Editing Myles Standish (section)

===Wessagusset===
A more serious threat came from the Massachusett tribe to the north and was precipitated by the arrival of a new group of English colonists. In April 1622, the vanguard of a new colony arrived in Plymouth. They had been sent by merchant [[Thomas Weston (merchant adventurer)|Thomas Weston]] to establish a new settlement somewhere near Plymouth. The men chose a site on the shore of the [[Fore River (Massachusetts)|Fore River]] in [[Weymouth, Massachusetts]], about {{convert|25|mi|km}} north of Plymouth, and they called their colony [[Wessagusset Colony|Wessagusset]]. The settlers of the poorly managed colony infuriated the Massachusett tribe through theft and recklessness.<ref>Jenks, p. 165.</ref> By March 1623, Massasoit had learned that a group of influential Massachusett warriors intended to destroy both the Wessagusset and Plymouth colonies. He warned Plymouth to strike first. One of the colonists of Wessagusset named Phineas Pratt verified that his settlement was in danger. He managed to escape to Plymouth and reported that the colonists in Wessagusset had been repeatedly threatened by the Massachusetts, that the settlement was in a state of constant watchfulness, and that men were dying at their posts from starvation.<ref>Philbrick, p. 147.</ref>

Bradford called a public meeting at which the Pilgrims decided to send Standish and a small group of eight, including Hobbamock, to Wessagusset to kill the leaders of the plot.<ref>Jenks, p. 174.</ref> The mission had a personal aspect for Standish. One of the warriors threatening Wessagusset was Wituwamat, a Neponset who had earlier insulted and threatened Standish.<ref>Philbrick, p. 149.</ref> Standish arrived at Wessagusset and found that many of the colonists had gone to live with the Massachusetts, and he ordered them to be called back to Wessagusset. [[Pecksuot]] was a Massachusett warrior and leader of the group threatening Wessagusset; he came to the settlement with Wituwamat and other warriors the day after Standish's arrival. Standish claimed simply to be in Wessagusset on a trading mission, but Pecksuot said to Hobbamock, "Let him begin when he dare; he shall not take us unawares."<ref>Jenks, p. 175.</ref> Later in the day, Pecksuot approached Standish, looking down on him, and said, "You are a great captain, yet you are but a little man. Though I be no sachem, yet I am of great strength and courage."<ref name="Philbrick151">Philbrick, p. 151.</ref>

The next day, Standish arranged to meet with Pecksuot over a meal in one of Wessagusset's one-room houses. Pecksuot brought Wituwamat, Wituwamat's adolescent brother, and several women. Standish had three men of Plymouth and Hobbamock with him in the house. On an arranged signal, they shut the door of the house and Standish attacked Pecksuot, stabbing him repeatedly with the man's own knife.<ref name=Philbrick151/> Wituwamat and the third warrior were also killed. Standish ordered two more Massachusett warriors to be put to death, then went outside the walls of Wessagusset in search of Obtakiest, a sachem of the Massachusett tribe. They soon encountered Obtakiest with a group of warriors, and a skirmish ensued during which Obtakiest escaped.<ref>Philbrick, p. 152.</ref>

Having accomplished his mission, Standish returned to Plymouth with Wituwamat's head.<ref>Jenks, p. 178.</ref> The leaders of the plot to destroy the settlements had been killed and the threat removed, but the action had unexpected consequences. The settlement of Wessagusset, which Standish had been trying to protect, was all but abandoned after the incident. Most of the settlers departed for an English fishing post on [[Monhegan Island]]. The attack also caused widespread panic among Indian tribes throughout the region. Villages were abandoned and the Pilgrims had difficulty reviving trade for some time.<ref>Philbrick, p. 154.</ref>

Pastor John Robinson was still in Leiden, but he criticized Standish for his brutality.<ref>Jenks, p. 179.</ref> Bradford, too, was uncomfortable with his methods, but he defended him in a letter: "As for Capten Standish, we leave him to answer for him selfe, but this we must say, he is as helpfull an instrument as any we have, and as carefull of the generall good."<ref>Stratton, p. 358.</ref>