A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Roger Williams to John Winthrop1
Williams, Roger Wintrhop, John

1637-07-15

New Providence this 15th of the 5t 1637 Sir,

For the Captiues and bootie I never heard any of these Natiues question the Acts of the English only that Natiue who brought letters to you from Capt. Patrick, and was twice at Boston, related so much as I wrote of in my former,2 at his returne to the Nanhiggonsick, viz. that your selfe should be angry with the English etc. I met since with him and he sayth he had it not from your selfe but an English man at Roxbury: I thought good to cleare your name and remooue suspicions from Mr. Stoughton etc.

Wequash is aliue, so is allso the other like to recover of his wound: I never heard that Miantunnomu was displeased with Wequash for any Service to the English, but that Wequash was suspected to deale falsely when he went to hunt for the Pequts at the rivers mouth: Tis true there is no feare of God 451before their eye, and all the Cords that euer bound the Barbarous to Forreiners were made of Selfe and Covetuousnes: Yet if I mistake not I obserue in Miantunnomu some sparkes of true Friendshipp. could it be deepely imprinted into him that the English never intended to despoile him of the Countrey I probably coniecture his friendship would appeare in attending of vs with 500 men (in case) against any forreigne Enemie.

The Neepmucks are returned with 3 heads of the Wunnashoatuckoogs. they slue 6, wounded many, and brought home 20 Captiues.

Those Inlanders are fled vp toward the Mowhauogs: so they say is Sasacous: Our friends at Qunnihticut are to cast a iealous eye at that people: they say (vnles they are belied) that they are to warre with the English etc.

Truely Sir to speake my thoughts in your Eare freely, I blesse the Lord for your mercifull dealing etc. but feare that some innocent blood cryes at Qunnihticut. Many things may be spoken to proue the Lords perpetuall warr with Amalek extraordinary and misticall: but the 2 Kings 14: 5. 6. is a bright Light discovering the ordinary path wherein to walke and please him. If the Pequts were Murtherers (though pretending revenge for Sasacous his Fathers Death, which the Dutch affirmed was from Mr. Governour) yet not comparable to those treacherous servants that slue their Lord and king Joash King of judah, and tipe of Jesus, yet the Fathers only perish in their Sinn in the place quoted etc. The blessed Lambe of God wash away Iniquitie and receaue vs graceously.

Thus with best Salutes to your loving selfe and yours Mr. Deputie Mr. Bellingham and other loving friends with them and dayly Cryes to the Father of mercie for you I rest Your Worships vnfaigned

Roger Williams

Postscript. Sir to yours brought by Ivanemo on the Lords day3 I could haue litle speech with him: but concerning Miantunnomu I haue not heard as yet of any vnfaythfullnes toward vs: I know they bely each other: and I obserue our Country men haue allmost quite forgotten our great pretences to King and State and all the world concerning their soules etc. I shall desire to attend with my poore helpe to discover any perfidious dealing: and shall desire the revenge of it for a common good and peace though my selfe and mine should perish by it: yet I feare the Lords quarrell is not ended, for which the warr began viz. the litle sence (I speake for the generall that I can heare of) of their soules Condicion and our large protestations that way etc. 452The generall speech is, all must be rooted out etc. The body of the Pequin men yet Hue, and are onely remooved from their dens: the good Lord grant, that the Mowhaugs and they, and the whole at the last vnite not. For mine owne Lot I can not be without suspicions of it.

Sir I thanckfully expect a litle of your helpe (in a way of Justice and aequitie) concerning another vnjust debtour of mine, Mr. Ludlow, from whome allso (in mine absence) I haue much suffered. The good Lord smile vpon you and yours in the face of his annointed. Your Worships vnworthy

R. W.
1.

W. 2. 100; 4 Collections , VI. 203–204; N.C. , VI. 46–49.

2.

See the second paragraph of Williams’s letter to Winthrop, July 10, 1637 (above, page 445).

3.

July 16, 1637.