The Mayflower Arrives

I was reminded this morning on Facebook by PBS' American Experience that the Pilgrims on the Mayflower arrived in Cape Cod on November 9th, 393 years ago today. 

Below is an excerpt from grandpa William Bradford's history Of Plimoth Plantation.  In addition to Bradford, our ancestor Richard Warren was aboard the Mayflower as well.  I've "translated" this section into more modern English where I could for readability.  The first sentence below in the original reads:

Septr: 6.  These troubls being blowne over, and now all being compacte togeather in one shipe, they put to sea againe with a prosperus winde, which continued diverce days togeather, which was some incouragmente unto them; yet according to ye usuall maner many were afflicted with sea-sickness.

Sept. 6.  These troubles being blown over and now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued diverse days together, which was some encouragement unto them; yet according to the usual manner many were afflicted with seasickness.  And I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence.  There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen of a lusty able body, which made him more haughty; he would always be condemning the poor people in their sickness, and cursing them daily with egregious execrations and did not let to tell them that he hoped to help to cast half of them over board before they came to their journeys end and to make merry with what they had; and if he were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly.  But it pleased God before they came half seas over to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first yet was thrown overboard. Thus his curses lit on his own head; and it was an astonishment to all his fellows, for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him.

After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather for a season, they were encountered many times with cross winds and met with many fierce storms with which the ship was shroudly shaken and her upper works made leaky; and one of the main beams in the mid ships was bowed and cracked which put them in some fear that the ship could not be able to perform the voyage.  So some of the chief of the company, perceiving the mariners to fear the sufficiency of the ship as appeared by their mutterings, they entered into serious consultation with the master and other officers of the ship to consider in time of the danger; and rather to return then to cast themselves into a desperate and inevitable peril.  And truly there was great distraction and difference of opinion amongst the mariners themselves; fain would they do what could be done for their wages sake (being now half the seas over) and on the other hand they were loath to hazard their lives too desperately.  But in examining of all opinions, the master and others affirmed they knew the ship to be strong and firm underwater; and for the buckling of the main beam there was a great iron screw the passengers brought out of Holland, which would raise the beam into his place; which being done the carpenter and master affirmed that with a post put under it set firm in the lower deck and otherwise bound he would make it sufficient.  And as for the decks and upper works they would caulk them as well as they could and though with the working of the ship they would not long keep stanch yet there would otherwise be no great danger, if they did not over press her with sails.  So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed.  In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull, for diverse days together.  And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull, in a mighty storm, a lusty young men (called John Howland) coming upon some occasion above the grattings, was a seal of the ship thrown into the sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the top-sail halyards, which hung overboard and ran out at length; yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with a boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his life saved; and though he was something ill with it yet he lived many years after, and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth.  In all this voyage there died but one of the passengers , which was William Button, a youth, servant of Samuel Fuller , when they drew near the coast.  But to omit other things (that I may be brief) after long beating at sea they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod; the which being made and certainly known to be it, they were not a little joyful.  After some deliberation had amongst themselves and with the master of the ship, they tacked about and resolved to stand for the southward (the wind and weather being fair) to find some place about Hudson River for their habitation.  But after they had sailed the course about have a day, they fell amongst dangerous shoals and roaring breakers and they were so far entangled there with as they conceived themselves in great danger; and the wind shrinking upon them withal, they resolved to bear up again for the Cape, and thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night overtook them, as by God’s providence they did.  And the next day they got into the Cape harbor where they rode in safety.  A word or two by the way of this cape;  it was thus first named [Cape Cod] by Captain Gosnole and his company in 1602 and after by Captain Smith was called Cape James; but it retains the former name amongst seamen.  Also the point which first showed those dangerous shoals unto them they called Point Care, and Tuckers Terror; but the French and Dutch to this day call it Malabarr, by reason of those perilous shoals, and the losses they have suffered there.

Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element.  And no marvel if they were thus joyful, seeing wise Seneca was so affected with sailing a few miles on the coast of his own Italy; as he affirmed  that he had rather remain twenty years on his way by land than pass by sea to any place in a short time; so tedious and dreadful was the same unto him.  

But here I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amassed at this poor peoples present condition; and so I think will the reader too, when he well considers the same.  Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation (as may be remembered by that which went before), they had now no friends to welcome them, nor inns to entertain or refresh their weather beaten bodies, no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succor.  It is recorded in scripture [Acts 28] as a mercy to the apostle and his shipwrecked company, yet the barbarians showed them no small kindness in refreshing them, but these savage barbarians, when they met with them (as after will appear) were readier to fill their sides full of arrows than otherwise.  And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent and subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search an unknown coast.  Besides what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men? And what multitudes there might be of them they knew not.  Neither could they, as it were go up to the top of Pisgah, to view from this wilderness a more goodly country to feed their hopes; for which way soever they turned their eyes (save upward to the heavens) they could have little solace or content in respect of any outward objects.  For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a weather beaten face; and the whole country full of woods and thickets represented a wild and savage hue (?) [heiw].  If they looked behind them, there was the mighty ocean which they had passed and was now as a main bar and gulf to separate them from all the civil parts of the world.  If it be said they had a ship to succor them, it is true; but what heard they daily from the master and company?  But that with speed they should look out a place with their shallop where they would be at some near distance; for the season was such as he would not stir form thence to a safe harbor was discovered by them where they would be, and he might go without danger; and that victuals consumed space, but he must and would keep sufficient for themselves and their return.  Yea, it was muttered by some, that if they got not a place in time, they would turn them and their goods ashore and leave them.  Let it also be considered what weak hopes of supply and succor they left behind them, that might bear up their minds in this sad condition and trials they were under; and they could not but be very small.  It is true, indeed, the affections and love of their brethren at Leiden was cordial and entire towards them, but they had little power to help them, or themselves; and how the case stood between them and the merchants at their coming away, hat already been declared.  What could now sustain them but the spirit of God and his grace?   May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say:  

Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean and were ready to perish in this wilderness [Deuteronomy 26:5-7] but they cried unto the Lord and he heard their voice and looked on their adversity, etc.  Let them therefore praise the Lord because he is good and his mercies endure forever [Psalm 107].  Yea let them which have been redeemed of the Lord show how much he has delivered them from the hand of the oppressor.  When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty their soul was overwhelmed in them.  Let them confess before the Lord his loving kindness and his wonderful works before the sons of men.

The Mayflower was about 85 feet long on deck and 105 feet below decks.  On this particular voyage there were 135 people on board with animals and supplies.