Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England, Letter 1 (3 of 4)

Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England · Letter 1 (3 of 4)

p. 138March 13th was the day when the enemy came in a full dody, by their own account four hundred, and p. 139thought by the inhabitants to be not many leſs. The town was at this time (having been put into a fright by the ſad cataſtrophe of Lancaſter, the next bordering town) gathered into five garriſons, four of which were ſo near together, as to be able to command from one to the other, between which were the cattle belonging to thoſe families, driven into paſtures, which afterwards proved their preſervation; the other was near a mile diſtant from the reſt.

THIS morning the Indians (having in the night placed themſelves in ſeveral parts of the town) made their onſet; which began near the four garriſons; for a body of them having placed themſelves in ambuſcado, behind a hill, near one of the garriſons, two of them made diſcovery of themſelves, as if they had ſtood upon diſcovery. At this time divers of the people, not ſuſpecting any ſuch matter (for the day before, many had been upon diſcovery many miles, and found no ſigns of an enemy being ſo near) were attending their occaſions, ſome foddering their cattle, ſome milking their cows, of whom the enemy might eaſily have made a ſeizure, but God prevented; they having another deſign in hand, as ſoon after appeared: Theſe two Indians were at length eſpyed, and the alarm given; whereupon the moſt of the men in the next garriſon, and ſome alſo in the ſecond (which was about eight or nine pole diſtant) drew out and went to ſurprize thoſe two Indians, who kept their ſtation till our men reached the brow of the hill, then aroſe the ambuſh and diſcharged a volley upon them, which cauſed a diſorderly retreat, or rather a rout, in which one was ſlain, and three others wounded: Mean while another ambuſh had riſen, and come upon the back ſide of the garriſon ſo deſerted of men, and pulled down the pallizadoes: The ſoldiery in this rout, retreated not to their own, but paſſed by to the next garriſon, the women and children mean while expoſed to hazard, but by the goodneſs of God made a ſafe eſcape to the other fortified houſe, without any harm, leaving their ſubſtance to the enemy, who made a prey of it, and ſpent the p. 140reſidue of the day in removing the corn and houſhold ſtuff (in which loſs five families were impoveriſhed) and firing upon the other garriſon: Here alſo they took ſome cattle. No ſooner was the ſignal given by the firſt volley of ſhot, but immediately in ſeveral parts of the town at once, did the ſmoke ariſe, they firing the houſes.

IN the afternoon they uſed a ſtratagem not unlike the other, to have ſurprized the ſingle garriſon, but God prevented. An old Indian, if an Indian paſſed along the ſtreet with a black ſheep on his back, with a ſlow pace, as one decrepid; they made ſeveral ſhot at him, but miſſed him, at which ſeveral iſſued out to have taken him alive, but the watchman ſeaſonably …pying an ambuſh behind the houſe, gave the ſignal, whereby they were prevented.

THE night following the enemy lodged in the town, ſome of them in the garriſon they had ſurprized, but the body of them in an adjacent valley, where they made themſelves merry after their ſavage manner. The next morning they gave two or three volleys at Capt. Parker's garriſon, and ſo marched off, fearing as was thought, that ſupply might be nigh at hand. This aſſault of theirs was managed with their wonted ſubtlety and barbarous cruelty; for they ſtript the body of him whom they had ſlain in the firſt onſet, and then cutting off his head, fixed it upon a pole, looking towards his own land. The corpſe of the man ſlain the week before, they dug up out of his grave, they cut off his head and one leg, and ſet them upon poles, and ſtript off his winding ſheet. An infant which they found dead, in the houſe firſt ſurprized, they cut in pieces, which afterward they caſt to the ſwine. There were about forty dwelling houſes burnt at that time, beſides other buildings. This deſolation was followed with the breaking up of the town, and ſcattering of the inhabitants, and removal of the candleſtick after it had been there ſeated above twelve years.

p. 141CONCERNING the ſurprizing of Groton, March 13, there was not any thing much more material than what is already mentioned, ſave only the inſolency of John Monoco, or one eyed John, the chief Captain of the Indians in that deſign; who having by a ſudden ſurprizal, early in the morning, ſeized upon a garriſon houſe in one end of the town, continued in it, plundering what was there ready at hand, all that day; and at night did very familiarly in appearance, call out to Capt. Parker, that was lodged in another garriſon houſe, and entertained a great deal of diſcourſe with him, whom he called his old neighbour; dilating upon the cauſe of the war, and putting an end to it by a friendly peace; yet oft mixing bitter ſarcaſams, with ſeveral blaſphemous ſcoffs and taunts, at their praying and worſhiping God in the meeting-houſe, which he deridingly ſaid he had burnt. Among other things which he boaſtingly uttered that night, he ſaid he burnt Medfield, (though it be not known whether he was there perſonally preſent or no) Lancaſter, and that now he would burn that town of Groton, and the next time he would burn Chelmsford, Concord, Watertown, Cambridge, Charloſtown, Roxbury, Boſton, adding at laſt in their dialect, what me will, me do: Not much unlike the proud Aſſyrian (if his power had been equal to his pride) ſometimes threatened againſt Jeruſalem, but was by the remarkable providence of God, ſo confounded within a few months after, that he was bereft of his four hundred and fourſcore (of which he now boaſted) and only with a few more braggadocio's like himſelf, Sagamore Sam, old Jethro, and the Sagamore of Quobaog, were taken by the Engliſh, and was ſeen (not long before the writing of this) marching towards the gallows (through Boſton ſtreets, which he threatened to burn at his pleaſure) with an halter about his neck, with which he was hanged at the town's end, September 26th, in this preſent year, 1676. So let thine enemies periſh O Lord, and ſuch contempt be poured on all them that open their mouths to blaſpheme thy holy name.

p. 142THINGS looked with a diſagreable face about thoſe parts, at this time, yet though the righteous fall ſeven times, let not their enemies rejoice, for the righteous ſhall riſe again, but their wicked enemies ſhall fall into miſchief, and riſe no more. It was ebbing water with New-England at this time, and a while after; but God ſhall turn the ſtream before it be long, and bring down their enemies to lick the duſt before them.

AETER this, April 17th, Capt. Sill being appointed to keep garriſon at Groton, ſome Indians coming to hunt for ſwine, three Indians drew near the garriſon-houſe, ſuppoſing it to have been deſerted, were two of them ſlain by one ſingle ſhot, made by the Captain's own hands, and the third, by another ſhot made from the garriſon.

THE danger which theſe inland towns were like to be expoſed unto from the enemy, after they were driven out of the Narrhaganſet country, was foreſeen by the Council of the Maſſachuſets, yea they had ſome intimation thereof from the enemy themſelves; but they were not well able to prevent it in that unſeaſonable time of the year; no way fit for marching of ſoldiers, and tranſporting of proviſions (the winter then beginning to break up in this country) for while our forces were up in the Narrhaganſet country in the winter, a couple of chriſtan Indians were ſent as ſpies into the Nipnet and Narrhaganſet country, through the woods, in the depth of winter, when the ways were impaſſable for any other ſort of people: Theſe two, James and Job, ordered their buſineſs ſo prudently, as that they were admitted into thoſe Indian habitations as friends, and had free liberty of diſcourſe with them; they were at the firſt a little jealous of them, but by the means of one-eyed John (a great Captain of the Indians, that afterwards led them that ſpoiled Groton, who having been a companion of one of the ſaid ſpies, both in hunting, and in fighting againſt the Mohawks formerly; ſo eſteemed of him, that he would not ſuffer any of the reſt to touch him) they paſſed through all the Indian p. 143towns lying thirty miles diſtant from Quobaog, and twenty miles northward of the road to Connecticut. One of the ſaid ſpies returned about January 24th, informing thoſe that ſent him, what he had obſerved, both the number of the Indians (about three hundred in all) alſo their ſeveral towns, and what proviſion they had; plenty of veniſon, much pork from the Engliſhmen's hogs which they had taken; they confeſſed likewiſe that he and ſome of his party had killed the people at Naſhaway, the laſt year, ſuſpected to have been done by the Indians of Marlborough: He told them alſo they intended to burn Lancaſter within three weeks after that time, which accordingly they did, much about the ſame time; adding moreover, that ſome Frenchmen were with them at Pocomptuck, encouraging of them to go on with their deſigns, promiſing them aſſiſtance, which made ſome ready to think the Indians were ſtirred up by the French to do all this miſchief, but more of this afterwards. What might be gathered from the foreſaid premiſes is eaſy to conceive; whereupon new forces with as much ſpeed as the ſeaſon would allow, were raiſed and ſent up into thoſe parts, under the command of Major Savage in chief: They were diſpatched away the beginning of March, and appointed to meet with ſuch as ſhould be ſent from Connecticut colony, which they did about Quabaog, and ſo intended to march directly up to thoſe Indian towns about Watchuſet-Hill, to the northweſt; but the Indians were gone, and our forces in the purſuit of them taking the wrong path, miſſed of them, yet ranging through thoſe woods, they were at one time ſuddenly aſſaulted by a ſmall party of Indians firing upon them, wounding Mr. Cerſhom Bulkly, by a ſhot in his thigh, and killing one of their ſoldiers; after which as they marched along, they accidentally fell upon another ſmall party of the enemy, of whom they ſlew ſome, and took others, to the number of ſixteen, yet could not meet with the main body of the enemy, who it ſeems had paſſed over a great river by rafts, ſo our men could follow them no further, wherefore turning down towards Hadley and Northampton, whither it was ſuppoſed p. 144the Indians intended to paſs, they came very ſeaſonably to the relief of the ſaid towns, which elſe had been in danger of being loſt. For,

March 14th, the enemy fell upon Northampton, and in three places broke through the fortification of palizadoes, ſet up round about the town a little before for their better ſecurity; but the town being at that time full of ſoldiers, they were quickly repulſed, after they had killed four men and two women, and fired four or five dwelling houſes, and as many barns, with the loſs of many of their lives, as was ſuppoſed.

WHILE our forces under Major Savage continued on that ſide of the country, a ſad accident fell out at Springfield, the certainty of which it is judged meet here to relate to prevent miſtakes; the matter having through a great overſight been otherwiſe repreſented than indeed it was, not only to the prejudice of truth, but to the diſadvantage of ſome perſons concerned therein. While the ſoldiers were quartered amongſt the ſeveral towns upon Connecticut river, a party of the troop were quartered at a place belonging to Springfield, called the Long-Meadow, three miles from the town below, toward Windſor; ſeveral of the inhabitants having moſt of the winter kept from the public meeting on the Lord's days for fear of the enemy, were encouraged to adventure to the aſſembly, on the 26th of March, riding in the company of the troopers; but having heard of no Indians thereabouts a good while, were more ſecure than they had cauſe; for riding ſome of them with women behind them, and ſome with their children in their arms, yet not ſo careful as to keep in the middle, but rather in the rear, and at ſome diſtance ſtragling from the reſt of the company, a party of Indians lying in the buſhes, as they rode along, fired upon the hindmoſt, and killed two, and wounded others: Thoſe in the front having alſo women and maids behind ſome of them, were at a ſtand to know what to do, fearing they might expoſe thoſe women they had in their company, if they ſhould ride p. 145back (in that winding road making through a woody place for near a mile or two together) to look after them that were behind; at the laſt, one that came riding up, told the foremoſt company there was no hurt, and that they were all coming: They that were before, rode away with all ſpeed to the end of the town, where ſetting down the women, the troopers returned back, but too late to recover two poor women, and two children, who upon the firſt aſſault were thrown off their horſes, and immediately hauled into the buſhes, and through a ſwamp on the other ſide of a ſteep bank, ſo as they could not be heard of all that afternoon, nor the next day till toward night, although they were diligently ſearched after by all the troopers in and about the town; at laſt when they were diſcried juſt by a ſwamp ſide, the cruel wretches endeavoured to have killed them all, but in haſte only wounded them with their hatchets, yet ſo as one of …he poor creatures recovered; the other, with the children, died of their wounds before they were brought home, or within a little time after. They did not complain of any incivility toward them while they were in their power; but by the farewell given them at their parting, they found it true by their own experience, that the tender mercies of the wicked are cruelty.

THERE happened no other matter of moment worthy the reporting while our forces tarried in thoſe parts, and the commanders obſerving that the enemy was turned back again through the woods, towards the Maſſachuſets-Bay, after a month's time retired back, yet could never meet with the enemy in their return through the woods, although while they were at the towns aforeſaid, they underſtood of ſeveral attempts made upon Sudbury and Marlborough, the moſt part of which laſt they deſtroyed March 26th, which made the inhabitants forſake their dwellings, leaving only a few houſes garriſoned with ſoldiers, the better to ſecure a paſſage to the towns weſtward upon Connecticut river.

p. 146THE inhabitants of Sudbury, with the ſoldiers under Lieut. Jacobs, of Marlborough, ſufficiently alarmed by the late miſchief done about thoſe towns, reſolved to try what work they could make with the enemy in the night; whereupon going forth March 27th, toward morning, they diſcerned where the enemy lay by their fires, (near three hundred of them) and that within half a mile of a garriſon-houſe, near the place where they had done ſo much miſchief the day before. Such was the courage and reſolution of the Engliſh, though but forty in number, townſmen and ſoldiers, that they adventured to diſcharge upon them as they lay by their fires, when it was ſo dark that an Indian could hardly be diſcerned from a better man; yet God ſo directing, they diſcharged ſeveral times upon them, wounded thirty, fourteen of whom either died of their wounds the ſame day, or ſoon after, which had been chief agents in this preſent miſchief againſt the Engliſh. Such was the ſucceſs of this ſkirmiſh that the aſſailants came off without the loſs of one man.

AFTER this time the enemy began to ſcatter about in ſmall parties, doing what miſchief they could about the Maſſachuſets, killing a man at Weymouth, another at Hingham, as they lay ſkulking up and down in ſwamps and holes, to aſſault any that occaſionally looked never ſo little into the woods; ſometimes alarming the towns about Boſton, by diſcharging guns upon particular perſons at Billerica, Braintree, and at Wrentham, near to which place, in the road to Rehobot, they aſſaulted one Woodcock's houſe, killed one man, and one of his ſons, wounded another, and burnt his ſon's houſe.

NOTWITHSTANDING the little ſucceſs of former attempts, Philip and his men have one prize more to play in the Maſſachuſets colony, before they go off the ſtage, and then we ſhall ſoon ſee their power viſibly declining every where, until their final overthrow come upon them. There were ſeveral ſmall parties of them ſcattered up and down all over the country, yet the p. 147main body of them was ſtill lurking up and down in thoſe woods that lye between Brockfield, Marlborough, and Connecticut river. Poſſibly they had ſome hopes of driving all the country before them to the towns upon the ſea-coaſt; for having burnt the deſerted houſes at Marlborough April 17th, the next day they ſet upon Sudbury with all their might (hoping tis like) to do there as they had done at the towns next beyond it. They did at the firſt prevail ſo far as to conſume ſeveral houſes and barns, and kill ſeveral perſons, ten or twelve of the Engliſh, that came from Concord to aſſiſt their neighbours at Sudbury, a town diſtant five miles from them, at the firſt hearing of the alarm, who unawares were ſurprized near a garriſon, in hopes of getting ſome advantage upon a ſmall party of the enemy that preſented themſelves in a meadow; a great number of Indians that lay unſeen in the buſhes, ſuddenly loſe up, and intercepting the paſſage to the gargiſon houſe, killed and took them all:

BUT our ſorrows and loſſes that day are not yet come to their height; for in the after part of the ſame day, that reſolute ſtout-hearted ſoldier, Capt. Wadſworth (who had not long before, with not above forty men, reſcued Lancaſter, when it was in danger to have been all loſt at once) being ſent from Boſton with fifty ſoldiers to relieve Marlborough, having marched twenty-five miles, and then underſtanding the enemy was gone through the woods toward Sudbury: This unwearied company, before ever they had taken any conſiderable reſt, marched immediately back toward Sudbury (that lies ten miles nearer Boſton) and being come within a mile of the town, they eſpyed a party of Indians not far from them, about an hundred, not more, as they conceived, theſe they might eaſily deal with; who retiring back a while, drew Capt. Wadſworth and his company above a mile into the woods, when on a ſudden a great body of the enemy appeared, about five hundred as was thought, who compaſſing them around, forced them to the top of an hill, where they made very ſtout reſiſtance a conſiderable while; but the night p. 148drawing on, and ſome of the company beginning to ſcatter from the reſt, their fellows were forced to follow them, ſo as the enemy taking the chace, purſued them on every ſide, as they made too haſty a retreat, by which accident, being ſo much overpowered by the enemy's numbers, they were moſt of them loſt: The Captain himſelf, with one Capt. Brocklebank (a choice ſpirited man, much lamented by the town of Rowley, to which he belonged) and ſome others that fell into his company as he marched along, ſcarce twenty eſcaping in all; ſo as another Captain‡‡His ſon, the late Preſident of Harvard College, e…ected a decent monument over his grave, which is now to be ſeen near the road in Sudbury. and his fifty men periſhed at that time, as brave ſoldiers as any ever employed in the preſent ſervice.

THUS as in former attempts of like nature too much courage and eagerneſs in purſuit of the enemy, hath added another fatal blow to this poor country.

THE ſame day another party of the Engliſh coming from Brookfield, whither they were ſent as a convoy with proviſion for the garriſon, were in danger likewiſe of falling in the hands of the ſame Indians, yet riding upon a good ſpeed, and keeping their guns always ready preſented againſt them they met, they never durſt fire at them; only three or four having unadviſedly firſt diſcharged their guns againſt the enemy, and falling too much in the rear of their company, were cut off and loſt. It is reported by ſome that afterwards eſcaped, how they cruelly tortured five or ſix of the Engliſh that night: Yet whatever their ſucceſs was this day, it was obſerved by ſome (at that time their priſoners, and ſince releaſed) that they ſeemed very penſive after they came to their quarters, ſhewing no ſuch ſigns of rejoicing as they uſually were wont to do in like caſes; whether for the loſs of ſome of their own company in that day's enterprize (ſaid to be an hundred an… twenty) or whether it were the Devil in whom p. 149they truſted, that deceived them, and to whom they made their addreſs the day before, by ſundry conjurations of their powawes? Or whether it were by any dread that the Almighty ſent upon their ſpirits, upon their execrable blaſphemies, which tis ſaid they uſed in the torturing of ſome of their poor captives (bidding Jeſus come and deliver them out of their hands from death, if he could) we leave as uncertain, though ſome have ſo reported, yet ſure it is that after this day, they never proſpered in any attempt they made againſt the Engliſh, but were continually ſcattered and broken, till they were in a manner all conſumed. After this time, however they had braved it before, they ſeemed to apprehend that it was ſcarce feaſible for them to withſtand the power of the Engliſh, and therefore ſeemed more inclinable to a peace, by ſeveral overtures made by them, if they knew how to have brought it about. For during theſe encounters they were willing to admit of ſome kind of treaty with the Engliſh, about the releaſing of ſundry of their captives, which they took at Lancaſter in February laſt, and elſewhere: To this end ſundry attempts were made by help of ſeveral of the praying Indians (as they were called) about the redemption of ſome of the women and children, which were at that time in their poſſeſſion, and by degrees ſomething was effected that way; poſſibly their own preſent ſufferings and wants that were upon them, might induce them thereunto: For by this time the ſpring of the year came on, their proviſion was all ſpent, and they forced to live wholly upon ground nuts, and upon the fleſh of the Engliſh creatures, both horſe and near cattle, which they daily plundered. The ground nuts running up to ſeed in the ſummer, begin to grow ſo ſticky, as they were ſcarce eatable; the fleſh alſo of the Engliſh cattle proving unwholſome for their bodies, filling them with ſundry diſeaſes: One of them having eaten much horſe-fieſh, complained that he had before eaten horſe, and now horſe began to eat him, meaning ſome deadly diſeaſe growing upon his eating ſuch rank fleſh, unwholſome for their bodies, eſpecially p. 150without falt, as their uſual manner is. The fiſhing ſeaſon alſo began now to come in, wherein they uſe to take abundance of all ſorts, with which thoſe great rivers up the country are abundantly ſtored; they uſed to take thereof, and drying it in the ſmoke, make proviſion thereof for the greateſt part of the year; and if the war continued, they could not but ſee they ſhould utterly be cut off therefrom; and that if the planting ſeaſon alſo were loſt, they ſhould be in great want of ſummer fruits, ſc. beans and ſquaſhes (beſides their corn) with which they were wont to live all the latter part of the ſummer. Upon all conſiderations they ſeemed pretty inclinable to hearken to a peace, though ſome were apt to think they would never have kept it, further than would ſtand with their own advantage, and that their preſent deſire thereof was only to gain time.

A PERSON formerly acquainted with the Indians about Lancaſter, did adventure upon the forementioned overtures, to go amongſt them to try if he could not prevail with them for the redemption of the miniſter's wife, taken captive in February laſt, from Lancaſter, and through the favour of him who having the hearts of all in his hand, inclines them as he pleaſes, obtained the deſired end upon an inconſiderable ſum, which gave encouragement to the council to ſend two meſſengers on the like errand the ſame week, to procure the redemption of others, not without ſucceſs: The former, viz. Mrs. Rowlandſon being brought to Boſton upon the election day, May 3d, it was generally looked at as a ſmile of providence, and doubtleſs was a return of prayer, and anſwer of faith, with which her huſband had been upheld, and ſupported from the day of her captivity; his two children alſo were returned back not long after, more by the over-ruling hand of God (that turns the captivity of his people as the ſtreams of the ſouth; and ſometimes inclining them to pity his ſervants, that are of themſelves more cruel than the ſea monſters) than by any other contrivance of man's policy.

p. 151AND yet notwithſtanding motions of this nature about the redemption of ſome of our priſoners ſtill in their hands, there was no ceſſation of arms between us.

ABOUT this time letters were ſent down from Connecticut colony, informing the general court then aſſembled at Boſton, that ſome of the Mohawks (a ſort of fierce and ſavage Indians, yet mortal enemies to theſe we were at war with) had fallen upon ſome of Philip's party, and deſtroyed many of them: Likewiſe that many of them were deſtroyed by fevers and fluxes, with other diſtempers falling amongſt them, which was ſome reviving to our hopes, that the foot of our enemy ſhould ſlide in due time, and that deſtruction was haſtening upon them, though ſtill they were permitted to do miſchief in ſundry particular places of the country, which muſt be minded as we paſs along.

THOSE Indians that were our profeſſed enemies, after they had been beaten out of the Narrhaganſet country, February 1ſt, tarried a while at Winimazeag, a place two day's journey north of Quabaog, where they divided themſelves into two companies, one of them tarried on that ſide the county, the other made toward Plimouth colony, taking Medfield in their way, from whence as they marched along they met with a notable repulſe at Boggiſton, a ſmall hamlet, or company of farms not far from the ſaid Medfield, where they attempted a garriſon, but meeting with ſtout reſiſtance, they left the enterprize, and kept on their way toward Plimouth colony, where they ſcattered themſelves up and down, waiting for opportunities to ſpoil and deſtroy the Engliſh plantations on that ſide of the country.

BESIDES what is already mentioned, on May 11th, a party of them aſſaulted the town of Plimouth, burnt eleven houſes, and five barns belonging thereunto: On the other ſide, a ſmall party of the Engliſh ſcouting about in purſuit of the Indians, fell upon a party of p. 152them that lay waiting in ambuſh, but being diſcerned by an Indian in the company of our men, that gave timely notice, our ſoldiers had an opportunity thereby to make the firſt ſhot, and thereby not only prevented a miſchief to themſelves, but killed alſo ſome of the enemy (one of whom was obſerved to be of more note than his fellows, by his attire) the reſt fled away from them that purſued, though but a ſmall company; ſo that there were daily reciprocal acts of hoſtility in thoſe parts.

WITHIN a few days after this, ſeven houſes and two barns more were burnt by the enemy in and about Plimouth; who did the like miſchief about the ſame time to the remaining houſes of Namaſket or Middleborough.

ABOUT this time another fort of Indians that belonged …o Wameſit, a place near Chelmsford, bordering upon Merrimack (who had been provoked by the raſh, unadviſed, cruel act of ſome of the Engliſh, about October 27th, and November 4th, had fired upon them ſeveral g…s, both at Chelmsford and Woburn, to the killing of ſome, and wounding of others, upon ſuſpicion that the ſaid Indians were guilty of burning a barn, and hay-ſtack not far off) ſuddenly turned our enemies, after the winter was over; having firſt withdrawn themſelves from the place aſſigned them, and where they had been relieved all the winter (ſome of them after a former revolt) and took their opportunity to fire Mr. Falconer's houſe in Andover town, early that ſpring, and wounded one Roger Marks, and killed his horſe. Two more houſes about Shawſkin, beyond the ſaid Andover, were burnt about March 10th: Alſo they killed a young man of the ſaid town, April 8th, the ſon of George Abbot; and another ſon of his alſo was carried away the ſame day, who notwithſtanding was returned ſome few months after, almoſt pined to death with hunger.

AT the ſame time they killed ſome of their cattle, cutting out only the tongues of ſome of them for haſte, p. 153being ſhot at by ſeveral of the inhabitants from their garriſons.

March 10th, at Concord two men going for hay, one of them was killed. At Chelmsford, the ſaid Wameſit Indians, about March 18th before, fell upon ſome houſes on the north ſide of the river; burnt down three or four that belonged to the family of Edward Colburn: The ſaid Colburn, with Samuel Varnham, his neighbour, being purſued, as they paſſed over the river to look after their cattle on that ſide of the river; and making ſeveral ſhote againſt them, who returned the like again upon the ſaid Indians, (judged to be about forty) what ſucceſs they had upon the enemy, was beſt known to themſelves; but two of Varnham's ſons were ſlain by the enemy's ſhot before they could recover the other ſide of the river. April 15th alſo, were fourteen or fifteen houſes burnt there.

NOT long before this, February 1ſt, 1676, Thomas Eames that kept a farm at Sudbury, whoſe dwelling was three or four miles out of town, had his houſe aſſaulted and fired, his wife killed, and his children carried captive among the Indians.

ALSO two men were killed at a farm about Concord, Iſaac and Jacob Shepard by name, about the middle of February, and a young maid that was ſet to watch upon a hill, of about fifteen years of age, was carried captive, who ſtrangely eſcaped away upon an horſe that the Indians had taken from Lancaſter a little before. In the like ſtrange manner did one of Eames's children eſcape away about May 3d laſt, travelling thirty miles alone in the woods, without any relief till he came to an Engliſh town. Eames's houſe was aſſaulted when he was from home, by an Indian called Netus (not long after ſlain at Marlborough) which had been very familiar with the Engliſh, with nine or ten more of his company, as perfidious and barbarous as himſelf. They burned all the dwellings that belonged to the farm, corn, hay and cattle, beſides the dwelling-houſe with p. 154what was therein; it is probable thoſe at Concord were killed by the ſame hands about a fortnight after.

MANY ſuch-like remarkable inſtances of ſpecial providences might be mentioned, if it were convenient to inſert ſuch particular paſſages into the general narrative of the late troubles with our barbarous enemies.

ON May 3d a party of them killed a man at Haverhill, upon the edge of Merrimack-River, and paſſing over the ſaid River to Bradford, ſpoiled another family, killing one Thomas Kimball, and carrying his wife and five children captive, forty miles up in the woods; although it was queſtioned whether this laſt miſchief was done by any of Philip's party, but rather by ſome that belonged to the Eaſtward Indians, of which there may be occaſion, God willing, to ſpeak more of afterward.

FOR the ſuppreſſing of theſe inſolencies ſeveral companies of freſh ſoldiers both horſe and foot were raiſed in the Maſſachuſets by the governor and council of that colony, and ſent out to ſuppreſs the common enemy; the foot under the command of the Captains Sill, Cutler and Holbrook; the horſe under the command of the Captains Brattle, Prentice and Henchman, the laſt of which was commander in chief. Theſe ſeveral companies modelled as aforeſaid, were ſent out April 27th, 1676, to range the woods towards Haſſanemeſit.

THE 6th of May they met with a conſiderable party of the enemy; they were firſt diſcovered by the Natick ſcouts purſuing a bear, and at the firſt not diſcerning that the Natick Indian ſcouts belonged to our men, it gave ſome advantage to our forces; our horſemen falling upon them before they were aware, killed and took of the enemy about 16, which they took no notice of at the preſent, altho' it was confeſſed by themſelves that they loſt 20 in that encounter. It was reported that the ſounding of a trumpet without order did much hurt, but the commander in chief affirmeth that it was no diſadvantage to the ſervice in hand, it p. 155neither being heard by our own foot, nor yet by the enemy. If any error was committed by the Engliſh companies, it was that the horſe did not timely enough draw down from the top of the hill, whereby they came to be diſcovered by the enemy, who thereupon made the more haſte to eſcape; however, it was no ſmall loſs to the enemy, ſome of the ſlain being known to be conſiderable perſons; and it ſtruck ſuch a terror into them that they never durſt face our men afterwards; for although after our men returned to their quarters at Medfield, they ſaw 200 fires in the night, yet they could never come near them again to fight any company of them; but the ſeaſon proving rainy hindred any further purſuit of them at that time. And ſoon after this the ſoldiers being viſited with ſickly diſtempers by reaſon of an epidemical cold at that time prevailing thro' the country, they were for the preſent releaſed for the recovery of their health, with intent to be called together again at a more convenient time; this was done the 10th of May.

DURING this interval of time, upon a report that a party of the enemy that were diſcovered about Rehoboth, buſy in fiſhing in a river thereabouts, Captain Brattle was ſent up about the 23d of May, who with the help of ſome of the inhabitants, killed 11 or 12 of them, without the loſs of but one of our men. Had they not diſcovered ſome of our's on. the oppoſite ſhore, it was conceived a greater ſpoil might have been made amongſt them.

BUT in the next place we muſt take notice of the proceedings of the enemy about Connecticut. The greateſt body of them made towards Plimouth colony early in the ſpring, as was ſaid before, where we ſhall leave them for the preſent, and obſerve what the remaining part of them did weſtward.

SOME ſcattering parties were ſkulking about Springfield and thoſe lower towns, upon a ſmall number of whom Capt. Holyoke (newly choſen Captain of Springfield p. 156in the room of his father lately deceaſed) handſelled his office early in the ſpring; for having notice of ſome of them in thoſe woods, he marched after them with 10 or 12 reſolute young men, and waiting his opportunity, ſurprized them near the great river, ſo as two or three of them were left dead upon the place, another mortally wounded got on an iſland in the river, where it was concluded he took his laſt night's lodging. The other being ſorely wounded was taken alive and brought home to Springfield, where he confeſſed many things to one of the Inhabitants that underſtood their language, owning the truth in many things againſt his own company, and ſoon after died of his wounds.

THIS was but a preparative to an higher piece of ſervice which Capt. Holyoke was ſoon after engaged in, and wherein he acquitted himſelf beyond expectation, and taking more pains than ordinary in making his retreat, he got a ſurfeit, which ended his days the September following, near Boſton.

ABOUT the beginning of April likewiſe, ſome of the inhabitants about Hadley, attending their tillage at Hockanum, within three miles of the town, and having a guard of ſoldiers with them, yet three of the company were caſually ſlain by a party of the enemy that lay in wait for ſuch an opportunity. One of them was Mr. Goodman, a deacon of the church, that went a little beyond the command of the ſoldiers that came to guard them, to view the fence of his own land, and two others, that contrary to expreſs orders would venture upon the top of an high hill near by, to take a needleſs and unſeaſonable view of the country, were ſhot down by the enemy before they could recover their corps-du-guard.

BUT the great company of the enemy that ſtayed on that ſide of the country, and about Watchuſet-hills, when the reſt went towards Plimouth, though they had been diſappointed in their planting by the death of p. 157Canonchet, were 10th to loſe the advantage of the fiſhing ſeaſon then coming in; wherefore, having ſeated themſelves near the upper falls of Connecticut river, not far from Deerfield, and perceiving that the Engliſh forces were now drawn off from the lower towns of Hadley and Northampton now and then took advantages to plunder them of their cattle, and not ſearing any aſſault from our ſoldiers, grew a little ſecure, while they were upon their fiſhing deſign, inſomuch that a couple of Engliſh lads lately taken captive by the enemy, and making their eſcape, acquainted their friends at home how ſecure they lay in thoſe places, which ſo animated the inhabitants of Hadley, Hatfield and Northampton, that they being willing to be revenged for the loſs of their cattle, beſides other preceeding miſchiefs, took up a reſolution with what ſtrength they could raiſe among themſelves (partly out of garriſon ſoldiers, and partly of the inhabitants) to make an aſſault upon them, which if it had been done with a little more deliberation, waiting for the coming of ſupplies, expected from Hartford, might have proved a fatal buſineſs to all the ſaid Indians; yet was the victory obtained more conſiderable than at firſt was apprehended; for not having much above an hundred and fifty fighting men in their company, they marched above twenty miles ſilently in the dead of the night, May 18th, and came upon the ſaid Indians a little before break of day, whom they found almoſt in a dead ſleep, without any ſcouts abroad, or watching about their wigwams at home; for in the evening they had made themſelves merry with new milk and roaſt beef, having lately driven away many of their milch cows, as an Engliſh woman confeſſed, that was made to milk-them.

WHEN they came near the Indians rendezvous, they alighted off their horſes, and tied them to ſome young trees at a quarter of a miles diſtance, ſo marching up, they fired briſkly into their wigwams, killing many upon the place, and frighting others with the ſudden alarm of their guns, and made them run into the river, p. 158where the ſwiftneſs of the ſtream carrying them down a ſteep full, they periſhed in the waters, ſome getting into canoes (ſmall boats made of the barks of birchen trees) which proved to them a Charon's boat, being ſunk, or overſet by the ſhooting of our men, delivered them into the like danger of the waters, giving them thereby a paſport into the other world; Others of them creeping for ſhelter under the banks of the great river, were eſpyed by our men and killed with their ſwords; Capt. Holyoke killing five, young and old, with his own hands, from under a bank. When the Indians were firſt awakened with the thunder of their guns, they cried out Mohawks, Mohawks, as if their own native enemies had been upon them; but the dawning of the light ſoon notified their error, though it could not prevent the danger.

SUCH as came back ſpake ſparingly of the number ſlain; ſome ſay there could not in reaſon be leſs than two or three hundred of them that muſt neceſſarily periſh in the midſt of ſo many inſtruments of deſtruction managed againſt them with ſuch diſadvantages to themſelves. Some of their priſoners afterwards owned that they loſt above 300 in that camiſado, ſome whereof were principal men Sachems, and ſome of their beſt fighting men that were left, which made the victory more conſiderable than elſe it would have been; nor did they ſeem ever to have recovered themſelves after this defeat, but their ruin immediately followed upon it.**There was but one of our men killed in the engagement; their loſs following was owing to the report of a captive taken, who ſaid Philip was near with 1000 men; word was then given for every man to ſhift for himſelf; a panic ſeized the men, who inſtantly fled in confuſion. Yet ſuch was the awful hand of Providence in the cloſe of this victory, mixing much bitter with the ſweet, that it might well be called a coſtly victory to the conquerors, that ſo no fleſh ſhould glory in itſelf.

THE Indians that lay ſcattering on both ſides of the river, after they recovered themſelves and diſcovered p. 159the ſmall number of them that aſſailed them, turned head upon the Engliſh, who in their retreat were a little diſordered for want of the help of the eldeſt Captain that was ſo enfeebled by ſickneſs before he ſet out, that he was no way able for want of bodily ſtrength (not any way defective for want of ſkill or courage) to aſſiſt or direct in making the retreat: For ſome of the enemy fell upon the guards that kept the horſes, others purſued them in the rear, ſo as our men ſuſtained very much damage as they retired, miſſing after their return thirty-eight of their men; and if Capt Holyoke had not played the man at a more than ordinary rate, ſometimes in the front, ſometimes in the ſlank and rear, at all times encouraging the ſoldiers, it might have proved a fatal buſineſs to the aſſailants. The ſaid Capt. Holycke's horſe was ſhot down under him, and himſelf ready to be aſſaulted by many of the Indians, juſt coming upon him, but diſcharging his piſtols upon one or two of them, whom he preſently diſpatched, and a friend coming up to his reſcue, he was ſaved, and ſo carried off the ſoldiers without any further loſs. It is confidently reported by ſome that were there preſent at this engagement, that one told above an hundred Indians left dead upon the place; and another affirmed that he told near an hundred and forty ſwimming down the falls, none of which were obſerved to get alive to the ſhore, ſave one. The loſs that befel our men in the retreat was occaſioned principally by the bodily weakneſs of Capt. Turner, unable to manage his charge any longer, yet ſome ſay they wanted powder, which forced them to retire as faſt as they could by Capt. Turner's order. It is alſo ſaid by one preſent at the fight, that ſeven or eight in the rear of the Engliſh, through haſte, miſſed their way, it being a cloudy dark morning, and were never heard of again; and without doubt fell into the Indians hands, and it is feared ſome of them were tortured. About ſeven days after this they had a mind to try the chance of war again, and ſee if they could not recover their loſs by returning the like upon the Engliſh: For,

May 30th, a great number of them (ſuppoſed to be p. 160ſix or ſeven hundred) appeared before Hatfield, fired about twelve houſes and barns without the fortification of the town; a number of houſes in the centre of the town were ſurrounded with paliſadoes; theſe were attacked in the day time, when the men were all out in the fields, except one aged man; they drove away multitudes of their cattle and ſheep, ſpreading themſelves in the meadow near the town; which bravado ſo raiſed the courage of their neighbours at Hadley, that twenty-five reſolute young men ventured over the river to relieve Hatfield in this diſtreſs, who charged the enemy with ſuch undaunted courage and reſolution (Audaces fortuna juvat) that they beat down five or ſix at the firſt ſhot they made; ſo making way through the thickeſt of their enemies, that lay ready to take aim at them behind every tree as they paſſed by; yet they eſcaped all their ſhot till they came within a little of the town they came to relieve, where they loſt five of their number.

THE enemy being amazed at the reſolution of our men, being but ſo ſmall a handful, that they fled immediately from the town; having loſt twenty-five of their men in the enterprize. The council of the Maſſachuſets gathering by theſe proceedings of the Indians, that their deſire of peace was only to gain time, ordered that the forces raiſed before April 27th, and for a time releaſed, ſhould be haſtened out again to range the woods towards Hadley, and thoſe parts, made an agreement with Hartford colony to ſend forces from thence to meet them about Brookfield, and ſo to ſcour along on both ſides Connecticut, to diſreſt the enemy what they could, and keep them from fiſhing in thoſe waters, their hope of planting being now almoſt over. To this end, about May 30th, 1676, the forces under Capt. Henchman were called together again, and ſent to Brookfield, to meet with thoſe expected from Hartford colony; in the way, our's by the direction of Tom Doublet (a Natick Indian, who was a little before employed in the redemption of captives) following tracks of Indians, came upon a party of the enemy fiſhing in p. 161Weſhacom ponds, toward Lancaſter, of whom they killed ſeven, and took twenty-nine, moſtly women and children; yet belonging to conſiderable perſons, it made the ſucceſs the more to be valued. Our forces being by this means retarded, could not meet with thoſe of Connecticut at Brookfield, but followed them the week after; having firſt returned from Weſhacom to Marlborough, to ſupply themſelves with ammunition, and ſo marched directly towards Hadley, where they met with Connecticut forces; and from thence according to mutual agreement, our's marched on the eaſt ſide of the river, and Connecticut forces on the weſt, up toward Squakbeag (now Northfield) coming to Deerfield, and the great…lls thereabouts, they ſent up their ſcouts, but not hearing of the enemy, they marched up no higher, being in no good capacity to have gone further if there had been occaſion, by reaſon of a tedious ſtorm of rain, which occaſioned much damage in their ammunition and proviſion. While our forces lay about Deerfield, ſome of our ſoldiers ranging, lighted upon the body of Capt. Turner, about Green's river, in paſſing of which ſtream he was ſuppoſed to have received his mortal wounds.

WHILE our forces continued thereabouts, they did the enemy ſome little ſpoil, in ſeizing much of their fiſh, and goods ſtolen from the Engliſh, and hid in their barns under ground; conjecturing alſo that they found four or five places where ſome of the Engliſh had been tortured to death by cruel burning, after they had been faſtened between ſtakes ſet in the ground; but not meeting with any of the enemy, they all returned home, conceiving that having been forced from their quarters in thoſe parts, they were drawn down lower towards the Engliſh plantations eaſtward, viz. Plimouth and the Maſſachuſets. What ſucceſs Capt. Henchman's forces had in their retiring homeward, and what they obſerved of the motion of the Indians, may be…een in a letter of his dated June 30th: "Our ſcouts brought intelligence that all the Indians were to p. 162a continual motion, ſome toward Narrhaganſet, others toward Watchuſet, ſhifting gradually, and taking up each others quarters, and lay not above a night in a place. The twenty-ſeven ſcouts brought in two ſquaws, a boy, and a girl, giving account of five ſlain. Yeſterday they brought in an old fellow brother to a Sachem, ſix ſquaws and children having killed five men, and wounded others, if not killed them, as they ſuppoſed by the blood found in the way, and an hat ſhot through. Theſe and the other inform that Philip and the Narrhaganſets were gone ſeveral days before to their own places, Philip's purpoſe being to do what miſchief he could to the Engliſh. By advice I drew out a commanded party under the conduct … pt. Sill, viz. ſixteen files of Engliſh, all my troop, and the Indians, excepting one file, being all we could make proviſion for, for what with the failing ſhort of the bread promiſed us, and a great deal of that we had proving mouldy, the reſt of the forces had but one biſ…et a man to bring them to this place: This party was ordered towards Watchuſet, and ſo to Naſhaway and the Waſhakem ponds, where we have notice Indians were, and ſo to return unto this place; whereby your Honors letter that came to me yeſterday morning, I underſtood that proviſion was ordered … and which we found to our great relief, which we met with laſt night coming hither weary and hungry. The commanded party we left at Quonſiquomon, where they intended to ſtay a while for the laſt ſcouts we ſent out: Eleven priſoners we had in all, two of the eldeſt by council we put to death, the other nine the Commiſſary is ordered to convey to Boſton, with the baggage, horſes, and ſome of their attendants not fit for the ſervice. DANIEL HENCHMAN."

IT plainly appears by the contents of the ſaid letter, as well as by many other teſtimonies, that about this time the Indians, our enemies, who hitherto had been li…ked together as brethren in iniquity and cruelty, w…e now ſtrangely divided and ſeparated the one from the other; ſome impute it to an aſſault made upon p. 163them by the Mohawks, who falling upon Philip with the inland Indians, ſlew about 50 of them; whereupon thoſe of Philip's company reſolved to return to their own country, and do what miſchief they could to the Engliſh thereabouts. This was reported by an Indian brought to Seaconk, June 29, 1676, taken at Providence. Others are ready to think that it was upon ſome quarrel amongſt themſelves, occaſioned by an evil ſpirit ſent from God upon them, that thereby they might, being ſcattered, the more eaſily be taken and ruined by the Engliſh, now that the time of vengeance was come, when they ſhall be called to an account for all their former outrages and cruelties; for now is the ſnare haſtening upon them wherein they ſhall be hampered in their own devices, ſo to be taken and deſtroyed. It cannot but be acknowledged as a very remarkable providence, that Capt. Henchman in his late expedition to Hadley, killed and took about 84 of the enemy, without the loſs of any one of his own men; the like favorable ſucceſs happened to Major Talcot in his paſſage from Norwich to Quabaog, as was ſaid before, and ſoon after his return.

BUT by that time our forces were returned home as far as Sudbury; they were ordered upon the ſolicitation of the Governor of Plimouth, two companies of them at leaſt, to march away immediately to Dedham, and ſo to Seaconk or Rehoboth, to join Major Bradford in the purſuit of Philip, who was it ſeems with many hundreds of his barbarous followers fallen upon the Engliſh plantations thereabouts, and whither alſo a little before, Capt. Brattle with a troop of horſe, and Capt. Moſely with a company of foot, were ſent up from Boſton to purſue after them, now flocking in great numbers in thoſe woods. There was at this time no ſmall hopes of ſurprizing Philip; ſeveral reports being brought that he was ſeen in this and that place, not having above 20 or 30 men attending on him; but his time was not yet fully come, nor had he as yet fully accompliſhed all that miſchief he was like to be ſuffered to do: For on the 1ſt of July, 1676, a party of p. 164his Indians committed a horrid and barbarous murder upon Mr. Hezekiab Willet, of Swanzey, an hopeful young gentleman as any in thoſe parts. They uſed frequently to keep a ſentinel on the top of their houſe from a watch-houſe built thereon, whence they could diſcover any Indians before they came near the houſe, but not hearing of the enemy in thoſe parts for a conſiderable time, that neceſſary piece of circumſpection was omitted that day, whereby that deſerving perſon was betrayed into their cruel hands; for within a quarter of an hour after he went out of his own door, within fight of his houſe, he was ſhot at by three of them at once, from every one of whom he received a mortal wound; they after their barbarous manner took off his head, and carried it away with them (which however was ſoon after recovered) leaving the trunk of his body behind, as a ſad monument of their inhuman cruelty. The ſame Indians, not being above 30 in number, took away a negro belonging to the ſame family, who being faithful to his maſter's and the country's intereſt, ventured his life to make his eſcape, which was the preſervation of many others; for the ſaid negro being a little acquainted with their language, diſcovered to the Engliſh after his eſcape, Philip's purpoſe to ſeize ſuch and ſuch places: In the firſt place to aſſault Taunton, which in all probability had been in great danger, if their treacherous plots and purpoſes had not ſo wonderfully been made known beforehand. The ſaid negro affirmed, that there was near a thouſand of them; for he obſerved that altho' they had killed 20 head of neat cattle over night, yet there was not any part of them left the next day at eight o'clock in the morning. By this ſpecial providence the enemy was defeated of their purpoſe, and never after had an opportunity of doing any conſiderable damage to the Engliſh in that part of the country. So, after this day, we may truely date the time of our deliverance, and beginning of revenges upon the enemy; now is their own turn come, when it ſhall be done unto them as they have done unto us; they that before led others into captivity, muſt henceforth go into captivity themſelves; and they that killed p. 165with the ſword, muſt themſelves be killed with the ſword, as in the ſequel of this narrative will abundantly be manifeſt; the hiſtory of which before we ſhall any further purſue, we muſt a little while wait upon our friends, (thoſe forces ſent from Connecticut) in their return back into their own colony, which before it be done, ſome things ſhould be premiſed concerning the occaſion of their coming, and the ſucceſs that did attend them in their march thither.

OUR friends and brethren of that colony, although they had never actually felt half of thoſe miſeries that befel the people of the other two, yet never denyed their aſſiſtance to the ſuppreſſing of the common enemy, yea, ſometimes they did afford it, before it was expreſly deſired, according to the tenor of the articles of confederation and rules of common prudence; conſidering that if the fire of this war was not timely extinguiſhed it would endanger their own ſabrick; therefore according to agreement, the council of that colony ordered their ſucceſsful commander, Major Talcot, to meet our forces at Quabaog, or Brookfield, in order to the purſuing of the enemy in thoſe parts. In the way as they were marching from Norwich thither, divine Providence ſo far ſmiled upon the enterprize, as to give them an opportunity to ſurprize 51 of the enemy, … whom 19 were ſlain, without the loſs of any one of their own company, which could not but much enhance the price of the victory to the conquerors.

THE like ſucceſs had their friends which they left behind (the volunteers gathered out of the three towns by the ſea-ſide, New-London, Stonington and Norwich) and who were ſome of them releaſed by Major Talcot, when he firſt began his march, that they might the better in the abſence of the army guard their own towns; for before the return of the forces under Maj. Talcot to that ſide of the country, they had made two expeditions againſt their enemies, the Narrhaganſets, that were ſkulking up and down on that ſide of the country, in one of which they killed and took above p. 16630, the moſt of which being men, are ſaid to have been ſlain by them. In the other 45, the moſt of which probably were women and children, but being all young ſerpents of the ſame brood, the ſubduing or taking ſo many, ought to be acknowledged as another ſignal victory and pledge of divine favor to the Engliſh. But to return, It was not without the ſpecial direction of Providence that thoſe Hartford forces were ſent to thoſe weſtern towns a week before thoſe of the Maſſachuſets could get thither; for otherwiſe one or more of thoſe towns might have been loſt; ſeeing that on the 12th of June, ſoon after if not the next day after they arrived there, the enemy, as if reſolved to try the utmoſt of their power, violently aſſaulted the town of Hadley, with a body of about 700 men, at five or ſix o'clock in the morning, laying an ambuſh at one end of the town, while the greater part of them were alarming the other; but the Connecticut forces being at that time quartered in the towns thereabous, (who were Engliſh, and friendly Indians. Pequods and Mohegins, about 500 in all) that were ready at hand, beſides thoſe that had been quartered there ever ſince March, who had been left by Major Savage when he left thoſe parts, under the command and charge of Capt. Turner, ſlain at the great falls, as is noted before, but ſince commanded by Capt. Swain. Theſe by their joint and ready aſſiſtance, wherein the fence of paliſadoes ſurrounding the town was no little advantage, gave the Indians ſuch a ſmart repulſe, that they found the place too hot for them to abide it; for the ſoldiers or townſmen within, firing a piece of ordnance, ſo affrighted the ſavages, or a party of them againſt whom it was diſcharged, that although they had juſt before ſurprized and poſſeſſed an houſe at the north part of the town, yet they inſtantly fled, leaving ſome of their dead upon the place; nor did they any conſiderable miſchief with all their numbers, ſave firing a barn about that end of the town, and killing two or three of the ſoldiers, or too daring inhabitants, who would againſt expreſs order, venture to go without the fortification.

p. 167IT was accounted by ſome that were preſent near the time of that aſſault, a great overſight, that having ſo fair an opportunity to chace the enemy upon ſo conſiderable advantage, it was let ſlip, and not improved, for Connecticut ſoldiers being all, or moſt of them furniſhed with horſes, they might have been ſoon overtaken, and many of them deſtroyed, but God hid it from their eyes. The commander in chief, it is ſaid, quartered at one end of the towns (Hatfield was then within the limits of Hadley) on the weſt ſide of the river, and did not apprehend the advantage till the ſeaſon was over; hor was any ſuch thing as an aſſault expected from the enemy ſo early in the morning; it being a general obſervation heretofore, that they ſeldom or ever uſed to make any attempts in the night; part of which could not but be improved in way of preparation for ſuch a deſign. But the Lord of Hoſts who is wiſe in council, and wonderful in working, will find ſome other way to deſtroy our enemies, wherein the hand of his providence ſhould more remarkably be ſeen, that ſo no fleſh ſhould glory in its own wiſdom or ſtrength, but that ſalvation might appear to be from the Lord alone. The reſt of this month was ſpent without any other matter of moment happening therein.

THE Governor and Council of the Maſſachuſets, takeing into ſerious conſideration the many merciful occurrences that had been returned upon us, notwithſtanding the mixing of many diſpenſations of a contrary nature, thought themſelves bound to make ſome public acknowledgment thereof, to him whoſe name alone is worthy to be praiſed. The 29th of June was ſet apart as a day of public thankſgiving to God, who had remembered his people thus in their low eſtate. And that matter of thankſgiving might not be wanting at the day appointed, the very day before were moſt of our Engliſh captives brought back from the Indians, and many more ſoon after, to the number of ſixteen, whoſe mouths might then well be filled with laughter, and their tong…s with ſinging, both of themſelves, and all that were any way concerned in their welfare.

p. 168AND as this day appointed for ſolemn and public thankſgiving, was uſhered in by ſeveral ſpecial mercies, ſo alſo was it followed with many remarkable benefits. For beſides the preſerving the town of Northampton, March the 14th, and Hadley, June the 12th, by the timely ſending of our forces the very night before they were aſſaulted; the ſaving the people of Marlborough from being cut off, was very obſervable; when Mr. Graves by occaſionally going from the ſermon with the extremity of the tooth-ach, March 26th, diſcovered the Indians ready to aſſault the town, and the people might have been cut off, had not that accident happened. It is certain that after the end of this month, the power of the enemy began every where to fail; for the body of the enemy that had lurked about Connecticut river all this ſpring, being viſited with ſundry diſeaſes, diſappointed of their fiſhing, and put by their planting, began to be at variance amongſt themſelves; the Hadley and Pocumtuck (now Deerfield) Indians quarreling with Philip for bringing all this miſchief about, and occaſioning the Engliſh and them to fall out, with whom they had always good correſpondence, and lived lovingly together, but now they were like to be runied by the war. This quarrel proceeded to that height, that from that time forward, thoſe ſeveral Indians that had for ſo long time been combined together, reſolved now to part, and every one to ſhift for themſelves, and return to their own homes; Philip to Mount-Hope, and the Narrhaganſets to their own country again; the Nipnet's and the river Indians bending their courſe weſtward, others northward, towards Pennicock, upon Merrimack, intending to ſhift for themſelves as well as they could for the future; all which is like to be the real and true ſtate of the caſe with the Indians which were our enemies; for the next news we heard of Philip, was that he had returned back to Mount-Hope, now like to become Mount-Miſery unto him and his vagabond crew, and that his friends and allies that had hitherto ſtood as neuters, waiting only which way the ſcale of ſucceſs and victory would turn, began now to ſue for mercy p. 169at the hands of the Engliſh: The Maſſachuſets government having underſtood ſomething of this nature, put forth a declaration, that whatſoever Indians ſhould within fourteen days next enſuing, come in to the Engliſh, might hope for mercy. Amongſt ſundry that came in, there was one named James, the printer, the ſupperadded title diſtinguiſhing him from others of that name; who being a notorious apoſtate, that had learned ſo much of the Engliſh as not only to read and write, but had attained likewiſe ſome ſkill in printing, and might have attained more (had he not like a falſe villian ran away from his maſter before his time was out) he having ſeen and read the ſaid declaration of the Engliſh, did venture himſelf upon the faith thereof, and came to ſue for his life; he affirmed, with others that came along with him, that more Indians had died ſince this war began, of diſeaſes (ſuch as at other times they uſed not to be acquainted with) than by the ſword of the Engliſh.

NOT long after many of them came and offered themſelves, to the number of near two hundred, men, women, and children; and many more would have done the like, but their conſciouſneſs of guilt made them conclude that their cruelties and barbarous murders could never be forgiven by the Engliſh. But what occurrences happened next ſhall be declared in their order. About the end of June news was brought to Boſton that Philip with a ſmall party of his men lurked about Swanzey or Rehoboth, and that he might eaſily be taken; an Indian offering to bring them to the place where they might find him; whereupon ſoldiers were inſtantly ſent away from Boſton, who ſpent ſome time in ſcarching all the woods on that ſide of the country, but at laſt were forced to return, having miſſed of what they aimed at. Plymouth colony likewiſe ſent out ſoldiers upon the ſame account, under Major Bradford, who by the help of ſome Indians of Cape-God, always true to the Engliſh intereſt, not only eſcaped an ambuſh laid for them, whereby moſt of them p. 170might have been cut off, but ſlew many of thoſe that laid in wait for them, without any loſs to themſelves; yea further, a ſquaw Sachem of Seaconet, one of Philip's allies, having firſt ſent three meſſengers to the Governor of Plimouth, to ſue for life and liberty, promiſſing ſubmiſſion to their government on that condition; but underſtanding that Plimouth forces were abroad, before her meſſengers returned, ſhe with her people, about ninety in number, rendered themſelves up to Major Bradford, ſo that above one hundred and ten, on a moderate computation, were killed that day.

THE Connecticut forces had the like ſucceſs when ſent into Narrhaganſet country, under the command of the wonderfully ſucceſsful Major Talcot, Capt. George Deniſon, and Capt. Newbury, with other worthy commanders of the ſaid forces: For, on the 2d of July, 1676, as the ſaid commanders with the forces under them were purſuing the enemy in and about the Narrhaganſet country towards Mount-Hope, hearing that Philip with his black regiment of Wampanoogs was thereabouts, their Indian ſcouts from the top of an hill diſcovered a great number of the enemy that had newly pitched their ſtation within the ſemicircle of a ſwamp. The Engliſh ſoldiers were all mounted on horſe-back, to the number of three hundred; wherefore the commanders ordered the Indians to be ready at the top of a hill, upon a ſignal given to run down rapidly upon the enemy, who were ſecurely lodged in the hallow of a ſwamp juſt oppoſite them, while the horſemen being divided into two ſquadrons, to ride round the hill, ſo that at the ſame inſtant both the horſemen upon the two wings, and the Indians a foot ruſhing down ſuddenly upon the enemy, put them into a terrible fright, making a lamentable outcry, ſome getting into the ſwamp, the reſt that were prevented by the horſemen and the friendly Indians coming ſo ſuddenly upon them, were all taken priſoners; Capt. Newbury with his troop alighting from their horſes ran into the ſwamp after them, where they killed at leaſt an hundred, as was judged by ſome then preſent, taking alſo many p. 171priſoners out of thoſe habitations of darkneſs, the enemy ſcarce daring to make any reſiſtance; for none of the Engliſh, and but one or two of the Mohegins and Pequods were hurt in the aſſault: yet it was affirmed by a captain preſent on the place, that with thoſe they killed and took at Warwick neck in their return home, (which were not above ſixty) that they killed and took of the enemy at that time above 300 young and old. At the ſame time was taken the old ſquaw of Narrhaganſet, commonly called the old queen.

THEY were neceſſitated with this booty to return homewards to gratify the Mohegin and Pequod Indians that cccompanied them, who had done them very good ſervice in the purſuit, having loſt one or two of their men in the chace; but their return home was, as it proved in the iſſue, more beneficial than their longer ſtay might have been, to have made a fruitleſs purſuit after Philip, (whoſe time was not yet come, although haſtening apace) for in their return they met 60 of the enemy, all of whom they ſlew and took, ſo as their ſword returned not empty.

AMONG the priſoners then taken was a ſprightly young fellow, ſeized by the Mohegins, who deſired of the Engliſh commanders that he might be delivered into their hands, that they might put him to death in their own way, and ſacrifice him to their cruel genius of revenge, in which bruitiſh and deviliſh paſſion they moſt of all delighted in. The Engliſh, tho' not delighted in blood, yet at this time were not unwilling to gratify their humour, leſt by a denial they might diſoblige their Indian friends, of whom they lately made ſo much uſe; partly alſo that they might have an occular demonſtration of the ſavage barbarous cruelty of the heathen. And indeed, of all the enemies that have been the ſubjects of the preceeding narrative, this villain did moſt deſerve to become an object of juſtice and ſeverity; for he boldly told them that he had with his gun diſpatched 19 Engliſh, and that he had charged it for the 20th, but not meeting with another, and unwilling p. 172to loſe a fair ſhot, he let fly at a Moghegin and killed him; with which having compleated his number he was fully ſatisfied. But, as is uſually ſaid, juſtice vindictive hath iron hands, though leaden feet; this cruel monſter is fallen into the hands of thoſe that will repay him ſeven fold. In the firſt place therefore, making a great circle, they placed him in the middle that all their eyes might at the ſame time be pleaſed with utmoſt revenge upon him; they firſt cut one of his fingers round in the joint, at the trunk of his hand with a ſharp knife, and then broke it off, as was formerly the cuſtom to do with a ſlaughtered beaſt before he is uncaſed; then they cut off another, and another after that, till they had finally diſmembered one hand of all its digits, the blood ſometimes ſpirting out in ſtreams a yard from his hand; which barbarous and unheard of cruelty the Engliſh were not able to bear, it forcing tears from their eyes; yet did not the unhappy victim ever relent, or ſhew any ſigns of anguiſh; for, being aſked by his tormentors how he liked the war? he replied, he liked it very well, and found it as ſweet as Engliſhmen did their ſugar. In this frame he continued till his executioners had dealt with the toes of his feet as they had done with the fingers of his hands before; all the time making him dance round the circle, and ſing till he had wearied both himſelf and them At laſt they broke the bones of his legs, after which he was forced to ſit down, which 'tis ſaid he ſilently did, till they knocked out his brains.

WITHIN a few days after, 200 of the enemy within Plimouth juriſdiction being diſtreſſed with famine and fear of danger, came and ſubmitted themſelves to the government there; but three of the company were preſently detected of a cruel murder, and villainous aſſault upon one Mr. Clarke's houſe of Plimouth, by a well-minded ſquaw that was among them (hoping that poſſibly ſuch a diſcovery would be pleaſing to the Engliſh) and accordingly adjudged forthwith to undergo condign puniſhment, which the reſt that ſurrendered themſelves, did not in the leaſt reſent; ſuch kind of p. 173villains being always exempted from acts of favor and mercy. Thoſe 200 that had newly ſurrendered themſelves, that they might give full proof of their fidelity, offered to lead a party of the Engliſh to a place not far off, where 20 more of the enemy might be ſurpriſed, amongſt whom alſo was one known to be a bloody murderer of an Engliſhman the year before; accordingly 8 Engliſhmen took 14 of the ſaid Indians, and the next day brought in all the aforeſaid 20 of the enemy, together with the ſaid murderer, who was preſently after executed, and the reſt taken into favor.

IT is affirmed alſo that five or ſix Sachems of Cape-Cod, towards the eaſtern part of it, came with 300 Indians to make peace with the Engliſh, on the 6th of July, one of the ſaid Sachems earneſtly deſiring the Engliſh that none of them might be ſuffered to ſell any ſtrong liquors to the Indians, the trading of which, poſſibly …ath in a meaſure contributed to the preſent miſchiefs.

THE next day, July 7th, a ſmall party of ours, with a few friendly or chriſtian Indians with them, killed and took ſeven of the enemy in the woods not far from Dedham, one of which was a Narrhaganſet Sachem, who either himſelf informed, or by ſome other at that time certain intelligence was brought to Boſton, that ſome of our enemy Indians had got to Albany, informing people there, that they might the more eaſily get powder and ammunition, that the Engliſh and they were now at peace. One of the ſaid Indians was the Sachem of Springfield, a bloody and deceitful villian; it is hoped that he is now taken in the ſnare from whence he ſhall not be ſuffered to eſcape.

PHILIP by this time could not but think his ruin was near at hand; yet that he might, in imitation of him that ſtirred up all this miſchief, expreſs the more wrath becauſe he knew his time was but ſhort, intended if poſſible to deſtroy one more town before his overthrow came; wherefore, on the 11th of July, with p. 174all the force he could get, or that he had left, he intended to ſet upon Taunten, having as was conceived, many hundreds in his company; but his deſign being ſtrangely diſcovered by a negro whom they had taken captive a little before, that having lived near the Indians before, underſtood much of their language, who making his eſcape from them, acquainted the inhabitants with the plot; who having timely notice, furniſhed themſelves with ſoldiers, whereby they were able to repulſe the enemy upon his firſt approach; ſo as he only fired two houſes, and then fled away: Except the Lord keepeth the city the watchman watcheth but in vain.

THE 22d of this month of July, as is hinted before, the companies ſent from Concord May 30th, up towards Hadley, having ſpent much time and pains in purſuit of Philip all the country over (whom they could not yet overtake) having tired themſelves with many long and tedious marches through the deſert woods, before they returned home, ſome of them were ſent toward Mount-Hope, yet their labour was well improved, and followed with good ſucceſs at the laſt: For in ranging thoſe woods in Plymouth colony, they killed and took (by the help of Capt. Moſely's company, and Capt. Brattle's troop joining with Major Bradford's company of Plimouth colony) an hundred and fifty Indians, without the loſs of a man.

IT was feared that Philip and his company would have returned into the Nipnet country, to prevent which; ſeveral horſemen were ſent to guard the paſſage; but he …ked about his own country in ſwamps and other ſecret places, where he was as yet hid from the fight of the enemy, although many times they happened to lodge very near him, inſomuch as an Indian captive promiſed in two hours time to bring our ſoldiers to the very place where he was; but they not being able to paſs the neareſt way, came a little too late; for they being ſo cloſely purſued, haſted away, leaving much of their treaſure behind them; their kettles boiling over p. 175the fire, their dead unburried, and 20 of their party were overtaken, that fell into the Engliſh hands: Philip himſelf, and ſome few of his ſtragling followers making their eſcape by a raft over an arm of the ſea, into another neck of land on Pocaſſet ſide, not daring to truſt himſelf any longer in Metapoiſet woods, ſo full of our Engliſh ſoldiers, as well thoſe of Plimouth, as of the Maſſachuſets colony, who almoſt every day meeting with ſome of his party, much leſſened his number. Capt. Church, that active and unwearied commander of Plimouth colony, was at this time as well as long before, out upon the chace with but 18 Engliſh, and 22 Indians that were friends, had four ſeveral engagements with Philip's party, wherein he ſpoiled 76 of the enemy, without the loſs of one of his own men. In ſeveral of theſe ſkirmiſhes thoſe Indians that upon ſubmiſſion had their lives given them, have done notable ſervice in hunting out the enemy in all their lurking places.

AT another time they took Philip's ſquaw, and one of his chief councellors; and about the ſame time another Sachem about Pocaſſet, with 40 Indians ſubmitted himſelf to the government of Plimouth, on promiſe of life and liberty. It ſeemed that now the time of our deliverance was come, and the time alſo for the deſtruction of our enemies: For the laſt week in July the Maſſachuſets underſtanding that ſome Indians were ſeen roving up and down the woods about Dedham, almoſt ſtarved for want of victuals, ſent a ſmall company of 26, with about 9 or 10 chriſtian Indians, who purſued and took 50 of the enemy, without any loſs to the Engliſh; at which time alſo a great quantity of wampampeag and powder were taken from the enemy. That which increaſed this victory was the ſlaughter of Pomham, who was one of the ſtouteſt and moſt valiant Sachems that belonged to the Narrhaganſets, whoſe courage and ſtrength was ſo great, that after he had been mortally wounded in the fight ſo as he could not ſtand, yet catching hold of an Engliſhman that by accident came near him, had done him an injury p. 176if he had not been preſently reſcued by one of his neighbours. Amongſt the reſt of the captives at that time, was one of the ſaid Pomham's ſons, a very likely youth, and one whoſe countenance would have beſpoke favor for him, had he not belonged to ſo bloody and barbarous an Indian as his father was.

THESE ſucceſſes being daily ſpread abroad among the Indians, put many of them into a trembling condition, not knowing well how to diſpoſe of themſelves. Some that had been leſs active in theſe tragedies, and were rather led by others, than any wiſe inclined to miſchief themſelves, ventured to ſubmit themſelves, of which number was one of Nipnet Sachems, called Sagamore John, who July 27th came to ſurrender himſelf to the Governor and Council of the Maſſachuſets at Boſton, bringing along with him 180 of the enemy Indians. This John, that he might the more ingratiate himſelf with the Engliſh, whoſe friendſhip he was now willing to ſeek after, did by a wile get into his hands one Matoonas, an old malicious villian, who was the firſt that did any miſchief within the Maſſachnſets colony, July 14th, 1675; bearing an old grudge againſt them as is thought, for juſtice that was done upon one of his ſons 1671, whoſe head ever ſince hangs upon a pole near the gibbet where he was hanged up: The bringing in of this malicious caitif was an hopeful preſage that it would not be long before Philip himſelf, the grand villian, would in like manner receive a juſt reward of his wickedneſs and murders.

SAGAMORE John, who came in the 27th of July, affirmed that he had never intended any miſchief to the Engliſh at Brookfield the laſt year (near which village it ſeems his place was) but that Philip coming over night amongſt them, he was forced, for fear of his own life, to join with them againſt the Engliſh. Matoonas alſo when he was brought before the Council, and aſked what he had to ſay for himſelf, confeſſed that he had rightly deſerved death, and could expect no other, adding withal, that if he had followed their p. 177counſel, he had not come to this; for he had ſeemed to favor the praying Indians, and the chriſtian religion, but like Simon Magus, by his practice afterwards diſcovered quickly that he had no part nor portion in that matter.

ABOUT this time ſeveral parties of Engliſh within Plimouth juriſdiction, were willing to have a hand in ſo good a matter as catching of Philip would be, who perceiving that he was now going down the wind, were willing to haſten his fall. Amongſt others, a ſmall party went out of Bridgewater, July 31ſt, upon diſcovery, and by providence were directed to fall upon a company of Indians where Philip was; they came up with them, and killed ſome of his particular friends; Philip himſelf was next to his uncle that was ſhot down, and had the ſoldier that had his choice which to ſhoot at, known which had been the right bird, he might as well have taken him as his uncle; but tis ſaid that he had not long cut off his hair that he might not be known: The party that did this exploit were few in number, and therefore not being able to keep together cloſe in the rear, that cunning fox eſcaped away through buſhes undiſcerned in the rear of the Engliſh: That which was moſt remarkable in this deſign, was that trembling fear appeared to be upon the Indians at this time, inſomuch that one of them having a gun in his hand, well loaded, yet was not able to fire it off, but ſuffered an Engliſh ſoldier to come cloſe up to his breaſt, and ſo ſhot him down, the other not being able to make any reſiſtance; nor were any of the Engliſh hurt at this time.

THE like terror was ſeen in others at that time, for within two days after Capt. Church, the terror of the Indians in Plimouth colony, marching in purſuit of Philip, with about 30 Engliſhmen and 20 reconciled Indians, took 23 of the enemy, and the next day following them by their tracks, fell upon their head quarters, and killed and took about 130 of them, loſing only one man. In this engagement God did appear in a more p. 178than ordinary manner to fight for the Engliſh, for the Indians by their number, and other advantages of the place, were ſo conveniently provided, that they might have made the firſt ſhot at the Engliſh and done them much damage, but one of their own countrymen in Capt. Church's company eſpying them, called aloud unto them in their own language, telling them that if they ſhot a gun they were all dead men; with which they were ſo amazed, that they durſt not once offer to fire at the Engliſh, which made the victory the more remarkable. Philip made a very narrow eſcape at that time, being forced to leave his treaſures, his beloved wife and only ſon, to the mercy of the Engliſh. Skin for ſkin, all that a man bath will be give for his life. His ruin being thus gradually carried on, his miſery was not prevented but augmented thereby; being himſelf made acquainted with the ſenſe and experimental feeling of the captivity of his children, loſs of friends, ſlaughter of his ſubjects, bereavement of all family relations, and being ſtripped of all outward comforts, before his own life ſhould be taken away. Such a ſentence paſſed upon Gain, made him cry out, that his puniſhment was greater than be could bear. This bloody wretch hath one week more to live an object of pity, but a ſpectacle of divine vengeance, his own followers beginning now to plot againſt his life, that they might make the better terms for their own; as they did alſo ſeek to betray ſquaw Sachem of Pocaſſet, Philip's near kinſwoman and confederate. For,

Auguſt 6th, an Indian willing to ſhift for himſelf, fled to Taunton, offering to lead any of the Engliſh that would follow him, to a party of Indians, which they might eaſily apprehend, which 20 perſons attempted, and accordingly ſeized the whole company, 26 in number, all but the ſquaw Sachem herſelf, who intending to make an eſcape from the danger, attempted to get over the river, or arm of the ſea near by, upon a raft or ſome pieces of broken wood; but whether tired and ſpent with ſwimming, or ſtarved with cold and hunger, ſhe was ſtark naked in Metapoiſet, not far from the water ſide, which made ſome think that ſhe was p. 179firſt half-drowned, and ſo ended her wretched life juſt in that place where the year before ſhe had helped Philip to make his eſcape; her head being cut off and ſet upon a pole in Taunton, was known by ſome Indians then priſoners, which ſet them into an horrible lamentation; but ſuch was the righteous hand of God in bringing at laſt that miſchief upon themſelves, which they had without cauſe long acted againſt others.

PHILIP, like a ſavage wild beaſt, having been hunted by the Engliſh forces thro' the woods above an hundred miles backward and forward, at laſt was driven to his own den upon Mount-Hope, where he retired with a few of his beſt friends into a ſwamp, which proved but a priſon to keep him faſt till the meſſengers of death came by divine permiſſion to execute vengeance upon him, which was thus accompliſhed.

SUCH had been his inveterate malice and wickedneſs againſt the Engliſh, that deſpairing of mercy from them, he could not bear that any thing ſhould be ſuggeſted to him about a peace, inſomuch that he cauſed one of his confederates to be killed for propounding an expedient of peace; which ſo provoked ſome of his company, not altogether ſo deſperate as himſelf, that one of them (a relation to him that was killed) fled to Rhode-Iſland, whither the brave Captain Church was newly retired to recruit his men for a little time, being much tired with hard marches all that week, informing them that Philip was fled to a ſwamp in Mount-Hope, whither he would undertake to lead them that would purſue him. This was welcome news, and the beſt cordial for ſuch martial ſpirits; whereupon he immediately, with a ſmall company of men, part Engliſh and part Indians, beg in another march, which ſhall prove fatal to Philip, and end that controverſy be-between the Engliſh and him: For coming very early to the ſide of the ſwamp, his ſoldiers began to ſurround it, and (whether the devil appeared to him in a dream that night, as he did unto Saul, foreboding his tragical end, it matters not) as he was endeavoring to p. 180make his eſcape out of the ſwamp, he was ſhot through the heart by an Indian of his own nation, as it is ſaid, that had all this while preſerved a neutrality untill this time, but now had the caſting vote in his power, by which he determined the quarrel that had been ſo long in ſuſpenſe. In him is fulfilled what was ſaid in the prophet, Wo to thee that ſpoileſt, and thou waſt not ſpoiled, and dealeſt treacherouſly, and they dealt not treacherouſly with thee; when thou ſhalt ceaſe to ſpoil thou ſhalt he ſpoiled, and when thou ſhalt make an end to deal treacherouſly, they ſhall deal treacherouſly with thee.

WITH Philip at this time fell five of his truſtieſt followers, of whom one was ſaid to be the ſon of his chief captain, that had ſhot the firſt gun at the Engliſh the year before. This was done the 12th day of Auguſt, 1676, a remarkable teſtimony of divine favor to the colony of Plimouh, who had for their former ſucceſſes, appointed the 17th day of Auguſt following, to be kept as a day of ſolemn thankſgiving to Almighty God. There having been ſo ſtrange a turn of providence obſerved in the late ſucceſſes obtained in and about Plimouth colony, it may not be amiſs here to enquire into the occaſions that did lead thereunto, and alſo into the progreſs and continuance thereof, after the ſlaughter of Philip that grand REBEL.

IN the preceeding narration frequent mention hath been made of one Captain Church, whom God hath made an inſtrument of ſignal victories over the Indians in that colony, and of great advantage in that reſpect to that whole juriſdiction. It happened that the ſaid Capt. Church ſome time in June, of this preſent year 1676, paſſing over in a canoe from Pocaſſet to Rhode-Iſland, as he uſed frequently to do, (having had much employment upon the ſaid neck of land ſo called) ſeveral Indians whom he had known before at Lakenham, a village near Plimouth, beckoned to him, as if they had a mind to ſpeak with him; he having had ſo much experience as well as others of their treachery, was not willing to adventure too haſtily to come near p. 181them; but when they ſeemed to urge very much, and made ſigns to him, and at laſt laid down their guns in his fight, he began to think with himſelf there might be ſomething in the matter more than ordinary, therefore he reſolved to go a little nearer to the ſhore, and then he perceived they had a great mind to ſpeak with him, uſing much importunity for that end, inſomuch that he ventured to go a-ſhore amongſt them, having but one Engliſhman and two Indians with him; he directed them to keep off the canoe while he diſcourſed with the Indians on ſhore. As ſoon as he came among them, they told him they were weary of fighting, and that they had fought ſo long by Philip's inſtigation, but they could not tell for what end, and therefore were reſolved they would fight no longer, and all they deſired of him was, that he would make way for them to the Governor, that they might live quietly amongſt the Engliſh as they had done before, and that they would deliver up their arms, or would go out with them if he pleaſed to accept of them, and fight for him; to that end they deſired a time to parly with him further about that buſineſs, at what time and place he would appoint: He told them he would meet them two days after at Seaconet, a place up higher upon the ſaid neck, about 12 o'clock; accordingly he came to the ſaid place, and found the ſame Indians, with ſome others, and their Sunke Squaw, or chief woman of that plantation, there ready to meet him.