1629.
This year sundry ships came out of England, and arrived at Neumkeak,4
where Mr. John Endicot had chief command;5 and by infection that grew among the passengers at sea, it spread also among them on shore, of which many died, some of the scurvy, and others of infectious fevers. Mr. Endicot understanding that there was one at Plimouth that had skill in such diseases, sent thither for him; at whose request he was sent unto them. And afterwards acquaintance and Christian love and correspondency came on betwixt the said governor and the said Endicot; which was furthered by congratulatory letters that passed betwixt each other; one whereof, because it shows the beginning of their Christian fellowship, I shall here insert.“August, 1629. Thirty-five of our friends, with their families, from Leyden, arrived at Plimouth. They shipped
at London in May, with the ships that came to Salem, which bring over many pious persons to begin
the churches there. So that their being long kept back is now recompensed by heaven with a double
blessing; in that we not only enjoy them beyond our expectation, when all hope seemed to be cut off, but
with them many more godly friends, as the beginning of a larger harvest for Christ, in the increase of
his people and churches in these parts of the earth, to the admiration of many, and almost the wonder
of the world. The charge is reckoned on the several families; some fifty pounds, some forty, some thirty,
as their number and expenses were; which our undertakers pay for gratis, besides giving them houses,
preparing them grounds to plant on and maintain them with corn, etc., above thirteen or fourteen months,
before they have a harvest of their own production.”—Bradford, in Prince, p. 265.
The copy of a letter from Mr. Endicot to Mr. Bradford, as followeth:
RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR,
It is a thing not usual, that servants to one master, and of the same household, should be strangers; I assure you I desire it not; nay, to speak more plainly, I cannot be so to you. God’s people are all marked with one and the same mark, and have, for the main, one and the same heart, guided by one and the same spirit of truth; and where this is, there can be no discord; nay, here must needs be a sweet harmony; and the same request, with you, I make unto the Lord, that we may, as Christian brethren, be united by an heavenly and unfeigned love, bending all our hearts and forces in furthering a work beyond our strength, with reverence and fear, fastening our eyes always on Him that is only able to direct and prosper all our ways. I acknowledge myself much bound to you for your kind love and care in sending Mr. Fuller amongst us, and rejoice much that I am by him satisfied touching your judgment of the outward form of God’s worship; it is, as far as I can gather, no other than is warranted by the evidence of truth, and the same which I have professed and maintained ever since the Lord in mercy revealed himself unto me, being far from the common report that hath been spread of you, touching that particular; but God’s children must not look for less here below; and it is a great mercy of God that he strengthened them to go through with it. I shall not need, at this time, to enlarge unto you, for (God willing) I purpose to see your face shortly; in the mean time, I humbly take my leave of you, committing you to the Lord’s blessing and protection, and rest your assured loving friend,
John Endicot.6
To the worshipful, his worthy and much respected friend, Mr. Bradford, Governor of Plymouth, these:
Most worthy and much respected friend, Mr. Bradford;
I, with my wife, remember our service unto you and yours, thanking you most humbly for your great kindness, when we were at Plimouth with you: Sir, I make bold to trouble you with a few lines, for to certify you, how it hath pleased God to deal with us, since you heard from us; how, notwithstanding all opposition, that hath been here and elsewhere, it hath pleased God to lay a foundation, the which I hope is agreeable to his word, in every thing. The 20th of July, if pleased God to move the heart of our governor, to set it apart for a solemn day of humiliation for the choice of a pastor and teacher; the former
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