Good Newes from New England: Or a true relation of things very remarkable at the plantation of Plimoth in New-EnglandWinslow, Edward
History
Good Newes from New England: Or a true relation of things very remarkable at the plantation of Plimoth in New-England
Winslow, Edward
Massachusetts -- History -- New Plymouth, 1620-1691; Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony) -- Early works to 1800
Grahame, i. 198, falls into an error in attributing this execution
to Gorges’s colony, which settled at the same place in the autumn
of the same year; and Drake, b. ii. 34, errs in saying that
Morton was one of Weston’s company. Morton did not come over till
March, 1625, in company with Wollaston, and settled with him
not at Weymouth, but in Quincy. See Prince, pp. 221, 231. The
accurate Hutchinson, i. 6, should not have made a fact out of the
careless Hubbard’s supposition, which the latter mentions as barely
“possible.” See Mass. Hist. Coll. xv. 77.
[89] Hansel, to use for the first time.
[90] The same as _pinse_, on page 13.
[91] Standish is said to have been a man of short stature. See
Mass. Hist. Coll. xv. 111, and xviii, 121.
[92] When the news of the first Indians being killed by Standish
at Weymouth reached Mr. Robinson, their pastor, at Leyden, he
wrote to the church at Plymouth, December 19, 1623, “to consider
the disposition of their Captain, who was of a warm temper. He
hoped the Lord had sent him among them for good, if they used him
right; but he doubted where there was not wanting that tenderness
of the life of man, made after God’s image, which was meet;” and
he concludes with saying, “O how happy a thing had it been that
you had converted some before you killed any!” Prince adds, “It
is to be hoped that Squanto was converted.” It seems Standish
was not of their church at first, and Hubbard says he had more
of his education in the school of Mars than in the school of
Christ. Judge Davis remarks, “These sentiments are honorable to
Mr. Robinson; they indicate a generous philanthropy, which must
always gain our affection, and should ever be cherished. Still
the transactions of which the strictures relate, are defensible.
As to Standish, Belknap places his defence on the rules of duty
imposed by his character, as the military servant of the Colony.
The government, it is presumed, will be considered as acting under
severe necessity, and will require no apology if the reality of the
conspiracy be admitted, of which there can be little doubt. It is
certain that they were fully persuaded of its existence, and with
the terrible example of the Virginia massacre in fresh remembrance,
they had solemn duties to discharge. The existence of the whole
settlement was at hazard.” See Prince, p. 226; Hutchinson’s Mass.
ii. 461; Belknap’s Am. Biog. ii. 330; Morton’s Memorial, p. 91.
[93] His bow.
[94] To England.
[95] “Thus this plantation is broken up in a year; and this is the
end of those who being all able men, had boasted of their strength
and what they would bring to pass, in comparison of the people
at Plymouth, who had many women, children, and weak ones with
them; and said at their first arrival, when they saw the wants at
Plymouth, that they would take another course, and not fall into
such a condition as this simple people were come to.” Bradford, in
Prince, p. 214, and in Morton, p. 92.
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