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Brook FTELD, Printed by HORI BROWN, Prom the press of e. merriam & C(k .i| il A. t -** ♦. V. .:-/ -\ i. % i«.-i'«)i„r*'»' . s^. -. * U-^i* ff-'jNfe- -* 't: :r CAPTIVITY AND DELIVEUANCE \ OF \ MARY ROWLANDSON. I ON the tenth of February came the Indians with great numbers upon Lan« x:aster : Their first coming was about sun- rise; hearing the noise of some guns, we looked out ; several houses were burning, and the smoke ascending to Heaven. There were five persons taken in one house, the father, and the mother, and one sucking child they knocked on the head ; the other two they took and carried away, and there were two others, who being out of the gar- rison upon some occasion, were set upon, one was knocked on the heac, Ifce other es- caped, another there was who running along was shot and wounded, and fell down j he begged of them his life, promising them money, (as they told me) but they would not hearken to him, but knocked him in head, striped him naked, and spUt open bis bowels. Another seeing many of the Indians about h^s barn, ventured and went out, but was quickly shot down. There were three i.'l n CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE I i> » Others belonging to the same garrison who were killed ; the Indians getting tip upon the roof of the barn, had advantage to shoot dovn upon them over their fortiiication* Thus these murderous wretches went on burning and destroying before them. At length they came and beset our own house, and quickly it was the dolefullest day that ever mine eyes saw. The house stood upon the edge of a hill ; some of the Indians got behind the hill, others in the barn, and t;thers behind any thing that would shelter them ; from all which places they shot a- gainst the house, so that the bullets seemed toHy like hail ; and quickly they wounded pne man among us, then another, and then a third. About two hours (according to my observation in that amazing time) they had Hbeen about the house before they prevailed to fire it, (which they did with flax and hemp which they brought out of the barn, and there being no defence about the house, only two Sciiii^crs at two opposite corners, and one of tfcerh not finished) they fired it once and one ventiired out and quenched it, but they quickly fired it again, and that took. Now is that dreadful hour come, that Ihave often heard of, (in the time of the v ar^ as it was the case of others) but now n ine eyes see it. Son>e in cur house were f ght- ing for their lives, others wallowing it. their blood, the house on fire over our heads, and ^'. SrCE Of MARY ROWLAXDSON. ^ son who up upon to shoot iiication. ^ent on • ir own lest day se stood Indians rn, and I shelter shot a- seemed ounded id then ;toniy ey liad evailed IX and c barn, house, orners, ired it hed it, id that e, that le V ar^ ' n ine %ht~ i> their 'S9 and the bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head if we stirred out.. Now might we hear mothers and children crying out for themselves, and one another, Lord ivbat shall we do ! Then I took my children (and one of my sisters heirs) to go forth and leave the house : But as soon as we came to the door, and appeared, the Indians shot so thick that the bullets rattled against the house, as if one had taken a handful of stones and threw them so that we were forced to give back. We had six stout dogs belonging to our garrison, but none of them would stir, though another time, if an Indian had come to the door, they were ready to fly upon him and tear him down. The Lord hereby would make us the more to acknowledge his hand, and to see that our help is always ia him* But out we must go, the fire increas- ing, and coming along behind us, roaring, and the Indians gaping ' before us with their guns, spears, and hatchetb to devour us. No sooner were we out of the house,, but my brother in law (being before wounded in de- fending the house, in or near the throat) fell down dead, vhereat the Indians scornfully shouted, and halloed, and were presently upon him, stripping off his cloaths* The bullets flying thick, one went through my siae, and the same (as would seem) through the bowels and hand of my poor clxild in my •arms. One of my elder sisters children L I > > -I , i,i H CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE (named WiUiant) had then his leg broke, which the Indians perceiving, they knocked him on head. Thus were we butchered by those merciless heathens, standing amazed, with the blood running down to our heels. My elder sister being yet in the house, and seeing those woful sights, the infidels hauling unothers one way, and children another, and some w^allowing in their blood : And her eldest son telling her that her son William was dead, and myself was wounded, she said, and Lord let me die with them : Which was no sooner said, but she was struck with a bul- let, and fell down dead over the threshold, I hope she is reaping the fruit of her good labors, being faithful to the service of God in her place. In her younger years she lay un- der much trouble upon spiritual accounts, till it pleased God to make that precious scripture take hold of her heart, 2 Cor, 12, 9. And he said unto me, 7ny grace is stiffieicni for thee. More than twenty years after 1 have heard her tell how sweet and comfortable that place was to her. But to return ; Ihe In- dians laid hold of us, pulling me one way, and the children another, and said, come go along with us. I to'id them they would kill jfne ; they answered, if I were willing to go along with them they would not hurt me. Oh ! the doleful sight that now was tobe- Jiold at this house ! come, behold the works ( V e. CE broke, locked red by mazed, ■ heels, and auling r, and 1 lier William said, :h was a bul- shoJd. good »od in jy un- ounts, ecious 12, 9. ni for have ethat e In- way, come they were ould obe- orks Of MAUY ROWLANDSON ' f of the Lord, what desolations he has nude in the earth. Of thirty seven persons who were in this one house, none escaped either present death, or a bitter captivity, save on- ly one, who might say as he, "Job^ 1.15. And J only am escaped alone to tell the news. There were twelve killed, some shot, some stabbed with their spears, some knocked down with their hatchets. When 'we arc in prosperity. Oh the little that we *think of such dreadful sights, to see our dear frkuds and relations lie bleeding out their heltrs blood upon the ground. 1 here was one who was chopcd in- to tihe head with a hatchet, and striped na- ked and yet w^as crawling up and down. It is a solemn sight to see so many Christians lying in their blood, some here and. some there, Hke a company of sheep torn by wolves. All of them striped naked by a company of hell hounds, roaring, singing, ranting and insulting, as if tftey would have torn our very hearts out ; yet the Lord by his Al- mighty Power, preserved a number of us from death, for there were twentyfour of us taken alive and carried captive. I had often before this said, that if the In- dians should come, I should chuse rather to be killed by them, than taken alive : But when it came to a trial, my mind changed ; their glittering weapons so daunted my spir- it, that I chose rather to go along with those (as i may say) ravenous bears, than that nio^ I >i ( I Ij % CAPTIVITY AKB DELIVERANCE mcnt to end my days. And that I may the better declare what happened to me during that grievous captivity, I shall particularly speak of the several removes we had up and down the wilderness. ''K The first remove. Now away we must go with those barbar- l>us creatures, with our bodies wounded and bleeding, and our hearts no less than our bodies. About a mile we went that night, up upon a hill within sight of the town, where they intended to lodge* There was hard by a vacant house, deserted by the En- glish before, for fear of the Indians, 1 asked them whether I might not lodge in that houf^e that night ? to which they answered, what will you love Englishmen still ? This was the dolefulest night that ever my eyes saw. Oh the roaring, singing, dancing, and yelling of those black creatures in the night, which made the place a lively resemblance of hell : And as miserable was the waste that %vas there made, of horses, cattle, sheep^ swine, calves, lambs, roasting pigs, and fowls, (which they had plundered in the town) some roasting, some frying and burning, and •some boyling, to feed our merciless enemies j who were joyful enough, though we were disconsolate. To add to the dolefulness of die former day, and the dismalness of the :c Of MARY ROWLANDSOX. 4« lay the during iculariy up and 3arbar- edand in our night, town, e was he En- sked that ^'ered, ' 'i his y eyes ^and nght, Jance Jthat heep^ owls, >wn) and lies ; «^ere s of the present night, my thoughts ran upon my losses and sad bereaved condition. All was gone, my husband gone, (at least separated ironi me, he being in the bay j and to add to my grief, the Indians told me tliey would kill him as he came homeward) my children gone,, my relations and friends gone, our house and home, and all our comforts with- in door and without, all was gone, (cxccpe my life) and 1 knew not but the next mO" ment that might go too. T^iere remained nothing to me but one poor wounded babe, and it seemed at presen'. worse than death, that it was in such a piti ful condition, bespeaking compassion, anti I had no refreshing for it, nor suitable thingi to revive it. Little do many think, what is the savageness and bruitishness of this barbar- ous enemy, even those that seem to profjss more than others among them, when the En- glish have fallen into their hands. I'hose seven that were killed at Lancaster the summer before upon a Sabbath day, and the one that was afterwards killed upon a week day, wcie sLun and man^^led in a bar- barous manner, by one eyed John and JVJari- borough's praying Indians, which Cvipt, iVIjsely brought tu Bostoi!. an th^ Indic\o,|^ told me.: I • •• V* *,vMr i ,# f L^ Q ■Ju I . I'O: CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE r-,..-k^ i->^i. ;* ^.tj^ji^!' h..-iS. ■iu^. A^'.^ i#4:. * Tk£ second REM0V£. ^'^ V.T.. But now (the next morning) I must turn my back upon the town, and travel with them into the vast and desolate wilderness, I knovy now whither. It is not my tongue or pen can express the sorrows of my hearty and bitterness of my spirit, that I had at this departure : But God was with me in a won- derful manner, carrying me along, and bean- ing up my spirit, that it did not quite fail. One of the Indians carried my poor woundi. ed babe upon a horse ; it went moaning all along, I shall die, I shall die. I went on foot after it, with sorrow that cannot be exprest. At length I took it oif the horse, and carried it in my arms, till my strength failed, and I fell down with it; Then they set me upon ti horse, with my wounded child in my lap, and there being no furniture upon the horses back, as we were going down a steep hill, we both fell overthe horses head, at which they like inhuman creatures laughed, and rejoiced to see it, though I thought we should there have ended our days^ as dVercomc with so many difficulties. But the Lord re« newed my strength stilly and carried me a- teng that I might see more of his Power, yea^, so much that I could never have thought of/ kad I not experienced it* . ^- &. ' t turn with ness, I ongue hearty It this worr- bearw : fail, ng all I foot 3rest. irried md I upon lap, orses hill, hich and ould omc I re* e a* - . Of MARY ROWLANDSOK. 12 After this it quickly began to snow, and when night can^e on, they sloped : And now down 1 nnust sit in the snow, by a little fire, and a few boughs behind me, with my sick child in my lap, and calling much for water, being now (through the wound) fallen into a violent Fever. My own wound also grow- ing so stiff, that I could scarce sit down or rise up, yet so it must be, that I must sit all this cold winter night, upon the cold snowy ground, with my sick child in my arma, looking that every hour would be the last of its life J and having no Christian friend nea^r me, either to comfort or help me. Oh I may see the wonderful power of God, that my spirit did not utterly sink under my af- flictions 5 still the Lord upheld me with his gracious and merciful spirit, and we were both alive to see the light of the next morn- ing. The third remove. l,^". •■>t up upon' a horse, and they set me up behind him^ with my poor sick babe in my lap. A very wearisome and tedious day I had of it j what with my own woundy and my child being so exceeding sick J and in a lamentable condition with her wound, it might easily be judged what a poor feeble condition we % 1 1 >' J r" i.:,i mm: III- iif.'t'. fi' s ■'.ii: i. 12 CAPTIVITY AN'D DELIVERANCE were in, there being ndt the least crumb o{ refreshing that came within either of our mouths from Wednesday night to Saturday night, except only a little cold water. 1 his day in the afternoon, about an hour by sun, we came to the place where they intended, viz. an Indian town called Wenimesset; northward of Quabaug. When we were come. Oh the number of Pagans (n» w iier- ciless enemies) that there came about me^, that I may say as David, Psal. 27. IS. / bad fainted, unless I had believed, &c. The next day was the Sabbath : I then remembered how careless 1 had been of God's holy time : how many sabbaths I had lost and misspent « and how evilly 1 had walked in God's sight ^ which lay so close upon my spirit, that it was easier for me to see how righteous it was with God to cut off the thread of my life^ and cast me out of his presence for ever. Yet the Lord still shewed mercy to me, and helped me ; and as he wounded me with one hand, so he healed me with the other. ^\m day there came to me one Robert Pep- per, (a man belonging to Roxbury,) who was taken atCapt. Beer's fight ; «nd had been now a considerable time with the In- dians, and lip with them almost as far as Al- bany, to sec King Philip, as he told me, and was now very lately come with them into these parts. Hearing I say, thiit I was in this Indian town he obtained leave to,come and iffi 1 :e Of MARY ROWLANDSON U mb of >f our turday This sun, °nded, were uer- me;, / /jad next ibered time : spent, ight y hat it it was f life, ever, vand with ther. Pep. who had £ In- Al- and into this see me. He told me he himself was wound- ed in the leg at Capt. Beer's fight ; and was not able sometimes to go but as they carried him, and that he took oak leaves and laid to his wound, and by the blessing of God, he was able to travel again. Then I took oak leaves and laid to my side, and with the blessing of God, it cured me also ; yet before the cure was wrought, 1 may say as it is in PsaL S8. 5, 6. My wounds stink and are corrupt ^ I am troubled^ I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long. I sat much alone with my poor wounded child in my lap, which moaned night and day, having nothing to revive the body, or cheer the spirits of her ; but instead of that, one Indian would come and tell me one hour, your master will knock your child on the head, and then a second, and then a third, your master will quickly knock your child on the head. This was the comfort I had from therr ; miserable comforters were tliey all. Thus nine days I sat upon my knees, with my babe in my lap, till my flesh was raw again. My child being even ready to depart this sorrowful world, they bid me carry it out to another wigwam ; (I suppose because they would not be troubled with such spectacles) whither I went with a very heavy heart, and down I sat with the picture of death in my lap. About two hours in the night, my m ii' M ' ■) 14 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE M: .. It: If y^^i I, 1*1 s ■ ti u. sweet babe like a hmb departed this life, on Feb. i8. 1675. it being about six years and five months old. It was nine days from the first wounding, in this miserable condition, without any refreshing of one nature or other, except a little cold water. I cannot but take notice how at another time 1 could not bear to be in the room where any dead person was, but now the case is changed ; I must, and could lie down by my dead babe all the night aftef. I have thought since of the wonderful goodness of God to me, in preserving me so in the use of my reason and senses, in that distressed time, that I did not use wicked and violent means to end my own miserable life. In the morning, when they understood that my child was dead, they sent for me home to my masters wig- wam : (By my master in this writing, must be understood Qunnaopin^ who was a sagga- more, and married K. Philip's wives sister ; not that he first took me, but I was sold to him by a Narraganset Indian, who took me when I first came out of the garrison) I went to take up my dead child in my arms to carry it with me, but they bid me let it a- lonc : There was no resisting, but go I n.ust and leave it. When I had been a while at my masters wigwam, 1 took the first op- portunity I could get, to go look after my dead child : When I came, I asked theni what they had done with it ? they told mt' Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 15 fe, on rs and m the iition, re or annot could dead ed; I babe ice of »e, in n and d not i my when dead, wig. must ster ; ►Id to z me ^vent IS to it a- liUSt i^hiie : op- my lieni mv* it was upon the hill ; then they went and shewed me where it was, where I saw the ground was newly digged, and where they told me they had buried it ; there I left that child in the wilderness, and, and must com- mit it and myself also in this wilderness con- dition, to him who is above all. God having taken away this dear child, I went to see my daughter Mary, who was at this same Indian town, at a wigwam not very far off, though we had little liberty or opportunity to see one another ; she was about ten years old, and taken from the door at first by a pray- ing Indian, and afterward sold for a gun. When 1 came in sight, she would fall k.weep« ing, at which they were provoked, and would not let me come near her, but bid me be gone ; which was a heart cutting word to me. I had one child dead, another in the wilderness, I knew not where, the third they would not let me come near to ; Me (as he said) have ye berea'ved of my children^ Joseph is not^ and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin also, all these things are against me. I could not sit still in this condition, but kept walking from one place to another. And as I was going along, my heart was even overwhelmed witfi the thoughts of my con- dition, and that I should have children, and a nation that I kncv-z not, ruled over them. Whereupon I earnestly intreated the Lord thu he would consider my low estate, and ■M * \% I ! 16 CArnVITY AND DELIVERANCE ..ti'y K:*; i!f lihew me a token for good, and if it were his blessed will, some sign and hope of some relief. And indeed quickly the Lord an- swered, in some measure, my poor prayer : For as I was going up and down mourning arid lamenting my condition, my son came to me, and asked me how I did ? I had not seen him before, since the destruction of the town ; and 1 knew not where he was, till I J. was informed by himself, that he was a- mongst a smaller parcel of Indians, whose place was about six miles off, with tears in his eyes, he asked me whether his sister Sa- rah was dead ? and told me he had seen his sister (fary j and prayed me, that I would not be troubled in reference to himself. The occasion of his coming to see me at this time was this : There was, as I said, about six miles from us, a small plantation of In- diana, where it seems he had been, during his captivity ; and at this time, there were some forces of the Indians gathered out of our company, and some also from them, (a- xnongst whom was my sons rriaster) to go to assault and burn Mcdfield : In this time of his masters absence, his dame brought him to see me. 1 took this to be some gra- cious answer to my earnest and unfeigned desire. The next day the Indians returned from Mcdfield : (all the company, for those that belonged to the other smaller company, came through the town that now we were II ^1 t] ftjit,. ■m Of MARY ROWLANDSON. ir ''ere ime an- er: ling lame not the :illl a. Lose at) but before they came to us, oh the out- rageous roaring and hooping that there was ! they began their din about a mile be- fore they came to us. By their noise and hooping they signified how many they had destroyed (which was at that time twenty three) those that were with us at home, were gathered together as soon as they heard the hoC/ping, and every time that the other went over their number, these at home gave a shout, that the very earth rang again- And thus they continued till those that had been upon the expedition were come up v > the Saggamor's Vv^igwam ; and then, ^i the hideous, insulting and triumphing ths^piere was over some English mens scalps, that they had taken (as their manner is) and brought with them. I cannot but take notice of the wonderful mercy of God to me in those af- flictions, in sending me a bible : One of the Indians that came from Medfield fight, and had brought some plunder, camiC to me, and asked me 'f I would have a bible, he had got one in his basket, I was glad of it, and asked him ir' he thought the Indians would let me tead i^ he answered yes ? so i took the bible, and ia that melancholy time it came into rny mind to read first the 28th, Chap, of Deute- ronomy^ which I did, and when 1 had read it, my daik heart wrought on this man- ner, that there vt'as no mercy for me, that the blessings v^^ere gone, and the curses ^< '■r t>"[ '( Ik'. ' \ t/:. _j. i 't t 1 .r':t '•-■I '( ' i. 'I ' • ^8 CAPTIVITY AND DELlVi:UANCE i! ' , ' ' ■ '! '!ui' ano nin caine in their room, and that I had lost my opportunity. But the Lord helped ine still to go on reading, till I came to chap. ,TO, the seven first verses ; where 1 found there was mercy promised again, if wc would return to him, by repentance ; and though we were scattered from one end of the earth to the other, yet the Lord would gather us togeth- 'U', and turn all those curses upon our ene- jnises. I do not desire to live to forget this jicripture, and what comfort it was to me. Novi^ the Indians began to talk of remov. i ; from this place, some one way, and some *r. There were now besides myself nglish captives in this place, (all of them children except one woman) I got an opportunity to go and take my leave of them ; they being to go one way, and I an- other. I asked them whether they were earnest with God for deliverance* they all told me they did as they were able, and it xv^s some comfort to me, that the Lord stir- red up children to look to him. The wom- an, viz. good wife Josiin, told me, she should never see me again, and that she could find in her heart to run away : I desired her not to run away by any means, for we were near thirty n;iles from any English town, and she very big with child, having but one week to reckon ; and another child in her arms two years old, and bad rivers there were to go over, and yvc vi ^jre feeble with our poor and I t my e still 0. the !e was eturn were to the [ogeth. r ene- ct this me, emov- I some myself all of 5ot: an ve of d I an- ^ were ley all md it d stir* worn- jhould d find er not e near nd she eekto IS two to go :^rand Of MAR\ UOWLANDSON. 19 coarse entertainment. I had my bible with me, 1 pulled it out, and asked her whether she 'would read; we opened the bible, and lighted on Psal, 27. in which psalm wg especially took notice ol that verse, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine hcari^ IV ait I say on the Lord* ' ^*'' The fourth remove. And now must I part with that Httl company that I had. Here I parted fVoni my daughter Mary, (whom I never saw a- gain till I saw her in Dorchester, rj|yrned from captivity) and from four littlel^usins and neighbors, some of which I never saw^ afterward, the Lord only knows the end of them. Among them also was that poor wo- man before mentioned, who came to a sad end, as some of the company told me in my travel : She having much grief upon her Spirits, about her miserable condiuon, being so near her time, she would be often asking the Indians to let her gb home ; they not be- ing willing to that, and yet vexed with her importunity, gathered a great company to- gether about her, and striped her naked, and set her in the midst of them ; and when they had sung and danced about her (in their hellish manner) as long a« they pleased, they knocked her on the head, and the child in her arms with her : When they had donf. VM \ . '! ! i n . 1 20 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE that, they made a fire and put them both iw- to it, and told the other children that were with them, that if they attempted to go home, they would serve them in like man- ner. The children said she did not shed one tear, but prayed all the while. But to return to my own journey : We travelled about half a day or a little more, and came to a des- olate place in the wilderness, where there wTre no wigwams or inhabitants before : We came about the middle of the afternoon to this place; cold^wet, snowy, hungry, and weary, and no refreshing (for man) but the cold ||Dund to sit on, and our poor Indian Heart acheing thoughts here I had about my poor children, who were scattered up and down among the wild beasts of the forest : My head was light and dissy, (either through hunger or hard lodging, or trouble, or alto- gether) my knees feeble, my body raw by sit ing double night and day, that 1 cannot express to man, the affliction that lay upon my spirit, but the Lord helped me at that time to express it to himself. I opened my bible to read, and the Lord brought that precious scripture to me, ^er, 31. J 6. Thm saiib the Lordy refrain ihy voice from zveeping, a7id thine eyes from iears^for thy work shall be rewarded^ and they shall come again from the landoftheeneviy. This was a sweet cordial to me, when Iwas ready tofaintj many and E Of MARY ROWLANDSON. SI |th in- were |o go man- one eturn bout la des- there ore : nOon 5 and t the idian bout pand rest : 3Ugh alto* V by nnot ipon that my that ing, 'I be the md r many a time have I sat down, and wept sweetly over this scripture. At this place we continued about four days. The fifth remove. The occasion (as I thought) of their mov- ing at this time, was the English Army's be- ing near and following them ; For they went as if they had gone for their livei, for some considerable way ; and then they made a stop, and chose out some of their stoutest men, and sent them back to hold the En- glish Army in play whilst the rest escaped ; and then like Jehu they marched on furious- ly, with their old and young : Some carried their old decriped mothers, some carried one and some another. Four of them carried a great Indian upon a bier ; but going through a thick wood with him, they were hinckred, and could make no haste ; whereupon they took him upon their backs, and carried him one at a time, till we came to Bacquag River> Upon a Friday a little after noon we came to this river : When all the company was come up, and were gathered together, I thought to count the number of them, but they were so many, and being somev/hat la motion, it was beyond my skill. In thi§. travel, because of my wound, I was some- what favored in my load : I carried only my knittingwork, and two quart^.of patched: M 2. '\l >, I '■ 1 . ( H! i >A ' . W I '^') CAPTIVITY AND DELlVERANCtv i--i^i; meal : Bcinc; very faint, I asked my mistress to give mc one spoonful of the meal, but she would noc give mc a taste. They quickly fell to cutting dry trees, to make rafts to carry them over the river, and soon my turn came to go over. By the advantage of some brush which they had laid upon the raft to sit on, 1 did not wet my foot, (which many of themselves at the other end were mid leg deep) which cannot but be acknowledged as a favor of God to my weakened Body, it be- ing a very cold time. I was not before ac- quainted with such kind of doings, or dan* gers. When thou passeth through the waters I will be with thee^ and through the rivers they, shall not overflow thee. Isai. 43. 2. A certain number of us got over the river that nighty but it was the night after the Sabbath before all the company was got over. On the Sat- urday they boiled an old horse's Leg (which* they had got) and so we drank of the broth^ as soon as they thought it was ready, and when it was almost all gone, they filled it up g ain. The first week of my being among them^ I hardly eat any thing : The second week I found .ny stomach grew very faint for want of something ; and yet it was very hard to get down their filthy trash ; but the third week (though 1 could think how formerly my stomach would turn .against this or that, and I could starve and die before I could eat -* -r -- * Of MARY ROWLANDSON 23 itresf It sho [ickiy ts to turn isome ift to lany Id leg jed as it be- e ac- dan- ters I they Ttain iight, ►efora 3Sat- /hich. roth j » and it up hem^ ek I ivant d to hird .. ierly 1 eat . such things,) yet they were pleasant and sav- ory to my taste. 1 was at this time knit- ting a pair of white Gotten s^^ockings for my mistress, ai. J I h,iJ not yet wrought upon the Sabbath \)vj : when the Sabbath catne, they bid me go to work ; 1 told them it was Sabbath day. and desired them to let me rest, and told them I would do as much more to- morrow ; to which they ansv/cred me, they would break mv face. And here I cannot but take notice of the strange Providence of God in preserving the heathen : 1 hey were many hundreds, old and young, some sick and some lame, many had papooses at their backs, the greatest number (at this time with us) were Squaws, and they travelled with all they had, bag and baggage, and yet they got over this river aforesaid ; and on Monday they set their wigwams on fire, and away they went ; on that very day came the En- glish Army after them to this river, and saw the smoak of their wigwams, and yet this river put a stop to them. God did not give them courage or activity to go over after us ; we were not ready for so great a mercy as victory and deliverance; if we had been, God would have found out a way for the English to have passed this River, as well as for the Indians with their Squaws and chil- dren, and all their luggage. Oh that my peo- ple had hearkened to me ^ and Israel had walked in my waysj I should som have sMbdued their t t 4\ ■^-:-- ifi i'l i''f'' 24 CAPTIVITY and DELIVERANCE enemies, and turned my hand against tbeir ad^ versaries. Psal. 81. 13^ 14, The sixth remove. On Monday (as I said) they set their wig- wams on fire, and went away. It was a cold morning, and before us there was a great brook with ice on it : Some waded through it, up to the knees and higher, but others went till they came to a beaver dam, and I amongst them, where through the good providence of God, 1 did not wet my footo I went along that day, mourning and lament- ing (leaving farther my own country, and travelling farther into the vast and howling wilderness) and I understood something of Lot's wife's temptation, when she looked back : We came that day to a great swamp, by the side of w^hich w^e took up our lodging that night. When we came to the brow of the hill that looked toward the swamp, I thought we had come to a great Indian town. (Though there were none but our own com- pany) the Indians were as thick as the trees ; it seemed as if there had been a thousand hatchets going at once : If one looked before one, there was nothing but Indians, and be- hind one, noti ing but Indians ; and so on either hand : And I myself in the midst, and no christian soul near me, and yet hov/ hath the Lord preserved me in safety ! Oh the I ;e Of MARY ROWLANDSON. S5 ^eir ad^ experience that I have had of the goodness of God to me and mine ! a cold great irough others , and I good y foot, iment- y, and )wling ing of ooked i^amp, dging ow of ^p, I :own. com- rees ; isand efore d be. iu oa , and hath the The seventh remove. After a restless and hungry n ight there, we had a wearisome time of it the next day. The swamp by which we lay, was as it were a deep dungeon, and an exceeding high and steep hill before it. Before I got to the top of the hill, I thought my heart and legs and all would have broken, and failed me. What through faintness and soreness of body, it was a grievous day of travel to me. As we went along, I saw a place where English cat- tle had been, th?.t was comfort to me, such as it was ; quickly after that we came to aa English path, which so took with me, that I thought I could there have freely Hen dowti and died. That day, a little after noon, we came to Squauheag, where the Indians quick- ly spread themselves over the deserted English fields, gleaning what they could fmd ; some picked up ears of wheat, that v/ere crinckled down, some found ears of Indian corn, some found ground nuts, and others sheaves of wheat that were frozen together in the shock, and went to threshing of them out. Myself got two ears of Indian corn, and whilst I did but turn my back, one of them was stolen from me, which much troubled me* There came an Indian to them at that timcj with a •'I 'i I H --.V*:; w «.^c . 26 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE mm basket of horse liver ; I asked him to give me a piece : What (says he) can you eat horse liver ? I told him I would try if he would give me a piece, which he did; and 1 laid it on the coals to roast, but before it was half ready, they got half of it away from me j so that I was forced to take the rest and eat it as it was, with the blood about my mouth, and yet a savory bit it was to me ; for to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. A solemn sigKt me thought it was, to see whole fields of wheat and Indian corn for- saken and spoiled, and thcx remainder of them to be food for our merciless Enemies. That night we had a mess of wheat for our supper. T»« BJCVHTH REMOVE. On the merrow morning we must go o- ver Connecticut river to meet with King Phil- ip ; two canoes full they had carried over, the next turn myself was to go ; but as my foot was upon the canoe to step in, there was a sudden outcry ai;pong them, and I must step back; and instead of going over the river, I must go four or five miles up the riv- er farther Northward, Some of the Indians ran one way, and some another. The cause o£ this rout was, as I thought, their espying some English scouts, who were thereabouts, in this travel up the river, about noon the company ; - SXE I to give you eat ry if he U and 1 •e it was om me j id eat it mouth, ; for to sweet. to see ►rn for- ider of nemies. for our Of MARY ROWLANDSON. ay t go o. gPhil- i over, as my there and I ^er the le riv- idians use of some n this ipany made a stop, and sat down, some to eat, and others to rest them. As I sat amongst them, musing on things past, my son Joseph unexpectedly came to me : We asked of each others welfare, bemoaning our doleful con- dition, and the change that had come upon us : We had husband, and father, and chil- dren, and sisters, and friends, and relations, and house, and home, and many comforts of this life ; but now we might say as Job^ naked catjw lout of my mothers womb, andnak' ed shall I return : The Lord gave^ and the Lord hath taken away^ blessed be the name of the Lord. I asked him whether he would read ? he told me, he earnestly desired it. I gave him my bible, and he lighted upon that com- fortable scripture, PsaL 118. 17, 18. / shall not die^ but live^ and declare the works of the Lord : The Lord hath chastened me sore^ yet he hath not given me over to death. Look here mother (says he) did you read this ? And here I may take occasion to mention one principal ground of my setting forth these few lines, even as the psalmist says, to declare the works of the Lord, and his wonderful power in g irrying us atong, preserving us iu the wilderness, while under the enemies hand, and returning of us in safety again ; arid his goodness in bringing to my hand so many comfoitable and suiuble scriptures ia my distress, m i 5 ! % ■ \\ W ■ilu! ^ CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE .'IT 1 fill ill ■ It: m'tir'^^- in I K But to return : We travelled on till night, and in the morning we must go over the river to Philip's crew. When 1 was in the canoe, I could not but le amazed at the nu- merous crew of Pagans that were on the bank on the other side. When I came a- shore, they gathered all about me, I sitting alone in the midst : I observed they asked one ancther questions, and laughed, and re- joiced over their gains and victories. Then my heart began to fail, and I fell a weeping ; which was the first time, to my remem- brance, that I wept before them ; although I had met with so much affliction, and my heart was many times ready to break, yet could I not shed one tear in their sight, but rather had been all this while in a maze, and like one astonished ; but now I may say as Psal, 157. 1. By the rivers of Babylon^ there we sat down^ yea^ we wept^ when we remember ^ ed Zioti. There one of them asked me, why I wept ? I could hardly tell what to say ; yet I answered, they would kill me : No, said he, none will hurt you. Then came one of them, and gave me two spoonfuls of meal (to comfort mc) and another gave me half a pint of pease, v/hich was more worth than mi^ny bushels at another time. Then I went to see King Philip ; he bid me come in, and sit dov^n ; and asked me whether I would smoke it ? (a usual complement now a days, amoiig Saints and Sinners) but this no way 1 CE night, er the in the he nu- >n the me a- itting asked d re- Then ping ; mem- ughl i my c, yet , but , and ay as there mber^ why say; .said e of meal ilfa han r^ent and uld lys. Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 2^ suited me. For though I had formerly used tobacco, yet I had left it ever since I was first taken. It seems to be a bait, the devil lays to make men lose their precious time. I re- member with shame, how formerly, when I h?id taken two or three pipes, I was present- ly ready for another ; such a bewitching thing it is : But I thank God, he has now given me power over it ; surely there are many who may be better employed, than to sit sucking a stinking tobacco pipe. . Now the Indians gather their Forces to go against Northampton : Over night one went about yelling and hooting to give notice of the design. Whereupon they went to boiling of ground nuts, and parching of corn, fas many as had it) for their provision ; and in the Morning away they went. During my abode in this place, Philip spake to me to make a shirt for his boy, which 1 did ; for which he gave me a shilling ; I offered the money to my master, but he bid me keep it,, and >. ith it I bought a piece of horse flesh. Afterward he asked me to make a cap for his boy, for which he invited me to dinner : I went, and he gave me a pancake, about as big as two fingers ; it was made of parched wheat, beaten, and fryed in bears grease, but I thought I never tasted pleasanter meat in my lifo. There was a Squaw who spake to mc to make a shirt for her sannup ; for which she gave me a piece o£ tsar. Anotli- N I f I3 r .1 rM! !'ii It! {■ •1'. ; / I so CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE M m :!:., A; if vt.. E>s*'v :2 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE the Narraganset country to fetch corn, where they had stored up some in the ground ; She brought home about a peck and a half ^f corn. This was about the time that their great captain {Naananto) was killed in the Narraganset country. My son being now about a mile from me, I asked liberty to go and see him, they bid me go, and away I went ; but quickly lost my- self, travelling over hills and through swamps, and could not find the way to him. And I cannot but admire at the wonderful power and goodness of God to me, in that though I was gone from home, and met with all sorts of Indians, and those 1 had no knowledge of, and there being no christian soul near me, yet not one of them offered the least imagin- able miscarriage to me. I turned homeward again, and met with my master, and he shewed me the way to my son. When I came to him, I found him, not well ; and withall he had a bile on his side, which much troubled him : We bemoaned one another a while, as the Lord helped us, and then I re- turned, again. When I was returned I found myself as unsatisfied as I was be- fore. I went up and down mourning and lamenting, and my spirit was ready to sink, "With the thoughts of my poor children ; my son was ill, and I could not but think of his mournful looks, having no christian friend near him, to do any office of love for him^ either for soul or body. And my poor girl. :e Of MARY ROWLANDSON. M I, where round ; 1 a half at their in the om me, bid me ost my- wamps, . And power though all sorta dge of, :ar me, imagin- [leward and he kVhen I 1 ; and 1 much other a n I re- ned I ^■as be- ngand > sink, 1 ; my of his friend r him^ >v girJj i knew not where she was, nor whether she* was sick, or well, or alive or dead. I repair- ed under these thoughts to my bible, (my great comforter in that time) and that scrip- ture came to my hand, Cast thy burden upon the Lord^ and he shall sustain thee^ Psal. 55, 22, But I was fain to go and look after some- thing to satisfy my hunger : And going a- mong the wigwams, I went into one, and there found a Squaw who shewed herself very kind to me, and gave me a piece of bear. I put it into my pocket, and came: home ; but could not find an opportunity to broil it, for fear they should get it from me ; and there it lay all that day and night in my stinking pocket. In the morning 1 went a- gain to the same Squaw, who had a kettle of ground nuts boiling : I asked her to let me boil my piece of bear in her kettle, which she did, and gave me some ground nuts to eat with it, and I cannot but think how pleas- ant it was to me. I have sometimes seen bear baked handsomely amongst the English, and some liked it, but the thoughts that it was bear, made me tremble : But now that was savory to me that one would think was en-^ ough to turn the stomach of a brute crea° ture^- ' ■ V: ' ;* ' --'* ;^^, .,^ One bitter cold day, I could find no rooni tc) sit down before the fire : I went out, arid could not telJ what to do, but I went into an . other wigwam, where they were also sittiivg.; ^ 2 * < I i M \ fcU a. % J- ['ii'iii Pm I *l s* CAPTIVITY AND delivi:rance round the fire ; but the Squaw laid a skin for me, and bid roe sit down, and gave me some ground nuts, and bid me come again ^ and told me they would buy me, if they were a* ble ; and yet these were strangers to me that I never knew before, ' The tenth remove.. /; That day a small part of the company re- moved about three quarters of a mile, intend- ing farther the next day. When they came to the place where they intended to lodge, and had pitched their wigwams, being hun- gry 1 went again back to the place we were before at, to get something to eat y being en- couraged by the Squaw's kindness, who bid. me come again. When I was there, there came an Indian to look after me ; who when he had found me,, kicked me all along. I went home and found venison roasting that night, but they would not give me oi?e bit of it. Sometimes I met with favors, andi aometimes with nothing but frowns. The eleventh remove. .> I '! iH The nex day in the mornihgj they took their travel, intending a days Journey up the river ; I took my load at my back, and^ quickly we came to wade over a river, andi fussed ever tiresome and wearisome hill^.. Of MAUY ROWLA OSONT. S3 in for some and ;re a* ethat \y re- tend* came odge, hun- were g en- 6 bid there whan that : bit and^ took ) the an* andi One hill was so steqp, that Iv is rain tO creep up upon my knees, and to hold by he t\i ij^s and bushes to keep myselt from tali ^ backward. My head also was so light lat I usually reeled as I went, but, I hope all tUosc wearisome steps that 1 have taken, are but a forwarding of me to the heavenly rest. / know Lord, that thy Judgfiients are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted 7neyV^'^h 119. 75. The twelfth remove* It was up'on a Sabbath day morning, that they prepared for their travel. This morn- ing I asked my master whether he would sell me to my husband I he answered nux ; which did much rejoice my spirit. My mis- tress, before we went, was gone to the buri- al of a papoos, and returning, she found me sitting, and reading in my bible : She snatched it hastily out of my hand, and threw it out of doors ; I ran out and catched it up, and put it in ray pocket, and never let her see it afterward. Then they packed up their things to be gone, and gave me. my load : I complained it was too heavy, where* upon she gave me a slap on the face, and bid me be gone. I lifted up my heart to God, hoping that redemption was not far off % and the rather because their ineolency grew worse and worse. /*i \ 1 h I s\ 1 •'. ■'■ "i": 26 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE li|.yj I '^^i! vm ^s mi ' But the thoughts of my going homeward (for so we bent our course) much cheered my spirit, and made my burden seem light, and almost nothing at all. But (to my a- mazement and great perplexity) the scale was soon turned ; for when we had gone a little way, on a sudden my mistress gave out, she would go no further, but turn back again, and said I must go back again with her, and she called her sannup, and would have him go back also, but he would not ; but said, he would go on, and come to us again in three days. My spirit was upon this (I confess) very impatient, and almost outrageous, 1 thought I could as well havo died as went back. I cannot declare the trouble that I was in about it ; but yet back again I must go. As soon as I had an oppoi tu- nity, I took my bible to read, and that qui- eting Scripture came to my hand Psal, 46. 1(X Be still, and know thai I am God* Which stilled my spirit for the present ; but a sore time of trial I concluded I had to go through. My master being gone, who seemed to me the best friend that I had of an Indian, both in cold and hunger, and quickly so it proved. Down I sat^ with my heart as full as it could hold, and yet so hungry, that T could not sit neither : But going out to see what I could find, and walking- among the trees, I found six acorns and two chesnuts^ whi^h were, some, refreshment tome* Toward night 1 1 ^- 1 CE :heered 1 light, niy a- scale gone a gave turn again and would ometo upon almost 1 have e the t back poi'tu- it qui- aL 46. .Vhich a sore ■ough. to me ► both oved. could iOt Sit couJd ound were ghtK Of MARY ROVVLANUSON. 3/ gathered me some sticks for my own com- fort, that I might not lye cold : But when we came to lye down, they bid me go out, and lye somewhere else, for they had compa- ny (they said) come in more than their own : 1 told them I could not tell where to go, they bid me go look : I told them, if I went to an- other wigwam they would be angry, and send me home again. Then one of the com- pany drew his sword, and told me he would run me through, if I did not go presently. ' Then was 1 fain to stoop to this rude fellow, and to go out in the night I knew not whirher. Mine eyes have seen that fellow afterwards walking up and down in Boston, under the appearance of a friendly Indian, and several others of the like cut. I went to one wigwam, and they told me they had no room. Then 1 went to another, and they said the same : At last an old Indian bid me come to him, and his Squaw gave me some ground nuts ; she gave me also something to lay under my head, and a good fire we had : And through the good Providence of God, I had a comfortable lodging that night. In the morning another Indian bid me come aJ. night, and he would give me six ground nuts, which I did. We were at this place and tiuie about two miles from Connecticut riv- er. We went in the morning (to gather ground nuts) to the river, and went back a- gain at night, I went with a great load at ■ .4 It (■ ill )^,■■ .t: 'i'-l" 3d CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE my ^ack, (for they when they went, though but a little way, would carry all their trum- pery with them) I told them the skin was off my back, but I had no other comforting an- swer from them than this, that it would be no matter if my head were off too. m '4i iH 11 . The thirteenth remove. Instead of going toward the bay^, (which was that I desired) I must go with them five or six miles down the river, into a mighty thicket of brush ; where we abode almost a fortnight. Here one asked me to make a shirt for her papoos, for which she gave me a mess of broth, which was thickened with meal made of the bark of a tree j and to make it the better, she had put into it abou^ a handful of pease, and a few roasted ground nuts. I had not seen my son a pretty while and here was an Indian of whom I made en- quiry after him, and asked him when he saw him ? he answered me, that such a time his master roasted him, and that himself did eat a piece of him as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat. But the Lord upheld my spirit under this discourage^ mcnt 'y and I considered their horrible addict- edness to lying, and that there is not one of them that makes the least conscience of speaking the truth, - .^..f^.^.^* :e lough trum- vas off ig an- lid b€ which Ti five iighty ^ost a ake a ve me 1 with nd to about ound while 3e en- e saw lie his f did igers, It the rage, idict- ne of ce of In this place, one cold night as I lay by the fire, I removed a stick which kept the heat from me, a Squaw moved it down again, at which I looked up, and she threw a handful of ashes in my eyes ; I thought I should have been quite blinded and never have seen more ; but lying down, the water ran out of my eyes, and carried the dirt with it, that by the morning I recovered my sight again. Yet upon this, and the like occasions, 1 hope it is not too much to say with "Joh^ Have pity upon me^ have pity upon me, O ye my friends ^ for the hand of the Lord has touched me. And here I cannot but remember how many times sitting in their wngwams, and musing on things past, I should suddenly leap up and run out, as if 1 had been at home, forgetting where I was, and what my condition was : But when I was without, and saw nothing but wilderness, and woods, and a company of barbarous heathen, my mind quickly re- turned to me, which made me think of that spoken concerning Sampson, who said, / will go out and shake myself as at other times ^ but he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. • ^ ^ About this time, I began to think that afl my hopes of restoration would come to noth- ing. 1 thought of the English army, and Iu>ped for their coming, and being retaken by them, but that failed. 1 hoped to be car- ried to Albany, as the Indians had discours- # )•-■ i'- I 'S. aths : )n but vas e- I they round Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 45 like a dog. the papoos stretched out with his eyes and nose, and mouth full of dirt, and yet alive, and groaning. I advised John to go and get to some fire ; he told me he could not stand, but I persuaded him still, lest he should lye there and die. And with much ado I got him to a fire, and went myself home. As soon as I had got home, his mas- ters daughter came after me, to know what 1 had done with the English man ? 1 told her I had got him to a fire in such a place. Now had I need to pray P^//^/'j Prayer, 2, Thess, 3. 2. That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men. For her satisfaction I went along with her, and brought her to him ; but before I got home again, it vi^as noised a- bout, that I was running away, and getting the English youth along with me : That as soon as I came in^ they began to rant and domineer, asking me where 1 had been, and what I had been doing ? and saying they would knock me on the head : 1 told them I had been seeing the English youth, and that I would not run away. They told me I lied, and getticg up a hatchet, they came to me, and said, .they would knock me down if \ stired out again ; and so confined me to the wigwam. Now may 1 say witb David. 2, Sam, 24. 14. lam in a great strait. If I keep in, I must die with hunger ; and if I go out^ I must be knocked on the head. This dis- tressed condition held that day, and half the M ;! M CAPTIVITY ANi> DELIVERANCE , i 'ft . . 1 I: -i'i k m fcM* r ii'.f next J and then the Lord remembered me, whose mercies are great. Then came an In« ,dian to me with a pair of stockings which were too big for him, and he would have me ravel them out, and knit them fit for him. I shewed myself willing, and bid him ask my mistress if I might go along with him a little way ? she said, yes, 1 might ; but I was not a little refreshed with that news, that I had my liberty again. Then I went along with him, and he gave me some roasted ground liuts, which did again revive my feeble sto- mach. Being got out of her sight, I had time and liberty again to look into my bible, which was my guide by day, and my pillow by night. Now that comfortable scripture pre- sented itself to me, Isai. 4S, 7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee^ but with great mer- cies will I gather thee. Thus the Lord carried me along from one time to another, and made good to me this precious promise, and many others. Then my son came to see me, and I asked his master to let him stay a while with me, that I might comb his head, and Jook over him, for he was almost overcome with lice. He told me when 1 had done, that he was very hungry, hut 1 had nothing to re- Heve him but bid Jiim go into the wigwams 3^s he went along, and see if he could get any thing among them. Which he did, and (it seems) tarried a little to long, for his master Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 4'-) d mc^ an In« which ^e me him. kmy a little IS not I had with *ound e sto- e and i^^hich w by c pre- small 't mer- arried , and ^9 and le me, while I, and come J, that tore- wams ;t any id (it 1 aster Was angry with him, and beat him, and then sold him. Then he came running to tell me he had a ilew master, and that he had given him some ground nuts already. Then I went along with him to his new master, who told me he loved him, and he should isot want. So his master carried him away^ and r never saw hiin afterward, till I saw him at Piscataquaini Portsmouth. That night they bid me go out of the wig- wam again : My mistress's papoos was sick, and it died that night ; and there was one bent It in it, that there was more room. I Went to a wigwam; and they bid me come in, and gave me a skin to lye upon, and a mess of venison and ground nuts, which was a choice dish among them. On the morrow they buried the papoose ; and afterwai*d, both morning and evening, there came a company to mourn and howl with her : though I confess I could not much condole with them. Many sorrowful eyes 1 had in this place ; often getting alone, like a crane ct a swallow^ so did I chatter ; / did mourn as a dove, mine eyes fail with looking uptvard* Lord, lam oppres; d, undertake for me, Isai, 38. ]4. I could te] tiiC Lord as Hezekiah, vvr. 5. Remember now Lord, I beseech thee^how I hav^ zoalked before thee in truth. Now had I time to examine all my ways : My conscience did :.io.taccuse me of unrighteousness towards one or other j yet I saw how in my walk wiLt? 2 . 1 ; ^pmr s m 1 :^l *\t;- U-hH ■J f> t.-isti:. ^',i:?'U. 46 CAFTIVITY and DELIVERANCE God, I had been a careless creature. As Da- vid said, Against ihee and thee only have I shi- ned. And i might say with the poor Publi- can, God he merciful unto me a sinner. Upon the Sabbath days I could look upon the sun, and think how people were going to the house of God, to have their souls refreshed^ smd then home, and their bodies also ; but I was destitute of both, and n ight say as the poor Prodigal, He would fain have filled his belley with the husks that the swine did eat, and no man gave unto him, Luke^ 15* 16. For I must say with him, Father I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sights ver. 2K I remem* bered how on the night before and after the Sabbath, when my family was about me, and xelations and neighbors with, us ; we could pray, and sing, and refresh our bodies with the good creatures of God, and then have a comfortable bed to lye down on ; but instead of all this, I had only a little swill for the body, and then like a swine, must lye down on the ground. I cannot express to man, the sorrow that lay upon my spirit, the Lord knows^ it. Yet that comfortable scripture lyould often come to my mind. For a small, foment have I forsaken the^ but with great mer- cies will I gather thee » . / .4. ^'i.*h ■.4 s Da- / shi- Publi- Upon e sur, ) the shedj but I as the led his p, and [must against ;mem« :er the e^ and could 3 with have a nstead or the down in,the ; Lord •jpture a sfnall %t mer- :■■ nx^i «'5 0? MARY ROWLANDSON. ^7 The fourteenth remove. Now must we pack up and be gone from this thicket, bending our course toward the bay towns, 1 having nothing to eat by the way this day, but a few crumbs of cake, that an Indian gave my girl, the same day we were taken. She gave it me and 1 put it in- to my pocket : There it lay, till it was so mouldy, (for want of good baking) that one could not tell what it was made of ; it fell all to crumbs, and grew so dry and hard, that it was like little flints ; and this refreshed me many times, when I was ready to faint. It was in my thoughts when I put it inta my mouth, that if ever I returned, I would tell the world, what a blessing the Lord gave to such mean food. As we went along, they killed a Deer, with a young one in her 5 they gave me a piece of the fawn, and it was so young and tender, that one might eat* the bones as well as the flesh, and yet I thought it very good. When night' came on, we sat down; it rained, but they quickly got up a bark wigwam, where I lay dry that night. Hooked out in the morning, and many of them had lain in the rain 2^1 night, I saw by their reaking. Thus the Lord dealt mercifully with me many times^ and 1 fared better thaii many, of them. In the morning thejy toofe: the bipod of the deerp^a^d put it 1 n»' I 43 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE • I?' into the paunch, and so boiled it ; I could eat nothing of that, though they eat it sweet- ly. And yet they were so nice in other things, that when I had fetched water, and had put the dish I diped the water with, into the kettle of water which V brought, they would say they would knock me down for they said it was a sluttish trick. -■ The fifteenth remove. We went on our travel. 1 bavinggot one handful of ground nuts, for my support that day : they gave me my load, and I went on cheerfully, (with the thoughts of going homeward) having my burden more on my back than my spirit. We came to Baquaug river again that day, near which we abode a few days. Sometimes one of them would give me a pipe, another a little tobacco, an- other a little salt, which I would change for a little victuals. I cannot but think what a ^ wolfish appetite persons havein a starving condition; for many times when they gave me that which was hot, I was so greedy, that I shoulif burn my mouth, that it would trouble me hours after, and yet I should^ quickly do the same again. And after I was thoroughly hungry, I was never again satis- fied. For though sometimes it fell out that I got enough, and did eat till I could eat no » more, yet I was as unsatisfied as I was wheirx Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 49 could sweet- other ', and into they n for )t one tthat It on going [n my luaug ode a i^ouJd , an- 2 for hat a •ving . gave that ould ould^ was ' latis- V that : na» ^■ I began. And now could I see that scrip- ture verified, (there being many scriptures that we do not take notice of, or understand till we are afflicted) M/V. 6. 1 4. Thou shalt eat and not be satisfied. Now might I see more than ever before, the miseries that sin hath brought upon us. Many times I should be ready to run out against the heathen, but that scripture would quiet me again, ^/t/w, 3. 6. Shall there be evil in the city^ and the Lord hath not dofie it ? 1 he Lord help me to make a right improvement of his word, and that I might learn that great lesson, Mic. 6. 8, 0. He hath shev^ed thee^ man^ what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee^ but to do justly^ and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God ? Hear ye the rod^ and who hath ap' pointed it. The sixteenth remove. ^:^. ■Ml ■<% We began this remove with wading oUr Baquaug river. The water was up to the knees, and the stream very swift, and so cold, that I thought it would have cut me in sunder. I was so weak and feeble, that I reeled as 1 went along, and thought there I must end my days at last, after my bearing and getting through so many difficulties. The Indians stood laughing to see me stag.- gering along, but in my distress, the Lord gave me Experience of the truth and good- HI 'ill rm /'. w^ ]a I'i-'-. *'■. 50 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE ness of that promise, Isa. 45. 2. Wbcn thou fassest through the waters I will he with thec^ and through the rivers^ they shall not overfioia thee* Then 1 sat down to put on my stock- ings and shoes> with the tears running down my eyes, and many sorrowful thoughts in my heart. But I got up to go along with them. Quickly there came up to us an In* dian,who informed them, that I must go to Wachuset to my master, for there was a let- ter come from the Council to the Saggar- mores about redeeming the captives, and that there would be another in fourteen days, and that I must be there ready. My heart was so heavy before, that I could scarce speak, or go in the path \ and yet now so light that I could run. My strength seemed to come again, and to recruit my feeble knees, and aching heart ; yet it pleased them to go but one mile that night, and there we stayed two days. In that time came a company of IiUKans to us, near thirty, all on horseback. My heart skiped within me, thinking they had been English men at the first sight of them : For they were dressed in English ap- parel, with hats, white neckcloths, and sash- es about their waists, and ribbonds upon their shoulders : But when- they came near, there was a vast difference between the lovely fa- ces of christians, and the foul looks of those heathens, which much damped my sgirit a^ gain.. •■ - • .- ■'^•■■^ \ ,... E n thoti th ihec^ verfiow stock- down ;hts in with an In^ : go to s a let- Saggav s, and 1 days, heart speak, ht that ) come s, and JO but stayed any of eback. g they ght of sh ap- I sash- a their there ely fa- those ark a* --\: ■ Of MARY ROWLANDSON. «i The seventeenth remove. A comfortable remove it was to me, be« cause of my hopes. Ihey gave me my pack, and along we went cheerfully ; but quickly my will proved more than my strength ; hav- ing little or no refreshing, my strength fail. ed, and my spirits were almost quite gone. Now may I say as Davioj Psal. 109. 22, 25, 24. / am poor and needy ^ and my heart is wounded within me* I am gone like the shadow when it declineth : I am tossed tip and down like the locust : My knees are weak through fast* ingy and my flesh faileth of fatness. At night we came to an Indian town, and the Indians ^at down by a wigwam discoursing, but I was almost spent, and could scarce speak. I laid down my load, and went into the wig- wam, and there sat an Indian boiling of hors- es feet ; (they being wont to eat the flesh first, and when the feet were old and dried, and they had nothing else, they would §tl off the feet and use themj I asked him to give me a little of his broth, or water they were boiling in. He took a dish, and gave me one spoonful of Samp, and bid me take as much of the br(#Lh as I would. Then 1 pi.t some of the hot water to the samp, and drank it up, and my spirit came again. He gave me ais(^ a piece of the ruffe or ridding of the small guts, and i broiled it on the V HI > I \ ft -•r^i 62 CAPTIVITY and DELIVERANCE coals ; and now may I say with ^Qtiathan^ see '1 pray you how mine eyes are enlighienedy because I tasted a little of this honey. 1 Sam. 14, 29. Now is my spirit revived again ; though means be never so inconsiderable, yet if the Lord bestow his blessing upon them, they shall refresh both soul and body« The eighteetsith remove. ?> > 'IS 11 ■'i , ., "We took up our packs, and along we went- But a wearisome day I had of it. As we went along, 1 saw an English man stript nak- ed, and laying dead upon the ground, but knew not who it was. Then we came to another Indian town, where we stayed alt night. In this town there were four En- glish children, captives, and one of them my own sister's. I went to see how she did, and she was well, considering her captive condi- tion. I would have tarried that night with her. but they that owned her would not suier it. Then 1 went to another wigwam, where they were boiling corn and beans, which was a lovely sight to see, but I could not get a taste thereof. Then I went into another wigwam, where there were two of the English children : The S^uaw was boil- ing horses feet, she cut me off a little piece^ and gave one of the English children a piece also. Being very hungry, I had quickly eat up mine; but the child could npt bite itj> ^ Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 50 it was so tough and sinewy, but lay suck- ing, gnawing, chewing and slabbering of it in the mouth and hand, then I took it of the child, and ate it myself, and savory it wa:^ to my taste. That 1 may say as Job^, Chap, t>. 7. The things that my soul refused to touchy are as my sorrowful meat. Thus the Lord made that pleasant and refreshing, which another time would have been an abomination. Then I went home to my mistress' wigw^am, and they told me I disgraced my master with begging, and if 1 did so any more, they would knock me on the head : I told thena they had as good do that, as starve me to death. ' ■ife The nineteenth remove. They said, w*hen we went out, that we must travel to Wachuset this day. But a bitter weary day I had of it ; travelling nov/ three days together, without resting any day between. At last, after many weary steps, I saw Wachuset hills, but many miles off. Then we came to a great svv'amp, through which we travelled up to the knees in mud and water, which was heavy going to one tired before. Being almost spent, i thought I should have sunk down at last, and never get out ; but I may say as in PsdL 94. 18. When my foot slipped^ thy mercy U Lord held me up. Going along, having indeed my I i m CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE llw i 1 i^ ir ' ri--f^ life, but little spirit, Philip (who was in the company) came up, and took me by the hand, and said, two weeks more, and you shall be mistress again. I asked him if he spake true ? he answered, yes, and quickly you shall come to your master again, who had J)een gone from us three weeks. After many weary steps, we came to Wachuset, where he was, and glad was I to see him. He asked me when I washed me ? I told him not this month ; then he fetched me some water himself, and bid me wash, and gave me the glass to see how I looked, and bid his Squaw give me something to eat. So she qjave me a mess of beans and meat, and a little ground nut cake. I was wonderfully revived with this favor shewed me. Psal. 106. 46. Ho she and a erfully . Psah { of all ; some- lother. 1 was, \ those ;, with while, lestow- lear as 1 land : ^r face, in her When v^as to Of MARY ROWLAND SOJS^. 55 make girdles of wampom and beads. Th third Squaw was a younger one, by whom he had two papooses. By that time I was refreshed by the old Squaw, Wettimore's maid came to call me home, at which I fell a weeping. Then the old Squaw told me to encourage me, that when 1 wanted victuals, 1 should come to her, and that I should lye in her wigwam. 1 hen I went with the maidv and quickly I came back and lodged there* The Squaw laid a Mat under me, and a p;ood rug over me ; the first time that I had any such kindness shewed me. I understood that Wettimore thought, that if she should let me go and serve with the old Squaw, «he should be in danger to loose not only r^/ service but the redemption pay also. And I was not a little glad to hear this ; be« ing by it raised in my hopes, that in God's due time, there would be an end of this sor- rowful hour. Then came an Indian and asked me to knit him three pair of stockings, for which I had a hat, and a silk handkerchief. Then another asked me to make her a shift, for which she gave me an apron. , ,. i Then came Tom and Peter with the second letter from the counsel, about the captives. Though they were Indians, I got them by the hand, and burst out into tears ; my heart was so full that 1 could not speak to them ; but recovering myself, I asked them how my husband did \ and all my friends and rJa :ii' »,■*' 56 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE } 1 acquaintance ? they said they were well, but very melaneholy. They brought me two biscuits, and a pound of tobacco. 1 he to- bacco I soon gave away : When it was all gone, one asked n^e to give him a pipe of to- bacco, I told him it was all gone ; then be- gan he to rant and threaten ; I told him when my husband came, I would give him some : Hang him, rogue, (says he) I will knock out his brains, if he comes here. And then again in the same breath, they would say, that if there should come an hundred without guns, they would do them no hurt. So unstable and like mad men they were. So that fearing the worst, I durst not send to my husband,, though there were some thoughts of his coming to redeem and fetch mc, not knowing what might follow ; for there was little more trust to them, than to the master they served. When the letter was come, the Saggamores met to consult a- bout the captives, and called me to them, to enquire how much my husband would give to redeem me : When I came, I sat down a- mong them,as I was wont to do, as their man- ner is ; then they bid me stand up, and said they were the General Court. 1 hey bid me speak what I thought he would give. ISlow knov^ing that all we had was destroyed by the Indians, I was in a great strait. I thought if 1 should speak of but a little, it would be slighted, and hindex the matter -^ if of a great 2E Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 57 ill, bnt ic two I he to- t^as all of to- en be- i him VQ him 1 will And would jndred hurt. were, send to some d fetch A^; for han to 2 letter isult a- em, to Id give own a- X man- id said bid me l^ow cd by lought uld he I great ium, 1 knew not where it would be procur-" td ; yet at a venture, I said twenty pounds, yet desired them to take less; but they would not hear of that but sent that message to Boston, that for twenty pounds 1 should be redeemed. It was a praying Indian that -wroLe their letter for them. There wasan- other praying Indian, who told me, that he had a brother that would not eat horse, his conscience was so tender and scrupulous., (though as large as hell, for the destruction of poor christians) then he said he read that scripture to him, 2. King. 6. 25. There was a famine in Samaria ^ and behold they besieged it. until an asses head was sold for fourscore piecs of silver ^ and the fourth part of a kab of doves ' d^J^g-i for five pieces cf silver. He expounded , this place to his brother, and shewed him tha? r it was lawful to eat that in a famine, which ■ is not at another time. And now says he, , he will eat horse with any Indian of them all. There was another praying Indian, who when he had done all the mischief that he could, . betrayed his own Father into the English's hands, thereby to purchase his own life . Another praying Indian was at Sudbur) fight, though as he deserved, he was after- V ward hanged for it. There was another .'praying Indian so wicked and cruel, as to ^wear a string about his neck, strung wiih- ^^christian fingers. Another praying Indian* s when tliey v/ent to Sudbury fight, went with r <> % i; . ;_.* ■'•:\' is CAPTIVITY K^D DELIVERANCE i |i them, and Iiis Squaw also with him, with her papoos at her back : Before they went to that light, they got a company together toPowaw : The manner was as followeth. There was one that kneeled upon a deer skin, with the company round him in a ring, who kneeled, striking upon the ground with their hands, and with sticks, and muttering (i 1 hi 4. :« |: "/ ' ' 60 CAPTIX'ITY AND DELIVERANCE .-' ti. i ( ^■h cannot tell, but so it proved : For quickly they began to fall, and so held on that sum- mer, till they came to utter ruin. 1 hey came home on a Sabbath day, and the Powaw that kneeled upon the Deer skin, came home (I may say without any abuse) as black as the Devil. When my master came home, he came to me, and bid me make a shirt for his Papoos of a holland laced pillowbeer. A- bout that time there came an Indian to me, and bid me come to his wigwam at night, and he would give me some pork and ground- nuts. Which I did, and as I was eating, an- other Indian said to me, he seems to be your good friend, but he killed twc English men at Sudbury, and there lye th ir cloaths be- hind you ; I looked behind me, and there I saw bloody cloaths, with bullet holes in them ; yet the Lord suffered not this wretch to do me any hurt. Yea, instead of that, he many times refreshed me : Five or six times did he and his Squaw refresh my feeble car- cass. If I went to their wigwam at any time, they would always give me something, and y€t they were strangers that I never saw be- fore. Another Squaw gave me a piece of fresh pork, and a little salt with it, and lent me her fryingpan to fry it^ and I cannot but remember what a sweety, pleasant and de- lightful relish that bit hid to me, to this day. So little do we prize common merciesj whem we have them to th^ full,- m >w^ Of MARY ROWLANDSON 61 uickly sum- Ihey ^owaw home :as the le, he for his r. A- o me, ht^and round- ng, an- e vour h men ths be- tliere I oles in wretch hat, he i times >le car- y time, ig, and aw be- iece of ndlent ^iOt but nd de- lis day, , whcE ■*,»• The twentieth remove. *,' It was their usual manner to remove, when they had done any mischief, lest they should be found out ; and so they did at this time. We went about three or four miles, and there they built a great wdgwam, big enough to hold an hundred Indians, which they did in preparation to a great day of danciftg. k hey would now say amongst themselves, that the governor would be so angry for his loss at Sudbury, that he v/ould send no more about the captives, which made ine grieve and tremble. My sister being not far from this place, and hearing that i was here, desired her master to let her come and see me, and he was willing to it, and would go with her ; but she being ready first, told him she would go before, and was come w^ithin a mile or two of the place : Then he overtook her, and began to rant as if he had been mad, and made her go back again in the rain ; so that I never saw her till i saw her in Charlestown. But the Lord re- quited many of their ill doings, for this In- dian, her master, was hanged afterward at Boston. They beg.m now to come from all quarters, against their merry dancing day : Amongst some of them came one good wife kettle : I told her rny heart was so heavy that So is mine too, said i \\ 1 ■H iA M ready to break #' 1 i 62 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE she, but yet I hope we shall hear some good news^ shortly. I could hear how earnestly my sister desired to see me, and I earnestly desired to see her ; yet neither of us could get an opportunity. My daughter was now but about a mile off ; and I had not seen her in nine or ten weeks, as I had not seen my sister since our first taking. 1 desired them to let me go and see thenri, yea, 1 intreated, begged and persuaded them to let me see my daughter ; and yet so hard carted were they, that they would not suffer it. They made use of their tyranical power whilst they had it, but through the Lord's wonder- ful mercy, their time was now but short. i • On a Sibbath day, the sun being about an hour high in the afternoon, came Mr. John Hoar, (the counsel permitting him and his own forward spirit inclining him) together with the two forementioned Indians, Tom and Peter, with the third letter from the Council. When they came near, I was a- broad ; they presently called me in, and bid me sit down, and not stir. Then they catch- ed up their guns and away they ran, as if an ^enemy had been al hand, and the guns went off apace. I manifested some great trouble, and they asked me what was the matter ? I told them 1 thought they had killed the En- glish man^ (for they had in the mean time told me that an English man was conie) they said no } they shot ovet his horse, and 7 W '•!«'■ .*#.■' ! good •nestly 'nestly could is now en her in my I them reated, ne see d were They whilst onder- irt. 3ut an . John id his gether lorn m the was a- nd bid catch- 3 if an s went ouble, ter ? I le En* time :) they ^ and* Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 63 under, and before his horse ; and they pushed him this way and that way, at their pleasure, shewing what they could do. Then they let them come to their wigwams. I begged of them to let me see the English man. but they would not ; but there was I . fain to sit their pleasure. When they had talked their fill with him, they suffered me to go to him. We a^ked each other of our welfare, and how my husband did, and all my friends ? he told me they were all well, and would be glad to see me. Among other things which my husband sent me, there came a pound of tobacco, which I sold for nine shillings in money : For many of them for want of tobacco, smoked hemlock and ground ivy. It was a great mistake in any who thought I sent for tobacco, for through the favor of God, that desire was overcome, 1 now asked them, whether I should go home with Mr. Hoar ? they answered no, one and another of them ; and it being late, we lay down with that answer : In the morning Mr. Hoar invited the Saggamorcs to dinner ; but when we went to get it ready, we found they had stolen the greatest part of the pro- vision Mr. Hoar had brought. And we may see the wonderful power of God, in that one passage, in that when there was such a num« ber of them together, and so greedy of a lit- tle good food, and no English there but Mr. Hoar and myself, that there they did not knock us on the head, and take what wc ' I Ml ii- ill ■'l\ % i^i^ 6* CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE ' : 1 '- Ll' had ; there being not only some provision^ but also trading cloth, a part of the twenty pounds agreed upon : But instead of doing us any mischief, they seemed to be ashamed of the fact, and said it was Matchit Indians that did it. Oh that we could believe that there is nothing too hard for God ! God shewed his power over the Heathen in this, as he did over the hungry lions, when Dan- iel was cast into the den. Mr. Hoar called them betime to dinner, but they eat but lit- tle, they being so busy in dressing them- selves and getting ready for their dance ; which was carried on by eight of them, four men ard four Squaws ; my master and mis- tress being two. He was dressed in his hol- land shirt, with great laces sewed at the tail of it, he had his Silver buttons, his white stockings, his garters hung round with shil. Jlings, and had girdles of wampom upon his head and shoulders. She had a kersey coat, covered with girdles of wampom from the loins upward. Her arms from her elbows to her hands, were covered with bracelets, there were handfuls of Necklaces about her neck, and several sorts of jewels in her ears. She had fine red stockings, and white shoes, her hair powdered and her face painted red, that was always before black. And ail the dancers were after the same manner. There were two otlier singing and knocking on a kettle for their music. Ihey kept hopping 1 i s. I ••■ * ■■■J, Of MAP.Y ROWr.ANDSOX C$ ision, venty doing amed idians 2 that God i this, Dan- called It lit. them- mce ; , four imis- s hol- le tail white I shil* n his coat, n the bows elets, t her ears, ihoes, I red, the rhere on a bping up and down one after another, wiih a kel- tic of water in the midst, standing warm up- on some embers, to drink of when they were dry. They held on till it was almost night, throwing out wampom to the stand- ers by. At night I asked them again, if I should go home ? they all as one said no, ex- cept my husband would come forme. When we were lain down, my master went out ot the wigwam, and by and by sent in an In- dian, called James the Pointer, whc tcid Mr, Hoar, that my master would Icr uie ^o home to morrow, if he would i:^t |ji;n hrive one pint liquor. Then Mr. Vlc^r called his own Indians, Tom and Peter, a!)d bid tiicm 'v!.! go, and see if he would pr<;mise it b^i^ora tl.cr.k three ; and if he would, he sho'iiJ hs'^ti it, which he did, and had it. Pluiip smciilng the business, called me to him^ ard asked lii:: whac I would give him, to tell me soir/C good ^ news, and to speak a good vvorri for nie^ that 1 might go home to morrow ? I to! i him 1 could not tell what to s^ive lair.., I would any thing 1 had, ?.nd asked i vxi wJiat he would have ? lie siid two ov^ts, ard twenty shillings in money, hau: a hashcl of seed corn, and some trbacco. 1 ihankcd hi rn for his love, ivi: I Knew that good news a^ well as th.'L crafty fox. My master after he Had his drink, quickly came rantir^g into the v/igwam again, and called for Mr. Hoar, drinking ^to him, and saying he v/rs a » -♦;■ M 'fv/ .1, ,1, '■ 4 w^ i » it-M 66 CAPTIVITY and DELIVERANCE good man, and then again he would say, hang him rogue. Being almost drunk, he would drink to him, and yet presently say he should be hanged. Then he called for me ; I trembled to hear him, and yet I was fain to go to him ; and he drank to me, shewing 310 incivility. He was the first Indian I saw drunk, all the time I was among them. At last his Squaw ran out, and he after her, round the wigwam, with his money jingling at his knees, but she escaped him ; but hav- ing an old Squaw he ran to her ; and so through the Lord's mercy, we were no more troubled with him that night. Yet I had not a comfortable nights rest ; for I think I can sayj 1 did not sleep for three nights to- gether. The night before the letter came from the council, I could not rest, I was so full of fears and troubles ; yea, at this time I could not rest night nor day. The next night I was overjoyed, Mr. Hoar being come, and that with such good tidings. 1 he third night I was even swallowed up with the thoughts of going home again, and that I must leave my children behind me in the wilderness ; so that sleep was now almost departed from mine eyes. On Tuesday morning they called their General Clourt (as they sriled it) to consult and determine, whether I should go home or no. And they all seemingly consented that I should go, except l^hilip, ^who would not come among them, ^V. . ^ , j^-. .^ •i, -E uld say, nk, he 1^ say he )r me ; 5 fain to hewing n liaw [H. At er her, ingling ut hav- ind so more cl had think I ;hts to- ' came svas so time I next come, e third h the that I in the almost their onsult I >me or that Id aot Of MARY ROWLANDSO^r. er 1^ But before I go any farther, I would take leave to mention a few remarkable passages of Providence, which I took special notice of in my afflicted time. 1. Of the fair opportunity lost in the long march, a little after the Fort fight, when our English army was so numerous, and in pur- suit of the enemy, and so near as to overtake several and destroy them ; and the enemy in such distress for food, that our men might track them by their rooting in the earth for ground nuts, whilst they were flying for their lives ; I say that then our army should want provision, and be forced to leave their pur- suit, and return homeward, and the very next week the enemy came upon our town, like bears bereft of their wh Ips, or so many ravenous wolves, rending us and our lambs to death. But what shall I say ? God seem- ed to leave his people to themselves, and or- dered all things for his own holy ends. Shall there be evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it ? They are not grieved for the affliction^- of Joseph^ therefore they shall go captive^ xvlth the first that go captive* ft is the L ord's doings and it should be marvclicus in our /v^.^ • 2,' i cannot but remember, how the In- dians derided the slowness and dulness oitlv: English army in its setting out. For after the desolations at Lancaster and Medfield, a^^ I went along with them, they asked me when I thought the English army would come af- ter them ? 1 told them I could not tell. It 1; ''■'"^h < '4 ■II 'I ill 1; yi ¥ CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE i ii!. : !'!#• 3Tiay be they may come in May, said they. Thus did they scoff at us, as if the English would be a quarter of a year getting ready. 3. Which also I have hinted before, when the English army with new supplies were sent forth to pursue after the enemy, and they understanding it, fled before them till they came to Baquaug river, where they forthwith went over safely ; that, that river should be impassable to the English. 1 can but admire to see the wonderful providence of God in preserving the heathen for farther aiHiction to our poor country. They could go in great numbers over, but the English must stop : God had an overruling hand in all those things. • - - 4. It was thought, if their corn were cut down, they would starve and die with hun- ger ; and all that could be found, was de- stroyed, and they driven from that little they had in store, into the woods, in the midst of winter ; and yet how to admiration did the Lord preserve them for his holy ends, and the destruction of many still a- mong the English ! strangely did the Lord provide for them, that i did not see (all the time I v/as among them) one man, woman or child die with hunger. Though many times they would e;4t that that a hog or a dog would hardly touch ; yet by that God trcr-ihened them to be a scourge to his s*- people, •.*<*■»•* E they, iglish eady. when werve ', and m till they river 1 can Jence rther could iglish id in e cut hun- 5 de- little I the ition holy ill a. ^ord the man lany or a '. :>od his Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 69 Their chief and conaraonest food was ground nuts ; they cat also nuts, and acorns, hartychoaks, lilly roots, ground beans, and several otherweeds and roots, that Iknow not. They would pick up old bones, and cut them in pieces at the johits, and if they were full of worms and n:aggots, they would scald them over the fire, to make the vermine come out, and then boil them, and drink up the liquor, and then beat the great ends of them in a morter, and so eat then. They would eat horses guts, and ears, and all sorts of wild birds which they could catch : Also, bear, venison, beavers, tortois, frogs, squir- rels, dogs, skunks and rattlesnakes : Yca,tlie very bark of trees; besides all sorts of crca-^ tures, and provision which they plundered from the English, I can but stand in admi- ration to see the wonderful power of God, in providing for such a vast number of our enemies in the v/ilderness, where there was nothing: to be seen, but from hand to mouth, Many times in a morning, the generality of them, would eat up all they had, and yet have some further supply against they want- ed. It is said, PsaL 8i. IJ, 14. C/j that my people had hearkened to tho^ and Israel had walk- ed in my ways ; I should soon have subdued their enemies^ and turned my hand ag and some desolation by fire and sword upon one place or other. They mourned for their own losses, yet triumphed and re- joiced in their inhumane and devilish cruelty to the English. They would boast much of their victories ; saying, that in two hours time, they had destroyed such a captain, and his company in such a place ; and such a captain and his company in such a place : And boast how many towns they had des- troyed, and then scoff, and say, they had done then a good turn, to send them to Heaven so soon. Again, they would say, this Summer they would knock all the rogues on the head or drive them into the sea, or make them flee the country ; thinking sure- ly, Agag Uke, the bitterness of death is past. Now the heathea begin to think all is their own ; and the poor christians hopes to fail, (as to man) and now their eyes are more to God, and their hearts sigh Heavenward, and to say in good earnest, He/p Lord or we perish. When the Lord had brought his people to this, that they saw no help in any thing but himself, then he takes the quarrel 'A ^ Of MVUY ROWI.AXDSOX. r\ rishes land.^ rve is, irning at the ^st. I d ,five I their sword )urned nd re- crueltv uch of hours n, and such a place : id des- 2y had [lem to Id say, rogues sea, or g suro is past» 8 their pes to e more nward, d or we ;ht his in any quarrel ^L i'. ( into his own had ; and though they had made a pit (in their own imaginations) as deep as Hell for the christians that summer, yet the Lord hurled themselves into it. And the Lord had not so many ways before to preserve them, but now he hath as many to destroy them. .. .But to return again to my going home ; where we may see a remarkable change of providence : At first they were all against it, except my husband would come for me ; but afterward they assented to it, and seemed to rejoice in it : Some asking me to send them some bread, others some tobacco, others shaking me by the hand, oflering me a hood and scarf to ride in : not one moving hand or tongue against it. Ihus hath the Lord answered my poor desires, and the many earnest requcuts of others put up unto God for me. In my travels an Indian came to me, and told me, if I were wiilin:.!;, he and his Squaw would run away, and go home aloiu^ w^ith me. 1 told them no ; 1 was not v/iiling to run away, but desired to wait God's tune, that I might go home quietly, and without fear. And now God hath granted me wy desire. O the wonderful power ot God thdt I have seen, and the experiences that I have had : I have been in the midst of those roar- ing lions, and savage bears, that feared nei- ther God, nor man, nor the devil, by night and day, alone and in company ; sletpingall sorts together, and yet not one of them ever 1 7^. i^Vi:^ :mv wi1 1 H 73 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE offered the least abuse of unchastity to me. In word or action. Though some are ready to say, I speak it for my own credit ; bur I speak it in the presence of God and his glo- ry. God's power is as great now, as it was to save Daniel in the lions den, or the three children in the fiery furnace. I may well say as he, Pj^/. 170. 12. Oh give thanks unto the Lord for he is good ^ for his jnercy endureth for- ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so^ whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy :■ Especially that I should come away in the midst of so many hundreds of enemies, and not a dog move his tongue. So I took my leave of them, and in coming along, my heart melted into tears more than all the while I Was with them, and I was almost swallowed up with th€ thoughts that ever I should go homeagain. About the suns going down, Mr. Hoar, myself, and the two Indians, came to Lancastor, and a solemn sight it was to me. There had I lived many comfortable years a» mong my relations and neighbors ; and now not one christian to be seen, nor one house left standing. We went on to a farm house that was yet standing where we lay all night ; and a comfortable lodging we had, though iiothing but straw to lye on. 1 he Lord pre- served us in safety that night, and raised us up again in the morning, and carried us a- !ong, that before noon we caine to Concord. Now was I full of joy, and yet not without sorrow : Joy, to see such a. lovely sight, so T «iv e: ■ ne, in dy to bur I sglo. It was three 11 say jio the h for- whom teviy :■ n the 5, and c my heart ^hile I lowed ild go i,Mr. me to ) me. ars a» I now house house light; .; lough d pre- ;ed us us a- icord. f thout t, so Of MARY ROWLANDS ON. many christians together, and soine of them my neighbors : There I met with my broth- er, and my brother in law, who asked me if , I knew where Lis wife was ? poor heart ! he had helped to bury her, and knew it not : She being shot down by the house, was partly burnt, so that those who were at Boston at the desolation of the town, and came back afterwards and buried the dead, did not know her. Yet I was not without sorrow, to think how many were looking and longing, . and my own children among the rest, to enjoy that deliverance that I had now re- ceived \ and I did not know whether ever I should see tlicm again. Being recruited with food and raiment, \vt went to Bi)Ston that day ; where I met with my husband, but the thoil'vrhts of our dear children, one ■ being dead, aud the other we could nut tell where, abated our comfort each in other. I was not before so much hemed in by the merciless and cruel heathen, but now as much with pitiful, tender hearted and coinpassion- ate christians. In that poor and beggarly condition, I was received in, I was kindly ^ entertained in several houses : So much love I received from several, (many of whom I knew not) that I am not capable to declare i^. But the Lord knows them all by namei The Lord reward them seven fold into their bosoms of his spirituals, for their temporals. The twenty poundc, the price of my redcmp- some Boston srenilewom* by i 'A '11 ,1 :» fc' I 11 ■*■ •^ 74 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE cn, and M. Usher, whose bounty and chari- ty, I would not forget to nn.ike mention of. Then Mr. Thomas Shepard of Charlstown received us into his house, where we contin- ued eleven weeks ; and a father and mother they were unto us. And many more tender hearted friends wc met with in that place. We were now in the midst of love, yet not without much and frequent * heaviness of heart, for our poor children, and other rela- tions, who wxre still in affliction. The week following, after my coming in, the Governor and counsel sent to the Indians a* g?,in,and that not without success ; for they brought in my sister and good wife Kettle. Their not knowing where our children were, was a sore trial to us still ; and yet we were not without secret hopes of seeing them a- gain. 1 hat which was dead lay heavier up- on my spirit, than those which were alive a- mcng the heathen ; thinking how it suffered with its wounds, and I was not able to re- lieve it ; and how it was buried by the hea- then in the wilderness from among all chris- tians. We were hurried up and down in our thoughts, sometimes we should hear a report that they were gone this way, and sometimes that ; and that they were come in, IM this place or that. We kept inquiring to hear concerning them, but no certain news as yet. About this time the council had order- ed a day of publick Thanksgiving, thought thought I had still cause of mourning ; being :e 1 chari- tion of. •IstowQ contin- mother tender t place, yet not less of er rela- . The in, the dians a* br they Kettle, n were, ive were them a- vier up- alive a- suffered e to re- thi hea- ,11 chris- lown in hear a ay, and ome in, irino: to news as i order- hought' ; being Of MARY ROWLANDSON. 75 unsettled in our minds we thought we would ride eastward, to see if we could hear any thing concerning our children. As we ^ere riding along between Ipswich and Rawly, we met with William Hubbard, who told us our . son Joseph, and my sisters son, were come in to Major Waldren's : I asked him how he knew it ? he said the Major himself told him so.- So along we went till we came to New- bury ; and their minister being absent, they desired my husband to preach the Thanksgiv-^ ing for them ; but he was not willing to stay there that night, but would go over to Salis* bury, to hear farther, and come again in the morning, which he did, and preached there that day. At night, when we had done, one came and told him that his daughter was come in at Providence : Here was mercy on both hands. Now hath God fulfilled that precious scripture, which was such a comfort to me in my distressed condition. When my heart was ready to sink into the earth, and my knees trembling urder me, and I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death : Then the Lord brought, and his now fulfiked that: reviving word unt() me. Thus saith the Lord^ refrain thy voice from weepings and thy eyes from tears ^ for thy work i^hall be rewarded^ saith the Lord, and they shall come again from the land of the enems* Now we were between them, tie one on the hasi, 3 ad ilic other on the West ; our son being neaic^t, we went to him first. : 1 ) ^. ^' n ){ ]' ^ I irj 76 CAPTIVITY AKD DELIVERANCE to Portsmouth, where we met with him, and with the Majoralso; who told us,he had done what he could, but could not redeem him un- der Seven pounds, which the good people thereabouts wtrc pleased to pay. The Lord reward the Major, and all the rest, though unknown to me, for their labor of love. My sisters son w:;: ledeemed for four pounds which the council gave orders for the pay- ment of. Having now received one of our children, we hastened toward the other : go- ing back through Newbury, my husband preached there on the sabbath day, for which they rewarded him manifold. - - On Monday we came to Charlstown, where we heard that the governor of Khodeisland had sent over for our daughter, to take care of her, being now within his jurisdiction ; which should not pass without our acknowU edgments. But she being nearer Rehoboth than Rhodeislind, Mr. Newman went ever and took care of her, and brought her to his own house. And the goodness of God was admirable to us in our low estate, in that he raised up passionate friends on every side, when v/e^had nothing to reiompence any tor their love. Ihe Indians were now gone that way, thac it was apprehended dangerous to go 10 h r ; but the carts which carried pro« vision ' the English army, being guarded, brou<^:Ht her wivh them to Dorchester, whi^rc^ we i:.'xvcd her safe ; blessed be the Lor'S'h.r it, tor great is his power, and he can do what- II i[ iK' 'i' n, and id done lini un- people e Lord though J. My Dounds le pay- of our er : go- usband which ,where eisland e care ction ; tcnowl- lobotli t ever to his ^d was :iat he side, ny for \e that 3US to d pro» arded, where >r^ri>r what- Or MARY ROWLANDSOM. 7r 1. f^ ][ soever seemeth hirn good. Her coming in^ was afterthis manner : She was ti levelling one ""day with the Indians, with her basket at her back ; the company of Indians were got be* fore her, and gone out of sight, all except One Squaw : She followed the Squaw till night, and then both of them lay down, hav- ing nothing over them but the heavens, nor under them but the earth. Thus she travel- led three days together, having nothing to eat or drink but water and green Hirtle berries. At last they came into Providence, where she was kindly entertained by several of that town. The Indians often said, tliat 1 should never have her under twenty pounds, but now the Lord hath brought her in upon free cost, and given her to mc the second time. The Lord make us a blessinp; indeed, each to others. Now have I seen that scripture also, fulfilled, Deut 30. 4, 7. Jf any of thine te driven out to the utmost parts of Heaven^ from thence will the Lord thy God gather thec^ ondfrom thence will I fetch thee. Ar d the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them which hate thee^ which persecuted thee. Thus hath the Lord brought me and mire out of that horrible pit, ar.d hath set us iii the midst of tender hearted and compassion, ate christians. This is the desire of my soul, that we may walk worthy of the mercies re- ceiijfed, and which we are receiving. Our family being now gathered together, the south church in Boston hired a house hi R m 1 = ii. 7*. CAPTIVITY AN» DELIVERANCE^.^ ' U5 : then we removed from Mr. Shcpard's* (those cordial friends) and went to Boston, where we continued about three quarters o£ a. year : Still the Lord went along with us^ and provided graciously for us. I thought, it some what stiange to set up hpi^se keepings with bare walls, but as Solomon says, Money: answers mU ihbigj : And that we had through the benevolencc.of christian friends,, some in^ this town, and some in that, and others ;, and some from England, that in a little time, we might look and see the house furnished, with love. The Lord hath been exceeding; good to us in our low estate, in that when we. had neither house nor home, nor other necessaries, the Lord so moved the hearts of . these and those towards us, that we wanted neither food nor raiment for ourselves or ours, Pa'ov. 18. 24. Tbere is a friend that stuketh closer than a brother >. And iiow many such friends have we found, and now living amongst! andtruely such a friend have, we found him to be unto us, in whose house we lived, viz. Mr. James Whitcomb,. a friend nearhandj and afar off.. I can remember the time, when I used to sleep quic.ly without workings in my thoughts, whole nights together ; but now it is atherwise with me. When all are fast about me, and no eye open, but his who ever waketh, my thoughts are upon things past,., upon the awful dispensation of the Lord to- wards us; upon his wonderful power and might in carrying of us thrpugh in man\v T^. [M. . Of MARr ROWLA NDSON. rr * difficulties, in returning us in safety, and sut faring none to hurt us. I rememl>vr in the night season how the other day I was in the midst of thousands of enemies, and nothing but death before me : It was th make it true of me, what David said of him- self, Psal* G. (3. / 7ua/er my couch with my tears* Oh the wonderful power of God that mine eyes have seen, affording matter enough for my thoughts to run in, that when others are sleeping mine eyes are weeping. -. I have seen the extreme vanity of this- world : One hour I have been in health, and wealth, wanting nothing, but the next hour in sickness, and wounds, and death, having nothing but sorrow and affliction. Before I knew what affliction meant, 1 was ready some^ times to wish for it. When I lived in pros-^ perity, having the comforts of this world ^ bout me,^ my relations come, aiid niy he^ cheerful, and taking little care for any thing ;. and yet seeing many who preferred before myself under many trials and afflictions^ ia sickness, weakness, poverty, losses, crosses, ^ and cares of the world, I should be sometimes^^ jealous lest I should have my portion of this^ life \ and that scripture would come to my %%'m m hi 'm '4 ^ i i !.■■ l> ., I ;:„( r I f'. *" ' f? 'X ■ rIC ,.•* ,■:* '■■- dp CAPTIVItY AND DfililVERANCE, kc^, / Ifliild, Heb. 12, 6. For wA^w the Lord loveib he chasieneth^ and scour get h every son whom be receiveth. But now 1 see the Lord had his time to scourge and chasten me. The por- tion of some is to have their affliction by <|rbps but the wine of astonishment, like a sweeping rain, that leaveth no food, did the Lord prep2ire to be my portion* Affliction I wanted, and affliction 1 had, full measure, pressed down and running over : Yet I see when God calls a person to ever so many dif- ; ficulties, yet he is able to carry them through^ and make them say, they have been gainers thereby. And I hope I can say in some measure, as Davids It is good for me thai I have been afflicted. The Lord hath shewed me the vanity of these outward thir/gs ; that they are the vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit : That they are but a shadow, a blast, a bubb'e, and things of no continuance. If twfoubic from smaller iiiatters begin to arise in me, I tiuve something at h^iiid to tjStecfe: v^m scif vdth, and say, why am I troubledMt was Du the ocher day, that if I had had the world, I \v( uld have given it for my freedom,, oar to hjiv leen a serventto a christian. I have learned to look beyond present and* smaller troubles, and to be quieted under* them as Moses said, Exod- 1 4. 13f Stand still cmdsse the salvation of the L.rd,. THE END. ^^■'tMH^^'. rC£, Sec.-. ^rd loveih wh 0711 be \ had his The por- iction by It, like a I, did the ffliction I; measure. Yet I see nany dif- throughj gainers in some ^at I have i nie the bat they iiation of » a blast, mce. If > arise in e( ^ledFIt had the reedom,. ►tian. I .ent and I under \and still ■