The Pilgrims were familiar with Capt. John Smith’s account of a voyage
in which he had surveyed the coast from Cape Cod to Penobscot Bay in
1614. He had even offered his services as guide and military captain,
but Myles Standish got the job. Undoubtedly they did bring with them his
_Description of New England_ (London, 1616), in which the following map
was published.
Capt. Smith, who had already gained some fame and fortune in Virginia,
dedicated to Prince Charles this effort in which the term “New England”
first appeared: “... it being my chance to range some other parts of
America, whereof I here present your highness the description in a map,
my humble suit [in original, “sure”] is you would please to change their
barbarous names for such English, as posterity may say Prince Charles
was their godfather.” Several English place-names were incorporated in
the map, but posterity disregarded most of them, a noteworthy exception
being “Plimouth.” Smith notes that the Indians called the site “...
Accomack, an excellent good harbor, good land, and no want of any thing
but industrious people,” recalling that “After much kindness, upon a
small occasion we fought also with 40 or 50 of those [Indians]; though
some were hurt and some slain, yet within an hour after, they became
friends.”
The map was subsequently reissued in several other works by Smith,
additions being made on the engraved copper plate from time to time, to
indicate more recent discoveries and settlements. The copy reproduced
here is from a first edition, now in possession of the John Carter Brown
Library; obviously the representations of European-style buildings were
as inappropriate as were the illustrations of monsters, introduced by
imaginatively artistic cartographers. (The note concerning Smith’s death
was written in ink by a previous owner of this copy.)
[Illustration: map]
[Illustration: facsimile of title page]
A
RELATION OR
Journal of the beginning and proceedings
of the English Plantation settled at _Plymouth_ in New England, by
certain English adventurers both merchants and others.
With their difficult passage, their safe arrival, their joyful building
of, and comfortable planting themselves in the now well defended town of
New Plymouth
AS ALSO A RELATION OF FOUR
several discoveries since made by some of the same English Planters
there resident.
I. _In a journey to _Pokanoket_, the habitation of the Indians’ greatest
King _Massasoit_: as also their message, the answer and entertainment
they had of him._
II. _In a voyage made by ten of them to the Kingdom of _Nauset_, to seek
a boy that had lost himself in the wood: with such accidents as befell
them in that voyage._
III. _In their journey to the Kingdom of _Nemasket_, in defense of their
greatest King _Massasoit_, against the _Narragansets_, and to revenge
the supposed death of their Interpreter _Squanto_._
IIII. _Their voyage to the _Massachusets_, and their entertainment
there._
With an answer to all such objections as are any way made against the
lawfulness of English plantations in those parts.
LONDON,
Printed for _John Bellamie_, and are to be sold at his shop at the Two
Greyhounds in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange. 1622.
[Illustration: decorative border]
TO HIS MUCH
respected friend, Mr. I. P.[7]
[Illustration: illuminated capital]
Good Friend:
As we cannot but account it an extraordinary blessing of God in
directing our course for these parts, after we came out of our native
country, for that we had the happiness to be possessed of the comforts
we receive by the benefit of one of the most pleasant, most healthful,
and most fruitful parts of the world; so must we acknowledge the same
blessing to be multiplied upon our whole company, for that we obtained
the honor to receive allowance and approbation of our free possession
and enjoying thereof, under the authority of those thrice honored
persons, the President and Council for the Affairs of New England, by
whose bounty and grace, in that behalf, all of us are tied to dedicate
our best service unto them,[8] as those under his Majesty, that we owe
it unto, whose noble endeavors in these their actions the God of heaven
and earth multiply to his glory and their own eternal comforts.
As for this poor relation, I pray you to accept it, as being writ by the
several actors themselves, after their plain and rude manner; therefore
doubt nothing of the truth thereof. If it be defective in any thing, it
is their ignorance, that are better acquainted with planting than
writing. If it satisfy those that are well affected to the business, it
is all I care for. Sure I am the place we are in, and the hopes that are
apparent, cannot but suffice any that will not desire more than enough.
Neither is there want of aught among us but company to enjoy the
blessings so plentifully bestowed upon the inhabitants that are here.
While I was a-writing this, I had almost forgot that I had but the
recommendation of the relation itself to your further consideration, and
therefore I will end without saying more, save that I shall always rest
Yours in the way of friendship,