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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	great_a	mile_n	river_n	2,581	5	7.3220	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14203	Nevves from America; or, A new and experimentall discoverie of New England containing, a true relation of their war-like proceedings these two yeares last past, with a figure of the Indian fort, or palizado. Also a discovery of these places, that as yet have very few or no inhabitants which would yeeld speciall accommodation to such as will plant there, viz. Queenapoik. Agu-wom. Hudsons River. Long Island. Nahanticut. Martins Vinyard. Pequet. Naransett Bay. Elizabeth Islands. Puscat away. Casko with about a hundred islands neere to Casko. By Captaine Iohn Underhill, a commander in the warres there.	Underhill, John, d. 1672.; R. H., fl. 1638, engraver.	1638 (1638)	STC 24518; ESTC S111497	22,794	49

Lieutenant went out with tenne armed men and starting three Indians they changed some few shotte for arrowes pursuing them an hundred more started out of the ambushments and almost surrounded him and his company and some they slew others they maimed and forced them to retreat to their Fort so that it was a speciall providence of God that they were not all slaine some of their armes they got from them others put on the English clothes and came to the Fort jeering of them and calling come and fetch your English mens clothes againe come out and fight if you dare you dare not fight you are all one like women we have one amongst us that if he could kill but one of you more he would be equall with God and as the English mans God is so would hee be this blasphemous speech troubled the hearts of the souldiers but they knew not how to remedy it in respect of their weaknesse The Conetticot Plantation understanding the insolencie of the enemie to bee so great sent downe a certaine number of souldiers under the conduct of Captaine Iohn Mason for to strengthen the Fort. The enemy lying hovering about the Fort continually tooke notice of the supplies that were come and forbore drawing neere it as before and Letters were immediatly sent to the Bay to that Right worshipfull Gentleman Master Henry Vane for a speedy supply to strengthen the Fort. For assuredly without supply suddenly came ●n reason all would be lost and fall into the hands of the enemy This was the trouble and perplexity that lay upon the spirits of the poore garrisons Upon serious consideration the Governour and Councell sent forth my selfe with 20. armed souldiers to supply the necessitie of those distressed persons and to take the government of that place for the space of three moneths reliefe being come Captaine Iohn Mason with the rest of his company returned to the Plantation againe we sometimes fell out with a matter of twentie souldiers to see whether we could discover the enemy or no they seeing us lying in ambush gave us leave to passe by them considering we were too hot for them to meddle with us our men being compleatly armed with Corslets Muskets bandileeres rests and swords as they themselves related afterward did much daunt them thus we spent a matter of six weekes before we could have any thing to doe with them perswading our selves that all things had beene well But they seeing there was no advantage more to be had against the Fort they enterprized a new action and fell upon Water towne now called Wethersfield with two hundred Indians before they came to attempt the place they put into a certaine River an obscure small river running into the maine where they incamped and refreshed themselves and fitted themselves for their service and by breake of day attempted their enterprise and slew nine men women and children having finished their action they suddenly returned againe bringing with them two maids captives having put poles in their Conoos as we put Masts in our boats and upon them hung our English mens and womens shirts and smocks in stead of sayles and in way of bravado came along in sight of us as we stood upon Seybrooke Fort and seeing them passe along in such a triumphant manner wee much fearing they had enterprised some desperate action upon the English wee gave fire with a peece of Ordnance and shotte among their Conooes And though they were a mile from us yet the bullet grazed not above twentie yards over the Conooe where the poore maids were it was a speciall providence of God it did not hit them for then should we have beene deprived of the sweet observation of Gods providence in their deliverance we were not able to make out after them being destitute of meanes Boats and the like before wee proceed any further to a full relation of the insolent proceeding of this barbarous Nation give me leave to touch upon the severall accommodations that belong to this Seybrooke Fort. This Fort lyes upon a River called Conetticot at the mouth of it a place of a very good soyle good meadow divers sorts of good wood timber varietie of fish of severall kindes fowle in abundance Geese Duckes Brankes Teales Deere Roe buck Squirrels which are as good as our English Rabets pittie it is so famous a place should bee so little regarded it lyes to the Northwest of that famous place called Queenapiok which rather exceed the former in goodnesse it hath a faire River fit for harbouring of ships and abounds with rich and goodly medowes this lyes thirtie miles from the upper Plantations which are planted on the River Connetticot twelve miles above this Plantation is scituated a place called Aguawam no way inferiour to the forenamed places this Countrey and those parts doe generally yeeld a fertile soyle and good meadow all the Rivers along the river Conetticot is Navigable for Pinaces 60. miles it hath a strong fresh streame that descends out of the hills the tyde flowes not above halfe way up the River the strength of the freshite that comes downe the River is so strong that it stoppeth the force of the tyde The truth is I want time to set forth the excellencie of the whole Countrey but if you would know the garden of New England then must you glance your eye upon Hodsons river a place exceeding all yet named the River affords fish in abundance as Sturgeon Salmon and many delicate varieties of fish that naturally lyes in the River the onely place for Beaver that we have in those parts Long Iland is place worth the naming and generally affords most of the aforesaid accommodations Nahanticot Martins Vineyard Pequeat Narraganset Bay Elizabeth Ilands all these places are yet unhabited and generally afford good accommodation as a good soyle according as wee have expressed they are little inferiour to the former places The Narraganset Bay is a place for shipping so spacious as it will containe ten thousand sayle of ships Capcod New Plimouth Dukes bury and all those parts well accommodated for the receiving of people and yet few are there planted considering the spaciousnesse of the place The Bay it selfe although report goes it is full and can hardly entertaine any more yet there are but few townes but are able to receive more then they have already and to accommodate them in a comfortable measure The Northerne Plantations and Easterne as Puscataway would not bee neglected they are desirable places and lye in the heart of fishing Puscataway is a River navigable for a ship of a hundred tunne some six leagues up with Boats and Pinaces you may goe a great way further it is the onely key of the Countrey for safety with twelve peeces of Ordnance will keepe out all the enemies in the world the mouth of the River is narrow lyes full upon the Southeast Sea so as there is no ankoring without except 〈◊〉 hazard ship and men it is

accommodated with a good soyle abundance of good timber meadowes are not wanting to the place pitty it is it hath beene so long neglected Augumeaticus is a place of good accommodation it lyes five miles from Puscataway river where Sir Ferdinand● Go●ge hath a house it is a place worthy to bee inhabited a soyle that beares good corne all sorts of g●aine ●lax hemp the Countrey generally will afford there was growne in Puscataway the last yeare and in the Bay as good English graine as can grow in any part of the world Casko hath a famous Bay accommodated with a hundred Ilands and is fit for Plantation and hath a River belonging to it which doth afford fish in abundance fowle also in great measure so full of Fowle it is that strangers may be supplyed with varietie of fowle in an houre or two after their arrivall which knew not how to be relieved before because the place in generall is so famous and well knowne to all the world and chiefly to on English Nation the most noblest of this Common-wealth I therefore forbeare many particulars which yet might be expressed 〈◊〉 in regard of many aspersions hath beene cast upon all the Countrey that it is a hard and difficult place for to subsist in and that ●●e soyle is barren and beares little that is good and that it can hardly receive more people then those that are there I will presume to make a second digression from the former matter to the end I might incourage such as desire to Plant there There are certaine Plantations Dedum Concord in the Mathethusis Bay that are newly erected that doe afford large accommodation and will containe abundance of people but I cease to spend time in matters of this nature since my discourse tends to warlike story but I crave pardon for my digression I told you before that when the Pequeats heard and saw Seabrooke Fort was supplied they forbore to visit us But the old Serpent according to his first malice stirred them up against the Church of Christ and in such a furious manner as our people were so farre disturbed and affrighted with their boldnesse that they scarce durst rest in their beds threatning persons and cattell to take them as indeed they did so insolent were these wicked imps growne that like the divell their commander they runne up and downe as roaring Lyons compassing all corners of the Countrey for a prey seeking whom they might devoure It being death to them for to rest without some wicked imployment or other they still plotted how they might wickedly attempt some bloody enterprise upon our poore native Countrey-men One Master Tillie master of a Vessell being brought to an ankor in Conetticot River went ashore not suspecting the bloody-mindednesse of those persons who fell upon him and a man with him whom they wickedly and barbarously slew and by relation brought him home tied him to a stake flead his skin off put hot imbers betweene the flesh and the skinne cut off his fingers and toes and made hatbands of them thus barbarous was their cruelty would not this have moved the hearts of men to hazard blood and life and all they had to overcome such a wicked insolent Nation but Letters comming into the Bay that this attempt was made upon Wethersfield in Conetticot river and that they had slaine nine men women and children and taken two maids captives the Councell gave order to send supply In the meane while the Conetticot Plantations sent downe 100. armed souldiers under the conduct of Captaine Iohn Mason and Leiutenant Seily with other inferiour officers who by Commission were bound for to come to randivou at Seabrooke Fort and there to consult with those that had command there to enterprize some stratagem upon these bloody Indians The Conetticot company having with them threescore Mohiggeners whom the Pequeats had drove out of their lawfull possessions These Indians were earnest to joyne with the English or at least to bee under their conduct that they might revenge themselves of those bloody enemies of theirs the English perceiving their earnest desire that way gave them liberty to follow the company but not to joyne in confederation with them the Indians promising to be faithfull and to doe them what service lay in their power But having imbarqued their men and comming downe the River there arose great jealousie in the hearts of those that had chiefe oversight of the company fearing that the Indians in time of greatest tryall might revolt and turne their backs against those they professed to be their friends and joyne with the Pequeats this perplexed the hearts of many very much because they had had no experience of their fidelity but Captaine Mason having sent downe a Shallop to Seybrooke Fort and sent the Indians over land to meet and randivou at Seabrooke Fort themselves came downe in a great massie Vessell which was slow in comming and very long detained by crosse winds the Indians comming to Seabrooke were desirous to fall out on the Lords day to see whether they could find any Pequeats neere the Fort perswading themselves that the place was not destitute of some of their enemies but it being the Lords day order was given to the contrary and wished them to forbeare untill the next day giving them liberty they fell out early in the morning and brought home five Pequeats heads one prisoner and mortally wounded the seventh This mightily incouraged the hearts of all and wee tooke this as a pledge of their further fidelity my selfe taking boat rode up to meet the rest of the forces lying a boord the vessell with my boat the Minister one Master Stone that was sent to instruct the Company was then in prayer solemnly before God in the midst of the souldiers and this passage worthy observation I set downe because the providence of God might be taken notice of and his name glorified that is so ready for to honour his owne ordinance the hearts of all in generall being much perplexed fearing the infidelity of these Indians having not heard what an exploit they had wrought it pleased God to put into the heart of master Stone this passage in prayer while my selfe lay under the vessell and heard it himselfe not knowing that God had sent him a messenger to tell him his prayer was granted O Lord God if it be thy blessed will vouchsafe so much favour to thy poore distressed servants as to manifest one pledge of thy love that may confirme us of the fidelity of these Indians towards us that now pretend friendship and service to us that our hearts may be incouraged the more in this worke of thine immediately my selfe stepping up told him that God had answered his desire and that I had brought him this newes that those Indians had brought in ●●ve Pequeats heads one pri●on●r and wounded one mo●●ally which did much incourage the h●arts of all and replenished them exceedingly and gave them all occasion to rejoyce and bee

death that may bee sometimes the Scripture declareth women and children must perish with their parents some-time the case alters but we will not dispute it now We had sufficient light from the word of God for our proceedings Having ended this service wee drew our forces together to battallia being ordered the Pequeats came upon us with their prime men and let flye at us my selfe fell on scarce with twelve or fourteene men to encounter with them but they finding our bullets to outreach their arrowes forced themselves often to retreate when we saw wee could have no advantage against them in the open field wee requested our Indians for to entertaine fight with them our end was that we might see the nature of the Indian warre which they granted us and fell out the Pequeats Narragansets and Mohigeners changing a few arrowes together after such a manner as I dare boldly affirme they might fight seven yeares and not ●ill seven men they came not neere one another but shot remote and not point blanke as wee often doe with our bullets but at rovers and then they gaze up in the skie to see where the Arrow falls and not untill it is fallen doe they shoot againe this fight is more for pastime then to conquer and subdue enemies But spending a little time this way wee were forced to cast our eyes upon our poore maimed souldiers many of them lying upon the ground wanting food and such nourishable things as might refresh them in this faint estate but we were not supplyed with any such things whereby wee might relieve them but only were constrained to looke up to God and to intreate him for mercy towards them most were thirsty but could find no water the provision wee had for food was very little many distractions seized upon us at the present a Chirurgion wee wanted our Chirurgion not accustomed to warre durst not hazard himselfe where we ventured our lives but like a fresh-water souldier kept aboord and by this meanes our poore maimed souldiers were brought to a great straite and faintnesse some of them swounding away for want of speedy helpe but yet God was pleased to preserve the lives of them though not without great miserie and paine to themselves for the present Distractions multiplying strength and courage began to f●ile with many Our Indians that had stood close to us hitherto were fallen into consultation and were resolved for to leave us in a land wee knew not which way to get out suddenly after their resolution fiftie of the Narraganset Indians fell off from the rest returning home The Pequeats spying them pursued after them then came the Narrag●●●ets to Captaine Mason and my selfe crying oh helpe us now or out men will bee all slaine we answered how dare you crave a●de of us when you are leaving of us in this distressed condition not knowing which way to march out of the Countrey but yet you shall see it is not the nature of English men to deale like Heathens to requite evill for evill but wee will succour you my selfe falling on with thirtie men in the space of an houre rescued their men and in our recreate to the body slew and wounded above a hundred Peq●eats all fighting men that charged us both in reere and flankes Having overtaken the body we were resolved to match to a certaine ne●●e or land that lay by the Sea-side where wee intended to quar●e● that night because we knew not how to get our maimed men to Pequeat River As yet we saw not our Pinaces sayle along but ●eared the Lord had crost them which also the master of the Barque much feared Wee gave them order to set sayle on the Narraganset Bay about midnight as wee were to fall upon the Fort in the morning so that they might meet us in Pequeat River in the after-noone but the wind being crosse bred in them a great perplexitie what would become of us knowing that wee were 〈◊〉 orderly provided both with munition and pro●●●●●● but they being in a distracted condition lifted 〈◊〉 hearts to God for helpe about twelve of 〈◊〉 ●ocket he wind turned about and became faire it brought them along in sight of us and about tenne a clocke in the morning carried them into Pequeat ri●es comming to an ankor at the place appointed the wind turned as full against them as ever it could blow 〈◊〉 remarkable this providence of God was I leave 〈◊〉 Christian eye to judge Our ●ndians came to us 〈◊〉 much rejoyced at our victories and greatly admired the manner of English mens fight but cried ●ach it mach it that is it is naught it is naught because it is too furious and slaies too many men Having received their desires they freely promised and gave up themselves to march along with us where ever we would goe God having eased us from that oppression that lay upon us thinking wee should have beene left in great misery for want of our vessels we diverted our thoughts from going to that neck of land and faced about marching to the river where our vessels lay at ankor One remarkable passage The Pequeats playing upon our flankes One Sergeant Davis a pretty couragious souldier spying something black upon the toppe of a rock stepped forth from the body with a Carbine of three foot long and at a venture gave fire supposing it to bee an Indians head turning him over with his heeles upward the Indians observed this and greatly admired that a man should shoot so directly The Pequeats were much daunted at the shot and forbore approching so neere upon us Being come to the Pequeat river we met with Captaine Patrick who under his command had 40. able souldiers who was ready to begin a second attempt but many of our men being maimed and much wearied we forbore that night and imbarqued our selves my selfe setting sayle for Seabrooke Fort. Captaine Mason and Captaine Patrick marching over land burned and spoyled the Countrey betweene the Pequeat and Conetticot river where we received them The Pequeats having received so terrible a blow and being much affrighted with the destruction of so many the next day fell into consultation assembling their most ablest men together propounded these three things first whether they would set upon a sudden revenge upon the Narragansets or attempt an enterprize upon the English or flye they were in great dispute one amongst another Sasachu their chiefe Commander was all for bloud the rest for flight alledging these arguments wee are a people bereaved of courage our hearts are sadded with the death of so many of our deare friends wee see upon what advantage the English lye what sudden deadly blowes they strike what advantage they have of their peeces to us which are not able to reach them with our arrows at distance they are supplied with every thing necessary they are flote and heartened in their victory to what end shall wee stand it out with them we are not able therfore let us rather save some then lose all this prevailed Suddenly after they spoyled all those goods they could not carry with them broke up their tents and Wigwams and betook themselves to flight Sasachus flying toward Conetticot plantation quartered by the river side there he met with a Shallop sent downe to Seabrooke Fort which had in it 3. men they let ●ly upon them shot many arrows into them Couragious were the English and died in their ●●nds but with a great deale of valour The forces which were prepared in the Bay were ready for to set forth my selfe being taken on but for 3. moneths and the souldiers willing to returne to the Bay we imbaroued our selves set to sayle in our journey we met 〈◊〉 certaine Pinaces in them a 100. able and wel appointed souldiers under the conduct of one Captaine ●●ou●hton and other inferiour officers and in company with them one M. Iohn Wilson who was sent to in●●●uct the Company these falling into Pequeat river met with many of the distressed Indians some they 〈◊〉 others they tooke prisoners FINIS The Indians send to the English an Ambassador * This wa● no wayes true of the Eng●ish but a devised excuse 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 thei● 〈…〉 The examination of the captive Maides after their returne though the younger was very young and said little *