(Repeat from November 2015)

I wish all a glorious Thanksgiving for 2016. I thank all who have been keeping up with my blog postings relating to William Bradford and the Pilgrims. I conclude our November with A History of Plymouth Plantation with the actual text of Bradford’s version of the first Thanksgiving:

They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was a great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides they had about a peck a meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to the proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. I’ll resume The Literary Life after the New Year.

Paul Varner

(Repeat from November 2015)

William Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation has traditionally been the primary source for our knowledge of the Pilgrims, their voyage in the Mayflower, their landing at Plymouth Plantation, their first encounters with Native Americans, and the growth of the colony into the cultural and intellectual center of the early British American colonies. But it disappoints many when it comes to the actual Thanksgiving. Book II, Chapter XII: Anno 1621 relates the first Thanksgiving. There is no mention of the typical Pilgrim legend.

What we know of the original Thanksgiving comes from Mourt’s Relation, a history written later. The actual date of the first was December 11, 1621. The abundance of meat and corn was such that the Pilgrims could entertain Massasoit and about ninety of his people for three days of feasting and games.

I wish all a glorious Thanksgiving for 2015. I thank all who have been keeping up with my blog postings relating to William Bradford and the Pilgrims. Stay tuned Wednesday for Part 2 of this post.

(Repeat from November 2015)

Our founding myths of America portray the original inhabitants William Bradford and the Pilgrims encounter as unsophisticated childlike adults entranced and terrified at the same time of the ultra-civilized Europeans who come to take over their lands and treasure. No doubt Bradford wants us to read his History of Plymouth Plantation in such a way. But let’s see what really is going on.

We have been thinking about William Bradford’s classic History of Plymouth Plantation as an appropriate read for November. If you are just now clicking in for the first time, take a moment and scroll down through the last several postings just to get a context for this post.

One day a Native American named Samoset appears boldly among them. He speaks English. Later he brings his chief, Massasoit, and another named Squanto who had actually been to England. The Native Americans teach the pilgrims basic survival skills to make sure the next winter would not be so bad. As it turns out, these inhabitants of the land claimed by the Pilgrims could speak some English and had met Europeans before. In fact Squanto spoke well and had spent extensive time among the English. Bradford devotes several pages telling of Squanto’s travels among the English. Because earlier English explorers had treated the tribes so badly these Native Americans were wary of the pilgrims at first.

Bradford labels these peoples as savages and children of darkness, yet it looks like they are more sophisticated than their European conquerors.

Of course, I may not be treating the Pilgrims fairly here. Bradford does say that Squanto was “a special instrument sent of God” to help save the Europeans in the brutal winter ahead. And as the Native Americans accommodated them the Europeans signed a compact to their mutual benefit. Here is the original compact, one of the first “Indian” treaties with the European conquerors:

1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of their people.
2. That if any of his did hurt to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him.
3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do the like to his.
4. If any did unjustly war against him, they would aid him; if any did war against them, he should aid them.
5. He should send to his neighbors confederates to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.
6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.

What are you thinking as you read this material? Write your comments in the comment box. And let’s see your comments no matter when you read this blog. None of the ideas I am approaching are time sensitive.

Let’s start a conversation. Re-blog. Re-tweet. Re-tumble. Follow The Literary Life. The more readers who are posting comments the better.

(Repeat from November 2015)

I’m sitting in my study wishing the weather would be cold enough for a fire in the fireplace and I was remembering in the past at times walking through the lobbies of various federal buildings such as U.S. Post Offices and seeing displays of the founding documents upon which the U.S. form of government is based: the Declaration of Independence, of course, as well as the Constitution, and, notably, the Mayflower Compact.

We have been thinking about William Bradford’s classic History of Plymouth Plantation as an appropriate read for November. If you are just now clicking in for the first time, take a moment and scroll down through the last several postings just to get a context for this post.

Book II, Chapter I contains a narrative of the signing of The Mayflower Compact, the first American covenant instituting civil law by common consent. William Bradford posts the text of the Compact in full. Bradford places this account in Book II but I am treating it here chronologically.

You may not know this, but the actual Pilgrims were in the minority of those on the Mayflower voyage. There was the crew, of course, though most of them would be returning to England, and there were the strangers, as the Pilgrims called the other paying passengers who were simply coming along to seek their fortunes. The Pilgrims had the political authority for when they settled in Virginia as per the original charter. But the strangers were saying that they did not intend to recognize the authority of the Pilgrims since they had not landed in Virginia. The Pilgrims decided to take action. Thus the Contract, the first political document in the colonies, was drawn up by the Pilgrims. And it would assert the exclusive prerogative of the Pilgrims alone. It would consider the strangers as outsiders in subjugation to the Pilgrims.

So on board the Mayflower before they landed, the founders drew up the Mayflower Compact as a document to govern the colony. They selected John Carver as their first governor afterward. Then they began to build their settlement.

Here is the complete text of the Mayflower Compact:

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

Bradford writes that the Mayflower Compact was “occasioned partly by the discontented and mutinous speeches that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in the ship.” Notice how what Bradford calls “the first foundation of their government in this place” establishes a Puritan community from the beginning as one that excludes “strangers.” So even before landing the Puritans defined themselves as an elect group.

Well, what implicit effect does writing and signing the Mayflower Compact have? Putting their first agreement into written form was an act of major significance for the Puritans, who believed in the Bible’s literal truth and authority. Written words, from the beginning of American culture, carry the associative power of God’s word and gives the Pilgrims, as opposed to everybody else, divine authority.

What do you think about the importance eventually of The Mayflower Compact?

Write your comments in the comment box. And let’s see your comments no matter when you read this blog. None of the ideas I am approaching are time sensitive.

Let’s start a conversation. Re-blog. Re-tweet. Re-tumble. Follow The Literary Life. The more readers who are posting comments the better.