Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4Note: you've followed an index reference to a note that, due to changes between the print and digital editions, may no longer be on page 269. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 269.
1640-07-21
Your Runnawayes (as I before surmised) are at Monhiggin and the Squa Sachims daughter is married to the Sachim Onkas. I know the match hath bene long desired (although the Sachim hath 5 or 6 wiues allready) which makes me feare that all Indian meanes will not reach your iust desires: May you please to rest a litle for Miantunnomu (as he pretends out of loue and respect to your Person) is very diligent about a peaceable returne of them that he may bring them with him and as many more of the Runnawayes as he can gett. Onkas was gone to Qunnihticut so that a litle patience is requisite.
Sir This you may please to signifie to your much honoured brother Mr. Gouernour2 that this busines only hinders Miantunnomues Comming. He is (not satisfied but) perswaded to trust to Interpreters whom he feares to trust, and to come without my selfe.
As allso may you please to vnderstand that the Nayantaquit Sachims still refusing to yeald vp any of those Pequts to death to whome they had promised Life: Our Friends of Qunticut (as I haue heard by 2 letters from Tho: Stanton) intend present Revenge vpon them: Caunounicus and Miantunnomu still perswade (to mine owne knowledge) the Sachims at last to be wise and yeald vp their Pequts, but in vaine For the Nayantaquit Sachims resolue that for so many liues as are taken away by the English or the Monhiggins and Pequts with them they will take revenge vpon Mr. Throckmorton at Prudence, or Mr. Coddington etc. or Prouidence or elsewhere.
I haue dealt with Caunounicus and Miantunnomu to desert the Nayantaquits in this busines. They answer they would if they had shedd the bloud of the English, but as they are their Brethren so they neuer hurt the English, but ioyned with them against the Pequts etc. Only they haue bene greedie vpon the Prey against the English mind: and lastly they say the English Partialitie to all the Pequts at Monhiggin is so great and the Consequences so grieuous vpon the Abuse of the English Loue, that all their Arguments returne back (which they vse to the Nayantaquit Sachims) as Arrowes from a stone wall.
Tho: Stanton informes me of another cause of Warr vpon the Nayantaquits 270viz: Wequash affirmes that one of the petie Sachims of Nayantaquit was aboord Mr. Oldams pinnace, and that some goods and gold are at Nayantaquit. Gold I neuer heard of but the Pinnace Skiff and other Luggage and small particulars I had word of at first which were (by reason of distance) let alone: and in case that any one of the Sachims or more knew of Mr. Oldams death and that due Evidence be found, I yet doubt (now since the Comming of the Lord Jesus and the Period of the Nationall Church) whether any other vse of Warr and Arms be lawfull to the professours of the Lord Jesus but in Execution of Justice vpon malefactors at home: or preseruing of life and liues in defenciue warr as was vpon the Pequts etc. Isay, 2. Mic. 4.
If the sword rage in Old or New E: I know who giues out the Commission, and can arme Frogs, Flies, Lice etc. He be pleased to giue vs Peace which Earth neither giues nor takes. In him I euer desire to be more vnfaigned and faythfull Your Wo
W. 2. 114; 4
Collections
, VI. 263–264;
N.C.
, VI. 137–139.
This reference to Thomas Dudley fixes the date of this letter as 1640, in which year Dudley was Governor. By the time he again held that office (1645), Miantunnomoh, who figures prominently in this letter, was dead.