the Virginia Company, as well as they could, and procure a patent, with as good and ample conditions as might be by any good means obtained, as also to treat and conclude with such merchants and other friends as had manifested their forwardness to provoke unto and adventure in this voyage, giving them instructions how far they should proceed before they returned for farther advice. One of the principal persons, with whom they were concerned of the Virginia Company, was Sir Edwin Sandys, by whose letter, directed to Mr. Robinson and Mr. Brewster, the pastor and elder of their church, it may be seen how willing they were to encourage them in this matter. "After my hearty salutations, the agents "of the congregation, Robert Cushman and John Car

ver, have been in communication with divers select "gentlemen of his Majesty's Council for Virginia, and by writing of seven articles, subscribed with their names, have given them that good degree of satisfac❝tion, which hath carried them on with a resolution to "set forward the desire in the best sort that may be, to

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go on for the public good; divers particulars whereof "we leave to their faithful report, having carried themselves here with that good discretion, as is best to "their own benefit and the end for which they came : "And whereas they being to treat for a multitude of peo

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ple, they have requested farther time to confer with "them, that are to be interested in this action about the "several particularities, which in the prosecution there"of will fall into consideration, it hath been very willingly assented unto you. If therefore it may please "God so to direct your desires, as that on your parts "there fall out no just impediments, I trust by the same "direction, it shall likewise appear, that on our parts all "forwardness to set you forward shall be found in the "best sort, which with reason may be expected. And "so I betake you with this design, (which I hope verily "is the work of God,) to the gracious protection and "blessing of the Highest.

"Your very loving friend, "London, Nov. 13, 1617.

EDWIN SANDYS,"

Mr. Robinson and Mr. Brewster returned him an answer, full of all thankful acknowledgment of his love and care for them, intimating how ready and willing they were to accept of his kindness; on which account they sent another letter to Sir John Worstenholme the January following, who was also of the Virginia Company, and had a great interest therein, as well as Sir Edwin Sandys, where they laboured to satisfy him about their judgment and opinion about church discipline, expressing themselves for the substance to agree with the French Reformed Churches; from whom they said they differed only in some accidental points. But their proceedings with those of the Virginia Company met with much obstruction the next year by reason of some dissensions and factions of that Company amongst themselves, which issued in Sir Thomas Smith, that was Governor thereof, he laying down his place, and the choosing Sir Edwin Sandys in his room. But at the last, it seems, they had a patent granted them, and confirmed under the Company's seal: yet did those divisions in the said Company take off many of their pretended friends, and disappointed them of much of their hoped for and proffered means. But by the advice of some friends, that patent was taken, not in the names of any of their own company, but in the name of one Mr. John Wincob, a religious gentleman, belonging to the Countess of Lincoln, who intended to go with them; but God so disposed that they never went, nor they ever made use of the patent, which cost them so much time and charge. The reason they made no use thereof will appear in the sequel. Soon after this their agents were sent into England again, to conclude of articles and propositions between them and such merchants and friends, as should either go or adventure with them, and those, who in order to their removal had sold out their estates, put their moneys into a common stock, which was to be disposed of by those appointed to make general provisions. Mr. Weston was one who had interested himself much in their affairs, undertaking to provide shipping for their transportation; but about this time they were informed,

both by the said Weston and others, that sundry honourable Lords and worthy gentlemen had obtained a large patent from the King for the more northerly part of America, distinct from the Virginia patent, and wholly excluded from their government, and to be called by another name, viz. NEW ENGLAND; unto which Mr. Weston and the chiefest of them began to incline, thinking it was best for them to go thither, as for other reasons, so chiefly for the hope of present profit, to be made by fishing on that coast. But in all business, the active part is most difficult, especially where there are many agents that may be concerned. So was it found in them, for some of them, who should have gone in England, fell off, and would not go; other merchants and friends that proffered to adventure their money, withdrew, and pretended many excuses; some disliking they went not to Guiana-others would do nothing unless they went to Virginia; and many, who were most relied on, refused to adventure. If they went thither in the midst of these difficulties, they of Leyden were driven to great straits; but at the length, the generality was swayed to the better opinion. Howbeit, the patent for the northern part of the country not being fully settled, at that time they resolved to adventure with that patent they had, intending for some place more southward than that they fell upon in their voyage, at Cape Cod, as may appear afterwards. The conditions, on which those of Leyden engaged with the merchants, the adventurers, were hard enough at the first for the poor people that were to adventure their persons as well as their estates: yet were their agents forced to change one or two of them, to satisfy the merchants, who were not willing to be concerned with them, although the altering them without their knowledge or consent was very distasteful to them, and became the occasion of some contention amongst them afterwards. They are these that follow : "First, the adventurers and planters do agree, that every person that goeth, being 16 years old and upward, be rated at ten pounds, and that ten pounds be accounted a single share. Secondly, that he that goeth in person,

and furnisheth himself out with ten pounds, either in money or other provisions, be accounted as having twenty pounds in stock, and in the division shall receive a double share. Thirdly, the persons transported and the adventurers shall continue their joint stock and partnership the space of seven years, except some unexpected Impediments do cause the whole company to agree otherwise during which time all profits and benefits that are gotten by trade, traffic, trusting, working, fishing, or any other means, of any other person or persons, remain still in the common stock until the division. Fourthly, that at their coming there they shall choose out such a number of fit persons as may furnish their ships and boats for fishing upon the sea, employing the rest in their several faculties upon the land, as building houses, tilling and planting the ground, and making such commodities as shall be most useful for the colony. Fifthly, that at the end of the seven years, the capital and the profits, viz. the houses, lands, goods and chattels be equally divided amongst the adventurers-if any debt or detriment concerning this adventure. Sixthly, whosoever cometh to the colony hereafter, or putteth any thing into the stock, shall at the end of the seven years be allowed proportionally to the time of his so doing. Seventhly, he that shall carry his wife, or children, or servants, shall be allowed for every person, now aged 16 years and up. ward, a single share in the division; or if he provide them necessaries, a double share; or if they be between 10 years old and 16, then two of them to be reckoned for a person, both in transportation and division. Eighthly, that such children that now go and are under the age of 10 years, have no other share in the division than fifty acres of unmanured land. Ninthly, that such persons as die before the seven years be expired, their executors to have their parts or share at the division, proportionably to the time of their life in the colony. Tenthly, that all such persons as are of the colony, are to have meat, drink, and apparel, and all provisions out of the common stock, and goods of the said colony." The difference between the conditions thus expressed and the former, before

their alteration, stood in these two points: first, that the houses and lands improved, especially gardens and fields, should remain undivided, wholly to the planters, at the seven years' end: secondly, that the planters should have two days in the week for their own private employment, for the comfort of themselves and their families, especially such as had them to take care for. The altering of those two conditions was very afflictive to the minds of such as were concerned in the voyage; but Mr. Cushman, their principal agent, answered the complaints peremptorily, that unless they had so ordered the conditions, the whole design would have fallen to the ground, and necessity, they said, having no law, they were constrained to be silent. The poor planters met with much difficulty, both before and after the expiring of the seven years, and found much trouble in making up accounts with the adventurers about the division; at which time, though those that adventured their money were no great gainers, yet those that adventured their lives in carrying on the business of the plantation were by much the greatest sufferers, as may easily be gathered in what follows, next to be related; for all things being now prepared, they improved their utmost endeavours to be ready to enter upon their voyage at the time agreed upon. That a patent, as is aforesaid, was obtained, is published in print, and affirmed by such as yet survive of the first planters; but where it is, or how it came to be lost, is not known to any that belong to the said colony. Nor is the place with the bounds particularly specified: concerning which they were notably overreached by some of their neighbours amongst the Dutch, who, understanding their design for the southern parts about Hudson's river, where some of that nation had a design to plant for themselves, secretly contracted with Jones, the master of the bigger ship employed for their transportation, who thereupon bent his course on purpose more northward, and so fell amongst the shoals of Cape Cod, to the hazard both of the lives and goods of himself, as well as his passengers and company-had not the Almighty, whose eyes run to and fro through the whole earth,