88 THE SAD PARTING AT DELFT-HAVEN. CHAP. but lifted up their eyes to heaven, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits. VII. 1620. When they came to the place, they found the ship and all things ready; and such of their friends as could not come with them, followed after them; and sundry also came from Amsterdam' to see them shipped, and to take their leave of them. That night was spent with little sleep by the most, but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse, and other real exJuly pressions of true Christian love. The next day, the 22. wind being fair, they went on board, and their friends. with them; when truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting; to see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them; what tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each other's heart; that sundry of the Dutch strangers, that stood on the quay as spectators, could not refrain from tears. Yet comfortable and sweet it was to see such lively and true expressions of dear and unfeigned love. But the tide, which stays for no man, calling them away, that were thus loth to depart, their reverend pastor, falling down on his knees, and they all with him, with watery cheeks commended them, with most fervent prayers, to the Lord and his blessing; and then, with mutual embraces and many tears, they took their leaves of one another, which proved to be their last leave to many of them. Thus hoisting sail, with a prosperous wind, they be spent in another world, among The term PILGRIMS belongs ex- 1 The distance from Amsterdam to Delft-Haven is about 50 miles. Prince, p. 159, reads entertain 2 ing. Edward Winslow says, in his Brief Narrative, "We gave them a volley of small shot and three pieces of ordnance." THE PILGRIMS ARRIVE AT SOUTHAMPTON. 2 89 VII. came in a short time to Southampton,' where they CHAP. found the bigger ship come from London, lying ready with all the rest of their company. After a joyful 1620. July. welcome and mutual congratulation, with other friendly entertainments, they fell to parley about their proceedings. [Seven hundred pounds sterling are laid out at Southampton, and they carry about seventeen hundred pounds venture with them; and Mr. Weston comes thither from London to see them despatched.] 3 A brief Letter written by Mr. John Robinson to Mr. John Carver, at their parting aforesaid, in which the tender love and godly care of a true pastor appears. My Dear Brother, I received enclosed your last letter and note of information, which I shall carefully keep and make use of, as there shall be occasion. I have a true feeling of your perplexity of mind and toil of body; but I hope that you, having always been able so plentifully to administer comfort unto others in their trials, are so well furnished for yourself, as that far greater difficulties than you have yet undergone (though I conceive them to be great enough) cannot oppress you, though they press you, as the Apostle speaketh. "The Prov spirit of a man (sustained by the Spirit of God) will Southampton is a seaport in Hampshire, situated at the head of an estuary, running up from the isle of Wight, called the Southampton Water. It was the rendezvous of seven of Winthrop's fleet in March, 1630, when he was preparing to transport his colony to Massachusetts Bay. See Savage's Winthrop, i. 2, 366. After London, Prince, p. 160, inserts from Gov. Bradford's MS., "Mr. Jones master, with the rest of the company, who had been waiting there with Mr. Cushman seven days." 3 The sentence in brackets is from Prince, p. 160, who quotes Bradford's MS. xviii. 14. 90 July. ROBINSON'S LETTER TO CARVER. CHAP. sustain his infirmity." I doubt not so will yours; VII. and the better much, when you shall enjoy the pre1620. sence and help of so many godly and wise brethren, for the bearing of part of your burden; who also will not admit into their hearts the least thought of suspicion of any the least negligence, at least presumption, to have been in you, whatsoever they think in others.' Now what shall I say or write unto you and your good wife, my loving sister? Even only this; I desire, and always shall, mercy and blessing unto you from the Lord, as unto my own soul; and assure yourself that my heart is with you, and that I will not foreslow2 my bodily coming at the first opportunity. I have written a large letter to the whole, and am sorry I shall not rather speak than write to them; and the more, considering the want of a preacher, which I shall also make some spur to my hastening towards you. I do ever commend my best affection unto you; which if I thought you made any doubt of, I would express in more, and the same more ample and full words. And the Lord, in whom you trust, and whom you serve ever in this business and journey, guide you with his hand, protect you with his wing, and show you and us his salvation in the end, and bring us, in the mean This sentence indicates the great confidence reposed in Carver by the Church. His being sent as their first and principal agent to England, shows that he was a leading and trusted man among the Pilgrims, a fact which is confirmed by the circumstance of his being selected by Robinson as the individual to whom to address this parting letter. Some passages in 3 ROBINSON'S LETTER TO HIS FLOCK. 91 VII. while, together in the place desired (if such be his CHAP. good will) for his Christ's sake. Amen. Yours, 1620. July. JOHN ROBINSON. July 27th, 1620. This was the last letter that Mr. Carver lived to see from him.' 2 At their parting, Mr. Robinson writ a letter to the whole company, which, although it hath already been printed, yet I thought good here likewise to insert it.3 Loving Christian Friends, you I do heartily and in the Lord salute you, as being those with whom I am present in my best affections, and most earnest longings after you, though I be constrained for a while to be bodily absent from you. I say constrained, God knowing how willingly, and much rather than otherwise, I would have borne my part with in this first brunt, were I not by strong necessity held back for the present. Make account of me, in the mean while, as of a man divided in myself with great pain, and as (natural bonds set aside) having my better part with you. And though I doubt not but in your godly wisdom you both foresee and resolve upon that which concerneth your present state and condition, both severally and jointly, yet have I thought it but my duty to add some further spur of provocation 1 Carver died in April, 1621. Oldmixon, i. 29, errs in saying that "Mr. Robinson did not live to go in person" with the first colonists. He lived till 1625. 3 It was printed in 1622, in the Relation, or Journal, sent over by the Plymouth colonists in Dec. 92 ROBINSON'S LETTER OF ADVICE CHAP to them, that run well already; if not because you VIL July. need it, yet because I owe it in love and duty. 1620. And first, as we are daily to renew our repentance with our God, especially for our sins known, and generally for our unknown sins and trespasses, so doth the Lord call us in a singular manner, upon occasions of such difficulty and danger as lieth upon you, to a both more narrow search and careful reformation of our ways in his sight; lest he calling to remembrance our sins forgotten by us or unrepented of, take advantage against us, and in judgment leave us for the same to be swallowed up in one danger or other. Whereas, on the contrary, sin being taken away by earnest repentance, and the pardon thereof from the Lord sealed up unto a man's conscience by his Spirit, great shall be his security and peace in all dangers, sweet his comforts in all distresses, with happy deliverance from all evil, whether in life or in death. Now next after this heavenly peace with God and our own consciences, we are carefully to provide for peace with all men, what in us lieth, especially with our associates; and for that end, watchfulness must be had, that we neither at all in ourselves do give, no, nor easily take offence, being given by others. Wo be unto the world for offences; for although it be necessary (considering the malice of Satan and man's corruption) that offences come, yet wo unto that man, or woman either, by whom the offence cometh, saith Christ. 1 Cor. And if offences in the unseasonable use of things in themselves indifferent be more to be feared than death itself, as the Apostle teacheth, how much more in things simply evil, in which neither honor of God nor love of man is thought worthy to be regarded. Matt. xviii. 7. ix. 15. |