Nevertheless, although I had given him order to come back again to me over the snows with all possible diligence, I see the winter past and the season very forward, without any news from them; neither have I heard any thing what is become of said Chambley. That is the occasion that obligeth me, gentlemen, to send the third time Mr. de Normanville, accompanied with one of my lifeguard, to reiterate the same request to you, and to entreat you to clear all difficulties which concern the liberty both of Monsieur Chambley and other persons which are with him, if perhaps they were yet prisoners. I myself was very glad that that gave me occasion to give you new assurance of the good union and intelligence, which I desire to continue with you, hoping that you will correspond with the same, frankness, as you have assured me by your letters. Wherefore you may please to give full credence to what Monsieur Normanville shall acquaint you on my behalf; and believe me most certainly, Gentlemen, Your most humble and most obedient servant, FRONTENAC. [There is no direction upon this letter, which was probably in an envelope, addressed to the Governour and Council of our colony. ED.] Ever-honoured and dear Sir, LONDON, 15th August, 1675. I RECEIVED yours of July the last month before this. I hope what was sent you is received before this come to your hand. hand. I hope to hear of the prosperity of the College. We dare scarce speak to any friend for it, so long as the honour of it lies in the rubbish, though the new building be going up. As yet your land is not taken up in Norfolk, but the executors tell me it will be done at Michaelmas, as they call it. No news since my last, but things seem to go worse and worse of the Turk side. I would you do not proceed with all severities against the Indians that rise up against you. It may be the Lord your God loving may have some further end in it then yet appears. Sir John Robinson, lieutenant of the tower, is put out I hear this day, and the Earl of Northampton is made constable of it. There hath been some trouble in the city by the silk weavers, but I think all is quiet again. Thus, with my service to yourself and Mrs. Leveritt, and love to your children, I commend you all to God's blessing in Christ Jesus. Sir, your faithful friend and servant, JO. KNOWLES. These for the Honoured JOHN LEVERITT, Esq. Instructions for J. W. Commander in Chief of the Forces raised or to be raised in the United Colonies, to be improved against the Enemy in your present Expedi tion. In confidence of your wisdom, prudence and faithfulness in this trust committed to you for the honour of God, the good of his people, and the security of the interest of Christ in his churches, expecting and praying that you may be helped in a daily dependence upon him for all that supply of grace that may be requisite for your carrying an end therein, we must leave much to his direction and guidance as providences and opportunities may present, from time to time, in places of action: Yet we commend to you these following instructions, which we expect and require you to attend, so far as the state of matters with you will admit. You are at the time appointed to march with all convenient speed with the forces under your command to the Narriganset country, or to the place where the head quarters or chief rendezvous of the enemy is known to be. And having acquainted your officers and soldiers with your commission and power, you shall require their obedience thereunto; and see that they be governed according to rules military, that all profaneness and disorder in your camp and quarters be avoided as much as in you lieth, and impartially punish the breaking forth thereof in any. You are to see that the worship of God be kept up and duly attended in the army, by daily prayer and invocation of his name, and preaching of his word as you have opportunity, and the Sabbath be not profaned, but that, as much as in you lies, and the emergency of your service will admit, you take care it be duly sanctified, and your ministers respect it. You shall, by all means possible, endeavour to secure any of our English plantations, of any of the colonies, that may be pressed and endangered by the enemy, and improve your uttermost care, courage, and diligence, by policy and force, to discover, pursue, encounter, and by the help of God, to vanquish and subdue the cruel, barbarous and treacherous enemy, whether Philip Sachem and his Wampanooucks, or the Narrigansets his undoubted allies, or any other their friends and abettors. In pursuance hereof, we also advise and order, that you be very careful in your marches in or near the enemy's country, by keeping out scouts and forlorns before the army, to prevent and avoid the ambuscadoes of the enemy; that sentinels be at all times careful of their duty, and all soldiers be made constantly to keep their arms very fix and clean fit for service. And that you endeavour as silently and suddenly to surprise the enemy as you can, and if possible draw or force them to engagement, and therein to do valiantly for the honour of God and of our nation, and the interest of the country; and you encourage valour in any, and severely punish cowardice. That if the enemy offer treaty, you trust them not to the loss of any promising advantage; nor take their words, or subscription to any engagement, without further assurance of arms, good hostages, &c. You shall consult those commanders and gentlemen appointed to be of your council in matters of moment, when opportunity permits, for the well management of the design. You shall diligently improve your time for the speedy effecting of this expedition, and use all means possible to cut off and hinder supplies of provision to the enemy and to secure your own. That you order the commissaries for provision and stores to be careful there be no waste nor embezzlement therein, nor want of what is meet to any. And you are, from time to time, to give us full and particular intelligence of your proceedings, and how the Lord shall please to deal with you in this expedition. [This commission was to Josiah Winslow, Esq. Governour of Plymouth Colony, from the Commissioners of the United Colonies, November, 1675. ED.] Honoured Sirs, HADLEY, March 16th, 1675-6. YOURS of the 11th instant I received, and according to your order have sent down to Major Pinchon and informed him that I was ordered to take his advice about provisions for the army; but, because of the hazard of the way, fear I shall not have a speedy return. I have spoken with some people of these towns, who say they can supply us with provisions for a week or more for our march. I have improved our time since we came hither in sending forth scouts to see what may [be] discovered, but as yet can make no certain discovery ad to eir d t d e 5, of any of the enemy's place of abode, but conceive they have dispersed themselves abroad to the English towns, because on the 9th instant they made an assault on some at Westfield and wounded a man and carried away five bushels of meal; on the 14th instant, about break of the day, the enemy fiercely assaulted North Hampton in three places at once, and forced within their line or palisadoes, and burnt five houses and five barns, and killed four men and one woman, and wounded six men more; but being beaten off marched towards Hatfield, and were seen in several places about the town in considerable companies. I presently sent another company to strengthen that town, but no attempt was made that night. This morning, about two of the clock, we were alarmed again from North Hampton, which was occasioned by some Indians being seen on two sides of the town. The towns both of Springfield and Westfield are in very great fear of the enemy as well as these here. Major Pinchon and Captain Cooke have wrote earnestly to me for assistance, which I cannot send them without your orders. Gentlemen, the work which here presents seems to call for greater strength than we have here to manage it with. Major Treate is returned with those he had here before, and signifies that their council is not willing to increase their number, apprehending that you have not fully completed yours; neither is there any from Plymouth; hinting also as if they have occasion at home to employ their forces, and I perceive are willing to take an opportunity to march that way. Gentlemen, I humbly propose to your honours, whether this way of following the enemy up and down in the woods will best reach your end at this season of the year, in which they have no certain fixed station, but can take advantages against us and avoid us when they please, as our experience in this march hath shewed, by their burning their wigwams and marching away before us, they discovering us when we cannot see them. We perceive, as near as we can gather, that their aim is at these towns on this river to |