count of "tlie ycarrlv proceedings of this countr}^ in fisln'ng nnd plant- 

 ing," from 1014 to 16:J0. 



What conclusions may we fairly draw fi-om these facts ? In the 

 second part of this report we have seen that at the very time the Pil- 

 grims embarked, a company chartered by James claimed the sole 

 ownership of the American seas, jind that a great excitement existed 

 in Engbind in consequence of this monopoly; ;ind we have here seen 

 tliat accounts of Gosnold's voyage had been printed eighteen, and of 

 Waymouth's fifteen years. Is it possible to escape the conviction that 

 our lathers knew and acted upon a knowledge of all these things? 

 That they were in possession of Smith's map, and some of his books, 

 we have his own express declaration ; while in his last work, pul)lished 

 eleven years after their settlement at Plymouth, he speaks of their 

 ^Uhmki/ig (o Jiride^' matters '■'■hettcr than he had advised them;'''' and he 

 evidently plumes himself upon the idea that he had been an efficient 

 instrument in directing theii- emigration to the land he had praised so 

 much, and had striven so hard to people. In the chapter headed 

 **New England's yearly trials — The planting new Plimouth — Sup- 

 prisals prevented — Their wonderful industry and fishing," he dis- 

 courses about the English ships that had made "exceeding good voy- 

 ages" on the coast; and adds, seemingly, as the results produced by 

 their success, that "at last, upon these inducements, some well-disposed 

 Brounists,* as they are tearmed, with some gentlemen and merchants 

 of Layden and Amsterdam, to save charges, would try their oune con- 

 clusions, though with gieat losse and much miserie, till time had taught 

 them to see their oune error; for such humorists will never beleeve 

 well, till they bee beaten with their oune rod." In the next chapters 

 he refers to their prosperous condition, (1624,) and says: "Since they 

 have made a salt worke, wherewith they preserve all the fish they 

 take, and have frnughted this yeare a ship ot" an hundred and four score 

 tun, living so well, they desire nothing but more company; and what- 

 ever they take, relurne commodoties to the value." The declarations 

 of this distinguished pioneer of civilization in this hemisphere are en- 

 tilled to respect, and in almost any other case would be considered as 

 conclusive. 



But there is otlier evidence. Weston, an English merchant engaged 

 in the fisheries, who soon after the settlement of Plymouth attempted 

 to found a rival colony at Weymouth, and who cariie in person to New 

 England to correct the irregularities of his fishermen, had muc-h influ- 

 ence in directing the afiairs of the Pil^riuis, and in sck^cting the place 

 to whicii th(y^ should reuK^ve from Holland. lie made them an ad- 

 vance in money, engaged to provide vessels for their voyage, and ad- 

 vised them to come to that part of America witli wliich he kept up an 

 intercourse, "as for other reasons, so ch'ujhj for the hope of present l^ofit 

 to he made l>y fsh'niiry And, besides, we know tiiat they entered into 

 a sort of copartnership indenture with merchrmts, who, like Weston, 

 made them advances, and agreed to allow these merchants a share or 

 the fruits of th<-ir industry. Tliis iiuhiiiure ]>rovides in terms \\)V the 

 prosecution oftjie fisheries and tlic cinployiiieiit ot" fishermen; and the 



* Oae of the oaiueH of tli<.- rurituuii. 



