OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION
by William Bradford
1620-1647 Book Two / pp. 187 - 226
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 187
Anno Dom: 1624.
THE time of new election of ther officers for this
year being come, and* ye number of their people in-
creased, and their troubls and occasions therwith, the
Govr desired them to chainge ye persons, as well as
renew ye election; and also to adde more Assistans
to ye Govr for help & counsell, and ye better carrying
on of affairs. Showing that it was necessarie it should
be so. If it was any honour or benefite, it was fitte
others should be made pertakers of it; if it was a
burthen, (as doubtles it was,) it was but equall others
should help to bear it; and yt this was ye end of
Anuall Elections. The issue was, that as before ther
was but one Assistante, they now chose 5. giving the
Govr a duble voyce; and aft wards they increased them
to 7. which course hath continued to this day.
They having with some truble & charge new-masted
and rigged their pinass, in ye begining of March they
sent her well vitaled to the eastward on fishing. She
arrived safly at a place near Damarins cove, and was
there well harbored in a place wher ships used to
tide, ther being also some ships all ready arived out
of England. But shortly after ther [109] arose such
a violent & extraordinarie storme, as ye seas broak
over such places in ye harbor as was never seene be-
fore, and drive her against great roks, which beat such
*And is repeated in the MS.
188 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
a hole in her bulke, as a horse and carte might have
gone in, and after drive her into deep-water, wher she
lay sunke. The mr. was drowned, 'the rest of ye men,
all save one, saved their Jives, with much a doe; all
her provision, salt, and what els was in her, was lost.
And here I must leave her to lye till afterward.
Some of those that still remained hear on their per-
ticuler, begane privatly to nurish a faction, and being
privie to a strong faction that was among ye adventur-
ers in England, on whom sundry of them did depend,
by their private whispering they drew some of the
weaker sorte of ye company to their side, and so filld
them with discontente, as nothing would satisfie them
excepte they might be suffered to be in their perticuler
allso; and made great offers, so they might be freed
from ye generall. The Govr consulting with ye ablest
of ye generall body what was best to be done hear
in, it was resolved to permitte them so to doe, upon
equall conditions. The conditions were the same in
effect with ye former before related. Only some more
added, as that they should be bound here to remaine
till ye generall partnership was ended. And also that
they should pay into ye store, ye on halfe of all such
goods and comodities as they should any waise raise
above their food, in consideration of what charg had
been layed out for them, with some such like things.
This liberty granted, soone stopt this gape, for ther
was but a few that undertooke this course when it
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 189
came too; and they were as sone weary of it. For
the other had perswaded them, & Mr. Weston to-
geather, that ther would never come more supply to
ye general body; but ye perticulers had such freinds
as would carryall, and doe for them I know not
what.
Shortly after, Mr. Winslow came over, and brought
a prety good supply, and the ship came on fishing, a
thing fatall to this plantation. He brought 3. heifers
& a bull, the first begining of any catle of that kind
in ye land, with some cloathing & other necessaries, as
will further appear; but withall ye reporte of a strong
faction amongst the adventurers * against them, and
espetially against ye coming of ye rest from Leyden,
and with what difficulty this supply was procured, and
how, by their strong & long opposision, bussines was
so retarded as not only they were now falne too late
for ye fishing season, but the best men were taken up
of ye fishermen in ye west countrie, and he was forct
to take such a mr. & company for that imployment as
he could procure upon ye present. Some letters from
them shall beter declare these things, being as fol-
loweth.
[110] Most worthy & loving freinds, your kind & loving
leters I have received, and render you many thanks, &c. It
hath plased God to stirre up ye harts of our adventurers *
*Adventures in the manuscript.
190 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
to raise a new stock for ye seting forth of this shipe, caled
ye Charitie, with men & necessaries, both for ye plantation
and ye fishing, though accomplished with very great diffi-
culty; in regard we have some amongst us which undoubt-
edly airne more at their owne private ends, and ye thwarting
& opposing of some hear, and other worthy instruments,* of
Gods glory elswher, then at ye generall good and further-
ance of this noble & laudable action. Yet againe we have
many other, and I hope ye greatest parte, very honest Chris-
tian men, which I am perswaded their ends and intents are
wholy for ye glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, in ye propaga-
tion of his gospell, and hope of gaining those poore salvages
to ye knowledg of God. But, as we have a proverbe, One
scabed sheep may marr a whole flock, so these malecontented
persons, & turbulente spirits, doe what in them lyeth to
withdraw mens harts from you and your freinds, yea, even
from ye generall bussines; and yet under show and pretence
of godlynes and furtherance of ye plantation. Wheras the
quite contrary doth plainly appeare; as some of ye honester
harted men (though of late of their faction) did make manifest
at our late meeting. But what should I trouble you or my
selfe with these restles opposers of all goodnes, and I doubte
will be continuall disturbers of our frendly meetings & love.
On Thurs-day ye 8. of Jan: we had a meeting aboute the
artickls betweene you & us; wher they would rejecte that,
which we in our late leters prest you to grante, (an addition
to ye time of our joynt stock). And their reason which
they would make known to us was, it trobled their con-
science to exacte longer time of you then was agreed upon
at ye first. But that night they were so followed and crost
of their perverse courses, as they were even wearied, and
offered to sell their adventurs; and some were willing to buy.
But I, doubting they would raise more scandale and false
*He means Mr. Robinson.
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 191
reports, and so diverse waise doe us more hurt, by going of
in such a furie, then they could or can by continuing adven-
turers amongst us, would not suffer them. But on ye 12. of
Jan: we had another meting, but in the interime diverse of
us had talked with most of them privatly, and had great
combats & reasoning, pro & con. But at night when we
mete to read ye generall letter, we had ye loveingest and
frendlyest meeting that ever I knew * and our greatest ene-
mise offered to lend us 501i. So I sent for a potle of wine,
(I would you could ! doe ye like,) which we dranke freindly
together. Thus God can turne ye harts of men when it
pleaseth him, &c. Thus loving freinds, I hartily salute you
all in ye Lord, hoping ever to rest,
Yours to my power,
Jan: 25.1623. JAMES SHERLEY.
[111] Another leter.
Beloved Sr., &c. We have now sent you, we hope, men
& means, to setle these 3. things, viz. fishing, salt making,
and boat making; if you can bring them to pass to some
perfection, your wants may be supplyed. I pray you bend
you selfe what you can to setle these bussinesses. Let ye
ship be fraught away as soone as you can, and sent to Bil-
bow. You must send some discreete man for factore, whom,
once more, you must also authorise to confirme ye conditions.
If Mr. Winslow could be spared, I could wish he came
* But this lasted not long, they had now provided Lyford & others to send
over.
! It is worthy to be observed, how ye Lord doth chaing times & things;
for what is now more plentifull then wine? and that of ye best, coming from
Malago, ye Cannaries, and other places, sundry ships lading in a year. So
as ther is now more cause to complaine of ye excess and ye abuse of wine
(through mens corruption) even to drunkennes, then of any defecte or wante
of ye same. Witnes this year 1646. The good Lord lay not ye sins & un-
thankfullnes of men to their charge in this perticuler.
192 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
againe. This ship carpenter is thought to be the fittest man
for you in the land, and will no doubte doe you much good.
Let him have an absolute comand over his servants &
such a& you put to him. Let him build you 2. catches, a
lighter, and some 6. or 7. shalops, as Boone as you can.
The salt-man is a skillfull & industlious man, put some to
him, that may quickly apprehende ye misterie of it. The
preacher we have sent is (we hope) an honest plaine man,
though none of ye most eminente and rare. Aboute chusing
him into office use your owne liberty & discretion; he knows
he is no officer amongst you, though perhaps custome &
universalitie may make him forget him selfe. Mr. Winslow
& my selfe gave way to his going, to give contente to some
hear, and we see no hurt in it, but only his great charge of
children.
We have tooke a patente for Cap Anne, &c. I am sory
ther is no more discretion used by some in their leters
hither.* Some say you are starved in body & soule; others,
yt you eate piggs & doggs, that dye alone; others, that ye
things hear spoaken of, ye goodnes of ye cuntry, are gross
and palpable lyes; that ther is scarce a foule to be seene,
or a fish to be taken, and many such like. I would such
discontented men were hear againe, for it is a miserie when
ye whole state of a plantation shall be thus exposed to ye
passionate humors of some discontented men. And for my
selfe I shall hinder for hearafter some yt would goe, and
have not better composed their affections; mean space it is
all our crosses, and we must bear them.
I am sorie we have not sent you more and other things,
but in truth we have rune into so much charge, to victaile
ye ship, provide salte & other fishing implements, &c. as we
could not provid other comfortable things, as buter, suger,
&c. I hope the returne of this ship, and the James, will
* This was John Oldome & his like
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 193
put us in cash againe. The Lord make you full of courage
in this troublesome bussines, which now must be stuck unto,
till God give us rest from our labours. Fare well in all
harty affection.
Your assured freind,
Jan: 24. 1623. R. C.
With ye former letter write by Mr. Sherley, there
were sente sundrie objections concerning which he thus
writeth. "These are the cheefe objections which they
[112] that are now returned make against you and
the countrie. I pray you consider them, and answer
them by the first conveniencie." These objections were
made by some of those that came over on their pertic-
uler and were returned home, as is before mentioned,
and were of ye same suite with those yt this other
letter mentions.
I shall here set them downe, with ye answers then
made unto them, and sent over at ye returne of this
ship; which did so confound ye objecters, as some
confessed their falte, and others deneyed what they
had said, and eate their words, & some others of them
have since come over againe and heere lived to con-
vince them selves sufficiently, both in their owne &
other mens judgments.
1. obj. was diversitie aboute Religion. Ans: We
know no such matter, for here was never any con-
troversie or opposition, either publicke or private, (to
our knowledg,) since we came.
194 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
2. ob: Neglecte of familie duties, one ye Lords day.
Ans. We allow no such thing, but blame it in our
selves & others; and they that thus reporte it, should
have shewed their Christian love the more if they had
in love tould ye offenders of it, rather then thus to
reproach them behind their baks. But (to say no
more) we wish them selves had given better example.
3. ob: Wante of both the sacrements.
Ans. The more is our greefe, that our pastor is
kept from us, by whom we might injoye them; for
we used to have the Lords Supper every Saboth, and
baptisme as often as ther was occasion of children to
baptise.
4. ob: Children not catechised nor taught to read.
Ans: Neither is true; for diverse take pains with
their owne as they can; indeede, we have no comone
schoole for want of a fitt person, or hithertoo means
to maintaine one; though we desire now to begine.
5. ob: Many of ye perticuler members of ye planta-
tion will not work for ye generall.
Ans: This allso is not wholy true; for though some
doe it not willingly, & other not honestly, yet all doe
it; and he that doth worst gets his owne foode &
something besids. But we will not excuse them, but
labour to reforme them ye best we cane, or else to
quitte ye plantation of them.
6. ob: The water is not wholsome.
Ans: If they mean, not so wholsome as ye good
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 195
beere and wine in London, (which they so dearly
love,) we will not dispute with them; but els, for
water, it is as good as any in ye world, (for ought
we knowe,) and it is wholsome enough to us that can
be contente therwith.
7. ob: The ground is barren and doth bear no
grasse.
[113] Ans: It is hear (as in all places) some better
& some worse; and if they well consider their words,
in England they shall not find such grasse in them, as
in their feelds & meadows. The catle find grasse, for
they are as fatt as need be; we wish we had but one
for every hundred that hear is grase to keep. Indeed,
this objection, as some other, are ridiculous to all here
which see and know ye contrary.
8. ob: The fish will not take salt to keepe sweete.
Ans: This is as true as that which was written,
that ther is scarce a fouIe to be seene or a fish to
be taken. Things likly to be true in a cuntrie wher
so many sayle of ships come yearly a fishing; they
might as well say, there can no aile or beere in Lon-
don be kept from sowering.
9. ob: Many of them are theevish and steale on
from an other.
Ans: Would London had been free from that crime,
then we should not have been trobled with these here;
it is well knowne sundrie have smarted well for it,
and so are ye rest like to doe, if they be taken.
196 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
10. ob: The countrie is anoyed with foxes and
woules.
Ans: So are many other good cuntries too; but
poyson, traps, and other such means will help to
destroy them.
11. ob: The Dutch are planted nere Hudsons Bay,
and are likely to overthrow the trade.
Ans: They will come and plante in these parts,
also, if we and others doe not, but goe home and
leave it to them. We rather commend them, then
condemne them for it.
12. ob: The people are much alloyed with mus-
keetoes.
Ans: They are too delicate and unfitte to begine
new-plantations and collonies, that cannot enduer the
biting of a muskeeto; we would wish such to keepe
at home till at least they be muskeeto proofe. Yet
this place is as free as any, and experience teacheth
that ye more ye land is tild, and ye woods cut downe,
the fewer ther will be, and in the end scarse any
at all.
Having thus dispatcht these things, that I may
handle things togeather, I shall here inserte 2. other
letters from Mr. Robinson their pastor; the one. to ye
Govr, ye other to Mr. Brewster their Elder, which will
give much light to ye former things, and express the
tender love & care of a true pastor over them.
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 197
His leter to ye Govr.
My loving & much beloved freind, whom God hath
hithertoo preserved, preserve and keepe you still to his
glorie, and ye good of many; that his blessing may make
your godly and wise endeavours answerable to ye valuation
which they ther have, & set upon ye same. Of your love
too and care for us here, we never doubted; so are we glad
to take knowledg of it in that fullnes we doe. Our love &
care to and for you, is mutuall, though our hopes of com-
ing [114] unto you be small, and weaker then ever. But
of this at large in Mr. Brewsters letter, with whom you, and
he with you, mutualy, I know, comunicate your letters, as
I desire you may doe these, &c.
Concerning ye killing of those poor Indeans, of which we
heard at first by reporte, and since by more certaine rela-
tion, oh! how happy a thing had it been, if you had con-
verted some, before you had killed any; besids, wher bloud
is onc begune to be shed, it is seldome stanched of a long
time after. You will say they deserved it. I grant it; but
upon what provocations and invitments by those heathenish
Christians? * Besids, you, being no magistrats over them,
were to consider, not what they deserved, but what you
were by necessitie constrained to inflicte. Necessitie of this,
espetially of killing so many, (and many more, it seems,
they would, if they could,) I see not. Methinks on or tow
principals should have been full enough, according to that
approved rule, The punishmente to a few, and ye fear to
many. Upon this occasion let me be bould to exhorte you
seriouly to consider of ye dispossition of your Captaine, whom
I love, and am perswaded ye Lord in great mercie and for
much good hath sent you him, if you use him aright. He
is a man humble and meek amongst you, and towards all
*Mr. Westons men.
198 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
in ordinarie course. But now if this be meerly from an
humane spirite, ther is cause to fear that by occasion,
espetially of provocation, ther may be wanting yt tendernes
of ye life of man (made after Gods image) which is meete.
It is also a thing more glorious in mens eyes, then pleas-
ing in Gods, or conveniente for Christians, to be a terrour
to poore barbarous people; and indeed I am afraid least, by
these occasions, others should be drawne to affecte a kind of
rufling course in the world. I doubt not but you will take
in good part these things which I write, and as ther is
cause make use of them. It were to us more comfortable
and convenient, that we comunicated our mutuall helps in
presence, but seeing that canot be done, we shall always
long after you, and love you, and waite Gods apoynted
time. The adventurers it seems have neither money nor
any great mind of us, for ye most parte. They deney it to
be any part of ye covenants betwixte us, that they should
trasporte us, neither doe I looke for any further help from
them, till means come from you. We hear are strangers in
effecte to ye whole course, and so both we and you (save as
your owne wisdoms and worths have intressed you further)
of principals intended in this bussines, are scarce accessa-
ries, &c. My wife, with me, resalute you & yours. Unto
him who is ye same to his in all places, and nere to them
which are farr from one an other, I comend you and all
with you, resting,
Yours truly loving,
JOHN ROBINSON.
Leyden, Des: 19. 1623.
His to Mr. Brewster.
Loving and dear freind and brother: That which I most
desired of God in regard of you, namly, ye continuance of
your life and health, and the safe coming of these sent unto
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 199
you, that I most gladly hear of, and praise God for the
same. And I hope Mrs. Brewsters weake and decayed state
of body will have some reparing by the coming of her
daughters, and the provissions in this and former ships, I
hear is made for you; which maks us with more patience
bear our languishing state, and ye deferring of our desired
trasportation; wch I call desired, rather than hoped for,
whatsoever you are borne in hand by any others. For first,
ther is no hope at all, that I know, or can conceive of, of
any new stock to be raised for that end; so that all must
depend [115] upon returns from you, in which are so many
uncertainties, as that nothing with any certaintie can thence
be concluded. Besids, howsoever for ye presente the adven-
turers aledg nothing but want of money, which is an in-
vincible difculty, yet if that be taken away by you, others
without doubte will be found. For the beter clearing of this,
we must dispose ye adventurers into 3. parts; and of them
some 5. or 6. (as I conceive) are absolutly bent for us,
above any others. Other 5. or 6. are our bitter professed
adversaries. The rest, being the body, I conceive to be
honestly minded, & loveingly also towards us; yet such as
have others (namly ye forward preachers) nerer unto them,
then us, and whose course so farr as ther is any differance,
they would rather advance then ours. Now what a hanck
these men have over ye professors, you know. And I per-
swade my selfe, that for me, they of all others are unwilling
I should be transported, espetially such of them as have an
eye that way them selves; as thinking if I come ther, ther
market will be mard in many regards. And for these ad-
versalies, if they have but halfe ye witte to their malice, they
will stope my course when they see it intended, for which
this delaying serveth them very opportunly. And as one
restie jade can hinder, by hanging back, more then two or
3. can (or will at least, if they be not very free) draw for-
200 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
ward, so will it be in this case. A notable* experimente of
this, they gave in your messengers presence, constraining ye
company to promise that none of the money now gathered
should be expended or imployed to ye help of any of us
towards you. Now touching ye question propounded by you,
I judg it not lawfull for you, being a ruling Elder, as Rom.
12. 7. 8. & 1. Tim. 5. 17. opposed to the Elders that teach
& exhorte and labore in ye word and doctrine, to which ye
sacrements are anexed, to administer them, nor convenient
if it were lawfull. Whether any larned man will come unto
you or not, I know not; if any doe, you must Consiliu
capere in arena. Be you most hartily saluted, & your wife
with you, both from me & mine. Your God & ours, and
ye God of all his, bring us together if it be his will, and keep
us in the mean while, and allways to his glory, and make us
servis able to his majestie, and faithfull to the end. Amen.
Your very loving brother,
JOHN ROBINSON.
Leyden, Des: 20. 1623.
These things premised, I shall now prosecute ye pro-
ceilings and afairs here. And before I come to other
things I must speak a word of their planting this
year; they having found ye benifite of their last
years harvest, and setting corne for their particuler,
having therby with a great deale of patience over-
come hunger & famine. Which maks me remember
a saing of Senecas, Epis. 123. That a great parte of
libertie is a well governed belly, and to be patiente in
all wants. They begane now highly to prise corne as
*Notabe in MS.
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 201
more pretious then silver, and those that had some to
spare begane to trade one with another for smale
things, by ye quarte, potle, & peck, &c.; for money
they had none, and if any had, corne was prefered
before it. That they might therfore encrease their
tillage to better advantage, they made suite [116] to
the Govr to have some portion of land given them
for continuance, and not by yearly lotte, for by that
means, that which ye more industrious had brought
into good culture (by much pains) one year, came to
leave it ye nexte, and often another might injoye it;
so as the dressing of their lands were the more
sleighted over, & to lese profite. Which being well
considered, their request was granted. And to every
person was given only one acrre of land, to them &
theirs, as nere ye towne as might be, and they had no
more till ye 7. years were expired. The reason was,
that they might be kept close together both for more
saftie and defence, and ye better improvement of ye
generall imployments. Which condition of theirs did
make me often thinke, of what I had read in Plinie *
of ye Romans first beginings in Romulus time. How
every man contented him selfe with 2. Acres of land,
and had no more assigned them. And chap. 3. It
was thought a great reward, to receive at ye hands of
ye people of Rome a pinte of corne. And long after,
the greatest presente given to a Captaine yt had gotte a
*Plin: lib: 18. chap. 2.
202 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
victory over their enemise, was as much ground as
they could till in one day. And he was not counted
a good, but a dangerous man, that would not contente
him selfe with 7. Acres of land. As also how they
did pound their corne in morters, as these people were
forcte to doe many years before they could get a
mille.
The ship which brought this supply, was speedily
discharged, and with her mr. & company sente to
Cap-Anne (of which place they had gott a patente, as
before is shewed) on fishing, and because ye season was
so farr spente some of ye planters were sent to help
to build their stage, to their owne hinderance. But
partly by ye latenes of ye year, and more espetialy by
ye basnes of ye mr., one Baker, they made a poore
viage of it. He proved a very drunken beast, and
did nothing (in a maner) but drink, & gusle, and
consume away ye time & his victails; and most of
his company followed his example; and though Mr.
William Peirce was to over see the busines, & to
be mr. of ye ship home, yet he could doe no good
amongst them, so as ye loss was great, and would
have bene more to them, but that they kept one a
trading ther, which in those times got some store of
skins, which was some help unto them.
The ship-carpenter that was sent them, was an
honest and very industrious man, and followed his
labour very dilligently, and made all that were im-
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 203
ployed with him doe ye like; he quickly builte them
2. very good & strong shalops (which after did them
greate service), and a great and strong lighter, and
had hewne timber for 2. catches; but that was lost,
for he fell into a feaver in ye hote season of ye year,
and though he had the best means ye place could aforde,
yet he dyed; of whom they had a very [117] great
loss, and were very sorie for his death. But he whom
they sent to make salte was an ignorante, foolish, self-
willd fellow; he bore them in hand he could doe great
matters in making salt-works, so he was sente to seeke
out fitte ground for his purpose; and after some serch
he tould ye Govr that he had found a sufficente place,
with a good botome to hold water, and otherwise very
conveniente, which he doubted not but in a short time
to bring to good perfection, and to yeeld them great
profite; but he must have 8. or ten men to be con-
stantly imployed. He was wisht to be sure that ye
ground was good, and other things answerable, and
yt he could bring it to perfection; otherwise he would
bring upon them a great charge by imploying him
selfe and so many men. But he was, after some triall,
so confidente, as he caused them to send carpenters to
rear a great frame for a large house, to receive ye salte
& such other uses. But in ye end all proved vaine.
Then he layed fault of ye ground, in which he was
deceived; but if he might have the lighter to cary
clay, he was sure then he could doe it. Now though
204 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
ye Govr & some other foresaw that this would come to
litle, yet they had so many malignant spirits amongst
them, that would have laid it upon them, in their let-
ters of complainte to ye adventurers, as to be their
falte yt would not suffer him to goe on to bring his
work to perfection; for as he by his bould confidence
& large promises deceived them in England that sente
him, so he had wound him selfe in to these mens high
esteeme hear, so as they were faine to let him goe on
till all men saw his vanity. For he could not doe any
thing but boyle salt in pans, & yet would make them
yt were joynd with him beleeve ther was so grat a
misterie in it as was not easie to be attained, and
made them doe many unnecessary things to blind their
eys, till they discerned his sutltie. The next yere he
was sente to Cap-Anne, and ye pans were set up ther
wher the fishing was; but before somer was out, he
burte the house, and the fire was so vehemente as it
spoyld the pans, at least some of them, and this was
the end of that chargable bussines.
The 3d. eminente person (which ye letters before men-
tion) was ye minister which they sent over, by name
Mr. John Lyford, of whom & whose doing I must be
more large, though I shall abridg things as much as I
can. When this man first came a shore, he saluted
them with that reverence & humilitie as is seldome to
be seen, and indeed made them ashamed, he so bowed
and cringed unto them, and would have kissed their
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 205
hands if they would have [118] suffered him; * yea,
he wept & shed many tears, blessing God that had
brought him to see their faces; and admiring ye things
they had done in their wants, &c. as if he had been
made all of love, and ye humblest person in ye world.
And all ye while (if we may judg by his after cariags)
he was but like him mentioned in Psa: 10. 10. That
croucheth & boweth, that heaps of poore may fall by
his might. Or like to that dissembling Ishmaell, ! who,
when he had slaine Gedelia, went out weeping and
mette them yt were coming to offer incence in ye house
of ye Lord; saing, Come to Gedelia, when he ment to
slay them. They gave him ye best entertainment yey
could, (in all simplisitie,) and a larger alowans of
food out of ye store then any other had, and as the
Govr had used in all waightie affairs to consulte with
their Elder, Mr. Brewster, (togeither with his assist-
ants,) so now he caled Mr. Liford also to counsell with
them in their waightiest bussineses. Ater some short
time he desired to joyne himselfe a member to ye
church hear, and was accordingly received. He made
a large confession of his faith, and an acknowledge-
mente of his former disorderly walking, and his being
intangled with many corruptions, which had been
a burthen to his conscience, and blessed God for this
opportunitie of freedom & libertie to injoye ye ordi-
nances of God in puritie among his people, with many
*Of wch were many witneses. ! Jer. 41. 6.
206 HISTORY OF [Book II.
more such like expressions. I must hear speake a word
also of Mr. John Oldom, who was a copartner with
him in his after courses. He had bene a cheefe sticler
in ye former faction among ye perticulers, and an
intelligencer to those in England. But now, since the
coming of this ship and he saw ye supply that came,
he tooke occasion to open his minde to some of ye
cheefe amongst them heere, and confessed he had done
them wrong both by word & deed, & writing into
England; but he now saw the eminente hand of God
to be with them, and his blesing upon them, which
made his hart smite him, neither should those in Eng-
land ever use him as an instrumente any longer against
them in any thing; he also desired former things
might be forgotten, and that they would looke upon
him as one that desired to close with them in all
things, with such like expressions. Now whether this
was in hipocrisie, or out of some sudden pange of
conviction (which I rather thinke), God only knows.
Upon it they shew all readynes to imbrace his love,
and carry towards him in all frendlynes, and called
him to counsell with them in all cheefe affairs, as ye
other, without any distrust at all.
Thus all things seemed to goe very comfortably and
smothly on amongst them, at which they did much
rejoyce; but this lasted not [119] long, for both Oldom
and he grew very perverse, and shewed a spirite of
great malignancie, drawing as many into faction as
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 207
they could; were they never so vile or profane, they
did nourish & back them in all their doings; so they
would but cleave to them and speak against ye church
hear; so as ther was nothing but private meetings and
whisperings amongst them; they feeding themselves &
others with what they should bring to pass in England
by the faction of their freinds their, which brought
others as well as them selves into a fools paradise.
Yet they could not cary so closly but much of both
their doings & sayings were discovered, yet outwardly
they still set a faire face of things.
At lenght when ye ship was ready to goe, it was
observed Liford was long in writing, & sente many
letters, and could not forbear to comunicate to his
intimats such things as made them laugh in their
sleeves, and thought he had done ther errand suffi-
ciently. The Govr and some other of his freinds know-
ing how things stood in England, and what hurt these
things might doe, tooke a shalop and wente out with
the ship a league or 2. to sea, and caled for all Lifords
& Oldums letters. Mr. William Peirce being mr. of
ye ship, (and knew well their evil I dealing both in
England & here,) afforded him all ye assistance he
could. He found above 20. of Lyfords letters, many
of them larg, and full of slanders, & false accusations,
tending not only to their prejudice, but to their ruine
& utter subversion. Most of the letters they let pas,
only tooke copys of them, but some of ye most materiall
208 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
they sent true copyes of them, and kept ye originalls,
least he should deney them, and that they might
produce his owne hand against him. Amongst his let-
ters they found ye coppyes of tow letters which he
sent inclosed in a leter of his to Mr. John Pember-
ton, a minster, and a great opposite of theirs. These
2. letters of which he tooke the coppyes were one of
them write by a gentle-man in England to Mr. Brewster
here, the other by Mr. Winslow to Mr. Robinson, in
Holand, at his coming away, as ye ship lay at Gravs-
end. They lying sealed in ye great cabin, (whilst
Mr. Winslow was bussie aboute the affairs of ye ship,)
this slye marchante taks & opens them, taks these
coppys, & seals them up againe; and not only sends
the coppyes of them thus to his friend and their adver-
sarie, but adds thertoo in ye margente many scurrilous
and flouting anotations. This ship went out towards
eving, and in the night ye Govr retured. They were
somwaht blanke at it, but after some weeks, when
they heard nothing, they then were as briske as ever,
thinking nothing had been knowne, but all was gone
currente, and that the Govr went but to dispatch his
owne letters. The reason why the Govr & rest con-
cealed these things the longer, was to let things ripen,
that they [120] might ye better discover their intents
and see who were their adherents. And ye rather
because amongst ye rest they found a letter of one of
their confederats, in wch was writen that Mr. Oldame
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 209
& Mr. Lyford intended a reformation in church and
commone wealth; and, as soone as the ship was gone,
they intended to joyne togeather, and have the sacre-
ments, &c.
For Oldame, few of his leters were found, (for he
was so bad a scribe as his hand was scarce legible,)
yet he was as deepe in ye mischeefe as the other. And
I thinking they were now strong enough, they begane
to pick quarells at every thing. Oldame being called
to watch (according to order) refused to come, fell
out with ye Capten, caled him raskell, and beggerly,
raskell, and resisted him, drew his knife at him;
though he offered him no wrong, nor gave him no ille
termes, but with all fairnes required him to doe his
duty. The Govr, hearing ye tumulte, sent to quiet it,
but he ramped more like a furious beast then a man,
and cald them all treatours, and rebells, and other
such foule language as I am ashamed to remember;
but after he was clapt up a while, he came to him
selfe, and with some slight punishmente was let goe
upon his behaviour for further censure.
But to cutt things shorte, at length it grew to this
esseue, that Lyford with his complicies, without ever
speaking one word either to ye Govr, Church, or Elder,
withdrewe them selves & set up a publick meeting
aparte, on ye Lord's day; with sundry such insolente
cariages, too long here to relate, begining now pub-
likly to acte what privatly they had been long plotting.
210 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
It was now thought high time (to prevent further
mischeefe) to calle them to accounte; so ye Govr
called a courte and sumoned the whol company to
appeare. And then charged Lyford & Oldom with
such things as they were guilty of. But they were
stiffe, & stood resolutly upon ye deneyall of most
things, and required proofe. They first alledged what
was write to them out of England, compared with
their doings & pactises hear; that it was evident they
joyned in plotting against them, and disturbing their
peace, both in respecte of their civill & church state,
which was most injurious; for both they and all ye
world knew they came hither to injoye ye libertie of
their conscience and ye free use of Gods ordinances;
and for yt end had ventured their lives and passed
throwgh so much hardshipe hithertoo, and they and
their freinds had borne the charg of these beginings,
which was not small. And that Lyford for his parte
was sent over on this charge, and that both he and
his great family was maintained on ye same, and also
was joyned to ye church, & a member of them; and
for him to plote against them & seek their ruine,
was most unjust & perfidious. And for [121] Oldam
or any other that came over at their owne charge, and
were on ther perticuler, seeing they were received in
curtesie by the plantation, when they came only to
seeke shelter & protection under their wings, not being
able to stand alone, that they, (according to ye fable,)
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 211
like the Hedghogg whom ye conny in a stormy day in
pittie received into her borrow, would not be content
to take part with her, but in the end with her sharp
pricks forst the poore conny to forsake her owne bor-
row; so these men with the like injustice indevored to
doe ye same to thos that entertained them.
Lyford denyed that he had any thing to doe with
them in England, or knew of their courses, and made
other things as strange that he was charged with.
Then his letters were prodused & some of them read,
at which he was struck mute. But Oldam begane to
rage furiously, because they had intercepted and opened
his letters, threatening them in very high language,
and in a most audacious and mutinous maner stood up
& caled upon ye people, saying, My maisters, wher is
your harts? now shew your courage, you have oft
complained. to me so & so; now is ye time, if. you will
doe any thing, I wIll stand by you, &c. Thinking yt
everyone (knowing his humor) that had soothed and
flattered him, or other wise in their discontente uttered
any thing unto him, would now side wth him in open
rebellion. But he was deceived, for not a man opened
his mouth, but all were silent, being strucken with the
injustice of ye thing. Then ye Govr turned his speech
to Mr. Lyford, and asked him if he thought they had
done evill to open his letters; but he was silente, &
would not say a word, well knowing what they might
reply. Then ye Govr shewed the people he did it as
212 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
a magistrate, and was bound to it by his place, to
prevent ye mischeefe & ruine that this conspiracie and
plots of theirs would bring on this poor colony. But
he, besids his evill dealing hear, had delte trecherusly
with his freinds yt trusted him, & stole their letters
& opened them, and sent coppies of them, with dis-
gracefull anotations, to his freinds in England. And
then ye Govr produced them and his other letters un-
der his owne hand, (which he could not deney,) and
caused them to be read before all ye people; at which
all his freinds were blanke, and had not a word to say.
It would be too long & tedious here to inserte his
letters (which would almost fill a volume), though I
have them by me. I shall only note a few of ye
cheefe things collected out of them, with ye answers
to them as they were then given; and but a few of
those many, only for instance, by which the rest may
be judged of.
[121*] 1. First, he saith, the church would have
none to live hear but them selves. 21y. Neither are
any willing so to doe if they had company to live els-
wher.
Ans: Their answer was, that this was false, in both
ye parts of it; for they were willing & desirous yt any
honest men may live with them, that will cary them
selves peacably, and seek ye comone good, or at least
doe them no hurte. And againe, ther are many that
*121 is repeated in the paging of the original.
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 213
will not live els wher so long as they may live with
them.
2. That if ther come over any honest men that are
not of ye seperation, they will quickly distast them, &c.
A. Ther answer was as before, that it was a false
callumniation, for they had many amongst them that
they liked well of, and were glad of their company;
and should be of any such like that should come
amongst them.
3. That they excepted against him for these 2. doc-
trins raised from 2. Sam: 12. 7. First, that ministers
must sume times perticulerly apply their doctrine to
spetiall persons; 2ly, that great men may be reproved
as well as meaner.
A. Their answer was, that both these were without
either truth or colour of ye same (as was proved to
his face), and that they had taught and beleeved these
things long before they knew Mr. Liford.
4. That they utterly sought ye ruine of ye perticu-
lers; as appeareth by this, that they would not suffer
any of ye generall either to buy or sell with them, or
to exchaing one comioditie for another.
Ans: This was a most malicious slander and voyd
of all truth, as was evidently proved to him before all
men; for any of them did both buy, sell, or exchaing
with them as often as they had any occation. Yea,
and allso both lend & give to them when they wanted;
and this the perticuler persons them selves could not
214 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
deney, but freely confest in open court. But ye
ground from whence this arose made it much worse,
for he was in counsell with them. When one was
called before them, and questioned for receiving pow-
der and bisket from ye guner of ye small ship, which
was ye companys and had it put in at his window in
the night, and allso for buying salt of one, that had
no right to it, he not only stood to back him (being
one of these perticulers) by excusing & extenuating
his falte, as long as he could, but upon this builds
this mischeeous & most false slander: That because
they would not suffer them to buy stolne goods, ergo,
they sought their utter ruine. Bad logick for a devine.
5. Next he writs, that he chocked them with this;
that they turned [122] men into their perticuler, and
then sought to starve them, and deprive them of all
means of subsistance.
A. To this was answered, he did them manifest
wrong, for they turned none into their perticuler; it
was their owne importunitie and ernest desire that
moved them, yea, constrained them to doe it. And
they apealed to ye persons them selves for ye truth
hereof. And they testified the same against him be-
fore all present, as allso that they had no cause to
complaine of any either hard or unkind usage.
6. He accuseth them with unjust distribution, and
writeth, that it was a strang difference, that some have
bene alowed 16li. of meale by ye weeke, and others
1624.] PLYOUTH PLANTATION. 215
but 4li. And then ( floutingly) saith, it seems some
mens mouths and bellies are very litle & slender over
others.
Ans: This might seeme strange indeed to those to
whom he write his leters in England, which knew not
ye reason of it; but to him and others hear, it could
not be strange, who knew how things stood. For the
first comers had none at all, but lived on their corne.
Those wch came in ye Anne, ye August before, & were
to live 13. months of the provissions they brought,
had as good alowance in meal & pease as it would
extend too, ye most part of ye year; but a litle be-
fore harvest, when they had not only fish, but other
fruits began to come in, they had but 4li. having
their libertie to make their owne provisions. But
some of these which came last, as ye ship carpenter,
and samiers, the salte-men & others that were to fol-
low constante imployments, and had not an howers
time, from their hard labours, to looke for any thing
above their alowance; they had at first, 16li alowed
them, and afterwards as fish, & other food coued be
gott, they had as balemente, to 14. &. 12. yea some
of them to 8. as the times & occasions did vary. And
yet those which followed planting and their owne
occasions, and had but 4li. of meall a week, lived better
then ye other, as was well knowne to all. And yet
it must be remembered that Lyford & his had allwais
the highest alowance.
216 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
Many other things (in his letters) he accused them
of, with many aggravations; as that he saw exseeding
great wast of tools & vesseles; & this, when it came
to be examened, all ye instance he could give was, that
he had seen an old hogshed or too fallen to peeces,
and a broken how or tow lefte carlesly in ye feilds by
some. Though he also knew that a godly, honest man
was appointed to looke to these things. But these
things & such like was write of by him, to cast dis-
grace & prejudice upon them; as thinking what came
from a [123] minister would pass for currente. Then
he tells them that Winslow should say, that ther
was not above 7. of ye adventurers yt souight ye
good of ye collony. That Mr. Oldam & him selfe had
had much to doe with them, and that ye faction here
might match ye Jesuits for politie. With many ye like
greevious complaints & accusations.
1. Then, in the next place, he comes to. give his
freinds counsell and directtion. And first, that ye
Leyden company (Mr. Robinson & ye rest) must still
be kepte back, or els all will be spoyled. And least
any of them should be taken in privatly somewher on
ye coast of England, (as it was feared might be done,)
they must chaing the mr. of ye ship (Mr. William
Peirce), and put another allso in Winslows stead, for
marchante, or els it would not be prevented.
2. Then he would have such a number provided as
might oversway them hear. And that ye perticulers
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 217
should have voyces in all courts & elections, and be
free to bear any office. And that every perticuler
should come over as an adventurer, if he be but a
servante; some other venturing 10li., ye bill may be
taken out in ye servants name, and then assigned to
ye party whose money it was, and good covenants
drawn betweene them for ye clearing of ye matter;
and this (saith he) would be a means to strengthen
this side ye more.
3. Then he tells them that if that Capten they
spoake of should come over hither as a generall, he
was perswaded he would be chosen Capten; for this
Captaine Standish looks like a silly boy, and is in
utter contempte.
4. Then he shows that if by ye forementioned
means they cannot be strengthened to cary & over-
bear things, it will be best for them to plant els
wher by them selves; and would have it artickled by
them that they might make choyse of any place that
they liked best within 3. or 4. myls distance, shew-
ing ther were farr better places for plantation then
this.
5. And lastly he concluds, that if some number
came not over to bear them up here, then ther would
be no abiding for them, but by joyning with these
hear. Then he adds: Since I begane to write, ther
are letters come from your company, wherin they
would give sole authoritie in diverce things unto the
218 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
Govr here; which, if it take place, then, Ve nobis.
But I hope you will be more vigilante hereafter, that
nothing may pass in such a maner. I suppose (saith
he) Mr. Oldame will write to you further of these
things. I pray you conceall me in the discovery of
these things, &c.
Thus I have breefly touched some cheefe things in
his leters, and shall now returne to their procceeding
with him. After the reading of his leters before the
whole company, he was demanded what he could say
to these things. [124] But all ye answer he made
was, that Billington and some others had informed him
of many things, and made sundrie complaints, which
they now deneyed. He was againe asked if that was
a sufficiente ground for him thus to accuse & traduse
them by his letters, and never say word to them, con-
sidering the many bonds betweene them. And so they
went on from poynte to poynte; and wisht him, or
any of his freinds & confederats, not to spare them in
any thing; if he or they had any proofe or witnes
of any corrupte or evill dealing of theirs, his or their
evidence must needs be ther presente, for ther was
the whole company and sundery strangers. He said
he had been abused by others in their informations, (as
he now well saw,) and so had abused them. And this
was all the answer they could have, for none would
take his parte in any thing; but Billington, & any
whom he named, deneyed the things, and protested he
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 219
wronged them, and would have drawne them to such
& such things which they could not consente too,
though they were sometimes drawne to his meetings.
Then they delte with him aboute his dissembling with
them aboute ye church, and that he professed to concur
with them in all things, and what a large confession
he made at his admittance, and that he held not
him selfe a minister till he had a new calling, &c.
And yet now he contested against them, and drew a
company aparte, & sequestred him selfe; and would
goe minister the sacrements (by his Episcopall caling)
without ever speaking a word unto them, either as
magistrats or bretheren. In conclusion, he was fully
convicted, and burst out into tears, and "confest he
feared he was a reprobate, his sinns were so great
that he doubted God would not pardon them, he was
unsavorie salte, &c.; and that he had so wronged
them as he could never make them amends, con-
fessing all he had write against them was false &
nought, both for matter & maner." And all this
he did with as much fullnes as words & tears could
express.
After their triall & conviction, the court censured
them to be expeld the place; Oldame presently, though
his wife & family had liberty to stay all winter, or
longer, till he could make provission to remove them
comfortably. Lyford had liberty to stay 6. months.
It was, indeede, with some eye to his release, if he
220 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
caried him selfe well in the meane time, and that his
repentance proved sound. Lyford acknowledged his
censure was farr less then he deserved.
Afterwards, he confest his sin publikly in ye church,
with tears more largly then before. I shall here put
it downe as I find it recorded by some who tooke it
from his owne words, as him selfe utered them. Ac-
knowledging [125] "That he had don very evill, and
slanderously abused them; and thinking most of ye
people would take parte with him, he thought to cary
all by violence and strong hand against them. And
that God might justly lay inocente blood to his
charge, for he knew not what hurt might have come
of these his writings, and blest God they were stayed.
And that he spared not to take knowledg from any,
of any evill that was spoaken, but shut his eyes &
ears against all the good; and if God should make
him a vacabund in ye earth, as was Caine, it was but
just, for he had sined in envie & malice against his
brethren as he did. And he confessed 3. things to be
ye ground & causes of these his doings: pride, vaine-
glorie, & selfe love." Amplifying these heads with
many other sade expressions, in the perticulers of
them.
So as they begane againe to conceive good thoughts
of him upon this his repentance, and admited him to
teach amongst them as before; and Samuell Fuller (a
deacon amongst them), and some other tender harted
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 221
men amongst them, were so taken with his signes of
sorrow & repentance, as they professed they would
fall upon their knees to have his censure released.
But that which made them all stand amased in the
end, and may doe all others that shall come to hear
ye same, (for a rarer president can scarse be showne,)
was, that after a month or 2. notwithstand all his for-
mer conffessions, convictions, and publick acknowledg-
ments, both in ye face of ye church and whole company,
with so many tears & sadde censures of him selfe be-
fore God & men, he should goe againe to justifie what
he had done.
For secretly he write a 2d. leter to ye adventurers
in England, in wch he justified all his former writings,
(save in some things which tended to their damage,)
the which, because it is brefer then ye former, I shall
here inserte.
Worthy Srs: Though the filth of mine owne doings may
justly be cast in my face, and with blushing cause my per-
petuall silence, yet that ye truth may not herby be injuried,
your selves any longer deluded, nor injurious* dealing caried
out still, with bould out faciugs, I have adventured once
more to write unto you. Firest, I doe freely confess I delte
very indiscreetly in some of my perticuler leters wch I wrote
to private freinds, for ye courses in coming hither & the
like; which I doe in no sorte seeke to justifie, though stired
up ther unto in the beholding ye indirecte courses held by
*Inurious in MS.
222 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
others, both hear, & ther with you, for effecting their de-
signes. But am hartily sory for it, and doe to ye glory
of God & mine owne shame acknowledg it. Which leters
being intercepted by the Govr, I have for ye same under-
gone ye censure [126] of banishmente. And had it not
been for ye respecte I have unto you, and some other mat-
ters of private regard, I had returned againe at this time by
ye pinass for England; for hear I purpose not to abide,
unless I receive better incouragmente from you, then from
ye church (as they call them selves) here I doe receive. I
purposed before I came, to undergoe hardnes, therfore I shall
I hope cherf.ully bear ye conditions of ye place, though very
mean; and they have chainged my wages ten times allready.
I suppose my letters, or at least ye coppies of them, are
come to your hands, for so they hear reporte; which, if it
be so, I pray you take notice of this, that I have writen
nothing but what is certainly true, and I could make so
apeare planly to any indifferente men, whatsoever colours
be cast to darken ye truth, and some ther are very audatious
this way; besids many other matters which are farre out of
order hear. My mind was not to enlarge my selfe any fur-
ther, but in respecte of diverse poore souls here, ye care of
whom in parte belongs to you, being here destitute of the
meas of salvation. For how so ever ye church are provided
for, to their contente, who are ye smalest number in ye coll-
ony, and doe so appropriate ye ministrie to them selves,
houlding this principle, that ye Lord hath not appointed any
ordinary ministrie for ye conversion of those yt are without,
so yt some of ye poor souls have wth tears complained of this
to me, and I was taxed for preaching to all in generall.
Though in truth they have had no ministrie here since they
came, but such as may be performed by any of you, by their
owne possition, what soever great pretences they make; but
herin they equivocate, as in many other things they doe.
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 223
But I exceede ye bounds I set my selfe, therfore resting
thus, untill I hear further from you, so it be within ye time
limited me. I rest, &c.,
Remaining yours ever,
JOHN LYFORD, Exille.
Dated Aug: 22. Ano: 1624.
They made a breefe answer to some things in this
leter, but referred cheefly to their former. The effecte
was to this purpose: That if God in his providence
had not brought these things to their hands (both ye
former & later), they might have been thus abused,
tradused, and calumniated, overthrowne, & undone; and
never have knowne by whom, nor for what. They
desired but this equall favoure, that they would be
pleased to hear their just defence, as well as his accu-
sations, and waigh them in ye balance of justice &
reason, and then censure as they pleased. They had
write breefly to ye heads of things before, and should
be ready to give further [127] answer as any occasion
should require; craving leave to adde a word or tow
to this last.
1. And first, they desire to examene what filth
that was yt he acknowledgeth might justly be throwne
in his face, and might cause blushing & perpetuall
silence; some great mater sure! But if it be looked
into, it amounts to no more then a poynte of indiscre-
tion, and thats all; and yet he licks of yt too with
this excuse, that he was stired up therunto by behold-
224 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
ing ye indirecte course here. But this point never
troubled him here, it was counted a light matter both
by him & his freinds, and put of with this, -- that
any man might doe so, to advise his private freinds
to come over for their best advantage. All his sor-
row & tears here was for ye wrong & hurt he had done
us, and not at all for this he pretends to be done
to you: it was not counted so much as indiscretion.
2. Having thus payed you full satisfaction, he
thinks he may lay load of us here. And first com-
plains that we have changed his wages ten times.
We never agreed with him for any wages, nor made
any bargen at all with him, neither know of any
that you have made. You sent him over to teach
amongst us, and desired he might be kindly used;
and more then this we know not. That he hath
beene kindly used, (and farr beter then he deserves
from us,) he shall be judged first of his owne
mouth. If you please to looke upon that writing
of his, that was sent you amongst his leters, which
he cals a generall relation, in which, though he doth
otherwise traduse us, yet in this he him selfe clears
us. In ye latter end therof he hath these words.
I speak not this (saith he) out of any ill affection to
the men, for I have found them very kind & loving
to me. You may ther see these to be his owne
words under his owne hand. 21y. It will appere by
this that he hath ever had a larger alowance of food
1624.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 225
out of ye store for him and his then any, and
clothing as his neede hath required; a dwelling in
one of our best houses, and a man wholy at his
owne comand to tend his private affairs. What
cause he hath therfore to complaine, judge ye; and
what he means in his speech we know not, except
he aluds to yt of Jaacob & Laban. If you have
promised him more or other wise, you may doe it
when you please.
3. Then with an impudente face he would have
you take notice, that (in his leters) he hath write
nothing but what is certainly true, yea, and he could
make it so appeare plainly to any indifferente men.
This indeed doth astonish us and causeth us to
tremble at ye deceitfullnes [128] and desperate wick-
ednes of mans harte. This is to devoure holy things,
and after voues to enquire. It is admirable that
after such publick confession, and acknowledgmente
in court, in church, before God, & men, with such
sadd expressions as he used, and with such melting
into teares, that after all this he shoud now justifie
all againe. If things had bene done in a corner, it
had been some thinge to deney them; but being done
in ye open view of ye cuntrie & before all men, it is
more then strange now to avow to make them plainly
appear to any indifferente men; and here wher things
were done, and all ye evidence that could be were
presente, and yet could make nothing appear, but even
226 HISTORY OF [BOOK II.
his freinds condemnd him & gave their voyce to his
censure, so grose were they; we leave your selves
to judge herein. Yet least this man should triumph
in his wikednes, we shall be ready to answer him,
when, or wher you will, to any thing he shall lay to
our charg, though we have done it sufficiently allready.
4. Then he saith he would not inlarge, but for
some poore souls here who are destiute of ye means
of salvation, &c. But all his soothing is but that
you would use means, that his censure might be
released that he might here continue; and under
you (at least) be sheltered, till he sees what his
freinds (on whom he depends) can bring about &
effecte. For such men pretend much for poor souls,
but they will looke to their wages & conditions; if
that be not to their content, let poor souls doe what
they will, they will shift for them selves, and seek
poore souls some wher els among richer bodys.
Next he fals upon ye church, that indeed is ye
burthensome stone that troubls him. First, he saith
they hold this principle, that the Lord hath not
apointed any ordinarie ministrie for ye converssion
of those without. The church needs not be ashamed of
what she houlds in this, haveing Gods word for her
warrente; that ordinarie officers are bound cheefly to
their flocks, Acts 20.28. and are not to be extrava-
gants, to goe, come, and leave them at their pleasurs
to shift for them selves, or to be devoured of wolves.
Continue on to Book Two / pp. 227 - 266
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