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
M^r. B. is not well at this time; whether he will come back to you or
goe into y^e north, I yet know not. For my selfe, I hope to see an end
of this bussines ere I come, though I am sorie to be thus from you; if
things had gone roundly forward, I should have been with you within
these 14. days. I pray God directe us, and give us that spirite which
is fitting for such a bussines. Thus having su[=m]arily pointed at
things w^ch M^r. Brewster (I thinke) hath more largly write of to M^r.
Robinson, I leave you to the Lords protection.
Yours in all readines, &c.
ROBART CUSHMAN.
London, May 8.
An^o: 1619.
A word or tow by way of digression touching this M^r. Blackwell; he was
an elder of y^e church at Amsterdam, a man well known of most of them.
He declined from y^e trueth w^th M^r. Johnson & y^e rest, and went with
him when y^ey parted assunder in y^t wofull maner, w^ch brought so great
dishonour to God, scandall to y^e trueth, & outward ruine to them selves
in this world. But I hope, notwithstanding, through y^e mercies of y^e
Lord, their souls are now at rest with him in y^e heavens, and y^t they
are arrived in y^e Haven of hapines; though some of their bodies were
thus buried in y^e terrable seas, and others sunke under y^e burthen of
bitter afflictions. He with some others had prepared for to goe to
Virginia. And he, with sundrie godly citizens, being at a private
me[=e]ing (I take it a fast) in London, being discovered, many of them
were apprehended, wherof M^r. Blackwell was one; but he so glosed w^th
y^e b[~p]s,[N] and either dissembled or flatly denyed y^e trueth which
formerly he had maintained; and not only so, but very unworthily
betrayed and accused another godly man who had escaped, that so he
might slip his own neck out of y^e collar, & to obtaine his owne
freedome brought others into bonds. Wherupon he so wone y^e b[~p]s
favour (but lost y^e Lord's) as he was not only dismiste, but in open
courte y^e arch-bishop gave him great applause and his sollemne blessing
to proseed in his vioage. But if such events follow y^e b[~p]s blessing,
happie are they y^t misse y^e same; it is much better to keepe a good
conscience and have y^e Lords blessing, whether in life or death.
But see how y^e man thus apprehended by M^r. Blackwells means, writs to
a freind of his.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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