Preparing To meet The Enemy By Robert Griffing.
THE TWENTIETH REMOVE
It was their usual manner to remove, when
they had done any mischief, lest they should be found out; and so they did at
this time. We went about three or four miles, and there they built a great
wigwam, big enough to hold an hundred Indians, which they did in preparation to
a great day of dancing. They would say now amongst themselves, that the
governor would be so angry for his loss at Sudbury, that he would send no more
about the captives, which made me grieve and tremble. My sister being not far
from the place where we now were, and hearing that I was here, desired her
master to let her come and see me, and he was willing to it, and would go with
her; but she being ready before him, told him she would go before, and was come
within a mile or two of the place. Then he overtook her, and began to rant as
if he had been mad, and made her go back again in the rain; so that I never saw
her till I saw her in Charlestown. But the Lord requited many of their ill
doings, for this Indian her master, was hanged afterward at Boston. The Indians
now began to come from all quarters, against their merry dancing day. Among
some of them came one goodwife Kettle. I told her my heart was so heavy that it
was ready to break. "So is mine too," said she, but yet said, "I
hope we shall hear some good news shortly." I could hear how earnestly my
sister desired to see me, and I as earnestly desired to see her; and yet
neither of us could get an opportunity. My daughter was also now about a mile
off, and I had not seen her in nine or ten weeks, as I had not seen my sister
since our first taking. I earnestly desired them to let me go and see them: yea,
I entreated, begged, and persuaded them, but to let me see my daughter; and yet
so hard-hearted were they, that they would not suffer it. They made use of
their tyrannical power whilst they had it; but through the Lord's wonderful
mercy, their time was now but short.
On a Sabbath day, the sun being about an
hour high in the afternoon, came Mr. John Hoar (the council permitting him, and
his own foreward spirit inclining him), together with the two forementioned
Indians, Tom and Peter, with their third letter from the council. When they
came near, I was abroad. Though I saw them not, they presently called me in,
and bade me sit down and not stir. Then they catched up their guns, and away
they ran, as if an enemy had been at hand, and the guns went off apace. I
manifested some great trouble, and they asked me what was the matter? I told
them I thought they had killed the Englishman (for they had in the meantime
informed me that an Englishman was come). They said, no. They shot over his
horse and under and before his horse, and they pushed him this way and that
way, at their pleasure, showing what they could do. Then they let them come to
their wigwams. I begged of them to let me see the Englishman, but they would
not. But there was I fain to sit their pleasure. When they had talked their
fill with him, they suffered me to go to him. We asked each other of our
welfare, and how my husband did, and all my friends? He told me they were all
well, and would be glad to see me. Amongst other things which my husband sent
me, there came a pound of tobacco, which I sold for nine shillings in money;
for many of the Indians for want of tobacco, smoked hemlock, and ground ivy. It
was a great mistake in any, who thought I sent for tobacco; for through the
favor of God, that desire was overcome. I now asked them whether I should go
home with Mr. Hoar? They answered no, one and another of them, and it being
night, we lay down with that answer. In the morning Mr. Hoar invited the
Sagamores to dinner; but when we went to get it ready we found that they had
stolen the greatest part of the provision Mr. Hoar had brought, out of his
bags, in the night. And we may see the wonderful power of God, in that one
passage, in that when there was such a great number of the Indians together, and
so greedy of a little good food, and no English there but Mr. Hoar and myself,
that there they did not knock us in the head, and take what we had, there being
not only some provision, but also trading-cloth, a part of the twenty pounds
agreed upon. But instead of doing us any mischief, they seemed to be ashamed of
the fact, and said, it were some matchit Indian that did it. Oh, that we could
believe that there is nothing too hard for God! God showed His power over the
heathen in this, as He did over the hungry lions when Daniel was cast into the
den. Mr. Hoar called them betime to dinner, but they ate very little, they
being so busy in dressing themselves, and getting ready for their dance, which
was carried on by eight of them, four men and four squaws. My master and
mistress being two. He was dressed in his holland shirt, with great laces sewed
at the tail of it; he had his silver buttons, his white stockings, his garters
were hung round with shillings, and he had girdles of wampum upon his head and
shoulders. She had a kersey coat, and covered with girdles of wampum from the
loins upward. Her arms from her elbows to her hands were covered with
bracelets; there were handfuls of necklaces about her neck, and several sorts
of jewels in her ears. She had fine red stockings, and white shoes, her hair
powdered and face painted red, that was always before black. And all the
dancers were after the same manner. There were two others singing and knocking
on a kettle for their music. They kept hopping up and down one after another,
with a kettle of water in the midst, standing warm upon some embers, to drink
of when they were dry. They held on till it was almost night, throwing out
wampum to the standers by. At night I asked them again, if I should go home?
They all as one said no, except my husband would come for me. When we were lain
down, my master went out of the wigwam, and by and by sent in an Indian called
James the Printer, who told Mr. Hoar, that my master would let me go home
tomorrow, if he would let him have one pint of liquors. Then Mr. Hoar called
his own Indians, Tom and Peter, and bid them go and see whether he would
promise it before them three; and if he would, he should have it; which he did,
and he had it. Then Philip smelling the business called me to him, and asked me
what I would give him, to tell me some good news, and speak a good word for me.
I told him I could not tell what to give him. I would [give him] anything I
had, and asked him what he would have? He said two coats and twenty shillings in
money, and half a bushel of seed corn, and some tobacco. I thanked him for his
love; but I knew the good news as well as the crafty fox. My master after he
had had his drink, quickly came ranting into the wigwam again, and called for
Mr. Hoar, drinking to him, and saying, he was a good man, and then again he
would say, "hang him rogue." Being almost drunk, he would drink to
him, and yet presently say he should be hanged. Then he called for me. I
trembled to hear him, yet I was fain to go to him, and he drank to me, showing
no incivility. He was the first Indian I saw drunk all the while that I was
amongst them. At last his squaw ran out, and he after her, round the wigwam,
with his money jingling at his knees. But she escaped him. But having an old
squaw he ran to her; and so through the Lord's mercy, we were no more troubled
that night. Yet I had not a comfortable night's rest; for I think I can say, I
did not sleep for three nights together. The night before the letter came from
the council, I could not rest, I was so full of fears and troubles, God many
times leaving us most in the dark, when deliverance is nearest. Yea, at this
time I could not rest night nor day. The next night I was overjoyed, Mr. Hoar
being come, and that with such good tidings. The third night I was even
swallowed up with the thoughts of things, viz. that ever I should go home
again; and that I must go, leaving my children behind me in the wilderness; so
that sleep was now almost departed from mine eyes.
On Tuesday morning they called their
general court (as they call it) to consult and determine, whether I should go
home or no. And they all as one man did seemingly consent to it, that I should
go home; except Philip, who would not come among them.
But before I go any further, I would take
leave to mention a few remarkable passages of providence, which I took special
notice of in my afflicted time.
1. Of the fair opportunity lost in the
long march, a little after the fort fight, when our English army was so
numerous, and in pursuit of the enemy, and so near as to take several and
destroy them, and the enemy in such distress for food that our men might track
them by their rooting in the earth for ground nuts, whilst they were flying for
their lives. I say, that then our army should want provision, and be forced to
leave their pursuit and return homeward; and the very next week the enemy came
upon our town, like bears bereft of their whelps, or so many ravenous wolves,
rending us and our lambs to death. But what shall I say? God seemed to leave
his People to themselves, and order all things for His own holy ends. Shall
there be evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it? They are not grieved
for the affliction of Joseph, therefore shall they go captive, with the first
that go captive. It is the Lord's doing, and it should be marvelous in our
eyes.
2. I cannot but remember how the Indians
derided the slowness, and dullness of the English army, in its setting out. For
after the desolations at Lancaster and Medfield, as I went along with them,
they asked me when I thought the English army would come after them? I told
them I could not tell. "It may be they will come in May," said they.
Thus did they scoff at us, as if the English would be a quarter of a year
getting ready.
3. Which also I have hinted before, when
the English army with new supplies were sent forth to pursue after the enemy,
and they understanding it, fled before them till they came to Banquang river,
where they forthwith went over safely; that that river should be impassable to
the English. I can but admire to see the wonderful providence of God in
preserving the heathen for further affliction to our poor country. They could
go in great numbers over, but the English must stop. God had an over-ruling
hand in all those things.
4. It was thought, if their corn were cut
down, they would starve and die with hunger, and all their corn that could be
found, was destroyed, and they driven from that little they had in store, into
the woods in the midst of winter; and yet how to admiration did the Lord
preserve them for His holy ends, and the destruction of many still amongst the
English! strangely did the Lord provide for them; that I did not see (all the
time I was among them) one man, woman, or child, die with hunger.
Though many times they would eat that,
that a hog or a dog would hardly touch; yet by that God strengthened them to be
a scourge to His people.
The chief and commonest food was ground
nuts. They eat also nuts and acorns, artichokes, lilly roots, ground beans, and
several other weeds and roots, that I know not.
They would pick up old bones, and cut them
to pieces at the joints, and if they were full of worms and maggots, they would
scald them over the fire to make the vermine come out, and then boil them, and
drink up the liquor, and then beat the great ends of them in a mortar, and so
eat them. They would eat horse's guts, and ears, and all sorts of wild birds
which they could catch; also bear, venison, beaver, tortoise, frogs, squirrels,
dogs, skunks, rattlesnakes; yea, the very bark of trees; besides all sorts of
creatures, and provision which they plundered from the English. I can but stand
in admiration to see the wonderful power of God in providing for such a vast
number of our enemies in the wilderness, where there was nothing to be seen,
but from hand to mouth. Many times in a morning, the generality of them would
eat up all they had, and yet have some further supply against they wanted. It
is said, "Oh, that my People had hearkened to me, and Israel had walked in
my ways, I should soon have subdued their Enemies, and turned my hand against
their Adversaries" (Psalm 81.13-14). But now our perverse and evil
carriages in the sight of the Lord, have so offended Him, that instead of
turning His hand against them, the Lord feeds and nourishes them up to be a
scourge to the whole land.
5. Another thing that I would observe is
the strange providence of God, in turning things about when the Indians was at
the highest, and the English at the lowest. I was with the enemy eleven weeks and
five days, and not one week passed without the fury of the enemy, and some
desolation by fire and sword upon one place or other. They mourned (with their
black faces) for their own losses, yet triumphed and rejoiced in their
inhumane, and many times devilish cruelty to the English. They would boast much
of their victories; saying that in two hours time they had destroyed such a
captain and his company at such a place; and boast how many towns they had
destroyed, and then scoff, and say they had done them a good turn to send them
to Heaven so soon. Again, they would say this summer that they would knock all
the rogues in the head, or drive them into the sea, or make them fly the
country; thinking surely, Agag-like, "The bitterness of Death is past."
Now the heathen begins to think all is their own, and the poor Christians'
hopes to fail (as to man) and now their eyes are more to God, and their hearts
sigh heaven-ward; and to say in good earnest, "Help Lord, or we
perish." When the Lord had brought His people to this, that they saw no
help in anything but Himself; then He takes the quarrel into His own hand; and
though they had made a pit, in their own imaginations, as deep as hell for the
Christians that summer, yet the Lord hurled themselves into it. And the Lord
had not so many ways before to preserve them, but now He hath as many to
destroy them.
But to return again to my going home,
where we may see a remarkable change of providence. At first they were all
against it, except my husband would come for me, but afterwards they assented
to it, and seemed much to rejoice in it; some asked me to send them some bread,
others some tobacco, others shaking me by the hand, offering me a hood and
scarfe to ride in; not one moving hand or tongue against it. Thus hath the Lord
answered my poor desire, and the many earnest requests of others put up unto
God for me. In my travels an Indian came to me and told me, if I were willing,
he and his squaw would run away, and go home along with me. I told him no: I
was not willing to run away, but desired to wait God's time, that I might go
home quietly, and without fear. And now God hath granted me my desire. O the
wonderful power of God that I have seen, and the experience that I have had. I
have been in the midst of those roaring lions, and savage bears, that feared
neither God, nor man, nor the devil, by night and day, alone and in company,
sleeping all sorts together, and yet not one of them ever offered me the least
abuse of unchastity to me, in word or action. Though some are ready to say I
speak it for my own credit; but I speak it in the presence of God, and to His
Glory. God's power is as great now, and as sufficient to save, as when He
preserved Daniel in the lion's den; or the three children in the fiery furnace.
I may well say as his Psalm 107.12 "Oh give thanks unto the Lord for he is
good, for his mercy endureth for ever." Let the redeemed of the Lord say
so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy, especially that I should
come away in the midst of so many hundreds of enemies quietly and peaceably,
and not a dog moving his tongue. So I took my leave of them, and in coming
along my heart melted into tears, more than all the while I was with them, and
I was almost swallowed up with the thoughts that ever I should go home again.
About the sun going down, Mr. Hoar, and myself, and the two Indians came to
Lancaster, and a solemn sight it was to me. There had I lived many comfortable
years amongst my relations and neighbors, and now not one Christian to be seen,
nor one house left standing. We went on to a farmhouse that was yet standing,
where we lay all night, and a comfortable lodging we had, though nothing but
straw to lie on. The Lord preserved us in safety that night, and raised us up
again in the morning, and carried us along, that before noon, we came to
Concord. Now was I full of joy, and yet not without sorrow; joy to see such a
lovely sight, so many Christians together, and some of them my neighbors. There
I met with my brother, and my brother-in-law, who asked me, if I knew where his
wife was? Poor heart! he had helped to bury her, and knew it not. She being
shot down by the house was partly burnt, so that those who were at Boston at
the desolation of the town, and came back afterward, and buried the dead, did
not know her. Yet I was not without sorrow, to think how many were looking and
longing, and my own children amongst the rest, to enjoy that deliverance that I
had now received, and I did not know whether ever I should see them again.
Being recruited with food and raiment we went to Boston that day, where I met
with my dear husband, but the thoughts of our dear children, one being dead,
and the other we could not tell where, abated our comfort each to other. I was
not before so much hemmed in with the merciless and cruel heathen, but now as
much with pitiful, tender-hearted and compassionate Christians. In that poor,
and distressed, and beggarly condition I was received in; I was kindly
entertained in several houses. So much love I received from several (some of
whom I knew, and others I knew not) that I am not capable to declare it. But
the Lord knows them all by name. The Lord reward them sevenfold into their
bosoms of His spirituals, for their temporals. The twenty pounds, the price of
my redemption, was raised by some Boston gentlemen, and Mrs. Usher, whose
bounty and religious charity, I would not forget to make mention of. Then Mr.
Thomas Shepard of Charlestown received us into his house, where we continued
eleven weeks; and a father and mother they were to us. And many more
tender-hearted friends we met with in that place. We were now in the midst of
love, yet not without much and frequent heaviness of heart for our poor
children, and other relations, who were still in affliction. The week
following, after my coming in, the governor and council sent forth to the
Indians again; and that not without success; for they brought in my sister, and
goodwife Kettle. Their not knowing where our children were was a sore trial to
us still, and yet we were not without secret hopes that we should see them
again. That which was dead lay heavier upon my spirit, than those which were
alive and amongst the heathen: thinking how it suffered with its wounds, and I
was no way able to relieve it; and how it was buried by the heathen in the
wilderness from among all Christians. We were hurried up and down in our
thoughts, sometime we should hear a report that they were gone this way, and
sometimes that; and that they were come in, in this place or that. We kept
inquiring and listening to hear concerning them, but no certain news as yet.
About this time the council had ordered a day of public thanksgiving. Though I
thought I had still cause of mourning, and being unsettled in our minds, we
thought we would ride toward the eastward, to see if we could hear anything
concerning our children. And as we were riding along (God is the wise disposer
of all things) between Ipswich and Rowley we met with Mr. William Hubbard, who
told us that our son Joseph was come in to Major Waldron's, and another with
him, which was my sister's son. I asked him how he knew it? He said the major
himself told him so. So along we went till we came to Newbury; and their
minister being absent, they desired my husband to preach the thanksgiving for
them; but he was not willing to stay there that night, but would go over to
Salisbury, to hear further, and come again in the morning, which he did, and
preached there that day. At night, when he had done, one came and told him that
his daughter was come in at Providence. Here was mercy on both hands. Now hath
God fulfilled that precious Scripture which was such a comfort to me in my
distressed condition. When my heart was ready to sink into the earth (my
children being gone, I could not tell whither) and my knees trembling under me,
and I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death; then the Lord
brought, and now has fulfilled that reviving word unto me: "Thus saith the
Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, for thy Work
shall be rewarded, saith the Lord, and they shall come again from the Land of
the Enemy." Now we were between them, the one on the east, and the other
on the west. Our son being nearest, we went to him first, to Portsmouth, where
we met with him, and with the Major also, who told us he had done what he
could, but could not redeem him under seven pounds, which the good people
thereabouts were pleased to pay. The Lord reward the major, and all the rest,
though unknown to me, for their labor of Love. My sister's son was redeemed for
four pounds, which the council gave order for the payment of. Having now
received one of our children, we hastened toward the other. Going back through
Newbury my husband preached there on the Sabbath day; for which they rewarded
him many fold.
On Monday we came to Charlestown, where we
heard that the governor of Rhode Island had sent over for our daughter, to take
care of her, being now within his jurisdiction; which should not pass without
our acknowledgments. But she being nearer Rehoboth than Rhode Island, Mr.
Newman went over, and took care of her and brought her to his own house. And
the goodness of God was admirable to us in our low estate, in that He raised up
passionate friends on every side to us, when we had nothing to recompense any for
their love. The Indians were now gone that way, that it was apprehended
dangerous to go to her. But the carts which carried provision to the English
army, being guarded, brought her with them to Dorchester, where we received her
safe. Blessed be the Lord for it, for great is His power, and He can do
whatsoever seemeth Him good. Her coming in was after this manner: she was
traveling one day with the Indians, with her basket at her back; the company of
Indians were got before her, and gone out of sight, all except one squaw; she
followed the squaw till night, and then both of them lay down, having nothing
over them but the heavens and under them but the earth. Thus she traveled three
days together, not knowing whither she was going; having nothing to eat or
drink but water, and green hirtle-berries. At last they came into Providence,
where she was kindly entertained by several of that town. The Indians often
said that I should never have her under twenty pounds. But now the Lord hath
brought her in upon free-cost, and given her to me the second time. The Lord
make us a blessing indeed, each to others. Now have I seen that Scripture also
fulfilled, "If any of thine be driven out to the outmost parts of heaven,
from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch
thee. And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on
them which hate thee, which persecuted thee" (Deuteronomy 30.4-7). Thus
hath the Lord brought me and mine out of that horrible pit, and hath set us in
the midst of tender-hearted and compassionate Christians. It is the desire of
my soul that we may walk worthy of the mercies received, and which we are
receiving.
Our family being now gathered together
(those of us that were living), the South Church in Boston hired an house for
us. Then we removed from Mr. Shepard's, those cordial friends, and went to
Boston, where we continued about three-quarters of a year. Still the Lord went
along with us, and provided graciously for us. I thought it somewhat strange to
set up house-keeping with bare walls; but as Solomon says, "Money answers
all things" and that we had through the benevolence of Christian friends,
some in this town, and some in that, and others; and some from England; that in
a little time we might look, and see the house furnished with love. The Lord
hath been exceeding good to us in our low estate, in that when we had neither
house nor home, nor other necessaries, the Lord so moved the hearts of these
and those towards us, that we wanted neither food, nor raiment for ourselves or
ours: "There is a Friend which sticketh closer than a Brother"
(Proverbs 18.24). And how many such friends have we found, and now living
amongst? And truly such a friend have we found him to be unto us, in whose house
we lived, viz. Mr. James Whitcomb, a friend unto us near hand, and afar off.
I can remember the time when I used to
sleep quietly without workings in my thoughts, whole nights together, but now
it is other ways with me. When all are fast about me, and no eye open, but His
who ever waketh, my thoughts are upon things past, upon the awful dispensation
of the Lord towards us, upon His wonderful power and might, in carrying of us
through so many difficulties, in returning us in safety, and suffering none to
hurt us. I remember in the night season, how the other day I was in the midst
of thousands of enemies, and nothing but death before me. It is then hard work
to persuade myself, that ever I should be satisfied with bread again. But now
we are fed with the finest of the wheat, and, as I may say, with honey out of
the rock. Instead of the husk, we have the fatted calf. The thoughts of these
things in the particulars of them, and of the love and goodness of God towards
us, make it true of me, what David said of himself, "I watered my Couch
with my tears" (Psalm 6.6). Oh! the wonderful power of God that mine eyes
have seen, affording matter enough for my thoughts to run in, that when others
are sleeping mine eyes are weeping.
I have seen the extreme vanity of this
world: One hour I have been in health, and wealthy, wanting nothing. But the
next hour in sickness and wounds, and death, having nothing but sorrow and
affliction.
Before I knew what affliction meant, I was
ready sometimes to wish for it. When I lived in prosperity, having the comforts
of the world about me, my relations by me, my heart cheerful, and taking little
care for anything, and yet seeing many, whom I preferred before myself, under
many trials and afflictions, in sickness, weakness, poverty, losses, crosses,
and cares of the world, I should be sometimes jealous least I should have my
portion in this life, and that Scripture would come to my mind, "For whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth"
(Hebrews 12.6). But now I see the Lord had His time to scourge and chasten me.
The portion of some is to have their afflictions by drops, now one drop and
then another; but the dregs of the cup, the wine of astonishment, like a
sweeping rain that leaveth no food, did the Lord prepare to be my portion.
Affliction I wanted, and affliction I had, full measure (I thought), pressed
down and running over. Yet I see, when God calls a person to anything, and
through never so many difficulties, yet He is fully able to carry them through
and make them see, and say they have been gainers thereby. And I hope I can say
in some measure, as David did, "It is good for me that I have been
afflicted." The Lord hath showed me the vanity of these outward things.
That they are the vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit, that they are but
a shadow, a blast, a bubble, and things of no continuance. That we must rely on
God Himself, and our whole dependance must be upon Him. If trouble from smaller
matters begin to arise in me, I have something at hand to check myself with,
and say, why am I troubled? It was but the other day that if I had had the
world, I would have given it for my freedom, or to have been a servant to a
Christian. I have learned to look beyond present and smaller troubles, and to
be quieted under them. As Moses said, "Stand still and see the salvation
of the Lord" (Exodus 14.13).
Finis.
