274 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. example to the poor savage heathens amongst whom they live. On the contrary part, what great offence hath been given by many profane men, who being but seeming Christians, have made Christ and Christianity stink in the nostrils of the poor infidels, and so laid a stumbling-block before them. But woe be to them by whom such offences come. These things I offer to your Christian considerations, beseeching you to make a good construction of my simple meaning, and take in good part this ensuing Relation, dedicating myself and it evermore unto your service; beseeching God to crown our Christian and faithful endeavours with his blessings temporal and eternal. Yours in this service, Ever to be commanded, 1 1 EDWARD WINSLOW was, according to Hutchinson, "of a very reputable family and of a very ac tive genius" a gentleman of the best family of any of the Plymouth planters, his father, Edward Winslow, Esq., being a person of some figure at Droitwich, in Worcestershire," a town seven miles from Worcester, celebrated for its salt springs. Edward was the eldest of eight children, and was born at Droitwich Oct. 19, 1595, as appears from the following extract from the records of St. Peter's church in that place: "1595, Oct. 20, baptized Edward, son of Edward Winslow, born the previous Friday," which was the 19th. His mother's name was Magdalen; her surname is unknown; she was married Nov. 3, 1594. He was not one of the original band of Pilgrims who escaped to Holland in 1608, but being on his travels, fell in with them at Leyden, in 1617, E. W.1 as we learn from his Brief Narrative, where he speaks of "living three years under Mr. Robinson's ministry before we began the work of plantation in New England.” His name stands the third among the signers of the Compact on board the Mayflower; and his family consisted at that time of his wife, Elizabeth, George Soule, and two others, perhaps his children, Edward and John, who died young. As has already been seen, and will hereafter appear, he was one of the most energetic and trusted men in the Colony. He went to England in 1623, 1624, 1635 and 1646, as agent of the Plymouth or Massachusetts colonies; and in 1633 he was chosen governor, to which office he was reëlected in 1636 and 1644. He did not return to New England after 1646. In 1655 he was sent by Cromwell as one of three commissioners to superintend the expedition against the Spanish EDWARD WINSLOW, possessions in the West Indies, and died at sea near Hispaniola, on the Sth of May of that year, in his 60th year. An interesting letter, written by him at Barbadoes, March 16, and addressed to Secretary Thurlow, is preserved in Thurlow's State Papers, iii. 250. Three letters of his to Gov. Winthrop, one to the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and another to Thurlow from Barbadoes, March 30, are contained in Hutchinson's Collection of Papers, pp. 60, 110, 153, 228, 268. In 1637 he obtained a grant of a valuable tract of land at Green's harbour, now Marshfield, to which he gave the name of Caresrull. This estate continued in the family till a few years since, when it came into possession of Daniel Webster, the present Secretary of State. Edward Winslow's son, Josiah, born at Plymouth in 1628, was governor of the Colony from 1673 to his death in 1680. His last surviving male descendant is Mr. Isaac Winslow, of Boston, who possesses original portraits of these his illustrious ancestors. Edward Winslow had four brothers, all of whom came over to New England. Their names were John, born in April, 1597; Kenelm, born April 29, 1599; Gilbert, born in Oct. 1600; and Josiah, born in Feb. 1605. John came in the Fortune in 1621, married Mary Chilton, who came in the Mayflower, and removed to Boston, in 1655, where he died in 1674, aged 77. He left a numerous posterity, one of whom is Isaac Wins low, Esq., of Roxbury, formerly a merchant in Boston.-Gilbert came in the Mayflower, and soon left the Colony, and it is thought went to Portsmouth, N. H. and died before 1660.-Kenelm and Josiah arrived at Plymouth before 1632, and both settled at Marshfield. The former died whilst on a visit at Salem in 1672, aged 73, and the latter in 1674, aged 69.-Edward Winslow's sisters were Eleanor, born in April, 1598, Elizabeth, born in March, 1601, and Magdalen, born Dec. 26, 1604. Elizabeth died in Jan. 1604, and neither of the other two ever came to New England. For the copy of the record of St. Peter's Church, Droitwich, containing the births and baptisms of Edward Winslow and his sisters and brothers, excepting Josiah, I am indebted to Isaac Winslow, Esq., of Roxbury, whose son, Isaac, of New York, visited that place for this purpose in Aug. 1839. I am also indebted to Mr. Isaac Winslow, of Boston, for the loan of the family bible of the Winslows, containing on one of its covers an ancient register, corresponding nearly with the Droitwich records, with the addition of the birth and baptism of Josiah, the youngest child. See Hutchinson's Mass. i. 187, ii. 457460; Belknap's Am. Biog. ii. 281 -309; Mitchell's Bridgewater, p. 387-390; Deane's Scituate, p. 388-390; Thacher's Plymouth, p. 90-103, 139-144; Morton's Memorial, pp. 178, 235, 259-261, 382, 415; Hazard's Hist. Coll. i. 326. 275 Pay TO THE READER. GOOD READER, 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. 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 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 |