And this is the first mention that is made, in the history of that period, of MR. ROBERT CUSHMAN.1 And it should here be noticed that Gov. Bradford, Morton's Memorial, and other contemporaneous writers, are all scrupulously particular in adding to his name the honorable prefix of " Mr.," an undoubted indication, at that time, of a conventional superiority and a comparatively high degree of education, talents, and of the Christian profession and virtues.

Messrs. Cushman and Carver went to England, probably in the spring or summer of 1617; but they soon found their mission a difficult one. The Virginia Company were willing and desirous to have them go to their colony on the James River in Virginia. They would grant them a patent to the soil, "with as ample privileges as they had granted or could grant to any." And some of the "chief of the Company" were of the opinion that the King would grant "their suit for liberty in religion." The Virginia Company, thinking to make a profit by it, urged the King, through one of his principal Secretaries, (Sir Robert Naunton,) to grant their request. He would give them liberty to settle in America; for, in truth, he was anxious to get rid of them. But it was a sina qua non with the Puritans, to have freedom of religious worship, or not to move. Hence they contended stoutly for that point. "But it proved all in vain. He would connive at them and not molest them. But to allow or tolerate them by his public authority, under his seal, they found it would not be granted."3

After a long and tedious negociation, Messrs. Cushman and Carver returned to their friends at Leyden, with the best terms

It is deeply regretted that the early history of Robert Cushman and his colleagues, in the great work of establishing religious liberty and of founding a nation, is so little known. Not a single circumstance of himself or his family or ancestors, is known, up to the time when he and Gov. Carver were appointed on the mission to England, as above stated. The birth-place, genealogy, and early history of Gov. Bradford, having been recently brought to light, it is hoped that like success will crown the efforts that are now in progress to give the same information of ROBERT CUSHMAN.

2 Sir Ferdinando Gorges, one of the leaders of the second or Plymouth Company, says, "It was necessary that means might be used to draw into those enterprises some of those families that had retired themselves into Holland for scruples of conscience, giving them such liberty and freedom as might stand to their likings." And that advice was harkened to, &c. - Mass. Hist. Coll. xxvi. 73.

3 Bradford's Journal.

they could make, and "to what issue things had come."

But the result was entirely unsatisfactory. They had no confidence either in the honesty or the toleration of King James.

The Envoys of the Leyden Church probably returned in Nov. 1617, for they carried with them a letter from Sir Edwin Sandys, directed to Mr. John Robinson and Mr. William Brewster, dated Nov. 12, 1617, in which he says, "After my hearty salutations, The agents of your congregation, Robert Cushman and John Carver, have been in communication with divers select gentlemen of His Majesty's Council for Virginia; and by the writing of several articles, subscribed with your names, have given them that good degree of satisfaction which hath carried them on with a resolution to set forward your desire in the best sort that may be for your own and the public good; divers particulars whereof we leave to their faithful report, having carried themselves here with that good discretion, as is both to their own and their credit from whom they came. And whenever, being to treat for a multitude of people, they have requested further time to confer with them that are to be interested in this action about the several particulars which in the prosecution thereof will fall out considerable, it hath been very willingly assented to; and so they do now return unto you. If, therefore, it may please God so to direct your desires, as that on your parts there fall out no just impediments, I trust by the same direction it shall likewise appear that on our parts all forwardness to set you forward shall be found in the best sort, which with reason may be expected. And so I betake you with this design, (which I hope verily is the work of God,) to the gracious protection and blessing of the Highest. Your very loving friend,

London, Nov. 12, 1617.

EDWIN SANDYS."2

After a full, deliberate and prayerful consideration of the terms offered by the Virginia Company and the King, the Ley

1 From the expression "they do now return unto you," it is evident the Agents must have returned to Leyden soon after this letter was written, of which they were, undoubtedly, the bearers, — that is, between Nov. 12, the date of the letter, and Dec. 15, the date of Robinson's and Brewster's answer to it. -Young's Chronicles.

2 Sir Edwin Sandys was one of the principal members of the Virginia Company. He was a member of Parliament, and was ever a sincere, devoted and active friend of Mr. Robinson's Church. He died in 1629.

den Church sent again the same agents, Messrs. Cushman and Carver, to urge upon the King the great point with them,

"Freedom to worship God."

This fact is evident from the reply of Messrs. Robinson and Brewster to the foregoing letter of Sir Edwin Sandys.

Their answer was as follows:

"Right Worshipful,- Our humble duties remembered, in our own, our messengers and our churches' name, with all thankful acknowledgment of your singular love, expressing itself, as otherwise, so more especially in your great care and earnest endeavor of our good in the weighty business about Virginia, which the less able we are to requite, we shall think ourselves the more bound to commend in our prayers unto God for recompense. We have, with the best speed and consideration withal that we could, set down our requests in writing, subscribed, as you willed, with the hands of the greatest part of our congregation, and have sent the same unto the council, by an agent, a deacon of our church, John Carver, unto whom we have also requested a gentleman of our company to adjoin himself; to the care and discretion of which two we do refer the prosecuting of the business. Now we persuade ourselves, right worshipful, that we need not to provoke your godly and loving mind to any further or more tender care of us, since you have pleased so far to interest us in yourself, that, under God, above all persons and things in the world, we rely upon you, expecting the care of your love, the counsel of your wisdom and the help and countenance of your authority."

This interesting letter, the largest part of which we omit, was dated "Leyden, the 15th of December, 1617," and was, undoubtedly, carried to England by Messrs. Cushman and Carver.1

But they had no better success than before. For, says Gov. Bradford's Journal, "The Virginia Council was now so disturbed by factions and quarrels amongst themselves, as no business could well go forward."

1 There is a general impression that Cushman and Carver went to England but once in the early part of this negotiation. But from an examination of Gov. Bradford's Journal and the correspondence between Robinson and Brewster and Sir Edwin Sandys and others in England, it is evident that the agents, Messrs. Cushman and Carver, went over to England from Holland on that mission, first, in the summer of 1617, and afterwards the bearer of Robinson's and Brewster's letter, which we have given above, in Dec. 1617. Says Gov. Bradford's Journal, "These things being long in agitation, and messengers passing to and again about them, after all their hopes they were long delayed by many obstacles that fell in the way. For at the return of these messengers into England, they found things far otherwise than they expected."

But these men were not to be dismayed with disappointments or discouraged by the want of present success. For, says Bradford's and Brewster's letter, "We verily believe, and trust the Lord is with us, unto whom and whose service we have given ourselves in many trials, and that he will graciously prosper our endeavors according to the simplicity of our hearts therein. And it is not with us as with other men, whom small things can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish themselves home again."

*

Persevering in this matter, therefore, the Leyden Church, after a considerable delay, appointed two other agents to go to England and urge their requests. Those agents were Robert Cushman and William Brewster. They probably went over in the early part of 1619, and pursued the great object of their desires with a zeal, perseverance and ability worthy of the cause.

To accomplish an object to the Puritans so important, to carry on a negotiation with a weak, dishonest and pusilanimous administration, and to procure a grant of what was then so universally denied by nearly all governments, was indeed a great task, and required a skill at diplomacy which but few men possessed.

Yet notwithstanding "the great discouragements the agents met with, from the King and Bishop's refusing to allow them liberty of conscience," they persevered. "Trusting in God and in themselves," they were not dismayed.

On the 8th of May, 1619, Robert Cushman wrote the following letter to Rev. Mr. Robinson and the Leyden Church:

To his Loving Friends.

I had thought long since to have writ unto you; but could not effect that which I aimed at, neither can yet set things as I wished. Yet, notwithstanding, I doubt not but Mr. Brewster hath written to Mr. Robinson; but I think myself bound also to do something, lest I be thought to neglect you.

The main hindrance of our proceedings in the Virginia business is the dissensions and factions, as they term it, amongst the Council and Company of Virginia, which are such as that ever since we came up no business could by them be despatched. The

1 William Brewster, not William Bradford, as Judge Davis in his edition of Morton's Memorial has it, as will fully appear by a subsequent letter of Robert Cushman.

occasion of this trouble amongst them is, that a while since Sir Thomas Smith, repining at his many offices and troubles, wished the Company of Virginia to case him of his office in being treasurer and governor of the Virginia Company. Whereupon the Company took occasion to dismiss him, and chose Sir Edwin Sandys treasurer and governor of the Company, he having sixty voices, Sir John Wolstenholme sixteen voices, and alderman Johnson twenty-four. But Sir Thomas Smith, when he saw some part of his honor lost, was very angry, and raised a faction to cavil and contend about the election, and sought to tax Sir Edwin with many things that might both disgrace him and also put him by his office of governor. In which contentions they yet stick, and are not fit nor ready to intermeddle in any business; and what issue things will come to, I know not, nor are we yet certain. It is most like Sir Edwin will carry it away; and if he do, things will go well in Virginia; if otherwise, they will go ill enough always. We hope in two or three Court days things will settle. Mean space I think to go down into Kent, and come up again about fourteen days or three weeks hence; except either by these aforesaid contentions, or by the ill tidings from Virginia, we be wholly discouraged; of which tidings as followeth.

Capt. Argall is come home this week. He, upon notice of the intent of the Council, came away before Sir George Yeardley came there, and so there is no small dissension. But his tidings is ill, although his person be welcome. He saith Mr. Blackwell's ship came not there until March; but going towards winter they had still northwest winds, which carried them to the southward beyond their course; and the master of the ship and some six of the mariners dying, it seemed they could not find the Bay, till after long seeking and beating about. Mr. Blackwell is dead, and Mr. Maggner, the captain. Yea, there are dead, he saith, a hundred and thirty persons, one and other, in the ship. It is said there was in all a hundred and eighty persons in the ship, so as they were packed together like herrings. They had amongst them a flux, and also want of fresh water; so as it is here rather wondered that so many are alive, than that so many are dead. The merchants here say it was Mr. Blackwell's fault to pack so many in the ship; yea, and there was great murmuring and repining amongst them, and upbraiding of Mr. Blackwell for his dealing and disposing of them, when they saw how he had disposed of them, and how he insulted over them. Yea, the streets at Gravesend rang of their extreme quarreling, crying out one of another, "Thou hast brought me to this. I may thank thee for this." Heavy news it is, and I would be glad to hear how far it will discourage. I see none here discouraged much, but