Part 3
The 8^{th} of Aprill, 1629. M^r Francis Higgeson and M^r Samuel Skelton intended ministers of this plantac̅o̅n, and it being thought meete to consider of their intertaynement, who expressing their willingnesse, together, also with M^r Francis Bright, being now present to doe their endevour in their places of the ministery as well in preaching, catechizing, as also in teaching, or causing to be taught, the Companyes servants & their children, as also the salvages and their children, whereby to their uttermost to further the maine end of this plantation, being, by the assistance of Allmighty God, the conversion of the salvages, the proposic̅o̅ns concluded on w^{th} M^r Francis Bright, the 2 of February last, were reciprocally accepted of by M^r Francis Higgison and M^r Samuel Skelton, who are in every respect to have the like condic̅o̅ns as M^r Bright hath, onely whereas M^r Higgeson hath 8 children it is intended that 10^{li} more yearely shall be allowed him towards their chardge. And it is agreed that the increase of the improvement of all their grounds during the first 3 yeares shall be at the Companies disposing, who are to fynde them dyett during that time, and tenne pounds more to M^r Higgeson towards his present fitting him and his for the voyage.
FRANCIS HIGGISON. SAMUEL SKELTON.
A TRUE RELATION OF THE
LAST VOYAGE TO
NEW ENGLAND
A trve relac̅o̅n of y^e last voyage to _new England_, declaring all circu̅stances w^{th} y^e man̅er of y^e passage wee had by sea, and what man̅er of countrey & inhabitants we found when we came to land: & what is y^e present state & condic̅o̅n of y^e _English_ people y^t are there already.
_Faithfully recorded according to y^e very truth for y^e satisfaction of very many of my loving friends, who haue earnestly requested to be truly certifyed in these thinges._
_Written from_ new England _July 24, 1629_.
_It._ any Curious Criticke y^t lookes for exactnes of phrases or expert seaman y^t regard propriety of sea-termes &c
A TRVE RELAC̅O̅N of y^e last voyage to _new England_ made y^e last Sum̅er, begun y^e 25^{th} of April being Saturday, Anno do̅i 1629.
The co̅pany of New England consisting of many worthy gentlemen in y^e citty of London, Dorcester & other places, ayming at y^e glory of God, y^e propagac̅o̅n of y^e gospell of Christ, y^e conversio̅ of y^e Indians, & y^e enlarge^{mt} of y^e Kings ma^{ties} dominions in America, & being authorised by his royall letters patents for y^t end, at their very great costs & chardgs furnished 5 Ships to go to new England, for y^e further setling of y^e English plantac̅o̅n y^t y^y had already begun there.
The names of y^e 5 Shipps were as followeth. The first is called y^e Talbot, a good & strong shipp of 300 tunnes, & 19 pieces of ordinance & served w^{th} 30 mariners. This ship carried about an 100 planters, 6 goates, 5 great pieces of ordinaunce, w^{th} meale, oatemeale pease, & all maner of munitio̅ and provisio̅ for y^e plantac̅o̅n for a twelve month. The second y^e George, another strong ship also, about 300 tunnes, 20 pieces of ordinance, served w^{th} about 30 mariners; her chiefe carriage were cattell, 12 mares, 30 kyne, & some goates: also ther gad in her 52 planters & other provision. The 3^d is called y^e Lyons whelpe, a neate & nimble ship of 120 tunnes, 8 pieces of ordinaunce, carrying in her many mariners & about 40 planters, specially fro̅ dorcester & other places thereabouts, w^{th} provision, and 4 goates.
The 4^{th} is called y^e 4 sisters, as I heare of about 300 tuns, w^{ch} fayre ship carried many cattell w^{th} passengers & provision.
The 5th is called y^e Mayflower, carrying passengers & provision.
[Sidenote: [April 25]]
[Sidenote: [26]]
Now amongst these 5 ships, y^e George hauing the speciall & urgent cause of hastening her passage sett sayle before y^e rest about y^e midst of April. And y^e 4 Sisters & y^e Mayflower being not throughly furnished, intended as we heard to sett forth about 3 weeks after vs: But we y^t were in y^e Talbot & y^e Lions whelpe being ready for o^r voyage by y^e good hand of Gods providence hoysed o^r sayle fro̅ Graues end on Saturday y^e 25^{th} of April about 7 a clocke in y^e morning. Having but a faynt wynd we could not go farre y^tday, but at night wee ancred against Lie w^{ch} is 12 miles fro̅ graues end, & there we rested y^t night & kept Sabbath y^e next day.
[Sidenote: [27]]
On monday we sat forward & came to y^e flats, a passage so̅ewhat difficult by reason of y^e narrownes of y^e channell & shallownes of y^e water: & going ouer this wee were in so̅e daunger: for o^r ship being heavy laden & drawing deepe water was sensibly felt of vs all to strike 3 or 4 tymes on y^e ground: but y^e wynd blowing so̅ewhat strong we were carried Swiftly on, & at last by Gods blessing came safe to ancre at Gorin roade.
[Sidenote: [28]]
Tewsday we went a little further, & ancred ouer ag^t Margret Towne, staying for a wind for y^e downes.
[Sidenote: [29]]
Wednesday we came safely though w^{th} much turning & tacking thorow y^e gullies into y^e downes, & stayed y^t night.
[Sidenote: [30. May 1. 2.]]
Thursday, Fryday & Saturday y^e wind blew hard fro̅ south west & caused o^r ship to daunce, & diuers of o^r passengers & my wiffe specially were sea sicke. Here y^e Kings ship called y^e Assurance pressed 2 of o^r mariners. Here we saw many Porpuses playing in y^e sea w^{ch} y^y say is a signe of fowle weather.
[Sidenote: [May 3]]
Sabbath day a windye day & could: we kept Sabbath staying still at y^e downes.
[Sidenote: [4]]
Monday God sent vs a fayre gale of wind north: n: East, whereby we came merily fro̅ y^e downes: & passing Dover we saw 6 or 7 saile of dunkirkes, wafting after vs: but it seemed y^y saw o^r co̅pany was too strong for y^m, for then wee had w^{th} vs 3 or 4 ships y^t went for y^e Straits: so y^y returned backe fro̅ pursuing vs any longer. But sayling w^{th} a good wind wee went speedily, & at night came neere y^e Ile of Wight but being darke wee durst not put into y^e channell, but put backe for sea roome 4 houres, & then other 4 houres sayled backe agayne y^e same way.
[Sidenote: [5]]
[Sidenote: [May]]
Tewsday early in y^e morning we entred y^e channell y^e wind being weake & calme, & passed by Portsmouth very slowly; but in y^e afternoone y^e wind quickened, & wee were forced to ancre a little on this side Cowcastle but y^e wind growing more favourable wee weighed & came to ancre again right against Cowcastle thinking to stay y^t night, y^e wind being very calme. Here I & my wiffe & my daughter Mary & 2 maids & so̅e others w^{th} vs obtained of y^e m^r of y^e shipp to go a shoare to refresh vs & to wash o^r linnens, & so we lay at Cowes y^t night. But y^e wind turning when wee were absent, y^y hoysed sayle & left vs there, & ancred 8 miles further ouer ag^t Yarmouth about 8 of y^e clocke at night.
[Sidenote: [6]]
Wednesday betyme in y^e morning y^e shalope was sent fro̅ y^e shipp to fetch vs to Yarmouth; but y^e water prooued rough & o^r weomen desired to bee sett on shoare 3 miles short of Yarmouth, & so went on foote by land & lodged in Yarmouth y^t night.
[Sidenote: [7. 8.]]
On Thursday & fryday there M^r Beecher allowed by y^e co̅pany gaue mee 40^s to make o^r provisio̅ of what things we would for the voyage.
[Sidenote: [9]]
Saturday we went to board agayne: & this day wee had 2 other men pressed to serve y^e Kings Shippe; but we got one agayne by intreaty.
[Sidenote: [10.]]
The Sabbath next day we kept y^e shipp where I preached in y^e morning; & in y^e afternoon was intreated to preach at Yarmouth, where M^r Meare & captayne Borley entertained vs very kyndly, & earnestly desyred to bee certified of o^r safe arrivall in new England, & of y^e state of y^e countrey
[Sidenote: [11]]
[Sidenote: [12]]
Monday morning blew a fayre wind fro̅ East S: E: And y^e lions whelpe having taken in all her provisio̅ for passengers, about 3 of y^e clocke in y^e afternoone wee hoysed sayle for y^e Needles, & by Gods guidance safely passed y^t narrow passage a little after 4 a clocke in y^e afternoone. And being entred into y^e sea, fro̅ y^e top of y^e mast we discerned 4 sayle of shipps lying southward fro̅ vs. But night coming on wee tooke in o^r long boate & shalope. And y^e next day we had a fayre gale of Easterly wind y^t brought vs towards night as farre as y^e Lizzard.
[Sidenote: [13]]
Wednesday y^e wind still houlding Easterly, wee came as farre as y^e lands end, in y^e vtmost part of Cornewall, & so left o^r deare natiue soile of England behind vs; & sayling about 10 leagues further we passed y^e Isles of Sillie & launched y^e same day a great way into y^e maine ocean. And now my wiffe & other passengers began to feele y^e tossing waues of y^e westerne sea, & so were very sea-sicke.
And this is to be noted, y^t all this while o^r passage hath bene vpo̅ y^e coast of England, & so ought truly to be accounted y^e first day of o^r parting w^{th} ould England.
[Sidenote: [14]]
[Sidenote: [15]]
[Sidenote: [May]]
Thursday y^e same Easterly wind blew all day & night; & y^e next day; so y^t so̅e of y^e seamen thought we were co̅e by this tyme 100 leagues fro̅ England, but toward night y^e wind was calme.
[Sidenote: [16]]
Saturday we were becalmed all day. This day met vs a little shipp of Bristoll y^t came fro̅ Christopher Ilands.
[Sidenote: [17.]]
Sabath being y^e first Lords day we held at sea was very calme, especially in the morning, but we were disturbed in o^r morning Service by y^e approach of a Biskaniers shippe, a man of warre, y^t made towards vs, & manned out his boate to viewe vs: But fynding vs too strong for him he durst not venture to assault vs, but made off.
This day my 2 children Samuel & Mary began to be sicke of y^e small-pockes & purples together, w^{ch} was brought into y^e ship by one M^r Browne w^{ch} was sicke of y^e same at Graues End, who̅ it pleased God to make y^e first occasio̅ of bringing y^t contagious sicknes among vs, wherew^{th} many were after afflicted.
[Sidenote: [18.]]
Monday calme still, y^e wind being no: w: blowing a little towards euening, but contrary to o^r course.
[Sidenote: [19.]]
Tewsday wind so: w: as little helpfull as y^e former & blowing uery weake. This day y^e m^r of o^r ship, my selfe & another went aboard the Lions whelpe, where M^r Gibs made vs welco̅e w^{th} bountifull entertayne^{mt}. And this day towards night my daughter grew sicker & many blew Spots were seene vpo̅ her breast, w^{ch} affrighted vs. At y^e first wee thought y^y had bene y^e plague tokens; but we found afterwards y^t it was onely an high measure of y^e infectio̅ of y^e pockes, w^{ch} were strucke agayne into y^e child, & so it was Gods will y^e child dyed about 5 of y^e clocke at night, being y^e first in o^r shipp y^t was buried in the bowells of y^e great Atlanticke Sea; w^{ch} as it was a griefe to vs her parents, & a sorrow to all y^e rest as being y^e beginning of a contagious disease & mortality: so in y^e same judge^{mt} it pleased God to remember mercy in y^e child, in freeing it fro̅ a world of misery wherein otherwise shee had liued all her daies. For being about 4 yeares ould a yeare since, wee know not by what meanes, sweyed in y^e backe, so y^t it was broken & grew crooked, & y^e joynts of her hipps were loosed & her knees went crooked pittifull to see. Since w^{ch} tyme shee hath had a most lamentable payne in her belly, & would oft times cry out in y^e day & in her sleep also my belly, w^{ch} declared so̅e extraordinary distemper. So y^t in respect of her wee had cause to take her death as a blessing fro̅ y^e Lord to shorten her miserie.
[Sidenote: [May 20]]
Wednesday a wett morning, y^e wind was W: S: W: & in y^e afternoone N: W: & by W: both being contrary to o^r course, w^{ch} was to saile W: & by S: Thus it pleased god to lay his hand vpo̅ vs by sicknes & death & contrary winds; & stirred vp so̅e of vs to make y^e moto̅n of humbling o^r selves vnder y^e hand of God by keeping a solemne day of fasting & prayer unto God, to beseech him to remooue y^e continuance & further increase of these evills fro̅ vs. w^{ch} was willingly condescended vnto as a duty very fitting & needfull for o^r present state and condic̅o̅n.
[Sidenote: [21]]
Thursday, there being 2 ministers in y^e ship, M^r Smith & my selfe, we endevoured together w^{th} others to consecrate y^e day as a solemne fasting & humiliac̅o̅n to almighty God, as a furtheraunce of o^r present worke. And it pleased God y^e ship was becalmed all day, so y^t we were freed fro̅ any encumbraunce: And as soone as we had done prayers, see & behould y^e goodnes of god, about 7 a clocke at night y^e wind turned to n: e: & we had a fayre gale y^t night as a manifest evidence of y^e Lords hearing o^r prayers. I heard so̅e of y^e mariners say, y^y thought this was y^e first sea-fast y^t euer was kept, & y^t y^y neuer heard of y^e like perfourmed at sea before.
[Sidenote: [22.]]
[Sidenote: [May]]
Fryday y^e wind fayre, & east northerly, & for o^r purpose for new England. it did blow strongly & carried vs on amayne w^{th} tossing waues, w^{ch} did affright y^m y^t were not wonted to such sights.
[Sidenote: [23.]]
Saturday y^e same wind blowing but more gently. Now we were co̅forted w^{th} hope of my sonne Samuels recovery of y^e pockes.
[Sidenote: [24.]]
The 2 Lords day, a fayre day, an orderly wind & prosperous.
[Sidenote: [25]]
On Monday a fayre frummegale, y^e wind South S: W:
[Sidenote: [26.]]
Tewsday about 10 of y^e clocke in y^e morning, whilest we were at prayers a strong and sudden blast came fro̅ y^e north, y^t hoysed vp y^e waues & tossed vs more then euer before & held vs all y^t day till towards night & then abated by little & little till it was calme. This day M^r Goffes great dogg fell ouer board & could not be recouered.
[Sidenote: [27.]]
[Sidenote: [May 27]]
Wednesday, y^e wind still no: & calme in y^e morning, but about noone there arose a So: wind, w^{ch} encreased more & more, so y^t it seemed to vs y^t are land men a sore & terrible storme; for y^e wind blew mightily, y^e rayne fell vehemently, y^e sea roared & y^e waues tossed vs horribly; besides it was fearfull darke & y^e mariners maid was afraid; & noyse on the other side w^{th} their running here & there, lowd crying one to another to pull at this & y^t rope. The waues powred y^mselues ouer y^e shippe y^t y^e 2 boates were filled w^{th} water, y^t y^y were fayne to strike holes in y^e midst of y^m to let y^e water out. Yea by y^e violence of y^e waues y^e long boate coard w^{ch} held it was broken, & it had like to haue bene washed ouerboard, had not y^e mariners w^{th} much payne & daunger recouered y^e same. But this lasted not many houres; after which it became a calmish day. All w^{ch} while I lay close & warme in my cabine, but farre fro̅ hauing list to sleepe w^{th} Jonah; my thoughts were otherwise employed as y^e tyme & place required. Then I saw y^e truth of y^e Scripture Psal. 107, fro̅ y^e 23 to y^e 32. And my feare at this tyme was ye lesse, when I rememberd what a loving friend of myne, a minister accustomed to sea stormes said to mee y^t I might not be dismayed at such stormes, for y^y were ordinary at seas, & it seeldome falls out y^t a shipp perisheth at storms if it haue sea-roome, w^{ch} I y^e rather wryte y^t others as well as my selfe by y^e knowledge hereof may be encouraged & prepared ag^t these ordinary sea-stormes.
[Sidenote: [28 29]]
[Sidenote: [30]]
Thursday So: wind: calme at night: On fryday a boistrous wind blowing crosse, but was allayed towards night w^{th} a showre of rayne. Saturday So: w: wind, but faire & quiett.
[Sidenote: [May 31]]
Sabbath day being y^e 3 Lords day, fayre & calme; wee saw abundance of grampas fishes, 2 or 3 yards long, & a body as bigg as an oxe.
[Sidenote: [June 1]]
Monday y^e wind westerly & calme: but besides o^r being stayed by contrary winds we began to fynd y^e temperature of y^e ayre to alter & to become more soletry & subject to vnwholsome foggs. For com̅ing now to y^e height of y^e westerne Islands, so̅e of o^r men fell sicke of y^e scuruie & others of the small pockes, w^{ch} more & more increased: yet thankes be to God none dyed of it but my owne child menc̅o̅n̅d. And therefore, according to o^r great need we appointed another fast for the next day.
[Sidenote: [2.]]
Tewsday we solemnely celebrate another fast. The Lord y^t day heard vs before wee prayed & gaue vs aunswere before we called; for early in y^e morning y^e wind turned full East, being as fitt a wind as could blowe. And sitting at my study on y^e shipps poope I saw many bonny fishes & porpuses pursuing one another, and leaping so̅e of y^m a yard aboue y^e water. Also as we were at prayer, vnder y^e hatch, so̅e y^t were aboue saw a whale puffing vp water not farre fro̅ y^e shippe. Now my wiffe was prettily well recouered of her sea sicknesse.
[Sidenote: [3.]]
[Sidenote: [June]]
Wednesday a fayre day & fyne gale of full East wind. This day my selfe & others saw a large round fish sayling by y^e ships side about a yard in length & roundnes euery way. The mariners cald it a sunne fish; it spreadeth out y^e finnes like beames on euery side 4, or 5.
[Sidenote: [4, 5.]]
Thursday & fryday y^e wind full E: we were carried w^{th} admirac̅o̅n on o^r journey. By this wee were more then halfe way to new England. This day I saw a fish very straunge to mee, y^y call it a caruell; w^{ch} came by y^e ship side wafting along y^e top of y^e water. it appeared at y^e first like a bubble aboue the water as bigg as a mans fist, but y^e fish it selfe is about y^e bignes of a mans thum, so y^t y^e fish it selfe & y^e bubble resembleth a shipp w^{th} sailes, w^{ch} therefore is called a caruell.
[Sidenote: [6 7]]
[Sidenote: [8]]
Saturday wind direct E: still. The 4 Sabb: we kept at sea the wind full full Easterly till noone, & then it came full So: E: a strong gale y^t night & y^e next day till night.
[Sidenote: [9]]
Tewsday y^e same wind held till 9 a clock in y^e morning: & then a great showre w^{ch} lasted till about 7 at night, & then it was a very calme. There we sounded w^{th} a dipled lyne aboue 100^{th} fadome & found no bottome. This day we saw a fish called a turkle, a great & large shell fish swiming aboue y^e water neere y^e shippe.
[Sidenote: [10]]
Wednesday wind northerly a fyne gale but calmish in y^e afternoone.
[Sidenote: [11 June]]
Thursday y^e wind at no: an easye gale & fayre morning we saw a mountayne of Ice shyning as white as snow like to a great rocke or clift on y^e shoare. it stood still & therefore we thought it to be on ground & to reach y^e bottome of y^e sea. For though there came a mighty streame fro̅ y^e no: yet it mooued not, w^{ch} made vs sound, & we found a banke of 40 fathom deepe whereupo̅ we judged it to rest: & y^e height aboue was as much. Wee also saw 6 or 7 pieces of Ice, floating on y^e sea, w^{ch} was broken off fro̅ y^e former mountayne, we also saw great store of water fowle swim̅ing by y^e shipp w^{th}in musket shott, of a pyde colour & about y^e bignes of a wild ducke, about 40 in a co̅pany, the mariners call y^m hag birds. Toward night came a fogge, y^t y^e lions whelp was lost till morning. And now we saw many bony toes porpuses and grampases every day more & more.
[Sidenote: [12]]
Fryday foggie & calmish, y^e wind northerly in y^e morning, but about noone it came S: E: a dainty loome gale w^{ch} carried vs 6 leagues a watch.
[Sidenote: [13]]
Saturday y^e same wind till night, & we saw great store of porpuses & grampases.
[Sidenote: [14]]
The 5^{th} Sabbath, y^e same wind, towards noone it began to be foggie, & then it rained till night we went 4 or 5 leagues a watch.
[Sidenote: [June 15]]
Monday a fayre day but foggie, y^e same wind blowing but w^{th} fresh gale carryed vs 7 leagues a watch. In y^e afternoone it blew harder, so y^e sea was rough, & we lost y^e sight of y^e lions whelpe: it being foggie we drum̅ed for y^m & y^y shot off a great piece of ordinance but we feared not one another.
[Sidenote: [16]]
Tewsday wind So: & by E: foggie till about 10 a clocke while we were at prayers it cleared vp about an houre, & then we saw y^e lions whelpe distant about 2 leagues southward. wee presently tackt about to meet her & shee did y^e same to meete vs, but before we could get together a thick fogge came, y^t we were long in fynding each other. This day we sounded divers tymes, & found o^rselves on another banke, at first 40 fathom, after 36. after 33. after 24. wee thought it to haue bene y^e banke ouer ag^t chap Sable, but we were deceiued, for we knew not certainly where we were because of y^e fogge. After 3 or 4 houres co̅pany we lost y^e lions whelpe agayne: & beate o^r drume & shot off a great piece of ordinaunce & yet heard not of y^m. But perceiuing y^e banke to grow still y^t shallower we found it 27 & 24 fathoms. Therefore being a fogg & fearing wee were too neere land we tackt about for sea roome for 2 or 3 watches, & steered Southeast.
[Sidenote: [17]]
Wednesday very foggie still & wind S: and by w: & sounding found no bottome y^t we could reach.
[Sidenote: [18]]
Thursday wind full w: & contrary to vs. This day a notorious wicked fellow y^t was giuen to swearing & boasting of his former wickednes bragged y^t hee had got a wench w^{th} child before hee came this voyage & mocked at o^r daies of fast railing & jesting ag^t puritans, this fellow fell sicke of y^e pockes & dyed. Wee sounded and found 38 fathom, & stayed for a little to take so̅e codfish & feasted o^rselves merily.
[Sidenote: [19]]
Fryday wind west still, a very fayre cleare day. About 4 a clock in y^e afternoone so̅e went vp to y^e top of y^e mast, & affirmed to o^r great co̅fort y^y saw land to y^e north eastward.
[Sidenote: [20]]
Saturday wind So: w: a fayre gale: we sounded & found 40, 30, 22, & a little after no ground.
[Sidenote: [21]]
Sabb: being y^e 6^{th} Lords day; wind westerly but fayre & calme.
[Sidenote: [22]]
Monday wind Easterly a fayre gale. This day wee saw a great deale of froth not farre fro̅ vs: wee feared it might bee so̅e breach of water ag^t some new qvote.[2] Therefore y^e m^r of o^r shipp hoised out y^e shalop & went w^{th} so̅e of y^e men to see what it was; but found it onely to bee a froath carried by y^e streame.
[Sidenote: [June 23]]
Tewsday y^e wind n: E: a fayre gale. This day we examined 5 beastly Sodomiticall boyes, w^{ch} confessed their wickednes not to bee named. The fact was so fowle wee referred y^m to bee punished by y^e governor when we came to new England, who afterward sent y^m backe to y^e co̅pany to bee punished in ould England as y^e crime deserued.
[Sidenote: [24]]
Wednesday wind no: E: a fayre day & cleare: about 9 a clocke in y^e morning we espied a shipp about 4 leagues behind vs; w^{ch} prooued y^e lions whelpe, w^{ch} had bene a weeke separated fro̅ vs. we stayed for [blot (her)] co̅pany. This day a child of goodman Blacke w^{ch} had a co̅sumpc̅o̅n before it came to shipp, dyed. This day we had all a cleare & co̅fortable sight of America, & of y^e Chap Sable y^t was ouer ag^t vs 7 or 8 leagues northward. Here we saw yellow gilliflowers on y^e sea.
[Sidenote: [25]]
Thursday wind still no: Ea: a full & fresh gale. In y^e after noone wee had a cleare sight of many Islands & hills by y^e sea shoare. Now we saw abundaunce of makrill, a great store of great whales puffing vp water as y^y goe, so̅e of y^m came neere o^r shipp: their greatnes did astonish vs y^t saw y^m not before: their backs appeared like a little Island. At 5 a clock at[3] night the wind turned S. E. a fayre gale. This day we caught mackrill.
[Sidenote: [26]]