Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England, License – Dedication
THe worthy Author of this Narrative (of whose Fidelity we are well assured) by his great pains, and industry in collecting and compiling the several Occurrences of this Indian Warre, from the Relations of such as were present in the particular Actions, hath faithfully, and truly performed the same, as far as best information agreeing could be obtained, which is therefore judged meet for publick view; and we whose Names are underwritten, deputed by the Governour and Councill of the Massachusets Colony to peruse, and licence the same, have and doe accordingly Order it to be imprinted, as being of publick benefit, and judge the Author to have deserved due acknowledgment and Thanks for the same.
Boston, March 29. 1677.
Simon Bradstreet.
Daniel Denison.
Ioseph Dudley.
A NARRATIVE OF THE TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS In NEW-ENGLAND, from the first planting thereof in the year 1607. to this present year 1677. But chiefly of the late Troubles in the two last years, 1675. and 1676.
To which is added a Discourse about the Warre with the PEQUODS In the year 1637.
By W. Hubbard, Minister of Ipswich.
And the Lord said unto Moses, write this for a memoriall in a Book, and rehearse it in the ears of Ioshua; for I will utterly put out the Remembrance of Amalek from under heaven Exod 17 14. Wherefore it is said in the book of the warrs of the Lord, what he did in the red sea, and in Brooks of Ar… Numb: 21 14 As cold waters to a thirst. soul, so is good news from a far Country. Prov. 25. 25.
Expressa Imago, et quasi speculum quoddam vitae humanae est historia, quia talia vel similia semper posi…i… mundo accidere.Th…e. Historia tradit quae facta sint, et quae semper fiat futura, donec eadem manet hominum natura Idem. Historiae cogni…i… …tissima insti…utio, et praeparatio est ad actiones politicas, et illustris Magistra ad perferendas fortunae vices.Polyb.
Published by Authority.
BOSTON; Printed by Iohn Foster, in the year 1677.
To the Honourable JOHN LEVERET Esq Governour of the Colony of the Massachusets; JOSIAH VVINSLOW Esq Governour of the Colony of Plimouth; VVILLIAM LEET Esq Governour of the Colony of Connecticut.
NOtwithstanding the great and unvaluable good that hath in all ages of the World accrued to Mankind by Order and Goverment, yet such is the depravedness of mans nature, and imperfection of his knowledge, that it is as well hard to find out, as difficult to maintain, such a Form and Order of Goverment as will prove a sufficient Fence and security for so great a treasure as is the common good, and publick safety. After the sad and long experience of former times, some have thought no means can be found out so effectual for the upholding and and preserving the same, with all the sacred and civill rights and priviledges therunto belonging, as a liberty for people to designe and choose out from among themselves, the persons that are to be intrusted with those great concerns. Whatever may be said for the extolling the happiness of them that have such an advantage in their hands, all that may be comprehended within the compass of such a power, it is for the present in the principal and leading part thereof devolved upon your selves in all the three Colonies of New-England; who by the choyce of the free people in those your several Jurisdictions, are now called to act your several parts as chief on the publick stage of Goverment. Ever since you have taken your turns at the helm, there have been very boisterous winds and rough Seas, threatning the shipwrack of all; which notwithstanding, you need not be discouraged, while due consideration is had, to whom, and what you have embarqued with you. When once the great Roman Conquerer, and chief founder of their Monarchy, was passing the Adriatick Sea in a disguize, the Pilot being dismayed with the fierceness of the wind, the raging of the waves, his Passenger pulled off his disguize, and bid him be of good courage and not fear, for the carried Caesar, and all his Fortunes: Surely Jesus Christ and all his promises, in which you are not a little concerned, is a far better ground of comfort and encouragement in a stormy season. Luther was wont to say, or did once in a great exigent say, that he had rather ruere cum Christo quàm stare cum Caesare; accounting Christ a better friend, though falling as to the world to trust to, then Caesar standing in power, according to the words of Christ himself, greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the World: So as all such may say with the Prophet, Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy; for when I fall, I shall rise, when I sit in aarkness, the Lord shall be a Light unto me; which I trust your selves have had so much experience of, in these late dark dispensations, that if sometimes you have not seen, yet alwayes you have believed that Light was sowne for the righteous, and that there shall be a cleer breaking forth of the sun, after the tempest is over; what God hath planted, shall not by man, or any of Satans Instruments be plucked up. It is with young Colonies, as it is with trees newly planted, which those winds, as one saith, that are not so boisterous as to blow down, doe so far advantage as to shake them to a greater fastness at the root. The Soveraign Ruler of the World doth usually by such wayes and meanes bring about his peoples good, at the first, not well understood, nor easily brooked, till the quiet fruit of righteousness be discerned to spring up unto all such as are exercised therein. It hath been no small advantage that the staff of Goverment, and the shields of this part of the earth were put into your hands (before the Boar out of the Wood hath broke into this Vineyard) who under God we trust may be found the repairers of the breach, and the Restorers of Pa…hs to dwell in, while both your selves, and those under your charge. and conduct, are looking unto him, who is promised to be the peace of his people when the Assyrian shall come into their land.
The consideration of the power wherewith you are invested, together with the great Wisdome, Faithfulness and Courage by which it hath been managed by you, in your several stations, hath induced me to desire that the Historicall discourse ensuing might pass into publick view under the umbrage of your Protection. If a reason be demanded for the entituling so many names of worth to the patronage of so small and inconsiderable a Volume; I need no other Apology at this time, then I find in the words of the Wise Man; there are cases wherein …n…o are better then one, and a three-fold Cord is not casily …roken: For it being like to pass through your several Jurisdictions, I conceived it might need a p…sport of safe conduct from him that doth preside in either of them. It carries nothing with it but truth, (as I hope will be found) which may wel expect to meet with a ready Welcome, and suitable entertainmen… in every honest mind▪ but all men are not so equally ballanced in their affections as to bear with plain dealing, and give that harmless dove a resting place in their minds for the sole of her soot. Of all Writings, those that are historical, specially while the things mentioned are fresh in memory, and the actors themselves surviving, had need be pursued with a wary…pace. Notwithstanding the great care that hath been taken to give all and every one, any way concerned in the subject of the discourse, their just due, and nothing more or less, yet perhaps some critical Reader will not let every sentence pass without some censure or other. It was once by a great man accounted no small offence in an harmless Poet, that some of his titles were misplaced as they were marshalled up in their order: If any Historian should commit an error paralel thereunto, a pardon, as it may be needed, in such a Script as is the present Narrative, so may it be the better expected while pa…ing up & down under the guard of your authority, yea thô it should cha…ce to be an offence of an higher nature; as the mi…iming of some p…ssages, mistaking the distance of some places, or too often touching upon the same particulars, which could not be well avoided in a Collection of so many occurrents too hastily drawn up, though true, yet unseasonably, or out of due time coming to light without a total omission of some material passages. It was intended at the first only as a private essay, wherein to bind up together the most memorable passages of divine provide…ce, during our late, or former troubles with the Indians, it might have remained in the place where it was first conceived & formed, or been smoothered as an imperfect Embrio, not worthy to see the light, if some such as your selves had not both quickned the being, and hastned the birth thereof. Something of this nature may be of use to posterity, as well as to those of the present Generation, to help them both to call mind, and carry along the memory of such eminent deliverances, a…d sp…cial preservations granted by divine favour to the people here; as it was of old commanded of God himself, that a Register should be kept of those Warrs, which in opposition to others, were in a peculiar manner to be called the Warrs of the Lord; and such are these here treated of, if any, since miraculous deliverances have ceased, may truly be said to deserve that title. If it had fallen into some ab…er hard, it might have been set forth with better choyce of words, and more fit expressions, that might have left a deeper impression on the minds of those who are most concerned to retain it; however it being now like to be brought to publick view, I have presumed to offer it to your selves, as on the accounts forementioned, so also as a testimony of my thankfull and deserved acknowledgment of that wisdome and integrity abundantly shewn forth in the administration of your authority.
Much honoured and Honourable, I have nothing more to adde, but the engagement of my continual and daily prayers to the God of the Spirits of all flesh, that he would carry you through all troubles, difficultyes and tryals you may be conflicting with, whither personal or political, and that he would bless your Councells at home, prosper your enterprizes abroad, and long continue your light in the present Generation, for his own glory, and his peoples good, that after you have served your Generation here, your memory like that of the just, may be blesed, and that you may leave peace as the inheritance of the remaining Israel of God in these ends of the earth, which is and shall be the earnest wish, and constant desire
From my Study 16th. 12th. 1676. of Your most humble and Devoted Servant, VVilliam Hubbard.