To the Worshipfull Mr. John Winthrop at Boston Ipsidge or ese where thes deliver
Worshipfull Sir,
these are to certyfie you how the lord hath beene pleased to deale with vs this winter, it hath pleased him of his goodnes and mercy to give vs rest from the Indians all this winter butt one the 22th of the last moneth I with tenn men more with me went aboue our neck of land to fire some small bushes and marshes whear we thought the enimie might have lien in ambush and aboute halfe a mile from home we started 3 Indians and havinge posibility to have cutt them short we runinge to meett them and to fire the marsh but whylest our men was setting it one fire there 382rushed out of the woods 2 severall wayes a great Company of Indians which though we gaue fire vppon them yett they run one to the very mussells of our peices and soe the shott 3 men downe in the place and 3 more men shott that escaped of which one died the same night and if the lord had not putt it into my mind to make the men draw ther swords the had taken vs all aliue soe that sometime shouttinge and sometime retraightinge keepinge them of with our swords we recovered a bayre place of the ground which this winter I had cleard for the same vse and they durst not follow vs any further because yt is vnder Command of our great guns of which I hope the have had some experience as we heare by the relation of other Indians, and your freind Sacious and Nebott are the cheife actors of the treachery and villainy agaynst vs.2 as concerninge my sheep which you writt to me of I tooke order with Mr. Gibbins about them but If he be not yett come Home I would intreat you that the may be kept with yours vntill you heare from him. thus Hopeinge that you will be a meanes to stirr vp our freinds in the bay out of there dead sleep of securytie to think that your Condicon may be as ours is vnles some speedy Course be taken which must not be done by a few but by a great Company for all the Indian haue ther eyes fixed vppon vs and this yeare the will all joyne with vs agaynst the Pequtt and it is to be feared that the next year the will be agaynst vs we have vsed 2 sheets of your lead which was in square
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foote. I hav writ to the governour to pay you soe much agayne |
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foote. I hav writ to the governour to pay you soe much agayne I haue sent you your bead steed and would haue made a better butt time would not permit for we watch every other night neuer puttinge of our Clothes for the Indians show them selves in troupes aboute vs every day as this bearer can certyfie you more at large, thus committinge you your wife father and mother Mr. Peeter and the rest of our frends to God I rest Your asured frend to command
Lion Gardiner
1636
Seabrooke this 23th of the first moneth 1636/37
I mentioned that your lead was the one shiet 16 foot longe and 4 brood the other 10 longe 4 brodd
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