New-England's present sufferings under their cruel neighbouring Indians represented in two letters lately written from Boston to London.

New-England's present Sufferings, &c.

Boston, the 4th of the 11th month, 1675.

My Friend,

AFter my Love to thee and thy wife, and the rest of my beloved Friends in the Truth, in the which, as we abide, we are a Flock; yea, we are a pure Family of Love, the Houshold and Children of the living God, in whom he will be glorifi'd, in carrying of his Lambs and Babes in the Arms and Ark of his everlasting power, over all the swelling and raging Waves of the Enemy, both within and without; to the joy of all his Faithful ones; and to the Glory and Renown of his holy Name, who over all in Hea∣ven and Earth, and every where is blessed for ever and ever more.

Dear Frind,
I Comeing to Town, and hearing of John Walley (him by whom thou hast sent to me) who being just ready to Sail for London, could not omit to write these few lines unto thee: But my business to Boston ••t this time was to build up something over our) never to forgotten) Friends Graves, whom the Apostate Professors of New-England had hanged on a Tree, and buryed neer the Countreys High∣way side; the Lord having put it into my heart, that now was a fit and seasonable time, it being a day of great Calamity and distress up∣on most part of New-England; For the Natives are risen in great wrath and fury against the English, breaking in upon many places with fireing of Houses, and torturing of sundry persons with several sorts of Tortures: And it is reported they hang up some alive in Iron Cr••••ks, by the under Jaw untill Death, burying some alive by de∣grees,

and Skinning others alive. And some they carry away it is not known whither, but it is thought to Torture them after the most horrid ways they can invent; and here are great busles in Pressing Men, •• sending out to War. But the Indians (as a Scourge in the hand o•• the Lord) goe on with great ••u••••••lty and success, upbraiding and c••••llenging the English Warr••ers when they see them, and saying, Come, why do ye not fight? So that in a little time they have much sur∣prized, and made great slaughters upon the English: and although they had great store of Ammunition of their own, yet they get much more by Rifling of Houses, and Slaughtering Souldiers out of the Thick∣ets and Swamps, as they March and Travel along the Woods. They lately met with a Captain and his Company as they were passing o∣ver a Swamp; and at one Volley of Shot slew him, and neer all his Company. The Indians, I hear, insult very much, and tell the English Warriers that God is against them, and for the Indians; and that the English shall (for their Unrighteousness) fall into their hands. Our Rulers, Officers, and Councellors are like as men in a maze, not knowing what to do: but the Priests spur them on, telling them the Indians are ordained for destruction; bidding them go forth to Warr, and they will Fast and Pray at home in the mean time: yet their Gene∣ral, with some other Officers, complain and say, with tears, They see not God go along with them. And many of the English, when the Natives have killed them, they strip them naked, and leave their bo∣dies to rot upon the ground. I heard some of the Indians did say to some Englishmen, That they did not think the Quakers would come out against them: I have not yet heard of much hurt they have done to Friends; but it is likely to be a time of great tryal to all here.

What I had to get upon our Friends Graves being ready framed a∣forehand, I got two Friends to help me to set it up in the night, a Court of Guard being kept very neer; but it being pretty dark, we did our work without interruption; so next day, pretty early, tiding was brought into Town, that there was a Tombe built upon the two Qua∣kers Grave by the Gallows; and it being a Market day, it is said, ma∣ny hundreds, of Town and Country, flock'd about it, Reading, taking, and giving Copeys of the Inscription which was Engraven upon the Front end of the Work: And much people were seriously affected, say∣ing, one to another, that the destroying of those good people, is that which hath brought the Displeasure and Judgment of the Lord upon this Countrey: But the Priests and Rulers, it being General Court time, hearing of it, and the great Concourse of people which gathered

about it, in the evening, it being the last day of the week, they sent some to pull it in pieces, and to bring the Table, with the Inscription, to the Governour, and General Court. When it was Demollished, divers people, who afterwards came from divers Towns to see it, lost their labours. But notwithstanding the rage of the Enemy, it hath pro∣ved very good service, and to the torment of the blood guilty; and it riseth in the hearts of many people afresh. So, my Dear Friend, with true Love, I Rest,

E. W.