dians, of all ages and sexes; some on horseback running races; some at football; some catching eels and flat fish in the water; some clamming, &c.; but, which way, with safety, to find out what Indians they were, they were at a loss.

But at length, retiring into a thicket, Mr. Church hallooed to them. They soon answered him, and a couple of smart young fellows, well mounted, came upon a full career to see whom it might be that called, and came just upon Mr. Church before they discovered him. But when they perceived themselves so near Englishmen, and armed, were much surprised; and tacked short about to run as fast back as they came forward, until one of the men in the bushes called to them, and told them his name was Church, and [they] need not fear his hurting of them. Upon which after a small pause, they turned about their horses, and came up to him. One of them that could speak English, Mr. Church took aside and examined; who informed him, that the Indians below were Awashonks and her company, and that Jack Havens was among them; whom Mr. Church immediately sent for to come to him, and ordered the messenger to inform Awashonks that he was come to meet her. Jack Havens soon came, and by that time Mr. Church had asked him a few questions, and had been satisfied by him, that it was Awashonks and her company that were below, and that Jack had been kindly treated by them, a company of Indians all mounted on horseback, and well armed, came riding up to Mr. Church, but treated him with all due respects. He then ordered Jack to go [and] tell Awashonks, that he designed to sup with her in the evening, and to lodge in her camp that night. Then taking some of the Indians with him, he went back to the river to take care of Mr. Howland.

Mr. Church having a mind to try what mettle he was made of, imparted his notion to the Indians that were with him, and gave them directions how to act

their parts. When he came pretty near the place, he and his Englishmen pretendedly fled, firing on their retreat towards the Indians that pursued them, and they firing as fast after them. Mr. Howland being upon his guard, hearing the guns, and by and by seeing the motion both of the English and Indians, concluded [that] his friends were distressed, and was soon on the full career on horseback to meet them; [when]' he [perceived] their laughing, [and] mistrusted the truth.

As soon as Mr. Church had given him the news, they hastened away to Awashonks. Upon their arrival, they were immediately conducted to a shelter open on one side whither Awashonks and her chiefs soon came, and paid their respects; and the multitudes gave shouts as made the heavens to ring.

It being now about sunsetting, or near the dusk of the evening, the Netops* came running from all quarters loaden with the tops of dry pines, and the like combustible matter, making a huge pile thereof, near Mr. Church's shelter, on the open side thereof. But by this time supper was brought in in three dishes; viz., a curious young bass in one dish; eels and flat fish in a second; and shell fish in a third. But neither bread nor salt to be seen at table. But by that time supper was over, the mighty pile of pine knots and tops, &c., was fired; and all the Indians, great and small, gathered in a ring round it, Awashonks, with the oldest of her people, men and women mixed, kneeling down, made the first ring next the fire; and all the lusty stout men, 2 [perceiving]

1 [until]

* This name is used by our author, I suspect, in the same sense as other writers use that of sannop. See Winthrop's Journal, sub anno 1630, and Hubbard, Nar. SO, where it appears to be an Indian word employed by the sachems as a common name for their men. The latter author spelt it sannap. Nipnet was a general name for all inland Indians between the Mccon

standing up, made the next, and then all the rabble in a confused crew, surrounded, on the outside.

Then the chief Captain stepped in between the rings and the fire, with a spear in one hand, and a hatchet in the other; danced round the fire, and began to fight with it; making mention of all the several nations and companies of Indians in the country, that were enemies to the English. And at naming of every particular tribe of Indians, he would draw out and fight a new firebrand; and at finishing his fight with each particular firebrand, would bow to him, and thank him; and when he had named all the several nations and tribes, and fought them all, he stuck down his spear and hatchet, and came out, and another stept in, and acted over the same dance, with more fury, if possible, than the first; and when about half a dozen of their chiefs had thus acted their parts, the Captain of the guard stept up to Mr. Church, and told him, [that] they were making soldiers for him, and what they had been doing was all one [as] swearing of them. And having in that manner engaged all the stout lusty men, Awashonks and her chiefs came to Mr. Church, and told him, that now they were all engaged to fight for the English, and [that] he might call forth all, or any of them, at any time, as he saw occasion, to fight the enemy. And [then] presented him with a very fine firelock.

Mr. Church accepts their offer, drew out a number of them, and set out next morning before day for Plymouth, where they arrived the same day.

The Governour being informed of it, came early to town* next morning; and by that time, he had Englishmen enough to make a good company, when joined with Mr. Church's Indians, that offered their

*The Governour resided at Marshfield a few miles north of Plymouth.

† July 23.

voluntary service, to go under his command in quest of the enemy. The Governour then gave him a commission which is as follows.

"Captain BENJAMIN CHURCH, you are hereby nominated, ordered, commissioned, and empowered to raise a company of volunteers of about two hundred men, English and Indians; the English not exceeding the number of sixty, of which company, or so many of them as you can obtain, or shall see cause at present to improve, you are to take the command, conduct, and to lead them forth now and hereafter, at such time, and unto such places within this colony, or elsewhere within the confederate colonies, as you shall think fit; to discover, pursue, fight, surprise, destroy, or subdue our Indian enemies, or any part or parties of them, that by the providence of God you may meet with, or them, or any of them, by treaty and composition to receive to mercy, if you see reason, (provided they be not murderous rogues, or such as have been principal actors in those villanies.) And forasmuch as your company may be uncertain, and the persons often changed, you are also hereby empowered with the advice of your company, to choose and commissionate a Lieutenant, and to establish Sergeants, and Corporals as you see cause. And you herein improving your best judgment and discretion, and utmost ability, faithfully to serve the interest of God, his Majesty's interest, and the interest of the colony; and carefully governing your said company at home and abroad. These shall be unto you full and ample commission, warrant and discharge. Given under the publick seal, this 24th day of July, 1676.

Per JOS. WINSLOW, Governour." Receiving commission, he marched the same night into the woods, got to Middleborough* before day;

* About 15 miles from Plymouth. this town and the plenty of game in be a principal residence for Indians.

The fruitful waters in its woods, caused it to Mourt says (in Prince,

and as soon as the light appeared, took into the woods and swampy thickets, towards a place where they had some reason to expect to meet with a parcel of Narraganset Indians, with some others that belonged to Mounthope. Coming near to where they expected them, Captain Church's Indian scout discovered the enemy; and well observing their fires, and postures, returned with the intelligence to their Captain; who gave such directions for the surrounding of them, as had the desired effect; surprising them from every side, so unexpectedly, that they were all taken, not so much as one escaped.*

And upon a strict examination, they gave intelligence of another parcel of the enemy, at a place called Munponset pond.† Captain Church hastening with his prisoners through the woods to Plymouth,

Chron. 191,) thousands of men have lived here, who died of the great plague, about 3 years before our arrival." It was subject to Massassoit, and was first visited by the English, 3 July, 1621. Mr. Edward Winslow, and Mr. Stephen Hopkins passed through there, on their way to visit Massassoit. They saw the bones of many that died of the plague, where their habitations had been. Ibid. Relicks of antiquity are often found to this day. A gentleman lately digging to set posts for a front yard, near the town house, discovered an Indian sepulchre. It contained a great quantity of beads of different kinds, with many other curiosities. A remnant of a tribe of Indians now lives on the northeast side of the great Assawomset. They have mixed with the blacks, and none remain of clear blood. The last that remained unt mixed, was a man who died a few years since, at the age, it was supposed, of 100 years. He went by the name of Cymon. What is known of the troubles of the inhabitants in this war is found scattered through Mr. Hubbard's Narrative, in Bachus' Hist. Middleborough, and note 1, for page 51, of this work.

* We have to regret that our author does not tell us the number which he took, and the place where he took them. But his indefinite mode of writing, may, in part, be accounted for, by the consideration, that it is given after nearly forty years, mostly from recollection; especially this part of the history.

A small pond in the north part of the present town of Halifax.