Of Plymouth Plantation: Book 2, Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

Edward Winslow arrives in England, where he gets a warm welcome, thanks largely to the ample supply of furs he brings. Moreover, Winslow learns that the White Angel will not be charged against the Pilgrims—but Winslow is still asked to testify about the state of the colonies before the “Right Honorable Lords Commissioners for the Colonies in America.” Winslow explains that both the Dutch and the French have encroached on the Connecticut territory, building forts and interfering with England’s patent.

Winslow’s testimony leads some members of the Commission to propose allowing the colonists to resolve the trade dispute in their own way. However, Sir Ferdinand Gorges, a member of the Commission (and father of Robert Gorges) is planning to serve as Governor General, and wants to establish his authority over New England, “disturbing the peace of the churches.” However, Gorges’ plan comes to nothing. In the following days, Winslow is questioned by the Lords, and his character is called into question—it’s suggested that he’s an immoral man for marrying couples without proper religious authority. Winslow is imprisoned for seventeen weeks for his alleged abuse of power. He’s released, and the Commission never sends forces to resolve the trade dispute.

On September 7th, 1635, James Sherley sends the Plymouth colony a letter explaining that he’s sending the Pilgrims a letter of attorney that will enable them to sue Allerton for the costs of the White Angel.

In 1635, the Pilgrims sustain a heavy loss from the French colonists. In Penobscot harbor, French colonists, led by one Monsieur d’Aulnay, take control of several English settlers’ homes in the name of the King of France. The Pilgrims retaliate by sending an armed brigade, led by Myles Standish, to sail to the harbor and demand that the French return the property. However, Standish quarrels with the captain of the ship, a man named Girling—first over Girling’s payment and then about the proper time to fire on the French. Girling clumsily begins shooting before the ship has even reached the harbor, wasting their supply of gunpowder. Embarrassed, Standish has no choice but to turn back.

The Pilgrims try to resolve the dispute with the French by contacting the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Massachusetts leadership supports the Pilgrims but claims that it cannot spare resources to deploy troops. Toward the end of 1635, they send troops for the Pilgrims’ mission, but apologize for being unable to provide more. Around the same time, Massachusetts merchants begin trading with the French, providing them with ammunition. To this day, Bradford writes, the French disrespect English trade and English property, largely because of the guns and ammunition they’ve obtained through English merchants.

In August, a storm decimates the Pilgrim community, especially near Connecticut. The same month, there’s a lunar eclipse. Shortly afterwards, settlers in the Massachusetts Bay venture into Connecticut, knowing that the storm has cleared the area—and in doing so, they interfere with the Pilgrims’ land rights. In the end, the colonists reach a treaty: the Plymouth settlers will keep their property along with “a 16th part of all they bought from the Indians,” leaving the remaining territory for the Massachusetts settlers. However, the memory of the Massachusetts settlers’ rudeness is not soon forgotten.

Edward Winslow, still in England, is under orders to recruit a new minister for Plymouth. He recruits a man who dies just before the voyage, meaning that he must quickly find a replacement. He settles on a man named Mr. Norton. Norton is unsure if he wants to live in Plymouth; in the end, he spends a year in Plymouth, but then moves to another colony.