vpon occassione of a letter, which, (this mourning) I received by an Indian, From mr. Collucott of Dorchester, I now make bold to send vnto you these few lines; he wrote vnto mee that ther is reports brought by indians, of many thousands of Mow-hoaugs, which (they say) ar come to Nanheaganssitt, and further he wrote that the Counsell willed him to send to mee to inquire concerning the matter, and what they ar com aboute: Now I conceive that such rumors may be preiudiciall to the Country, and therefore although I many times have heard the indians bring many of 432their vssuall reports, which tended to this effect, yett I have not dared to devulge the same, by word or writting as things worth either declaring or heareing: for, except I can see, or gather by circumstances that the reports they bring have reallity in them, I shall be and have bene farre from reporteing it for truith, least for my vnadvised rashnes, the country might suffer many charges, and distractions, through such reports. It is true that the Indians have this winter from time to time spoken to mee that within thus or thus many days the moquaugs would com downe and eat vp and devoure the Monaheagans, In defence of the Nanhegansitts liveing, and in revenge of the sachems dead, slaine by Woncas and his men, but when I have gone about to make them bring forth the authers of the reports, then they would either say they had it from the Indians of Massachussett, or from Conicticott, and then if I asked them further, what the Mockquoags would eat by the way homewards after they had eat vp all the monahegans, then they would say little or nothing to mee, but when I sayd further that after the Mockquoags had eaten vp the Mownaheagans, they would goe neare to eat the Nanheagans allsoe, and the rest of the Indians, then they would looke very slyly, and say that they wer perswaded that the Mockquags would not com into these parts, and that it hath ben the maner of the Indians in former tims, to threaten their enemys that live in these parts, that the mockquogs would com and eat them, but it was never yett seene that the Mockquoags, much lesse the Mowhaugs, did ever com into these parts to doe as is reported. yett I suppose that Nanhegansitt sachems have sent to those Indians that live above mr. Pinchions vpon Conicticot river, to see if they will Joine with them against Woncas if need bee, yett I canot absolutly say it is soe, but it is as likly that the Nanheagansitts have rather sent to the sayd Indians to request them to sitt still and not help Woncas, as they request the English to Doe; but I canot relate any of certainty but this last is that which I gather most probibly, For about 4 or 5 days since There came a messenger to mee From Canonicus, the old sachem of Nanheagansitt, and the somme of his message was to this effect that Canonicus was in a sadde conditione at pressent partely For the distractions of his country, and more particullerly for the death of his children, which sayd he ar much deminished, for one of them dyed of a consumtione about 2 years since, and another was slayne this last sommer in fight by the monaheagans, and a third sonne dyed about tenne days agoe, and another (sayd he) of his sonns lyeth now ready to give vp the ghoust etc: Yett, among these distractions the old man (sayd the messenger) willed mee to certify you, that wheras there ar rumors among the Indianse that the Mockquoags wer to Joine with the Nanhegansitts against Woncas, yett ther 433was noe such agrement, but the Monaheagens doe as much rumor and talke that the Mockquaugs will Joine with them against the Nanheagansitts, and therfore the Nanheagansitt sachems sent to the hithermost people called the mockquoags, living on Conictiquot River above mr. Pinchions Plantations, to know of them how they stood afected in the case and they sayd little to it, but apointed that within a few days there should com downe some 6 or 10 at most of the sayd Indians to Nanheagansitt, and they would com with Deare skins and other furrs to trade with the Nanheagansitts. Further, he named some of the Indians that wer to com downe whom I know, wherof one is he that I spake of to your worship, that had his Fingers cutt of etc: by the Mowhoaugs the last yeare: who was redeemed by the French etc: and further he (the sayd messenger) told mee that they wer to consider with the sachems of nanheagansitt (when they came) of the differences betwene the Nanheagansitts and Monaheagans: And this was the efect of his message, and the Indians ar not yett com, and when they com, I shall write and send a messenger on purpose to declare vnto your Worship, what I can gather from ther coming, if it be of any wieght, and liklie probabillity. Soe desireing your Worships pardon for writeing soe douptfully and Bouldly: I leave this to your worships consideration, what your wisdome may gather of these things by this relation, and rest your worships humble and ready to be comanded