dian also rendered important services to the English in various other employments, and was a warm and faithful friend, notwithstanding the insidious treatment he had received from their countryman Hunt. Contrary to the vindictive habits of the Indians, he seems to have been disposed to render good for evil-a rare instance in a savage.

Though the natives had thus far proved friendly, and the disposition of the greater part promised a continuance of harmony, the dawnings of savage jealousy began at length to appear. One of the petty chiefs of the neighborhood attempted to alienate the affections of the subjects of Masassoit from the chief, and an attempt was made on the life of Squanto and another friendly Indian. To crush these machinations, captain Standish and fourteen men were dispatched to Namasket, since Middleborough, where the mischief had originated; Corbitant, the disaffected chief, and his followers, fled out of danger. This prompt application of military force struck such a terror into the neighboring Indians, that nine sachems came to Plymouth, and voluntarily subscribed submission to king James, promising to be his loyal subjects. Other sachems under the influence of Masassoit made similar submissions, and the English flattered themselves they should continue at peace with the natives.

At this time, a powerful nation of Indians residing about Narraganset bay, in the present state of Rhode Island, bordering on Masassoit's dominion, had heard of the settlement of the English at Plymouth, and began to exhibit a hostile disposition towards them; and learning that disease had swept off considerable numbers, they deemed it a favorable time to extirpate the remainder. Apprised of their danger, the English, early in 1622, prepared for their defence, by erecting palisades about their settlement, including the fort upon the hill, and added several flankers to the work; and the gates were kept closely locked at night, and the place carefully guarded.

The Narragansets still kept up their hostile menaces, and Canonicus, their chief, sent the English a bundle of arrows enclosed in a snake skin, which they were informed by Squanto, was a direct challenge to fight. The gov

ernor, taking the advice of his leading men, acted with firmness; he returned the skin filled with powder and ball, as a defiance. Whether the Narragansets were intimidated by the firmness of the English, or by the powerful alliance they had formed with the tribes in the neighborhood is uncertain, but the threatened attack was given up, and the English settlements remained without further interruption from the Narragansets.

In the spring of this year, two ships arrived at Plymouth, with a company of emigrants, sent out by Thomas Weston, a London merchant, who had aided the Plymouth adventurers, at the time they left Holland. The company was to settle a plantation on Massachusetts bay, for which Weston had obtained a patent. Many of the people being sick on their arrival, they continued at, Plymouth through the summer. The others after examining the neighboring country, selected a place for a plantation at Wessagusset, since called Weymouth, to which the whole at length removed. The company soon expended their provisions, and were reduced to great distress; and finding it impossible to procure corn of the Indians by purchase, to save life, some of the people took it by force, which so exasperated the Indians, that they threatened to cut off the whole plantation, unless satisfaction was made, by putting to death the guilty persons. To appease the wrath of the Indians, it is said, an old decreptit man was selected for a sacrifice, and actually executed.* One person in his distress, attempting to gather clams from the flats, sunk into the mud, and * This vicarious execution, gave rise to the following sarcasm in Butler's Hudibras, Part II, Canto 2.

"Our brethren of New England use
Choice malefactors to excuse,
And hang the guiltless in their stead
Of whom the churches have less need;
As lately happened. In a town
There liv'd a cobler, and but one,
That out of doctrine could cut use,
And mend men's lives as well as shoes.
This precious brother having slain,
In times of peace, an Indian,
(Not out of malice, but mere zeal,
Because he was an Infidel,)
The mighty Tottipottymoy
Sent to our elders an envoy;

Complaining sorely of the breach
Of league held forth by brother patch,
Against the articles in force
Between both churches, his and ours,
For which he crav'd the saints to render
Into his hands or hang th' offender;
But they maturely having weigh'd,
They had no more but him o' th' trade
(A man that serv'd them in a double
Capacity, to teach and cobble,)
Reso'v'd to spare him; yet to do
The Indian Hoghgan, Moghgan too,
Impartial justice, in his stead did
Hang an old weaver that was bed rid."

Hubbard admits the theft; but says the person executed was one of the party who stole the corn from the Indians.-History of New-England.

from a want of strength to extricate himself, remained until he perished. The circumstances of the people being made known at Plymouth, and learning from Masassoit that the neighboring Indians had resolved to destroy the place, Capt. Standish was dispatched with a party for their relief, and to seize one of the Indian chiefs. Proceeding by water, Standish landed in Massachusetts bay, among the natives, who suspecting his designs, insulted him, and threatened his life; four of the Indians, two of whom were chiefs, having entered a hut with Standish, and a few of his men, he resolved to put them to death; at a signal, the door was suddenly closed, and with a knife wrested from one of the chiefs, Standish dispatched him, while his party promptly killed two others. Proceeding to another place, a skirmish ensued -one Indian was killed and others put to flight; and being joined by Weston's men, they killed two more of the savages. Standish then took the people on board, gave them provisions, and carried them to Plymouth. The Indians were so intimidated by this prompt punishment, that they fled into the woods and swamps, and made no further attempts to disturb the English for some time.

During the summer of 1622, the adventurers were so much distressed by a deficiency of food, that they were compelled to apply to the fishing vessels on the coast, and to the Indians for a supply. Voyages were made to the island of Monahegon for the same purpose, and a partial relief was obtained. The crops also promised some aid; sixty acres of corn had been planted, and the gardens began to be productive.

The success of the Plymouth colony stimulated other adventurers to try their fortunes in New England. In July, 1623, a ship arrived at Plymouth, with supplies of necessary articles from England, and vessels trading on the coast frequently put into the port. Another company, sent out this year, by sir Fernando Gorges, and captain John Mason, commenced a settlement at Little harbor, on the west side of Piscataqua river, within the present limits of New Hampshire; and several of the adventurers proceeded up the river and planted at Cocheco, now Dover.

The next year, a company arrived from England and began a settlement at Cape Ann, and erected a fishing stage; and the same year Wessagusset was reoccupied, and received an accession of people from Weymouth in England. In November, Naumkeag, now Salem, was explored by the people of Cape Ann.

Plymouth at this time contained thirty two dwelling houses, and about one hundred and eighty inhabitants; and such had been the health of the place, that none of the first planters had died for the three last years. Mr. Edward Winslow, who had been sent home on business for the colony, returned to Plymouth, and to the great joy of the people, brought with him a fine English bull and three heifers, the first neat stock that had been landed in New England. The same ship brought a supply of clothing and other necessary articles, with letters from Rev. John Robinson, stating the reasons for having delayed his passage to New England. One of the passengers in this ship, was Mr. John Lyfold, a minister of the Gospel, who had been induced by some of the Plymouth company in London, to embark for America. He was welcomed by the settlers, and at first admitted to the governor's council; suspicions however soon arose against his religious sentiments, as well as his moral character; and he lost the esteem of the people of Plymouth, and soon removed to Nantasket, where were a few settlers, and afterwards joined, those at Cape Ann.

About this time, a plantation was begun at Mount Wollaston, now Quincy, near the present seat of the Hon. John Adams. The company was from England, consisting of a few persons of eminence, and about thirty servants. Capt. Wollaston, who was the principal character, soon left the place, and sailed with most of his servants, to Virginia.

The plantation at Plymouth continuing to flourish, ships were loaded with furs, and other articles of the country and sent to England; a trade about this time was opened with the Dutch at Manhattan, who sent articles of merchandize to Manomet,* from which they were received by the English, by an overland rout, thereby

* Manomet is a creek running through Sandwich, entering Buzzard's bay; the Indian town was situated on the creek, twenty miles south of Plymouth.

avoiding the dangerous passage around Cape Cod. In 1628, the English set up a trading house at Kennebec, where they had obtained a patent of lands, and a considerable trade was maintained with the natives.

Prior to this time the planters at Plymouth, received an account of the death of their much esteemed pastor, Mr. John Robinson, at Leyden, March 1, 1625, in the fiftieth year of his age. His arrival at Plymouth had been expected for several years; but the difficulties attending the voyage, and the poverty of his congregation in Holland, are said to have prevented his removal.

Mr. Robinson was a man of no ordinary talents: his knowledge on many points, was far superior to that of most of the clergy of the dark age in which he lived, and extraordinary as it may appear, he seems to have justly appreciated the benefits which would result to religion from a liberal toleration. His charge to his people, on parting with them when they embarked for America, is a rare production for one of his profession in that age of bigotry and persecution, and evinced a highly enlightened mind." Brethren," said he, "we are now quickly to part from one another, and whether I may live to see your faces on earth any more, the God of Heaven only knows; but whether the Lord hath appointed that or no, I charge you before God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveal any thing to you by any other instrument of his, be as ready to receive it, as ever you were any truth by my ministry; for I am verily persuaded-1 am confident-the Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go, at present, no farther than the instruments of reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; whatever part of his will, God has revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it. And Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God; but were they