Epenow

Epenow (also spelled Epanow) was a Nauset man from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts who was kidnapped by sailors from an English merchant ship and taken to England in the 17th century.

Being put on public display in London, Epenow eventually returned to New England by tricking his captors into thinking that he knew the location of a gold mine.

[a] The following year Shakespeare's friend, Henry Wriothesley, who had already cosponsored George Weymouth's expedition in 1605, underwrote another one under Captain Edward Harlow, although it was ostensibly to discover an island around Cape Cod.

Hawlow then ordered his crew to proceed to Capawe (Capawack or Martha's Vineyard) where they abducted two more Native Americans, including the sachem Epenow.

'"[3] Epenow's display in London is said to be the inspiration for the "strange Indian" mentioned by Shakespeare in Henry VIII:[4][5] "What should you do, but knock 'em down by the dozens?

"[8] Acquired by Gorges, Epenow was housed with another Native American captive, Assacumet, who had been abducted by Captain George Weymouth in 1605 in Maine, and with whom he could communicate with some initial difficulty.

Not trusting Epenow, Hobson made sure he was accompanied at all times by three guards, and clothed him with long garments that could be easily grabbed.

[15][16] Epenow met with visiting Captain Thomas Dermer in 1619 in a peaceful meeting on Martha's Vineyard, and laughed as he told the story of his escape from captivity.

But on Dermer's second visit in 1620, shortly before the arrival of the Mayflower, Epenow's warriors attacked the captain and his men, and took captive his traveling companion, the celebrated Squanto, before turning him over to Massasoit (the leading Wampanoag sachem).

[17][18][19][20] Native Canadian actor Eric Schweig portrayed Epenow in Disney's 1994 live action adventure drama film Squanto: A Warrior's Tale.