244 REASONS FOR EMIGRATING CHAP. Where the land lay idle and waste, and none used it, XVI. though there dwelt inhabitants by them, as Gen. xiii. 1621.6, 11, 12, and xxxiv. 21, and xli. 20, so is it lawful now to take a land which none useth, and make use of it. Reas. 4. Psal. cx 3, and xlviii. 3. And as it is a common land, or unused and undressed country, so we have it by common consent, composition and agreement; which agreement is double. First, the imperial governor, Massasoit, whose circuits, in likelihood, are larger than England and Scotland, hath acknowledged the King's Majesty of England to be his master and commander, and that once in my hearing, yea, and in writing, under his hand, to Captain Standish, both he and many other kings which are under him, as Pamet, Nauset, Cummaquid, Narrowhiggonset, Namaschet, &c., with divers others that dwell about the bays of Patuxet and Massachuset.2 Neither hath this been accomplished by threats and blows, or shaking of sword and sound of trumpet; for as our faculty that way is small, and our strength less, so our warring with them is after another manner, namely, by friendly usage, love, peace, honest and just carriages, good counsel, &c., that so we and they may not only live in peace in that land, and they yield subjection to an earthly prince, but that as voluntaries they may be persuaded at length to embrace the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus, and rest in peace with him for ever. Secondly, this composition is also more particular and applicatory, as touching ourselves there inhabiting. This is to be considered as 2 See pages 193 and 220. respecting New England, and the territories about the plantation.— Author's Note. FROM ENGLAND TO AMERICA. 245 XVI. The emperor, by a joint consent, hath promised and CHAP. appointed us to live at peace where we will in all his dominions, taking what place we will, and as much 1621. land as we will,' and bringing as many people as we will; and that for these two causes. First, because we are the servants of James, king of England, whose the land (as he confesseth) is. Secondly, because he hath found us just, honest, kind and peaceable, and so loves our company. Yea, and that in these things there is no dissimulation on his part, nor fear of breach (except our security engender in them some unthought of treachery, or our uncivility provoke them to anger) is most plain in other Relations, which show that the things they did were more out of love than out of fear. It being then, first, a vast and empty chaos; secondly, acknowledged the right of our sovereign king; thirdly, by a peaceable composition in part possessed of divers of his loving subjects, I see not who can doubt or call in question the lawfulness of inhabiting or dwelling there; but that it may be as lawful for such as are not tied upon some special occasion here, to live there as well as here. Yea, and as the enterprise is weighty and difficult, so the honor is more worthy, to plant a rude wilderness, to enlarge the honor and fame of our In the "Warrantable Grounds and Proceedings of the first Associates of New Plymouth, in their laying the first foundation of this Government, in their making of laws, and disposing of the lands within the same," prefixed to the Code of Laws printed in 1685, it is stated that "by the favor of the Almighty they began the colony in New England (there being then no other within the said continent) at a place called by the natives Apaum, alias Patuxet, but by the English New Plymouth. All which 2 He refers to the preceding 246 XVI. REASONS FOR EMIGRATING CHAP. dread sovereign, but chiefly to display the efficacy and power of the Gospel, both in zealous preaching, pro1621, fessing, and wise walking under it, before the faces of these poor blind infidels. xxii. 13. xlix- 5. As for such as object the tediousness of the voyage thither, the danger of pirates' robbery, of the savages' Prov. treachery, &c., these are but lions in the way; and it were well for such men if they were in heaven. For who can show them a place in this world where inPsal iquity shall not compass them at the heels, and where Mat. vi. they shall have a day without grief, or a lease of life for a moment? And who can tell, but God, what dangers may lie at our doors, even in our native country, or what plots may be abroad, or when God will cause our sun to go down at noon-day, and, in the midst of our peace and security, lay upon us some lasting scourge for our so long neglect and contempt of his most glorious Gospel? 34. viii. 9. Object. Answ. But we have here great peace, plenty of the Gospel, and many sweet delights, and variety of comforts. True, indeed; and far be it from us to deny and 2 Chro. diminish the least of these mercies. But have we ren xxxii. 25. Gen. xiii. 9, 10. 7 dered unto God thankful obedience for this long peace, whilst other peoples have been at wars? Have we not rather murmured, repined, and fallen at jars amongst ourselves, whilst our peace hath lasted with foreign power? Was there ever more suits in law, more envy, contempt and reproach than nowadays? Abraham and Lot departed asunder when there fell a breach betwixt them, which was occasioned by the straitness of the land; and surely I am persuaded, that howsoever the frailties of men are principal in all contentions, yet the straitness of the place is such, as each FROM ENGLAND TO AMERICA. 247 XVI. man is fain to pluck his means, as it were, out of his CHAP. neighbour's throat, there is such pressing and oppressing in town and country, about farms, trades, traffick, &c. ; 1621. so as a man can hardly any where set up a trade, but he shall pull down two of his neighbours. The towns abound with young tradesmen, and the hospitals are full of the ancient; the country is replenished with new farmers, and the almshouses are filled with old laborers. Many there are who get their liv-" ing with bearing burdens; but more are fain to burden. the land with their whole bodies. Multitudes get their means of life by prating, and so do numbers more by begging. Neither come these straits upon men always through intemperance, ill husbandry, indiscretion, &c., as some think; but even the most wise, sober, and discreet men go often to the wall, when they have done their best; wherein, as God's providence swayeth all, so it is easy to see that the straitness of the place, having in it so many strait hearts, cannot but produce such effects more and more; so as every indifferent minded man should be ready to say with father Abraham, "Take thou the right hand, and I will take the left :" let us not thus oppress, straiten, and afflict one another; but seeing there is a spacious land, the way to which is through the sea, we will end this difference in a day. That I speak nothing about the bitter contention that hath been about religion, by writing, disputing and inveighing earnestly one against another, the heat of which zeal, if it were turned against the rude barbarism of the heathens, it might do more good in a day, than it hath done here in many years. Neither of the little love to the Gospel, and profit which is 248 REASONS FOR EMIGRATING CHAP. made by the preachers in most places, which might XVI. easily drive the zealous to the heathens; who, no 1621. doubt, if they had but a drop of that knowledge which The last let. iii. 6. here flieth about the streets, would be filled with exceeding great joy and gladness, as that they would even pluck the kingdom of heaven by violence, and take it, as it were, by force. The greatest let that is yet behind is the sweet fellowship of friends, and the satiety of bodily delights. But can there be two nearer friends almost than Abraham and Lot, or than Paul and Barnabas? And yet, upon as little occasions as we have here, they departed asunder, two of them being patriarchs of the church of old, the other the apostles of the church which is new; and their covenants were such as it seemeth might bind as much as any covenant between men at this day; and yet, to avoid greater inconveniences, they departed asunder. Neither must men take so much thought for the flesh, as not to be pleased except they can pamper their bodies with variety of dainties. Nature is content with little, and health is much endangered by mixtures upon the stomach. The delights of the palate James do often inflame the vital parts; as the tongue setteth a-fire the whole body. Secondly, varieties here are not common to all, but many good men are glad to snap at a crust. The rent-taker lives on sweet morsels, but the rent-payer eats a dry crust often with watery eyes; and it is nothing to say what some one of a hundred hath, but what the bulk, body and commonalty hath; which I warrant you is short enough. And they also which now live so sweetly, hardly will their children attain to that privilege; but some |