A trve relac̅o̅n of y^e last voyage to _new England_, declaring
all circu̅stances w^{th} y^e man̅er of y^e passage wee had by sea,
and what man̅er of countrey & inhabitants we found when we came to
land: & what is y^e present state & condic̅o̅n of y^e _English_
people y^t are there already.
_Faithfully recorded according to y^e very truth for y^e
satisfaction of very many of my loving friends, who haue earnestly
requested to be truly certifyed in these thinges._
_Written from_ new England _July 24, 1629_.
_It._ any Curious Criticke y^t lookes for exactnes of phrases or
expert seaman y^t regard propriety of sea-termes &c
[Illustration: (decorative banner)]
A TRVE RELAC̅O̅N of y^e last voyage to _new England_ made y^e last
Sum̅er, begun y^e 25^{th} of April being Saturday, Anno do̅i 1629.
The co̅pany of New England consisting of many worthy gentlemen in
y^e citty of London, Dorcester & other places, ayming at y^e glory
of God, y^e propagac̅o̅n of y^e gospell of Christ, y^e conversio̅ of
y^e Indians, & y^e enlarge^{mt} of y^e Kings ma^{ties} dominions in
America, & being authorised by his royall letters patents for y^t
end, at their very great costs & chardgs furnished 5 Ships to go to
new England, for y^e further setling of y^e English plantac̅o̅n y^t
y^y had already begun there.
The names of y^e 5 Shipps were as followeth. The first is called y^e
Talbot, a good & strong shipp of 300 tunnes, & 19 pieces of ordinance
& served w^{th} 30 mariners. This ship carried about an 100 planters,
6 goates, 5 great pieces of ordinaunce, w^{th} meale, oatemeale
pease, & all maner of munitio̅ and provisio̅ for y^e plantac̅o̅n for
a twelve month. The second y^e George, another strong ship also,
about 300 tunnes, 20 pieces of ordinance, served w^{th} about 30
mariners; her chiefe carriage were cattell, 12 mares, 30 kyne, &
some goates: also ther gad in her 52 planters & other provision. The
3^d is called y^e Lyons whelpe, a neate & nimble ship of 120 tunnes,
8 pieces of ordinaunce, carrying in her many mariners & about 40
planters, specially fro̅ dorcester & other places thereabouts, w^{th}
provision, and 4 goates.
The 4^{th} is called y^e 4 sisters, as I heare of about 300 tuns,
w^{ch} fayre ship carried many cattell w^{th} passengers & provision.
The 5th is called y^e Mayflower, carrying passengers & provision.
[Sidenote: [April 25]]
[Sidenote: [26]]
Now amongst these 5 ships, y^e George hauing the speciall & urgent
cause of hastening her passage sett sayle before y^e rest about y^e
midst of April. And y^e 4 Sisters & y^e Mayflower being not throughly
furnished, intended as we heard to sett forth about 3 weeks after
vs: But we y^t were in y^e Talbot & y^e Lions whelpe being ready for
o^r voyage by y^e good hand of Gods providence hoysed o^r sayle fro̅
Graues end on Saturday y^e 25^{th} of April about 7 a clocke in y^e
morning. Having but a faynt wynd we could not go farre y^tday, but at
night wee ancred against Lie w^{ch} is 12 miles fro̅ graues end, &
there we rested y^t night & kept Sabbath y^e next day.
[Sidenote: [27]]
On monday we sat forward & came to y^e flats, a passage so̅ewhat
difficult by reason of y^e narrownes of y^e channell & shallownes of
y^e water: & going ouer this wee were in so̅e daunger: for o^r ship
being heavy laden & drawing deepe water was sensibly felt of vs all
to strike 3 or 4 tymes on y^e ground: but y^e wynd blowing so̅ewhat
strong we were carried Swiftly on, & at last by Gods blessing came
safe to ancre at Gorin roade.
[Sidenote: [28]]
Tewsday we went a little further, & ancred ouer ag^t Margret Towne,
staying for a wind for y^e downes.
[Sidenote: [29]]
Wednesday we came safely though w^{th} much turning & tacking thorow
y^e gullies into y^e downes, & stayed y^t night.
[Sidenote: [30. May 1. 2.]]
Thursday, Fryday & Saturday y^e wind blew hard fro̅ south west &
caused o^r ship to daunce, & diuers of o^r passengers & my wiffe
specially were sea sicke. Here y^e Kings ship called y^e Assurance
pressed 2 of o^r mariners. Here we saw many Porpuses playing in y^e
sea w^{ch} y^y say is a signe of fowle weather.
[Sidenote: [May 3]]
Sabbath day a windye day & could: we kept Sabbath staying still at
y^e downes.
[Sidenote: [4]]
Monday God sent vs a fayre gale of wind north: n: East, whereby we
came merily fro̅ y^e downes: & passing Dover we saw 6 or 7 saile of
dunkirkes, wafting after vs: but it seemed y^y saw o^r co̅pany was
too strong for y^m, for then wee had w^{th} vs 3 or 4 ships y^t went
for y^e Straits: so y^y returned backe fro̅ pursuing vs any longer.
But sayling w^{th} a good wind wee went speedily, & at night came
neere y^e Ile of Wight but being darke wee durst not put into y^e
channell, but put backe for sea roome 4 houres, & then other 4 houres
sayled backe agayne y^e same way.
[Sidenote: [5]]
[Sidenote: [May]]
Tewsday early in y^e morning we entred y^e channell y^e wind being
weake & calme, & passed by Portsmouth very slowly; but in y^e
afternoone y^e wind quickened, & wee were forced to ancre a little on
this side Cowcastle but y^e wind growing more favourable wee weighed
& came to ancre again right against Cowcastle thinking to stay y^t
night, y^e wind being very calme. Here I & my wiffe & my daughter
Mary & 2 maids & so̅e others w^{th} vs obtained of y^e m^r of y^e
shipp to go a shoare to refresh vs & to wash o^r linnens, & so we
lay at Cowes y^t night. But y^e wind turning when wee were absent,
y^y hoysed sayle & left vs there, & ancred 8 miles further ouer ag^t
Yarmouth about 8 of y^e clocke at night.
[Sidenote: [6]]
Wednesday betyme in y^e morning y^e shalope was sent fro̅ y^e shipp
to fetch vs to Yarmouth; but y^e water prooued rough & o^r weomen
desired to bee sett on shoare 3 miles short of Yarmouth, & so went on
foote by land & lodged in Yarmouth y^t night.
[Sidenote: [7. 8.]]
On Thursday & fryday there M^r Beecher allowed by y^e co̅pany gaue
mee 40^s to make o^r provisio̅ of what things we would for the voyage.
[Sidenote: [9]]
Saturday we went to board agayne: & this day wee had 2 other men
pressed to serve y^e Kings Shippe; but we got one agayne by intreaty.
[Sidenote: [10.]]
The Sabbath next day we kept y^e shipp where I preached in y^e
morning; & in y^e afternoon was intreated to preach at Yarmouth,
where M^r Meare & captayne Borley entertained vs very kyndly, &
earnestly desyred to bee certified of o^r safe arrivall in new
England, & of y^e state of y^e countrey
[Sidenote: [11]]
[Sidenote: [12]]
Monday morning blew a fayre wind fro̅ East S: E: And y^e lions whelpe
having taken in all her provisio̅ for passengers, about 3 of y^e
clocke in y^e afternoone wee hoysed sayle for y^e Needles, & by Gods
guidance safely passed y^t narrow passage a little after 4 a clocke
in y^e afternoone. And being entred into y^e sea, fro̅ y^e top of
y^e mast we discerned 4 sayle of shipps lying southward fro̅ vs. But
night coming on wee tooke in o^r long boate & shalope. And y^e next
day we had a fayre gale of Easterly wind y^t brought vs towards night
as farre as y^e Lizzard.
[Sidenote: [13]]
Wednesday y^e wind still houlding Easterly, wee came as farre as
y^e lands end, in y^e vtmost part of Cornewall, & so left o^r deare
natiue soile of England behind vs; & sayling about 10 leagues further
we passed y^e Isles of Sillie & launched y^e same day a great way
into y^e maine ocean. And now my wiffe & other passengers began
to feele y^e tossing waues of y^e westerne sea, & so were very
sea-sicke.
And this is to be noted, y^t all this while o^r passage hath bene
vpo̅ y^e coast of England, & so ought truly to be accounted y^e first
day of o^r parting w^{th} ould England.
[Sidenote: [14]]
[Sidenote: [15]]
[Sidenote: [May]]
Thursday y^e same Easterly wind blew all day & night; & y^e next
day; so y^t so̅e of y^e seamen thought we were co̅e by this tyme 100
leagues fro̅ England, but toward night y^e wind was calme.
[Sidenote: [16]]
Saturday we were becalmed all day. This day met vs a little shipp of
Bristoll y^t came fro̅ Christopher Ilands.
[Sidenote: [17.]]
Sabath being y^e first Lords day we held at sea was very calme,
especially in the morning, but we were disturbed in o^r morning
Service by y^e approach of a Biskaniers shippe, a man of warre, y^t
made towards vs, & manned out his boate to viewe vs: But fynding vs
too strong for him he durst not venture to assault vs, but made off.
This day my 2 children Samuel & Mary began to be sicke of y^e
small-pockes & purples together, w^{ch} was brought into y^e ship by
one M^r Browne w^{ch} was sicke of y^e same at Graues End, who̅ it
pleased God to make y^e first occasio̅ of bringing y^t contagious
sicknes among vs, wherew^{th} many were after afflicted.
[Sidenote: [18.]]
Monday calme still, y^e wind being no: w: blowing a little towards
euening, but contrary to o^r course.
[Sidenote: [19.]]
Tewsday wind so: w: as little helpfull as y^e former & blowing uery
weake. This day y^e m^r of o^r ship, my selfe & another went aboard
the Lions whelpe, where M^r Gibs made vs welco̅e w^{th} bountifull
entertayne^{mt}. And this day towards night my daughter grew sicker
& many blew Spots were seene vpo̅ her breast, w^{ch} affrighted vs.
At y^e first wee thought y^y had bene y^e plague tokens; but we found
afterwards y^t it was onely an high measure of y^e infectio̅ of y^e
pockes, w^{ch} were strucke agayne into y^e child, & so it was Gods
will y^e child dyed about 5 of y^e clocke at night, being y^e first
in o^r shipp y^t was buried in the bowells of y^e great Atlanticke
Sea; w^{ch} as it was a griefe to vs her parents, & a sorrow to all
y^e rest as being y^e beginning of a contagious disease & mortality:
so in y^e same judge^{mt} it pleased God to remember mercy in y^e
child, in freeing it fro̅ a world of misery wherein otherwise shee
had liued all her daies. For being about 4 yeares ould a yeare
since, wee know not by what meanes, sweyed in y^e backe, so y^t it
was broken & grew crooked, & y^e joynts of her hipps were loosed
& her knees went crooked pittifull to see. Since w^{ch} tyme shee
hath had a most lamentable payne in her belly, & would oft times cry
out in y^e day & in her sleep also my belly, w^{ch} declared so̅e
extraordinary distemper. So y^t in respect of her wee had cause to
take her death as a blessing fro̅ y^e Lord to shorten her miserie.
[Sidenote: [May 20]]
Wednesday a wett morning, y^e wind was W: S: W: & in y^e afternoone
N: W: & by W: both being contrary to o^r course, w^{ch} was to saile
W: & by S: Thus it pleased god to lay his hand vpo̅ vs by sicknes &
death & contrary winds; & stirred vp so̅e of vs to make y^e moto̅n of
humbling o^r selves vnder y^e hand of God by keeping a solemne day of
fasting & prayer unto God, to beseech him to remooue y^e continuance
& further increase of these evills fro̅ vs. w^{ch} was willingly
condescended vnto as a duty very fitting & needfull for o^r present
state and condic̅o̅n.
[Sidenote: [21]]
Thursday, there being 2 ministers in y^e ship, M^r Smith & my selfe,
we endevoured together w^{th} others to consecrate y^e day as a
solemne fasting & humiliac̅o̅n to almighty God, as a furtheraunce of
o^r present worke. And it pleased God y^e ship was becalmed all day,
so y^t we were freed fro̅ any encumbraunce: And as soone as we had
done prayers, see & behould y^e goodnes of god, about 7 a clocke at
night y^e wind turned to n: e: & we had a fayre gale y^t night as a
manifest evidence of y^e Lords hearing o^r prayers. I heard so̅e of
y^e mariners say, y^y thought this was y^e first sea-fast y^t euer
was kept, & y^t y^y neuer heard of y^e like perfourmed at sea before.
[Sidenote: [22.]]
[Sidenote: [May]]
Fryday y^e wind fayre, & east northerly, & for o^r purpose for new
England. it did blow strongly & carried vs on amayne w^{th} tossing
waues, w^{ch} did affright y^m y^t were not wonted to such sights.
[Sidenote: [23.]]
Saturday y^e same wind blowing but more gently. Now we were co̅forted
w^{th} hope of my sonne Samuels recovery of y^e pockes.
[Sidenote: [24.]]
The 2 Lords day, a fayre day, an orderly wind & prosperous.
[Sidenote: [25]]
On Monday a fayre frummegale, y^e wind South S: W:
[Sidenote: [26.]]
Tewsday about 10 of y^e clocke in y^e morning, whilest we were at
prayers a strong and sudden blast came fro̅ y^e north, y^t hoysed vp
y^e waues & tossed vs more then euer before & held vs all y^t day
till towards night & then abated by little & little till it was
calme. This day M^r Goffes great dogg fell ouer board & could not be
recouered.
[Sidenote: [27.]]
[Sidenote: [May 27]]
Wednesday, y^e wind still no: & calme in y^e morning, but about
noone there arose a So: wind, w^{ch} encreased more & more, so y^t
it seemed to vs y^t are land men a sore & terrible storme; for y^e
wind blew mightily, y^e rayne fell vehemently, y^e sea roared &
y^e waues tossed vs horribly; besides it was fearfull darke & y^e
mariners maid was afraid; & noyse on the other side w^{th} their
running here & there, lowd crying one to another to pull at this &
y^t rope. The waues powred y^mselues ouer y^e shippe y^t y^e 2 boates
were filled w^{th} water, y^t y^y were fayne to strike holes in y^e
midst of y^m to let y^e water out. Yea by y^e violence of y^e waues
y^e long boate coard w^{ch} held it was broken, & it had like to
haue bene washed ouerboard, had not y^e mariners w^{th} much payne &
daunger recouered y^e same. But this lasted not many houres; after
which it became a calmish day. All w^{ch} while I lay close & warme
in my cabine, but farre fro̅ hauing list to sleepe w^{th} Jonah; my
thoughts were otherwise employed as y^e tyme & place required. Then I
saw y^e truth of y^e Scripture Psal. 107, fro̅ y^e 23 to y^e 32. And
my feare at this tyme was ye lesse, when I rememberd what a loving
friend of myne, a minister accustomed to sea stormes said to mee y^t
I might not be dismayed at such stormes, for y^y were ordinary at
seas, & it seeldome falls out y^t a shipp perisheth at storms if it
haue sea-roome, w^{ch} I y^e rather wryte y^t others as well as my
selfe by y^e knowledge hereof may be encouraged & prepared ag^t these
ordinary sea-stormes.
[Sidenote: [28 29]]
[Sidenote: [30]]
Thursday So: wind: calme at night: On fryday a boistrous wind blowing
crosse, but was allayed towards night w^{th} a showre of rayne.
Saturday So: w: wind, but faire & quiett.
[Sidenote: [May 31]]
Sabbath day being y^e 3 Lords day, fayre & calme; wee saw abundance
of grampas fishes, 2 or 3 yards long, & a body as bigg as an oxe.
[Sidenote: [June 1]]
Monday y^e wind westerly & calme: but besides o^r being stayed by
contrary winds we began to fynd y^e temperature of y^e ayre to alter
& to become more soletry & subject to vnwholsome foggs. For com̅ing
now to y^e height of y^e westerne Islands, so̅e of o^r men fell sicke
of y^e scuruie & others of the small pockes, w^{ch} more & more
increased: yet thankes be to God none dyed of it but my owne child
menc̅o̅n̅d. And therefore, according to o^r great need we appointed
another fast for the next day.
[Sidenote: [2.]]
Tewsday we solemnely celebrate another fast. The Lord y^t day heard
vs before wee prayed & gaue vs aunswere before we called; for early
in y^e morning y^e wind turned full East, being as fitt a wind as
could blowe. And sitting at my study on y^e shipps poope I saw many
bonny fishes & porpuses pursuing one another, and leaping so̅e of y^m
a yard aboue y^e water. Also as we were at prayer, vnder y^e hatch,
so̅e y^t were aboue saw a whale puffing vp water not farre fro̅ y^e
shippe. Now my wiffe was prettily well recouered of her sea sicknesse.
[Sidenote: [3.]]
[Sidenote: [June]]
Wednesday a fayre day & fyne gale of full East wind. This day my
selfe & others saw a large round fish sayling by y^e ships side about
a yard in length & roundnes euery way. The mariners cald it a sunne
fish; it spreadeth out y^e finnes like beames on euery side 4, or 5.
[Sidenote: [4, 5.]]
Thursday & fryday y^e wind full E: we were carried w^{th} admirac̅o̅n
on o^r journey. By this wee were more then halfe way to new England.
This day I saw a fish very straunge to mee, y^y call it a caruell;
w^{ch} came by y^e ship side wafting along y^e top of y^e water. it
appeared at y^e first like a bubble aboue the water as bigg as a mans
fist, but y^e fish it selfe is about y^e bignes of a mans thum, so
y^t y^e fish it selfe & y^e bubble resembleth a shipp w^{th} sailes,
w^{ch} therefore is called a caruell.
[Sidenote: [6 7]]
[Sidenote: [8]]
Saturday wind direct E: still. The 4 Sabb: we kept at sea the wind
full full Easterly till noone, & then it came full So: E: a strong
gale y^t night & y^e next day till night.
[Sidenote: [9]]
Tewsday y^e same wind held till 9 a clock in y^e morning: & then a
great showre w^{ch} lasted till about 7 at night, & then it was a
very calme. There we sounded w^{th} a dipled lyne aboue 100^{th}
fadome & found no bottome. This day we saw a fish called a turkle, a
great & large shell fish swiming aboue y^e water neere y^e shippe.
[Sidenote: [10]]
Wednesday wind northerly a fyne gale but calmish in y^e afternoone.
[Sidenote: [11 June]]
Thursday y^e wind at no: an easye gale & fayre morning we saw a
mountayne of Ice shyning as white as snow like to a great rocke or
clift on y^e shoare. it stood still & therefore we thought it to be
on ground & to reach y^e bottome of y^e sea. For though there came a
mighty streame fro̅ y^e no: yet it mooued not, w^{ch} made vs sound,
& we found a banke of 40 fathom deepe whereupo̅ we judged it to rest:
& y^e height aboue was as much. Wee also saw 6 or 7 pieces of Ice,
floating on y^e sea, w^{ch} was broken off fro̅ y^e former mountayne,
we also saw great store of water fowle swim̅ing by y^e shipp w^{th}in
musket shott, of a pyde colour & about y^e bignes of a wild ducke,
about 40 in a co̅pany, the mariners call y^m hag birds. Toward night
came a fogge, y^t y^e lions whelp was lost till morning. And now we
saw many bony toes porpuses and grampases every day more & more.
[Sidenote: [12]]
Fryday foggie & calmish, y^e wind northerly in y^e morning, but about
noone it came S: E: a dainty loome gale w^{ch} carried vs 6 leagues a
watch.
[Sidenote: [13]]
Saturday y^e same wind till night, & we saw great store of porpuses &
grampases.
[Sidenote: [14]]
The 5^{th} Sabbath, y^e same wind, towards noone it began to be
foggie, & then it rained till night we went 4 or 5 leagues a watch.
[Sidenote: [June 15]]
Monday a fayre day but foggie, y^e same wind blowing but w^{th} fresh
gale carryed vs 7 leagues a watch. In y^e afternoone it blew harder,
so y^e sea was rough, & we lost y^e sight of y^e lions whelpe: it
being foggie we drum̅ed for y^m & y^y shot off a great piece of
ordinance but we feared not one another.
[Sidenote: [16]]
Tewsday wind So: & by E: foggie till about 10 a clocke while we were
at prayers it cleared vp about an houre, & then we saw y^e lions
whelpe distant about 2 leagues southward. wee presently tackt about
to meet her & shee did y^e same to meete vs, but before we could get
together a thick fogge came, y^t we were long in fynding each other.
This day we sounded divers tymes, & found o^rselves on another banke,
at first 40 fathom, after 36. after 33. after 24. wee thought it to
haue bene y^e banke ouer ag^t chap Sable, but we were deceiued, for
we knew not certainly where we were because of y^e fogge. After 3 or
4 houres co̅pany we lost y^e lions whelpe agayne: & beate o^r drume
& shot off a great piece of ordinaunce & yet heard not of y^m. But
perceiuing y^e banke to grow still y^t shallower we found it 27 & 24
fathoms. Therefore being a fogg & fearing wee were too neere land we
tackt about for sea roome for 2 or 3 watches, & steered Southeast.
[Sidenote: [17]]
Wednesday very foggie still & wind S: and by w: & sounding found no
bottome y^t we could reach.
[Sidenote: [18]]
Thursday wind full w: & contrary to vs. This day a notorious wicked
fellow y^t was giuen to swearing & boasting of his former wickednes
bragged y^t hee had got a wench w^{th} child before hee came this
voyage & mocked at o^r daies of fast railing & jesting ag^t puritans,
this fellow fell sicke of y^e pockes & dyed. Wee sounded and found
38 fathom, & stayed for a little to take so̅e codfish & feasted
o^rselves merily.
[Sidenote: [19]]
Fryday wind west still, a very fayre cleare day. About 4 a clock in
y^e afternoone so̅e went vp to y^e top of y^e mast, & affirmed to o^r
great co̅fort y^y saw land to y^e north eastward.
[Sidenote: [20]]
Saturday wind So: w: a fayre gale: we sounded & found 40, 30, 22, & a
little after no ground.
[Sidenote: [21]]
Sabb: being y^e 6^{th} Lords day; wind westerly but fayre & calme.
[Sidenote: [22]]
Monday wind Easterly a fayre gale. This day wee saw a great deale of
froth not farre fro̅ vs: wee feared it might bee so̅e breach of water
ag^t some new qvote.[2] Therefore y^e m^r of o^r shipp hoised out y^e
shalop & went w^{th} so̅e of y^e men to see what it was; but found it
onely to bee a froath carried by y^e streame.
[Sidenote: [June 23]]
Tewsday y^e wind n: E: a fayre gale. This day we examined 5 beastly
Sodomiticall boyes, w^{ch} confessed their wickednes not to bee
named. The fact was so fowle wee referred y^m to bee punished by y^e
governor when we came to new England, who afterward sent y^m backe to
y^e co̅pany to bee punished in ould England as y^e crime deserued.
[Sidenote: [24]]
Wednesday wind no: E: a fayre day & cleare: about 9 a clocke in y^e
morning we espied a shipp about 4 leagues behind vs; w^{ch} prooued
y^e lions whelpe, w^{ch} had bene a weeke separated fro̅ vs. we
stayed for [blot (her)] co̅pany. This day a child of goodman Blacke
w^{ch} had a co̅sumpc̅o̅n before it came to shipp, dyed. This day we
had all a cleare & co̅fortable sight of America, & of y^e Chap Sable
y^t was ouer ag^t vs 7 or 8 leagues northward. Here we saw yellow
gilliflowers on y^e sea.
[Sidenote: [25]]
Thursday wind still no: Ea: a full & fresh gale. In y^e after noone
wee had a cleare sight of many Islands & hills by y^e sea shoare. Now
we saw abundaunce of makrill, a great store of great whales puffing
vp water as y^y goe, so̅e of y^m came neere o^r shipp: their greatnes
did astonish vs y^t saw y^m not before: their backs appeared like a
little Island. At 5 a clock at[3] night the wind turned S. E. a fayre
gale. This day we caught mackrill.
[Sidenote: [26]]
Fryday a foggie morning, but after cleare and wind calme. We saw
many scools of mackrill, infinite multitudes on every side our ship.
The sea was abundantly stored with rockweed and yellow flowers like
gilly-flowers. By noon we were within 3 leagues of Capan, and as we
sayled along the coasts we saw every hill and dale and every island
full of gay woods and high trees. The nearer we came to the shoare
the more flowers in abundance, sometymes scattered abroad, sometymes
joyned in sheets 9 or 10 yards long, which we supposed to be brought
from the low meadowes by the tyde. Now what with fine woods and
greene trees by land, and these yellow flowers paynting the sea, made
us all desirous to see our new paradise of New England, whence we saw
such forerunning signals of fertilitie afarre off. Coming neare the
harbour towards night we takt about for sea-roome.
[Sidenote: [27]]
Saturday a foggie morning; but after 8 o’clocke in the morning very
cleare, the wind being somewhat contrary at So. and by West, we
tackt to and againe with getting little; but with much adoe, about
4 o’clock in the afternoone, having with much payne compassed the
harbour, and being ready to enter the same, see how things may
suddenly change! there came a fearfull gust of wind and rayne and
thunder and lightning, whereby we were borne with no little terrour
and trouble to our mariners, having very much adoe to loose downe
the sayles when the fury of the storme held up. But God be praised
it lasted but a while and soone abated agayne. And hereby the Lord
shewed us what he could have done with us, if it had pleased him. But
blessed be God, he soone removed this storme and it was a fayre and
sweet evening.
We had a westerly wind which brought us between 5 and 6 o’clock to
a fyne and sweet harbour,[4] 7 miles from the head point of Capan.
This harbour 20 ships may easily ryde therein, where there was an
island whither four of our men with a boate went, and brought backe
agayne ripe strawberries and gooseberries, and sweet single roses.
Thus God was merciful to us in giving us a tast and smell of the
sweet fruit as an earnest of his bountiful goodnes to welcome us at
our first arrivall. This harbour was two leagues and something more
from the harbour at Naimkecke, where our ships were to rest, and the
plantation is already begun. But because the passage is difficult
and night drew on, we put into Capan harbour.
[Sidenote: [28]]
The Sabbath, being the first we kept in America, and the 7th Lord’s
day after we parted with England.
[Sidenote: [29]]
Monday we came from Capan, to go to Naimkecke, the wind northerly.
I should have tould you before that the planters spying our English
colours the Governour sent a shalop with 2 men on Saturday to pilot
us. These rested the Sabbath with us at Capan; and this day, by God’s
blessing and their directions, we passed the curious and difficult
entrance into the large spacious harbour of Naimkecke. And as we
passed along it was wonderful to behould so many islands replenished
with thicke wood and high trees, and many fayre greene pastures. And
being come into the harbour we saw the George to our great comfort
then being come on Tuesday which was 7 daies before us. We rested
that night with glad and thankful hearts that God had put an end to
our long and tedious journey through the greatest sea in the world.
[Sidenote: [30]]
The next morning the governour came aboard to our ship, and bade us
kindly welcome, and invited me and my wiffe to come on shoare, and
take our lodging in his house, which we did accordingly.
* * * * *
Thus you have a faithful report collected from day to day of all the
particulars that were worth noting in our passage.
* * * * *
Now in our passage divers things are remarkeable.
* * * * *
First, through God’s blessing our passage was short and speedy, for
whereas we had 1000 leagues, that is 3000 miles English, to saile
from Ould to New England, we performed the same in 6 weeks and 3
dayes.
Secondly, our passage was comfortable and easie for the most part,
having ordinarily fayre and moderate wind, and being freed for the
most part from stormie and rough seas, saving one night only, which
we that were not used thought to be more terrible than indeed it was,
and this was Wednesday at night May 27th.
Thirdly, our passage was also healthfull to our passengers, being
freed from the great contagion of the scurvie and other maledictions,
which in other passages to other places had taken away the lives of
many. And yet we were in all reason in wonderful danger all the way,
our ship being greatly crowded with passengers; but through God’s
great goodness we had none that died of the pockes but that wicked
fellow that scorned at fasting and prayer. There were indeed 2 little
children, one of my owne and another beside; but I do not impute it
meerely to the passage; for they were both very sickly children, and
not likely to have lived long, if they had not gone to sea. And take
this for a rule, if children be healthfull when they come to sea, the
younger they are the better they will endure the sea, and are not
troubled with sea-sicknes as older people are, as we had experience
in many children that went this voyage. My wiffe indeed, in tossing
weather, was something ill by vomiting, but in calme weather she
recovered agayne, and is now much better for the sea sicknes. And for
my owne part, whereas I have for divers yeares past been very sickly
and ready to cast up whatsoever I have eaten, and was very sicke at
London and Gravesend, yet from the tyme I came on shipboard to this
day, I have been straungely healthfull. And now I can digest our ship
diett very well, which I could not when I was at land. And indeed in
this regard I have great cause to give God praise, that he hath made
my coming to be a method to cure me of a wonderful weake stomacke
and continual payne of melancholly wynd from the splene: Also divers
children were sicke of the small pockes, but are safely recovered
agayne, and 2 or 3 passengers towards the latter end of the voyage
fell sicke of the scurvie, but coming to land recovered in a short
tyme.
Fourthly, our passage was both pleasurable and profitable. For we
received instruction and delight in behoulding the wonders of the
Lord in the deepe waters, and sometimes seeing the sea round us
appearing with a terrible countenance, and as it were full of high
hills and deepe vallyes; and sometimes it appeared as a most plain
and even meadow. And ever and anon we saw divers kynds of fishes
sporting in the great waters, great grampuses and huge whales going
by companies and puffing up water-streames. Those that love their
owne chimney corner, and dare not go farre beyond their owne townes
end shall neever have the honour to see these wonderfull workes of
Almighty God.
Fifthly, we had a pious and christian-like passage; for I suppose
passengers shall seldom find a company of more religious, honest
and kynd seamen than we had. We constantly served God morning and
evening by reading and expounding a chapter, singing, and prayer. And
the Sabbath was solemnely kept by adding to the former, preaching
twise and catechising. And in our great need we kept 2 solemne fasts,
and found a gracious effect. Let all that love and use fasting and
praying take notise that it is as prevaileable by sea as by land,
wheresoever it is faithfully performed. Besides the ship master and
his company used every night to sett their 8 and 12 a clocke watches
with singing a psalme and prayer that was not read out of a booke.
This I wryte not for boasting and flattery; but for the benefit of
those that have a mynd to come to New England hereafter, that if
they looke for and desyre to have as prosperous a voyage as we had,
they may use the same meanes to attayne the same. So letting passe
our passage by sea, we will now bring our discourse to land on the
shoare of New England, and I shall by God’s assistance endeavour to
speake nothing but the naked truth, and both acquaint you with the
commodities and discommodities of the country.