CHAP. hour together, on the top of the hill over against us X. ~ two or three savages presented themselves, that made 1621. semblance of daring us, as we thought. So Captain Standish with another, with their muskets, went over to them, with two of the master's mates that follows them without arms, having two muskets with them. They whetted and rubbed their arrows and strings, and made show of defiance; but when our men drew near them, they ran away. Thus were we again interrupted by them. This day, with much ado, we got our carpenter, that had been long sick of the scurvy, to fit our shallop to fetch all from aboard. Mar. 22. Thursday, the 22d of March, was a very fair, warm day. About noon we met again about our public business. But we had scarce been an hour together, but Samoset came again, and Squanto,3 the only native The same hill on which the two Indians appeared, Feb. 17. See note on page 180. By arms must be here meant Also called Squantum, or Tis- those savages that formerly had been betrayed by this unworthy Hunt before named. But this sayage being at that time in Newfoundland, Master Dermer, who was there also, found the means to give us intelligence of him, and his opinion of the good use that might be made of his employment." Dermer took Tisquantum with him to England, and on his return to New England in the spring of 1619, brought him back to his native country. In a letter dated Dec. 27, of that year he says, "when I arrived at my savage's native country, finding all dead, I travelled alinost a day's journey westward to a place called Nummastaquyt, (Namasket,) where finding inhabitants, I despatched a messenger a day's journey further west to Poconaokit, which bordereth on the sea; whence came to see me two kings, attended with a guard of fifty armed men, who being well satisfied with that my savage and I discoursed unto them, being de X. Mar. of Patuxet, where we now inhabit, who was one of CHAP. the twenty captives that by Hunt were carried away, and had been in England, and dwelt in Cornhill with 1621. Master John Slanie,' a merchant, and could speak a 22. little English, with three others; and they brought with them some few skins to truck, and some red herrings, newly taken and dried, but not salted; and signified unto us, that their great sagamore, Masasoyt,2 was hard by, with Quadequina, his brother, and all their men. They could not well express in English what they would; 3 but after an hour the king came to the top of a hill over against us, and had in his train sixty men, that we could well behold them, and they us. We were not willing to send our governor to them, and they were unwilling to come to us. So 5 sirous of novelty, gave me content in whatsoever I demanded." These two kings were undoubtedly Massasoit and Quadequina. On going to Virginia, in June, Dermer left Tisquantum at Sawahquatooke, now Saco, whence he probably returned to Patuxet and Namasket. In another letter, dated June 30, 1620, Dermer says, "Squanto cannot deny but that the Pocanokets would have killed me when I was at Namassaket, had he not entreat ed hard for me." See Mass. Hist. Coll. xxvi. 50, 62, xix. 7, 10, 13; Purchas, iv. 1778; Morton's Memorial, pp. 55-59. The beautiful promontory in Dorchester, near Thomson's island, will perpetuate the name of this early friend of the Pilgrims. They probably called it after him in their first expedition to the Massachusetts in 1621, when he accompanied them as interpreter. This is probably the same place which is called Squanto's Chapel, by Morton, in his New English Canaan, b. ii. chs. 6 and 8. "The worshipful John Slany, of London, merchant," was one of the 2 Prince says, in his Annals, p. 3 See note on page 183. Watson's hill, mentioned twice before on pages 180 and 190. 5 The word were was accidentally omitted in the original. 192 WINSLOW'S PARLEY WITH MASSASOIT. CHAP. Squanto went again unto him, who brought word X. that we should send one to parley with him, which we 1621. did, which was Edward Winsloe, to know his mind, 22. and to signify the mind and will of our governor, which Mar. was to have trading and peace with him. We sent to the king a pair of knives, and a copper chain with a jewel at it. To Quadequina we sent likewise a knife, and a jewel to hang in his ear, and withal a pot of strong water, 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 governor 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. After he had eaten and drunk himself, and given the rest to his company, he looked upon our messenger's sword and armor, 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 Quadequina, his brother, and came over the 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' met the king at the brook, with half a dozen musketeers. They saluted him, and he them; so one There was a Thomas Williams, but no person of the name of Williamson, among the signers of the Compact. It is probably an error of the press. It is very un likely that any one of the ship's company would be associated with Standish in this duty. Perhaps it should read Master Allerton. TREATY OF PEACE WITH MASSASOIT. 193 X. Mar. going over, the one on the one side, and the other on CHAP. the other, conducted him to a house then in building, where we placed a green rug and three or four cush- 1621. ions. Then instantly came our governor, with drum 22. and trumpet after him, and some few musketeers. After salutations, our governor kissing his hand, the king kissed him; and so they sat down. The governor called for some strong water, and drunk to him; and he drunk a great draught, that made him sweat all the while after. He called for a little fresh meat, which the king did cat willingly, and did give his followers. Then they treated of peace, which was: 1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of our people. 2. And if any of his did hurt to any of ours, he should send the offender, that we might punish him. 3. That if any of our tools were taken away, when our people were at work, he should cause them to be restored; and if ours did any harm to any of his, we would do the like to them. 4. If any did unjustly war against him, we would aid him; if any did war against us, he should aid us. 5. He should send to his neighbour confederates to certify them of this, that they might not wrong us, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace. 6. That when their men came to us, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them, as we should do our pieces when we came to them. Lastly, that doing thus, King James would esteem of him as his friend and ally.' "This treaty," says Belknap, "the work of one day, being hon estly intended on both sides, was 194 СНАР, X. Mar. QUA DEQUINA. All which the king seemed to like well, and it was applauded of his followers. All the while he sat by. 1621. the governor, he trembled for fear. In his person he 22. is a very lusty man, in his best years, an able body, grave of countenance, and spare of speech; in his attire 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, which he drank,' and gave us to drink. His face was painted with a sad red, like murrey, and oiled both head and face, that he looked greasily. All his followers likewise 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 works; some had skins on them, and some naked; all strong, tall men in appearance. 2 So after all was done, the governor 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 Quadequina was coming, and our messenger was stayed till his return; who presently came, and a troop with him. So likewise we entertained him, and conveyed him to the place prepared. He was very fearful of our pieces, and made signs of dis like, that they should be carried away; whereupon sasoit lived, but was afterwards, in It was accordingly ratified and con firmed by the government. See Morton's Memorial, p. 210. 'See note on page 188. This description corresponds to the appearance of Black Hawk and Keokuck, and the braves of the Sacs and Foxes, on their visit to Boston in 1837. |