Chapter XV: Part 15

Some of their neighbours in y^e Bay, hereing of y^e fame of Conightecute River, had a hankering mind after it, (as was before noted,) and now understanding that y^e Indeans were swepte away with y^e late great mortalitie, the fear of whom was an obstacle unto them before, which being now taken away, they begane now to prosecute it with great egernes. The greatest differances fell betweene those of Dorchester plantation and them hear; for they set their minde on that place, which they had not only purchased of y^e Indeans, but wher they had builte; intending only (if they could not remove them) that they should have but a smale moyety left to y^e house, as to a single family; whose doings and proceedings were conceived to be very injurious, to attempte not only to intrude them selves into y^e rights & possessions of others, but in effect to thrust them out of all. Many were y^e leters & passages that went betweene them hear aboute, which would be to long here to relate.

I shall here first inserte a few lines that was write by their own agente from thence.

S^r: &c. Y^e Masschuset men are coming almost dayly, some by water, &
some by land, who are not yet determined wher to setle, though some
have a great mind to y^e place we are upon, and which was last bought.
Many of them look at that which this river will not afford, excepte it
be at this place which we have, namly, to be a great towne, and have
comodious dwellings for many togeather. So as what they will doe I
cannot yet resolve you; for this place ther is none of them say any
thing to me, but what I hear from their servants (by whom I perceive
their minds). I shall doe what I can to withstand them. I hope they
will hear reason; as that we were here first, and entred with much
difficulty and danger, [212] both in regard of y^e Dutch & Indeans,
and bought y^e land, (to your great charge, allready disbursed,) and
have since held here a chargable possession, and kept y^e Dutch from
further incroaching, which would els long before this day have
possessed all, and kept out all others, &c. I hope these & such like
arguments will stoppe them. It was your will we should use their
persons & messengers kindly, & so we have done, and doe dayly, to your
great charge; for y^e first company had well nie starved had it not
been for this house, for want of victuals; I being forced to supply
12. men for 9. days togeather; and those which came last, I
entertained the best we could, helping both them (& y^e other) with
canows, & guids. They gott me to goe with them to y^e Dutch, to see if
I could procure some of them to have quiet setling nere them; but they
did peremtorily withstand them. But this later company did not once
speak therof, &c. Also I gave their goods house roome according to
their ernest request, and M^r. Pinchons letter in their behalfe (which
I thought good to send you, here inclosed). And what trouble & charge
I shall be further at I know not; for they are co[=m]ing dayly, and I
expecte these back againe from below, whither they are gone to veiw
y^e countrie. All which trouble & charg we under goe for their
occasion, may give us just cause (in y^e judgmente of all wise &
understanding men) to hold and keep that we are setled upon. Thus with
my duty remembred, &c. I rest

Yours to be comanded
JOHNNATH[=A] BREWSTER.

Matianuck, July 6. 1635.

Amongst y^e many agitations that pased betweene them, I shal note a few out of their last letters, & for y^e present omitte y^e rest, except upon other occasion I may have fitter opportunity. After their thorrow veiw of y^e place, they began to pitch them selves upon their land & near their house; which occasioned much expostulation betweene them. Some of which are such as follow.

Brethren, having latly sent 2. of our body unto you, to agitate &
bring to an issue some maters in difference betweene us, about some
lands at Conightecutt, unto which you lay challeng; upon which God by
his providence cast us, and as we conceive in a faire way of
providence tendered it to us, as a meete place to receive our body,
now upon removall.

We shall not need to answer all y^e passages of your larg letter, &c.
But wheras you say God in his providence cast you, &c., we tould you
before, and (upon this occasion) must now tell you still, that our
mind is other wise, and y^t you cast rather a partiall, if not a
covetous eye, upon that w^ch is your neigbours, and not yours; and in
so doing, your way could not be faire unto it. Looke y^t you abuse not
Gods providence in such allegations.

Theirs.

Now allbeite we at first judged y^e place so free y^t we might with
Gods good leave take & use it, without just offence to any man, it
being the Lords [213] wast, and for y^e presente altogeather voyd of
inhabitants, that indeede minded y^e imploymente therof, to y^e right
ends for which land was created, Gen: 1. 28. and for future intentions
of any, & uncertaine possibilities of this or that to be done by any,
we judging them (in such a case as ours espetialy) not meete to be
equalled with presente actions (such as ours was) much less worthy to
be prefered before them; and therfore did we make some weake beginings
in that good worke, in y^e place afforesaid.

Ans: Their answer was to this effecte. That if it was y^e Lords wast, it was them selves that found it so, & not they; and have since bought it of y^e right oweners, and maintained a chargable possession upon it al this while, as them selves could not but know. And because of present ingagments and other hinderances which lay at presente upon them, must it therfore be lawfull for them to goe and take it from them? It was well known that they are upon a barren place, wher they were by necessitie cast; and neither they nor theirs could longe continue upon y^e same; and why should they (because they were more ready, & more able at presente) goe and deprive them of that which they had w^th charg & hazard provided, & intended to remove to, as soone as they could & were able?

They had another passage in their letter; they had rather have to doe with the lords in England, to whom (as they heard it reported) some of them should say that they had rather give up their right to them, (if they must part with it,) then to y^e church of Dorchester, &c. And that they should be less fearfull to offend y^e lords, then they were them.

Answer: Their answer was, that what soever they had heard, (more then was true,) yet y^e case was not so with them that they had need to give away their rights & adventurs, either to y^e lords, or them; yet, if they might measure their fear of offence by their practise, they had rather (in that poynte) they should deal with y^e lords, who were beter able to bear it, or help them selves, then they were.

But least I should be teadious, I will forbear other things, and come to the conclusion that was made in y^e endd. To make any forcible resistance was farr from their thoughts, (they had enough of y^t about Kenebeck,) and to live in continuall contention with their freinds & brethren would be uncomfortable, and too heavie a burden to bear. Therfore for peace sake (though they conceived they suffered much in this thing) they thought it better to let them have it upon as good termes as they could gett; and so they fell to treaty. The first thing y^t (because they had made so many & long disputs aboute it) they would have them to grante was, y^t they had right too it, or ells they would never treat aboute it. The[DP] which being acknowledged, & yeelded unto by them, this was y^e conclusion they came unto in y^e end after much adoe: that they should retaine their house, and have the 16. parte of all they had bought of y^e Indeans; and y^e other should have all y^e rest of y^e land; leaveing such a moyety to those [214] of New-towne, as they reserved for them. This 16. part was to be taken in too places; one towards y^e house, the other towards New-townes proporrtion. Also they were to pay according to proportion, what had been disbursed to y^e Indeans for y^e purchass. Thus was y^e controversie ended, but the unkindnes not so soone forgotten. They of New-towne delt more fairly, desireing only what they could conveniently spare, from a competancie reserved for a plantation, for them selves; which made them the more carfull to procure a moyety for them, in this agreement & distribution.

Amongst y^e other bussinesses that M^r. Winslow had to doe in England, he had order from y^e church to provid & bring over some able & fitt man for to be their minister. And accordingly he had procured a godly and a worthy[DQ] man, one M^r. Glover; but it pleased God when he was prepared for the viage, he fell sick of a feaver and dyed. Afterwards, when he was ready to come away, he became acquainted with M^r. Norton, who was willing to come over, but would not ingage him selfe to this place, otherwise then he should see occasion when he came hear; and if he liked better else wher, to repay y^e charge laid out for him, (which came to aboute 70^li.) and to be at his liberty. He stayed aboute a year with them, after he came over, and was well liked of them, & much desired by them; but he was invited to Ipswich, wher were many rich & able men, and sundry of his aquaintance; so he wente to them, & is their minister. Aboute half of y^e charg was repayed, y^e rest he had for y^e pains he tooke amongst them.

_Anno Dom: 1636._

M^R. ED: WINSLOW was chosen Gov^r this year.

In y^e former year, because they perceived by M^r. Winslows later letters that no accounts would be sente, they resolved to keep y^e beaver, and send no more, till they had them, or came to some further agreemente. At least they would forbear till M^r. Winslow came over, that by more full conferance with him they might better understand what was meete to be done. But when he came, though he brought no accounts, yet he perswaded them to send y^e beaver, & was confident upon y^e receite of y^t beaver, & his letters, they should have accounts y^e nexte year; and though they thought his grounds but weake, that gave him this hope, & made him so confidente, yet by his importunitie they yeelded, & sente y^e same, ther being a ship at y^e latter end of year, by whom they sente 1150^li. waight of beaver, and 200. otter skins, besids sundrie small furrs, as 55. minks, 2. black foxe skins, &c. And this year, in the spring, came in a Dutch man, who thought to have traded at y^e Dutch-forte; [215] but they would not suffer him. He, having good store of trading goods, came to this place, & tendred them to sell; of whom they bought a good quantitie, they being very good & fitte for their turne, as Dutch roll, ketles, &c., which goods amounted to y^e valew of 500^li., for y^e paymente of which they passed bills to M^r. Sherley in England, having before sente y^e forementioned parcell of beaver. And now this year (by another ship) sente an other good round parcell that might come to his hands, & be sould before any of these bills should be due. The quantity of beaver now sent was 1809^li. waight, and of otters 10. skins, and shortly after (y^e same year) was sent by another ship (Mr. Langrume maister), in beaver 0719^li. waight, and of otter skins 199. concerning which M^r. Sherley thus writs.

Your leters I have received, with 8. hoggsheads of beaver by Ed:
Wilkinson, master of y^e Falcon. Blessed be God for y^e safe coming of
it. I have also seen & acceped 3. bills of exchainge, &c. But I must
now acquainte you how the Lords heavie hand is upon this kingdom in
many places, but cheefly in this cittie, with his judgmente of y^e
plague. The last weeks bill was 1200. & odd, I fear this will be more;
and it is much feared it will be a winter sicknes. By reason wherof it
is incredible y^e number of people y^t are gone into y^e cuntry & left
y^e citie. I am perswaded many more then went out y^e last sicknes; so
as here is no trading, carriers from most places put downe; nor no
receiving of any money, though long due. M^r. Hall ows us more then
would pay these bills, but he, his wife, and all, are in y^e cuntrie,
60. miles from London. I write to him, he came up, but could not pay
us. I am perswaded if I should offer to sell y^e beaver at 8s. p^r
pound, it would not yeeld money; but when y^e Lord shall please to
cease his hand, I hope we shall have better & quicker markets; so it
shall lye by. Before I accepted y^e bills, I acquainted M^r. Beachamp
& M^r. Andrews with them, & how ther could be no money made nor
received; and that it would be a great discredite to you, which never
yet had any turned back, and a shame to us, haveing 1800^li. of beaver
lying by us, and more oweing then y^e bills come too, &c. But all was
nothing; neither of them both will put too their finger to help. I
offered to supply my 3. parte, but they gave me their answer they
neither would nor could, &c. How ever, your bils shall be satisfied to
y^e parties good contente; but I would not have thought they would
have left either you or me at this time, &c. You will and may expect I
should write more, & answer your leters, but I am not a day in y^e
weeke at home at towne, but carry my books & all to Clapham; for here
is y^e miserablest time y^t I thinke hath been known in many ages. I
have kno[=w] 3. great sickneses, but none like this. And that which
should be a means to pacifie y^e Lord, & help us, that is taken away,
preaching put downe in many places, not a sermone in Westminster on
y^e saboth, nor in many townes aboute us; y^e Lord in mercie looke
uppon us. In the begining of y^e year was a great [216] drought, & no
raine for many weeks togeather, so as all was burnte up, haye, at
5^li. a load; and now all raine, so as much sommer come & later haye
is spoyled. Thus y^e Lord sends judgmente after judgmente, and yet we
cannot see, nor humble our selves; and therfore may justly fear
heavier judgments, unless we speedyly repente, & returne unto him,
which y^e Lord give us grace to doe, if it be his blessed will. Thus
desiring you to remember us in your prayers, I ever rest

Your loving friend,
JAMES SHERLEY.

Sep^t: 14. 1636.

This was all the answer they had from M^r. Sherley, by which M^r. Winslow saw his hops failed him. So they now resoloved to send no more beaver in y^t way which they had done, till they came to some issue or other aboute these things. But now came over letters from M^r. Andrews & M^r. Beachamp full of complaints, that they marveled y^t nothing was sent over, by which any of their moneys should be payed in; for it did appear by y^e accounte sente in An^o 1631. that they were each of them out, aboute a leven hundered pounds a peece, and all this while had not received one penie towards y^e same. But now M^r. Sherley sought to draw more money from them, and was offended because they deneyed him; and blamed them hear very much that all was sent to M^r. Sherley, & nothing to them. They marvelled much at this, for they conceived that much of their moneis had been paid in, & y^t yearly each of them had received a proportionable quantity out of y^e larg returnes sent home. For they had sente home since y^t accounte was received in An^o 1631. (in which all & more then all their debts, w^th y^t years supply, was charged upon them) these sumes following.

Nov^br 8. An^o 1631. By M^r. Peirce 0400^li. waight of
beaver, & otters 20.
July 13. An^o 1632. By M^r. Griffin 1348^li. beaver, & otters 147.
An^o 1633. By M^r. Graves 3366^li. bever, & otters 346.
An^o 1634. By M^r. Andrews 3738^li. beaver, & otters 234.
An^o 1635. By M^r. Babb 1150^li. beaver, & otters 200.
June 24. An^o 1636. By M^r. Wilkinson 1809^li. beaver, & otters 010.
Ibidem. By M^r. Langrume 0719^li. beaver, & otters 199.
-------- -----
12150^li.[DR] 1156.

All these sumes were safly rceived & well sould, as appears by leters. The coat beaver usualy at 20^s. p^r pound, and some at 24^s.; the skin at 15. & sometimes 16. I doe not remember any under 14. It may be y^e last year might be something lower, so also ther were some small furrs that are not recconed in this accounte, & some black beaver at higer rates, to make up y^e defects. [217] It was conceived that y^e former parcells of beaver came to litle less then 10000^li. sterling, and y^e otter skins would pay all y^e charge, & they w^th other furrs make up besids if any thing wanted of y^e former sume. When y^e former accounte was passed, all their debts (those of White-Angelle & Frendship included) came but to 4770^li. And they could not estimate that all y^e supplies since sent them, & bills payed for them, could come to above 2000^li. so as they conceived their debts had been payed, with advantage or intrest. But it may be objected, how comes it that they could not as well exactly sett downe their receits, as their returnes, but thus estimate it. I answer, 2. things were y^e cause of it; the first & principall was, that y^e new accountante, which they in England would needs presse upon them, did wholy faile them, & could never give them any accounte; but trusting to his memorie, & lose papers, let things rune into such confusion, that neither he, nor any with him, could bring things to rights. But being often called upon to perfecte his accounts, he desired to have such a time, and such a time of leasure, and he would doe it. In y^e intrime he fell into a great sicknes, and in conclusion it fell out he could make no accounte at all. His books were after a litle good begining left altogeather unperfect; and his papers, some were lost, & others so confused, as he knew not what to make of them him selfe, when they came to be searched & examined. This was not unknowne to M^r. Sherley; and they came to smarte for it to purposs, (though it was not their faulte,) both thus in England, and also here; for they conceived they lost some hundreds of pounds for goods trusted out in y^e place, which were lost for want of clear accounts to call them in. Another reason of this mischeefe was, that after M^r. Winslow was sente into England to demand accounts, and to excepte against y^e Whit-Angell, they never had any price sent with their goods, nor any certaine invoyce of them; but all things stood in confusion, and they were faine to guesse at y^e prises of them.

They write back to M^r. Andrews & M^r. Beachamp, and tould them they marveled they should write they had sent nothing home since y^e last accounts; for they had sente a great deale; and it might rather be marveled how they could be able to send so much, besids defraying all charg at home, and what they had lost by the French, and so much cast away at sea, when M^r. Peirce lost his ship on y^e coast of Virginia. What they had sente was to them all, and to them selves as well as M^r. Sherley, and if they did not looke after it, it was their owne falts; they must referr them to M^r. Sherley, who had received [218] it, to demand it of him. They allso write to M^r. Sherley to y^e same purposs, and what the others complaints were.

This year 2. shallops going to Coonigtecutt with goods from y^e Massachusetts of such as removed theither to plante, were in an easterly storme cast away in coming into this harbore in y^e night; the boats men were lost, and the goods were driven all alonge the shore, and strowed up & downe at high-water marke. But y^e Gov^r caused them to be gathered up, and drawn togeather, and appointed some to take an inventory of them, and others to wash & drie such things as had neede therof; by which means most of y^e goods were saved, and restored to y^e owners. Afterwards anotheir boate of theirs (going thither likwise) was cast away near unto Manoanscusett, and such goods as came a shore were preserved for them. Such crosses they mette with in their beginings; which some imputed as a correction from God for their intrution (to y^e wrong of others) into y^t place. But I dare not be bould with Gods judgments in this kind.

In y^e year 1634, the Pequents (a stoute and warlike people), who had made warrs with sundry of their neigbours, and puft up with many victories, grue now at varience with y^e Narigansets, a great people bordering upon them. These Narigansets held correspondance and termes of freindship with y^e English of y^e Massachusetts. Now y^e Pequents, being conscious of y^e guilte of Captain-Stones death, whom they knew to be an-English man, as also those y^t were with him, and being fallen out with y^e Dutch, least they should have over many enemies at once, sought to make freindship with y^e English of y^e Massachusetts; and for y^t end sent both messengers & gifts unto them, as appears by some letters sent from y^e Gov^r hither.

Dear & worthy S^r: &c. To let you know somwhat of our affairs, you may
understand that y^e Pequents have sent some of theirs to us, to desire
our freindship, and offered much wampam & beaver, &c. The first
messengers were dismissed without answer; with y^e next we had diverce
dayes conferance, and taking y^e advice of some of our ministers, and
seeking the Lord in it, we concluded a peace & freindship with them,
upon these conditions: that they should deliver up to us those men who
were guilty of Stones death, &c. And if we desired to plant in
Conightecute, they should give up their right to us, and so we would
send to trade with them as our freinds (which was y^e cheefe thing we
aimed at, being now in warr with y^e Dutch and y^e rest of their
neigbours). To this they readily agreed; and that we should meadiate a
peace betweene them and the Narigansetts; for which end they were
contente we should give the Narigansets parte of y^t presente, they
would bestow on us (for they stood [219][DS] so much on their honour,
as they would not be seen to give any thing of them selves). As for
Captein Stone, they tould us ther were but 2. left of those who had
any hand in his death; and that they killed him in a just quarell, for
(say they) he surprised 2. of our men, and bound them, to make them by
force to shew him y^e way up y^e river;[DT] and he with 2. other
coming on shore, 9. Indeans watched him, and when they were a sleepe
in y^e night, they kiled them, to deliver their owne men; and some of
them going afterwards to y^e pinass, it was suddainly blowne up. We
are now preparing to send a pinass unto them, &c.

In an other of his, dated y^e 12. of y^e first month, he hath this.

Our pinass is latly returned from y^e Pequents; they put of but litle
comoditie, and found them a very false people, so as they mean to have
no more to doe with them. I have diverce other things to write unto
you, &c.

Yours ever assured,
JO: WINTHROP.

Boston, 12. of y^e 1. month, 1634.

After these things, and, as I take, this year, John Oldom, (of whom much is spoken before,) being now an inhabitant of y^e Massachusetts, went w^th a small vessell, & slenderly mand, a trading into these south parts, and upon a quarell betweene him & y^e Indeans was cutt of by them (as hath been before noted) at an iland called by y^e Indeans Munisses, but since by y^e English Block Iland. This, with y^e former about the death of Stone, and the baffoyling of y^e Pequents with y^e English of y^e Massachusetts, moved them to set out some to take revenge, and require satisfaction for these wrongs; but it was done so superfitially, and without their acquainting of those of Conightecute & other neighbours with y^e same, as they did litle good. But their neigbours had more hurt done, for some of y^e murderers of Oldome fled to y^e Pequents, and though the English went to y^e Pequents, and had some parley with them, yet they did but delude them, & y^e English returned without doing any thing to purpose, being frustrate of their oppertunitie by y^e others deceite. After y^e English were returned, the Pequents tooke their time and oppertunitie to cut of some of y^e English as they passed in boats, and went on fouling, and assaulted them y^e next spring at their habytations, as will appear in its place. I doe but touch these things, because I make no question they wall be more fully & distinctly handled by them selves, who had more exacte knowledg of them, and whom they did more properly concerne.

This year M^r. Smith layed downe his place of ministrie, partly by his owne willingnes, as thinking it too heavie a burthen, and partly at the desire, and by y^e perswasion, of others; and the church sought out for [220][DU] some other, having often been disappointed in their hops and desires heretofore. And it pleased the Lord to send them an able and a godly man,[DV] and of a meeke and humble spirite, sound in y^e truth, and every way unreproveable in his life & conversation; whom, after some time of triall, they chose for their teacher, the fruits of whose labours they injoyed many years with much comforte, in peace, & good agreemente.

_Anno Dom: 1637._

In y^e fore parte of this year, the Pequents fell openly upon y^e English at Conightecute, in y^e lower parts of y^e river, and slew sundry of them, (as they were at work in y^e feilds,) both men & women, to y^e great terrour of y^e rest; and wente away in great prid & triumph, with many high threats. They allso assalted a fort at y^e rivers mouth, though strong and well defended; and though they did not their prevaile, yet it struk them with much fear & astonishmente to see their bould attempts in the face of danger; which made them in all places to stand upon their gard, and to prepare for resistance, and ernestly to solissite their freinds and confederats in y^e Bay of Massachusets to send them speedy aide, for they looked for more forcible assaults. M^r. Vane, being then Gov^r, write from their Generall Courte to them hear, to joyne with them in this warr; to which they were cordially willing, but tooke opportunitie to write to them aboute some former things, as well as presente, considerable hereaboute. The which will best appear in y^e Gov^r answer which he returned to y^e same, which I shall here inserte.

S^r: The Lord having so disposed, as that your letters to our late
Gov^r is fallen to my lott to make answer unto, I could have wished I
might have been at more freedome of time & thoughts also, that I might
have done it more to your & my owne satisfaction. But what shall be
wanting now may be supplyed hereafter. For y^e matters which from your
selfe & counsell were propounded & objected to us, we thought not
fitte to make them so publicke as y^e cognizance of our Generall
Courte. But as they have been considered by those of our counsell,
this answer we thinke fitt to returne unto you. (1.) Wereas you
signifie your willingnes to joyne with us in this warr against y^e
Pequents, though you cannot ingage your selves without y^e consente of
your Generall Courte, we acknowledg your good affection towards us,
(which we never had cause to doubt of,) and are willing to attend your
full resolution, when it may most seasonably be ripened. (2^ly.)
Wheras you make this warr to be our peopls, and not [221] to conceirne
your selves, otherwise then by consequence, we do in parte consente to
you therin; yet we suppose, that, in case of perill, you will not
stand upon such terms, as we hope we should not doe towards you; and
withall we conceive that you looke at y^e Pequents, and all other
Indeans, as a co[=m]one enimie, who, though he may take occasion of
y^e begining of his rage, from some one parte of y^e English, yet if
he prevaile, will surly pursue his advantage, to y^e rooting out of
y^e whole nation. Therfore when we desired your help, we did it not
without respecte to your owne saftie, as ours. (3^ly.) Wheras you
desire we should be ingaged to aide you, upon all like occasions; we
are perswaded you doe not doubte of it; yet as we now deale with you
as a free people, and at libertie, so as we cannot draw you into this
warr with us, otherwise then as reason may guid & provock you; so we
desire we may be at y^e like freedome, when any occasion may call for
help from us. And wheras it is objected to us, that we refused to aide
you against y^e French; we conceive y^e case was not alicke; yet we
cannot wholy excuse our failing in that matter. (4^ly.) Weras you
objecte that we began y^e warr without your privitie, & managed it
contrary to your advise; the truth is, that our first intentions being
only against Block Iland, and y^e interprice seeming of small
difficultie, we did not so much as consider of taking advice, or
looking out for aide abroad. And when we had resolved upon y^e
Pequents, we sent presently, or not long after, to you aboute it; but
y^e answer received, it was not seasonable for us to chaing our
counsells, excepte we had seen and waighed your grounds, which might
have out wayed our owne.

(5^ly.) For our peoples trading at Kenebeck, we assure you (to our
knowledge) it hath not been by any allowance from us; and what we have
provided in this and like cases, at our last Courte, M^r. E. W. can
certifie you.

And (6^ly); wheras you objecte to us y^t we should hold trade &
correspondancie with y^e French, your enemise; we answer, you are
misinformed, for, besids some letters which hath passed betweene our
late Gov^r and them, to which we were privie, we have neither sente
nor incouraged ours to trade with them; only one vessell or tow, for
y^e better conve[=a]ce of our letters, had licens from our Gov^r to
sayle thither.[DW]

Diverce other things have been privatly objected to us, by our worthy
freind, wherunto he received some answer; but most of them concerning
y^e apprehention of perticuler discurteseis, or injueries from some
perticuler persons amongst us. It concernes us not to give any other
answer to them then this; that, if y^e offenders shall be brought
forth in a right way, we shall be ready to doe justice as y^e case
shall require. In the meane time, we desire you to rest assured, that
such things are without our privity, and not a litle greeveous to us.

Now for y^e joyning with us in this warr, which indeed concerns us no
other wise then it may your selves, viz.: the releeving of our freinds
& Christian [222] breethren, who are now first in y^e danger; though
you may thinke us able to make it good without you, (as, if y^e Lord
please to be with us, we may,) yet 3. things we offer to your
consideration, which (we conceive) may have some waight with you.
(First) y^t if we should sinck under this burden, your opportunitie of
seasonable help would be lost in 3. respects. 1. You cannot recover
us, or secure your selves ther, with 3. times y^e charge & hazard
which now y^e may. 2^ly. The sorrowes which we should lye under (if
through your neglect) would much abate of y^e acceptablenes of your
help afterwards. 3^ly. Those of yours who are now full of courage and
forwardnes, would be much damped, and so less able to undergoe so
great a burden. The (2.) thing is this, that it concernes us much to
hasten this warr to an end before y^e end of this somer, otherwise y^e
newes of it will discourage both your & our freinds from coming to us
next year; with what further hazard & losse it may expose us unto,
your selves may judge.

The (3.) thing is this, that if y^e Lord shall please to blesse our
endeaours, so as we end y^e warr, or put it in a hopefull way without
you, it may breed such ill thoughts in our people towards yours, as
will be hard to entertaine such opinione of your good will towards
us, as were fitt to be nurished among such neigbours & brethren as we
are. And what ill consequences may follow, on both sids, wise men may
fear, & would rather prevente then hope to redress. So with my harty
salutations to you selfe, and all your counsell, and other our good
freinds with you, I rest

Yours most assured in y^e Lord,
JO: WINTHROP.

Boston, y^e 20. of y^e 3. month, 1637.

In y^e mean time, the Pequents, espetially in y^e winter before, sought to make peace with y^e Narigansets, and used very pernicious arguments to move them therunto: as that y^e English were stranegers and begane to overspred their countrie, and would deprive them therof in time, if they were suffered to grow & increse; and if y^e Narigansets did assist y^e English to subdue them, they did but make way for their owne overthrow, for if they were rooted out, the English would soone take occasion to subjugate them; and if they would harken to them, they should not neede to fear y^e strength of y^e English; for they would not come to open battle with them, but fire their houses, kill their katle, and lye in ambush for them as they went abroad upon their occasions; and all this they might easily doe without any or litle danger to them selves. The which course being held, they well saw the English could not long subsiste, but they would either be starved with hunger, or be forced to forsake the countrie; with many y^e like things; insomuch that y^e Narigansets were once wavering, and were halfe minded to have made peace with them, and jo[=y]ed against y^e English. But againe when they considered, how much wrong they had received from the Pequents, and what an oppertunitie they now had by y^e help of y^e English to right them selves, revenge was so sweete unto them, as it prevailed above all y^e rest; so as they resolved to joyne with y^e English against them, & did. [223] The Court here agreed forwith to send 50. men at their owne charg; and w^th as much speed as posiblie they could, gott them armed, and had made them ready under sufficiente leaders, and provided a barke to carrie them provisions & tend upon them for all occasions; but when they were ready to march (with a supply from y^e Bay) they had word to stay, for y^e enimy was as good as vanquished, and their would be no neede.

I shall not take upon me exactly to describe their proceedings in these things, because I expecte it will be fully done by them selves, who best know the carrage & circumstances of things; I shall therfore but touch them in generall. From Connightecute (who were most sencible of y^e hurt sustained, & y^e present danger), they sett out a partie of men, and an other partie mett them from y^e Bay, at y^e Narigansets, who were to joyne with them. Y^e Narigansets were ernest to be gone before y^e English were well rested and refreshte, espetially some of them which came last. It should seeme their desire was to come upon y^e enemie sudenly, & undiscovered. Ther was a barke of this place, newly put in ther, which was come from Conightecutte, who did incourage them to lay hold of y^e Indeans forwardnes, and to shew as great forwardnes as they, for it would incorage them, and expedition might prove to their great advantage. So they went on, and so ordered their march, as the Indeans brought them to a forte of y^e enimies (in which most of their cheefe men were) before day. They approached y^e same with great silence, and surrounded it both with English & Indeans, that they might not breake out; and so assualted them with great courage, shooting amongst them, and entered y^e forte with all speed; and those y^t first entered found sharp resistance from the enimie, who both shott at & grapled with them; others rane into their howses, & brought out fire, and sett them on fire, which soone tooke in their matts, &, standing close togeather, with y^e wind, all was quickly on a flame, and therby more were burnte to death then was otherwise slain; it burnte their bowstrings, and made them unservisable. Those y^t scaped y^e fire were slaine with y^e sword; some hewed to peeces, others rune throw with their rapiers, so as they were quickly dispatchte, and very few escaped. It was conceived they thus destroyed about 400. at this time. It was a fearfull sight to see them thus frying in y^e fyer, and y^e streams of blood quenching y^e same, and horrible was y^e stinck & sente ther of; but y^e victory seemed a sweete sacrifice, and they gave the prays therof to God, who had wrought so wonderfuly for them, thus to inclose their enimise in their hands, and give them so speedy a victory over so proud & insulting an enimie. The Narigansett Indeans, all this while, stood round aboute, but aloofe from all danger, and left y^e whole [224] execution to y^e English, exept it were y^e stoping of any y^t broke away, insulting over their enimies in this their ruine & miserie, when they saw them dancing in y^e flames, calling them by a word in their owne language, signifing, O brave Pequents! which they used familierly among them selves in their own prayes, in songs of triumph after their victories. After this servis was thus happily accomplished, they marcht to the water side, wher they mett with some of their vesells, by which they had refreishing with victualls & other necessaries. But in their march y^e rest of y^e Pequents drew into a body, and acoasted them, thinking to have some advantage against them by[DX] reason of a neck of land; but when they saw the English prepare for them, they kept a loofe, so as they neither did hurt, nor could receive any. After their refreishing & repair to geather for further counsell & directions, they resolved to pursue their victory, and follow y^e warr against y^e rest, but y^e Narigansett Indeans most of them forsooke them, and such of them as they had with them for guids, or otherwise, they found them very could and backward in y^e bussines, ether out of envie, or y^t they saw y^e English would make more profite of y^e victorie then they were willing they should, or els deprive them of such advantage as them selves desired by having them become tributaries unto them, or y^e like.

For y^e rest of this bussines, I shall only relate y^e same as it is in a leter which came from M^r. Winthrop to y^e Gov^r hear, as followeth.

Worthy S^r: I received your loving letter, and am much provocked to
express my affections towards you, but straitnes of time forbids me;
for my desire is to acquainte you with y^e Lords greate mercies
towards us, in our prevailing against his & our enimies; that you may
rejoyce and praise his name with us. About 80. of our men, haveing
costed along towards y^e Dutch plantation, (some times by water, but
most by land,) mett hear & ther with some Pequents, whom they slew or
tooke prisoners. 2. sachems they tooke, & beheaded; and not hearing of
Sassacous, (the cheefe sachem,) they gave a prisoner his life, to goe
and find him out. He wente and brought them word where he was, but
Sassacouse, suspecting him to be a spie, after he was gone, fled away
with some 20. more to y^e Mowakes, so our men missed of him. Yet,
deviding them selves, and ranging up & downe, as y^e providence of God
guided them (for y^e Indeans were all gone, save 3. or 4. and they
knew not whither to guid them, or els would not), upon y^e 13. of this
month, they light upon a great company of them, viz. 80. strong men, &
200. women & children, in a small Indean towne, fast by a hideous
swamp, which they all slipped into before our men could gett to them.
Our captains were not then come togeither, but ther was M^r. Ludlow
and Captaine Masson, with some 10. [225] of their men, & Captaine
Patrick with some 20. or more of his, who, shooting at y^e Indeans,
Captaine Trask with 50. more came soone in at y^e noyse. Then they
gave order to surround y^e swampe, it being aboute a mile aboute; but
Levetenante Davenporte & some 12. more, not hearing that co[=m]and,
fell into y^e swampe among y^e Indeans. The swampe was so thicke with
shrub-woode, & so boggie with all, that some of them stuck fast, and
received many shott. Levetenant Davenport was dangerously wounded
aboute his armehole, and another shott in y^e head, so as, fainting,
they were in great danger to have been taken by y^e Indeans. But
Sargante Rigges, & Jeffery, and 2. or 3. more, rescued them, and slew
diverse of y^e Indeans with their swords. After they were drawne out,
the Indeans desired parley, & were offered (by Thomas Stanton, our
interpretour) that, if they would come out, and yeeld them selves,
they should have their lives, all that had not their hands in y^e
English blood. Wherupon y^e sachem of y^e place came forth, and an old
man or 2. & their wives and children, and after that some other women
& children, and so they spake 2. howers, till it was night. Then
Thomas Stanton was sente into them againe, to call them forth; but
they said they would selle their lives their, and so shott at him so
thicke as, if he had not cried out, and been presently rescued, they
had slaine him. Then our men cutt of a place of y^e swampe with their
swords, and cooped the Indeans into so narrow a compass, as they could
easier kill them throw y^e thickets. So they continued all y^e night,
standing aboute 12. foote one from an other, and y^e Indeans, coming
close up to our men, shot their arrows so thicke, as they pierced
their hatte brimes, & their sleeves, & stockins, & other parts of
their cloaths, yet so miraculously did the Lord preserve them as not
one of them was wounded, save those 3. who rashly went into y^e
swampe. When it was nere day, it grue very darke, so as those of them
which were left dropt away betweene our men, though they stood but 12.
or 14. foote assunder; but were presenly discovered, & some killed in
y^e pursute. Upon searching of y^e swampe, y^e next morning, they
found 9. slaine, & some they pulled up, whom y^e Indeans had buried in
y^e mire, so as they doe thinke that, of all this company, not 20. did
escape, for they after found some who dyed in their flight of their
wounds received. The prisoners were devided, some to those of y^e
river, and the rest to us. Of these we send y^e male children to
Bermuda,[DY] by M^r. William Peirce, & y^e women & maid children are
disposed aboute in the townes. Ther have been now slaine & taken, in
all, aboute 700. The rest are dispersed, and the Indeans in all
quarters so terrified as all their friends are affraid to receive
them. 2. of y^e sachems of Long Iland came to M^r. Stoughton and
tendered them selves to be tributaries under our protection. And 2. of
y^e Neepnett sachems have been with me to seeke our frendship. Amonge
the prisoners we have y^e wife & children of Mononotto, a womon of a
very modest countenance and behaviour. It was by her mediation that
the[DZ] 2. English [226] maids were spared from death, and were kindly
used by her; so that I have taken charge of her. One of her first
requests was, that the English would not abuse her body, and that her
children might not be taken from her. Those which were wounded were
fetched of soone by John Galopp, who came with his shalop in a happie
houre, to bring them victuals, and to carrie their wounded men to y^e
pinass, wher our cheefe surgeon was, w^th M^r. Willson, being aboute
8. leagues off. Our people are all in health, (y^e Lord be praised,)
and allthough they had marched in their armes all y^e day, and had
been in fight all y^e night, yet they professed they found them selves
so fresh as they could willingly have gone to such another bussines.

This is y^e substance of that which I received, though I am forced to
omite many considerable circomstances. So, being in much straitnes of
time, (the ships being to departe within this 4. days, and in them the
Lord Lee and M^r. Vane,) I hear breake of, and with harty saluts to,
&c., I rest

Yours assured,
JO: WINTHROP.

The 28. of y^e 5. month, 1637.

The captains reporte we have slaine 13. sachems; but Sassacouse &
Monotto are yet living.

That I may make an end of this matter: this Sassacouse (y^e Pequents cheefe sachem) being fled to y^e Mowhakes, they cutt of his head, with some other of y^e cheefe of them, whether to satisfie y^e English, or rather y^e Narigansets, (who, as I have since heard, hired them to doe it,) or for their owne advantage, I well know not; but thus this warr tooke end. The rest of y^e Pequents were wholy driven from their place, and some of them submitted them selves to y^e Narigansets, & lived under them; others of them betooke them selves to y^e Monhiggs, under Uncass, their sachem, w^th the approbation of y^e English of Conightecutt, under whose protection Uncass lived, and he and his men had been faithful to them in this warr, & done them very good service. But this did so vexe the Narrigansetts, that they had not y^e whole sweay over them, as they have never ceased plotting and contriving how to bring them under, and because they cannot attaine their ends, because of y^e English who have protected them, they have sought to raise a generall conspiracie against y^e English, as will appear in an other place.

They had now letters againe out of England from M^r. Andrews & M^r. Beachamp, that M^r. Sherley neither had nor would pay them any money, or give them any accounte, and so with much discontent desired them hear to send them some, much blaming them still, that they had sent all to M^r. Sherley, & none to them selves. Now, though they might have justly referred them to their former answer, and insisted ther upon, & some wise men counselled them so to doe, yet because they beleeved that [227] they were realy out round sumes of money, (espetialy M^r. Andrews,) and they had some in their hands, they resolved to send them what bever they had.[EA] M^r. Sherleys letters were to this purpose: that, as they had left him in y^e paiment of y^e former bills, so he had tould them he would leave them in this, and beleeve it, they should find it true. And he was as good as his word, for they could never gett peney from him, nor bring him to any accounte, though Mr. Beachamp sued him in y^e Chancerie. But they all of them turned their complaints against them here, wher ther was least cause, and who had suffered most unjustly; first from M^r. Allerton & them, in being charged with so much of y^t which they never had, nor drunke for; and now in paying all, & more then all (as they conceived), and yet still thus more demanded, and that with many heavie charges. They now discharged M^r. Sherley from his agencie, and forbad him to buy or send over any more goods for them, and prest him to come to some end about these things.

_Anno Dom: 1638._

This year M^r. Thomas Prence was chosen Gov^r.