CHAP. LI.'

Conspiracies of the Indians against the English in New England discovered and prevented. From the year

1641 to 1646.

AFTER the subduing of the Pequots in the year 1637, the Narrhagansets, the most numerous of the other Indians, either out of discontent that the whole sovereignty over the rest of the Indians was not adjudged to belong to them, or out of envy that Uncas, a sachem of the Mohegin Indians, had insinuated further than themselves into the favor of the English, were observed to be always contriving mischief against them, though they carried it subtilly and underhand for some years, and were pretending quarrel with the said Uncas, against whom they always had an inveterate malice ever since the agreement made about distributing of the Pequots after the war with them was ended, expecting, in probability, that all should have been left to their sole arbitrament. And therein were animated by the haughty spirit and aspiring mind of one Miantonimo, the heir apparent of all the Narrhaganset people, after the decease of the old sachem Canonicus, that was his uncle. This Miantonimo was a very good personage, of tall stature, subtil and cunning in his contrivements, as well as haughty in his designs. It was strongly suspected that, in the year 1642, he had contrived to draw all the Indians throughout the country into a general conspiracy against the English; for the first of September, 1642, letters came to Boston from the Court at Connecticut, and from two of the magistrates there, that the Indians had conspired to cut off the English all over the country; Mr. Ludlow certified so much from the place where he lived near the Dutch. The time appointed to be for the assault was said to be after harvest; the manner to be by several companies entering into the chief men's houses, by way of trade, and then to kill them in their houses, and seize their arms, and others should be at hand to prosecute the massacre. This was also con

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firmed by three Indians that were said to reveal it in the same manner, and at the same time, to Mr. Ludlow and to the Governor1 of New Haven. It was added also, that another Indian should discover the same plot to Mr. Haines, of Connecticut, by some special circumstances, viz. that being much hurt by a cart, (which usually there are drawn with oxen,) he should send for Mr. Haines and tell him, that Englishman's God was angry with him, and sent Englishman's cow (meaning the oxen in the cart or wain) to kill him, because he had concealed such a plot against the English, and so told him all, as the other Indians had done,

Upon this, their advice from Connecticut was, that we should begin with them, and enter upon a war presently; and that if the Massachusetts would send one hundred and twenty men to Saybrook, at the river's mouth, they would meet them with a proportionable number. This was a very probable story, and very likely it was that the Indians had been discoursing of some such business amongst themselves. But the General Court of the Massachusetts, when called together, did not think those informations to be a sufficient ground whereon to begin a war. Although the Governor and magistrates, as many as could convene together before the Court, ordered that all the Indians within their jurisdiction should be disarmed, which they willingly yielded unto; and upon all the inquiries and examinations, which were made by the Court, when assembled together, they could not find any such violent presumption of a conspiracy, as to be the ground of a war. Besides, it was considered that the reports of all Indians were found by experience to be very uncertain, especially when it may well be supposed, that they are or may be raised and carried by such as are at variance one with another, who may be very like to accuse one another, to ingratiate themselves with the English. Miantonimo, sachem of Narrhaganset, was sent unto, and, by his readiness to appear, satisfied the English that he was innocent as to any present conspiracy, though his quarrel with the Mo

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hegins (who bordered upon Connecticut Colony) might very probably, as was judged, render him the subject of such a report, or an occasion of it.

The said Miantonimo, when he came before the Court, peremptorily demanded that his accusers might be brought before him face to face, and if they could not prove it, then to be made to suffer what himself, if he had been found guilty, had deserved, i. e. death, which was a very rational collection. He urged very much the prosecuting such a law against his accusers, alleging that if the English did not believe it, why did they disarm the Indians round about; and if they did believe it, equity required that they that accused him should be punished according to the offence charged upon himself. He offered also to make it good against Uncas, sachem of the Mohegins, that the report was raised either by him, or some of his people. The English answered, that divers Indians had robbed some of the Englishmen's houses, which might be a sufficient ground to disarm, and with that he was something satisfied. Connecticut men were hardly prevailed with to forbear the war against them, but at the last they were overcome with the allegations of the Massachusetts, to lay it aside.

Miantonimo, when he was at Boston, was very deliberate in his answers, shewing a good understanding in the principles of justice and equity, as well as a seeming ingenuity withal. But though his words were smoother than oil, yet, as many conceived, in his heart were drawn swords. It was observed, also, that he would never speak but when some of his counsellors were present, that they might, as he said, bear witness of all his speeches, at their return home.

They spent two days in the treaty, wherein at last he gave them satisfaction in all things, though he held off long about the Nianticks, of whom he said they were as his own flesh, engaging on their behalf that, if they should do any wrong, so as neither he nor they could satisfy without blood, then he would leave them to the mercy of the English. At his departure he gave his hand to the

Governor, telling him that was for the magistrates that were absent.

Intimations of a like nature about a conspiracy were sent down from Plymouth, but not backed with sufficient proof, so as, at the last, a present war was declined by all. The Massachusetts government also restored to the Indians their arms, (which they had honestly purchased from the French or Dutch,) choosing rather to trust God with their safety, than secure themselves by any act of unrighteousness, in withholding from Indians that which was their own.

However, this rumor of a conspiracy of the Indians so filled men's minds with fear, that a man could not halloo in the night, (as one did in a swamp near Watertown, upon the howling of a kennel of wolves, fearing to be devoured by them,) but it was feared by some of his neighbors he had fallen into the hands of the Indians, who were torturing him to death. Such an accident raised an alarum in all the towns about the Bay, on the 19th of September that year.

The Indians upon Long Island were more fierce and barbarous; for one Captain Howe about this time going with eight or ten men to a wigwam there, to demand an Indian that had killed one Hammond, an Englishman, the Indian ran violently out, (with a knife in his hand, wherewith he wounded one of the company,) thinking to escape from them, so as they were forced to kill him upon the place, which so awed the rest that they durst not attempt any revenge. If they had been always so handled, they would not have dared to have rebelled, as they did afterwards.

But to return to the Narrhagansets, with whom at present the English had to deal. This plot being discovered, thereby was the danger of it prevented, at least for the present; yet was not Miantonimo quiet, but still was hatching of new plots against Uncas, who stuck close to the English, that at last they might be revenged upon the English by their hostility against him; for in July, 1643, letters came from Mr. Haynes, the Governor of Hartford, to Boston,

that there was a war begun between one Sequasson, sachem of Connecticut, (a kinsman and firm friend of Miantonimo's,) and Uncas, the Mohegin sachem, who complained to the English at Hartford that Sequasson had assaulted him. The Governor of Hartford sent for Sequasson, and labored to make them friends, but Sequasson chose rather to have war, so as they were forced to leave them to themselves, promising to be aiding to neither. Soon after this, Uncas set upon Sequasson, and killed seven or eight of his men, wounded thirteen, burnt his wigwams, and carried away the booty. Upon this Miantonimo sent to Hartford to complain of Uncas, but were answered, that the English had no hand in the quarrel, nor would encourage them in it. He gave notice hereof in like manner by two of their neighbor Indians, and was very desirous to know if they would not be offended, if he should make war upon Uncas. The Governor answered him, that if Uncas had done him or his friends any wrong, and would not give satisfaction, they should leave him to take his course. Miantonimo upon this took his first opportunity to invade Uncas, with near a thousand men, and set upon him suddenly, without either demanding satisfaction or denouncing the war beforehand, so as Uncas had no time to make defence, not having with him above three or four hundred men. But the battle is not always to the strong, no more than the race to the swift; time and chance happens to them all; for Uncas, with his small company, had the victory, either by reason of better skill, or courage, though principally by the overruling hand of God, who is always wont to abase the children of pride. They killed about thirty of the Narrhagansets, wounded many more, and caused the rest to fly. Amongst the wounded were two of Canonicus's sons, and a brother of Miantonimo's. But he himself escaped a little way, where he was overtaken by the pursuers, being tired with armor, which Gorton, his friend, had furnished him with for the securing his person; but he was so hampered or burthened therewith, that, not being able to fight for want of courage, he was