At a meeting of the Commissioners for the vnited Colonies of New Eng- 1643 *13 T HE Articles of Confederacón agreed at Bostone the xixth of May last 1643. being now read Mr Edward Winslow Mr William Collyer Comissioners for the Jurisdiccon of New Plymouth deliuered in an Order of their September. Geñall Court Dated the xxixth of August 1643 by wch it appeares that the said Articles of the xixth of May weere read approued and confirmed by the said Geñall Court by all their Towneships and they the sd Mr Winslow Mr Collyer were both authorized to ratifie them by their subscriptions and chosen sent as Comissioners for that Jurisdiccón wth full power to treate and conclud in all matters concerneing warr and peace according to y tenor and true meaneing of the said Articles of Confederacón for this p'sent meetinge An order made by the geñall Court of the Massachusetts was now also p'sented read, dated the xxth of May 1643. By wch it appeares That John Winthrop and Thomas Dudley Esqrs were chosen Comissioners for the Jurisdiccón of the Mattachusets, and invested wth the like full power for this meeting. An order made by the Geñall Court for Conneetacutt was p'sented and read dated at Hartford the fift of July last: By wch it appeares that Georg Fenwick Esq Mr Edward Hopkins were chosen Comissioners for that Jurisdiccón and invested wth the like full power for this meeting An order made by the Geñall Court for the Jurisdiccón of New Hauen was p'sented read dated the vjth of July 1643 by wch it appeares that Mr Theophilus Eaton and Mr Thom Gregson were chosen and sent as Comissioners for that Jurisdiccon wth the like full power for this meeting. John Winthrop Esq was chosen President for this meeting according to the vijth Article in the Confederacón. Vpon a motion made by the Comissioners for New Hauen Jurisdiccón *14 September. 1643. It was graunted and ordered That the Towne of Milford may be received into Combinacon and as a member of the Jursdiccon of New Hauen, if New Hauen and Milford agree vpon the termes condicóns among themselues The like liberty was also granted in regard of the Towne of Southhampton *15 The Comissioners were informed that Vncus Sagamore of the Munhegen Indians haueing in warr taken Miantinomy Sagamore of the Narrohiggunsets prisoner, had brought him to be kept at Hartford till he might receiue aduice. from the English how to pceed against him for sondry treacherous attempts against his life besides this last suddaine Invasion wthout denounceing warr, and when Vncus was unpvided to whstand the great force Miantinomo brought against him: Wherevpon the Commissioners did seriously consider Miantinimos course and carriage, And though they knew and well remembred his ambitious designes to make himself vniusall Sagomore or Gouernor of all these pts, and his plotts to remooue whatsoeû stood in his way, And though they haue had many concurrant pregnant testy monyes from the Indians in seûall pts of the Countrey, of his treacherous plotts by guifts *to engage all the Indians at once to cutt of the whole body of the English in these parts wch were further confirmed by the Indians Geñall p'paracons, messages, e sondry insolencies and outrages by them comitted against the English and such Indians as were subjects or frend to the English, so that all the English Plantacons were to their great charge and damnage forced to arme to keepe stronge watches day and night and some of them to trauell wth Convoyes from one plantation to another yet leaueing these consideracons wch discouer the pride treachery cruelty and malicious disposicon of the man, and to the English might haue beene sufficient puocacóns to a warr agst him: The Comissioners weighed the cause passages as they were clearely represented sufficiently euedenced betwixt Vncus Myantynomo and it appeared that a Tripartite agreement was made and concluded at Hartford betwixt Vncus and Myantinomo wth some referrence to the English; in wh one of the Articles. were, That though either of these Indian Sagamores should receiue injuries from the other, yet they should not make warr one of them against the other till they had first complayned, and that the English had heard their greevances, had declared determyned what was just right betwixt them: And that if either of them should attempt against the other wthout consulting wth the English, the English might then assist against the Invader: Notwthstandinge Myantinomo and his Confederats haue sondry wayes manefested their enmity treacherously plotted and practised against the life of Vncus But especially of late since they were p'pareing ripening their plotts against A September. *16 the English *first a Pequin Indian one Vncus his subjects shott Vncus wth 1643. an arrow through the arme but aymeing at his life añ presently fled to the Nanohiggansets or their Confederats pclaymeing in the Indian plantacóns that he had killed Vncus: but when it was knowne Vncus was not dead though wounded, the Traytor was taught to say that Vncus had cutt through his owne arme wth a flint, and had hyred the Pecott to say hee had shott and killed him. Myantinomo being sent for by the Goûnor of the Massachusetts vpon another occation brought the Pecott wth him: but when this disguise would not serue, and that ye English out of his owne mouth found him guilty would haue sent him to Vncus his Sagamore to bee pceeded against, Myantinomo desired he might not be taken out of his hands, pmiseing he would send himself to Vncus to be examined punished, but contrary to his pmise, and feareing as it appeares his owne treachery might be discoûed, he w1hin a day or two cutt of the Peacotts head that he might tell no tales. After this some attempts were made to poison Vncus, as is reported to take away his life by sorcery. That being discoûed some of Sequassons company an Indian Sagomore allyed to, an intimate confederate wth Myantinomo, shott at Vncus as hee was going downe Coneetacutt Riuer wth a arrow or two: Vncus according to the foresaid agreement complayneing to the English they sought to make peace betwixt Vncus Sequassen: but Sequassen refused, expressing his dependance vpon Myantinomo p'ferred warr before peace they fought and Vncus had the victory. Lastly Myantinomo wthout any puocacon from Vncus (vnlesse the disappoyntment of former plotts pvoaked) and suddainly wthout denounceing warr came vpon Vncus wth nine hundred or a thousand men when Vncus had not half so many to defend himself: Vncus had before the battell told Myantinomo he had many wayes sought his life offered by single combat betweene themselues to end the quarrell and spare blood: But *Myantenomo p'sumeing vpon his number of men, would haue nothing but a battell, and since Myanteromo was taken prisoner the Indians affirme that the Mohawkes haue beene sent vnto, and are come whin a dayes journey of the English plantacons, but stayed by Miantenomo till hee may attaine his liberty, and then they will carry on their designes whether against ye English or Vncus or both is yet doubtfull. These thinges being duely weighed considered the Comissioners apparently see that Vncus cannot be safe while Myantenomo liues but that either be secret treachery or open force his life wilbe still in danger. Wherefore they thinke he may justly put such a false blood-thirsty enemie to death, but in his owne Jurisdiccón, not in the English plantacons, And adviseing that in the manner of his death all ñcy and moderacón be shewed, contrary to the *17 September. 1643. practise of the Indians who exercise tortures cruelty. And Vncus haueing hitherto shewed himself a frend to the English, and in this craueing their advice, if the Nanohiggansetts Indians or others shall vnjustly assault Vncus for this execucón, vpon notice and request the English pmise to assist and ptect him, as farr as they may ag:st such vyolence. *18 P. 94. The Comissioners do think it fitt to aduise euery geñall Court that they would see that euery man may keepe by him a good gunn sword one pound of pouder wth foure pound of shott wth match or flints sutable, to be ready vpon all occations, and to be carefully viewed foure tymes a yeare at least, And that ouer and aboue this euery generall Court do see that they keep a stock of pouder shott match euer by them. And it is conceiued by the Comissioners that one hundred pound of pouder and foure hundred pounds. of shott wth match sutable at the least be puided for euery hundred men throrow all the vnited Colonies of New England, and that the Comissioners at each meeting report how the seûall Jurisdiccóns are furnished. It is thought fitt and ordered That there be one and the same measure throughout all ye Plantacons wthin these vnited Colonies, wh is agreed to be Winchester measure vizt eight gallons to y° bushell. It is judged mecte by the Comissioners yt there be trayneings at least six tymes euery yeare in each plantacon wthin this Confederacón. The pporcons of men to be sent for by any of the Jurisdiccóns in case of any p'sent danger, vntill the Comissioners may meete according to the fourth Article in the Confederacón: is for the Massachusets one hundred and fifty men Plymouth thirty Conneetacutt thirty and New Hauen twenty fiue And according to this pporcón are all numbers to be ordered in case of any warr that may fall out vntill the next meeting of the Comissioners in Septembr 1644 Whereas complaints haue beene made against Samuell Gorton his Company, and some of them weighty of great consequence, And whereas the said Gorton and the rest haue beene formerly sent for, and now lately by the general Court of the Massachusets wth a safe conduct both for the comeing and returne, that they might giue answere and satisfaccón, wherein they haue donn wrong. If yet they shall stubbornely refuse The Comissioners for the vnited Colonies think fitt that the Majestrats in the Massachusets pceed against them according to what they shall fynd just: and the rest of the Jurisdiccóns will approue and concurr in what shalbe so warrantably donn, as if their Comissioners had beene p'sent at the Conclusions Prouided that this conclusion do not prejudice the Goûment of Plymouth in any Right they can justly clayme vnto any tract or tracts of land besides that possessed by the English Indians who haue submitted themselues to the Goûment of the Massachusetts. *In regard of the diûsitie of expressions wch are may be used in the Comissions comeing from the seûall Jurisdiccóns weh may occation disputs, It is thought fitt and ordered that this ensuing forme bee hereafter used by all the Confederates. of At a geñall Court holden at for the Jurisdiccón 1643. September. *19 A. and B. were chosen Comissioners for this Jurisdiccón for a full and The forme of ye Commission compleat yeare as any occation or exigents may require and pticulerly for the to be used. next yearely meeting at the first Thursday in September And were invested wth full power and authoryty to treate of conclude of all thinges according to the tenure true meaneing of the Articles of Confedacon for the vnited Colonies of New England concluded at Boston the xixth of May 1643. Vpon informacón and complaynt made by Mr Eaton and Mr Gregson to the Comissioners of sondry injuries and outrages they haue receiued both from the Dutch and Sweads both at Delaware Bay and elswhere the pticulers wth their proofes being duly considered. It was agreed and ordered That a tre be written to the Sweadish Goûnor expressing the pticulers and requireing satisfaction wch tre is to be vnderwritten by John Winthrop Esq as Goûn of the Massachusetts and President of the Comissioners for the vnited Colonies of New England. And whereas the Dutch Goûnor wrote to the Goûnor and geñall Court of the Massachusetts complayneing against Hartford as by his fre dated the xxth of July last appeares vnto wch M2 Winthrop in pt answered the second of August referring to the Geñall Court for the Massachusetts and to this meeting of the Comission's for a further full answere, It was thought fitt that in that answere the wrongs donn both to Hartford and New Hauen be expressed requireing answere to the pticulers: and pfessing that *as wee will not wrong others, so we may not desert our Confederates in any just cause. These foregoing conclusions were subscribed by the Comission's for JOHN WINTHROP Pres THO: DUDLEY GEOR: FENWICK THEOPH: EATON EDW: WINSLOW WM COLLIER EDWA: HOPKINS THO: GREGSON. *20 |