promised, within a night or two, to come again ; and to
bring with him, some of the Massasoyts, our neighbours,
with such beavers' skins as they had, to truck with us.
Saturday and Sunday [were] reasonably fair days.
On this day [Stmday, the ISth March 1621], came
again the savage ; and brought with him five other tall
proper [stwrdy] men. They had, every man, a deer's
skin on him ; and the principal of them had a wild cat's
skin, or such like, on the one arm. They had, most of
them, long hosen [leggings^ or gaiters] up to their groins,
dose[ly] made ; and above their groins to their waist,
another leather. They were altogether like the Irish
trouses [i/rovbaere].
They are of complexion like our English Gypsiea
No hair, or very little, on their faces. On their heads,
long hair to their shoulders; only cut before: some
[with it] trussed up before with a feather, broadwise
like a fan ; another [with a] fox's tail hanging out
These left, according to our charge given him before,
their bows and arrows a quarter of a mile from our
town.
We gave them entertainment as we thought was
fitting [to] them. They did eat liberally of our English
victuals. They made semblance unto us of friendship
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and amity. They sang and danced after their manner,
like antics j^rro^ea^tte jT^rson^]. They brought with
them, in a thing like a [long-]bow case [leccOiem gvrdle\
which the principal of them had about his waist, a little
of their com pounded to powder [pa/rchedL meal] ; which
put to a little water, they eat He had a little tobacco
in a bag : but none of them drank [it, i.e. emoked tt], but
when he listed. Some of them had their faces painted
black, from the forehead to the chin, four or five fingers
broad : others, after other fashions, as they liked.
They brought three or four skins, but we would not
truck at all that day ; but wished them to bring more,
and we would truck for all: which they promised
within a night or two ; and would leave these behind
them, though we were not willing they should. And
they brought us all our tools again ; which were taken
in the woods in our men's absence.
So, because of the day [i,e, Swnday], we dismissed
them so soon as we could.
But Samoset, our first acquaintance, either was sick,
or feigned himself so ; and would not go with them, and
stayed with us till Wednesday morning.
Then we sent him to them, to know the reason they
came not, according to their words : and we gave him a
hat, a pair of stockings and shoes, a shirt, and a piece of
cloth to be about his waist [i,e. a loin doth].
The Sabbath Day, when we sent them from us, we
gave every one of them some trifles; especially the
principal of them. We carried [escorted] them along,
with our arms [armed men], to the place where they
left their bows and arrows : whereat they were amazed ;
and two of them began to slink away, but the others
called them.
When they took their arrows, we bade them
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New England in America. 455
farewell; and they were glad. And so, with many
thanks given us, they departed; with promise they
would come again.
Monday and Tuesday proved fair days. We digged
our grounds, and sowed our garden seeds.
Wednesday [, the 21st March, was] a fine warm
day. We sent away Samoset.
That day, we had again a Meeting to conclude the Laws
and Orders for ourselves ; and to confirm those Military
Orders that were formerly propounded, and twice broken
off by the savages' coming : but so we were the third time.
For, after we had been an hour together, on the top
of the hill over against us [i.e. Wataon^a Hill], two
or three savages presented themselves; and made
semblance of daring us, as we thought So Captain
Standish with another, with their muskets, went over
[the Town Brook] to them; with two of the Master's
Mates, that followed them without arms [? aide wrma\
having two muskets with them.
They whetted [ahourpeTied] and rubbed their arrows
and strings ; and made show of defiance : but when our
men drew near them, they ran away.
Thus we were again interrupted by them.
This day, with much ado, we got our Carpenter [i.e.
of the MayJUnuer], that had been long sick of the scurvy,
to fit our shallop, to fetch all from aboard. [On thia day
thereforCf the Pilgrim Fa4Jiera finally left the Mayflower.]
Thursday, the 22nd of March [1621], was a very fair
warm day.
About noon, we met again about our public business :
but we had scarce been an hour together, but Samosst
came again ; and Squanto, the only [surviving] native
of Patuxet, where we now inhabit (Who was one of the
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45^ New England in Anterua,
twenty captives that, by Hunt, were carried away ; and
had been in England, and dwelt in Comhill [in London]
with Master John Slant, a Merchant ; and could speak
a little English), with three others : and they brooght
with them, some few skins to truck; and some red
herrings newly taken and dried, but not salted.
And [they] signified unto us, that their great
Sagamore Masasott was hard by, with Quadequina
his brother, and all their men. They could not well
express in English what they would : but, after an hour,
the King came to the top of a hill over against us
[Watson's HiU\ and had in his train sixty men; that
we could well behold them, and thay us.
We were not willing to send our Governor [John
Carver] to them; and they [were] unwilling to come
to us. So Squanto went again unto him ; who brought
word that we should send one to parley with him:
which we did, which was EIdward Winslow ; to know
his mind, and to signify the mind and will of our
Governor, which was to have trading and peace with him.
We sent to the King a pair of knives, and a copper
chain with a jewel to it To Quadequina, we sent
likewise a knife, and a jewel to hang in his ear. And
withal a pot of strong water[qnrito, ? brandy^ ; a good
quantity of biscuit, and some butter: which were all
willingly accepted.
Our messenger made a speech unto him. That King
James saluted him with words of love and peace, and
did accept of him as his friend and ally; and that
our Gk>vemor desired to see him, and to truck with
him, and to confirm a peace with him, as his next
neighbour.
He liked well of the speech, and heard it attentively :
though the interpreters did not well express it
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New England in A merica. 457
After he had eaten and drunk himself, and [had]
given the rest to his company; he looked upon our
messenger's sword and armour which he had on, with
intimation of his desire to buy it: but, on the other
side, our messenger showed his unwillingness to part
with it.
In the end, he left him in the custody of Qu adequina
his brother ; and came over the brook \fiie Town Brook],
and some twenty men following him, leaving all their
bows and arrows behind them. We kept six or seven
as hostages for our messenger.
Captain Standish and Master Williamson [or
rather Allbrton. None of the Pilgrim Fathers, then
at PlymovAh, was named Williamson] met the King at
the brook, with half a dozen musketeers. They saluted
him ; and he, them. So on going over, the one on the
one side, and the other on the other, conducted him to a
house then in building ; where we placed a green rug,
and three or four cushions.
Then instantly came our Governor [John Carver],
with [a] drum and [a] trumpet after him, and some few
musketeers.
After salutetions, our Qovemor kissing his hand, the
King kissed him : and so they sat down.
The Governor called for some strong water, and
drank to him : and he drank a great draught [of it] that
made him sweat all the while after. He called for a
little fresh meat : which the Eang did eat willingly, and
did give his followers.
They then treated of peace, which was
1. That neither he, nor amy of his, TheAgr«e-
should injure, or do hv/rt, to any Si*^^o'„f *J^
of our people. lUnasoyt.
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458 NevD England in America.
2. And if any of his did kwrt to amy of au/ra; he
should send the offender [to us], that we might
punish hi/nu
3. That if any of our tools were taken anvay, when
otjur people were ai work; he should cause
them to he restored: amd if ours did any harm
to way of his, we would do the like to them.
4. If any did unjustly war agaiTist him ; we would
aid hirfi. If amy did war o/gaimst us,heshould
aid us.
5. He should send to his neighbowi\ing\ confederates,
to certify them of this, that they weight not
wrong us ; hut might he likewise comprised in
the Conditions of Peace.
6. That when their men came to us, they should
leave their hows and arrows hehind them ; as
we should do our pieces, when we came to them.
7. Lastly, that doing thus. King James would
esteem of him as his friend and ally.
AU which the King seemed to like well ; and it was
applauded of his followers.
All the while he sat by the Governor, he trembled
for fear.
In his person, he is a very lusty man, in his best
years, [of] an able body, grave of countenance, and spare
of speech. In his attire, [he was] little or nothing
differing from the rest of his followers: only in a great
chain of white bone beads about his neck ; and at it,
behind his neck, hangs a little bag of tobacco, 1 which he
drank {emokedl and gave us to drink [smoke\. His
face was painted with a sad [deep"] red like murrey \(he
colowr of a m/ulberry] ; and [he] oiled both head and
face, that he looked greasily. AU his followers likewise
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New England in America. 459
were, in their faces, in part, or in whole, painted : some
black, some red, some yellow, and some white; some
with crosses, and other antic [grotesque] works. Some
had skins on them, and some [were] naked : all strong,
tall, all [and taU] men in appearance.
So, after all was done, the Qovemor conducted him
to the brook : and there they embraced each other, and
he departed ; we diligently keeping our hostages.
We expected our messenger's coming: but anon
word was brought us, that Quaddequina was coming ;
and our messenger was stayed till his return.
Who presently came and a troop [company] with
him. So likewise we entertained him, and conveyed him
to the place prepared. He was very fearful of our pieces
[muskets] ; and made signs of dislike, that they should
be carried away : whereupon commandment was giv«i
that they should be laid away. He was a very
proper tall young man, of a very modest and seemly
countenance; and he did kindly like of our entertainment.
So we conveyed him likewise, as we did the King : but
divers of their people stayed stilL
When he was returned; then they dismissed our
messenger. Two of his people would have stayed all
night : but we would not suffer it.
One thing I forgot. The King had in his bosom,
. hanging at a string, a great long knife. He marvelled
much at our trumpet ; and some of his men would sound
it as well as they could.
Samoset and Squanto, they stayed all night with
us : and the King, and all his men, lay all night in the
woods, not above hcdf an English mile from us ; and all
their wives and women with them.
They said that, within eight or nine days, they
would come and set com on the other side of the brook
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460 New England in America.
\ihe Town Brook], and dwell there all summer ; which
is hard by us.
That night, we kept good watch : but there was no
appearance of danger.
The next morning [of Friday, 23rd March], divers of
their people came over [the Town Brook] to us ; hoping
to get some victuals, as we imagined.
Some of them told us, The King would have some of
us come [to] see him.
Captain Standish and Isaac Allerton went
venturously: who were welcomed of him, after their
manner. He gave them three or four groundnuts, and
some tobacco.
We cannot yet conceive but that he is willing to
have peace with us. For they have seen our people
sometimes alone, [or] two or three, in the woods, at
work and fowling: when as they offered them no
harm, as they might easily have done. And especially
because he hath a potent adversary, the Narowhiganseis
[NarragomaeUs] that are at war with him: against
whom, he thinks, [that] we may be some strength to
him ; for our pieces are terrible unto them.
This morning, they stayed till ten or eleven of the
clock; and our Governor bade them send the King's
kettle, and [he] filled it full of pease: which pleased
them well And so they went their way.
Friday [, the 23rd March,] was a very fair day.
Sahoset and Squanto * still remained with us.
* Afterwards they, as many as were able, began to plant their oom.
In which sendee, Squanto stood them in great stead : showing them, both
the manner how to set it ; and after how to dress and tend it. Also he
told them, except they got fish, and set with it [i.e. manured the gnwnd
with alewiva, at the timeof getting : gee pp. 188, 595] ; in these old groands,
it would come to nothing. And he showed them, that in the middle of
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New England in America. 461
Squanto went, at noon, to fish for eels [? at Ed
River]. At eight, he came home with as many as he
could well lift in one hand; which our people were
glad of. They were fat and sweet. He trod them out
with his feet; and so caught them with his hands,
without any other instrument.
This day, we proceeded on with our common
business; from which we had been so often hindered
by the savages' coming : and concluded both of Military
Orders, and of some Laws and Orders: as we thought
behoveful for our present estate and condition. And
[we] did likewise choose [ie. re-elect] our «
Governor for this year ; which was
Master John Carver, a man
well approved amongst us.
A^nil, they should have store enough [of fish] come up the hrook [the Town
Brook] by which they began to build : and taught them how to take it.
And Pie told them] where to get other provisions neoeasaiy for them. All
which they found true, by trial and experience.
Some English seed they sew [iowed]t as wheat and pease : but it came
not to good ; either by the badness of the seed, or lateness of the season,
or both, or some other defect. Bradford MS., fol. 141.
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A JOUBNEY TO PaCKANOKIK, THE HABITATION OF THE
GREAT King, Massasott. As also oxtb
Message, [and] the Answer and
INTERTAINMENT WE HAD OF HIM.
[T seemed good to the Company, for many
considerations, to send some amongst them
to Massasott, the greatest Commander
amongst the savages bordering about ns:
partly to know where to iind them, if occasion served ;
as also to see their strength, discover the country,
prevent abuses in their disorderly coming to us, make
satisfaction for some conceived injuries to be [have been]
done on our parts, and to continue the league of peace
and friendship between them and u&
For these, and the like, ends ; it pleased the Covemor
to make choice of Stephen Hopkins and Edward
WiNSLOW to go imto him. And having a fit opportunity
by reason of a savage called Tisquantuh, that could
speak English, coming unto us ; with all expedition [we]
provided a horseman's coat of red cotton, and laced with
a slight [amaU] lace, for a present ; that both they and
their message might be the more acceptable amongst
them. The message was as f olloweth :
That foraarmuih as his avJjjects came often, and
without fea/r, upon all occasions, amongst us; so we
were tiow covrve unto him : and in witness of the love
and good wUl the English bear vmto him, the Oovemor
hath sent him a coat; desirimg that the peace and
462
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New England in America. 463
ornMy that was between them and ua might he continued.
Not thai we feared them : but because we irdended not
to injure amy: deeirimg to live peaceably; a/nd eta
with all men, eo eapedaUy with them, our neoflreet
neighbours.
But whereas his people cam^ very often, and very
m/iny together, to us ; brining, for the Tnost paH, their
wives aThd children with them; they were welcome: yet
(we being but strangers as yet at Patuxet alias New
Plymouth; cmd not hnowimg how our com might
prosper) we could no longer give them each
entertaimnent as we had done, a/nd as we desired stiU
to do. Yet, if he would be pleased to come himself; or
[if] any special friend of his desired to see us, coming
from him, they should be wdcome. And to the end we
mdght know them from others, ou/r Oovemor had sent
him a copper chain ; desiring if any messenger should
corns from him to us, we might know him, by [his]
bringing it with him,; and hearken, and give credit ^
to his message accordingly. Also requesting him, that
each as have skins, should bring them to us ; and that
he would hinder the multitude from oppressing us, with
them{sdves\
And whereas, at our first a/rrival at Paomet [Pamet],
caUed by vs. Cape Cod, we fovmd there com buried in
the grownd ; and, finding no inhabitants but some graves
of [the] dead nsw[ly] buried, took the com : reviving
if ever we could hear of any that had right thereunto,
to make satisfaction to the full for it Yet, since we
wnderstamd the owners thereof were fled for fea/r of
us, our desire was either to pay them with the Wee
quantity of com [maize], [of] English msal, or any
other commodities we had, to pleasure them withaL
Requesting him, that some one of his Tnen m/ight signify
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/464
Nem England in America,
80 rwuch unto them ; arid we would corUeTU hvm for his
pains.
And, last of all, our Oovemor requested one favawr
of him; which was that he would exchange some of
their com* for seed, with us; that we might rtwice trial
which best agreed with the soil where we live.
With these presents and [this] Message, vre set
forward [Sunday] the 10th [of] June [This dale is
considered to be an error. Oovemor Bradford
{Bradford M8., folio 143) states tlial the messengers
started on Monday, 2nd July 1621], about nine a dock
in the morning; our guide [Tisquantum] resolving that
night to rest at Namaschet [Middleborough],\ a town
under Massasott : and conceived by us to be very near,
because the Indians flocked so thick, upon every slight
occasion, amongst us; but we found it to be some
fifteen English miles.
On the way, we found some ten or twelve men
women and children, which had pestered [annoyed] us
till we were weary of them : perceiving that, as the
manner of them all is, where victual is easiliest to be got,
there they live, especiaUy in the summer; by reason
whereof, our Bay affording many lobsters, they resort
every spring-tide thither; and now returned with us
to Namaschet.
* Probably what ia now called Rhode Island corn, which is a different
•pedes from that usually raised in Massachusetts; yielding a more
delicate and whiter meal.— H. M. Dexteb, Lib, of New England Eitt,
L 100, Ed. 1865, 4.
t The spot so designated here is in what is now Middleborough, on the
Nemasket river ; about thirty rods above the bridge, passed in going from
the Green to the Four Comets, on the Middleborough and Plymouth road :
being the rapids near the Lower Factory, which is now called the Star
Mills.— U. M. DiXTiB, Lib. of New Enoland MiU., L 101, Ed. 1865, 4.
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New England in America. 465
Thither we came about three a clock after noon, the
inhabitants entertaining us with joy in the best manner
they could : giving us a kind of bread, called by them
moi^iti/m, and the spawn of shads which then they got
in abuncjance, insomuch as they gave us spoons to eat
them [with]. With these, they boiled musty acorns : but
of the shads, we eat heartily.
After this, they desired one of our [two] men to
shoot at a crow; complaining what damage they
sustained in their com by them: who shooting some
fourscore [yards] off, and killing; they much admired
\yo(ynderrtA a£\ it, as [at] other shots, on other
occasions.
After this, Tisquantum told us, we should hardly
in one day reach Pakanokick [Pokanoket] ; moving us
to go some eight miles further, where we should find
more store and better victuals than there.
Being willing to hcusten our journey, we went ; and
came thither at sunsetting: where we found many
of the Namascheucks, they so calling the men of
Namaschet, fishing upon a ware [wear]* which they had
made on a river which belonged to them ; where they
caught abundance of basa
These welcomed us also, gave us of their fish ; and
we, them of our victuals : not doubting but we should
have enough wherever we came.
There we lodged in the open fields: for houses
[wigwams] they had none, though they spent most of
the summer there.
The head of this river [the TUiciU] is reported to be
* Probably ftt the Old Indian Wear, so called, near Titioat, in the
north-west part of Mkldleborongh ; two or three miles south-west of the
junction of the Nemasket, with the Taonton river.— H. M. Dizteb, Lib.
of New England ffitt., I. 102, Ed. 1865, 4.
The Pilgrim Fathers. 2 o
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466 New England in America.
not far from the place of our abode. \Ii rieea within
six miles of PtyTnovik] Upon it are, and have been,
many towns : it being [of] a good length. The ground
is very good on both sides ; it being for the, most part
cleared. Thousands of men have lived there ; which
died in a great plague not long since: and pity
it was, and is, to see so many goodly fields, and
so well seated, without men to dress and manure
the same.
Upon this river [the Tav/nton] dwelleth Massasoyt.
It Cometh into the sea at the Narrohiganset
[Narragansett] Bay: where the Frenchmen so much
use [frequuent]. A ship may go many miles up it^
as the savages report ; and a shallop to the head of it :
but so far as we saw, we are sure a shaUop may.
But to return to our journey. The next morning
[, Ttieaday, the 3rd July], we brake our fast, took our
leave, and departed; being then accompanied with
some six savagea
Having gone about six miles by the river side, at a
known shoal place,* it being low water ; they spake to
us to put off our breeches, for we must wade through.
Here let me not forget the valour and courage of
some of the savages on the opposite side of the river.
For there were remaining alive [there] only two men,
both aged ; especially the one, being above three score.
These two, espying a company of [8] men entering the
river, ran very swiftly and low in the grass, to meet us
at the bank : where, with shrill voices and great courage,
standing, [they] charged upon us with their bows.
They demanded. What we were ? supposing us to be
* There seems to be no doubt that this oro68ing-pl»oe was at what
is now known as Squabetty, 3| miles east-by-south of Taunton Green. — H.
M. Dkxteb, Lib. of New England ffi$L, I. 103, Ed. 1865, 4.
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New England in America. 467
enemies ; and thinking to take advantage on us in the
water. But seeing we were friends, they welcomed
ns with such food as they had: and we bestowed a
small bracelet of beads on them. Thus far, we are sure,
the tide ebbs and flows.
Having here again refreshed ourselves, we proceeded
in our journey ; the weather being very hot for travel :
yet the country [was] so well watered, that a man could
scarce be dry \ihir8ty\ but he should have a spring at
hand to cool his thirst ; besides small rivers in abundance.
But the savages will not willingly drink but at a spring
head.
When we came to any small brook, where no bridge
was ; two of them desired to carry us through, of their
own accorda Also fearing we were, or would be, weary ;
[they] offered to carry our pieces. Also if we woidd
lay off any of our clothes, we should have them carried ;
and as the one of them had found more special kindness
from one of the messengers, and the other savage from
the other, so they shewed their thankfulness accordingly,
in affording us all help and f urtherence in the journey.
As we passed along, we observed that there were
few places by the river but had been inhabited ; by
reason whereof, much ground was clear, save of weeds
which grew higher than our heads. There is [there]
much good timber; both oak, walnut tree, fir, beech,
and exceeding great chestnut trees.
The country, in respect of the lying [iay] of it, is
both champanie \(yperfh and level] and hiUy, like many
places in England. In some places, it is very rocky ;
both above ground and under it And though the
country be wild and overgrown with woods; yet the
trees stand not thick, but a man may well ride a horse
amongst them.