Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to MassachusettsBradford, William
History
Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to Massachusetts
Bradford, William
Massachusetts -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
[72] Now in a maner their provissions were wholy spent, and they looked
hard for supply, but none came. But about y^e _later end of May_, they
spied _a boat_ at sea, which at first they thought had beene some
Frenchman; but it proved a shalop which came from a ship which M^r.
Weston & an other had set out a fishing, at a place called
Damarins-cove, 40. leagues to y^e eastward of them, wher were y^t year
many more ships come a fishing. This boat brought 7. passengers and some
letters, but no vitails, nor any hope of any. Some part of which I shall
set downe.
M^r. Carver, in my last leters by y^e Fortune, in whom M^r Cushman
wente, and who I hope is with you, for we daly expecte y^e shipe back
againe. She departed hence, y^e begining of July, with 35. persons,
though not over well provided with necesaries, by reason of y^e
parsemonie of y^e adventurers.[AQ] I have solisited them to send you a
supply of men and provissions before shee come. They all answer they
will doe great maters, when they hear good news. Nothing before; so
faithfull, constant, & carefull of your good, are your olde & honest
freinds, that if they hear not from you, they are like to send you no
supplie, &c. I am now to relate y^e occasion of sending _this ship_,
hoping if you give credite to my words, you will have a more
favourable opinion of it, then some hear, wherof Pickering is one, who
taxed me to mind my owne ends, which is in part true, &c. _M^r.
Beachamp and my selfe_ bought _this litle ship_, and have set her out,
partly, if it may be, to uphold[AR] y^e plantation, as well to doe
others good as our selves; and partly to gett up what we are formerly
out; though we are otherwise censured, &c. This is y^e occasion we
have sent _this ship_ and these passengers, on our owne accounte; whom
we desire you will frendly entertaine & supply with shuch necesaries
as you cane spare, and they wante, &c. And among other things we pray
you lend or sell them some seed corne, and if you have y^e salt
remaining of y^e last year, that y^u will let them have it for their
presente use, and we will either pay you for it, or give you more when
we have set our salt-pan to worke, which we desire may be set up in
one of y^e litle ilands in your bay, &c. And because we intende, if
God plase, [73] (and y^e generallitie doe it not,) _to send within a
month another shipe_, who, having discharged her passengers, _shal goe
to Virginia_, &c. And it may be we shall send a _small ship to abide
with you_ on y^e coast, which I conceive may be a great help to y^e
plantation. To y^e end our desire may be effected, which, I assure my
selfe, will be also for your good, we pray you give them
entertainmente in your houses y^e time they shall be with you, that
they may lose no time, but may presently goe in hand to fell trees &
cleave them, to y^e end lading may be ready and our ship stay not.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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