9 November 10 November 11 November 64 blown them far no れ h. By now they were so exhausted that they were prepared t0 make a landfall wherever they could; even though the first land they saw turned out t0 be Cape Cod, way to the north 0f their destination. The Pilgrims at last actually saw land. WinsIow described that after many difficulties ⅲ boisterous storms, on 9 November following break of the day, they spied land which they deemed to be Cape Cod SO goodly a land, and wooded t0 the brink 0f the sea'. As official scribe Bradford added: 'After long beating at sea they fell with that land which is called Cape C0d; the which being made & certainly knowne tO be it, they were not a litle joyfull'. Bradford then explained how, even though they realized they were north 0f the area where they had planned tO land, they decided t0 settle around Cape C0d: 、 After some deliberation had amongst them selves & with the master 0f the ship, they tacked aboute and resolved tO stande for the southward (the wind & weather being faire) tO finde some place aboute Hudsons river for their habitation. But after they had sailed that course aboute halfe the day, they fell amongst deangerous shoulds and roring breakers, and they were SO farr intangled ther with they conceived them selves in great danger; & the wind shrinking upon them withall, they resolved tO bear up agame for the Cape, and thought them selves hapy t0 gett out Of those dangers before night overtooke them, as by G0ds providence they did. And the next day they gott intO the Cape-harbor wher they ridd in saftie'. Bradford: 'Being thus arived ⅲ a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed the G0d 0f heaven, wh0 had brought them over the vast & furious ocean, and delivered them 朝 om all the periles & miseries therof, againe tO set their feete on the firme and stable earth their proper elemente. And no marvell if they were thus j oyefull'. Having sailed thousands Of miles across the AtIantic the plucky little M 佖 IO had thus arrived safely in America, finally delivering the PiIgrims t0 their pro mise d land. But their joy would be shortlived, for death lay in wait for them on the icy shore. By the end Of their first winter half 0f those now waiting expectantly in the ship would be dead.

8 December The Pilgrims had been ⅲ the colony one month. Aware that time was slipping away from them, the expedition rose determined t0 find a spot for a settlement. ln fact, Bradford maintained they only 'rested ⅱⅡ about 5 Of the clock ⅲ the morning; for the tide, & ther PUrposs tO goe om thence, made them be stiring betimes'. Winslow said that two or three, wh0 doubted whether their pieces would fire Off or not, tested them out tO be safe. Before leaving the Eastham camp site they gave thanks for their deliverance from the terrors 0f the night. They intended tO set Off ⅲ search Of the elusive settlement site, this time heading west along the increasingly wide stem 0f the Cape C0d peninsula towards Plymouth itself. 'SO after praier they prepared for breakfast, and it being day dawning, it was thought best t0 be carring things downe tO the boate. ' They debated whether t0 put their arms straight intO the boat, or whether tO keep them for protection while they were decamping. Some complained their guns were heavy and they were sick 0f carrying them but others said they would be killed if the lndians suddenly appeared and caught them unarmed. ln the end, most Of them made the mistake Of deciding tO leave their guns on the beach. 'As it fell out, the water being not high enough, they layed them down on the banke side, & came up tO breakfast. ' lt was at this worst possible moment that they were caught out. Bradford: presently, all on the sudain, they heard a great & strange crie, which they knew to be the same voyces they heard in the night, though they varied their notes, & one 0f their company being abroad came runing in, & cried, "Men, lndeans, lndeans" ・ and withall, their arowes came flymg amongst them'. This certainly was not how the PiIgrims had planned t0 begin their relationship with the lndians, yet they had no alternative but t0 grab their guns and fight. lt was twenty Pilgrims and friends against forty with the latter fit and well and on their home ground. lndians Bradford described this important battle: 'Their men rane with all speed tO recover their armes, by the good providence Of G0d they did. ln the mean time, Of those that were ther ready, two muskets were discharged at them, & 2 more stOOd ready ⅲ the enterance 0f ther randevoue, but were comanded not t0 shoote ⅱⅡ they could take ⅲⅡ at them; & the 0ther 2 charged againe with all speed, for ther were only 4 had armes ther, & defended the baricado which was first assalted'. Naturally the Pilgrims did not want t0 leave this f0 れ , ⅲ case the lndians sh0t them when they were out ⅲ the open or t00k the fO れ once they left it. As Winslow said, they thought it best t0 defend their position ⅲ case the enemy overpowered them and tOOk their posses- sions and ⅲ future had a greater advantage against them. At the same time they were alSO concerned not tO lose the boat and 81

4 August 48 Bradford pointed out that the PiIgrims had been looking forward to owning their own homes 'holding 0f house and lands; the iruoying wheof some Of your selves well know, was one spetiall motive, amongst many Other, tO provoke us tO goe . The Pilgnms were prepared to pronuse a generous share of the profits SO 'that it may appeare t0 all men that are not lovers of 0 selves only, but desire also the good & inriching of 0 friends who have adventured your moneys with 0 persons' 田 'that 江 large profits should not arise within the 7 years, that we will continue togeather longer with you But the Pilgrims were determined to set out on their voyage, no matter what the cost was, Bradford confirmed: 'We are ⅲ shuch a streate at presente, we are forced tO sell away & 60 worth of our provlssions tO cleare the Haven, & withall put our selves upon great extremities, scarce haveing any butter, no oyle, not a sole to mend a shoe, nor every man a sword tO his side, wanting many muskets, much armoure, &c. And yet we are willmg tO expose our selves tO shuch eminente dangers are like tO insue, & trust tO the good providence Of GOd, rather then his name & truth should be evil spoken of for us'. lnspired by Robinson's letters Of instruction and ⅲⅡ Of fresh resolve, the PiIgrims pald their bills, made the compromises with the difficult investors by signing the final contract, giving up a greater share 0f their houses, land and profits, and prepared t0 leave EngIand forever. Their ranks had swollen by now new 'strangers' joined their ranks, and different PiIgrims had t0 be allocated tO different ships. The M 佖″ owe which was now ready to sail was, at 180 tons, the larger 0f the two ships. She was a three-masted, fully-rigged ship, carrying square sails on each mast and was approximately 90 feet long on deck and 104 feet long overall includmg the bowspit. She was 78ft 8 ⅲ at the water line, with a beam 0f twenty one and a half feet and was owned by a wealthy merchant of London, Thomas Goffe, who was commercially involved with the investors and whO was an intimate friend and business associate 0f J0hn Winthrop who was to help found the colony Of Massachusetts within ten years. The M 佖″ ow had been built ⅲ the Leigl ト on-Sea shipyards ⅲ the late sixtenth century and had been used t0 carry cargoes 0f c10th t0 France and wine back tO EngIand one Of the many commercial 'sweet ships'. For her voyage tO America her skipper was Captain Christopher Jones whO also had a share in the ownership. Most Of the PiIgrims wanted tO travel on the M 佖″ 0 it was the larger and more comfortable ship, but the leaders decided t0 allocate places on the different ships. Some wh0 had come across from H011and ⅲ the SpeedwelI were transferred tO the グ佖 w , while others were transferred across t0 the SpeedweU. 'The n they ordered & distributed their company for either shipe, they conceived for the best'.