Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation' Part 33

[F] Pag. 421.

[G] A note of the author at this place, written subsequent to this portion of the narrative, on the reverse pages of his History.

[H] All these and subsequent pa.s.sages are quoted from the Geneva version of the Bible.

[I] Em: meter: lib: 25. col. 119.

[J] The reformed churches shapen much neerer y^e primitive patterne _then England_, for they cashered y^e Bishops w^ith al their courts, cannons, and ceremoneis, at the first; and left them amongst y^e popish tr.... to [=c]h w^ch they pertained. (The last word in the note is uncertain in the MS.)

[K] Goulden booke, &c.

[L] S^r Robert Nanton.

[M] NOTE.--O sacred bond, whilst inviollably preserved! how sweete and precious were the fruits that flowed from y^e same, but when this fidelity decayed, then their ruine approached. O that these anciente members had not dyed, or been dissipated, (if it had been the will of G.o.d) or els that this holy care and constante faithfullnes had still lived, and remained with those that survived, and were in times afterwards added unto them. But (ala.s.s) that subtill serpente hath slylie wound in himselfe under faire pretences of necessitie and y^e like, to untwiste these sacred bonds and tyes, and as it were insensibly by degrees to dissolve, or in a great measure to weaken, y^e same. I have been happy, in my first times, to see, and with much comforte to injoye, the blessed fruits of this sweete communion, but it is now a parte of my miserie in old age, to find and feele y^e decay and wante therof (in a great measure), and with greefe and sorrow of hart to lamente & bewaile y^e same. And for others warning and admonnition, and my owne humiliation, doe I hear note y^e same.

[The above reflections of the author were penned at a later period, on the reverse pages of his History, at this place.]

[N] Bishops.

[O] M^r. Tho: Weston, &c.

[P] _Yowthers_ in the ma.n.u.script, an illegibly written word, doubtless intended for "y^e others."

[Q] This word is enclosed in brackets in the ma.n.u.script.

[R] In Governor Bradford's Collection of Letters, these subscribers are thus wrote out at length: SAMUEL FULLER, WILLIAM BRADFORD, ISAAC ALLERTON, ED. WINSLOW.--_Prince._

[S] June 11. O. S. is Lord's day, and therefore 't is likely the date of this letter should be June 10, the same with the date of the letter following.--_Prince._

[T] He was a minister.

[U] Of some 60 tune.

[V] Heb. 11.

[W] This was about 22. of July.

[X] It was well for them y^t this was not accepted.

[Y] This letter is omitted in Governor Bradford's _Collection of Letters._--_Prince._

[Z] In Governor Bradford's _Collection of Letters_, this is Edward Southworth.--_Prince._

[AA] He was governour in y^e biger s.h.i.+p, & M^r. Cushman a.s.sistante.

[AB] I thinke he was deceived in these things.

[AC] This was found true afterward.

[AD] In the ma.n.u.script it is "strive dayly," but a pen has been drawn through the latter word.

[AE] For Governor Bradford's list of pa.s.sengers in the Mayflower, see Appendix, No. I.

[AF] Because y^ey tooke much of y^t fishe ther.

[AG] Epist: 53.

[AH] Act. 28.

[AI] Deu: 26. 5, 7.

[AJ] 107 Psa: v. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8.

[AK] Which was this author him selfe.

[AL] Page 17.

[AM] _Thing_ in the ma.n.u.script

[AN] She came y^e 9. to y^e Cap.

[AO] Nay, they were faine to spare y^e s.h.i.+pe some to carry her home.

[AP] _Yeeled_ in the ma.n.u.script.

[AQ] _Adventures_ in the ma.n.u.script.

[AR] I know not w^ch way.

[AS] _Adventures_ in the ma.n.u.script.

[AT] See how his promisss is fulfild.

[AU] _But y^e_ [he] _left not his own men a bite of bread._

[AV] The number is repeated in the Ms.

[AW] Mr. Hunter writes, "Here is an error in Bradford's pagination. He pa.s.ses from 79 to 90. No part of the ma.n.u.script is here lost." 79 is repeated in the paging.

[AX] _W^th_ in the ma.n.u.script.

[AY] _They_ in the MS.

[AZ] I may not here omite how, notwithstand all their great paines & industrie, and y^e great hops of a large cropp, the Lord seemed to blast, & take away the same, and to threaten further & more sore famine unto them, by a great drought which continued from y^e 3. weeke in May, till about y^e midle of July, without any raine, and with great heat (for y^e most parte), insomuch as y^e corne begane to wither away, though it was set with fishe, the moysture wherof helped it much. Yet at length it begane to languish sore, and some of y^e drier grounds were partched like withered hay, part wherof was never recovered. Upon which they sett a parte a solemne day of humilliation, to seek y^e Lord by humble & fervente prayer, in this great distrese. And he was pleased to give them a gracious & speedy answer, both to their owne, & the Indeans admiration, that lived amongest them. For all y^e morning, and greatest part of the day, it was clear weather & very hotte, and not a cloud or any signe of raine to be seen, yet toward evening it begane to overcast, and shortly after to raine, with shuch sweete and gentle showers, as gave them cause of rejoyceing, & blesing G.o.d. It came, without either wind, or thunder, or any violence, and by degreese in y^t abundance, as that y^e earth was thorowly wete and soked therwith. Which did so apparently revive & quicken y^e decayed corne & other fruits, as was wonderfull to see, and made y^e Indeans astonished to behold; and afterwards the Lord sent them shuch seasonable showers, with enterchange of faire warme weather, as, through his blessing, caused a fruitfull & liberall harvest, to their no small comforte and rejoycing. For which mercie (in time conveniente) they also sett aparte a day of thanksgiveing. This being overslipt in its place, I thought meet here to inserte y^e same.

[The above is written on the reverse of page 103 of the original, and should properly be inserted here. This pa.s.sage, "being overslipt in its place," the author at first wrote it, or the most of it, under the preceding year; but, discovering his error before completing it, drew his pen across it, and wrote beneath, "This is to be here rased out, and is to be placed on page 103, wher it is inserted."]

[BA] _On._