USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Bradford's history "of Plimoth plantation" from the original manuscript > Part 35
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but it pleased God to give Uncass ye victory, and he slew many of his men, and wounded many more ; but ye cheefe of all was, he tooke Miantinomo prisoner. And seeing he was a greate man, and ye Narigansets a potente people & would seeke revenge, he would doe nothing in ye case without ye advise of ye English ; so he (by ye help & direction of those of Conightecutt) kept him prisoner till this meeting of ye comissioners. The comissioners weighed ye cause and passages, as they were clearly represented & sufficently evidenced betwixte Uncass and Myantinomo ; and the things being duly considered, the comissioners apparently saw yt Uncass could not be safe whilst Miantynomo lived, but, either by secrete trechery or open force, his life would still be in danger. Wherfore they thought he might justly put such a false & bloud-thirstie enimie to death ; but in his owne jurisdiction, not in ye English plan- tations. And they advised, in ye maner of his death all mercy and moderation should be showed, contrary to ye practise of ye Indeans, who exercise torturs and cruelty. And, [261] Uncass having hitherto shewed him selfe a freind to ye English, and in this craving their advise, if the Narigansett Indeans or others shall unjustly assaulte Uncass for this execution, upon notice and request, ye English promise to assiste and protecte him as farr as they may agaiste such violence.
This was ye issue of this bussines. The reasons and passages hereof are more at large to be seene in ye acts
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& records of this meeting of ye comissioners. And Uncass follewd this advise, and accordingly executed him, in a very faire maner, acording as they advised, with due respecte to his honour & greatnes. But what followed on ye Narigansets parte will appear hear after.
Anno Dom: 1644.
MR. EDWARD WINSLOW was chosen Govr this year.
Many having left this place (as is before noted) by reason of ye straightnes & barrennes of ye same, and their finding of better accommodations elsewher, more sutable to their ends & minds; and sundrie others still upon every occasion desiring their dismissions, the church begane seriously to thinke whether it were not better joyntly to remove to some other place, then to be thus weakened, and as it were insensibly dis- solved. Many meetings and much consultation was held hearaboute, and diverse were mens minds and opinions. Some were still for staying togeather in this place, aledging men might hear live, if they would be con- tente with their condition ; and yt it was not for wante or necessitie so much yt they removed, as for ye enrich- ing of them selves. Others were resolute upon removall, and so signified yt hear yey could not stay; but if ye church did not remove, they must; insomuch as many were swayed, rather then ther should be a dissolution, to condescend to a removall, if a fitt place could be found, that might more conveniently and comforta-
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blie receive ye whole, with such accession of others as might come to them, for their better strength & subsistence ; and some such like cautions and limita- tions. So as, with ye afforesaide provissos, ye greater parte consented to a removall to a place called Nawsett, which had been superficially veiwed and ye good will of ye purchassers (to whom it belonged) obtained, with some addition thertoo from ye Courte. But now they begane to see their errour, that they had given away already the best & most comodious places to others, and now wanted them selves; for this place was about 50. myles from hence, and at an outside of ye countrie, remote from all society; also, that it would prove so straite, as it would not be competente to receive ye whole body, much less be capable of any addition or increase; so as (at least in a shorte time) they should be worse ther then they are now hear. The which, with sundery other like considerations and in- conveniences, made them chaing their resolutions; but such as were before resolved upon removall tooke advan- tage of this agreemente, & wente on notwithstanding, neither could ye rest hinder them, they haveing made some begining. And thus was this poore church left, like an anciente mother, growne olde, and forsaken of her children, (though not in their affections,) yett in regarde of their bodily presence and personall help- fullness. Her anciente members being most of them worne away by death; and these of later time being
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like children translated into other families, and she like a widow left only to trust in God. Thus she that had made many rich became her selfe poore.
[262] Some things handled, and pacified by ye comissioner this year.
Wheras, by a wise providence of God, tow of ye jurisdic- tions in ye westerne parts, viz. Conightecutt & New-haven, have beene latly exercised by sundrie insolencies & outrages from ye Indeans ; as, first, an Englishman, runing from his mr. out of ye Massachusets, was murdered in ye woods, in or nere ye limites of Conightecute jurisdiction ; and aboute 6. weeks after, upon discovery by an Indean, ye Indean saga- more in these parts promised to deliver the murderer to ye English, bound ; and having accordingly brought him within ye sight of Uncaway, by their joynte consente, as it is informed, he was ther unbound, and left to shifte for him selfe ; wherupon 10. Englishmen forthwith coming to ye place, being sente by Mr. Ludlow, at ye Indeans desire, to receive ye murderer, who seeing him escaped, layed hold of 8. of ye Indeans ther presente, amongst whom ther was a sagamore or 2. and kept them in hold 2. days, till 4. sagamors ingaged themselves within one month to deliver ye prisoner. And about a weeke after this agreemente, an Indean came pre- sumtuously and with guile, in ye day time, and murtherously assalted an English woman in her house at Stamford, and by 3. wounds, supposed mortall, left her for dead, after he had robbed ye house. By which passages ye English were provoked, & called to a due consideration of their owne saftie ; and ye Indeans generally in those parts arose in an hostile maner, refused to come to ye English to carry on treaties of peace, departed from their wigwames, left their corne unweeded, and shewed them selves tumultuously
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about some of ye English plantations, & shott of peeces within hearing of ye towne; and some Indeans came to ye English & tould them ye Indeans would fall upon them. So yt most of ye English thought it unsafe to travell in those parts by land, and some of ye plantations were put upon strong watchs and ward, night & day, & could not attend their private occasions, and yet distrusted their owne strength for their defence. Wherupon Hartford & New-Haven were sent unto for aide, and saw cause both to send into ye weaker parts of their owne jurisdiction thus in danger, and New- Haven, for conveniencie of situation, sente aide to Uncaway, though belonging to Conightecutt. Of all which passages they presently acquainted ye comissioners in ye Bay, & had ye allowance & approbation from ye Generall Courte ther, with directions neither to hasten warr nor to bear such inso- lencies too longe. Which courses, though chargable to them selves, yet through Gods blessing they hope fruite is, & will be, sweete and wholsome to all ye collonies; the murderers are since delivered to justice, the publick peace preserved for ye presente, & probabillitie it may be better secured for ye future.
Thus this mischeefe was prevented, and ye fear of a warr hereby diverted. But now an other broyle was begune by ye Narigansets; though they unjustly had made warr upon Uncass, (as is before declared, ) and had, ye winter before this, ernestly presed ye Gover of ye Massachusets that they might still make warr upon them to revenge ye death of their sagamore, wch, being taken prisoner, was by them put to death, (as before was noted, ) pretending that they had first received and accepted his ransome, and then put him to death.
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But ye Gover refused their presents, and tould them yt it was them selves had done ye wronge, & broaken - ye conditions of peace ; and he nor ye English neither could nor would allow them to make any further warr upon him, but if they did, must assiste him, & oppose them; but if it did appeare, upon good proofe, that he had received a ransome for his life, before he put him to death, when ye comissioners mett, they should have a fair hearing, and they would cause Uncass to returne ye same. But notwithstanding, at ye spring of ye year they gathered a great power, and fell upon Uncass, and slue sundrie of his men, and wounded more, and also had some loss them selves. Uncass cald for aide from ye English; they tould him what ye Narigansets objected, he deney the same; they tould him it must come to triall, and if he was inocente, if ye Narigansets would not desiste, they would aide & assiste him. So at this meeting they [263] sent both to Uncass & ye Narrigansets, and required their saga- mors to come or send to ye comissioners now mete at Hartford, and they should have a faire & inpartiall hearing in all their greevances, and would endeavor yt all wrongs should be rectified wher they should be found; and they promised that they should safly come and returne without any danger or molestation; and sundry ye like things, as appears more at large in ye messengers instructions. Upon wch the Narigansets sent one sagamore and some other deputies, with full
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power to doe in ye case as should be meete. Uncass came in person, accompanyed with some cheefe aboute him. After the agitation of ye bussines, ye issue was this. The comissioners declared to ye Narigansett depu- ties as followeth.
1. That they did not find any proofe of any ransome agreed on.
2. It appeared not yt any wampam had been paied as a ransome, or any parte of a ransome, for Myantinomos life.
3. That if they had in any measure proved their charge against Uncass, the comissioners would have required him to have made answerable satisfaction.
4. That if hereafter they can make satisfing profe, ye Eng- lish will consider ye same, & proceed accordingly.
5. The comissioners did require yt neither them selves nor ye Nyanticks make any warr or injurious assaulte upon Unquass or any of his company untill they make profe of ye ransume charged, and yt due satisfaction be deneyed, unless he first assaulte them.
6. That if they assaulte Uncass, the English are engaged to assist him.
Hearupon ye Narigansette sachim, advising with ye other deputies, ingaged him selfe in the behalfe of ye Narigansets & Nyanticks that no hostile acts should be comitted upon Uncass, or any of his, untill after ye next planting of corne ; and yt after that, before they begine any warr, they will give 30. days warning to ye Gover of the Massachusets or Con- ightecutt. The comissioners approving of this offer, and taking their ingagmente under their hands, required Uncass, as he expected ye continuance of ye favour of the English, to observe the same termes of peace with ye Narigansets and theirs.
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These foregoing conclusions were subscribed by ye comis- sioners, for ye severall jurisdictions, ye 19. of Sept : 1644. EDWA : HOPKINS, Presidente.
SIMON BRADSTREETE. WILLM. HATHORNE.
EDW : WINSLOW. JOHN BROWNE.
GEOR : FENWICK.
THEOPH : EATON. THO : GREGSON.
The forenamed Narigansets deputies did further promise, that if, contrary to this agreemente, any of ye Nyantick Pequents should make any assaulte upon Uncass, or any of his, they would deliver them up to ye English, to be punished accord- ing to their demerits ; and that they would not use any means to procure the Mowacks to come against Uncass during this truce.
These were their names subscribed with their marks.
WEETOWISH. CHINÑOUGH.
PAMPIAMETT. PUMMUNISH.
[264] Anno Dom: 1645.
THE comissioners this year were caled to meete to- gither at Boston, before their ordinarie time; partly in regard of some differances falen betweene ye French and ye govermente of ye Massachusets, about their aiding of Munseire Latore against Munsseire de Aulney, and partly aboute ye Indeans, who had broaken ye former agreements aboute the peace concluded ye last year. This meeting was held at Boston, ye 28. of July.
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Besids some underhand assualts made on both sids, the Narigansets gathered a great power, and fell upon Uncass, and slew many of his men, and wounded more, by reason yt they farr exseeded him in number, and had gott store of peeces, with which they did him most hurte. And as they did this withoute ye knowl- edg and consente of ye English, (contrary to former agreemente, ) so they were resolved to prosecute ye same, notwithstanding any thing ye English said or should doe against them. So, being incouraged by ther late vic- torie, and promise of assistance from ye Mowaks, (being a strong, warlike, and desperate people, ) they had all- ready devoured Uncass & his, in their hops; and surly they had done it in deed, if the English had not timly sett in for his aide. For those of Conightecute sent him 40. men, who were a garison to him, till ye comis- sioners could meete and take further order.
Being thus mett, they forthwith sente 3. messengers, viz. Sargent John Davis, Benedicte Arnold, and Francis Smith, with full & ample instructions, both to ye Nari- gansets and Uncass; to require them yt they should either come in person or send sufficiente men fully instructed to deale in ye bussines ; and if they refused or delayed, to let them know (according to former agreements) yt the English are engaged to assiste against these hostile invasions, and yt they have sente their men to defend Uncass, and to know of ye Nari- gansets whether they will stand to ye former peace,
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or they will assaulte ye English also, that they may provid accordingly.
But ye messengers returned, not only with a sleight- ing, but a threatening answer from the Narigansets (as will more appear hereafter). Also they brought a letter from Mr. Roger Williams, wherin he assures them that ye warr would presenly breake forth, & ye whole country would be all of a flame. And yt the sachems of ye Narigansets had concluded a newtrality with ye English of Providence and those of Aquidnett Iland. Wherupon ye comissioners, considering ye great danger & provocations offered, and ye necessitie we should be put unto of making warr with ye Narigan- setts, and being also carfull, in a matter of so great waight & generall concernmente, to see ye way cleared, and to give satisfaction to all ye colonies, did thinke fitte to advise with such of ye magistrats & elders of ye Massachusets as were then at hand, and also with some of ye cheefe millitary comanders ther; who being assembled, it was then agreed, -
First, yt our ingagmente bound us to aide & defend Uncass. 2. That this ayde could not be intended only to defend him & his forte, or habitation, but (according to ye comone acceptation of such covenants, or ingag- ments, considered with ye grounds or occasion therof) so to ayde him as he might be preserved in his liberty and estate. 3ly. That this ayde [265] must be speedy, least he might be swalowed up in ye mean time, and
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so come to late. 4ly. The justice of this warr being cleared to our selves and ye rest then presente, it was thought meete yt the case should be stated, and ye reasons & grounds of ye warr declared and published. 5ly. That a day of humilliation should be apoynted, which was ye 5. day of ye weeke following. 6ly. It was then allso agreed by ye comissioners that ye whole num- ber of men to be raised in all ye colonies should be 300. Wherof from ye Massachusets a 190. Plimoth, 40. Conightecute, 40. New-Haven, 30. And considering yt Uncass was in present danger, 40. men of this num- ber were forthwith sente from ye Massachusets for his sucoure ; and it was but neede, for ye other 40. from Conightecutt had order to stay but a month, & their time being out, they returned; and ye Narigansets, hear- ing therof, tooke the advantage, and came suddanly upon him, and gave him another blow, to his further loss, and were ready to doe ye like againe; but these 40. men being arrived, they returned, and did nothing.
The declaration which they sett forth I shall not transcribe, it being very larg, and put forth in printe, to which I referr those yt would see ye same, in which all passages are layed open from ye first. I shall only note their prowd carriage, and answers to ye 3. mes- sengers sent from ye comissioners. They received them with scorne & contempte, and tould them they resolved to have no peace without Uncass his head; also they gave them this further answer: that it mattered not
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who begane ye warr, they were resolved to follow it, and that ye English should withdraw their garison from Uncass, or they would procure ye Mowakes against them; and withall gave them this threatening answer : that they would lay ye English catle on heaps, as high as their houses, and yt no English-man should sturr out of his dore to pisse, but he should be kild. And wheras they required guids to pass throw their countrie, to deliver their message to Uncass from ye comissioners, they deneyed them, but at length (in way of scorne) offered them an old Pequente woman. Besids allso they conceived them selves in danger, for whilst ye in- terpretour was speakeing with them about ye answer he should returne, 3. men came & stood behind him with ther hatchets, according to their murderous maner ; but one of his fellows gave him notice of it, so they broak of & came away ; with sundry such like affrontes, which made those Indeans they carryed with them to rune away for fear, and leave them to goe home as they could.
Thus whilst ye comissioners in care of ye publick peace sought to quench ye fire kindled amongst ye Indeans, these children of strife breath out threatenings, provocations, and warr against ye English them selves. So that, unless they should dishonour & provoak God, by violating a just ingagmente, and expose ye colonies to contempte & danger from ye barbarians, they cannot but exerciese force, when no other means will prevaile to
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reduse ye Narigansets & their confederats to a more just & sober temper.
So as here upon they went on to hasten ye prepa- rations, according to ye former agreemente, and sent to Plimoth to send forth their 40. men with all speed, to lye at Seacunke, least any deanger should befalle it, before ye rest were ready, it lying next ye enemie, and ther to stay till ye Massachusetts should joyne with them. Allso Conigtecute & Newhaven forces were to joyne togeather, and march with all speed, and ye Indean confederats of those parts with them. All which was done accordingly; and the souldiers of this place were at Seacunk, the place of their rendevouze, 8. or 10. days before ye rest were ready; they were well armed all with snaphance peeces, and wente under ye camand of Captain [266] Standish. Those from other places were led likwise by able comanders,* as Captaine Mason for Conigtecute, &c .; and Majore Gibons was made generall over ye whole, with such comissions & instructions as was meete.
Upon ye suden dispatch of these souldiears, (the present necessitie requiring it,) the deputies of ye Massachusetts Courte (being now assembled imediatly after ye setting forth of their 40. men) made a ques- tion whether it was legally done, without their comis- sion. It was answered, that howsoever it did properly belong to ye authority of ye severall jurisdictions (after
* Comander in the MS.
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ye warr was agreed upon by ye comissioners, & the number of men) to provid ye men & means to carry on ye warr; yet in this presente case, the proceeding of ye comissioners and ye comission given was as suffi- ciente as if it had been done by ye Generall Courte.
First, it was a case of such presente & urgente necessitie, as could not stay ye calling of ye Courte or Counsell. 2ly. In ye Articles of Confederation, power is given to ye comis- sioners to consult, order, & determine all affaires of warr, &c. And ye word determine comprehends all acts of author- ity belonging therunto.
gly. The comissioners are ye judges of ye necessitie of the expedition.
4ly. The Generall Courte have made their owne comis- sioners their sole counsell for these affires.
5ly. These counsels could not have had their due effecte excepte. they had power to proceede in this case, as they have done ; which were to make ye comissioners power, and ye maine end of ye confederation, to be frustrate, and that mearly for observing a ceremony.
6ly. The comissioners haveing sole power to manage ye warr for number of men, for time, place, &c., they only know their owne counsells, & determinations, and therfore none can grante comission to acte according to these but them selves.
All things being thus in readines, and some of ye souldiers gone forth, and the rest ready to march, the comissioners thought it meete before any hostile acte was performed, to cause a presente to be re- turned, which had been sente to ye Gover of the Mas- sachusetts from ye Narigansett sachems, but not by
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him received, but layed up to be accepted or refused as they should carry them selves, and observe ye cove- nants. Therfore they violating the same, & standing out thus to a warr, it was againe returned, by 2. mes- sengers & an interpretour. And further to let know that their men already sent to Uncass (& other wher sent forth) have hitherto had express order only to stand upon his & their owne defence, and not to attempte any invasion of ye Narigansetts country ; and yet if they may have due reperation for what is past, and good securitie for ye future, it shall appear they are as desirous of peace, and shall be as tender of ye Narigansets blood as ever. If therefore Pessecuss, Innemo, with other sachemes, will (without further delay) come along with you to Boston, the comis- sioners doe promise & assure them, they shall have free liberty to come, and retourne without molesta- tion or any just greevance from ye English. But deputies will not now serve, nor may the prepara- tions in hand be now stayed, or ye directions given recalled, till ye forementioned sagamors come, and some further order be taken. But if they will have nothing but warr, the English are providing, and will proceede accordingly.
Pessecouss, Mixano, & Witowash, 3. principall sa- chems of ye Narigansett Indeans, and Awasequen, dep- utie for ye Nyanticks, with a large traine of men, within a few days after came to Boston.
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And to omitte all other circonstances and debats yt past betweene them and the comissioners, they came to this conclusion following.
[267] 1. It was agreed betwixte ye comissioners of ye United Collonies, and ye forementioned sagamores, & Nian- tick deputie, that ye said Narigansets & Niantick sagamores should pay or cause to be payed at Boston, to ye Massa- chusets comissioners, ye full sume of 2000. fathome of good white wampame, or a third parte of black wampampeage, in 4. payments ; namely, 500. fathome within 20. days, 500. fathome within 4. months, 500. fathome at or before next planting time, and 500. fathome within 2. years next after ye date of these presents; which 2000. fathome ye comissioners accepte for satisfaction of former charges ex- pended.
2. The foresaid sagamors & deputie (on ye behalfe of ye Narigansett & Niantick Indeans) hereby promise & cove- nante that they upon demand and profe satisfie & re- store unto Uncass, ye Mohigan sagamore, all such cap- tives, whether men, or women, or children, and all such canowes, as they or any of their men have taken, or as many of their owne canowes in ye roome of them, full as good as they were, with full satisfaction for all such corne as they or any of theire men have spoyled or destroyed, of his or his mens, since last planting time ; and ye English comissioners hereby promise y Uncass shall doe ye like.
3. Wheras ther are sundry differences & greevances be- twixte Narigansett & Niantick Indeans, and Uncass & his men, (which in Uncass his absence cannot now be detir- mined,) it is hearby agreed y Nariganset & Niantick saga- mores either come them selves, or send their deputies to ye next meeting of ye comissioners for ye collonies, either at New-Haven in Sept 1646. or sooner (upon conveniente warn-
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ing, if ye said comissioners doe meete sooner), fully instructed to declare & make due proofe of their injuries, and to sub- . mite to ye judgmente of ye comissioners, in giving or receiv- ing satisfaction ; and ye said comissioners (not doubting but Uncass will either come him selfe, or send his deputies, in like maner furnished) promising to give a full hearing to both parties with equall justice, without any partiall respects, according to their allegations and profs.
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