Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

32 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-18S6.
gift, because they lueutioned noe such thing, but caled for trade. Besides it is
their ordenary time in tlie time of snow in tlie beginning of Winter to trade their
skinns & a greate parte of this was sucli slvinns and not fitt for a gift to grate
Sachims. I was not at home when they came. & they were in trade before I
came home. I repeat that a gift sent to greate Sacliinis should lie offered, & to
begg it, is not honorable. He that told this to M^ Haynes was one of tliem that
brought the 7 Sachims locks. & thcji he was first at my house, & there was alsoe M''.
Ludlow, ^^- tliev had an Interpretter, and all that they then said was this that the
Mohawks did nuich love the English; and would be in frieiidshipp with them, &
destroy all Pecjuotts that came in their way, but mentioned noe such gift at all.
neither could they ni likelyhood expect such a thing from the ^Vlowhake Sachims,
because these Pequott Sachims were killed "1 days journey on this side the
Mow hakes :it raquiauy, and it was but 3 days past that they were killed, & for
them to go to their Sachims 2 ilays. >)t bring such a Message, & then you must
ad 4 days more to conu' hither, doth mucli t)vergoe that time of 3 days,
wherein they killed these Pequotts, >.^ indeed they were chiefly Mohegans that did
the act. & the Mowhaks had the least hand in it, & had but the least part of the
prey. & therefor it is most likely, that their bever promised, was but as their or-
denary manner is, wdieu they would get anything, to give the telling of some
pleasing thing.
It will not pass unnoticed that in order to make a ease out against
Pynehon tliey had gone back seven or eight months :uid taken up a
matter utterly foreign to the case, except as it was an assault upon
Mr. Pynchon's general character. But his accusers did more : they
used hearsay evidence, picked u[> on Agawnm street. '' I am ready
to take an oath of tlie Lord hereto," writes ^Ir. Pynclion, in his
'" Apology," in reference to tlie charge of money-inaking, '"and in
cases as materiall as this, wliere there is but only surmises, and noe
proofe, can lie had, an oath of the Lord, must determine the cause.
Exodus, -22. 10. 11."
But we will not linger over the details of this trial. Finallv,
the commissioners, having heard Mason, the Indians, and tlie rest,
called in Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Samuel vStone as experts upon
the ethical question of Mr. Pynchon's condnct. Tlu-y both said most
emphatically that Pynclion Iiad broken his oath. Mr. Pyiidion I'ose