pany douted not to obtaine their suite of the king for liberty in Religion, and to have it confirmed under the kings broad seale, according to their desires. But it prooved a harder peece of worke then they tooke it for; for though many means were used to bring it aboute, yet it could not be effected; for ther were diverse of good worth laboured with the king to obtaine it, (amongst whom was one of his cheefe secretaries,)1 and some other wrought with the archbishop' to give way therunto; but it proved all in vaine. Yet thus farr they prevailed, in sounding his majesties mind, that he would connive at them, and not molest them, provided they carried them selves peacably. But to allow or tolerate them by his publick authoritie, under his seale, they found it would not be. And this was all the cheefe of the Virginia companie or any other of their best freinds could doe in the case. Yet they perswaded them to goe on, for they presumed they should not be troubled. And with this answer the messengers returned, and signified what diligence had bene used, and to what issue things were come.

3

But this made a dampe in the busines, and caused some distraction, for many were afraid that if they should unsetle them selves, and put of their estates, and goe upon these hopes, it might prove dangerous, and but a sandie foundation. Yea, it was thought they might better have presumed hear upon without makeing any suite at all, then, haveing made it, to be thus rejected. But some of the cheefest thought other wise, and that they might well proceede hereupon, and that the kings majestie was willing enough to suffer them without molestation, though for other reasons he would not confirme it by any publick acte. And furdermore, if ther was no north latitude, the northern company on that part between the 38th and the 45th. The first patent or grant issued to the Pilgrims came from the southern company, commonly now called the Virginia Company, but this was not used and another, issued by the Council for New England, successor of the northern company, was brought over in the Fortune in November, 1621.

1 "Sr Robert Nanton." (Bradford.)

George Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury 1611-1633. 3 "Then" for "than."

securitie in this promise intimated, ther would be no great certainty in a furder confirmation of the same; for if after wards ther should be a purpose or desire to wrong them, though they had a seale as broad as the house flore, it would not serve the turne; for ther would be means enew found to recall or reverse it. Seeing therfore the course was probable, they must rest herein on Gods providence, as they had done in other things.

Upon this resolution, other messengers were dispatched, to end with the Virginia Company as well as they could. And to procure a patent with as good and ample conditions as they might by any good means obtaine. As also to treate and conclude with such merchants and other freinds as had manifested their forwardnes to provoke too and adventure in this vioage. For which end they had instructions given them upon what conditions they should proceed with them, or els to conclude nothing without further advice. And here it will be requisite to inserte a letter or too that may give light to these proceedings.

A coppie of leter from Sr: Edwin Sands, directed to Mr. John Robinson and Mr. William Brewster.

After my hartie salutations. The agents of your congregation, Robert Cushman' and John Carver, have been in communication with

1 Robert Cushman was born in England about 1580, but precisely when he joined the Leyden church is not known. He was an active and efficient agent of the church at various times in England and assented to a contract with the merchant adventurers which was so unsatisfactory to the Pilgrim company that they sailed without signing it. He came out in the Fortune in 1621, and delivered in Plymouth an address commonly called a sermon, urging the colonists to close the contract. After successfully accomplishing his mission he returned in the Fortune, and died in England in 1625. He brought with him to Plymouth his son Thomas, fourteen years of age, who was educated by Governor Bradford and succeeded Brewster as the elder of the Plymouth church. Soon after his return to England Robert Cushman published (1622) his "sermon," accompanied by a vindication of the colonial enterprise and an appeal for a Christian mission to the American Indians.

'Little is known of John Carver except that he was a deacon of the Leyden church and one of the agents of the church to obtain if possible a charter from the king, and to negotiate with the Virginia Company for a grant of lands, and with

diverse selecte gentlemen of his Majesties Counsell for Virginia; and by the writing of 7. Articles subscribed with your names,1 have given them that good degree of satisfaction, which hath caried them on with a resolution to sett forward your desire in the best sorte that may be, for your owne and the publick good. Divers perticulers wherof we leave to their faithfull reporte; having carried them selves heere with that good discretion, as is both to their owne and their credite from whence they came." And wheras being to treate for a multitude of people, they have requested further time to conferr with them that are to be interessed in this action, aboute the severall particularities which in the prosecution thereof will fall out considerable, it hath been very willingly assented too. And so they doe now returne unto you. If therfore it may please God so to directe your desires as that on your parts ther fall out no just impediments, I trust by the same direction it shall likewise appear, that on our parte, all forwardnes to set you forward shall be found in the best sorte which with reason may be expected. And so I betake you with this designe (which I hope verily is the worke of God), to the gracious protection and blessing of the Highest.

London, Novbr: 12:

Ano: 1617.

Your very loving freind
EDWIN SANDYS."

the merchant adventurers of London for transportation and supplies for the colony. The language of the letter dated July 27, 1620, which Robinson wrote to Carver, while the Mayflower lay at Southampton (p. 83, post) makes the conjecture plausible that Katherine, the wife of Carver, may have been Robinson's sister. Carver was made governor of the Mayflower company and, after the compact was signed in the cabin of that ship after her arrival at Cape Cod harbor, he was confirmed in that office. He was one of the eighteen who landed on Plymouth Rock December 11, O. S., and on April 1, 1621, he negotiated a treaty with Massasoit. He died, probably of apoplexy, early in April.

'The manuscript of the Seven Articles, signed by Robinson and Brewster, is in the Public Record Office in London. The articles, expressing the assent of the Leyden church to the Thirty-nine Articles of 1562, their desire to keep spiritual communion with the members of the Church of England, and their acknowledgment of the royal supremacy and of the authority of the bishops, may be found printed in the History of Plymouth by William T. Davis, p. 13, and in Goodwin's Pilgrim Republic, p. 41.

2

"I. e., for their own credit and that of those from whom they came.

Sir Edwin Sandys was the son of Edwin Sandys, archbishop of York, and was born in Worcester in 1561 and died in 1629. He was a brother of Sir Samuel Sandys under whom William Brewster occupied Scrooby manor. Sir Edwin Sandys wrote in 1599 a book entitled A Relation of the State of Religion; and with what Hopes and Policies it hath beene framed and is maintained in the severall States of these western parts of the World. It was printed in London in 1605, and forthwith ordered by the High Commission to be burned. It is

Their answer was as foloweth.

Righte Worpl. 1

Our humble duties remembred, in our owne, our messengers, and our churches name, with all thankfull acknowledgmente of your singuler love, expressing itselfe, as otherwise, so more spetially in your great care and earnest endeavor of our good in this weightie bussines aboute Virginia, which the less able we are to requite, we shall thinke our selves the more bound to commend in our prayers unto God for recompence; whom, as for the presente you rightly behould in our indeavors, so shall we not be wanting on our parts (the same God assisting us) to returne all answerable fruite, and respecte unto the labour of your love bestowed upon us. We have with the best speed and consideration withall that we could, sett downe our requests in writing, subscribed, as you willed, with the hands of the greatest parte of our congregation, and have sente the same unto the Counsell by our agente, and a deacon of our church, John Carver, unto whom we have also requested a gentleman of our company to adyone' him selfe; to the care and discretion of which two, we doe referr the prosecuting of the bussines, Now we perswade our selves Right WorPP: that we need not provoke your godly, and loving minde to any further or more tender care of us, since you have pleased so farr to interest us in your selfe, that, under God, above all persons and things in the world, we relye upon you, expecting the care of your love, counsell of your wisdome, and the help and countenance of your authority. Notwithstanding, for your encouragmente in the worke, so farr as probabilities may leade, we will not forbeare to mention these instances of indusmente.

1. We veryly beleeve and trust the Lord is with us, unto whom and whose service we have given our selves in many trialls; and that he will graciously prosper our indeavours according to the simplicitie of our harts therin.

2ly. We are well weaned from the delicate milke of our mother countrie, and enured to the difficulties of a strange and hard land, which yet in a great parte we have by patience overcome.

3ly. The people are for the body of them, industrious, and frugall, we thinke we may safly say, as any company of people in the world.

4ly. We are knite togeather as a body in a most stricte and sacred therefore rare. A copy is owned by the Pilgrim Society of Plymouth, which contains on its title-page two autographs of Rev. John Robinson. Sir Edwin Sandys had now become an eminent statesman and member of Parliament, of the "country party." From the time of his election as treasurer of the Virginia Company in April, 1619, he bore a leading part in its affairs.

bond and covenante of the Lord, of the violation1 wherof we make great conscience, and by vertue wherof we doe hould our selves straitly tied to all care of each others good, and of the whole by every one and so mutually.

5. Lastly, it is not with us as with other men, whom small things can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish them selves at home againe. We knowe our entertainmente in England, and in Holand; we shall much prejudice both our arts and means by removall; who, if we should be driven to returne, we should not hope to recover our present helps and comforts, neither indeed looke ever, for our selves, to attaine unto the like in any other place during our lives, which are now drawing towards their periods.

These motives we have been bould to tender unto you, which you in your wisdome may also imparte to any other our worPP: freinds of the Counsell with you; of all whose godly dispossition and loving towards our despised persons, we are most glad, and shall not faile by all good means to continue and increase the same. We will not be further troublesome, but doe, with the renewed remembrance of our humble duties to your WorPP: and (so farr as in modestie we may be bould) to any other of our wellwillers of the Counsell with you, we take our leaves, commiting your persons and counsels to the guidance and direction of the Almighty. Yours much bounden in all duty, JOHN ROBINSON, WILLIAM BREWSTER.

Leyden, Desem: 15.
Ano: 1617.

For further light in these proceedings see some other letters and notes as followeth.

1

"O sacred bond, whilst inviollably preserved! how sweete and precious were the fruits that flowed from the 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 God) 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 (alass) that subtill serpente hath slylie wound in himselfe under faire pretences of necessitie and the like, to untwiste these sacred bonds and tyes, and as it were insensibly by degrees to dissolve, or in a great measure to weaken, the 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 the decay and wante therof (in a great measure), and with greefe and sorrow of hart to lamente and bewaile the same. And for others warning and admonnition, and my owne humiliation, doe I hear note the same." (These reflections of Bradford were penned at a later period, on a reverse page of his History, at this place.)