Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

A FORT BUILT ON BURIAL HILL.

295

perished, unless God had raised some unknown or CHAP. extraordinary means for our preservation.

XVIII.

June.

In the time of these straits, indeed before my going 1622. to Munhiggen, the Indians began again to cast forth many insulting speeches, glorying in our weakness, and giving out how easy it would be ere long to cut us off. Now also Massassowat seemed to frown on us, and neither came or sent to us as formerly. These things occasioned further thoughts of fortification. And whereas we have a hill called the Mount,' enclosed within our pale, under which our town is seated, we resolved to erect a fort thereon; from whence a few might easily secure the town from any assault the Indians can make, whilst the rest might be employed as occasion served. This work was begun with great. eagerness, and with the approbation of all men, hoping that this being once finished, and a continual guard there kept, it would utterly discourage the savages from having any hopes or thoughts of rising against us. And though it took the greatest part of our strength from dressing our corn, yet, life being continued, we hoped God would raise some means in stead thereof for our further preservation.

The burying-hill. See page 170. The intelligence of the massacre in Virginia reached Plymouth in May, and was the immediate incitement to the erection of this fort. See page 250.

"Some traces of the fort are still visible on the eminence called the burying-hill, directly above the meeting-house of the first church

in Plymouth. After the fort was
used as a place of worship, it is
probable they began to bury their
dead around it. Before that time
the burial place was on the bank,
above the rock on which the land-
ing was made." Judge Davis's
note in Morton's Memorial, p. 82.
See note on page 168, and page
169 previous.

CHAPTER XIX.

CHAP.

July.

OF THE PLANTING OF MASTER WESTON'S COLONY AT WES-
SAGUSSET, AND OF SUNDRY EXCURSIONS AFTER CORN.

In the end of June, or beginning of July, came into XIX. our harbour two ships of Master Weston's aforesaid ; 1622. the one called the Charity,' the other the Swan; having in them some fifty or sixty men, sent over at his own charge to plant for him. These we received into our town, affording them whatsoever courtesy our mean condition could afford. There the Charity, being the bigger ship, left them, having many passengers which she was to land in Virginia. In the mean time the body of them refreshed themselves at Plymouth, whilst some most fit sought out a place for them. That little

[blocks in formation]

will hardly deal so well with the savages as they should. I pray you therefore signify to Squanto that they are a distinct body from us, and we have nothing to do with them, nor must be blamed for their faults, much less can warrant their fidelity." And Mr. John Pierce in another writes, "As for Mr. Weston's company, they are so base in condition for the most part, as in all appearance not fit for an honest man's company. I wish they prove otherwise." Bradford, in Prince, p. 203.

WESTON'S COLONY SETTLE AT WEYMOUTH.

297

XIX.

July.

store of corn we had was exceedingly wasted by the CHAP. unjust and dishonest walking of these strangers; who, though they would sometimes seem to help us in our 1622. labor about our corn, yet spared not day and night to steal the same, it being then eatable and pleasant to taste, though green and unprofitable. And though they received much kindness, set light both by it and us, not sparing to requite the love we showed them, with secret backbitings, revilings, &c., the chief of them being forestalled and made against us before they came, as after appeared. Nevertheless, for their mas'ter's sake, who formerly had deserved well from us,' we continued to do them whatsoever good or furtherance we could, attributing these things to the want of conscience and discretion, expecting each day when God in his providence would disburden us of them, sorrowing that their overseers were not of more ability and fitness for their places, and much fearing what would be the issue of such raw and unconscionable beginnings.

2

At length their coasters returned, having found in their judgment a place fit for plantation, within the bay of the Massachusets at a place called by the Indians Wichaguscusset. To which place the body of them went with all convenient speed, leaving still with us such as were sick and lame, by the Governor's permission, though on their parts undeserved; whom our surgeon, by the help of God, recovered gratis for them, and they fetched home, as occasion served.

They had not been long from us, ere the Indians

'See note' on page 78.

Boston harbour. See notes

and on page 225.

Or Wessagusset, now called
Weymouth.

Dr. Fuller. See note on p. 222.

298

XIX.

THE PILGRIMS FEEBLE AND DESTITUTE.

CHAP. filled our ears with clamors against them, for stealing their corn, and other abuses conceived by them. At 1622. which we grieved the more, because the same men,' in mine own hearing, had been earnest in persuading Captain Standish, before their coming, to solicit our Governor to send some of his men to plant by them, alleging many reasons how it might be commodious for But we knew no means to redress those abuses, save reproof, and advising them to better walking, as occasion served.

Aug.

us.

2

In the end of August, came other two ships into our harbour. The one, as I take it, was called the Discovery, Captain Jones having the command thereof; the other was that ship of Mr. Weston's, called the Sparrow, which had now made her voyage of fish, and was consorted with the other, being both bound for Virginia.3 Of Captain Jones we furnished ourselves of such provisions as we most needed, and he could best spare; who, as he used us kindly, so made us pay largely for the things we had. And had not the Almighty, in his all-ordering providence, directed him to us, it would have gone worse with us than ever it had been, or after was; for as we had now but small store of corn for the year following, so, for want of supply, we were worn out of all manner of trucking-stuff, not having any means left to help ourselves by trade; but, through God's good mercy towards us, he had where

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

PROPOSED EXCURSION AFTER CORN.

299

with, and did supply our wants on that kind compe- CHAP. tently.'

XIX.

Octo-1622.

Oct.

In the end of September, or beginning of Octo- 1622. ber, Mr. Weston's biggest ship, called the Charity, returned for England, and left their colony sufficiently victualled, as some of most credit amongst them reported. The lesser, called the Swan, remained with his colony, for their further help. At which time they desired to join in partnership with us, to trade for corn; to which our Governor and his Assistant agreed, upon such equal conditions, as were drawn and confirmed between them and us. The chief places aimed at were to the southward of Cape Cod; and the more, because Tisquantum, whose peace before this time was wrought with Massassowat, undertook to discover unto us that supposed, and still hoped, passage within the shoals.

Both colonies being thus agreed, and their companies fitted and joined together, we resolved to set forward, but were oft crossed in our purposes. As first Master Richard Greene, brother-in-law to Master Weston, who from him had a charge in the oversight and government of his colony, died suddenly at our Plantation, to whom we gave burial befitting his place, in the best manner we could. Afterward, having further order to proceed by letter from their other Governor at the Massachusets, twice Captain Standish set forth with them, but were driven in again by cross and violent winds; himself the second time being sick

"Of her we buy knives and beads, which are now good trade, though at cent. per cent. or more, and yet pay away coat beaver at 3s. a pound, (which a few years after yields 20s.); by which means

we are fitted to trade both for corn
and beaver." Bradford, in Prince,
p. 205, and in Morton's Memorial,
p. 83.

2 Isaac Allerton.

« ElőzőTovább »