66 "Nov. 6th dies at sea William Butten, a youth and servant to Samuel Fuller, being the only passenger who dies on the voyage. "Nov. 9th 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 roaring 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 bear up for the Cape, get out of those dangers before night, and the next day into the Cape Harbor, where they ride in safety. "Nov. 11th, Saturday, being thus arrived, they first fall on their knees and bless the God of Heaven. 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." Thus far Governor Bradford in Prince's Chronology. This trenches a little upon the beginning of the Journal of the Pilgrims, but with some additional circumstances; and by it we learn that the river which they were in search of, expecting to find it in a day or so of sail from Cape Cod, was the Hudson, that being near the limits of the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company. Had they found that, perhaps New York and New Jersey might have been the New England of America. But God ordered otherwise. Had they found that, they would not probably have entered into the great compact on board the Mayflower, which, whatever may have been their original intention or foresight, constituted them a self-governing republic, although named "the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord, King James." At the bottom of that compact, the names of the signers are not given in the Journal, but they are all known. “Their names corrected," Mr. Prince says, "with their titles and families, I take from the list at the end of Governor Bradford's folio manuscript. Only this I observe, that out of modesty he omits the title of Mr. to his own name, which he ascribes to several others." The list follows, with the number of persons in their several families set opposite their names. One individual died on the passage, and one was born, whom they named Oceanus. The names in italics indicate those who died before the end of March, 1621. Mr. Christopher Martin, . 4 John Crackston, Mr. William Mullins, . Mr. William White, Mr. Richard Warren, 5 John Billington, 5 Moses Fletcher, 1 John Goodman, Degory Priest, 8 Thomas Williams, 3 Edmund Margeson, 1 * Howland was of Governor Carver's family. The signers of the compact are in all forty-one, and with their families constituted one hundred and one persons. "So there were just 101," remarks Mr. Prince, "who sailed from Plymouth in England, and just as many arrived in Cape Cod Harbor. And this is the solitary number, who, for an undefiled conscience, and the love of pure Christianity, first left their pleasant and native land, and encountered all the toils and hazards of a tumultuous ocean, in search of some uncultivated region in North Virginia, where they might quietly enjoy their religious liberties, and transmit them to posterity, in hopes that none would follow to disturb or vex them." * Soule was of Governor Winslow's family. Dotey and Leister were of Mr. Hopkins's family servants. A RELATION OR Ednesday the sixt of September, the Wind comming many difficulties in boysterous stormes, at length by doodo God's prouidence vpon the ninth of Nouember following, by breake of the day we espied land which we deemed to be Cape Cod, and so afterward it proued. And the appearance of it much comforted vs, especially, seeing so goodly a Land, and woodded to the brinke of the sea, it caused vs to reioyce together, and praise God that had giuen vs once againe to see land. And thus wee made our course South South West, purposing to goe to a Riuer ten leagues to the South of the Cape, but at night the winde being contrary, we put round againe for the Bay of Cape Cod; and vpon the 11th. of Nouember, we came to an anchor in the Bay, which is a good harbour and pleasant Bay, circled round, except in the entrance, which is about foure miles ouer from land to land, compassed about to the very Sea with Okes, Pines, Juniper, Sassafras, and other sweet wood; it is a harbour wherein 1000. saile of Ships may safely ride there we relieued our selues with wood and water, and refreshed our people, while our shallop : was was fitted to coast the Bay, to search for an habitation; there was the greatest store of fowle that euer we saw. And euery day we saw Whales playing hard by vs, of which in that place, if we had instruments & meanes to take them, we might haue made a very rich returne, which to our great griefe we wanted. Our master and his mate, and others experienced in fishing, professed, we might haue made three or foure thousand pounds worth of Oyle; they preferred it before Greenland Whalefishing, & purpose the next winter to fish for Whale here; for Cod we assayed, but found none, there is good store no doubt in their season. Neither got we any fish all the time we lay there, but some few little ones on the shore. We found great Mussles, and very fat and full of Sea pearle, but we could not eat them, for they made vs all sicke that did eat, as well saylers as passengers; they caused to cast and scoure, but they were soone well againe. The bay is so round & circling, that before we could come to anchor, we went round all the points of the Compasse. We could not come neere the shore by three quarters of an English mile, because of shallow water, which was a great preiudice to vs, for our people going on shore were forced to wade a bow shot or two in going aland, which caused many to get colds and coughs, for it was many times freezing cold weather. This day before we came to harbour, obseruing some not well affected to vnitie and concord, but gaue some appearance of faction, it was thought good there should be an association and agreement, that we should combine together in one body, and to submit to such government and governours, as we should by common consent agree to make and choose, and set our hands to this that followes word for word. IN the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under written, the loyall Subiects of our dread soveraigne Lord King IAMES, by the grace of God of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having vnder-taken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian Faith and honour of our King and Countrey, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the Northerne parts of VIR GINIA, |