146 IX. REASONS FOR SETTLING AT PAMET RIVER. CHAP. can meet conveniently with them, we will give them full satisfaction.1 Thus much of our second discovery. 1620. Having thus discovered this place, it was controversal2 amongst us what to do touching our abode and settling there. Dec. 3 Some thought it best, for many reasons, to abide there. As first, that there was a convenient harbour for boats, though not for ships. Secondly, good cornground ready to our hands, as we saw by experience in the goodly corn it yielded, which would again agree with the ground and be natural seed for the same. Thirdly, Cape Cod was like to be a place of good fishing; for we saw daily great whales, of the best kind for oil and bone, come close aboard our ship, and, in fair weather, swim and play about us. There was once one, when the sun shone warm, came and lay above water, as if she had been dead, for a good while together, within half a musket shot of the ship; at which two were prepared to shoot, to see whether she would stir or no. He that gave fire first, his musket flew in pieces, both stock and barrel; yet, thanks be to God, neither he nor any man else was hurt with it, though many were there about. But when the whale saw her time, she gave a snuff, and away. Fourthly, the place was likely to be healthful, secure, and defensible. But the last and especial reason was, that now the heart of winter and unseasonable weather was come upon us, so that we could not go upon coasting and discovery without danger of losing men and boat, upon REASONS AGAINST IT. 147 IX. Dec. which would follow the overthrow of all, especially CHAP. considering what variable winds and sudden storms do there arise. Also, cold and wet lodging had so tainted 1620. our people, (for scarce any of us were free from vehement coughs,) as if they should continue long in that estate, it would endanger the lives of many, and breed diseases and infection amongst us. Again, we had yet some beer, butter, flesh, and other such victuals left, which would quickly be all gone; and then we should have nothing to comfort us in the great labor and toil we were likely to undergo at the first. It was also conceived, whilst we had competent victuals, that the ship would stay with us; but when that grew low, they would be gone, and let us shift as we could. Others, again, urged greatly the going to Anguum, or Angoum,' a place twenty leagues off to the northwards, which they had heard to be an excellent harbour for ships, better ground, and better fishing. Secondly, for any thing we knew, there might be hard by us a far better seat; and it should be a great hindrance to seat where we should remove again. Thirdly, the water was but in ponds; and it was thought there would be none in summer, or very little. Fourthly, the water there must be fetched up a steep hill.3 2 But to omit many reasons and replies used hereabouts, it was in the end concluded to make some 1 Agawam, Ipswich; Smith calls it Augoam. Little was known at this time of Massachusetts Bay, or the distances from one place to another; that little was derived from Smith's map and Description of New England. See Mass. Hist. Coll. xxiii. 1, and xxvi. 118. 2 Perhaps an error for whence. building their town, for protection 148 IX. THE FIRST CHILD BORN. CHAP. discovery within the bay; but in no case so far as Angoum. Besides, Robert Coppin, our pilot,1 made 1620. relation of a great navigable river and good harbour in the other head-land of the bay, almost right over against Cape Cod, being, in a right line, not much above eight leagues distant, in which he had been once; and because that one of the wild men with whom they had some trucking stole a harping iron * from them, they called it Thievish Harbour. And beyond that place they were enjoined not to go. Whereupon a company was chosen to go out upon a third discovery. Whilst some were employed in this discovery, it pleased God that Mistress White was brought a bed of a son, which was called Peregrine.5 Dec. 4 The 5th day we, through God's mercy, escaped a 5. great danger by the foolishness of a boy, one of Fran Coppin was second mate of the 2 The other headland of the bay 3 The word in I insert from Morton, p. 43. 4 A harpoon. 5 In the Boston News Letter, of sioners in behalf of Lieut. Peregrine White, desiring that the Court would accommodate him with a portion of land, in respect that he was the first of the English that was born in these parts; and in answer unto his own petition preferred to this Court respecting the premises, the Court have granted unto him 200 acres of land, lying and being at the path that goes from Bridgewater to the Bay, adjoining to the Bay line." A list of his descendants, some of whom are still living, may be seen in Thacher's Plymouth, p. 23. "Dec. 4, dies Edward Thomson, 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, (drowned.) Dec. 8, James Chilton." Gov. Bradford, in Prince, p. 165. Prince had Bradford's pocket-book, which contained a register of deaths, births, and marriages, from Nov. 6, 1620, to the end of March, 1621. THE THIRD EXPEDITION. 149 IX. cis Billington's sons,1 who, in his father's absence, had CHAP. got gunpowder, and had shot off a piece or two, and made squibs; and there being a fowling-piece charged 1620. in his father's cabin, shot her off in the cabin; there being a little barrel of powder half full, scattered in and about the cabin, the fire being within four foot of the bed between the decks, and many flints and iron things about the cabin, and many people about the fire; and yet, by God's mercy, no harm done. 6. Wednesday, the 6th of December, it was resolved Dec. our discoverers should set forth, for the day before was too foul weather, -and so they did, though it was well o'er the day ere all things could be ready. So ten of our men were appointed who were of themselves willing to undertake it, to wit, Captain Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winsloe, John Tilley, Edward Tilley, John Houland,' and Billington was not one of the Leyden church, but slipped in among the Pilgrims in England. His accession was of no benefit to the colony. He was a mischievous and troublesome fellow. The first offence in the settlement was committed by him. In March, 1621, he was "convented before the whole company for contempt of the Captain's (Standish) lawful commands, with opprobrious speeches, for which he was adjudged to have his neck and heels tied together." Gov. Bradford, in a letter to Cushman, written June 9, 1625, says, 'Billington still rails against you, and threatens to arrest you, I know not wherefore. He is a knave, and so will live and die." The prophecy was fulfilled, for he was hung in Oct. 1630, for waylaying and shooting a young man, named John Newcomen. Gov. Bradford says, in his History, "The said Billington was one of the profanest among us. 46 He came from London, and I know The See 2 JOHN HOWLAND, the 13th signer of the Compact, is counted as belonging to Carver's family, whose daughter Elizabeth he married. The Plymouth Colony records say that he was an ancient professor of the ways of Christ; one of the first comers, and proved a useful 150 NAMES OF THE PARTY. 2 CHAP. three of London,1 Richard Warren, Steeven Hopkins, IX. and Edward Dotte, and two of our seamen, John 1620. Alderton and Thomas English. Of the ship's com Dec. 6. pany there went two of the master's mates, Master Wednesday, the 6th of December, we set out, being instrument of good, and was the They were therefore not mem- 1 on 2 RICHARD WARREN, the 12th signer of the Compact, with the honorable prefix of Mr. is mentioned by Bradford as a most useful man, during the short time he lived, bearing a deep share in the diffi culties and troubles of the planta- 3 They were not a part of the Mayflower's crew, but were intended to remain in the country and to manage the Speedwell, had she come over. Their occupation at present, I suppose, was to take charge of the shallop, until another small vessel should be sent over; which took place in Aug. 1623, when a pinnace of 44 tons, called the Little James, arrived. 4 There were 18 in all; among whom were 12 out of the 41 signers of the Compact. 5 I take it to be Bradford. See note on page 115. • The end of Long Point. F. * There the gourra historian adopts |