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Court of Massachusetts, which interfered in his behalf, and the matter was soon settled.*

From the "Relation" of Dr. I. Mather, it is clear that he lived until 1662. His words are, "Alexander being dead, [having died in 1662,] his brother Philip, of late cursed memory, rose up in his stead, and he was no sooner styled sachem, but immediately, in the year 1662, there were vehement suspicions of his bloody treachery against the English."

Whether he had more than two sons, is not certain, although it is confidently believed that he had. It is probable that his family was large. A company of soldiers from Bridgewater, in a skirmish with Philip, took his sister, and killed a brother of Ousamequin, whose name was Unkompoen, or Akkompoin.§ That he had another brother, called Quadequina, has been mentioned.

Gov. Winthrop gives the following anecdote of Ousamequin. As Mr. Edward Winslow was returning from a trading voyage southward, having left his vessel, he traveled home by land, and in the way stopped with his old friend Massasoit, who agreed to accompany him the rest of the way. In the mean time, Ousamequin sent one of his men forward to Plimouth, to surprise the people with the news of Mr. Winslow's death. By his manner of relating it, and the particular circumstances attending, no one doubted of its truth, and every one was grieved and mourned exceedingly at their great loss. But presently they were as much surprised at seeing him coming in company with Ousamequin. When it was known among the people that the sachem had sent this news to them, they demanded why he should thus deceive them. He replied that it was to make him the more welcome when he did return, and that this was a custom of his people.

One of the most renowned captains within the dominions of Massasoit was CAUNBITANT,|| whose residence was at a place called Mettapoiset, in the present town of Swansey. His character was much the same as that of the famous Metacomet. The English were always viewed by him as intruders and enemies of his race, and there is little doubt but he intended to wrest the country out of their hands on the first opportunity.

In August, 1621, Caunbitant was supposed to be in the interest of the Narragansets, and plotting with them to overthrow Massasoit; and, being at Namasket seeking "to draw the hearts of Massasoyt's subjects from him; speaking also disdainfully of us, storming at the peace between Nauset, Cummaquid and us, and at Tisquantum, the worker of it; also at Tokamahamon, and one Hobomok, (two Indians or Lemes, one of which he would treacherously have murdered a little before, being a special and trusty man of Massasoyt's,) Tokamahamon went to him, but the other two would not; yet put their lives in their hands, privately went to see if they could hear of their king, and, lodging at Namaschet, were discovered to Coubatant, who set a guard to beset the house, and took Tisquantum, (for he had said, if he were dead, the English had lost their tongue.) Hobbamok seeing that Tisquantum was taken, and Coubatant held [holding] a knife at his breast, being a strong and stout man, brake from them, and came to New Plimouth, full of fear and sorrow for Tisquantum, whom he thought to be slain."

Upon this the Plimouth people sent an expedition, under Standish, of 14 men,¶ "and Hobbamok for their guide, to revenge the supposed death

*

Original manuscript documents. The particulars of these matters will be given at large, when we come to treat of the life of Uncas.

f Relation, 72.

+ I. Mather, 44.

Church, 38, edit. 4to.

Corbitant, Coubatant, and Conbitant, were ways of writing his name also, by his cotemporaries.

Ten, says the Relation.

of Tisquanium on Coubatant our bitter enemy, and to retain Nepeof, another sachem, or governor, who was of this confederacy, till we heard what was become of our friend Massasoyt."

After much toil, the little army arrived near the place they expected to find Caunbitant. "Before we came to the town (says the narrator) we sat down and eat such as our knapsacks afforded; that being done, we threw them aside, and all such things as might hinder us, and so went on and beset the house, according to our last resolution. Those that entered, demanded if Coubatant were not there; but fear had bereft the savages of speech. We charged them not to stir, for if Coubatant were not there, we would not meddle with them; if he were, we came principally for him, to be avenged on him for the supposed death of Tisquantum, and other matters: but howsoever, we would not at all hurt their women or children. Notwithstanding, some of them pressed out at a private door, and escaped, but with some wounds. At length perceiving our principal ends, they told us Coubatant was returned [home] with all his train, and that Tisquantum was yet living, and in the town; [then] offering some tobacco, [and] other, such as they had to eat."

In this hurley hurley, (as they call it,) two guns were fired "at random," to the great terror of all but Squanto and Tokamahamon, “who, though they knew not our end in coming, yet assured them [so frightened] of our honesty, [and] that we would not hurt them." The Indian boys, seeing the squaws protected, cried out, Neensquaes! Neensquaes! that is, I am a squaw! I am a squaw! and the women tried to screen themselves in Hobomok's presence, reminding him that he was their friend.

This attack upon a defenceless house was made at midnight, and must have been terrible, in an inconceivable degree, to its inmates, especially the sound of the English guns, which few, if any of them, had ever heard before. The relater proceeds: "But to be short, we kept them we had, and made them make a fire that we might see to search the house; in the meantime, Hobbamok gat on the top of the house, and called Tisquantum and Tokamahamon." They soon came, with some others with them, some armed and others naked. The English took away the bows and arrows from those that were armed, but promised to return them as soon as it was day, which they probably did.

They kept possession of the captured wigwam until daylight, when they released their prisoners, and marched into the town (as they call it) of the Namaskets. Here, it appears, Squanto had a house, to which they went, and took breakfast, and held a court afterward, from which they issued forth the following decree against Caunbitant:

"Thither came all whose hearts were upright towards us, but all Coubatant's faction were fled away. There in the midst of them we manifested again our intendment, assuring them, that, although Coubitant had now escaped us, yet there was no place should secure him and his from us, if he continued his threatening us, and provoking others against us, who had kindly entertained him, and never intended evil towards him till he now so justly deserved it. Moreover, if Massasoyt did not return in safety from Narrohigganset, or if hereafter he should make any insurrection against him, or offer violence to Tisquantum, Hobomok, or any of Massasoyt's subjects, we would revenge it upon him, to the overthrow of him and his. As for those [who] were wounded, [how many is not mentioned,] we were sorry for it, though themselves procured it in not staying in the house at our command: yet, if they would return home with us, our surgeon should heal them. At this offer one man and a woman that were wounded went home with us, Tisquantum and many other known friends accompanying us, and offering all help that might be by carriage of any thing we had to ease us. So that by God's good

providence we safely returned home the morrow night after we set forth."*

Notwithstanding these rough passages, Caunbitant became in appearance reconciled to the English, and on the 13th Sept. following went to Plimouth and signed a treaty of amity. It was through the intercession of Massasoit that he became again reconciled, but the English always doubted his sincerity, as most probably they had reason to. The treaty or submission was in these words:

"Know all men by these presents, that we whose names are underwritten, do acknowledge ourselves to be the royal subjects of King James, king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. In witness whereof, and as a testimonial of the same, we have subscribed our names, or marks, as followeth :

OHQUAMEHUD,
CAWNACOME,

OBBATINNUA,

NATTAWAHUNT,
CAUNBATANT,
CHIKKATABAK,

QUADAQUINA,

HUTTMOIDEN,

APANNOW."

Of some of these sachems nothing is known beyond this transaction, and of others very little.

Obbatinua is supposed to have been sachem of Shawmut, where Boston now stands.

Cawnacome and Apannow may be the same before spoken of as Coneconam and Epanow. Nattawahunt we shall again meet with, under the name Nashoonon. Coneconam was sachem of Manomet, on Cape Cod.

When, in the winter of 1623, the English traversed the country to trade with the Indians for corn, they visited him among other chiefs; who, they say, "it seemed was of good respect, and authority, amongst the Indians. For whilst the governor was there, within night, in bitter cold weather, came two men from Manamoyck, before spoken of, and having set aside their bows and quivers, according to their manner, sat down by the fire, and took a pipe of tobacco, not using any words in that time, nor any other to them, but all remained silent, expecting when they would speak. At length they looked toward Canacum; and one of them made a short speech, and delivered a present to him, from his sachim, which was a basket of tobacco, and many beads, which the other received thankfully. After which he made a long speech to him," the meaning of which Hobomok said was, that two of their men fell out in a game, "for they use gaming as much as any where, and will play away all, even their skin from their backs, yea their wive's skins also," and one killed the other. That the murderer was a powow, "one of special note amongst them," and one whom they did not like to part with; yet they were threatened with war, if they did not kill the murderer. That, therefore, their sachem deferred acting until the advice of Coneconam was first obtained.

After consulting with this chief, and some of his head men, these messengers desired Hobomok's judgment upon the matter. With some deference he replied, that "he thought it was better that one should die than many, since he had deserved it ;” "whereupon he passed the sentence of death upon him."

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We shall have occasion again to notice this chief, at whose house the first act of a tragic scene was acted, which in its course brought ruin upon its projectors.

*From Mourt, ut supra, and signed only with the capital letter A, which is supposed to stand for Isaac Allerton, who accompanied Standish perhaps. From the use of the pronoun in the first person, the writer, whoever he was, must have been present. + See chapter i. of b. ii.

When Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. John Hamden went to visit Massasoit in his sickness, in 1623, they heard by some Indians, when near Caunbitant's residence, that Massasoit was really dead: they, therefore, though with much hesitation, ventured to his house, hoping they might treat with him, he being then thought the successor of Massasoit. But he was not at home. The squaw sachem, his wife, treated them with great kindness, and learning here that Massasoit was still alive, they made all haste to Pokanoket. When they returned, they staid all night with Caunbitant, at his house, who accompanied them there from Massasoit's.

Mr. Winslow gives the account in these words:-" That night, through the earnest request of Conbatant, who, till now, remained at Sowaams, or Puckanokick, we lodged with him at Mattapuyst. By the way, 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. Amongst other things he asked me, if in case he were thus dangerously sick, as Massasoit had been, and should send word thereof to Patuxet, for maskiest,* [that is, physic,] whether their master governor would send it; and if he would, whether I would come therewith to him. To both which I answered, yea; whereat he gave me many joyful thanks.” He then expressed his surprise that two Englishmen should adventure so far alone into their country, and asked them if they were not afraid. Mr. Winslow said, "where was true love, there was no fear." "But," said Caunbitant, “if your love be such, and it bring forth such fruits, how cometh it to pass, that when we come to Patuxet, you stand upon your guard, with the mouth of your pieces presented towards us?" Mr. Winslow told him that was a mark of respect, and that they received their best friends in that manner; but to this he shook his head, and answered, that he did not like such salutations.t

When Caunbitant saw his visiters crave a blessing before eating, and return thanks afterwards, he desired to know what it meant. "Hereupon I took occasion (says our author) to tell them of God's works of creation and preservation, of the laws and ordinances, especially of the ten commandments." They found no particular fault with the commandments, except the seventh, but said there were many inconveniences in that a man should be tied to one woman. About which they reasoned a good while.

When Mr. Winslow explained the goodness of God in bestowing on them all their comforts, and that for this reason they thanked and blessed him, "this all of them concluded to be very well; and said they believed almost all the same things, and that the same power that we call God they called Kichtan." Here we remained only that night, but never had better entertainment amongst any of them.”

What became of this chief is unknown. His name appearing no more in our records, leads us to suppose that he either fled his country on the murder of Wittuwamet, Peksuat, and others, or that he died about that time.

Wittuwamet was a Massachusetts chief, as was his companion Peksuot, but their particular residence has not been assigned. Wittuwamet was a desperate and bold fellow, and, like most other warriors, delighted in the blood of his enemies. It is not improbable but that he became exasperated against the English from the many abuses some of them had practised upon his countrymen, This will account, perhaps, for all the severity and malignity portrayed by the forefathers in his character.

* In Williams's Key, Maskit is translated, "Give me some physie."
+ Good News from N. England, Col. Mass. Hist. Soc.

He was one of those, they say, who murdered some of the crew of the French ship, cast away upon Cape Cod, as we have before mentioned. That Wittuwamet, Peksuot, and some other chiefs, intended to have freed their country of intruders in the year 1623, there can be no doubt, and in relating the rise, progress and termination of their league to effect this object, we shall, to avoid the charge of partiality, adhere closely to the record.

We have before, in speaking of Caunecum, or Coneconam, mentioned the voyage of the governor of Plimouth to that sachem's country to trade for corn; that was in January, 1623. Not being able to bring away all he obtained, Capt. Miles Standish was sent the next month to take it to Plimouth, also to purchase more at the same place, but he did not meet with very good reception, which led him to apprehend there was mischief at hand. And immediately after, while at Coneconam's house with two or three of his company, "in came two of the Massachusetts men. The chief of them was called Wittuwamat, a notable insulting villain, one who had formerly imbrued his hands in the blood of English and French, 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. This villain took a dagger from about his neck, which he had gotten of Master Weston's people, and presented it to the sachem, [Coneconam,] and after made a long speech in an audacious manner, framing it in such sort as the captain, though he be the best linguist among us, could not gather any thing from it. The end of it was afterwards discovered to be as followeth. The Massachuseucks formerly concluded to ruinate Mr. Weston's colony; and thought themselves, being about 30 or 40 men, strong enough to execute the same yet they durst not attempt it, till such time as they had gathered more strength to themselves, to make their party good against us at Plimouth; concluding that if we remained, though they had no other arguments to use against us, yet we would never leave the death of our countrymen unrevenged; and therefore their safety could not be without the overthrow of both plantations. To this end they had formerly solicited this sachem, as also the other, called Ianough, and many others, to assist them; and now again came to prosecute the same; and since there was so fair an opportunity offered by the captain's presence, they thought best to make sure of him and his company."

Coneconam, after this speech, treated Standish with neglect, and was very partial to Wittuwamet, which much increased the jealousy of the former. These Indians meantime contrived to kill Standish, having employed a "lusty Indian of Paomet” to execute the plan. The weather was severely cold, and Standish lodged on shore at night, and this was the time he was to have been killed. But the extreme coldness of the night kept him from sleeping, and thus he avoided assassination.

We have had occasion, in the life of Massasoit, to mention that that chief had been solicited to engage in this confederacy, and of his charging Hobomok to warn the English of it. The people of the places named at that time by Massasoit, as in the plot, were Nauset, Paomet, Succonet, Mattachiest, Manomet, Agowaywam, and the Island of Capawack. "Therefore, (says Mr. Winslow in his Relation,) as we respected the lives of our countrymen and our own safety, he advised us to kill the men of Massachuset, who were the authors of this intended mischief. And whereas we were wont to say, we would not strike a stroke till they first began, If, said he, [Massasoit to Hobomok,] upon this intelligence, they make that answer, tell them, when their countrymen at Wichaguscusset are killed, they not being able to defend themselves, that then it will be too late to recover their lives," and it would be with difficulty that they pre

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