.OF-CAIIFC ^ NEWS FROM New - England, BEING A True and last Account of the present Bloody "Wars carried on betwixt the Infidels, Natives, and the English Christians, and Converted Indians of New-England, declaring the many Dreadful Battles Fought betwixt them : As also the many Towns and Villages burnt by the merciless Heathens. And also the true Number of all the Christians slain since the beginning of that War, as it was sent over by a Factor of New-England to a Merchant in London. Licensed Aug. 1. Roger L'Estrange. LONDON, Printed for J. Corners, at the Sign of the Black Raven in DucJc-Lane, 1676. BOSTON, N. E.: Reprinted for Samuel G. Drake, 56 Cornhill. April, 1850. I'BISIID BT CeouDGi & WILKY, No. 30 Devonshire and 12 Water Street. [The original tract is of exceeding rarity ; so much so that, not long since, but one was known to be in this country. This is reprinted from a copy of one in the library of JOHN CARTER BROWN, Esq., of Providence. To the politeness of that gentleman we are indebted for permission to make a transcript. The original is, without exception, one of the worst printed tracts of the day in which it appeared. The type on which it was printed was wretched, especially the italic ; some of the letters in many of the words not being distinguishable, and others entirely wanting. I have ad- hered, in this reprint, as closely to the original, in respect to orthography, capitals, and italics, as possible. Of its comparative value, in an historical point of view, it is unnecessary to remark. It is republished as a curious record of one of the most important periods in the History of New Eng- land. The Antiquary, and Student in our history, will readily perceive its value, while to the general reader it will he almost as unintelligible as though it were in an unknown language. To whom belongs the authorship we have no data on which to found even a conjecture. A few notes seemed necessary. These, and the words in the text included in brackets, are added to this edition. The figures ia brackets, as [2] on page 7, denote the pages of the original edition.] 571808 A True and Last Accompt of the Present Bloody Wars carried on betwixt the Infidel Natives and the English Christians and converted Indians of New-England, $-c. THOSE Coals of Discention which had a longtime lain hid under the ashes of a secret envy; contracted by the Heathen Indians of New-England, against the English ; and Christian Natives of that Country brake out in June 1675. both Armies being at a distance without doing any thing remarkable till the 13 of December following ; at which time the Mathusets and Plymouth Company marching from Seconk, sent out a considerable number of Scouts, who kilPd & took 55. of the Enemy, returning with no other loss but two of our Men disabled; about three days after came a perfidious Indian to our Army pretending he was sent by the Sachems to treat of Peace, who was indeed no 6 NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. other but a Spy and was no sooner conducted out of our Camp but we had news brought us that 22 of our Stragling Souldiers were Slain and divers barns and out houses, with Mr. Jer. Bulls dwelling house burnt by him and his Trech- erous confederates which waited for him. The next day, as the Connectick Army under the Conduct of Major Treat was Marching to Joyn with the Mathusets, and Plymouth Company ; they were assaulted by the Indians, but without any loss, they taking eleaven of the Assailants Prisoners. The 8]th [18] of December, our whole Army being united under the Conduct of Major Genr : Winslow, went to seek out the Enemy, whom we found (there then hapening a great fall of Snow) securing themselves in a dismal Swamp, so hard of access that there was but one was [way] for en- trance, which was well lin'd with Heathen Indians, who presently went out to assault us ; but we falling in Pel-mell with them, with much difficulty gained the Swamp where we found above 1500 Wiggwams, and by night, had pos- NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. 7 session [2] of the fort of which we were dispossest soon after by an unexpected recruit of fresh Indians out of an adjoyning Swamp, but our Noble Generals insatiable de- sire of victory prompted him to such brave actions, that we following his example to the enemies cost, made our- selves absolute Masters of the fort again.* Although we purchased our success at so dear a rate that we have small cause to rejoyce at the victory ; yet when we consider the vast disadvantage! they had of us iri number, whom we collected $ to have 4000 fighting men, and we not much more than half so many, we have great reason to bless God we came of so well, our dead and wounded not a Mounting to above 220, and the enemies by their own Confession to no less than 600. the chief officers kild on our side were Capt. Davenport, Capt. Johnson, Capt. Marshal, Capt. Gardner. Capt. Gallop. * There is a little embellishment here. The English were at no time driven out of the fort. t The exact reverse is probably meant. t Calculated ? 8 NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. Captains wounded were 4. vizt, Sealcy, Major Wats, and Bradford, Lieutenants wounded were 4. viz. Savage, Ting, Vphant and Wain. * In this bloody Battle we gave so bitter a Relish of our English valour and our converted Indians resolutions, that they dreaded our neighborhood and thought themselves unsafe till secur'd by six or seaven miles distance from our remaining Army, where they remain'd near a month not attempting anything considerable till the first of Feb. at which time a certain Number of them made desperate through hungar came to Palickset, a Little Town near Pro- vidence and attempted the house of one Mr. Carpenter, from whom they took 20 horses 50 head of Cattle and 180 sheep. And set fire on a house at South-buryf wherein * Swain, yery probably. There was a " Lieut. Swayne," belonging to Capt. Apple- ton's company. A " Lieut. Swan " Is mentioned in one of the London tracts in our OLD INDIAN CHEOMETE, p. 50, no doubt the same Lieut. Steain. t Sudbury, probably. NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. were two Men, one "Woman and seaven Children ; on the 4.tk. of February the Christians received private intelligence from the Indians who had Sculked ever since the last Bat- tle in certain woods scituate about 30 miles from Malbnry, that they were drawn up into a body, and encamped in a well fortified Swamp, where, notwithstanding the Indian[s] assaulted the Rear, wounded four of our men, and we killing so many of theirs that they -thought fit to forsake their refuge, and leave both it and their wigwams to our disposal, who lodging in their Rooms that night, set fire to a 150 of their Wigwams next morning, and by this light pursued them so close that we kill'd divers of them, whom age or wounds rendered incapable [3] of keeping up with their Companions, and resolving to continue the quest with all the celerity imaginable, they led us to another Swamp whose Rocky ascent propounded so great a difficulty to at- tain it, as would have Staggar'd the resolution of any but a resolved Mind ; but we attempted it with the like resolution 10 NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. and success as we did the Last; the enemy by a speedy flight leaving us in full possession of all they left behind them. We Persued them two dayes after this encounter, but then (which was on the 18th Febr.) finding our men wear- ied with Speedy marches, our provision scarce through con- tinual expence and no recruit, our horses tir'd, and our selves hopeless of overtaking them, who had great advan- tage of us in passing over Rocks and through Thickets, which our Foot, not without much difficulty, could, and our horse were altogether incapable to do ; our Commanders, after a Councel of warr, resolved to send the Massatkusets and Plymouth Company to Malbury, and the Connecticks Army to their own homes yvhich was accordingly done. And Major Genr. Winslow, only with his Troops to Boston, leaving the foot at Malbury and South-bury, who came home on Munday following, and were all dismist to their several habitations, except Capt. Wadworth, who was left NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. 11 ??t Malbury in persuit of the Enemy, of whom he destroyed about 70, Old Men, Women and Children, who wanted strength to follow the fugitive Army.* The Desperate heathens takeing advantage of the dis- mission of three Disbanded Companies, studied nothing but Massacres, outrages, and treacherous hostillitie, which within two days after those said Companies were di?pers't, they found opportunity to commit, in a Town called Nash- away, which they set fire to, and burnt to the Ground, taking no less than 55 Persons into their Merciless captivity, and because the reader shall understand the Damnable antipa- thy they have to Religion and Piety, I would have him take notice how they endeavour to Signallize their Cruelty, and gratifie their enraged Spleen, chiefly on the promoters of it; for of these 55 Captives, the Minister of the Town's rela- tions made no less than 19 of them; viz. Mrs. Rowlonson, * If this be so, who will wonder at the fate of Capt Wadsworth and his men 1 12 NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. the Ministers wife, and three of his Children, her sister and seaven Children, and her sister Drew and four Children. The Minister himself with his sisters husbands returning from Boston a little after the engagement, [4] to their in- finite grief, found their houses burnt to the ground, and their Wives and Children taken Captive, nor was this crueltie committed, as the extent or Nepolus Vltra of their vengance, but rather as an earnest of their Bearlarity. For no longer than the next day after, three men Going out, with the Cart, were seiz'd on by these Indians, one of them killed, and the other two not to be found ; the day following at Cozcord, [Concord?] they burnt one house and murder'd three per- sons. In short, their outrages are so many and different, thai I must intreat the reader, since they will not be brought into a fluent Narration, to accept them plainly and dyurnally, ac- cording to the time, place, and manner, as they were com- mitted, which is the only way to avoid omissions, and NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. 13 consequently to Satisfie the inquisitive, who, I suppose, would willingly hear of all the extremities [that] have hap- pened to the suffering Christians in this New England War. On the 17 of Febr. therefore, ye must know that the Town of Medfeild was begirt with a regiment of resoleut Indians, who assail'd it so briskly, that maugred all the resistance made by Capt. Jacobbs, who was then Ingarrison'd there with a hundred Souldiers for its security, the en- raged Heathens never desisted their desperate attemps, Battering the Walls, and powering showers of Arrows into the bosome of the Town, they had distroyed above 50 of her inhabitants, and burnt 30 of her houses. The 1th. of March folio wing these bloody Indians march' t to a considerable Town called Croaton* where first they set fire to Major Willards house, and afterwards burnt 65 more, there being Seaventy two houses at first, so that there * Groton, probably. The C may be an imperfect G in copy. 2 14 NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. was left standing but six houses of the whole Town ; the next day after, two men coming from Ma/bury to Southbury were slain : and the Sabboth day ensuing, these destroying Indians came to Plymouth, where fixing only on a house of one Mr. darks, they burnt, and murtbered his wife arid all his Children, himself Narrowly escaping their crueltie by happily at that Juncture being at a meeting. On the second of April, 1676. Major Savage, Capt. Mose- ley, Capt. William Tumor, and Captain Wkipal* with 300. men marching from Malborow to Quabury,\ where they had ordered the Connectick Army to remain in readiness against their coming, which being effected, accordingly they joined forces, and began [5] their march towards Northampton, but by the way were assaulted by the Indians, whom they re- pelled without any other damage, then only Mr. Buddy * Probably Whipplo, but hardly decidable. f Quabaog? Brookfield. NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. 15 wounded, killing about 20 of the Enemies in a hot persuit after them. The tenth Ditto, about 700 Indians encompast North- ampton on all sides where they fought very resolutely for the space of an hour, and then fled, leaving about 25 per- sons dead upon the place, the Christians loosing only 4. men and 1. woman, and had some barnes burnt ; on the 12th instant they assaulted Warwick with so unhappy a success that they burnt all the Town, except four Garrison houses which were left standing, six days after, Captain Peirce, Brother to Captain Peirce of London, with 55 men and 20 Christian Indians went to seek out their Enemies, the Indians whom according to their intelligence they found rambling in an obscure Wood; upon his approach they drew into order, and received his onset with much difficulty, being in the end forced to retreat, but it was so slowly that it scarcely deserved that name, when a fresh company of Indians came into their assistance, beset the Christians 16 NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. round, Killed Captain Pierce and 48. of his men, besides 8. of the Christian Indians. The Fight continued about 5 hours, the Enemy bying the Victory very dearly, but at last obtained it so absolutely, that they deprived us of all means of hearing of their loss. At Malbrow on the 12th Ditto, were several houses burnt whilst the miserable inhabitants were at a meeting, and at Springfield the same Lords day, these devillish Enemies of Religion seeing a man, woman, and their Children, going but towards a meeting-house, Slew them (as they said) because they thought they intended to go thither. The 2$th, of the same instant, April last, Captain Denison collecting a Regiment of 500, and 200 English Paqnet Nimerass Indians, marcht out of New London in search >f that Grand fomenter of this Rebellion. Anthony* the Secham, whom at last near the Town call'd Providence he * Nanunteno, unquestionably, is intended ; but what is meant by Nimerass is beyond our comprehension, unless the NiantUis are meant. NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. 17 recovered, and after a hot dispute, wherein he kill'd 45 of the Sechems men, Took him their Commander Prisoner, with several of his Captaines, whom they immediately put to> death ; but were at strong debate whether they should send him to Boston, but at length they carried him to [6] New London, and began to examine him, why he did fo- ment that war which would certainly be the distruction of him and all the Heathen Indians in the Country, to which, and many other interogatories he made no other reply, but that *[he was born a Prince, and if Princes came to speak with him, he would answer them, But none of those pres- ent being Princes, he thought himself oblig'd in honour to hold his Tongue] This Answer, though it might Chal- lenge their admiration, was not so prevalent as to obtain their pitty. Notwithstanding, the Surviveing Sechems were not long The printer's quotation mark 18 NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. in revenging his death, for, on the Sixth of May, they burnt all Malborow, except three Garrison houses, kill'd Capt. Jacobson and Lieutenant Pra, and two dayes after burnt 24 houses in Southbury, kill'd several of the inhabitants who vainly expected Capt. Wedworth and Capt. Brookwel* to their Relief for these unfortunate Gentlemen were inter- cepted by 700 Moors, with whom they fought for the space of 4 hours, till not only they two, but Capt. Sharp and 51 Christians more lay dead upon the place. At Wbodcock[s\ 10 miles from Seconch, on the \th May was a little Skirmage betwixt the Moors and Christians, wherein there was of the later three slain and two wounded, and only two Indians Kild. May 28. 1676. Capt. Denison and Capt. Evry [Avery] with 50 English and about 150 Paquet Indians, Scouting among the Woods, in 8 days space kill'd 25 Indians and took * The printer was probably puzzled to make any thing of his copy. Brocklebank is he name. NEWS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. 1& 51 prisoners; one whereof was Grand-child to Dunham* who was kill'd by Capt. Peirce in the engagement on the 26 May. The number of Christians slain since the beginning of the late Wars in New England, are 444. Taken Prisoner, 55. The number of Indians Slain in this war is uncertain, because they burnt their Dead, keeping their Death as a Secret from the Christians knowledge, but the number men- tioned herein is 910. We have Received very late news that the Christians in New England have had very great Victory over the Infidel Natives. There has been a Treaty between them; the Indian* proffer to lay down their Armes ; but the English are not willing to agree to it, except they will give up their Armes, * Perhaps Pumham. t This is new and untrue. -20 NEIVS FROM NEW-ENGLAND. and go as far up into the Country, as the Court of Boston shall think fit* Some copies of the original tract have not this last paragraph. Mr. BROWN'S copy has it, but that in Harvard College library is without it. By comparing the proofs ot fcis petition with that belonging to the College, several corrections have been made, and wncertain words made out, which could not have been done by the other copy. And here we would return our thanks to the obliging Librarian, for his kindness la affording ni an opportunity to make our copy more perfect than either of th others. BOOKS PUBLISHED AND ON SALE AT THE ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSTORE, 56 Gornhill (up stairs), Boston. 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