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whom about 200 could read, and more than 70 could write. ́ He had formed one church of 27 communicants; 90 had been baptized. Beside these, Mr. Cotton of Plymouth preached occasionally to about half a hundred on Buzzard's Bay. Mr. Mayhew and son began to instruct the Indians. of Martha's Vineyard, in 1648 or 9. They were remarkably successful. The greatest part of them were soon considered as praying Indians. On this island and Chappaquiddick, were 300 families; on the latter, sixty, of whom fiftynine were praying families. On Nantucket was a church, and many praying families. In 1694, there were on this island three churches and five assemblies of praying Indians. In 1685, the praying Indians in Plymouth colony were 1439, beside children under 12 years of age. At one time, in different parts, were 24 congregations. In Connecticut and Rhode Island, but little success attended the gospel among the Indians. The sachems of Narraganset and Mohegan violently opposed their people's hearing the gospel. The Rev. Mr. Fitch of Norwich, took great pains, gave some of the Mohegans lands of his own, that they, who were disposed to hear the gospel, might be nearer him, and also freed from the revilings of their companions; at one time he had about 30 under his care.

The legislatures of the several colonies enacted salutary laws for restraining the evil conduct of the natives; means were also furnished for their receiving presents or rewards for distinguishing themselves in what was laudable. In Connecticut, the legislature in 1655, having appointed a governor over the Pequots, gave him the following laws, to which the people were to subject themselves. They shall not blaspheme the name of God, nor profane the sabbath. They shall not commit murder, nor practice witchcraft, on pain of death. "They shall not commit adultery, on pain of severe punishment. Whoever is drunk shall pay ten

shillings, or receive ten stripes. He that steals shall pay double damages."

CHAP. XVIII.

Quakers persecuted; apology for our forefathers; synod of 1662; Character of Capt. Standish.

THE persecution of the Quakers commenced in 1656. In 1661, an order was received from the king, requiring that neither capital nor corporeal punishment should be inflicted on the Quakers, but that offenders should be sent to Eng. land. During this persecution, several were executed. On the subject of the New-England persecutions, the author of the European settlements in North-America judi ciously remarks; "Such is the manner of proceeding of religious parties toward each other, and in this respect the people of New-England were not worse than the rest of mankind; nor was their severity any just matter of reflection upon that mode of religion which they profess."* Religious intolerance is now very generally reprobated, and it is hoped the time has already arrived, when no people can be found, who think "that by killing men for their religion, they do God good service."

By order of the general court, a synod of the New-England churches convened at Boston, September, 1662. The people were at this time much divided in opinion on the two following questions, which were submitted to the synod for their decision, viz. 1st, "Who are the subjects of baptism?" 2d. "Whether, according to the word of God, there ought to be a consociation of churches, and what should be the

* Burke.

manner of it?" The general court ordered the result of this synod to be printed; and it may be seen at large in Dr. Mather's Magnalia, and in Neal's History of the Puritans.

In 1656, at a very advanced age, died Capt. Standish, the military commander, the WASHINGTON of Plymouth colony. A man so conspicuous and celebrated in his life, ought not to be forgotten when dead. It is impossible to have any adequate view of the establishment and rise of Plymouth colony, without entering familiarly into the character of this hero, of that little band of pilgrims. He descended from a family of distinction, and was heir apparent to a great estate, unjustly detained from him, which compelled him to depend on himself for support. He was small in stature, but of an active spirit, a sanguine temper, and strong constitution. These qualities led him to the profession of arms. Having been in the service of queen Elizabeth, in aid of the Dutch, after the truce he settled with Mr. Robertson's people in Leyden. He was in the first company who came over in 1620; he commanded the first detachment for making discoveries after their arrival; he was chosen military commander on the first settlement of their military concerns. Generally, in the subsequent excursions and interviews with the natives, he was the first to meet them, accompanied by a small number of his own choosing. During the terrible sickness of the first winter, when two or three died in a day, and the living were scarcely able to bury the dead, Capt. Standish retained his health, and kindly nursed the sick. On the 29th of January, he was called to see his beloved wife expire.

When Corbitant, one of the petty sachems of Massasoit, meditated a revolt, captain Standish, with 14 men, surrounded his house in Swansey; but he being absent, they informed his people, they should destroy him, if he persisted in his rebellion. This so alarmed the chief, that he entreated

the mediation of Massasoit, and accordingly was admitted, with eight other chiefs, to subscribe his submission to the English.

In 1622, when he had fortified Plymouth, he divided his men into four "squadrons," appointing every individual his post. In case of fire, a select company mounted guard with their backs to the fire, to watch for approaching enemies. Being sent on a trading voyage to Matachiest, between Barnstable and Yarmouth, in February, 1623, a severe storm compelled him to leave his vessel, and sleep in a hut of the Indians; being impressed with an idea of their design to kill him, he made his people keep guard all night, by which he escaped the snare they had laid for him. In the morning it was found that goods had been stolen in the night from the shallop; he, with his party, surrounded the house of the sachem, and the things were restored.

Often was the providence of God conspicuous in his preservation. The next month, at Manomet, a creek in Sandwich, where he went for corn, he was not received with their usual cordiality; two Indians from Massachusetts were there, one had an iron dagger, and derided the Europeans because he had seen them, when dying, “cry, and make sour faces like children." An Indian of the place who had formerly been his friend, appearing now very friendly, invited the captain to sleep with him, because the weather was cold. Standish accepted his hospitality, and passed the night by his fire; but sleep had departed from his eyes; he was restless, and in motion all night, though his host seemed solicitous for his comfort, and "earnestly pressed him to take his rest." It was afterwards discovered that this Indian intended to kill him if he had fallen asleep.

Weston's people, who settled at Wessagusset, lived without religion or law. This rendered them contemptiblé

in the view of savages, who soon began to insult and abuse them. The company pretended to satisfy the Indians for a theft, not by punishing the thief, but by hanging a decrepid old man, who had become burdensome to them. This settlement was composed of a set of needy adventurers. But before they knew their own danger, the governor of Plymouth had learned from Massasoit the plot of the natives for their destruction, and sent Capt. Standish to their relief. He had made choice of eight men, refusing to take more. Arriving at Wessagusset, now Weymouth, he found the people scattered, and in imminent danger, yet stupidly insensible of the destruction which was ready to burst upon them. Standish was careful not to excite the jealousy of the natives till he could assemble the people of the plantation. An Indian brought him some furs, whom he treated "smoothly," yet the Indian reported that he “saw by the captain's eyes, that he was angry in his heart." This induced Pecksuot, a chief of courage, to tell Hobbamock, Standish's Indian guide and interpreter, that he "understood the captain was come to kill him, and the rest of the sav. ages there; but tell him," said he, "we know it, but fear him not; neither will we shun hin, let him begin when he dare, he shall not take us at unawares." Others whetted their knives before him, using insulting gestures and speeches. Among the rest, Wittuwamat, a daring son of war, whose head the government had ordered Standish to bring to Plymouth, boasted of the excellence of his knife, on the handle of which was a woman's face. "But," said he, "I have another at home, with which I have killed both French and English; that has a man's face; by and by these two must be married." Further said he of his knife, "By and by it shall see, by and by it shall eat, but not speak.” Pecksuot, being a man of great stature, said to Standish, "though you are a great captain, yet you are but a little

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