being opened and cleared as followeth, he craved the Commissioners' advice how to proceed with him. It appeared that, in a Treaty made with the English at Massachusetts, Anno 1637,' Miantonimo engaged himself not to fight with any of the Indians, and particularly not to invade Uncas, without the English consent; and after, in a tripartite agreement, made and concluded at Hartford, between Miantonimo and Uncas, with reference to the English, Anno 1638, in which one of the articles runs, That though either of the said Indian sagamores should receive injury from the other, yet neither of them shall make or begin war, until they had appealed to the English, and till their grievances were first heard and determined, and if either of them should refuse, the English might assist against and compel the refusing and obstinate party.2 Notwithstanding which, Miantonimo and his confederates have, both secretly and openly, plotted and practised against the life of Uncas, not at all acquainting the English or advising with them, but more especially of late, since the forementioned plots and designs were in hand. First, a Pequot Indian, one of Uncas's subjects, in the spring, 1643, aiming at Uncas's life, shot him with an arrow through the arm, and presently fled to the Narrhagansets or their confederates, boasting in the Indian Plantations that he had killed Uncas; but when it was known [that] Uncas (though wounded) was alive, the Pequot (taught, as was supposed,) changed his note, affirming that Uncas had cut through his own arm with a flint, and had hired him to say [that] he had shot and killed him. Miantonimo, being sent for by the Governor of the Massachusetts upon another occasion, brought this Pequot with him, and would have covered him with the former disguise; but when the English, out of his own mouth, found him guilty, and would have sent him to Uncas, his Sagamore, Miantonimo earnestly desired he might not be taken out of his hands, promising he would send him safe to Uncas to be examined and punished. See Sav. Win. i. 243.-H. This treaty was made Sept. 21, 1638. It was signed by Miantonimo and Uncas, and by John Haynes, Roger Ludlow, and Edward Hopkins, on the part of the English. See Drake's Book of the Indians, ii. 60-1; Trumbull, i. 93.-H. Supplied from Hazard.-H. But fearing (as it seems) his own treachery would be discovered, within a day or two he stopped the Pequot's mouth, by cutting off his head; but at parting he told the Governor, in discontent, that he would come no more to Boston. After this some attempts were made, (as is reported,) to take away Uncas's life by poison and by sorcery; these failing, some of Sequasson's company (an Indian Sagamore allied' unto, and an intimate confederate with, Miantonimo,) shot at Uncas with an arrow or two, as he was going down Connecticut River. Uncas, according to the forementioned treaty, 1638, complained, and the English by mediation sought to make peace; but Sequasson, expressing his dependence on Miantonimo, refused, and chose war. They fought, and Uncas had the victory.2 Lastly, [Miantonimo,3] without any provocation from Uncas, (unless the disappointment of former plots provoked,) and suddenly, without denouncing war, came upon the Mohiggins with nine hundred or a thousand men, when Uncas had not half so many to defend himself. Uncas, before the battle, told Miantonimo that he had many ways sought his life, and, for the sparing of blood, offered by a single combat betwixt themselves to end the quarrel, but Miantonimo, presuming upon his number of men, would have nothing but a battle. The issue fell contrary to [his] expectation; his men were routed, divers of considerable note slain, and himself taken prisoner. These things being duly weighed, the Commissioners judged that Uncas could not be safe while Miantonimo lived, wherefore they thought he might justly put such a treacherous and blood-thirsty enemy to death, but advised him to do it in his own jurisdiction, without torture or cruelty. And Uncas having hitherunto shewed himself a friend to the English, and in this and former outrages (according to the treaty) craving their advice, if the Narrhagansets or their confederates should, for his just execution, unjustly assault him, the Commissioners for the Colonies promised [Uncas3] to assist and protect him. 'Relied in the MS.-H. See Sav. Win. ii. 128-9.-H. 3 Supplied from Hazard, ii. 47.- -H. Uncas hereupon slew an enemy, but not the enmity against him; the Narrhagansets soon fell to new contrivances. They pretended they had paid a ransom for their Sachem's life, and gave it in particulars, to the value of about £40. This, for a while, cast an imputation of foul and unjust dealing upon Uncas, but in September ||1644,|| the English Commissioners, meeting at Hartford, sent for the Narrhaganset Sachems, or their Deputies, desiring they might be instructed to make good their charge. Uncas came himself; they sent their Deputies; but, after due examination, it appeared, though some loose discourses had passed, that for such quantities of Wampom, and such parcels of other goods to a great value, there might have been some probability of sparing his life, yet no such parcels were brought, and the Narrhaganset Deputies did not allege, much less prove, that any ransom was agreed, nor so much as any serious. Treaty begun to redeem their imprisoned Sachem. And for the Wampum and goods sent, as they were but small parcels, and scarce considerable for such a purpose, so they were disposed by Miantonimo himself to sundry persons, for courtesies received during his imprisonment, and upon hope of further favor. The Narrhaganset Deputies saw their proofs fell far short of former pretences, and were silent. The Commissioners promised that, upon better evidence hereafter, they should have due satisfaction; whereupon a truce was made, and both parties were engaged that all hostility should cease till planting time, 1645, and after that they would give thirty days warning, either at the Massachusetts or at Hartford, before the truce should cease;" yet in February last, [the Narrhagansets,'] by Messengers sent to Boston, declared that, unless Uncas would render one hundred and sixty fathom of Wampum, or come to a new hearing, within six weeks, they would begin the war. This crossed the former Agreement, and the season was such as neither the Commissioners could be advised with, nor could Uncas travel, if notice had been given. After which, about or before planting time, Tantaquey|| 1664 || 1 Supplied from Hazard, ii. 48.—н. son, a Mohiggin Captain, who took Miantonimo prisoner, was dangerously and treacherously wounded in the night, as he slept in his wigwam; and other hostile acts were on both parts attempted in a private and underhand way, as they could take advantage each against other. But since, the Narrhagansets have at several times openly invaded Uncas, so that Connecticut and New Haven were forced, according to engagement, to send men from those Colonies for his present defence, but with express direction not to begin any offensive war against the Narrhagansets, or their confederates, till further order. In the mean time, Messengers were sent to the Narrhagansets from the General Court in the Massachusetts, signifying the Commissioners' meeting, promising their aggrievances should be fully and justly heard, and requiring a cessation of war in the mean time, but they refused; and hearing, probably, that the English from the western Colonies were returned, they made a new assault upon Uncas, and have done him much hurt. The Commissioners being met,' sent Messengers the second time both to the Narrhagansets and the Mohiggin Indians, minding them of the former treaties and truce, desiring them to send their Deputies, instructed and furnished with authority to declare and open the ground of the war, to give and receive due satisfaction, and to restore and settle peace. At first the Narrhaganset Sachem gave a reasonable and fair answer, that he would send guides with them to the Mohiggins, and, if Uncas consented, he would send his Deputies to the Commissioners, and during eight days hostility should cease; but he soon repented of this moderation, told the English Messengers his mind was changed, sent private instructions to the Niantick Sachem, after the delivery of which there was nothing but proud and insolent passages. The Indian guides, which the English Messengers brought with them from Pumham and Socononoco, were, by frowns and threatening speeches, discouraged and returned; no other guides could be obtained, though much pressed; they knew (as they ex 1 At Boston, July 28, 1645.-H. 2 Serjeant John Dames, (Davis?) Benedict Arnold, and Francis Smyth. See their "Instructions" in Hazard, ii. 28–9.—H. pressed themselves) by the course held at Hartford last year, that the Commissioners would [mediate and'] press for peace, but they [were] resolved to have no peace without Uncas's head. It mattered not who began the war, they were resolved to continue it; the English should withdraw their garrison from Uncas, or they would take it as a breach of former covenants, and would procure as many Moquauks* as the English should affront them with; that they would lay the Englishmen's cattle on heaps as high as their houses; that no Englishman should step out of doors to piss* but he should be killed. They reviled Uncas, charged him with cutting through his own arm, and saying the Narrhagansets had shot him, affirmed that he would now murder the English Messengers as they went or returned, (if he had opportunity,) and lay it upon the Narrhagansets. The English Messengers, upon this rude and uncivil usage, wanting guides to proceed, and fearing danger, returned to the Narrhagansets, acquainted Pessacus with the former passages, desired guides from him, he (in scorn, as they apprehended it) offered them an old Pequot Squaw, but would offer no other guides. There also they conceived themselves in danger, three Indians with hatchets standing behind the interpreter in a suspicious manner, while he was speaking with Pessacus, and the rest frowning and expressing much distemper in their countenance and carriage. The English Messengers, not hoping for better success at that time, departed, telling Pessacus that, if he would return any other answer, he should send it to the English trading-house, where they intended to lodge that night. In the morning he invited them to return, and promised them a guide to Uncas, but would grant no cessation of arms. When they came to Providence, they understood that, in their absence, a Narrhaganset Indian had been there, and feigning himself to be of Connecticut, spake in that dialect, but could not put off the Narrhaganset tone. He told Benedict Arnold's wife, (who well understands the Indian language,) that the English Messengers should not pass to the Mohig 1 So the MS. ED. [A very valuable piece of information !—H. .] |