Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth, Title page – To the reader
RELATION OR Iournall of the beginning and proceedings of the English Plantation setled at Plimoth in NEW ENGLAND, by certaine English Aduenturers both Merchants and others.
With their difficult passage, their safe ariuall, their ioyfull building of, and comfortable planting themselues in the now well defended Towne of NEW PLIMOTH.
AS ALSO A RELATION OF FOVRE seuerall▪ discoueries since made by some of the same English Planters there resident.
I. In a iourney to PVCKANOKICK the habitation of the Indians greatest King Massasoyt: as also their message, the answer and entertainment they had of him.
II. In a voyage made by ten of them to the Kingdome of Nawset, to seeke a boy that had lost himselfe in the woods: with such accidents as befell them in that voyage.
III. In their iourney to the Kingdome of Namaschet, in defence of their greatest King Massasoyt, against the Narrohiggonsets, and to reuenge the supposed death of their Interpreter Tisquantum.
IIII. Their voyage to the Massachusets, and their entertainment there.
With an answer to all such obiections as are any way made against the lawfulnesse of English plantations in those parts.
LONDON, Printed for Iohn Bellamie, and are to be sold at his shop at the two Greyhounds in Cornhill neere the Royall Exchange. 1622.
TO HIS MVCH REspected Friend, Mr. I. P.
GOod Friend: As wee cannot but account it an extraordinary blessing of God in directing our course for these parts, after we came out of our natiue countrey, for that we had the happinesse to be possessed of the comforts we receiue by the benefit of one of the most pleasant, most healthfull, and most fruitfull parts of the world: So must wee acknowledge the same blessing to bee multiplied vponupon our whole company, for that we obtained the honour to receiue allowance and approbation of our free possession, and enioying thereof vnderunder the authority of those thrice honoured Persons, the President and Counsell for the affaires of New-England, by whose bounty and grace, in that behalfe, all of vsus are tied to dedicate our best seruice vntounto them, as those vnderunder his Majestie, that wee owe it vntounto: whose noble endeuours in these their actions the God of heauen and earth multiply to his glory and their owne eternall comforts.
As for this poore Relation, I pray you to accept it, as being writ by the seuerall Actors themselues, after their plaine and rude manner; therefore doubt nothing of the truth thereof: if it be defectiue in any thing, it is their ignorance, that are better acquainted with planting then writing. If it satisfie those that are well affected to the businesse, it is all I care for. Sure I am the place we are in, and the hopes that are apparent, cannot but suffice any that will not desire more then enough, neither is there want of ought among vsus but company to enioy the blessings so plentifully bestowed vponupon the inhabitants that are here. While I was a writing this, I had almost forgot, that I had but the recommendation of the relation it selfe, to your further consideration, and therefore I will end without saying more, saue that I shall alwaies rest
From PLIMOTH in New-England. Yours in the way of friendship, R. G.
To the Reader.
COurteous Reader, be intreated to make a fauorable construction of my forwardnes, in publishing these inseuing discourses, the desire of carrying the Gospell of Christ, into those forraigne parts, amongst those people that as yet hauehave had no knowledge, nor tast of God, as also to procure vntounto themselues and others a quiet and comfortable habytation: weare amongst other things the inducements (vntounto these vndertakers of the then hopefull, and now experimentally knowne good enterprice for plantation, in New England, to set afoote and prosecute the same & though it fared with them, as it is common to the most actions of this nature, that the first attemps proue diffecult, as the sequell more at large expresseth, yet it hath pleased God, euē beyond our expectation in so short a time, to giuegive hope of letting some of them see (though some he hath taken out of this vale of teares) some grounds of hope, of the accomplishment of both those endes by them, at first propounded.
And as my selfe then much desired, and shortly hope to effect, if the Lord will, the putting to of my shoulder in this hopefull business, and in the meane time, these relations comming to my hand from my both known & faithful friends, on whose writings I do much rely, I thought it not a misse to make them more generall, hoping of a cheerefull proceeding, both of Aduenturers and planters, intreating that the example of the hon: Virginia and Bermudas Companies, incountering with so many distasters, and that for diuers yeares together, with an vnwearied resolution, the good effects whereof are now eminent, may preuaile as a spurre of preparation also touching this no lesse hopefull Country though yet an infant, the extent & cōmodities whereof are as yet not fully known, after time wil vnfould more: such as desire to take knowledge of things, may in forme themselues by this insuing treatise, and if they please also by such as hauehave bin there a first and second time, my harry prayer to God is that the euent of this and all other honorable and honest vndertakings, may be for the furtherance of the kingdome of Christ, the inlarging of the bounds of our Soueraigne Lord King Iames, & the good and profit of those, who either by purse, or person, or both, are agents in the same, so I take leaue and rest
Thy friend, G. MOVRT.