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There was one instance which occurred in about 1630, in which the Indians manifested extreme kindness of feeling towards the English. 'Richard Garrett, and several others, from Boston, were shipwrecked on Cape Cod. Some of them died of their hardships. The Indians buried the dead with much difficulty, the ground being hard frozen, and literally nursed the survivors back to life; and after curing and strengthening them, secured the remains of their dead companions against wild beasts, and then guided them fifty miles through the woods to Plymouth.'-(Baylies.)

Alexander, was the immediate successor of his father, Ousamequin, and inherited his dominions and his seat at Mount Hope; but he was devoid of his father's good qualities, and his career was short, and his end disastrous. All that is known of his life and character, is comprised in the following unfortunate transaction. It appears that in the year 1662, Alexander had given cause to suspect, not only that he was unfriendly, but that he was actually contriving mischief against the English; and, moreover, according to report, he had solicited the Narragansets to engage with him in his designed rebellion. Hereupon Captain Willet, who lived near to Mount Hope, was appointed to confer with him, and to desire him to attend the next court in Plymouth for their satisfaction, and his own vindication; he seemed to take the message in good part, professing that the Narragansets, who he said were his enemies, had put an abuse upon him, and he readily promised to attend at the next court. But when the day for his appearance arrived, he went over to the Narragansets, his pretended enemies. This circumstance could not but increase the suspicion of his unfaithfulness, and the Governor and Magistrates ordered Major Josiah Winslow to take a party of armed men and bring Alexander to Plymouth for examination. The Major accordingly took ten men from Marshfield, intending to add to his number in the towns nearer to Mount Hope. But when they were about midway between Plymouth and Bridgewater, at a hunting house, they found Alexander and many of his men, (Hubbard says eighty,) well armed, but their guns were outside of the house. Major Winslow, having possessed himself of the Indians' arms, entered the house and accosted the Sachem, and made him acquainted with his instructions. He fell into a raging passion, and insisted that the Governor had no reason to credit rumors, and to send for him in that manner, nor would he go to Plymouth but when he saw cause. The Major replied, that his breach of word touching his appearance at Plymouth court, and at the same time going to the Narragansets, his pretended enemies, in

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creased the jealousy concerning him. In the firmest tone, Major Winslow commanded the Sachem to submit to his orders, promising him kind treatment if he complied, but with a pistol at his breast, threatening him with instant death if he again refused. Upon this, his interpreter, a discreet Indian, knowing his Sachem's passionate disposition, interposed and prevailed on him to submit, requesting only that he might go. like a Sachem, attended by his men, which, though hazardous, was granted. The weather being hot, the Major offered him the use of a horse; but his squaw and other Indian wonen being in company, he said he could go on foot as well as they, provided that the horses might be made to conform with the slow step of those on foot. The party rested several times by the way, and Alexander and his Indians were refreshed with food by the English; and the royal prisoner was treated with all proper respect and attention. Having arrived at Marshfield, Major Winslow, instead of sending him to prison, took him and his train to his own house, and afforded them entertainment till Governor Prince could arrive from his residence at Eastham. 'Yet,' says Dr. I. Mather, proud Alexander, vexing and fretting in his spirit that such a check was imposed on him, he suddenly fell sick of a fever.' When sick, he was nursed in the tenderest manner, and Dr. Fuller was desired to prescribe for his relief. But, as his sickness continued, he was, by the desire of his friends, permitted to return home, on engaging to appear at the next court at Plymouth. Soon after his return, (but according to Hubbard before he got half way home,) he died. The foregoing is the purport of Dr. I. Mather's account of this transaction, and the same is corroborated, without essential variation, by Hubbard's history of New England. But it has since appeared, that there was a document in reserve, which places this unhappy affair in a different point of light.

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The document referred to is a letter, but without date, written by the Rev. John Cotton, of Plymouth, to Dr. Mather, which has recently been published by Judge Davis, in his edi-. tion of Morton's Memorial, page 426, and is as follows:

'Major Bradford (who was with Mr. Winslow when Alexander was surprised) confidently assures me, that in the narrative of de Alexandro, there are many mistakes, and fearing lest you should, through mis-information, print some mistakes on that subject, from his mouth I this write. Reports being here, that Alexander was plotting, or privy to plots against the English, authority sent to him to come down. He came not. Whereupon Major Winslow was sent to fetch him. Major Bradford with some others went with him. At Munponset river, a place

not many miles hence they found Alexander, with about eight men and sundry squaws. He was there about getting canoes. He and his men were at breakfast under their shelter, their guns being without. They saw the English coming, but continued eating; and Mr. Winslow telling their business, Alexander freely and readily without the least hesitancy consented to go; giving his reason why he came not to the court before, viz: because he waited for Captain Willet's return from the Dutch, being desirous to speak with him first. They brought him to Mr. Collier's that day, and Governor Prince living remote, at Eastham, those few magistrates who were at hand issued the matter peaceably and immediately dismissed Alexander to return home, which he did part of the way; but in two or three days after, he returned and went to Major Winslow's house, intending thence to travel into the Bay and so home; but at the Major's house he was taken very sick, and was by water, conveyed to Major Bradford's, and thence carried upon the shoulders of his men to Tetequit river, and thence in canoes home, and in about two or three days after died.'

The discrepancy between the contents of Mr. Cotton's letter and the narrative which Dr. Mather had formerly published, appears altogether irreconcilable, and it will be found difficult for the historian to transmit to posterity a just and satisfactory statement of all the circumstances pertaining to this subject.

King Philip and Philip's War.-Philip, alias Metacomet was the second son of Massasoit, and after the death of his brother Alexander in 1662, he succeeded as chief of the Wampanoags. He occupied the celebrated place called Montaup, or Mount Hope in the vicinity of Bristol, Rhode Island. This eminence is very steep on all sides, and a huge rock of a singular form is attached to the mountain, having the appearance of an immense dome. Philip inherited many good traits of the character of Massasoit his father, but to these were superadded the noble qualities of a bold and courageous warrior, and his popularity was so great, that when the Pokanoket government was conferred on him, a multitude of his Sachems and people assembled, and the event was celebrated by uncommon rejoicings and revelry. According to a received tradition King Philip went in 1665 to Nantucket with his retinue to kill an Indian by the name of John Gibbs, for committing sacrilege in mentioning the name of a deceased Sachem contrary to the Indian laws. He landed at the west end of the Island, intending to travel along shore to the east part of the Island where the criminal lived, who, having got information from one of his friends, fled to town and was concealed by Thomas Macy. The English

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inhabitants then assembled, held a treaty with Philip and bought of him the criminal, and gave all the money that there was on the Island at that time, being 19 shillings, and the King returned in peace and was satisfied. One of the earliest measures of King Philip was, to appear with his uncle before the Plymouth court, following the example of his father and brother. (See page 119.) He expressed an earnest wish for the continuance of peace and amity; and pledged himself, as the court did also upon the other hand, to use all suitable measures for effecting that desirable purpose. For several years after this, the intercourse between the two parties went on, ostensibly, as it had done in former times, though probably not without some distrust upon both sides. The first public interruption of this harmony occurred in 1671, during which season Philip was heard to complain, openly, of certain encroachments by the English upon his hunting grounds.

About the same time, rumors were circulated that his subjects frequently assembled at various places in unwonted numbers; and were repairing their guns, and sharpening their hatchets. The Plymouth Government were alarmed. They sent messengers to communicate with the Massachusetts Government, and at the same time other messengers to Philip, not "to fetch him before the courts," as in the case of his brother, but to ascertain his intentions. He seems to have paid a dignified regard to this measure. On the 10th of April, a message was received from him, inviting the officers of the Plymouth Government to a conference. It was received by the latter at Taunton, where also were several gentlemen, despatched by the Massachusetts Government, with instructions to mediate between the contending parties. Governor Prince, of Plymouth, sent word back to Philip, who was tarrying meanwhile at what is now called Three-mile river, about four miles from Taunton Green-that he was heartily disposed to treat with him, and expected that the Sachem would come forward for that purpose; and his personal safety was guaranteed in case he should do so. Philip so far complied with the request, as to advance a considerable distance nearer the village. He then stationed himself at a place called Crossman's Mill, placed sentinels on a hill in his rear, and again despatched messengers to the Governor, desiring an interview. This the town's people, who could scarcely be restrained from falling forthwith upon the Indian party, would not permit. At last the Massachusetts Commissioners, volunteering to take the supposed hazard upon themselves, went to Philip and persuaded him to consent to a conference. This was on condition that his men

should accompany him, and that the business should be done in the meeting-house, one side of which was to be reserved for the Wampanoags, and the other for the English. The council took place agreeably to these arrangements, in the old meeting-house of Taunton. The English stood upon one side, solemn and stern in countenance, as they were formal in garb; and opposite to them, a line of Indian warriors, arrayed for battle; their long black hair hanging about their necks, and their eyes gleaming covertly with a flame of suspicion and defiance scarcely to be suppressed. Philip alone was their orator. He denied that he entertained any hostile design against the English, and promptly explained his preparations for war, as intended for defence against the Narragansets." But such arguments and evidence was produced as to prove his assertions to be entirely false.* This greatly surprised and intimidated him, and he then affected to admit all that was alleged against him, and though he refused to make compensation for past aggressions, he and four of his counsellors subscribed an acknowledgment that he had violated and broken the covenant by which his father and brother before him submitted themselves to the King's Majesty of England, and to the Colony of New Plymouth, by taking up arms against them. After making a proper confession of his unfaithfulness and folly, he solemnly renewed the covenant with his ancient friends, and the friends of his father, and as a pledge of his future faithfulness, he agreed to resign up to the government of New Plymouth all his Englisharms, to be kept for their security, so long as they might see

reason.

There can be no doubt but Philip had, at the time of signing this confession, war with the English in contemplation, and that the confession was a mere finesse that he might gain time to complete his preparations.

In August of the same year, Philip made a visit to the Massachusetts government, who he knew were umpires in this affair, and had the, address to press on them the belief, that he had no hostile designs against the English, and the parties then agreed to the following articles of accommodation, September 19th, 1671.

1. We, Philip and my council, and my subjects do acknowledge ourselves subject to his Majesty the King of England, and the government of New Plymouth and to their laws.

*For the above quotation, I am indebted to a very respectable work, entitled "Lives of the Indians, by B. B. Thacher, Esq." Vol. i. p. 146.

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