1623-1628
Reverend Blaxton attends the Mar-re-Mount
celebration, the ancient gods holding no fears for him, classical scholar that
he is. Since his arrival, Morton has been a regular guest at Wessagusset, often
staying overnight with the reverend.
Wapilanee is at the Maypole, with Chickataubut and
Chitanawoo. Their visit marks a high point in relations between the
Massachusett and Morton, who has gone a long way toward dispelling the notion
that all Englishmen are Cut-Throats. Chitanawoo has mellowed, too, especially
touched by Blaxton’s gentle wooing of Wapilanee.
 |
| The revels at Mar-re-Mount: Image courtesy: Meet Thomas Morton |
In the midst of the revels at Mar-re-Mount, a
heinous crime is committed that shatters lives and threatens a bloodbath.
A party of sailors from the trader Prophet Daniel is at the Maypole, including Thrush, a pockmarked
brute with a cropped ear, scum of London’s Rotherhithe Wharf. When Wapilanee
and Jacques Petit go to fetch lobsters impounded in a rock pool, Thrush follows
the pair and grabs the young woman. Thirteen-year-old Jacques fights
desperately to save Wapilanee but is smashed to the ground.
Thrush drags the girl down the beach to Squantum
Head, where he rapes her. When he goes to assault Wapilanee a second time, she
breaks free and flees toward the end of the promontory. Wapilanee, loveliest of
the lasses in beaver coats, leaps to her death.
 |
| Squantum, Massachusetts Image courtesy: Meet Thomas Morton |
There is an uproar at Mar-re-Mount. Adam Trane
diffuses the crisis, swiftly mustering his warrior friends and plunging into
the wilderness after Thrush. They catch him on the long, narrow neck to Shawmut
and summarily execute him. His right hand and mutilated ear are taken as
evidence the deed is done.
No life is more shattered than Reverend Blaxton’s.
For days, William sits alone at the spot that to this time is known as Chapel
Rock, mourning a flower that was his and is now lost forever.
In May 1627, William asks Adam to perform one last
service for him. Together, they pack up the reverend’s books and other
belongings and take cuttings from apple trees in his orchard at Wessagusset. Everything
is loaded aboard a shallop that sails to the landing place at Sha-um-ut.
Blaxton settles down alone beside the sparkling spring where his nymph danced.
 |
| Frog Pond, Boston Common, 19th century - NY Public Library via Wikipedia |
No comments:
Post a Comment