Chapter 15
Of the planting of master weston’s colony at wessagusset, and of sundry excursions after corn.
In the end of June, or beginning of July, came into our harbour two ships of Master Weston’s aforesaid; the one called the Charity,1
the other the Swan; having in them some fifty or sixty men, sent over at his own charge to plant for him.2 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 at 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 store of corn we had was exceedingly wasted by the unjust and dishonest walking of these strangers; who, though they would sometimes seem to help us in our labour 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, etc., the chief of them being forestalled and made against us before they came, as after appeared. Nevertheless, for their master’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.At length their coasters returned, having found in their judgment a place fit for plantation, within the bay of the Massachusets3
at a place called by the Indians Wichaguscusset.4 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,5 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 filled our ears with clamours against them, for stealing their corn, and other abuses conceived by them. At which we grieved the more, because the same men,6
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 us. But we knew no means to redress those abuses, save reproof, and advising them to better walking, as occasion served.In the end of August, came other two ships into our harbour. The one, as I take it, was called the Discovery, Captain Jones7
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.8 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 wherewith, and did supply our wants on that kind competently.9In the end of September, or beginning of October, 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 Assistant10
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
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