1621. King of G. Britain, James I.-France, Lewis XIII.-Spain, Philip IV. March 24. Dies Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. Edward Winslow. Br The first offence since our arrival is of John Billington Br who came on board at London, B and is this month convented before the whole company for his contempt of the captain's lawful command with opprobrious speeches, for which he is adjudged to have his neck and heels tied together; but upon humbling himself and craving pardon, and it being the first offence, he is forgiven. Br N. B. This month thirteen of our number die. Br And in three months past, dies half our company; the greatest part in the depth of winter, wanting houses and other comforts, being infected with the scurvy and other diseases, which their long voyage and unaccommodate condition brought upon them; so as there die sometimes two or three a day, of 100 persons scarce fifty remain; the living scarce able to bury the dead, the well not sufficient to tend the sick; there being in their time of greatest distress but six or seven, who spare no pains to help them; two of the seven were Mr. Brewster their reverend elder, and Mr. Standish their captain. The like disease fell also among the sailors, so as almost half of their company also die before they sail. B But the spring advancing it pleases God the mortality begins to cease, and the sick and lame recover, which puts new life into the people, though they had borne their sad affliction with as much patience as any could do. B April 5. We despatch the ship with captain Jones, who this day sails from New Plymouth, and May 6 arrives in England. Sm Pur 1621. King of G. Britain, James I.-France, Lewis XIII.-Spain, Philip IV. After this we plant twenty acres of Indian corn, M wherein Squanto is a great help, showing us how to set, fish, dress and tend it, B of which we have a good increase; we likewise sow six acres of barley* and peas; our barley indifferent good, but our peas parched up with the sun. M While we are busy about our seed, our governor Mr. Carver comes out of the field very sick, complains greatly of his head, within a few hours his senses fail, so as he speaks no more, and in a few days after dies, to our great lamentation and heaviness. His care and pains were so great for the common good, as therewith it is thought he oppressed himself and shortened his days; of whose loss we cannot sufficiently complain; and his wife deceases about five or six weeks after. B Soon after, we choose Mr. William Bradford our governor, and Mr. Isaac Allerton his assistant, who are by renewed elections continued together sundry years. B May 12. The first marriage in this place, B is of Mr. Edward Winslow to Mrs. Susanna White, widow of Mr. William White. Br June 18. The second offence is the first duel fought in New England, upon a challenge of single combat with sword and dagger between Edward Doty and Edward Leister, servants of Mr. Hopkins; both being wounded, the one in the hand, the other in the thigh, they are adjudged by the whole company to have their head and feet tied together, and so to lie for twenty-four hours, without meat or drink, which is begun to be inflicted, but within an hour, because of their great pains, * Governor Bradford calls them wheat and peas; and says they came to no good. 1621. King of G. Britain, James I.-France, Lewis XIII.-Spain, Philip IV. at their own and their master's humble request, upon promise of better carriage, they are released by the governor. Br July 2. We agree to send* Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. Steven Hopkins with Squanto to see our new friend Masassoit B at Pakanokit, M to bestow some gratuities on him, bind him faster to us, view the country, see how and where he lives, his strength, &c. В M Tuesday. At nine this morning, we set out, travel fifteen miles westward to Namasket by three in the afternoon. The people entertain us with joy, give us bread they call Maizum, and the spawn of shads, which they now have in great plenty, and we eat with spoons. By sunset we get eight miles further to a Ware, where we find many of the Namascheuks, i. e. Namasket men, a fishing, having caught abundance of bass; who welcome us also, and there we lodge. The head of this river is said to be not far from the place of our abode, upon it are and have been many towns; the ground very good on both sides, for the most part cleared; thousands of men have lived here, who died of the great plague M which befel these parts about three years before our arrival; the living not being able to bury them, and their skulls and bones appear in many places where their dwellings had been. B Upon this river Masassoit lives; it goes into the sea at Narragansett Bay, where the Frenchmen use so much. Next morning we travel six miles by the river to a known shoal place, and it being low water, put off our clothes and wade over; thus far * Mourt's Relation says they set out June 10, but this being Lord's Day, is very unlikely, and is also inconsistent with the rest of the journal : whereas July 2 is Monday, when governor Bradford says we sent &c.; though to comport with the rest of the journal, I conclude that on Monday July 2, they agreed to send, but set not out till the next morning. 1621. King of G. Britain, James I.-France, Lewis XIII.-Spain, Philip IV. the tide flows. We observe few places on the river but what had been inhabited, M though now greatly wasted by the plague aforesaid. B And so we travel to Pacanokik, where Masassoit kindly welcomes us M and gratefully receives our presents, B assures us he will gladly continue the peace and friendship, M tells us the Narragansetts live on the other side of that great bay, are a strong people, and many in number, live compactly, and were not touched with that wasting sickness; B desires us not to let the French trade with them; and there we lodge. Next day, being Thursday, many of their Sachems or petty governors come to visit ys; we see their games for skins and knives, and there lodge again. Friday morning, before sunrise, we take our leave, Masassoit retaining Squanto to procure truck for us, appoints Tockamahamon in his place, whom we had found faithful before and after upon all occasions. That night we reach to the Ware, and the next night home. M July e. John Billington B a boy, M being lost in the woods, the governor causes him to be inquired for among the natives; at length Masassoit sends word he is at Nauset. He had wandered five days, lived on berries, then light of an Indian plantation, twenty miles south of us called Manomet, and they conveyed him to the people who first assaulted us, B but the governor sends ten men M in a shallop BM with Squanto, and Tockamahamon, M to fetch him. BM The first day* the shallop sails for the harbor at Cummaquid, but night coming on, we anchor in * Mourt's Relation, and Purchas from it, places this on June 11. But this date being inconsistent with several hints in the foregoing and following stories, I keep to governor Bradford's original manuscript, and place it between the end of July and the thirteenth of August. 1621. King of G. Britain, James I.-France, Lewis XIII.-Spain, Philip IV. the midst of the bay, where we are dry at low water. Next morning the Indians on the other side of the channel invite us to come and eat with them; as soon as our boat floats, six of us go ashore, leaving four of them pledges in the boat, the rest bring us to their Sachem, whom they call Iyanough,* a man not above twenty-six years of age, but personable and courteous, who gives us plentiful and various cheer. After dinner we take boat for Nauset, Iyanough and two of his men with us. But the day and tide failing, we cannot get in with our shallop. Iyanough with his men go ashore, and we send Squanto to tell Aspinet, the Sachem of Nauset, our errand. After sunset, Aspinet comes with a great train of a hundred with him bringing the boy, one bearing him through the water, delivers him to us. The Sachem makes his peace with us. give him a knife, and another to him who first entertained the boy. At this place we hear the Narragansetts had spoiled some of Masassoit's men and taken him, which strikes us with some fear; and setting sail, carry Iyanough to Cummaquid, and get home the next day night. M Those people also come and make their peace, and we give them full satisfaction for the corn we had formerly found in their country. B We Hobamack B a Pinese or chief captain of Masassoit, W also comes to dwell among us, and continues faithful as long as he lives. B At our return from Nauset, we find it true that Masassoit is put from his country by the Narragansetts,† and word is brought us that Coubatant M Sometimes called Iyanough of Cummaquid, and sometimes Iyanough of Matakiest; which seems to be the country between Barnstable and Yarmouth harbors + Governor Bradford says nothing of this, nor of Masassoit's being either seized or invaded by the Narragansetts. |