Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth, Letter

Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth · Letter

CERTAINE VSEFVL ADVERTISEMENTS SENT in a Letter written by a discreete friend vntounto the Planters in New England, at their first setting saile from Southhampton, who earnestly desireth the prosperitie of that their new Plantation.

LOuing and Christian friends, I doe heartily and in the Lord salute you all, as being they with whom I am present in my best affection, and most earnest longings after you, though I be constrained for a while to be bodily absent from you, I say constrained, God knowing how willingly and much rather then otherwise I would hauehave hauehave borne my part with you in this first brunt, were I not by strong necessitie held backe for the present. Make account of me in the meane while, as of a man deuided in my selfe with great paine, and as (naturall bonds set aside) hauing my better part with you. And though I doubt not but in your godly wisedomes you both foresee and resolue vponupon that which concerneth your present state and condition both seuerally and ioyntly, yet ha…e I thought but my dutie to adde some further spurre of prouocation vntounto them who run already, if not because you need it, yet because I owe it in louelove and dutie.

And first, as we are daily to renew our repentance with our God, speciall for our sinnes knowne, and generall for our vnknowne trespasses; so doth the Lord call vsus in a singular maner vponupon occasions of such difficultie and danger as lieth vponupon you, to a both more narrow search and carefull reformation of our wayes in his sight, lest he calling to remembrance our sinnes forgotten by vsus or vnrepented of, take aduantage against vsus, and in iudgement leaue vsus for the same to be swallowed vp in one danger or other; whereas on the contrary, sin being taken away by earnest repentance and the pardon thereof from the Lord, sealed vp vntounto a mans conscience by his Spirit, great shall be his securitie and peace in all dangers, sweete his comforts in all distresses, with happie deliuerance from all euill, whether in life or in death.

Now next after this heauenly peace with God and our owne consciences, we are carefully to prouide for peace with all men what in vsus lieth, especially with our associates, and for that end watchfulnes must be had, that we neither at all in our selues do giuegive, no nor easily take offence being giuen by others. Woe be vntounto the world for offences, for though it be necessary (considering the malice of Satan and mans corruption) that offences come, yet woe vntounto the man or woman either by whom the offence cometh, saith Christ, Math. 18.7. And if offences in the vnseasonable vse of things in them selues indifferent, be more to be feared then death it selfe, as the Apostle teacheth, 1. Cor. 9.15. how much more in things simply euill, in which neither honour of God nor louelove of man is thought worthy to be regarded.

Neither yet is it sufficient that we keep our selues by the grace of God from giuing offence, except withall we be armed against the taking of them when they are giuen by others. For how vnperfect and lame is the worke of grace in that person, who wants charitie to couer a multitude of offences, as the Scriptures speake. Neither are you to be exhorted to this grace onelyonly vponupon the common grounds of Christianitie, which are, that persons ready to take offence, either want charitie to couer offences, or wisedome duly to weigh humane frailtie; or lastly are grosse, though close hypocrites, as Christ our Lord teacheth, Math. 7.1, 2, 3. as indeed in mine owne experience, few or none hauehave beene found which sooner giuegive offence, then such as easily take it; neither hauehave they euer proued sound and profitable members in societies, which hauehave nourished in themselues that touchey humour. But besides these, there are diuers spe…iall motiues prouoking you aboue others to great care and conscience this way: As first, you are many of you strangers, as to the persons, so to the infirmities one of another, and so stand in neede of more watchfulnesse this way, lest when such things fall out in men and women as you suspected not, you be inordinately affected with them; which doth require at your hands much wisedome and charitie for the couering and preuenting of incident offences that way. And last…y your intended course of ciuill communitie wil minister continuall occasion of offence, and will be as fuell for that fire, except you diligently quench it with brotherly forbearance. And if taking of offence causlesly or easily at mens doings be so carefully to be auoided, how much more heed is to be taken that we take not offence at God himselfe, which yet we certainly do so oft as we do murmure at his prouidence in our crosses, or beare impatiently such afflictions as wherewith he pleaseth to visit vsus. Store we vp therefore patience against the euill day, without which we take offence at the Lord himselfe in his holy and iust works.

A fourth thing there is carefully to be prouided for, to wit, that with your common emploiments you ioyne common affections truly bent vponupon the generall good, auoiding as a deadly plague of your both common and speciall comfort all retirednesse of minde for proper aduantage, and all singularly affected any maner of way; let eueryevery man represse in himselfe and the whole bodie in each person, as so many rebels against the common good, all priuate respects of mens selues, not sorting with the generall conueniencie. And as men are carefull not to hauehave a new house shaken with any violence before it be well settled and the parts firmly knit: so be you, I beseech you brethren, much more carefull, that the house of God which you are and are to be, be not shaken with vnnecessary nouelties or other oppositions at the first settling thereof.

Lastly, whereas you are to become a body politik, vsing amongst your selues ciuill gouernment, and are not furnished with any persons of speciall eminencie aboue the rest, to be chosen by you into office of gouernment: Let your wisedome and godlinesse appeare, not onelyonly in chusing such persons as do entirely louelove, and will diligently promote the common good, but also in yeelding vntounto them all due honour and obedience in their lawfull administrations; not beholding in them the ordinarinesse of their persons, but Gods ordinance for your good; nor being like vntounto the foolish multitude, who more honour the gay coate, then either the vertuous mind of the man, or glorious ordinance of the Lord. But you know better things, and that the image of the Lords power and authoritie which the Magistrate beareth, is honorable, in how meane persons soeuer. And this dutie you both may the more willingly, and ought the more conscionably to performe, because you are at least for the present to hauehave onelyonly them for your ordinary gouernours, which your selues shall make choise of for that worke.

Sundrie other things of importance I could put you in mind of, and of those before mentioned in more words, but I will not so far wrong your godly minds, as to thinke you heedlesse of these things, there being also diuers among you so well able to admonish both themselues and others of what concerneth them. These few things therefore, and the same in few words I do earnestly commend vntounto your care and conscience, ioyning therewith my daily incessant prayers vntounto the Lord, that he who hath made the heauens and the earth, the sea and all riuers of waters, and whose prouidence is ouer all his workes, especially ouer all his deare childre… for good, would so guide and guard you in your wayes, as inwardly by his Spirit, so outwardly by the hand of his power, as that both you and we also, for and with you, may hauehave after matter of praising his Name all the days of your and our liues. Fare you well in him in whom you trust, and in whom I rest

An vnfained well-willer of your happie successe in this hopefull voyage, I. R.

A RELATION OR IOVRNALL OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE Plantation setled at Plimoth in New ENGLAND.

WEdnesday the sixt of September, the Wind comming East North East, a sine small gale, we loosed from Plimoth, hauing beene kindly intertained and curteously vsed by diuer… friends there dwelling, and after many difficulties in boysterous stormes, at length by Gods prouidence vponupon the ninth of Nouember following, by breake of the day we espied land which we deemed to be Cape Cod, and so afterward it proued. And the appearance of it much comforted vsus, especially, seeing so goodly a Land, and woodded to the brinke of the sea, it caused vsus to reioyce together, and praise God that had giuen vsus once againe to see land. And thus wee made our course South South West, purposing to goe to a Riuer ten leagues to the South of the Cape, but at night the winde being con…rary, we put round againe for the Bay of Cape Cod: and vponupon the 11. of Nouember, we came to an anchor in the Bay, which is a good harbour and pleasant Bay, circled round, except in the entrance, which is about foure miles ouer from land to land, compassed about to the very Sea with Okes, Pines, Iuniper, Sassafras, and other sweet wood; it is a harbour wherein 1000. saile of Ships may safely ride, there we relieued our selues with wood and water, and refreshed our people, while our shallop was fitted to coast the Bay, to search for an habitation: there was the greatest store of fowle that euer we saw.

An… …uery day we saw Whales playing hard by vsus, of which in that place, if we had instruments & meanes to take them, we might hauehave made a very rich returne, which to our great griefe we wanted. Our master and his mate, and other… experienced in fishing, professed, we might hauehave made three or foure thousand pounds worth of Oyle; they preferred it before Greenland Whale-…ishing, & purpose the next winter to fish for Whale here; for …od we a…ayed, but found none, there is good store no doubt in their season. Neither got we any …i…h all the time we lay there, but some few little ones on the shore. We found great Mussles, and very fat and full of Sea pearle, but we could not eat them, for they made vsus all sicke that did eat, as well saylers as passengers; they caused to cast and se…ure, b…t they were soone well againe. The bay is so round & circling, that before we could come to anchor, we went round all the points of the Compasse. We could not come neere the shore by three quarters of an English mile, because of shallow water, which was a great preiudice to vsus, for our people going on shore were forced to wade a bow shoot or two in going aland, which caused many to get colds and coughs, for it was many times freezing cold weather.

This day before we came to harbour, obseruing some not well affected to vnitie and concord, but gaue some appearance of faction, it was thought good there should be an association and agreement, that we should combine together p. 3in one body, and to submit to such government and governours, as we should by common consent agree to make and chose, and set our hands to this that followes word fo… word.

IN the name of God, Amen. We whose names are vnde… written, the loyall Subiects of our dread soveraigne Lord King IAMES, by the grace of God of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Having vnderunder-taken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian Faith, and honour of our King and Countrey, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the Northerne parts of VIRGINIA, doe by these presents solemnly & mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant, and combine our selues together into a civill body politike, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by vertue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such iust and equall Lawes, Ordinances, acts, constitutions, offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the generall good of the Colony: vntounto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witnesse whereof we hauehave here vnderunder subscribed our names. Cape Cod 11. of November, in the yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord King IAMES, of England, France, and Ireland 18. and of Scotland 54. Anno Domino 1620.

The same day so soone as we could we set a-shore 15. or 16. men, well armed, with some to fetch wood, for we had none left; as also to see what the Land was, and what Inhabitants they could meet with, they found it to be a small neck of Land; on this side where we lay is the Bay and the f…rther side the Sea; the ground or earth, sand hils, much like the Downes in Holland, but much better; the crust of the earth a Spits depth, excellent blacke earth; all wooded with Okes, Pines, Sassafras, Iuniper, Birch, Holly, Vines, some Ash, Walnut; the wood for the most part open and without vnderwood, sit either to goe or ride in: at night our people returned, p. 4but found not any person, nor habitation, and laded their Boat with Iuniper, which smelled very sweet & strong, and of which we burnt the most part of the time we lay there.

Munday the 13. of November, we vnshipped our Shallop and drew her on land, to mend and repaire her, having bin forced to cut her downe in bestowing her betwixt the decks, and she was much opened with the peoples lying in her, which kept vsus long there, for it was 16. or 17. dayes before the Carpenter had finished her; our people went on shore to refresh themselues, and our women to wash▪ as they had great need; but whilest we lay thus still, hoping our Shallop would be ready in fiue or sixe dayes at the furthest, but our Carpenter made slow worke of it, so that some of our people impatient of delay, desired for our better furtherance to travaile by Land into the Countrey, which was not without appearance of danger, not having the Shallop with them nor meanes to carry provision, but on their backes, to see whether it might be fit for vsus to seate in or no, and the rather because as we sayled into the Harbour, there seemed to be a river opening it selfe into the maine land; the willingnes of the persons was liked, but the thing it selfe, in regard of the danger was rather permitted then approved, and so with cautions, directions, and instructions, sixteene men were set out with every man his Musket, Sword, and Corslet, vnderunder the conduct of Captaine Miles Standish, vntounto whom was adioyned for counsell and advise, William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Tilley.

Wednesday the 15. of November, they were set a shore, and when they had ordered themselues in the order of a single File, and marched about the space of a myle, by the Sea they espyed fiue or sixe people, with a Dogge comming towards them, who were Savages, who when they saw them ran into the Wood and whilled the Dogge after them, &c. First, they supposed them to be master Iones, the Master and some of his men, for they were a shore, and knew of their comming, but after they knew them to be Indians they marched p. 5after them into the Woods, least other of the Indians should lie in Ambush; but when the Indians saw our men following them, they ran away with might and may …e and our men turned out of the Wood after them, for it was the way they intended to goe, but they could not come neare them. They followed them that night about ten miles by the trace of their …ootings, and saw how they had come the same way they went, and at a turning perceived how they r…n vp an hill, to see whether they followed them. At length night came vponupon them, and they were constrained to take vp their lodging, so they set forth three Sentinells, and the rest, some kindled a fire, and others fetched wood, and there held our Randevous that night. In the morning so soone as we could see the trace, we proceeded on our iourney, & had the tracke vntill we had compassed the head of a long creake, and there they tooke into another wood, and we after them, supposing to finde some of their dwellings, but we marched thorow boughes and bushes, and vnderunder hills and vallies, which tore our very Armour in peeces, and yet could meete with none of them, nor their houses, nor finde any fresh water, which we greatly desired, and stood in need off, for we brought neither Beere nor Water with vsus, and our victuals was onelyonly Bisket and Holland cheese, and a little Bottle of aquavite, so as we were sore a thirst. About ten a clocke we came into a deepe Valley, full of brush, wood-gaile, and long grasse, through which we found little paths or tracts, and there we saw a Deere, and found springs of fresh water, of which we were heartily glad, and sat vsus downe and drunke our first New-England water with as much delight as euer we drunke drinke in all our liues. When we had refreshed our selues, we directed our course full South, that we might come to the shore, which within a short while after we did, and there made a fire, that they in the ship might see where wee were (as we had direction) and so marched on towards this supposed River; and as we went in another valley we found a fine cleere Pond of fresh water, being about a Musket sho… broad, and twise as long; there grew also many small vines, p. 6and Foule and Deere haunted there; there grew much Sasafras: from thence we went on & found much plaine ground, about fiftie Acres, fit for the Plow, and some signes where the Indians had formerly planted their corne; after this, some thought it best for nearenesse of the river to goe downe and travaile on the Sea sands, by which meanes some of our men were tyred, and lagged behind, so we stayed and gathered them vp, and struck into the Land againe; where we found a little path to certaine heapes of sand, one whereof was covered with old Matts, and had a woodden thing like a morter whelmed on the top of it, and an earthen pot layd in a little hole at the end thereof; we musing what it might be, digged & found a Bow, and, as we thought, Arrowes, but they were rotten; We supposed, there were many other things, but because we deemed them graues, we put in the Bow againe and made it vp as it was, and left the rest vntouched, because we thought it would be odious vntounto them to ransacke their Sepulchers. We went on further and found new stubble, of which they had gotten Corne this yeare, and many Wallnut trees full of Nuts, and great store of Strawberries, and some Vines; passing thus a field or two, which were not great, we came to another, which had also bin new gotten, and there we found where an house had beene, and foure or fiue old Plankes layed together; also we found a great Ketle, which had beene some Ships ketle and brought out of Europe; there was also an heape of sand, made like the former, but it was newly done, we might see how they had padled it with their hands which we digged vp, and in it we found a little old Basket full of faire Indian Corne, and digged further & found a fine great new Basket full of very faire corne of this yeare, with some 36. goodly eares of corne, some yellow, and some red, and others mixt with blew, which was a very goodly sight: the Basket was round, and narrow at the top, it held about three or foure Bushels, which was as much as two of vsus could lift vp from the ground, and was very handsomely and cunningly made; But whilst wee were busie about these things, we set our men Sentinell in a round ring, all but two p. 7or three which digged vp the corne. We were in suspence, what to doe with it, and the Ketle, and at length after much consultation, we concluded to take the Ketle, and as much of the Corne as we could carry away with vsus; and when our Shallop came, if we could find any of the people, and come to parley with them, we would giuegive them the Ketle againe, and satisfie them for their Corne, so wee tooke all the eares and put a good deale of the loose Corne in the Ketle for two men to bring away on a staffe; besides, they that could put any into their Pockets filled the same; the rest wee buried againe, for we were so laden with Armour that we could carry no more. Not farre from this place we found the remainder of an old Fort, or Palizado, which as we conceiued had beene made by some Christians, this was also hard by that place which we thought had beene … river, vntounto which wee went and found it so to be, deviding it selfe into two armes by an high banke, standing right by the cut or mouth which came from the Sea, that which was next vntounto vsus was the lesse, the other arme was more then twise as big, and not vnlike to be an harbour for ships; but whether it be a fresh river, or onelyonly an indraught of the Sea, we had no time to discover; for wee had Commandement to be out but two dayes. Here also we saw two Canoas, the one on the one side, the other on the other side, wee could not beleeue it was a Canoa, till we came neare it, so we returned leauing the further discovery hereof to our Shallop, and came that night backe againe to the fresh water pond, and there we made our Rande…ous that night, making a great fire, and a Baricado to windward of vsus, and kept good watch with three Sentinells all night, eueryevery one standing when his turne came, while fiue or sixe inches of Match was burning. It proved a very rainie night. In the morning we tooke our Ketle and sunke it in the pond, and trimmed our Muskets, for few of them would goe off because of the wett, and so coasted the wood againe to come home, in which we were shrewdly pus-led, and lost our way, as we wandred we came to a tree, where a yong Spritt was bowed downe over a bow, and some Acornes strewed vnderunder p. 8neath; Stephen Hopkins sayd, it had beene to catch some Deere, so, as we were looking at it, William Bradford being in the Reare, when he came looked also vponupon it, and as he went about, it gaue a sodaine jerk vp, and he was immediately caught by the leg; It was a very pretie devise, made with a Rope of their owne making, and having a noose as artificially made, as any Roper in England can make, and as like ours as can be, which we brought away with vsus. In the end wee got out of the Wood, and were fallen about a myle too high aboue the creake, where we saw three Bucks, but we had rather hauehave had one of them. Wee also did spring three couple of Partridges; and as we came along by the creake, wee saw great flockes of wild Geese and D…ckes, but they were very fearefull of vsus. So we marched some while in the Woods, some while on the sands, and other while in the water vp to the knees, till at length we came neare the Ship, and then we shot off our Peeces, and the long Boat came to fetch vsus; master Iones, and master Caruer being on the shore, with many of our people, came to meete vsus. And thus wee came both weary and well-come home, and deliuered in our Corne into the store, to be kept for seed, for wee knew not how to come by any, and therefore were very glad, purposing so soone as we could meete with any of the Inhabitants of that place, to make them large satisfaction. This was our first Discovery, whilst our Shallop was in repairing; our people did make things as fitting as they could, and time would, in seeking out wood, and heluing of …ooles, and sawing of Tymber to build a new Shallop, but the discommodiousnes of the harbour did much hinder vsus for we could neither goe to, nor come from the shore, but at high water, which was much to our hinderance and hurt, for oftentimes they waded to the midle of the thigh, and oft to the knees, to goe and come from land; some did it necessarily, and some for their owne pleasure, but it brought to the most, if not to all, coughes and colds, the weather prouing sodainly cold and stormie which afterward turned to the scurvey, whereof many dyed.

p. 9When our Shallop was fit indeed, before she was fully fitted, for there was two dayes worke after bestowed on her, there was appointed some 24 men of our owne, and armed, then to goe and make a more full discovery of the rivers before mentioned. Master Iones was desirous to goe with vsus, and tooke such of his saylers as he thought vsefull for vsus, so as we were in all about 34. men; wee made master Iones our Leader, for we thought it best herein to gratifie his kindnes and forwardnes. When we were set forth, it proued rough weather and crosse windes, so as we were constrained, some in the Shallop, and others in the long Boate, to row to the neerest shore the wind would suffer them to goe vntounto, and then to wade out aboue the knees; the wind was so strong as the Shallop could not keepe the water, but was forced to harbour there that night, but we marched sixe or seaven miles further, and appointed the Shallop to come to vsus as soone as they could. It blowed and did snow all that day & night, and frose withall; some of our people that are dead tooke the originall of their death here. The next day about 11. a clocke our Shallop came to vsus, and wee shipped our selues, and the wind being good, we sayled to the river we formerly discovered, which we named, Cold Harbour, to which when wee came we found it not Navigable for Ships, yet we thought it might be a good harbour for Boats, for it flowes there 1…. foote at high water. We landed our men betweene the two creekes, and marched some foure or fiue myles by the greater of them, and the Shallop followed vsus; at length night grew on, and our men were tired with marching vp and downe the steepe hills, and deepe vallies, which lay halfe a foot thicke with snow: Master Iones vvearied with marching, was desirous we should take vp our lodging, though some of vsus would hauehave marched further, so we made there our Randevous for that night, vnderunder a few Pine trees, and as it fell out, wee got three fat Geese, and six Ducks to our Supper, which we eate with Souldiers stomacks, for we had eaten little all that day; our resolution was next morning to goe vp to the head of this river, for we supposed it would proue fresh water, but in p. 10the morning our resolution held not, because many liked not the hillinesse of the soyle, and badnesse of the harbour, so we turned towards the other creeke, that wee might goe over and looke for the rest of the Corne that we left behind when we were here before; when we came to the creeke, we saw the Canow lie on the dry ground, and a flocke of Geese in the river, at which one made a shot, and killed a couple of them, and we lanched the Canow & fetcht them and when we had done, she carryed vsus over by seaven or eight at once. This done, we marched to the place where we had the corne formerly, which place we called Corne-hill; and digged and found the rest, of which we were very glad: we also digged in a place little further off, and found a Botle of oyle; wee went to another place, which we had seene before, and digged, and found more corne, viz. two or three Baskets full of Indian Wheat, and a bag of Beanes, with a good man, of faire Wheat-eares; whilst some of vsus were digging vp this, some others found another heape of Corne, which they digged vp also, so as we had in all about ten Bushels, which will serve vsus sufficiently for seed.Note. And sure it was Gods good providence that we found this Corne, for els wee know not how we should hauehave done, for we knew not how we should find, or meete with any of the Indians, except it be to doe vsus a mischiefe. Also we had neuer in all likelihood seene a graine of it, if we had not made our first Iourney; for the ground was now covered with snow, and so hard frosen, that we were faine with our Curtlaxes and short Swords, to hew and carue the ground a foot deepe, and then wrest it vp with leavers, for we had forgot to bring other Tooles; whilst we were in this imployment, foule weather being towards, Master Iones was earnest to goe abourd, but sundry of vsus desired to make further discovery, and to find out the Indians habitations, so we sent home with him our weakest people, and some that were sicke, and all the Corne, and 18. of vsus stayed still, and lodged there that night, and desired that the Shallop might returne to vsus next day, and bring vsus some Mattocks and Spades with them.

p. 11The next morning we followed certaine beaten pathes and tracts of the Indians into the Woods, supposing they would hauehave led vsus into some Towne, or houses; after wee had gone a while, we light vponupon a very broad beaten path, well nigh two foote broad then we lighted all our Matches, and prepared our selues, concluding wee were neare their dwellings, but in the end we found it to be onelyonly a path made to driue Deere in, when the Indians hunt, as wee supposed; when we had ma…ched fiue or six myles into the Woods, and could find no signes of any people, we returned againe another way, and as we came into the plaine ground, wee found a place like a graue, but it was much bigger and longer then any we had yet seene. It was also covered with boords, so as we mused what it should be, and resolved to digge it vp, where we found, first a Matt, and vnderunder that a fayre Bow, and there another Matt, and vnderunder that a boord about three quarters long, finely carued and paynted, with three tynes, or broches on the top, like a Crowne; also betweene the Matts we found Boules, Trayes, Dishes, and such like Trinkets; at length we came to a faire new Matt, and vnderunder that two Bundles, the one bigger, the other lesse, we opened the greater and found in it a great quantitie of fine and perfect red Powder, and in it the bones and skull of a man. The skull had fine yellow haire still on it, and some of the flesh vnconsumed; there was bound vp with it a knife, a pack-needle, and two or three old iron things. It was bound vp in a Saylers canvas Casacke, and a payre of cloth breeches; the red Powder was a kind of Embaulment, and yeelded a strong, but no offensiue smell; It was as fine as any flower. We opened the lesse bundle likewise, and found of the same Powder in it, and the bones and head of a little childe, about the leggs, and other parts of it was bound strings, and bracelets of fine white Beads; there was also by it a little Bow, about three quarters long, and some other odd knackes; we brought sundry of the pretiest things away with vsus, and covered the Corps vp againe. After this, we digged in sundry like places, but found no more Corne, nor any things els but p. 12graues: There was varietie of opinions amongst vsus about the embalmed person; some thought it was an Indian Lord and King: others sayd, the Indians hauehave all blacke hayre, and never any was seene with browne or yellow hayre; some thought, it was a Christian of some speciall note, which had dyed amongst them, and they thus buried him to honour him; others thought, they had killed him, and did it in triumph over him. Whilest we were thus ranging and searching, two of the Saylers, which were newly come on the shore, by chance espied two houses, which had beene lately dwelt in, but the people were gone. They having their peeces, and hearing no body entred the houses, and tooke out some things, and du…st not stay but came againe and told vsus; so some seaven or eight of vsus went with them, and found how we had gone within a slight shot of them before. The houses were made with long yong Sapling trees, bended and both ends stucke into the ground; they were made round, like vntounto an Arbour, and covered downe to the ground with thicke and well wrought matts, and the doore was not over a yard high, made of a matt to open; the chimney was a wide open hole in the top, for which they had a matt to cover it close when they pleased; one might stand and goe vpright in them, in the midst of them were foure little trunches knockt into the ground, and small stickes laid over, on which they hung their Pots, and what they had to seeth; round about the fire they lay on matts, which are their beds. The houses were double matted, for as they were matted without, so were they within, with newer & fairer matts. In the houses we found wooden Boules, Trayes & Dishes, Earthen Pots, Hand baskets made of Crab shells, wrought together; also an English Paile or Bucket, it wanted a bayle, but it had two Iron eares: there was also Baskets of sundry sorts, bi…ger and some lesser, finer and some courser: some were curiously wrought with blacke and white in pretie workes, and sundry other of their houshold stuffe: we found also two or three Deeres heads, one whereof had bin newly killed, for it was still fresh; there was also a company of p. 13Deeres feete, stuck vp in the houses, Harts hornes, and Eagles clawes, and sundry such like things there was: also two or three Baskets full of pa…ched Acornes, peeces of fish, and a peece of a broyled Hering. We found also a little silke grasse, and a little Tobacco seed, with some other seeds which wee knew not; without was sundry bundles of Flags, and Sedge, B…ll rushes, and other stuffe to make matts; there was thrust into an hollow tree, two or three peeces of Venison, but we thought it fitter for the Dogs then for vsus: some of the best things we tooke away with vsus, and left the houses standing still as they were, so it growing towards night, and the tyde almost spent, we hasted with our things downe to the Shallop, and got abourd that night, intending to hauehave brought some Beades, and other things to hauehave left in the houses, in signe of Peace, and that we meant to truk with them, but it was not done, by meanes of our hastie comming away from Cape Cod, but so soone as we can meete conveniently with them, we will giuegive them full satisfaction. Thus much of our second Discovery.

Having thus discovered this place, it was controversall amongst vsus, what to doe touching our aboad and setling there; some thought it best for many reasons to abide there.

As first, that there was a convenient harbour for Boates, though not for Ships.

Secondly, Good Corne ground readie to our hands, as we saw by experience in the goodly corne it yeelded, which would againe agree with the ground, and be naturall seed for the same.

Thirdly, Cape Cod was like to be a place of good fishing, for we saw daily great Whales of the best kind for oyle and bone, come close aboord our Ship, and in fayre weather swim and play about vsus; there was once one when the Sun shone warme, c…me and lay aboue water, as if she had beene dead, for a good while together, within halfe a Mu…ket shot of the Ship, at which two were prepared to shoote, to see whether she would s…ir or no, he that gaue fire first, his Mu… ket flew in peeces, both stocke and barrell, yet thankes be to p. 14God, neither he nor any man els was hurt with it, though many were there about, but when the Whale saw her time she gaue a snuffe and away.

Fourthly, the place was likely to be healthfull, secure, and de…ensible.

But the last and especiall reason was, that now the heart of Wint…r and vnseasonable weather was come vponupon vsus, so that we could not goe vponupon coasting and discovery, without danger of loosing men and Boat, vponupon which would follow the overthrow of all, especially considering what variable windes and sodaine stormes doe there arise. Also cold and wett lodging had so taynted our people, for scarce any of vsus were free from vehement coughs, as if they should continue long in that estate, it would indanger the liues of many, and breed diseases and infection amongst vsus. Againe, we had yet some Beere, Butter, Flesh, and other such victuals left, which would quickly be all gone, and then we should hauehave nothing to comfort vsus in the great labour and toyle we were like to vnderunder-goe at the first; It was also conceived, whilst we had competent victuals, that the Ship would stay with vsus, but when that grew low, they would be gone, and let vsus shift as we could.

Others againe, vrged greatly the going to Anguum or Angoum, a place twentie leagues off to the North-wards, which they had heard to be an excellent harbour for ships; better ground and better fishing. Secondly for any thing we knew, there might be hard by vsus a farre better seate, and it should be a great hindrance to seate where wee should remoue againe. Thirdly, The water was but in ponds, and it was thought there would be none in Summer, or very little. Fourthly, the water there must be fetched vp a steepe hill: but to omit many reasons and replies vsed heere abouts; It was in the ende concluded, to make some discovery within the Bay, but in no case so farre as Angoum: besides, Robert Coppin our Pilot, made relation of a great Navigable River and good harbour in the other head land of this Bay, almost right over against Cape Cod, being a right p. 15line, not much aboue eight leagues distant, in which hee had beene once: and because that one of the wild men with whom they had some trucking, stole a harping Iron from them, they called it theeuish harbour. And beyond that place they were enioyned not to goe, whereupon, a Company was chosen to goe out vppon a third discovery: whilest some were imployed in this discovery, it pleased God that Mistris White was brought a bed of a Sonne, which was called Peregrine.

The fift day, we through Gods mercy escaped a great danger by the foolishnes of a Boy, one of Francis Billingtons Sonnes, who in his Fathers absence, had got Gun-powder, and had shot of a peice or two, and made squibs, and there being a fowling peice charged in his fathers Cabbin, shot her off in the Cabbin, there being a little barrell of powder halfe full, scattered in and about the Cabbin, the fire being within foure foote of the bed betweene the Deckes, and many s…ints and Iron things about the Cabbin, and many people about the fire, and yet by Gods mercy no harme done.

Wednesday the sixt of December, it was resolved our discoverers should set forth, for the day before was too fowle weather, and so they did, though it was well ore the day ere all things could be readie: So ten of our men were appointed who were of themselues willing to vndertake it, to wit, Captaine Standish, Maister Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winsloe, Iohn Tilley, Edward Tilley, Iohn Houland, and three of London, Richard Warren, Steeuen Hopkins and Edward Dotte, and two of our Sea-men, Iohn Alderton and Thomas English, of the Ships Company there went two of the Masters Mates, Master Clarke and Master Copin, the Master Gunner, and three Saylers. The narration of which Discovery, followes, penned by one of the Company.

Wednesday the sixt of December wee set out, being very cold and hard weather, wee were a long while after we lunched from the ship, before we could get cleare of a sandie poynt, which lay within lesse then a fu…long of the same. In which time, two were very sicke, and Edward Tilley had like p. 16to hauehave founded with cold; the Gunner was also sicke vntounto Death, (but hope of truking made him to goe) and so remained all that day, and the next night; at length we got cleare of the sandy poynt, and got vp our sayles, and within an houre or two we got vnderunder the weather shore, and then had smoother water and better sayling, but it was very cold, for the water frose on our clothes, and made them many times like coats of Iron: wee sayled sixe or seaven leagues by the shore, but saw neither river nor creeke, at length wee me…t with a tongue of Land, being flat off from the shore, with a sandy poynt, we bore vp to gaine the poynt, & found there a fayre income or rode, of a Bay, being a league over at the narrowest, and some two or three in length, but wee made right over to the land before vsus and left the discovery of this Income till the next day: as we drew neare to the shore, wee espied some ten or twelue Indians, very busie about a blacke thing, what it was we could not tell, till afterwards they saw vsus, and ran to and fro, as if they had beene carrying some thing away, wee landed a league or two from them, and had much adoe to put a shore any where, it lay so full of flat sands, when we came to shore, we made vsus a Baricado, and got fire wood, and set out our Sentinells, and betooke vsus to our lodging, such as it was; we saw the smoke of the fire which the Savages made that night, about foure or fiue myles from vsus, in the morning we devided our company, some eight in the Shallop, and the rest on the shore went to discouer this place, but we found it onelyonly to be a Bay, without either river or creeke comming into it, yet we deemed it to be as good an harbour as Cape Cod, for they that …ounded it, found a ship might ride in fiue fathom water, wee on the land found it to be a levill soyle, but none of the fruitfullest 5 wee saw two beckes of fresh water, which were the first running streames that we saw in the Country, but one might stride over them: we found also a great fish, called a Grampus dead on the sands, they in the Shallop found two of them also in the bottome of the bay, dead in like sort, they were cast vp at high water, and could not get off for the frost and ice; they were some p. 17fiue or sixe paces long, and about two inches thicke of fat, and fleshed like a Swine, they would hauehave yeelded a great deale of oyle, if there had beene time and meanes to hauehave taken it, so we finding nothing for our turne, both we and our Shallop returned. We then directed our course along the Sea-sands, to the place where we first saw the Indians, when we were there, we saw it was also a Grampus which they were cutting vp, they cut it into long rands or peeces, about an ell long, and two handfull broad, wee found here and there a peece scattered by the way, as it seemed, for hast: this place the most were minded we should call, the Grampus Bay, because we found so many of them there: wee followed the tract of the Indians bare feete a good way on the sands, as length we saw where they strucke into the Woods by the side of a Pond, as wee went to view the place, one sayd, hee thought hee saw an Indian-house among the trees, so went vp to see: and here we and the Shallop lost sight one of another till night, it being now about nine or ten a clocke, so we light on a path, but saw no house, and followed a great way into the woods, at length wee found where Corne had beene set, but not that yeare, anone we found a great burying place, one part whereof was incompassed with a large Palazado, like a Church-yard, with yong spires foure or fiue yards long, set as close one by another as they could two o… three foot in the ground, within it was full of Graues, some bigger, and some lesse, some were also paled about & others had like an Indian-house made over them, but not matted those Graues were more sumptuous then those at Corne-hill, yet we digged none of them vp, but onelyonly viewed them, and went our way; without the Palazado were graues also, but not so costly: from this place we went and found more Corne ground, but not of this yeare. As we ranged we light on foure or fiue Indian-houses, which had beene lately dwelt in, but they were vncovered, and had no matts about them, els they were like those we found at Corne-hill, but had not beene so lately dwelt in, there was nothing left but two or three peeces of old matts, a little sedge, also a little further we p. 18found two Baskets full of parched Acorns hid in the ground, which we supposed had beene Corne when we beganne to dig the same, we cast earth thereon againe & went our way. All this while we saw no people, wee went ranging vp and downe till the Sunne began to draw low, and then we hasted out of the woods, that we might come to our Shallop, which when we were out of the woods, we espied a great way off, and call'd them to come vntounto vsus, the which they did as soone as they could, for it was not yet high water, they were exceeding glad to see vsus, (for they feared because they had not seene vsus in so long a time) thinking we would hauehave kept by the shore side, so being both weary and faint, for we had eaten nothing all that day, we sell to make our Randevous and get …ire wood, which alwayes cost vsus a great deale of labour, by that time we had done & our Shallop come to vsus, it was within night, and we fed vponupon such victualls as we had, and betooke vsus to our rest, after we had set out our watch. About midnight we heard a great and hideous cry, and our Sentinell called, Arme, Arme. So we bestirred our selues and shot off a couple of Muskets, and noyse ceased; we concluded, that it was a company of Wolues or Foxes, for one told vsus, hee had heard such a noyse in New-found land. About fiue a clocke in the morning wee began to be stirring, and two or three which doubted whether their Peeces would goe off or no made tryall of them, and shot them off, but thought nothing at all, after Prayer we prepared our selues for brek-fast, and for a journey, and it being now the twilight in the morning, it was thought meet to carry the things downe to the Shallop: some sayd, it was not best to carry the Armour downe, others sayd, they would be readier, two or three sayd, they would not carry theirs, till they went themselues, but mistrusting nothing at all: as it fel… out, the water not being high enough, they layd the things downe vponupon the shore & came vp to brek fast. Anone, all vponupon a sudden, we heard a great & strange cry, which we knew to be the same voyces, though they varied their notes, one of our company being abroad came running in, and cryed, They are men, Indians, Indians; p. 19and withall, their arrowes came flying amongst vsus, our men ran out with all speed to recover their armes, as by the good Providence of God they did.Our first combat with the Indians. In the meane time, Captaine Miles Standish, having a snaphance ready, made a shot, and after him another, after they two had shot, other two of vsus were ready, but he wisht vsus not to shoot, till we could take ayme, for we knew not what need we should hauehave, & there were foure onelyonly of vsus, which had their armes there readie, and stood before the open side of our Baricado, which was first assaulted, they thought it best to defend it, least the enemie should take it and our stuffe, and so hauehave the more vantage against vsus, our care was no lesse for the Shallop, but we hoped all the rest would defend it; we called vntounto them to know how it was with them, and they answered, Well, Well every one, and be of good courage: wee heard three of their Peeces goe off, and the rest called for a fire-brand to light their matches, one tooke a log out of the fire on his shoulder and went and carried it vntounto them, which was thought did not a little discourage our enemies. The cry of our enemies was dreadfull, especially, when our men ran out to recover their Armes, their note was after this manner, Woath woach ha ha hach woach: our men were no sooner come to their Armes, but the enemy was ready to assault them.

There was a lustie man and no whit lesse valiant, who was thought to bee their Captaine, stood behind a tree within halfe a musket shot of vsus, and there let his arrowes fly at vsus; hee was seene to shoote three arrowes, which were all avoyded, for he at whom the first arrow was aymed, saw it, and stooped downe and it flew over him, the rest were avoyded also: he stood three shots of a Musket, at length one tooke as he sayd full ayme at him, after which he gaue an extraordinary cry and away they went all, wee followed them about a quarter of a mile, but wee left sixe to keepe our Shallop, for we were carefull of our businesse: then wee shouted all together two severall times, and shot off a couple of muskets and so returned: this wee did that they might see wee were not afrayd of them nor discouraged. Thus it pleased p. 20God to vanquish our Enemies and giuegive vsus deliverance, by their noyse we could not guesse that they were lesse then thirty or forty, though some thought that they were many more yet in the darke of the morning, wee could not so well discerne them among the trees, as they could see vsus by our fire side, we tooke vp 18. of their arrowes which we hauehave sent to England by Master Io…es, some whereof were headed with brasse, others with Harts horne, & others with Eagles clawes many more no doubt were shot, for these we found, were almost covered with leaues: yet by the especiall providence of God, none of them either hit or hurt vsus, though many came close by vsus, and on every side of vsus, and some coates which hung vp in our Baricado, were shot through and through. So after wee had given God thankes for our deliverance, wee tooke our Shallop and went on our Iourney, and called this place, The first Encounter, from hence we intended to hauehave sayled to the aforesayd theeuish Harbour, if wee found no convenient Harbour by the way, having the wind good, we sayled all that day along the Coast about 15. leagues, but saw neither River nor Creeke to put into, after we had sayled an houre or two, it began to snow and raine, and to be bad weather; about the midst of the afternoone, the winde increased and the Seas began to be very rough, and the hinges of the rudder broke, so that we could steere no longer with it, but two men with much adoe were same to serue with a couple of Oares, the Seas were growne so great, that we were much troubled and in great daunger, and night grew on: Anon Master Coppin bad vsus be of good cheere he saw the Harbour, as we drew neare, the gale being stiffe, and we bearing great sayle to get in, split our Mast in 3. peices, and were like to hauehave cast away our Shallop, yet by Gods mercy recovering our selues, wee had the floud with vsus, and struck into the Harbour.

Now he that thought that had beene the place was deceived, it being a place where not any of vsus had beene before, and comming into the Harbour, he that was our Pilot did beare vp North-ward, which if we had continued wee had p. 21beene cast away, yet still the Lord kept vsus, and we bare vp for an Iland before vsus, and recovering of that Iland, being compassed about with many Rocks, and darke night growing vponupon vsus, it pleased the Divine providence that we fell vponupon a place of sandy ground, where our Shallop did ride safe and secure all that night, and comming vponupon a strange Iland kept our watch all night in the raine vponupon that Iland: and in the morning we marched about it, & found no Inhabitants at all, and here wee made our Randevous all that day being Saturday, 10. of December, on the Sabboth day wee rested, and on Munday we sounded the Harbour, and found it a uery good Harbour for our shipping, we marched also into the Land, and found divers corne fields, and little running brookes▪ a place very good for scituation, so we returned to our Ship againe with good newes to the rest of our people, which did much comfort their hearts.

On the fifteenth day, we waighed Anchor, to goe to the place we had discovered, and comming within two leagues of the Land, we could not fetch the Harbour, but were faine to put roome againe towards Cape Cod, our course lying West; and the wind was at North west, but it pleased God that the next day being Saturday the 16. day, the winde came faire, and wee put to Sea againe, and came safely into a safe Harbour; and within halfe an houre the winde changed, so as if we had beene letted but a little, we had gone backe to Cape Cod. This Harbour is a Bay greater then Cape Cod, compassed with a goodly Land, and in the Bay, 2. fine Ilands vninhabited, wherein are nothing but wood, Okes, Pines, Wal-nut, Beech, Sasifras, Vines, and other trees which wee know not; This Bay is a most hopefull place, innumerable store of fowle, and excellent good, and cannot but bee of fish in their seasons: Skote, Cod, Turbot, and Herring, wee hauehave tasted of, abundance of Musles the greatest & best that ever we saw; Crabs, and Lobsters, in their time infinite, It is in fashion like a Cikle or Fish-hooke.

Munday the 13. day, we went a land, manned with the Maister of the Ship, and 3. or 4. of the Saylers, we marched p. 22along the coast in the woods, some 7. or 8. mile, but saw not an Indian nor an Indian house, only we found where formerly, had beene some Inhabitants, and where they had planted their corne: we found not any Navigable River, but 4. or 5. small …unning brookes of very sweet fresh water, that all run into the Sea: The Land for the crust of the earth is a spits depth, excellent blacke mold and fat in some places, 2. or 3. great Oakes but not very thicke, Pines, Wal-nuts Beech Ash, Birch, Hasell, Holley, Asp, Sasifras, in abundance, & Vines eueryevery where, Cherry trees, Plum trees, and many other which we know not; many kinds of hearbes, we found heere in Winter, as Strawbery leaues innumerable, Sorrell, Yarow, Caruell, Brook-lime, Liver-wort, Water-cresses, great store of Leekes, and Onyons, and an excellent strong kind of Flaxe, and Hempe; here is sand, gravell, and excellent clay no better in the Worlde, excellent for pots, and will wash like sope, and great store of stone, though somewhat soft, and the best water that ever we drunke, and the Brookes now begin to be full of fish; that night many being weary with marching, wee went abourd againe.

The next morning being Tuesday the 19. of December, wee went againe to discover further; some went on Land, and some in the Shallop, the Land we found as the former day we did, and we found a Creeke, and went vp three English myles, a very pleasant river at full Sea, a Barke of thirty tunne may goe vp, but at low water scarce our Shallop could passe: this place we had a great liking to plant in, but that it was so farre from our fishing our principall profit, and so incompassed with woods, that we should bee in much danger of the Salvages, and our number being so little, and so much ground to cleare, so as wee thought good to quit and cleare that place, till we were of more strength; some of vsus hauing a good minde for safety to plant in the greater Ile, wee crossed the Bay which there is fiue or sixe myles ouer, and found the Ile about a myle and a halfe, or two myles about, all wooded, and no fresh water but 2. or 3. pits, that we doubted of fresh water in Summer, and so full of wood, p. 23as we could hardly cleare so much as to serue vsus for Corne, besides wee iudged it colde for our Corne, and some part very rockie, yet diuers thought of it as a place defensible, and of great securitie.

That night we returned againe a ship boord, with resolution the next morning to setle on some of those places, so in the morning, after we had called on God for direction, we came to this resolution, to goe presently ashore againe, and to take a better view of two places, which wee thought most fitting for vsus, for we could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially, our Beere, and it being now the 19. of December. After our landing and viewing of the places, so well as we could we came to a conclusion, by most voyces, to set on the maine Land, on the first place, on an high ground, where there is a great deale of Land cleared, and hath beene planted with Corne three or foure yeares agoe, and there is a very sweet brooke runnes vnderunder the hill side, and many delicate springs of as good water as can be drunke, and where we may harbour our Shallops and Boates exceeding well, and in this brooke much good fish in their seasons: on the further side of the river also much Corne ground cleared, in one field is a great hill, on which wee poynt to make a plat-forme, and plant our Ordinance, which will command all round about, from thence we may see into the Bay, and farre into the Sea, and we may see thence Cape Cod: our greatest labour will be fetching of our wood, which is halfe a quarter of an English myle, but there is enough so farre off; what people inhabite here we yet know not, for as yet we hauehave seene none, so there we made our Randevous, and a place for some of our people about twentie, resolving in the morning to come all ashore, and to build houses, but the next morning being Thursday the 21. of December, it was stormie and wett, that we could not goe ashore, and those that remained there all night could doe nothing, but were wet, not having dai-light enough to make them a sufficient court of gard, to keepe them dry. All that night it blew and rayned extreamely▪ p. 24it was so tempestuous, that the Shallop could not goe on land so soone as was meet, for they had no victuals on land. About …. a Clocke the Shallop went off with much adoe with provision, but could not returne it blew so strong, and was such foule weather, that we were forced to let fall our Anchor, and ride with three Anchors an head.

Friday the 22. the storme still continued, that we could not get a-land, nor they come to vsus aboord: this morning Good wife Alderton was delivered of a sonne, but dead borne.

Saturday the 23. so many of vsus as could, went on shore, felled and carried tymber, to provide themselues stuffe for building.

Sunday the 24. our people on shore heard a cry of some Savages (as they thought) which caused an Alarm, and to stand on their gard, expecting an assault, but all was quiet.

Munday the 25. day, we went on shore, some to fell tymber, some to saw, some to ri…e, and some to carry, so no man rested all that day, but towards night some as they were at worke, heard a noyse of some Indians, which caused vsus all to goe to our Muskets, but we heard no further, so we came aboord againe, and left some twentie to keepe the court of gard; that night we had a sore storme of winde and rayne.

Munday the 25. being Christmas day, we began to drinke water aboord, but at night the Master caused vsus to hauehave some Beere, and so on boord we had diverse times now and then some Beere, but on shore none at all.

Tuesday the 26. it was foule weather, that we could not goe ashore.

Wednesday the 27. we went to worke againe.

Thursday the 28. of December, so many as could went to worke on the hill, where we purposed to build our platforme for our Ordinance, and which doth command all the plaine, and the B…y, and from whence we may see farre into the sea, and might he easier impayled, having two rowes of houses and a faire streete. So in the afternoone we went to measure out the grounds, and first, we tooke notice how many p. 25Families they were, willing all single men that had no wiues to ioyne with some Familie, as they thought fit, that so we might build fewer houses, which was done, and we reduced them to 19. Families; to greater Families we allotted larger plots, to every person halfe a pole in breadth, and three in length, and so Lots were cast where eueryevery man should lie, which was done, and staked out; we thought this proportion was large enough at the first, for houses and gardens, to impale them round, considering the weaknes of our people, many of them growing ill with coldes, for our former Discoveries in frost and stormes, and the wading at Cape Cod had brought much weakenes amongst vsus, which increased so every day more and more, and after was the cause of many of their deaths.

Fryday and Saturday, we fitted our selues for our labour, but our people on shore were much troubled and discouraged with rayne and wett that day, being very stormie and cold; we saw great smokes of fire made by the Indians about six or seaven myles from vsus as we coniectured.

Munday the first of Ianuary, we went betimes to worke, we were much hundred in lying so farre off from the Land, and faine to goe as the tyde served, that we lost much time, for our Ship drew so much water, that she lay a myle and almost a halfe off, though a ship of seaventie or eightie tun as high water may come to the shore.

Wednesday the third of Ianuary, some of our people being abroad, to get and gather thatch, they saw great fires of the Indians, and were at then Corne fields, yet saw none of the Savages, nor had seene any of them since wee came to th…s Bay.

Thursday the fourth of Ianuary, Captaine Miles Standish with foure or fiue more, went to see if they could meet with any of the Savages in that place where the fires were made, they went to some of their houses, but not lately inhabited, yet could they not meete with any; as they came home, they shot at an Eagle and killed her, which was excellent meat; It was hardly to be discerned from Mutton.

p. 26Fryday the fifth of Ianuary, one of the Saylers found aliue vponupon the shore an Hering, which the Master had to his supper, which put vsus in hope of fish, but as yet we had got but … Cod; we wanted small hookes.

Saturday the sixt of Ianuary, Master Marten was very sicke, and to our iudgement, no hope of life, so Master Carver was sent for to come abourd to speake with him about his accompts, who came the next morning.

Munday the eight day of Ianuary, was a very fayre day, and we went betimes to worke, master Iones sent the Shallop as he had formerly done, to see where fish could be got, they had a great storme at Sea, and were in some danger, at night they returned with three great Seales, and an excellent good Cod, which did assure vsus that we should hauehave plentie of fish shortly.

This day, Francis Billington, having the weeke before seene from the top of a tree on an hie hill, a great sea as he thought, went with one of the Masters mates to see it, they went three myles, and then came to a great water, devided into two great Lakes, the bigger of them fiue or sixe myles in circuit, and in it an Ile of a Cable length square, the other three miles in compasse; in their estimation they are fine fresh water, full of fish, and foule; a brooke issues from it, it will be an excellent helpe for vsus in time. They found seaven or eight Indian houses, but not lately inhabited, when they saw the houses they were in some feare, for they were but two persons and one peece.

Tuesday the 9. Ianuary, was a reasonable faire day, and wee went to labour that day in the building of our Towne, in two rowes of houses for more safety: we devided by lott the plot of ground whereon to build our Towne: After the proportion formerly allotted, wee agreed that every man should build his owne house, thinking by that course, men would make more hast then working in common: the common house, in which for the first, we made our Rendevous, being neere finished wanted onelyonly couering, it being about 20. foote square, some should make morter, and p. 27some gather thatch, so that in foure dayes halfe of it was thatched, frost and foule weather hindred vsus much, this time of the yeare seldome could wee worke halfe the weeke.

Thursday the eleuenth, William Bradford being at worke, (for it was a faire day) was vehemently taken with a griefe and paine, and so shot to his huckle-bone; It was doubted that he would hauehave instantly dyed, hee got colde in the former discoveries, especially the last, and felt some paine in his anckles by times, but he grew a little better towards night and in time through Gods merciemercy in the vse of meanes recovered.

Friday the 12. we went to worke, but about noone, it began to raine, that it forced vsus to giuegive over worke.

This day, two of our people put vsus in great sorrow and care, there was 4. sent to gather and cut thatch in the morning, and two of them, Iohn Goodman and Peter Browne, having cut thatch all the fore noone, went to a further place, and willed the other two, to binde vp that which was cut and to follow them; so they did, being about a myle and an halfe from our Plantation: but when the two came after, they could not finde them, nor heare any thing of them at all, though they hallowed and shouted as loud as they could, so they returned to the Company and told them of it: whereupon Master Leaver & three or foure more went to seeke them, but could heare nothing of them, so they returning, sent more, but that night they could heare nothing at all of them: the next day they armed 10. or 12. men out, verily thinking the Indians had surprised them, they went seeking 7. or 8 myles, but could neither see nor heare any thing at all, so they returned with much discomfort to vsus all. These two that were missed, at dinner time tooke their mea…e in their hands, and would goe walke and refresh themselues, so going a litle off they finde a lake of water▪ and having a great Mastiffe bitch with them and a Spannell; by the water side they found a great Deere the Dogs chased him, and they followed so farre as they lost themselues, and could not finde the… way backe, they wandred p. 26duplicate page p. 27duplicate page p. 28all that after noone being wett, and at night it did freeze and snow, they were slenderly apparelled and had no weapons but each one his Cicle, nor any victuals, they ranged vp and downe and could finde none of the Salvages habitation…; when it drew to night they were much perplexed, for they could finde neither harbour nor meate, but in frost and snow, were forced to make the earth their bed, and the Element their covering, and another thing did very much terrifie them, they heard as they thought two Lyons roaring exceedingly for a long time together, and a third, that they thought was very nere them, so not knowing what to do they resolved to climbe vp into a tree as their safest refuge, though that would prone an intollerable colde lodging; so they stoode at the trees roote, that when the Lyons came they might take their opportunitie of climbing vp, the bitch they were faine to hold by the necke, for shee would hauehave beene gone to the Lyon; but it pleased God so to dispose, that the wilde Beastes came not: so they walked vp and downe vnderunder the Tree all night, it was an extreame colde night, so soone as it was light they trauailed againe, passing by many lakes and brookes and woods, and in one place where the Salvages had burnt the space of 5. myles in length, which is a fine Champion Countrey, and even. In the after-noone, it pleased God from an high Hill they discovered the two Iles in the Bay, and so that night got to the Plantation, being ready to faint with travaile and want of victuals, and almost famis…ed with colde, Iohn Goodman was faine to hauehave his shooes cut off his feete they were so swelled with colde, and it was a long while after ere he was able to goe▪ those on the shore were much comforted at their returne, but they on ship-boord were grieved as deeming them lost; but the next day being the 14. of Ianuary, in the morning about sixe of the clocke the winde being very great, they on ship-boord spied their great new R…ndevous on fire, which was to them a new discomfort, fearing because of the supposed losse of the men, that the Salvages had fiered them, neither could they presently goe to them for want of water, but after p. 293. quarters of an houre they went, as they had purposed the day before to keepe the Sabboth on shore, because now there was the greater number of people. At their landing they heard good tidings of the returne of the 2. men, and that the house was fiered occasionally by a sparke that flew into the thatch, which instantly burnt it all vp, but the roofe stood and little hurt; the most losse was Maister Carvers and William Bradfords, who then lay sicke in bed, and if they had not risen with good speede, had beene blowne vp with powder: but through Gods mercy they had no harme, the house was as full of beds as they could lie one by another, and their Muskets charged, but blessed be God there was no harme done.

Munday the 15. day, it rayned much all day, that they on ship-boord could not goe on shore, nor they on shore doe any labour but were all wet.

Tuesday, wednesday, thursday, were very faire Sun-shinie dayes, as if it had beene in Aprill, and our people so many as were in health ought chearefully.

The 19. day, we resolved to make a Shed, to put our common provision in, of which some were alreadie set on shore, but at noone it rayned, that we could not worke. This day in the evening, Iohn Goodman went abroad to vse his lame feete, that were pittifully ill with the cold he had got, having a little Spannell with him, a little way from the Plantation, two great Wolues ran after the Dog, the Dog ran to him and betwixt his leggs for succour, he had nothing in his hand but tooke vp a sticke, and threw at one of them and hit him, and they presently ran both away, but came againe, he got a pai…e bord in his hand, and they sat both on their tayles, grinning at him, a good while, and went their way, and left him.

Saturday 20. we made vp our Shed for our common goods.

Sunday the 21. we kept our meeting on Land.

Munday the 22. was a faire day, we wrought on our houses, and in the after-noone carried vp our hogsheads of meale to our common store house.

p. 30The rest of the weeke we followed our businesse likewise.

Munday the 29. in the morning cold frost and sleete, but after reasonable fayre▪ both the long Boate and the Shallop brought our common goods on shore.

Tuesday and wednesday 30. and 31. of Ianuary, cold frosty weather and sleete, that we could not worke: in the morning the Master and others saw two Savages, that had beene on the Iland nere our Ship, what they came for wee could not tell, they were going so farre backe againe before they were des…ried, that we could not speake with them.

Sunday the 4. of February, was very wett and rainie, with the greatest gusts of winde that ever we had since wee came forth, that though we rid in a very good harbour, yet we were in danger, because our Ship was light, the goods taken out, and she vnballased; and it caused much daubing of our houses to fall downe.

Fryday the 9. still the cold weather continued, that wee could doe little worke. That after-noone our little house for our sicke people was set on fire by a sparke that kindled in the roofe, but no great harme was done. That evening the master going ashore, killed fiue Geese, which he friendly distributed among the sicke people; he found also a good Deere killed, the Savages had cut off the hornes, and a Wolfe was eating of him, how he came there we could not conceiue.

Friday the 16. day, was a faire day, but the northerly wind continued, which continued the frost, this day after-noone one of our people being a fouling, and having taken a stand by a creeke side in the Reeds, about a myle and an halfe from our Plantation, there came by him twelue Indians, marching towards our Plantation, & in the woods he heard the noyse of many more▪ he lay close till they were passed, and then with what speed he could he went home & gaue the Alarm, so the people abroad in the woods returned & armed themselues, but say none of them, onelyonly toward the euening they made a great fire, about the place where they were first discovered: Captaine Miles Standish, and Francis Cooke, being at worke in the Woods, comming home, left their p. 31tooles behind them, but before they returned, their tooles were taken away by the Savages. This comming of the Savages gaue vsus occasion to keepe more strict watch, and to make our peeces and furniture readie, which by the moysture and rayne were out of temper.

Saturday the 17 day, in the morning we called a meeting for the establishing of military Orders amongst our selues, and we chose Miles Standish our Captaine, and gaue him authoritie of command in affayres: and as we were in consultation here abouts, two Savages presented themselues vponupon the top of an hill, over against our Plantation, about a quarter of a myle and lesse, and made signes vntounto vsus to come vntounto them; we likewise made signes vntounto them to come to vsus, whereupon we armed our selues, and stood readie, and sent two over the brooke towards them, to wit, Captaine Standish and Steven Hopkins, who went towards them, onelyonly one of them had a Musket, which they layd downe on the ground in their sight, in signe of peace, and to parley with them, but the Savages would not tarry their comming: a noyse of a great many more was heard behind the hill, but no more came in sight. This caused vsus to plant our great Ordinances in places most convenient.

Wednesday the 21. of February, the master came on shore with many of his Saylers, and brought with him one of the great Peeces, called a Minion, and helped vsus to draw it vp the hill, with another Peece that lay on shore, and mounted them, and a saller and two bases; he brought with him a very fat Goose to eate with vsus, and we had a fat Crane, and a Mallerd, and a dry'd neats-tongue, and so wee were kindly and friendly together.

Saturday the third of March, the winde was South, the morning mistie, but towards noone warme and fayre weather; the Birds sang in the Woods most pleasantly; at one of the Clocke it thundred, which was the first wee heard in that Countrey, it was strong and great claps, but short, but after an houre it rayned very sadly till midnight.

Wednesday the seaventh of March, the wind was full East, p. 32cold, but faire, that day Master Carver with fiue other went to the great Ponds, which seeme to be excellent fishing places; all the way they went they found it exceedingly beaten and haunted with Deere, but they saw none; amongst other foule, they saw one a milke white foule, with a very blacke …ad: this day some garden seeds were sowen.

Fryday the 16. a fayre warme day towards; this morning we determined to conclude of the military Orders, which we had began to consider of before, but were interrupted by the Savages, as we mentioned formerly; and whilst we were bu…ed here about, we were interrupted againe, for there presented himselfe a Savage, which caused an Alarm, he very boldly came all alone and along the houses straight to the Randevous, where we intercepted him▪ not suffering him to goe in, as vndoubtedly he would, out of his boldnesse, hee saluted vsus in English, and bad vsus well-come, for he had learned some broken English amongst the English men that came to fish at Monchiggon, and knew by name the most of the Captaines, Commanders, & Masters, that vsually come, he was a man free in speech, so farre as he could expresse his minde▪ and of a seemely carriage, we questioned him of many things, he was the first Savage we could meete withall; he sayd he was not of these parts, but of Morattiggon, and one of the Sagamores or Lords thereof, and had beene 8. moneths in these parts, it lying hence a dayes sayle with a great wind, and fiue dayes by land; he discoursed of the whole Country, and of every Province, and of their Sagamores, and their number of men, and strength▪ the wind beginning to rise a little, we cast a horsemans coat about him, for he was starke naked, onelyonly a leather about his wast, with a fringe about a span long, or little more; he had a bow & 2 arrowes, the one …eaded, and the other vnheaded; he was a tall straight man, the haire of his head blacke, long behind, onelyonly short before, none on his face at all; he asked some beere, but we gaue him strong water, and bisket, and butter, and cheese, & pudding, and a peece of a mallerd, all which he liked well, and had bin acquainted with such amongst the English; he told vsus the p. 33place where we now liue, is called, Patuxe…, and that abou… foure yeares agoe, all the Inhabitants dyed of an extraordinary plague, and there is neither man, woman, nor childe remaining as indeed we hauehave found none, so as there is none to hinder our possession, or to lay claime vntounto it; all the afternoone we spent in communication with him, we would gladly hauehave beene rid of him at night, but he was not willing to goe this night, then we thought to carry him on ship-boord, wherewith he was well content, and went into the Shallop, but the winde was high and water scant, that it could not returne backe: we lodged him that night at Steven Hopkins house, and watched him; the next day he went away backe to the Masasoits, from whence he sayd he came, who are our next bordering neighbours: they are sixtie strong, as he sayth▪ the Nausites are as neere South-east of them, and are a hundred strong, and those were they of whom our people were encountred, as we before related. They are much incensed and provoked against the English, and about eyght moneths agoe slew three English men and two more hardly escaped by flight to Monhiggon; they were Sir Ferdinando Gorge his men, as this Savage told vsus, as he did likewise of the Huggerie, that is, Fight, that our discoverers had with the Nausites, & of our tooles that were taken out of the woods, which we willed him should be brought againe, otherwise, we would right our selues. These people are ill affected towards the English, by reason of one Hunt, a master of a ship, who deceived the people, and got them vnderunder colour of …ruking with them, twentie out of this very place where we inhabite, and seaven men from the Nausites, and carried them away, and sold them for slaues like a wretched man (for 20. pound a man) that cares not what mischiefe he doth for hi… profit.

Saturday in the morning we dismissed the Salvage, and gaue him a knife, a bracelet, and a ring; he promised within a night or two to come againe▪ and to bring with him some of the Massasoyts our neighbours, with such Beuers skins as they had to trucke with vsus.

p. 34Saturday and Sunday reasonable fayre dayes. On this day came againe the Savage, and brought with him fiue other tall proper men, they had every man a Deeres skin on him, and the principall of them had a wild Cats skin, or such like on the one arme; they had most of them long hosen vp to their groynes, close made; and aboue their groynes to their wast another leather, they were altogether like the Irish-trouses; they are of complexion like our English Gipseys, no haire or very little on their faces, on their heads long haire to their shoulders, onelyonly cut before some trussed vp before with a feather, broad wise, like a fanne, another a fox tayle hanging out: these left (according to our charge giuen him before) their Bowes and Arrowes a quarter of a myle from our Towne, we gaue them entertaynement as we thought was sitting them, they did eate liberally of our English victuals, they made semblance vntounto vsus of friendship and amitie; they song & danced after their maner like Anticks; they brought with them in a thing like a Bow-case (which the principall of them had about his wast) a little of their Corne pownded to Powder, which put to a little water they eate; he had a little Tobacco in a bag, but none of them drunke but when he listed, some of them had their faces paynted blacke, from the forehead to the chin, foure or fiue fingers broad; others after other fashions, as they liked; they brought three or foure skins, but we would not trucke with them at all that day, but wished them to bring more, and we would trucke for all, which they promised within a night or two, and would leaue these behind them, though we were not willing they should, and they brought vsus all our tooles againe which were taken in the Woods, in our mens absence, so because of the day we dismissed them so soone as we could. But Samoset our first acquaintance, eyther was sicke, or fayned himselfe so, and would not goe with them and stayed with vsus till Wednesday morning: Then we sent him to them, to know the reason they came not according to their words, and we gaue him an hat, a payre of stockings and shooes, a shirt, and a peece of cloth to tie about his wast.

p. 35The Sabboth day, when we sent them from vsus, wee gaue every one of them some trifles, especially, the principall of them, we carried them along with our Armes to the place where they left their Bowes and Arrowes, whereat they were amazed, and two of them began to slinke away, but that the other called them, when they tooke their Arrowes, we bad them farewell, and they were glad, and so with many thankes giuen vsus they departed, with promise they would come againe.

Munday and tuesday proved fayre dayes, we digged on… grounds, and sowed our garden seeds.

Wednesday a fine warme day, we sent away Samose….

That day we had againe a meeting, to conclude of lawes and orders for our selues, and to confirme those Military Orders that were formerly propounded, and twise broken off by the Savages comming, but so we were againe the third time, for after we had beene an houre together, on the top of the hill over against vsus two or three Savages presented themselues, that made semblance of daring vsus, as we thought, so Captaine Standish with another, with their Muskets went over to them, with two of the masters mates that follows them without Armes, having two Muskets with them, they wherted and rubbed their Arrowes and Strings, and made shew of defiance, but when our men drew nere them, they ranne away. Thus we were againe interrupted by them; this day with much adoe we got our Carpenter that had beene long sicke of the scurvey, to fit our Shallop, to fetch all from aboord.

Thursday the 22. of March, was a very fayre warme day. About noone we met againe about our publique businesse, but we had scarc… beene an houre together, but Samoset came againe, and Squanto. the onelyonly natiue of Patuxat, where we now inhabite, who was one of the twentie Captiues that by Hunt were carried away, and had beene in England & dwelt in Cornehill with master Iohn Sla…ie a Marchant, and could speake a little English, with three others, and they brought with them some few skinnes to trucke, and some red Herrings p. 36newly taken and dryed, but not salted, and signified vntounto vsus, that their great Sagamore Masasoyt was hard by, with Quadequina his brother, and all their men. They could not well expresse in English what they would, but after an houre the King came to the top of an hill over against vsus, and had in his trayne sixtie men, that wee could well behold them▪ and they vsus: we were not willing to send our governour to them, and they vnwilling to come to vsus, so Squanto went againe vntounto him, who brought word that wee should send one to parley with him, which we did, which was Edward Winsloe, to know his mind, and to signifie the mind and will of our governour, which was to hauehave trading and peace with him. We sent to the King a payre of Kniues, and a Copper Chayne, with a Iewell at it. To Quadequina we sent likewise a Knife and a Iewell to hang in his eare, and withall a Pot of strong water, a good quantitie of Bisket, and some butter, which were all willingly accepted: our Messenger made a speech vntounto him, that King IAMES saluted him with words of louelove and Peace, and did accept of him as his Friend and Alie, and that our Governour desired to see him and to trucke with him, and to confirme a Peace with him, as his next neighbour: he liked well of the speech and heard it attentiuely▪ though the Interpreters did not well expresse it; after he had eaten and drunke himselfe, and giuen the rest to his company, he looked vponupon our messengers sword and armour which he had on, with intimation of his desire to buy it, but on the other side, our messenger shewed his vnwillingnes to part with it: In the end he left him in the custodie of Quadequina his brother, and came over the brooke, and some twentie men following him, leaving all their Bowes and Arrowes behind them. We kept six or seaven as hostages for our messenger; Captaine Standish and master Williamson met the King at the brooke, with halfe a dosen Musketiers, they saluted him and he them, so one going over, the one on the one side, and the other on the other, conducted him to a… house then in building, where we placed a greene Rugge, and three or foure Cushions, then instantly came our p. 37Governour with Drumme and Trumpet after him, and some few Musketiers. After salutations, our Governour kissing his hand, the King kissed him, and so they sat downe. The Governour called for some strong water, and drunke to him, and he drunke a great draught that made him sweate all the while after, he called for a little fresh meate, which the King did eate willingly, and did giuegive his followers. Then they treated of Peace, which was;

1. That neyther he nor any of hi… should iniure or doe hurt to any of our people.The agreements of peace betweene vsus and Massasoy… ▪

2. And if any of his did hurt to any of ours, he should send the offender, that we might punish him.

3. That if any of our Tooles were taken away when our people were at worke, he should cause them to be restored, and if ours did any harme to any of his, wee would doe the like to them.

4. If any did vniustly warre against him, we would ayde him; If any did warre against vsus, he should aydeys.

5. He should send to his neighbour Confederates, to certifie them of this, that they might not wrong vsus, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of Peace.

6. That when their men came to vsus, they should leaue their Bowes and Arrowes behind them, as wee should doe our Peeces when we came to them.

Lastly, that doing thu…, King IAMES would esteeme of him as his friend and Alie: all which the King seemed to like well, and it was applauded of his followers, all the while he sat by the Governour he trembled for feare: In his person he is a very lustie man, in his best yeares, an able body, graue of countenance, and spare of speech: In his Attyre little or nothing differing from the rest of his followers, only in a great Chaine of white bone Beades about his necke, and at it behinde his necke, hangs a little bagg of Tobacco, which he dranke and gaue vsus to drinke; his face was paynted with a sad red like murry, and oyled both head and face, that hee looked greasily; All his followers likewise, were in their faces, in part or in whole painted, some blacke, some p. 38red, some yellow, and some white, some with crosses, and other Antick workes, some had skins on them, and some naked, all strong, tall, all men in appearance: so after all was done, the Governour conducted him to the Brooke, and there they embraced each other and he departed: we diligently keeping our hostages, wee expected our messengers comming, but anon word was brought vsus, that Quaddequina was comming, and our messenger was stayed till his returne, who presently came and a troupe with him, so likewise wee entertained him, and convayed him to the place prepared; he was very fearefull of our peeces, and made signes of dislike, that they should be carried away, whereupon Commandement was given, they should be layd away. He was a very proper tall young man, of a very modest and seemely countenance, and he did kindely like of our entertainement, so we convayed him likewise as wee did the King, but diuers of their people stayed still, when hee was returned, then they dismissed our messenger. Two of his people would hauehave stayed all night, but we would not suffer it: one thing I forgot, the King had in his bosome hanging in a string, a great long knife, hee marveiled much at our Trumpet, and some of …men would sound it as well as they could, Samoset and Squanto, they stayed al night with vsus, and the King and al his men lay all night in the woods, not aboue halfe an English myle from vsus, and all their wiues and women with them, they sayd that within 8. or 9. dayes, they would come and set corne on the other side of the Brooke, and dwell there all Summer, which is hard by vsus: That night we kept good watch, but there was no appearance of danger; the next morning divers of their people came over to vsus, hoping to get some victuales as wee imagined, som of them told vsus the King would hauehave some of vsus come see him; Captaine Standish and Isaack Alderton went venterously, who were welcommed of him after their manner: he gaue them three or foure ground Nuts, and some Tobacco. Wee cannot yet conceiue, but that he is willing to hauehave peace with vsus, for they hauehave seene our people sometimes alone two or three in p. 39the woods at worke and fowling, when as they offered them no harme as they might easily hauehave done, and especially because hee hath a potent Adversary the N…h…g…seis, that are at warre with him, against whom hee thinkes wee may be some strength to him, for our peeces are terrible vntounto them; this morning, they stayed till ten or eleuen of the Clocke, and our Governour bid them send the Kings kettle, and filled it full of pease, which pleased them well, and so they went their way.

Fryday was a very faire day, Samoset and Squanto still remained with vsus, Squanto went at noone to fish for Eeles, at night he came home with as many as he could well lift in one hand, which our people were glad of, they were fat & sweet, he trod them out with his feete, and so caught them with his hands without any other Instrument,

This day we proceeded on with our common businesse, from which we had beene so often hindred by the Salvage… comming, and concluded both of Military orders, and of some Lawes and Orders as wee thought behoofefull for our present estate, and condition, and did likewise choose our Governour for this yeare, which was Master Iohn Carver a man well approoved amongst vsus.