Governor William Bradford'S Letter Book by William Bradford, first published in 1906, is a rare manuscript, the original residing in one of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, which has been scanned and cleaned by state-of-the-art publishing tools for better readability and enhanced appreciation. Restoration Editors' mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life. Some smudges, annotations or unclear text may still exist, due to permanent damage to the original work. We believe the literary significance of the text justifies offering this reproduction, allowing a new generation to appreciate it.

The letters of Governor William Bradford, who led the Plymouth Colony intermittently between 1621 and 1657, contain many insights into his life and achievements. Notable as one of the original organizers and passengers who set sail for North America on the Mayflower, Bradford was among the best educated and experienced of the settlers. Literate and an avid reader of Christian texts, it was a meeting with fellow settler William Brewster that set his life on a new course - together they aspired to found a new colony across the ocean, free from the persecutions of Puritans which had become common under the rule of the King of England, James I. This collection of letters begins after the settlers successfully founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It consists both of correspondence received by Bradford during his tenures as leader of the new community, and his replies. It is evident that the success of the colonists amid dire and basic conditions surprised onlookers; Bradford answers in order to inform enquirers about the steady progress of the colony. Various plantations were established over years, with constructions gradually taking place as conditions such as transit and food supply improved. Taken as a whole, Bradford's letters are an illuminating account of the management and growth of the fledgling Plymouth Colony.

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Excerpt from Governor William Bradford's Letter Book Now further for yourselves; as the power of government is fallen upon you, both by lot and desert (as we are persuaded) so your troubles and cares have been so much the more hitherto and we would not have you think of easing yourselves till you have either made things better, or ended your warfare for it is best that the world afford us these crosses lest we should forget the meditation of heaven. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Gathered during Plymouth Colony's crucial first decade, Bradford's Letter Book served as a sourcebook for the Governor's well-known history, "Of Plymouth Plantation." This intriguing set of letters and documents offers us valuable first-hand acquaintance with the leadership of New England's first plantation. From this collection, we can better appreciate the complex reality that lies behind our idealized image of "the Pilgrim Fathers." Here we can see the conflicting motives and internal struggles, the misunderstandings and misrepresentations, and the practical considerations which combined to shape the lives of the early Plymouth colonists.

Sir -The enclosed ancient manuscript I found some years ago in a grocer's shop in this town of whom I obtained it with a view of saving what remained from destruction. I lament extremely that a page has been torn out; and it gives me pleasure that I now have an opportunity of placing it in your hands -a freedom I am induced to take from your advertisement of the first of November 1792 and from a persuasion that it may contribute in some measure to the important objects of your Society and I could wish I might otherwise be serviceable.