Part 42

EDWA: HOPKINS, Presidente. SIMON BRADSTREETE. WILL^M. HATHORNE. EDW: WINSLOW. JOHN BROWNE. GEOR: FENWICK. THEOPH: EATON. THO: GREGSON.

The forenamed Narigansets deputies did further promise, that if, contrary to this agreemente, any of y^e Nyantick Pequents should make any assaulte upon Uncass, or any of his, they would deliver them up to y^e English, to be punished according to their demerits; and that they would not use any means to procure the Mowacks to come against Uncass during this truce.

These were their names subscribed with their marks.

WEETOWISH. PAMPIAMETT. CHINÑOUGH. PUMMUNISH.

Anno Dom: 1645.

The comissioners this year were caled to meete to-gither at Boston, before their ordinarie time; partly in regard of some differances falen betweene y^e French and y^e govermente of the Massachusets, about their aiding of Munseire Latore against Munsseire de Aulney, and partly aboute y^e Indeans, who had broaken y^e former agreements aboute the peace concluded y^e last year. This meeting was held at Boston, y^e 28. of July.

Besids some underhand assualts made on both sids, the Narigansets gathered a great power, and fell upon Uncass, and slew many of his men, and wounded more, by reason y^t they farr exseeded him in number, and had gott store of peeces, with which they did him most hurte. And as they did this withoute y^e knowledg and consente of y^e English, (contrary to former agreemente,) so they were resolved to prosecute y^e same, notwithstanding any thing y^e English said or should doe against them. So, being incouraged by ther late victorie, and promise of assistance from y^e Mowaks, (being a strong, warlike, and desperate people,) they had allready devoured Uncass & his, in their hops; and surly they had done it in deed, if the English had not timly sett in for his aide. For those of Conightecute sent him 40. men, who were a garison to him, till y^e comissioners could meete and take further order.

Being thus mett, they forthwith sente 3. messengers, viz. Sargent John Davis, Benedicte Arnold, and Francis Smith, with full & ample instructions, both to y^e Narigansets and Uncass; to require them y^t they should either come in person or send sufficiente men fully instructed to deale in y^e bussines; and if they refused or delayed, to let them know (according to former agreements) y^t the English are engaged to assiste against these hostile invasions, and y^t they have sente their men to defend Uncass, and to know of y^e Narigansets whether they will stand to y^e former peace, or they will assaulte y^e English also, that they may provid accordingly.

But y^e messengers returned, not only with a sleighting, but a threatening answer from the Narigansets (as will more appear hereafter). Also they brought a letter from M^r. Roger Williams, wherin he assures them that y^e warr would presenly breake forth, & y^e whole country would be all of a flame. And y^t the sachems of y^e Narigansets had concluded a newtrality with y^e English of Providence and those of Aquidnett Iland. Wherupon y^e comissioners, considering y^e great danger & provocations offered, and y^e necessitie we should be put unto of making warr with y^e Narigansetts, and being also carfull, in a matter of so great waight & generall concernmente, to see y^e way cleared, and to give satisfaction to all y^e colonies, did thinke fitte to advise with such of y^e magistrats & elders of y^e Massachusets as were then at hand, and also with some of y^e cheefe millitary comanders ther; who being assembled, it was then agreed,--

First, y^t our ingagmente bound us to aide & defend Uncass. 2. That this ayde could not be intended only to defend him & his forte, or habitation, but (according to y^e comone acceptation of such covenants, or ingagments, considered with y^e grounds or occasion therof) so to ayde him as he might be preserved in his liberty and estate. 3^ly. That this ayde must be speedy, least he might be swalowed up in y^e mean time, and so come to late. 4^ly. The justice of this warr being cleared to our selves and y^e rest then presente, it was thought meete y^t the case should be stated, and y^e reasons & grounds of y^e warr declared and published. 5^ly. That a day of humilliation should be apoynted, which was y^e 5. day of y^e weeke following. 6^ly. It was then allso agreed by y^e comissioners that y^e whole number of men to be raised in all y^e colonies should be 300. Wherof from y^e Massachusets a 190. Plimoth, 40. Conightecute, 40. New-Haven, 30. And considering y^t Uncass was in present danger, 40. men of this number were forthwith sente from y^e Massachusets for his sucoure; and it was but neede, for y^e other 40. from Conightecutt had order to stay but a month, & their time being out, they returned; and y^e Narigansets, hearing therof, tooke the advantage, and came suddanly upon him, and gave him another blow, to his further loss, and were ready to doe y^e like againe; but these 40. men being arrived, they returned, and did nothing.

The declaration which they sett forth I shall not transcribe, it being very larg, and put forth in printe, to which I referr those y^t would see y^e same, in which all passages are layed open from y^e first. I shall only note their prowd carriage, and answers to y^e 3. messengers sent from y^e comissioners. They received them with scorne & contempte, and tould them they resolved to have no peace without Uncass his head; also they gave them this further answer: that it mattered not who begane y^e warr, they were resolved to follow it, and that y^e English should withdraw their garison from Uncass, or they would procure y^e Mowakes against them; and withall gave them this threatening answer: that they would lay y^e English catle on heaps, as high as their houses, and y^t no English-man should sturr out of his dore to pisse, but he should be kild. And wheras they required guids to pass throw their countrie, to deliver their message to Uncass from y^e comissioners, they deneyed them, but at length (in way of scorne) offered them an old Pequente woman. Besids allso they conceived them selves in danger, for whilst y^e interpretour was speakeing with them about y^e answer he should returne, 3. men came & stood behind him with ther hatchets, according to their murderous maner; but one of his fellows gave him notice of it, so they broak of & came away; with sundry such like affrontes, which made those Indeans they carryed with them to rune away for fear, and leave them to goe home as they could.

Thus whilst y^e comissioners in care of y^e publick peace sought to quench y^e fire kindled amongst y^e Indeans, these children of strife breath out threatenings, provocations, and warr against y^e English them selves. So that, unless they should dishonour & provoak God, by violating a just ingagmente, and expose y^e colonies to contempte & danger from y^e barbarians, they cannot but exerciese force, when no other means will prevaile to reduse y^e Narigansets & their confederats to a more just & sober temper.

So as here upon they went on to hasten y^e preparations, according to y^e former agreemente, and sent to Plimoth to send forth their 40. men with all speed, to lye at Seacunke, least any deanger should befalle it, before y^e rest were ready, it lying next y^e enemie, and ther to stay till y^e Massachusetts should joyne with them. Allso Conigtecute & Newhaven forces were to joyne togeather, and march with all speed, and y^e Indean confederats of those parts with them. All which was done accordingly; and the souldiers of this place were at Seacunk, the place of their rendevouze, 8. or 10. days before y^e rest were ready; they were well armed all with snaphance peeces, and wente under y^e camand of Captain Standish. Those from other places were led likwise by able comanders, as Captaine Mason for Conigtecute, &c.; and Majore Gibons was made generall over y^e whole, with such comissions & instructions as was meete.

Upon y^e suden dispatch of these souldiears, (the present necessitie requiring it,) the deputies of y^e Massachusetts Courte (being now assembled i[=m]ediatly after y^e setting forth of their 40. men) made a question whether it was legally done, without their comission. It was answered, that howsoever it did properly belong to y^e authority of y^e severall jurisdictions (after y^e warr was agreed upon by y^e comissioners, & the number of men) to provid y^e men & means to carry on y^e warr; yet in this presente case, the proceeding of y^e comissioners and y^e comission given was as sufficiente as if it had been done by y^e Generall Courte.

First, it was a case of such presente & urgente necessitie, as could not stay y^e calling of y^e Courte or Counsell. 2^ly. In y^e Articles of Confederation, power is given to y^e comissioners to consult, order, & determine all affaires of warr, &c. And y^e word determine comprehends all acts of authority belonging therunto.

3^ly. The comissioners are y^e judges of y^e necessitie of the expedition.

4^ly. The Generall Courte have made their owne comissioners their sole counsell for these affires.

5^ly. These counsels could not have had their due effecte excepte they had power to proceede in this case, as they have done; which were to make y^e comissioners power, and y^e maine end of y^e confederation, to be frustrate, and that mearly for observing a ceremony.

6^ly. The comissioners haveing sole power to manage y^e warr for number of men, for time, place, &c., they only know their owne counsells, & determinations, and therfore none can grante co[=m]ission to acte according to these but them selves.

All things being thus in readines, and some of y^e souldiers gone forth, and the rest ready to march, the comissioners thought it meete before any hostile acte was performed, to cause a presente to be returned, which had been sente to y^e Gove^r of the Massachusetts from y^e Narigansett sachems, but not by him received, but layed up to be accepted or refused as they should carry them selves, and observe y^e covenants. Therfore they violating the same, & standing out thus to a warr, it was againe returned, by 2. messengers & an interpretour. And further to let know that their men already sent to Uncass (& other wher sent forth) have hitherto had express order only to stand upon his & their owne defence, and not to attempte any invasion of y^e Narigansetts country; and yet if they may have due reperation for what is past, and good securitie for y^e future, it shall appear they are as desirous of peace, and shall be as tender of y^e Narigansets blood as ever. If therefore Pessecuss, Innemo, writh other sachemes, will (without further delay) come along with you to Boston, the comissioners doe promise & assure them, they shall have free liberty to come, and retourne without molestation or any just greevance from y^e English. But deputies will not now serve, nor may the preparations in hand be now stayed, or y^e directions given recalled, till y^e forementioned sagamors come, and some further order be taken. But if they will have nothing but warr, the English are providing, and will proceede accordingly.

Pessecouss, Mixano, & Witowash, 3. principall sachems of y^e Narigansett Indeans, and Awasequen, deputie for y^e Nyanticks, with a large traine of men, within a few days after came to Boston.

And to omitte all other circomstances and debats y^t past betweene them and the comissioners, they came to this conclusion following.

1. It was agreed betwixte y^e comissioners of y^e United Collonies, and y^e forementioned sagamores, & Niantick deputie, that y^e said Narigansets & Niantick sagamores should pay or cause to be payed at Boston, to y^e Massachusets comissioners, y^e full sume of 2000. fathome of good white wampame, or a third parte of black wampampeage, in 4. payments; namely, 500. fathome within 20. days, 500. fathome within 4. months, 500. fathome at or before next planting time, and 500. fathome. within 2. years next after y^e date of these presents; which 2000. fathome y^e comissioners accepte for satisfaction of former charges expended.

2. The foresaid sagamors & deputie (on y^e behalfe of y^e Narigansett & Niantick Indeans) hereby promise & covenante that they upon demand and profe satisfie & restore unto Uncass, y^e Mohigan sagamore, all such captives, whether men, or women, or children, and all such canowes, as they or any of their men have taken, or as many of their owne canowes in y^e roome of them, full as good as they were, with full satisfaction for all such corne as they or any of theire men have spoyled or destroyed, of his or his mens, since last planting time; and y^e English comissioners hereby promise y^t Uncass shall doe y^e like.

3. Wheras ther are sundry differences & greevances betwixte Narigansett & Niantick Indeans, and Uncass & his men, (which in Uncass his absence cannot now be detirmined,) it is hearby agreed y^t Nariganset & Niantick sagamores either come them selves, or send their deputies to y^e next meeting of y^e comissioners for y^e collonies, either at New-Haven in Sep^t 1646. or sooner (upon conveniente warning, if y^e said comissioners doe meete sooner), fully instructed to declare & make due proofe of their injuries, and to submite to y^e judgmente of y^e comissioners, in giving or receiving satisfaction; and y^e said comissioners (not doubting but Uncass will either come him selfe, or send his deputies, in like maner furnished) promising to give a full hearing to both parties with equall justice, without any partiall respects, according to their allegations and profs.

4. The said Narigansett & Niantick sagamors & deputies doe nearby promise & covenante to keep and maintaine a firme & perpetuall peace, both with all y^e English United Colonies & their successors, and with Uncass, y^e Monhegen sachem, & his men; with Ossamequine, Pumham, Sokanoke, Cutshamakin, Shoanan, Passaconaway, and all other Indean sagamors, and their companies, who are in freindship with or subjecte to any of y^e English; hearby ingaging them selves, that they will not at any time hearafter disturbe y^e peace of y^e cuntry, by any assaults, hostile attempts, invasions, or other injuries, to any of y^e Unnited Collonies, or their successors; or to y^e afforesaid Indeans; either in their persons, buildings, catle, or goods, directly or indirectly; nor will they confederate with any other against them; & if they know of any Indeans or others y^t conspire or intend hurt against y^e said English, or any Indeans subjecte to or in freindship with them, they will without delay acquainte & give notice therof to y^e English co[=m]issioners, or some of them.

Or if any questions or differences shall at any time hereafter arise or grow betwext them & Uncass, or any Endeans before mentioned they will, according to former ingagments (which they hearby confirme & ratifie) first acquainte y^e English, and crave their judgments & advice therin; and will not attempte or begine any warr, or hostille invasion, till they have liberty and alowance from y^e comissioners of y^e United Collonies so to doe.

5. The said Narigansets & Niantick sagamores & deputies doe hearby promise y^t they will forthw^th deliver & restore all such Indean fugitives, or captives which have at any time fled from any of y^e English, and are now living or abiding amongst them, or give due satisfaction for them to y^e comissioners for y^e Massachusets; and further, that they will (without more delays) pay, or cause to be payed, a yearly tribute, a month before harvest, every year after this, at Boston, to y^e English Colonies, for all such Pequents as live amongst them, according to y^e former treaty & agreemente, made at Hartford, 1638. namly, one fathome of white wampam for every Pequente man, & halfe a fathume for each Pequente youth, and one hand length for each mal-child. And if Weequashcooke refuse to pay this tribute for any Pequents with him, the Narigansetts sagamores promise to assiste y^e English against him. And they further covenante y^t they will resigne & yeeld up the whole Pequente cuntrie, and every parte of it, to y^e English collonies, as due to them by conquest.