and a truce established, till the 1st of May, 1692. Instead of appearing in May at the garrison in Wells, with all their captives, to sign articles of a lasting peace, according to agreement, on the 9th of June, the place was assaulted by 200 Indians, but, being courageously repulsed, they retired. About the same time, they killed 2 men at Exeter, 2 at Berwick, and 5 or 6 at Cape Neddock.. In the latter part of July, a number of troops having explored the Pejepscot region, to no purpose, while going on board their vessels, at Macquoit, they were violently assailed all night; but their vessels secured them, in a great measure, against harm.

In mercy to New-England, the force of the Indians was this year exceedingly restrained. Yet, September 28th, 7 persons were killed and taken captive at Berwick, and the next day, 21 were taken from Sandy Beach. Oct. 23d, in Rowley, Byfield parish, Mr. Goodridge, his wife, and 2 of his daughters, were killed. He was shot while praying in his family; it was sabbath evening. As he fell, he exclaimed, "I am a dead man; fly to the garrison." As they fled from the house, the wife and daughters were killed. A son and daughter were taken captive, the daughter was redeemed the next spring, at the expense of the province. She lived 82 years after, and died in Beverly, 1774, aged 89. Her name was Deborah Duty.

On the 25th of January, 1692, several hundred Indians assaulted York, took a hundred captives, and killed fifty, among whom was their faithful minister, the Rev. Shubael Dummer. The remaining people were so discouraged, that they were about leaving the town, when the government sent Capt. Greenleaf and Convers to protect them.

About this time, our people fell on a party in Cocheco woods, took and killed all but one; but the most valorous exploit happened at Wells. Capt. Convers displayed the

courage of Leonidas, with more success.

He had 15 men in the garrison; little more than a gunshot off, in 2 sloops, were 15 more, who had just brought ammunition and stores for the garrison. In this situation, he was assaulted by an army of 500 French and Indians. Monsieur Burniff was general, and Labocree a principal commander. They were supported by the most distinguished chieftains of different tribes. Warumbo, Egremet, Moxus, and Modocawando, names of terror in those times, were present, with their chosen warriors. After a speech from one of their orators, with shouts and yells, they poured a volley upon the garri son, which returned the fire with so much spirit and success, that the besiegers retired to attack the sloops. The vessels lay in a creek, rather than a river, which at low water was barely wide enough to prevent the enemy from leaping on board. From a turn of the creek, they could approach so near, as to throw handfuls of mud on board, without being exposed themselves. A stack of hay and a pile of plank, were also places of security, whence they could pour show. ers of balls upon the sloops; while their great numbers allowed them to place parties of men to prevent any assistance from the garrison. Several times they set the sloops on fire, by shooting burning arrows; but by the vigilance of the crews, under Capt. Storer and Capt. Gouge, they were extinguished. Resistance was so formidable, that they again returned to the garrison, and then again they assaulted the sloops. Various and bold were their stratagems. Ona pair of wheels they built a platform, with a raised front that was bullet proof. This, loaded with French and Indians, was pushed toward the sloops; the terrific machine of death slowly advanced; it proceeded by the side of the channel, bursting with smoke and fire, till within 15 yards of the sloop; one wheel sunk in the mire; a Frenchman stepped to lift the wheel; Storer levelled his gun, and he fell; another

took his place; and again Storer took aim, and he fell by his fellow. Soon the tide rose and overturned their rolling battery; the men were exposed to the deadly fire of the sloops, and fell or fled in every direction.

Their next project was to build a kind of fireship, 18 or 20 feet square, loaded with combustible substance; this raft of fire they guided as near the vessels as they dared, and the tide wafted the blazing pile directly toward the trembling sloops. Never were men in a more awful situation. In this moment of distress, they cried unto God and he heard them. To the amazement of all, the wind suddenly changed, and with a fresh gale drove the floating destruction on shore, so shattered, that the water broke in, and extinguished the fire. Thus, after alternately attacking the garrison and vessels for 48 hours, exhausting their strength, expending their ammunition, losing one of their French commanders, and a number of their men; they sullenly retreated, having killed 1 man, and a number of cattle, and taken 1 prisoner; him they tortured, and killed in a most terrible

manner.

This summer, a formidable stone fort was built at Pemaquid, called William Henry. Early in the summer of 1693, major Church received the command of the troops in the eastern country, with orders to raise 350 more.

He sur

prised and took a party of the enemy not far from Wells; then marched to Pemaquid, Taconet, and Saco, but found no enemies. At Saco, he ordered a fort to be built.

About this time, the Indians alarmed Quabaog, or Brookfield, and killed a number of persons; but they were pursued, most of them killed, and their captives and plunder retaken. The Indians had now become tired of the war; they had some serious fears respecting the Maquas, and sued for peace, which was willingly granted them. A treaty was signed, May, 11, 1693.

In 1691, the general court employed two of their mem bers, with Sir Henry Ashhurst, and the Rev. Dr. Mather, to solicit the restoration of their charter. In this they were disappointed; but a new charter was given, including the colony of Plymouth, Province of Maine, and Nova-Scotia, with all the country between Nova-Scotia and Maine, to the river St. Lawrence; also Elizabeth Islands, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, in the government of Massachusetts. But the people were greatly disappointed in their new charter. Many of their invaluable privileges were taken from them. They no longer chose their governor, secretary, or officers of admiralty. The militia was under the controul of the governor. A house of representatives was not mentioned. To levy taxes, grant administrations, prove wills, and try capital offenders, was the office of the governor and Gouncil. But in the true spirit of their native independence, the first act of the legislature, in Massachusetts, after receiving the charter, contained the following clause: "No aid, tax, tollage, assessment, custom, loan, benevolence, or imposition whatsoever shall be laid, assessed, imposed, or levied on his majesty's subjects, or their estates, on any pretence whatever, but by the act and consent of the governor, council and representatives of the people, assembled in general court."

CHAP. XXII.

Witchcraft.

It was now 72 years since the first settlement of Plymouth. During this period, making their own laws, and choosing their own rulers, New-England had established regulations for promoting learning and religion, not equalled

perhaps in any nation. In 1643, there were 36 churches in New-England; in 1650, there were 40, which contained 7750 communicants;* and though the philosophist points the finger of derision at the pious founders of these republics, the history of man does not present any people adopting wiser measures, productive of more permanent blessings. No where was knowledge more generally diffused, morals more correct, religion more pure, or the inhabitants more independent and happy.

But the fairest day has its cloud. Sir William Phips, the first governor under the new charter, found the province in a deplorable situation. An Indian war was wasting the frontiers. An agitation, a terror of the public mind, in the greater part of Essex county, like a tornado, was driving the people to the most desperate conduct. In the tempest of passion, a government of laws, trial by jury, all the guards against oppression, were too feeble to protect the person or property of the most worthy and loyal subject. The pillars of civil government were shaken to their foundation, by the amazing power of supposed witchcraft. In the beginning of 1692, the Rev. Samuel Paris, of Salem village, now Danvers, had a daughter aged 9, and a niece aged 11, "who were distressed with singular distempers." The means used by the physician being ineffectual, he gave it as his opinion, that "they were under an evil hand." The neighbours immediately believed that they were bewitched. An Indian servant and his wife privately made some experiments "to find out the witch." The children being informed of this, immediately complained of Tituba, the Indian woman, that she pinched, pricked and tormented them. They said she was visible to them, here and there, where others could not see her. Sometimes they would be dumb,

* Dr. Stiles' M.S.