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CHAPTER XI - The Remainder of Anno 1620
Section 1 - [The Mayflower Compact]
Sentence 1: I shall a little return back, and begin with a combination made by them before they came ashore; being the first foundation of their government in this place.
Sentence 2: Occasioned partly by the discontented and mutinous speeches that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in the ship: That when they came ashore they would use their own liberty, for none had power to command them, the patent they had being for Virginia and not for New England, which belonged to another government, with which the virginia Company had nothing to do. [Note 11.1]
Sentence 3: And partly that such an |54| act by them done, this their condition considered, might be as firm as any patent, and in some respects more sure.
Sentence 1: The form was as followeth: [Note 11.2]
Sentence 1: In the Name of God, Amen.
Sentence 1: 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.
Sentence 1: Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour 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 [Note 11.3] 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 and 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.
Sentence 2: In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftyfourth.
Sentence 1: After this they chose, or rather confirmed, Mr. John Carver (a man godly and well approved amongst them) their Governor for that year.
Sentence 2: And after they had provided a place for their goods, or common store (which were long in unlading for want of boats, foulness of the winter weather and sickness of divers) and begun some small cottages [Note 11.4] for their habitation; as time would admit, they met and consulted of laws and orders, both for their civil and military government as the necessity of the condition did require, sill adding thereunto as urgent occasion in several times, and as cases did require.
Sentence 1: In these hard and difficult 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 wisdom, patience, and just and equal carriage of things, by the Governor and better part, which clave faithfully together in the main.
Section 2 - [The Starving Time]
Sentence 1: But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months' time half of their company died, expecially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and |55| other diseases which this long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them.
Sentence 2: So as there died some times two or three of a day in the foresaid time, that of 100 and odd persons, scarce fifty remained.[Note 5]
Sentence 3: And of these, in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them.
Sentence 4: In a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren; a rare example and worthy to be remembered.
Sentence 5: Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend Elder, and Myles Standish, their Captain and military commander, unto whom myself and many others were much beholden in our low and sick condition.
Sentence 6: And yet the Lord so upheld these persons as in this general calamity they were not at all infected either with sickness or lameness.
Sentence 7: And what I have said of these I may say of many others who died in this general visitation, and others yet living; that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of them.
Sentence 8: And I doubt not but their recompense is with the Lord.
Sentence 1: But I may not here pass by another remarkable passage not to be forgotten.
Sentence 2: As this calamity fell among the passengers that were to be left here to plant, and were hasted ashore and made to drink water that the seamen might have the more beer, and one [Note 6] in his sickness desiring but a small can of beer, it was answered that if he were their own father he should have none.
Sentence 3: The disease began to fall amongst them also, so as almost half of their company died before they went away, and many of their officers and lustiest men, as the boatswain, gunner, three quartermasters, the cook and others.
Sentence 4: At which the Master was something strucken and sent to the sick ashore and told the Governor he should send for beer for them that had need of it, though he drunk water homeward bound.
Sentence 1: But now amongst his company |56| there was far another kind of carriage in this misery than amongst the passengers.
Sentence 2: For they that before had been boon companions in drinking and jollity in the time of their health and welfare, began now to desert one another in this calamity, saying they would not hazard their lives for them, they should be infected by coming to help them in their cabins; and so, after they came to lie by it, would do little or nothing for them but, "if they died, let them die".
Sentence 3: But such of the passengers as were yet aboard showed them what mercy they could, which made some of their hearts relent, as the boatswain (and some others) who was a proud young man and would often curse and scoff at the passengers.
Sentence 4: But when he grew weak, they had compassion on him and helped him; then he confessed he did not deserve it at their hands, he had abused them in word and deed.
Sentence 5: "Oh!" (saith he) "you, I now see, show your love like Christians indeed one to another, but we let one another lie and die like dogs".
Sentence 6: Another lay cursing his wife, saying if it had not been for her he had never come this unlucky voyage, and anon cursing his fellows, saying he had done this and that for some of them; he had spent so much and so much amongst them, and they were now weary of him and did not help him, having need.
Sentence 7: Another gave his companion all he had, if he died, to help him in his weakness; he went and got a little spice and made him a mess of meat once or twice.
Sentence 8: And because he died not so soon as he expected, he went amongst his fellows and swore the rogue would cozen him, he would see him choked before he made him any more meat; and yet the poor fellow died before morning.
Section 3 - [Indian Relations]
Sentence 1: All this while the Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves aloof off, but when any approached near them, they would runaway; and once they stole away their tools where they had been at work and were gone to dinner. [Note 7]
Sentence 2: But about the 16th of March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand but marveled at it.
Sentence 3: At length they understood by discourse with him, that he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts where some English ships came to fish, with whom he was acquainted and could name sundry of them by their names, amongst whom he had got his language.
Sentence 4: He became profitable to them |57| in acquainting them with many things concerning the state of the country in the east parts where 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 chief amongst them.
Sentence 5: His name was Samoset. [Note 8]
Sentence 6: He told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than himself.
Sentence 1: Being, after some time of entertainment and gifts dismissed, a while after he came again, and five more with him, and they brought again all the tools that were stolen away before, and made way for the coming of their great Sachem, called Massasoit.
Sentence 2: Who, about four or five days after, came with the chief of his friends and other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto.
Sentence 3: With whom, after friendly entertainment and some gifts given him they made a peace with him (which hath now continued this 24 years) [Note 9] in these terms:
Sentence 4: 1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of their people.
Sentence 5: 2. That if any of his did hurt to any of theirs, he whould send the offender, that they might punish him.
Sentence 6: 3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do the like to his.
Sentence 7: 4. If any did unjustly war against him, they would aid him; if any did war against them, he should aid them.
Sentence 8: 5. He should send to his neighbours confederates to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.
Sentence 9: 6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.
Sentence 1: After these things he returned to his place called Sowams, [Note 1] some 40 miles from this place, but Squanto continued with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.
Sentence 2: He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died.
Sentence 3: He was a native |58| of this place, and scarce any left alive besides himself.
Sentence 4: He was carried away with divers others by one Hunt, a master of a ship, [Note 2] who thought to sell them for slaves in Spain.
Sentence 5: But he got away for England and was entertained by a merchant in London, and employed to Newfoundland and other parts, and lastly brought hither into these parts by one Mr. Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinando Gorges and others for discovery and other designs in these parts.
Sentence 6: Of whom I shall say something, because it is mentioned in a book set forth Anno 1622 by the President and Council for New England, [Note 3] that he made the peace between the savages of these parts and the English, of which this plantation, as it is intimated, had the benefit; but what a peace it was may appear by what befell him and his men.
Sentence 1: This Mr. Dermer was here the same year that these people came, as appears by a relation written by him and given me by a friend, bearing the date June 30, Anno 1620.
Sentence 2: And they came in November following, so there was but four months difference.
Sentence 3: In which relation to his honoured friend, he hath these passages of this very place:
Sentence 1: I will first begin (saith he) with that place from whence Squanto or Tisquantum, was taken away; which in Captain Smith's map is called Plymouth; and I would that Plymouth had the like commodities.
Sentence 2: I would that the first plantation might here be seated, if there come to the number of 50 persons, or upward.
Sentence 3: Otherwise, Charlton, [Note 4] because there the savages are less to be feared.
Sentence 4: The Pocanockets, [Note 5] which live to the west of Plymouth, bear an inveterate malice to the English, and are of more strength than all the savages from thence to Penobscot.
Sentence 5: Their desire of revenge was occasioned by an Englishman, who having many of them on board, made a greater slaughter with their murderers [Note 6] and small shot when as (they say) they offered no injury on their parts.
Sentence 6: Whether they were English or no it may be doubted; yet they believe they were, for the French have so possessed them.
Sentence 7: For which cause Squanto cannot deny but they would have killed me when I was at Namasket, had he not entreated hard for me.
Sentence 1: The soil of the borders of |59| this great bay may be compared to most of the plantations which I have seen in Virginia.
Sentence 2: The land is of divers sorts, for Patuxet is a hardy but strong soil; Nauset and Satucket [Note 7] are for the most part a blackish and deep mould much like that where groweth the best tobacco in Virginia.
Sentence 3: In the bottom of the great bay is store of cod and bass or mullet, etc.
Sentence 4: But above all he commends Pocanocket for the richest soil, and much open ground fit for English grain, etc.
Sentence 1: Massachusetts is about nine leagues from Plymouth, and situated in the midst between both, is full of islands and peninsulas, very fertile for the most part.
Sentence 1: With sundry such relations which I forbear to transcribe, being now better known than they were to him.
Sentence 1: He was taken prisoner by the Indians at Manamoyick, [Note 8] a place not far from hence, now well known.
Sentence 2: He gave them what they demanded for his liberty, but when they had got what they desired, they kept him still, and endeavoured to kill his men.
Sentence 3: But he was freed by seizing on some of them and kept them bound till they gave him a canoe's load of corn.
Sentence 4: Of which, see Purchas, lib. 9, fol. 1778. [Note 9]
Sentence 5: But this was Anno 1619.
Sentence 1: After the writing of the former relation, he came to the Isle of Capawack [Note 1] (which lies south of this place in the way to Virginia) and the aforesaid Squanto with him, where he going ashore amongst the Indians to trade, as he used to do, was betrayed and assulted by them, and all his men slain, but one that kept the boat.
Sentence 2: But himself got aboard very sore wounded, and they had cut off his head upon the cuddy of the boat, had not the man rescued him with a sword.
Sentence 3: And so they got away and made shift to get into Virginia where he died, whether of his wounds or the diseases of the country, or both together, is uncertain. |60|
Sentence 4: By all which it may appear how far these people were from peace, and with what danger this plantation was begun, save as the powerful hand of the Lord did protect them.
Sentence 1: These things were partly the reason why they [Note 2] kept aloof and were so long before they came to the English.
Sentence 2: Another reason as after themselves made known was how about three years before, a French ship was cast away at Cape Cod, but the men got ashore and saved their lives, and much of their victuals and other goods.
Sentence 3: But after the Indians heard of it, they gathered together from these parts and never left watching and dogging them till they got advantage and killed them all but three or four which they kept, and sent from one sachem to another to make sport with, and used them worse than slaves.
Sentence 4: Of which the aforesaid Mr. Dermer redeemed two of them; and they conceived this ship was now come to revenge it. [Note 3]
Sentence 1: Also, as after was made known, before they came to the English to make friendship, they got all the Powachs [Note 4] of the country, for three days together in a horrid and devilish manner, to curse and execrate them with their conjurations, which assembly and service they held in a dark and dismal swamp.
Sentence 2: The spring now approaching, it pleased God the mortality began to cease amongst them, and the sick and lame recovered apace, which put as [it] were new life into them, though they had borne their sad affliction with much patience and contentedness as I think any people could do.
Sentence 3: But it was the Lord which upheld them, and had beforehand prepared them; many having long borne the yoke, yea from their youth. [Note 5]
Sentence 4: Many other smaller matters I omit, sundry of them having been already published in a journal made by one of the company, [Note 6] and some other passages of journeys and relations already published, to which I refer those that are willing to know them more particularly.
Sentence 1: And being now come to the 25th of March, I shall begin the year 1621.
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