William Bradford · CatalogWilliam BradfordWilliam Bradford · CatalogWilliam Bradford (1590–1657) was a member of the Scrooby and Leyden congregation and, for most of the years from 1621 until his death, governor of Plymouth Colony.
William Bradford (1590–1657) was a member of the Scrooby and Leyden congregation and, for most of the years from 1621 until his death, governor of Plymouth Colony. He wrote this history in a plain style, beginning in 1630, covering the colony’s life from its English and Dutch origins through the later 1640s.
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“they knew they were pilgrimes, & looked not much on those things, but lift up their eyes to y^e heavens, their dearest cuntrie, and quieted their spirits.”
“solemnly & mutualy in y^e presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our better ordering & preservation”
“was a spetiall instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corne, wher to take fish, and to procure other comodities, and was also their pilott to bring them to unknowne places for their profitt, and never left them till he dyed.”
“as one small candle may light a thousand, so y^e light here kindled hath shone to many, yea in some sorte to our whole nation; let y^e glorious name of Jehova have all y^e praise.”
William Bradford’s Of Plimoth Plantation is the principal narrative history of the Plymouth colony, written by its long-serving governor in the plain style he promised at the outset, “with singuler regard unto y^e simple trueth in all things.” The hosted text follows the 1898 official edition of the manuscript, printed at Boston by Wright and Potter for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and now circulated as Project Gutenberg ebook 24950.