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'panions, who brought with them skins for trade. The same endearing civilities were extended to these, and after entertaining the colonists with dancing after the Indian manner, they disappeared in the forest, first intimating the intention of their prince to pay them a visit.t

The principal seats of Masassoit were at Pokanoket, on the head of Narrhaganset bay. The number of subjects immediately about him was about sixty. One of these, Tisquantum, was among the unfortunate ones captured by Hunt, who visited the coast in 1614, under the celebrated navigator, Capt. John Smith. Hunt was left in charge of a vessel, with instructions after it was laden with fish, to sail for Spain. Smith in the mean time, embarked on board his own ship and returned to London. When Hunt had accomplished the objects of his stay, and his vessel was ready to sail, under the pretence of trading with the natives, he decoyed the number of twenty seven on board, and perfidiously threw them in irons. The unsuspecting Indians were shipped to Malaga, and most of them were there sold as slaves for twenty pounds the man. The whole would have been disposed of in the same manner had not the Monks compassionately interceded and procured a release of the remaining ones out of their hands. Tisquantum was carried thence to Spain, afterwards to England, where he remained long enough to acquire a knowledge of the English language, and finally returned in a fishing ship to America.§ During his absence the plague had desolated his country, and he found himself the only survivor of a once populous district. His family and friends had been swept away by the pestilence, and he beheld himself the unhappy remnant of a once powerful and dreaded people.

Samoset having informed Masassoit of the disposition of his new neighbors to be at peace and live in the interchange of friendly offices, he went from the royal seat at Sowams, attended by sixty followers, with a view to pay a visit to Plymouth. When he had come within a short distance of the town, he commissioned Samoset and Tisquantum, the two most accomplished personages of his court, to approach and apprise the English Sachem of his arrival. They accordingly acquainted the colonists that their prince, the most con

* Prince, 100. Morton, 31. Prince, 112. This included the pres ent townships of Bristol, Warren and Barrington, in Rhode Island, and Swanzey in this state. Masassoit resided principally at Sowams and Kikemuit, villages within the country of Pokanoket. Kikemuit was afterwards called Montaup, now vulgarly called Mount Hope. Belknap's Biog. Vol. II. 221. Holmes, Vol. I. 211. His. Col. Vol. VIII. 160. || Neal, Vol. I. 96. Prince, 101.

siderable sovereign of the country, was encamped on a neighboring hill with his train, and was desirous of an interview, Mutual distrust, or a want of conformity to the etiquette of the two courts, for a time delayed the intended conference. It was at length agreed, however, that the colonists should first appoint some one to wait on Masassoit, and enter into a parley with him. Edward Winslow was the person selected to go out and ascertain the further pleasure of the royal stranger. For the purpose of accomplishing his errand the more satisfactorily, he took with him two knives, a copper chain, and a jewel, to present to the cautious Sachem. Other articles of a kind best calculated to please him were taken, and on delivering them, he signified to him that what he had given him were tokens of friendship from the colonial governor, and that it was his earnest desire that a treaty of peace might be made, and a league entered into, which would result to the mutual benefit and happiness of the two nations.

Winslow having delivered his message, Masassoit committed him to his brother, Quadequinah, a subordinate chieftain, and accompanied by twenty of his followers, unarmed, descended the hill toward the town. When he had reached a brook, a short distance from the settlement, he was met by Capt. Standish with six men, and politely escorted to one of the best houses. Here a pile of cushions was placed on a green rug, and other accommodations corresponding with the dignity of the guest, provided. Gov. Carver shortly appeared, preceded by a drum and trumpet, and a military escort. This exhibition excited great admiration among the Indians. It was showing unexpected deference to their sovereign. After an interchange of civilities, the Governor and Sachem kissing each other, they agreed on a league of friendship, the substance of which was, that they and their subjects should perpetually continue in the exercise of kind and obliging offices toward each other; that in the event of hostilities with other powers mutual aid and support should be afforded; that the subjects of each on approaching the towns of either party, should in all cases leave their weapons of war at a certain distance. The treaty being concluded, which was called the peace of Plymouth, "entertainment was brought in, consisting chiefly of strong waters, a thing the Savages love very well; and the Sachem took such a large draught of it at once, as made him sweat all the time he staid."*

When the conference was ended, Masassoit returned to his camp *Neal, Vol. I. 97.

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on the hill, and the hostages on both sides were restored. Thus was formed an alliance remarkable above all others with the Indians, for the length of its duration. The articles of it were adhered to with fidelity as long as Masassoit lived. It remained unbroken until the war of 1675, when the celebrated Philip, second son of Masassoit, commenced hostilities on the settlements.

In the month of July, 1621, Gov. Bradford appointed envoys to pay a visit to his generous friend and ally, Masassoit. Mr. Winslow and Hopkins, accompanied by Tisquantum as guide and interpreter, were intrusted with the mission. The object of it was to explore the country, confirm the league, and ascertain the number of the natives. The distance from Plymouth was about forty miles southwest. In their way thither, they observed the desolation every where marking the progress of the plague. Villages formerly thickly inhabited, were deserted, and the whole country depopulated. Indian skeletons in many places unburied, laid whitening on "the earth.*

The envoys were received at the court of the forest warrior with much pomp and ceremony. When introduced to his presence they saluted him by a discharge of their muskets. This done, they were kindly invited into his house and welcomed in the most obliging and cordial manner. They disclosed to him the object of their visit, renewed the protestations of friendship of their Governor for him and his people, and accompanied these with a present of a horseman's red coat, gaudily set off with lace, and a chain to go about the neck. Nothing could have gratified the royal vanity more than trinkets of such imposing character. Having arrayed himself in these, "he was not a little proud to behold himself, and his men also to see their king, so bravely attired." In this new armor, after making an appropriate speech to the message of the envoys, his men gathering around him, he addressed them in the following words: "am not I Masassoit, commander of the country around you? Is not such a town mine and the people in it? Will you not bring your skins to the English?" After mentioning twenty or thirty places in this manner, and his subjects rending the air with their plaudits at the naming of each, he lighted the pipes of the envoys,

*The whole number of the Wampanoags, sometimes called Pawkunnawkuts or Pokanokets, was before the plague, about 20,000. It is probable the number left was only a few hundred. "Thousands of men have lived there (banks of Taunton river) which died in a great plague not long since; and pity it was and is to see so many goodly fields, and so well seated, without men to dress the same." Winslow's Narrative.

and seating himself beside them, entered into conversation relative to the people of England. His inquiries were chiefly with reference to the king; and of the many strange and unaccountable things related of him, none gave such surprise and wonder as to be told he lived without a wife.*

The entertainment afforded Winslow and Hopkins, from the account the former has left of it, was neither splendid or liberal; for besides being compelled to retire to rest without supper, they slept on the same bed with Masassoit and his wife; the former at one end, and the latter at the other. The bed consisted simply of some planks raised about a foot above the floor, covered with mats.— Two of the principal characters in the court of the Sachem, for want of room, took lodgings in the same bed; and, no doubt, the ambassadors passed the night pretty uncomfortably. Although they remained during two nights and a day, the only food they saw, was two fish and a partridge; and these were divided among nearly forty. They supported their hunger, however, with a good grace, from the circumstance that all shared alike. When they took their leave to return to Plymouth, Masassoit, conscious of the scanty entertainment his friends had received, and remembering, perhaps, the hospitality with which he was served by the English Governor, was filled with grief and shame.† No people are more poor than the Indians, and none more liberal of the substance. They give cheerfully whatever they have to strangers and guests, and the treatment here extended to Winslow and Hopkins, ought in no wise to affect the reputation of Masassoit.

Tisquantum proved but a hollow-hearted friend to the colonists. To elevate himself to the first office of government, he plotted the destruction of Masassoit, by creating a war between him and the English. Canonicus, chief Sachem of the Narrhagansetts, and an ancient and implacable enemy of the Wampanoags, regarding with a jealous eye the formidable alliance between the Planters and Masassoit. From the devastation of his subjects by the late pestilence and the disaffection of Conbutant, a petty Sagamore, the ambitious Canonicus had conceived of the bold design of wresting the sceptre from the hands of Masassoit, and placing the crown upon his own head. Tisquantum had been apprized of the determinations of the Narrhagansett Sachem, and was not backward to second his views. To lead the colonists to distrust the friendship of *Holmes, Vol. I. 221. + Belknap's Biog. Vol. II. 289. Prince, 118.

ibid. 116.

their ally, he instructed one of his family to wound his face and alarm the town with the approach of Canonicus, Conbutant and Masassoit, with their forces to attack the settlement, saying that his life had been endangered by speaking in defence of the English. A strong guard was placed about the town, and all hearts for a time were filled with deepest consternation, Hobomak disclosed the true character of Tisquantum, and vindicated the fidelity of Masassoit, his master.* A messenger was instantly dispatched to Pokanoket to ascertain the truth of the report circulated by the wounded Indian. An answer was returned, and the treachery of Tisquantum fully brought to light. The indignant chief soon followed and insisted on the surrender of him into his hands that he might avenge the insult according to the laws of his country. He urged the articles of treaty that the offender might be delivered up, and that the peace of his nation and dignity of his crown might not be further jeopardised. Notwithstanding the usefulness of Tisquantum as interpreter was set forth by the Governor and other reasons given why his life should be spared, nothing but his death could appease the royal indignation. After his return to his subjects, he sent two men back to Plymouth, with his own knife, with a commission to bring him dead or alive, and they would have succeeded in their errand had not the Governor averted them from their purpose by arguments of clemency and promise of reform.

Nothing could have proved more happy and fortunate for the colony than the friendship of Masassoit. Although his fortunes were now broken down by the devastation of his subjects by the plague, be was found to possess a powerful influence over the councils of neighboring princes. Many of the petty Sachems under. him were opposed to the settlement of the English at Plymouth, and some of the more discontented and rebellious went so far as even to threaten its peace and safety; yet, from the deference paid the opinions of Masassoit, and the weight of his judgment, nine of them went voluntarily to Plymouth, and there on the 13th of September, 1621, acknowledged themselves the loyal subjects of King James.t

In the beginning of the year 1623, news was brought to Gov. Bradford, that Masassoit was very dangerously sick. It was a custom among the Indians when one was ill, for the friends to visit him, or send presents. In compliance with a practice so praiseworthy, and out of gratitude for the many acceptable services rendered the colony by the generous Sachem, Mr. Winslow was again

His. Col. Vol. VIII. 242. + Belknap's Biog. 223.

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