"Good News from New England" by Edward Winslow

A Scholarly Edition

Kelly Wisecup, Kelly Wisecup

• Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781613764985
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World History
• Index: History

First published in 1624, Edward Winslow's Good News from New England chronicles the early experience of the Plimoth colonists, or Pilgrims, in the New World. For several years Winslow acted as the Pilgrims' primary negotiator with New England Algonquians, including the Wampanoag, Massachusett, and Narragansett Indians. During this period he was credited with having cured the Wampanoag sachem Massasoit, one of the colonists' most valuable allies, of an apparently life-threatening illness, and he also served as the Pilgrims' chief agent in England.It was in the context of all of these roles that Winslow wrote Good News in an attempt to convince supporters in England that the colonists had established friendly relations with Native groups and, as a result, gained access to trade goods. Although clearly a work of diplomacy, masking as it did incidents of brutal violence against Indians as well as evidence of mutual mistrust, the work nevertheless offers, according to Kelly Wisecup, a more complicated and nuanced representation of the Pilgrims' first years in New England and of their relationship with Native Americans than other primary documents of the period.In this scholarly edition, Wisecup supplements Good News with an introduction, additional primary texts, and annotations to bring to light multiple perspectives, including those of the first European travelers to the area, Native captives who traveled to London and shaped Algonquian responses to colonists, the survivors of epidemics that struck New England between 1616 and 1619, and the witnesses of the colonists' attack on the Massachusetts.

Part I

EDWARD WINSLOW, GOOD NEWS FROM NEW ENGLAND (1624)

Figure 4. Edward Winslow, Good News, title page, first edition (1624). Courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University.

GOOD

NEWS

FROM NEW ENGLAND:

OR

A true Relation of things very remarkable at the Plantation of Plimoth in NEW-ENGLAND.

Shewing the wondrous providence and goodness of GOD, in their preservation and continuance, being delivered from many apparent deaths and dangers.

Together with a Relation of such religious and civil Laws and Customs, as are in practise amongst the Indians, adjoining to them at this day. As also what Commodities are there to be raised for the maintenance of that and other Plantations in the said Country.

Written by E.W. who hath borne a part in the fore-named troubles, and there lived since their first Arrival.

LONDON

Printed by J.D. for William Bladen and John Bellamie, and are to be sold at their Shops, at the Bible in Pauls-Church-yard, and at the three Golden Lions in Corn-hill, near the Royall Exchange. 1624. [Figures 4 and 5]

Figure 5. Edward Winslow, Good News, title page, second edition (1624). Courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University.

TO
ALL WELL-WILLERS

AND FURTHERERS OF

Plantations in New England: especially to such as ever have or desire to assist, the people of Plimoth in their just proceedings, Grace, and Peace, be multiplied.

Right Honourable and Worshipful Gentlemen, or whatsoever: Since it hath pleased God to stir you up to be instruments of his glory, in so honourable an enterprise as the enlarging of his Majesties Dominions, by planting his loyal subjects in so healthful and hopeful a Country as New-England is; where the Church of God being seated in sincerity, there is no less hope of convincing the Heathen of their evil ways, and converting them to the true knowledge and worship of the living God, and so consequently the salvation of their souls by the merits of Jesus Christ, than else-where though it be much talked on, & lightly [A2r] or lamely prosecuted. I therefore think it but my duty to offer the view of our proceedings to your worthy considerations, having to that end composed them together thus briefly as you see; wherein to your great encouragement, you may behold the good providence of God working with you in our preservation from so many dangerous plots and treacheries, as have been intended against us; as also in giving his blessing so powerfully upon the weak means we had, enabling us with health and ability beyond expectation, in our greatest scarcities, and possessing the hearts of the Savages with astonishment and fear of us, whereas if God had let them loose, they might easily have swallowed us up, scarce being an handful in comparison of those forces they might have gathered together against us, which now by Gods blessing will be more hard and difficult, in regard our number of men is increased, our town better fortified, and our store better victualed. Blessed therefore be his name, that hath done so great things for us, & hath wrought so great a change amongst us.

Accept I pray you my weak endeavours, pardon my unskillfulness, and bear with my plainness in the things I have handled. Be not discouraged by our former necessities, but rather encouraged with us, hoping that as God hath wrought with us in our beginning of this worthy Work, undertaken in his name and fear; so he will by us accomplish the same to his glory and our comfort, if we neglect not the means. I confess, it hath not been much less chargeable¹ to some of you, than hard [A2v] and difficult to us, that have endured the brunt of the battle, and yet small profits returned; only by Gods mercy we are safely seated, housed, and fortified, by which means a great step is made unto gain, and a more direct course taken for the same, than if at first we had rashly and covetously fallen upon it.

Indeed, three things are the overthrow and bane (as I may term it) of Plantations.

1. The vain expectation of present profit, which too commonly taketh a principal seat in the heart and affection;² though Gods glory, &c. is preferred before it in the mouth with protestation.

2. Ambition in their Governours and Commanders, seeking only to make themselves great, and slaves of all that are under them, to maintain a transitory base honour in themselves, which God oft punisheth with contempt.

3. The carelessness of those that send over supplies of men unto them, not caring how they be qualified: so that oft times they are rather the Image of men endued with bestial, yea, diabolical affections, than the Image of God, endued with reason, understanding, and holiness. I praise God I speak not these things experimentally, by way of complaint of our own condition, but having great cause on the contrary part to be thankful to God for his mercies towards us: but rather, if there be any too desirous of gain, to entreat them to moderate their affections, and consider that no man expecteth fruit before the tree be grown; advising all men, that as they tender their own well-fare, [A3r] so to make choice of such to manage and govern their affairs, as are approved not to be seekers of themselves, but the common good of all for whom they are employed; and beseeching such as have the care of transporting men for the supply and furnishing of Plantations, to be truly careful in sending such as may further and not hinder so good an action. There is no godly honest man, but will be helpful in his kind, and adorn his profession with an upright life and conversation, which Doctrine of manners ought first to be Preached by giving good example to the poor Savage Heathens amongst whom they live. On the contrary part, what great offense 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 offenses 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 my self 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:

E.W.

To the Reader.

Good Reader, when I first penned this discourse, I intended it chiefly for the satisfaction of my private friends,³ but since that time have been persuaded to publish the same: And the rather, because of a disorderly Colony 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 own knowledge it was a grief to some that they were so yoked; whose deserts⁴ 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 plainly, than any way doubt of the truth of this my Relation, yea it may be tax me therewith, as seeming rather to discourage men, than any way to further so noble an action? If any honest mind be discouraged, I am sorry, sure I am, I have given no just cause; and am so far from being discouraged my self, as I purpose to return forthwith. And for other light and vain persons, if they stumble hereat I have my desire, accounting it better for them and us that they keep where they are, as being unfit and unable to perform so great a task.

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 favour unto me.

Thine E. W.

[1]

GOOD NEWS FROM New-England.

The Good Ship called the Fortune, which in the Month of Novemb. 1621. (blessed be God) brought us a new supply of 35. persons, was not long departed our Coast, ere the Great People of Nanohigganset,⁵ which are reported to be many thousands strong, began to breathe forth many threats against us, not withstanding their desired and obtained peace with us in the fore-going summer. Insomuch as the common talk of our neighbor Indians⁶ on all sides was of the preparation they made to come against us. In reason a man would think they should have now more cause to fear us than before our supply came: but though none of them were present, yet [2] understanding by others that they neither brought Arms nor other provisions with them, but wholly relied on us, it occasioned them to sleight⁷ and brave⁸ us with so many threats as they did. At length came one of them to us, who was sent by Conanacus their chief Sachim or King, accompanied with one Tokamahamon⁹ a friendly Indian. This messenger inquired for Tisquantum our Interpreter, who not being at home seemed rather to be glad than sorry, and leaving for him a bundle of new arrows lapped in a rattle Snakes skin, desired to depart with all expedition. But our Governours¹⁰ not knowing what to make of this strange carriage,¹¹ and comparing it with that we had formerly heard, committed him to the custody of Captain Standish,¹² hoping now to know some certainty of that we so often heard, either by his own relation to us, or to Tisquantum at his return, desiring my self, having special familiarity with the other fore-named Indian,¹³ to see if I could learn any thing from him, whose answer was sparingly to this effect; that he could not certainly tell, but thought they were enemies to us. That night Captain Standish gave me and another charge of him, and gave us order to use him kindly, and that he should not want any thing he desired, and to take all occasions to talk and inquire of the reasons of those reports we heard, and withal¹⁴ to signify that upon his true relation he should be sure of his own freedom. At first fear so possessed him, that he could scarce say any thing: but in the end became more familiar, and told us that the messenger which his Master¹⁵ sent in Summer to treat of peace, at his return persuaded him rather to war; and to the end he might provoke him thereunto, (as appeared to him by our reports) detained many of the things were sent him by our Governour, scorning the meanness of them both in respect of what himself had formerly sent, & also of the greatness of his own person; so that he much blamed the former Messenger, saying, that upon the knowledge of this his false carriage, it would cost him his [3] life; but assured us that upon his relation of our speech then with him to his Master, he would be friends with us. Of this we informed the Governour and his Assistant, and Captain Standish, who after consultation considered him howsoever but in the state of a messenger, and it being as well against the Law of Arms amongst them as us in Europe, to lay violent hands on any such, set him at liberty, the Governour giving him order to certify his Master that he had heard of his large and many threatenings, at which he was much offended, daring him in those respects to the utmost, if he would not be reconciled to live peaceably as other his neighbors; manifesting withal (as ever) his desire of peace; but his fearless resolution, if he could not so live amongst them. After which he caused meat to be offered him, but he refused to eat, making all speed to return, and giving many thanks for his liberty. But requesting the other Indian again to return, the weather being violent, he used many words to persuade him to stay longer, but could not. Whereupon he left him, and said he was with his friends, and would not take a journey in such extremity.

After this when Tisquantum returned, and the arrows were delivered, and the manner of the messengers carriage related, he signified to the Governour, that to send the rattle Snakes skin in that manner, imported enmity, and that it was no better than a challenge.¹⁶ Here-upon after some deliberation, the Governour stuffed the skin with powder and shot, and sent it back, returning no less defiance to Conanacus, assuring him if he had shipping now present thereby to send his men to Nanohigganset (the place of his abode) they should not need to come so far by land to us: yet withal shewing that they should never come unwelcome or unlooked for. This message was sent by an Indian, and delivered in such sort, as it was no small terrour to this savage [4] King, insomuch as he would not once touch the powder and shot, or suffer it to stay in his house or Country. Whereupon the Messenger refusing it, another took it up, and having been posted from place to place a long time, at length came whole back again.

In the mean time, knowing our own weakness, notwithstanding our high words and lofty looks towards them, and still lying open to all casualty, having as yet (under God) no other defense than our Arms, we thought it most needful to impale¹⁷ our Town, which with all expedition we accomplished in the month of February and some few days, taking in the top of the Hill under which our Town is seated, making four bulwarks or jetties without the ordinary circuit of the pale,¹⁸ from whence we could defend the whole Town: In three whereof are gates, and the fourth in time to be. This being done, Captain Standish divided our strength into four squadrons or companies, appointing whom he thou...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Part I: Edward Winslow, Good News from New England (1624)
• Part II: Related Texts
• Bibliography
• Index