A Brief and True NARRATION Of the Late WARS RISEN IN New-England: Occasioned by the Quarrelsome disposition, and Perfidious Carriage OF THE Barbarous, Savage and Heathenish NATIVES There.  

Licenced  
November 16. Roger Lestrange.   
LONDON Printed for J. S. 1675.   

BOSTON SEPTEMBER 7 th'. 1675. 
 SIR,  
'tIs not to be doubted but that Fame ere this hath sounded in your Ears that the Indians in New England, have, by a late Rupture disturbed the long and orderly Peace, that hath been enjoyed by us in these Flourishing Plantations of English in New England. And to the intent you might, without aggravating or diminishing of our Troubles here, have a true Natrative of those Indians Stirs, I have taken the care to commit this following Relation to Paper.  
In the South parts of New Plymouth Colony in New England, is a Promontory of Land, about twelve miles long, called by the English Mount Hope, inhabited by Indians, whose Chief is named Metacon; by the English called King Philip; whose Grandfather Massasoit in King James' time was Sachem, i. e. Chief Lord of almost all the Lands in the said New Plymouth Colony: but hath been since at several times sold by the Indian Sachems and people to the English, who by their great industry, have of a howling Wilderness improved those Lands into Corn fields, Orchards, enclosed Pastures, and Towns inhabited; which hath confiderably advanced the value of Lands: which possibly makes some Indians repent the sale of them, and particularly Sachem Philip, of his confining himself unto so narrow a Territory: Therefore about five years ago be took occasion to quarrel with the Inhabitants of the next English Town, called Swansey, adjoining to his Tract of Land, about Bounds and Fences; and being a Brother of his, about five years since died in an English Town, he said, not without suspicion of poison, by an English Chirurgeon, though there was n● ground for it; which he said be would by force revenge upon them. But by the … tion of the M●ssathusets Colony all differences were fairly and ●●●ceably compos●● between the ●aid Philip and the Plymoutheans; and Philip obliged himself to be personally present with two Wolves heads at the yearly Court of Election in Plymouth Colony. The last Winter a Christian Indian Scholar, named Sosomon, went to preach the Gospel to Philip and h●s Indians, by his and their permission; but after some time Sagamore Philip grew discontent with Sosomon: wherefore Sosomon returned from them to go to the Governor of New Plymouth Josiah Winslow Esq but in his return three of Philips Indians set on him and murdered him. These three Caitiffs were soon after apprehended by Governor Winslow, and upon clear Evidence and a legal Trial, had Judgement of Death; two of them soon after were executed, but the third breaking his Halter, was carried back and reserved for Execution. This not a little displeased Philip, who feared (happily through his own guilt) that the English would not rest there, though they did not any way molest him by Trial or otherwise; upon which Philip secretly sent his Messengers to several Indian Sachems, to enter into a strict Confederacy with him against the English; and himself arms about 700 of this men, and obtains 1000 more of his Confederates: and what others besides these he hath engaged to his party, is to the English unknown, though 'tis shrewdly suspected this Cruel subtle Fellow hath engaged most of the Indians in the Country to espouse his Quarrel as a Common Cause All this Spring Philip's soldiers (who were well, fitted with Guns, Powder, Shot●, etc. which they had long since gotten of the Dutch, French, yea, and of some English themselves) were seen marching in their Arms even at the planting their Corn; of which unnecessary preparations, the neighbouring English of Swansey and Rehoboth were very apprehensive: and discoursing with the Sagamore about it, he said some had threatened him that he should be hanged at Plymouth; but if he must die, he would die on his own land. June the 20th. seven of Sagamore Philip's men came armed to a Swansey man's house to grind a Hatchet, the man told them it was the Lord's Day; they salted they cared not for that, they would do it for all him or his God. They then went to another House and asked for Victuals and Tobacco, some was given them and some they took, but hurt no man; she same day they took a Swansey man, travelling from, Road Island, through the Land, and kept him prisoner all night, used him, kindly and sent him home the next day with this Caution, That he should tell no lies. Upon these Jealousies Swansey men sent to Plymouth and the Bay for aid, and accordingly 600 Volunteers Horse and Foot, were sent under the Command of Major General Thomas Savage, a very active person. But before these Succours came, Swansey men deserted their houses and drew all their Inhabitants into three Garrison houses. In this month of June the Election was at Plymouth, and Sagamore Philip came not with his Tribute of two Wolves heads, according to his League last made. June 23. An Englishman seeing an Indian entering a deserted Swansey house shot at him. June the 24th. the Indians shot at several men travelling through Rehoboth, but slew none there; but at Swansey they killed six men, going with a Cart; and set on one of the Garrison houses, and there killed two more and wounded other two; and likewise killed two that were travelling for a Chirurgeon. Thus war began. The Indians have killed several Swansey people, burned 21 houses in that Town, destroyed hundreds of Cattle, pulled down Fences, ruined much Corn and Hay in Plymouth Colony. The Indians lie lurking and skulking in hideous woody Swamps, and thence let on travellers or men at their labours. At New Dartmouth (a Town in Plymouth Colony, most of them Quakers) they burned all their houfes but one, viz 29, and slew several persons. In Middlebrough the Indians burned 21 houses. In Taunton thty burnt ten houses and killed ten persons. In Rehoboth they have destroyed eight houses, but killed none of the Inhabitants. While they were a firing Rehoboth; a Troop of English chased the Indians thence, and killed four Indians, one of which was Sagamore Philip's Brother; and the English had one Trooper slain. At Mendam a Town in the Messathusets, 30 miles from Boston, the Indians killed three men, a woman and two children: And at Dorchester, on a Sabbath Day an Indian shot at a Maid in a loan house, but miss her; she with a generous courage charged and discharged a Pistol at the Indian, and so wounded him, that he had much ado to escape by flying away. The English Forces at the first attempt drove Sagamore Philip out of his Country, seized his Fort with 200 bushels of Corn, his Saddle and some of his Horses; where they found four English heads on poles, which they took down, placing four Indian heads in their places. Thence they pursued the Indians into a Swampe, and tired at the Indians, and lost six men besides nine wounded; but how many Indians we killed we cannot tell: for so thick were the bushes, that hardly one was to be seen. Night overtaking the English, they having first forced Sagamore Phillip's men from their Wigwams, they returned out of the Swampe. A p●rty of our men engaged 400 Indians, and forced them over a Bridge, where we found two of Sagamore Phillip's chief men dead; but the rest immured themselves in a Swampe near Pocassit, 7 miles long. Thus July ended, but in the beginning of August, the English having increased their numbers, resolved to begird the Swampe, and fall upon Philip's Camp, which second attempt being began, Sagamore Philip rushes out of the Swampe with his whole people, men, women and children, in sight of the English Army; making a direful outcry. But our men resolutely fell on them, and in an hour or two dissipated the Indians and slew about twenty of them; one of whom was Sagamore Philip's Lieutenant General, without the loss of one of us. But Sagamore Philip, with most of his people, fled away again through the Swampe, clear out of that side of the Country, and all his Wigwams and Baggage was possessed by the English.  
Vncas a Southern Sachem, sent 49 at the first of his men well armed to the Massathusets, to aid the English against Philip, and the English ordered them to march with their Head Army. After the last Skirmish, 40 of Philip's Indians yielded themselves to the English at discretion, by whom we hope to have a full discovery of the Indians plots, numbers, confederacies, and their hiding places.  
All the Indians quite through the Country are in Arms, yet pretend favour to the English; however we trust them not, as knowing they wait a fit occasion against us: to prevent which the Conecticut Colony sent 300 men to the Naraganset Sachem, to force him to declare himself. On their approach he concluded a peace with the English, gave Hostages, and sent 100 of his men against Philip. The English, to encourage them, have promised them 20 Coats for Philip, and one a piece for each of his men, that they shall kill: but a double reward if they can catch and bring Philip or his men alive; for the Englishes design is rather to subject than to destroy the Indians: there being 120 Indian prisoners in the Governor of Plymouths' Custody, reserved to be made servants of.  
Three Sachems of the Nipmug Country came to Quab●ug, alias Brookfield, an English Town about sixty miles from Boston, subscribed to be faithful to the English; and in regard many of the Subjects of those Sachems were praying Indians, the inhabitans of Brookfield, were the more confident of their fidelity. The Council sent Captain Hutchison and Captain Wheeler, with thirty horse, into the Nipmug Country, to treat with the Indians there, and get a clear demonstration of their affection to the English, by delivering their Arm and Hostages. Captain Hutchinson with some Townsmen of Brookfield, (viz. Coy, Prichet, Airs, etc. who had so much affiance in the Indians as not to carry weapons with them) went to treat with the Sachems, August 2. 75. at a place appointed by them: But the Indians not appearing there, the Captain went near to a Swampe thereby, out of which the Indians furiously rushed on Captain Hutchinson's party in great numbers, and killed six persons, and wounded eight more, of which Captain Wheeler and Captain Hutchinson were two. The Captains with their remainders hasted to the Town, and immediately go all the inhabitants of Brookfield into one house, being about seventy in number. The Indians in two hours' space fired all the deserted houses in the Town, viz. twenty; and came with most hideous yell, in way of triumph, and besieged Captain Hutchinson and the Towns people, shooting day and night for three days together; and attempting to set the Garison-house on fire, which two or three times had likely to have been done, but that they within quenched it; and once a great shower of rain put out the fire. The Indians provided an Engine with thirty two pair of wheels, to fire the Garrison house at fourteen rods distance: The English within used their utmost diligence to make their defence, and lost only one within, and one killed, that occasionally stepped out. In the midst of this exigent two English women were safely delivered in Childbirth in the English house.  
Major Willard being near Lancaster, hearing of the distress of those at Brookefield, marched with fifty or sixty Dragoons to their relief, and came in the night, and forced their way through the Indians into the yard of the Garison-house; securing their horses, they fired several volleys on the Indians, who in a little while fled all away. Thus all these persons (blessed be God) were saved out of the hands of these barbarous and treacherous Enemies, when they were at the last gasp, their powder being at it were spent, and all help failing, a mercy not to be forgotten. Captain Hutchinson lived about three weeks, and then died of his wounds, in the sixty third year of his age; this worthy Gentleman being the fifth or sixth of his Family who perished by the Indians; for his Mother, Brother, Sister, and Brother-in-law, were murdered by the Indians about thirty seven years since, at or near Long Island, etc. Now about this time Philip with about forty men came ●●ying from his Country to these three Sachems, and highly applauded them, and gave them three pecks of Wampampeag (i. e. Indian Money) to encourage them against us; and having reinforced himself, in about a fortnight's time, as well by Piscataqua, Penecock, as from the Southern Indians, invaded a Town called Squakeag, about 30 miles from Hadley, and then the Indians that marched with our forces, shown themselves to be our faint friends, and we suspected they would turn r●al enemies in time of danger, because they did not effectually pursue Ph●lip according to Orders given them. Capt. Beers and Capt. Lothrop marched with 150 soldiers to an Indian Fort near Hadley, and required the Indian's to yield up their Arms; the Indians promised to answer them in the morning: that night they killed their Dogs and Swine, and fled to a Swamp; the Captains pursued them, fired and killed eight or ten, and in a few days after besets another place in those parts. Capt. Beers marched with 35 soldiers to fetch off the English of a Town called Deerfield being an out-skirt Town of the Massathusets Colony where the Indian● had burnt 20 houses, was encountered by the way at first with 100 Indians, which the English worsted, killing 40 of them, with the loss of three English. But 300 more came to their fellows rescue, and killed Captain Beers and 18 more, with great shouts; and the 15 escaped. The Indian's are there increased to, as is said, a 1000; our Foces are ma●ching to those parts, and 100 more men from the Bay under Capt. Mosely, also 100 from Connecticut, under Major Treat, with Mr Whiteing a Minister of Hartford; and we every day expect to hear of their good success, which we pray God grant. We are told that Sagamore Philip gins to repen●, and is fled to the French at Canada for succour; and that several of his men are gone to the Naraganset Sachem of whose kindness to us we are not so well assured as we desire; and some fears there are likewise that Philip also will make the protection of the Naraganset Sachem his Refuge: so that we know not when this War will end. There is a Declaration published by the Council of the Massathusets That those Indians who profe●● 〈◊〉 be in amity with the English, forthwith repair to five places appointed them; if they or any Indian appear one mile from the place, he shall be looked at a● an enemy.  
Three hundred Indians were in arms at Kenibe●k 60 mile's east of P●s … aqua, Capt. 〈◊〉 of Boston being there with 100 men, demanded the reason of the Indian's arming? ●hey said news was brought them that the English were resolved to root out all the Indians; but they being informed that it was only Phi●ip and his obstinate Confederates, that the English had declared against: this pacified them, and some brought in their arms, and Captain Lake hath secured six of their Princes as 'tis said; and at Pascataqua most of the Indians have brought in their arms, and Captain Lake hath secured six of their Princes as ●t is said; and at Pascataqua most of the Indians have brought in their arms, and are resolved to be quiet. Our heathen enemies, what men or women they take alive, they massacre in a cruel manner, as flaying the skins over their heads, cutting ●ff their hands, etc. We confess our sins, now we are grown fat Jesurun like, hath caused this Judgement; the good God pardon them, cure us, and then we hope he will remove his heavy hand. Amen.  
FINIS.