for their arms, which having obtained, the whole were ordered to form a close body and proceed with moderate pace for the boat, and if hard pushed by the natives, to face about and give them the contents of their muskets -the Indians perceiving the English retiring, rushed from their strong coverts, and were on the point of attacking them in the rear with clubs, hatchets, stones, &c. when they received the fire of the latter, which brought three or four of them to the ground-the Indians halted, viewed for a few moments with marks of astonishment and surprize, their wounded brethren, and then with one general united yell (which probably might have been heard at the distance of three miles) fled in every direc tion!-this was the first engagement between the English and natives in New-England, and probably the first time that the latter had ever heard the report of a musket !

The English embarked and returned immediately to New-Plymouth, having been absent four days without making any important discoveries. The company despairing of making any further discovery of importance during the winter, concluded to remain at their winter quarters until the spring ensuing. The winter proved an uncommonly tedious one, during which a great proportion of the company sickened and died-unaccostomed to hardship, and deprived of many of the necessaries of life, they fell victims to the inclemency of the season; -being thus reduced to a very small number, they would have fallen an easy prey to the savages, had the latter (relying on the superiority of their strength) attacked them but the natives having by bitter experience learned the effects of their fire-arms, although they were daily seen by the English at a distance, not one of them could be prevailed upon to approach them within gun shot, until about the 20th March, 1621, when to their great sur prize, an Indian came boldly up to them and addressed

them in broken English !—he informed them that he be longed to an eastern part of the country, and was acquainted with a number of their countrymen, who came frequently there to procure fish, and of whom he learned to speak their language.

This Indian proved very serviceable to the company, in supplying them with provision, in acquainting them with the state of the country, the number and strength of the natives, and the name of their chief sachem, to whom he said the land which they improved belonged.The Indian being dismissed with many presents and friendly assurances, he the day following returned accompined by the grand sachem (MASSASOIET) and a number of his chief men, to whom the English gave a welcome reception, presenting them with many trinkets which the natives esteemed of great value.-With MAS SASOIET a treaty was proposed and concluded the day following, in which it was stipulated that the English and natives were to live amicably together, and that the latter were to furnish the former with provision, and to receive in pay therefor such articles as the former were willing to part with to which terms both parties continued ever after faithfully to adhere.

In May 1621, the English planted their first corn in New-England.-In July following their worthy Governor sickened and died-his death was greatly lamented by those of the company who survived him, and by whom he was intered with all possible solemnity; his loving consort survived him but a few weeks. In August the company made choice of Mr. WILLIAM BRADFORD, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Gov. Carver,

New-England from this period began to be rapidly peopled by the Europeans; so great was the emigration from the mother country, that in less than six years from the time that the first adventurers landed at New-Ply:

mouth, there were seven consideable towns built and set? tled in Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies.

In the summer of 1627, Mr. ENDICOT, one of the original planters, was sent over to begin a plantation at Naumkeag, (now Salem)-the June following about 200 persons, furnished with four ministers, came over and joined Mr. ENDICOT's colony; and the next year they formed themselves into a regular church. This was the first church gathered in Massachusetts, and the second in New-England. The church at Plymouth had been gathered eight years before. In 1629, a large embarkation was projected by the company in England; at the request of a number of respectable gentlemen, most of whom afterwards came over to New-England, the general consent of the company was obtained, that the govern ment should be transferred and settled in Massachusetts.

In 1630, seventeen ships from different ports in Eng. land arrived in Massachusetts, with more than 1500 pas sengers, among whom were many persons of distinction. Incredible were the hardships they endured-reduced to a scanty pittance of provisions, and that of a kind to which they had not been accustomed, and destitute of necessary accommodations, numbers sickened and died; so that before the end of the year, they had lost 200 of their number. About this time settlements were made at Charlestown, Boston, Dorchester, Cambridge, Roxbu ry and Medford.

In the year 1632 and 1633, great additions were made to the colony. Such was the rage for emigration to New-England, that the king and council thought fit to issue an order, February 7, 1633, to prevent it. The order however, was not strictly obeyed.

In 1635, the foundation of a new colony was laid in Connecticut, adjoining the river which passes through the state; of this river and the country adjacent. Lord

SAY, and Lord BROOK, were the proprietors, at the mouth of said river a fort by their direction was built, which in honor to them, was called Saybrook fort.-New-Haven was settled soon after the building of this fort, as was a number of other towns of considerable note in Connecticut. Some difficulty arising among those who first settled at New-Plymouth, a part of the inhabitants, to prevent any serious consequences, removed to a pleasant and fertile island to the S. W. of Cape Cod, now called Rhode Island, while others settled at Providence, Warwick, Taunton, &c.—thus it was, that in the course of a very few years, a great part of New-England, which so late was an uncultivated forest, resounding with the yells of savages, and beasts of prey, became the place of abode of cur persecuted Forefathers.

But, this newly settled country was not to be acquired without bloodshed; the natives, although they at first appeared harmless and well disposed toward the new settlers, from the rapid increase and too frequent aggressions of the latter, the jealousy of the former was excited, which they soon began more openly to manifest as will appear by what follows :-

CHAP. III.

COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES
WITH THE NATIVES.

THERE was a tribe of Indians which inhabited the borders of Connecticut river, from its mouth to, within a few miles of Hartford, called Pequots, a fierce cruel, and warlike tribe, and the inveterate enemies of the English; never failing to improve every opportunity to exercise toward them, the most wanton acts of bar

barity: In June, 1634, they treacherously murdered a Capt. STONE and a Capt. NORTON, who had been long in the habit of visiting them occasonally to trade.-In August, 1635, they inhumanly murdered a Mr. WEEKS and his whole family, consisting of a wife and six children, and soon after murdered the wife and children of a Mr. WILLIAMs, residing near Hartford.-Finding, however, that by their unprovoked acts of barbarity, they had enkindled the resentment of the English (who, aroused to a sence of their danger, were making preparations to exterminate this cruel tribe) the Pequots despatched messengers with gifts to the governor of the new colonies (the Hon. JOSIAH WINSLOW)-he being, however, inflexible in his determination to revenge the deaths of his friends, dismissed these messengers without an an swer. The Pequots finding the English resolute and determined, and fearing the consequence of their resentment, the second time despatched messengers with a large quantity of wampum (Indian money) as a present to the governor and council: with whom the latter had a considerable conference, and at length concluded a peace on the following terms :

ARTICLES.

I. The Pequots shall deliver up to the English those of their tribe that are guilty of the deaths of their countrymen.

II. The Pequots shall relinquish to the English all their right and title to the lands lying within the colony of Connecticut.

III. The English, if disposed to trade with the Pequots, shall be treated as friends.

To these articles the Pequots readily agreed and promised faithfully to adhere, and at the same time expressed a desire to make peace with the Narraganset Indians, with whom they were then at war.