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
more then ever he loved us, for not confirming y^e conditions. But
now, since some pinches have taken them, they begine to reveile y^e
trueth, & say M^r. Robinson was in y^e falte who charged them never to
consente to those conditions, nor chuse me into office, but indeede
apointed them to chose them they did chose.[AB] But he & they will rue
too late, they may [44] now see, & all be ashamed when it is too late,
that they were so ignorante, yea, & so inordinate in their courses. I
am sure as they were resolved not to seale those conditions, I was not
so resolute at Hampton to have left y^e whole bussines, excepte they
would seale them, & better y^e vioage to have bene broken of then,
then to have brought such miserie to our selves, dishonour to God, &
detrimente to our loving freinds, as now it is like to doe. 4. or 5.
of y^e cheefe of them which came from Leyden, came resolved never to
goe on those conditions. And M^r. Martine, he said he never received
no money on those conditions, he was not beholden to y^e marchants for
a pine, they were bloudsuckers, & I know not what. Simple man, he
indeed never made any conditions w^th the marchants, nor ever spake
with them. But did all that money flie to Hampton, or was it his owne?
Who will goe & lay out money so rashly & lavishly as he did, and never
know how he comes by it, or on what conditions? 2^ly. I tould him of
y^e alteration longe agoe, & he was contente; but now he dominires, &
said I had betrayed them into y^e hands of slaves; he is not beholden
to them, he can set out 2. ships him selfe to a viage. When, good man?
He hath but 50^li. in, & if he should give up his accounts he would
not have a penie left him, as I am persuaded,[AC] &c. Freind, if ever
we make a plantation, God works a mirakle; especially considering how
scante we shall be of victualls, and most of all ununited amongst our
selves, & devoyd of good tutors & regimente. Violence will break all.
Wher is y^e meek & humble spirite of Moyses? & of Nehemiah who
reedified y^e wals of Jerusalem, & y^e state of Israell? Is not y^e
sound of Rehoboams braggs daly hear amongst us? Have not y^e
philosophers and all wise men observed y^t, even in setled co[=m]one
welths, violente governours bring either them selves, or people, or
boath, to ruine; how much more in y^e raising of co[=m]one wealths,
when y^e morter is yet scarce tempered y^t should bind y^e wales. If I
should write to you of all things which promiscuously forerune our
ruine, I should over charge my weake head and greeve your tender hart;
only this, I pray you prepare for evill tidings of us every day. But
pray for us instantly, it may be y^e Lord will be yet entreated one
way or other to make for us. I see not in reason how we shall escape
even y^e gasping of hunger starved persons; but God can doe much, &
his will be done. It is better for me to dye, then now for me to bear
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