I hope we shall gett all hear ready in 14. days.

Your pore brother,

ROBART CUSHMAN.

June 11. 1620.

Besids these things, ther fell out a differance amongs those 3. that

received [35] the moneys & made y^e provissions in England; for besids

these tow formerly mentioned sent from Leyden for this end, viz. M^r.

Carver & Robart Cushman, ther was one chosen in England to be joyned

with them, to make y^e provisions for y^e vioage; his name was M^r.

Martin, he came from Billirike in Essexe, from which parts came sundrie

others to goe with them, as also from London & other places; and

therfore it was thought meete & conveniente by them in Holand that these

strangers that were to goe with them, should apointe one thus to be

joyned with them, not so much for any great need of their help, as to

avoyd all susspition, or jelosie of any partiallitie. And indeed their

care for giving offence, both in this & other things afterward, turned

to great inconvenience unto them, as in y^e sequell will apeare; but

however it shewed their equall & honest minds. The provissions were for

y^e most parte made at Southhamton, contrarie to M^r. Westons & Robert

Cushm[=a]s mind (whose counsells did most concure in all things). A

touch of which things I shall give in a letter of his to M^r. Carver,

and more will appear afterward.

To his loving freind M^r. John Carver, these, &c.

Loving freind, I have received from you some letters, full of

affection & complaints, and what it is you would have of me I know

not; for your crieing out, Negligence, negligence, negligence, I

marvell why so negligente a man was used in y^e bussines. Yet know you

y^t all that I have power to doe hear, shall not be one hower behind,

I warent you. You have reference to M^r. Weston to help us with money,

more then his adventure; wher he protesteth but for his promise, he

would not have done any thing. He saith we take a heady course, and

is offended y^t our provissions are made so farr of; as also that he

was not made aquainted with our quantitie of things; and saith y^t in

now being in 3. places, so farr remote, we will, with going up &

downe, and wrangling & expostulating, pass over y^e so[=m]er before we

will goe. And to speake y^e trueth, ther is fallen already amongst us

a flatt schisme; and we are redier to goe to dispute, then to sett

forwarde a voiage. I have received from Leyden since you wente 3. or

4. letters directed to you, though they only conscerne me. I will not

trouble you with them. I always feared y^e event of y^e Amsterdamers

striking in with us. I trow you must exco[=m]unicate me, or els you

must goe without their companie, or we shall wante no quareling; but

let them pass. We have reckoned, it should seeme, without our host;

and, counting upon a 150. persons, ther cannot be founde above

1200^li. & odd moneys of all y^e venturs you can reckone, besids some

cloath, stockings, & shoes, which are not counted; so we shall come

shorte at least 3. or 400^li. I would have had some thing shortened at

first of beare & other provissions in hope of other adventurs, & now

we could have, both in Amsterd: & Kente, beere inough to serve our

turne, but now we cannot accept it without prejudice. You fear we have

begune to build & shall not be able to make an end; indeed, our

courses were never established by counsell, we may therfore justly

fear their standing. Yea, ther was a [36] schisme amongst us 3. at y^e

first. You wrote to M^r. Martin, to prevente y^e making of y^e

provissions in Kente, which he did, and sett downe his resolution how

much he would have of every thing, without respecte to any counsell or

exception. Surely he y^t is in a societie & yet regards not counsell,

may better be a king then a consorte. To be short, if ther be not some

other dispossition setled unto then yet is, we y^t should be partners

of humilitie and peace, shall be examples of jangling & insulting. Yet

your money which you ther must have, we will get provided for you

instantly. 500^li. you say will serve; for y^e rest which hear & in

Holand is to be used, we may goe scratch for it. For M^r.[T] Crabe, of

whom you write, he hath promised to goe with us, yet I tell you I

shall not be without feare till I see him shipped, for he is much

opposed, yet I hope he will not faile. Thinke y^e best of all, and

bear with patience what is wanting, and y^e Lord guid us all.

Your loving freind,

ROBART CUSHMAN.

London, June 10.

An^o: 1620.

I have bene y^e larger in these things, and so shall crave leave in some

like passages following, (thoug in other things I shal labour to be more

contracte,) that their children may see with what difficulties their

fathers wrastled in going throug these things in their first

begi[=n]ings, and how God brought them along notwithstanding all their

weaknesses & infirmities. As allso that some use may be made hereof in

after times by others in such like waightie imployments; and herewith I

will end this chapter.

The 7. Chap.

_Of their departure from Leyden, and other things ther aboute, with

their arivall at South hamton, were they all mete togeather, and tooke

in ther provissions._

At length, after much travell and these debats, all things were got

ready and provided. A smale ship[U] was bought, & fitted in Holand,

which was intended as to serve to help to transport them, so to stay in

y^e cuntrie and atend upon fishing and shuch other affairs as might be

for y^e good & benefite of y^e colonie when they came ther. Another was

hired at London, of burden about 9. score; and all other things gott in

readines. So being ready to departe, they had a day of solleme

humiliation, their pastor taking his texte from Ezra 8. 21. _And ther at

y^e river, by Ahava, I proclaimed a fast, that we might humble ourselves

before our God, and seeke of him a right way for us, and for our

children, and for all our substance._ Upon which he spente a good parte

of y^e day very profitably, and suitable to their presente occasion. The

rest of the time was spente in powering out prairs to y^e Lord with

great fervencie, mixed with abundance of tears. And y^e time being come

that they must departe, they were accompanied with most of their

brethren out of y^e citie, unto a towne sundrie miles of called

Delfes-Haven, wher the ship lay ready to receive them. So they lefte y^t

goodly & pleasante citie, which had been ther resting place near 12.

years; but they knew they were pilgrimes,[V] & looked not much on those

things, but lift up their eyes to y^e heavens, their dearest cuntrie,

and quieted their spirits. When they [37] came to y^e place they found

y^e ship and all things ready; and shuch of their freinds as could not

come with them followed after them, and sundrie also came from

Amsterdame to see them shipte and to take their leave of them. That

night was spent with litle sleepe by y^e most, but with freindly

entertainmente & christian discourse and other reall expressions of true

christian love. The next day, the wind being faire, they wente aborde,

and their freinds with them, where truly dolfull was y^e sight of that

sade and mournfull parting; to see what sighs and sobbs and praires did

sound amongst them, what tears did gush from every eye, & pithy speeches

peirst each harte; that sundry of y^e Dutch strangers y^t stood on y^e

key as spectators, could not refraine from tears. Yet comfortable &

sweete it was to see shuch lively and true expressions of clear &

unfained love. But the tide (which stays for no man) caling them away

y^t were thus loath to departe, their Re[~v][=e]^d: pastor falling downe

on his knees, (and they all with him,) with watrie cheeks co[=m]ended

them with most fervente praiers to the Lord and his blessing. And then

with mutuall imbrases and many tears, they tooke their leaves one of an

other; which proved to be y^e last leave to many of them.

Thus hoysing saile,[W] with a prosperus winde they came in short time to

Southhamton, wher they found the bigger ship come from London, lying

ready, w^th all the rest of their company. After a joyfull wellcome, and

mutuall congratulations, with other frendly entertainements, they fell

to parley aboute their bussines, how to dispatch with y^e best

expedition; as allso with their agents, aboute y^e alteration of y^e

conditions. M^r. Carver pleaded he was imployed hear at Hamton, and knew

not well what y^e other had don at London. M^r. Cushman answered, he had

done nothing but what he was urged too, partly by y^e grounds of equity,

and more espetialy by necessitie, other wise all had bene dasht and many

undon. And in y^e begining he aquainted his felow agents here with, who

consented unto him, and left it to him to execute, and to receive y^e

money at London and send it downe to them at Hamton, wher they made y^e

provissions; the which he accordingly did, though it was against his

minde, & some of y^e marchants, y^t they were their made. And for

giveing them notise at Leyden of this change, he could not well in

regarde of y^e shortnes of y^e time; againe, he knew it would trouble

them and hinder y^e bussines, which was already delayed overlong in

regard of y^e season of y^e year, which he feared they would find to

their cost. But these things gave not contente at presente. Mr. Weston,

likwise, came up from London to see them dispatcht and to have y^e

conditions confirmed; but they refused, and answered him, that he knew

right well that these were not according to y^e first agreemente,

neither could they yeeld to them without y^e consente of the rest that

were behind. And indeed they had spetiall charge when they came away,

from the cheefe of those that were behind, not to doe it. At which he

was much offended, and tould them, they must then looke to stand on

their owne leggs. So he returned in displeasure, and this was y^e first

ground of discontent betweene them. And wheras ther wanted well near

100^li. to clear things at their going away, he would not take order to

disburse a penie, but let them shift as they could. [38] So they were

forst to selle of some of their provissions to stop this gape, which was

some 3. or 4. score firkins of butter, which comoditie they might best

spare, haveing provided too large a quantitie of y^t kind. Then they

write a leter to y^e marchants & adventures aboute y^e diferances

concerning y^e conditions, as foloweth.

Aug. 3. An^o: 1620.

Beloved freinds, sory we are that ther should be occasion of writing

at all unto you, partly because we ever expected to see y^e most of

you hear, but espetially because ther should any differance at all be

conceived betweene us. But seing it faleth out that we cannot conferr

togeather, we thinke it meete (though brefly) to show you y^e just

cause & reason of our differing from those articles last made by

Robart Cushman, without our comission or knowledg. And though he might

propound good ends to himselfe, yet it no way justifies his doing it.

Our maine diference is in y^e 5. & 9. article, concerning y^e deviding

or holding of house and lands; the injoying wherof some of your selves

well know, was one spetiall motive, amongst many other, to provoke us

to goe. This was thought so reasonable, y^t when y^e greatest of you

in adventure (whom we have much cause to respecte), when he

propounded conditions to us freely of his owne accorde, he set this

downe for one; a coppy wherof we have sent unto you, with some

additions then added by us; which being liked on both sids, and a day

set for y^e paimente of moneys, those of Holland paid in theirs. After

y^t, Robart Cushman, M^r. Peirce, & M^r. Martine, brought them into a

better forme, & write them in a booke now extante; and upon Robarts

shewing them and delivering M^r. Mullins a coppy therof under his hand

(which we have), he payd in his money. And we of Holland had never

seen other before our coming to Hamton, but only as one got for him

selfe a private coppy of them; upon sight wherof we manyfested uter

dislike, but had put of our estats & were ready to come, and therfore

was too late to rejecte y^e vioage. Judge therfore we beseech you

indiferently of things, and if a faulte have bene co[=m]ited, lay it

wher it is, & not upon us, who have more cause to stand for y^e one,

then you have for y^e other. We never gave Robart Cushman comission to

make any one article for us, but only sent him to receive moneys upon

articles before agreed on, and to further y^e provissions till John

Carver came, and to assiste him in it. Yet since you conceive your

selves wronged as well as we, we thought meete to add a branch to y^e

end of our 9. article, as will allmost heale that wound of it selfe,

which you conceive to be in it. But that it may appeare to all men y^t

we are not lovers of our selves only, but desire also y^e good &

inriching of our freinds who have adventured your moneys with our

persons, we have added our last article to y^e rest, promising you

againe by leters in y^e behalfe of the whole company, that if large

profits should not arise within y^e 7. years, y^t we will continue

togeather longer with you, if y^e Lord give a blessing.[X] This we

hope is sufficente to satisfie any in this case, espetialy freinds,

since we are asured y^t if the whole charge was devided into 4. parts,

3. of them will not stand upon it, nether doe regarde it, &c. We are

in shuch a streate at presente, as we are forced to sell away 60^li.

worth of our provissions to cleare y^e Haven, & withall put our selves

upon great extremities, scarce haveing any butter, no oyle, not a sole

to mend a shoe, [39] nor every man a sword to his side, wanting many

muskets, much armoure, &c. And yet we are willing to expose our selves

to shuch eminente dangers as are like to insue, & trust to y^e good

providence of God, rather then his name & truth should be evill spoken

of for us. Thus saluting all of you in love, and beseeching the Lord

to give a blesing to our endeavore, and keepe all our harts in y^e

bonds of peace & love, we take leave & rest,

Yours, &c.

Aug. 3. 1620.

It was subscribed with many names of y^e cheefest of y^e company.

At their parting M^r. Robinson write a leter to y^e whole company, which

though it hath already bene printed, yet I thought good here likwise to

inserte it; as also a breefe leter writ at y^e same time to M^r. Carver,

in which y^e tender love & godly care of a true pastor appears.

My dear Brother,--I received inclosed in your last leter y^e note of

information, w^ch I shall carefuly keepe & make use of as ther shall

be occasion. I have a true feeling of your perplexitie of mind & toyle

of body, but I hope that you who have allways been able so plentifully

to administer comforte unto others in their trials, are so well

furnished for your selfe as that farr greater difficulties then you

have yet undergone (though I conceive them to have been great enough)

cannot oppresse you, though they press you, as y^e Aspostle speaks.

The spirite of a man (sustained by y^e spirite of God) will sustaine

his infirmitie, I dout not so will yours. And y^e beter much when you

shall injoye y^e presence & help of so many godly & wise bretheren,

for y^e bearing of part of your burthen, who also will not admitte

into their harts y^e least thought of suspition of any y^e least

negligence, at least presumption, to have been in you, what so ever

they thinke in others. Now what shall I say or write unto you & your

goodwife my loving sister? even only this, I desire (& allways shall)

unto you from y^e Lord, as unto my owne soule; and assure your selfe

y^t my harte is with you, and that I will not forslowe my bodily

coming at y^e first oppertunitie. I have writen a large leter to y^e

whole, and am sorie I shall not rather speak then write to them; & the

more, considering y^e wante of a preacher, which I shall also make

sume spurr to my hastening after you. I doe ever co[=m]end my best

affection unto you, which if I thought you made any doubte of, I would

express in more, & y^e same more ample & full words. And y^e Lord in

whom you trust & whom you serve ever in this bussines & journey, guid

you with his hand, protecte you with his winge, and shew you & us his

salvation in y^e end, & bring us in y^e mean while togeather in y^e

place desired, if shuch be his good will, for his Christs sake.

Amen.

Yours, &c.

Jo: R.

July 27. 1620.

This was y^e last letter y^t M^r. Carver lived to see from him. The

other follows.

[Y]Lovinge Christian friends, I doe hartily & in y^e Lord salute you

all, as being they with whom I am presente in my best affection, and

most ernest longings after you, though I be constrained for a while to

be bodily absente from you. I say constrained, God knowing how

willingly, & much rather then otherwise, I would have borne my part

with you in this first brunt, were I not by strong necessitie held

back for y^e present. Make accounte of me in y^e mean while, as of a

man devided in my selfe with great paine, and as (naturall bonds set a

side) having my beter parte with [40] you. And though I doubt not but

in your godly wisdoms, you both foresee & resolve upon y^t which

concerneth your presente state & condition, both severally & joyntly,

yet have I thought it but my duty to add some furder spurr of

provocation unto them, who rune allready, if not because you need it,

yet because I owe it in love & dutie. And first, as we are daly to

renew our repentance with our God, espetially for our sines known, and

generally for our unknowne trespasses, so doth y^e Lord call us in a

singuler maner upon occasions of shuch difficultie & danger as lieth

upon you, to a both more narrow search & carefull reformation of your

ways in his sight; least he, calling to remembrance our sines

forgotten by us or unrepented of, take advantage against us, & in

judgmente leave us for y^e same to be swalowed up in one danger or

other; wheras, on the contrary, sine being taken away by ernest

repentance & y^e pardon therof from y^e Lord sealed up unto a mans

conscience by his spirite, great shall be his securitie and peace in

all dangers, sweete his comforts in all distresses, with hapie

deliverance from all evill, whether in life or in death.

Now next after this heavenly peace with God & our owne consciences, we

are carefully to provide for peace with all men what in us lieth,

espetially with our associats, & for y^e watchfullnes must be had,

that we neither at all in our selves doe give, no nor easily take

offence being given by others. Woe be unto y^e world for offences, for

though it be necessarie (considering y^e malice of Satan & mans

corruption) that offences come, yet woe unto y^e man or woman either

by whom y^e offence cometh, saith Christ, Mat. 18. 7. And if offences

in y^e unseasonable use of things in them selves indifferent, be more

to be feared then death itselfe, as y^e Apostle teacheth, 1. Cor. 9.

15. how much more in things simply evill, in which neither honour of

God nor love of man is thought worthy to be regarded. Neither yet is

it sufficiente y^t we keepe our selves by y^e grace of God from

giveing offence, exepte withall we be armed against y^e taking of them

when they be given by others. For how imperfect & lame is y^e work of

grace in y^t person, who wants charritie to cover a multitude of

offences, as y^e scriptures speake. Neither are you to be exhorted to

this grace only upon y^e co[=m]one grounds of Christianitie, which

are, that persons ready to take offence, either wante charitie, to

cover offences, of wisdome duly to waigh humane frailtie; or lastly,

are grosse, though close hipocrites, as Christ our Lord teacheth, Mat.

7. 1, 2, 3, as indeed in my owne experience, few or none have bene

found which sooner give offence, then shuch as easily take it; neither

have they ever proved sound & profitable members in societies, which

have nurished this touchey humor. But besids these, ther are diverse

motives provoking you above others to great care & conscience this

way: As first, you are many of you strangers, as to y^e persons, so to

y^e infirmities one of another, & so stand in neede of more

watchfullnes this way, least when shuch things fall out in men & women

as you suspected not, you be inordinatly affected with them; which

doth require at your hands much wisdome & charitie for y^e covering &

preventing of incident offences that way. And lastly, your intended

course of civill comunitie will minister continuall occasion of

offence, & will be as fuell for that fire, excepte you dilligently

quench it with brotherly forbearance. And if taking of offence

causlesly or easilie at mens doings be so carefuly to be avoyded, how

much more heed is to be taken y^t we take not offence at God him

selfe, which yet we certainly doe so oft[=e] as we doe murmure at his

providence in our crosses, or beare impatiently shuch afflictions as

wherwith he pleaseth to visite us. Store up therfore patience against

y^e evill day, without which we take offence at y^e Lord him selfe in

his holy & just works.

A 4. thing ther is carfully to be provided for, to witte, that with

your co[=m]one imployments you joyne co[=m]one affections truly bente

upon y^e generall good, avoyding as a deadly [41] plague of your both

co[=m]one & spetiall comfort all retirednes of minde for proper

advantage, and all singularly affected any maner of way; let every man

represe in him selfe & y^e whol body in each person, as so many rebels

against y^e commone good, all private respects of mens selves, not

sorting with y^e generall conveniencie. And as men are carfull not to

have a new house shaken with any violence before it be well setled &

y^e parts firmly knite, so be you, I beseech you, brethren, much more

carfull, y^t the house of God which you are, and are to be, be not

shaken with unnecessarie novelties or other oppositions at y^e first

setling therof.

Lastly, wheras you are become a body politik, using amongst your

selves civill govermente, and are not furnished with any persons of

spetiall eminencie above y^e rest, to be chosen by you into office of

goverment, let your wisdome & godlines appeare, not only in chusing

shuch persons as doe entirely love and will promote y^e co[=m]one

good, but also in yeelding unto them all due honour & obedience in

their lawfull administrations; not behoulding in them y^e

ordinarinesse of their persons, but Gods ordinance for your good, not

being like y^e foolish multitud who more honour y^e gay coate, then

either y^e vertuous minde of y^e man, or glorious ordinance of y^e

Lord. But you know better things, & that y^e image of y^e Lords power

& authoritie which y^e magistrate beareth, is honourable, in how meane

persons soever. And this dutie you both may y^e more willingly and

ought y^e more conscionably to performe, because you are at least for

y^e present to have only them for your ordinarie governours, which

your selves shall make choyse of for that worke.

Sundrie other things of importance I could put you in minde of, and of

those before mentioned, in more words, but I will not so farr wrong

your godly minds as to thinke you heedless of these things, ther being

also diverce among you so well able to admonish both them selves &

others of what concerneth them. These few things therfore, & y^e same

in few words, I doe ernestly co[=m]end unto your care & conscience,

joyning therwith my daily incessante prayers unto y^e Lord, y^t he who

hath made y^e heavens & y^e earth, y^e sea and all rivers of waters,

and whose providence is over all his workes, espetially over all his

dear children for good, would so guide & gard you in your wayes, as

inwardly by his Spirite, so outwardly by y^e hand of his power, as y^t

both you & we also, for & with you, may have after matter of praising

his name all y^e days of your and our lives. Fare you well in him in

whom you trust, and in whom I rest.

An unfained wellwiller of your hapie

success in this hopefull voyage,

JOHN ROBINSON.

This letter, though large, yet being so frutfull in it selfe, and

suitable to their occation, I thought meete to inserte in this place.

All things being now ready, & every bussines dispatched, the company was

caled togeather, and this letter read amongst them, which had good

acceptation with all, and after fruit with many. Then they ordered &

distributed their company for either shipe, as they conceived for y^e

best. And chose a Governor & 2. or 3. assistants for each shipe, to

order y^e people by y^e way, and see to y^e dispossing of there

provissions, and shuch like affairs. All which was not only with y^e

liking of y^e maisters of y^e ships, but according to their desires.

Which being done, they sett sayle from thence aboute y^e 5. of August;

but what befell them further upon y^e coast of England will appeare in

y^e nexte chapter.

The 8. Chap.

_Off the troubls that befell them on the coaste, and at sea being

forced, after much trouble, to leave one of ther ships & some of their

companie behind them._

[42] Being thus put to sea they had not gone farr, but M^r. Reinolds y^e

master of y^e leser ship complained that he found his ship so leak as he

durst not put further to sea till she was mended. So y^e m^r. of y^e

biger ship (caled M^r. Jonas) being consulted with, they both resolved

to put into Dartmouth & have her ther searched & mended, which

accordingly was done, to their great charg & losse of time and a faire

winde. She was hear thorowly searcht from steme to sterne, some leaks

were found & mended, and now it was conceived by the workmen & all, that

she was sufficiente, & they might proceede without either fear or

danger. So with good hopes from hence, they put to sea againe,

conceiving they should goe comfortably on, not looking for any more

lets of this kind; but it fell out otherwise, for after they were gone

to sea againe above 100. leagues without the Lands End, houlding company

togeather all this while, the m^r. of y^e small ship complained his ship

was so leake as he must beare up or sinke at sea, for they could scarce

free her with much pumping. So they came to consultation againe, and

resolved both ships to bear up backe againe & put into Pli[=m]oth, which

accordingly was done. But no spetiall leake could be founde, but it was

judged to be y^e generall weaknes of y^e shipe, and that shee would not

prove sufficiente for the voiage. Upon which it was resolved to dismise

her & parte of y^e companie, and proceede with y^e other shipe. The

which (though it was greevous, & caused great discouragmente) was put in

execution. So after they had tooke out such provission as y^e other ship

could well stow, and concluded both what number and what persons to send

bak, they made another sad parting, y^e one ship going backe for London,

and y^e other was to proceede on her viage. Those that went bak were for

the most parte such as were willing so to doe, either out of some

discontente, or feare they conceived of y^e ill success of y^e vioage,

seeing so many croses befale, & the year time so farr spente; but

others, in regarde of their owne weaknes, and charge of many yonge

children, were thought least usefull, and most unfite to bear y^e brunte

of this hard adventure; unto which worke of God, and judgmente of their

brethern, they were contented to submite. And thus, like Gedions armie,

this small number was devided, as if y^e Lord by this worke of his

providence thought these few to many for y^e great worke he had to doe.

But here by the way let me show, how afterward it was found y^t the

leaknes of this ship was partly by being over masted, and too much

pressed with sayles; for after she was sould & put into her old trime,

she made many viages & performed her service very sufficiently, to y^e

great profite of her owners. But more espetially, by the cuning &

deceite of y^e m^r. & his company, who were hired to stay a whole year

in y^e cuntrie, and now fancying dislike & fearing wante of victeles,

they ploted this strategem to free them selves; as afterwards was

knowne, & by some of them confessed. For they apprehended y^t the

greater ship, being of force, & in whom most of y^e provissions were

stowed, she would retayne enough for her selfe, what soever became of

them or y^e passengers; & indeed shuch speeches had bene cast out by

some of them; and yet, besids other incouragments, y^e cheefe of them

that came from Leyden wente in this shipe to give y^e m^r. contente. But

so strong was self love & his fears, as he forgott all duty and [43]

former kindnesses, & delt thus falsly with them, though he pretended

otherwise. Amongest those that returned was M^r. Cushman & his familie,

whose hart & courage was gone from them before, as it seems, though his

body was with them till now he departed; as may appear by a passionate

letter he write to a freind in London from Dartmouth, whilst y^e ship

lay ther a mending; the which, besids y^e expressions of his owne fears,

it shows much of y^e providence of God working for their good beyonde

man's expectation, & other things concerning their condition in these

streats. I will hear relate it. And though it discover some infirmities

in him (as who under temtation is free), yet after this he continued to

be a spetiall instrumente for their good, and to doe y^e offices of a

loving freind & faithfull brother unto them, and pertaker of much

comforte with them.

The letter is as followth.

To his loving friend Ed: S.[Z] at Henige House in y^e Duks Place,

these, &c.

Dartmouth, Aug. 17.

Loving friend, my most kind remembrance to you & your wife, with

loving E. M. &c. whom in this world I never looke to see againe. For

besids y^e eminente dangers of this viage, which are no less then

deadly, an infirmitie of body hath ceased me, which will not in all

lie^{c}lyhoode leave me till death. What to call it I know not, but it

is a bundle of lead, as it were, crushing my harte more & more these

14. days, as that allthough I doe y^e acctions of a liveing man, yet I

am but as dead; but y^e will of God be done. Our pinass will not cease

leaking, els I thinke we had been halfe way at Virginia, our viage

hither hath been as full of crosses, as our selves have been of

crokednes. We put in hear to tri[=m]e her, & I thinke, as others

also, if we had stayed at sea but 3. or 4. howers more, shee would

have sunke right downe. And though she was twise tri[=m]ed at Hamton,

yet now shee is open and leakie as a seive; and ther was a borde, a

man might have puld of with his fingers, 2 foote longe, wher y^e water

came in as at a mole hole. We lay at Hamton 7. days, in fair weather,

waiting for her, and now we lye hear waiting for her in as faire a

wind as can blowe, and so have done these 4. days, and are like to lye

4. more, and by y^t time y^e wind will happily turne as it did at

Hampton. Our victualls will be halfe eaten up, I thinke, before we goe

from the coaste of England, and if our viage last longe, we shall not

have a months victialls when we come in y^e countrie. Neare 700^li.

hath bene bestowed at Hampton, upon what I know not. Mr. Martin saith

he neither can nor will give any accounte of it, and if he be called

upon for accounts he crieth out of unthankfullnes for his paines &

care, that we are susspitious of him, and flings away, & will end

nothing. Also he so insult[=e]h over our poore people, with shuch

scorne & contempte, as if they were not good enough to wipe his shoes.

It would break your hart to see his dealing,[AA] and y^e mourning of

our people. They complaine to me, & alass! I can doe nothing for them;

if I speake to him, he flies in my face, as mutinous, and saith no

complaints shall be heard or received but by him selfe, and saith they

are forwarde, & waspish, discontented people, & I doe ill to hear

them. Ther are others y^t would lose all they have put in, or make

satisfaction for what they have had, that they might departe: but he

will not hear them, nor suffer them to goe ashore, least they should

rune away. The sailors also are so offended at his ignorante bouldnes,

in medling & controuling in things he knows not what belongs too, as

y^t some threaten to misscheefe him, others say they will leave y^e

shipe & goe their way. But at y^e best this cometh of it, y^t he maks

him selfe a scorne & laughing stock unto them. As for M^r. Weston,

excepte grace doe greatly swaye with him, he will hate us ten times

more then ever he loved us, for not confirming y^e conditions. But

now, since some pinches have taken them, they begine to reveile y^e

trueth, & say M^r. Robinson was in y^e falte who charged them never to

consente to those conditions, nor chuse me into office, but indeede

apointed them to chose them they did chose.[AB] But he & they will rue

too late, they may [44] now see, & all be ashamed when it is too late,

that they were so ignorante, yea, & so inordinate in their courses. I

am sure as they were resolved not to seale those conditions, I was not

so resolute at Hampton to have left y^e whole bussines, excepte they

would seale them, & better y^e vioage to have bene broken of then,

then to have brought such miserie to our selves, dishonour to God, &

detrimente to our loving freinds, as now it is like to doe. 4. or 5.

of y^e cheefe of them which came from Leyden, came resolved never to

goe on those conditions. And M^r. Martine, he said he never received

no money on those conditions, he was not beholden to y^e marchants for

a pine, they were bloudsuckers, & I know not what. Simple man, he

indeed never made any conditions w^th the marchants, nor ever spake

with them. But did all that money flie to Hampton, or was it his owne?

Who will goe & lay out money so rashly & lavishly as he did, and never

know how he comes by it, or on what conditions? 2^ly. I tould him of

y^e alteration longe agoe, & he was contente; but now he dominires, &

said I had betrayed them into y^e hands of slaves; he is not beholden

to them, he can set out 2. ships him selfe to a viage. When, good man?

He hath but 50^li. in, & if he should give up his accounts he would

not have a penie left him, as I am persuaded,[AC] &c. Freind, if ever

we make a plantation, God works a mirakle; especially considering how

scante we shall be of victualls, and most of all ununited amongst our

selves, & devoyd of good tutors & regimente. Violence will break all.

Wher is y^e meek & humble spirite of Moyses? & of Nehemiah who

reedified y^e wals of Jerusalem, & y^e state of Israell? Is not y^e

sound of Rehoboams braggs daly hear amongst us? Have not y^e

philosophers and all wise men observed y^t, even in setled co[=m]one

welths, violente governours bring either them selves, or people, or

boath, to ruine; how much more in y^e raising of co[=m]one wealths,

when y^e morter is yet scarce tempered y^t should bind y^e wales. If I

should write to you of all things which promiscuously forerune our

ruine, I should over charge my weake head and greeve your tender hart;

only this, I pray you prepare for evill tidings of us every day. But

pray for us instantly, it may be y^e Lord will be yet entreated one

way or other to make for us. I see not in reason how we shall escape

even y^e gasping of hunger starved persons; but God can doe much, &

his will be done. It is better for me to dye, then now for me to bear

it, which I doe daly, & expecte it howerly; haveing received y^e

sentance of death, both within me & without me. Poore William King &

my selfe doe strive[AD] who shall be meate first for y^e fishes; but

we looke for a glorious resurrection, knowing Christ Jesus after y^e

flesh no more, but looking unto y^e joye y^t is before us, we will

endure all these things and accounte them light in comparison of y^t

joye we hope for. Remember me in all love to our freinds as if I named

them, whose praiers I desire ernestly, & wish againe to see, but not

till I can with more comforte looke them in y^e face. The Lord give us

that true comforte which none can take from us. I had a desire to make

a breefe relation of our estate to some freind. I doubte not but your

wisdome will teach you seasonably to utter things as here after you

shall be called to it. That which I have writen is treue, & many

things more which I have forborne. I write it as upon my life, and

last confession in England. What is of use to be spoken [45] of

presently, you may speake of it, and what is fitt to conceile,

conceall. Pass by my weake maner, for my head is weake, & my body

feeble, y^e Lord make me strong in him, & keepe both you & yours.

Your loving friend,

ROBART CUSHMAN.

Dartmouth, Aug. 17. 1620.

These being his conceptions & fears at Dartmouth, they must needs be

much stronger now at Plimoth.

The 9. Chap.

_Of their vioage, & how they passed y^e sea, and of their safe arrivall

at Cape Codd._

SEPT^R: 6. These troubls being blowne over, and now all being compacte

togeather in one shipe,[AE] they put to sea againe with a prosperus

winde, which continued diverce days togeather, which was some

incouragmente unto them; yet according to y^e usuall maner many were

afflicted with sea-sicknes. And I may not omite hear a spetiall worke of

Gods providence. Ther was a proud & very profane yonge man, one of y^e

sea-men, of a lustie, able body, which made him the more hauty; he

would allway be contemning y^e poore people in their sicknes, & cursing

them dayly with gre[=e]ous execrations, and did not let to tell them,

that he hoped to help to cast halfe of them over board before they came

to their jurneys end, and to make mery with what they had; and if he

were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. But

it plased God before they came halfe seas over, to smite this yong man

with a greeveous disease, of which he dyed in a desperate maner, and so

was him selfe y^e first y^t was throwne overbord. Thus his curses light

on his owne head; and it was an astonishmente to all his fellows, for

they noted it to be y^e just hand of God upon him.

After they had injoyed faire winds and weather for a season, they were

incountred many times with crosse winds, and mette with many feirce

stormes, with which y^e shipe was shroudly shaken, and her upper works

made very leakie; and one of the maine beames in y^e midd ships was

bowed & craked, which put them in some fear that y^e shipe could not be

able to performe y^e vioage. So some of y^e cheefe of y^e company,

perceiveing y^e mariners to feare y^e suffisiencie of y^e shipe, as

appeared by their mutterings, they entred into serious consulltation

with y^e m^r. & other officers of y^e ship, to consider in time of y^e

danger; and rather to returne then to cast them selves into a desperate

& inevitable perill. And truly ther was great distraction & differance

of opinion amongst y^e mariners them selves; faine would they doe what

could be done for their wages sake, (being now halfe the seas over,) and

on y^e other hand they were loath to hazard their lives too desperatly.

But in examening of all opinions, the m^r. & others affirmed they knew

y^e ship to be stronge & firme under water; and for the buckling of y^e

maine beame, ther was a great iron scrue y^e passengers brought out of

Holland, which would raise y^e beame into his place; y^e which being

done, the carpenter & m^r. affirmed that with a post put under it, set

firme in y^e lower deck, & otherways bounde, he would make it

sufficiente. And as for y^e decks & uper workes they would calke them as

well as they could, and though with y^e workeing of y^e ship they [46]

would not longe keepe stanch, yet ther would otherwise be no great

danger, if they did not overpress her with sails. So they co[=m]ited

them selves to y^e will of God, & resolved to proseede. In sundrie of

these stormes the winds were so feirce, & y^e seas so high, as they

could not beare a knote of saile, but were forced to hull, for diverce

days togither. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull, in a mighty

storme, a lustie yonge man (called John Howland) coming upon some

occasion above y^e grattings, was, with a seele of the shipe throwne

into [y^e] sea; but it pleased God y^t he caught hould of y^e top-saile

halliards, which hunge over board, & rane out at length; yet he held

his hould (though he was sundrie fadomes under water) till he was hald

up by y^e same rope to y^e brime of y^e water, and then with a boat

hooke & other means got into y^e shipe againe, & his life saved; and

though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after, and

became a profitable member both in church & co[=m]one wealthe. In all

this viage ther died but one of y^e passengers, which was William

Butten, a youth, servant to Samuell Fuller, when they drew near y^e

coast. But to omite other things, (that I may be breefe,) after longe

beating at sea they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod; the

which being made & certainly knowne to be it, they were not a litle

joyfull. After some deliberation had amongst them selves & with y^e m^r.

of y^e ship, they tacked aboute and resolved to stande for y^e southward

(y^e wind & weather being faire) to finde some place aboute Hudsons

river for their habitation. But after they had sailed y^t course aboute

halfe y^e day, they fell amongst deangerous shoulds and roring breakers,

and they were so farr intangled ther with as they conceived them selves

in great danger; & y^e wind shrinking upon them withall, they resolved

to bear up againe for the Cape, and thought them selves hapy to gett out

of those dangers before night overtooke them, as by Gods providence they

did. And y^e next day they gott into y^e Cape-harbor wher they ridd in

saftie. A word or too by y^e way of this cape; it was thus first named

by Capten Gosnole & his company,[AF] Anno: 1602, and after by Capten

Smith was caled Cape James; but it retains y^e former name amongst

seamen. Also y^t pointe which first shewed those dangerous shoulds unto

them, they called Pointe Care, & Tuckers Terrour; but y^e French & Dutch

to this day call it Malabarr, by reason of those perilous shoulds, and

y^e losses they have suffered their.

Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell

upon their knees & blessed y^e God of heaven, who had brought them over

y^e vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all y^e periles &

miseries therof, againe to set their feete on y^e firme and stable

earth, their proper elemente. And no marvell if they were thus joyefull,

seeing wise Seneca was so affected with sailing a few miles on y^e coast

of his owne Italy; as he affirmed,[AG] that he had rather remaine

twentie years on his way by land, then pass by sea to any place in a

short time; so tedious & dreadfull was y^e same unto him.

But hear I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amased at

this poore peoples presente condition; and so I thinke will the reader

too, when he well considers [47] y^e same. Being thus passed y^e vast

ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation (as may be

remembred by y^t which wente before), they had now no freinds to

wellcome them, nor inns to entertaine or refresh their weatherbeaten

bodys, no houses or much less townes to repaire too, to seeke for

succoure. It is recorded in scripture[AH] as a mercie to y^e apostle &

his shipwraked company, y^t the barbarians shewed them no smale kindnes

in refreshing them, but these savage barbarians, when they mette with

them (as after will appeare) were readier to fill their sids full of

arrows then otherwise. And for y^e season it was winter, and they that

know y^e winters of y^t cuntrie know them to be sharp & violent, &

subjecte to cruell & feirce stormes, deangerous to travill to known

places, much more to serch an unknown coast. Besids, what could they see

but a hidious & desolate wildernes, full of wild beasts & willd men? and

what multituds ther might be of them they knew not. Nether could they,

as it were, goe up to y^e tope of Pisgah, to vew from this willdernes a

more goodly cuntrie to feed their hops; for which way soever they turnd

their eys (save upward to y^e heavens) they could have litle solace or

content in respecte of any outward objects. For su[=m]er being done, all

things stand upon them with a wetherbeaten face; and y^e whole countrie,

full of woods & thickets, represented a wild & savage heiw. If they

looked behind them, ther was y^e mighty ocean which they had passed, and

was now as a maine barr & goulfe to seperate them from all y^e civill

parts of y^e world. If it be said they had a ship to sucour them, it is

trew; but what heard they daly from y^e m^r. & company? but y^t with

speede they should looke out a place with their shallop, wher they would

be at some near distance; for y^e season was shuch as he would not stirr

from thence till a safe harbor was discovered by them wher they would

be, and he might goe without danger; and that victells consumed apace,

but he must & would keepe sufficient for them selves & their returne.

Yea, it was muttered by some, that if they gott not a place in time,

they would turne them & their goods ashore & leave them. Let it also be

considred what weake hopes of supply & succoure they left behinde them,

y^t might bear up their minds in this sade condition and trialls they

were under; and they could not but be very smale. It is true, indeed,

y^e affections & love of their brethren at Leyden was cordiall & entire

towards them, but they had litle power to help them, or them selves; and

how y^e case stode betweene them & y^e marchants at their coming away,

hath allready been declared. What could now sustaine them but the

spirite of God & his grace? May not & ought not the children of these

fathers rightly say: _Our faithers were Englishmen which came over this

great ocean, and were ready to perish in this willdernes;[AI] but they

cried unto y^e Lord, and he heard their voyce, and looked on their

adversitie, &c. Let them therfore praise y^e Lord, because he is good, &

his mercies endure for ever._[AJ] _Yea, let them which have been

redeemed of y^e Lord, shew how he hath delivered them from y^e hand of

y^e oppressour. When they wandered in y^e deserte willdernes out of y^e

way, and found no citie to dwell in, both hungrie, & thirstie, their

sowle was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before y^e Lord his

loving kindnes, and his wonderfull works before y^e sons of men._

The 10. Chap.

_Showing how they sought out a place of habitation, and what befell them

theraboute._

[48] Being thus arrived at Cap-Cod y^e 11. of November, and necessitie

calling them to looke out a place for habitation, (as well as the

maisters & mariners importunitie,) they having brought a large shalop

with them out of England, stowed in quarters in y^e ship, they now gott

her out & sett their carpenters to worke to trime her up; but being much

brused & shatered in y^e shipe w^th foule weather, they saw she would be

longe in mending. Wherupon a few of them tendered them selves to goe by

land and discovere those nearest places, whilst y^e shallop was in

mending; and y^e rather because as they wente into y^t harbor ther

seemed to be an opening some 2. or 3 leagues of, which y^e maister

judged to be a river. It was conceived ther might be some danger in y^e

attempte, yet seeing them resolute, they were permited to goe, being 16.

of them well armed, under y^e conduct of Captain Standish, having shuch

instructions given them as was thought meete. They sett forth y^e 15. of

Nove^br: and when they had marched aboute the space of a mile by y^e sea

side, they espied 5. or 6. persons with a dogg coming towards them, who

were salvages; but they fled from them, & ra[=n]e up into y^e woods, and

y^e English followed them, partly to see if they could speake with them,

and partly to discover if ther might not be more of them lying in

ambush. But y^e Indeans seeing them selves thus followed, they againe

forsooke the woods, & rane away on y^e sands as hard as they could, so

as they could not come near them, but followed them by y^e tracte of

their feet sundrie miles, and saw that they had come the same way. So,

night coming on, they made their randevous & set out their sentinels,

and rested in quiete _y^t night_, and the next morning followed their

tracte till they had headed a great creake, & so left the sands, &

turned an other way into y^e woods. But they still followed them by

geuss, hopeing to find their dwellings; but they soone lost both them &

them selves, falling into shuch thickets as were ready to tear their

cloaths & armore in peeces, but were most distresed for wante of

drinke. But at length they found water & refreshed them selves, being

y^e first New-England water they drunke of, and was now in thir great

thirste as pleasante unto them as wine or bear had been in for-times.

Afterwards they directed their course to come to y^e other [49] shore,

for they knew it was a necke of land they were to crosse over, and so at

length gott to y^e sea-side, and marched to this supposed river, & by

y^e way found a pond of clear fresh water, and shortly after a good

quantitie of clear ground wher y^e Indeans had formerly set corne, and

some of their graves. And proceeding furder they saw new-stuble wher

corne had been set y^e same year, also they found wher latly a house had

been, wher some planks and a great ketle was remaining, and heaps of

sand newly padled with their hands, which they, digging up, found in

them diverce faire Indean baskets filled with corne, and some in eares,

faire and good, of diverce collours, which seemed to them a very goodly

sight, (haveing never seen any shuch before). This was near y^e place of

that supposed river they came to seeck; unto which they wente and found

it to open it selfe into 2. armes with a high cliffe of sand in y^e

enterance, but more like to be crikes of salte water then any fresh, for

ought they saw; and that ther was good harborige for their shalope;

leaving it further to be discovered by their shalop when she was ready.

So their time limeted them being expired, they returned to y^e ship,

least they should be in fear of their saftie; and tooke with them parte

of y^e corne, and buried up y^e rest, and so like y^e men from Eshcoll

carried with them of y^e fruits of y^e land, & showed their breethren;

of which, & their returne, they were marvelusly glad, and their harts

incouraged.

After this, y^e shalop being got ready, they set out againe for y^e

better discovery of this place, & y^e m^r. of y^e ship desired to goe

him selfe, so ther went some 30. men, but found it to be no harbor for

ships but only for boats; ther was allso found 2. of their houses

covered with matts, & sundrie of their implements in them, but y^e

people were rune away & could not be seen; also ther was found more of

their corne, & of their beans of various collours. The corne & beans

they brought away, purposing to give them full satisfaction when they

should meete with any of them (as about some 6. months afterward they

did, to their good contente). And here is to be noted a spetiall

providence of God, and a great mercie to this poore people, that hear

they gott seed to plant them corne y^e next year, or els they might have

starved, for they had none, nor any liklyhood to get any [50] till y^e

season had beene past (as y^e sequell did manyfest). Neither is it

lickly they had had this, if y^e first viage had not been made, for the

ground was now all covered with snow, & hard frozen. But the Lord is

never wanting unto his in their greatest needs; let his holy name have

all y^e praise.

The month of November being spente in these affairs, & much foule

weather falling in, the 6. _of Desem^r_: they sente out their shallop

againe with 10. of their principall men, & some sea men, upon further

discovery, intending to circulate that deepe bay of Cap-codd. The

weather was very could, & it frose so hard as y^e sprea of y^e sea

lighting on their coats, they were as if they had been glased; yet _that

night_ betimes they gott downe into y^e botome of y^e bay, and as they

drue nere y^e shore they saw some 10. or 12. Indeans very busie aboute

some thing. They landed aboute a league or 2. from them, and had much a

doe to put a shore any wher, it lay so full of flats. Being landed, it

grew late, and they made them selves a barricade with loggs & bowes as

well as they could in y^e time, & set out their sentenill & betooke them

to rest, and saw y^e smoake of y^e fire y^e savages made y^t night. When

_morning_ was come they devided their company, some to coaste along y^e

shore in y^e boate, and the rest marched throw y^e woods to see y^e

land, if any fit place might be for their dwelling. They came allso to

y^e place wher they saw the Indans y^e night before, & found they had

been cuting up a great fish like a grampus, being some 2. inches thike

of fate like a hogg, some peeces wher of they had left by y^e way; and

y^e shallop found 2. more of these fishes dead on y^e sands, a thing

usuall after storms in y^t place, by reason of y^e great flats of sand

that lye of. So they ranged up and doune all y^t day, but found no

people, nor any place they liked. When y^e sune grue low, they hasted

out of y^e woods to meete with their shallop, to whom they made signes

to come to them into a _creeke_ hardby, the which they did at highwater;

of which they were very glad, for they had not seen each other all y^t

day, since y^e morning. So they made them a barricado (as usually they

did every night) with loggs, staks, & thike pine bowes, y^e height of a

man, leaving it open to leeward, partly to shelter them from y^e could &

wind (making their fire in y^e midle, & lying round aboute it), and

partly to defend them from any sudden assaults of y^e savags, if they

should surround them. So being very weary, they betooke them to rest.

But aboute _midnight_, [51] they heard a hideous & great crie, and their

sentinell caled, "Arme, arme"; so they bestired them & stood to their

armes, & shote of a cupple of moskets, and then the noys seased. They

concluded it was a companie of wolves, or such like willd beasts; for

one of y^e sea men tould them he had often heard shuch a noyse in

New-found land. So they rested till about 5. of y^e clock in the

_morning_; for y^e tide, & ther purposs to goe from thence, made them be

stiring betimes. So after praier they prepared for breakfast, and it

being day dawning, it was thought best to be carring things downe to

y^e boate. But some said it was not best to carrie y^e armes downe,

others said they would be the readier, for they had laped them up in

their coats from y^e dew. But some 3. or 4. would not cary theirs till

they wente them selves, yet as it fell out, y^e water being not high

enough, they layed them downe on y^e banke side, & came up to breakfast.

But presently, all on y^e sudain, they heard a great & strange crie,

which they knew to be the same voyces they heard in y^e night, though

they varied their notes, & one of their company being abroad came runing

in, & cried, "Men, Indeans, Indeans"; and w^{th}all, their arowes came

flying amongst them. Their men rane with all speed to recover their

armes, as by y^e good providence of God they did. In y^e mean time, of

those that were ther ready, tow muskets were discharged at them, & 2.

more stood ready in y^e enterance of ther randevoue, but were comanded

not to shoote till they could take full aime at them; & y^e other 2.

charged againe with all speed, for ther were only 4. had armes ther, &

defended y^e baricado which was first assalted. The crie of y^e Indeans

was dreadfull, espetially when they saw ther men rune out of y^e

randevoue towourds y^e shallop, to recover their armes, the Indeans

wheeling aboute upon them. But some ru[=n]ing out with coats of malle

on, & cutlasses in their hands, they soone got their armes, & let flye

amongs them, and quickly stopped their violence. Yet ther was a lustie

man, and no less valiante, stood behind a tree within halfe a musket

shot, and let his arrows flie at them. He was seen shoot 3. arrowes,

which were all avoyded. He stood 3. shot of a musket, till one taking

full aime at him, and made y^e barke or splinters of y^e tree fly about

his ears, after which he gave an extraordinary shrike, and away they

wente all of them. They left some to keep y^e shalop, and followed them

aboute a quarter of a mille, and shouted once or twise, and shot of 2.

or 3. peces, & so returned. This they did, that they might conceive that

they were not [52] affrade of them or any way discouraged. Thus it

pleased God to vanquish their enimies, and give them deliverance; and by

his spetiall providence so to dispose that not any one of them were

either hurte, or hitt, though their arrows came close by them, & on

every side them, and sundry of their coats, which hunge up in y^e

barricado, were shot throw & throw. Aterwards they gave God sollamne

thanks & praise for their deliverance, & gathered up a bundle of their

arrows, & sente them into England afterward by y^e m^r. of y^e ship, and

called that place y^e first encounter. From hence they departed, &

costed all along, but discerned no place likly for harbor; & therfore

hasted to a place that their pillote, (one Mr. Coppin who had bine in

y^e cuntrie before) did assure them was a good harbor, which he had

been in, and they might fetch it before night; of which they were glad,

for it begane to be foule weather. After some houres sailing, it begane

to snow & raine, & about y^e midle of y^e afternoone, y^e wind

increased, & y^e sea became very rough, and they broake their rudder, &

it was as much as 2. men could doe to steere her with a cupple of oares.

But their pillott bad them be of good cheere, for he saw y^e harbor; but

y^e storme increasing, & night drawing on, they bore what saile they

could to gett in, while they could see. But herwith they broake their

mast in 3. peeces, & their saill fell over bord, in a very grown sea, so

as they had like to have been cast away; yet by Gods mercie they

recovered them selves, & having y^e floud with them, struck into y^e

harbore. But when it came too, y^e pillott was deceived in y^e place,

and said, y^e Lord be mercifull unto them, for his eys never saw y^t

place before; & he & the m^r. mate would have rune her ashore, in a cove

full of breakers, before y^e winde. But a lusty seaman which steered,

bad those which rowed, if they were men, about with her, or ells they

were all cast away; the which they did with speed. So he bid them be of

good cheere & row lustly, for ther was a faire sound before them, & he

doubted not but they should find one place or other wher they might ride

in saftie. And though it was _very darke_, and rained sore, yet in y^e

end they gott under y^e lee of a smalle iland, and remained ther all

y^t night in saftie. But they knew not this to be an iland till morning,

but were devided in their minds; some would keepe y^e boate for fear

they might be amongst y^e Indians; others were so weake and could, they

could not endure, but got a shore, & with much adoe got fire, (all

things being so wett,) and y^e rest were glad to come to them; for after

midnight y^e wind shifted to the [53] north-west, & it frose hard. But

though this had been a day & night of much trouble & danger unto them,

yet God gave them a _morning_ of comforte & refreshing (as usually he

doth to his children), for y^e next day was a faire sunshin[=i]g day,

and they found them sellvs to be on an iland secure from y^e Indeans,

wher they might drie their stufe, fixe their peeces, & rest them selves,

and gave God thanks for his mercies, in their manifould deliverances.

And this being the _last day of y^e weeke_, they prepared ther to keepe

y^e _Sabath_. On _Munday_ they sounded y^e harbor, and founde it fitt

for shipping; and marched into y^e land, & found diverse cornfeilds, &

litle runing brooks, a place (as they supposed) fitt for situation; at

least it was y^e best they could find, and y^e season, & their presente

necessitie, made them glad to accepte of it. So they returned to their

shipp againe with this news to y^e rest of their people, which did much

comforte their harts.

On y^e 15. _of Desem^r_: they wayed anchor to goe to y^e place they had

discovered, & came within 2. leagues of it, but were faine to bear up

againe; but y^e 16. _day_ y^e winde came faire, and they arrived safe in

this harbor. And after wards tooke better view of y^e place, and

resolved wher to pitch their dwelling; and y^e 25. _day_ begane to

erecte y^e first house for co[=m]one use to receive them and their

goods.

The 2. Booke.

The rest of this History (if God give me life, & opportunitie) I shall,

for brevitis sake, handle by way of _annalls_, noteing only the heads of

principall things, and passages as they fell in order of time, and may

seeme to be profitable to know, or to make use of. And this may be as

y^e 2. Booke.

_The remainder of An^o:_ 1620.

I shall a litle returne backe and begine with a combination made by them

before they came ashore, being y^e first foundation of their govermente

in this place; occasioned partly by y^e discontented & mutinous speeches

that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in y^e

ship--That when they came a shore they would use their owne libertie;

for none had power to co[=m]and them, the patente they had being for

Virginia, and not for New-england, which belonged to an other Goverment,

with which y^e Virginia Company had nothing to doe. And partly that

shuch an [54] acte by them done (this their condition considered) might

be as firme as any patent, and in some respects more sure.

The forme was as followeth.

In y^e name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten, the loyall

subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by y^e grace of

God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of y^e faith,

&c., haveing undertaken, for y^e glorie of God, and advancemente of

y^e Christian faith, and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to

plant y^e first colonie in y^e Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by

these presents solemnly & mutualy in y^e presence of God, and one of

another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body

politick, for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of y^e

ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to enacte, constitute, and frame

such just & equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, & offices,

from time to time, as shall be thought most meete & convenient for y^e

generall good of y^e Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission

and obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names

at Cap-Codd y^e 11. of November, in y^e year of y^e raigne of our

soveraigne lord, King James, of England, France, & Ireland y^e

eighteenth, and of Scotland y^e fiftie fourth. An^o: Dom. 1620.

After this they chose, or rather confirmed, M^r. John Carver (a man

godly & well approved amongst them) their Governour for that year. And

after they had provided a place for their goods, or comone store, (which

were long in unlading for want of boats, foulnes of winter weather, and

sicknes of diverce,) and begune some small cottages for their

habitation, as time would admitte, they mette and consulted of lawes &

orders, both for their civill & military Govermente, as y^e necessitie

of their condition did require, still adding therunto as urgent occasion

in severall times, and as cases did require.

In these hard & difficulte beginings they found some discontents &

murmurings arise amongst some, and mutinous speeches & carriags in

other; but they were soone quelled & overcome by y^e wisdome, patience,

and just & equall carrage of things by y^e Gov^r and better part, w^ch

clave faithfully togeather in y^e maine. But that which was most sadd &

lamentable was, that in 2. or 3. moneths time halfe of their company

dyed, espetialy in Jan: & February, being y^e depth of winter, and

wanting houses & other comforts; being infected with y^e scurvie & [55]

other diseases, which this long vioage & their inacomodate condition had

brought upon them; so as ther dyed some times 2. or 3. of a day, in y^e

foresaid time; that of 100. & odd persons, scarce 50. remained. And of

these in y^e time of most distres, ther was but 6. or 7. sound persons,

who, to their great comendations be it spoken, spared no pains, night

nor day, but with abundance of toyle and hazard of their owne health,

fetched them woode, made them fires, drest them meat, made their beads,

washed their lothsome cloaths, cloathed & uncloathed them; in a word,

did all y^e homly & necessarie offices for them w^ch dainty & quesie

stomacks cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly &

cherfully, without any grudging in y^e least, shewing herein their true

love unto their freinds & bretheren. A rare example & worthy to be

remembred. Tow of these 7. were M^r. William Brewster, ther reverend

Elder, & Myles Standish, ther Captein & military comander, unto whom my

selfe, & many others, were much beholden in our low & sicke condition.

And yet the Lord so upheld these persons, as in this generall calamity

they were not at all infected either with sicknes, or lamnes. And what I

have said of these, I may say of many others who dyed in this generall

vissitation, & others yet living, that whilst they had health, yea, or

any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of

them. And I doute not but their recompence is with y^e Lord.

But I may not hear pass by an other remarkable passage not to be

forgotten. As this calamitie fell among y^e passengers that were to be

left here to plant, and were hasted a shore and made to drinke water,

that y^e sea-men might have y^e more bear, and one[AK] in his sicknes

desiring but a small cann of beere, it was answered, that if he were

their owne father he should have none; the disease begane to fall

amongst them also, so as allmost halfe of their company dyed before they

went away, and many of their officers and lustyest men, as y^e boatson,

gunner, 3. quarter-maisters, the cooke, & others. At w^ch y^e m^r. was

something strucken and sent to y^e sick a shore and tould y^e Gov^r he

should send for beer for them that had need of it, though he drunke

water homward bound. But now amongst his company [56] ther was farr

another kind of carriage in this miserie then amongst y^e passengers;

for they that before had been boone companions in drinking & joyllity in

y^e time of their health & wellfare, begane now to deserte one another

in this calamitie, saing they would not hasard ther lives for them, they

should be infected by coming to help them in their cabins, and so, after

they came to dye by it, would doe litle or nothing for them, but if they

dyed let them dye. But shuch of y^e passengers as were yet abord shewed

them what mercy they could, w^ch made some of their harts relente, as

y^e boatson (& some others), who was a prowd yonge man, and would often

curse & scofe at y^e passengers; but when he grew weak, they had

compassion on him and helped him; then he confessed he did not deserve

it at their hands, he had abused them in word & deed. O! saith he, you,

I now see, shew your love like Christians indeed one to another, but we

let one another lye & dye like doggs. Another lay cursing his wife,

saing if it had not ben for her he had never come this unlucky viage,

and anone cursing his felows, saing he had done this & that, for some of

them, he had spente so much, & so much, amongst them, and they were now

weary of him, and did not help him, having need. Another gave his

companion all he had, if he died, to help him in his weaknes; he went

and got a litle spise & made him a mess of meat once or twise, and

because he dyed not so soone as he expected, he went amongst his

fellows, & swore y^e rogue would cousen him, he would see him choaked

before he made him any more meate; and yet y^e pore fellow dyed before

morning.

All this while y^e Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes

show them selves aloofe of, but when any aproached near them, they would

rune away. And once they stoale away their tools wher they had been at

worke, & were gone to diner. But about y^e 16. _of March_ a certaine

Indian came bouldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English,

which they could well understand, but marvelled at it. At length they

understood by discourse with him, that he was not of these parts, but

belonged to y^e eastrene parts, wher some English-ships came to fhish,

with whom he was aquainted, & could name sundrie of them by their names,

amongst whom he had gott his language. He became proftable to them [57]

in aquainting them with many things concerning y^e state of y^e cuntry

in y^e east-parts wher he lived, which was afterwards profitable unto

them; as also of y^e people hear, of their names, number, & strength; of

their situation & distance from this place, and who was cheefe amongst

them. His name was _Samaset_; he tould them also of another Indian whos

name was _Squanto_, a native of this place, who had been in England &

could speake better English then him selfe. Being, after some time of

entertainmente & gifts, dismist, a while after he came againe, & 5. more

with him, & they brought againe all y^e tooles that were stolen away

before, and made way for y^e coming of their great Sachem, called

_Massasoyt_; who, about _4. or 5. days after_, came with the cheefe of

his freinds & other attendance, with the aforesaid _Squanto_. With whom,

after frendly entertainment, & some gifts given him, they made a peace

with him (which hath now continued this 24. years) in these terms.

1. That neither he nor any of his, should injurie or doe hurte to any of

their peopl.

2. That if any of his did any hurte to any of theirs, he should send y^e

offender, that they might punish him.

3. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause

it to be restored; and they should doe y^e like to his.

4. If any did unjustly warr against him, they would aide him; if any did

warr against them, he should aide them.

5. He should send to his neighbours confederats, to certifie them of

this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in

y^e conditions of peace.

6. That when ther men came to them, they should leave their bows &

arrows behind them.

After these things he returned to his place caled _Sowams_, some 40.

mile from this place, but _Squanto_ continued with them, and was their

interpreter, and was a spetiall instrument sent of God for their good

beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corne, wher

to take fish, and to procure other comodities, and was also their pilott

to bring them to unknowne places for their profitt, and never left them

till he dyed. He was a _native [58] of this place_, & scarce any left

alive besids him selfe. He was caried away with diverce others by one

_Hunt_, a m^r. of a ship, who thought to sell them for slaves in Spaine;

but he got away for England, and was entertained by a marchante in

London, & imployed to New-foundland & other parts, & lastly brought

hither into these parts by one M^r. _Dermer_, a gentle-man imployed by

Sr. Ferdinando Gorges & others, for discovery, & other designes in these

parts. Of whom I shall say some thing, because it is mentioned in a

booke set forth An^o: 1622. by the Presidente & Counsell for

New-England,[AL] that he made y^e peace betweene y^e salvages of these

parts & y^e English; of which this plantation, as it is intimated, had

y^e benefite. But what a peace it was, may apeare by what befell him &

his men.

This M^r. Dermer was hear the same year that these people came, as

apears by a relation written by him, & given me by a friend, bearing

date June 30. An^o: 1620. And they came in Novemb^r: following, so ther

was but 4. months differance. In which relation to his honored freind,

he hath these passages of this very place.

I will first begine (saith he) w^th that place from whence _Squanto_,

or _Tisquantem_, was taken away; w^ch in Cap: _Smiths mape_ is called

_Plimoth_: and I would that Plimoth had y^e like comodities. I would

that the first plantation might hear be seated, if ther come to the

number of 50. persons, or upward. Otherwise at Charlton, because ther

y^e savages are lese to be feared. The _Pocanawkits_, which live to

y^e _west_ of _Plimoth_, bear an inveterate malice to y^e English, and

are of more streingth then all y^e savags from thence to Penobscote.

Their desire of revenge was occasioned by an English man, who having

many of them on bord, made a great slaughter with their murderers &

smale shot, when as (they say) they offered no injurie on their parts.

Whether they were English or no, it may be douted; yet they beleeve

they were, for y^e Frenche have so possest them; for which cause

_Squanto_ ca[=n]ot deney but they would have kiled me when I was at

_Namasket_, had he not entreated hard for me. The soyle of y^e borders

of [59] this great bay, may be compared to most of y^e plantations

which I have seene in Virginia. The land is of diverce sorts; for

_Patuxite_ is a hardy but strong soyle, _Nawsel & Saughtughtett_ are

for y^e most part a blakish & deep mould, much like that wher groweth

y^e best Tobaco in Virginia. In y^e botume of y^t great bay is store

of Codd & basse, or mulett, &c.

But above all he comends _Pacanawkite_ for y^e richest soyle, and much

open ground fitt for English graine, &c.

_Massachussets_ is about 9. leagues from _Plimoth_, & situate in y^e

mids betweene both, is full of ilands & peninsules very fertill for

y^e most parte.

With sundrie shuch relations which I forbear to transcribe, being now

better knowne then they were to him.

He was taken prisoner by y^e Indeans at _Manamoiak_ (a place not farr

from hence, now well knowne). He gave them what they demanded for his

liberty, but when they had gott what they desired, they kept him still &

indevored to kill his men; but he was freed by seasing on some of them,

and kept them bound till they gave him a cannows load of corne. Of

which, see Purch: lib. 9. fol. 1778. But this was An^o: 1619.

After y^e writing of y^e former relation he came to y^e Ile of

_Capawack_ (which lyes south of this place in y^e way to Virginia), and

y^e foresaid _Squanto_ w^th him, wher he going a shore amongst y^e

Indans to trad, as he used to doe, was betrayed & assaulted by them, &

_all his men slaine, but one that kept the boat_; but him selfe gott

abord very sore wounded, & they had cut of his head upon y^e cudy of his

boat, had not y^e man reskued him with a sword. And so they got away, &

made shift to gett into Virginia, wher he dyed; whether of his wounds or

y^e diseases of y^e cuntrie, or both togeather, is uncertaine. [60] By

all which it may appeare how farr these people were from peace, and with

what danger this plantation was begune, save as y^e powerfull hand of

the Lord did protect them. These things[AM] were partly the reason why

they kept aloofe & were so long before they came to the English. An

other reason (as after them selvs made kno[=w]) was how aboute 3. _years

before_, a French-ship was cast away at _Cap-Codd_, but y^e men gott

ashore, & saved their lives, and much of their victails, & other goods;

but after y^e Indeans heard of it, they geathered togeather from these

parts, and never left watching & dogging them till they got advantage,

and _kild them all but 3. or 4._ which they kept, & sent from one Sachem

to another, to make sporte with, and used them worse then slaves; (of

which y^e foresaid M^r. Dermer redeemed 2. of them;) and they conceived

this ship was now come to revenge it.

Also, (as after was made knowne,) before they came to y^e English to

make freindship, they gott all the _Powachs_ of y^e cuntrie, for 3. days

togeather, in a horid and divellish maner to curse & execrate them with

their cunjurations, which asembly & service they held in a darke &

dismale swampe.

But to returne. The spring now approaching, it pleased God the

mortalitie begane to cease amongst them, and y^e sick and lame recovered

apace, which put as it were new life into them; though they had borne

their sadd affliction with much patience & contentednes, as I thinke

any people could doe. But it was y^e Lord which upheld them, and had

beforehand prepared them; many having long borne y^e yoake, yea from

their youth. Many other smaler maters I omite, sundrie of them having

been allready published in a Jurnall made by one of the company; and

some other passages of jurneys and relations allredy published, to which

I referr those that are willing to know them more perticulerly. And

being now come to y^e 25. of March I shall begine y^e year 1621.

[61] _Anno. 1621._

They now begane to dispatch y^e ship away which brought them over, which

lay tille aboute this time, or y^e begining of Aprill. The reason on

their parts why she stayed so long, was y^e necessitie and danger that

lay upon them, for it was well towards y^e ende of Desember before she

could land any thing hear, or they able to receive any thing ashore.

Afterwards, y^e 14. of Jan: the house which they had made for a generall

randevoze by casulty fell afire, and some were faine to retire abord for

shilter. Then the sicknes begane to fall sore amongst them, and y^e

weather so bad as they could not make much sooner any dispatch. Againe,

the Gov^r & cheefe of them, seeing so many dye, and fall downe sick

dayly, thought it no wisdom to send away the ship, their condition

considered, and y^e danger they stood in from y^e Indeans, till they

could procure some shelter; and therfore thought it better to draw some

more charge upon them selves & freinds, then hazard all. The m^r. and

sea-men likewise, though before they hasted y^e passengers a shore to be

goone, now many of their men being dead, & of y^e ablest of them, (as is

before noted,) and of y^e rest many lay sick & weake, y^e m^r. durst not

put to sea, till he saw his men begine to recover, and y^e hart of

winter over.

Afterwards they (as many as were able) began to plant ther corne, in

which servise Squanto stood them in great stead, showing them both y^e

maner how to set it, and after how to dress & tend it. Also he tould

them excepte they gott fish & set with it (in these old grounds) it

would come to nothing, and he showed them y^t in y^e midle of Aprill

they should have store enough come up y^e brooke, by which they begane

to build, and taught them how to take it, and wher to get other

provissions necessary for them; all which they found true by triall &

experience. Some English seed they sew, as wheat & pease, but it came

not to good, eather by y^e badnes of y^e seed, or latenes of y^e season,

or both, or some other defecte.

[62] In this month of _Aprill_ whilst they were bussie about their seed,

their Gov^r (M^r. John Carver) came out of y^e feild very sick, it being

a hott day; he complained greatly of his head, and lay downe, and within

a few howers his sences failed, so as he never spake more till he dyed,

which was within a few days after. Whoss death was much lamented, and

caused great heavines amongst them, as ther was cause. He was buried in

y^e best maner they could, with some vollies of shott by all that bore

armes; and his wife, being a weak woman, dyed within 5. or 6. weeks

after him.

Shortly after William Bradford was chosen Gove^r in his stead, and being

not yet recoverd of his ilnes, in which he had been near y^e point of

death, Isaak Allerton was chosen to be an Asistante unto him, who, by

renewed election every year, continued sundry years togeather, which I

hear note once for all.

_May 12._ was y^e first mariage in this place, which, according to y^e

laudable custome of the Low-Cuntries, in which they had lived, was

thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a

civill thing, upon which many questions aboute inheritances doe depende,

with other things most proper to their cognizans, and most consonante to

y^e scripturs, Ruth 4. and no wher found in y^e gospell to be layed on

y^e ministers as a part of their office. "This decree or law about

mariage was published by y^e Stats of y^e Low-Cuntries An^o: 1590. That

those of any religion, after lawfull and open publication, coming before

y^e magistrats, in y^e Town or Stat-house, were to be orderly (by them)

maried one to another." Petets Hist, fol: 1029. And this practiss hath

continued amongst, not only them, but hath been followed by all y^e

famous churches of Christ in these parts to this time,--An^o: 1646.

Haveing in some sorte ordered their bussines at home, it was thought

meete to send some abroad to see their new friend Massasoyet, and to

bestow upon him some gratuitie to bind him y^e faster unto them; as also

that hearby they might veiw y^e countrie, and see in what maner he

lived, what strength he had aboute him, and how y^e ways were to his

place, if at any time they should have occasion. So y^e 2. _of July_

they sente M^r. Edward Winslow & M^r. Hopkins, with y^e foresaid Squanto

for ther guid, who gave him a suite of cloaths, and a horsemans coate,

with some other small things, which were kindly accepted; but they found

but short co[=m]ons, and came both weary & hungrie home. For y^e Indeans

used then to have nothing [63] so much corne as they have since y^e

English have stored them with their hows, and seene their industrie in

breaking up new grounds therwith. _They found his place to be 40. miles

from hence_, y^e soyle good, & y^e people not many, being dead &

abundantly wasted in y^e late great mortalitie which fell in all these

parts aboute _three years_ before y^e coming of y^e English, wherin

thousands of them dyed, they not being able to burie one another; ther

sculs and bones were found in many places lying still above ground,

where their houses & dwellings had been; a very sad spectackle to

behould. But they brought word that y^e Narighansets lived but on y^e

other side of that great bay, & were a strong people, & many in number,

living compacte togeather, & had not been at all touched with this

wasting plague.

Aboute y^e _later end of this month_, one John Billington lost him selfe

in y^e woods, & wandered up & downe some 5. days, living on beries &

what he could find. At length he light on an Indean plantation, 20. mils

south of this place, called _Manamet_, they conveid him furder of, to

_Nawsett_, among those peopl that had before set upon y^e English when

they were costing, whilest y^e ship lay at y^e Cape, as is before noted.

But y^e Gove^r caused him to be enquired for among y^e Indeans, and at

length Massassoyt sent word wher he was, and y^e Gove^r sent a shalop

for him, & had him delivered. Those people also came and made their

peace; and they gave full satisfaction to those whose come they had

found & taken when they were at Cap-Codd.

Thus ther peace & aquaintance was prety well establisht w^th the natives

aboute them; and ther was an other Indean called _Hobamack_ come to live

amongst them, a proper lustie man, and a man of accounte for his vallour

& parts amongst y^e Indeans, and continued very faithfull and constant

to y^e English till he dyed. He & Squanto being gone upon bussines

amonge y^e Indeans, at their returne (whether it was out of envie to

them or malice to the English) ther was a Sachem called Corbitant, alyed

to Massassoyte, but never any good friend to y^e English to this day,

mett with them at an Indean towne caled Namassakett 14. miles to y^e

west of this place, and begane to quarell w^th [64] them, and offered to

stabe Hobamack; but being a lusty man, he cleared him selfe of him, and

came ru[=n]ing away all sweating and tould y^e Gov^r what had befalne

him, and he feared they had killed Squanto, for they threatened them

both, and for no other cause but because they were freinds to y^e

English, and servisable unto them. Upon this y^e Gove^r taking counsell,

it was conceivd not fitt to be borne; for if they should suffer their

freinds & messengers thus to be wronged, they should have none would

cleave unto them, or give them any inteligence, or doe them serviss

afterwards; but nexte they would fall upon them selves. Whereupon it was

resolved to send y^e Captaine & 14. men well armed, and to goe & fall

upon them in y^e night; and if they found that Squanto was kild, to cut

of Corbitants head, but not to hurt any but those that had a hand in it.

Hobamack was asked if he would goe & be their guid, & bring them ther

before day. He said he would, & bring them to y^e house wher the man

lay, and show them which was he. So they set forth y^e 14. _of August_,

and beset y^e house round; the Captin giving charg to let none pass out,

entred y^e house to search for him. But he was goone away that day, so

they mist him; but understood y^t Squanto was alive, & that he had only

threatened to kill him, & made an offer to stabe him but did not. So

they withheld and did no more hurte, & y^e people came trembling, &

brought them the best provissions they had, after they were aquainted by

Hobamack what was only intended. Ther was 3. sore wounded which broak

out of y^e house, and asaid to pass through y^e garde. These they

brought home with them, & they had their wounds drest & cured, and sente

home. After this they had many gratulations from diverce sachims, and

much firmer peace; yea, those of y^e Iles of Capawack sent to make

frendship; and this Corbitant him selfe used y^e mediation of

Massassoyte to make his peace, but was shie to come neare them a longe

while after.

After this, y^e 18. of Septemb^r: they sente out ther shalop to the

Massachusets, with 10. men, and Squanto for their guid and [65]

interpreter, to discover and veiw that bay, and trade with y^e natives;

the which they performed, and found kind entertainement. The people were

much affraid of y^e Tarentins, a people to y^e eastward which used to

come in harvest time and take away their corne, & many times kill their

persons. They returned in saftie, and brought home a good quanty of

beaver, and made reporte of y^e place, wishing they had been ther

seated; (but it seems y^e Lord, who assignes to all men y^e bounds of

their habitations, had apoynted it for an other use). And thus they

found the Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to blesse their

outgoings & inco[=m]ings, for which let his holy name have y^e praise

for ever, to all posteritie.

They begane now to gather in y^e small harvest they had, and to fitte up

their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in

health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; for as some were

thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing,

aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which y^ey tooke good store, of

which every family had their portion. All y^e so[=m]er ther was no

wante. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter aproached, of

which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward

decreased by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of

wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids they

had aboute a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest,

Indean corne to y^t proportion. Which made many afterwards write so

largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not

fained, but true reports.

In Novemb^r, about y^e time twelfe month that them selves came, ther

came in a small ship to them unexpected or loked for,[AN] in which came

Mr. Cushman (so much spoken of before) and with him 35. persons to

remaine & live in y^e plantation; which did not a litle rejoyce them.

And they when they came a shore and found all well, and saw plenty of

vitails in every house, were no less glade. For most of them were lusty

yonge men, and many of them wild enough, who litle considered whither or

aboute what they wente, till they came into y^e harbore at Cap-Codd, and

ther saw nothing but a naked and barren place. They then begane to

thinke what should become of them, if the people here were dead or cut

of by y^e Indeans. They begane to consulte (upon some speeches that some

of y^e sea-men had cast out) to take y^e sayls from y^e yeard least y^e

ship [66] should gett away and leave them ther. But y^e m^r. hereing of

it, gave them good words, and tould them if any thing but well should

have befallne y^e people hear, he hoped he had vitails enough to cary

them to Virginia, and whilst he had a bitt they should have their parte;

which gave them good satisfaction. So they were all landed; but ther was

not so much as bisket-cake or any other victialls[AO] for them, neither

had they any beding, but some sory things they had in their cabins, nor

pot, nor pan, to drese any meate in; nor overmany cloaths, for many of

them had brusht away their coats & cloaks at Plimoth as they came. But

ther was sent over some burching-lane suits in y^e ship, out of which

they were supplied. The plantation was glad of this addition of

strenght, but could have wished that many of them had been of beter

condition, and all of them beter furnished with provissions; but y^t

could not now be helpte.

In this ship M^r. Weston sent a large leter to M^r. Carver, y^e late

Gove^r, now deseased, full of complaints & expostulations aboute former

passagess at Hampton; and y^e keeping y^e shipe so long in y^e country,

and returning her without lading, &c., which for brevitie I omite. The

rest is as followeth.

_Part of Mr. Westons letter_.

I durst never aquainte y^e adventurers with y^e alteration of y^e

conditions first agreed on betweene us, which I have since been very

glad of, for I am well assured had they knowne as much as I doe, they

would not have adventured a halfe-peny of what was necesary for this

ship. That you sent no lading in the ship is wonderfull, and worthily

distasted. I know you^r weaknes was the cause of it, and I beleeve

more weaknes of judgmente, then weaknes of hands. A quarter of y^e

time you spente in discoursing, arguing, & consulting, would have done

much more; but that is past, &c. If you mean, bona fide, to performe

the conditions agreed upon, doe us y^e favore to coppy them out faire,

and subscribe them with y^e principall of your names. And likwise give

us accounte as perticulerly as you can how our moneys were laid out.

And then I shall be able to give them some satisfaction, whom I am now

forsed with good words to shift of. And consider that y^e life of the

bussines depends on y^e lading of this ship, which, if you doe to any

good purpose, that I may be freed from y^e great sums I have disbursed

for y^e former, and must doe for the later, _I promise you I will

never quit y^e bussines, though all the other adventurers should._

[67] We have procured you a Charter, the best we could, which is beter

then your former, and with less limitation. For any thing y^t is els

worth writting, M^r. Cushman can informe you. I pray write instantly

for M^r. Robinson to come to you. And so praying God to blesse you

with all graces nessessary both for this life & that to come, I rest

Your very loving frend,

THO. WESTON.

London, July 6. 1621.

This ship (caled y^e Fortune) was speedily dispatcht away, being laden

with good clapbord as full as she could stowe, and 2. hoggsheads of

beaver and otter skins, which they gott with a few trifling comodities

brought with them at first, being alltogeather unprovided for trade;

neither was ther any amongst them that ever saw a beaver skin till they

came hear, and were informed by Squanto. The fraight was estimated to be

worth near 500^li. M^r. Cushman returned backe also with this ship, for

so Mr. Weston & y^e rest had apoynted him, for their better information.

And he doubted not, nor them selves neither, but they should have a

speedy supply; considering allso how by M^r. Cushmans perswation, and

letters received from Leyden, wherin they willed them so to doe, they

yeelded[AP] to y^e afforesaid conditions, and subscribed them with their

hands. But it proved other wise, for Mr. Weston, who had made y^e large

promise in his leter, (as is before noted,) that if all y^e rest should

fall of, yet he would never quit y^e bussines, but stick to them, if

they yeelded to y^e conditions, and sente some lading in y^e ship; and

of this M^r. Cushman was confident, and confirmed y^e same from his

mouth, & serious protestations to him selfe before he came. But all

proved but wind, for he was y^e first and only man that forsooke them,

and that before he so much as heard of y^e returne of this ship, or knew

what was done; (so vaine is the confidence in man.) But of this more in

its place.

A leter in answer to his write to M^r. Carver, was sente to him from y^e

Gov^r, of which so much as is pertenente to y^e thing in hand I shall

hear inserte.