falling down on his knees, and they all with him. He with watery cheeks commends them with most fervent prayer to God; and then with mutual embraces and many tears, they take their leave, and with a prosperous gale, come to SouthHampton, where they find the bigger ship from London, Mr. Jones, Master, with the rest of the company, who had been waiting there with Mr. Cushman seven days. Seven hundred pounds sterling are laid out at South-Hampton, and they carry about 1700 pounds venture with them: and Mr. Weston comes thither from London, to see them despatched.

July 23. King James gives a warrant to his Solicitor, Sir Thomas Coventry, to prepare a new patent for the incorporation of the adventurers to the Northern Colony of Vir ginia, between 40 and 48 deg. N. which patent the King signs on Nov. 3d, styling them the Council for the affairs of New-England and their successors.

July 27. Mr. Robinson writes to Mr. Carver and people, letters, which they receive at South-Hampton: and the company being called together, theirs is read among them, to the acceptance of all, and after fruit of many. Then they distribute their company into the ships, and with the approbation of the masters, choose a governor and two or three assistants for each, to order the people and provis

ions.

Aug. 5. They sail from South-Hampton; but reach not far before Mr. Reinolds, master of the lesser ship, complained she was so leaky that he dare proceed no farther; upon which they both put in to Dartmouth, about Aug. 13, where they search and mend her to their great charge and loss of time and a fair wind, though had they staid at sea but three or four hours more, she had sunk right down. A bout Ang. 21, they set sail again; but having gone above a hundred leagues beyond the lands-end of England, Mr. Reinold complained of her leaking again, that they must either return or sink, for they could scarce free her by pumping: upon which they both put back to Plymouth; where, finding no defect, they judge her leakiness owing to her general weakness. They therefore, agree to dismiss her and those who are willing, to return to London, though this was very grievous and discouraging; Mr. Cushman and family returning with them; the rest taking what provisions they could well stow in the larger ship, resolve to proceed on the voyage alone.

Sept. 6. They make another sad parting, and the greater ship sets sail again: But about half seas over, meets with cross winds and many fierce storms, which often force them to hull for divers days together, not being able to bear a knot of sail; make her upper works very leaky, and bow and wrack a main beam in the mid ship; which puts them in such fear, as the chief of the company enters into a serious consultation with the ship officers about returning: But a passenger having brought a great iron screw from Hol land, they with it raise the beam into its place; and then committing themselves to the Divine Will proceed.

Nov. 6. Dies at sea William Butten, a youth and servant to Samuel Fuller, being the only passenger who dies on the voyage.

Nov. 9. At break of day, after long beating the sea, they make the land of CAPE COD, whereupon they tack and stand to the southward, the wind and weather being fair, to find some place about Hudson's river for settlement. But sailing this course about half the day, they fall among roar. ing shoals and breakers, and are so entangled with them as they find themselves in great hazard, and the wind shrinking upon them at the same time, they bare up for the cape, get out of those dangers before night; and the next day, into the Cape harbour, where they ride in safety.

Nov. 11, Saturday. Being thus arrived, they first fall on their knees and bless the God of Heaven, &c. But their design and patent being for Virginia, and not New-England, which belongs to another jurisdiction, wherewith the Virginia company have no concern; before they land, they this day combine into a Body Politic by a Solemn Contract,* to which they set their hands, as the basis of their government, in this new found country; choose Mr. JOHN CARVER, a pious and well approved gentleman, their governor, for the first year. And then set ashore fifteen or sixteen men, well armed, to fetch wood and discover the land; who, at night, return, but found neither house nor person.

Nov. 13, Monday. The people go ashore to refresh themselves, and every day the whales play round about them, and the greatest store of fowls they ever saw. But the

[*In allusion to this Contract, the following toast was given at the recond centurial anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Pirmonth, which was celebrated at that place, Dec. 22. 1820. "The Solemn Contract of the Pilgrims, in Cape Cod Haroor-November eleventh, 1620and the several editions of it-1776-1780-1788-1820-may it never become obsolete!"]

earth here a company of sandhills; and the water so shallow near the shore, they are forced to wade a bow shot or two to get to land; which being freezing weather, affecteth them with grievous colds and coughs, which after proves the death of many, and renders the place unfit for settlement.

Nov. 15. While the shallop is fitting, Capt. Standish, with sixteen men, well armed, set out on the cape to search for a convenient place to settle. William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins and Edward Tilly are of the number, adjoined to the Captain for council. When they had marched a mile southward, they see five or six savages, whom they follow ten miles till night, but could not overtake them, and lodge in the woods. The next day they head a great creek, and travel on to the valley, wherein is a fine, clear pond of fresh water, a musket shot wide and two long. Then they come to a place of graves; then to the remainder of an old fort or palisado, which they conceive has been made by christians; and then into a harbor opening into two creeks, with a high cliff of sand at the entrance, the western creek being twice as large as the eastern. Near which they meet with heaps of sand, dig into them, find several baskets-full of Indian corn, and taking some, for which they purpose to give the natives full satisfaction, as soon as they could meet with any of them; return to the pond, where they make a barricado and lodge this night, being very rainy. And the next day, wading in some places up to the knees, get back to the ship to the great joy of their brethren.

Nov. 27. The shallop being fitted, twenty-four of their men, with Mr. Jones and nine sailors, thirty-four in all, set forth on a more full discovery of the aforesaid harbor. But the weather growing rough and the winds cross they are soon obliged to row for the nearest shore, and then wade above their knees to land. It blows, snows and freezes all this day and night; and here some received the seeds of those fatal illnesses that quickly seized them. The next day, they sail to their designed port, but find it unfit for shipping, land between the two creeks; and marching four or five miles by the greater, are tired with travelling up and down the steep valleys, covered half a foot with snow, and lodge under pine trees. The next morning, return to the other creek, and thence to the place of their former digging, where they dig again, though the ground be frozen a foot deep, and find more corn and beans; make up their corn to ten bushels, which they send, with Mr. Jones and fifteen of their sick. and weaker people to the ship; eighteen staying and lodg

ing there this night. Next day, they dig in several such like places, but find no more corn, nor any thing else but graves; discover two Indian wigwams, but see no natives. And the shallop returning, they get aboard at night; and the next day, Dec. 1, return to the ship. The corn they found happily serves for their planting on the spring ensuing, or they would have been in great danger of perishing. For which they gave the owners entire content about six months after. Before the end of November, Susannah, wife of William White, was delivered of a son, who is called Peregrine, being the first born since their arrival, and, [as Mr. Prince concludes,] the first of European extract in New-England.*

Dec. 4. Dies Edward Thompson, servant of Mr. White, the first that dies since their arrival. Dec. 6, dies Jasper a boy of Mr. Carver's. Dec. 7, Dorothy, wife to Mr. William Bradford. Dec. 8, James Chilton.

Dec. 6. They send out their shallop, with ten of their principal men, viz, Mr. Carver, Bradford, Winslow, Capt. Standish, &c. with eight or ten seamen, to circulate [circumambulate] the bay, and find a better place; though the weather is very cold and the spray of the sea freezes on them, that their clothes look as if they were glazed, and feel like coats of iron. This night they get to the bottom of the bay, see ten or twelve Indians ashore, busy a cutting up a grampus. By reason of the flats, they land with great difficulty, make a barricado, lodge therein, and see the smoke of the Indian fires that night, about four or five miles from them.

Dec. 7. This morning they divide their company, some travelling on shore, eight others coasting in the shallop by great flats of sand. About ten o'clock, the shore people find a great burying place. Part thereof encompassed with a large palisado, full of graves, some paled about, others having small poles turned and twisted over them. Without the palisado, were graves also, but not so costly. Then they come to four or five deserted wigwams, but see no people. Towards night, they hasten out of the woods to meet the shallop, and making a signal for her to bear into a creek, she comes in at high water to their mutual joy, having not seen each other since morning: But found no people nor any place they liked: And at night make another barricado, and lodge therein.

*He died at Marshfield, July 22, 1704, in the 84th year of his age. The first born in Massachusetts colony was Elizabeth Patch, who died at Salem, Jan. 14, 1715, aged 87. The first in Rhode Island colony was Mary Godfrey, who died at Newport, April 14, 1715, aged 77.

Dec. 8. At 5 this morning, they rise, and, after prayer, the day dawning and the tide high enough to call them down. to the shallop; they suddenly hear a great and strange cry, one of their company running towards them and calling out INDIANS! INDIANS! And there with arrows come flying among them. Upon discharging their pieces, the Indians soon get away, the English following a quarter of a mile shouting, return to their swallop, having left six men to keep her, and not one of the company wounded, though the arrows flew close on every side. Upon which they gave God solemn thanks; then sail along the coast about fifteen leagues; find no convenient harbor, and hasten on to a port, which Mr. Coppin, their pilot, assures them is a good ene, which, he had been in, and they might reach before night. But after some hours sailing, it begins to snow and rain. At mid-afternoon, the wind rising, the sea grows very rough, they brake their rudder, [and] it is as much as two men can steer her with a couple of oars. And the storm increasing, the night approaching, and bearing what sail they can to get in; they brake their mast in three pieces, their sail falls overboard in a very grown sea, and they are like to founder suddenly: Yet by the mercy of heaven, they recover themselves, and the flood being with them, strike into the imagined harbour: But the pilot being deceived, cries out, Lord be merciful! my eyes never saw this place before! He and the

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mate would have run her ashore in a cove full of breakers before the wind; but a steersman calling to the rowers, about with her, or we are cust away; they get ber about immediately And Providence showing a fair sound before them, though it be very dark and rains hard,they get under the lee of a small rise of land; but are divided about going ashore, lest they fall into the midst of savages. Some therefore, keep the boat, but others being so wet, cold, and feeble, cannot bear it, but venture ashore, with great difficulty kindle a fire; and after midnight, the wind shifting to the N. W. and freezing hard, the rest are glad to get to them, and here stay the night.

Dec. 9. In the morning, they find the place to be a small island, secure from the Indians. And this being the last day of the week, they here dry their stuff, fix their pieces, rest themselves, return God thanks for their many deliverances ; and here, the next day keep the Christian Sabbath.

Dec. 11, Monday. They sound the harbor, find it fit for shipping, march into the land, see divers cornfields, and running brooks, with a place they judge fit for habitation,