Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth, Part 5
A LETTER SENT FROM New England to a friend in these parts, setting forth a briefe and true Declaration of the worth of that Plantation; As also certaine vsefull Directions for such as intend a VOYAGE into those Parts.
LOuing, and old Friend, although I receiued no Letter from you by this Ship, yet forasmuch as I know you expect the performance of my promise, which was, to write vntounto you truely and faithfully of all things. I hauehave therefore at this time sent vntounto you accordingly. Referring you for further satisfaction to our more large Relations You shall vnderstand, that in this little time, that a few of vsus hauehave beene here, we hauehave built seauen dwelling houses, and foure for the vse of the Plantation, and hauehave made preparation for divers others. We set the last Spring some twentie Acres of Indian Corne, and sowed some six Acres of Barly & Pease, and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with Herings or rather Shadds, which we hauehave in great abundance, and take with great ease at our doores. Our Corne did proue well, & God be praysed, we had a good increase of Indian Corne, and our Barly indifferent good, but our Pease not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sowne, they came vp very well, and blossomed, but the Sunne parched them in the blossome▪ one harvest being gotten in, our Governour sent foure men on fowlle…, that so we might after a more speciall manner reioyce together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labours… they … in one day killed as much fowle, as with a … beside, serued the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst … Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst vsus, and amongst the rest their greatest King Massassoyt, with some nintie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted and they went out and killed fiue Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and vponupon the Captaine, and others. And although it be not alwayes so plentifull, as it was at this time with vsus, yet by the goodnesse of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie. Wee hauehave found the Indians very faithfull in their Covenant of Peace with vsus; very louing and readie to pleasure vsus: we often goe to them, and they come to vsus… some of vsus hauehave bin fi…tie myles by Land in the Country with whom, the occasions and Relations whereof you shall vndestand by our generall and morefull Declaration of such things … are worth the noting, yea, it hath pleased God so to possesse the Indians with a feare of vsus, and louelove vntounto vsus, that not onelyonly the greatest King amongst them called Massasoyt, but also all the Princes and people… round about …, hauehave either made su…e vntounto vsus, or beene glad of any occasion to make peace with vsus, so that seauen of them at once h…ue sent their messengers to vsus to that end, yea, an Fl…nt sea, which we neuer saw hath also together with the for…er yeelded willingly to be vnderunder the protection, and subiects to … souereigne Lord King IAMES, so that there is now greatly … amongst the Indians themselues, which was not formerly neither would hauehave bin but for vsus▪ and we for our parts walks as peaceably and safely in the wood, as in the hie wayes in England, we entertaine them familiarly in our houses, and they as friendly bestowing their Venison on …. They are a people without any Religion, or knowledge of any God, yet very trustie, quicke of apprehe…sion, … witted, iust the men and women goe naked, onelyonly … about their middles; for the traiper of the ayre, … it agreeth well with that in England, and if there be any different… at all, this is somewhat hotter in Summer, home … he deed bledolderin. Winter, but I cannot out of experience so say, the ayre is very cleere and not foggie, as hath beene reported. I neuer in my life remember a more seasonable yeare, then we hauehave here enioyned: and if we hauehave once but Kine, Horses, and Sheepe, I make no question, but men might liue as contended here: as in any part of the world. For fish and fowle, we hauehave great abundance, fresh Codd in the Summer is but course meat with vsus, our Bay is full of Lobsters all the Summer, and affordeth varietie of other Fish; in September we can take a Hogshead of …e…es in a night, with small labour, & can dig them out of their beds, all the Winter we hauehave Mussells and Othus at our doores: Oysters we hauehave … noneere, but we can hauehave them brought by the Indians when we will; all the Spring time the earth sendeth forth naturally very good Sallet Herbs: here are Grapes, white and red, and very sweete and strong also. Strawberies, Goofeberies, Raspa…, &c. Plums of three sorts, with blacke and red, being almost as good as a Damsen: abundance of Roses, white; red, and damask: single, but very sweet indeed; the Countrey wanteth onelyonly industrious men to imploy, for it would grieue your hearts (if as I) you had seene so many myles together by goodly Riuers vnihabited, and withall to consider those parts of the world wherein you liue▪ to be even greatly burthened with abundance of people. These things I thought good to let you vnderstand, being the truth of things as new as I could experimentally take knowledge of, and that you might on our behalfe giuegive God thankes who hath delt so fauourably with vsus.
Our supply of men from you came the ninth of November 1621. putting in at Cape …od, some eight or ten leagues from vsus, the Indians that dwell there about were they who were owners of the Corne which we found in Caues, for which we hauehave giuen them full content, and are in great league with them, they … vsus … was a ship nere vntounto them, but though… it to be … indeede for our selues, we expected not a friend so soone. But when we perceived that she made for our Bay, the Gouernor commanded a great … to beshoo…, … all … were abroad at worke; whereupon … that could handle… Gun were readie, with full resolution that if she were an Enemy, we would stand … iust defence, not fearing them, but God provided better for vsus then we supposed; these came all in health vntounto vsus, … being sicke by the way (otherwise then by Sea sicknesse) and so continue at this time, by the blessing of God, the good wife …ord was deliuered of a sonne the first night shee landed and both of them are very well. When it pleaseth God, we are setled and sitted for the fishing busines, and other trading, I doubt not but by the blessing of God, the gayne will giuegive content to all; in the meane time, that we hauehave gotten we hauehave sent by this ship, and though it be not much, yet it will witnesse for vsus, that we hauehave not beene idle, considering the smallnesse of our … all this Summer. We hope the Marchants will accept of it, and be incouraged to furnish vsus with things needfull for further imployment, which will also incourage vsus to put forth our selues to the vttermost. Now because … expect your comming vntounto vsus with other of our friends, whose companie we much desire, I thought good to aduertise you of a few things needfull; be carefull to hauehave a very good bread-roome to put your Biskets in, let your Cask for Beere and Water be Iron-bound for the first tyre if not more; let not your meat be drie salted, none can better doe it then the Saylers; let your meale be so hard trodd in your Cask that you shall need an Ads or Hatchet to worke it out with: Trust not too much on vsus for Corne at this time, for by reason of this last company that came, depending wholy vponupon vsus, we shall hauehave little enough till haruest; be carefull to come by some of your meale to spend by the way, it will much refresh you, build your Cabbins as open as you can, and bring good store of clothes, and beding with you, bring eueryevery man a Musker or fowling Pe…ce, let your Pe…ce be long in the barrell, and feare not the waight of it, for most of our shooting is from Stands; bring iuyce of Lemons, and take it fasting, it is of good vse; for hot waters, Anni…seed water is the best, but vse it sparingly: if you bring a…y thing for comfort in the Country, Butter or Sallet oyle or both is very good; our Indian Corne even the coursest, maketh as pleasant meat as Rice, therefore spare that vnlesse to spend by the way; bring Paper, and Linced oyle for your Windowes, with Cotton yarne for your Lamps; let your shott be most for bigge Fowles, and bring store of Powder and shot: I forbeare further to write for the present, hoping to see you by the next returne, so I take my leane, comm…nding you to the LORD for a safe conduct vntounto vsus. Resting in him
Plimmouth in New England this 11. of December. 1621. Your louing Friend E. W.