Chapter I

Spiritual Forces and the Motors of Materialism—English
Puritanism—Its Conflicts with the Dramatic Religion of the
Popes—Aspiration—The Modern Era—The Recast Ecclesiasticism—Two
Parties in the New-modelled English Church—The Puritans—The
Conformists—The Error of the Church-and-state Reformers—The Epic
of our Saxon Annals—Britain, emancipated from the Pope, hugs the
_Popedom_—Persecution—The Separatists—Their Disappointment—The
Separatists of the North of England—Division in the Protestant
World—The Philosophy of Luther—Calvin’s _Rationale_—The Separatists
adhere to Calvin—The Raid for Exact Conformity—The PILGRIM
FATHERS prepare to quit the Island—Pilgrim Traits—Obstacles—The
Attempted Exodus—Treachery—The Pilgrims “rifled by the Catchpole
Officers”—Imprisonment—The Second Attempt—The Rendezvous—A Midnight
Scene by the Sea-shore—Arrival of the Ship—The Stranded Barque—The
Captain’s Alarm—The Ship sails—The Deserted Dear Ones on Shore—A
Woful Picture—Captured—The Storm—Holland at last—Reunion
PAGE 17

CHAPTER II.

The Quays of Amsterdam—Quaint Aspect of the City—Its History—The
Pilgrims and the Dutch Burghers—Strange Characteristics of Dutch
Social Life—The Pilgrims go to Work—Their Employments—The Removal
to Leyden—Reason of the Change of Residence—Leyden—Its Thrilling
Story—The Exiles “raise a Competent and Decent Living”—They “enjoy
much Sweet Society and Spiritual Comfort together in the Ways of
God”—John Robinson—Elder Brewster—The Pilgrims grow in Knowledge
and Gifts—Their Discipline—Robinson’s Wisdom—The Exiles win the
Cordial Love and Respect of the Dutch—An Illustration—Testimony of
the Leyden Magistrates—The Controversy—Robinson and Episcopius—The
Debate—“Famous Victory” of the English Divine—Reformed Churches
of the Continent—Catholicity of the Pilgrims—Their Bias towards
Religious Democracy—_Peregrini Deo curæ_ 37

CHAPTER III.

Many Circumstances conspire to render the Exiles anxious and uneasy
in Holland—They “know that They are but Pilgrims”—The Projected
Removal from the Low Countries—Their “Weighty Reasons”—A Grand Germ
of Thought—The New World—Career of Maritime Discovery—The Pilgrim
Council—The Debate—The Argument of the Doubters—The Apostles of the
Future—Ho, for America—The Decision 52

CHAPTER IV.

Pilgrim Prayers—“Where shall we plant our Colony”—“Large Offers”
of the Dutch—Determine to settle in “the most Northern Part of
Virginia”—The two English Emigration Companies—The Envoys—Their
Return—The Letter of Robinson and Brewster—The Virginia Company
and King James—Two Questions—The “Formal Promise of Neglect”—The
“Merchant-adventurers”-Terms of the Compact—Republicanism of
the Pilgrims—Robinson’s Sermon—Who shall sail with the “Forlorn
Hope?”—The Past—Robinson’s Farewell—The “Speedwell” and the
“Mayflower”—“Good-by, Leyden”—“Adieu, Friends”—The “Yo hoy” of the
Seamen 61

CHAPTER V.

At Southampton—The Abortive Departure—The Number of _Voyageurs_
“winnowed”—Final Embarkation—The “Floating Village”—On the
Atlantic—Opening of Robinson’s Letter of Advice—The Seaborn
Government—All Hail, Democracy!—Carver elected Governor—The
Pilgrims propose to land—The Captain’s Mistake—Geography of the
Wilderness—The Unseaworthy Shallop—The Sixteen Scouts—Miles
Standish—On Shore—First Drink of New England Water—The Mysterious
Mound—The Hidden Corn—Pilgrim Conscientiousness—Return of the
Explorers—In the Shallop—The Dawn of Winter—Renewed Search for a
Landing Spot—First Encounter with the Indians—“_Woath wach haha
hach woach_”—The Breakers—First Christian Sabbath in the New
World—PLYMOUTH ROCK 77

CHAPTER VI.

The Pilgrims decide to settle at Plymouth—The Landing—The First
Law—The Pioneers at Work—Plan of the Town—The Weather—Satisfaction
of the Pilgrims with the Site of their Colony—The Journal—Pilgrim
Traits—A Page from Cotton Mather—The Frenchman’s Prophecy—Social
Arrangements—Standish chosen Captain—Births and Deaths—The
Block-Citadel—Isolation of the Pilgrims—Combination of
Circumstances which produced the Settlement of Plymouth in 1620 90

CHAPTER VII.

The Early Spring of 1621—The Pilgrims Buoyant and
Hopeful-Planting—In the Woods—The Tyro Hunters—A Forest
Adventure—The Storm—On the Skirts of the Settlement—“Welcome,
Englishmen”—The Solitary Indian—His Entertainment—Samoset’s
Story—Valuable Information—The Kidnapper—The Nausets—Pilgrim
Description of Samoset—“What shall we do with our Dusky
Guest?”—Samoset’s Embassy—His Return—Squanto—His Romantic
History—Massasoit—The Redman and the Pale-face—Negotiations—The
Treaty—Its Faithful Observance—A Picture of Massasoit—Billington’s
Offence—The Lackey duelists—Death—Frightful Mortality—Burial
hill—Death of Governor Carver—Bradford elected Governor—Departure
of the “Mayflower”—Feeling of the Pilgrims—The “Orphans of
Humanity” 98

CHAPTER VIII.

The Pilgrim Panacea—The Summer—The Prospect—Wild Fowl, Shell-fish,
and Berries—A Glimpse at Plymouth in 1621—The Pioneers open
the Volume of Nature—Lessons in Woodcraft—Bradford and the
Deer-trap—Explorations—The Embassy to Massasoit—Its Object—The
Indian Guide—The Pause at Namasket—A New “Kind of Bread”—The
“Deserted Village”—The Wigwam “Palace” of Massasoit—Presents—The
Sachem and the Horseman’s Coat—The “Pipe of Peace”—The Sagamore’s
Cordiality—Massasoit’s Housekeeping—A Full Bed—Indian Games—The
Feast—The Return—Honorable and Amicable Treatment of the Indians
by the Pilgrim Fathers—Advantages of this Course—Barbarism makes
an Obeisance to Civilization—End of the Indian’s Lease of Ages of
the Forest—The New Tenant takes Possession in the Name of God and
Liberty 110

CHAPTER IX.

The Lost Boy—The Searching Party—In the Shallop—The Water spout—The
Bivouac—Visitors at the Camp-fire—The Indian Hag—Her Strange
Emotion—The Riddle solved—_En Route_ again—The Lost Boy found—His
Adventures—A Startling Rumor—The Hasty Return—Intrigues—The
Narragansetts—Squanto, Tokamahamon, and Habbamak—Corbitant’s
Wiles—The Runner’s News—Departure of Standish and his “Army”
of Fourteen Men—The Forest March—On the War-trail—The Sleeping
Village—The Bloodless Assault—“Friend, Friend”—Flight of
Corbitant—Safety of Squanto and Tokamahamon—Homeward—Good Effect
of the Bloodless Raid—Heroism and Kindness of the Pilgrims—The
Midnight Expedition of Miles Standish—Boston Bay, and the River
Charles—The “Harvest Home”—“New England’s First Fruits”—Building
at Plymouth—The Variety of Game—The First THANKSGIVING—“Free
Range” 121

CHAPTER X.

The Strange Sail—“Is it a Frenchman, or a Buccaneer?”—Warlike
Preparations—The English Jack—Joy of the Pilgrims—Arrival of the
“Fortune”—News from Home—The Reinforcement—A Moment of Sadness—The
Letter Budget—The London Company under a Cloud—Course of the
King—A Technical Difficulty—The New Patent—Weston’s Complaint and
Bradford’s Reply—Departure of the “Fortune”—Cushman’s Sermon—The
Bane of Plantations—Winslow’s Letter Home—Hilton’s Missive—Social
Life and Wants of the Pilgrim Fathers—The “Fortune’s” Mishap 134

CHAPTER XI.

Provisions for the New-comers—Danger of Famine—Hardships—Patient
Spirit of the Pilgrims—Brewster’s Submission—_Morale_ of the
Colony—Some “Lewd Fellows of the Baser Sort” get “shuffled”
into the “Mayflower’s” Company—Character of the Recent
Reinforcement—Bradford’s Government—The Laws—Bradford and the
“Tender Consciences”—The Controlling Element—Homogeneity 144

CHAPTER XII.

The Salient Features of the Colonial Government—The “Proper
Democracy”—The Course of England—The Governor—The Council—The
Legislative Body—Test of Citizenship—Reasons and Excuses for
It—Early Decrees—The Jury Trial—First Laws—The Digest—Provision
for Education—The Old Statute Book of the Colony—Unique
Legislation—First Marriage in New England—Marriage a Civil
Contract 149

CHAPTER XIII.

Second Winter in the Wilderness—Faith as a Motor—Anxiety—The
Indian and the Package—A Prisoner—The Riddle Solved—The Mysterious
Rattlesnake Skin—Defensive Measures—First “General Muster” in New
England—The Expedition and the Alarm—Habbamak’s Confidence—The
Squaw-scout—No Danger—The Expedition resumed—Squanto’s
Freaks—The Boast of a Travelled Indian—The Buried Plague—The
Cheat uncloaked—Hunger—The Boat and the Letter-bag—Cold
Comfort—Dissensions among the Merchant-adventurers in
London—Bradford’s Comments 156

CHAPTER XIV.

Arrival of the “Charity” and the “Swan”—The News—Weston’s
Desertion—The Situation in England—In a Quandary—The Pilgrims
entertain Weston’s Rival Colony—Word brought of a Massacre in
Virginia—Winslow’s Mission to the Coast of Maine—The Double
Benefit—_Morale_ of the Westonians—They finally settle at
Wessagusset—Their Lazy Mismanagement—Bradford’s Rebuke—The
Forayers—Bradford’s Walk of Fifty Miles—Death of Squanto—The
Lean Harvest—The English Trading Ship—Progress in Building at
Plymouth—How the Pilgrims went to Church 168

CHAPTER XV.

Affairs at Wessagusset—Expostulations and Appeals of the
Pilgrims—An Anecdote—Reported Sickness of Massasoit—Pilgrim Embassy
to visit Him—On the Way—The Death Song—Corbitant’s Lodge—At
Massasoit’s Wigwam—The Pow-wows—Winslow and the Sachem—The
Cure—Massasoit discloses a Conspiracy—The Return—The Envoys
and Corbitant—A Shrewd Sagamore—How the Pilgrims communicated
Religious Truth—Deliberation at Plymouth—A Frightened Messenger
from Wessagusset—The Expedition of Miles Standish—Standish and the
Westonians—Sad Condition of that Colony—The Plot disclosed—Indian
Braggadocio—The Two Knives—The Little Man and the Big Man—Patience
of Standish—The Death-grapple—Habbamak’s Comment—The Skirmish—The
“Capital Exploit” of Miles Standish—The Westonians abandon
Wessagusset—End of a Colony whose “Main End was to catch
Fish”—Wetawamat’s Head—A Liberation—News of the Baffled Conspiracy
reaches Leyden—Robinson’s Fine Comment—Strength and Weakness 178

CHAPTER XVI.

The Mysterious Blacksmith—Weston at Plymouth—A
Favor—Ingratitude—Continued Famine at Plymouth—The Community of
Interest—How it worked—Its Partial Abandonment—Facts brain Plato’s
Theory—Bradford’s Argument against the Communal Idea—The Pilgrims
rest on Providence—Their Shifts to live—The Drought—The Fast—The
Answered Prayer—Rain at last—Habbamak’s Remarks—Five Kernels of
Corn—A Package of Home Letters—Pierce’s Patent—He “vomits it
up”—Captain Francis West—New Recruits—The “Annie” and the “Little
James”—Feeling among the New-comers—Cushman’s Epistle—A Prescient
Scribe 193

CHAPTER XVII.

The Lading of the “Anne”—Winslow departs for England—Plenty once
more—Social Arrangements—Robert Gorges—Birth and Death of Another
Colony at Wessagusset—Morrel’s Latin Poem—Prosperity of Plymouth—An
Election—The Mishaps of a Fishing Expedition—Preparations for
Planting—Winslow’s Return—What he brought—The Purpose and
_Animus_ of the London Company of Merchant-adventurers—John
Lyford—Circumstances of his Advent—John Oldham—The Pernicious
League—Onslaught upon the Pilgrim Government—Wolves in
the Sheepfold—The Intercepted Letters—An Explosion—Oldham
“tamed”—Lyford’s Trial—The Sentence—Winslow’s _Exposé_ in
England and America—Running the Gauntlet—Banishment of Lyford
and Oldham—Effect of the Lyford Troubles—Brewster’s Ministry—An
Exception to the Indian Doctrine of “Poor Pay, Poor Preach”—Tenets
of the Plymouth Church—“Brown Bread and the Gospel is Good
fare”—Liberty 205

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Pilgrims initiate Measures to buy out the
Merchant-adventurers—Standish sails for England on this Errand—His
Narrow Escape from Capture by a Turkish Rover—His Partial Success
and Return—Sad News—Death of Cushman in England—Death of Robinson
at Leyden—Last Hours and Character of the Moses of the Pilgrims 227