History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647

CHAP. I. The early church and its trials. Satan introduces ceremonies and un-
profitable canons. Kindles flames of contention. Religious exiles to the con-
tinent. Differences in Queen Mary's time. Persecution for conformity. The
name Puritan. The downfall of the Bishops. John Smyth's church. Clifton,
Robinson and Brewster. Determination to go to the Low Countries

CHAP. II. Difficulty of removal. Attempt at Boston and disastrous conse-
quences. The second attempt at Hull, and forced separation of party. The
storm at sea. Pitiful situation of the emigrants. Good impression made on
the magistrates. Reunion in Holland.

. 28

CHAP. III. Situation in Holland. Coming of Robinson and Brewster. Defection

of John Smyth. Removal to Leyden. Happy course of the church under

Robinson. Slanders raised against the congregation. Comparison with the

Walloons. Robinson's public dispute on Arminianism

. . 36

CHAP. IV. Reasons for removing from Holland. The hard toil and effect on the
younger generation. Considerations on America. Cruelty of the natives. Cost
of transportation. Reply to objections. End of truce with the Spaniards

CHAP. V. Place of settlement. Guiana and the Spaniards. Virginia favored.

Mission to England and the Virginia Company. Permission of the King.

Letter of Sir Edwin Sandys. Reply to Robinson and Brewster. Letter and

notes to Sir John Wolstenholme. Letter from Sabine Staresmore. Robert

Cushman on dissension in the Virginia Company. Blackwell's unfortunate

voyage. Staresmore on Blackwelland his own difficulties. Patent to Whincop 61

CHAP. VI. Agreement as to departure. Appearance of Thomas Weston. Carver

and Cushman go to England. Charter for New England. Distraction in the

Leyden congregation. Weston makes difficulties. The conditions entered into.

Robinson to Carver. Joint letter to the commissioners. Reply by Cushman.

Arrangements made by Cushman. Martin and the expenditure of money.

Cushman's letter

CHAP. VII. Departure from Leyden and sailing from Delftshaven. Arrival at
Southampton. Alteration of the agreement. Weston's displeasure. Letter to
the merchants. Robinson's letters of advice. Embarkation

CHAP. VIII. Forced to return by leaky ship. Second sailing and return. Divi-
sion of the company and final departure of one ship. Cushman turns back.
His letter to Southworth

121

137

CHAP. IX. Incidents of the voyage. Death of a profane young man. Bowing of
a main beam. Experience of John Howland. Death of Butten. Cape Cod
sighted. Attempt to sail to the southward. Refuge in Cape Cod harbor. Re-
flections on their situation

CHAP. X. Exploration of the Cape. Appearance of the savages. Discovery of

Indian graves and corn. Finding of Pamet River. Importance of the Indian

corn. Journey to the bottom of the bay. First encounter with the Indians.

Seek harbor on advice of Coppin. Heavy storm and refuge in harbor. Deter-

189

1620. "Compact" and selection of Governor. Difficult beginnings and discon-
tents. Great mortality in the company. Care of the sick. Conduct of captain
and crew. Coming of Samoset, Massasoit and Tisquantum. Treaty made with
Massasoit. Tisquantum's history. Dermer's experiences in the country.
Conjuration by the Powahs. Return of spring and better conditions

1621. Return of the Mayflower, and causes of her detention. Planting of Indian

corn. Death of Governor Carver. Bradford chosen to be governor. First

marriage, a civil contract. Visit to Massasoit. Billington lost in the woods.

Hobbamack and Tisquantum attacked by Corbitant. Peace with the Indians.

Visit to Massachusetts Bay. Harvest and supply of food. Arrival of the For-

tune, and fears of her passengers. Weston's letter to Carver. Return of the

Fortune with Cushman. Weston's desertion. Letter from the plantation. Dis-

tribution of new-comers. Threatening message from the Narragansetts.

Fortifications raised and watches established. Incident of Christmas Day 214

1622. Jealousies of Tisquantum, and.rumers of Indian plots. Tisquantum and

the plague. Arrival of a shallop from Weston's ship, with passengers.

Weston's letter. Failure of supplies. Weston offers a new agreement. Weston

on Pickering and Pickering's letter: Cushman on capture of the Fortune and

Weston's men. Pierce's letter. Weston's company at New Plymouth. Aid

from John Huddleston. Construction of a fort. Want of food and Jones'

visit. Letter of John Pory. Weston's company leave New Plymouth. Joint

trading for corn. Death of Tisquantum. Threats by Sanders against Indians 252

1623. Reasons for Sanders' necessities. Sufferings and debasements of Weston's

men. Sickness of Massasoit. Intelligence of hostile intentions of Indians.

End of Weston's settlement. Arrival of Weston and his troubles. Borrows

beaver of New Plymouth and his ill conduct. Allotment of lands in severalty.

Comment on communism. Martyr on sufferings of the Spaniards. The fishing

boat and its success. Letter from the adventurers. John Peirce and his at-

tempt at planting. Purchase of the Peirce patent. Hardships encountered by

the Anne. Arrival of Francis West and sale of supplies. Coming of the Anne.

Cushman's letter on quality of emigrants. Letter from the adventurers. Dis-

appointment of the new-comers. Stipulations as to food. Conditions applied

to those on their particulars. Robert Gorges and his commission. Charges

against Weston. Interference of Bradford, and the return made. Fire in the

store-house. Arrest of Weston, and subsequent release. Morell and his object.

Poor results from the pinnace.

1624. Election and number of assistants. Wreck of the pinnace. Factious con-

duct of particular planters. Winslow's return with cattle. Letters of Sherley

and Cushman. Reply to objections. Letters from Robinson. High value

placed on Indian corn. Lands given to planters. Failure of fishing at Cape

Ann. Death of the ship carpenter. Conduct of the salt maker. Lyford and

his reception. Combines with Oldham to raise a faction. Opening of their let-

ters. Exposure of their opposition. Charges contained in Lyford's letters.

His repentance. Oldham and Lyford expelled from the plantation, but Lyford

re-admitted. Renews his opposition. His letter to the adventurers. Reply by

the governor to charges. Pinnace raised and refitted. The settlement strength-

ened by its factions

288

· 350

1625. Return of Oldham and his expulsion. Coming of Winslow and Peirce. Old-

ham's removal to Virginia, repentance and death. Lyford's career in Ireland.

Attempt to defend him to the adventurers. His removal to Natasco and death

in Virginia. Adventurers break over the Lyford matter. Criticisms of the

plantations, and reply. Letter from the adventurers. Fishing ventures and

their failure. Standish sent to England. Difficulties in borrowing money.

Fair situation of the plantation

1626. Return of Standish. Death of Pastor Robinson. Letter of Roger White.

Death of Cushman and sickness of Sherley. Planting of Indian corn. Trading

goods purchased at Monhegan. Wreck of French ship. Remittance to Eng-

land. Allerton sent to England. A trading vessel constructed

411

440

Illustrations

Letter of WILLIAM BRADFORD TO JOHN WINTHROP, APRIL 11, 1638, WITH
DRAFT OF REPLY IN WINTHROP'S WRITING. From the Winthrop Papers in
the Massachusetts Historical Society. Printed in 4 Mass. Hist. Collections, vi.
156

FACSIMILE OF PAGE OF THe Bradford MS. .

. Frontispiece