the dark, and for the present can write but by guess: For within a few days after the return of Mr. Gendal, and the other man that went to carry the ransom, before the 1st of November, Mugg himself came to Piscataqua, bringing Mr. James Fryer, who soon after died of his wound; one of the prisoners along with him complaining that without his knowledge some of the Indians had seized what was sent for the ransom of the rest, promising upon his faith, that he would make good his word for the sending home all the prisoners, and offered also in the name of the other Indians to confirm a new peace with the English for the future. The MajorGeneral of the Massachusetts colony was then at Piscataqua, but not willing to transact a matter of that nature and moment by his sole authority, ordered the said Mugg (supposed to be the chief leader of the Indians) to be carried down to Boston to the Governor and Council there, to conclude the business, with whom he soon after agreed upon a firm peace with the English of Massachusetts, in the name of Madockawando the Chief of all the Indians in the eastern parts about Penobscot, engaging also to remain himself as Hostage, aboard the vessel (in which he was sent home from Boston, the 21st November following) until the prisoners (which are said to be fifty or sixty) that they have still in their hands be sent home, and the rest of the articles performed; the issue of which we as yet wait to hear in God's good time, this 12th day of December following, 1676, when they there have made an end of the reckoning, it is hoped we may have our rights again.

There are two principal actors amongst the Indians that have all along promoted these designs amongst them, one named Squando, Sagamore of Saco, and the aforementioned Madockawando, the Chief commander of the Indians eastward about Penobscot, who are said to be by them that know them, a strange kind of moralized savages; grave and serious in their speech and carriage and not without some shew of a kind of religion, which no doubt but they have learned from the Prince of Darkness (by help of some Papist in those parts) that can transform himself into an Angel of Light, under that shape the better to carry on the designs of his kingdom. It is said also, they pretend to have received some visions and revelations, by which they have been commanded to worship the great God, and not to work on the Lord's day. We know where that fountain hath its rise, that sendeth forth at the same place sweet and bitter waters; and from whence their hearts are inspired, that join blessing of God with cursing and killing his ser

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vants.

It is reported by some that came lately from those parts, that the Indians there as yet refuse to have any peace with the English, and will not as yet return any of our captive friends till God speak to the aforesaid enthusiasts, that are their leaders, that they should no longer make war with us, and the like.

But not to trouble ourselves farther with those ministers of Satan, or those that are actuated by the Angel of the bottomless pit, who possibly since their delusions are but too fold more the children of Hell than they

were before. We know better how to understand the mind of the great Lord of Heaven and earth, than to depend on such lying oracles.

That God who hath at present turned their hearts to hate his people, and deal subtilly with his servants, we hope in time, will either turn the stream, and cause them to deal friendly and sincerely with his people as heretofore, or give us an opportunity to destroy them.

In the next place it remains, that some account be given of our forces, under Capt. Hathorne, and of their several expeditions into the eastern parts, since the middle of September last; first up towards Casco, by the sea side, then afterwards through the woods, directly northward, toward Ossapy and Pigwauchet, in hopes to have found the enemy at their head-quarters.

Upon the first report of those devastations and spoils that had been made by fire and sword in those eastern plantations it was judged necessary to send some forces that way to put a stop to the current of those outrages, before the remainder of the southern Indians could have an opportunity to join with them: To that end about 130 Eng, with forty Indians, were dispatched away into those parts, under the command of Capt. William Hathorne, Capt. Still, and Capt. Hunting, who were to join with such as could be raised in those parts, under Major Waldern and Capt. Frost. After they had surprised the Indians that flocked into those parts, (as was related before) which was done upon the 6th of September, 1676, Capt. Hathorne, who was commander in chief, marched the forces by the sea side, towards Casco: For

at that time they were upon some demur whether to march directly toward Ossapy and Pigwauchet, where the head quarters of the enemy was supposed to be, or else to march directly toward Casco Bay where they heard parties of the enemy were daily spoiling the plantations of the English; the last it was judged the most expedient to try if they could not meet with some parties of the enemy amongst those plantations near the sea side, by that means at least to prevent them from doing more mischief, if they could not find an opportunity to fall upon some of them and destroy them; but their time was not yet come, nor were all the dessolations as yet accomplished, which God had a purpose to bring about by their means: For notwithstanding there was a sufficient force to have suppressed all the numbers of the enemy, if they had been many more than they were, yet being emboldened and grown subtle by their former successes, they had so dispersed themselves all about the woods in those parts, that when our forces were in one place, they would be in another, and so did much mischief thereabouts, while our soldiers were out after them: For after they had by several steps in ten days time got to Casco from Newechewannick (about the 8th of September) they marched to Wells and from Wells to Winter Harbor, and so from thence to Black Point they passed by water, and then arrived at Casco Bay, about the 20th of September, yet about that very time were several of the English cut off at Mountjoy's island, and that in sight of our forces, when they were not able to come at them for want of boats, the Isl D D

and lying two leagues off in the Bay; this happened the 23d of the same month, as was said before, and within two days after another party of the enemy were doing mischief at Wells and Cape Nidduck, and yet escaped away when they had done.

Nor could our forces in all their expedition meet with any of them but two; one of which soon after he was, taken was let go by the treachery or carelessness of them that held him. For when our forces were come within a few miles of the hither side of Casco Bay, some of our Natick Indians under Blind Will (a Sagamore of Piscataqua, who went in company with 8 of his men, supposed to be good pilots for the places more eastward) met with some of the enemy, and laid hold of a couple of them; justice was done to one of them; the other, although he was led by two of Blind Will's Indians, they made shift to let go, who escaping, got over a river and gave notice to the Indians who were on the other side, and were heard but a little before threshing in a barn that belonged to Anthony Bracket, whom they had lately surprised. Another disappointment our forces met with about the same time: for when Capt. Hathorne was up at Casco Bay with his soldiers, he never could come up with the Indians, either through want of skill in them that were his scouts, or rather want of faithfulness in one that should have been his guide, who had got his living by trading with the Indians, therefore seemed unwilling to have the brood of them destroyed, as was known afterwards; and by that means a party of the enemy escaped the hands of our soldiers. Yet it