Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/203

 STANZA XLVIII.

Here lies Namasket tow'rd the rising sun.

Namasket was within the limits of the territory which now constitutes the township of Middleborough, and was about fifteen miles from Plymouth.

Here farther down, Cohannet's banks upon Spreads broad Pocasset, strong Appanow's hold. The territory under that name, now forms a part of Fall River, Mass., and all, or nearly all, Tiverton, R. I. The territory south to the sea, was called Sagkonate, now written Sekonnet, or Seconnet, forming at this time the township of Little Compton. The northeasterly part of the island of Aquidnay was also called Pocasset. This word may be a derivative from the Indian name of the strait separating the island from the mainland. The name of the chieftain in the text must be received exclusively on Waban's authority. STANZA L. Two mighty chiefs, one cautious, wise, and old, One young and strong, and terrible in fight, All Narraganset and Coweset hold; One lodge they build—one council fire they light.  In a deposition of Williams, dated the 18th June, 1682, he says, that it was the general and constant declaration that the father of Canonicus had three sons—that Canonicus was his heir—that his youngest brother's son, whose name was Miantonomi, was his marshal, or executioner, and did nothing without his consent. Five thousand warriors give their arrows flight.

This is the number at which Williams estimates them. Calendar says they were a numerous, rich, and powerful people, and though they were, by some, said to have been less fierce and warlike than the Pequots, yet it appears that they had, before the English came, not only increased their numbers by receiving many who fled to them from the devouring sickness