o
mobin ayar
Evans 27646
6213
(488



A
N A R R A TIV Ε
OF THE
Captivity, Sufferings and Removes,
OF
Mrs. MARY ROWLANDSON,
Who was taken Priſoner by the Indians, with
ſeveral others; and treated in the moſt
bárbarous and cruel manner by thoſe vile
Savages :-With many other remarkable
Events during her Travels.
Written by her own Hand, for her private uſe, and afterwards made
public at the earneſt defire of ſome Friends, and for the bene-
fit of the Afflicted.
Printed and Sold by S. HALL, in Cornhill, BOSTON.
M,DCC,XCIV.


تتتت
%ག་གི་ཨཱ་
ཀ་ཁ་གཙང་ཚུགས་
ரிரி
А
NARRATIVE
OF THE
Captivity, Sufferings and Removes,
son
OF
Mrs. MARY ROWLANDSON.
On the oth be February, 1675, the Indians, in
firſt coming was about fun-riſing ; hearing the noiſe of
ſome guns, we looked out; ſeveral houſes were burn-
ing, and the ſmoke aſcending to heaven. There were
five perfons taken in one houſe, the father, and the
mother, and a fucking child they knocked on the head ;
the other two they took and carried away alive.
There were two others, who being out of the garriſon
upon occaſion, were fet upon ; one was knocked on
the head, the other eſcaped : another there was, who,
running along, was ſhot and wounded, and fell down;
he begged of them his life, promiſing them money,
(28

( 4 )
(as they told me) but they would not hearken'to him,
knocked him on the head, ſtripped him naked, and
ripped open bis bowels. Another, ſeeing many of the
Indians about his barn, ventured out, but was quickly
ſhot down. There were three others belonging to the
fame garriſon, who were killed; the Indians getting
up on the roof of the barn, had advantage to ſhoot
down upon them over their fortification. Thus theſe
murderous wretches went or burning and deſtroying
all before them,
At length they came and beſet our own houſe, and
quickly it was the dolefulleſt day that ever mine eyes
faw. The houſe ſtood upon the edge of a hill; ſome
of the Indians got behind the hill, others into the barn,
and others behind any thing that would ſhelter them ;
from all which places they ſhot againſt the houſe, ſo
that the bullets ſeemed to fly like bail; and quickı
they wounded one man among us, then another, and
then a third. About two hours (according to my ob-
fervation in that amazing time) they had been about
the houſe before they prevailed to fire it, (which they
did with flax and hemp which they brought out of the
barn, and there being no defence about the houſe, on-
ly two flankers at two oppofite corners, and one of
them not finiſhed) they fired it once, and one ventur-
ed out and quenched it, but they quickly fired it again,
and that took. Now is the dreadful hour come, that
I have often heard of (in the time of the war, as was
the caſe of others) but now mine eyes fee it. Some
in our houſe were fighting for their lives, others wal-
lowing in their blood, the houſe on fire over our heads,
and the bloody heathen ready to knock us on the
head if we ftirred out. Now might we hear mothers
and children crying out for themſelves, and one another,
Lord, what ſhall we do! Then I took my children
(and one of my fifters her's) to go forth and leave the
houſe: but as ſoon as we came to the door, and ap.
peared, the Indians ſhot fo thick, that the bullets tal-
sled againſt the houſe, as if one had taken an handful

( 5 )
us.
of ſtones and threw them, ſo that we were forced to
give back. We had fix ftout dogs belonging to our
garriſon, but none of them would ſtir, though at an-
other time, if an Indian had come to the door, they
were ready to fly upon him and tear him down. The
Lord hereby would make us the more to acknowledge
his hand, and to ſee that our help is always in him.--
But out we muſt go, the fire increaſing, and coming
along behind us, roaring, and the Indians gaping be-
fore us with their guns, ſpears, and hatchets, to devour
No ſooner were we out of the houſe, but my
bro-
ther-in-law (being before wounded, in defending the
houſe, in or near the throat) fell down dead, whereat
the Indians ſcornfully ſhouted, and hallooed, and were
preſently upon him, ſtripping off his cloaths. The
bullets flying thick, one went through my ſide, and
the ſame (as it would ſeem) through the bowels and
hand of my poor child in my arms. One of my elder
fifter's children (named William) had then his leg
broke, which the Indians perceiving, they knocked
him on the head. Thus were we butchered by thoſe
mercileſs heathens, ftanding amazed, with the blood
running down to our heels. My elder fifter being yet
in the houſe, and ſeeing thoſe woeful fights, the infi-
dels hauling mothers one way, and children another,
and fome wallowing in their blood : and her eldeit fon
telling her that her fon William was dead, and myſelf
was wounded, ſhe ſaid, Lord, let me die with them :-
which was no ſooner ſaid, but ſhe was ftruck with a
bullet, and fell down dead over the threſhold. I hope
fhe is reaping the fruit of her good labours, being faith-
ful to the ſervice of God in her place. In her younger
years ſhe lay under much trouble upon ſpiritual ac-
counts, till it pleafed God to make that precious fcrip-
ture take hold of her heart, 2 Cor. xii.... And be
ſaid unto me, My Grace is fufficient for thee. More
than twenty years after, I have heard her tell how
ſweet and comfortable that place was to her. Bur to
return; the Indians laid hold of us, pulling me one
way,
A 2

( 6 )
way, and the children another, and ſaid, Come, go a-
long with us : I told them they would kill me; they
anſwered, If I were willing to go along with them,
they would not hurt me.
Oh! the doleful fight that now was to behold at
this houſe! Come, behold the works of the Lord,
what defolations he has made in the earth. Of thir-
ty ſeven perſons who were in this one houſe, none ef-
caped either preſent death, or a bitter captivity, fave
only one, who might ſay as in Job 1. xv. And I only
am eſcaped alone to tell the news. There were twelve
killed, fome ſhot, fome ſtabbed with their ſpears, fome
knocked down with their hatchets. When we are in
profperity, oh, the little that we think of ſuch dread-
ful fights, to fee our dear friends and relations lie
bleeding out their hearts-blood upon the ground. -
There was one who was chopped into the head with a
hatchet, and ſtripped naked, and yet was crawling up
and down. It is a folemn fight to ſee ſo many Chrift-
ians lying in their blood, ſome here and fome there,
like a company of ſheep torn by wolves. All of them
ſtripped naked by a company of hell-hounds, roaring,
finging, ranting and inſulting, as if they would have
torn our very hearts out; yet the Lord, by his almigh-
ty power, preſerved a number of us from death, for
there were twenty-four of us taken alive and carried
captive.
I had often before this faid, that if the Indians-
fheuld come, I ſhonld chooſe rather to be killed by
them, than taken alive : but when it came to the trial,
my mind changed; their glittering weapons fo daunt-
ed my ſpirits, that I choſe rather to go along with
thoſe (as I may fay) ravenous bears, than that moment
to end my days. And that I may the better declare
what happened to me during that grievous captivity,
I ſhall particularly ſpeak of the ſeveral Removes we
had up and down the wilderneſs.
The

( 7 )
The Firſt Remove.
NOW away we muſt go with thoſe barbarous crea-
tures, with our bodies wounded and bleeding, and our
hearts no lefs than our bodies. About a mile we went
that night, up upon a hill within fight of the town,
where they intended to lodge. There was hard by a
vacant houſe, (deſerted by the Engliſh before, for fear
of the Indians) I aſked them whether I might not
lodge in the houſe that night ? to which they anſwer-
ed, What, will you love Engliſh men ftill? This was
the dolefulleſt night that ever my eyes faw. Oh, the
roaring, and ſinging, and dancing, and yelling of thoſe
blick creatures in the night, which made the place a
lively reſemblance of hell: and as miſerable was the
walte that was there made, of horfes, cattle, theep
{wine, calves, lambs, roaſting-pigs, and fowls, (which
they had plundered in the town) fome roaſting, ſome
lying and burning, and ſome boiling, to feed our mer-
cileſs enemies ; who were joyful enough, though we.
were difconfolate. To add to the dolefulneſs of the
former day, and the diſmalneſs of the prefent night,
my thoughts ran upon my loſſes, and fad bereaved
condition. All was gone, my huſband gone, (at leaſt
ſeparated from me, he being in the bay ; and to add
to my grief, the Indians told me they would kill him
as he came homeward) my children gone, my relations-
and friends gone, our houſe and home, and all our
comforts within door and without, all was gone,
(except my life) and I knew not but the next moment
that might go too.
There remaived nothing to me but one poor wound.
ed babe, and it ſeemed at preſent worſe than death,
that it was in ſuch a pitiful condition, beſpeaking com-
paffion, and I had no refreſhing for it, nor ſuitable
things

things to revive it. Little do many think, what is
the favageneſs and brutiſhneſs of this barbarous enemy,
even thoſe that ſeem to profefs more than others a
mong them, when the Engliſh have fallen into their
hands.
Thofe feven that were killed at Lancaſter the fum-
mer before, upon a Sabbath-day, and the one that was
afterward killed upon a week day, were flain and man-
gled in a barbarous manner, by one-ey'd John, and
Marlborough's Praying Indians, which Capt. Mofely
brought to Boſton, as the Indians told me.
The Second Remove.
BUT now (the next morning) I muſt turn my back
upon the town, and travel with them into the vaft
and defolate wilderneſs, I know not whither. It is
not my tongue nor pen can expreſs the ſorrows of
my
heart, and birterneſs of my fpirit, that I had at this
departure: but God was with me in a wonderful man-
ner, carrying me along, and bearing up my ſpirit, that
it did not quite fail. One of the Indians carried my
poor wounded babe upon a horſe ; it went moaning
all along, I fall die, I fall die. I went on foot after
it, with ſorrow that cannot be. expreffed. At length
I took it off the horſe, and carried it in my arms, till
my ſtrength failed, and I fell down with it. Then
they ſet me upon a horſe, with my wounded child in
my lap, and there being no furniture upon the horſe's
back, as we were going down a ſteep hill, we both
fell over the horſe's head, at which they, like inhumane
creatures, laughed, and rejoiced to ſee it, though I
thought we ſhould there have ended our days, over-
come with ſo many difficulties. But the Lord renew-
ed my ſtrength ftill, and carried.me along, that I
might

( 9 )
Bertson
might ſee more of his power, yea, ſo much that I could
never have thought of, had I not experienced it.
After this it quickly began to ſnow; and when
night came on, they ſtopped : and now down I muit
fit in the ſnow, by a little fire, and a few boughs be-
hind me, with my fick child in my lap, and calling
much for water, being now (through the wound) fall-
en into a violent fever. My own wound alſo growing
fo ftiff, that I could ſcarce fit down or riſe up, yet ſo
it muſt be, that I muſt fit, all this cold winter night,
upon the cold ſnowy ground, with my fick child in
my arms, looking that every hour would be the laſt of
its life ; and having no chriftian friend near me, ei-
ther to comfort or help me. How wonderful was the
power of God, that my ſpirit did not utterly fink un-
der my affliction ; but the Lord upheld me with his
gracious and merciful ſpirit, and we were both alive to
ſee the light of the next morning.
The Third Remove.
THE morning being come, they prepared to go on
their way: one of the Indians got up on a horſe, and
they ſet me up behind him, with my poor fick babe in
my lap. A very wearifome and tedious day I had of
it; what with my own wound, and my child being fo
exceeding fick, and in a lamentable condition with her
wound, it may eaſily be judged what a poor feeble
condition we were in, there being not the leaſt crumb
of refreſhment that came within either of our mouths
from Wedneſday night to Saturday night, except only
a little cold water. This day in the afternoon, about
an hour by fun, we came to the place where they in-
tended, viz. an Indian town called Wenimeffet, north-
ward of Qvabaug When we were come, oh the num-
ber of pagans (our mercileſs enemies) that there came
about

(10)
about me! I might ſay as David, Pſal. xxvii. 13. I had
fainted, unleſs I had believed, &c. The next day was
the Sabbath : I then remembered how carelefs I had
been of God's holy time ; how many Sabbaths I had
loft and miſpent, and how evily I had walked in God's
fight ; which lay ſo cloſe upon my fpirit, that it was
eaſy for me to ſee how righteous it was with God to
cut off the thread of my life, and caft me out of his
preſence forever. Yet the Lord Atill ſhewed mercy to
me, and helped me; and as he wounded me with one
hand, fo he healed me with the other. This day there
came to me one Robert Pepper, (a man belonging to
Roxbury) who was taken at Capt. Beers's fight ; and
had been now a confiderable time with the Indians,
and
up
with them almost as far as Albany, to ſee King
Philip, as he told me, and was now very lately come
with them into thefe parts. Hearing that I wasan
this indian town, he obtained leaya to come and ſee
me. He told me he himſelf was wounded in the leg
at Capt. Beers’s fight; and was not able for ſome
time to go, but as they carried him, and that he ook
oak leaves and laid on his wound, and by the bleling
of God, he was able to travel again. Then I took
oak leaves and laid on my fide, and with the blefing
of God, it cured me alſo ; yet before the cure was
wrought, I might ſay as it is in Pſal. xxxviii. 5,6,
My wound's flink and are corrupt, I am troubled, I am
bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long.
I fat much alone with my poor wounded child in my
lap, which moaned night and day, having nothing to
revive the body, or cheer the ſpirits of her ; but in
ſtead of that, one Indian would come and tell me one
hour, your mafter will knock your child on the head ;
and then a fecond, and then a third, your maſter will
quickly knock your child on the head.
This was the comfort I had from them; miferable
comforters were they all. Thus nine days I fat upon
my knees, with my babe in my lap, till my fleſh was
raw. My child being even ready to depart this for-
sowful

( 11 -
rowful world, they bid me carry it out to another
wigwam, (I fuppofe becauſe they would not be trou.
bled with ſuch ſpectacles,) whither I went with a very
heavy heart, and down I fat with the picture of death
in my lap. In about two hours, in the night, my
fweet babe, like a lamb, departed this life, on Feb. 18,
1675, it being about fix years and five months old.
It was nine days from the firſt wounding in this mife-
rable condition, without any refreſhing of one nature
or other, except a little cold water. I cannot but
take notice, how at another time I could not bear to
be in the room where any dead perſon was, but now
the caſe is changed ; I muſt, and could lie down by
my dead babe all the night after. I have thought
fince of the wonderful goodneſs of God to me, in pre-
ſerving me ſo in the uſe of my reaſon and ſenſes, in
Alat diftreffing time, that I did not uſe wicked and
violent means to end my own miferable life. In the
morning, when they underſtood that my child was
dead, they ſent for me home to my mafter's wigwam.
(By my maſter muſt be underſtood Quannopin, who
was a Sagamore, and married K. Philip's wife's fifter ;
not that he firſt took me, but I was ſold to him by a
Narraganſet Indian, who took me when I firſt came
ont of the garriſon). I went to take up my dead
child in my arms, to carry it with me, but they bid
me let it alone : there was no refifting, but go I muſt,
and leave it. When I had been a while at my maf-
ter's wigwam, I took the firſt opportunity I could get,
to go and look after my dead child. When I came,
I aſked them what they had done with it? they told
me it was upon the hill; then they went and thewed
me where it was, where I faw the ground was newly
digged, and where they told me they had buried it;
there I left that child in the wilderneſs, committing it,
and myſelf alſo, in this wilderneſs condition, to him
who is above all. God having taken away this dcar
child, I went to ſee my daughter Mary, who was at
this fame Indian town, at a wigwam not very far off,
though

(12)
fold for a gun.
over-
though we had little liberty or opportunity to ſee one
another : ſhe was about ten years old, and taken from
the door at firſt by a Praying Indian, and afterward
When I came in fight, ſhe would fall
a weeping, at which they were provoked, and would
not let me come near her, but bid me be gone; which
was a heart-cutting word to me. I had one child
dead, another in the wilderneſs, I knew not where, the
third they would not let me come near to ; Me (as he
faid) have ye bereaved of my children, Jofeph is not, and
Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin alſo, all theſe
things are againſt me. I could not fit ftill in this con-
dition, but kept walking from one place to another.
And as I was going along, my heart was even
whelmed with the thoughts of my condition, and that
I fhould have children, and a nation that I knew not
ruled over them. Whereupon I earneſtly intreatro
the Lord that he would conſider my low eſtate, and
fhew me a token for good, and if it were his bleſſed
will, ſome fign and hope of ſome relief. And indeed
quickly the Lord anſwered, in ſome meaſure, my poor
prayer : for as I was going up and down, mourning
and lamenting my condition, my ſon came to me, and
aſked me how I did? I had not ſeen him before,
fince the deſtruction of the town; and I knew not
where he was, till I was informed by himſelf, that he
was amongſt a ſmaller parcel of Indians, whoſe place
was about fix miles off; with tears in his eyes, he
aſked me whether his fifter Sarah was dead? and told
me he had ſeen his fifter Mary; and prayed me, that
I would not be troubled in reference to bimſelf. The
occafion of his coming to ſee me at this time was this:
There was, as I ſaid, about fix miles from us, a ſmall
plantation of Indians, where it ſeems he had been dur-
ing his captivity, and at this time, there were fome
forces of the Indians gathered out of our company,
and ſome alſo from them, (amongſt whom was my
fon's maſter) to go to affault and burn Medfield: In
this time of his maſter's abſence, his dame brought
him

7 13 )
shoto fee me. I took this to be fome gracious an-
fwer to my earneſt and unfeigned deſire. The next
day! the Indians returned from Medfield ; (all the
company, for thoſe that belonged to the other ſmaller
company came through the town that now we were at):
But before they came to us, oh the outragedus) roaring
andriwhooping that there was! They began their din
about a mile before they came to us. By their noiſe
and whooping, they fignified how many they had del
troyed,(which was at that time twenty-three). Thoſe
that were with us, at home, were gathered together as
foon as they heard the whooping; and every time that
the other went over their number, theſe at home gave
a fhout, that the very earth rang again. And thus
they continued till thoſe that had been upon the ex-
pedition were come up to the Sagramore's wigwam ;
and then, oh the hideous infulting and triumphing that
there was over fome Englifa men's fcalps that they had
taken (as their manner is) and brought with them.
I cannot but take notice of the wonderful mercy of
God to me in thoſe afflictions, in ſending me a bible:
One of the Indians that came from Med fieldsfight, and
had brought fome plunder, I came to me, and aſked me
if I would have a bible, for he had got one in his baſ-
ket. I was glad of it, and aſked him ifshe thought
the Indians would let me read? He anſwered yes ;
ſo I took the bible, and in that melancholy time, it
came into my mind to read firſt the 28th chap. of
Deuteronomy, which I did, and when I had read it,
my dark heart w bught on this manner, That there
was no mercy for me, that the bleffings were gone,
and the curfea came in their room, and that I had loſt
my opportunity. ( But the Lord helped me ftillito go
on reading, till leadelito chap. 302 the ſeven firſt
verſes; where I found there was mercy-promiſed again,
if we would return to him, 'by repentance; and though
we were fcattered from one, end of the earth to the
otherşı yet the Lords would gather us together, and
toro all thofe curfes upon oun egemicas I do not de-
B
Gire

( 14
)
fire to live to forget this ſeripture, and what comfort
it was to me.
Now the Indians began to talk of removing from
this place, fome one way, and fome another. There
were now, beſides myſelf nine Englifh captives in this
place, (all of them children, except one woman), I
got an opportunity to go and take my leave of them,
they being to go one way, and I another. I aſked
them whether they were earneſtiwith God for deliver
ance, they all told me they did as they were able, and
it was ſome comfort to me, that the Lord ftirred up
children to look to him. The woman, viz. Goodwife
Joſlin, told me, the ſhould never fee me again, and
that ſhe could find in her heart vtov run away. I de-
fired her not to run away by any means, for we were
near thirty miles from any Engliſh town, and the
very
big with child, having but one week to reckon :-
another child in her arms, two years old, and bad riv-
ers, there were to go over, and we were feeble with
our poor and courſe entertainment. I had my bible
with me, I pulled it out, and aſked her whether ſhe
would read; we opened the bible, and lighted on
Pfal. xxvii. sin which pſalm werefpecially took notice
of that verſe, Wait dn the Lord, be of good courage, and
he fall ftrengthen thine heart ; wait, I ſay, on the Lord.
aer
The Fourth Remove
oovigniltsid
AND now muft I part with that little company
that I had ? Here I parted from my daughter Mary,
(whom I never ſaw again till I ſaw her in Dorchefter,
returned from captivity) and from four little coufins
and neighbours, ſome of which I never faw afterward,
the Lord only knows the end of them. Among them
alſo was that poor woman before mentioned, who came
to a fad end, as fome of the company told me in my
travel :

( 15 )
travel: ſhe having much grief upon her ſpirits, about
her miſerable condition, being ſo near her time, the
would be often aſking the Indians to let her go home;
they not being willing to that, and yet vexed with her
importunity, gathered a great company together about
her, and ſtript her naked, and fet her in the midſt of
them; and when they had fung and danced about her
(in their helliſh manner) as long as they pleaſed, they
knocked her on her head, and the child in her arms
with her. When they had done that, they made a
fire and put them both into it; and told the other
children that were with them, that if they attempted
to go home, they would ferve them in like manner.
The children ſaid ſhe did not ſhed one tear, but prayed
ally he while. But to return to my own journey:
We travelled about half a day, or a little more, and
camextola idefolaté place in the wilderneſs, where there
were no wigwams or inhabitants before. We come
about the middle of the afternoon to this placé ; cold
aird wet, and ſnowy, land hungry, and weary, and no
refreſhing (for man) but the cold ground to fit on;
and our poor Indian chéer.
Heart-aching 'dhoughts here I had about my poor
children, who were ſcattered up and down among the
wild beaſts of the forefte: My head was light and diz-
zy) (either through hunger or bad-lodging, or trouble;
or all together) my knees feeble, my body raw by fit-
ting donble night and day, ſo that I cannot expreſs t'o
man the afiliation that lay upon my fpirit, but the
Lord helped me at that time to expreſs it to himſelf.
I opened my bible to read, and the Lord brought that
precious ſcripture to me, Jer. xxxi. 16. Thus faith the
Lord, refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from
tears, for thy work Mall be rewarded, and they ſhall come
again from the land of the enemy. This was a ſweet cor-
diah to shey when I was ready to faint. Many and
many a time have I ſat down, and wept ſweetly over
this fcripture. At this place we continued about four
days.
The

( 16 )
The Fifth Remove.
THE occafion (as I thought) of their moving at
this time, was the Engliſh army's being rear, and fol-
lowing them; for they went as if they had gone for
their lives, for ſome confiderable way; and then they
made a ſtop, and choſe out ſome of their ftouteft men,
and ſent them back to hold the Engliſh army in play
whilſt the reſt eſcaped, and then, like Jehu, they
marched on furiouſly, with their old and young : fome
carried their old decriped mothers, fome carried one,
and fome another. Four of them carried al great In-
dian upon a bier ; but going through a thick wood
with him, they were hindered, and could make no
hafte ; whereupon they took him upon their backs,
and carried him, one at a time, till we came to Bac-
quag River. Upon a Friday, a little after noon, we
came to this river. When all the company was come
up, and were gathered together and thought to count
the number of them, but they were ſo many, and be-
ing ſomewhat in motion, it was beyond my ſkill, bim
this travel, becauſe of my wound, I was ſomewhat fa-
voured in my load.. I carried only my knitting-work,
and two quarts of parched meal : Being very faint,
I aſked my miſtreſs to give me one ſpoonful of the
meal, but ſhe would not give me a taſte. They quick-
ly fell to cutting dry trees, to make rafts to carry
them over the river, and ſoon my turn came to go
over. By the advantage of ſome bruſh which they
had laid upon the raft to fit on, I did not wet my feet,
(while, many of themſelves, at the other end, were
mid-leg deep) which cannot but ibe acknowledged as
a favour of God to my weakened body, it being a very
cold time. I was not before acquainted with ſuch
kind of doings, or dangers. When thou pallef shrough

( 17 )
the waters I will be with thees and through the river's',
they ſhall not overflow thee: Ifai. xliii. 2. A certain
number of us got over the river that night, but it was
the night after the Sabbath before all the company
was got over. On the Saturday they boiled an old
horſe's leg (which they had got) and ſo we drank of
the broth, as foon as they thought it was ready; and
when it was almoſt all gone, they filled it up again.
The firſt week of my being among them, I hardly
ate any thing: the ſecond week I found my ſtomach
grow very faint for want of ſomething; and yet it
was very hard to get down their filthy traſh : bot the
third week (though I could think how formerly my
ftomach would turn againſt this or that, and I could
ftarve and die before I could eat ſuch things, yet) they
were pleaſant and ſavoury to my taſte. I was at this
time knitting a pair of white cotton ſtockings for my
miſtreſs, and I had not yet wrought upon the Sabbath
day: when the Sabbath came, they bid me go to
work; 1 told them it was Sabbath day, and defired
them to let me reſt, and told them I would do las
much more tomorrow; to which they anſwered me,
they would break my face. And here I cannot but
take notice of the ſtrange providence of God in pre-
ferving the heathen they were many hundreds, old
and young, ſome fick and fome lame, many had pa-
pooſes at their backs; the greateſt number (at this
time with us) were ſquaws, and they travelled with all!
they had, bag and baggage, and yet they got over the
river aforeſaid ; and on Monday they ſet their wig.
wams on fire, and away they went. On that very day
came the Engliſh army after them to this river, and
faw the ſmoke of their wigwams; but this river put a
it op to them. God did not give them courage or ac-
tivity to go over after us. We were not ready for ſo
great a mercy as victory and deliverance ; if we had
been, God would have found out a way for the Engliſh
to have paſſed this river, as well as for the Indians with
their ſquaws and children, and all their luggage. Ob
B. 2
that

( 18 )
that my people had hearkened to me, and Iſrael had walked:
in my ways, I ſhould foon have ſubdued their enemies, and
turned my, hand againg their adverſaries. Pfal. lxxxi.
13, 14.
The Sixth Remove.
ON Monday (as I ſaid) they ſet their wigwams ons
fire, and went away. It was a cold morning, and be
føre us there was a great brook, with ice on it: fome:
waded through it, up to the knees and higher; but
others went till they came to a beaver-dam, and I
amongſt them, where, through the good providence of a
God, I did not wet my feet. I went along that daya
mourning and lamenting (leaving farther my own
country, and travelling farther into the vaſt and howl->
ing wilderneſs) and I underſtood ſomething of Lots
wift's temptation, when fhe looked back. We came:
that day to a great ſwamp, by the ſide of which was
took up our lodging that night. When we came to
the brow of the hill that looked toward the ſwamp, I.
thought we had come to a great Indian town. Thoughs
there were none but our own company, the Indians ap-
peared as thick as the trees; it ſeemed as if there hade
been a thouſand hatchets going at once if one looked
before, there were nothing but Indians; and behind,
nothing but Indians; and ſo on either hand; and I
myſelf in the midſt, and no Chriſtian fool near mes
and yet how hath the Lord preſerved me in ſafety!
Oh the experience that I have had of the goodneſs of
God to me and mine!
.

( 19 )
The Seventh Remove
AFTER a reſtleſs and hungry night there, we had a
wearifome time of it the next day. The ſwamp, by
which we lay, was as it were a deep dungeon, and an
exceeding high and ſteep hill before it. Before I got
to the top of the hill, I thought my heart and legs,
and all would have broken, and failed me. What
through faintneſs and foreneſs of body, it was a griev.
ous day of travel to me. As we went along, I ſaw a
place where Engliſh cattle had been ; that was com-
fort to me, ſuch as it was. Quickly after that, we
came to an Engliſh path, which fo took with me, that
I thought I could there have freely. lien down and
died. That day, a little after noon, we came to Squau.
heag, where the Indians quickly ſpread themſelves over
the deſerted Engliſh fields, gleaning what they could
find : fome picked up ears of wheat, that were crickled
down; ſome found cars of Indian corn ; fome found
ground-nuts, and others fheaves of wheat, that were
frozen together in the ſhock, and went to threſhing
them out. Myfelf got two ears of Indian corn, and
whilft I did but turn my back, one of them was ſtolen
from me, wbich much troubled me. There came an
Indian to them at that time, with a baſket of horfe.
liver; I aſked him to give me a piece. What, (ſays
he) can you eat horſe-liver? I told him I would try,
if he would give me a piece, which he did ; and I laid
it on the coals to roaft; but before it was half ready,
they got half of it away from me, ſo that I was forc-
ed to take the reſt and eat it as it was, with the blood
about my month, and yet a favoury bit it was to me;
for to the hungry foul every bitter thing is ſweet.---
А

( 20 )
A folemn fight, methought it was, to ſee whole
fields of wheat and Indian corn forſaken and ſpoiled,
and the remainders of them to be food for our mer-
cileſs enemies. That night we had a meſs of wheat
for our ſupper.
The Eighth Remove.
3 ON the morrow morning we muſt go over Connec-
ticut river to meet with king Philip; two canoes full
they had carried over; the next turn myſelf was to
go; but as my foot was upon the canoe to ftep in,
the was a fudden out-cry among them, and I muſt
stop back, and inſtead of going up the river, I'müft
go four or five miles-farther forthward. Some of the
Indians ran one way, and ſome another. The cauſe
of this route was, -as I thought, their eſpying fome
Engliſh fcouts, who were thereabouts. In this travel,
about poon, the company made a ſtop, and fat down,
fome to eat, and others to reſt them. As I ſat amongft
them, muſing on things paft, my ſon Jofeph unex-
pectedly came to me: we asked of each other's wel.
fare, bemoaning our doleful condition, and the change
that had come upon us : we had had huſband, and fa-
ther, and children, and liflers, and friends, and rela-
tions, and houſe; and home, and many comforts of
this life; but now might we ſay with Job, Naked came
I out of my mother's womb, and naked Shall I retur:
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken a way, bleſſed be
the name of the Lord. I aſked him whether he would
read? he told me, he earpefly deGred it. I gave him
my bible, and he lighted upon iha't comfortable fcrip-
ture, Pfal. cxviii. 17, 18. 7 hall not die, but live, and
declare the works of the Lord: The Lord hath challened
me fore, yet he hath not given me over to death. Look
here, mother, (faid he did you read this? And here
T

( 21 )
)
I may take occafionito mention one principal ground
of my ſetting forth theſe few lines, even as the Pfalm-
iſt ſays, To declare the works of the Lord, and his
wonderful power in carrying us along, preſerving us
in the wilderneſs, while under the enemy's hand, and
returning of us in ſafety again ; and his goodneſs in
bringing to my hand ſo many comfortable and ſuitable
Scriptures in my diſtreſs.
But to return: We travelled on till night, and in
the morning we muſt go over the river to Philip's crew.
When I was in the canoe, I could not but be amazed
at the numerous crew of pagans that were on the bank
on the other fide. When I came afhore, they gatber-
ed all about me, Lfitting alone in the midft: I ob-
ſerved they aſked one another queſtions, and laughed,
and rejoiced over their gains and victories. Then my
Seart began to fail, and I fell a weeping; which was
the firſt time, to my remembrance, that I wept before
them; although I had met with ſo much amiction,
and my heart was many times ready to break, yet could
I not ſhed one tear in their fight, but rather had been
all this while in a maze, and like one aftoriſhed; but
now I maly ſay as Pfal. cxxxvii. 1. By the river of Ba-
bylon, there we ſat down, yea, we wept, when we remem-
bered Zion. There one of them aſked me, why I wept?
I could hardlyitell what to ſay ; yet: I anſwered, they
would kill med Nog faid be, none will: hurt you.--
Then came one of them, and gave me two ſpoonfuls of
meal, to comfort me; and another gave me half a pint
of peas, which was more worth than mariy buſhels at
another time. Then I went to fee King Philip; he
bid me come in,larid fit down; and aſked me whether
I would ſmoke it? (a ufual complimenti now-a-days;
among faints and finners): But this no way ſuited me.
For though I had formerly ufed tobacco, yet I had left
it ever ſince I was firſt taken. It ſeems to be a bait
the devil lays, to make meni loſe their precious time.
I remember, i with ſhame, how formerly, when I had
taken two or three pipes, I was preſently ready for an-
other;

(22)
other; ſuch a bewitching thing it is : but I thank
God, he has now given me power over it ; ſurely there
are many who may be better employed, than to fit
fucking a ſtinking tobacco-pipe.
Now the Indians gathered their forces to go againſt
Northampton. Over night one went about yelling
and hooting to give notice of the deſign. Whereup.
on they went to builing of ground nuts, and parching
of corn, (as many as had it) for their provifion; and
in the morning away they went. During my aboże
in this place, Philip ſpake to me to make a ſhirt for his
boy, which I did; for which the gave me a ſhilling:
I offered the money to my maſter, but he bid me keep
it, and with it I bought a piece of horſe-fleſh. After
ward he aſked me to make a cap for his boy, for which
he invited me to dinner :: I went, and he gave me a
pan-cake, aboue as big as twoffingers ; it was made
parched wheat, beaten, and fried in bear's greaſe, but
I thought I never ltalted pleaſanter food in my life.
There was a ſquaw who fpake to me to make a ſhirt
for her fannup; for which ſhe gave me a piece of
bear. Another aſked me to knit a pair of ſtockings,
for which ſhe gave me a quart
of
peas.
I boiled my
peas and bear together, and invited: my maſter and
miſtreſs to dinner ; but the proud goſſip, becauſe I
ferved them both in one diff; would eat nothing,cox
cept one bit that he gave heri upon the point of his
knife.
16 to 30 so IT
Hearing that my ſon was come to this place, I
went to ſee him, and found him lying flat rupon the
ground; I aſked him how he could ſleep fo ? he same
fwered me, that he was not alleep, but at prayer; and
that he lay ſo that they might not obferve: what he
was doing. I pray God be may remember thefe
things now he is returned in ſafety. At this place,
(the ſun now getting higher) whats with the beams
and heat of the fun, and the fmoke of the wigwams,
I thought I fhould have been blind, I could ſtarce
diſcern one wigwam from another. There was here
one

( 23 )
one Mary Thurſton of Medfield, who feeing how lit
was with me, let mera har to wears but as ſoon as I
was gone, the fquiaw who owned that Mary Thurſton,
came runwing aftersme, and got it away again. Here
was a ſquaw who gave me a ſpoonful of meal; I put it
in my pocket oto keep it ſafey yet notwithſtanding
fomebody Atole it, but put five Indian Ocorns in the
room isfoit ; which corns were the greateſt provifion I
had in my travel for one day..widuotis bus
wThe Indians returning from Northampton, (brought
with them fome horſes and Sheep, and other things
which thty had taken; I defired them that they would
carry me to Albany upon one of thofe horfes, and fell
me for powder; "for fo they had ſome times diſconrf-
ed. I was utterly hopeleſs of getting home on foot,
the way that a came. I could hardly bear to think
of the many weary ſteps I had taken, to come to this
place.
The Ninth Remove.
2000
W 1.7.15 T
u
BUT inſtead of going either to Albany or home-
ward, we muſt go five miles up the river, and then go
over it. Here we abode a while. Here lived a forry
Indian, who fpake to me to make him a ſhirt; when
I had done it, he would pay me nothing for it. But
he lived by the river fide, where I often went to fetch
water, I would often be putting of him in mind, and
calling for my pay ; at laft he told me if I would
make another ſhirt for a papoos not yet born, he
would give me a knife, which he did, when I had done
it. I carried the knife in, and my maſter aſked me to
give it to him, and I was not a little glad that I had
any thing that they would accept of, and be pleaſed
with. When we were at this place, my maſter's maid
catne home; the had been gone three weeks into the
Narraganfet

( 24 )
Narrağanſèt country, Ito fetch corn, where they had
ftored up ſome insthe ground:- ſhe brought home 3-
bout a péck and an half of corn. This was about the
time that their great captain (Naananto) was killed
in the Narraganfet country
My ſon being now about a mile from the, I aſked
Jiberty to go and ſee him ; they bid me go, and laway
I went ; but quickly loſt myſelf, travelling over hills
and through ſwamps, and could not find the way to
him. And I cannot but admire at the wonderful pow-
er and goodneſs of God to me, in that though I was
gone from home, andimet with all ſorts of Indians,
and thoſe I had no iknowledge of, and there being no
Chittian foul near me, yet not one of them offered the
Jeaſt imaginable miſcarriage to me. I turned home
ward again, and met with my maſter, and he fhewed
me the way to my fon. When I came to him I found
him not well; and withal he had a boil on his fide,
which much troubled him: we bemoaned one another
a while, as the Lord helped us, and then I returned
again. When I was returned, I found myſelf as un-
fatis&ed as I was before. I went up and down mourn-
ing and lamenting, and my ſpirit was ready to fink,
with the thoughts of my poor children: My ſon was
ill, and I could not but think of his mournful looks,
having no Chriftian friend near him, to do any office
of love for him, Heither for foul or body. And my
poor girl, I knew not where ſhe was, nor whether ſhe
was fick, or well, or alive, or dead. I repaired under
cheſe thonghts to my bible, (my great comforter in
that time) and ithat ſchipture came to my hand, Croft
thy Lurdin upon the Lord, and be fall fuftain thee, Plah
lv. 22,4 y 10 2016
191130gsan
But I was fainito go and look after , ſomething to
ſatisfy myı bungers and going among the wigwams, I
went into one, and there found a ſquaw who ſhewed
herſelf
very kind to me, and gave me a piece of bear,
I put it into my pocket, and came home ; but could
not find an opportunity to broil it, for fear they ſhould
get

( 25 )
get it from me, and there it lay all that day and night
in ny ſtinking pocket. In the morning I went again
to the fame fquaw, who had a kettle of ground-nuts
boiling : I aſked her to let me boil my piece of bear
in the kettle, which ſhe did, and gave me ſome ground-
nurs to eat with it, and I cannot but think how plea-
fant it was to me. I have ſometimes ſeen bear baked
handſomely amongſt the Engliſh, and ſome liked it;
but the thonghts that it was bear, made me tremble :
But now that was favoury to me that one would think
was enough to turn the ſtomach of a brute creature.
One bitter cold day, I could find no room to fit
down before the fire : I went out, and could not tell
what to do, but I went into another wigwam, where
they were all fitting round the fire ; but the ſquaw
laid a ſkin for me and bid me fit down, and gave me
fame ground-nuts, and bid me come again; and told
me they would buy me, if they were able; and yet
theſe were ſtrangers to me that I never knew before.
The Tenth
Reinove.
THAT day a ſmall part of the company removed
about three quarters of a mile, intending farther the
next day. When they came to the place where they
intended to lodge, and had pitched their wigwams,
being hungry, I went again back to the place we were
before at, to get ſomething to eat: being encouraged
by the ſquaw's kindneſs, who bid me come again.-
When I was there, there came an Indian to look af-
ter me ; who, when he had found me, kicked me all
along. I went home and found veniſon roaſting that
night, but they would not give me one bit of it. Some-
times I met with favour, and ſometimes with nothing
but frowns.
с
Tbe

( 26 )
The Eleventh Remove.
THE next day, in the morning, they took their
travel, intending a day's journey up the river ; I took
my load at my back, and quickly we came to wade
over a river, and pafled over tireſome and wearifome
hills. One hill was ſo ſteep, that I was fain to creep
up upon my knees, and to hold by the twigs and buſha
es to keep myſelf from falling backward. My head
alſo was ſo light, that I uſually reeled as I went:--
But I hope all thoſe weariſome fteps that I have taken,
are but a forwarding of me to the heavenly reſt. I
know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou
in faithfulneſs haſ afliged me, Pſal. cxix. 75.
The Twelfth Remove.
IT was upon a Sabbath-day morning, that they pre-
pared for their travel. This morning I aſked my maſ.
ter whether he would fell me to my huſband? he an.
ſwered Nux; which did much rejoice my ſpirit. My
miſtreſs, before we went, was gone to the burial of a
papoos, and returning, the found me fitting, and read-
ing in my bible: the ſnatched it haſtily out of my
hand, and threw it out of doors; I ran out and catch-
ed it up, and put it into my pocket, and never let her
fee it afterward. Then they packed up their things
to be gone, and gave me my load : I complained it was
too heavy, whereupon the gave me a ſlap on the face,
and bid me be gone. I lifted up my heart to God,
hoped that redemption was not far off; and the rather
becauſe their infolence grew worſe and worſe.
But

( 27 )
But thoughts of my going homeward, (for fo we
bent our courſe) much cheered my ſpirit, and made my
burden ſeem light, and almoſt nothing at all. But
(to my amazement and great perplexity) the ſcale was
foon turned; for when we had gone a little way, on
a ſudden my miſtreſs give out, the would go no further,
but turn back again, and ſaid I muſt go back again
with her, and ſhe called her fannup, and would have
had him go back alſo, but he would not; but ſaid, he
would go on, and come to us again in three days.-
My ſpirit was upon this (I confeſs) very impatient,
and almoft outrageous. I thought I could as well
have died as went back. I cannot declare the trouble
that I was in about it ; but yet back again I muſt go.
As ſoon as I had an opportunity, I took my bible to
read, and that quieting ſcripture came to my hand,
Pfal. xlvi. 10. Be fill, and know that I am Ged: which
filled my ſpirit for the preſent; but a fore time of
trial I concluded I had to go through. My maſter
being gone, who ſeemed to me the beft friend that I
had of an Indian, both in cold and hunger, and quickly
ſo it proved. Down I fat with my heart as full as it
could hold, and yet ſo hungry, that I could not fit
neither : but going out to ſee what I could find, and
walking among the trees, I found fix acorns and two
chefnuts, which were ſome refreſhment to me. To-
ward night I gathered me fome ſticks for my own com-
fort, that I might not lie cold; but when we came to
lic down, they bid me go out, and lie fomewhere elſe,
for they had company, they ſaid, come in, more than
their own: I told them I could not tell where to go,
they bid me go and look : I told them, if I went to
another wigwam, they wonld be angry, and ſend me
home again. Then one of the company drew his
ſword, and told me he would run me through, if I did
not go preſently. Then was I fain to ſtoop to this
rude fellow, and go out in the sight, I knew not whi.
ther. Mine eyes have ſeen that fellow afterwards walk-
ing up and down in Boſton, under the appearance of a
friendly

( 28 )
room.
friendly Indian, and ſeveral others of the like cut.-
I went to one wigwam, and they told me they had no
Then I went to another, and they ſaid the
fame : At laft, an old Indian bid me come to him, and
his ſquaw gave me ſome ground-nuts ; ſhe gave me al-
ſo ſomething to lay under my head, and a good fire
we had : through the good providence of God, I had
a comfortable lodging that night. In the morning
another Indian bid me come at night, and he would
give me fix ground-nuts, which I did. We were at
this place and time about two miles from Connecticut
river. We went in the morning (to gather ground-
nuts) to the river, and went back again at night. I
went with a great load at my back, (for they, when
they went, though but a little way, would carry all
their trumpery with them). I told them the ſkin was
off my back, but I had no other comforting antwer
from them than this, That it would be no matter if my
head were off too.
The Thirteenth Remove. .
INSTEAD of going toward the bay, (which was
what I defired) I muſt go with them five or fix miles
down the river, into a mighty thicket of bruſh; where
we abode almoſt a fortnight. Here one aſked me to
make a ſhirt for her papoos, for which ſhe gave me a
meſs of broth, which was thickened with meal made
of the bark of a tree; and to make it the better, the
had put into it about a handful of peas, and a few
roaſted ground-nuts. I had not feen my fon a good
while, and here was an Indian of whom I made en.
quiry after him, and aſked him when he ſaw him? He
anſwered me, that ſuch a time his maſter roaſted him,
and that himſelf did eat a piece of him as big as his
two fingers, and that he was very good meat. But
the

( 29 )
the Lord upheld my ſpirit under this diſcouragement;
and I conſidered their horrible addictedneſs to lying,
and that there is not one of them that makes the leaſt
conſcience of ſpeaking the truth.
In this place, one cold night, as I lay by the fire, I
removed a ſtick which kept the heat from me, a ſquaw
moved it down again, at which I looked up, and ſhe
threw a handful of afhes in my eyes ;' I thought I
hould have been quite blinded, and never have ſeen
more ; but lying down, the water ran out of my eyes, ,
and carried the dirt with it, that by the morning I
recovered my fight again. Yet upon this, and the like
occafions, I hope it is not too much to ſay with Job,
Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, 0 ye my friends,
for the hand of the Lord has touched me. And here I
cannot but remember how many times fitting in their
wigwams, and muſing on things paſt, I ſhould fudden-
ly leap up and run out, as if I had been at home, for-
getting where I was, and what my condition was ;-
bnt when I was without, and ſaw nothing but wilder-
nefs, and woods, and a company of barbarous heathen,
my mind quickly returned to me, which made me think
of that ſpoken concerning Sampſon, who faid, I will
go out and ſhake myſelf as at other times, but he will not
that the Lord was departed from him.
About this time, I began to think that, all my hopes
of reftoration would come to nothing. I thought of
the Engliſh army, and hoped for their coming, and
being retaken by them, but that failed. I hoped to
be carried to Albany, as the Indians had diſcourſed,
but that failed alſo.
I thought of being ſold to my huſband, as my maſter
ſpake; but inſtead of that, my mafter himſelf was gone-
and I left behind, ſo that my ſpirit was now quite
ready to fink. I aſked them to let me go out and
pick up fome ſticks, that I might get alone, and pour
out my heart unto the Lord. Then alſo I took my
bible to read, but I found no comfort here neither,
yet I can ſay, in all my forrows and affiliations, God
C2

( 30 )
did not leave me to have any impatience work towards
himſelf, as if his ways were uurighteous, but I knew
that he laid upon me leſs than I deferved. Afterward,
before this doleful time ended with me, I was turning
the leaves of my bible, and the Lord brought to me
fome ſcriptures which did a little revive me, as that,
Iſa. lv. 8. Fer my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are my ways your ways, ſaith the Lord. And alſo that,
Pfal. xxxvii. 5. Commit thy ways unto the Lord, truſt
alſo in bim, and he shall bring it to paſs. im
About this time they came yelping from Hadley,
having there killed three Engliſhmen, and brought
one captive with them, viz. Thomas Read. They all
gathered about the poor man, aſking him many queſ-
tions. I deſired alſo to go and ſee him ; and when I
came he was crying bitterly, fuppofing they would
quickly kill him. Whereupon I aſked one of them,
whether they intended to kill him ? he anſwered me,
they would not : he being a little cheered with that,
I aſked him about the welfare of my huſband; he told
me he ſaw him ſuch a time in the bay, and he was
well, but very melancholy. By which I certainly un-
derſtood (though I ſuſpected it before) that whatſo-
ever the Indians told me reſpecting him, was vanity
and lies. Some of them told me he was dead, and
they had killed him: fome ſaid he was married again,
and that the Governor wilhed him to marry, and told.
him he ſhould have his choice, and that all perfuaded
him I was dead. So like were theſe barbarous crea-
iures to him who was a liar from the beginning.
As I was fitting once in the wigwam here, Philip's
maid came in with the child in her arms, and aſked
me to give her a piece of my apron, to make a flap:
for it; I told her I would not : then my miſtreſs bid
me give it, but I fill faid no. The maid told me, if
I would not give her a piece, ſhe would rear a piece
off it: I told her I would tear her coat then: with
that my miſtrefs riſes up, and takes up a ſtick big
enough to have killed me, and ftruck at me with it,
but

( 31 )
but I flepped out, and ſhe ſtruck it into the mat of the
wigwam. But while I was pulling of it out, I ran
to the maid and gave her all my apron, and ſo that
ftorm went over.
Hearing that my ſon was come to this place, I went
to ſee him, and told him his father was well, but very
melancholy: He told me he was as much grieved for
his father, as for himſelf; I wondered at his ſpeech,
for I thought I had enough upon my ſpirit, in refer-
ence to myſelf, to make me mindleſs of my huſband,
and every one elſe, they being ſafe among their friends.
He told me allo, that a while before, his maſter (to-
gether with other Indians) were going to the French
for powder, but by the way the Mohawks met with
them, and killed four of their company, which made
the reſt turn back again ; for which I defire that my-
ſelf and lie may bleſs the Lord; for it might have been
worfe with him, and he been fold to the French, than
it proved to be in his remaining with the Indians.
I went to ſee an Engliſh youth in this place, one
John Gilbert, of Springfield. I found him lying with
out doors upon the ground; I aſked him how he did?
he told me he was very fick of a flux with eating fo
much blood. They had turned him out of the wig-
wam, and with him an Indian papoos, almoſt dead,
whoſe parents had been killed, in a bitter cold day,
without fire or cloaths : The young man himſelf had
nothing on but his ſhirt and waiſtcoat. This fight was
enough to melt a heart of flint. There they lay quiv-
ering in the cold, the youth round like a dog, the pa-
puos ſtretched out, with his eyes and noſe, and mouth,
full of dirt, and yet alive, and groaning. I adviſed
John to go and get to ſome fire ; he told me he could
not ſtand; but I perſuaded him ftill, left he ſhould lie
there and die. And with much ado I got him to a
fire, and went myſelf home. As ſoon as I was got
home, his maſter's daughter came after. me, to know
what I had done with the Engliſhman. I told her I
had got him to a fire in ſuch a place. Now had I
need

( 32 )
That we
need to pray Paul's prayer, 2 Thefl. iii. 2.
may be delivered from unreaſonable and wicked men. For
her ſatisfaction I went along with her, and brought her
to him; but before I got home again, it was noiſed
about, that I was running away, and getting the Eng-
liſh youth along with me: that as ſoon as I came in,
they began to rant and domineer, aſking me where I
had been, and what I had been doing ? and ſaying
they would knock me on the head: I told them I had
been ſeeing the Engliſh youth, and that I would not
run away. They told me I lied, and getting up a
hatchet, they came to me, and ſaid they would knock
me down if I ftirred out again; and fo confined me to
the wigwam. Now may I fay with David, 2 Sam.
xxiv. 14; I am in a great Arait. If I keep in, I muſt
die with hunger; and if I go out, I muſt be knocked
on the head. This diftreffed condition held that day,
and half the next; and then the Lord remembered me,
whoſe mercies are great. Then came an Indian to me
with a pair of ftockings which were too big for him,
and he would have me ravel them out, and knit them
fit for him. I ſhewed myſelf willing, and bid him aſk
my miſtreſs if I might go along with him a little way
She ſaid yes, I might; but I was not a little refreſh-
ed with that news, that I had my liberty again. Then
I went along with him, and he gave me ſome roaſted:
ground-nuts, which did again revive my feeble fto--
mach.
Being got out of her fight, I had time and liberty
again to look into my bible, which was my guide by
day, and my pillow by night. Now that comfortable
fcripture preſented itfelf to me, Ifai. xlv. 7.. For a
ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercies:
will I gather thee. Thus the Lord carried me along
from one time to another, and made good to me this
precious promiſe, and many others. Then my fon
came to ſee me, and I aſked his maſter to let him ftay
a while with me that I might comb his head, and look
over him, for he was almoſt overcome with lice. He
told

( 33 )
told me when I had done, that he was very hungry,
but I had nothing to relieve him, but bid hin go
into
the wigwams as he went along, and ſee if he could get
any thing among them. Which he did, and (it feems)
tarried a little too long, for his maſter was angry with
him, and beat him, and then ſold him. Then he came
running to tell me he had a new maſter, and that he
had given him fome ground-nuts already. Then I
went along with him to his new maſter, who told me
he loved him, and he fhould not want. So his maſter
carried him away, and I never ſaw him afterward, till
I ſaw him at Piſcataqua.
That night they bid me go out of the wigwam again :
my miſtreſs's papoos was fick, and it died that night ;
and there was one benefit in it, that there was more
room. I went to a wigwam, and they bid me come
in, and gave me a ſkin to lie upon, and a meſs of veniſ-
on and ground-nuts, which was a choice diſh among
them. On the morrow they buried the papoos ; and
afterward, both morning and evening, there came a
company to mourn and howl with her; though I con.
fefs I could not much condole with them. Many for-
rowful eyes I had in this place; often getting alone,
Like a crane or a ſwallow, ſo did I chatter ; I did mourn
as a dove, mine eyes fail with looking upward. O Lord,
I am oppreſſed, undertake for me, Iſai. xxxviii. 14. I
could tell the Lord as Hezekiah did, ver. 3. Remember
now O Lord, I beſeech thee, how I have walked before
thee in truth. Now had I time to examine all my ways:
my conſcience did not accuſe me of uorighteouſneſs
towards one or another; yet I ſaw how in my walk
with God I had been a careleſs creature. As David
ſaid, Againſ thee only have I finned. And I might ſay
with the poor Poblican, God be merciful unto me a finner.
Upon the Sabbath-days I could look upon the fun, and
think how people were going to the houſe of God, to
have their ſouls refreſhed, and then home, and their
bodies alſo; but I was deftitute of both, and mighè
fay as the poor Prodigal, He would fain have filled his
belly

( 34 )
Ver. 21.
belly with the buſks that the ſwine did cat, and no mar
gave unto him, Luke xv. 16. For I muſt ſay with
him, Father I have finned againſt heaven and in thy fight,
I remember how on the night before and af-
ter the Sabbath, when my family was about me, and
relations and neighbours with us, we could pray, and
fing, and refreſh our bodies with the good creatures of
God, and then have a comfortable bed to lie down on;
but inſtead of all this, I had only a little fwill for the
body, and then, like a fwine, muſt lie down on the
ground. I cannot exprefs to man, the forrow that
lay upon my ſpirit, the Lord knows it. Yet that
comfortable fcripture would often come to my mind,
For a ſmall moment have 2 forſaken thee, but with great
mercies will I gather thee.
The Fourteenth Remove. .
NOW muſt we pack up and be gone from this
thicket, bending our courſe toward the bay-towns. I
having nothing to eat by the way, this day, but a few
crumbs of cake, that an Indian gave my girl, the ſame
day we were taken. She gave it me, and I put it in-
to my pocket: there it lay, till it was ſo mouldy, (for
want of good baking) that one could not tell what it
was made of; it fell all to erumbs, and grew ſo dry
and hard, that it was like little flints; and this refreſh-
ed me many times, when I was ready to faint. It was
in my thoughts when I put it into my mouth, that if
ever I returned, I would tell the world what a bleſſing
the Lord gave to ſuch mean food. As we went along,
they killed a deer, with a young one in her; they gave
me a piece of the fawn, and it was fo young and ten-
.der, that one might eat the bones as well as the fleſh,
and yet I thought it very good. When night came
on, we ſat down; it rained, but they quickly got up a
bark

( 35 )
bark wigwam, where I lay dry that night. I looked out
in the morning, and many of them had lain in the rain
all night, I ſaw by their reeking. Thus the Lord
dealt mercifully with me many times, and I fared bet-
ter than many of them. In the morning they took
the blood of the deer, and put it into the paunch, and
fo boiled it; I could eat nothing of that, though they eat
it ſweetly. And yet they were ſo nice in other things,
that when I had fetched water, and had put the diſh I
dipped the water with, into the kettle of water which
I brought, they would ſay they would knock me down,
for they ſaid it was a fluttiſh trick.
The Fifteenth Remove.
WE went on our travel. I had got one handful of
ground-nuts, for my ſupport that day. They gave me
my load, and I went on chearfully (with the thoughts
of going homeward) having my burden more on my
back than my ſpirit. We came to Baquaug river a-
gain that day, near which we abode a few days. Some-
times one of them would give me a pipe, another a
little tobacco, another a little falt, which I would
change for a little victuals. I cannot but think what
a wolfiſh appetite perſons have in a ſtarving condition;
for many times when they gave me that which was
hot, I was ſo greedy as to burn my mouth, which
would trouble me hours after, and yet I quickly did
the fame again. And after I was thoroughly hungry,
I was never again ſatisfied. For though ſometimes it
fell out that I got enough, and did eat till I could eat
no more ; yet I was as unſatisfied as I was when I be-
gan. And now could I fee that ſcripture verified,
there being many fcriptures that we do not take notice
of, or underſtand, till we are afflicted, Mic. vi. 14.
Thou ſhalt eat and not be ſatisfied. Now might I fee,
morc

( 36 )
more than ever before, the miſeries that fin hath
brought upon us. Many times I ſhould be ready to
run ont againſt the heathen, but that ſcripture would
quiet me again, Amos iii. 6. Shall there be evil in the
city, and the Lord hath not done it? The Lord help me
to make a right improvement of his word, and that I
might learn that great leffon, Mic. vi. 8, 9. He hath
Shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord
require of thee, but to do juſly, and love mercy, and walk
humbly with thy God? Hear ye the rod, and who hath
appointed it.
The Sixteenth Remove.
WE began this remove with wading over Baquaug
river. The water was up to our knees, and the ſtream
very ſwift, and ſo cold, that I thought it would have
cut me in funder. I was ſo weak and feeble, that I
reeled as I went along, and thought there I muſt end
my days at laſt, after my bearing and getting through
ſo many difficulties. The Indians ſtood laughing to
ſee me ſtaggering along ; but in my diſtreſs, the Lord
gave me experience of the truth and goodneſs of that
promiſe, Ilai. xliii. 2. When thou pafſeth through the wa-
iers I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they fall
not overflow thee. Then I ſat down to put on my
ftockings and ſhoes, with the tears ruoning down my
eyes, and many ſorrowful thoughts in my heart. But
I got up to go along with them. Quickly there came
up to us an Indian who informed them, that I muſt go
to Wachuſet to my maſter, for there was a letter come
from the council to the Sagamores, about redeeming
the captives, and chat there would be another in 14
Cays, and that I muſt be there ready. My heart was
ſo heavy before, that I could ſcarce ſpeak, or go in the
path; and yet now fo light that I could run. My
ſtrength

(37)
ſtrength ſeemed to come again, and to recruit my fee-
ble knees, and aching heart; yet it pleaſed them to go
but one mile that night, and there we were ſtayed two
days. In that time came a company of Indians to us,
near thirty, all on horſeback. My heart ſkipped with-
in me, thinking they had been Engliſhmen, at the firſt
fight of them, for they were dreſſed in Engliſh apparel,
with hats, white neckcloths, and faſhes about their waiſts,
and ribbons upon their ſhoulders : but when they came
near, there was a vaſt difference between the lovely
faces of Chriftians, and the foul looks of thoſe heathens,
which much damped my ſpirit again.
The Seventeenth Remove.
A COMFORTABLE remove it was to me, becauſe
of my hopes. They gave me my pack, and along we
went chearfully; but quickly my will proved more
than
my ftrength; having little or no refreſhment, my
ſtrength failed, and my fpirits were almoſt quite gone.
Now may I ſay as David, Pſal. cix. 22, 23, 24. I am
poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I
am gone like the ſhadow when it declineth : I am toffed up
and down like the locuſ: My knees are weak through faſl-
ing, and my fefh faileth of fatneſs. At night we came
to an Indian town, and the Indians ſat down by a wig-
wam, diſcourſing, but I was almoſt ſpent, and could
ſcarce ſpeak. I laid down my load, and went into the
wigwam, and there fat an Indian boiliog of horſes feet
(shey being wont to eat the fleſh firſt, and when the
feet were old and dried, and they had nothing elſe,
they would cut off the feet and uſe them). I aſked
him to give me a little of his broth, or water they were
boiling in: he took a diſh, and gave me one fpoonful
of Camp, and bid me take as much of the broth as I
would. Then I put fome of the hot water to the
D
famp,

( 38 )
famp, and drank it up, and my ſpirit came again. He
gave me alſo a piece of the ruff or ridding of the foall
guts, and I broiled it on the coals; and now may I ſay
with Jonathan, See, I pray you, how mine eyes are enlight-
ened, becauſe I tafled a little of this honey. 1 Sam. xiv. 29.
Now is my ſpirit revived again; though means be ne-
ver fo inconfiderable, yet if the Lord beltow his blef-
fing upon them, they ſhall refreſh both foul and body.
The Eighteenth Remove.
HT
WO
But a
WE took up our packs, and along we went.
weariſome day I had of it. As we went along, I ſaw
an Engliſhman ſtripped naked, and lying dead upon
the ground, but knew not who it was. Then we came
to another Indian town, where we ftayed all night.
In this town there were four Engliſh children, captives,
and one of them my own fifter’s. I went to ſee how
ſhe did, and ſhe was well, conſidering her captive con-
dition. I would have tarried that night with her, but
they that owned her would not ſuffer it. Then I went
to another wigwam, where they were boiling corn and
beans, which was a lovely fight to fee, but I could not
get a tafte thereof. Then I went into another wig-
wam, where there were two of the Engliſh children:
The ſquaw was boiling horſe's feet, ſhe cut me off a
little piece, and gave one of the Engliſh children a
piece alſo. Being very hungry, I had quickly eat up
mine; but the child could not bite it, it was ſo tough
and finewy, but lay fucking, gnawing, chewing and
fabbering of it in the mouth and hand, then I took it
of the child, and eat it myſelf, and favoury it was to
my tafte: That I may fay as Job, chap. vi. 7. The
things that my ſoul refufeth to touch, are as my forrowful
meat. Thus the Lord made that pleaſant and refreſh
ing, which at another time, would have been an abomi-
matios.

(39)
nation. Then I went home to my miftreſs's wigwam,
and they told me I diſgraced my maſter with begging,
and if I did fo any more, they would knock me on, the
head :: I told them, they had as good do that, as ftarve
me to death
The Nineteenth Remove.
THEY ſaid, when we went out, that we muſt travel
to Wachuſet this day. But a bitter weary day I had
of it ; travelling now three days together, without reil-
ing any day between. At laſt, after many weary fteps,
I ſaw Wachuſet hills, but many miles off. Then we
came to a great ſwamp, through which we travelled up
to our knees in mud and water, which was heavy go-
ing to one tired before. Being almoſt fpent, I thought
I ſhould have funk down at laft, and never get out;
but I may ſay as iu Pfal. xciv. 18. When my foot Nipped,
thy mersy, O Lord, held me up.. Going along, having
indeed my life, but little fpirit, Philip (who was in the
company) came up, and took me by the hand, and ſaid,
Two weeks more and you ſhall be Miſtreſs again. I alk
ed him if he ſpake true ? he anſwered yes, and quickly
you fall come to your maſter again, who had been
gone
from us three weeks. After many weary ſteps,
we came to Wachuſet, where he was, and glad was I to
fee him. He aſked me when I waſhed me? I told him
not this month; then he fetched me ſome water bim-
ſelf, and bid me waſh, and gave me the glaſs to ſee
how I looked, and bid his ſquaw give me ſomething to
eat. So ſhe gave me a meſs of beans and meat, and a
little ground-nut cake. I was wonderfully revived
with this favour fhewed me. Pſal. cvi. 46. He made
them alſo to be pitied of all thoſe that carried them captives.
My maſter had three ſquaws, living ſome times with
one, and ſometimes with another. One, this old fquaw,
at

( 40 )
at whoſe wigwam I was, and with whom my maſter
had been thoſe three weeks, another was Wettimore,
with whom I had lived and ſerved all this while. A
ſevere and proud dame ſhe was ; beftowing every day
in dreſſing herſelf near as much time as any of the
gentry of the land: powdering her hair, and painting
her face, going with her necklaces, with jewels in her
ears, and bracelets upon her hands. When ſhe had
dreffed herſelf, her work was to make girdles of wam-
pom and beads. The third ſquaw was a younger one,
by whom he had two papouſes. By that time I was
refreſhed by the old ſquaw, Wettimore's maid came to
call me home, at which I fell a weeping. Then the
old ſquaw told me, to encourage me, that when I want,
ed victuals, I ſhould come to her, and that I ſhould
lie in her wigwam. Then I went with the maid, and
quickly I came back and lodged there. The ſquaw
laid a mat under me, and a good rug over me; the
firſt time that I had any ſuch kindneſs ſhewed me.
I
underſtood that Wettimore thought, that if ſhe ſhould
let me go and ſerve with the old ſquaw, ſhe ſhould be
in danger to loſe (not only my ſervice) but the re-
demption pay alſo. And I was not a little glad to
hear this; being by it raiſed in my hopes, that in God's
due time, there would be an end of this forrowful hour.
Then came an Indian and aſked me to kpit him three
pair of ſtockings, for which I had a hat, and a filk
handkerchief. Then another aſked me to make her
a ſhift, for which ſhe gave me an apron.
Then came Tom and Peter with the fecond letter
froin the council, about the captives. Though they
were Indians, I took them by the hand, and burſt out
into tears ; my heart was fo full that I could not ſpeak
to them ; but recovering myſelf, I aſked them how my
huſband did, and all my friends and acquaintance?
They ſaid they were well, but very melancholy. They
brought me two biſcuits, and a pound of tobacco.-
The tobacco I foon gave away: when it was all gone,
one aſked me to give him a pipe of tobacco, I told him
it

( 41 )
it was all gone; then began he to rant and threaten;
I told him when my huſband came, I would give him
fome: Hang him, rogue, ſays he, I will knock out
his brains, if he comes here. And then again in the
Lame breath, they would fay, that if there ſhould come
an hundred without guns, they would do them no hurt.
So unſtable and like mad men they were.
So that
fearing the worft, I durft not ſend to my huſband,
though there were ſome thoughts of his coming to re-
deem and fetch me, not knowing what might follow ;
for there was little more truſt to them, than to the maf-
ter they ſerved When the letter was come, the faga-
mores met lo confalt about the captives, and called me
to them, to inquire how much my huſband would give
to redeem me. When I came, i ſat down among
them, as I was wont to do, as their manner is : Then
they bid me ſtand up, and faid, they were the General
Court. They bid me ſpeak what I thought he would
give. Now knowing that all we had was deſtroyed by
the Indians, I was in a great ſtrait: I thought if I
hould ſpeak of but a little fum, it would be fighted,
and hinder the matter; if of a great fum, I knew not
where it would be procured; yeć at a venture, I ſaid
Twenty Pounds, yet defired them to take lefs ; but
they would not hear of that, but fent that meſſage to
Bofton, that for twenty pounds I ſhould be redeemed.
It was a praying Indian that wrote their letter for
them. There was another praying Indian, who told
me that he had a brother that would not eat horſe, his
conſcience was ſo tender and fcrupulous, though as
large as hell, for the deſtruction of poor Chriftians.
Then he faid, he read that fcripture to him, 2 Kings,
vi. 25. There was a famine in Samaria, and behold they
beſieged it, until an aſs's head was fold for four ſcore pieces.
of ſilver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for
five pieces of ſilver. He expounded this place to his
brother, and ſhewed him that it was lawful to eat that:
in a famine, which is not ſo at another time. And
now, ſays he, he will eat horſe with any Indian of them
all,
D 22

( 42 )
all.
There was another praying Indian, who, when
he had done all the miſchief that he could, betrayed
his own father into the Engliſh's hands, thereby to
purchaſe his own life. Another praying Indian was
at Sudbury fight, though, as he deſerved, he was after-
wards hanged for it. There was ancther praying In-
dian fo wicked and cruel, as to wear a Atring about his
neck, ftrung with chriftian fingers. Another praying
Indian, when they went to Sudbury fight, went with
them, and his ſquaw alſo with him, with her papoos
at her back: before they went to that fight, they got
a company together to pawaw : The manner was as
followeth.
There was
one that kneeled upon a deer ſkin, with
the company round him in a ring, who kneeled, ftrik-
ing upon the ground with their hands, and with ſticks,
and muttering or humming with their mouths. Be .
fides him who kneeled in the ring, there alſo ſtood one
with a gun in his hand : Then he on the deer ſkin
made a ſpeech, and all manifeſted afſent to it, and ſo
they did many times together. Then they bid him
with the gun go out of the ring, which he did ; but
when he was out, they called him in again; but he
feemed to make a ftand: Then they called the more
carneſtly, till he returned again. Then they all fang.
Then they gave him two guns, in each hand one.-
And ſo he on the deer ſkin began again ; and at the
end of every ſentence in his ſpeaking, they all affented,
humming or muttering with their mouths, and ſtriking
upon the ground with their hands. Then they bid
him with the two guns, go out of the ring again ;
which he did a little way. Then they called him in
again, but he made a ftand, fo they called him with
greater earneſtneſs :
But he ſtood reeling and waver-
ing, as if he knew not whether he ſhould tand or fall,
or which way to go. Then they called him with ex-
ceeding great vehemency, all of them, one and another.
After a little while, he turned in, ftaggering as he
went, with his arms itretched out, in each hand a gun.
As

( 43
)
As foon as he came in, they all fang and rejoiced ex.
ceedingly a while, and then he upon the deer fin
made another ſpeech, unto which they all afſented in
a rejoicing manner; and ſo they ended their buſineſs,
and forthwith went to Sudbury fight.
To my thinking, they went without any ſcruple but
that they ſhould proſper, and gain the victory. And
they went out not fo rejoicing, but they came home
with as great a victory. For they ſaid they had killed
two captains, and almoſt an hundred men.
One Eng-
liſhman they brougbt alive with them, and he ſaid it
was too true, for they had made fad work at Sudbury:
as indeed it proved. Yet they came home withont
that rejoicing and triumphing over their victory, which
they were wont to thew at other times : But rather
like dogs (as they ſay) which have loſt their ears.
Yet I could not perceive that it was for their own lofs
of men, they ſaid they loft not above five or fix; and
I miſſed none, except in one wigwam. When they
went, they acted as if the devil had told them that they
fhould gain the victory, and now they acted as if the
devil had told them they ſhould have a fall. Whether
it were ſo or no, I cannot tell, but ſo it proved: for
quickly they began to fall, and fo held on that ſummer,
till they came to utter ruin. They came home on a
Sabbath-day, and the powaw that kneeled upon the
deer ſkin, came home (I may ſay without any abuſe)
as black as the devil. When my maſter came home,
he came to me and bid me make a ſhirt for his papoos,
of a Holland laced pillow-beer. About that time there
came an Indian to me, and bid me come to his wig-
wam at night, and he would give me ſome pork and
ground-nuts. Which I did, and as I was eating, an.
other Indian ſaid to me, he ſeems to be your good
friend, but he killed two Engliſhmen at Sudbury, and
there lie their cloaths behind you; I looked behind
me, and there I ſaw bloody cloths, with bullet-holes
in them; yet the Lord fuffered not this wretch to do
me any hurt; yea, inſtead of that, he many times re-
freſhed

( 44 )
freſhed me: five or fix times did he and his ſquaw re-
freſh my feeble carcaſe. If I went to their wigwam
at any time, they would always give me ſomething,
and yet they were ſtrangers that I never ſaw before.
Another ſquaw gave me a piece of freſh pork, and a
little falt with it, and lent me her frying-pan to fry it ;
and I cannot but remember what a ſweet, pleaſant and
delightful reliſh that bit had to me, to this day. So
little do we prize common mercies, when we have them
to the full.
The Twentieth Remove.
IT was their uſdal manner to remove, when they
had done any miſchief, left they ſhould be found out;:
and ſo they did at this time. We went about three or
four miles, and there they built a great wigwam, big
enough to hold an hundred Indians, which they did in
preparation to a great day of dancing. They would
now ſay among themſelves, that the Governor would
be ſo angry for his loſs at Sudbury, that he would:
fend no more about the captives, which made me grieve
and tremble. My fifter being not far from this place,
and hearing that I was here, defired her mafter to let
her come and fee me, and he was willing to it, and
would go with her; but ſhe being ready firſt, told
him ſhe would go before, and was come within a mile
or two of the place ; then he overtook her, and began
to rant as if he had been mad, and made her go back
again in the rain : fo that I never faw. her till I ſaw
her in Charleſtown. But the Lord requited many of
their ill doings, for this Indian, ber maſter, was hanged
afterward at Bofton. They began now to come frona
all quarters, againſt their merry dancing day: Amongſt
fome of them came one Goodwife Kettle : I told her:
my heart was fo heavy that it was ready to break : Se
18

( 45 )
is mine too, ſaid ſhe, but yet I hope we ſhall hear
fome good news ſhortly. I could hear how earneſtly
my filter defired to fee me, and I camneftly defired to
fee her; yet neither of us could get an opportunity.
My daughter was now but a mile off; and I had not
feen her in nine or ten weeks, as I had not feen my
filter fince our firſt taking. I defired them to let me
go and ſee them, yea I intreated, begged and perſuad-
ed them to let me ſee my daughter ; and yet ſo hard-
hearted were they, that they would not fuffer it. They
made uſe of their tyrannical power whilſt they had it,
but through the Lord's wonderful mercy, their time
was now but ſhort.
On a Sabbath-day, the ſun being about an hour
high, in the afternoon, came Mr. John Hoar, (the
council permitting him, and his own forward fpirit in-
clining him) together with the two forementioned In-
dians, Tom and Peter, with the third letter from the
council
. When they came near, I was abroad ; they
prefently called me in, and bid me fit down, and not
flir. Then they catched up their guns and away they
ran, as if an enemy had been at hand, and the guns
went off apace. I manifeſted fome great trouble, and
they aſked me what was the matter? I told them I
thought they had killed the Englifhman (for they had
in the mean time told me that an Engliſhman was
come) they ſaid no; they ſhot over his horſe, and un-
der, and before his horſe, and they puſhed him this
way and that way, at their pleaſure, ſhewing what they
could do. Then they let him come to their wigwams.
I begged of them to let me ſee the Engliſhman, but
they would not ; but there was I, fain to fit their plea-
fure. When they had talked their fill with him, they
fuffered me to go to him. We aſked each other of our
welfare, and how my huſband did, and all my friends?
He told me they were all well, and would be glad to
Among other things which my huſband fent
me, there came a pound of tobacco, which I fold for
nine Mhillings in money : for many of them, for want
OX
fee me.

( 46 )
come.
of tobacco, ſmoked hemlock, and ground-ivy. It was
a great mifake in any who thought I ſent for tobacco,
for through the favour of God, that defire was over-
I now aſked them, whether I ſhould go home
with Mr. Hoar ? they anſwered no, one and another
of them; and it being late, we lay down with that
anſwer. In the morning Mr. Hoar invited the faga-
mores to dinner; but when we went to get it ready,
we found they had ſtolen the greateſt part of the pro-
viſion Mr. Hoar had brought; and we may ſee the
wonderful power of God, in that one paffage, in that
when there was fuch a number of them together, and
ſo greedy of a little good food, and no Engliſh there
but Mr. Hoar and myfelf, that they did not knock us
on the head, and take what we had ; there being not
only fome provifion, but alſo trading-cloth, a part of
the twenty pounds agreed upon : But inſtead of doing
us any miſchief, they ſeemed to be aſhamed of the fact,
and ſaid it was Matchit Indians that did it. On that
we could believe that there is nothing too hard for
God! God fhewed his power over the heathen in
this, as he did over the hungry lions, when Daniel was
caft into the den. Mr. Hoar called them betime to
dinner, but they eat but little, they being ſo buſy in
dreſling themſelves and getting ready for their dance ;:
which was carried on by eight of them, four men and
four Squaws; my maſter and miſtreſs being two. He
was dreſſed in his Holland fhirt, with great laces fewed
at the tail of it ; he had his filver buttons, his white
ſtockings, his garters hung round with ſhillings, and
had girdles of wampom upon his head and ſhoulders.
She had a kerſey coat, covered with girdles of wam-
pom from the loins upward. Her arms from her el.
bows to her hands, were covered with bracelets ; there
were handfuls of necklaces about her neck, and ſeveral
forts of jewels in her ears. She had fine red ſtockings,
and white ſhoes, her hair powdered and her face paint-
ed red, that was always before black. And all the
dancers were after the fame manner. There were two
others.

( 47
)
others finging and knocking on the kettle for their
muſic. They kept hopping up and down one after
another, with a kettle of water in the midit, fanding
warm upon ſome embers, to drink of when they were
dry. They held on till it was almoſt night, throwing
out wampom to the ftanders-by. At night 1 afked
them again, if I ſhould go home? they all as one ſaid
no, except my huſband would come for me. When
we were lain down, my mafter went out of the wig-
wam, and by-and-by fent in an Indian called James the
Printer, who told Mr. Hoar, that my maſter would
let me go home to-morrow, if he would let him have
one pint of liquors. Then Mr. Hoar called his own
Indians, Tom and Peter, and bid them all go, and fee
if he would promiſe it before them three ; and if he
would, he ſhould have it, which he did, and had it.
Philip, fmpelling the bufineſs, called me to him, and
aſked me what I would give him, to tell me ſome good
news, and to ſpeak a good word for me, that I might
go home to-morrow? I told him I could not tell
what to give him, I would any thing I had, and aſk-
ed him what he would have? He faid, two coats, and
twenty ſhillings in money, half a buſhel of feed-corn,
and fome tobacco. I thanked him for his love, but I
knew that good news as well as that crafty fox. My
mafter after he had his drink, quickly came ranting
into the wigwam again, and called for Mr. Hoar,
drinking to him, and ſaying he was a good man, and
then again he would ſay, hang him, rogue. Being alo
moft drunk, he would drink to him, and yet preſently
fay he ſhould be hanged. Then he called for me; I
trembled to hear him, and yet I was fain to go to him ;
and he drank to me, ſhewing no incivility. He was
the firſt Indian I ſaw drunk all the time I was among
them. At laſt his ſquaw ran out, and he after ber,
round the wigwam, with his money jingling at his
knees, but ſhe eſcaped him ; but having an old ſquaw,
he ran to her; and fo, through the Lord's mercy, we
were no more troubled with him that night. Yet I
had

( 48 )
had not a comfortable pight's reft ; for I think I can
fay, I did not ſleep for three nights together. The
night before the letter came from the council, I could
not reſt, I was ſo full of fears and troubles ; yea, at
this time I could not reſt night nor day. The next
night I was over-joyed, Mr. Hoar being come, and
that with ſuch good tidings. The third pight I was
even ſwallowed up with the thoughts of going home
again ; and that I muſt leave my children behind me
in the wilderneſs; ſo that feep was now almoſt de-
parted from mine eyes.
On Tueſday morning they called their General
Court (as they filed it) to conſult and determine whe.
ther I ſhould go home or no. And they all ſeemingly
confented that I ſhould go, except Philip, who would
not come among them.
But before I go any farther, I would take leave to
mention a few remarkable pallages of providence,
which I took ſpecial notice of in my afflicted time.
1. Of the fair opportunity loft in the long march,
a little after the fort fight, when our Engliſh army
was fo numerous, and in purſuit of the enemy, and ſo
near as to overtake ſeveral and defroy them; and the
enemy in ſuch diſtreſs for food, that our men might
track them by their rooting in the earth for ground-
nuts, whilſt they were flying for their lives. I fay
that then our army ſhould want proviſion, and be forc-
ed to leave their purſuit, and return homeward, and
the very next week the enemy came upon our town,
like bears bereft of their whelps, or ſo many ravenous
wolves, rending us and our lambs to death. But what
ſhall I ſay? God ſeemed to leave his people to them-
felves, and ordered all things for his own holy ends.
Shall there be evil in the city and Lord hath not done it ?
They are not grieved for the affliction of Joſeph, therefore
they ſhall go captive, with the firſt that go captive. It is
the Lord's doings, and it ſhould be marvellous in our
eyes.
2. I

( 49 )
2. I cannot but remember how the Indians derided
the flowneſs and dulneſs of the Engliſh army in its
fetting out. For after the defolations at Lancaſter
and Medfield, as I went along with them, they aſked
me when I thought the Engliſh army would come af-
ter them? I told them I could not tell. It may be
they may come in May, faid they. Thus did they
fcoff at us, as if the Engliſh would be a quarter of a
year getting ready.
3. Which alſo I have hinted before, when the Eng-
liſh army with new fupplies were fent forth to purſue
after the enemy, and they underſtanding it, fled before
them till they came to Baquaug river, where they forth-
with went over fafely ; that that river fhould be im-
paffable to the Engliſh. I can but admire to ſee the
wonderful providence of God in preſerving the hea-
then for farther affliction to our poor country. They
could
go
in great numbers over, but the Engliſh muſt
Itop: God had an over-ruling hand in all thoke things.
4. It was thought, if their corn were cut down,
they would ftarve and die with hunger; and all that
could be found was deſtroyed, and they driven from
that little they had in ſtore, into the woods, in the
midſt of winter; and yet how to admiration did the
Lord preſerve them for his holy ends, and the deſtruc-
tion of many ftill among the Engliſh ! ftrangely did
the Lord provide for them, that I did not fee (all the
time I was among them) one man, woman or child
die with hunger. Though many times they wonld
cat that, that a hog or a dog would hardly touch ;
yet by that God ſtrengthened them to be a ſcourge to
his people.
Their chief and commoneft food was ground-nuts ;
they eat alſo nuts, and acorns, harty-choaks, lilly-roots,
ground-beans, and ſeveral other weeds and roots that I
know not.
They would pick up old bones, and cut them in
pieces at the joints; and if they were full of worms
and maggots, they would fcald them over the fire, to
makc

( 50 )
make the vermio come out, and then boil them, and
drink up the liquor, and then beat the great ends of
them in a mortar; and fo eat them. They would cat
horſe's guts, and cars, and all ſorts of wild birds which
they could catch: Alſo bear, veniſon, beavers, tortois,
frogs, ſquirrels, dogs, ſkunks, rattleſnakes; yea, the
very bark of trees; beſides all ſorts of creatures, and
proviſion which they plundered from the Engliſh. I
cannot but ſtand in admiration to ſee the wonderful
power of God, in providing for ſuch a vaſt number of
our enemies in the wilderneſs, where there was nothing
to be ſeen, but from hand to mouth. Many times in
a morning, the generality of them would eat up all
they had, and yet have ſome further ſupply againft
they wanted. But now our perverſe and evil carriages
in the fight of the Lord have fo offended him, that in-
ftead of turning his hand againſt them, the Lord feeds
and nouriſhes them up to be a ſcourge to the whole
land.
5. Another thing that I would obſerve is, the ſtrange
providence of God in turning things about when the
Indians were at the higheſt, and the Engliſh at the
loweſt. I was with the enemy eleven weeks and five
days, and not one week paſſed without their fury and
ſome deſolation, by fire and ſword, upon one place or
other. They mourned for their own loſſes, yet tri-
umphed and rejoiced in their inhuman and deviliſh cru-
elty to the Engliſh. They would boaſt much of their
victories, ſaying, that in two hours time they had deſ-
troyed ſuch a captain and his company in ſuch a place ;
and boaſt how many towns they had deſtroyed, and
then ſcoff, and ſay, they had done them a good turn,
to ſend them to heaven ſo ſoon. Again they would
fay, this ſummer they would knock all the rogues on
the head, or drive them into the fea, or make them fly
the country; thinking furely, Agag-like, The bitterneſs
of death is paſ. Now the heathen begin to think all
is their own; and the poor Chriſtians' hopes to fail
(as to man) and now their eyes are more to God, and
their

( 51 )
In my
their hearts ſigh heaven-ward, and to ſay in good earn-
eſt, Help, Lord, or we perifh. When the Lord had
brought his people to this, that they ſaw no help in
any thing but himſelf, then he takes the quarrel into
his own hand; and though they had made a pit (in
their own imaginations) as deep as hell for the Chrif-
tians that fummer, yet the Lord hurled themſelves in-
to it. The Lord had many ways before to preſerve
them, and now he hath many to deftroy them.
But to return again to my going home; where we
may fee 'a remarkable change of providence: At firſt
they were all againſt it, except my huſband would
come for me;. but afterward they aſſented to it, and
ſeemed to rejoice in it: fome aſking me to ſend them
fome bread, others fome tobacco, others ſhaking me by.
the hand, offering me a hood and ſcarf to ride in: not
one moving hand or tongue againſt it. Thus hath the
Lord anſwered my poor defires, and the many earneft
requeſts of others put up unto God for me.
travels, an Indian came to me, and told me, if I were
willing, he and his ſquaw would run away, and go
home along with me. I told them no; I was not
willing to run away, but deſired to wait God's time,
that I might go home quietly, and without fear. And
now God hath granted me my defire. O the wonder-
power of God that I have ſeen, and the experiences
that I have had : I have been in the midſt of thoſe
roaring lions, and ſavage bears, that feared neither God
nor man, nor the devil, by night and day, alone and in
company; ſleeping all forts together, and yet not one
of them ever offered the leaft abuſe of nnchaſtity to
me, in word or action. Though ſome are ready to
fay, I ſpeak it for my own credit; but I ſpeak it in
the preſence of God, and to his glory. God's power
is as great now, as it was to ſave Daniel in the lion's
den, or the three children in the fiery furnace. Efpe
cially that I ſhould come away in the midſt of fo many
hundreds of enemies, and not a dog move his tongue.
So I took my leave of them, and in coming along, my
heart

(52)
to me.
heart melted into tears, more than all the while I was
with them, and I was almoſt ſwallowed up with the
thoughts that ever I ſhould go home again. About
the ſun's going down, Mr. Hoar, myſelf, and the two
Indians, came to Lancaſter, and a folemn fight it was
There had I lived many comfortable years
among my relations and neighbours; and now not one
Chriſtian to be ſeen, nor one houſe left ftanding. We
went on to a farm-houſe that was yet ſtanding, where
we lay all night; and a comfortable lodging we had,
though nothing but ſtraw to lie on. The Lord pre-
ſerved us in ſafety that night, and raiſed us up again
in the morning, and carried us along, ſo that before
noon we came to Concord. Now was ! full of joy,
and yet not without ſorrow: Joy, to ſee ſuch a lovely
fight, ſo many Chriftians together, and ſome of them
my neighbours: There I met with my brother, and
my brother-in-law, who aſked me, if I knew where his
wife was? poor heart! he had helped to bury her, and
knew it not; ſhe being ſhot down by the houſe, was
partly burnt, fo that thoſe who were at Bofton at the
deſolation of the town, and came back afterward and
buried the dead, did not know her. Yet I was not
without ſorrow, to think how many were looking and
longing, and my own children among the reft, to en-
joy that deliverance that I had now received : and I
did not know whether ever I ſhould ſee them again,
Being recruited with food and raiment, we went to
Boſton that day, where I met with my dear huſband ;
but the thoughts of our dear children, one being dead,
and the other we could not tell where, abated our
comfort in each other; I was not before fo much
hemmed in by the mercileſs and cruel heathen, but now
as much with pitiful, tender-hearted and compaſſionate
Chriſtians. In that poor and beggarly condition, I
was received in, I was kindly entertained in ſeveral
houſes : So much love I received from ſeveral (many
of whom I knew not) that I am not capable to declare
it. But the Lord knows them all by name; the Lord
Toward

(53)
reward them feven fold into their boſoms of his fpiris
tuals, for their temporals.
The twenty pounds, the price of my redemption, ,
was raifed by ſome Boſton gentlewomen, and Mr.
Uſher, whoſe bounty and charity I would not forget
to make mention of Then Mr. Thomas Shepard of
Charleſtown, received us into his houſe, where we cons
tinued eleven weeks; and a father and mother they
were unto us. And many more tender-hearted friends
we met with in that place. We were now in the midſt
of love, yet not without much and frequent heavineſs
of heart, for our poor children, and other relations,
who were ftill in affliction. The week following after
my coming in, the Governor and Council fent to the
Indians again, and that not without ſucceſs; for they
brought in my lifter, and Goodwife Kettle. Their
not knowing where our children were, was a fore trial
to us fill; and yet we were not without ſecret hopes
of ſeeing them again. That which was dead lay hea.
vier upon my ſpirit, than thoſe which were alive among
the heathen ; thinking how it ſuffered with its wounds,
and I was not able to relieve it, and how it was buried
by the heathen in the wilderneſs from among all Chrif-
tians. We were hurried up and down in our thoughts,
ſometimes we ſhould hear a report that they were gone
this way, and fometimes that; and that they were come
in, in this place or that. We kept enquiring and liſt-
ening to hear concerning them, but no certain news as
Abont this time the Council had ordered a day
of public thankſgiving, though I had ftill cauſe of
mourning ; and being unfectled in our minds, we
thought we would ride eaſtward, to ſee if we could hear
any thing concerning our children. As we were rid-
ing along between Ipſwich and Rowley, we met with
William Hubbard, who told us our ſon Jofeph, and
my fifter's fon, were come in to Major Waldren's; I
aſked him how he knew it? he ſaid the Major himſelf
cold him ſo. So along we went till we came to New-
bury; and their minifter being abſent, they deſired my
huſband
yet.

( 54 )
huſband to preach the thankſgiving for them: but he
was not willing to ſtay there that night, but he would
go over to Saliſbury, to hear farther, and come again
in the morning, which he did, and preached there that
day. At night, when he had done, one came and told
him that his daughter was come in at Providence :-
Here was mercy on both hands. Now we were be-
tween them, the one on the eaſt, and the other on the
weſt ; our ſon being neareſt, we went to him firſt, to
Portſmouth, where we met with him, and with the
Major alſo ; who told us, he had done what he could,
but could not redeem him under ſeven pounds, which
the good people thereabouts were pleaſed to pay. The
Lord reward the Major, and all the reſt, though un-
known to me, for their labour of love. My fifter's fon
was redeemed for four pounds, which the Council
gave
order for the payment of. Having now. received one
of our children, we haftened toward the other. Going.
back through Newbury, my huſband preached there.
on the Sabbath-day, for which they rewarded him.
manifold.
On Monday we came to Charleſtown, where we
heard that the Governor of Rhode Iſand had fent over
for our daughter, to take care of her, being now with-
in his juriſdiction ; which ſhould not paſs without our
acknowledgements. But the being nearer Rehoboth
than Rhode Iſland, Mr. Newman went over and took.
care of her, and brought her to his own houſe. And.
the goodnefs of God was admirable to us in our low
eftate, in that he raiſed up compaffionate friends on
every fide, when we had nothing to recompence any
for their love.
The Indians were now gone that way, ſo that it was
apprehended dangerous to go to her, but the carts-
which carried proviſion to the Engliſh army, being
guarded, brought her with them to Dorcheſter, where
we received her ſafe ; bleffed be the Lord for it. Her
coming in was after this manner: She was travelling
one day with the Indians, with her baſket at her back;
the

( 55 )
the company of Indians were got before her, and gone :
out of fight, all except one ſquaw : She followed the
fquaw till night, and then both of them lay down,
having nothing over them but the heavens, nor under
them but the earth. Thus they travelled three days.
together, having nothing to eat or drink but water
and green whortleberries. At laſt they came into :
Providence, where he was kindly entertained by feve-
ral of that town. The Indians often ſaid, that I ſhould:
never have her under twenty pounds, but now the
Lord hath brought her in upon free colt, and given
her to me the ſecond time. The Lord make us a
bleſſing indeed each to other. Thus hath the Lord
brought me and mine out of that horrible pit, and
hash fet us in the midſt of tender-hearted and com-
paſſionate Chriftians. 'Tis the defire of my foul, that :
we may walk worthy of the mercies received, and
which we are receiving.
Our family being now gathered together, the fouth
church in Boſton hired an houſe for us : Then we re-
moved from Mr. Shepard's (thoſe cordial friends) and
went to Boſton, where we continued about three quar-
ters of a year.
Still the Lord went along with us.
and provided graciouſly for us. I thought it fome-
what ftrange to ſet up houſe-keeping with bare walls ;
but, as Solomon faye, Money anſwers all things : And
that we had, through the benevolence of chriſtian
friends, fome in this town, and ſome in that, and
others; and ſome from England, ſo that in a little
time we might look and fee the houſe furniſhed with
love. The Lord hath been exceeding good to us in
our low eſtate, in that, when we had neither houſe nor
home, nor other neceſſaries, the Lord ſo moved the
hearts of theſe and thoſe towards us, that we wanted
neither food nor raiment for ourfelves of ours. Prov.
xviii. 24. There is a friend that ſicketh cloſer than a
brother. And how many ſuch friends have we found,
and now live amongſt! And truly ſuch a friend have
we found him to be unto us, in whoſe houſe we lived,
VIZ.

( 56 )
Viz. Mr. James Whitcomb, a friend ncar hand and
afar off.
I can remember the time, when I uſed to ſleep qui-
cily, without working in my thoughts, whole nights
together; but now it is otherwiſe with me: when all
are faſt about me, and no eye open, but his who ever
awaketh, my thoughts are upon things paft, upon the
awful diſpenſations of the Lord towards ns ; upon bis
wonderful power and might in carrying of us through
ſo many difficulties, in returning us in fafety, and fuf-
fering none to hurt us. I remember in the night fea-
fon, how the other day I was in the midſt of thouſands
of enemies, and nothing but death before me: It was
then hard work to perſuade myſelf, that ever I ſhould
be ſatisfied with bread again. But now we are fed
with the fineft of the wheat, and (as I may ſay) with
Honey out of the rock: Inſtead of the hofks we have the
fatted calf: The thoughts of theſe things in the pa
ticulars of them, and of the love and goodneſs of God
towards us, make it true of me, what David ſaid of
himſelf, Pfal. vi. 6. I water my.couch with my tears.---
O the wonderful power of God that mine eyes have
ſeen, affording matter enongh for my thoughts to run
in, that when others are fleeping mine eyes are weeping.
I have ſeen the extreme vanity of this world: One
hour I have been in health, and wealth, wanting no-
thing, but the next hour in fickneſs, and wounds, and
death, having nothing but forrow and affliction. Be-
fore I knew what affliction meant, I was ready fome.
times to wiſh for it. When I lived in proſperity, hava
ing the comforts of this world about me, my relations
by me, and my heart chearful, and taking little care
for any thing ; and yet ſeeing many (whom I preferred
before myfelf) under many trials and afflictions, in fick-
neſs, weakneſs, poverty, loffes, croffes, and cares of the
world, I ſhould be fometimes jealous left I ſhould have
my portion in this life. But now I ſee the Lord had
his time to ſcourge and chaften me. The portion of
fome is to have their affliction by drops, but the Wine
of

( 57 )
of aſtoniſhment, like a ſweeping rain, that leaveth no food,
did the Lord prepare to be my portion. Amiation I
wanted, and affliction I had, full meaſure, preſſed down
and running over: Yet I ſee when God calls perſons
to never ſo many difficulties, yet he is able to carry
them through, and make them fay, they have been
gainers thereby. And I hope I can ſay in ſome mea-
fure, as David, It is good for me that I have been affli&ed.
The Lord hath ſhewed me the vanity of theſe outward
things; that they are the Vanities of vanities, and vex-
ation of Spirit. That they are but a ſhadow, a blaſt, a
bubble, and things of no continuance. If trouble from
ſmaller matter begin to arife in me, I have ſomething
at hand to check myſelf with, and ſay, Why am I trou-
bled ? It was but the other day, that if I had had the
old, I would have given it for my freedom, or to
nave been a fervant to a Chriſtian. I have learned to
Abak beyond preſent and ſmaller troubles
quieted under them, as Mofes faid, Exod. xiv. 13.
Stand fill and ſee the Salvation of the Lord.
THE
END


194 Rowlentin, Mary