Yours by Yotaash (Miantunnomue’s brother) received. I accompanied him to the Nanhiggonticks, and having got Canounicus and Miantunnomu with their council together, I acquainted them faithfully with the contents of your letter, both grievances and threatenings; and to demonstrate, I produced the copy of the league, (which Mr. Vane sent me,) and with breaking of a straw in two or three places, I showed them what they had done.

In sum their answer was, that they thought they should prove themselves honest and faithful, when Mr. Governour understood their answers; and that (although they would not contend with their friends) yet they could relate many particulars, wherein the English had broken (since these wars) their promises, etc.

First then, concerning the Pequt squaws, Canounicus answered, that he never saw any, but heard of some that came into these parts, and he bad carry them back to Mr. Governour, but since he never heard of them till I came, and now he would have the country searched for them. Miantunnomu answered, that he never heard of but six, and four he saw which were brought to him, at which he was angry, and asked why they did not carry them to me, that I might convey them home again. Then he bid the natives that brought them to carry them to me, who departing brought him word, that the squaws were lame, and they could not travel. Whereupon he sent me word, that I should send for them. This I must acknowledge, that this message I received from him, and sent him word, that we were but few here, and could not fetch them, nor convey them, and therefore desired him to send men with them, and to seek out the rest. Then, saith he, we were busy ten or twelve days together, as indeed they were in a strange kind of solemnity, wherein the sachims eat nothing but at night, and all the natives round about the country 489were feasted. In which time, saith he, I wished some to look to them, which notwithstanding, in this time, they scaped; and now he would employ men instantly to search all places for them, and within two or three days to convey them home. Besides he profest that he desired them not, and was sorry the governour should think he did. I objected, that he sent to beg one. He answered, that Sassamun, being sent by the governour with letters to Pequt, fell lame, and laying at his house, told him of a squaw he saw, which was a sachim’s daughter, who while he lived was his, Miantunnomue’s, great friend. He therefore desired, in kindness to his dead friend, to beg her, or redeem her.

Concerning his departure from the English, and leaving them without guides, he answered, first, that they had been faithful, many hundreds of them, (though they were solicited to the contrary,) that they stuck to the English in life or death, without which they were persuaded that Okace and the Mohiganeucks had proved false, (as he fears they will yet,) as also that they never had found a Pequt, and therefore, saith he, sure there was some cause. I desired to know it. He replied in these words, Chenock eiuse wetompatimucks? that is, Did ever friends deal so with friends? I urging wherein, he told me this tale: that his brother, Yotaash, had seized upon Puttaquppuunck Quame and twenty Pequts and three-score squaws, they killed three and bound the rest, watching them all night, and sending for the English, delivered them to them in the morning. Miantunnomu (who according to promise came by land with two hundred men, killing ten Pequts in their march) was desirous to see the great sachim, whom his brother had taken, being now in the English houses, but (saith he) I was thrust at with a pike many times, that I durst not come near the door. I objected, he was not known. He and others affirmed, he was, and asked, if they should have dealt so with Mr. Governour. I still denied, that he was known, etc. Upon this, he saith, all my company were disheartened, and they all and Cutshamoquene desired to be gone; and yet, saith he, two of my men (Wagonckwhut and Maunamoh) were their guides to Sesquankit from the river’s mouth.

Sir, I dare not stir coals, but I saw them to be much disregarded by many, which their ignorance imputed to all, and thence came the misprision, and blessed be the Lord, things were not worse.

I objected, they received Pequts and wampom without Mr. Governour’s consent. Caunounicus replied, that although he and Miantunnomu had paid many hundred fathom of wampom to their soldiers, as Mr. Governour did, yet he had not received one yard of beads nor a Pequt. Nor, saith Miantunnomu, did I but one small present from four women of Long Island, which 490were no Pequts, but of that isle, being afraid, desired to put themselves under my protection.

By the next I shall add something more of consequence, and which must cause our loving friends at Qunnihticut to be very watchful, as also, if you please, their grievances, which I have laboured already to answer, to preserve the English name; but now end abruptly with best salutes and earnest prayers for your peace with the God of peace and all men. So praying, I rest Your worship’s unfeigned

My most humble and due respect to your worship, Mr. Deputy, my colonell, with all the rest of our noble worthyes. Sir, the mesenger staying for vs I must make hast. How God hath dealt with vs, I doubt not but your worship, having full intelligence by them from Block Iland; now since their departure, there came some Mohegens to the house, and brought the hands of a great Sachem, as they said greater then Sasacus, hee beeing Momonotuk Samm, a mighty fellow for curradge, and one that I know by some experience his desperatenes in the swamp: for as I gather by the description of him, and also the Indians report that slew him, that hee sayd hee kild one in the swamp, shooting him in the belley; and another he killd with arrows, which was my selfe, but, blessed be God, wee all liue. 2 days after this, the same Indians kild another, who was then runn away from Sasacus: hee sayd hee thought that Sasacus was kild; for that Monowhoak had beset 491the wigwam where they weere, and soe fell vpon them, and this man lying at the doore rann away: but what creditt to giue to it wee knew not. 2 days since I went vp to the head of this river with 20 men to cut corne or gather beans, and comming thither I found a great company of Mohegens, who were returned to their countrey, about 500 of men, women and children. They were som what fearefull at first, but after spoke with vs and loueingly intertained vs. They tell for certaine that Sasacus is killd, as the former suspected, and 40 men with him, and som women. 6 men are escaped, whereof Momoonotuk is one. I perseaue the Indians would bee glad to make women3 of all the Pecotts now, except the sachems and capt. and murtherers: but them they would kill. They seeme to feare the Naregansick men, but hope the English will not suffer them to be wronged. Capt. Stoughton is gone a weeke since to Conetecutt Plantations, and I heare that the sachems of Long Iland doe now wayt for him, with their tribute, at the riuer mouth: I suppose, vnder fauour, this place will not proue good for a plantation, so farr as I can judge, haueing seene the greatest part of the countrey, but I must extoll Qenepiake and Marriadge Poynt; but this I know you heare of. I see not what busines heere will bee for many men long. I know not Capt. Stoughtons mind, till his returne, about marching by the Nipnets home. My capt. and my selfe are for it.

torn of our souldiers haue noe mind to worke, and how they would fight I know not, they murmure much for butter and cheese, etc: but I hope God will giue so much wisdome to indeauor their passifieing: I confesse some spirits heere will trouble a patient man.

My capt. humbly saluts you with the counsell; for my selfe, deare Sir, I blesse God I too am wholly recouered of my hurts, onely some strength I want. My capt. desireth some goose shott by the first.

I hope we shall take order that the Indians shall gather the corne that is heere to halfes. Thus with my prayers for your worship and kind respect to Mr. Willson, I humbly cease euer at your worships command