KNown unto God are all his works from the foundation of the world , though manifest to us , only by the events of time , that fruitful mother of all things , which in the former age did bring forth , at least did bring to light the knowledge of this western World , called America , that in all foregoing times and ages , lay hid in this obscure and remote Region , covered with a veyle of ignorance , and locked up from the knowledge of all the rest of the Inhabitants of the Earth . To whom the honour of its investigation doth of eight more properly belong , is sufficiently declared by the Hystory and Reports of such as were ey witnesses thereof , and not intended to be any part of the present disquisition . The most considerable part of all the North side of America , is called New-England . In the fertility of the Soyle , salubriousness of the Air , and many other commodious advantages , most resembling the Country from whence it borrowed its appellation . For the knowledge thereof the World is most beholding to the discoveries of the English , under the conduct of Sebastian Cabbot a famous Porteguez about the year 1497. though since much perfected by the industry and travels of Captain Gosnold , Captain Hudson , Captain Smith , and others of the English Nation . North-America this posthumous birth of time , is as to its nativity , of the same standing with her two elder Sisters Peru and Mexico , yet was suffered to ly in its Swadling-clothes , one whole Century of years , nature having promised no such Dowry of rich Mines of Silver and Gold to them that would espouse her for their own , as she did unto the other two , which possibly was the reason why she was not so hastily deflowred by her first discoverers , nor yet so early courted by any of the Princes of Europe , lying wholly neglected as it were , until a small company of Planters , under the command of Captain George Popham , and Captain Gilbert were sent over at the charge of Sir John Popham in the year 1606. to begin a Colony upon a Tract of Land about Saga de hoch , scituate on the south side of the River of Kennibeck and about that called Shipscot River , about twenty miles south-West from Pemmaquid , the most Northerly bound of all New-England . But that design within two years expiring with its first Founder , soon after some honourable persons of the West of England , commonly called the Counsel of Plimouth , being more certainly informed of several Navigable Rivers and commodious Havens , with other places fit either for Traffick or Planting , newly discovered by many skilful Navigators , obtained a Grant by Patent , under the great Seal from King James of blessed memory , of all that part of North-America , called New-England . From the 40 to the 48 gr. of North Latitude . From which Grand and Original Patent , all other Charters and Graunts of Land from Pemmaquid to Delaware Bay , along the Sea-coast , derive their Linage and Pedigree ; thus was that vast tract of Land , after the year 1612. cantoned and parcelled out into many lesser Divisions and parcels , according as Adventurers presented , which said Graunts being founded upon uncertain , or false Descriptions , and Reports of some that Travelled thither , did many of them interfere one upon another , to the great disturbance of the first Planters , and prejudice of the Proprietors themselves , as is too well known by any that have had occasion to stay never so little amongst them , many of whom are yet surviving . For notwithstanding the great charge and vast expences the first Adventurers were at , the first Proprietors of the whole Province of Mayne and others ( reaching from the head of Casco Bay North-east to the mouth of Pascat●qua River about sixty miles Westward ) and the hopes they might have conceived of being the first Founders of New-Colonies , and of enlarging their Estates and Inheritances by those new acquired possessions and Lordships , there was little profit reaped from thence after the rich fleeces of Beaver were gleaned away , nor any great improvement made of those large portions of Lands , save the erecting of some few Cottages for Fishermen , and a few inconsiderable Buildings for the Planters , which were on those occasions drawn over the Sea , to settle upon the most northerly parts of New-England .

But whither it were by the imprudence of the first Adventurers , or the dissoluteness of the persons they sent over to manage their Affairs , or whither want of faithfulness or skill to manage their trust , they were by degrees in a manner quite deserted almost of Laws and Government , and left to shift for themselves , by which means at last they fell under the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets Colony , not by Usurpation , as is by great mistake suggested to his Majesty , but by necessity , and the earnest desire of the Planters themselves ; to accept of whom , those of the Massachusets Colony were the more easily induced ; in that they apprehended the bounds of their own Patent , by a favourable Interpretation of the words describing the Northern Line [ Three miles beyond the most Northerly branch of Merimack River ] do reach somewhat beyond Pemmaquid , the North-west limits of all New-England .

This was the first beginning of things in New-England , at which time they were not unlike the times of old , when the people of Judah were said to be without a Teaching Priest , and without Law ; and no wonder things were no more successfully carried on .

In the Year 1620. a Company belonging to Mr. Robinsons Church at Leyden in Holland , although they had been courteously entertained by the Dutch , as Strangers sojourning amongst them , yet foreseeing many inconveniencies like to increase , and that they could not so well provide for the good of their Posterity , under the Government of a forreign Nation ; they resolved to intreat so much favour from their own Soveraign Prince King James , as to grant them liberty under the shelter of his Royal Authority , to place themselves in some part of New-England , then newly discovered ; wherefore having obtained some kind of Patent or Graunt , for some place about Hudsons River , they set sayle from Plimouth in September for the Southern parts of New-England , but as they intended to bend their course thitherward , per varios casus , per tot difcrimina rerum ; they were at last cast upon a bosome of the South Cape of the Massachusets Bay , called Cape Cod , about the 11 th of November , from whence the Winter so fast approaching , they had no opportunity to remove ; and finding some incouragement from the hopefulness of the Soyle , and courtesie of the Heathen , they resolved there to make their abode for the future , which they did , laying the foundation of a new Colony , which from the remembrance of the last Town in England they sailed from , they called New-Plimouth ; containing no very considerable Tract of Land , scarce extending an hundred miles in length through the whole Cape , and scarce half so much in breadth where it is broadest . The first Founders of that Colony aiming more at Religion then Earthly Possessions , aspiring not to any large dimension of Land , in their setling upon those Coasts .

At Weymouth also was a Plantation begun by Mr. Weston in the year 1622. but it came to little .

The North and South Border of the Massachusets Bay being thus planted , the middle part was the more easie to be filled up , which thus was brought about . Some Gentlemen and others , observing how it fared with those of New-Plimouth , were desiring upon the like ground to make the same attempt for themselves , wherefore having by a considerable sum of money purchased of the Councell of Plimouth , all their right and interest in a Plantation there begun in the Massachusets Bay , and having attained a confirmation thereof by Patent from King Charls of famous memory , in the year 1628 , they sent over a Governour with several persons to lay some foundation of an other Colony in the Massachusets Bay : and in the year 1630 , more of the persons interested in the said Patent ( thence commonly called Patentees ) with several other persons , intending to venture their lives and all with them , transported themselves and their Families into the said Massachusets , who did in a short space of time by the accession of many hundreds , who every year flocked after them , make such increase , that in the space of five or six years , there were twenty considerable Towns built and peopled , and many of the Towns first planted , became so filled with Inhabitants , that like Swarms of Bees they were ready to swarm● , not only into new Plantations , but into new Colonies , insomuch that in the year 1635 a new Colony began to be planted upon Connecticut River , partly by combination amongst themselves , removing from some Towns about the Massachusets Bay , and partly by the interest of a Patent purchased of that honourable Gentle man Mr. Fennick , Agent for the Lord Sey , and Lord Brook , the Lords Proprietors of the said River Connecticut , at the mouth of which River they had built a Fort , ( called after their own titles Sey-Brook Fort ) commanding the passage of the said River . Yea such was the Confluence of people making over into those parts , that in the year 1637 a fourth Colony began to be planted , bearing the name of Newhaven from the first Town erected therein , seated near the mid-way betwixt Hudsons River and that of Connecticot . The Sea coast from the pitch of Cape Cod to the mouth of Connecticot River , inhabited by several nations of Indians , Wompanoogs ( the first Authors of the present Rebellion ) Narhagansits , Pequods , Mohegins , as the more inland part of the Country by the Nipnets ( a general name for all inland Indians betwixt the Massachusets and Connecticut River ) The Sea-coast South-west from Plimouth was first possessed by some discontented with the Goverment of the Massachusets Colony , from which some being exiled , others of their friends accompanying of them , setled themselves upon a fair Island to the South-west of Cape Cod , now called Road-Island , others setled upon the Mayn , at a place called Providence , and so by degrees planting toward Narrhaganset Bay , made another Plantation called Warwick , which places are since by Patent conferred upon the Inhabitants of Road-Island ; the rest of the Country from Pequod River to the River of Connecticot , falling within the bounds of Connecticot Colony by Patent also , since confirmed to the said Colony . Things had been very prosperously and succesfully carried on in all the foresaid Colonyes and Jurisdictions , from the year 1620 , to the year 1636 , at which time the Pequod Indians , the most warlike and fierce of all the Indians in that part of the Country , who had made all the rest of the Indians to stand in awe , having committed many barbarous outrages upon their neighbour Indians , both Narhagansets on the east side , and Mohegins on the west side of them : and also upon the English and Dutch , as they came occasionally to traffick with them : and in the year 1634 , having barbarously murthered Capt. Stone and Capt. Norton , as they were trading with them . Afterwards one Oldham coming amongst them upon the like account . In like manner having committed several outrages upon the planters about Connecticut River , the Inhabitants of all the Colonyes , unanimously setting upon them in the beginning of the year 1637 , they were easily suppressed , about 700 of them destroyed , the rest either fled to the Mohawkes , by whom they were all cut off that escaped , or else sheltring themselves under the Narhagansets & Mohegins their neighbours , they were by the power of the English all subjected to one of those two Nations of the Indians . Miantonimoh the chief Sachem or Lord of the Narhagansets , expecting to be sole Lord and Ruler over all the Indians , after the Pequods were subdued , began to quarrell with the Mohegins upon the account of Soveraignty , notwithstanding a firm Agreement was made betwixt the English and the said Narhagansets in the year 1637 , when they had helped to destroy the Pequods , and also notwithstanding the tripartite League between the said Narhagansets , the Mohegins , and the English at Hartford ( the chief Town of Connecticut Colony ) made in the year 1638 , wherein the said Indians were solemnly ingaged not to quarrel either with the Mohegins , or any other Indians , untill they had first asked the advice of the English , to whose determination they had likewise obliged themselves to stand , in all following D●fferences among them . Yet did these ambitious Narhagansets specially their chief Leader Miantonimoh ; bare such an inveterate hatred against the Mohegins , that they were every year picking quarrels with them . The Mohegins on the other side though not so numerous , yet a more warlike people and more politick , alwayes made their recourse to the English , complaining of the insolencies of the Narhagansets , contrary to their League , so as they would hardly be kept from making open warre against them , when they saw all other attempts to kill and destroy Vncas the Mohegin Sachem , by Treachery , poyson , & Sorcery prove ineffectual . Insomuch that at last the malice of Miantonimoh and his Narrhagansets grew to that height , that they began to plot against the English themselves , for defending of Vncas . But it being discovered by Vncas and some of his men to the English ; Miantonimoh was sent for by the Massachusets Court to come to Boston , when he came there , he would have denyed those things laid to his charge , he was convicted by one of his own fellowers ; and instead of standing to his promise , to deliver him to the Mohegin Sachem whose Subject he was , going homeward he cut off his head , to prevent his telling more tales . And with great discontent as he was going home said he would come no more at Boston , wherein he proved a truer prophet then he himself believed when he uttered the words , for in the end of the same year 1643 making war upon Vncas , he was taken prisoner by him , and soon after by the advice of the Commissioners of the four Colonyes , ( at that time united firmly into a League offensive and defensive , on which account they were after that time called the united Colonyes of New England : though since that time they are reduced but to three Colonyes ; that of New-haven and Connecticot by the last Patent being conjoyned in one ) his head was cut off by Vncas , it being justly feared , that there would never be any firm peace , either betwixt the English and the Narhagansets , or betwixt the Narhagansets and the Mohegins , while Miantonimoh was left alive : however the Narhagansets have ever since that time borne an implacable malice against Vncas , and all the Mohegins , and for their sakes secretly against the English , so far as they durst discover it .

In the years 1645 , and 1646. they grew so insolent , that the Commissioners of the united Colonyes were compelled to raise Forces to go against them , but when they perceived that the English were in good earnest , they began to be afraid , and sued for peace , and submitted to pay a tr●bute to satisfy for the charge of preparation for the warr , but were alwayes very backward to make payment untill the English were forced to demand it by new Forces , so that it appeared they were unwillingly willing to hold any friendly correspondence with the English , yet durst they never make any open attempt upon them , untill the present Rebellion , where in that t●ey had no small hand , is too too evident , notwithstanding all th●ir pretences to the contrary , as will appear in the sequell of this History .

Thus it is apparent upon what Terms the English stood with the Narhagansets , ever since the cutting off Miantonimoh , their chief Sachems head by Vncas , it being done from the advice and Counsell of the English Anno. 1043. As for the rest of the Indians , ever since the suppressing of the Pequods in the year 1637 untill the year 1675 , there was alwayes in appearance amity and good correspondence on all sides , scarce an English man was ever known to be assaulted or hurt by any of them , until after the year 1671 , when the son of one Matoonas , who as was supposed , being vexed in his mind that the design against the English , intended to begin 1671 did not take place , out of meer malice and spight against them , slew an English man travelling along the Road , the said Matoonas being a Nipnet Indian , which Napnets were under the command of the Sachem of Mount-hope the Author of all the present mischiefs . Upon a due enquiry into all preceding transactions between the Indians and the English , from their first setling in these coasts , there will appear no ground of quarrell that any of them had against the English , nor any appearance of provocation upon one account or other ; for when Plimouth Colony was first planted , within three moneths after their first landing , March . 16. 1620. Massasoit the chief Sachem of all that side of the Country repaired to the English at Plimouth , and entred into a solemn League upon sundry Articles printed in N.E. Memorial 1669. p. 24. the words are as followeth .

The which League the same Sachim , Sept. 25. 16●0 . a little before his death , coming with his eldest Son , afterward called Alexander , did renew with the English at the Court of Plimouth , for himself and his Son , and their Heirs and Successors : and after that he came to Mr. Browns , that lived not far from Mount Hope , bringing his two Sons , Alexander and Philip with him , desiring that there might be Love and Amity after his death , between his Sons and them , as there had been betwixt himself and them in former times : yet it is very remarkable , that this Massasoit , called also Woosamequen ( how much soever he aff●cted the English , yet ) was never in the least degree any wayes well affected to the Religion of the English , but would in his last Treaty with his Neighbours at Plimouth when they were with him about purchasing some Land at Swanzy , have had them engaged never to attempt to draw away any of his People from their old Pagan Superstition , and Devilish Idolatry , to the Christian Religion , and did much insist upon it till he saw the English were resolved never to make any Treaty with him more upon that account , which when he discerned , he did not further urge it : but that was a bad Omen that notwithstanding what ever his humanity were to the English , as they were Strangers ) for indeed they had repayed his forme● kindness to them , by protecting him afterwards against the insolencies of the Narrhagansets ) he manifested no small displacency of Spirit against them , as they were Christians : which strain was evident more in his Son that succeeded him , and all his People , in so much that some discerning persons of that Jurisdiction have feared that that Nation of Indians would all be rooted out , as is since come to pass . The like may be observed concerning the Narrhagansets , who were alwayes more civil and courteous to the English then any of the other Indians , yet never as yet received the least tincture of Christian Religion , but have in a manner run the same fate with the rest of their Neighbours of Mount Hope , there being very few of them now left standing . Nor is it unworthy the Relation , what a person of quality amongst us hath of late affirmed , one being much conversant with the Indians about Merimack River , being Anno. 1660. invited by some Sagamores or Sachims to a great Dance ( which solemnities are the times they make use of to tell their stories , and convey the knowledge of fore past and most memorable things to Posterity ) Passaconaway , the great Sachim of that part of the Country , intending at that time to make his last and farwel speech to his Children and People , that were then all gathered together , to whom he addressed himself in this manner :