Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Chapter XXVIII
Anno Dom: 167.
In ye fore parte of this year, the Pequents fell openly upon ye English at
Conightecute, in ye lower parts of ye river, and slew sundry of them, (as they
were at work in ye feilds,) both men & women, to ye great terrour of ye rest; and
wente away in great prid & triumph, with many high threats. They allso assalted
a fort at ye rivers mouth, though strong and well defended; and though they did
not their prevaile, yet it struk them with much fear & astonishmente to see their
bould attempts in the face of danger; which made them in all places to stand upon
their gard, and to prepare for resistance, and ernestly to solissite their freinds and
confederats in ye Bay of Massachusets to send them speedy aide, for they looked
for more forcible assaults. Mr. Vane, being then Govr, write from their Generall
Courte to them hear, to joyne with them in this warr; to which they were cordially
willing, but tooke opportunitie to write to them aboute some former things, as
well as presente, considerable hereaboute. The which will best appear in ye Govr
answer which he returned to ye same, which I shall here inserte.
Sr: The Lord having so disposed, as that your letters to our late Govr is fallen
to my lott to make answer unto, I could have wished I might have been at more
freedome of time & thoughts also, that I might have done it more to your & my
owne satisfaction. But what shall be wanting now may be supplyed hereafter.
For ye matters which from your selfe & counsell were propounded & objected
to us, we thought not tte to make them so publicke as ye cognizance of our
Generall Courte. But as they have been considered by those of our counsell,
this answer we thinke tt to returne unto you. (1.) Wereas you signie your
willingnes to joyne with us in this warr against ye Pequents, though you cannot
ingage your selves without ye consente of your Generall Courte, we acknowledg
your good aection towards us, (which we never had cause to doubt of,) and are
willing to attend your full resolution, when it may most seasonably be ripened.
(2ly.) Wheras you make this warr to be our peopls, and not to conceirne your
selves, otherwise then by consequence, we do in parte consente to you therin;
yet we suppose, that, in case of perill, you will not stand upon such terms, as we
hope we should not doe towards you; and withall we conceive that you looke at
ye Pequents, and all other Indeans, as a comone enimie, who, though he may
take occasion of ye begining of his rage, from some one parte of ye English,
yet if he prevaile, will surly pursue his advantage, to ye rooting out of ye whole
nation. Therfore when we desired your help, we did it not without respecte to
your owne saftie, as ours. (3ly.) Wheras you desire we should be ingaged to aide
you, upon all like occasions; we are perswaded you doe not doubte of it; yet as
we now deale with you as a free people, and at libertie, so as we cannot draw
you into this warr with us, otherwise then as reason may guid & provock you;
so we desire we may be at ye like freedome, when any occasion may call for help
Page | 128