interpreter ; who not being at home, [he] seemed rather
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to be glad than sorry : and leaving for him, a bundle of
new arrows lapped in a rattlesnake's skin, desired to
depart with all speed. But our Governors (not knowing
what to make of this strange carriage \behxiviovt/r\ ; and
comparing it with what we h£ul formerly heard)
committed him to the custody of Captain Standish:
hoping now to know some certainty of that we so often
heard; either by his own relation to us, or to
TiSQUANTUM at his return; desiring myself, having
special familiarity with the other forenamed Indian, to
see if I could learn anything from him. Whose [ic.
ToKAMAHAMOifal answer was sparingly to this effect,
That he could not certainly tell ; but [he] thought tiiey
were enemies to us.
That night, Captain Standish gave me and another,
charge of him ; and gave us order to use him kindly,
and that he should not want anything he desired : and
to take all occasions to talk, and inquire of the reasons
of those reports we heard ; and withal to signify that,
upon his true relation, he should be sure of his own
freedom.
At first, fear so possessed him that he could scarce[ly]
say anything: but, in the end, [he] became more
familiar, and told us. That the messenger, which his
master sent, in summer [of 1621], to treat of peace ; at
his return, persuaded him rather to war: and to the
end he might provoke him thereunto, as appeared to
him by our reports, [he = f A^ /ormer measeTiger] detained
many of tiie things [that] were sent him [i.e. Canonicus]
by our Governor [William Bbadford] ; scorning tiie
meanness of them, both in respect of what [he] himself
had formerly sent [to Plymouth], and also of the
greatness of his own person. So that he [the Iridia/n
vnth whom Wjnslow was mow talking] much blamed
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the former messenger, saying, That, upon the knowledge
of this, his false carriage; it would cost him his life.
Bat [he] assured us that, upon his relation of our speech
then with him, to his master, he would be friends with us.
Of this, we informed the Governor [William
Bbadford] and his Assistant [Isaac Allebton], and
Captain [Milks] Standish: who, after consultation,
considered him howsoever but in the state of a
messenger ; and, it being as well against the Law of Arms
amongst them, as us in Europe, to lay violent hands on
any such, set him at liberty. The Governor giving
him order, to certify his master, That he had heard of
his large and many threatenings, at which he was much
oflknded : daring him, in those respects, to the utmost,
if he would not be reconciled to live peaceably, as others
hifl neighbours ; manifesting withal, as ever, his desire
of peace, but his fearless resolution, if he could not so
live amongst them.
After which, he caused meat to be offered him : but
he refused to eat, making all speed to retuim, and giving
many thanks for his liberty. But requesting the other
Indian again to return : the weather being violent, he
[i.6. Tokamaeamon\ used many words to persuade him
to stay longer ; but could not Whereupon he [i.e.
Tokamaeamon\ left him; and said, He was with his
friends ; and would not take a journey in such extremity
[of weather].
After this, when Tisquantum returned; and the
arrows were delivered, and the manner of the
messenger's carriage related: he signified to the
Governor, That to send the rattlesnake's skin, in that
manner, imported enmity ; and that it was no better
than a challenge.
Hereupon, after some deliberation, the Governor
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Oar.E. Wiarioir
Staffed Uie skin vrith powder and shot; and sent it
back: returning no less defiance to Conanacus
[CANONiauayy assuring him, If he had [had] shipping
now present, thereby to send his men to Nanohiggeinset
[Na/rraga7isett, now Rhode Island], the place of his
abode ; they should not need to come so far by land to
us: yet withal shewing that they should never come
unwelcome or unlooked for.
This message was sent by an Indian ; and delivered
in such sort, as it was no small terror to this savsge
King ; insomuch as he would not once touch the powder
and shot, or suffer it to stay in his house or country :
whereupon, the messenger refusing it, another took it
up ; and [it] having been posted from place to place a
long time, at length [it] came whole [vmopened] hack
again [to Plymouth].
In the mean time, knowing our own w^ikness,
notwithstanding our high words and lofty looks towards
them ; and still lying open to all casualty, having, as yet,
tmder GOD, no other defence than our arms: we
thought it most needful to impale our town; which,
with all expedition, we accomplished in the month of
February and some few days [in March]. Taking
in the top of the hill [now the Burial Hill] under
which our town is seated: making four bulwarks
or jetties [bdstiorta or projections] without the ordinary
circuit of the pale [palisdde], from whence we could
defend the whole town in three whereof, are gates ;
and [in] the fourth, [there will be one] in time to be.
This being done. Captain Standish divided our
strength [forces] into four Squswirons or Companies ;
appointing whom he thought most fit, to have command
of each : and, at a General Muster or Training, appointed
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each his place ; gave each, his Company ; giving them
charge, upon every alarm, to resort to their leaders to
their appointed place; and in his absence, to be
commanded and directed by them. That done, according
to his order, each drew his Company to hie appointed
place for defence ; and there together [they] discharged
their muskets. After which, they brought their new
Commanders to their houses ; where again they graced
them with their shot, and so departed.
Fearing also lest the enemy, at any time, should take
any advantage by firing our houses ; Captain Standish
appointed a certain Company that (whensoever they
saw [fire], or heard " Fire ! " to be cried in the town)
should only betake themselves to their arms ; and
should inclose the house, or place, so indangered ; and
stand aloof \ai a distance] on their guard, with their
backs towards the fire: to prevent treachery, if any
were in that kind intended. If the fire were in any of
the houses [of the district] of this guard ; they were
then freed from it [i,e. from being thus on gua/rd] ; but
not otherwise, without special command.
Long before this time, we promised the people of
Massachuset [i.e. Boston Bay], in the beginning of
March [1622] to come unto them, and trade for their
furs : which [time] being then come, we began to make
preparation for that voyage.
In the mean time, an Indian, called Hobbamock, who
still lived in the town [of Plymouth, see page 383], told
us. That he feared the Massachusets, or Massachuseucks
(for so they called the people of that place), were
joined in confederacy with the Nanohigganeucks
or people of Nanohigganset [Narragansetts]; and
that they therefore would take this opportunity to
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cut off Captain Standbsh and his company abroad
[while away^ : but howsoever, in the mean time, it was
to be feared that the Nanohigganeuks would assault the
town at home; giving many reasons for his jealousy. As
also that Tisquantum was in the confederacy : who, we
should find, would use many persuasions to draw us
from our shallops to the Indians' houses [wigvxmrui], for
their better advantage.
To confirm this his jealousy, he told us of many secret
passages that passed between him and others, having
their meetings ordinarily abroad in the woods : but if at
home [at Pljrmouth] howsoever, he was excluded from
their secrecy ; saying, It was the manner of the Indians,
when they meant plainly, to deal openly.
But in this his practice \plot\ there was no shew of
honesty.
Hereupon the Governor, together with his Assistant
[Isaac Allebton] and Captain Standish, called together
such as, by them, were thought most meet for advice
in so weighty a business; who, after considerati(»i
hereof, came to his resolution :
That as hitherto, upon all occasions between them
and us, we had ever manifested undaunted courage and
resolution ; so it would not now stand with our safety to
mew [skiW] up ourselves in our new-enclosed town:
partly because our Store was almost empty, and therefore
[we] must seek out for our daily food, without which we
could not long subsist ; but especially for that thereby
they would see us dismayed, and be encouraged to
prosecute their malicious purposes with more eagerness
than^ever they intended. Whereas, on the contrary, by
the blessing of QOD, our fearless carriage might be a
means to discourage and weaken their proceedings.
And therefore, [it was] thought best to proceed in
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our Trading Voyage, making this use of that we heard
— ^to go better provided, and use the more carefuhiees
both at home and abroad: leaving the event to the
disposing of the Almighty. Whose Providence, as it had
hitherto been over us for good ; so we had now no cause,
save our sins, to despair of his mercy in our preservation
and continuance: where we desired rather to be
Instruments of good to the heathens about us, than to
give them the least measure of just offence.
All things being now in readiness, the forenamed
Captain, with ten men, accompeuiied with Tisquantum
and HoBBAMOOK, set forwards for the Massachusete \i,e,
Boston Bay, 44 mUee away].
But we^ had no sooner turned the point of the
harbour. Gurnet's Nose, (where, being becalmed, we let
fall our grapnel; [in order] to set things to rights,
and prepare to row); but there came an Indian of
TiSQUANTUM*s family, running to certain of our people
that were from home [in the fields, distant from
PlyTTiouth], with all eagerness, having his face wounded,
and the blood still fresh on the same, calling to them
to repair home; oft looking behind him, as if some
others had him in chase: saying. That at Namaschet
[MiddUborough], a town some fifteen miles from
us, there were many of the Nanohiggansets
[Narra^/ansetts], Massassowat our supposed friend,
and CoNBATANT [or Cobbitant], our feared enemy,
with many others; with a resolution to take
advantage, on the present opportunity, to assault
the town, in the Captain's absence. AfBrming that he
* WiNSLOW was therefore one of the eleven Englishmen in the shallop.
— "EL A.
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received the wound in his face, for speaking in our
behalf, and by slight \cTaf(\ escaped ; looking oft
backward, ais if he suspected them to be at hand.
This he affirmed again to the Qovemor: whereupon
he gave command that three pieces of ordnance should
be mstde ready and discharged ; to the end that, if we
were not out of heeuring, we might return thereat.
Which we no sooner heard; but we repaired
homeward with all convenient speed : arming ourselves,
and making all in [a] readiness to fight. When we
entered the harbour, we saw the town likewise on their
guard : whither we hasted, with all convenient speed.
The news being made known unto us ; Hobbamock
said flatly, That it was false: assuring us of
Massassowat's faithfulness. Howsoever he presumed
\fdt certain], he would never have tmdertaken any
such act without his privity ; himself being a Pineae,
that is, one of his chief est champions or men of valour :
it being the manner amongst them, not to undertake
such enterprises without the advice and furtherance of
men of that rank.
To this, the Qovemor answered. He should be sorry*
that any just and necessary occasions of war should
arise between him and €uiy [of] the savages; but
especially Massassowat : not that he feared him more
than the rest ; but because his love more exceeded
towards him than any.
Wheretmto Habbamock replied. There was no cause
wherefore he should distrust him; and therefore [the
Governor] should do well to continue his affectiona
But to the end things might be made more manifest ;
the Governor caused Hobbamock to send his wife, with
all privacy, to Puckanokick [i.e. to Sowams in Pokcmoket],
the chief place of Massassowat's residence, pretending
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other occasions: there to inform herself, and so us,
of the right state of things.
When she came thither, and saw all things quiet ;
and that no such matter was, or had been, intended,
[she] told Mass ASSOWAT what had happened at Plymouth,
by them called Patuxet. Which, when he understood,
he was much offended at the carriage [behaviov/r] of
TiSQUANTUM : returning many thanks to the Governor
for his good thoughts of him ; and assuring him that,
according to their first Articles of Peace, he would send
word, and give warning, when any such business was
towards [approaching].
Thus, by degrees, we began to discover Ti^quantum ;
whose ends were only to make himself great in the eyes
of his countrymen, by means of his nearness and favour
with us : not caring who fell, so he stood.
In the general, his course was to persuade them, he
could lead us to peace or war, at his pleasure. And
would oft threaten the Indians, sending them word, in a
private mcmner, we were intended shortly to kill them ;
that thereby he might get gifts to himself, to work their
peace: insomuch as they had him in greater esteem
than many of their ScMshema Tea, they [the SoA^hems]
themselves sought to him : who promised them peace in
respect to us, yea, and protection too, so as they would
resort to him. So that whereas divers were wont to rely
on Massassowat for protection, and resort to his abode :
now they began to leave him, and seek after Tisquantum.
Now though he could not make good these his
large promises; especially because of the continued
peace between Massassowat and us: he therefore
raised this false alarm, hoping, whilst things were hot
in the heat of blood, to provoke us to march into his
country against him ; whereby he hoped to kindle such
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526 Good News from New England. 6k^. b. wiMiaw.
a flame as would not easily be quenched. And hoping,
if that block were once removed, there were no other
between him and honour ; which he loved as his life, and
preferred before his peace.
For these, and the like abuses, the Governor sharply
reproved him : yet was he so necessary and profitaUe
an Instrument as, at that time, we could not miss him.
But, when we understood his dealings, we certified all
the Indians, of our ignorance and innocency therein:
assuring them, [that] till they began [to fight] with us,
they should have no cause to fear ; and if any hereafter
should raise any such reports, they should punish them
as liars, €uid seekers of their and our disturbance. Which
gave the Indians good satisfaction on all sides.
After this, we proceeded in our voyage to the
Massachusets ; where we had good store of trade:
and, blessed be GOD! returned in safety; though
driven from before our town, in great danger and
extremity of weather.
At our return, we fotmd Massassowat at the
Plantation ; who made his seeming[ly] just apology for
all former matters of accusation : being much offended
and inraged against Tisquantum ; whom the Governor
pacified as much as he could for the present.
But, not long after his departure, he sent a messenger
to the Governor, intreating him to give way to tiie death
of Tisquantum ; who had so much abused him.
But the Governor answered, Although he had
deserved to die, both in respect of him and us; yet,
for our sakes, he desired he would spare him : and the
rather, because without him, he knew not well how to
understand himself, or any other [of] the Indians.
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With this answer, the messenger returned ; but came
again, not long after, accompanied with divers others ;
demanding him, from [oti hehcdf 0/] Massassowat their
master, as being one of his subjects, whom by our first
Articles of Peace [see 'pp. 457-458] we could not retain :
yet because he would not villingly do it, without the
Governor's approbation, [he] offered him many beavers'
skins for his consent thereto ; saying, That, according to
their manner, their Sachem had sent his own knife, and
them therewith, to cut off his head and hands, and bring
them to hiuL
To which the Governor answered, It was not the
manner of the English to sell men's lives at a price ; but
when they had deserved justly to die, to give them their
reward : and therefore refused their beavers' [skins] as a
gift. But sent for Tisquantum ; who though he knew
their intent, yet offered not to fly : but came and accused
HoBBAMOGK as the author and worker of his overthrow ;
yielding himself to the Governor, to be sent or not,
according as he thought meet.
But, at the instant, when our Governor was ready to
deliver him into the hands of his executioners, a boat
was seen at sea to cross before our town, and fall behind
a headland not far off. Whereupon, having heard many
rumours of the French, and not knowing whether there
were any combination between the savages and them ;
the Governor told the Indians, He would first know
what boat that was, ere he would deliver him into their
custody. But, being metd with rage, and impatient at
delay, they departed in [a] great heat
Here let me not omit one notable, though wicked,
practice [deceit] of this Tisquantum ; who (to the end
he might possess his country men with the greater fear
of us ; and so consequently of himself) told them, We
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had the plague buried in our Storehouse : which, at our
pleasure, we could send forth to what place or people we
would ; and destroy them therewith^ though we stirred
not from home.
Being, upon the f orenamed brabbles \wTwa^jeB\, sent
for by the Governor, to this place where Habbamock
was, and some other of us ; the ground being broke[n]
in the midst of the house (whereunder certain barrels
of powder were buried; though unknown to him)
HoBBAMOOK asked him, What it meant?
To whom, he readily answered, That was the place,
wherein the plague was buried; whereof he formerly
told him and othera
After this, Hobbahook asked one of our people.
Whether such a thing were? and Whether we h£ul
such command of it?
Who answered, No. But the Qod of the English had
it in store : and could send it at his pleasure ; to the
destruction of his and our enemies.
This was, as I take it, about the end of May 1622.
At which time, our store of victuals was wholly
spent : having lived, long before, with a bare and short
allowance.
The reason was that [the] Supply of men before
mentioned [^ 35 persona who ca/me in the Fortune],
which came so unprovided; not landing so much as a
barrel of bread or meal for their whole company : but
contrariwise received from us, for their ship's store
homeward. Neither were the setters forth Uiereof
altogether to be blamed therein: but rather certain
amongst ourselves, who were too prodigal in their
writing and reporting [by tlie Mayflower] of that
plenty we enjoyed.
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But that I may return. This boat proved to be
a shallop, that belonged to a fishing ship, called the
Bpa/rrqv), set forth by Master Thomas Weston, late
Merchant and citizen of London: which brought six
or seven passengers, at his charge, that should before
have been landed at the Plantation; who also brought
no more provision[s] for the present, than served t^e
boat's gang [crew] for their return to the ship. Which
made her voyage [i.e. made her profit by fishing].
at a place called Damarin's Cove near Munhiggen
[Damariscove lalanda^ near MonJiegan, off the coast
of Maine], some forty leagues [ = 120 miles] from us
north-eastward. Aboat which place, there fished above
thirty Sail of ships.
And whither [I] myself was imployed by our
Governor, with orders to take up such victuals as the ships
XK)uld spare. Where I found kind entertainment and
good respect; with a willingness to supply our wants.
But, being not aUe to spare that quantity I required
(by reason of the necessity of some among themselves ;
whom they supplied before my coming), [they]
would not take any Bills [of Exchange] for the same :
but did what they could freely, wishing their store
had been such as they might in greater measure have
expressed their own love, and supplied our necessities,
for which they sorrowed; provoking one another [to
free gifts for the Colony] to the utmost of their
abilities. Which, although it were not much, amongst
so many people as were at the Plantation ; yet through
the provident and discreet care of the Governors, [it]
recovered and preserved strength till our own crop on
the ground was ready.
Having dispatched there; I returned home with
all speed convenient: where I found the state of the
The Pilgrim Fathera 2 I.
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CJolony much weaker than when I left it For till
now, we were never without some bread: the want
whereof, much abated the strength and flesh of some ;
and swelled others.
But here it may be said. If the country abound with
fish and fowl in such measure as is reported ; how
could men undergo such measure of hardness [Aani^^ip],
except through their own negligence ?
I answer, Everything must be expected in its proper
season. "No man," as one saith, "will go into an
orchard in the winter, to gather cherries : '* so he that
looks for fowl there in the summer, will be deceived in
his expectation. The time they continue in plenty with
us, is from the beginning of October to the end of
March: but these extremities befel us in May and
June. I confess that as the fowl decrease, so fish
increase ; and indeed their exceeding abundance was
a great cause of increasing our wants. For though
our bay and creeks were full of bass and other fish ;
yet for want of fit and strong saynes [«ettie8 — wn.
enoi/rding neb with Jloata cut its top] and other netting,
they for the most part brake through and carried
all away before them: and though the sea were full
of cod; yet we had neither tackling nor harseis
{hdweera] for our shallops. And indeed had we not
been in a place where divers sorts of shell fish are,
that may be taken with the hand, we must have
perished ; unless QOD had raised some unknown or
extraordinary means for our preservation.
In the time of these straits, indeed before my going
to Munhiggen [Mcmheganyy the Indians began again
to cast forth many insulting speeches; glorying in
our weakness, and giving out how easy it would be
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ere loDg to cut us off. Now also Massassowat seemed
to frown on- ns ; and neither came, or sent, to us, as
formerly.
These thin^ occasioned further thoughts of
fortification. And whereas we have a hill, called The
Mount [Afterwa/rds caUed Fort Hill, and now Burial
HiU], inclosed within our pale [paliaade], under which
our town is seated ; we resolved to erect a Fort thereon ;
from whence a few might easily secure the town from
any assault the Indians can make ; whilst the rest might
be imployed [elsewhere], as occasion served. This work
was begun with great eagerness, and with the
approbation of all men: hoping that, this being once
finished, and a continual guard there kept, it would
utterly discourage the savages from having any hopes
or thoughts of rising against us: And though it took
the greatest part of our strength from dressing our
com [in May and June 1622]: yet, life being continued,
we hoped GOD would raise some means instead thereof,
for our further preservation.
•In the end of June, or beginning of July [1622],
came into our harbour [at Plymouth], two ships of
Master [Thokas] Weston's aforesaid ; the one called
the Cha/rity, and the other the Srvan : having in them
some fifty, or sixty, men, sent over at his own charge
to plant for him. These we received into our town ;
affording them whatsoever courtesy our mean condition
could afford. There the Cha/rity y being the bigger ship,