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
The Gove^r & Counsell of New-Plim: wisheth, &c. We have received your
leters, &c. wherin appeareth your good wills & frendship towards us;
but is expresed w^th over high titls, more then belongs to us, or is
meete for us to receive. But for your good will, and congratulations
of our prosperitie in these smale beginings of our poore colonie, we
are much bound unto you, and with many thanks doe acknowledg y^e same;
taking it both for a great honour done unto us, and for a certaine
testimoney of your love and good neighbourhood.
Now these are further to give your Wor^pps to understand, that it is
to us no smale joye to hear, that his majestie hath not only bene
pleased to confirme y^t ancient amitie, aliance, and frendship, and
other contracts, formerly made & ratified by his predecessors of
famous memorie, but hath him selfe (as you say) strengthened the same
with a new-union the better to resist y^e prid of y^t co[=m]one enemy
y^e Spaniard, from whose cruelty the Lord keep us both, and our native
countries. Now forasmuch as this is sufficiente to unite us togeather
in love and good neighbourhood, in all our dealings, yet are many of
us further obliged, by the good and curteous entreaty which we have
found in your countrie; haveing lived ther many years, with freedome,
and good contente, as also many of our freinds doe to this day; for
which we, and our children after us, are bound to be thankfull to your
Nation, and shall never forgett y^e same, but shall hartily desire
your good & prosperity, as our owne, for ever.
Likwise for your freindly tender, & offer to aco[=m]odate and help us
with any comodities or marchandise you have, or shall come to you,
either for beaver, otters, or other wares, it is to us very
acceptable, and we doubte not but in short time we may have profitable
co[=m]erce & trade togeather. But for this year we are fully supplyed
with all necessaries, both for cloathing and other things; but
hereafter it is like we shall deale with you, if your rates be
reasonable. And therfore when you please to send to us againe by any
of yours, we desire to know how you will take beaver, by y^e pounde, &
otters, by y^e skine; and how you will deale per cent. for other
comodities, and what you can furnishe us with. As likwise what other
commodities from us may be acceptable unto you, as tobaco, fish,
corne, or other things, and what prises you will give, &c.
Thus hoping that you will pardon & excuse us for our rude and
imperfecte writing in your language, and take it in good parte,
because [152] for wante of use we cannot so well express that we
understand, nor hapily understand every thing so fully as we should.
And so we humbly pray the Lord for his mercie sake, that he will take
both us and you into his keeping & gratious protection.
By y^e Gove^r and Counsell of New-Plimoth,
Your Wor^pps very good freinds & neigbours, &c.
New-Plim: March 19.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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