Part 20

And lastly be you all intreated to walke circumspectly, and carry your selves so uprightly in all your ways, as y^t no man may make just exceptions against you. And more espetially that y^e favour and countenance of God may be so toward you, as y^t you may find abundante joye & peace even amids tribulations, that you may say with David, Though my father & mother should forsake me, yet y^e Lord would take me up.

We have sent you hear some catle, cloath, hose, shoes, leather, &c., but in another nature then formerly, as it stood us in hand to doe; we have co[=m]itted them to y^e charge & custody of M^r. Allerton and M^r. Winslow, as our factours, at whose discretion they are to be sould, and co[=m]odities to be taken for them, as is fitting. And by how much y^e more they will be chargable unto you, the better[BY] they had need to be husbanded, &c. Goe on, good freinds, comfortably, pluck up your spirits, and quitte your selves like men in all your difficulties, that notwithstanding all displeasure and threats of men, yet y^e work may goe on you are aboute, and not be neglected. Which is so much for y^e glorie of God, and the furthrance of our countrie-men, as that a man may with more comforte [137] spend his life in it, then live y^e life of Mathusala, in wasting y^e plentie of a tilled land, or eating y^e fruite of a growne tree. Thus with harty salutations to you all, and harty prayers for you all, we lovingly take our leaves, this 18. of Des: 1624.

Your assured freinds to our powers, J. S. W. C. T. F. R. H. &c.

By this leter it appears in what state y^e affairs of y^e plantation stood at this time. These goods they bought, but they were at deare rates, for they put 40. in y^e hundred upon them, for profite and adventure, outward bound; and because of y^e [=v]nture of y^e paiment homeward, they would have 30.[BZ] in y^e 100. more, which was in all 70. [p=]^r. cent; a thing thought unreasonable by some, and too great an oppression upon y^e poore people, as their case stood. The catle were y^e best goods, for y^e other being ventured ware, were neither at y^e best (some of them) nor at y^e best prises. Sundrie of their freinds disliked these high rates, but co[=m]ing from many hands, they could not help it.

They sent over also 2. ships on fishing on their owne acounte; the one was y^e pinass that was cast away y^e last year hear in y^e cuntrie, and recovered by y^e planters, (as was before related,) who, after she came home, was attached by one of y^e company for his perticuler debte, and now sent againe on this accounte. The other was a great ship, who was well fitted with an experienced m^r. & company of fisher-men, to make a viage, & to goe to Bilbo or Sabastians with her fish; the lesser, her order was to load with cor-fish, and to bring the beaver home for England, y^t should be received for y^e goods sould to y^e plantation. This bigger ship made a great viage of good drie fish, the which, if they had gone to a market w^th, would have yeelded them (as such fish was sould y^t season) 1800^li. which would have enriched them. But because ther was a bruite of warr with France, y^e m^r. neglected (through timerousnes) his order, and put first into Plimoth, & after into Portsmouth, and so lost their opportunitie, and came by the loss. The lesser ship had as ill success, though she was as hopfull as y^e other for y^e marchants profite; for they had fild her with goodly cor-fish taken upon y^e banke, as full as she could swime; and besids she had some 800^li. weaight of beaver, besids other furrs to a good value from y^e plantation. The m^r. seeing so much goods come, put it abord y^e biger ship, for more saftie; but M^r. Winslow (their factor in this busines) was bound in a bond of 500^li. to send it to London in y^e smale ship; ther was some contending between y^e m^r, & him aboute it. But he tould y^e m^r. he would follow his order aboute it; if he would take it out afterward, it should be at his perill. So it went in y^e smale ship, and he sent bills of lading in both. The m^r. was so carfull being both so well laden, as they went joyfully home togeather, for he towed y^e leser ship at his sterne all y^e way over bound, and they had such fayr weather as he never cast her of till they were shott deep in to y^e English Chanell, almost within y^e sight of Plimoth; and yet ther she was unhaply taken by a Turks man of warr, and carried into Saly, wher y^e m^r. and men were made slaves, and many of y^e beaver skins were sould for 4^d. a peece. [138] Thus was all their hops dasht, and the joyfull news they ment to cary home turned to heavie tidings. Some thought this a hand of God for their too great exaction of y^e poore plantation, but Gods judgments are unseerchable, neither dare I be bould therwith: but however it shows us y^e uncertainty of all humane things, and what litle cause ther is of joying in them or trusting to them.

In y^e bigger of these ships was sent over Captine Standish from y^e plantation, w^th leters & instructions, both to their freinds of y^e company which still clave to them, and also to y^e Honourable Counsell of New-England. To y^e company to desire y^t seeing that they ment only to let them have goods upon sale, that they might have them upon easier termes, for they should never be able to bear such high intrest, or to allow so much per cent; also that what they would doe in y^t way that it might be disburst in money, or such goods as were fitte and needfull for them, & bought at best hand; and to aquainte them with y^e contents of his leters to y^e Counsell above said, which was to this purpose, to desire their favour & help; that such of y^e adventurers as had thus forsaken & deserted them, might be brought to some order, and not to keepe them bound, and them selves be free. But that they might either stand to ther former covenants, or ells come to some faire end, by dividente, or composition. But he came in a very bad time, for y^e Stat was full of trouble, and y^e plague very hote in London, so as no bussines could be done; yet he spake with some of y^e Honourd Counsell, who promised all helpfullnes to y^e plantation which lay in them. And sundrie of their freinds y^e adventurers were so weakened with their losses y^e last year, by y^e losse of y^e ship taken by the Turks, and y^e loss of their fish, w^ch by reason of y^e warrs they were forcte to land at Portsmouth, and so came to litle; so as, though their wills were good, yet they^r power was litle. And ther dyed such multituds weekly of y^e plague, as all trade was dead, and litle money stirring. Yet with much adooe he tooke up 150^li. (& spent a good deal of it in expences) at 50. per cent, which he bestowed in trading goods & such other most needfull comodities as he knew requiset for their use; and so returned passenger in a fhishing ship, haveing prepared a good way for y^e compossition that was afterward made.

In y^e mean time it pleased y^e Lord to give y^e plantation peace and health and contented minds, and so to blese ther labours, as they had corne sufficient, (and some to spare to others,) with other foode; neither ever had they any supply of foode but what they first brought with them. After harvest this year, they sende out a boats load of corne 40. or 50. leagues to y^e eastward, up a river called Kenibeck; it being one of those 2. shalops which their carpenter had built them y^e year before; for bigger vessell had they none. They had laid a litle deck over her midships to keepe y^e corne drie, but y^e men were faine to stand it out all weathers without shelter; and y^t time [139] of y^e year begins to growe tempestious. But God preserved them, and gave them good success, for they brought home 700^li. of beaver, besids some other furrs, having litle or nothing els but this corne, which them selves had raised out of y^e earth. This viage was made by M^r. Winslow & some of y^e old standards,[CA] for seamen they had none.

_Anno Dom: 1626._

About y^e begining of Aprill they heard of Captain Standish his arrivall, and sent a boat to fetch him home, and y^e things he had brought. Welcome he was, but y^e news he broughte was sadd in many regards; not only in regarde of the former losses, before related, which their freinds had suffered, by which some in a maner were undon, others much disabled from doing any further help, and some dead of y^e plague, but also y^t M^r. Robinson, their pastor, was dead, which struck them with much sorrow & sadnes, as they had cause. His and their adversaries had been long & continually plotting how they might hinder his coming hither, but y^e Lord had appointed him a better place; concerning whose death & the maner therof, it will appere by these few lines write to Gov^r & M^r. Brewster.

Loving & kind frinds, &c. I know not whether this will ever come to your hands, or miscarie, as other my letters have done; yet in regard of y^e Lords dealing with us hear, I have had a great desire to write unto you, knowing your desire to bear a parte with us, both in our joyes, & sorrows, as we doe w^th you. These are therfore to give you to understand, that it hath pleased the Lord to take out of this vaell of tears, your and our loving & faithfull pastor, and my dear & Reve^d brother, M^r. John Robinson, who was sick some 8. days. He begane to be sick on Saturday in y^e morning, yet y^e next day (being the Lords day) he taught us twise. And so y^e weeke after grew weaker, every day more then other; yet he felt no paine but weaknes all y^e time of his sicknes. The phisick he tooke wrought kindly in mans judgmente, but he grew weaker every day, feeling litle or no paine, and sensible to y^e very last. He fell sicke y^e 22. of Feb: and departed this life y^e 1. of March. He had a continuall inwarde ague, but free from infection, so y^t all his freinds came freely to him. And if either prayers, tears, or means, would have saved his life, he had not gone hence. But he having faithfully finished his course, and performed his worke which y^e Lord had appointed him here to doe, he now resteth with y^e Lord in eternall hapines. We wanting him & all Church Gov^rs, yet we still (by y^e mercie of God) continue & hould close togeather, in peace and quietnes; and so hope we shall doe, though we be very weake. Wishing (if such were y^e will of God) that you & we were againe united togeather in one, either ther or here; but seeing it is y^e will of y^e Lord thus to dispose of things, we must labour w^th patience to rest contented, till it please y^e Lord otherwise to dispose. For [140] news, is here not much; only as in England we have lost our old king James, who departed this life aboute a month agoe, so here they have lost y^e old prince, Grave Mourise; who both departed this life since my brother Robinson. And as in England we have a new-king Charls, of whom ther is great hope, so hear they have made prince Hendrick Generall in his brothers place, &c. Thus with my love remembred, I take leave & rest,

Your assured loving friend, ROGER WHITE.

Leyden, Aprill 28. An^o: 1625.

Thus these too great princes, and their pastor, left this world near aboute one time. Death maks no difference.

He further brought them notice of y^e death of their anciente friend, Mr. Cush-man, whom y^e Lord tooke away allso this year, & aboute this time, who was as their right hand with their freinds y^e adventurers, and for diverce years had done & agitated all their bussines with them to ther great advantage. He had write to y^e Gove^r but some few months before, of y^e sore sicknes of M^r. James Sherley, who was a cheefe friend to y^e plantation, and lay at y^e pointe of death, declaring his love & helpfullnes, in all things; and much bemoned the loss they should have of him, if God should now take him away, as being y^e stay & life of y^e whole bussines. As allso his owne purposs this year to come over, and spend his days with them. But he that thus write of anothers sicknes, knew not y^t his owne death was so near. It shows allso that a m[=a]s ways are not in his owne power, but in his hands who hath y^e issues of life and death. Man may purpose, but God doth dispose.

Their other freinds from Leyden writ many leters to them full of sad laments for ther heavie loss; and though their wills were good to come to them, yet they saw no probabilitie of means, how it might be effected, but concluded (as it were) that all their hopes were cutt of; and many, being aged, begane to drop away by death.

All which things (before related) being well weighed and laied togither, it could not but strick them with great perplexitie; and to looke humanly on y^e state of things as they presented them selves at this time, it is a marvell it did not wholy discourage them, and sinck them. But they gathered up their spirits, and y^e Lord so helped them, whose worke they had in hand, as now when they were at lowest[CB] they begane to rise againe, and being striped (in a maner) of all humane helps and hops, he brought things aboute other wise, in his devine providence, as they were not only upheld & sustained, but their proceedings both honoured and imitated by others; as by y^e sequell will more appeare, if y^e Lord spare me life & time to declare y^e same.

Haveing now no fishing busines, or other things to intend, but only their trading & planting, they sett them selves to follow the same with y^e best industrie they could. The planters finding their corne, what they could spare from ther necessities, to be a co[=m]oditie, (for they sould it at 6^s. a bushell,) used great dilligence in planting y^e same. And y^e Gove^r and such as were designed to manage the trade, (for it was retained for y^e generall good, [141] and none were to trade in perticuler,) they followed it to the best advantage they could; and wanting trading goods, they understoode that a plantation which was at Monhigen, & belonged to some marchants of Plimoth was to breake up, and diverse usefull goods was ther to be sould; the Gove^r and M^r. Winslow tooke a boat and some hands and went thither. But M^r. David Thomson, who lived at Pascataway, understanding their purpose, tooke oppertunitie to goe with them, which was some hinderance to them both; for they, perceiveing their joynte desires to buy, held their goods at higher rates; and not only so, but would not sell a parcell of their trading goods, excepte they sould all. So, lest they should further prejudice one an other, they agreed to buy all, & devid them equally between them. They bought allso a parcell of goats, which they distributed at home as they saw neede & occasion, and tooke corne for them of y^e people, which gave them good content. Their moyety of y^e goods came to above 400^li. starling. Ther was allso that spring a French ship cast away at Sacadahock, in w^ch were many Biscaie ruggs & other co[=m]odities, which were falen into these mens hands, & some other fisher men at Damerins-cove, which were allso bought in partnership, and made their parte arise to above 500^li. This they made shift to pay for, for y^e most part, with y^e beaver & comodities they had gott y^e winter before, & what they had gathered up y^t somer. M^r. Thomson having some thing overcharged him selfe, desired they would take some of his, but they refused except he would let them have his French goods only; and y^e marchant (who was one of Bristol) would take their bill for to be paid y^e next year. They were both willing, so they became ingaged for them & tooke them. By which means they became very well furnished for trade; and tooke of therby some other ingagments w^ch lay upon them, as the money taken up by Captaine Standish, and y^e remains of former debts. With these goods, and their corne after harvest, they gott good store of trade, so as they were enabled to pay their ingagements against y^e time, & to get some cloathing for y^e people, and had some comodities before hand. But now they begane to be envied, and others wente and fild y^e Indeans with corne, and beat downe y^e prise, giveing them twise as much as they had done, and under traded them in other comodities allso.

This year they sent M^r. Allerton into England, and gave him order to make a composition with y^e adventurers, upon as good termes as he could (unto which some way had ben made y^e year before by Captaine Standish); but yet injoyned him not to conclud absolutly till they knew y^e termes, and had well considered of them; but to drive it to as good an issew as he could, and referr y^e conclusion to them. Also they gave him a co[=m]ission under their hands & seals to take up some money, provided it exeeded not such a su[=m]e specified, for which they engaged them selves, and gave him order how to lay out y^e same for y^e use of y^e plantation.

And finding they ra[=n]e a great hazard to goe so long viages in a smale open boat, espetialy y^e winter season, they begane to thinke how they might gett a small pinass; as for y^e reason afforesaid, so also because others had raised y^e prise with y^e Indeans above y^e halfe of what they had formerly given, so as in such a boat they could not [143[CC]] carry a quantity sufficient to answer their ends. They had no ship-carpenter amongst them, neither knew how to get one at presente; but they having an ingenious man that was a house carpenter, who also had wrought with y^e ship carpenter (that was dead) when he built their boats, at their request he put forth him selfe to make a triall that way of his skill; and tooke one of y^e bigest of ther shalops and sawed her in y^e midle, and so lenthened her some 5. or 6. foote, and strengthened her with timbers, and so builte her up, and laid a deck on her; and so made her a conveniente and wholsome vessell, very fitt & comfortable for their use, which did them servise 7. years after; and they gott her finished, and fitted with sayles & anchors, y^e insuing year. And thus passed y^e affairs of this year.

_Anno Dom: 1627._

At y^e usuall season of y^e coming of ships M^r. Allerton returned, and brought some usfull goods with him, according to y^e order given him. For upon his commission he tooke up 200^li. which he now gott at 30. per cent. The which goods they gott safly home, and well conditioned, which was much to the comfort & contente of y^e plantation. He declared unto them, allso, how, with much adoe and no small trouble, he had made a composition with y^e adventurers, by the help of sundrie of their faithfull freinds ther, who had allso tooke much pains ther about. The agreement or bargen he had brought a draught of, with a list of ther names ther too annexed, drawne by the best counsell of law they could get, to make it firme. The heads wherof I shall here inserte.

To all Christian people, greeting, &c. Wheras at a meeting y^e 26. of October last past, diverse & sundrie persons, whose names to y^e one part of these presents are subscribed in a schedule hereunto annexed, Adventurers to New-Plimoth in New-England in America, were contented and agreed, in consideration of the sume of one thousand and eight hundred pounds sterling to be paid, (in maner and forme folling,) to sell, and make sale of all & every y^e stocks, shares, lands, marchandise, and chatles, what soever, to y^e said adventurers, and other ther fellow adventurers to New Plimoth aforesaid, any way accruing, or belonging to y^e generalitie of y^e said adventurers aforesaid; as well by reason of any sume or sumes of money, or marchandise, at any time heretofore adventured or disbursed by them, or other wise howsoever; for y^e better expression and setting forth of which said agreemente, the parties to these presents subscribing, doe for [144] them selves severally, and as much as in them is, grant, bargan, alien, sell, and transfere all & every y^e said shares, goods, lands, marchandice, and chatles to them belonging as aforesaid, unto Isaack Alerton, one of y^e planters resident at Plimoth afforesaid, assigned, and sent over as agente for y^e rest of y^e planters ther, and to such other planters at Plimoth afforesaid as y^e said Isack, his heirs, or assignes, at his or ther arrivall, shall by writing or otherwise thinke fitte to joyne or partake in y^e premisses, their heirs, & assignes, in as large, ample, and beneficiall maner and forme, to all intents and purposes, as y^e said subscribing adventurers here could or may doe, or performe. All which stocks, shares, lands, &c. to the said adven: in severallitie alloted, apportioned, or any way belonging, the said adven: doe warrant & defend unto the said Isaack Allerton, his heirs and assignes, against them, their heirs and assignes, by these presents. And therfore y^e said Isaack Allerton doth, for him, his heirs & assigns, covenant, promise, & grant too & with y^e adven: whose names are here unto subscribed, ther heirs, &c. well & truly to pay, or cause to be payed, unto y^e said adven: or 5. of them which were, at y^t meeting afforsaid, nominated & deputed, viz. _John Pocock_, _John Beachamp_, _Robart Keane_, _Edward Base_, and _James Sherley_, marchants, their heirs, &c. too and for y^e use of y^e generallitie of them, the sume of 1800^li. of lawfull money of England, at y^e place appoynted for y^e receipts of money, on the west side of y^e Royall Exchaing in London, by 200^li. yearly, and every year, on y^e feast of St. Migchell, the first paiment to be made An^o: 1628. &c. Allso y^e said Isaack is to indeavor to procure & obtaine from the planters of N. P. aforesaid, securitie, by severall obligations, or writings obligatory, to make paiment of y^e said sume of 1800^li. in forme afforsaid, according to y^e true meaning of these presents. In testimonie wherof to this part of these presents remaining with y^e said Isaack Allerton, y^e said subscribing adven: have sett to their names,[CD] &c. And to y^e other part remaining with y^e said adven: the said Isaack Allerton hath subscribed his name, y^e _15. Nov^br An^o: 1626. in y^e 2. year of his Majesties raigne_.

This agreemente was very well liked of, & approved by all y^e plantation, and consented unto; though they knew not well how to raise y^e payment, and discharge their other ingagements, and supply the yearly wants of y^e plantation, seeing they were forced for their necessities to take up money or goods at so high intrests. Yet they undertooke it, and 7. or 8. of y^e cheefe of y^e place became joyntly bound for y^e paimente of this 1800^li. (in y^e behalfe of y^e rest) at y^e severall days. In which they rane a great adventure, as their present state stood, having many other heavie burthens allready upon them, and all things in an uncertaine condition amongst them. So y^e next returne it was absolutly confirmed on both sids, and y^e bargen fairly ingrossed in partchmente and in many things put into better forme, by y^e advice of y^e learnedest counsell they could gett; and least any forfeiture should fall on y^e whole for none paimente at any of y^e days, it rane thus: to forfite 30^s. a weeke if they missed y^e time; and was concluded under their hands & seals, as may be seen at large by y^e deed it selfe.