gins, he knew they should have no guides, but should be destroyed in the woods, as they travelled towards Uncas.

Thus the English Messengers returned, and the interpreter' under his hand, and upon his oath, related the former passages (with others less material) more largely.

Mr. Williams by the Messengers wrote to the Commissioners, assuring them that the country would suddenly be all on fire, meaning by war; that by strong reasons and arguments he could convince any man thereof, that was of another mind; that the Narrhagansets had been with the Plantations combined with Providence, and had solemnly treated and settled a neutrality with them, which fully shews their counsels and settled resolutions for war.

Thus while the Commissioners, in care of the public peace, sought to quench the fire, kindled amongst the Indians, these children of strife breathe out threatenings, provocations, and war against the English themselves; so that, unless they should dishonor and provoke God by violating a just engagement, and expose the Colonies to contempt and danger from the Barbarians, they cannot but exercise force, when no other means will prevail, to reduce the Narrhagansets and their confederates to a more just and sober temper.

The eyes of other Indians, under the protection of the Massachusetts, and not at all engaged in this quarrel, are (as they have expressed themselves to the English Messengers) fastened upon the English with strict observation, in what manner and measure they provide for Uncas's safety. If he perish, they will charge it upon them who might have preserved him; and no Indians will trust the English, (if they now break engagements,) either in the present or succeeding generations. If Uncas be ruined in such a cause, they foresee their heads, upon the next pretence, shall be delivered to the will of the Narrhagansets, with whom, therefore, they shall be forced to comply (as they may) for their future safety, and the English may not trust an Indian in the whole country. The premises being duly weighed, it clearly appears that God calls the Colonies to a war.

The Narrhagansets and their confederates rest on their numbers, weapons, and opportunity to do mischief; and

1 Arnold.-H.

' Substituted for see in the MS., on the authority of Hazard, ii. 50.—¤. 14

VOL. VI. SECOND SERIES.

probably, (as of old, Ashur, Amalek, and the Philistines, with others, did confederate against Israel,) so Satan may stir up and combine many of his instruments against the Churches of Christ, but their Redeemer is the Lord of Hosts, the mighty one in battle; all the shields of the earth are in his hands; he can save by weak and by few means, as well as by many and great. In him they trust. Jo: WINTHROP, President,

In the name of all the Commissioners.'

This storm being blown over, all the rest of the Indians never durst make any open attempt upon any of the English till the year 1675, when they broke out into an open rebellion, as is at large declared in a narrative published for that end, and intended to be annexed to this history.

But at Stamford, in the end of August, 1644, an Indian coming into a poor man's house, and none of the family being at home but the wife, and a child in the cradle, he barbarously struck her divers blows on the head with the edge of a lathing-hammer, and so left her for dead; but he being afterwards taken, confessed the fact, with the reasons why he did it, and brought back some of the clothes he had carried away. The woman was recovered afterwards, though her senses were very much impaired by the wounds, (some of which almost pierced to her brains,) and the Indian was put to death by the Court at New Haven, in whose jurisdiction the fact was committed.

And at the meeting of the Commissioners at New Haven, 1647,2 information was given them, that Sequasson (the sachem near Hartford) would have hired an Indian to have killed some of the magistrates near Hartford, whereupon he was sent for, but came not; but being gotten among the Indians at Pocompheake, they sent for Uncas, who undertook to fetch him in; but not being able to do it by force, he surprized him in the night, and brought him to Hartford, where he was kept in prison

was

Hubbard's version of the "Declaration" varies somewhat from that in Hazard, ii, 45-50. On the XXVIIth of the sixth month," according to Hazard, (Holmes, Hutchinson, and Trumbull say Aug. 30,) 1645, a Treaty "made and concluded at Boston" between Pessacus, Mexanno, and other Chiefs, and the Commissioners of the United Colonies, by which a war was, for the present at least, avoided. See Hutchinson, i. 133; Holmes, i. 277-8; Trumbull, i. 154; Hazard, ii. 40-3; Drake's Book of the Indians, ii. pp. 93-5.-H. A mistake; it was Sept. 9, 1646. In 1647 the Commissioners met at Boston. See Hazard, ii. 54, 59, et seq.-H..

divers months, but there not being proof enough to convict him, &c., he was discharged; but the Indians, from whom he was taken, took it so to heart against Uncas, as they intended to make war upon him, and the Narrhagansets sent Wampum to them to encourage them; accordingly in August, 1648, they were gathered together from divers parts, about a thousand Indians, and three hundred or more having guns and other ammunition. The magistrates of Hartford hearing thereof, sent three horsemen to them, (one1 being very expert in the Indian language,) to know their intent, and to tell them, that if they made war upon Uncas, the English must defend him. The Indian sachem entertained the messengers courteously, and having heard their message, after some time of deliberation gave them this answer, viz. they knew the English to be a wise and warlike people, and intended not to fall out with them, and therefore would at present desist, and take further time to consider of the

matter.

And God had so disposed that, at the same time, they had intelligence of a defeat given to some of their confederates, by other Indians, which called them to their aid; also the Narrhaganset failed to send all the Wampum he had promised, so as, by the concurrence of all these accidents, the English were freed from war at that time, which might have proved very dangerous to them all, especially to their friends at Connecticut.

But the Narrhagansets being behind with their tribute, the Commissioners being met at Plymouth in the month of September following, ordered four men to be sent to them, with an interpreter, with instructions how to treat with them, both concerning their hiring other Indians to war upon Uncas, and also about the tribute of wampum that was behind. Captain Atherton,2 with Captain Pritchard, undertook the service, and going to Mr. Williams, they procured the sachems to be sent for, but they, hearing that many horsemen were come to take them, shift for themselves. Pessacus fled to Rhode Island, but soon after they were, by Mr. Williams's means, delivered of their fear, and came to the messengers, as they were desired, and being demanded about hiring the Mowhauks against

1 Thomas Stanton. Trumbull, i. 171.-H. 2 Humphrey Atherton, of Dorchester.-H. 3 Hugh Prichard, of Roxbury and Gloucester.-H.

Uncas, they solemnly denied it; only confessed that the Mowhauke being a great sachem, and their ancient friend, and being come to meet them, they sent about twenty fathom of Wampum for him to tread, as the manner of the Indians is. But Canonicus's son used this asseveration, "Englishman's God doth know that we do not stir up or hire the Mowhauks against Uncas." They also then promised that they would not meddle with Uncas, nor stir up any other against him, before they had paid all the tribute to the English that was behind; and then they would require satisfaction for all the wrongs Uncas had done them, and if the English would not see them satisfied, they would then consider what to do. But for what was behind, of what was due to the English, they desire to be borne with at this time, in regard their want of corn the last winter had made them lay out their Wampum for corn to the English, but the next spring they would provide part of it, and the rest so soon as they could, which was a fair answer, and according to equity accepted by the English. But still it appeared that this condescension was more out of fear than love, and that the old quarrel was not like easily to be forgotten and forgiven in the present age. Canonicus, the great sachem of the Narrhagansets, died the 4th of June, 1648,' being a very old man, still leaving the hereditary quarrel entailed upon his successor. But Uncas was alive and well in the year 1680, and probably may live to see all his enemies buried before him.

It is here to be minded also, that although they were engaged to pay a yearly tribute to the English, upon the account of the forementioned rebellion, yet, after some years, they grew slack in the payment thereof, and, at the last, in a manner denied to do any thing that way, insomuch that the General Court of the Massachusetts, or else the Commissioners, sent Captain Atherton, of Dorchester, with twenty soldiers to demand it. When he came to the place, Pessacus, the chief sachem, put him off with dilatory answers awhile, not suffering him to come into his presence, while his followers were gathered into a great

A mistake; it was June 4, 1647. Sav. Win. ii. 308.-H. The Commissioners passed a resolution, Sept. 5, 1650, to send the force, and prepared the Instructions, "to be given to such Commanders and Soldiers as the Government of the Massachusetts shall think meet to send." See Hazard, ii. 151-2.-H.

assembly, consulting how to put them off, but the Captain, not able with patience to wait any longer, carried his twenty soldiers to the door of the wigwam, where the Indians sat in consultation, and there leaving them, himself boldly entered in amongst them all, with his pistol in his hand, (as was said,) and taking hold of Pessacus's locks, drew him from the midst of his attendants, (some hundreds in number, and all armed,) telling him that he should go along with him, and if any of them stirred he would presently speed him. By this undaunted courage of Captain Atherton, Pessacus and all the other sachems were so affrighted, that they durst make no resistance, but presently paid down what was demanded, and so they were dismissed in safety.

Not long after, Ninicrite, another of their sachems, began to raise new troubles against the English amongst the Nianticks, but upon the sending Captain Davis' with a troop of horse into his quarters, he was struck with such a panic fear, that he scarce durst come to the speech of the English, till he was fully secured of his life, and then readily complied with their demands. Such was the terror of [the] English upon them in those times, till afterwards, by too much familiarity, they grew more emboldened, and adventured upon a war with them.

CHAP. LII.2

The Confederation of the United Colonies of New England; the grounds and reasons leading thereunto, with the Articles agreed upon, for that end.

The peo

WOE to him that is alone, saith Solomon. ple' that came over to New England were necessitated to disperse themselves further, each from other, than they intended; yet finding that, in their first and weak beginnings, they might be exposed to danger by many enemies, and as well from the natives as any foreign nations, although that they saw they could not be accommodated within the bounds of one and the same Patent, yet judged it very expedient to be joined together in one common || ventured ||

1

Probably the "Serjeant John Davies" who was sent, with Atherton, to the aid of Uncas, in 1645, and the same person whom Hazard calls Serjeant John Dames," who went on a mission to Pessacus the same year. See Hazard, ii. 28, 30.-H. LI in the MS.-н.