messengers the chief sent his own knife for the avowed purpose of cutting off Squanto's head and hands, but the governor disdaining to sell his life, refused the present, although he assured the messengers that Squanto had justly forfeited it by his falsehood and deceit. He however sent for Squanto, who readily yielded himself, and submitted his life without the least apparent reluctance to the will of the governor, but he charged Hobbomock with being the author of his ruin. The governor with much reluctance at length determined to yield him to the executioners of Massasoiet, but at the moment, a boat appearing in the bay, and an alarm being given that the French were approaching, and the governor being uncertain as to the extent of the connection between the French and the Indians, refused to deliver Squanto into the hands of the messengers until he had ascertained the character of the crew who were in the boat; and they being angered at his reluctance and delay, departed in a great rage. The boat however proved to be the shallop belonging to a ship of Thomas Weston's, called the Sparrow, who had been fishing near Munhiggon,* and they learned that there were forty sail of English vessels engaged in fishing. The governor despatched Edward Winslow to purchase provisions of these fishermen, who being poorly supplied, refused to sell any, but generously gave them enough for their immediate necessity, but not sufficient for all their wants. Captain John Huddlestone deserves to be mentioned on this occasion for his great generosity. The supply was opportune; the colony was entirely destitute of bread, and they obtained sufficient to supply each person with a quarter of a pound daily until the harvest. *Near Penobscot. 4 The sea-fowl frequented their waters during the winter, the latter part of autumn, and the early part of the spring only, and it was now summer. The colonists were unprovided with fishing gear. They had been compelled to live upon clams and other shell fish, which they found in the sands, and they were excessively debilitated from the want of food. The Indians discovered their weakness, and meditated their destruction, and boasted how easily they could effect it. Their designs came to the knowledge of the settlers, and their fears were heightened by news which they learned from captain Huddlestone, of a horrible massacre which had been perpetrated by the natives upon the English, in Virginia. Induced by these circumstances, they set about the erection of a fortification, which was placed on a hill back of the town, and although they were obliged to neglect their agriculture, they completed the fort, building it strongly of timber, with a flat roof and battlements; on this roof they mounted the ordnance and kept constant watch. The lower part served them for a meeting house or place of worship. men. Such was the character of these times, and of these The temple of the Lord was defended by cannon, and his worshippers were armed men ; they held the sword in one hand and the bible in the other. Previous to this time, they had made another trading voyage to the Massachusetts, and met with good success. They planted sixty acres to corn, and their gardens were filled with vegetables; their numbers amounted to an hundred, free from sickness, but much debilitated. About midsummer two ships arrived called the Charity and the Swan, which were sent out by Weston (who had obtained a patent from the adventurers,) to commence a plantation; and he had sent over at his own charge fifty or sixty idle and profligate persons to undertake an enterprise which could only succeed under the management of men who were adventurous, industrious, sober, sagacious, and hardy; and who were willing to submit to every privation. This rabble were treated kindly and courteously by the colonists, and to requite them, they wasted their provisions, and committed numberless thefts, taking in the night, their green and growing corn, and assisting them but little in its culture. The Charity soon sailed for Virginia. Weston's company sent out an exploring party, who soon returned and reported in favor of a place called Wessagusset* or Wessaguscus, on the Massachusetts Bay. To this place they soon repaired, (much to the joy of the Plymouth people,) leaving their sick behind, who were soon cured without charge by Mr Fuller, the physician and surgeon of the settlement, and they joined the company at Wessagusset. The settlers at Wessagusset soon excited the enmity of the neighboring Indians by the profligacy of their carriage, and their frequent thefts. Complaint was made of their outrages to the governor of Plymouth, who endeavored to prevent the evil by frequent admonitions, but without much effect. About the latter part of the month of August, two other ships came into the harbor, one of which was called the Discovery, and was commanded by Capt. Jones, the former commander of the May Flower. The other was Weston's vessel, the Sparrow, which had completed her fishing voyage. • Now Weymouth. Captain Jones supplied the settlers with some articles, such as they could exchange with the natives for provisions. Their crop of corn proved so scanty, partly in consequence of their inability through weakness from the want of food to attend to its culture, and the pressure of other business, and partly from the depredations of Weston's company, that they were in danger of famine. Jones took an ungenerous advantage of their necessities, and compelled them to pay the most exorbitant prices. John Porey, who had been secretary of the Virginia Colony, and was about to return home, was a passenger in the Charity, and from personal observation he was induced to represent the colony so favorably in England, that it acquired new and powerful friends. The Charity returned to England about the end of September, but the Sparrow was retained at Wessagusset. The planters at Wessagusset having wasted their provisions; fearful of approaching want, and hearing that the Plymouth people had purchased many articles of Jones for the purpose of traffic, desired to enter into copartnership with them and offered their small vessel for that service. Their object was to purchase corn from the Indians. An agreement was made between them and the governor of Plymouth and his assistant, but they were delayed by the death of Richard Green, the brother-in-law of Weston, who had charge of the colony at Wessagusset, and who died suddenly at Plymouth. They intended to visit the south side of Cape Cod, and took Squanto, (who had now reconciled himself to Massasoiet,) for a pilot, he pretending that he could pilot them within the shoals. Captain Standish was to have commanded the expedition, but being driven back twice by violent winds, and falling ill of a fever, governor Bradford took the command himself, and after encountering some hazard from the shoals, { he made for a harbor at a place called Mannamoyck,* and after sounding through a narrow and intricate channel, anchored. The governor, attended by Squanto, went on shore, but the natives were shy of intercourse for some time, at length, understanding his intentions, they threw off their reserve, and welcomed him with much apparent joy, feasting him and his company on venison and other food,- yet so jealous were they when they ascertained that the governor intended to remain on shore during the night, that they carefully removed their property from their habitations. Squanto having succeeded in persuading them that the intentions of the English were good, they were at length induced to sell them eight hogsheads of corn and beans. They intended to have proceeded farther down the Cape, being assured both by Squanto and the Indians of Mannamoyck that there was a safe passage, but their design was frustrated by the sudden sickness of Squanto, who was seized with a fever so violent, that it soon occasioned his death, to the great grief of the Governor. Although Squanto had discovered some traits of duplicity, yet his loss was justly deemed a public misfortune, as he had rendered the English much service. A short time previous to his death, he requested the governor to pray that he might go to the Englishman's God in heaven, and he bequeathed his little property to his English friends as remembrances of his love. The Indians of Massachusetts having promised the English to plant corn abundantly for the purpose of traffic; when the wind came fair, the governor sailed down the bay, and reaching the place of his destination, he had the * Now Chatham. |