Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth, Part 1
A IOVRNEY TO PACKANOKIK, The Habitation of the Great King MASSASOYT. As also our Message, the Answere and intertainement wee had of HIM.
IT seemed good to the Company for many considerations to send some amongst them to Massasoyt, the greatest Commander amongst the Savages, bordering about vsus; partly to know where to find them, if occasion served, as also to see their strength, discover the Country, prevent abuses in their disorderly comming vntounto vsus, make satisfaction for some conceived jniuries to be done on our parts, and to continue the league of Peace and Friendship betweene them and vsus. For these, and the like ends, it pleased the Governour to make choice of Steven Hopkins, & Edward Winslo… to goe vntounto him, and having a fit opportunitie, by reason of a Savage, called Tisquantum (that could speake English) comming vntounto vsus; with all expedition provided a Horse-mans coat, of red Cotton, and laced with a slight lace for a present, that both they and their message might be the more acceptable amongst them. The Message was as followeth; That forasmuch as his subiects came often and without feare, vponupon all occasions amongst vsus, so wee were now come vntounto him, and in witnesse of the louelove and good will the English beare vntounto him, the Governour hath sent him a coat, desiring that the Peace and Amitte that was betweene them and vsus might be continued, not that we feared them, but because we intended not to iniure any, desiring to liue peaceably: and as with all men, so especially with them our neerest neighbours. But whereas his people came very often, and very many together vntounto vsus, bringing for the most part their wiues and children with them, they were well come; yet we being but strangers as yet at Patuxet, alias New Plimmoth, and not knowing how our Corne might prosper, we could no longer giuegive them such entertainment as we had done, and as we desired still to doe: yet if he would be pleased to come himselfe, or any speciall friend of his desired to see vsus, comming from him they should be wellcome; and to the end wee might know them from others, our Governour had sent him a copper Chayne, desiring if any Messenger should come from him to vsus, we might know him by bringing it with him, and hearken and giuegive credite to his Message accordingly. Also requesting him that such as hauehave …kin…, should bring them to vsus, and that he would hinder the multitude from oppressing vsus with them. And whereas as our first arrivall at Pao…i…t (called by vsus Cape …od) we found there Corne buried in the ground, and finding no inhabitants but some graues of dead now buryed, tooke the Corne, resolving if ever we could heare of any that had right thereunto, to make satisfaction to the full for it, yet since we vnderstand the owners thereof were fled for feare of vsus, our desire was either to pay them with the like quantitie of corne, English meale, or any other Commodities we had to pleasure them withall; requesting him that some one of his men might signifie so much vntounto them, and wee would content him for his paines. And last of all, our Gouernour requested one favour of him, which was, that he would exchange some of their Corne for seede with us, that we might make tryall which best agreed with the foyle where we liue.
With these presents and message we set forward the tenth Iune, about 9. a clocke in the Morning, our guide resolving that night to rest at Namasches, a Towne vnderunder Massasoyt, and conceived by vsus to bee very neere, because the Inhabitants flocked so thicke vponupon every slight occasion amongst vsus: but wee found it to bee some fifteene English myles. On the way we found some ten or twelue men women and children, which had pestered vsus, till wee were wearie of them, perceiving that (as the manner of them all is) where victuall is easiliest to be got, there they liue, especially in the Summer: by reason whereof our …ay affording many Lobsters, they resort every spring tide thither: & now returned with vsus to Namaschet. Thither we came about 3. a clock after noone▪ the Inhabitants entertaining vsus with ioy, in the best manner they could, giving vsus a kinde of bread called by them Maixium, and the spawne of Shade, which then they got in abundance, in so much as they gaue vsus spoones to eate them, with these they boyled mustie Acorns, but of the Shads we eate heartily. After this they desired one of our men to shoote at a Crow, complaining what damage they sustained in their Corne by them, who shooting some fourescore off and killing, they much admired it, as other shots on other occasions. After this Tisquantum told vsus we should hardly in one day reach Pakanokick, moving vsus to goe some 8. myles further, where we should finde more store and better victuals then there: Being willing to hasten our Iourney we went, and came thither at Sunne setting, where we found many of the Namaschecks (they so calling the men of Namaschet) fishing vppon a Ware which they had made on a River which belonged to them, where they caught abundance of Basse. These welcommed vsus also, gaue vsus of their fish, and we them of our victuals, not doubting but w… should hauehave enough where ere we came. There we lodged in the open fieldes: for houses they had none, though they spent the most of the Summer there. The head of this River is reported to bee not farre from the place of our abode, vponupon it are, and hauehave beene many Townes, it being a good length. The ground … good on both sides, it being for the most part cleered: Thousands of men have lived there, which dyed in a great plague not long since: and pitty it was and is to …ee, so many goodly, fieldes, & so well seated, without men to dresse and manure the same. Vppon this River dwelleth Massasoyt: It commeth into the Sea at the Narrohiganset Bay, where the French men so much vse. A shipp may goe many myles vp it, as the Salvages report, and a shallop to the head of it: but so farre as wee saw, wee are sure a Shallop may.
But to returne to our Iourney: The next morning wee brake our fast, tooke our leaue and departed, being then accompanied with some sixe Salvages, having gone about sixe myles by the Riverside, at a knowne shole place, it beeing low water, they spake to vsus to put off our breeches, for wee must wade thorow. Heere let me not forget the vallour and courrage of some of the Salvage…, on the opposite side of the river, for there were remaining aliue only 2. men, both aged, especially the one being aboue threescore; These two espying a company of men entring the River, ran very swiftly & low in the grasse to meete vsus at the banck, where with sh…ll voyces and great courage standing charged vppon vsus with their bowes, they demaunded what we were, supposing vsus to be enemies, and thinking to take advantage on vsus in the water: but seeing we were friends, they welcommed vsus with such foode as they had, and we bestowed a small bracelet of Beades on them. Thus farre wee are sure the …ide …bs and flowes.
Having here againe refreshed our selves we proceeded in our Iourney, the weather being very hote for travell, yet the Country so well watered that a man could scarce be drie, but he should hauehave a spring at hand to coole his thirst, beside smal Rivers in abundance: But the Salvages will not willingly drinke, but at a spring head. When wee came to any small Brooke where no bridge was, two of them desired to carry vsus through of their owne accords, also fearing wee were or would be weary, offered to carry our peeces, also if we would lay off any of our clothes, we should hauehave them carried: and as the one of them had found more speciall kindnesse from one of the Messengers, and the other Salvage from the other so they shewed their thankefulnesse accordingly in affording v… all helpe, and furtherance in the Iourney.
As we passed along, we observed that there were few places by the River, but had beene inhabited, by reason whereof, much ground was cleare, saue of weedes which grewe higher then our heads. There is much good Timber both Oake, Wallnut-tree, Firre, Beech, and exceeding great Chessnut-trees. The Country in respect of the lying of it, is both Champani… and hilly, like many places in England. In some places its very rockie both aboue ground and in it: And though the Countrey bee wilde and over-growne with woods, yet the trees stand not thicke, but a man may well ride a horse amongst them.
Passing on at length, one of the Company an Indian espied a man, and …old the rest of it, we asked them if they fea…ed any, they told vsus that if they were Narrohigganset, men they would not trust them, whereat, we called for our peeces and bid them not to feare; for though they were twenty, we two alone would not care for them: but they hayling him, hee prooved a friend, and had onelyonly two women with him: their baskets were empty, but they fetched water in their bottels, so that we dranke with them and departed. After we met another man with other two women, which had beene at Rand…vow by the salt water, and their baskets were full of rosted Crab fishes, and other dryed shell fish, of which they gaue vsus, and wee eate and dranke with them: and gaue each of the women a string of Beades, and departed.
After wee came to a Towne of Massasoyts, where we eat Oysters and other fish. From thence we went to Packanokick, but Massasoyt was not at home, there we stayed he being sen… for: when newes was brought of his comming, our guide Tisquantum requested that at our meeting, wee would discharge our peeces, but one of vsus going about to charge his peece, the women and children through feare to see him take vpp his peece, ran away, and could not bee p…cified, till hee layd it downe againe, who afterward were better informed by our Interpreter.
Massasoyt being come, wee discharged our Peeces, and saluted him, who after their manner kindly well commed vsus, and tooke vsus into his house, and set vsus downe by him, where having delivered our foresayd Message, and Presents, and having put the Coat on his backe, and the Chayne about his necke, he was not a little proud to behold himselfe, and his men also to see their King so brauely attyred.
For answere to our Message, he told vsus we were well-come, and he would gladly continue that Peace and Friendship which was betweene him & vsus: and for his men they should no more pester vsus as they had done: Also, that he would send to Paomet, and would helpe vsus with Corne for seed, according to our request.
This being done his men gathered neere to him, to whom he turned himselfe, and made a great Speech; they sometime interposing, and as it were, confirming and applauding him in that he sayd. The meaning whereof was (as farre as we could learne) thus; Was not he Massasoyt Commander of the Countrey about them? Was not such a Towne his and the people of it? and should they not bring their skins vntounto vsus? To which they answered, they were his & would be at peace with vsus, and bring their skins to vsus. After this manner, he named at least thirtie places, and their answere was as aforesayd to every one: so that as it was delightfull, it was tedious vntounto vsus.
This being ended, he lighted Tobacco for vsus, and fell to discoursing of England, & of the Kings Maiestie, marvayling that he would liue without a wife. Also he talked of the French-men, bidding vsus not to suffer them to come to Narrohiganset, for it was King IAMES his Countrey, and he also was King IAMES his man. Late it grew, but victualls he offered none; for indeed he had not any, being he came so newly home. So we desired to goe to rest: he layd vsus on the bed with himselfe and his wife, they at the one end and we at the other, it being onelyonly plancks layd a foot from the ground, and a thin Mat vponupon them. Two more of his chiefe men for want of roome pressed by and vponupon vsus; so that we were worse weary of our lodging then of our iourney.
The next day being Thursday, many of their Sachims, or petty Governours came to see vsus, and many of their men also. There they went to their manner of Games for skins and kniues. There we challenged them to shoote with them for skins: but they durst not: onelyonly they desired to see one of vsus shoote at a marke, who shooting with Haile-shot, they wondred to see the marke so full of holes. About one a clocke, Massasoyt brought two fishes that he had shot, they were like B…ame but three times so bigge, and better meate. These being boyled there were at lest fortie looked for share in them, the most eate of them: This meale onelyonly we had in two nights and a day, and had not one of vsus bought a Partridge, we had taken our Iourney fasting: Very importunate he was to hauehave vsus stay with them longer: But wee desired to keepe the Sabboth at home: and feared we should either be light-headed for want of sleepe, for what with had lodging, the Savages barbarous singing, (for they vse to sing themselues asleepe) lice and …leas within doores, and Muskeetoes without, wee could hardly sleepe all the time of our being there; we much fearing, that if wee should stay any longer, we should not be able to recover home for want of strength. So that on the Fryday morning before Sun-rising, we tooke ou… leaue and departed, Massasoyt being both grieved and ashamed, that he could no better entertaine vsus: and retaining Tisquantum to send from place to place to procure t…ucke for vsus: and appointing another, called Tokamahamon in his place, whom we had found faithfull before and after vponupon all occasions.
At this towne of Massasoyts, where we before eate, wee were againe refreshed with a little fish; and bought about a handfull of Meale of their parched Corne, which was very precious at that time of the yeere, and a small string of dryed shell-fish, as big as Oysters. The latter we gaue to the sixe Savages that accompanied vsus, keeping the Meale for our selues, when we dranke we eate each a spoonefull of it with a Pipe of Tobacco, in stead of other victuals; and of this also we could not but giuegive them so long as it lasted. Fiue myles they led vsus to a house out of the way in hope of victualls: but we found no body there, and so were but worse able to returne home. That night we reached to the wire where we lay before, but the Namascheusks were returned: so that we had no hope of any thing there. One of the Savages had shot a Shad in the water, and a small Squirrill as big as a Rat, called a Neuxis, the one halfe of either he gaue vsus, and after went to the wire to fish. From hence we wrote to Plimouth, and sent Tokamahamon before to Namasket, willing him from thence to send another, that he might meet vsus with food at Namasket. Two men now onelyonly remained with vsus, and it pleased God to giuegive them good store of fish, so that we were well refreshed. After supper we went to rest, and they to fishing againe: more they gat and fell to eating a fresh, and retayned sufficient readie rost for all our break-fasts. About two a Clocke in the morning, arose a great storme of wind, raine, lightning, and thunder, in such violent manner, that we could not keepe in our fire; and had the Savages not rosted fish when we were asleepe, we had set forward fasting: for the raine still continued with great violence, even the whole day thorow, till wee came within two myles of home.
Being wett and weary, at length we came to Namaschet, there we refreshed our selues, giuing gifts to all such as had shewed vsus any kindnesse. Amongst others one of the sixe that came with vsus from Packanokik having before this on the way vnkindly forsaken vsus, marvayled we gaue him nothing, and told vsus what he had done for vsus; we also told him of some discurtesies he offered vsus, whereby he deserved nothing, yet we gaue him a small trifle: wherevpon he offered vsus Tobacco: but the house being full of people, we told them hee stole some by the way, and if it were of that we would not take it: For we would not receiue that which was stolne vponupon any termes; if we did, our God would be angry with vsus, and destroy vsus. This abashed him, and gaue the rest great content: but at our departure he would needs carry him on his backe thorow a River, whom he had formerly in some sort abused. Faine they would hauehave had vsus to lodge there all night: and wondered we would set forth againe in such Weather: but GOD be praysed, wee came safe home that night, though wett, weary, and surbated.