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PREFACE. t.-. ^ ■i*^ [BY THE EDITOR.] THE history of Mrs. Rowlandsoji's captivity and release may be considered as highly val- uable, in many points of view. It is, in itself, an in- teresting history, and is well calculated to engage the attention of children and youth. And to give them a just view of the ferocity and general habits of the ab- originals, as well as of the many sufferings endured by our ancestors, .vhen settling the ground which we now accupy. And it cannot but lead all serious per- sons, who peruse it, to reflect on the wonderful good- ness of God, to us, who come after them. One of the pr^ent generation, who was bcrn iu the county of Worcester, can scarcely believe that all its inhabitants were so lately in fear of their lives, from the native savages. But Mrs. Rowlandson's history will teach them that this was indeed the fact. It is particularly recommended to every family in those towns through which Mrs. Rowlandson pass- ed ; and it is hoped that it may lead them to give praise to him, who has now given us such quietness in our dwellings, and freed us from the calamities which our fiither© endured, for the good of th^ir po8» terity. ^ ^ w^^ 4 P R E F A C h. Mr. Williams' account is of equal importance, and calls for the same grateful feelings to God. The effects of his captivity will appear more worthy of ob- servation, if we consider that some of his posterity "who mingled with the Indiaiis, in Canada, are now preaching the gospel to the savages, to whom they'are allied by blood. Though the ways of Providence, then appeared dark, yet, to us they unfold the divine wisdom and goodness. May every reader be enabled to sing, "Just and true arc thy ways, O thou king gf saiuis,'* •■; .i ■ ■'m- -Sfl ../ '.^^/. ■x^:-' ■ ;v'-T^%:T^'- '\ DEDICATION. f ,♦* k^®-»:(-i TO HIS EXCELLENCY, JOSEPH DUDLET, Esq. Tv Captain General and Governor in cheif, in and over her Majesties province of the Massachusetts Bay in New En- gland, &c. SIR> -ft--- ^' IT was a satyrical answer, and deeply- reproachful to mankind) which the fihilo»ofiher gave to that question^ what soonett grows old ? replyed, thanks. The reproach of it would not be so sensible were there not sensible demonstrations of the truth of it, in those that wear the character of the ingenu- ous. Such as are surprized at, and seem to have no common relish of divine goodness ; and too soon lose the impression : They sang his praise^ but saonforgat his works. That it would be thus with respect to our Benefactors on earth, is contrary to the ingenuity of human nature : But that our greatful resentment^ of the signal favors of Heaven, should soon be wor%: off by time, is to the lust degree criminal an(l unpari- tJonablCt DEDICATION. It would be unaccountable stupulity in mo, not trt inaintain the most lively and awful sense of di- "vine rebukes, which the Holy God has seen meet in spotless sovereignty to dispense to me, my family and people, ia deliverin-g us into the hands of thost tltut hated us ; who led us into a strange land ; ?ny Soul has these still in remembrance^ and is humbled in me : However God has given us plentiful occasion to sinj^ of Mercy as well as Judgme^it; The wonders of di- vine mercy, which wc have seen in the land of our Mcaptivity, and deliverance therefrom, cannot be for- gotten without incurring the guilt of the blackest in- fi^'ratitude. To preserve the memory of these, it has been thought advisable to publish a short. account of some of those signal appearances of divine power and good- j^ess for us ; hoping it may serve to excite the praise, Jaith and hofie of all that love God ; and may peculiarly serve to cherish a grateful spirit, and to render the impressions ofGod's mighty works indelible on my heart, and on those that were with me,. have seen the wonders of the Lord and tasted of his salvation : That we may not be under that heavy charge made against Isreal of old, Psalm.. 7&. 1 1,42. They forgot his tvorkfi -and the wonders he shewed them : They remembered not his ha?id, nor the day that h" delivered them from the enemy. And I cannot sir, but think it most agreeable to my duty to God, our Supreme redeemer, to mention your Excellency's name with honor j since Heaven has honored you as the prime instrument in returning our captivity. Sure I am, the laws of justice and gratitude (which are the laws of God) do challenge from us, the most public acknowledgments, of your uncommon sympathy with us, your children, in our bonds, ex- pressed in all endearing methods of parental care and tenderness. All your people are cherished under your wings, happy in your government ; and arc obliged to bless God for you ; And among your people^. ■I DEDICATION. f tliose that are immediately exposed to the outrages cf the enemy, liave peculiarly felt refreshments from the benign infliicnccij of your wise ami tender conduct ; and are under the most sensible cnpjagemenis to ac- kno\vledi;;c your Excellency, under God, as the breath of their nostrils. ! Your uncommon sagacity and prudence, in contrrv- ing to loose the bonds of your captivated children; your unwearied vigor, and application, in pursuin{» them, to work our deliverance, can never be enough praised. It is most notorious that nothing was ^ thought too difficult by you to effect this design; in fl that you readily sent your own son, Mr. William *'^ Dudley, to undergo the hazards and hardships of a tedious voyage, that this affair might be transacted >vith success ; which must not be forgotten, asan ex- pression of your great solicitude and zeal to recover us from the tyranny and oppression of our captivity. I doubt not but that the God, whom herein you have served, will remember, and gloriously reward you j ,;. and may Heaven long preserve you at your healm, a I blessing so necessary for the tranquility of this prov- ince, in this dark and tempestuous season ; may the best of blessings from the Father of lights, beshower- cd down upon your person, family and Goyernmeut ; which shall be the prayer of, '^''"'\ Your Excellency* a ^ ; Most humble ) obedient^ and dutiful servant^ JOHN mLLlAMS. "^ -*1,' -t-v : .}...,: i « ' . 4 . ^ ■**■,. '»" ^. "iJI ' r ' <» « '« 1-<4l •#?;:■ CAPTIVITY AND DEUVERANCB 01? JOHN WILLIAMS, i>^ •>••* THE history I am going to write, proves, that days of fasting and prayer without reformation, will not avail, to turn away the anger of God from a professing people ; and yet, witnesseth, how very ad- vantageous, gracious supplications arc, to prepare particular christians, patiently to suf- fer the will of God, in very trying public calamities. For some of us moved with fear, set apart a day of prayer^ to ask of God, either to spare, and save us from the hands of our enemies, or to prepare us to sanctify and honor him, in what way soever he should come forth towards us. The places of scripture from whence we were entertain- ed, were GV«. 32. 10, 11, I am ndt^/u/orfhy'of the least of all the mercies^ and of all fke truth ^hich thou hast s)jewed unto thy set'vants .•-— Deliver me, I pray thee, from the handhfnt^ Brother, from the hand of Esau : For I fear him ^ i€st he will come and mite me, and ths i^othr . i .,'. 10 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE •with the children, (In the forenoom.) And Gen, 32. 26. And he said^ let me go, for the da^ breaketh : And he said, I will not let thee gOj fxceft thou bless me. (In the afternoon.) From which we were called upon to spread the causes of fear, relating to our own selves, or families before God ; as also, how it be- comes us with an undeniable importunity to be following God, with earnest prayers for his blessing, in every condition. And it is very observable, how God ordered our prayers in a peculiar manner, to be going up to him ; to prepare us with a right chris^ tian spirit, to undergo and endure suffering trials. Not long after, the Holy and righteous God, brought us under great trials, as to our persons and families, which put us under a necessity of spreading before him in a wilder- ness, the distressing dangers and calamities of our relations ; Yea, that called on us not- withstanding, seeming present frowns, to re- solve by his grace not to be sent away with- out a blessing. Jocob in wrestling has the hollon^ If his thigh put out of joint j and it is said to him, let me go, yet he is rather animated to an heroical christian resolution to continue earnest for*ihe blessings, than discouraged from asking. On the twenty ninth of February, 1 703, 4, not long before break of days ^he enemy came in like a flood upon us \ our watch •'•^sm:!^' Of JOHN WILLIAMS. 11 "su; being unfaithful : An evil, whose awful ef- fects, in a surprizal of cur tort, should be- speak all watchmen to avoid, as they would not bring the charge of blood upon them- selves. They came to my Louse in the be- ginning of the onset, and by their violent endeavors to break open doors and windows, with j^xes^ and Hatchets^ awakened me out of sleep ; on which I leaped out of bed, and running toward the door, perceived the cne-, my making their entrance into the house : I called to awaken two soldiers, in the cham- ber ; and running toward my bedside, for my arms ; the enemy immediately broke in- to the room, I judge to the number of twenty, with painted faces ^ and hideous acclamations* I reached up my hands to the bedtcster, for my pistol, uttering a short petition to God, for everlasting mercies for me and mine, on the account of the merits of our Glorified redeemer ; expecting a present passage through the val- ley of the shadow of death : Saying in my- self, as Isaiah y 38. 10, 11./ said in the cutting off my days^ I shall go to the gates of the grave : I a?n deprived of the residue of my years^ I saidyl shall not see the Lord^ even the Lor d^ in the land of the living : 1 shall behold man no more v.nth the inhabitants of tht world. Tak- ing down my pistol, 1 cocked it, and put it to the breast of the first Indian who came up J but my' pistol missing fire, I was seized by three Indian?, who disarmed nxe^, and n CAPTIVITY AKD DELIVERANCE ,,( bound me, naked as I was in my shirt, and so I stood for near the space of an hour : Binding me, they told me they would carry me to Quebech My pistol missing fire, was an occasion of my life's being preserved : Since which I have also found it profitable to be crossed in my own will. The judgment of God did not long slumber against one of the three which took me, who was a Captain, for by sunrising he received a mortal shot, from my next neighbors house ; who op- posed so great a number of French and Indians as three hundred, and yet were no more than seven men in an ungarrisoned house. I cannot relate the distressing care I had for my Wife, who had lien in but a few weeks before, and for my poor diildren, fam- ily, and christian neighbors. The enemy fell to rifling the house, and entered in great numbers into every room of the house. I begged of God to remember mercy in the 4iiidst of judgment that he would so far re- strain their wrath and prevent their murder- ing of us : That we might have grace is g/O' ri/y his na??je, whether in life or death ; and as I was able, committed our souls to God. Tvlie enemies who entered the house were all of them Indians and Macqua^s^ inflexible over me a while, holding up hatchets over my head, threatening to burn all I had ; but yet God beyond expectation, made us in a gr^at measure to be pitied : For though some f w \ %■: Of JOHN WILLIAMS. were so cruel and barbarous as to take and carry to the door, two of my children and murder them, as also a Negro woman ; yet they gave me liberty to put on my clothes, keeping me bound with a cord on one arm, till I put on my clothes to the other ; and then changing my cord, they let me dress myself, and then pinioned me again. Gave liberty to my wife to dress herself, and our children. About sun an hour high, we were all carried out of the house, for a march, and saw many of the houses of my neighbors in flames, per- ceiving the whole fort, one house excepted, to be taken. Who can tell, what sorrows pierced our souls, when we saw ourselves carried away from God's sanctuary, to go into a strange land exposed to so many trials ? the journey being at least three hundred miles we were to travel ; the snow up to the knees, and we never inur'd to such hardships and fatigues, the place we were to be carried to, a popish county. Upon my parting from the town, they fired my house and barn. We were carried over the river, to a spot on the Mountain, about a mile from my house, where we found a great number of our christian neighbors, men, women, and children, to the number cfan hundred, nineteen of which were afterward murdered by the way, and two sta^^ved to d^ath, near Cowass^ in a time of grea^ scar- city or famine, the savages under \#&i|ftlier^; B ^ U CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE When we came to the foot of our mountain, they took away our shoes, and gave us in the room of them, Indian shoes, to prepare us for our Travel. Whilst we were there the English beat out a company that remained m the town, and pursued them to the river, killing and wounding many of them ; but the body of the army being alarmed, they repulsed those few English that pursued them. ' V I am not able to give you an account of tlie number of the enemy slain, but I observ- ed after this fight, no great insulting mirth, as I expected ; and saw many wounded per- sons, and for several days together, they bur- ied of their party, and one of chief note a- mong the Macquas. The Governor of Can- ada told me, his army had that success with the loss, but of eleven men, three Frenchmen^ one of which was the Lieutenant of the ar- my, five MacquaSy and three Indians : But after my arrival at Ouebeck^ I spake with an English man, who was taken the last war, and married there, and of their religion ; who told me, they lost above forty and that many were wounded : I replied, the Gover- nor oi Canada said they lost but eleven i; en ; he answered, it is true, that there was but eleven killed outright at the taking of the fort, but that many others were wounded, a- inong whom was the Ensign of the Frcnc^; but said he they had a %ht in the meadow, i Si e s Or JOHN WILLIAMS. 15 and that in both engagements, they lost more than forty. Some of the soldiers, both French and Indians then present told me so, (said he) adding, that the French always endeavor to conceal the number of their slain* After this, we went up the mountain and, saw the smoke of the fires in the town, and beheld the awful desolations of our town. And before we marched any farther, they killed a sucking child of the English. There were slain by the enemy of the inhabitants of our town, to the number of thirty eight, besides nine of the neighboring towns. We traveled not far the first day ; God made the heathen so to pity our children, that though they had several wounded persons of their own to carry upon their shoulders, for thir- ty miles, befoie they came to the river, yet they carried our children, uncapal>]c of trav- elling, in their arms, and upon tlicir shoul- ders. When we came to our lodging place, the first night, they dug away the snow, and made some wigwams, cut down some of the small branches of the spruce trees to lye down on, and gave the prisoners soUiC what to eat ; but we had but little appetite. 1 was pinioned, and bound down that night, and so 1 was every night whilst ljp^*as. with the army. Some of the enemy wh0 b^d^ght drink with them from the towls^^ ^|Si to 4pnking, and in their drunkc# %. *. ^«i«^#. 16 CAPTIVITV AND DELIVERANCE killed my negro man, the only dead person I either saw at the town or in the way. In the night an English man made his escape ; in the morning I \vas called for, and oi dered by the General to tell the English^ that if any more made their escape, they would burn the rest of the prisoners. He that took mc, tvas unwilling to let me speak with any of the prisoners, as we marched ; but on the morning of the second day, he being ap- pointed to guard 'the rear, I was put into the hands of my other master, who permit- ted me to speak to my wife, when I over- took her, and to walk with her, to help her in her journey. On the way, we discoursed of the happiness of those who had a right to an house not made with hands ^ eternal inthe Heav* ens ; and God for a Father^ and friend ; as al- so, that it was our reasonable duty, quietly to submit to the will of God, and to say, the will of the Lord be done. My wife told mc her strength of body began to fail, and that I must expect to part with her ; saying she hope4 ^0(1 would preserve my life, and the life oJF some, if not of all our children, with us ; and commended to me, under God, the care of them, and never spake; any discon- tented word as to what had befallen us, but with suitable expressions justified God in what had befallen us. We soon made an halt in which time my chief surviving mas- ter came up, upon which I was put upon Of JOHN WILLIAMS. If marching with the foremost, and so made to take my last farewell o£ my wife, the desire of my eyes^ and companion in many mercies and afflictions. Upon our separation from each other, we ar^ied for each other, Grace sufli- cient, for what God should call us to : After our being parted from one another, she spent the few remaining minutes of her stay, in reading the holy scriptures ; which she was wont personally every day to delight her soul in reading, praying, meditating of, and over, by herself, in her closet, over and above what she heard out of them in our family worship. I was made to wade over a small river, and so were all the EngUshy the water above knee deep, the stream very swift j and after that to travel up a small mountain, my strength was almost spent, before I came to the top of it : No sooner had I overcome the difGculty of that ascent, but I was per- mitted to sit down, and be unburthened of my pack ; I sat pitying those w^ho were be- hind, and intreated my master to let me go down, and help my wife, but he rcfibsed, and would not let me stir from him, I a^ked each of the prisoner? (as they pased by me) after her, and heard that, passing thrQugJk the above mentioned river, she fell down, and was plunged over head and ears in the w;|^ ter : after which she ti* avelled pot f ai^ f or 3t the foot of that mouilti^iinf Atfe: f r^el and blooij thirsty savage wliQ m» I I - I 13 CAPTIVITY AND DEUVERANCR slew her with his hatchet, at one stroke ; the tidings of which were very awful : And yet such was the heard heartedness of the adversary, that my tears were reckoned to me as a reproach. My loss, and the loss of my children was great, our hearts were so filled with sorrow, that nothing but the comforta- ble hopes of he. ^eing taken away in mercy, to herself, from the evils we were to see, feel and suffer under, (and joined to the assembly of the spirits of Just me?i made petfect, to rest in peace, and j(?y imspeakable and full of glory ; and the good pleasure of God thus to exer. else us) could have kept us from sinking un- der, at that time. That scripture, Job 1.2]. '■ ' Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and , naked shall I return thither : The Lord gavCy and the Lord hath taken away^ blessed be the name of the Lord : Was brought to my mind, and from it, that an afflicting God was to be glorified 5 with some other places of scrip- ture, to persuade to a patient bearing my afiKctions. ^ . i?v We were again called upon to march with a far heavier burden on my spirits, than oa my back. 1 begged o^ God, to over rule in his providence, that the corpse of one so dear to me and of one whose spirit he had taken to dwell with him in glory, might meet with a christian burial, and not be left for meat to the fowls of the air, and beasts of the earth : A mercy that God graciously vouch* saf« hei as to ter sue an< of era! .>' (' Or JOHN Williams: ;/ 19 safed to grant. For God put it into the hearts of my neighbors, to come out is far us she lay, to take up her corpse, rccarry it to the town, and decently to bury it soon af- ter. In our march they killed another sucking infant of one of my neighbors ; and before night, a girl of about eleven years of age. I was made to mourn, at the consid- eration of my flocks being so far a flock of slaughter, many being slain in the town, and so many murdered in so few miles from t"he town ; and from fears what we must yet expect, from such who delightfully imbrued their hands in the blood of so many of his people. When we came to our lodging place, an Indian captain from the eastward, spake to my master about killing of me, and taking off my scalp. I lift up my heart to God, to implore his grace, and mercy in such a time of need ; and afterwards I told my master, if he intended to kill me, I desired he would let me know of it, assuring him that my death after a promise of quarter, would bring the guilt of blood upon him. He told me he would not kill me. We laid down and slept, for God sustained and kept us. In the morning we were all called before. the cfeief 'Sachems of the Macqua*s and Indians^ that a more equal distribution migl^ be made of the prisoners, among them : At my going froip the wigwam, my best clothing ^<^stak- .efii from me. As I came nigh the -j^^ai^^^- f ■•,. 90 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERAMCE pointed, some of the captives met me, and told me, they thought the enemies were go- ing to burn so me of us, for they had pealed off the bark from several trees, and acted very strangely. To whom I replied, they could act nothing against us, but as they were permit- ted of God, and 1 was persuaded, he would prevent such severities When we came to the wigwam appointed, several of the cap- tives were taken from their former masters, and put into the hands of others ; but I was sent again to my two masters, who brought me from my house. . v v In our fourth days march, the enemy killed another of my neighbors, who being nigh the time of travail, was wearied with her journey. When we came to the great river, the enemy took sleighs to draw their wound- ed, several of our children, and their packs, and marched a great pace. I travelled many hours in water up to the ankles : Near night I was very lame, having before my travel wronged my ankle bone and sinews : I thought, and so did others that I should not be able to hold out to travel. I lift my heart to God, (my only resource) to remove my lameness, and carry me through with my children and neighbors, if he judged it best; however I desired God would be with m© in my great change, if he called me by suc|i^jt: death to glorify him ; and that he wop|^ take care of my children, and neighborsj M, Of JOHN WILLIAMS. 21 and bless them ; and within a little space of time, 1 was well of my lameness, to the joy of my children, and neighbors, who saw a great alteration in my travelling. On the Saturday, (March 4,) the journey was long and tedious : We travelled with such speed, that four women were tired, and then slain by them who led them captive. On Sunday, (March 5,) we rested, and I was permitted to pray and preach to the cap- tives. The place of scripture spoken from, was Lam. 1.18. The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against his conwiandjnent : Hear, J pray you^ all people behold my sorrow ; my vir- gins and my young men are gone into captivity* The enemy who said to us, ^ing us one of Zions songs, were ready some of them to up- braid us, because our singing was not so loud as their's. When the Macquas and Indians were chief in power, we h;id this revival in our bondage, to join together in the wor- ship of God, and incourage one another to patient bearing the indignation of the Lord, till he should plead our Jause. When we ar- rived to New France, we were forbidden pray- ing one with another, or joining together in the service of God. The next day, (Monday, March 6,) soon af- ter we marched, we had an alarm ; on w^hich many of the English were bound ; I wa». ther< near the front, and my masters mit with me so I was not bou^nd. Thi^ alarm m^m 22 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCK m It was occasioned by some Indians shooting at geese that flew over them, which put them into a considerable consternation and flight ; but after they came to understand that they were not pursued by the l.nglish, they boast* cd, that the English would not come out a- gainst them, as they had boasted before we began our journey in the morning. J Iiey killed this day two women who were so faint they could not travel. The next day (Tuesday, March 7,) in tlic morning before we travelled, one Mury Brcoks^ a pious young woman, came to the wigwam where 1 was, and told me, she de- sired to bless God, who had inclined the heart of her master, to let her come and take her farewel of me. Said she, by my falls on the ice yestarday, I wronged myself, causing an abortion this night, so that I am not able to travel far ; I know they will kill me to day ; but (says she) God has (praised be his name) by his spirit with his word, strengthened me to my last encounter with death ; and men- tioned to me some places of scripture so sea- sonably sent in for her support. And (says she) 1 am not afraid of death ; 1 can through the grace of God cheerfully submit to the will of God. Pray for me (said she) at parting, that God would take me to himself. Ac- cordingly she was killed that day. I men- tion it to the end, I may stir up all in their young days, to improve the death of Chris boldn Til were small carric tastei me, \ my b (he if you not r tion I Th again of caj a psal from ing t whicl by h (Frid; when carry w: India years And that cong: his sa « tt)g e Op JOHN WILLIAMS. SI Christ by faith, to a giving them an holy boldness in the day of death. The next day (Wednesday, March 8,) we were made to scatter one from another into smaller companies, and one of my children carried away with Indians belonging to tho Eastern parts. At night my master came to me, with my pistol in his hand, and put it to my breast, and said, now I will kill you, for (he said) you would have killed me with it if you could. But by the grace of God I was not much daunted, and whatever his inten- tion might be, God prevented my death. The next day, (Thursday, March 9,) I was again permitted to pray with that company of captives with me, and we allowed to sing a psalm together. After which, I was taken from all the company of the English, except- ing two children of my neighbors, one of which, a girl of four years of age, was killed by her Macqua piaster the next morning, (Friday. March 10,) the snow being so deep when we left the river, that he could not carry the child and his pack too. When the sabbath came (March 12,) one Indian staid with me, and a little boy nine years old, whilst the rest went a hunting. And when 1 was here, I thought with myself that God had now separated me from, the congregation of his people, who was now in hissanctuary,when he commandeththe bless- « ing even lite for ever: And made to bewail w4 ':l d4 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE I my unfruitfulness under, and untliankfulncss for such a mercy. When rny spirit was al- most overwhelmed within me, at the consid- ' eration of what had past over me, and what was to be expected ; 1 was ready almost to sink in my spirit; but God spake those words with a greater eflicacy than man could speak them, for my strengthning and support. Psal. 118. 17. / shall not die, but live: And declare the works of the Lord* Psal. 42. 11, Why art thou cast down my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? hope thou in God : For I shall yet praise him^ who is the health of my countenance^ and my God. Nehem. 1. 8. 9. Remember^ I beseech ttee, the word that thou commandest thy servant Moses, raying if ye transgress^ I will scatter you a- broad among the nations ; But if ye turn unto me^ and keep my commandments^ and do them^ f hough there were of you cast out unto theut" iermosi pari of the heaven^ yei will I gather them from thence^ and will bring thent^ unto the flace that I have chosen to set my name there. These three places of scripture, one after an- other, by the grace of God strengthened my hopes that God would so far restrain the wrath of the adversary, that the greatest number of us left alive, should be carried throYigh so tedious a jjourney ; that though my children had no father to take care of them, that word quieted me to a patient wailing to see the end the Lord would make. - *•* ^m^ Oy JOHN WILLIAMS. /• 25 Jer. 49. 11. Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve the??i alive ^ and let thy widczvs trust in me. Accordingly God carr'ed them wonderfully through great difficulties and dangers. My youngest daughter aged seven years, was carried all the journey, and look- ed after with a great deal of tenderness. My youngest son aged four years, was wOiv?. derfully preserved from death ; for though they that carried him or drawed him on sleighs, were tired with their journeys, yet the savage cruel tempers, were so overrul*- ed by God, that they did not kill him, but in their pity he was spared, and others would take care of him ; so that four times on their journey he was spared, and others would take care of him, till at last he arrived at Mont Royal, where a French Gentlewom- an pitying the child, redeemed it out of the hands of the heathen. My son Samuel, al%3 ! my eldest daughter, were pitied so as to.l drawn on sleighs, when unable to travel. Ji^i though they suffered very much through scar*^ city of food, and tedious journies, they wer^ carried through ti Mont Royal. And my son Stephen about eleven years of age, won-i derfully preserved from death, in the fanofinc w^hereof three English persons died, and after eight months brought into Shamblee. My master returned on theevenin^qf the Sabbath, (March 12,) and told me, l%1iatl jkijled five moose. Jlhc next day, (Mondf^ „ i 25 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE March 13,) we were remo'/ed to tKe place wh^rc he killed them. We tarried there three days^ till we had roasted and dried the meat. My master made me a pair of snow- shoes, for (said he) you cannot possibly trav- el without ; the snow being knee deep. We parted from thence heavy laden ; I travelled ^^4th a^urden on my back, with snowshoes, twentyfive miles the first day of wearing them ; and again the next day till afternoon ; and then we caRie to the French Kiver. My master at this place took away my pack, and drew the whole load on the ice j but my bones seemed to be misplaced, and I unable to travel with any speed. My feet were very sore, and each night I wrung blood oat of my stockings, when I pulled tnem oflF. My shins also were very sore, being cut with crusty snow, in the time of my travelling without snowshoes. But finding some dry oak leaves, by the river banks, I put them to my shins, and in once applying them, they were healed. And here my master was very kind to me, would always give me the best he had to eat •, and by the goodness of God, I never wanted a meal's meat during my cap- tivity ; though some of my children and neighbors were greatly wounded (as I may say) with the arrows of famine, and pinching want ; having for many days nothing bu4 roots to live upon, and not much of th neither. My master gpve mc a piece gf BIBL script my n jourr chisii with arriv used them Freni them M sore very and ] in sn hold ofd^ out I and giea fron swol scar the you not et, s brai pose B' Of JOHN WILLIAMS. tr e e e BIBLE ; never disturbed me in reading the scriptures, or in praying to God. Many of my neighbors also, found that mercy in their journey, to have bibles, psalm books, cate- chism*, and good books, put into their hands, with liberty to use them ; and yet after their arrival at Canada, all possible endeavors vere used to deprive them of them. Some of them say their bibles were demanded by the- French priests, and never redelivered to them, to ^heir great grief and sorrow. My march on the French river was very sore ; for fearing a thaw, we travelled ^ very great pace ; my feet were so bruised, and my joints so distorted by my travelling in snowshoes, that I thought it impossible to hold out. One morning a little before break of day, my master came and awaked me out of my sleep, saying. Arise, pray to God, and eat your breakfast, for we must go a great way to day. After prayer, I ^rq from my knees, but my feet were so tend swoln, bruised, and full of pain, that 1 co^* scarce stand upon them, without holding ^: the wigwam. And when the Indians said you must run today ; I answered, I couid not run* My master pointing out his hatch- et, said to me. Then I must dash out your brains, and take off your scalp. I said, I sup« pose then you will do so, for 1 am not able to travel irith speed. He sent mq away a- M^^^ on the ice. About sun half aa kour :::f:|> ■.. rcHf ij :^, i» CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE high, he overtook me, for I had gone very slowly, not thinking it possible to travel five miles. When he caine up, he called me to run J I told him I could go no faster j he passed by without saying one word more : So that sometimes I scarce saw any thing of him for an hour together. I travelled from about break of day till dark, never so much as sat down at noon to cat warm victuals, eating frozen meat which I had in my coat pocket, as I traveled. We went that day two of their days journey, as they came down, I judge we went forty five miles that day. God wonderfully supported me, and so far renewed my strength, that in the af- ternoon I was stronger to travel, than in the forenoon. My strength was restored and renewed to admiration. We should never distrust the care and compassion of God, who can give strength to them who have na xtiight, and power to them that are ready to faint. When we entered on the lake, the ice was rougb^and uneven, which was very grievous to my feet, that could scarce bear to be set down on the smooth ice, on the river ; I lift up my cry to God in ejaculatory requests. Thai be *would fake notice of my state, and some vjaj or other relieve me, I had not marchcdt above half a mile, before there fell a moist 3now, about an inch and an half deep, that made it very soft for my feet to p^ over the la ily w tryin; from who mann they nuts a week stay t ting inglo when Frenc W( west: two After er wh noe ( on a small Erenc Th Mont me : Ki§ h 1 Ot JOHN WILUAMS. ^ (he lake, to the place where my masters fam- ily was. Wonderful favors in the m idst of trying afflictions ! We went a day's journey from the lake, to a small company of Indians, who were a hunting ; they were, after their manner, kind to me, and gave me the best they had, which was Moose flesh, ground nuts and cramberries, but no bread — for three weeks together I £at no bread. After our stay r^ ere, and undergoing difficulties in cut- ting wood, and suffering from lousiness, hav- ing lousy old cfothes of soldiers put upon me when they stript me of mine, to sell to the French soldiers in the army. We again began a march for Shamblee ;\ we stayed at a branch of the lake, and feasted two or three days on geese we killed there/ After another day's travel, we came to a riv« er where the ice was thawed, we made a ca-C noe of elm bark, in one day j arid arrived on a Saturday *near noon at Shcmblee^ a small village, where is a g;^rrison and fort of , French soldiers. . ;^ At Shambl,e£.- This Village is about fifteen miles froiin'^ Mont RoyaL The French were very kind to me : A gentleman of the place took mr into Ki§ hpuse, and to hia table, and lodged me * Suppose March 25, ^^1 i, I ':-|. mm SO CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE at night on a good feather bed. The Inhab^ itants and oflicers were very obliging to me, the little time 1 stayed with them, and prom- ised to write a letter to the Governor in chief, to inform him of my passing down the river. Here I saw a girl taken from our town, and a young man, who informed me,^ that the greatest part of the captives wcrQ come in, and that two of my children were at Mont Royal ; that many of the captives had been in, three weeks before my arrival : Mercy in the midst of judgment ! As we passed along the river towards Sorely we went into an house where was an English woman of our town, who had been left among the French in order to her conveyance to the In- dian fort. The French were very kind to her and to myself, and gave us the best pro- vision they had ; and she embarked with us to go down to S/. Francds fort. When we came down to the firs^ inhabited house at Sorely a French woman came to the river side^ and desired us to g© into her house, and when we were entered, she compassionated our state, and told^us, she had in the last war been a cap6ve among the Indians, and therefore was not a little sensible of our dif* iicuUies. She gave the Indians something to eat in the chimney corner, and spread a cteth; on the table for us with napkins j iBI^ich gave such offence to the Indians, that they hasted away, and would not call iaatth^ Of JOHN WILLIAMS, i-7 $1 fort : But wherever wc entered into houses, the French were very courteous. When we came to S/. Francois river, we found some difficulty by reason of the ice ; and entering into a Frenchman's house, he gave us a loaf of bread, and some fish to carry away with us ; but we passed down the river till night, and there seven of us supped on the fish call- ed Bull head, or Pout, and did not eat it up^ the fish was so very large. The next morning we met with such a quantity of ice, th^t we were forced to leave our canoe and travel on land* We went to a French officer's house, who took us into a private room, out of the sight of the Indians, and treated us very courteously. That night we arrived at the fort called St. Francois^: where we found several poor children who had been taken from the Eastward the sum« mer before ; a sight very aflfecting, they be- ing in habit very much like Indians, ^nd in manners very much symbolizing with them. At this fort lived two Jesuits^ one of which was^ made Superior of the Jesuits at Qmbe'^. One of these Jesuits met me at the fort gate^ and asked me to go into the *ehurch, and give^ God thanks for preserving my Itfe* i told him I would do that in »c»&erO|her places. When the bell rang for ev6Btt^-^yei^, he that took me bid me go, biit ti^lpM' -T^ j^uh came to our Wig^itiai^^^'^^^A a #ort prayer, and invited mo ld^*«^l3i^lfcr M I 1 n CAPTlVITt AND DELIVERANCE them ; and justified the Indians in what they did against us ; rehearsing some things done by Major Walden, above thirty years ago ; and how justly God retaliated them in the last war, and inveighed against us for begin- ning this war with the Indiana y and said, we had before the last winter, and in the winter, been very barbarous and cruel in burning and killing the Indians. I told them, that the Indians in a very perfidious manner, had commited murders on many of our inhabit- ants, after the signing articles of peace. And as to what they spake of cruelties, they were undoubtedly falsboods ; for I well knew the English were not approvers of any inhuman-- ity or barbarity towards enemies* They. said, an English man had killed one of St.. Ca^.^^^'x relatione, which occasioned this war*. For, say tliey, the nations in a general coun^> cil, had concluded not to engage in the war on any side, till they themselves w^re first* molested, and |hen all of them as one, would- engage against them that began a war with, them ; and that upon the killing of C^/^^;2V kinsman a post was dispatched to Canada to. advertise the Macquas^ and Indians,'that the Englisli had begun a war. On which they^ gathered up their forces,^ and that thcFrenchf joined with them, to come down on the Eastern parts;. and that when they caxae; nc^r^New England^ seycrtA of the Eastern In** iimt told them of the peace made with-the: . Of JOHN WILLIAMS. ^ a^v: 35^ English, and the satisfaction given them from the English for that murder. But the Ma- quas told them» it was now too late ; for they were sent for, and were now come, and would fall on them, if without their consent they made a peace with Ihc English. /~^ also that a letter was shown to them,.,* ^t from the Governor of Port Royal y which a 1^ said, was taken in an English ship, being ^ letter from the Queen of England to our Gov- ernor, writing how she approved his designs to ensnare and deceitfully to seize on the In« dians ; so that being enraged from that let- ter, and being forced as it WQii6, they began.> the present war. I told them the letter. was^ a lye, forged by the French* The next morning the bell rang for mass. My master bid me go to church 5 I refused : He threatened me, and went away in a rage* At noon the Jesuits sent for me, to dine with them ; for 1 eat at their table all the time I was at the fort. And after dinner,- they told me, the Indians would not altow ofany of their captives staying in their w?g«^ wams whilst they were at churcktj^ anif were resolvM by force and violenc^m^tifiiftg? us all to church, if we would notjgbMihd^Kji*^ It^them it was higMy iaitktem!^i&s0^^> iii^»Oseupon those who v/crQ''^(^9^-<;^^%]^dff'f'^ ^^Mitm J and to force ms to be ptifesKtJ^ai ^uidn a service, as we abhorred, A^asr n^^y^g b^comi^jig Christkaity. They ^^lU^'itl^^ ■ I 34 CAPTIVITY ANp DELIVERANCE were savages, and would not hearken to rea- son, but would have their wills. Said also, if they were in iVi?w/ J?;!^/^^^ themselves, they would go into their churches to see their ways of worship. I answered, the case was fan •different, for there was nothing (them- scfbet being judges) as to matter or manner u e^ worship, but what was according to the ^ word of God, in our churches ; and there- fore it could not be an offence to any man's conscience. But among them there were idolatrous superstitions in worship. They said, come and see, and offer us conviction, of what is superstitions in worship. To which I answered, that I was not to do evil that good might come on it ; and that forc- ing in matters of religion was hateful. They answered, the indians were resolved to have it so, and they could not pacify them with- out my commg ; and they would engage they should offer no force or violence to cause any compliance with their ceremonies. The next mass, my master bid me go to church ; I objected ; he arose and forcibly pulled me out by head and shoulders out of the wigwam to the church, thai «#a8 nigh the door. So I went in and sat dpwn behind the door, and there saw a great confusion instead^ of any gospel order. For one of the Jes^$ was at tl^ altar, saying mass in a tongu^lly known to the savages ; and the otJ^|i|i tweeu the altar apd the door, sayki^ «^^ sing sam< sam and orb smil '■^^ ■R Of JOHN Williams; »^^P SB Mnging prayers among the Indians at the same time ; and many others were at the same time saying over their Pater Nosters and Ave Mary^ by tale from their chaplet, or beads on string. At our going out, we smiled at their devotion so managed ; which was offensive to them ; for they said, we made a derision of their worship. When I was here, a certain savagess died ; one of the Jesuits told me, she was a very holy woman, who had not committed one sin in twelve years. After a day or two the Jesuits asked me, what I thought of their way now I saw it i I told them, 1 thought Christ said of it, Mark 7. 7, 8, 9. Howbeit in vain do they worship me^ teaching for doftrines the command' ments of men. For laying aside the command/nent of Gody ye hold the tradition ofmen^ as the wash" ing of pots y and cups ; and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them^full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. They told me, they were not the commandments of men, but a- postolical traditions, of equal authority with the holy scriptures. And that after my death, I would bewail my not prayinjg to the Virgin M^ry; and that 1 should fimd the want of her intercession for me, ^^K^ith her Son ; judging me to hell, fpr >Merting the- ijcrlptures to be a perfect. inafe^^i^j and 1^ I abounded in my owii seg^ entert^fi« |hg explications contrary to the^Soiisis flf^ It^^ ^ i " ,M It ' i ■ 1 1 J 4IA CAPTIVITY AHD DELIVERANCE , Pope, regularly siting with a general council explaining scripture, and making articles of faith. 1 told them, it was my comfort that tChrist was to be my judge, and not they at the great day .: And as for their censuring and judging me, I was not moved with it. . One day a certain savagess taken prisoner in Philip^s war, who had lived at Mr* Bulk- ley's at Wether sjield^ called Ruth^ who could ^speak Knglish very well ; who had been of- ten at my house, but was now proselyted to the Romish faith, came into the wigwam, and with her an English maid, who was tak- en the last war, who was dressed up in In- vdian apparel, could not speak one word of •English, who, said she could neither tell her X)wn name, or the name of the place from whence she was taken. These two talked in the Indian dialect with my master a long time ; after which my master bad me crosS" myself 5 I told him, i would not ; he com- manded me several times, and I as often re- fused. Rufh said Mr. Williams^ you know the scripture, and therefore act against your own light ; for you know the scripture s'^th,S^r- njants obey your must en ; he is your master and you Ms servant. 1 told her she was ig- norant, and knew not the meaning of the scripture ; telling her, I was not to diiobqr ^hc gripat God, to obey any master, and that I was ready to die to suffer for God, if called >thereto» On which she talked with ^ Or JOHN WILLIAMS. master, I suppose she interpreted what I said. My master took hold of my hand to force me to cross myself, but I struggled with him, and would not suffer him to guide my hand ; upon this he pulled offa crucifix from his own neck, and bade me kiss it ; but I refus- ed once and again ; he told me, he would dash out my brains with his hatchet, if 1 re- fused. I told him, 1 should sooner chuse death than to sin against God ; then he ran and catched up his hatchet, and acted as though he would have dashed out my brains. See- ing I was not moved, he threw down his hatchet, saying, he would first bite off all niy nails, if I still refused. I gave hica my hand and told him I was ready to suffer ; he set liis teeth in my thumb nail, and gave a gripe with his teeth, and then said no gdod minister, no love God as bad as the devil ;-— and so left off. 1 have leason to bless God, who strengthened me to withstand ; by this he was so discouraged, as never more to meddle with me about my religion. -1 asked leave of the Jesuits to pray with those En- glish of our town that were with me, but they absolutely refused to give us any per- mission to pray one with another, and did what they could to prevent our having any discourse together. V After a few days the Governor wt/^ Vat^^^ governor in Chief, sent down two me4 with ^tters to the Jesuits, desiring them ta 0r4ej; D : 1 sd CAPTIVITY AND DELIVEl^ANCE my being sent up to him to Mont Royal, upon which one of the Jesuits went with my two masters and took me along with them, as also two more of D^erfield, a man and his daughter about seven years of age. When we came "o the Lake, the wind was tempes- tuous and contrary to us, so that they were afraid to go over j they landed and kindled a fire, and said they would wait awhile to see whether the wind would fall or change, I went aside from the ccmpany among the trees, and spread our case, with the tempta- tions of it before God, and pleaded that he would order the season so, that we might not go back again, but be furthered on our voy- age, that I might have opportunity to se^ my children and neighbors, and converse with them, and know their state. When I returned the w^ind was more boisterous, and then a second time, and the wind was more fierce ; I reflected upon myself for my un- quietrifess, and the want of a resigned will to the will of God. /ind a third time weiit and bewailed before God my anxious cares, and the tumultuous working of my own heart, and begged a will fully resigned to the will of God and thought that by the grace ctf God I was brought to say Amen, to what- ever God should determine. Upon my re- turn to the company, the wind was yet Hgh ; the Jesuit ar^! my master said, come we will go back again to the fort, for there Of JOHN WILLIAMS. ^ ^9 is no likelihood of proceeding on our voyage, for very frequently such a wind continues three days, sometimes six, after it had contin- ed so many hours, I said to them, the will of the Lord be done j and the canoe was put again into the river, and we embarked. No sooner had my master put me into the canoe, and put off from the shore, but the wind fell, and coming into the middle oi the river, they ?aid, we may go over the lake well e- nough, and so wc did. I promised, if God gave me opportunity, I would stir up others to glorify God in a continued persevering, committing their straits of heart to him : Ife is a prayer bearing God^ and the stormy zBkufs obey him* After we passed over the Lal^e, the French wherever we cams, were very compassionate to us. '■■v'^.'^fl^*.V'' At Mont Royal, When i came to Mont Royal., which was eight weeks* after my captivity, the Gov- ernor de Vaudrel redeemed ine out of the hands of thelndians,gave mc th^ use of a very good chamber, and was in all respects relat- ing to my outward nian, courteous ^nd char- itable to admiration. At my first entering into his house, he sept for my two children, who were in the city, tlisit I might see them 5. • 8 'iVeeksfrom February 59, is Tuesday, ApiilSS. ■I' < I, ^ 40 CAPTIVITY AND BEUVERANCE and pfomised to do what he could to get all my children, and neighbors out o? the hands of the savages. My change of diet, after the difficulties of my journics, caused an alteration in my body : I was physiced, blooded, and very tenderly taken care of in my sickness. The Governor redeemed my eldest daughter out of the hands of the Indians; and she was carefully tended in the hospital, until she was well of her lameness ; and by the Governor provided for with respect, dur- ing her stay in the country. IVIy youngest childwas redeemed by a gentlewomi:n in the city, as the Indians passed by. After the ) dians had been at their fort, and discoursed Mvith the priests, they came back and offered v'tothe gentlewoman a manforthechild,a]ledg- ing that the child could not be profitable to lier, but the man would, for he was a weaver, and his service would much advance the de- sign she had of making cloth. But God overuled so far, that this temptation to the woman prevailed not for an exchange ; for had the child gone to the Indian fort, in an ordinary way it had abode there still, as the rest of the children carried there do. The Governor gave orders to certain officers to get the rest of my children out of the hands of the Indians, and as many of my neigh- bors as they could. After six weeks, a mercLant of the city obtained my eldest son 'that was taken to live with him : He took a m to citl Co\ be int isel th( s^M Kig theni, telling me how they profaned Gvi*s. SaWjath ; and said, she thought tha^t a few days before they had been mocking the devil, and that one. of the J'es^ tiits stood and Ippked on them. 1 told her «he must pray to God for his grace every day ; she said, she did as she; was able, and 'Ood helped her. But says she, they force me to say some prayers in l^atift, but I do , mot understand one word of them, I hope it will not dp me any harm. I told hqr she must be careful she did not forget hier cate- -qhism, and the scripture, she had learnt by. l^artk She told.the captives after I was gone, as some of then) hav^sinceiufprm^dme, al- most every thing i spake t<> her; and said, she was much afraid she should forget her catechisni, haying none tQ iiistru<;t her it I saw heronce afew.days after in the dty^but hact not many minutes of time with her, but ^hat tinve^ I hi4.I improve to give her tbi! . r' ..:j .'- >- Or JOHN WILLIAMS. H best advice I could. The Governor labored much for her redemption, at last he had the promise of it, in case he would procure for them an Indian girl in her stead. According- ly he sent up the river some hundred of leagues for one, but it was refused, when of- fered by the Governor : He offered them an hundred pieces of eight for her redemption,, but it was refused. His lady went over to have begged her from them, but all in vain*; it is there still, and has forgotten to speak En* glish. Oh ! that all who peruse this history, would join in their ferven t requests to God, with whom all things are possible, that this poor child, and so many others of our chil- dren who have been cast upon God from the womb, and are now outcasts ready to perish, might be gathered from their dispersion, and receive sanctifying grace from Godi When I had discoursed with the child, aitd' was coming out of the fort, one of the Jesuits wentout of the chamber with me, and some soldiers, to convey me to the conoe. I saw some of my poor neighbors, who stood wirh longing expectations to see me, and speak: "%ith. m«, and' had leave from theirf Ravage masters, so to do* I was by. the JesiUit-llim- self thrust along by force^ and'|>ermitt^d-'l)h- ly to tellthem some of their relations^ll^^y siked after) were weH in-tlbe cityv f^^ t|(a^ ntirith a very audible voice j betiig i»IH^^^ ^^to come jaew to tteait. ^ ' ^^^i v^v^^' 1^1 ^f-i # 1.: 1:1 ' ■iH CAPTIVITY ANU DELIVERANCE , After my return to the city, I was very melancholy, for I could not be permitted so much as to pray with the English, who dwelt in the same house. And the English who came to see me, were most of them put back by the guard at the door, and not suf- fered to come and speak with me. Some- times the guard was so strict that I could scarce go aside on necessary occasions with- out a repulse ; and whenever I went out into the city (a favor the Governor himself never refused when I asked it of him) there were spies to watch me and to observe whether I spake to the English. Upon which I told some of the English, they must be careful to call to mind and improve former instructions, and endeavor to stand at a further distance . for a while, hoping that after a short time I should have more liberty of conversing with them. But some spies sent out, found on a Sabbath day more than three (the number we by their order published were not to exceed together) of us in company, who informed the priest ; the next day one of the priests told me, 1 had a greater number of the En- glish with me, and that I had spoken some- thing reflecting on their religion. I spake to the Governor that no forcible means Blight be used with any of the captives res- pecting their religion ; he told me, he allowed l|9_ such thing, lam persuadied that the wvernor^ if he Height act as^ himself, s r ■-^Hfr'/ Of JOHN WILLIAMS. 45 not have suffered such things to be doiieas have been done, and that he never did know of several things acted against the English. At my iSrst coming to Mont Royal, the Governor told me, I should be sent home as soon as Captain Batiiss was returned, and not before ; and that I was taken in order to his redemption. The Governor sought by all means to divert me from my malancholly sorrows, and always shewed a willingness for seeing my children. And one day I told him of my design of walking into the city ; He pleasantly answered^ go with all my heart. His eldest son went with me as far as the door, and saw the guard stop me, he went in and informed his father who came to the door and a»ked, why they affronted the gentleman going out ? They said, it was their order : But with an angry countenance he said, his orders were that I should not be stoped. But within a little time I had my orders to go down to Quebec, Another thing showing that many things are done without the Gov- ernor's consent, though his name be used to justify them, viz. I asked the Priest, after I had been ^t Mont Royal two days, bavc to go and see my youngest child j he said when- ever you will see it tell me, and I wiH bring it to you ; for says he, the Governor is^ not willing you should go thither. And y^ ^iBot many days after, when we were at dij^^ iter, Gie Governor's lady (seeing mc saM) f h PT 46 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE speak to an ofGcer at table, who could speak Latin, to tell me, that after dinner I should go along with them and see my two children . . And accordingly after dinner I was carried to see them ; and when I came to the house, I found three or four English captives who lived there, and I had leave to discourse with them. And n©t long after, the Cover*, nor's lady asked me to go along with her to the hospital to see one of my neighbors sick there. One day one of Jesuits came to the Gover- nor's, and told the company there, that he never saw such persons as were taken from Deerfield. Said he, the Macquas will not suf- fer any of their prisoners to abide in their wigwams whilst they themselves dre at m:*s6, . but carry them with them to the church, and they cannot be prevafled with to fall down qn their knees to pray there, but no sooner are they returned to their wigwams, but they fall down on their knees to prayer. He said, they could do nothing with the grown per- sons there ; and they hindered the children^'s complying. — Whereupon th^ Jesuits coun* selled the Macquas to sell all the grown . persons from the fort ; a stratagem to seduce poor children. Oh Lord turn the cmnsel gf these Ahitophels into foolishness^ and make tke counsels of the heathen ofno^e effect I Here I observed, they were wonderfully lifted up with pride, after th^. return ^ Q-a^^ tain A^ of 8UCC against an arn if 1 mil Frcncl scvera desola The Gener mand< ed no This J umph wouk Our 1 ing ol of th( selves said tendi third lishn ed w we I New I sal ges e^, S^c iftt mw Of JOHN WILLIAMS. A7 tain Moniinug from Northampton with news of success : they boasted of their success a- against New England. And they sent out an army as they said of seven hundred men, if I mistake not, too hundred of which were French, in company of which army went scveralii^iresuits ; and said, they would lay desolate all the places on Connecticut river. The superior of the priests told me, their General was a very prudent and brave com- mander, of undaunted courage, and he doubt- ed not but they should have great success. This army went away in ^uch a boasting tri- umphing manner, that I had great hopes God would discover and disappoint their designs : Our prayers were not wanting for the blast- ing of such a bloody design. The superior of the priests said to me, do ;^ot flatter your- selves in hopes of a short captivity 5 for, said he, there are two young princes con- tending for the kingdom of Spain ; and a third, that care was to be taken of his estab^ lishment on the English throne. And boast- ed what they would do in Europe ; and that we must expect hot only in Europe^ but in, New England^ the establishment of Popery. I said, Glory not, God can make great chan-, ges in a little time, and revive his own inter- esrt, and yet save his poor afflicted people. Said he, the time for mirstcles is past V and ih the time of the last war, the King of^rance i»^ as it were against all the wc^ld, antf yet > ;■; I ;ll= 41 CAPTIVITY AHD DELIVERANCE did great things ; but now the kingdom of Spain is for him, and the Duke of Bavaria^ and the Duke of Savoy ^ &c. and spake in a lofty manner of great things to be done by them ; and having the world, as I may say, in subjection to them. I was sent down to Quebec in company of Govtrworde Ramsey ^GovtrnoT of Mont Royal^ and the superior of the Jesuits, and ordered to live with one of the Council ; from whom I received many favors, for seven weeks. He told me, it was the Priests doings to send mc down before the Governor came down ; and that if I went much to see the English, or they came much to visit me, I should yet certainly be sent away where 1 should have no converse with the English. :-^«V At Q u e b e c- After coming down to Quebec^ I was in- vited to dine with the Jesuits, and to my face they were civil enough. But after a few days, a ypung Gentleman came to my cham- ber, and told me, that one of the Jesuits (af- ter we had done dinner) made a few distiches of verses, and gave them to his scholars to translate into French : He shewed them to me. The import of them was, " That the King of France his grandson had sent out his huntsmen, and that they had taken a Wolf, who was shut up, and now he hqga| Of JOHN WILLIAMS. ''"^ i^ tlic feheep would be in safety." I know at the reading of them what they aimed at, but held my peace, as though I had been igno« rant of the Jesuits intention. Observing this reproaching spirit, I said in my heart, it God will bless, let men curse if they please ; and I looked to God in Christ, the great shep- herd, to keep his scattered sheep among so many Romish ravenous wolves, and to re- member the reproaches wherewith his holy name, ordinances and servants were daily re- proached. And upon an observation of the time of these verses being composed, I find that near the same time, the Bishop of Cj»- ada with twenty EcclesiastiAs, .were taken by the English as they were coming from France^ and carried into England as prisoners of war. One Sabbath morning 1 observed many signs of approaching rain, a great mt)isture on the stones of the hearth and chimney jams. I was that day invited to dine with the Jesuits ; and when I went up to dinner, it began to rain a small drisling rain : The superior told me, they had been praying fot Tain that morning, and now (says he) it be- gins to rain. I told him, I could tell hitn o£ Itiany instances of God's hearing our prayers for rain. However in the afternoon there was a general procession of all orders. Priests^ Jesuits and Fryars, and the Citizens in gre^f |)omp, carrying (as th^y said) as an holy re- E -• ■ .:■ m 10 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE Uquc, one of the bones of St. Paul. The next jday I was invited to the Priest's seminary to dinner ; Oh, said they, we went in proces* 3ion yesterday for rain, and see what a plenti- ful rain followed. I answered, we had been answered when praying for rain, when no such signs of rain, and the beginnings of rain, had preceeded, as now with them, be- fore they appointed or began their proces- sion. See. However they upbraided me, that God did not approve of our religion, in that he disregarded our prayers, and accepted theirs. For, said they» we heard you had days of fasting 7ind prayer before the fleet came to Quebfc ; God would not regard your prayers, but heard ours, and air ost in ^ miraculous way preserved us when ult- cd, and refused to hear your fastday prayers for your preservation, but heard ours for your desolation, and our success. They boasted also of their King, and his greatness, and spake of him as though there could be no settlement in the world, but as he pleased ; reviling us as in a low and languishing case, having no king, but being under the govern- ment of a Queen. And spake as though the Duke of Bavaria would in a short time \)c Emperor. From this day forward God gave them to hear sorrowful tidings from Europe : That a war was commenced a- eainst the duke of Savoy, and so their ene- mies incrcased-*their Bishop taken, and two 0# JOHN' WILLIAMS. '» 6i r • fliillions of wealth witn him. NcWs c\rcry year more distrcssinij and impoverishing them ; and the Duke of Bavaria so far from being Emperor that he is dispossessed of hi^ dukedom : And France so far from being strengthened by Sfiain, that the kingdom of Spain is like to be an occasion of weakening and impoverishing their own kingdom ; they themselves so reporting. And their great army going against New Englandy turned back ashamed ; and they discouraged and disheartened^ and every year very exercising fears and cares as to the savages who live up the river. Before the return of that army, they told me, we were led up and down, and sold by the heathen, as s'.eep for the slaughi- ter, and they could not devise what they should do with us, we should be so many prisoners, when the army returned. The Jesuite told me, it was a great mercy that so many of our children were brought to them, and that now especially since they were not like speedily to be returned, there was hope of their being brought over to the Romish faith. They would take the English chil- dren born among them, and against the con- sent of their parents, baptize them. One Jesuit e came to me and asked, whether all the English at Ldret (a place not far from Quebec where the Savages lived) were baptiz- ed i I told him they were. He said, if they be^ oot,let me know of it, that I may biaptisse '\ I ■ H \ 52 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE them fbv fear they should dk^ and be datnn* ed, if they die without baptism « Says he^ wheo the savages went against yon, I char^t ed them to baptize all children betbre they killed them ; such was my desire of your e- ternal salvation, though you were our ene- mies. There was a geritleman called Morif sieur de Beauville^ a Captain, the brother of the Lord intendant, who was a good friend to me, and very courteous to all the captives ; he lent me an English bible, and when he went to France gave k to me. Ml means 'were used to seduce poor souls* ^ I was invited one day to dine with one of chief note y as I was goings met with the auperior of the Jesuites coming out of the house,, and became in after dinsier; and presently it was propounded to me, if I wou>d stay among^ them, and be c^ their religion, T ^ould have a great and honorable pension from the King every year.. The superior of the Jesuits turned to me and said', <' bir, you: have manifested much grief and sorrow for your separation from so many of your neigh- bors and children j if you will now comply with this offer r.nd proposal, you may have all your children with you j and here will be enough for an hoi.orable maintenance for yoa and them.'* I answered,, " Sir, if I thought your religion to be true,. I would, embrace it freely without any such o&r, tut so long as I brfiev« it to be what it is^ tha? posj « 6¥ JOHN WILLIAMS. 43' i^ffer ofthcwhoie world is cf no more value to IPC than a bkckberry ;" and man- iJFested such an abhorrance of this pro- posal, that I speedily went to take my leave and be gone. " Oh Sir, (said he) sit down, why in such a hurry ? You are alone in your chamber, divert yourself a little longer ;" and fell to other discourse : And within half an hoiir says again, " Sir, I have one thing earnestly to request of you,! pray you pleas- ure me !•' I said, " Let your Lordship speak/' Said he, " I pray come to tLe pal- ace tomorrow morning, and honor me with your company in my coach to the gre%t church, it being then a Saint's day." I an- swered,.'* Ask me any thihg-^ wherein I can serve you with z good conscience, and I ain ready to gratify you j but I must ask 'your excuse here ;" and icnmediately went away from him* Returning to my chamber, 1 gave God thanks for his upholding me ; and also made an enqv^iry with myself, whether I had by any arrion given encouragement for such' jtteiftptation ?- . At CHATEAVVickE^^f teen miles below V Quebec NdI many dnys after, and a few days before ' d over nor de Vcudrers CQiining down, I was * sent away fikeen miles down the river, tha|^- I 'might not have oppoi^tunity; of -convier^- I '1-^ I 'i '1 .»■ S,.i riiiiiiiB ^ih* CAPTIVITY AjJD DELIVER ANCE, with the English. T was courteously trcsltcfd by the French, and the Priest of that parish ; they told me, he was one of the most learn« ed qjen in the country ; he was a veryingcn- ious man, zealous in their way, but yet very familiar. I had many disputes with the Priests who came thither : And when I used their own authors to confute some of their positions, my books borrowed of them were taken away from me y for they said, I made an ill use of them. They having many of them boasted of their unity in doctrine and profession, were loth I should show them from their own best approved authors, as many diflF^rcnt opinions, as they could charge agast us. Here again, a gentleman in the f resence of the old Bishop and Priest^ offered me his house, and whole living, with assur- ance of honor, wealth and employment j if I would embrace their ways. I; told them, I had an indignation of soul against such of- fiers, on such terms as parting with what was more valuable than all the world ; alledging, what is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? I^was sometimes told I might have all my children, if ^ 70uld comply, and must never expect to have them on any other terms. I told thcmD My childre*t:wcre dearer to me than all the world, but 1 would not deny Christ and Ms truths for the having of them with mC} I tm Of JOHN* WILLrAIVtS... ,A.:' "^^^^ sed leir #6uld still put my trust in God, who could perform all things for mc. .«?! I am persuaded that the Priest of that par* ish where I kept, abhorred their sending down the heathea to commit outrages against the English y saying. It was more like committing murder, than managing a war. In my confinement in this parish, I had my undisturbed opportunities to be hum- bly imploring God*s grace for ourselves, for soul and body ; for his protecting presence with New England^ and his disappointing the bloody designs of e^iemies ;^ that God Would be a little sanctuary to us in a land of captivity ^ and that our friends in New En^ gland might have grace ta make a more thankful and faithful improvement of the means of grace^than we had done ; whcaped out of tie desolations in the fort j and that toy wife was recarried and decently buried;, and- tha: my eldest son who was absent in our desolation, was sent to College^ and pro- vided; for;^ which occasioned tha* o^^*"S to G^d in the ipidsf of afflictions, and caused? f^)/^ even in C^^^iz^d^ to be going daily up to heaven .fora^bllssing on be!i^»ctors, ^Ihowing sudb kiadj^is to the^de^M^ a&d. affictcdv ^ 1*1 H ¥ fc,iJ,.'»^«.i.i.:.;.,'^',* m ^ CAPTIVITY AND DELIVEItANCE The consideration of such crafty designs to ensnare young ones, and to turn them from the simplicity of the gospel to Romish superstition, was very exercising. Some- times they would tell me, my children, some- times my neighbors, were turned to be of their religion. Some made it their work to allure poor souls by flatteries and great prom- ises, some threatened, some offered abusive carriages to such as refused to go to church and be present at mass. Some they industri- ously contrived to get married among them. A Priest drew up a compendium of the Ro* man Catholic faith, and pretended to prp:^*? it by the scriptures^ telling the English, that all they required was contained in the scrip- tures, which they acknowledged to be the rule of faith and manners ; but it was by scriptures horribly perverted and abused. 1 could never come to the sight of it, (though I often earnestly entreated a copyof it) until I was a ship board for our voyage for l^ew England ; but hearing of it, I endeavored to possess the English with their danger of be- ing cheated wit h s ch a pretence* I under- stood they would tell the English that 1 was turned, that they* might gain them to change their religion. These their endeavors^ to %$•- duce to Popery, were very exercising to n f. And in my solitariness, I drew up thi;se fol«^ - lowing sorrc yful, rot^rnfui consider at ion j|,i tiu>ugh uaused to, a^d un kiliul in ppetry^i> fVVr >S'«Of JOHN WILLIAMS. it yefTn "a plain stile for the use of some of the captives, who would sometimes make their secret visits to me, which at the desire of some of them, are here made public. SOM£ C02IT£MPLATI0NS0FTHE POOR AND DESOLATE StATI^ ^ ** OF THE Church at Deerfield. ' THE sorrows of my heart enlarged are> Whilst I my present stale with past compare, I frequently unto God's house did go, With Christian friends, his praises forth to show* But now, I solitary sit, both sigh and cry, Whilst my flock's misery think on do I. Many, Both old and young, were slain out right i Some in a bitter se^^'on take their flight ; Some burnt to death ; and others stifled were ; The enemy no age or sex would spare. The tender children, with their parents sad, Are carryM forth as captives ; sonn^ unclad ^ Some murdered in the way, unburied left ; And some through famine were of life bereft. After a tedious journey, some are sold ; Some left in Heathen hands i all from Christ's fold> By Popish rage, and Heath'nish cruelty. Are banished : Yea some compellM to be '' Present at Mass ; young children parted arc From parents, and such as instructors were* Crafty designsare us'd by Papists all, In ignorance o£ truth, them to inthral ; Some threatened are, unless they will comply, In Heathen hands again be made ta lye. To some large promises are madcy if they Will truths renounce, and choose their Popish ^aj^V Oh Lord ! mine eyes on thee shall vHiitin^bf^i - *TiU thou a^ainturn^ qi^ cafitivitVy , . ..r^^yC' . r «i CAPTIVITY AM» DELIVERANCE Their Komish plots, thou c&nst confoundi and save This little flock, this mercy do I crave. Save us from all our sins, and yet again Deliver us from them who truth dndain. Lord i For thy mercy sake, thy covenant mind ;. And in thy house again, rest let us find. So we thy praises forth will shew, and speak Of all thy wondVouA works ; yea we will seek Th* advancement of thy great and glorious name, Thy rich and sovereig^n grace, we will proclaim. .i Of JOHN WILLIAMS. S9 of them, putting them near to her ; she knocked them out of his hands on the floor ; for which she was beaten, and threatened with death, and for some days imprisoned. I pleaded with God his overruling this first essay for the deliverance of some, as a pledge of the rest being delivered in due time. I improved Capt. de BeauviIle,,who had always been very friendly, to intercede with the Governor for the return of my eldest daugh- ter ; and for his purchasing my son Stephen^ from the Indians at St. Francois fort ^ and for liberty to go up and see my children and neighbors at Mont Royal. Divine providence appeared to a moderating my afflictions, in that five English persons of our town were permitted to return with Capt. Livingston, a- mongst whom went my eldest daughter. Ae1E tot go a pilgrimage to Saint ^i^^Mxi^ ^,'— I 63 CAPTIVITY AND DEUVEUANCE penance, and get a mass said for him, and then he should be deliveted. And many be- lieved it, and were mudi affected with it ; came and told me of it^ to gain my credit of their devised purgarory : The Soldier told 9ie, the Priests had counselled him to under- take this pilgrimage. And I am apt to think> ordered his calling in at my Landlord's, that I might see and &peak with him. I laughed at the conceit, that a Soldier must be pitched upon to be sent on this errand ; but they were much displeased and iiUiiented my ob- stinacy, in that 1 would not be reclaimed from a denial of purgatory, by such a miraculous providence. As I was able, I spread the case before God beseeching him to disappoint them of their expectations to proselyte any of the captives by this stratagem ; and by the goodneis of God, it was not very serviceable : For the soldier's conversation was such, that several among the French themselves judged it to be a forgery. And though the Captain spo- ken of was the Governor's lady's brother, I never more heard any concernment or care to get him out of purgatory. One of the parish where I lived, told me, th3t on the S2d of July 1705^ he was "at Que- becy at the Mendicant Fryars church, on one of their feast days, in honor of a great SaMc of their order, and that at five o'jlock ma^ in the morning, near two hundred persps Of JOH^r WILLIAMS. 6^ present, a great grey cat broke or pushed a- side some glass, entered inta the church, and passed along near the altar, and put out five or SIX candles, that were burning ; and that no one could tell which way the cat went out : And he thought it was the Devil. At Q u E B E c. When I was in the city in September, I saw two English maids who had lived with the Indians a long time. They told me, that an Indian had died at the pliace where they were, and that when sundry of his relations were together, in order to his funeral, the dead arose, and informed them, that at his death he went to hell, and there he saw all the Indians that had been dead since their embracing the Popish religion ; and warned them to leave it off, or they would be dam- ned too ; and laid down dead again. They said the Indians were frighted, and very melancholy ; but the Jesuits, to whom they told this, told them, it was only a delusion'of the devil, to draw them away from the true religion ; adding, that he knew for certain, that all those Indians who had been d«ad, i^o- ken of by that Indian, were in heaven^ ^^^tyi one Squaw was gone to hell, who died vdth- but baptism. These maids said alsd^ tMt 'many of the Indians much lamented tl^ir Tiiaking war against the English, at the insti- gation of the French, 44 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE At C h a t e a u V i c h b. The Priests, after Mr. Dudleys going from Canada^ were ready to think their time was bhort for gaining English proselytes, and doubled their diligence and wiles, to gain o- vcr persons to their persuasion. I improved all opportunities I could to write to the En- glish, that in that way 1 might be serviceable to them. But many or most of my letters treating about religion, were intercepted, « cA burnt. I had a letter sent oown to me by order of the Governor, that I had a liberty of writing to my children and friends, which should be continued -, provided I wrote about indifferent things, and said nothing in them iibout the points in controversy betw^er them and us : And if I were so hardy as to write letters otherwise, they sliould endeav* or to prevent their being delivered. Accord- ingly,.! found many of them were burnt. But sometimes notice would be given to the English,, that there were lettei^ written, but that they were burnt j. so that their writing was somewhat useful, though never perused by the English, because they judged chose let- ters condemned Popery. Many of our let- ters written from New England^ were never delivered, because of some expressions abou£ religion in them. And as I said before, afte^ Mr. Dtdlefs departure from Quebec^ eadcav^ ors ^ were were wouU worn ion with m. Ow JOHN WILLIAMS. 65 ors were very vigorous to seduce. Some were flattered with large promises, others were threatened and beaten, because they would not turn. And when two English women, who had always opposed their relig- ion were sick in the hospital^ they kept with them night and day, till they died ; and their friends kept from coming to visit them ; after their death, they gave out, that they died in the Romish faith, and were re- ceived into their communion. Before their death, mafises were said for them ; and th«y buried in the church yard^ with ail their cer- emonies* And after thisj letters were sent into all parts to inform the English, that these two women turned to their religion , before their death, and thsrt it concernied them to follow their exampie ; for they could not be more obstinate than those woifi^/ en were in their health, against the RomisK faith, and yet on a death bed embraced it. They told the English who lived near, that our religion was a dangerous religion to die in. But I shall hei-eaftet relate the just grounds we have to think these things were falshoods. I was informed, there was aa En^shgir! bid to take and wear the cross^ and cross herseif : She refused ; they threatened her, and shewed her the cross. At length she bad her choice, either td cross herself, and take tfcc cross, or be whipt, she chose to be wfaipt j ^ F. 2- i.;i <\ m U CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE .ihd tifiey took up her cloaths, and made as though they would correct her •, but seeing her choosing indeed to suflFer rather than comply, they desisted, and tied the cross a- bout her neck. Some were taken and shut up among the religious, and all sorts of means^ use J to gain then!, I received a letter from one of my neigh- bors, wherein he thus bewails. " / obtained kave. of mymaner^ to go is the Macqua fort to iee my childreny that I had^oi seenfo^ a long iime. I carried a letter from my master,;, to shew that: I had leave to come. When I came to the forty I heard one of my: children was in the woods.. I went to see a boy I had there ^ who lived with one cfthe yesuits ; I hadjusi asked him of his welfare ; he said his master tv&uld come pres' ently^ he durst not stay /d speak with me now^ y^ing in such awe of his master. On which! " 'withdrew^ and when his master came in^ I went iind asked kave of him to speak with my child and shewed him tny ktter. But }>€ absolutely re- fused to let me see or speak with him ; and said^ I had brought no letter from the Governor^ and would not permit me to, stay in the fort ^though I had travelled on foot near fifty miles f^r no other errand them to speak with my children.^* I'he same person,, with another Engiish- xnan,la&t spring, obtained leave of the Gov- ernor General, to go to the same fort on the ^.^mt errand, and carried letters from the Governor to the Jesuits, that he might be per- ^SM yiiiliiiiiliiMiiiiiiiiiiii WT^ led to Of JOHN WILLIAMS. ♦"•tyj" 6r mitted to speak with his children. The let- ter was delivered to the Jesuits ; who told hini> his son was not at home, but gone a hunting. When as he was hid from them, as he heard afterwards, so the poor man lost his labor a second time. These men say, that when they returned to Mont Royal, one Laland, who was appointed as a spy, always to observe the motions of the English, told them, that one of the Jesuits had come in before them, and had told the Governor that the hd was gone a hunting ^ and that the En- glishman who accompanined this poor man, went out into the woods in hope of finding the lad, and saw him, but the lad run away» and that he followed him and called after him, but he would not stop ; but holding out a gun threatened to shoot him down, if he fol- lowed him, and so he was discouraged, a turned back* And says Laland, you w never leav^oing to see your children an neighbors, Ti!l some of you are killed. But the men told him, it was an absolute lie, let who would report it ; for they had neither seen the lad nor did they go into the woods to search after him. They Judgethis was told to the Governor, to prevent an.y English for the future going to see their children and neighbors. Some of ours say, they k ^e been Uttle better than promised, to have their children who are am(|ng the savages, in case thej themselves would eia* I :ISi s^ 68 CAPTIVITY and DELIVERANCE brace Popery. And that the Priests had said, they had rather the children should be among the Indians, as they were, than to be brought out by the French, and so be in readiness to return for New England* A maid (rf our town was put into a rclig* i^^us house among the nuns, for more than two years, and all sorts of means by flatteries,** threatenings, and abusive carriages used to bring her to turn. They offered her money, which when refused, espedially the latter part of the time, they threatened her very much ; sent for her before them, commanded her to cross herself. She refused ; they hit her a box on the ear ; lAd her again ; still she re- fused. They ordered a rod with six branches full of knotd to be brought ; and when she refused, they struck her on her hands, with .their renewing their commands ; and she stood to her refusals till her hands were filled with waks with the blows* |^tone said, beat her no more j we will gi^ her to the Indians if she will not turn. They pinched her arms till they were black and blue ; and made her go into their church ; and because she would not cross herself, struck her sever- al blows with their hands on hier facj. A Squaw was brought iti and said, she was sent in to fetch her to the Indians ; bift she refus- ed : The Squaw went away, and said, she would bring her husbaitd with her tomorrow, andshediould be carried away by force; S&e -.i- Op JOHN WILLIAMS. told me she remembered what I told her one day, after the nuns had threatened to give her a way to the Indians ; that they only said so to affright her ; that they never would give her away. The nuns told her, she should not be permitted any more to speak to the English ; and that they would afflict her without giving her any rest, if she refused : But God preserved her from falling. This poor girl had many prayers going up to ' heaven for her daily, and by name, because her trials were more known to the English than the trials of others who lived more re- mote from them. ,^.. Here might be an history by itself of the trials and sufferings of many of our children and young ones, who have been abused, and after separation from grown persons, made to do as they would have them. I shall here give an account of what was done to one Hf my children, a boy between fifteen and sixteen years of age, two hundred miles distant from me ; which occasioned grief and sorrow that I want words to utter ; and yet kept under such awe, that he never durst write any thing to me for fear of being discovered in writing about religion. They threatened to put him to the Indians again, if he would not turn ; telling kim, he was never bought out of theii^ hands, but only so- journed with them, but if he would turn, he should never be put into their hands any ■^*- k,i..i! fO CAPTIVITY AKD DELIVERANCE I Mr more. The Priests would spend whole days in urging him. He was sent to school to learn to read and write French ; the school- master sometimes flattered him with prom- ises, if he would cross himself, then threat- ened him if he would not. But when he saw flattering promises of rewards, and threat- enings were ineffectual, he struck him with a stick he had in his hand ; and when he saw that would not do, he make him get dbwn on his kn«es about an hour, and then came and bid hirti make the sign of the cross, and that without any delay ; he still refused. Then he gave him a couple of strokes with a whip he had in his hand ; which whip had three branches, and about twelve gi'eat knots tiid to it ; and again bid him make the sign of the cross 5 and if it was any sin, he would bear it himself : And said ajso, you arc a- fraid you shall be changed if you do it j but (said he) you will be the sam^j your fingern will not be changed. And after he had made him shed many tears under his abuses and threatnings, he told him, he would have it done : And so through cowardisc and fear of Ihe whip he made the sign. And did so for several days together, and with much ado he was brought to cross himself. And then the master told him, he would have it done without his particular biding him. And when he came to say his lesson and crossed not himself 3 the master said, have you forgot Of JOHN WILLIAMS ri what I bid you do ? No sir, said he. Then the school master said, down on your knees; and so kept him for an hour and a half, till school was done ^ and so did for about a week. When he saw this would not do, he took the whip. What ! will you not do it ? (said he) I will make you ; and so again Righted him to a compliance. After this commanded him to go to the church : When he refused, he told him he would make him. And one morning sent four of the biggest boys of the school to draw him by force to mass. These with other severities and witly stratagems were used ; and I utterly igno* rant of any attempt made upon him, to bring him to change bis religicm. His fear was such J that he never durst write any of these things, lest his letters should fall into their hands, and he should again be deliver* ed to the Indians. Hearing of an opportu* nity of writing to him by one of the parish where I was, going up to Mont Royal^ 1 wrote a letter to him, and had by him a letter from mj son> which I shall here insert. ft ' - . „ Honored Father, I Have received your letter bearing date January 1 1th, 170.V6, for which I give you many thanks, with my duty, and my broth- ers, I am sorry you have not received afl the letters I have writ to you ; as I have not re€ei:i''ed all yours. According taycnir good 73 CAPTIVITY ANT) DKLlVEkANCE . counsel, I do almost every day read some- thing of the Bible, ai)d so strengthen my faith. As to the captives newly brought, Lancaster is the place of two of them, and Marlborough that of the third; the Governor of Mvnt Royal has them all three. There is other news that will seem Inore strange to you ; that two English women, who in their life time were dreadfully set against the Catholic religion, did on their dt^ h bed em- brace it. The one Abigail Turbet^ the other of them Esther Jones , both of them known to you. Abigail Turbet sent for Mr. Meriel the Sabbath before she died. Said (many a time upon several following days) that ishe com- mitted htr soul into his hands, and was ready to do whatever he pleased. She desired him to go to the Chappel St. Anne^ and there to say a holy mass for her, that she might have her sins pardoned, and the will of the Lord accomplished upon her. Her cousin Mrs. Badston, now Stihonj asked her, whether she should be willing to do as she said ? she an- swered, yes. And upon the Tuesday she was taken into the Catholic church in the presence of John Laland, and Madam Griz- alem^ an English woman, and Mrs. Stilson, al- so with many French people besides. She was anointed with oil on the same day ; ac- cording to her will then. Upon the Wed- nesday an inaage of Christ crucified, was brought to her ^ she caused it to be set up o- Z-^ftOv JOHN WILLIAMS. ^ -^, 73 ver against her at the curtains of her beef, and looked continually upon the same ; and also a little crucifix brought unto her ; she took it, and kissed it, and laid it upon her stomach. She did also make the sign of the cross upon herself, when she took any meat or drink. She promised to God, that if she should recover, she would go to the mass ev- ery day : She having on her hand a crucifix^ saying. Oh my Lord, that I should have known thee so late ! She did also make a ayer to the Virgin Mary, the two last days of the week. Shc could utter no word, but by kissing the crucifix, endeavoring the cross- ing herself, she gave an evidence of her faiths She died Saturday the 24th of November, at three o'clock in the afternoon. The nexln^ day the Priest did commend the woman's soul to the prayers of the congregation in ' the mass : In the afternoon «he was honor-^ ably buried in the church yard next to the church, close to the body of the Justice Peace's wife ; all the people being present at her funeral. The same day in the evening Mr. Metiel with an English woman, went to Esther Jones ; she did at first disdain^ but a little after shc confessed there were seven sac« raments, Christ's body present, the sacra- ment of the mass, the inequality of power a- mi^g the pastors of the church ; and being returned to wait by her all night long, he ceid and expounded to her some parted the G ■ I. 'i^- f^ CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE Catholic confession of faith to her satisfac* lion. About midnight he asked her, wheth- er she might not confess her sins ? 1 doubt not but I may, said she. And two hours after, she made unto him fervent confession of all the sins of her whole life. When he said, he was to offer Christ to his Father for her ; she liked it very well. The superior of the nuns being come in to see her, she now desired that she might receive Christ's body before she died. She did also show Mrs. Stilson a great mind to receive the sacrament of Ex^ treme unction \ and said, < hat if ever she should recover and get home, she would have reproached the Ministers for their neg^ lecting that sacrament, so plainly command- lid by St. James. In the afternoon, after she had begged pardon for her wavering, and the Catholic Confession of Faith was read a- loud to her in the hearing of Mr. Craston, Mrs. Stilson^ and another English woman, and she owned the same ; about seven o'clock the same day, she said to Mr. Dukison, Shall not they give me the holy communion ? But her tongue was then so thick that she cpuld hardly swallow any thing. She was then anointed with holy oil : But before, she said to Mr. Meriel^ why have you not yet. Sir, forgiven my sins ? In the night foU lowing, that Priest and Mr. Dubism wire continually by her ; and sometimes praying to God in her name, and praying to the ¥tr'* \.u 4*;; Of JOHN WILLTAMS, 75 f^in Mary, and other Saints. She said also, i believe all : I am very glad Christ was of- fered to his Father for me. Six or seven hours before she died, a Crucifix was shew- ed to her by Mr» Dubison ; she took it and laid it upon her heart, and kissed it ; and then the nuns hanged it with a pair of beads upon her neck. A little before bhe died, Mr. Dubison asked her to pray for him in heaven 5 she promised him : So she gave up the gost, at ten of the odock the 'i7th of November, whilst the high Mass was saying ; she was soon commended to the prayers. On the fourth day of the week following was buried, after the Mass had been said for her : she was laid by Abigal Turbet. Jan. 23cl,n05'6. % 1 have here transcribed the letter in the very words of it, without the least alteration : the same for substance was sent to severa,! other captives. When I had this letter I presently knew it to be Meriel-s composing ; but the messenger who brought the letter, brought word that my son had embraced their religion. Afterwards when some blam- ed him for letting me know of it, because (they said) they feared my sorrow would shorten my days ; he told me, he thosfght with himself, that if he was in my case^ he should be willing to know the worst, and therefore told me, as he would have dcsire|[' to have known if in my place. I thanked; 9. * 5 ■* ' ■ ■ ) i ■f- 1 •J \ L f n CAPTIVITY Ain> DELIVERANCE. • him, acknowkdging U a favor to kt me know Uf it : But the news was ready to overwhelm Vie with grief and sorrow. I made my com- plaint to God, and mourned before him ; sorrow and anguish took hold upon me. I asked of God to dkect n>e what to do, and how to writCi and find an opportunity of conveying a letter to him ; and committed thisdiffieulty to his providence. 1 now found y a greater opposition to a patient, quiet, hum- ble resignation to the will of God, than I should otherwise have known, if not so tried* Here Hhought of my afflictions and trials ; my wife and two children killed, and many of my *" ghbors ; and myself, and so •many of my ch..dren and friends in a Popish ^fcaptivity, separated from our children, not ^capable tjjr come to them to instruct them in the way they ought to go ; and cunning crafty enemies, using all their subtilty to in- \sinuate into young ones, such principles as would be pernicious, t thought with myself how happy mafiy others were in that they had their children with them,, under all ad- vantages to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord j whilst we were separated one from another, and our children in great peril^ of embracing damnable doct- rines. Oh I that all parents who read this history, would bless God for the advantages they have of educating their children, and faithfully improve it !— 1 mourned when I ffViJ Of JOHN WILLIAMS. fr tliought with myself, that I had one child with the Macquas, a second turned to Popery, and a little child of six years of age, in dan- ger from a child to be instructed in Popery ; and knew full well, that all endeavors would be used to prevent my seeing or speaking with them. But in the midst of all these, God gave me a secret hope, that he would magnify his power and free grace, and disap- point all their crafty designs. When I looked on the right hand^ and on the left^ all refuge. failed ^ and none shewed any care far my soitL But God brought that word to uphold me ; ; Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think. As also that. Is any thing too hard for God ? I prayed to God to direct me ; and wrote very short the firs?" time, and in general terms, fearing lest if I should write about things in controversy,' my letter would not come to him. I there< fore addressed him with the following letter. Son SamueL) YOUR's of January 2Sd, I received,' ihd with it had the tidings that you had made an abjuratior of the Pi otestant faith for the Romish j news that I heard with the ' most distressing, afflicting, sorrowful spirit, • that ever I heard any news. Oh ! I pity you> I mourn over yo\i day and night ! — Oh! { pity your weakness, that through the er|ifii;?'' ^ .iiu^s/V t « ' ■: !i ■' I i ■ t i ■ - -■ ■ l-\ ]! 1 K.. ■ ' i f^ CAPTtVrTY AND DELIVER' ANC» fiess of man^ you are turned from the sim* plicity of the gospel ! I persuade myself you have done it through ignorance* Oh ! why have you neglected to a«k ar father's ad; vice in an affair of so great importance as the i^der and bethink yourself what you have done ! And whether you* ask me or not, my poor chiltl, I cannot but pray for you, that you may be recovered out ©f the snare you are taken in. Read the Bible ; pray in secret ; . make Christ*s righteousness your only plea before God, for jXistiflcation ; beware of all immorality, and of profaning G:od'sSabbaths& Let afather's advice be asked for the future, in all things of weight and moment. What •ii a man profited if be gain the whole world, and- rjpse his own sotd? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? l desire to be hunibled under the mighty hand of God thus afflict- ing me : L would not do as you have done for ten thousand worlds. My heart akes within me,, but I will yet wait upon the Lord ; to him will I commit your case day and ni^ht : He cao perform aU UiiugafosLma and mine ; and ou y»t again recavcr yjou from your fjstl). Be \%^ God forgiving moui-^ tfy iransgremon and sin : Tathi LordourGod. '^^f^^Jorgiyenm^^^ugb ^f bav^ reMUd*, id * Of JOHN WILLIAMS; 79 I charge you not to be ii ^rumentaltocnsnarc your poor brother Warham, or any other, and so add sin to sin. Accept of my love^ and do not forsake a father's advice, who above all things desires that your soul may be saved in the day of the Lord. WHAT I mournfully wrote, I followed with my poor cries to God in heaven to make efFectual, to cause in him a consideration of what he had done. God saw what a proud heart I had and what need I had to be an^ swered out of the whirlwind, that I might be humbled before him. Not having any answer to my letter for some weeks^ I wrote the following letter, as I was enabled of God and sent to him by a faithful hand ; which by the blessing of God, was made efFectual tor his good, and the good of others, who bad fallen to Popery y. and for the establish^ ing and strengthening others to resist the es»- says, of the adversary to truth. God brought good out of evil, and made what was designt ed to promote their, interest^ an occasion of &hame to them.. *Xj'i *■,* •i^J SoNv Samuel-, 1*1 t ¥:*r>9^ i-v. ■>^ ''f •• ^.^•4 1 Have waited till now for an answer from youi hoping^ to hear from you, why ypm liiadc an abjuration of the Pi-otestant faith^ for the Romish. Btit since you contiiaue to- neglect to write to me about it, aayou negji kOed to take any; advice or counsel from au •flWI •m #••-'• eo CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE* father, when you did it j I cannot forbear writing again, and making some reflections on the letter you wrote me last, about the two women. It seems to me, from those words of Abigail Turbet*s in your letter, or rather cf Mr. Meriers, which you traiiscrib- cd for him — " Abigail Turbei sent forMx, Mer- Uly she committed her soul into his hand^ and was ready to do whatsoever he pleased**- — 1 say, it seems rational to believe that she had not the use of her reason ; it is an expression to be abhorred by all who have any true sense t)f religion. Was Mn Merielz God, a Christ ? Could he bear to hear such words and not tqtct them ; replying, " Do not commit your soul inico my hands, but see that you commit your soul into the hands of God through Christ Jesus, and do whatever God commands you in his holy word : as for me, lam a creature, and cannot save your soul, but will tell you of Acts 4. 1 2, Neither is there salvation in any other ; for th^re is m Uh^t name under heaven given among men^ ''phd^y we must be saved*' Had he been a faitpfbl minister of Jesus Christ, he woud havie said, *tis an honor due to Christ alone. Xhe holy Apostle says, Now unto him th(H is able to keep you^ and present you faultless before' the presence of his glory ^ with exceeding joy, /^f the only wise God our Savior^ be gkry and majt^^ esty J dominion and powsr^ both now and ever ^ 4men^ Judc 24?, 25, verses. As to what ym^ wi otl M\ ih( an Tri Ml CI pr^ be Bi an ed pr ot w thi ^1 Of JOHN WILLIAMS. * 'r' write obout praying to the Virgin Mary^ and other Saints, I make this reply ; Had Mr. Meriel done his duty, he should have said to them as, 1 Job^ 2. 1,3. If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father^ Jesus Christ the righteous ; ^nd he is the propitiation for our sins. The scriptures say, There is one God, and one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. Yea, Christ said, Go and preach. He that heUcveth and is baptized shall be saved. The -^^.postle in Gal. i . 8. saith, Bui though we or an angel from Heaven preach any other gospel to you, ihan that we have preach- ed to you let him be accursed. They never preached praying to the Virgin Mary, or other Saints. As you would be saved, hear what the Apostle saith, Heb. 4, 1 3, &c. Nei- ther is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight ; but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is entered into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us holdfast our profession ; for wt. have not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin ; let us therefore come boldly unio the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in tii^e of need. Which words do hold forth, how that Christ Jesus is in every respect qualified to be a mediator and intercessor i and I am si^re they cannot be ■'f;.»?* ad CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE applied to any mere creature to make them capable of our religious trust. When Ro« man Catholics have said all they can, they are not able to prove that the Saints in heav- en have a knowledge of what prayers are di- rected to them. Some say they know them one way, others say they have the knowledge of them another way : And that which they have fixed upon as most probable to them, is that they know of th^m from their behold- ing the face of God ; seeing God they know these prayers. But this is a great mistake. Though the Saints see and know God in a glorious manner, yet they have not an infin- ite knowledge ; and it does no ways follow, that because they sec God, they know all prayers that are directed to them upon the earth. -And God has no where in his word told us, that the saints have such a knowl- edge. Besides, were it a thing possible for them to have a knowledge of what prayers are directed to them, it does not follow that they are to be prayed to, or h»ve rcugious homage confered upon them. The Roman- ists can neither give one scripture precept or example for praying to them : But God has provided a Mediator, who knows all our pe- titions, and is faithful and merciful enough ; and we have both scriptutae, precept and ex- ample to look to him as bur mediator and advocate with the Father. Fm^tlier, it can- not be proved that it is consistent with the ang^ £' Q» JOHN WILLIAMS. ^| Vh Saints being creatures, as well as with their happiness, to have a knov/ledge of prayers from allpartsof the world at the same time, from many millions together, about things so vastly differing one from another ; and then to present those supplications for all that look to them, is nor. humility, but willworship. Col. t^.- 18. Lei no man beguile you of your re* wardy in a voluntary humiliiy, worshiping of angels, ver. 2 '3. Which things indeed have a shew of wisdom^ and willworship^ and humility. For what humility can it be to disturb the way that God has provided and encouraged us to come to him in, and impose upon God a way of our own devising ? Was not God angry with Jeroboam^ for imposing upon him after such a sort ? 1 Kings 12. SS. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel, the fifth day of the eighth month, which he devised of his own heart. Therefore Christ saith, Mark 7. 7. Howbeity in vain do they zoorship me, teaching for doctrines the command- ments of men. Before the coming of Christ, and his entering into heaven as an interces- sor ; (Hcb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able to save] them to the uttermost that come to God by hini^ seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them) I say, before Christ*s entering into heaven as an intercessor, not one word of any prayer to Saints :.What reason c^n be given that now there is, of so many Saints to make intercession j when Christ a,^ a Frl^HSt: ■<-'-.qT/ S4 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE entered into heaven to make intercession for us ? I he answer the Romanists give is a very fable and falshood ^ namely, that there were DO Saints in heaven, till after the ascension of Christ, bur were reserved in a place called Limbus Pairum, and so had not the beatifical vision. See Gen. 5. 24^. Enoch walked with God and was not ^ for God took him. If he was not taken into heaven, what can be the sense of those words. For God took him ? Again 2 Kings 2. 1 . When the Lord would takeu p Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, ver 1 1 . There appeared a chariot of fir e^ and horses of fire, andpurtedthem both asunder^ and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven* Must the truth of the scripture be called in question to uphold their notions ? Besides, it is not consistent with reason to suppose that Enoch and Elias instead of having a peculiar privilege vouch- safed to them, for their eminency in holiness, should be less happy for so long a time than the rest of the saints deceased, who are glori- fied in he?,ven j which must be, if they arc yet kept and must be till the day of judgment out of heaven, and the beatifical vision, in an earthly Paradise, according to some of the Romanists ; or in some other place they know not where, according to others. Re- ligious worship is not to be given to i le creature, Mat 4, 9, 10 and saith, Jll these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me* Then saith Jesus to him. Get ■,?^.T ^BW ihee he\i^e Saian^ for it is written^ ThoW sfiiih worship the Lord iky God, and him only shaft thou servey That phrase, \4nd him only shalt thou serve^ excludes all creamres. Rev. 22. 8, 9, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel^ which shewed me these things ; then saith he to me, see thou do it not^ for I am thy fellow servant^ and of thy brethren the prophets ^ and of ihem whith keep the sayings of this book — wor^ ship God. Which plainly shews/ that God only is to be worshiped with a icligious worship. None can rhink that Saint yl(X)dis in the body, and so they partake ot both in eatin,;, is a great fallacy built on a false foundation of Transubstantiation. For when men eat, they cannot be said to drink, which Christ commands,; for Christ com- mands that we take up the cup and drink, which is not done in eating ; besides the Priests themselves will not be so put off. The wordSi This is f§y body, do only intend, this doth signify or represent my body ; which will appear if you compare scripture with scripture ; for sifter the consecration, the Holy Ghost calisit bread, and the fruit of the vine. £xod. 12. 1 U 7/ is the Lord's fajfover ; that is, it represents it. In all the ETangelists^you read of killing and eating the passover, a few lines or verses before these words, This is my body ; which plainly show, that our Savior in the same way of figurative expression speaks of the gospel sac- rament. If these words were taken as the Romanists expounded them, he must eat his own body himself,, whole and entire in his own hands ; and after that each one of the disciples eat him entire, an dipl^ he sit at the tabk whole, untouched at the same time ; contradictions impossible to be dcfen^d by any rational arguments. Yea^ his whole body must be now in heaven, and in a thou- sand other places, and in the mouth of eve- ry communicant at the same time, and ti^at both as a broken and unbroken sacrificei and be s be a wor a lit they bod Cor ^, . pF JOHN WILLIAAH., il be subject to putrefaction. Christ is said to be a door, a true vine, a way, a Rock. What work »hall we make, if we expound these in a litteral manner ; as the Romanists do, when they say, Tbis is my body^ is meant of the real body of Christ in the Eucharist ? k is said i Cor. 1 0. 4. And did all drink of the same spiritual drinks for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ, Was Christ literally a Rock, think you ? Yea it is absurd to believe, that a Priest uttering a few words over a wafer not above an inch square, can make it a God, or the body of Christ entire as it was offered on the cross. A blasphemy, to pretend to a power of making Go4 at their pleasure y and then cat him, and give him to others to be eaten or shut him up in « their altars ; that they can utter the same words, and make a God or not make a God, according to their intention y and that the people are obliged to bei ^ve that it is God, and so adore it, when they never heard any word of conse* cration, nor kLOw the Priest's intention, i ri As to what you write about the Holy Mass, I reply, it is w holly an human inven* tion ; n0t a word of such a sacrifice in the whole bible ; it is being ?* sacrifice propitia^ tory daily to be offered, is contrary to the holy scriptures. Heb, 7. 27. Who needethnol daily ^ as these high priests i to offer up icrifice fir St for bis own sins, and then for the i oples y. ^:. .7..'.: ;,;i,|;i^-V .-'.'■....* I"' H "•I i i ■iiiinifilili IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A {/ ^ J^^4i. '7 ^ tr!*, t/. ^ .<$> 1.0 I.I ^ ... 1^ 1^ 1^ 1.8 i:^ |l.25 U 1.6 ^ 5" ► V] <^ /] /: ^3 °> ^) / # Photograpiiic ScieireR Corporation ^9) 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y, 14580 (716) 872-4503 w 92; CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE /or //>/« be did once y when he offered up himrelf: i\nd yet the Romanists say, there is feed that he be offered up as a sacrifice to God ev- ery day. Heb. 9. 12. By his own biood he en- tered in once into the holypiace, halving obtained eternal redemption/or ua» 2^, 26, 27? 28. Nor yet that he should offer himfelf often ^ as ihe high priest entereth into the holy place^ every year with the blood of others : For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world. But new once in the end of the worlds hath he appear- ed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself A^ it is appointed unto men once to die^ but after this the judgment .• So Christ wa^ once offered to bear the sins of many. Heb. 10. 10. By which will we are sanctified ^ through the offering of the body of Jefus Chrifi once for all. Verse 1 2. But this man after he had •ffered one sacrifice for sins^ forever sat down on the right hand rf God, Verse 1 4. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. By which scriptures you may see that the Mass is not of divine ^pointment, b*t an human invention. Their' evasion of *a bloody and unbloody sacrifice, is? a flam ; the holy scriptures speak not one word, of Christ being offered as a sacrifice propitiatory, after such a sort as ^ they call an unbloody sacrifice. All the ceremonies of the MafiS are human inventions^ that God never commanded^ As to what is in the letter about praying : for the women after their ■ : 'iX- '■] 1 ,! ■■-♦ , \ t5t»i #4 CAPTIVITY Kst DELIVE^iOaNCE l£: ' ■^■ These things have I written as inmy Heait I believe. I long for your recovei y, and will not cease to pray for it, I am now a man of a sorrowful spirit, and look upon your fall as the most aggravating circumstance of my afflictions ; and am persuaded that no pains will be wanting, to prevent me from seeing or speak- ing with you ; but I know that God^s grace is all sufficient : He is able to do abundantly above what I can ask^or think. Do not give way t^ : y Mont Royal, May 12, 17o6. '^5. ifwj Honored Fataer,^ ^ •'^^10^^ '^biuj^ m$ I received your letter which you sent — !—, which good letter I thank you for,f andfbr the good counsel which you gave me ;/ I desire to be thankful for it, and hope \tl by will be for the good of my soul. I may say> as in Psalms, Tbe sorrows of death compajpdme^Y and the pains of h^ll got hold on me ■: I founi^ ' trouble and /or row, then called 1 upon the name i 4)fthe Lord ; Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my ^^' soul / Gracious is the Lord and righteous, yea our.^ God is merciful *As for what you ask me a-"^' bout making an abjuration of the Protestant, faith for the Romish, I durst not write sci^^v plain as I would, but hope to see and dis-j: course with you. I am sorry for the sin I have committed in changing religion, for which 1 am greatly to blame. You may ' know that Mr. Meriel the school master, and otheifs, were continually at me about it ; at last I gave over to it, for which I am very sorry. As for that letter you had £rom mc» ; '' b? jrdtiN WILLIAMS. 1 /• ^T^" If was a lettisr transcribed for Mr. Meriel ; and for what he saith about Abigail Turhet^ and Esther Jones, no body heard them but he, as I understand. \ desire your prayers to God for me, to deliver me from my sin3* Oh remember me in your prayers ! J am your dutiful son, ready to take your coun-. sel. ,, -. , ... .....,., „ ,,. , Samuel Williams. ' THIS Priest Mr. Meriel, has brought many letters to him, and bid him write them over .^^ and send them, and so he has done for many others. By this, as also my Mrs. Stilson\ saying, " She does not think that either o£ these women did change their religion before , their death ;" she affirms also, " that often- times during their sickness, whilst they had the usei of their reason, they protested against the Romish religion and faith.'* It is evi- dent that these women never died Papists, but that it was a wily stratagem of the Priests to advance their religion ; for letters were sent immediately after their death, to use tills as a persuasive argument to gaih others*. But God in his Providence gave in farther conviction of their fallaciousness in this mat-, ter. ;:; v-:^;:'; ;■;;*:- ^■'^...• - ■ For the last summer, one Biggilow ofMarU horougby a captive at Mont Royal, was very sick in the hospital, and in the judgment <^ ali^was a sickness to death* Then the Pritsts 5 :%--it*. .,..., ■■■■■, ■• ; (:. li -\; "'II 'it i: ■11, it : ■I J- ■ \ ; ■ P m CAPTIVITY AN© DELIVERANCE and others gave out, that he was turned t« be of their religion, and taken into their communion. But contrary to their expect- ation, Ke was brought back from the gates of death, and would comply with none of their rites ; saying, that whilst he had the . use of his reason, he never spake any thing in favor of their religion ; and that he never disowned the Protestant faith, nor would he now. So that they were silenced and put to ^hame. There is no reason to think that these two women were any more Papists than he ; but they are dead and cannot speak. One of the witnesses spoken of in the foremention- ed letters, told me, she knew of no such thing ; and said Mr. Mer'tel told her, that he never heard a more fervent. and affectionate prayer, than one which Esther Jones made a little before her death. 1 am verily persuad- ed, that he calls that praver to God, so full of affection and fervor, tne confession made by her of the sins of her whole life. These two women always in their health, and so in their sickness, opposed all Popish principles ; as all that knew them can testify, so long as they could be permited to go and speak with them. One of these women was taken from the Eastward^ and the other^ namely^ Esther Jones from Northamftorf* •■^0? JOHN WILL1AM31.' -^^ ^i :^^y. '■* ■ At Quebec. >''^< " I '■; i^'JA:> ■^ ■« ! -"VIW -^*^ •*.*»«»» ■'.W. ■•'»-.»! .^, J:^ * J# J In the beginning of March, 1706, Mf. Sheldcn came again to Canada^ with letteris from his Excellency our Governor, at which time I was a few days at Quebec. And when 1 was there, one night about ten o'clock, there was an Earthquake, that made a report like a cannon, and made the houses to trem* ble : It was heard and felt many leagues, all along the island of St. Lawrence^ and other places. When Mr. Shelden dame the second' time, the adversaries did what they could to retard the time of our return, to gain time to seduce our young ones to Popery. Such were sent away who were ungainable, and most of the younger sort still kept. Some still flattered with promises of reward, and great essays to get others married among them. One debauched, and then in 24* hours of time published, taken into their communion and married j but the poor soul has had time since to lament her sin ani||^ol* ly, with a bitter cry j and asks your prayers, that God of his sovereign grace would yet bring her out of the horrible pit, she has thrown herself into. Her name was Riehd ^i^iores^ oi Wells. In April, one Zebediah Williams^ of our town died ; he was a very hopeful and pi- pus young nuib who carried himself so in -^ ■;: .1 ' ) 11 iU 4:1 ''' ill i 100 CAPTIVITY AMD DELIVERANCE bis captivity, as to edify several of the En- glish, and recover one fallen to Popery, tak- en the last war ; though some were enraged Ugainst him on these accounts ; yet even the French where he sojourned, and with whom he conversed, would say he was a good man ; jone that was very prayerful to God, and studious and painful in reading the holy scriptures : A man of a good understanding, a desirable conversation : In the beginning cf his last sickness he made me a visit (be- ^re he went to the hospital at Quebec) to my ^reat satisfaction, and our mutual consola- jlion and comfort inour captivity, as he had several times before, living not above two Diiles from me over the river, at the island of St. Lawrence i about six weeks or two anonths. After his death, the French told mc Zebcdiah was gone to hell, and damned ^ for, said they, he has appeared since his death to one yosepb. Eger/y^ (an Englishman, who was taken the last warj. jrl flaming fire, tel- ling him, he was damned for rerusing to em- bram the Romish religion, when such pains were used to bring him to the true faith ; and for being instrumental to draw him a- way from the Romish communion, forsak- ing the Mass ; and was therefore now come to advertise him of his danger ! — I told theiu 1 judged it to be a Popish lie j saying, I bless God, our religion needs no lies to uphold, maintain and establish it, as tbf ir$ 4ld« BRt » Of JOllN VViLLIAMS. 10'^ they affirmed it to be true, tellinp me Iio^ God approved of their religion, and witness- ed miraculously against ours. But I still told them, I was persuaded his soul was in heaven, and that their reports were only de- vised fables to seduce souls. For several weeks they aflu'med it, telling me, that all who came over the river from the island af- firmed it to be a truth. I begged of God to blast this hellish design of theirs, so that in the issue it might be to render their relig- ion more abominable, and that they might ..not gain one soul by such a stratagem. Af- fcr some weeks had passed in such assertions, there came one into my landlord's house, af- firming it to be a truth reported of Zebediah j saying, Joseph Egerly had been over the riv- er, and told one of our neighbors this story. After a few hours I saw that neighbor; and asked him, whether he had seen Egerly late- ly ? He said. Yes.— What news told he you ? None, said he. Then I told him what was- affirmed as a truth. He answered^Jj^r^ said nothing like this to him, and he INHkr-' suaded that he would have told him, i^||pe • had been any truth in \u About a week a£* ter came one John Boult from the island o£. : St. Lawrence y a lad td.hen from Newfoundland^ ^ i a very serious sober lad of about seventeen -years of age ; he had often before come over 'ith Zebediah to visit me. At his coming i i«5 be I mrh lamented the loss of Zebcdrah ;p •f . r H2 CAPrnaTY AND DELIVERANCE and told mc, that for sevcrat wccEs they had told him the same story, affirming it to be a truth, and that F/^erly was so awakened by it, as to go apjain to mass every day; urging him, since God in such a miraculous way of- fered such conviction of the truth of their religion, and the falshood and danger of ours, to come over to their religion, or else his damnation would be dreadfully aggravated. He said he could have no rest for them day and night ; but (said he) 1 told them their leligion was contrary to the word of God, and therefore I would not embrace it 'y and that 1 did not believe what they said. And says he to me, one day I was sitting in the house, and Egerly came in, and 1 spake to him before the whole family (in the French tongue, for he could not speak much En- glish) and asked him of this story : he an^ swrered, it is a great falshood ; s:5ying, he never appeared to me, nor have I ever re- ported any such thing to any body f and .thatiiiike had never been to the Mass since fs death. At the hearing of which were silenced an,d put to shame. We blessed God together for discovering* their /^Sgpvickedness, and disappointing them in what tixey aimed at •, and prayed God to deliver ais an# all the captives from delusions, and recover them who had fallen, and so parted* After which I took my pen and wrot€ a let- ter to QAQ Mr. Samuel J^/ikiiBi^B4Nsh car- t'f .•' ^:rk Or JOHN WILLIAMS, v lOS ( five, taken from Wells, who lived at Quebec, and his brother Ebenexer Hill, to make a dis- covery of this lying plot, and to warn them of their danger, and assure them of the fals- hood of this report ; but the letter fell into the hands of the Priests, and was never deliv- ered. This Egerly came home with us, so that they gained nothing but shame by their stratag. m. — God often disappoints the crafty devices of wicked men. In the latter end of summer, they told mc, they had news from iV^w England^ by one who had been a captive at Boston, who said that the ministers at Boston had told the French captives, that the Protestant religion was the only true religion ; and that as a confirmation of it, they would raise a dead person to life before their eyes, for their conviction ; and that having persuaded one to feign himself, dead, they came and prayed over him, and then commanded* him in the name of Christ (whose retigbn they kept pure) to arise ; they called and commanded, but he never arose ; so that instead irf rais- ing the dead, they killed the living ; \yiich the bereaved relations discovered! I toW them, it was an old lie and calumny ag^st Luther and CalviR, new vamped, ?nd that they only change the persons and place. ]^| they affirm it to be a truth, i told tiiefli§i wondered they were so fond of a faith .pro- pagatad, an^ then maintaiued by lying words, ■ "^ lid V III ,r I » i,:^i lOi CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE We were always out of hopes of being re-- turned before winter, the season proving so cold in the latter end of September, and were praying to God to prepare our hearts with an holy submission to his will, to glorify his holy name in a way of passive obedience, in the winter. For my own part, I was in- formed by several who came from the city^ that the Lord intendant said, if }Jore re- turned and brought word that J5^///j was in prison, he would put me in prison, and lay me in irons. They would not permit me to go into the city, saying, I always did harm when I came to the city. And if at any time Iwas at the city, they would persuade the Governor to send me back again. < .; In the beginning of last June, the superior of the Priests came to the parish where I was, and told me, he saw \ wanted my friend Captain de BeauvilUy and that 1 was ragged. > But says he, your obstinacy against our re- ligion, discutages from providing better doaths, I told him, it was better going in a ragged coat, than with a ragged consciencer In the beginning of last June, went out an army of five hundred Macquas and Indians, < with an intention to have fallen on some - English towns down Con^cticut river ; but lighting on a S^^ Indian, who ran away*^- in the night, they were discouraged \ saying, he^ would alarm the whole country. Abou* '. -^ Of JOHN WILLIAMS. |^,^ \6& fifty, as some say, or eighty, as others, re- turned. Thus God restrained their wrath, i. When they were promising themselves an- other winter, to draw away the English to Popery, came news of an English brigantine a coming ; and that the honorable Captain Samuel Appleton, Esq. was coming ambas- sador to fetch off the captives, and Captain John Bonner, with him. I cannot tell you how the clergy and others, labored to stop many of the prisoners. To some liberty, to some money, and yearly pensions were offec- cd, if they would stay. Some they urged to tarry at least till the spring of the year j tel- ling them it was so late in the year, they would be lost by shipwreck, if they went now ; some younger ones they told, if they went home they would be damned and burnt in hell forever, to affright them ; day and night they were urging them to stay. And I was threatened to be sent aboard, with- out a permission to come ashore again, if I should again discourse with any of the En- glish, who were turned to their rellgiorf. At Mont Royal especially all crafty endeavors were used to stay the English. Ihey told my child, if he would stay, he should have an honorable pension (toua the King every year» and that his master, who was an old ma% and the richest in Canada, would give him a great deal; telling him, if he returned h^ would be poor for (said they) you^th^p h ;^l; ' "1 ■ I 'H .1 li 106 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE poor, has lost all his estate, it was all burnt. But he would not be prevailed with to stay. And others were also in like manner urged to stay ; but God graciously broke the snare, and brought them out. They endeavored in the fall of the year, to have prevailed with my son to have gone to France, when they saw he would not come to their communion any more. One woman belonging to the Eastern parts, who had by their persuasions, married an English captive taken the last war, came away with her husband ; which made them say, they were sorry they ever persuaded her to turn to their religion, and then to marry j for instead of advancing their caiise by it they had weakened it ; for novir they had not only tost her, but another they thought they had made sure of. An- other woman belonging to the Eastward, who had been flattered to their religion, to whom a: Bible was denied, till she promised toembr^te their religion, and then had the pmmise of it for a little time ; opened her 3wS^ while in the church, and^present at mass,sheread the fourth chapter of Deuteron- omy, and received such conviction whilst read- ing, that before her first communion she fell off from them, and could never be prevailed with any more to be of their religion. We have reason to bless Qod, who has wrought deliverance for so many ; and yet pray to God for a door of escape to be opefl- ,/>' Of JOHN WILLIAMS. tifiJ 1l> lor I ed for the great number yet behind, not much short of an hundred j many of which are children, and of these not a few among the Savages, and having lost the English tongue, wiU be lost, and turn Savages in a little time, unless something extraordinary prevent. The vessel that came for us, in its voyage to Canada, struck on a bar of sands, and there lay in a very great hazard for four tides; and yet they saw reason to bless God for striking there ; for had they got over that bar, they should at midnight in a storm of snow have run upon a terrible ledge of rocks. We came away from Quebec^ October 25, and by contrary winds, and a great storm, we were retarded, and then driven back nigh the city, and had a great delivjcrance from shipwreck, the vessel striking twice on a rock in that storm. But through God*s goodness we aU arrived in safety at Boston, ^lovember 21 ; the number of captives fifty seven, two of which were my children, t have yet a daughter of ten years of age, and mlny neighbors, whose case bespeaks ypur compassion, and prayers to God, to gather them, being outcasts ready to perish. At our arrival at Boston, we founc^ the kindnesses of the Lord in a wonderful man- ner ; in God's opening the hearts of many to bless God with us and for us ; wonderfully to If*: '-■■! l .1- t f >.. i ' 1 ::t- J6B CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE give for our supplies in our needy stisite. We are under obligations to praise God, for disposing the hearts of so many to so great charity ; and under great bonds to pray for a blessing on the heads, hearts and families of them who so liberally and plentifully gave for our relief. It is certain, that the charity of the whole country of Canada^ though moved with the doctrine of merit, does not come up to the charity of Btfsian alone, where notions of merit are rejected ; but acts of charity, performed out of a right Christian spirit, from a spirit of thankfulness to God, out of obedience to God's command, and un- feigned love and charity to them that are of the same family and houshold of faith. The Lord grant, that all who devise such liberal ; things, may find the accomplishment of the; promises made by God in their own persons and theirs after them, from generation to . generation. •."'^-■;r. ^'r. c. r^M^m * T «*ia i««»» ■*■ ■:^.'^\4!tv ' r^.^ - -mh^ Short ACCOUNT OF THE TIIOUBLES AEIE ING IN Canada. "*,"' T '■»■ «fT-« • ^^Mm ipi ».* 109 s: Id^. ^.M ,, , S^„ , 1 SHALL annex a sliott accotint of tke troubles begginning to rise in Canada. — On May 16, arrived a canoe zt Quebec, that brought letters from Missisippi, written the JVf^jf preceding ; giving an account that the plague was there, and that one hundred and fifty French^ in a very littk time had died of it 4 and that the savages called the Lezilou- ivays, were very turbulent, and iiad with their arrows wounded a Jesuit in €ve places, and killed a Frenchman thdit waited on him. In yuly, news came, that the nations up the Tiver were-engaged in a war one against the other ; and that the French living so among them, and trading with them, were in great ^danger ; that the MUchel Macquinas had «nade war with the Mizianmies^ and had kil- led a Mendicant Fryar and three other Frenthmen^ and eleven savages, at a place cal- led the Straits, wlicre they were settling a garrison and a place of traffic ; the Mitchel Macquinas had taken sixteen Frenchmen pris- oners, and burnt their trading houses. These tidings made the French very full of perplc*:- If V I , I ! ! >i .M 110 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE &c. ing troubles ; but the Jesuits arc endeavor* ing to pacify them : But the troubles vhen we came away, wer^ rather increasing than lessening ^ for the last letters from the French prisoners at Mitchel Macquina, report, that the Savages had sent out two companies, one of an hundred and fifty^ another of an hun« dred and sixty, against the Savages at the Straits ; and they would engage as well a- gainst the i^r^;^i& as the /i^/^/tr, V i -.*r f .*■ From the weekly news letter. No. ISO, ^NI> *i. , ■'A , THE WEEKLY JOURNAL No. 119* ^^'^ Deerjleldy June 16. 172§. v ON the 12th Inst, died here oitr Rev. and beloved Pastor, Mr. John Williams, in the 65th Year of his Age. The Lords Day preceding, he preached on both parts of the day, though be felt himself something heavy, and indisposed. Being but a few days be* fore returned from his Journey to Boston. On monday morning he was seized with a it of the Apoplexy. After which we per- ceived, by the signs he gave on our speaking to him. he had the exercise of reason, but never spoke more than two or three words. And on thursday half an hour before one ia the morning, he expired to our great surprise and distress, unto whom, he was on the best accounts greatly endeared. On the Friday following, he vras decently interred. The Rev. Mr. Chancey of Hadley preached a Fu- neral Sermon on the Occasion-— A very grievous breach is made not only upon tfai$ lock of Christ, but also upon this County and neighborhood, so soon after the de^ta of Mr. Stoddard of Northampton* ^^m it f ; m&i 112 FROM THE WEEKLY NEWS LETTER No. 130, ought to be considered as a great and public loss, as a fall of one of the Pillars of the Land. Mr. Williams began his ministry among us in May 1686> And was the first and only settled Pastor that hath been in this place* God who sent him to us, and inclined his heart to settle with us in our small begin* ings^ hath made him a great blessing unto us, and we iiope, through grace he hath left many Seals of his Ministry among us. He was sincerely devoted to tlie seirvice of Christy who graciously endowed tiim^ with very valuable Ministerial abilities. He was much in prayer, and singularly gifted in it. He was heartily concerned for the interest of Religion, and the best good of this people^ and a constant intercessor of the Throne d Grace for the same. Frbni his ardent care to promote the honor of Christ, and the sal- vation of precious souls he was ** abundank in his labors, both in season and out of sea- ison/* Plainly, faithfully, and JFrequently charging and instructing Ijoth Elder, and iTbunger, affectionately dispensing the most seasonable Counsels, and warning to his peo- ple. Travelling in Birth with them, till Christ was found iii them, and adorning the doctrine of God our Savior in a very circum« spect, holy and blameless life. Mr. Wil^ LiAMs would sometimes say '' it is a dangei> ous thing to be ?et in the front of New Eng- land's sins*'— The divine providence that in bii da 0, AND Tim WEEKLY JOURNAL No 118, tU I. fixed his post in one of the frontier towns in the Province fitted him for it, by giving bim courage, patience, and cheerfulness of spirit, so that he was wonderfully carried '^ through all the difficulties, destractions, and< dangers that he encountered. And his^ prayers, counsels, and example, did not a lit* tie cbntribute to the support and encourage- ment of his people from time to time. And on that Tragical Morning, ever to be remem- bered by us, February *29, 1 703, 4, When the bigest part of the town was surprized^ and either destroyed, or made captives Ly the French, and Indian Enemy ; of this cup, he and his family drank as deep as any. Two of his children and a Negro Woman being killed on the spot, htmsdf and all the rest of his family, except his eldest son who was ab- sent from home, made prisoners, and soon driv^en out of the house for a march, where- in first his Negro Man, and then his deat Wif^ were murdered by the cruel savages ; under which extraordinary trials he had much of the divine presence, and supports. God wonderfully preserved hhn, through the cold and hardships of the dreadful march of 300 miles throi^h the deserts to Canada- : And there God efiablefl him to withstand, aU the methods that were used to draw or drive hitt), to a compliance with Popish Woi^- ship and superstition ; and even to yield /hiifiifielf an ofiering to God, when hi» furioOs X 2 i ' ^•1' u ^ 114 FK0M THR WEEKLY NEWS lETTER Nft. 180, Indian Muter stood over- him with hi&hatch» et threatening present deaths if he would not comply to cross himself, and kiss a Crucifix, bb hear t and courage were strengthened so that he said,^^ 1 wm sooner die ichan sin a« gainst God"-'— And his. counsels when he could find opportunity to give them, were greatly serviceable, tathe strengthening the other captives. > After two years and^eight months captivity he obtained deliverance,, through the good hand of God,, and the care of this Govern^ ment, and arrived at Boston, Nov, 21, .1 706 with 57 captive, two of which were his^chiU dren : But a. more particular account of these things may be seen in his book entitled, the Captivity and deliverance&c; upon the whole was observable, that by the natural vivacity^ calmness and evenness of his temper^ and a gracipus resignation, his spirit was kept un* %)roken, through all his sore trials. And by the presence of Christ with, him, he came forth as gold refined and more fitted for his Masters use ;, having- learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Not long afterwards, lie resettled at Deeiv field,. wiHingly returning, to. his beloved work, and friends, and continued laboring with diem in all seasons, and amidst the dif- ficulties and troubles, that attended such a frontier Town by the Indian Wars from -lime to tioae; His presence among them eo| ph St; thl in as %-'*' AND THE WEEKLY JOURNAL No, 11% tI6 conduced much to th« rebuilding of the place : which is now in flourishing circum- stances. And God dealt with bun some- thing after the manner as vvith Job ; open- ing the hearts of several worthy Gentlemen, as well as his relations, to contribute bounti- fully to his, and his families relief, whose generosity must be principally acknowledg- ed under God, in the liberal education of his two elder sons, besides, many other kind- nesses to his family. He was once and again called by public authority to serve as a Chap- lain, in the expedition against Port Royal, and in that designed against Canada, under General Hill and Admiral Walker* And to a winter Journey to Canada with Col. Stod- dard, for the redemption of captives. Which negotiation succeeded as to some, but not as to his own daughter, who continues to this day among the Macquas ! a subject of pity and prayer. He was second son of Deacon Samuel Williams of Roxbury, born there December ao, 1664. Had his education at Harvard College, given him by his honored and pi- ous Grandfather Deacon William Park. He was twrce married, first to the only daughter of the Rev. Eleazer Mather, first Pastor of Northampton. The second time to the daughter of Capt. Allen pf Windsor, both the grandchildren, of the Rev. Mr. Warham, for-» merly Pastor of Windsor, who is now hi .\» I" i I M FROM -nit ^tW(tY Kft WJ^ LOTtfiri No. ISO. &c. gorrowfiil relict. By the former he was blessed with eleven children, and five by the htter, Eight of which only do survive him, ▼12. four sons and four daughters. His three elder sons arc worthy pastors of Churches, in Mansfield, Springfield and Watertown. Hi» eldest daughter n:>arricd to Mr. Meach* %m the PMor of Coventry. His fourth son Is now at the College in Cambridge ; who it is to be desired may meet with the kind* Aess of Survivors for his fathers sake. . « as he m, ee n. h. )n lO cU I? I I. ( ■ : M 1, i