Uncas hereupon slew an enemy, but not the enmity against him; the Narragansets 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 pounds. This for a while cast an imputation of foul and unjust dealing upon Uncas, but in September 1664, the English commissioners, meeting at Hartford, sent for the Narraganset 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 wampum, 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 Narraganset 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 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 favour.

The Narraganset 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, by messengers sent to Boston, declared, that unless Uncas would render 160 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

son, a Mohegan 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 Narragansets 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 Narragansets, or their confederates, till further order.

In the mean time, messengers were sent to the Narragansets from the general court in the Massachusetts, sig. nifying the commissioners' meeting, promising their aggrievances should be fully and justly heard, and requir ing 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 Narragansets and the Mohegan 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, and to give and receive due satisfaction, and to restore and settle peace.

At first the Narraganset sachem gave a reasonable and fair answer, that he would send guides with them to the Mohegans, 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 speech. es discouraged and returned; no other guides could be obtained, though much pressed; they knew (as they ex

pressed themselves) by the course held at Hartford last year, that the commissioners would press for peace, but they resolved to have no peace, without Uncas his 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,charg ed him with cutting through his own arm, and saying the Narragansets 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 Narragansets. The English messengers, upon this rude and uncivil usage, wanting guides to proceed, and fearing danger, returned to the Narragansets, 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 the English trading house, where they intended to lodge that night. In the morning he invited them to return, and promised thein a guide to Uncas, but would grant no cessation of arms. When they came to Providence, they understood that in their absence a Narraganset Indian had been there, and feigning himself to be of Connecticut, spake in that dialect, but could not put off the Narraganset toge. He told Benedict Arnold's wife, (who well understands the Indian language,) that the English messengers should not pass to the Mohegans. He knew they should have no guides, but should

be destroyed in the woods, as they travelled towards Un

cas.

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 Narragansets 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 publick 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 dishonour 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 Narragansets 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' 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 see their heads upon the next pretence shall be delivered to the will of the Narragansets, 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 Narragansets and their confederates rest on their

numbers, weapons, and opportunities to do mischief; and 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 cloathes 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, 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 divers months, but there not being proof enough to convict him, &c. he was discharged; but the Indians, from