Edward Winslow > Quotes

“Thus, by degrees, we began to discover Tisquantum; whose ends were only to make himself great in the eyes of his countrymen, by means of his nearness and favour with us: not caring who fell, so he stood.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“The country, in respect of the lying of it, is both champaign and hilly, like many places in England.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“Some of our people that are dead took the original of their death here.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“and the spawn of shads, which then they got in abundance, insomuch as they gave us spoons to eat them. With these they boiled musty acorns; but of the shads we eat heartily.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“There was the greatest store of fowl that ever we saw.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“One thing was very grievous unto us at this place. There was an old woman, whom we judged to be no less than a hundred years old, which came to see us, because she never saw English; yet could not behold us without breaking forth into great passion, weeping and crying excessively. We demanding the reason of it, they told us she had three sons, who, when Master Hunt was in these parts, went aboard his ship to trade with him, and he carried them captives into Spain, (for Tisquantum at that time was carried away also,) by which means she was deprived of the comfort of her children in her old age. We told them we were sorry that any Englishman should give them that offence, that Hunt was a bad man, and that all the English that heard of it condemned him for the same; but for us, we would not offer them any such injury, though it would gain us all the skins in the country. So we gave her some small trifles, which somewhat appeased her.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“The three and twentieth of March [1623] [The Reader should remember that the English year began on the 25th March],”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“Never man saw this Kiehtan. Only old men tell them of him: and bid them tell their children; yea, to charge them, to teach their posterities the same, and lay the like charge on them. This Power they acknowledge to be good; and when they would obtain any great matter, [they] meet together, and cry unto him: and so likewise, for plenty, victory, &c., [they] sing, dance, feast, give thanks; and hang up garlands and other things, in memory of the same. Another Power they worship, whom they call Hobbamock; and to the northward of us, Hobbamoqui. This, as far as we can conceive, is the Devil. Him, they call upon, to cure their wounds and diseases.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“These people are ill affected towards the English, by reason of one Hunt, a master of a ship, who deceived the people, and got them under color of trucking with them, twenty out of this very place where we inhabit, and seven men from Nauset, and carried them away, and sold them for slaves like a wretched man (for twenty pound a man) that cares not what mischief he doth for his profit.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“At our return from Nauset we found it true that Massasoyt was put from his country by the Narrohiggansets. Word also was brought unto us that Coubatant, a petty sachim or governor under Massasoyt, whom they ever feared to be too conversant with the Narrohiggansets, was at Namaschet; who sought to draw the hearts of Massasoyt’s subjects from him; speaking also disdainfully of us, storming at the peace between Nauset, Cummaquid and us, and at Tisquantum, the worker of it; also at Tokamahamon and one Hobbamock, two Indians, our allies, one of which he would treacherously have murdered a little before, being a special and trusty man of Massasoyt’s.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“GOOD Reader. When I first penned this discourse, I intended it chiefly for the satisfaction of my private friends: but, since that time, have been persuaded to publish the same. And the rather, because of a disorderly Colony [of Thomas Weston’s men] that are dispersed, and most of them returned [to England]; to the great prejudice and damage of him that set them forth.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“But rather, if there be any too desirous of gain, to intreat them to moderate their affections; and [to] consider that no man expecteth fruit before the tree be grown. Advising all men that, as they tender their own welfare, so to make choice of such to manage and govern their affairs as are approved, not to be seekers of themselves, but [of] the common good of all for whom they are employed. And beseeching such as have the care of transporting men for the supply and furnishing of Plantations, to be truly careful in sending such as may further, and not hinder, so good an action.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“As for their apparel, they wear breeches [leggings] and stockings in one, like some Irish; which is made of deer skins; and have shoes [mocassins] of the same leather. They wear also a deer skin loose about them, like a cloak; which they will turn to the weather [windward] side. In this habit [dress] they travel: but when they are at home, or come to their journey’s end, presently [immediately] they pull off their breeches, stockings and shoes; wring out the water if they be wet, arid dry them, and rub or chafe the same. Though these be off; yet have they another small garment that covereth them. The men wear also, when they go abroad in cold weather, an otter, or fox, skin on their right arm; but only their bracer [wrist-guard] on the left. Women, and all of that sex, wear strings [of beads] about their legs: which the men never do.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England

“This day, before we came to harbour, observing some not well affected to unity and concord, but gave some appearance of faction, it was thought good there should be an association and agreement, that we should combine together in one body, and to submit to such government and governors as we should by common consent agree to make and choose, and set our hands to this that follows, word for word.”
― Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England