Good News from New England 2, Title page – To the reader
GOOD NEWES FROM NEW-ENGLAND: OR A true Relation of things very remarkable at the Plantation of Plimoth in NEVV-ENGLAND. Shewing the wondrous providence and goodnes of GOD, in their preservation and continuance, being delivered from many apparant deaths and dangers. Together with a Relation of such religious and civill Lawes and Customes, as are in practise amongst the Indians, adjoyning to them at this day. As also what Commo…ities are there to be ray…ed for the mainten…ce of that and other Plantations in the said Country.
Written by E. W. who hath borne a part in the fore-named troubles, and there liued since their first Arrivall. Wherevnto is added by him a briefe Relation of a credible intelligence of the present estate of Virginia.
LONDON Printed by I. D. for William Bladen and Iohn Bellamie, and are to be sold at their Shops, at the Bible in Pauls-Churchyard, and at the three Gold…n Lyons in Corn-hill, neere the Royall Exchange. 1624.
TO ALL WEL-WILLERS AND FVRTHERES OF Plantations in New England: especially to such as euer hauehave or desire to assist, the people of Plimoth in their iust proc…edings, Grace, and Peace, bee multiplyed.
RIght Honorable and Worshipfull Gentlemen, or whatsoeuer: Since it hath pleased God to stir you vp to be instruments of his glory, in so honorable an enterprise as the inlarging of his Maiesties Dominions, by planting his loyall subiects in so healthfull and hopefull a Countrey as New-England is; where the Church of God being seated in sincerity, there is no lesse hope of convincing the Heathen of their euill wayes, and converting them to the true knowledge and worship of the living God, and so consequently the salvation of their soules by the merits of Iesus Christ, then else-where though it be much talked on, & lightly or lamely prosecuted. I therefore thinke it but my dutie to offer the view of our proceedings to your worthy considerations, hauing to that end composed them together thus briefly as you see; wherein to your great encouragement, you may behold the good providence of God working with you in our preseruation from so many dangerous plots and treacheries, as hauehave beene intended against vsus; as also in giuing his blessing so powerfully vponupon the weake meanes wee had, inabling vsus with health and ability beyond expectation, in our greatest scarcities, and possessing the hearts of the Saluages with astonishment and feare of vsus, whereas if God had let them loose, they might easily hauehave swallowed vsus vp, scarce being an handfull in comparison of those forces they might hauehave gathered together against vsus, which now by Gods blessing will be more hard and difficult, in regard our number of men is increased, our towne better fortified, and our store better victualed. Blessed therefore be his name, that hath done so great things for vsus, & hath wrought so great a change amongst vsus.
Accept I pray you my weake endevours pardon my vnskilfulnesse, and beare with my plainenesse in the things I hauehave handled. Bee not discouraged by our former necessities, but rather incouraged with vsus, hoping that us God hath wrought with vsus in our beginning of this worthy Worke, vndertaken in his name and feare; so he will by vsus accomplish the same to his glory and our comfort, if wee neglect not the meanes. I confesse, it hath not bin much lesse chargeable to some of you, then hard and difficult to vsus, that hauehave endured the brunt of the battell, and yet small profits returned; onelyonly by Gods mercy wee are safely seated, housed, and fortified, by which meanes a great step is made vntounto gaine, and a more direct course taken for the same, then if at first we had rashly and covetously fallen vponupon it.
Indeed, three things are the overthrow and bane (as I may terme it) of Plantations.
1. The vaine expectation of present profit, which too too commonly taketh a principall seate in the heart and affection; though Gods glory, &c. is preferred before it in the mouth with protestation.
2. Ambition in their Governours and Commanders, seeking onelyonly to make themselues great, and slaues of all that are vnderunder them, to maintaine a transitory base honour in themselues, which God oft punisheth with contempt.
3. The carelesnes of those that send over supplies of men vntounto them, not caring how they bee qualified: so that oft times they are rather the Image of men endued with bestiall, yea, diabolicall affections, then the Image of God, endued with reason, vnderstanding, and holines. I prayse God I speake not these things experimentally, by way of complaint of our owne condition, but hauing great cause on the contrary part to be thankefull to God for his mercies towardes vsus: but rather, if there bee any too desirous of gaine, to intreate them to moderate their affections, and consider that no man expecteth fruit before the tree be growne; advising all men, that as they tender their owne well fare, so to make choise of such to mannage and governe their affayres, as are approued not to be seekers of themselues, but the common good of all for whom they are imployed; and beseeching such as hauehave the care of transporting men for the supply and furnishing of Plantations, to be truely carefull in sending such as may further and not hinder so good an action. There is no godly honest man, but will be helpfull in his kinde, and adorne his profession with an vpright life and conversation, which Doctrine of manners ought first to bee Preached by giuing good example to the poore Savage Heathens amongst whom they liue. On the contrary part, what great offence hath beene giuen by many profane men, who being but seeming Christians, hauehave made Christ and Christianitie stinke in the nostrils of the poore Infidels, and so laid a stumbling blocke before them: but woe be to them by whom such offences come.
These things I offer to your Christian considerations, beseeching you to make a good construction of my simple meaning, and take in good part this ensuing Relation, dedicating my selfe and it euermore vntounto your seruice; beseeching God to crowne our Christian and faithfull endeuours with his blessings temporall and eternall.
Yours in this seruice, euer to be commanded: E. W.
To the Reader.
GOod Reader, when I first penned this discourse, I intended it chiefly for the satisfaction of my priuate friends, but since that time hauehave beene perswaded to publish the same: And the rather, because of a disorderly Colony that are dispersed, and most of them returned, to the great preiudice and dammage of him that set them forth; who as they were a staine to old England that bred them, in respect of their liues and manners amongst the Indians: So it is to be feared, will bee no lesse to New-England in their vile and clamorous reports, because shee would not foster them in their desired idle courses. I would not bee vnderstood to thinke there were no wel-deseruing persons amongst them: for of mine owne knowledge it was a griefe to some that they were so yoaked; whose deserts as they were then sutable to their honest protestations, so I desire still may be, in respect of their iust and true Relations.
Peraduenture thou wilt rather maruell that I deale so plainely, then any way doubt of the truth of this my Relation, yea it may be tax me therewith, as seeming rather to discourage men, then any way to further so noble an action? If any honest minde be discouraged, I am sorry, sure I am, I hauehave giuen no iust cause; and am so farre from being discouraged my selfe, as I purpose to returne forthwith. And for other light and vaine persons, if they stumble hereat I hauehave my desire, accounting it better for them and vsus that they keepe where they are, as being vnfit and vnable to performe so great a taske.
Some faults hauehave escaped because I could not attend on the Presse, which I pray thee correct as thou findest, and I shall account it as a fauour vntounto me.
Thine E. W.