Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to MassachusettsBradford, William
History
Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to Massachusetts
Bradford, William
Massachusetts -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
Now it so fell out, that one Hocking, belonging to y^e plantation of
Pascataway, wente with a barke and co[=m]odities to trade in that river,
and would needs press into their limites; and not only so, but would
needs goe up y^e river above their house, (towards y^e falls of y^e
river,) and intercept the trade that should come to them. He that was
cheefe of y^e place forbad them, and prayed him that he would not offer
them that injurie, nor goe aboute to infring their liberties, which had
cost them so dear. But he answered he would goe up and trade ther in
dispite of them, and lye ther as longe as he pleased. The other tould
him he must then be forced to remove him from thence, or make seasure of
him if he could. He bid him doe his worste, and so wente up, and
anchored ther. The other tooke a boat & some men & went up to him, when
he saw his time, and againe entreated him to departe by what perswasion
he could. But all in vaine: he could gett nothing of him but ill words.
So he considred that now was y^e season for trade to come downe, and if
he should suffer him to lye, & take it from them, all ther former charge
would be lost, and they had better throw up all. So, consulting with
his men, (who were willing thertoe,) he resolved to put him from his
anchores, and let him drive downe y^e river with y^e streame; but
co[=m]anded y^e men y^t none should shoote a shote upon any occasion,
except he co[=m]anded them. He spoake to him againe, but all in vaine;
then he sente a cuple in a canow to cutt his cable, the which one of
them performes; but Hocking taks up a pece which he had layed ready, and
as y^e barke shered by y^e canow, he shote [200] him close under her
side, in y^e head, (as I take it,) so he fell downe dead instantly. One
of his fellows (that loved him well) could not hold, but with a muskett
shot Hocking, who fell downe dead and never speake word. This was y^e
truth of y^e thing. The rest of y^e men carried home the vessell and y^e
sad tidings of these things. Now y^e Lord Saye & y^e Lord Brooks, with
some other great persons, had a hand in this plantation; they write home
to them, as much as they could to exasperate them in y^e matter,
leaveing out all y^e circomstances, as if he had been kild without any
offenc of his parte, conceling y^t he had kild another first, and y^e
just occasion that he had given in offering such wrong; at w^ch their
Lords^ps were much offended, till they were truly informed of y^e mater.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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