ply themselves with these instruments of death, by which they might now meet the English with better hopes of success. These circumstances could not fail to multiply new fears in the public mind. After all the late professions of friendship, the hostile preparations by Philip were increased rather than abated in activity. It became high time for the English to consult their own safety. They demanded of Philip to give up all his guns and ammunition. With extreme reluctance he actually surrendered to the Plymouth government 70 guns, pretending that these were all, which could be found in the possession of his countrymen.

They also required a new expression of his submission to the English king. But to him, whose mind was independent, thirsting for revenge, and daring all extremes, of very little validity were all his professions, submissions, bonds, promises and oaths. Little more than preparations were effected between the years 1670 and 1675. Philip during these 5 years was active. At length, the Indians at Hadley confessed the whole plot. Philip had only 500 warriors of his own tribe, the Pokonaket. The Narragansets were to furnish their complement of 4000 men, and other tribes in proportion to their numbers. Surrounded by all these numerous and dreadful enemies, whose malice had now grown into madness, it seemed to many doubtful, whether the Europeans would be able to retain their footing in the new world.

The Indians were unwilling to begin the contest but from necessity, influenced, not by principle, but by a superstitious opinion, that the party striking the first blow would be unsuccessful in the result. Philip, at last, brought on the war much sooner than he himself intended, and before his allies were ripe for action. This, for a time, confounded all their plans, and disturbed their confederacies, doubtful alike whom to join, or how to proceed.

John Sausaman was a praying Indian, a name given to christian converts, made under the preaching of Rev. Mr. Elliot, the illustrious apostle to the Indians of Natick, 15 miles west of Boston. This convert had been some time at the college; and had also been employed as a schoolmaster. Upon some misdemeanor he had fled to Philip, who had made him his grand secretary and prime counsellor. After some years, Mr. Elliot prevailed with him to return back to Natick, where, after confessing repentance of his apostacy, he became a preacher, when his old sins were only spurs to his new zeal.

Made well acquainted with the Indian plots, he betrayed the secrets of Philip to his English friends. Philip of course now determined on revenge. He employed 3 or 4 savages to assassinate him, who knocked him down as he crossed a frozen pond, and sunk his body beneath the ice. An Indian from the hill saw the whole transaction. The murderers were executed by the Plymouth government. Apprehending his own turn would come next to suffer under the sentence of laws not of his own making, Philip began to execute openly what he had long been contriving secretly. Marching through the several tribes, he collected forces from every quarter.

Bold, active, artful, proud and persevering, having nothing more to hope from the English, to whom reconciliation had become impossible, Philip began the work of ravages and massacres with a zeal worthy of a good cause. He commenced by offering insolence to the white people, killing their cattle and rifling their houses. An Englishman was so provoked by these insults as to fire upon an Indian and wound him. This was said to be the first gun discharged.

In June, 24th, 1675, an inhabitant of Rehoboth was fired on by a party of Indians, but it did no other mischief than to strike off the hilt of his sword. The same day, as Swansey people were returning from the public worship of a fast, they were attacked, one was killed and several others wounded. Two men, who went to procure the aid of a surgeon, were killed. In another part of the town, they beset a house, and murdered six persons more. Troops were raised without delay; but even these had no sooner arrived at Swansey, than they were fired on, and one killed and another wounded. The Indians being pursued, fled into a swamp, where 6 of them lost their lives. Philip also was obliged to quit Mount Hope, the seat of his dominion, and the Indians quitted their towns.

The English forces, not finding the enemy, went sword in hand to form a treaty with the Narragansets, who, being terrified at their approach, submitted to the terms which had been dictated, though it was evident that their hearts were with Philip.

Having arrived at Taunton on their return, and hearing that Philip was in a swamp at Pocasset, they entered it with great resolution. The English, firing at every bush they saw stirring, found they were in danger from their own men;

and the difficulty of advancing and the approach of night determined them to give up the chase. Philip was in great distress. Half an hour's further pursuit would have placed both him and his men in the power of their pursuers and have prevented the evils which followed. This fortunate escape induced other tribes to commence hostilities. The Nipnet Indians, who lived in Worcester county, had, before this, killed 4 or 5 persons in Mendon.

In hopes of reclaiming these, 20 horsemen were sent to make a treaty at Brookfield, where was to be a great rendezvous of Indians. In a narrow passage between a steep hill and a thick swamp, they were ambushed by 300 warriors, who killed 8 and wounded 3. The inhabitants being alarmed fled, and together with the surviving horsemen crowded into one of the principal houses. Every house, barn and out-house was consumed. Attempts were made to set fire to the house where they were and which had before been surrounded by the savages. Perceiving the difficulty of accomplishing their object, they filled a cart with hemp, tow and other combustibles, and having set fire to the whole, while they were advancing it up to the house, a tremendous shower of rain suddenly extinguished the fire. Troops from Lancaster at the same time appeared to afford relief. Aid also had been sent from Springfield; but the savages had departed, having first poured into the beseiged house all the shot they had, but without any effect.

In the mean time, Philip, though watched by the troops of Massachusetts, had found means to make his escape from the swamp. He proceeded westward, accompanied by 40 warriors; numbers having deserted him on the reverses of his fortune.

The Indians on Connecticut river now began to be troublesome. Hatfield, Deerfield, Northfield and their vicinity experienced great terrors and disasters. In these engagements too the savages were victors.

Hadley was attacked on a fast day, first of September, 1675, while the congregation were in the midst of church service. In this consternation, the people not knowing where to fly for aid, a grave, elderly person appeared suddenly in their streets, differing from them in men, dress and manners. Putting himself at their head he rallied them, showed them what to do, instructed them how to encounter, and how to conquer the savages foes. His efforts being D

crowned with surprising success, the deliverer of Hadley suddenly disappeared forever. It has since been supposed, that this gentleman was the celebrated Goffe, one of the judges who condemned king Charles, and was driven into voluntary exile.

Alarms were now spread far and wide; and fiction created a thousand rumors. These produced effects even in Boston, and 1200 men were in arms in one hour, and dismissed in the same, when the rumors were found to be fabricated. Suspicions were entertained of the friendly and domestic Indians, who were indeed not unfrequently treacherous. At one period, a law was even passed, that "no person shall entertain, own, or countenance any Indian, under the penalty of being a betrayer to this government."

The towns were now garrisoned in diverse places. A magazine of provisions was attempted at Hadley. Capt. Lathrop and 80 men were sent to guard the carts employed in bringing down 3,000 bushels of corn from Deerfield, when about 800 Indians attacked them; the English, after a brave defence, were all destroyed except 7 or 8. Capt. Mosely stationed at Deerfield came too late to afford relief, who had in turn to contend with the whole body of the enemy for several hours, when with the aid of 260 Mohegans, he put them to flight. This was a dreadful day to the county of Essex, to which belonged almost all the slain, who were in bloom of youth, the hopes of many parents.

Springfield was next attacked. Within a mile of that village, the Indians, who had been friendly for more than 40 years, had a fort. Philip's Indians had persuaded them to admit 300 of his men into it by night, and to join in the destruction of the town. The plan was discovered the night before its intended execution by Top, a friendly Windfor Indian. The discovery was the means of saving the lives of the inhabitants, but more than 30 houses were burned. In making on onset on Hatfield with great fury, a repulse discouraged further ravages.

The scene of action was now transferred to Rhode Island., Contrary to the faith of solemn engagements, the Narragansets had afforded aid and comfort to Philip's followers. Some of that nation had actually joined the enemy in arms. Should the rest follow the example, being scattered in every part of the conntry, the English forces would be found unequal to the contest. Former soldiers had been almost entirely de

stroyed, nor were better hopes entertained for the future. It was of course deemed good policy to attack the Narragansets in the winter, before they could acquire new strength. For this purpose, 1000 troops were raised, more than half of whom were from Massachusetts. Winslow, the governor of Plymouth, was the general. At Pettyquamscot, 300 troops from Connecticut joined them, which with the Plymouth troops, and 160 friendly Indians, constituted an army of 1500 men. They made use ofone Peter, an Indian, who, disgusted with his red brethren, offered himself, as a guide. The enemy, being informed of the armament, had fortified themselves with great strength. The English rushed upon them with more zeal than order. They had observed no plan of attack. The enemy had erected a fortress on a piece of upland in the centre of a swamp, surrounded with palisadoes and a hedge of trees nearly one rod in thickness. At one corner, was a gap, the length of one log. Here, the breastwork was not more than 5 feet high. The entrance was on a long tree over the water, where only one person could pass at a time. Against even this pass, a blockhouse had been constructed. Through this pass, and no where else, could the English enter.

The Indians had first met them at the edge of the swamp, fired and made their retreat to their strong hold. The Eng glish pursued. By accident they came to the only place of entrance. It was no time for deliberation. The captains entered at the head of their companies. The two first were shot dead, as were many of their men. Four other captains soon fell. At length the passage was forced. The enemy was engaged within his place of refuge. He was driven out of the fort after immense carnage. Three hours hard fighting began to procure some advantages on the side of the Engglish. Fire was now put to the wigwams, which were 600 in number. Vast multitudes of women and children perished in the awful conflagration of their own dwellings. The Indian warriors fled to a cedar swamp at a little distance, destitute of the necessaries of life, without any shelter from the storms and the cold. The night coming on, the works of death and conflagration ended, the English began to retreat to their winter quarters, which were at a distance of 16 miles, where they had to carry as well the dead as the wounded.

The carnage and the suffering were great. They lost their way in the stormy night. Some of the wounded died