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Good Newes from New England
Chapter 1, 1624



Caleb Johnson, a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, provides the following comments on this hypertext version:

Written by Mayflower passenger Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England was published in London in 1624.  It is a journal of events that occured between 1622 and 1623 at Plymouth Colony.  It includes information about Tisquantum's death (November 1622), the sickness of Massasoit, Thomas Weston's Wessagussett Colony, and much more.
This is a modernized-English version of the book as it was reprinted in the Mayflower Descendant, volume 25-26.  There really are no distinct chapters, but I have adopted the chapterization used in the recent Applewood Books edition of Good Newes from New England.

Our thanks to Mr. Johnson for presenting this hypertext version of Good Newes from New England. Go to Mr. Johnson's Mayflower History page.


Goode Newes, Introduction Goode Newes, Chap. 1 Goode Newes, Chap. 2
Goode Newes, Chap. 3 Goode Newes, Chap. 4 Goode Newes, Chap. 5
Goode Newes, Chap. 6 Goode Newes, Chap. 7 Goode Newes, Chap. 8


Chapter 1, Good Newes From New England


At the earnest entreaty of some of my much respected friends, I have added to the former discourse a relation of such things as were credibly reported at a Plymouth, in New England, in September last past, concerning the present estate of Virginia.  And because men may doubt how we should have intelligence of their affairs, being we are so far distant, I will therefore satisfy the doubtful therein.  Captain Francis West being in New England about the latter end of May past, sailed from thence to Virginia, and returned in August.  In September the same ship and company being discharged by him at Damarin's Cove, came to New Plymouth, where, upon our earnest inquiry after the state of Virginia since that bloodly slaughter committed by the Indians upon our friends and countrymen, the whole ship's company agreed in this, viz. that upon all occasions they chased the Indians to and fro, insomuch as they sued daily unto the English for peace, who for the present would not admit of any; that Sir George Early, etc. was at their present employed upon service against them; that amongst many other, Opachancano, the chief emperor, was supposed to be slain; his son also was killed at the same time.  And though, by reason of these forenamed broils in the fore part of the year, the English had undergone great want of food, yet, through God's mercy, there never was more show of plenty, having as much and as good corn on the ground as ever they had.  Neither was the hopes of their tobacco crop inferior to that of their corn; so that the planters were never more full of encouragement; which I pray God long to continue, and so to direct both them and us, as his glory may be the principal aim and end of all our actions, and that for his mercy's sake.  Amen.


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