A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

Roger Ludlow to John Winthrop1
Ludlow, Roger JW

1638-07-03

To the Right Worshippful Jo: Wenthropp, esqr. the Gouernor of the Masachusetts Bay be these delivered
Right Worshippful Sir,

I am to relate vnto you some passages that are befallen the Indians att longe Iland by Aonemo the Sachem of Naanticke neer to the naragancetts within the Jurisdiccion of Maantonemo the Sachem of Naragancett. the saide Indians of longe Iland are Tributaries to your selues and vs by agreement vnder hand made by Captaine Stoughton the last Summer they are to paye twoe parts to you one part to vs. It was aboute eight dayes since, And the Sachem himself with divers of his men are here to complain and I will verbatim declare the matter of their Complaint. Aonemo with some 80 men whereof 20 of them were a kinde of Pequoitt 44Captaines came to the saide long Iland and divers att first came into the Sachems wigwam But Aonemo was not with them and the Sachem asked them whether they were goeinge, and they said they were come to see fashions, and after a while one of them sawe the Sachems Quiver of Arrowes and would haue him giue it vnto them. he aunswered noe But if trucke it they might. nay say they but Aonemo will come by and by and then they would haue it and wampam to. Then the saide Sachem beinge aduised by a frend amonge them that the saide Aonemo intended to take him the saide Sachem and his bretheren beinge 5 prisoners and carry them away wherevppon he fledd into the woodes. presently the saide Aonemo came and inquired for the saide Sachem and seinge he could not come by him he told them he must haue some wampom and if deny it he would kill them, wherevppon for feare of their liues the old men and Squas gaue him some 60 fathom of wampom. Soe they went from thence and went vpp and downe the Iland robbinge and pillaginge and gott more aboute some 30 fathom of wampom and tooke away their shoes stockins deare Skinnes and burnt their wigwams, as alsoe in a base part after hee had ronged a Sachem and robbed him tooke away his breeches and left him naked, which is accounted amongest them the greatest disgrace that may be and deserues death amongest them and the Sachem told them he had rather die then haue such a disgrace putt vppon him. And after these outrages comitted the old men did somwhat capitulate with the saide Aonemo and demanded of him whether he would come and rifell them that are frends to the English and asked him howe he thought the English would take it espicially they of Conectecott. he aunswered it noe matter for the english of Conectecott they will speake much but doe little. But what say you of the English in the Bay he saies he would doe well enough with them The Gouernor was a great man and his frend and he could with half the wampam goe to the saide Gouernor and he should say wereagea. And he did purpose to goe to him and buy them all of him, therefore saies he plant your corne and weede it well and I will come att haruest and eate it. The old men likewise saide that the English had promised them they should not be soe vsed Aonemo replied the English men are liars they doe it but onely to gett your wampom. As soone as they had done this the saide Sachem comes to vs and relates as aforesaide, and tells vs plainely that if this be suffered hee cannott be able to paye their Tribute for when it is prouided they will come and take it awaye and besides wishes vs to consider what the yssue will be that noe Indians will trust vs and claimes a promise of vs that they should be righted. wherevppon haveinge aduised togeather wee cannot see but wee are bounde to see them righted and therefore haue concluded and doe pur­45pose god willinge within these 8 dayes to send 8 men by water to the saide Aonemo to demand satisfaccion of these Iniuries, and if he doth refuse it is purposed by vs to make warr against him. Captaine Mason goes with the saide 8 men and thinges preparing to send. The Indians are soe earnest vppon vs and tell vs they will not goe awaye vntill they see some thinge done, for say they there be 100 Sachems greate and smale amonge the Naragancetts and if they shall all haue liberty thus to ransacke them they must desert the place and goe to the Southward and that hath inforced vs to be soe speedy in this execucion, makeinge little question you will doe the like with speede least by degrees they come to the same height the Pequoitts did. wee shall alsoe desire your aduise concerninge the remander of the Pequoitts, For there were in this designe 20 of them, and Aonemo gaue them 30 fathom of the wampom they tooke away as aboue saide for their valour, and if they be soe forward against the Indians our frends whoe knowes howe soone they may doe the like against our selues. I will alsoe relate howe farr Maantonemo hath an hande in it as the Sachem tells vs. the Sachem saies a frend of his tould them that Canonicos Sonne was willing either to haue gone with the Aonemo in this designe or to haue followed shortelie after But Maantonemo told him he should not for hee were as good goe against the English themselues for these Indians were as it were their men, and this might be a meanes to procure warr against the saide Aonemo and then he must be gladd to fight against him. soe he knewe of it and yet notwithstanding hindered it not. Sir wee should desire you not to take it amisse wee haue written backe no thinge aboute your propositions sent by Mr. Haines our imployments are soe many att this tyme wee cannot drawe our people togeather. But as soone as conveniently wee cann wee intend to consider of it. I should wright some other thinges vnto you But our neighbour goeinge soe suddenly inforces mee to be breife and somewhat rude hopeinge you will not curiously obserue the confusednes of these lines. And therefore with my seruice remembred I desire the almighty to giue you aduise and assistance in the thinge in hand and rest Your lovinge frend

Ro: Ludlowe Windsor July 3d 1638
1.

W. 4. 93; 5 Collections , I. 261–264.