Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England, Floating text 1 – Floating text 3
TAUNTON, April 10th, 1671.
WHEREAS my father, my brother and myſelf have formerly ſubmitted ourſelves and our people unto the King's Majeſty of England, and to this colony of New-Plimouth, by ſolemn covenant under our hand; but I having of late through my indiſcretion, and the naughtineſs of my heart violated and broken this my covenant with my friends, by taking up arms, with evil intent againſt them, and that groundleſly; I being now deeply ſenſible of my unfaithfulneſs and folly, do deſire at this time ſolemnly to renew my covenant with my ancient friends, and my father's friends above mentioned, and do deſire this may teſtify to the world againſt me if ever I ſhall again fail in my faithfulneſs towards them (whom I have now and at all times found kind to me) or any other of the Engliſh colonies; and as a real pledge of my true intentions, for the future to be faithful and friendly, I do freely engage to reſign up unto the government of New-Plimouth, all my Engliſh arms, to be kept by them for their ſecurity; ſo long as they ſhall ſee reaſon. For true performance of the premiſes I have hereunto ſet my hand together with the reſt of my Council.
In preſence of WILLIAM DAVIS, WILLIAM HUDSON, THOMAS BRATTLE.
The Mark P. of Phillip, chief Sachem of Pokanoket,
The Mark V. of Tavoſer,
The Mark M. of Capt. Wiſpoke,
The Mark T. of Woonkaponchunt,
The Mark 8. of Nimrod.
PHILIP alſo in the ſame year ſigned the following ARTICLES.
1. WE PHILIP and my Council and my ſubjects, do acknowledge ourſelves ſubject to his MAJESTY the King of England, and the government of New-Plimouth, and to their laws.
2. I AM willing and do promiſe to pay unto the government of Plimouth, one hundered pounds in ſuch things as I have: But I would intreat the favor that I might have three years to pay it in, for as much as I cannot do it at preſent.
3. I DO promiſe to ſend unto the Governor, or whom he ſhall appoint, five wolves heads, if I can get them: Or, as many as I can procure, until they come to five wolves yearly.
4. IF any difference fall between the Engliſh and myſelf, and people, then I do promiſe to repair to the Governor of Plimouth, to rectify the difference amongſt us.
5. I Do promiſe not to make war with any, but with the Governor's approbation of Plimouth.
6. I PROMISE not to diſpoſe of any of the lands that I have at preſent, but by the approbation of the Governor of Plimouth.
FOR the true performance of the premiſes of the ſaid Sachem, Philip of Paukamakett, do hereby bind myſelf, and ſuch of my Council, as are preſent, ourſelves, our heirs, our ſucceſſors, faithfully, and do promiſe, in witneſs thereof, we have hereunto ſubſcribed our hands, the day and year above written.
In the preſence of the Court and divers of the Magiſtrates and other gentlemen of the Maſſachuſetts and Connecticut.
The Mark P. of Philip, the Sachem of Pokan…ket,
The Mark [of Uncompaen.
The Mark † of Wocokom.
The Mark … of Samkama."
To which, for the further clearing the juſtice of the preſent war, the reſult of the debate of the Commiſſioners of the united colonies about the matter of the war ſhall be here inſerted.
At a meeting of the Commiſſioners of the united colonies held at Boſton, September 9th, 1675.
WE having received from the Commiſſioners of Plimouth a Narrative, ſhewing the riſe and ſeveral ſteps of that colony, as to the preſent war with the Indians, which had its beginning there, and its progreſs into the Maſſachuſetts, by their inſolencies and outrages, murdering many perſons, and burning their houſes in ſundry plantations in both colonies. And having duly conſidered the ſame; do declare that the ſaid war be both juſt and neceſſary, and its firſt riſe only a defenſive war. And therefore we do agree and conclude that it ought to be jointly proſecuted by all the united colonies; and the charges thereof to be born and paid as is agreed in the articles of confederation.
JOHN WINTHROP, JAMES RICHARDS, THOMAS DANFORTH, WILLIAM STOUGHTON, JOSIAH WINSLOW, THOMAS HINCKLEY.
BUT whatever his ſubmiſſion was before, or his ſubjecting himſelf and his people to our King, or his engagement to pay a ſum of money in part of the charges then occaſioned by him (and notwithſtanding the Engliſh in or about Plimouth, ſince, or before that time were never any ways injurious unto him, or any of his people) all which are fully declared in a Narrative given by the Commiſſioners of the colony of Plimouth, wherein they alſo ſignify that the ſettlement and iſſue of the former controverſy between Philip and them, was obtained and made (principally) by the mediation, and interpoſed advice and counſel of the other two confederate colonies, and alſo in a letter under the Governor's hand, in the following words: