the blessings of the king and his people.

When about to de

part, Massasoit privately informed Hobomak, that there was an extensive combination of Indians for the destruction of Weston's colony; that the Massachusetts had drawn a great number of sachems into the confederacy; and that during his sickness he had been earnestly solicited to join them, but had refused, and forbidden his people to be influenced by them. He advised that the Massachusetts should be immediately attacked and cut off, as the only way to avert the threatened danger. If the English regard their own safety, let them strike the first blow, for after the settlers at Wessagusset should be killed, it would be too late for the Plymouth people to withstand so many enemies. Corbitant earnestly desired that Winslow and Hampden would lodge one night with him at Mattapoiset, on their way to Plymouth.. They complied with this request, and were much entertained with his merry humor and jocose conversation. He asked whether if he were sick and should send word to Plymouth, the governor would send him physic, and whether Mr. Winslow would visit him; and being answered in the affirmative, he returned his thanks. He inquired of Winslow, how he and Hampden dared to come, being but two men, so far into the country? Winslow replied, that his heart was so upright towards them that he had no fear in coming amongst them. But, said Corbitant, if your heart be so pure, and pro- . duces such fruits, why, when we come to Plymouth, are the mouths of your pieces presented towards us? This, said Winslow, is an honor which it is our custom to bestow on our best friends. But, shaking his head, he answered, that he liked not such salutations. He next inquired into the reason of asking grace and returning thanks, before and after eating. Winslow answered that all the good things of this life, came from God, and it is proper that we should crave his blessing and express our thankfulness on all such occasions; to which he assented. The gentlemen left Corbitant's dwelling much gratified with their entertainment.

March 23d.-This being their annual court day, the governor laid before the whole company the evidence which he had obtained of the hostile combination of the several tribes of Indians against the settlement at Wessagusset. It was resolved, that Captain Standish should take with him as many men as he should deem necessary to encounter all the Indians in Massachusetts bay-that he should disclose his designs to Weston's people, and secure Wattawamat, a bold and bloody warrior, and bring home his head.

Captain Standish would take but eight men for this service,

besides Hobomak, lest he should excite suspicion. On his arrival, his designs were suspected. An Indian said he saw by his eyes that he was angry in his heart, and, therefore, believed that their plot was discovered. Pecksuot, a bold-spirited_Indian, and a Pinese, that is, counsellor and warrior, said to Hobomak, that he understood that the Captain had come to kill him and the rest of the tribe. Tell him, said he, we know it, but fear him not; let him begin when he dares; he will not take us unawares. Many of them would often whet and sharpen their knives, and use insulting speeches and gestures before his face. They were in the habit of wearing knives suspended at the breast, in sheaths tied about the neck. Wattawamat bragged of the excellency of his knife, having on the handle a woman's face; but he said he had another at home, with which he had killed both French and English, having a man's face on it, and these two must marry, and by and by it shall see and it shall eat, but not speak. Pecksuot, being a large man, said, that though Standish was a great Captain, he was but a little man; but he himself, though no sachem, was yet a man of great strength and courage. Standish, though high-spirited and irritable, submitted patiently to these abusive provocations, till a favorable opportunity should occur. The next day the valiant Captain found means to get Pecksuot, Wattawamat, and a third Indian, with Wattawamat's brother, eighteen years old, an insulting villain, into a room, and having about an equal number of his own men he made the door fast and gave the signal, beginning himself with Pecksuot; he snatched his own knife from his neck, a struggle for life ensued, the knife was two-edged and the savage had sharpened it to a needle's point. This was instantly plunged into his bosom, and repeated strokes were given, the victim resisting to the last breath. Wattawamat and the other Indians were also slain at the same time, and the young man was taken, and afterwards hanged. The struggle was awful, but without noise. Hobomak was a calm spectator of the appalling scene; after it was closed, he said to the Captain, yesterday Pecksuot, bragging of his own strength and stature, said, though you were a great Captain yet you were but a little man: but to-day I see you are big enough to lay him on the ground. Two more Indians were slain by Weston's men. Proceeding to another place, Standish killed an Indian; and afterwards met a file of savages, which he encountered; and, after a skirmish, compelled them to fly into a swamp; he challenged the sachem to a single combat, but he refused.

Weston's people, now seeing their danger, resolved to quit

their plantation, and requested the assistance of Captain Standish in conveying them to the fishing vessels at Monhiggon, hoping to find a passage to England: The Captain told them that he should not feel himself in danger to reside there with fewer men than their number; but, at their desire, he would furnish them with corn sufficient for their subsistence, till they could arrive at the fishing vessels, although it would almost exhaust their own store, and stint them for seed corn. Seeing them under sail in their vessel, and clear of Massachusetts Bay, he returned to Plymouth in his own shallop, bringing with him a few men that preferred a residence in Plymouth. Thus, within one year, was the settlement of Wessagusset broken up, and the worthless rabble dispersed.

Captain Standish, on his return, brought with him the head of Wattawamat, as directed, and it was placed on the fort as a terror to the Indians. There was at this time an Indian chained to the floor in the fort, having been detected in the conspiracy; he recognised the head, and was exceedingly terrified; he acknowledged the existence of the plot, but not his own guilt. He entreated earnestly for his life, which was granted, and he returned with a message of caution to his brethren. 'The Indians generally, who had been prepared to join the Massachusetts, were terrified by these acts of severe execution. They forsook their dwellings, wandered about bewildered, living in swamps and deserts, and contracted diseases, of which many died. Canancum, sachem of Manomet, Aspinet of Nauset, and the interesting Iyanough, were among the victims of these complicated miseries. When Rev. Mr. Robinson received the news of these transactions, he wrote to the church at Plymouth, 'to consider the disposition of their Captain, who was of a warm temper.' He hoped the Lord had sent him among them for good, if they used him right; but he doubted whether there was not wanting that tenderness of the life of man, made after God's image, which was meet; he thought it would have been happy if they had converted some, before they had killed any. These sentiments are honorable to Mr. Robinson. They indicate a generous philanthropy, which must always gain our affection, and should ever be cherished. Still the transactions, to which the strictures relate, are defensible. to Standish, Dr. Belknap places his defence on the rules of duty imposed by his character, as the military servant of the colony. The government, it is presumed, will be considered as acting under severe necessity, and will require no apology, if the reality of the conspiracy be admitted, of which there can be little doubt. It is certain, that they were fully per

As

suaded of its existence, and, with the terrible example of the Virginia massacre in fresh remembrance, had solemn duties to discharge. The existence of the whole settlement was at hazard.*

First Patent. The first patent of Plymouth had been taken out in the name of John Pierce, in trust for the company of adventurers; but when he saw the promising state of their settlement, and the favor which their success had obtained for them with the counsel for New England, he, without their knowledge, but in their name, procured another patent of larger extent, intending to keep it for his own benefit, and hold the adventurers as his tenants, to sue and be sued at his courts. In pursuance of this design, in the autumn of the last year he despatched the ship Paragon, of which William Pierce was master, for New-England, but in 14 days she was forced back by severe storms, having got no farther than the Downs. The Paragon was repaired at the expense of one hundred pounds, and again despatched, but in this attempt the mariners, about the middle of February, were obliged in a terrible storm to cut away their mainmast, and return to Portsmouth. Pierce was then on board with 109 souls. After these successive losses and disappointments, he was induced to assign to the company of adventurers for £500, the patent which had cost him but £50. A new ship called the Ann, which had been built by the company to be sent to this country, was now employed to transport the passengers and goods, and she arrived at Plymouth in July, of which William Pierce, having quit the Paragon, was master. The Ann and the Little James of 44 tons, which soon followed her track, brought supplies for the plantation which were much needed, and about sixty passengers. The goods, with the charge of passengers in the ship, cost the company £640. The Paragon arrived at Plymouth in the month of June, under the command of Francis West, who was commissioned to be Admiral of New-England, with power to restrain such ships as came either to fish or trade on the coast without license from the New-England council; but finding the fishermen too stubborn and strong for him, he sailed for Virginia. The owners of the fishing vessels complained to the Parliament of this attempted restraint, and procured an order that fishing should be free.

The Colonists were essentially benefitted by a vast abundance of bass, caught in the creeks; on some occasions, 1500 were taken at one tide: when these resources failed they resorted to

*Judge Davis's edit. New-England Memorial, p. 91.

the never-failing clam banks. It was their misfortune, in the early part of the summer, to be reduced to the severest sufferings, threatening a famine, by a scantiness of provisions. A vessel with supplies, which they expected in the spring, was twice obliged to put back by stress of weather, and did not arrive till August. In May, they planted an unusual quantity of Indian corn, but it was so ordered, that a drought of six weeks continuance cut off all their favorable prospects. Until the middle of July, the earth was as ashes, the produce scorched as before a fire, and the hopes of man were overthrown. In this extremity, as in all adverse circumstances, these pious sufferers invoked the God of heaven for relief. A day of humiliation and prayer was appointed; the morning was fair and the sky cloudless; their fervent religious worship was continued eight or nine hours without ceasing. At night the clouds were seen to gather, and the sky was overcast; the next morning they were cheered with moderate refreshing showers, and the rains continued to descend at intervals for fourteen days. The natives were struck with amazement. Hobomak, during the continuance of the drought, expressed his grief and concern lest the English should lose all their corn, and starve. The Indians, said he, can live on fish. But after the rain he rejoiced and said, 'Now I see Englishman's God is a good God, for he hears you and sends rain, and without storms and tempests which break down our corn; surely he is a good God.' At a convenient season they also solemnized a day of public thanksgiving for rain, and for a supply of provisions from England. By the time our corn is planted,' said Bradford, 'our victuals are spent, not knowing at night where to have a bit in the morning, and have neither bread nor corn for three or four months together; yet bear our wants with cheerfulness, and rest on Providence.' The devout elder Brewster lived for many months together without bread, and chiefly on fish and clams, yet with this scanty fare, he, with his family, would give thanks that they could suck of the abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in the sand.' In winter, much use was made of ground nuts instead of bread, and wild fowls were constantly to be obtained in the marshes and creeks, and not unfrequently a deer was brought from the forest, which were divided among the whole company. It has been stated that they were at one time reduced to a single pint of corn, which being equally divided gave to each person five kernels, which were parched and eaten. The first establishment of the planters embraced such circumstances, as to maintain a community of interest, as respects the cultivation of the land, and