Contents
Acknowledgments7
Foreword9
Part I11
The Pilgrims decide to emigrate to America § They obtain a patent and seek financial backing § Some London merchants offer to invest in the colony § 1620—Pilgrims and merchants form a joint stock company § Despite difficulties and controversy, the colonists set sail § Contrary to their patent, the Pilgrims settle at Plymouth § New Plymouth struggles with hardship and debt § Quarrels develop among the London merchants § The joint stock company breaks up § The Pilgrims agree to purchase the merchants’ interest in the company § The London investors were linked by common associations
Part II47
The Colony looks to the fur trade to pay its debts § Three London merchants agree to continue as Plymouth’s partners § The Pilgrims encounter difficulties in the fur trade § Plymouth obtains a new patent to protect its trading rights § Plymouth’s business agent is dismissed for a “conflict of interest” § The colony and its London partners dispute over their accounts § The London partners quarrel among themselves § Through arbiters, Plymouth and London reach a financial settlement § 1645—Plymouth’s debts, “hopeful and desperate,” at last are discharged
Notes69
Bibliography79
Index of Personal Names85