Neither

that dwell about the bays of Patuxet and Massachuset. hath this been accomplished by threats and blows, or shaking of sword and sound of trumpet; for as our faculty that way is small, and our strength less, so our warring with them is after another manner, namely, by friendly usage, love, peace, honest and just carriages, good counsel, &c., that so we and they may not only live in peace in that land, and they yield subjection to an earthly prince, but that as voluntaries they may be persuaded at length to embrace the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus, and rest in peace with him forever.

Secondly, this composition is also more particular and applicatory, as touching ourselves there inhabiting. The emperor, by a joint consent, hath promised and appointed us to live at peace where we will in all his dominions, taking what place we will, and as much land as we will, and bringing as many people as we will; and that for these two causes. First, because we are the servants of James, king of England, whose the land (as he confesseth) is. Secondly, because he hath found us just, honest, kind and peaceable, and so loves our company. Yea, and that in these things there is no dissimulation on his part, nor fear of breach (except our security engender in them some unthought of treachery, or our incivility provoke them to anger) is most plain in other Relations, which show that the things they did were more out of love than out of fear.

It being then, first, a vast and empty chaos; secondly, acknowledged the right of our sovereign king; thirdly, by a peaceable composition in part possessed of divers of his loving subjects, I see not who can doubt or call in question the lawfulness of inhabiting or dwelling there; but that it may be as lawful for such as are not tied upon some special occasion here, to live there as well as here. Yea, and as the enterprise is weighty and difficult, so the honor is more worthy, to plant a rude wilderness, to enlarge the honor and fame of our dread sovereign, but chiefly to display the efficacy and power of the Gospel, both in zealous preaching, professing, and wise walking under it, before the faces of these poor blind infidels.

As for such as object the tediousness of the voyage thither, the danger of pirates' robbery, of the savages' treachery, &c., these are but lions in the way; and it were well for such men if they were in heaven. For who can show them a place in this world where iniquity shall not compass them at the heels, and where they shall have a day without grief, or a lease of life for a moment? And who can tell, but God, what danger may lie at our doors, even in our native country, or what plots may be abroad, or when God will cause our sun to go down at noon-day, and, in

the midst of our peace and security, lay upon us some lasting Scourge for our so long neglect and contempt of his most glorious Gospel?

But we have here great peace, plenty of the Gospel, and many sweet delights, and variety of comforts.

True, indeed; and far be it from us to deny and diminish the least of these mercies. But have we rendered unto God thankful obedience for this long peace, whilst other peoples have been at wars? Have we not rather murmured, repined, and fallen at jars amongst ourselves, whilst our peace hath lasted with foreign power? Was there ever more suits in law, more envy, contempt and reproach than nowadays? Abraham and Lot departed asunder when there fell a breach betwixt them, which was occasioned by the straitness of the land; and surely I am persuaded, that howsoever the frailties of men are principal in all contentions, yet the straitness of the place is such, as each man is fain to pluck his means, as it were, out of his neighbor's throat, there is such pressing and oppressing in town and country, about farms, trades, traffick, &c.; so as a man can hardly any where set up a trade, but he shall pull down two of his neighbours.

The towns abound with young tradesmen, and the hospitals are full of the ancient; the country is replenished with new farmers, and the almhouses are filled with old laborers. Many there are who get their living with bearing burdens; but more are fain to burden the land with their whole bodies. Multitudes get their means of life by prating, and so do numbers more by begging. Neither come these straits upon men always through intemperance, ill husbandry, indiscretion, &c., as some think; but even the most wise, sober, and discreet men go often to the wall, when they have done their best; wherein, as God's providence swayeth all, so it is easy to see that the straitness of the place, having in it so many strait hearts, cannot but produce such effects more and more; so as every indifferent minded man should be ready to say with father Abraham, "Take thou the right hand, and I will take the left: " let us not thus oppress, straiten, and afflict one another; but seeing there is a spacious land, the way to which is through the sea, we will end this difference in a day.

That I speak nothing about the bitter contention that hath been about religion, by writing, disputing and inveighing earnestly one against another, the heat of which zeal, if it were turned against the rude barbarism of the heathens, it might do more good in a day, than it hath done here in many years. Neither of the little love to the Gospel, and profit which is made by the preachers in most places, which might easily drive the zealous to the heathens; who, no doubt, if they had but a drop of

that knowledge which here flieth about the streets, would be filled with exceeding great joy and gladness, as that they would even pluck the kingdom of heaven by violence, and take it, as it were, by force.

The greatest let that is yet behind is the sweet fellowship of friends, and the satiety of bodily delights.

But can there be two nearer friends almost than Abraham and Lot, or than Paul and Barnabas? And yet, upon as little occasion as we have here, they departed asunder, two of them being patriarchs of the church of old, the other the apostles of the church which is new; and their covenants were such as it seemeth might bind as much as any covenant between men at this day; and yet to avoid greater inconveniences, they departed asunder.

Neither must men take so much thought for the flesh, as not to be pleased except they can pamper their bodies with variety of dainties. Nature is content with little, and health is much endangered by mixtures upon the stomach. The delights of the palate do often inflame the vital parts; as the tongue setteth a-fire the whole body. Secondly, varieties here are not common to all, but many good men are glad to snap at a crust. The renttaker lives on sweet morsels, but the rent-payer eats a dry crust often with watery eyes; and it is nothing to say what some one of a hundred hath, but what the bulk, body and commonalty hath; which I warrant you is short enough.

And they also which now live so sweetly, hardly will their children attain to that privilege; but some circumventor or other will outstrip them, and make them sit in the dust, to which men are brought in one age, but cannot get out of it again in seven generations.

To conclude, without all partiality, the present consumption which groweth upon us here, whilst the land groaneth under so many close-fisted and unmerciful men, being compared with the easiness, plainness and plentifulness in living in those remote places, may quickly persuade any man to a liking of this course, and to practise a removal; which being done by honest, godly and industrious men, they shall there be right heartily welcome; but for other of dissolute and profane life, their rooms are better than their companies. For if here, where the Gospel hath been so long and plentifully taught, they are yet frequent in such vices as the heathen would shame to speak of, what will they be when there is less restraint in word and deed? My only suit to all men is, that whether they live there or here, they would learn to use this world as they used it not, keeping faith and a good conscience, both with God and men, that when the day of account

shall come, they may come forth as good and fruitful servants, and freely be received, and enter into the joy of their Master. R. C.

On the 6th day of May, 1621, the good ship, the Mayflower, arrived home at England, from her voyage to America, and brought the first intelligence from Bradford, Brewster, Allerton and their associates to their Puritan friends in England, and to the "Merchant Adventurers" who had furnished the vessel and outfit for the voyage.

The first success of the settlement at "New Plymouth, in New England, having thus been satisfactorily ascertained, Robert Cushman made early arrangements to transport himself and family, and others who had been left behind, the year before, to the New World.

The Fortune, a small vessel of fifty-five tons burthen, — less in size than our small fishing vessels which go to the Grand Banks for cod-fish, was chartered for a voyage to New England. She sailed from London early in July, but owing to bad weather she could not clear the British Channel till the end of August. She carried out thirty-six passengers, including Robert Cushman and his son Thomas.2

On Friday the 9th day of November, O. S., 1621, the Fortune arrived off Cape Cod, some eight or ten leagues from Plymouth. Some friendly Indians, discrying the vessel coming up Plymouth Bay, communicated the intelligence to the Colony, who supposed "it to be a Frenchman, - for we expected not a friend so soon. The Governor, thereupon, commanded a great piece to be shot off to call home such as were abroad at work. Whereupon every man, yea, boy, that could handle a gun, were ready with full resolution, that if she were an enemy we would. stand by our just defence, not fearing them. But God provided better for us than we expected."3

1 Plymouth in England was the last place left by the Pilgrims. They therefore called their new settlement the same name; or for many years "New Plymouth," in order to distinguish it from Plymouth in England.

Fortunately, an accurate list of the adult passengers of the "Fortune" has been preserved. See Young's Chronicles; Farmer's Genealogical Register, &c. 3 The Fortune had a long passage of over ten weeks after she left the British Channel.

"These (the passengers in the Fortune) came all in health, not any being sick by the way, otherwise than by sea-sickness, and so continue to this time, by the blessing of God."

"Good-wife Foord was delivered of a son the first night she. landed, and both of them are very well."

The meeting of Robert Cushman and his thirty-five associates, with those from whom they had separated fifteen months before, must have been one of great joy, mingled with much that was painful and sad. At their last parting at Plymouth in old England, the one hundred who sailed in the Mayflower were in good health; now one half of that number had been laid in the grave. Such scenes must have been a very severe trial of their faith, their patience, and their unfailing trust in God.

But the little vessel, the Fortune, must soon return. Before Mr. Cushman left London, he probably had made an arrangement to return with her and report to the Adventurers the condition and prospects of the Colony; and it was undoubtedly the wish of Gov. Bradford to have him do so and to continue the Agent of the Pilgrims. It would seem, from the fact that he brought his only son (probably all his family) with him, and from his subsequent correspondence, that he designed to settle permanently in this country as soon as the interests of the colony would allow it. During his stay at "New Plymouth," he had observed some uneasiness of feeling;-some dissatisfaction with the arrangements made in England for their transportation and support; some abatement of that "noble flow of public spirit which was necessary for their preservation and safety." Although not a clergyman, or even a "Teaching Elder," he prepared and delivered, on Wednesday the 12th day of December, the day before he sailed for England, a sermon suitable to the occasion. This sermon, together with its prefatory dedication, "To his lov ing friends, the Adventurers for New England," has become quite noted, from its ability and from the fact that it was the first sermon delivered in New England, that was printed. It was

1 Bradford's Journal.

In a note, Dr. Young remarks, "In the course of Robert Cusliman's short stay of a month at Plymouth, he delivered a discourse to the Colonists, which was printed at London in 1622, but without his name. In a tract printed at London in 1644, entitled "A Brief Narrative of some Church Courses in New England," I find the following allusion to this discourse: "There is a book