Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England, Narrative 1 · Floating text 3

Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England · Narrative 1 · Floating text 3

p. 21ARticles, Covenants and Agreements had, made and concluded by and b…tween Major Thomas Savage, Captain Edward Hutchinson, and Mr. Joseph Dudley, in behalf of the Goverment of the Massachusets Colony, and Major Wait Winthrop and Mr. Richard Smith on behalf of Connect…cut Colony on the one party, and Agamaug, Wompsh, alias Corman, Taitson, Tawageson Councellors and Attournies to Canonicus, Ninigret, Matataog, old Queen Quaiapen, Quananshit & Pomham the six present Sachims of the whole Narhaganset Country on the other party, referring to several diff…rences and troubles lately risen between them; and for a final conclusion of settled Peace and Amity between the said Sachims, their Heirs and Successors for ever, and the Governours of the said Mass…chusets and Connecticot, and their Successors in the said Goverments for ever.

I. That all and every of the said Sachims shall from time to time carefully seize, and living or dead deliver unto one or other of the abovesaid Goverments, all and every of Sachim Philips Subjects whatsoever, that shall come p. 22or be found within the precincts of any of their Lands, and that with greatest diligence and faithfulness.

II. That they shall with their utmost ability use all Acts of Hostility against the said Philip & his Subjects, entring his Lands or any other Lands of the E…g…sh to ki…land d…stroy the said Enemy, until a cess…tion from War with the said Enemy be concluded by both the abovesaid Colonies.

III. That the said Sachims, by themselves and their Ag…nts, shall careful…y search out and deliver all stoln goods whatsoever taken by any of th…ir Subjects from any of the English, whether formerly or lately, and shall make full satisfaction for all wrongs or injuries done to the Estate of any of the Subjects of the several Colonies, according to the judgement of in…ifferent men, in case of dissatisfaction between the Offenders and the off…nded Parties, or deliver the offenders.

IV. That all Preparations for War, or Acts of Hostility against any of the English Subjects, shall for ever for the future cease; together with all manner of Thefts, Pilferings, killing of Cattle, or any manner of breach of p…ace whatsoever shall with utmost care be prevented, & instead thereof their strength to be used as a Guard round about the Narraganset Country, for the English Inhabitants safety and security.

V. In token of the abovesaid Sachims reality in this Treaty and Conclusion, and for the security of the several English Goverments and Subjects, they do freely deliver unto the abovesaid Gentlemen, in the b…half of the abovesaid Colonies, John Wobequob, Weowchim, Pewkes, We…new, four of their near Kinsmen and choice Friends to be and remain as Hostages in several places of the English Iuris…ictions, at the appointment of the Honourable Governours of the abovesaid Colonies, there to be civi…ly treated not as Prisoners, but otherwise at their Honours Discr…tion, un…il the abovesaid Articles, are fully accomplished to the satisfaction of the several Goverments, the departure of any of them in the mean time to be accounted breach of the Peace, and of these present Articles.

VI. The said Gentlemen in the behalf of the Goverments to which th…y do belong, do engage to every the said Sachims and their Subjects▪ … or any of them shall seize and bring into either the abovesaid English Goverments, or to Mr. Smith Inhabitants of Narhaganset, Philip Sachim alive, he or they so delivering, shall receive for th… pains, forty …rucki…g cloa…h Coats, in case they bring his Head they shall have twenty like good Coats paid them: for every living Subject of said Philip… so delivered, the deliverer shall receive two Coats, and for every Head one Coat, as a Gratuity for their service herein, making it appear to satisfaction, that the Heads or Persons are belonging to the Enemy, and that they are of their seizure,

p. 23VII. Thesaid Sachims do renew and confi…m unto the English Inhabitants or others, all former Graunts, Sales, Bargains or Conv…yances of Lands, Meadows, Timber, Grass, Stones, or whatever else the English have heretofore bought or qui…tly possessed and enjoyed▪ to be unto them, and their Heirs, and Assigns for ever; as also all former Articles made with the Confederate Colonies.

Lastly, The said Counsellors and Attorneys do premeditately, seriously, and upon good advice, Covenant, Conclude and Agr…e all abovesaid solemnly, and call God to witness they are, and shall remain true Friends to the English Goverments, and perform the abovesaid Articles punctually, using their utmost endeavour, care and faithfulness therein:

In witness whereof they have set their Hands and Seals. Petaquanscot Iuly 15. 1675. Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us underwritten, being carefully Interpreted to the said Indians before Sealing.

Daniel Henchman.

Thomas Prentice.

Nicholas Paige.

Ioseph Stanton Interpreter.

Henry Hanlaws.

Picue B…kow.

Iob N…ff.

Tawageson his mark C.

Taytson his mark D.

Agamaug his mark T.

Wampsh, alias Corman his mark. X.

During this Treaty of Peace with the Narhagansets, Captain Cudworth with the Forces of Plimouth under his Command, found something to do nearer home, though of another nature as it proved, sc. to make War whilst the other were (as they thought) making peace: in the first place therefore he dispatched Captain Fuller) joyning Lieutenant Church together with him in Commission) with fifty in his Compa…y to P…c…ss…t, on the same account, as the other went to Narhaganset… eit…er to conclude a Peace with them, if they would continue Friends and give Hostages for the confirmation thereof, or fight them if they should declare themselves Enemies, and joyn with Philip; himself intending to draw down his Forces to Rehoboth, to be ready for a speedy March to Tau…ton, and so down into the other side of the Country upon the news that some of the Enemy were burning and spoiling o… Middleburrough and Dartmouth, two small villages lying in the way p. 24betwix… P…cass…t and Plimouth. Upon thursday Iuly 7. Captain Fuller with Cap…ain Ch…rch wen… into Pocasset to seek after the Enemy, or else as occ…sion … serve, to treat with those Indians at Pocasset, with whom Mr. Church was very well acquainted, alwayes holding good correspondence with them: After they had spent that day and most of the night, in traversing the said Pocasset Neck, and Watching all night in an House which they found there, yet could head no tidings of any Indians; insom…ch that Captain Fuller began to be weary of his design: Mr. Church in the mean while ass…ring him that they should finde Indians before it were long: yet for greater expedition they divided their Company, Captain Fuller taking down toward the Sea-side, where it seems after some little skirmishing with them, wherein one man only received a small Wound, he either saw or heard too many Indians for himself and his Company to deal with, which m…de him and them betake themselves to an House near the Water-side, from whence they were fetched off by a Sloop before night to Road Island. Captain Church (for so may he well be stiled after this time) marched further into the Neck, imag…ning that if there were Indians in the Neck, they should finde them about a peas-field not farr off: as soon as ever they came near the said field he espyed two Indians in the pease, who also had at the same time espyed him, and presently making some kind of shout, a great number of Indians came about the field, pursuing the said Capt. Church and his men in great numbers to the sea side: there being … above fifteen with Church, yet seven or eight score of the Indians pursuing after them. Now was a fit time for this young Captain and his small Company to handsel their valour upon this great rout of Indians, just ready to devo… them: But victory stands no more in the number of Soulders, then Verity in the plurality of voyces: And although some of these fifteen had scarce courage enough for themselves, yet their Captain had enough for himself, and some to spare for his friends, which he there had an opportunity of improving to the full. When he saw the hearts of any of his followers to fail, he would bid them be of good Courage and fight stoutly, and (possibly by some divine impression upon his heart) assured them not a bullet of the enemy should hurt any one of them; which one of the Company, more dismayed then the rest, could hardly believe, till he saw the proof of it in his own person, for the Captain perceiving the man was not able to fight, made him gather Rocks together for a kind of shelter and Baricado: for the rest, that must either of necessity fight or fall by the enemyes. It chanced as this faint-hearted souldier had a flat stone in his armes, and was carying it to the shelter that he was making p. 25upon the Bank, a bullet of the Enemy was thus warded from his Body by which he must else have perished, which experience put new life into him, so as he followed his business very ma…fully afterward, insomuch that they defended themselves under small defence hastily made up all that afternoon, not one being either sl…in or wounded, yet it was certainly known that they killed at least fifteen of their Enemies: and at the last, when they had spent all their Amunition, and made their Guns unserviceable by often fiting, they were fetched all off by Capt. Goldings Sloop, and carried safe to Road-Island in despight of all their Enemies; yea, such was the bold and undaunted courage of this Champion Capt. Church, that he was not willing to leave any token behind of their flying for want of courage, that in the face of his Enemies he went back to fetch his Hat, which he had left at a Spring, whether the extream heat of the weather, and his labou… in fighting had caused him to repair for the quenching of his thirst an hour or two before. It seems in the former part of the same day, five men coming from Road-Island, to look up their Cattle upon Pocasset Neck, were assaulted by the same Indians, and one of the five was Capt. Churches Servant, who had his Leg broke in the Skirmish, the rest hardly escaping with their lives: this was the first time that ever any mischief was done by the Indians upon Pocasset Neck. Those of Road-Island were hereby Alarmed to look to themselves, as well as the re…t of the English of Plimouth, or the Massaehusets Colony.

This Ass…ult rather heightened and increased then daunted the courage of Capt. Church; for not making a cowardly flight, but a fair retreat, which providence offered him by the Sloop aforesaid, after his Amunition was spent, he did not stay long at Road Island, but hasted over to the Mattachuset Forces, and borrowing three files of Men of Capt. Henchman with his Lieutenant: Mr. Church and he returned again to Pocasset, where they had another skirmish with the Enemy, wherein some few of them fourteen or fifteen were slain, which struck such a terror into Philip, that he be …ook himself to the Swamps about Pocasset, where he lay hid till the return of the rest of the Forces from the Narhagansets, like a wild Boar kept at a Bay by this small party till more hands came up.

Thus were the Plimouth Forces busied, during the time of the Treaty with the Narhagansets, which being issued as it was.

On Friday Iuly 15. Our Forces Marched for, and araived at Rekoboth where having no intelligence of the Enemy nearer then a great Swamp on Pocasset, eighteen miles from Taunton; they marched next day twelve miles to an House at Matapoiset (a small Neck of Land in the bottome p. 26of Taunton Bay, in the mid-way between Mount-hope and Pocasset Neck) from whence they marched for Taunton. Iuly 17. whither after a tedious March of twenty miles they came in the evening, and found the People generally gathered into eight Garison Houses:

On Monday Iuly 18. they Marched eighteen miles before they could reach the Swamp where the Enemy was lodged, as soon as ever they came to the place, Plimouth Forces being now joyned with them, ou… Souldiers resolutely entred in amongst the Enemes, who took the advantage of the thick under-wood, to make a shot at them that first entred whereby five were killed outright, seven more wounded, some of whose wounds proved mortal: After the first shot, the Enemy presently retired deeper into the Swamp, d…serting their W…gwams (about an hundred in all) newly made of green Barks, so as they would not burn: in one of them they found an old man, who confessed that Philip had been lately there; having spent some time in searching the Swamp, and tired themselves to no purpose, yet it was said one half hour more would have at that time utterly subdued Philip and all his power. The Commander in chief, (night drawing on apace) not thinking it safe to tarry longer in so dangerous a place, (where every one was in as much danger of his fellows as of his foes, being ready to fire upon every Bush they see move (supposing Indians were there) ordered a Retreat to be founded, that they m…ght have time to dispose of their dead and wounded men, which accordingly was attended: Plimouth Forces who had entred in the rear, retreating in the front. It was judged that the Enemy being by this means brought into a Pound, it would be no hard matter to deal with them, and that it would be needless charge to keep so many Companies of Souldiers together to wait upon such an inconsiderable Enemy, now almost as good as taken: whereupon most of the Companies belonging to the Massachusets were drawn off▪ only Capt. Henchman with an hundred Foot being left there, together with Plimouth Forces, to attend the Enemies motion, being judged sufficient for that end. Ma…or Savage, Capt. Paige with Capt. Mosely and their Companies returned to Boston: Capt. Prentice with his Troop were ordered toward Mendham, where it seems, about the middle of Iuly, some Indians, wishing well to …ilips design, had made an assault upon some of the Inhabitants, as they were at their labour in the Field, killing five or six of them: as soon as they had done, … away into the Woods, so as they co…ld not easily …: The Inhabi…a…ts of the some Village, lying so in the heart of the Enemies Country beg…n to be discouraged, so as within a little time after they forsook the place, abandoning their Houses to the …ury of p. 27the enemy, which by them were soon after turned into ashes. But to return to king Philip, who was now lodged in the great swampe upon Pocasset Neck, of seven miles long: Capt. Henchman and the Plimouth Forces kept a diligent eye upon the enemy, but were not willing to run into the mire and dirt after them in a dark Swamp being taught by late experience how dangerous it is to fight in such dismal Woods, when their eyes were muffled with the leaves, and their heads pinnioned with the thick boughs of the trees, as their feet were continually shackled with the roots spreading every way in those boggy Woods. It is ill fighting with a wilde Beast in his own den. They resolved therefore to starve them out of the Swamp, where they knew full well they could not long subsi…t: To that end they began to build a Fort, as it were to beleaguer the enemy, and prevent his escape out of the place, where they thought they had him fast enough. Philip in the mean time was not ignorant of what was doing without, and was ready therein to read his own doome. so as if he tarryed much longer there, he knew he should fall into their hands from whom he could expect no mercy: The c…se being therefore desperate, he resolved with an hundred or two of his best fighting men to make an escape by the Water, all passages by the land being sufficiently guarded by the English Forces. The Swampe where they were lodged be…g not far from an arm of the Sea, coming up to Taunton, they taking the advantage of a low tide, either wa…ed over one night in the end of Iuly, or else wafted themselves over upon small R…tes of timber very early before break of day, by which meanes the greatest part of his Company escaped away into the woods, leading into … Nipm…ck Country, …together unknown to the English Forces, that lay encamped on the other side of the Swamp. About an hundred or more of the women and Children, which were like to be rather burdensome then serviceable were left behind, who soon after resigned up themselves to the mercy of the English. Philips escape thus from Pocass…t could not long be concealed after the day appeared, there being much champaign Lard through which he was to p…ss, so as being discovered to some of R…hoboth, the Inhabitants presently followed him, together with a Party of the Mohegins (…hat a little before come to Boston, off ring their Service against Philip, and were sent up into those parts to be …dered by Capt. Henchman but be o…e they came to him were easily perswaded to go along with any of the English that were …g…ged in the pursuit of Philip) News also thereof was carryed to Capt. Henchman, who as soon as he could get over with six files of men (rowing hard all or most part of the day to get to Providence) followed after the enemy. p. 28The Mohegins with the men of Rehoboth, and some of Providence came upon their Reer over nigh…, H…w about thirty of them, took much plund…r from them, without any co…side…able … to the English. Capt. Henchman came not up to them (pursuing them only by the Track) till the Skirmish was over, and having marched twenty two miles that day was not well able to go any further that night; on the other hand, the Fo…ces that came from Rehoboth and that belonged to Plimouth, having left their horses three miles off could not goe back to fetch them without … of time, and therefore looking at it altogether bootless to go after them in the morning, returned back the next day, leaving Capt Henchman with his six Files, and the Mohegins to pursue the Chase to Nips…tchet, which he d…d the next morning. Capt. Henchman, that he might the better engage the Mohegins to march with him thirty miles gave them half his p…ovision, and was himse…f recruited again by the care of Capt. Edmunds of Providence, & Leiutenant Brown, who brought provision after him to the Nipmuck Forts. Mr. Newman the Mini…ter of Rehoboth deserved not a little Commendation for exciting his neighbours and friends to pursue thus far after Philip▪ animating of them by his own example and presence: But w…at the reason was why Philip was followed no further, it is better to suspend, then too critically to enquire. This is now the third time when a good opportunity of supp…essing the Rebelion of the Indians, was put into the hands of the English; but time and chance hapneth to all men, so that the most likely meanes are often frustrated of their desired end. All humane endeavours shall arive at no other success, then the Counsel of God hath preordained, that no flesh might glory in their own Wisdome, but give unto God the praise of all their Successes, and quietly bear whatever Miscariages he hath ordered to befall them. It appears by the issue of these things, that although this wound was not incurable, yet much more bloud must be taken away before it could be healed. But by this means Philip escaped away to the Westward, kindling the flame of Warre in all the Western plantations of the Massachusets Colony wherever he came, so that by this fatal accident, the fire that was in a likely way to be extinguished, as soon almost as it began, did on the sudden break out through the whole Jurisdiction of the Massachusets, both Eastward and Westward, endangering also the neighbour Colony of Connecticut. Which hath also suffered somewhat by the …ury of this Flame, though not considerable to what the other Colonyes have undergone.

While things after this manner proceeded in and about the Colony of Plimouth, the Commissioners of the rest of the Colonyes were consulting p. 29and advising what was to be done for preventing the mischief threatned from spreading any further, fearing (as indeed there was too much cause) that although Philip only appeared to make the first attempt yet more either already were, or soon might be be perswaded to joyn with him in acting this b…oudy Tragedy.

It hath been already declared what hath been done for the securing of the Narhagansets; those that were sent as Messengers on that errand, alwayes reported that the elder people were in appearance, not only inclinable to peace, but seemed very desirous thereof, insomuch as their two eldest Sachems expressed much joy when it was concluded; but as since hath appeared, all this was but to gain time, and cover their treacherous intents and purposes, that they might in the next Spring fall upon the English plantations all at once, as some prisoners lately brought in have owned and confessed; not have any of those Indians with whom the present War hath been, ever regarded any agreements of peace made with the English, further then out of necessity and …lavish fear they were compelled thereunto, as may be seen by the Records of the united Colonyes from the year 1643 to the present time, notwithstanding all their fair pretences; for Ninigret, the old Sachem of the Narhagansets, who alone of all the rest of that Country Sachems disowned the present war, and refused to have any hand therein, yet was it proved to his face bebe…ore the Commissioners, in the years 1646 and 1647, that he had threatned they would carry on the war against the Mohegins, whatever were the mind of the Commissioners, and that they would kill the English Cattle, and heap them up as high as their Wigwams, and that an English man should not stir out of his doors to piss, but they would kill him; all which he could not deny; yet did this old Fox make many promises of peace; when the dread of the English ever since the Pequod-war moved him thereunto; foreseeing as he is said to have told his neighbours, that they would all be ruined if they made War with the English, as is since come to pass. However the good hand of God was seen in so ordering things, that the Narhagansets were for the present restrained from breaking out into open Ho…tili…y against the English, at that time when Philip began▪ which if they had then done, according to the eye of reason, it would have been very difficult, i… possible for the English to have saved any of their inland plantations from being utterly destroyed. Thus hath God in his Wisdome suffered so much of the rage of the Heathen to be let loose against his people here, as to become a Scourge unto them, that by the wrath of men, praise might be yeilded to his holy Name, y…t hath he in his abundant goodness restrained the remainder that it should not consume.

p. 30The next thing in order to be related, is the calamity that befel the Village of Brookfi…ld, which notwithstanding all the care that was taken, fell into the hands of the perfideous Nipuet Indians, as shall here in the nex… place be declared; only as we pass along to remind the Reader in a few words, what wa… the issue of Capt. Henchmans pursu…t of Philip: the Plimouth Forces being returned home, as was said before, Cap. Henchman with his six Files of men, and the Mohegin Indians, having continued in the pursuit of Philip till they had spent all their provision, and i…ed themselves, yet never coming within sight of Philip; the Mohegin Indians in their Company directed them to Mendham, and then leaving them, returned also to their own Country. Capt. Henchman in his march toward Mendham, or at Mendham, met with Capt. M…sely coming up to bring him Provision, and advertizing him of what succ…ss he had met withal in the pursuit; they attend their cou…se, for Cap…a…n Henchman was sent down to the Governour and Council, to know what they should do: they presen…ly reminded him to Pocasset, and ordered him to stay there if there were need, or else to draw off▪ surrendring the Fort he had been building to Plimouth Forces, which last was chosen by those of Plimouth, whereupon Capt. Henchman returning to Boston, was ordered to disband his men. Capt. M…sely was ordered to march to Q…abaog or Brookfield, where he continued a while, the other Captains sent up for the relief of the people the…e, and to s…ek after the Enemy in those Woods, and after sometime spent in rang…g the Country the eabou…s, and not meeting with any of the Infidels, he with his Company came downwards, searching the Woods betwix… Lancaster (where a Man and his W…fe with two Children were slain on the Lords-day. Aug. 22.) and Malberough, where also a Lad keeping Sheep, was shot at by an Indian that wore a sign, as if he had been a Friend: the Indian was sup…osed to belong to the Hassanemesit Indians, at that time confined to M…lberoug…, where they had liberty to dwell there in a kind of a Fort: The next day the Inhabitan…s sent to demand their Guns, Capt. Mosely acquainted therewith, marched to the Fort and found much suspition against eleven of them, for singing and dancing, and having Ballets a…d Slugs, and much Po…der hid in thei Baskets; insomuch that eleven of them were sent down Prisoners to B…ston upon suspition, that they had an hand in killing the fou… at Lancaster, and shooting at the M…lb…rough Shepherd: But upon T…yal, the said Prisoners were all of them qui…ed from the Fast and were ei…ther released, or else were with others of that so…, sent for better securi…y▪ and for preventing future trouble in the like kind to some of the Islands below Boston toward Nantasket.

p. 31About this time Capt. Mosely was sent with a Company of Souldiers to some Indian Plantations up M…rri…ack River, as high as Penny-…ook; but they found no Indians there; thos… that belonged to the pl…ce having withdrawn themselves from that N…ive place, that they might, no… meddle in the presence quarrel, as is confidently believed that Woonalans… the Sachim of that Country had so resolved. That Coast being clear of the Enemies, Capt. Mosely soon after was sent up with his Men to the Towns Westward about Ha…ly, if it might be, to subdue the Enemy, who a little before▪ and at that time, was doing all the mischief he could in those We…tern P…antations, both by Fire and Sword.

But to return and pursue the Rebellious Indians, and keep pace with them in our History, though our Forces as yet could never overtake them in the Woods. The Governour and Council of the Mass…chusets were sensible of as much danger from the Nipnet Indians, as from the former: they being the Inland part of the Country betwixt the Seacoast and Connecticut River Westward, and the Towns about the Massachusets Bay Eastward, whereupon some persons that used to Trade with the said Nipnets, were sent to found them, and find how they stood affected, for which also there was the more reason, because they were alwayes in subject on to the Sachim of Mount-Hop; and so w…e the mo…e like to engage in the present quarrel; of which there had been sufficient proof already: when on the 14. of Iuly, some of the Nipnet Indians next bordering on Philips Country, set upon some of Mendham (a Town scituate Northward from Mount-Hope, within 36. Miles from Boston,) where they killed four or five persons which was the first mischief done upon any of the Inhabitants within the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets, acted as was said by one Matoonas who was Father to him that had committed a murder soon after Philips first Rebellion, An. 1671. The Messenger that was sent thither, brought word back that they …ound the said Indians wavering; the young men very furly and insolent, the elder ones, shewing some inclination to maintain the wonted peace: Soon after, Iuly 28. 1675. Capt. Wheeler was sent to assist (Capt. Hutchinson with a party of twenty Horse to Treat further about the Peace, who going first to Quabaog or Brookfield a Town scituate about si…ty or sev…nty miles from Boston, in the Road of Connecticot. lying about twenty five miles from the said River, and not far distant from the chief feat of the Nipnet Indians. The Inhabitants of the said Brookfield had been so deluded by those Treacherous Villains that they fearing no danger, first ob…ained of those Nipnets, the promise of a Treaty upon the second of August, whereupon some of the chief of the Town riding along unarmed p. 32with the said Wheeler and Hutchinson, with their party of Horse until they came to the place appointed, but finding no Indians, …o secure were they, that they ventured along further, to find the T…cels at their chief Town, never suspecting the least danger, but when they had rode four or five miles that way, they fell into an Ambush, of two or three hundred Indians, laid in such a narrow passage, betwixt a steep full on the one hand, and an hideous Swamp on the other, that it was …carce possible for any of them to escape, eight of them being shot down upon the place (whereof three were of Brookefield) and three mortally wounded whereof Capt. Hutchinson was one, Cap. Wheeler also was near loosing his life, whose horse was shot down under him, and himself shot through the body, so that all manner of hopes to escape had been removed from him, had it not been for his Son, who was (by Gods good providence) near or next unto him, being a man of undaunted courage (notwithstanding his own Arm was broken with a Bullet) yet with great nimblenes… and agility of body, d…smounting himself, speedily mounted his Father upon his own Horse, himself getting upon an other, whose Master was killed, by which means they both escaped, and were afterwards cured. Much ado had those that were left alive to recover B…ookefield, which in all prob…b…lity they had never done (the common Road being way laid with Indians on every side as was afterwards known)▪ had it not been for one well acquainted with those Woods, who led them in a by path, by w…ch means they got thither, a little before the Indians, who quickly came …o…king into the Town, with full intent to destroy it with fire and Sword. But by special providence the Inhabitants were all gathered to the principal house of the Village (there being scarce twenty in the Town) before the barbarous Mis…rean…s came upon them, immediately setting fire upon all the dwelling houses, with most of the other Buildings in the Town save that one into which the Inhabitants were retired, the which they several times attemp…ed to burn, but were almost miraculously defeated of their purpose by the immediate hand of God. In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen. For when they had for two dayes assaulted that poor handfull of helpless people, both night and day pouring in shot upon them incessantly with gunns, and also thrusting poles with Fire-brands, and rags dipt in brimstone tyed to the ends of them to fire the house.

At last they used this devilish Scratagem, to fill a Cart with hemp, … and other combustible matter, and so thrusting it backward with poles spliced together a great length, after they had kindled it; But as soon as it had begun to take fire, a Storm of rain unexpectedly falling, put p. 33out the Fire, or else all the poor people, about seventy souls, would either have been co…sumed by merciless flames, or else have fallen into the hands of their cruel enemyes, like Wolves continually yelling and gaping for their prey.

Thus was that distressed Company strangely delivered, who have for ever cause to say with the Psalmist, Blessed b…the Lord, who hath not given us a prey to their teeth, our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowlers, the snare is broken and we are escaped. For the next night Major Willard, by accident hearing of the danger the People were in, as foreign, came with forty eight Dragoons to their relief. The occasion which b…ought Major Willard and Capt. Parker of Greton with forty six more, so timely to their relief was this Major Willard in pursuance of his Commission from the Governour and Council, was upon Wednesday August the 4th in the morning, marching out after some Indians to the Westward, to secure them: just as they were setting forth, some of Malberough, who had intelligence by those that were going to Connecticot, and forced to return, what distress Brookfield was in, and knowing of Major Willards purpose to go out that morning from Lancaster, sent a Post to acquaint him therewith, which though it did not find him in the Town, yet overtook him before he had gone above four or five miles from the place: whereupon, conceiving it more needful to succour Brookfield in so eminent danger, then to proceed further upon his intended design: he altered his course and marched directly thither, being about thirty miles distant when the tidings were b…ought him; so he arrived there that night very seasonably, about an hour af…er it was dark, or else in probability they had all perished before the relief sent up from Boston could have reached them, which was not till three dayes after. The providence of God l…kewise in bringing in the said Major so safely, as well as seasonably to their relief, was very remarkable. For the Indians had subtilly contrived to cut off all reli…f sent, before it could come at them, by laying Ambushes, and placing their Scou…s, at two or three miles distance round the Town: About an hundred of them were lodged at an house not far off in the way toward Boston, to cut off any Succour that might come from thence: but it is supposed they were so intense upon the project they were about for firing the House, concluding it would without fail take place, that either they d…d not minde their business of Watching, or making such a noise for joy thereof, that they did not bear their Sentinels when they shot off their Guns, at two miles distance. It is said that another party of the Indians, let the Major and his Company purposely pass by them, without p. 34any opposition, waiting for the blow to be given at their first approach near the house, then to have themselves fallen upon their Rear, and so to have cut them all off, before the besieged understood any thing thereof. But it pleased God so to order things in providence, that no notice was taken of them by the Besiegers, nor were they at all discerned by them till they had made themselves known to their Friends; and were admitted within the Court of Guard; which when the Enemy had notice of, they poured in their shot abundantly upon them, but they were now sheltered from the danger thereof: only it seems their Horses were exposed to their fury, so as many of them were ma…med and killed, as were most of the Cattle belonging to the Inhabitants of the place soon after. This Honoured Person Major Willard continued at Brookfield after this famous exploit for the preservation of the poor besieged at Brookfield, divers weeks to order such Companies as were sent up that way for the securing of the Plantations on that side of the Country; and not long after he went himself also to Hadly upon the like service of the Country in the present War: But after some time spent in those parts, he returned back to his own place, to order the affairs of his own Regiment, much needing his presence, and leaving the Forces about Ha…ly under the command of the Major of that Regiment.

But to return to what was in hand before, after the Indians understood that succours were come in to the beseiged, they fired all that they had left standing for their own shelter while they had beseiged the place before mentioned, ran all away into their own dens, in the neighbouring woods: however it was confessed by one of themselves, that the enemy had eighty of their men k…lled and wounded in this business. But ere we pass any further in pursuit of the History of these matters, it will not be amiss to let the Reader understand the horrible perfidious and treacherous dealing of these Nipnet Indians, who of all other had the least reason as to any pretence of injury, yet did most deceitfully and barbarously joyn with Philip and his Indians, after they had been several times sent unto by the Governour and Council of the Massachusets, by the advice of Plimouth, to have prevented their R…sing, as well as the rising of the Narhagansets, and also had faithfully promised not to meddle in the quarrel, as may more fully appear by the Engagement under the hands of their Sachems, some time before Capt. Hutchinson and Capt. Wh…ler were sent up to them, which by reason of the hast and unskilfullness of the Messengers on that behalf sent, is not so fit for publick view: but the account of it from their …e…urn, p. 35under their hand and oath, Iuly 24. 75. when Leiut. Ephraim Curtice spake with five of the Nipnet Sachems, four too many to govern so small a people, but lying upon the head of the principal Indian Territoryes, they were divided into so many small partyes, two of whom, viz. Sam Sachem of wesh…cum, and Netaump were executed together afterward at Boston. All of them did at that time solemnly renew their Covenant and promise under their hands to come to Boston to speak further with the Governour, instead of which what they perfidiously did against Capt Hutchinson and others, hath already been declared.

Upon the report of this sad Disaster that befel the Inhabitants of Brookefield, Forces were sent up under the Command of Capt. Lothrop and others, to pursue after those Indians, harbouring about those places, and if it might be, to prevent them from joyning with the Indians upon Connecticut River, who as yet had not discovered themselves as willing to espouse Philips interest, but rather made some semblance to the contrary. There was much time spent by Major Willard, and several Companyes of Souldiers left under his command, about the Nipnet Country, but all to no purpose; for partly by the treachery of some of the Indians that came to their assistance, that seemed to favour the English, but rather acted in behalf of the enemy, partly by the subtletyes of the enemyes themselves, who could easily by their scouts disc…rn the approach of our souldiers, and by the nimbleness of their feet escape them: our Souldiers could never meet with any of them, but only by that means driving them further Westward, they gathered all the Indians they could to their party about Pecomptuck. aliàs Dearfield, Swamscot, and Squakeag, where were some plantations of the English newly began, whom they assaulted in the next place, and did what mischief they could upon them.

It is here to be noted that although that worthy patriot and experienced Souldier Major Willard hearing of the distress of Brookefield by some that were travelling to Connecticut was the first that relieved the distressed people of Quabaog or Brookefield, yet Major Pinehon of Springfield also by accident hearing of their Calamity, had not only sent word thereof to Hartford (from whom he received a supply of five and twenty or thirty souldiers under Capt. Wats) but did also send a Band of men under Lieut. Cooper (who was afterwards villanously slain by Springfield Indians) who with those sent from Hartford, and some Indians belonging to Springfield (seemingly forward to help the English) made up four score or thereabouts; these marched down to Brook…fi…ld the same day that Capt Lothrop and Capt. Beens came up from the p. 36Massachusets, who having spent some time in searching the woods about Springfield, and finding none of the Indians, did the next day march up to a place called Memini…isset by the Indians, where Capt. Hutchinson and Capt. Wheeler were assaulted, and finding no sign of any Indians amongst those woods and Swamps; the Company that came from Springfield, left the other Souldiers (who returned to their Quarters at Brookfield) and went up themselves further northward, at least twenty miles from the said Brookfield, and finding no track of Indians in all those woods, they returned back to Springfield, leaving enough to defend the people of Brookefield, and the garison there.

By this it appears, that the Indians by this occasion were driven more westward into the woods between Hadly and Squakheag. where they soon effected their design, viz. to leaven the Indians on that side the Country with the same prejudice and malice against the English, with which they themselves were (though without cause) in bittered; for in a few dayes the device took place amongst Hadly and Dearfield Indians, and was presently put in execution by the said Indians, withdrawing from the English and assisting Philip and the Nipnets to spoile and destroy all the towns westward, as soon after came to pass: yet at the first some of the Hadly Indians pretended real friendship to the English, and offered themselves to fight against Philip, but the Mohegin Indians that came afterward from Harford began to suspect the Treachery of the other, and told the English plainly, that no good would be done, while any of that Company went along with them in pursuit of the Enemy, for as was said, they would alwayes give some shout when they came near the Enemy, as if they should thereby wish them to look to themselves; insomuch that the said Hadly Indians fell into great suspicion with the English, and for a proof of their Fidelity, they were required to bring in their Arms to the English, but upon that motion they delayed a little, but that very night they fl…d away from their Dwellings, which was in a Wooden Fortification, within a mile of Hatfield, whereby they plainly discovered that they had secretly plotted to joyn with Philips Party, as far as they had an opportunity to do them any eminent service: some think the English failed in point of prudence not managing that business so warily as they might, which if they had done, their de…ection had been prevented, but it is most probable that Philip had hired them to own his quarrel, by sending them gifts in the Spring, and that the body of the said Indians were most readily inclined thereunto: But the Sachims and the elder ones of them, seemed loth …t first to engage against the English. In conclusion, when they had so p. 37falsly left their Dwellings, and were running after Philip and the Nipnet Indians (at that time harboured in those Woods) the English were so provoked, that were under Capt. Lothrop and Capt. Beers, that they pursued after them very early the next morning, and overtook them about ten miles above Hatfield, at a place called Sugar… loaf Hill, and had a small skirmish with them, wherein there were nine or ten of the English slain, and about twenty six Indians: yet the rest escaped; and so joyned with Philip and his Company, presently after which accident, they were so emboldned, that upon the first of September, about seven dayes after they set upon Dearfield, killed one Man, and laid most of the Houses in ashes. About two or three dayes after they fell upon Squakeag, another new Plantation, fifteen miles higher up the River, above Dearfield, where they killed nine or ten of the People, the rest hardly escaped into the Garison house.

The next day, this disaster not being known, Captain Beers, for fear of the worst, with thirty six men, was sent up to the said Squakeag, with supplies both of men and provision to secure the small Garison there, but before they came very near to the Town, they were set upon by many hundreds of the Indians out of the Bushes by a Swamp side, of whom Capt. Beers (who was known to fight valiantly to the very last) with about twenty of his men, were by this sudden surprisal there slain, the rest flying back to Hadly. Here the Barbarous Villains shewed their insolent rage and cruelty, more then ever before, cutting off the heads of some of the slain, and fixing them upon Poles near the Highway, and not only so, but one (if not more) was found with a Chain hooked into his under jaw, and so hung up on the Bow of a Tree, (tis feared he was hung up alive) by which means they thought to daunt and discourage any that might come to their relief, and also to terrifie those that should be Spectators with the beholding so sad an object: insomuch that Major Treat with his Company, going up two days after, to fetch off the residue of the Garison, were solemnly affected with that doleful fight, which made them make the more hast to bring down the Garison, not waiting for any opportunity to take revenge upon the Enemy, having but an hundred with him, two few for such a purpose. Captain Appleton going up after him, met him coming down, and would willingly have perswaded them, to have turned back, to see if they could have made any spoil upon the Enemy, but the greatest part advised to the contrary, so that they were all forced to return, with what they could carry away, leaving the rest for a booty to the Enemy, who shall ere long pay a sad reckoning for their Robberies and Cruelties, in the p. 38time appointed: but the sufferings of the English were not as yet come to their height, for after they were come to Hadly, the Commander in chief taking Counsel with the Officers of the Souldiers, ordered them that were then present to Garison the Towns about; some to be at North-Hampton, Hat field, Dearfield, and some to remain at Hadly where were the Head-quarters of the English. But perceiving that little good was to be done upon the Enemy in those parts, it was agreed that what Corn was left at Dearfield, being threshed out as well as they could in those tumults (about three thousand Bushels was supposed to be there standing in stacks) should be brought to Hadly, and wait further time to fight the Enemy. It came to C. Lothrops turn, or rather it was his choice with about eighty men to guard several Carts laden with Corn, & other Goods, the Company under Capt. Mosely then quartering at Dearfield intended that day to pursue after the Enemy. But upon September 18. that most fatal day, the saddest that ever befel New-England, as the Company were marching along with the Carts (it may be too securely) never apprehending danger so near, were suddenly set upon, and almost all cut off (not above seven or eight escaping) which great defeat came to pass by the unadvised proceeding of the Captain (who was himself slain in the first assault) although he wanted neither courage nor skill, to lead his Souldiers; but having taken up a wrong notion about the best way and manner of fighting with the Indians (which he was always wont to argue for) viz. that it were best to deal with the Indians in their own way, sc. by skulking behind Trees. and taking their aim at single persons, which is the usual manner of the Indians fighting one with another, but herein was his great mistake, in not considering the great disadvantage a smaller Company would have in dealing that way with a greater multitude: for if five have to deal with one, they may surround him, and every one take his aim at him, while he can level but at one of his Enemies at a time: which gross mistake of his, was the ruine of a choice company of young men, the very flower of the County of Essex, all culled out of the Towns belonging to that County, none of which were ashamed to speak with the Enemy in the gate: their dear Relations at home mourning for them, like Rachil for her children, and would not be comforted, not only because they were not, but because they were so miserably lost. (The like mistake was conceived to be the reason of the loss of the former persons, slain with the said Lothrop, pursuing the Indians that ran away from Hadly, and of the twenty sl…in with Capt. Beers men, who betook themselves at first to their Trees and at the last a few got to their Horses soon after their Captain was p. 39shot down.) For had he ordered his men to March in a Body, as some of his fellow-Commanders advised, either backward, or forward, in reason, they had not lost a quarter of the number of them that fell that day by the edge of the Sword. For the Indians, notwithstanding their sublety and cruelty, durst not look an Englishman in the fa…e, in the open field, nor ever yet were known to kill any man with their Guns, unless when they could ly in wait for h…m, in an ambush, or behind some shelter, taking aim undiscovered; so that although it was judged by those that escaped, that there was seven or eight hundred Indians at least that encountred that Company of eighty of English, yet if they had k…pt together in a Body, and fought Marching, they might have escaped the numbers of the Enemy, with little loss in comparison of what they sustained. For the valiant and successful Capt. Mosely, and his Lieutenant, coming▪ though too late) to their rescue, marched through and through that great body of Indians, and yet came off with little or no loss in comparison of the other. And having fought all those Indians for five or six hours upon a march, lost not above two men all that while, nor received other damage besides eight or nine that were wounded, which yet were carried to their quarters at night at Hatfield whereas if these had proceeded in the same way of fighting as Capt. Lothrop did in the morning, they might have been surrounded, and so have been served as the former were: but God had other wise determined in his s…c…et counsel, and therefore that was hid from the one which was a m…ans to preserve the other Company.

O…her releif also was seasonably sent in, viz. a Company of English, and Mohegin or Peq…od Indians under the Command of Major Treat, who was in the morning marching another way, viz. up toward Squakh…ag to seek after the enemy that way, with about an hundred souldiers, Indians and English, upon whose approach the enemy, pretty well a…quainted by this last encounter with the valour of the English, immediately went clear away, giving Major Treat and Capt. Mosely, who returned to Dearfield that night, an opportunity to bury the slain the next day. As Capt. Mosely came upon the Indians in the morning he found them stripping of the …lain, amongst whom was one Robert Dutch of Ipswich, …aving been sorely wounded by a bullet that rased to his skull, and then maul…d by the Indian hatchets, left for dead by the Salvages, and stript by them of all but his skin, yet when Capt, Mosely came near, he almost miraculously as one raised from the dead came towards the Engl…sh, to their no small amazement, by whom being received and cloathed, he was carryed off to the next garison, and is p. 40li…ing & in perfect health at this day▪ May he be to the friends & relations of the rest of the slain, an emblem of their more perfect resurrection at the last day to receive their crowns among the rest of the Martyres that have laid down or ventured their lives as a testimony to the truth of their Religion, as well as love to their Country.

This fore defeat of Capt. Lethrop and his men, was the more to be lamented, in that (falling out so soon after two ot…er of the like nature) it so emboldned the enemy, that they durst soon after adventure upon considerable towns, though well garisoned with souldiers, and gave them occasion of most insolent Braving the Garison at Dearfi…ld the next day, hanging up the garments of the English, in sight of the Souldiers, yet on the other fide of the river. However it pleased God, who is alwayes wont to remember his people in their low estate, to put such a restraint upon them, that when they passed very near the Garison house at Dearfield (wherein were not left above twenty seven souldiers) their Captain using this strategem, to cause his trumpet to sound as if he had another troop near by to be called together, they turned another way and made no attempt upon the house where that small number was, which if they had done with any ordinary resolution, so small an handfull of men cousd hardly have withstood the force of so many hundreds as were then gathered together.

What loss the Enemy sustained by the resistance of Capt. Lothrop & his men, (who no doubt being all resolute young men, and seeing they shou…d be forced by the hard law of the sword to for… goe their lives, held them at as high a rate as they could) is not certai…ly known. It hath since been confessed by some of the Indians themselves, that they lost ninety six of their m…n that day. Capt. Moselyes men coming suddenly upon them when they were pillaging of the de…d, fell upon them with such a smart assault, that they drove them presently into a swamp following them so close, that for seven miles together they fought them upon a march, charging them through and through. Per…z Savage and Leiut, Pickering his Leiutenants deserving no little part of the honour of that dayes Service, being sometimes called to lead the Company in the front, while Capt Mosely took a little breath, who was almost melted with labouring, commanding, and leading his men through the midest of the enemy.

The Indians gathered together in those parts, appearing so numerous, and, as might justly he supposed, growing more confident by some of their last successes, and the number of our men being after this sad rate diminished, Recruits also not being suddenly to be expected, p. 41at so great a distance as an hundred miles from all supplyes, the Commander in chief with the Officers, saw a necessi…y of slighting that Garison at D…rfield, imploying the Forces they had to secure and strengthen the three next towns below upon Connecticut River. And it was well that counsel was thought upon; for now those wer…ched Caitiffs begin to talk or great matters, hoping that by degrees they might destroy all the towns thereabout, as they had already b…gun: Their hopes no doub…, were not a little heightned by the accession of Springfield Indians to their party, who had in appearance all this time stood the …irmest to the interest of the English of all the rest in those parts: But they all hanging together, like Serpents eggs, were easily perswaded to joy… with those of Hadly (there being so near allyance between them, for the Sachem of Springfield Indians was the father of Hadly Sachem) not only by the success of their treacherous and bloud-thirsty comp…nions, but by the same inbred m…lice and antipathy against the …glish manners and Religion.

The … of Springfield were not unsensible of their danger, and therefore had upon the first breaking forth of these troubles been t…ea…ing … …heir Indians, and had received from them the firmest assurance, and pl…dges of their faithfulness, and friendsh…p that could be immagined or desired, both by Covenant, promises and Hostages given for s…curity, so as no doubt was left in any of their minds: Yet did these faithless and ungratefull Monsters plot with Philips Indians to burn and d…troy all Springfield, as they had done Brookfield before: to that end they sent cunningly and enticed away the Hostages from Hartford whe…e they were, perhaps too securely watched over, a day or two before: Then receiving above three hundred of Philips Indian… into their Fort, priva…ely in the night time, so as they were neither discerned nor suspected: Yea so confident were such of the inhabitants as were most conversant with the Indians at their Fort, that they would not believe there was any such plot in hand, when … was strangly revealed by one Toto an Indian at Windsor, better affected to the English, (about eighteen or twenty miles below Springfield, upon the same River) and so by Post tidings thereof brought to Springfield the night before, insomuch that the Lieutenant of the town, Cooper by name, was so far from believing the Stratagem, that in the morning himself with another would venture to ride up to the Fort, to see whether things were so or no. The Fort was about a mile from the town; when he came within a little thereof, he met these bloudy and deceitfull Monsters, newly issued out of their Equ… Trojanus to act their intended mischief, p. 42they presently fired upon him diverse of them, and shot him in several places through the body, yet being a man of stout courage, he kept his horse, till he recovered the next garison house, his companion they shot dead upon the place▪ by this meanes giving a sad alarm to the town of their intended mischief, which was instantly fired in all places where there were no Garisons. The poor people having never an Officer to lead them, being like sheep ready for the slaughter, and no doubt the whole town had b…en tot…lly destroyed, but that a report of the Plot being caryed about over night, M…jor Treat came from Westfield time enough in a manner for their rescue, but wanting boates to transport h…s men, could not doe so much good as he desired. Major Pynchon com…g from Ha…ly with Capt. Appleton and what Forces they could bring along with them, thirty two houses being first consumed, preserved the rest of the town from being turned to ashes, in which the over credulous Inhabitants might now see (what b…fore they would not believe at the burning Major Pynchons Barns and Stables a few dayes before, to a very great damage of the Owner) the faithless and deceitfull friendship amongst those perfidious, cruel and hell… sh Monsters.

Amongst the ru…nes of the said …wellings, the saddest to behold was the house of Mr. Pelatiah Glover, Minister of the Town, furnish…d wi…h a brave Library, which he had but newly brought back from a Garison wherein it had been for some time before secured, but as if the da…ger had been over with them, the said Minister a great Student, and an helluo librorum, being imp…tient for want of his Books, brought t…em b…ck to his great sorrow, fit for a Bonfi…e fo… the p…oud insulting enemy. Of all the mischiefs done by the said enemy before that day, the burnof this town of Springfield did m…re then any other▪ dis…over the said Actors to be the ch…ren of the Devill, …ull of all s…b lety and malice, there having been for about forty years so good correspondence betwixt the English of that town and the neighbouring Indians; But in them is made good what is said in the Psalm, that though their words were smoother then oyle, yet were they drawn swords.

After some little time spent in garisoning the place, and helping the Inhabitants to secure what they had left, the English souldiers most of them returned back to Hadly their head-quarters, and Major Pynchon being so full of incumbrances, by reason of the late spoyls done to himself, and his neighbours at Springfield, could not any longer attend the Service of commanding in Chief as he had done before, wherefore being according to his earnest Request to the Council eased of that bur…en; Capt. Samuel Appleton was ordered to succeed in taking the charge p. 43of the Souldiers left in those upper towns, by whose Industry, skill and courag…, those towns were preserved from runing the same fate with the rest, wholy or in part so … turned into ashes. For the enemy growing very confident by the late successes, came with all their fury the nineteenth of October following upon Hatfield, hoping no less then to doe the like mischief to them, they had newly done to Springfield: But according to the good providence of Almighty God, Major Treat was newly returned to Northampton, Capt. M…sely and Capt. Poole were then garisoning the said Hatfield, and Capt. Appleton for the like end quartering at Hadly, when on the sudden seven or eight hundred of the enemy came upon the town in all quarters, having first killed or taken two or three of the Scouts belonging to the town, and seven more belonging to Capt. Mosely his Company: But they were so well entertained on all hands where they attempted to break in upon the town, that they found it too hot for them. Major Ap…le…on with great courage defend…g one end of the town, and Capt. Mos…ly as stoutly maintaining the middle, and Capt. Po…le the other end, that they were by the … of the English instantly beaten off, without doing much h…rm. Capt. Apple…ons Sergeant was mortally wounded just by h…s side another … passing through his own hair, by that whisper telling him that death was very near, but did him no other harm. Night coming on, it could not be discerned what loss the enemy sustained, diverse were seen to fall, some run through a small river, others cast their guns into the water (it being their manner to venture as much to recover the dead bodyes of their friends, as to defend them when alive)

At last after the burning of some few barns, with some other buildings, the enemy hasted away as fast as they came on, leaving the English to bless God who had so mercifully delivered them from the fury of their merciless foes, who had in conceit without doubt, devoured them all: But this resolute and valiant repulse, put such a check upon the pride of the enemy, that they made no further attempt upon any of those towns for the present, but winter drawing on, they retired all of them to their general rendezvouze at Narhaganset, where we shall leave them for the present plotting their general design of accomplishing their intended mischief against the English the next Spring.

Our Western Plantations upon Connectieut River, were the stage whereon were acted the most remarkable passages of this barbarous War hitherto, which was soon after removed into many other places of the Country in the Winter and Spring following, whither our discourse must in the next place pursue it: There was not any p. 44great matter acted by the Enemy amongst the Plantations upon the great River during the Winter, after the assault made upon Hatfield October 19. It is evident that the body of them returned to Narrhaganset upon the approach of the Winter, which set in more early then it used in other years: where Philip did bestow himself in the winter season is not so certain; some say that he repaired further westward, to try his fortune with those Indians that ly towards Albany, near the Dutch River: others more probably conceive that he lay hid in some part of the Narrhtganses Country; for though he was not certainly known to be about the Fort at Narrhaganset, when it was taken by our Forces in the winter, yet as soon as ever they were driven out of the Country in February, he was found amongst them that did the mischief at Lancaster in that month.

Some stragling parties of them remained about North-Hampton, Westfield & Springfield some time after their defeat at Hatfield; seven or eight of the Inhabitants of North-Hampton in the end of October, venturing to fetch in some of their Harvest, that was left somewhere out of the Town, were in danger of being surprised, having laid their Arms under their Cart, so as being destitute of means to make their defence, they were glad to fly away with the Horses out of their Cart, leaving what they were about to the pleasure of the Indians that assaulted. Major Treat upon the hearing the Alarm, presently repaired thither, but could not come time enough to destroy any of the Enemy, not yet to prevent the…r burning of four or five Houses, with two or three Barns that stood somewhat out of the Town. Within a little time after they kill'd three of the same Town, as they were at work in a Meadow not far from the Town: they intended also to have burned the Mill, but it was too well guarded by two files of Muskeriers lodged there for the purpose, who put them beside their intent, Six or seven of Spring field soon after going to the Mill at Westfield (that which belonged to their own Town being burned October 5th.) and venturing without Arms, three of them were killed by some of the Enemy, who took the advantage also to burn four or five Houses that belonged to the said Westfield: but by the end of November the coast was pri…ty clear of them, u…less some few of them that lay lurking in the Swamps thereabouts all the winter, doing some small mischief upon some ou…-dwellings of Springfield.

The expedition into the Narrhagauset Country f…llows in order in the next place to be related; but before we come thither, a li…tle no…ce … be taken by the way, of an unsuccessful attempt upon the Indi…s p. 45about Hassan…m…it & Poppachuog, whi…her Capt. Henchman was sent in the beginni…g o… November: where also C…ptain Sill was ordered to meet him with another C…mpany from Cambridge, with intent to have beat up the Indians quarters in those parts: they being known to have had an hand in the ou…r…ges committed upon those that belonged to Malb…rough and Menaha…; cutting off the scalp of a millers Boy, who is yet alive.

November 1. 1675. Capt. H…nchman marched out of Boston intending to visit the Indians about Hassenem…sit: the third day they saw some fires of the Indians, yet could not meet with them that made them: the 4th day they marc…ed to some part of the Indian Plantations called Hassenemesit: the Captain would have taken up his quarters a mile on this side, bu… some of his Offic…rs over-ruled him, to whose importunity he gave way, and marched a mile further towards the Enemy, and by that means saved the Miliers youth, taken the week before from Malberough; for in the morning very early, as the Scouts were looking out, they spyed a Wigwam, where ome Indians that had carried away the youth, had lodged a…l night in s…me Wigwam near by, when the Indians saw our Souldie…s, they hasted away, and left the Malberough youth behind them▪ who by …hat means escaped their hands. Our men under Capt. Henchman marched on to Poppachuog, and finding the Indians all fled, (although they perceived by a Messenger accidentally sent back, that the Indians f…llowed them all that way they marched) they came back to Mendham to settle things in that Town: some of the Inhabitants informed them of some Indian W…gwams about ten miles off: the Captain with Philip Curtice his Lieutenant, resolved to give them a camisado in their Wigwams that night: to that end, they mounted two and twenty upon Horses, riding up ten miles into the Woods, and when they came near the Wigwams, they dismounted, and intended presently to march up, and give an assault upon them, after they had first made a shout to fright the Enemy: they ordered one half to follow the Lieutenant, the other to follow the Captain, when they came within a quarter of a mile of the place, their Dogs began to bark, at which they …op…d, and by and by marching again, intended presently to fire in upon them, but the Captains foot …lipping, he could hardly recover himself, when suddenly looking behind him, he saw no man following of him: the Lieutenant had five behind him, who with those five resolutely fired on that side he was appointed to make the ass…ule upon; but they were repulsed by the Indians, who firing out of their dens, shot down the Lieutenant and another, the rest presently ran away to a fence: the Captain with all p. 46vehemency urged them to stay, they replied, they … back but only to charge, yet went clear away, by which means, togeth… with the cowardize of the former, so sad a loss befell the Company, whic… …ould not easily be repaired: however the Enemy presently deserted the Wigwan and gave our men the next day an opportunity to fetch off their two dead men, and bury them, and so with grief and shame were constrained to return to their quarters at Mendham, to whose Inhabitants they gave notice of 200 bushels of Corn belonging to the Indians, that might have been preserved, which for want of hands was lost by the fire, that the Enemy might not be benefited thereby. It appears by the foregoing passage, that the time of our deliverance was not yet come, and that God had further tryals to acquaint us with before he would turn his hand upon our Enemies. But it pleased the Lord in mercy so to order things, that they themselves fell into that pit they were digging for others, as shall appear more fully in what follows.

The English Plantations about Hadly being for the present set a little at l…erty by the Indians drawing off, like Seamen after a Storm, counted it the… best course to repair their tackling against another that may be next coming, wherefore the Inhabitants concluded it the safer way to make a kind of Barricado about their Towns, by setting up Pallizadoes or cleft wood about eight foot long, as it were to break the force of any …udden assault which the Indians might make upon them; which counsel proved very successful; for although it be an inconsiderable defence against a Warlike Enemy, that hath strength enough, and confidence to Lesiege a place, yet it is sufficient to prevent any sudden assault of such a timerous and barbarous Enemy as these were, for although they did afterwards in the Spring break through those Pallizadoes at NorthHampton, yet as soon as ever they began to be repulsed, they saw themselves like Wolves in a Pound, that they could not fly away at their pleasure, so as they never adventured to break through afterward upon any of the Towns so secured.

As for those of Springfield, they were now and then Alarmed with a few skulking Indians lurking about in the adjacent Woods; as once at th… Long …eadow, where half a score of them were seen about an house r…mote from the Town, who were pursued by a party of the English toward Windsor, and so escaped, after the English had made one shot upon …hem, not knowing certainly how many they killed. So at another time, a few of those barbarous wretches kill'd a poor man belonging to Sp…ing field, as he was going to his house to look after his Corn on the ot…er side of the River, and after th… had killed the man, they burnt p. 47down his house; yet attempted no further mischief upon that part of the Town that had escaped the fury of the Flames, October 5. By which it is evident, that all the number of Indians that had assaul…ed them befo…e, had not d…awn themselves for the present to t…eir winter …, some to the Dutch River, but the greatest number of them to be su…e were found in the wi…ter at the Narrhaganse: Fort, where we sh…ll leave them for the present till the Forces of the U…ited Colon…es shall fire them out of their nests.

The Souldiers continuing some time at Hatfield after this victory, as we may well call it (for it seems to have given the first check to the rage of the heathen within the Ju…isdiction of the united Colonyes, they have b…en observed ever since to have been on the losing hand, seldome or never daring to meet our Souldiers in the open Field, unless when they have very great advantage as to their numbers, or covert of the woods and bushes: although like some ranging Beasts they have done much mischief several times si…ce, when they were ready to expire or when the pangs of death were coming upon them) our forces therefore being all called home, save some left for garisoning the towns thereabouts.

The Commissioners of the united Colonyes taking into serious Confideration the present state of …hings, viz. that there were before this time so many hundreds g…thered together into one Body, and that there was great reason to fear, if they were let alone till the next spring they might all rise together as one man round about us, and that one Town after ano…her m…ght easily be destroyed, before any help could be dispatched to them. On the one hand the sharpness of the winter in these pa…ts was well weighed, so extream that it might hazard the loss of a thousand men in one night, if they were forced to lodge abroad in the open field; as also the d…fficulty, if not impossibility of sending any relief to them at any distance, the depth of snow usually making the wayes unpass…ble for diverse months together

On the other hand it was considered, that if the enemy were let alone till the next summer, it would be imp…ssible to deal with them, or find them any where, but they might … one company of Souldiers after another, as was seen by the experience of the former year. Considering also that the Narhagansets, the most numerous of all the rest, and the best prov…ded of provision of all the other Indians, had now declared themselves our enemyes, who if they were let alone … the winter was over, we should be unable to deal with so many enemyes at once, that could on a su…den on any occasion … themselves like grashoppers all over the Country.

p. 48It was therefore finally agreed upon by the general consent of all, to to fall upon the winter quarters of our enemyes, by a more considerable Army (if I may so call it) gathered out of all the three Colonyes, and that with all expedition, at farthest not to exceed the tenth of December before they should have a thousand men in arms ready for the designe.

As for the late League made or rather renewed with the Narhagansets, it was sufficiently evident & known, that they had all along from the first day when it was confirmed broken every article of it, specially in not delivering up the enemyes which had sheltered themselves with them all this while, which though they did not positively deny, yet did nothing but find excuses, to de…er it one week after another, till at the last they would be excused till the next Spring, upon pretence that they could not before that time get them together. Beside the favouring of those that fled to them, and supplying the whole Body of the enemy with victuals, upon all occasions. It was likewise strongly suspected that in all the late proceedings of the enemy, many of their young men were known to be actually in arms against us, many of whom were found ei…her wounded amongst them in their wigwams, or else were occasionally seen returning back, after exploits abroad, to be healed of their wounds at home. Also some of our mens guns that were lost at Dearfield were found in the Fort when it was fired. Therefore all scruples as to the justness and necessity of the war being removed, the only question was, whether it were feasible and expedient in the winter. The exigent was very great, and the choyce very hard: But as David when he was streightened with many difficultyes at once, cho…e rather to fall into the hands of God whose mercyes were great, though he might be provoked to cause his jealousie to smoak against those of his own heritage for a time: so in this exigent it was generally conceived to be most expedient for the Country, to cast themselves upon the providence of a mercifull and gracious God, rather then by delayes to expose themselves to the treachery and cruelty of a perfidious enemy.

A War therefore speedily to be carryed on in the very depth of winter, being agreed …p…n, care was taken for supplyes, as the difficulty of such an affair so circumstanced did require, though possibly not with so much necessary care, and so suitable provision, as had been desired, if what came afterward to pass could have been foreseen (which peradventure might be the reason things went on so heavily for want of well oyling the wheels) in the mean time a small Army of a thousand fighting men, well appointed, were ordered by the Commissioners to p. 49be gathered by proportion out of all the Colonyes; of which number the share of the Massachusets was to be five hundred and twenty seven, the rest were to be supplyed out of Plimouth and Connecticut Colonyes, All other supplyes were taken care for, as well as the suddenness of the Expedition, and difficulty of the season would allow. The said thousand men, beside some Voluntiers of Indian Friends, were by the time and place appointed as near as could be had, called together, and a Commission granted to the honourable Iosiah Winslow Esq, the present Governour of Plimouth Colony, a man of known ability and integrity, every way so well qualified wit… courage and Resolution, as well as prudence and discretion, as might have preferred him to the conduct of a far greater Army then …ver is like to be gathered together in this part of the world, in this or in following Generations. And indeed as he was the first Governour over any of the united Colonyes in New-England of them that were born in the place, so may he well pass for a pattern of any of the succeeding race, that may come after.

Under him as Commander in Chief were ordered six Companyes from the Massashusets, under the Command of Major Appleton, Capt. Mose…y, Capt. Gardener, Capt. Davenport, Capt. Oliver, Capt. Iohnson, Five Companyes from Connecticus under Major Treat, Capt. Siely, Capt. Gallop, Capt. Mason, Capt. Wats, and Capt. Marshal, Two Companyes from Plimonth, under Major Bradford and Capt. Goram.

Under the Governour of Plimouth as Commander in Chief in this Expedition, were sent as Majors of the Forces belonging to each Colony, Major Robert Treat for the Forces belonging to Connecticut, and Major Bradford for those of the Colony of Plimouth, and Major Samuel Appleton for those of the Massachusets, to whom by the honourable Major General of the said Colony were six Companyes of Foot delivered at Dedham; December the 9th. 1675, containing in number 465 fighting men, besides … Troop of Horse under the Command of Capt. Thomas Prentice attending upon them. That night they marched to Woodcocks about 27. miles from Dedham. The next night they arrived at Seaconck; Capt. Mosely and his Company went from thence with Mr. Smith by water, the rest ferried over the water to Providence.

The next day, Decemb. the 12th. they passed over Patuxet River, and then marching through Pomhams Country, at night they met with Capt. Mosely and his Company at Mr. Smiths in Wickford, the place intended for their Head-quarters. Capt. Mosely in his way thither had happily surpri…ed thirty six Indians, one of whom he took along with him as a Guide, Peter by name, that was at that time under some disgu… with his p. 50Country-men, or his Sachem, which made him prove the more real friend to our forces in that service, wherein he faithfully performed w…hat…h promised, and without his assistance our men would have been much at a loss to have found the enemy, until it had been too late to have fought them.

Two dayes after, Decemb. 14. Five Files of men sent out under Serjeant Bennet and another, upon the Scout, kill'd one man and one woman, and brought in four more by one of the clock: the whole Company marched after into some of the Sachems Country, where they burnt an hundred and fifty Wigwams, killed seven of the enemy, and brought in eight Prisoners when they returned at night.

The next day an Indian called Stone-wall-Iohn pretended to come from the Sachems, intimating their wiilingness to have peace with the English, yet could the Messenger hardly forbear threatning, vapouring of their numbers and strength, adding withall that the English durst not …ight them: whatever were pretended by this treacherous fellow, some of his Crew as he went home met with some of Capt. Gardners men, that were stragling about their own business contrary to order, and slew his Serjeant, with one o… two more. Two also of Capt. Olivers men were kill…d in like manner; a solemn warning for Souldiers not to be too venterous in an enemyes Country. For preventing the like mischief upon other Companyes, more care was taken as they passed to the Head-quarters, some of the Companyes being lodged three miles there from. Capt. Moselyes, Capt. Davenp…rts and Capt Olivers Company being also sent about that time to bring Major Appletons Company to the general Quarters, a few desperate …ndians creeping under a stone wal… near the place, fired twenty or thirty gunns at Mosely in particular, a Commander well known amongst them, but the rest of the Company running down upon them, killed one of them, and scattered the rest.

The next day Capt. Prentice with his Troop, being sent to Petequamscot, returned with the sad news of burning Ierry Bulls Garison house, and killing ten English men and five women and children, but two escaping in all. This is the chance of warr which they who under take, must prepare to undergoe.

The next day brought from the same place a little better news, though not enough to ballance the sorrow of the former, viz. that Connecticut Forces were come thither with three hundred English, and an hundred and fifty Mohegins, ready fixed to warr on th… behalf of the English against the Narhagansets their mortal enemyes; and by the way meeting a Party of the enemy, they slew five or six of them and took as many p. 51Prisoners. The whole number of all our Forces being now come, the want of provision with the sharpness of the cold, minded them of expedition, wherefore the very next day, the whole Body of the Massachuset and Plimouth Forces marched away to Pettyqua…scot intending to engage the enemy upon the first opportunity that next offered it self: To the which resolution those of Connecticut presently consented, as soon as they met together, which was about five a clock in the afternoon: Bulls house intended for their general Rendezvouze, being unhappily burnt down two or three days before, there was no shelter left either for Officer or private Souldier, so as they were necessicated to march on toward the enemy through the snow, in a cold stormy evening, finding no other defence all that night, save the open air, nor other covering then a cold and moist fleece of snow. Through all these difficultyes they marched from the break of the next day, December 19. till one of the clock in the afternoon, without either fire to warm them, or respite to take any food, save what they could chew in their march. Thus having waded fourteen or fifteen mile through the Country of the old Queen, or Sunke Squaw of Narhaganset: they came at one a clock upon the edge of the Swamp where their guide assured them they should find Indians enough before night.

Our Forces chopping thus upon the seat of the enemy, upon the sudden, they had no time either to draw up in any order or form of Battle, nor yet opportunity to consult where or how to assault. As they marched Capt. Mosely and Capt. Davenport led the Van, Major Appleton and Capt. Oliver brought up the Reer of the Massachuset Forces; General Winslow with the Plimouth Forces marched in the Centre; those of Connecticut came up in the Reer of the whole Body: But the Frontiers discerning Indians in the edge of the Swamp, fired immediately upon them, who answering our men in the same Language, retired presently into the Swampe, our men followed them in amayn…, without staying for the word of Command, as if every one were ambitious who should goe first, never making any stand till they came to the sides of the Fort, into which the Indians that first fired upon them betook themselves.

It seems that there was but one entrance into the Fort, though the enemy found many wayes to come out, but neither the English nor their Guide well knew on which side the entrance lay; nor was it easie to have made another; wherefore the good providence of Almighty God is the more to be acknowledged, who as he led Israel sometime by the Pillar of fire, and the Cloud of his presence a right way through the Wilderness, so did he now direct our Forces upon that side of the Fort, where p. 52they might only enter though not without utmost danger, and hayard. The Fort was raised upon a kind of Island of five or six acres of rising land in the midst of a Swamp; the sides of it were made of palizadoes set upright the which was compassed about with an bedge of almost a rod thickness, through which there was no passing, unless they could have fired a way through, which then they had no time to doe. The place where the Indians used ordinarily to enter themselves, was over a long tree over a place▪ of water, where but one man could enter at a time, & which was so way-laid that they would have been cut off that had ventured there: But at one corner there was a Gap made up only with a long tree, about four or five foot from the ground, over which men might easily pass: But they had placed a kind of a Block house right over against the said tree, from whence they sorely galled our men that first entred, some being shot dead upon the tree, as Capt. Iohnson, and some as soon as they entred, as was Capt. Davenport, so as they that first entred were forced presently to retire, and fall upon their bellyes till the fury of the enemyes shot was pretty well spent, which, some Companyes that did not discern the da…ger, not observing, lost sundry of their men, but at the last two Companyes being brought up besides the four that first marched up, they animated one another to make another assault, one of the Commanders crying out, They run, they run, which did so encourage the Souldiers that they presently entred amain. After a considerable number were well entred, they presently beat the enemy out of a Flanker on the left hand, which did a little shelter our men from the enemyes shot, till more Company came up, and so by degrees made up higher, first into the middle, and then into the upper end of the Fort, till at the last they made the enemy all retire from their Sconces, and fortified places, leaving multitudes of their dead Bodyes upon the place. Connecticut Souldiers marching up in the Reer, being not aware of the dangerous passage over the tree, in Command of the enemyes Blockhouse, were a… their first entrance many of them shot down, although they came on with as gallant resolution as any of the rest under the conduct of their wise and valiant Leader, Major Treat

The brunt of the Battle, or danger that day lay most upon the Commanders, whose part it was to lead on their several Companies in the very face of Death, or else all had been lost; so as all of them with great valour and resolution of minde, as not at all afraid to dy in so good a cause, bravely lod on their men in that desperate ass…ult; l…aving their lives in the place as the best testimony of their valour, and of love to the …use of God and their Country: No less then six brave Captains fell p. 53that day in the assault, viz. Capt. Davenport, Capt. Gardner, Capt. Iohnson of the Massachusets, besides Lieute…. Vpham, who died some months after of his wounds received at … time. Capt. Gallop also, and Capt. Siely, and Capt. Marshal … of those that belonged to Connecticut Colony. It is usually seen that the valour of the Souldiers is much wrapped up in the lives of their Commanders, yet was it found here, that the Souldiers were rather enraged then discouraged by the loss of their Commanders, which made them redouble their Courage, and not give back after they were entred the second time, till they had driven out their Enemies: So as after much blood and many wounds dealt on both sides; the English seeing their advantage, began to fire the Wigwams, where was supposed to be many of the Enemies Women and Children destroyed, by the firing of at least five or six hundred of those smoaky Cells.

It is reported by them that first entred the Indians Fort, that our Souldiers came upon them when they were ready to dress their Dinner, but our sudden; and une…pected assault put them besides that work, making their Cookrooms too hot for them at that time, when they and their Mitchin fryed together: and probably some of them eat their Suppers in a colder place that night: most of th…ir Provision as well as their Hutts being then consumed with fire, and those that were left alive forced to hide themselves in a Cedar Swamp, not far off, where they had nothing to defend them from the cold but Boughs of Spruce and Pine Trees: for after two or three hours fight, the English became Masters of the place, but not judging it tenable, after they had burned all they could set fire upon, they were forced to retreat, after the Day-light was almost quite spent, and were necessitated to retire to their quarters, full fifteen or sixteen miles off, some say more, whither with their Dead and Wounded men they were to march, a difficulty scarce to be believed, as not to be paralleld almost in any former age.

It is hard to say who acquitted themselves best in that dayes service, either the Souldiers for their manlike valour in fighting, or the Commanders for their wisdome and courage leading on in very face of death; There might one have seen the whole Body of that little Regimental Army, as busie as Bees in a Hive, some bravely fighting with the Enemy, others haling off, and carrying away the Dead and Wounded Men (which I rather note) that none may want the due testimony of their valour and faithfulness, though all ought to say, not unto us, but unto thy Name, O Lord, &c.

For though there might not be above three or four hundred at any p. 54time within the Fort at once, yet the rest in their turns came up to do what the exigence of the service required in bringing off the Dead and Wounded men: The Major of the Regiment, together with Captain Mosely, was very serviceable, for by that means the Fort being clear of the Dead bodies, it struck a greater terrour into the Enemy, to see but eight or ten dead bodies of the English left, then to meet with so many hundreds of their own slain and wounded Carkasses. The number of the slain was not then known on the Enemies side, because our Men were forced to leave them on the ground: but our victory was found afterwards to be much more considerable then at the first was apprehended; for although our loss was very great, not only because of the desperateness of the attempt it self) in such a season of the year, and at such a distance from our quarters, whereby many of our wounded men perished, which might otherwise have been preserved, if they had not been forced to march so many miles in a cold snowy night, before they could be dressed) yet the …nemy lost so many of their principal fighting men, their Provision also was by the burning of their Wigwams, so much of it spoiled, at the taking of their Fort, and by surprizing so much of their Corn about that time also; that it was the occasion of their total ruine afterwards: they being at that time driven away from their habitations, and put by from Planting for that next year, as well as deprived of what they had in store for the present winter. What numbers of the Enemy were slain is uncertain, it was confessed by one Potock a great Councellor amongst them, afterwards taken at Road-Island, and put to Death at Boston, that the Indians lost seven hundred fighting men that day, besides three hundred that dyed of their Wounds the most of them: the number of old men, women and children, that perished either by fire, or that were starved with hunger and cold, none of them could tell. There was above eighty of the English slain, and a hundred and fifty wounded, that recovered afterwards.

There were several circumstances in this Victory very remarkable.

First, The meeting with one Peter a fugitive Indian, that upon some discontent, flying from the Narrhagansets, offered himself to the service of the English, and did faithfully perform what he promised, viz. to lead them to the Swamp where the Indians had seated themselves within a Fort raised upon an Island of firm Earth, in the midst of a Swamp, whither none of the English could have Piloted them, without his assistance, the place being near eighteen miles from the place where they were quartered.

Secondly, There being by a special providence directed just to a place p. 55where they found so easie entrance, which if they had missed ▪ they could never have made a way through the Hedge, with which they had surrounded the Pa…lizadoes of the Fort in half a dayes time.

And Thirdly, If they had entred by the way left by the Indians for passage, they might have been cut off, before they could have come near their Fortification.

Lastly, In directing their motion, to begin the Assault just at the day they did, for if they had deferred but a day longer, there fell such a storm of Snow the next day, that they could not have passed through it, in divers weeks after: A…d then on the sudden there fell such a Thaw, that melted away both Ice and Snow, so that if they had deferred till that time, they could have found no p…ss…ge into their fortified place.

All w…ich considerations put toge…her, make it a signal favour of God to carry th…m through so many difficulties to accomplish their desired end. For af…er they were retired from their quarters, but sixteen miles from that p…ce, the…e was so great want of Provision, the Vessels being frozen in at the Ha…bour about Cape Cod, that should have brought th…m… elief, and t…e Frost and Snow set in so violently, that it was not p…ssib…e for them, with all the Force they could make (so many of their ab…est Souldiers b…ing slain and wounded) to have made another onset: But the goodness of Almighty God was most of all to be admired, that notwithstanding, all the hardship they indured that …, in very cold Lodgings, hard Marches, Scarcity of Provision, yet not one man was known to dy by any disease or bodily distemper, save them that perished of their wounds.

Our Forces being compelled by the foresaid …ccasions, to ly still some Weeks after, hoping also that the Enemy so sorely broken, would gladly have sued for peace: But as was said of old, God hardned their hearts to their own ruine and destruction afterwards. For as soon as our Souldiers were able to March, finding that all the Enemies overtures of peace, and prolonging of treaties, was only to gain time that they might get away into the Woods. They pursued after them, and sometimes came upon their Rear, but then they would immediately fly an hundred wayes at once into Swamps, so as our men could not follow them, or if they did, could not see two of them together ▪ so that now there was little good like to be done, unless they could take them at some advantage. At length having spent all their Provision, and tiring themselves in pursuing of them six…y or seventy miles, up thro…gh the Woods towards Malberough and Lancaster, Towns that ly in the Road to Connecticot, having killed and taken near seventy of them: our Souldiers were ordered to p. 56return towards Boston, to recruit themselves, supposing that the Narrhagansets, and those with them were so enfeebled that they would have no mind suddenly to assault any of the Engiish Towns.

If any desire a more particular account of the loss which we sustaind at the taking of the Narhaga…set Fort, December 19th. 1665. they may take it as here it followes.

Besides the six Captains mentioned before, that either were slain in the assault, or dyed afterwards of their wounds, to whom may be reckoned Lieut. Vpham, that dyed lately at Boston, of the wounds he then received

There were slain and wounded.

If there had not been so great a distance between the place of the fight and their Quarters, and so much cold attending them in their retiring thereunto, some better account might have been given of that expedition, then now they were able to do. For a March of sixteen or eighteen miles is too much to breathe a fresh Souldier, unless he were well mounted, but enough to kill the heart of them that have been wearied with a long and tedious fight. As for the coldn…ss of the weather, although it be a good Be some to sweep the Cha…ber of the Air (which might be the reason there was no more Diseases amongst them) yet it is an unwelcome Companion to wearied, especially to wounded men, in so …ong a Retreat.

But the want of Provision falling in conjunction with the unseasonableness of the Weather, and length of the way hindred our Forces from p. 57… attempt upon the enemy, which if they could have attended, it was thought it might have put an end to our troubles; but he that holdeth the scales of victory in his hand, turneth them to which side, and by what degrees pleaseth himself best.

The rest of the winter was spent in fruitless Treaties about a peace, both sides being well wearied with the late desperate Fight, were willing to refresh themselves the remaining part of the winter, with the short slumber of a pretended peace, at least with a talk or Dream thereof: our Commanders aim therein was Christian and good, if it had proceeded, sc. to have prevented the shedding of more bloud: And possibly some of the elder and wiser of the enemy, did really desire what was pretended by them all, (for they had now full proof of the valour and resolution of the English, which some of them upon former successes might be ready to question) and they could not but see their destruction already begun, in the loss of their dwellings, and all their provision, as well as the slaughter of the best part of their fighting men; but either through consciousness of their barbarous treachery, and falshood they could not trust others, and so were willing to run the utmost hazard, as people hardned to their own destruction. The particular passages of the treaty being carried on by the enemy only in pretence, and by our men (that soon discerned their fraud) rather out of nece…ty, to conceal their incapacity of engaging them anew, then any real expectation of a good effect, are not worthy the relating. However though the Foot were unable to doe any Service in the depth of the snow, & sharpness of the cold, The Troop was sent out upon all occasions to scout about the Country, who brought in daily much of the enemies corn and Beans, which they had hid in Barns under the ground, or at least kept them from making use of their own provision, or spoiling the English Cattle; now and then also bringing in Prisoners from their Quarters, as they were stragling about to get victuals.

On the twenty seventh of December, Capt. Prenti…e was sent into Pom…ams Country, where they burnt near an hundred Wigwams, but found never an Indian in any of them.

On the 28th, of December a Squaw was sent to them, who had been taken in the Fight, with a pro…er of Peace, if they would submit to such Tearms as were propounded; the principal of which was, the delivering up all Philips Indians that were with them; The Squaw returned not pretending that she was lame and unable to come again; bu… the thirtieth of December, an Indian came …nom the Sachems with seeming thanks for the peace profered, yet complained, we made war upon them and gave p. 58them no notice; but his mouth was soon stopped, by the answer which was made him: he owned, as the Squaw had said before, that they lost three hundred of their best fighting men, and so did two Prisoners of theirs taken Ianuary the 4th, whereof one being of Philips Company was put to death. The Messenger that was sent was fairly dismissed, with the express mention of what tearm… they must expect, if they desired a peace.

Ian. There came two Messengers from them, as they said to make way for a treaty of Peace; who laid the blame upon Canonchet, that came down to Boston, in October last, to confirm the peace with the Commissioners of the united Colonyes, as if he had misinformed them; viz. that they were not by the former treaty to have delivered up the Mompanoogs, or Philips Indians, untill the said Canonchets Brother one of the Hostages at Hartford, was released. This was but a meer pretence, for he and they too better understood the particulars of the agreement: For by chance the Articles which they had of the peace concluded with them were found open (whether purposely or accidentally was not known) in a Wigwam in the Fort when it was taken, so as they could …ot be ignorant of the Articles of the Agreement

Ian. 5. An English child of about three or four years old, taken from Warwick, was sent in to put the better pretence upon the treaty mentione….

Ian. 8. The Messengers were sent back, and told what they must trust to. In the afternoon a Messenger came from Ninigrtt the old Sachem of Narrhagansets, who brought a letter from Mr. Stanton the Interpreter, signifying the reallity of the said Ninigret his friendship to the English, and the streights of the enemy, that co…n was two shillings a pint with them. Yet notwithstanding all their difficultyes, they rather delayed the time till they could get away, then really endeavoured the making a peace, as was soon manife… For that young insolent Sachem Canonchet, and Panoquin, said they …uld fight it out to the last man, rather then they would become Servants to the English.

Ian. 10. Fresh supplyes of souldiers came up from Boston, wading …hrough a sharp storm of snow, that bit some of them by the heels with th… frost. The next day one that came with them going out with the Scouts, fell amongst the Indians Barns, in one of which, as he was groping to find corn for the relief of his horse, he catched hold of an Indians hair under the leaves, who presently held up his hands, when the souldier was drawing his sword, to spare his life, which was granted; but after he was brought to the Head-quarters, he would owne nothing p. 59but what was forced out of his mo…th, by the woolding of his head with a cord, wherefore he was presently judged to dye as a Wompanoog.

Ian. 12. Another Messenger came from Canonicus, desiring the space of a month longer, wherein to issue the treaty, which so provoked the Commander of our Forces, that they resolved to have no more Treatyes with the enemy; but prepare to assault them, with Gods assistance as soon as ever the season would permit; and it was high time to take up that resolution, for within a few dayes after, they understood by some that were taken Prisoners; that the enemy were gone, or going into the Nipmuck Country.

Within a few dayes after, about the 16th. Ian. the scouts brought in one Ioshuah Tift a Renegado English-ma…, of Providence, that upon some discontent amongst his neighbours, had turned Indian, married one of the Indian Squaws, renounced his Rellgion, nation and natural Parents all at once, fighting against them. He was taken by Capt. Fenner of Providence, who with some of his neighbours were pursuing some Indians that had driven away their Cattle, This Tift being one of the Company was wounded in the knee, and so was seized by the English▪ he had in his hab…t conformed himself to them amongst whom he lived. After ex…mination he was condemned to dy the death of a Traitor. As to his Religion he was found as ignorant as an Heathen, which no doubt caused the fewer tears to be shed at his Funeral, standers by being unwilling to lavish pitty upon him that had divested himself of nature it self, as well as Religion, in a time when so much pitty was needed elsewhere, and nothing left besides wherewith to relieve the Sufferers.

Ian. 21. Capt. …entice his Troop being abroad met with a Party of the enemy, of whom they took two Prisoners and killed nine; in which exploit, something hapned very remarkable, for one W. D…dge of Salem riding in company with another Friend, they hapned to meet with two Indians, the said Dodge being better horsed then his friend, made after the foremost, leaving hi… friend to deal with the hindmost, but his Pistol missed firing, whereupon the Indian taking him by the leg turn'd him off his horse, and getting upon him was about killing him with his knife, which W. Dodge by chance espyed, and came time enough to rescue his friend, and dispatch the Indian lying upon him, and yet overtook the first Indian he was pursuing, time enough to doe his business also: by that meanes he did three good offices at once, saved the life of one Friend, and slew two of his Enemyes. But within two or three dayes after, the weather much altering from what it was, induced our Forces to take the first opportunity to pursue the enemy, who as p. 60understood by Messengers from Providence, were now upon their flight into the Nipmuck Country: But so many difficultyes were cast in their way, that they could not be ready time enough to prevent the mischief they did at Warwick, as they took their Farewell of their Country: For,

Ian. 27. They dispoyled Mr. Carpenter of two hundred sheep, and fifty head of Neat Cattle, and fifteen horses; all which they drove along with them, and were gone too far to be rescued before our Forces set out. Two that belonged to the said Carpenter were wounded, and one of the enemies slain. As they marched after the enemy, they found a good house burned, with a barn belonging to it. They perceived also that the enemy dealt much in Horse-flesh, meeting with no less then sixty horses heads, in one place which they had left behind them. Our Souldiers in their pursuit came upon their Reer, killed and took about seventy of them, yet never could come to charge them, for they would presently betake themselves into Swamps, and not two of them run together, so as they saw it was an endless work to proceed further in the chase of such an enemy; but our Forces having pursued them into the woods between Marlberough and Brookfield in the Road toward C…nnecticut, were constrained to turn down to Boston in the beginning of February for want of provision, both for themselves and their horses, which gave an occasion to the losse of those lesser Towns that were destroyed by the Nipnet Indians who presently joyned with the Narrhagansets, upon their first approach, as shall be related after wards.

About the tenth of February next, some hundreds of the Indians whether Nipnets or Nashaway men (is uncertain) belonging to him, they call Sagamore Sam, and possibly some of the sto…test of the Narrhagansets that had escaped the Winter brunt fell upon Lancaster a small Village of about fifty or sixty Families, and did much mischief, burning most of the Houses that were not Garisoned: and which is most sad and awful to consider, the House of Mr. Rowlandson, Minister of the said Lancaster, which was Garisoned with a competent number of the Inhabitants▪ yet the Fortification of the House being on the b…ck side, closed up with Fire-wood, the Indians got so near, as to fire a Leantoo, which burning the House immediately to the ground, all the persons therein, were put to that hard choice, either to perish by the fl…mes with the House, or to yield themselves into the hands of those cruel Salvages, which last (considering that a living Dog is better then a dead Lyon) they chose, and so were forty two persons surprised by the Indians, above twenty of the Women and Children they carried away Captive, a ruesul spectacle to behold, the rest being Men, they killed in p. 61the place, and reserved for further misery: and many of the rest were not slain in fighting, were killed in attempting to escape. The Minister himself was occasionally a…sent, to seek help from the Governour and Council, to defend that place, who returning, was entertained with the …ragical news of his Wife and Children surprized, and being carried away by the Enemies, and his House turned into Ashes, yet it pleased God so to uphold his heart, comforting himself in his God, as David at Ziklag, that he would alwayes say, he believed he should see his Wife and Children again, which did in like manner soon come to pass within five or six months after; all save the youngest, which being wounded at the first, died soon after among the Indians.

And such was the goodness of God to those poor Captive Women, and Children, that they found so much favour in the sight of their Enemies, that they offered no wrong to any of their persons, save what they could not help, being in many wants themselves. Neither did they offer any uncivil Carriage to any of the Females, nor ever attempted the chastity of any of them, either being restrained of God, as was Abimelek of old, or by some other accidental cause, withheld them from doing any wrong in that kind.

Upon the report of this Disaster Capt. Wadsworth then at Malberough with about forty resolute men, adventuring the rescuing of the Town that was remaining: and having recovered a Bridge they gat over safe, though the Planks were pulled off by the Enemy, and being led up in a way, not discovered by them, they forced the Indians for the present to quit the place, after they had burnt and destroyed the better half of it. Yet afterwards it not being judged tenable, it was abandoned to the pleasure of the insulting Foe.

Ten dayes after they were so flushed with this success, that two or three hundred of them came wheeling down to Medfield a Town twenty miles from Boston, westward from Dedham, which they surprized very early in the morning (and though there were one hundred and sixty Souldiers in it or more, besides the Inhabitants) they burnt near one half of the Town, killing about twenty persons, but by the resistance of the Souldiers, as soon as ever they could be gotten together (it being at or before break of day, none in the least s…specting such an assault so early) they were quickly forced to forsake the place, and so (not without some loss) took their way to Plimouth Colony.

The Western Towns above Connecticut, were the chief Seat of the War, and felt most of the mischiefs ther…of in the end of the year 1675. but the Scene is now to be changed; and the other Towns and the Villages p. 62that ly Eastward nearer Boston, must bare their part in the like Tragedies: for as was said before, the Narrbagansets having been driven out of the Country, fled through Nipnet Plantations, towards Watch…set Hills meeting with all the Indians that had harboured all Winter in those Woods about Nashaway, they all combined together against the English, yet divided their numbers, and one half of them were observed to bend their course toward Plimouth, taking Medfield in their way, which they endeavoured to burn and spoile, Feb, 21. 1675. as their fellows had done Lancaster ten dayes before.

The surprizal of this Medfield in regard of some remarkable circumstances it was attended with, is not unworthy a more particular Relating the manner thereof: the loss of Lancaster had sufficiently awakened and alarmed the neighbouring Villages, all to stand upon their guard; and some had obtained Garison Souldiers for their greater security, as was the case with the Town of Medfield, within twenty two miles of Boston. And at that time were lodged therein several Garison Souldiers, besides the Inhabitants; yet being billated up & down in all quarters of the town could not be gathered together till a great part of the Town was set on fire, and many of the Inhabitants slain, which how it could be effected is strange to believe: But most of those inland Plantations being over run with young wood (the Inhabitants being every where apt to engross more Land into their hands then they were able to subdue) as if they were seated in the mi…st of a heap of Bushes: their Enemies took the advantage thereof, and secretly over night, conveyed themselves round about the Town, some getting under the sides of their B…rns and sences of their Orchards, as is supposed, where they lay hid under that covert, till break of day, when they suddenly set upon sundry Houses, shoo…ing them that came first out of their doors, and then fired their Houses, especially those houses where the Inhabitants were repaired to Garisons, were fit for the purpose: some were killed as they attempted to fly to their Neigbo…rs for shelter: some were only wounded, and some taken alive and carried Captive: in some Houses the Husband running away with one childe, the wife with another, of whome the one was killed, the other escaped: they began at the East end of the Town where they fired the House of one Samuel Morse, that seems to have been a signal to the rest to fall on in other parts: most of the Houses in the West or Southwest end of the Town were soon burnt down: and generally when they burnt any out houses, the Cattle in them were burnt also. Two Mills belonging to the Town were burnt also: a poor old man of near an hundred years old, was burnt in one of the Houses that were consumed p. 63by fire. The Lieutenant of the Town, Adams by name, was shot down by his own door, and his Wise mortally wounded by a Gun fired afterwards accidentally in the House. After the burning of forty or fifty houses and barns, the Cannibals were frighted away out of the Town over a Bridge that lies upon Charls-River, by the shooting off a piece of Ordnance 2 or 3 times: when they had passed over the Bridge they fired one end thereof, to hinder our men from pursuing them, they were thought to be above five hundred: There were slain and mortally wounded seventeen or eighteen persons, besides others dangerously hurt. The loss sustained by the Inhabitants amounted to above two thousand pounds. This mercy was observed in this sad providence, that never a Garison house was lost in this surprisal; nor any of the principal Dwellings, so as the chiefest and best of their Building escaped the sury of the Enemy, who as they passed the Bridge left a writing behind them, expressing something to this purpose, that we had provoked them to wrath, and that they would fight with us this twenty years (but they fell short of their expectation by nineteen) adding also, that they had nothing to loose, whereas we had Houses, Barns and Corn: these were some of the bold threats used by the barbarous crew, but their rage shall proceed no further then the counsel of God had determined. The week before was heard a very hideous cry of a kennel of Wolves round the Town, which raised some of the Inhabitants, and was looked upon by divers as an ominous presaging of this following Calamity.

Another assault was feared, but as soon as the Souldiers could be g… thered together, they turned their backs, as if they never intended to visit them more: whether these Indians went when they left Medfield is not so certainly known; the Souldiers in the Town not having opportunity to pursue them over the River, by reason that the Bridge was part of it burned: but it is most probable that they took their way toward Plimouth, and continued about that side of the Country for the future, waiting opportunities to do what mischief they could to the English in those parts: For within a month after this assault of Medfield, there was near six hundred of them seen about Patuxit and Providence, where Capt. Pierce with about fifty of his men were lost, though with no great advantage to the Enemy, who at that time lost above double that number: our worthy Captains in this and other exploits being called to imitate Sampson, who was content to dye with his enemies, that he might overthrow them thereby: it havin…g so fallen out with many of our choice Commanders and Souldiers at Deerfield, Narrhaganse…, Patuxit, and likewise not long after at Sudbury.

p. 64The Governour and Council of Plimouth perceiving by the report of these outrages committed upon the Towns of the Massachusets, that they were like to be visited this Spring by their old Neighbours, sent out Capt. Peirce of S…ituate about the latter end of March, with about fifty English, and twenty of their Christian Indians about Cape Cod who proved none of his worst Souldiers, as the sequel of this his last expedition will declare.

Capt. Pierce, as is said before, being sent out to pursue the Enemy, marched towards Patuxit, where he understood the Indians were many of them gathered together: he being a man of resolute courage, was willing to engage them though upon never so great disadvantage: some say the Indians by counterfeiting, drilled him into a kind of Ambush, possibly more of them discovered themselves after he began to engage then he was aware of: and being gotten over the River in pursuit of them, where he discovered so great a number of them, he drew down towards the side of the River, hoping the better by that means to prevent their surrounding of him, but that proved his overthrow, which he intended as his greatest advantage: for the Indians getting over the River, so galled him from thence, that he was not able to defend himself thus assaulted on all sides, & himself not being able to travel much a foot, was thereby hindred from retiring to any better place in time; so as he saw himself constrained to fight it out to the last; which he did with most undaunted Courage, & as is said, to the slaughter of an hundred & forty of his enemies, before himself and his Company were …ut off. It is said also that being apprehensive of the danger he was in, by the great numbers of the enemy, like to overpovver him vvith their multitude, he sent a Messenger timely enough to Providence, for relief, but, as Solomon saith, A faithful Messenger is as Snow in harvest, another is as smoak to the eyes and vinegar to the teeth. (vvhether through …loth or Covvardize, is not much material) this message vvas not delivered to them to vvhom it vvas immediately sent; by accident only some of Reh…both understanding of the danger after the evening exercise (it being on the Lords day, March 26. 1676.) repaired to the place, but then it was too late to bring help, unless it vvere to be Spectators of the dead C…rkases of their friends, and to perform the last office of love to them.

It is vvorth the noting, vvhat faithfulness and courage some of the Christian Indians vvith the said Capt. Pierce shevved in the Fight: one of them, A…os by name, after the Captain vvas shot in his leg or thigh, so as he was not able to stand any looger, would not leave him, but cha…ging his gun several times, fired stoutly upon the enemy, till he p. 65saw that there was no possibility for him to do any further good to Capt. Pierce, nor yet to save himself, if he stayed any longer; therefore he used this policy, perceiving the Enemy had all blacked their faces, he also stooping down, pulled out some blacking out of a pouch he carried with him, discoloured his face therewith, and so making himself look as like Hohamack… as any of his Enemies: he ran amongst them a little while and was taken for one of themselves, as if he had been searching for the English, until he had an opportunity to escape away among the Bushes: ther… … imitating the Cuttle …, which when it is pursued, or in dang…r, casteth out of its body a thick humor, as black as ink, through which it passes away unseen by the pursuer.

It is reported of another of these Cape Indians (Friends to the English of Pli…outh) that being pursued by one of the Enemies, he betook himself to a great Rock, where he sheltred himself for a while. at last perceiving that his Enemy lay ready with his Gun on the other side, to discharge upon him, as soon as he stir'd never so little away from the place where he stood: in the issue he thought of this politick Stratagem to save himself, and destroy his Enemy, (for as Solomon said of old, Wisd…me is better then Weapons of War:) he took a stick, and hung his Hat upon it, and then by degrees gently lifted it up, till … …thought it would be seen, and so become a fit mark for the other that watched to take aym at him: the other taking it to be his head, fired a Gun, and shot through the Hat; which our Christian Indian perceiving, boldly held up his head and discharged his own Gun upon the real head, not the hat of his Adversary, whereby he shot him dead upon the place, and so …ad liberty to march away with the spoils of of his Enemy.

The like subtle device was used by another of the Cap… Indians at th… same time, being one of them that went out with Capt. Pierce; for being in like manner pursued by one of Philips Indians, as … former was▪ he nimbly got behind the but end of a Tree newly turned up by the roots, which carried a considerable breadth of the surfac… of the Earth along with it (as is very usual in these parts, where the roots of the Trees ly very …eet in the ground) which stood up above the Indians height, in form of a large Shield, only it was somewhat too heavy to be easily weilded, or removed: the Enemy Indian …ay with his gun r…ady to shoot him down, upon his first disserting his station; but a subtle wit taught our Christian Netop a better device, for boring a little hole through this his broad Shield, he discerned his enemy, who could not so easily discern him; a good Mu…ketier need never desire a fairer mark to shoot at, whereupon discharging his Gun, he shot him down: what can be more just then that he should himself be killed who p. 66lay in wait to kill another man?

—…eque enim L…x jn…tior ulla …st,

Quàm necis A…tifices arte perire su….

Instances of this nature shew the sub l…ty and dexterousness of th…se Natives, if they were improved in …eats of Arms: and possibly if some of the English had not been too shye in making use of such of them as were well …f…cted to their interest, they need never have suffered so much from their enemies: it having been found upon late experience, that many of them have proved not only faithful, but very serviceable and helpful to the english; they usually proving good Seconds, though they have not ordinarily confidence enough to make the first Onset.

But to return to the proceeding of the Indians toward P…imouth.

Feb, 25. They ass…ulted Weymouth, and burned seven or eight houses & b…rns there, which Weymouth is a town lying towards Plimouth Colony.

March 12. following, They assaulted the house of one Mr. Clark in Plimouth, cruelly murthering eleven persons that belonged to two Families that lodged therein, and then fired the house. The cruelty towards these persons was the more remark…ble, in that they had often received much kindness from the said Clarke. It is the usual custome of such Debtors, to use them worst, of whom they have taken up much kindness upon trust before …and.

March 17th. Another party of them fell upon Warwick, a place beyond Philips Land; toward the Narrhaganset Country, where they burnt down to the ground all but a few houses, left standing as a Monument of their barbarous fury. The like …ischief was acted by them upon the houses of the E…glish remaining in the Narrhaganset Country.

This 26 of March being the first day of the week, as the first of the year after our Iulian account, seemed ominous at the first on sundry accounts, thr…atning a gloomy time, yet proved in the issue, but as a louring morning before a lightsom… day:

For▪ besides the burning of Marlburr…u…h, at least a great part of it on the same day; a very sad accid…t f…ll …ut the same time at Springfield, as shall he specified hereafter; … th…t which b…fell … Pierce, which is already related, with whom fe… so many of his … on the same day also: yet had the Enemy no c…use to …, being … by the valour of the English, to give so many of their own lives …: some few made their escape, as is said by … the three forementioned, another by a like shift, not only s…ve… …, but helped an English man to escape also, whom he ran after with …is Haatchet in his hand, as if he were about to k…ll him; whereby both of them made a shift to get away: the rest were all lost (the unfaithfulness of the Messenger being as was intimated b…for…, p. 67the cause of their slaughter) unto a few that hardly escaped by the advantage of the bushes, giving them opportunity to pass unseen, yet was it confess…d by a Prisoner of the enemy, taken afterward by the English, that they …o…t an hundred and forty in that encounter. And had not the said English by wading after the enemy over a River, made their amunition useless, there had not half so many of them been cut off. From thence they turned back towards Rehoboth near Swanzy, where on March. 28. they burnt th…rty Barns, and near upon forty dwelling houses, thereby as it were threatning the utter desolation of that poor town; and so proceeding on that side the Country, they burnt the very ne…t day about thirty houses in Providence in the way toward Narrnaganset.

But it was now full sea with Philip his affairs, for soon after the tide of his successes began to turn about the Sea coast, which made way for the falling of the water up higher in the Country. For about this time newes came to Boston that our neighbours and friends of Connecticut Colony hearing of the attempts of the enemy on that side of the C…untry, se…t a p…rty of their Souldiers, under the Command o… Capt. George Denison with some friendly Indians, part Mohegins and Pequods. part Nianticks belonging to Ninigret a Narrhagans…t Sachem, who n…ver engaged in this quarrell against the English: who in pursuit of the enemy; meeting with a considerable part of them about the Narrhaganset Country, killed and took forty and five of them, without the loss of one of their own men. This Victory was the more considerable, in that several of the chief Captains of the enemy were at this time killed or taken; amongst whom was Canon…het (who came down to get seed-corn to plan… at Squakbea… ) he was the chief Sachem of all the Narrnagansets: the son of Mianto…imoh, and the heir of all his fathers pride and insolency, as well as of his malice against the English, a most perfi…ious villain, who had the last October been at Boston, pretending to make a firm pe…ce with the English, but never intending to keep one Article thereof: Therefore as a just reward of his wickedness was he adjudged by those that took him to dye, which was accordingly put in execution at Stonington, whither he was carryed: There his head being cut off was carried to Hartford: The M hegins and Pequod… that had the honour to take him prisoner, having the honour likewise of doing …ustice upon him, & that by the prudent advice of the English Commanders, thereby the more firmly to engage the said Indians against the treacherous Narrhagansets. There are differing … reports about the manner of his taking, and by whom, whither the Indians or the English first took hi…, however it was sufficient ma…ter of rejoycing to all the Colonyes of the English, p. 68that the Ring-leader of almost all this mischief, and great Incendiary betwixt the Narhagansets and us, dyed himself by that sword of warre which he had drawn against others.

Not long after Capt. George Denison of Stonington, with sixty six Vo…unteirs, and an hundred and twelve …equods, ki…led and took seventy & six of the enemy, amongst whom were two Narrhaganset Sachems, one of which was the Grand-child of Pomam (who is accounted the most warlike and the best souldier of all the Narrhaganset Sachems) taking at the same time 160▪ bushels of the enemyes corn, no small damage to our Enemies at that time, and all this without the loss of one man of the said Captains followers.

The greatest mischief which after this time was done by the enemy in Plimouth Colony, was by burning of houses and burns, which they might easily doe, the Inhabitants in most of those Towns being repaired to garison houses for their greater security: For about the 20th. of April, fifty of the enemy burnt about nineteen houses and barns at Scituate, but were so resolutely encountred by a few of the Inhabitants, that they were driven away, and thereby prevented from doing of further mischief.

Not long after, May. 8. they burned about seventeen houses and barns in Briage-water, a small town in Plimouth Colony, twenty seven miles on this side Taunton▪ but it pleased God just at the time to send a Thunder shower, which put out the fi…e, or else it might have prevailed much further.

It is very remarkable, that the Inhabitants of the said Bridge-water never yet lost one …, the sword of the enemy▪ though the town is scituate within Plimouth Colony, yet have they helped to destroy many of the enemy None knowes either love or hatred by all that is before them in things of this nature: nor ought standers by that may escape think, themselves less sinners then those that so perish by the sword of the enemy: Yet about this time four of the Inhab…nts of … were killed, as they were at their work in the field, … by it is said, thir…y children were made Fatherless: So unsearchable are the judgments of the Almighty, and his wayes past finding out.

During these Calamities, Gods Dispensations have been ve…y vari…us, as well in reference unto Towns and Villages, as unto pe…s…ns: As if some places had been by special providence marked out to preservation, as others unto destruction; of which no other reason can be rendred according unto man, then the good pleasure of God so to o…der and d…spose of events, which sometimes as Solomon says are all one to the good, …nd to the clean, and to the unclean.

p. 69And because special notice is taken of the Town of Bridge-water, the which although it is seated, as it were, in the midst of danger, and hath been often assaulted by considerable numbers of the Enemy, yet never lost…any one of their Inhabitants, young or old; a particular account shall here be given of the most remarkable passages of divine providence relating to that Plantation since the War began. Iune 26 1675 When Philips malice against the English, mixed with a particular prejudice against Governour Winsl…w, began to boyl up to the height of an open Rebellion, the people of Swanzy being like to be distressed by the Indians, a Post was instantly sent to the Governour of Plimouth, the way lying through Bridge water, the said Post returned the next day: and about 9 or 10 of the clock, as he passed through the Town, left an Order from the Governour for the raising of twenty men, well armed and furnished with Horses, to b… forthwith dispatched away for the relief of Swanzy; seventeen were all that could be raised on the sudden, who were sent thither that night, and were the first that were upon their ma…ch in all the Country; and possibly they fared not the worse for their forwardness: as Deborah the Proph…tess, blessed God for them that offered themselves willingly among the People: These seventeen of Bridgewater were Iune 21. ordered by Capt. Bradford to Metapoisit a place at twelve miles distance from Swanzy, to strengthen the Garison at one Bourns House, wherein were seventy persons, amongst whom were only found sixteen men. After they had ma…ched five miles of their way, having Mr. Browns Son for their Pilot, they met with some Swanzy people, newly turned out of their Houses (by which they were to pass) who having not as yet resisted unto Blood, yet made doleful lamentations, wringing of their hands; and bewailing of their losses, very much also perswading Bridge-water men to turn back, because of the danger, but they having so clear a call, had also more cou…age, then cowardly to desert the cause of God and his People, left they should the…eby betray the lives of so many of their friends into the Enemies hands; and so by the good hand of God towards them, came safe to Metapoiset that night.

The next day in the morning, a part of them went to guard Mr. Brown their Pilot back to his quarters; in their return they came suddenly upon a party of Indians, about thirty in all; they were within shot one of another, but the English having no Commission to fight, till they were assaulted, and not being impeached in their passage, they returned safe to their Garison at Metapoiset: the Indians presently drawing off, and fi…ing three Guns (though not with intent to do them any p. 70hurt, as was conceived) gave a shout, and so left them, when this party of the English drew near to their Garison, they met with a company of Carts going to fetch Corn from an house deserted near by, about a quarter of a mile off from Mr. Bournes House, t…e Souldiers gave them notice of the Indians which they had discovered, and withal advised them by no means to venture any more, because of the danger; but they were resolved notwithstanding these earnest perswasions of the Souldiers to have another turn, which they soon found to be to the peril of their own lives, six of them being presently after either killed right out, or mortally wounded, as soon as they came to the Barn where was the Corn; these six are said to be the first that were slain in this quarrel. The Souldiers at the Garison hearing the Guns, made what haste they could to the place, but being most of them in that interim, gone to look their Horses they could not come time enough to the relief of their friends, yet upon their approach, they who had done the mischief presently fled away: one Iones hard pursued by two Indians was by their coming delivered from the extent of the Enemies cruelty, but having received his mortal wound, had only that favour thereby, to dy in the Arms of his friends, though by the wounds received from his Enemies.

The next week, fifteen of those Souldiers looking after their Horses, fell into an Ambush of twenty of the Indians, but being prepared for the encounter, they discharged their Guns upon each other: but ou… men received no hurt, some of them felt the winde of the bullets passing by their faces; what damage the Enemy received is uncertain, yet some of the English report they found some of their enemies dead bodies in the place afterward.

Thus were they not only preserved in many perils themselves, but became instrumental also; for the preservation of most of that Garison, who with their goods by their means, with the help of a small party of Plimouth Forces sent thither after the six were killed (as is mentioned before) were soon after transported safely to Road-Island.

Many outrages were that Summer committed upon their Neighbours at Taunton and Namasket, yet it pleased God to protect this poor Town of Bridge-water from any other hurt; till the beginning of April next, when themselves with their Neighbours of Taunton and Rehoboth, were strongly solicited to desert their Dwellings, and repair down to the Towns by the Sea side, but God encouraged them to keep their stations notwithstanding the extream danger then presented. It is reported that Philip gave order that Taunton and Bridge-water should not be destroyed till the last, which is all the favour to be expected from an enemy, p. 71but these things are only in the hands of God, and not to be determined by man.

April 9. being Lords day, A small party of the Enemy came down upon the said Bridge-water, burnt an out-house and barn, broke up and rifled several other houses in the same quarter of the Town, which are notwithstanding yet remaining; they sent out a party of their men to pursue them that night, and many dayes after, but could not hear of them.

May 7 the Lords day also (no doubt but the betterness of the day, will increase the badness of their deed attempted thereon) they had intelligence of a great body of Indians dispersed that way, with intent to have fallen upon the Town that ve…ay, but were casually prevented by a great deal of rain that fell the night before: however they were resolved to foreslow no opportunity, wherefore on the next day (May 8. about three hundred of them, one Tisg…ogen being their chief Leader, at 8 or 9 in the morning made an assault upon the east end of the Town, on the South side of the River: many of the Inhabitants stayed at home that morning because of the intelligence the day before, and so were the more ready to entertain them; some that not taking that warning ve…tured into the field about their occasions, were in danger of surprizal, but by the special favour of God, escaped, and came time enough to help defend their own and their neighbours dwellings, being shot at, and hard pursued a considerable way.

The Indians presently began to fire the town, but it pleased God so to spirit and encourage several of the Inhabitants, issuing out of their Garison houses; that they fell upon them with great resolution, and beat them off; at the same instant of time, the Lord of Hosts also fighting for them from heaven, by sending a storm of thunder and rain very seasonably, which prevented the burning of the houses which were fired: The Souldiers also fighting under the banner of Gods special protection … so successful in repelling the Enemy, that they neither had any of the … or t…ken, and but one wounded. The Indians by this … resi…tance, being beaten off to the skirts of the Town, made a fresh onset upon a other quarter thereof, on the north side of the River where they had done much more mischief, but that God stirred up sundry of the people to venture out of their fortified houses, who fired upon the enemy, and beat them …rom their dwellings, so as in the evening they drew off to an out-house, three miles distant from the town: the next day the Inhabitants expected another assault, but the enemy having burned the house & barn, where they kept their Rendezvouze over night, & one p. 72house more not far distant, they marched all clear away for that time.

Thus it pleased God so to order his dispensations, toward this small Town, as a brand plucked out of the fire, that they did but just taste of this bitter cup, which others drank deeper of; yet had they not such mercy, as these had, mixed therewith: under God, the courage of the Inhabitants was a great means of their preservation, for they fired so stoutly upon the Enemies, that they durst not come very near any of the Garisoned Houses, saluting them only at a distance. God was eminently seen upholding the spirits of all sorts, men and women, so as no consternation of minde was seen upon any of them, during the whole time of the dispute.

In this assault they lost but thirteen dwelling-houses, whereof five only were in the Town (the rest being out-houses and deserted for the present) with some few Barns, and some of thei… Cattle; all which was a very inconsiderable loss, in comparison of what befell others, and themselves might have endured, if God had not by his special favour prevented,

Iuly 14, & 15. Another party of Indians came down upon the North-west side of the Town, but with no better success; for they had no Commission from the Lord of Hosts to touch any of the persons of the Inhabitants, their power reaching only to the slaying of their Cattle at this time.

Iuly 18, 19, 20. They sent our parties after the Enemy to pursue them by their Track, who fell upon some of them. On the twentieth they took sixteen, whereof two were men: on this day they had to assist them, it seems some of the Bay Indians sent them from Captain Brattle; some of the Captives informed, that there were but 70 or 80. in the Company, and but ten or twelve men amongst them: but within a few dayes, these Bridge-water-men, shall finde better success in pursuit of their Enemies, when Philip himself shall hardly escape their hands as shall be seen afterwards.

While one party of the Enemy thus acted their part in and about Plimouth Colony▪ towards the Sea-coast, other parties of them were not idle in the Massachusets Colony, where they assaulted many places, doing what mischief they could by firing of Houses, and killing several persons in the inland Plantations.

March 2. They assaulted Groton: the next day over night Major Willard with seventy Horse came into the Town; forty Foot also came up to their relief from Watertown, but the Indians were all fled, having first burned all the Houses in the Town, sav… four that were Garisoned, p. 73the Meeting-house being the second house they fired, Soon after Capt. Sill was sent with a small Party of Dragoons of 8 Files to fetch off the Inhabitants of Groton, and what was left from the spoyle of the enemy, having under his conduct about sixty Carts, being in depth from front to reer above two mile: when a party of Indians lying in ambush, at a place of eminent advantage, fired upon the front and mortally wounded two of the vaunt Carriers, who dyed both the next night; and might (had God permitted) have done eminent damage to the whole Body, it being a full hour before the whole Body could be drawne up, which was done with care and Courage: but the Indians after a few more shot made▪ without doing harm, retired, and made no further assault upon them, being the same Party of Indians which the day before had burned some part of Chelmsford. Soon after this Village was deserted and destroyed by the enemy: yet was it a special providence, that though the carts were guarded with so slender a Convoy, yet there was not any considerable loss sustained.