The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, Part 1 – Part 2
The firſt Remove.
Now away we muſt go with thoſe Barbarous Creatures, with our bodies wounded and bleeding, and our hearts no leſs than our bodies. About a mile we went that night, up upon a hill within ſight of the Town where they intended to lodge. There was hard by a vacant houſe (deſerted by the Engliſh before, for fear of the Indians] I asked them whither I might not lodge in the houſe that night? to which they anſwered, what will you love Engliſh men ſtill? this was the dolefulleſt night that ever my eyes ſaw. Oh the roaring, and ſinging and danceing, and yelling of thoſe black creatures in the night, which made the place a lively reſemblance of hell. And as miſerable was the waſt that was there made, of Horſes, Cuttle, Sheep, Swine, Galves, Lambs, Roaſting Pigs, and Fowls [which they bad plundered in the Town] ſome roaſting, ſome lying and burning, and ſome boyling to feed our mercileſs Enemles; who were joyfull enough though we were diſconſolate. To add to the dolefulneſs of the former day, and the diſmalneſs of the preſent night: my thoughts ran upon my loſſes and ſad bereaved condition. All was gone, my Huſband gone (at leaſt ſeparated from me, he being in the Bay; and to add to my grief, the Indians told me they would kill him as he came homeward) my Children gone, my Relations and Friends gone, our Houſe and home and all our comforts within door, and without, all was gone, (except my life) and I knew not but the next moment that might go too. There remained nothing to me but one poor wounded … and it ſeemed at preſent worſe than death that it was in ſuch a pitiful condition, beſpeaking, Compaſſion, and I had an refreſhing for it, nor ſuitable things to revive it, Little do many think what is the ſavageneſs and bruitiſhneſs of this barbarous Enemy! even thoſe that ſeem to profeſs more than others among them, when the Engliſh have fallen into their hands.
Thoſe ſeven that were killed at Lancaſter the ſummer before upon a Sabbath day, and the one that was afterward killed upon a week day, were ſtain and mangled in a barbarous manner, by one-ey'd John, and Marlborough's Praying Indians, which Capt. Moſely brought to Boſton, as the Indians told me.
The ſecond Remove.
But now, the next morning, I muſt turn my back upon the Town, and travel with them into the vaſt and iſolate Wilderneſs, I knew not whether. It is not … tongue, or pen can expreſs the ſorrows of my heart, and bitterneſs of my ſpirit, that I had at this departure: but God was with me, in a wonderfull manner, carrying me along, and bearing up my ſpirit, that it did not quite fail One of the indians carried my poor wounded Babe upon a horſe, it went moaning all along, I ſhall dy, I ſhall dy. … went on foot after it, with ſorrow that cannot be expreſt. At length I took it off the horſe, and …ed it in my armes till my ſtrength ſailed, and I fell down with it: Then they ſet me upon a horſe with my wounded Child in my lap, and there being no furnitunre upon the horſe back; as we were going down a ſteep hill, we both fell over the horſes head, at which they like inhumane creatures laught, and rejoyced to ſee it, though I thought we ſhould there have ended our dayes, as overcome with ſo many difficulties. But the Lord renewed my ſtrength ſtill, and carried me along, that I might ſee more of his Power; yea, ſo much that I could never have thought of, had I not experienced it.
After this it quickly began to ſnow, and when night came on, they ſtopt: and now down I muſt ſit in the ſnow, by a little fire, and a few boughs behind me, with my ſick Child in my lap; and calling much for water, being now (through the wound) fallen into a violent Fever. My own wound alſo growing ſo ſtiff, that I could ſcarce ſit down or riſe up; yet ſo it muſt be, that I muſt ſit all this cold winter night upon the cold ſnowy ground, with my ſick Child in my armes, looking that every hour would be the laſt of its life; and having no Chriſtian friend near me, either to comfort or help me. Oh, I may ſee the wonderfull power of God, that my Spirit did not utterly ſink under my affliction: ſtill the Lord upheld me with his gracious and mercifull Spirit, and we were both alive to ſee the light of the next morning.