Online Texts for Craig White's Literature Courses

Instructor’s note: The Pilgrims' story is heroic but tragic, as these concluding chapters reveal unexpected consequences to their efforts for a godly community in the New World.

Chapter 32: The Pilgrims, though trying to establish a religious community, ironically discover a more sinful world than other settlements. Bradford rationalizes this tendency, but this problem of fearing and thus seeing sin everywhere led later Americans, including the Founders of the USA, to adopt a state in which liberty and separation of church and state became more important than policing community morals.

Chapter 33: As in Chapter 23, here Bradford describes the ironical downside of immigration involving a people who leave their old worlds behind to travel to America to live as they please, but then find that other members of their community now want to take their turn and leave the original immigrant community behind. Many immigrants, seeking to combine the social stability of a traditional culture with the material security of a modern culture, are surprised to find that the revolution in which they have participated can't be stopped, and that modern culture cannot promise stability.

The concluding paragraphs of Bradford's book expand his normal plain style for a lyrical note of loss, comparing the inevitable losses of modern existence to that of a mother saying goodbye to her children.

from Chapter 32

Anno Dom: 1642.

Marvelous it may be to see and consider how some kind of wickedness did grow and break forth here, in a land where the same was so much witnessed against, and so narrowly looked unto, and severely punished when it was known; as in no place more, or so much, that I have known or heard of . . . but they are here more discovered and seen, and made public by due search, inquisition, and due punishment; for the churches look narrowly to their members, and the magistrates over all, more strictly then in other places. Besides, here the people are but few in comparison of other places, which are full and populous, and lie hid, as it were, in a wood or thicket, and many horrible evils by that means are never seen nor known; whereas here, they [sins] are, as it were, brought into the light, and set in the plain field, or rather on a hill, made conspicuous to the view of all. [cf. John Winthrop's "city on a hill" in A Model of Christian Charity]

from Chapter 33. ["Thus was this poor church left . . . "]

[¶33.1] I cannot but here take occasion, not only to mention, but greatly to admire the marvelous providence of God, that notwithstanding the many changes and hardships that these people went through, and the many enemies they had and difficulties they met withal, that so many of them should live to very old age! It was not only this reverend man’s condition [referring to the death of Elder John Brewster at 80], (for one swallow makes no summer, as they say,) but many more of them did the like, some dying about and before this time, and many still living, who attained to 60 years of age, and to 65 diverse to 70 and above, and some near 80 as he did.

[¶33.2] It must needs be more than ordinary, and above natural reason, that so it should be; for it is found in experience, that change of air, famine or unwholesome food, much drinking of water, sorrows and troubles, etc., all of them are enemies to health, causes of many diseases, consumers of natural vigor and the bodies of men, and shorteners of life. And yet of all these things they [the Pilgrims] had a large part, and suffered deeply in the same. They went from England to Holland, where they found both worse air and diet then that they came from; from thence (enduring a long imprisonment, as it were, in the ships at sea) into New England; and how it hath been with them here hath already been shown; and what crosses, troubles, fears, wants, and sorrows they had been liable unto, is easy to conjecture; so as in some sort they may say with the Apostle [St. Paul], 2. Corinthians 11.26, 27.

they were in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of their own nation, in perils among the heathen, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in could and nakedness.

[¶33.3] What was it then that upheld them? It was God’s visitation that preserved their spirits.

Job 10.12. Thou hast given me life and grace, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. He that upheld the Apostle upheld them. They were persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but perished not. 2^nd Corinthians 4. 9. As unknown, and yet known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed. 2^nd Corinthians 6. 9.

[¶33.4] God, it seems, would have all men to behold and observe such mercies and works of his providence as these are towards his people, that they in like cases might be encouraged to depend upon God in their trials, and also bless his name when they see his goodness towards others. Man lives not by bread only, Deuteronomy 8.3.

[¶33.5] It is not by good and dainty fare, by peace, and rest, and heart’s ease, in enjoying the contentments and good things of this world only, that preserves health and prolongs life. (God in such examples would have the world see and behold that he can do it without them; and if the world will shut their eyes, and take no notice thereof, yet he would have his people to see and consider it.) . . .

Anno Dom: 1644

[¶33.6] Many having left this place (as is before noted) by reason of the straitness [smallness] and barrenness of the same, and their finding of better accommodations elsewhere, more suitable to their ends and minds; and sundry others still upon every occasion desiring their dismissions, the church began seriously to think whether it were not better jointly to remove to some other place, than to be thus weakened, and as it were insensibly dissolved. [i.e., having migrated so many times before, is the answer to the Pilgrims' problems for them to keep moving?]

[¶33.7] Many meetings and much consultation was held hereabout, and diverse were men’s minds and opinions. Some were still for staying together in this place, alleging men might here live, if they would be content with their condition; and that it was not for want or necessity so much that they removed, as for the enriching of themselves. Others were resolute upon removal, and so signified that here they could not stay; but if the church did not remove, they must; insomuch as many were swayed, rather than there should be a dissolution, to condescend to a removal, if a fit place could be found, that might more conveniently and comfortablie receive the whole, with such accession of others as might come to them, for their better strength and subsistence; and some such-like cautions and limitations.

[¶33.8] So as, with the aforesaid provisos, the greater part consented to a removal to a place called Nawsett*, which had been superficially viewed and the good will of the purchasers (to whom it belonged) obtained, with some addition thereto from the Court. But now they began to see their error, that they had given away already the best and most commodious [promising] places to others, and now wanted themselves; for this place was about 50 miles from hence, and at an outside of the country, remote from all Society; also, that it would prove so strait [limiting], as it would not be competent to receive the whole body, much less be capable of any addition or increase; so as (at least in a short time) they should be worse there then they are now here. The which, with sundry other like considerations and inconveniences, made them change their resolutions; but such as were before resolved upon removal took advantage of this agreement, and went on notwithstanding, neither could the rest hinder them, they having made some beginning. [*Nawsett = present-day Eastham on Cape Cod]

[¶33.9] And thus was this poor church left, like an ancient mother, grown old, and forsaken of her children, (though not in their affections,) yet in regard of their bodily presence and personal helpfulness. Her ancient members being most of them worn away by death; and these of later time being like children translated into other families, and she like a widow left only to trust in God [1 Timothy 5.5; see below]. Thus she that had made many rich became herself poor. [2 Corinthians 6.10; see below]

1 Timothy 5:5 (KJV) Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

2 Corinthians 6:10 (KJV) As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Of Plymouth Plantation, The End