amongst vs so to receiue our best respected friends and as it was vsed on the Land so the ships obserued it also at Sea which Hobbamock knew and had seene obserued But shaking the head he answered that he liked not such salutations Further obseruing vs to craue a blessing on our meate before we did eate and after to giue thankes for the same he asked vs what was the meaning of that ordinary custome Hereupon I tooke occasion to tell them of Gods workes of Creation and Preseruation of his Lawes and Ordinances especially of the ten Commandements all which they hearkened vnto with great attention and liked well of onely the seventh Commandement they excepted against thinking there were many inconueniences in it that a man should be tyed to one woman about which we reasoned a good time Also I told them that whatsoeuer good things wee had wee receiued from God as the Author and giuer thereof and therefore craued his blessing vpon that we had and were about to eate that it might nourish and strengthen our bodies and hauing eaten sufficient being satisfied therewith wee againe returned thankes to the same our God for that our refreshing c. This all of them concluded to be very well and said they beleeued almost all the same things and that the same power that wee called God they called Kietitan Much profitable coÌ„ference was occasioned hereby which would be too tedious to relate yet was no lesse delightfull to them then comfortable to vs. Here wee remained onely that night but neuer had better entertainement amongst any of them The day following in our iourney Hobbamock told me of the private conference he had with Massassowat and how he charged him perfectly to acquaint me therewith as I shewed before which hauing done he vsed many arguments himselfe to moue vs thereunto That night we lodged at Namasket and the day following about the mid-way betweene it and home wee met two Indians who told vs that Captaine Standish was that day gone to the Massachusets but contrary windes againe driue him backe so that we found him at home where the Indian of Paâ—met still was being very importunate that the Captaine should take the first opportunitie of a faire wind to goe with him but their secret and villanous purposes being through Gods mercy now made knowne the Gouernour caused Captaine Standish to send him away without any distast or manifestation of anger that wee might the better effect and bring to passe that which should be thought most necessary Before this iourney we heard many complaints both by the Indians and some others of best desert amongst Master Westons Colony how exceedingly their Company abased themselues by vndirect meanes to get victualls from the Indians who dwelt not farre from them fetching them wood and water c. and all for a meales meate whereas in the meane time they might with diligence haue gotten enough to haue serued them three or foure times Other by night brake the earth and robbed the Indians store for which they had beene publiquely stocked and whipt and yet was there small amendment This was about the end of February at which time they had spent all their bread and corne not leauing any for seed neither would the Indians lend or sell them any more vpon any termes Hereupon they had thoughts to take it by violence and to that spiked vp euery entrance into their Towne being well impaled saue one with a full resolution to proceed But some more honestly minded advised Iohn Sanders their Over-seer first to write to Plimoth and if the Gouernour advised him thereunto he might the better doe it This course was well liked and an Indian was sent with all speede with a letter to our Gouernour the contents wherof were to this effect That being in great want and their people daily falling downe he intended to goe to Munhiggen where was a Plantation of Sir Ferdi Gorges to buy bread from the Ships that came thither a fishing with the first opportunitie of wind but knew not how the Colony would be preserued till his returne he had vsed all meanes both to buy and borrow of Indians whom hee knew to be stored and he thought maliciously with held it and therefore was resolued to take it by violence and onely waited the returne of the Messenger which he desired should be hastned crauing his advice therein promising also to make restitution afterward The Gouernour vpon the receipt hereof asked the Messenger what store of corne they had as if he had intended to buy of them who answered very little more then that they reserued for seed hauing alreadie spared all they could Forth-with the Gouernour and his Assistant sent for many of vs to advise with them herein who after serious consideration no way approuing of this intended course the Gouernour answered his Letter and caused many of vs to set our handes thereto the contents whereof were to this purpose Wee altogether disliked their intendment as being against the law of God and Nature shewing how it would crosse the worthy ends and proceedings of the Kings Maiestie and his honourable Councell for this place both in respect of the peaceable enlarging of his Maiesties Dominions and also of the propagation of the knowledge and Law of God and the glad tydings of saluation which we and they were bound to seeke and were not to vse such meanes as would breed a distast in the Salvages against our persons and professions assuring them their Master would incurre much blame hereby neither could they answere the same For our owne parts our case was almost the same with theirs hauing but a small quantitie of Corne left and were enforced to liue on ground nuts clams mussels and such other things as naturally the Countrey afforded and which did and would maintaine strength and were easie to be gotten all which things they had in great abundance yea Oysters also which we wanted and therefore necessitie could not be said to constraine them thereunto Moreouer that they should consider if they proceeded therein all they could so get would maintaine them but a small time and then they must perforce seeke their foode abroad which hauing made the Indians their enemies would be very difficult for them and therefore much better to beginne a little the sooner and so continue their peace vpon which course they might with good conscience desire and expect the blessing of God whereas on the contrary they could not Also that they should consider their owne weakenesse being most swelled and diseased in their bodies and therefore the more vnlikely to make their partie good against them and that they should not expect helpe from vs in that or any the like vnlawfull actions Lastly that howsoeuer some of them might escape yet the principall Agents should expect no better then the Galhouse whensoeuer any speciall Officer should be sent ouer by his Maiestie or his Councell for New England which wee expected and who would
respect of our personall safetie because my selfe and Hobbamock had beene imployed vpon a seruice against him which he might now fitly reuenge yet esteeming it the best meanes leauing the euent to God in his mercie I resolued to put it in practise if Master Hamden and Hobbamock durst attempt it with mee whom I found willing to that or any other course might tend to the generall good So we went towards Mattapuyst In the way Hobbamock manifesting a troubled spirit brake forth into these speeches Neen womasu Sagimus neen womasu Sagimus c. My louing Sachim my louing Sachim Many haue I knowne but neuer any like thee And turning him to me said Whilest I liued I should neuer see his like amongst the Indians saying he was no lyer he was not bloudy and cruell like other Indians In anger and passion he was soone reclaimed easie to be reconciled towards such as had offended him ruled by reason in such measure as he would not scorne the aduice of meane men and that he gouerned his men better with few strokes than others did with many truly louing where he loued yea he feared we had not a faithfull friend left among the Indians shewing how he oft-times restrained their malice c. continuing a long speech with such signes of lamentation and vnfeigned sorrow as it would haue made the hardest heart relent At length we came to Mattapuyst and went to the Sachimo Comaco for so they call the Sachims place though they call an ordinarie house Witeo but Conbatant the Sachim was not at home but at Puckanokick which was some fiue or six miles off the Squa-sachim for so they call the Sachims wife gaue vs friendly entertainment Here wee inquired againe concerning Massassowat they thought him dead but knew no certainty whereupon I hired one to goe with all expedition to Puckanokick that we might know the certainty thereof and withall to acquaint Conbaetant with our there being About halfe an houre before Sunne-setting the messenger returned and told vs that he was not yet dead though there was no hope we should finde him liuing Vpon this we were much reuiued and set forward with all speed though it was late within night ere we got thither About two of the clocke that afternoone the Dutchmen departed so that in that respect our iourney was frustrate When we came thither we found the house so full of men as we could scarce get in though they vsed their best diligence to make way for vs. There were they in the middest of their charmes for him making such a hellish noise as it distempered vs that were well and therefore vnlike to ease him that was sicke About him were six or eight women who chafed his armes legs and thighes to keepe heat in him when they had made an end of their charming one told him that his friends the English were come to see him hauing vnderstanding left but his sight was wholly gone he asked who was come they told him Winsnow for they cannot pronounce the letter l but ordinarily n in the place thereof hee desired to speake with me when I came to him and they told him of it he put forth his hand to me which I tooke then he said twice though very inwardly keen Winsnow which is to say Art thou Winslow I answered aâ—he that is yes then hee doubled these words Matta neon wonckanet namen Winsnow that is to say O Winslow I shall neuer see thee againe Then I called Hobbamock and desired him to tell Massassowat that the Gouernour hearing of his sicknesse was sorry for the same and though by reason of many businesses he could not come himselfe yet he sent me with such things for him as he thought most likely to doe him good in this his extremitie and whereof if he pleased to take I would presently giue him which he desired and hauing a confection of many comfortable conserues c. on the point of my knife I gaue him some which I could scarce get thorow his teeth when it was dissolued in his mouth he swallowed the iuice of it whereat those that were about him much reioyced saying he had not swallowed any thing in two daies before Then I desired to see his mouth which was exceedingly furred and his tongue swelled in such manner as it was not possible for him to eat such meat as they had his passage being stopt vp then I washed his mouth and scraped his tongue and got abundance of corruption out of the same After which I gaue him more of the confection which he swallowed with more readinesse then he desiring to drinke I dissolued some of it in water and gaue him thereof within halfe an houre this wrought a great alteration in him in the eyes of all that beheld him presently after his sight began to come to him which gaue him and vs good encouragement In the meane time I inquired how hee slept and when he went to the stoole They said he slept not in two daies before and had not had a stoole in fiue then I gaue him more and told him of a mishap we had by the way in breaking a bottle of drinke which the Gouernour also sent him saying if he would send any of his men to Patuxet I would send for more of the same also for chickens to make him broth and for other things which I knew were good for him and would stay the returne of the messenger if he desired This hee tooke maruellous kindly and appointed some who were ready to goe by two of the clocke in the morning against which time I made ready a letter declaring therein our good successe the state of his body c. desiring to send me such things as I sent for and such physicke as the Surgion durst administer to him He requested me that the day following I would take my Peece and kill him some Fowle and make him some English pottage â—uch as he had eaten at Plimoth which I promised after his stomacke comming to him I must needs make him some without Fowle before I went abroad which somewhat troubled me being vnaccustomed and vnacquainted in such businesses especially hauing nothing to make it comfortable my Consort being as ignorant as my selfe but being wee must doe somewhat I caused a woman to bruise some corne and take the flower from it and set ouer the grut or broken corne in a pipkin for they haue earthen pots of all sizes When the day broke we went out it being now March to seeke herbes but could not finde any but strawberry leaues of which I gathered a handfull and put into the same and because I had nothing to relish it I went forth againe and pulled vp a Saxafras root and sliced a peece thereof and boyled it till it had a good relish and then tooke it out againe The broth being boyled I strained it thorow my handkerchiffe and gaue him at least a pinte which he dranke and liked it very
well After this his sight mended more and more also he had three moderate stooles and tooke some rest Insomuch as wee with admiration blessed God for giuing his blessing to such raw and ignorant meanes making no doubt of his recouery himselfe and all of them acknowledging vs the instruments of his preseruation That morning he caused me to spend in going from one to another amongst those that were sicke in the Towne requesting me to wash their mouthes also and giue to each of them some of the same I gaue him saying they were good folke This paines I tooke with willingnesse though it were much offensiue to me not being accustomed with such poysonous sauours After dinner he desired me to get him a Goose or Duck and make him some pottage therewith with as much speed as I could so I tooke a man with me and made a shot at a couple of Ducks some six score paces off and killed one at which he wondered so we returned forthwith and dressed it making more broth therewith which he much desired neuer did I see a man so low brought recouer in that measure in so short a time The Fowle being extraordinary fat I told Hobbamock I must take off the top thereof saying it would make him very sicke againe if he did eat it this hee acquainted Massassowat therewith who would not be perswaded to it though I pressed it very much shewing the strength thereof and the weaknesse of his stomacke which could not possibly beare it Notwithstanding he made a grosse meale of it and ate as much as would well haue satisfied a man in health About an houre after he began to be very sicke and straining very much cast vp the broth againe and in ouer-straining himselfe began to bleed at the nose and so continued the space of foure houres then they all wished he had beene ruled concluding now he would die which we much feared also They asked me what I thought of him I answered his case was desperate yet it might be it would saue his life for if it ceased in time he would forthwith sleepe and take rest which was the principall thing he wanted Not long after his bloud staied and he slept at least six or eight houres when he awaked I washed his face and bathed and suppled his beard and nose with a linnen cloth but on a sudden he chopt his nose in the water and drew vp some therein and sent it forth againe with such violence as he began to bleed afresh then they thought there was no hope but we perceiued it was but the tendernesse of his nostrill and therefore told them I thought it would stay presently as indeed it dâ—d The messengers were now returned but finding his stomacke come to him he would not haue the chickens killed but kept them for breed Neither durst wee giue him any physicke which was then sent because his body was so much altered since our instructions neither saw we any need not doubting now of his recouery if he were carefull Many whilest we were there came to see him some by their report from a place not lesse than an hundred miles To all that came one of his chiefe men related the manner of his sicknesse how neere hee was spent how amongst others his friends the English came to see him and how suddenly they recouered him to this strength they saw he being now able to sit vpright of himselfe The day before our comming another Sachim being there told him that now he might see how hollow-hearted the English were saying if we had beene such friends in deed as we were in shew we would haue visited him in this his sicknesse vsing many arguments to withdraw his affections and to perswade him to giue way to some things against vs which were motioned to him not long before but vpon this his recouery he brake forth into these speeches Now I see the English are my friends and loue me and whilest I liue I will neuer forget this kindnesse they haue shewed mee Whilest we were there our entertainment exceeded all other strangers Diuers other things were worthy the noting but I feare I haue beene too tedious At our coÌ„ming away he called Hobbamock to him priuately none hearing saue two or three other of his Pneeses who are of his Councell reuealed the plot of the Massacheuseucks before spoken of against Master Westons Colony and so against vs saying that the people of Nauset Paomet Succonet Mattachiest Manomet Agowaywam and the I le of Capawack were ioyned with them himselfe also in his sicknesse was earnestly sollicited but he would neither ioyne therein nor giue way to any of his Therefore as we respected the liues of our Countrymen and our owne after-safety he aduised vs to kill the men of Massachuset who were the authors of this intended mischiefe And whereas wee were wont to say we would not strike a stroke till thâ—â— first begun if said he vpon this intelligence they make that answer tell them when their Countrymen at Wichaguscusset are killed they being not able to defend themselues that then it will be too late to recouer their liues nay through the multitude of aduersaries they shall with great difficulty preserue their owne and therefore he counselled without delay to take away the principals and then the plot would cease With this he charged him thorowly to acquaint me by the way that I might informe the Gouernour thereof at my first comming home Being fitted for our returne we tooke our leaue of him who returned many thanks to our Gouernour and also to our selues for our labour and loue the like did all that were about him So we departed That night thorow the earnest request of CoÌ„batant who til now remained at Sawaams or Puckanukick we lodged with him at Mattapuyst By the way I had much conference with him so likewise at his house he being a notable politician yet ful of merry iests squibs neuer better pleased than when the like are returned againe vpon him Amongst other things he asked me If in case he were thus dangerously sicke as Massassowat had beene and should send word thereof to Patuxit for Maskiet that is Physicke whether then Mr Governor would send it if he would whether I would come therewith to him To both which I answered yea whereat he gaue me many ioyfull thankes After that being at his house he demanded further how wee durst being but two come so farre into the Country I answered where was true loue there was no feare and my heart was so vpright towards them that for mine owne part I was feareles to come amongst them But said he if your loue be such and it bring forth such fruits how commeth it to passe that when wee come to Patuxet you stand vpon your guard with the mouths of your Peeces presented towards vs Whereunto I answered it was the most honourable and respectiue entertainement we could giue them it being an order
of their salt there and imploy themselues at lest eight moneths in fishing whereas the other fish but foure and haue their ship lie dead in the harbour all the time whereas such shipping as belong to plantations may take fraight of passengers or cattell thither and haue their lading provided against they come I confesse we haue come so farre short of the meanes to raise such returnes as with great difficultie wee haue preserved our liues insomuch as when I looke backe vpon our condition and weake meanes to preserue the same I rather admire at Gods mercy and providence in our preservation then that no greater things haue beene effected by vs. But though our beginning haue beene thus raw small and difficult as thou hast seene yet the same God that hath hitherto led vs thorow the former I hope will raise means to accomplish the latter Not that we altogether or principally propound profit to be the maine end of that wee haue vndertaken but the glory of God and the honour of our Country in the inlarging of his Maiesties Dominions yet wanting outward meanes to set things in that forwardnesse we desire and to further the latter by the former I thought meete to offer both to consideration hoping that where Religion and profit iump together which is rare in so honourable an action it will encourage euery honest man either in person or purse to set forward the same or at least-wise to commend the well-fare thereof in his daily prayers to the blessing of the blessed God I will not againe speake of the abundance of fowle store of Venison and varietie of Fish in their seasons which might incourage many to goe in their persons onely I advise all such before hand to consider that as they heare of Countries that abound with the good creatures of God so meanes must be vsed for the taking of euery one in his kinde and therefore not onely to content themselues that there is sufficient but to foresee how they shall be able to obtaine the same otherwise as he that walketh London streetes though he be in the middest of plentie yet if he want meanes is not the better but hath rather his sorrow increased by the sight of that he wanteth and cannot enioy it so also there if thou want art and other necessaries thereunto belonging thou maist see that thou wantest and thy heart desireth and yet be never the better for the same Therefore if thou see thine owne insufficiencie of thy selfe then ioyne to some others where thou maiest in some measure enioy the same otherwise assure thy selfe thou art better where thou art Some there be that thinking altogether of their present wants they enioy here and not dreaming of any there through indiscretion plunge themselues into a deeper sea of misery As for example it may be here rent and firing are so chargeable as without great difficultie a man cannot accomplish the same neuer considering that as he shall haue no rent to pay so he must build his house before he haue it and peradventure may with more ease pay for his fuell here then cut and fetch it home if he haue not cattell to draw it there though there is no scarcitie but rather too great plentie I write not these things to disswade any that shall seriously vpon due examination set themselues to further the glory of God and the honour of our Countrey in so worthy an Enterprise but rather to discourage such as with too great lightnesse vndertake such courses who pâ—radventure straine themselues and their friends for their passage thither and are no sooner there then seeing their foolish imagination made voyde are at their wits end and would giue ten times so much for their returne if they could procure it and out of such discontented passions and humors spare not to lay that imputation vpon the Country and others which themselues deserue As for example I haue heard some complaine of others for their large reports of New-England and yet because they must drinke water and want many delicates they here enioyed could presently returne with their mouthes full of clamours And can any bee so simple as to conceiue that the fountaines should streame forth Wine or Beare or the woods and rivers be like Butchers-shops or Fish-mongers stalles where they might haue things taken to their hands If thou canst not liue without such things and hast no meanes to procure the one and wilt not take paines for the other nor hast ability to employ others for thee rest where thou art for as a proud heart a dainty tooth a beggers purse and an idle hand bee here intollerable so that person that hath these qualities there is much more abhominable If therefore God hath giuen thee a heart to vndertake such courses vpon such grounds as beare thee out in all difficulties viz. his glory as a principall and all other outward good things but as accessaries which peradventure thou shalt enioy and it may be not then thou wilt with true comfort and thankfulnes receiue the least of his mercies whereas on the contrary men depriue themselues of much happinesse being senslesse of greater blessings and through preiudice smoother vp the loue and bounty of God whose name be euer glorified in vs and by vs now and euermore Amen FINIS Anno 1623. The meaning of the word Kichtan I thinke hath reference to Antiquitie for Chise is an old man and Kuâ—chise a man that exceedeth â—n age