Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation' Part 25

_The agreemente of y^e bounds betwixte Plimoth and Ma.s.sachusetts._

Wheras ther were tow comissiones granted by y^e 2. jurisdictions, y^e one of Ma.s.sachsets Govermente, granted unto John Endecott, gent: and Israell Stoughton, gent: the other of New-Plimoth Govermente, to William Bradford, Gov^r, and Edward Winslow, gent: and both these for y^e setting out, setling, & determining of y^e bounds & limitts of y^e lands betweene y^e said jurisdictions, wherby not only this presente age, but y^e posteritie to come may live peaceably & quietly in y^t behalfe. And for as much as y^e said comissioners on both sids have full power so to doe, as appeareth by y^e records of both jurisdictions; we therfore, y^e said comissioners above named, doe hearby with one consente & agreemente conclude, detirmine, and by these presents declare, that all y^e marshes at Conahasett y^t lye of y^e one side of y^e river next to Hingam, shall belong to y^e jurisdition of Ma.s.sachusetts Plantation; and all y^e marshes y^t lye on y^e other side of y^e river next to Sityate, shall be long to y^e jurisdiction of New-Plimoth; excepting 60. acers of marsh at y^e mouth of y^e river, on Sityate side next to the sea, which we doe herby agree, conclude, & detirmine shall belong to y^e jurisdition of Ma.s.sachusetts. And further, we doe hearby agree, determine, and conclude, y^t the bounds of y^e limites betweene both y^e said jurisditions are as followeth, viz. from y^e mouth of y^e brook y^t runeth into Chonahasett marches (which we call by y^e name of Bound-brooke) with a stright & directe line to y^e midle of a great ponde, y^t lyeth on y^e right hand of y^e uper path, or commone way, y^t leadeth betweene Waimoth and Plimoth, close to y^e path as [233]

we goe alonge, which was formerly named (and still we desire may be caled) Accord pond, lying aboute five or 6. myles from Weimoth southerley; and from thence with a straight line to y^e souther-most part of Charles-river,[EF] & 3. miles southerly, inward into y^e countrie, according as is expresed in y^e patente granted by his Ma^tie to y^e Company of y^e Ma.s.sachusetts Plantation. Provided allways and never y^e less concluded & determined by mutuall agreemente betweene y^e said comissioners, y^t if it fall out y^t the said line from Accord-pond to y^e sothermost parte of Charles-river, & 3. myles southerly as is before expresed, straiten or hinder any parte of any plantation begune by y^e Gove^rt of New-Plimoth, or hereafter to be begune within 10. years after y^e date of these ps^{nts}, that then, notwithstanding y^e said line, it shall be lawfull for y^e said Gov^rt of New-Plimoth to a.s.sume on y^e northerly side of y^e said line, wher it shall so intrench as afforesaid, so much land as will make up y^e quant.i.ty of eight miles square, to belong to every shuch plantation begune, or to [be] begune as afforesaid; which we agree, determine, & conclude to appertaine & belong to y^e said Gov^rt of New-Plimoth. And wheras y^e said line, from y^e said brooke which runeth into Choaha.s.sett saltmarshes, called by us Bound-brooke, and y^e pond called Accord-pond, lyeth nere y^e lands belonging to y^e touns.h.i.+ps of Sityate & Hingam, we doe therfore hereby determine & conclude, that if any devissions allready made and recorded, by either y^e said towns.h.i.+ps, doe crose the said line, that then it shall stand, & be of force according to y^e former intents and purposes of the said townes granting them (the marshes formerly agreed on exepted). And y^t no towne in either jurisdiction shall hereafter exceede, but containe them selves within y^e said lines expressed. In witnes wherof we, the comissioners of both jurisdictions, doe by these presents indented set our hands & scales y^e ninth day of y^e 4. month in 16. year of our soveraine lord, king Charles; and in y^e year of our Lord, 1640.

WILLIAM BRADFORD, GOV^R.

ED: WINSLOW.

JO: ENDECOTT.

ISRAELL STOUGHTON.

Wheras y^e patente was taken in y^e name of William Bradford, (as in trust,) and rane in these termes: To him, his heires, and a.s.sociats & a.s.signes; and now y^e noumber of free-men being much increased, and diverce touns.h.i.+ps established and setled in severall quarters of y^e govermente, as Plimoth, Duxberie, Sityate, Tanton, Sandwich, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Marchfeeld, and not longe after, Seacunke (called afterward, at y^e desire of y^e inhabitants, Rehoboth) and Nawsett, it was by y^e Courte desired that William Bradford should make a surrender of the same into their hands. The which he willingly did, in this maner following.

Wheras William Bradford, and diverce others y^e first instruments of G.o.d in the begi[=n]ing of this great work of plantation, togeather with such as y^e allordering hand of G.o.d in his providence soone added unto them, have been at very great charges to procure y^e lands, priviledges, & freedoms from all intanglments, as may appeare by diverse & sundrie deeds, inlargments of grants, purchases, and payments of debts, &c., by reason wherof y^e t.i.tle to y^e day of these presents [234] remaineth in y^e said William Bradford, his heires, a.s.sociats, and a.s.signes: now, for y^e better setling of y^e estate of the said lands (contained in y^e grant or pattente), the said William Bradford, and those first instruments termed & called in sondry orders upon publick recorde, Y^e Purchasers, or Old comers; witnes 2. in spetiall, the one bearing date y^e 3. of March, 1639. the other in Des: the 1. An^o 1640. wherunto these presents have spetiall relation & agreemente, and wherby they are distinguished from other y^e freemen & inhabitants of y^e said corporation. Be it knowne unto all men, therfore, by these presents, that the said William Bradford, for him selfe, his heires, together with y^e said purchasers, doe only reserve unto them selves, their heires, and a.s.signes those 3. tractes of land mentioned in y^e said resolution, order, and agreemente, bearing date y^e first of Des: 1640. viz. first, from y^e bounds of Yarmouth, 3.

miles to y^e eastward of Naemschatet, and from sea to sea, crose the neck of land. The 2. of a place called Acoughcouss, which lyeth in y^e botome of y^e bay adjoyning to y^e west-side of Pointe Perill, and 2.

myles to y^e westerne side of y^e said river, to an other place called Acushente river, which entereth at y^e westerne end of Nacata, and 2.

miles to y^e eastward therof, and to extend 8. myles up into y^e countrie. The 3. place, from Sowansett river to Patucket river, (with Cawsumsett neck,) which is y^e cheefe habitation of y^e Indeans, & reserved for them to dwell upon, extending into y^e land 8. myles through y^e whole breadth therof. Togeather with such other small parcells of lands as they or any of them are personally possessed of or intressed in, by vertue of any former t.i.tles or grante whatsoever.

And y^e said William Bradford doth, by y^e free & full consente, approbation, and agreemente of y^e said old-planters, or purchasers, together with y^e liking, approbation, and acceptation of y^e other parte of y^e said corporation, surrender into y^e hands of y^e whole courte, consisting of y^e free-men of this corporation of New-Plimoth, all y^t other right & t.i.tle, power, authority, priviledges, immunities, & freedomes granted in y^e said letters patents by y^e said right Honb^le Counsell for New-England; reserveing his & their personall right of freemen, together w^th the said old planters afforesaid, excepte y^e said lands before excepted, declaring the freemen of this corporation, togeather with all such as shal be legally admitted into y^e same, his a.s.sociats. And y^e said William Bradford, for him, his heiers, & a.s.signes, doe hereby further promise and grant to doe & performe whatsoever further thing or things, acte or actes, which in him lyeth, which shall be needfull and expediente for y^e better confirming and establis.h.i.+ng the said premises, as by counsel lerned in y^e lawes shall be reasonably advised and devised, when he shall be ther unto required. In witness wherof, the said William Bradford hath in publick courte surrendered the said letters patents actually into y^e hands & power of y^e said courte, binding him selfe, his heires, executors, administrators, and a.s.signes to deliver up whatsoever spetialties are in his hands that doe or may concerne the same.

[235] In these 2. years they had sundry letters out of England to send one over to end the buissines and accounte with M^r. Sherley; who now professed he could not make up his accounts without y^e help of some from hence, espetialy M^r. Winslows. They had serious thoughts of it, and y^e most parte of y^e partners hear thought it best to send; but they had formerly written such bitter and threatening letters as M^r.

Winslow was neither willing to goe, nor y^t any other of y^e partners should; for he was perswaded, if any of them wente, they should be arested, and an action of such a su[=m]e layed upon them as they should not procure baele, but must lye in prison, and then they would bring them to what they liste; or other wise they might be brought into trouble by y^e arch-bishops means, as y^e times then stood. But, notwithstanding, they weer much inclined to send, & Captaine Standish was willing to goe, but they resolved, seeing they could not all agree in this thing, and that it was waighty, and y^e consequence might prove dangerous, to take M^r. Winthrops advise in y^e thing, and y^e rather, because M^r. Andrews had by many letters acquaynted him with y^e differences betweene them, and appoynted him for his a.s.signe to receive his parte of y^e debte. (And though they deneyed to pay him any as a debte, till y^e controversie was ended, yet they had deposited 110^li.

in money in his hands for M^r. Andrews, to pay to him in parte as soone as he would come to any agreement with y^e rest.) But M^r. Winthrop was of M^r. Winslows minde, and disswaded them from sending; so they broak of their resolution from sending, and returned this answer: that the times were dangerous as things stood with them, for they knew how M^r.

Winslow had suffered formerley, and for a small matter was clapte up in y^e Fleete, & it was long before he could gett out, to both his & their great loss and damage; and times were not better, but worse, in y^t respecte. Yet, that their equall & honest minds might appeare to all men, they made them this tender: to refferr y^e case to some gentle-men and marchants in y^e Bay of y^e Ma.s.sachusetts, such as they should chuse, and were well knowne unto them selves, (as they perceived their wer many of their aquaintance and freinds ther, better knowne to them then y^e partners hear,) and let them be informed in y^e case by both sids, and have all y^e evidence y^t could be prodused, in writing, or other wise; and they would be bound to stand to their determination, and make good their award, though it should cost them all they had in y^e world. But this did not please them, but they were offended at it, without any great reasone for ought I know, (seeing nether side could give in clear accountes, y^e partners here could not, by reason they (to their smarte) were failed by y^e accountante they sent them, and M^r.

Sherley pretened he could not allso,) save as they conceived it a disparagmente to yeeld to their inferiours in respecte of y^e place and other concurring circomstances. So this came to nothing; and afterward M^r. Sherley write, y^t if M^r. Winslow would mett him in France, y^he Low-Countries, or Scotland, let y^e place be knowne, and he [236] come to him ther. But in regard of y^e troubles that now begane to arise in our owne nation, and other reasons, this did not come to any effecte.

That which made them so desirous to bring things to an end was partly to stope y^e clamours and aspertions raised & cast upon them hereaboute; though they conceived them selves to sustaine the greatest wrong, and had most cause of complainte; and partly because they feared y^e fall of catle, in which most parte of their estats lay. And this was not a vaine feare; for they fell indeede before they came to a conclusion, and that so souddanly, as a cowe that but a month before was worth 20^li., and would so have pa.s.sed in any paymente, fell now to 5^li. and would yeeld no more; and a goate that wente at 3^li. or 50^s. would now yeeld but 8. or 10^s. at most. All men feared a fall of catle, but it was thought it would be by degrees; and not to be from y^e highest pitch at once to y^e lowest, as it did, which was greatly to y^e damage of many, and y^e undoing of some. An other reason was, they many of them grew aged, (and indeed a rare thing it was that so many partners should all live together so many years as these did,) and saw many changes were like to befall; so as they were loath to leave these intanglments upon their children and posteritie, who might be driven to remove places, as they had done; yea, them selves might doe it yet before they dyed. But this bussines must yet rest; y^e next year gave it more ripnes, though it rendred them less able to pay, for y^e reasons afforesaid.

_Anno Dom: 1641._

M^r. Sherley being weary of this controversie, and desirous of an end, (as well as them selves,) write to M^r. John Atwode and M^r. William Collier, 2. of y^e inhabitants of this place, and of his speatiall aquaintance, and desired them to be a means to bring this bussines to an end, by advising & counselling the partners hear, by some way to bring it to a composition, by mutuall agreemente. And he write to them selves allso to y^t end, as by his letter may apear; so much therof as concernse y^e same I shall hear relate.

S^r. My love remembered, &c. I have writte so much concerning y^e ending of accounts betweexte us, as I profess I know not what more to write, &c. If you desire an end, as you seeme to doe, ther is (as I conceive) but 2. waise; that is, to parfecte all accounts, from y^e first to y^e last, &c. Now if we find this difficulte, and tedious, haveing not been so stricte & carefull as we should and oughte to have done, as for my owne parte I doe confess I have been somewhat to remisse, and doe verily thinke so are you, &c. I fear you can never make a perfecte accounte of all your pety viages, out, & home too & againe, &c.[EG] So then y^e second way must be, by biding, or [237]

compounding; and this way, first or last, we must fall upon, &c. If we must warr at law for it, doe not you expecte from me, nether will I from you, but to cleave y^e heare, and then I dare say y^e lawyers will be most gainers, &c. Thus let us set to y^e worke, one way or other, and end, that I may not allways suffer in my name & estate. And you are not free; nay, y^e gospell suffers by your delaying, and causeth y^e professors of it to be hardly spoken of, that you, being many, & now able, should combine & joyne togeather to oppress & burden me, &c. Fear not to make a faire & reasonable offer; beleeve me, I will never take any advantage to plead it against you, or to wrong you; or else let M^r. Winslow come over, and let him have such full power & authority as we may ende by compounding; or else, y^e accounts so well and fully made up, as we may end by reconing. Now, blesed be G.o.d, y^e times be much changed here, I hope to see many of you returne to you^r native countrie againe, and have such freedome & libertie as y^e word of G.o.d prescribs. Our bishops were never so near a downfall as now; G.o.d hath miraculously confounded them, and turned all their popish & Machavillian plots & projects on their owne heads, &c. Thus you see what is fitt to be done concerning our perticulere greevances.

I pray you take it seriously into consideration; let each give way a litle that we may meete, &c. Be you and all yours kindly saluted, &c.

So I ever rest,

Your loving friend, JAMES SHERLEY.

Clapham, May 18, 1641.

Being thus by this leter, and allso by M^r. Atwodes & M^r. Colliers mediation urged to bring things to an end, (and y^e continuall clamors from y^e rest,) and by none more urged then by their own desires, they tooke this course (because many scandals had been raised upon them).

They apoynted these 2. men before mentioned to meet on a certaine day, and called some other freinds on both sids, and M^r. Free-man, brother in law to M^r. Beachamp, and having drawne up a collection of all y^e remains of y^e stock, in what soever it was, as housing, boats, bark, and all implements belonging to y^e same, as they were used in y^e time of y^e trad, were they better or worce, with y^e remaines of all co[=m]odities, as beads, knives, hatchetts, cloth, or any thing els, as well y^e refuse as y^e more vendible, with all debts, as well those y^t were desperate as others more hopefull; and having spent diverce days to bring this to pa.s.s, having y^e helpe of all bookes and papers, which either any of them selves had, or Josias Winslow, who was their accountante; and they found y^e sume in all to arise (as y^e things were valued) to aboute 1400^li. And they all of them tooke a voluntary but a sollem oath, in y^e presence one of an other, and of all their frends, y^e persons abovesaid y^t were now presente, that this was all that any of them knew of, or could remember; and Josias Winslow did y^e like for his parte. But y^e truth is they wrongd them selves much in y^e valuation, for they reconed some catle as they were taken of M^r.

Allerton, as for instance a cowe in y^e hands of one cost 25^li. and so she was valued in this accounte; but when she came to be past away in parte of paymente, after y^e agreemente, she would be accepted but a 4^li. 15^s. [238] Also being tender of their oaths, they brought in all they know owing to y^e stock; but they had not made y^e like diligente search what y^e stocke might owe to any, so as many scattering debts fell upon afterwards more then now they know of.

Upon this they drew certaine articles of agreemente betweene M^r.

Atwode, on M^r. Sherleys behalfe, and them selves. The effecte is as folloeth.

_Articles of agreemente made and concluded upon y^e 15. day of October, 1641. &c._

Imp: Wheras ther was a partners.h.i.+p for diverce years agreed upon betweene James Sherley, John Beacham, and Richard Andrews, of London, marchants, and William Bradford, Edward Winslow, Thomas Prence, Myles Standish, William Brewster, John Aldon, & John Howland, w^th Isaack Allerton, in a trade of beaver skines & other furrs arising in New-England; the terme of which said partners.h.i.+p being expired, and diverse su[=m]es of money in goods adventured into New-England by y^e said James Sherley, John Beachamp, & Richard Andrews, and many large returnes made from New-England by y^e said William Bradford, Ed: Winslow, &c.; and differance arising aboute y^e charge of 2. s.h.i.+ps, the one called y^e White Angele, of Bristow, and y^e other y^e Frinds.h.i.+p, of Barnstable, and a viage intended in her, &c.; which said s.h.i.+ps & their viages, y^e said William Bradford, Ed: W. &c. conceive doe not at all appertaine to their accounts of partners.h.i.+p; and weras y^e accounts of y^e said partners.h.i.+p are found to be confused, and cannot orderley appeare (through y^e defaulte of Josias Winslow, y^e booke keeper); and weras y^e said W. B. &c. have received all their goods for y^e said trade from the foresaid James Sherley, and have made most of their returnes to him, by consente of y^e said John Beachamp & Richard Andrews; and wheras also y^e said James Sherley hath given power & authoritie to M^r. John Atwode, with y^e advice & consente of William Collier, of Duxborow, for and on his behalfe, to put such an absolute end to y^e said partners.h.i.+p, with all and every accounts, reconings, dues, claimes, demands, whatsoever, to y^e said James Sherley, John Beacham, & Richard Andrews, from y^e said W. B.

&c. for and concerning y^e said beaver trade, & also y^e charge y^e said 2. s.h.i.+ps, and their viages made or pretended, whether just or unjuste, from y^e worlds begining to this presente, as also for y^e paimente of a purchas of 1800^li. made by Isaack Allerton, for and on y^e behalfe of y^e said W. B., Ed: W., &c., and of y^e joynt stock, shares, lands, and adventurs, what soever in New-England aforesaid, as apeareth by a deede bearing date y^e 6. Nov^br. 1627; and also for and from such sume and sumes of money or goods as are received by William Bradford, Tho: Prence, & Myles Standish, for y^e recovery of dues, by accounts betwexte them, y^e said James Sherly, John Beachamp, & Richard Andrews, and Isaack Allerton, for y^e s.h.i.+p caled y^e White Angell. Now y^e said John Attwode, with advice & counsell of y^e said William Collier, having had much comunication & spente diverse days in agitation of all y^e said differances & accounts with y^e said W. B., E. W., &c.; and y^e said W. B., E. W., &c. have also, with y^e said book-keeper spente much time in collecting & gathering togeither y^e remainder of y^e stock of partners.h.i.+p for y^e said trade, and what soever hath beene received, or is due by y^e said attorneys.h.i.+p before expresed, and all, and all manner of goods, debts, and dues therunto belonging, as well those debts that are weake and doubtfull [239] and desperate, as those y^t are more secure, which in all doe amounte to y^e sume of 1400^li. or ther aboute; and for more full satisfaction of y^e said James Sherley, John Beachamp, & Richard Andrews, the said W.

B. and all y^e rest of y^e abovesaid partners, togeither with Josias Winslow y^e booke keeper, have taken a voluntarie oath, y^t within y^e said sume of 1400^li. or theraboute, is contained whatsoever they knew, to y^e utmost of their rememberance.

In consideration of all which matters & things before expressed, and to y^e end y^t a full, absolute, and finall end may be now made, and all suits in law may be avoyded, and love & peace continued, it is therfore agreed and concluded betweene y^e said John Attwode, with y^e advice & consent of y^e said William Colier, for & on y^e behalfe of y^e said James Sherley, to and with y^e said W. B., &c. in maner and forme following: viz. that y^e said John Attwode shall procure a sufficiente release and discharge, under y^e hands & seals of y^e said James Sherley, John Beachamp, & Richard Andrews, to be delivered fayer & unconcealed unto y^e said William Bradford, &c., at or before y^e last day of August, next insuing y^e date hereof, whereby y^e said William Bradford &c., their heires, executors, & administrators, & every of them shall be fully and absolutly aquited & discharged of all actions, suits, reconings, accounts, claimes, and demands whatsoever concerning y^e generall stock of beaver trade, paymente of y^e said 1800^li. for y^e purcha.s.s, and all demands, reckonings, and accounts, just or unjuste, concerning the tow s.h.i.+ps Whit-Angell and Frends.h.i.+p aforesaid, togeather with whatsoever hath been received by y^e said William Bradford, of y^e goods or estate of Isaack Allerton, for satisfaction of y^e accounts of y^e said s.h.i.+p called y^e Whit Angele, by vertue of a [~l]re of attourney to him, Thomas Prence, & Myles Standish, directed from y^e said James Sherley, John Beachamp, & Richard Andrews, for y^t purpose as afforesaid.

It is also agreed & concluded upon betweene the said parties to these presents, that the said W. B., E. W., &c. shall now be bound in 2400^li. for paymente of 1200^li. in full satisfaction of all demands as afforesaid; to be payed in maner & forme following; that is to say, 400^li. within 2. months next after y^e receite of the aforesaid releases and discharges, one hundred and ten pounds wherof is allready in y^e hands of John Winthrop senior of Boston, Esquire, by the means of M^r. Richard Andrews afforesaid, and 80^li. waight of beaver now deposited into y^e hands of y^e said John Attwode, to be both in part of paimente of y^e said 400^li. and y^e other 800^li. to be payed by 200^li. [p=]^r a[=n]ume, to such a.s.signes as shall be appointed, inhabiting either in Plimoth or Ma.s.sachusetts Bay, in such goods & comodities, and at such rates, as the countrie shall afford at y^e time of delivery & paymente; and in y^e mean time y^e said bond of 2400^li. to be deposited into y^e hands of y^e said John Attwode. And it is agreed upon by & betweene y^e said parties to these presents, that if y^e said John Attwode shall not or cannot procure such said releases & discharges as afforesaid from y^e said James Sherley, John Bachamp, & Richard Andrews, at or before y^e last day of August next insuing y^e date hear of, y^t then y^e said John Attwode shall, at y^e said day precisely, redeliver, or cause to [240] be delivered unto ye said W. B., E. W., &c. their said bond of 2400^li. and y^e said 80^li.

waight of beaver, or y^e due valew therof, without any fraud or further delay; and for performance of all & singuler y^e covenants and agreements hearin contained and expressed, which on y^e one parte and behalfe of y^e said James Sherley are to be observed & performed, shall become bound in y^e su[=m]e of 2400^li. to them, y^e said William Bradford, Edward Winslow, Thomas Prence, Myles Standish, William Brewster, John Allden, and John Howland. And it is lastly agreed upon betweene y^e said parties, that these presents shall be left in trust, to be kepte for boath parties, in y^e hands of Mr. John Reanour, teacher of Plimoth. In witnes wherof, all y^e said parties have hereunto severally sett their hands, y^e day and year first above writen.

JOHN ATWODE, WILLIAM BRADFORD, EDWARD WINSLOW, &c. In y^e presence of

EDMOND FREEMAN, WILLIAM THOMAS, WILLIAM PADY, NATHANIELL SOUTHER.

The nexte year this long and tedious bussines came to some issue, as will then appeare, though not to a finall ende with all y^e parties; but this much for y^e presente.

I had forgoten to inserte in its place how y^e church here had invited and sent for M^r. Charles Chansey,[EH] a reverend, G.o.dly, and very larned man, intending upon triall to chose him pastor of y^e church hear, for y^e more comfortable performance of y^e ministrie with Mr.

John Reinor, the teacher of the same. But ther fell out some differance aboute baptising, he holding it ought only to be by diping, and putting y^e whole body under water, and that sprinkling was unlawfull. The church yeelded that immersion, or dipping, was lawfull, but in this could countrie not so conveniente. But they could not nor durst not yeeld to him in this, that sprinkling (which all y^e churches of Christ doe for y^e most parte use at this day) was unlawfull, & an humane invention, as y^e same was prest; but they were willing to yeeld to him as far as y^ey could, & to y^e utmost; and were contented to suffer him to practise as he was perswaded; and when he came to minister that ordnance, he might so doe it to any y^t did desire it in y^t way, provided he could peacably suffer Mr. Reinor, and such as desired to have theirs otherwise baptised by him, by sprinkling or powering on of water upon them; so as ther might be no disturbance in y^e church hereaboute. But he said he could not yeeld herunto. Upon which the church procured some other ministers to dispute y^e pointe with him publikly; as Mr. Ralfe Partrich, of Duxberie, who did it sundrie times, very ablie and sufficently, as allso some other ministers within this govermente. But he was not satisfied; so y^e church sent to many other churches to crave their help and advise in [241] this mater, and, with his will & consente, sent them his arguments writen under his owne hand.

They sente them to y^e church at Boston in y^e Bay of Ma.s.sachusets, to be comunicated with other churches ther. Also they sent y^e same to the churches of Conightecutt and New-Haven, with sundrie others; and received very able & sufficent answers, as they conceived, from them and their larned ministers, who all concluded against him. But him selfe was not satisfied therw^th. Their answers are too large hear to relate. They conceived y^e church had done what was meete in y^e thing, so M^r.

Chansey, having been y^e most parte of 3. years here, removed him selfe to Sityate, wher he now remaines a minister to y^e church ther. Also about these times, now y^t catle & other things begane greatly to fall from their former rates, and persons begane to fall into more straits, and many being allready gone from them, (as is noted before,) both to Duxberie, Marshfeeld, and other places, & those of y^e cheefe sorte, as M^r. Winslow, Captaine Standish, Mr. Allden, and many other, & stille some dropping away daly, and some at this time, and many more unsetled, it did greatly weaken y^e place, and by reason of y^e straitnes and barrennes of y^e place, it sett y^e thoughts of many upon removeall; as will appere more hereafter.

_Anno Dom: 1642._

Marvilous it may be to see and consider how some kind of wickednes did grow & breake forth here, in a land wher the same was so much witnesed against, and so narrowly looked unto, & severly punished when it was knowne; as in no place more, or so much, that I have known or heard of; insomuch as they have been somewhat censured, even by moderate and good men, for their severitie in punishments. And yet all this could not suppress y^e breaking out of sundrie notorious sins, (as this year, besids other, gives us too many sad presidents and instances,) espetially drunkennes and unclainnes; not only incontinencie betweene persons unmaried, for which many both men & women have been punished sharply enough, but some maried persons allso. But that which is worse, even sodomie and bugerie, (things fearfull to name,) have broak forth in this land, oftener then once. I say it may justly be marveled at, and cause us to fear & tremble at the consideration of our corrupte natures, which are so hardly bridled, subdued, & mortified; nay, cannot by any other means but y^e powerfull worke & grace of G.o.ds spirite. But (besids this) one reason may be, that y^e Divell may carrie a greater spite against the churches of Christ and y^e gospell hear, by how much y^e more they indeaour to preserve holynes and puritie amongst them, and strictly punisheth the contrary when it ariseth either in church or comone wealth; that he might cast a [242] blemishe & staine upon them in y^e eyes of [y^e] world, who use to be rash in judgmente. I would rather thinke thus, then that Satane hath more power in these heathen lands, as som have thought, then in more Christian nations, espetially over G.o.ds servants in them.

2. An other reason may be, that it may be in this case as it is with waters when their streames are stopped or da[=m]ed up, when they gett pa.s.sage they flow with more violence, and make more noys and disturbance, then when they are suffered to rune quietly in their owne chanels. So wikednes being here more stopped by strict laws, and y^e same more nerly looked unto, so as it cannot rune in a comone road of liberty as it would, and is inclined, it searches every wher, and at last breaks out wher it getts vente.

3. A third reason may be, hear (as I am verily perswaded) is not more evills in this kind, nor nothing nere so many by proportion, as in other places; but they are here more discoverd and seen, and made publick by due serch, inquisition, and due punishment; for y^e churches looke narrowly to their members, and y^e magistrats over all, more strictly then in other places. Besids, here the people are but few in comparison of other places, which are full & populous, and lye hid, as it were, in a wood or thickett, and many horrible evills by y^t means are never seen nor knowne; wheras hear, they are, as it were, brought into y^e light, and set in y^e plaine feeld, or rather on a hill, made conspicuous to y^e veiw of all.

But to proceede; y^er came a letter from y^e Gov^r in y^e Bay to them here, touching matters of y^e forementioned nature, which because it may be usefull I shall hear relate it, and y^e pa.s.sages ther aboute.

S^r: Having an opportunitie to signifie y^e desires of our Generall Court in toow things of spetiall importance, I willingly take this occasion to imparte them to you, y^t you may imparte them to y^e rest of your magistrats, and also to your Elders, for counsell; and give us your advise in them. The first is concerning heinous offences in point of uncleannes; y^e perticuler cases, with y^e circomstances, and y^e questions ther upon, you have hear inclosed. The 2. thing is concerning y^e Ilanders at Aquidnett; y^t seeing the cheefest of them are gone from us, in offences, either to churches, or co[=m]one welth, or both; others are dependants on them, and y^e best sorte are such as close with them in all their rejections of us. Neither is it only in a faction y^t they are devided from us, but in very deed they rend them selves from all y^e true churches of Christ, and, many of them, from all y^e powers of majestracie. We have had some experience hereof by some of their underworkers, or emissaries, who have latly come amongst us, and have made publick defiance against magistracie, ministrie, churches, & church covenants, &c. as antichristian; secretly also sowing y^e seeds of Familisme, and Anabaptistrie, to y^e infection of some, and danger of others; so that we are not willing to joyne with them in any league or confederacie at all, but rather that you would consider & advise with us how we may avoyd them, and keep ours from being infected by them. Another thing I should mention to you, for y^e maintenance of y^e trad of beaver; if ther be not a company to order it in every jurisdition among y^e English, which companies should agree in generall of their way in trade, I supose that y^e trade will be overthrowne, and the Indeans will abuse us. For this cause we have latly put it into order amongst us, hoping of incouragmente from you (as we have had) y^t we may continue y^e same.

Thus not further to trouble you, I rest, with my loving remembrance to your selfe, &c.

Your loving friend, RI: BELLINGHAM.

Boston, 28. (1.) 1642.

The note inclosed follows on y^e other side.[EI]

[244] Worthy & beloved S^r:

Your letter (with y^e questions inclosed) I have comunicated with our a.s.sistants, and we have refered y^e answer of them to such Rev[=e]^d Elders as are amongst us, some of whose answers thertoo we have here sent you inclosed, under their owne hands; from y^e rest we have not yet received any. Our farr distance hath bene y^e reason of this long delay, as also y^t they could not conferr their counsells togeather.

For our selves, (you know our breedings & abillities,) we rather desire light from your selves, & others, whom G.o.d hath better inabled, then to presume to give our judgments in cases so difficulte and of so high a nature. Yet under correction, and submission to better judgments, we propose this one thing to your prudent considerations.

As it seems to us, in y^e case even of willfull murder, that though a man did smite or wound an other, with a full pourpose or desire to kill him, (w^ch is murder in a high degree, before G.o.d,) yet if he did not dye, the magistrate was not to take away y^e others life.[EJ]

So by proportion in other grosse & foule sines, though high attempts & nere approaches to y^e same be made, and such as in the sight & account of G.o.d may be as ill as y^e accomplishmente of y^e foulest acts of y^t sine, yet we doute whether it may be safe for y^e magistrate to proceed to death; we thinke, upon y^e former grounds, rather he may not. As, for instance, in y^e case of adultrie, (if it be admitted y^t it is to be punished w^{th} death, which to some of us is not cleare,) if y^e body be not actually defiled, then death is not to be inflicted. So in sodomie, & b.e.a.s.t.i.a.litie, if ther be not penetration. Yet we confess foulnes of circomstances, and frequencie in y^e same, doth make us remaine in y^e darke, and desire further light from you, or any, as G.o.d shall give.

As for y^e 2. thing, concerning y^e Ilanders? we have no conversing with them, nor desire to have, furder then necessitie or humanity may require.

And as for trade? we have as farr as we could ever therin held an orderly course, & have been sory to see y^e spoyle therof by others, and fear it will hardly be recovered. But in these, or any other things which may concerne y^e co[=m]one good, we shall be willing to advise & concure with you in what we may. Thus w^{th} my love remembered to your selfe, and y^e rest of our worthy friends, your a.s.sistants, I take leave, & rest,