Part 22 (2/2)
SUNDAY, Jan. 28/Feb. 7 At anchorage, Plymouth harbor. Seventh Sunday in this harbor. Meeting kept on sh.o.r.e. Those of Planters on board who were able, and some of the s.h.i.+p's company, went ash.o.r.e, and came off after service.
MONDAY, Jan. 29/Feb. 8 At anchor, Plymouth harbor. Morning cold, with frost and sleet, but after reason ably fair. Both long-boat and shallop carrying Planters' goods on sh.o.r.e. Those returning reported that Mistress Rose Standish, wife of Captain Standish, died to-day.
TUESDAY, Jan. 30/Feb. 9 At anchorage. Cold, frosty weather, so no working-party went on sh.o.r.e from s.h.i.+p. The Master and others of the s.h.i.+p's company saw two savages that had been on the island near the s.h.i.+p [Clarke's Island]. They were gone so far back again before they were discovered that could not speak with them.
The first natives actually seen since the encounter on the Cape.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 31/Feb. 10 At anchor in harbor. Still cold and frosty, with sleet. No party went on sh.o.r.e. Eight of the colonists have died this month on the s.h.i.+p and on sh.o.r.e.
THURSDAY, Feb. 1/Feb. 11 At anchor in harbor. Weather better, and some of those on board the s.h.i.+p went on sh.o.r.e to work, but many ill.
FRIDAY, Feb. 2/Feb. 12 At anchorage. The same.
SAt.u.r.dAY, Feb. 3/13 At anchorage. Weather threatening. Fetched wood and water.
SUNDAY, Feb. 4/14 At anchor, Plymouth harbor. The eighth Sunday in this harbor, and now inexpedient to think of getting away, till both Planters and crew in better condition as to health.
[Bradford, Historie, p. 92; Young, Chronicler, p. 198. Bradford says (op. cit. Ma.s.s. ed, pp. 120, 121): ”The reason on their parts why she stayed so long was ye necessitie and danger that lay upon them, for it was well toward ye ende of December before she could land anything here, or they able to receive anything ash.o.r.e. After wards, ye 14 of January the house which they had made for a general randevoze by casulty fell afire, and some were faine to retire aboard for shelter. Then the sickness begane to fall sore amongst them, and ye weather so bad as they could not make much sooner dispatch. Againe, the Governor & chiefe of them seeing so many dye, and fall down sick dayly, thought it no wisdom to send away the s.h.i.+p, their condition considered, and the danger they stood in from ye Indians, till they could procure some shelter; and therefore thought it better to draw some more charge upon themselves & friends [”demurrage?”] than hazard all. The Mr. and sea-men likewise; though before they hasted ye pa.s.sengers a sh.o.r.e to be goone [gone], now many of their men being dead, and of ye ablest of them [as is before noted, and of ye rest many lay sick & weake, ye Mr, durst not put to sea till he saw his men begine to recover, and ye hart of winter over.”]]
A very rainy day with the heaviest gusts of wind yet experienced. The s.h.i.+p in some danger of oversetting, being light and unballasted.
MONDAY, Feb. 5/15 At anchor in harbor. Clearing weather.
TUESDAY, Feb. 6/16 At anchor in harbor. Cold and clear.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7/17 At anchor in harbor. Much colder.
THURSDAY, Feb. 8/18 At anchorage. Hard, cold weather.
FRIDAY, Feb. 9/19 At anchorage. Cold weather continues.
Little work possible. The little house for the sick people on sh.o.r.e took fire this afternoon, by a spark that kindled in the roof. No great harm done. The Master going ash.o.r.e, killed five geese, which he distributed among the sick people. He also found a good deer the savages had killed, having also cut off his horns. A wolf was eating him. Cannot conceive how he came there.
SAt.u.r.dAY, Feb. 10/20 At anchor in harbor. Getting goods on sh.o.r.e, but sickness makes both Planters and crew shorthanded. Fetched wood and water.
SUNDAY, Feb. 11/21 At anchor in Plymouth harbor. Ninth Sunday in this harbor.
MONDAY, Feb. 12/22 At anchorage. Getting goods on sh.o.r.e.
TUESDAY, Feb. 13/23 At anchorage. Rainy.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 14/24 At anchorage. More sickness on s.h.i.+p and on sh.o.r.e than at any time, and more deaths.
Rainy, clearing.
[The sickness and mortality had rapidly increased and was now at its height]
THURSDAY, Feb. 15/25 At anchorage. Northerly wind and frost.
FRIDAY, Feb. 16/26 At anchorage. Northerly wind continues, which continues the frost. Those from sh.o.r.e reported that one of the Planters, being out fowling and hidden in the reeds, about a mile and a half from the settlement, saw twelve Indians marching toward the plantation and heard many more.
He hurried home with all speed and gave the alarm, so all the people in the woods at work returned and armed themselves, but saw nothing of the Indians. Captain Standish's and Francis Cooke's tools also stolen by Indians in woods. A great fire toward night seen from the s.h.i.+p, about where the Indians were discovered.
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