OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION
by William Bradford
1620-1647 Book One / Ch. 7 to 10
The 7. Chap. Of their departure from Leyden, and other things ther
aboute, with their arivall at South hamton, were they
all mete togeather, and tooke in ther provissions.
AT length, after much travell and these debats, all
things were got ready and provided. A smale ship!
was bought, & fitted in Holand, which was intended as
*He was a minister. !Of some 60 tune.
72 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VII.
to serve, to help to transport them, so to stay in ye
cuntrie and atend upon fishing and shuch other affairs
as might be for ye good & benefite of ye colonie when
they came ther. Another was hired at London, of
burden about 9. score; and all other things gott in
readines. So being ready to departe, they had a day
of solleme humiliation, their pastor taking his texte
from Ezra 8. 21. And ther at ye river, by Ahava, I
proclaimed a fast, that we might humble ourselves before
our God, and seeke of him a right way for us, and
for our children, and for all our substance. Upon which
he spente a good parte of ye day very profitably, and
suitable to their presente occasion. The rest of the
time was spente in powering out prairs to ye Lord with
great fervencie, mixed with abundance of tears. And
ye time being come that they must departe, they were
accompanied with most of their brethren out of ye
citie, unto a towne sundrie miles of called Delfes-Haven,
wher the ship lay ready to receive them. So they lefte
yt goodly & pleasante citie, which had been ther resting
place near 12. years; but they knew they were pil-
grimes,* & looked not much on those things, but lift
up their eyes to ye heavens, their dearest cuntrie, and
quieted their spirits. When they [37] came to ye
place they found ye ship and all things ready; and
shuch of their freinds as could not come with them
followed after them, and sundrie also came from Am-
*Heb. 11.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 73
sterdame to see them shipte and to take their leave
of them. That night was spent with litle sleepe by
ye most, but with freindly entertainmente & christian
discourse and other reall expressions of true christian
love. The next day, the wind being faire, they wente
aborde, and their freinds with them, where truly dolfull
was ye sight of that sade and mournfull parting; to see
what sighs and sobbs and praires did sound amongst
them, what tears did gush from every eye, & pithy
speeches peirst each harte; that sundry of ye Dutch
strangers yt stood on ye key as spectators, could not
refraine from tears. Yet comfortable & sweete it was
to see shuch lively and true expressions of dear & un-
fained love. But ye tide (which stays for no man),
caling them away yt were thus loath to departe, their
Reved: pastor falling downe on his knees, (and they
all with him,) with watrie cheeks comended them with
most fervente praiers to the Lord and his blessing.
And then with mutuall imbrases and many tears, they
tooke their leaves one of an other; which proved to
be ye last leave to many of them.
Thus hoysing saile,* with a prosperus winde they
came in short time to Southhamton, wher they found
the bigger ship come from London, lying ready, wth
all the rest of their company. After a joyfull well-
come, and mutuall congratulations, with other frendly
entertainements, they fell to parley aboute their bussi-
*This was about 22. of July.
74 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VII.
nes, how to dispatch with ye best expedition; as allso
with their agents, aboute ye alteration of ye conditions.
Mr. Carver pleaded he was imployed hear at Hamton,
and knew not well what ye other had don at London.
Mr. Cushman answered, he had done nothing but what
he was urged too, partly by ye grounds of equity, and
more espetialy by necessitie, other wise all had bene
dasht and many undon. And in ye begining he
aquainted his felow agents here with, who consented
unto him, and left it to him to execute, and to receive
ye money at London and send it downe to them at
Hamton, wher they made ye provissions; the which he
accordingly did, though it was against his minde, &
some of ye marchants, yt they were their made. And
for giveing them notise at Leyden of this change, he
could not well in regarde of ye shortnes of ye time;
againe, he knew it would trouble them and hinder
ye bussines, which was already delayed overlong in
regard of ye season of ye year, which he feared they
would find to their cost. But these things gave not
contente at presente. Mr. Weston, likwise, came up
from London to see them dispatcht and to have ye
conditions confirmed; but they refused, and answered
him, that he knew right well that these were not
according to ye first agreemente, neither could they
yeeld to them without ye consente of the rest that
were behind. And indeed they had spetiall charge
when they came away, from the cheefe of those that
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 75
were behind, not to doe it. At which he was much
offended, and tould them, they must then looke to
stand on their owne leggs. So he returned in dis-
pleasure, and this was ye first ground of discontent
betweene them. And wheras ther wanted well near
100li. to clear things at their going away, he would
not take order to disburse a penie, but let them shift
as they could. [38] So they were forst to selle of
some of their provissions to stop this gape, which
was some 3. or 4. score firkins of butter, which com-
oditie they might best spare, haveing provided too
large a quantitie of yt kind. Then they write a leter
to ye marchants & adventures aboute ye diferances
concerning ye conditions, as foloweth.
Aug. 3. Ano: 1620.
Beloved freinds, sory we are that ther should be occasion
of writing at all unto you, partly because we ever expected
to see ye most of you hear, but espetially because ther should
any differance at all be conceived betweene us. But seing
it faleth out that we cannot conferr togeather, we thinke it
meete (though brefly) to show you ye just cause & reason of
our differing from those articles last made by Robart Cushman,
without our comission or knowledg. And though he might
propound good ends to himselfe, yet it no way justifies his
doing it. Our maine diference is in ye 5. & 9. article, con-
cerning ye deviding or holding of house and lands; the injoy-
ing wherof some of your selves well know, was one spetiall
motive, amongst many other, to provoke us to goe. This
was thought so reasonable, yt when ye greatest of you in
adventure (whom we have much cause to respecte), when he
76 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VII.
propounded conditions to us freely of his owne accorde, he
set this downe for one; a coppy wherof we have sent unto
you, with some additions then added by us; which being
liked on both sids, and a day set for ye paimente of moneys,
those of Holland paid in theirs. After yt, Robart Cushman,
Mr. Peirce, & Mr. Martine, brought them into a better forme,
& write them in a booke now extante; and upon Robarts
shewing them and delivering Mr. Mullins a coppy therof under
his hand (which we have), he payd in his money. And we
of Holland had never seen other before our coming to Hamton,
but only as one got for him selfe a private coppy of them;
upon sight wherof we manyfested uter dislike, but had put
of our estats & were ready to come, and therfore was too late
to rejecte ye vioage. Judge therfore we beseech you indifer-
ently of things, and if a faulte have bene comited, lay it wher
it is, & not upon us, who have more cause to stand for ye one,
then you have for ye other. We never gave Robart Cushman
comission to make anyone article for us, but only sent him
to receive moneys upon articles before agreed on, and to
further ye provissions till John Carver came, and to assiste
him in it. Yet since you conceive your selves wronged as
well as we, we thought meete to add a branch to ye end of
our 9. article, as will allmost heale that wound of it selfe,
which you conceive to be in it. But that it may appeare to
all men yt we are not lovers of our selves only, but desire
also ye good & inriching of our freinds who have adventured
your moneys with our persons, we have added our last article
to ye rest, promising you againe by leters in ye behalfe of the
whole company, that if large profits should not arise within
ye 7. years, yt we will continue togeather longer with you, if
ye Lord give a blessing. This we hope is sufficente to satisfie
any in this case, espetialy freinds, since we are asured yt if
the whole charge was devided into 4. parts, 3. of them will
*It was well for them yt this was not accepted.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 77
not stand upon it, nether doe regarde it, &c. We are in
shuch a streate at presente, as we are forced to sell away 60li.
worth of our provissions to cleare ye Haven, & withall put our
selves upon great extremities, scarce haveing any butter, no
oyle, not a sole to mend a shoe, [39] nor every man a sword
to his side, wanting many muskets, much armoure, &c. And
yet we are willing to expose our selves to shuch eminente
dangers as are like to insue, & trust to ye good providence
of God, rather then his name & truth should be evill spoken
of for us. Thus saluting all of you in love, and beseeching
ye Lord to give a blesing to our endeavore, and keepe all our
harts in ye bonds of peace & love, we take leave & rest,
Yours, &c.
Aug. 3. 1620.
It was subscribed with many names of ye cheefest
of ye company.
At their parting Mr. Robinson write a leter to ye
whole company, which though it hath already bene
printed, yet I thought good here likwise to inserte
it; as also a breefe Jeter writ at ye same time to Mr.
Carver, in which ye tender love & godly care of a true
pastor appears.
My dear Brother, I received inclosed in your last leter
ye note of information, wch I shall carefuly keepe & make use
of as ther shall be occasion. I have a true feeling of your
perplexitie of mind & toyle of body, but I hope that you who
have allways been able so plentifully to administer comforte
unto others in their trials, are so well furnished for your selfe
as that farr greater difficulties then you have yet undergone
(though I conceive them to have been great enough) cannot
78 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VII.
oppresse you, though they press you, as ye Aspostle speaks.
The spirite of a man (sustained by ye spirite of God) will sus-
taine his infirmitie, I dout not so will yours. And ye beter
much when you shall injoye ye presence & help of so many
godly & wise bretheren, for ye bearing of part of your burthen,
who also will not admitte into their harts ye least thought of
suspition of any ye least negligence, at least presumption, to
have been in you, what so ever they thinke in others. Now
what shall I say or write unto you & your goodwife my loving
sister? even only this, I desire (& allways shall) unto you
from ye Lord, as unto my owne soule; and assure your selfe
yt my harte is with you, and that I will not forslowe my bodily
coming at ye first oppertunitie. I have writen a large leter to
ye whole, and am sorie I shall not rather speak then write to
them; & the more, considering ye wante of a preacher, which
I shall also make sume spurr to my hastening after you. I
doe ever comend my best affection unto you, which if I thought
you made any doubte of, I would express in more, & ye same
more ample & full words. And ye Lord in whom you trust &
whom you serve ever in this bussines & journey, guid you with
his hand, protecte you with his winge, and shew you & us his
salvation in ye end, & bring us in ye mean while togeather in
ye place desired, if shuch be his good will, for his Christs sake.
Amen. Yours, &c.
July 27. 1620. Jo: R.
This was ye last letter yt Mr. Carver lived to see
from him. The other follows.
*Lovinge Christian friends, I doe hartily & in ye Lord salute
you all, as being they with whom I am presente in my best
*This letter is omitted in Governor Bradford's Collection of Letters.--
Prince.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 79
affection, and most ernest longings after you, though I be
constrained for a while to be bodily absente from you. I say
constrained, God knowing how willingly, & much rather then
otherwise, I would have borne my part with you in this first
brunt, were I not by strong necessitie held back for ye present.
Make accounte of me in ye mean while, as of a man devided in
my selfe with great paine, and as (naturall bonds set aside)
having my beter parte with [40] you. And though I doubt
not but in your godly wisdoms, you both foresee & resolve
upon yt which concerneth your presente state & condition,
both severally & joyntly, yet have I thought it but my duty
to add some furder spurr of provocation unto them, who rune
allready, if not because you need it, yet because I owe it in
love & dutie. And first, as we are daly to renew our repent-
ance with our God, espetially for our sines known, and gener-
ally for our unknowne trespasses, so doth ye Lord call us in
a singuler maner upon occasions of shuch difficultie & danger
as lieth upon you, to a both more narrow search & carefull
reformation of your ways in his sight; least he, calling to
remembrance our sines forgotten by us or unrepented of, take
advantage against us, & in judgmente leave us for ye same
to be swalowed up in one danger or other; wheras, on the
contrary, sine being taken away by ernest repentance & ye
pardon therof from ye Lord sealed up unto a mans conscience
by his spirite, great shall be his securitie and peace in all
dangers, sweete his comforts in all distresses, with hapie
deliverance from all evill, whether in life or in death.
Now next after this heavenly peace with God & our owne
consciences, we are carefully to provide for peace with all men
what in us lieth, espetially with our associats, & for yt watch-
fullnes must be had, that we neither at all in our selves doe
give, no nor easily take offence being given by others. Woe
be unto ye world for offences, for though it be necessarie (con-
sidermg ye malice of Satan & mans corruption) that offences
80 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VII.
come, yet woe unto ye man or woman either by whom ye offence
cometh, saith Christ, Mat. 18. 7. And if offences in ye un-
seasonable use of things in them selves indifferent, be more
to be feared then death itselfe, as ye Apostle teacheth, 1. Cor.
9. 15. how much more in things simply evill, in which neither
honour of God nor love of man is thought worthy to be re-
garded. Neither yet is it sufficiente yt we keepe our selves
by ye grace of God from giveing offence, exepte withall we be
armed against ye taking of them when they be given by others.
For how unperfect & lame is ye work of grace in yt person,
who wants charritie to cover a multitude of offences, as ye
scriptures speake. Neither are you to be exhorted to this
grace only upon ye com one grounds of Christianitie, which
are, that persons ready to take offence, either wante charitie,
to cover offences, of wisdome duly to waigh humane frailtie;
or lastly, are grosse, though close hipocrites, as Christ our
Lord teacheth, Mat. 7. 1, 2, 3, as indeed in my owne expe-
rience, few or none have bene found which sooner give offence,
then shuch as easily take it; neither have they ever proved
sound & profitable members in societies, which have nurished
this touchey humor. But besids these, ther are diverse motives
provoking you above others to great care & conscience this
way: As first, you are .many of you strangers, as to ye per-
sons, so to ye infirmities one of another, & so stand in neede
of more watchfullnes this way, least when shuch things fall
out in men & women as you suspected not, you be inordinatly
affected with them; which doth require at your hands much
wisdome & charitie for ye covering & preventing of incident
offences that way. And lastly, your intended course of civill
comunitie will minister continuall occasion of offence, & will
be as fuell for that fire, excepte you dilligently quench it with
brotherly forbearance. And if taking of offence causlesly or
easilie at mens doings be so carefuly to be avoyded, how much
more heed is to be taken yt we take not offence at God him
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 81
selfe, which yet we certainly doe so ofte as we doe murmure
at his providence in our crosses, or beare impatiently shuch
afflictions as wherwith he pleaseth to visite us. Store up
therfore patience against ye evill day, without which we take
offence at ye Lord him selfe in his holy & just works.
A 4. thing ther is carfully to be provided for, to witte, that
with your comone imployments you joyne comone affections
truly bente upon ye generall good, avoyding as a deadly
[41] plague of your both comone & spetiall comfort all re-
tirednes of minde for proper advantage, and all singularly
affected any maner of way; let every man represe in him
selfe & ye whol body in each person, as so many rebels
against ye comone good, all private respects of mens selves,
not sorting with ye generall conveniencie. And as men are
carfull not to have a new house shaken with any violence
before it be well setled & ye parts firmly knite, so be you,
I beseech you, brethren, much more carfull, yt the house of
God which you are, and are to be, be not shaken with un-
necessarie novelties or other oppositions at ye first setting
therof.
Lastly, wheras you are become a body politik, using amongst
your selves civill govermente, and are not furnished with any
persons of spetiall eminencie above ye rest, to be chosen by you
into office of goverment, let your wisdome & godlines appeare,
not only in chusing shuch persons as doe entirely love and will
promote ye comone good, but also in yeelding unto them all
due honour & obedience in their lawfull administrations; not
behoulding in them ye ordinarinesse of their persons, but Gods
ordinance for your good, not being like ye foolish multitud
who more honour ye gay coate, then either ye vertuous minde
of ye man, or glorious ordinance of ye Lord. But you know
better things, & that ye image of ye Lords power & authontie
which ye magistrate beareth, is honourable, in how meane per-
sons soever. And this dutie you both may ye more willingly
82 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VII.
and ought ye more conscionably to performe, because you are
at least for ye present to have only them for your ordinarie
governours, which your selves shall make choyse of for that
worke.
Sundrie other things of importance I could put you in minde
of, and of those before mentioned, in more words, but I will
not so farr wrong your godly minds as to thinke you heedless
of these things, ther being also diverce among you so well able
to admonish both them selves & others of what concerneth
them. These few things therfore, & ye same in few words,
I doe ernestly comend unto your care & conscience, joyning
therwith my daily incessante prayers unto ye Lord, yt he who
hath made ye heavens & ye earth, ye sea and all rivers of
waters, and whose providence is over all his workes, espetially
over all his dear children for good, would so guide & gard
you in your wayes, as inwardly by his Spirite, so outwardly
by ye hand of his power, as yt both you & we also, for & with
you, may have after matter of praising his name all ye days of
your and our lives. Fare you well in him in whom you
trust, and in whom I rest.
An unfained wellwiller of your hapie
success in this hopefull voyage,
JOHN ROBINSON.
This letter, though large, yet being so frutfull in
it selfe, and suitable to their occation, I thought meete
to inserte in this place.
All things being now ready, &. every bussines dis-
patched, the company was caled togeather, and this
letter read amongst them, which had good acceptation
with all, and after fruit with many. Then they ordered
& distributed their company for either shipe, as they
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 83
conceived for ye best. And chose a Govr & 2. or 3.
assistants for each shipe, to order ye people by ye way,
and see to ye dispossing of there provissions, and shuch
like affairs. All which was not only with ye liking
of ye maisters of ye ships, but according to their
desires. Which being done, they sett sayle from
thence aboute ye 5. of August; but what befell them
further upon ye coast of England will appeare in ye
nexte chapter.
Off the troubls that befell them on the coaste, and at sea
being forced, after much trouble, to leave one of ther
ships & some of their companie behind them.
[42] BEING thus put to sea they had not gone farr,
but Mr. Reinolds ye mr. of ye leser ship complained
that he found his ship so leak as he durst not put
further to sea till she was mended. So ye mr. of ye
biger ship (caled Mr. Jonas) being consulted with, they
both resolved to put into Dartmouth & have her ther
searched & mended, which accordingly was done, to
their great charg & losse of time and a faire winde.
She was hear thorowly searcht from steme to sterne,
some leaks were found & mended, and now it was
conceived by the workmen & all, that she was sufli-
ciente, & they might proceede without either fear or
danger. So with good hopes from hence, they put
to sea againe, conceiving they should goe comfortably
84 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VIII.
on, not looking for any more lets of this kind; but
it fell out otherwise; for after they were gone to sea
againe above 100. leagues without the Lands End,
houlding company togeather all this while, the mr. of
ye small ship complained his ship was so leake as he
must beare up or sinke at sea, for they could scarce
free her with much pumping. So they came to con-
sultation againe, and resolved both ships to bear up
backe againe & put into Plimoth, which accordingly
was done. But no spetiall leake could be founde, but
it was judged to be ye generall weaknes of ye shipe,
and that shee would not prove sufficiente for the voiage.
Upon which it was resolved to dismise her & parte of
ye companie, and proceede with ye other shipe. The
which (though it was greevous, & caused great dis-
couragmente) was put in execution. So after they
had tooke out such provission as ye other ship could
well stow, and concluded both what number and what
persons to send bak, they made another sad parting,
ye one ship going backe for London, and ye other was
to proceede on her viage. Those that went bak were
for the most parte such as were willing so to doe,
either out of some discontente, or feare they conceived
of ye ill success of ye vioage, seeing so many croses
befale, & the year time so farr spente; but others, in
regarde of their owne weaknes, and charge of many
yonge children, were thought least usefull, and most
unfite to bear ye brunte of this hard adventure; unto
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 85
which worke of God, and judomente of their brethern,
they were contented to submite. And thus, like Gedions
armie, this small number was devided, as if ye Lord by
this worke of his providence thought these few to many
for ye great worke he had to doe. But here by the way,
let me show, how afterward it was found yt the leaknes
of this ship was partly by being, over masted, and too
much pressed with sayles; for after she was sould &
put into her old trime, she made many viages & per-
formed her service very sufficiently, to ye great profite
of her owners. But more espetially, by the cuning &
deceite of ye mr. & his company, who were hired to
stay a whole year in ye cuntrie, and now fancying dis-
like & fearing wante of victeles, they ploted this strate-
gem to free them selves; as afterwards was knowne, &
by some of them confessed. For they apprehended
yt the greater ship, being of force, & in whom most
of ye provissions were stowed, she would retayne
enough for her selfe, what soever became of them or
ye passengers; & indeed shuch speeches had bene cast
out by some of them; and yet, besids other incourag-
ments, ye cheefe of them that canoe from Leyden wente
in this shipe to give ye mr. contente. But so strong
was self love &, his fears, as he forgott all duty and
[43] former kindnesses, & delt thus falsly with them,
though he pretended otherwise. Amongest those that
returned was Mr. Cushman & his families whose hart
& courage was gone from them before, as it seems,
86 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VIII.
though his body was with them till now he departed;
as may appear by a passionate letter he write to a
freind in London from Dartmouth, whilst ye ship lay
ther a mending; the which, besids ye expressions of his
owne fears, it shows much of ye providence of God work-
ing for their good beyonde man's expectation, & other
things concerning their condition in these streats. I will
hear relate it. And though it discover some infirmities
in him (as who under temtation is free), yet after this he
continued to be a spetiall instrumente for their good, and
to doe ye offices of a loving freind & faithfull brother
unto them, and pertaker of much comforte with them.
The letter is as followth.
To his loving friend Ed: S.* at Henige House in ye Duks Place,
these, &c.
Dartmouth, Aug. 17.
Loving friend, my most kind remembrance to you & your
wife, with loving E. M. &c. whom in this world I never looke
to see againe. For besids ye eminente dangers of this viage,
which are no less then deadly, an infirmitie of body hath ceased
me, which will not in all licelyhoode leave me till death. What
to call it I know not, but it is a bundle of lead, as it were,
crushing my harte more & more these 14. days, as that all-
though I doe ye acctions of a liveing man, yet I am but as
dead; but ye will of God be done. Our pinass will not cease.
leaking, els I thinke we had been halfe way at Virginia,
our viage hither hath been as full of crosses, as our selves
have been of crokednes. We put in hear to trime her, & I
* In Governor Bradford's Collection of Letters, this is Edward Southworth.--
Prince.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 87
thinke; as others also, if we had stayed at sea but 3. or 4. howers
more, shee would have sunke right downe. And
though she was twise trimed at Hamton, yet now shee is
open and leakie as a seive; and ther was a borde, a man
might have puld of with his fingers, 2 foote longe, wher
ye water came in as at a mole hole. We lay at Hamton 7.
days, in fair weather, waiting for her, and now we lye hear
waiting for her in as faire a wind as can blowe, and so have
done these 4. days, apd are like to lye 4. more, and by yt
time ye wind will happily turne as it did at Hampton. Our
victualls will be halfe eaten up, I thinke, before we goe from
the coaste of England, and if our viage last longe, we shall
not have a months victialls when we come in ye countrie.
Neare 700li. hath bene bestowed at Hampton, upon what I
know not. Mr. Martin saith he neither can nor will give
any accounte of it, and if he be called upon for accounts
he clieth out of unthankfullnes for his paines & care, that
we are susspitious of him, and flings away, & will end noth-
ing. Also he so insulteh over our poore people, with shuch
scorne & contempte, as if they were not good enough to wipe
his shoes. It would break your hart to see his dealing,* and
ye mourning of our people. They complaine to me, & alass!
I can doe nothing for them; if I speake to him, he flies
in my face, as mutinous, and saith no complaints shall be
heard or received but by him selfe, and saith they are for-
warde, & waspish, discontented people, & I doe ill to hear
them. Ther are others yt would lose all they have put in,
or make satisfaction for what they have had, that they might
departe; but he will not hear them, nor suffer them to goe
ashore, least they should rune away. The sailors also are
so offended at his ignorante bouldnes, in medling & con-
trouling in things he knows not what belongs too, as yt some
threaten to mischeefe him, others say they will leave ye shipe
*He was governonr in ye biger ship, & Mr. Cnshman assistante.
88 HISTORY OF [CHAP. VIII.
& goe their way. But at ye best this cometh of it, yt he maks
him selfe a Scorne & laughing stock unto them. As for Mr.
Weston, excepte grace doe greatly swaye with him, he will
hate us ten times more then ever he loved us, for not con-
firming ye conditions. But now, since some pinches have
taken them, they begine to reveile ye trueth, & say Mr. Robin-
son was in ye falte who charged them never to consente to
those conditions, nor chuse me into office, but indeede apointed
them to chose them they did chose. But he & they will rue
too late, they may [44] now see, & all be ashamed when it
is too late, that they were so ignorante, yea, & so inordinate
in their courses. I am sure as they were resolved not to seale
those conditions, I was not so resolute at Hampton to have left
ye whole bussines, excepte they would seale them, & better ye
vioage to have bene broken of then, then to have brought such
miserie to our selves, dishonour to God, & detrimente to our
loving freinds, as now it is like to doe. 4. or 5. of ye cheefe of
them which came from Leyden, came resolved never to goe
on those conditions. And Mr. Martine, he said he never re-
ceived no money on those conditions, he was not beholden to
ye marchants for a pine, they were bloudsuckers, & I know not
what. Simple man, he indeed never made any conditions wth
the marchants, nor ever spake with them. But did all that
money flie to Hampton, or was it his owne? Who will goe &
layout money so rashly & lavishly as he did, and never know
how he comes by it, or on what conditions? 21y. I tould him
of ye alteration longe agoe, & he was contente; but now he
dominires, & said I had betrayed them into ye hands of slaves;
he is not beholden to them, he can set out 2. ships him selfe
to a viage. When, good man? He hath but 50li. in, & if he
should give up his accounts he would not have a penie left
him, as I am persuaded, ! &c. Freind, if ever we make a
*I thinke he was deceived in these things.
! This was found true afterward.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 89
plantation, God works a mirakle; especially considering how
scante we shall be of victualls, and most of all ununited
amongst our selves, & devoyd of good tutors & regimente.
Violence will break all. Wher is ye meek & humble spirite
of Moyses? & of Nehemiah who reedified ye wals of Jerusa-
lem, & ye state of Israell? Is not ye sound of Rehoboams
braggs daly hear amongst us? Have not ye philosophers and
all wise men observed yt, even in setled comone welths, vio-
lente governours bring either them selves, or people, or boath,
to ruine; how much more in ye raising of comone wealths,
when ye morter is yet scarce tempered yt should bind ye
wales. If I should write to you of all things which pro-
miscuously fore rune our ruine, I should over charge my
weake head and greeve your tender hart; only this I pray you pre-
pare for evill tidings of us every day. But pray for us in-
stantly, it may be ye Lord will be yet entreated one way or
other to make for us. I see not in reason how we shall
escape even ye gasping of hunger starved persons; but God
can doe much, & his will be done. It is better for me to
dye, then now for me to bear it, which I doe daly, & ex-
pecte it howerly; haveing received ye sentance of death,
both within me & without me. Poore William King & my
selfe doe strive* who shall be meate first for ye fishes; but
we looke for a glorious resurrection, knowing Christ Jesus
after ye flesh no more, but looking unto ye joye yt is before
us, we will endure all these things and accounte them light
in comparison of yt joye we hope for. Remember me in all
love to our freinds as if I named them, whose praiers I
desire ernestly, & wish againe to see, but not till I can with
more comforte looke them in ye face. The Lord give us
that true comforte which none can take from us. I had a
desire to make a breefe relation of our estate to some freind.
* In the manuscript it is "strive dayly," but a pen has been drawn through
the latter word.
90 HISTORY OF [CHAP. IX.
I doubte not but your wisdome will teach you seasonably to
utter things as here after you shall be called to it. That
which I have writen is treue, & many things more which I
have forborne. I write it as upon my life, and last confes-
sion in England. What is of use to be spoken [45] of
presently, you may speake of it, and what is fitt to conceile,
conceall. Pass by my weake maner, for my head is weake,
& my body feeble, ye Lord make me strong in him, & keepe
both you & yours.
Your loving freind,
ROBART CUSHMAN.
Dartmouth, Aug. 17. 1620.
These being his conceptions & fears at Dartmouth,
they must needs be much stronger now at Plimoth.
Of their vioage, & how they passed ye sea, and of their
safe arrivall at Cape Codd.
SEPTR: 6. These troubls being blowne over, and now
all being compacte togeather in one shipe,* they put
to sea againe with a prosperus winde, which continued
diverce days togeather, which was some incourag-
mente unto them; yet according to ye usuall maner
many were afflicted with sea-sicknes. And I may not
omite hear a spetiall worke of Gods providence. Ther
was a proud & very profane yonge man, one of ye
sea-men, of a lustie, able body, which made him the
* For Governor Bradford's list of passengers in the Mayflower, see Appendix,
No.1.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 91
more hauty; he would allway be contemning ye poore
people in their sicknes, & cursing them dayly with
greeous execrations, and "did not let to tell them, that
he hoped to help to cast halfe of them over board
before they came to their jurneys end, and to make
mery with what they had; and if he were by any
gently reproved, he would curse and swear most
bitterly. But it plased God before they came halfe
seas over, to smite this yong man with a greeveous
disease, of which he dyed in a desperate maner, and
so was him selfe ye first yt was throwne overbord.
Thus his curses light on his owne head; and it was
an astonishmente to all his fellows, for they noted it
to be ye just hand of God upon him.
After they had injoyed faire winds and weather for
a season, they were incountred many times with crosse
winds, and mette with many feirce stormes, with which
ye shipe was shroudly shaken, and her upper works
made very leakie; and one of the maine beames in
ye midd ships was bowed & craked, which put them
in some fear that ye shipe could not be able to per-
forme ye vioage. So some of ye cheefe of ye com-
pany, perceiveing ye mariners to feare ye suffisiencie
of ye shipe, as appeared by their mutterings, they
entred into serious consulltation with ye mr. & other
officers of ye ship, to consider in time of ye danger;
and rather to returne then to cast them selves into a
desperate & inevitable perill. And truly ther was
92 HISTORY OF [CHAP. IX.
great distraction & differance of opinion amongst ye
mariners them selves; faine would they doe what
could be done for their wages sake, (being now halfe
the seas over,) and on ye other hand they were loath
to hazard their lives too desperatly. But in examen-
ing of all opinions, the mr. & others affirmed they
knew ye ship to be stronge & firme under water; and
for the buckling of ye maine beame, ther was a great
iron scrue ye passengers brought out of Holland, which
would raise ye beame into his place; ye which being
done, the carpenter & mr. affirmed that with a post
put under it, set firme in ye lower deck, & otherways
bounde, he would make it sufficiente. And as for ye
decks & uper workes they would calke them as well
as they could, and though with ye workeing of ye ship
they [46] would not longe keepe stanch, yet ther
would otherwise be no great danger, if they did not
overpress her with sails. So they comited them selves
to ye will of God, & resolved to proseede. In sundrie
of these stormes the winds were so feirce, & ye seas
so high, as they could not beare a knote of saile, but
were forced to hull, for diverce days togither. And
in one of them, as they thus lay at hull, in a mighty
storme, a lustie yonge man (called John Howland)
coming upon some occasion above ye grattings, was,
with a seele of ye shipe throwne into [ye] sea; but
it pleased God yt he caught hould of ye top-saile
halliards, which hunge over board, & rane out at
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION 93
length; yet he held his hould (though he was sundrie
fadomes under water) till he was hald up by ye same
rope to ye brime of ye water, and then with a boat
hooke & other means got into ye shipe againe, & his
life saved; and though he was something ill with it,
yet he lived many years after, and became a profitable
member both in church & comone wealthe. In all this
viage ther died but one of ye passengers, which was
William Butten, a youth, servant to Samuell Fuller,
when they drew near ye coast. But to omite other
things, (that I may be breefe,) after longe beating at
sea they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod;
the which being made & certainly knowne to be it,
they were not a litle joyful. After some deliberation
had amongst them selves & with ye mr. of ye ship, they
tacked aboute and resolved to stande for ye southward
(ye wind & weather being faire) to finde some place
aboute Hudsons river for their habitation. But after
they had sailed yt course aboute halfe ye day, they
fell amongst deangerous shoulds and roring breakers,
and they were so farr intangled ther with as they
conceived them selves in great danger; & ye wind
shrinking upon them withall, they resolved to bear
up againe for the Cape, and thought them selves hapy
to gett out of those dangers before night overtooke
them, as by Gods providence they did. And ye next
day they gott into ye Cape-harbor wher they ridd in
saftie. A word or too by ye way of this cape; it was
94 HISTORY OF [CHAP. IX.
thus first named by Capten Gosnole & his company, *
An°: 1602, and after by Capten Smith was caled Cape
James; but it retains ye former name amongst sea-
men. Also yt pointe which first shewed those danger-
ous shoulds unto them, they called Pointe Care, &
Tuckers Terrour; but ye French & Dutch to this day
call it Malabarr, by reason of those perilous shoulds,
and ye losses they have suffered their.
Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe
to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God
of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast &
furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles &
miseries therof, againe to set their feete on ye firme
and stable earth, their proper elemente. And no mar-
vell if they were thus joyefull, seeing wise Seneca
was so affected with sailing a few miles on ye coast
of his owne Italy; as he affirmed,! that he had rather
remaine twentie years on his way by land, then pass
by sea to any place in a short time; so tedious &
dreadfull was ye same unto him.
But hear I cannot but stay and make a pause, and
stand half amased at this poore peoples presente con-
dition; and so I thinke will the reader too, when he
well considers [47] ye same. Being thus passed ye
vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their prep-
aration (as may be remembred by yt which wente
before), they had now no freinds to wellcome them,
*Because yey tooke much of yt fishe there ! Epist: 53.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 95
nor inns to entertaine or refresh their weatherbeaten
bodys, no houses or much less townes to repaire too,
to seeke for succoure. It is recorded in scripture *
as a mercie to ye apostle & his shipwraked company,
yt the barbarians shewed them no smale kindnes in
refreshing them, but these savage barbarians, when
they mette with them (as after will appeare) were
readier to fill their sids full of arrows then other-
wise. And for ye season it was winter, and they
that know ye winters of yt cuntrie know them to be
sharp & violent, & subjecte to cruell & feirce stormes,
deangerous to travill to known places, much more to
serch an unknown coast. Besids, what could they see
but a hidious & desolate wildernes, full of wild beasts
& willd men? and what multituds ther might be of
them they knew not. Nether could they, as it were,
goe up to ye tope of Pisgah, to vew from this willder-
nes a more goodly cuntrie to feed their hops; for
which way soever they turnd their eys (save up-
ward to ye heavens) they could have litle solace or
content in respecte of any outward objects. For
surner being done, all things stand upon them with
a wetherbeaten face; and ye whole countrie, full of
woods & thickets, represented a wild & savage heiw.
If they looked behind them, ther was ye mighty
ocean which they had passed, and was now as a
maine barr & goulfe to seperate them from all ye
*Act. 28.
96 HISTORY OF [CHAP. IX.
civill parts of ye world. If it be said they had a
ship to Sucour them, it is trew; but what heard
they daly from ye mr. & company? but yt with
speede they should looke out a place with their
shallop, wher they would be at some near distance;
for ye season was shuch as he would not stirr from
thence till a safe harbor was discovered by them
wher they would be, and he might goe without
danger; and that victells consumed apace, but he
must & would keepe sufficient for them selves &
their returne. Yea, it was muttered by some, that
if they gott not a place in time, they would turne
them & their goods ashore & leave them. Let it
also be considred what weake hopes of supply &
succoure they left behinde them, yt might bear up
their minds in this sade condition and trialls they
were under; and they could not but be very smale.
It is true, indeed, ye affections & love of their
brethren at Leyden was cordiall & entire towards
them, but they had litle power to help them, or
them selves; and how ye case stode betweene them
& ye marchants at their coming away, hath allready
been declared. What could now sustaine them but
ye spirite of God & his grace? May not & ought
not the children of these fathers rightly say: Our
faithers were Englishmen which came over this great
ocean, and were ready to perish in this willdernes;*
*Den: 26. 5, 7.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 97
but they cried unto ye Lord, and he heard their voyce,
and looked on their adversitie, &c. Let them therfore
praise ye Lord, because he is good, & his mercies en-
durefor ever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed
of ye Lord, shew how he hath delivered them from ye
hand of ye oppressour. When they wandered in ye;
deserte willdernes out of ye way, and found no citie
to dwell in, both hungrie, & thirstie, their sowle was
overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before ye Lord
his loving kindnes, and his wonderfull works before ye
sons of men.
Showing how they sought out a place of habitation, and
what befell them theraboute.
[48] BEING thus arrived at Cap-Cod ye 11. of
November, and necessitie calling them to looke out
a place for habitation, (as well as the maisters &
mariners importunitie,) they having brought a large
shalop with them out of England, stowed in quarters
in ye ship, they now gott her out & sett their carpenters
to worke to trime her up; but being much brused &
shatered in ye shipe wth foule weather, they saw she
would be longe in mending. Wherupon a few of
them tendered them selves to goe by land and dis-
covere those nearest places, whilst ye shallop was in
mending; and ye rather because as they wente into
*107 Psa: v.l, 2, 4, 5, 8.
98 HISTORY OF [CHAP. X.
yt harbor ther seemed to be an opening some 2. or
3 leagues of, which ye maister judged to be a river.
It was conceived ther might be some danger in ye
attempte, yet seeing them resolute, they were per-
mited to goe, being 16. of them well armed, under
ye conduct of Captain Standish, having shuch instruc-
tions given them as was thought meete. They sett
forth ye 15. of Novebr: and when they had marched
aboute ye space of a mile by ye sea side, they espied
5. or 6. persons with a dogg coming towards them,
who were salvages; but they fled from them, & rane
up into ye woods, and ye English followed them,
partly to see if they could speake with them, and
partly to discover if ther might not be more of them
lying in ambush. But ye Indeans seeing them selves
thus followed, they againe forsooke the woods, & rane
away on ye sands as hard as they could, so as they
could not come near them, but followed them by ye
tracte of their feet sundrie miles, and saw that they
had come the same way. So, night coming on, they
made their randevous & set out their sentinels, and
rested in quiete yt night, and the next morning fol-
lowed their tracte till they had headed a great creake,
& so left the sands, & turned an other way into ye
woods. But they still followed them by geuss, hope-
ing to find their dwellings; but they soone lost both
them & them selves, falling into shuch thickets as
were ready to tear their cloaths & armore in peeces,
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 99
but were most distresed for wante of drinke. But
at length they found water & refreshed them selves
being ye first New-England water they drunke of, and
was now in thir great thirste as pleasante unto them
as wine or bear had been in for-times. Afterwards
they directed their course to come to ye other [49]
shore, for they knew it was a necke of land they
were to crosse over, and so at length gott to ye
sea-side, and marched to this supposed river, & by
ye way found a pond of clear fresh water, and shortly
after a good quantitie of clear ground wher ye Indeans
had formerly set corne, and some of their graves.
And proceeding furder they saw new-stuble wher
corne had been set ye same year, also they found
wher latly a house had been, wher some planks and
a great ketle was remaining, and heaps of sand newly
padled with their hands, which they, digging up, found
in them diverce faire Indean baskets filled with corne,
and some in eares, faire and good, of diverce collours,
which seemed to them a very goodly sight, (haveing
never seen any shuch before). This was near ye place
of that supposed river they came to seeck; unto which
they wente and found it to open it selfe into 2. armes
with a high cliffe of sand in ye enterance, but more
like to be crikes of salte water then any fresh, for
ought they saw; and that ther was good harborige
for their shalope; leaving it further to be discovered
by their shalop when she was ready. So their time
100 HISTORY OF [CHAP. X.
limeted them being expired, they returned to ye ship,
least they should be in fear of their saftie; and tooke
with them parte of ye corne, and buried up ye rest,
and so like ye men from Eshcoll carried with them
of ye fruits of ye land, & showed their breethren; of
which, & their returne, they were marvelusly glad, and
their harts incouraged.
After this, ye shalop being got ready, they set out
againe for ye better discovery of this place, & ye mr.
of ye ship desired to goe him selfe, so ther went
some 30. men, but found it to be no harbor for
ships but only for boats; ther was allso found 2.
of their houses covered with matts, & sundrie of
their implements in them, but ye people were rune
away & could not be seen; also ther was found
more of their corne, & of their beans of various
collours. The corne & beans they brought away,
purposing to give them full satisfaction when they
should meete with any of them (as about some 6.
months afterward they did, to their good contente).
And here is to be noted a spetiall providence of
God, and a great mercie to this poore people, that
hear they gott seed to plant them corne ye next
year, or els they might have starved, for they had
none, nor any liklybood to get any [50] till ye season
had beene past (as ye sequell did manyfest). Neither
is it lickly they had had this, if ye first viage had
not been made, for the ground was now all covered
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 101
with snow, & hard frozen. But the Lord is never
wanting unto his in their greatest needs; let his holy
name have all ye praise.
The month of November being spente in these affairs,
& much foule weather falling in, the 6. of Desemr: they
sente out their shallop againe with 10. of their prin-
cipall men, & some sea men, upon further discovery,
intending to circulate that deepe bay of Cap-codd.
The weather was very could, & it frose so hard as
ye sprea of ye sea lighting on their coats, they were
as if they had been glased; yet that night betimes
they gott downe into ye botome of ye bay, and as
they drue nere ye shore they saw some 10. or 12.
Indeans very busie aboute some thing. They landed
aboute a league or 2. from them, and had much a
doe to put a shore any wher, it lay so full of flats.
Being landed, it grew late, and they made them selves
a barricade with loggs & bowes as well as they could
in ye time, & set out their sentenill & betooke them
to rest, and saw ye smoake of ye fire ye savages made
yt night. When morning was come they devided their
company, some to coaste along ye shore in ye boate,
and the rest marched throw ye woods to see ye land,
if any fit place might be for their dwelling. They
came allso to ye place wher they saw the Indans ye
night before, & found they had been cuting up a great
fish like a grampus, being some 2. inches thike of
fate like a hogg, some peeces wher of they had left
102 HISTORY OF [CHAP. X.
by ye way; and ye shallop found 2. more of these
fishes dead on ye sands, a thing usuall after storms
in yt place, by reason of ye great flats of sand that
lye of. So they ranged up and doune all yt day,
but found no people, nor any place they liked. When
ye sune grue low, they hasted out of ye woods to meete
with their shallop, to whom they made signes to come
to them into a creeke hardby, the which they did at
high water; of which they were very glad, for they had
not seen each other all yt day, since ye morning. So
they made them a barricado (as usually they did every
night) with loggs, staks, & thike pine bowes, ye height
of a man, leaving it open to leeward, partly to shelter
them from ye could & wind (making their fire in ye
midle, & lying round aboute it), and partly to defend
them from any sudden assaults of ye savags, if they
should surround them. So being very weary, they
betooke them to rest. But aboute midnight, [51] they
heard a hideous & great crie, and their sentinell caled,
"Arme, arme"; so they bestired them & stood to their
armes, & shote of a cupple of moskets, and then the
noys seased. They concluded it was a companie of
wolves, or such like willd beasts; for one of ye sea
men tould them he had often heard shuch a noyse in
New-found land. So they rested till about 5. of ye
clock in the morning, for ye tide, & ther purposs to
goe from thence, made them be stiring betimes. So
after praier they prepared for breakfast, and it being
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION 103
day dawning, it was thought best to be earring things
downe to ye boate. But some said it was not best
to carrie ye armes downe, others said they would be
the readier, for they had laped them up in their coats
from ye dew. But some 3. or 4. would not cary
theirs till they wente them selves, yet as it fell out,
ye water being not high enough, they layed them
downe on ye banke side, & came up to breakfast.
But presently, all on ye sudain, they heard a great
& strange crie, which they knew to be the same
voyces they heard in ye night, though they varied
their notes, & one of their company being abroad
came runing in, & cried, "Men, Indeans, Indeans";
and wthall, their arowes came flying amongst them.
Their men rane with all speed to recover their armes,
as by ye good providence of God they did. In ye
mean time, of those that were ther ready, tow muskets
were discharged at them, & 2. more stood ready in
ye enterance of ther randevoue, but were comanded
not to shoote till they could take full aime at them;
& ye other 2. charged againe with all speed, for ther
were only 4. had armes ther, & defended ye baricado
which was first assalted. The crie of ye lndeans was
dreadfull, espetially when they saw ther men rune out
of ye randevoue towourds ye shallop, to recover their
armes, the lndeans wheeling aboute upon them. But
some runing out with coats of malle on, & cutlasses
in their hands, they soone got their armes, & let flye
104 HISTORY OF [CHAP. X.
amongs them, and quickly stopped their violence. Yet
ther was a lustie man, and no less valiante, stood be-
hind a tree within halfe a musket shot, and let his
arrows flie at them. He was seen shoot 3. arrowes,
which were all avoyded. He stood 3. shot of a
musket, till one taking full aime at him, and made
ye barke or splinters of ye tree :fly about his ears,
after which he gave an extraordinary shrike, and away
they wente all of them. They left some to keep ye
shalop, and followed them aboute a quarter of a mille,
and shouted once or twise, and shot of 2. or 3. peces,
& so returned. This they did, that they might con-
ceive that they were not [52] affrade of them or any
way discouraged. Thus it pleased God to vanquish
their enimies, and give them deliverance; and by
his spetiall providence so to dispose that not any one
of them were either hurte, or hitt, though their
arrows came close by them, & on every side them,
and sundry of their coats, which hunge up in ye
barricado, were shot throw & throw. Aterwards they
gave God sollamne thanks & praise for their deliver-
ance, & gathered up a bundle of their arrows, &
sente them into England afterward by ye mr. of ye
ship, and called that place ye first encounter. From
hence they departed, & costed all along, but discerned
no place likly for harbor; & therfore hasted to a place
that their pillote, (one Mr. Coppin who had
bine in ye cuntrie before) did assure them was a good
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 105
harbor, which he bad been in, and they might fetch
it before night; of which they were glad, for it be-
gane to be foule weather. After some houres sailing,
it begane to snow & raine, & about ye midle of ye
afternoons, ye wind increased, & ye sea became very
rough, and they broake their rudder, & it was as much
as 2. men could doe to steere her with a cupple of
oares. But their pillott bad them be of good cheere,
for he saw ye harbor; but ye storme increasing, &
night drawing on, they bore what saile they could to
gett in, while they could see. But herwith they
broake their mast in 3. peeces, & their saill fell over
bord, in a very grown sea, so as they had like to
have been cast away; yet by Gods mercie they re-
covered them selves, & having ye floud with them
struck into ye harbore. But when it came too, ye
pillott was deceived in ye place, and said, ye Lord
be mercifull unto them, for his evs never saw yt
place before; &, he & the mr. ate would have rune
her ashore, in a cove full of breakers, before ye winde.
But a lusty seaman which steered, bad those which
rowed, if they were men, about with her, or ell they
were all cast away; the which they did with speed.
So he bid them be of good cheere & row lustly, for
ther was a faire sound before them, & he doubted not
but they should find one place or other wher they
might ride in saftie. And though it was very dark,
and rained sore, yet in ye end they gott, under ye lee
106 HISTORY OF [CHAP. X.
of a smalle iland, and remained ther all yt night in
saftie. But they knew not this to be an iland till
morning, but were derided in their minds; some would
keepe ye boate for fear they might be amongst ye
Indians; others were so weake and could, they could
not endure, but got a shore, & with much adoe got
fire, (all things being so wett,) and ye rest were glad
to come to them; for after midnight ye wind shifted
to the [53] north-west, & it frose hard. But though
this had been a day & night of much trouble &
danger unto them, yet God gave them a morning of
comforte & refreshing (as usually he doth to his child-
dren), for ye next day was a faire sunshinig day, and
they found them sellvs to be on an iland secure from
ye Indeans, wher they might drie their stufe, fixe their
peeces, & rest them selves, and gave God thanks for
his mercies, in their manifould deliverances. And this
being the last day of ye weeke, they prepared ther to
keepe ye Sabath. On Munday they sounded ye harbor,
and founde it fitt for shipping; and marched into ye
land, & found diverse cornfeilds, & title runing brooks,
a place (as they supposed) fitt for situation; at least
it was ye best they could find, and ye season, & their
presente necessitie, made them glad to accepte of it.
So they returned to their shipp againe with this news
to ye rest of their people, which did much comforte
their harts.
1620.] PLYMOUTH PLANTATION. 107
On ye 15. of Desemr: they wayed anchor to goe to
ye place they had discovered, & came within 2. leagues
of it, but were faine to bear up againe; but ye 16.
day ye winde came faire, and they arrived safe in this
harbor. And after wards tooke better view of ye
place, and resolved wher to pitch their dwelling;
and ye 25. day begane to erecte ye first house for
comone use to receive them and their goods.
Continue on to Book Two / pp. 109 - 151
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