Bloody, Bloody Myles Standish and his Swift Terrible Sword

The Beaver
1623-1628
 

In November 1623, Adam Trane is responsible for a catastrophe that almost reduces the settlement of Governor William Bradford and his Plymouth brethren to a pile of ashes.

A few weeks after landing at Wessagusset, Robert Gorges arrives at Plymouth, where he holds a council with leaders of the 180-strong plantation. Bradford reluctantly acknowledges the lieutenant governor’s authority, privately considering Gorges “a rash young man whose folly and distemper will bring trouble on himself and ourselves too.”

 

Plimoth Plantation Living Museum   Photo: Nancy/Wikipedia

 

The presence of Gorges isn’t nearly as provocative as that of Blaxton. William joined the expedition as assistant to Reverend William Morrell, who has an ecclesiastical commission giving him general powers of visitation over all churches in New England. Morrell is to be minister at Massachusetts Bay, while Blaxton will take charge of the pulpit at Plymouth. Sir Ferdinando Gorges, a staunch Episcopalian, expects his son to plant the seeds of the Anglican Church in New England, not only to redeem the poor silly lambs but also to corral the flock of Separatists.

Blaxton keeps silent about these plans, but on one issue he is forced to speak his mind.

Wapikicho makes a gruesome discovery at Plymouth: Impaled on a lofty pole is the bloody head of his brother, Witawamet, severed by Cut-Throats at Wessagusset six months ago and carried here in triumph.

Blaxton confronts Myles Standish, mercenary commander of Plymouth, “a man of very small stature, yet of a very hot and angry temper.” Rumors of an uprising by the Massachusett sent Standish and eight men to Weston’s plantation. They invited Witawamet and Pecksuot, two war chiefs, a third warrior and a seventeen-year-old boy to dine with them in a settler’s cabin. Without warning, Standish and his men stabbed the warriors to death. The boy they hanged in sight of his friends.

 

Purported picture of Myles Standish 1665
Memorial History of Boston
 

Standish doesn’t deny the massacre, even boasting about an indescribable number of wounds Witawamet received before he succumbed. “The bloodthirsty creatures are devoted vassals of the devil,” Standish roars at Blaxton. “I will raise the Lord’s terrible swift sword to strike them or any other enemy who threatens our peace.”

 

Imagining Boston - 11