ALthough the design of the Publication of this ensuing Narrative be to give an Account of the Principal Occurrences that have happened in the War betwixt the English and the Indians in New-England, from the fifth of May to the fourth of August last, yet considering that the Reader may perhaps urge the entrance upon it a little abrupt, unless some pre­ceding Actions be premised; as also being assured that what hath been made Publick from the beginning, relating to that Affair, hath not been represented so exactly as it might have been; I shall therefore upon a review of some Papers lying by me Collect and Communicate in a few lines so much of that Affair as may give a fair Introduction to what in the processe of this Paper may be depended upon as true, with­out partiality to either side.

After the Narogansets had involv'd themselves in the War of Sachem Philip, and our English had engaged them at their chief Port the nineteenth of December, 1675, with considerable loss to us, but much more to the enemy, they withdrew and secur'd them­selves in the Fastnesses of the woods, having out some Parties at times doing mischief, and ours Retaliating with them in like kind; our Forces also retreated home, and it was near a moneth before they were recruited for any further Expedition against them; it was hard service, they had endured, in the depth of winter, though it pleased God to moderate the extremity of the season in the month of January: about the latter end of which month the Souldiers march'd into the woods in pursuit of them, having got intelligence of the place of their Rendezvous, but the enemy having also their Scouts abroad, and thereby, coming to the knowledge of our March, they fled more to the North-west: ours pursued them, but the most escaped, (except about 70 of them, men, women and children,) which the Mohogin Indians of Ʋncus his Subjects our friends and Allyes slew. Our men miss'd very narrowly of surprizing their main body in their pursuit, but Gods time was not come for so great a mercy, and they saved them­selves from that encounter: whereupon our Forces retired home to their several Quar­ters, being necessitated thereunto by the hardships of the season, and the impossibility at that time of the year to carry provision for any long continuance abroad. About a fort­night after we having gain'd intelligence of the quarter the enemy then abode in, we sent out about 300 Horse and Foot under the conduct of Major Savage, to attacque them; but before that could be effected, the enemy visited us, and assaulted Lancaster, a small Town, in which the Inhabitants having retired into some fortified houses, and de­serted the rest, the Indians burnt those, and assaulted the Garrison'd Houses, but were not able to carry any of them but one, wherein were 42 persons, 12 men, the rest women and children, of whom they slew several, and carryed the rest prisoners: the House was the Ministers, one Mr. Rowlandson, whose wife and children they carry­ed Captive, (which are since return'd to us.) About fourteen dayes after this, the ene­my assaulted Medfield, and burnt about half the Town, and slew some; and though there was a Company of Souldiers Horse and Foot there, yet they were so quick and sudden in their mischeif, that ours could hardly get into a posture to meet them, before they were retreated.

In the beginning of March our Forces under Major Savage went toward the enemies Head quarters but their Scouts had prevented his coming by their vigilance, so that they [Page 2]fled into the woods, we having only the gleaning of about seventeen of them that could botfly so fast as the rest.

On the 13 ^th of March, before our Forces could return towards our Parts, the In­dian sent a strong party, and assaulted the Town of Growton, about forty miles North-west from Boston, and burn'd all the deserted Houses; the Garrison'd Houses, which were about ten, all escaped but one, which they carryed, but not the English in it; for there was but one slain, and two wounded. Quickly after they assaulted Marlbo­rough, and burnt the Houses the Inhabitants had deserted, but the Garrisons defended the re [...]t: In that Town the Houses were built very scatteringly, and the Enemies di­vided themselves into small parties, which executed their design of Firing at once; and though there was a Company of the Countrey Militia there, they could not pre­vent it.

March the 18th. we had Letters from Hadley, of a great party of the Enemy that assaulted Northampton; in the preservation of which, there was an especial Providence of God: For besides that Major Treat and Capt. Turner were quartered there, it was so, that our forces under the Command of Major Savage, being in want of Victuals, marched up to Hadley and the Towns adjacent upon the River, which was ordered by the wisdom of Divine Providence, without their foresight, to preserve that Town, al­though the Enemy left behind them some Remembrance of their attempt, having killed two towns-men, and one Souldier, and wounded six, and also left dead upon the place Eleven of themselves.

March the 26th. we had News of the Defeat of Capt. Pearse, with about forty English, and eleven of our Indian Friends, near Secunck alias Rehoboth; who were surrounded with a great party of the Indians, and over-powered; yet God was plea­sed to rescue several of them, who made a safe escape.

The 20th. of March the Enemy burnt the deserted houses in Secunck or Rehoboth, but the Garrison'd houses were not carryed by them.

The 30th of March part of the town of Providence was also burnt.

The 6th of April, an Indian Messenger, sent to his Countrey-men about the Redem­ption of Captives, returned with a very insolent Letter, that as yet they had no need to accept of Ransom for our Captives.

The 12th of April, God was pleased to give us a Success by our Countrey-men to the Southwards, against the Enemy there: Besides the slain and taken, there fell into our hands one Quinancet, alias Miantonimo, the great and proud Sachem of the Nar­rogansets, a Ring leader in this War with them, and one who had been notoriously treacherous, both in Signing renewed Articles of Peace with us since the beginning of the War, and Breaking the same again: He was carryed by our Forces to New-Lon­don, and there Beheaded; which Execution hath had a mighty Influence into the Dis­order and Confusion the Enemy hath since fallen into.

Yet had we since a sad Providence that bef [...]ll us, God seeing it good further to Exer­cise us, to our Humbling, that he may (as we hope) [...]o us good in the latter End: For upon the 21th of April, the Enemy with a very great Body (some think they were not less than 1500.) assaulted Sudbury, and burnt several of the deserted Houses, but prevail'd against none that were Garrison'd: To relieve which, Capt. Wadsworth, with about fifty men, issued out from Marleborough, 10 miles distant, and with him Capt. Bracklebanke went with the same Party, intending to march to Boston, to speak with the Council; the Enemy being Numerous, and the English too Adventurous, were so far engaged, that most of them were cut off: The two Captains dyed in the Ser­vice; men for Piety Prudence and Courage eminent, and much lamented; about 15 of the Souldiers escaped to a Garrison'd house within a mile from the place of this Tragedy. Yet this we have to say, (as the following Successes evidence that we have great Grounds to hope) that this last Attempt of theirs was but the Rage of an Ex­piring Enemy; for the cutting off the above-mentioned Quinancet, to whom the young fighting men did adhere, did put the Indians to such a stagger, that they have not been able to recover themselves since, so as to effect any thing against us that is much considerable.

I am credibly informed that in that fight at Sudbury, an elderly English man endea­vouring an Escape from the Indians by running into a Swamp, was overtaken by an Indian, and being Destitute of VVeapons to Defend himself or Offend him, the Indian insulted over him with that Blasphemous Expression [Come Lord Jesus, save this poor English man if thou canst, whom I am now about to Kill.] This (I even Tremble to [Page 3]Relate it) was heard by another English man, who was Hid in a Bush close by: Our Patient Long suffering Lord, permitted that Bloody Wretch to Knock him down and leave him Dead. VVe hope the Lord is Arisen to Avenge those Blasphemies.

Upon the 5th of May, our Forces under the Command of Captain Henchman; and with them about 40 of the Natick or Praying Indians, discovered a Body of Philips Indians at Hassanamastett and fought them, wherein they slew 11 of the Enemy, and took two Prisoners, and not one of the Souldiers were slain, or wounded. Divers of our men had probably been slain, but that it pleas'd God to send a storm of Rain which did so wet the Indians guns, that they became unserviceable to them. Six Indians at once in that scattering encounter (for the Enemy stood not to a fight) meeting an English­man would have shot him, but could not make the wetted powder fire in the pan; which seldom failed at other times; our English by their garments and other guards for the locks of their Muskets were better provided than the Indians, and so had the advantage and put the Indians to a Rout and Flight.

This was the first time that our Natick Indians were employed in any such Body by the Government here; and they proved faithfull and Eminently serviceable at that time, and successful since; and thereby they have gained much in the Affections of the English, who have had some Jealousie about them. Nor is it to be wondred at, considering the hurry this VVar hath put us into; the disappointment we have met with by the Trea­chery of several of that Nation, on whose Friendship we thought we might have depend­ed, as having deserved other things at their hands: and that some few of the praying Indians have been carried away with the present outrage of their Nation: I say it is not to be wondered at, that they were under a Jealousie by us; however we have cause thankfully to acknowledge Gods goodness in making use of them, wherein they have done us considerable services: they serve especially for spies and scouts to start the Sculking Enemy, and drive them out of the Swamps and VVoods, and then the English can the better fight them, and indeed our greatest exercise hath been to Find the Enemy rather than to Fight them, unless they be very much Superior in Numbers. But now the Indians dread our approaches with those Indian Vancourriers, and the Lord hath caus­ed much of his Terror to fall upon them.

On the 11th of May, two of our Captives were return'd by Ransom from the In­dians, who had been taken at the destruction of the Town of Lancaster; the one of them the sister of the wife of Mr. Rowlandson, Minister of the place; and another wo­man taken out of the same House.

The next day a Youth of about 11 years of Age, made his escape from the Indians, who was taken prisoner when his Fathers house was burnt, and his Mother murthered on the first of February last: and though the Boy knew not a step of the way to any English Town, and was in continual danger of the Sculking Indians in the woods, and far from the English, yet God directed him aright and brought him to the sight of Plan­tane, (the Herb which the Indians call English-foot, because it grows only amongst us, and is not found in the Indian Plantations) whereupon he concluded he was not far from some English Town, and accordingly following of the Plantane he arrived safe amongst us. The 18th of the same we had another of our Captives (an ancient man) return'd upon Ransom, and one very eminent for piety.

Upon the 24th of May, Captain brattle was sent forth with his Troop towards Re­hoboth, where we had Intelligence of a Body of Indians, where 12 of them were slain, and but one of the English slain, and one slightly wounded.

Upon the same day we had Newes by a Post, of a fight upon Connecticot River be­tween Deerfield and Squakheig, there were about an hundred and sixty of our souldiers under the command of Captain Holyoake, and Captain Turner: The occasion of the engagement was this, The Indians having stolen and driven away much Cattle from Hatfield and those Towns adjoyning, and our men perceiving by the track which way they went, learned at last where the Indians Rendezvous was; and picking out of the several Garrisons, as many souldiers as could conveniently be spared, resolved to Attaque them, it being a great Fishery place called Deerfield Falls.

Our souldiers got thither after an hard March just about break of day, took most of the Indians fast asleep, and put their guns even into their VVigwams, and poured in their shot among them, whereupon the Indians that durst and were able did get out of their VVigwams and did fight a little (in which fight one Englishman only was slain) others of the Indians did enter the River to swim over from the English, but many of them were shot dead in the waters, others wounded were therein drowned, many got into Canoes to paddle away, but the paddlers being shot, the Canoes over-set with all therein, and [Page 4]the stream of the River being very violent and swift in the place near the great Falls, most that fell over board were born by the strong current of that River, and carryed upon the Falls of Water from those exceeding high and steep Rocks, and from thence fumbling down were broken in pieces; the English did afterwards find of their bodies, some in the River and some cast a-shore, above two hundred.

But as the English were coming away with the plunder they had got, there was a noise spread among some of them, of Sachem Phillip's coming down upon them; with a thousand men: which not being weighed as it might have been by the English, whether it were true or false; a fear possessed some part of the English, whereby they fell into a dis­order, and thereby Captain Turner and several of his Souldiers were slain, and others to the number of two and thirty. But Captain Holyoake exhorted them not to be terrifyed, saying God hath wrought hitherto for us wonderfully, let us trust in him still: and reduc­ing his men into close order made a safe and a valiant retreat, and preserved the Souldiers under him; that there were but few of them slain, and the Souldiers so cut off were surpriz'd by a Party of the Enemy belonging to the Indians at Deer-field-falls, who having gotten before our forces had laid an Ambush, the chiefest execution of which was through too much fear of our Men whereby they disordered themselves; thus God by this mixture of his Providence would hide pride from our eyes, who perhaps might have been too much lifted up by our success: several loads of dryed fish the English found, and were forced to consume there.

They also found and demolished the Indian Smiths Forge, which they had there set up for the mending of their Guns. Some Indian Women (since that taken Prisoners) do say and affirm that there were slain in that ingagement with them four hundred, of which number were seventy of the Wampangs, or Phillip Sachems men: and that he had of his own proper Company not any great number left, and that were it not for him and one Sachem more, the Indians would gladly yield to any terms of Peace with the English.

Upon the 9th. of June by a post from our Forces with forty or fifty of our friends, Indians; under the Command of Captain Henchman, we were informed of their taking seven and twenty Indians, mostly Women and Children, and the slaying of six Indian Men, about twelve miles from Lancaster, and not one of our Souldiers slain or wound­ed: one of the six was a revolter, as also one of the Prisoners, and another of them was the Wife of the Sagamore of Nasholah, who was wounded at Sudbury fight, and is since dead of his wounds; in this service our Friend Indians got very valuable plunder in Fish and Guns, and which is also very observable, that Captain Henchman, did by one Captain Andrews and his Indians which he Commanded, offer the Indians in their own language Peace, and to assure them that if they would surrender themselves, they should have no hurt from the English: which was accordingly tendred to them, but the answer they made was a Volley of shot, whereof one bullet stroke and broke Captain Andrews's Gun in his hand, but did no other hurt.

Upon the same 9th. of June also, we were informed of a small Party of Connectico [...] Souldiers, under the Command of Major Tullcot, who expected to joyn our forces at Quaboug, that they had near to that place killed nineteen Indians, and taken two and thirty Prisoners in one engagement with the Enemy; and that without the loss of one English-man: our Forces also marching to joyn them, took some Prisoners, and a­mongst the rest on Captain Tom, a Revolter who is a Prisoner in Boston at present, who hath been one of some remark amongst the Indians and English.

The 14th. of June we were enformed of Waralancet, (the Sachem of Wagmesset and one of old Passa-Connaway's Sons) his comming in with about an hundred Indians with him and under him at Pascataway, submitting himself to Major Waldorn, desiring Peace with the English, and declaring his innocency during this war, as not having design­ed attempted or done any mischief against the English. He brought in with him six Eng­lish Captives a Widdow and her five Children, (her Husband having been slain in this warr by them) this Sachem VVaralancet bought them of their Indian Master, and deli­vered them freely to the English, as a Testimony of his good affection and fidelity to the English, at the same time challenging all the Indians thereabout to accuse him (if they could) of the least wrong or plot on his part against the English, notwithstanding that he had been urged with many sollicitations unto it, and incur'd the hatred of divers Saga­mores and Indians, because he would not joyn with them against the English: but not one of the Indians (whereof some were no good friends to him,) could accuse him, he [...]hen told them all: that his old Father ( Sachem Passa-Connaway, the great Sagamore [Page 5]of chose Northern parts of the Countrey) when he lay a dying (as he had often also be­fore) had charged him with his other brothers that they should never be enemies to the English; but love them and love their God, also because the God of the English was the true God, and greater than the Indians Gods. And this saith he, I have remem­bred, and kept my Fathers charge, and will do so while I live; but was willing to keep out of the way on the Storm was over. The Councill hath sent him some presents by way of Gratuity.

The 16 of the same Month, came in 3 Children of the English taken Captive by the Indians; and were freely delivered to us by some Indians which did also resign up them­selves to the English at Norwich: this was upon Proclamation made of receiving to mercy such as were so qualified as was therein specified: the most of them Women and Children about 70 in number. We do hear also since, that at that engagement at Deerfield-Falls, there were about four of the Indian Sachems slain; which hath amazed and disheartned and divided them.

On the 22d of June, was Executed at Boston Captain Tom, alias Watasocamponum, and another with him. This Captain Tom was taken by our Indian Scouts, having been with the Enemy this last Winter; they both dyed (as is to be hop'd) penitent, praying to God not like the manner of the Heathen.

Upon account of these Great and Undeserved Mercies of God conferr'd on us, the Councill ordered a Day of Publick thanksgiving to be observed in the Colony of the Matachusets, which was accordingly attended June the 29th; Which the Lord hath been pleased so to accept, as that from the time of the resolve upon it, ever since we have experienced little else than renewed Mercies and smiles of Providence. God himself hath sent from Heaven and saved us (for we see nothing of man, but God to be all in all) by Wasting them with Sickness, Starving them through want of Provisions, Leaving them to their own Divisions, Taking away their Spirits, putting the Dread of us upon them. Cutting off their Principal men, Sachems and others. Blessed be his Great and Glorious Name.

About the time of that Thanksgiving, the Son and Daughter of that worthy Minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Rowlandson, who had been Captives since the Burning of Lancaster, were return'd, by Ransom, He wandred with an Indian woman from the rest of the Indian Company (by whom she had been detain'd) three dayes in the woods, having nothing to eat all that time but green Hurtle berries; with which she was sustain'd till she and the Woman arrived at our English Town of Providence, and so got Home.

Upon the 30th of June, we had a Post from our Forces bringing Newes of about 28 Indians Kill'd and Taken by them, in their March homewards, between Quaboug and Marle-borough: and this without the Slaughter or hurt of the Indians our Friends; one of those that were slain, being a Chief Counsellor to one of the Sachems, and 9 of those Indian Prisoners, Women and Children, were brought down to Boston.

July the first, Captain Brattle was sent forth with our Forces to Joyn with Major Bradford of Plymouth, and the Forces under his Command in that Colony (hearing of Sachem Phillips intent of Mischief to that Colony.) The next day following we had Newes of six of the Enemy Kill'd, and Twenty taken Prisoners, by our Brethren of Plimath and our Indian Friends, and none of ours slain.

The same day also we had newes of the Squaa Sachem's of Seconnet's surrendring her self and fourscore of her men to the English of Plimouth, which was upon the day of our Thanksgiving.

Upon the 2d of July, there were about fourteen of the Enemy surrendred them­selves to the Mercy of the English in the Bay Colony, whereof was one Jumet called a Printer, as having been employed about the work of the Press in Cambridge: A Revolter he was, and a fellow that had done much mischief, and staid out as long as he could, till the last day but one of a Proclamation set forth, to encourage such In­dians as had a desire to return to the English, and another of his Comrades one Capt. Tom's Son, (whose Father was hang'd at Boston, the 22th June, having been a Re­volter, and a bloody Fellow,) they had all of them their Lives given them.

Upon this 2d of July also it was, that Major Talcott with the Connecticet Forces neer to Pautyxit, did take and slay 170 of the Enemy, without the loss of any of our Brethren, and onely three wounded.

July the 6th, an Indian Post (with a white Flag) was sent from Sagamore Sam of Nassoway (a proud Salvage, who two months since insulted over the English, and [Page 6]said, If the English would first begge Peace of him, he would let them have Peace, but that he would never ask it of them;) This Indian was sent from him with Let­ters, desiring Peace of us, and expressely praying us in the Name of Jesus Christ, and for his sake to grant it, whose Holy Name they have so much blasphemed. Thus doth the Lord Jesus make them to bow before him, and to lick the Dust. And ha­ving made mention of his Letter, it will not be unacceptable to transcribe some Copies of the Letters sent by him and others on this Subject, which take as followeth. The Reader must bear with their Barbarisms, and excuse the Omission of some Expressions in them, that can hardly admit of good English.

The answer the Council made them, was, That treacherous Persons who began the War, and those that have been barbarously bloody, must not expect to have their lives spared, but others that have been drawn into the War, and acting only as Souldiers sub­mitting, to be without Arms, and to live quietly and peaceably for the future shall have their lives spared.

Thus could these bloody wretches plead for themselves by that Sacred name, which they had Blasphem'd, and in the blood of whose Servants they had embrued their hands.

The 9th. of July two young Maidens Captives, wandred away from the Indians that kept them, and got to an English Garrison at Marlebrough. The same day also we had tidings of the good successe of some of our Scouts, the most of them of our Indian Friends, the cheif of whom were William Nehawton, and John Hunter, who near to Mondham slew seven of the Enemy; whereof one was a great Captain of the Indi­ans, and another was called Caleb, who had formerly been a chief Instrument in burn­ing Mendham, when the Indians had first shot at the English, an English Souldier in company with our Indian friends, making haste to Fire, had forgot to pull out a wadd of Tow which was in the pan of his gun, which William Nahawton espying told him of, and wish'd him to take it out and Fire; the Englishman told him he judged the Indian (whom he could but just descry, by reason of the darkness of the morning, and his di­stance from him) was too far to be reach'd by his Musket, try said Nahawton, and God shall direct the bullet, which he immediately did, and he saw the Indian who was running from them, tumble down; who prov'd to be one of their great Captains above-mentioned: afterwards the Indian, Nahawton; made a very serious Prayer in ac­knowledgment to God for the successe.

Upon the 10th. day of July there were about 300 Indians at the Eastward, that surrendred themselves to the English, and their Sachems with them, besides Waralancet (who hath all along this war kept himself clear) one Squardo, that which did hasten them in, was the dread of the Mohauks who have kill'd several of them in those quar­ters, and a rumor they had of a great party of that nation coming down upon them.

July the 13th. we had news from Major Talcot, that in his return home from Pautaxit, he killed and took another Party of the Indians, in number 60, and had the plunder of all their Guns and other things, and this also without the losse of any of our Countrymen.

July the 16th. we had news from the forces which went from us to the Southern, parts that they have taken and kill'd since their march from us, about 120 of the Enemy, with the losse only of one man of ours, who neglecting to keep up with the rest of our forces, and being bewildred in a wood, hollowed, and was heard by the Enemy, and was taken and slain before relief could reach him?

We since hear that Pomham, (one of the great Sachems of Narrowgancet) is one of those that were slain, but we are not yet so certain thereof, as positively to affirm it to be undoubtely so, but great probabilities there are of it; and if so, the glory of that Na­tion is sunk with him into the same pit, (of this circumstance, the reader will receive far­ther satisfaction, in the ensuing Narrative.)

On the 17th. of July two Sachems with four Indians to wait on them, came down to Boston from Wadjusset, where Sagamour Sam. and others are with renewed desires of Peace, they were dismissed the next day from the Councill, with this answer to them, that we would first have our Captives out of their hands, and then talk of a Peace. And soon after they returned with a scalpe of one of our Enemies (which is their usual way where they kill) and a signification of Sagamor Sams purpose to surrender himself to the mercy of the English.

The 18th. of July we had the news of fourteen more Indians taken and killed by our forces, and one of ours also slain: and two dayes after of sixteen more Indians killed or taken by them in their return home, without any losse of our Men.

On the 29th. of July we had an account by Letters from Plimouth, that the forces of that Colony ( viz. two and twenty of the English with twenty of our Friend- Indians) [Page 8]under the Command of Livetenant Church had killed and taken 79 of the Enemy, and that without the death or wounding of any of ours. And by the same Post that Sachem Phillip had come down to his own Country of Mount Hope, near Dartmouth, as one that now was reduc'd to a few hundreds of the thousands he began this war with, and that our forces were looking out after him, and had considerably diminished his bloody Remnant, whose desparation had engaged their adherence to him; and amongst the rest Quinapins brother, that succeeded Quinancet the Sachem before mentioned, execu­ted by us.

What I mentioned in my last about Pomham (one of the greatest Sachems of the Narrogansets) you may take now as followeth. Upon the 27th. of July it was that about twenty Indians were slain, and thirty taken Prisoners; (we had five and twenty English, and twenty of our Indian Friends in this exploit;) one of those that were slain was Pomham; after he had received a deadly shot in his back, he withdrew himself from his men, (for they were all his Relations and Subjects that were slain and taken at this time) and thought to hide himself in a bushy hole, but was found out by an Eng­lish man, who as he went to apprehend him, found that the stout Sachem was unwilling to fall into the hands of the English, for he gave him a stunning blow with his hatchet which he had reserved of all his weapons, and perhaps had slain the English man, but God ordered it so that he had a sudden revival, and took Courage and grappled with him, and threw him under him, and others coming into his assistance, Pomham was soon dispatcht. There was about twenty pound of Indian money found in their baskets, which was given to our friends the Indians; the Guns, &c. the English took to themselves, who lost not one man in this encounter.

The same day likewise there came in 160 Indians, men women and Children, who surrendred themselves up to the mercy of the English; some of these belong'd to Sagamore Sam of Lancaster, (though he himself dare not so adventure,) but the most of them to two Nipmag Sachems, and one Sagamore John: this Sagamore John came down in person about fourteen days since to Boston, to surrender himself and his men to the English, promising for the future to be faithful, declaring that he was sorry that he had sought against the English, and promised to give some testimonial to the English soon of this fidelity to them; and at his return now with his men women and Children, he brought down bound with cords, old Mattoonus and his Son Prisonrs. This Mat­toonus his eldest son had been tryed at Boston and executed about 5 or six years ago, for an execrable murther by him committed on a young Maid of the English near Wooburn, and his head fastened to a Pole, at one end of the Gallows.

This old Mattoonus's Father had given it out that he would be avenged of us for his Sons death, which comming to the knowledge of the Council, he was sent for, and ex­amined about it: and having denyed it, and there not being sufficient evidence of it, he was dismist; having only confest this, that considering the death of his son, he found his heart so big hot within him, but that he resolved to abide a faithful friend to the Eng­lish, and so that accusation ended.

But after Sachem Phillip had begun his murthers in Plimouth Colony, this Salvage first appeared an enemy to us, and slew the two first men that were killed within the li­mits of our Colony, (to wit at Mendham) and in that cruel outragious attempt at Qua­bang, this old Mattoonus was the principal Ringleader, being now brought a Prisoner to Boston, he was by the Council the same day adjudged to be shot to death, which was executed in Boston Common, by three Indians: and his head cut off and placed up­on a Pole on the Gallows opposite to his Sons that was there formerly hanged. His Son brought along with him, remains still a Prisoner.

On the last of July there were about 26 Indians, most Women and Children brought in by our Scouts, as they were ranging the Woods about Dedham, almost sterved: We are also informed, that most of Sachem Philips men have deserted him, and surrendred up themselves to the English of Plimouth Colony, at their mercy, and that he himself with his Remains are gone to Dartmouth; in Chase of whom Major Talcott with our Friend Indians are at present.

August the 3d. we hear this Morning by a Post from Bridgwater in Plymouth Co­lony, that not far from that place a Party of our Souldiers met with a Company of the Enemy, 25 in all; who though prepared to make the first shot at the English in their march, yet when they came within shot, and were descryed by ours, they nimbly pre­vented the Indians, and killed eight of them, and took the other 17 Prisoners, with-any loss on our side. Some of the Indians acknowledged that their Arms shook and [Page 9]trembled so, that they could not so readily discharge their Guns as they would have done.

We are certainly inform'd, that Philip Sachem is again fled from Dartmouth in Plymouth Colony, into ours, and that he is not far from Marleborough: We are not without hope that he may ere long be caught; which (in probability) would quench the remaining Coals of this Warre. But we desire to wait upon Gods Will, and at­tend his Work in this thing, which will at last give us cause to say, How great is his Goodness! and how great is his Beauty!

Thus hath God dealt graciously with us, which I was desirous to acquaint you with; and therefore have (for some of the latest Occurrencies) took an Opportunity of a Ship not sailing directly for London, to give you this Account, which is a true one, as far as the distance of times and places where the Actions have been, will admit: every Action must have allowance with respect to humane Infirmities, and the various Re­porters, who may encrease or diminish according to their own Judgement of the matter of Fact: But otherwise there is nothing represented, but what consists with truth: And also my great design is, to desire you to acquaint our Christian Friends, that have prayed for us in England, with these things. For, as we have observed, since we heard of their instant Prayers for us, we have been much encouraged, and have received eminent Re­turns of our joynt Prayers; so also we begge, that they would Praise and Magnifie the Name of the Most High with us, and in our behalfs, for we cannot sufficiently exalt him. For besides these Mercies in reference to the Indian Warre, we have had many other very great and seasonable, cast in over and above, to our great Astonishment. VVe had an Epidemical Sickness, that hath swept away several worthy Gentlemen amongst us, besides many others which God hath Rebuked.

We have also had a great and sore Drought, which Threatned the Spoiling of our Harvest, and thereby an encrease of the Scarcity that hath been amongst us: But this 4th of August, God hath given us an abundance of Rain, Blessed be his Name; and we have our English Corn generally Housed with us, and divers have gone to the Towns that were burnt down, to reap the Wheat, and what they had there Sown last Winter: which in the last Spring they expected to have faln into the Enemies hand. And the Husbandman goes out with more safety than could be imagined on his employments. Our Indian Harvest is like to be very fruitfull, that grain is now sold at two shillings six pence the Bushell; besides the Supplies we have had from other Parts.

Yet shall we not say, the bitterness of Death is over; the Enemy hath several Sculk­ing parties abroad, which yet do little Mischief, being disappointed by the Providence of God through the Vigilance of our Scouts. May be God will still go on to fulfill that promise, Isa. 62.8, 9. Surely I will no more give thy Corn to be meat for thine Enemy, and the Sons of the Stranger shall not drink thy Wine for the which thou hast Laboured; but they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord.

But still we beg that you would not forget to pray for us, that we may not again pro­voke God by breaking his Commandments, least he be angry with us untill he have con­sumed us. And we shall not cease to pray for you, and all the Churches of Christ that call upon the name of our Lord and yours, that you may obtain the like mercy to help in time of need.

SIR, Pardon the prolixity of this Nar­rative from Your Affectio­nate Friends.

For a Close of this Narrative, I shall beg the Readers patience to peruse the substance of some Letters which I shall contract under one, relating to be Indians known to us here and to our Countreymen there, under the name of the praying Indians; that is, such as call upon the Name of of our Lord Jesus Christ, as being perswaded that there is a Concernment of Gods Glory depending thereupon; A Vindication due to them who have been represented as Hypocrites or Apostates, for the Generality of them; which appeares to be otherwise, as I hope the substance of the ensuing Letters communicated from persons of known Integrity will evidence; which take as followeth.