TO THE READER.

GOOD READER,

2

WHEN I first penned this Discourse, I intended it chiefly for the satisfaction of my private friends; but since that time have been persuaded to publish the same. And the rather, because of a disorderly colony1 that are dispersed, and most of them returned, to the great prejudice and damage of him that set them forth; who, as they were a stain to Old England that bred them, in respect of their lives and manners amongst the Indians, so, it is to be feared, will be no less to New England, in their vile and clamorous reports, because she would not foster them in their desired idle courses. I would not be understood to think there were no well deserving persons amongst them; for of mine knowledge it was a grief to some that they were so yoked; whose deserts, as they were then suitable to their honest protestations, so I desire still may be in respect of their just and true Relations.

1

Peradventure thou wilt rather marvel that I deal so

At Wessagusset, or Weymouth, of which an ample account will be found in the ensuing Narrative.

2 Thomas Weston. See note 1 on page 78.

THE PREFACE.

plainly, than any way doubt of the truth of this my Relation; yea, it may be, tax me therewith, as seeming rather to discourage men than any way to further so noble an action. If any honest mind be discouraged, I am sorry. Sure I am I have given no just cause; and am so far from being discouraged myself, as I purpose to return forthwith.' And for other light and vain persons, if they stumble hereat, I have my desire, accounting it better for them and us that they keep where they are, as being unfit and unable to perform so great a task.

2

Some faults have escaped because I could not attend on the press, which I pray thee correct, as thou findest, and I shall account it as a favor unto me.

1 Winslow returned in the ship Charity, in March, 1624. He had been absent six months, having sailed from Plymouth in the Ann, on the 10th of Sept. previous. See Bradford, in Prince, p. 221, 225.

Thine,

E. W.

2 This serves to confirm the statement of numerous typographical errors in the previous Narrative. See note on page 113, and note 3 on page 174.

277

A BRIEF RELATION OF A CREDIBLE INTELLIGENCE OF THE PRESENT ESTATE OF VIRGINIA.

Ar the earnest entreaty of some of my much respected friends, I have added to the former Discourse a Relation of such things as were credibly reported at Plymouth, in New England, in September last past, concerning the present estate of Virginia. And because men may doubt how we should have intelligence of their affairs, being we are so far distant, I will therefore satisfy the doubtful therein. Captain Francis West' being in New England about the latter end of May past, sailed from thence to Virginia, and returned in August. In September the same ship and company being discharged by him at Damarin's Cove, came to New Plymouth, where, upon our earnest inquiry after the state of Virginia since that bloody slaughter committed by the Indians upon our friends and countrymen, the whole ship's company agreed in this, viz.

1 West had a commission as admiral of New England, to restrain such ships as came to fish and trade without license from the New England Council; but finding the fishermen stubborn fellows, and too strong for him, he sails for Virginia; and their owners complaining to Parliament, procured an order that fishing should be free. Bradford,

in Prince, p. 218, and in Morton, p. 97.

2 The Damariscove islands, five or six in number, lying west by north from Monhegan, were early resorted to and occupied as fishingstages. See Williamson's Maine, i. 56. 3 On the 22d of March, 1622, at mid-day, the Indians, by a precon

THE CONDITION OF VIRGINIA.

that upon all occasions they chased the Indians to and
fro, insomuch as they sued daily unto the English for
peace, who for the present would not admit of any;
that Sir George Early,' &c. was at that present em-
ployed upon service against them; that amongst many
others, Opachancano, the chief emperor, was supposed
to be slain; his son also was killed at the same time.
And though, by reason of these fore-named broils in
the fore part of the year, the English had undergone
great want of food, yet, through God's mercy, there
never was more show of plenty, having as much and
as good corn on the ground as ever they had. Neither
was the hopes of their tobacco crop inferior to that of
their corn; so that the planters were never more full
of encouragement; which I pray God long to continue,
and so to direct both them and us, as his glory may
the principal aim and end of all our actions, and that
for his mercy's sake. Amen.

be

and Bancroft's United States, i.

181-185.

certed plan, fell upon the English
settlements in Virginia, and mas-
sacred 347 persons. A war of ex- 1 Yeardley. See note on p. 70.
termination immediately ensued. 2 Opechancanough, as the name
See Stith's Virginia, p. 208-213, is commonly spelt.

279

CHAPTER XVIII.

OF THEIR BEING MENACED BY THE NARRAGANSETTS, AND
THEIR SECOND VOYAGE TO THE MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAP.
XVIII.

THE good ship called the FORTUNE, which, in the month of November, 1621, (blessed be God,) brought us a new supply of thirty-five persons, was not long departed our coast, ere the great people of Nanohigganset,' which are reported to be many thousands strong, began to breathe forth many threats against us, notwithstanding their desired and obtained peace with us in the foregoing summer; insomuch as the common talk of our neighbour Indians on all sides was of the preparation they made to come against us. In reason a man would think they should have now more cause to fear us than before our supply came. But

The Narragansetts were a numerous and powerful tribe that occupied nearly the whole of the present territory of the State of Rhode Island, including the islands in Narragansett Bay. They had escaped the pestilence which had depopulated other parts of New England, and their population at this time was estimated at thirty thousand, of whom five thousand were warriors. Roger Williams says they were so populous that a

traveller would meet with a dozen Indian towns in twenty miles. They were a martial and formidable race, and were frequently at war with the Pokanokets on the east, the Pequots on the west, and the Massachusetts on the north. See Gookin in Mass. Hist. Coll. i. 147; Callender in R. I. Hist. Coll. iv. 123; Potter's Early History of Narragansett, ibid. iii. 1, and Hutchinson's Mass. i. 457.