But here let me take liberty to make a little digression. There was in the ship sent by Mr. Weston forenamed (in which his men came) a gentleman named Mr. John Porey, he had been secretary in Virginia, and was now going home passenger in this ship. After his departure he wrote a letter to the governor of Plimouth, in the postscript whereof he hath these expressions following:—

“To yourself and Mr. Brewster I must humbly acknowledge myself many ways indebted, whose books I would have you think very well bestowed, who esteems them such jewels. My haste would not suffer me to remember, much less to beg Mr. Ainsworth’s elaborate work on the five books of Moses; both his and Mr. Robinson’s do highly commend the authors, as being most conversant in the Scriptures of all others; and what good who knows it may please God to work by them through my hands, though most unworthy, who find such high content in them. God have you all in his keeping.

“Your unfeigned and firm friend,
“John Porey.

“August 28, 1622.”

These things I here insert, partly for the honour’s sake of the author’s memory, which this gentleman doth so ingeniously acknowledge, and also the credit and good that he procured unto the plantation of Plimouth after his return, and that amongst those of no mean rank. But to return.

Mr. Weston’s people forenamed, who were now seated in the bay of the Massachusetts, at a place called by the Indians Wesagusquaset,¹⁰ and by disorder (as it seemed) had made havoc of their provision; they began now to conceive that want would come upon them; and hearing that their neighbours at Plimouth had bought trading stuff, as aforesaid, and intended to trade for corn, they wrote to the governor, and desired that they might join with them, and they would employ their small ship¹¹ in this service; and also requested to lend or sell them so much of their trading stuff as their part might come to; which was agreed unto on equal terms; so they went out in the expedition, with an intention to go about Cape Cod to the southward, but meeting with cross winds, and other crosses, went in at Mannomoik,¹² where the aforesaid Squanto, being their guide and interpreter, fell sick, and within a few days died. A little before his death, he desired the governor of Plimouth (who then was there) to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishman’s God in heaven; and bequeathed divers of his things to sundry of his English friends, as remembrances of his love; of whom they had a great loss.¹³

Here they got a considerable quantity of corn, and so returned. After these things, John Saunders, who was left chief over Mr. Weston’s men at Wesagusquaset, in the month of February, sent a messenger, showing the great wants they were fallen into, and would have borrowed corn of the Indians, but they would lend him none; and desired advice whether he might take it from them by force to succour his men, until return from the eastward, whither he was now going. But the governor and the rest dissuaded him by all means from it, for it might so exasperate the Indians, as might endanger their safety, and all of them might smart for it; for they had already heard how they had wronged the Indians, by stealing their corn, etc., so as the natives were much incensed against them; yea, so base were some of their own company, as they went and told the Indians, that their governor was purposed to come and take their corn by force, which, with other things, made them enter into a conspiracy against the English. And herewith I end the relation of the most remarkable passages of God’s providence towards the first planters, which fell out in this year.

1623.

Mr. Weston’s people forenamed, notwithstanding all helps they could procure for supply of provisions, fell into great extremity; which was occasioned by their excessive expence while they had it, or could get it; and after they came into want, many sold away their clothes and bed coverings; others were so base as they become servants to the Indians, and would cut them wood, and fetch them water for a cap full of corn; others fell to stealing, both night and day, from the Indians, of which they grievously complained. In the end they came to that misery that some starved and died with hunger; and one, in gathering of shell-fish, was so weak, as he stuck fast in the mud, and was found dead in the place; and most of them