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 to the king, "who drank a great draught, that made him sweat all the while after." Victuals was then set before them. After which they entered into a formal and very friendly treaty, in which 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 neighbors, &c. Massasoit, and his successors for fifty years, inviolably observed this treaty. The English are much indebted to this powerful chieftain 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 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 favor 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, Governor Carver, while engaged in labor 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 honors 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, and performing the most humiliating services for them without any distinction of persons or characters."*

He was succeeded by William Bradford, then in the thirty-third year of his 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 Gov. 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 southwest of Plymouth, (now Warren) in Rhode Island. 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

G

* Belknap.

sachems in his neighbourhood, who were jealous of the new colonists, and disposed to give them trouble, came to Plymouth, and voluntarily subscribed an instrument of submission to the king of England. Hobbamac, another of these subordinate chiefs, came and took up his residence at Plymouth, where he continued a faithful guide and interpreter till his death. The Indians of the island 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. Their successive continuing peace, also, shows what probably might have been done, had their descendants maintained the same peaceful temper. All the subsequent wars might have been avoided.

In September, 1621, governor Bradford sent ten men, with 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 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. In October, they 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 NewEngland; 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 provision, 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." The governor 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 flankers, 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 hill, with a flat roof; the lower story of which served them for a place of worship.

The practice of duelling, which has never prevailed in New-England, was introduced by two servants, who quar

reled, and fought with sword and dagger. Both were wounded, neither of them 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 faithful Squanto for his guide and interpreter, made an excursion for this purpose; 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 honor in the history of New-England. Forgetting the perfidy of those, who, by base 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 English were coming to kill them, but asssuring 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