Plymouth Officials Justify the War 1675

Not to look back further then the Troubles that were between the Colony of New-Plimouth, and Philip, Sachem of Mount-Hope, in the Year 1671. It may be remembred, that the settlement and issue of that controversie was obtained and made (principally) by the mediation and interposed advice, and counsel of the other two confederate Colonies, who upon a careful enquiry and search into the grounds of that trouble, found that the said Sachems Pretences of wrongs and injuries from that Colony were groundless and false, and that he (although first in Arms) was the peccant offending party, and that Plimouth had just cause to take up Arms against him : and it was then agreed that he should pay that Colony a certain summe of Mony, in part of their Damage and Charge by him occasioned, and he then not only renewed his ancient Covenant, of Friendship with them, but made himself and his People absolute Subjects to our Soveraign Lord King Charles the II. and to that his Colony of New-Plimouth, since which time, we know not that the English of that, or any other of the Colonies have been injurious to him or his, that might justly provoke them to take up Arms against us :

But sometime last winter, the Governour of Plimouth was informed, by Sausaman a faithful Indian, that the said Philip was undoubtedly endeavouring to raise new troubles, and to engage all the Sachems round about in War against us. Some of the English also that lived near the said Sachem, communicated their fears and jealousies concurrent with what the Indian had informed : About a week after John Sausaman had given his Information, he was barbarously Murdered by some Indians, for his faithfulness (as we had have cause to believe) to the Interest of God, and of the English. Sometime after Sausamans death, Philip having heard that the Governour of Plimouth had received some information against him, and purposed to send to him to appear at the next Court, that they might enquire into those Reports, came down of his own accord to Plimouth, a little before the Court, in the beginning of March last, at which time the Councill of that Colony, upon a large debate with him, had great reason to believe that the information against him might be in substance true : But not having proof thereof, and hoping that very discovery of it so far would cause him to desist, they dismist him friendly, giving him only to understand, that if they heard further concerning that matter, they might see reason to demand his Arms to be delivered up for their security, (which was according to former agreement between him and them) and he engaged on their demand they should be surrendered to them or their order.

At that Court we had many Indians in Examination concerning the Murder of John Sausaman, but had not then testimony in the case, but not long after an Indian appearing to testifie, we apprehended three by him charged, to be the Murderers, and secured them, to a tryal at our next Court holden in June, at which time, and a little before the Court, Philip began to keep his men in arms about him, and to gather Strangers to him, and to march about in Arms towards the upper end of the Neck in which he lived ; and near to the English houses, who began thereby to be something disquieted, but took as yet no further notice, but only to set a Military Watch, in the next Towns of Swanzy and Rehoboth. Some hints we had that Indians were in Arms, whilst our Court was sitting, but we hoped it might arise from a guilty fear in Philip, that we would send for him, and bring him to tryal with the other Murderers, and that if he saw the Court broke up, and he not sent for, the cloud might blow over. And indeed our Innocence made us very secure, and confident it would not have broke into a War. But no sooner was our Court dissolved, but we had intelligence from Lieut. John Brown of Swanzy that Philip and his men continued constantly in Arms, many strange Indians from several places flocked into him, that they sent away their Wives to Narraganset, and were giving our People frequent Alarums by Drums, and Guns in the night, and had guarded the passages towards Plimouth, and that their young Indians were earnest for a War. On the seventh of June, Mr. Benjamin Church being on Rhode-Island, Weetamoe (the Squaw-Sachim of Pocasset) and some of her chief men told him, that Philip intended a War speedily with the English; some of them saying, that they would help him, and that he had already given them leave to kill English- mens Cattle, and rob their Houses. About the 14. and 15th. of June, Mr.James Brown went twice to Philip to perswade him to be quiet, but at both times found his Men in Arms, and Philip very high and not perswadable to peace. On the 14th of June, our Council writ an amicable, friendly Letter to him, shewing our dislike of his practises, and advising him to dismiss his strange Indians, and command his own men to fall quietly to their business, that our people might also be quiet, and not to suffer himself to be abused by reports conerning us, who intended no hurt towards him ; but Mr. Brown could not obtain any Answer from him. On the 17th of June, Mr. Pain of Rehoboth, and several English going unarmed to Mount-hope to seek their Horses, at Philips request ; the Indians came and presented their Guns at them, and carried it very insolently, though no way provoked by them. On the 18. or 19th of June, Job Winslow’s House was broke open at Swanzy, and rifled by Philips men. June 20. being Sabbath day, the People of Swanzy were Alarmed by the Indians, two of our Inhabitants turned out of their Houses, and their Houses rifled, and the Indians were marching up (as they judged) to assault the Town, and therefore intreated speedy help from us. We thereupon, the 21st. of June, sent up some to relieve that Town, and dispatched more with speed, On Wednesday 23d. of June twelve more of their Houses at Swanzy were rifled. On the 24th Layton was slain at the Fall River near Pocasset. On the 25th of June, divers of our people at Swanzy were slain, and many Houses burned: until which time, and for several dayes after, though we had a considerable force there, both of our own, and of the Massachusets (to our grief and shame) they took no revenge on the Enemy. Thus slow were we and unwilling to engage ourselves and Neighbours in a War, having many insolencies, almost intollerable, from them, at whose hands we had deserved better;

Josiah Winslow. Thomas Hinckley. At a Meeting of the Commissioners of the United Colonies held at Boston September 9th. 1675.