From Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford

Transcription

1 From Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford The Voyage of the Mayflower From Book I, Chapter IX. Of Their Voyage and How They passed the Sea; and of Their Safe Arrival at Cape Cod September 6: These troubles being blowne over, and now all being compacte togeather in one shipe, they put to sea againe with a prosperus wind, which continued diverce days togeather, which was some incouragmente unto them; yet according to the usuall maner many were afflicted with seasicknes...[bradford tells the story of a "proud and very profane" seaman who ridicules the passengers who become seasick. However, as Bradford reports, "it pleased God... to smite this young man with a grievous disease," from which he became ill and died. He was the first to be cast overboard.] After they had injoyed faire winds and weather for a season they were incounttred many times with crosse winds, and mette with many feirce stormes, with which the shipe was shroudly [severely] shaken, and her upper workds made very leakie; and one of the maine bearnes in the midd ships was bowed and craked, which put them in some fear that the shipe could not be able to perform the vioge [voyage]. So some of the cheefe [chief] of the company, perceiving the mariners to feare the suffisience of the ship, as appeared by their mutterings, they entred into serious consultation... to consider in time of the danger; and rather to returne them to cast them selves into a desperate and inevitable peril... But in examining of all opinions, they knew the ship to be stronge and firme under water.. So they commited them selves to the will of God, and resolved to proseede.... But to omite other things, (that I may be breefe,) after longe beating at sea they fell with that land which is Cape Cod; the which being made and certainly knowne to be it, they were not a little joyfull... Sickness and Starvation In these hard and difficulte beginnings they found some discontents and murmurings arise amongst some, and mutinous speeches and carriages in other; but they were soon quelled and overcome by the wisdome, patience, and just and equall carriage of things by the Gov. and better part, which clave [held] faithfully together in the maine. But that which was most sadd and lamentable was, that in 2 or 3 months time halfe of their company dyed, espetialy in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvie and other diseases, which this long vioage and their inacomodate condition had brought upon them; so as ther dyed some times 2 or 3 of a day, in the foresaid time; that of 100 and odd persons, scarce 50 remained. And of these in the time of most distres, theer was but 6 or 7 sound persons.... Pilgrims and Indians From Book II, Chapter XII Anno 1621

2 All this while the Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes show them selves aloofe, but when any approached near them, they would rune away. And once they stoale away their tools wher they had been at worke, and were gone to diner. But about the 16 of March a certaine Indian came bouldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, but marvelled at it... He became profitable to them in aquainting them with many things concerning the state of the cuntry in the east-parts wher he lived, which was afterwards profitable unto them; as also of the people here, of their names, number, and strength; of their situation and distance from this place, and who was cheefe amongst them. His name was Samaset; he tould them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speake better English then him selfe. Being, after some time of entertainmente and gifts, dismist, a while after he came againe, and 5 more with him, and they brought againe all the tooles that were stolen away before, and made the way for the coming of their great Sachem, called Massasoyt, who, about 4 or 5 Days after, came with the cheefe of this friends and other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto. Who, after frendly entertainment, and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which hath now continued this 24 years)... The First Thanksgiving... I may not here omit how, notwithstanding all their great paines and industrie, and the great hopes of a large cropp, the Lord seemed to blast, and take away the same and to threaten further and more sore famine unto them, by a great drought which continued from the 3 Weeke in May, til about the midle of July, without any raine, and with great heat, insomuch as the corn began to wither away, though it was set with fishe, the moysture wherof helped it much. Yet at length it begane to languish sore, and some of the drier grounds were partched like withered hay, part whereof was never recovered. Upon which they sett a parte a solemne day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervente prayer, in this great distrese. And he was pleased to give them a gracious and speedy answer, both to their owne and the Indians admiration, that lived amongest them. For all the morning, and the greatest part of the day, it was clear weather and very hotte, and not a cloud or any sign of raine to be seen, yet toward evening it begane to overcast, and shortly after to raine, with shuch sweete and gentle showers, as gave them cause of rejoyceing, and blessing God. It came, without either wind, or thunder, or any violence, and by degreese in that abundance, as that earth was thorowly wete and soaked therwith. Which did so apparently revive and quicken the decayed corn and other fruits as was wonderfull to see, and made the Indians astonished to behold; and afterwards the Lord sent them shuch seasonable showers, with enterchange of faire warm weather, as through his blessing, caused a fruitfull and liberall harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoycing. For which mercie (in time conveniente) they also sette apart a day of thanksgiving. A Harsh Winter, 1621

3 They now begane to dispatch the ship away which brought them over, which lay tille about this time, or the beginning of April. The reason on their parts why she stayed so long, was the necessitie and danger that lay upon them, for it was well towards the end of Desember before she could land any thing here, or they able to receive any thing ashore. Afterwards, the 14 of Jan: the house which they had made for a generall randevoze by casulty fell afire, and some were faine to retire abord for shilter. The sickness begane to fall sore amongst them, and the weather so bad as they could not make much sooner any dispatch. Againe, as the Gov. and cheefe of them, seeing so many dye, and fall downe sick dayly, thought it no wisdom to send away the ship, their condition considered, and the danger they stood in from the Indeans, till they could procure some shelter; and therfore thought it better to draw some more charge upon them selves and friends, than hazard all. The seamen likewise, though before they hasted the passengers a shore to be goone, now many of their men being dead, and of the ablest of them (as is before noted,) and of the rest many lay sick and weake, they durst not put to sea, till he saw his men begine to recover, and the hart of winter over. Incident at Merry-Mount Book II, Chapter XIX. Anno Dom: 1628 Ther came over one Captaine Wolastone, [Captain Wolastone came over about 1625 with some partners and about thirty servants and began a plantation at what is now Quincy] a man of some eminencie, who brought with them a great many servents, with provissions and other implinents for to begine a plantation; and they pitched them selves in a place within the Massachusets, which they called, after their Captains name, Mount-Wollaston. Amongst whom was one Mr. Morton [Thomas Morton, the celebrated author of the New English Canaan (London, 1637), had first visited New England, according to his own statement, in June 1622 and had been charmed with the region,] who, it should seeme, had some small adventure (of his own or other mens) amongst them; but had little respecte among them, and was sleghted by the meanest servants[and] this Mr. Morton, having more craft than honestie, in the others absence, watches an opportuitie... and got some strong drinck and other junkats, and made them a feast, and they were merie, he begane to tell them, he would give them good counsell. You see (saith he) that many of your fellows were carried to Virginia; and if you stay till this Rasdall returne, you will also be carried away and sould for slaves with the rest. [But] having part in my plantation, will receive you as partners and consociats; so you may be free from service, and we will converse, trad, plante, and live togeather as equalls, and supporte and protecte one another, or to like effecte. This cousell was easily received... After this they fell to great licenciousnes, and led a dissolute life, powering themselves into all profanenes. And Morton became lord of misrule, and maintained, (as it were) a school of Athisme... They also set up a May-pole, drinking and dancing aboute it many days togeather, inviting the Indean women, for their consorts, dancing and frisking together... They changed allso the name of their place, and in stead of calling it

4 Mounte Wollaston, they called it Meriemounte, as if this joylity would have lasted ever. But this continued not long, for after Morton was sent for England, shortly came over that worthy gentleman, Mr. John Indecott, who brought over a patent under the broad seall, for the government of Massachusets, who visiting those parts caused that Maypolle to be cutt down, and rebuked them for their profannes, and admonished them to looke ther should be better walking; so they now, or others, changed the name of their place againe, and called it MounteDagon. Now to maintaine this rioutous prodigallitie and profuse excess, Morton... hearing what the French and fisher-men made by trading of peeces, powder, and shotte to the Indeans, he, as the head of this consortship, begane the practise of the same in these parts; and first he taught them how to use them... And having thus instructed them... they became farr more active in that imploymente then any of the English, by reason of ther swiftnes of foote, and nimblnes of body... So as when they saw the excecution that peece would doe, and the benefite that might come by the same, they became madd, as it were, after them, and would not stick to any price they could attain too for them; accounting their bowes and arrows but bables in comparison of them so as the Indeans are full of peeces [guns] all over, both fouling peeces, muskets, pistols, etc... wherwith they are ordinarily better fited and furnished then the English themselves. Yea, it is well knowne that they will have powder and shot, when the English want, or cannot gett it... O the horiblnes of this vilanie! How many both Dutch and English have been latly slaine by those Indeans, thus furnished This Morton, having thus taught them all the use of pieces, he sould them all he could spare; and he and his consorts detirmined to send for many out of England, and had by some of the ship sente for above a score. The which being knowne, and his neighbours meeting the Indeans in the woods armed with guns in this sorte, it was a terrour unto them, who lived straglingly, and were of no strenght in any place. And other places (though more remote) saw this mischeefe would quickly spread over all, if not prevented. Besides, they saw they should keep no servents, for Morton would entertaine any, how vile soever, and all the scume of the coutire, or any discontents, would flock to him from all places... So the sundrie of the cheefe of the stragling plantations, meeting togither, agreed by mutuall consente to sollissite those of Plimouth who were then of more strength than them all to joyne with them, to prevente the further grouth of the mischeefe, and supress Morton and his consortes before they grew to further head and stength. Those that joyned in this action (and after contributed to the charge of sending him for England) were from Pascataway, Namkeake, Winisimett, Weesagascussett, Natasco, and other places wher any English were seated. Those of Plimoth being thus sought..., and waying both ther reasons, and the common danger, were willing to afford them their help, though they themselves had not the least cause of fear or hurte. So, to be short, they first resolved joyntly to write to him, and... admonish him to forebear these courses... But he... Indeans in dispite of all. They sent to him a second time.

5 .. he answered in high terms as before, and that the King's proclaimation was no law demanding what penaltie was upon it... Insolently he persisted, upon which they saw there was no way but to take him by force... So they mutually resolved to proceed, and obtained the Gov of Plimouth to send Captaine Standish, and some other aide with him, to take Morton by force. The which accordingly was done; but they found him to stand stifly in his defence, having made fast his door, armed his consorts, set diverse dishes of powder and bullets ready on the table; and if they had not been over armed with drinke, more hurt might have been done... Neither was ther any hurte done to any of either side, save that one was so drunke that he rane his own nose upon the pointe of a sword that one held before him as he entred the house; but he lost but a litle of his hot blood. Morton they brought away to Plimoth, where he was kepte, til a ship went from the Isle of Shoals for England. Source: