History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

242 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1675.
Philip, squalid Indian tliough lie was, will always stand
conspicuous in the history of his time, and cannot truth-
fully be dismissed to oblivion as a nonenity, ^
The Truth lies be-
Neither of these estimates is absolutely cor-
tween these rect. The truth lies midway between them,
gmen .
While Philip was by no means the con-
temptible, cowardly, insignificant being he is represented
to be by one class of historians, neither is he entitled to all
the attributes of patriotism or military skill with which he
has been invested by other writers. His designs may not
have been as far reaching, nor his plans as comprehensive
as some have supposed, but he undoubtedly originated the
outbreak of 1675, had a certain influence among the Indian
tribes, and gave both the government of Plymouth Colony
and Massachusetts Bay considerable trouble.
Philip Insincere That Philip Organized an extensive plot,
and constantly embracing all the Indian tribes of New
have Organized England, and arranged all the details for a
the Outbreak. general and simultaneous onslaught upon
the English settlements, is not proved by contemporaneous
history or corroborated by subsequent events. Yet it is
impossible not to believe that the subject had been brought
1 " Philip, in great qualities, did not surpass many other sachems in New England
and other colonies. Indeed, some Nipmuck sagamores seem to have been as
enterprising and efficient actors in this bloody and desolating war, as Philip himself.
The great foresight, profound schemes, and unbounded influence attributed to him are
to a great extent imaginary." * * " He was the terror of New England for fourteen
months. Schemes were attributed to him which he did not contrive, and deeds
which he did not perform; and he was charged with the atrocities and cruelties of
others. He was not in the attacks upon the Hampshire villages in 3676."—Judd's
History of Hadley, pp. 135, 183, pub. in 1863.
" He had been widely distinguished from other red men who were engaged in in-
flicting the misery of this terrible war, and who, so far as we may now judge from their
recorded conduct, possessed capacity and character at least equal to his. * * And
the title of King, which it has been customary to attach to his name, disguises and
transfigures to the view the form of a squalid savage whose palace was a sty; whose
royal robe was a bear skin or coarse blanket, alive with vermin; who hardly knew
the luxury of an ablution; who was often glad to appease appetite with food such
as men who are not starving loathe. * * If a war had been elaborately concerted
by a man of sense, it is scarcely to be supposed that it would have been entered on
without a competent supply of munitions."— Palfrey's History of New England, vol.
3, pp. 222, 223, 227, ed. 1864.
" Nothing in his character from first to last, indicates any forethought or shows the
least trace of heroism. Most surprising is it to learn that Philip is not known to
have taken part in any one of the fights of the war, nor even to ha ve been in the imme
diate vicinity of any one of them after the initial skirmish at Pocasset Swamp."—Pilgrim
Republic, p. 551, pub. 1888.