New-Englands memoriall, or, A brief relation of the most memorable and remarkable passages of the providence of God manifested to the planters of New-England in America with special reference to the first colony thereof, called New-Plimouth : as also a nomination of divers of the most eminent instruments deceased, both of church and common-wealth, improved in the first beginning and after-progress of sundry of the respective jurisdictions in those parts, in reference unto sundry exemplary passages of their lives, and the time of their death / published for use and benefit of present and future generations, by Nathaniel Morton ...

Of the Troubles that befell the first Planters upon the Coast of England, and in their Voyage in coming over into New England, and their arrival at Cape Cod, aliàs Cape James.

ALl things being got ready, and every business dispatched, they ordered and distributed their Company for either Ship, (as they conceived for the best) and chose a Governour, and two or three Assistants for each Ship, to order the people by the way, and to see to the disposing of the Provision, and such like affairs; all which was not only with the liking of the Masters of the Ships, but according to their desires: which being done, they set Sail from Southampton the fifth of August, 1620. But alas, the best Enterprizes meet oftentimes with many discouragements; for they had not sailed farre, before Mr. Reynolds the Master of the lesser Ship, complained that he found his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so leak, as he durst not put further to Sea: on which they were forced to put in at Dartmouth, Mr. Jones the Master of the biggest Ship likewise putting in there with him; and the said lesser Ship was searched, and mended, and judged sufficient for the Voyage by the Workmen that mended her: On which, both the said Ships put to Sea the second time, but they had not sailed above an hundred Leagues, ere the said Reynolds again complained of his Ship being so leak, as that he feared he should founder in the Sea, if he held on; and then both Ships bore up again, and went in at Plimouth: but being there searched again, no great matter appeared, but it was judged to be the general weakness of the Ship. But the true reason of the retarding and delaying of matters was not as yet discerned: the one of them respecting the Ship (as after∣wards was found) was, that she was over-Masted, which when she came to her trim in that respect, she did well, and made divers profitable and successful Voyages. But secondly, and more especially, by the deceit of the Master and his Company,

who were hired to stay a whole year in the Country; but now fancying dislike, and fearing want of Victuals, they plotted this stratagem to free themselves, as afterwards was known, and by some of them confessed; for they apprehended that the greater Ship being of force, and in whom most of the Provi∣sions were bestowed, that she would retain enough for her self, whatsoever became of them and the Passengers: But so strong was self-love and deceit in this man, as he forgot all duty and former kindness, and dealt thus falsly with them. These things thus falling out, it was resolved by the whole to dismiss the lesser Ship, and part of the Company with her, and that the other part of the Company should proceed in the bigger Ship: which when they had ordered matters in reference thereunto, they made another sad parting, the one Ship, (viz.) the lesser going back for London, and the other (viz.) The May-flower, Mr. Jones being Master, proceeding on in the intended Voy∣age.

These troubles being blown over, and now all being com∣pact together in one Ship, they put to Sea again with a prospe∣rous wind: but after they had enjoyed fair winds for a season, they met with many contrary winds and fierce storms, with which their Ship was shrewdly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky, and one of the main Beams of the Mid-ships was bowed and cracked, which put them to some fear that she would not be able to perform the Voyage; on which the princi∣pal of the Seamen and Passengers had serious consultation what to do, whether to return or hold on: but the Ship proving strong under water, by a Screw the said Beam was brought into his place again; which being done, and well secured by the Carpenter, they resolved to hold their Voyage, and so after many boisterous storms in which they could bear no sail, but were forced to lye at Hull many dayes together; after long beating at Sea, they fell in with the land called Cape Cod: the

which being made, and certainly known to be it, they were not a little joyful. After some little deliberation had amongst them∣selves with the Master of the Ship, they tacked about to stand to the Southward, to finde some place about Hudsons River, (according to their first intentions) for their Habitations: But they had not sailed that Course above half a day, but they fell amongst perillous Sholes and Breakers, and they were so farre intangled therewith, as they conceived themselves in great dan∣ger; and the wind shrinking upon them withall, they resolved to bear up again for the Cape aforesaid: the next day, by Gods Providence, they got into the Cape harbour. Thus they ar∣rived at Cape Cod, aliàs Cape James, in November 1620. and being brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and bles∣sed the God of Heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious Ocean, and delivered them from many perils and miseries.

Nevertheless, it is to be observed, that their putting into this place was partly by reason of a storm, by which they were forced in, but more especially by the fraudulency and contri∣vance of the aforesaid Mr. Jones, the Master of the Ship: for, their Intention, as is before-noted, and his Engagement, was to Hudsons River; but some of the Dutch having notice of their intentions, and having thoughts about the same time of erecting a Plantation there likewise, they fraudulently hired the said Jones by delayes while they were in England, and now un∣der pretence of the danger of the Sholes, &c. to disappoint them in their going thither: But God out-shoots Satan often∣times in his own Bow; for had they gone to Hudsons River as before expressed, it had proved very dangerous to them: for although it is a place farre more commodious, and the Soil more fertile, yet then abounding with a multitude of pernicious Salvages, whereby they would have been in great peril of their lives, and so the work of transplanting the Gospel into these parts, much endangered to have been hindred and retarded: but God so disposed, that the place where they afterward setled was much depopulated by a great Mortality amongst the Na∣tives,

which fell out about two years before their arrival, whereby he made way for the carrying on of his good purpose in promulgating of his Gospel as aforesaid.

But before we pass on, let the Reader with me make a pause, and seriously consider this poor peoples present condition, the more to be raised up to admiration of Gods goodness towards them in their preservation: for being now passed the vast Ocean, and a sea of Troubles before in their Preparation, they had now no Friends to welcome them, no Inns to entertain or refresh them, no Houses, or much less Towns to repair unto to seek for succour: the Barbarians that Paul the Apostle fell amongst in his Shipwrack at the Isle Melita, shewed him no small kindness; but these Salvage Barbarians when they met with them (as after will appear) were readier to fill their sides full of Arrows, then otherwise: and for the season, it was Winter, and they that know the Winters of the Country, know them to be sharp and violent, subject to cruel and fierce Storms, dan∣gerous to travel to known places, much more to search un∣known Coasts. Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate Wilderness, full of wilde Beasts and wilde Men? and what multitudes of them there were, they then knew not: nei∣ther could they as it were go up to the Top of Pisgah, to view from this Wilderness a more goodly Country to feed their hopes; for which way soever they turned their eyes (save up∣ward to Heaven) they could have little solace or content in re∣spect of any outward object, for Summer being ended, all things stand in appearance with a weather-beaten face, and the whole Country full of Woods and Thickets, represented a wilde and salvage hew; if they looked behinde them, there was the mighty Ocean which they had passed, and was now as a main Bar and Gulph to separate them from all the Civil Parts of the World. The Master of the Ship and his Company pressing with speed to look out a place for their Settlement at some near distance, for the season was such as he would not stir from thence, untill a safe Harbour was discovered by them with their Boat: yea, it was sometimes threatned, that if they would not

get a place in time, that they and their goods should be turned on shore, and that the Ship would leave them; the Master ex∣pressing himself, that Provisions spent apace, and that he would keep sufficient for himself and his Company for their return. It is true indeed, that the love and affections of their Brethren they left behinde them in Holland, was cordial and intire to∣wards them, but they had little power to help them or them∣selves: what could now sustain them but the Spirit of God and his grace? Ought not, and may not the Children of these Fathers rightly say, Our Fathers Were English-men, which came over this great Ocean, and were ready to perish in this Wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice, and looked on their adversity: Let them therefore praise the Lord, because he is good, and his mercy endureth for ever; yea, let them who have been the redeemed of the Lord shew how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor, when they wandred in the desert Wilderness out of the way, and found no City to dwell in; both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them: Let them therefore confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the children of men?

Notes

• Cape Cod, so called at the first by Captaia Gosnold and his Company, Anno 1602, because they took much of that Fish there; and afterward called Cape James by Captain Smith. The Point of the Cape is called Point Care, and Tuckers Terrour; and by the French and Dutch Mallacar, by reason of the perillous Sholes.
• Of this Plot be∣twixt the Dutch and Mr. Jones, I have had late and certain In∣telligence.
• Acts 28.
• Psal. 107.1, 2, 4, 5, 8.