Humiliations Followed with Deliverances, Appendix
APPENDIX.
A NARRATIVE of Hannah Swarton, Containing Wonderful Paſſages, relating to her Captivity, and her Deliverance.
I Was taken by the Indians, when Caſco Fort was taken, (May) 1690. My Husband being ſlain, and Four Children taken with me. The Eldeſt of my Sons they killed, about two Months after I was taken, and the reſt Scattered from me I was now left a Widow, and as Bereaved of my Children; though, I had them alive, yet it was very ſeldome that I could ſee them, and I had not Liberty to Diſcourſe with them, without Danger either of my own Life, or theirs; for our Condoling each others Condition, and ſhewing Natural Affection, was ſo diſpleaſing to our Indian Rulers, unto whoſe Share we fell, that they would threaten to kill us, if we cryed each to other, or diſcourſed much together. So that my Condition was like what the Lord threatned the Jews, in Ezek. 24.22, 23. We durſt not Mourn or Weep, in the ſight of our Enemies, leſt we loſt our own Lives. For the firſt Times while the Enemy feaſted on our Engliſh Proviſions, I might have had ſome with them: but then I was ſo filled with Sorrow and Tears, that I had little Stomach to Eat; and when my Stomach was come, our Engliſh Feed was ſpent, and the Indians wanted themſelves, and we more: So that then I was pined with want. We had no Corn, or Bread, but ſometimes Groundnuts, Ac…rns, Purſl…in, Hogweel, Weeds, Roots, and ſometimes Dogs Fleſh, but not ſufficient to ſa…i…y Hunger with theſe; having but little at a Time. We had no ſucceſs at Hun…ing; ſave that one Bear was killed, which I had part of; and a very ſmall part of a Tittle I had another time, and once an Indian gave me a piece of a Mooſes Liver, which was a ſweet Morſel to me; and Fiſh, if we could catch it. Thus I continued with them, hurried up and down the Wilderneſs, from May 20. till the middle of February; Carrying continually, a Great Burden in our Travels; and I muſt go their pace, or elſe be killed preſently; and yet was pinched with Cold, for want of Cloathing, being put by them into an Indian Dreſs, with a ſleight Blanket, no Stockings, and but one pair of Indian-Shoes, and of their Leather Stockings for the Winter: My Feet were pricked with ſharp Stones, and prickly Buſhes ſometimes; and other times Pinched with Snow, Cold, and Ice, that I travelled upon, ready to be frozen, and faint for want of Food; ſo that many times I thought I could go no further, but muſt ly down, and if they would kill me, let them kill me. Yet then, the Lord did ſo Renew my Strength, that I went on ſtill further, as my Maſter would have me, and held out with them. Though many Engliſh were taken, and I was brought to ſome of them, at times, while we were about Caſco Bay and Kennebeck River, yet at Norridgawock, we were Separated, and no Engliſh were in our Company, but one John York and my ſelf, who were both, almoſt Starved fo… want, and yet told, that if we could not hold up to travel with them, they would kill us. And accordingly, John York, growing Weak by his wants, they killed him, and threatened me with the like. One time, my Indian Miſtreſs, and I, were left alone, while the reſt went to look for Eeles; and they left us no Food from Sabbath day Morning, till the next Sature-day; ſave that we had a Bladder (of Mooſe I think) which was well filled with Maggots, and we boiled it, and drank the Broth▪ but the Bladder was ſo tough, we could not eat it. On the Saturday, I was ſent by my Miſtreſs, to that part of the Iſland, moſt likely to ſee ſome Canoo, and there to▪ make Fire and Smoke, to invite ſome Indians, if I could ſpy any, to come to Relieve us; and I eſpied a Canoo, and by Signs invited them to come to the Shore. It proved to be ſome Squaw's; who underſtanding our wants, one of them gave me a Roaſted Eel, which I eat, and it ſeemed unto me, the moſt Savoury Food, I ever taſted before. Sometimes we lived on Wortle burr…es; ſ…metimes on a kind of Wild Cherry, which grew on Buſhes; which I was ſent to gather, once in ſo bitter a Cold ſeaſon, that I was not able to bring my Fingers together, to hold them faſt: yet under all theſe Hardſhips, the Lord kept me from any Sickneſs, or ſuch Weakneſs as to diſenable me from Travelling, when they put us upon it.
My Indian Miſtreſs, was one that had been bred by the Engliſh at Black point, and now Married to a Canada Indian, & turned Papiſt; and ſhe would ſay, That had the Engliſh been as careful to instruct her in our Religion, as the French were, to inſtruct her in theirs, ſhe might have been of our Religion: and ſhe would ſay, That God delivered us into their Hands to puniſh us for our Sins; And, This I knew was true as to my ſelf. And as I deſired to conſider of all my Sins, for which the Lord did puniſh me, ſo this Lay very heavy upon my Spirit, many a Time, that I had Left the Publick Worſhip and Ordinances of God, where I formerly Lived, (viz. at Beverley) to Remove to the North part of Caſco-Bay, where there was no Church, or Miniſter of the Goſpel; and this we did, for large Accommodations in the World, thereby Expoſing our Children, to be bred Ignorantly like Indians, and our ſelves to forget what we had been formerly inſtructed in; and ſo we turned our Backs upon Gods Ordinances to get this Worlds Goods. But now, God hath ſtripped me of theſe things alſo; ſo that I muſt Juſtify the Lord, in all that has befallen me, and acknowledge that He hath puniſhed me leſs than my Iniquities deſerved. I was now Bereaved of Husband, Children, Friends, Neighbours, Houſe, Eſtate, Bread, Cloaths, or Lodging ſuitable; and my very Life did hang daily in Doubt, being continually in danger of being killed by the Indians, or pined to Death with Famine, or tired to Death with hard Travelling, or pinched with Cold, till I dyed in the Winter ſeaſon. I was ſo amazed with many Troubles, and hurried in my Spirit from one Exerciſe … …other, how to preſerve my ſelf in da… and ſupply my ſ…lt in the want that was preſent; that I had not time or leiſure ſo compoſedly to conſider of the great Concernments of my Soul, as I ſhould have done; neither had I any Bible or Good Book to look into, or Chriſtian Friend to be my Counſellor in theſe Diſtreſſes. But I may ſay, The Words of God, which I had formerly heard or read, many of them came oft into my mind, and kept me from periſhing in my Afflictions. As, when they threatned to Kill me many times, I often thought of the words of our Saviour to Pilate, Joh. 19.11. Thou couldeſt have no power at all againſt me, except it were given thee from above. I knew they had no power to kill me, but what the Lord gave them; and I had many times Hope, that the Lord would not ſuffer them to ſlay me, but deliver me out of their Hands, and in His Time, I hoped, return me to my Country again. When they told me, that my Eldeſt Son was killed by the Indians, I thought of that in Jer. 33.8. I will cleanſe them from all their Iniquities whereby they have ſinned againſt me, and I will pardon all their Iniquities. I hoped, though the Enemy had barbarouſly killed his Body, yet that the Lord had Pardoned his Sins, and that his Soul was ſafe. When I thought upon my many Troubles, I thought of Jobs complaint, chap. 14 16, 17. Thou numbrest my ſteps, and watcheſt over my Sin; my Tranſgreſſion is ſealed up in a Bag, and thou ſowest up my Iniquity. This was for my Humiliation, and put me upon Prayer to God, for His Pardoning Mercy in Chriſt; and I thought upon Davids complaint, Pſalm 13.1, 2 and uſed it in my Prayers to the Lord; How Long wilt thou forget me, O Lord for ever! How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long ſhall I take counſel in my Soul, having ſorrow in my Heart! How long ſhall my Enemy be Exalted over me? I ſometimes bemoaned my ſelf, as Job; chap. 19.9, 10. He hath ſtripped me of my Glory, and taken my Crown from my Head; He hath deſtroyed me, on every ſide, and I am gone, and my Hope hath he removed like a Tree. Yet ſometimes Encouraged from Job 22.27. Thou ſhalt make thy Prayer to him, and He ſhall hear thee, and thou ſhalt pay thy Vows. I made my Vows to the Lord, that I would give up my ſelf to Him, if He would accept me in Jeſus Chriſt, and pardon my Sins; and I deſired and endeavoured to Pay my Vows unto the Lord. I Pray'd to Him, Remember not against me the Sins of my Youth; and I beſought Him, Judge me, O God, and plead my cauſe against an Ungodly Nation; deliver me from the Deceitful and Unjust man: Why go I mourning becauſe of the Oppreſſion of the Enemy? And by many other Scriptures, that were brought to my Remembrance, was I inſtructed, directed and comforted.
I Travelled over ſteep and hideous Mountains one while, and another while over Swamps and Thickets of Fallen Trees, lying one, two, three foot from the ground, which I have ſtepped on, from one to another, nigh a thouſand in a day; carrying a great Burden on my Back. Yet I dreaded going to Canada, to the French, for fear leſt I ſhould be overcome by them, to yield to their Religion; which I had Vowed unto God, That I would not do. But the Extremity of my Sufferings were ſuch, that at length I was willing to go, to preſerve my Life. And after many weary Journeys, through Froſt and Snow, we came to Canada, about the middle of February, 1690. and Travelling over the River, my Maſter pitch'd his Wigwam in ſight of ſome French Houſes Weſtward of us, and then ſent me to thoſe Houſes to beg Victuals for them: which I did, and found the French very kind to me, giving me Beef, and Pork, and Bread, which I had been without, near nine months before; ſo that now, I found a great Change as to Diet. But the Snow being knee deep, and my Legs and Hams very ſore, I found it very tedious to Travel; and my ſores bled, ſo that as I Travelled, I might be Tracked by my Blood, that I left behind me on the Snow. I asked leave to ſtay all Night with the French, when I went to beg again; which my Maſter conſented unto, and ſent me Eaſtward, to Houſes, which were toward Quebeck, (though then I knew it not:) So, having begge… Proviſions a… a French Houſe, and it being ma… night, after I was Re…reſh…d my ſ…l, and had Food to ca…ry to the In…i…s, I ſign ſied, as well as I could make the French Woman underſtand, That I d…ſir…d to ſtay by her Fire, that Night. Whereupon ſhe laid a good Bed on the Floor, and good Coverings for me, and there I Lodged comfortably; and the next Mornin… ▪ when I had breakfaſted with the Family, and the men kind were gone abroad, as I was about to go to my Indian Maſter, the French Woman ſtept out, and left me alone in her Houſe; and I then ſtaid her Return, to give her thanks for her kindneſs; and while I waited, came in two men, and one of them ſpake to me in Engliſh, I am glad to ſee you Country woman! This was exceedingly Reviving, to hear the voice of an Engliſh man; and upon Enquiry, I found, he was an Engliſh man, taken at the North West Paſſage; and the other was a French Ordinary Keeper. After ſome Diſcourſe he asked me to go with him to Quebeck, which he told me, was about four miles off: I anſwered, my Indian Maſter might kill me for it, when I went back. Then, after ſome Diſcourſe in French, with his Fellow Traveller, he ſaid; This French man Engaged, that if I would go with them, he would keep me, from Returning to the Indians, and I ſhould be Ranſomed: and my French Hoſteſs being now Returned in a doors, perſwaded me to go with 'em to Quebeck; which I did, and was conveyed unto the Houſe of the Lord Intendant, Monſieur Le Tonant, who was Chief Judge, and the Second to the Governour; and I was kindly Entertained by the Lady, and had French Cloaths given me, with good Diet and Lodging, & was carried thence unto the Hoſpital; where I was Phyſicked and Blooded, and very courteouſly provided for. And ſome time after, my Indian Maſter and Miſtr…ſs coming for me, the Lady Intendant paid a Ranſome for me, and I became her Serv…nt. And I muſt ſpeak it to the Honour of the French, they were exceeding kind to me at firſt, even as kind as I could expect to find the Engliſh: ſo that I wanted nothing for my Bodily Comfort, which they could help me unto.
Here was a great and comfortable Change, as to my Outward man, in my Freedom from my former Hardſhips, and Hard hearted Oppreſſors. But here began a greater Snare and Trouble to my Soul and Danger to my Inward man. For the Lady my Miſtreſs, the Nuns, the Prieſts, Friars, and the reſt, ſet upon me, with all the ſtrength of Argument they could, from Scripture, as they interpreted it, to perſwade me to Turn Papiſt; which they preſſed with very much Zeal, Love, Intreaties, and Promiſes, if I would Turn to them, and with many Threatnings, and ſometimes Hard Uſages, becauſe I did not Turn to their Religion. Yea, ſometimes the Papiſts, becauſe I would not Turn to them, Threatned to ſend me to France, and there I ſhould be Burned, becauſe I would not Turn to them. Then was I comforted from that in 2 Cor. 1.8, 9, 10. We were preſſed out of meaſure, above ſtrength, inſomuch that we deſpaired even of Life; but we had the ſentence of Death in our ſelves, that we ſhould not truſt in our ſelves, but in God, who raiſes the Dead; who delivered us from ſo great a Death, and doth deliver; in whom we truſt that He will yet deliver us. I knew, God was Able to deliver me, as He did Paul, and as He did the Three Children out of the Fiery Furnace; and I believed, He would either Deliver me from them, or Fitt me for what He called me to ſuffer, for His Sake and Name. For their Praying to Angels, they brought the Hiſtory of the Angel, that was ſent to the Virgin Mary, in the Firſt of Luke. I anſwered them, from Rev. 19.10. and 22.9. They brought Exod 17.11. of Iſraels prevailing, while Moſes held up his Hands. I told them, we muſt come to God only by Chriſt, Joh. 6 37, 44. For Purgatory, they brought Mat. 5.25. I told them, To agree with God while here on Earth, was, to Agree with our Adverſary in the way; and if we did not, we ſhould be Caſt into Hell, and ſhould not come out until we Paid the utmoſt Farthing, which could never be paid. But its bootleſs for me a poor Woman, to acquaint the World, with what Arguments I uſed, if I could now Remember them; and many of them are ſlipt out of my memory.
I ſhall proceed to Relate, what Trials I met with, in theſe Things. I was put upon it, either to ſtand to the Religion I was brought up in, and believed in my Conſcience to be True; or to Turn to another, which I believed was not Right. And I was kept from Turning, by that Scripture, Mat. 10.32, 33. Whoſoever ſhall confeſs me before men, him will I confeſs before my Father which is in Heaven, and whoſoever denies me before men, him alſo will I deny before my Father which is in Heaven. I thought that if I ſhould Deny the Truth, and own their Religion, I ſhould Deny Chriſt. Yet upon their perſwaſions, I went to ſee, and be preſent at their Worſhip, ſometimes: but never to Receive their Sacrament. And once, when I was at their Worſhip, that Scripture, 2 Cor. 6.14. to the end, came into my mind: What Communion hath Light with Darkneſs! What Concord hath Chriſt with Be…l! What part hath he that believeth with an …ſidel? and what Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye Separate, and touch not the Unclean Thing, and I will Receive you, and I will be a Father to you, and you ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty. This Scripture was ſo ſtrong, upon my Spi…it, that I thought I was out of my way to be preſent at their id…latrous Worſhip, and I Reſolved never to come unto it again. But when the time drew nigh that I was to go again, I was ſo Reſtleſs that Night, that I could not ſleep; thinking, what I ſhould ſay to them when they urged me to go again, and what I ſhould Do. And ſo it was in the morning, that a French woman of my Acquaintance, told me, if I would not be of Their Religion, I did but mock at it, to go to their Worſhip, and therefore bid me, That if I would not be of their Religion, I ſhould go no more. I anſwered her, That I would not be of their Religion, and I would go no more to their Worſhip: and accordingly, I never went more, and they did not force me to it.
I have had many Conflicts in my own Spirit; fearing that I was not truely Converted unto God in Chriſt, and that I had no Saving Intereſt in Chriſt I could not be of a Falſe Religion, to pleaſe men; for it was againſt my Conſcience: And I was not fit to ſuffer for the True Religion, and for Chriſt; for I then feared, I had no Intereſt in Him. I was neither fit to Live, nor f… to Dye; and brought once to the very pit of Deſpair, about what would become of my Soul In this Time I h…d gotten an Engliſh Bible, and other Good Books, by the Help of my Fellow Captives. I Looked over the Scripture, and ſettled on the Prayer of Jonah, and thoſe Words, I ſaid, I am caſt out of thy ſight, yet will I Look again towards thy Holy Temple. I Reſolved, I would do as Jonah did: And in the Meditation upon this Scripture, the Lord was pleaſed, by His Spirit, to come into my Soul, and ſo fill me with Raviſhing Comfort, that I cannot Expreſs it. Then came to mind, the Hiſtory of the Transfiguring of Chriſt, and Peters ſaying, Math. 17.4. Lord, It is Good for us to be here! I thought, it was Good for me to be here; and I was ſo full of Comfort and Joy, I even Wiſhed I could be ſo alwayes, and never ſleep; or elſe Dy in that Rapture of Joy, and never Live to Sin any more againſt the Lord. Now I thought God was my God, and my Sins were pardoned in Chriſt; and now I thought, I could Suffer for Chriſt, yea, Dye for Chriſt, or do any thing for Him. My Sins had been a Burden to me: I deſired to ſee all my Sins, and to Repent of them all, with all my Heart, and of that Sin which had been eſpecially a Burden to me, namely, That I Left the Publick Worſhip and Ordinances of God, to go to Live in a Remote Place, without the Publick Miniſtry; depriving our ſelves & our Children, of ſo great a Benefit for our Souls, and all this, for Worldly advantages. I found an Heart to Repent of them all; and to lay hold of the Blood of Chriſt, to cleanſe me from them all.
I found much Comfort, while I was among the French, by the Opportunities I had ſometimes to Read the Scriptures, and other. Good Books, and Pray to the Lord in Secret; and the Conference that ſome of us Captives had together, about things of God, and Prayer together ſometimes; eſpecially, with one that was in the ſame Houſe with me, Margaret Stilſon Then was the Word of God precious to us, and they that feared the LORD, ſpake one to another of it, as we had Opportunity. And Coloned Tyng, and Mr. Alden, as they were permitted, did ſpeak to us, to Conf…m and Strengthen us, in the wayes of the Lord. At length, the French debatr'd our coming together, for Religious Conference, or other Duties: And Word was ſent us, by Mr. Alden, That this was one kind of Perſecution, that we muſt ſuffer for Chriſt.
Theſe are ſome of the Scriptures, which have been my Support and Comfort, in the Affliction of my Captivity, among the Papiſts. That in Ezek. 16.6.— 8. I applyed unto my ſelf; and I deſired to Enter into Covenant with God, and to be His; And I Prayed to the Lord, and Hoped the Lord would Return me to my Country again, That I might Enter into Covenant with Him, among His People, and Enjoy Communion with Him, in His Churches, and Publick Ordinances. Which Prayers the Lord hath now heard, and graciouſly Anſwered; Praiſed be His Name! The Lord Enable me to Live ſuitably unto His Mercy, and to thoſe Publick and Precious Priviledges, which I now Enjoy. So, That in Ezek 11.16, 17. was a Great Comfort unto me, in my Captivity; Although, I have caſt them far off among the Heathen, yet will I be a little Sanctuary to them; — I will gather you from the People,— where you have been Scattered. I found, that God was a Little Sanctuary to me there, and hoped, that the Lord would bring me to the Country from whence I had been Scattered. And the Lord hath heard the Prayer of the Destitute, and not deſpiſed my Prayer, but granted me the Deſire of my Soul, in bringing me to His Houſe, and my Relations again. I often thought on the Hiſtory of the man Born Blind; of whom Chriſt, when His Diſciples asked, Whether this man had Sinned, or his Parents? anſwered, Neither this man, nor his Parents; but this was, that the works of God might be made manifeſt in him. So, tho' I had deſerved all this, yet I knew not, but one Reaſon, of Gods bringing all theſe Afflictions and Miſeries upon me, and then Enabling me to bear them, was, That the Works of God might be made manifeſt. And in my Great Diſtreſs, I was Revived by that, in Pſal 118.17, 18. I ſhall not Dy but Live, and Declare the works of the Lord: The Lord hath chasten'd … ſore, but He hath not given me over to Death. I had very often, a ſecret perſwaſion, That I ſhould Live to Declare the Works of the Lord. And, 2 Chron. 6.36, 37, 38, 39. was a precious Scripture to me, in the Day of Evil. We have Read over, and Pray'd over, this Scripture together, and Talk'd together of this Scripture, Margaret and I; How the Lord hath Promiſed, Though they were Scattered for their Sins, yet there ſhould be a Return, if they did Bethink themſelves, and Turn, and Pray. So we did Bethink our ſelves in the Land where we were Garried Captive, did Turn, did Pray, and Endeavour to Return to God with all our Hearts: And, as they were to Pray towards the Temple, I took it, that I ſhould Pray towards Chriſt; and accordingly did ſo, and hoped the Lord would Hear, and He hath Heard from Heaven, His Dwelling Place, my Prayer and Supplication, and mentained my Cauſe, and not Rejected me, but Returned me. And Oh! how affectionate was my Reading of the Eighty Fourth Pſalm in this Condition.
The means of my Deliverance, were by reaſon of Letters that had paſſ…d between the Governments of New-England and of Canada. Mr. Cary was ſent with a Veſſel, to fetch Captives from Quebeck, and when he came, I among others, with my youngeſt Son, had our Liberty to come away: And by Gods Bleſſing upon us, we Arrived in Safety, at Boſton, in November, 1695. our Deſired Haven. And I deſire to Praiſe the Lord for His Goodneſs, and for His Wonderful Works to me. Yet ſtill I have left behind, Two Children, a Daughter of Twenty Years old, at Mont Royal, whom I had not ſeen in Two years before I came away; and a Son of Nineteen years old, whom I never ſaw ſince we parted, the next morning after we were taken. I earneſtly Requeſt the Prayers of my Chriſtian Friends, that the Lord will deliver them.
What ſhall I render to the Lord for all His Benefits?
FINIS.
End of the text · Cotton Mather, Humiliations Followed with Deliverances (1697)