Hello readers,
I had said awhile back that I would answer the question of whether or not the English broke the treaty with the Wampanoag and how they did it. Here is my answer to that..
YES; I know they broke the treaty by not handing over Squanto to Massasoit for committing the crime of treason against his own people. The English broke rule 2 under the agreement of peace (or what I call the “war alliance”)
What it said is “and if any of his did hurt to any of ours, he should send the offender, that we might punish him”. Why should we not look at that the same way for the Native People?
First let me tell you what Squanto did to commit treason. In March of 1622 Hobbamock, a trusted advisor of Massasoit, came to the colonists with a warning about their trip to visit the Masssachuseuk. Hobbamock told them of possible treachery on the part of the Natives there.
Believing that they were in league with the Narragansetts, who would take the opportunity to attack Plymouth in the absence of the trading party, and the Massachuseuk, would also take that same opportunity to kill the trading party. Hobbamock told the English that Squanto was a part of this conspiracy, citing as evidence the many secret meetings that Squanto had with other natives. Often these meeting were out in the woods.
This was not a custom of the Wampanoag, as they would meet out in the open, not concealed from others.
They listened to what Hobbamock said, but still wanted to go and trade up north.
The next day they headed out of the harbor to Massachusetts bay in the shallop.
The party consisted of Myles Standish and ten men with Hobbamock and Squanto. At this point a relative of Squanto ran from the woods to the Plantation bleeding from a head wound. He told them at Plymouth that the Namaskets and Narragansetts were accompanied by Massasoit and Conbatant and intending to attack Plymouth. Hoping to recall the men in the shallop, Governor Bradford caused three cannon shots to be fired. The trading party heard the shots and came back to the Plantation.
When Hobbamock heard the rumor he knew it was not true. He would have been consulted concerning any war plans and Massasoit would not have planned a war without Hobbamock’s advice. He assured the English of Massasoit’s faithfulness towards the plantation. Squanto had told various Native groups that he had enough influence with the English to cause them to make war on whomever he advised them were their enemies. Squanto and Hobbamock had seen the Englishmen dig up the dirt floor of the storehouse where the English stored the gunpowder. Apparently Squanto knew what it was that was kept in the ground for safekeeping; however he told Hobbamock what he had been telling other Natives; “that was the place wherein the plague was buried”.
After some consultation with the colonists Hobbamock sent one of his wives on a private mission to Pokanoket to see if she could gather any information on what was going on there. Upon her arrival she found all things quiet and normal, and that no plans had been made for any military expedition. She told Massasoit what had happened at Plymouth, which caused him to understand that it was Squanto plotting, at which he was greatly offended. He sent word to Plymouth that he was pleased that the governor that had good thoughts of him and reassured the colony that, according to the treaty he would warn them of any threats to them.
Squanto got off fairly easily; all he received was a sharp rebuke from the governor. The Native people were informed that the English had no part in his treachery, which would have caused Squanto a loss of status and branded him as a liar. Even when Massasoit came personally to Plymouth demanding Squanto’s execution the governor refused to allow the due punishment which was a treaty violation.
Point # 2 in the treaty “And if any of his hurt any of ours, he should send the offender, that we might punish him“. That’s how they broke the treaty by not giving Squanto up for his punishment.
What do you think?
Should the Governor have given Squanto up for his punishment?