Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth from 1602 to 1625

Description

This volume contains an authentic history of the Pilgrim Fathers who planted the Colony of Plymouth, from their origin in John Robinson’s congregation in 1602 to his death in 1625-written by themselves. The document of first importance is Gov. Bradford’s History of the Plymouth Colony, which takes precedence over everything else relating to the Pilgrims in time, authority, and interest. It contains a detailed history of their rise in the north of England, their residence in Holland, the causes which led to their emigration, and the means whereby they transported themselves to America. The next document in importance is Bradford’s and Winslow’s Journal, containing a minute diary of events from the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620 to the return of the Fortune in 1621. This document joins on the former, making a continuous narrative. Skipping to the fourth document, Winslow’s Relation entitled “Good News from New England,” the narrative is taken up where it was left off by the former journal, and it is brought down to September, 1623. The remaining documents are Cushman’s Discourse, Winslow’s Brief Narration, Gov. Bradford’s Dialogue, and Gov. Bradford’s Memoir of Elder Brewster, which, like the other documents, constitute a very select body of primary source material.