Quotes from Edward Winslow

These people are ill affected towards the English, by reason of one Hunt, a master of a ship, who deceived the people, and got them under color of trucking with them, twenty out of this very place where we inhabit, and seven men from Nauset, and carried them away, and sold them for slaves like a wretched man (for twenty pound a man) that cares not what mischief he doth for his profit.

The three and twentieth of March [1623] [The Reader should remember that the English year began on the 25th March]

and the spawn of shads, which then they got in abundance, insomuch as they gave us spoons to eat them. With these they boiled musty acorns; but of the shads we eat heartily.

Some of our people that are dead took the original of their death here.

The country, in respect of the lying of it, is both champaign and hilly, like many places in England.

Thus, by degrees, we began to discover Tisquantum; whose ends were only to make himself great in the eyes of his countrymen, by means of his nearness and favour with us: not caring who fell, so he stood.

GOOD Reader. When I first penned this discourse, I intended it chiefly for the satisfaction of my private friends: but, since that time, have been persuaded to publish the same. And the rather, because of a disorderly Colony [of Thomas Weston's men] that are dispersed, and most of them returned [to England]; to the great prejudice and damage of him that set them forth.

There was the greatest store of fowl that ever we saw.

This day, before we came to harbour, observing some not well affected to unity and concord, but gave some appearance of faction, it was thought good there should be an association and agreement, that we should combine together in one body, and to submit to such government and governors as we should by common consent agree to make and choose, and set our hands to this that follows, word for word.