VI A LETTER OF MR. JOHN ROBINSON TO JOHN CARVER,/h3 JUNE 14. (N.S.), 1620

[Professor Arber (“The Story of the Pilgrim Fathers,” p. 317) has

apparently failed to notice that in the original MS. of Bradford,

this letter is dated “June 14, 1620, N. Stile,” which would make it

June 4., O. S., while Arber dates it “14/24 June,” which is

manifestly incorrect.  A typographical error in Arber (p. 317)

directs the letter to “Leyden” instead of to London. ]

June 14.  1620.  N. Stile.

My dear freind & brother, whom with yours I alwaise remember in my best

affection, and whose wellfare I shall never cease to comend to God by my

best & most earnest praires.  You doe throwly understand by our generall

letters ye estate of things hear, which indeed is very pitifull;

espetialy by wante of shiping, and not seeing means lickly, much less

certaine, of having it provided; though withall ther be great want of

money & means to doe needfull things.  Mr. [Edward] Pickering, you know

before this, will not defray a peny hear; though Robert Cushman presumed

of I know not how many 100li. from him, & I know not whom. Yet it seems

strange yt we should be put to him to receive both his & his partners

[William Greene’s] adventer, and yet Mr. Weston write unto him, yt in

regard of it, he hath drawne upon him a 100li. more.  But they is in this

some misterie, as indeed it seems ther is in ye whole course.  Besids,

wheras diverse are to pay in some parts of their moneys yet behinde, they

refuse to doe it, till they see shiping provided, or a course taken for

it.  Neither doe I thinke is ther a man hear would pay anything, if he

had againe his money in his purse.  You know right well we depended on

Mr. Weston alone, and upon such means as he would procure for this

commone bussines; and when we had in hand an other course with ye

Dutchmen, broke it of at his motion, and upon ye conditions by him

shortly after propounded. He did this in his love I know, but things

appeare not answerable from him hitherto.  That he should have first have

put in his moneys, is thought by many to have been but fitt, but yt I can

well excuse, he being a marchante and haveing use of it to his benefite;

whereas others, if it had been in their hands, would have consumed it.

But yt he should not but have had either shipping ready before this time,

or at least certaine means, and course, and ye same knowne to us for it,

or have taken other order otherwise, cannot in my conscience be excused.

I have heard yt wen he hath been moved in the bussines, he hath put it of

from him selfe, and referred it to ye others; and would come to Georg

Morton [in London] & enquire news of him aboute things, as if he had

scarce been some accessarie unto it. Wlether he hath failed of some helps

from others which he expected, and so be not well able to goe through

with things, or whether he hath feared least you should be ready too

soone & so encrease ye charge of shiping above yt is meete, or whether he

hath thought by withhoulding to put us upon straits, thinking yt therby

Mr. Brewer and Mr. Pickering would be drawne by importunitie to doe more,

or what other misterie is in it, we know not; but sure we are yt things

are not answerable to such an occasion.  Mr. Weston maks himselfe mery

with our endeavors aboute buying a ship, [the SPEEDWELL], but we have

done nothing in this but with good reason, as I am perswaded, nor yet

that I know in any thing els, save in those tow: ye one, that we imployed

Robart Cushman, who is known (though a good man & of spetiall abilities

in his kind, yet) most unfitt to deale for other by reason of his

singularitie, and too great indifferancie for any conditions, and for (to

speak truly) that we have had nothing from him but termes & presumptions.

The other, yt we have so much relyed, by implicite faith as it were, upon

generalities, without seeing ye perticuler course & means for so waghtie

an affaire set down unto us.  For shiping, Mr. Weston, it should seeme,

is set upon hireing, which yet I wish he may presently effecte; but I see

litle hope of help from hence if so it be.  Of Mr. [Thomas] Brewer, you

know what to expecte.  I doe not thinke Mr. Pickering will ingage,

excepte in ye course of buying [ships?] in former letters specified.

Aboute ye conditions, you have our reason for our judgments of what is

agreed.  And let this spetially be borne in minde, yt the greatest pane

of ye Collonie is like to be imployed constantly, not upon dressing they

perticuler land & building houses, but upon fishing, trading, &c.  So as

ye land & house will be but a trifell for advantage to ye adventurers,

and yet the devission of it a great discouragmente to ye planters, who

would with singuler care make it comfortable with borowed houres from

their sleep.  The same consideration of comone imploymente constantly by

the most is a good reason not to have ye 2, daies in a week denyed ye few

planters for private use, which yet is subordinate to comone good.

Consider also how much unfite that you & your liks must serve a new

prentishipe of 7. years, and not a daies freedome from taske.  Send me

word what persons are to goe, who of usefull faculties, & how many, &

perticulerly of every thing.  I know you wante not a minde.  I am sorie

you have not been at London all this while, but ye provissions could not

want you.  Time will suffer me to write no more; fare, you & yours well

allways in ye Lord, in whom I rest.

Yours to use,

JOHN’ ROBINSON.