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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

Benedict Arnold to John Winthrop1
Arnold, Benedict JW

1644-02-14

To the much Hounourd Mr. Winthope Governour of Massachusetts Theese deliver
Much Honour'd Sir,

In respect of those Nanheagansitt Indians: which ar now com to your Worship about their Mohnaheagan emnity and Contentions with Woncas, and I doupt with the English: (if opertunity wer not wanting) I say in respect of this ocassione, I thought it good: and my duty to send this Indian with these few lines: to acquaint your Worship of a passage or two which I have observed concerneing this their Jorney lately: (vizt.) first: concerneing their Jorney to the Indians called Mock-quaougs: which live vp the River of quonecticott: I have by Inquiry found that these Nanheagansitts have sent their pressent to them to hire their help against Woncas: this is talked of among the Indians very frequently: and from this their arose such a clamor that there wer thousands of Moch-quoags com to Nanheagansitt, etc: which was nothing soe: for the Mockquoags (for ought I can gather by what I heare) will have noe hand in the bussinesse: Butt it is strang to see the vehement shew of desire that the Nanheaganssitts have to reveng on Woncas: Insoemuch that although I told them (as your worship wrote to mee in your last letter) that you would send to Quonicticott in the Spring: concerning the restoreing of the goods and peage that Woncas had (as they say) taken in pretence of redemtione of Miontonomu: Yett they ar not content to sitt downe vntill then: but now ar solliciting for leave to fight: and to that end (they tell mee) they ar now come to your worship to buy your leave: Yett they have ben told that the English will not doe it, nor yett sell the Peace and lives of such as com for Shelter vnto them: not for any wealth or bribes: and further I shall Humbly acquaint your Worship that I told these Indians 442that your worship would not doe any thing to efect their desires in their errand without advise of a General Court: yett now they would goe, and three days agoe there was a Counseller sent from the Sachems of Nanheagansett to mee to give mee 2 dayes notice that I might lay aside all occassiones to com downe to the bay with these messengers, and to provoke mee to this Journey and to speake in their behalfe: They sent mee 4 Fathom of Peage (as a Bribe or Fee or what else it may be termed) I told the sayd counselleur that I did detest to tak their bribes in this or any other ocassiones betwene them and the English: and that he should carry home the beads againe: for I told him it was not the way to buy warre and Contentione by bribes but one good argument would prevayle mor with the English-gentlemen of Massachusetts then a 1000 bribs: and further I told them it was weake Frindship which was bought or sold for money and they might well thinke that if they made the English their freinds only by vertue of Bribs it would bee no other freindship but such as if Woncas would bring a greater Gift would be frustratted againe: soe having had and vsed many passages to this efect to the sayd messinger he then told mee that the peag was sent me as a token of love and Freindship and that he did ill in saying it was to make mee of their Factione: and many other words he vsed with a great deale of Subtlety to the same purpose and that this was but as a peney in respect of what they would give mee hereafter if I would accept to be their Freind: and further that it would bee a great discurtesy offered on my part to send hom the pressentt again: Soe I consented after much discourse, that the Beads should ly in my house, to be returned or kept as I should see the events of things etc.: Soe it is evident what great desires they have of revenge2 though they first began the quarrell: But I being loath to troble your worship with a long discourse this I vnderstand that the messag sent by captaine harden is not yett deliverd: yett he was at Nanheagansitt the 17th of the 10th Mo., and sint for me: and it being the last day of the weeke when I received his letter, I resolved to sett forward one the 2d day becase I could not reach through in one day: and the weather being very cold and likely to snow which fell out soe that it snowed the 2d day all day and it was the bigest snow we had here this winter: and soe I saw It was a more then ordinary frusterating of the bussnes that time: But now it is tollarable traveling, I shall humbly atend your worships pleasure and apointment in the worke etc.

One thing more I shall make bold to acquaint your worship: that as I was willed last yeare by the Court I have dilligently inquired for your Indian that brake Prisson: I shall intreat your worships further mind (if you pleas) 443about the takeing of him for this bearer knows where he is and will endevour to take him and bring him to your worship for which I have promisd him a Coate: if you please to shew your mind about his being taken. Soe with my humble Service vnto your worship I remaine Youre Worships humble and Faithfull Servantt to be comanded

Benedict Arnold Providence This 14th 12th Mo. 1643/44

My father and Mr. Coates remembers their Service vnto your worship.

Endorsed by Governor Winthrop: Ben. Arnold. (12) 15—1643.

1.

W. 4. 119; 5 Collections , I. 330–333.

2.

The spelling in the original manuscript is “renenge.”