I. R.[13]

[Illustration: decorative border]

A RELATION OR JOURNAL

OF THE PROCEEDINGS

OF THE PLANTATION

settled at Plymouth in New England.

[Illustration: illuminated capital]

Wednesday, the sixth of September, the wind coming east-north-east, a

fine small gale, we loosed from Plymouth, having been kindly entertained

and courteously used by divers friends there dwelling, and after many

difficulties in boisterous storms, at length, by God’s providence, upon

the ninth of November following, by break of the day we espied land

which we deemed to be Cape Cod, and so afterward it proved. And the

appearance of it much comforted us, especially seeing so goodly a land,

and wooded to the brink of the sea. It caused us to rejoice together,

and praise God that had given us once again to see land. And thus we

made our course south-south-west, purposing to go to a river ten leagues

to the south of the Cape,[14] but at night the wind being contrary, we

put round again for the bay of Cape Cod. And upon the 11th of November

we came to an anchor in the bay,[15] which is a good harbor and pleasant

bay, circled round, except in the entrance which is about four miles

over from land to land, compassed about to the very sea with oaks,

pines, juniper, sassafras, and other sweet wood. It is a harbor wherein

a thousand sail of ships may safely ride. There we relieved ourselves

with wood and water, and refreshed our people, while our shallop was

fitted to coast the bay, to search for a habitation. There was the

greatest store of fowl that ever we saw.

And every day we saw whales playing hard by us, of which in that place,

if we had instruments and means to take them, we might have made a very

rich return, which to our great grief we wanted. Our master and his

mate, and others experienced in fishing, professed we might have made

three or four thousand pounds’ worth of oil. They preferred it before

Greenland whale-fishing, and purpose the next winter to fish for whale

here. For cod we assayed, but found none; there is good store, no doubt,

in their season. Neither got we any fish all the time we lay there, but

some few little ones on the shore. We found great mussels, and very fat

and full of sea-pearl, but we could not eat them, for they made us all

sick that did eat, as well sailors as passengers. They caused to cast

and scour,[16] but they were soon well again.

The bay is so round and circling that before we could come to anchor we

went round all the points of the compass. We could not come near the

shore by three quarters of an English mile, because of shallow water,

which was a great prejudice to us, for our people going on shore were

forced to wade a bow shot or two in going a land, which caused many to

get colds and coughs, for it was nigh times freezing cold weather.

This day before we came to harbor, observing some not well affected to

unity and concord, but gave some appearance of faction,[17] it was

thought good there should be an association and agreement that we should

combine together in one body, and to submit to such government and

governors as we should by common consent agree to make and choose, and

set our hands to this that follows word for word.[18]

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal

subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James, by the grace of God, of

Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the

Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant

the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents

solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another,

covenant, and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for

our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends

aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such

just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, offices from time

to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general

good of the colony: unto which we promise all due submission and

obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names;

Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our

sovereign lord King James, of England, France and Ireland eighteenth and

of Scotland fifty-fourth, Anno Domini 1620.[19]

The same day, so soon as we could we set ashore fifteen or sixteen men,

well armed, with some to fetch wood, for we had none left; as also to

see what the land was, and what inhabitants they could meet with. They

found it to be a small neck of land, on this side where we lay is the

bay, and the further side the sea; the ground or earth, sand hills, much

like the downs in Holland, but much better; the crust of the earth a

spit’s[20] depth excellent black earth; all wooded with oaks, pines,

sassafras, juniper, birch, holly, vines, some ash, walnut; the wood for

the most part open and without underwood, fit either to go or ride in.

At night our people returned, but found not any person, nor habitation,

and laded their boat with juniper, which smelled very sweet and strong

and of which we burnt the most part of the time we lay there.

Monday, the 13th of November, we unshipped our shallop[21] and drew her

on land, to mend and repair her, having been forced to cut her down in

bestowing her betwixt the decks, and she was much opened with the

people’s lying in her,[22] which kept us long there, for it was sixteen

or seventeen days before the carpenter had finished her. Our people went

on shore to refresh themselves, and our women to wash, as they had great

need. But whilst we lay thus still, hoping our shallop would be ready in

five or six days at the furthest, but our carpenter made slow work of

it, so that some of our people, impatient of delay, desired for our

better furtherance to travel by land into the country, which was not

without appearance of danger, not having the shallop with them, nor

means to carry provision, but on their backs, to see whether it might be

fit for us to seat in or no, and the rather because as we sailed into

the harbor there seemed to be a river opening itself into the main land.

The willingness of the persons was liked, but the thing itself, in

regard of the danger, was rather permitted than approved, and so with

cautions, directions, and instructions, sixteen men were set out with

every man his musket, sword, and corslet, under the conduct of Captain

Miles Standish, unto whom was adjoined, for counsel and advice, William

Bradford, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Tilley.

Wednesday, the 15th of November, they were set ashore, and when they had

ordered themselves in the order of a single file and marched about the

space of a mile, by the sea they espied five or six people with a dog,

coming towards them, who were savages, who when they saw them, ran into

the wood and whistled the dog after them, etc. First they supposed them

to be Master Jones, the master, and some of his men, for they were

ashore and knew of their coming, but after they knew them to be Indians

they marched after them into the woods, lest other of the Indians should

lie in ambush. But when the Indians saw our men following them, they ran

away with might and main and our men turned out of the wood after them,

for it was the way they intended to go, but they could not come near

them. They followed them that night about ten miles by the trace of

their footings, and saw how they had come the same way they went, and at

a turning perceived how they ran up a hill, to see whether they followed

them. At length night came upon them, and they were constrained to take

up their lodging, so they set forth three sentinels, and the rest, some

kindled a fire, and others fetched wood, and there held our rendezvous

that night.

In the morning so soon as we could see the trace, we proceeded on our

journey, and had the track until we had compassed the head of a long

creek, and there they took into another wood, and we after them,

supposing to find some of their dwellings, but we marched through boughs

and bushes, and under hills and valleys, which tore our very armor in

pieces, and yet could meet with none of them, nor their houses, nor find

any fresh water, which we greatly desired, and stood in need of, for we

brought neither beer nor water with us, and our victuals was only

biscuit and Holland cheese, and a little bottle of aquavitae, so as we

were sore athirst. About ten o’clock we came into a deep valley, full of

brush, wood-gaile, and long grass, through which we found little paths

or tracks, and there we saw a deer, and found springs of fresh water, of

which we were heartily glad, and sat us down and drunk our first New

England water with as much delight as ever we drunk drink in all our

lives.

When we had refreshed ourselves, we directed our course full south, that

we might come to the shore, which within a short while after we did, and

there made a fire, that they in the ship might see where we were (as we

had direction) and so marched on towards this supposed river. And as we

went in another valley we found a fine clear pond of fresh water, being

about a musket shot broad and twice as long. There grew also many fine

vines, and fowl and deer haunted there; there grew much sassafras.[23]

From thence we went on, and found much plain ground, about fifty acres,

fit for the plow, and some signs where the Indians had formerly planted

their corn. After this, some thought it best, for nearness of the river,

to go down and travel on the sea sands, by which means some of our men

were tired, and lagged behind. So we stayed and gathered them up, and

struck into the land again, where we found a little path to certain

heaps of sand, one whereof was covered with old mats, and had a wooden

thing like a mortar whelmed[24] on the top of it, and an earthen pot

laid in a little hole at the end thereof. We, musing what it might be,

digged and found a bow, and, as we thought, arrows, but they were

rotten. We supposed there were many other things, but because we deemed

them graves, we put in the bow again and made it up as it was, and left

the rest untouched, because we thought it would be odious unto them to

ransack their sepulchres.

We went on further and found new stubble, of which they had gotten corn

this year, and many walnut trees full of nuts, and great store of

strawberries, and some vines. Passing thus a field or two, which were

not great, we came to another which had also been new gotten, and there

we found where a house had been, and four or five old planks laid

together; also we found a great kettle which had been some ship’s kettle

and brought out of Europe.[25] There was also a heap of sand, made like

the former—but it was newly done, we might see how they had paddled it

with their hands—which we digged up, and in it we found a little old

basket full of fair Indian corn, and digged further and found a fine

great new basket full of very fair corn of this year, with some

thirty-six goodly ears of corn, some yellow, and some red, and others

mixed with blue, which was a very goodly sight. The basket was round,

and narrow at the top; it held about three or four bushels, which was as

much as two of us could lift up from the ground, and was very handsomely

and cunningly made. But whilst we were busy about these things, we set

our men sentinel in a round ring, all but two or three which digged up

the corn. We were in suspense what to do with it and the kettle, and at

length, after much consultation, we concluded to take the kettle and as

much of the corn as we could carry away with us; and when our shallop

came, if we could find any of the people, and come to parley with them,

we would give them the kettle again, and satisfy them for their

corn.[26] So we took all the ears, and put a good deal of the loose corn

in the kettle for two men to bring away on a staff; besides, they that

could put any into their pockets filled the same. The rest we buried

again, for we were so laden with armor that we could carry no more.

Not far from this place we found the remainder of an old fort, or

palisade, which as we conceived had been made by some Christians. This

was also hard by that place which we thought had been a river, unto

which we went and found it so to be, dividing itself into two arms by a

high bank. Standing right by the cut or mouth which came from the sea,

that which was next unto us was the less; the other arm was more than

twice as big, and not unlike to be a harbor for ships. But whether it be

a fresh river, or only an indraught of the sea, we had no time to

discover, for we had commandment to be out but two days. Here also we

saw two canoes, the one on the one side, the other on the other side; we

could not believe it was a canoe, till we came near it. So we returned,

leaving the further discovery hereof to our shallop, and came that night

back again to the fresh water pond, and there we made our rendezvous

that night, making a great fire, and a barricade to windward of us, and

kept good watch with three sentinels all night, every one standing when

his turn came, while five or six inches of match was burning.[27] It

proved a very rainy night.

In the morning we took our kettle and sunk it in the pond, and trimmed

our muskets, for few of them would go off because of the wet, and so

coasted the wood again to come home, in which we were shrewdly puzzled,

and lost our way. As we wandered we came to a tree, where a young

sprit[28] was bowed down over a bow, and some acorns strewed underneath.

Stephen Hopkins said it had been to catch some deer. So as we were

looking at it, William Bradford being in the rear, when he came looked

also upon it, and as he went about, it gave a sudden jerk up, and he was

immediately caught by the leg. It was a very pretty device, made with a

rope of their own making and having a noose as artificially[29] made as

any roper in England can make, and as like ours as can be, which we

brought away with us. In the end we got out of the wood, and were fallen

about a mile too high above the creek, where we saw three bucks, but we

had rather have had one of them.[30] We also did spring three couple of

partridges, and as we came along by the creek we saw great flocks of

wild geese and ducks, but they were very fearful of us. So we marched

some while in the woods, some while on the sands, and other while in the

water up to the knees, till at length we came near the ship, and then we

shot off our pieces, and the long boat came to fetch us. Master Jones

and Master Carver being on the shore, with many of our people, came to

meet us. And thus we came both weary and welcome home, and delivered in

our corn into the store, to be kept for seed, for we knew not how to

come by any, and therefore were very glad, purposing, so soon as we

could meet with any of the inhabitants of that place, to make them large

satisfaction. This was our first discovery, whilst our shallop was in

repairing.

Our people did make things as fitting as they could, and time would, in

seeking out wood, and helving[31] of tools, and sawing of timber to

build a new shallop. But the discommodiousness of the harbor did much

hinder us for we could neither go to nor come from the shore, but at

high water, which was much to our hindrance and hurt, for oftentimes

they waded to the middle of the thigh, and oft to the knees, to go and

come from land. Some did it necessarily, and some for their own

pleasure, but it brought to the most, if not to all, coughs and colds,

the weather proving suddenly cold and stormy, which afterwards turned to

the scurvy,[32] whereof many died.

When our shallop was fit—indeed, before she was fully fitted, for there

was two days’ work after bestowed on her—there was appointed some

twenty-four men of our own, and armed, then to go and make a more full

discovery of the rivers before mentioned. Master Jones was desirous to

go with us, and we took such of his sailors as he thought useful for us,

so as we were in all about thirty-four men. We made Master Jones our

leader, for we thought it best herein to gratify his kindness and

forwardness. When we were set forth, it proved rough weather and cross

winds, so as we were constrained, some in the shallop, and others in the

long boat, to row to the nearest shore the wind would suffer them to go

unto, and then to wade out above the knees. The wind was so strong as

the shallop could not keep the water, but was forced to harbor there

that night, but we marched six or seven miles further, and appointed the

shallop to come to us as soon as they could. It blowed and did snow all

that day and night, and froze withal; some of our people that are dead

took the original of their death here.

The next day, about eleven o’clock, our shallop came to us and we

shipped ourselves, and the wind being good, we sailed to the river we

formerly discovered, which we named Cold Harbor, to which when we came

we found it not navigable for ships, yet we thought it might be a good

harbor for boats, for it flows there twelve foot at high water. We

landed our men between the two creeks and marched some four or five

miles by the greater of them, and the shallop followed us. At length

night grew on, and our men were tired with marching up and down the

steep hills and deep valleys which lay half a foot thick with snow.

Master Jones, wearied with marching, was desirous we should take up our

lodging, though some of us would have marched further, so we made there

our rendezvous for that night, under a few pine trees. And as it fell

out, we got three fat geese and six ducks to our supper, which we ate

with soldiers’ stomachs, for we had eaten little all that day. Our

resolution was next morning to go up to the head of this river, for we

supposed it would prove fresh water, but in the morning our resolution

held not, because many liked not the hilliness of the soil, and badness

of the harbor. So we turned towards the other creek, that we might go

over and look for the rest of the corn that we left behind when we were

here before.

When we came to the creek we saw the canoe lie on the dry ground, and a

flock of geese in the river, at which one made a shot and killed a

couple of them, and we launched the canoe and fetched them and when we

had done, she carried us over by seven or eight at once. This done, we

marched to the place where we had the corn formerly, which place we

called Cornhill, and digged and found the rest, of which we were very

glad. We also digged in a place a little further off, and found a bottle

of oil. We went to another place which we had seen before, and digged,

and found more corn, viz. two or three baskets full of Indian wheat,[33]

and a bag of beans, with a good many of fair wheat[33] ears. Whilst some

of us were digging up this, some others found another heap of corn,

which they digged up also, so as we had in all about ten bushels, which

will serve us sufficiently for seed. [Sidenote: Note.]

And sure it was God’s good providence that we found this corn, for else

we know not how we should have done, for we knew not how we should find

or meet with any Indians, except it be to do us a mischief.[34] Also, we

had never in all likelihood seen a grain of it if we had not made our

first journey, for the ground was now covered with snow, and so hard

frozen that we were fain with our cutlasses and short swords to hew and

carve the ground a foot deep, and then wrest it up with levers, for we

had forgot to bring other tools. Whilst we were in this employment, foul

weather being towards, Master Jones was earnest to go aboard, but sundry

of us desired to make further discovery and to find out the Indians’

habitations. So we sent home with him our weakest people, and some that

were sick, and all the corn, and eighteen of us stayed still, and lodged

there that night, and desired that the shallop might return to us next

day and bring us some mattocks and spades with them.

The next morning we followed certain beaten paths and tracks of the

Indians into the woods, supposing they would have led us into some town,

or houses. After we had gone a while, we light upon a very broad beaten

path, well nigh two feet broad. Then we lighted all our matches[35] and

prepared ourselves, concluding that we were near their dwellings, but in

the end we found it to be only a path made to drive deer in, when the

Indians hunt, as we supposed.

When we had marched five or six miles into the woods and could find no

signs of any people, we returned again another way, and as we came into

the plain ground we found a place like a grave, but it was much bigger

and longer than any we had yet seen. It was also covered with boards, so

as we mused what it should be, and resolved to dig it up, where we

found, first a mat, and under that a fair bow, and there another mat,

and under that a board about three quarters[36] long, finely carved and

painted, with three tines, or broaches, on the top, like a crown. Also

between the mats we found bowls, trays, dishes, and such like trinkets.

At length we came to a fair new mat, and under that two bundles, the one

bigger, the other less. We opened the greater and found in it a great

quantity of fine and perfect red powder, and in it the bones and skull

of a man. The skull had fine yellow hair still on it, and some of the

flesh unconsumed; there was bound up with it a knife, a packneedle,[37]

and two or three old iron things. It was bound up in a sailor’s canvas

cassock, and a pair of cloth breeches. The red powder was a kind of

embalment, and yielded a strong, but no offensive smell; it was as fine

as any flour. We opened the less bundle likewise, and found of the same

powder in it, and the bones and head of a little child. About the legs

and other parts of it was bound strings and bracelets of fine white

beads; there was also by it a little bow, about three quarters long, and

some other odd knacks. We brought sundry of the prettiest things away

with us, and covered the corpse up again. After this, we digged in

sundry like places, but found no more corn, nor any thing else but

graves.

There was variety of opinions amongst us about the embalmed person. Some

thought it was an Indian lord and king. Others said the Indians have all

black hair, and never any was seen with brown or yellow hair. Some

thought it was a Christian of some special note, which had died amongst

them, and they thus buried him to honor him. Others thought they had

killed him, and did it in triumph over him.

Whilst we were thus ranging and searching, two of the sailors, which

were newly come on the shore, by chance espied two houses which had been

lately dwelt in, but the people were gone. They, having their pieces and

hearing nobody, entered the houses and took out some things, and durst

not stay but came again and told us. So some seven or eight of us went

with them, and found how we had gone within a flight shot of them

before. The houses were made with long young sapling trees, bended and

both ends stuck into the ground. They were made round, like unto an

arbor, and covered down to the ground with thick and well wrought mats,

and the door was not over a yard high, made of a mat to open. The

chimney was a wide open hole in the top, for which they had a mat to

cover it close when they pleased. One might stand and go upright in

them. In the midst of them were four little trunches[38] knocked into

the ground, and small sticks laid over, on which they hung their pots,

and what they had to seethe.[39] Round about the fire they lay on mats,

which are their beds. The houses were double matted, for as they were

matted without, so were they within, with newer and fairer mats. In the

houses we found wooden bowls, trays and dishes, earthen pots,

handbaskets made of crabshells wrought together, also an English pail or

bucket; it wanted a bail, but it had two iron ears. There was also

baskets of sundry sorts, bigger and some lesser, finer and some coarser;

some were curiously wrought with black and white in pretty works, and

sundry other of their household stuff. We found also two or three deer’s

heads, one whereof had been newly killed, for it was still fresh. There

was also a company of deer’s feet stuck up in the houses, harts’ horns,

and eagles’ claws, and sundry such like things there was, also two or

three baskets full of parched acorns, pieces of fish, and a piece of a

broiled herring. We found also a little silk grass, and a little tobacco

seed, with some other seeds which we knew not. Without was sundry

bundles of flags, and sedge, bulrushes, and other stuff to make mats.

There was thrust into a hollow tree two or three pieces of venison, but

we thought it fitter for the dogs than for us. Some of the best things

we took away with us, and left the houses standing still as they were.

So it growing towards night, and the tide almost spent, we hasted with

our things down to the shallop, and got aboard that night, intending to

have brought some beads and other things to have left in the houses, in

sign of peace and that we meant to truck with them, but it was not done,

by means of our hasty coming away from Cape Cod. But so soon as we can

meet conveniently with them, we will give them full satisfaction. Thus

much of our second discovery.

Having thus discovered this place, it was controversial amongst us what

to do touching our abode and settling there; some thought it best, for

many reasons, to abide there. As first, that there was a convenient

harbor for boats, though not for ships. Secondly, good corn-ground ready

to our hands, as we saw by experience in the goodly corn it yielded,

which would again agree with the ground, and be natural seed for the

same. Thirdly, Cape Cod was like to be a place of good fishing, for we

saw daily great whales of the best kind for oil and bone, come close

aboard our ship, and in fair weather swim and play about us. There was

once one, when the sun shone warm, came and lay above water as if she

had been dead, for a good while together, within half a musket shot of

the ship, at which two were prepared to shoot to see whether she would

stir or no. He that gave fire first, his musket flew in pieces, both

stock and barrel, yet, thanks be to God, neither he nor any man else was

hurt with it, though many were there about. But when the whale saw her

time, she gave a snuff, and away. Fourthly, the place was likely to be

healthful, secure, and defensible.

But the last and especial reason was, that now the heart of winter and

unseasonable weather was come upon us, so that we could not go upon

coasting and discovery without danger of losing men and boat, upon which

would follow the overthrow of all, especially considering what variable

winds and sudden storms do there arise. Also, cold and wet lodging had

so tainted our people, for scarce any of us were free from vehement

coughs, as if they should continue long in that estate it would endanger

the lives of many, and breed diseases and infection amongst us. Again,

we had yet some beer, butter, flesh, and other such victuals left, which

would quickly be all gone, and then we should have nothing to comfort us

in the great labor and toil we were like to undergo at the first. It was

also conceived, whilst we had competent victuals, that the ship would

stay with us, but when that grew low, they would be gone and let us

shift as we could.

Others again, urged greatly the going to Anguum, or Angoum,[40] a place

twenty leagues off to the northwards, which they had heard to be an

excellent harbor for ships, better ground, and better fishing. Secondly,

for anything we knew, there might be hard by us a far better seat, and

it should be a great hindrance to seat where we should remove again.

Thirdly, the water was but in ponds, and it was thought there would be

none in summer, or very little. Fourthly, the water there must be

fetched up a steep hill. But to omit many reasons and replies used

hereabouts, it was in the end concluded to make some discovery within

the bay, but in no case so far as Anguum. Besides, Robert Coppin, our

pilot, made relation of a great navigable river and good harbor in the

other headland of this bay, almost right over against Cape Cod, being in

a right line not much above eight leagues distant, in which he had been

once; and because that one of the wild men with whom they had some

trucking stole a harping iron[41] from them, they called it Thievish

Harbor. And beyond that place they were enjoined not to go, whereupon, a

company was chosen to go out upon a third discovery. Whilst some were

employed in this discovery, it pleased God that Mistress White was

brought a-bed of a son, which was called Peregrine.

The 5th day, we, through God’s mercy, escaped a great danger by the

foolishness of a boy, one of Francis Billington’s sons, who, in his

father’s absence, had got gunpowder and had shot of a piece or two, and

made squibs, and there being a fowling-piece charged in his father’s

cabin, shot her off in the cabin; there being a little barrel of powder

half full, scattered in and about the cabin, the fire being within four

feet of the bed between the decks, and many flints and iron things about

the cabin, and many people about the fire, and yet, by God’s mercy, no

harm done.

Wednesday, the 6th of December, it was resolved our discoverers should

set forth, for the day before was too foul weather, and so they did,

though it was well o’er the day ere all things could be ready. So ten of

our men were appointed who were of themselves willing to undertake it,

to wit, Captain Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward

Winslow, John Tilley, Edward Tilley, John Howland, and three of London,

Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Dotte, and two of our

seamen, John Allerton and Thomas English. Of the ship’s company there

went two of the master’s mates, Master Clarke and Master Coppin, the

master gunner, and three sailors. The narration of which discovery

follows, penned by one of the company.

Wednesday, the 6th of December, we set out, being very cold and hard

weather. We were a long while after we launched from the ship before we

could get clear of a sandy point which lay within less than a furlong of

the same. In which time two were very sick, and Edward Tilley had like

to have sounded[42] with cold; the gunner also was sick unto death, (but

hope of trucking made him to go), and so remained all that day and the

next night. At length we got clear of the sandy point and got up our

sails, and within an hour or two we got under the weather shore, and

then had smoother water and better sailing, but it was very cold, for

the water froze on our clothes and made them many times like coats of

iron. We sailed six or seven leagues by the shore, but saw neither river

nor creek; at length we met with a tongue of land, being flat off from

the shore, with a sandy point. We bore up to gain the point, and found

there a fair income or road of a bay, being a league over at the

narrowest, and some two or three in length, but we made right over to

the land before us, and left the discovery of this income till the next

day. As we drew near to the shore, we espied some ten or twelve Indians

very busy about a black thing—what it was we could not tell—till

afterwards they saw us, and ran to and fro as if they had been carrying

something away. We landed a league or two from them, and had much ado to

put ashore anywhere, it lay so full of flat sands. When we came to

shore, we made us a barricade, and got firewood, and set out our

sentinels, and betook us to our lodging, such as it was. We saw the

smoke of the fire which the savages made that night, about four or five

miles from us.

In the morning we divided our company, some eight in the shallop, and

the rest on the shore went to discover this place, but we found it only

to be a bay, without either river or creek coming into it. Yet we deemed

it to be as good a harbor as Cape Cod, for they that sounded it found a

ship might ride in five fathom water. We on the land found it to be a

level soil, though none of the fruitfullest. We saw two becks[43] of

fresh water, which were the first running streams that we saw in the

country, but one might stride over them. We found also a great fish,

called a grampus, dead on the sands; they in the shallop found two of

them also in the bottom of the bay, dead in like sort. They were cast up

at high water, and could not get off for the frost and ice. They were

some five or six paces long, and about two inches thick of fat, and

fleshed like a swine; they would have yielded a great deal of oil if

there had been time and means to have taken it. So we finding nothing

for our turn, both we and our shallop returned.

We then directed our course along the sea sands, to the place where we

first saw the Indians. When we were there, we saw it was also a grampus

which they were cutting up; they cut it into long rands or pieces, about

an ell[44] long, and two handfull broad. We found here and there a piece

scattered by the way, as it seemed, for haste. This place the most were

minded we should call the Grampus Bay, because we found so many of them

there. We followed the track of the Indians’ bare feet a good way on the

sands; at length we saw where they struck into the woods by the side of

a pond. As we went to view the place, one said he thought he saw an

Indian house among the trees, so went up to see. And here we and the

shallop lost sight one of another till night, it being now about nine or

ten o’clock.

So we light on a path, but saw no house, and followed a great way into

the woods. At length we found where corn had been set, but not that

year. Anon we found a great burying place, one part whereof was

encompassed with a large palisade, like a churchyard, with young

spires[45] four or five yards long, set as close one by another as they

could, two or three feet in the ground. Within it was full of graves,

some bigger and some less; some were also paled about, and others had

like an Indian house made over them, but not matted. Those graves were

more sumptuous than those at Cornhill, yet we digged none of them up,

but only viewed them, and went our way. Without the palisade were graves

also, but not so costly. From this place we went and found more

corn-ground, but not of this year. As we ranged we light on four or five

Indian houses, which had been lately dwelt in, but they were uncovered,

and had no mats about them, else they were like those we found at

Cornhill but had not been so lately dwelt in. There was nothing left but

two or three pieces of old mats, and a little sedge. Also, a little

further we found two baskets full of parched acorns hid in the ground,

which we supposed had been corn when we began to dig the same; we cast

earth thereon again and went our way. All this while we saw no people.

We went ranging up and down till the sun began to draw low, and then we

hasted out of the woods, that we might come to our shallop, which when

we were out of the woods, we espied a great way off, and called them to

come unto us, the which they did as soon as they could, for it was not

yet high water. They were exceeding glad to see us (for they feared

because they had not seen us in so long a time), thinking we would have

kept by the shore side. So being both weary and faint, for we had eaten

nothing all that day, we fell to make our rendezvous and get firewood,

which always costs us a great deal of labor. By that time we had done,

and our shallop come to us, it was within night, and we fed upon such

victuals as we had, and betook us to our rest, after we had set out our

watch. About midnight we heard a great and hideous cry, and our

sentinels called, “Arm! Arm!” So we bestirred ourselves and shot off a

couple of muskets, and the noise ceased; we concluded that it was a

company of wolves or foxes, for one told us he had heard such a noise in

Newfoundland.

About five o’clock in the morning we began to be stirring, and two or

three which doubted whether their pieces would go off or no made trial

of them, and shot them off, but thought nothing at all. After prayer we

prepared ourselves for breakfast and for a journey, and it being now the

twilight in the morning, it was thought meet to carry the things down to

the shallop. Some said it was not best to carry the armor down; others

said they would be readier; two or three said they would not carry

theirs till they went themselves, but mistrusting nothing at all. As it

fell out, the water not being high enough, they laid the things down

upon the shore and came up to breakfast. Anon, all upon a sudden, we

heard a great and strange cry, which we knew to be the same voices,

though they varied their notes. One of our company, being abroad, came

running in and cried, “They are men! Indians! Indians!” and withal,

their arrows came flying amongst us. [Sidenote: Our first combat with

the Indians.]

Our men ran out with all speed to recover their arms, as by the good

providence of God they did. In the meantime, Captain Miles Standish,

having a snaphance[46] ready, made a shot, and after him another. After

they two had shot, other two of us were ready, but he wished us not to

shoot till we could take aim, for we knew not what need we should have,

and there were four only of us which had their arms there ready, and

stood before the open side of our barricade, which was first assaulted.

They thought it best to defend it, lest the enemy should take it and our

stuff, and so have the more vantage against us. Our care was no less for

the shallop, but we hoped all the rest would defend it; we called unto

them to know how it was with them, and they answered, “Well! Well!”

every one and, “Be of good courage!” We heard three of their pieces go

off, and the rest called for a firebrand to light their matches. One

took a log out of the fire on his shoulder and went and carried it unto

them, which was thought did not a little discourage our enemies. The cry

of our enemies was dreadful, especially when our men ran out to recover

their arms; their note was after this manner, “_Woach woach ha ha hach

woach_.”[47] Our men were no sooner come to their arms, but the enemy

was ready to assault them.

There was a lusty man and no whit less valiant, who was thought to be

their captain, stood behind a tree within half a musket shot of us, and

there let his arrows fly at us. He was seen to shoot three arrows, which

were all avoided, for he at whom the first arrow was aimed, saw it, and

stooped down and it flew over him; the rest were avoided also. He stood

three shots of a musket. At length one took, as he said, full aim at

him, after which he gave an extraordinary cry and away they went all. We

followed them about a quarter of a mile, but we left six to keep our

shallop, for we were careful of our business. Then we shouted all

together two several times, and shot off a couple of muskets and so

returned; this we did that they might see we were not afraid of them nor

discouraged.

Thus it pleased God to vanquish our enemies and give us deliverance. By

their noise we could not guess that they were less than thirty or forty,

though some thought that they were many more. Yet in the dark of the

morning we could not so well discern them among the trees, as they could

see us by our fireside. We took up eighteen of their arrows which we

have sent to England by Master Jones, some whereof were headed with

brass, others with harts’ horn, and others with eagles’ claws. Many more

no doubt were shot, for these we found were almost covered with leaves;

yet, by the especial providence of God, none of them either hit or hurt

us though many came close by us and on every side of us, and some coats

which hung up in our baricade were shot through and through.

So after we had given God thanks for our deliverance, we took our

shallop and went on our journey, and called this place, The First

Encounter. From thence we intended to have sailed to the aforesaid

Thievish Harbor, if we found no convenient harbor by the way. Having the

wind good, we sailed all that day along the coast about fifteen leagues,

but saw neither river nor creek to put into. After we had sailed an hour

or two, it began to snow and rain, and to be bad weather. About the

midst of the afternoon, the wind increased and the seas began to be very

rough, and the hinges of the rudder broke so that we could steer no

longer with it, but two men with much ado were fain to serve with a

couple of oars. The seas were grown so great that we were much troubled

and in great danger, and night grew on. Anon Master Coppin bade us be of

good cheer; he saw the harbor. As we drew near, the gale being stiff and

we bearing great sail to get in, split our mast in three pieces, and

were like to have cast away our shallop. Yet, by God’s mercy, recovering

ourselves, we had the flood with us, and struck into the harbor.

Now he that thought that had been the place was deceived, it being a

place where not any of us had been before, and coming into the harbor,

he that was our pilot did bear up northward, which if we had continued

we had been cast away. Yet still the Lord kept us, and we bore up for an

island before us, and recovering of that island, being compassed about

with many rocks, and dark night growing upon us, it pleased the Divine

Providence that we fell upon a place of sandy ground, where our shallop

did ride safe and secure all that night, and coming upon a strange

island kept our watch all night in the rain upon that island. And in the

morning we marched about it and found no inhabitants at all, and here we

made our rendezvous all that day, being Saturday, 10th of December. On

the Sabbath day we rested, and on Monday we sounded the harbor, and

found it a very good harbor for our shipping. We marched also into the

land, and found divers cornfields, and little running brooks, a place

very good for situation, so we returned to our ship again with good news

to the rest of our people, which did much comfort their hearts.[48]

On the 15th day we weighed anchor, to go to the place we had discovered,

and coming within two leagues of the land, we could not fetch the

harbor, but were fain to put room again towards Cape Cod, our course

lying west, and the wind was at northwest. But it pleased God that the

next day, being Saturday the 16th day, the wind came fair and we put to

sea again, and came safely into a safe harbor; and within half an hour

the wind changed, so as if we had been letted[49] but a little, we had

gone back to Cape Cod.

This harbor is a bay greater than Cape Cod, compassed with a goodly

land, and in the bay, two fine islands uninhabited, wherein are nothing

but wood, oaks, pines, walnuts, beech, sassafras, vines, and other trees

which we know not. This bay is a most hopeful place, innumerable store

of fowl, and excellent good, and cannot but be of fish in their seasons;

skote,[50] cod, turbot, and herring, we have tasted of, abundance of

mussels the greatest and best that ever we saw; crabs and lobsters, in

their time infinite. It is in fashion like a sickle or fish-hook.

Monday the 18th day, we went a-land, manned with the master of the ship

and three or four of the sailors. We marched along the coast in the

woods some seven or eight miles, but saw not an Indian nor an Indian

house; only we found where formerly had been some inhabitants, and where

they had planted their corn. We found not any navigable river, but four

or five small running brooks of very sweet fresh water, that all run

into the sea. The land for the crust of the earth is, a spit’s[51]

depth, excellent black mould,[52] and fat[53] in some places, two or

three great oaks but not very thick, pines, walnuts, beech, ash, birch,

hazel, holly, asp,[54] sassafras in abundance, and vines everywhere,

cherry trees, plum trees, and many others which we know not. Many kinds

of herbs we found here in winter, as strawberry leaves innumerable,

sorrel, yarrow, carvel, brooklime, liverwort, watercresses, great store

of leeks and onions, and an excellent strong kind of flax and hemp. Here

is sand, gravel, and excellent clay, no better in the world, excellent

for pots, and will wash like soap, and great store of stone, though

somewhat soft, and the best water that ever we drank, and the brooks now

begin to be full of fish. That night, many being weary with marching, we

went aboard again.

The next morning, being Tuesday the 19th of December, we went again to

discover further; some went on land, and some in the shallop. The land

we found as the former day we did, and we found a creek, and went up

three English miles. A very pleasant river, at full sea a bark of thirty

tons may go up, but at low water scarce our shallop could pass. This

place we had a great liking to plant in, but that it was so far from our

fishing, our principal profit,[55] and so encompassed with woods that we

should be in much danger of the savages, and our number being so little,

and so much ground to clear, so as we thought good to quit and clear

that place till we were of more strength. Some of us having a good mind

for safety to plant in the greater isle,[56] we crossed the bay which is

there five or six miles over, and found the isle about a mile and a half

or two miles about, all wooded, and no fresh water but two or three

pits, that we doubted of fresh water in summer, and so full of wood as

we could hardly clear so much as to serve us for corn. Besides, we

judged it cold for our corn, and some part very rocky, yet divers

thought of it as a place defensible, and of great security.

That night we returned again a-shipboard, with resolution the next

morning to settle on some of those places; so in the morning, after we

had called on God for direction, we came to this resolution: to go

presently ashore again, and to take a better view of two places, which

we thought most fitting for us, for we could not now take time for

further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent,

especially our beer, and it being now the 19th of December. After our

landing and viewing of the places, so well as we could we came to a

conclusion, by most voices, to set on the mainland, on the first place,

on a high ground, where there is a great deal of land cleared, and hath

been planted with corn three or four years ago, and there is a very

sweet brook runs under the hill side, and many delicate springs of as

good water as can be drunk, and where we may harbor our shallops and

boats exceeding well, and in this brook much good fish in their seasons;

on the further side of the river also much corn-ground cleared. In one

field is a great hill on which we point to make a platform and plant our

ordnance, which will command all round about. From thence we may see

into the bay, and far into the sea, and we may see thence Cape Cod. Our

greatest labor will be fetching of our wood, which is half a quarter of

an English mile, but there is enough so far off. What people inhabit

here we yet know not, for as yet we have seen none. So there we made our

rendezvous, and a place for some of our people, about twenty, resolving

in the morning to come all ashore and to build houses.

But the next morning, being Thursday the 21st of December, it was stormy

and wet, that we could not go ashore, and those that remained there all

night could do nothing, but were wet, not having daylight enough to make

them a sufficient court of guard[57] to keep them dry. All that night it

blew and rained extremely; it was so tempestuous that the shallop could

not go on land so soon as was meet, for they had no victuals on land.

About eleven o’clock the shallop went off with much ado with provision,

but could not return; it blew so strong and was such foul weather that

we were forced to let fall our anchor and ride with three anchors ahead.

Friday, the 22nd, the storm still continued, that we could not get

a-land nor they come to us aboard. This morning good-wife[58] Allerton

was delivered of a son, but dead born.

Saturday, the 23rd, so many of us as could, went on shore, felled and

carried timber, to provide themselves stuff for building.

Sunday, the 24th, our people on shore heard a cry of some savages (as

they thought) which caused an alarm, and to stand on their guard,

expecting an assault, but all was quiet.

Monday, the 25th day, we went on shore, some to fell timber, some to

saw, some to rive, and some to carry, so no man rested all that day. But

towards night some, as they were at work, heard a noise of some Indians,

which caused us all to go to our muskets, but we heard no further. So we

came aboard again, and left some twenty to keep the court of guard. That

night we had a sore storm of wind and rain.

Monday, the 25th day, we went on shore, some to fell drink water aboard,

but at night the master caused us to have some beer, and so on board we

had divers times now and then some beer, but on shore none at all.

Tuesday, the 26th, it was foul weather, that we could not go ashore.

Wednesday, the 27th, we went to work again.

Thursday, the 28th of December, so many as could went to work on the

hill where we purposed to build our platform for our ordnance, and which

doth command all the plain and the bay, and from whence we may see far

into the sea, and might be easier impaled, having two rows of houses and

a fair street. So in the afternoon we went to measure out the grounds,

and first we took notice how many families there were, willing all

single men that had no wives to join with some family, as they thought

fit, that so we might build fewer houses, which was done, and we reduced

them to nineteen families. To greater families we allotted larger plots,

to every person half a pole in breadth, and three in length,[59] and so

lots were cast where every man should lie, which was done, and staked

out. We thought this proportion was large enough at the first for houses

and gardens, to impale them round, considering the weakness of our

people, many of them growing ill with cold, for our former discoveries

in frost and storms, and the wading at Cape Cod had brought much

weakness amongst us, which increased so every day more and more, and

after was the cause of many of their deaths.

Friday and Saturday, we fitted ourselves for our labor, but our people

on shore were much troubled and discouraged with rain and wet, that day

being very stormy and cold. We saw great smokes of fire made by the

Indians, about six or seven miles from us, as we conjectured.

Monday, the 1st of January, we went betimes to work. We were much

hindered in lying so far off from the land, and fain to go as the tide

served, that we lost much time, for our ship drew so much water[60] that

she lay a mile and almost a half off, though a ship of seventy or eighty

tons at high water may come to the shore.

Wednesday, the 3rd of January, some of our people being abroad to get

and gather thatch, they saw great fires of the Indians, and were at

their corn-fields, yet saw none of the savages, nor had seen any of them

since we came to this bay.

Thursday, the 4th of January, Captain Miles Standish with four or five

more, went to see if they could meet with any of the savages in that

place where the fires were made. They went to some of their houses, but

not lately inhabited, yet could they not meet with any. As they came

home, they shot at an eagle and killed her, which was excellent meat; it

was hardly to be discerned from mutton.

Friday, the 5th of January, one of the sailors found alive upon the

shore a herring, which the master had to his supper, which put us in

hope of fish, but as yet we had got but one cod; we wanted small hooks.

Saturday, the 6th of January, Master Martin was very sick, and to our

judgment no hope of life, so Master Carver was sent for to come aboard

to speak with him about his accounts, who came the next morning.

Monday, the 8th day of January, was a very fair day, and we went betimes

to work. Master Jones sent the shallop, as he had formerly done, to see

where fish could be got. They had a great storm at sea, and were in some

danger; at night they returned with three great seals and an excellent

good cod, which did assure us that we should have plenty of fish

shortly.

This day, Francis Billington, having the week before seen from the top

of a tree on a high hill a great sea as he thought, went with one of the

master’s mates to see it. They went three miles and then came to a great

water, divided into two great lakes, the bigger of them five or six

miles in circuit, and in it an isle of a cable length[61] square, the

other three miles in compass; in their estimation they are fine fresh

water, full of fish, and fowl. A brook issues from it; it will be an

excellent help for us in time. They found seven or eight Indian houses,

but not lately inhabited. When they saw the houses they were in some

fear, for they were but two persons and one piece.

Tuesday, the 9th of January, was a reasonable fair day, and we went to

labor that day in the building of our town, in two rows of houses for

more safety. We divided by lot the plot of ground whereon to build our

town. After the proportion formerly alloted, we agreed that every man

should build his own house, thinking by that course men would make more

haste than working in common. The common house, in which for the first

we made our rendezvous, being near finished wanted only covering, it

being about twenty feet square. Some should make mortar, and some gather

thatch, so that in four days half of it was thatched. Frost and foul

weather hindered us much, this time of the year seldom could we work

half the week.

Thursday, the 11th, William Bradford being at work (for it was a fair

day) was vehemently taken with a grief and pain, and so shot to his

huckle-bone.[62] It was doubted that he would have instantly died; he

got cold in the former discoveries, especially the last, and felt some

pain in his ankles by times, but he grew a little better towards night

and in time, through God’s mercy in the use of means, recovered.

Friday, the 12th, we went to work, but about noon it began to rain that

it forced us to give over work.

This day two of our people put us in great sorrow and care; there was

four sent to gather and cut thatch in the morning, and two of them, John

Goodman and Peter Brown, having cut thatch all the forenoon, went to a

further place, and willed the other two to bind up that which was cut

and to follow them. So they did, being about a mile and a half from our

plantation. But when the two came after, they could not find them, nor

hear any thing of them at all, though they hallooed and shouted as loud

as they could, so they returned to the company and told them of it.

Whereupon Master Leaver[63] and three or four more went to seek them,

but could hear nothing of them, so they returning, sent more, but that

night they could hear nothing at all of them. The next day they armed

ten or twelve men out, verily thinking the Indians had surprised them.

They went seeking seven or eight miles, but could neither see nor hear

any thing at all, so they returned, with much discomfort to us all.

These two that were missed, at dinner time took their meat in their

hands, and would go walk and refresh themselves. So going a little off

they find a lake of water, and having a great mastiff bitch with them

and a spaniel, by the water side they found a great deer; the dogs

chased him, and they followed so far as they lost themselves and could

not find the way back. They wandered all that afternoon being wet, and

at night it did freeze and snow. They were slenderly apparelled and had

no weapons but each one his sickle, nor any victuals. They ranged up and

down and could find none of the savages’ habitations. When it drew to

night they were much perplexed, for they could find neither harbor nor

meat, but, in frost and snow were forced to make the earth their bed and

the element their covering. And another thing did very much terrify

them; they heard, as they thought, two lions roaring exceedingly for a

long time together, and a third, that they thought was very near them.

So not knowing what to do, they resolved to climb up into a tree as

their safest refuge, though that would prove an intolerable cold

lodging; so they stood at the tree’s root, that when the lions came they

might take their opportunity of climbing up. The bitch they were fain to

hold by the neck, for she would have been gone to the lion; but it

pleased God so to dispose, that the wild beasts came not. So they walked

up and down under the tree all night; it was an extreme cold night. So

soon as it was light they travelled again, passing by many lakes and

brooks and woods, and in one place where the savages had burnt the space

of five miles in length, which is a fine champaign[64] country, and

even. In the afternoon, it pleased God, from a high hill they discovered

the two isles in the bay, and so that night got to the plantation, being

ready to faint with travail and want of victuals, and almost famished

with cold. John Goodman was fain to have his shoes cut off his feet they

were so swelled with cold, and it was a long while after ere he was able

to go; those on the shore were much comforted at their return, but they

on shipboard were grieved at deeming them lost.

But the next day, being the 14th of January, in the morning about six of

the clock the wind being very great, they on shipboard spied their great

new rendezvous on fire, which was to them a new discomfort, fearing

because of the supposed loss of the men, that the savages had fired

them. Neither could they presently go to them, for want of water, but

after three quarters of an hour they went, as they had purposed the day

before to keep the Sabbath on shore, because now there was the greater

number of people. At their landing they heard good tidings of the return

of the two men, and that the house was fired occasionally by a spark

that flew into the thatch, which instantly burnt it all up but the roof

stood and little hurt. The most loss was Master Carver’s and William

Bradford’s, who then lay sick in bed, and if they had not risen with

good speed, had been blown up with powder, but, through God’s mercy,

they had no harm. The house was as full of beds as they could lie one by

another, and their muskets charged, but, blessed be God, there was no

harm done.

Monday, the 15th day, it rained much all day, that they on shipboard

could not go on shore, nor they on shore do any labor but were all wet.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, were very fair sunshiny days, as if it had

been in April, and our people, so many as were in health, wrought

cheerfully.

The 19th day we resolved to make a shed to put our common provision in,

of which some were already set on shore, but at noon it rained, that we

could not work. This day in the evening, John Goodman went abroad to use

his lame feet, that were pitifully ill with the cold he had got, having

a little spaniel with him. A little way from the plantation two great

wolves ran after the dog; the dog ran to him and betwixt his legs for

succor. He had nothing in his hand but took up a stick, and threw at one

of them and hit him, and they presently ran both away, but came again;

he got a pale-board[65] in his hand, and they sat both on their tails,

grinning at him a good while, and went their way and left him.

Saturday, 20th, we made up our shed for our common goods.

Sunday, the 21st, we kept our meeting on land.

Monday, the 22nd, was a fair day. We wrought on our houses, and in the

afternoon carried up our hogsheads of meal to our common storehouse. The

rest of the week we followed our business likewise.

Monday, the 29th, in the morning cold frost and sleet, but after

reasonable fair; both the long-boat and the shallop brought our common

goods on shore.

Tuesday and Wednesday, 30th and 31st of January, cold frosty weather and

sleet, that we could not work. In the morning the master and others saw

two savages that had been on the island near our ship. What they came

for we could not tell; they were going so far back again before they

were descried, that we could not speak with them.

Sunday, the 4th of February, was very wet and rainy, with the greatest

gusts of wind that ever we had since we came forth, that though we rid

in a very good harbor, yet we were in danger, because our ship was

light, the goods taken out, and she unballasted; and it caused much

daubing[66] of our houses to fall down.

Friday, the 9th, still the cold weather continued, that we could do

little work. That afternoon our little house for our sick people was set

on fire by a spark that kindled in the roof, but no great harm was done.

That evening, the master going ashore, killed five geese, which he

friendly distributed among the sick people. He found also a good deer

killed; the savages had cut off the horns, and a wolf was eating of him;

how he came there we could not conceive.

Friday, the 16th, was a fair day, but the northerly wind continued,

which continued the frost. This day after noon one of our people being

a-fowling, and having taken a stand by a creek-side in the reeds, about

a mile and a half from our plantation, there came by him twelve Indians

marching towards our plantation, and in the woods he heard the noise of

many more. He lay close till they were passed, and then with what speed

he could he went home and gave the alarm, so the people abroad in the

woods returned and armed themselves, but saw none of them; only toward

the evening they made a great fire, about the place where they were

first discovered. Captain Miles Standish and Francis Cook, being at work

in the woods, coming home, left their tools behind them, but before they

returned their tools were taken away by the savages. This coming of the

savages gave us occasion to keep more strict watch, and to make our

pieces and furniture ready, which by the moisture and rain were out of

temper.

Saturday, the 17th day, in the morning we called a meeting for the

establishing of military orders among ourselves, and we chose Miles

Standish our captain, and gave him authority of command in affairs. And

as we were in consultation hereabouts, two savages presented themselves

upon the top of a hill, over against our plantation, about a quarter of

a mile and less, and made signs unto us to come unto them; we likewise

made signs unto them to come to us, whereupon we armed ourselves, and

stood ready, and sent two over the brook towards them, to wit, Captain

Standish and Stephen Hopkins, who went towards them. Only one of them

had a musket, which they laid down on the ground in their sight, in sign

of peace, and to parley with them, but the savages would not tarry their

coming. A noise of a great many more was heard behind the hill, but no

more came in sight. This caused us to plant our great ordnances in

places most convenient.

Wednesday, the 21st of February, the master came on shore with many of

his sailors, and brought with him one of the great pieces, called a

minion,[67] and helped us to draw it up the hill, with another piece

that lay on shore, and mounted them, and a saller,[68] and two

bases.[69] He brought with him a very fat goose to eat with us, and we

had a fat crane, and a mallard, and a dried neat’s[70] tongue, and so we

were kindly and friendly together.

Saturday, the 3rd of March, the wind was south, the morning misty, but

towards noon warm and fair weather; the birds sang in the woods most

pleasantly. At one of the clock it thundered, which was the first we

heard in that country; it was strong and great claps, but short, but

after an hour it rained very sadly[71] till midnight.

Wednesday, the 7th of March, the wind was full east, cold, but fair.

That day Master Carver with five others went to the great ponds, which

seem to be excellent fishing-places; all the way they went they found it

exceedingly beaten and haunted with deer, but they saw none. Amongst

other fowl, they saw one a milk-white fowl, with a very black head. This

day some garden seeds were sown.

Friday, the 16th, a fair warm day towards; this morning we determined to

conclude of the military orders, which we had begun to consider of

before but were interrupted by the savages, as we mentioned formerly.

And whilst we were busied hereabout, we were interrupted again, for

there presented himself a savage, which caused an alarm. He very boldly

came all alone and along the houses straight to the rendezvous, where we

intercepted him,[72] not suffering him to go in, as undoubtedly he

would, out of his boldness. He saluted us in English, and bade us

welcome, for he had learned some broken English among the Englishmen

that came to fish at Monchiggon,[73] and knew by name the most of the

captains, commanders, and masters that usually come. He was a man free

in speech, so far as he could express his mind, and of a seemly

carriage. We questioned him of many things; he was the first savage we

could meet withal. He said he was not of these parts, but of

Morattiggon,[73] and one of the sagamores or lords thereof, and had been

eight months in these parts, it lying hence a day’s sail with a great

wind, and five days by land. He discoursed of the whole country, and of

every province, and of their sagamores, and their number of men, and

strength. The wind beginning to rise a little, we cast a horseman’s coat

about him, for he was stark naked, only a leather about his waist, with

a fringe about a span[74] long, or little more; he had a bow and two

arrows, the one headed, and the other unheaded. He was a tall straight

man, the hair of his head black, long behind, only short before, none on

his face at all; he asked some beer, but we gave him strong water[75]

and biscuit, and butter, and cheese, and pudding, and a piece of

mallard, all which he liked well, and had been acquainted with such

amongst the English. He told us the place where we now live is called

Patuxet, and that about four years ago all the inhabitants died of an

extraordinary plague,[76] and there is neither man, woman, nor child

remaining, as indeed we have found none, so as there is none to hinder

our possession, or to lay claim unto it. All the afternoon we spent in

communication with him; we would gladly have been rid of him at night,

but he was not willing to go this night. Then we thought to carry him on

shipboard, wherewith he was well content, and went into the shallop, but

the wind was high and the water scant, that it could not return back. We

lodged him that night at Stephen Hopkin’s house, and watched him.

The next day he went away back to the Massasoits,[77] from whence he

said he came, who are our next bordering neighbors. They are sixty

strong, as he saith. The Nausets are as near southeast of them, and are

a hundred strong, and those were they of whom our people were

encountered, as we before related. They are much incensed and provoked

against the English, and about eight months ago slew three Englishmen,

and two more hardly escaped by flight to Monchiggon; they were Sir

Ferdinando Gorges his men,[78] as this savage told us, as he did

likewise of the _huggery_, that is, fight, that our discoverers had with

the Nausets, and of our tools that were taken out of the woods, which we

willed him should be brought again, otherwise, we would right ourselves.

These people are ill affected towards the English, by reason of one

Hunt,[79] a master of a ship, who deceived the people, and got them

under color of trucking with them, twenty out of this very place where

we inhabit, and seven men from the Nausets, and carried them away, and

sold them for slaves[80] like a wretched man (for twenty pound a man)

that cares not what mischief he doth for his profit.

Saturday, in the morning we dismissed the savage, and gave him a knife,

a bracelet, and a ring; he promised within a night or two to come again,

and to bring with him some of the Massasoits, our neighbors, with such

beavers’ skins as they had to truck with us.

Saturday and Sunday, reasonable fair days. On this day came again the

savage, and brought with him five other tall proper men; they had every

man a deer’s skin on him, and the principal of them had a wild cat’s

skin, or such like on the one arm. They had most of them long hosen[81]

up to their groins, close made; and above their groins to their waist

another leather, they were altogether like the Irish-trousers.[82] They

are of complexion like our English gypsies, no hair or very little on

their faces, on their heads long hair to their shoulders, only cut

before, some trussed up before with a feather, broad-wise, like a fan,

another a fox tail hanging out. These left (according to our charge

given him before) their bows and arrows a quarter of a mile from our

town. We gave them entertainment as we thought was fitting them; they

did eat liberally of our English victuals. They made semblance unto us

of friendship and amity; they sang and danced after their manner, like

antics.[83] They brought with them in a thing like a bow-case (which the

principal of them had about his waist) a little of their corn pounded to

powder, which, put to a little water, they eat. He had a little tobacco

in a bag, but none of them drank[84] but when he listed. Some of them

had their faces painted black, from the forehead to the chin, four or

five fingers broad; others after other fashions, as they liked. They

brought three or four skins, but we would not truck with them at all

that day, but wished them to bring more, and we would truck for all,

which they promised within a night or two, and would leave these behind

them, though we were not willing they should, and they brought us all

our tools again which were taken in the woods, in our men’s absence. So

because of the day we dismissed them so soon as we could. But Samoset,

our first acquaintance, either was sick, or feigned himself so, and

would not go with them, and stayed with us till Wednesday morning. Then

we sent him to them, to know the reason they came not according to their

words, and we gave him a hat, a pair of stockings and shoes, a shirt,

and a piece of cloth to tie about his waist.

The Sabbath day, when we sent them from us, we gave every one of them

some trifles, especially the principal of them. We carried them along

with our arms to the place where they left their bows and arrows,

whereat they were amazed, and two of them began to slink away, but that

the other called them. When they took their arrows, we bade them

farewell, and they were glad, and so with many thanks given us they

departed, with promise they would come again.

Monday and Tuesday proved fair days; we digged our grounds, and sowed

our garden seeds.

Wednesday a fine warm day, we sent away Samoset.

That day we had again a meeting to conclude of laws and orders for

ourselves, and to confirm those military orders that were formerly

propounded and twice broken off by the savages’ coming, but so we were

again the third time, for after we had been an hour together on the top

of the hill over against us two or three savages presented themselves,

that made semblance of daring us, as we thought. So Captain Standish

with another, with their muskets went over to them, with two of the

master’s mates that follow them without arms, having two muskets with

them. They whetted and rubbed their arrows and strings, and made show of

defiance, but when our men drew near them, they ran away; thus were we

again interrupted by them. This day with much ado we got our carpenter

that had been long sick of the scurvy, to fit our shallop, to fetch all

from aboard.

Thursday, the 22nd of March, was a very fair warm day. About noon we met

again about our public business, but we had scarce been an hour

together, but Samoset came again, and Squanto, the only native of

Patuxet, where we now inhabit, who was one of the twenty captives that

by Hunt were carried away, and had been in England,[85] and dwelt in

Cornhill with Master John Slanie, a merchant, and could speak a little

English, with three others, and they brought with them some few skins to

truck, and some red herrings newly taken and dried, but not salted, and

signified unto us, that their great sagamore Massasoit was hard by, with

Quadequina his brother, and all their men. They could not well express

in English what they would, but after an hour the king came to the top

of a hill over against us, and had in his train sixty men, that we could

well behold them and they us. We were not willing to send our governor

to them, and they unwilling to come to us, so Squanto went again unto

him, who brought word that we should send one to parley with him, which

we did, which was Edward Winslow, to know his mind, and to signify the

mind and will of our governor, which was to have trading and peace with

him. We sent to the king a pair of knives, and a copper chain with a

jewel at it. To Quadequina we sent likewise a knife and a jewel to hang

in his ear, and withal a pot of strong water, a good quantity of

biscuit, and some butter, which were all willingly accepted.

Our messenger made a speech unto him, that King James saluted him with

words of love and peace, and did accept of him as his friend and ally,

and that our governor desired to see him and to truck with him, and to

confirm a peace with him, as his next neighbor. He liked well of the

speech and heard it attentively, though the interpreters did not well

express it. After he had eaten and drunk himself, and given the rest to

his company, he looked upon our messenger’s sword and armor which he had

on, with intimation of his desire to buy it, but on the other side, our

messenger showed his unwillingness to part with it. In the end he left

him in the custody of Quadequina his brother, and came over the brook,

and some twenty men following him, leaving all their bows and arrows

behind them. We kept six or seven as hostages for our messenger; Captain

Standish and Master Williamson[86] met the king at the brook, with half

a dozen musketeers. They saluted him and he them, so one going over, the

one on the one side, and the other on the other, conducted him to a

house then in building, where we placed a green rug and three or four

cushions. Then instantly came our governor with drum and trumpet after

him, and some few musketeers. After salutations, our governor kissing

his hand, the king kissed him, and so they sat down. The governor called

for some strong water, and drunk to him, and he drunk a great draught

that made him sweat all the while after; he called for a little fresh

meat, which the king did eat willingly, and did give his followers. Then

they treated of peace, which was:

[Sidenote: The

agreements of peace

between us and

Massasoit.]

1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of

our people.

2. And if any of his did hurt to any of ours, he should send the

offender, that we might punish him.

3. That if any of our tools were taken away when our people were at

work, he should cause them to be restored, and if ours did any harm to

any of his, we would do the like to them.

4. If any did unjustly war against him, we would aid him; if any did

war against us, he should aid us.

5. He should send to his neighbor confederates, to certify them of

this, that they might not wrong us, but might be likewise comprised in

the conditions of peace.

6. That when their men came to us, they should leave their bows and

arrows behind them, as we should do our pieces when we came to them.

Lastly, that doing thus, King James would esteem of him as his friend

and ally.

All which the king seemed to like well,[87] and it was applauded of his

followers; all the while he sat by the governor he trembled for fear. In

his person he is a very lusty man, in his best years, an able body,

grave of countenance, and spare of speech. In his attire little or

nothing differing from the rest of his followers, only in a great chain

of white bone beads about his neck, and at it behind his neck hangs a

little bag of tobacco, which he drank and gave us to drink; his face was

painted with a sad[88] red like murry,[89] and oiled both head and face,

that he looked greasily. All his followers likewise, were in their

faces, in part or in whole painted, some black, some red, some yellow,

and some white, some with crosses, and other antic works; some had skins

on them, and some naked, all strong, tall, all men in appearance.

So after all was done, the governor conducted him to the brook, and

there they embraced each other and he departed; we diligently keeping

our hostages, we expected our messenger’s coming, but anon, word was

brought us that Quadequina was coming, and our messenger was stayed till

his return, who presently came and a troop with him, so likewise we

entertained him, and conveyed him to the place prepared. He was very

fearful of our pieces, and made signs of dislike, that they should be

carried away, whereupon commandment was given they should be laid away.

He was a very proper tall young man, of a very modest and seemly

countenance, and he did kindly like of our entertainment, so we conveyed

him likewise as we did the king, but divers of their people stayed

still. When he was returned, then they dismissed our messenger. Two of

his people would have stayed all night, but we would not suffer it. One

thing I forgot, the king had in his bosom, hanging in a string, a great

long knife; he marvelled much at our trumpet, and some of his men would

sound it as well as they could. Samoset and Squanto, they stayed all

night with us, and the king and all his men lay all night in the woods,

not above half an English mile from us, and all their wives and women

with them. They said that within eight or nine days they would come and

set corn on the other side of the brook, and dwell there all summer,

which is hard by us. That night we kept good watch, but there was no

appearance of danger.

The next morning divers of their people came over to us, hoping to get

some victuals as we imagined; some of them told us the king would have

some of us come see him. Captain Standish and Isaac Allerton went

venturously, who were welcomed of him after their manner: he gave them

three or four ground-nuts, and some tobacco. We cannot yet conceive but

that he is willing to have peace with us, for they have seen our people

sometimes alone two or three in the woods at work and fowling, when as

they offered them no harm as they might easily have done, and especially

because he hath a potent adversary the Narragansets, that are at war

with him, against whom he thinks we may be some strength to him, for our

pieces are terrible unto them. This morning they stayed till ten or

eleven of the clock, and our governor bid them send the king’s kettle,

and filled it full of pease, which pleased them well, and so they went

their way.

Friday was a very fair day; Samoset and Squanto still remained with us.

Squanto went at noon to fish for eels; at night he came home with as

many as he could well lift in one hand, which our people were glad of.

They were fat and sweet; he trod them out with his feet, and so caught

them with his hands without any other instrument.

This day we proceeded on with our common business, from which we had

been so often hindered by the savages’ coming, and concluding both of

military orders and of some laws and orders as we thought behooveful for

our present estate, and condition, and did likewise choose our governor

for this year, which was Master John Carver, a man well approved amongst

us.

[Illustration: decorative border]

A

Journey to Pokanoket,

the habitation of the great King

MASSASOIT;

as also our message, the answer and entertainment we had of him.

[Illustration: illuminated capital]

It seemed good to the company for many considerations to send some

amongst them to Massasoit, the greatest commander amongst the savages

bordering upon us; partly to know where to find them if occasion served,

as also to see their strength, discover the country, prevent abuses in

their disorderly coming unto us, make satisfaction for some conceived

injuries to be done on our parts, and to continue the league of peace

and friendship between them and us. For these, and the like ends, it

pleased the governor to make choice of Stephen Hopkins and Edward

Winslow to go unto him, and having a fit opportunity,[90] by reason of a

savage called Squanto (that could speak English) coming unto us, with

all expedition provided a horseman’s coat of red cotton, and laced with

a slight lace, for a present, that both they and their message might be

the more acceptable amongst them.

The message was as followeth: that forasmuch as his subjects came often

and without fear, upon all occasions amongst us, so we were now come

unto him, and in witness of the love and good-will the English bear unto

him, the governor hath sent him a coat, desiring that the peace and

amity that was between them and us might be continued, not that we

feared them, but because we intended not to injure any, desiring to live

peaceably, and as with all men, so especially with them, our nearest

neighbors. But whereas his people came very often, and very many

together unto us, bringing for the most part their wives and children

with them, they were welcome; yet we being but strangers as yet at

Patuxet, alias New Plymouth,[91] and not knowing how our corn might

prosper, we could no longer give them such entertainment as we had done,

and as we desired still to do. Yet if he would be pleased to come

himself, or any special friend of his desired to see us, coming from him

they should be welcome; and to the end we might know them from others,

our governor had sent him a copper chain, desiring if any messenger

should come from him to us, we might know him by bringing it with him,

and hearken and give credit to his message accordingly. Also requesting

him that such as have skins should bring them to us, and that he would

hinder the multitude from oppressing us with them. And whereas at our

first arrival at Paomet (called by us Cape Cod) we found there corn

buried in the ground, and finding no inhabitants but some graves of dead

new buried, took the corn, resolving if ever we could hear of any that

had right thereunto, to make satisfaction to the full for it, yet since

we understand the owners thereof were fled for fear of us, our desire

was either to pay them with the like quantity of corn, English meal, or

any other commodities we had to pleasure them withal; requesting him

that some one of his men might signify so much unto them, and we would

content him for his pains. And last of all, our governor requested one

favor of him, which was, that he would exchange some of their corn for

seed with us, that we might make trial which best agreed with the soil

where we live.

With these presents and message we set forward the 10th June, about nine

o’clock in the morning, our guide resolving that night to rest at

Nemasket,[92] a town under Massasoit, and conceived by us to be very

near, because the inhabitants flocked so thick upon every slight

occasion amongst us; but we found it to be some fifteen English miles.

On the way we found some ten or twelve men, women, and children, which

had pestered us till we were weary of them, perceiving that (as the

manner of them all is) where victual is easiest to be got, there they

live, especially in the summer: by reason whereof, our bay affording

many lobsters, they resort every spring-tide thither; and now returned

with us to Nemasket. Thither we came about three o’clock after noon, the

inhabitants entertaining us with joy, in the best manner they could,

giving us a kind of bread called by them _maizium_, and the spawn of

shads, which then they got in abundance, insomuch as they gave us spoons

to eat them. With these they boiled musty acorns, but of the shads we

ate heartily. After this they desired one of our men to shoot at a crow,

complaining what damage they sustained in their corn by them, who

shooting some fourscore off and killing, they much admired it, as other

shots on other occasions.

After this, Squanto told us we should hardly in one day reach

Pokanoket,[93] moving us to go some eight miles further, where we should

find more store and better victuals than there. Being willing to hasten

our journey we went, and came thither at sunsetting, where we found many

of the Namascheucks (they so calling the men of Nemasket) fishing upon a

weir which they had made on a river which belonged to them, where they

caught abundance of bass. These welcomed us also, gave us of their fish,

and we them of our victuals, not doubting but we should have enough

where’er we came. There we lodged in the open fields, for houses they

had none, though they spent the most of the summer there. The head of

this river is reported to be not far from the place of our abode; upon

it are and have been many towns, it being a good length. The ground is

very good on both sides, it being for the most part cleared. Thousands

of men have lived there, which died in a great plague not long since;

and pity it was and is to see so many goodly fields, and so well seated,

without men to dress and manure[94] the same. Upon this river dwelleth

Massasoit. It cometh into the sea at the Narraganset Bay, where the

Frenchmen so much use. A ship may go many miles up it, as the savages

report, and a shallop to the head of it; but so far as we saw, we are

sure a shallop may.

But to return to our journey. The next morning we broke our fast, took

our leave and departed, being then accompanied with some six savages.

Having gone about six miles by the river side, at a known shoal place,

it being low water, they spake to us to put off our breeches, for we

must wade through. Here let me not forget the valor and courage of some

of the savages on the opposite side of the river, for there were

remaining alive only two men, both aged, especially the one being above

threescore. These two, espying a company of men entering the river, ran

very swiftly and low in the grass, to meet us at the bank, where with

shrill voices and great courage standing charged upon us with their

bows; they demanded what we were, supposing us to be enemies, and

thinking to take advantage on us in the water. But seeing we were

friends, they welcomed us with such food as they had, and we bestowed a

small bracelet of beads on them. Thus far we are sure the tide ebbs and

flows.

Having here again refreshed ourselves we proceeded in our journey, the

weather being very hot for travel, yet the country so well watered that

a man could scarce be dry, but he should have a spring at hand to cool

his thirst, beside small rivers in abundance. But the savages will not

willingly drink but at a springhead. When we came to any small brook

where no bridge was, two of them desired to carry us through of their

own accords, also fearing we were or would be weary, offered to carry

our pieces, also if we would lay off any of our clothes, we should have

them carried; and as the one of them had found more special kindness

from one of the messengers, and the other savage from the other so they

showed their thankfulness accordingly in affording us all help and

furtherance in the journey.

As we passed along, we observed that there were few places by the river

but had been inhabited, by reason whereof much ground was clear, save of

weeds which grew higher than our heads. There is much good timber, both

oak, walnut tree, fir, beech, and exceeding great chestnut trees. The

country, in respect of the lying of it, is both champaign and hilly,

like many places in England. In some places it is very rocky both above

ground and in it. And though the country be wild and overgrown with

woods, yet the trees stand not thick, but a man may well ride a horse

amongst them.

Passing on at length, one of the company, an Indian, espied a man and

told the rest of it. We asked them if they feared any; they told us that

if they were Narraganset men they would not trust them. Whereat we

called for our pieces and bid them not to fear, for though they were

twenty, we two alone would not care for them. But they hailing him, he

proved a friend, and had only two women with him; their baskets were

empty but they fetched water in their bottles, so that we drank with

them and departed. After, we met another man with other two women, which

had been at rendezvous by the salt water, and their baskets were full of

roasted crab, fishes, and other dried shell fish, of which they gave us,

and we ate and drank with them, and gave each of the women a string of

beads, and departed.

After, we came to a town of Massasoit’s, where we ate oysters and other

fish. From thence we went to Pokanoket but Massasoit was not at home;

there we stayed, he being sent for. When news was brought of his coming,

our guide Squanto requested that at our meeting we would discharge our

pieces. But one of us going about to charge his piece, the women and

children, through fear to see him take up his piece, ran away, and could

not be pacified till he laid it down again, who afterward were better

informed by our interpreter.

Massasoit being come, we discharged our pieces, and saluted him, who

after their manner kindly welcomed us, and took us into his house, and

set us down by him, where, having delivered our foresaid message and

presents, and having put the coat on his back and the chain about his

neck, he was not a little proud to behold himself, and his men also to

see their king so bravely[95] attired.

For answer to our message, he told us we were welcome, and he would

gladly continue that peace and friendship which was between him and us,

and, for his men, they should no more pester us as they had done; also

that he would sent to Paomet, and would help us with corn for seed,

according to our request.

This being done, his men gathered near to him, to whom he turned

himself, and made a great speech; they sometimes interposing, and, as it

were, confirming and applauding him in that he said. The meaning whereof

was (as far as we could learn) thus: Was not he Massasoit, commander of

the country about them? Was not such a town his, and the people of it?

And should they not bring their skins unto us? To which they answered,

they were his and would be at peace with us, and bring their skins to

us. After this manner he named at least thirty places, and their answer

was as aforesaid to every one, so that as it was delightful, it was

tedious unto us.

This being ended, he lighted tobacco for us, and fell to discoursing of

England, and of the King’s Majesty, marvelling that he would live

without a wife.[96] Also he talked of the Frenchmen, bidding us not to

suffer them to come to Narraganset, for it was King James his country,

and he also was King James his man. Late it grew, but victuals he

offered none, for indeed he had not any, being he came so newly home. So

we desired to go to rest. He laid us on the bed with himself and his

wife, they at the one end and we at the other, it being only planks laid

a foot from the ground, and a thin mat upon them. Two more of his chief

men, for want of room, pressed by and upon us, so that we were worse

weary of our lodging than of our journey.

The next day, being Thursday, many of their sachems, or petty governors,

came to see us, and many of their men also. There they went to their

manner of games for skins and knives. There we challenged them to shoot

with them for skins, but they durst not; only they desired to see one of

us shoot at a mark, who shooting with hail-shot, they wondered to see

the mark so full of holes.

About one o’clock, Massasoit brought two fishes that he had shot; they

were like bream but three times so big, and better meat. These being

boiled there were at least forty looked for share in them, the most ate

of them. This meal only we had in two nights and a day, and had not one

of us bought a partridge we had taken our journey fasting. Very

importunate he was to have us stay with them longer. But we desired to

keep the Sabbath at home, and feared we should either be light-headed

for want of sleep, for what with bad lodging, the savages’ barbarous

singing (for they use to sing themselves asleep), lice and fleas within

doors, and mosquitoes without, we could hardly sleep all the time of our

being there; we much fearing that if we should stay any longer, we

should not be able to recover home for want of strength. So that on the

Friday morning before sunrising, we took our leave and departed,

Massasoit being both grieved and ashamed that he could no better

entertain us, and retaining Squanto to send from place to place to

procure truck for us, and appointing another, called Tokamahamon, in his

place, whom we had found faithful before and after upon all occasions.

At this town of Massasoit’s where we before ate, we were again refreshed

with a little fish, and bought about a handful of meal of their parched

corn, which was very precious at that time of the year, and a small

string of dried shell-fish, as big as oysters. The latter we gave to the

six savages that accompanied us, keeping the meal for ourselves. When we

drank, we ate each a spoonful of it with a pipe of tobacco, instead of

other victuals, and of this also we could not but give them so long as

it lasted. Five miles they led us to a house out of the way in hope of

victuals, but we found nobody there and so were but worse able to return

home. That night we reached to the weir where we lay before, but the

Namascheucks were returned, so that we had no hope of any thing there.

One of the savages had shot a shad in the water, and a small squirrel as

big as a rat, called a _neuxis_; the one half of either he gave us, and

after went to the weir to fish. From hence we wrote to Plymouth, and

sent Tokamahamon before to Nemasket, willing him from thence to send

another, that he might meet us with food at Nemasket. Two men now only

remained with us, and it pleased God to give them good store of fish, so

that we were well refreshed. After supper we went to rest, and they to

fishing again; more they got and fell to eating afresh, and retained

sufficient ready roast for all our breakfasts. About two o’clock in the

morning arose a great storm of wind, rain, lightning, and thunder, in

such violent manner that we could not keep in our fire, and had the

savages not roasted fish when we were asleep, we had set forward

fasting, for the rain still continued with great violence, even the

whole day through, till we came within two miles of home.

Being wet and weary, at length we came to Nemasket; there we refreshed

ourselves, giving gifts to all such as had showed us any kindness.

Amongst others, one of the six that came with us from Pokanoket, having

before this on the way unkindly foresaken us, marvelled we gave him

nothing, and told us what he had done for us. We also told him of some

discourtesies he offered us, whereby he deserved nothing. Yet we gave

him a small trifle, whereupon he offered us tobacco; but the house being

full of people, we told them he stole some by the way, and if it were of

that we would not take it, for we would not receive that which was

stolen upon any terms; if we did, our God would be angry with us, and

destroy us. This abashed him and gave the rest great content. But at our

departure he would needs carry him on his back through a river, whom he

had formerly in some sort abused. Fain they would have had us to lodge

there all night, and wondered we would set forth again in such weather.

But, God be praised, we came safe home that night, though wet, weary,

and surbated.[97]

[Illustration: decorative border]

A

VOYAGE MADE BY TEN

of our men to the Kingdom of Nauset,

to seek a boy that had lost himself in the woods; with such accidents

as befell us in that voyage.

[Illustration: illuminated capital]

The 11th of June we set forth, the weather being very fair. But ere we

had been long at sea, there arose a storm of wind and rain, with much

lightning and thunder, insomuch that a spout arose not far from us, but,

God be praised, it dured not long, and we put in that night for harbor

at a place called Cummaquid,[98] where we had some hope to find the boy.

Two savages were in the boat with us, the one was Squanto, our

interpreter, the other Tokamahamon, a special friend. It being night

before we came in, we anchored in the midst of the bay, where we were

dry at alow water. In the morning we espied savages seeking lobsters,

and sent our two interpreters to speak with them, the channel being

between them; where they told them what we were, and for what we were

come, willing them not at all to fear us, for we would not hurt them.

Their answer was, that the boy was well, but he was at Nauset;[99] yet

since we were there they desired us to come ashore and eat with them;

which, as soon as our boat floated, we did, and went six ashore, having

four pledges for them in the boat. They brought us to their sachem or

governor, whom they call Iyanough, a man not exceeding twenty-six years

of age, but very personable, gentle, courteous, and fair conditioned,

indeed not like a savage, save for his attire. His entertainment was

answerable to his parts, and his cheer plentiful and various.

One thing was very grievous unto us at this place. There was an old

woman, whom we judged to be no less than a hundred years old, which came

to see us because she never saw English, yet could not behold us without

breaking forth into great passion, weeping and crying excessively. We

demanding the reason of it, they told us she had three sons who, when

Master Hunt was in these parts, went aboard his ship to trade with him,

and he carried them captives into Spain (for Squanto at that time was

carried away also) by which means she was deprived of the comfort of her

children in her old age. We told them we were sorry that any Englishman

should give them that offense, that Hunt was a bad man, and that all the

English that heard of it condemned him for the same; but for us, we

would not offer them any such injury though it would gain us all the

skins in the country. So we gave her some small trifles, which somewhat

appeased her.

After dinner we took boat for Nauset, Iyanough and two of his men

accompanying us. Ere we came to Nauset, the day and tide were almost

spent, insomuch as we could not go in with our shallop, but the sachem

or governor of Cummaquid went ashore and his men with him. We also sent

Squanto to tell Aspinet, the sachem of Nauset, wherefore we came. The

savages here came very thick amongst us, and were earnest with us to

bring in our boat. But we neither well could, nor yet desired to do it,

because we had least cause to trust them, being they only had formerly

made an assault upon us in the same place, in time of our winter

discovery for habitation. And indeed it was no marvel they did so, for

howsoever, through snow or otherwise, we saw no houses, yet we were in

the midst of them.

When our boat was aground they came very thick, but we stood therein

upon our guard, not suffering any to enter except two, the one being of

Manomoyik,[100] and one of those whose corn we had formerly found; we

promised him restitution, and desired him either to come to Patuxet for

satisfaction, or else we would bring them so much corn again. He

promised to come; we used him very kindly for the present. Some few

skins we got there but not many.

After sunset, Aspinet came with a great train, and brought the boy with

him, one bearing him through the water. He had not less than a hundred

with him, the half whereof came to the shallop side unarmed with him,

the other stood aloof with their bows and arrows. There he delivered us

the boy, behung with beads, and made peace with us, we bestowing a knife

on him, and likewise on another that first entertained the boy and

brought him thither. So they departed from us.

Here we understood that the Narragansets had spoiled[101] some of

Massasoit’s men, and taken him. This struck some fear in us, because the

colony was so weakly guarded, the strength thereof being abroad. But we

set forth with resolution to make the best haste home we could; yet the

wind being contrary, having scarce any fresh water left, and at least

sixteen leagues home, we put in again for the shore. There we met again

with Iyanough, the sachem of Cummaquid, and the most of his town, both

men, women, and children with him. He, being still willing to gratify

us, took a runlet[102] and led our men in the dark a great way for

water, but could find none good, yet brought such as there was on his

neck with him. In the meantime the women joined hand in hand, singing

and dancing before the shallop, the men also showing all the kindness

they could, Iyanough himself taking a bracelet from about his neck and

hanging it upon one of us.

Again we set out, but to small purpose, for we gat but little homeward.

Our water also was very brackish, and not to be drunk. The next morning,

Iyanough espied us again and ran after us; we, being resolved to go to

Cummaquid again to water, took him into the shallop, whose entertainment

was not inferior unto the former.

The soil at Nauset and here is alike, even and sandy, not so good for

corn as where we are. Ships may safely ride in either harbor. In the

summer they abound with fish. Being now watered we put forth again, and,

by God’s providence, came safely home that night.

[Illustration: decorative border]

A

JOURNEY TO THE

Kingdom of Nemasket

in defense of the great King Massasoit, against the Narragansets, and to

revenge the supposed death of our interpreter Squanto.

[Illustration: illuminated capital]

At our return from Nauset, we found it true that Massasoit was put from

his country by the Narragansets. Word also was brought unto us that

Corbitant, a petty sachem or governor under Massasoit (whom they ever

feared to be too conversant with the Narragansets), was at Nemasket, who

sought to draw the hearts of Massasoit’s subjects from him, speaking

also disdainfully of us, storming at the peace between Nauset,

Cummaquid, and us, and at Squanto, the worker of it; also at

Tokamahamon, and one Hobomok (two Indians, or Lemes,[103] one of which

he would treacherously have murdered a little before, being a special

and trusty man of Massasoit’s). Tokamahamon went to him, but the other

two would not, yet put their lives in their hands, privately went to see

if they could hear of their king, and lodging at Nemasket were

discovered to Corbitant, who set a guard to beset the house, and took

Squanto (for he had said, if he were dead the English had lost their

tongue). Hobomok, seeing that Squanto was taken, and Corbitant held a

knife at his breast, being a strong and stout man, broke from them and

came to New Plymouth, full of fear and sorrow for Squanto, whom he

thought to be slain.

Upon this news the company assembled together, and resolved on the

morrow to send ten men armed to Nemasket, and Hobomok for their guide,

to revenge the supposed death of Squanto on Corbitant our bitter enemy,

and to retain Nepeof, another sachem or governor, who was of this

confederacy, till we heard what was become of our friend Massasoit.

On the morrow we set out ten men armed, who took their journey as

aforesaid, but the day proved very wet. When we supposed we were within

three or four miles of Nemasket, we went out of the way and stayed there

till night, because we would not be discovered. There we consulted what

to do, and thinking best to beset the house at midnight, each was

appointed his task by the captain, all men encouraging one another to

the utmost of their power. By night our guide lost his way, which much

discouraged our men, being we were wet, and weary of our arms, but one

of our men, having been before at Nemasket, brought us into the way

again.

Before we came to the town, we sat down and ate such as our knapsacks

afforded. That being done, we threw them aside, and all such things as

might hinder us, and so went on and beset the house, according to our

last resolution. Those that entered demanded if Corbitant were not

there, but fear had bereft the savages of speech. We charged them not to

stir, for if Corbitant were not there, we would not meddle with them; if

he were, we came principally for him, to be avenged on him for the

supposed death of Squanto, and other matters; but, howsoever, we would

not at all hurt their women or children. Notwithstanding, some of them

pressed out at a private door and escaped, but with some wounds. At

length perceiving our principal ends, they told us Corbitant was

returned with all his train, and that Squanto was yet living, and in the

town, offering some tobacco, other such as they had to eat. In this

hurly-burly we discharged two pieces at random, which much terrified all

the inhabitants, except Squanto and Tokamahamon, who, though they knew

not our end in coming, yet assured them of our honesty, that we would

not hurt them. Those boys that were in the house, seeing our care of

women, often cried, “_Neen squaes_,” that is to say, “I am a woman”; the

women also hanging upon Hobomok, calling him _Towam_, that is, “friend.”

But to be short, we kept them we had, and made them make a fire that we

might see to search the house. In the meantime Hobomok got on the top of

the house and called Squanto and Tokamahamon, which came unto us

accompanied with others, some armed and others naked. Those that had

bows and arrows, we took them away, promising them again when it was

day. The house we took for our better safeguard, but released those we

had taken, manifesting whom we came for and wherefore.

On the next morning we marched into the midst of the town, and went to

the house of Squanto to breakfast. Thither came all whose hearts were

upright towards us, but all Corbitant’s faction were fled away. There in

the midst of them we manifested again our intendment, assuring them,

that although Corbitant had now escaped us, yet there was no place

should secure him and his from us if he continued his threatening us and

provoking others against us, who had kindly entertained him, and never

intended evil towards him till he now so justly deserved it. Moreover,

if Massasoit did not return in safety from Narraganset, or if hereafter

he should make any insurrection against him, or offer violence to

Squanto, Hobomok, or any of Massasoit’s subjects, we would revenge it

upon him, to the overthrow of him and his. As for those were wounded, we

were sorry for it, though themselves procured it in not staying in the

house at our command; yet if they would return home with us, our surgeon

should heal them.

At this offer, one man and a woman that were wounded went home with us,

Squanto and many other known friends accompanying us, and offering all

help that might be by carriage of any thing we had to ease us. So that,

by God’s good providence, we safely returned home the morrow night after

we set forth.

A

RELATION OF OUR

Voyage to the Massachusets,

and what happened there.

[Illustration: illuminated capital]

It seemed good to the company in general, that though the Massachusets

had often threatened us (as we were informed), yet we should go amongst

them, partly to see the country, partly to make peace with them, and

partly to procure their truck. For these ends the governors chose ten

men fit for the purpose, and sent Squanto and two other savages to bring

us to speech with the people, and interpret for us.

We set out about midnight,[104] the tide then serving for us. We

supposing it to be nearer than it is, thought to be there the next

morning betimes, but it proved well near twenty leagues from New

Plymouth.

We came into the bottom of the bay,[105] but being late we anchored and

lay in the shallop, not having seen any of the people. The next morning

we put in for the shore. There we found many lobsters that had been

gathered together by the savages, which we made ready under a cliff. The

captain set two sentinels behind the cliff to the landward to secure the

shallop, and taking a guide with him and four of our company, went to

seek the inhabitants; where they met a woman coming for her lobsters,

they told her of them, and contented her for them. She told them where

the people were. Squanto went to them; the rest returned, having

direction which way to bring the shallop to them.

The sachem or governor of this place, is called Obbatinewat, and though

he lives in the bottom of the Massachusetts Bay, yet he is under

Massasoit. He used us very kindly; he told us he durst not then remain

in any settled place, for fear of the Tarentines.[106] Also the Squaw

Sachem,[107] or Massachusets’ queen, was an enemy to him.

We told him of divers sachems that had acknowledged themselves to be

King James his men, and if he also would submit himself, we would be his

safeguard from his enemies, which he did, and went along with us to

bring us to the Squaw Sachem. Again we crossed the bay, which is very

large and hath at least fifty islands in it, but the certain number is

not known to the inhabitants. Night it was before we came to that side

of the bay where this people were. On shore the savages went but found

nobody. That night also we rid at anchor aboard the shallop.

On the morrow we went ashore, all but two men, and marched in arms up in

the country. Having gone three miles we came to a place where corn had

been newly gathered, a house pulled down, and the people gone. A mile

from hence, Nanepashemet, their king, in his life-time had lived. His

house was not like others, but a scaffold was largely built, with poles

and planks some six feet from ground, and the house upon that, being

situated on the top of a hill.

Not far from hence, in a bottom, we came to a fort built by their

deceased king, the manner thus: there were poles some thirty or forty

feet long, stuck in the ground as thick as they could be set one by

another, and with these they enclosed a ring some forty of fifty feet

over. A trench breast high was digged on each side; one way there was to

go into it with a bridge; in the midst of this palisade stood the frame

of a house wherein, being dead, he lay buried.

About a mile from hence, we came to such another, but seated on the top

of a hill; here Nanepashemet was killed, none dwelling in it since the

time of his death. At this place we stayed, and sent two savages to look

the inhabitants, and to inform them of our ends in coming, that they

might not be fearful of us. Within a mile of this place they found the

women of the place together, with their corn on heaps, whither we

supposed them to be fled for fear of us, and the more, because in divers

places they had newly pulled down their houses, and for haste in one

place had left some of their corn covered with a mat, and nobody with

it.

With much fear they entertained us at first, but seeing our gentle

carriage towards them, they took heart and entertained us in the best

manner they could, boiling cod and such other things as they had for us.

At length, with much sending for, came one of their men, shaking and

trembling for fear. But when he saw we intended them no hurt, but came

to truck, he promised us his skins also. Of him we inquired for their

queen, but it seemed she was far from thence—at least we could not see

her.

Here Squanto would have had us rifle the savage women, and taken their

skins and all such things as might be serviceable for us; for (said he)

they are a bad people, and have oft threatened you. But our answer was:

Were they never so bad, we would not wrong them, or give them any just

occasion against us; for their words, we little weighed them, but if

they once attempted any thing against us, then we would deal far worse

than he desired.

Having well spent the day, we returned to the shallop, almost all the

women accompanying us to truck, who sold their coats from their backs,

and tied boughs about them, but with great shamefacedness (for indeed

they are more modest than some of our English women are). We promised

them to come again to them, and they us, to keep their skins.

Within this bay the savages say there are two rivers, the one whereof we

saw, having a fair entrance, but we had no time to discover it. Better

harbors for shipping cannot be than here are. At the entrance of the bay

are many rocks, and in all likelihood very good fishing-ground. Many,

yea, most of the islands have been inhabited, some being cleared from

end to end, but the people are all dead, or removed.

Our victual growing scarce, the wind coming fair, and having a light

moon, we set out at evening and, through the goodness of God, came

safely home before noon the day following.

[Illustration: decorative border]

A

LETTER SENT FROM

New England to a friend in these parts,

setting forth a brief and true declaration of the worth of that

plantation; as also certain useful directions for such as intend a

voyage into those parts.

[Illustration: illuminated capital]