speeches: 'Now I see the English are my friends and love me; and whilst I live, I will never forget this kindness they have showed me:' Whilst we were there, our entertainment exceeded all other strangers'." By way of gratitude, Massasoit revealed to his guests the existence of a dangerous plot among the Massachusetts and many other tribes, which he had lately been solicited to join. Both Wessagusset and Plymouth were to be destroyed, and he earnestly cautioned them, as they valued their safety, to strike the first blow.

They departed, followed by the blessings of the whole community, and, on their return, lodged at Mattapoiset, with the sachem Caunbitant, whose conduct they distrusted, and whom they were desirous to conciliate. "By the way," says Winslow, "I had much conference with him, so likewise at his house, he being a notable politician, yet full of merry jests and squibs, and never better pleased than when the like are returned again upon him." This friendly conference the pious traveller improved to explain the religion of his people, and "especially the ten commandments; all which they harkened unto with great attention, and liked well of; only the seventh commandment they excepted against, thinking there were many inconveniences in it, that a man should be tied to one woman; about which we reasoned a good time." After meeting excellent entertainment, they returned to Plymouth.

The information derived from Massasoit was confirmed by further evidence and by many suspicious circumstances; and it was resolved to strike an immediate and terrifying blow at the chiefs of the conspiracy. With wonderful hardihood, Captain Standish, with only eight companions, set forth to crush this alarming plot before it could fully mature, having especial instruction to bring back the head of the most dangerous of the conspirators,-"Wittawamut, a notable insulting villain, one who had formerly imbued his hands in the blood of French and English, and had oft boasted of his own valor and derided their weakness, especially because, as he said, they died crying, making sour faces, more like children than men."

Arrived at Wessagusset, he gathered the people within the town, and warned them of their danger. Presently came an Indian, under pretence of trading in furs, but in reality to ascertain the captain's purpose. He went back, and reported that though he spoke smoothly, "he saw by his eyes that he was angry in his heart."

Though they saw their plans discovered, the chiefs were no whit dismayed, and "one Pecksuot, who was a paniese, being a man of notable spirit," came to Hobbamock, and told him they had heard that Standish was come to kill them. "Tell him," said he, "we know it, but fear him not, neither will we shun him; but let him begin when he dare, he shall not take us at unawares." The savages, one at a time or in small squads, would often present themselves before the captain, and whet the points of their knives before his face, with many other menacing gestures.

"Amongst the rest, Wittawamut bragged of the excellency of his knife. On the end of the handle was pictured a woman's face; 'but,' said he, 'I have another at home wherewith I have killed both French and English, and that hath a man's face on it; and by and by these two must marry.' Further he said of that knife he there had, Hannaim namen, hannaim michen, matta cuts; that is to say, By and by it should see, and by and by it should eat, but not speak. These things the Captain observed, yet bare with patience for the present.

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"On the next day, seeing he could not get many of them together at once, and this Pecksuot and Wittawamut both together, with another man, and a youth of some eighteen years of age, (which was brother to Wittawamut, and villain-like trod in his steps) and having about as many of his own company in a room with them, gave the word to his men, and the door being fast shut, began himself with Pecksuot, and snatching his own knife from his neck, though with much struggling, killed him therewith, (the point whereof he had made as sharp as a needle, and ground the back also to an edge). Wittawamut and the other man the rest killed, and took the youth,

whom the captain caused to be hanged. But it is incredible how many wounds these two pineses received before they died, not making any fearful noise, but catching at their weapons, and striving to the last."

Three more Indians were killed by the same party. A fight in the woods, in which Hobbamock took an active part, and in which the Indians were forced to fly, ensued. The colony, however, composed of such miserable materials, was broken up. A part sailed for Manhegin, and Standish took the remainder with him to Plymouth. The head of Wittawamut, after the fashion of the times, was stuck up, in terrorem, on the fort. Though no further demonstrations of hostility were made, yet, so completely had these fierce and energetic measures terrified the conspiring tribes, that, for fifty years afterwards, they made no more attempts against the English.

Summer came on, and the unfortunate colonists suffered most grievously from hunger and privation. All their corn had been used for planting, and they roamed the woods for nuts and the sea-shore for clams. To add to their distress, a terrible and long-continued drought threatened the entire destruction of their crop. In this heavy case, they kept up an almost unexampled fortitude and cheerfulness. It is said their whole stock of provisions, at one time, was but a pint of corn, which, being impartially divided, gave them five kernels apiece-an incident since affectingly commemorated, on the same spot, at the luxurious entertainments of their descendants.

A day was finally appointed for fasting and humiliation and prayer to God for relief-"if our continuance there might any way stand with his glory and our good." All day the people performed their devotions together, beseeching that the rain of heaven might bedew their parched fields. Ere the sun sank, clouds gathered on all sides, "and on the next morning," continues the pious chronicler, "distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain, continuing some fourteen days, and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered corn or our drooping affections, were

most quickened and revived; such was the bounty and good ness of our God."

At this seasonable and happy change, the neighboring Indians were struck with surprise; especially, says Winslow, at "the difference between their conjuration, and our invocation to God for rain; theirs being mixed with such storms and tempests, as sometimes, instead of doing them good, it layeth the corn flat on the ground, to their prejudice; but ours in so gentle and seasonable a manner, as they had never observed the like." A plentiful harvest relieved all apprehensions of famine.

In July and August came two ships, with sixty additional settlers. In a letter dispatched to the Pilgrims by their friends who yet remained, occurs the following affectionate and prophetic sentiment: "Let it not be grievous to you that you have been the instruments to break the ice for others who come after you with less difficulty; the honor shall be yours to the world's end; we bear you always in our breasts, and our hearty affection is towards you all, as are the hearts of hundreds more who never saw your faces."

CHAPTER VI.

FORMATION OF NEW SETTLEMENTS-DISSOLUTE COMMUNITY OF MERRY MOUNT-BROKEN UP-MAY-POLE CUT DOWN-SETTLEMENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS—BOSTON-CHARACTER OF THE EMIGRANTS

AMUSING REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES-INTOLERANCE.

We now leave the fortunes of the little colony of Plymouth, which, however, had taken firm root, and during the whole season of religious persecution, continued to increase and to send its offshoots into the neighboring regions. Other plantations were rapidly springing up in its neighborhood. In 1624, a colony was planted at Cape Ann, and four years afterwards, another at Naumkeag (Salem) under the famous Captain John Endicott.

A small settlement, called Mount Wallaston (Quincy), had fallen into the hands of one Thomas Morton, described as "a petty fogging attorney of Furnival's Inn," who, with a crew of dissolute companions, lived there in much excess and licentiousness. He changed the name of the place to Merry Mount, -("as if this jollity could have lasted always," and besides selling fire-arms to the Indians, kept a haunt for all the idle serving-men and lewd companions in the country. Thus they lived for some time, "vainly quaffing and drinking both wine and strong liquors in great excess (as some have reported, ten pounds worth in a morning)—setting up a May-pole, drinking and dancing about it, and frisking about it like so many fairies or furies rather-yea and worse practices. The said Morton, likewise, to show his poetry, composed sundry rhymes and verses, some tending to lasciviousness, and others to the detraction and scandal of some persons names, which he affixed to his idle or idol may-pole."*

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These dissolute courses received their first check from "that worthy gentleman Mr. John Endicott," who, soon after the foundation of his new settlement, paid them a visit, cut down their May-pole, read them a terrible lecture, and once more changed the name of their abode, calling it Mount Dagon. The whole community was finally broken up by a small force dispatched from Plymouth, under Captain Standish. This party seized Morton, and "demolished his house, that it might no longer be a roost for such unclean birds." The culprit was sent over seas. "Notwithstanding, in England he got free again, and wrote an infamous and scurrilous book against many of the godly and chief men of the country, full of lies and slanders, and full fraught with profane calumnies against their names and persons and the ways of God." Returning imprudently to Boston, he was imprisoned "for the aforesaid book and other things," and finally, "being grown old in wickedness, at last ended his life in Piscataqua."

A royal charter had been obtained, in 1628, for the formation * New England's Memorial.