University of Virginia Library

Chapter 7.

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6

New Englands yearely trials, the planting new Plimoth,
supprisals prevented, their wonderfull industry
and fishing.

FOR all those differences there went eight tall ships before I arrived
in England, from France, so that I spent that yeare in the West
Country, to perswade the Cities, Townes, and Gentrie for a Plantation,
which the Merchants very little liked, because they would
have the coast free only for themselves, and the Gentlemen were
doubtfull of their true accounts; oft and much it was so disputed, that
at last they promised me the next yeere twenty saile well furnished,
made me Admirall of the Country for my life under their hands, and
the Colonels

Seale for New-England; and in renewing their Letters
Patents, to be a Patentee for my paines, yet nothing but a voluntary
fishing was effected for all this aire.

In those yeares many Ships made exceeding good voyages, some
in six moneths, others in five, but one of two hundred tunne in six
weeks, with eight and thirty men and boyes had her fraught, which
shee sold at the first penny

for one and twenty hundred pounds,
besides her Furres. Six or seven more went out of the West, and some
Sailers that had but a single share, had twenty pounds, and at home
againe in seven moneths , which was more than such a one should
have got in twenty moneths , had he gone for wages any where: yet
for all this, in all this time, though I had divulged to my great ∥ labour,
cost, and losse, more than seven thousand Bookes and Maps, and
moved the particular Companies in London, as also Noblemen,
Gentlemen, and Merchants for a Plantation, all availed no more
than to hew Rocks with Oister-shels, so fresh were the living abuses
of Virginia and the Summer Iles in their memories.

At last, upon those inducements, some well disposed Brownists,

as they are tearmed, with some Gentlemen and Merchants of Layden
and Amsterdam, to save charges, would try their owne conclusions,
though with great losse and much miserie, till time had taught them
to see their owne error; for such humorists will never beleeve well,
till they bee beaten with their owne rod.

They were supplied with a small Ship

with seven and thirty
passengers, who found all them were left after they were seated,
well, all but six that died, for all their poverties: in this ship they
returned the value of five hundred pounds, which was taken by a
French-man upon the coast of England.

There is gone from the West to fish five and thirty saile, two from
London with sixty passengers for them at New-Plimoth, and all made
good voyages. Now you are to understand, the seven and thirty passengers
miscarrying twice upon the coast of England, came so ill
provided, they onely relyed upon that poore company they found,
that had lived two yeares by their naked

industry, and what the
Country naturally afforded; it is true, at first there hathbeene taken
a thousand Bayses at a draught, and more than twelve hogsheads of
Herrings in a night, of other fish when and what they would, when
they had meanes; but wanting most necessaries for fishing and fowling,
it is a wonder how they could subsist, fortifie themselves, resist
their enemies, and plant their plants.

In July, a many of stragling forlorne Englishmen, whose wants
they releeved, though wanted themselves; the which to requite,

destroyed their Corne and Fruits, and would have done the like to
them, and have surprised what they had; the salvages also intended
the like, but wisely they slew the salvage ∥ Captaines, and revenged
those injuries upon the fugitive English, that would have done the
like to them.