Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth, Part 6
Reason & considerations touching the lawfulnesse of remouing out of England into the parts of America.
FOrasmuch as many exceptions are daily made against the going into,The Preamble. and inhabiting of forraine desert places, to the hinderance of plantations abroad, and the increase of distractions at home: It is not amisse that some which hauehave beene care witnesses of the exceptions made, and are either Agents or Abettors of such remouals and plantations, doe seeke to giuegive content to the world, in all things that possibly they can.
And although the most of the opposites are such as either dreame of raising their fortunes here, to that then which there is nothing more vnlike, or such as affecting their home-borne countrey so vehemently, as that they had rather with all their friends begge, yea starue in it, the vndergoe a little difficultie in seeking abroad, yet are there some who out of doubt in tendernesse of conscience, and feare to offend God by running before they be called, are straitned and doe straiten others, from going to forraine plantations.
For whose cause especially, I hauehave been drawne out of my good affection to them, to publish some reasons that might giuegive them content and satisfaction, and also stay and stop the wilfull and wittie cauiller: and herein I trust I shall not be blamed of any godly wise, though thorow my slender iudgement I should misse the marke, and not strike the naile on the head, considering it i… the first attempt that hath beene made (that I know of) to defend those enterprises. Reason would therefore, that if any man of deeper reach and better iudgement see further or otherwise, that he rather instruct me, then deride me.
And being studious or breuitie, we must first consider,…. Gen. 12. …, … & 35.…. that whereas God of old did call and summon our Fathers by predictions, dreames, visions, and certaine illuminations to goe from their countries,Mat. 2. 19. places and habitations, to reside and dwell here or there,Psal. 105. 13. and to wander vp and downe from citie to citie, and Land to Land, according to his will and pleasure. Now there is no such calling to be expected for any matter whatsoeuer, neither must any so much as imagine that there will now be any such thing.Eseb. 1. 1, 2. God did once so traine vp his people, but now he doth not, but speakes in another manner, and so we must apply our selves to Gods present dealing, and not to his wonted dealing: and as the miracle of giuing Man…s ceased,Josh. ….12. when the fruit… of the land became plentie, so God hauing such a plentifull storehouse of directions in his holy word, there must not now any extraordinarie reuelations be expected.
But now the ordinarie examples and precepts of the Scriptures reasonably and rightly vnderstood and applied, must be the voice and word, that must call vsus, presse vsus, and direct vsus in eueryevery action.
Neither is there any land or possession now, like vntounto the possession which the Iewes had in Caanan, … 3.being legally holy and appropriated vntounto a holy people the seed of Abraham, in which they dwelt securely, and had their daies prolonged, it being by an immediate voice said, that he (the Lord) gaue it them a… a land of rest after their wearie trauels, and a type of Eternall rest in heauen, but now there is no land of that Sanctimanie, no land so appropriated; none typicall: much lesse any that can be said to be giuen of God to any nation a… was Caanan, which they and their seed must dwell in, till God sendeth vponupon them sword or captiuitie: but now we are all in all places strangers and Pilgrims, trauellers and soiourners, most properly, hauing no dwelling but in this earthen Tab…rnacle;2 Cor. 5 1, 2.3. our dwelling is but a wandring, and our abiding but as a fleeting,So were the Iewes, but yet their temper all blessings and inheritances were more … then … and in a word our home is nowhere, but in the heauens: in that house not made with hand…, whose maker and builder is God, and to which all ascend that … the comming of our Lord Iesus.
Though then, there may be reasons to perswade a man to liue in this or that land, yet there cannot be the same reasons which the Iewes had, but now as naturall, ciuill and Religious bands tie men, so they must be bound, and as good reason… for things terrene and heauenly appeare, so they must be led. And so here falleth in our question,Obiect. how a man that is here borne and bred, and hath liued some yeares, may remoue himselfe into another countrie.
I answer,Answ. a man must not respect only to liue, and doe good to himselfe, but he should see where he can liue to doe most good to others:1What persons may hence remoue. for as one saith, He whose liuing is but for himselfe, it is time he were dead. Some men there are who of necessitie must here liue, as being tied to duties either to Church, Common-wealth, houshold, kindred, &c. but others, and that many, who doe no good in none of those nor can doe none, as being not able, or not in fauour, or as wanting opportunitie, and liue as outcasts: no bodies, eie-sores, eating but for themselues, teaching but themselues, and doing good to none, either in soule or body, and so passe ouer daies, yeares, and moneths, yea so liue and so die. Now such should life vp their eies and see whether there be not some other place and countrie to which they may goe to doe good and hauehave vse towards others of that knowledge, wisdome, humanitie, reason, strength, skill, facultie,2Why they should remoue. &c. which God hath giuen them for the seruice of others and his owne glory.
But not to passe the bounds of modestie so far as to name any, though I co…fesse I know many, who sit here still with their talent in a napkin, hauing notable endowments both of body and minde,Luk. 19.20. and might doe great good if they were in some places, which here doe none, nor can doe none, and yet through fleshly feare, nicenesse, straitnesse of heart, &c. sit still and looke on, and will not hazard a dram of health, nor a day of pleasure, nor an houre of rest to further the knowledge and saluation of the sons of Adam in that New world, Reas. ….where a drop of the knowledge of Christ is most precious, which is here not set by. Now what shall we say to such a profession of Christ, to which is ioyned no more deniall of a mans selfe?Obiect. But some will say, what right hauehave I to goe liue in the heathens countrie?
Letting passe the ancient discouerie…,Answ. contracts and agreements which our English men hauehave long since made in those parts, together with the acknowledgement of the histories and Chronicles of other nations, who professe the land of America from the Cape De Florida vntounto the Bay of Canad… (which is South and North 300. leagues and vpwards; and East and West, further then yet hath beene discouered) is proper to the King of England, yet letting that passe, lest I he thought to meddle further then it concerns me, or further then I hauehave discerning: I will mention such things as are within my reach, knowledge, sight and practice, since I hauehave trauailed in these affaires.
Reas. 2.And first seeing we daily pray for the conuersion of the heathens, we must consider whether there be not some ordinary meanes, and course for vsus to take to conuert them, or whether praier for them be only referred to Gods extraordinarie worke from heauen. Now it seemeth vntounto me that we ought also to endeuour and vse the meanes to conuert them, and the meanes cannot be vsed vnlesse we goe to them or they come to vsus: to vsus they cannot come, our land is full: to them we may goe, their land is emptie.
Reas. 3.This then is a sufficient reason to proue our going thither to liue, lawfull their land is spatious and void & there are few and doe but run ouer the grasse, as doe also the Foxes and wilde beasts: they are not industrious, neither hauehave are, science, skill or facultie to vse either the land or the commodities of it, but all spoiles, rots, and is marred for want of manuring, gathering, ordering, &c. As the ancient Patriarkes therefore remoued from straiter places into more roomthy, where the Land lay idle and waste, and none vsed it, though there dwelt inhabitants by them, as Gen. 13.6.11.12. and 34.21. and 41.20. so is it lawfull now to take a land which none vseth, and make vse of it.
Reas. 4.And as it is a common land or vnused, & vndressed countrey;This is to be considered as respecting new England and the … the plantation. so we hauehave it by common consent, composition and agreement, which agreement is double: First the Imperial Gouernor …, whose circuits in likelihood are larger then England and Scotland, hath acknowledged the Kings Maiestie of England to be his Master and Commander, and that once in … and in writing, vnderunder his hand to Captaine Standish, both he and many other Kings which are vnderunder him, as Pamet, Nauset, Cammaquid, Narrowhiggonset, Namaschet, &c. with diuers others that dwell about the baies of Patuxet, and Massachuset: neither hath this beene accomplished by threats and blowes, or shaking of sword, and sound of trumpet, for as our facultie that way is small, and our strength lesse: so our warring with them is after another manner, namely by friendly vsage, louelove, peace, honest and iust cariages, good counsell, &c. that so we and they may not only liue in peace in that land,Psal. 110.3. & 48. …. and they yeeld subiection to an earthly Prince, but that as voluntaries they may be perswaded at length to embrace the Prince of peace Christ Iesus, and rest in peace with him for euer.
Secondly, this composition is also more particular and applicatorie, as touching our selues there inhabiting: the Emperour by aioynt consent, hath promised and appointed vsus to liue at peace, where we will in all his dominions, taking what place we will, and as much land as we will, and bringing as many people as we will, and that for these two causes. First, because we are the seruants of Iames King of England, whose the land (as he confesseth) is, 2. because he hath found vsus iust, honest, kinde and peaceable, and so loues our company, yea, and that in these things there is no dissimulation on his part, nor feare of breach (except our securitie ingender in them some vnthought of trecherie, or our vnciuilitie prouoke them to anger) is most plaine in other Relations, which shew that the things they did were more out of louelove then out of feare.
It being then first a vast and emptie Chaos: Secondly acknowledged the right of our Soueraigne King: Thirdly, by a peaceable composition in part possessed of diuers of his louing subiects, I see not who can doubt or call in question the lawfulnesse of inhabiting or dwelling there, but that it may be as lawfull for such as are not tied vponupon some speciall occasion here, to line there as well as here, yea, and as the enterprise is weightie and difficult, so the honour is more worthy, to plant a rude wildernesse, to enlarge the honour and fame of our dread Soueraigne, but chiefly to displaie the efficacie & power of the Gospell both in zealous preaching, professing, and wise walking vnderunder it, before the faces of these poore blinde Infidels.
As for such as obiect the tediousnesse of the voyage thither, the danger of Pirats robberie, of the sauages trecherie, &c. these are but Lyons in the way,Prou. 22.13. and it were well for such men if they were in heauen, for who can shew them a place in this world where iniquitie shall not compasse them at the heeles, and where they shall hauehave a day without griefe,Psal. 49.5. Mat. 6.34. or a lease of life for a moment; and who can tell but God, what dangers may lie at our doores, euen in our natiue countrie, or what plots may be abroad, or when God will cause our sunne to goe downe at noone daie…,Amos 8.9. and in the midst of our peace and securitie, lay vponupon vsus some lasting s…ourge for our so long neglect and contempt of his most glorious Gospell.
Ob.But we hauehave here great peace, plentie of the Gospell, and many sweet delights and varietie of comforts.
Answ. 2. Chro. 32.25.True indeed, and farre be it from vsus to denie and diminish the least of these mercies, but hauehave we rendered vntounto God thankfull obedience for this long peace, whilst other peoples hauehave beene at wars? hauehave we not rather murmured, repined, and fallen at iars amongst our selues, whilst our peace hath lasted with forraigne power? was there euer more suits in law, more enuie, contempt and reproch then now adaies? Abraham and Lot departed asunder when there fell a breach betwixt them,Gen. 13.9.10. which was occasioned by the straightnesse of the land: and surely I am perswaded, that howsoeuer the frailties of men are principall in all contentions, yet the straitnes of the place is such, as each man is faine to plucke his meanes as it were out of his neighbours throat, there is such pressing and oppressing in towne and countrie, about Farmes, trades, traffique, &c. so as a man can hardly any where set vp a trade but he shall pull downe two of his neighbours.
The Townes abound with young trades-men, and the Hospitals are full of the Auncient, the country is replenished with new Farmers, and the Almes-houses are filled with old Labourers, many there are who get their liuing with bearing burdens, but moe are faine to burden the land with their whole bodies: multitudes get their meanes of life by prating, and so doe numbers more by begging. Neither come these straits vponupon men alwaies through intemperancy, ill husbandry, indiscretion, &c. as some thinke, but euen the most wise, sober, and discreet men, goe often to the wall, when they hauehave done their best, wherein as Gods prouidence swaieth all, so it is easie to see, that the straitnesse of the place hauing in it so many strait hearts, cannot but produce such effects more and more, so as eueryevery indifferent minded man should be ready to say with Father Abraham, Take thou the right hand, and I will take the left: Let vsus not thus oppresse, straiten, and afflict one another, but seeing there is a spatious Land, the way to which is thorow the sea, wee will end this difference in a day.
That I speake nothing about the bitter contention that hath beene about Religion, by writing, disputing, and inueighing earnestly one against another, the heat of which zeale if it were turned against the rude barbarisme of the Heathens, it might doe more good in a day, then it hath done here in many yeares. Neither of the little louelove to the Gospell and profit which is made by the Preachers in most places, which might easily driue the zealous to the Heathens who no doubt if they had but a drop of that knowledge which here flieth about the streetes, would be filled with exceeding great ioy and gladnesse, as that they would euen plucke the kingdome of heauen by violence, and take it as it were by force.
The greatest let that is yet behinde is the sweet fellowship of friends,The last …. and the satietie of bodily delights.
But can there be two neerer friends almost then Abraham and Lot, or then Paul and Barnabas, and yet vponupon as little occasions as we hauehave heere, they departed asunder, two of them being Patriarches of the Church of old; the other the Apostles of the Church which is new, and their couenants were such as it seemeth might binde as much as any couenant betweene men at this day, and yet to auoid greater inconueniences they departed asunder.
Neither must men take so much thought for the flesh, as not to be pleased except they can pamper … bodies … variety of dainties. Nature is content with little, and health is much endangered, by mixtures vponupon the stomach: The delights of the palate doe often inflame the vitall parts: as the tongue setteth a fire the whole body.Iames 3.6. Secondly, varieties here are not common to all, but many good men are glad to snap as a crust. The rent taker liues on sweet morsels, but the rent payer eats a drie crust often with watery eies: and it is nothing to say what some one of a hundreth hath, but what the bulke, body and cominalty hath, which I warrant you is short enough.
And they also which now liue so sweetly, hardly will their children attaine to that priuiledge, but some circumuentor or other will outstrip them, and make them sit in the dust, to which men are brought in one age, but cannot get out of it againe in 7. generations.
To conclude, without all partialitie, the present consumption which groweth vponupon vsus here, whilst the land groaneth vnderunder so many close fisted and vnmercifull men, being compared with the easinesse, plainenesse and plentifulnesse in liuing in those remote places, may quickly perswade any man to a liking of this course, and to practise a remoual, which being done by honest, godly and industrious men, they shall there be right hartily welcome, but for other of dissolute and prophane life, their roomes are better then their companies; for if here where the Gospell hath beene so long and plentifully taught, they are yet frequent in such vices as the Heathen would shame to speake of, what will they be when there is lesse restraint in word and deed? My onelyonly sute to all men is, that whether they liue there or here, they would learne to vse this world as they vsed it not, keeping faith and a good conscience, both with God and men, that when the day of account shall come, they may come forth as good and fruitfull seruants, and freely be receiued, and enter into the ioy of their master.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Bradford, Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth (1622)