rel of powder to themselves and so marked that it may by no means be changed. That men may know beforehand, and may not be cheated out of their lives, by having bad powder, or not knowing how to use it. And this will prove a great advantage to the action. Sixthly. That Colonel John Gorham, if he may be prevailed with, may be concerned in the management of the whale boats, he having been formerly concerned in the eastern parts and experienced in that affair. And whalemen then will be very serviceable in this expedition, which having a promise made to them, that they shall be released in good season, to go home a whaling in the fall, your excellency will have men enough. Seventhly. That there may be raised for this service three hundred Indians at least, and more if they may be had; for I know certainly, of my own knowledge that they exceed most of our English in hunting and skulking in the woods, being always used to it. And it must be practised if ever we intend to destroy those Indian enemies. Eighthly. That the soldiers already out eastward in the service, men of known judgment, may take a survey of them and their arms, and see if their arms be good and they know how to use them in shooting right, at a mark, and that they be men of good reason and sense to know how to manage themselves in so ́difficult a piece of service as this Indian hunting is, for bad men are but a clog and hinderance to an army, being a trouble and vexation to good commanders, and so many mouths to devour the country's provision, and a hinderance to all good actions. Ninthly. That special care be had in taking up the whaleboats that they be good, and fit for that service, so that the country be not cheated as formerly in having rotten boats and as much care that the owners may have good satisfaction for them. Tenthly That the tenders or transports, vessels to be improved in this action, be good decked vessels, not too big because of going up several rivers having four or six small guns apiece for defence, and . the fewer men will defend them, and there are enough such vessels, to be had. Eleventhly. To conclude all, if your excellency will be pleased to make yourself great and us a happy people, as to the destroying of our enemies and easing of our taxes, &c., be pleased to draw forth all those forces now in pay in all the eastward parts, both at Saco and Casco bay, for those two trading houses never did any good nor ever will, and are not worthy the name of Queen's forts; and the first building of them had no other effect but to lay us under tribute to that wretched pagan crew; and I hope will never be wanted for that they were first built; [-] but sure it is, they are very serviceable to them; for they get many a good advantage of us to destroy our men and laugh at us for our folly, that we should be at so much cost and trouble to do a thing that does us so much harm, and no manner of good but to the contrary when they see all our forces drawn forth, and in pursuit of them they will think that we begin to be roused up, and to be awake and will not be satisfied with what they have pleased to leave us, but are resolved to retake from them that they took formerly from us, and drive them out of their country also. The which being done, then to build a fort at a suitable time, and in a convenient place, and it will be very honourable to your excellency, and of great service to her Majesty, and to the enlargement of her Majesty's government (the place meant being at Portroyal.) Twelfthly. That the objection made against drawing off the forces in the eastward parts will be no damage to the inhabitants, for former experience teacheth us that so soon as drawn into their country, they will presently forsake ours to take care of their own. And that there be no failure in making pre 1 [for] paration of these things aforementioned; for many times the want of small things prevents the completing of great actions. And that every thing be in readiness before the forces be raised to prevent charges, and the enemy's having intelligence. And that the general court be moved to make suitable acts for the encouraging both English and Indians, that so men of business may freely offer estates and concerns to serve the publick. Thus hoping what I have taken the pains to write in the sincerity of my heart, and good affection, will be well accepted, I make bold to subscribe as I am, your excellency's most devoted humble servant, BENJAMIN CHURCH." Then returning to his excellency, presented the said scheme, which his excellency approved of, and returned it again to Major Church, and desired him to see that every thing was provided; telling him he should have an order from the commissary General to proceed. Then returned home, and made it his whole business to provide oars and paddles, and a vessel to carry them round, and then returned again to his excellency, who gave him a commission which is as followeth. "JOSEPH DUDLEY,* Esq., Captain General and Governour in Chief, in and over her Majesty's pro * A son of Thomas Dudley, who came to America in 1630, and who has been celebrated for his bitterness against toleration. Some poetry found in his pocket (says Morton, 151,) after his death, is so singular, and characteristick of the times, that I may be pardoned for so much digressing as to insert a clause of it. "Let men of God in courts and churches watch O'er such as do a toleration hatch; Lest that ill egg bring forth a cockatrice, To poison all with heresy and vice. If men be left, and otherwise combine, The subject of this note was born in 1647, graduated at Harvard College, 1665, and is said to have been eminent for vince of the Massachusetts bay, in Newengland, in America, and Vice Admiral of the same, TO BENJAMIN CHURCH, Esq., Greeting. By virtue of the power and authority, in and by her Majesty's royal commission, to me granted, I do by these presents, reposing special trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage, and good conduct, constitute and appoint you to be Colonel of all the forces raised, and to be raised for her Majesty's service, against the French and Indian enemy and rebels, that shall be improved in the service to the eastward of Casco bay; and to be Captain of the first company of the said forces. You are therefore carefully and diligently to perform the duty of a Colonel and Captain, by leading, ordering and exercising the said regiment and company in arms, both inferiour officers and soldiers; and to keep them in good order and discipline. Hereby commanding them to obey you as their Colonel and Captain; and with them to do and execute all acts of hostility against the said enemy and rebels. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions as you shall receive from myself, or other, your superiour officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, pursuant to the trust reposed in you. Given under my hand and his learning. He was a commissioner in Philip's war, and his name may be seen among them at the head of the long treaty with the Narragansets, in July, 1675. When Andross was Governour, Mr. Dudley was president of the council, and was seized upon as belonging to his party, and imprisoned for some time, and treated with inhumanity. Being sent for by King William, he embarked in Feb., 1689. The next year he was sent over as chief justice of Newyork, but he was never satisfied any where but in the government of Massachusetts. He therefore exerted himself to injure Governour Phips, expecting to succeed him; but the people prevented him by procuring the appointment of the Earl of Bellomont, whose premature death gave him his beloved office, in which he continued from 1702 to 1716. Gov. Shute succeeded him, and he died in 1720, aged 73. seal at arms, at Boston, the 18th day of March, in the third year of her Majesty's reign. Anno Dom. 1703-4. By his Excellency's command. J. DUDLEY. ISAAC ADDINGTON, Secr." Colonel Church no sooner received his commission, but proceeded to the raising of men, volunteers, by going into every town within the three counties, which were formerly Plymouth government; advising with the chief officer of each company, to call his company together, that so he might have the better opportunity to discourse and encourage them to serve their Queen and country. Treating them with drink convenient, told them, [that] he did not doubt but with God's blessing to bring them all home again. All which with many other arguments, animated their hearts to do service. So, that Colonel Church enlisted, out of some companies, near twenty men, and others fifteen. He having raised a sufficient number of English soldiers, proceeded to the enlisting of Indians, in all those parts where they dwelt, which was a great fatigue and expense; being a people that need much treating, especially with drink, &c. Having enlisted the most of his soldiers in those parts, who daily lay upon him, [and] was not less than five pounds per day expenses, some days in victuals and drink; who doubtless thought, (especially the English) that the country would have reimbursed it again, otherwise they would hardly [have] accepted it of him. Colonel Church's soldiers, both English and Indians, in those parts, being raised, marched them all *Plymouth, Barnstable, and Bristol. This division was made in 1685, which before were all in one. Supplement to Morton, 207. |