The Pilgrim Chronicles

by Rod Gragg

  I do heartily, and in the Lord, salute you all: as being they with whom I am present in my best affection, and most earnest longings after you, though I be constrained, for a while, to be bodily absent from you. I say, constrained: God knowing how willingly much rather than otherwise, I would have borne my part with you in this first brunt, were I not, by strong necessity, held back for the present. Make account of me in the meanwhile, as of a man divided in myself, with great pain, and as, natural bonds set aside, having my better part with you. And though I doubt not but, in your godly wisdoms, you both foresee, and resolve upon, that which concerns your present state and condition, both severally and jointly; yet have I thought but my duty, to add some further spur of provocation unto them who run already, if not because you need it, yet because I owe it in love and duty. And first, as we are daily to renew our repentance with our God, special, for our sins known, and general, for our unknown trespasses: so doth the Lord call us, in a singular manner, upon occasions of such difficulty and danger as lie upon you, to a both more narrow search, and careful reformation, of our ways in his sight, lest he (calling to remembrance our sins forgotten by us, or unrepented of) take advantage against us; and, in judgment, leave us for the same to be swallowed up in one danger or other. Whereas, on the contrary, sin being taken away by earnest repentance, and pardon thereof from the Lord sealed up unto a man’s conscience by his Spirit, great shall be his security and peace in all dangers, sweet his comforts in all distresses, with happy deliverance from all evil, whether in life or in death.

  At the docks in Delftshaven, Pastor Robinson preached a final sermon to the departing Pilgrims. Their tearful departure for America inspired this dramatic nineteenth-century painting.

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

  “Watchfulness must be had, that we neither at all in ourselves do give, no, nor easily take offence being given by others”

  Now, next after this heavenly peace with God and our own consciences, we are carefully to provide for peace with all men, what in us lies, especially with our associates: and, for that end, watchfulness must be had, that we neither at all in ourselves do give, no, nor easily take offence being given by others. Woe be unto the World for offences! For though it be necessary (considering the malice of Satan, and man’s corruption) that offences come; yet woe unto the man, or woman either, by whom the offence cometh! said Christ (Matt, xviii. 7). And if offences, in the unseasonable use of things in themselves indifferent, be more to be feared than death itself, as the Apostle teaches (I Corinthians ix. 15) how much more in things simply evil, in which neither honor of God, nor love of man, is thought worthy to be regarded. Neither yet is it sufficient that we keep ourselves, by the grace of God, from giving offence; except withal, we be armed against the taking of them, when they are given by others. For how imperfect and lame is the work of grace in that person who wants charity to cover a multitude of offences, as the Scriptures speak. Neither are you to be exhorted to this grace, only upon the common grounds of Christianity, which are, That persons ready to take offence, either want charity to cover offences, or wisdom duly to weigh human frailty; or lastly, are gross, though close, hypocrites, as Christ our Lord teaches (Matthew vii. 1, 2, 8). As indeed, in mine own experience, few or none have been found, which sooner give offence, than such as easily take it; neither have they ever proved sound and profitable members in societies, which have nourished in themselves that touchy humor.

  “Store we up therefore patience against the evil day!”

  But besides these, there are [various] special motives provoking you, above others, to great care and conscience this way. As, first, you are, many of you, strangers as to the persons so to the infirmities one of another, and so stand in need of more watchfulness this way, lest when such things fall out in men and women as you suspected not, you be inordinately affected with them, which doth require at your hands much wisdom and charity for the covering and preventing of incident offences that way. And, lastly, your intended course of Civil Community will minister continual occasion of offence, and will be as fuel for that fire, except you diligently quench it with brotherly forbearance. And if taking offence causelessly, or easily, at men’s doings be so carefully to be avoided, how much more heed is to be taken that we take not offence at God himself, which yet we certainly do, so oft as we do murmur at his Providence in our crosses, or bear impatiently such afflictions as wherewith he pleases to visit us. Store we up therefore patience against the evil day! without which, we take offence at the Lord himself in his holy and just works.

  A fourth thing there is carefully to be provided for, to wit, That with common employments, you join common affections truly bent upon the general good, avoiding (as a deadly plague of your both common and special comfort) all [repression] of mind for proper advantage, and all singularly affected any manner of way. Let every man repress in himself, and the whole body, in each person (as so many rebels against the common good) all private respects of men’s selves not sorting with the general convenience! And as men are careful not to have a new house shaken with any violence before it be well settled, and the parts firmly knit, so be you, I beseech you, brethren, much more careful that the House of God, which you are, and are to be, be not shaken with unnecessary novelties, or other oppositions, at the first settling thereof.

  When his sermon ended, Pastor Robinson led the Pilgrims in prayer as their newly leased ship, the Speedwell, prepared to lift anchor.

  ARCHITECT OF THE U. S. CAPITOL

  Lastly, whereas you are to become a Body Politic, using amongst yourselves Civil Government, and are not furnished with any persons of special eminency above the rest to be chosen by you into Office of Government, let your wisdom and godliness appear, not only in choosing such persons as do entirely love, and will diligently promote, the common good; but also in yielding unto them all due honor and obedience in their lawful administrations. Not beholding in them the ordinariness of their persons, but God’s ordinance for your good, nor being like unto the foolish multitude, who more honor the gay coat than either the virtuous mind of the man, or glorious ordinance of the Lord. But you know better things, and that the Image of the Lord’s power and authority, which the Magistrate bears, is honorable in how mean persons whatsoever. And this duty you both may the more willingly, and ought the more conscionably to perform, because you are, at least for the present, to have only them for your ordinary Governors which yourselves shall make choice of for that work.

  “My daily incessant prayers unto the Lord [are that] He . . . would so guide and guard you”

  Sundry other things of importance I could put you in mind of, and of those before mentioned in more words, but I will not so far wrong your godly minds, as to think you heedless of these things, there being also divers among you so well able to admonish both themselves and others, of what concerns them. These few things, therefore, and the same in few words, I do earnestly commend unto your care and conscience, joining therewith my daily incessant prayers unto the Lord, that He (who hath made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all rivers of water, and whose Providence is over all his works, especially over all his dear children for good) would so guide and guard you in your ways (as inwardly by his Spirit, so outwardly by the hand of his power) as that both you, and we also for and with you, may have after matter of praising his name, all the days of your, and our, lives.

  Fare you well in him in whom you trust, and in whom I rest!

  An unfeigned well-willer of your happy success in this hopeful voyage,

  J.R.5

  CHAPTER SIX

  “They Put to Sea Again with a Prosperous Wind”

  The Mayflower lay anchored at the English port of Southampton. It was the ship that Thomas Weston and the Merchant Adventurers had hired to help transport the Pilgrims to America. When the Leiden Separatists sailed into port aboard the Speedwell and caught a first look at the vessel, there was little to impress them other than its size—at 180 tons, the Mayflower was much larger than the Spe
edwell. The tonnage of vessels in the day was based upon the number of wine barrels or “tuns” a ship could carry, meaning the Mayflower was theoretically able to transport 180 large barrels in its hold, making her about three times the size of the Speedwell. Even so, she was likely out-sized by other ships in port at Southampton.

  When new, the Mayflower had been one of the largest merchantmen in England, but now she was fifteen years old and commercial ships had become larger. She bore three masts, and measured about one hundred feet in length from bow to stern and about twenty-five feet across from starboard to port. On the deck, a high forecastle sheltered crew and cargo forward of the ship, with a similar aftcastle in the stern. Although not a military vessel, she was fitted with gun ports like many English merchant ships, and may have carried as many as ten artillery pieces of different calibers. Despite her age, the Mayflower was solidly seaworthy, and was well prepared to make a trans-Atlantic voyage to America. So was her commander.1

  “Beseeching the Lord to Give a Blessing to Our Endeavour”

  The Pilgrims Are Introduced to the Mayflower

  Christopher Jones was his name, and not only was he the Mayflower’s captain or master, he was also one of the ship’s owners. About fifty years of age, Jones was a seasoned ship commander—but he had never been to America. He had sailed the Mayflower to many other places, however, mainly to and from France, swapping cargoes of English woolens for imported French wines. He had also taken the ship to Spain, Germany, faraway Norway, and perhaps even on a whaling voyage to the icy waters off Greenland. His master’s mate and pilot, a middle-aged seaman named John Clarke, had several voyages to America behind him. His other pilot, sailor Robert Coppin, had also been to America. Back in May, Jones and the Mayflower had just returned from France with a cargo of wine from Bordeaux when Thomas Weston hired the ship and crew for the Merchant Adventurers to help transport the Pilgrims to America. If Master Jones had reservations about transporting controversial Separatists to distant America aboard the Mayflower, he left no record of it. England’s economy was rapidly sinking into a severe depression in 1620, and it was no time to turn down business. He had years of deep water sailing behind him, and he was adequately prepared for the voyage to America.

  Awaiting the Pilgrims at the English port of Southampton was a fifteen-year-old 180-ton merchantman. The ship’s name: the Mayflower.

  SHORT HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

  The medieval walls of Southampton loom over the port’s harbor. It was in Southampton, on the southern coast of England, that the Leiden Separatists first saw the Mayflower.

  SOUTHAMPTON MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY TRUST

  In London, the Mayflower had taken on the passengers recruited by the Merchant Adventurers, along with friends and relatives of the Leiden Separatists. Among them were church leaders Robert Cushman and John Carver, both of whom had been in England acquiring provisions and dealing with the Adventurers, and now were reunited with their friends from Leiden at the Southampton dock. Located at the junction of the Test and Itchen Rivers on England’s southern coast, Southampton was an old city, even by English standards, and was a moderately busy port in 1620. The Separatists from the two ships and some friends from Southampton enjoyed a brief reunion beneath Southampton’s Medieval city walls, which towered above the city’s docks. William Brewster was there too, although he would keep a low profile until out of England; he was still a hunted man because of the book he had printed that had so offended King James. Brewster had either traveled incognito from Holland or had been in hiding in England. The joy of being reunited with friends and family from England apparently was short-lived, however, since a confrontation quickly erupted between the Leiden leaders and Thomas Weston.

  “Those which came over first, in the year 1620 . . . were by the blessing of God the first beginners and . . . the foundation of all the Plantations and Colonies in New England”

  As the official representative of the Merchant Adventurers, Weston had come down from London and immediately launched into a discussion of the new and more demanding terms his investors required of the Pilgrims. Weston likely did not know that to avoid delaying the expedition, Robert Cushman had consented to the new demands without the approval of the Leiden congregation or its leaders. Echoing Pastor Robinson’s opinion, the Leideners’ spokesmen—presumably Brewster and William Bradford—explained to Weston that the Pilgrims could not agree to the new terms. In response, Weston angrily refused to issue any more funds—including what was needed to leave Southampton. He abruptly ended the discussion by storming off the dock, huffing that the Pilgrims would now have to “stand on their own legs.”

  Adding to the Pilgrims’ frustration and bewilderment, they also had to deal with another disagreeable agent representing the Merchant Adventurers—Christopher Martin, the Adventurers’ purchasing agent, who was coming along on the voyage. Already, Martin had rankled Cushman and Carver as the three had jointly purchased supplies for the voyage. “If I speak to him,” Cushman complained, “he flies in my face as mutinous. . . .” Now, as designated by the Merchant Adventurers, Martin was stalking the decks of the Mayflower with the title of “governor” of the voyage. He had brought his wife, stepson, and servant with him, and quickly provoked both passengers and crew with his haughty, quarrelsome manner. He treated everyone with “scorn and contempt,” Cushman reported, “as if they were not good enough to wipe his shoes.” To raise the funds necessary to leave Southampton without Weston’s payoff, the Pilgrims sold a large store of Dutch butter brought from Leiden aboard the Speedwell.

  The Mayflower was a triplemasted vessel measuring about one hundred feet from bow to stern, and had carried cargoes of woolens and wines to ports as far away as Spain and Norway. Despite her age, she was fit for a trans-Atlantic voyage.

  WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

  At some point before departure, Pastor Robinson’s farewell letter was read to the Pilgrims, probably by Brewster or Bradford. Their beloved pastor’s advice to “give, no, nor easily take offense” now undoubtedly seemed especially relevant to many. Consequently, two days before sailing, the Pilgrim leaders wrote a conciliatory letter to the Merchant Adventurers, further explaining their opposition to the new terms and concluding with a gesture of friendship. “Thus saluting all of you in love,” they wrote, “and beseeching the Lord to give a blessing to our endeavour, and keep all our hearts in the bonds of peace and love, we take leave and rest. . . .” Despite the rancorous atmosphere that marked the launch of the voyage from England, the Mayflower and the Speedwell set sails and left Southampton for America on August 5, 1620. William Bradford would later record a list of the passengers who would actually make the voyage to America:

  By 1620, English merchant vessels often carried a complement of artillery for protection against pirates and other raiders. The Mayflower’s artillery would prove useful for the Pilgrims in wilderness America.

  WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

  “Thus saluting all of you in love, and beseeching the Lord to give a blessing to our endeavour, and keep all our hearts in the bonds of peace and love, we take leave and rest”

  The names of those which came over first, in the year 1620, and were by the blessing of God the first beginners and (in a sort) the foundation of all the Plantations and Colonies in New England; (and their families).

  Mr. John Carver; Katherine his wife; Desire Minter & 2 menservants, John Howland, Roger Wilder; William Latham, a boy, & a maidservant & a child that was put to him called Jasper More.

  Mr. William Brewster; Mary, his wife, with 2 sons, whose names were Love & Wrestling; and a boy was put to him called Richard More; and another of his brothers. The rest of his children were left behind & came over afterwards.

  Mr. Edward Winslow; Elizabeth his wife; and 2 menservants, called George Soule and Elias Story; also a little girl was put to him called Ellen, the sister of Richard More.

  William Bradford and Dorothy his wife, having but one child, a son left behind, who came afterward.

/>   Mr. Isaac Allerton and Mary, his wife; with 3 children, Bartholomew, Remember & Mary. And a servant boy, John Hooke.

  Mr. Samuel Fuller, and a servant called William Button. His wife was behind & a child which came afterwards.

  John Crackston, and his son, John Crackston.

  Captain Myles Standish, and Rose, his wife. Mr. Christopher Martin, and his wife and 2 servants, Solomon Prower and John Langmore.

  Mr. William Mullins, and his wife and 2 children, Joseph and Priscilla, and a servant, Robert Carter.

  Mr. William White, and Susanna his wife, and one son called Resolved, and one born a-shipboard called Peregrine; and 2 servants named William Holbeck and Edward Thompson.

  Mr. Stephen Hopkins & Elizabeth his wife, and 2 children called Giles and Constanta, a daughter, both by a former wife. And two more by this wife called Damaris & Oceanus; the last was born at sea. And 2 servants called Edward Doty and Edward Lester.

  Mr. Richard Warren; but his wife and children were left behind and came afterwards.

  A Separatist family in prayer at home. Their faith-based worldview failed to impress the representative placed aboard the Mayflower by the voyage’s investors—who reportedly treated the Separatists “as if they were not good enough to wipe his shoes.”

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

  John Billington, and Ellen his wife, and 2 sons, John and Francis.

  Edward Tilley, and Ann his wife, and 2 children that were their cousins, Henry Sampson and Humility Cooper.

  John Tilley, and his wife; and Elizabeth their daughter.

  Francis Cooke, and his son John; But his wife & other children came afterwards.