generally for all that are unknown, lest God should swallow. them up in his judgments. He then exhorts them to peace with one another, and with all men; to be careful not to give or receive offence; warning them that none were more apt to give offence, than those who were easily offended themselves, and that such never proved to be good members of society. He exhorts them to have a proper regard for the general good, to avoid as "a deadly plague, all private respect for themselves," and to shew a due respect and obedience to the magistrates they should elect to rule over them. He concludes by observing, that he would not so far wrong their godly minds as to think them heedless of other things, which he could say." This letter of Mr. Robinson's was read to the company before they left Southampton, and very gratefully received; afterwards it produced the most happy effects. A governor and two or three assistants being chosen for each ship, they sailed from the old for the new world, August 5, 1620. New calamities now befel them; one of their vessels sprung a leak, and they were obliged to return, and make repairs; again they sailed, and again were they beaten back, and obliged to leave their small vessel. Being all crowded into one ship, they put to sea again, Sept. 6; but a dreadful storm opposed their passage, and they seriously contemplated relinquishing the voyage, and returning home again. These repeated disasters gave them full opportunity of deliberately counting the cost" of their designs, of estimating and feeling their dangers and distresses, of comparing them with the value of those religious priviledges, which were the object of all these daring enterprizes, of all these overwhelming sufferings. Never did martyrs dying for their religion and their Saviour, have such ample time for cool reflexion, to form a deliberate judgment, and to examine the rock on which they built their hopes of eternal felicity. In their native country their sufferings had been great and of long duration, not less than five or six years, full time to reflect and recant. In Holland, for twelve or thirteen years, they had endured trials and labours, which had exhausted their strength and produced a premature old age. Their disasters would have justified them in relinquishing their object. Still, however, they persevered, still they pursued their design with unappalled resolution. Every time they turned their course towards the American coast, it was a new demonstration of the reality, the infinite value, and the invincible energy of the Christian religion, when it reigns in the hearts of good

men. Was there ever an object presented to mankind, which was calculated more powerfully to persuade them to believe the gospel, than this company of holy puritans, sailing the stormy ocean in search of a place to worship God in peace and purity of conscience? Must not that religion be from heaven which could sooth, and support, and comfort, and animate people in circumstances so painful and hazardous? Nor were these daring efforts prompted by the passion of the moment; they had been repeated and continued for eighteen years. They were not the meteors, which blaze, dazzle, and expire, but the sun shining in his strength to enlighten the world.

After being tossed more than two months on the stormy ocean, they descried on the ninth of November, the bleak and barren shores of Cape Cod. Two days after they anchored in Cape Cod harbour. It was their intention to have settled at the mouth of Hudson's river; but the Dutch, intending to plant a colony of their own, privately hired the master of the L ship to contrive delays in England, and then to conduct them to these northern coasts, and there, under the pretence of shoals and winter, to discourage them from venturing to the place of destination. This is confidently asserted by the historians of that time. Although Cape Cod harbour, in which they first anchored, was good, the country around was sandy and barren. These were discouraging circumstances; but the season being far advanced, they prudently determined to make the best of their present situation. As they were not within the limits of the patent, and consequently not under the jurisdiction of the Virginia company, and having some factious persons among them, in the capacity of servants, who possessed a portion of the modern spirit of liberty and equality, and who had intimated that when on shore they should be under no government, and that one man would then be as good as another, the more judicious thought it necessary to establish a separate government for themselves.

Accordingly, before they landed, having devoutly given thanks to God for their safe arrival, they formed themselves into a body-politic, under the following covenant or contract, which they all subscribed, and made the basis of their govern

ment.

"In the name of God, amen. We whose names are under written, 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, &c. Having undertaken, for the

glory of God, and the 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 of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body-politic, for our 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 must meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience: In witness whereof we have here under 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 fifty-fourth: Anno Domini, 1620."

This instrument was signed by twenty-four heads of families, with the number in their respective families annexed, and seventeen single men, making in the whole one hundred and one souls. Afterwards by an unanimous vote, they chose John Carver their governor for one year. Having thus established and organized their government, in its form truly republican, their next object was to fix on a convenient place for settle- · ment. In doing this, they were obliged to encounter numerous difficulties, and to suffer incredible hardships. Many of them were sick in consequence of the fatigue of a long voyage. Their provisions were bad, the season uncommonly cold, and they unacquainted with the coast.

Immediately after their landing, they fell on their knees, "with hearty praises to God who had been their assurances, when far off on the sea." They were truly in a new world. They saw whales sporting in the water; oaks, pines, sassafras, juniper, and other sweet wood, shaded their harbour, and a greater plenty of fowl, than they had ever seen, flew around them. Few particulars of their voyage have been preserved, "The people were close stowed, continually wet, the vessel leaky, one person died, and one child was born, named Oceanus."

CHAP. IV.

Excursions for Discovery-A Child born-Another Voyage for Discovery-Attacked by Indians-- Discover the Place which they afterwards named Plymouth Two Men left - Capt. Standish elected Commander in Chief— Dreadful Winter Mortality-An Indian visits them-Treaty with Massasoit. THE same day they landed they sent forth an armed party to make discoveries, who returned at night, having found nothing but water, wood, and sand hills. The next day was the sabbath, and they all rested. On Monday the men went on shore to refresh themselves, the women to wash, attended by a guard, and the carpenter began to repair the shallop for coasting. On Wednesday, Capt. Miles Standish took a party of sixteen men, well armed, and went to make further discoveries. About a mile from the sea they saw five savages, who fled. They pursued them about ten miles, but night coming on, they placed sentinels, kindled a fire, and rested quietly through the night. In the morning they continued the pursuit as far as Pamet River, without discovering inhabitants or habitations; they returned as far as a pond of fresh water in Truro, and lodged there that night. In the course of the day, in one place, they found several heaps of sand, one of which was covered with old mats, and an earthen pot at one end; on digging they found a bow and arrows; presuming it was a grave, they replaced every thing. In another place they found an old iron kettle, and near it another pile of sand, in which was buried three or four bushels of Indian corn. They hesi tated, but finally took the kettle and a part of the corn, resolving if ever they found the owners to return the kettle, and pay them for the corn. They afterwards discovered the owners, and liberally paid them. The corn was in a basket handsomely made. Afterwards they found a place fortified with palisadoes. They were also amused with a trap to catch deer, in which one one of them was caught without harm. The next day they returned, and were joyfully received by their companions.

The corn which they found was the first fruitcof the land to them, and incalculably important. Snow overing the ground immediately after, it was impossible to find any more, and without seed they could have had no harvest the next

C

18

Attack from the Indians.

year. As soon as the shallop was ready, a party was sent in her to examine the shore, but they found no place, which pleased them, for a settlement. They brought away the rest of the corn they had before discovered, and found some graves, and two wigwams, but saw no Indians. About this time Mrs. White was delivered of a son, who was named Peregrine. He was the first English child born in New England. He died July, 1704, aged 84.

On Wednesday, December the 6th, they set out upon a fourth expedition for discovery. The ground had been several days covered with snow, and the weather was extremely cold; the water freezing on their clothes, made them stiff as coats of mail; two persons were already sick. The first day they saw ten or twelve Indians, who fled; a number made a fire and slept in the woods the first night, whence they saw the smoke of the fires kindled by the Indians. The next day, after passing some corn fields, they discovered a curious burying yard, encompassed with palisadoes, driven close together, while some of the individual graves within were fenced in the same manner; they returned to the shallop at night. About midnight they were alarmed by the centinel, and fired two guns, but saw no enemy. At five in the morning, after they had prayed together, there was again a cry of Indians! Indians! when a shower of arrows was poured upon them, attended with savage yells, terrible to the English. But the report of guns was equally novel and terrific to the Indians, who soon fled. Their arrows, which were taken up and sent to Europe as curiosities, were pointed with brass, and deer's horn, and eagle's claws. Thence, after coasting further in vain, they directed their course for a harbour their pilot had mentioned. After great dangers in a storm, they landed on Clark's island, and rested all night; the next day, being Saturday, they concluded to tarry over the sabbath, which they passed in a religious manner.

The 17th of December, they discovered the place where Plymouth now stands, of which they gave the following account, after examining the harbour and vicinity several days. The first day they marched into the land, "they found cornfields and little running brooks, a place very good for situation. Returning to the ship, the good news comforted their hearts. The bay is encompassed with good land, and in it are two fine islands, on which are nothing but woods, oaks, pines, walnut, beech, sassafras, vines, and other trees which we know not."