Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth, Part 4
A RELATION OF OVR Voyage to the MASSACHVSETS, And what happened there.
IT seemed good to the Company in generall, that though the Massachusets had often threatned vsus (as we were informed) yet we should goe amongst them, partly to see the Countrey, partly to make Peace with them, and partly to procure their trucke.
For these ends the Governours chose ten men, fit for the purpose, and sent Tisquantum, and two other Salvages to bring vsus to speech with the people, and interpret for vsus.
We set out about mid-night, the tyde then seruing for vsus; we supposing it to be neerer then it is, thought to be there the next morning betimes: but it proued well neere twentie Leagues from New Plimmouth.
We came into the bottome of the Bay, but being late wee anchored and lay in the Shallop, not hauing seene any of the people. The next morning we put in for the shore. There we found many Lobsters that had beene gathered together by the Saluages, which we made ready vnderunder a cliffe. The Captaine set two Sentinels behind the cliffe to the landward to secure the Shallop, and taking a guide with him, and foure of our company, went to seeke the Inhabitants, where they met a woman comming for her Lobsters, they told her of them, and contented her for them. She told them where the people were; Tisquantum went to them, the rest returned, hauing direction which way to bring the Shallop to them.
The Sachim, or Gouernour of this place, is called Obbatinewat, and though he liue in the bottome of the Massachuset bay, yet he is vnderunder Massasoyt. He vsed vsus very kindly, he told vsus, he durst not then remaine in any setled place, for feare of the Terentines. Also the Squa Sachim, or Massachusets Queene was an enemy to him.
We told him of diuers Sachims that had acknowledged themselues to be King IAMES his men, and if he also would submit himselfe, we would be his safegard from his enemies; which he did, and went along with vsus to bring vsus to the Squa Sachim. Againe we crossed the Bay which is very large, and hath at lest fiftie Ilands in it: but the certaine number is not knowne to the Inhabitants. Night it was before wee came to that side of the Bay where this people were. On shore the Saluages went but found no body. That night also we …id at Anchor aboord the Shallop.
On the morrow we went ashore, all but two men and marched in Armes vp in the Countrey. Hauing gone three myles, we came to a place where Corne had beene newly gathered, a house pulled downe, and the people gone. A myle from hence, Nanepashemet their King in his life time had liued. His house was not like others, but a scaffold was largely built, with pools and plancks some six foote from ground, and the house vponupon that, being situated on the top of a hill.
Not farre from hence in a bottome, wee came to a Fort built by their deceased King, the manner thus; There were pools some thirtie or fortie foote long, stucke in the ground as thicke as they could be set one by another, and with these they inclosed a ring some forty or fifty foote ouer. A trench breast high was digged on each side; one way there was to goe into it with a bridge; in the midst of this Palli…ado stood the frame of an house, wherein being dead he lay buryed.
About a myle from hence, we came to such another, but seated on the top of an hill: here Nanepashemet was killed, none dwelling in it since the time of his death. At this place we stayed, and sent two Saluages to looke the Inhabitants, and to informe them of our ends in comming, that they might not be fearefull of vsus: Within a myle of this place they found the women of the place together, with their Corne on heapes, whither we supposed them to be sted for feare of vsus, and the more, because in diuers places they had newly pulled downe their houses, and for hast in one place had left some of their Corne couered with a Mat, and no body with it.
With much feare they entertained vsus at first, but seeing our gentle carriage towards them, they tooke heart and entertained vsus in the best manner they could, boyling Cod and such other things as they had for vsus. At length with much sending for came one of their men, shaking and trembling for feare. But when he saw we intended them no hurt, but came to trucke, he promised vsus his skins also. Of him we enquired for their Queene, but it seemed shee was far from thence, at lest we could not see her.
Here Tisquantum would hauehave had vsus rifled the Saluage women, and taken their skins, and all such things as might be seruiceable for vsus, for (sayd he) they are a bad people, and hauehave oft threatned you: But our answere was; Were they neuer so bad, we would not wrong them, or giuegive them any just occasion against vsus: for their words we little weighed them, but if they once attempted any thing against vsus, then we would deale far worse then he desired.
Hauing well spent the day, we returned to the Shallop, almost all the Women accompanying vsus, to trucke, who sold their coats from their backes, and tyed boughes about them, but with great shamefastnesse (for indeed they are more modest then some of our English women are) we promised them to come againe to them, and they vsus, to keepe their skins.
Within this Bay, the Salvages say, there are two Riuers; the one whereof we saw, hauing a faire entrance, but we had no time to discouer it. Better harbours for shipping cannot be then here are. At the entrance of the Bay are many Rockes; and in all likelihood very good fishing ground. Many, yea, most of the Ilands hauehave beene inhabited, some being cleered from end to end, but the people are all dead, or remoued.
Our victuall growing scarce, the Winde comming fayre, and hauing a light Moone, we set out at euening, and through the goodnesse of GOD, came safely home before noone the day following.