore were free, by His Majesty's Charter
granted to the Council [for New England].
The Marshal answered, That he sent not on board [the Little
James], to press any : but if any were pressed, it was their own
fault to be abroad [i.e. ashore]. And that such as were pressed ;
their names were returned to Chatham, where the Kmg's ships
lay : so that he could not discharge them. But he would
henceforth forbear to press any of such ships' companies as should
be bound for New England.
TUESDAY, 18/28 march 1622/1623.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges. | Sir Henry Spelman.
Touching the Petition exhibited to the Council, by the
The two Virginia Companies. 259
Adventurers of New Plymouth in New England against Master
John Peirce the Patentee, with whom they are Associates :
Master Peirce and the Associates met, and made several
Propositions, each to the other ; but agreed not.
Whereupon they were appointed to give meeting each to other;
and then to certify the Council what they concluded on : that
then such further course might be taken as should be meet.
Upon reading of a letter written from the Mayor and
Aldermen of Norwich to the Council, touching their detaining of
certain barrels of meal from the Adventurers of New Plymouth :
it appeareth that one Eounce of Norwich, Agent for the
Adventurers, had misinformed the Council therein.
Whereupon it was ordered, That Rounce should be spoken
with, touching his wrong information. And it is thought fit,
That henceforth no Information be taken but upon oath.
TUESDAY, 25 MARCH /4 APRIL 1623.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir Samuel Argall.
Sir Henry Spelman.
Master John Peirce and
his Associates \i,e. the
Adve7iturers].
After a long dispute of the difTerences between Master John
Peirce and his Associates,
It appeared that Master John Peirce obtained from the
Council [for New England] an Indenture, purporting a Grant of
certain lands in New England for settling of a Plantation there,
dated the first day of June 1621.*
It further appeared that, upon the 20th day of April 1622,
Master John Peirce granted Letters of Association unto the said
Adventurers ; whereby he made them jointly interested with him,
in the lands granted by the abovesaid Indenture.
Moreover it appeared that, upon the said 20th day of April
1622, after the said Master Peirce had interested the said
Adventurers in the lands passed unto him by the said Indenture,
that he yielded and surrendered up [to the Council for New
England] the said Indenture, and received up the Counter-part
thereof.
* This Patent is now preserved in the Pilgrim Hall at Plymouth,
Massachusets. — E. A.
26o The two Virginia Companies,
And [that he] took [from the same Council] a Patent or Deed
Poll [a legal deed^ not indented ; executed hy one party ^ and
therefore consisting of only one document^ of the said lands to
himself, his heirs, associates, and assigns for ever; bearing dated
the said 20th of April 1622.* With which Surrender and New
Grant, the Adventurers affirmed, that they were not privy unto :
and therefore conceived themselves deceived by Master Peirce ;
which was the cause of their Complaint,
At length, by the mutual consent of Master Peirce and of the
said Adventurers, it was ordered as foUoweth :
Whereas there were several differences between John Peirce,
Citizen and Clothworker of London, and [James Shirley] the
Treasurer and others the Associates of him the said John Peirce,
that were Undertakers with him for [the] settling and advancement
of the Plantation at Plymouth in the parts of New England ; All
which, after the full hearing and debating thereof before us, were
finally concluded upon, by the offer of the said John Peirce ; and
the mutual acception \_acceptatio7i\ of the said Treasurer and
Company then present, in the behalf of themselves and the rest of
the said Company :
That the said Associates with their Undertakers and
servants now settled, or to be settled, in Plymouth aforesaid,
should remain and continue tenants unto the Council
established for the managing of the foresaid Affairs of New
England : notwithstanding a Grant, bearing date the 20th
of April 1622, by the said Peirce obtained, without the
consent of the said Associates, from the said Council ;
contrary to a former Grant to the said Peirce, made in
the behalf of himself and his said Associates, dated the
first of June 1621. And so the said Associates are left free
* On the same day, he received the new Patent, under which it was
beheved that he intended to hold the settlers as his tenants ; and control
the destinies of the Colony. He actually set sail for New England,
armed \\dth this Patent ; and was only prevented by providential storms,
which twice drove him back, from consummating his ingenious scheme.
The Adventurers remonstrated with him in vain : and he demanded £.500
in consideration of the surrender of his Grant. — The Hon. W. T. Davies,
Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth, pp. 44, 45. Ed. 1883, 8,
The two Virginia Co77tpanies, 261
to hold the privileges by the said former Grant of the first
of June ; as if the latter had never been : and they, the said
Associates, to receive and enjoy all that they do, or may,
possess by virtue thereof.
And the surplus that is to remain over and above, by reason
of the latter Grant ; the said Peirce to enjoy, and to make
the best benefit of, as to him shall seem good.
For performance whereof, both parties have submitted
themselves to the authority and pleasure of the said Council, to
pass unto them new Grants for either of their Interests ; and final
determination of all the dififerences between them : agreeable [to]
and upon such conditions as are usual, or as in equity the Council
shall think fit.
Master [James] Shirley, Treasurer to the said Adventurers of
New Pl}Tiiouth, propoundeth, in the behalf of the said Adventurers,
that they may have a Patent for so much as is granted to them in
the former Indenture made to Master Peirce, dated the first of
June 1621.
MONDAY, 5/15 MAY 1623.
Master Treasurer. Sir Samuel Argall.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Touching the differences between Master [Stephen] Hopkins
and Master Peirce :
Master Hopkins allegeth that he hath paid to Master Peirce,
for transportation of himself and two persons more ; and likewise
for his goods.
Which Master Peirce acknowledgeth : but allegeth that, by
reason of his unfortunate return, the rest of the passengers that
went upon the like conditions, had been contented to allow 40s, a
person towards his loss ; and therefore desireth that Master
Hopkins may do the like. Which Master Hopkins, at length,
agreed unto ; so as Master Peirce and his Associates will accept
£6, for three passengers, out of [the] £20 his Adventure which
he hath in their Joint Stock.
And therefore they both pray that the Council will be pleased
to write to the Associates \the Adventurers in London], to accept
thereof.
Which they are pleased to do.
A letter was, this day, written and signed prout supra.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Reasons that moved most of the Pilgrim
Church to migrate to America. 1617.
OVERNOR WINSLOWs account of the more
public motives, is as follows :
I persuade myself, never people upon
earth lived more lovingly, and parted more
sweetly than we, the Church at Leyden, did. Not
rashly, in a distracted humour ; but, upon joint and
serious deliberation, often seeking the mind of GOD
by fasting and prayer: whose gracious presence we
not only found with us; but his blessing upon us
from that time to this instant [1646] : to the
indignation of our adversaries, the admiration of
strangers, and the exceeding consolation of ourselves,
to see such effects of our prayers and tears before our
pilgrimage here be ended. And therefore briefly take
notice of the true cause of it :
'Tis true that that poor persecuted Flock of Christ,
by the malice and power of the late Hierarchy [Bishops
were abolished in England on 1st September 1642], were
driven to Leyden in Holland, there to bear witness,
in their practice, to the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ
in his Church : and there lived together ten years [the
exact time of the unbroken Church at Leyden was from
April 1609 to July 1622, O.S.] under the United States
[i.e. the States General], with much peace and liberty.
262
The Reasons for Migrating to America. 263
But our Reverend Pastor, Master John Robinson
of late memory ; and our grave Elder, Master William
Brewster, now [1646] both at rest with the Lord ;
considering, amongst many other inconveniences,
How hard the country was, where we lived.
How many spent their estate \i.e. all their
means] in it ; and were forced to return for
England.
How grievous [it was] to live from under
the protection of the State of England.
How like[ly] we were to lose our language,
and our name, of English.
How little good we did, or were like[ly] to do,
to the Dutch ; in reforming the Sabbath.
How unable there, to give such education to
our children as we ourselves had received.
&c. &c. &c.
They, I say, out of their Christian care of the Flock
of Christ committed to them, conceived, If GOD would
be pleased to discover some place unto us, though in
America ; and give us so much favour with the King
and State of England as to have their protection there,
where we might enjoy the like liberty; and where,
the Lord favouring our endeavours by his blessing,
we might exemplarily shew our tender [loving]
countrymen, by our example, [they being] no less
burdened than ourselves, where they might live and
comfortably subsist; and enjoy the like liberties with
ourselves, being freed from antichristian bondage ; keep
their names and nation; and not only be a means to
enlarge the dominions of our State, but [of] the
Church of Christ also, if the Lord have a people
amongst the natives whither he would bring us ; &c.
Hereby, in their grave wisdoms, they thought we
264 The Reasons for Migrating to America.
might more glorify GOD, do more good to our country,
better provide for our posterity, and live to be more
refreshed by our labours; than ever we could do in
Holland where we were. Hypocrisy unTnashed <^c., pp.
88, 89, Ed. 1646, 4. ^
Governor Bradfoed tells us more fully as to the private
motives for the migration :
After they had lived in this city [Leyden] some
eleven or twelve years — which is the more observable,
being the whole time of the famous Truce between that
State [Holland] and the Spaniards [This is not quite
exact The Ten Years' Truce was from 9th April 1609
to Sth April 1619] — and sundry of them were taken
away by death; and many others began to be well
stricken in years : the grave mistress. Experience,
having taught them many things ; those prudent
Governors [Robinson and Brewster], with sundry of
the sagest members, began both deeply to apprehend
their present dangers ; and wisely to foresee the future,
and think of timely remedy.
In the agitation of their thoughts, and much
discourse of things hereabout, at length they began to
incline to this conclusion — of removal to some other
place. Not out of any newfangledness, or other such
like giddy humour; by which men are oftentimes
transported to their great hurt and danger : but, for
sundry weighty and solid reasons; some of the chief
of which, I will here briefly touch :
And first, they saw, and found by experience, the
hardness of the place [Leyden] and country
Holland] to be such as few, in comparison, would
come to them ; and fewer that would bide it out,
and continue with them. For many that came to
The Reasons for Migrating to America. 265
them, and many, more that desired to be with
them, could not endure that great labour and hard
fare; with other inconveniences, which they
underwent, and were contented with. But
though they loved their persons, approved their
Cause, and honoured their sufferings : yet they
left them, as it were weeping, as Orpah did her
mother in law Naomi [Ruth i. 14] ; or as those
Romans did Cato in Utica, who desired to be
excused and borne with, though they could not
all be Catoes. For many, though they desired
to enjoy the Ordinances of GOD in their purity
and the liberty of the Gospel with them ; yet,
alas, they admitted of bondage with danger of
conscience, rather than to indure these hardships.
Yea, some preferred and chose the prisons in
England ; rather than this liberty in Holland,
with these afflictions. But it was thought that
if a better and easier place of living could be
had, it would draw many ; and take away these
discouragements. Yea, their Pastor would often
say, That many of those [that] both wrote and
preached now against them; if they were in
a place where they might have liberty and live
comfortably, they would then practice as they
did.
Secondly. They saw that though the people
generally bore all these difficulties very cheerfully
and with a resolute courage, being in the best and
strength of their years ; yet old age began to steal
on many of them, and their great and continual
labours with other crosses and sorrows hastened
it before the time : so as it was not only probably
thought, but apparently seen, that, within a few
266 The Reasons for Migrating to America,
years more, they would be in danger to scatter,
by necessities pressing them ; or sink under their
burdens; or both. And therefore according to
the divine proverb, that " a wise man seeth
the plague when it cometh, and hideth himself,"
Prov. xxii. 3 [Geneva Version] ; so they, like
skillful and beaten [veteran or weatherheaten]
soldiers, were fearful either to be intrapped or
surrounded by their enemies, so as they should
neither be able to fight, nor fly. And therefore
[they] thought it better to dislodge betimes to
some place of better advantage, and less danger ;
if any such could be found.
Thirdly. As necessity was a taskmaster over
them, so they were forced to be such not only to
their servants; but, in a sort, to their dearest
children : the which, as it did not a little wound
the tender parts of many a loving father and
mother, so it produced likewise sundry sad and
sorrowful effects. For many of their children (that
were of best dispositions and gracious inclinations ;
having learnt to bear the yoke in their youth,
and [being] willing to bear part of their parents'
burden) were, often times, so oppressed with their
heavy labours that, though their minds were free
and willing ; yet their bodies bowed under the
weight of the same, and became decrepid in their
early youth ; the vigour of Nature being consumed
in the very bud as it were. But that which was
more lamentable, and of all sorrows most heavy to
be borne, was that many of their children (by these
occasions ; and the great licentiousness of youth
in that country, and the manifold temptations
of the place) were drawn away by evil examples
The Reasons for Migrating to America, 267
into extravagant and dangerous courses ; getting
the reins off their necks, and departing from
their parents. Some became soldiers. Others
took upon them far voyages by sea : and other
some, worse courses, tending to dissoluteness and
the danger of their souls; to the great grief of
their parents, and dishonour of GOD. So that
they saw their posterity would be in danger to
degenerate and be corrupted.
Lastly, and which was not least, a great hope
and inward zeal they had of laying some good
foundation, or at least to make some way
thereunto, for the propagating and advancing
the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in those
remote parts of the world : yea, though they
should be but even as stepping stones unto others,
for the performing of so great a work.
The place they had thoughts on was some of
those vast and unpeopled countries of America,
which are fruitful and fit for habitation : being
devoid of all civil [civilised] inhabitants ; where
there are only savage and brutish men, which
range up and down little otherwise than the wild
beasts of the same.
These, and some other like, reasons moved them to
undertake this resolution of their Removal : the which
they afterwards prosecuted with so great difficulties, as
by the sequel will appear. Bradford MS., folios 47-51.
268 The Reasons for Migrating to America,
THE DISCUSSION THAT FOLLOWED.
OYERNOR WINSLOW is here very brief: —
Now these their private thoughts, upon
mature deliberation, they \i.e, the Pastor
and the Ruling Elder] imparted to the
brethren of the Congregation; which, after much
private discussion, came to public agitation, till, at
the length, the Lord was solemnly sought in the
Congregation, by fasting and prayer, to direct us. Who
moving our hearts more and more to the work ; we sent
[1617] some of good abilities [i.e. Robert Gushman
and JoEN Carver] over into England, to see what
favour or acceptance such a thing might find with the
King. Hypocrisy unmasked ^c, page 89, Ed. 1646, 4.
Governor Bradford is much fuller on this point.
This Proposition being made public and coming to
the scanning of all, it raised many variable opinions
amongst men, and caused many fears and doubts
amongst themselves.
Some, from their reasons and hopes conceived,
laboured to stir up and incourage the rest to
undertake and prosecute the same.
Others again, out of their fears, objected against it
and sought to divert from it: alledging many things,
and those neither unreasonable, nor unprobable, as
That it was a great design and subject to many
unconceivable perils and dangers, &c. Besides the
casualties of the seas, which none can be freed from ;
the length of the voyage was such as the weak bodies of
women, and other persons worn out with age and travail
\labour\ as many of them were, could never be able to
endure. And yet if they should, the miseries of the
The Reasons for Migrating to America. 269
land, which they should be exposed unto, would be too
hard to be borne ; and likely some, or all of them
together, to consume and utterly to ruinate them. For
there they should be liable to famine, and nakedness,
and the want (in a manner) of all things. The change
of air, diet, and drinking of water would infect their
bodies with sore sicknesses and grievous diseases.
And also those which should escape, or overcome,
these difficulties, should yet be in continual danger of
the savage people. Who are cruel, barbarous, and most
treacherous ; being most furious in their rage, and
merciless where they overcome : not being content only
to kill and take away life ; but delight to torment men
in the most bloody manner that may be — flaying some
alive with the shells of fishes : cutting off the members
\lirY\hs\ and joints of others by piecemeal ; and, broiling
[them] on the coals, eat the collops of their \tke vict%'ms''\
flesh in their sight, whilst they live : with other cruelties
horrible to be related. And surely it could not be
thought but the very hearing of these things could not
but move the very bowels of men to grate \wee'p\ within
them ; and make the weak to quake and tremble.
It was further objected. That it would require greater
sums of money to furnish such a voyage \ex'pedition\
and to fit them with necessaries, than their consumed
estates would amount to : and yet they must as well
look to be seconded with Supplies \TeinfoTceinfhents\ as
presently to be transported [conveyed over the sea to
ATnerica].
Also many presidents [precedents], of ill success and
lamentable miseries [that had] befallen others in the
like designs, were easy to be found ; and not forgotten
to be alledged. Besides their own experience in their
former troubles and hardships in their removal into
270 The Reasons for Migrating to America.
Holland : and how hard a thing it was for them to live
in that strange place, though it was a neighbour
[neighbouring] country, and a civil [civilized] and rich
Common Wealth.
It was answered. That all great and honourable
actions are accompanied with great difficulties ; and
must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable
courages. It was granted the dangers were great, but
not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not
invincible. For though there were many of them likely ;
yet they were not certain. It might be [that] sundry
of the things feared might never befall ; others, by
provident care and the use of good means, might in a
great measure be prevented : and all of them, through
the help of GOD, by fortitude and patience, might either
be borne, or overcome.
True it was, That such attempts were not to be made
and undertaken without good ground and reason; not
rashly, or lightly, as many have done for curiosity, or
hope of gain, &c. But their condition was not ordinary.
Their ends were good and honourable ; their Calling
lawful and urgent : and therefore they might expect the
blessing of GOD in their proceeding. Yea, though they
should lose their lives in this action : yet might they
have comfort in the same ; and their endeavours would
be honourable.
They lived here [in Leyden] but as men in exile,
and in a poor condition : and as great miseries might
possibly befall them in this place. For the twelve
[or rather^ ten] years of Truce were now out : and there
was nothing but beating of drums and preparing for
war ; the events whereof are always uncertain. The
Spaniard might prove as cruel as the savages of
America; and the famine and [the] pestilence as sore
The Reasons for Migrating to America. 271
here as there; and their liberty less to look out for
remedy.
After many other particular things answered and
alledged on both sides ; it was fully concluded by the
major part \mcL^oriiy\ to put this design in execution ;
and to prosecute it by the best means they could.
Bradford MS., folios 51-55.
THE MEANS THEY USED FOR PREPARATION TO THIS
WEIGHTY VOYAGE [EXPEDITION]. 1617,
ND first, after their humble prayers unto
GOD for his direction and assistance, and
a general conference held hereabout ; they
consulted what particular place to pitch
upon and prepare for.
Some, and none of the meanest, had thoughts, and
were earnest for Guiana, or some of those fertile places
in those hot climates. Others were for some parts of
Virginia, where the English had already made entrance
and beginning.
Those for Guiana alledged that the country was rich,
fruitful, and blessed with a perpetual Spring and a
flourishing greenness ; where vigorous Nature brought
forth all things in abundance and plenty, without any
great labour or art of Man : so it must needs make the
inhabitants rich, seeing less provisions of clothing and
other things would serve, than in more cold and less
fruitful countries must be had. As also that the
Spaniards, having much more than they could possess,
had not yet planted there, nor anywhere very near the
same.
272 The Reasons for Migrating to America.
But to this it was answered, That, out of question,
the country was both fruitful and pleasant ; and might
yield riches and maintenance to the possessors, more
easily than the others : yet other things considered,
it would not be so fit for them. And first,
That such hot countries are subject to grievous
diseases and many noisome impediments, which other
more temperate places are freer from ; and would not
so well agree with our English bodies. Again, if they
should there live and do well, the jealous Spaniard
would never suffer them long : but would displant,
or overthrow, them, as he did the French in Florida
[m 1565], who were seated further from his richest
countries ; and [this] the sooner, because they should
have none to protect them ; and their own strength
would be too small to resist so potent an enemy and
so near a neighbour.
On the other hand, for Virginia, it was objected, That
if they lived among the English which were there planted,
or so near them as to be under their government ;
they should be in as great danger to be troubled
and persecuted for their Cause of Religion, as if they
lived in England : and, it might be, worse [troubled].
And if they lived too far off; they should neither have
succour, nor defence from them.
But, at length, the conclusion was, to live as a distinct
body by themselves, under the general government of
Virginia ; and by their friends to sue to His Majesty
that he would be pleased to grant them Freedom of
Religion : and that this might be obtained, they were
put in good hope by some Great Persons of good rank
and quality, that were made their friends. Bradford
MS., folio 55.
CHAPTER XXVIIL
Members of the Pilgrim Church who did not
emigrate to america.
OVEENOR WINSLOW teUs us, at page 328,
that there were "a very few who had rather
we would have stayed [in Holland]." Here
are some of the names of these " very few : "
H. C. M. [the Hon. Henry C. Murphy], in the Historical
Magazine, Vol. III., pp. 358, 359, Boston and New York,
1859, 4, writes :
" We have already given the different trades pursued by
those of Robinson's Congregation, who were married at
Leyden ; and emigrated in the first four ships.
"We now furnish, from the same source, a List of some
of them who did not embark in the Mayflower, the Fortune,
the Ann, or the Little James. Sometimes the particular city
is named ; at others, only the country from whence they came."
Zachariah Be^ry, from England.
William Buckram, from Ipswich, Block Maker.
Samuel Butler, from Yarmouth, Merchant.
Stephen Butterfield, from England, Silk Worker.
Alexander Carpenter.
"Father of Governor Bradford's second wife, and of
George Morton's wife."
Roger Chandler, from Colchester, Silk Worker.
Anthony Clemens.
John Codmore, from England, Ribbon Weaver.
The Pilgrim Fathers. 273 * B
274 Exiles who did not go to America.
Henry Cullens, from England, Bombazine Worker.
** He lived at Amsterdam."
John Ellis.
Daniel Fairfield, from Colchester, Silk Worker.
Samuel Ferrier, from Caen, Normandy; Silk
Worker.
"This is an instance of the admission of a Frenchman
into the Congregation. We gather this from the fact that he
married Mildreth Charles, Maid, from England, on the 16th
May 1614 : having, on that occasion, two of the Congregation,
namely Roger Wilson and Samuel Fuller, as witnesses."
John Gillies, from Essex, Merchant.
Abraham Gray.
Thomas Hatfield, from England, Wool Carder.
William Hoyt.
John Jennings, from Colchester, Fustian Worker.
Edmund Jepson, from England, Bombazine Worker.
Henry Jepson, from England, Silk Worker.
William Jepson.
John Keble.
Samuel Lee, from England, Hatter.
Isaac Marcus.
Henry Marshall.
Robert Nelson, from England, Baize Worker.
Israel Nes.
William Pantes, from Dover, Fustian Worker.
Joseph Parsons, from Colchester, Silk Worker.
'' Edward Pickering, from London, Merchant.
John Reynolds, from London, Printer.
*' He lived at Amsterdam."
John Robinson, from England, Minister.
Roger Simons, from Sarum \^al%sbw}ry\ Mason.
Robert Smith.
Exiles who did not go to America. 275
Thomas Smith, from Bury [St Edmunds], Wool
Carder.
'* He married Anna Crackston ; daughter of John
Crackston, one of the company of the MayfiowerT
Edward Southwobth, from England, Silk Worker.
" First husband of Governor Bradford's second Wife,"
Thomas Southworth.
" Brother of Edward."
John Spoonard, from England, Ribbon Weaver.
" John Carver attended as a witness to his marriage,
9th December 1616."
William Talbot.
RaYNULF [= ItALPH\ TiCKENS.
" Brother-in-law of Robinson."
Robert Warrener, from England, Wool Carder.
Roger White.
" Brother of Mistress Robinson."
Roger Wilkins, from England, Wool Carder.
Jonathan Williams.
Thomas Williams.
Henry Wilson, from Yarmouth, Pump Maker.
" John Carver attended as witness to his marriage, on
the 16th May 1616."
Roger Wilson, from England, Silk Worker.
Henry Wood.
" These Lists might be much extended ; but we have
confined ourselves to such as most distinctly appear to have
been connected with Robinson's Congregation prior to the
sailing of the first four ships. A close scrutiny would, we
doubt not, double the number.
"An interesting question presents itself, as to what
became of these numerous families.
276 Exiles who did not go to America.
"At first, the Congregation at Ley den consisted, as we
have seen, of about one hundred persons, men and women.
" Subsequent accessions, from England and other sources,
increased the number to about three hundred souls, in 1620 ;
of whom it is said not more than one half went to America.
"After the death of Robinson, in 1625; there does not
appear to have been any Minister among them. Some of his
flock, like his own children, became absorbed in the Dutch
population; though there is not at this day [1 August \^'b^\
more than three names of families, in Leyden, bearing any
resemblance to those above given."
CHAPTER XXIX.
Francis Blackwell leads the remnant of the
Rev. Francis Johnson's Church towards
Virginia. 1618—1619.
OVERNOR BRADFORD thus writes:
A word or two, by way of digression, touching
this Master Blackwell. He was an Elder of
the Church at Amsterdam : a man well known
of most of them. He declined from the truth [i.e. the true
theory of a Church'], with Master Johnson and the rest : and
went with him, when they parted asunder [on 15/25 December
1610] in that woeful manner; which brought so great
dishonour to GOD, scandal to the truth, and outward ruin
to themselves in this world. But I hope, notwithstanding,
through the mercies of the Lord, their souls are now at rest
with him in the heavens ; and that they are arrived in the
haven of happiness : though some of their bodies were thus
buried in the terrible seas, and others sunk under the burden
of bitter afflictions.
He, with some others, had prepared for to go to Virginia.
And he, with sundry godly citizens, being at a private
meeting (I take it, a Fast) in London : being discovered,
many of them were apprehended ; whereof Master Blackwell
was one.
But he so glossed with [cajoled ] the Bishops ; and either
dissembled, or flatly denied, the truth [i.e. the Principles of
the Separation], which formerly he had maintained : and not
only so, but very unworthily betrayed, and accused another
godly man, who had escaped, that so he might slip his own
277
278 The rascality of Francis Blackwell.
neck out of the collar; and, to obtain his own freedom,
brought others into bonds. Whereupon, he so won the
Bishops' favour, but lost the Lord's, as he was not only
dismissed : but, in open court, the Archbishop [George
Abbot] gave him great applause ; and his solemn blessing to
proceed in his voyage. But if such e«vents follow the
Bishops' blessings ; happy are they that miss the same ! It
is much better to keep a good conscience, and have the
Lord's blessing, whether in life or death.
But see how the man, thus apprehended by Master
Blackwell's means, writes to a friend of his.
Right dear friend and Christian brother, Master Carver. I
salute you and yours in the Lord, &c. As for my own present
condition ; I doubt not but you well understand it ere this, by our
brother Maistersone : who should have tasted of the same cup,
had his place of residence and his person been as well known as
myself.
Somewhat I have written to Master Cushman, how the matter
still continues. I have petitioned twice to [the] Master Sheriffs,
and once to my Lord Cooke : and have used such reasons to move
them to pity that, if they were not overruled by some others, I
suppose I should soon gain my liberty. As that, I was a young
man, living by my credit, indebted to divers in our city, living at
more than ordinary charges in a close and tedious prison, besides
great rents abroad, all my business lying still ; my only servant
lying lame in the country, my wife being also great with child.
And yet no answer till the Lords of His Majesty's [Priv)']
Council gave \have given] consent.
Howbeit, Master Blackwell, a man as deep in this action as I,
was delivered at a cheaper rate ; with a great deal less ado : yea,
with an addition of the Archbishop's blessing.
I am sorry for Master Blackwell's weakness, I wish it may
prove no worse. But yet he and some others of them, before their
going [i.e. to Virginia ; and therefore they left before the Ath September
1618, the date of this letter], were not sorry ; but thought it was for
the best that I was nominated [denounced] : not because the Lord
sanctifies evil, to good ; but that the action was good, yea, for the
best.
The rascality of Francis Blackwell. 279
One reason, I well remember, he \Frangis Blackwell] used
was, because this trouble would increase the Virginia Plantation ;
in that now people began to be more generally inclined to go : and
if he had not nominated [accused] some such as I, he had not
been free ; because it was [it being] known that divers citizens,
besides themselves, were there.
I expect an answer shortly what they intend concerning me. I
purpose to write to some others of you; by whom you shall know
the certainty.
Thus, not having further at present to acquaint you withal,
commending myself to your prayers, I cease : and commit you, and
us all, to the Lord.
Your friend and brother in bonds,
Sabine Staresmore.
From my Chamber in Wood street Counter,
September 4th, aniio 1618.
But [of] thus much by the way; which may be of
instruction and good use. Bradford MS., folios 69-71.
When to the above, we add what Robert Cushman tells
us respecting Blackwell, at page 290, of "a stratagem he
once made for Master Johnson and his people at Emden ;
which was their subversion [utter ruin] " : it is hard to say
which of his Elders were the more consummate rascal,
Francis Blackwell, or Daniel Studley. " By their fruits,
ye shall know them."
CHAPTER XXX.
The Negotiations with the London Virginia
Company. 1617—1619.
The Seven Articles. 1617.
HE first step that was taken was to draw up
the following Declaration of Faith and Church
Polity : in which the Pilgrim Fathers strove,
in order to conciliate the King and his
Government, to minimize to the uttermost their differences
from the Church of England as it then existed.
The following document in the Public Record OflBce,
London, is a copy only ; and its real date is before November
1617:
Seven Articles which the Church of Leyden sent
to the [Privy] Council of England to be
considered of, in respect of their Judgements :
occasioned about their going to Virginia, anno
1618.
1. To the Confession of Faith [The 39 Articles
of Religion of 1562] published in the name of the
Church of England, and to every Article thereof; we
do (with the Reformed Churches where we live, and also
elsewhere) assent wholly.
2. As we do acknowledge the Doctrine of Faith
there taught; so do we, the fruits and effects of the
same Doctrine, to the begetting of saving faith in
thousands in the land [of England], Conformists and
Reformists, as they are called : with whom also, as
with our brethren, we do desire to keep spiritual
280
The Seven Articles. 1617. 281
communion in peace ; and will practice in our parts all
lawful things.
3. The King's Majesty we acknowledge for Supreme
Governor in his Dominions in all causes, and over all
persons : and that none may decline or appeal from
his authority or judgement in any cause whatsoever:
but that in all things obedience is due unto him ;
either active, if the thing commanded be not against
GOD's Word; or passive, if it be, except pardon can
be obtained.
4. We judge it lawful \morally right] for His
Majesty to appoint Bishops [to be] Civil Overseers
or Officers in authority under him in the several
Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations, or Parishes, to
oversee the Churches, and govern them civilly [secularly]
according to the laws of the land : unto whom, they are,
in all things, to give an account ; and by them, to be
ordered according to godliness.
5. The authority of the present Bishops in the land
[of England], we do acknowledge so far forth as the
same is indeed derived from His Majesty unto them ;
and as . they proceed in his name : whom we will also
therein honour in all things ; and him, in them.
6. We believe that no Synod, Classes, Convocation,
or Assembly of Ecclesiastical Officers hath any power
or authority at all but as the same [is] by the
Magistrate given unto them.
7. Lastly, we desire to give unto all Superiors due
honour, to preserve the unity of the Spirit with all
that fear GOD, to have peace with all men what in us
lieth, and wherein we err to be instructed by any.
Subscribed per John Robinson and William
Brewster.
S. P., Colonial, Vol. I. No. 43.
282 Negotiations with the Virginia Co.
The above extremely able Paper gave rise to a short
controversy in print at the time.
The Rev. Thomas Drakes [or Drax as his name is spelt in
R. Newcourt's Repertorium, II., p. 220, Ed. 1710, fol.] was
the Vicar of Harwich and Dovercourt; and died before 18
March 1618.
Very soon then after the presentation of the above Seven
Articles, he published a reply to them entitled, " Ten
Counter Demands propounded to the Separatists against
their Seven Demands " : which Work is now apparently
totally lost.
To it, there appeared from the Pilgrim Press at Leyden,
the following reply.
William Euring, " An Answer to the Ten Counter
Demands propounded by T. Drakes, Preacher of the Word
at H. and D., in the county of Essex."
Printed in the year 1619, 8.
Of this Answer, only one copy is at present known to
exist; and that is in Doctor Williams' Library, Gordon
square, London, W.C. Press-mark, 12 — 30 — 22.
The above Seven Articles have been reprinted by Mr
George Bancroft, in 2 iVew York Historical Society^s
Publications, iii., 1856, 8.
Governor Winslow's summary account of these negotiations
is as follows :
These [Agents, i.e., Robert Cuseman and John
Carver] also found GOD going along with them; and
got Sir Edwin Sandys, a religious gentleman then
living, to stir in it. Who procured Sir Robert
Naunton, then Principal Secretary of State to King
James of famous memory, to move His Majesty, by
Negotiations with the Virginia Co. 283
a private motion, to give way to such a people, who
could not so comfortably live under the government of
another State, to enjoy their liberty of conscience under
his gracious protection in America : where they would
endeavour the advancement of His Majesty's dominions,
and the enlargement of the Gospel, by all due means.
This, His Majesty said, was a good and honest motion :
and asking, What profits might arise in the part we
intended ? for our eye was upon the most northern
parts of Virginia ; it was answered " Fishing."
To which he replied, with his ordinary asseveration,
" So GOD have my soul ! 'tis an honest trade ! ^ It
was the Apostles' own calling ! &c."
But afterwards he told Sir Robert Naunton, who
took all occasions to further it, that we should confer
with the Bishops of Canterbury [George Abbot]
and London [John King], &c.
Whereupon we were advised to persist upon his first
approbation ; and not to entangle ourselves with them.
Which caused our Agents to repair to the [First, or
London] Virginia Company : who, in their Court \or
GoTYimittee Meeting in February 1619], demanded our
ends of going. Which being related; they said. The
thing was of GOD, and granted a \2jrgQ Patent. And
one of them lent us £300 gratis, for three years : which
was repaid. Hypocrisy unmasked <^c., pp. 89, 90, Ed.
1646, 4.
284 Negotiations with the Virginia Co,
Governor Bradford's account is much more detailed.
Whereupon two were chosen, and sent into England
at the charge of the rest, to solicit this matter. Who
found the Virginia Company very desirous to have
them go thither : and willing to grant them a Patent
with as ample priviledges as they had, or could grant
to any ; and to give them the best furtherance they
could.
And here it will be requisite to insert a letter
or two that may give light to these proceedings.
A copy of a Letter from Sir Edwin Sandys,* directed to
Master John Eobinson and Master William Brewster.
[London ; Wednesday, 12/22 November 1617.]
After my hearty salutations. The Agents of your Congregation,
Robert Cushman and John Carver, have been in communication
with divers select {specially deputed'] Gentlemen of His Majesty's
Council for Virginia : and by the Writing of \The'\ Seven Articles,
subscribed with your names, have given them that good degree
of satisfaction, which hath carried them on with a resolution to set
forward your desire in the best sort that may be, for your own,
and the public, good.
Divers particulars [have to be considered], whereof we leave
to their faithful report : [they] having carried themselves here
with that good discretion as is both to their own [credit], and
their credit from whence they came.
And whereas, being to treat for a multitude of people,
they have requested further time, to confer with them that
are to be interessed [interested] in this action, about the several
particularities [points] which, in the prosecution thereof, will
fall out considerable: it hath been willingly assented to. And
so, they do now return unto you.
If therefore, it may please GOD, so to direct your desires
as that, on your parts, there fall out no just impediments ; I trust,
by the same direction, it shall likewise appear that, on our parts,
* The Pilgrims first acted upon William Brewster's acquaintanc
with the Sandys family ; which has been described at page 65.
Negotiations with the Virginia Co. 285
all forwardness to set you forward shall be found, in the best sort,
which with reason may be expected.
And so, I betake [commit] you, with this design (which I hope
verily is the work of GOD), to the gracious protection and blessing
of the Highest.
Your very loving friend,
Edwin Sandys.
London, November 12th
anno 1617.
Their answer was as follow eth :
• [Leyden ; Monday, 15/25 December 1617.]
Right Worshipful,
Our humble duties remembered, in our
own, our Messengers', and our Church's name : with all thankful
acknowledgement of your singular love expressing itself as
otherwise, so more specially in your great care and earnest
endeavour of our good in this weighty business about Virginia.
Which, the less able we are to requite, we shall think ourselves
the more bound to commend in our prayers unto GOD for
recompence. Whom, as for the present, you rightly behold in our
indeavours : so shall we not be wanting on our parts, the same
GOD assisting us, to return all answerable fruit and respect unto
the labour of your love bestowed upon us.
We have (with the best speed, and consideration withal, that
we could) set down our Requests in writing, subscribed, as you
willed, with the hands [sigTiatures] of the greatest part of our
Congregation ; and have sent the same unto the Council [for
Virginia] by our Agent and a Deacon of our Church, John Carver ;
unto whom we have also requested [Robert Cushman] a Gentleman
of our Company to adjoin himself : to the care and discretion
of which two, we do refer the prosecuting of the business.
Now we persuade ourselves, Right Worshipful, that we need
not provoke your godly and loving mind to any further, or more
tender, care of us ; since you have pleased so far to interest us in
yourself that, under GOD, above all persons and things in the
world, we rely upon you : expecting the care of your love, counsel
of your wisdom, and the help and countenance of your authority.
Nothwithstanding, for your encouragement in the work, so far
as probabilities may lead ; we will not forbear to mention these
instances of Inducement :
286 Negotiations with the Virginia Co,
First. We verily believe and trust the Lord is with us ; unto
whom, and whose service, we have given ourselves in many trials :
and that he will graciously prosper our indeavour, according to the
simplicity \j[>ure-mindedness\ of our hearts therein.
Secondly. We are well- weaned from the delicate milk of our
mother country: and [are] inured to the difficulties of a strange
and hard land {Holland^ : which yet, in great part, we have, by
patience, overcome.
Thirdly. The people are, for the body of them, industrious and
frugal, we think we may safely say, as any company [society'] of
people in the world.
Fourthly. We are knit together, as a body, in a most strict and
sacred Bond and Covenant of the Lord ; of the %'iolation whereof
we make great conscience : and by virtue whereof, we do hold
ourselves straitly tied to all care of each other's good, and of
the whole, by every one ; and so mutually.
, Lastly. It is not with us as with other men whom small things
can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish themselves
at home again. We know our entertainment in England, and in
Holland. We shall much prejudice both our arts [trades] and means
by removal. If we should be driven to return [from Virginia], we
should not hope to recover our present helps and comforts : neither
indeed look ever, for ourselves, to attain unto the like in any other
place, during our lives ; which are now drawing towards their
periods [ends].
These Motives we have been bold to tender unto you, which
you, in your wisdom, may also impart to any other our worshipful
friends of the Council [for Virginia] with you : of all whose godly
disposition and loving [?care] towards our despised persons, we
are most glad ; and shall not fail by all good means to continue
and increase the same.
We will not be further troublesome ; but, with the renewed
remembrance of our humble duties to your Worship — and, so far
as in modesty we may be bold, to any other of our wellwillers of the
Council with you — we take our leaves : committing your persons
and counsels to the guidance and direction of the Almighty.
Yours much bounden in all duty,
John Eobinson,
William Brewster.
Ley den, December 15th,
anno 1617.
Negotiations with the Virginia Co. 287
And some of the Chief of that Company doubted not
to obtain their suit of the King, for Liberty in Religion ;
and to have it confirmed under the King's broad seal,
according to their desires. But it proved a harder
piece of work than they took it for : for though many
means were used to bring it about ; yet it could not be
effected.
For there were divers of good worth [who] laboured
with the King to obtain it, amongst whom was Sir
Robert Naunton, one of his chief Secretaries [of State] ;
and some others wrought with the Archbishop [George
Abbot] to give way thereunto: but it proved all in
vain.
Yet thus far they prevailed, in sounding His Majesty's
mind, That he would connive at them, and not molest
them ; provided they carried themselves peaceably : but
to allow, or tolerate, them by his public authority, under
his seal ; they found it would not be. And this was all,
the Chief of the Virginia Company, or any others of
their best friends, could do in the case. Yet they
persuaded them to go on : for they presumed they \tlie
Pilgrims] should not be troubled.
And with this answer, the Messengers returned ; and
signified what diligence had been used, and to what
issue things were come.
But this made a damp in the business ; and caused
some distraction. For many were afraid that if they
should unsettle themselves, and put off their estates
\sell off their properties], and go upon these hopes ; it
might prove dangerous, and but a sandy foundation.
Yea, it was thought they might better have presumed
hereupon, without making any suit at all : than, having
made it, to be thus rejected.
But some of the Chiefest thought otherwise, and
2 88 Negotiations with the Virginia Co,
that they might well proceed hereupon; and that the
King's Majesty was willing enough to suffer them
without molestation : though, for other reasons, he
would not confirm it by any public act [deed]. And
furthermore, if there were no security in this promise
intimated; there would be no great certainty in a
further confirmation of the same. For if, afterwards,
there should be a purpose, or desire, to wrong them;
though they had a seal as broad as the house floor, it
would not serve the turn: for there would be means
enew [enough] found to recall, or reverse, it. And
seeing therefore the course was probable ; they must
rest herein on GOD's Providence, as they had done in
other things.
Upon this resolution, other Messengers [this time
William Brewster and Robert Cushman] were
despatched [in 1619], to end with the Virginia Company
as well as they could : and to procure a Patent with as
good and ample conditions as they might by any good
means obtain. Also to treat and conclude with such
Merchants, and other friends, as had manifested their
forwardness to provoke to, and adventure in, this
Voyage [Expedition]. For which end, they had
instructions given them, upon what conditions they
should proceed with them ; or else to conclude nothing,
without further advice.
These things being long in agitation, and Messengers
passing too and again about them, after all their hopes,
they were long delayed by many rubs that fell in their
way.
For at the return of these Messengers into England,
they found things far otherwise than they expected.
For the Virginia Council was now so disturbed with
factions and quarrels amongst themselves, as no business
Negotiations with the Virginia Co. 289
could well go forward. The which may the better
appear in one of the Messengers' letters, as f olloweth :
[London ; Saturday, 8/18 May 1619.]
To his loving friends, &c.
I had thought long since to have writ unto you, but could not
effect that which I aimed at ; neither can yet set things as I
wished. Yet notwithstanding, I doubt not but Master B[rewster]
hath written to Master Robinson. But I think myself bound
also to do something, lest I be thought to neglect you.
The main hindrance of our proceedings in the Virginia business
is the dissensions and factions, as they term it, amongst the Council
and Company of Virginia; which are such as that, ever since we
came up, no business could by them be despatched.
The occasion of this trouble amongst them is, for that, a while
since. Sir Thomas Smith, repining at his many Offices and troubles,
wished the Company of Virginia to ease him of his Office in being
Treasurer and Governor of the Virginia Company.
Whereupon the Company took occasion to dismiss him, and [on
28th April 1619] chose Sir Edwin Sandys Treasurer and Governor
of the Company : he having 60 voices ; Sir John Wolstenholme,
16 voices ; and Alderman [Sir Robert] Johnson, 24 voices. But
Sir Thomas Smith, when he saw some part of his honour lost, was
very angry ; and raised a faction to cavil and contend about the
election : and sought to tax Sir Edwin with many things that
might both disgrace him, and also put him by his Office of Governor.
In which contentions they yet stick; and are not fit, nor ready,
to intermeddle in any business : and what issue things will come
to, we are not yet certain. It is most iike[ly] Sir Edwin will carry
it away [maintain his election] : and if he do, things will go well in
Virginia ; if other wise, they will go ill enough. Always we hope
in two or three Courts Days things will settle. Mean space I
think to go down into Kent [Cushman came from Canterbury
see page 165] ; and [to] come up again [in] about fourteen days, or
three weeks, hence : except either by these aforesaid contentions,
or by the ill tidings from Virginia, we be wholly discouraged. Of
which tidings I am now to speak.
Captam [Sir Samuel] Argall is come home this week
I2nd-8th May 1619.] He, upon notice of the intent of the Council,
came away before Sir George Yeardlet came there : and so there
The Pilgrim Fathers. T
290 Negotiations with the Virginia Co.
is no small dissension [here]. But his tidings are ill, thotigh his
person be welcome.
He saith, Master [Francis] Blackwell's ship came not there
till March [1619]. But going, towards winter [1618 ; hefore Septemher
4tth\ they had still northwest winds ; which carried them to the
southward, beyond their course. And the Master of the ship and
some six of the mariners dying ; it seemed they could not find the
[Chesapeake] Bay till after long seeking and beating about.
Master Blackwell is dead,. and Master Maggner the Captain.
Yea, there are dead, he saith, 130 persons, one and [an]other, in that
ship. It is said, There were in all 180 persons in the ship ; so as
they were packed together like herrings. They had amongst them
the flux [dysentery]^ and also want of fresh water : so as it is, here,
rather wondered at, that so many are alive, than that so many
are dead.
The Merchants here say, It was Master Blackwell's fault to
pack so many in the ship. Yea, and there were great mutterings
and repinings amongst them, and upbraiding of Master Blackwell
for his dealing and disposing of them ; when they saw how he
had disposed of them, and how he insulted over them. Yea, the
streets at Gravesend rang of their extreme quarrelings, crying
out one of another, " Thou has brought me to this ! " and " I may
thank thee for this ! " [Thou-ing and thee-ing were then expressions
of scorn.']
Heavy news it is, and I would be glad to hear how far it will
discourage [you at Leyden]. I see none here discouraged much ;
but rather desire to learn to beware by other men's harms, and to
amend that wherein they have failed.
As we desire to serve one another in love, so [let us] take heed
of being inthralled by any imperious person ; especially if they
be discerned to have an eye to themselves. It doth often trouble
me to think that, in this business, we are all to learn, and none to
teach : but better so, than to depend upon such teachers as Master
Blackwell was. Such a stratagem he once made for Master
[Francis] Johnson and his people at Emden ; which was their
subversion. But though he then cleanly, yet unhonestly, plucked
his neck out of the collar ; yet, at last, his foot is caught.
Here are no letters come [from Virginia]. The ship Captain
[Sir Samuel] Argall came in, is yet in the west parts [of England].
All that we hear is but his report. It seemeth he came away secretly.
Negotiations with the Virginia Co. 291
The ship that Master Blackwell went in will be here shortly. It
is, as Master Robinson once s^id, He thought we should hear no
good of them \i.e. the remnant of the Rev. Francis Johnson's Church
that went from Amsterdam to Virginia'].
Master B[rewster] is not well at this time. "Whether he will
come back to you, or go into the north [of England] ; I yet know
not. For myself, I hope to see an end of this business ere I come
[back] : though I am sorry to be thus from you. If things had
gone roundly forward, I should have been with you within these
fourteen days. I pray GOD direct us, and give us that spirit
which is fitting for such a business.
Thus having summarily pointed at things ; which Master
Brewster, I think, hath more largely writ of to Master Robinson :
I leave you to the Lords's protection.
Yours in all readiness, Sc,
Robert Cushman.
London,
May 8th, anno 1619.
But, at last, after all these things, and their long
attendance; they had a Patent granted them [by the
Company, on 9/19 June 1619 ; see page 253], and
confirmed under the Company's seal : but these divisions
and distractions had shaken off many of their pretended
friends ; and disappointed them of their hoped-for and
proffered means.
By the advice of some friends, this Patent was not
taken in the name of any of their own [Company] but
in the name of Master John Wincob [or rather Whincop
or WiNCOP] a religious Gentleman, then belonging to
[the household of Elizabeth de Clinton,] the Countess
[Dowager] of Lincoln : who intended to go with them.
But GOD so disposed as he never went ; nor they ever
made use of this Patent, which had cost them so much
labour and charge : as by the sequel will appear.
Bradford MS., folios 55-71.
Let us see what progress had now been made. In
292 Negotiations with the Virginia Co,
October — November 1617, the negotiations with the London
Virginia Company began ; and they, at length, had culminated
in the sealing of their first Patent, to John Wincop, upon
9/19 June 1619.
But the Pilgrims wanted more than a Patent from the
Company : they also wanted free shipping. The Company,
however, was practically penniless ; and was on its way to the
bankruptcy which overtook it in 1624.
So the Pilgrims had to cast about for some means to get
across the Atlantic : and, then it was, that, despairing of all
help from home, they unwillingly began their negotiations with
the Dutch,
CHAPTER XXXL
The Negotiations with the Privy Council.
The Three Points.
January — February 1618.
OVERNOU BRADFORD here carries on the
For further light in these proceedings, see
some other Letters and Notes, as followeth :
THE COPY OF A LETTER SENT TO SIR JOHN WOSTLEHOLME.
[lEYDEN; TUESDAY, 27 JANUARY /6 FEBRUARY, 1617/1618.]
Eight Worshipful. With due acknowledgement of our
thankfulness for your singular care and pains in the business of
Virginia; for our, and, we hope, the common, good : we do
remember our humble duties to you ; and have sent inclosed,
as is required, a further explanation of our Judgements in The
Three Points specified by some of His Majesty's honourable
Privy Council. And though it be grievous unto us, that such
unjust insinuations are made against us ; yet we are most glad
of the occasion of making our just purgation unto so honourable
Personages.
The Declarations we have sent inclosed; the one more brief
and general, which we think the fitter to be presented: the other
something more large, and in which we express some small accidental
differences ; which if it seem good unto you and others of our
worshipful friends, you may send instead of the former.
Our prayer unto GOD is, that your Worship may see the fruit
of your worthy endeavours; which on our parts we shall not fail
to further by all good means in us. And so praying that you
would please, with the convenientest speed that may be, to give us
293
294 Negotiations with the Privy Council,
knowledge of the success of the business with His Majesty's Privy
Council; and accordingly, what your further pleasure is, either for
our direction, or furtherance in the same. So we rest.
Your Worship's in all duty,
John Eobinson,
William Brewster.
Leyden, January 27th
anno 1617 [—1618], Old Style.
The first brief Note was this :
Touching the Ecclesiastical Ministry, namely, of Pastors for
Teaching, Elders for Ruling, and Deacons for distributing the
Church's contribution; as also for the two Sacraments, Baptism and
the Lord's Supper : we do wholly and in all points agree with the
French Reformed Churches, according to their public Confession of
Faith.
The Oath of Supremacy we shall willingly take, if it be required
of us; and that convenient satisfaction be not given by our taking
the Oath of Allegiance.
John Robinson,
William Brewster.
The second was this :
Touching the Ecclesiastical Ministry &c. . . . . (as in the
former) .... we agree in all things with the French Reformed
Churches, according to their public Confession of Faith. Though
some small differences be to be found in our practices ; not at all
in the substance of the things, but only in some accidental
circumstances :
As, first. Their Ministers do pray with their heads covered:
ours, uncovered.
Secondly. We choose none for Governing Elders but such as
are able to teach : which ability they do not require.
Thirdly. Their Elders and Deacons are annual, or at most for
two or three years: ours perpetual.
Fourthly. Our Elders do administer their Office, in Admonitions
and Excomunications for public scandals, publicly; and before the
Congregation: theirs more privately, and in their Consistories.
Negotiations with the Privy Council. 295
Fifthly. We do administer Baptism only to such infants as
whereof the one parent, at the least, is of some Church : which
some of their Churches do not observe ; though in it our practice
accords with their public Confession^ and the judgement of the most
learned amongst them.
Other differences worthy mentioning, we know [of] none in
these Points.
Then about the Oath, as in the former.
Subscribed,
John Robinson.
William Brewster.
Part of another Letter from him that delivered these :
LONDON ; [SATURDAY,] FEBRUARY 14/24, 1617 [ — 1618].
Your Letter to Sir John Wolstenholme, I delivered, almost
as soon as I had it, to his own hands ; and stayed with him the
opening and reading. There were two Papers inclosed.
He read them to himself, as also the Letter : and in the
reading he spake to me, and said "Who shall make them?" viz.
the Ministers.
I answered his Worship, That the power of making was in the
Church, to be ordained by the Imposition of Hands by the fittest
Instruments they had. It must either be in the Church, or from
the Pope : and the Pope is Antichrist.
. " Ho ! " said Sir John, " what the Pope holds good, as in the
Trinity, that we do well to assent to : but " said he, " we will not
enter into dispute now."
As for your Letters, he would not show them at any hand ; lest
he should spoil all. He expected you should have been of [George
Abbot] the Archbishop's mind for the Calling of Ministers : but it
seems you differed. I could have wished to have known the
contents of your two [Papers] inclosed : at which he stuck so
much ; especially the larger [one].
I asked his Worship, What good news he had for me to write
[to Leyden] to-morrow ?
He told me, "Very good news : for both the King's Majesty
and the Bishops have consented."
296 Negotiations with the Privy Council.
He S8ftd he would go to Master Chancellor, Sir Fulke Greville,
as this day; and next week, I should know more.
I met Sir Edwin Sakdys on Wednesday night [11th February].
He wished me to be at the Virginia Court the next Wednesday
[18th February] ; where I purpose to be.
Thus loath to be troublesome at present, I hope to have
somewhat, next week, of certain, concerning you. I commit you
to the Lord.
Yours,
Sabine Staresmore.
Bradford MS., folios 63-65.
CHAPTER XXXII
The Negotiations with the Dutch, 1620.
E will first give the documents ; and afterwards
discuss them.
PETITION OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE
NEW NETHERLAND COMPANY.
WEDNESDAY, 2/12 FEBRUARY 1619/1620.
To the Prince of Orange, &c.
The Directors of the Company trading to New Netherland,
situate in latitude from 40 to 45 degrees, between New France and
Virginia, reverently represent
That they, the Petitioners, have, as discoverers and first finders
of the said countries, traded thither now several years ; in virtue
of a certain general Charter from the High and Mighty Lords
States General, dated the 10th March 1614 [N.S.\ That they,
also, have delivered to their High Mightinesses their written Report,
with a Map, of the situation and usefulness of [the] said countries.
And whereas the Petitioners' Charter has expired, so that every
one is now at liberty to trade there ; they have again sent thither
two ships, in order to preserve the reputation of [the] said trade.
Some vessels have been likewise sent by other traders, exclusive of
the Company.
Now it happens that there is residing at Leyden a certain
English Preacher, versed in the Dutch language, who is well
inclined to proceed thither to live : assuring the Petitioners that
he has the means of inducing over four hundred families to
accompany him thither, both out of this country and England.
Provided they would be guarded and preserved from all violence on
the part of other potentates, by the authority and under the
protection of your Princely Excellency and the High and Mighty
Lords States General, in the propagation of the true [and] pure
Christian religion, in the instruction of the Indians in that country
297
298 Negotiations with the Dutch,
in true learning, and in converting them to the Christian faith :
and thus, through the mercy of the Lord, to the greater glory of
this country's government, to plant there a new Commonwealth ;
all under the order and command of your Princely Excellency
and the High and Mighty Lords States General.
And whereas they, the Petitioners, have experienced that
His Majesty of Great Britain would be disposed to people the
aforesaid lands with the English Nation ; and by force to render
fruitless their possession and discovery, and thus deprive this
State of its right ; and apparently with ease surprise the ships
of this country which are there, and are ordered to remain there
the whole year : wherefore they, the Petitioners, pray and request
that your Princely Excellency may benignly please to take all
the aforesaid into favourable consideration, so that, for the
preservation of this country's rights, the aforesaid Minister and the
four hundred families may be taken under the protection of this
country ; and that two ships of war may be provisionally
despatched to secure to the State the aforesaid countries ; inasinuch
as they would be of much importance, whenever the West India
Company is established, in respect to the large abundance of
timber fit for shipbuilding, &c., as may be seen by the
accompanying Report. On all which
(Endorsed) Petition of the Directors of the Company
trading to New Netherland, 12 February 1620.
Documents . . . 'procured in Holland &c.^ Ed. E. B.
O'Callaghan. Vol. I., pp. 22, 23. Albany N.Y., 1856, 4.
RESOLUTION OF THE STATES GENERAL ON THE PETITION
OF THE NEW NETHERLAND COMPANY.
Saturday, the 11th April 1620 \_N.8\
The Petition of the Directors of the New Netherland Com-
pany, that they, for the peopling of the said Island [of Manhattan],
may be assisted with two ships of war, is again rejected. Idem^
p. 24.
SIR DUDLEY CARLETON TO THE ENGLISH PRIVY COUNCIL.
THE HAGUE ; TUESDAY, 5/15 FEBRUARY 1621/1622.
May it please your Lordships. Having received your Lordships'
Negotiations with the Dutch. 299
letter, of the 15th of December [1621], touching the Hollanders
entering, a year since \i.e. in December 1620], and planting
a Colony, upon some parts of the north of Virginia, within the
precinct of which His Majesty had formerly granted, by his
Patent^ the quiet and full possession unto particular persons : with
commandment from His Majesty to move the States General, not
only to make stay of such ships as are here prepared for that
voyage ; but likewise to prohibit the further prosecution of that
Plantation :
I took the liberty which the season gave me — all these country
\ButcK\ ships being then, as they still are, bound in with ice — to
inform myself of the state of the business, before I would appear
in their Assembly ; and could not find (either by such merchants
with whom I have acquaintance at Amsterdam ; or by [Maurice]
the Prince of Orange and some of the States, of whom I made
enquiries) any more in the matter but that, about four or five years
since [1618, or 1617], two particular Companies of Amsterdam
merchants began a trade into those parts, betwixt 40 and 45
degrees [North] ; to which, after their manner, they gave their
own names of New Netherlands ; a South, and a North, Sea ; a
Texel ; a Vlieland ; and the like. Whither they have, ever since,
continued to send ships, of 30 or 40 lasts [ = 60 to 80 tons\ at the
most, to fetch furs ; which is all their trade : for the providing
of which, they have certain Factors there, continually resident,
trading with [the] savages. And, at this present, there is a ship
at Amsterdam bound for those parts.
But I cannot learn of any Colony ; either already planted
there by these people, or so much as intended.
And I have this further reason to believe there is none —
because, within these few months, divers inhabitants of this
country, to a considerable number of families \i.e. 60 families of
WallooTis\ have been suitors unto me to procure them a place of
habitation amongst His Majesty's subjects of those parts : which,
by His Majesty's order, was Aiade known to the Directors of the
Plantation \i.e. Tlie London Virginia Company/] ; and if these
country men [Dutchmen] were in any such way themselves, there is
small appearance [that] they would desire to mingle with strangers,
and be subject to their Grovernment.
Nevertheless because more may be known to your Lordships
300 Negotiations with the Dutch.
than I can learn here ; I have not failed of my duty in demanding
audience of the States, and saying to them what I was commanded:
the effect \suhstance\ whereof (as the use here is, being so required)
I gave them in writing; according to the copy I send your
Lordships herewith.
Which those of [the Province of] Holland demanded of the
Assembly ; whereby to take information of the business, of which
they pretended ignorance : thereupon to frame an Answer to His
Majesty ,• which, when I shall receive, I will not fail to advertise
your Lordships.
So I most humbly take leave. From the Hague, the 5th of
February 1621.
S. P., Holland. Bundle 145.
1. The first important point here is, That it is clear that,
on the 2/12 February 1619/1620, the date of the first
document, Master Thomas Weston, the London Merchant of
whom we shall presently hear so much, had not yet come to the
Leyden Church ; and made his proposals to them : because,
at page 317, the Rev. John Robinson writes of him to John
Carver, " When we had another course with the Dutchmen,
[we] broke it off, at his motion." Now these negotiations
were certainly not broken off on the above date.
2. But these were broken off before 1/11 April 1620, the
date of the second document ; otherwise they would have
come to an end thi'ough the failure of the New Netherland
Company, consequent on the refusal of the States General :
instead of which, the Englishmen broke them off.
3. Therefore we can say with certainty, that, Thomas
Weston appeared on the scene , at Leyden, on some date
between 2/12 February and 1/11 April 1620.
4. Notice Sir Dudley Carleton's statement that, up to
the 5/15 February 1622, no Colony of any kind existed at the
island of Manhattan ; but only Fur Factors.
Why then did the Pilgrims, having rejected all idea of
Negotiations with the Dutch. 301
living under the Dutch, on the arrival of the Mayflower off
Cape Cod on the 9/19 November 1620, deliberately sail
southward in order to settle themselves somewhere near the
Hudson river, which, as they then thought, was some thirty
miles off, see page 407 ?
Three reasons may be assigned for this :
First. Their Patent^ granted to Master Wincop, was for
the northern parts of Virginia.
Secondly. In the course of their negotiations with the New
Netherland Company, they must have received some special
and favourable information from them, respecting that part of
North America.
Thirdly. A cogent reason for such a desired proximity
would be, mutual help in time of need. We can see how
deeply they felt their utter isolation from all European aid,
when they first anchored in Cape Cod Bay, from Governor
Bradford's remarks at pp. 351-354.
CHAPTER XXXIII
The Negotiations with Master Thomas Weston,
Merchant; and the Adventurers, in
and about london. 1620.
OR these Negotiations, Governor Bradford is the
only authority.
About this time, whilst they were
perplexed with the proceedings of the
Virginia Company ; and the ill news from thence about
Master Blackwell and his Company ; and making
enquiry about the hiring and buying of shipping
for their Voyage: some Dutchmen made them [? in
January 1620] fair offers about going with them [to
the Hudson river].
Also one Master Thomas Weston, a Merchant of
London, came to Ley den about the same time [? February
1620] : who was well acquainted with some of them,
and a furtherer of them in their former proceedings [? at
Boston, or ?at Amsterdam, or ?at Ley den]. Having
much conference with Master Robinson and others of
the Chief of them ; [he] persuaded them to go on, as it
seems ; and not to meddle with the Dutch, or too much
to depend on the Virginia Company. For if that failed
[in supplying them with shipping to go to America],
if they came to resolution [to migrate], he and such
Merchants as were his friends, together with their [the
Pilgrims'] own means, would set them forth : and they
should make ready, and neither fear want of shipping .
302
Negotiations with the Adventtirers, 303
nor money ; for what they wanted should be provided.
And, not so much for himself, as for the satisfying of
such friends as he should procure to adventure in this
business, they were to draw [up] such Articles of
Agreement, and make such Propositions, as might the
better induce his friends to venture.
Upon which, after the former's conclusion [the break
off with the Dutch, in ? March 1620], Articles were
drawn, and agreed unto; and were shown unto him,
and approved by him: and afterwards, by their said
Messenger (Master John Carver) sent into England.
Who, together with Robert Cushman, were to
receive the monies, and make provision both for
shipping and other things for the Voyage : with this
charge, not to exceed their Commission ; but to proceed
according to the former Articles.
Also some were chosen to do the like, for such things
as were to be prepared there [i.e. in Holland]. So those
that were to go, prepared themsejves with all speed,
and sold off their estates [properties] ; and, such as were
able, put in their monies into the Common Stock : which
was disposed, by those appointed, for the making of
general provisions.
About this time also, they had heard, both by Master
Weston and others, that sundry honourable Lords had
obtained a large grant from the King for the more
northerly parts of that country, derived out of the
Virginia Patent] and wholly secluded from their
Government : and to be called by another name, viz. New
England.* Unto which, Master Weston and the Chief
* Here ia a slip of memory on behalf of Governor Beadfoed. James
I.'s Warrant to Sir Thomas Coventey to prepare the new Patent, for, The
304 Negotiations with the Adventurers.
of them, began to incline, it was best for them to go : as
for other reasons, so chiefly for the hope of present
[immediate] profit, to be made by the fishing that was
found in that country.
But as, in all businesses, the acting part is most
difficult, especially where the work of many Agents
must concur : so was it found in this. For some of
those that should have gone, in England, fell off; and
would not go. Other merchants and friends that had
offered to adventure their monies, withdrew ; and
pretended many excuses. Some disliking they went not
to Guiana. Others again would adventure nothing,
except they went to Virginia. Some again, and those
that were most relied on, fell in utter dislike with
Virginia ; and would do nothing, if they went thither.
In the midst of these distractions, they of Leyden,
who had put off their estates [sold their properties] and
laid out their monies, were brought into a great strait :
fearing what issue these things would come to. But, at
length, the Generality [Tnajority of the Adventurers] was
swayed to this latter opinion [of going to Virginia].
But now another difficulty arose. For Master
Weston and some others that were for this course
[of going to Virginia], (either for their better advantage ;
or rather for the drawing on of others, as they pretended)
would have some of these Conditions altered, that were
first agreed on at Leyden.
To which the two Agents sent from Leyden ; or, at
Council for the Affairs of New England in America," is dated the 23rd
July 1620 ; and the SpeedwelllQit Delfshaven on the 26th July 1620 ; both
Old Style. The actual Patent was not signed till 3rd November 1620.
The Pilgrim Fathers could only have heard of this Warrant, on their
arrival at Southampton. — E. A.
Negotiations with the Adventurers. 305
least, one of them [Robert Cushman] who is most
charged with it, did consent.
Seeing else that all was like[ly] to be dashed, and the
opportunity lost ; and that they which had put off their
estates \sold their properties], and paid in their monies,
were in hazard to be undone : they presumed to conclude
with the Merchants on those terms, in some things
contrary to their order and Commission; and without
giving them [at Leyden] notice of the same. It was
concealed, lest it should make any further delay.
Which was the cause, afterward, of much trouble and
contentions.
It will be meet [that] I here insert these [altered]
Conditions ; which are as f olloweth :
Anno 1620 [O.S.], [Saturday,] July 1st.
1. Tlie Adventurers and Planters do agree, That every person
that goeth, being aged sixteen years and upwards, be
rated at £10 : and £10 to be accounted a Single Share.
2. That he that goeth in person, and furnisheth himself out
with £10, either in money or other provisions, be
accounted as having £20. in Stock : and in the Division
shall receive a Double Share.
3. The persons transported and the Adventurers shall continue
their Joint Stock and Partnership together, the space
of Seven Years ; except some unexpected impediment do
cause the whole Company to agree otherwise ; during
which time, all profits and benefits that are got by [the]
trade, traffic, trucking, working, fishing, or any other
means, of any person, or persons, [shall] remain still in the
Common Stock until the Division.
4. That, at their coming there [i.e. in Virginia], they choose
out such a number of fit persons as may furnish their
ships and boats for fishing upon the sea : imploying the
rest in their several faculties [trades] upon the land;
as building houses, tilling and planting the ground, and
making such commodities as shall be most useful for the
Colony.
The Pilgrim Fathers u
3o6 Negotiations with the Adventurers.
5. That at the end of the Seven Years, the Capital and Profits
(viz. the houses, lands, goods and chatties) be equally
divided betwixt the Adventurers and [the] Planters.
Which done, every man shall be free from other of them,
of any debt or detriment concerning this Adventure.
6. Wliosoever cometh to the Colony hereafter, or putteth
any[thing] into the Stock, shall, at the end of the Seven
Years, be allowed proportionately to the time of his so
doing.
7. He that shall carry his wife and children, or servants, shall
be allowed for every person, now aged sixteen years
and upward, a Single Share in the Division ; or, if he
provide them necessaries, a Double Share : or, if they be
between ten years old and sixteen, then two of them
to be reckoned for a person, both in Transportation and
Division.
8. That such children as now go, and are under the age of
ten years, have no other Share in the Division but fifty
acres of unmanured land.
9. That such persons as die before the Seven Years be
expired, their Executors to have their part or Share at
the Division, proportionately to the time of their life in
the Colony.
10. That all such persons as are of this Colony are to have their
meat, drink, apparel, and all provisions out of the Common
Stock and goods of the said Colony.
The chief and principal differences between these,
and the former, Conditions stood in those two points :
[5.] That the houses, and lands improved, especially gardens
and home lots, should remain, undivided, wholly to the
Planters, at the Seven Years' end.
[11.] Secondly. That they should have had two days in a
week for their own private imployment, for the more
comfort of themselves and their families ; especially
such as had families.
But because Letters are by some wise men counted
the best part of Histories ; I shall show their grievances
hereabout by their own letters : in which the passages
of things will be more truly discerned.
Negotiations with the Adventurers. 307
[We must here re-arrange these letters in the Bradford
Manuscript in a strict chronological order. — E. A.]
[a letter from sundry of the pilgrim church to their
agents in london.]
wednesday, 31 may /lo june 1620.
To their loving friends John Carver and Robert Cushman
these, <S:c.
Good Brethren. After salutations, &c. "We received divers
letters at the coming of Master [Thomas] Nash, and our Pilot
\%o}vo woLS to navigate the Speedwell from DelfsJiaven to Southampton]
which is a great incouragement unto us ; and for whom, we
hope, after times will minister occasion of praising GOD. And
ndeed had you not sent him, many would have been ready to
faint and go back : partly in respect of the new Conditions
which have been taken up [accepted] by you, which all men are
against ; and partly in regard of our own inability to do any
one of those many weighty businesses, you refer to us here.
For the former whereof, Whereas Robert Cushman desires
reasons for our dislike, promising thereupon to alter the same ;
else saying we should think he hath no brains : we desire him
to exercise them therein, referring him to our Pastor's former
reasons ; and them, to the censure of the godly wise. But our
desires are, that you will not entangle yourselves and us in any
such unreasonable courses as these are, viz.
[5.] That the Merchants should have the half of men's houses
and lands at the Divident.
[11.] And that persons should be deprived of the two [week]
days in a week agreed upon ; yea, [of] every moment of
time, for their own particular [private use]. By reason
whereof, we cannot conceive why any should carry
servants, for their own help and comfort ; for [seei7ig] that
we can require no more of them, than all men one of
another.
This we have only by relation from Master Nash, and not from
any writing of your own ; and therefore [we] hope you have not
proceeded far in so great a thing without us. But requiring you
not to exceed the bounds of your Commission ; which was to
proceed upon the things or Conditions agreed upon, and expressed
in writing, at your going ever about it, we leave it : not without
3o8 Negotiations with the Adventurers.
marvelling that yourself (as you write) knowing how small a thing
troubleth our consultations, and how few (as you fear) understand
the business aright ; [you] should trouble with such matters as
these are, &c.
Salute Master Weston from us ; in whom we hope we are not
deceived. We pray you make known our estate unto him ; and, if
you think good, show him our letters. At least, tell him, That,
under GOD, we much rely upon him ; and put our confidence in
him. And, as yourselves well know, that if he had not been an
Adventurer with us, we had not taken it in hand : presuming
that if he had not seen means to accomplish it, he would not have
begun it. So we hope, in our extremity, he will so far help us
as [that] our expectation be no way made frustrate concerning him.
Since therefore. Good Brethren, we have plainly opened the
state of things with us, in this manner ; you will, &g.
Thus beseeching the Almighty, who is all-sufficient to raise us
out of this depth of difficulties, to assist us herein : raising such
means, by his Providence and fatherly care for us his poor children
and servants, as we may with comfort behold the hand of our GOD
for good towards us in this our business ; which we undertake in
his name and fear, we take leave, and remain
Your perplexed, yet hopeful, brethren,
Samuel Fuller,
June 10th, New Style, Edward Winslow.
Anno 1620. William Bradford.
Isaac Allerton.
Besides these things, there fell out a diflference
amongst those Three that received the monies and
made the provisions in England. For besides these two,
formerly mentioned, sent from Leyden for this end, viz.
Master Carver and Robert Cushman, there was one
chosen in England to be joined with them, to make the
provisions [arrangements] for the Voyage. His name was
Master [Christopher] Martin. He came from Biliericay
in Essex : from which parts came sundry others to go
with them ; as also from London and other places. And
therefore it was thought meet and convenient by them
Negotiations with the Adventurers. 309
in Holland, that these strangers that were to go with
them, should appoint one thus to be joined with them :
not so much for any great need of their help as to
avoid all suspicion, or jealousy, of any partiality. And
indeed their care for \agains(\ giving offence, both in
this and other things afterward, turned to great
inconvenience unto them ; as in the sequel will appear :
but, however, it shewed their equal and honest minds.
The provisions [preparations] were, for the most part,
made at Southampton; contrary to Master Weston's
and Robert Cushman's mind ; whose counsels did most
concur in all things.
A touch of which things, I shall give, in a letter of
his, to Master Carver : and more will appear afterward.
[ROBERT CUSHMAN AT LONDON TO JOHN CARVER, ? AT SOUTHAMPTON.]
SATURDAY, 10/20 JUNE 1620.
To his loving friend, Master John Carver, these, c&c.
Loving friend. I have received from you, some letters full of
[dis]affection and complaints : and what it is you would have of
me, I know not. For your crying out, " Negligence ! Negligence !
Negligence ! " : I marvel why so negligent a man was used in the
business. Yet, know you ! that all that I have power to do here,
shall not be one hour behind, I warrant you !
You have reference to Master Weston to help us with money,
more than his Adventure : when he protesteth, But for his
promise, he would not have done anything. He saith. We take a
heady course, and is offended that our provisions [preparations]
are made so far off, as also that he was not made acquainted with
our quantity of things : and saith, That in now being in three
places too far remote [i.e. Lei/den, London^ aiid SouthampttOTi], we
will, with going up and down, and wi'angling and expostulating
pass over the summer before we will go.
And to speak the truth there is fallen already amongst us a fiat
schism ; and we are readier to go to dispute, than to set forward a
voyage. I have received from Ley den, since you went [? to
Southampton], three or four letters directed to you ; though they
only concern me. I will not trouble you with them.
'>
lo Negotiations with the Adventurers.
I always feared the event of the Amsterdam's [i.e. members of
the Rev. Henry Ainsworte's Church there'] striking in with us. I
trow, you must excommunicate me, or else you must go without
their company ; or we shall want no quarrelling. But let them pass.
"We have reckoned, it should seem, without our host ; and
counted upon one hundred and fifty persons. There cannot be
found above £1,200 and odd monies, of all the Ventures you can
reckon : besides some cloth, stockings, and shoes ; which are not
counted. So we shall come short at least £300 or £400 \i.e. at £\0
a person].
I would have had something shortened, at first, of beer and
other provisions, in hope of other Adventures. And now we
could have, both in Amsterdam and Kent, beer inough to serve
our turn : but now we cannot accept it without prejudice [i.e.
having already/ made other arrangements].
You fear. We have begun to build ; and shall not be able to
make an end. Indeed our courses were never established by
counsel ; we may therefore justly fear their standing. Yea, there
was a schism amongst us [Three], at the first.
You wrote to Master Martin to prevent the making of the
provisions in Kent : which he did, and set down his resolution,
How much he would have of everything ; without respect to any
counsel, or exception. Surely, he that is in a society, and yet
regards not counsell, may better be a King than a consort.
To be short, if there be not some other disposition settled unto,
than yet is : we, that should be partners of humility and peace,
shall be examples of jangling and insulting.
Yet your money which you there \? SoutJiampton] must have ;
we will get provided for you instantly. £500, you say, will serve.
For the rest which here and in Holland is to be used ; we may go
scratch for it.
For Master Crabe,* of whom you write, he hath promised to go
with us : yet I tell you, I shall not be without fear *HewasaMin-
till I see him shipped ; for he \i.e. his going] is is'er. [W. B.j
much opposed. Yet T hope he will not fail.
Think the best of all, and bear with patience what is wanting :
and the Lord guide us all 1
Your loving friend,
Egbert Cushman.
London, June 10th
Anno 1620.
Negotiations with the Adventtcre^^s. 3 1 1
A LETTER OF ROBERT CUSHMAN'S TO THEM [aT LETDEN].
[LONDON ; ? SATURDAY, 10/20 JUNE 1620.]
Brethren. I understand by letters and passages that have
come to me, that there are great discontents and dislikes of my
proceedings amongst you. Sorry I am to hear it, yet content to
bear it : as not doubting but that, partly by writing, and more
principally by word when we shall come together, I shall satisfy
any reasonable man.
I have been persuaded by some, especially this bearer [the
hearer of this : ? John Iurner intended, see pp. 315, 316] to come and
clear things unto you : but, as things now stand, I cannot be
absent one day, except I should hazard all the Voyage. Neither
conceive I any great good would come of it. Take then, Brethren,
this as a step to give you content.
First, for your dislike of the alteration of one clause in the
Conditions ; if you conceive it right, there can be no blame lie on
me at all. For the Articles first brought over by John Carver were
never seen of any of the Adventurers here, except Master Weston :
neither did any of them like them, because of that clause ; nor
Master Weston himself, after he had well considered it. But as at
the first there was £500 withdrawn by Sir George Farrer and his
brother, upon that dislike ; so all the rest would have withdrawn,
Master Weston excepted, if we had not altered that clause. Now
whilst we at Leyden conclude[d] upon points, as we did ; we reckoned
without our host : which was not my fault.
Besides, I shewed you, by a letter, the equity of that Condition
and our inconveniences : which might be set against all Master
Robinson's inconveniences :
That without the alteration of that clause, we could
neither have means to get thither ; nor Supply
[reinforcements'] whereby to subsist, when we were there.
Yet notwithstanding all those reasons ; which were not mine,
but other men's wiser than myself : without answer to any one of
them ; here cometh over many querimonies and complaints against
me : of lording it over my bretheren ; and making conditions fitter
for thieves and bondslaves than honest men ; and that, of my own
head, I did what I list.
And, at last a Paper of Reasons, framed against that clause in
the Conditions : which as they were delivered me open, so my
Answer is open to you all. And first, as they are no other but
312 Negotiations with the Adventurers,
inconveniences ; such as a man might frame twenty as great on the
other side, and yet prove, nor disprove, nothing by them : so they
miss and mistake both the very ground of the Article^ and nature
of the project.
1. For, first, it is said, That if there had been no division of
houses and lands, it had been better for the poor.
\A.n&wer^ True, and that showeth the inequality of the
Conditions. We should more respect him that ventureth both his
money and his person, than him that ventureth but his person only.
2. \A.n8wer!\ Consider whereabout we are. Not giving alms,
but furnishing a Store House. No one shall be poorer than another
for Seven Years ; and if any be rich, none can be poor. At the
least, we must not, in such business, cry " Poor ! Poor ! Mercy 1
Mercy ! " Charity hath its life in Wrecks, not in Ventures. You
are by this most in a hopeful pity of making. Therefore complain
not before you have need !
3. This will hinder the building of good and fair houses ;
contrary to the advice of Politics \Political Economists].
Ansioer. So we would have it. Our purpose is to build for the
present such houses as, if need be, we may, with little grief, set
afire, and run away by the light [thereof]. Our riches shall not be
in pomp, but in strength. If GOD send us riches, we will imploy
them to provide more men, ships, munition, Sc. You may see it
amongst the best Politics [Political Economists^ that a Common
Weal is readier to ebb, than to flow, when once fine houses and gay
clothes come up.
4. The Government [there] may prevent excess in building.
Answer. But if it be on all men beforehand resolved on, to build
mean houses ; the Government's labour is spared.
5. All men are not of one condition.
Answer. If by condition, you mean wealth ; you are mistaken.
If you mean, by condition, qualities ; then I say :
He that is not content his neighbour shall have as good a house,
fare, means, &c., as himself, is not of a good quality.
Secondly. Such retired \seljisK\ persons as have an eye only to
themselves, are fitter to come where catching is, than closing : and
are fitter to live alone ; than in any society, either civil or religious.
6. It will be of little value, scarce worth £5 [a house, &c.].
Answer. True, it may be not worth half £5. If then so small
a thing will content them [the Adventurers] ; why strive we thus
Negotiations with the Adventurers. 313
about it, and give them occasion to suspect us to be worldly and
covetous ? I will not say what I have heard, since these Complaints
came first over [from Holland].
7. Our friends with us that adventure, mind not their own
profit, as did the old Adventurers.
Answer. Then they are better than we, who for [want of] a
little matter of profit are ready to draw back. And it is more
apparent, (Brethren, look to it !) that [ye] make profit your main
end ! Repent of this, else go not ! lest you be like a Jonas to
Tarshish.
Secondly. Though some of them mind not their profit ; yet
others do mind it : and why not, as well as we % Ventures are
made by all sorts of men ; and we must labour to give them all
content, if we can.
8. It will break the course of Commxmity, as may be showed by
many reasons.
Answer. That is but said : and I say again, It will best foster
Communion [? the common interest, or ? the community of goods^ as
may be showed by many reasons.
9. Great profit is like[ly] to be made by trucking, fishing, Sc.
Answer. As it is better for them, so for us : for half is ours,
besides our living still upon it. And if such profit in that way
come, our labour shall be the less on the land : and our houses and
lands must, and will be, of less value.
10. Our hazard is greater than theirs.
Answer. True ; but do they put us upon it ? Do they urge
and egg us [on] ? Hath not the motion and resolution been always
in ourselves ? Do they any more than, in seeing us resolute if we
had the means, help us to means upon equal terms and conditions ?
If we will not go, they are content to keep their monies.
Thus, I have pointed at a way to [un]lose those knots : which I
hope you will consider seriously ; and let me have no more stir
about them.
Now, further, I hear a noise of slavish conditions by me made :
but, surely, this is all that I have altered ; and [the] reasons [for
it], I have sent you.
If you mean it [in respect] of the two days in a week for
particular [private purposes'], as some insinuate ; you are deceived.
You may have three days in a week, for me, if you will. And
when I have spoken to the Adventurers of times of working,
314 Negotiations with the Adventurers.
they have said, They hope we are men of discretion and conscience ;
and so fit to be trusted ourselves with that.
And, indeed, the ground of our proceedings at Leyden was
mistaken ; and so here is nothing but tottering every day, &c.
As for them of Amsterdam \i.e. the rmmhers of the Rev. Henry
AiNswoRTj^s Church there], I had thought they would as soon have
gone to Rome as with us : for our liberty [i.e. moderate views Sc.]
is to them as ratsbane ; and their rigour [i.e. rigid ideas] as bad
to us as the Spanish Inquisition. If any practice [performance] of
mine discourage them ; let them yet draw back ! I will undertake
they shall have their money again presently [instantl;i/] paid
here : or if the Company think me to be the Jonas, let them cast
me ofi" before we go. I shall be content to stay [in England] with
good will ; having but the clothes on my back.
Only let us have quietness, and no more of these clamours.
Full little did I expect these things which are now come to
pass, c§c.
Yours,
[? 10/20 June 1620.] Robert Cushman.
But whether this letter of his ever came to their
hands at Leyden I well know not. I rather think
it was stayed by Master Carver ; and kept by him,
for fear of offence.
But this which follows was there received. Both
[of] which, I thought pertinent to recite.
[The date of this letter is 11th June, which, in 1620, fell on a
Sunday. But the date must be an error for two reasons :
(1) " and have took [a] liking of one till Monday," could hardly
have been written on the previous day : but might have been
written on the day before that, viz., Saturday, 10th June 1620 ;
which is the date of the previous letter to John Carver, at pp.
309-310. Both letters would seem to have been dated the same day.
(2) It is unlikely that one of the Pilgrim Fathers would have
written a business letter on a Sunday, unless under some
extraordinary necessity.]
Negotiations ivith the Adventurers. 3 1 5
ROBERT CUSHMAN's REPLY TO THE LETTER OF THE FOUR AT LEYDEN.
LONDON ; SATURDAY, 10/20 JUNE 1620.
Salutations, &c., I received your letter [of 31 May /lO June]
yesterday [9/19 June] by John Turner : with another, the same
day, from Amsterdam, by Master W., savouring of the place
whence it came.
And indeed the many discouragements I find here \in London],
together with the demurs and retirings there [at LeT/den], had made
me to say, " I would give up my accounts to John Carver ; and,
at his coming [i.e. from Southampton to London], acquaint him
fully with all courses [2:)roceedings] : and so leave it quite, with
only the poor clothes on my back."
But, gathering up myself, by further consideration ; I resolved
yet to make one trial more : and to acquaint Master Weston with
the [ ? ] fainted [prostrate ] state of our business.
And though he hath been much discontented at some thing[s]
amongst us of late ; which hath made him often say, That, save
for his promise, he would not meddle at all with the business any
more. Yet (considering how far we were plunged into matters ;
and how it stood both on our credits and undoing), at the last, he
gathered up himself a little more : and coming to me, two hours
after, he told me. He would not yet leave it.
And so, advising together, we resolved to hire a ship ; and
have took [a] liking of one till Monday [12th June], [of] about
sixty last* [ r 120 tons] : for a greater we cannot get, except it be
too great. But a fine ship it is. And seeing our near [stingy or
slwrt-sighted ] friends there [at Leyderi] are so straitlaced ; we hope
to assure [make sure of her] without troubling them any further :
and if the ship fall too small ; it fitteth well, that such as stumble
at straws already, may rest them there [at Leyderi] awhile, lest
worse blocks come in the way, ere the Seven Years be ended.
If you had beaten this business so thoroughly a month ago [i.e.
in April! May 1620] and writ to us as you now do ; we could thus
have done [it] much more conveniently. But it is, as it is.
* A Last = 2 Tons =-12 Barrels of 32 gallons each = 384 gallons. [See
E. Arber, An English Garner, iii. pp. 626, 632, Ed. 1880, 8.] This vessel
then, of 120 tons, was therefore not the Mayflower, of 180 tons ; which, up
to this date, 12/22 June 1620, had apparently not been either considered,
or looked at. — E. A.
3i6 Negotiations with the Adventurers.
I hope our friends there \at Leyden\ if they be quitted
of the ship hire [of this ship], will be induced to venture the
more.
All that I now requii^e is, that salt and nets may there [m
Holland, the great centre of the European fishing trade], be bought :
and for all the rest, we will here provide it. Yet if that will
not be [i.e. if the Leyden Venturers would not pay for the salt and
nets] : let them but stand for it a month or two, and we will take
order to pay it all.
Let Master Eeynolds tarry there, and bring the ship [the
Speedwell] to Southampton.
We have hired another Pilot here, one Master [John,
see page 254] Clarke : who went last year, to Virginia, with a
ship of kine [cattle].
You shall hear distinctly [more explicitly] by John Turner :
who, I think, shall come hence on Tuesday night [13th June].
I had thought to have come with him, to have answered to
my complaints [the complaints of me] ; but I shall learn to pass
little for their censures : and if I had more mind to go and
dispute and expostulate with them, than I have care of this
weighty business ; I were like them who live by clamours and
jangling. But neither my mind nor my body is at liberty to do
much : for I am fettered with business ; and had rather study to
be quiet, than to make answer to their Exceptions. If men be set
on it, let them beat the air !
I hope such as are my sincere friends will not think but I can
give some reason of my actions. But of your mistaking about the
matter, and other things tending to this business ; I shall next
inform you more distinctly [explicitly]. Mean space, entreat our
friends not to be too busy in answering matters, before they know
them. If I do such things as I cannot give reasons for, it is
like[ly] you have set a fool about your business : and so turn the
reproof to yourselves, and send another ; and let me come again
to my combs [wool combs, see page 165].
But, setting aside my natural infirmities, I refuse not to
have my cause judged, both of GOD and all indifferent men :
and when we come together, I shall give account of my actions
here.
The Lord, who judgeth justly without respect of persons, see
unto the equity of my cause ! and give us quiet, peaceable, and'
Negotiations with the Adventurers. 317
patient minds in all these turmoils ! and sanctify unto us all crosses
whatsoever !
And so I take my leave of you all, in all love and affection,
Your poor Brother,
Robert Cushman.
June 11th [? 10th] 1620.
I hope we shall get all here [m Londoiil ready in fourteen days.
[Tlie following was written while the last Letter was on its
way to Leyden.]
A LETTER OF MASTER ROBINSON'S TO JOHN CARVER.
LEYDEN ; WEDNESDAY, 14/24 JUNE 1620.
My dear friend and brother, whom with yours, I always
remember in my best affection ; and whose welfare I shall never
cease to commend to GOD by my best and most earnest prayers.
You do thoroughly understand, by our general letters, the estate
of things here : which indeed is very pitiful ; especially by want of
shipping, and not seeing means likely, much less certain, of having
it provided. Though withal, there be great want of money, and
means to do needful things.
Master [Edward] Pickering, you know before this, will not
defray a penny here ; though Robert Ctjshman presumed, of I
know not how many £100 from him, and I know not whom : yet it
seems strange that we should be put to him to receive both his, and
his partner's Adventure ; and yet Master Weston writ unto him
that, in regard of it, he hath drawn upon him [? by Bill of
Exchange, for] a £100 more. But there is in this some mystery,
as indeed it seems there is in the whole course.
Besides, whereas divers are to pay in some parts of their money
yet behind : they refuse to do it, till they see shipping provided ;
or a course taken for it. Neither, do I think, is there a man
here [who] would pay anything, if he had again his money in
his purse.
You know right well, we depended on Master Weston alone ;
and upon such means as he would procure for this common
business : and when we had in hand another course with the
Dutchmen, [we] broke it off, at his motion ; and upon the Ccniditions
by him shortly after propounded. He did this, in his love, I know :
but things appear not answerable from him hitherto. That he
should have first put in his monies [? £500,] is thought by
'I
1 8 Negotiations with the Adventurers.
many to have been but fit ; but that I can well excuse, he being
a Merchant and having use [interest] of it to his benefit ; whereas
others, if it had been in their hands, would have consumed it. But
that he should not but have had either shipping ready before this
time ; or at least certain means and course, and the same known to
us for it : or have taken other order otherwise, cannot in my
conscience be excused.
I have heard, That when he hath been moved in the business,
he hath put it off from himself, and referred it to the others : and
would come [i.e. in London] to George Morton, and inquire news
of him about things ; as if he had scarce been some accessory unto
it. Whether he hath failed of some helps from others which he
[hath] expected, and so be not well able to go through with things ;
or whether he hath feared lest you should be ready too soon,
and so increase the charge [for the hire] of shipping above that
[which] is meet ; or whether he hath thought by withholding to
put us upon straits, thinking that thereby Master Brewster
and Master [Edward] Pickering would be drawn, by importunity,
to do more ; or what other mystery is in it, we know now : but
sure we are, that things are not answerable to such an occasion.
Master Weston makes himself merry with our endeavours
about buying a ship [the Speedwell] : but we have done nothing in
this but with good reason, as I am persuaded ; nor yet, that I know
[of], in anything else, save in those two :
The one, that we imployed Egbert Cushman, who is known,
though a good man and of special abilities in his kind, yet most
unfit to deal for other men by reason of his singularity [oddity or
particularity/] and too great indifferency for any conditions, and
for, to speak truly, that we have had nothing from him but terms
and presumptions.
The other that we have so much relied, by implicit faith as it
were, upon generalities [a general pi'omise] ; without seeing the
particular course or means for so weighty an affair, set down
unto us.
For shipping. Master Weston it should seem, is set upon
hiring ; which yet I wish he may presently effect : but I see little
hope of help from hence, if so it be. Of Master [Thomas] Brewer,
you know what to expect. I do not think Master Pickering will
ingage; except in the course of buying [? ships, as] in former letters
specified.
Negotiations with the Adventurers. 319
About the Coixditions, you have our reasons for our Judgements
of [as to\ what is agreed. And let this specially be borne in mind,
That the greatest part of the Colony is like[ly] to be imployed
constantly, not upon dressing their particular \owii\ land and
building houses ; but upon fishing, trading, &c. : so as the " land
and house " will be but a trifle for advantage to The Adventurers ;
and yet the division of it, a great discouragement to the Planters ;
who would with singular [especial^ care make it comfortable,
with borrowed hours from their sleep.
The same consideration of common imployment constantly, by
the most, is a good reason not to have the two days in a week
denied the few Planters for private use : which yet is subordinate
to common good. Consider also how much unfit that you, and
your likes, must serve a new [apjprenticeship of Seven Years ; and
not a day's freedom from task !
Send me word what persons are to go ; who, of useful faculties
{trades\ and how many ; and particularly of everything.
I know you want not a mind. I am sorry you have not been
at London all this while : but the provisions [preparations] could
not want you. [Carver was apparently at Southampton.']
Time will suflfer me to write no more. Fare you, and yours,
well always in the Lord : in whom I rest.
Yours to use,
John Robinson.
I have been the larger in these things, and so shall
crave leave in some like passages following, though in
other things I shall labour ' to be more contract, that
their children may see with what difficulties their
fathers wrestled^ in going through these things, in their
first beginnings: and how GOD brought them along,
notwithstanding all their weaknesses and infirmities.
As also that some use may be made hereof, in after
times, by others in such like weighty imployments.
And herewith I will end this Chapter. Bradford MS.,
folios 73-9L
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Who were the Adventurers?
IaPTAIN JOHN SMITH in his General History
of Virginia, <)&c., published in July 1624, writes
as follows :
The Adventurers, which raised the Stock
to begin and supply [reinforce] this Plantation, were
about seventy : some, Gentlemen ; some. Merchants ;
some, handicraftsmen ; some adventuring great sums ;
some, small; as their estates and affection served.
The General Stock already employed [exjpended'] is
about £7,000. By reason of which charge, and many
crosses ; many of them would adventure no more : but
others (that know so great a design cannot be effected
without both charge, loss, and crosses) are resolved to
go forward with it to their powers ; which deserve no
small commendations and encouragement.
These [the Adventurers generally'] dwell most[ly]
about London. They are not a Corporation : but [are]
knit together, by a voluntary combination, in a Society,
without constraint or penalty ; aiming to do good, and
to plant Eeligion.
They have a President and a Treasurer, every year
newly chosen by the most voices \the majority "present^
who ordereth the affairs of their Courts and Meetings :
and, with the assent of the most of them, undertaketh
all ordinary businesses; but, in more weighty affairs,
the assent of the whole Company is required. Lib VI.,
fol. 247.
320
Who were the Adventurers? 321
In his Advertisements <&c., [written in October 1630;
but printed in] 1631, Captain Smith adds the following
information :
These disasters, losses, and uncertainties made such
disagreement among the Adventurers in England, who
began to repent ; and [would] rather lose all, than
longer continue the charge : being out of purse £6,000
or £7,000 ; accounting my Books and their Relations as
old Almanacks.
But the Planters, rather than leave the country,
concluded absolutely to supply themselves ; and to all
their Adventurers, [to] pay them, for nine years, £200
yearly, without any other account : where, more than
600 Adventurers for Virginia, for more than £200,000,
had not sixpence, p. 19.
The following for ty -two Adventurers signed the Composition
with the Plymouth Colony, on 15/25 November 1626, to
receive .£200 a year, for nine years. Apparently these were
all the Adventurers in England who had any stake in the
Plantation at that time.
Robert Allden. Timothy Hatherley.
Emanuel Alltham. Thomas Heath.
Richard AndrewvS. William Hobson.
Thomas Andrews. Robert Holland.
Laurence Anthony. Thomas Hudson.
Edward Bass, Robert Kean.
John Beauchamp. Eliza Knight.
Thomas Brewer. John Knight.
Henry Browning. Miles Knowles.
William Collier. John Ling.
Thomas Coventry. Thomas Millsop
Thomas Fletcher. Thomas Mott.
Thomas Goffe. Fria. Newbald.
Peter Gudburn. William Penington.
The Pilgrim Fatlievs. X
32 2 ' ^ yyiio were trie
/iaventurers r
William Penrin.
James Shirley.
John Pocock.
John Thorned.
Daniel Poynton.
Matthew Thornhill.
William Quarles.
Joseph Tilden.
John Revell.
Thomas Ward.
Newman Rookes.
John White.
Samuel Sharp.
Richard Wright.
These names are preserved to us in Governor Bradford's
Letter Book, reprinted in 1 Mass. Hist, Coll., iii. 48, Ed. 1794, 8.
The following had also been among the Adventurers prior
to the 25th November 1626.
William Greene. Edward Pickering. Thomas Weston.
The names of six of the above are found subsequently
■Jimong the members of the Massachusetts Company.
Thomas Andrews. John Pocock. Samuel Sharp.
Thomas Goffe. John Revell. John White.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Captain John Smith, the Hero of Virginia, offers
HIS services to the Pilgrim Fathers; who
DECLINE THEM: AND THEN HIS ADVICE,
WHICH THEY DISREGARD.
FTER his return from Virginia in 1612, Captain
Smith devoted his life to the exploration and
colonization of New England. In the following
passages, he describes his negotiations with the
Leyden Separatist Church. All the numbers of persons that
he gives are merely round numbers ; and not exact ones.
In the interim, many particular [separate] ships
went thither, and finding my Relations true ; and that
I had not taken that I brought home, from the French
men, as had been reported : yet further for my pains
to discredit me, and my calling it New England, they
obscured it, and shadowed it, with the title of Canada ;
till, at my humble suit, it pleased our most royal King
Charles, whom GOD long keep bless and preserve ! ,
then Prince of Wales, to confirm it, with my Map and
Book, by the title of New England.
The gain thence returning did make the fame
thereof so increase, that thirty, forty, or fifty Sail went
yearly ; only to trade and fish.
But nothing would be done for a Plantation till
about some hundred of your Brownists of England
Amsterdam and Leyden, went to New Plymouth : whose
323
324 Captain /. Smith and the Pilgrims.
humorous ignorances caused them, for more than a year
[1620 — 1621], to endure a wonderful deal of misery with
an infinite patience ; saying, My Books and Maps were
much better cheap to teach them than myself. Many
others have used the like good husbandry; that have
paid soundly in trying their self-willed- conclusions.
But those \ihe Pilgrim Fathers], in time, doing well ;
divers others have, in small handfuls, undertaken to go
there, to be several Lords and Kings of themselves :
but most [have] vanished to nothing.
The True Travels c&c, pp. 46, 47, [August] 1629, 4.
At last, upon those inducements, some well disposed
Brownists, as they are termed, with some Gentlemen
and Merchants of Leyden and Amsterdam, to save
charges [i.e. the expense of employing Captain Smite],
would try their own conclusions, though with great
loss and much misery, till time had taught them to see
their own error : for such humorists [contrarious people]
will never believe well, till they be beaten with their
own rod.
Yet, at the first landing at Cape Cod, being a
hundred passengers, besides twenty they had left behind
at Plymouth; for want of good take-heed, thinking
to find all things better than I advised them, [they]
spent six or seven weeks in wandering up and down,
in frost and snow, wind and rain, among the woods
creeks and swamps, [so that] forty of them died, and
threescore were left in most miserable estate at New
Plymouth where their ship [the Mayflower] left them,
and but nine leagues [= 27 miles], by sea, from where
they landed.
Captain J. Smith and the Pilgrims. 325
Advertisements <^c., pp. 17-19, [Written in October
1630 ; but printed] 1631, 4.
While these were the opinions of Captain Smith ; one
fails to see, looking back on the events as they actually-
occurred, where he could have done much better than the
Pilgrim Fathers did, from the time of their first landing at
Cape Cod until their settlement at New Plymouth. His
hardened constitution might, however, have enabled him to
be very helpful in the sickness of the following Spring of
1621.
It is very pleasant to see him speak so well of the
Pilgrims ; although they did not accept either his offers,
or his advice.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
The Names of the Pilgrim Ships.
T was the Rev. G. Cuthbert Blaxland, M.A., in
his " Mayflower Essays," that first asked, What
is the authority for the names of the two Pilgrim
Ships of 1620? Curiously enough, these names
do not occur either in the Bradford Manuscript ; or in
Mourt's Relation.
The authority for the name of the Mayflower is of the
year 1623; and is the heading in the Official Records of the
Old Colony, reprinted at page 383.
The authority for the name of the Speedwell is very much
later; being indeed of no earlier date than 1669: in which
year it first appeared on the fifth page of Nathaniel Morton's
New England^ s Memorial.
326
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Departure from Leyden.
May— July 1620.
F this Exodus, we have two Accounts, which
must here be blended together. We will begin
with Governor Winslow:
Our Agents [i.e. William Brewster avd
Robert Cushman] returning ; we further sought the
Lord, by a public and solemn Fast [? in April, or even
earlier in, 1620; as those who went, had to sell their
properties before they could put in their ventures], for
his guidance.
And hereupon we came to this resolution :
That it was best for one part of the Church to
go at first ; and the other to stay, viz.
The youngest and strongest part to go.
Secondly. They that went should freely offer
themselves.
Thirdly. If the major part [rtiajority] went, the
Pastor to go with them : if not, the Elder only.
Fourthly. If the Lord should frown upon
our proceedings, then those that went [were] to
return ; and the brethren that remained still
there, to assist and be helpful to them. But if
GOD should be pleased to favour them that
went, then they also should endeavour to help
over such as were poor, and ancient, and willing
to come.
These things being agreed, the major part stayed ; and
327
328 The Departure from Ley den,
the Pastor with them for the present : but all intended,
except a very few who had rather we would have stayed
[in Holland], to follow after. The minor part, with
Master Brewster their Elder, resolved to enter upon this
great work. But take notice the difference of number was
not great. Hypocrisy unmasked &c., p. 90, Ed. 1646, 4.
Governor Bradford gives us some further particulars.
Upon the receipt of these things, by one of their
Messengers ; they had a solemn Meeting, and a Day of
Humiliation, to seek the Lord for his direction. And
their Pastor took this text, 1 Sam. xxiii. 3, 4. • "And
David's men said unto him. See, we be afraid here in
Judah; how much more if we come to Keilah against
the host of the Philistines ? Then David asked counsel
of the Lord again." [Geneva Version.] From which
text, he taught many things very aptly, and befitting
their present occasion and condition : strengthening them
against their fears and perplexities ; and incou raging
them in their resolutions.
After which, they concluded both what number
[150, as stated at page 310], and what persons should
prepare themselves to go with the first: for all that
were willing to have gone, could not get ready, for [on
account of] their other afiairs, in so short a time [? May
— July 1620] ; neither, if all could have been ready, had
there been means to have transported them all together.
Those that stayed, being the greater number,
required the Pastor to stay with them; and, indeed,
for other reasons, he could not then well go : and so it
was the more easily yielded unto.
The others then desired the Elder, Master Brewster,
to go with them: which was also condescended unto
[agreed to].
The Departure from Ley den, 329
It was also agreed on, by mutual consent and
covenant, that those that went should be an absolute
Church of themselves, as well as those that stayed:
seeing, in such a dangerous voyage and a removal to
such a distance, it might come to pass they should, for
the body of them, never meet again in this world. Yet,
with this proviso. That as any of the rest came over to
them, or of the others returned upon occasion ; they
should be reputed as Members, without any further
dismission or testimonial.
It was also promised to those that went first, by the
body of the rest, That if the Lord gave them life, and
means, and opportunity; they would come to them as
soon as they could. Bradford MS., folios 71-73.
[THURSDAY, 20/30 JULY 1620.]
Governor Wins low thus describes the Farewell Feast at
Leyden.
And when the ship [the Speedwell] was ready to
carry us away, the brethren that stayed (having again
solemnly sought the Lord with us, and for us ; and we
further engaging ourselves mutually, as before) : they, I
say, that stayed at Leyden feasted us that were to go, at
our Pastor's house, [it] being large ; where we refreshed
ourselves, after our tears, with singing of Psalms, making
joyful melody in our hearts as well as with the voice,
there being many of the Congregation very expert in
music ; and indeed it was the sweetest melody that ever
mine ears heard. Hypocrisy &c., p. 90, 91, Ed. 1646, 4.
Governor Bradford's account is more pathetic.
At length, after much travail, and these debates ; all
things were got ready and provided. A small ship [the
Speedwell], of some 60 tons,l was bought and fitted in
330 ^h.e Departure from Ley den,
Holland : which was intended as to serve to help to
transport them; so to stay in the country and attend
upon fishing and such other affairs as might be for the
good and benefit of the Colony when they came there.
Another was hired at London, of burden [of] about nine
score [180 tons] : and all other things got in readiness.
[THURSDAY, 26/30 JULY 1620.]
So being ready to depart, they had a Day of Solemn
Humiliation : their Pastor taking his text from Ezra
viii. 21, " And there, at the river, by Ahava, I proclaimed
a Fast, that we might humble ourselves before our GOD ;
and seek of him a right way for us, and for our children,
and for all our substance." {Geneva Version!] Upon
which [text], he spent a good part of the day very
profitably \see'p'p. 182-184], and suitable to their present
condition. The rest of the time was spent in pouring
out prayers to the Lord with great fervency, mixed
with abundance of tears. Bradford MS., folio 91.
[FRIDAY, 21/31 JULY 1620.]
Governor Winslow resumes : •
After this, they [who stayed] accompanied us to
Delfshaven [about 24 miles from Leyden], where we
were to embark ; and there feasted us again. Hypocrisy
nnmxished &c., page 91, Ed. 1646, 4.
Governor Bradford is fuller here.
And the time being come that they must depart, they
were accompanied with most of their brethren out of the
city [of Leyden] unto a town sundry miles ofi*, called
Delfshaven ; where the ship lay ready to receive them.
So they left that goodly and pleasant city, which had
been their resting place near[ly] twelve years [or more
exactly, from April 1609 to 2lst July 1620]: but they
The Departure from Ley den. 331
knew they were pilgrims [Heb. xi.] and looked not
much on these things ; but lift[ed] up their eyes to
the heavens, their dearest country, and quieted their
spirits.
When they came to the place, they found the ship
and all things ready : and such of their friends as could
not come with them, followed after them ; and sundry
also came from Amsterdam [about 50 miles] to see them
shipped, and to take their leave of them. That night
was spent with little sleep by the most ; but with friendly
entertainment, and Christian discourse, and other real
expressions of true Christian love.
[SATURDAY, 22 JULY /I AUGUST 1620.]
The next day, the wind being fair, they went aboard
[the Speedwell] and their friends with them ; when truly
doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting.
To see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound
amongst them ; what tears did gush from every eye, and
pithy speeches pierced each heart : that sundry of the
Dutch strangers, that stood on the key [quay, or wharf]
as spectators, could not refrain from tears. Yet
comfortable and sweet it was to see such lively and
true expressions of dear and unfeigned love.
But the tide, which stays for no man, calling them
away that were thus loath to depart ; their Reverend
Pastor, falling down on his knees, and they all with
him,* with watery cheeks, commended them, with most
fervent prayers, to the Lord and his blessing. And
then, with mutual embraces and many tears, they took
their leaves one of another : which' proved to be the last
leave to many of them. Bradford MS., folios 91-93.
* That is, on board the Speedwell ; and not on the shore as in the
painting to the Corridor of the Houses of Parliament. — E. A.
332 The Departure from Ley den.
Governor Winslow adds a few touches here.
And after prayer performed by our Pastor, where a
flood of tears was poured out ; they accompanied us to
the ship : but were not able to speak one to another, for
the abundance of sorrow to part.
But we only [alone] going aboard, the ship lying to
the key [quay] and ready to set sail ; the wind being fair,
we gave them a volley of small shot [musketry] and [of]
three pieces of ordnance : and so lifting up our hands to
each other ; and our hearts for each other to the Lord
our GOD, we departed — and found his presence with
us, in the midst of our manifold straits [that] he carried
us through.
And if any doubt this Relation, the Dutch, as I hear,
at Delf shaven preserve the , memory of it to this day
[1646] ; and will inform them.
But falling in with Cape Cod, [9th November], which
is in New England ; and standing to the southward for
the place we intended [about the Hudson river] ; we met
with many dangers : and the mariners put back into the
harbour of the Cape, which was the 11th of November
1620. Where (considering winter was come; the seas
[were] dangerous ; the season, cold ; the winds, high ; and
being well furnished for a Plantation) we entered upon
discovery ; and settled at Plymouth : where, GOD being
pleased to preserve and enable us, we that went, were at
a thousand pounds charge [ = £4,000 now] in sending for
our brethren that were behind ; and in providing there
for them, till they could reap a crop of their own
labours.
And so, good Reader, I have given thee a true and
faithful account, though very brief, of our proceedings :
wherein thou seest how a late Writer [Robert Baillie],
The Departure frotn Ley den. 33
-1
and those that informed him, have wronged our
enterprise.
And, truly, what I have written is far short of what it
was ; omitting, for brevity sake, many circumstances, as :
The large offers the Dutch offered to us.
Either to have removed into [the Province of]
Zealand ; and there lived with them :
Or, if we would go on such adventures, to go,
under them, to Hudson's river, where they have
since a great Plantation, &c. \New Ai^isterdam,
now New York] ; and how they would freely
have transported us, and furnished every family
with cattle, &c.
Also the English Merchants that joined with us
in this expedition : whom we since bought out.
Which is fitter for a History than an Answer to such
an Objection : and [which History,] I trust, will be
accomplished in good time.*
By all which the Reader may see there was no
breach between us that went, and the brethren that
stayed : but such love as indeed is seldom found on
earth. Hypocrisy iin'tnasked <&c., p. 91, Ed. 1646, 4.
* Does WiNSLOAV here refer to the Bradford MS. ? He must have
known of it. — E. A.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The Business at Southampton..
[? Wednesday, 26 July /5 August] — Saturday^
5/15 August 1620.
ERE let us consider the excellent management and
strategy of this Exodus. If the Pilgrims had
gone to London, to embark for America ; many,
if not most, of them w^ould have been put in
prison : especially William Brewster. So only those
embarked in London, against whom the Bishops could take
no action.
The stay at Southampton would not have been more than
three or four days, but for the leakage of the Speedwell.
As matters fortunately turned out, in spite of all delays,
they were able to leave England, without meeting with either
hindrance, or annoyance, from either the Government, or the
Bishops.
Thus, hoisting sail, with a prosperous wind, they
came, in short time,* to Southampton ; where tws was about
they found the bigger ship come from "^^^^l ^"^^'
* The date of the arrival of the Speedwell at Southampton is not stated :
but four days would be a fair allowance for a quick passage of a 60 tons
vessel, from Delfshaven. If so, as she sailed on Saturday 22 July /I
August, she would have joined the Mayflower on the following Wednesday
26 July /5 August. ■
We know for certainty, from page 343, that had not the Speedwell
been leaky, the Mayflower was ready to sail on Saturday, 29 July /8 Atigust :
334
Gov. w. Bradford. Tke Bustuess at SotilkamploH. 335
London, lying ready, with all the rest of their
Company, f
After a joyful welcome and mutual congratulations,
with other friendly entertainments ; they fell to parley
about their business. How to despatch with the best
expedition ? as also with their Agents, about the
alteration of the Conditions.
Master Carver pleaded, He was employed here at
[Soutjhampton ; and knew not well what the others had
done at London.
Master CusHMAN answered, He had done nothing but
what he was urged to, partly by the grounds of equity ;
and more especially by necessity : otherwise all had
been dashed, and many undone. And in the beginning,
he acquainted his fellow Agents [John Carver and
Christopher Martin] herewith: who consented unto
him, and left it to him to execute ; and to receive the
money at London, and send it down to them at
[Soutjhampton ; where they made the provisions
[^preparations]. The which he accordingly did:
though it was against his mind and [the minds of] some
of the Merchants, that they were there made. And
for giving them notice at Leyden of this change [? of
arrangements] ; he could not well, in regard of the
shortness of the time. Again he knew it would trouble
them, and hinder the business; which was already
but the twice trimming of the Speedwell at Southampton delayed their
departure for another week.
t The Rev. Thomas Prince, who, in 1736, had access to documents now
lost, adds here :
" who had been waiting there, with Master CuSHMAN, seven days." A
Chronological History of New England, Part I., page 70, Ed. 173G, 8.
If this statement be correct ; the Mayflower must have reached
Southampton about the 19/29 July.
33^ The Business at Soutkampto7t, gov. w. Bradford,
delayed over long, in regard of the season of the year ;
which we feared they would find to their cost.
But these things gave not content at present.
Master Weston likewise came up from London, to
see them despatched; and to have the Conditions
confirmed.
But they refused, and answered him, That he knew
right well that these were not according to the first
Agreement. Neither could they yield to them without
the consent of the rest that were behind : and indeed
they had special charge, when they came away, from the
Chief of those that were behind, not to do it.
At which, he was much offended; and told them,
They must then look to stand on their own legs. So he
returned in displeasure ; and this was the first ground of
discontent between them. And whereas there wanted
well near £100 to clear things at their going away ; he
would not take order to disburse a penny : but let them
shift as they could.
So they were forced to sell oflf some of their provisions
to stop this gap: which was some three or four score
firkins of butter; which commodity they might best
spare, having provided too large a quantity of that kind.
Then they writ a letter to the Merchants and
Adventurers, about the differences concerning the
Conditions^ as followeth : -
August 3rd, anno 1620. [Southampton.]
Beloved friends. Sorry we are that there should be occasion
of writing at all unto you : partly because we ever expected to see
the most of you here ; but especially because there should any
difference at all be conceived between us. But seeing it falleth
out that we cannot confer together : we think it meet, though
Gov. w. Bradford. The Busmcss ut Soutkamptou. 337
briefly, to shew you the just cause and reason of our differing
from those Articles last made by Robert Cushman, without our
commission or knowledge. And though he might propound good
ends, to himself : yet it no way justifies his doing it.
Our main difference is in the Fifth and Ninth Articles,
concerning the dividing, or holding, of house and lands [See
pp. 306, 307] : the injoying whereof, some of yourselves well know,
was one special motive, amongst many others, to provoke us to go.
This was thought so reasonable, that when the greatest [one] of
you in adventure, whom we have much cause to respect, when he
propounded Cotiditions to us, freely of his own accord, he set this
down for one. A copy whereof we have sent unto you ; with some
additions then added by us : which being liked on both sides, and
a day set for the payment of monies ; those of Holland paid in
theirs.
After that, Robert Cushman, Master [John] Peirce, and
Master [Christopher] Martin brought them into a better form ;
and writ them in a book now extant : and upon Robarts shewing
them, and delivering Master [William] Mullins a copy thereof
under his hand, which we have ; he paid in his money.
And we of Holland had never seen other before our coming to
[Sout]hampton ; but only as one got, for himself, a private copy
of them. Upon sight whereof, we manifested utter dislike : but
[we] had put off our estates \_properties\ and were ready to come ;
and therefore [it] was too late to reject the Voyage \Expedition\
y Judge therefore, we beseech you, indifferently [impartially] of
things ; and if a fault have been committed, lay it where it is, and
not upon us ! who have more cause to stand for the one, than you
have for the other.
"We never gave Robert Cushman [a] commission to make
any one Article for us : but only sent him to receive monies
upon Articles before agreed on ; and to further the provisions
[preparations'] till John Carver came, and to assist him in it.
Yet since you conceive yourselves wronged, as well as we
[do] ; we [have] thought meet to add a branch to the end of our
Ninth Article as will almost heal that wound, of itself, which yo i
conceive to be in it. But that it may appear to all men, that we
are not lovers of ourselves only ; but desire also the good and
inriching of our friends, who have adventured your monies with
our persons : we have added our last Article to the rest, promising
The Pilgrim Fathers, T
338 The Business at Southampton, gov. w. Bradford.
you again by letters in the behalf of the whole Company [at
Southampton, and at Leyden],
That if large profits should not arise within . ^^ ^^^ ^®"
1 « TT 1 '11 1' ^ ,-\ 'o"" tliem, that
the Seven Years, that we will contmue together tbiswas not ac-
longer with you ; if the Lord give a blessing, cepted. [W.B.j
This, we hope, is sufficient to satisfy any in this case ; especially
friends : since we are assured that if the whole charge [j^I,700]
were divided into four parts ; [the Adventurers] of three of them
would not stand \i7imt\ upon it, neither do regard it, <&c.
We are in such a strait at present as we are forced to sell
away £60 worth of our provisions, to clear the haven \the 'port of
Southamptori] ; and withal put ourselves upon great extremities :
scarce having any butter, no oil, not a sole to mend a shoe, nor every
man a sword to his side ; wanting many muskets, much armour,
i&c. And yet we are willing to expose ourselves to such eminent
dangers as , are like[ly] to insue, and trust to the good Providence
of GOD rather than his name and truth should be evil spoken of,
for us.
Thus saluting all of you in love ; and beseeching the Lord to
give a blessing to our endeavour, and keep all our hearts in the
bonds of peace and love ; we take leave : and rest
Yours (&c.
August 3rd 1620.
It was subscribed with many names of the Chiefe^t
of the Company. Bradford MS., folios 93-9V.
CHAPTER XXXIX
The Story of the Speedwell.
E are indebted to Governor Bradford for the
following information.
All things being now ready and every
business dispatched, the Company was called
together; and this letter [by the Rev. John Robinson,
see pp. 401-406] read amongst them : which had good
acceptation with all, and after fruit with many. Then
they ordered and distributed their Company for either
ship, as they conceived for the best: and, chose a
Governor, and two or three Assistants for each ship,
to order the people by the way ; and [to] see to the
disposing of the provisions, and such like affairs. All
which was not only with the liking of the Masters of
the ships : but according to their desires. Which being
done, they set sail from thence \^Souiha7n'pton\ about
the 5th of August [1620].
Being thus put to sea, they had not gone far; but
Master Reynolds, the Master of the lesser ship,
complained that he found his ship so leak[y] as he
durst not put further to sea till she was mended. So
the Master of the bigger ship, called Master Jones,
being consulted with ; they both resolved to put into
Dartmouth, and have her there searched and mended :
which accordingly was done, to their great charge;
and loss of time, and [of] a fair wind. She was here
thoroughly searched from stem to stern. Some leaks
339
340 The Story of the Speedwell, got. w. Bradford.
were found and mended : and now it was conceived
by the workmen and all, that she was sufficient ; and
[that] they might proceed without either fear or
danger.
So with good hopes, from hence they put to sea
again,* conceiving they should go comfortably on ; not
looking for any more lets [hindrances] of this kind:
but it fell out otherwise. For after they were gone to
sea again, above 100 leagues without [beyond] Land's
End; holding company together all this while: the
Master of the small ship complained [that] his ship was
so leaky, as he must bear up, or sink at sea ; for they
could scarce free her with much pumping. So they [i.e.
Captains Jones and Reynolds] came to [a] consultation
again; and resolved [for] both ships to bear up back
• again, and put into Plymouth : which accordingly was
done.
But no special leak could be found ; but it was judged
to be the general weakness of the ship, and that she
would not prove sufficient for the voyage.
Upon which, it was resolved to dismiss her, and part
of the Company ; and [to] proceed with the other ship.
The which, though it was grievous and caused great
discouragement, was put in execution. So after they
had took out such provision as the other ship could well
stow, and concluded what number, and what persons,
to send back ; they made another sad parting : the one
* Captain John Smith states :
They left the coast of England the 23rd of August, with about 120
persons : bvit, the next day, the lesser ship sprung a leak, that forced their
return to Plymouth : where discharging her and twenty passengers, with
the great ship and a hundred [or more exactly 102] persons, besides sailoi-s,
they set sail again the 6th of September. Ne^o England's Trials, 2nd Ed.,
1622 4.
Gov. w. Braaford. Tkc Stovy of tkc Spcedwell. 341
ship going back for London ; and the other was to
proceed on her voyage. *
Those that went back \abovbt 18 or 20] were, for the
most part, such as were willing so to do ; either out of
some discontent, or [the] fear they conceived of the ill
success of the Voyage S^Expeditionl'. seeing so many
crosses befallen, and the year time so far spent. But
others, in regard of their own weakness [of health]
and charge of many young children, were thought least
useful, and most unfit to bear the brunt of this hard
adventure : unto which work of GOD and judgement of
their bretheren, they were contented to submit. And
thus, like Gideon's army, this small number was divided :
as if the Lord, by this work of his Providence, thought
these few too many for the great work he had to do.
But here, by the way, let me show, how afterwards
it was found that the leakiness of this ship was partly
by [her] being overmasted, and too much pressed with
sails. For after she was sold,t and put into her old
trim ; she made many voyages, and performed her
service very suflSciently ; to the great profit of her
owners.
But more especially, by the cunning and deceit of
the Master and his [ship's] company; who were hired
to stay a whole year in the country : and now fancying
dislike, and fearing want of victuals, they plotted this
stratagem to free themselves ; as afterwards was known,
and by some of them confessed. For they apprehended
* The names of the one hundred and two persons that finally left
Plymouth in the Mayflower on 6/16 September 1620, will be found at
pp. 364-380.— E. A.
t The Speedwell had been bought with Leyden money. The proceeds
of her sale, after her return to London, would, of course, go to the credit
of the common Joint Stock there. — E. A.
342 The Story of the ^"^^^dii^^^. gov. w. Bradford.
\tliovi^M\ that the greater ship, being of force \betier
"manned and armed] and in which most of the
provisions were stowed; she would retain enough for
herself, whatsoever became of them or the passengers :
and indeed such speeches had been cast out by some of
them. And yet, besides other incouragements, the Chief
of them that came from Leyden went in this ship, to
give the Master content. But so strong was self love
and his fears, as he forgot all duty and former kindnesses,
and dealt thus falsely with them ; though he pretended
otherwise.
Amongst those that returned was Master Cushman
and his family : whose heart and courage was gone
from him before, as it seems; though his body was
with them till now he departed. As may appear by a
passionate [heart-broken] letter he writ to a friend in
London from Dartmouth, whilst the ship lay there a
mending: the which [as], besides the expressions of
his own fears, it shows much of the Providence of GOD
working for their good, beyond man's expectation ; and
other things concerning their condition in these straits :
I will here relate it. And though it discover some
infirmities in him (as who under temptation is free!):
yet after this, he continued to be a special Instrument
for their good ; and to do the offices of a loving friend
and faithful brother unto them, and partaker of much
comfort with them. The letter is as followeth :
TO HIS LOVING FRIEND ED[wARD] s[oUTHWORTH] AT HENIGE HOUSE,
IN THE DUKE PLACE [, LONDON], THESE.
DARTMOUTH ; [THURSDAY,] AUGUST 17, ANNO 1620.
Loving friend. My most kind remembrance to you, and your
wife, with loving E. M. (&c. ; whom in this world I never look to
see again. For, besides the eminent [imminent] dangers of this
Voyage which are no less than deadly, an infirmity of body hath
Gov. w. Bradford. The Stoiy of the Sy^^^A^N^, 343
seized me which will not, in all likelihood, leave me till death.
What to call it, I know not. But it is a bundle of lead, as it
were crushing my heart more and more these 14 days [3 — 17 AugM&t\,
as that, although I do the actions of a living man, yet I am but as
dead. But the will of GOD be done !
Our pinnace [, the Speedwell,'] will not cease leaking; else, I think,
we had been half way at Virginia. Our voyage hither hath been
as full of crosses as ourselves have been of crookedness. We put
in here to trim her ; and I think, as others also, if we had stayed
at sea but three or four hours more, she would have sunk right
down. And though she was twice trimmed at [Southjhampton ;
yet now she is as open and [as] leaky as a sieve : and there was a
board, two feet long, a man might have pulled off with his fingers ;
where the water came in as at a mole hole.
We lay at [Southjhampton seven days [30 July — 5 Aug. 1620],
in fair weather, waiting for her : and now we lie here waiting
for her in as fair a wind as can blow, and so have done these four
days [13 — 17 August] ; and are like[ly] to lie four more [they
actually left on 23 August\ and by that time the wind will happily
[haply] turn, as it did at [Soutjhampton. Our victuals will be
half eaten up, I think, before we go from the coast of England ;
and, if our voyage last long, we shall not have a month's victuals
when we come in the country.
Near[ly] £700 hath been bestowed [spent] at [Sout]hampton,
upon what I know not. Master [Christopher] *Hewa8Gov-
Martin* saith. He neither can, nor will, give any emor in the
account of it. And if he be called upon for accounts ; b'gg^r ship ; and
h. ,1 , /. , 1 1 /. 1 r -u- • J MasterCuBhman,
ecriethoutof unthankrumess for his paiDS and care, ^ggjgtg^nt rwBi
that we are suspicious of him : and flings away, and
will end nothing. Also he so insulteth over our poor people [the
Leyden Pilgrims], with such scorn and contempt, as if they were
not good enough to wipe his shoes. It would break your heart to
see his dealing, and the mourning of our people. They complain
to me ; and, alas, I can do nothing for them. If I speak to him,
he flies in my face, as [if I were] mutinous ; and saith. No complaints
shall be heard or received but by himself : and saith. They are
fro ward and waspish discontented people, and I do ill to hear
them. There are others that would lose all they have put in, or
make satisfaction for what they have had, that they might depart :
but he will not hear them ; nor suffer them to go ashore, lest they
should run away.
344 ^^^ Story of the Speedwell, got. w. Bradford.
The sailors also are so offended at his ignoraut boldness in
meddling and controling in things he knows not what belongs to
[them], as that some threaten to mischief him. Others say, They
will leave the ship, and go their way. But at the best, this cometh of
it, that he makes himself a scorn and [a] laughing stock unto them.
As for Master Weston, except grace do greatly sway with
him, he will hate us ten times more than ever he loved us, for not
confirming the Conditions. But now since some pinches have taken
them, they begin to reveal the truth, and say. Master Eobinson was
in the fault,* who charged them never to consent to ,i ti^jn^ ^g
those Conditions^ nor choose me into Office ; but was deceived in
indeed appointed them to choose them they did choose. *^®*® things.
But he and they will rue too late. They may now
see, and all be ashamed when it is too late, that they were so
ignorant, yea, and so inordinate in their courses. I am sure as they
were resolved not to seal those Conditions^ I was not so resolute
[? as resolute] at [South] hamp ton to have left the whole business,
except they would seal them : and better the Voyage to have
broken off then, than to have brought such misery to ourselves,
dishonour to GOD, and detriment to our loving friends, as now
it is like[ly] to do. Four or five of the Chief of them which came
from Ley den, came resolved never to go on those Conditions.
And Master [Christopher] Martin, he said, He never received
no money on those Conditions ! He was not beholden to the
Merchants for a pin ! They were bloodsuckers ! and I know not
what. Simple man ! He indeed never made any Conditions with
the Merchants, nor ever spake Avith them : but did [tnadel all
that money [the jS700] fly to [at] [Sout]hampton, or was it his own ?
Who will go and lay out money so rashly and lavishly as he did ;
and never know how he comes by it, or on what conditions ?
Secondly, I told him of the alteration long ago, and he was
content : but now he domineers, and said, I had betrayed them
into the hands of slaves ! He is not beholden to them ! He can set
out two ships himself to a voyage 1 when, good man ! he hath but
£50 in [the Venture] ; and if he should give up his * t h i s was
accounts, he would not have a penny left him \i.e. found true after-
of his own]* as I am persuaded, (&c. [Seepage 442.] "w^»rd. [W. B.]
Friend, if ever we make a Plantation, GOD works a miracle !
especially considering how scant we shall be of victuals ; and, most
of all, ununited amongst ourselves, and devoid of good tutors and
Got. w. Bradford. The Stovyof the Speedwcll. 345
regiment \leadert. aind organisatioTi]. Violence will break all.
Where is the meek and humble spirit of Moses ? and of Nehemiah,
who reedified the walls of Jerusalem, and the State of Israel ?
Is not the sound of Rehoboam's brags daily heard amongst us ?
Have not the philosophers and all wise men observed that, even
in settled Common Wealths, violent Governors bring, either
themselves, or [the] people, or both, to ruin ? How much more in
the raising of Common Wealths, when the mortar is yet scarce
tempered that should bind the walls ?
If I should write to you of all things which promiscuously
forerun our ruin, I should overcharge my weak head, and grieve
your tender heart : only this I pray you. Prepare for evil tidings
of us, every day ! But pray for us instantly [without ceasing] !
It may be the Lord will be yet intreated, one way or other, to make
for us. I see not, in reason, how we shall escape, even the gasping of
hunger-starved persons: but GOD can do much; and his will be done!
It is better for me to die, than now for me to bear it : which I
do daily, and expect it hourly; having received the sentence of
death both within me and without me. Poor William King and
myself do strive who shall be meat first for the fishes ; but we look
for a glorious resurrection, knowing Christ Jesus after the flesh
no more: but looking unto the joy that is before us, we will endure
all these things, and account them light in comparison of that joy
we hope for.
Remember me in all love to our friends, as if I named them :
whose prayers I desire earnestly, and wish again to see [them] ; but
not till I can, with more comfort, look them in the face. The Lord
give us that true comfort which none can take from us !
I had a desire to make a brief Relation of our estate to some
friend. I doubt not but your wisdom will teach you seasonably to
utter things, as hereafter you shall be called to it. That which I
have written is true ; and many things more, which I have
foreborne. I write it, as upon my life and last confession in
England. What is of use to be spoken of presently [at once], you
may speak of it ; and what is fit to conceal, conceal ! Pass by
my weak manner ! for my head is weak, and ray body feeble.
The Lord make me strong in him, and keep both you and yours !
Your loving friend,
Robert Cushman.
Dartmouth, August 17 1620.
34^ The Story of the Speedwell, got, w. Bradford.
Those being his conceptions and fears at Dartmouth ;
they must needs be much stronger, now at Plymouth.
Bradford MS., folios 101-109.
We have seen, at page 307, that the Pilot, who was to
navigate the Speedwell to Southampton, had arrived at
Leyden before the 31 May /lO June 1620. Therefore that
vessel had been bought before that date. Governor Bradford
tells us, at pp. 329, 330, that that ship had *' been bought
and fitted in Holland."
Now it was those members of the Leyden Church who
were responsible for this fitting of the Speedwell, that were
the proximate causes of most of the troubles on the voyage out ;
and of many of the deaths at Plymouth in New England,
in the course of the following Spring. For they overmasted
the vessel ; and by so doing, strained her hull while sailing.
Then that cunning rascal. Captain Reynolds finding
this out : all that he had to do, was to clap on all possible
sail; and so to make the hull, as Robert Cushman tells us it
was, " [as] leaky as a sieve."
For this fatuous and supreme error of judgment in busi-
ness matters, and all that came of it ; the Leyden Church
alone were responsible. No one in England had anything to
do with it.
Imagine for a moment, what might have occurred had not
the trim of the Speedwell been so unfortunately altered.
The Mayfiower and the Speedwell would probably have
left Southampton about the 30 July /9 August 1620 ; and
would then have arrived at the Hudson river, in the following
September/October. The whole course of the subsequent
history of New England would have been entirely different
from that which has actually occurred.
Most certainly the overmasting of the Speedwell during
her refitting in Holland, in May — July 1620, is one of the
Turning Points of modern history. What mighty events
sometimes proceed from small causes !
CHAPTER XL
The Voyage of the Mayflower from
Plymouth to Cape Cod.
6/16 September — 11/21 November 1620.
OVERNOR BRADFORD is our only authority
for this Voyage which (including both day of
departure and that of arrival) took sixty-seven
days * and his account is far too brief,
September 6. These troubles being blown over, and
now all being compact together in one ship ; they put to
sea again with a prosperous wind : which continued
divers days together, and was some incouragement
to them. Yet, according to the usual manner, many
were afflicted with sea sickness.
And I may not omit here a special work of GOD's
Providence. There was a proud and very profane
young man, one of the seamen ; of a lusty able body,
which made him the more haughty. He would always
be contemning the poor people in their sickness, and
cursing them daily with grievous execrations, and [he]
did not let [stop] to tell them, That he hoped to help to
* Captain John Smith states :
But being pestered lovercrowded] nine weeks in this ' leaking unwhole-
some ship, lying wet in their cabins ; most of them grew very weak, and
weary of the sea. New England's Trials, 2nd Ed., 1622, 4.
347
34^ The Voyage of the yidiy^ovf^r, gov. w. Bradford.
cast half of them overboard before they came to
their journey's end ; and to make merry with what
[property] they had. And if he were by any gently
reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly.
But it please GOD, before they came half [the] seas
over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease ;
of which he died in a desperate manner and so [he] was
himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus
his curses light[ed] on his own head : and it was an
astonishment to all his fellows ; for they noted it to be
the just hand of GOD upon him.
After they had injoyed fair winds and weather for a
season, they were incountered many times with cross
winds ; and met with many fierce storms ; with which
the ship was shrewdly shaken, and her upper works
made very leaky. And one of the main beams in the
midships was bowed and cracked ; which put them in
some fear that the ship could not be able to perform
the voyage. So some of the Chief of the Company,
perceiving the mariners to fear the sufiiciency of the ship
(as appeared by their mutterings), they entered into
serious consultation with the Master and other Officers
of the ship, to consider, in time, of the danger ; and
rather to return, than to cast themselves into a desperate
and inevitable peril.
And truly there was great distraction and difference
of opinion amongst the mariners themselves. Fain
would they do what could be done, for their wages'
sake; being now near[ly] half the seas over. On the
other hand, they were loath to hazard their lives too
' desperately.
But in examining of all opinions, the Master and
others affirmed, They knew the ship to be strong and
Gov. w. Bradford. The Voyog^e o/ ^Ae Mdiy^ower, 349
firm under water : and for the buckling [fastening
with a loop of iron] of the main beam, there was a
great iron screw [that] the passengers [had] brought
out of Holland, which would raise the beam into his
place. The which being done, the Carpenter and
Master afiirmed, That a post put under it, set firm
in the lower deck; and otherways bound: he [they]
would make it sufficient. And as for the decks and upper
works, they would caulk them as well as they could: •
and though, with the working of the ship, they would
not long keep staunch ; yet there would otherwise be
no great danger, if they did not overpress her with
sails.
So they committed themselves to the will of GOD,
and resolved to proceed.
In sundry of these storms, the winds were so fierce
and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of
sail : but were forced to hull [drift about, withowt sails]
for divers days together.
And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull, in a
mighty storm, a lusty young man, called John Rowland,
coming upon soihe occasion above the gratings, was
with the seel [roll or pitching] of the ship thrown into
the sea : but it pleased GOD that he caught hold of the
topsail halliards, which hung overboard and ran out at
length; yet he held his hold, though he was sundry
fathoms under water, till he was hauled up, by the
same rope, to the brim of the water ; and then, with a
boathook and other means, [was] got into the ship again,
and his life saved. And though he was something ill
with it : yet he lived many years after ; and became
a profitable member, both in Church and Common
Wealth.
350 The Voyage of ^/le Mayflower, got. w. Bradford,
In all this vovacre, there died but one of the
passengers; which was William Butten, a youth,
servant to [Doctor] Samuel Fuller; [and he died]
when they drew near the coast [of New England].
But to omit other things, that I may be brief,
after long beating at sea, they fell [in] with that land
which is called Cape Cod : the which being made, and
certainly known to be it ; they were not a little joyful.
After some deliberation had amongst themselves, and
with the Master of the ship; they tacked about, and
resolved to stand for the Southward, the wind and
weather being fair, to find some place about Hudson's
river, for their habitation.
But after they had sailed that course about half the
day, they fell amongst dangerous shoals and roaring
breakers,* and they were so far intangled therewith,
as they conceived themselves in great danger : and
the wind shrinking [failing] * upon them withal, they f
resolved to bear up again for the Cape; and thought
themselves f happy to get out of those dangers before
* The Mayflower probably made the Cape towards its northern extremity.
The perilous shoals and breakers, among which she became entangled,
after sailing above half a day south (or south-south-west, as on page 407],
were undoubtedly those which lie off the south-eastern extremity of the Cape,
near Monamoy Point. The Pollock Rip, the most considerable of these,
corresponds to the " roaring breakers " mentioned by Bradford.
She may have also encountered the Great, and Little Round Shoals.
It is not likely that she sailed far enough south, to fall in with the Bass
Rip, or the Great Rip. Because she could reach these ; the current and
flood tide probably drove her in between Monamoy Point and Nantucket.
Had the wind permitted her to pursue a southern course ; she might,
in a few hours, have found an opening, and passed safely to the westward.
A. Young, Chronicles d;c., p. 103, Ed. 1841, 8.
t It is quite clear from the wording of the text, that the Pilgrims
Got. w, Bradford. Tkc Voya^eo/^AeMayhowGr. 351
night overtook them, as by GOD's good Providence they
did. And the next day [but one], they got into the
Cape harbour ; where they rid in safety.
A word or two, by the way, of this Cape. , ^^^^^^^ ^^^y
It was thus first named [Cape Cod] by Cap- took much of
tain GosNOLD and his Company,* -4 'yi')20 1602.
And after, by Captain [John] Smith was called [in
1616] Cape James : but retains the former name amongst
seamen. Also the Point which first showed these dan-
gerous shoals unto them, they [Captain Gosnold's crev)]
called Point Care,t and Tucker's Terror f : but the
French and [the] Dutch, to t^s day, call it Malebarr, by
reason of those perilous ^ho^.s, and the losses they have
suffered there.
Being thus arrived in a good harbour, and brought
safe to land ; they fell upon their knees and blessed the
GOD of heaven : who had brought them over the vast and
furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils
and miseries thereof ; again to set their feet on the firm
and stable earth, their proper element. And no marvel
if they were thus joyful, seeing wise Seneca was so
affected with sailing a few miles on the coast
of his own Italy, as he affirmed. That he had
rather remain twenty years on his way by land, than
pass by sea to any place in a short time ; so tedious and
dreadful was the same to him.
tliemselves decided what course the Mayflower was to take ; consulting,
of course, Captain Jones as to points of seamanship. It is also clear that
Captain Jones fully assented to his ship going southward : and that they
all rejoiced together, when they had successfully turned back. — E. A.
t Point Care is Monaraoy Point ; and Tucker's Terror is the Pollock
Pip. — A. YouNa, as above.
352 The Voyage of the Mayflower, gov. w. Bradford
[the outlook when the MAYFLOWER ANCHORED IN
CAPE COD HARBOUR, ON IITH NOVEMBER 1620.]
But here I cannot but stay and make a pause ;
and stand half amazed at this poor people's present
condition. And so I think will the Reader too,
when he well considers the same.
Being thus passed the vast ocean ; and a sea of
troubles before, in their preparation, as may be
remembered by that which went before : they had
now no friends to welcome them ; nor inns to entertain
or refresh their weather-beaten bodies; no houses, or
much less towns, to repair to, to seek for succour.
It is recorded in Scripture, as a mercy to the Apostle
and his shipwrecked company, that "the Barbarians
shewed us no small kindness " in refreshing them, Acts
xxviii. [Geneva Version] : but these savage barbarians,
when they met with them, as after will appear, were
readier to fill their sides full of arrows, than otherwise.
And for the season, it was winter : and they that
know the winters of that country, know them to be
sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms ;
[and] dangerous to travel to known places, much more
to search an unknown coast.
Besides, what could they see but a hideous- and deso-
late wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men ; and
what multitudes there might be of them, they knew not.
Neither could they, as it were, go up to the top of Pisgah
to view from this wilderness, a more goodly country to
feed their hopes: for which way so ever they turned
their eyes, save upward to the heavens, they could have
little solace and content in respect of any outward objects.
For summer being done, all things stand upon them
Gov. w. Bradford. The Voyage of tkc yi'dj^^o^^x. 353
with a weather-beaten face ; and the whole country full
of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage
hue.
If they looked behind them, there was the mighty
ocean which they had passed ; and [which] was now as a
main bar and gulf to separate them from all the civil
{civilized^ parts of the world:
If it be said, They had a ship to succour them ; it
is true. But what heard they daily from the Master
and [the ship's] company ? But [except] that with speed
they should look out a place, with their shallop, where
they would be, at some near distance ; (for the season
was such, as he would not stir from thence, till a safe
harbour was discovered by them, where they would be ;
and [to which] he might go without danger) : and [also]
that [the] victuals consumed apace; but he must, and
would, keep sufficient for themselves; and [for] their
return [to England]. Yea, it was muttered by some,
That if they got not a place in time ; they would turn
them and their goods ashore, and leave them.
Let it also be considered, what weak hopes of Supply
[reinforcements] and succour, they left behind them
that might bear up their minds in this sad condition and
trial they were under : and they could not but be very
small. It is true, indeed, the affections and love of their
brethren at Ley den were cordial and entire towards
them ; but they had little power to help them or
themselves : and how the case stood between them
and the Merchants, at their coming away, hath already
been declared.
The Pilgrim Fathers. z
354 *^^^ Voyage of the MdJY^iov^et. got. w. Bradford.
What could now sustain them, but the SPIRIT of
GOD, and his grace ?
May not, and ought not, the children of these fathers
rightly say, Our fathers were Englishmen, which came
over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this
wilderness: but they "cried unto the Lord, and he
heard their voice, and looked on their adversity, cfec."
Deut. xxvi. 7 [Geneva Version]. Let them therefore
"praise the Lord, because he is good and his mercies
endure for ever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed
of the Lord, shew how he hath delivered them from the
hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the
desert wilderness, out of the way ; and found no city to
dwell in. Both hungry and thirsty, their soul was
overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the
Lord, his loving kindness; and his wonderful works,
before the sons of men." Ps. cvii. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 [Geneva
Version ; hut not quoted exactly']. Bradford MS.
folios 109-113.
CHAPTER XLI.
Who weee the Pilgrim Fathers ?
' HO were the Pilgrim Fathers 1
The general answer to this must be :
All those members of the Separatist Church at
Leyden, who voted /or the migration to America ;
whether they vjere actually able to go there or not : together with
such others as joined their Church from England. .
Membership in the Pilgrim, Church was the first qualification:
intended^ or actual^ emigration to New England was the second
one.
This general definition will include the Rev. John
Robinson and his family ; who were unable to leave Leyden.
It also includes the 35 members of the Leyden Church who
arrived, at Plymouth in New England, in the Fortune, in
November 1621 ; the 60 who arrived, in the Ann and Little
James in August 1623; the 35 with their families, who
arrived in the Mayflower in Augu.^t 1629; and the 60 who
arrived in the Handmaid, in May 1630.
It likewise includes Christopher Martin and his wife,"
who joined from Billericay in Essex : and Richard Warren,
and John Billington sen. and his family ; who came from
London.
It embraces also William King, who started from
Southampton in the Mayflower on the 5th August 1620;
but who, with Robert Cushman, returned back from the
voyage, at Plymouth ; see page 345.
It further includes hired men, such as John Howland,
a Man-servant in Governor Carver's family ; and John
356
35^ Who were the pilgrim Fathers.
Alden the Cooper : who both came out in the Mayflower^ and
eventually embracing the Pilgrim Cause, became honoured
men among the Pilgrim Fathers.
On the other hand, it excludes all those members of the
Pilgrim Church who had no wish to go to America. A List
of some of these will be found at pp. 273-276.
It also excludes all hired men who went out in the
Mayflower \ and who did not become members of the Church
in the Old Colony. So all the Mayflower passengers were not
Pilgrim Fathers.
It likewise excludes Thomas Weston and all the seventy
Adventurers, as such : for having Shares in the Joint Stock
did not make them Pilgrim Fathers.
It further excludes (though it is very hard to make the
exclusion) three of the four London Merchants, now known
as the noble Friends of the Pilgrims ; who were among
the number of the Adventurers, and who also joined with
the eight Undertakers of the Colony in the Composition
of 15/25 November 1626 : Richard Andrews, John
Beauchamp, and James Shirley; but it includes the
Fourth of these, Timothy Hatherley, because he settled
at Scituate about the year 1635.
The eight Colonial, and the four London, Undertakers of
'the Composition of 1626, were also called. The Purchasers.
Governor Bradford, writing in 1650, calls the passengers
in the Mayflower^ the Old Stock.
Doctor Alexander Young states, " Those who came in
the first three ships the Mayflower [11/21 December 1620],
the Fortune [9/19 Novemoer 1621], and the Anne [and Little
James, August 1623], are distinctively called the Old Comers
or Forefathers." Chronicles d&c, page 352, Ed. 1841, 8.
Who were the Pilgrim Fathers. 357
For the names of all the Forefathers, and some account
of what became of many of them, see the next two Chapters.
We also speak of the Pilgrim Ciiurch : meaning by that
the Scrooby Congregation in their migrations to Amsterdam
and Leyden ; with the various accessions to their number in
both those cities.
CHAPTER XLII
The Passengers in the Mayflower ; and what
became of them.
ARIOUS numbers have, at different times, been
given as to the number of the passengers that
were on board the Mayjlower^ in her voyage to
America in 1620. Those given by Captain John
Smith, at page 324, are merely round numbers.
We will now proceed, on the authority of the Bradford
MS., to place this matter beyond any further dispute.
The reckoning all depends on the date in respect to which
it is made.
The following Nominal List shows that One Hundred
AND Two persons left Plymouth in Devonshire, on board the
Mayflower, on Wednesday 6/16 September 1620: and that
number may therefore be regarded as final.
While at sea, 29. William Butten died, and
103. OcEANUS Hopkins was born.
So the number on hoard at one time was still 102, when
i\iQ May flower fiTst anchored in Cape Cod harbour on 11/21
November 1621 ; on which day, the Compact was signed.
The number of different individuals conveyed by the ship,
was further increased to 104, between the 6th and 12th
December, by the birth, in Cape Cod harbour, of
104. Peregrine White, the first Englishman born in New
England ; see page 426.
So 102 individuals actually left England, 1 died at sea, 2
were born on board, and 103 actually arrived in New
England.
858
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 359
It will be noticed that Governor Bradford groups these
104 persons into (1) Households or Families, " 24 in number ;
roughly arranged according to the Order of the Signatures in
the Compact, see page 378: and (2) Single Men : whereas
in the Relation (&c., see page 440 of this volume, we read
that, on the afternoon of Thursday, 28 December /7 Januaiy
1620/1621,
"We went to measure out the grounds. And first, we
took notice how many families there were : willing all single
men, that had no wives, to join with some family as they
thought fit, that so we might build fewer houses. Which was
done ; and we reduced them to nineteen families."
Let us now classify these 104 different individuals in
accordance with the following Nominal List :
Passeogers in the
Mayflower.
Died in the Fin
Year.
t
The Survivors on
9/19 Nov. 1621.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male,
Female,
L Households
The Heads
24
13
—
11
-_ _
Their Wives
18
14
4
Their Sons, or
other Male
relatives
13
—
3
—
10
Their Daugh-
ters, or other
Female re-
latives
7
—
—
t
Their Male
Servants
14
9
6
—
One Female
Servant
—
1
1
II. Single Men
15
9
—
6
—
Adults
66
+
2r - 92
34 +
14 =
48
32
+
12 = 44
III. Children
9
+
3= 12
4 +
1
5
5
+
2= 7
-
J75
+
29 104
38 +
15 =
53
37
+
14 = 51
'»6o The Passengers in the Mayflower.
J
The almost entire destruction of the Wives is a most
affecting fact. Did they sacrifice themselves for their
children ? For none of the Daughters died ; and the 3 Sons
who did, were in two families in which all the parents, there
present, also died.
Of the twenty-four Households, four were completely
obliterated by the sickness; which chiefly took the form of
scurvy.
IX. Master Christopher Martin containing 4 persons
XIX. Thomas Tinkler „ 3 „
XX. John Rigdale „ 2 „
XXIII. John Turner „ 3
12
}»
)}
Four other Households entirely escaped the infection.
XII. Master Stephen Hopkins containing 8 persons.
XIII. Master Richard Warren „ 1 person.
XIV. John Billington sen. „ 4 persons.
XVII. Francis Cooke „ 2 „
15 „
Each of the remaining sixteen Households lost one, or
more, of its members.
Of the 66 men who embarked on board the Mayflower^
William Butten died at sea : so that the utmost possible
number of signatures to the Compact in Cape Cod harbour,
on the 11/21 November 1620, was Sixty-five : but only Forty-
one actually signed that document; whose names will be
found at pp. 378-380, together with the names of the Twenty-
four who did not sign.
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 361
Of the 53 who died, beginning with William Butten,
47 died before the Mayflower started homewards on 5/15
April 1621.
6 including Governor John Carver and Mistress
Katherine Carver, died after that date; and
before the arrival of the Fortune on 9/19 November
— 1621. Governor Bradford, however, gives no hint*
53 as to the names of the other four.
The names of 53 who died in the first year, are printed,
in the following Nominal List, in Italics.
Of the 51 Survivors on the arrival of the Fortune ; only
23 died by the year 1650, i.e. in the following twenty-nine
years. The names of the 28, then alive, will be found on
the next page.
Where Governor Bradford differs, in the spelling of
personal names in this List, from that of the printed texts, or
the accepted normal spelling ; his spelling is given in Italics
between square brackets, thus :
John Tilley \Tilue\.
362 The Passengers in the Mayflower.
THE NAMES OF THOSE WHICH CAME OVER FIRST, IN THE
YEAR 1620, AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND WERE, BY THE
BLESSING OF GOD, THE FIRST BEGINNERS, AND (iN A
sort) the FOUNDATION, OF ALL THE PLANTATIONS
AND COLONIES IN NEW ENGLAND.
Of these 100 [or rather 104] persons which came
first over in this first ship together: the greater half
[actually 53] died in the general mortality; and most of
them in two or three months' time. And from those
which survived (though some were ancient ; and others
left the place and country) ; yet of those few remaining,
there are sprung up above 160 persons [We make their
number to be 181], in this thirty years, and are now
living in this present year 1650 : besides many of their
children which are dead, and come not within this account.
" And of the Old Stock [i.e. the May^ow er passengers],
of one and another, there are yet living, in this present
year 1650, near 30 persons.* Let the Lord have the
praise ! who is the high preserver of men.
* The exact number would appear, from the following Nominal List,
to be 28, as follows :
I. John Howland. Constanta Hopkins.
II. Richard More. Damaris HoPKiNa.
III. Gov. Edward Winslow. Edward Dotey.
George Sowle. XIV. Francis Billington.
IV. Gov. William Bradford. XV. Henry Samson.
V. Isaac Allerton. XVI. Elizabeth Tilley.
Bartholomew Allerton XVII. Francis Cooke.
Remember Allerton. John Cooke.
Mary Allerton. XVIII. Joseph Rogers.
VIII. Capt. Miles StANDisH. XXT. Mary Chilton.
X. Priscilla Mullins. XXII. Samuel Fuller.
XI. Susanna White. XXIV. Samuel Eaton.
Resolved White.
Peregrine White. John Aldkn.
XII.' Giles Hopkins. 'E. A.
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 363
These, being about a hundred souls, came over in
this first ship; and began this work: which GOD, of
his goodness, hath hitherto blessed. Let his holy name
have the praise !
And seeing it hath pleased him to give me to see
thirty years completed since these beginnings; and
that the great works of his Providence are to be
observed : I have thought it not unworthy my pains to
take a View of the Decreasings and Increasings of these
persons ; and [of] such changes as hath passed over
them and theirs in this thirty years. It may be of some
use to such as come after : but, however, I shall rest in
my own benefit. Bradford MS., folios 526, 527, 530.
The passages between *' ", are the exact words
of Governor Bradford. The other information gives the
substance of what he writes.
"We must now introduce a most admirable Work to our
Readers, Ancient Landmarks 0/ Plymouth by the Hon. William
T. Davis, formerly President of the Pilgrim Society there ; and
published at Boston, Massa., in 1883, 8. Among many
thousands of names ; it contains those of all the residents
at Plymouth down to 1700 a.d. ; when the population was
about a thousand souls. It also has most excellent plans.
In the Hon. Mr Davis, we have one of the most sure-footed of
local antiquaries : and, with regard to the subjects upon which
it treats, his masterly Work leaves nothing further to be
desired.
We have given, between square brackets, from Mr Davis's
book, the dates of the death of many of the Mayflower
passengers.
o
64 The Passengers in the Mayflower.
I.
1. Governor John Carver.
He died at Plymouth, in April 1621.
2. Mistress Katharine Carver, his Wife.
She died at Plymouth, in June 1621.
3. Desire Minter.
She returned to her friends in England; and proved not
very well, and died there.
4. John Rowland, a Man-servant.
He married Elizabeth Tilley, the daughter of John
TiLLEY. " And they are iDoth now living [in 1650] ; and
have 10 children now, all living. And their eldest
daughter hath 4 children ; and their second daughter
1 : all living. So 15 are come of them." 15
[He died at Plymouth, N.E., in 1673.— W. T. Davis.]
5. Roger Wilder, a Man-servant.
He died, in the first sickness, in Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
6. William Latham, a servant boy.
After more than twenty years stay in the Old Colony; he
went into England, and from thence to the Bahama
Islands : and there, with some others, was starved to
death.
7. A lyiaid-Servant.
She married at Plymouth; and died, a year or two after,
there.
8. Jasper More, a hoy that was put to this family.
BicHARD M ore's brother. He died in Cape Cod harbour,
on 6/16 December 1620.
15
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 365
II 15
9. Master William Brewster, the Ruling Elder.
He lived to a very old age. About eighty years he
was, when he died [at Duxbury] on 10/20 April 1644 :
having lived some 23 or 24 years here in the country.
" His daughters, which came over after him, are dead :
but have left sundry children alive. His eldest son
is still living [in 1650] ; and hath 9 or 10 children :
one married, who hath a child or 2." 11
10. Mistress Mary Brewster, his Wife.
His Wife died long before him [at Plymouth, before
1627] ; yet she died aged.
11. Love Brewster, their son.
He lived till this year 1650 : and dying [at Duxbury],
left 4 children now living. 4
12. Wrastle \ot Wrestling] Brewster, their son.
He died a young man unmarried.
13. Richard More, a boy that was put to this
family.
" He is married, and hath [in 1650] 4 or 5 children, all
living." 4
[He was afterwards called Mann ; and died at Scituate,
N.E., in 1656.— W. T. Davis.]
14. .^ MoRE^ ahoy that was put to tills faniily.
Richard More's brother. He died, in the first sickness,
at Plymouth, in the Spring of 1621.
III.
15. Governor Edward Winslow.
His Wife died the first winter : and he married
[Susanna] the Widow of Master White ; and hath
[in 1650] 2 children, besides sundry that are dead. 2
He died at sea, in the West Indies, in 1655.
36
366 The Passengers in the Mayflower.
16. Mistress Elizabeth Winslow, his first Wife, 36
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, on 24 March
•/3 April 1621.
17. George Sowle [or Soule], a Man-servant.
" Is still [in 1650] living ; and hath 8 children.'' 8
[He died at Duxbury, N.E., in 1680.— W. T. Davis.]
18. Elias Story, a Man-servant.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
19. Ellen More, a little girl that was put to this
family.
EiCHARD More's sister. She died, in the first sickness,
at Plymouth, in the Spring of 1621.
IV.
20. Governor William Bradford.
His wife died soon after their arrival : and he married
again, and hath [in 1650] 4 children ; 3 whereof are
married. 4
He died at Plymouth, N.E., on 9th May 1657, see p. 45.
21. Mistress Dorothy Bradford, his first Wife.
She was drowned from on board the Mayflower, in Cape
Cod harbour, on 7/17 December 1620.
V. ■
22. Master Isaac Allerton.
"Himself married again with the daughter of Master
Brewster ; and hath 1 son living by her : but she is
long since dead. And he is married again ; and hath left
this place [Plymouth'\ long ago." He had sons in England. 1
[He died at New Haven, N.E., in 1659.— W. T. Davis.]
49
The Passengers in the Mayflower. ^6"]-
23. Mistress Mary Allerton^ his Wife. 49
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, on the 25
February /7 March 1621.
24. Bartholomew Allerton, their son.
" Is married in England ; but I know not how many
children he hath."
25. Remember Allerton, their daughter.
" Is married at Salem [, N. E.] ; and hath [in 1650] 3,
or 4 children living." 3
[She married Moses Maverick ; and died at Salem, N.E.,
after 1652.— W. T. Davis.]
26. ]\Iary Allerton, their daughter.
" Is married at Plymouth ; and hath [in 1650] 4 children." 4
[She married Thomas Cushman ; and died at Plymouth,
N.E., in 1699.— W. T. Davis. She was the last survivor
of those who left England in the MayflowerJ]
27. John Hooke, a servant hoy.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
VL
28. Samuel Fuller, the Deacon, and Surgeon.
"After his Wife came over, he had 2 children by her;
which are [in 1650] living, and grown up in years. But
he died some fifteen years ago. 2
[He died at Plymouth, N.E., in 1633.— W. T. Davis.]
29. William Butten, a Man-servant.
He died on board the Mayflower at sea ; " near the coast "
of New England, on 6/16 November 1620.
VII.
30. Master John Crackston [Crakston] sen.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621,
58
.368 'The Passengers in the Mayflower.
31. John Crackston \Grakston\ jun. 58
" And about five or six years after [in 1628], his son died
[at Plymoutli]. Having lost himself in the woods, his foot
became frozen ; which put him into a fever, of which he
died."
VIII.
32. Captain Miles Standish.
"He married again: and hath 4 sons living [in 1650];
and some are dead." Who died 3rd October 1655. 4
[He died at Duxbury, N.E., in 1656.— W. T. Davis.]
33. Mistress Rose Standish, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, on 29
January /8 February 1621.
IX.
34. Master Chpjstopher Martin, the Treasurer.
He came from Billericay in Essex, see page 308. He died,
in the first sickness, on board the Mayflower, at Plymouth,
on 8/18 January 1621. See pp. 343, 344, 442.
35. Mistress ? Martin, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth in the Spring
of 1621.
36. Solomon Prower, a Man-servant.
He died, in the first sickness," at Plymouth, on 24 December
/3 January 1620/1621.
37. John Langemore, a Man-servant.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621. The Sixth and last who died in December 1620.
X.
38. Master William MuLLiNS,
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, on 21
February /3 March 1620/1621.
62
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 369
39. Mistress ? MuLLlNS, his Wife. 62
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the
Spring of 1621.
40. Joseph Mullins; their son, a child.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the
Spring of 1621.
41. Priscilla Mullins ; their daughter, a child.
" Married with John Alden : who are both [in 1650]
living, and have 11 children. And their eldest daughter
is married, and hath 5 children." 16
[She died at Duxbury, N.E., after 1650.— W. T. Davis.]
42. Robert Carter, a Man-servant.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the
Spring of 1621.
XI.
43. Master William White.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, on 21
February /3 March 1620/1621.
t
44. Mistress Susanna White, his Wife.
She afterwards married Governor Edward "Winslow.
{She died at Marshfield, N.E., in 1680.— W. T. Davis.]
45. Resolved White, their son.
He married, " and hath [in 1650] 5 children." 5
[He died at Salem, N.E., after 1680.— W. T. Davis.]
104. Peregrine White, their son, an infant.
He was born on board the Mayjlower, in Cape Cod
harbour, in December 1630. He was the first
Englishman born in New England.
He married ; and hath [in 1650] 2 children. 2
[He died at Marshfield, N.E., on 20th July 1704.]
85
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 A
T^yo The Passengers in the Mayflower.
46. 'William Holbeck, a Man-servant 85
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
47. Edward Thompson, a Man-servant
He died on board the Mayflower^ in Cape Cod harbour,
on 4/14 December 1620. He was the first that died
after the Pilgrims arrived in New England.
XII.
48. Master Stephen Hopkins.
He came from London, see page 427.
Master Hopkins and his Wife are now [in 1650] both
dead. But they lived twenty years in this place
\PlymoutK\ : and had 1 son (who became a seaman
and died at Barbadoes) and 4 daughters born here. 5
[He died at Plymouth, N.E., in 1644.— W. T. Davis.]
49. Mistress Elizabeth Hopkins.
[She died at Plymouth, N.E., after 1640.— W. T. Davis.]
[Two children by his former Wife.]
50. Giles Hopkins, his son.
" Is married, and hath [in 1650] 4 children." 4
[He died at Yarmouth, N.E., in 1690.— W. T. Davis.]
51. Constanta [or Constance] Hopkins, his
daughter.
"Is also married, and hath 12 children: all of. them
[in 1650] living, and one of them married." 12
[She married Nicholas Snow ; and died at Eastham,
N.E., in 1677.— W. T. Davis.]
[Two w,ore children, by his Wife Elizabeth.]
52. Damaris Hopkins, their daughter.
[She married Jacob Cooke, of Plymouth, N.E. ; and
died there, between 1666 and 1669.— W. T. Davis.]
106
The Passengers in the yidiy^ov^^v, 371
103. OcEANUS Hopkins, their son, an infant 106
He was born on board the Mayjiower, at sea.
[He died at Plymouth, N.E., in 1621.— W. T. Davis.]
53. Edward Dotey \J)oty\ a Man-servant.
" By a second Wife, hath 7 children : and both he and
they are living [in 1650]." He came from London, see
page 427. 7
[He died at Yarmouth, N.E., in 1655.— W. T. Davis.]
54. Edward Leister \Litster\, a Man-serva.nt.
" After he was at liberty [i.e. had served his timel, went
to Virginia ; and died there."
XIIL
55. J^aster Richard Warren.
He came from London, see page 427. His Wife and
children were left behind ; and came afterwards.
His Wife came over to him ; by whom he had 2 sons
before he died : and one of them is married, and
hath 2 children.
" But he had 5 daughters more, [who] came over with
his Wife : who are all married, and living [in 1650] ;
and have many children."
[He died at Plymoutii, N.E., in 1628.— W. T. Davis.]
XIV.
56. John Billington [Billinton] sen.
" He, and some of his, had been often punished for
miscarriages before ; being one of the profanest families
amongst them. They came from London : and I know
not, by what friends, shuffled into their Company."
Bradford MS., folio 342.
He was hanged in October 1630, for the murder of
John Newcomen.
57. Ellen Billington, his Wife.
[She married Gregory Armstrong, in 1638, — W. T.
Davis.]
117
372 The Passengers in the Mayflower.
58. John Billington, jun., their son. 11*7
He died before his father was executed in October 1630.
59. Francis Billington, their son.
"Is married, and hath 8 children [in 1650]." 8
[He died at Yarmouth, N.E., after 1650.— W. T. Davis.]
XV.
60. Master Edward Tilley [Tillie].
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
61. Ann Tilley, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
61. Henry ,Samson, their cousin, a child.
" Is still living [in 1650] ; and is married, and hath
7 children." 7
[He died at Duxbury, N.E., in 1684.— W. T. Davis.]
63. Humility Cooper, their cousin, a child.
She " was sent for into England ; and died there."
XVI.
Q4<. Master John Tilley [TiLhiE],
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621. '
65. Mistress ? Tilley, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
66. Elizabeth Tilley, their daughter.
She married John Howland.
[She died at. Plymouth, N.E., in 1687.— W. T. Davis.]
132
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 373
X VIT. -
67. Francis Cooke. 132
" He is still living [in 1650], a very old man ; and hath
seen his children's children have children.
" After his Wife came over, with others of his children ;
he hath [had] 3, still living, by her : all married, and
have 5 children. So their increase is 8." 8
[He died at Plymouth, N.E., in 1663.— W. T. Davis.]
68. John Cooke, his son.
" Is married ; and hath four children living [in 1650]." 4
[He died at Dartmouth, N.E., after 1694.— W. T. Davis.]
xviir.
6 9 Thoma s Rogers.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
The rest of Thomas Rogers's children came over
afterwards ; and are married, and have many children.
70. Joseph Rogers, his son.
"Is married ; and hath 6 childi^en [in 1650]." 6
[He died at Eastham, N.E., in 1678.— W. T. Davis.]
XIX.
71. Thomas Tinker.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
72. ? Tinker, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
73. ? Tinker, their son. ,
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
156
374 '^^^ Passengers in the Mayflower.
XX.
74. John RiGDALE. is
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
75. Alice Riqdale, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
XXI.
76. James Chilton.
[He died on board the Mayflower^ in Cape Cod harbour,
on 8/18 December 1620.— W. T. Davis.]
They had another daughter, that was married ; who
came afterwards.
77. ? Chilton, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
78. Mary Chilton, their daughter.
" Is still living [in 1650], and hath 9 children ; and one
daughter [of them] is married, and hath a child. So
their increase is 10." 10
[She married John Winslow (Gov. E. Winslow's brother) ;
and died at Boston, N.E., in 1679.— W. T. Davis.]
XXII.
79. Edward Fuller.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
80. ? Fuller, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
166
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 375
81. Samuel Fuller, their son, a young child. 166
"Is living [in 1650], and married; and hath 4 children,
or mofe." 4
[He died at Barnstable, N.E., in 1683.— W. T. Davis.]
XXIII.
82. John Turner.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
"He had a daughter [who] came, some years after, to
Salem [N.E.] ; where she is now \in 1650] living, - well
married, and approved of."
83. ? Turner, his son.
He died, in tjie first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
84. ? Turner, his son.
He died in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
XXIV.
85. Francis Eaton.
He married again ; and his second Wife died. And he
married the third ; and had by her 3 children. One of
them is married, and hath a child. The others are living.
He died about sixteen years ago. 4
[He died, at Plymouth. N.E., in 1633.— W. T. Davis.]
86. Sarah Eaton, his Wife.
She died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, in the Spring
of 1621.
8*7. Samuel Eaton, their son, a sucking child.
" Is also married, and hath a child [in 1650]." 1
[He died at Middleborough, N.E., in 1684.— W. T. Davis.]
175
n
yS The Passengers in the Mayflower.
"All these died soon after their arrival, in the general 175
sickness that befel; and left no posterity here."
88. MO&E& Fletcher.
89. Thomas Williams.
90. John Goodman.
91. Edmund Marqeson.
92. Richard Britteridge.
He died on board the Mayjlower, in Plymouth harbour, on
21/31 December 1620. The first who dies in this harbour.
93. Richard Clarke.
94. Degory Priest.
He died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth, on 1/11
January 1620/21.
" His Wife and children [were] sent hither afterwards :
she being Master [Isaac] Allerton's sister." [See page
162.]
95. Richard Gardiner.
"Became a seaman; and died in England, or at sea."
96. Gilbert Winslow.
He was another of Governor E. Winslow's brothers.
" After divers years' abode here; he returned into England,
and died there."
97. Peter Browne.
He "married twice. By his first Wife, he had 2 children:
who are living [in 1650], and both of them married ; and
the one of them hath 2 children.
" By his second wife, he had 2 more."
[He died at Plymouth, N.E., in 1633.~W. T. Davis.]
181
The Passengers in the Mayflower. '^']']
\Nexi follow, the five hired men.'] 181
98. John Alden.
" Was hired for a Cooper at Southampton, where the ship
[the Mayflower] victualled : and, being a hopeful young
man, was much desired; but [was] left to his own liking,
to go, or^^stay, when he came here.
" But he stayed, and married here.
" John Alden married with Priscilla, Master Mullins
his daughter."
[He died at Duxbury, N.E., in 1687.— W. T. Davis.]
99. John Allerton, a sailor. [See page 427.]
He was a hired man; but was reputed one of the Company
[i.e. of the Pilgrim Fathers]: but was to go back, being a
seaman, for the help of the others behind.
He however died, in the first sickness, at Plymouth,
before the Mayflower departed homewards on 5/15 April
1621.
100. Thomas English, a sailor. [See page 427.]
He was hired to the Master of a shallop at Plymouth.
He, however, died there, in the first sickness, before
the Mayflower departed homewards on 5/15 April 1621.
" There were also other two seamen hired to stay a year
in the country:
301. William Trevore, a sailor,
102. ? Ellis, a sailor.
But, when their time was out, they both returned."
181
Bradford MS., folios 526-530.
78 The Passengers in the Mayflower.
We have now to show the connection of the above Nominal
List, containing the names of 66 Males, exclusive of Children,
with the 41 Signers of the Compact at Cape Cod harbour,
on the 11/21 November 1620.
Nathanial Morton, who had evidently seen the original
document, gives the names of the Signers at pp. 15, 16, of his
New England Memorial, 1669, 4, in the following order. It
is a scandalous disgrace to the Officials of the Old Colony, that
so precious a document as the Compact should ever have been
lost.
[These were
e vidently the
Chief of the
Pilgrim Fathers,
at this date. — E.A.]
1. JoEN Carver I. 1.
2. William Bradford IV. 20.
3. Edward Winslow III. 15.
4. William Brewster II. 9.
0. Isaac Allerton V. 22.
I. 6. Miles Standish VIII 32.
7. John Alden
8. Samuel Fuller
9. Christopher Martin
10. William MuLLiNS
11. William White
12. Richard Warren
13. John Howl and
14. Stephen Hopkins
15. Edward Tilley
16. John Tilley
17. Francis Cooke
18. Thomas Rogers
19. Thomas Tinker
20. John RiGDALE
21. Edward Fuller
22. John Turner
23. Francis Eaton
VI.
IX.
X.
XI.
XIII
I.
XII
XV.
XVI.
XVII
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXII
XXIII.
XXIV.
98.
28.
34.
38..
43.
55.
4.
48.
60.
64.
67.
69.
71
74.
79.
82.
85.
The Passengers in the Mayflower. 379
24. James Chilton
25. John Crackston
26. John Billington [sen.]
27. Moses Fletcher
28. John Goodman
29. Degory Priest
30. Thomas Williams
31. Gilbert Winslow
32. Edmund Marqeson
33. Peter Browne
34. Richard B[r]itteridoe
35. George Soule
36. Richard Clarke
37. Richard Gardiner
38. John Allerton
39. Thomas English
40. Edward Dotey
41. Edward Leister
XXI.
76.
VII.
30.
XIV.
56.
—
88.
90.
94.
89.
96.
91.
97.
92.
III.
17.
93.
95.
99
100.
XII.
53.
XII.
54,
"We have next to account for the 25 Males, who did not
sign the Compact.
One had died already.
42. William Butten VI. 29.
Then evidently the signatures of the fathers covered the
allegiance of their sons, 13 in number; as follows :
43. Love Brewster II. 11.
44. Wrastle Brewster II. 12.
• 45. Bartholomew Allerton V. 24.
46. John Crackston juti. VII. 31.
47. Resolved White XL 45.
48. Giles Hopkins XIL 60.
49. John Billington jun. XIV. 58.
XIV.
59.
XVIL
68.
XVIII.
70.
XIX.
73.
XXIII.
83.
XXIII.
84.
380 The Passengers in the Mayflower.
50. Francis Billington
51. John Cooke
52. Joseph Rogers
53. .^ Tinker
54. t Turner
55. ? Turner
The following Male >Servants, Men and Youths, did not
sign the Compact :
56. Roger Wilder
57. William Latham
58. Elias Story
59. John Hooke
60. Solomon P rower
61. John Lang EMORE
62. Robert Carter
63. William HoLBECK
64. Edward Thompson
As eight of these nine persons soon died, they may have
been too ill to sign.
Lastly, we have the two temporarily hired sailors.
65. William Trevore — 101.
m. ? Ellis — 102.
I.
5.
L
6.
III.
18.
V.
27.
IX.
36.
IX.
37.
X.
42.
XL
46
XL
47.
CHAPTER XL III
The Forefathers, or Old Comers. 1620 — 1623.
iiHE authority for their names is the Records of the
Colony of New Plymouth in New England ;
printed, in twelve volumes, at Boston, Massa.,
1861, 4. Vol. XII. (Deeds, Vol. I.), edited by
Mr David Pulsifer, contains the following information :
"The Record, in Governor Bradford's handwriting, of
The Meersteads and Garden Plots laid out in 1620, or to
the pages containing the record, mainly by the same hand, of
the Allotments of land in 1623. These pages have every
appearance of having been written in the years mentioned
in the record."
THE MEERSTEADS AND GARDEN PLOTS OF [tHOSE] WHICH
CAME FIRST, LAID OUT [iN DECEMBER] 1620.
[jTAe Sea^ on the East side.']
The North side. The South side.
•+0
^ Peter Browne.
•so
CO
so
John Goodman.
I 5^ Master William Brewster.
^ gi Highway [to the Town Brook].
3 >^
^ ^ John Billington [sen.].
S Master Isaac Allerton.
cHj Francis Cooke.
Edward Winslow.
[The Mount, afterioards Fort Hilt, on the West side.]
381
382 ' The Forefathers y or Old Comers.
Governor Bradford, writing of the Spring of 1623, says :
" All this while, no Supply [reinforcement] was heard of :
neither knew they when they might expect any.
So they began to think how they might raise as much
corn [rnaize] as they could; and obtain a better crop than
they had done : that they might not still thus languish in
misery.
At length, after much debate of things ; the Governor
[William Bradford], with the advice of the Chiefest amongst
them, gave way [agreed]
That they should set corn, every ipan for his own
particular [individual use] ; and, in that regard, [to]
trust to themselves. In all other things, to go on in
the general [joint-stock] way, as before.
And so [he] assigned to every family a parcel of land,
according to the proportion of their number, for that end ;
only for present use : but made no division for inheritance.
And ranged all boys and youths under some family.
This had very good success. For it made all hands very
industrious ; so as much more corn was planted than other
ways would have been, by any means the Governor or any
others could use : and saved him a great deal of trouble, and
gave far better content. The women now went willingly into
the field, and took their little ones with them, to set corn ;
which before would ailed ge weakness and inability : whom to
have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and
oppression." Bradford MS,, folio 193.
See also Governor Winslow's account of this transaction
at pp. 575-577.
The following Heading is the earliest authority in
existence, that the of the Pilgrim ship of 1620 was
the Mayflower .
The Forefathers, or Old Comers, 383
THE FALLS [BY LOT] OF THEIR GROUNDS ; WHICH CAME
first over in the may-flower: according
as their lots were cast, [in
march] 1623 [see page 576].
Robert CushmaN 1 the number
[of] acres
Master William Brewster 6 to [each]
These lie on the
South side of
he [Totim]
Brook ; to the
Bay-wards \i.e.
between Sand-
wich street and
the harbour. —
W. T. Davis].
William Bradford 3
Richard Gardiner 1
. Francis Cooke 2
George Soule 1
Master Isaac Allerton 7
John Billington {sen.'] 3
Peter Browne 1
Samuel Fuller 2
Joseph Rogers 2
one.
These contain
29 acres.
These lie on the
South side of
the [Town
Brook ; to the
Wood-ward :
opposite to the
former [includ-
ing what is
now Watson's
John Howland
Stephen Hopkins
Edward
Edward
Gilbert Winslow
Samuel Fuller junior
4
6
1
1
1
8
Hill. W. T.
Davis].
These contain 16 acres : besides
Hobamak's ground ; which lieth
between John Howland's and
H0PKINS*8.
84 T/ze Forefathers, or Old Corners
These 5 acres
lieth behind the
Fort to the
Little Fond
[i.e. between
the Burial Hill
aud Murdock^s
Fond.—W. T.
Davis].
William White
[He had been dead
three years.]
the number
[of] acres
to [each]
one.
These lie on the
north side of
the town; next
adjoining to
their gardens
[of those]
which came in
the Fortune.
\i.e. between
t
and the
harbour. — W.
T. Davis].
Edward Winslow
Richard Warren
John Goodman
John Crackston
John Alden
Mary Chilton
Captain Miles
Standish
Francis Eaton
Henry Samson
Humility Cooper
4
[2]
2
4
1
1
The Forefathers, or Old Comers. 385
THE FALLS [BY LOT] OF THEIR GROUNDS, WHICH CAME
IN THE FORTUNE: ACCORDING AS THEIR LOTS WERE
CAST, [in march] 1623 [See page 576].
This ship came
NoTember 1621.
[On the North aide of the Toiim.]
These lie to the sea,
Eastward.
William Hilton
John Winslow
William Conner
John Adams
William Tench
I
and John Cannon j
1
1
1
1
2
These following lie beyond
the Second Brook
[, Westivard].
Hugh Statie
William Beale and)
Thomas Cushman j
Austen Nicholas
Widow Foord
1
2
1
4
These lie beyond the
First Brook, to the Wood,
Westward.
William Wright ^ ^
and William Pitt \
Robert Hickes
Thomas Prence
Steven Dean
Moses Simonson
and
Philippe De la Noye.
Edward Bompass
Clement Brigges
James Steward
William Palmer
Jonathan Brewster
Benet Morgan
Thomas Flavell
and his son.
Thomas Morton
William Bassite
}
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
15
[It should be 14] acres.
The Pilgrim Fathers.
19
acres.
2 B
386 The Forefathers, or Old Comers.
THE FALLS [BY LOT] OF THEIR GROUNDS, WHICH CAME
OVER IN THE SHIP CALLED THE ANNE [, AND
IN THE LITTLE JAMES\\ ACCORDING AS
THEIR [lots] were CAST, [iN THE
AUTUMN of] 1623.
[These 45 acres were situated on both sides of Cold Spring
Brook.— W. T. Davis.]
These to the sea, Eastward.
acres. acres,
James Rande 1 Francis Spragge
[or rather
Sprague]
3
These following lie beyond the [Townl
Brook, to Strawberry Hill [now
called Watson's Hill].
Edmund Flood 1 Edward Burcher 2
Christopher Connant 1 John Jenings ")
Francis Cooke 4 [or rather Jenney]]
Goodwife Flavell
Manasseh Fa[u]nce
and
John Fa[u]nce
5
The Forefathers, or Old Comers. 387
These [a]6u^ against the These goeth in with a corner
Swamp and [the] Reed by the Pond.
Pond.
George Morton
and
Alice [Southworth, ]
afterwards] Bradford j
Experience Mi[t]chellJ j^^^^^^ Rickey, his
Christian Penn
Thomas Morton
jumor
William Hilton's
Wife and two
children
Wife and children
Bridget Fuller
u
Ellen Newton
Patience [Brewster],
1
1
and Fear Brewster, >3
with Robert Long ^
William Heard
Mistress [Barbara]
Standish [, The ll
Captain's second Wife.],
388
The Forefathers^ or Old Comers,
These following lie on the other [, the east^l
side of the Town ; towards the Eel River.
[These 50 acres were located on both sides of the Wellingsly
Brook.— W. T. Davis.]
Mary Buckett;
adjoining to
Joseph Rogers
Master [John]
Oldham, and those I 10
joined with him
Cuthbert Cuthbertson 6
Anthony An[n]able 4
Thomas Tilden 3
Richard Warren 5
[Edward] Bangs 4
Robert Ratcliffe, \
beyond the swampy I [2]
and stony ground J
These [a]6u^ against
Hob's Hole. .
Nicholas Snowe x
Anthony Dix x
Master Pe[i]rce's two ]
servants J
Ralfe Wal[l]en X
South,
Stephen Tracy,
three acres
Thomas Clarke,
one acre
Robert Bartlet,
one acre
}
}
North.
Edward Holman,
one acre
Frances [Palmer]
Wife to
William Palmer
one acre
Joshua Pratt and
Phineas Pratt
I
CHAPTER XLIV.
That the Dutch could not have bribed Captain
Jones of the Mayflower, 1620.
'E have seen, at page 315, that, on Saturday, 10/20
June 1620, Robert Cushman and Thomas
Weston, at London, had not even seen the
Mayflower, of 180 tons : but that they were
then thinking of a vessel of 120 tons ; which they hoped to
look over and charter on the following Monday, 12/22 of that
month.
The hiring of the Mayflower, when they did do it, was
also their act alone ; and the Leyden Church had nothing
whatever to do with it.
We have also seen, at page 331, that the Speedwell, of 60
tons, left Delf shaven on Saturday, 22 July /I August 1620 :
and, at page 334, she probably arrived at Southampton on
the following Wednesday, 26 July /5 August 3 where she
found the bigger ship waiting for her. The Mayflower must
therefore have left London some days earlier.
If then the Dutch (by which we are to understand no one
else but the New Netherland Company ; resident at either
the Hague, or at Amsterdam) bribed Captain Jones ; it muse
have been at some time in the forty-eight days between that
10/20 June and that 26 July /I August. Further, we must
assume it to have been done at London ; and not at
Southampton, under the watchful eyes of the Pilgrim
Fathers.
Again, if Prince be correct, see page 335, he states that
389
390 The supposed Plot of Captain Jones.
the Mayflower had already been at Southampton seven days.
This would reduce the above period, in which the supposed
bribery must have been effected, to the forty-one days from
10/20 June to 19/29 July 1620.
Let us now quote Nathaniel Morton's account of this
supposed Plot.
Nevertheless, it is to be observed, that their putting
into this place [Cape God harbour], was qj ^j^-g pj^^
partly by reason of a storm by which they betwixt the
were forced in [This is not a strictly accurate Master jones;
statement] ; but more especially by the ^. ^5'^® ^^^ ^**®
f raudulency and contrivance of the aforesaid tain intelligence.
Master Jones, Master of the ship. ^^- ^-^
For their intention, as is before noted, and his
engagement, was to Hudson's river : but some of the
Dutch, having notice of their intentions ; and having
thoughts, about the same time, of erecting a Plantation
there likewise [This is fl.atly contradicted by Sir
Dudley Carleton's Report to the Privy Council, on
5/15 February 1621/1622; fifteen months after Captain
Jones's supposed act of betrayal: see pp. 299], they
fraudulently hired the said Jones (by delays while
they were in England ; and now under pretence of
danger of the shoals, &c.) to disappoint them in their
going thither. New England's Memorial, page 12, Ed.
1669,4.
We have seen, at page 346, that the delays off the English
coast arose entirely from the overmasting of the Speedwell ;
and the cunning use that that scoundrel, Captain Reynolds,
made of that fact.
A careful reading of Governor Bradford's account, at
page 356, of " the Pilgrims" turning back at the "dangerous
The supposed Plot of Captam Jones. 39 t
shoals and roaring breakers " of the Pollock Rip, will sho^X^
that the alarm on board the Mayflower at that time, was no
pretence ; but a very real thing indeed. They " thought
themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night
overtook them."
The Captains of those days were but rough sea dogs, at
the best : but all we know of the Master of the Mayflower
goes to show that he was both fair-minded and friendly
towards the Pilgrim Fathers. See pp. 417-420, 442, 448-450.
CHAPTER XLV.
That Captain Jones of the Mayflower was not
THE Captain Thomas Jones of the Discovery.
HE Christian name of the Captain of the
Mayflower is not known. It has been sometimes
said that he was the disreputable and piratical
Captain Thomas Jones of the Discovery ; but
this seems not to be the case, for the two following reasons :
1. The Rev. Doctor E. D. Neill tells us that at
A Quarter Court, 21 November /I December 1621, Commissions
were granted for Fishing and Trade, among others, to
Captain Thomas Jones, Master of the Discovery, of 60 tons.
History of the Virginia Company, page 261, Ed. 1869, 4.
Now the Mayflower was of 180 tons; and it is very
unlikely that its Captain would afterwards take charge of a
vessel one-third of its size. It would have been a kind of
professional degradation to have done so.
2. Governor Bradford writes :
Behold now another Providence of GOD. A ship comes into
the harbour, one Captain Jones being chief therein. They were
set out by some Merchants, to discover all the harbours between
this and Virginia, and the shoals of Cape Cod ; and to trade
along the coast where they could. Bradford MS., folios 181-183.
Now it is quite impossible that Governor Bradford, who
had been in the closest possible friendly intercourse with the
Captain of the May/lower for the seven months from the
6th September 1620 till the 5th April 1621, could ever after
have designated him as " one Captain Jones."
392
Captain T, Jones of the Discovery. 393
T:..'?
^>/^
It may be interesting to trace the career of this Captain
Jones up to his death : the more so because he carried John
Port as a Passenger.
The Discovery left London at the end of November 1621 ;
and did not arrive at James Town, Virginia, till April
1622. It was in August 1622, that she arrived at New
Plymouth.
The following documents tell the rest of this Story :
THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND,
TUESDAY, 17/27 DECEMBER 1622.
At the Tower [of London].
Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
Sir Allen Apsley.
Sir Samuel Argall.
Captain Thomas Love,
assisted by
Captain Chudley.
Whereas the Council are informed by Leonard Peddock, That
Captain Jones (who was employed by the Company of Virginia to
fish upon the coasts of New England) hath, this last year [1622],
robbed the natives there, of their furs ; and offered [attempted] to
carry some of them away prisoners : but, being grounded upon the
sands near Cape Cod, the savages escaped ; and made great
exclamation against the present Planters of New England. For
punishment whereof. Sir Ferdinando Gorges is desired to signify
this abuse, by letter from the Council, to [Henry Wriothesley,]
the Earl of Southampton [, Treasurer of the Virginia Company].
S. P. Colonial. Vol. I.
394 Captain T. Jones of the Discovery.
JOHN CHAMBERLAIN TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.
LONDON ; SATURDAY, 26 JULY /5 AUGUST 1623.
Our old acquaintance, Master Pory, is in poor case, and in
prison at the Terceiras \=the Azores] : whither he was driven by-
contrary winds from the north coast of Virginia, where he had
been upon some discovery ; and, upon his arrival [at Terceira], was
arraigned, and in danger to be hanged for a pirate.
S. P. Dom. James I. Vol. 149, No. 48.
GOVERNOR SIR FRANCIS WYATT AND THE COUNCIL OF VIRGINIA,
TO THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS FOR THE AFFAIRS OF
VIRGINIA [in LONDON].
JAMES CITY ; MONDAY, 3/13 JANUARY 1625.
About the middle of July last ]1624], arrived Captain Jones,
in a Spanish frigate, which he had taken in the "West Indies ;
under the Commission of the States [General], as he pretended,
granted to Captain Powell : from whose consortship he separated
himself, and put in here for relief ; his vessel being very leaky,
and her victuals spent. She brought in no prize [plunder], but
some few raw hides ; which, by negligence, lay sunk in the ship,
and were spoiled. Himself died shortly after [July 1624].
And since his death, there are rumours risen, contrary to their
first Examinations, of mutinies and disorders committed by Captain
Jones and some of his [ship's] company against Captain Powell :
of which, perhaps, we may have more light from England, or the
Low Countries ; according to which, we may the better know how
to proceed, since we conceive the substance of their acts against
the Spaniards are not now too strictly to be questioned.
S. P. Colonial Vol. IV., No. 1.
A
Relation, or Journal,
of the
Beginning and Proceedings
of the
English Plantation settled at Plymouth,
in New England ;
by certain English Adventurers, both Merchants and others.
With
their difficult Passage ; their safe Arrival ; their joyful building of,
and comfortable planting themselves in, the now
well-defended Town of New Plymouth.
As also
a Relation of Four several Discoveries, since made by
some of the same English Planters
there resident.
I. In a journey to Puckanokick, the habitation of the Indians' greatest King,
Massasott; as alBO their Message, [and] the Answer and entertainment they had of
him.
II. In a voyage made by ten of them to the Kingdom of Nawset, to seek a boy that
had lost himself in the woods : with such accidents as befell them in that voyage
III. In their journey to the Kingdom of Namaschet, in defence of their greatest
King, Massasott, against the Narrohigg onsets ; and to revenge the supposed death of
their interpreter Tisquantum.
IV. Their voyage to the Massachusets, and their entertainment there.
With
an Answer to all such Objections as are any way made against
the lawfulness of English Plantations
in those parts.
LONDON.
Printed for John Bellamie, and are to be sold at his
shop at the Two Greyhounds, in Cornhill,
near the Royal Exchange.
1622.
To HIS MUCH EESPECTED FRIEND,
Master I. P.
OOD friend. As we cannot but account
it an extraordinary blessing of GOD in
directing our course for these parts, after
we came out of our native country; for
that we had the happiness to be possessed of the
comforts we receive by the benefit of one of the most
pleasant, most healthful, and most fruitful parts of the
world: so must we acknowledge the same blessing to
be multiplied upon our whole Company, for that we
obtained the honour to receive allowance and approbation
of our free possession and enjoying thereof, under the
authority of those thrice honoured persons, the President
and Council for the Affairs of New England. By whose
bounty and grace, in that behalf, all of us are tied to
dedicate our best service unto them ; as those, under His
Majesty, that we owe it unto : whose noble endeavours
in these their actions, the GOD of heaven and earth
multiply to his glory, and their own eternal comforts !
As for this poor Relation, I pray you to accept it,
as being writ by the several Actors themselves, after
their plain and rude manner : therefore doubt nothing
of the truth thereof. If it be defective in anything,
it is their ignorance ; that are better acquainted with
planting than writing. If it satisfy those that are well
affected to the business ; it is all I care for.
Sure I am, the place we are in, and the hopes that
are apparent, cannot but suffice any that will not desire
more than enough; neither is there want of ought
397
'>
98 To his friend, Master I. P. e. g.
{aughfl among us but company, to enjoy the blessings
so plentifully bestowed upon the inhabitants that are
here.
While I was a writing this, I had almost forgot, that
I had but the recommendation of the Relation itself to
your further consideration: and therefore I will end
without saying more ; save that I shall always rest.
Yours, in the way of friendship,
R. G.
From Plymouth in
New England.
To The Reader.
[OURTEOUS Reader. Be in treated to make a
favourable construction of my forwardness
in publishing these insuing Discourses.
The desire of carrying the Gospel of Christ
into those foreign parts, amongst those people that as
yet have h^^d no knowledge, nor taste, of GOD ; as also
to procure unto themselves and others, a quiet and
comfortable habitation : were, amongst other things, the
inducements unto these undertakers of the then hopeful,
and now experimentally known good, enterprise for
Plantation in New England, to set afoot and prosecute
the same.
And though it fared with them, as it is common to
the most actions of this nature, that the First Attempts
prove difficult, as the sequel more at large expresseth ;
yet it hath pleased GOD, even beyond our expectation
in so short a time, to give hope of letting some of them
see — though some he hath taken out of this Vale of
Tears — some grounds of hope of the accomplishment of
both those ends, by them at first propounded.
And as [I] myself then much desired, and shortly
hope to effect (if the Lord will !), the putting to of my
shoulder in this hopeful business : and in the mean time,
these Relations coming to my hand from my both
known and faithful friends, on whose writings I do
much rely ; I thought it not amiss to make them more
general, hoping of a cheerful proceeding, both of
Adventurers and Planters. Intreating that the example
399
400 To the Reader, g. Mourt.
of the Honourable Virginia and Bermudas Companies
(incountering with so many disasters, and that for divers
years together, with an unwearied resolution ; the good
effects whereof are now eminent) may prevail as a spur
of preparation also, touching this no less hopeful country,
though yet an infant: the extent and commodities
whereof are as yet not fully known, [but which] after
time will unfold more.
Such as desire to take knowledge of things, may
inform themselves by this insuing Treatise : and, if
they please, also by such as have been there a first and
[a] second time \i.e. in the Mayflower ; and also in the
Fortune].
My hearty prayer to GOD is, That the event of this,
and all other honourable and honest undertakings, may
be for the furtherance of the Kingdom of Cheist ; the
inlarging of the bounds of our Sovereign Lord King
James ; and the good and profit of those who, either by
purse, or person, or both, are agents in the same.
So I take leave, and rest
Thy friend,
G. Mourt.
Certain useful Advertisements sent in a Letter
WRITTEN BY A DISCREET FrIEND UNTO THE PLANTERS
IN New England, at their first setting sail from
Southampton; who earnestly desireth the
prosperity of that, their new,
Plantation.
^OVING and Christian friends. I do
heartily, and in the Lord, salute you all :
as being they with whom I am present in
my best affection, and most earnest longings
after you ; though I be constrained, for a while, to be
bodiljT- absent from you. I saj^, constrained : GOD
knowing how willingly and much rather than otherwise,
I would have borne my part with you in this first
brunt ; were I not, by strong necessity, held back for
the present. Make account of me, in the mean while,
as of a man divided in myself, with great pain ; and
as, natural bonds set aside, having my better part with
you.
And though I doubt not but, in your godly
wisdoms, you both foresee, and resolve upon, that
which concerneth your present state and condition;
both severally and jointly : yet have I thought [it] but
my duty, to add some further spur of provocation unto
them who run already ; if not because you need it, yet
because I owe it in love and duty.
The Pilgrim Fathers. 401 2 c
402 A Letter of Advice to the Eev. j. Robinson.
And first, as we are daily to renew our repentance
with our GOD; special, for our sins known; and
general, for our unknown trespasses : so doth the Lord
call us, in a singular manner, upon occasions of such
difficulty and danger as lieth upon you, to a both more
narrow search, and careful reformation, of our ways in
his sight; lest he (calling to remembrance our sins
forgotten by us, or unrepented of) take advantage
against us; and, in judgement, leave us for the
same to be swallowed up in one danger or other.
Whereas, on the contrary, sin being taken away
by earnest repentance, and pardon thereof from the
Lord sealed up unto a man's conscience by his
SPIRIT : great shall be his security and peace in
all dangers ; sweet, his comforts in all distresses ; with
happy deliverance from all evil, whether in life or in
death.
Now next after this heavenly peace with GOl) and
our own consciences, we are carefully to provide for
peace with all men, what in us lieth ; especially with
our associates : and, for that end, watchfulness must
be had, that we neither at all in ourselves do give ; no,
nor easily take, offence, [it] being given by others.
Woe be unto the World for offences ! For though it
be necessary (considering the malice of Satan, and
man's corruption) that offences come : yet woe unto the
man, or woman, either by whom the offence cometh !
saith Christ, Matthew xviii. 7. And if offences, in
the unseasonable use of things in themselves indifferent,
be more to be feared than death itself, as the Apostle
teacheth, 1 Cor. ix. 15 : how much more in things
simply evil ; in which neither honour of GOD, nor love
of man, is thought worthy to be regarded.
EOT. J. Eobinson Planters of Ncw England. 403
Neither yet is it sufficient that we keep ourselves, by
the grace of GOD, from giving ofFence[s] ; except withal,
we be armed against the taking of them, when they
are given by others. For how unperfect and lame is
the work of grace in that person who wants charity
[wherewith] to cover a multitude of offences, as the
Scriptures speak.
Neither are you to be exhorted to this grace, only
upon the common grounds of Christianity; which are,
That persons ready to take offence, either want charity
to cover offences; or wisdom duly to weigh human
fraility; or lastly, are gross, though close, hypocrites,
as Christ our Lord teacheth, Matthew vii. 1-3. As
indeed, in mine own experience, few or none have been
found, which sooner give offence, than such as easily
take it: neither have they ever proved sound and
profitable members in societies, which have nourished
in themselves that touchy humour.
But, besides these, there are divers special motives
provoking you, above others, to great care and conscience
this way.
As, first, you are, many of you, strangers as to the
persons, so to the infirmities, one of another: and so
stand in need of more watchfulness this way, lest when
such things fall out in men and women as you suspected
not, you be inordinately affected [wpsef] with them:
which doth require, at your hands, much wisdom and
charity for the covering and preventing of incident
offences that way.
And, lastly, your intended course of Civil Community
[setting up the authority of a State] will minister
continual occasion of ofience, and will be as fuel
for that fire; except you diligently quench it
with brotherly forbearance. And if taking offence
404 A Letter of Advice to the Rev. j. Robinson.
causelessly, or easily, at men's doings be so carefully to
be avoided : how much more heed is to be taken that
we take not offence at GOD himself; which yet we
certainly do, so oft as we do murmur at his Providence
in our crosses, or bear impatiently such afflictions
as wherewith he pleaseth to visit us. Store we up
therefore patience against the evil day ! without which,
we take offence at the Lord himself in his holy and just
works.
A fourth thing there is carefully to be provided for,
to wit, That with your common employments, you join
common affections, truly bent upon the general good :
avoiding (as a deadly plague of your both common and
special comfort) all retiredness of mind for proper
advantage [individual self-seeking], and all singularly
affected any manner of way. Let every man repress
in himself; and the whole body, in each person (as so
many rebels against the common good), all private
respects of men's selves ! not sorting with the general
conveniency. And as men are careful not to have a
new house shaken with any violence before it be well
settled, and the parts firmly knit : so be you, I beseech
you brethren, much more careful that the House of
GOD, which you are and are to be, be not shaken
with unnecessary novelties, or other oppositions, at the
first settling thereof.
Lastly, whereas you are to become a Body Politic,
using amongst yourselves Civil Government; and are
not furnished with any persons of special eminency
above the rest, to be chosen by you into Office of
Government: let your wisdom and godliness appear,
not only in choosing such persons as do entirely love,
Eev. J. Robinson. Plautcrs of Nbw England, 405
and will diligently promote, the common good; but
also in yielding unto them all due honour and obedience
in their lawful administrations. Not beholding in them,
the ordinariness of their persons ; but GOD's ordinance
for your good : nor being like unto the foolish multitude ;
who more honour the gay coat, than either the virtuous
mind of the man, or [the] glorious ordinance of the
Lord.
But you know better things: and that the Image
of the Lord's power and authority, which the Magistrate
beareth, is honourable in how mean persons soever.
And this duty you both may the more willingly, and
ought the more conscionably to perform ; because you
are, at least for the present, to have only them for your
ordinary Governors, which yourselves shall make choice
of for that work.
Sundry other things of importance I could put
you in mind of, and of those before mentioned, in
more words; but I will not so far wrong your godly
minds, as to think you heedless of these things :
there being also divers among you so well able to
admonish both themselves and others, of what
concerneth them.
These few things therefore, and the same in few
words, I do earnestly commend unto your care and
conscience : joining therewith my daily incessant prayers
unto the Lord, that he (who hath made the heavens
and the earth, the sea and all rivers of waters ; and
whose Providence is over all his works, especially over
all his dear children for good) would so guide and
guard you in your ways (as inwardly by his SPIRIT ;
so outwardly by the hand of his power) as that both
you, and we also for and with you, may have after
4o6 A Letter of Advice &c, Eev. j. Eobinson
matter of praising his name, all the days of your, and
our, lives.
Fare you well in him ! in whom you trust, and in
whom I rest
An unfeigned well-wilier
of your happy success
in this hopeful voyage,
I. R [John Robinson.]
A
Relation, or Journal,
of the Proceedings of the Plantation
settled at "Plymouth in
New England.
EDNESDAY, the sixth of September [1620],
the wind coming East North East, a line
small gale, we loosed from Plymouth ;
having been kindly intertained and
courteously used by divers friends there dwelling : and,
after many difficulties in boisterous storms, at length,
by GOD'S Providence, upon the 9th of November
following, by break of the day, we espied land ; which
we deemed to be Cape Cod, and so afterward it proved.
And the appearance of it much comforted us : especially
seeing so goodly a land, and wooded to the brink of the
sea; it caused us to rejoice together, and praise GOD
that had given us once again to see land.
And thus we made our course south-south-west,
purposing to go to a river ten leagues to the south of
the Cape : but, at night, the wind being contrary, we
put round again for the Bay of Cape Cod. And upon
the 11th of November, we came to an anchor in the
Bay : which is a good harbour and [a] pleasant Bay ;
circled round, except in the entrance, which is about
four miles over from land to land ; compassed
about [encircled] to the very sea, with oaks, pines,
juniper sassafras, and other sweet wood[s]. It is a
407
4o8 New England in America.
harbour wherein a thousand Sail of ships may safely
ride.
There we relieved ourselves with wood and water,
and refreshed our people ; while our shallop was fitted
to coast \sail along the shore of] the Bay, to search for a
[place of] habitation.
There was [there] the greatest store of fowl that
ever we saw. And, every day, we saw whales playing
hard by us. Of which, in that place, if we had [had]
instruments and means to take them ; we might have
made a very rich return : which [instruments], to our
great grief, we wanted. Our Master and his Mate, and
others experienced in fishing, professed we might have
made £3,000 or £4,000 worth of oil. They preferred it
before Greenland whale-fishing ; and purpose, the next
winter [1621 — 1622], to fish for whale here.
For cod, we assayed ; but found none. There is good
store, no doubt, in their season.
Neither got we any fish all the time we lay there ;
but some few little ones on the shore. We found great
mussels, and very fat and full of sea pearl[s] : but we
could not eat them ; for they made us all sick that did
eat, as well sailors as passengers. They caused to cast
[yorrhit] and scour [purge]. But they were soon well
again.
The Bay [i.e. Provincetown harbour] is so round and
circling that, before we could come to anchor, we went
round all the points of the compass. We could not
come near the shore, by three-quarters of an English
mile ; because of shallow water : which was a great
prejudice to us. For our people, going on shore, were
forced to wade a bow-shot or two, in going aland ;
which caused many to get colds and coughs : for it was,
many times, freezing cold weather.
New England in America. 409
This day, before we came to harbour, observing
some not well affected to unity and concord ; but gave
some appearance of faction : it was thought good there
should be an Association and Agreement that we should
combine together in one body ; and to submit to such
Government and Governors as we should, by common
consent, agree to make and choose : and [we] set our
hands to this that follows, word for word.
N the name of GOD, Amen. We, whose names
are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our
dread Sovereign Lord King James; by the
grace of GOB, of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland King ; Defender of the Faith ; &c.
Having undertaken for the glory of GOD, and
advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our
King and country, a Voyage [Expedition] to plant the
first Colony in the northern 'parts of Virginia ; {we'\ do,
by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence
of GOD and one of another, covenant and combine
ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our
better ordering and preservation ; and furtherance of
the ends aforesaid : and, hy virtue hereof, to enact,
constitute, and frame such just and equal laws,
ordinances, acts, constitutions, Offices, from time to
time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for
the general good of the Colony ; unto which, we promise
all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof, we have hereunder subscribed our
names* Cape Cod, 11th of November, in the year of the
* This Compact was signed by forty-one, out of the sixty-five adult
male passengers then on board the Mayflower. See the names of those
who signed, and of those who did not, at pp. 378-380. — K. A.
4IO New Englandin America.
reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England
France and Ireland 18; and of Scotland 54. Anno
Domini 1620.
The same day, so soon as we could, we set ashore
fifteen or sixteen men, well armed ; with some to fetch
wood, for we had none left : as also to see what the
land was ; and what inhabitants they could meet with.
They found it to be a small neck of land. On this
side, where we lay, is the Bay ; and [on] the further side,
the sea. The ground or earth [consists of] sandhills, much
like the downs [dunes] of Holland : but much better.
The crust of the earth, [at] a spit's depth [i.e. below the
sand], excellent black earth : all wooded with oaks,
pines, sassafras, juniper, birch, holly, vines, some ash,
walnut. The wood for the most part open, and without
underwood ; fit either to go, or ride, in.
At night, our people returned ; but found not any
person, nor habitation: and laded their boat with
juniper, which smelled very sweet and strong ; and of
which we burnt, the most part of the time we lay there.
Monday, the 13th of November, we unshipped our
shallop, and drew her on land, to mend and repair her :
having been forced to cut her down, in bestowing
[stowing] her betwixt the decks ; and she was much
opened, with the people's lying in her. Which kept us
long there : for it was sixteen or seventeen days before
the Carpenter had finished her.
Our people went on shore to refresh themselves ;
and our women to wash [i.e. to wash clothes in fresh
water], as they had great need.
[the first discovery.]
But whilst we lay thus still, hoping our shallop
New England in America. 411
»
would be ready in five or six days, at the furthest ; but
our Carpenter made slow work of it, so that some of
our people, impatient of delay, desired, for our better
furtherance, to travel by land into the country (which
was not without appearance of danger ; not having the
shallop with them, nor means to carry provision[s] but
on their backs), to see. Whether it might be fit for us to
seat \setile\ in or no. And the rather, because as we
sailed into the harbour, there seemed to be a river
opening itself into the main land.
The willingness of the persons was liked : but the
thing itself, in regard of the danger, was rather
permitted than approved.
And so, with cautions directions and instructions,
sixteen men were set out, with every man his musket,
sword, and corslet, under the conduct of Captain Miles
Standish: unto whom, were adjoined for council and
advice, William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins, and
Edward Tilley.
Wednesday, the I5th of November [1620], they were
set ashore ; and when they had ordered themselves in
the order of a Single File, and [had] marched about the
space of a mile, by the sea they espied five or six people
with a dog coming towards them ; who were savages :
who, when they saw them, ran into the wood ; and
whistled the dog after them, &c. First, they supposed
them to be Master Jones, the Master, and some of his
men ; for they were ashore, and knew' of their coming :
but after they knew them to be Indians, they marched
after them, into the woods ; lest other of the Indians
should lie in ambush.
But when the Indians saw our men following them,
they ran away with might and main : and our men
turned out of the wood after them, for it was the way
412 New England in America.
they intended to go ; but they could not come near
them. They followed them that night about ten miles,
by the trace [track] of their footings ; and saw how they
had come the same way they went : and, at a turning,
perceived how they [had] run up a hill, to see whether
they followed them.
At length, night came upon them ; and they were
constrained to take up their lodging. So they set forth
three sentinels ; and the rest, some kindled a fire, and
others fetched wood : and there [we] held our randevous
[ = rendezvous = encaonprnent] that night.
In the morning [, of Thursday, the 16th November],
so soon as we could see the trace, we proceeded on our
journey ; and had the track until we had compassed
the head of a long creek [East Harbour Greek'] : and
there they took into another wood, and we after them ;
supposing to find some of their dwellings. But we
marched through boughs and bushes, and under hills
and valleys, which tore our very armour in pieces : and
yet could meet with none of them, nor their houses ;
nor find any fresh water, which we greatly desired,
and stood in need of. For we brought neither beer,
nor water with us ; and our victuals were only biscuit
and Holland cheese, and a little bottle of Aqua vitce
[brandy] : so as we were sore athirst.
About ten a clock, we came into a deep valley
[East Harbour, in Truro], full of brush, wood-gaile
[bay-berry], and long grass; through which we found
little paths or tracts : and there we saw a deer
and found springs of fresh water ; of which we were
heartily glad, and sat us down and drank our first New
England water with as much delight as ever we drank
drink in all our lives.
When we had refresh ourselves, we directed our
New England in America, 413
>
course full south, that we might come to the shore [of
the Bay]: which, within a short while after, we did;
and there made a fire that they in the ship might see
where we were, as we had direction ; and so marched on
towards this supposed river.
And, as we went into another valley, we found a
fine clear pond of fresh water [called Fresh Water Pond
at page 415. Now Pond Village, in Truro'] being about
a musket-shot broad, and twice as long. There grew
also many small vines: and [wild] fowl and deer
haunted there. There grew much sassafras [there].
From thence, we went on, and found much plain
ground, about fifty acres, fit for the plow ; and some
signs where the Indians had formerly planted their corn.
After this, some thought it best, for nearness of the
river, to go down and travel on the sea-sands : by
which means some of our men were tired, and lagged
behind.
So we stayed, and gathered them up ; and struck
into the land again : where we found a little path to
certain heaps of sands [now the village of Great Hollow].
One whereof was covered with old mats, and had a
wooden thing, like a mortar, whelmed [arched over]
on the top of it; and an earthen pot laid in a little
hole at the end thereof. We, musing what it might
be, digged, and found a bow : and, as we thought,
arrows ; but they were rotten. We supposed that
there were many other things : but, because we deemed
them graves, we put in the bow again, and made it
up as it was, and left the rest untouched ; because we
thought it would be odious unto them to ransack their
sepulchres.
We went on further, and found new stubble, of
which they had gotten corn this year ; and many
414 New England in America.
walnut \jnjockernvbi hickory] trees, full of nuts ; and great
store of strawberries [strawberry vines] ; and some vines
[grape vines].
Passing thus a field or two, which were not great;
we came to another, which had also been newly gotten
[in] : and there we found where a house had been, and
four or five old planks laid together [They called this
place Cornhill, see page 419. It is now called Hop^hins's
Cliff. This hill is between Great Hollow, and Hopkins's
Creek or the Pamet Little River]. Also we found a
great kettle ; which had been some ship's kettle, and
[had been] brought out of Europe.
There was also a heap of sand, made like the former ;
but it was newly done. We might see how they had
paddle [smoothed, or struck] it with their hands. Which
we digged up : and in it we found a little old basket full
of fair Indian corn [rnaize]. And [we] digged further,
and found a fine great new basket, full of very fair
corn of this year ; [together] with some 36 goodly ears of
corn, some yellow, and some red, and others mixed with
blue ; which was a very goodly sight. The basket was
round, and narrow at the top. It held about three or
four bushels; which was as much as two of us could
lift up from the ground, and was very handsomely and
cunningly made. But whilst we were busy about these
things, we set our men [as] sentinel[s] in a round ring ;
all but two or three, which digged up the corn.
We were in suspense what to do with it, and the
kettle: and, at length, after much consultation, we
concluded to take the kettle and as much of the corn as
we could carry, away with us. And when our shallop
came, if we could find any of the people, and come to
parley with them ; we would give them the kettle again,
and satisfy them for their corn.
New England in America. 415
So we took all the [36] ears ; and put a good deal of
the loose corn in the kettle, for two men to bring away
on a staff. Besides, they that could put any into their
pockets, filled the same. The rest, we buried again : for
we were so laden with armour, that we could carry no
more.
Not far from this place, we found the remainder of
an old fort or palizado; which, as we conceived, had
been made by some Christians.
This was also hard by that place which we thought
had been a river; unto which we went, and found it so
to be ; dividing itself into two arms by a high bank
\^iow called Old Tom's Hill, in Indian Neclc] standing
right by the cut, or mouth, which came from the sea.
That which was next unto us was the less [Hopkins's
Creek, or North Branch, or Pamet Little River]; the
other arm was more than twice as big, and not
unlike[ly] to be a harbour for ships [Pamet River, or
Pamet Creek, or Pamet Harhoii/r]. But whether it be
a fresh river, or only an indraught of the sea, we had
no time to discover : for we had commandment to be
out but two days. Here also we saw two canoas
[canoes] : the one on the one side [of the river] ; and the
other, on the other side. We could not bejieve it was
a canoa till we came near it.
So we returned, leaving the further discovery hereof
to our shallop ; and came that night back to the Fresh
Water Pond ; and there we made our randevous that
night, making a great fire, and a barricado [barricade.
An improvised screen of logs, stakes, and houghs] to
windward of us ; and kept good watch, with three
sentinels, all night, every one standing when his turn
came ; while five or six inches of Match [slow-burning
match-cord] were burning. It proved a very rainy night.
41 6 New England in America
In the morning [of Friday, the 17th November], we
took our kettle ; and sunk it in the Pond ; and trimmed
our muskets, for few of them would go off because of
the wet: and so coasted {skiriedbl the wood again to
come home, in which we were shrewdly puzzled, and
lost our way.
As we wandered, we came to a tree where a young
sprit [s'prout or shoot of wood] was bowed down over a
bow, and some acorns strewed underneath. Stephen
Hopkins said, It had been to catch some deer. So as
we* were looking at it, William Bradford being in
the rear, when he came, looked also upon it : and as he
went about, it gave a sudden jerk up ; and he was
immediately caught by the leg. It was a very pretty
device, made with a rope of their own making; and
having a noose as artificially \cnnningly\ made as any
roper \TO'pe-r\xaheT'\ in England can make, and as like
ours as can be : which we brought away with us.
In the end, we got out of the wood ; and were fallen
about a mile too high above the creek. Where we saw
three bucks ; but we had rather have had one of them.
We also did spring three couple of partridges : and, as
we came along by the creek, we saw great flocks of
wild geese and ducks ; but they were very fearful
of us.
So we marched some while in the woods, some while
on the sands, and other while in the water up to the
knees, till, at length, we came near the ship ; and then
we shot off our pieces, and the long boat came to fetch
us. Master Jones and Master Carver, being on the
shore, with many of our people, came to meet us.
* Clearly this narrative of the First Discovery was not written by
Governor Bradford ; but probably by Governor Winslow. — E. A.
New England in America, 4 1 7
And thus we came, both weary and welcome, home ;
and delivered in our corn into the store, to be kept for
seed ; for we knew not how to come by any, and
therefore [we] were very glad ; purposing so soon as we
could meet with any of the inhabitants of that place,
to make them large satisfaction.
This was our First Discovery.
Whilst our shallop was in repairing; our people
did make things as fitting as they could, and time
would, in seeking out wood, and helving of tools, and
sawing of timber, to build a new shallop: but the
discommodiousness of the harbour did much hinder us.
For we could neither go to, nor come from, the shore
but at high water ; which was much to our hindrance and
hurt. For oftentimes they waded to the middle of the
thigh, and oft to the knees, to go [to], and come from,
land. Some did it necessarily, and some for their own
pleasure: but it brought to the most, if not to all,
coughs and colds (the weather proving suddenly cold
and stormy), which afterward turned to the scurvy ;
whereof many died.
[the second discovery.]
When our shallop was fit (indeed before she was
fully fitted ; for there was two days' work after bestowed
on her) ; there was appointed some twenty-four men of
our own, and armed, then to go and make a more full
discovery of the rivers before mentioned. Master
Jones was desirous to go with us ; and took such of his
sailors as he thought useful for us : so as we were in all
about thirty-four men.
We made Master Jones our leader : for we thought
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 d
41 8 New England in America.
it best herein, to gratify [acknowledge] his kindness and
forwardness.
When we were set forth [on ? Mondaj^, the 27th
November], it proved rough weather and cross winds ;
so as we were constrained, some in the shallop, and
others in the long boat, to row to the nearest shore the
wind would suffer them to go unto, and then to wade
out [of the sea] above the knees.
The wind was so strong as the shallop could not
keep the water ; but was forced to harbour there that
night : but we"^ marched six or seven miles further ; and
appointed the shallop to come to us as soon as they could.
It blowed and did snow all that day and night ; and
froze withal. Some of our people that are dead, took
the original of their death here.
The next day [, ? Tuesday, the 28th November], about
eleven a clock, our shallop came to us, and we shipped
ourselves ; and the wind beiug good, we sailed to the
river we formerly discovered, which we named Cold
Harbour \tlie Paniet river] : to which when we came, we
found it not navigable for ships; yet we thought it
might be a good harbour for boats, for it flows there
twelve feet at high water.
We landed our men between the two creeks [i.e.
at Old Tom's Hill, in Indian Neck], and marched some
four or five miles by the greater of them [the Pa'inet
river] ; and the shallop followed us.
At length, night grew on ; and our men were tired
with marching up and down the steep hills and deep
valleys, which laj^ half a foot thick with snow. Master
Jones, wearied with marching, was desirous we should
* The long boat was evidently merely used to take ashore the part}'
that was to go by land. — E. A.
New England in A^nerica, 419
take up our lodging; though some of us would have
marched further. So we made there our randevous for
that night, under a few pine trees : and, as it fell out,
we got three fat geese and six ducks to our supper ;
which we eat with soldiers' stomacks, for we had eaten
little all that day. Our resolution was, next morning to
go up to the head of this river : for we supposed it would
prove fresh water.
But in the morning [of ? Wednesday, the 29th
November], our resolution held not; because many
liked not the hilliness of the soil and [the] badness of
the harbour. So we turned towards the other creek ;
that we might go over and look for the rest of the corn,
that we left behind when we were here before.
When we came to the creek, we saw the canow
[canoe] lie on the dry ground : and a flock of geese in
the river, at which one made a shot, and killed a couple
of them. And we launched the canow, and fetched
them : and when we had done [that], she carried us
over [the creek], by seven or eight at once.
This done, we marched to the place where we had
the corn formerly, which place we called Cornhill [now
Hopkins's Cliff] : and digged, and found the rest ; of
which we were very glad.
We also digged in a place a little further off; and
found a bottle of oil.
We went to another place which we had seen before ;
and digged, and found more corn : viz. two or three
baskets' full of Indian wheat [maize], and a bag of
beans, with a good many of fair wheat ears [i.e. ears of
maize.]
Whilst some of us were digging up this ; some
others found another heap of [i.e. containing] com :
which they digged up also.
420 New England in America.
So as we had, in all, about ten bushels ; wliich will
serve us sufficiently for seed.
And sure[ly] it was GOD's good Providence that
we found this corn ; for else we know not
- Note.
how we should have done. For we knew
not how we should find, or meet with, any of the
Indians; except it be to do us a mischief. Also we
had never, in all likelihood, seen a grain of it; if we
had not made our first journey: for the ground was
now covered with snow, and so hard frozen that we
were fain, with our curtleaxes \cvbtla88es\ and short
swords, to hew and carve the ground a foot deep ; and
then [to] wrest it up with levers ; for we had forgot to
bring other tools.
Whilst we were in this imployment, foul weather
being towards \a^'proaching\ ; Master Jones was earnest
to go aboard [the Mayflower] : but sundry of us desired
to make further discovery, and to find out the Indians'
habitations. So we sent home, with him, our weakest
jjeople and some that were sick ; and all the corn : and
eighteen of .us stayed still, and lodged there that night;
and desired that the shallop might return to us next
day, and bring us some mattocks and spades with them.
The next morning [ of ? Thursday, the 30th November],
we followed certain beaten paths and tracts of the
Indians into the woods; supposing they would have
led us into some town or houses. After we had gone
a while, we light[ed] upon a very broad beaten path,
well nigh two feet broad. Then we lighted all our
Matches [cord burning slowly, and carried aliglity in
order to fire off the matchlocks], and prepared ourselves ;
concluding we were near their dwellings : but, in the
end, we found it to be only a path made to drive deer
in, when the Indians hunt, as we supposed.
New England in America. 421
When we had marched five or six miles into the
woods, and could find no signs of any people ; we
returned again another way. And as we came into the
plain ground, we found a place like a grave : but it was
much bigger and longer than any we had yet seen. It
was also covered with boards : so as we mused what it
should be, and resolved to dig it up.
Where we found first a mat, and under that a fair
bow ; and there, another mat ; and under that, a board
about three-quarters [of a yard] long finely carved
and painted, with three tynes \^rongs\ or broaches on
the top like a crown. Also between the mats, we found
bowls, trays, dishes, and such like trinkets. At length,
we came to a fair new mat; and under that, two
bundles; the one bigger, the other less. We opened
the greater [one], and found in it, a great quantity of
fine and perfect red powder ; and in it \t}iai\ the bones
and skull of a man. The scull had fine yellow hair
still on it ; and some of the flesh unconsumed. There
were bound up with it, a knife, a pack-needle {^packing
needle], and two or three old iron things. It was bound
up in a sailor's canvass cassock [blouse], and a pair
of cloth breeches. The red powder was a kind of
erabalment; and yielded a strong, but no offensive,
smell. It was as fine as any flour.
We opened the less bundle likewise; and found
of the same powder in it, and the bones and head of
a little child. About the legs and other parts of it
were bound strings and bracelets of fine white beads
[wainpu7}i]. There was also by it a little bow, about
three-quarters [of a yard] long; and some other
odd knacks.
We brought sundry of the prettiest things away
with us ; and covered up the corpse[s] again.
422 New England in America.
After this, we digged in sundry like places; but
found no more corn, nor any things else but graves.
There was variety of opinions amongst us about
the embalmed person. Some thought, It was an Indian
lord and king. Others said, The Indians have all black
hair; and never any [one] was seen with brown, or
yellow, hair. Some thought, It was a Christian of special
note, which had died amongst them ; and they thus
buried him, to honour him. Others thought, They had
killed him ; and did it in triumph over him.
Whilst we were thus ranging and searching, two
of the sailors, which were newly come on the shore
[from the shallop], by chance, espied two houses : which
had been lately dwelt in; but the people were gone.
They, having their pieces [viatchlocks, or muskets] and
hearing nobody, entered the houses; and took out
some things, and durst not stay: but came again and
told us. So some seven or eight of us went with them ;
and found how we had gone within a flight shot [the
flight of an arrow fromi the long how] of them
before.
The houses [wigwams'] were made with long young
sapling trees, bended and both ends stuck in the ground.
They were made round like an arbour, and covered
down to the ground with thick and well wrought mats ;
and the door was not over a yard high, made of a mat
to open. The chimney was a wide open hole in the top ;
for which they had a mat, to cover it close when they
pleased. One might stand and go upright in them. In
the midst of them were four little trunches [stakes^ or
small posts] knocked into the ground ; and small sticks
laid over, on which they hung their pots and what they
had to seethe. Round about the fire, they lay on mats ;
which are their beds. The houses were double matted :
New England in America, 423
for as they were matted without ; so were they within,
with newer and fairer mats.
In the houses, we found wooden bowls, trays, and
dishes ; earthen pots ; hand baskets made of crab shells
wrought together: also an English pail or bucket; it
wanted a bail [handle], but it had two iron ears. There
were also baskets of sundry sorts (bigger and some
lesser ; finer and some coarser. Some were curiously
wrought with black and white, in pretty works
[patterns]) ; and sundry other of their household stufi".
We found also two or three deer's heads : one
whereof had been newly killed, for it was still
fresh. There was also a company [number] of deer's
feet stuck up in the houses. Harts' horns, and eagles'
claws, and sundry like things, there were. Also two
or three baskets full of parched acorns, pieces of fish,
and a piece of a broiled herring. We found also a little
silk grass, and a little tobacco seed; with some other
seeds which we knew not.
Without, were sundry bundles of flags, and sedge
bulrushes, and other stufi*, to make mats. There was
thrust into a hollow tree, two or three pieces of venison ;
but we thought it fitter [, being tainted,] for the dogs
than for us.
ISome of the best things, we took away with us ; and
left the houses standing still as they were.
So, it growing towards night, and the tide almost
spent [ebbed away], we hasted, with our things,
down to the shallop; and got aboard [the Mayfloiver]
that night : intending to have brought some beads
and other things, to have left in the houses; in
sign of peace, and that we meant to truck with
them. But it was not done, by means of our hasty
coming away from Cape Cod : but, so soon as we
424 New England in America.
can meet conveniently with them, we will give them
full satisfaction.
. Thus much of our Second Discovery.
Having thus discovered this place, it was controversial
amongst us, What to do touching our abode and settling
there.
Some thought it best, for many reasons, to abide
there.
As first. That there was a convenient harbour for
boats ; though not for ships.
Secondly. Good corn-ground ready to our hands, as
we saw by experience in the goodly corn it yielded :
which would again agree with the ground, and be
natural seed for the same.
Thirdly. Cape Cod was like[ly] to be a place of
good fishing: for we saw daily great whales, of the
best kind for oil and bone, come close aboard our ship ;
and, in fair weather, swim and play about us. There
was once one, when the sun shone warm, came and lay
above water, as if she had been dead, for a good
while together, within half a musket shot of the ship.
At which, two were prepared to shoot, to see whether
she would stir or no. He that gave fire first, his musket
flew in pieces, both stock and barrel : yet, thanks be
to GOD, neither he, nor any man else, was hurt with it,
though many were there about. But when the whale
saw her time, she gave a snufF, and away !
Fourthly. The place was likely to be healthful,
secure, and defensible.
But the last and especial reason was. That now the
heart of winter and unseasonable weather was come
upon us: so that we could not go upon coasting
\^wrve^ying\ and discovery without danger of losing jnen
New England m America, 425
and boat ; upon which would follow the overthrow of
all, especially considering what variable winds and
sudden storms do there arise. Also cold and wet lodging
had so tainted our people (for scarce any of us was free
from vehement coughs) as if they should continue long
in that estate, it would indanger the lives of many, and
breed diseases and infection amongst us. Again, we had
yet some beer, butter, flesh, and other such victuals ;
which would quickly be all gone : and then we should
have nothing to comfort us in the great labour and toil
we were like[ly] to undergo at the first. It was also
conceived, whilst we had competent victuals, that the
ship would stay with us : but when that grew low, they
would be gone ; and let us shift as we could.
Others again urged greatly the going to Anguum or
Angoum [Agawam, now Ipswich], a place twenty leagues
off to the northwards ; which they had heard to be an
excellent harbour for ships, [with] better ground and
better fishing.
Secondly. For anything we knew, there might be,
hard by us, a far better seat ; and it should be a great
hindrance to seat [settle] where we should remove
again.
Thirdly. The water was but in ponds ; and it was
thought there would be none in summer, or very
little.
Fourthly. The water there must be fetched up a
steep hill [i.e. at Gornhill ; now Hopkin's Cliff].
But to omit many Reasons and Replies used
hereabouts ; it was, in the end, concluded, To make some
discovery within the Bay; but in no case so far as
Angoum.
Besides, Robert Coppin, our Pilot, made relation of
a great navigable river and good harbour in the other
426 New England in Ame^nca.
headland of the Bay [Manomet Bluff, or Head; lying
directly south of the entrance to Plymouth harbour],
almost right over against Cape Cod, being, [in] a right
line, not much above eight leagues [ = 24 miles]
distant ; in which he had been once : and because that
one of the wild men, with whom they had some
trucking, stole a harping iron [harpoon] from them,
they called it Thievish Harbour [Plymouth harbour].
And beyond that place, they were enjoined not to go.
Whereupon a Company was chosen to go out upon
a Third Discovery.
Whilst some were im ployed in this Discovery, it
pleased GOD that Mistress White was brought to bed
of a son ; which was called Peregrine.
[Tuesday,] the 5th day [of December], we, through
GOD's mercy, escaped a great danger by the foolishness
of a boy; one of Francis Billington's sons [or rather,
Francis, the son of John Billington senior ; see page
372] : who, in his father's absence, had got gunpowder,
and had shot off a piece [musket] or two ; and made
squibs. And there being a fowling piece charged, in
his father's cabin, shot her off in the cabin ; there being
a little barrel of powder half full, scattered in and about
the cabin ; the fire [discharge] being within four feet of
the bed [bunk] between the decks ; and many flints and
iron things about the cabin ; and many people about
the fire — and yet, by GOD's mercj^, no harm done.
[the third discovery.]
Wednesday, the 6th of December [1620], it was
resolved our Discoverers should set forth : for the day
before was [of] too foul weather. And so they did ;
New England in A^nerica, 427
though it was well over the day ere all things could be
ready.
So ten of our men were appointed, who were of
themselves willing to undertake it, to wit, Captain
Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward
WiNSLow, John Tilley, Edward Tilley, John
Rowland; and three of London, Richard Warren,
Stephen Hopkins and Edward Dotey; and two of
ovbT seamen, John Alderton \or rather Allerton]
and Thomas English [see page 377]. Of the ship's
company, there went two of the Master's Mates, Master
[John, see page 254] Clarke and Master [Robert]
CoppiN, the Master Gunner, and three sailors.
The Narration of which Discovery follows, penned
by one of the company [i.e. William Bradford, see
page 432].
Wednesday, the 6th of December [1620], we set
out : [it] being very cold and hard weather.
We were a long while, after we launched from the
ship, before we could get clear of a sandy point [Long
Point\ which lay within less than a furlong of the
same. In which time, two were very sick ; and Edward
Tilley had like to have sounded [siooonedl with cold.
The Gunner was also sick unto death ; but hope of
trucking [barter'] made him go : and so [he] remained all
that day, and the next night.
At length, we got clear of the sandy point, and got
up our sails ; and, within an hour or two, we got under
the weather shore [i.e. the shore of Gape Cod; from
which the north-east wind then blew], and then had
smoother water and better sailing: but it was verj^
cold ; for the water froze on our clothes, and made
them many times like coats of iron.
428 New England in A^nertca.
We sailed six or seven leagues by the shore ; but
saw neither river nor creek.
At length we met with a tongue of land, being
flat, off from the shore, with a sandy point [Billingsgate
Point]. We bore up to gain the point ; and found there,
a fair in-come or road of a Bay [ Wellfleet Bay], being a
league over at the narrowest, and some two or three
[leagues] in length. But we made right over to the land
before us ; and left the discovery of this in-come till the
next day.
As we drew near to the shore, we espied some ten
or twelve Indians [who were] very busy about a black
thing ; what it was we could not tell; till afterwards
they saw us, and ran to and fro, as if they had been
carrying something away.
We landed a league or two from them, and had much
ado to put ashore anywhere ; it lay so full of flat sands.
When we came to shore, we made us a barricado,
and got firewood, and set out our sentinels ; and betook
us to our lodging, such as it was. We saw the smoke
of the fire which the savages made that night, about
four or five miles from us.
In the morning [of Thursday, the 7th December],
we divided our company. Some eight in the shallop,
and the rest [that is twelve] on the shore, went to
discover this place : but we found it only to be a Bay,
without either river or creek coming into it. Yet we
deemed it to be as good a harbour as Cape Cod. For
they that sounded it, found a ship might ride in five
fathom[s of] water. We, on the land, found it to be a
level soil; but none of the fruitfulest. We saw two
becks of fresh water ; which were the first running
streams that we saw in the country : but one might
stride over them. We found also a great fish, called a
New England in America. 429
grampus, dead on the sands. They in the shallop found
two of them also, in the bottom of the Bay, dead in like
sort. They were cast up at high water ; and could not
get off for the frost and ice. They were some %x^ or
six paces [12^ to 15 feef] long, and about two inches thick
of fat, and fleshed like a swine. They would have yielded
a great deal of oil ; if there had been time and means
to have taken it.
So we finding nothing for our turn ; both we and
the shallop returned.
We then directed our course along the sea sands, to
the place where we first saw the Indians. When we
were there, we saw it was also a grampus which they
were cutting up. They cut it into long rands \siri'ps\ or
pieces, about an ell {^forty-five inches] long and two
hands full [ = eight inches] broad. We found here and
there a piece scattered by the way, as it seemed for haste.
This place, the most were minded we should call
the Grampus Bay ; because we found so many of them
there.
We followed the tract of the Indians' bare feet a
good way on the sands. At length, we saw where they
struck into the woods, by the side of a pond [the Great
Pond, in Ecostham].
As we went to view the place, one said, He thought
he saw an Indian house [wigwam] among the trees. So
[we] went up to see ; and here we and the shallop lost
sight of one another till night : it being now about nine,
or ten, a clock.
So we light[ed] on a path, but saw no house; and
followed a great way into the woods.
At length, we found where corn had been set ; but
not that year.
430 New EiiglandinAmeiHca.
Anon we found a great burying place, one part
whereof was incompassed with a large palazado
[paiisac^e], like a churchyard, with young spires \shoots
or saplings], four or five yards long, set as close one by
another as they could, two or three feet in the ground
Within, it was full of graves: some bigger and some
less, some were also paled about ; and others had like
an Indian house [wigwaTn] made over them, but not
matted. Those graves were more sumptuous than those
at Cornhill. Yet we digged none of them up : but only
viewed them, and went our way.
Without the palazado were graves also ; but not so
costly.
From this place we went, and found more corn
ground ; but not of this year.
As we ranged, we light[ed] on four or five Indian
houses, which had been lately dwelt in : but they were
uncovered, and had no mats about them ; else they were
like those we found at Cornhill ; but had not been so
lately dwelt in. There was nothing left but two or
three pieces of old mats, [and] a little sedge.
Also a little further, we found two baskets full of
parched acorns hid in the ground ; which we supposed
had been corn, when we began to dig the same. We
cast earth thereon again, and went our way.
All this while, we saw no people. We went ranging
up and down till the sun began to draw low : and then
we hasted out of the woods, that we might come to our
shallop; which, when we were out of the woods, we
espied a great way ofi".
And [we] called them to come unto us ; the which
they did as soon as they could, for it was not yet high
water.
New England in America. 431
They were exceeding glad to see us : for they feared,
because they had not seen us in so long a time ;
thinking we would have kept by the shore side.
So, being both weary and faint, for we had eaten
nothing all that day : we fell to make our randevous ;
and [to] get firewood, which [did] always cost us a great
deal of labour.
By that time we had done, and our shallop [had]
come to us, it was within night : and we fed upon such
victuals as we had ; and betook us to our rest, after we
had set our watch.
About midnight, we hear a great and hideous cry ;
and our sentinels called, " Arm ! , Arm ! " So we
bestirred ourselves, and shot off a couple of muskets ;
and [the] noise ceased. We concluded that it was a
company of wolves, or foxes. For one told us, He
had heard such a noise in Newfoundland.
About five a clock in the morning [of Friday, the
8th December], we began to be stirring: and two or
three, which doubted whether their pieces \yYhuskets\
would go off or no, made trial of them ; and shot them
off, but thought nothing at all [of it].
After prayer, we prepared ourselves for breakfast,
and for a journey : and it being now the twilight in the
morning, it was thought meet to carry the things down
to the shallop. Some said. It was not best to carry the
armour down. Others said, They would [then] be
readier \i.e. to starf]. Two or three said. They would
not carry theirs, till they went themselves : but
mistrusting nothing at all.
As it fell out, the water not being high enough, they
laid the things [i.e. their arms] down on the shore ■ and
came up to breakfast.
Anon, all upon a sudden, we heard a great and
432 New England in America.
strange cry ; which we knew to be the same voices
[Governor Bradford adds, they heard in the night
{Bradford MS., folio 121) : therefore he is the Writer of
this Narrative], though they varied their notes. One
of our company, being abroad [at a distance], came
running in, and cried, " They are men ! , Indians ! ,
Indians!": and withal their arrows came flying
amongst us.
Our men ran out, with all speed, to recover their
arms ; as, by the good Providence of GOD, they did.
In the mean time, Captain Miles Standish, having
a snaphance [a hand-gun fired with flint ^^ ^^^^ ^^j^_
and steel] ready, made a shot; and after tat with the
him, another. After they two had shot,
other two of us [one of whom was evidently Bradford]
were ready : but he wished us not to shoot till we could
take aim, for we knew not what need we should have.
And there were four only of us which had their arms
there ready ; and [we] stood before the open side of our
barricado, which was first assaulted.
They thought it best to defend it ; lest the enemy
should take it and our stuff, and so have the more
vantage against us.
Our care was no less for the shallop ; but we hoped
all the rest [i.e. the 16 others] would defend it. We called
unto them, to know how it was with them. And they
answered " Well !, Well !," every one ; and " Be of good
courage!" We heard three of their pieces go off: and
the rest called for a firebrand to light their Matches
[match-cord]. One took a log, out of the fire [i.e. at the
barricade], on his shoulder; and went and carried it
unto them : which was thought did not a little discourage
our enemies.
The cry of our enemies was dreadful ; especially
New England in America. 433
when our men ran out to recover their arms. Their
note was after this manner, " Woath ! Woach ! Ha ! Ha !
Hach ! AVoach ! "
Our men were no sooner come to their arms; but
the enemy were ready to assault them. There was a
lusty man, and no whit less valiant, who was thought
to be their Captain. [He] stood behind a tree, within
half a musket shot of us ; and there let his arrows fly
at us. He was seen to shoot three arrows ; which were
all avoided. For he at whom the first arrow was
aimed, saw it, and stooped down ; and it flew over him.
The rest were avoided also. He stood three shots of a
musket. At length, one took, as he said, full aim at
him. After which, he give an extraordinary cry : and
away they went all !
We followed them about a quarter of a mile : but we
left six to keep our shallop ; for we were careful of our
business. Then we shouted all together, two several
times ; and shot oS" a couple of muskets ; and so
returned. This we did that they might see we were not
afraid of them ; nor discouraged. Thus it pleased GOD
to vanquish our enemies ; and give us deliverance.
By their noise, we could not guess that they were
less than thirty or forty; though some thought that
they were many more. Yet in the dark of the morning,
we could not so well discern them among the trees ; as
they could see us, by our fire side.
We took up eighteen of their arrows ; which we
have sent to England by Master Jones [of the
Mayflower] : some whereof were headed with brass ;
others, with hart's horn ; and others, with eagles' claws.
Many more, no doubt, were shot : for these we found,
were almost covered with leaves. Yet, by the especial
Providence of GOD, none of them either hit, or hurt, us ;
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 12
434 New England in America,
though many came close by us, and on every side of us
and some coats, which hung up in our barricado, were
shot through and through.
So, after we had given GOD thanks for our
deliverance ; we took our shallop, and went on our
journey : and called this place. The First Encounter.
\Ii took jAace right in the oniddle of Nauset
(Eastham); "for howsoever, through snow or otherwise,
we saw no houses (wigwams) ; yet we were in the midst
of them," page 4!^ 6].
From hence, we intended to have sailed to the
aforesaid Thievish Harbour [Plymouth harbour] ; if we
found no convenient harbour by the way.
Having the wind good, we sailed all that day along
the coast, about fifteen leagues : but saw neither river,
nor creek, to put into. After we had sailed an hour or
two, it began to snow and rain, and to be bad weather.
About the midst of the afternoon, the wind increased ;
and the seas began to be very rough : and the hinges of
the rudder broke, so that we could steer no longer with
it ; but two men, with much ado, were fain to serve with
a couple of oars. The seas were grown so great, that we
were much troubled ; and in great danger : and night
grew on.
Anon, Master Coppin bade us, Be of good cheer ! he
saw the harbour. As we drew near, the gale being stiff,
and we bearing great sail to get in, [the wind] split our
mast in three pieces; and was like[ly] to have cast
away onr shallop : yet, by GOD's mercy, recovering
ourselves, we had the flood [tide] with us, and struck
into the harbour.
Now he that thought that had been the place, was
/;n /%
r 'T |li
■- 0
1
I'LVMOl' 1 11 WW, MASSACUUblU lb.
New England in America 435
deceived ; it being a place where not any of us had
been before : and coming into the harbour, he, that was
our Pi^ot \i.e. Robert Goppin\ did bear up northward ;
which if we had continued, we had been cast away.
Yet still the Lord kept us, and we bare up for an
island [Clark's Island] before us : and recovering that
island, being compassed about with many rocks and dark
night growing upon us, it pleased the divine Providence
that we fell upon a place of sandy ground ; where our
shallop did ride safe and secure all that night.
And coming upon a strange island ; [we] kept our
watch all night, in the rain, upon that island : and, in
the morning, we marched about it, and found no
inhabitants at all. And here we made our randevous
all that day : [it] being Saturday [,the 9th December].
10th of December. On the Sabbath Day, we rested.
And on Monday [, 11th December 1620, Forefathers'
Day,] we sounded the harbour; and found it a very
good harbour for our shipping. We march also into the
land ; and found divers cornfields and little running
brooks. A place very good for situation.
So we returned [? on Tuesday, 12th December] to
our ship again, with good news to the rest of our
people ; which did much comfort their hearts.
On the 15th day [of December 1620], we [i.e. the
Mayflower] weighed anchor, to go to the place we had
discovered ; and coming within two leagues of the land,
we could not fetch the harbour ; but were fain to put
room \hear off to sea] again, towards Cape Cod; our
course lying West, and the wind was at north-west.
43^ Neiv England in America.
But it pleased GOD that, the next day, being
Saturday the 16th, the wind came fair ; and we put to
sea again [or rather, towards the land]y and came safely
into a safe harbour. And, within half an hour, the
wind changed : so as if we had been letted [hindered]
but a little, we had gone back to Cape Cod.
This harbour is a bay greater than [that of] Cape Cod,
compassed with a goodly land: and in the bay, two
fine islands [Clark's Island and Saquish peninsula]
uninhabited ; wherein is nothing but wood, oaks, pines,
walnut, beech, sassafras, vines, and other trees which
we know not.
This bay is a most hopeful place. [It has an]
innumerable store of [wild] fowl ; and excellent[ly] good :
and [it] cannot but be [full] of fish in their seasons.
Skate, cod, turbot [flounder], and herring [alewives] we
have tasted of. Abundance of mussels, the greatest and
best that we ever saw. Crabs and lobsters, in their
time, infinite.
It [the harbour] is in fashion like a sickle, or
fishhook.
Monday, the 13th day, we [i.e. the shallop] went
aland, manned with the Master of the ship, and three or
four of the sailors.
We marched along the coast [westwards, towards
Kingston], in the woods, some seven or eight miles ; but
saw not an Indian, nor an Indian house [wigwam] : only
we found where formerly had been some inhabitants ;
and where they had planted their corn. We found not
any navigable river: but four or five small running brooks
of very sweet fresh water, that all ran into the sea.
The land, for the crust of the earth, is [at] a spit's
depth, excellent black mould ; and fat in some places.
Two or three great oaks, but not very thick. Pines,
New England in America, - 437
walnut, beech, ash, birch, hazle, holly, asp \as^en\
sassafras, in abundance: and Vines, everywhere.
Cherry-trees, plum-trees, and many others which we
knew not. Many kinds of herbs, we found here in
winter ; as strawberry leaves innumerable, sorrel, yarrow,
carvell \chervil\y brook-lime, liverwort, watercresses,
great store of leeks and onions ; and an excellent strong
kind of flax and hemp. Here are sand [and] gravel ; and
excellent clay, no better in the world, excellent for pots,
and will wash like soap : and great store of stone,
though somewhat soft; and the best water that ever
we drank; and the brooks now begin to be full of fish.
That night, many being weary with marching, we
went aboard again.
The next morning, being Tuesday, the 19th of
December, we went again to discover further. Some
went on land, and some in the shallop. The land we
found, as the former day we did. And we found
a creek \Jones's river], and went up three English
miles. A very pleasant river. At full sea, a bark
of thirty tons may go up; but at low water, scarce
our shallop could pass.
This place [now the village of Kingston] we had
a great liking to plant in : but that it was so far from
our fishing, our principal profit ; and so incompassed
with woods, that we should be in much danger of the
savages ; and our number being so little, and so much
ground to clear : so as we thought good to quit and
clear that place, till we were of more strength.
Some of us, having a good mind, for safety to plant
in the greater isle [Clao^k's Island] ; we crossed the bay,
which there is five or six miles over, and found the isle
about a mile and a half, or two miles about [in circuit],
all wooded, and no fresh water but two or three pits [so]
43 S New England in America.
that we doubted [were doubtful] of fresh water in
summer : and so full of wood as we could hardly clear
so much as to serve us for corn. Besides, we judged it
cold for our corn; and some part [of it] very rocky.
Yet divers thought of it as a f place defencible and of
great security. '-.
That night, we return again a-shipboard, with
resolution, the next morning, to settle on some of those
places.
So, in the morning [of Wednesday], after we had
called on GOD for direction, we came to this resolution,
To go presently [at once] ashore again ; and to take a
better view of two places which we thought most
fitting for us. For we could not now take time for
further search or consideration : our victuals beius much
spent, especially our beer ; and it being now the 20th
of December.
After our landing, and viewing of the places so well
as we could ; we came to a conclusion by [the] most
voices [the majority] to se[a]t on the mainland, on the
first place [of the two], on a high ground, where there
is a great deal of land cleared, and [that] hath been
planted with corn three or four years ago ; and [where]
there is a very sw.eet brook [that] runs under the hill
side ; and many delicate springs of as good water as can
be drunk ; and where we may harbour our shallops and
boats exceeding well ; and in this brook, much good
fish in their seasons ; [and] on the further [i.e. the south]
side of the river [the Toivn Brook] also, [there is] much
corn ground cleared.
In one field is a great hill [The Mount, see 'page 533 ;
afterivards called Fort Hill ; and now, Burial Hill.] ;
on which we [ap]point to make a Platform or Fort],
and to plant our ordnance ; which will command all
New England in America. 439
round about. From thence we may see into the Bay,
and far into the sea : . and we may see thence
Cape Cod.
Our greatest labour will be the fetching of our
wood, which is half a quarter of an English mile [ = ct
furlong^ or 220 yards] : but there is enough, so far off.
What people inhabit here, we know not ; for as yet
we have seen none.
So there we made our randevous ; and a place for
some of our people, about twenty : resolving, in the
morning, to come all ashore, and to build houses.
But the next morning, being Thursday the 21st of
December, it was stormy and wet that we could not go
ashore. And those that remained there all night, could
do nothing ; but were wet : not having daylight enough
to make them[selves] a sufficient court of guard [ = guard
house. Here it means, shelter] to keep them dry.
All that night, it blew and rained extremely. It
was so tempestuous that the shallop could not go on land
so soon as was meet : for they had no victuals on land.
About eleven a clock, the shallop went off with much
ado, with provisions : but could not return, it blew so
strong. And [it] was such foul weather that we were
forced to let fall our [ ? sheet] anchor : and ride with
three anchors ahead.
Friday, the 22nd. The storm still continued that we
could not get aland ; nor they come to us aboard.
This morning, goodwife Alderton [Mary Allerton]
was delivered of a son ; but dead born.
Saturday, the 23rd. So many of us as could, went
ashore; [and] felled and carried timber, to provide
ourselves stuff for building.
Sunday, the 24th. Our people on shore heard a cry
of some savages, as they thought ; which cause an alarm,
440 New England in America.
and to stand on their guard, expecting an assault : but
all was quiet.
Monday, the 25th day. We went on shore. Some
to Ml timber, some to saw, some to rive, and some to
carry : so no man rested all that day. But towards
night, some, as they were at work, heard a noise of
some Indians ; which caused us all to go to our
muskets. But we heard no further [of it] : so we came
aboard again, and left some twenty to keep the court of
guard. That night we had a sore storm of wind and
rain.
Monday, the 25th, being Christmas Day, we began
to drink water aboard. But, at night, the Master caused
us to have some beer. And so on board, we had divers
times, now and then, some beer : but on shore none at
all.
Tuesday, the 26th, it was foul weather, that we could
not go ashore.
Wednesday, the 27th. We went to work again.
Thursday, the 28th of December. So many as could,
went to work on the hill \The Mount^'^ where we purposed
to build our Platform \FotV^ for our ordnance ; and
which doth command all the plain and the bay ; and from
whence we may see far into the sea. And [it] might be
[the] easier impaled ; having two rows of houses, and a
fair street \now Leyden street].
So, in the afternoon, we went to measure out the
grounds. And first, we took notice how many families
there were : willing all single men, that had no wives, to
join some family, as they thought fit, that so we might
build fewer houses. Which was done ; and we reduced
them to nineteen families.
To greater families, we allotted larger plots : to
every person, half a Pole [ = 2f yards] in breadth, and
New England in America. 441
three [ = 16 J yards] in length. And so lots were cast,
where every man should lie. Which was done, and
staked out.
We thought this proportion was large enough, at
the first, for houses and gardens, to impale them around ;
considering the weakness of our people : many of them
growing ill with colds for [on account of ] our former
Discoveries in frost and storms ; and the wading at
Cape Cod had brought much weakness amongst us,
which increased so every day, more and more ; and
after was the cause of many of their deaths.
Friday and Saturday. We fitted ourselves for our
labour : but our people on shore were much troubled and
discouraged with rain and wet those days ; [it] being
very stormy and cold. We saw great smokes of fire,
made by the Indians, about six or seven miles from us,
as we conjectured.
Monday, the 1st of January [1621]. We went
betimes to work. We were much hindered in lying so
far off from the land, and fain to go as the tide served ;
that we lost much time. For our ship [of 180 tons]
drew so much water that she lay a mile and almost a
half off : though a ship of 70 or 80 tons, at high water,
may come to the shore.
Wednesday, the 3rd of January. Some of our
people, being abroad to get and gather thatch ; they
saw great fires of the Indians, and were at their
cornfields : yet saw none of the savages ; nor had seen
any of them since we came to this bay.
Thursday, the 4th of January. Captain Miles
Standish, with four or five more, went to see if they
could meet with any of the savages in that place where
the fires were made. They went to some of their
houses ; but not lately inhabited : yet they could not
442 New England in America.
meet with any. As they came home, they shot at an
eagle and killed her ; which wa.s excellent meat. It was
hardly to be discerned from mutton.
Friday, the 5th of January. One of the sailors
found alive upon the shore, a herring; which the
Master had to his supper : which put us in hope
of fish; but as yet we had got but one cod. We
wanted small hooks.
Saturday, the 6th of January. Master [Christopher]
Martin was very sick ; and, to our judgement, [with]
no hope of life : so Master Carver was sent for, to come
aboard [the Mayflower] to speak with him, about his
Accounts [as Treasurer of the Company].
Who came, the next morning. [See page 344].
Monday, the 8th day of January, was a very fair day ;
and we went betimes to work. Master Jones sent the
shallop, as he had formerly done, to see where fish could
be got. They had a great storm at sea, and were in
some danger. At night, they returned with three great
seals ; and an excellent good cod : which did assure us
that we should have plenty of fish shortly.
This day, Francis Billington (having, the week
before, seen, from the top of a tree on a high hill, a great
sea, as he thought) went with one of the Master's Mates to
see it. They went three miles ; and then came to a great
water divided into two great lakes : the bigger of them
five or six miles in circuit, and in it an isle of a cable's
length [ = 100 fathoms = 600 /eei] square ; the other, three
miles in compass. In their estimation, they are [of] fine
fresh water ; full of fish and fowl. A brook [the Town
Brook] issues from it. It will be an excellent help for
us in time.
They found seven or eight Indian houses [wigtvams] ;
but not lately inhabited. When they saw the houses,
New England in America. 443
they were in some fear : for they were but two persons
and one piece \yi%us\zet\
Tuesday, the 9th January, was a reasonable fair day :
and we went to labour that day in the building of
our town, in two rows of houses for more safet}?^. We
divided by lot the plot of ground whereon to build our
town. After the proportion formerly allotted [see 'page
440] ; we agreed that every man should build his own
house : thinking, by that course, men would make more
haste than [when] working in common. The Common
House, in which, for the first, we made our rende[z]vous,
being nearly finished, wanted only covering. It being
about twenty feet square. Some would make mortar ;
and. some gather thatch : so that, in four days, half of it
was thatched. Frost and foul weather hindered us
much. This time of the year seldom could we work
half the week.
Thursday the 11th. William Bradford being at
work, for it was a fair day, was vehemently taken
with a grief and pain, and so shot to his huckle-bone
[hip-hone], it was doubted [feared] that he would
have instantly died. He got cold in the former
Discoveries, especially the last ; and felt some pain in
his ancles by times [occasionally]. But he grew a little
better towards night ; and in time, through GOD's
mercy in the use of means, recovered.
Friday, the 12th. We went to work; but, about
noon, it began to rain, that it forced us to give over
work.
This day, two of our people put us in great sorrow
and care. There were four sent to gather and cut
thatch, in the morning; and two of them, John
Goodman and Peter Browne, having cut thatch all
the forenoon, went to a further place : and willed the
444 New England in America.
other two to bind up that which was cut, and to follow
them. So they did, [it] being about a mile and a half
from our Plantation.
But when the two came after ; they could not find
them, nor hear anything of them at all: though they
hallowed ^jiallooedl and shouted as loud as they could.
So they returned to the Company, and told them
of it.
Whereupon Master Leaver \or rather Carver\ and
three or four more, went to seek them : but could hear
nothing of them. So they returning, sent more: but
that night they could hear nothing at all of them.
The next day [, Saturday, the 13th], they armed ten
or twelve men out ; verily thinking the Indians had
surprised them : but could neither see nor hear anything
at all. So they returned with much discomfort to
us all.
These two that were missed ; at dinner time took
their meat in their hands, and would go [and] walk
and refresh themselves. So going a little off, they
find a lake of water [? Lovbi Pond, near Billington
Sea] : and, having a great mastiff bitch with them
and a spaniel, by the water side they found a
great deer. The dogs chased him; and they followed
so far as they lost themselves, and could not find the
way back.
They wandered all that afternoon, [it] being wet:
and at night it did - freeze and snow. They were
slenderly apparelled ; and had no weapons, but each
one his sickle ; nor any victuals.
They ranged up and down ; and could find none of
the savages' habitations [wigwams].
When it drew to night, they were much perplexed
New England in AmeHca. 445
for they could find neither harbour nor meat : but, in
frost and snow, were forced to make the earth, their
bed; and the element [heavens], their covering. And
another thing did very much terrify them. They heard,
as they thought, two lions [wolves] roaring exceedingly,
for a long time together ; and a third, that they thought
was very near them : so, not knowing what to do, they
resolved to climb up into a tree, as their safest refuge ;
though that would prove an intolerable cold lodging.
So they stood at the tree's root, that, when the
lions came, they might take their opportunity of
climbing up. The bitch they were fain to hold by the
neck; for she would have been gone to the lion. But
it pleased GOD so to dispose, that the wild beasts
came not.
So they walked up and down under the tree all
night. It was an extremely cold night.
. So soon as it was light, they travelled again : passing
by many lakes and brooks and woods ; and in one place
where the savages had burnt the space of five miles in
length, which is a fine champion [open] country and even.
In the afternoon, it pleased GOD from a high hill
they discovered the two isles in the bay [Clark's Island,
and Saquish peninsula in Plymouth harbour]; and
so, that night, got to the Plantation ; being ready to
faint with travail [fatigue] and want of victuals ; and
almost famished [perishing] with cold. John Goodman
was fain to have his shoes cut off his feet; they were
so swelled with cold : and it was a long while after, ere
he was able to go.
Those on the shore were much comforted at their
return : but they on shipboard were grieved, as
deeming them lost.
44^ A^^w England in America.
But the next day, being [Sunday,] the 14th of
January, in the morning, about six of the clock, the
wind being very great ; they on shipboard spied their
o-reat new randevous on fire : which was to them a new
discomfort ; fearing, because of the supposed loss of
the men, that the savages had fired them.
Neither could they presentljT- go to them, for want
of water; but, after three-quarters of an hour, they
went: as thej^ had purposed, the day before, to keep
the Sabbath on shore; because, now, there was the
greater number of people.
At their landing, they heard [the] good tidings of
the return of the two men; and that the house was
fired occasionally [accidentally'] by a spark that flew
into the thatch : which instantly burnt it [i.e. the thatch]
all up ; but the roof stood and [was] little hurt.
The most loss was Master Carver's and William
Bradford's ; who then lay [there] sick in bed : and, if
they had not risen with good speed, had been blown up
with powder ; but, through GOD's mercy, they had no
harm.
The house was as fuH of beds as they could lie one
by another ; and their muskets were charged : but,
blessed be GOD, there was no harm done.
Monday, the loth day. It rained much all day, that
they on shipboard could not go on shore ; nor they on
shore do any labour : but were all wet.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Tliursday were very fair
sunshiny days ; as if it had been April : and our people,
so many as were in health, wrought cheerfully.
[Friday,] the 19th day, we resolved to make a Shed,
to put our common provision[s] in ; of which some were
already set on shore : but at noon it rained, that we
could not work.
New England in America. 447
This day, in the evening, John Goodman went
abroad, to use his lame feet, that were pitifully ill with
the cold he had got. Having a little spaniel with him, a
little way from the Plantation, two great wolves ran
after the dog. The dog ran to him ; and betwixt his
legs, for succour. He had nothing in his hand : but
took up a stick, and threw at one of them and hit him ;
and they presently ran both away, but came again.
He got a pale board [a stake or paling] in his hand :
and they sat both on their tails, grinning at him, a
good while, and [t"hen] went their way and left him.
Saturday, the 20th, we made up our Shed for our
common goods.
Sunday, the 21st, we kept our Meeting on land.
Monday, the 22nd, was a fair day. We wrought on
our houses; and, in the afternoon, carried up our
hogsheads of meal to our common Storehouse [i.e. the
Shed],
The rest of the week, we followed our business
likewise.
Monday, the 29th, in the morning, cold frost and
sleet: but, after, reasonably fair. Both the long boat
and the shallop brought our common goods on shore.
Tuesday and Wednesday, 30th and 31st of January.
Cold frosty weather and sleet, that we could not work.
In the morning, the Master and' others saw two savages,
that had been on the island [Clark's Island] near our
ship. What they came for, we could not tell. The}-
were going [gone] so far back again, before they were
descried, that we could not speak with theni.
Sunday, the 4th of February, was very wet and rainy ;
with the greatest gusts of wind that ever we had, since
we came forth [i.e. from England] : [so] that though we
rid in a very good harbour, yet we were in danger ;
44^ New England in America,
because our ship was light, the goods [being] taken out,
and she unballasted. And it caused much daubing
[jplaster made of earth] of our houses to fall down.
Friday the 9th. Still the cold weather continued,
that we could do [but] little work. That afternoon, our
little house for our sick people, was set on fire by a
spark that kindled in the roof ; but no great harm was
done. That evening, the Master [Captain Jones], going
ashore, killed five geese : which he friendly distributed
among the sick people. He found also a good deer
killed. The savages had cut ofi* the horns ; and a wolf
was eating of him. How he came there we could not
conceive.
Friday, the 16th day, was a fair day : but the
northerly wind continued, which continued the frost.
This day, after noon, one of our people being a
fowling ; and having taken a stand by the creek side, in
the reeds, about a mile and a half from our Plantation ;
there came by him twelve Indians, marching towards
our Plantation : and in the woods, he heard the noise of
many more. He lay close till they were passed ; and
then, with what speed he could, he went home, and gave
the alarm. So the people abroad in the woods returned,
and armed themselves ; but saw none of them : only
toward the evening, they made a great fire, about the
place where they were first discovered [see page 441].
Captain Miles Standish and Francis Cooke, being
at work in the woods, coming home, left their tools
behind them : but, before they returned, their tools were
taken away by the savages.
This coming of the savages gave us occasion to keep
more strict watch ; and to make our pieces and
furniture [muskets and their equipment] ready, which
by the moisture and rain were out of temper.
New Englandin America. 449
Saturday, the 17th day [of February, 1621], in the
morning, we called a meeting for the establishing of
Military Orders amongst ourselves : and we chose Miles
Standish, our Captain; and gave him authority of
command in affairs.
And as we were in consultation hereabouts, two
savages presented themselves upon the top of a hill
[Strawberry Hill, now called Watson's Hill. Its Indian
name was Cantaugcanteest] over against our Plantation,
about a quarter of a mile and less ; and made signs unto
us, to come unto them.
We likewise made signs unto them, to come to us.
Whereupon we armed ourselves, and stood ready : and
sent two over the brook [the Town Brook] towards
them, to wit. Captain Standish and Stephen Hopkins ;
who went towards them. Only one of them had a
musket ; which they laid down on the ground in their
sight, in sign of peace and to parley with them : but
the savages would not tarry their coming. A noise of a
great many more was heard behind the hill : but no
more came in sight.
This caused us to plant our great ordnance in places
most convenient.
Wednesday, the 21st of February. The Master came
on shore, with many of his sailors, and brought with
him one of the great pieces, called a Minion [, a cannon
weighing 1,200 lbs., having a bore of 3 J- inches, and
firing 340 yards] and helped us to draw it up the hill ;
with another piece that lay on shore : and mounted them ;
and a Saker [, or Sacre, a cannon weighing 1,500 lbs.,
having a bore of S^ inches, and firing 360 yards],
and two Bases [, cannon ; each weighing 202 lbs, and
having a bore of 1\ inches.]
He brought with him, a very fat goose to eat with us ;
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 F
450 New England in America,
and we had a fat crane, and a mallard, and a dried neat's
tongue : and so we were kindly and friendly together.
Saturday, the 3rd of March, the wind was south ;
the morning, misty ; but towards noon, warm and fair
weather. The birds sang in the woods most pleasantly.
At one of the clock, it thundered : which was the first
we heard in that country. It was [of] strong and
great claps ; but short. But, after an hour, it rained
very sadly [grievoiisly] till midnight.
Wednesday, the Hh of March. The wind was full
east; cold, but fair. That day. Master Carver, with
five others, went to the great ponds [Billington Sea ;
or possibly, the Great South Pond] ; which seem to be
excellent fishing places. All the way they went, they
found it exceedingly beaten [trodden] and haunted with
deer : but they saw none. Amongst other fowl[s], they
saw a milk-white fowl with a very black head.
This day, some garden seeds were sown.
Friday, the 16th [March 1621], a fair warm day
towards [promising].
This morning, we determined to conclude of the
Military Orders : which we had begun to consider of
before : but were interrupted by the savages ; as we
mentioned formerly.
And whilst we were busied hereabout, we were
interrupted again. For there presented himself a
savage ; which caused an alarm.
He very boldly came all alone, and along the houses,
straight to the randevous : where we intercepted him,
not suffering him to go in ; as undoubtedly he would,
out of his boldness.
He saluted us in English, and bade us " Welcome ! "
For he had learned some broken English amongst the
Englishmen that came to fish at Monchiggon [Monhegan,
New England in America, 451
off' the coast of Maine] ; and knew by name the most of
the Captains, Commanders, and Masters that usually-
come [there].
He wa^ a man free in speech, so far as he could
express his mind ; and of a seemly carriage.
We questioned him of many things. He was the
first savage we could meet withal. He said. He was not
of these parts ; but of Morattigon,* and one of the
Sagamores or Lords thereof ; and had been eight months
[July 1620 — March 1621] in these parts. It lying
hence a day's sail with a great wind ; and five days by
land. He discoursed of the whole country, and of every
province ; and of their Sagamores, and their number of
men and strength.
The wind beginning to rise a little, we cast a
horseman's coat about him : for he was stark naked,
[having] only a leather about his waist, with a fringe
about a span long or [a] little more. He had a bow, and
two arrows ; the one headed, and the other unheaded.
He was a tall straight man. The hair of his head [was]
black ; long behind, only short before : none on his face
at all.
He asked [for] some beer ; but we gave him strong
water [spirits : ? brandy], and biscuit, and butter, and
cheese, and pudding, and a piece of a mallard : all which
* Samoset was a native of Pemaquid ; and Chief and original proprietor
of what is now the town of Bristol, Maine. He seems to have gone on
board of Captain Dermek's ship at Monhegan ; when he was on his way to
those shores, with Squanto, on his pacific mission, 1619/1620 : and to
have been landed by Dermer on Cape Cod ; when he redeemed there the
shipwrecked Frenchmen from their savage captors. This was only six
months before the Mayflower arrived ; and the Pemmaquid Chief still
lingered among his new friends : delayed by that overruling Providence
which needed him for the use of interpreter, to which he was now put. —
H. M. Dexter, Lib. of Neiv England History, T. 83, Ed. 1865, 4.
452 New England in America.
he liked well ; and had been acquainted with such
amongst the English.
He told us the place where we now live is called
Patuxet : and that, about four years ago \im 1617], all
the inhabitants died of an extraordinary plague; and
there is neither man, woman, nor child remaining; as
indeed we have found none. So as there is none to
hinder our possession, or to lay claim unto it.
All the afternoon, we spent in communication with
him. We would gladly have been rid of him at night :
but he was not willing to go this night. Then we
thought to carry him on shipboard ; wherewith he was
well content, and went into the shallop : but the wind
was high, and the water scant \shallow\ that it could
not return back. We lodged him, that night, at
Stephen Hopkins's house ; and watched him.
The next day [, Saturday, the 17th], he went away,
back to the Masasoits ; from whence, he said, he came :
who are our next bordering neighbours. There are sixty
strong, as he saith.
The Nausites are as near south-east \ot rather
north-east] of them, and are a hundred strong; and
those were they, of whom our people were encountered ;
as we before related [at pp. 431-434]. They are much
incensed and provoked against the English : and about
eight months ago [? July 1620], slew three Englishmen ;
and two more hardly escaped by flight to Monhiggon
[Monhegan]. They were Sir Ferdinando Gorges his
men ; as this savage told us. As he did likewise of the
huggerie, that is " fight," that our Discoverers had with
the Nausites [ see pp. 431-434] : and of our tools that were
taken out of the woods ; which we willed him should
be brought again, otherwise we would right ourselves.
These people are ill affected towards the English, by
New England in America, 453
reason of one [Captain Thomas] Hunt, a Master of a
ship ; who deceived the people ; and got them, under
colour of trucking {wp^pearance of bartering] with them,
twenty out of this very place where we inhabit, and
seven from the Nausites : and carried them away [to
Spain], and sold them for slaves for £20 a man ; like a
wretched man that cares not what mischief he doth for
his profit. .
Saturday, in the morning, we dismissed the savage ;
and gave him a knife, a bracelet, and a ring. He
promised, within a night or two, to come again ; and to
bring with him, some of the Massasoyts, our neighbours,
w;ith such beavers' skins as they had, to truck with us.
Saturday and Sunday [were] reasonably fair days.
On this day [Sunday, the ISth March 1621], came
again the savage ; and brought with him five other tall
proper [stwrdy] men. They had, every man, a deer's
skin on him ; and the principal of them had a wild cat's
skin, or such like, on the one arm. They had, most of
them, long hosen [leggings, or gaiters] up to their groins,
close[ly] made ; and above their groins to their waist,
another leather. They were altogether like the Irish
trouses [trousers].
They are of complexion like our English Gypsies.
No hair, or very little, on their faces. On their heads,
long hair to their shoulders; only cut before: some
[with it] trussed up before with a feather, broadwise
like a fan ; another [with a] fox's tail hanging out.
These left, according to our charge given him before,
their bows and arrows a quarter of a mile from our
town.
We gave them entertainment as we thought was
fitting [to] them. They did eat liberally of our English
victuals. They made semblance unto us of friendship
454 New England in America,
and amity. They sang and danced after their manner,
like antics [grotesque persons]. They brought with
them, in a thing like a [long-]bow case [leathern girdle],
which the principal of them had about his waist, a little
of their corn pounded to powder [parched meal] ; which
put to a little water, they eat. He had a little tobacco
in a bag : but none of them drank [it, i.e. smoked it], but
when he listed. Some of them had their faces painted
black, from the forehead to the chin, four or five fingers
broad : others, after other fashions, as they liked.
They brought three or four skins, but we would not
truck at all that day ; but wished them to bring more,
and we would truck for all: which they promised
within a night or two ; and would leave these behind
them, though we were not willing they should. And
they brought us all our tools again ; which were taken
in the woods in our men's absence.
So, because of the day [i.e. Sunday], we dismissed
them so soon as we could.
But Samoset, our first acquaintance, either was sick,
or feigned himself so ; and would not go with them, and
stayed with us till Wednesday morning.
Then we sent him to them, to know the reason they
came not, according to their words : and we gave him a
hat, a pair of stockings and shoes, a shirt, and a piece of
cloth to be about his waist [i.e. a loin cloth].
The Sabbath Day, when we sent them from us, we
gave every one of them some trifles ; especially the
principal of them. We carried [escorted] them along,
with our arms [armed men], to the place where they
left their bows and arrows : whereat they were amazed ;
and two of them began to slink away, but the others
called them.
When they took their arrows, we bade them
New England m America. 455
farewell ; and they were glad. And so, with many-
thanks given us, they departed ; with promise they
would come again.
Monday and Tuesday proved fair days. We digged
our grounds, and sowed our garden seeds.
Wednesday [, the 21st March, was] a fine warm
day. We sent away Samoset.
That day, we had again a Meeting to conclude the Laws
and Orders for ourselves ; and to confirm those Military
Orders that were formerly propounded, and twice broken
off by the savages' coming : but so we were the third time.
For, after we had been an hour together, on the top
of the hill over against us [i.e. Waison^s Hill], two
or three savages presented themselves ; and made
semblance of daring us, as we thought. So Captain
Standish with another, with their muskets, went over
[the Town Brook] to them ; with two of the Master's
Mates, that followed them without arms [? side arms],
having two muskets with them.
They whetted [sharpened] and rubbed their arrows
and strings ; and made show of defiance : but when our
men drew near them, they ran away.
Thus we were again interrupted by them.
This day, with much ado, we got our Carpenter [i.e.
of the Mayflower], that had been long sick of the scurvy,
to fit our shallop, to fetch all from aboard. [On this day
therefore, the Pilgrim Fathers finally left the Mayflower.]
Thursday, the 22nd of March [1621], was a very fair
warm day.
About noon, we met again about our public business :
but we had scarce been an hour together, but Samoset
came again ; and Squanto, the only [surviving] native
of Patuxet, where we now inhabit (Who was one of the
45 6 New England in America.
twenty captives that, by Hunt, were carried away ; and
had been in England, and dwelt in Cornhill [in London]
with Master John Slant, a Merchant ; and could speak
a little English), with three others : and they brought
with them, some few skins to truck ; and some red
herrings newly taken and dried, but not salted.
And [they] signified unto us, that their great
Sagamore Masasoyt was hard by, with Quadequina
his brother, and all their men. They could not well
express in English what they would : but, after an hour,
the King came to the top of a hill over against us
[ Watson's Hill], and had in his train sixty men ; that
we could well behold them, and they us.
We were not willing to send our Governor [JoSN
Carver] to them ; and they [were] unwilling to come
to us. So Squanto went again unto him ; who brought
word that we should send one to parley with him :
which we did, which was Edward Winslow ; to know
his mind, and to signify the mind and will of our
Governor, which was to have trading and peace with him.
We sent to the King a pair of knives, and a copper
chain with a jewel to it. To Quadequina, we sent
likewise a knife, and a jewel to hang in his ear. And
withal a pot of strong water [spirits, ? brandy] ; a good
quantity of biscuit, and some butter : which were all
willingly accepted.
Our messenger made a speech unto him. That King
James saluted him with words of love and peace, and
did accept of him as his friend and ally ; and that
our Governor desired to see him, and to truck with
him, and to confirm a peace with him, as his next
neighbour.
He liked well of the speech, and heard it attentively :
though the interpreters did not well express it.
New England in America. 457
After he had eaten and drunk himself, and [had]
given the rest to his company; he looked upon our
messenger's sword and armour which he had on, with
intimation of his desire to buy it : but, on the other
side, our messenger showed his unwillingness to part
with it.
In the end, he left him in the custody of QuADEQUiNA
his brother ; and came over the brook \i}ie Town Broo]z\^
and some twenty men following him, leaving all their
bows and arrows behind them. We kept six or seven
as hostages for our messenger.
Captain Standish and Master Williamson \or
rather Allerton. None of the Pilgrim Fathers, then
at Plymowth, was named Williamson] met the King at
the brook, with half a dozen musketeers. They saluted
him ; and he, them. So on going over, the one on the
one side, and the other on the other, conducted him to a
house then in building ; where we placed a green rug,
and three or four cushions.
Then instantly came our Governor [John Carver],
with [a] drum and [a] trumpet after him, and some few
musketeers.
After salutations, our Governor kissing his hand, the
King kissed him : and so they sat down.
The Governor called for some strong water, and
drank to him : and he drank a great draught [of it] that
made him sweat all the while after. He called for a
little fresh meat : which the King did eat willingly, and
did give his followers.
They then treated of peace, which was
1. That neither he, nor any of his, The Agree-
should injure, or do hurt, to any P^®°*^ °^ ^^'^^
■^ ' ' t7 between us and
of our people, Massasoyt.
45 S New England in America,
2. And if any of his did hurt to any of ou/rs ; he
should send the offender [to us], that we might
punish him.
3. That if any of our tools were taken away, when
our people were at work ; he should cause
them to he restored : and if ours did any harm,
to any of his, we would do the like to them.
4. // any did unjustly war against him ; we would
aid him. If any did war against us, he should
aid us.
5. He should send to his neighbour[ing] confederates,
to certify them of this, that they might not
wrong us ; hut might he likewise comprised in
the Conditions of Peace.
6. That when their men caTYie to us, they should
leave their hows and arrows hehind them ; as
we should do our pieces, when we came to them.,
7. Lastly, that doing thus, King James would
esteem of him as his friend and ally.
All which the King seemed to like well ; and it was
applauded of his followers.
All the while he sat by the Governor, he trembled
for fear.
In his person, he is a very lusty man, in his best
years, [of] an able body, grave of countenance, and spare
of speech. In his attire, [he was] little or nothing
differing from the rest of his followers : only in a great
chain of white bone beads about his neck ; and at it,
behind his neck, hangs a little bag of tobacco, which he
drank [smoked] and gave us to .drink [smoke]. His
face was painted with a sad [deep] red like murrey [the
colour of a mulberry] ; and [he] oiled both head and
face, that he looked greasily. All his followers likewise
New England in America, 459
were, in their faces, in part, or in whole, painted : some
black, some red, some yellow, and some white ; some
with crosses, and other antic \groiesqvue\ works. Some
had skins on them, and some [were] naked : all strong,
tall, all \andj iall\ men in appearance.
So, after all was done, the Governor conducted him
to the brook : and there they embraced each other, and
he departed ; we diligently keeping our hostages.
We expected our messenger's coming: but anon
word was brought us, that QuADDEQUiNA was coming ;
and our messenger was stayed till his return.
Who presently came and a troop \co'mfpan'xf\ with
him. So likewise we entertained him, and conveyed him
to the place prepared. He was very fearful of our pieces
\muskeis\ ; and made signs of dislike, that they should
be carried away : whereupon commandment was given
that they should be laid away. He was a very
proper tall young man, of a very modest and seemly
countenance ; and he did kindly like of our entertainment.
So we conveyed him likewise, as we did the King : but
divers of their people stayed still.
When he was returned ; then they dismissed our
messenger. Two of his people would have stayed all
night : but we would not suffer it'
One thing I forgot. The King had in his bosom,
hanging at a string, a great long knife. He marvelled
much at our trumpet ; and some of his men would sound
it as well as they could.
Samoset and Squanto, they stayed all night with
us : and the King, and all his men, lay all night in the
woods, not above half an English mile from us ; and all
their wives and women with them.
They said that, within eight or nine days, they
would come and set com on the other side of the brook
460 New England in America,
[the Town Brook], and dwell there all summer ; which
is hard by us.
That night, we kept good watch : but there was no
appearance of danger.
The next morning [of Friday, 23rd March], divers of
tlieir people came over [the Town Brook] to us ; hoping
to get some victuals, as we imagined.
Some of them told us, The King would have some of
us come [to] see him.
Captain Standish and Isaac Allerton went
venturously: who were welcomed of him, after their
manner. He gave them three or four groundnuts, and
some tobacco.
We cannot yet conceive but that he is willing to
have peace with us. For they have seen our people
sometimes alone, [or] two or three, in the woods, at
work and fowling: when as they offered them no
harm, as they might easily have done. And especially
because he hath a potent adversary, the Narowhiganseis
[Narragansetts] that are at war with him : against
whom, he thinks, [that] we may be some strength to
him ; for our pieces are terrible unto them.
This morning, they stayed till ten or eleven of the
clock; and our Governor bade them send the King's
kettle, and [he] filled it full of pease: which pleased
them well. And so they went their way.
, Friday [, the 23rd March,] was a very fair day.
Samoset and Squanto "^ still remained with us.
* Afterwards they, as many as were able, began to plant their com.
In which service, Squanto stood them in great stead : showing them, both
the manner how to set it ; and after how to dress and tend it. Also he
told them, except they got fish, and set with it {i.e. manured the ground
with alewives, at the time of setting : see pp. 488, 595] ; in these old grounds,
it would come to nothing. And he showed them, that in the middle of
New England in America. 461
*
Squanto went, at noon, to fish for eels [? at Eel
River], At night, he came home with as many as he
could well lift in one hand; which our people were
glad of. They were fat and sweet. He trod them out
with his feet; and so caught them with his hands,
without any other instrument.
This day, we proceeded on with our common
business; from which we had been so often hindered
by the savages' coming : and concluded both of Military
Orders, and of some Laws and Orders : as we thought
behoveful for our present estate and condition. And
[we] did likewise choose [i.e. re-elect] our
Governor for this year ; which was
Master John Cakver, a man
well approved amongst us.
April, they should have store enough [of fish] come up the brook {the Town
Brook] by which they began to build : and taught them how to take it.
And [he told them] where to get other provisions necessary for them. All
which they found true, by trial and experience.
Some English seed they sew [sowed], as wheat and pease : but it came
not to good ; either by the badness of the seed, or lateness of the season,
or both, or some other defect. Bradford MS.^ fol. 141.
A Journey to Packanokik, the habitation of the
GREAT King, Massasoyt. As also our
Message, [and] the Answer and
intertainment we had of him.
iT seemed good to the Company, for many
considerations, to send some amongst them
to Massasoyt, the greatest Commander
amongst the savages bordering about us:
partly to know where to find them, if occasion served ;
as also to see their strength, discover the country,
prevent abuses in their disorderly coming to us, make
satisfaction for some conceived injuries to be [have been]
done on our parts, and to continue the league of peace
and friendship between them and us.
For these, and the like, ends ; it pleased the Governor
to make choice of Stephen Hopkins and Edward
WiNSLOW to go unto him. And having a fit opportunity
by reason of a savage called Tisquantum, that could
speak English, coming unto us ; with all expedition [we]
provided a horseman's coat of red cotton, and laced with
a slight [small] lace, for a present ; that both they and
their message might be the more acceptable amongst
them. The message was as f olloweth :
That forasmuch as his subjects cam^e often, and
without fear, upon all occasions, amongst us; so we
were now come unto him : and in witness of the love
and good will the English bear unto hir)i, the Governor
hath sent him a coat; desiring that the peace and
462
New England in America. 463
amity that was between them and us might he continued.
Not that we feared them : hut because we intended not
to injure any : desiring to live peaceably ; and as
with all men^ so especially with them, our nearest
neighbours.
But whereas his people came very often, and very
onany together, to us ; bringing, for the most part, their
wives and children with them ; they were welcom,e : yet
{we being but strangers as yet at Patuxet alias New
Plymouth; and not knowing how our corn might
prosper) we could no longer give them such
entertainment as we had done, and as we desired still
to do. Yet, if he would he pleased to come himself ; or
\if\ any special friend of his desired to see us, coming
from, him, they should be welcome. And to the end we
might know them from others, our Governor had sent
him a copper chain ; desiring if any messenger should
coTYie from him to us, we might know him, by \his'\
bringing it with him; and hearken, and give credit^
to his message accordingly. Also requesting him, that
such as have skins, should bring them to us ; and that
he would hinder the multitude from oppressing us, with
them[selves].
And whereas, at our first arrival at Paomet [Pamet],
called by us. Cape God, we found there corn buried in
the ground ; and, finding no inhabitants hut some graves
of \the'\ dead new[ly] buried, took the corn : resolving
if ever we could hear of any that had right thereunto,
to make satisfaction to the full for it. Yet, since we
understand the owners thereof were fled for fear of
us, our desire was either to pay them with the like
quantity of corn [maize], [of] English meal, or any
other commodities we had, to pleasure them, witlml.
Requesting him, that some one of his men mig?tt signify
464 New England in America.
so much unto them ; and we would content him for his
pains.
And, last of all, our Governor requested one favour
of him; which was that he would exchange some of
their corn* for seed, with us ; that we might make trial
which best agreed with the soil where we live.
With these presents and' [this] Message, we set
forward [Sunday] the 10th [of] June [This date is
considered to he an error. Governor Bradford
(Bradford MS., folio 143) states that the messengers
started on Monday, 2nd July 1621], about nine a clock
in the morning ; our guide [Tisquantum] resolving that
night to rest at Namaschet [Middleborough],\ a town
under Massasoyt: and conceived by us to be very near,
because the Indians flocked so thick, upon every slight
occasion, amongst us ; but we found it to be some
fifteen English miles.
On the way, we found some ten or twelve men
women and children, which had pestered [annoyed] us
till we were weary of them : perceiving that, as the
manner of them all is, where victual is easiliest to be got,
there they live, especially in the summer; by reason
whereof, our Bay affording many lobsters, they resort
every spring-tide thither; and now returned with us
to Namaschet.
* Probably what is now called Rhode Island com, which is a different
species from that usually raised in Massachusetts ; yielding a more
delicate and whiter meal. — H. M. Dexter, lAb, of New England Hist.,
I. 100, Ed. 1865, 4.
t The spot so designated here is in what is now Middleborough, on the
Nemasket river ; about thirty rods above the bridge, passed in going from
the Green to the Four Corners, on the Middleborough and Plymouth road :
being the rapids near the Lower Factory, which is now called the Star
Mills.— H. M. Dexter, Lib. of New England Hist., I. 101, Ed. 1865, 4.
New England m America. 465
Thither we came about three a clock after noon, the
inhabitants entertaining us with joy in the best manner
they could : giving us a kind of bread, called by them
Tnaizium, and the spawn of shads which then they got
in abundance, insomuch as they gave us spoons to eat
them [with]. With these, they boiled musty acorns : but
of the shads, we eat heartily.
After this, they desired one of our [two] men to
shoot at a crow ; complaining what damage they
sustained in their corn by them : who shooting some
fourscore [yards] off, and killing ; they much admired
[wondered at] it, as [at] other shots, on other
occasions.
After this, Tisquantum told us, we should hardly
in one day reach Pakanokick [PokanoJcet] ; moving us
to go some eight miles further, where we should find
more store and better victuals than there.
Being willing to hasten our journey, we went ; and
came thither at sunsetting : where we found many
of the Namascheucks, they so calling the men of
Namaschet, fishing upon a ware [wear]* which they had
made on a river which belonged to them ; where they
caught abundance of bass.
These welcomed us also, gave us of their fish ; and
we, them of our victuals : not doubting but we should
have enough wherever we came.
There we lodged in the open fields : for houses
[wigwanis] they had none, though they spent most of
the summer there.
The head of this river [the Titicut] is reported to be
* Probably at the Old Indian Wear, so called, near Titicut, in the
north-west part of Middleborough ; two or three miles south-west of the
junction of the Nemasket, with the Taunton river. — H. M. Dexteb, Lih.
of New England Hist., I. 102, Ed. 1865, 4.
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 g
466 New England in A^nerica,
not far from the place of our abode. \It rises within
six Tmles of Plymowth.] Upon it are, and have been,
many towns : it being [of] a good length. The ground
is very good on both sides ; it being for the most part
cleared. Thousands of men have lived there ; which
died in a great plague not long since: and pity
it was, and is, to see so many goodly fields, and
so well seated, without men to dress and manure
the same.
Upon this river [the Taunton] dwelleth Massasoyt.
It Cometh into the sea at the Narrohiganset
[Narragansett] Bay : where the Frenchmen so much
use [frequent]. A ship may go many miles up it,
as the savages report ; and a shallop to the head of it :
but so far as we saw, we are sure a shallop may.
But to return to our journey. The next morning
[, Tuesday, the Srd July], we brake our fast, took our
leave, and departed ; being then accompanied with
some six savages.
Having gone about six miles by the river side, at a
known shoal place,* it being low water ; they spake to
us to put off our breeches, for we must wade through.
Here let me not forget the valour and courage of
some of the savages on the opposite side of the river.
For there were remaining alive [there] only two men,
both aged ; especially the one, being above three score.
These two, espying a company of [8] men entering the
river, ran very swiftly and low in the grass, to meet us
at the bank : where, with shrill voices and great courage,
standing, [they] charged upon us with their bows.
They demanded. What we were ? supposing us to be
* There seems to be no doubt that this crossing-place was at what
is now known as Squabetty, 3^ miles east-by-south of Taunton Green. — H.
M. Dexter, Lib. of New England Hist., I. 103, Ed. 1865, 4.
New England in America, 467
enemies ; and thinking to take advantage on us in the
water. But seeing we were friends, they welcomed
us with such food as they had: and we bestowed a
small bracelet of beads on them. Thus far, we are sure,
the tide ebb^ and flows.
Having here again refreshed ourselves, we proceeded
in our jourriey ; the weather being very hot for travel :
yet the country [was] so well watered, that a man could
scarce be dry \thirsiy\ but he should have a spring at
hand to cool his thirst ; besides small rivers in abundance. -
But the savages will not willingly drink but at a spring
head.
When we came to any small brook, where no bridge
was ; two of them desired to carry us through, of their
own accords. Also fearing we were, or would be, weary ;
[they] offered to carry our pieces. Also if we would
lay off any of our clothes, we should have them carried ;
and as the one of them had found more special kindness
from one of the messengers, and the other savage from
the other, so they shewed their thankfulness accordingly,
in affording us all help and further ence in the journey.
As we passed along, we observed that there were
few places by the river but had been inhabited ; by
reason whereof, much ground was clear, save of weeds
which grew higher than our heads. There is [there]
much good timber ; both oak, walnut tree, fir, beech,
and exceeding great chestnut trees.
The country, in respect of the lying \lay\ of it, is
both champanie Ip'pen and level] and hilly, like many
places in England. In some places, it is very rocky ;
both above ground and under it. And though the
country be wild and overgrown with woods; yet the
trees stand not thick, but a man may well ride a horse
amongst them.
468 New England in America.
Passing on, at length, one of the company, an Indian,
espied a man ; and told the rest of it. We asked them,
If they feared any ?
They told us, That if they were Narrohigganset
\NarraganseW^ men, they would not trust them.
Whereat, we called for our pieces \yrwbskeis\\ and
bade them not to fear: for, though they were twenty,
we two alone would not care for them.
But they hailing him, he proved a friend ; and had
only two women with him. Their baskets were empty ;
but they fetched water in their bottles: so that we
drank with them, and departed.
After, we met another man with other two women ;
which had been at [a] randevow \enGamjp'menV[ by the
salt water ; and their baskets were full of roasted crab
fishes, and other dried shellfish. Of which they gave us ;
and we eat and drank with them: and gave each of
the women a string of beads, and departed.
After, we came to a town * of Massasoyt's ; where
we eat oysters and other tish.
From thence, we went to Packanokick t : but
Massasoyt was not at home. There we stayed ; he
being sent for.
When news was brought of his coming, our guide
TiSQUANTUM requested that, at our meeting, we would
discharge our pieces. But one of us going about to
charge his piece ; the women and children, through fear
* This was probably at Matapuyst [see j^ages 471, 648, 556] now
known as Gardner's Neck, in Swansey, Massa. — H. M. Dbxteb, Lih. of New
England Hist, I. 106, Ed. 1865, 4.
t While Packanokik was a general name for the Wampanoag territory,
in the neighbourhood of what are now Warren, Bristol, &c, , Rhode Island ;
the Indian village here intended was Sowams, built around the spring,
called Massasoit's Spring, near Baker's Wharf, in Warren. — Idem.
New England in America, 469
to see him take up his piece, ran away ; and could not
be pacified till he laid it down again ; who afterward
were better informed by our interpreter.
Massasoyt being come \on Wednesday, ith July]
we discharged our pieces, and saluted him : who (after
their manner) kindly welcomed us, and took us into
his house, and set us down by him. Where, having
delivered our foresaid Message, and presents; and [he]
having put the coat on his back and the chain about
his neck ; he was not a little proud to behold himself,
and his men also to see their King, so bravely
attired.
For Answer to our Message, he told us :
We were welcome; and he would gladly continue
that peace and friaidship which was between him and
us ; and for his men^ they should no more pester us as
they had done. Also that he would send to Paomet
[Pamet]; and would help us with corn for seed:
according to our request.
This being done, his men gathered near to him : to
whom he turned himself, and made a great speech ; they
sometimes interposing, and, as it were, confirming and
applauding him in that he said. The meaning whereof
was, as far as we could learn, thus :
Was not he, Massasoyt, Commander of the country
about them? Was not such a town his, and the
people of it? and should they not bring their skins
unto us ?
To which they ariswered. These were his ; and would
be at peace with us, and bring their skins to us.
After this manner, he named at least thirty places ;
and their answer was as aforesaid, to every one : so that,
as it was delightful, [so] it was tedious, unto us.
This being ended ; he lighted tobacco for us : and fell
47 o New England in America.
to discoursiDg of England and of the King's Majesty ;
marvelling that he would live without a wife \QvijeenANNE
{of Den7)iarh) had died in 1619]. Also he talked of the
Frenchmen ; bidding us not to suffer them to come to
Narrohiganset [NaraganseW], for it was King James his
country ; and he also was King James his man.
Late it grew ; but victuals he offered none : for
indeed he had not any; [it] being he came so newly
home. So we desired to go to rest.
He laid us on the bed with himself and his wife ;
they at one end, and we at the other: it being only
planks laid a foot from the ground, and a thin mat upon
them. Two more of his chief men, for want of room
pressed by and upon us : so that we were worse weary of
our lodging, than of our journey.
The next day, being Thursday [, biJi July], many of
their Sachems or petty Governors came to see us ; and
many of their men also. There, they went to their
manner of games for skins and knives. There, we
challenged them to shoot with them for skins : but they
durst not. Only they desired to see one of us shoot
at a mark : who shooting with hail shot [bird shot],
they wondered to see the mark so full of holes.
About one of the clock, Massasoyt brought two
fishes [? bass] that he had shot [with an arrow]. They
were like bream ; but three times so big, and better
meat. These being boiled ; there were at least forty
[that] looked for share in them. The most eat of them.
This meal only we had in two nights and a day [ie.
at Sowams] : and had not one of us bought a partridge,
we had taken our journey fasting.
Very importunate he was, to have us stay with him
longer : but we desired to keep the Sabbath at home ;
and feared we should be lightheaded for want of
New England in America, 47 1
sleep. For what with bad lodging; the savages*
barbarous singing, for they use to sing themselves
asleep ; lice and fleas within doors ; and muskeetoes
\rnosquiioes\ without: we could hardly sleep all the
time of our being there. We much feared that if we
should stay any longer, we should not be able to
recover home for want of strength.
So that, on the Friday morning [, ^ih July\ before
sunrising, we took our leave and departed ; Massasoyt
being both grieved and ashamed that he could no better
entertain us : and, retaining TiSQUANTUM to send from
place to place to procure truck for us, he appointed
another, called Tokamahamon, in his place ; whom
we had found faithful before, and after, on all
occasions.
At this town of Massasoyt's where we before eat,
[? Matapuyst], we were again refreshed with a little
fish: and bought about a handful of meal of their
parched corn, which was very precious at that time of
the year ; and a small string of dried shellfish, as big as
oysters. The latter we gave to the six savages that
accompanied us ; keeping the meal for ourselves. When
we drank, we eat each a spoonful of it, [together] with
[smoking] a pipe of tobacco ; instead of other victuals :
and of this also, we could not but give them, so long as
it lasted.
Five miles, they led us, to a house, out of the way, in
hope of victuals : but we found nobody there ; and so
were but worse able to return home.
/ That night we reached to the wire [ Wear, near Titicut]
where we lay before: but the Namascheucks were
returned; so that we had no hope of anything there.
One of the savages had shot a shad in the water ; and a
small squirrel, as big as a rat, called a Neuxis, The one
472 N'ew England in America.
half of either, he gave us : and after went to the wire to
fish.
From hence, we wrote to Plymouth : and sent
ToKAMAHAMON before to Namasket ; willing him from
thence to send another [to Plymouth], that he might
meet us with food at Namasket.
Two men now only remained with us ; and it pleased
GOD to give them good store of fish, so that we were
well refreshed.
After supper, we went to rest ; and they to fishing
again. More they gat, and fell to eating afresh;
and retained sufficient, ready roast[ed] for all our
breakfasts. About two a clock in the morning [of
Saturday, *7th July], arose a great storm of wind, rain,
lightning, and thunder, in such [a] violent manner that
we could not keep in our fire : and had the savages not
roasted fish when we were asleep, we had set forward
fasting ; for the rain still continued with great violence,
even the whole day through, till we came within two
miles of home.
Being wet and weary, at length, we came to
Namaschet. There we refreshed ourselves ; giving gifts
to all such as had shewed us any kindness.
Amongst others, one of the six that came with us
from Packanokik (having, before this, on the way
unkindly forsaken us) marvelled we gave him nothing ;
and told us, what he had done for us.
We also told him of some discourtesies he ofiered us,
whereby he deserved nothing: yet we gave him a
small trifle.
Whereupon he offered us tobacco.
But, the house being full of people, we told him, He
stole some by the way ; and if it were of that, we would
not take it : for we would not receive that which was
New England in America, 473
stolen upon any terms. If we did, our God would be
angry with us, and destroy us.
This abashed him ; and gave the rest great content.
But, at our departure [from Namasket (Middlehorough)],
he would needs carry him on his back through a river ;
whom he had formerly, in some sort, abused.
Fain they would have had us to lodge there all
night ; and wondered we would set forth again in such
weather : but, GOD be praised ! we came safe
home that night ; though wet, weary,
and surbated [footsore].
A Voyage made by ten of our men to the Kingdom
OF Nauset, to seek a boy that had lost himself
IN the woods. With such accidents as
befell us in that Voyage.
IHE 11th of June [This date is considered to
he an error. Governor Bradford {Bradford
M.S., folio 145) states, About the latter end
of this month [July 1621], one John
BiLLlNGTON lost himself in the woods; and wandered
up and down some five days, living on berries and what
he could fi.nd. This rescue expedition was therefore
in August], we set forth, the weather being very fair :
but, ere we had been long at sea, there arose a storm of
wind and rain, with much lightning and thunder,
insomuch that a spout [water spout] arose not far from
us. But, GOD be praised! it dured not long: and we
put in, that night, for harbour, at a place, called
Cummaquid [Barnstable harbour] ; where we had some
hope to find the boy [John Billington junior]. Two
savages were in the boat with us: the one was
Tisquantum our interpreter ; the other Tokamahamon,
a special friend. It being night, before we came in ; we
anchored in the midst of the bay : where we were dry
[aground] at a low water.
In the morning, we'^espied savages seeking lobsters ;
and sent our two interpreters to speak with them,
the channel being between them. Where they told
them. What we were, and for what we were come;
474
New England in America, 475
willing them not at all to fear us, for we would not
hurt them.
Their answer was, That the boy was well, but he
was at Nauset ; yet since we were there, they desired us
to come ashore and eat with them. Which, as soon as
our boat floated, we did ; and went six [of us] ashore,
having four pfledges for them in the boat.
They brought us to their Sachem or Governor, whom
they call Iyanough, a man not exceeding twentysix
years of age; but very personable [coviely], gentle,
courteous, and fair conditioned : indeed not like a
savage, save for his attire. His entertainment was
answerable to his parts; and his cheer plentiful and
various.
One thing was very grievous unto us at this place.
There was an old woman, whom we judged to be no less
than a hundred years old ; which came to see us because
she never saw English [before] : yet could "not behold us,
without breaking forth into [a] great passion, weeping
and crying excessively. We demanding the reason of
it ; they told us. She had three sons, who, when Master
Hunt was in these parts, went aboard his ship to trade
with him ; and he carried them captives into Spain, for
TiSQUANTUM at that time was carried away alsoi by
which means, she was deprived of the comfort of her
children in her old age.
We told them. We were sorry that any Englishman
should give them that offence ; that Hunt was a bad
man, and that all the English that heard of it condemned
him for the same : but for us, we would not offer them
any such injury ; though it would gain us all the skins
in the country. So we gave her some small trifles;
which somewhat appeased her.
After dinner, we took boat for Nauset [EasthaTn] ;
47 6 New England in America,
Iyanough and two of his men accompanying us. Ere
we came to Nauset, the day and tide were almost spent,
insomuch as we could not go in with our shallop : but
the Sachem or Governor of Cummaquid went ashore,
and his men with him. We also sent Tisquantum to
tell AspiNET, the Sachem of Nauset, wherefore we
came.
The savages here came very thick amongst us, and
were earnest with us to bring in our boat; but we
neither well could : nor yet desired to do it, because we
had less cause to trust them ; being they only [they
being those who] had formerly made an assault upon us,
in the same place, in [the] time of our winter Discovery
for [a place of] habitation [, see pp. 431-434]. And
indeed it was no marvel they did so: for howsoever
[then], through snow or otherwise, we saw no houses ;
yet we were [then] in the midst of them.
When our boat was aground, they came very thick ;
but we stood therein upon our guard : not suffering any
to enter except two, the one being of Maramoick
[? Monomoyick, now Chatham] ; and one of those, whose
corn we had formerly found. We promised him
restitution : and desired him either to come to Patuxet for
satisfaction ; or else we would bring them so much corn
again. He promised to come. We used him very
kindly for the present. Some few skins we gat there ;
but not many.
After sunset, Aspinet came, with a great train ; and
brought the boy with him, one bearing him through the
water. He had not less than a hundred with him : the
half whereof came to the shallop side unarmed with
him ; the other [half] stood aloof [at a distance], with
their bows and arrows. There he delivered us the boy,
behung with beads ; and made peace with us : we
New England in America. 477
bestowing a knife on him ; and likewise on another that
first entertained the boy, and brought him thither. So
they departed from us.
Here, we understood that the Narrohigansets
\Narraganseits\ had spoiled some of Massasoyt's men,
and taken him. This struck some fear in us : because
the Colony was so weakly guarded \Ii will he seen from
page 359, that, excluding these ten men, there were now
only 22 adult males at Plymouth] the strength [the
picked m^en] thereof being abroad [away here at
Eastham].
But we set forth with resolution to make the best
haste home we could. Yet the wind being contrary ;
[and] having scarce any fresh water left, and at least
sixteen leagues [, = 48 miles, to] home, we put in again
for the shore. There we met again with Iyanough,
the Sachem of Cummaquid ; and the most of his town,
both men women and children, with him. He being still
willing to gratify us, took a rundlet [containing 18
gallons], and led our men in the dark a great way for
water ; but could find none good : yet brought such as
there was, on his neck, with them. In the, mean time,
the women joined hand in hand, singing and dancing,
before the shallop; the men also shewing all the
kindness they could. Iyanough himself taking a
bracelet from about his neck, and hanging it upon one
of us.
Again, we set out : but to small purpose, for we gat
but little homeward. Our water also was very brackish ;
and not to be drunk.
The next morning, IYANOUGH espied us again ; and
ran after us. We, being resolved to go to Cummaquid
again to water, took him into the shallop: whose
47 S New England in America,
entertainment [there, thenj was not inferior unto the
former [occasion].
The soil at Nauset and here [at Cummaquid] is
alike, even and sandy: not so good for corn as where
we are. Ships may safely ride in either harbour. In
summer, they abound with fish.
Being now watered, we put forth again ; and,
by GOD's Providence, came safely
home that night.
A Journey to the Kingdom of Namaschet, in
DEFENCE OF THE GREAT KiNG, MaSSASOYT, AGAINST
THE NaRROHIGGANSETS ; AND TO REVENGE THE
SUPPOSED DEATH OF OUR INTERPRETER
TiSQUANTUM.
[T our return from Nauset, we found it true
that Massasoyt was put from his country
by the Narrohiggansets [Narragansetts].
Word also was brought unto us, That
one CouBATANT [or Caunbatant. Bradford spells
this name Corbitant], a petty Sachem or Governor
under Massasoyt, whom they ever feared to be too
conversant [intionate] with the Narrohiggansets, was at
Namaschet [Middleborough] : who sought to draw the
hearts of Massasoyt's subjects from him ; speaking also
disdainfully of us; storming at the Peace between
Nauset, Cummaquid, and us ; and at Tisquantum the
worker of it; also at Tokamahamon and one
HoBBAMOCK [or Hobomok], two Indians or Lemes
[This word is thought to he a misprint] ; one of which
he would treacherously have murdered a little before,
[he] being a special and trusty man of Massasoyt's.
Tokamahamon went to him [openly]: but the other
two would not. Yet, putting their lives in their hands,
privately [they] went to see if they could hear of their
King; and, lodging at Namaschet, were discovered to
CouBATANT [Caunbatant, or Corbitant] : who set a
guard to beset the house, and took Tisquantum ; for he
said. If he were dead ; the English had lost their
tongue.
479
480 New England in America,
HOBBAMOCK (seeing that TiSQUANTUM was taken ;
and [that] Coubatant held a knife at his breast), being
a strong and stout man, brake from them : and came
to New Plymouth full of fear and sorrow for
TiSQUANTUM, whom he thought to be slain.
Upon this news, the Company [at Plymouth]
assembled together [on Monday, the 13th of August
1621] ; and resolved, on the morrow, to send ten men
armed to Namaschet, and Hobbamock for their guide ;
to revenge the supposed death of Tisquantum, on
Coubatant our bitter enemy ; and to retain {arres^
Nepeof, another Sachem or Governor, who was of this
confederacy, till we heard [of] what was become of our
friend Massasoyt.
On the morrow [, Tuesday, the 14th of August], we
set out ten men armed ; who took their journey as
aforesaid : but the day proved very wet.
When we supposed we were within three or four
miles of Namaschet ; we went out of the way, and
stayed there till night: because we would not be
discovered. There we consulted what to do: and
thinking [it] best to beset the house at midnight, each
was appointed his task by the Captain ; all men
incouraging one another to the utmost of their power.
By night, our guide [Hobomok] lost his way ; which
much discouraged our men : [it] being we were wet, and
weary of our arms. But one of our men, having been
before at Namaschet, brought us into the way again.
Before we came to the town, we sat down and ate
such as our knapsack[s] afforded. That being done, we
threw them aside ; and all such things as might hinder
us : and so went on, and beset the house ; according to
our last resolution.
New England in A7nerica. 481
Those that entered, demanded, If Coubatant were
not there ? But fear had bereft the savages of speech.
We charged them not to stir : for if CouBATANT
were not there, we would not meddle with them. If he
were, we came principally for him, to be avenged on
him, for the supposed death of Tisquantum ; and other
matters : but, howsoever, we would not at all hurt their
women or children.
Notwithstanding, some of them pressed out at a
private door, and escaped ; but with some wounds.
At length, perceiving our principal ends, they told
us, Coubatant was returned, with all his train; and
that Tisquantum was yet living, and in the town:
offering some tobacco ; [and] such other as they had to
eat.
In this hurly burly, we discharged two pieces at
random; which much terrified all the inhabitants
except Tisquantum and Tokamahamon: who, though
they knew not our end in comming ; yet assured them
of our honesty, that we would not hurt them.
Those boys that were in the house, seeing our care
of [the] women, often cried 'Neen squaes, that is to
say, " I am a woman [or rather a girl] " : the women
also hanging upon Hobbamock, calling him towam, that
is, " friend."
But, to be short, w^e kept them we had ; and made
fchem make a fire, that we might see to search the house.
In the meantime, Hobbamock gat on the top of the
house ; and called Tisquantum and Tokamahamon :
which came unto us, accompanied with others ; some
Eirmed, and others naked [unarmed].
Those that had bowes and arrows, we took them away
[from them] ; promising them again when it was day.
The house we took for our better safeguard ; but
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 h
482 New England in America.
released those we had taken ; manifesting whom we
came for, and wherefore.
On the next morning [, Wednesday, the 15th August],
we marched into the midst of the town ; and went to
the house of TiSQUANTUM to "breakfast. Thither came
all whose hearts were upright towards us: hut
Coubatant's faction were fled away.
There, in the midst of them, we manifested again
our intendment ; assuring them, That although
CouBATANT had now escaped us: yet there was no
place should secure him and his from us, if he continued
his threatening us, and provoking others against us ;
who had kindly entertained him, and never intended
evil towards him, till he now so justly deserved it.
Moreover, if Massasoyt did not return in safety from
Narrohigganset [Narragansettl ; or if hereafter he
{GoUBATANT^ should make any insurrection against
him ; or offer violence to Tisquantum, Hobbamock, or
any of Massasoyt's subjects : we would revenge it upon
him, to the overthrow of him and his. As for those
[who] were wounded : we were sorry for it, though
[they] themselves procured it, in not staying in the
house at our command ; yet, if they would return home
with us, our Surgeon [Samuel Fuller] should heal
them.
At this offer, one man and a woman that were
wounded went home with us : Tisquantum and many
other known friends accompanying us ; and offering all
help that might be, by carriage of anything we had, to
ease us.
So that, by GOD's good Providence, we safely returned
home, the morrow \j..e, the Wednesday] night
after we set forth.
A Relation of our Voyage [Expedition] to the
MaSSACHUSETS ; AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
^T seemed good to the Company in general
that, though the Massachusets* {the Indians
of Boston Bay] had often threatened us,
as we were informed; yet we should go^
amongst them : partly to see the country ; partly to
make peace with them ; and partly to procure their
truck [commodities].
For these ends, the Governor chose ten men fit for
the purpose, and sent Tisquantum and two other
savages ; to bring us to speech with the people, and [to]
interpret for us.
We set out about midnight [of Tuesday, 18th
September 1621], the tide then serving for us. We,
supposing it to be nearer than it is, thought to be there
the next morning betimes : but it proved well near
twenty leagues [=60 miles: hut the actudl distance
hy water from Plymouth to Boston is about 44 miles]
from New Plymouth.
We came into the bottom of the Bay [i.e. by Point
Allerton to Lighthouse Channel] ; but [it] being late
[on Wednesday, the 19th September], we anchored,
and lay in the shallop : not having seen any of the
people.
* The Indian word Massachusetts means, "A hill in the form of an
arrow's head" : referring to the Blue Hills. — H. M. Dextee, Lib. of New
Englwad Hist., I. 124, Ed. 1865, 4.
483
484 New England m America.
The next morning [of Thursday, the 20th September],
we put in for the shore. There we found many lobsters,
that had been gathered together by the savages : which
we made ready [cooked] under a cliff [ ? at the north-east
of the peninsula of Squantum]. The Captain [Miles
Standish] set two sentinels behind the cliff, to the
landward, to secure the shallop: and, taking a guide
with him and four of our company, went to seek the
inhabitants ; where they met a woman coming for
her lobsters. They told her of them ; and contented
her for them. She told them where the people were.
TiSQUANTUM went to them. The rest returned ; having
direction[s] which way to bring the shallop to them.
The Sachem or Governor of this place is Obbatinewat
[not to he confovmded with Obbatinnua] : and, though
he lives in the bottom of the Massachuset Bay, yet
he is under Massasoyt. He used us very kindly. He
told us, He durst not then remain in any settled place ;
for fear of the Taren tines [The Tarratines lived on the
Penobscot river y Maine] : also the Squa[w] Sachem, or
[the] Massachusets' Queen, was an enemy to him.
We told him of divers Sachems that had [at Plymouth,
on the previouslSth September,] acknowledged themselves
to be King James his men ; and if he also would submit
himself, we would be his safeguard from his enemies:
which he did ; and went along with us, to bring us to
the Squa[w] Sachem.
Again we crossed the Bay [from what is now Quincy
to Charlestown], which is very large ; and hath at least
fifty islands in it, but the certain number is not known
to the inhabitants. Night it was, before we came to
that side of the Bay where this people were. On shore,
the savages went : but found nobody. That night also,
we rid at anchor aboard the shallop.
New England in A merica. 485
On the morrow [of Friday, the 21st September], we
went ashore, all but two men ; and marched, in [under]
arms, up in the country. Having gone three miles ;
we came to a place where corn [maize] had been
newly gathered, a house [wigwam] pulled down, and the
people gone.
A mile from hence [i.e. at what is now Medford],
Nanepashemet their King, in his lifetime, had lived.
His house was not like others : but a scaffold was largely
built [a large scaffold was built] with poles and planks,
some six feet from [the] ground ; and the house, upon
that : [it] being situated on the top of a hill [, now called
Rock Hill].
Not far from hence, in a bottom [near Mystic Pond,
in Medford], we came to a Fort, built by their deceased
King. The manner [of it was] thus :
There were poles, some thirty or forty feet long,
stuck in the ground as thick as they could be set one
by another : and with these, they inclosed a ring some
forty or fifty feet over. A trench, breast high, was
digged on each side. One way there was, to go into
it ; with a bridge. In the midst of this pallizado
[palisade], stood the frame of a house [wigwam] ;
wherein, being dead, he lay buried.
About a mile from hence, we came to such another ;
but seated on the top of a hill. Here Nanepashemet
was killed: none dwelling in it, since the time of his
death [in 1619].
At this place [now Medford] we stayed: and sent
two savages to look [for] the inhabitants ; and to inform
them of our ends in coming, that they might not be
fearful of us. Within a mile of this place, they found
the women of the place together, with their corn on
heaps. Whither we supposed them to be fled for fear
486 New England in America,
of us : and the more, because in divers places they had
newly pulled down their houses : and, for haste in one
place, had left some of their com covered with a mat,
and nobody with it. ,
With much fear, they entertained us at first: but
seeing our gentle carriage [behaviour] towards them,
they took heart and entertained us in the best manner
they could ; boiling cod, and such other things as they
had, for us.
At length, with much sending for, came one of their
men, shaking and trembling for fear : but when he saw
we intended them no hurt, but came to truck, he promised
us his skins also. Of him, we enquired for their Queen :
but it seemed she was far from thence. At least, we
could not see her.
Here Tisquantum would have had us rifle the savage
women ; and take their skins, and all such things as
might be serviceable for us : " for," said he, " they
are a bad people ; and have often threatened you."
But our answer was, " Were they never so bad ; we
would not wrong them, or give them any just Occasion
against us. For their words, we little weighed them :
but if they once attempted anything against us, then
we would deal far worse than he desired."
Having well spent the day, we returned to the
shallop : almost all the women accompanying us, to
truck. Who sold their coats from their backs ; and
tied boughs about them : but with great shamefastness
[shamefacedness] ; for indeed they are more modest than
some of our English women are. We promised them, to
come again to them ; and they, us, to keep their skins
[i.e. heaver skins].
Within this Bay, the savages say, there are two
rivers [, the Mystic and the Charles] : the one [the Mystic]
New England in America, 487
whereof we saw, having a fair entrance ; but we had
no time to discover it. Better harbours for shipping
cannot be, than here are. At the entrance of the Bay-
are many rocks ; and, in all likelihood, very good
fishing ground. Many, yea, most, of the islands have
been inhabitated ; some being cleared from end to end :
but the people are all dead, or removed.
Our victual[s] growing scarce, the wind coming fair,
and having a light moon ; we set out at evening : and,
through the goodness of GOD, came safely home, before
noon the day following \i.e. Saturday, 22nd
September 1621].
A Letter sent from New England to a friend in
THESE PARTS [l.E. EnGLAND], SETTING FORTH A BRIEF
AND TRUE Declaration of the worth of that
Plantation; as also certain useful directions
FOR such as intend A VOYAGE
into those parts.
^OVING and old friend. Although I received
no letter from you by this ship [the Fortune]'.
yet, forasmuch as I know you expect the
performance of my promise (which was to
write unto you truly and faithfully of all things) ; I
have therefore, at this time, sent unto you accordingly ;
referring you, for further satisfaction, to our more
large Relations [here printed at pp. 407-487].
You shall understand, that in this little time [from
the IQth of December, when the Mayflower arrived at
Plymouth, to the 11th December 1621, the first Forefathers'
Anniversary] that a few of us have been here, we have
built seven dwelling houses ; and four for the use of the
Plantation : and have made preparation for divers others.
We set, last Spring, some twenty acres of Indian
corn ; and sowed some six acres of barley and pease :
and, according to the manner of the Indians, we manured
our ground with herrings, or rather shads [alewives] ;
which we have in great abundance, and take with great
ease at our doors [i.e. in the Town Brook].
Our corn did prove well, and, GOD be praised ! we
' 488
New England in America, 489
had a good increase of Indian corn ; and our barley
[was] indifferent[ly] good: but our pease [were] not
worth the gathering ; for we feared they were too late
sown. They came up very well, and blossomed: but
the sun parched them in the blossom.
Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor [William
Bradford] sent four men on fowling ; that so we
might, after a more special manner, rejoice together,
after we had gathered the fruit of our labours \What,
in England, would he called, a Harvest Festival. It
was the first New England ThanJcsgiving Day]. They
four, in one day, killed as much fowl as, with a little
help besides, served the Company [by which is here
intended, the about fifty English people then left alive in
the Colony] almost a week. At which time, amongst
other recreations, we exercised our Arms [i.e. drilled] ;
many of the Indians coming amongst us.
And, amongst the rest, their greatest King,
Massasoyt, with some ninety men ; whom, for three
days, we entertained and feasted. And they went out,
and killed five deer : which they brought to the
Plantation ; and bestowed on our Governor, and upon
the Captain [Miles Standish], and others.
And although it be not always so plentiful as it was
at this time with us : yet, by the goodness of GOD, we
are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers
of our plenty.
We have found the Indians very faithful in their
Covenant of Peace with us ; [and] very loving and
ready to pleasure us. We often go to them ; and they
come to us. Some of us have been fifty miles by land
in the country with them [i.e. to Sowams in Pokanoket ;
see pp. 462-473] : the occasions and Relations whereof
you shall understand hy our general and more full
490 New England in America.
Declaration [aforesaid] of such things as are worth
the noting.
Yea, it hath pleased GOD so to possess the Indians
with a fear of us, and love unto us, that not only the
greatest King amongst them, called Massasoyt ; but
also all the Princes and peoples round about us, have
either made suit unto us, or been glad of any occasion
to make peace with us : so that seven of them at once
have sent their messengers to us to that end. Yea, an
isle at sea, which we never saw {Ga'pawack, now called
Martha's Vineyard], hath also, together with the former,
yielded willingly to be under the protection [of], and
subjects to, our Sovereign Lord King James. So that
there is now great peace amongst the Indians themselves,
which was not formerly ; neither would have been but
for us : and we, for our parts, walk as peaceably and
safely in the wood as in the highways in England. We
entertain them familiarly in our houses ; and they, as
friendly, bestowing their venison on us.
They are a people without any religion, or knowledge
of any God [This error Winslow corrects at page 682];
yet very trusty, quick of apprehension, ripe witted, [and]
just. The men and women go naked ; only a skin about
their middles.
For the temper of the air here, it agreeth well
with that in England : and if there be any difference
at all, this is somewhat hotter in summer. Some
think it to be colder in winter: but I cannot, out of
experience, so say. The air is very clear ; and not foggy,
as hath been reported. I never, in my life, remember a
more seasonable year than we have here enjoyed : and
if we have once but kine, horses, and sheep ; I make no
question but men might live as contented here as in any
part of the world.
Nexv England in America, 491
For fish and fowl, we have great abundance. Fresh
cod, in the summer, is but coarse meat with us. Our
Bay is full of lobsters all the summer ; and affordeth
variety of other fish. In September, we can take a
hogshead of eels in a night, with small labour ; and can
dig them out of their beds. All the winter, we have
mussels and othus [.? a misprint for clams] at our doors.
Oysters we have none near: but we can have them
brought by the Indians, when we will. All the
Spring time, the earth sendeth forth naturally very
good sallet herbs [i,e. vegetables like lettuce, endive,
&c. for salad]. Here are grapes, white and red, and
very sweet and strong also ; strawberries, gooseberries,
raspas [raspberries], &c. ; plums of three sorts, white,
black, and red, being almost as good as a damson :
abundance of roses, red, white, and damask ; single, but
very sweet indeed.
The country vranteth only industrious men to employ
[cultivate it]. For it would grieve your hearts if (as I)
you had seen so many miles together, by goodly rivers,
uninhabited : and withal to consider those parts of the
w^orld wherein you live, to be even greatly burdened
with abundance of people.
These things I thought good to let you understand ;
being the truth of things, as near[ly] as I could
experimentally take knowledge of ; and that you might,
on our behalf, give GOD thanks, who hath dealt so
favourably with us.
Our supply [reinforcement] of men from you, oame
the 9th of November 1621. Putting in at Cape Cod,
some eight or ten leagues from us ; the Indians that
dwell thereabout, [who] were they who were owners of
the corn which we found in caves [? graves] : for which
492 Nezv England in America.
we have given them full content, and are in great
league with them : they sent us word, There was a
ship near unto them, but thought it to be a Frenchman
[a French ship] ; and indeed, for ourselves, we expected
not a friend so soon.
But when we perceived she made for our Bay, the
Governor [William Bradford] commanded a great
piece [a cannon] to be shot off, to call home such as were
abroad at work. Whereupon every man, yea, boy that
could handle a gun, was ready ; with full resolution that,
if she were an Enemy, we would stand, in our just
defence, not fearing them. But GOD provided for us
better than we supposed.
These came all in health unto us ; not any being
sick by the way, otherwise than by sea sickness : and
so continue at this time, by the blessing of GOD. The
goodwif e Ford was delivered of a son, the first night
she landed: and both of them [mother and child] are
very well.
When it pleaseth GOD, we are settled; and fitted
for the fishing business and other trading: I doubt
not but, by the blessing of GOD, the gain will give
content to all. In the mean time, that we have
gotten, we have sent by this ship [the Fortune ; see
pp. 506-508] : and though it be not much ; yet it will
witness for us that we have not been idle ; considering
the smallness of our number all this summer [viz. 32
men only]. We hope the Merchants [the Adventurers]
will accept of it; and be incouraged to furnish us
with things needful for further employment: which
will also incourage us to put forth ourselves to the
uttermost.
Now because I expect your coming unto us with
New England in A7nerica. 493
others of our friends ; whose company we much desire :
I [have] thought good to advertise you of a few things
needful.
Be careful to have [on board your ship] a very good
Bread-room, to put your biscuits in. Let your caske
\casks\ for beer and water be ironbound ; for the first
tyre \the lowest tier of casks in the ship], if not more.
Let not your meat be dry salted. None can better do it
than the sailors. Let your meal be so hard trodd[en] in
your cask that you shall need an adze or hatchet to
work it out with. Trust not too much on us for corn at
this time : for, by reason of this last company that came
[the 35 persons in the Fortune], depending wholly upon
us, we shall have little enough till harvest. Be careful
to come by [he able to get at] some of your meal, to spend
[consume] by the way. It will much refresh you.
Build your cabins as open as you can ; and bring good
store of clothes and bedding with you. Bring every
man a musket, or fowling piece. Let your piece be long
in the barrel ; and fear not the weight of it, for most
of our shooting is from stands [props for the viushets].
Bring juice of lemons ; and take it fasting. It is of
good use. For hot [distilled] waters, Anniseed Water
is the best ; but use it sparingly. If you bring anything
for comfort in the country ; butter, or sallet [salad] oil,
or both, are very good. Our Indian corn, even the
coarsest, maketh as pleasant meat as Rice: therefore
spare that, unless to spend by the way. Bring
paper and linseed oil, for your windows ; with cotton
yarn for your lamps. Let your shot be most[ly]
for big fowls ; and bring store [plenty] of powder
and shot.
I forbear further to write, for the present; hoping to
see vou by the next return [of a ship here]. So I take
494 New England in A^nerica.
my leave ; commending you to the Lord, for a safe
conduct unto us :
Resting in him
Your loving friend,
E. W. [Edward Winslow.]
Plymouth, in New England,
this 11th of December
1621.
Reasons and Considerations touching the
lawfulness [rightfulness] of removing
OUT OF England into the parts
OF America.
ORASMUCH as many Exceptions
M ^/^? ^^^ daily made against the going
Preavfihle. H^^^ into, and inhabiting of, foreign
desert places ; to the hinderances
of Plantations abroad and the increase of distractions at
home : it is not amiss that some (which have been Ear
witnesses of the Exceptions made ; and are Agents, or
Abettors, of such Removals and Plantations) do seek to
give content to the World, in all things that they possibly
can.
And although most of the opposites [opponents] are
such as either dream of raising their fortunes here, to
that than which there is nothing more unlike[ly]; or
such as affecting their homeborn country so vehemently
as that they had rather, with all their friends, beg, yea
starve in it, than undergo a little difficulty in seeking
abroad : yet are there some who (, out of doubt, in
tenderness of conscience and fear to offend GOD, by
running before they be called) are straitened ; and do
straiten [hinder] others from going into foreign
Plantations.
For whose cause, especially ; I have been drawn, out
of my good affection to them, to publish some Reasons
that might give them content and satisfaction ; and also
495
49 6 The lawfulness of P Imitations e. cuBhmau.
stay and stop the willful and witty caviller [captious
objector]. And herein I trust I shall not be blamed of
any godly wise [man] though, through my slender
judgement, I should miss the mark ; and not strike the
nail on the head : considering it is the first attempt that
hath been made, that I know of, to defend those
enterprises. Reason would therefore, that if any man,
of deeper reach and better judgement, see further, or
otherwise ; that he [would] rather instruct me, than
deride me.
Cautions. And, being studious for brevity, we
must first consider, That whereas GOD, of old, did
Gen. xii. 1,2; Call and summou our fathers by predictions,
*°MatS^ii^i9 dreams, visions, and certain illuminations,
Psai. cv. 13. to go from their countries, places, and
habitations, to reside and dwell here, or there ; and
to wander up and down from city to city, and
land to land, according to his will and pleasure :
now there is no such calling to be expected, for any
matter whatsoever ; neither must any so much as
imagine that there will now be any such thing.
GOD did once so train up his people: but now
he doth not ; but speaks in another manner.
And so we must apply ourselves to
GOD's present dealing ; and not to his wonted
dealing. And as the miracle of giving manna ceased,
when the fruits of the land became plenty
[plenteous] : so GOD, having such a plentiful
storehouse of directions in his holy Word ; there must
not now any extraordinary revelations be expected. But
now the ordinary examples and precepts of the Scriptures,
reasonably and rightly understood and applied, must be
the Voice and Word that must call us, press us, and
direct us in every action.
B.oi!8bin»n. The lawfulness of Plantations. 497
Neither is there any land or possession now, like
unto the possession which the Jews had in Caanan ;
being legally holy, and appropriated unto a
holy people, the Seed of Abraha^m : in
which they dwelt securely, and had their days prolonged.
It being by an immediate Voice said. That he, the Lord,
gave it them, as a land of rest after their weary travels ;
and a type of eternal rest in heaven.
But now there is no land of that sanctimony
\sanciii']f\ ; no land, so appropriated ; none, typical : much
less any that can be said to be given of GOD to any
nation, as was Caanan ; which they and their seed must
dwell in, till GOD sendeth upon them Sword or
Captivity. But now we are all, in all places,
strangers and pilgrims, travellers and sojourners : most
properly, having no dwelling but in this
earthen tabernacle. Our dwelling is but a
wandering ; and our abiding, but as a fleeting [a
hastening away] ; and, in a word, our home so were the
is nowhere but in the heavens; in that J*JJJ' tempos!
house not made with hands, whose maker biessmgi and in-
and builder is GOD ; and to which all ascend, ni^Harge Than
that love the Coming of our Lord Jesus. o^-
Though then there may be reasons to persuade a man
to live in this or that land ; yet there cannot be the same
reasons which the Jews had : but now as natural, civil,
and religious bands tie men ; so must they be bound ;
and as good reasons for things terrene and heavenly
appear, so they must be led.
Objection. And so here falleth in our question. How
a man, that is here bom and bred, and hath lived «ome
years [here], may remove himself into another country ?
Answer. I answer, A man must not respect only to
The Pilgrim Fathers, 2 i
49 S The lawfulness of Plantations. R.cushman.
live and do good to himself ; but he should see where he
can live to do most good to others : for, as one saith, " He
whose living is but for himself ; it is time he were dead."
Some men there are who, of necessity, must here
live ; as being tied to duties, either to Church,
Common Wealth, household, kindred, &c. But others,
and that many, who do no good in none of those
1. What persons [Callings], nor can do none; as being not
may hence able, or uot in favour, or as wanting
opportunity : and living as outcasts,
nobodies, eyesores ; eating but for themselves ; teaching
but themselves ; and doing good to none, either in soul
or body ; and so pass over days, years, and months ;
yea, so live and so die.
Now such should lift up their eyes and see, Whether
there be not some other place and country
shouid^emoye'^ ^^ ^^ich they may go, to do good : and
have use towards others, of that knowledge,
wisdom, humanity, reason, strength, skill, faculty, &c. ;
which GOD hath given them for the service of others,
and his own glory ?
But not to .pass the bounds of modesty so far
as to name any, though I confess I know many who sit
here still, with their talent in a napkin,
having notable endowments, both of body
and mind ; and might do great good if they were in
some places ; which here do none, nor can do none : and
yet, through fleshly fear, niceness [fastidiousness or
daintiness], straitness [narrotuness] of heart, &c., sit still
and look on ; and will not hazard a dram of health, nor
a day of pleasure, nor an hour of rest, to further the
knowledge and salvation of the sons of Adam
ii;i that New World ; where a drop of the
knowledge of Christ is most precious, which
R. cushman. Tkc lawfulfiess of Plantations. 499
is here not set by. Now what shall we say to such a
Profession of Christ, to which is joined no more denial
of a man's self ?
Objection. But some will say, What right have I
to go [and] live in the heathen's country ?
Answer. Letting pass the ancient discoveries,
contracts, and agreements which our Englishmen have,
long since, made in those parts ; together with the
acknowledgement of the Histories and Chronicles of
other nations ; who profess [acknowledge] the land of
America, from Cape de Florida unto the Bay of Canada
[Gulf of St Lawrence] — which is South and North, 300
leagues and upwards ; and East and West, further than
yet hath been discovered — is proper [belongs] to the
King of England. Yet letting that pass, lest I be
thought to meddle further than it concerns me, or
further than I have discerning: I will mention such
things as are within my reach, knowledge, sight, and
practice, since I have travailed [laboured] in these affairs.
And first, Seeing we daily pray for the conversion
of the heathens ; we must consider, Whether
there be not some ordinary means and Ttg^on2
course for us to take to convert them: or
whether prayer for them, be only referred to GOD's
extraordinary work from heaven ? Now it seemeth unto
me, that we ought also to endeavour and use the means
to convert them : and the means cannot be used, unless
we go to them, or they come to us. To us, they cannot
come : our land is full. To them, we may go : their
land is empty.
This then is a sufficient reason to prove our going
thither to live, lawful [morally right]. Their
- . . , .J J 11 Reason 3.
land is spacious and void, and there are
few : and [they] do but run over the grass, as do also
500 The lawfulness of Plantations. B.oaBhinan.
the foxes and wild beasts. Th'^y are not industrious :
neither have art, science, skill, or faculty to use either
the land, or the commodities of it ; but all spoils, rots,
and is marred, for want of manuring, gathering,
ordering, &c. As the ancient Patriarchs therefore
removed from straiter places into more roomthy, where
the land lay idle and waste, and none used ; though
there dwelt inhabitants by them, as Gen. xiii. 6, 11, 12
and xxxiv. 21, and xli. 20 : so is it lawful now to take a
land, which none useth ; and [to] make use of it.
And as it is a common land or unused, and [an]
undressed [uncultivated] country; so we
TW8°°8* to te ^^^® ^^» ^y common consent, composition,
considered as and agreement ; which agreement is double :
EngfanMnd thi First, the imperial Governor, Massasoit
territories about /^^^ose circuits \houndaTies\ in likelihood,
the Plantation. ^ i t-^ i i i n j i
are larger than England and Scotland) hath
acknowledged the King's Majesty of England to be his
master and Commander ; and that once in my hearing
[in November, or December 1621] : yea, and in writing,
under his hand, to Captain Standish, both he and many
other Kings which are under him (as Pamet, Nauset,
Cummaquid, Narrowhiggonset, Namaschet, &c.) ; with,
divers others that dwell about the Bays of Patuxet
[Plymouth] and Massachuset [Boston Bay].
Neither hath this been accomplished by threats and
blows, or [the] shaking of sword and sound of trumpet.
For as our faculty that way is small, and our strength
less ; so our warring with them is after another
manner, namely, by friendly usage, love, peace, honest
and just carriages [behaviour], good counsel, &c. : that so
3- and "^^ and they may not only live in peace in
xiviii. 8. ' that land, and they yield subjection to an
RvCushman, The lawfuluess of Plant atiofis, 501
earthly Prince; but that, as voluntaries, they may
be persuaded at length to embrace the Prince of
Peace, Christ JesuS ; and rest in peace with him
for ever.
Secondly. This composition is also more particular
and applicatory as touching ourselves there . inhabiting.
The Emperor, by a joint consent, hath promised and
appointed us to live at peace, where we will, in all his
dominions; taking what place we will, and as much
land as we will ; and bringing as many people as we
will. And that for these two causes.
First. Because we are the servants of James, King
of England ; whose the land, as he confesseth, is.
Secondly. Because he hath found us just, honest,
kind, and peaceable ; and so loves our company.
Yea, and that in these things there is no dissimulation
on his part, nor fear of breach [quarrel] (except our
security ingender in them some unthought-of treachery ;
or our uncivility [rudeness] provoke them to anger) is
most plain in other Relations [at pp. 407-494] ; which
shew that the things they did, were more out of love
than out of fear.
It being then, first, a vast and empty chaos ; secondly,
acknowledged the right of our Sovereign King ; thirdly,
by a peaceable composition in part possessed of divers
of his loving subjects : I see not, who can doubt and call
in question the lawfulness [righteousness] of inhabiting
or dwelling there ; but that it may be as lawful for
such, as are not tied upon some special occasion here, to
live there as well as here. Yea, and as the enterprise is
weighty and difficult : so the honour is more worthy,
to plant a rude wilderness, to enlarge the honour and
fame of our dread Sovereign ; but chiefly to display the
efficacy and power of the Gospel, both . in zealous
502 The lawfulness of Plantations. R.oushman.
preaching, Professing, and wise walking under it, before
the faces of these poor blind infidels.
As for such as object the tediousness of the voyage
thither ; the danger of pirates' robbery, [and] of the
savages' treachery, &c. ; these are but lions in the
way : and it were well for such men, if
Prov. xxii. 13. , , . , t-, , ,
they were in heaven, tor who can shew
them a place in this world, where iniquity shall not
compass them at the heels ? or where they
Matt'h^'!i*34. shall have a day without grief? or a lease
of life, for a moment ? And who can tell
but GOD, what dangers may lie at our doors, even in our
native country ? or what plots may be abroad [hatching] ?
or when GOD will cause our sun to go down at
noonday ? and, in the midst of our peace and
Amos. viii. 9. • ■ i i j •
security, lay upon us some lasting scourge
for our so long neglect and contempt of his most
glorious Gospel ?
Objection. But we have here great peace, plenty of
the Gospel, and many sweet delights and variety of
comforts.
Answer. True indeed, and far be it from us to deny
and diminish the least of these mercies.
2Chron.xxxu. g^^ ^^^^ ^^ rendered unto GOD thankful
obedience for this long peace, whilst other
peoples have been at war [The allusion here is to the
Thirty Years War then raging in Germany] ? Have we
not rather murmured, repined, and fallen at jars amongst
ourselves ; whilst our peace hath lasted with foreign
Power[s] ? Were there ever more suits in law, more envy,
contempt, and reproach, than now a days ? Abraham
and Lot departed asunder, when there fell a breach
R. cusiiman. The lawfulncss Of Plantations. 503
betwixt them ; which was occasioned by
the straitness of the land : and, surely, I " ' " .
am persuaded that howosever the frailities of men are
principal [the primary causes] in all contentions, yet
the straitness of the place is such, as each man is fain
to pluck his means, as it were, out of his neighbour's
throat. There is such pressing and oppressing, in town
and country, about farms, trades, traffic, &c. ; so as a
man can hardly anywhere set up a trade, but he shall
pull down two of his neighbours.
The towns abound with young tradesmen [artizans] ;
and the hospitals are full of the ancient [ones]. The country
is replenished with new farmers ; and the almhouses
are filled with old labourers. Many there are who get
their living with bearing burdens ; but more are fain to
burden the land with their whole bodies. Multitudes
get their means of life by prating ; and so do numbers
more, by begging. Neither come these straits upon
men always through intemperancy, ill husbandry,
indiscretion, &c., as some think : but even the most
wise sober and discreet men go often to the wall ;
when they have done their best. Wherein, as GOD's
Providence swayeth all, so it is easy to see. That the
straitness of the place, having in it so many strait
[narrow] hearts, cannot but produce such efiects more
and more. So as every indifferent [impartial] minded
man should be ready to say, with father Abkaham,
" Take thou, the right hand ; and I will take the left ! "
Let us not thus oppress, straiten, and afflict one another !
but seeing there is a spacious land, the way to which is
through the sea, we will end this difference in a day !
That I speak nothing about the bitter contention
that hath been about Religion, by writing disputing and
inveighing earnestly one against another: the heat of
504 The lawfulness of Plantations, e. cushman
which zeal, if it were turned against the rude barbarism
of the heathens, it might do more good in a day than it
hath done here in many years. Neither of the little
love to the Gospel, and profit which is made by the
Preachers in most places ; which might easily drive the
zealous to the heathens : who, no doubt, if they had but
a drop of that knowledge, which here fiyeth about the
streets, would be filled with exceeding great joy and
gladness, as that they would even pluck the Kingdom
of Heaven by violence ; and take it, as it were, by force.
TKc last let The greatest let [hindrance] that is
yet behind is, The sweet fellowship of friends, and the
satiety of bodily delights.
But can there be two nearer friends almost, than
Abraham and Lot; or than Paul and Barnabas?
And yet, upon as little occasions as we have here, they
departed asunder ; two of them being Patriarchs of the
Church of old, the others, the Apostles of the Church
which is new : and their covenants were such as, it
seemeth, might bind as much as any covenant between
men at this day; and yet, to avoid greater inconveniences,
they departed asunder.
Neither must men take so much thought for the
flesh as not to be pleased, except they can pamper their
bodies with variety of dainties. Nature is content with
little : and health is much endangered by mixtures
upon the stomach. The delights of the palate do often
inflame the vital parts ; as the tongue
setteth afire the whole body.
Secondly. Varieties here are not common to
all; but many good men are glad to snap at a crust.
The rent- taker lives on sweet morsels ; but the
rent-payer eats a dry crust often with watery eyes :
R. coshman. Tkc lawfuluess of Plautations, 505
and it is nothing to say, what some one of a hundred
hath ; but what the bulk, body, and comminalty hath —
which, I warrant you, is short enough.
And they also which now live so sweetly ; hardly
will their children attain to that priviledge, but some
circumventor or other will outstrip them, and make
them sit in the dust : to which men are brought in one
Age [lifetime] ; but cannot get out of it again, in seven
generations.
To conclude. Without all partiality, the present
consumption [exhausticni] which groweth upon us here
(whilst the land groaneth under so many close-fisted
and unmerciful men), being compared with the easiness,
plainness, and pi enti fulness in living, in those remote
parts ; may quickly persuade any man to a liking of
this course, and to practice a removal. Which being done
by honest godly and industrious men ; they shall be
there right heartily welcome : but for others of dissolute
and profane life, their rooms [vacancy, or absence] are
better than their companies. For if here, where the
Gospel hath been so long and plentifully taught, they
are yet frequent in such vices as the heathen would
shame to speak of : what will they be, when there is less
restraint in word and deed ?
My only suit to all men is. That, whether they live
here or there, they would learn to use this world as [if]
they used it not ; keeping faith and a good conscience
both with GOD and men: that when the Day of
Account shall come, they may come forth as good and
fruitful servants ; and freely be received, and enter into
the joy of their Master. R. 0.
FINIS.
The Complaint of certain Adventurers and
Inhabitants of the Plantation in
New England
Shewetli
That a ship belonging to them, named the
Fortune, of the burden of between 40 and 50 tons or
thereabouts, being upon their way homeward, and near
the English coast, some eight leagues off Use, called by
the Frenchmen He d'Use,* was, the 19th of January last
[1622], assailed and taken by a French Man of War,
the Captain whereof was called FoNTENAU DE Pennart
de Brittannie [Bretagne] : and carried to the Isle of
Use.
That FoNTENAU presented the ship, and company
thereof, being 13 persons, as prisoners to Monsieur le
Marquis DE Cera, Governor of the Isle. Who although,
upon examination and sight of their Commission, he
found that they were neither pirates, nor assistants to
Rochelle [i.e. to the Huguenots there], and acknowledged
there was no breach [toar] between England and France :
yet said, He would make prize of them, to give content
to his Captains and servitors.
That thereupon Monsieur DE Cera kept Thomas
Barton, Master of the ship, seven daj^-s, close prisoner
in his Castle ; and the rest of the company under guard :
* Captain John Smith states that this was He d'Yeu, off the coast of
Poitou.— iVew England's Trials, 2nd Ed., 1622, 4.
506
The 7^obbe7y of the Y ovtuno,, 507
and commanded his soldiers to pillage them ; who left
them not so much as a kettle to boil their meat in, nor
a can to drink in.
That Monsieur DE Cera took away of the goods of
the Adventurers, in beaver skins and other commodities,
to the value of £400, at the least.
That he took away of the Owners, a Newshett
cable [a new sheet-cable : i.e. the chain cable belonging
to the 'sheet anchor], an anchor, two murderers [small
cannon] with their chambers, eight calivers [hand-guns]
with bandileers [shoulder-belts holding powder charges]^
a flag, [an] ensign, powder, shot, ropes, lines, and other
instruments, to the value of £50.
That he suffered his soldiers to pillage the company,
that they took away all their apparel ; not leaving some
of them a hat to their heads, nor a shoe to their feet, to
the damage of £50 at least.
That he sent for all their letters ; [and] opened and
kept what he pleased : especially, though he was much
intreated to the contrary, a letter written by [William
Bradford,] the Governor of our Colony in New England^
containing a general Relation of all matters there.*
That when any ship, English or Dutch, came into the
* Posterity will always owe a grudge to this noble thief, for his robbery
of Governor Beadfoed's despatch : unless it should happily be recovered
from among the existing French archives ; and then posterity would bless
him for ever. Doubtless, the Marquis kept it, in order to send it up to
the Court at Paris.
Governor Winslow tells us, at page 582, that the narrative we have
printed at pp. 407-494, " came to the press against my will and knowledge."
It is therefore a makeshift private narrative, sent to press by Cushman,
Morton, Shieley and others in the absence of the ofiBcial one stolen. For,
naturally enough, the Adventurers in London would feel constrained to
print some account of the Colony ; in order to further its welfare, and also
to satisfy public opinion. — E. A.
5o8 The robbery of the Fortune.
road ; he caused our company to be stowed under the
hatches. And-^having detained them thirteen days \}
from 20th January to 1st Febrvury 1622. The Fortune
arrived in London on the l^th February] ; and fed them
with lights, livers, and entrails : because he suffered his
soldiers to eat all their good victuals — at length, he sent
them aboard a little lean flesh, a hogshead of small
[poor] wine, some little bread and vinegar, to victual
them home. But withal prepounded to them, to testify,
under their hands, That he had taken from them but
two * hogsheads of fox skins f : else, he said, they should
not have liberty.
Howbeit, by the kindness of a young Gentleman,
pitying their distress — who only amongst the French
could speak English — they were discharged ; giving,
under their hands. That the Marquis of Cera had taken
from them two hogsheads of beaver skins, and some
other small matters.
Endorsed
A Complaint of divers Adventurers
and Inhabitants of New England.
S. P. Colonial, Vol. V., No 112.
* Captain John Smith states, " Within a montli, they [in the Fortune]
returned here [from New Plymouth'] for England, laded with clapboard,
wainscot [oakwood for panelling] and walnut [wood], with about three
hogsheads of beaver skins, and some saxefras [sassa/ra»], the 13 December
[1621]." New England's Trials, 2nd Ed., 1622, 4.
If BO, CusHMAN must, in some way or other, have outwitted the noble
pirate ; and saved one of the hogsheads of beaver skins from his clutches.
Bradford, however, says, "two hogsheads of beaver and other skins."
MS. 153.
t The Marquis had probably never seen a beaver skin in his life ; and
gave the skins the only name he knew of. — E. A.
Good News from
New England:
or
a true Relation of things very remarkable at
the Plantation of Plymouth in
New England.
Shewing the wonderful Providence and goodness of
GOD, in their preservation and continuance;
being delivered from many apparent
deaths and dangers.
Together with
a Relation of such religious and civil laws and
customs as are in practice amongst the Indians
adjoining to them, at this day.
As also
what commodities are there to be raised for the
maintenance of that and other Plantations
in the said country.
Written by E. W. ; who hath borne a part in
the forenamed troubles, and there lived
since their j&rst arrival,
LONDON.
Printed by I. D. [John Dawson] for William Bladen
and John Be-llamie : and are to be sold at their
shops; at the JBible in Paul's Churchyard,
and at the Three Golden Licnis in
Comhill, near the Royal
Exchange. 1624.
To THE Reader.
^OOD Reader. When I first penned this
discourse, I intended it chiefly for the
satisfaction of my private friends: but,
since that time, have been persuaded to
publish the same. And the rather, because of a
disorderly Colony [of Thomas Weston's Tnen] that are
dispersed, and most of them returned [to England];
to the great prejudice and damage of him that set
them forth. Who, as they were a stain to Old England
that bred them, in respect of their lives and manners
amongst the Indians : so, it is to be feared, [they] will be
no less to New England, in their vile and clamorous
reports ; because she would not foster them in their
desired idle courses.
I would not be understood to think there were no
well-deserving persons amongst them. For, of- mine
own knowledge, it was a grief to some, that they were
so yoked : whose deserts as they were then suitable to
their honest protestations ; so, I desire, [they] still may
be, in respect of their just and true Relations.
Peradventure thou wilt rather marvel that I deal
so plainly ; than any way doubt of the truth of this,
my Relation. Yea, it may be, tax me therewith : as
seeming rather to discourage men, than [in] any way to
further so noble an action.
If any honest mind be discouraged ; I am sorry.
Sure I am, I have given no just cause : and am so far
from being discouraged myself, as I purpose to return
511
512 To the Reader.
Got. B. Winslow.
forthwith. And for other light and vain persons ; if
they stumble hereat, I have my desire: accounting it
better for them and us, that they keep where they
are ; as being unfit and unable to perform so great a
task.
Some faults have escaped; because I could not
attend on the press : which I pray thee correct as thou
findest ; and I shall account it as a favour unto me.
Thine,
E. W.
To ALL WELL-WILLERS AND FURTHERERS OF PLANTATIONS
IN New England ; especially to such as ever have
[assisted], or desire to assist, the people
OF Plymouth in their just proceedings ;
GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED !
IGHT Honourable and Worshipful Gentleman ;
or whatsoever. Since it hath pleased GOD
to stir you up to be Instruments of his
glory, in so honourable an enterprise as the
inlarging 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 ; inabling us with health and
ability, beyond expectation, in our greatest scarcities ; and
The Pilgrim Fathers. 513 2 K
514 The Epistle Dedicatory. gov. e. wmeiow.
possessing the hearts of the savages with astonishment
and fear of us. Whereas if GOD had let them loose,
they might easily have swallowed us up; [scarce[ly]
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 unskilfullness ; and bear with my plainness in the
things I have handled. Be not discouraged by our
former necessities ; but rather incouraged with us :
hoping that as 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 \the. Adventv/rers], 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 expection of present [instant] profit:
which, too [far] too commonly, taketh a
principal seat in the heart and afiections ;
Gov. E. winsiow. Tkc Eplsth Dedicatovy. 515
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 under them : to maintain a
transitory base honour in themselves ; which
GOD oft punisheth with contempt.
3. The carelessness of those that send over supplies
\TGinfoTcerYhenis\ of men unto them ; not caring
how they be qualified : so that oft times
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 have
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
intreat them to moderate their affections; and [to]
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 [of] the common good of all for whom
they are imployed. 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
this kind; and adorn his Profession with an upright
life and conversation : which Doctrine of Manners ouo:ht
first to be preached, by giving a good example to the
5 1 6 The Epistle Dedicatory, gov. e. winsiow.
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 [to] 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. [Edward Winslow.]
Good News
from New England.
^J^^HE good ship, called the Fortune (which,
in the month of November 1621, blessed
be GOD ! brought us a new Supply
[reinforcement] of 35 persons) was not
long departed [from] omc coast [on 13th December 1621],
ere the great people of Nanohigganset [J^arragansett],
which are reported to be many thousands strong, began
to breathe forth many threats against us ; notwithstand-
ing their desired and obtained peace with us, in the
foregoing summer: insomuch as the common talk of
our neighbour[ing] Indians, on all sides, was of the
preparation they made to come against us.
In reason, a man would think they should have now
more cause to fear us that before our Supply came.
But, though none of them were present ; yet
understanding by others. That they [in the Fortune]
neither brought arms, nor other provisions with them ;
but wholly relied on us: it occasioned them to slight
and brave us with so many threats as they did.
At length, came one of them to us, who was sent by
Canauacus [i.e. Canonicus] their chief Sachem or
King ; accompanied with one Tokamahamon, a friendly
Indian.
This messenger inquired for Tisquantum our
interpreter ; who not being at home, [he] seemed rather
517
5 1 8 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
to be glad than sorry : and leaving for him, a bundle of
new arrows lapped in a rattlesnake's skin, desired to
depart with all speed. But our Governors (not knowing
what to make of this strange carriage \bekaviouT\ ; and
comparing it with what we had formerly heard)
committed him to the custody of Captain Standish:
hoping now to know some certainty of that we so often
heard ; either by his own relation to us, or to
TiSQUANTUM at his return ; desiring myself, having
special familiarity with the other forenamed Indian, to
see if I could learn anything from him. Whose \i.e.
ToKAMAHAMOi^s] answer was sparingly to this effect,
That he could not certainly tell ; but [he] thought they
were enemies to us.
That night. Captain Standish gave me and another,
charge of him ; and gave us order to use him kindly,
and that he should not want anything he desired : and
to take all occasions to talk, and inquire of the reasons
of those reports we heard ; and withal to signify that,
upon his true relation, he should be sure of his own
freedom.
At first, fear so possessed him that he could scarce[ly]
say anything: but, in the end, [he] became more
familiar, and told us, That the messenger, which his
master sent, in summer [of 1621], to treat of peace ; at
his return, persuaded him rather to war: and to the
end he might provoke him thereunto, as appeared to
him by our reports, [he = the former messenger] detained
many of the things [that] were sent him [i.e. Canonicus]
by our Governor [William Bradford] ; scorning the
meanness of them, both in respect of what [he] himself
had formerly sent [to Plymouth], and also of the
greatness of his own person. So that he [the Indian
with whom Winslow was now talking] much blamed
Gov. E. winaiow. Good Ncws fropt New England, 5^9
the former messenger, saying, That, upon the knowledge
of this, his false carriage; it would cost him his life.
But [he] assured us that, upon his relation of our speech
then with him, to his master, he would be friends with us.
Of this, we informed the Governor [William
Bradford] and his Assistant [Isaac Allerton], and
Captain [Miles] Standish: who, after consultation,
considered him howsoever but in the state of a
messenger ; and, it being as well against the Law of Arms
amongst them, as us in Europe, to lay violent hands on
any such, set him at liberty. The Governor giving
him order, to certify his master. That he had heard of
his large and many threatenings, at which he was much
offended : daring him, in those respects, to the utmost,
if he would not be reconciled to live peaceably, as others
his neighbours ; manifesting withal, as ever, his desire
of peace, but his fearless resolution, if he could not so
live amongst them.
After which, he caused meat to be offered him : but
he refused to eat, making all speed to return, and giving
many thanks for his liberty. But requesting the other
Indian again to return : the weather being violent, he
\i.e. Tokamahamon] used many words to persuade him
to stay longer ; but could not. Whereupon he [i.e.
Tokamahamon] left him ; and said. He was with his
friends ; and would not take a journey in such extremity
[of weather].
After this, when Tisquantum returned ; and the
arrows were delivered, and the manner of the
messenger's carriage related : he signified to the
Governor, That to send the rattlesnake's skin, in that
manner, imported enmity ; and that it was no better
than a challenge.
Hereupon, after some deliberation, the Governor
520 Good News from New England, gov.e. wmsiow
stuffed the skin with powder and shot ; and sent it
back: returning no less defiance to CoNANAGUS
\CANomQVs\ ; assuring him, If he had [had] shipping
now present, thereby to send his men to Nanohigganset
[Narragansett, now Rhode Island], the place of his
abode ; they should not need to come so far by land to
us: yet withal shewing that they should never come
unwelcome or unlooked for.
This message was sent by an Indian ; and delivered
in such sort, as it was no small terror to this savage
King ; insomuch as he would not once touch the powder
and shot, or suffer it to stay in his house or country :
whereupon, the messenger refusing it, another took it
up ; and [it] having been posted from place to place a
long time, at length [it] came whole [unopened] back
again [to Plymouth].
In the mean time, knowing our own weakness,
notwithstanding our high words and lofty looks towards
them ; and still lying open to all casualty, having, as yet,
under GOD, no other defence than our arms : we
thought it most needful to impale our town; which,
with all expedition, we accomplished in the month of
February and some few days [in March]. Taking
in the top of the hill [now the Burial Hill] under
which our town is seated: making four bulwarks
or jetties [bastions or projections] without the ordinary
circuit of the pale [palisade], from whence we could
defend the whole town in three whereof, are gates ;
and [in] the fourth, [there will be one] in time to be.
This being done. Captain Standish divided our
strength [forces] into four Squadrons or Companies ;
appointing whom he thought most fit, to have command
of each : and, at a General Muster or Training, appointed
Gov. E. winBiow. Good Ncws from New England. 521
each his place ; gave each, his Company ; giving them
charge, upon every alarm, to resort to their leaders to
their appointed place; and in his absence, to be
commanded and directed by them. That done, according
to his order, each drew his Company to his appointed
place for defence ; and there together [they] discharged
their muskets. After which, they brought their new
Commanders to their houses ; where again they graced
them with their shot, and so departed.
Fearing also lest the enemy, at any time, should take
any advantage by firing our houses ; Captain Standish
appointed a certain Company that (whensoever they
saw [fire], or heard " Fire ! " to be cried in the town)
should only betake themselves to their arms ; and
should inclose the house, or place, so indangered ; and
stand aloof \cd a distance] on their guard, with their
backs towards the fire : to prevent treachery, if any
were in that kind intended. If the fire were in any of
the houses [of the district] of this guard ; they were
then freed from it [i.e. froin being thus on guard] ; but
not otherwise, without special command.
Long before this time, we promised the people of
Massachuset [i.e. Boston Bay], in the beginning of
March [1622] to come unto them, and trade for their
furs : which [time] being then come, we began to make
preparation for that voyage.
In the mean time, an Indian, called Hobbamock, who
still lived in the town [of Plymouth, see page 383], told
us. That he feared the Massachusets, or Massachuseucks
(for so they called the people of that place), were
joined in confederacy with tho Nanohigganeucks
or people of Nanohigganset [Narragansetts] ; and
that they therefore would take this opportunity to
52 2 Good News fro7n New England, gov. e wmBiow.
cut off Captain Standish and his company abroad
\wliile away'] : but howsoever, in the mean time, it was
to be feared that the Nanohigganeuks would assault the
town at home ; giving many reasons for his jealousy. As
also that Tisquantum was in the confederacy : who, we
should find, would use many persuasions to draw us
from our shallops to the Indians' houses \wigwa7ns\, for
their better advantage.
To confirm this his jealousy, he told us of many secret
passages that passed between him and others, having
their meetings ordinarily abroad in the woods : but if at
home [at Plymouth] howsoever, he was excluded from
their secrecy ; saying, It was the manner of the Indians,
when they meant plainly, to deal openly.
But in this his practice \jplot\ there was no shew of
honesty.
Hereupon the Governor, together with his Assistant
[Isaac Allerton] and Captain Standish, called together
such as, by them, were thought most meet for advice
in so weighty a business ; who, after consideration
hereof, came to his resolution :
That as hitherto, upon all occasions between them
and us, we had ever manifested undaunted courage and
resolution ; so it would not now stand with our safety to
mew [slmtl up ourselves in our new-enclosed town:
partly because our Store was almost empty, and therefore
[we] must seek out for our daily food, without which we
could not long subsist ; but especially for that thereby
they would see us dismayed, and be encouraged to
prosecute their malicious purposes with more eagerness
than ever they intended. Whereas, on the contrary, by
the blessing of GOD, our fearless carriage might be a
means to discourage and weaken their proceedings.
And therefore, [it was] thought best to proceed in
Gov. E. winsiow. Good News fvom Ncw England. 523
our Trading Voyage, making this use of that we heard
— to go better provided, and use the more carefulness
both at home and abroad : leaving the event to the
disposing of the Almighty. Whose Providence, as it had
hitherto been over us for good ; so we had now no cause,
save our sins, to despair of his mercy in our preservation
and continuance : where we desired rather to be
Instruments of good to the heathens about us, than to
give them the least measure of just offence.
All things being now in readiness, the forenamed
Captain, with ten men, accompanied with Tisquantum
and HoBBAMOCK, set forwards for the Massachusets \i.e.
Boston Bay, 44 miles away].
But we* had no sooner turned the point of the
harbour. Gurnet's Nose, (where, being becalmed, we let
fall our grapnel ; [in order] to set things to rights,
and prepare to row); but there came an Indian of
Tisquantum's family, running to certain of our people
that were from home [in the fields, distant from
Plym^outh], with all eagerness, having his face wounded,
and the blood still fresh on the same, calling to them
to repair home ; oft looking behind him, as if some
others had him in chase : saying, That at Namaschet
[Middlehorough], a town some fifteen miles from
us, there were many of the Nanohiggansets
[Narragansetts], Massassowat our supposed friend,
and CoNBATANT [or Corbitant], our feared enemy,
with many others ; with a resolution to take
advantage, on the present opportunity, to assault
the town, in the Captain's absence. Affirming that he
* WiNSLOW was therefore one of the eleven Englishmen in the shallop.
-E. A.
524 Good News from New Eng land. gov. e. winsiow.
received the wound in his face, for speaking in our
behalf, and by slight [cra/f] escaped ; looking oft
backward, as if he suspected them to be at hand.
This he affirmed again to the Governor : whereupon
he gave command that three pieces of ordnance should
be made ready and discharged ; to the end that, if we
were not out of hearing, we might return thereat.
Which we no sooner heard ; but we repaired
homeward with all convenient speed : arming ourselves,
and making all in [a] readiness to fight. When we
entered the harbour, we saw the town likewise on their
guard : whither we hasted, with all convenient speed.
The news being made known unto us ; Hobbamock
said flatly. That it was false: assuring us of
Massassowat's faithfulness. Howsoever he presumed
\_feli certain], he would never have undertaken any
such act without his privity ; himself being a Pinese,
that is, one of his chiefest champions or men of valour :
it being the manner amongst them, not to undertake
such enterprises without the advice and furtherance of
men of that rank.
To this, the Governor answered. He should be sorry
that any just and necessary occasions of war should
arise between him and any [of] the savages ; but
especially Massassowat : not that he feared him more
than the rest ; but because his love more exceeded
towards him than any.
Whereunto Habbamock replied, There was no cause
wherefore he should distrust him; and therefore [the
Governor] should do well to continue his affections.
But to the end things might be made more manifest ;
the Governor caused Hobbamock to send his wife, with
all privacy, to Puckanokick [i.e. to So warns in Pokanoket],
the chief place of Massassowat's residence, pretending
Got. E. winsiow. Goocl Ncws froTu Ncw England. 525
other occasions : there to inform herself, and so us,
of the right state of things.
When she came thither, and saw all things quiet ;
and that no such matter was, or had been, intended,
[she] told Massassowat what had happened at Plymouth,
by them called Patuxet. Which, when he understood,
he was much offended at the carriage [behaviour] of
TiSQUANTUM : returning many thanks to the Governor
for his good thoughts of him ; and assuring him that,
according to their first Articles of Peace, he would send
word, and give warning, when any such business was
towards [approaching].
Thus, by degrees, we began to discover Tisquantum ;
whose ends were only to make himself great in the eyes
of his countrymen, by means of his nearness and favour
with us : not caring who fell, so he stood.
In the general, his course was to persuade them, he
could lead us to peace or war, at his pleasure. And
would oft threaten the Indians, sending them word, in a
private manner, we were intended shortly to kill them ;
that thereby he might get gifts to himself, to work their
peace : insomuch as they had him in greater esteem
than many of their Sachems. Yea, they [the Sachems]
themselves sought to him : who promised them peace in
respect to us, yea, and protection too, so as they would
resort to him. So that whereas divers were wont to rely
on Massassowat for protection, and resort to his abode :
now they began to leave him, and seek after Tisquantum.
Now though he could not make good these his
large promises; especially because of the continued
peace between Massassowat and us: he therefore
raised this false alarm, hoping, whilst things were hot
in the heat of blood, to provoke us to march into his
country against him ; whereby he hoped to kindle such
526 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
a flame as would not easily be quenched. And hoping,
if that block were once removed, there were no other
between him and honour ; which he loved as his life, and
preferred before his peace.
For these, and the like abuses, the Governor sharply-
reproved him : yet was he so necessary and profitable
an Instrument as, at that time, we could not miss him.
But, when we understood his dealings, we certified all
the Indians, of our ignorance and innocency therein :
assuring them, [that] till they began [to tight] with us,
they should have no cause to fear ; and if any hereafter
should raise any such reports, they should punish them
as liars, and seekers of their and our disturbance. Which
gave the Indians good satisfaction on all sides.
After this, we proceeded in our voyage to the
Massachusets ; where we had good store of trade :
and, blessed be GOD ! returned in safety ; though
driven from before our town, in great danger and
extremity of weather.
At our return, we found Massassowat at the
Plantation ; who made his seeming[ly] just apology for
all former matters of accusation : being much offended
and inraged against Tisquantum ; whom the Governor
pacified as much as he could for the present.
But, not long after his departure, he sent a messenger
to the Governor, intreating him to give way to the death
of Tisquantum ; who had so much abused him.
But the Governor answered. Although he had
deserved to die, both in respect of him and us ; yet,
for our sakes, he desired he would spare him : and the
rather, because without him, he knew not well how to
understand himself, or any other [of] the Indians.
Gov E. winsiow. Good Ncws fvom Ncw Euglaud. 527
With this answer, the messenger returned ; but came
again, not long after, accompanied with divers others ;
demanding him, from {on behalf 0/] Massassowat their
master, as being one of his subjects, whom by our first
Articles of Peace [see pp. 457-458] we could not retain :
yet because he would not willingly do it, without the
Governor's approbation, [he] offered him many beavers'
skins for his consent thereto ; saying, That, according to
their manner, their Sachem had sent his own knife, and
them therewith, to cut off his head and hands, and bring
them to him.
To which the Governor answered, It was not the
manner of the English to sell men's lives at a price ; but
when they had deserved justly to die, to give them their
reward : and therefore refused their beavers' [skins] as a
gift. But sent for Tisquantum ; who though he knew
their intent, yet offered not to fly : but came and accused
HOBBMIOCK as the author and worker of his overthrow ;
yielding himself to the Governor, to be sent or not,
according as he thought meet.
But, at the instant, when our Governor was ready to
deliver him into the hands of his executioners, a boat
was seen at sea to cross before our town, and fall behind
a headland not far off. Whereupon, having heard many
rumours of the French, and not knowing whether there
were any combination between the savages and them ;
the Governor told the Indians, He would first know
what boat that was, ere he would deliver him into their
custody. But, being mad with rage, and impatient at
delay, they departed in [a] great heat.
Here let me not omit one notable, though wicked,
practice [deceit] of this Tisquantum; who (to the end
he might possess his country men with the greater fear
of us ; and so consequently of himself) told them, We
528 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
had the plague buried in our Storehouse : which, at our
pleasure, we could send forth to what place or people we
would ; and destroy them therewith, though we stirred
not from home.
Being, upon the forenamed brabbles \wTangles\ sent
for by the Governor, to this place where Habbamock
was, and some other of us ; the ground being broke[n]
in the midst of the house (whereunder certain barrels
of powder were buried ; though unknown to him)
HoBBAMOCK asked him, What it meant ?
To whom, he readily answered, That was the place,
wherein the plague was buried ; whereof he formerly
told him and others.
After this, Hobbamock asked one of our people,
Whether such a thing were ? and Whether we had
such command of it ?
Who answered, No. But the God of the English had
it in store : and could send it at his pleasure ; to the
destruction of his and our enemies.
This was, as I take it, about the end of May 1622.
At which time, our store of victuals was wholly
spent : having lived, long before, with a bare and short
allowance.
The reason was that [the] Supply of men before
mentioned \i\ie 35 persons who came in the Fortune],
which came so unprovided; not landing so much as a
barrel of bread or meal for their whole company : but
contrariwise received from us, for their ship's store
homeward. Neither were the setters forth thereof
altogether to be blamed therein : but rather certain
amongst ourselves, who were too prodigal in their
writing and reporting [by the Mayflower] of that
plenty we enjoyed.
Gov. E. winsiow. Good News fvom New England, 529
But that I may return. This boat proved to be
a shallop, that belonged to a fishing ship, called the
Sparrow, set forth by Master Thomas Weston, late
Merchant and citizen of London : which brought six
or seven passengers, at his charge, that should before
have been landed at the Plantation ; who also brought
no more provision[s] for the present, than served the
boat's gang [crew] for their return to the ship. Which
made her voyage [i.e. made her profit by fishing]
at a place called Damarin's Cove near Munhiggen
[Damariscove Islands, near Monhegan, off the coast
of Maine], some forty leagues [ = 120 miles] from us
north-eastward. About which place, there fished above
thirty Sail of ships.
And whither [I] myself was imployed by our
Governor, with orders to take up such victuals as the ships
could spare. Where I found kind entertainment and
good respect; with a willingness to supply our wants.
But, being not able to spare that quantity I required
(by reason of the necessity of some among themselves ;
whom they suppHed before my coming), [they]
would not take any Bills [of Exchange] for the same :
but did what they could freely, wishing their store
had been such as they might in greater measure have
expressed their own love, and supplied our necessities,
for which they sorrowed ; provoking one another [to
free gifts for the Colony] to the utmost of their
abilities. Which, although it were not much, amongst
so many people as were at the Plantation ; yet through
the provident and discreet care of the Governors, [it]
recovered and preserved strength till our own crop on
the ground was ready.
Having dispatched there ; I returned home with
all speed convenient : where I found the state of the
The Pilgrim Fathers 2 L
530 Good News from New England, gov. e winsiow.
Colony much weaker than when I left it. For till
now, we were never without some bread : the want
whereof, much abated the strength and flesh of some ;
and swelled others.
But here it may be said, If the country abound with
fish and fowl in such measure as is reported ; how
could men undergo such measure of hardness \haTdskvp\
except through their own negligence ?
I answer, Everything must be expected in its proper
season. " No man," as one saith, " will go into an
orchard in the winter, to gather cherries : " so he that
looks for fowl there in the summer, will be deceived in
his expectation. The time they continue in plenty with
us, is from the beginning of October to the end of
March : but these extremities bef el us in May and
June. I confess that as the fowl decrease, so fish
increase ; and indeed their exceeding abundance was
a great cause of increasing our wants. For though
our bay and creeks were full of bass and other fish;
yet for want of fit and strong saynes \seines — an
encircling net with floats at its top] and other netting,
they for the most part brake through and carried
all away before them : and though the sea were full
of cod ; yet we had neither tackling nor harseis
[hawsers] for our shallops. And indeed had we not
been in a place where divers sorts of shell fish are,
that may be taken with the hand, we must have
perished ; unless GOD had raised some unknown or
extraordinary means for our preservation.
In the time of these straits, indeed before my going
to Munhiggen [Monhegan] ; the Indians began again
to cast forth many insulting speeches; glorying in
our weakness, and giving out how easy it would be
Gov. E. winsiow Gooci Ncws f7'om New England. 531
ere long to cut us off. Now also Massassowat seemed
to frown on us; and neither came, or sent, to us, as
formerly.
These things occasioned further thoughts of
fortification. And whereas we have a hill, called The
Mount {^Afierwardbs called Fort Hill, and now Burial
Hill], inclosed within our pale [jpalisade], under which
our town is seated ; we resolved to erect a Fort thereon ;
from whence a few might easily secure the town from
any assault the Indians can make ; whilst the rest might
be imployed [elsewhere], as occasion served. This work
was begun with great eagerness, and with the
approbation of all men: hoping that, this being once
finished, and a continual guard there kept, it would
utterly discourage the savages from having any hopes
or thoughts of rising against us: And though it took
the greatest part of our strength from dressing our
corn [in May and June 1622]: yet, life being continued,
we hoped GOD would raise some means instead thereof,
for oar further preservation.
In the end of June, or beginning of July [1622],
came into our harbour [at Plymouth], two ships of
Master [Thomas] Weston's aforesaid ; the one called
the Charity, and the other the Swan : having in them
some fifty, or sixty, men, sent over at his own charge
to plant for him. These we received into our town ;
affording them whatsoever courtesy our mean condition
could afford. There the Charity, being the bigger ship,
left them ; having many passengers, which she was
to land in Virginia.
In the mean time, the body of them refreshed
themselves at Plymouth ; whilst some, [who were] most
fit, sought out a place for them. The little store of corn
532 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmeiow.
[growing maize] we had, was exceedingly wasted by the
unjust and dishonest walking of these strangers; who
though they would sometimes seem to help us in our
labour about our corn ; yet spared not, day and night, to
steal the same — it being then eatable and pleasant to
[the] taste ; though green and unprofitable. And though
they received much kindness [from us; yet] set light
both by it and us ; not sparing to requite the love we
shewed them, with secret backbitings, revilings, &c.:
the Chief of them being forestalled \jprepossessed by
Thomas Wi:ston] and made against us, before they
came ; as afterwards appeared.
Nevertheless, for their Master's sake, who formerly
had deserved well from us, we continued to do
them whatsoever good, or furtherance, we could:
attributing these things to the want of conscience and
disGi^etion ; expecting each day when GOD, in his
ProA^^idence, would disburden us of them ; sorrowing
that their Overseers were not of more ability and
fitness for their places ; and much fearing what would
be the issue of such raw and unconscionable
[ill-considered and unreasonable] beginnings.
At length, their coasters [surveyors] returned;
having found, in their judgement, a place fit for [a]
Plantation, within the Bay of the Massachusets [i.e.
Boston Bay], at a place called by the Indians
Wichaguscusset [Wessagusset, now called WeyTnouth].
To which place, the body of them went, with all
convenient speed ; leaving still with us, such as were
sick and lame, by the Governor's permission, though on
their parts undeserved : whom our Surgeon [Samuel
Fuller], by the help of GOD, recovered gratis
for them; and tiiey fetched home, as occasion
served.
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws frofn Ncw England. 533
They had not been long from us, ere the Indians
filled our ears with clamours against them ; for stealing
their corn, and other abuses conceived by them. At
which we grieved the more ; because the same men \ihe
Boston Bay Indians], in mine own hearing, had be^n
earnest in persuading Captain Standish, before their
coming [i.e. Weston's men], to solicit our Governor,
to send some of his men, to plant by them : alledging
many reasons, how it might be commodious for us.
But we knew no means to redress those abuses ; save
reproof, and advising them to better walking, as
occasion served.
In the end of August [1622], came other two ships
into our harbour [at Plymouth] : the one, as I take it,
was called the Discovery, Captain [Thomas] Jones
having the command thereof ; the other was that ship of
Master Weston's, called the Sparrow, which had now
made her voyage of fish [had a full cargo of fish],
and was consorted with the other, being both bound for
Virginia. [This is a mistake. The Discovery was
returning from Virginia to England. Seepp. 392-394.]
Of Captain Jones, we furnished ourselves of such
provisions [for trading, i.e. heads <&c.] as we most
needed, and he could best spare : who as he used us
kindly ; so [he] made us pay largely for the things we
had. And had not the Almighty, in his all-ordering
Providence, directed him to us ; it would have gone
worse with us than ever it had been, or after was. For
as we had now but small store of corn [maize] for the
year following ; so, for want of Supply [reinforcemycnt],
we were worn out [exhausted] of all manner of trucking
stuff [commodities for barter], not having [therefore]
any means left to help ourselves by trade : but, through
534 Good News from New England, gov. e wineiow.
GOD's good mercy towards us, he had wherewith ; and
did supply our wants on that kind competently.
In the end of September, or beginning of October
[1622], Master Weston's bigger ship, called the Charity,
returned for England : and left their Colony [at
Wessagusset] sufficiently victualled ; as some of most
credit amongst them reported. The lesser, called the
Swan, remained with his Colony, for their further help.
At which time, they desired to join in partnership
with us, to trade for corn. To which our Governor
[William Bradford] and his Assistant [Isaac
Allerton] agreed, upon such equal conditions as were
drawn [up] and confirmed between them and us.
The chief places aimed at, were to the southward
of Cape Cod: and the more, because Tisquantum
(whose peace, before this time, was wrought with
Massassowat) undertook to discover unto us that
supposed, and still hoped for, passage within the shoals
[the Pollock Rip, &c.'].
Both Colonies being thus agreed, and their companies
fitted and joined together; we resolved to set forward:
but were oft crossed in our purposes.
As first, Master Richard Greene (brother in law to
Master Weston; who from him had a charge in the
oversight and government of his Colony) died suddenly
at our Plantation : to whom we gave burial befitting
his place, in the best manner we could. Afterward,
having further order to proceed by letter from [John
Sanders] their other Governor at the Massachusets :
twice Captain Standish set forth with them ; but [they]
were driven in again by cross and violent winds ;
himself, the second time, being sick of a violent fever.
By reason whereof (our own wants being like[ly]
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws fvont New England. 535
to be now greater than formerly : partly because we
were enforced to neglect our corn, and spend much time
in fortification ; but especially because such havock was
made of that little we had, through the unjust and
dishonest carriage [behaviour] of those people before
mentioned, at our first entertainment of them) ; our
Governor, in his own person, supplied the Captain's
place ; and, in the month of November [1622], again
set forth, having Tisquantum for his interpreter and
pilot: who affirmed he had twice passed within the
shoals of Cape Cod, both with [the] English and [the]
French.
Nevertheless, they went so far with him, as the
Master of the ship [the Swan] saw no hope of passage :
but being, as he thought, in danger, bare up ; and,
according to Tisquantum's directions, made for a
harbour not far from them, at a place called
Manamoycke [Chatham]. Which they found ; and
sounding it with their shallop, found the channel,
though but narrow and crooked: where, at length,
they harboured the ship. Here they perceived that
the tide set in and out, with more violence [than] at
some other place[s] more southerly : which they had
not seen, nor could discover, by reason of the violence
of the season, all the time of their abode there. Some
judged the entrance thereof might be beyond the
shoals : but there is no certainty thereof as yet known.
That night, the Governor, accompanied with others,
[and] having Tisquantum for his interpreter, went
ashore. At first, the inhabitants played least in sight
[hardly appeared], because none of our people had ever
been there before : but understanding the ends of their
[i.e. our] coming ; at length, came to them : welcoming our
Governor according to their savage manner ; refreshing
536 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
them very well with store of venison and other
victuals, which they brought them in great abundance ;
promising to trade with them, with a seeming gladness
of the occasion. Yet their joy was mixed with much
jealousy, as appeared by their after practices. For,
at first, they were loath their dwellings should be
known; but when they saw our Governor's resolution
to stay on shore all night; they brought him to their
houses : having first conveyed all their stufi" to a
remote place, not far from the same ; which one of
our men, walking forth, occasionally \aGcidenily\
espied; whereupon, on the sudden, neither it nor
them could be found. And so, many times, upon
conceived occasions; they would be all gone, bag
and baggage.
But being afterwards, by Tisqantum's means, better
persuaded; they left their jealousy, and traded with
them. Where they got eight hogsheads of corn and
beans; though the people were but few. This gave
our Governor and the company good encouragement.
TiSQUANTUM was still confident in the passage ; and
the inhabitants affirmed. They had seen ships of good
burden pass within the shoals aforesaid. But here,
though they had determined to make a second assay : yet
GOD had otherways disposed, who struck Tisquantum
with sickness ; insomuch as he there died. Which
crossed {stoipfedi^ their southward trading : and the more,
because the Master's sufficiency was much doubted ; and
the season very tempestuous, and [in which it was]
not fit to go upon discovery, having no guide to
direct them.
From thence they departed ; and, the wind being fair
for the Massachusets \i.e,. Boston Bay], [they] went
thither ; and the rather, because the savages, upon our
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws froiH New England. 537
motion, had planted much corn for us: which they
promised [to have ready] not long before that time.
When they came thither, thej^ found a great sickness to
be amongst the Indians ; not unlike the plague, if not the
same. They renewed their complaints to our Governor,
against that other Plantation seated by them \ai
Wessagussef]'^ for their injurious walking. But indeed
the trade, both for furs and corn, was overthrown in
that place : they [ We&ton's men] giving as much for
a quart of corn, as we used to do for a beaver's skin.
So that little good could be there done.
From thence, they returned into the bottom of the
Bay of Cape Cod, to a place called Nauset [now called
Eastham]: where [Aspinet,] the Sachem used the
Governor very kindly ; and where they bought eight
or ten hogsheads of corn and beans.
Also at a place called Mattachiest [the country
between Barnstable and Yarmouth harbours : but here
the word probably rrieans Cumm^aquid = Barnstable
harbour. See page 474.]; where they had like kind
entertainment, and corn also.
During the time of their trade in these places, there
were so great and violent storms, as the ship [the Swan]
was much endangered ; and our shallop [was] cast away :
so that they had now no means to carry the corn aboard
that they had bought ; the ship riding, by their report,
well near two leagues from the same [i.e.fror)i Uastham] ;
her own boat being small, and so leaky (having no
Carpenter with them) as they durst scarce[ly] fetch
wood or water in her.
Hereupon the Governor caused the corn to be made
in a round stack; and bought mats and cut sedge, to
cover it : and gave charge to the Indians, not to meddle
with it ; promising him that dwelt next to it a reward, if
538 Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
he would keep vermin also from it ; which he undertook,
and [Aspinet] the Sachem promised to make good \to
see it was done].
In the mean time, according the Governor's request ;
the [same] Sachem sent men to seek the shallop : which
they found buried almost in sand at a high water
mark; having many things in her, but unserviceable
for the present. Whereof the Governor gave the Sacheni
special charge, that it should not be further broken ;
promising ere long to fetch both it and the com :
assuring them, if neither were diminished, he would
take it as a sign of their honest and true friendship;
but if they were, they should certainly smart for their
unjust and dishonest dealing ; and, further, make good
whatsoever they had so taken.
So he did likewise at Mattachiest [? Barnstable
harbour].
And took leave of them, being resolved to leave the
ship [the Swan]; and take his journey home by land,
with our own company : sending word to the ship, that
they should take their first opportunity to go for
Plymouth; where he determined, by the permission of
GOD, to meet them.
And having procured a guide, it being no less than
fifty miles to our Plantation [i.e. from Eastham to
Plymouth, by land], set forward : receiving all respect
that could be, from the Indians in his journey ; and
came safely home, though weary and surbated
[footsore].
Whither, some three days after, the ship also came.
The corn being divided, which they had got; Master
Weston's Company went to their own Plantation [at
Wessagusset] : it being further agreed, that they should
return, with all convenient speed, and bring their
Gov. E. winsiow. Gooci News fro^H New England. 539
Carpenter ; that they might fetch the rest of the corn,
and save their shallop.
At their return, Captain Standish, being recovered
and in health, took another shallop, and went with
them to the corn : which they found in safety, as they
[had] left it. Also they mended the other shallop ; and
got all their corn aboard the ship [the ^wan\
This was in January [1623], as I take it. It being
very cold and stormy; insomuch as, the harbour
[Easthain harbour] being none of the best, they were
constrained to cut both the shallops from the ship's
stern ; and so lost them both, a second time. But the
storm being over; and seeking out; they found them
both, not having received any great hurt.
Whilst they were at Nauset [Eastharri] (having
occasion to lie on the shore; laying their shallop in a
creek not far from them), an Indian came into the same,
and stole certain beads, scissors, and other trifles, out of
the same. Which when the Captain missed, he took
certain of his company with him, and went to [Aspinet]
the Sachem ; telling him what had happened, and
requiring the same again ; or the party that stole them,
who was known to certain of the Indians: or else he
would revenge it on them before his departure. And
so took leave for that night, [it] being late: refusing
whatsoever kindness they offered.
On the morrow, [Aspinet] the Sachem came to their
randevous [encaTnpment], accompanied with many men,
in a stately manner ; who saluted the Captain in this
wise. He thrust out his tongue [so] that one might see
the root thereof, and therewith licked his hand from the
wrist to the finger's end; withal bowing the knee,
striving to imitate the English gesture : being instructed
540 Good News from New England, got. e. wmsiow.
therein formerly by Tisquantum. His men did the
like : but in so rude and savapje a manner as our men
could scarce[ly] forbear to break \froTfi breaking] out in
open laughter.
After salutation, he delivered the beads and other
things to the Captain ; saying, He had much beaten the
party for doing it ; causing the women to make bread,
and [to] bring [it to] them, according to their desire ;
seeming to be very sorry for the fact, but glad to be
reconciled.
So they departed, and came home in safety : where
the corn was equally divided, as before.
After this, the Governor [William Bradford] went
to two other inland towns, with another company;
and bought corn likewise of them : the one is called
Namasket [Middlehorough] ; the other, Manomet
[Sandwich].
That from Namasket was brought home partly by
Indian women : but a great sickness arising amongst
them, our own men were inforced to fetch hom.e the
rest.
That at Manomet, the Governor left in the Sachem's
custody. This town lieth from us south, well near
twenty miles; and stands upon a fresh [water] river
which runneth into the Bay of Nanohigganset [This is
an error. The Manoviet river runs into Manomet or
Buzzard's Bay ; and not into Narragansett Bay.] ;
and cannot be less than sixty miles from thence. It
will bear a boat of eight or ten tons to this place
[Sandwich]. Hither the French, or Dutch, or both, use
[are accustomed] to come.
It is from hence to the Bay of Cape Cod [at Scusset
harbour] about eight miles : out of which Bay it floweth
Gov. E. winsiow. Good News froTfi Ncw England. 541
into a creek some six miles, almost direct towards the
town. The heads of the [Manomet] river, and [of] this
creek are not far distant.
The river yieldeth, thus high [from the ocean], oysters,
mussels, clams, and other shell fish ; one in shape like a
bean, another like a clam : both good meat, and [in]
great abundance at all times. Besides, it aboundeth with
divers sorts of fresh fish, in their seasons.
The Governor or Sachem of this place [Manomet],
was called Canacum [or Cawnacome]: who had
formerly [viz. on ISth September 1621],, as well as many
others, (yea, all with whom as yet we had to do)
acknowledged themselves the subjects of our Sovereign
Lord the King.
This Sachem used the Governor very kindly; and,
it seemed, was of good respect and authority amongst
the Indians.
For whilst the Governor was there, within night,
in bitter weather, came two men from Manamoick
[Chatham] before spoken of; and having set aside
their bows and quivers ; according to their manner,
sat down by the fire, and took a pipe of tobacco;
not using any words in that time : nor any others to
them ; but all remained silent, expecting when they
should speak.
At length, they looked towards Canacum ; and one
of them made a short speech, and delivered a present to
him from his Sachem : which was a basket of tobacco,
and many beads; which the other received thankfully.
After which, he made a long speech to him; the
contents whereof were related to us by Hobbamock,
who then accompanied the Governor for his guide, to
be as followeth:
542 Good News fro7n New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
It happened that two of their men fell out, as they
were in game (for they use gaming as much as anywhere :
and will play away all, even their skin from their backs ;
yea, and for their wives' skins also, although it may be
they are many miles distant from them, as [I] myself have
seen), and growing to [a] great heat, the one killed the
other. The actor of this fact was a Powah \Fowovo = a
Medicine Man] ; one of special note amongst them, and
such a one as they could not well miss : yet another people,
greater than themselves, threatened them with war, if
they would not put him to death. The party offending
was in hold [prison] ; neither would their Sachem do
one way or another till their return : resting upon him
for advice and furtherance in so weighty a matter.
After this, there was silence a short time. At length,
men gave their judgement, AVhat they thought best.
Amongst others, he asked Hobbamock, What he
thought ?
Who answered, He was but a stranger to them : but
thought it was better that one should die than many ;
since he had deserved it, and the rest were innocent.
Whereupon, he [GA^''ACUM] passed the sentence of
death upon him.
Not long after, having no great quantity of corn
left, Captain Standish went again with a shallop to
Mattachiest [Barnstable harbour]: meeting also with'
the like extremity of weather, both of wind snow and
frost ; insomuch as they were frozen in the harbour, the
first night they entered the same.
Here they [the Indians] pretended their wonted love ;
and spared them a good quantity of corn to confirm the
same. Strangers also came to this place, pretending to
see him. and his company; whom they never saw
Gov. E. winsiow. Gooci Ncws from Ncw England, 543
before that time: but intending to join with the rest
to kill them, as after appeared.
But, being forced through extremity [of weather], to
lodge in their houses \wigwa'ms\ which they much
pressed ; GOD possessed the heart of the Captain with
[a] just jealousy {susipicionl : giving strait command
that as one part of his company slept, the rest should
[keep a] wake ; declaring some things to them
which he understood, whereof he could make no
good construction.
Some of the Indians, spying a fit opportunity, stole
some beads also from him, which he no sooner perceived,
having not above six men with him, [he] drew them
all from the boat ; and set them on their guard about
the Sachem's house, where most of the people were:
threatening to fall upon them without further delay,
if they would not forthwith restore them; signifying
to the Sachem especially, and so to them all, that
as he would not offer the least injury ; so he would
not receive any at their hands, which should escape
without punishment or due satisfaction.
Hereupon [, Iyanough,] the Sachem bestirred himself
to find out the party ; which, when he had done, [he]
caused him to return them again to the shallop : and came
to the Captain, desiring him to search whether they were
not about the boat ; who, suspecting their knavery, sent
one, who found them lying openly upon the boat's cuddy
[locker].
Yet, to appease his anger, they brought corn afresh to
trade : insomuch as he laded his shallop, and so departed.
This accident so daunted their courage, as they durst
not attempt anything against him. So that, through
the good mercy and Providence of GOD, they returned
in safety.
544 Good News from New England, qov E.wmBiow.
At this place [Barnstable harbour], the Indians get
abundance of bass, both summer and winter : for it being
now February, they abounded with them.
In the beginning of March [1623], having refreshed
himself, he took a shallop, and went to Manomet
[? to Scusset harbour, which goes up westward towards
Manomet], to fetch home that which the Governor
had formerly bought [see page 540] : hoping also to
get more from them. But was deceived in his
expectation : not finding that entertainment he found
elsewhere, and [that] the Governor had there received.
The reason whereof, and of the treachery intended
in the place before spoken of, was not then known
unto us ; but [till] afterwards : wherein may be observed
the abundant mercies of GOD, working with his
Providence for our good.
Captain Standish (being now far from the boat, and
not above two or three of our men with him ; and as
many with the shallop) was not long at Canacum the
Sachem's house : but in came two of the Massachuset
[Boston Bay] men. The chief of them was called
WiTUWAMAT a notable insulting villain : one who had
formerly imbrued his hands in the blood of English and
French, and had oft boasted of his own valour ; and
derided their weakness, especially because, as he said,
they died crying, making sour faces, more like children
than men.
This villain took a dagger from about his neck, which
he had gotten of Master Weston's people, and presented
it to the Sachem ; and after made a long speech, in an
audacious manner, framing it in such sort as the
Captain, though he be the best linguist [i.e. in the
Indian dialects] amongst us, could not gather anything
gqv. e. winBiow. Good News from New England. 545
from it. The end [purpose] of it was afterward
discovered to be as foUoweth:
The Massacheuseucks had formerly concluded to
ruinate Master Weston's Colony ; and thought
themselves, being about thirty or forty men, strong
enough to execute the same : yet they durst not
attempt it till such time as they had gathered more
strength to themselves, to make their party good
against us at Plymouth ; concluding that if we
remained, (though they had no other arguments to use
against us), yet we would never leave the death of our
countrymen unrevenged ; and therefore their safety
could not be, without the overthrow of both Plantations.
To this end, they had formerly solicited this Sachem,
as also the other called I[y]anough at Mattachiest, and
many others, to assist them : and now again came to
prosecute the same. And since there was so fair an
opportunity offered by the Captain's presence ; they
thought best to make sure [of] him and his company.
After this his message was delivered, his
entertainment [by the Sachem] much exceeded the
Captain's : insomuch as he [Miles Standish] scorned
at their behaviour ; and told them of it. After which,
they would have persuaded him, because the weather
was cold, to have sent to the boat for the rest of his
company : but he would not, desiring, according to
[their] promise, that the corn might be carried down,
and he would content the women for their labour ;
which they did.
At the same time, there was a lusty Indian of
Paomet [Pamet] or Cape Cod, then present; who had
ever demeaned himself well towards us: being, in his
general carriage, very affable, courteous, and loving;
especially towards the Captain. This savage was now
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 M
54^ Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
entered into confederacy with the rest ; yet, to avoid
suspicion, made many signs of his continued affections :
and would needs bestow [give] a kettle of some six or
seven gallons, on him ; and would not accept of anything
in lieu thereof, saying. He was rich ; and could afford to
bestow such favours on his friends whom he loved.
Also he would freely help to carry some of the corn :
affirming he had never done the like in his life before.
And the wind being bad, would needs lodge with him
at their randevous [enca'r}ipr)ient] : having indeed
undertaken to kill him, before they parted ; which
done, they intended to fall upon the rest.
The night proved exceedingly cold, insomuch as the
Captain could not take any rest : but either walked, or
turned himself to and fro at the fire.
This, the other observed ; and asked. Wherefore he
did not sleep as at other times ?
Who answered. He knew not well ; but [he] had no'
desire at all to rest.
So that he [the Indian] then missed his opportunity.
The wind serving on the next day, they returned
home ; accompanied with the [this] other Indian : who
used many arguments to persuade them to go to Paomet
[Pamet] ; where [he] himself had much corn, and many
others, the most whereof he would procure for us ;
seeming to sorrow for our wants.
Once the Captain put forth with him [i.e. for
Pamet] ; and was forced back by [a] contrary wind.
Which wind serving for the Massachuset; [he] was
fitted to go thither : but on a sudden it altered again.
During the time that the . Captain was at Manomet,
news came to Plymouth, that Massassowat was
like[ly] to die; and that, at the same time, there was
Gov E. wiusiow. Good News from New England, 547
a Dutch ship driven so high on the shore, by stress of
weather, right before his dwelling \ojt Sowams in
Pokanohet\ that, till the tides increased, she could not
be got off.
Now it being a commendable manner of the Indians,
when any, especially of note, are dangerously sick, for
all that profess friendship to them, to visit them in
their extremity ; either in their persons, or else to send
some acceptable persons to them : therefore it was
thought meet, being a good and warrantable action,
that as we had ever professed friendship, so we should
now maintain the same by observing this their laudable
custom ; and the rather, because we desired to have
some conference with the Dutch; not knowing when
we should have so fit an opportunity.
To that end, myself having formerly been there [see
pp. 462-473], and understanding in some measure the
Dutch tongue; the Governor again laid this service
upon myself ; and fitted me with some cordials, to
administer to him : having one. Master John Hamden
(a Gentleman of London; who then wintered with us,
and desired much to see the country) for my consort ;
and HoBBAMOCK for our guide.
So we set forward; and lodged the first night at
Namasket [Middlehorough], where we had friendly
entertainment.
The next day, about one of the clock, we came to
a ferry in Conbatant's [or Corbitant's] country : where,
upon discharge of my piece, divers Indians came to us,
from a house not far off. There they told us. That
Massassowat was dead, and that day buried ; and that
the Dutch would be gone before we could get thither,
having hove off their ship already. This news struck
54^ Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
us blank [pui us at a nonplus]; but especially
HoBBAMOCK : who desired we might return [to Plymouth]
with all speed.
I told him, " I would first think of it. Considering
now that he being dead, Conbatant [or Corbitant]
was the most like[ly] to succeed him ; and that we were
not above three miles from Mattapuyst [a neck of land,
now called Gardner's Neck, in Swansey], his dwelling
place: although he were but a hollow-hearted friend
towards us, I thought no time so fit as this to enter
into more friendly terms with him, and the rest of the
Sachems round about ; hoping, through the blessing of
GOD, it would be a means, in that unsettled state, to
settle their affections towards us.
^ " And though it were somewhat dangerous, in respect
of our personal safety ; because myself and Hobbamock
had been imployed upon a service against him [pp. 479-
482], which he might now fitly revenge : yet esteeming
it the best means, leaving the event to GOD in his
mercy, I resolved to put it in practice, if Master
Hampden and Hobbamock durst attempt it with me."
Whom I found willing to that, or any other course,
[that] might tend to the general good.
So we went towards Mattapuyst. In the way,
Hobbamock, manifesting a troubled spirit, brake forth
into these speeches, Neen womasu Sagionus ! Neen
womasu Sagimus! &c., " My loving Sachem ! My loving
Sachem ! Many have I known ; but never any like
thee ! "
And turning him to me, said, " Whilst I lived ; I
should never see his like amongst the Indians." Saying,
He was no liar. He was not bloody and cruel like [the]
other Indians. In anger and passion, he was soon
reclaimed ; easy to be reconciled towards such as had
Gov. E. wiDsiow. Good News from New England. 549
offended him ; ruled by reason in such measure, as he
would not scorn the advice of mean men ; and that he
governed his men better with few strokes than others
did with many ; truly loving, where he loved. Yea,
he feared we had not a faithful friend left among the
Indians : shewing how he, oft times, restrained their
malice, &c. Continuing a long speech,, with such signs
of lamentation and unfeigned sorrow, as it would have
made the hardest heart relent.
At length, we came to Mattapuyst, and went to the
Sachimo Comaco ; for so they call the Sachem's place ;
though they call an ordinary house [wigwam] Witeo :
but CoNBATANT the Sachem was not at home ; but at
[Sowams in] Puckanokick, which was some five or six
miles off. The Squa[w] Sachem, for so they call the
Sachem's wife, gave us friendly entertainment.
Here we inquired again concerning Massassowat.
They thought him [to be] dead ; but knew no certainty.
Whereupon I hired one to go, with all expedition,
to Puckanokick : that we might know the certainty
thereof; and withal to acquaint Conbatant with our
there being.
About half an hour before sunsetting, the messenger
returned; and told us. That he was not yet dead: though
there was no hope we should find him living.
Upon this, we were much revived ; and set forward
with all speed, though it was late within night ere we
got thither.
About two of the clock, that afternoon, the Dutchmen
departed : so that, in that respect, our journey was
frustrate [of no avail].
When we came thither [i.e. to Sowa'ms],we found the
house so full of men as we could scarce get in ; though
they used their best diligence to make way for us.
550 Good News from New England, aov. e. wmBiow.
There were they, in the midst of their charms for him :
making such a hellish noise, as it distempered us that
were well ; and therefore [was] unlike[ly] to ease him
that was sick. About him were six or eight women,
who chafed his arms, legs, and thighs; to keep heat
in him.
When they had made an end of their charming ; one
told him, That his friends the English were come to see
him.
Having [his] understanding left, but his sight was
wholly gone ; he asked, " Who was come ? "
They told him, "Winsnow." For they cannot
pronounce the letter I ; but ordinarily [use] n in the
place thereof.
He desired to speak with me.
When I came to him, and they told him of it ; he
put forth his hand to me, which I took. Then he said
twice, though very inwardly [m a low tone], Keen
WiNSNOW? , which is to say, " Art thou WiNSLOW ? "
I answered, Ahlie ; that is, " Yes."
Then he doubled {repeatedl these words, Malta neen
woncJcanet namen Winsnow? , that is to say, "O
WiNSLOW, I shall never see thee again."
Then I called Hobbamock, and desired him to tell
Massassowat, That the Governor [William Bradford],
hearing of his sickness, was sorry for the same : and
though, by reason of many businesses, he could not
come himself ; yet he sent me with such things for him,
as he thought most likely to do him good, in this his
extremity. And wh'^reof, if he pleased to take ; I would
presently [at once] give him.
Which he desired. And having a confection
[preparation] of many comfortable conserves &c. : on
the point of my knife, I gave him some ; which I could
Qov.E. wiDBiow. Good News from New England, 551
scarce get through his teeth. When it was dissolved in
his mouth, he swallowed the juice of it : whereat those
that were about him, much rejoiced ; saying, He had
not swallowed anything in two days before.
Then I desired to see his mouth, which was
exceedingly furred ; and his tongue [had] swelled in
such a manner, as it was not possible for him to eat
such meat as they had, his passage [gullet] being
stopped up. Then I washed his mouth, and scraped
his tongue; and got abundance of corruption out
of the same.
After which, I gave him more of the confection;
which he swallowed with more readiness. Then he
desiring to drink ; I dissolved some of it in water, and
gave him thereof. Within half an hour, this wrought
a great alteration in him, in the eyes of all that beheld
him. Presently after, his sight began to come to him :
which gave him and us good encouragement.
In the mean time, I inquired, How he slept ; and
when he went to the stool ?
They said, He slept not in two days before ; and had
not had a stool in five.
Then I gave him more [of the confection in water] ;
and told him of a mishap we had, by the way, in
breaking a bottle of drink ; which the Governor also
sent him : saying. If he would send any of his men to
Patuxet, I would send for more of the same ; also for
chickens to make him broth ; and for other things
which I knew were good for him : and would stay the
return of the messenger, if he desired.
This he took marvellous[ly] kindly ; and appointed
some, who were ready to go by two of the clock in the
morning: against which time, I made ready a letter,
declaring therein our good success, the state of his body,
552 Good News from New England, gov. e. window
&c. ; desiring to send me such things as I sent for, and
such physic as the Surgeon [Samuel Fuller] durst
administer to him.
He requested me that, the day following I would
take my piece, and kill some fowl [^eese, duclcs &c^ ; and
make him some English pottage, such as he had eaten at
Plymouth : which I promised.
After, his stomach [a'ppetite] coming to him, I must
needs make him some without fowl, before I went
abroad. Which somewhat troubled me, being
unaccustomed and unacquainted in such businesses;
especially having nothing to make it comfortable
[tasty']', my consort [Master John Hamden] being
as ignorant as myself. But [it] being, we must do
somewhat; I caused a woman to bruise some corn,
and take the flour from it: and we set the grut
[groats], or broken corn, in a pipkin; for they have
earthen pots of all sizes.
When the day broke, we went out, it being now
March [1623], to seek herbs : but could not find any
but strawberry leaves ; of which I gathered a handful,
and put in the same. And because I had nothing to
relish it ; I went forth again, and pulled up a saxafras
[sassafras] root : and sliced a piece thereof, and boiled
it [in the broth] till it [the broth] had a good relish ; and
then took it [the slice of sassafras] out again. The
broth being boiled ; I strained it through my [pocket]
handkerchief : and gave him at least a pint, which he
drank ; and liked it very well. After this, his sight
mended more and more : also he had three moderate
stools; and took some rest. Insomuch as we, with
admiration [wonderment], blessed GOD, for giving his
blessing to such raw and ignorant means : making no
doubt of his recovery ; [he] himself, and all of them,
Gov. E. winsiow. Gooci Ncws from Ncw England. 553
acknowledging us [to be] the Instruments of his
preservation.
The morning, he caused me to spend in going from
one to another, amongst those that were sick in the
town: requesting me to wash their mouths also, and
give to each of them some of the same [that] I gave
him; saying, They were good folk. This pains I took
with willingness ; though it were much offensive to me,
not being accustomed with \to\ such poisonous savours.
After dinner, he desired me to get him a goose or
duck ; and make him some pottage therewith, with as
much speed as I could.
So I took a man with me, and made a shot at a
couple of ducks, some six score paces [ = 100 yards\ off;
and killed one : at which he wondered. So we returned
forthwith, and dressed it : making more broth therewith,
which he much desired. Never did I see a man, so low
brought, recover in that measure in so short a time.
The fowl being extraordinary fat, I told Hobbamock,
I must take off the top thereof \ike fat on the top of the
pottage"] ; saying, It would make him very sick again,
if he did eat it. This he acquainted Massassowat
therewith, who would not be persuaded to it : though I
pressed it very much, shewing the strength thereof ; and
the weakness of his stomach, which could not possibly
bear it. Notwithstanding he made a gross [heavy']
meal of it ; and ate as much as would well have satisfied
a man in health. About an hour after, he began to be
very sick ; and straining very much, cast up the broth
again : and in overstraining himself, began to bleed at
the nose, and so continued the space of four hours.
Then they all wished he had' been ruled ; concluding
now he would die: which we much feared also.
They asked me. What I thought of him ?
554 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
I answered, " His case was desperate : yet, it might
be, it would save his life. For if it ceased in time, he
would forthwith sleep, and take rest: which was the
principal thing he wanted." Not long after, his blood
stayed \the bleeding ceased'] ; and he slept at least six or
eight hours.
When he awaked, I washed his face ; and . bathed
and suppled his beard and nose with a linen cloth. But,
on a sudden, he chopt {jpuf] his nose in the water ; and
drew up some therein, and sent it forth with such violence
as he began to bleed afresh. Then they thought
there was no hope : but we perceived [that] it was but
the tenderness of his nostril ; and therefore told them,
" I thought it would stay presently," as indeed it did.
The messengers were now returned. But finding
his stomach [appetite] come to him ; he would not have
the chickens killed : but kept them for breed. Neither
durst we give him any [of the] physic which was then
sent ; because his body was so much altered since our
instructions : neither saw we any need, not doubting
now of his recovery, if he were careful.
Many, whilst we were there, came to see him : some,
by their report, from a place not less than a hundred
miles. To all that came, one of his chief men related
the manner of his sickness ; how near[ly] he was
spent ; how, amongst others, his friends the English
came to see him ; and how suddenly they recovered him
to this strength they saw : he being now able to sit
upright of himself.
The day before our coming ; another Sachem, being
there, told him. That now he might see how hollow-
hearted the English were. Saying, If we had been such
friends in deed, as we were in shew, we would have
visited him in this his sickness. Using many arguments
Gov. E. winBiow. Good News from New England. 555
to withdraw his affections ; and to persuade him to give
way to some things against us, which were motioned
{suggested^ to him, not long before.
But upon this his recovery, he brake forth into
these speeches, " Now I see the English are my friends,
and love me : and whilst I live, I will never forget this
kindness they have shewed me."
Whilst we were there, our entertainment exceeded
[that of] all other strangers.
Divers other things were worth the noting : but I
fear I have been too tedious.
At our coming away, he called Hobbamock to him,
and privately (none hearing save two or three of his
Pineses, who are of his Council) revealed the plot of
the Massacheuseucks, before spoken of, against Master
Weston's Colony [at Wessagusset] ; and so against us.
Saying that the people of Nauset [Eastham] Paomet
[PaTnet] Succonet [FalTYiouth] Mattachiest [Barnstable]
Agowaywam [Wareham] and the Isle of Capawack
[Martha's Vineyard] were joined with them. Himself
also, in his sickness, was earnestly solicited : but he
would neither join therein ; nor give way to any of his.
Therefore (as we respected the lives of our countrymen ;
and our own after-safety) he advised us to kill the men
of Massachuset ; who were the authors of this intended
mischief.
And whereas we were wont to say, We would
not strike a stroke till they first began ; if, said
he, upon' this intelligence, they [at Plymouth] make
this answer, tell them, When their countrymen at
Wichaguscusset [Wessagusset] are killed, they being
not able to defend themselves ; that then it will be
too late to recover their lives. Nay, through the
55^ Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow
multitude of adversaries, they shall, with great difficulty,
preserve their own. And therefore he counselled,
without delay to take away the principals \originaioTs\ ;
and then the plot would cease.
With this, he charged him thoroughly to acquaint
me by the way ; that I might inform the Governor
[William Bkadford] thereof, at my first coming home.
Being fitted for our return, we took our leave of him :
who returned many thanks to our Governor, and also to
ourselves, for our labour and love. The like did all
that were about him. So we departed.
That night, through the earnest request of CoNBATANT
[or Corbitant], who till now remained at Sowams or
Puckanukick \^Pokanoket\ we lodged with him at
Mattapuyst.
By the way, I had much conference with him ; so
likewise at his house. He being a notable politician :
yet full of merry jests and squibs [guips or saTcas7ns\ ;
and never better pleased than when the like are
returned again upon him.
Amongst other things he asked me, If, in case he
were thus dangerously sick, as Massassowat had been,
and should send word thereof to Patuxet for Tnaskiet,
that is, " physic " : Whether then Master Governor would
send it ? and if he would, Whether I would come
therewith to him ?
To both which [questions], I answered, *' Yea " :
whereat he gave me many joyful thanks.
After that, being at his house, he demanded further,
How we durst, being but two, come so far into the country?
I answered, " Where was true love, there was no fear ;
and that my heart was so upright towards them, that,
for mine own part, I was fearless to come among them."
Gov. E. wineiow. Good Ncws fvom New England. 557
" But," said he, " if your love be such, and it bring
forth such fruits ; how cometh it to pass that, when we
come to Patuxet, you stand upon your guard, with the
mouths of your pieces presented towards us \i.e. jiving
a salvjte\ ? "
Whereunto I answered, " It was the most honourable
and respective \resipecifvX\ entertainment [reception] we
could give them. It being an order [custom] amongst
us, so to receive our best respected friends. And as it
was used on the land ; so the ships observed it also at
sea : which Hobbamock knew, and had seen observed."
But, shaking the head, he answered, That he liked
not such salutations.
Further, observing us to crave a blessing on our
meals, before we did eat ; and after, to give thanks for
the same : he asked us, What was the meaning of that
ordinary custom ?
Hereupon, I took occasion to tell them, of GOD's
works of Creation and Preservation; of his Laws and
Ordinances, especially of the Ten Commandments : all
which they hearkened unto with great attention ;
and like well of. Only the Seventh Commandment
they excepted against; thinking there were many
inconveniences in it, that a man should be tied to one
woman. About which, we reasoned a good time.
Also I told them. That whatsoever good things we
had ; wd received them from GOD, as the Author and
Giver thereof ; and therefore craved his blessing upon
that we had, and were about to eat, that it might
nourish and strengthen our bodies; and having eaten
sufficient, being satisfied therewith, we again returned
thanks to the same our GOD, for that our refreshing,
&c.
This all of them concluded to be very well; and
558 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
said, They believed almost all the same things: and
that the same Power that we called GOD, they called
Kietitan.
Much profitable conference was occasioned thereby;
which would be too tedious to relate : yet was no less
delightful to them, than comfortable to us.
Here we remained only that night: but never had
better entertainment amongst any of them.
The day following, in our journey, Hobbamock told
me, of the private conference he had with Massassowat ;
and how he charged him perfectly [thoroughly] to
acquaint me therewith : as I shewed before.
Which having done, he used many arguments himself,
to move us thereunto.
That night, we lodged at Namasket [Middleborough].
And the day following, about the midway between
it and home, we met two Indians ; who told us
that Captain Standish was, that day, gone to the
Massachusets.
But contrary winds again drove him back ; so that
we found him at home. Where the Indian of Paomet
still was : being very importunate that the Captain
should take the first opportunity of a fair wind, to go
with him. But their secret and villanous purposes
being, through GOD's mercy, now made known : the
Governor caused Captain Standish to send him away,
without any distaste, or manifestation of anger, that we
might the better efiect and bring to pass that which
should be thought most necessary.
Before this journey [to Sowams], we heard many
complaints, both by the Indians, and some others of
best desert amongst Master Weston's Colony, how
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws fvoM Ncw England, 559
exceedingly their Company abased themselves, by
undirect means, to get victuals from the Indians who
dwelt not far from them, fetching them wood and water
&c. ; and all for a meal's meat. Whereas, in the mean
time, they might with diligence have gotten enough to
have served them three or four times [over]. Others,
by night, brake [through] the earth ; and robbed the
Indians' store; for which they had been publicly
stocked \^Vbi in ike siocks\ and whipt : and yet there
was there small amendment. This was about the end of
February [1623] : at which time, they had spent all
their bread and corn, not leaving any for seed ; neither
would the Indians lend, or sell, them any more, upon
any terms.
Hereupon they had thoughts to take it by violence ;
and to that [end], spiked up every entrance into their
town [ W e,ssagvbssei\ [it] being well impaled, save one :
with a full resolution to proceed.
But some, more honestly minded, advised John
Sanders, their Overseer, first to write to Plymouth;
and if the Governor advised him thereunto, he might
the better do it. This course was well liked; and an
Indian was sent, with all speed, with a letter to our
Governor ; the contents whereof were to this effect :
That being in great want, and their people daily falling down ;
he intended to go to Munhiggen \Monhega7i\ (where was a Plantation
of Sir Ferdinando Gorges), to buy bread from the ships that came
thither a fishing, with the first opportunity of wind : but he knew
not how the Colony would be preserved till liis return.
He had used all means, both to buy and borrow [corn] of [the]
Indians ; whom he knew to be stored, and, [as] he thought,
maliciously withheld it : and therefore was resolved to take
it by violence ; and only waited the return of the messenger,
which he desired should be hastened.
Craving advice therein : promising also to make restitution
afterwards.
560 Good News from New England, qov. e. winsiow.
The Governor, upon the receipt hereof, asked the
messenger, What store of corn they \the Boston Bay
Indians] had ? as if he had intended to buy of them.
Who answered, Very little more than that they
reserved for seed ; having already spared all they could.
Forthwith, the Governor [William Bradford] and
his Assistant [Isaac Allerton] sent for many of us,
to advise with them herein. Who, after serious
consideration, no way approving of this intended course ;
the Governor answered his letter, and caused many of
us to set our hands thereto, the contents whereof were
to this purpose:
We altogetlier disliked their intendment [purjpose], as being
against the law of GOD and Nature ; shewing how it would cross
[stop] the worthy ends and proceedings of the King's Majesty, and
his honourable Council for this place [the Council for the Affairs of
New England]^ both in respect of the peaceable enlarging of His
Majesty's dominions, and also of the propagation of the knowledge
and law of GOD, and the glad tidings of Salvation : which we, and
they, were bound to seek ; and not to use such means as would
breed a distaste [dislike] in the savages against our persons and
Professions : assuring them, their Master would incur much blame
thereby ; neither could they answer the same.
For our own parts, our case was almost the same with theirs ;
having but a small quantity of corn left : and [we] were enforced
to live on groundnuts, clams, mussels, and such other things as
naturally the country afforded ; and which did, and would, maintain
strength, and were easy to be gotten. All which things they had
in great abundance ; yea, oysters also, which we wanted : and
[t]herefore necessity could not be said to constrain them thereunto.
Moreover, that they should consider, if they proceeded therein,
[that] all they could so get would maintain them but a small time ;
and then they must, perforce, seek their food abroad : which, having
made the Indians their enemies, would be very diflBcult for them.
And therefore [it was] much better to begin a little the sooner ;
and so continue their peace : upon which course they might, with
good conscience, desire and expect the blessing of GOD ; whereas
on the contrary, they could not.
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws froM Ncw England. 561
Also that they should consider their own weakness, being
niost[ly] swelled and diseased in their bodies ; and therefore the
more unlike[ly] to make their party good against them {have the
victory over the Boston Bay Indians] ; and that they should not
expect help from us in that, or any [other] the like unlawful
actions.
Lastly, that howsoever some of them might escape, yet the
Principal Agents should expect no better than the Gaol House ;
whensoever any special Officer should be sent over by His Majesty,
or his Council for New England ; which we expected : and who
would undoubtedly call them to account for the same.
These were the contents of our answer ; which was
directed to their whole Colony.
Another particular [private] letter, our Governor
sent to John Sanders; shewing how dangerous it
would be for him, above all others; [it] being he was
their leader and Commander : and therefore, in friendly
manner, advised him to desist.
With these letters, we despatched the messenger.
Upon the receipt whereof, they altered their
determination : resolving to shift as tKey could, till the
return of John Sanders from Munhiggen [Monhegan].
Who, first coming to .Plymouth, notwithstanding our
own necessities, the Governor spared him some corn to
carry [feed] them to Munhiggen. But not having
sufficient for the ship's [the Swan] store: he [John
Saudsrs] took a shallop; and leaving others with
instructions to oversee things till his return, set forward
about the end of February [1623]. So that he knew
not of this conspiracy of the Indians before his going :
neither was it known to any of us, till our return from
Sowams or Puckanokick.
At which time also, another Sachem, called
Wassapinewat, brother to Obtakiest the Sachem
of the Massachusets : who had formerly smarted for
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 N
562 Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
partaking with Coubatant \ot Corbitant : see pp. 479-
482] ; and fearing the like again, to purge himself,
revealed the same thing. »
The three and twentieth of March [1623] [The
Reader should rememher that the English year began
on the 25th March], which is a Yearly Court Day,
the Governor [William Bradford] (having a double
testimony; and many circumstances agreeing with the
truth thereof), not being [empowered] to undertake
war without the consent of the [main] body of the
Company, made known the same in Public Court,
offering it to the consideration of the Company : it
being high time to come to resolution, how sudden
soever it seemed to them ; fearing it [i.e. the intended
massacre of the whites at Wessagusset] would be put in
execution before we could give any intelligence thereof.
This business was no less troublesome than grievous ;
and the more, because it is so ordinary, in these times,
for men to measure things by the events [results] thereof :
but especially for that we knew no means to deliver
our countrymen and preserve ourselves, than by returning
their malicious and cruel purposes upon their own heads ;
and causing them to fall into the same pit [which] they
had digged for others — though it much grieved us to
shed the blood of those ; whose good we ever intended and
aimed at as a principal [purpose] in all our proceedings.
But in the end, we came to this public conclusion :
That because it was a matter of such weight as every
man was not of sufficiency to judge, nor fitness to know ;
because of many other Indians which daily, as occasion
serveth, converse [have intercourse] with us : therefore
the Governor [William Bradford], [Isaac Allerton]
his Assistant, and the Captain [Miles Standish], shall
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws fvom Ncw England, 563
take such to themselves, as they thought most meet ;
and conclude thereof [finish off the matter].
Which done, we [i.e. the above three, and their chosen
associates] came to this conclusion :
That Captain Standish should take so many men
as he thought sufficient to make his party good against
all the Indians in the Massachuset Bay [Boston Bay].
And because, as all men know that have had to do in
that kind, it is impossible to deal with them upon open
defiance ; but to take them in such traps as they lay for
others : therefore he should pretend to trade, as at other
times ; but first go to the English [at Wessagusset],
and 3.cquaint them with the plot, and the end of his
own coming. That comparing it with their [the Boston
Bay Indians'] own carriages [behaviour] towards them,
he might the better judge of the certainty of it ; and
more fitly take opportunity to revenge the same : but
should forbear, if it were possible, till such time as he
could make sure [of] Wituwamat, that bloody and bold
villain before spoken of ; whose head he had order to
bring [back] with him, that it might be a warning and
terror to all of that disposition.
Upon this, Captain Standish made choice of eight
men: and would not take more, because he would
prevent jealousy [suspicion]; knowiug their guilty
consciences would soon be provoked thereunto.
But on the next day before he could go, came
[Phinehas Prat,] one of Master Weston's Company,
by land unto us, with his pack [bundle] at his back ; who
made a pitiful narration of their lamentable and weak
estate, and of the Indians' carriages [behaviour]. Whose
boldness increased abundantly, insomuch as the victuals
they [the Englishmen] got, they would take it out of their
564 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
pots and eat [it] before their faces ; yea, if in anything
they gainsaid them, they \the Indians'] were ready to
hold a knife at their breasts ; that to give them content,
since John SANDERSwent to Munhiggen [Monhegan], they
had hanged one of them [of the English] that stole their
corn, and yet they [the Indians] regarded it not ; that
another of their Company was turned savage [Indian] ;
that their people had most[ly] forsaken the town, and
made their randevous [encampment] where they got
their victuals, because they would not take pains to
bring it home ; that they had sold their clothes for
corn, and were ready to starve, both with cold and
hunger also, because they could not indure to get
victuals, by reason of their nakedness ; and that they
were dispersed into three companies, scarce having
any powder and shot left.
"What would be the event of these things, he said, he
much feared; and therefore, not daring to stay any
longer among them, though he knew not the way, yet
adventured to come to us : partly to make known their
weak and dangerous estate, as he conceived ; and partly
to desire [that] he might there [at Plymouth] remain,
till things were better settled at the other Plantation.
As this Relation was grievous to us : so it gave us
good encouragement to proceed in our intendments
[designs] ; for which Captain Standish was now fitted :
and the wind coming fair, the next day, [he] set forth
for the Massachusets.
The Indians at the Massachusets missed this man ;
and suspecting his coming to us, as we conceive, sent
one after him : and gave out there, that he would never
come to Patuxet ; but that some wolves or bears would
eat him. But we know, both by our own experience
and the report of others, that, though they find a man
Gov. E. winsiow. Gooci Ncws froifi Ncw England. 565
sleeping ; yet so soon as there is life discerned, they
fear and shun him.
The Indian missed him but [by] very little; and
missing' him, passed by the town [of Plymouth] and
went to Manomet \^andwidh\ ; whom we hoped to take
at his return : as afterward we did.
Now was our Fort made fit for service, and some
ordnance mounted: and though it may seem [a] long
work, it being ten months \May 1622, see "pip. 530-531 —
March 1623] since it [was] begun ; yet we must note
that where so great a work is begun with such small
means, a little time cannot bring [it] to perfection.
Besides, those works which tend to the preservation
of man, the Enemy of Mankind will hinder what in him
lieth; sometimes blinding the judgement, and causing
reasonable men to reason against their own safety : as,
amongst us, divers, seeing the work prove tedious, would
have dissuaded from proceeding [with it] ; flattering
themselves with peace and security, and accounting it
rather a work of superfluity and vain glory than [of]
simple necessity. But GOD (whose Providence hath
waked, and, as I may say, watched, for us; whilst we
slept) having determined to preserve us from these
intended treacheries, undoubtedly ordained this as a
special means to advantage us, and discourage our
enemies : and therefore so stirred up the hearts of the
Governors and other forward Instruments, as the work
was just made serviceable against this needful and
dangerous time ; though we [were] ignorant of the same.
But that I may proceed. The Indian, last mentioned,
in his return from Manomet \^Sandwich\ came through
the town [of Plymouth], pretending still friendship, and
in love to see us : but, as formerly others', so his end was,
to see whether we continued in health and strength ; or
566 Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
fell into weakness, like their neighbours [at Wessagusset] ;
which they hoped and looked for (though GOD in mercy
provided better for us), and he knew would be glad
tidings to his countrymen.
But here the Governor stayed [arres^ec^] him ; and
sending for him to the Fort, there gave the guard charge
of him, as their prisoner : where he told him. He must be
contented to remain till the return of Captain Standish
from the Massachusets.
So he was locked in a chain to a staple [pos^] in the
Court of Guard [Guard Room] ; and there kept. Thus was
our Fort handselled [used for the first time'] : this being the
first day, as I take it, that ever any watch was there kept.
The Captain, being now come to the Massachusets
\i.e. to Wessagusset], went first to the ship [the Bwan] ;
but found neither man, nor so much as a dog therein.
Upon the discharge of a musket; the Master [of the
Swan] and some others of the Plantation shewed
themselves : who were on shore, gathering groundnuts,
and getting other food. After salutation, Captain
Standish asked them. How they durst so leave the ship,
and live in such security ?
Who answered like men senseless of their own
misery, They feared not the Indians: but lived [with
them], and suffered them to lodge with them ; not
having sword or gun, or needing the same.
To which, the Captain answered, If there were no
cause, he was the gladder.
But, upon further inquiry, understanding that those
in whom John Sanders had received [^placed] most
special confidence, and left in his stead to govern the
rest, were at the Plantation : thither he went.
And, to be brief, made known the Indians' purpose.
Got. E. winsiow. Good News froM New England, 567
and the end of his own coming : as also (which formerly
I omitted), That if, afterward, they durst not there stay
it was the intendment [intention] of the Governors and
People of Plymouth, there to receive them, till they
could be better provided : but if they conceived of any
other course that might be more likely for their good ;
that himself should further them therein, to the
uttermost of his power.
These men, comparing other circumstances with that
they now heard, answered. They could expect no better :
and it was GOD's mercy that they were not killed before
his coming ; desiring therefore that he would neglect no
opportunity to proceed.
Hereupon he advised them to secrecy ; yet withal
to send special command to [the] one third of their
Company that were farthest off, to come home: and
there enjoined them, on pain of death, to keep the town
[ Wessagusset] ; himself allowing them a pint of Indian
corn to a man for a day ; though that store he had, was
spared out of our seed.
The weather proving very wet and stormy ; it was
the longer before he could do anything.
In the mean time, an Indian came to him, and
brought some furs : but rather to gather what he could
from the Captain's [proceedings], than coming then for
trade. And though the Captain carried things as
smoothly as he possibly could : yet, at his return, he
[the Indian] reported, He saw, by his eyes, that he [the
Captain] was angry in his heart : and therefore [they]
began to suspect themselves discovered.
This caused one Pecksuot, who was a Pinese, being
a man of a notable spirit, to come to HoBBAMOCK, who
was then with them, and told him, He understood that
the Captain was come to kill himself, and the rest of
568 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
the savages there. " Tell him," said he, " we know it :
but fear him not, neither will we shun him. But let him
begin, when he dare ; he shall not take us at unawares."
Many times after, divers of them, severally, or a few
together, came to the Plantation to him : where they
would whet and sharpen the points of their knives
before his face ; and use many other insulting gestures
and speeches.
Amongst the rest, Wituwamat bragged of the
excellency of his knife : on the end of the handle [of
which] there was pictured a woman's face. " But," said
he, " I have another at home, wherewith I have killed
both French and English : and that hath a man's face
on it; and, by and bye, these two must marry."
Further, he said of that knife he there had, Hinnaiim
namen, hinnaim onichen, matta cuts, that is to say, " By
and bye it should see ; and by and bye it should eat,
but not speak."
Also Pecksuot, being a man of greater stature than
the Captain, told him. Though he were a great Captain ;
yet he was but a little man. And said he, " Though I
be no Sachem ; yet I am a man of great strength and
courage."
These things the Captain observed ; yet bore with
patience for the present.
On the next day, seeing he could not get many
of them together at once; and this Pecksuot and
Wituwamat [being] both together, with another man,
and a youth of some eighteen years of age, which was
brother to Wituwamat and, villain-like, trode in his
steps, daily putting many tricks upon the weaker sort
of [English] men ; and having about as many [i.e., four]
of his own Company in a room with them ; [the Captain]
gave the word to his men.
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws fvom Ncw Euglaud, 569
And the door being fast shut, [he] began himself
with Pecksuot ; and, snatching his own knife from his
neck, though with much struggling, [he] killed him
therewith: the point whereof, he had made as sharp
as a needle ; and [had] ground the back also to an edge.
WiTUWAMAT and the other man, the rest killed ; and
took the youth, whom the Captain caused to be hanged.
But it is incredible how many wounds these two Pineses
[WiTUWAMAT and Pecksuot'] received before they died ;
not making any fearful noise, but catching at their
weapons and striving to the last.
HoBBAMOCK stood by, all this time, as a spectator
and meddled not : observiog how our men demeaned
themselves in this action. All being here ended,
smiling he brake forth into these speeches to the
Captain, " Yesterday, Pecksuot, bragging of his own
strength and stature, said, 'Though you were a great
Captain ; yet you were but a little man.' But to-day,
I see you are big enough to lay him on the ground."
But to proceed. There being some women [there]
at the same time ; Captain Standish left them in the
custody of Master Weston's people, at the town [of
Wessagusset] : and sent word to another Company,
that had intelligence of things, to kill those Indian
men that were amongst them. These killed two more.
[He] himself also, with some of his own men, went
to another place ; where they killed another : and,
through the negligence of one man, an Indian escaped ;
who discovered and crossed [put an end to\ their
proceedings.
Not long before this execution, three of Master
Weston's men (which more regarded their bellies, than
any command or Commander) having formerly fared
5/0 Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow .
well with the Indians for making them canoes, went
to [Obtakiest] the Sachem, to oifer their service ; and
had entertainment.
The first night they [Captain Standish's party]
came thither [to Wessagusset], within night late, came
a messenger, with all speed, and delivered a sad [an
important] and short message. Whereupon all the
[three] men gathered together, put on their boots and
breeches, trussed [tied] up themselves, and took their
bows and arrows and went forth : telling them [the
Englishmen], they went a hunting ; and that, at their
return, they should have venison enough.
Being now gone, one, being more ancient and
wise than the rest, calling former things to mind,
especially the Captain's presence and the strait charge
[he had given] that, on pain of death, none should go a
musket shot from the Plantation ; and comparing this
sudden departure of theirs therewith, began to dislike
[it], and wish himself at home again ; which was further
off than divers others dwelt [at]. Hereupon, he moved
his fellows to return; but could not persuade them.
So there being none but women left [at Wessagusset],
and the other [Englishman] that was turned savage :
about midnight, [he] came away, forsaking the paths
[trails] lest he should be pursued ; and by this means,
saved his life. [The other two, with a third Englishman,
were killed : see page 574.]
Captain Standish took the one half of his men,
and one or two of Master Weston's, and Hobbamock ;
still seeking to make spoil of them and theirs. At
length, they espied a file of Indians, which made
towards them amain. And there being a small
advantage in the ground, by reason of a hill, near
Gov. E. winsiow. Goocl News fvom Ncw England. 571
them ; both companies strove for it. Captain Standish
got it. Whereupon they retreated, and took each man
[to] his tree : letting fly their arrows amain, especially
at himself and Hobbamock. Whereupon Hobbamock
cast off his coat ; and being a known Pinese, theirs
being now killed, chased them so fast, as our people
were not able to hold way with him : insomuch as our
men could have but one certain mark ; and then but the
arm and half face of a notable villain, as he drew at
Captain Standish. Who, together with another, both
discharged [their muskets] at once at him, and brake his
arm. Whereupon they [the Indians] fled into a swamp.
When they were in the thicket, they parleyed : but
to small purpose, getting nothing but foul language. So
our Captain dared [Obtakiest] the Sachem to come
out, and fight like a man; shewing how base and
womanlike he was, in tonguing [reviling] it, as he did.
But he refused, and fled.
So the Captain returned to the Plantation [at
Wessagusset], where he released the women : and would
not take their beaver coats from them, nor suffer the
least discourtesy to be offered them.
Now were Master Weston's people resolved
to leave their Plantation ; and go for Munhiggen
[Monhegan]: hoping to get passage, and return [to
England] with the fishing ships.
The Captain told them. That, for his own part, he
durst there live with fewer men than they were ;
yet since they were otherways minded, according to
his order from the Governors and People of Plymouth,
he would help them with corn competent for their
provision by the way. Which he did, scarce leaving
himself more than brought them home.
Some of them disliked the choice of the [main]
572 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
body to go to Munhiggen; and therefore desiring
to go with him to Plymouth, he took them into the
shallop.
And seeing them \ilie nnain body in the Swan]
set sail, and clear of the Massachuset Bay ; he took
leave, and returned to Plymouth : whither he came
in safety, blessed be GOD ! ; and brought the head of
WiTUWAMAT with him.
Amongst the rest, there was an Indian youth, that
was ever of a courteous and loving disposition towards
us. He, notwithstanding the death of his countrymen
[the Boston Bay Indians], came to the Captain without
fear ; saying, His good conscience and love towards
us imboldened him so to do. This youth confessed.
That the Indians intended to kill Master Weston's
people ; and not to delay any longer than till they had
two more canoes or boats : which Master Weston's
people would have finished by this time, having made
them three already ; had not the Captain prevented
[anticipated] them, and the end of stay for [purpose
in building] those boats, was to take their ship
[the Swan] therewith.
Now was the Captain returned, and received with
joy: the head [of Wituwamat] being brought to the
Fort, and set up [as traitors' heads were then set on
spikes, in England]. The Governors and Captains,
with divers others, went up [to] the same, further to
examine the prisoner [, the Boston Bay Indian, who
pursued Phinehas Pratt] : who looked piteously on
the head.
Being asked. Whether he knew it? he answered
"Yea.".
Then he confessed the plot : and that all the people
provoked Obtakiest their Sachem thereunto; [he]
aov, E. winsiow. Good Ncws fvom New England, 573
being drawn into it by their importunity. Five there
were, he said, that prosecuted it with more eagerness
than the rest. The two principal [ones] were killed :
being Pecksuot, and Wituwamat whose head was
there. The other three were Powahs [= Powwows =
Medicine Men], being yet living and known to us;
though one of them was wounded, as aforesaid. For
himself, he would not acknowledge that he had any
hand therein ; begging earnestly for his life : saying,
He was not a Massachuset man ; but, as a stranger, lived
with them.
HoBBAMOCK also gave a good report of him, and
besought for him : but was bribed so to do. Nevertheless,
that we might shew mercy as well as extremity, the
Governor released him: and the rather, because we
desired that he might carry a message to Obtakiest
his master.
No sooner were the irons from his legs; but he
would have been gone : but the Governor bade him stay
and fear not, for he should receive no hurt. And, by
Hobbamock, commanded him to deliver this message to
his master :
That, for our parts, it never entered into our hearts
to take such a course with them, till their own treachery
enforced us thereunto; and therefore [they] might thank
themselves for their own overthrow. Yet, since he had
begun ; if again, by any [of] the like courses, he did
provoke him, his country should not hold him : for he
would never suffer him, or his, to rest in peace, till he
had utterly consumed them ; and therefore [that he]
should take this as a warning. Further, that he should
send to Patuxet, the three Englishmen he had ; and not
kill them. Also, that he should not spoil [destroy] the pale
[palisade] and houses at Wichaguscusset [Wessagusset],
574 Good News from New England, qot E.wmBiow.
And that this messenger should either bring the English,
or an answer ; or both : [the Governor] promising his
safe return [to him].
This message was delivered; and the party would
have returned with answer: but was at first dissuaded;
whom, afterwards, they would, but could not, persuade
to come to us. At length, though long [after], a woman
came and told us, That Obtakiest was sorry that the
English were killed before he heard from the Governor :
otherwise he would have sent them. Also she said. He
would fain make his peace again with us ; but none of
his men durst come to treat about it : [he] having
forsaken his dwelling, and daily removed from place
to' place ; expecting when we would take further
vengeance on him.
Concerning those other people that intended to join
with the Massachuseucks against us, though we never
went against any of them ; yet this sudden and
unexpected execution, together with the just judgement
of GOD upon their guilty consciences, hath so terrified
and amazed them as, in like manner, they forsook their
houses, running to and fro like men distracted, living
in swamps and other desert places : and so brought
manifold diseases amongst themselves, whereof very
many are dead; as Canacum the Sachem of Manomet
{Sandwich\ Aspinet the Sachem of Nauset \Eastha7Yi\
Iyanough, Sachem of Mattachiest [Barnstable]. This
[last] Sachem, in his life, in the midst of these distractions,
said. The God of the English was offended with them ;
and would destroy them in his anger. And certainly
it is strange to hear how many of late have [died], and
still daily die amongst them. Neither is there any
likelihood it will easily cease : because, through fear,
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws froTu Ncw England, 575
they set little or no corn, which is the staff of life ;
and without which, they cannot long preserve health
and strength. From one of these places, a boat was
sent with presents to the Governor, hoping thereby
to work their peace ; but the boat was cast away, and
three of the persons drowned, not far from our
Plantation : only one escaped ; who durst not come
to us, but returned. So as none of them dare [to]
come amongst us.
I fear I have been too tedious, both in this and
other things : yet when I considered how necessary a
thing it is that the truth and grounds of this action
especially, should be made known; and [also] the
several dispositions of that dissolved Colony \ai
Wessagussei\ whose reports undoubtedly will be as
various : I could not but enlarge myself, where I
thought to be most brief ; neither durst I be too brief,
lest I should eclipse and rob GOD of that honour,
glory, and praise which belongeth to him for preserving
us from falling, when we were at the pit's brim ;
and yet feared [not], nor knew not that we were in
danger.
This month of April [1623] being now come, on all
hands, we began to prepare for corn. And
because there was no corn left before this
time, save that [which] was preserved for seed; being
also hopeless of relief by Supply \TeinforceTneni'\ : we
thought [it] best to leave off all other works, and
prosecute that, as most necessary.
And because there was so small hope of doing good
in that common \general\ course *of labour that formerly
we were in ; for that the Governors that followed men
to their labours, had nothing to give men for their
57^ Good News from New Engla^td. gov. e. wmsiow.
necessities; and therefore could not so well exercise
that command over them therein, as formerly they had
done. Especially considering that self-love {self-interesfl'^
wherewith every man, in a measure more or less, loveth
and pref erreth his own good before his neighbours' : and
also the base disposition of some drones that, as at
other times so now especially, would be most burdenous
to the rest. It was therefore thought best, That every
man should use the best diligence he could, for his own
preservation, both in respect of the time present, and to
prepare his own corn for the year following : and [to]
bring in a competent portion for the maintenance of
Public Officers, Fishermen, &c. ; which could not be
freed from their Calling, without greater inconveniences.
This course was to continue till harvest : and then
the Governors to gather in the appointed portion, for
the maintenance of themselves and such others as
necessity constrained to exempt from this condition.
Only, if occasion served, upon any special service, they
might employ such as they thought most fit to execute
the same, during this appointed time: and at the end
thereof, all men to be employed by them, in such
service as they thought most necessary for the general
good. And because there is great difference in the
ground, that therefore a set quantity \yiz. one acre^ see
pp. 383-385] should be set down for a person : and each
man to have his fall by lot ; as being most just and
equal, and against which no man could except.
At a General Meeting of the Company [? in March
1623], many courses were propounded : but this approved
and followed, as being the most likely for the present
and future good of the Company ; and therefore before
this month [of April], [we] began to prepare our ground
against seed time.
Gov. E. winsiow. Good News from New England. 577
In, the midst of April, we began to set, the weather
being then seasonable : which much incouraged us,
giving us good hopes of after plenty. The setting
season is good till the latter end of May.
But it pleased GOD, for our further chastisement,
to send a great drought ; insomuch as in six weeks
after the latter setting [? \st June — ? Xhth July 1623]
there scarce fell any rain : so that the stalk of that
[which] was first set, began to send forth the ear
before it came to half growth ; and that which was
later [set], not like[ly] to yield us any [corn] at all,
both blade and stalk hanging the head and changing
the colour in such a manner as we judged it utterly
dead. Our beans also ran not up, according to their
wonted manner ; but stood at a stay : many being
parched away, as though they had been scorched before
the fire. Now were our hopes overthrown ; and we
discouraged : our joy being turned into mourning.
To add also to this sorrowful estate in which we
were ; we heard of a Supply [reinforcement'] that was
sent unto us many months since : which [ship, the
Paragon], having two repulses before, was a third time
in company of another ship, three hundred leagues at
sea {i.e. 900 miles from England] ; and now, in three
months' time, heard no further of her. Only the signs
of a wreck were seen on the coast ; which could not be
judged to be any other than the same.
So that, at once, GOD seemed to deprive us of
all future hopes. The most courageous were now
discouraged; because GOD, which hitherto had been
our only Shield and Supporter, now seemed, in his
anger, to arm himself against us : and who can
withstand the fierceness of his wrath ?
These, and the like considerations moved not only
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 O
5 7 S Good News from New England, goy. e. winsiow.
every good man privately to enter into examination
with his own estate [condition] between GOD and his
conscience ; and so to humiliation before him : but also
more solemnly to humble ourselves together before the
Lord by fasting and prayer.
To that end, a Day was appointed by public
authority, and set apart from all other employments :
hoping that the same GOD which had stirred us up
hereunto, would be moved hereby in mercy to look down
upon us, and grant the request of our dejected souls ; if
our continuance there, might any way stand with his
glory and our good.
But, O the mercy of our GOD ! who was as ready to
hear as we to ask. For though in the morning, when
We assembled together, the heavens were as clear, and
the drought as like[ly] to continue, as ever it was : yet,
our Exercise [Public Worship'] continuing some eight or
nine hours, before our departure, the weather was
overcast, [and] the clouds gathered together on all sides.
And, on the next morning, [they] distilled such soft,
sweet, and moderate showers of rain, continuing some
fourteen days [? ISth — 31s^ J'^ly], and mixed with such
seasonable weather ; as it was hard to say. Whether our
withered corn, or [our] drooping affections, were most
quickened or revived. Such was the bounty and
goodness of our GOD.
Of this, the Indians, by means of Hobbamock, took
notice. Who being then in the town [of Plymouth],
and this Exercise [occurring] in the midst of the week,
said. It was but three days since Sunday [therefore the
Fast was on a Wednesday]. And [he] therefore demanded
of a boy, What was the reason thereof ? Which when he
knew, and saw what effects followed thereupon ; he and
all of them [the Indians] admired [wondered at] the
Gov. E. wineiow. Good Ncws froM Ncw England. 579
goodness of our GOD towards us, that wrought so great
a change in so short a time. Shewing the difference
between their conjuration, and our invocation on the
name of GOD, for rain. Theirs being mixed with such
storms and tempests as sometimes, instead of doing them
good, it layeth the corn flat on the ground, to their
prejudice : but ours, in so gentle and seasonable a
manner, as they never observed the like.
At the same time, Captain Standish, being formerly
employed by the Governor to buy provisions for
the refreshing of the Colony, returned with the
same ; accompanied with one Master David Tomson, a
Scotchman: who also, that Spring [of 1623], began a
Plantation twenty-five leagues north-east from us, near
Smith's Isles [now called the Isles of Shoals], at a place
called Pascatoquack [or rather, Little Harbour, on
the Piscataqua river ; the present Portsmouth, in New
Ha^npshire] ; which he liketh well.
Now also heard we of the third repulse of our Supply
[reinforceonent], of their safe though dangerous return
[in the Paragon] into England ; and of their preparation
to^come to us [in the Anne].
So that, having these many signs of GOD's favour
and acceptation, we thought it would be great ingratitude,
if secretly we should smoother up the same ; or content
ourselves with private thanksgiving for that which by
private prayer could not be obtained. And therefore
another Solemn Day was set apart and appointed for
that end : wherein we returned glory honour and praise,
with all thankfulness to our good GOD, which dealt so
graciously with us ; whose name (for these, and all other
his mercies towards his Church and chosen ones), by
them, be blessed and praised, now and evermore. Amen.
580 Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
In the latter end of July, and the beginning of
August [1623], came two ships with Supply
\TeinfoTce'menis\ unto us ; who brought all their
passengers in health, except one who recovered in
[a] short time : who also, notwithstanding all our
wants and hardships, blessed be GOD !, found not
any one sick person amongst us, at the Plantation.
The bigger ship, called the Anne, was hired ; and
there [at Plymouth] again [was] freighted back : from
whence we* set sail, the 10th of September [1623].
The lesser, called the Little JaTnes, was built for
the Company ; at their charge. She was now also
fitted for trade and discovery to the southward of
Cape Cod ; and almost ready to set sail : whom, I pray
GOD to bless, in her good and lawful proceedings.
Thus have I made a true and full Narration of the
state of our Plantation ; and such things as were most
remarkable therein since December 1621. If I have
omitted anything ; it is either through weakness of
memory, or because I judged it [to be] not material.
I confess my style [to be] rude ; and [my] unskilfulness
in the task I undertook : being urged thereunto by
opportunity [having had the chance of obtaining
knowledge on the spot by actual exjDcrience], which I
knew to be wanting in others ; and but for which, I
would not have undertaken the same. Yet, as it is rude ;
so it is plain, and therefore the easier to be understood.
Wherein others may see that, which we are bound
to acknowledge, viz.. That if ever any people, in these
later Ages, were upheld, by the Providence of GOD,
after a more special manner than others ; then we
* Edward Winslow, the Writer of this Good News dtc, therefore came
to England in the Anne : and the utmost period of this narrative is therefore
from the 13th December 1621 to the 10th September 1623.— E. A.
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws froiii New England. 581
[were] : and therefore are the more bound to celebrate the
memory of his goodness, with everlasting thankfulness.
For, in these f orenamed straits, such was our state,
as, in the morning, we had often our food to seek for
the day ; and yet performed the duties of our Callings.
I mean the other daily labours, to provide for after time.
And though, at some times, in some seasons, at noon
I have seen men stagger, by reason of faintness for
want of food : yet, ere night, by the good Providence
and blessing of GOD, we have enjoyed such plenty, as
though the windows of heaven had been opened unto us.
How few, weak, and raw \inex'peTienced'\ were we at
our first beginning, and there settling ; and in the midst of
barbarous enemies ! Yet GOD wrought our peace for us.
How often have we been at the pit's brim, and
in danger to be swallowed up : yea not knowing, till
afterward, that we were in peril ? And yet GOD
preserved us. Yea, and from how many [perils] that we
yet know not of ; he, that knoweth all things, can best tell.
So that, when I seriously consider of things, I
cannot but think that GOD hath a purpose to o-ive
that land, as an inheritance, to our nation. And great
pity it were, that it should long lie in so desolate a state ;
considering it agreeth so well with the constitution of
our bodies : [it] being both fertile ; and so temperate,
for heat and cold, as, in that respect, one can scarce[ly]
distinguish New England from Old [England].
[the religion and customs of the INDIANS
NEAR NEW PLYMOUTH.]
A few things I [have] thought meet to add hereunto,
which I have observed amongst the Indians : both
touching their religion, and sundry other customs
amongst them.
582 Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
And first, whereas myself and others* (in former
Letters, which came to the press [m Londion\ against
my will and knowledge \W IN SLOW being then at New
Plymouth]) wrote [see pp. 407-494, 507], That the
Indians about us, are a people without any religion,
or knowledge of any God : therein I erred, though we
could then gather no better.
For as they conceive of many Divine Powers : so of
The meaning One, whom they Call Kiehtan, to be the
Kiekt'Xi thi^ principal and maker of all the rest ; and
hath reference to be made by none. " He," say they,
CTiisT^s'^'Si' old "created the heavens, earth, sea, and all
man; Kiehchise, creaturcs Contained therein." Also that he
a man that ex- , -, /> i
ceedeth in age. made One man and one woman ; or whom
[E. w.] they, and we, and all mankind came : but
how they became so far dispersed, that know they not.
At first, they say, there was no Sachem or King but
Kiehtan ; who dwelleth above in the heavens : whither all
good men go when they die, to see their friends, and have
their fill of all things. This his habitation lieth far
westward in the heavens, they say.
Thither the bad men go also, and knock at his door :
but he bids them, Quatchet, that is to say, " Walk
abroad !, for there is no place for such." So that they
wander in restless want and penury.
Never man saw this Kiehtan. Only old men tell them
of him : and bid them tell their children ; yea, to charge
them, to teach their posterities the same, and lay the
like charge on them. This Power they acknowledge to
be good ; and when they would obtain any great matter,
[they] meet together, and cry unto him : and so likewise.
* WiNSLOW was therefore the principal Writer of what we have here
printed at pp. 407-494.— E. A.
Gov. E. winsiow. Gooci Ncws fvont Ncw England. 583
for plenty, victory, &c., [they] sing, dance, feast, give
thanks; and hang up garlands and other things, in
memory of the same.
Another Power they worship, whom they call
Hobbamock ; and to the northward of us, Hobbamoqui.
This, as far as we can conceive, is the DeviL Him, they
call upon, to cure their wounds and diseases. When they
are curable : he persuades them, he sends the same for
some conceived anger against them ; but upon their
calling on him, [he] can and doth help them. But when
they are mortal, and not curable in nature : then he
persuades them, Kiehtan is angry, and sends them, which
none can cure. Insomuch as, in that respect only, they
somewhat doubt whether he be simply good : and
therefore, in sickness, never call upon him.
This Hobbamock appears in sundry forms unto them :
as in the shape of a man, a deer, a fawn, an eagle, &c. ;
but, most ordinarily, [in that of] a snake. He appears
not to all ; but [to] the chief est and most judicious
amongst them : though all of them strive to attain to
that hellish height of honour.
He appeareth most ordinary [ordinarily to], and is
most conversant with, three sorts of people. One, I
confess, I neither know by name, or Office, directly. Of
these they have few ; but esteem highly of them : and
think that no weapon can kill them. Another, they call
by the name of Powah ; and the third, Pinese.
The Office and duty of the Powah [ = Powwow =
Medicine Man] is to be exercised principally in calling
upon the Devil ; and curing diseases of the sick or
wounded. The common people join with him in the
Exercise of Invocation : but do but only assent, or as
we term it, say "Amen", to what he saith; yet sometime[s]
584 Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
[fchey] break out into a short musical note with him. The
Powah is eager, and free in speech ; fierce in countenance ;
and joineth many antic [grotesque] and laborious gestures
with the same, over the party diseased.
If the party be wounded, he will also seem to suck
the wound : but if they be curable, as they say, he
toucheth it not; but a Shoohe, that is the snake, or
WohsacvAik, that is the eagle, sitteth on his shoulder, and
licks the same. This none sees but the Powah; who
tells them, he doth it himself.
If the party be otherwise diseased ; it is accounted
sufficient if, in any shape, he but come into the house :
[they] taking it for an undoubted sign of recovery.
And, as in former Ages, Apollo had his temple at
Delphos ; and Diana [,hers] at Ephesus : so have I
heard them call upon some ; as if they had their residence
in some certain places, or because they appeared in those
forms, in the same.
In the Powah's speech, he promiseth to sacrifice
many skins of beasts, kettles, hatchets, beads, knives,
and other the best things they have, to the Fiend ; if he
will come to help the party diseased : but whether they
perform it, I know not. The other practices I have seen ;
being necessarily called, at some times, to be with their
sick : and have used the best arguments I could make
them understand, against the same.
They have told me, I should see the Devil, at those
times, come to the party; but I assured myself and
them, of the contrary: which so proved. Yea,
themselves have confessed. They never saw him when
any of us were present.
In desperate and extraordinary travail in childbirth ;
when the party cannot be delivered by the ordinary
means : they send for this Powah. Though, ordinarily,
Gov. E. winsiow. Good Ncws fvom Ncw Efiglaud. 585
their travail is not so extreme as in our parts of the
world : they being of a more hardy nature. For, on the
third day after childbirth, I have seen the mother with
the infant, upon a small occasion, in cold weather, in a
boat upon the sea.
Many sacrifices the Indians use ; and, in some cases,
kill children. It seemeth, they are various in their
religious worship, in a little distance ; and grow more
and more cold in their worship to Kiehtan ; saying, in
[within] their memory, he was much more called upon.
The Nanohiggansets [Narragansetts] exceed in their
blind devotion; and have a great spacious House
wherein only some few (that are, as we may term them,
Priests) come. Thither, at certain known times, resort
all their people; and offer almost all the riches they
have to their gods, as kettles, skins, hatchets, beads,
knives, &c. : all which are cast by the Priests into a
great fire that they make in the midst of the house,
and there consumed to ashes. To this offering, every
man bringeth freely : and the more he is known to
bring, hath the better esteem of all men. This, the
other Indians about us, approve of as good ; and wish
their Sachems would appoint the like : and because the
plague hath not reigned in Nanohigganset [Narragansett,
now called Rhode Island] as at other places about them,
they attribute to this custom there used.
The Pineses are men of great courage and wisdom.
And to these also the Devil appeareth more familiarly
than to others: and, as we conceive, maketh covenant
with them, to preserve them from death by wounds
with arrows, knives, hatchets, &c. ; or, at least, both
themselves, and especially the people, think themselves
to be freed from the same. And although against their
battles, all of them by painting, disfigure themselves ;
586 Good News from New England, aov. e. winsiow.
yet are they known by their courage and boldness : by
reason whereof, one of them will chase almost a hundred
men, for they account it death for whomsoever [shall]
stand in their way.
These are highly esteemed of all sorts of people ; and
are of the Sachem's Council : without whom, they will
not war or undertake any weighty thing. In war, their
Sachems, for their more safety, go in the midst of them.
They are commonly men of greatest stature and
strength ; and such as will endure most hardness : and
yet are more discreet, courteous, and humane in their
carriages [behaviour] than any amongst them ; scorning
theft, lying, and the like base dealings; and stand as
much upon their reputation as any men.
And to the end they may have stories of these
[Pineses], they train up the most forward and likeliest
boys, from their childhood, in great hardness ; and make
them abstain from dainty meat : observing divers orders
prescribed, to the end, when they are of age, the Devil
may to appear them. Causing to drink the juice of sentry
[centaury] and other bitter herbs, till they cast [vomit] ;
which 'they must disgorge into the platter, and drink
again, and again, till, at length, through extraordinary
oppressing of nature, it will seem to be all blood.
And this, the boys will do with eagerness, at the first ;
and so continue till, by reason of faintness, they can
scarce[ly] stand on their legs : and then must go forth
into the cold. Also they beat their shins with sticks ;
and cause them to run through bushes, stumps, and
brambles: to make them hardy and acceptable to the
Devil, that, in time, he may appear unto them.
Their Sachems cannot be all called Kings ; but
only some few of them: to whom the rest resort for
Gov. E. winBiow. Good Ncws fvom New England. 587
protection, and pay homage unto them. Neither may
they war without their knowledge and approbation : yet
to be commanded by the greater [ones], as occasion
serveth. Of this [greater] sort, is Massassowat, our
friend ; and Conanacus \Ganonigvs\, of Nanohiggenset
\NaTrag(inseti\ our supposed enemy.
Every Sachem taketh care for the widow and father-
less : also for such as are aged, and [in] any way maimed ;
if their friends be dead, or not able to provide for them.
A Sachem will not take any to wife but such a one
as is equal to him in birth ; otherwise, they say, their
seed would, in time, become ignoble. And though they
have many other wives : yet are they no other than
concubines or servants ; and yield a kind of obedience
to the principal [one], who ordereth the family, and them
in it. The like, the men observe also ; and will adhere
to the first [wife] during their lives, but put away the
others at their pleasure.
This Government is successive ; and not by choice.
If the father die before the son, or daughter, be of age ;
then the child is committed to the protection and
tuition of some one amongst them : who ruleth, in his
stead, till he be of age ; but when that is, I know not.
Every Sachem knoweth how far the bounds and
limits of his own country extendeth; and that is his
own proper inheritance. Out of that, if any of his men
desire land to set their corn ; he giveth them as much as
they can use, and sets them their bounds. In \\K)ii}iin'\
this circuit, whosoever hunteth, if they kill any venison,
bringeth him his fee: which is the fore parts of the
same, if it be killed on the land ; but if [the deer] be
killed in the water, then the skin thereof.
The great Sachems, or Kings, know their own
bounds, or limits of land, as well as the rest.
588 Good News fro7n New England, gov. e. winsiow.
All travellers, or strangers, for the most part, lodge at
the Sachem's. When they come they tell them, how long
they will stay ; and to what place they go : during which
time, they receive entertainment according to their
persons ; but want not.
Once a year the Pineses use [are accvbstomed7[ to
provoke the people to bestow much corn on the Sachem.
To that end, they appoint a certain time and place, near
the Sachem's dwelling ; where the people bring niany
baskets of corn, and make a great stack thereof. There,
the Pineses stand ready to give thanks to the people, on
the Sachem's behalf : and, after, acquainteth the Sachem
therewith ; who fetcheth the same, and is no less
thankful, bestowing many gifts on them.
When any are visited with sickness, their friends
resort unto them for their comfort ; and continue with
them oft times till their death, or recovery. If they die,
they stay a certain time, to mourn for them. Night
and morning, they perform this duty, many days after
the burial, in a most doleful manner; insomuch as
though it be ordinary Icom/mowplacel, and the note [not]
musical which they take one from another and all
together : yet it will draw tears from their eyes ; and
almost from ours also. But if they recover, then because
their sickness was chargeable ; they send corn and other
gifts unto them, at a certain appointed time; whereat
they feast and dance, which they call Gom/moco.
When they bury the dead ; they sew up the corpse
in a mat, and so put it in the earth. If the party be a
Sachem ; they cover him with many curious mats, and
bury all his riches with him, and inclose the grave with
a pale [palisade]. If it be a child, the father will also
put his own most special jewels and ornaments in the
Gov. E. winBiow. GoocC Ncws fro77i Ncw England. 589
earth with it : [and] also will cut his hair, and disfigure
himself very much, in token of sorrow. If it be the
man or woman of the house, they will pull down the
mats, and leave the frame standing, and bury them in or
near the same ; - "and either remove their dwelling, or
give over housekeeping.
The men imploy themselves wholly in hunting and
other exercises of the bow ; except at some times they
take some pains in fishing.
The women live a most slavish life. They carry
all their \tlie meal's] burdens, set and dress their corn,
gather it in, seek out for much of their food, beat and
make ready the corn to eat, and have all [the] household
care lying upon them, •
The younger sort reverence the elder; and do all
mean offices whilst thej^ are together: [even] although
they be strangers [to each other].
Boys and girls may not wear their hair like men and
women ; but are distinguished thereby.
A man is not accounted a man till he do some
notable act, or shew forth such courage and resolution
as becometh his place. The men take much tobacco : but
for boys so to do, they account it odious.
All their names are significant and variable : for
when they come to the state of men and women, they
alter them ; according to their deeds and dispositions.
When a maid is taken in marriage, she first cutteth
her hair; and, after, weareth a covering on her head
till her hair be grown out.
The women are diversely disposed. Some [are] as
modest as they will scarce[ly] talk one to another in the
company of men ; being very chaste also : yet other
some [are] light \inccmsiant\ lascivious, and wanton.
If a woman have a bad husband, or cannot afifect
590 Good News from New England, gov. e. wineiow.
\have no affection for] him; and there be war or
opposition between that, and any other, people : she will
run away from him to the contrary party, and there
live ; where they never come unwelcome, for where are
most women, there is greatest plenty. ...
For adultery, the husband will beat his wife ; and
put her away, if he please. ...
In matters of unjust and dishonest dealing, the
Sachem examineth and punisheth the same. In cases
of thefts: for the first offence, he is disgracefully
rebuked; for the second, he is beaten by the Sachem,
with a cudgel on the back ; for the third, he is beaten
with many strokes, and hath his nose slit upward, that
thereby all men may both know and shun him. If
any man kill another ; he must likewise for the same.
The Sachem not only passe th the sentence upon
malefactors ; but executeth the same with his own hands,
if the party be then present. If not, [he] sendeth his
own knife, in [a] case of death, in the hands of others, to
perform the same. But if the offender be to receive other
punishment ; he will not receive the same, but from the
Sachem himself : before whom, being naked, he kneeleth,
and will not offer to run away though he beat him never
so much ; it being a greater disparagement for a man
to cry during the time of his correction, than is his
offence and punishment.
As for their apparel, they wear breeches [leggings]
and stockings in one, like some Irish ; which is made of
deer skins; and have shoes [mocassins] of the same
leather. They wear also a deer skin loose about them, like
a cloak ; which they will turn to the weather [windward]
side. In this habit [dress] they travel : but when they
are at home, or come to their journey's end, presently
[i'lnmediately] they pull off their breeches, stockings
Gov. E. winsiow. Good News from New England, 591
and shoes; wring out the water if they be wet, arid
dry them, and rub or chafe the same. Though these
be off; yet have they another small garment that
covereth them. The men wear also, when they go
abroad in cold weather, an otter, or fox, skin on their
right arm ; but only their bracer [wrist-guard] on the left.
Women, and all of that sex, wear strings [of beads]
about their legs : which the men never do.
The people are very ingenious and observative.
They keep account of time by the moon, and [by]
winters or summers. They know divers of the stars
by name. In particular, they know the North Star;
and call it Maske, which is to say " The Bear." Also
they have many names for the winds. They will guess
very well at the wind and weather beforehand, by
observations in the heavens. They report also. That some
of them can cause the wind to blow in what part they list,
[and] can raise storms and tempests. Which they usually
do, when they intend the death or destruction of other
people; that, by reason of the unseasonable weather,
they may take advantage of their enemies in their
houses. At such times, they perform their greatest
exploits : and, in such seasons, when they are at enmity
with any, they keep more careful watch than at other times.
As for the language, it is very copious, large, and
difficult. As yet [i.e. to the 10th September 1623], we
cannot attain to any great measure thereof: but can
understand them, and explain ourselves to their
understanding; by the help of those that daily
converse with us. And though there be [a] difference,
in a hundred miles distance of place, both in language
and manners: yet [it is] not so much, but that they
very well understand each other.
And thus much of their lives and manners.
592 Good News from New England, gov. e- wmsiow.
Instead of records and chronicles, they take this
course. Where any remarkable act is done : in memory
of it, either in the place or by some pathway near
adjoining, they make a round hole in the ground, about
a foot deep and as much over : which, when others,
passing by, behold, they enquire the cause and occasion
of the same ; which, being once known, they are careful
to acquaint all men, as occasion serveth, therewith. And
lest such holes should be filled, or grown up [with
herbage], by any accident; as men pass by, they will
oft renew the same. By which means, many things of
great antiquity are fresh in memory. So that, as a
man travelleth, if he can understand his guide, his
journey will be the less tedious, by reason of the many
historical discourses [that] will be related to him.
[a description of new ENGLAND; AND OF THOSE
WHO SHOULD GO THERE.]
In all this, it may be said, I have neither praised
nor dispraised the country : and since I [have] lived
so long therein, my judgement thereof will give no less
satisfaction to them that know me, than the Relation of
our proceedings.
To which I answer. That as in [the] one, so of the
other ; I will speak as sparingly as I can : yet [I] will
make known what I conceive thereof.
And, first, for that continent on which we are, called
New England. Although it hath ever been conceived,
by the English, to be a part of that main land adjoining
to Virginia: yet, by [the] relation of the Indians, it
should appear to be otherwise. For they affirm
confidently. That it is an island: and that, either the
Dutch or [the] French, pass through \i,e. along the
Hudson river'] from sea to sea [the Atlantic to the
Gov. E. winBiow. Good Ncws from N cw England. 593
river St Lawrence] between us and Virginia ; and drive
a great trade in the same. The name of that inlet of
the sea, they call Mohegon ; which I take to be the same
[as that] which we call Hudson's river: up which,
Master [Henry] Hudson went many leagues ; and for
want of means, as I hear, left it undiscovered.
For confirmation of this their opinion, [there] is thus
much. Though Virginia be not above 150 leagues
[= 450 miles] from us: yet they never heard of
Powhatan, or knew that any English were planted
in his country, save only by us, and Tisquantum who
went in an English ship thither. And therefore it is
the more probable; because the water is not passable
for them, who are [yet] very adventurous in their boats.
Then for the temperature of the air, in almost three
years' experience [9th November 1620 — 10th September
1623], I can scarce[ly] distinguish New England from Old
England, in respect of heat and cold, frost, snow, rain,
winds, &c. Some object, because our Plantation lieth in
the latitude of 42° [North] ; it must needs be much hotter.
I confess I cannot give the reason of the contrary : only
experience teacheth us. That if it do exceed England, it is
[by] so little as must require better judgements to discern
it. And for the winter ; I rather think, if there be [any]
diflference, it is both sharper and longer in New England
than [in] Old : and yet the want of those comforts in
the one, which I have enjoyed in the other, may deceive
my judgement also. But, in my best observation,
comparing our own condition with the Relations of other
parts of America ; I cannot conceive of any to agree
better with the constitution of the English : not being
oppressed with extremity of heat, nor nipped with
biting cold ; by which means, blessed be GOD, we enjoy
The Pilgrim Fathers. . • 2 P
594 Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
our health, notwithstanding those difficulties we have
undergone, in such a measure as would have been
admired \wondered at\ if we had lived in England, with
the like means.
The day is two hours longer than here, when it
is at the shortest : and as much shorter there, when it
is at the longest.
The soil is variable : in some places, mould ; in
some, clay ; [and] others, a mixed sand, &c. The chiefest
grain is the Indian Mays [7)iaize] or Guinea wheat
[, also called Turkey wheat].
The seed time beginneth in the midst of April, and
continueth good till the midst of May. Our harvest
beginneth with September. This corn increaseth in
great measure ; but is inferior, in quantity, to the same
in Virginia : the reason, I conceive, is because Virginia
is far hotter than it is with us ; it requiring great heat
to ripen.
But whereas it is objected against New England,
That corn will not there grow except the ground be
manured with fish : I answer. That where men set
[corn] with fish [i.e. alewives], as with us, it is more
easy so to do : than to clear ground and set without
[fish] some five or six years ; and so begin anew [by
clearing fresh ground] ; as in Virginia, and elsewhere.
Not but that, in some places, where they [i.e. the
fish = alewives] cannot be taken with ease, in such
abundance, the Indians set four years together without
[fish] ; and have as good corn, or better, than we have
that set with them : though indeed, I think, if we
had cattle to till the ground, it would be more profitable,
and better agreeable to the soil, to sow wheat, rye,
barley, pease, and oats, than to set mays, which our
Indians called Ewachim. For we have had experience
Gov. E. wiiiBiow. Good News from New England. 595
that they \y6keat, rye, cfec] like and thrive well [in the
ground]: and the other [maize] will not be procured
without good labour and diligence; especially at seed
time, when it must also be watched by night, to keep
the wolves from the fish till it be rotten, which will
be in fourteen days; yet men agreeing together, and
taking their turns, it is not much.
Much might be spoken of the benefit that may
come to such as shall here plant, by trade [barter]
with the Indians for furs; if men take a right
course for obtaining the same. For I dare presume,
upon that small experience I have had, to affirm, that
the English, Dutch, and French return yearly many
thousands [of] pounds [of] profits by trade only, from
that island [see page 593] on which we are seated.
Tobacco may be there planted: but not with that
profit as in some other places. Neither were it
profitable there to follow it, though the increase were
equal; because fish is a better and richer commodity,
and more necessary : which may be, and are there,
had in as great abundance as in any other part of
the world. Witness the West Country Merchants of
England [i.e. of Devonshire and Cornwall]; which
return incredible gains yearly from thence. And
if they can so do, which here buy their salt at a
great charge, and transport more company to make
their voyage than will [is necessary to] sail their
ships: what may the Planters expect, when once
they are seated, and make the most of their salt
there, and imploy themselves at least eight months
in fishing ? whereas the others fish but four, and
have their ship lying dead [idle] in the harbour all
the time : whereas such shipping as belong to [the]
Plantations, may take freight [outwards] of passengers
59^ Good News from New England, gov. e. wmsiow.
or cattle thither ; and have their lading provided
[ready] against they come.
I confess [that] we have come so far short of the
means to raise such returns, as, with great difficulty,
we have preserved our lives: insomuch as when I
look back upon our condition, and [our] weak means
to preserve the same, I rather admire [wonder] at
GOD's mercy and Providence in our preservation,
than that no greater things have been effected by us.
But though our beginning hath been thus raw
[inexperienced], small, and difficult ; as thou hast seen :
yet the same GOD, that hath hitherto led us through
the former, I hope will raise means to accomplish
the latter. Not that we altogether, or principally,
propound profit to be the main end of that we have
undertaken ; but the glory of GOD, and the honour
of our country, in the inlarging of His Majesty's
dominions. Yet wanting outward means to set things
in that forwardness we desire, and to further the
latter by the former; I thought meet to offer both
to consideration : hoping that where religion and profit
jump together, which is rare, in so honourable an
action, it will encourage every honest man, either in
person or purse, to set forward the same ; or, at
least wise, to commend the welfare thereof, in his
daily prayers, to the blessing of the blessed GOD.
I will not again speak of the abundance of fowl
[i.e. wild fowl], store of venison, and variety of fish ;
which might incourage many to go in their persons.
Only I advise all such before hand to consider, That
as they hear of countries that abound with the good
creatures of GOD; so means must be used for the
taking of everyone in his kind: and therefore not
only to content themselves that there is sufficient ; but
Gov. E. winsiow. Goocl Ncws from New England, 597
to foresee how they shall be able to obtain the same.
Otherwise, as he that walketh London streets, though
he be in the midst of plenty ; yet if he want means,
is not the better but hath rather his sorrow [is] increased
by the sight of that he wanteth, and cannot enjoy.
So also there, if thou want art {skilly and other
necessaries thereunto belonging; thou may est see that
thou wantest and thy heart desireth, and yet be never
the better for the same. Therefore, if thou see thine own
insufficiency of thyself ; then join to some others, where
thou may est in some measure enjoy the same : otherwise
assure thyself, thou art better where thou art !
Some there be that, thinking altogether of their
present wants [that] they enjoy \suffer\ here, and not
dreaming of any there, through indiscretion, plunge
themselves into a deeper sea of misery. As for example,
it may be here [that] rent and firing are so chargeable
as, without great difficulty, a man cannot accomplish
the same : never considering that, as he shall have no
rent to pay, so he must build his house before he have
it ; and peradventure may, with more ease, pay for his
fuel here, than cut and fetch it home (, if he have not
cattle to draw it,) there ; though there is no scarcity,
but rather too great plenty [of it].
I write not these things to dissuade any that shall
seriously, upon due examination, set for themselves to
further the glory of GOD and the honour of our
country in so worthy an enterprise : but rather to
discourage such as, with too great lightness, undertake
such courses. Who peradventure strain themselves and
their friends for their passage thither; and are no
sooner there than, seeing their foolish imagination made
void, are at their wit's end : and would give ten times
59^ Gwd News from New England, qot. e. winsiow.
so much for their return, if they could procure it; and
out of such discontented passions and humours, spare
not to lay that imputation upon the country and others,
which themselves deserve.
As for example, I have heard some complain of
others, for their large [ample] reports of New England :
and yet because they must drink water, and want many
delicates they here enjoyed, could presently here return
with their mouths full of clamours. And can any be
so simple, as to conceive that the fountains should
stream forth wine or beer ; or the woods and rivers
be like butchers' shops, and fishmongers' stalls, where
they might have things taken to their hands ? If thou
canst not live without such things ; and hast no means
to procure the one, and wilt not take pains for the
other ; nor hast ability \jnoney'\ to employ others for
thee ; rest where thou art ! For as a proud heart, a
dainty tooth, a beggar's purse, and an idle hand be here
intollerable : so that person that hath these qualities
there, is much more abominable.
If, therefore, GOD hath given thee a heart to
undertake such courses, upon such grounds as bear
thee out in all difiiculties, viz. his glory as a principal
[motive]; and all other outward good things, but as
accessories ; which perad venture thou shalt enjoy, and
it may be not : then thou wilt, with true comfort
and thankfulness, receive the least of his mercies ;
whereas, on the contrary, men deprive themselves of
much happiness, being senseless of greater blessings ;
and, through prejudice, smother up the love and bounty
of GOD — whose name be ever glorified in us, and by
us, now and evermore. Amen.
FINIS.
A BRIEF Relation of a credible Intelligence
OF THE present ESTATE OF VIRGINIA.
'T the earnest entreaty of some of my much
respected friends; I have added to the
former Discourse, a Relation of such things
as were credibly reported at Plymouth in
New England, in September [1623] last past, concerning
the present estate of Virginia.
And because men may doubt, how we should have
intelligence of these Affairs, [it] being we are so far
distant ; I will therefore satisfy the doubtful therein.
Captain Francis West, being in New England,
about the latter end of May [1623] past; sailed from
thence, to Virginia, and returned in August. In
September, the same ship and company, being discharged
by him at Damarin's Cove [The Damariscove islands,
off the coast of Maine], came to New Plymouth : where,
upon our earnest inquiry after the state of Virginia,
since that bloody slaughter committed by the Indians
upon our friends and countrymen [on the 22nd March
1622] ; the whole ship's company agreed in this, viz. :
That, upon all occasions, they chased the Indians to
and fro ; insomuch as they sued daily unto the English
for peace : who, for the present, would not admit of
any. That Sir George Yeardley, &c. was, at that
present, employed upon service against them. That,
amongst many others, Opechancanough, the chief
599
6oo Good News from New England, gov. e. winsiow.
Emperor, was supposed to be slain. His son also was
killed at the same time.
And though, by reason of these forenamed broils,
in the fore part of the year [1623], the English had
undergone great want of food : yet, through GOD's
mercy, there never was more show of plenty; having
as much, and as good, corn on the ground as ever they
had. Neither were the hopes of their tobacco crop
inferior to that of their corn. So that the Planters
were never more full of encouragement.
Which I pray GOD long to continue; and so to
direct both . them and us, as his glory may be the
principal aim and end of all our actions: and that
for his mercy's sake. Amen.
A POSTCRIPT.
>F any man desire a more ample Relation of
the state of this country before such time
as this present Relation taketh place ; I refer
them to the two former printed books :
• The one published by the President and
Council for New England \A. brief Relation
of the Discovery and Plantation of New
England, 1607 to 1622. London, 1622, 4], and
The other gathered by the inhabitants of
this present Plantation at Plymouth in New
England [i.e. the Relation, or Journal, reprinted
at pp. 395-505].
Both which books are to be sold by John Bellamy,
at his shop, at the Three golden Lions, in Cornhill, near
the Royal Exchange.
INDEX
OF THE
Principal Persons, Places, etc.
Societies, Buildings, Districts, Streets &c. will be found under the
name of the town — as under Amsterdam, Leyden, London, Pljinouth
in N.E., Scrooby, &c.
N.E.=New England.
A., E. — see Aldee, E.
A.,H. — see Ainsworth,
Eev. H.
Abbadakest, a Sachem
of Massachusets
(Boston)'Ba,y. [Is this
a variant spelling of
Obtakiest ?] 257
Abbot, George ; Abp.
of Canterbury, 112,
114, 126, 278, 283,
287, 295
Adams, John, 385
Adventurers (in and
about London) of
New Plymouth in
New England ; The
= The Associates of
John Peii'ce, 4, 257-
261, 304, 311-314,
320, 321, 322, 333,
336-338, 344, 353,
356, 399, 492, 493,
506-508, 514. See
also. Conditions, &c.,
The
A g a w a m {Ipsmck,
N.E.\ 425
Agowaywam ( Ware-
ham, N.E.\bbb
Agreement of Peace
between the Pilgrim
Fathers and Massa-
The Pilgrim Fathers.
soit, 457, 458, 463,
489, 525, 527
Ainsworth, Be v.
Henry, 31, 104, 107,
115, 117, 119, 124,
125, 127, 137, 138,
172, 176, 186, 247
Ainsworth's Church at
Amsterdam, 1610-
1623 ; The Eev.
Henry, 100, 122,
127, 173, 211, 310,
314,315. Also called.
The Ainsworthians
Ainsworthians of the
English Protestant
exiles atAmsterdam,
The, 31, 100, 117,
118, 123, 126
Alckemade, Huyck
van, 156
Alconbury Hill, co.
Hunts,* 72
Aldee, Edward ; the
London Printer,
119
Alden, John ; the
Cooper, 356, 362,369,
377, 378, 384
Alden (previously
MuUins) ; Priscilla,
Wife of John, 362,
369, 377
6oi
Alderton, Goodwife
— see Allerton, M.
Alderton, John — see
Allerton, J.
Algrind — Edmund
Spenser's poetical
name for Abp.
Edmund Grindal, 24
Allden, Eobert, 321
Allerton, Bartholo-
mew, 362, 367, 379
Allerton, Isaac ; first
Assistant of Ply-
mouth Colony, 162-
164, 169, 307-308,
362, 366, 376, 378,
381, 383, 457, 460,
519, 522, 534, 560,
562, 563
Allerton, John ; a
sailor, 377, 379, 427
Allerton, (previously
Norris), Mary, first
Wife of Isaac, 162,
164, 367, 439
Allerton, afterwards
Cushman ; Mary [the
last survivor of those
who left England in
th.Q Mayflower onQjlQ
September 1620],
362, 367
Allerton, afterwards
2 Q
602
Index.
Maverick ; Bemem-
ber, 362, 367
Allerton [sister to
Isaac, 376], after-
wards Vincent;
then Priest ; and
finally Godbert ;
Sarah, 162-164, 376
Allerton, Po int ;
Boston Bay, 483
A 1 1 1 h a m. Captain
Emmanuel, 257, 258,
321
Alnwick, co. Nor-
thumb.j 71
Altham, Emmanuel —
see AUtham, E.
Althem, Samuel — see
AUtham, E.
Altum, Emanuel — see
AUtham, E.
American Library
Association, 9
Ames, Doctor William,
103, 125, 176, 209,
210, 213, 234, 237,
245
Amesius — see Ames,
Doctor W.
Amsterdam, 9, 10, 29,
31, 42, 70, 95-105,
107, 110, 113, 115,
117, 119, 121, 122,
125, 129, 134-140,
142, 148, 149, 168,
172, 186, 202, 210,
211, 234,. 246, 274,
291, 299, 301, 302,
310, 314, 315, 323,
324, 330, 331, 389
Amsterdam :
Ancient exiled
English Church
(1597 - 1610), The,
3, 9, 13, 30, 31,
38, 54, 70, 98, 99,
101-136, 138, 148,
277
Ainsworth's Church,
The Eev. Henry,
Amsterdam {cont^
(1610-1701), 100, 115,
122, 125, 127, 211,
310, 314, 315
Begyn Hof, 99
Brethren of the Se-
paration, The An-
cient— see Ancient
exiled English
Church
Brethren of the Se-
paration of the
Second English
Church, The — see
Gainsborough
Church, The
Clifton family at.
The, 95-97
Dutch Reformed
Church, The, 110,
128
English Congrega-
tion, (1597- ?1599),
That poor, 98, 99
Gainsborough
Church, (1608-1615),
The, 100, 121, 131,
135-137, 140
Great Cake House,
The, 100, 140
Helwys'fl Company
(1609-1613), Master
Thomas, 100, 137, 140
Johnson's Church,
(1610 - 1619) ; The
Rev. Francis, 10, 100,
115, 117, 277
Meeting House of
the Ancient exiled
English Church, Tlie,
117, 124, 125, 128
Mennonite Church,
A, 137, 138, 140
Niewe Kerk, 140
Scottish Presby-
terian Church, (1607
— to the present
day). The, 99, 186
Scrooby Church,
(1608 - 1609), The—
Amsterdam {cont^
see Pilgrim Church
at Amsterdam, The
Smyth's Company,
(1609-1615), Master
John, 100, 137-140
South Church, The,
96
The Church at — see
Johnson's Church,
The Rev. F.
Writing Book, At
the Sign of, 114
A m s t e»r d a m's. See
Amsterdam — Ains-
worth's Church, The
Rev. H.
Ancient Brethren of
the Separation. See
Amsterdam — An-
cient exiled English
Church at, The
Ancient exiled English
Church — see Am-
sterdam
Andrews, Richard,
321, 356
Andrews, Thomas, 321,
322
Angoum — see Agawam
Anguum — seeAgawam
Annable, Anthony, 388
Anne (of Denmark),
Queen Consort of
James I., 470
Anthony, Lawrence,
321
Antwerp, 235
Appaum — see Ply-
mouth in N.E., The
Town &c. of
Apsley, Sir Allen, 393
Argall, Sir Samuel,
255-258, 261, 289,
290, 393
Ark Wright, Richard, 14
Armada, The Spanish,
22, 23
Armourer, Hugh, 99
Armstrong (previously
Index.
603
Billington), Ellen ;
wife of Gregory,
371
Armstrong, Gregory,
371
Arnfield, Alice, 138
Articles of Agreement
between the Pilgrim
Church at Leyden
and the Adventurers
(in and about Lon-
don) of New Ply-
mouth in N.E., The
— see Conditions &c.,
The
Articles of the Church
of England, (1562);
The Thirty-nine, 67,
280
Articles exhibited
against Daniel
Studley, (1610); The,
122
Articles at the General
Assembly at Perth,
(1618); The Five,
242
Articles, (20 Nov.
1595) ; The Nine
Lambeth, 5
Articles of Peace be-
tween the Plantation
or Colony of Ply-
. mouth in N.E. and
Massasoit, theWam-
panoag Sagamore of
Pokanoket, (1621) ;
457, 458, 463, 489,
525, 527
Articles of the Pilgrim
Church at Leyden,
(1617); The Seven,
4, 280-282, 284
Articles [ ? of the
Synod of Dort]
(1618) ; The Five, 3,
130
Aspinet, the Sachem
of Nauset, 476, 537-
539, 574
Aurelius Antoninus,
The Emperor Mar-
cus, 150
Austerfield, co. York,
39, 51, 57-59, 65, 66,
163
Austerfield :
Governor Bradford's
cottage, 65
Church, The, 65
Living, The Church,
58
Azores, The, 394
Babington Con-
spiracy, The, 33
Babworth Church,
Hall, and Rectory ;
CO. Notts, 39, 51-53,
58, 66, 95
Bahamas, Tlie, 364
B a i 1 1 i e. Principal
Robert, 332
Baker's Wharf,
Warren, R. I., N.E.,
468
Bancroft, George, 282
Bancroft, Richard ;
Bp. of London, after-
wards Abp. of Can-
terbury, 3, 106
Bangs, Edward, 388
Barbadoes, 370
Barbary, 121
Barbor, William, 119
Barclay, Robert, 140
Barker, Christopher,
76
Barker, The Deputies
of Christopher, 95
Barker, afterwards
Winslow; Elizabeth,
164, 366
Barnby Moor, co.
Notts, 66
Barnes, John, 106
Barnstable, N.E., 375,
474, 537, 538, 542-
544, 555, 574
Barren, , 246
Barrow, Henry, 31
34-37, 103, 104
Barrowists, 33
Bartlet, Robert, 388
Barton, Thomas ; Cap-
tain of the Fortune
(1621-1622), 506
Bass, Edward, 321
Bass Rip, The ; Cape
Cod, N.E., 350
Bassett, Cecil ; 1st
^'ife of William, 164
Bassett, Elizabeth; 3rd
Wife of William, 165
Bassett (previously
Oldham), Margaret ;
2nd Wife of William,
164 •
Bassett, William, 164
165, 385
Bassite, William — see
Bassett, W.
Bastwick, John, 171,
186-188
Bastwyck, Joannes —
see Bastwick, J.
Batcombe, co. Som., 53
Bawtry, co. York, 57,
58, 60, 61, 72, 93
Baxter, Rev. Richard,
20
Bay. This word is often
used on pp. 407-600
of this volume, in the
sense of Harbour
Baylie, Robert — see
Baillie, Principal R.
Beale, William, 385
Beauchamp, John, 321,
356
Beaumaris, The Court
to, 73
Bebel, England, 167
Belf ord,co.Northumb. ,
71
Bellamy or Bellamie,
John, 133, 395, 509,
600
Benet, Edward ; a Rul-
ing Elder, 122, 125
6o4
Index.
Benet, Sir John, 230
Bermuda Company,
The, 400
Bernard, Rev. Richard,
53-55, 124, 132, 134-
139
Bernhere,Rev. Thomas,
121
Berry, Zachariah, 273
Berwick on Tweed, 71,
74, 75, 84
Berwick on Tweed,
The Court to, 73
Bevercotes, Samuel,
79-81
Billericay, co. Essex,
308, 355, 368
Billingsgate Point,
Cape Cod, N.E., 428
Billington, Ellen; Wife
of John sen.^ 371
Billington, afterwards
Armstrong, Ellen,
371
Billington, Francis,
362,372,380,426,442
Billington sen.^ John,
355, 360, 371, 372,
379, 381, 383, 426
Billington, ^tm., John,
372, 379, 474-476
Billington Sea — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Town &c. of
Billinton — see Billing-
ton
Biscop {Latinized Epis-
copius]. Professor
Simon, 153, 179
Bishop, Thomas, 119
Bishops of the Church
of England, The, 35,
46, 51, 185, 281, 295,
334
Bishopsthorpe, co.
York, 61
Blackwell, Francis ; a
Ruling Elder, 119,
125, 126, 277-279,
290, 291, 302
Bladen, William, 509
Blaxland, Rev. G.
Cuthbert, 326
Blenheim, The Battle
of, 22
Blyth, CO. Notts, 57,58
Bompas, Edward, 385
Books, Docu7nents,
Serials, Sc. : See also
Articles and Points.
Catch words of Titles
only.
Abstract . . .Virginia
Co. (1888) ; by C.
Robinson, 250
Act to retain the
Queen's subjects in
obedience, (1593), 3,
35,36
Act of the Six
Articles, (1539), 35
Act of Supremacy,
(1559), 25
Act of Uniformity,
(1559), 25
Admonition to the
Parliament, (1572) ;
by Rev. J. Field and
Rev. T. Wilcox, 244,
245
Admonition to the
Parliament, (1572),
A Second ; by Rev.
T. Cartwright, 244,
245
Advertisement
against T. Bright-
man, (? 1611); by J.
de L'Ecluse, 114
Advertisements,
(1565) ; by Abp. M.
Parker, 25
Advertisements,
(1631); by Capt. J.
Smith, 321, 325
Album Studiosorum,
(1875); by Dr W.
N. Du Rieu, 170,
171
Altar of Damascus,
Books &c. {cont.)
(1621); by Rev. D.
Calderwood, 195
Altar e Damascenwm,
(1623) ; by Rev. D.
Calderwood, 195, 239
Ancient Landmarks
&c., (1883) ; by the
Hon. W. T. Davis,
260, 363-377
Animadversions &c.
(1613) ; by Rev. H.
Ains worth, 117
Answer &c., An,
(1619) ; by W.
Euring, 242, 243,
245, 282
Answer &c., «An,
(1609) ; by Rev. J.
Robinson, 139
Antidoton, (1600) ;
by Rev. H. Cla;p-
ham, 99
Antiquities of Notts,
(1677) ; by R. Thoro-
ton, 65
Apologia justa Sc,
(1619) ; by Rev. J.
Robinson, 178
Apology &c., (1625);
by ReVi J. Robinson,
176, 178
Arrest Roll of the
city of Amsterdam,
(1606), 119, 120
Arrow &c., (1618);
by Rev. J. Paget,
115, 116, 186
Baker Transcripts,
The, 105
Bradford MS., The,
(1630-1650), 1, 46,
47, 93, 142, 154, 194,
267, 271, 272, 279,
291, 296, 307, 319,
326, 329-331, 333,
338, 346, 354, 358,
363, 371, 377, 382,
392,432,461,464,474
Brief Discourse,
Index,
605
Books &c. {cont^
(1575); by Dean
W.Whittingham,25;
Bright Morning
Star, (1603); by Eev.
J. Smyth, 133
British Itinerary ;
by D. Paterson, 71
Brownism &c.,
(1613);byC.Lawne,
118
Certain Reasons &c.,
Part L (1618) ; by
T. Dighton, 242, 245
— see also Discourse
Character & c,
(1609) ; by Rev. T.
Smyth, 138, 139
Christian Advertise-
ments &c., (1608); by
Rev. R. Bernard, 135
Christian Plea, A.,
(1617) ; by Rev. F.
Johnson, 117, 129
Chronicles &c.,
(1841) ; by Rev. A.
Young, 37, 105, 173,
175, 350, 351, 356
Chronological Hist.
&c., (1736) ; by Rev.
T. Prince, 335
Collections &c.,
(1854); by J. Hun-
ter, 86
Colony Records, The
Old, 326, 381-388
Commentarii Sc,
(1617) ; by T. Cart-
wright, 237, 245
Common Apology
&c., A, (1610) ; by
Bp. J. Hall, 139
Confession of Faith
of the French Re-
formed Churches,
294, 295
Confutation &c.,
(1618) ; by Rev. T.
Cartwright, 199,
238, 245
Books &c, (cont.)
C o n g r e g ationalism
&c., (1880) ; by Rev.
H. M. Dexter, 15,
49, 50, 143, 171
Contemplative &c.,
(1609) ; by Rev. R.
Bernard, 139
Counterpoison &c.,
(1608) ; by Rev. H.
Ains worth, 137
Declaration «&c.,
(1574) ; by W. Tra-
vers, 28, 244, 245
Deed Poll &c., (1622),
in favour of J.Peirce,
260, 261
Defence of the Holy
Scriptures &c.,
(1609); by Rev. H.
Ains worth, 138
Defence of the Peti-
tion <&c., (1618),
243, 245
Delices de Leide^ Les^
(1712) 143
Demonstration &c.,
A., (1588) ; by Rev.
J. XJdall, 28
De Regimine c]&c.,[2nd
Edition] (1619); by
Rev. D. Calderwood,
181, 195, 199, 200,
206, 209, 238, 239,
245
Description &c.,
(1599) ; by Rev. H.
Clapham, 99
De vera . . Religione^
(1618) ; 200, 238,
245
Dial of Princes, by
Bp. A. de Guevara,
150
Differences &c.,
(1608); by Rev. J.
Smyth, 137, 138
Discourse &c., Part
II., (1619); by T.
Dighton, 243, 245
Books &c. {cont.)
— s ee Certain
Reasons
Discourse of some
Troubles &c.,(1603);
by G. Johnson, 108,
109
Discovery&c. ,( 1 605) ;
by Rev. T. White,
118-120, 128
Doctrine of Prayer
&c.,(1595) ; by Rev.
J. Smith of Reading,
132
Early Eng. Baptists,
(1862); by Doctor
B. Evans, 138
Elliott, Sir J.,
(1872) ; by J. For-
ster, 20
English Garner
(1880), An ; Ed. by
Prof. E. Arber, 315
Epistles, (1608) ; by
Bp. J. Hall, 135, 136
Essex Dove, (1623) ;
by Rev. J. Smith of
Clavering, 132
First Dialogue &c.,
(1648) ; by Gov. W.
Bradford, 37, 52,
173, 175
Gen. Hist, of the
Netherlands, (1608);
by E. van Meteren,
68
Gerechts DagsDoeken,
147
Golden Book &c.,
by Bp. A. de Gue-
vara, 150
Good News &c.,
(1624); by Gov. E.
Winslow : reprinted
at pp. 509-600.
Gospel Public Wor-
ship, (1656) ; by T.
Brewer, 247.
Habeas Corpus^ The
Writ of, 32
6o6
Index,
Books &c. (cont.)
Harl. MS., 7042,
105-107
Hist. of BIyth,
(1860), hj Eev. J.
feaine, 59
Hist, of the Churcli
of Scotland, (1678) ;
bj Rev. D. Calder-
wood, 181, 195, 239
Hist, of England,
(1860) ; bj Prof. J.
A. Froude, 23, 24, 33
Hist, of England,
(1884); by Dr. S.
R. Gardiner, 20
Hist, of the London
Virginia Co., (1869);
by Rev. Dr. E. D.
Neill, 251, 253, 254,
392
Historical Maga-
zine, (1859, 1860),
146, 155-169, 197,
203, 205-207, 214,
221, 236, 273
Hist, of Plymouth
Plantation, by Gov.
W. Bradford — see
Bradford MS., The
Hist, of the Post
Office, (1893); byH.
Joyce, 73
Hist, of the Prot. Ep.
Church in America,
(1844) ; by Bp. S.
Wilberforce, 47
Hist, of Retford,
(1828); by J. S.
Piercey, 52
Hist, of the Scottish
Church, Rotterdam,
(1833) ; by Rev. W.
Steven, 99, 100, 145
Hist, of Virginia,
(1624) ; by Capt. J.
Smith, 320
Hist, of Virginia,
(1822) ; by J. Burk,
250
Books &c. (cont.)
Hist, of Worksop,
(1826) ; by J. Hal-
land, 53
Homilies, The Two
Books of the, 53
Hunting of the Fox,
Part I., (c. 1610) ; ?
by Giles Thorpe, 9,
122, 123
Hypocrisy un-
masked &c., (1646),
by Gov. E. Winslow,
185, 268, 283, 328-
330, 333
Indemnifications,
Register M.M. of,
155
Inner Life &c.,
(1876) ; by R. Bar-
clay, 140
Inquiry &c., (1606);
by Rev. F. Johnson,
119
Itinerary, begun
1538, by J. Leland,
61
John Robinson &c.,
(1848); by Prof.
Kist, 147
Justification &c.,
(1610) ; by Rev. J.
Robinson, 38, 54, 55,
68,117,123,124, 139
Landing at Cape
Anne, (1854) ; by J.
W. Thornton, 47
Lansdowne MS.,
No. 50 ; 64
Last Book of Rev,
J. Smyth, (1613),
140
Laws of Eccles,
Polity, (1594-1618) ;
by R. Hooker, 28
Letter Book of Gov.
W. Bradford, The
Official, 46, 321,
322
Letters of &c.j the
Books &c. (cont.)
reign of Henry
VIIL, 60
Library of New
England History,
Ed. by Rev. H. M.
Dexter, 451, 464-
466, 468, 483
Life of Card. T.
Wolsey, (1825) ; by
G. Cavendish, 60
Life of Rev. D.
Calderwood, (1849) ;
by Rev. T. Thomson,
239-242
Lives ... of the
Prot. Bishops &c.,
(1720) ; by J. Le.
Neve, 61-64
London Virginia Co.
Hist, of, (1869) ; by
Eev. Dr. E. D.
Neill, 251, 253, 254
London Virginia Co. ,
Short Collection,
(1651);byA.Wood-
noth, 250
Magnalia Christi
&c., (1702); by Dr.
C. Mather, 39-45
Manuscript Hist.
&c. — see Bradford
MS.
Mark of the Beast
&c. — see Character
Massachusetts His-
torical Society's Col-
lections, 46, 322
Mayflower Essays ;
by Rev. G. C. Blax-
land, 326
Memoirs of the Pil-
grims &c., (1846) ;
by G. Summer, 146
Midsummer's Night
Dream, A ; by W.
Shakespeare, 50
Mill on the Floss ;
by G. Eliot, 66 •
Minutes of the
Index,
607
Books &c. {cont^
Council for New
England, 255 - 261,
393
Mourt's Relation
Sc, G., (1622) ; 326,
359, 600; and re-
printed at 395-505
Narrative . . . Hist.
&c., (1886) ; by Prof.
J. Winsor, 47
Nederlansch Archief
&c. (1848), 146
New England's
Memorial,(1669);by
N, Morton, 48, 326,
378, 390
New England's
Trials, (1622); by
Capt. J. Smith, 340,
347, 506, 508
New York His-
torical Society's Pub-
lications, 282
Oaths :
Etcetera Oath, 32
Ex Officio Oath,32
Oath of Allegiance,
294, 295
Oath of Supre-
macy, 294, 295
Observations &c.,
(1625) ; by Eev. J.
Robinson, 101
Parallels &c., (1609) ;
by Eev. J. Smyth,
136, 138
Patent for the Coun-
cil for New England,
(1620), 304
Patent for Plymouth
Colony, (1619), 253
Patent for Plymouth
Colony, (1620), 253,
254
Patent for Plymouth
Colonv, (1621), 254,
259-261
Patent for Plymouth
Colony, (1630), 43
Books &c. {cont.)
Pattern of true
Prayer, (1605) ; by
Rev. J. Smyth, while
a Conformist at
Lincoln, 133, 134
People'sPlea,(1618) ;
by Rev. J. Robinson,
242, 245
Perth Assembly,
(1619) ; by Rev. D.
Calderwood, 181,
195, 196, 198, 199,
206, 209, 238-242,
245
Philo sop h ica 1
Transactions, 14
Placaat [=Edict'\ of
the States General
of Holland, 198, 203,
209, 232, 233, 235
Plain Evidences &c.,
(1610); by Rev. R.
Bernard, 139
Plain Refutation
&c., (1591); by H.
Barrow and J.
Greenwood, 103,
104
Plea &c., (1609) ; by
Rev. R. Clyfton, 139
Pocket Book of Gov.
W. Bradford, 46
Principles &c.,
(1608) ; by Rev. J
Smyth, 136
Profane Schism &c.,
(1612) ; by C. Lawne
&c., 103, 110-115,
122, 124-128
Protocollenvan Waer-
brieoen, 155
Reason of Church
&c., (1641); by J.
Milton, 21
Recantation &c,,
(1606) ; by P. Fair-
lambe, 121
Records of the
Colony of New Ply-
Books &c. (cant.)
mouth, 326, 381-
388
Relation or Journal
—see Mourt, G.
Relation of . . .
Religion, (1605) ; by
Sir E. Sandys, 16
Religious Com-
munion, (1614) ; by
Rev. J. Robinson,
103
Repertorium &c.,
(1710) ; by R. New-
court, 282
Rescriptio contracta^
(1617); by Dr. W.
Ames, 237, 245
Retractation &c.,
(? 1613) ; by Rev. J.
Smyth, 140
Sermon &c., (1608) ;
by Rev. W. Cra-
shaw, 135
Shield &c., (1612);
by J. Fowler &c.,
113-115, 123
Short Treatise &c.,
(1611) ; by Rev. P.
Johnson, 125
Speech, on the scaf-
fold, of Charles I.,
(1649), 17
Statutes &c., 36
Substance ... of
Prayer 5 by Rev. J.
Smith of Clavering,
132
Survey &c., (1593) ;
by Abp. R. Bancroft,
105, 106
Ten Counter &c., (c.
1618); by Rev. T.
Drakes, 242, 282
Transcript &c., A.,
(1876) ; by Prof. E.
Arber, 20, 112, 118,
119, 121, 133, 135,
139
Transport Brief,
6o8
Index.
Books &c. {cont.^
(1611), A ; for Rev.
J. Robinson, 155
True Story &c., The,
(1881) ; by Rev. H.
M. Dexter, 131, 137,
138, 140
True Travels of Capt.
J.Smith,The,(1629);
324
Unreasonableness
&c., (1614) ; by, W.
Bradshaw, 125
Utopia, (1514) ; by
Sir T. More, 251
Utter Routing &c.,
(1646) ; by J. Bast-
wick, 188
Voyages &c. (1599-
1600); by Rev. R.
Hakluyt, 107
Warrant for Council
for New England,
(1620); 304
Boroughbridge, co.
York, 72
Boston, CO. Line, 41,
58, 86, 88, 89, 93,
191, 302
Boston, N.E. {Shaw-
mut), 46, 47, 131, 146,
155, 159, 160, 191,
197, 203, 205-207,
214, 221, 236, 273,
363, 374, 381, 483
Boston, N.E. :
Massachusetts His-
torical Society, 46,
321 322
Old South Church,
The 47
Old' South Tower,
The, 47
Prince Library, The;
in the Steeple Cham-
ber of the Old South
Church, 47
Boston Bay, The inner
[Its first name was
Massachusets (spelt
with one t) Bay.], 10,
257, 483-486, 500,
521, 523, 526, 532,
536. See also Wes-
sagusset
Boston Bay Indians,
The, 257, 483-486,
533, 544, 555, 560,
561, 563, 572
Bourchier, 2nd Lord
Berners ; John, 150
Bourchier, Sir John,
257
Bowman, Christopher ;
a Deacon, afterwards
a Ruling Elder, 105-
109, 119, 120, 125
Boys, Edward, 106,
107, 109.
Boys, Thomasine, "Wife
of Edward, 107, 109
Boys, afterwards John-
son ; Thomasine, 107,
109
Bradford (previously
Carpenter, then
Southwortli), Alice ;
second Wife of Gov.
W., 46, 163, 273, 387
Bradford (previously
May), Dorothy; first
Wife of Gov.- W.,
42, 163, 366
Bradford, William.
His personal char-
acter and career,
39-45, 51, 52, 65, 66,
90, 91, 163, 164, 168,
169, 273, 275, 307,
308, 362, 366, 378,
383, 411, 416, 427,
432, 443, 446
Bradford, as Governor;
William, 4, 30, 42,
43, 46, 158, 163, 381,
382, 462, 489, 492,
507, 508, 515, 518-
520, 522, 533-538,
540-542, 547, 550,
556, 558-562
Bradford, as a Writer;
William, 2, 3, 36, 37,
46, 48, 52-54, 67-70,
87-93, 100, 101, 103,
104, 105, 108, 124,
126, 141, 142, 148-
154, 167, 172-175,
189-194, 196, 264-
272, 277-279, 284-
291, 293-296, 301-
319, 328-331, 334-
354, 356, 358-375,
381, 382, 390, 391,
392, 427-435, 464j
474
Bradshaw, William,
125
Braeber, Thomas —
see Brewer, T.
Bray, Rev. Oliver, 53
Bretagne, 506
Brethren of the Se-
paration of the
Second English
Church at Amster-
dam, 136
Brewer the Printer —
see Brewer, T.
Brewer, Thomas, 4,
167, 170, 171, 195-
247, 318, 321
Brewster, Fear, 387
Brewster, Jonathan,
385
Brewster, Love, 365,
379
Brewster, Mary, Wife
of William, 365
Brewster, Patience,
387
Brewster, Robertus,
171
Brewster, William.
His personal char-
acter and career, 65,
142, 167, 189-194,
197, 284, 289-291,
318, 334, 365, 366,
378, 381, 383
Brewster, William,
Index.
609
Post Master at
Scrooby, 3, 53, 54,
65,73,79-86,190,284
Brewster, William, as
a religious worker
at Scroobj, and at
Amsterdam ; and as
Ruling Elder at
Leyden, and at Ply-
mouth in New Eng-
land, 4, 29, 51, 53,
58, 69, 97, 117, 142,
149, 173, 185, 191-
194, 263, 264, 268,
280, 281, 284-286,
293-295, 327, -328
Erewster, William, as
Agent in England,
for the Pilgrim
Church at Leyden,
65, 284, 288-291,
327
Brewster, William, as
secret Printer at
Leyden, 4, 19, 181,
192, 195-247, 334
Brewster's eldest son,
William, 365
Brewster's father, the
Post Master at
Scrooby before him ;
William, 50, 79-83
Brewster's grand-
father, William, 50
Brewster's mother,
William, 81
Brewster, Wrastle, or
Wrestling, 365, 379
Brielle, 189
Brigges, Clement, 385
Briggs, Joan, 138
Brightman, Thomas,
113
Bristol, CO. Som., 23
Bristol, Maine, 451
Bristol, Phode Island,
468
Brittany, 506
Britteridge, Richard,
376, 379
Bromhead, Ann;
? Wife of Hugo, 138
Bromhead, Hugo, 138
Bromley, Sir Thomas ;
Lord Chancellor, 76
Brouckhoven, Jacob
von, 203, 204, 208,
209, 211, 215
Browne, Peter, 376,
379, 381, 383, 443-
446
Browne, the Brownist ;
Rev. Robert, 31, 38,
108, 137
Browning, Henry, 321
Brownism, 118, 119,
135
Brownists, 33, 35, 38,
112-116, 120, 129,
158, 183, 198, 204,
208, 211, 222, 228,
243, 246, 323, 324
Brownist Church at
Leyden, The — see
Pilgrim Church at
Leyden, The
Brownist Congrega-
tion at Leyden, The
— see Pilgrim Church
at Leyden, The
Buckett, Mary, 388
Buckrum (previously
Neal), Elizabeth ;
WifeofWilliam,164,
168
Buckrum, William,
167, 273
Bui ward, Robert, 113-
116, 119
Burcher, Edward, 386
Burk, John, 250
Burntisland, 240
Burre,Walter, 112, 118
Burton, Henry, 186
Bury St Edmunds, 275
Butler, Mary, 164
Butler, Samuel, 273
Butten, William, 46,
350, 358, 360, 361,
367, 379
Butterfield, Stephen,
273
Buzzard's Bay, 540
C. H. — see Clapham,
Rev. Henoch
C. R. — see Cushman,
Robert
Caen, 274
Calderwood, Rev.
David ; the Church
Historian of Scot-
land, 180-182, 195,
197, 238-242, 245
Calvin, Jean, 176, 183
Cambridge, The Uni-
versity of, 17, 23,
60, 51, 53-55, 131,
189, 217
Cambridge ;
Christ's College, 131,
132
Emmanuel College,
133
Peterhouse College,
189
Trinity College, 25,
108
University Press,
The, 18, 133
Cambridge, N.E., 47,
48
Canacum — see Cawna-
come
Canada {New France)^
297, 323
Canada, Bay of — see
St Lawrence, Gulf
of
Canadyne, Thomas, 138
Cananacus — see Can-
onicus
Canauacus — see Can-
onicus
Canne, the Elder, The
Rev. John, 100
C£|,nnon, John, 385
Canonicus, Sagamore
of the Narragansett
Indians of Rhode
6io
Index.
Island, 517, 518, 520,
587
Canterbury, Abp. of
— see Grindal, E.
Canterbury, Abp. of
— see Laud, W.
Canterbury, Abp. of
— see Parker, M.
Canterbury, Abp. of —
see Temple, F.
Canterbury, Abp. of —
see Wliitgift, J.
Canterbury, as Licen-
ser of Books ; The
Abp. of, 19
Canterbury, co. Kent,
165, 289
Capawack, The isle
of, now Martha's
Vineyard, 490,
555
Cape Cod (called by
Captain John Smith,
Cape James) 301,
324, 325, 332, 350,
351, 393, 407, 409,
423, 424, 426-428,
435, 436, 439, 441,
451, 463, 491, 534,
545,546. Also called
Pamet.
Cape Cod, Shipwrecked
Frenchmen at, 414,
421, 451
Cape Cod, The shoals
of, 392, 535. See also
Pollock Kip, The
Cape Cod, Trade and
Discovery to the
southward of, 534,
535, 580
Cape Cod Bay, 407,
464, 491, 500, 537,
540, 560
Cape Cod Harbour
{Provincetown Har-
bour), 42, 163, 301,
358, 364, 366, 369,
370, 374, 378, 390,
407, 408, 410, 411,
416-418, 423, 427,
435, 436.
Cape James — see Cape
Cod
Carey, 1st Lord Huns-
don ; Henry, 76
Carey, afterwards
Jenney ; Sarah, 165
Carleton, the Ambas-
sador— see Carleton,
SirD.
Carleton, afterwards
Viscount Dor-
chester ; Sir Dudley,
7, 129, 196-202, 204-
239, 298-300, 390,
394
Carleton, Lady, 225,
227 .
Carlisle, co. Cumb., 72
Carpenter, after-
wards Fuller ; Agnes,
163, 164
Carpenter, Alexander,
163, 165, 273
Carpenter, afterwards
Southworth ; and
later Bradford;
Alice, 46, 163, 165,
273, 387
Carpenter, Anna — a
mistake for Carpen-
ter, Agnes ; which
see
Carpenter, Dillen, 162
Carpenter, afterwards
Morton ; Julia Ann,
165, 273
Carter, Kobert, 369,
380
Cartwright, the
Apostle of the " Holy
Discipline " ; Rev.
Thomas, 25, 31, 199,
237, 238, 244, 245
Carver, Catharine or
Katharine ; Wife of
John, 165, 361, 364
Carver, John, a Deacon
of the Pilgrim
Church ; and the
first Governor of
Plymouth Colony,
46, 165, 168, 173,
268, 275, 278, 285,
300, 303, 355, 361,
364, 378, 416, 427,
442, 444, 446, 450,
456, 457, 460, 461 .
Carver, John, as Agent
in England, for the
Pilgrim Church at
Leyden, 268, 282,
284, 285, 303, 304,
307-319, 335, 337
Cathkin, James, 181,
196, 240-242
Caunbatant, a Sachem,
a subject of Massa-
soit, living at Mata-
puyst and Nama-
schet, 479-482, 523,
547-549, 556 - 558,
562
Cavendish, George, 60
Cavendish, Henry, 14
Cavendish, 1st Earl of
Devonshire ;
William, 249
Cawnacome, Sachem
of Manomet {Sand-
wich), 541, 542, 544,
574
Caxton, CO. Camb., 72
Cecil, 1st Lord
Burlegh : William,
34, 64, 65, 76
Cera, The Marquis de,
506-508
Chaderton, Rev. Laur-
ence, 244, 245
Chamberlain, John,
394
Chandler, Roger, 273
Charles I., King, 17,
197, 248, 252,
323
Charles, afterwards
Ferrier ; Mildreth,
274
Index.
6ii
Charles river, N.E. ;
The, 486
Charlestown, Boston
Bay, N.E., 484
C^artley Manor
House, CO. Staffs., 33
Chatham, Cape Cod,
N.E., 476, 535, 536,
541
Chatham, co. Kent,
49, 258
Chatsum, 164
Chesapeake Bay, 290
Chester, England, 164
Chester, Eev. Richard,
52
Chilton, James, 374,
379
Chilton, ? ; Wife of
James, 374
Chilton, afterwards
Winslow ; Mary, 362,
374, 384
Chingleton (? Single-
ton), afterwards
Cushman ; Mary,
165
Chingleton (? Single-
ton), Thomas, 165
Chudley, Captain, 393
Church at Leyden,
The — see Pilgrim
Church at Leyden,
The,
Cinque Ports , The,
75
Clapham, E-ev.
Henoch, 98, 99
Clark's Island in Ply-
mouth harbour in
N.E. [It was named
from John Clarke,
the Pilot], 435-438,
445, 447
Clarke, John, 107
Clarke, the Pilot ;
John, 254, 316, 427
Clarke, Richard, 376,
379
Clarke, Thomas, 388
Clavering, co. Essex,
132
Clemens, Anthony
165 273
Clifford, 3rd Earl of,
Cumberland;
George, 37
Clifton, the spelling
of the names in the
Family Bible of the
relatives of the Rev.
Richard Clyfton, 95-
97
Clifton, Ann ; Wife of
the Rector of Bab-
worth— see Clyfton,
-ex.
Clifton, Ann, 95
Clifton, Dorothy, 95
Clifton, Edward, 95
Clifton, Eleazar (1),
52, 95, 96
Clifton, Eleazar (2),
96,97
Clifton, Elinor, 95
Clifton (previously
Wayt), Elizabeth
(1) ; second Wife of
Zachary(l), 96, 97
Clifton, Elizabeth (2),
96
Clifton, Elizabeth (3),
96
Clifton, Elizabeth (4),
96
Clifton, Hanna (1), 95
Clifton, Hanna (2), 96,
97
Clifton, Israel (1), 96
Clifton, Israel (2), 96
Clifton, Jane (1), 95
Clifton, Jane (2), 95
Clifton, John, 95
Clifton, Martha, 96
Clifton, Mary (1), 95
Clifton (previously
Hopps), Mary (2) ;
first Wife of Zach-
ary (1), 96
Clifton, Mary (3), 96
Clifton, Priscilla, 95
Clifton, Richard (1)—
see Clyfton, Rev. R,
Clifton, Richard (2), 96
Clifton, Steven, 95
Clifton, Thomas ;
father of the Rev.
R. Clyfton, 95
Clifton, Timothy, 95
Clifton, William, 95
Clifton, Zachary (1) ;
eldest son of Rev. R.
Clyfton, 3, 95-97
Clifton, Zachary (2), 96
Clifton, Zachary (3), 96
Clinton, alias Fiennes;
1st Earl of Lincoln;
Edward de, 76
Clinton, alias Fiennes;
Countess Dowager
of Lincoln ; Eliza-
beth de, 291
Clinton, alias Fiennes,
4th Earl of Lincoln ;
Theophilus, 253
Cluverius, Philip, 216,
217
Cluverus — see Clu-
verius, or Cluvier, P.
Cluvier, Philip, 216, 217
Clyfton (previously
Stuffen), Anne; Wife
of the Rev. Richard,
95, 96
Clyfton, Rev. Richard,
3, 29, 31, 39, 51-54,
66, 69, 95-97, 116,
117, 125, 138, 139
Cochin, India, 22
Cocky, Thomas; a Pro-
phet of the "Holy
Discipline " ; 108,
126, 127
Codmore, John, 273
Colchester, co. Essex,
273, 274
Cold Harbour, Cape
Cod, N.E. — see Pa-
met river
Collier, WUliam, 321
6l2
Index,
Collingwood, Edward ;
Secretary of the
London Virginia
Company, 251
Collins, ; a Se-
paratist, 106
Colony in the North-
ern Parts of Vir-
ginia— see Plymouth
in KE., The Plan-
tation or Colony of
Colony, The Old — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Plantation or
Colony of
Common Stock — see
Joint Stock
Compact, The, 358, 360,
378-380, 409, 410
Company [at Ply-
mouth, N.E.], The
= The Pilgrim
Fathers, 335, 338,
339, 371, 377, 480
Conanacus — see Can-
onicus
Conbatant — see Caun-
batant
Conditions^ or Articles
of Agreement as to
a Joint Stock and
Partnership, for
, Seven Years, be-
tween the Pilgrim
Church at Leyden
and the Adventur-
ers; The, 303-308,
311-315, 317-319,
335-338, 344. See
also, Joint Stock,
The,
Conditions of Peace
between the Pilgrim
Fathers at Ply-
mouth in N.E., and
Massasoit; The, 457,
458, 463, 489, 625,
527
Congregation at Ley-
den, The — see Pil-
grim Church at Ley-
den, The
Connant, Christopher,
386
Couner, William, 385
Cooke, Damaris; Wife
of Jacob, 370
Cooke, Francis, 180,
360, 362, 373, 378,
381, 383, 386
448
Cooke, a Walloon ;
Hester, Wife of
Francis, 180
Cooke, Jacob, 370
Cooke, John, 362, 373,
380
Cooke, Lord, 278
Cookridge, co.York, 96
Cooper, Humility, 372,
384
Copernicus, Nicolaus,
13
Coppin, Robert ; " our
Pilot " on board the
Mayflower, 425, 427,
434, 435
Corbitant — see Caun-
batant
Cornhill [=::-Hopkins's
Cliff], Cape Cod,
N.E., 414, 419, 430,
463, 469, 476, 491
Cotton, Pev. John, 134
Conbatant — see Caun-
batant
Council for New Eng-
land — see next
article
Council for the Affairs
of New England in
America, The Presi-
dent and, 252, 254-
261, 304, 393, 397,
560, 561, 600
Covenant of Peace be-
tween the Pilgrim
Fathers at Ply-
mouth in N.E., and
Massasoyt (1621) ;
The, 457, 458, 463,
489, 525, 527
Coventry, Thomas, 321
Coventry, Sir Thomas,
303 •
Crabe, Rev. , 310
Crackston, afterwards
Smith ; Anna, 275
Crackston sen., John,
275, 367, 379, 384
Crackston jiLn., John,
368, 379
Crakston — see Crack-
ston
Cranstoun, Lady, 240
Cranstoun, near Edin-
burgh, 239
Crashaw, Rev. Wil-
liam, 135, 137
Crewe, Lord, 59
Cromford, co. Derby,
14
Cronstedt, Axel Frede-
rich, 14
Crottendine, Abra-
ham, 99
Crullins (previously
Pettinger) ; Doro-
thy ; Wife of Henry,
168
Crullins, Henry, 168
Crumpe, , 246
Cullens [? Crullins],
Henry, 274
Cummaquid {Barns-
table harbour, N.E.),
474, 475-479, 500,
537, 538, 542-544
Cushman (previously
Chingleton) Mary ;
2nd Wife of Robert,
165
Cushman (previously
Allerton) ; Mary,
Wife of Thomas,
362, 367
Cushman, Robert. His
personal character
and career, 46, 165,
278, 289, 342-346,
hidex.
613
355, 383, 500, SOS-
SOS
Cushman, Robert ; as
Agent in England
for the Pilgrim
Church at Leyden,
268, 282, 284, 285,
. 288-291, 303, 305,
307-318, 327, 335,
337, 389
Cushman, Eobert ; as
a "Writer, 2, 46, 249,
279, 288-291, 309-
317, 327, 342-345,
346, 495-505
Cushman, Sarah ; 1st
Wife of Eobert, 165,
Cushman, Thomas, 367,
385
Cuthbertson, Cuth-
bert, a corruption of
Godbertson, G., 179,
388
D. I. — see Dawson, J.
Daguerre, Louis, 14
Damarin's Cove — see
Damariscove
Islands
Damariscove Islands,
near Mohegan,
Maine, 529, 599
Dan vers, Sir John, 251
Darlington, co. Dur-
ham, 72
Darnton — see Darling-
ton
Dartmouth, co. Devon,
46, 339, 342-346
Dartmouth, N.E., 373
Davis, The Hon. W.
T., 260, 363-377, 383,
384, 386, 388
Davison, William ;
sometime a Secre-
tary of State to
Queen Elizabeth,
and the patron of
William Brewster,
79-84, 189, 190
Dawson, John ; the
Printer, 133, 509
Deaconesses, or
Widows, or Helpers,
31, 108, 172
Dean, Steven, 385
Delano, Philip — see La
Noye, P. de
Delfshaven, 196, 304,
307, 330-332, 334,
389
Dermer, Capt. Thomas,
451
Devereux, Earl of
Leicester ; Robert,
76, 189
Dexter, Rev. Doctor
H. Martyn, 9, 12-15,
49, 108, 109, 131, 132,
137, 138, 140, 143,
171, 244, 451, 464-
466, 468, 483
Dexter Collection of
Books in the Library
of Yale University,
New Haven, Conn. ;
The, 244
Deyman, Pieter Aren-
tszoon, 156
Dickens, Betteris, 138
Dickens, Mary, 138
Didoclavius, Edwardus
— see Calderwood,
Rev. D.
Diggens, Jane, 162
Dighton, Thomas, 242,
243, 245
Dingby, afterwards
Fletcher; Sarah, 164
Dingby, William, 164
Dirston, the Post
[King's Messenger] ;
William, 230
Discovery, The First,
410-417
Discovery, The Second,
417-424
Discovery, The Third,
426-435
Dix, Anthony, 388
Dolphine, Thomas, 138
Doncaster, co. York,
58, 72, 80
Dort or Dordrecht,
125, 130, 144, 224
Dotey, Edward, 362.
371, 379, 427
Doty, Edward — se*
Dotey, E.
Dover, co. Kent, 7?
165, 274 '
Dover, The Court to, 73
Dovercourt, co. Essex,
242, 282
Drakes, Rev. Thomas,
242, 282
Drax, Rev. Thomas,
242, 282
Drurie, Rev. Robert,
145, 146, 170, 171
Dublin, 18
Du Fay, Charles Fran-
cois, 14
Du Jon the Elder,
Francois, 13
" Dukeries," co. Notts;
The, 53
Durseus, Robertus —
see Drurie, Rev. R.
Durham, 72
Durham :
The Prison at, 109
Du Rieu, Doctor W.
N., 170
Dutch New Nether-
land Company, The,
4, 292, 296, 303, 317,
333, 389
Dutch Reformed
Church, The, 110,
176, 179, 180
Dutch West India
Company, The, 298
Dutton, Sir Thomas,
215
Duxbury, N.E., 365,
366, 368, 369, 372,
377
Duxbury, N.E. ; The
Church at, 180
6 14
Index,
East Halton Skitter
CO. Line, 94
Eastham, Cape Cod,
N.E., 10, 370, 373,
429, 434, 452, 475-
479, 537-539, 546,
555, 574
East Harbour, Cape
Cod, N.E., 412
East Harbour Creek,
Cape Cod, N.E., 412
East Molesey, co. Surr.,
»28
East Retford — see
Retford
Eaton, Francis, 375,
378, 384
Eaton, Samuel, 362,
375
Eaton, Sarah; 1st
Wife to Francis, 375
Edinburgh, 18, 181,
240
Edward VI., King, 68
Edward ? , 383
Edward ? , 383
Elizabeth, Queen, 3,
22-26, 33-35, 37, 50,
61-64, 79, 150
Eliot \^8evd\ George,
66
Elliot, Sir John, 20
Ellis, ? •; a sailor,
377, 380
Ellis, John, 166, 274
Ellis, StotFel Janszoon,
158
Emden, 31, 68, 105,
117, 118, 125, 279,
290
England, the State of
—see James I.
English, Thomas ; a
sailor, 377, 379,
427
English Church at
Leyden = The Pil-
grim Church in that
city, 42
English Church at
Leydeu=:.The Scotch
PresbyterianChurch
in that city, 170
Episcopius, Prof.
Simon — see Biscop,
Prof. S.
Euring, "William, 242,
243, 245, 282
Evans, Dr. B., 138
Evans, afterwards
Fletcher; Maria, 164
Everton, co. Notts, 58
Fairfield, Daniel, 274
Fairlambe, Peter, 121
Falmouth, N.E., 555
Farrat, Thomas, 99
Farrer, Sir George, 311
Faunce, John, 386
Faunce, Manasseh, 386
Ferdinand II., Em-
peror of Germany,
15
Ferrar, John, 254
Ferrar, Nicholas, 251
Ferrier, Samuel, 179,
274
Ferrybridge co. York,
72
Field, Rev. John, 244,
245
Field, Richard ; the
Printer, 112
Finch, Mary, 166
First Encounter [at
Nauset]; The, 434,
452, 476
Fisher, , 247
Fisher, Benjamin, 133
F 1 a V e 1 1, ; ? a
Widow, 386
Flavell, Thomas, 385
Flavell's son, Thomas,
385
Fleminge, Alexander,
138
Fletcher, Maria ; 1st
Wife of Moses, 164
Fletcher, Moses, 164,
376, 379
Fletcher, Bp. of Wor-
cester ; Richard, 34
Fletcher (previously
Dingby), Sarah ; 2nd
Wife of Moses, 164
Fletcher, Thomas, 321
Flood, Edmund, 386
Florida, 272
Florida, Cape de, 499
Flushing, 189, 226, 228
Fontenau de Pennart,
Captain, 506
Foord, ; a Widow,
385, 492
Forefathers or Old
Comers, 356, 357,
364-388
Forefathers'Day(ll/21
December), 7, 435
Its first Anniver-
sary, 488
Forster, John, 20
Fosbrooke, Nathaniel,
119
Fowler, John, 113-116,
119
Fox, ; a Separat-
ist, 105
Franciscans (or the fol-
lowers of the Rev.
Francis Johnson), of
the English Protest-
ant exiles at Amster-
dam, The, 31, 100,
117, 118, 122, 123,
125, 126, 300
Frankfort on the
Main, 25
Fratres Angli in Bel-
gia exulantes, 13
French Reformed
Churches, The, 29,
176, 179, 180, 294,
295
Fresh Water Pond,
Cape Cod, N.E., 413,
415, 416
Friends of the Pilgrim
Fathers, The four,
356
Index.
615
Fronde, Prof. J. A., 23,
33
Fuller, ; Wife of
Edward, 374
Fuller (previously Car-
penter), Agnes ; 2nd
Wife of Samuel, 163,
164
Fuller, Anna — see
Fuller, S.
Fuller (previousljLee),
Bridget ; 3rd Wife
of Samuel, 164, 387
Fuller, Edward, 374,
378
Fuller (previously
Glascock), Elsie ; 1st
Wife of Samuel, 163
Fuller, Samuel ; a
Deacon of the Pil-
grim Cliurch, and
the Surgeon of the
Plantation or Colony
of Plymouth in N.E.,
122, 124, 162-164,
■ 173, 274, 307, 308,
350, 367, 378, 383,
482, 532, 552
Fuller junior^ Samuel,
362, 375, 383
Fuller [Anna, or rather]
Susanna ; after-
wards White ; and
i--. x",Winslow; 162,
163, 365, 369
G., R., [? Cushman,
Robert], 397, 398
Gael, Loth Huyghens-
zoon, 204, 207
Gainsborough, co.
Line, 48, 49, 51, 54,
58, 59, 66, 93, 94, 134
Gainsborough, co.
Line. ; The Separat-
ist Church at, 37,
38, 48, 49, 51, 54,
121, 131, 134, 136,
137, 140
Galvani, Luigi, 14
Gardiner, Richard,
376, 379, 383
Gardiner, Dr. S. R., 20
Gardner's Neck, in
Swansey, N.E., 468,
548, 549, 556
Gascoyue, William, 13
Geneva, 68
George I., King, 18
Germany, The Thirty
Years' War in, 15,
502
Gifford, Rev. George,
103
Gillies (previously Pet-
tinger), Elizabeth ;
1st Wife of John,
168
Gillies, John, 168, 274
Gillies (previously
Lysle), Rose ; 2nd
Wife of John, 168
Glascock, afterwards
Fuller ; Elsie, 163
Goa, India, 22
Goche, Dr. Barnabe,
255-257, 261
Godbert, Goddard,
[? — Godbertson,
Godbert] 162
Godbert (previously
Allerton, then Yin-
cent, and later
Priest), Sarah ; the
Wife of Goddard,
162
Godbertson, Godbert
[corrupted to Cuth-
bertson, Cuthbert],
? 162, 179, 388
[Godbertson, ? Sarah
— see Godbert, S.]
Goddard, Edward, 164
Goffe, Thomas, 321, 322
Goodall, afterwards
Masterson ; Mary,
166
Goodman, ; a mis-
take for Greenwood,
J., 34, 35
Goodman, John, 376,
379, 381, 384, 443-
447
Gookin, Daniel, 254
Gorges, 1st Lord
Gorges ; Edward,
255, 256
Gorges, Sir Ferdin-
ando, 252, 254-261,
393, 452
Gorges [on the present
site of Portsmouth,
Maine]. A Planta-
tion of Sir Ferdin-
ando, 559
Gosnold, Capt. Bar-
tholomew, 351
Gosson, Henry, 121
Goudgier, Rev. Henry^
145
Gower, Dr. Humphrey,
17
Grampus Bay, Cape
Cod — see Wellfleet
Bay, N.E.
Grantham, co. Line,
72
Gravesend, co. Kent,
107, 126, 290
Gray, Abraham, 274
Great Grimsby, co.
Line, 89, 94
Great Hollow, Cape
Cod, N.E., 413, 414
Great North Road
from London to Ber-
wick, The, 51, 57, 58,
66, 71-78, 84
Great Pond, in East-
ham, Cape Cod, N.E.,
429
Great Rip Shoal, The,
Cape Cod, N.E., 350
Great Round Shoal,
The, Cape Cod, N.E.,
350
Greene, Richard, Joint
Governor at Wessa-
gusset ^ 534
Greene, William, 322
6i6
Index.
Green-wood, John, 34,
35, 37, 103-107
Greville, 1st Lord
Brooke ; Fulke, 296
Grevinchovius, Niko-
laas, 209, 237, 245
Grimsby — see Great
Grimsby
Grimstone, Edward ;
Serjeant at Arms to
the House of Com-
mons, 68
Grindal, Edmund;
Abp. of Canterbury,
24
Grindal, John, 138
GriDdal, Mary ; ? the
Wife of John, 138
Gringley on the Hill,
CO. Notts, 58
Grynwich (previously
E-obinson) ; Bridget,
Wife of John, 160
Grynwich, John, 160
Gudburn, Peter, 321
Guevara, Antonio de ;
Bp. of Mondoiiedo,
150
Guiana, 271, 304
Guise, the House of, 24
H., Master, 54
H., Sir P., 246 ^
H. R.— see Harrison,E,.
H. and D. in Essex,
242
Habbamock — see Ho-
bomock
Hagse Comitum — see
Hague, The
Hague, The, 8, 146,
170, 198-202, 204-
206, 208-210, 215,
219, 220, 223, 224,
228, 230-235, 239,
298, 300, 389.
Hakluyt, Rev. R.,
107
Hall, Francis ; the Po^t
Master at Scrooby
after W. Bi-ewster,
86
Hall, Joseph ; Bp. of
Exeter, 135, 136, 139
Halton, Joan ; ? Wife
of Samuel, 138
Halton, Samuel, 138
Haltwhistle, co. Nor-
thumb., 72
Hamden, John, 547,
548, 552
Hampton — see South-
ampton
Hampton Court, co.
Middl., 213, 219
Hardie, John, 138
Hard.y, Mary, 159
Harrison, Richard ; the
coadjutor of Robert
Browne, 137, 244,
245
Hart, Andrew, 181
Harvard University,
Cambridge, N.E., 11
Harvey, William, 13
Harwich, 242, 282
Hastings, 3rd Earl
of Huntingdon;
Henry, 62
Hatfield, Thomas, 274
Hatherley, Timothy,
321,356
Hatton, Sir Christo-
pher, 76
Hauson, afterwards
Pantes ; Wybra[n],
164, 167
Hawkins, Edward, 138
Haye, La — see
Hague, The
Heard, William, 387
Hearne, Thomas, 61
Heath, Thomas, 321
Heinsius, Daniel, 220,
233
Helwisse, Rev. Thomas
— see Helwys, Rev.
T.
Helwys, Rev. Thomas,
54, 100, 137, 140
Helwys's Company,
The Rev. T., 100, 140
Henry VIIL, King,
35,60
Herbert, Edward, 251
Herbert, George, 251
Hexham, co. Nor-
thumb., 72
Hickes, Robert, 385,
387
Hickes's Wife and
children, Robert, 387
Hilton, William, 385 '
Hilton's Wife and
children, William,
387
Hitchen, co. Herts, 72
Hobamok — see Ho-
bomock
Hobbamock — see
Hobomok
Hobbamock, the Devil
in the Religion of
the N. E. Indians,
583-586
Hobomok, a Wampa-
noag Pinese, 383,
479-481, 521, 523,
524, 527, 528, 541,
542, 547, 548, 550,
553, 555, 557, 558,
569, 571, 573
Hobson, William, 321
Hodgkins, Alexander,
138
Hogeven, Amelis van,
156
H o 1 b e c k, William,
370, 380
Holder, Judith, 119
Holland, Earl of, 226
Holland, John, 53
Holland, Robert, 321
Holland and West
Friesland, The Pro-
vinces of, 143, 144,
208, 213, 218, 219,
223, 232, 300
Holman, Edward, 388
"Holy Discipline,"
Index,
617
The, 3, 25-29, 31, 50,
51, 53, 98, 99, 102,
105, 106, 109, 120,
134, 135, 243, 246
Holy League, The, 24
Hommius, Festus, 179
Hooke, John, 367, 380
Hooker, Rev. E-ichard,
28 _
Hopkins, afterwards
Snow ; Constanta or
Constance, 362, 370
Hopkins, afterwards
Cooke ; Damaris,
362, 370
Hopkins, Elizabeth ;
Wife of Stephen,
370
Hopkins, Giles, 362,
370, 379
Hopkins, O c e a n u s,
358, 371
Hopkins, Stephen,
261, 360, 370, 378,
383, 411, 416, 427,
449, 452, 462-473
Hopkins's Cliff,
[= Cornhill], Cape
Cod, N.E., 414, 419,
430, 463, 469, 476,
491
Hopkins's Creek [or
North Branch, or
Pamet Little River],
Cape Cod, N.E., 414,
415
Hopps, Arthur, 96
H o p p s, afterwards
Clifton ; Mary, 96
Howard of Effingham,
Charles, Lord, 76
Howard, 14th Earl of
Arundel ; Thomas,
255
Howland, Lieut.
160
Howland (previously
Tilley), Elizabeth ;
Wife of John, 362,
364, 372
The Pilgrim Fathers
Howland, John, ,349,
355, 362, 364, 372,
378, 383, 427
Hoyt, William, 163,
274
Hudson the Navi-
gator ; Henry, 333,
350, 390, 593
Hudson, Thomas, 321
Hudson river, The,
301, 802, 332, 333,
346, 350, 390, 407,
592, 593
Huguenots, The, 24,
506
Hull, CO. York, 89,
94
Humber, The river,
57,89
Hunt, Capt. Thomas,
453, 456, 475
Hunter, Joseph, 86
Huntingdon, 64, 72
H u 1 1 o n, Matthew ;
Dean of York, 64
Huyghens, Christian,
13
Idle, The river, 57,
59, 93, 94
Indian Neck, Cape
Cod, N.E., 415, 418
Indian Tribes in N.E.
were organised as
(1) Sagamores, (2)
Sachems, (3) Pineses,
(4) Powahs ; which
see : The, 581-592
Inquisition, The, 16
314
Ipswich, CO. Suff., 168,
273
Ipswich, N.E., 425
Ireland, 73, 254, 410
Isles of Shoals, Maine,
579
lyanough. Sachem of
Cummaquid or Mat-
tachiest, 475 - 479,
543, 545, 574
Jacobszoon, Jacob,
v., 207
James I., King, 30,
68, 153, 196, 197,
214, 237, 239, 241,
242, 246, 248, 282,
283, 295, 303, 400,
409, 410, 456, 458,
470, 484, 490, 500,
501, 541, 560, 561
James City, Virginia,
393, 394
Jenings, Joh n —
see Jenney, J.
Jenkins, ? a member of
the Pilgrim Church,
at Leyden, 227
Jenney, John, 165,
178, 386
Jenney (previously
Carey), Sarah ; Wife
of John, 165
Jennings, John, 274
Jennings, Pruce, 166
Jepson, Edmund, 274
Jepson, Henry, 274
Jepson, Rosamond ;
?Wife of William,
162, 163
Jepson, William, 156-
158, 163, 274
Jesuits, The, 16
Junius, Francis — see
Du Jon the Elder,
F.
Johnson, afterwards
Hopps ; Dorothy, 96
Johnson, Rev,
Francis, 3, 10, 31,
103 - 107, 109 - 113,
115-117, 119-121,
123-126, 128, 129,
131, 132, 172, 277,
279, 290, 291
Johnson's Church,
1610-1619, The Rev.
F., 277-279, 290, 291
Johnson, George, 1 OS-
Ill
Johnson, Jacob ; first
2r
6i8
Index,
a Proj^liet, then a
Euling Elder, 108,
111, 119, 125, 126
Johnson, John ; the
father of Francis,
George, and Jacob,
110-112
Johnson, Alderman
Sir Robert, 249, 289
Joint Stock and
Partnership for
Seven Years be-
tween the Pilgrim
Fathers and the
Adventurers, ( 1 620) ;
The, 303, 305, 306,
341, 356, 382
Jones, , Captain of
the Mayjiower^ 339,
340, 348, 349, 351,
353, 389-393, 411,
416-418, 420, 433,
442, 448, 449, 450
Jones, Thomas ; Cap-
tain of the Discovery^
257, 392-394, 533
Jones's river, Ply-
mouth, N.E. Said
to have been so
named from the
Captain of the May-
floiver, 437
Joope, John, 99
Joyce, C. B, ; Herbert,
73
Junius, Francis — see
Du Jon the Elder, F.
EIampen, Holland, 107
Kean, Robert, 321
Kebel, Master — see
Keble, J.
Kebel, John — see
Keble, J.
Keble Elizabeth ;
? Wife of John, 166
Keble, John, 165, 224,
274
Kibbel,Elizabeth — see
Keble, E.
Kiehtan, The God in
the Religion of the
N.E. Indians, 558,
582, 585
Kietitan — see Kiehtan
King, John, Bp. of
London, 283
King, William, 345,
355
Kingston, a village
near Plymouth, in
N.E., 436, 437
Kist, Prof., 146, 147
Knight, Eliza, 321
Knight, John, 321
Knife[ton], George —
see Kniveton, G.
Kniveton, George, a
Ruling Elder, 105,
106, 107
Knolles, Sir Francis,
76
Knowles, Miles, 321
Knox, John, 176
Lalaing, Johann de,
156, 157, 159
Land's End, co. Corn.,
340
Langemore, John,
368, 380
La Noye [corrupted
to Delano], Philippe
de, 180, 385
Laplace, Pierre Simon,
Marquis de, 13
Latham, William, 364,
380
Laud, William ; Abp.
of Canterbury, 130
Laurenson, Henry, 114
Lawne, Christopher,
103, 110, 112, 113,
115-119, 126, 128
Law son, Richard, 181
Le , afterwards
Tracy ; Trifasa,
165
Leaver, Master — see
Carver, J.
Lecht, afterwards Bas-
sett ; Cecil, 164
L'Ecluse, Jean de ; a
Ruling Elder, 31,
107, 113, 125, 127
Lee, afterwards Ful-
ler ; Bridget, 164
Lee, Joos, 164
Lee, Nicholas; a
Deacon, 105, 106
Lee, Samuel, 164,
274
Leeds, co. York, 96
Leerdorp — see Leider-
dorp,
Legat, John, 133
Leiderdorp, 202
Leighton, Alexander,
171
Leister, Edward, 371,
379
Leith, 240
Leland, John, 57,60,61
Le Neve, John, 64
Ley, 1st Lord Ley ;
afterwards 1st Earl
of Marlborough ;
James, 249, 250
Ley den, "that tumult-
uous town," 212
Leyden, The City of,
3, 8, 18, 29, 30, 54,
65, 69, 101, 102, 117,
123, 143-154, 176,
178 - 180, 184, 186,
196-202, 204, 205,
209-211, 214, 215,
220, 222, 224, 225,
226, 228, 232, 234-
236, 239, 243, 247,
262, 264, 270, 273,
276, 285, 286, 290,
293-295, 297, 300,
302, 304, 305, 308,
309, 311, 314-317,
323, 324, 329, 330,
335, 338, 342, 346,
353, 355, 357
Leyden, The City of :
Academy at — see
Index.
619
Leyden {cont^
University in the
City of^
Belfry in the rear of
St. Peter's Church
155, 156
Bell Alley, Eev. J.
Eobinson's house in,
155-159, 198, 329
Bell Alley, T.
Brewer's house in,
198, 206
Bon or Wyk called.
The Seven Houses,
159
Burgomasters &c. —
see City Council,
The
Broadway, The, 198
ChoirAlley,195,197,
198, 237
Choir of St. Peter's
Church, 198
Choorsteeg — see
Choir Alley
City Council, The, 7,
145, 147, 148, 151,
152, 203, 206, 231
City Hall — see
Stadhuis
Clock Steech — see
Bell Alley
Council House — see
Stadhuis
Dark Canal, The,
156
Debtors' Chamber,
The, 203
Donckere Graft, 156
Dutch Reformed
Church, The,
179
English Church at
— see Presbyterian
Church of Scotland
Falide BagynhoflF,
156
French Church, 150
Green Gate, 156
Groene Port, 156
Leyden {cont.)
Jerusalem Kirk, 145
Kloksteeg — see Bell
Alley
Magistrates of. The
— see City Coun-
cil ^
Pesyn's Hof, on the
site of the Rev. J.
Robinson's house, in
Bell Alley, 158
Pieter's Kerckhoff —
see St. Peter's
Church, The grounds
of
Pilgrim Church, The
— see Pilgrim Church
at Leyden, The
Pilgrim Press in
Choir Allev, The, 3,
9, 181, 192, 195-
246, 282
PresbyterianCliurch
of Scotland, The,
145, 170
Rapenburg Canal,
The, 143, 144
St. Catherine Gast-
huis, 145
St. Peter's Church,
155
St. Peter's Church,
The grounds of, 155,
156
Schepens — see City
Council
Schout= City Bailiff,
203, 205, 206, 214
Seven Houses, The,
159
Stadhuis, 148, 161,
167, 169, 273-275
Steucksteeg, 197
Town Council — see
City Council
Veiled Nuns'
Cloister, 156
Vicus Choralis — see
Choir Alley
Leyden, The Brown -
ist Church at — see
Pilgrim Church at
Leyden, The
Leyden Church, The
— see Pi Igrim
Church at Leyden,
The
Leyden Pilgrims, The
— see Pilgrim
Fathers, The
Leyden, The Pil-
grim Exodus from,
327-332
Leyden, The Separat-
ist Church at — see
Pilgrim Church at
Leyden, The
Leyden, The Univer-
sity in the City of,
147, 148, 152, 153,
170, 171, 174, 179,
186, 196, 210, 213,
214, 215, 217, 219,
221, 226, 227, 229,
231, 232. 234-236
Leyden, The Univer-
sity in the City of :
Assessors and
Schepenmasters,
The, 204, 205, 207,
213
Bailiff, The, 204, 207
Beadle, The, 222,224
Chief Librarian, 170
Council of the Cura-
tors and Burgomas-
ters, The, 206, 213,
215, 236
Curators, The, 210,
213, 214, 215, 218,
220, 221, 235, 236
Curators, The Cham-
ber of the, 207, 235,
236
Prison, The, 204, 206,
208, 213, 214, 222
Rektor Magnificus,
203, 205, 206, 208,
211, 213, 214, 215,
220 221
620
Index,
Ley den &c. {cont^ '
Secretary, The, 205,
207;
University Rooms —
see Curators, The
Chamber of the
Lighthouse Channel,
Boston Bay, 483
Lile — see Lysle, W.
Lincoln, 3, 48, 54, 58,
66, 131-134
Lincoln, Bp. of — see
Wickham, W.
Lincolnshire, 51, 66,
69, 88, 90, 94,
191
Ling, John, 321
Litster, Edward — see
Leister, E.
Little Harbour (Ports-
mouth), Maine, Pisca-
taqua river, 559, 579
Little Round Shoal,
Cape Cod, N.E., 350.
London, 8, 13, 14, 18,
23, 30, 49, 59, 70-72,
75, 76, 78, 84, 104,
131, 140, 162, 164,
167, 169, 195, 196,
199, 247, 252, 254,
258, 261, 274, 277,
284, 285, 289-291,
295, 296, 302, 308-
311, 315, 317, 318,
320, 330, 334 - 336,
341, 342, 355, 370,
371, 389, 393, 394,
427, 507, 508, 529,
547, 597, 600
London :
Aldersgate, 253
Chelsea, 251
Cornhill, 395, 456,
509, 600
Doctor "Williams'
Library, 242, 243,
. 282
Duke Place, 342
Fleet street, 106,
107, 109
Loudon (cont.)
Firlham Palace, 1,
47 -:
Henige House,
342
Hick's Hall, 72
High Commission
Court, 187
House of Commons,
33-35
House of Lords, 33,
247
Houses of Parlia-
ment, 381
Islington, 106, 107
King's Cross Ter-
minus, 57
London Bridge, 14
Nevp^gate Market,
106
Nicholas lane, 105,
106
Paternoster row,
121
Paul's Church, 119
Paul's Churchyard,
118, 133, 509
Paul's Cross, 135
Port of, 33
Printers and
Printing Houses, 18,
19
Prisons, 32 :
Clink, The, 104,
107, 109
Counter in Wood
street. The, 279
Fleet, The, 107
Gate House, 107
King's Bench
Prison, 247
Newgate, 107
Royal Exchange,
The, 395, 509, 600
St Nicholas lane,
106
Shoreditch Church,
72
Sion College, 108
Stationers' Corn-
London (cont.)
pany. The, 18, 19,
112
Stationers' Hall, 20,
112, 118, 119, 121,
133, 135, 139
Temple [Inn of
Court], The, 135
Tower, The, 393
West Smithfield,
106
Whitehall Palace,
17, 73, 200, 201,
207, 219, 225, 228,
230, 233, 255
London as Licenser
of Books ; The Bp.
of, 19
London, Bp. of — see-
Bancroft, R.
London, Bp, of — see
King, J.
London, Bp. of — see
Temple, F.
London Virginia Com-
pany, The First, or,
4, 248 - 251, 253,
254, 283-285,- 287-
292, 296, 299, 302,
321, 393, 400
Long, Robert, 387
Long Point, Prov-
ince town harbour.
Cape Cod, N.E.,
427
Louis XIV., 15
Lound, CO. Notts, 58
Love, Capt. Thomas,
255, 257, 393
Lownes, Humphrey
112
Lugduni Batavorum
— see Leyden
Luther, Martin, 176,
182
Lyons, Joanna, 165
Lysle, afterwards Gil-
lies ; Rose, 168
Lysle, William, 162,
164, 169, 227
Index,
621
M. E., 342
M.,H.C. — see Murphy,
The Hon. H. C.
Madersey — see Mat-
ters ey
Magdalen Isles, in the
Gulf of St Lawrence,
107
Maggner, Capt., 290
Maidstone, co. Kent,
246, 247
Maine, The State of,
451, 484, 529, 599
Maistersone, Master,
[ 1 Masterson, Rich-
ard], 278
Malebarr, Cape Cod,
N.E., 351
Man, sen.^ Thomas,
133
Man, jun.^ Thomas,
133
Manamoick {C hat-
}iam,N.E.\ 476,535,
536, 541, 554
Manamoyck e — see
Manamoick
Manchester's Papers ;
The Duke of,
250
Manhattan, N.Y., 298,
300
Mann, Richard — see
More, R.
Manomet {Sandwich,
KE.), 540, 541, 544,
546, 565, 574
Manomet Bay, 540
Manomet Bluff, 425
Manomet Head, 425
Manomet river. The
540, 554
Mansell, Sir Robert,
255, 256
Mansell, Mount — see
Mount Mansell
Mansfield, Richard,
127
Mansfield, co. Notts,
58
Maramoick — see Ma-
namoick
Marcus, Isaac, 274
Margeson, Edmund,
376, 379
Marshall, Henry, 274
Marshfield, N.E., 369
Martha's Vineyard
{Capawach\ N.E.
The isle of, 290, 555
Marten or Martin, the
Post [King^s Mes-
senger] ; George,
199, 226
Martin, Christopher,
Treasurer of the
Pilgrim Fathers;
308, 310, 335, 337,
343, 344, 355, 360,
368, 378, 442
Martin, Mistress ;
Wife of Christopher,
355, 368
Martin, Sir Henry, 230
Martin, Rev. James,
246, 247
Martin Marprelate
[pseud.], 32, 35
Mary [Stuart], Queen,
17
Mary [Tudor], Queen,
25
Mary, Queen of Scots,
23, 33, 189
Masasoits — see Mas-
sasoits
Masasoyt — see Mas-
sasoit
Massacheu seucks — see
Boston Bay Indians
Massacheuseucks, The
Plot of the, 545, 555,
572, 574
Massachuset men;
The — see Boston
Bay Indians
Massachusets, The ; or
Massachuset Bay,
The [=The inner
Boston Bay, from
Nahant to Point
Allerton], 10, 257,
395, 483-487, 500,
521, 523, 526, 532,
534, 536, 544, 546,
555, 558, 561, 563,
564, 566, 572
Massachusetts, The
meaning of, 483
Massachusetts, The
State of, 49, ' 363,
464
Massachusetts Bay,
The Company and
Colony of the, 16,
252, 322
Massasoit, or Massa-
soyt, or Massasowat.
One of the three
Sagamores with
whom the Pilgrim
Fathers came into
contact, down to
1623 : the other two
being Canonicus
and Samoset. A
fourth, Nanepashe-
met, had died in
1619
He was the Wam-
panoag Sagamore,
more especially of
the Pokanoket dis-
trict {now Rhode Is-
land <&c.) ; and usu-
ally livedatSowams.
In'^1632, he changed
his name to Ousa-
mequin. He was the
life-long friend of
the English, 395,
456-460, 462 - 464,
466, 468 - 471, 477,
479, 480, 482 - 484,
489, 490, 500, 523-
527, 531, 534, 546-
556, 558
Massasoits or Mas-
sasoyts. The^The
Wampanoag Indians
622
Index.
under Massasoit,
452, 453
Massasoit's Spring,
Warren, E.I., 468
Masterson (previously
G o o d a 1 1), Mary ;
Wife of Richard,
166
Masterson, Richard,
162, 166
Matapuyst or Matta-
p u y s t {Gardner's
Neck, in Swansey,
N.E.)j the residence
of Caunbatant, 468,
471, 648, 549, 556-
558
Mather, Doctor
Cotton, 39-45
Mattachiest {the
country behind Barn-
stable, N.E.\ 537,
538, 542, 545, 555,
574
Mattersey, co. Notts,
60 ^
Maurice, Prince of
Orange, Stadh older
of Holland, 208, 211,
215, 226, 230, 297,
299
Maverick, Moses, 367
Maverick (previously
AUerton), Remem-
ber ; Wife of Moses,
362, 367
May, afterwards Brad-
ford ; Dorothy, 42,
163, 366
May, Master ; Dor-
othy's father, 163
May, Master, a Ruling
Elder ; 125
Medford, N.E., 484
Mercer, Stanshall ; a
Ruling Elder, 125
Merchants, The Eng-
lish — see Adven-
turers, The
Merchants and Adven-
turers, The — see Ad-
venturers, The
Merchiston Castle,
Edinburgh, 13
Meteren, Emanuel
van, 68
Michell, Thomas, 106
Middelburg, Holland,
103, 104, 137, 199,
226, 227
Middleborough, N.E.,
10, 375, 464, 465,
472, 473, 523, 540,
547, 558
Mildmay, Sir Henry,
249
Mills, Thomas, 80, 83
Millsop, Thomas, 321
Milton, Christopher,
50
Milton, the Poet, John,
21, 50, 93
Milton's father, John,
50
Milton's grandfather,
John, 50
Minter, Desire, 364
Mitchell, Experience
387
Mohegon, 593
Molesey, East, co. Sur-
rey, 28
Monamoy Point, Cape
Cod, N.E., 350, 351
Monchiggon — see
Monhegaii
Moncksoon, 165
Monhegan, the isle of;
Maine, N.E., 450-
452, 529, 530, 559,
561, 564, 571, 572
Monhiggon — see Mon-
hegan
Monomoyick — see
Manamoick
Moortel, 168
Morattigon {Bristol,
Maine, N.E.) 451
Moore, , 365
More, Ellen, 366
More, Jasper, 364
More afterwards
Mann ; Richard, 362,
364-366
More, Sir Thomas, 251
Morgan, Benet, 385
Morice, Thomas — see
Phelippes, T.
Morpeth, co. Nor-
th umb., 71
Morton, George, 165,
167, 273, 318, 387,
507
Morton (previously
Carpenter) ; Julia
Ann, Wife of
George, 165
Morton, Secretary
Nathaniel, 48, 49,
326, 378, 390
Morton, Thomas, 165,
385
Morton jun., Thomas,
387
Mott, Thomas, 321
Mount Mansell, 256
Moiirt, G. [ ? Morton,
George], 400
Mulgrave, The Earl
of — see Sheffield, E.
Mullins, ; Wife of
William, 369
Mullins, Joseph, 369
Mullins, Priscilla, 362,
369, 377
Mullins, William, 337,
368, 377, 378
Munhiggen — see Mon-
hegan
Munter, Jan, 140
Murphy, The Hon.
Henry C, 146-148,
155-169, 197, 203,
205-207, 214, 221,
236, 273
Murton, Rev. John
137
Muster, or Training,
in N.E., The first
General, 520, 521
Index,
623
Mystic Pond, Med-
ford, N.E., 485
Mystic river, N.E.,
The, 486, 487
Naarden, Holland,
107
Namascheucks, The
Wampanoag In-
dians of Namaschet,
465, 471
Namaschet, or Namas-
ket {Middlehorouqh^
N.E.\ 10, 395, 464,
465, 472, 473, 479,
480, 500, 523, 540,
547, 558
Nanepashemet, the
Sagamore of the
Boston Bay Indians,
485
Nanohigganeucks =
the Narragansett
Indians
Nanohiggansets, or
Nanohiggonsets —
see Narragan setts
Nanohigganset Bay =-•
Manomet or Buz-
zard's Bay, 540
Nantucket, N.E.,
350
Napier of Merchiston,
John, 13
Narowhiganseis — see
Narraga.nsetts, The
Narragansett Bay,
N.E., 466, 540
Narragansetts, The =
The Indians of
Rhode Island, &c.,
395, 460, 468, 470,
477, 479, 482, 500,
517, 520, 521-523,
585
Narrohiganet — see
Narragansetts, The
Narrohigansets — see
Narragansetts, The
Narrohiganset Bay =.
Narragansett Bay,
466, 540
Narro[w]higgonsets —
see Narragansetts,
The
Nash, Thomas, 307
Naunton, Sir Robert,
196, 198-202, 204,
205, 224, 225, 228-
234, 235, 236, 282,
283
Nauset (Eastham,
N.E.\ 10, 395, 431-
434, 452, 475-479,
500, 506, 537-539,
555 574
Nausites, The {The
Indians of Nauset),
452, 453
Nawset — see Nauset
Neal, afterwards
Buckrum ; Eliza-
beth, 164, 168
Neill, Rev. Dr. E. D.,
251, 253, 254, 392
Nelson, Robert, 274
Nemasket river, N.E. ;
The, 464, 465
Nepeof, a Sachem, 480
Nes, Israel, 274
Neustadt, 246
Neville, Gervase, 138
New Amsterdam, 333
Newark, co. Line, 72
Newbald, Fria., 321
New Bedford, N.E., 49
Newbury, co. Berks,
162
Newcastle - on - Tyne,
CO. Northumb., 72,
96,97
Newcomen, John, 371
Newcourt, Richard,
282
New England, 4, 7, 9,
11, 12, 42, 160, 176,
179, 180, 182, 184,
192, 248, 254, 256-
258, 260, 303, 323,
332, 346, 350, 355,
358, 367, 369, 370,
387, 393, 395, 401,
407, 488, 500, 507,
511, 513, 581, 593,
594, 599, 600
New England, Certain
Adventurers in, 506-
508
New England, The
Council for the
Affairs of — see
Council &c.. The
New England, The
Plantations and
Colonies in, 45, 175,
362, 399
New England, sup-
posed by the Indians
to be an island, 592,
595
New England Thanks-
giving Day, The
first, 489 "
New France — see
Canada
New Hampshire, 579
New Haven, Conn.,
244, 366
Newhaven, Firth of
Forth, 240
New Netherland Com-
pany, The Dutch,
4, 292, 296-303, 317,
333, 389
New Netherlands in
America, 299
New Plymouth in N.
E., The Adventurers
of — see Adventurers
&c. The
New ' Plymouth, Tlie
Jurisdiction of — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Plantation or
Colony of
New Plymouth, The
Town of — see Ply
mouth in N.E., The
Town &c. of
624
Index.
Newton, Dr, , 96
Newton, Ellen, 387
Newton, Sir Isaac, 13
New York, 146, 155,
159, 160, 171, 197,
203-207, 214, 221,
236, 273, 333
Nicholas, Austen, 385
Nicholas, John, 106,119
Nidd, Rev." Dr, 112,
114, 118
Normanton, co. Derby,
95
Norris, afterwards
Allerton ; Mary,
■ 162, 164, 367, 439
North, Sir Thomas,
150
Northallerton, co.
York, 72
Northbourne, co.
Kent, 99
North Branch — see
Hopkins's Creek
Northern Plantations,
The — see New Eng-
land
North Sea in North
America, A, 299
Norway, 90
Norwich, 49, 54, 165
242, 257, 259
Nottingham, 58
Nottinghamshire, 51,
53, 55, 59, 60, 62,
66, 69, 93, 95, 135,
141
Noye, Philippe de la —
see La Noye, P. de
Oatlands, CO. Surr.,
82
Obbatinewat, Sachem
of Shawmnt. {Bos-
ton), 484
Obbatinnua, a Sachem
Obtakiest, Sachem of
the Boston Bay
Indians who plotted
against the English,
561, 570-574. See
also Abbadakest
O'Callaghan, E. B., 298
Ogle, Sir John, 249
Old Colony, The— see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Plantation or
Colony of
Old Comers or Fore-
fathers, The, 356,
357, 381-388
Oldham, John 388
Oldham, afterwards
Bassett ; Margaret,
164
Old Indian Wear, near
Titicut; The, 465,
471, 472
Old Stock, The, 356,
362
Old Tom's Hill, Cape
Cod, NE., 415, 418
Opechancanough, 599,
600
Organ, Jane, 138
Oswestry, co. Salop., 17
Ousamequin — see
Massasoit
Ouse The river, 57
Overbury, Sir Thomas,
22
Oxford, Bp. of — see
Wilberforce, S.
Oxford, The University
of, 23, 38, 50, 131,
217, 238, 243, 244
Oxford :
Bodleian Library,
114, 116, 119, 137,
139, 188, 238, 243,
244
StJohn'sCollege,132
Taylorean Institu-
tion, 95
University Press, 18
P. I. [ -= ? Peirce, the
Patentee ; John],
395, 396
P. T.— see Pygott, T.
Packanoki[cjk — see
Pokanoket
Paget, of Amsterdam ;
Eev. John, 99, 113,
115, 116, 186
Pakanokik — see Pok-
anoket
Palmer, Frances ; Wife
of William, 388
Palmer, William, 385,
388
Pamet, or Cape Cod,
N.E., 463, 469, 500,
545, 546, 555, 558
Pamet Little River —
see Hopkins's Creek
Pamet river [= Cold
Harbour], or Pamet
creek, or Pamet har-
bour. Cape CodjN.E.,
415, 418
Pantes, William, 167,
274
Pantes, (previously
Hauson) Wybra[n] ;
Wife of William,
164, 167
Paomet — see Pamet
Papa Whinett, 257
Parens, David, 246
Paris, 507
Parker, Matthew ;
Abp. of Canterbury,
25
Parliaments, 4, 19, 33-
36
Parsons, Alice, 138
Parsons Joseph, 274
Partridge, Rev. Ralph,
180
Pascatoquack — see
Little Harbour,
Piscataqua river
Paterson, Daniel, 71
Patuxet ["The Indian
name, perhaps of
that part of Ply-
mouth south of
Town Brook."~W.
Index,
625
T. Davis.], 10, 452,
453, 455, 463, 476,
525, 551, 556, 564,
567, 573
Patuxet, The Bay of
— see Cape Cod Bay
Pautes, Wybran —
see Pantes, W.
Pauw, , 234
Paynter, Alice, 138
Pecksuot, a Pinese of
the Boston Bay
Indians, 567 - 569,
573
Peddock, Capt. Leon-
ard, 257, 393
Peirce the Patentee,
John ; Citizen and
Cloth worker of Lon-
don, 254, 258-261
337, 395, 396
Peirce's Associates,
Master John — see
Adventurers &c..
The ; and also Pil-
grim Fathers, The
Peirce's Plantation,
Master John — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Plantation or
Colony of
Peirce's two servants,
Master [John], 388
Pemaquid {Bristol^
Maine, N.E.), 451
Penn, Christian, 387
Pennington, William,
321
Penobscot river, The ;
Maine, N.E., 484
Penrin, William, 322
Penry, Pev. John, 32,
35, 106
Perth in 1618, The
General Assembly
of the Kirk of Scot-
land at, 181, 239
Pettinger, afterwards
Crullins ; Dorothy,
168
Pettinger, afterwards
Gillies, Elizabeth,
168
Phelippes aZiasMorice,
the Decipherer ;
Thomas, 33-35
Phesel, Jane, 164
Philadelphus,
Hieronymus — see
Calderwood, D.
Philip IL, 22
Philip IIL, 15
Phillips, Master, 36
Ph illipps,Thomas — see
Phelippes, T.
Pickering, Edward,
167, 274, 317, 318,
322
Piercy, John, S., 52
Pilgrimage of Grace,
The, 50
Pilgrim Church at
Amsterdam, The, 29,
30, 35, 42, 52, 100,
121, 123, 134, 141,
142, 167, 168, 357,
521
Pilgrim Church at
Leyden, The, 4, 7,
18, 29, 30, 38, 42, 69,
102, 122, 123, 126,
127, 129, 145, 147-
155, 160, 167, 170,
173, 175, 178, 180,
184-187, 195, 196,
208, 211, 212, 222,
228, 262, 273-276,
300, 302, 307-319,
323, 325, 346, 353,
355-357, 389
♦Pilgrim Church at Ply-
' mouth in N.E., The,
29, 30, 176, 177, 179,
180, 184, 185, 356,
357
Pilgrim Church at
Scrooby, The, 29, 37,
48-51, 53, 54, 58, 70,
95, 97,101, 134, 136,
176, 357
Pilgrim District in
England, The, 49-66
Pilgrim Fathers, The,
4, 7, 8, 12, 15, 20, 51,
54,248,253,254,280,
292, 304, 323-325,
334, 335, 337, 343,
355-357, 377, 389,
390, 457, 480
Pilgrim Fathers, The
four Friends of the,
356
Pilgrim Press in Choir
Alley, Leyden ; The,
3, 9, 181, 192, 195-
246, 282
Pineses, The. The
Cliampions of the
Indian tribes in
N.E. ; like Hobo-
mok, Pecksuot
and Wituwamat,
585, 586, 588
Piscataqua river, The ;
New Hampshire,
N.E., 579
Pitt, William, 385
Plantation, The — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Plantation and
Colony of
Planters of New Eng-
land, The — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Governors and
People of
Plymouth, co. Devon,
73, 324, 340, 341,
346, 355, 358, 407
Plymouth [,co. Devon,]
Virginia Company,
The Second, or, 248,
252, 255-261
Plymouth in N.E., The
Church of — see Pil-
grim Church at Ply-
mouth in N.E.
Plymouth [in N.E.]
Company, The — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
626
Index,
The Plantation or
Colony of : and also
Adventurers &c.,
The
Plymouth in N.E. :
The Plantation or
Colony of ; or The
Governors and
People of [=The
Old Colony], 29, 30,
42, 43, 46, 160, 257,
258, 260, 321, 356,
364, 393, 399, 401,
409, 477, 480, 509,
545, 555, 559-561,
567, 571, 600
Plj^mouth in N.E., The
Plantation or Colony
of :
Day of Humiliation
and Prayer, 577, 578
Days of Thanksgiv-
ing, 489, 579
Muster or Training ;
The first general,
520, 521
Yearly Court Dav,
The, 562
Plymouth in N.E., The
Town &c. of, 7, 10,
147, 160, 180, 184,
323, 324, 325, 332,
346, 355, 364-377,
393, 395, 398, 407,
426, 435 - 443, 453,
457, 463, 466, 472,
■ 477, 480, 483, 484,
494, 500, 518, 520,
522, 523, 525, 526,
529, 531, 534, 538,
546, 548, 561, 564,
565, 572, 580,
599
Plymouth in N.E., The
Town, Harbour, and
Neighbourhood of :
Appaum. [The In-
dian name, perhaps,
of that part of Ply-
mouth north of the
Plymouth icont.)
Town Brook.— W.T.
Davis.]
Billington Sea, 442,
444, 450
Burial Hill, The,
381, 384, 438, 440,
531
Cantaugcanteest,
afterwards (in 1623)
Strawberry Hill,
now Watson's Hill,
383, 386, 449, 455,
456
Clark's Island, 435-
438, 445, 447
Cold Spring Brook,
386
Common House or
E-andevous, The,
443, 446 ;
Court of Guard, =
Guard Room in the
Fort, 565 ;
Court street, 384,
385
Eel river, 388, 460 ;
First Brook, The,
385
Fort, The, [Built be-
tween June 1622
and March 1623,
531], 384, 440, 565,
572
Fort Hill, The [=
Mount, The], 381,
384, 438, 440, 531
Great South Pond,
450
Gurnet's Nose, 523
Harbour, The, 383,
384, 426, 434-436,
441, 446, 452, 492,
523, 531, 533
Highway [to the
Town Brook], The,
381
Hob's Hole, 388
Hopkins's house,
Stephen, 452
Plymouth {cont.)
Ley den street, 381,
440
Littl e Pond — see
Murdock's Pond
Lout Pond, 444
Mount, The ; after-
wards Fort Hill ;
now Burial Hill,
381, 384, 438, 440,
631
Murdock's Pond, 384
Patuxet[The Indian
name, perhaps, of
that part of Ply-
mouth south of
Town Brook.— W.
T. Davis.], 10, 452,
453, 455, 463, 476,
525, 551, 556, 564,
567, 573
Pilgrim Soeiety,
The, 363
Reed Pond, The,
387
Sandwich street,
383
Saquish peninsula,
436, 445
Second Brook, The,
385
Storehouse, or Shed,
The, 446, 447, 522,
528
Strawberry Hill —
see Cantaugcanteest
Street, [now Leyden
street], The, 381, 440
Swamp, The, 387
Town Brook, The,
381, 383, 386, 438,
442, 449, 455, 457,
459-461, 488 '
Town impaled, in
Feb. - March 1621 ;
The, 520-522
"Watson's Hill — see
Cantaugcanteest
Wellingsly Brook,
388
Index.
627
Plymouth {cont^
Wood, The, 383, 385
Pocock, John, 322
Poelgeest, Heer van,
157
Point Allerton, Boston
Bay, 483
Point Care, Cape Cod,
N.E. — see Monamoy
Point
Points, (1618), The
Three, 4, 29, 293-296
Poitou, France, 506
Pokanoket {Rhode Is-
land, dc), The dis-
trict of, 395, 462,
465, 468, 472, 489,
524, 525, 547, 549-
556, 561
Pollock Rip, Cape Cod,
N.E., The, 350, 351,
391, 534
Poly and er. Prof. Dr
Johann, 143, 144,
152, 153, 179, 205,
218-220, 225, 231,
233-235, 237
Pond Village, Cape
Cod, N.E,, 413
Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, N.E.,
579
Pory, John, 393,
394
Powahs of the Indian
Tribes in N.E., The,
583-585
Powell, Capt., 394
Powhatan, 593
Poynton, Daniel, 322
Pratt, Joshua, 388
Pratt, Phinehas, 388,
563-565, 572
Prague, 216, 217
Prence, Thomas — see
Prince, Gov. T.
Priest, Degory, 162,
169, 376, 379
Priest (previously
Allerton), Sarah,
Wife of Degory,
162-164, 376
Prince, Gov. Thomas
43, 385
Prince, Rev. Thomas,
46, 47, 335, 389
Privy Council of Eng-
land, The, 4, 34, 73-
76, 89, 107, 255, 278,
280, 293-296, 298-
300, 390
Privy Council of Scot-
land, The, 181
Proviucetown har-
bour— see Cape Cod
harbour
Prower, Solomon, 368,
380
Prynne, John, 186
Ptolemy, Claudius,
13
Puckanukick, or Puk-
anokik — see Poka-
noket
Puckering, Sir John,
105
Pulsifer, David, 381
Purchasers, or Under-
takers ; The Twelve,
356
Puritan Anglican
Clergy, The, 177,
183
Pygott, Alice, 138
Pygott, Francis, 138
Pygott, Margaret, 138
Pygott, Matthew, 138
Pygott, Thomas, 134,
138, 140
Pygott, William, 137
Quad[d]equina, a
Wampanoag Sac-
hem, the brother of
Massasoit, 456,
459
Quakers, The, 30, 38
Quarles, William, 322
Quincy, Boston Bay,
N.E., 484 .
R., I. — see Robinson,
Rev. J.
Raine, Rev. Canon
John, 59
Rainea — see Magdalen
Isles
Rainolds, Rev. Dr
John, 37
Rammekins, 189
Ramsay, Earl of Hold-
erness ; John, 257
Rande, James, 386
Randolph, Sir Thomas ;
Master and Comp-
troller - General of
all Her Majesty's
Posts, 76-83
Ratcliffe, Robert, 388
Reading, co. Berks, 132
Retford, co. Notts, 52
58, 59
Revell, John, 322
Reynolds, ; Cap-
tain of the Speedioell,
316, 326, 339, 340,
346, 390
Reynolds, a Printer,
John, 274
Rhode Island, The
State of, 464, 520,
585
Rich, Sir Nathaniel,
249
Rich, 2nd Earl of
Warwick ; Robert,
249, 250, 257, 258
Richmond, co. Surr.,
62
Richmond, Va., 250
Richmond, co. York,
96
Richmondshire — see
York, North Riding
of
Rigdale, Alice, Wife
of John, 374
Rigdale, John, 360,
374, 378
Rising of the North,
The, 50
628
Index,
Robarthse, Jan — see
Robinson, Rev, J.
Roberts, , 337
Robinson, Anna, 165
Robinson (previously
White); Mistress
Brugitta \Bridget\
Wife of the Rev.
John, 159, 160, 275,
276
Robinson, afterwards
Grynwich ; Brugitta
{Bridget], 159, 160
Robinson, Conway,
250
Robinson, Fear, 159
Robinson, Isaac, 159,
160
Robinson, Jacob, 159
Robinson, James, 159
Robinson, Rev. John,
4, 29, 30, 38, 49, 51,
54, 55, 68, 69, 97, 98,
100, 103, 117, 123,
124, 135, 136, 139,
142, 147-149, 152,
153, 155-160, 171,
173-187, 198, 224,
242, 245, 247, 263,
264, 268, 274-276,
280, 281, 284-286,
289, 291, 293-295,
297, 300, 302, 307,
311, 317-319, 328-
332, 339, 344, 355,
401-406, 544
Robinson's Ch u r c h.
Master — see Pilgrim
Church at Leyden,
The
Robinson's Company,
Master — see Pilgrim
Church at Leyden,
The
Robinson's C o n g r e-
gation — see Pilgrim
Church at Leyden,
The
Robinson's house in
Bell Alley, Leyden ;
The Rev. John, 155-
159, 198, 329
Robinson, Mercy, 159
Robinszoon, Jan — see
Robinson, Rev. J.
Robintsonus, Joannes
— s e e Robinson,
Rev. J.
Rochelle, 506
Rock Hill, Medford,
N.E., 485
Rodolph, Emperor of
Germany, 216
Roemer, Olaus, 14
Rogers, Joseph, 362,
373, 380, 383, 388
Rogers, Thomas, 373,
378
Rome, 150, 314
Rookes, Newman, 322
Rotterdam, 96, 97, 100,
145, 165, 222-225,
227
Rounce, ; of Nor-
wich, 257, 259
Royston, co. Herts, 72
Russell, 2nd Earl of
Bedford, Francis, 76
R y t o n stream, co.
Notts, 57, 61
S., E. — see South-
worth, E.
Sachems of the Indian
tribes in N.E., The,
470, 586-588, 590
Sackville, Sir Edward,
249
Sagamores, or para-
mount Chiefs and
landed proprietors
of the Indian tribes
in N.E. ; as Canoni-
cus, Massasoit,
Nanepashemet, and
Samoset. The, 451,
485, 586, 587
St Andrews, A b p.
of — see Spottis-
wood, J.
St Lawrence, The Gulf
of, 107, 499
St Lawrence, The
river, 593
Salem, N.E., 179, 369,
375
Salisbury, co. Wilts, 274
Samoset, a Sagamore of
Pemaquid {BHstole,
Maine, N.E.)-, 450-
455, 459, 460
Samson, Henry, 362,
372, 384
Sanders, John ; Joint-
Governor at Wessa-
gusset, 534, 559-561,
564, 566
Sandwich, co. Kent,
165, 166
Sandwich, N.E., 540,
541, 545, 546, 565,
574
Sandys, Edwin; Abp.
of York, 51, 61-65
Sandys, Sir Edwin, 16,
65, 249, 250, 253,
282, 284, 285, 289,
296
Sandys the Poet,
George, 65
Sandys, Henry, 65
Sandys, Sir Miles, 65
Sandys, Sir Samuel,
64, 65
Sandys, Thomas, 65
Saram — see Salisbury
Saunders, Clement,
113-116, 119
Savery, Margaret, 164
Scaftworth, co. Notts,
58, 59, 93
Scituate,N.E.,356, 365
Scotland, The Churches
of — see Scotland,
The Kirk of
Scotland, The Kirk of,
177, 180, 181
Scots, The = Scotland,
The Kirk of
Scrooby, co. Notts, 3,
Index.
629
49, 50, 53, 54, 57-60,
72, 73, 84-86, 95, 167,
168, 190, 357
Scrooby, (1606-1608) :
The Separatist
Church at — see Pil-
grim Church at
Scrooby, The
The Great North
Koadat,57, 58, 72
The great Manor
Place at. [With its
39 rooms, it was
larger than the
Manor House at
Southwell. It is now
Manor HouseFarm.]
59, 60, 62, 63, 65
The Mills at, 65
St Wilfrid's Church
at, 57, 60
Scrooby Water — see
Ryton stream
Scusset Harbour,
Cape Cod, N.E., 540,
544
Seamer, Thomas, 137
Secret Council, The
— see Privy Council
of Scotland, The
Separation, The, 9, 48,
131, 135, 186
Separation remaining
at Amsterdam, The
English Company
of the. See Amster-
dam — Ancient
exiled English
Church
Separatists, The. See
Amsterdam — Ains-
worth's Church, The
Rev. H.
Settle, Rev. Edward,
106, 107
Sewall, Samuel ; a
Judge in the Ply-
mouth Colony, 160
Shakespeare, William,
50, 51, 249
Sharp, Samuel, 322
Sheffard, William, 133
Sheffield, 3rd Lord
Sheffield ; Edmund,
133
Shelden, Francis, 256
Shillito, Mr, 59
Shillito, Mrs Cathar-
ine, 59
Ships, either printed,
or to be understood ;
The Names of :
Ann, or Anne, 165-
166, 273, 275, 355,
356, 386-388, 579,
580
Chancewell, 107
Charity, 531, 534
Discovery (60 tons),
392, 393, 533
Fortune (40 to 50
, tons), 4, 8, 40, 164,
165, 273, 355, 356,
361, 384, 385, 400,
488, 491, 492, 493,
506-508, 517, 528
Handmaid, 355
Hopewell, 107
Little James, 165-
166, 257, 258, 273,
278, 355, 356, 386-
388, 580
Mayflower(180 tons)
of 1620, 15, 38, 46,
162-164, 175, 254,
273, 275, 301, 315,
324, 326, 334, 335,
339-353, 356, 356,
358-384, 389-392,
400, 407, 417, 420,
423, 433, 435, 436,
438, 442, 451, 452,
455, 488, 528
Mayflower (? ton-
nage) of 1629,
355
Paragon, 260, 261,
577, 579
Plantation, 256, 260,
599
Ships {cont.^
Providence, 254
Sparrow, 529, 533
Speedwell (60 tons),
4, 196, 304, 307, 316,
318, 326, 329-331,
334, 335, 339-346,
389, 390
Swan, 531, 534, 535,
537, 538, 539, 561,
566, 572
Shirley, James, Treas-
urer of the Adven-
turers &c., 260, 261,
320, 322, 356, 507
Shoals, Isle of, 579
Shoals off Cape Cod-
see Great, Little,
Rip
Simmons, Moses-^see
Symonson, M.
Simondson, , 247
Simons, Roger, 274
Simonson, Moses — see
Symonson, M.
Simson, W., 127
Slade, , a Ruling
Elder ; 107
Slade, Matthew, 3,126,
129, 130, 210, 211
Slany, John, 456
Smith, Capt. John,
320, 321, 323-325,
340, 347, 358, 506,
508
Smith's Isles, [Capt.
John] — see Isles of
Shoals
Smith, Rev. John —
see Smyth, Rev. J.
Smith of Berkshire,
Rev. John, 132
Smith (Christ's Col-
lege, Cambridge) (1),
John — see Smyth,
Rev. J.
Smith (Christ's Col-
lege, Cambridge) (2),
John, 132
Smith of Warwick-
630
Index.
shire, Rev. John,
132
Smith, Minister and
Preacher of the
Word of God ; John
— see Smyth, Rev. J.
Smith, Preacher of, or
Lecturer in, the city
of Lincoln ; John —
see Smyth, Rev.
Smith, Robert, 274
Smith, Thomas, 275
Smith, Sir Thomas,
249, 250, 289
Smyth, the Se-Baptist;
Rev. John, 3, 9, 48,
49, 51, 54, 65, 66, 69,
100, 104, 121, 131-
140, 148
Smyth, Mary ; ? Wife
of the Rev. John,
138
Smyth's Company,
Master [= Rev.
John], 100, 140
Snowe, Nicholas, 370,
388
Soke of Nottingham-
shire, The North, 65
Somerset, 4th Earl of
Worcester ; Edward,
81
Soule, George — see
Sowle, G.
Southampton, 107, 304,
307, 309, 310, 315-
317, 319, 334-339,
343, 344, 346, 355,
377, 389, 390, 401
Southern Colony, The
— see London Vir-
ginia Company
South Sea in North
' America, A, 299
Southwell, CO. Notts,
52
Southwell, CO. Notts ;
The Manor of, 62,
63, 65
South Witham, co.
Line, 72
Southworth (previ-
ously Carpenter),
afterwards Brad-
ford, Alice, Wife of
Edward, 46, 163, 387
Southworth, Edward,
46, 162, 163, 275,
342-345
Southworth, Jane, 138
Southworth, Thomas,
275
Sowams, in Pokanoket,
468, 489, 524, 525,
547, 549 - 556, 558,
561
Sowle, or Soule,
George, 362, 366,
379, 383
Spelman, Sir Henry,
257, 258, 259
Spenser, IMmund, 24
Spoonard, John, 275
Spottiswood, John;
Abp. of St Andrews,
240, 241
Spragge, Francis — see
Sprague, F.
Sprague, Francis, 386
Squabetty, N.E., 466
Squanto, This would
seem to be the
familiar English ab-
breviation of Tis-
quantum ; which
see
Squantum, The penin-
sula of ; Boston Bay,
484
Squibb, Capt. Thomas,
256
Stamford, co. Line, 72
Stand ish, Barbara ;
2nd Wife of Capt.
Miles, 387
Standish, Capt. Miles,
362, 368, 378, 384,
387, 411, 427, 432,
441, 448, 449, 455,
457, 460, 484, 489,
500, 518-522, 533-
535, 539, 542-546,
558, 563, 564, 566-
572, 579
Standish, Rose ; 1st
Wife of Capt. Miles,
368
Stanhope, 1st Lord
Stanhope ; John,
Master and Comp-
troller General of
all H.M. Posts, 71,
79-86
Staresmore, Sabine,
279, 296
Static, Hugh, 385
Stavely, Margaret ; .?
Wife of Robert,
138
Stavely, Robert, 138
Stephenson, George,
14
Sterrell, William, 33-
35
Steven, Rev. William,
99, 145
Steward, James, 385
Stilton, CO. Hunts, 72
Stock, The Common —
see Joint Stock, The
Story, Elias, 366, 380
Stuart, 1st Duke of
Lenox ; Lodovick,
255
Stuart Kings, The, 5,
16, 17, 20
Studley, a Ruling
Elder; Daniel, 31,
104-107, 109, 110,
116, 119, 120, 122-
125, 279
Stuffen, afterwards
Clyfton ; Ann, 95,
96
StufFen, L, 95
Succonet, (Falmouth.
N.E,\ 555
Sumner, George, 146,
147
Index.
631
Sutcliffe, Matthew ;
Dean of Exeter, 256,
257
Sutton, CO. Notts, 58
Sutton Yalence, co.
Kent, 246
Swauenburch, J., 157
Swanenburg, Dr Cor-
nelius, 207
Swansey, Massa.,N.E.,
468, 548, 556
Sydenham, John, 52
Sydney, Lord Lisle ;
Eobert. The brother
of Sir Philip Sidney,
199
Symkins, Christopher,
99
Symonson [corrupted
to Simon son ; and
later, to Simmons],
Moses, 179, 305, 385
Taborites, The, 150,
Talbot, William, 166,
275
Tarentines, The — see
Tarratines, The
Tarratines, The, 484
Taunton Green, N.E.,
466
Taunton river, N.E. ;
The, 465, 466
Teelinck, Rev. Willem,
226
Temple, Dr Frederick ;
late Bp. of London,
and the present Abp.
of Canterbury, 1
Tench, William, 385
Terceira, Azores, 394
Terceiras, The =
Azores, The
Terry, Samuel — see
Ferrier, S.
Terveer — see Veere,
Walcheren, 224
Texel in North
America, A, 299
Thievish harbour — see
Plymouth in N.E.,
The Town &c. of
Thompson, or Tomp-
son, David, 255, 559,
579
Thompson, Edward,
370, 380
Thomson, Isabel ; ?
Wife of Solomon,
138
Thomson, Solomon,
138
Thomson, Rev.
Thomas, 239
Thorned, John, 322
Thornhill, Matthew,
322
Thornton, John Win-
gate, 47
Thoroton, Robert, 65
Thorp, William — see
Thorpe, G.
Thorpe the Printer,
Giles : a D e a c o n,
then a Ruling Elder,
9, 31, 115, 117, 122,
125, 138, 139, 211
Throgmorton, Job, 32
Tichfield, 251
Tickens (previously
White), Jane ; Wife
of Ralph, 156-158,
167
Tickens, Ralph, 156-
158, 162, 167, 275
Tilden, Joseph, 322
Tilden, Tliomas, 388
Tilley, ; Wife of
John, 372
Tilley, Ann ; Wife of
Edward, 372
Tilley, Edward, 372,
378 411, 427
Tilley, afterwards
Howland ; Eliza-
beth, 362, 364,
372
Tilley, John, 361, 364,
372, 378, 427
Tillie— see Tilley
Tinker, Thomas, 360,
373, 378
Tinker, ? ; Wife of
Thomas, 373
Tinker ? ; son of
Thomas, 373, 380
Tisquantum, the sur-
viving native of
Patuxet ; who had
been to Spain, Lon-
don, and Virginia.
He was the inter-
preter to the Pilgrim
Fathers ; and was,
in many ways, very
helpful to them be-
tween March 1621,
and November 1622
when he died at
Chatham, N.E. See
also Squanto and
Squantum, 395, 451,
455, 456, 459-462,
464, 465, 468, 471,
474, 475, 479-483,
486, 517-519, 522,
523, 625, 527, 534-
536, 540, 593
Titicut river, N.E. ;
The, 465, 471
Tokamahamon, 471,
472, 474, 479, 481,
517-519
Tompson, David — see
Thompson, D.
Tracy, Stephen, 165,
388
Tracy (previously
Le ), Trifasa,
Wife of Stephen,
165, 166
Training, or General
Muster, in N.E. ;
The first, 520, 521
Travers, Walter, 28,
244, 245
Trent, The Council of
16
Trent, The river, 49,
57, 60, m, 93, 94
632
Index,
Trevore, William, 377,
380
Truro, Cape Cod, N.E.,
412, 413
Tucker's Terror — see
Pollock Eip, The
Turner, ; a candle
maker, and Preacher,
246
Turner, John, 311, 315,
316
Turner, John, 360, 375,
378
Turner, ? ; son of John,
375, 380
Turner, ? ; a second
son of John, 375, 380
Turvin, Rev. George,
52
Tuxford, CO. Notts, 58,
72, 80
TJdall, Rev. John, 28
Undertakers of 1626,
The Twelve, 356
Use, Isle d' [? Isle d'
Yeu, off Poitou],
506-508
Van Hout, I., 148
Veere, Walcheren,224
Vervey, Jacob V., 205,
207
Vincent, John, 162
Vincent (previously
Allerton) Sarah ;
Wife of John, 162
Virginia, 126, 248, 253,
. 254, 271, 272, 277-
280, 283, 285, 286,
289-291, 297, 299,
301, 304, 305, 316,
323,343,371,392-394,
531, 533, 692-594,
599
Virginia, The Adven-
turers for — see Lon-
don Virginia Com-
pany
Virginia, at James
City, Va. ; The
Council of, 394
Virginia, The Council
and Company of —
see London Virginia
Company, The
Virginia, The First
Colony in the
Northern Parts of
— see Plymouth in
N.E., The Planta-
tion or Colony of
Virginia, The Hero of
— see Smith, Capt. J.
Virginia, His Ma-
jesty's Council for —
see London Virginia
Company
Virginia, The Lords
Commissioners for
the Affairs of, 249,
394 ^
Virginia Company,
Th e — see London
Virginia Company,
The
Virginia Council, The
— see Virginia, The
Lords Commis-
sioners for
Virginia Historical
Society, The, 250
Vlieland in North
America, A, 299
Vorstius, -^lius Ever-
hard, 213
W., Master, 315
W. E. — see Winslow,
Gov. E.
Wakefield, Abraham,
99
Walseus, Anthony, 219
Walcheren, The island
of, 224
Wallen, Ralfe,
388
Walley, Richard, 63
Walloons, The, 158,
299
Walsingham, Sir Fran-
cis, 33, 76
Waltham Cross, co.
Herts, 72
Wampanoag, Indians,
of which Massasoit
was the Sagamore,
The
Wandsworth, co. Surr.,
25
Ward, Thomas, 322
Ware, co. Herts, 72
Wareham, N.E., 555
Warren, Richard, ,355,
360, 371, 378, 384,
388, 427
Warren, Rhode Island,
N.E., 468
Warrener, Robert, 275
Washington, D. C. ;
The Library of Con-
gress at, 250, 251
Wassapinewat, a
Sachem, 561
Waterhouse, Edward,
251
Waterlander, A, 140
Waterloo, Tlie Battle
of, 22
Waterson, Simon, 133
Wayt, afterwards Clif-
ton ; Elizabeth, 96,
97
Wayt, Katherine ;
Wife of Laurence,
96
Wayt, Laurence, 96
Welby, William, 139
Wellfleet Bay, Cape
Cod, N.E., 428
Wencop, John — see
Wincop, J.
Wesley, Rev. John, 4,
38
Wessagusset ( Wey-
mouth, N.E.)\ The
English Colony at,
10, 511, 531, 532-
534, 537, 538, 545,
555, 558-575. See
Index.
^ZZ
See Weston's Colony
&c., T.
West, Capt. Francis,
256, 599
West India Company,
The Dutch, 298
West Indies, 22, 365,
394
Westminster = White-
hall Palace, 73
Weston, Thomas
[Gov. Winslow de-
signates him, in
1624, " late Mer-
chant and citizen of
London," 529], 255,
257, 300, 302-304,
308, 309, 311, 317,
318, 322, 336, 344-
356, 389, 529, 531,
534
Weston's Colony, or
Company, or men,
or people at Wessa-
gnsset; Thomas, 511,
533, 537, 538, 544,
545, 555, 558-564,
566-572
West Stockwith, co.
Notts, 93, 94
Wetherby, co. York,
72
Weymouth, N.E. — see
Wessagusset
Whincop, John — see
Wincop, J.
White, Agnes, 163
White, afterward s
Eobinson ; Bridget,
158-160, 275
White, afterwards
Tickens ; Jane, 156-
158, 167
White, John, 322
White, Peregrine, 358,
362, 369, 426
White, Resolved, 362,
369, 379
White, Roger, 158,
163, 275
White, Rose ; Wife of
the Rev. Thomas,
119
White ( previously
Fuller), afterwards
Winslow ; Susanna,
162, 163, 362, 365,
369, 426
White, Rev. Thomas,
115, 118-120, 128
White, William, 162,
365, 369, 378, 384
Whitgif t, John ; Abp.
of Canterbury, 3, 25,
31, 33, 34, 37
Whittingham, Wil-
liam ; Dean of Dur-
ham, 25
Wichaguscusset — see
Wessagusset
Wickham, William ;
Bp. of Lincoln, 99,
132
Wilberforce, Samuel ;
Bp. of Oxford, 47
Wilcox, Rev. Thomas,
244, 245
Wilde, Willeni Simons-
zoon van der, 156
Wilder, Roger, 364,
380
Wilkins, Roger, 275
William III., King, 17
Williams, Jonatlian,
164, 275
Williams, Rev. Roger,
134
Williams, Thomas, 275
Williams, Thomas, 376,
379
Williamson, Master —
see Allerton, I.
Willis, Thomas, 13
Wilson, Hemy, 275
Wilson, Rev. John,
160
Wilson, Roger, 163-
165, 169, 274, 275
Wincob, John — see
Wincop, J.
Wincop, John, 253,
291, 292, 301
Wincop's [or Whin-
cop ; or as Brad-
ford spells it, Win-
cob] Associates,
John — see Pilgrim
Fathers
Windsor, co. Berks, 61
Winock, ■ , 246
Winslow, Gov. Ed-
ward, 43, 164, 307,
308, 362, 365, 369,
374, 376, 378, 381,
384, 427, 456-459,
462-473, 518, 519,
523, 529, 530, 547-
558, 580
Winslow, as a Writer ;
Gov. Edward, 2, 175-
185, 262-264, 268,
273, 282, 283, 327-
330, 332, 333, 382,
416, 462-473, 488-
494, 507, 509-600
Winslow (previously
Barker), Elizabeth ;
1st Wife of Gov.
Edward, 164, 366
Winslow, Gilbert, 376,
379, 383
Winslow, John, 374,
385
Winslow (previously
Chilton), Mary ;
Wife of John, 374,
384
Winslow (previousl}^
Fuller, then White)
Susanna ; 2nd Wife
of Gov. Edward, 162,
163, 362, 365, 369
Winsor, Prof. Justin,
11, 47
Winthrop, Gov. John,
252
Wisbeach, co. Camb.,
163
Wisbrough Green, co.
Suss., 96
The Pilgrim Fathers.
2 s
634
Index.
Witham, The river, 93
Wituwamat, a Pinese
of the Boston Bay
Indians, 544, 563,
568, 569, 572, 573
Witzbuts (.? Wisbeacli),
163
Wolsey, Card. Thomas,
59,60
Wood, Henry, 156,
169, 275
Woodnoth, Arthur, 250
Woodrow Society, The,
239
Wood ward, D r John, 14
Worcester, Bp. of — see
rietcher, K
Worksop, CO. Notts,
53, 54, 57, 58, 95, 135
Wostleholme, Sir John,
289, 293-296
Wrentham, co. SufF.,
163
Wright, Richard, 322
Wright, William, 385,
Wright, William Aldis,
108
Wriothesley, 3rd Earl
of Southampton ;
Henry, 249, 251, 393
Wyatt, Gov. Sir
Francis, 394
Yale University Lib-
rary, New Haven,
Conn., 244
Yarmouth, Cape Cod,
N.E., 370-372, 537
Yarmouth, Great; co.
Suff., 168, 273, 275
Yates, Bev. John,
242
Yeardley, Gov. Sir
George, 289, 599
York, The Abp. of, 59,
60, 191
York, The city of, 52,
58, 131, 165
York, The diocese or
see of, 52, 62, 63,
65
York :
The Minster Lib-
rary, 136, 140
Yorkshire, The North
Riding of, 106, 110
Yorkshire, The West
Riding of, 51, 57, 61,
69, 96
Young, Rev. Alex-
ander, 37, 105, 173,
175, 350, 351, 356
Zealand, Holland, 41,
89, 103, 324, 333
Ziska, Johann Trocz-
nov., 150
Zouche, Sir William,
222-228
THE END
Colston &-" Coy, Liviiied^ Printers^ Edmhirgh.
Now ready. Handsomely bound. Super-royal quarto,
price £4, is,
A Reproduction in facsimile, hy Photography, of the original
Manuscript of
THE HISTORY
OF THE
PLIMOTH PLANTATION
WRITTEN BY
WILLIAM BRADFORD,
One of the Founders of, and Second Governor of that Colony
AND NOW IN THE LIBRAEY OF PULHAM PALACE.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
JOHN A. DOYLE,
Fellow of All Soul's College, Oxford.
London : WARD & DOWNEY, Limited.
Boston, Mass. : HOUGHTON MIFFLIN & CO.
THE Manuscript contains an account of the Settlement
in Holland, first at Amsterdam, and afterwards at
Leyden, of the Community of Puritan Separatists commonly
known as Brownists ; of their departure from Holland
and embarkation at Southampton in 1620 in the ship
" Mayflower " ; of the voyage of the " Pilgrim Fathers " in
the " Mayflower " to America ; of the foundation by them
there of " Plimoth Plantation," and of the history and
government of the Plantation until 1646.
It contains also : " The names of those which came
over first, in the year 1620, and were (by the blessing of
God) the first beginners, and (in a sort) the foundation of
all the plantations and Colonies in New England (and
their families)."
The Manuscript belongs to the Library at Fulham
Palace. It has been conjectured that it was brought to
England at the time of the American War ; but there is
no reference to its existence in America later than 1767.
Up to 1854 American students of the history of their
country failed to trace it, and Dr Young in his " Chronicles
of the Pilgrim Fathers " (published in 1841) refers to it as
" hopelessly lost." Attention was, however, in 1854,
directed to its resting-place by passages and citations in
"A History of the Protestant Episcopal Church of
America," by Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford. Leave
was obtained to transcribe the MS,, and it was published by
the Massachusetts Historical Society in their "Collections"
in 1856.
The MS. consists of 280 folio pages, in William
Bradford's own handwriting, and is an example of clear
and beautiful penmanship.
The edition is limited to 350 copies, printed on fine
hand-made paper, and each copy is numbered ,
WARD & DOWNEY, Limited,
12 York Buildings, Adelphi, W.C.
This book is a preservation photocopy.
It is made in compliance with copyright law
and produced on acid-free archival
60U book weight paper
which meets the requirements of
ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (permanence of paper)
Preservation photocopying and binding
by
Acme Bookbinding
Charlestown, Massachusetts
2003
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
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