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
[DE] This year, on S^r Christopher Gardener, being, as him selfe said,
descended of y^t house y^t the Bishop of Winchester came of (who was so
great a persecutor of Gods saincts in Queene Maries days), and being a
great traveler, received his first honour of knighthood at Jerusalem,
being made Knight of y^e Sepulcher ther. He came into these parts under
pretence of forsaking y^e world, and to live a private life, in a godly
course, not unwilling to put him selfe upon any meane imployments, and
take any paines for his living; and some time offered him selfe to joyne
to y^e churchs in sundry places. He brought over with him a servante or
2. and a comly yonge woman, whom be caled his cousin, but it was
suspected, she (after y^e Italian maner) was his concubine. Living at
y^e Massachusets, for some miscariages which he should have answered, he
fled away from authority, and gott amonge y^e Indeans of these parts;
they sent after him, but could not gett him, and promissed some reward
to those y^t should find him. The Indeans came to y^e Gov^r here, and
tould wher he was, and asked if they might kill him; he tould them no,
by no means, but if they could take him and bring him hither, they
should be payed for their paines. They said he had a gune & a rapier, &
he would kill them if y^ey went aboute it; and y^e Massachuset Indeans
said they might kille him. But y^e Gov^r tould them no, they should not
kill him, but watch their opportunitie, & take him. And so they did, for
when they light of him by a river side, he got into a canowe to get from
them, & when they came nere him, whilst he presented his peece at them
to keep them of, the streame carried y^e canow against a rock, and
tumbled both him & his peece & rapier into y^e water; yet he got out,
and having a litle dagger by his side, they durst not close with him,
but getting longe pols they soone beat his dagger out of his hand, so he
was glad to yeeld; and they brought him to y^e Gov^r. But his hands and
armes were swolen & very sore with y^e blowes they had given him. So he
used him kindly, & sent him to a lodging wher his armes were bathed and
anoynted, and he was quickly well againe, and blamed y^e Indeans for
beating him so much. They said that they did but a litle whip him with
sticks. In his lodging, those y^t made his bed found a litle note booke
that by accidente had slipt out of his pockett, or some private place,
in which was a memoriall what day he was reconciled to y^e pope & church
of Rome, and in what universitie he tooke his scapula, and such & such
degrees. It being brought to y^e Gov^r, he kept it, and sent y^e Gov^r
of y^e Massachusets word of his taking, who sent for him. So y^e Gov^r
sent him and these notes to y^e Gov^r ther, who tooke it very thankfuly;
but after he gott for England, he shewed his malice, but God prevented
him.
See y^e Gov^r leter on y^e other side.[DF]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account