Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
protection Uncass lived, and he and his men had been faithful to them in this warr,
& done them very good service. But this did so vexe the Narrigansetts, that they had
not ye whole sweay over them, as they have never ceased plotting and contriving
how to bring them under, and because they cannot attaine their ends, because of ye
English who have protected them, they have sought to raise a generall conspiracie
against ye English, as will appear in an other place.
Chapter XXXIV
Anno Dom: 16.
Mr. Edward Winslow was chosen Govr this year.
Many having left this place (as is before noted) by reason of the straightnes &
barrennes of ye same, and their nding of better accommodations elsewher, more
sutable to their ends & minds; and sundrie others still upon every occasion desiring
their dismissions, the church begane seriously to thinke whether it were not better
joyntly to remove to some other place, then to be thus weakened, and as it were
insensibly dissolved. Many meetings and much consultation was held hearaboute,
and diverse were mens minds and opinions. Some were still for staying togeather
in this place, aledging men might hear live, if they would be contente with their
condition; and yt it was not for wante or necessitie so much yt they removed, as for
ye enriching of them selves. Others were resolute upon removall, and so signied
yt hear yey could not stay; but if ye church did not remove, they must; insomuch
as many were swayed, rather then ther should be a dissolution, to condescend
to a removall, if a tt place could be found, that might more conveniently and
comfortablie receive ye whole, with such accession of others as might come to them,
for their better strength & subsistence; and some such like cautions and limitations.
So as, with ye aoresaide provissos, ye greater parte consented to a removall to a
place called Nawsett, which had been supercially veiwed and ye good will of ye
purchassers (to whom it belonged) obtained, with some addition thertoo from ye
Courte. But now they begane to see their errour, that they had given away already
the best & most comodious places to others, and now wanted them selves; for this
place was about 50. myles from hence, and at an outside of ye countrie, remote
from all society; also, that it would prove so straite, as it would not be competente
to receive ye whole body, much less be capable of any addition or increase; so as
(at least in a shorte time) they should be worse ther then they are now hear. The
which, with sundery other like considerations and inconveniences, made them
chaing their resolutions; but such as were before resolved upon removall tooke
advantage of this agreemente, & wente on notwithstanding, neither could ye rest
hinder them, they haveing made some begining. And thus was this poore church
left, like an anciente mother, growne olde, and forsaken of her children, (though
not in their aections,) yett in regarde of their bodily presence and personall
helpfullness. Her anciente members being most of them worne away by death; and
these of later time being like children translated into other families, and she like
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