All books are subject to recall after two weeks Olin/Kroch Library DATE DUE ^^5j 8-38 PREFACE. The history of our country is full of interest The annals of our own Commonwealth, and especially of our Pilgrim fathers, abound with vivid illustrations of fearless courage, enduring fortitude, ingenious strategy, and romantic ad- venture. The object of the present volume is to give a plain and correct account of the prominent events which have occurred in the history of Plymouth, the oldest colony in New England- We, of course, have not given all the incidents, neither could we in a volume of reasonable size. We have confined ourselves to the more interesting and important 4 PREFACE. Such facts only are related as we presumed would afford entertainment and instruction to the mass of the people, and especially to the youth. A glance at the table of contents will show the nature and variety of our subjects. We have indulged in only a few moral reflec- tions, but have furnished materials eminently suggestive of them. We present facts; our readers can deduce their own inferences. In the preparation of the work we have availed ourselves of the most reliable sources of information from the journals and letters of the first PUgrims down to bistoiians of a recent date. CONTENTS. CHAPTBB I. PAOI A yMsel. — Something unusual on Ooanf. —Sympathy — Putor'i Pnyer. — Separation. — Arrival at Southampton. — Eobinaon'i Lat- ter. — Division of the Company. — Choice of Officers. — Depaitui* from England. — Put back to Dartmouth. — Start again. — Return to Plymouth One Vessel abandoned. — The other starts alona — Storms. — Death at Sea. — Disheartening EvenL — " Land." — Cap* Cod Harbor.— Plymouth Pilgrims. — Thanks. — The Compact. — Election of Governor. — The Men ashore. — Their Discoveries. — ' The Shallop. — An Expedition proposed. If CHAPTER 11. Exploring Party. — Bee Indians. — Their Pursuit and Behavior. — Night. — Pursuit renewed. — Great Thirst. — The first Drink of New England Water. — Deer. — Indian Graves. — Com found buried. — Large Kettle. —A Fort River discovered. — Encampment In a stormy Night — The Party lost. — Trap found in the Woods. — Reasons for minute Description. — Strength of Principle. — Wir- ter Excursion. — A Party land. — Mummies discovered. — Wig- wams and Contents First Birth. — Third Excursion. — Midnight Alarm Skirmish with the Indiana -Thanks for Victory.-. J CONTENTS. Storm and Danger. — Clark's Island. — Sabbath observed. ~ Land- ing of the Pllgrima. — Division of the Land. — Commence build- ing. — Fire.— Two Men lost — Their Adventures. — The first Sabbath on the main Land.— The first Winter. —The Number of Immigrants. — Suffering Deaths. — Place called Plymouth — Return of the Mayflower. CHAPTER III. A strange Visitor. — Unexpected Salutation. — Informatmn given. — A Difficulty — Kidnapper. —Indians enslaved. — More Visitors. — Squanto'a Adventures. — Indian Chiefs. — Visit of Ceremony. — First Treaty. — The Visit returned. — Mossasoit's Poverty. — Novel Mode of Eeling.— First Offence.— The Penalty.- Billington*! Character. — Rrst Duel. — Peculiar Punishment. — Praying for Mercy. — Character of the Government CHAPTER IV. Plymouth In Summer, — Annoyance of Indian Loungers. — Visit to Masaasoit. — Delivery of Presenta. — The Message. — The Copper Chain. — Hard Lodging. — Subordinate Sachems. — Spurts. — Shoot- ing Fish. — Return of the Messengers. — Storm at Night. — Effect of the Visit — Boy missing. — A Party sent after him. — Their Adven- tures. — Get News of the Boy. — lyanough. — An old Squaw.— Her violent Passion. — Reason of it. — How she is pacified.— Indian Officiousn^ss. — The Owner of the burled Corn found.— The lost Boy restored. — Natives rewarded. — Rumord of War. — Danger of the Colony CHAPTER V. Btutling Rumors. — Squanto reconnoitres. — Is taken. — Designs against him. — Supposed Murder. — Party sent to Middleborough. — Midnight Attack. — Frightened Indians. — Squanto found. — CONTENTS. Treatnignt of the Wounded Voyage to Mauachusetts. — Origin of the Name. — Conduct of the Squawa. — The first Summer in Plymoutli — Preparations for Winter Colony alarmed. — Prepare to resist Invaders. — Pleasant Disappointment Arrival cf the Fortune — She brings no Stores. — The Consequence. — The For- tune returns. — Her Cargo and Capture CHAPTER VI. Singular Visitor. — Mysterious Package for Squanto. — The Visltof made a Captive. — His Disclosures. — He is released ami sent home with a bold Message Squanto explains the Package. — A Package ofPowder and Balls sent in Reply toil. — It is regarded with Ter- ror. — Finally sent back unopened Defensive Preparations. — First General Muster. — An Indian's Advice. — Another Expedition. — Signal for Return. — Why called back. — Hobbamock denies Indian Rumors. — Squanto falls under Suspicion. — His deceitful Con- duct — Buried Plague. — Massasoit demands Squanto's Death.— > The Messengers ready to kill him. — His unexpected Deliver- ance. — Messeugeni offended. — More Immigrants. — Winslow sent to Maine for Food — Massacre in Virginia. — Fort built — Used as V Church. — Pilgrim Character CHAPTER VII. Arrival of the Charity and the Swan. — A New Colony. — Its Mats- rials.- Its Object —Its Difficulties. — An Expedition in Partner- ship. — Chatham. — Shyness of the Natives. — Success in Trade. — Squanto dies His last Request — His History. — Favorable Prov- idence. — Indiscretion of the New Colony. — Storm The Shallop aground.— Stores led in the Care of Indians. —The Return. — Fil- giim Firmness. — Indian Theft. — Restoration demanded. — Its Result — Ludicrous Ceremony. — Folly of Imitation. — Indian Gamblers. — Mysterious Visitors. — Their Object — Indian Brawl anc* Murder. — Hobbnmock's Advice — A Powwow executed 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. Fean of Conspiracy. — Illness of Massafoit. — Wlnalow, with two othora, sets out to visit him. — Arrives at a Ferry. — Hears that Mas- sasoit is dead. — Hobbatiiock's deep Grief. — His Description of the Chief. — They visit Corbitant's House. — A Messenger sent to Fok- anoket. — Returns with the News that Massasoit ia yet olive.— The Party press on. — Their Arrival. — Powwows at work upon the sick Chief, — Winslow prescribes for him. — He improves. — Eats too hearty, and becomes worse.— Indian Custom. — Efforts to per- suade Massasoit to oppose the English. — They are unsuccessfViI. — Massasoit reveals the Conspiracy. — His Advico. —Conversation with Corbitant. — How the Pilgrims taught the Indians. — Origin of Traditions 91 CHAPTER IX. Condition of Weston's Colony. — Man drowned in digging Clams.— Indian Policy. — The Men rob them. — Indians complain. — A slanderous Tradition. — Butler perpetuates it. — Its Origin. — Plym- outh not responsible for Weymouth, — Consultation of the two Col- onies. — Sanders goes to Maine for Provisions. — Dangers of the English. — Their Perils considered by the Court. — Standish sent to Weymouth to capture Indians. — His Instructions. — Insulting Conduct of the Indians, —Pratt's providential E!scape.-~He relates the wretched Condition of Weymouth. — Pratt is pursued.— His Pursuer captured as u Spy. — Standish arrives at Weymouth. — Makes known the Conspiracy.— The Captain's Policy, — Indians pretend they know his Object.- Their Insults —The boasting of Indian Braves. — The forbearance of the Captain I0| CHAPTER X. Silent, but fearful Massacre. — Hobbamock compliments Standish. — Women held Captives. — An Indian escapes. — Three Englisb- men among the Indians. — The Indiana haste away at Midnight. — CONTENTS. 11 Thsjmeet Scandlsh and hli Men. — A Skinnlib. — Ths Indiana defeated. — Hobbamock's Bravery. — Tbe Indian Women releaied uninjured. — The Pilgrims responsible for tbe Massacre. — Tbeii Apology. — A young Indian's Confession. — Btandisb returns, taking an Indian's Head. —The captured Spy recognizes it. — The Spy released and sent as n Messenger. — A Squaw brings back an Answer. — The three Englishmen killed. — The Terror of the Na- tives. — They attempt to send a Peace-offering to the Governor. — Tbe Boat is wrecked. — Kobinaon's Letter. Ill CHAPTER XI. Tbe Conspiracy checked. — Arrival of a Blacksmith in disguise..— Who he is. — He hears unwelcome News. — He sails for Wey- mouth. — Is cast away and robbed. — Kindness of the Pilgrims. — . Repaid with Ingratitude. — The Pilgrims without a Charter. — Ths Advantage of it — Their lirst Patent. — The Ambition of John Pierce. — Is disappointed. — Arrival of more Immigrants and Stores. — The Distress of the Colony, — Admiral West. — Cannot subdue the Fishermen. — Community of Goods abandoned. — Self Dependence. — Its Results. — The five Kernels of Corn. — No Bread. — Patience of the Sufferers. — Long Drought. — Day of Fasting and Prayer. — Refreshing Showers. — Effect upon the Na- tives 131 CHAPTER XII. John Lyford. — His Obsequiousness. — His Connection with John Oldham. — Governor Bradford takes Copies of their Letters. — Old- bam rebels. — Lyford sets up a Meeting. — Their Trial. — The Gov- ernor's Address. — Both found guilty. — Oldham banished. — Ly- ford's Confession and deep Sorrow. — Repeats his Offence'. — Old- ham returns. — His abusive Conduct. — Sentenred to run the Gantlet. — He reforms. — Is killed by the Indians — Timely Abundance — Trade with the Kennebec. — Return Ship captured.— 12 CONTENTS. Escape of Standtsh from Slavery. — Death of John Robinion.— His Cliaracter. — Death of Robert Cushman. — He preached the first Sermon in New England. — lu Character. — Extracts 141 CHAPTER XIII. A Pinnace built. — Messengers from the Dutch. — Reception of De Razier. — Trade with him. — Wampum.— The Colony without a Pastor. — Original Agreement respecting their old Pastor. — A Min- ister found at Nantasket. — He becomes tbn Plymouth Pastor. — His Character. —Roger Williams. — His Troubles at Salem. — Goes to Plymouth as an Assistant. — Returns to Salem, — He cultivates Ac- quaintance with the Natives. —John BiUington. — Commits Mur- der. — Is tried and executed. — The Tendency of Sin. — A Ship- wreck. — Kindness of the Indians. — Difficulties adjusted. — Gov- ernor Winthrop*fl Visit to Plymouth. — Singular Pilgrim Custom. — Discussion about the Use of "Goodman Sucb-a-one." — Hue's Cross IM CHAPTER XIV. Sir Christopher Gardner. —Foments Trouule. — Is charged with Big- amy. — la pursued. — Is delivered up by Indians. — Indian Custom to secure a Welcome. — Small-pox. — Trade extended. — Adven- tures on the Connecticut.— Troubles on the Kennebec. — Captain Hocking killed. — A Plymouth Magistrate arrested in Boston. — Ex- citement at Plymouth. — Deputies sent to Boston. — Prayer before Bnsineas. — The Defence. — The Confession. — The Adjustment.— A Hurricane. — Its dreadful Ravages. — Eclipse of the Moon 167 CHAPTER XV. An Indian murdered. — Four Englishmen In Want — They vlsft Roger Williams. — Are found to be the Murderers. — Throe an caught —Their Trial. —Singular Difilculty. — Their Execution. — CONTENTS. 13 ElTect of Pilgrim Justice nn tha Indiins. — Anecdote of Captain Btandisli. — Alden tnkei liis new Bride lioine on a Bull. — Confed- eration of the New England Colonies. —Germ of the American Union. — Its Influence. — Indian Alliancei. — The Removal of the whole Colony proponed. — Subject considered by the Church. — Purchase Eastham. — Found to be more unfavorable than Plym- outh. — The Project abandoned. — Ex-Governor Prince settles at Easlbam 171 CHAPTER XVI. Quakers ordered out of the Colony. — ITiey refuse to obey. — All for- bidden to harbor Quakers. — Humphrey Norton imprisoned. — Qua- kers' Contempt of Government. — Insolence to the Governor. — Refuse to take Oath.— Are whipped. —Norton's Letters. — Fanat- icism always troublesome. — No Quaker or Ranter permitted lobe a Freeman. — A House of Correction ordered to be built. — Bix Quakers banished on Pain of Death. — Milder Laws. — Four Per- sons appointed to reason with them. — One of these becomes a Quaker. — All Persons authorized to arrest them. — Their Meeting! forbidden. — Severity excites Sympathy. — Rigorous Measures were not universally approved. — Charles II. ascends the Throne of Eng- land. — He suppresses the Persecutions. — Secretary Rawson. — His Daughter Rebecca receives the attentions of Thomas Rum- sey. — Marries him. — Accompanies him to England. — Finds a Relative. — Conduct of her Husband. — Painful Discovery. — Her Abandonment— Her Self-reliance Embarks for Jamaica, — Arrival there. — Her unhappy End 169 CHAPTER XVII. The Enactment of Law develops Character. — Trial by Jury. — Wanta of the Colony to be supplied first. — Exports forbidden. — Thoea who refused the Office of Governor to be fined. — Bradford released by Importunity. — How different now. — Marriage forbidden witb- mit the Consent of Parents. — It tentions of Marriage to be pub- 2 14 CONTENTS. lishad. — Consent of Parents to be obtained to address thcir Daagb- ters. — Punishment to depend upon " Quality " of the Offender, — Short Sleeves forbidden. — Laws against Contempt of the Scrip- tures. — Sabbath-breaking and Gambling Laws executed. — Stocks and Cage always ready. — Psalm Singing. — Courtship punished. — Abuse of Husbands. — Blackbirds* Heads to be obtained. -- Ef- fects of Union of Church and State. — Every Colony to have a Church. — Church Rates. — Whales. — Ministers forbidden to leaTS their People.— Meeting-house in every Town. — Parental Instruc- tion. — Schools. — Arms must be taken to Meeting. — Indians and Wolves. — Effects of these Laws. — The Bible the Basis of their Legislation 1B9 CHAPTER XVIH. Fifty Tears of Peace. — New Settlements. — Converted Indians. — Native Preachers. —Philip and tbeButton. — Indian Magistrates.— Indian Warrant. — Alexander succeeds Massaaoit. — Suspicioni against him. — His Death. — Philip becomes Grand Sachem. — Pur- sues John Gibbs for reviling the Dead. — His Alliance with the Narragansetts. — He desires Revenge. — Ordered to come to Plym- outh. — Declines. — Invites tfie Governor to come to him. — They meet at Taunton. — Singular Scene in a Church. — The TreaQr. — Indignant Sachem. — Treaty violated. — Conference at Plymouth. — Indian Confederacy. — Philip's deep Plot against the English.— Their Security.- Philip angry with Eassaraon. — The latter fle« to the English. — The Plot revealed. — Sassamon missing. — Philip again examined. — No Confession. — Suspicions increase 919 CHAPTER XIX. Darvard College. — Indian Students. — Sassamon. — Search for bim. — Body found. — Murderers arrested and executed. — Philip enraged. — Preparations for Conflict — Bold Language. — Opinion respecting the first Fire.— Indians pant for Plunder. — War bo- gun. — English killed on Fast Day. — Excitement in the Colonies. •» CONTENTS. 15 Enliiting RecruitB In Boston. — Bridgewater Honemen. — People driven from their burning Houses. — The English surprised and slain. — Affecting Scene. — Philip pursued. — Found at Dinner. — Escapes. — Mutilated Englishmen. — Fuller's narrow Escape. — Church's brave Adventure. — Golding's timely Arrival. — Marvel- lous Preservation. — Church's Visit to the Spring amidst a Shower of Balls 3M CHAPTER XX, Philip retreats to a Swamp. — An Ambush. — Wigwams found. Philip escapes by Water. — Route discovered. — Ministers fight. — Philip overtaken. — A Battle ensues. — The War becomes gen- eral. — Its Consequences. — Disgraceful Conduct towards the Dart- mouth Indifkns. — Sold into Slavery. — InHuence on other Tribes. — Philip^B Ravages in Plymouth. — Retreats to a Swamp. — The Swamp surrounded. — Philip shot. — The Enemy routed. — The Gun preserved. — Philip beheaded and quartered. — His Head and Hand preserved. — Bitter Spirit of the English. — His Head exposed many Years 2M CHAPTER XXI. The War not ended. — Annawon holds out. — Prowls around the Town. — Church goes in Pursuit — Captures a Party of Indians. — Man seeking his Father. — Church discovers a Path. — Takes an old Indian and young Girl. — Examines them. — Learns Annawon's Retreat. — Old Man becomes Guide. — He refuses to fight against his Chief. — Leads them to Annawon's Encampment. — High Rock. — Exciting Scene. — Church's Stratagem. — Its Execution. — Anna- won surprised. — The whole Banl captured. — I«eaders cannot sleep. — Philip's Ornaments delivered up.— Church's Anxiety,— Morning. — Prisoners taken to Plymouth. — What shall be done with them .^ — Opinion of Ministers. — Young Annawon. — Prison- are cold Into Slavery. — Church opposed to it S45 16 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXII. Th9 Colonies affected by the Rome Government. — Arrival of An droc. — Encourages Episcopacy. — Declares Land Titles invalid. — Appropriates public Property to private Uses.— Prohibits Town Meetings. — Other Oppressions. — Andros imprisoned. — Nathaniel Clark seized, — Clark's Inland. — The first Sabbath. — Wiswall imprisoned. — Absence frnin Town Meetings fined. — A Price for Wolves' Heads. — The first Selectmen. — The first Marriage. — An honored Lady. — Introduction of Neat Cattle. — First Record of Horses. — A Presentto Philip. — Merry Mount. — Weetamore be- headed. — Its Effect on the Indians. — French VoEisel wrecked. — The Crew seized as Prisoners. — Doctor Le Uaron. — His Settle- ment and Marriage — His Attachment to the Cross. — A Premium for Rats* Heads. — First public Celebration of " The Landing.'* — The Dinner. — The famous Rock. — Its Locality proved. — The Evidence of Elder Faunce and others. — The Rock splits.— A good Omen — Is remuved.— Treatment of Tories. — Wonderful ^Sg' ~ r)readful Shipwreck. — Statistics SS>] CHAPTER XXIII. Attachment to the Scriptures. — Reason of Pilgrim Sinfnilarities.— Precise in their Manners. — Their Ministers of equal Authority. — Their Government republican. — Their Self-reliance and divine Dependence.— Were notvindlctive. — Did not come here to establish universal Toleration. — Their Object was Liberty for tliemselveB. — This the Origin of their Opposition to other Sects. — The Prospec- tive Influence of their Principles 281 APPENDIX 289 ILLUSTRATIONS. 1.— ILLTISTBATED TiTLB PaGB. 2. — Map of Massachusetts Bay 1£ 3. — Robinson's Pbater at the Depabtubb of the PiLGBIHS FHOM DeU-B HavBN. ... 20 4. — The Mayflower 23 6. — Signing the Social Compact 26 6. — ^Facsimilb of the Signatuke of Miles Stand- ish; also, his Kettlb, Sword and Dish. . 28 7. — Pekegbinb "White's Apple Tbbe. ... 38 8. — First Sabbath on Clark's Island. ... 87 9. — Chair of Governor Carver 41 1.0. — facsncle of the signature of oovebnor brad- FORD 41 11.— The Copper Chain. 60 12. — Filgbim Meetino-house 80 13.— Five Kernels of Corn 140 14. — Ceaib and Signature of Elder Brewster. . 159 15.— Sib Christopher Gardner Taken. . . . 169 16. — Old-fashioned Spinning-wheel. . . . 181 17. — Prisoners in Stocks 206 18. — Harvard University. 224 19. — Capture of Annawon by Stratagem. . . 252 20. — Portrait of Governor "Winslow. . . , 261 21. — Canopy over Forefathebs' Bock. . . . 273 22. — Burying Hill, Plymouth 279 Some of the illustrations used in this book, being owned by the Pilgrim Society, are used by permission. !ffli5\S@ME!l!D§lI'n"ir8 ©AV. CHAPTER I. " Tbey crowd tbe •tnitd, Those Uv ana ;>ilgriniB. Can yt ican the was That wrings their bosoms, as the last frail link Binding to man and habitable earth Is severed ? Can ye tell what pangs were there, What keen regrets, what sickness of the heart, What yearning o'er their forfeit land of birth ; Their distant, dear ones ? " — Sioovitixr. A Vessel. — Something unusual on Board. — Sympathy. — Pastor' Prayer. — Separation. — Arrival at Southampton. — Robinson's Letter. — Division of the Company. — Choice of Officers,.— Departure from England. — Put back to Dartmouth. — Start again. — Return to Plymouth. — One Vessel abandoned. — The other starts alone. — Storms. — Death A Sea. ^ Disheartening Event. — "Land." — Cape Cod Harbor.— Plymouth Pilgrims. — Thanks. — The Compact. — Election of Governor. — Tbe Men ashore. — Their Discoveries. — The Shallop. — An Expedition proposed. About July 22, in the year of our Lord 1^0, at Delph Haven, in Holland, might have been seen a company of devout Christian men and women on board of a frail vessel of peculiar structure. A casual observer might have perceived that something unusual ytaa \n progress. Little groups were stand- ing here and there in earnest conversation ; others, by themselves, were lookin^r over the sides of the vessel, or gazing with Jeep jitercst upon objects with which they were familiar, but which they never ex- 20 Robinson's prateil ppcted to behold again. Some were hurrying to and fro, making rapid inquiries, to ascertain that nothing which thej needed on board was leA beliind. Friends who sympathized with them had come from a distance to give them the parting hand, and pro- nounce upon them their farewell blessing. When the hour of their departure arrived, and they could tarry no longer among those whom they loved so well, their pastor. Rev. John Robinson, falling upon his knees in the midst of the little company, who also knelt around him, commended them, in a most fervent prayer, to the kind protection of their heav- enly" Father. After the religious services were over, *' with mutual embraces," they took their leave of those who were to remain behind. " Truly doleful was the sight," says Governor Bradford, " of that sad and mournful parting ; to see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them ; what tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each other's heart, that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the quay as spectators could not refrain from tears." Winslow, who was with the company on board, says, that when they separated, " We gave them a volley of small shot, and three pieces of ordnance, and so lifting up our hands to each other, and our hearts for each other to the Lord our God, we departed, and found his presence with us." They directed THE DEPARTURE. 21 their course to Southampton, where they found a larger vessel, commanded by Captain Jones, waiting for them, as were also Mr. Cushman and the rest of the church, who were to accompany them across the pathless wiiters to a new world. Whilst they were tarrying there, they received a letter from their pastor, at Leyden, Rev. John Rob- inson, who, though he could not accompany them, cherished a deep interest in the success of their enterprise, and who availed himself of this early opportunity to send them an epistle filled with judicious counsels and cautions. The company were soon called together, and listened with great pleasure to the valuable advice of their religious guide. They were then divided into two parties for the two ships. In order that every thing might be properly conducted on board of their respective /essels, each party, with the permission of their captain, chose a governor and two or three assist- ants, who were to exercise over them a general supervision. On the 5th of August, the two vessels, the names of which were the Mayflower and the Speedwell, left Southampton on their perilous voyage. But they had not sailed far, before the Speedwell, which was the smaller vessel of the two, was found to be in a very leaky condition. It was deemed danger* ous to proceed. This was peculiarly unfortunate 22 THE HETUBN. , They both put back to Dartmouth, where the ressel was examined and repaired. She was found to be in such bad condition, that if she had continued at sea but a few hours longer, she must have sunk. About the 21st of August, they ventured to sea once more, and after having advanced above a hundred leagues, the same vessel was found to leak again, more badly, if possible, than before. They returned now to Plymouth. Upon a second exam- ination, as no important leak was found, the trouble was attributed to her general weakness, on which account she was reluctantly abandoned as an unsafe craft in which to encounter the dangers of the At- lantic. But it was afterwards ascertained that the whole difficulty was caused by the deceitfulness of the captain and crew of the Speedwell. They had engaged to remain in the new country, whither they were going, a whole year ; but they repented of their bargain. They feared that when the provisions which they carried ^vith them were exhausted, they would be unable to obtain more, and consequently would perish from famine. They therefore pre- tended that their vessel was not sea-worthy, in order to have an excuse for retreating from their engagement, and tarrying beliind. Some of them afterwards confessed their timidity, and revealed the stratagem. After the abandonment of the Speed- well, as it was found impossible to accommodate aU The May-flower. Page 23. A STORM. 23 of her passengers in the other ship, some of tytem were compelled to relinquish the voyage. This gave occasion for another painful separation. Among those who remained behind was Mr. Robert Gush- man, who had been deeply interested in the ar- rangements and objects of the emigration, and who afterwards took a prominent part in the history of the colony. Captain Jones, of the Mayflower, received on board his vessel as many of the passengers of the Speedwell as, with their stores, it wm safe for him to carry, and on the 6th of September, started alone. The little vessel, freighted with the future liberties and glory of a great nation, was soon over- taken by violent storms, which strained her, rendered her leaky, and cracked one of the "main beams of the mid-ships." Fears were entertained that she would never reach her destined shores. One of the passengers having brought " a great iron screw from Holland," it was employed in bringing the broken beam into its place again, where it was securely fastened by the carpenter. The storm continued to rage so furiously that not a single sail could be used, and they were tossed helplessly about for many days together, Uke a feather upon the boisterous waves. An additional ingredient in their cup of sorrow was the unwelcome visit of death. To one of their mmiber the green bed of the ocean fiiT' 24 BUBIAL AT SEA. nished a grave. A burial at sea ia always impres- sive. The solemnity of the ship's company ; the placing of the corpse on the narrow plank ; the brief prayer — perhaps the absence of prayer ; the raising of the corpse to the side of the vessel by those who had been the cheerful companions of the deceased thus far ; the last look ; the launch into the sea ; the suUen, gurgling plunge ; its disappearance without leaving a trace behind ; and the sense of loss which the survivors feel ; — all combined, serve to render such a catastrophe deeply aifecting ; but, in the present instance, it was unusually so. This band of pilgrims were on their way to a country destitute of civilized inhabitants. They were about to form a settlement in an inhospitable clime, and among sav- age men, three thousand miles from their own land. Their whole number would be sufficiently smaU to be placed in such perilous circumstances, so far from those who could aid them, in case help should be needed. To all appearance they could spare none. When, therefore, this death occurred on their voyage, it must have been a disheartening event. It must have served to deepen their sense of depend- ence upon that great and good Being, under whose auspices the enterprise was commenced, and without whose constant care it would inevitably fail. November 9, the cheering cry was heard, " Land, land ! " It proved to be Cape God. As it woa PUiGBIMS. 35 their design to commence their settlements in the vicinity of Hudson's River, they steered their course southerly to reach the mouth of that noble stream. They soon found themselves among shoals and breakers. As the wind subsided, they discovered that they were in danger and could not proceed They retraced their course, and by the next day arrived at the Cape Harbor. This band of adventurers were Pilgrim Fa- TUEBS, who, because they could not enjoy liberty of conscience in their own country, had most unwill- ingly, and at great sacrifice, left it, in order that they might find a place where they could worship God, and enjoy the ordinances of religion according to their own views of duty, without the opposition of the civil power. Another object which they had in view, and which they ever kept constantly before them, was the conversion of the natives of the coun- try whither they were going — the savage and super- stitious Indians, to Christianity. As every thing connected with the landing and the first settlement of these Pilgrims is both inter- esting and instructive, we shall enter somewhat into the details of their early adventures. The Pilgrims were men of prayer. In all under- takings of importance, they were accustomed to seek direction from their heavenly Father, and miplore bis blessing. Accordingly, on Saturday, 86 THE COMPACT. November 11, religious services were held on board of the Mayflower. They fell on their knees, rendered thanks to God for his kind protection of them during their dangerous voyage across the ocean, and implored his favor to rest upon them amid the toils, trials, and temptations upon which they were now to enter. As some of the party were " not well affected to unity and concord, but gave some appearance of faction," it was deemed advisable to enter into a mutual compact or agreement. Accordingly, a doc- ument was prepared, in which they said, " Having undertaken, for the glory of God and the advance- ment of the Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, we do, by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine our- selves together into a civil body poUtic, for our better ordering, and preservation, and fiirtherance of the ends aforesaid ; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constiAitions, 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." This important document, which was " the birtb ELECTION OF OOVEBNOB. 27 of popular constitutional liberty," was signed hy all the men. It was the formation of a government of " equal laws " for " the general good." It was •he germ of those free institutions which are now diffusing liberty, prosperity, and happiness through- out our highly-favored New England. Its influence upon the subsequent history of our country cannot be too highly valued. Their next measure was the election of a gov ernor for the year. Their choice fell upon John Carver, who is described as " a pious and well- approved gentleman." The high estimation in which he was held is evinced by the fact that he was chosen unanimously. Thus their government was formed and their governor chosen before they left the deck of the Mayflower ! The same day, a company of fifteen or sixteen men, well armed, so as to defend themselves against the Indians, went on shore to obtain wood, as their stock on board was exhausted, and also to examine the land, and discover, if possible, inhab" itauts. They found the country covered with trees of various kinds, among which were sassafras, juni- per, walnut, ash, birch, oaks, and pines. These were free from under-bush, so that they might have rode among them without inconvenience. No in- habitants were seen. They loaded their boat with jumper, to which they were partial for fuel, as, in 28 THE SHALLOP. burning, it exhaled a pleasant fragrance. They re- turned the same night. The cold season was rap- idly advancing. Some of the company had been cooped up in the narrow limits of the Mayflower over a hundred days. A place for their disembark- ation and tiettlemeut was yet to be selected. They naturally felt solicitous to get their shallop out, and make explorations along the shore in search of good winter quarters. As they had been obliged to cut it down in order to stow it between decks, and as the people had used it for a sleeping berth on the voyage, it was found to be in great need of repairs. Sixteen or seventeen tedious days was the carpenter employed in making it sea-worthy. As no Indians were at hand to molest them, the men went on shore for amusement, and the women to wash. Some of the men desired to make excursions into the country, for purposes of discovery. Other« thought that it would be a dangerous experiment. However, a party of sixteen men was placed under the command of Captain Miles Standish, with whom were appointed, as counsellors and advisers, Wil- liam Bradford, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Til- ley. After receiving many cautions and directions h(«w to proceed in case of peculiar emergencies, they departed. The adventures with which they met will be narrated in the next chapter. Fac-simile of the signature of Miles Standisli. also his kettle, sword and dish. Page 28. CHAPTER II. " Bj yon wave-beaten lock. See the illuatiious flock Collected atand ; To seek Bome sheltering groTe, I'heir faithful partners move, Dear pledges of their love In either band. — JoHrc Datis, exploring Party. — See some Indians. — Their Pursui and Be havior. — Night. — Pursuit renewed. — Great Thirst. — The hist Drink of New England Water. — Deer. — Indian Graves.^ Cora found buried. — Large Kettle. — A Fort. — River discov- ered. — Encampment in a stormy Night. — The Party lost. — A Trap found in the Woods. — Reasons for minute Description.— Strength of Principle. — Water Excursion. — A Party land. — Mummies discovered. — Wigwams and Contents. — First Birth. — Third Excursion. — Midnight Alarm. — Skirmish with the In- dians. — Thanks for Victory. — Storm and Danger. — Clark's Island. — Sabbath observed. — Landing of the Pilgrims. — Di- vision of the Land. — Commence building. — Fire. — Two Men Lost. — Their Adventures. — The first Sabbath on the main Land. — The first Winter. — The Number of Immigrants. — Suffering. — Deaths. — Place called Plymouth. — Retura uf the Mayflower. The party of sixteen, after they had received their instructions, went on shore. They arranged themselves in single file, and after marching in this minner about a mile, they saw five or six individuals advancing towards them, accompanied by a dog. They were Indians, the first they had seen since their ai'rivaL When the savages discovered the 30 FIRST NEW ENULANO WATER. party, they immediately fled. The men followed them by their trail for ten miles. Night coming on, their pursuit was stopped. They gathered wood, kindled a fire, set three for sentinels, and encamped till morning. As soon as it was sufficiently light for them to discover the tracks of the Indians, they renewed their pursuit. Their course was greatly impeded by the woods and bushes through which they passed, and which tore their " very armor in pieces." They were unsuccessful Ln overtaking them ; neither did they discover any villages or single tents. As they took with them no water, and had discovered none which they could drink since they left the ship, they suffered much from thirst. They had with them a " little bottle of aquavitce" but that was far from affording them the needed relief. However, they persevered in their journey, and about the middle of the forenoon they entered a deep valley, in which were many little paths run- ning in different directions. To their great joy, they here fotmd several springs of fresh water, from which they obtained an abundant supply. " "We were heartily glad," say they in their journal, " and sat us down and drunk our first New England water with as much delight as ever we drunk drink in all our lives." They here discovered some deer. The narrow tracks which they saw were probably made by deer and other animals when going to the spriogi DISCOVERIES. 31 to drink. Leaving this refreshing valley, they di* reeled their course to the south. When they reached the shore, they kindled a fire to indicate their posi- tion to those on board the ship. Passing on farther, they came to several small sand-hills covered with mats, with a wooden object shaped something like a mortar on the top, with an earthem pot placed in a small hole at the end. They dug into them, and found a bow find some decayed arrows. Supposing them to be Indian sepulchres, they replaced these objects, and restored the hills to their original appearance. They were unwilling to irritate the natives by plundering the graves of their friends. They passed by some pieces of land where stubble was standing, from which the corn had been recently gathered, and where a house had formerly stood. They found a large kettle which had probably be- longed to some ship, and also a great quantity of com, red, yellow, and blue, some shelled and some in the ear. A part of the com was contained in a round basket, narrow at the top, and a part was buried in the ground. They filled the kettle with corn for two ^en to carry between them. They also stowed as much in their pockets as they con- veniently could. The remainder they buried again. Their intention was, if they could obtain an inter- view with any of the natives, to pay them for the com, and return thom the kettle if they wanted it* 32 CADOBT IN A TRAT. Not far from this place they came to a rude fort. They next discovered a river, in which they saw two canoes. They were now obUged to return, as they had orders to be absent only two days. They re- traced their steps to the spring of fresh water. Here they erected a rough barricade to keep of the wind, built a fire, appointed their sentinels, and passed the night as comfortably as they could in a heavy storm of rain. In the morning they sunk the kettle in a pond, " trimmed " their muskets anew, as they could not be fired in consequence of the wet, and pressed towards the ship. On their return, they lost their way, and were at their " wits' end " to know what course to pursue. Whilst they were wandering about, they came to a trap made by bending down the small branch of a tree, with a rope-noose attached. It had probably been set by the Indians to take deer. As they were examining it, it suddenly sprang, and caught one of the party by the leg. It exhibited considerable ingenuity. They also saw great numbers of wild geese and ducks, a few partridges, and three bucks. At last they came in sight of the ship. They fired ofi" their guns as a signal, when ^hose on board immediately sent the long-boat, and gave them a hearty welcome home. With what interest did their friends gather around them to hear the story of their adventures ! How many l^uestions they asked respecting those Indians, STKENGTH OF PRINCIPLE. 33 the springs, the graves, the kettle, the csuioes, the trap ! With what joy did they examine the corn of divers colors ! They must have regarded it some- what as the Jews did the grapes of Eschol, which were brought back by the spies who were sent to examine the land. It was the first fruits of the land of promise. Soon, snow begEin to fall. We have been thus particular in giving these de- tails, because this was the first excursion of the Ply- mouth Pilgrims in New England, where they had come to seek a home for themselves, their wives, tind their children. What strength of religious principle, what moral and physical courage, what self-denial, and what strong confidence in God must have been requisite to induce them to disembark and com- mence the settlement of this compai-atively barren country, with nothing over them but the heavens enshrouded with clouds, and the earth around them covered with snow, as if Nature were enrobed in the winding-sheet of death. The incidents of their early history should never be forgotten. Their next excursion was on the water, in their frail shallop. The number of this party was thirty- four, ten of whom were sailors who belonged to the ship. They had a severe time, very difierent from the pleasure excursions which are now made in the same waters every year. The wind blew strong, the waves ran liigh, the snow fell, and the spray, as it 34 E»n5Ai.iyiED body. dashed upon them, was converted to ice. Some of them became so chilled, and took such severe colds as afterwards resulted in death. A portion of them landed, but soon became "tired with marching up and down the steep hills and deep valleys which lay- half a foot thick -with snow." They encamped for the night under a few pine-trees. As they had eaten nothing since the morning, three fat geese and six ducks which they obtained furnished them with a very acceptable supper. When they arrived at Pamet River where the pre- vious party had seen the two csmoes, they ferried themselves across. They next visited the place where the corn and ket- tle were obtained. They found a bottle of oil, a bag of beans, some wheat ears, and seven or eight bush- els more of corn. They came upon a grave much larger than any they had seen before. It was cov- ered with boards. After some hesitation they opened it, not knowing, from its external appearance, what it WEis. It contained mats, broaches, bowls, dishes, trinkets, and two large bundles. These bundles were very peculiar. The larger one contained the bones and skull of a human being, enveloped in a great quantity of fine red powder, with a knife, a large needle, and several implements of iron, whose use they could not determine. In the smaller one was the skeleton of a child. It wtis accom* Peregrine White's apple tree. Page 35. FraST BIBTB. 35 panied with strings, bracelets of fine white beads, a small bow, and " some other odd knackes." Th« red powder yielded a strong, though not unpleasant odor, and seemed to have been used for the purpose of embalming. They selected some of the most interesting aiticles to take away with them, and, covering up the rest, they left the grave, in appear- ance, as they found it. They came across a couple of Indian tents, desti- tute of mhabitants, but containing a variety of bas- kets, bowls, pots, trays, dishes, with eagles' claws, deer's heads and hoofs, harts' horns, and other articles in use among the Indians. After rambling about in various directions, without any important results, they returned to the vessel. Wlulst this party were absent on their explora- tions, a child was born on board of the Mayflower, who was named PeregrLue White. This was the first English child born in New England. There are people now hving, who, in their early years, were acquainted with persons who had seen and conversed with Peregrine. He was then removed from such survivors by only one generation. Tliis fact makes his history seem quite recent. He died in Marshfield, at the age of eighty-three years and eight months. To return to the immigrants. As no place had as yet been discovered where they were willing t* 36 FIRST COMBAT. commence their settlement, on the sixth of Decem- ber a third party went forth to make further discov- eries. As they were sailing eilong the shore in the shallop, they saw on land about, a dozen Indians, very busy in carrying something away. They after- wards discovered that it was a dead grampus, from which fact they named the place Grampus Bay, now known as Eastham. The party landed and went in pursuit of the Indians. They passed by some abandoned tents or huts, a large burying ground, and some corn-fields. Being unsuccessful in overtaking the natives, they returned to the shore and encamped. About midnight, they were dis- turbed by a <• great and hideous cry." " Arm ! arm ! " shouted the sentinel. The men sprang to their feet, seized their guns, and two of them fired ; but as nothing more was heard, they concluded that it must have been wolves or foxes. The next morn ing, after prayers were over, whilst they were pre paring for another journey, they were suddenly attacked by a party of Indians, who, came upon them with a great noise. A combat ensued. Un- fortunately, the men were divided. Some were on the shore, and some on board the shallop. How- ever, the guns of the Pilgrims were more than a match for the arrows of the Indians. The savasces fled, and were followed a considerable distance. The men paused, shouted after them twice, and A dbeaut sabbath. 37 fired off a couple of guns to indicate to '.he enemy that they were not alarmed. It was supposed that they numbered thirty or forty. Their arrows, headed with eagles' claws, horn, and pieces of brass, were picked up, and afterwards sent to England. The place where this conflict occurred, they named " The First Encounter." After offering thanks to their heavenly Father for their victory, they returned to their shallop, and continued their excursion. A heavy storm of wind, rain, and snow beat upon them. Their rudder broke and became unman ageable. Presently their mast was split into three pieces. In this condition, they came very near being totally wrecked. Finally, after great anxiety and toil, they reached an Lsland near the entrance of Plymouth harbor, where they spent the night in safety, though very uncomfortably, under the peltings of a pitiless winter storm. This was subsequently called Clark's Island, in honor of the mate of the Mayflower, who is said to have been the first who stepped upon it.* The next day being the Sal bath, they rested. We should suppose that if there is any virtue in the plea of "necessity and mercy" for attending to secular affairs on the Sabbath, it ought to have availed with them. They were houseless, friend- less, and on an unknown shore, in the depth of wmter, with its severities daily increasing upon them. * Note B, p. 291. 38 LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. Their prorisions were diminishing, some of their number were sick, and every hour increased the importance of their coming to a decision where to land. Yet with this combination of pressing emer- gencies, they refused to spend the Sabbath In seek ing a harbor. Their trust was in God. They felt secure of his protection so long as they were faithful to his commandments. The next day being Monday, December 11, old style, but the 21d, new style, they examined the harbor, and found it convenient for shipping. They then went on the main land, where Plymouth now stands, and, finding some of it cleared and some of it wooded, with plenty of springs and running brooks, they deemed it a suitable place to com- mence their settlement, and this was " The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers," an event which is now annually commemorated by the descendants of the Pilgrims in various parts of our land, and which, in its Influence upon posterity, has been followed by the most glorious results ever achieved by man. In making arrangements for the division of the land, the whole company were divided into families, each single man joining some family. This ren- dered a smaller number of houses necessary. To each person they assigned a lot, half a pole in length and three in breadth, or &J- feet by 49^. In the erection of their houses, they ucurred many TWO MEN LOST. 09 difficulties. Trees had to be felled, timber hewn, holes dug in the frozen soil, and much of this they were obliged to do in the midst of very wet, cold, and stormy weather. To increase their difficulties, the Mayflower was anchored a mile and a half from the shore. As there was frequent occasion for pass- ing to and fro, this distance subjected them to great inconvenience. Besides, as every man was intent upon finishing his own house, they could render but little assistance to each other. One buUding, twenty feet square, was erected as a place of common ren- dezvous ; but this was soon accidentally burnt down, and though the house contained powder and loaded gims, and Governor Carver and Willitim Bradford were there confined to their bed, yet no person was injured. Two of their number being sent out to cut thatch one morning, got lost. Not returning, sev- eral others went in search of them, but without .success. Sorrow filled the hearts of the company. They feared that their friends had been cap- tured by the Indians : but the next day they returned, to the great joy of all. They lost themselves by chasing a deer. The night was wet and stormy, yet they had to spend it in the open air Avith wild beasts, which they supposed were lions, roaring around them. One of them, John Goodman, was frost-bitten so badly that his shoes 40 FIRST SABBATH ON SEOKE. bad to be cut from his feet, and for a long time b« was unable to walk. The 21st of January was the Sabbath. As the largest portion of the people were on land, they kept the Sabbath there. This ap- pears to have been the first Lord's day which was observed upon the shore. Indians were seen upon the water, but could not be spoken with. A house which had been built for the sick took fire from a spark, but was not much injured. Indians skulked around them, and stole the tools which the men left in the woods. All attempts to have an interview with them proved unavailing. Occasionally a few wild fowl were shot, which fiimished them vnth a dainty repast. As a protection against the natives, who, judging from their conduct, were viciously inclined, they planted two cannon upon a hill which was near. Thus they wore away their first dreary winter upon the wild and bleak coast of New England, without any incident transpiring of special importance. It is evident from the journals of that season that the winter was unusually mild If it had been as severe as many which have since been experienced, we see not how they cuuld have survived till spring. The number who left Plymouth in the May- flower was just one hundred. One died on the passage, and one was bom ; so that the number who landed was one himdred. Scarcity of foodi Chair of Gov. Carver in Pilgrim Hall. Pageil. OBEAT UOKTALITT. 41 with exposure to cold and wet, introduced disease, and, by the opening of spring, one half their number were swept away by death ! To increase tlieir affliction, among the deceased was John Car- ver, their governor. Some of the time two and three would die in a day. The well were not sufficient to provide for the sick, and the living hardly able to bury the dead. The name of Plymouth was given to the new colony, as a token of respect to the inhabitants of PljTnouth, in England, where the Pilgrims were treated with kindness when" they put back in dis- tress. After the death of Carver, William Bradford was chosen governor. The same day that Carver died, which was the 5th of April, 1621, the May- flower SEtiled for England. She came to anchor in Cape Cod Harbor, November 10. She had re- mained, therefore, with the Pilgrims neeirly five months, furnishing them with a shelter until they could get their own rough huts erected. This was a great convenience, especially to the females, the cliildren, and the sick. 4* M'&iit 4ra^^ CHAPTER III. ** Our fatlier:]' God ! thy own decree Ordnineti the Pilgrims to be free ; In foreign landa they owned Ihy care, And found a safe asylum there." — Rsv. Dm Holhzi A. strange Visitor. — Unexpected Salutation. — Information given. — A Difficulty. — A Kidnapper. — Indians enslaved. — More Visitors. — Squaiito's Adventures. — Indian Cliiefs. — Visit of Ceremony. — First Treaty. — The Visit returned. — Massasoit's Poverty. — Novel Mode of Eeling. — First Offence. — The Pen- alty. — Billington's Character. — First Duel. — Peculiar Pun- ishment. — Praying for Mercy. — Character of the Government. On the morning of Friday, the 16th of March, the immigrants were alarmed by seeing an Indian enter their little village, and, witli great bplduess, march directly towards their place of rendezvous. Here they intercepted liim, as otherwise he would have entered ; when, to their surprise and joy, he accosted them in broken English, and bade them " Welcome." He was entirely naked, with the ex- ception of a strip of leather around his waist having a fringe three or four inches long. He was tall and straight, and had long straight black hair, but no beard. His weapons were a bow and two arrows, only one of which was headed. The Pilgrims treated him with great hospitality. This was demanded both by duty and sound poUcy. From conversation with HOSPITAIilTT. 43 Ilim, they ascertained that he was a chief of a tribe of Indians whose land was distant five days' jour- ney. He had learned a little English from the fishermen who frequented the coast of Maine. He asked them for beer, but they gave him " strong water," biscuit, butter, cheese, pudding, and a piece of mallard. These he relished. He had acquired a taste for them by his previous intercourse vrith the English. He informed them that the place where they were was called Patuxet, and that about four years previously, by some dreadful pestilence, all the Indians who resided there were swept away. None now remained to claim the soil. They also obtained information from him respecting different parts of the country, what tribes inhabited them, their numbers, and the chiefs or sagamores who ruled them. Notwithstanding he was so communi- cative, when night came they were desirous that he should leave. This he was unwilling to do. It became then a grave question how they should dispose of him until morning. Although they were willing to listen to his conversation whilst they were awake, and had their weapons at hand, they had no incUnation to sleep in his company. It was pro- posed that he should lodge on board the Mayflower. To this he assented ; but when they attempted to go to her in the shallop, the vrind was so powerful, and the water so low, that they found it impossible 44 DISGRACEFUI, CONICCT. to succeed. They were obliged, therefore, to lodge him in one of their houses ; but as a precautionary arrangement, they kept over him a strict watch. The next day he returned to Massasoit, the chief of a tribe of Indians whom he represented as being the nearest of any to the Plymouth settlement. Another tribe, called the Nausets, were, according to his accoimt, greatly incensed against the English. They had sufficient cause. Some years before their arrival, a shipmaster by the name of Hunt, whose name is held in merited disgrace, invited some of them on board his vessel, professedly for purposes of traffic. After some twenty or thirty had ac- cepted Ms invitation, he hoisted sail and bore away to the coasts of Spain, where he sold these free sons of the forest into humiliating, disgraceful, and pain- ful slavery. Such an atrocious crime as this they could neither forget nor forgive. They burned for revenge. It was this tribe who attacked the ex- ploring party and were defeated, the account of which we have already given. The savage whose unexpected visit to the Pil- grims we have now narrated, was named Samoset. When he left Plymouth, he carried with him pres- ents of a knife, bracelet, and a ring, which were given him by the English. He promised to return vrithin a day or two, and bring with him some of MassEisoit's Indians, to open a trade in furs with the PHESENTS TO SAMOSET. 45 colony. He fulfilled his promise tlie next day Five others came with him, dressed in their peculiai costume of deer skins, leathern leggins, and tawdry ornaments. They were hospitably received by the colonists ; but as it was the Sabbath, no business was transacted with them. They were dismissed as early as possible. Samoset, who probably fared better among the English than when with the In- dians, was sick, or pretended to be, and would not return with the others. He remained till the next Wednesday. As the others did not repeat their visit, according to promise, Samoset was sent to ascertain the reason. When he left, the people gave him a hat, stockings, shoes, shirt, and a piece of cloth to wear round his body. The same day, three Indians were discovered upon a hiU near by, who appeared to threaten or bid defiance to the EngUsh. Immediately, Captain Standish and three others went towards them. After making a few menacing gestures, the savages fled. The next day, Samoset returned, bringing with him four others, who had a few skins and dried herrings, which they wished to exchange for other articles. It is some- what remarkable that one of these Indians belonged to the company whom Hunt kidnapped and carried to Spain. There, with the others, being liberated from servitude through the agency of the monks of Malaga, he made his way to England, and finally 46 VISIT OF CEREMONT. got back to his own country ! His name was Squanto, He was the only native left of those who had formerly occupied Patuxet, the place where the Pilgrims had fixed their settlement. Having been in England, he had obtained a smattering of the language, and could converse, though with difiiculty, with the colonists. This party of four seem to have been a kind of advanced guard ; for in the course of an hour, their great chief, Massasoit, made his appearance upon the top of a hill, accom- panied by his brother Quadequina, and all their warriors. They came to visit the English. The two parties were at first somewhat shy of each other. But after sending messages to and fro by the interpreters, they cautiously came to a parley. Each party kept one or more of the others as host- ages. After mutual salutations between Massasoit and Captain Standish, the chief was conducted to an unfinished house, where were placed for him a green rug and three or four cushions. Presently the Pilgrim governor advanced, in as great state as he could command, with a drum and trumpet sound- ing after him, and a few men with muskets, as a kind of body-guard. Salutations being over, which consisted of mutual kisses, they both took seats. " The governor called for some strong water, and drunk to him : and he drunk a great draught, that made him sweat all the while after." Meat was aisp FIRST TREATT. 47 offered to the chief and to his men, which vraa cheerfiilly received. They then came to business. A treaty of friend ship was entered into, in which they agreed to avoid mutual injuries, to deliver up articles belou»- ing to their owners which might be carried off by the men of either party, and to leave behind them all weapons when they visited each other. It was fiirther agreed, that if any nation made war upon the colonists, Massasoit should assist the English, and if any attacked Massasoit unjustly, the English would aid him ; that if any of liis people should hurt one of the colonists, he should send him to the colony for punishment, and that he should send to those tribes with whom he was in alliance informa- tion of this treaty, that they might be embraced in it also. This was the first act of diplomacy executed in New England. Its negotiation occupied less than a day, and being of mutual benefit to both parties, it was strictly observed for more than fifty years. It was of importance to Massasoit to secure an alliance with the English, so as to have assistance in case he should be attacked by the powerful tribe of Narra- gansctts, who were his enemies. It was also of great moment to the English to be on friendly terms with neighboring Indiiins, who had it in their power to annoy them in various ways. 48 EEL CATCHING. After Massasoit had left, his brother Quadequina came to the colonists, and was likewise received with marked disticction. He was afraid of the English guns, and at his desire they were carried away. He wondered greatly at the trumpet, and some of his men tried their skill at sounding it. At the invitation of Massasoit, Captain Standish and Isaac Alderton visited him at his encampment. They were received with no sumptuous entertain- ment. All that he gave them were three or four ground nuts, and a little tobacco. By the request of the governor, he sent to the colonists his kettle, which they filled with peas, and gave him. One fair day, Squanto went a fishing without pole, line, or hook. In the evening he returned with as many large, fat, " sweet " eels as he could lift with one hand. His method of catching them was to wade in the water, ascertain their beds with his feet, and, as they were in a torpid state in con- sequence of the cold, pick them up with his hand. He is supposed to have gone to a place which is now called Eel River, where large numbers are still caught every winter. Such was the integrity of the Pilgrims, and their uniform obedience to the few laws which they had established, that no offence was committed among them tUl the latter part of March, when one John BLUington was convicted of " contempt of the cap- FIRST OFFENCE 49 tain's lawful command and opprobrious speeches." The sentence which he received was peculiar. It was, that " he have his neck and heels tied together." The sentence, however, was not carried into execu- tion. He humbled himself before the people, and asked for pardon. As this was his first offence, he was forgiven. Mercy, however, did not reform him. He continued to be a bad fellow. He was a profane, ungovernable, vicious knave, and finally came to a bad end. His eldest son, John, was of the same spirit with the father, and gave the colonists much trouble. On one occasion, he came near blowing up the Mayflower, by exploding squibs, and firing off a fowling-piece, when powder was strewed upon the floor, and a small cask of it was only about a yard from him. At another time, he wan- dered away from the colony, creating great anxiety, and subjecting them to the trouble of sending an expedition to find him. Billington senior was not a member of the church at Leyden. He came from London, and was in some way smuggled on board the Mayflower, without having any sympathy with the religious feeling of the Pilgrims. The second offence committed was a duel be- tween two servants of Mr. Hopkins. It was fought with sword tuid dagger. Both combatants were wounded. They were convicted, and sentenced "to have their head and feet tied together, and so to lie 5 50 FmsT nrrnt,. • for twenty-four hours without meat or drink." The cords were brought, their head and feet were tied according to sentence ; but after lying about an hour, their sufferings were so severe that they began to beg for mercy. Their entreaties being seconded by their master, the governor, upon the promise of good conduct in future, released them. The prompt- ness with which these three criminals were tried, convicted, and sentenced, and the forgiveness which they received, evinced the decision and the kind- ncBS of this early colonial government. CHAPTER IV. ** Acquaintance f would have, but when *t depends Not on the number, but the choice, of frienda." — Cowur " True happiness ConBists not in the multitude of friends, But in the worth and choice : nor would I have Virtue a popular regard pursue ; Let them be good that love me, though but few." — Jonioir. Plymouth in Summer. — Annoyance of Indian Loungers. — Visil to Massasoit. — Delivery of Presents. — The Message. — Thf Copper Chain. — Hard Lodging. — Subordinate Sachems. — Sports. — Shooting Fish. — Return of the Messengers. — Storm at Night. — Effect of the Visit. — Boy missing. — A Party sent afler him. — Their Adventures. — Get News of the Boy. — ly auoagh. — An old Squaw. — Her violent Passion. — Reason of it.— How she is pacified. — Indian Officiousness.— The Ownet of the buried Com found. — The lost Boy restored. — Natives rewarded. — Rumors of War. — Danger of the Colony. — Par- ty suffer for Water. — Dance of the Squaws. — The Return. When the winter had passed away, and Nature had arrayed herself in her summer drapery, the col- onists found that they had selected a pleasant spot for their settlement. The disappearance of ice and snow, the rich green of the hills and fields, yarie- gated with numerous flowers, the forests covered with dense foliage, and the melody of birds in the groves, made Plymouth appear Uke a different country from that which they saw upon their first 52 ANNOYANCE FROM 'VISITOBS. arrival. As the warm weather brought the Indiana to the sea-shore for lobsters and fish, they were a great annoyance to the colony. The Pilgrims uni- formly treated them with hospitality. This lund- ness fiirnished a motive for frequent visits, as the Indians would always go where they could get something to eat. The consequence was, that sometimes men, women, and children, in consid- erable numbers, were hanging around the village. Instead of turning them away, it was deemed best to send messengers to their great sagamore, Mas- sasoit, state to him the grievance, and request him to issue orders proliibiting the annoyance. Another object which the colonists had in view in this em- bassage w£is, to compensate the Indians for the com which they found upon Cape Cod on their first arrival. Stephen Hopkins and Edward Winslow received the appointment of ambassadors. Squanto, the Indian who had been kidnapped by Hunt, was to accompany them as interpreter. To secure a favorable reception for themselves and their mes- sage, they ceu-ried, as a present to the sagamore, a horseman's coat of red cotton, ornamented with lace, and a copper chain. When they arrived at Pokanoket, the residence of Massasoit, the saga- more was not at home. He was sent for, and soon made his appearance. The ambassadors saluted him by a discharge of their pieces, and were then EMBASSY TO MASSASOIT. 53 welcomed in true Indian style by the chief. The first thing done after they had taken their seats was the delivery of the presents. When the chief was arrayed in the red coat, with the copper chain dangling from his neck, he and his men were highly gratified with his grand appearance. In the mes- sage which the ambassadors delivered, they informed tlie chief that his people had always been kindly received by the colonists, though they came very often and very many at a time ; but as it was uncertain whether the corn which the EngUsh had planted would be productive, and as they had not much other food, they would be unable to extend to them the same hospitality in fiiture which they had done, and which they would still be glad to do if it were in their power. They requested the chief, therefore, to interfere, and suffer none of his people to visit the colonists except those who had skins to trade. If, however, he desired to come himself, or had some particular friend who wished to see them, they would be pleased to receive him in the same manner as heretofore. That they might not be deceived by imposters, the ambassadors requested the sagamore, whenever he should send any messenger to the colony, to give him the copper chain which had just been presented to him, and they would regard that as the credentials of his appointment, and would give credit to his message. They also 54 AN DNCOMI'OilTABLE NIGHT. related to Massasoit their discovery of the com on the cape, and that they carried it away for their own use, with the intention, if the owners were ever found, of giving them ample compensation. They requested of him some seed corn to plant, so as to see which was best adapted to the soil of Plymouth, After the message was delivered through the interpreter, Squauto, Massasoit rephed, and con- sented to comply with their several requests. Busi- ness being over, the Indians hghted tobacco, gave it to the ambassadors to smoke, and entered into con- versation respecting England and the king. So poor was the brave sagamore, that when the even- ing arrived, he had nothing to offer his distin- guished guests for supper. In one part of the wigwam was a hard and rude looking bed made of plank, raised a few inches from the ground, and covered with a coarse, thin mat. When the visitors expressed a wish to sleep, one end of this plank platform was assigned them as their bed, whilst the chief, with his wife, slept at the other end. In addition to these four, two other Indians had to be accommodated, who, during the night, pressed so heavily upon the Englishmen, that their night's lodging was more wearisome than their days' jour- ney. The visit of these strangers soon being ru- mored abroad, there came the next day many Bachems, or subordinate chiefs, to see them. For BETUHN OF THE AMBASSADORS. 55 their entertainment, the savages performed a num- ber of their games, but were umnlling to shoot at a mai'k with the strangers for skins. About one o'clock, Massasoit, who had been fishing, returned, bringing with him two large fish, which he had shot. These were boiled, and portions of them were ofiered to the messengers. This was the first meal they had had for a daj and two nights. The next day, very early in the morning, they left their poor, but friendly neighbors for home. They were heart- ily sick of Indian entertainment. The chief was sorry and ashamed that he could receive them in no better style. Friendship was in Ids heart, but abundance was not In liis cabin. He did the best he could. On their return, the ambassadors were not only faint and hungry, but, to add to their trials, they were overtaken at night by a severe storm, accompanied with thunder and lightning. So vio- lent were tlie wind and rain, that they found it impossible to keep their fire burning. The storm continued through the whole day ; but they waded on with what little strength was left, until, after an absence of five days, they again reached Plymouth. The tendency of this visit was to strengthen the bonds of friendship existing between the Indians and the colonists. It was probably a few days after this, that one of the boys belonging to the colony was missing. a6 A BOT LOST. Where he had gone, no one knew. His absence created great anxiety in the little community. Was he drowned 1 Had he been kidnapped by the Indians and carried into captivity 1 or had he wan- dered away and got lost ? Various conjectures were indulged. A party of ten men were raised to go in search of him. They went in the shallop. They had not sailed far, before a heavy squall of wind, with lightning and rain, came down upon them with great force. A water spout was formed a short distance from them. They were in danger. Fortunately, it was of short duration. They passed the night ui Cummaquid, now known as Barnstable Harbor. In the morning, seeing a couple of sav- ages, they hailed them, and through their two interpreters, Squanto and another named Tokama- hamon, made known who they were, and whom they were after. Very providentially, these Indians afforded great relief to the party, by the information that the lost boy was well, and might be found at Nauset, now called Eastham. At the invitation of the natives, six of the party went ashore, leaving, us hostages for their good treatment, four Indians in the shallop. They were introduced to their chief, lyEinough, a young man, not thirty years of age, of good personal appearance, courteous in his manners, and unlike an Indian, except in his costume. His entertainment was in harmony with his good ap- pearance, being abundant and various. INDIAN EMOTION. 57 At this place was a squaw, whom the colonists judged to be at least a hundred years old. As she had never seen an Englishman, she visited the party as a matter of curiosity ; but when she saw them, she became greatly excited, giving indulgence to violent passion, and weeping excessively. The men were astonished. They knew not what it meant. They knew that they had done nothing to furnish occasion for such a development of strong feeling, and were at a loss to account for it. They asked the woman why she cried. She answered, that when Captain Hunt was here, she had three sons, who went on board of his vessel to trade, and that he carried them away captives to Spain, so that now she was cruelly deprived of their assistance and support in her old age. The Pilgrims sympa- tliized with her in her distress, expressed .great abhorrence of the conduct of Hunt, and told her that he was a bad man, and that all the English who had hear:' of his conduct in that affair strongly condemned it. As for themselves, they would not be guilty of similar conduct for all the skins in the land. To convince her of their sincerity, they gave her some presents, which served to allay her excited feeUngs. It will be remembered, that Squanto, one of the interpreters on tliis occasion, was also one of the number whom Hunt so nefariously kidnapped. Having obtained track of the lost boy, they b8 LOST BOY rODWD. hastened towards Easthatn. Squanto was sent in advance to inform the chief of their approach and their errand. When they arrived at Eastham, they were greatly annoyed by the officiousness of the Indians, who surrounded the boat in great numbers, offering their help to get it in, as the water was low. The party were doubtful of their good intentions, as this was the place, and these the men, who made an attack upon them when they were examining the coast to find a desirable place for settlement. The boat soon got aground, and then the savages sur- rounded it in greater numbers than before. Among the Indians who were present on this occasion, was one to whom some of the corn belonged which the Pilgrims had found and carried away. They in- formed him that it had always been their intention to make restitution for it so soon as they found' the owner, and that if he would visit the settlement at Plymouth, they would pay him for all they had taken. Towai-da evening, their chief, Aspinet, came, accompanied by a large number of Indians, and what was more pleasing to the English, he brought with him the lost boy. Half of the Indians came up to the boat unarmed ; the other half kept at a distance, with their bows and arrows ready, in case any occasion should occur for their use. One of the savages brought the boy through the water to THK LOST boy's IDVENTCHES. 59 Jie boat, and there he was delivered by the chief ato the hands of the Pilgrims. It seems that for live days the boy had wandered over the liills and hrough the woods, living upon what few berries tnd fruits he could find. By that time, he reached in Indian settlement at Manomet, the present loca- aon of Sandwich. By the people there he was sent to the Nausets, where he was now found. When he was delivered to the colonists by Aspinet, the boy was decked in Indian tawdry style, having many beads hanging about him. Whether this was done in order to amuse the boy, or to please the English, we know not ; probably the latter. The party rewarded the chief with a knife, which, no doubt, he highly prized, as their own knives were either stone or shell. They also gave a present to the Indian of Manomet, who first received the boy, and who had gone to the trouble of bringing him to Nauset. This boy was John Billington ; a vicious lad, and a great plague to the colony. Whilst the men were at Eastham, a rumor reached them that war had broken out between Massasoit and the Narragansetts, in consequence of an attack of the latter upon some of the men be- longing to the former. They were alarmed. Being in league with Massasoit, they were bound to render him assistance, in case he had been attacked un- justly. Besides, they were apprehensive for the 60 RUMORS OF WAR. welfare of the colony, as the number of men there had been greatly reduced. Dr. Young, in his «' Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers," says, that at the same time that these ten were on their excursion to Aspinet, " Winslow and Hopkins were absent on their expedition to Pokanoket, leaving only seven men at the plantation, the whole number surviving at this time being nineteen." If this were so, the settlement would have been in great danger in case it had been attacked by the enemies of Massasoit. Massasoit and the Chain. CHAPTER V. " The flying minora gathered as they rolled ; Scarce any tale was sooner heard than told ; And all who told it added something new. And all who heard it made enlargement too ; In every ear it spread, on every tongue it grew." — Pofi Siartlmg Rumors. — Squanto reconnoitres. — Is taken. — Designs against him. — Supposed Murder. — A Party sent to Middle- borough. — Midnight Attack. — Frightened Indians. — Squanto found. — Treatment of the Wounded. — Voyage to Massachu- setts. — Origin of the Name. — Conduct of the Squaws. — The First Summer in Plymouth. — Preparations for Winter. — Colo- ny alarmed. — Prepare to resist Invaders. — Pleasant Disap- pointment. — Arrival of the Fortune. — She brings no Stores. —The Consequence. ^ The Fortune returns. — Her Cargo aod Capture. The common proverb, that a story loses nothing by repetition, received confirmation in the present instance. By the time that the floating rumors reached the colony, whatever was their origin, they embraced the startling intelUgence that the Narra- gansetts had invaded the domains of Massasoit J that Massasoit was either a prisoner, or had fled ; that their interpreter, Squanto, had been cruelly mur- dered, and that some of Massasoit's men had re- volted from their chief, and were striving to form a party in opposition to the English, and in violation of the league of friendship. Squanto had gone on a reconnoitring expedition, to obtain tidings, if pos- 6 63 Sq,UANTO A PRISONER. sible, of Massasoit. Whilst lodging at Namasket, now called Middleborough, he was discovered by Corbitant, one of Massasoit's disaifected men. This fellow had expressed violent opposition to the alli- ance with the English, had given free use to con- temptuous language against them, and had labored to poison the minds of others with similar senti- ments. He was particularly bitter against Squanto, as he had rendered important service to the English in all their negotiations. " If Squanto were dead," said he, " the EngUsh would lose their tongue." He, therefore, with some of his evil disposed follow- ers, came upon Squanto, surrounded the house in which he lodged, and took him prisoner. Squan- to was accompanied on this excursion by another Indian, named Hobbamock. When Hobbamock saw that his friend was taken, and that Corbit£int held a knife at his breast, as if to take his life, he made a violent effort, broke away from the enemy, and fled to Plymouth, with the news that Squanto was slain. Immediately the colony was in great commotion. Although they desired to live in peace with the Indians, they knew that it was not wise policy to allow oflfences of this kind to pass with impunity. Justice to themselves, to Squanto, and to Massasoit, demanded an immediate examination of the state of things, and a defence of their rights. Deliberations were held, and tlie conclusion reached, PLAN OT OPERATIONS. 63 wira, that, on the next day, a party of ten or twelve men should proceed to Middleborough, revenge the death ot Squanto, take the sachem of the tribe prisoner, and retain him until they obtained tidings of their friend Massasoit. Accordingly, on the nejrt day they departed, under the command of their champion. Captain StancUsh. The weather was rainy. .They lost their way, through the mistake of Hobbamock, their guide, and the darkness of the night ; but with the assistance of one of the others, who, fortunately, had been that way before, they found it again. Their plan was to come upon the house at midnight, surround it, and seize Corbitant before he could have time to escape. In the attack, they were to injure none except those who should attempt to flee. The plan being arranged, they made a supper in the dark of the contents of their knapsacks, and then threw them aside, to be free from their encumbrance. Each man having received his specific appointment, they passed cautiously and silently on, casting fmtive glances in the deep gloom in every direction to avoid discovery. Pres- ently they reach the house. Every man takes the place assigned him, and waits with a throbbing heart for the moment o£ attack. Those appointed to the service enter the house, and demand if Cor- bitant is there. The savages, aroused from their slumbers in the dead of night by a hostile party 64 MIDNIGHT ATTACK. effecting an entrance into their cabin, are so thorougly alarmed as to be deprived of the power of speech. They are commanded not to stir at their peril. The whole family are aroused. Great excitement prevails. The guns of the invaders are fired at random. The whole town is in commotion. Some attempt to escape from the house through a private door, and are wounded. The women cUng to Hobbamock, calling him " Friend, friend ! " The boys, noticing that no injury is attempted against the women, cry out, " I am a girl, I am a girl." The invaders, in the mean time, endeavor to explain the object of their attack. They tell the people that they have come to revenge the death of their friend, Squanto, and want no one but Corbitant, his murderer. If he is not there, none shall be injured. After the fears of the Indians were allayed, and they had recovered their senses sufficiently to under- stand the explanation of this unexpected, nocturnal visit, they informed the invaders that Corbitant was not in the village, but that Squanto, whom they sup- posed he had murdered, was. Although the visitors were sorry to lose the former, they were greatly delighted to find the latter. In order to obtain fiill confirmation of this intelUgence, they made the savages get up, strike a fire, and furnish a light, with which to search the house thoroughly. At the same time, Hobbamock ascended to the top of the ORIGIN OF "MASSACHUSETTS." 65 house, and there called aloud for Squanto and Tok- amahamon. In a few moments, they made their appearance, ficcompanied with others, some of whom were armed. In the morning, the party visited Squanto at his own house, and breakfasted with him. They in- formed the Indians more fully of their determination to pursue Corbitant, and to contend with all others who should plot evil against the colony, or against Massasoit. They expressed regret that any of them had heen wounded in the night's attack, but prom- ised that if such would return with them to Plym- outh, the physician would heal them. Two of the wounded, a man and woman, accepted their invitation. About the middle of September, the colonists made their first voyage to Massachusetts, a word which signifies an arrow-shaped hill. This name is supposed to have been given to the surrounding country from the Blue Hills in Milton, which were formerly called Massachusetts Mount. They had interviews with the chief of a tribe in alliance with Massasoit, by whom they were treated with great kindness, and with some Indians of a hostile tribe, who, at first, were greatly alarmed; but as they discovered no evil intentions on the part of the vis- itors, they gathered courage to trade with them. Some of their squaws were so anxious to obtain the 6* 66 THE COLONY ALAHMED. trinkets of the English, that they took off the gar- ments which they wore, and sold them ; and, as a substitute, tied leaves 'ind branches about their per- sons. The party returned on the 22d, having been absent since the 18th. During this first summer of their settlement, the Pilgrims were comfortably provided for. The weather was mild ; their corn was productive ; fish were obtained in considerable quantities ; and later in the season, wild turkeys and venison were pro- cured. As the cold weather advanced, they repaired their houses, so as to be the better able to endure the severity of the approaching winter. When it commenced, they were in health, and had " all things in plenty." November 9, IKJl, the colony was thrown into a state of great alarm, by intelligence received from an Indian that a vessel was seen approaching Cape Cod, which he believed to be French. As the Eng- lish were not expecting the arrival of friends at that time, they also feared that the rumored vessel might be an enemy. When she came in sight, and made directly towards Plymouth harbor, their fears were strengthened. Agitation prevailed. No time was to be lost in getting prepared to give the intruder a warm reception. The governor gave command to fire a cannon, as a signal to those who were absent *o hasten home Immediately every male person in ARRIVAL OP THE FORTUNE. 67 Ihe colony who could shoulder a musket was on bond, armed and equipped with weapons and cour- age to repel the assailants, in case of an attack. We can imagine the painfid suspense which they experienced as the vessel gradually approached. How intently they observed her! How carefully they studied her architecture, and the manner in which she was rigged ! How they strained their eyes to make out her flag, the symbol of her nationaUty, that they might know with certainty what to expect, and what to do ! Their suspense was not of long duration. As the vessel neared the harbor, they recognized her as a friend. It was the Fortune, bringing an accession of thirty-five persons from England to the colony. Fearful apprehension now gave place to great joy. There were warm greet- ings, rapid inquiries, brief answers. Painful and pleasurable intelligence was communicated in rapid succession, causing smiles and tears to alternate upon their features, like sunlight and shadow chasing each other over the fields. Among those whom the Fortune brought over were Robert Cushman, and, in all probability, somo of the others, of whom there were twenty, who were left behind with him when the Speedwell waa abandoned. As the friends in England had received from the colonists glowing accounts of the abundance of food 68 THE FORTUNE CAPTDKED. which they found in the New World, this second company had deemed it unnecessary . to bring with tliem any stores to be used after their arrival. This proved to be exceedingly unfortunate. Indeed, the vessel itself was furnished with supplies only to reach New England, so that the colonists were not only obliged out of their limited means to support the new immigrants, but also to furnish the vessel with stores for her return voyage. The conse. quence of this combination of unpropitious circum- stances was, that soon after the departure of the Fortune, the colonists were all put upon half allow- ance of food, which, however, they endured with great patience. The Fortune left Plymouth, on her return, De- cember 13, 1621. She carried, as specimens of the productions of the country and of the industry of the colony, two hogsheads of peltries, consisting of beaver and otter skins, and a variety of lumber, the value of the whole being about $1500. As she approached the coast of England, she was discov- ered by a French vessel, pursued, overtaken, seized, and carried into France, where she was robbed of all that was valuable. After being detained there a fortnight, she and her crew were released. CHAPTER VI. " Treachery oft lurks In complimenta. You have sent so many poati Of undertakings, they outride performance ; And make me think your fui pretences aim At some intended ill, which my prevention Must strive to avert." Singul ir Visitor. — Mysterious Package for Squanto. ^ The Vi*- iter made a Captive. — His Disclosures. — He is released and sent Home with a bold Message. — Squanto explains the Pack- age. — A Package of Powder and Balls sent in Reply to it. — It is regarded with Terror. — Is finally sent back luiopened. — Defensive Preparations. — First Genera] Muster. — An Indian's Advice. — Another Expediuon. — Signal for Return. — Why called back. — Hobbamock denies Indian Rumors. — Squanto falls under Suspicion. — His deceitful Conduct. — The burled Plague. — Massasoil demands Squanto's Death. — The Messen- gers ready to kill him. — His unexpected Deliverance. — The Messengers offended. — More Immigrants. — Wiuslow sent to Maine for Food. — Massacre in Virginia. — Fort built. — Used as a Church. — Pilgrim Character. A SHORT time subsequent to the departure of the Fortune, an Indian from the Narragansett tribe vis- ited the colony, as a messenger from Canonicus, their renowned chief. He inquired for Squanto, but seemed pleased when informed of his absence- Leaving for him a package of singular character, he was about to return immediately, but was pre- vented. This package consisted of a bundle of new arrows, wrapped in the skin of a rattlesnake. The 70 A SINGULAR PACKAGE. governor having heard that the Narragansetts had threatened to make war upon the EngUsh, and being suspicious that arrows and rattlesnakes ar- gued nothing friendly, that they could not be sym- bolical of the same sentiment as the olive branch, gave orders to Captain Standish to take the mes- senger prisoner, and detain him. At first, the poor fellow was frightened ; but as his sentinels treated him with kindness, he gathered courage, and be- came communicative. In answer to inquiries, he informed the colonists that a messenger who had been sent to negotiate with them respecting a treaty of peace, the preceding summer, when he returned, had used liis influence to persuade Canonicus to go to war. He also detained some of the presents which they had sent by him to his cliief, and which, if they had been delivered to Canonicus, would have convinced him of their friendly designs, and prevented all belligerent threats. He said that when he should return and relate to Canonicus the real feelings of the English, he would enter into peace with them. The governor ordered him to inform liis msister that they had heard the many threats wliich he had uttered against them, and were offended ; that although they were desirous of living on terms of peace with him, yet if he made any warlike demonstrations, he would find them pre- pared to meet him. Having concluded to release ITS INTERPRETATION. 71 him, they offered him some food, which he declined receiving. He expressed much thankfalness for his deliverance. So great was his anxiety to return, that no persuasion, nor no violence of the weather, could induce him to tarry after his release. He set out for home in a driving storm. When Squanto returned, and the package of arrows and snake-skin was placed in his hands, he said it expressed enmity, and was equivalent to a challenge. The question then arose, What shall we do ? How shall we reply to it 1 After deliberation upon the subject, the governor filled the skin with powder and shot, and sent it back to Canonicus, with the message, that if the English were supplied with ships, they would save the Narragansetts the trouble of coming so far, by sailing to them and meeting them in their own dominions ; still, if they should come to the colony, they would always find the people ready to receive them. When this mes- sage was delivered to Canonicus, it impressed him with the courage of the English. He saw that threats did not terrify them. As to the snake-skin of powder and shot, under the influence of super- stition, or fear, or perhaps both, he would not touch it, nor suffer it to stay in liis house, nor in any part of his dominions. The messenger who brought it would not remove it. Another Indian took it up, and after it had been bandied about from one place 72 FIRST GENERAL. MUSTEK. to another, every where regarded as an object of terror, it was at last brought back, unopened, to the colony. Notwithstanding the bold front which the English presented to the Indians, and their professed readi- ness to meet them, they were deeply sensible of their real weakness. They knew that the little town was illy prepared for a sudden or powerfu attack. They accordingly adopted means of addi- tional defence, by impaUng it, including also the top of the hill under which the town was placed. They also made four bulwarks or " jetties " on the out- side of the pale. The captain then divided his men into four companies, and appointed over each one to command. He also ordered a general training, when he assigned every officer Ids place, gave him his men, and charged them all to resort immedi- ately, on any alarm, to their assigned places, under their own leaders. One part of the exercises on that occasion consisted in each officer marching his' men to their appointed places, and there discharging their guns simultaneously. After this, the men escorted their officers to their dwelhngs, fired a salute in their honor, and then dispersed. This may be considered as " the first general muster in New England," and the germ of the militia system which at present prevails there. After these arrangements were completed, it was SqrANTO SUSPECTED. 73 deemed desirable to make another voyage to the Massachusetts. Hobbamock endeavored to dissuade them from it, on the ground that he feared the Mas- sachusetts were in league with the Narragansetts, and would seize the opportunity to attack, and, perhaps, kill the captain and his company during their absence, whilst the Narragansetts might, at the same time, make war upon the town. He also expressed the fear that the unsuspected Squanto was in alliance with them, and would employ every effort to entice the Pilgrims away from their boat, so that they might be more favorably attacked. It was, on the whole, deemed best, notwithstanding the statements of Hobbomock, to proceed on the voyage, though with more than usual caution. Ac- cordingly, Captain Standish, with ten men, accom- panied also by Squanto and Hobbomock, set sail. After proceeding a few miles, the wind ceased, and they were becalmed. Whilst they were lying here, they heard three reports of a cannon, as a signal fo- them to return. After they had left, an Indian who belonged to Squanto's family came running with great haste to some of the colonists who were at a distance from home, telling them to return immedi- ately, as the Narragansetts, with Massasoit, Corbi tant, and many others, were on their way to attack the settlement, during the absence of the captain. This story appeared the more plausible, from the 7 74 FALSE REPOETS. fact that his face was covered with blood, which he said was occasioned by a wound that he received for speaking in defence of the colonists. He pretended to be in great fear, looking frequently behind him, as if to see whether he was pursued. Being brought to the governor, he told him the same story. The governor at once ordered the cannon to be fired, that if the voyagers were not beyond hearing, they might return. They retraced their course as soon as possible, with considerable anxiety to know the cause of their recall. Upon their arrival, they found the town prepared for action ; but as soon as the rumor of the invasion was mentioned, Hobbamock said it was all . false ; that Massasoit was faithful to his treaty, and, besides, he would not go to war without his knowledge, as he always, on such occasions, consulted his braves, of whom he was one. To obtain certain information, the governor sent the wife of Hobbamock to Pokanoket, the residence of Massasoit, to make secret observations and inquiries, and bring back the result. Finding every thing peacefiil at Pokanoket, she informed Massasoit of the rumor and its effect at the colony. The old chief was much offended at Squanto, but grateful to the governor that his confidence in him was not shaken, and repeated his determination to abide by the treaty. Squanto now fell under sus- picion. The whole of this trouble was traced to THE BUHIED PLAGUE. 75 hira. He was severely reprimanded by the gov- ernor ; but his services as interpreter being so im- portant, he could not be dismissed. It was now ascerttiined to have been his policy to make the Indians around the settlement beUeve that he had great influence with the English, and that he could induce them to make war or peace. He would sometimes send word to the Indians that the English were about to attack them, in order that they might bestow upon him gifts to prevent it. He was a deceitful, selfish, covetous, and ambi- tious fellow, and had managed his operations so artfully, as to be held in greater reverence by some of the Indians than Massasoit himself. Among the methods which he resorted to in order to impress the natives with the wonderful power of the Eng- lish, was the relation of falsehoods respecting the miraculous agencies at their command. " These pale-faces," said he to a group of wondering na- tives, " are a wise and powerful people. Diseases are at their command. They have now buried in the ground, under their store house, the plague ! They can send it forth to any place, or upon any people they please, and sweep them all away, though Arrival of the Charity and the Swan. — A New Colony. — Its Mate- rials. — Its Object. — Its Difficulties. — An Expedition in Part- nership. — Chatham. — Shyness of the Natives. — Success in Trade. — Squanto dies. — His last Request. — His History. — Favorable Providence. — Indiscretion of the New Colony. — Storm. — The Shallop aground. — Stores left in the Care of In dians. — The Return. — Pilgrim Firmness. — Lidian Theft. — Restoration Demanded. — Its Result. — Ludicrous Ceremony. — Folly of Imitation. — Indian Gamblers. — Mysterious Visitors. — Their Object. — Indian Brawl and Murder. — Hobbamock's Ad vice. ^ A Powwow executed. About the beginning of July, 1622, two vessels came round Cape Cod, and in a few hours anchored in the harbor of Plymouth. They were the Charity and the Swan. They belonged to Mr. Weston, who had formerly been much interested in the settlers at Plymouth, but who had recently concluded to plant a colony of his own somewhere in Massachusetts Bay. The pioneers of this new plantation had come over in these two vessels. They landed at Plym- outh, and were received with as much hospitality as the impoverished condition of the colony would afford. They proved to be very undesirable visitors S2 COLONIAL SPECULATION. and peculiarly unfit to be tlie founde's of a settle- ment in the midst of hostile or suspicious Indians. They were a great annoyance to the Pilgrims whilst they tarried with them, and to the Indians after they left and had commenced a plantation of their own. They were a rude, profane, improvident, thievish set of men. They wasted the colonist's corn, and re- paid their kindness with backbitings and revilings. An exploring party was sent out from them to dis- cover a suitable place for settlement. They selected a spot which the Indians called Wessagusset, now known as Weymouth. Thither they all went except the invalids, who, by the permission of the governor, remained at Plymouth until they were restored to health. The kindness of the surgeon. Dr. Fuller, was shown in his making no charge for his profes- sional services, although he might justly have sent in a bill. This second colony was purely a business affair. It was a speculation. It was entirely destitute of every religious element, though it abounded with irreligious ones. The men were far from being Pilgrims, and ought never to be confounded with them. They feared neither God nor man. As might have been expected, they soon became em- broiled with the Indians. The robberies and other crimes they committed irritated the savages, who poured their complsiints into the ears of the Plym- THE NEW COLONr. 83 outh people. The Pilgrims remonstrated with them, told them of the wickedness of their course, and what would be its inevitable consequence if they persisted in it. At the same time, they informed the Indians that the two settlements were entirely independent of each other, and however much they disapproved the conduct of the Weymouthites, they could not control them, neither were they responsible for them. In consequence of their mismanagement, it was not long before Weston's colony was reduced to great straits. It was therefore proposed, that, in company with some of the Plymouth people, they should make a voyage to the different Indian settlements along shore, in order to procure corn, beans, or other arti- cles of food. Terms of agreement being settled be- tween the two colonies, as to the division of the articles which they might obtain, the parties set sail in the Swan, taking with them the shallop. The first night they reached Manamoick, now known as Chatham. The governor, vdth Squanto and a few others, went ashore. At first, the natives were very shy. After they understood the object of the visit, they were more accessible. They welcomed the party in their usual rude style, furnishing them an abundance of venison and other food, but at the same time they were particularly careful to conceal from them their wigwams. It was evident that thej S4 SqtTANTO'S DEATH. were apprehensive of danger. They had not full confidence in the peaceful professions of their visitors. But when they learned that it was the governor's intention to spend the night on shore, they first had all their valuables removed from their huts and stored in some place of concealment, and then they invited the party to their homes. As one of the men walked about, he accidentally discovered their place of concealment ; immediately the Indians fled, taking with them their property to hide in a place of greater security. Being discovered again, they fled as before, talung every thing with them. This they did repeatedly — as often as they were seen. Squanto finsJly succeeded in allaying their fears and persuading them to trafiic. The party obtained from them eight hogsheads of corn and beans. This was the last service which poor Squanto rendered to the English. He was here attacked with a fever, at- tended with bleeding at the nose. His symptoms became worse. Nothing that was done produced any favorable eflect. The disease hastened to a crisis. He was convinced that he could not recover. As memorials of his love and gratitude, he bequeathed various articles to his different English friends. " Pray for me," said this dying Indian to Governor Bradford, " pray for me, that I may go to the Eng- lishman's God in Heaven." After which he soon expired. This child of nature had passed through a SQUANTO'S HISTORY. 85 more varied experience than usually fell to the lot of the sons of the forest. He had, as we have seen, been kidnapped hy Hunt, taken across the Atlantic, and sold into slavery in Spain ; — he was liberated by the Catholics ; passed over to England ; acquired something of the language ; returned to tlie land of his fathers, and found himself the only one of his tribe in these parts who had not been cut oif by the plague. His previous history had admirably quali- fied him to be an interpreter between the natives and the English, for in addition to liis knowledge of the languages, his having been to England was of great importance, as it enabled him to give information to the Indians concerning the numbers, the ships, the cities, and the greatness of the English, by which they would have more correct and exalted opinions of them, and would more readily enter into alliance with them. Doubtless before the arrival of the May- flower, Squanto had related his adventures to the Indians, and told them of the greatness and power of the English, as seen in their own land. It is not improbable that the information he gave was gener- ally circulated among the tribes around Massachu- setts Bay, so that they stood more in awe of the English than they would have done, if it had not been for liis communications. It was certainly a very favorable providence that the Pilgrims, who, upon their arrival, were profoundly ignorant of the lan- 8 86 INDISCRETION AND WICKEDNESS. guage of the Indians, should so soon have found one competent to be an interpreter. Through his instru- mentality, misunderstandings and difficulties were avoided, which otherwise might easily have occurred. The suspicions of the Indians were allayed. The real character and objects of the English were made known to them, and negotiations entered into which resulted in a friendly alliance. It was the design of the party to visit some of the tribes to the south of Cape Cod. But, in consequence of the death of Squanto, this was abandoned. The wind being favorable, they returned to the Massachu setts, who had promised to plant a quantity of corn for the English. Upon their arrival there, they found the Indians suffering from the prevalence of a disease somewhat similar to the plague. Trade was de- stroyed there, in consequence of the indiscreet man- ner in which it had been conducted by Weston's men, they having purchased of the Indians at much higher rates than the Pilgrims were accustomed to give. Beads, trinkets, and cutlery had fallen in value. Notwithstanding their wickedness, they were not so good at a bargain as the Plymouthites. The Indians repeated their complaints of the villanies of the new colony. The party next visited Nauset, now East- ham, where they obtained eight or ten hogsheads of beans and corn. But a storm coming on, and their shallop being cast away, they had no means (if re- DIVISION OP STORES. 8/ moving the stores which they liad bought. Tlie com was therefore placed in a heap, covered with mats and coarse sedge, and committed to the care of an Indian, with tlie promise, that, if he prevented it from being stolen, or from being injured by vermin, he should be suitably rewarded. The shallop was found half buried in the sand, but too much injured to be repaired with the means then at their disposal. They left that in the care of the cliief, with the assurance, that, if it received no additional injury, and if the grain which they had purchased should not be touched, they would regard it as evidence of tlieir sincere friendliness ; but if the shallop or the stores should be molested, they would deem it an unfavora- ble indication, and would punish them accordingly. After the governor had completed these arrange- ments, he, with a portion of the company, set out for Plymouth, on foot, where they arrived safely, though with sore feet and great fatigue, after walking fifty miles. Within two or tlu-ee days after, the Swan arrived, bringing the remainder. The corn and beans which they had brought being now divided between the two parties, Weston's men returned home. Whilst the Pilgrims were carefid not to wrong the Indians, neither would they let the Indians injure them. They deemed it important always to exhibit a firm determination to exact their just dues, and by 88 MDICniiOUS CEBEMONT. no means to be sinned against with impunity. When they detected, on the part of the natives, misdemeanors, their sachems were informed of it, and restitution de- manded at once. An illustration of this decision of character was furnished during their recent visit at EEistham, An Indian entered their shallop, which had been drawn up into one of the numerous creeks with which that place abounds, and stole from it beads, scissors, and other articles. As soon as it was knov^n, the captain took a number of his men, went to the sachem, informed him of the theft, and in a bold tone demanded the restoration of the miss- ing articles, or the deUvery of the thief, with the declaration, that, if this demand was unheeded, he would inflict summary punishment upon them before he left. He then withdrew till morning, dechning to receive their proffered hospitality. The Indians not only knew that a robbery had been committed, but also who was the criminal. The next day, the sachem,' accompanied with many of his tribe, visited the English, at their rendezvous, in as great state as he could command. As they approached the captain, each man thrust out his tongue the whole length, licked liis hands from the wrists to the ends of his fingers, at the same time bending the knee and bow- ing in such an awkward, ungainly manner, that the English could with difficulty restrain their laughter. They presented an extremely ludicrous sj>ectacle INOUN OAUBLERS. 89 This ridiculous ceremony was not one of their own original customs. It was an attempt to imitate the English mode of salutation, according to instructions received from Squanto. As he had been to England, was acquainted with their language, and made it his home much of the time at Plymouth, where he saw their customs and manners daily, the Indians, without doubt, regarded him as fully competent to initiate them into the mysteries of EngUsh politeness. Hence their readiness to follow his directions on this occa- sion. But hke certain imitations of foreign customs and fashions which are sometimes practised among civilized people, it partook of the absurd. However, it was well intended, and was received in the same spirit. Salutations being over, the sachem restored the stolen articles to the captam, at the same time informing him that he had given the guilty party a sound beating. The Indians were great gamblers. In gtunes of hazard or skill, they would sometimes lose their knives, hatchets, skins, clothes, dwellings, food, money, and even their own Uberty. A vice seldom exists alone. Crimes are gregarious. As with more cultivated gamesters, so with these blacldegs of the forest, their playing sometimes led to quarrels, bat- tles, wounds, and death. One bitter cold January night, whilst the governor was at Buzzard's Bay, on a visit to the chief, Cana- 8* 90 GAMBLING AND MCTRDER. cum, tw<» Indians arrived from Manamoick, now Chatham. They entered the wigwam, deliberately laid aside their weapons, seated themselves by the fire, and took a pipe, without any words passing be- tween them and the occupants of the tent. That they had come on some important embassy, was evi- dent from their appearance and manners, but what it was no one knew. After remaining some time in silence, they ventured to raise their eyes towards Canacum. One of them gave a short address, and then, in the name of his sachem, presented to Cana- cum a basket of tobacco and a quantity of beads, which were thankfully received. He then disclosed the object of their visit in an address of greater length, the purport of which was as follows : As two men of their tribe were gambling, they fell into a quarrel. From words they came to blows, and in the fight one of them was slain ! Unfortunately, the murderer was a powwow, a distinguished medicine man among them, whom they were reluctant to exe- cute. But another tribe, more powerful than theirs, had espoused the cause of the murdered man, and had declared, that if the murderer was not put to death, they would deem it a just occasion of war, and would act accordingly. They had come, there- fore, from their sachem, lo obtain advice, as he had resolved to form no decision in the case until their return. After the speech, all the savages remained THE FATAL CONSEQUENCE. 91 a considerable time in silence, as if solemnly con- sidering the important subject. At length, they be- gan to express their opinions. Hobbamock, who was present as the governor's interpreter, was asked his advice. He replied, that, as the acquittal of the powwow would lead to war, in which many would be killed, he thought it was better that one guilty person should die, rather than many who were in- nocent. Upon which, the murderer, who was then held in custody, was sentenced to be executed. Gambling is a vice of a most enticing and de- structive nature. It is painfully interesting to notice that it leads to the same dreadful results among the ignorant savages of the forest, as among professional gamesters of more civilized communitiea. CHAPTER VIII. <* And when they talk of him, they shake their heads, And whisper one another in the ear ; And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer's wrist ; Whilst he that hears makes fearful action. And wrinkled brows, with nods, with rolling eyes." — Shaksfkabs Fears of Conspiracy. — Illness of Massasoit. — Winslow, with two others, sets out to visit him. — Arrives at a Ferry. — Hears that Massasoit is dead. — Hobbamock's deep Grief. — His Descrip tion of the Chief. — They visit Corbitant's House. — A Mes senger sent to Fokanoket. — Returns with the News that Mas- sasoit is yet alive. — The Party press on. — Their Arrival.^- Powwows at work upon the sick Chief.* -Winslow prescribes for him. — He improves. — Eats too hearty, and becomes worse. — Indian Custom. — Eflbrts to persuade Massasoit to oppose the English. — Tiiey are unsuccessful. — Massasoit reveals the Con- spiracy. — His Advice. — Conversation with Corbitant. — How the Puritans taught the Indians. — Origin of Traditions. Not long after this, the colonists began to sus pect, from various facts which had come to their knowledge, that the Indians were plotting their de- struction. These suspicions were afterwards con- firmed, when it became necessary to take vigorous measures for their defence ; but previous to any actual collision between them, the painful intelli- gence was brought to Plymouth, that Massasoit, their tried friend, weis dangerously ill, and, also, that a ship belonging to the Dutch was stranded near his dwelling. It was deemed advisable for Winslow MESSENGERS TO MASSASOIT. 93 to visit him, to express the sympathy of the colo- nists in his affliction, and to render him any assist- ance in their power. Another object which they had in view, was to obtain an interview with the Dutch. As Winslow was somewhat acquainted with their language, he was selected for this pur- pose. He was accompanied on his journey by a Mr. .Tohn Hamden, a gentleman from London, who happened to be wintering at Plymouth, and who desired to see the country, and by Hobbamock, who, since the death of Squanto, had acted as interpreter for the colony. This was in Mai-ch, 1623. The first night they reached Namasket, now Middle- borough, where Standish and his men made their midnight attack in search of Corbitant. About noon, the next day, they arrived at a ferry ; but seeing no one, Winslow fired his piece. This brought the Indians out, who informed him that Massasoit was dead and buried, and that the Dutch ship was afloat, and would probably be gone before they could reach there. Tliis was unwelcome news, especially to the interpreter. They were now about three miles from the residence of Corbitant. As it was probable he would succeed to the chieftainship, upon the death of Massasoit, Winslow regarded it important to see him at that time, in order to enter into a more friendly alliance with him. As the others had no objection, although there was some 94 KDMOKS OF THE CHIEF'S DEATH. peril in the undertaking, arising from the pievious collision -with Corbitant, he started towards Matta- poiset, his village. This was in Swansey. On the way, Hobbamock could not restrain his grief for the death of Massasoit, but gave utterance to his feel- ings in the exclamation, " O my chief, my dear, my loving cliief ! with many have I been acquainted, but none ever equalled thee." Then turning to his friend, he said, " O Master Winslow, his like you will never see again. He was not like other In- dians, false, bloody, and implacable ; but kind, easily appeased when angry, easily reconciled with of- fenders. He was reasonable in his requirements ; was not ashamed to ask advice of those in low stations. He was a wise ruler. He governed bet- ter with mild, than other chiefs did with severe, measures, returning love for love. I fear you have not now a faithful friend left among the Lidians." He would then break forth again in loud lamenta tions, " enough," as Winslow says, " to have made the hardest heart relent." There is something deeply affecting in the artlessness of this Indian's sorrow, and in the simple frankness of its utterance. It was not a mere outburst of feeling, for which no intelligent reason could be assigned, but a graphic delineation of the qualities of him Whose decease was lamented, which delineation also served to deepen the intensity of his sorrow, by bringing more THE CHCEr's WKETCHED CONDITION. 95 vividly before him the greatness of his loss. It re- minds us of the lamentation of David over liis friend .Tonathan. " I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan : very pleasant hast thou been unto me. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." When they arrived at the residence of Corbitant, they found him absent. Upon making inquiries of his wife, they learned that she had not heard, with any degree of certainty, of Massasoit's death. They then hired a messenger, and sent him in great haste to Pokanoket, to ascertain the true state of the case. Just before sunset, he returned with the intelligence that the chief was not yet dead, but probably would be before they could arrive. They at once started, hoping to reach him before he breathed his last. When they arrived, they found the house so fuU of visitors, that it was with great difficulty they could effect an entrance. When they had succeeded, they beheld a scene so repulsive, and so annoying, as to be almost sufficient to banish what little vitahty the poor, sick sagamore possessed. Not only was the place filled with filthy Indians, who effectually for- bade all fresh air to the dying man, but the pow- wows were at work with their magical incantations, now rubbing him, now yelUng, now making frantic gesticulations, so that if the disease had been intel- hgent, and cognizant of what was in progress, it 36 WINSLOW'S KINDNESS. would have been effectually frightened away. Six or eight were over him with their manipulations at once, and at a time when he ought to have been favored with perfect quiet. After their superstitious spells and exorcisms were over, they informed him that bis English friends had come to see him. The visitors approached his couch, and rejoiced to find that his reason continued, though his sight was gone. " Who is come 1 " asked the bUnd old chief. " Winsnow," said they, being unable to pronounce the l. " I want to speak with him," said the pros- trate son of the forest, at the same time reaching forth his feeble hand. Winslow seized his extended hand, and placed himself close by his couch. " Art thou Winsnow I " feebly inquired the sick chief; " art thou Winsnow ? " " Yes," was the reply. " O Winsnow, I shall never see thee more," said he, in his own language. Hobbamock was now called, and, through him, Winslow conveyed to the invahd the sympathy of the governor, informing him that such was his desire for his restoration to health, that he had sent him some things which he thought might be of service, and! if he was wilUng to take them, he, himself, would prepare them. He said he was willing. Winslow then took upon the point of his knife a " confection of many comfortable con- serves," which, with some difficulty, he passed be- tween the patient's teeth. When this was swal- MASSASOIT BETTER. 97 lowed, those that stood around him were filled with joy, this being the first that he had swallowed for two days. His mouth was fi>und to be in a very bad state, and his tongue thickly coated, and greatly swollen. Winslow, with great kindness, washed his mouth, scraped his tongue, and cleansed him as weU as he could. He then administered more of the conserves, which were swallowed with greater ease than the first. In a sliort time, he gave indica- tions of decided improvement. Among other good signs, his sight began to return. As nothing suit- able for a sick person could be found in his wig- wam, a messenger was despatched to Plymouth to obtain medicines, chickens for broth, and other needful articles. This he regarded as extremely kind. Winslow, though unaccustomed to the busi- ness, made for him some broth without any fowl — a kind of mock-cliicken soup. It was corn gruel, seasoned with green strawberry leaves and slices of sassafras root. He strained it through his pocket handkerchief, and then gave him about a hsJf a pint, which he drank with a good relish. After tliis, he improved more rapidly. Being, as Hobbamock had said, a man of kindly feeling, he desired Wins- low to visit some of his people who were sick, cleanse their mouths, and administer some of the game articles to them wliich he had given to him, «»for," said he, "they are good persojis." Kig 9 98 THE chief's indiscretion and eelapse. request was complied with, though Winslow found it a very offensive service. He expressed a desire for some pottage made of goose, or duck. Wins- low went out, in company with an Indian, after one. They discovered a brace of ducks. Wlien Winslow, at a distance of more than a hundred paces, shot and killed one of them, his companion was aston- ished. It appeared to him almost miraculous. This was dressed and boiled. Being very fat, it made gross broth. Winslow was about to skim it. Massasoit forbade him. Winslow entreated him to allow it to be done, as otherwise it might injure him. The sick chief persisted in his refusal. When it was prepared, the invalid, instead of taking a small quantity, sufficient for his present wants, made a hearty meal. He overloaded his stomach, which, in the course of an hour, produced violent vomiting and bleeding at the nose, which continued for sev- eral hours. All now regretted that he had not complied with the directions of his nurse. His case became worse, and death seemed near. In the course of time, however, these unfavorable symp- toms were allayed, and he began to improve. When the messengers returned from Plymouth, bringing with them chickens and medicine, he was so far recovered that he did not need the medicine, and the chickens he concluded to keep, in order t» raise others. INDIAN CUSTOM. 99 It was customary among the Indians, when any one was sick with a disease that was not contagious; for all his friends to visit him, as a testimony of their respect and sympathy. So universally was the good prince of Pocanoket esteemed, that friends came from a distance of a hundred miles to see liim, to whom he related all the circumstances of his illness ; how blind he was ; how extremely low ; how his Enghsh friends visited him, nursed him, administered medicine, and raised him up to liis present degree of strength. In this manner, the characteristic kindness of the Pilgrims became more widely known among the Indians who lived at a considerable distance from the colony. This served to impress them with the importance of being on friendly terms with the English, that they might receive similar favors. It was stated at the commencement of our ac- count of Massasoit's sickness, that the colonists were suspicious that evil was being plotted against them by the Indians. Winslow's visit to the chief resulted in obtaining more full and correct informa- tion upon this painful subject. The day previous to his arrival there, a certain sachem was with Mas- sasoit, endeavoring to prejudice him against the English, and to obtain his consent to measures against them, which had been recently devised. lie wanted the sick chief to unite with the unholy 100 MAssAsorr's disclosure. alliance which had bebii formed for their destruction. One of the arguments which this wily sachem em- ployed, was that the English were not interested for the welfare of Massasoit ; their friendship was hypocritical. If they really respected him, or cared for liim, they would have visited him in his sickness ; but as they had not, it proved that all their profes- sions were hollow-hearted. The next day, Winslow arrived as a messenger from the English, which disproved the false charges jf the evil-disposed sachem. After his recovery, Massasoit was impelled by a sense of gratitude to •lisclose to the English the conspiracy wliich had been formed for the purpose of extirpating both colonies. Through Hobbamock, he revealed that fhe Massachusetts, and the Indians of the several places now known as Eastham, Cape Cod, Fal- mouth, Barnstable, Buzzard's Bay, Wareham, and Martha's Vineyard, had entered into combination for that object, and he had been strongly urged to join, but had refused to have any thing to do with the murderous aiFair. He also advised the EngUsh, as the best course they could pursue, to put to death the Indians of Massachusetts, who were the authors of this plot, and then it would be destroyed. He earnestly charged them to communicate fully this information and advice to the governor. As the Dutch ship, which had been aground, was INTERVIEW WITH COHBITANT. 101 gotten off, and had left before Winslow's arrival, nothing more remained for him to do. He there- fore departed. On his return, he spent the night at Swansey, with Corbitant, whom he says he found to be "a notable politician, yet full of merry jests and squibs, and never better pleased than when the hke are returned again upon him." " If I were sick, as Massasoit has been," asked he, " and should send word to Plymouth, would Mr. Governor send me medicine 1 " « Yes." " Would you bring it to me 1 " «' Certainly," said Winslow. At this he was highly delighted, and expressed many thanks. " How did you dare," said he again, " to go so far into the country, being but two of you 1 " "Because, where there is true love," answered Winslow, " there is no fear ; and my heart is so upright towards the Indians, that I am not in the least degree fearful to go among them." « If you love us so much," continued the shrewd Indian, " how happens it that when we visit Plym- outh you stand upon your guard, and present the mouths of your guns towards us 1 " "Because that is the most honorable reception 9* 102 MODE OF TEACHING. we can give you. It is in that way that we salute our most distinguished guests." Cnrbitant shook his head, as if in doubt, saying, " 1 don't like such salutations.'' Having noticed, that before their meals they asked a blessing, and afterwards returned thanks, he asked them why they did it. This led to a long conversation upon the character and works of the Deity ; upon the relations which men sustain to liim as their preserver and constant benefactor, and the duties which they owe to him as such, with which he and others who were present were pleased When the Ten Commandments were repeated, they approved of all except the seventh. They thought there were many objections to " tying a man to one woman." They wanted, as many do at the present day, greater hberty. This is a specimen of the manner in which the Pilgrims endeavored to communicate religious truths to the minds of these ignorant and degraded sav- ages. When among them, they observed reUgious services at their meals. Neither fear nor pride pre- vented them. They also continued the practice of morning and evening devotions. They strictly re- garded the Sabbath, and when opportunity pre- sented, especially by inquiries from the savages, they imparted, in a familiar manner, the elementary truths of the Bible As they became better ac- INDIAN TBADITIONS. 103 quainted with each other, and could converse more easilvi many such conversations as the above were held. The truths and scriptural facts which were in this way imparted to a few, would by them be communicated to their whole tribe, and would be made topics of discussion among them. It is not improbable, that in this manner some of the more prominent truths of the Bible became widely dis- seminated among the natives of the continent. As those who first learned them were scattered abroad by war, or pestilence, or for want of good hunting grounds, they would, in their intercourse with others, give them still wider diffusion. After the lapse of years, these truths might, especially among tribes at the greatest distance from the settlements, assume the character of traditions, and, as such, be handed down to their posterity. Traditions which now exist among some of the Indians of the remote West, and which bear a close analogy to Scripture history, may have originated in this manner. After spending the night with Corbitant, and having hospitable and pleasant entertainment, they bade him adieu, and passed on towards Middle- borough. Here they spent the second night. The next day they arrived at home. CHAPTEK ..^. " O Conspiracy! Sham *st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night. When evils are most free ? O, then, by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage ? Seek none, conspiracy Hide it in smiles and affability." — SHAEsrxARE. Condition of Weston's Colony. — Mem drowned in digging Clams. — Indian Policy. — The Men rob them. — Indians complain.— A slanderous Tradition. — Butler perpetuates it. — Its Origin.— Plymouth not responsible for We3Tnouth. — Consultation of the two Colonies. — Sanders goes to Maine for Provisions.^ Dan gers of the English. — Their Perils considered by the Court. — Standish sent to Weymouth to capture Indians. — His Instruc- tions. — Insulting Conduct of the Indians. — Pratt's providen- tial Escape. — He relates the wretched Condition of Weymouth. — Pratt is pursued. — His Pursuer captured as a Spy. — Stand- ish arrives at Weymouth. — Makes known the Conspiracy. — The Captain's Policy. — Indians pretend they know his Object. — Their Insults. — The boasting of Indian Braves. — The For- bearance of the Captain. The planting of Weston's colony at Weymouth proved an unfortunate affair. It was composed of bad materials, and managed without tact, judgment, or prudence. The men were indolent, vicious, and destitute of public spirit. Their supplies were soon exhausted, and, by the end of February, 1623, they were reduced to great distress. They then degraded themselves to become " hewers of wood and car- riers of water *' to the Lidians, for a meal's victuals AN EXECUTION. 105 when, with ordinary industry, employed in other directions, they might have supphed themselves far more abundantly. So reduced in strength had the men become, in consequence of the want of food, that one of them, who was engaged in digging clams, sunk in the mud ; and being unable to extricate himself, was overwhelmed by the rising tide, and drowned. The Indians knew the weakness of the Wey- mouthites, and, on account of the servile services they had received from them, they regwded them with contempt. To reduce them to still greater straits, they refused to lend or sell them any corn, beans, or bread, on any terms. The men resorted to theft. When they found any of the hiding- places where the Indians concealed their grain, they dug it up, and appropriated it to their own use. The Indians complained and threatened. To ap- pease them, some of the criminals were whipped and placed in the stocks. As this neither produced amendment, nor pacified the natives, more severe measures were resorted to, and one of them was hung. A tradition has become current, that at this execution, a sick, feeble, and worthless old man, who could have rendered no aid to repel an attack of the Indians, was substituted in the place of the criminal, who was & strong young man, and might be of great service to the colony in time of war 106 BASE SLANDIB. As the execution was mainly to satisfy the Indians, it vras argued that one person would answer as well for that purpose as another, so long as the savages were deceived, which might easily be effected by dressing the innocent sick person in the clothes of the criminal. The Indians would then suppose that the guilty person was on the gallows. Unfortu nately, this tradition has been widely circulated, and rendered immortal by Butler, in the following lines of Hudibras : — " Our brethren of New England use Choice malefactors to excuse, And hang the guiltless in their stead, Of whom the churches have less need ; As lately happened." It is proper that this base slander should be denied. We have not seen a particle of evidence that such a shameful transaction ever took place. The first writer who alludes to it mentions it sim- ply as a suggestion that was made at the time, but which was rejected. The nearest approximation to evidence of such Etn occurrence is the statement of Mr. Hubbard, that the person executed was really guilty, as were many of the others ; " yet it is pos- sible that justice might be executed, not on him that most deserved it, but on him that could best be spared, or who was not likely to live long, if he WEYMOUTHITES NOT PILGEIMS. 107 had been let alone." But even this language does not convey the idea, that after one person had been convicted, another one was executed in his stead ; but only, that of the many criminals, the most guilty one might not have been selected for trial and condemnation. Yet the one who was tried and condemned was the one who was executed, and whose guilt is admitted. But even if it were other- wise, and the unjust substitution had taken place, the Pilgrims are not to be censured. They were nowise connected with the affair, and seem not to have been informed of it until it was over, when the intelligence was communicated by a messenger from Weymouth. The two colonies were entirely inde- pendent of each other. The Pilgrims at Plymouth were in no sense responsible for the deeds of the other settlement. Butler errs in calling them " our brethren of New England." They were not Pil- grims. We have no evidence that they had a church, or that any of them were members of a church ; and notliing that they did should be allowed to injure, in the least degree, the reputation of the Pilgrims. When the settlers at Weymouth found it impos- sible to obtain any thing from the Indians with their consent, they resolved to supply their wants by taking forcible possession of their stores. To this end they closed up every entrance to their town, 108 EVIDENCE OF CONSPIKACY. except one, and strengthened the defences which they had biiilt. Before entering upon their foraging expedition, which would be equivalent to a declara- tion of war, they consulted with the leading men at Plymouth. They narrated the conduct of the Indians, the painful straits to which the colony was reduced, and the absolute necessity of their procuring supplies. They then disclosed their intended attack, and asked their opinion. After giving the matter their serious consideration, the Pilgrims expressed the opinion that the contemplated movement would be untimely, impolitic, and dangerous ; that it would be a viola- tion of the law of their king, and of the law of God ; and they presented a variety of forcible rea- sons to dissuade them from its execution. This judicious advice they resolved to comply with for the present. Their next measure was to send their overseer, Mr. Jolm Sanders, to the coast of Maine, for provisions. The friends at Plymouth supplied him with corn for his voyage, on which he set out in the latter part of February. After his departure, additional evidence was dis- covered of the conspiracy among the Indians. It was more fully divulged by some of the Indians themselves. Dangers thickened around the Eng- lish. They were so few and weak, in comparison with the neighboring tribes, that if there had been a PLAN TO SUPPRESS IT. 109 sudden, simultaneous, and courageous attack, on the part of the savages who had joined the plot, they woidd easily have annihilated both settlements. This the English knew. They were aware, also, that no time was to be lost ; that whilst they were dehberating, the war whoop might ring in their ears, and their hearth fires be quenched in blood. At the annual meeting of the General Court, which soon occurred, the whole subject was submitted by the governor to that body. They referred it to the governor, his assistant, and the captain, with such others as they might be disposed to consult. This committee were empowered to devise and execute such measures as the exigency seemed to them to demand. The conclusion to which this committee came was, that Captain Standish should take as many men as he thought necessary for the purpose, and proceed to the Massachusetts, ostensibly for trade. After making Weston's colony acquainted with the bloody conspiracy which had been formed against the English, and the real object of this visit, Standish was then to open trade with the Indians, and carefully observe all their demeanor ; but he was to avoid, if possible, an actual collision, until an Indian by the name of Wituwamat was in his power, whom he was to kill, and then send his head to Plymouth. This fellow was selected as a victim, because he was a notorious, insulting villain, 10 110 wrruwAMAT doomed. whose conduct had previously been extremely aggra- vating. He had boasted in a pompous and irritating manner of having shed the blood of both English and French, whom he derided for want of courage, saying that " they died ciying, making sour faces, more like children than men." On a former occa- sion, when Captain Standish was at Manomet, this fellow endeavored to persuade Canacum, the sachem of that place, to destroy him, as he then had a fair opportunity, stating to him that the Massachusetts, in order to secure their own preservation, had com- bined to cut off Weston's colony, but had con- cluded to delay until they were strong enough to destroy Plymouth also. As he now had the cap- tain in his power, it was a good time to put him and his company out of the way. In consequence of his known enmity to the colo- msts, and of the threats which he had used, it was considered important to the safety of the settlers that he should be slain. Hence the instructions to the captain to avoid an attack until Wituwamat was in his power. The captain took only eight men with him on this perilous expedition. He thought that a larger number would excite suspicion among the Indians of their conspiracy being detected. Before he set out, a messenger by the name of Pratt arrived at Plymouth, from Weston's plantation, with a pack ABUSIVE INDIANS. Ill on his shoulders, brining information that the state of things tliere was worse than ever. The men were reduced to the extremes of poveity, having been obhged to sell their clothes for food, and now, being unable to go in pursuit of food on account of their nakedness, they were perishing from cold and famine. If at any time they obtained victuals, the Indians were so strong and bold that they would enter their houses, take it from the pot where it was being cooked, and in a tantalizing manner would eat it before their eyes. If they remonstrated, the sav- ages would put a knife to their breasts and threaten their lives. One of the colonists had abandoned his companions and turned savage ; the most of the people had forsaken the town, and made their ren- dezvous wherever they happened to find food. They had separated into three companies, very few of them having any powder or shot with which to pro- cure game or defend themselves if attacked. What would be the ultimate result he knew not. Being afraid to tarry there any longer, he had set out, al- though he knew not the way, to come to Plymouth and ask the privilege of remaining there till affairs became more settled. Soon after this man had left the Massachusetts, at Weymouth, the Indians missed him, and suspecting that he had gone to Plymouth, they immediately sent a messenger in pursuit of him, probably with 112 pkatt's escape. orders to put him to death ; .as they expressed the opinion he would never reach Pl3Tnouth, but would be devoured by wild beasts on the journey. Guided by a kind Providence, Pratt lost his way ; so that the Indian in pursuit, who took the usual route, missed him, and thus his life was saved. The In- dian passed by Plymouth on his way to Buzzard's Bay. When he returned he stopped there, pretend- ing to make a friendly call, but in reality to observe their condition, and see whether they were reduced to the poverty and helplessness of Weston's people, which he hoped was the case ; the intelligence of which, he knew would be glad tidings to the Massa- chusetts. The governor immediately arrested him, and kept him a prisoner. He was sent to the fort and chained to a staple, where he was informed he must remain under guard until Standish returned from his expedition against his tribe. This must have been evil tidings to the poor captive spy, who knew that his own people were only waiting for a favorable opportunity to pounce upon the colony like a vulture upon its prey, and who, by his present captivity, had abundant reason to believe that their conspiracy was detected, and would be punished. After Pratt's relation, Standish, with his small company, proceeded to Weymouth with all speed. When they arrived, seeing the shiji which was con- nected with the colony in the harlmr, they went on STANDISH AT WKTMOUTH. 113 boai'd to have some consultation as to the best measures to be adopted with reference to the ap- proachiing crisis. Finding no one on deck, they entered tlie cabin. No one was there ! They ex- amined other parts of the vessel, and to their great surprise found it entirely forsaken — not even one person left as guard. What did it mean ? Had the crew been slain by the Indians since Pratt left ? Appearances did not favor such a conclusion. No weapons were about, as if left in haste ; no mai-ks of blood were seen. Had they then been seized and taken into captivity ? To ascertain whether they were in the neighborhood, one of the men on board fired a musket. Immediately the overseer and several of liis companions presented themselves upon the shore. They were there for the purpose of gathering ground nuts and other articles to eat. After salutations were exchanged. Captain Standish asked, — «' How do you dare to leave your ship, and Uve in BO much security 1 " " O," replied they, utterly insensible of their per- ilous condition, " we have no fear of the Indians, but live with them and suffer them to lodge with us, without our having a gun or sword, or even needing one." " Well, well," said Standish, " if you have no oc- casion for vigilance, so much the better. But where 10* 114 ADVICE OF STANDISH. are those whom Mr. Sanders left in chai-ge of affairs during his absence ? " " They are at the plantation." Thither the cap- tain went. He informed them of the Indian con- spiracy, and that the object of his visit was to cut off the ringleaders. He also invited them, if they were so disposed, to reside at Plymouth, until this dark cloud had passed away, and they were placed in circumstances more favorable to their prosperity. But if they thought it advisable to pursue any other course, he would assist them to the extent of his ability. The men now had their eyes opened. They were surprised at their own previous blind- ness. They could call to recollection various cir- cumstances which had occurred in their intercourse with the natives, which were in keeping with the conspiracy. They acknowledged that it was all oi divine mercy that they had not been slain before the captain's arrival. They desired that he would pro- ceed at once to the accomplishment of his object. He enjoined upon them the observance of the greatest secrecy, that the Indians might not discover their intentions. He also advised them to send orders to that third of the company who were at the greatest distance from the plantation to return, and, on pain of death, to keep the town, promising to supply, from his own nores, each man with a pint of corn a day. Some SUSPICION OF THE INDIANS. 115 time elapsed before any active measures were adopted, in consequence of storms and rain. Dur- ing this delay, an Indian visited the plantation, bringing some skins, professedly to trade. In reality he was a spy, whose object it was to obtain, in a covert manner, what information he could respecting the suspicions and plans of the English. The cap- tain endeavored to appear perfectly friendly and mi- suspecting, yet when the spy returned, he reported that he saw from the captain's eyes that there was anger in his heart. The Indians, therefore, thought that their conspiracy was detected. But, instead of retreating beyond the reach of the English, until their arrangements with the other tribes were con- summated, they put on a bold front, visited the plan- tation frequently, and even expressed the belief to them that their object was to slay them. One of their braves, whose name was Pecksuot, a man of courage, but at the same time a braggadocio, went to Hobbamock, who was with Standish as his inter- preter, and told him that he had been informed that the captain had come to " kill himself and the rest of the salvages." " Tell him," said he, " we know it, but we neither fear him, nor will we shun him ; let him attack us when he pleases, he shall not take us by surprise." These were courageous words for one who had reason to believe that his plots were discovered. He was probaWy emboldened by his 116 INDIAN BOASTING. confidence in the success of the conspiracy. Tlie Indians who had entered into the alliance were so numerous, and the colonists so few and feeble, that success seemed to them almost a certainty. Hence, these insulting savages would sometimes come to the plantation alone, or several together, and, placing themselves in the presence of the captain, would whet their knives, sharpen their points, and make various gestures and speeches of an insulting nature, as if on purpose to irritate him to some deed of blood. Wituwamat was not wanting on these occa- sions. He boasted of the fine qualities of his knife, on the handle of which was pictured a woman's face ; " but," said he, " I have another at home with which 1 have killed both French and English, and that hath a man's face on it ; and by and by these two must marry." Not long after, when speaking of the knife he then had, he said, " By and by this shall see, and by and by it shall eat, but not speak ; " as if alluding to some intended murder which his knife would com- mit silently, whilst the muskets of the English always reported their doings. Pecksuot was a man of large size and great muscular strength, while Standish was comparatively small. On one occasion he said to Standish, — " You are a great officer, but a little man ; and though I am no sachem, yet I am a courageous man, and possess great strength." READT FOR ACTION. 117 All these things the captain endured with much forbearance. His determination was fixed, and liis plans formed ; he was only waiting a suitable oppor- tunity for their execution. He wisely resolved that no insults of the savages should betray him into pre- mature movements. Like the lion, with his eye fixed upon liis prey, he calmly waited for a favoiable moment of attack. It was not long before this arrived. CHAPTER X. " Bee, hb face la black and full of blood ; Hia eyeballs farther out than wben be lived ; Staring full ghastly, like a strangled man ; His hair upreared, his nostrils stretched with struggling} His hands abroad displayed, as one that grasped And tugged for life, and was by strength subdued." — Shakipcaib A silent, but fearful Massacre. — Hobbamock compliments Stand- ish. — Women held Captives. — An Indian escapes. — Three Englishmen among the Indians. — The Indians haste away at Midnight. — They meet Standish and his Men. — A Skirmish. — The Indians defeated. — Hobbamock's Bravery. — The Indian Women released uninjured. — The Pilgrims responsible for the Massacre. — Their Apology. — A young Indian's Confession. — Standish returns, taking an Indian's Head. — The captured Spy recognizes it. — The Spy released and sent as a Messenger. — A Squaw brings back an Answer. — The three Englishmen killed. — The Terror of the Natives. — They attempt to send a Peace-offering to the Governor. — The Boat is wrecked. — Robinson's Letter. On the day following the conversation which we gave at the close of the last chapter, a combination of circumstances seemed to indicate to Standish that the favorable moment for the execution of his plans had arrived. Pecksuot, Wituwamat, with another Indian, and a young villain about eighteen years of age, brother to Wituwamat, who had played many scurrilous tricks upon the more feeble of the colonists, were together in one house ; there were also present about the s£ime number of the A FEARFUL MASSACRE. 119 English, with Hobbamock. The door being made fast, Standish gave the signal for the dreadful work of death to be commenced. Each man chose his victim, and the fearful struggle began. Standish selected the insulting braggadocio, Pecksuol, and snatching the knife from his neck, which he had impudently sharpened in the captain's presence, he plunged it in his heart's blood ! One blow was not sufficient. The Indian resisted. He was wounded again ; he endeavored to recover ; his eyes glared ; he snatched violently after his knife, but failed to get it ; he fought with the energy of despair : the struggle was terrific, but brief. In a few minutes, the boastful warrior ceased to breathe. He had whetted his knife for liis own death. At the same time, similar conflicts were in progress between Wituwamat and an Englishman, and the other In- dian and a colonist. They knew that all flight was impossible. There was no quarter asked nor offered ; one of each couple must die ; one or the other party must be exterminated. They fought with desperation to the very last. There were no shrieks, no cries, no war whoops ; nothing but a deadly struggle. Their silence rendered the contest more awful. A shriek would have been a relief. In a few minutes, all the savages were dead except the youth. He was reserved to be hanged. During all this time, Hobbamock was a silent spectator of 120 OTHER MURDERS the tragic scene. He took no part with either. After it was all over, he said to Standish, whilst a smile played over his features, " Yesterday, Peck- suot, bragging of his own strength and stature, said, though you were a great captain, yet you were but a little man ; but to-day, I see you are big enough to lay him on the ground." But Standish desired not his praise ; he was intent upon the overthrow of the conspirators. Some Indian women who were at Weymouth he committed to the custody of Weston's people, for safe keeping till -further orders. He then sent a messenger to another company of the men, with instructions for them to kill all the Indians who were witli them. They slew two. Standish and a few others went to another place, and killed one more. It was the captain's design to have kept all this concealed from the natives ; but his purpose was defeated, through the negligence of one of the men in suffering an Indian to escape, who immediately disclosed these massacres to the tribe. A short time previous to this tragic adventure, three of Weston's men had gone and offered to build canoes for the sachem of one of the tribes in the neighborhood, where they had formerly been well fed, when performing similar service. The first night of their arrival, at a Ijite hour, a messen- ger came, ahnost breathless, perhaps the one who MIDNIGHT EXPEDITION. 121 had escaped from Weymouth, who delivered, in his own language, a short message. What it was, the Englishmen knew not. That it was of great im- portance, was evident from the conduct of the Indians ; for no sooner was it delivered, than a general excitement was produced. The Indians arose, hastily dressed themselves, seized their bows and arrows, gathered together for a few moments' consultation, and then, telling the English that they were going a hunting, and would return with plenty of venison, they hastily departed. The oldest and most experienced EngUshmen present thought that this midnight manoeuvre au- gured notliing good. Viewing this conduct of the Indians in connection with the strict charge of Standish, that none of the men should leave tlie plantation, he feared that a collision had, or would soon ensue. He proposed to liis companions to return. They unwisely refused. He set out, there- fore, alone. To avoid discovery, in case of pursuit, he shunned the paths, and groped his way In the darkness, through the unbroken fields and forests, by which means he successfully escaped. After the massacre at Weymouth, the captain took half of his own men, with one or two of Wes- ton's party and Hobbamock, and went forth to plunder the Indians. After marching some dis- tance, they met a party of the natives coming 11 122 A SKIEMISH. towards ti.iem — probably those who had left home so suddenly at night. Each regarded the other as on a belligerent expedition. A hill being near, the possession of which would give advantage in the fight, both parties endeavored to obtain it. Stand- ish was successful. The Indians then ran, accord- ing to their usual custom, and, concealing them- selves behind trees, rocks, and bushes, let fly a shower of arrows, aimed especially at Standish and Hobbamock. The combativeness of Hobbamock was now excited. He threw off his coat, and dashed in among them with great bravery. The savages, knowing him, retreated. Hobbamock pur- sued. The English could not keep up with him. These latter, seeing the arm and half of a face of a notorious character in the act of drawing his bow at Captain Standish, two of them fired at him, and broke his exposed arm. The Indians retreated to a swamp. The captain endeavored to hold a parley with them. They returned insulting lan- guage. He then challenged the sachem to show himself and fight openly like a man, and not get behind trees, and use hard words, like a cowardly squaw. His challenge and ridicule were alike un- heeded. The sachem and his men fled, leaving the English victorious. The captain then returned to Weymouth. The Indian women who were there he releised without any injury. He would not even CAPTAIN STANDISH. 123 allow the men to take from them their beaver gar- ments, nor in any way to insult them. We cannot but admire his scrupulous regard for the helpless- ness and delicacy of the female sex. In order to screen the Pilgrims from the respon- sibility of tliis massacre of the Indians at Wey- mouth, it will not do to say that Standish was not a member of the church, and, therefore, was no more of a Pilgrim than the men of Weston's colony ; that he was merely a military oflScer, and in this campaign against the enemy, was governed by ordi- nary mihtary usages ; for, admitting that all this was true, it must not be forgotten that he had re- ceived special instructions from the proper authori- ties at Plymouth how to proceed, and had simply executed those instructions. He was their servant, and had done their bidding ; they were, therefore, responsible for his deeds. The best justification of the act must be based upon the perilous condition in which the English were then placed. They knew their own weakness ; they were aware of the existence of a powerful conspiracy against them ; they had received intelli- gence of the dreadful massacre by the Indians in Virginia. No time was to be lost. The savages might come down upon them with the suddenness and terribleness of an Alpine avalanche. It ap- peared to them essential to their safety, that they 124 INDIAN CONFESSION. Ehould take the initiative in the approaching con- flict; that by some bold and severe stroke, they should send terror among the Indians before they ■were generally aware of the discovery of their con- spiracy. In forming our opinion of the morality of their conduct in this trying crisis, we must have some regard to the sentiments which generally pre- vailed among Christian people at that time, respect- ing the lawfulness of defensive war. After the massacre, a young Indian, who was of a mild, amiable, and confiding disposition, although he knew of the death of his countrymen, came fear- lessly to the captain, professing love and good will, and honestly confessed that the Indians had resolved to murder Weston's colony so soon as two more canoes were finished, which Weston's men were making for them at the time of the outbreak, and with which they intended to have taken their ships. Weston's people were now thoroughly tired of the new settlement. It had proved a failure, and they were resolved to abandon it. Some of them were desirous of going to the coast of Maine, with thf hope of finding a passage to England in some of the fishermen wliich resorted there. Standish furnished them with corn to reach the coast, which so reduced the Uttle quantity he had, as to leave him hardly enough to last till he could return home. Others of them preferred to go with him to Plym WEYMOUTH ABANDONED. 125 outh, as they did not want to associate wilh those who were going to Maine. After the former party had sailed and cleared the bay, Standish took the others in his shallop and retui-ned victoriously to Plymouth, where he was received with great joy. He did not fail to obey the command of the gov- ernor to bring back with him the head of one of the prominent conspirators. As an object of terror to [he Indians, it was set up in a conspicuous place in the fort. The Indian who pursued Pratt, but failed of over- taking him, was left, it will be remembered, a pris- oner at Plymouth. When the bloody trophy of the captain was shown him, he was asked if he knew whose head it was. He looked mournfully upon it, and said, "Yes; it is Wituwamat's." He also con- fessed the conspiracy, and said that his chief was urged to it by his men, among whom five were more urgent in pressing him into it than the others, two of whom, Pecksuot and Wituwamat, were slain. The other three were medicine men, or conjurors. He denied being implicated in it himself. He said he did not belong to their tribe, but was a stranger among them, and earnestly entreated the colonists not to put him to death. Hobbamock interceded for him, and gave liim a good character, though it after- wards appeared that he was induced so to do by the influence of a bribe. 11* 126 A MESSAGE TO OBTAKDEST. The Pilgrims were not revengeful. The shedding of blood afforded them no pleasure. Hence they had no disposition to execute the unfortunate native who was now in their power. Having recently been so victorious, they could afford now to be generous. Besides, by sparing his life and sending him home, they could forward a message to his chief which might prevent the necessity of further bloodshed. He was accordingly reletised and brought before the governor, who charged him, through Hobbamock, the interpreter, to say to Obtakiest, the cliief of thrt Massachusetts Indians, that the Pilgrims would not have attacked them if they had not been compelled to by their own treachery, and therefore the conspir- ators were to blame ; that if he entered into another similar plot, they would drive him from his country, and utterly extirpate his tribe ; of this he was now fairly warned ; and also that he must send back the three Englishmen he had, and not slay them ; that he must not injure what is left of the plantation at Weymouth ; and that this messenger must come back with the English, or with an answer, or with both, and they would guaranty him a safe return. They then gave him his liberty. For a long time nothing was heard from the chief in reply to this message, nor from the captive English. Finally, an Indian woman entered Plymouth, and informed them that Obtakiest had received the message, but that it came THE REPLY. 127 too late to save the lives of the English ; he ex. pressed great regret on this account, as he would have sent them back if they had been Uving. She also said, that he desired reconciliation with the English, but that his men were too fearful to come to Plym- outh to negotiate a treaty ; and that Obtakiest him- self was so apprehensive of a sudden attack of the English, that he had no certain dwelling-place, but changed Iiis encampment daily to avoid discovery. Tliis sudden and successful attack of Standish struck such terror into the Indians, as completely to arrest the execution of their conspiracy. So panic- stricken were they, that they abandoned their own dwellings and fled hither and thither, in woods, swamps, and other unfrequented places, as if they thought the whole English colony were in close pur- suit. By their exposures during these flights, they caught various diseases, of which many of them died, among whom were Canacum, Aspinet and lanough, the sachems of Buzzard's Bay, Eastham, and Barn stable. They had not courage even to plant their usual amount of corn, on which they were greatly dependent for food. At last the natives of one place ventured to man a small boat, and load it with presents, as a kind of peace-offering to the governor. On its voyage to the colony it was wrecked, and three of the men were lost. The only one who escaped did not dare to proceed to Plymouth, but returned. It is not unlikely that this catastrophe 128 rob/nson's lettek. was interpreted by the Indians as unfavorable to themselves ; for lanough had given out that the God of the English was angry with the Indians, and was determined to destroy them. It would have been, therefore, very natural for them, under the in- fluence of their superstitious fears, to have construed this disaster into an illustration of the truth of lanough's prediction. The Pilgrims kept their friends in England in- formed as fully as they could of the history of the colony. The conspiracy and its suppression, being important events, had a prominent place in their correspondence. When Mr. Robinson, their pastor at Leyden, who had commended them to God in earnest prayer, at the time of their departure from Delf Haven, heard of the slaughter of the Indians, his benevolent heart was painfully affected. He wrote a letter to the church at Plymouth, in which he exhorted them to consider the disposition of their captain, who was of a warm temper. " He hoped that the Lord had sent him among them for good, if they used him right," but at the same time expressed the fear that he may be wanting " in that tenderness of the life of man, made after God's image, which was meet." The overflowing benevolence of his soul burst forth in that memorable passage : " O, iiow happy a thing had it been, that you had con- verted some before you killed any ! " CHAPTER XI. ** With humble prayer and fasting, In every strait and grief, They sought the Everlasting, And found a sure relief. Their cuvennnt-God o'ershadowed them. Their shield from every foe. And gave them here a dwelling-place Two hundred years ago." — Rev. Dr. Fliitt The Conspiracy checked. — Arrival of a Blacksmith in disguise. Who he is. — He hears unwelcome News. — He sails for Wey- mouth. — Is cast away aitd robbed. — Kindness of the Pilgrims. — Repaid with Ingratitude. — The Pilgrims without a Charter. — The Advantage of it. — Their first Patent. — The Ambition of John Pierce. — Is disappointed. .— Arrival of more Immigrants and Stores. — The Distress of the Colony. — Admiral West. — Cannot subdue the Fishermen. — Community of Goods aban doned. — Self-Dependenee. — Its Results. — The five Kernels of Corn. — No Bread ! — Patience of the Sufferers. — Long Drought. — Day of Fasting and Prayer. — Refreshing Showers. — Effect upon the Natives. So successful were the measures of Staudish at Weymouth in intimidating the Indians, that no other attempt was made against the Plymouth colony for half a century. During this long period of quiet, the little settlement at Plymouth attained to some degree of maturity. A short time after the return of Standish, and the abandonment of the plantation at Weymouth, a fish- ing vessel entered the harbor of Plymouth. A boat 130 A PSEUDO-BLACKSMITH. put off to the shore, bringing an Englialiman, who pretended to be a blacksniitli. He went among the colonists, inquiring about work, but at the same time asking many questions respecting the history and prospects of Weston's colony. He was informed of the conspiracy, of the massacre, and of the total abandonment of the place. This stranger was Weston liimself in disguise ! The intelligence he received fell upon his ear like the death-knell of his high hopes. The •experiment of that plantation hav- ing involved a heavy expenditure, he was anxious to see if something had not been gained. At any rate, he wished to know the worst. He therefore took a shallop with two or three men, and set out to visit it. A heavy storm arose, which drove him from his course towards the Merrimac, where he was wrecked, and with difficulty escaped with his life. To com- plete liis misfortunes, he was soon discovered by the Indians, who robbed him of all he had saved from the shallop, and stripped him of his clothes, even to his shirt. In this distressed condition he managed to reach Portsmouth, where he borrowed some clothes, returned to Plymouth, and entreated the Pilgfrims to loan him some beaver. Although the colony was reduced to great straits, yet, in view of his greater wretchedness, it was concluded to lend him a hundred and seventy pounds of beaver. In this transaction the Pilgrims exliiVuted great kindiicso WESTON'S CHAHACTEB. 131 Tliey were under no obligations to Weston. He had conferred upon them no favors. Though he was formerly interested in the Plymouth settlement, yet from personal considerations he abandoned it, and commenced one on his own account. The bad conduct of his settlers were, in all probability, the occasion of the Indian con.=piracy and the massacre. They were extremely undesirable neighbors. Al- though they received nothing but good from the Pil- grims, in return they ridiculed and slandered them. Weston, therefore, had no claims upon Plymouth. The conduct of the Pilgrims in loaning him this beaver was unmerited kindness. This will be the more apparent, when it is remembered that he could give them no security. With this borrowed capital Weston commenced his fortunes anew ; yet such was his dishonesty and ingratitude, that he not only failed to pay for the beaver, but, instead thereof, he maligned and opposed the Pilgrims on every occasion. We cannot deem it any other than a fortunate circumstance, that his colony was broken up so early. With such a man at its head, and such characters for its materials as his colonists were, nothing could have been expected from its continuance but a series of internal dissen- sions among themselves, and of external troubles with the Indians. When the Pilgrims left England in 1620, they 132 THE COLONY UNCHARTERED. SEiiled under the protection of the Virginia company, with the intention of settling in Virginia, some- where in the vicinity of Hudson's River. At that time, the territory of Virginia extended to the forty- fifth degree of north latitude, to Passamaquoddy Bay ; but their patent having been taken out in the name of an individual, Mr. John Wincob, who did not accompany them, never rendered them any ser- vice. This appears like a misfortune ; but, in reality, it was a blessing. Even if they could have made use of their patent, it was not what they wanted. It was essentially defective, inasmuch as it did not grant them what they desired above all things else — liberty of conscience ; so that when they landed at Plymouth, they were unchartered, unpatented. They were in the wilderness, unfet- tered by any royal limits or " company " restric- tions. Contrary to the design of the Virginia com- pany, yea, contrary to their own intentions, they found themselves in a new world, three thousand miles from home, in the full enjoyment of liberty of conscience. God, in liis kind providence, had given them that which the king, in his bigotry, would have withheld. In answer to their prayers, yet contrary to their hopes, the storms of Heaven had driven them into a harbor of freedom. The first patent taken out for Plymouth was in the name of John Pierce, as trustee. This gentle- TIMELY ASRIVAL. 133 man, seeing the prospective growth of the colony, had his ambition and covetousness so greatly ex- cited, that he procured another patent for his own use, by means of which he intended to have held the colonists as his tenants, and to have compelled them "to sue in his courts as chief lord." But Providence was against him. He made two at- tempts to reach this country, from England, with a company of emigrants, and both times was driven back by disastrous storms. Being thwarted in his project by heavy losses, and other misfortunes, he was glad to sell to the Pilgrims, for five hundred pounds, his patent which had cost liim but fifty. The emigi'ants who had been driven back with Pierce came over in another vessel, called the Ann. She was soon followed by the Little James, who brought sixty passengers, and a quantity of supplies for the colony. These stores were very acceptable, as those of the Pilgrims were nearly gone. To so low a condition were they brought, that they had nothing better to extend to their newly arrived guests than lobsters and cold water. The impor- tance of these stores may be infei'red from the fact that a day was set apart for special thanksgiving and praise on account of this arrival. In the month of June, 1623, one of the vessels in which Pierce had made one of his unsuccessfiil at- tempts to cross the Atlantic, arrived at Plymouth. 12 134 COMMUNITT OF GOODS. She was commanded by Captain Francis West, who had received the appointment of Admiral of New England, and had been commissioned to prevent all vessels from trading or fishing on the coast, without a license from the New England Council. But the fisheriiien being too independent and strong for him, he could not execute his commission. He gave it up as a hopeless undertaking, and sailed for Southern Virginia. To prevent any similar annoy- ance in future, the fishermen presented a petition to Parliament, who passed an order that fishing should be free. Until tliis time, there had been a community of interest among the colonists. Each man raised what he chose, and threw it into a common stock, from which the overseers supplied to each family, according to their number. Land was not owned by individuals. It was all common. Each man cultivated what he pleased, and gave the products to the general store. This experiment of a commu- nity of goods, like many others which have been tried since, did not -work well. As no wages could be given to any one for their labors in the field, and as those who were disposed to be idle were sure of their proportion of supplies, whether they worked or not, it was decided to abandon the system, and make every family support themselves. Accord- ingly, at a general meeting held in April of this Webster's address. 135 year, (1K23,) a certain portion of land was assigned to every man, by lot, for cultivation. All were, therefore, thrown upon their own labors for the frdits of tlie earth. Exceptions were made only in the case of public officers and of fishermen, who, being engaged for the welfare of the colony in other directions, were considered worthy of a share of the products of the soil, though they assisted not in raising them. Immediately after the allotment of the land, the men began to cultivate ; yea, so great was the interest which had been excited by the new system, that women and children entered the fields, and labored so effectively, that, a much larger quan- tity of corn was planted than was expected. This being over, they were again reduced to want. Their provisions were entirely consumed. A sim- ple, affecting, yet very appropriate memorial of their condition at that time, was presented at the centen- nial celebration of their landing, wliich was ob- served December 22, 1820, at Plymouth. After an address from Hon. Daniel Webster, which occupied two hours in its delivery, and wliich was " correct in its liistorical statements, powerful in argument, rich in description, and pathetic and eloquent in action," a procession was formed, which marched to the new court-house, escorted by the SxAifDisH Gdards, under the command of Captain Weston. As they entered, to the sound of spirit-stirring music, 136 THE FIVE KERNELS OF COBN. the elegantly decorated hall, and passed down the long rows of tables, richly ladened with the luxuries of the sea and land, five kernels of parched corn were observed upon every plate. They attracted attention. Some smiled as they passed along, at what they regarded as an odd conceit. Others, who were better acquainted with the Yankee char- acter, and with their fondness for significant notions, knew that these silent symbols were eloquent with some hidden meaning, whilst others, still, who per- ceived in a moment their design and their beautifiJ appropriateness to the occasion, gazed at them vrith a throbbing heart, and with tearful eyes. These five, mysterious kernels of corn were memorials of that affecting incident, when, in 1623, the colony were reduced to a pint of corn, which, when di- vided among the settlers, gave them five grains each ! When this was understood at the table, it produced thriUing emotions. Those five grains of corn on each plate "were fuU of the farina of thought and feeling. Some ate them with greater interest than the most costly luxuries before them ; others carefully carried them away as mementoes of that occasion, and of the mportant event which was commemorated. It would not be surprising if some of those identical kernels are still sacredly treasured in the families of some who were present on that occasion. (See plate, p. 140.) PILGRIU PATIENCE. 137 This tradition of the five kernels of corn, though it exhibits an affecting state of things, does not con- vey the worst of their condition. When these were gone, they had no com ! Other grain being out of tlie question, they of course had no bread ! They were obhged to depend upon fish, clams, and oys- ters ; occasionally, they would get a deer, which would be divided among the colony. In this man- ner was their good Elder Brewster supported for months together ; yet he and his family, instead of repining at their hard lot, would sit down to their monotonous fare, giving thanks that they could " suck of the abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in the sand." This, we have reason to believe, was the disposition of the settlers gen- erally ; for Bradford, who was governor at that period, says, " By the time our corn is planted, our victuals are spent, not knowing at night where to have a bit in the morning, and have neither bread nor corn for thkee or fouk months together, yet bear our wants with cheerfulness, and rest on Providence." The unusually large quantity of corn which was planted, awakened hopes that in the following season they would have an abundant supply. But their hopes appeared doomed to be blasted. The cisterns in the skies were sealed up; the clouds withheld rain. The sun poured down its rays in 12* 138 LONG DBOUGHT. the fulness of its strength. The earth turned to clods and dust. The leaves of the trees curled and withered. The grass was burnt up. Springs were exhausted, and brooks and ponds dried. For the long period of six weeks did the heavens withhold their showers. Their corn came up, but soon wilted ; both blade and stalk hung down, changed color, and apparently died. Their beans " stood at a stay," dried up, turned yellow, and presented the appearance of having been scorched. Their hopes were overthrown ; their joy turned to sorrow. Painful forebodings for the future filled their hearts. As an additional ingredient in their cup of woe, they heard that, many months before, supplies had been sent them from England ; but the vessel which was bringing them was twice driven back, and was finally heard from, three hundred leagues at sea. As that intelUgence was received three months be- fore, as the vessel had not arrived, and as pieces of a wreck were found upon the coast, which they con- cluded were hers, they gave her up as lost. Their present and prospective trials were so great, that some began to be discouraged. They regarded these afflictions as indications of the displeasure of God against them. They were led to personal self- examination and prayer. In addition to these pri- vate religious exercises, a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer was appointed by the govern- PRATEll FOR RAIN. 139 ment. It was universally observed. The people assembled together with one accord. They iil> stamed from food, confessed their sins, and offered fervent prayers, that if it were consistent with the will and the glory of God, he would send down ui)on them the rain and the dews of heaven, to refresh the thirsty earth, and revive the withering, dying plants. The day was kept with marked solemnity and earnestness. Their religious exer- cises continued through eight or nine hours. In the morning, the sky was as cloudless and unpromising, and the drought as likely to continue, as ever ; but before the close of the meeting, " the weather," says Winslow in his relation, " was overcast, the clouds gathered together on all sides, and on the next morning, distilled such soft, sweet, and mod- erate showers of rain, continuing some fourteen days, and mixed vrith such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered corn or drooping affections were most quickened or revived ; such was the bounty and goodness of our God." Hobbamock, who was then at Plymouth, seeing the people on their way 'o meeting, said it was but three days since Sunday- He wanted to understand the matter ; he therefore asked a boy who was near him, "What are the people going to meetmg for 1 " " To pray that God would give us rain." Hobba- mock then informed the Indians that the Pilgrims 140 EFFECT UPON THE NATIVES. were assembled together to worship their God, and pray to him to send down rain. No doubt those untaught, yet thoughtful savages watched with some degree of curiosity the result. When, therefore, they saw the clouds darken the heavens, and pour down such gentle, yet abundant showers, they ad- mired the goodness which produced such delightful changes in so short a time. They were convinced that the English were under the protection of a great and good Being, who heard their prayers, and granted their requests. The Five Kernels of Corn. CHAPTER XII. ** , under fair pretence of friendly ends. And well-pluced wordd of glossy coutteeyi Baited with reason nut unplausilde, Wind me into the ensy-ltearted man, And liug him into snares." — Miltoit. John Lj'ford. — His Obsequiousness. — His Connection with John Oldham. — Governor Bradford takes Copies of their Letters. — Oldham rebels. — Lyford sets up a Meeting. — Their Trial. — The Governor's Address. — Both found guilty. — Oldham ban- ished. — Lyford's Confession and deep Sorrow. — Repeats his Oflence. — Oldham returns. — His abusive Conduct. — Sentenced to run the Gantlet. — He reforms. — Is killed by the Indians. — Timely Abundance. — Trade with the Kennebec. — A Return Ship captured. — Escape of Standish from Slavery. — Death of John Robinson. — His Character. — Death of Robert Cushman. — He preached the first Sermon in New England. — Its Cbarao ter. — Extracts. The merchant adventurers in England, who had furnished the Pilgrims pecuniary assistance in their expedition to America, did not find it a very profita- ble speculation. Some of them were dissatisfied, and were ready to believe all the calumnies which the enemies of the colonists brought against them. There were not wanting men to originate the most false and libellous charges. Among these none were more prominent than John Lyford, an Episco* palian clergyman. He came over with WinsloWi 142 Lit'OKD'S HTPOCRIST. who had been sent to England as an agent of tlie colony. Upon his first arrival, Lyford hypocritically pretended to be a strong friend of the Pilgrims. He treated them with great reverence, " bowing and cringing " to them in a very obsequious manner, so much so that Governor Bradford was duped by him, and even invited him to his councils, in connection with Elder Brewster and others. He expressed a desire to be admitted to their church. After pro- fessing his belief in their doctrines and a reformation from all his sinful habits, he was received. It was not long before he contracted an intimacy with John Oldham, a man of turbulent and factious spirit, with whom he fomented discontents among the people. He was known to be very busy in preparing letters to send to England, when the vessel which brought him over should return. He, very foolishly for him- self, made known the purport of his letters, and it was boasted among his friends that they would effect a complete overturn in the colony. The governor, fearing that the influence of his letters would be in- jurious to the interests of the colony, deemed it his duty to intercept them. After the vessel had set sail, he followed her in a small boat, and succeeded in overtaking her. He went on board and informed the captain of what he knew and what he feared The captain, being a friend of the colony, permitted liim to open the letters, both of Lyford and Oldham INTERCEPTED LETTERS. 143 They were found to be filled with inisre])resentatioii& and malicious slanders against the church and the government. The design of the authors evidently was to procure the establishment of a new order of things, by means of which they hoped to ride into power. If these letters had been believed and heeded in England, the effects upon the colony would probably have been disastrous. The governor copied some, and kept the originals of others of these letters, sending copies of these latter to England. Some of this correspondence contained extracts from letters to the Pilgrims, which extracts Lyford ob- tained by unsealing the letters and taking copies when they were on board the vessel at Gravesend, England. This was done to increase the prejudice against them at home. When the governor returned, he made no disclosure of the discovery, but kept a more vigilant eye .upon the two spies. The rogues, under the impi-ession that their letters were on their way, unmolested, to England, and would react in their favor, became dfiily more emboldened, until Oldham rebelled against the constituted authorities, and stubbornly refused to take his regular turn in performing military duty and standing guard. Not satisfied with this, he rose against the captain with a deadly weapon, and violently opposed all who at- tempted to quiet him. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to imprisonment. Upon liis confessi n and promise of amendment, he was released. 144 LTFOBD SETS DP A MEETING. Lyford developed his opposition in a more pro fessiohal way. Without consultation with the gov emor, and without obtaining permission from either the church or the elder, he had the audacity to com- mence a meeting of his own on Lord's day, and with a few of his coadjutors to attempt the admims- tration of the sacrament, by virtue of his episcopal ordination. This the Pilgrims could not permit. In the judgment of the governor, the time had now ar- rived when justice to the criminals, as well as the interests of the colony, demanded an open trial, with the exposure of their libellous correspondence. Ac- cordingly, he called the whole colony together, and presented his complaints against the two offenders. They boldly denied the truth of the charges, and called for proof. Bradford now arose and gave an address of considerable length. He stated that, as the Pilgrims were greatly op- pressed and persecuted for their religious opinions in their own country, they had come to this land, that here they might enjoy their own views of truth and duty without molestation. He enlarged upon the painful labors and sufferings which this emigration had involved. He addressed Lyford, reminding him that though he had not shared in the early trials and expenditures of the colonists, yet when he and his family came over, they were received by the Pil- grims with great kindness, and freely supported, THE TRIAL. 141^ though it involved great expense ; and now for him to plot the ruin of the colony, was an act of great " perfidy and ingratitude." Lyford persisted in his denial, and with great hypocrisy expressed astonishment at the cliarges, and said he did not un- derstand the language which had been addressed to liim. The governor now " put in " the letters as evidence. Lyford was confounded : Oldham was enraged, and added to the evidence against himself by calling upon his accomplices to be courageous and take an open stand in the rebelUon, and he would sustain them. But no one dared to show themselves upon his side. AU feared the conse- quences, and kept aloof The governor now con- tinued his address to Lyford. He reminded him of his treachery in breaking the seals of private letters and surreptitiously taking copies ; of liis humble confession when received into the church; of his promise not to perform the functions of a minister until he had another call to the sacred office, and yet, in open violation of this promise, he had as- sumed the clerical profession, drawn aside a small cUque, and had attempted to officiate at the Lord's table ! Lyford's only defence was, that many persons ill the colony had complained to him of various abuses which were practised. He gave their names : they were called upon to testify ; but in so doing, 13 146 THE CONVICTIONS. they denied his assertions. With overwhelming evidence against him, and his o^vn witnesses proving him a Uai", he saw there was no hope of an acquit- tal, lie burst into a flood of tears, confessed that his letters against them were false and malicious ; said that he was a reprobate, and feared that liis sins were too great to be forgiven. Both of them were found guilty, and sentenced to be expelled from the colony. Oldham was sent off at once. He was a pestilent fellow, and it was a great relief to the settlers to be freed from him. His wife and family were permitted to remain until they could be comfortably removed. The execution of Lyford's sentence was postponed for six months. It was the governor's intention to pardon him, in case his re- pentance proved sincere. Lyford made the most of tliis respite. His confessions were full and appa- rently penitent. He acknowledged that in liis slanderous charges against the church and the gov- ernment, he was influenced by unholy pride, am- bition, and selfishness ; and so great was liis vileness, that if God should send him forth as a vagabond and fugitive upon the earth, it would be no more than he deserved. Such apparently sincere .and hearty repentance could not be overlooked. Some were so solicitous in his behalf, that they were will- ing to intercede for his pardon on their knees. It seemed too cruel to exile such a tearful penitent. OLDHAM REFORMS. 147 Yet before one half of the time of his respite had elapsed, he was detected in a repetition of the offence. He actually wrote another libellous communication to his accomplices in Englemd ; but the bearer of it delivered it to the governor. Lyford now left the colony, and weat to Cape Ann, where he had been invited as a minister. He afterwards died in Virginia. When Oldham left Plymouth, he went to Nan- tasket. Notwithstemding his sentence prohibited his return without the permit of the governor, he came back the next march, at the time of the annual election. His conduct was so abusive and lawless, that liis old acquaintances would not associate with him. He was arrested a second time, and sentenced to undergo the humiliating punishment of the gant- let. Two rows of armed soldiers were drawn up, and he was compelled to pass do^vn the lines be- tween them : as he passed each man gave him a blow with the but of his musket, and at the same time said, "Go and mend your manners." After 'this, Oldham became a trader at Nantasket. On a voy- age to Virginia he was overtaken by a storm, and being in great peril, was frightened ; made confes- sion of his evil deeds, and promised God, that if his life were preserved, he would mend his ways. After this he so far reformed that the colonists at Plymouth permitted him to visit them when- 148 ABUNDAJVT CROPS. ever he chose. He was finally killed in a quarrel with some Indians. The company of merchant adventurers who had assisted the Pilgrims, being disappointed in their ex- pectations of profit, and involved in pecuniary em- barrassments, dissolved, and threw the colonists to a greater extent than ever upon themselves. This was in l(Si5. A kind Providence so ordered it that, just at the time when they were abandoned by the ad- venturers at home, their crops proved unusually abundant. They not only had com enough for their own use, but a surplus for trEiflBc. They desired to send some of it to Kennebec. But how could they get it there ? They had no horses or other beasts of burden, and, therefore, could not take it by land. All their shipping amounted to only two small shal- lops, which, in their present condition, would not answer the purpose. After some consultation they built a deck over one of the shallops, and loaded it with corn. As there were no sailors in the, colony, the shallop was manned by Mr. Winslow and some of the most experienced men. They set out upon this " commercial " enterprise late in the fall. It proved successful. They made a profitable ex- change with their corn, and brought back seven hundred pounds of beaver, besides other peltries. Not the least advantage gained on that occasion was the finding of a market for fiiture trade. Robinson's death. 149 The same yeai Capt. Standish hid a narrow es- cape from slavery. Two ships, which had come from the adventurers on a trading voyage, were about to return with a cargo of fish and furs. Tt being necessary that Standish should go to London as agent for the colony, he embarked in one of these vessels. The larger ship took the smaller one in tow, until they arrived at the English channel. Here it was cast oif, and before it could reach London it was overtaken by a Turkish man-of-war, captured, and taken to Salee, in the kingdom of Fez, where the captain and crew were reduced to slavery. If Standish had been on board, that would have been his fate ; but, fortunately, he was in the larger vessel, and so escaped. When he returned to Plymouth the next year, he brought back the intelligence of the death of their pastor, the venerable and beloved John Robinson. This was a painful blow to the colony. Robinson had been their pastor for many years. When persecution raged too violently for them in their own countiy, where they were sub- jected to imprisonments and other penalties on ac- count of their religious views, he fled with them to Leyden, in Holland, and shared in their trials whilst residents among a people whose language they un- derstood not, and where they found great difiiculty in obtaining a support. When their emigration to America was resolved on, Robinson heaitily favored 13* 150 Robinson's counsels. it. Lest any might waver -in the determination which they had formed, he preached a sermon to encourage in them a firmness of purpose to remove. At a later period in the same year, a day of special fasting and prayer was appointed, when he preached to them again from that very apposite passage re- corded in Ezra viLi. 21 : "I proclaimed a fast at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance." The sermon was fraught with judicious and timely advice. It breathed a spirit of Christian liberality which con trasted widely with the prevailing bigotry of the times. It expressed the conviction that even they had not arrived at a discovery of the whole mind of God, as revealed in the Scriptures, and, therefore, they ought to expect the unfolding of new truths, which he exhorted them to be ever ready to receive. He cautioned them against following him any farther than his conduct was in accordance with the example of the Savior. " Brethren, " said he, " we are now quickly to part from one another, and whether I may ever live to see your face on earth any more, the God of heaven only knows ; but whether the Lord hath appointed that or not, I charge you be- fore God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no farther than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveal any thing to you, by ROBINSON'S CRARACTEK. 151 any other instrument of his, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my min- istry • for I am fully persuaded, I am very confi- dent, that the Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in reUgion, and will go at present no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. Whatever part of his will our good God has revealed to Cal- vin, they will rather die than embrace it ; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things." Robinson was a man of " good genius, quick penetration, ready wit, great modesty, integ- rity, and candor." With a good classical education, strong powers of argument, and an aptness to de- tect and expose the weak points of his opponents, he was acknowledged to be a formidable disputant. In his personal intercourse he was easy, gentle- manly, and obUging. As a preacher, he was im- pressive and edifying. He increased in blandness of manners as he advanced in years. He was par- ticularly distinguished as a peacemaker, find was the means, in a number of instances, of effecting a reconciliation between those who were at variance with each other. His death was greatly lamented by both branches of the church. 152 FIRST SERMON Df I:EW ENGLAND. In addition to the decease of Robinson, Captain Standish also brought intelligence of the death of Mr. Robert Cushman, a gentleman who had been deeply interested in the welfare of the colony from the first. He embarked, as has already been stated, with the first company that left England for Plym- outh ; but when the Speedwell was abandoned, and all could not be accommodated in the Mayflower, he was among the number who were left behind. He came out afterwards in the Fortune. It is a singular circumstance that he, being a layman, preached the first sermon ever delivered in New England. It was on the " Sin and Danger of Self- love," from the text, " Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." It was printed in London, anonymously, in IGSH, and has passed through several editions in this country. Tradition has fixed the spot where it was delivered, at the house of the plantation, on the south side of Ley- den Street. The plan of the sermon was as fol- lows : " The parts of this text are two. 1. A de- hortation. 2. An exhortation. The dehortation : Let no mEin seek his own. The exhortation : But every man another's wealth. In handling of which, I will first open the words ; secondly, gather the doctrine ; thirdly, illustrate the doctrine by Scrip- tures, experience, and reason ; fourthly, apply the game to every one his portion." It was a dis AH EXTRACT. ' 153 course of marked peculiarities, abounding with good thoughts, quaintly expressed, according to the fash- ion of the times. We give one extract as a speci- men. " The difference between a temperate, good man and a belly-god is this : A good man will not eat his morsels alone, especially if he have better than others ; but if by God's providence he have gotten some meat which is better than ordinary, and better than his other brethren, he can have no rest in himself, except he make others partake with him. But a belly-god will slop all in his own throat, yea, though his neighbor come in and behold him eat ; yet tliis gripple-gut shameth not to swjJlow all." He was sent twice to England, as agent of the colony, and managed their business with great discretion CHAPTER XIII. " I venerate the man whose heart is warm, Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose lifej Coincident, exhibit lucid proof That he is honest in the sacred cause." — Cowfeb. A Pinnace built. — Messengers from the Dutch. — Reception of De Razier. — Trade with him. — Wampum. — The Colony with- out a Pastor. — Original Agreement respecting their old Pastor. — A Minister found at Nantaskel. — He becomes the Plymouth Pastor. — His Character. — Roger Williams. — His Troubles at Salem. — Goes to Plymouth as an Assistant. — Returns to Sa lem. — He cultivates Acquaintance with the Natives, — John Billhigton. ^Commits Murder. — Is tried and executed. — The Tendency of Sin. — A Shipwreck. — Kindness of the Indians. — Difficulties adjusted. — Governor Winthrop's Visit to Plym- outh. — Singular Pilgrim Custom. — Discussion about the Use of " Goodman Such-a-one." — Hue's Cross. In order to carry on a trade with their southern neighbors, the colonists, in 1627, built a small pin nace at Buzzard's Bay. By transporting their mer- chandise overland from Plymouth to that point, a distance of only a few miles, they avoided a com- paratively long and dangerous voyage round Cape Cod. They accomplished, in this manner, two objects ; they escaped danger, and saved time. A similar method of conveyance was resorted to in 1812, at the time of our Isist war with Great Britain, in order to escape the enemy who were cruising about the Oape. DUTCH HES°F.XrtEBS. 155 In 1637, letters and messengers from the Dutch settlements on the Hudson River arrived at Plym- outh, conveying friendly congratulations, and pro- posing commercial intercourse. They were cor- dially received, and their sentiments of friendship met with a hearty response. In September of the same year, Isaac De Razier, who had signed the above letters as secretary, came himself to Buzzard's Bay. From thence, he sent a request to Governor Bradford for a boat to bring him to Plymouth. The boat was soon got in order and sent, and the hon- orable secretary was brought to Plymouth, with the music of trumpeters, in genuine Dutch style. His arrival was quite an exciting event in the Uttle town, and furnished the Pilgrims with new topics of conversation. He and his company were hospitably entertained for several days. When he returned, a number of the colony accompanied him as far as Buzzard's Bay. As he had brought with him sugar, linen, and other articles which they needed, they made a number of purchases, which were mutually advantageous, and then, with reciprocal expressions of respect, they parted. The way being once opened, the Dutch frequently visited Buzzard's Bay, and exchanged their productions for those of Plym- outh. Among the articles which they obtained I'rom the Dutch was a quantity of wampum, or wampum-peack ; or, as Gookin calls it, wonipom- 156 WAMPUM. k pague. It is composed of small pieces of shell, white or purple, ground, polished, and then drilled, so that they may be strung. They were used by the Indians as coin. The first quantity which the Pil- grims bought they found very difficult to dispose of. They kept it on hand for two years. After this it became a very salable article, especially among the Indians of the interior, with whom fragments of sea- shell were rare. One fathom of it was equivalent to five shillings. They sent large quantities of it ta Kennebec, where, by their inonopoly of it, they succeeded in obtaining command of the whole trade on that river. When the Pilgrims first came over in tlie May- flower, they were unaccompanied by any pastor. It had been previously agreed upon by the Ley- den church, that if the majority came over with the first party, they should be accompanied by their pas- tor, but if only a minority of the church came. Elder Brewster should be their religious teacher, and the pastor should tarry with the majority. This ai-range- ment was faithfully executed. As only a minority came with the first company, Robinson was left behind to take charge of the others, but Brewstei accompanied the emigrants ; hence, after their ar- rival, public reUgious services were usually conducted by him. He was a man well qualified to have be- come their pastor, but resolutely refiised ordination. rmST NEW ENGLAND PASTOR. 157 After the death of Robinson, that branch «)f the church over which he had presided was dissolved, and a portion of them, among whom were his widow and children, came to Plymoutli. Still, Brewster continued unwilling to be ordained, although he per- formed the regulfu- duties of pastor. This state of things continued until 1K29, when some of the men of Plymouth, having occasion to put into Nantasket, found there a man reduced to a destitute condition, by the name of Ralph Smith. He earnestly en- treated them to take him to Plymouth. As he ap- peared to be an honest-hearted, ingenuous, and pious man, and had officiated as a minister, they complied with his request. After he had been at Plymouth a short time, and had exercised his gifts among them, he was invited to become their pastor. This invita- tion being accepted, he was settled over them as their first minister. They were not long in discov- ering that he was a man of limited intelligence and weak capacity. There was a wide disparity between his instructions and those of their revered Robinson. The teachings of Brewster were regarded as far more edifying than his. It was no easy task to fill the places of such men. This Smith himself pain- fully realized. He felt his inabiUty to meet the wants of his flock, and, after occupying his position five or six years, he finally, under a personal sense of his incapacity, and in compliance with the request 14 158 ROGER WILLIAMS. of his people, tendered his resignatiorz. Before he left, he was assisted in his labors by the renowned Roger Williams, who came over on the 5th of Feb- ruary, 1630. Mr. Williams first accepted of the in- vitation of the church ia Salem to settle with their pastor, Mr. Skelton, as an assistant teacher. But the civil government soon interfered and sent a letter to the church, censuring them for choosing Mr. Williams " without advising with the council," and desiring them to proceed no farther until they had a conference on the subject. Charges of an ecclesias- tical or theological nature were brought against Mr. Williams by the secular authorities. He was con- demned for his religious views by the General Court. His condition at Salem was made vmcomfortable by "the powers that be," who ought to have let him alone. Though he and his church were mutually and strongly attached to each other, he thought it best to accept of the invitation to be an assistant teacher at Plymouth. His labors there were well received. Governor Bradford says of him, " He exercised his gifts among us, and after some time was admitted a member of the church, and his teach- ing was well approved ; for the benefit whereof, I shall bless God, and am thankful to him even for his sharpest admonitions and reproofs, so far as they agreed with truth." And Morton asserts that " he was well accepted as an assistant in the ministry." Chair of Elder Brewster. Page 159. ROGER Williams's opinion. J 59 He remained about two years at Plymouth, during whir;h time he probably expressed his sentiments upon those subjects which were so obnoxious to the government of Massachusetts, and which were not particularly agreeable to the leading men of Plym- outh, though they were not condemned by any formal act of the church. His attachment to Salem was not destroyed. Being invited to return there as an assistant to Mr. Skelton, who was m declining health, he asked a dismission from the Plymouth church. His friends were unwilling to grant it. But Mr. Brewster, the ruling elder, advised the church to comply with his request, and dismiss both him and his adherents, which was accordingly done. He then went to Salem, accompanied by those who had become attached to his ministry. Mr. Williams was the great champion of soul-liberty. He main- tained the principle of universal religious toleration, and contended that the civil government had no right to interfere with the religious belief of men ; that " the civil power has no jurisdiction over the con- science." In these respects he was far ahead of his age. But what were regarded as novel and dan- gerous sentiments in his day, are now admitted truths, and famihar as household words. During his residence at Plymoiith, he availed him- self of every favorable opportunity of intercourse with the Indians. He made excursions among them 160 MmiDER. to learn their language, study their manners, and qualify himself to be useful among them. " My whole desire," said he, in one of his letters, " was to do the natives good." He became acquainted with the most influential chiefs, and secured their friend- ship by the interest which he manifested for their welfare. In a letter written near the evening of life, he says, " God was pleased to give me a pain- ful, patient spirit, to lodge with them in their filthy, smoky holes, (even while I lived at Plymouth and Salem,) to gain their tongue." The knowledge which he thus acquired, and the friendships he formed, were of great service to him in after-life. But as the history of his subsequent adventures were not connected with Plymouth colony, it wiU not be appropriate to dwell upon them here. During the first ten years of the settlement of the colony, no capital offence was committed. But at the end of that period, a murder was perpetrated, which required careful investigation. The culprit was John BiUington, a profane, miserable scape- grace from London, who in some unaccountable manner was " shuffled " in among the pilgrims, and came over in the Mayflower. He was guilty of the first offence in the colony, an account of which has been already given, and for which he was sentenced to have his neck and heels tied together. Governor Bradford said of him, in a letter to Mr. Cushman in TRIAL AND VERDICT. 161 1625, «< Billington is a knave, and so veill live and die." Whether this prediction was fulfilled or not, we shall see in the sequel. A complaint being entered against him, the case was first examined by a grand jury, and as they found a true bill, charging him with waylaying and killing a young man by the name of John Newcomen, he was tried by a petit jury, who, after a careful hearing of the evidence in the case, brought in a verdict of guilty. It became now a grave question with the government. What shall be done ? Here is a murderer on our hands, who, after a fair trial according to the rules of law, has been found guilty. By the laws of England, he ought to die. But if we judge him according to English laws, by that iact we shall acknowledge our- selves subject to English laws and under obligation to obey them, whereas we have fled to this wilder- ness to escape that necessity. Besides, have we au- thority to execute him ? Or, in his execution shall we not incur the Uability of a prosecution by the home government ? It was regarded as a matter of such grave importance, and involving such difi[icult points, that it was resolved to ask the advice of the governor and some of the most judicious men of the neighboring colony of Massachusetts Bay. The facts in the case were accordingly communicated to them, and their opinions soUcitcd. Governor Win- [hrop, and the others who had been consulted, were 14* 1K2 SENTENCE. unanimous in the conclusion that the murderer ought to die. They based their opinion not upon English law, but upon the law of Moses, that whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. They advised, therefore, that the criminal should be executed, and " the land be purged of blood." Their advice was followed, and poor John Billington suf- fered an ignominious death. He furnished another illustration of the progressiveness and fatal tendency of sin. If the punishment which he received for the first offence committed in the colony had been effectual in his reformation, he might have lived a useful life, and died an honored death. But no ; not- . withstanding his professed penitence on that occasion, and the favor which was shown him, he pressed on in his career of iniquity, until he came to an ignoble end. So true it is that evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived ; and that lust, when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin ; and stsi, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. It is refreshing to turn from the cruelty of Bil- lington to the kindness of certain savages which was exhibited about the same time. Richard Garrett, with a number of others who belonged to the more recent settlement at Boston, was driven ashore at Cape Cod. Their vessel went to pieces. It being in the cold season, a number of the men perished from exposure and hardship. Others of them. KINDNESS OF SAVAGES. 163 though they did not die, suflfered greatly, and had a rery narrow escape. The Indians on the cape ral- Ued to their rescue. Those of the survivors who were ahnost exhausted they attended and nursed with great kindness, until they were completely re- stored ; the dead bodies of the others they buried, though with difficulty, in consequence of the ground being frozen ; and then, taking those who were re- covered, they escorted them for fifty miles through woods and fields, until they brought them safely to Plymouth. The two neighboring colonies of PljTnouth and Massachusetts Bay were on the verge of a quarrel, in consequence of the trade in corn, which the latter carried on with the Indians at Cape Cod. A pin- nace which belonged to Salem was driven by stress of weather into Plymouth. She was found to be laden with com. The colonists were anxious to know where it was obtained. When they learned that it. had been purchased of the nativss at Cape Cod, they were displeased, and the governor issued an order forbidding the traffic, and threatening that the order should be forcibly executed if any attempt was made to continue the trade. This led to a cor- respondence between the governors of the two colo- nies, and after a visit from Governor Bradford to Boston, the difficulty was adjusted. Next ye£ir, 16^, Governor Winthrop, of Massa^ 164 CHURCH CUSTOMS. chusetts, made a visit to Plymouth, accompanied by his pastor, Rev. Mr. Wilson, and two captains They embarked in a vessel commanded by Captain Pierce, which had recently arrived from England, and were put on shore at Weymouth, where another colony had been planted after the destruction of Weston's, and which had met with some degree of prosperity. On the next morning they started for Plymouth, wliich they reached at evening of the same day. They were honorably received, hospita- bly entertained and " feasted every day at several houses." The Sabbath being communion day, they partook of the ordinance of the supper. Winthrop in his journal has given a particular account of cer- tain forms which were observed on that occasion. He says, " In the afternoon Mr. Roger Williams (ac- cording to their custom) propounded a question, to which their pastor, Mr. Smith, spake briefly. Rev. Mr. Williams prophesied ; and after, the governor of Plymouth spake to the question ; after him, the elder ; then some two or three more of the congre- gation. Then the elder desired the governor of Massachusetts and Mr. Wilson to speak to it, wliich they did. When this was ended, the deacon, Mr. Fuller, put the congregation in mind of the contri- bution, upon which the governor and all the rest toent danim to the deacon's seat and put into the bag, and then returned." From this it would seem that the GOODMAN SnCH-i-ONE. 165 contribution box or bajf was not passed round ; but every one who contributed, the governors with the rest, left his place, went down to the deacon's seat, which was probably near, or under, the pulpit, and there left their ofFering. On the following Wednesday, the Massachusetts governor, with his suite, left for home. They were accompanied part of their way by' the governor, the pastor, and the elder of Plymouth. This is not the whole of this interesting visit which has come down to us. Cotton Mather, in his MagnaUa, has given a characteristic account of the question which was discussed, and some of the arguments employed on that occasion. It sheds additional hght upon the spirit and temper of those times. He states that " there were at this time, in Plymouth, two ministers leavened so far with the humors of the rigid sepai-ation, that they insisted vehemently upon the unlawfulness of calling any unregenerate man by the name of Goodman Such- a-one, until, by their indiscreet urging of this whim- sey, the place began to be disquieted. The wiser people being troubled at these trifles, they took the opportunity of Governor Winthrop's being there, to have the thing publicly propounded in the congre- gation; who, in answer thereunto, distinguished between a theological and a moral goodness, adding, that when juries were first used in England, it was 166 hue's 3R0SS. usual for the crier, after the names of persons fit for that service were called over, to bid them all attend, good men and true ; whence it grew to be a civil custom in the English nation for neighbors, living by one another, to call one another Goodman Such-a-one, and it was pity now to make a stir about a civil custom so innocently introduced. And that speech of Mr. Winthrop put a lasting stop to the little, idle, whimsical conceits then beginning to grow obstreperous." On their return home, they came to a place named Hue's Cross. The religious antipathies of the governor were excited, and for fear that, at some subsequent period, the papists might assert that this name was evidence of their religion being first known in this country, he ordered it to be called Hue's Folly. Thus, in a peculiar sense, did the cross become foolishness. CHAPTER XIV. ' In such ft time ns tliis, {t is not meet That every nice olfeiice slioulil bear its comment." — Sh ikifzau Sir Christopher Gardner. — Foments Trouble. — Is charged wlh Bigamy. — Is pursued. — Is delivered up by Indians. — Indian Custom to secure a Welcome. — Small-pox..— Trade extended. — Adventures on the Connecticut. — Troubles on the Kennebec. — Captain Hocking killed. — .\ Pljtnoulh Magistrate arrested in Boston. — Excitement at Plymouth. — Deputies sent to Bos- ton. — Prayer before Business. — The Defence. — The Confes- sion. — The Adjustment. — A Hurricane. — Its dreadful Rav ages. ~- Eclipse of tlie Moon. The next year, both of the colonies had trouble with the home government, in consequence of the charge of rebeUion which was alleged against them by Sir Christopher Gardner, who, it is supposed, was stimulated to this perfidy by Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain Mason, whose aspirations were for a general government over the whole of New England. Sir Christopher was a man of some dis- tinction. He was related to Gardner, the bishop of Winchester, and was, in heart, a papist. When he first arrived in Massachusetts, he professed a deadness to the things of this world, and expressed a desire for retirement, where he could give himself to the cultivation of personal piety, without moles- tation. He applied to several churches for admis- 168 Sm CHKISTOPHER GAKDNEB. eion to membership; but as he was attended by a handsome young woman, whom he passed off as his cousin, but to whom he was suspected of sustaining a criminal relation, his application was refused. It was reported that he had two wives in England. When this accusation reached the government of Massachusetts, they determined to arrest him. Being informed of their design, Gardner fled from their jurisdiction, and concealed himself among the Na- masket Indians, within the hmits of the Plymouth colony. These Indians revealed his place of seclu- sion to Governor Bradford, who authorized them to seize him and conduct him to Plymouth, but to in- flict upon him no injury. After this, the natives were on the alert for their victim. They discovered him at a short distance from a river, and attempted to apprehend him. He fled from them, leaped into a canoe, and pushed off in the river. Being armed with, a musket and rapier, he was able to keep his pursuers at a respectful distance, especially as they were ordered to do him no injury. If they had been commanded to bring him to the colony, dead or alive, by letting fly a shower of arrows upon him, they could easily have complied. As it was, they found it difficult to apprehend him without a viola- tion of the prohibition. Soon, an accident occurred u) their favor. As the fugitive was floating down the stream, his canoe dashed upon a rock, and HE FLEES, AND IS TAKEN. 169 was immediately overturned. His rapier and gun dropped in the water, and were lost. A small dag- ger was left, which he immediately drew. As the Indians were unwilling either to inflict or to receive injury, they did not approach him very closely. They pursued a different method. They obtained some long poles, and, whilst standing at a consid- erable distance, they rapped him on the knuckles, and knocked the dagger from his hands. Resist- ance was then unavailing, and he yielded. He was taken to Plymouth ; from thence, at the requisition of Governor Winthrop, he was removed to Boston as a prisoner, and, soon after, sent back to England. The charge of rebellion which he preferred against the colonies was so amply rebutted, — so satisfac- tory was the defence of the colonists, — that King Charles said " he would have them severely pun- ished, who •did abuse his government and planta- •tion." The defendants were dismissed with expres- sions of favor. Governor Winthrop relates an incident as illus- trative of a singular custom among the Indians. Mr. Winslow had been for some time absent on an excursion to the west, as far as Connecticut. On his return, he left his vessel at Narraganset, with the intention of journeying the rest of the way to Plymouth by land. Massasoit, his old friend and patient, offered to be his guide. But before they 15 170 DECEnrtni custom. * commenced their march, the chief sent a courier ahead, to tell the colonists that Winslow was dead, and to show them the spot where he was slgjn; When the courier reached Plymouth, and communi- cated the mournful intelligence, it produced deep and universal sorrow, as Winslow was one of their principal men, and greatly beloved. The next day, Massasoit arrived, bringing Winslow with him, alive and well. Then was there a sudden change in the feelings of the Pilgrims. Sorrow endured for a night ; joy came in the morning. When Massasoit was examined as to the reason for sending this false messenger, he replied that it was one of the customs of his people, to render their return the more welcome after an absence from home. In 1634, the small-pox extensively prevailed among the Indians. Large numbers were swept away. For a few years past, the colony at Plymouth had been gradually extending their trade with the Indians, in various directions, as far as the Kenne- bec on the east, and the Connecticut on the west. As rival colonies had sprung up at different points, collisions sometimes took place between them, in respect to their rights of trade with certain tribes. Plymouth became involved in trouble with the Dutch of Manhattan, and with her nearer neighbor the Massachusetts colony. To avoid minuteness of STEALINO A VEiSEL. 171 detail in these affairs, we shall content ourselves with the narration of one or two incidents only. A Plymouth vessel was lying in the Connecticut River, in close proximity to a Dutch fort. The merchant and most of the crew were on shore, un- suspicious of danger. A Captain Stone, a " West Indian of St. Christopher's," obt8uned an interview with the commander of the Dutch fort, and plied him so copiously with spirituous potations as to pro- duce intoxication. He then obtained the Dutch- man's leave to take the Pilgrim vessel which was lying in the river. He did so, and immediately flesl with his prize towards Virginia. Some Dutch sailors who were under obligations to the Pilgrims for kindnesses which they had received from them at Plymouth, perceiving Stone's villanous purpose, and being determined to defeat it, if possible, pur- sued him in two vessels, overtook him, and recap- tured the prize. Sometime after this, Stone was in Massachusetts, where the officers of the law served him with a process. To effect a compromise, he went to Pljrmouth. In a misunderstanding which he had with the governor, not being satisfied with using hard words, he drew a weapon, and would have plunged it into him, if he had not been re- Btrmned by the governor's attendants. After this, he returned to Connecticut. Being asleep in the cabin of his vessel, in company with a Captain 172 TROUBLES ON THE KENNEBEC. Norton, he was attacked by the savages. Norton exhibited great bravery in the struggle which fol lowed. Some gunpowder which had been carelessly left upon a table, in the melee took fire. The ex- plosion blinded Norton to such a degree that he could no longer defend himself. Both were slain. The pirates then plundered the vessel, fled, and concealed themselves among the Pequot tribe. This was among the causes that led to the Pequot war. Not far from this time, two of the magistrates of Plymouth were on the Kennebec, at a point embraced within the hmits of the Plymouth patent. "Whilst there, a pinnace, owned by Lords Say and Seal, and under the command of Hocking, entered the Kennebec, and attempted to pass up, for the pur- pose of trafficking with the natives. The Plymouth magistrates forbade him. He refused to comply with their embargo. He insisted upon going up, and insolently told them he would ascend the river, trade with the Indians in defiance of them, and would "lie there as long as he pleased." As he persevered in his determination, the Plymouth men followed him in a boat, entreating him to return. He replied with insulting language and blunt denials. As words produced no effect, they resorted to otliei measures. When the pinnace came to anchor, they approached it in a canoe, and severed one of the cables, ard attempted to treat the other in the A MAGISTBATE ABRESTED. 173 same manner. Hocking declared that, if they did not desist, he would shoot them. They dared him to do it, and persevered in the use of their knives upon the remaining cable. He now fired, and one of tliem in the canoe fell dead ! They returned the fire, and killed Hocking! This was an unfortunate affair : it was adapted to excite prejudices against the Pilgrims, and, as Governor Winthrop said at the time, «vere published in the papers. When summary pun- ishment was inflicted upon any of them by the populace, different methods were adopted. Some- times the lawless rioters would amuse themselves with a sport which they called " smoking the tories." Tliis was done by confining the offenders in a room, building a fire on the hearth, and then covering the top of the chimney. Of course, all the smoke would be retained in the room. At other times they would apply a coat of tar to the person, Jind cover it with feathers. Not unfrequently they would make the poor horse of some obstinate tory suffer for the sins of his master, by shaving his tail, and cropping his ears. On one occasion, a man by the name of Dun- bar exposed for sale in the market a beef ox, which had been killed by a tory, who had rendered himself peculiarly obnoxious to the citizens. As soon as this was known, a number of the more excitable por- tion of the populace assembled together, put Dunbar in the carcass of the ox, clothing him with it as if it were a coat ; they then tied the tripe around his neck for a cravat, and in that humiliating condition carted 276 THE WONDEKFCL EGG. him out of town. Being a man of determined spirit, he refused to keep out. He shortly returned on horse back. JJt was ordered off, but obstinately refused to go. The people being highly incensed at what they regarded as stubbornness, tied him on his horse and conducted him off. He resisted with so much energy as to be considerably injured. The crowd finally procured a cart, in which they conveyed liim some distance beyond the town. During this year, the British general, Howe, was engaged in military operations to reduce the Ameri- cans to submission. A harmless trick was resorted to in Plymouth, perhaps by a tory, by which public excitement was increased. An egg was discovered, on the shell of which could be plainly read, " O America, America ! Howe shall be thy conqueror." It was taken from the nest, and exhibited to the people when assembled for public worship. So great was the agitation which it occasioned, that for some time the meeting was suspended. The tories pre- tended to believe it was a supernatural revelation. They construed it as an omen favorable to their cause. Some of the opposite party were also inclined to the same opinion, as they knew not how to account for it in any other way. But one less credulous than the rest gave to the matter a tinge of the ridiculous, by observing that it was absurd to suppose that the Almighty would reveal his decrees AFPALLING CAT USTROPHE. 277 to man through the meilium of an old hen. The affair not only became the town talk and a nine days' wonder, but was also the subject of grave newspaper comment, and the alarm which it pro- duced in the minds of the timid and superstitious w as truly surprising.* In the month of December, 1778, a catastrophe cf a most appalling nature occurred oft" Plymouth Har- bor. The brig General Arnold, carrying twenty guns, with a crew of one hundred and live souls, under the command of James Magee, of Boston, left that port on the 24th, on a cruise, this country being then engaged in war with Great Britain. Being destitute of a pilot, she was driven upon the flats near Plymouth. She soon filled with water, when the order was given to cut away the masts. As many of the men were drunk, it was difRcult to keep them in a state of subordination. A tremendous storm came on, accomi>anied with snow and sleet. On Saturday, the 26th, a considerable number of the men died. On Sunday morning the ve.ssel was in a fearfully perilous condition. She was completely enshrouded in ice. So violent were the wind and the raging waves, that the inhabitants on shore found it impossible to reach her, or to extend the least assistance. The horrors of their situation may be inferred from what was found to be their uoitdition the next day. By that timo the sea had so fur sub- * Note D, p. 294. 278 scENi: ON a wreck sided that she could be visited. " It is scarcely pos» sible for the human mind to conceive of a more appalling spectacle. The ship was sunk ten feet in the sand. The waves had been for about thirty-six hours sweeping the main deck ; the men had crowded to the quarter deck, and even here they were obliged to pile together dead bodies to make room for the living. Seventy dead bodies frozen into all imagina- ble postures, were strewn over the deck or attached to the shrouds and the spars ; about thirty exhibited signs of life, but were unconscious whether in life or death. The bodies remained in the posture in which they died, the features dreadfully distorted ; some were erect, some bending forward, some sitting with the head resting upon the knees, and some with both arms extended, clinging to spars or some parts of the vessel. The few survivors and the dead bodies were brought over the ice on sleds and boards, and the dead were piled on the floor of the court house, ex- hibiting a scene calculated to impress even the most callous heart with deep humility and sorrow. It has been said that the Rev. Mr. Robbins fainted when called to perform the religious solemnities. Those bodies that were to be deposited in coffins were first put into the town brook ; a considerable number were seen floating on the water, fastened by ropes, that their form might be made to conform to the coffin. But about sixty were thrown into a large EFFECTS OF ABSTAINING FROM LIQCOR. 279 pit M they were taken from the vessel. This pit is in a hollow on the south-west side of the burial ground, and remains without a stone. The greater part of those who were fq,und alive expired soon after." The captain survived. He drank no spirits, but poured it freely into his boots. Almost all those who drank liquor perished, " several being found dead in the very spot where they drank it." What a powerful argument is this in favor of total absti- nence ! This mournful catastrophe, without doubt, was made the subject of Sabbath discourse, and we can imagine what must have been the solemnity and impressiveness of the service. We have not in the preceding pages given any in- formation as to the increase of Plymouth at different periods. This omission will now be supplied. It will be remembered that one hundred came over in the Mayflower, in 1620, of whom one half died during the first winter. In 1624, there were one hun- dred and eighty ; in 1639, three hundred. In 1631, there were between four and five hundred. In 1643, the males from sixteen to sixty years of age* were one hundred and forty-six. In 1646, the number of voters, seventy-nine. Four years afterwards it was only fifty-one. In 16S3, the voters numbered fifty-five, and in 16S9 they amounted to seventy-five. Leaping over a century, we find in 1764 the whole number of inhabitants, including seventy-seven colored per- aSO NUMBER OF INHABITAi«TS. Bons and forty-eight Indians, was two thousiuid two hundred and twenty-five. In 1776 the year of the declaration of independence, they numbered two thousand six hundred and fifty-five, ^n 1783, at the termination of the revolutionary war, there were only two thousand three hundred and eighty ; in 1800, three thousand five hundred and twenty-four ; in 1820, four thousand three hundred and forty-eight ; in 1840, five tliousand two hundred and eigbty-one. CHAPTER XXIII. ** How cniild my tonfEU6 • Take pleasure and be lavish in their praise ? How could I speak their nobleness of nature. Their open, manly heart, their courage, constancy, And inborn truth, unknowing to dissemble ! They are the men in whom my soul delights, In whom, next Heaven, I trust," — Rows. Attachment to the Scriptures. — Reason of Pilgrim Singulatitiesi — Precise in their Manners. — Their Ministers of equal An. Ihority. — Their Govenunent republican. ^ Their Self-reliance and divine Dependence. — Were not vindictive. — Did not come here to establish universal Toleration. — Their Object was Lib- erty for themselves. — This the Origin of their Opposition to other Sects. ^ The prospective Influence of their Principles. Having now given an account of some of the most important events which have occurred in the history of Plymouth since its first settlement, we cannot, perhaps, more appropriately close the subject than with a brief sketch of the character and princi- ples of the Pilgrims. One of their most prominent traits was a con- scientious adherence to what they believed were the teachings of the Sacred Scriptures. To them the authority of God was all and in all. Believing aa they did that the Bible was his revealed will, they made that their exclusive guide in matters of faith and practice. Creeds, characters, and customs were all tried by this unfailing test, and all was rejected 24» 282 HEVEBENCE FOR THE BIBLE. which, in their opinion, did not stand this ordeui. Laws and regulations adopted by them, which, at the present day, are stigmatized as singularities, were, in many instances, the legitimate fruits of their strict adherence to the teachings of the Bible. The pecu- liarities of some of their forms of legislation were occasioned by their imitation of ancient Jewish cus- toms. Thus, in New Haven the members of the constituent committee were called the " seven pillars hewn out of the house of Wisdom, " and Rhode Islemd performed for one or two years a " Jewish mas- querade." Their language was quaint, because in- terlarded with the phraseology of Scripture. They disapproved of wigs, veils, and long htiir. They were equally opposed to immodest and extravagant ap- parel, because both were alike at variance with the simplicity and purity inculcated by the Bible. They were precise in their manners, because, as one of them said, they had " a precise God to deal with." They repudiated crosses and beads, surplice and prayer books. To their minds, these were too inti- mately alUed to Rome. They denied the superi- ority of the bishops over other orders of ordained ministers. With them, all the ministry occupied the same official platform — they were all bishops, pos- sessing equal official privileges and powers. They maintained that the church was independent of the ministry ; that every church possessed the right of PILGBIM8 NOT VINDICTIVE. 283 electing its own pastor ; that no power out of them- selves, whether king or archbishop, had an) right to impose upon them a minister, contrary to their wishes. In ecclesiastical and civil government they were republican — the majority ruled. Although they cherished strong confidence in God, and acknowledged his hand in all the events of providence, they did not dispense with self-reliance. They were Calvinists, but not fatalists. They be- lieved that as men have purposes, so has God ; that these purposes result from his infinite wisdom and goodness, and will inevitably be accomplished, with- out the least interference with the free agency of man. They cultivated confidence in God in con- junction with self-dependence. Their works went with their faith, and were the fruits of it. Crom- well developed the union of these apparently con- fhcting principles, when, in making an attack in a rainy day, he said to his soldiers, " Trust in God and keep your powder dry ; " and when on another occa- sion he said, " He that prays best and preaches beet will fight the best." The Pilgrims were not vindictive. We know there are those who deny this, and who assert that they were governed by " a bigoted despotism, with which they domineered over all who departed from their stern creed, and who would not consent to stand day and night in the strait jacket in which they 284 PILGKIMS MISREPRESENTKD. enveloped alike the feeble and the strong." We are aware that it has been said, " the tyranny with which they were oppressed in England was light in comparison to the relentless and uiisated animosity with which they pursued the Quakers, the most harmless and kindest sect the world ever saw." It is not uncommon to meet vnth indiscriminate, whole- sale denunciations of this character. From some representations which have been given, it would be easy to infer that the Pilgrims were a most bigoted, tyrannical, superstitious, revengeful, and persecuting sect ; that their excellences have been altogether overrated, and their memories too highly honored. With all this we have no sympathy. It is our firm conviction, that the more their principles are under- stood and their characters known, the more they will be admired. That they had their imperfections, is not denied. That a number of their particular measures, such as their selhng captured Indians into slavery, their barbarous practice of beheading, quar- tering, and exposing portions of the bodies of their enemies, their oppressions of the Quakers, Baptists, and others, and their cruel treatment of reputed witches, should be strongly condemned, is also ad- mitted. These are dark shadows in their history, the existence of which cannot be too deeply regret- ted. But we shoul remember that they lived in a darker period than the present ; that what public PERSECUTION OF OTHER SECTS. 2S5 opinion now condemns, public opinion then ap- proved ; that their conduct was in harmony with the spirit of their age. Their persecutions of the Quakers, the Baptists, and others whom they termed schismatics, seemed to them to be demanded by the necessity of the case. In respect to the Quakers, it cannot be concealed that tley gave provocation. The Friends of the present generation are not guilty of the practices of those who lived two centuries ago, neither do they approve them. It has been well said, that " if the essential guilt of persecution would be aggravated when aimed agamst the quiet, patient philanthropist of the present day, it does not therefore follow that it would be attended with like aggravation, however wicked else, when the subject was the mischievous madman of two centuries ago, with whom the Mas- sachusetts colonists had to deal. We suppose that the duty of toleration, comprehensive though it be, stops somewhere short of allowing men and women, for conscience' sake, to run as naked as they were born through the streets and into the churches ; or, at all events, that it does not require the permitting of people to gain a name like Abraham's, by sacri- ficing their own sons, as one of the Quakers in 1658 was proceeding to do, when his neighbors, alarmed by the boy's cries, broke into the house in time to interfere.' 286 HOW TO EXAMINE THEM. To do the Pilgrims justice, we should examine tlieir conduct from their standpoint; we should look at it through their eyes and with their heart. If they had come here in order to establish a govern- ment of universal religious toleration, to provide a peaceful home for all religious sects, then their per- secution of others would have been at direct variance with their principles. But this was not their object. They braved a wnter's voyage across the Atlantic that they might find a place where they could wor- ship God according to their own conscience, without molestation from others. They sought liberty for themselves, not for the world ; a place of freedom where they could serve their Maker, and train up their children according to their own views of duty, without the embarrassment of an arbitrary govern- ment, or of opposing sects. When, therefore, other denominations presented themselves within their limits, and claimed thu right of promulgating senti- ments which the Pilgrims regarded as unscriptural and highly dangerous, they were prohibited. " We cannot permit it," said the Pilgrim fathers. " The diffusion of such sentiments through our little com- munity vrtll disturb our peace, will corrupt the purity of our faith, will engender hatred and strife, and will imperil the souls of our children. The toleration of such sects among us will defeat the object for which, with so much suffering and toil, we have PILGRIMS CONSCIENTIOUS. 287 oomo to Amfirica. If you desire liberty, go off by yimrspives. and form an independent colony as we nave ; out come not within our borders, to be snares to our feet and thorns in our side." But when those whom they deemed heretics refused to go, they verily thought they were doing God service in punishing them, as Saul of Tarsus did, when per- secuting the Christians of the first century. To form our opinion of them with the impression on our minds that they possessed all the light upon re- ligious freedom which we enjoy, is to treat them unfairly. The great doctrine of " soul liberty " they had not received, although it was proffered them by Roger WilUams, and therefore our con- demnation of them must not be quite so severe as if they had embraced it. Although these considerations do not justify the severities of the Pilgi'ims towards other sects, they are yet worthy of examination, when forming our opinion of their character. They were indus- trious, frugal, self-denying, and persevering ; they were the friends of education, and early endowed schools and colleges. They were sympathetic, benevolent, and affectionate. They endeavored to make the will of God their rule of conduct, and the glory of God the great end of life. If their descendants are sufficiently wise to adopt similar principles, and consistently maintain them in all tliu 28S EFFECT OF PILGRIM PRINCIPLES. relations of life, the institutions which thfiy have planted, and which are the living fountains of nui prosperity, will continue to bless our country nil mo end of time. * " O, never may they resl unsung', While Liberty can find a tongue ! Twine, Gralilude, a wrealh for them, More deathless than the diadem, Who to life's noblest end Gave up life's noblest powers, And bade the legacy descend lV>wn» down to us and ours.'' — SpRAonc APPENDIX. NoTB A.— Page 260. WISWAIX'S CEITEL TEEATMEHT. Mr. Wiswall, at the request of some of the col- onists, had prepared a paper to show that Ply- mouth Colony was legally entitled to the island. This document ought to have received a care- ful and candid consideration from Governor Andros and his Council, and its author should have been treated at least with respect. But in- stead of this, they pretended to regard it as a grave misdemeanor, and in a short time they sent an officer to arrest him and bring him to Boston for the offense. Not only was his arrest unjust, but his removal to Boston was an additional element of oppres- sion. As the pretended offense had been com- mitted in Plymouth Colony, he ought to have been tried there; — it was therefore illegal and cruel to compel him to go to Boston, which was within the limits of the Massachusetts Colony. But in addition to this, he was so severely afflicted with the gout in both feet as to be un- able to walk without great pain. 290 APPENDIX. Knowing that he had violated no law he was not unwilling to be tried, for consciousness of in- nocence makes men bold, but he had no desire to endure unnecessary sufEering. He therefore ap- plied by letter to the Governor for a postponement of the trial, until he was able to travel, promising that he would then attend any court which the Governor might designate. Instead of gi-anting this reasonable request, the inhuman Andros sent a messenger to Duxbury with imperative orders to bring Mr. Wiswall to Boston in the condi- tion he then was ; and the afflicted minister was compelled to ride the whole distance with his tender, swollen feet " shod with clouts instead of shoes." When he appeared before the Council, he was obliged to stand upon his diseased feet so long that the pain he endured almost caused him to faint away. Being finally dismissed from the Council, a messenger came and informed him that he must give bonds for his reappearance at the next ses- sion of the court in Boston, and pay four pounds and two shillings in silver, or else he must go to jail. In view of his state of health, he declined the imprisonment and paid the money. At the next session of the superior court in Boston, he presented himself in the same lame and sufEering condition, "and the extremity of the weather caused such a violent fit of sickness, that he was nigh xmto death, and thought that he should soon THE OPFBESSOBS BENT TO BNGLAITD. 291 be out of their bonds, and at liberty to lay his information against his oppressors before the righteous judge of the whole world. After all this he was forced a third time out of his own county and colony, near forty miles, and was de- livered from the hands and humors of his ty- rannical oppressors, who had exposed him to great difficulties and charges, and to two hundred and twenty-eight miles travel, to and from Bos- ton, where he never ought to be called for trial, even had he been guilty of the pretended misde- meanors, which his worst enemies had not the face to read in open court, or openly charge him with." In these measures against Rev. Mr. "Wiswall, Clark acted as the agent of the governor, and was in full sympathy with him. As the natural result of his oppressive conduct, the people of Plymouth were incensed against him and gladly availed themselves of an opportunity that was offered them of having him seized, imprisoned, put in irons and sent over to England, in the same vessel with Andros, his master. ISoteB.— Page 37. In 1697 died Thomas Clark, at the great age of 98 years. According to tradition he was the mate of the Mayflower, the first vessel that brought the Pilgrims over, and he was also the first one to land on the island in Plymouth 292 APPENDIX. harbor, which, from that circumstance, now bears his name, and where an excm-sion party of the Pilgrims passed a very stoimy Sabbath. His name is also found among those who received as- signments of land in 1624, and those to whom cattle were alloted in 1627. His residence was at Eel River, and his family are supposed to have been among those who were attacked by a party of savages, March 12, 1676, when eleven of them were killed. He, however,' being at meeting, for- tunately escaped. On the same occasion his son Thomas was wounded by a tomahawk, but not killed. He ever after was obUged to wear a silver plate upon his head where he was wounded, which gave him the name of silver-head Tom. A handsome China mug, whose possessor can be traced through the different descendants back to Thomas Clark, was presented by Betsey B. Mor- ton, who was one of them, to the cabinet of the Pilgrim Society, and also a leathern pocket-book, containing the initials, T. C, impressed upon it, was given by Amasa Clark. These relics seem to furnish additional evidence that the mate of the Mayflower breathed his last in this town, and that his remains lie in the burial place, covered by a stone with the inscription, "Here lyes ye body of Mr. Thomas Clark, aged 98 years. Departed tliia life, March 24, 1697." FOBEFATBEBS' DAT. 293 Note C.—Page 268. Since then, Forefathers' Day, as this Anniver- sary is called, has become an annual holiday, and is observed not only by the people of Plymouth, but by citizens of New England in different parts of the land. Distinguished poets have contrib- uted hymns for these occasions, which have be- come incorporated into our national literature. The following is from the pen of Rev. J. Pier- pont, for the celebration on December 22, 1824 : The Pilgrim Fathers — where are they ? The waves that brought them o'er Still roll in the bay, and throw their spray, As they break along the shore : Still roll in the bay, as they rolled that day ■When the Mayflower moored below. When the sea around was black with storms, And white the shore with snow. The mists that wrapped the pilgrims' sleep, Still brood upon the tide. And his rocks yet keep their watch by the deep. To stay its waves of pride ; But the snow-white sail that he gave to the gale "When the heavens looked dork, is gone ; — Aa an angel's wings, through an opening cloud la seen, and then withdrawn. The pilgrim exile — sainted name t The hill, whose icy brow Kejoiced, when he came in the morning's flame, In the morning's flame bums now. Ii94 APPENDIX. And the moon's cold light as it lay that night On the hill-side and the sea, Still lies where he laid his houseless head ; — But the Klgrim, where is he ? The Pilgrim Fathers ate at rest : "When Summer's throned on high, And the world's warm bi'east is in verdure dressed Go, stand on the hill where they he. The earUest ray o£ the golden day On that hallowed spot is cast ; And the evening sun, as he leaves the world, Looks kindly on that spot last. The Pilgrim spirit has not fled : It walks in noon's broad light ; And it watches the bed of the glorious dead, "With the holy stars by night. It watches the bed of the brave who have bled. And shall guard this ice-bound shore, Till the waves of the bay, where the Mayflowei la^f Shall foam and freeze no more. Note J).— Page 277 In 1775 the Britisli General Gage stationed a company of the "Queen's Guards," under com- mand of Captain Balfour, at Marshfield, a town between Plymouth and Boston, for the protection of some royalists there. These royalists were men "who "were on the side of the British, and op- posed to the independence of the colonies. Cap- tain Balfour soon discovered "who the royalists ■were, and then he and his officers exchanged ci^vdUties "with them. The royalists ho'wever were TBOOFS AT UABSHITELD. 299 not gratified with their presence in Marshfield, be- becausethe opposite party — the Yankees — were in such a very excitable state, that a trifling in- cident might bring on a fatal collision. Still the royal party in the town treated the British sol- diers with great civility, and Edward Winslow, Esq., invited the officers to dine with a company of other royalists. At this dinner Captain Balfour asked the gen- tlemen present if they thought it would be wise for him to march with his company into Ply- mouth. Each of the gentlemen gave his opinion, except a Mr. John Watson, who remained silent. Cap- tain BaKour afterwards took him aside and said to him privately, "I observed that you gave no opinion respecting my proposal. I should be glad to have your opinion and advice on the subject." "It is my opinion," Mr. "Watson replied, "that it will not be prudent to bring your soldiers here, for the people are in a state of great excitement and alarm," « Will they fight ? " asked Balfour. " Yes, like devils," answered Watson. After hearing all that was said, and giving tha subject further consideration, the brave captain concluded that "discretion was the better part of valor," and he concluded not to provoke hostilities by marching into the excited town, but remained where he was. If he had gone into Plymouth 296 APPENDIX. under those circumstances, probably the first blood shed in the revolutionary war would have been spilled there instead of at Lexington. But as it was, this great honor was reserved for the latter place. The temper of the people, and the inflammable state of excitement which existed in the neighbor- hood of Plymouth Kock, may be inf eiTed from the following circumstance : While these soldiers retained their unwelcome position at Marshfield, Captain Balfour and his officers frequently made excursions to Plymouth. On one of these visits the report got circulated that one of the officers had menaced with a drawn sword one of the citizens. This was regarded as an insult to the whole community, and conse- quently, the whdie town was greatly excited. Strong passions were aroused. Harsh and threat- ening language was used. The people, as if by a common impulse, ran together to consult upon what measures should be adopted to revenge the insult. The offending officer was obliged to re- treat from the impending storm. For safety, he took refuge in the apothecary shop of one Dr. Hicks, a royalist. The place was immediately surrounded by the enraged populace, who indig- nantly demanded that the sword which had been drawn against them should be given them. For an officer to have his sword taken from him is humiliating and disgraceful. But on this occa- COIONBL COTTON. 297 eion the poeple insisted upon their demand with 80 much earnestness and tenacity, that the officer was compelled to submit to the humiliation, and deliver up his sword. After the people had re- ceived it, they immediately broke or cut it into several pieces, one of which was preserved as a relic for a long time, in the family of Captain Weston, who was present on that interesting oc- casion. This military company remained at Marshfield several weeks. But after the battle of Lexington, Governor Gage recalled them to Boston. They remind us of the Frenchman's army of ten thou- sand men, who marched up hill and then marched down again. But it was well that they did so. For com- panies of minute men were organized in town, and when the startling intelligence of blood being shed at Lexington reached them, they immedi- ately started for Marshfield, under the command of Colonel Cotton. On their way they constantly received additions of new volunteers, until, by the time they reached Marshfield, their number amounted to nearly a thousand men. It would have been easy for them to have surrounded and captured the whole of the British soldiers. But Colonel Cotton had received no orders to that effect. It seems strange to us that as the war had commenced, he did not take these soldiers pris- oners of war, and hold them until he received 298 APPBIfDIX. orders what to do with them. Many officers would have done so, and would not have been censured either. It would have been but a faint retaliation for the blood that was shed at Lexing- ton. After this affair Col. Cotton marched with his detachment to Roxbury, and joined the American army there. They assisted in throwing up en- trenchments on Dorchester Heights, as a protection against the British who then had possession of Boston. And all through the Revolutionary war the citizens of Plymouth maintained a high char- acter for their patriotism and their willingness to make sacrifices to secure the independence of the colonies, NOTB B.— Posts 267. The Pilgrim Fathers of New England selected Plymouth as their place of residence on Monday, the 11th day of December, 1620, old style ; which corresponds, in new style, with Monday, Decem- ber 21, 1620, and not with December 22, as was erroneously adopted at Plymouth in 1765, at the first celebration of that event. This error arose by adopting the correction of eleven days, the proper correction for events occurring between the years 1699 and 1800 ; it not being considered that this event happened in the previous century, when ten days only were required. PUBITAKS AND FILGBIMS. 299 KoTB r.— Pojre 190. It has been the practice of authors and orators in this country, to use the terms " Puritans," " Pil- grims," and "Pilgrim Fathers," as generic appel- lations, descriptive of the early settlers of Massa- chusetts, irrespective of the question whether they belonged to the Boston or the Plymouth company. The impression has also widely prevailed that the religious doctrines and political principles of the two colonies were the same. Recent investiga- tions have developed the erroneousness of this impression, and the impropriety of using the above terms as synonymous. It has been shown that those who were designated "Puritans," in Eng- land were members of the established Episcopal Church; but whilst retaining that connection, labored for its refoi-mation from what they re- garded as errors in its doctrine and practice. They accepted the Royal Supremacy — that the reigning monarch was the head of the church, and had the right to enjoin and enforce uniformity of religious doctrines and modes of worship. They also subscribed to the articles of faith, but at the same time protested against certain abuses which had crept into the church, and labored for their removal, by which, as they believed, the church would be purified — hence the term Puritan. These were the men who settled at Boston and Salem. 300 APPENDIX. There was another party who separated them- selves from the established church. They did not believe in conformity — in the right of any civil or ecclesiastical power to coerce the conscience and compel men to accept of doctrines, or ob- serve a form of worship which they believed was offensive to God, but that every man was entitled, in respect to these matters, to entire freedom. These were called "Separatists" and "Pilgrims." The settlers at Plymouth were of this class. They were the true " Pilgrim Fathers," and they differed widely in some of their principles from the " Pu- ritans.'' The conduct of the two colonies was in har- mony with their principles. The "Puritans" of Boston labored to produce conformity of faith and of religious worship. For this purpose they resorted to severe measures, persecuting Baptists, Quakers and Episcopalians ; but the " Pilgrims," at Plymouth, never used force to compel to con- formity. On the contrary, they received with hospitality and kindness those who fled to them from the persecutions of Boston ; and although they requested Roger Williams to remove across Seekonk River, out of their jurisdiction, it was not as an act of severity to him, but to avoid offending the Boston colony. Roger Williams, writing from Seekonk, "Rehoboth," said, "1 re- ceived a letter from my akcient fkiend, Mr. Winslow, the Governor of Plymouth, professing PT7EITANS AND PILGEIMS. 301 his (Hon and otTiers' love and respect for me, yet LOVTNGLT ADVISING me, since I was fallen into the edge of their bounds, and they were loth to dis- please the Bay (the Colony of Massachusetts, at Boston), to remove to the other side of the river, and there, he said, I had the country before me, and I might be as free as themselves, and we should be loveing neiglibors together^* At another time he wrote, "That great and pious soul, Mr. "Wins- low, melted and kindly visited me at Providence, and^M* apiece of gold into the hands of my wife for our supply." It is evident, from these extracts, that Winslow was not a persecutor, and that his loving advice to Williams, to remove across the river, was not to get rid of him as a heretic, but to avoid giving offense to the Puritans at Boston. Benjamin Scott, F. R. A. S., Chamberlain of the City of London, who has given special attention to this subject, says, in a lecture which he deliv- ered in London, and which he entitled, " The Pil- grim Fathers neither Puritans nor persecutors," " I have shown that the Pilgrim Fathers and their precursors in England, Holland, and at Plymouth, were Separatists, and had no connection with the Puritans who subsequently settled in New Eng- land, at Salem and Boston, in Massachusetts ; that the principles and practices of the two parties, confounded by some careless writers, diifered es- sentially,— the Separatists ever contending foi freedom of conscience, and separation from the 302 APPENDIX. poTvera of the State, while the Puritans remained in connection and communion with the State church, and held, both in England and New Eng- land, that the State should be authoritative on matters of religion. Hence, the anti-Christian and intolerant acts of the Puritan colony to the Separatists, Ralph Smyth, Roger Williams, Isaac Robinson, John Cudworth and Timothy Hatherley. Hence, also, on the arrival of the Friends, the cruel laws for whipping, banishing, and executing for matters of religious faith and practice. . . The Separatist colony of Plymouth had no share in this intolerant conduct during the lives of the Pilgrim Fathers ; some of their sons and succes- sors, acting up to their principles, shielded the Friends, and refused to be parties to the perse- cuting laws when enacted." Mr. Scott also relates this interesting fact : "Lord Macaulay and Earl Stanhope (Lord Mahon) who, as commissioners for decoratinghistorically the House of Lords, were appealed to respecting an erroneous inscription placed under Mr. Cope's painting of the Pilgrim Fathers landing in New England. The inscription stood, ' Departure of a Puritan Family for New England,' but after listening to the proofs submitted, and hearing Mr. Cope, who stated that he had taken his ideas from Bradford's 'Journal,' the commissioners ordered the terms ' Puritan Fam- ily' to be removed, as unjust to the memory of the parties concerned, and substituted the words ' Pil> PTTEITAITS Airo PILGRIMS. 303 grim Fathers.'" The inference from this fact is that those distinguished historians, Macaulay and Stanhope, did not regard the " Pilgrims " as " Pu- ritans." If this inference is correct, as it seems to be, then their views were in harmony with the preceding statements.