Page:Good Newes from New England.djvu/18

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Good Newes from New-England.

derſtanding by others that they neither brought Armes nor other prouiſions with them, but wholly relied on vs, it occaſioned them to ſleight and braue vs with ſo many threats as they did. At length came one of them to vs, who was ſent by Conauacus their chief Sachim or King, accompanied with one Tokamahamon, a friendly Indian. This meſſenger inquired for Tiſquantum our Interpreter, who not being at home ſeemed rather to be glad than ſorry, and leauing for him a bundle of new arrowes lapped in a rattle Snakes skin, deſired to depart with all expedition. But our Gouernours not knowing what to make of this ſtrange cariage, and comparing it with that we had formerly heard, committed him to the cuſtodie of Captain Standiſh, hoping now to know ſome certaintie of that we ſo often heard, either by his owne relation to vs, or to Tiſquantum at his returne, deſiring my ſelfe, hauing ſpeciall familiaritie with the other fore-named Indian, to ſee if I could learne any thing from him, whoſe anſwer was ſparingly to this effect; that he could not certainly tell, but thought they were enemies to vs. That night Captaine Standiſh gaue me and another charge of him, and gaue vs order to vſe him kindly, and that hee ſhould not want any thing he deſired, and to take all occaſions to talk and inquire of the reaſons of thoſe reports we heard, and withall to ſignifie that vpon his true relation he ſhould be ſure of his owne freedome. At firſt feare ſo poſſeſt him, that he could ſcarce ſay any thing: but in the end became more familiar, and told vs that the meſſenger which his Maſter ſent in Summer to treat of peace, at his returne perſwaded him rather to warre; and to the end he might prouoke him thereunto, (as appeared to him by our reports) detained many of the things were ſent him by our Gouernour, ſcorning the meanneſſe of them both in reſpect of what himſelf had formerly ſent, & alſo of the greatneſſe of his owne perſon; ſo that he much blamed the former Meſſenger, ſaying, that vpon the knowledge of this his falſe cariage, it would coſt him his

life;