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
But as in all bussineses y^e acting parte is most difficulte, espetially
wher y^e worke of many agents must concurr, so it was found in this; for
some of those y^t should have gone in England, fell of & would not goe;
other marchants & freinds y^t had offered to adventure their moneys
withdrew, and pretended many excuses. Some disliking they wente not to
Guiana; others againe would adventure nothing excepte they wente to
Virginia. Some againe (and those that were most relied on) fell in utter
dislike with Virginia, and would doe nothing if they wente thither. In
y^e midds of these distractions, they of Leyden, who had put of their
estats, and laid out their moneys, were brought into a greate streight,
fearing what issue these things would come too; but at length y^e
generalitie was swaid to this latter opinion.
But now another difficultie arose, for M^r. Weston and some other that
were for this course, either for their better advantage or rather for
y^e drawing on of others, as they pretended, would have some of those
conditions altered y^t were first agreed on at Leyden. To which y^e 2.
agents sent from Leyden (or at least one of them who is most charged
with it) did consente; seeing els y^t all was like to be dashte, & y^e
opportunitie lost, and y^t they which had put of their estats and paid
in their moneys were in hazard to be undon. They presumed to conclude
with y^e marchants on those termes, in some things contrary to their
order & co[=m]ission, and without giving them notice of y^e same; yea,
it was conceled least it should make any furder delay; which was y^e
cause afterward of much trouble & contention.
It will be meete I here inserte these conditions, which are as foloweth.
An^o: 1620. July 1.
1. The adventurers & planters doe agree, that every person that goeth
being aged 16. years & upward, be rated at 10^li., and ten pounds to
be accounted a single share.
2. That he that goeth in person, and furnisheth him selfe out with
10^li. either in money or other provissions, be accounted as haveing
20^li. in stock, and in y^e devission shall receive a double share.
3. The persons transported & y^e adventurers shall continue their
joynt stock & partnership togeather, y^e space of 7. years, (excepte
some unexpected impedimente doe cause y^e whole company to agree
otherwise,) during which time, all profits & benifits that are gott by
trade, traffick, trucking, working, fishing, or any other means of any
person or persons, remaine still in y^e co[=m]one stock untill y^e
division.
4. That at their co[=m]ing ther, they chose out such a number of fitt
persons, as may furnish their ships and boats for fishing upon y^e
sea; imploying the rest in their severall faculties upon y^e land; as
building houses, tilling, and planting y^e ground, & makeing shuch
co[=m]odities as shall be most usefull for y^e collonie.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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