On Friday morning Winslow and Hopkins took their departure from Sowams, carrying with them some seed corn which Massasoit had given them. The sachem earnestly entreated them to prolong their stay; but the Englishmen “desired to keep the Sabbath at home,” so declined the invitation. They reached Plymouth, on Saturday night, “wet, weary, and surbated,” indeed, yet with the satisfaction of feeling that the object of their mission had been attained.
In March, 1623, “news came to Plymouth that Massasoit was like to die; and that, at the same time, there was a Dutch ship driven so high on the shore by stress of weather, right before his dwelling that, till the tides increased she could not be got off.” Upon receipt of this intelligence Governor Bradford deemed it expedient to dispatch a second expedition to Sowams for the two-fold purpose of expressing his friendship for the Wampanoag chief and obtaining “some conference with the Dutch.” Edward Winslow was again selected as the government’s messenger, having for a “consort” a certain Master John Hamden, “a gentleman of London” (supposed by some to be the famous parliamentarian of that name) and for a guide, the friendly native Hobbamock. The party followed the ancient Indian trail, and, upon nearing Mattapoiset, were informed that Massasoit was “dead and buried.” Hobbamock desired the Englishmen to “return with all speed” to Plymouth, but Winslow being anxious, if the king was indeed dead, to enter into friendly relations with his successor, decided to continue the journey. At Mattapoiset, the wife of Corbitant, sachem of the Pocassets, gave the travellers “friendly entertainment,” and, as no definite information regarding Massasoit’s condition was obtainable, Winslow dispatched a messenger to Pokanoket to ascertain the truth. The messenger returning in a few hours, brought the welcome intelligence that the chief was still living though critically ill. “Much revived” at these tidings, Winslow and his companions “set forward with all speed” and arrived at their destination “late within night.” They found Massasoit yet alive, though apparently very near his end. The Dutch ship, however, had departed “about two of the clock that afternoon,” so that, as regarded one of its intents, their “journey was frustrate.”
This Dutch ship probably visited Sowams for trading purposes. The fact that it grounded “right before” Massasoit’s dwelling proves that the sachimo comaco (sachem’s house) was situated on the shore of Sowams (Warren) River. Probably it stood not far from the spring still known as Massasoit’s Spring. This is located at the foot of Baker Street in the compact part of Warren. In its natural state it was a powerful spring, bubbling from a bed of pure white sand. Many years ago it was excavated to the depth of about eight feet and walled up like a well. At a distance of five feet from the bottom a sluice-way was left, through which a small stream flows during the greater part of the year and, finding its way to the surface, trickles into the river. The water, which never fails, is of excellent quality and even in warm weather remains pure and cold.
When the Englishmen entered the royal wigwam, they found a great crowd of people assembled about the bed of the chief. “There they were,” narrates Winslow, “in the midst of their charms for him making such a hellish noise, as it distempered us that were well, and therefore unlike to ease him that was sick.” Massasoit, whose sight was gone, greeted Winslow with these mournful words, “Oh Winslow I shall never see thee again!” Winslow answered that Governor Bradford had sent from Plymouth certain things deemed by the English good in illness and, “having a confection of many comfortable conserves etc., on the point of his penknife, gave the sachem some, the juice of which he swallowed.” Whereat those that were about him much rejoiced; saying “he had not swallowed anything in ten days before.” Winslow then washed the sick man’s mouth and gave him more of the confection dissolved in water and, within half an hour, this treatment “wrought a great alteration in him in the eyes of all that beheld him.” His sight began to return which gave both him and his white friends “good encouragement.” Winslow then hastily addressed a letter to Governor Bradford describing the “good success” of the expedition, and requesting that some chickens for broth, medicine, and other things might be sent him; and, with this letter, a messenger started for Plymouth at two o’clock in the morning.
Massasoit, having expressed a wish for some “English pottage,” Winslow, though “unaccustomed and unacquainted in such business,” undertook its preparation. He “caused a woman to bruise some corn” which he placed in a pipkin and, as soon as the day broke, he sallied forth with Hamden in search of herbs; and, finding nothing but strawberry leaves gathered a handful and put them in the pot with the corn with a slice of “saxifrax root” to give the mixture a “good relish.” When this gruel was sufficiently boiled, he strained it through his handkerchief and gave Massasoit “at least a pint, which he drank and liked it very well.” After this the sachem’s sight “mended more and more,” indeed, so rapid was his improvement that, says Winslow, “we with admiration blessed God for giving His blessing to such raw and ignorant means, * * * himself and all of them acknowledging us the instruments of his preservation.”
Massasoit finding himself so far recovered, now besought Winslow to visit all that were ill in the town and to give them the same treatment that had proved so beneficial in his own case, saying that his people were “good folk.” Winslow acceeded to the sachem’s request though it was “much offensive to him,” he “not being accustomed to such poisonous savours.” An entire morning was spent in going from wigwam to wigwam, and one can imagine the commingled awe and gratitude with which the simple children of nature regarded the man who, to them, must have seemed gifted with divine powers. Doubtless that wondrous season of healing was long remembered in Sowams, and doubtless the name of Winslow continued to remain a household word in the Indian village many years after its owner lay slumbering in his grave.
In the afternoon, Winslow again sallied forth, gun in hand, to gratify the desire of the king for more “pottage” of fowl. He shot an “extraordinary fat” duck and with it prepared a broth of which Massasoit, despite all warnings, “ate as much as would well have satisfied a man in health.” The result of this “gross meal” was a relapse so severe that even the Englishmen doubted their patients recovery. For the space of four hours the sick man bled profusely at the nose; but, at last, the bleeding ceased and he fell into a profound slumber from which he awakened refreshed and strengthened. Meanwhile the messenger returned from Plymouth with the chickens and other things for which Winslow had asked, but Massasoit “finding his stomach come to him,” would not have the fowls killed, “but kept them for breed.” These historic chickens were the first domesticated fowls ever brought into Rhode Island. So far was the sachem’s health restored that the Englishmen dared not give him the medicine sent by the Plymouth surgeon. Massasoit, himself, felt assured of his recovery. “Now I see the English are my friends and love me,” he exclaimed, “and whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me.” These were no idle words as subsequent events proved.
During the white men’s stay at Sowams many of Massasoit’s friends and allies came to visit him, “some by their report from a place not less than a hundred miles.” To all comers one of the sachem’s chief men related the story of Massasoit’s illness, “how near he was spent; how, amongst others his friends the English came to see him; and how suddenly they recovered him to this strength they saw; he being now able to sit upright by himself.” But it was not by words alone that the “good folk” of Sowams showed their appreciation of the Englishmen’s services to them. “Whilst we were there,” writes Winslow, “our entertainment exceeded all other strangers. Divers other things were worth the noting,” he adds, “but I fear I have been too tedious.” Gladly would we have pardoned the worthy chronicler the most “tedious” description of that primeval entertainment which, doubtless included feasting and dancing and wild aboriginal sports. Of what inestimable value would it have been to the historian!
But it was at the moment of his guests’ departure that Massasoit demonstrated the depth of his gratitude to his preservers. Calling Hobbamock, the guide, aside he, in the presence of two or three of his most trusted counsellors, charged him to acquaint Winslow with the existence of a plot originated by the Massachusetts Indians against Weston’s colony at Wessagusset and the settlement at Plymouth. Hobbamock faithfully obeyed his sachem’s instructions. What would have been the fate of the Pilgrims had this timely warning not been given, we can only conjecture. Massasoit advised his white allies to “kill the men of Massachuset who were the authors of this intended mischief,” and this advice they were constrained to follow.
This second visit of the English to Sowams marks an epoch in the history of both red men and white. It firmly cemented, by mutual gratitude and esteem, the friendship first established on a political basis. Previous to it, Massasoit appears to have cherished some misgivings regarding the good faith of his Christian allies. But his restoration to health by their ministrations removed every doubt from his generous mind. Witness his words, “Now I see that the English love me and are my friends, and whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me.” He never did forget it.