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

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

p. 54I THINK I can clearly ſay, that before theſe preſent troubles broke out, the Engliſh did not poſſeſs one foot of land in this colony, but what was fairly obtained by honeſt purchaſe of the Indian proprietors: Nay, becauſe ſome of our people are of a covetous diſpoſition, and the Indians are in their ſtraits eaſily prevailed with to part with their lands, we firſt made a law, that none ſhould purchaſe or receive of gift, any land of the Indians without the knowledge and allowance of our Court, and penalty of a fine, five pounds per acre, for all that ſhould be ſo bought or obtained. And leſt yet they ſhould be ſtreightned, p. 55we ordered that Mount-Hope, Pocaſſet, and ſeveral other necks of the beſt land in the colony, becauſe muſt ſuitable and convenient for them, ſhould never be bought out of their hands, or elſe they would have ſold them long ſince. And our neighbours at Rehoboth and Swanzey, although they bought their lands fairly of this Philip and his father and brother, yet becauſe of their vicinity, that they might not treſpaſs upon the Indians, did at their own coſt ſet up a very ſubſtantial fence quite acroſs that great neck between the Engliſh and the Indians, and payed due damage if at any time any unruly horſe or other beaſts broke in and treſpaſſed. And for divers years laſt paſt (that all occaſion of offence in that reſpect might be prevented) the Engliſh agreed with Philip and his, for a certain ſum yearly to maintain the ſaid fence, and ſecure themſelves. And if at any time they have brought complaints before us, they have had juſtice impartial and ſpeedily, ſo that our own people have frequently complained, that we erred on the other hand in ſhewing them over much favor.

Marſhfield, May 1, 1676. JOS. WINSLOW.

YET did this treacherous and perfidious caitiff ſtill harbour the ſame or more miſchievous thoughts againſt the Engliſh than ever before, and hath been ſince that time plotting with all the Indians round about, to make a general inſurrection againſt the Engliſh in all the colonies; which, as ſome priſoners lately brought in have confeſſed, ſhould have been put in execution at once, by all the Indians riſing as one man, againſt all thoſe plantations of Engliſh, which were next to them. The Narrhaganſets having promiſed, as was confeſſed, to riſe with four thouſand fighting men in the ſpring of this preſent year, 1676. But by the occaſion hereafter to be mentioned about Sauſaman, Philip was neceſſitated for the ſafety of his own life to begin his rebellion the year before, when the deſign was not ſully ripe. Yet ſome are ready to think, that if his own life had not now been in p. 56jeopardy by the guilt of the murder of the aforeſaid Sauſaman, his heart might have failed him, when it ſhould have come to be put in execution, as it did before in the year 1671, which made one of his Captains, of far better courage and reſolution than himſelf, when he ſaw his cowardly temper and diſpoſition, fling down his arms, calling him white liver'd cur, or to that purpoſe, and ſaying, that he would never own him again, or fight under him; and from that time hath turned to the Engliſh, and hath continued to this day a faithful and reſolute ſoldier in their quarrel.

THAT the Indians had a conſpiracy amongſt themſelves to riſe againſt the Engliſh, is confirmed by ſome of the Indians about Hadley, although the plot was not come to maturity when Philip began, the ſpecial providence of God therein over-ruling the contrivers: For when the beginning of the troubles firſt was reported from Mount-Hope, many of the Indians were in a kind of a maze, not knowing well what to do, ſometimes ready to ſtand for the Engliſh, as formerly they had been wont to do; ſometimes inclining to ſtrike in with Philip (which at the laſt they generally did) which if it had been foreſeen, much of that miſchief might have been prevented that fell out in ſeveral places, more by perfidious and treacherous dealing than any other ways; the Engliſh never imagining that after ſo many obliging kindneſſes received from them by the Indians, beſides their many engagements and proteſtations of friendſhip, as formerly, they would have been ſo ungrateful, perfidiouſly falſe and cruel, as they have ſince proved.

THE occaſion of Philip's ſo ſudden taking up arms the laſt year was this—There was one John Sauſaman a very cunning and plauſible Indian well ſkilled in the Engliſh language, and bred up in a profeſſion of the chriſtian religion, employed as a ſchool-maſter at Natick, the Indian town, who upon ſome miſdemeanor fled from his place to Philip, by whom he was entertained in the room and office of a Secretary, and his chief Counſellor, whom he truſted with all his affairs and ſecret p. 57counſels: But afterwards, whether upon the ſting of his own conſcience, or by the frequent ſollicitations of Mr. Eliot, that had known him from a child, and inſtructed him in the principles of our religion, who was often laying before him the heinous fin of his apoſtacy, and returning back to his old vomit, he was at laſt prevailed with to forſake Philip, and returned back to the chriſtian Indians at Natick, where he was baptized, manifeſting public repentance for all his former offences, and made a ſerious profeſſion of the chriſtian religion: and did apply himſelf to preach to the Indians, wherein he was better gifted than any other of the Indian nation; ſo as he was obſerved to conform more to the Engliſh manners than any other Indian: yet having occaſion to go up with ſome others of his countrymen to Namaſket; (now Middleborough) whether for the advantage of fiſhing, or ſome ſuch occaſion, it matters not; being there not far from Philip's country, he had occaſion to be much in the company of Philip's Indians, and of Philip himſelf; by which means he diſcerned by ſeveral circumſtances, that the Indians were plotting anew againſt us; the which out of faithfulneſs to the Engliſh, the ſaid Sauſaman informed the Governor of, adding alſo, that if it were known that he revealed it, he knew they would preſently kill him. There appearing ſo many concurrent teſtimonies from others, making it the more probable, that there was a certain truth in the information, ſome enquiry was made into the buſineſs, by examining Philip himſelf, and ſeveral of his Indians, who although they would own nothing, yet could not free themſelves from juſt ſuſpicion. Philip therefore ſoon after contrived the ſaid Sauſaman's death, which was ſtrangely diſcovered, notwithſtanding it was ſo cunningly effected, for they that murdered him met him upon the ice on a great pond, and preſently after they had knocked him down, put him under the ice, yet leaving his gun and hat upon the ice, that it might be thought he ſell in accidentally through the ice and was drowned: but being miſſed by his friends, who finding his hat and gun, they were thereby led to the place, where his body was found under the ice. When they p. 58took him up to bury him, ſome of his friends, particularly one David, obſerved ſome bruiſes about his head, which made them ſuſpect he was firſt knocked down, before he was put into the water, however, they buried him near about the place where he was found, without making any further enquiry at preſent: nevertheleſs David his friend, reported theſe things to ſome Engliſh at Taunton (a town not far from Namaſket) which occaſioned the Governor to enquire further into the buſineſs, wiſely conſidering, that as Sauſaman had told him, if it were known that he had revealed any of their plots, they would murder him for his pains: wherefore, by ſpecial warrant the body of Sauſaman being digged again out of his grave, it was very apparent that he had been killed and not drowned. And by a ſtrange providence, an Indian was found, that by accident ſtanding unſeen upon a hill, had ſeen them murdering the ſaid Sauſaman, but durſt never reveal it for fear of loſing his own life likewiſe, until he was called to the Court at Plimouth, or before the Governor, where he plainly confeſſed what he had ſeen. The murderers being apprehended, were convicted by his undeniable teſtimony, and other remarkable circumſtances, and ſo were all put to death, being three in number; the laſt of them confeſſed immediately before his death, that his father (one of the Counſellors and ſpecial friends of Philip) was one of the two that murdered Sauſaman, himſelf only looking on. This was done at Plimouth Court, hold in June, 1675, inſomuch that Philip apprehending the danger his own head was in next, never uſed any further means to clear himſelf from what was like to be laid to his charge, either about his plotting againſt the Engliſh, nor yet about Sauſaman's death; but by keeping his men continually about him in arms, and gathering what ſtrangers he could to join with him, marching up and down conſtantly in arms, both all the while the Court ſat, as well as afterwards. The Engliſh of Plimouth hearing of all this, yet took no further notice, than only to order a military watch in all the adjacent towns, hoping that Philip, finding himſelf not likely to be arraigned by order of the ſaid Court, the preſent cloud p. 59might blow over, as ſome others of like nature had done before; but in concluſion, the matter proved otherwiſe, for Philip finding his ſtrength daily increaſing by the flocking of neighbour Indians unto him, and ſending over their wives and children to the Narrhaganſets for ſecurity (as they uſe to do when they intend war with any of their enemies) they immediately began to alarm the Engliſh at Swanzey (the next town to Philip's country) as it were daring the Engliſh to begin; at laſt their inſolencies grew to ſuch an height, that they began not only to uſe threatening words to the Engliſh, but alſo to kill their cattle and rifle their houſes; whereat an Engliſhman was ſo provoked, that he let fly a gun at an Indian, but did only wound, not kill him; whereupon the Indians immediately began to kill all the Engliſh they could, ſo as on the 24th of June, 1675, was the alarm of war firſt ſounded in Plimouth colony, when eight or nine of the Engliſh were ſlain in and about Swanzey; they firſt making a ſhot at a company of Engliſh as they returned from the aſſembly where they were met in a way of humiliation on that day, whereby they killed one and wounded others, and then likewiſe at the ſame time, they ſlew two men on the high-way, ſent to call a ſurgeon; and the ſame day barbarouſly murdered ſix men in and about a dwelling-houſe in another part of the town; all which outrages were committed ſo ſuddenly, that the Engliſh had no time to make any reſiſtance: For on the 14th day of the ſame month, beſides endeavors uſed by Mr. Brown of Swan… … of the Magiſtrates of Plimouth juriſdiction, an … letter was ſent from the Council of Plimouth …, ſhewing their diſlike of his practices, and ad… … him to diſmiſs his ſtrange Indians, and not ſuffer … to be abuſed by falſe reports, concerning them … intended him no hurt; but no anſwer could be ob…, otherwiſe than threatning of war, which it was hoped might have been prevented, as heretofore it had …en, when things ſeemed to look with as bad a face as they then did. However, the Governor and Council of Plimouth, underſtanding that Philip continued in his reſolution, and manifeſted no inclination to peace, they p. 60immediately ſent up what forces they could to ſecure the towns thereabouts, and make reſiſtance as occaſion might be; and alſo diſpatched away meſſengers to the Maſſachuſetts Governor and Council, letting them know the ſtate of things about Mount-Hope, and deſiring their ſpeedy aſſiſtance; upon which care was immediately taken with all expedition to ſend ſuch ſupplies as were deſired: But in the mean time two meſſengers were diſpatched to Philip, to try whether he could not be diverted from his bloody enterprize, ſo to have prevented the miſchief ſince fallen out, hoping, that as once before, viz. in the year 1671, by their mediation, a ſtop was put to the like tragedy, ſo the preſent war might by the ſame means have been now turned aſide: For in the ſaid year Philip had firmly engaged himſelf, when he was at Boſton, not to quarrel with Plimouth until he had firſt addreſſed himſelf to the Maſſachuſetts for advice and approbation: But the two meſſengers aforeſaid, finding the men ſlain in the road June 24, as they were going for the ſurgeon, apprehended it not ſafe to proceed any further, conſidering alſo, that a peace now could not honorably be concluded after ſuch barbarous outrages committed upon ſome of the neighbour colony: Wherefore returning with all ſpeed to Boſton, the Maſſachuſetts forces were diſpatched away with all imaginable haſte, as the exigence of the matter did require, ſome of them being then upon, or ready for their march, the reſt were ordered to follow after, as they could be raiſed. The ſending forth of which, becauſe it was the firſt engagement in any warlike preparations againſt the Indians, ſhall be more particularly related.

ON the 26th of June, a foot company under Captain Daniel Henchman, with a troop under Captain Thomas Prentice, were ſent out of Boſton toward Mount-Hope: It being late in the afternoon before they began to march, the central eclipſe of the moon in Capric. happened in the evening before they came up to Naponſet river, about twenty miles from Boſton, which occaſioned them to make a halt, for a little repaſt, till the moon recovered her light again. Some melancholy fancies p. 61would not be perſwaded, but that the eclipſe falling out at that inſtant of time was ominous, conceiving alſo that in the centre of the moon they diſcerned an unuſual black ſpot, not a little reſembling the ſcalp of an Indian: As others not long before, imagined they ſaw the form of an Indian bow, accounting that likewiſe ominous (although the miſchief following was done by guns, and not by bows) both the one and the other, might rather have thought of what Marcus Craſſus the Roman General, going forth with an army againſt the Parthians, once wiſely replied to a private ſoldier, that would have diſſwaded him from marching that time, becauſe of an eclipſe of the moon in Capricorn, that he was more afraid of Sagitarius than of Capricornus, meaning the arrows of the Parthians (accounted very good archers) from whom as things then fell out, was his greateſt danger. But after the moon had waded through the dark ſhadow of the earth, and borrowed her light again, by the help thereof, the two companies marched on toward Woodcock's houſe, thirty miles from Boſton, where they arrived next morning; and there retarded their motion till the afternoon, in hope of being overtaken by a company of volunteers, under the command of Captain Samuel Moſely, which accordingly came to paſs, ſo as on June 28th, they all arrived at Swanzy, where by the advice of Capt. Cudworth, the commander in chief of Plimouth forces, they were removed to the head-quarters, which for that time were appointed at Mr. Miles's houſe, the Miniſter of Swanzy, within a quarter of a mile of the bridge, leading into Philip's lands. They arriving there ſome little time before night, twelve of the troop unwilling to loſe time paſſed over the bridge, for diſcovery into the enemies territories, where they found the rude welcome of eight or ten Indian, firing upon them out of the buſhes, killing one William Hammond, wounding Corporal Belcher, his horſe being alſo ſhot down under him; the reſt of the ſaid troopers having diſcharged upon thoſe Indians that run away …f…r their firſt ſhot, carried off their two dead and wounded companions, and ſo retired to the main guard for that p. 62night, pitching in a barricado about Mr. Miles's houſe. The enemy thought to have braved it out by a bold aſſault or two at the firſt; but their hearts ſoon began to fail them when they perceived the Maſſachuſets and Plimouth forces both engaged againſt them: For the next morning they ſhouted twice or thrice, at half a mile's diſtance, and nine or ten of them ſhewing themſelves on this ſide the bridge, our horſe-men with the whole body of the volunteers under Capt. Moſely, not at all daunted by ſuch kind of alarms, nor willing ſo to loſe the bridge, ran violently down upon them over the ſaid bridge, purſuing them a mile and a quarter on the other ſide: Enſign Savage, that young martial ſpark, ſcarce twenty years of age, had at that time one bullet lodged in his thigh, another ſhot through the brim of his hat, by ten or twelve of the enemy diſcharging upon him together, while he boldly held up his colours in the front of his company: But the weather not ſuffering any further action at that time, thoſe that were thus far advanced, were compelled to retreat back to the main guard, having firſt made a ſhot upon the Indians as they ran away into a ſwamp near by, whereby they killed five or ſix of them, as was underſtood ſoon after at Narrhaganſet: This reſolute charge of the Engliſh forces upon the enemy made them quit their place on Mount-Hope that very night where Philip was never ſeen after; till the next year, when he was by a divine mandate ſent back; there to receive the reward of his wickedneſs where he firſt began his miſchief: The next day Major Savage that was to command in chief over the Maſſachuſetts forces, being come up with other ſupplies, about ſix o' clock over night the whole body intended to march into Mount-Hope, and there beat up the enemy's quarters, or give him battle, if he durſt abide it: But the weather being doubtful, our forces did not march till near noon, about which time they ſet out, with a troop of horſe in each wing, to prevent the danger of the enemy's ambuſcadoes; after they had marched about a mile and a half, they paſſed by ſome houſes newly burned: Not far off one of them, they found a bible newly torn, and the leaves ſcattered about by the enemy, in hatred of our p. 63religion therein revealed; two or three miles further they came up with ſome heads, ſcalps, and hands cut off from the bodies of ſome of the Engliſh, and ſtuck upon poles near the highway, in that barbarous and inhuman manner bidding us defiance; the commander in chief giving order that thoſe monuments of the enemy's cruelty ſhould be taken down, and buried: The whole body of the forces ſtill marched on two miles further, where they found divers wigwams of the enemy, among which were many things ſcattered up and down, arguing the haſty flight of the owners; half a mile further, as they paſſed on through many fields of ſtately corn, they found Philip's own wigwam; every place giving them to perceive the enemy's haſty departure from thence; after they had marched two miles further they came to the ſea-ſide, yet in all this time meeting with no Indians, nor any ſign of them, unleſs of their flight to ſome other places. The ſeaſon being like to prove very tempeſtuous, and rainy, Capt. Cudworth with ſome of the men of Plimouth paſſed over to Rhode-Iſland. The forces under Major Savage were forced to abide all night in the open field, without any ſhelter, notwithſtanding the abundance of rain that fall, and in the morning, deſpairing to meet with any enemy on Mount-Hope, they retreated back to their head-quarters at Swanzy, in the way meeting with many Indian dogs, that ſeemed to have loſt their maſters. That night Capt. Prentice's troop for conveniency of quarters, as alſo for diſcovery, was diſmiſſed to lodge at Seaconke or Rehoboth, a town within ſix miles of Swanzy. As they returned back in the morning. Capt. Prentice divided his troop, delivering one half to Lieut. Oakes, and keeping the other himſelf, who as they rode along, eſpied a company of Indians burning an houſe; but could not purſue them by reaſon of ſeveral fences, that they could not go over till the Indians had eſcaped into a ſwamp. Thoſe with Lieut. Oakes had the like diſcovery, but with better ſucceſs, as to the advantage of the ground, ſo as purſuing of them upon a plain, they flew four or five of them in the chaſe, whereof one was known to be Thebe a Sachem of Mount-Hope, another of them was a chief Counſellor p. 64of Philip's; yet in this attempt the Lieutenant loſt one of his company, John Druce by name, who was mortally wounded in his bowels, whereof he ſoon after died, to the great grief of his companions. After the ſaid troop came up to head-quarters at Swanzy, they underſtood from Capt. Cadworth that the enemy were diſcovered upon Pocaſſet, §§The main land over againſt the eaſterly end of Rhode-Iſland, where is now Tiverton, &c. was called Pocaſſet.another neck of land lying over an arm of the ſea, more towards Cape-God: However it was reſolved that a more narrow ſearch ſhould be made after them, both upon Mount-Hope and upon the ground between Swanzy and Rehoboth to ſcour the ſwamps, and aſſault them if they could find where they were entrenched. Capt. Henchman and Capt. Prentice were ordered to ſearch the ſwamps, while Capt. Moſely and Capt. Paige with his dragoons attending on Major Cavage, ſhould return back into Mount-Hope, that they might be ſure to leave none of the enemy behind them, when they ſhould remove to purſue them elſewhere.

ABOUT ten o'clock the next morning, July 4th, Capt. Henchman, after a long and tedious march, came to the head-quarters, and informed that he came upon a place where the enemy had newly been that night, but were eſcaped out of his reach: But the following night, before they were determined of any other motion, Captain Hutchinſon came up from Boſton with new orders for them to paſs into Narrhaganſet, to treat with the Sachems there, and if it might be, to prevent their joining with Philip. Capt. Cudworth by this time was come up to the head-quarters, having left a garriſon of 40 men upon Mount-Hope neck. The next morning was ſpent in conſultation how to carry on the treaty; it was then reſolved, that they ſhould go to make a peace with a ſword in their hands, having no ſmall ground of ſuſpicion that the ſaid Narrhaganſets might join with the enemy, wherefore they thought it neceſſary to carry all the Maſſachuſetts forces over into the Narrhaganſet country, to fight them if there ſhould be need; Capt. Moſely paſſed over by water to attend Capt. Hutchinſon p. 65in his diſpatch; the other companies with the troopers riding round about. As they paſſed they found the Indians in Pomham's country (next adjoining to Philip's borders) all fled, and their wigwams without any people in them.

AFTER they came to the Narrhaganſet Sachems, three or four days were ſpent in a treaty, after which a peace was concluded with them by the meſſengers of Connecticut colony (who were ordered to meet with thoſe of the Maſſachuſetts) and the commanders of the forces ſent againſt Philip: Hoſtages were alſo given by the ſaid Narrhaganſets for the performance of the agreement. A copy of the ſaid agreement, and the articles on which a peace was concluded, here follow. It being always underſtood, that Plimouth colony was included in the ſaid agreement, although their forces were not then preſent, but remained at home near the enemies borders, to ſecure their owns, and oppoſe Philip as there might be occaſion, if he offered to make any new attempt in the mean time.

ARTICLES, covenant and agreements had, made and concluded by, and between Major Thomas Savage, Captain Edward Hutchinſon, and Mr. Joſeph Dudley, in behalf of the government of the Maſſachuſetts colony, and Major Wait Winthrop and Mr. Richard Smith on behalf of Connecticut colony, on the one party, and Agamaug, Wampſh alias Corman, Taitſon, Tawageſon, Councellors and Attornies to Canonicus, Ninigret, Matataog, old Queen Quaiapen, Quananſhit and Pomham, the ſix preſent Sachems of the whole Narrhaganſet country on the other party, referring to ſeveral differences and troubles lately riſen between them; and for a final concluſion of ſettled peace and amity between the ſaid Sachems, their heirs and ſucceſſors for ever, and the Governors of the ſaid Maſſachuſetts and Connecticut, and their ſucceſſors in the ſaid governments for ever.

I. THAT all and every of the ſaid Sachems ſhall from time to time carefully ſeize, and living or … deliver unto one or other of the aboveſaid government… all and every of Sachem Philip's … p. 66ſhall come, or be found within the precincts of any of their lands, and that with greateſt diligence and faithfulneſs.

II. THAT they ſhall with their utmoſt ability uſe all acts of hoſtility againſt the ſaid Philip and his ſubjects, entering his lands or any other lands of the Engliſh, to kill and deſtroy the ſaid enemy, until a ceſſation from war with the ſaid enemy be concluded by both the aboveſaid colonies.

III. THAT the ſaid Sachems, by themſelves and their agents, ſhall carefully ſearch out and deliver all ſtolen goods whatſoever taken by any of their ſubjects from any of the Engliſh, whether formerly or lately, and ſhall make full ſatisfaction for all wrongs or in…uries done to the eſtate of any of the ſubjects of the ſeveral colonies, according to the judgment of indifferent men, in caſe of diſſatisfaction between the offenders and the offended parties, or deliver the offenders.

IV. THAT all preparations for war, or acts of hoſtility againſt any of the Engliſh ſubjects, ſhall for ever for the future ceaſe; together with all manner of thefts, pilferings, killing of cattle, or any manner of breach of peace whatſoever ſhall with utmoſt care be prevented, and inſtead thereof their ſtrength to be uſed as a guard round about the Narrhaganſet country, for the Engliſh inhabitants ſafety and ſecurity.

V. IN token of the aboveſaid Sachems reality in this treaty and concluſion, and for the ſecurity of the ſeveral Engliſh governments and ſubjects, they do freely deliver unto the aboveſaid gentlemen, in the behalf of the aboveſaid colonies, John Wobequob, Weowthim, Pewkes, Weenew, four of their near kinſmen and choice friends, to be and remain as hoſtages in ſeveral places of the Engliſh juriſdictions, at the appointment of the honorable Governors of the aboveſaid colonies, there to be civilly treated, not as priſoners, but otherwiſe at their honors diſcretion, until the aboveſaid articles are fully accompliſhed to the ſatisfaction of the ſeveral governments, the departure of any of them in the mean time to be accounted breach of the peace, and of theſe preſent articles.

p. 67VI. THE ſaid gentlemen in the behalf of the governments to which they do belong, do engage to every the ſaid Sachems and their ſubjects, that if they or any of them ſhall ſeize and bring into either the aboveſaid Engliſh governments, or to Mr. Smith inhabitant of Narrhaganſet, Philip Sachem alive, he or they ſo delivering, ſhall receive for their pains, forty trucking cloth coats, in caſe they bring his head they ſhall have twenty like good coats paid them: For every living ſubject of ſaid Philip's ſo delivered, the deliverer ſhall receive two coats, and for every head one coat, as a gratuity for their ſervice herein, making it appear to ſatisfaction, that the heads or perſons are belonging to the enemy, and that they are of their ſeizure.

VII. THE ſaid Sachems do renew and confirm unto the Engliſh inhabitants or others, all former grants, ſales, bargains or conveyances of lands, meadows, timber, graſs, ſtones, or whatever elſe the Engliſh have heretofore bought or quietly poſſeſſed and enjoyed, to be unto them, and their heirs, and aſſigns for ever; as alſo all former articles made with the confederate colonies.

Laſtly, THE ſaid councellors and attornies do premeditately, ſeriouſly, and upon good advice, covenant, conclude and agree all aboveſaid ſolemnly, and call God to witneſs they are, and ſhall remain true friends to the Engliſh governments, and perform the aboveſaid articles punctually, uſing their utmoſt endeavor, care and faithfulneſs therein: In witneſs whereof they have ſet their hands and ſeals. Petaquamſcot, July 15, 1675.

Signed, ſealed and delivered in the preſence of us underwritten, being carefully interpreted to the ſaid Indians before Sealing.

DANIEL HENCHMAN,

THOMAS PRENTICE,

NICHOLAS PAIGE,

JOSEPH STANTON, Interp.

HENRY HAWLAWS,

PECOE BUKOW,

JOB NEFF.

Tawageſon, his C Mark.

Taytſon, his D Mark.

Agamaug, his T Mark.

Wampſh, alias Corman, his X Mark.

p. 68DURING this treaty of peace with the Narrhaganſets, Capt. Cudworth with the forces from Plimouth, under his command, found ſomething to do nearer home, tho' of another nature as it proved, ſst. to make war whilſt the other were (as they thought) making peace: In the firſt place therefore he diſpatched Capt. Fuller (joining Lieut. Church together with him in commiſſion) with fifty in his company to Pocaſſet, on the ſame account, as the other went to Narrhaganſet; either to conclude a peace with them, if they would continue friends, and give hoſtages for the confirmation thereof, or fight them if they ſhould declare themſelves enemies, and join with Philip; himſelf intending to draw d…wn his forces to Rehoboth, to be ready for a ſpeedy march to Taunton, and ſo down into the other ſale of the country, upon the news that ſome of the enemy were burning and ſpoiling of Middleborough and Dartmouth, two ſmall villages lying in the way betwixt Pocaſſet and Plimouth. Upon Thurſday July 7, Capt. Fuller with Lieut. Church went into Pocaſſet to ſeek after the enemy, or elſe as occaſion might ſerve, to treat with thoſe Indians at Pocaſſet, with whom Mr. Church was very well acquainted, always holding good correſpondence with them. After they had ſpent that day and moſt of the night, in traverſing the ſaid Pocaſſet neck, and watching all night in a houſe which they found there, they could hear no tidings of any Indians; inſomuch that Capt. Fuller began to be weary of his deſign: Mr. Church in the mean while aſſuring him that they ſhould find Indians before it were long: yet for greater expedition they divided their company, Capt. Fuller taking down toward the ſea-ſide, where it ſeems, after ſome little ſkirmiſhing with them wherein one man only received a ſmall wound, he either ſaw or heard too many Indians for himſelf and his company to deal with, which made him and them betake themſelves to a houſe near the water-ſide, from whence they were fetched off by a ſloop before night to Rhode-Iſland. Capt. Church (for ſo he may well be ſtiled after this time) marched further into the neck, imagining that if there were Indians in the neck, they ſhould find them about a peaſe field not far off. As ſoon as they came near the p. 69ſaid field he eſpied two Indians among the peas, who alſo had at the ſame time eſpied him; and preſently making ſome kind of ſhout, a great number of Indians came about the field, purſuing the ſaid Capt. Church and his men in great numbers to the ſea ſide: there being not above fifteen with Church, yet ſeven or eight ſcore of the Indians purſuing after them. Now was a fit time for this young Captain and his ſmall company to handſel their valour upon this great rout of Indians, juſt ready to devour them: But victory ſtands no more in the number of ſoldiers, than verity in the plurality of voices: And although ſome of theſe fifteen had ſcarce courage enough for themſelves, yet their Captain had enough for himſelf, and ſome to ſpare for his friends, which he there had an opportunity of improving to the full. When he ſaw the hearts of any of his followers to fail, he would bid them be of good courage and fight ſtoutly, and (poſſibly by ſome divine impreſſion upon his heart) aſſured them not a bullet of the enemy ſhould hurt any one of them; which one of the company, more diſmayed than the reſt, could hardly believe, till he ſaw the proof of it in his own perſon, for the Captain perceiving the man was not able to fight, made him gather rocks together for a kind of ſhelter and baricado for the reſt, that muſt either of neceſſity fight or fall by the enemies. It chanced as this faint-hearted ſoldier had a flat ſtone in his arms, and was carrying it to the ſhelter that he was making upon the bank, a bullet of the enemy was thus warded from his body, by which he muſt elſe have periſhed, which experience put new life into him, ſo as he followed his buſineſs very manfully afterward, inſomuch that they defended themſelves under a ſmall ſhelter haſtily made up, all that afternoon, not one being either ſlain or wounded, yet it was certainly known that they killed at leaſt fifteen of their enemies: And at the laſt, when they had ſpent all their ammunition, and made their guns unſerviceable by often firing, they were fetched all off by Capt. Golding's ſloop and carried ſafe to Rhode-Iſland in ſpite of all their enemies; yea, ſuch was the bold and undaunted courage of this champion, Capt. Church, that, not willing to leave any token behind of their flying for want p. 70of courage, he went back in the face of his enemies to fe…h his hat, which he had left at a ſpring, whither the extream heat of the weather, and his labor in fighting had cauſed him to repair for the quenching of his thirſt an hour or two before. It ſeems in the former part of the ſame day, five men coming from Rhode-Iſland, to look up their cattle upon Pocaſſet-Neck, were aſſaulted by the ſame Indians, one of the five was Capt. Church's ſervant, who had his leg broke in the ſkirmiſh, the reſt hardly eſcaping with their lives: This was the firſt time that ever any miſchief was done by the Indians upon Pocaſſet-Neck. Thoſe of Rhode-Iſland were hereby alarmed to look to themſelves, as well as the reſt of the Engliſh of Plimouth, or the Maſſachuſetts colony.

THIS aſſault rather heightned and increaſed than daunted the courage of Capt. Church; for not making a cowardly flight, but a fair retreat, which providence offered him by the ſloop aforeſaid, after his ammunition was ſpent, he did not ſtay long at Rhode-Iſland, but haſted over to the Maſſachuſetts forces, and borrowing three files of men of Capt. Henchman with his Lieutenant; Mr. Church and he returned again to Pocaſſet, where they had another ſkirmiſh with the enemy, wherein ſome few of them (fourteen or fifteen) were ſlain, which ſtruck ſuch a terror into Philip, that he betook himſelf to the ſwamps about Pocaſſet, where he lay hid till the return of the reſt of the forces from the Narrhaganſets, like a wild boar kept at a bay by this ſmall party till more hands came up.

THUS were the Plimouth forces buſied, during the time of the treaty with the Narrhaganſets, which being iſſued as it was:

ON Friday July 15, our forces marched for, and arrived at Rehoboth, where having no intelligence of the enemy nearer than a great ſwamp on Pocaſſet, eighteen miles from Taunton; they marched next day twelve miles to an houſe at Metapoiſet (a ſmall neck of land in the bottom of Taunton-Bay, in the midway between Mount-Hope and Pocaſſet-Neck) from whence they marched for p. 71Taunton, July 17, whither after a tedious march of 20 miles they came in the evening, and found the people generally gathered into eight garriſon-houſes.

ON Monday July 18, they marched eighteen miles before they could reach the ſwamp where the enemy was lodged: As ſoon as they came to the place, Plimouth forces being now joined with them, our ſoldiers reſolutely entered in amongſt the enemies, who took the advantage of the thick under-wood, to make a ſhot at them that firſt entered, whereby five were killed outright, ſeven more wounded, ſome of whoſe wounds proved mortal: After the firſt ſhot, the enemy preſently retired deeper into the ſwamp, deſerting their wigwams (about an 100 in all) newly made of green bark, ſo as they would not burn: In one of them they found an old man, who confeſſed that Philip had been lately there. Having ſpent ſome time in ſearching the ſwamp, and tired themſelves to no purpoſe (yet it was ſaid one half hour more would have at that time utterly ſubdued Philip and all his power) the commander in chief, night drawing on a pace, not thinking it ſafe to tarry longer in ſo dangerous a place, where every one was in as much danger of his fellows as of his foes, being ready to fire upon every buſh they ſaw move ſuppoſing lndians were there, ordered a retreat to be ſounded, that they might have time to diſpoſe of their dead and wounded men, which accordingly was attended:**The Engliſh loſt fifteen men in this expedition, Hutchinſon. Plimouth forces who had entered in the rear, retreating in the front. It was judged that the enemy being by this means brought into a pound, it would be no hard matter to deal with them, and that it would be needleſs charge to keep ſo many companies of ſoldiers together to wait upon ſuch an inconſiderable enemy, now almoſt as good as taken: Whereupon moſt of the companies belonging to the Maſſachuſetts were drawn off, only Capt. Henchman with an 100 foot being left there, together with Plimouth forces, to attend the enemies motion, being judged ſufficient p. 72for that end. Major Savage, Capt. Paige with Capt. Moſely and their companies returned to Boſton: Capt. Prentice with his troop were ordered toward Mendham, where it ſeems, about the middle of July, ſome Indians, wiſhing well to Philip's deſign, had made an aſſault upon ſome of the inhabitants, as they were at their labor in the field, killing five or fix of them; as ſoon as they had done, flying away into the woods, ſo as they could not eaſily be purſued. The inhabitants of the ſame village, lying in the heart of the enemy's country began to be diſcouraged, ſo as within a little time after they forſook the place, abandoning their houſes to the fury of the enemy, which by them were ſoon after turned into aſhes. But to return to King Philip, who was now lodged in the great ſwamp upon Pocaſſet-Neck, of ſeven miles long: Capt. Henchman and the Plimouth forces kept a diligent eye upon the enemy, but were not willing to run into the mire and dirt after them in a dark ſwamp, being taught by late experience how dangerous it is to fight in ſuch diſmal woods, when their eyes were muffled with the leaves, and their arms pinnioned with the thick boughs of the trees, as their feet were continually ſhackled with the roots ſpreading every way in thoſe boggy woods. It is ill fighting with a wild beaſt in his own den. They reſolved therefore to ſtarve them out of the ſwamp, where they knew full well they could not long ſubſiſt: To that end they began to build a fort, as it were to beleaguer the enemy, and prevent his eſcape out of the place, where they thought they had him faſt enough. Philip in the mean time was not ignorant of what was doing without, and was ready therein to read his owndoom if he tarried much longer there, he knew he ſhould fall into their hands from whom he could expect no mercy: The caſe being therefore deſperate, he reſolved with an hundred or two of his beſt fighting men to make an eſcape by the water, all paſſages by the land being ſufficiently guarded by the Engliſh forces. The ſwamp where they were lodged being not-far from an arm of the fen, coming up to Taunton, they taking the advantage of a low tide, either waded over one night in the end of July, or elſe waſted p. 73themſelves over upon ſmall rafts of timber very early before break of day, by which means the greateſt part of his company eſcaped away into the woods, leading into the Nipmuck country, altogether unknown to the Engliſh forces, that lay encamped on the other ſide of the ſwamp. About an 100 or more of the women and children, which were like to be rather burdenſome than ſerviceable, were left behind, who ſoon after reſigned up themſelves to the mercy of the Engliſh. Philip's eſcape thus from Pocaſſet could not long be concealed after the day appeared, there being much champaign land thro' which he was to paſs, ſo as being diſcovered to ſome of Rehoboth, the inhabitants preſently followed him, together with a party of the Mohegins, that a little before came to Boſton, offering their ſervice againſt Philip, and were ſent up into thoſe parts to be ordered by Captain Henchman, but before they came to him were eaſily perſuaded to go along with any of the Engliſh that were engaged in the purſuit of Philip. News alſo thereof was carried to Capt. Henchman, who, as ſoon as he could get over with ſix files of men (rowing hard all or moſt part of the day, to get to Providence) followed after the enemy. The Mohegins with the men of Rehoboth, and ſome of Providence came upon their rear over night, ſlew about 30 of them, took much plunder from them, without any conſiderable loſs to the Engliſh. Captain Henchman came not up to them (purſuing them only by the track) till the ſkirmiſh was over, and having marched 22 miles that day was not well able to go any further that night; on the other hand, the forces that came from Rehoboth and that belonged to Plymouth, having left their horſes three miles off, could not go back to fetch them without much loſs of time, and therefore looking at it altogether bootleſs to go after them in the morning, returned back the next day, leaving Captain Henchman with his ſix files, and the Mohegins to purſue the chaſe to Nipſatchet, which he did the next morning. Capt. Henchman, that he might the better engage the Mohegins to march with him 30 miles, gave them half his proviſion, and was himſelf recruited again by the p. 74care of Capt. Edmunds of Providence, and Lieut. Brown who brought proviſion after him to the Nipmuck forts. Mr. Newman, the Miniſter of Rehoboth, deſerved not a little commendation for exciting his neighbours and friends to purſue thus far after Philip, animating of them by his own example and preſence: But what the reaſon was why Philip was followed no further, it is better to ſuſpend, than too critically to enquire. This is now the third time when a good opportunity of ſuppreſſing the rebellion of the Indians, was put into the hands of the Engliſh; but time and chance happeneth to all men. ſo that the moſt likely means are often fruſtrated of their deſired end. All human endeavors ſhall arrive at no other ſucceſs, than the counſel of God hath pre-ordained, that no fleſh might glory in their own wiſdom, but give unto God the praiſe of all their ſucceſſes, and quietly bear whatever miſcarriages he hath ordered to befall them. It appears by the iſſue of theſe things, that although this wound was not incurable, yet much more blood muſt be taken away before it could be healed. But by this means Philip eſcaped away to the weſtward, kindling the flame of war in all the weſtern plantations of the Maſſachuſetts colony wherever he came, ſo that by this fatal accident, the fire that was in a likely way to be extinguiſhed, as ſoon almoſt as it began, did on a ſudden break out through the whole juriſdiction of the Maſſachuſetts, both eaſtward and weſtward, endangering alſo the neighbour colony of Connecticut, which hath alſo ſuffered ſomewhat by the fury of this flame, though not conſiderable to what the other colonies have undergone.

WHILE things after this manner proceeded in and about the colony of Plimouth, the Commiſſioners of the reſt of the colonies were conſulting and adviſing what was to be done for preventing the miſchief threatened from ſpreading any further, fearing (as indeed there was too much cauſe) that although Philip only appeared to make the firſt attempt, yet more either already were, or ſoon might be perſuaded to join with him in acting this bloody tragedy.

p. 75IF hath been already declared what hath been done for the ſecuring of the Narrhaganſets, thoſe that were ſent as meſſengers on that errand, always reported that the elder people were in appearance, not only inclinable to peace, but ſeemed very deſirous thereof, inſomuch as their two eldeſt Sachems expreſſed much joy when it was concluded; but as ſince hath appeared, all this was but to gain time, and cover their treacherous intents and purpoſes, that they might in the next ſpring fall upon the Engliſh plantations all at once, as ſome priſoners lately brought in have owned and confeſſed; nor have any of thoſe Indians with whom the preſent war hath been, ever regarded any agreements of peace made with the Engliſh, further than out of neceſſity and ſlaviſh fear they were compelled thereunto, as may be ſeen by the records of the united colonies from the year 1643 to the preſent time, notwithſtanding all their fair pretences; for Ninigret, the old Sachem of the Narrhaganſets, who alone of all the reſt of that country Sachems diſowned the preſent war, and refuſed to have any hand therein, had threatned, as was proved to his face before the commiſſioners, in the years 1646 and 1647, that they would carry on the war againſt the Mohegins, whatever were the mind of the Commiſſioners, and that they would kill the Engliſh cattle, and heap them up as high as their wigwams, and that an Engliſhman ſhould not ſtir out of his doors to piſs, but they would kill him; all which he could not deny, yet this old fox made many promiſes of peace, when the dread of the Engliſh ever ſince the Pequod war moved him thereunto; foreſeeing as he is ſaid to have told his neighbours, that they would all be ruined if they made war with the Engliſh, as is ſince come to paſs. However the good hand of God was ſeen in ſo ordering things, that the Narrhaganſets were for the preſent reſtrained from breaking out into open hoſtility againſt the Engliſh, at that time when Philip began; which if they had then done, according to the eye of reaſon, it would have been very difficult, if poſſible, for the Engliſh to have ſaved any of their inland plantations from being deſtroyed. Thus, altho' God hath in his wiſdom p. 76ſuffered ſo much of the rage of the heathen to be let looſe againſt his people here, as ſorely to ſcourge them, that by the wrath of men, praiſe might be yielded to his holy name, yet hath he in his abundant goodneſs reſtrained the remainder that it ſhould not conſume.

THE next thing in order to be related, is the calamity that befel the village of Brookfield, which notwithſtanding all the care that was taken, fell into the hands of the perfidious Nipnet Indians, as ſhall here in the next place be declared; only, as we paſs along, to remind the reader in a ſew words, what was the iſſue of Captain Henchman's purſuit of Philip. The Plymouth forces being returned home, as was ſaid before, Capt. Henchman with his ſix files of men, and the Mohegin Indians, having continued in the purſuit of Philip till they had ſpent all their proviſion, and tired themſelves, yet never coming within ſight of him, the Mohegin Indians in their company directed them to Mendham, and then leaving them, returned alſo to their own country. Captain Henchman in his march toward Mendham, or at Mendham, met with Capt. Moſely coming up to bring him proviſion, and advertiſing him of what ſucceſs he had met with in the purſuit, they altered their courſe, for Capt. Henchman was ſent down to the Governor and Council, to know what they ſhould do: They preſently remanded him to Pocaſſet, and ordered him to ſtay there if there was need, or elſe to draw off, ſurrendering the fort he had been building to Plimouth forces, which laſt was choſen by thoſe of Plimouth, whereupon Capt. Henchman returning to Boſton, was ordered to diſband his men. Capt. Moſely was ordered to march to Quabaog or Brookfield, where he continued a while, with the other Captains ſent up for the relief of the people there, and to ſeek after the enemy in thoſe woods; but after ſome time ſpent in ranging the country thereabouts, not meeting with any of the infidels, he with his company came downwards, ſearching the woods betwixt Lancaſter (where a man and his wife with two children were ſlain on Lord's-day, Aug. 22) and Marlborough, where alſo a lad keeping ſheep was ſhot at by an Indian that wore a p. 77ſign, as if he had been a friend: the Indian was ſuppoſed to belong to the Haſſanemeſit Indians, at that time confined to Marlborough, where they had liberty to dwell in a kind of a fort. The next day the inhabitants ſent to demand their guns, Capt. Moſely acquainted therewith, marched to the fort and found much ſuſpicion againſt eleven of them, for ſinging and dancing, and having bullets and ſlugs, and much powder hid in their baſkets; inſomuch that eleven of them were ſent down priſoners to Boſton, upon ſuſpicion that they had an hand in killing the four at Lancaſter, and ſhooting at the Marlborough ſhepherd: But upon tryal, the ſaid priſoners were all of them acquitted of the fact, and were either releaſed, or elſe were with others of that fort, ſent for better ſecurity, and for preventing future trouble in the like kind to ſome of the iſlands below Boſton toward Nantoſket.

ABOUT this time Capt. Moſely was ſent with a company of ſoldiers to ſome Indian plantations up Merrimack river, as high as Pennycook, but they found no Indians there; thoſe that belonged to the place having withdrawn themſelves from their native place, that they might not meddle in the preſent quarrel, as is confidently believed that Woonalonſet the Sachem of that country had ſo reſolved. That coaſt being clear of the enemies, Capt. Moſely ſoon after was ſent up with his men to the towns weſtward about Hadley, if it might be, to ſubdue the enemy, who a little before, and at that time, was doing all the miſchief he could in thoſe weſtern plantations, both by fire and ſword.

BUT to return and purſue the rebellious Indians, and keep pace with them in our hiſtory, though our forces as yet could never overtake them in the woods. The Governor and Council of the Maſſachuſetts were ſenſible of as much danger from the Nipnet Indians, as from the former; they being the inland part of the country betwixt the ſea coaſt and Connecticut river weſtward, and the towns about the Maſſachuſetts-Bay eaſtward, whereupon p. 78ſome perſons that uſed to trade with the ſaid Nipnets, were ſent to ſound them, and find how they ſtood affected, for which alſo there was the more reaſon, becauſe they were always in ſubjection to the Sachem of Mount-Hope, and ſo were the more like to engage in the preſent quarrel; of which there had been ſufficient proof already; when on the 14th of July, ſome of the Nipnet Indians next bordering on Philip's country, ſet upon ſome of Mendham, ‖‖A town ſituate northward from Mount Hope, within 30 mile, of boſi….where they killed four or five perſons, which was the firſt miſchief done upon any of the inhabitants within the juriſdiction of the Maſſachuſetts, acted as was ſaid by one Matoonas, who was father to him that had committed a murder ſoon after Philip's firſt rebellion, Anno 1671. The meſſenger that was ſent thi her, brought word back that they found the ſaid Indians wavering; the young men very ſurly and inſolent, the elder ones ſhewing ſome inclination to maintain the wonted peace. Soon after, July 28, 1675. Capt. Wheeler was ſent to aſſiſt Capt. Hutchinſon with a party of 20 horſe to treat further about the peace, who going firſt to Quabaog or Brookfield, (a town ſituate about 60 or 70 miles from Boſton, in the road of Connecticut, lying about 25 miles from the ſaid river, and not far diſtant from the chief ſeat of the Nipnet Indians) the inhabitants of the ſaid Brookfield had been ſo deluded by thoſe treacherous villains, that fearing no danger, they obtained of thoſe Nipnets, the promiſe of a treaty upon the 2d of Auguſt; whereupon ſome of the chief of the town rode along unarmed with the ſaid Wheeler and Hutchinſon, with their party of horſe until they came to the place appointed; but finding no Indians, ſo ſecure were they, that they ventured along further, to find the infidels at their chief town, never ſuſpecting the leaſt danger, but when they had rode four or five miles that way, they fell into an ambuſh, of two or three hundred Indians, ſaid in ſuch a narrow paſſage, betwixt a ſteep hill on the one hand, and an hideous ſwamp on the other, that it was ſcarce poſſible for any of them to p. 79eſcape, eight of them being ſhot down upon the place (whereof three were of Brookfield) and three mortally wounded, whereof Capt. Hutchinſon was one; Capt. Wheeler alſo was near loſing his life, whoſe horſe was ſhot down under him, and himſelf ſhot through the body, ſo that all manner of hopes to eſcape had been removed from him, had it not been for his ſon, who was (by God's good providence) near or next unto him, this ſon, being a man of undaunted courage, (notwithſtanding his own arm was broken with a bullet) with great nimbleneſs and agility of body, diſmounted himſelf, and ſpeedily mounted his father upon his own horſe, himſelf getting upon another, whoſe maſter was killed, by which means they both eſcaped, and were afterwards cured. Much ado had thoſe that were left alive to recover Brookfield, which in all probability they never had done (the common road being way laid with Indians on every ſide as was afterwards known) had it not been for one well acquainted with thoſe woods, who led them in a by path, by which means they got thither a little before the Indians, who quickly came flocking into the town, with full intent to deſtroy it with fire and ſword. But by ſpecial providence the inhabitants were all gathered to the principal houſe of the village (there being ſcarce zo in the town) before the barbarous miſcreants came upon them, immediately ſetting fire upon all the dwelling houſes, with moſt of the other buildings in the town, ſave that one into which the inhabitants were retired, the which they ſeveral times attempted to burn, but were almoſt miraculouſly defeated of their purpoſe by the immediate hand of God. In the mount of the Lord it ſhall be ſeen. For when they had for two days aſſaulted that poor handful of helpleſs people, both night and day pouring in ſhot upon them inceſſantly with guns, and alſo thruſting poles with fire brands, and rags dipt in brimſtone tyed to the ends of them to fire the houſe; at laſt they uſed this deviliſh ſtratagem, to fill a cart with hemp, flux and other combuſtible matter, and ſo thruſting it backward with poles ſpliced together a great length, after they had kindled it; but as ſoon as it had begun to take fire, a ſtorm of rain unexpectedly p. 80falling, put out the fire, or elſe all the poor people, about 70 ſouls, would either have been conſumed by mercileſs flames, or elſe have fallen into the hands of their cruel enemies, like wolves continually yelling and gaping for their prey.

THUS was that diſtreſſed company ſtrangely delivered, who have for ever cauſe to ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Bleſſed be the Lord, who hath not given us a prey to their teeth, our ſoul is eſcaped as a bird out of the ſnare of the fowlers, the ſnare is broken and we are eſcaped. For the next night Major Willard, by accident hearing of the danger the people were in, came with forty eight dragoons to their relief. The occaſion which brought Major Willard, and Capt. Parker of Groton with forty-ſix more, ſo timely to their relief was this; Major Willard in purſuance of his commiſſion from the Governor and Council, was upon Wedneſday Auguſt 4th, in the morning, marching out after ſome Indians to the weſtward, to ſecure them: juſt as they were ſetting forth, ſome of Marlborough, who had intelligence (by thoſe that were going to Connecticut, and forced to return) what diſtreſs Brookfield was in, and knowing of Major Willard's purpoſe to go out that morning from Lancaſter, ſent a poſt to acquaint him therewith, which though it did not find him in the town, yet overtook him before he had gone above four or five miles from the place: whereupon, conceiving it more needful to ſuccour Brookfield in ſo eminent danger, than to proceed further upon his intended deſign, he altered his courſe and marched directly thither, being about 30 miles diſtant when the tidings were brought him; ſo he arrived there that night very ſeaſonably, about an hour after it was dark, or elſe in probability they had all periſhed before the relief ſent up from Boſton could have reached them, which was not till three days after. The providence of God likewiſe in bringing in the ſaid Major ſo ſafely, as well as ſeaſonably to their relief, was very remarkable: For the Indians had ſubtilly contrived to cut off all relief ſent, before it could come at them, by laying ambuſhes, and placing their ſcouts at two or three miles diſtance round the town: p. 81About an hundred of them were lodged at an houſe not far off in the way toward Boſton, to cut off any ſuccour that might come from thence: but it is ſuppoſed they were ſo intenſe upon the project they were about for firing the houſe, concluding it would without fail take place, that either they did not mind their buſineſs of watching, or made ſuch a noiſe for joy thereof, that they did not hear their centinels when they ſhot off their guns, at two miles diſtance. It is ſaid that another party of the Indians let the Major and his company purpoſely paſs by them, without any oppoſition, waiting for the blow to be given at their firſt approach near the houſe, purpoſing then to have themſelves fallen upon their rear, and ſo to have cut them all off, before the beſieged underſtood any thing thereof. But it pleaſed God ſo to order things in providence, that no notice was taken of them by the beſiegers, nor were they at all diſcerned by them, till they had made themſelves known to their friends; and were admitted within the court of guard; which when the enemy had notice of, they poured in their ſhot abundantly upon them; but they were now ſheltered from the danger thereof; only it ſeems their horſes were expoſed to their fury, as many of them were maimed and killed, as were moſt of the cattle belonging to the inhabitants of the place ſoon after. This honored perſon, Major Willard, continued at Brookfield, after this famous exploit for the preſervation of the poor beſieged there, divers weeks, to order ſuch compani…s as were ſent up that way for the ſecuring the plantations on that ſide of the country; and not long after he went himſelf alſo to Hadley upon the like ſervice of the country in the preſent war: but after ſome time ſpent in thoſe parts, he returned back to his own place, to order the affairs of his own regiment, much needing his preſence, and leaving the forces about Hadley under the command of the Major of that regiment.

BUT to return to what was in hand before. After the Indians underſtood that ſuccours were come in to the beſieged, they fired all that they had left ſtanding for their own ſhelter while they had beſieged the place p. 82before mentioned, and ran all away into their own dens, in the neighbouring woods: however it was confeſſed by one of themſelves, that the enemy had 80 of their men killed and wounded in this buſineſs. But are we paſs any further in purſuit of the hiſtory of theſe matters, it will not be amiſs to let the reader underſtand the horrible perfidious and treacherous dealing of theſe Nipnet Indians, who, although of all other they had the leaſt reaſon as to any pretence of injury, yet did moſt deceitfully and barbarouſly join with Philip and his Indians, after they had been ſeveral times ſent unto by the Governor and Council of the Maſſachuſetts, by the advice of Plimouth, to have prevented their riſing, as well as the riſing of the Narrhaganſets, and alſo had faithfully promiſed not to meddle in the quarrel, as may more fully appear by the engagement under the hands of their Sachems, ſome time before Capt. Hutchinſon and Capt. Wheeler were ſent up to them, which by reaſon of the haſte and unſkilfulneſs of the meſſengers on that behalf ſent, is not ſo fit for public view: but the account of it from their return, was under their hand and oath, July 24, 1675, when Lieut. Ephraim Curtice ſpake with five of the Nipnet Sachems, four too many to govern ſo ſmall a people, but lying upon the head of the principal Indian territories, they were divided into ſo many ſmall parties, two of whom, viz. Sam, Sachem of Weſhacum, and Netaump were executed together afterward at Boſton. All of them did at that time ſolemnly renew their covenant and promiſe under their hands to come to Boſton to ſpeak further with the Governor, inſtead of which, what they perfidiouſly did againſt Capt. Hutchinſon and others, hath already been declared.

UPON the report of this ſad diſaſter that befel the inhabitants of Brookfield, forces were ſent up under the command of Capt. Lothrop and others, to purſue after thoſe Indians, harbouring about thoſe places, and if it might be, to prevent them from joining with the Indians upon Connecticut river, who as yet had not diſcovered themſelves as willing to eſpouſe Philip's intereſt, hut rather made ſome ſemblance to the contrary. There p. 83was much time ſpent by Major Willard, and ſeveral companies of ſoldiers left under his command, about the Nipnet country, but all to no purpoſe, for partly by the treachery of ſome of the Indians that came to their aſſiſtance, that ſeemed to favor the Engliſh, but rather acted in behalf of the enemy, partly by the ſubtleties of the enemies themſelves, who could eaſily by their ſcouts diſcern the approach of our ſoldiers, and by the nimbleneſs of their feet eſcape them, our ſoldiers could never meet with any of them, but only by that means driving them further weſtward, they gathered all the Indians they could to their party about Pecomptuck, alias Deerfield, Swamſcot, and Squakeag, where were ſome plantations of the Engliſh newly began, whom they aſſaulted in the next place, and did what miſchief they could upon them.

IT is here to be noted, that although that worthy patriot and experienced ſoldier, Major Willard, hearing of the diſtreſs of Brookfield by ſome that were travelling to Connecticut, was the firſt that relieved the diſtreſſed people of Quabaog or Brookfield, yet Major Pynchon of Springfield alſo by accident hearing of their calamity, had not only ſent word thereof to Hartford, (from whom he received a ſupply of 25 or 30 ſoldiers under Capt. Wats) but did alſo ſend a band of men under Lieut. Cooper, (afterwards villainouſly ſlain by Springfield Indians) who with thoſe ſent from Hartford, and ſome Indians belonging to Springfield (ſeemingly forward to help the Engliſh) made up fourſcore or thereabouts: theſe marched down to Brookfield the ſame day that Capt. Lothrop and Capt. Beers came up from the Maſſachuſetts, who having ſpent ſome time in ſearching the woods about Springfield, and finding none of the Indians, did the next day march up to a place called Meminimiſſet by the Indians, where Capt. Hutchinſon and Capt. Wheeler were aſſaulted, and finding no ſign of any Indians amongſt thoſe woods and ſwamps, the company that came from Springfield, left the other ſoldiers (who returned to their quarters at Brookfield) and went up themſelves further northward at leaſt 20 miles from the p. 84ſaid Brookfield, and finding no track of Indians in all thoſe woods, they returned back to Springfield, leaving enough to defend the people of Brookfield, and the garriſon there.

BY this it appears, that the Indians by this occaſion were driven more weſtward into the woods between Hadley and Squakbeag, ††Northfield, 50 miles up the river from Hadley.where they ſoon effected their deſign, viz. to leaven the Indians on that ſide the country with the ſame prejudice and malice againſt the Engliſh. with which they themſelves were (though without cauſe) imbittered; for in a few days the device took place amongſt Hadley and Deerfield Indians, and was preſently put in execution by the ſaid Indians, withdrawing from the Engliſh and aſſiſting Philip and the Nipnets to ſpoil and deſtroy all the towns weſtward, as ſoon after came to paſs: yet at the firſt ſome of the Hadley Indians pretended real friendſhip to the Engliſh, and offered themſelves to fight againſt Philip, but the Mohegin Indians that came afterward from Martford began to ſuſpect the treachery of the other, and told the Engliſh plainly, that no good would be done, while any of that company went along with them in purſuit of the enemy, for as was ſaid, they would always give ſome ſhout when they came near the enemy, as if they ſhould thereby wiſh them to look to themſelves; inſomuch that the ſaid Hadley Indians ſell into great ſuſpicion with the Engliſh, and for a proof of their fidelity, they were required to bring in their arms to the Engliſh, but upon that motion they delayed a little, but that very night they fled away from their dwellings, which was in a wooden fortification, within a mile of Hatfield, whereby they plainly diſcovered that they had ſecretly plotted to join with Philip's party, as far as they had an opportunity to do them any eminent ſervice. Some think the Engliſh failed in point of prudence, not managing that buſineſs ſo warily as they might, which if they had done, their defection had been prevented, but it is moſt probable that Philip had hired them to own his quarrel, by p. 85ſending them gifts in the ſpring: and that the body of the ſaid Indians were moſt readily inclined thereunto: but the Sachems and the elder ones of them, ſeemed loth at firſt to engage againſt the Engliſh. In concluſion, when they had ſo falſly left their dwellings, and were running after Phillip and the Nipnet Indians (…t that time harboured in thoſe woods) the Engliſh were ſo provoked that were under the Capts. Lothrop and Beers, that they purſued after them very early the next morning, and overtook them about ten miles above Hatfield, at a place called Sugarloaf…hill, and had a ſmall ſkirmiſh with them, wherein there were nine or ten of the Engliſh ſlain, and about 26 Indians: Yet the reſt eſcaped, and ſo joined with Phillip and his company; preſently after which accident, they were ſo emboldened, that upon the firſt of Sept. about ſeven days after, they ſet upon Deerfield, killed one man, and laid moſt of the houſes in aſhes. About two or three days after they fell upon Squakeag, another new plantation, fifteen miles higher up the river, above Deerfield, where they killed nine or ten of the people, the reſt hardly eſcaped into the garriſon houſe.

The next day, this diſaſter not being known, Capt. Beers, for fear of the worſt, with 36 men, was ſent up to the ſaid Squakeag, with ſupplies both of men and proviſion to ſecure the ſmall garriſon there, but before they came very near to the town, they were ſet upon by many hundreds of Indians out of the buſhes by a ſwamp ſide. By this ſudden ſurprizal Capt. Beers (who was known to fight valiantly to the very laſt) with about 20 of his men, were ſlain, the reſt flying back to Hadley. Here the barbarous villians ſhewed their inſolent rage and cruelty, more than ever before, cutting off the heads of ſome of the ſlain, and fixing them upon poles near the highway, and not only ſo, but one (if not more) was found with a chain hooked into his under jaw, and ſo hung up on the bough of a tree, ('tis ſeared he was hung up alive) by which means they thought to daunt and diſcourage any that might come p. 86to their relief, and alſo to terrify thoſe that ſhould be ſpectators with the beholding ſo ſad an object: Inſomuch that Major Treat with his company, going up two days after to fetch off the reſidue of the garriſon, were ſolemnly affected with that doleful ſight, which made them make the more haſte to bring down the garriſon, not waiting for any opportunity to take revenge upon the enemy, having but an 100 with him, too ſew for ſuch a purpoſe. Capt. Appleton going up after him, met him coming down, and would willingly have perſuaded them to have turned back, to ſee if they could have made any ſpoil upon the enemy, but the greateſt part adviſed to the contrary, ſo that they were all forced to return with what they could carry away, leaving the reſt for a booty to the enemy, who ſhall are long pay a ſad reckoning for their robberies and cruelties, in the time appointed: But the ſufferings of the Engliſh were not as yet come to their height, for after they were come to Hadley, the commander in chief taking counſel with the officers of the ſoldiers, ordered them that were then preſent to garriſon the towns about; ſome to be at Northampton, Hatfield and Deerfield, and ſome to remain at Hadley, where were the head-quarters of the Engliſh. But perceiving that little good was to be done upon the enemy in thoſe pares, it was agreed that what corn was left at Deerfield, … …h…ſhed out as well as they could in thoſe tumulus (about 3000 buſhels was ſuppoſed to be there ſtanding in ſtacks) ſhould be brought to Hadley, and to wait further time to fight the enemy. It came to Capt. Lothrop's turn, or rather it was his choice with about So men to guard ſeveral carts laden with corn, and other goods. The company under Capt. Moſely then quartering at Deerfield intended that day to purſue after the enemy. But upon Sept. 18, that moſt fatal day, the ſaddeſt that ever befel New-England, as the company under Capt. Lothrop were marching along with the carts (it may be too ſecurely) never apprehending danger ſo near, they were ſuddenly ſet upon, and almoſt all cut off, (90 killed, teamſters included) not above 7 or 8 eſcaping: Which great defeat came to paſs by p. 87the unadviſed proceedings of the Captain (who was himſelf ſlain in the firſt aſſault) although he wanted neither courage nor ſkill to lead his ſoldiers; but having taken up a wrong notion about the beſt way and manner of fighting with the Indians (which he was always wont to argue for) viz. that it were beſt to deal with the Indians in their own way, ſoil by ſkulking behind trees, and taking their aim at ſingle por…s. which is the uſual manner of the Indians fighting one with another; but herein was his great miſtake, in not conſidering the great diſadvantage a ſmaller company would have in dealing that way with a greater multitude: For if five have to deal with one, they may ſurround him, and every one take his a…m at him, while he can level but at one of his enemies at a time: Which groſs miſtake of his, was the ruin of a choice company of young men, the very flower of the county of Eſſex. all culled out of the towns belonging to that county, none of which were aſhamed to ſpeak with the enemy in the gate; their dear relations at home mourning for them, like Rachel for her children, and would not be comforted, not only becauſe they were not, but becauſe they were ſo miſerably loſt. The like miſtake was conceived to be the reaſon of the loſs of the former perſons ſlain with the ſaid Lothrop, purſuing the Indians that ran away from Hadley, and of the 20 ſlain with Capt. Beers's men, who betook themſelves at firſt to the trees, and at the laſt a few got to their horſes ſoon after their Captain was ſhot down. For had he ordered his men to march in a body, as ſome of his follow-commanders adviſed, either backward or forward, in reaſon they had not loſt a quarter of the number of them that fell that day by the edge of the ſword. For the Indians, notwithſtanding their ſubtilty and cruelty, durſt not look an Engliſhman in the face in the open field, nor ever yet were known to kill any man with their guns, unleſs when they could lie in wait for him in an ambuſh, or behind ſome ſhelter, taking aim undiſcovered, ſo that although it was judged by thoſe that eſcaped, that there were 7 or 800 Indians at leaſt that encountred that company of 80 Engliſh, yet if p. 88they had kept together in a body, and fought marching, they might have eſcaped the numbers of the enemy, with little loſs in compariſon of what they ſuſtained. For the valiant and ſucceſsful Capt. Moſely, and his Lieutenant, coming (though too late) to their reſcue, marched through and through that great body of Indians, and yet came off with little or no loſs in compariſon of the other. And having fought all thoſe Indians for five or ſix hours upon a march, loſt not above two men all that while. nor received other damage except that 8 or 9 were wounded, who were carried to their quarters at night at Ha…field, whereas if theſe had proceeded in the ſame way of fighting as Capt Lothrop did in the morning, they might have been ſurrounded, and ſo have been ſerved as the former were: But God had otherwiſe determined in his ſecret counſel, and therefore that was hid from the one, which was a means to preſerve the other company.

OTHER relief alſo was ſeaſonably ſent in, viz. a company of Engliſh and Mohegin or Pequod Indians under the command of Major Treat, who was in the morning marching another way, viz. up toward Squakeag to ſeek after the enemy that way, with about 100 ſoldiers, Indians and Engliſh, upon whoſe approach the enemy, pretty well acquainted by this laſt encounter with the valour of the Engliſh, immediately went clear away, giving Major Treat and Capt. Moſely, who returned to Deerfield that night, an opportunity to bury the ſlain the next day. As Capt. Moſely came upon the Indians in the morning, he found them ſtripping of the ſlain, amongſt whom was one Robert Dutch of Ipſwich, having been ſorely wounded by a bullet that raſed to his ſkull, and then mauled by the Indian-hatchets, was left for dead by the ſavages, and ſtrip't by them of all but his ſkin, yet when Capt. Moſely came near, be almoſt miraculouſly as one raiſed from the dead, came towards the Engliſh, to their no ſmall amazement, by whom being received and cloathed, he was carried off to the next garriſon, and is living and is in perfect health at this day. May he be to the p. 89friends and relations of the reſt of the ſlain, an emblem of their more perfect reſurrection at the laſt day, to receive their crowns among the reſt of the martyrs that have laid down or ventured their lives, as a teſtimony to the truth of their religion, as well as love to their country.

THIS ſore defeat of Capt. Lothrop and his men, was the more to be lamented, in that (falling out ſo ſoon after two other of the like nature) it ſo emboldened the enemy, that they durſt ſoon after adventure upon conſiderable towns, though well garriſoned with ſoldiers, and gave them occaſion of the moſt inſolent braving the garriſon at Deerfield the next day, hanging up the garments of the Engliſh in ſight of the ſoldiers, yet on the other ſide of the river. However, it pleaſed God, who is always wont to remember his people in their low eſtate, to put ſuch a reſtraint upon them, that when they paſſed very near the garriſon-houſe at Deerfield, (wherein where not left above 27 ſoldiers) their Captain uſing this ſtratagem, to cauſe his trumpet to ſound as if he had another troop near by to be called together, they turned another way and made no attempt upon the houſe where that ſmall number was, which if they had done with any ordinary reſolution, ſo ſmall a handful of men could hardly have withſtood the force of ſo many hundreds as were then gathered together.

WHAT loſs the enemy ſuſtained by the reſiſtance of Capt. Lothrop and his men, (who no doubt being all reſolute young men, and ſeeing they ſhould be forced by the hard law of the ſword to forego their liver, held them at as high a rate as they could) is not certainly known. It hath ſince been confeſſed by ſome of the Indians themſelves, that they loſt 96 of their man that day. Capt. Moſely's men coming ſuddenly upon them when they were pillaging of the dead, ſell upon them with ſuch a ſmart aſſault, that they drove them p…ntly into a ſwamp, following them ſo cloſe, that for ſeven p. 90miles together they fought them upon a march, charging them through and through. Periz Savage and Mr. Pickering, his Lieutenants, deſerving no little part of the honor of that day's ſervice, being ſometimes called to lead the company in the front, while Capt. Moſely took a little breath, who was almoſt melted with labouring, commanding, and leading his men through the midſt of the enemy.

The Indians gathered together in thoſe parts, app…ing ſo numerous, and, as might juſtly be ſuppoſed, growing more confident by ſome of their late ſucceſſes, and the number of our men being after this ſad rate diminiſhed, recruits alſo not being ſuddenly to be expected, at ſo great a diſtance as an hundred miles from all ſupplies, the commander in chief with the officers, law a neceſſity of fighting that garriſon at Deerfield, employing the forces they had to ſecure and ſtreng then the three next towns below upon Connecticut river. And it was well that counſel was thought upon; for now thoſe wretched caitiffs begin to talk of great matters, hoping that by degrees they might deſtroy all the towns thereabouts, as they had already begun: Their hopes no doubt, were not a little heightened by the acceſſion of the Springfield Indians to their party, who had in appearance all this time ſtood the firmeſt to the intereſt of the Engliſh of all the reſt in thoſe parts: But they all hanging together, like ſerpents eggs, were eaſily perſuaded to join with thoſe of Hadley (there being ſo near alliance between them, for the Sachem of the Springfield Indians was father of Hadley Sachem) not only by the ſucceſs of their treacherous an… blood thirſty companions, but by the ſame … and antipathy againſt the Engliſh manners and religion.

THE inhabitants of Springfield were not it ſenſible of their danger, and therefore had upon the firſt breaking … of theſe troubles been t…ting with their Indians, and … received from them the firmed aſſurance and … of their …ithfulneſs … that could p. 91be imagined or deſired, both by covenant, promiſes, and hoſtages given for ſecurity, ſo as no doubt was left in any of their minds: Yet did theſe faithleſs and ungrateful monſters plot with Philip's Indians to burn and deſtroy all Springfield, as they had done Brookfield before. To that end they ſent cunningly and enticed away the hoſtages from Hartford, where they were, perhaps too ſecurely watched over, a day or two before: Then receiving above 300 of Philip's Indians into their ſort, privately in the night time, ſo as they were neither diſcerned nor ſuſpected. Yea ſo confident were ſuch of the inhabitants as were moſt converſant with the Indians at their fort, that they would not believe there was any ſuch plot in hand, when it was ſtrangely revealed by one Toto an Indian at Windſor, better affected to the Engliſh, (about 18 or 20 miles below Springfield, upon the ſame river) and ſo by poſt tidings thereof brought to Springfield the night before, inſomuch that the Lieutenant of the town, Cooper by name, was ſo far from believing the ſtratagem, that in the morning himſelf with another would venture to ride up to the fort, to ſee whether things were ſo or no. The fort was about a mile from the town; when he came within a little thereof, he met theſe bloody and deceitful monſters, newly iſſued out of their Eqnus Trojanus to act their intended miſchief; they preſently fired upon him, divers of them, and ſhot him in ſeveral places through the body, yet being a man of ſtout courage, he kept his horſe, till he recovered the next garriſon houſe, his companion they ſhot dead upon the place; by this means giving a ſad alarm to the town of their intended miſchief, which was inſtantly fired in all places where there were no garriſons. The poor people having never an officer to lead them, being like ſheep ready for the ſlaughter, and no doubt the whoſe town had been totally dearoved, but that a report of the plot being carried about over night, Major Treat came from W…field ſame enough in a manner for their …, but wanting boats to tranſport his men, could not …. Major … p. 92pleton and what forces they could bring along with them, 32 houſes being firſt conſumed, preſerved the reſt of the town from being turned to aſhes, in which the over credulous inhabitants might now ſee (what before they would not believe at the burning Major Pynchon's barns and ſtables a few, days before, to a very great damage of the owner) the faithleſs and deceitful friendſhip amongſt thoſe perfidious, cruel and helliſh monſters.

AMONGST the ruins of the ſaid dwellings, the ſadeſt to behold was the houſe of Mr. Pelatiah Glover, miniſter of the town, furniſhed with a brave library, which he had but newly brought back from a garriſon wherein it had been for ſome time before ſecured, but as if the danger had been over with them, the ſaid miniſter, a great ſtudent, and an belluo librorum, being impatient for want of his books, brought them back to his great ſorrow, fit for a bonfire for the proud inſulting enemy. Of all the miſ…iefs done by the ſaid enemy before that day, the burning of this town of Springfield did more than any other diſcover the ſaid actors to be the children of the devil, full of all ſubtilty and malice, there having been for above 40 years ſo good correſpondence betwixt the Engliſh of that town and the neighbouring Indians: But in them is made good what is ſaid in the Pſalm. That though their words were ſmoother than oyl, yet were they drawn ſwords.

AFTER ſome little time ſpent in garriſoning the place, and helping the inhabitants to ſecure what they had left. the Engliſh ſoldiers moſt of them returned back to Hadley, their head-quarters, and Major Pynchon being ſo full of incumbrances, by reaſon of the late ſpoils done to himſelf, and his neighbours at Springfield, could not any longer attend the ſervice of commanding in chief as he had done before, wherefore being according to his earneſt requeſt of the Council eaſed of that burden; Capt. Samuel Appleton was ordered to ſucceed in taking the charge of the ſoldiers left in thoſe upper towns, by whoſe induſtry, …ill and courage, p. 93thoſe towns were preſerved from running the ſame ſate with the reſt, wholly or in part ſo lately turned into aſhes. For the enemy growing very confident by the late ſucceſſes, came with all their fury the 19th of October following upon Hatfield, hoping no leſs than to do the like miſchief to them, they had newly done to Springfield: But according to the good providence of Almighty God, Major Treat was newly returned to North-Hampton, Captain Moſely and Captain Pools were then garriſoning the ſaid Hatfield, and Capt. Appleton for the like end quartering at Hadley, when on a ſudden 7 or 800 of the enemy came upon the town in all quarters, having firſt killed or taken two or three of the ſcouts belonging to the town, and ſeven more belonging to Capt. Moſely's company: But they were ſo well entertained on all hands where they attempted to break in upon the town, that they found it too hot for them. Major Appleton with great courage defending one end of the town, and Capt. Moſely as ſtoutly maintaining the middle, and Captain Poole the other end; that they were by the reſolution of the Engliſh inſtantly beaten off, without doing much harm. Capt. Appleton's ſerjeant was mortally wounded juſt by his ſide, another bullet paſſing through his own hair, by that whiſper telling him that death was very new, but did him no other harm. Night coming on, it could not be diſcerned what loſs the enemy ſuſtained, divers were ſeen to fall, ſome run through a ſmall river, others caſt their guns into the water, it being their manner to venture as much to recover the dead bodies of their friends, as to defend them when alive.

AT laſt after the burning of ſome few baras, with ſome other buildings, the enemy haſted away as faſt as they came on, leaving the Engliſh to bleſs God who had ſo mercifully delivered them from the fury of their mercileſs foes, who had in conceit without doubt, devoured them all: But this reſolute and valiant repulſe, put ſuch a check upon the pride of the enemy, that they made no further attempt upon any of thoſe towns p. 94for the preſent, but winter drawing on, they retired all of them to their general rendezvous at Narrhaganſet, where we ſhall leave them for the preſent plotting their general deſign of accompliſhing their intended miſchief againſt the Engliſh the next Spring.

OUR weſtern plantations upon Connecticut river, where the ſtage whereon were acted the moſt remarkable paſſages of this barbarous war hitherto, which was ſoon after removed into many other places of the country in the winter and ſpring following, whither our diſcourſe muſt in the next place purſue it. There was not any great matter acted by the enemy amongſt the plantations upon the great river during the winter, after the aſſault made upon Hatfield October 19th. It is evident that the body of them returned to Narrhaganſet upon the approach of the winter, which ſet in more early than it uſed in other years. Where Philip did beſtow himſelf in the winter ſeaſon is not ſo certain, ſome ſay that he repaired further weſtward, to try his fortune with thoſe Indians that lie towards Albany, near the Dutch river: Others more probably conceive that he lay hid in ſome part of the Narrhaganſet country; for though he was not certainly known to be about the fort at Narrhaganſet, when it was taken by our forces in the winter, yet as ſoon as ever they were driven out of the country in February, he was found amongſt them that did the miſchief at Lancaſter in that month.

SOME ſtragling parties of them remained about North-Hampton, Weſtfield and Springfield ſome time after their defeat at Hatfield: Seven or eight of the inhabitants of North-Hampton in the end of October, venturing to fetch in ſome of their harveſt, that was leſt ſomewhere out of town, were in danger of being ſurpriſed, having laid their arms under their cart, ſo as being deſtitute of means to make their defence, they were glad to fly away with the horſes out of their carts, leaving what they were about to the pleaſure of the Indians that aſſaulted them. Major Treat upon hearing p. 95the alarm, preſently repaired thither, but could not come time enough to deſtroy any of the enemy, nor yet to prevent their burning of four or five houſes, with two or three barns that ſtood ſomewhat out of the town. Within a little time after they killed three of the ſame town, as they were at work in a meadow not far from the town: They intended alſo to have burned the mill, but it was too well guarded by two files of muſketiers lodged there for the purpoſe, who put them beſide their intent. Six or ſeven of Springfield ſoon after going to the mill at Weſtfield (that which belonged to their own town being burned October 5th) and venturing without arms, three of them were killed by ſome of the enemy, who took the advantage alſo to burn four or five houſes that belonged to the ſaid Weſtfield: But by the end of November the coaſt was pretty clear of them, unleſs ſome few of them that lay lurking in the ſwamps thereabouts all the winter, doing ſome ſmall miſchief upon ſome out-dwellings of Springfield.

THE expedition into the Narrhaganſet country follows in order in the next place to be related; but before we come thither, a little notice muſt be taken by the way, of an unſucceſsful attempt upon the Indians about Haſſanemeſit **Sometimes called Hoſſanamiſco, now Grafton.and Poppachuog, whither Capt. Henchman was ſent in the beginning of November; where alſo Capt. Still was ordered to meet him with another company from Cambridge, with intent to have beat up the Indian quarters in thoſe parts: They being known to have had an hand in the outrages committed upon thoſe that belonged to Marlborough and Mendham, cutting off the ſcalp of a miller's boy, who is yet alive.