New-Englands memoriall, or, A brief relation of the most memorable and remarkable passages of the providence of God manifested to the planters of New-England in America with special reference to the first colony thereof, called New-Plimouth : as also a nomination of divers of the most eminent instruments deceased, both of church and common-wealth, improved in the first beginning and after-progress of sundry of the respective jurisdictions in those parts, in reference unto sundry exemplary passages of their lives, and the time of their death / published for use and benefit of present and future generations, by Nathaniel Morton ...

1634.

THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth: His Assistants in Go∣vernment were.

• Mr. William Bradford,
• Mr. Edward Winslow,
• Captain Miles Standish,
• Mr. William Collier,
• Mr. John Alden,
• Mr. John Howland, and
• Mr. Stephen Hopkins.

In the Spring of this Year there fell a very great sickness of the Small Pox amongst the Indians, so as they died most mi∣serably of it; for a sorer Disease cannot come amongst them, and they dread it more then the Plague it self, for usually those of them which have this Disease, have them in abundance, and for want of Bedding and Linen, and other Necessaries, they fall into a lamentable condition; for as they lye on their hard Mats, the Pox breaking and running one into another, their skin cleaving by reason thereof to the Mats they lye on, when they turn them, much of their skin will flay off at once, and they will be all on a gore blood, most sad and grievous to be∣hold; and then being very sore, what with cold and other dis∣tempers, they die like rotten sheep.

This Year one Captain Stone, who had sometimes lived at Christophers in the West-India's, came into these parts; of whom I have nothing to speak in way of commendation, but rather the contrary. After he had been to and fro in the Country, he returned towards Virginia with one Captain Nor∣ton; and so it was, that as they returned they went in at Co∣necticot River, where the Indians killed the said Stone as he lay in his Cabbin, and threw a Covering over him: they like∣wise

killed all the rest of his Company but the said Captain Norton, he defending himself a long time in the Cook-room of the Barque, untill by accident the Gunpowder took fire, which for readiness he had set in an open thing before him, which did so burn and scald him, and blinde his eyes, as he could make no longer resistance, but was slain also by them, and they made a prey of his goods.

It is to be observed, That the said Stone being at the Dutch Plantation in the fore-part of this year, a certain Barque of Plimouth being there likewise on Trading, he kept company with the Dutch Governour, and made him drunk, and got leave of him in his drunkenness to take the said Barque, with∣out any occasion or cause given him; and so taking his time when the Merchant and some of the chief of the men were on shore, with some of his own men, made the rest of them weigh Anchor, and set sail to carry her away to Virginia: but some of the Dutch Seamen, who had been at Plimouth and received kindness, seeing this horrible abuse, got a Vessel or two and pursued them, and brought them back. After this he came into the Massachusets Bay, where they commenced Suit against him; but by the mediation of some it was taken up, and afterwards in the company of some Gentlemen he came to Plimouth, and was kindly entertained: but Revenge boiling in his breast, (as some conceived) he watched a sea∣son to have stabbed the Governour, and put his hand to his Dagger for that end, but by Gods Providence ordering the vigilance of some that were about him, he was prevented: but God met with him for these and other wickednesses, as hath been before related.

Notes

• A great sickness amongst the In∣dians.