about the royal powers and national liberties in England, that famous general had such an esteem for his conduct and bravery, that he wrote over to him to come and assist him. But he declined it, choosing rather to continue in the country, and assist in completing the settlement of the new colony in which he had begun, and suppress the infidels; in which God made him wonderfully instrumental, as after will appear.

Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, about this time, or perhaps not long before, had revolted from the Pequots, though by his father and mother he derived from the royal blood of the Pequots, and had married the daughter of Tatobam, their late sachem. Notwithstanding, having gained a particular acquaintance with Captain Mason, he fell in with the English, and was very active by assisting in taking the Fort, and also in subduing and driving out of the country the greater part of that fierce and dangerous nation. Thus God, in his care and protection, brought forth help for his people even out of the bowels of their enemies, and saved their lives when their hopes were brought low and into a gloomy, staggering state. Thus God is wont to appear in the moment of difficulty for all that trust in him.

But to return. The Court at Connecticut, as was noted, having determined to send out a force against their malicious neighbors the Pequots, the men were raised and embarked, consisting of 90 men. Their fleet (such as it was) consisted of one pink, one pinnace, and one shallop. Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, joined them. This was in the beginning of May, 1637. But in sailing down Connecticut river, the water being very low, they ran aground several times, which the Indians were not acquainted with in their light flatbottomed canoes, grew impatient of delays, therefore desired to be set on shore, promising to meet them by land at Saybrook, which they accordingly did; but in their way fell in with about 30 or 40 of the enemy, near Saybrook, and killed 7 of them, therein proving their fidelity to the English; and there re-embarked and set sail from the mouth of Connecticut river for the Pequot river, then called, where their instructions were to land; at the mouth of which river New London now stands.

But when they came near to the place of their intended landing, they fell under great discouragements and dilemma

of foreseen evil consequences. For, on the one hand, if they did not land there, they should break their orders and act contrary to the instructions they were under, which they could not answer; and on the other hand, if they landed there, they should inevitably throw themselves into the mouths of the enemy, as they were upon a constant look-out and had two forts not far distant from thence, and where the body of these Pequots resided. (The ruins of one of these forts, and also that of Ninicraft's, in the Narragansett country, I have seen; that particularly of the Pequots, which was destroyed, which I am now hastening to.) Upon the difficulty above noted, the officers, (which we may be sure were but few) some of the company, were for landing at Narragansett Bay, as it was called, a bay lying between the main land and Canonicut Island. Others objected, for the reasons before cited. However, they finally agreed to leave the decision of the case to Mr. Stone, the worthy colleague with Mr. Hooker in the church at Hartford, who was then their chaplain. Of this mutual conclusion they acquainted Mr. Stone in the evening; and doubtless this eminent man of God, as he was justly esteemed, made his fervent prayers at the throne of grace, for direction in this arduous affair. In the morning he told them, he apprehended it most advisable to land at the Narragansett Bay. Accordingly they steered their course thither, and there landed without any opposition. This bay was the utmost boundary of Ninicraft's dominions in the east. The place of their landing was about forty-three miles from the nearest Pequot fort, which they purposed first to attack, and did so. It should have been noted before, that Captain John Underhill, being at Saybrook Fort, joined Captain Mason with 19 men; for these they sent back 20 men to Connecticut. It may also be noted here, that the two young women spoken of before, taken captive, were set at liberty by means of the Dutch, which was a very kind office in them.

There was a petty sachem, not far from the place where they landed, to whom Captain Mason applied, desiring the liberty of free passing through his country, which he readily consented to; the Captain also acquainted him with the expedition he was upon. This also he liked well, but thought they had not a number sufficient to engage such a powerful and numerous people as the Pequots were.

It may not be amiss here to observe, that some time before this I am now speaking of, the murder, before related, committed on Captain Oldham and company by the Indians on Block Island, reached the Massachusetts; upon which the Court there sent 120 men, under the command of Captain John Endicott in chief, with Captain Underhill, before named, and Captain Turner. They were directed to search into the reasons of the murder of Captain Oldham and his company. Of their proceedings at Block Island with the Indians there we have no particular account.* They were also order'ed to treat with the Pequots, and know the reason of their killing Captain Stone and others on Connecticut river. They accordingly arrived at the Pequot country, and had some conference with the Indians on these affairs. But their answers, as well as carriage, gave our men no satisfaction, but rather disgusted them to that degree, that they killed an Indian and burnt some of their wigwams, or houses, and then drew off; which enraged the Pequots against the English so, that they fell with violence on them, and killed divers at Saybrook and elsewhere; for which reason Captain Mason was sent down to Saybrook Fort, as before is noted. The number of those slain at Saybrook we have no particular account.

To return to Captain Mason and his troops. They coming to Narragansett Bay, (it was on Saturday in the afternoon) there they kept Sabbath. Monday and Tuesday the wind blowing hard, prevented their landing till Wednesday. Soon after their landing, Captain Mason visited the sachem, as before is related, and then proceeded on his march towards the Pequot country; and after travelling about eighteen or twenty miles, they came accordingly to a place where another petty sachem lived in a fort. The Captain, in his account of this march, calls the place Nayantick, and says, "it was a frontier of the Pequots; and then travelling twelve miles further, they came to Pawcatuck." The Captain not

being acquainted with the country, might mistake; for Nayhantick, or Nahantick, lies several miles westward of the Pequot fort that they aimed to destroy, and Pawcatuck river, now the boundary between Rhode Island and Connecticut. governments, is about ten or twelve miles east of the Pequot

[* The Author had probably never seen Underhill's account of the expedition to Block Island. See page 5 of this volume. Publishing Committee.]

fort, and also the eastern bounds of Sassacus, the then Pequot sachem's territories; and it must evidently be a mistake, as to the name Nayantick, and its being in the territory of the Narragansett sachem, by many of his men coming and offering to assist him, as by his relation they did in the morning. However, let that matter be as it will, at that fort they stayed that night. The Indians belonging to the fort carried very proudly towards them, and would not suffer any of Captain Mason's men to enter into the fort. Upon this behavior of theirs the Captain set a strong guard round the fort, with orders that not one of the Indians should stir out on the peril of their lives; fearing likewise lest tidings should be carried to the Pequots of their approach. Thus they continued that night; in the morning there came a number of the Narragansetts and joined them, as before noted.

Our forces in the morning pursued their route toward Pequot, with about 500 Indians. Surely it must be under the special hand of Divine Providence, that no tidings of all this came to the Pequots, nor to the moment of their assaulting the fort, as we shall hear. They soon got, over the ford, or wading-place, at Pawcatuck river, where now there is a large bridge, which brought them into the Pequots' territories, wherein they marched near eight or ten miles even in the enemy's country, and still undiscovered. About this time, in their march they came to a place where Indian corn had been planted. Supposing thereby that the fort was not far off, they came to a stand, and the Captain ordered the Indians to be called up who were now in the rear, who had all along before led the van. This the English supposed was owing to their fear of the Pequots. However, Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, and one named Wequash, came up. It was demanded of them where the fort was. They, pointing, said, "On that hill before them," as they were then in lower land. They demanded also where were the rest of the Indians. They answered, "Behind, as Behind, as they were afraid of the Pequots." Then the Captain ordered them to tell their fellows, "that they should by no means fly, but stand at what distance they pleased, and see whether Englishmen could fight or not." It was said that this Wequash that came up with Uncas, as before is noted, had, upon some disgust, deserted the Pequots and came to Captain Mason, and was his pilot, directing where the easiest passes were.

for entering into the fort. They accordingly marched up to the fort, having first recommended themselves and the affair to God for success. It would be too tedious to relate every particular circumstance in this undertaking; it may therefore be sufficient to acquaint my reader that this Wequash, before named, being perfectly acquainted with the then state and situation of the fort, having so lately deserted from them, viz. the Pequots, directed the Captain to the easiest' and safest parts of access and entrance into it. Here we have a further instance of the directing and overruling handi of divine sovereignty, in fetching one out of the fortress of the enemy to lead his people to enter into and possess it.

Accordingly, early in the morning Captain Mason roused up his men, both English and the Indians with him, far greater in number than the former; having also commended themselves and the affair they were on, to God, as apprehending it a very dangerous attempt, marched forward with all possible despatch, dividing their small force into two columns. Captain Mason with his followers advanced to the northeast entrance, and Captain Underhill to the southwest, answerable to the descriptions Wequash had given them, and with the utmost secrecy, as the Indians in the fort were in a profound sleep, and their watch also, until Captain Mason came within a rod of the walls, when a dog barked in the fort, at which the watch awoke and cried out, "Owannux! Owannux!" i. e. Englishmen! Englishmen! However, Captain Mason immediately entered the fort, and called on his men to follow with all expedition, and Captain Underhill soon after entered on the other side. By this time the Indians, many of them, were awakened, but in much confusion, we may conceive. Captain Mason, seeing no Indians, entered into a wigwam, where were several of them, who seemed to wait an opportunity to lay hands on him; but were not permitted. About sixteen of his men soon followed him. The Captain, going out of the wigwam, saw a number of Indians in their lane or street. He making towards them, they fled, but were pursued to the end of the lane, between their wigwams, where they were met by Edward Pattison and Thomas Barber, who, as they said, killed seven of them. The Indians fled, some endeavoring to hide themselves under their beds and other ways. In this time, as the Captain was walking, and coming near the place where he