Chapter IX: Part 9

Lyford denyed that he had any thing to doe with them in England, or knew of their courses, and made other things as strange that he was charged with. Then his letters were prodused & some of them read, at which he was struck mute. But Oldam begane to rage furiously, because they had intercepted and opened his letters, threatening them in very high language, and in a most audacious and mutinous maner stood up & caled upon y^e people, saying, My maisters, wher is your harts? now shew your courage, you have oft complained to me so & so; now is y^e time, if you will doe any thing, I will stand by you, &c. Thinking y^t every one (knowing his humor) that had soothed and flattered him, or other wise in their discontente uttered any thing unto him, would now side w^th him in open rebellion. But he was deceived, for not a man opened his mouth, but all were silent, being strucken with the injustice of y^e thing. Then y^e Gov^r turned his speech to M^r. Lyford, and asked him if he thought they had done evill to open his letters; but he was silente, & would not say a word, well knowing what they might reply. Then y^e Gov^r shewed the people he did it as a magistrate, and was bound to it by his place, to prevent y^e mischeefe & ruine that this conspiracie and plots of theirs would bring on this poor colony. But he, besids his evill dealing hear, had delte trecherusly with his freinds y^t trusted him, & stole their letters & opened them, and sent coppies of them, with disgracefull a[=n]otations, to his freinds in England. And then y^e Gov^r produced them and his other letters under his owne hand, (which he could not deney,) and caused them to be read before all y^e people; at which all his freinds were blanke, and had not a word to say.

It would be too long & tedious here to inserte his letters (which would almost fill a volume), though I have them by me. I shall only note a few of y^e cheefe things collected out of them, with y^e answers to them as they were then given; and but a few of those many, only for instance, by which the rest may be judged of.

[121[BT]] 1. First, he saith, the church would have none to live hear but them selves. 2^ly. Neither are any willing so to doe if they had company to live elswher.

Ans: Their answer was, that this was false, in both y^e parts of it; for they were willing & desirous y^t any honest men may live with them, that will cary them selves peacably, and seek y^e co[=m]one good, or at least doe them no hurte. And againe, ther are many that will not live els wher so long as they may live with them.

2. That if ther come over any honest men that are not of y^e seperation, they will quickly distast them, &c.

A. Ther answer was as before, that it was a false callumniation, for they had many amongst them that they liked well of, and were glad of their company; and should be of any such like that should come amongst them.

3. That they excepted against him for these 2. doctrins raised from 2. Sam: 12. 7. First, that ministers must sume times perticulerly apply their doctrine to spetiall persons; 2^ly, that great men may be reproved as well as meaner.

A. Their answer was, that both these were without either truth or colour of y^e same (as was proved to his face), and that they had taught and beleeved these things long before they knew M^r. Liford.

4. That they utterly sought y^e ruine of y^e perticulers; as appeareth by this, that they would not suffer any of y^e generall either to buy or sell with them, or to exchaing one co[=m]oditie for another.

Ans: This was a most malicious slander and voyd of all truth, as was evidently proved to him before all men; for any of them did both buy, sell, or exchaing with them as often as they had any occation. Yea, and allso both lend & give to them when they wanted; and this the perticuler persons them selves could not deney, but freely confest in open court. But y^e ground from whence this arose made it much worse, for he was in counsell with them. When one was called before them, and questioned for receiving powder and bisket from y^e gu[=n]er of the small ship, which was y^e companys, and had it put in at his window in the night, and allso for buying salt of one, that had no right to it, he not only stood to back him (being one of these perticulers) by excusing & extenuating his falte, as long as he could, but upon this builds this mische[=c]ous & most false slander: That because they would not suffer them to buy stolne goods, ergo, they sought their utter ruine. Bad logick for a devine.

5. Next he writs, that he chocked them with this; that they turned [122] men into their perticuler, and then sought to starve them, and deprive them of all means of subsistance.

A. To this was answered, he did them manifest wrong, for they turned none into their perticuler; it was their owne importunitie and ernest desire that moved them, yea, constrained them to doe it. And they apealed to y^e persons them selves for y^e truth hereof. And they testified the same against him before all present, as allso that they had no cause to complaine of any either hard or unkind usage.

6. He accuseth them with unjust distribution, and writeth, that it was a strang difference, that some have bene alowed 16^li. of meale by y^e weeke, and others but 4^li. And then (floutingly) saith, it seems some mens mouths and bellies are very litle & slender over others.

Ans: This might seeme strange indeed to those to whom he write his leters in England, which knew not y^e reason of it; but to him and others hear, it could not be strange, who knew how things stood. For the first co[=m]ers had none at all, but lived on their corne. Those w^ch _came in y^e Anne, y^e August before_, & were to live 13. months of the provissions they brought, had as good alowance in meal & pease as it would extend too, y^e most part of y^e year; but a litle before harvest, when they had not only fish, but other fruits began to come in, they had but 4^li. having their libertie to make their owne provisions. But some of these which came last, as y^e ship carpenter, and samiers, the salte-men & others that were to follow constante imployments, and had not an howers time, from their hard labours, to looke for any thing above their alowance; they had at first, 16^li. alowed them, and afterwards as fish, & other food coued be gott, they had as balemente, to 14. &. 12. yea some of them to 8. as the times & occasions did vary. And yet those which followed planting and their owne occasions, and had but 4^li. of meall a week, lived better then y^e other, as was well knowne to all. And yet it must be remembered that Lyford & his had allwais the highest alowance.

Many other things (in his letters) he accused them of, with many aggravations; as that he saw exseeding great wast of tools & vesseles; & this, when it came to be examened, all y^e instance he could give was, that he had seen an old hogshed or too fallen to peeces, and a broken how or tow lefte carlesly in y^e feilds by some. Though he also knew that a godly, honest man was appointed to looke to these things. But these things & such like was write of by him, to cast disgrace & prejudice upon them; as thinking what came from a [123] minister would pass for currente. Then he tells them that Winslow should say, that ther was not above 7. of y^e adventurers y^t souight y^e good of y^e collony. That M^r. Oldam & him selfe had had much to doe with them, and that y^e faction here might match y^e Jesuits for politie. With many y^e like greevious complaints & accusations.

1. Then, in the next place, he comes to give his freinds counsell and directtion. And first, that y^e Leyden company (M^r. Robinson & y^e rest) must still be kepte back, or els all will be spoyled. And least any of them should be taken in privatly somewher on y^e coast of England, (as it was feared might be done,) they must chaing the m^r. of y^e ship (M^r. William Peirce), and put another allso in Winslows stead, for marchante, or els it would not be prevented.

2. Then he would have such a number provided as might oversway them hear. And that y^e perticulers should have voyces in all courts & elections, and be free to bear any office. And that every perticuler should come over as an adventurer, if he be but a servante; some other venturing 10^li., y^e bill may be taken out in y^e servants name, and then assigned to y^e party whose money it was, and good covenants drawn betweene them for y^e clearing of y^e matter; and this (saith he) would be a means to strengthen this side y^e more.

3. Then he tells them that if that Capten they spoake of should come over hither as a generall, he was perswaded he would be chosen Capten; for this Captaine Standish looks like a silly boy, and is in utter contempte.

4. Then he shows that if by y^e forementioned means they cannot be strengthened to cary & overbear things, it will be best for them to plant els wher by them selves; and would have it artickled by them that they might make choyse of any place that they liked best within 3. or 4. myls distance, shewing ther were farr better places for plantation then this.

5. And lastly he concluds, that if some number came not over to bear them up here, then ther would be no abiding for them, but by joyning with these hear. Then he adds: Since I begane to write, ther are letters come from your company, wherin they would give sole authoritie in diverce things unto the Gov^r here; which, if it take place, then, _Ve nobis_. But I hope you will be more vigilante hereafter, that nothing may pass in such a ma[=n]er. I suppose (saith he) M^r. Oldame will write to you further of these things. I pray you conceall me in the discovery of these things, &c.

Thus I have breefly touched some cheefe things in his leters, and shall now returne to their procceeding with him. After the reading of his leters before the whole company, he was demanded what he could say to these things. [124] But all y^e answer he made was, that Billington and some others had informed him of many things, and made sundrie complaints, which they now deneyed. He was againe asked if that was a sufficiente ground for him thus to accuse & traduse them by his letters, and never say word to them, considering the many bonds betweene them. And so they went on from poynte to poynte; and wisht him, or any of his freinds & confederats, not to spare them in any thing; if he or they had any proofe or witnes of any corrupte or evill dealing of theirs, his or their evidence must needs be ther presente, for ther was the whole company and sundery strangers. He said he had been abused by others in their informations, (as he now well saw,) and so had abused them. And this was all the answer they could have, for none would take his parte in any thing; but Billington, & any whom he named, deneyed the things, and protested he wronged them, and would have drawne them to such & such things which they could not consente too, though they were sometimes drawne to his meetings. Then they delte with him aboute his dissembling with them aboute y^e church, and that he professed to concur with them in all things, and what a large confession he made at his admittance, and that he held not him selfe a minister till he had a new calling, &c. And yet now he contested against them, and drew a company aparte, & sequestred him selfe; and would goe minister the sacrements (by his Episcopall caling) without ever speaking a word unto them, either as magistrats or bretheren. In conclusion, he was fully convicted, and burst out into tears, and "confest he feared he was a reprobate, his sinns were so great that he doubted God would not pardon them, he was unsavorie salte, &c.; and that he had so wronged them as he could never make them amends, confessing all he had write against them was false & nought, both for matter & ma[=n]er." And all this he did with as much fullnes as words & tears could express.

After their triall & conviction, the court censured them to be expeld the place; Oldame presently, though his wife & family had liberty to stay all winter, or longer, till he could make provission to remove them comfortably. Lyford had liberty to stay 6. months. It was, indeede, with some eye to his release, if he caried him selfe well in the meane time, and that his repentance proved sound. Lyford acknowledged his censure was farr less then he deserved.

Afterwards, he confest his sin publikly in y^e church, with tears more largly then before. I shall here put it downe as I find it recorded by some who tooke it from his owne words, as him selfe utered them. Acknowledging [125] "That he had don very evill, and slanderously abused them; and thinking most of y^e people would take parte with him, he thought to cary all by violence and strong hand against them. And that God might justly lay i[=n]ocente blood to his charge, for he knew not what hurt might have come of these his writings, and blest God they were stayed. And that he spared not to take knowledg from any, of any evill that was spoaken, but shut his eyes & ears against all the good; and if God should make him a vacabund in y^e earth, as was Caine, it was but just, for he had sined in envie & malice against his brethren as he did. And he confessed 3. things to be y^e ground & causes of these his doings: pride, vaine-glorie, & selfe love." Amplifying these heads with many other sade expressions, in the perticulers of them.

So as they begane againe to conceive good thoughts of him upon this his repentance, and admited him to teach amongst them as before; and Samuell Fuller (a deacon amongst them), and some other tender harted men amongst them, were so taken with his signes of sorrow & repentance, as they professed they would fall upon their knees to have his censure released.

But that which made them all stand amased in the end, and may doe all others that shall come to hear y^e same, (for a rarer president can scarse be showne,) was, that after a month or 2. notwithstand all his former conffessions, convictions, and publick acknowledgments, both in y^e face of y^e church and whole company, with so many tears & sadde censures of him selfe before God & men, he should goe againe to justifie what he had done.

For secretly he write a 2^d. leter to y^e adventurers in England, in w^ch he justified all his former writings, (save in some things which tended to their damage,) the which, because it is brefer then y^e former, I shall here inserte.

Worthy S^rs: Though the filth of mine owne doings may justly be cast
in my face, and with blushing cause my perpetuall silence, yet that
y^e truth may not herby be injuried, your selves any longer deluded,
nor injurious[BU] dealing caried out still, with bould out facings, I
have adventured once more to write unto you. Firest, I doe freely
confess I delte very indiscreetly in some of my perticuler leters w^ch
I wrote to private freinds, for y^e courses in coming hither & the
like; which I doe in no sorte seeke to justifie, though stired up ther
unto in the beholding y^e indirecte courses held by others, both
hear, & ther with you, for effecting their designes. But am hartily
sory for it, and doe to y^e glory of God & mine owne shame acknowledg
it. Which leters being intercepted by the Gov^r, I have for y^e same
undergone y^e censure [126] of banishmente. And had it not been for
y^e respecte I have unto you, and some other matters of private
regard, I had returned againe at this time by y^e pinass for England;
for hear I purpose not to abide, unless I receive better incouragmente
from you, then from y^e church (as they call them selves) here I doe
receive. I purposed before I came, to undergoe hardnes, therfore I
shall I hope cherfully bear y^e conditions of y^e place, though very
mean; and they have chainged my wages ten times allready. I suppose my
letters, or at least y^e coppies of them, are come to your hands, for
so they hear reporte; which, if it be so, I pray you take notice of
this, that I have writen nothing but what is certainly true, and I
could make so apeare planly to any indifferente men, whatsoever
colours be cast to darken y^e truth, and some ther are very audatious
this way; besids many other matters which are farre out of order hear.
My mind was not to enlarge my selfe any further, but in respecte of
diverse poore souls here, y^e care of whom in parte belongs to you,
being here destitute of the me[=a]s of salvation. For how so ever y^e
church are provided for, to their contente, who are y^e smalest number
in y^e collony, and doe so appropriate y^e ministrie to them selves,
houlding this principle, that y^e Lord hath not appointed any ordinary
ministrie for y^e conversion of those y^t are without, so y^t some of
y^e poor souls have w^th tears complained of this to me, and I was
taxed for preaching to all in generall. Though in truth they have had
no ministrie here since they came, but such as may be performed by any
of you, by their owne possition, what soever great pretences they
make; but herin they equivocate, as in many other things they doe.
But I exceede y^e bounds I set my selfe, therfore resting thus,
untill I hear further from you, so it be within y^e time limited me. I
rest, &c.,

Remaining yours ever,
JOHN LYFORD, Exille.

Dated Aug: 22. An^o: 1624.

They made a breefe answer to some things in this leter, but referred cheefly to their former. The effecte was to this purpose: That if God in his providence had not brought these things to their hands (both y^e former & later), they might have been thus abused, tradused, and calumniated, overthrowne, & undone; and never have knowne by whom, nor for what. They desired but this equall favoure, that they would be pleased to hear their just defence, as well as his accusations, and waigh them in y^e balance of justice & reason, and then censure as they pleased. They had write breefly to y^e heads of things before, and should be ready to give further [127] answer as any occasion should require; craving leave to adde a word or tow to this last.

1. And first, they desire to examene what filth that was y^t he acknowledgeth might justly be throwne in his face, and might cause blushing & perpetuall silence; some great mater sure! But if it be looked into, it amounts to no more then a poynte of indiscretion, and thats all; and yet he licks of y^t too with this excuse, that he was stired up therunto by beholding y^e indirecte course here. But this point never troubled him here, it was counted a light matter both by him & his freinds, and put of with this,--that any man might doe so, to advise his private freinds to come over for their best advantage. All his sorrow & tears here was for y^e wrong & hurt he had done us, and not at all for this he pretends to be done to you: it was not counted so much as indiscretion.

2. Having thus payed you full satisfaction, he thinks he may lay load of us here. And first complains that we have changed his wages ten times. We never agreed with him for any wages, nor made any bargen at all with him, neither know of any that you have made. You sent him over to teach amongst us, and desired he might be kindly used; and more then this we know not. That he hath beene kindly used, (and farr beter then he deserves from us,) he shall be judged first of his owne mouth. If you please to looke upon that writing of his, that was sent you amongst his leters, which he cals a generall relation, in which, though he doth otherwise traduse us, yet in this he him selfe clears us. In y^e latter end therof he hath these words. _I speak not this_ (saith he) _out of any ill affection to the men, for I have found them very kind & loving to me._ You may ther see these to be his owne words under his owne hand. 2^ly. It will appere by this that he hath ever had a larger alowance of food out of y^e store for him and his then any, and clothing as his neede hath required; a dwelling in one of our best houses, and a man wholy at his owne co[=m]and to tend his private affairs. What cause he hath therfore to complaine, judge ye; and what he means in his speech we know not, except he aluds to y^t of Jaacob & Laban. If you have promised him more or other wise, you may doe it when you please.

3. Then with an impudente face he would have you take notice, that (in his leters) he hath write nothing but what is certainly true, yea, and he could make it so appeare plainly to any indifferente men. This indeed doth astonish us and causeth us to tremble at y^e deceitfullnes [128] and desperate wickednes of mans harte. This is to devoure holy things, and after voues to enquire. It is admirable that after such publick confession, and acknowledgmente in court, in church, before God, & men, with such sadd expressions as he used, and with such melting into teares, that after all this he shoud now justifie all againe. If things had bene done in a corner, it had been some thinge to deney them; but being done in y^e open view of y^e cuntrie & before all men, it is more then strange now to avow to make them plainly appear to any indifferente men; and here wher things were done, and all y^e evidence that could be were presente, and yet could make nothing appear, but even his freinds condemnd him & gave their voyce to his censure, so grose were they; we leave your selves to judge herein. Yet least this man should triumph in his wikednes, we shall be ready to answer him, when, or wher you will, to any thing he shall lay to our charg, though we have done it sufficiently allready.

4. Then he saith he would not inlarge, but for some poore souls here who are destiute of y^e means of salvation, &c. But all his soothing is but that you would use means, that his censure might be released that he might here continue; and under you (at least) be sheltered, till he sees what his freinds (on whom he depends) can bring about & effecte. For such men pretend much for poor souls, but they will looke to their wages & conditions; if that be not to their content, let poor souls doe what they will, they will shift for them selves, and seek poore souls some wher els among richer bodys.

Next he fals upon y^e church, that indeed is y^e burthensome stone that troubls him. First, he saith they hold this principle, that the Lord hath not apointed any ordinarie ministrie for y^e converssion of those without. The church needs not be ashamed of what she houlds in this, haveing Gods word for her warrente; that ordinarie officers are bound cheefly to their flocks, Acts 20. 28. and are not to be extravagants, to goe, come, and leave them at their pleasurs to shift for them selves, or to be devoured of wolves. But he perverts y^e truth in this as in other things, for y^e Lord hath as well appoynted them to converte, as to feede in their severall charges; and he wrongs y^e church to say other wise. Againe, he saith he was taxed for preaching to all in generall. This is a meere untruth, for this dissembler knows that every Lords day some are appointed to visite suspected places, & if any be found idling and neglecte y^e hearing of y^e word, (through idlnes or profanes,) they are punished for y^e same. Now to procure all to come to hear, and then to blame him for preaching to all, were to play y^e mad men.

[129] 6. Next (he saith) they have had no ministrie since they came, what soever pretences they make, &c. We answer, the more is our wrong, that our pastor is kept from us by these mens means, and then reproach us for it when they have done. Yet have we not been wholy distitute of y^e means of salvation, as this man would make y^e world beleeve; for our reve^d Elder hath laboured diligently in dispencing the word of God unto us, before he came; and since hath taken equalle pains with him selfe in preaching the same; and, be it spoaken without ostentation, he is not inferriour to M^r. Lyford (& some of his betters) either in gifts or larning, though he would never be perswaded to take higher office upon him. Nor ever was more pretended in this matter. For equivocating, he may take it to him selfe; what y^e church houlds, they have manifested to y^e world, in all plaines, both in open confession, doctrine, & writing.

This was y^e sume of ther answer, and hear I will let them rest for y^e presente. I have bene longer in these things then I desired, and yet not so long as the things might require, for I pass many things in silence, and many more deserve to have been more largly handled. But I will returne to other things, and leave y^e rest to its place.

The pinass that was left sunck & cast away near Damarins-cove, as is before showed, some of y^e fishing maisters said it was a pity so fine a vessell should be lost, and sent them word that, if they would be at y^e cost, they would both directe them how to waygh her, and let them have their carpenters to mend her. They thanked them, & sente men aboute it, and beaver to defray y^e charge, (without which all had been in vaine). So they gott coopers to trime, I know not how many tune of cask, and being made tight and fastened to her at low-water, they boyed her up; and then with many hands hald her on shore in a conveniente place wher she might be wrought upon; and then hired sundrie carpenters to work upon her, and other to saw planks, and at last fitted her & got her home. But she cost a great deale of money, in thus recovering her, and buying riging & seails for her, both now and when before she lost her mast; so as she proved a chargable vessell to y^e poor plantation. So they sent her home, and with her Lyford sent his last letter, in great secrecie; but y^e party intrusted with it gave it y^e Gov^r.

The winter was passed over in ther ordinarie affairs, without any spetiall mater worth noteing; saveing that many who before stood something of from y^e church, now seeing Lyfords unrighteous dealing, and malignitie against y^e church, now tendered them selves to y^e church, and were joyned to y^e same; proffessing that it was not out of y^e dislike of any thing that they had stood of so long, but a desire to fitte them selves beter for such a state, and they saw now y^e Lord cald for their help. [130] And so these troubls prodused a quite contrary effecte in sundrie hear, then these adversaries hoped for. Which was looked at as a great worke of God, to draw on men by unlickly means; and that in reason which might rather have set them further of. And thus I shall end this year.

_Anno Dom: 1625._

At y^e spring of y^e year, about y^e time of their Election Court, Oldam came againe amongst them; and though it was a part of his censure for his former mutinye and miscariage, not to returne without leave first obtained, yet in his dareing spirite, he presumed without any leave at all, being also set on & hardened by y^e ill counsell of others. And not only so, but suffered his unruly passion to rune beyond y^e limits of all reason and modestie; in so much that some strangers which came with him were ashamed of his outrage, and rebuked him; but all reprofes were but as oyle to y^e fire, and made y^e flame of his coller greater. He caled them all to nought, in this his mad furie, and a hundred rebells and traytors, and I know not what. But in conclusion they co[=m]ited him till he was tamer, and then apointed a gard of musketers w^ch he was to pass throw, and ever one was ordered to give him a thump on y^e brich, with y^e but end of his musket, and then was conveied to y^e water side, wher a boat was ready to cary him away. Then they bid him goe & mende his maners.

Whilst this was a doing, M^r. William Peirce and M^r. Winslow came up from y^e water side, being come from England; but they were so busie with Oldam, as they never saw them till they came thus upon them. They bid them not spare either him or Liford, for they had played y^e vilans with them. But that I may hear make an end with him, I shall hear once for all relate what befell concerning him in y^e future, & y^t breefly. After y^e removall of his familie from hence, he fell into some straits, (as some others did,) and aboute a year or more afterwards, towards winter, he intended a vioage for Virginia; but it so pleased God that y^e barke that caried him, and many other passengers, was in that danger, as they dispaired of life; so as many of them, as they fell to prayer, so also did they begine to examine their consciences [131] and confess such sins as did most burthen them. And M^r. Ouldame did make a free and large confession of y^e wrongs and hurt he had done to y^e people and church here, in many perticulers, that as he had sought their ruine, so God had now mette with him and might destroy him; yea, he feared they all fared y^e worce for his sake; he prayed God to forgive him, and made vowes that, if y^e Lord spard his life, he would become otherwise, and y^e like. This I had from some of good credite, yet living in y^e Bay, and were them selves partners in the same dangers on y^e shoulds of Cap-Codd, and heard it from his owne mouth. It pleased God to spare their lives, though they lost their viage; and in time after wards, Ouldam caried him selfe fairly towards them, and acknowledged y^e hand of God to be with them, and seemed to have an honourable respecte of them; and so farr made his peace with them, as he in after time had libertie to goe and come, and converse with them, at his pleasure. He went after this to Virginia, and had ther a great sicknes, but recovered and came back againe to his familie in y^e Bay, and ther lived till some store of people came over. At lenght going a trading in a smale vessell among y^e Indians, and being weakly mand, upon some quarell they knockt him on y^e head with a hatched, so as he fell downe dead, & never spake word more. 2. litle boys that were his kinsmen were saved, but had some hurte, and y^e vessell was strangly recovered from y^e Indeans by another that belonged to y^e Bay of Massachusets; and this his death was one ground of the Pequente warr which followed.

I am now come to M^r. Lyford. His time being now expired, his censure was to take place. He was so farre from answering their hopes by amendmente in y^e time, as he had dubled his evill, as is before noted. But first behold y^e hand of God concei[=r]ing him, wherin that of y^e Psalmist is verified. Psa: 7. 15. He hath made a pitte, & digged it, and is fallen into the pitte he made. He thought to bring shame and disgrace upon them, but in stead therof opens his owne to all y^e world. For when he was delte with all aboute his second letter, his wife was so affected with his doings, as she could no longer conceaill her greefe and sorrow of minde, but opens y^e same to one of their deacons & some other of her freinds, & after uttered y^e same to M^r. Peirce upon his arrivall. Which was to this purpose, that she feared some great judgment of God would fall upon them, and upon her, for her husbands cause; now that they were to remove, she feared to fall into y^e Indeans hands, and to be defiled by them, as he had defiled other women; or some shuch like [132] judgmente, as God had threatened David, 2. Sam. 12. 11. I will raise up evill against y^e, and will take thy wives & give them, &c. And upon it showed how he had wronged her, as first he had a bastard by another before they were maried, & she having some inkling of some ill cariage that way, when he was a suitor to her, she tould him what she heard, & deneyd him; but she not certainly knowing y^e thing, other wise then by some darke & secrete muterings, he not only stifly denied it, but to satisfie her tooke a solemne oath ther was no shuch matter. Upon which she gave consente, and maried with him; but afterwards it was found true, and y^e bastard brought home to them. She then charged him with his oath, but he prayed pardon, and said he should els not have had her. And yet afterwards she could keep no maids but he would be medling with them, and some time she hath taken him in y^e maner, as they lay at their beds feete, with shuch other circumstances as I am ashamed to relate. The woman being a grave matron, & of good cariage all y^e while she was hear, and spoake these things out of y^e sorrow of her harte, sparingly, and yet w^th some further intimations. And that which did most seeme to affecte her (as they conceived) was, to see his former cariage in his repentance, not only hear with y^e church, but formerly about these things; sheding tears, and using great & sade expressions, and yet eftsone fall into the like things.

Another thing of y^e same nature did strangly concurr herewith. When M^r. Winslow & M^r. Peirce were come over, M^r. Winslow informed them that they had had y^e like bickering with Lyfords freinds in England, as they had with him selfe and his freinds hear, aboute his letters & accusations in them. And many meetings and much clamour was made by his freinds theraboute, crying out, a minister, a man so godly, to be so esteemed & taxed they held a great skandale, and threated to prosecute law against them for it. But things being referred to a further meeting of most of y^e adventurers, to heare y^e case and decide y^e matters, they agreed to chose 2. eminente men for moderators in the bussines. Lyfords faction chose M^r. White, a counselor at law, the other parte chose Re[~v]e^d. M^r. Hooker, the minister, and many freinds on both sids were brought in, so as ther was a great assemblie. In y^e mean time, God in his providence had detected Lyford's evill cariage in Ireland to some freinds amongst y^e company, who made it knowne to M^r. Winslow, and directed him to 2. godly and grave witnesses, who would testifie y^e same (if caled therunto) upon their oath. The thing was this; he being gott into Ireland, had wound him selfe into y^e esteeme of sundry godly & zelous professours in those parts, who, having been burthened with y^e ceremonies in England, found ther some more liberty to their consciences; amongst whom were these 2. men, which gave [133] this evidence. Amongst y^e rest of his hearers, ther was a godly yonge man that intended to marie, and cast his affection on a maide which lived their aboute; but desiring to chose in y^e Lord, and preferred y^e fear of God before all other things, before he suffered his affection to rune too farr, he resolved to take M^r. Lyfords advise and judgmente of this maide, (being y^e minister of y^e place,) and so broak y^e matter unto him; & he promised faithfully to informe him, but would first take better knowledg of her, and have private conferance with her; and so had sundry times; and in conclusion co[=m]ended her highly to y^e yong man as a very fitte wife for him. So they were maried togeather; but some time after mariage the woman was much troubled in mind, and afflicted in conscience, and did nothing but weepe and mourne, and long it was before her husband could get of her what was y^e cause. But at length she discovered y^e thing, and prayed him to forgive her, for Lyford had overcome her, and defiled her body before marriage, after he had comended him unto her for a husband, and she resolved to have him, when he came to her in that private way. The circumstances I forbear, for they would offend chast ears to hear them related, (for though he satisfied his lust on her, yet he indeaoured to hinder conception.) These things being thus discovered, y^e wom[=a]s husband tooke some godly freinds with him, to deale with Liford for this evill. At length he confest it, with a great deale of seeming sorrow & repentance, but was forct to leave Irland upon it, partly for shame, and partly for fear of further punishmente, for y^e godly withdrew them selves from him upon it; and so co[=m]ing into England unhapily he was light upon & sente hither.

But in this great assembly, and before y^e moderators, in handling y^e former matters aboute y^e letters, upon provocation, in some heate of replie to some of Lyfords defenders, M^r. Winslow let fall these words, That he had delte knavishly; upon which on of his freinds tooke hold, & caled for witneses, that he cald a minister of y^e gospell knave, and would prosecute law upon it, which made a great tumulte, upon which (to be shorte) this matter broke out, and the witnes were prodused, whose persons were so grave, and evidence so plaine, and y^e facte so foule, yet delivered in such modest & chast terms, and with such circumstances, as strucke all his freinds mute, and made them all ashamed; insomuch as y^e moderators with great gravitie declared that y^e former matters gave them cause enough to refuse him & to deal with him as they had done, but these made him unmeete for ever to bear ministrie any more, what repentance soever he should pretend; with much more to like effecte, and so wisht his freinds to rest quiete. Thus was this matter ended.

From hence Lyford wente to Natasco, in y^e Bay of y^e Massachusets, with some other of his freinds with him, wher Oldom allso lived. From thence he removed to Namkeke, since called Salem; but after ther came some people over, wheather for hope of greater profite, or what ends els I know not, he left his freinds that followed him, and went from thence to Virginia, wher he shortly after dyed, and so I leave him to y^e Lord. His wife afterwards returned againe to this cuntry, and thus much of this matter.

[134] This storme being thus blowne over, yet sundrie sad effects followed y^e same; for the Company of Adventurers broake in peeces here upon, and y^e greatest parte wholy deserted y^e colony in regarde of any further supply, or care of their subsistance. And not only so, but some of Lyfords & Oldoms freinds, and their adherents, set out a shipe on fishing, on their owne accounte, and getting y^e starte of y^e ships that came to the plantation, they tooke away their stage, & other necessary provisions that they had made for fishing at Cap-Anne y^e year before, at their great charge, and would not restore y^e same, excepte they would fight for it. But y^e Gov^r sent some of y^e planters to help y^e fisher men to build a new one, and so let them keepe it. This shipe also brought them some small supply, of little value; but they made so pore a bussines of their fishing, (neither could these men make them any returne for y^e supply sente,) so as, after this year, they never looked more after them.

Also by this ship, they, some of them, sent (in y^e name of y^e rest) certaine reasons of their breaking of from y^e plantation, and some tenders, upon certaine conditions, of reuniting againe. The which because they are longe & tedious, and most of them aboute the former things already touched, I shall omite them; only giveing an instance in one, or tow. 1. reason, they charged them for dissembling with his majestie in their petition, and with y^e adventurers about y^e French discipline, &c. 2^ly, for receiving[BV] a man[BW] into their church, that in his conffession renownced all, universall, nationall, and diocessan churches, &c., by which (say they) it appears, that though they deney the name of Bro[=w]ists, yet they practiss y^e same, &c. And therfore they should si[=n]e against God in building up such a people.

Then they adde: Our dislikes thus laid downe, that we may goe on in trade w^th better contente & credite, our desires are as followeth. First, that as we are partners in trade, so we may be in Go[~v]^rt ther, as the patente doth give us power, &c.

2. That the French discipline may be practised in the plantation, as well in the circumstances theirof, as in y^e substance; wherby y^e scandallous name of y^e Brownists, and other church differences, may be taken away.

3. Lastly, that M^r. Robinson and his company may not goe over to our plantation, unless he and they will reconcile themselves to our church by a recantation under their hands, &c.

Their answer in part to these things was then as foloweth.

Wheras you taxe us for dissembling with his majestie & y^e adventurers
aboute y^e French discipline, you doe us wrong, for we both hold &
practice y^e discipline of y^e French & other reformed churches, (as
they have published y^e same in y^e Harmony of Confessions,) according
to our means, in effecte & substance. But wheras you would tye us to
the French discipline in every circumstance, you derogate from y^e
libertie we have in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paule would have none to
follow him in any thing but wherin he follows Christ, much less ought
any Christian or church in y^e world to doe it. The French may erre,
we may erre, and other churches may erre, and doubtless doe in many
circumstances. That honour therfore belongs only to y^e infallible
word of God, and pure Testamente of Christ, to be propounded and
followed as y^e only rule and pattern for direction herin to all
churches & Christians. And it is too great arrogancie for any man, or
church [135] to thinke y^t he or they have so sounded y^e word of God
to y^e bottome, as precislie to sett downe y^e churches discipline,
without error in substance or circumstance, as y^t no other without
blame may digress or differ in any thing from y^e same. And it is not
difficulte to shew, y^t the reformed churches differ in many
circumstances amongest them selves.

The rest I omitte, for brevities sake, and so leave to prosecute these men or their doings any further, but shall returne to y^e rest of their freinds of y^e company, w^ch stuck to them. And I shall first inserte some part of their letters as followeth; for I thinke it best to render their minds in ther owne words.

To our loving freinds, &c.

Though the thing we feared be come upon us, and y^e evill we strove
against have overtaken us, yet we cannot forgett you, nor our
freindship and fellowship which togeather we have had some years;
wherin though our expressions have been small, yet our harty
affections towards you (unknown by face) have been no less then to our
nearest freinds, yea, to our owne selves. And though this your friend
M^r. Winslow can tell you y^e state of things hear, yet least we
should seeme to neglecte you, to whom, by a wonderfull providence of
God, we are so nearly united, we have thought good once more to write
unto you, to let you know what is here befallen, and y^e resons of it;
as also our purposes & desirs toward you for hereafter.

The former course for the generalitie here is wholy dissolved from
what it was; and wheras you & we were formerly sharers and partners,
in all viages & deallings, this way is now no more, but you and we are
left to bethinke our sellves what course to take in y^e future, that
your lives & our monies be not lost.

The reasons and causes of this allteration have been these. First and
mainly, y^e many losses and crosses at sea, and abuses of sea-men,
w^ch have caused us to rune into so much charge, debts, & ingagements,
as our estats & means were not able to goe on without impoverishing
our selves, except our estats had been greater, and our associats
cloven beter unto us. 2^ly, as here hath been a faction and siding
amongst us now more then 2. years, so now there is an uter breach and
sequestration amongst us, and in too parts of us a full dissertion and
forsaking of you, without any intente or purpose of medling more with
you. And though we are perswaded the maine cause of this their doing
is wante of money, (for neede wherof men use to make many excuses,)
yet other things are pretended, as that you are Brownists, &c. Now
what use you or we ought to make of these things, it remaineth to be
considered, for we know y^e hand of God to be in all these things, and
no doubt he would admonish some thing therby, and to looke what is
amise. And allthough it be now too late for us or you to prevent &
stay these things, yet it is[BX] not to late to exercise patience,
wisdom, and conscience in bearing them, and in caring our selves in &
under them for y^e time to come.

[136] And as we our selves stand ready to imbrace all occasions that
may tend to y^e furthrance of so hopefull a work, rather admiring of
what is, then grudging for what is not; so it must rest in you to make
all good againe. And if in nothing else you can be approved, yet let
your honestie & conscience be still approved, & lose not one jote of
you^r innocencie, amids your crosses & afflictions. And surly if you
upon this allteration behave your selves wisly, and goe on fairly, as
men whose hope is not in this life, you shall need no other weapon to
wound your adversaries; for when your righteousnes is revealled as y^e
light, they shall cover their faces with shame, that causlesly have
sought your overthrow.

Now we thinke it but reason, that all such things as ther apertaine to
the generall, be kept & preserved togeather, and rather increased
dayly, then any way be dispersed or imbeseled away for any private
ends or intents whatsoever. And after your necessities are served, you
gather togeather such co[=m]odities as y^e cuntrie yeelds, & send them
over to pay debts & clear ingagements hear, which are not less then
1400^li. And we hope you will doe your best to free our ingagements,
&c. Let us all indeavor to keep a faire & honest course, and see what
time will bring forth, and how God in his providence will worke for
us. We still are perswaded you are y^e people that must make a
plantation in those remoate places when all others faile and returne.
And your experience of Gods providence and preservation of you is such
as we hope your harts will not faile you, though your freinds should
forsake you (which we our selves shall not doe whilst we live, so long
as your honestie so well appereth). Yet surly help would arise from
some other place whilst you waite on God, with uprightnes, though we
should leave you allso.

And lastly be you all intreated to walke circumspectly, and carry your
selves so uprightly in all your ways, as y^t no man may make just
exceptions against you. And more espetially that y^e favour and
countenance of God may be so toward you, as y^t you may find abundante
joye & peace even amids tribulations, that you may say with David,
Though my father & mother should forsake me, yet y^e Lord would take
me up.

We have sent you hear some catle, cloath, hose, shoes, leather, &c.,
but in another nature then formerly, as it stood us in hand to doe; we
have co[=m]itted them to y^e charge & custody of M^r. Allerton and
M^r. Winslow, as our factours, at whose discretion they are to be
sould, and co[=m]odities to be taken for them, as is fitting. And by
how much y^e more they will be chargable unto you, the better[BY] they
had need to be husbanded, &c. Goe on, good freinds, comfortably, pluck
up your spirits, and quitte your selves like men in all your
difficulties, that notwithstanding all displeasure and threats of men,
yet y^e work may goe on you are aboute, and not be neglected. Which is
so much for y^e glorie of God, and the furthrance of our countrie-men,
as that a man may with more comforte [137] spend his life in it, then
live y^e life of Mathusala, in wasting y^e plentie of a tilled land,
or eating y^e fruite of a growne tree. Thus with harty salutations to
you all, and harty prayers for you all, we lovingly take our leaves,
this 18. of Des: 1624.

Your assured freinds to our powers,
J. S.
W. C.
T. F.
R. H. &c.

By this leter it appears in what state y^e affairs of y^e plantation stood at this time. These goods they bought, but they were at deare rates, for they put 40. in y^e hundred upon them, for profite and adventure, outward bound; and because of y^e [=v]nture of y^e paiment homeward, they would have 30.[BZ] in y^e 100. more, which was in all 70. [p=]^r. cent; a thing thought unreasonable by some, and too great an oppression upon y^e poore people, as their case stood. The catle were y^e best goods, for y^e other being ventured ware, were neither at y^e best (some of them) nor at y^e best prises. Sundrie of their freinds disliked these high rates, but co[=m]ing from many hands, they could not help it.