There hath beene a fishing this yeere [1624] upon the Coast about 50. English ships: ... and though I promise no Mines of gold, yet the warlike Hollanders let us imitate but not hate, whose wealth and strength are good testimonies of their treasury gotten by fishing; and New-England hath yeelded already [up to 1624] by generall computation one hundred thousand pounds at the least. Therefore, honourable and worthy Country men, let not the meannesse of the word fish distaste you, for it will afford as good gold as the Mines of Guiana or Potassie, with lesse hazard and charge, and more certainty and facility.
49. Final Source of Plymouth Land Titles
a. The Bradford Charter, January 13/23, 1629/30
Hazard's State Papers (Washington, 1792), I, 298 ff.
Cf. American History and Government, § 55.
[Recital of grant of New England by James I to the Council for New England in charter of 1620.]
Now know yee that the said Councell, by Vertue and Authority of his said late Majestie's Letters pattents, and ... in Consideration that William Bradford and his Associates have for these nine Yeares lived in New-Englande ... and have there ... planted a Towne ... att their owne proper Costs ... and now seeinge that by the speciall Providence of God and [by] their extraordinary Care and Industry, they have encreased their Plantacion to neere three hundred People ... Have given ... and sett over ... unto the said William Bradford, his Heires, Associates, and Assigns, all that Parte of New England [boundaries of the Colony]
... Alsoe it shalbe lawfull and free for the said William Bradford, his Associats, his Heires and Assignes, att all tymes hereafter, to incorporate by some usuall or fitt Name and Title, him or themselves, or the People there inhabitinge under him or them, with Liberty to them and their Successours, from tyme to tyme to frame and make Orders, Ordinances, and Constitucons, as well for the better Governemente of their Affaires here, and the receaving or admitting any to his or their Society, as alsoe for the better Government of his or their People and Affaires in New Englande, or his and their People att Sea in goeinge thither, or returninge from thence, and the same to putt or cause to be putt in Execucon by such Officers and Ministers as he and they shall authorise and depute; Provided that the said Lawes and Orders bee not repugnante to the Lawes of Englande, or the Frame of Governmente by the said Presidente and Councell here after to be established. ... And the said Councell doe hereby covenante and declare, that it is their Intente and Meaninge for the good of this Plantacon, that the said William Bradford his Associats, or their Heires or Assignes, shall have and enjoy whatsoever Priveledge or Priveledges of what kinde soever, as are expressed or intended to be graunted by his said late Majestie's Letters-Pattents, and that in as large and ample manner as the said Councell thereby now may or hereafter can graunte (coyninge of Money excepted). ... And lastly, know yee that wee the said Councell have made and ... appointed Captaine Myles Standish, or, in his absence, Edward Winslowe, ... and John Alden, or any of them, to be our true and lawfull Attorney ... in our Name and Stead, to enter into the said Tracte ... of Lande ... or into some parte thereof ... and in our Names to take possession and seizin thereof, ... and after such possession and seizin, ... then ... in our Names to deliver the full and peaceable possession of all ... the said mencioned ... premises unto the said William Bradford....
[The Plymouth copy of this grant is indorsed:—
"The within named John Alden, authorised as Attorney for the within mentioned Counsill, haveing in their name ... entered into some parte of the within mentioned tracts of Land ... and in their Names taken possession and seazin thereof, did in the name of the said Counsill, deliver the full and peacable possession and seazin of all ... the within mentioned ... premises unto William Bradford, for him, his Heires, Associates, and Assignes....