At the Court at Whitehall, January 19, 1632.

Whereas his majesty hath lately been informed of great distraction and much disorder in the plantations in the parts of America, called New England, which if they be true, and suffered to run on, would tend to the dishonour of this kingdom, and utter ruin of that plantation; for prevention whereof, and for the orderly settling of government, according to the intention of those patents which have been granted by his majesty, and from his late royal father, king James; it hath pleased his majesty, that the lords and others of his most honourable privy council should take the same into consideration; their lordship, in the first place, thought fit to make a committee of this board, to take examination of the matters informed; which committee having called divers of the principal adventurers in that plantation, and heard those that are complainants against them; most of the things informed being denied, and resting to be proved by parties that must be called from that place, which required a long expense of time, and at present their lordships finding they were upon despatch of men, victuals, and merchandise for that place, all which would be at a stand if the adventurers should have discouragement, or take suspicion that the state here had no good opinion of that plantation; their lordships not laying the fault or fancies (if any be) of some particular men upon the general government, or principal adventurers, which in due time is further to be inquired into; have thought fit, in the mean time, to declare, that the appearances were so fair, and hopes so great, that the country would prove both beneficial to this kingdom, and profitable to the particulars, as that the adventurers had cause to go on cheerfully with their undertakings, and rest assured, if things were carried as was pretended when the patents were granted, and accordingly as by the patents it is appointed, his majesty would not only maintain the liberties and privileges heretofore granted, but supply any thing further that might tend to the good government, prosperity, and comfort of his people there of that place, etc.⁴

William Trumball.

1633.

This year Mr. Edward Winslow was chosen governor of the jurisdiction of New Plimouth; and Mr. William Bradford, Capt. Miles Standish, Mr. John Howland, Mr. John Alden, Mr. John Doan, Mr. Stephen Hopkins, and Mr. William Gilson, were chosen to be his assistants in government.⁵

The great swamp mentioned in this narrative was in Pembroke. The great river is supposed to be what is now called North river. Ludham’s ford was probably in Hanover, about fourteen miles from Plymouth. Massagascus was probably written Wissagasscus; and indicates the place which was commonly called Wessagussett. In August, 1635, “Wessagasscus was made a plantation, and Mr. Hall a minister, and twenty-one families with him, allowed to sit down there—after called Weymouth.”—Winth. Jour., 84. The term prophesying, in the sense intended by Governor Winthrop, in his account of the religious exercises at Plymouth, has become obsolete. It originated in the reign of Elizabeth, when the Puritans maintained frequent’ religious exercises, in which texts of Scripture were interpreted or discussed, one speaking to the subject, after another, in an orderly method. This was called prophesying, in reference to I Cor. xv. 31. Ye all may prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.—Neal’s Hist. Puritans, i 184.

The plantation of Plimouth, having had some former converse with the Dutch, as hath been hinted, they seeing them seated in a barren quarter, told them of a river called by them the fresh river,⁶