24

Death of Governor Carver.

Williamson, with half a dozen soldiers, met the king at the brook, and conducted him and his train to the governor, who met them at a house appointed, with drum and trumpet sounding, and other military parade. A green rug, and three or four cushions, were spread for the company. The governor kissed the king's hand, and the king his, and both sat down. Strong water," was then given the king, "who drank a great draught, that made him sweat all the while after." Victuals was then set before them: when Massasoit, one of the most powerful sagamores of the neighbouring Indians, entered into a formal and very friendly treaty, wherein they agreed to avoid injuries on both sides, to punish offenders, to restore stolen goods, to assist each other in all justifiable wars, to promote peace among their neighbours, &c. Massasoit and his successors for fifty years, inviolably observed this treaty. The English are much indebted to this chief for his friendship, and his memory will ever be respected in New England. Massasoit returned, but Squanto continued at Plymouth, and was extremely useful as their interpreter, and their, pilot to different parts of the coast. He taught them how to cultivate Indian corn, and where to take fish, The Narragansets, disliking the conduct of Massasoit, declared war against him, which occasioned much confusion and fighting among the Indians. The Plymouth colony interposed in favour of Massasoit, their good ally, and terminated the dispute to the terror of their enemies. Even Canonicus himself, the terrific sachem of the Narragansets, sued for peace.

In April of this year George Carver, while engaged in labour, with the rest of the settlers, was seized with a pain in his head, which shortly after deprived him of his senses, and, in a few days, of his life, to the great grief of these afflicted people. He was buried with all the honours in their power to bestow. Of this gentleman the following character is given by his biographer." He was a man of great prudence, integrity, and firmness of mind. He had a good estate in England, which he left in the emigration to Holland and America. He was one of the foremost in action, and bore a large share of sufferings in the service of the colony, who confided in him as their friend and father. Piety, humility, and benevolence, were eminent traits in his character; and it is particularly remarked that in the time of general sickness, which befel the colony, and with which he was affected, after he had himself recovered, he was assiduous in attending the sick,

Embassy to Massasoit.

25

and performing the most humilitating services for them, with out any distinction of persons or characters." He was suc ceeded by William Bradford, then in the thirty-third year of bis age, a man of "wisdom, piety, fortitude, and goodness of heart," and on these accounts much respected and beloved by the people. Isaac Allerton was chosen his assistant in the administration of government. One of the first official acts of Governor Bradford was to send an embassy to Massasoit. His objects were to explore the country, to carry presents, and confirm the league with that chief; to survey his situation and strength, to establish a friendly intercourse, and to procure seed corn for the next season.

Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, with Squanto for their guide, composed this embassy. This sachem lived about 40 miles southward of Plymouth. As they passed through the country, they observed the marks of the ravages which the pestilence had made a few years before. They were received with friendship, and accomplished the business of their mission to the satisfaction of the governor. The prudent and upright conduct of the Plymouth colony toward the Indians, secured their friendship and alliance. Through the influence of Massasoit, nine of the petty sachems in his neighbourhood, who were jealous of the new colonists, and disposed to give them trouble, came to Plymouth, and voluntarily sub scribed the following instrumeut of submission to the king of England, viz. "September 13th, A. D. 1621. Know all men by these presents, that we whose names are underwritten, do acknowledge ourselves to be the loyal subjects of King James, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. In witness whereof, and as a testimonial of the same, we have subscribed our names or inarks as followeth : 1 Ohquamehud,

5 Caunbatant,

4 Nattawahunt,

7 Quadequina,

8 Huttamoiden, 9 Apan ow."

6 Chickatabak,

2 Cawnacome, 3 Obbatinua, Hobbamack, another of these subordinate chiefs, came and took up his residence at Plymouth, where he continued as a faithful guide and interpreter as long as he lived. The Indians of the islands of Capawock, which had now obtained the name of Martha's or Martin's Vineyard, also sent messengers of peace. These transactions are so many proofs of the peaceful and benevolent disposition of the Plymouth settlers. In September (1621) Governor Bradford sent ten men, with

26

Increase of the Colony.

Squanto, in a shallop to explore the bay, now called Massachusetts; they found that the islands in this bay had been cleared of wood, that they had been planted, but were now almost without inhabitants. The few who remained received them very hospitably, expressing great fears of the Tarateens, a people at the eastward, who often came and robbed them of their corn, and many times killed some of their people. The superior fertility of the islands in the bay made them wish they had settled there. Having very happily recovered their health, they began to repair their cottages before winter. They also in October, gathered in their harvest. Their English grain was poor, but their corn was very good, and they had plenty of fish and fowl, and were very happy.

CHAP. V.

Increase of their Number-Sufferings-a Massacre of Virginians, -Duel-Squanto dies---Lands purchased---Visit to Massasoit, who is sick---Patent obtained---first Cattle in New England---Death and Character of Mr. Robinson.

IN November, a ship, with thirty five passengers, arrived from England. Unfortunately for the little colony, the ship was short of provisions, and the colonists, out of their scanty pittance, were obliged to victual her home. In consequence, before the next spring, they were reduced to great straits, and obliged for some time to subsist on fish and spring water, being for two or three months destitute of bread. To heighten their distresses the Narraganset chief, Canonicus, threatened the peace of the colony by a message sent in "the emblematical style of the ancient Scythians, viz. a bundle of arrows bound with the skin of a serpent." They returned the skin filled with powder and ball, which had the desired effect. Afraid of its contents, the chief returned it unopened, and remained quiet. About this time a part of the colony of Virginia was surprised and massacred by the Indians. From this circumstance, and the hostile disposition of the Narragansets, the colonists, feeble as they were from famine, found it expedient to fortify their town; accordingly, they surrounded it with a stockade and four flankarts, divided their company into four squadrons, and alternately kept guard day and night. Their guns were mounted on a kind of citadel erected on the top of the town

Duel.-Death and Character of Squanto.

27

hill, with a flat roof; the lower story of which served them for a place of worship.

The practise of duelling, which has never prevailed in New England, was introduced by two servants, who quarrelled, and fought with sword and dagger. Both were wounded, neither mortally. For this disgraceful conduct, they were formally tried before the whole company, and sentenced to have "their heads and feet tied together, and so to remain twenty-four hours, without meat or drink." In consequence of their penitence, a part of their punishment was remitted.

The summer of 1622 being dry, and the harvest scanty, the colonists were obliged to seek a supply from the Indians. Governor Bradford, with the friendly and faithful Squanto for his guide and interpreter, made an excursion for this purpoe, during which, Squanto fell sick and died. On his death bed he requested the governor to pray for him, that he might "go to the Englishman's God in heaven." This Indian deserves to have his name recorded with honour, in the history of New England. Forgetting the perfidy of those, who, by artifice, had made him a prisoner and a slave, he became a hearty friend of the English, and so continued till his death, rendering them in various ways most essential services. Though faithful to the English, he had his share of art, cunning, and dishonesty. He would often send word privately to the Indians that the E.glish were coming to kill them, but assuring them, at the same time, that he had influence to persuade them to peace. By these means he not only obtained large presents, but raised himself to such importance in view of his countrymen, that they sought to him as a protector, and he became more respected than their sachems. He also, to give consequence to the English and himself, informed the natives that the English kept the plague buried in a cellar, which was their magazine of powder, which they could send forth to the destruction of any people, while they remained at home themselves.

Governor Bradford was treated with great respect by the several tribes which he visited, and the trade was conducted, on both sides, with confidence and justice. He purchased in the whole twenty-eight hogsheads of corn, for which he paid in goods received from England. The right to the lands settled by the English colonists, was early purchased from or given by the Indian proprietors. How great a part of New England was thus fairly obtained from the Indians, cannot be ascer tained. There is evidence to believe, however, that a large

28 Massasoit sick and visited.---New Patent obtained.

proportion of the soil was purchased, at what was then considered an equitable price.

In the spring of 1623, Massasoit fell sick, and sent intelligence of it to the governor, who immediately sent Mr. Win slow, and Mr. John Hampden, (the same man who afterwards distinguished himself by his opposition to the arbitrary and unjust demands of Charles I.) to pay him a visit. They carried with them presents, and some cordials for his relief. Their visit and presents were very consolatory to the venerable chief, and were the means of his recovery. In return for their kind, ness, he informed them of a dangerous conspiracy among the neighbouring Indians, the object of which was the total extir, pation of the English. By means of this timely discovery, and the consequent spirited exertions of the governor, whose wise plans were executed by the brave Capt. Standish, the colony was once more saved from destruction. Afterwards, in 1639, at the termination of the Pequod war, Massasoit, who had then changed his name to Woosamequen, brought his son Mooanam to Plymouth, and desired that the league which he had formerly made might be renewed and made inviolable. The sachem and his son voluntarily promised, " for themselves and their successsors, that they would not needlessly nor unjustly raise any quarrels, or do any wrong to other na tives to provoke them to war against the colony, and that they would not give, sell, or convey any of their lands, territories, or possessions whatever, to any person or persons whomsoever, without the privity or consent of the government of Plymouth, other than to such as the said government should send or ap point. The whole court did then ratify and confirm the afore. said league, and promise, to the said Woosamequen, his son and successors, that they would defend them against all such as should unjustly rise up against them, to wrong or appress them."

The "contract," entered into by the colonists at Cape Cod, on their arrival, was intended only as a temporary snbstitute for legal authority from their sovereign. Accordingly, as soon as they were informed of the establishment of the "council at Plymouth, for planting New England," before mentioned, they applied for, and obtained a patent. It was taken out, in the name of John Pierce, in trust for the colony. "When he saw that they were well seated, and that there was a prospect of success to their undertaking, he went, without their knowledge, but in their name, and solicited the council for another