170

SIR EDMUND ANDROSS.

[1675. in Boston ten rooms each. The worst cottages had lofts. There were no beggars. Not three persons were put to death annually. There were no musicians by trade. A dancing-school had been set up, but was promptly put down. A fencingschool, however, was allowed. All cordage, sailcloth, and nets came from England. No cloth was made worth four shillings a yard; and no linen above 2s. 6d. "No alum, copperas, nor salt was made by their sun.

CHAPTER XXI.

A new Patent granted to the Duke of York, embracing the Territory of the Colony west of Connecticut River.-Sir Edmund Andross arrives as Governor of the Duke's Possessions. -Beginning of Philip's War.-Andross goes to Saybrook with Troops, and demands the Surrender of the Fort.-Manfully repelled by Captain Bull.

THE year 1675 brought new alarm and difficulty upon New-England, in which Connecticut had to endure her share. News arrived from England that the Duke of York, the king's brother, not satisfied with the territory assigned him by the commissioners, had received from his majesty a new patent, dated June 4th, 1674, embracing the same territory as the former. He immediately gave to a Major Andross a commission constituting him the governor of New-York, and all his territories in those parts. It is remarked of this man by Mr. Smith, in his history of New-York, that "he knew

no law but the will of his master; and Kirk and Jeffries were not fitter instruments than he to execute the despotic projects of James the Second." It may be presumed that Charles was well inclined to see the institutions and designs of the Pilgrims thwarted, or at least controlled; and the people of Connecticut were not disposed to submit to oppression, especially from that race of kings. Yet what could they do? The duke once more laid claim to the chief part of the colony, viz., from New-York to the western bank of the Connecticut River; and Andross was preparing to bring it under his authority. As the master had set at naught all reason in instituting such pretensions, what justice or moderation was to be expected from the servant, especially as he had all the common motives of bad men to counteract the designs of the good? In case of opposition, the colony had nothing better to expect from him than an invasion.

But by this time things were in preparation for the most terrible Indian war that New-England ever knew. It will be remembered that Massa. soit, sachem of a Narraganset tribe, befriended the Plymouth and Massachusetts settlers from the first, and remained their faithful ally till his death. His two sons, Alexander and Philip (as they were named by the English), had sworn attachment to them but the latter possessed a spirit of enmity to the white intruders, as the disaffected Indians regarded them; and it was now discovered that he had been for some time plotting a sudden and general massacre in all the settlements. It is to be borne in mind that a party had, ere this, arisen among the Indians, to which the mass of the sav

172

MURDER OF SAUSAMAN.

[1675.

ages were greatly opposed. These were the Praying Indians, as they were called: that is, those who had been converted to Christianity through the exertions of Eliot, the Indian apostle, and his associ. ates. Most of these had been collected in settle. ments, about thirteen of which were placed in a line in advance of the older towns of Massachusetts colony. Eliot had successfully trained them to agriculture, and many of the religious, social, and civil habits of the English; and there was a fair prospect of their becoming a permanent, civil. ized, and Christian people. Already they had some magistrates of their own race; and enough had been done to prove that the Aborigines are as susceptible as any other men of speedy improvement by means of Christianity. These interesting people, however, had violent enemies among the pagan Indians, being regarded both as allies of the English and as deserters from themselves. They necessarily kept up some intercourse with each other; and this, in existing circumstances, tended to increase the enmity of the latter, who knew themselves to be worthy of suspicion.

One of the Christian Indians, named Sausaman, having become acquainted with the plots of the pagans, made them known to the English at Massachusetts. Philip employed some of his Wampanoags (of which tribe of the Narragansets he was the chief) to murder Sausaman; and, although his body was sunk in a pond under the ice, the murderers were found and executed. This probably hastened the breaking out of the insurrection. On the 20th of June Swanzey was attacked, and afterward other towns were assaulted, numbers of people were

killed, and other tribes in different parts of NewEngland showed signs of hostility. Troops were sent into Philip's country (near Bristol, R. I.): but he had hastily fled, burning and murdering on his way.

Governor Winthrop was at this time attending a meeting of the commissioners at Boston; and the council sent troops to Stonington, to defend the neighbourhood from the Indians.

Just then it was ascertained that another enemy was about to assail Connecticut from a different quarter for Andross was reported to be coming down the Sound with armed ships, to enforce his authority, and occupy the territory which he claim. ed for the duke. Detachments of militia were hurried to Saybrook and New-London: the former under the command of Captain Thomas Bull, of Hartford, a man of undaunted spirit. Before he reached his place of destination, the people of Saybrook, on the eighth or ninth of July, descried the squadron of Andross; and, having ascertained his hostile designs, after a little hesitation, in consequence of having received neither orders nor warning, they began to make active preparations for defence. At this moment the intrepid Captain Bull arrived with his men. For some reason, Andross delayed until the 11th, and then brought up several armed sloops before the fort, and ordered the people to surrender both it and the town. This, however, Captain Bull refused to obey; and, displaying the king's flag, he paraded his men, and stood ready for action. Andross quietly maintained his position until the next day.

On the 9th the Assembly had met at Hartford;

174

CAPT. BULL REPELS ANDROSS. [1675.

and they drew up a protest against Andross, say. ing that, at that juncture, when the Indians were devastating and murdering in Plymouth colony, and threatening the others, in faithfulness to his majesty, and in obedience to his commands in their charter, they could do no less than protest against him and his abettors as disturbers of the commonwealth. They warned "the said Major Andross" to beware, as they should lay to his charge all the blood that might be shed by him and by the savages encouraged by him; and required the people to aid in resisting him, as they should answer the contrary at their peril. They concluded with the usual words, "God save the King." This protest was sent by express to Captain Bull, with orders to propose to Andross a reference of the dispute to commissioners.

When the messenger reached Saybrook, he found the English major about to land with his officers, having received permission to do so. Captain Bull proposed a reference as he was directed: but this was refused; and Andross ordered the Duke of York's patent to be read, as well as his own commission. The captain commanded him to desist, in the name of the king; and, seeing that he was disposed to proceed, repeated his order with such a resolute air that it was obeyed. The cap. tain then read to him the Assembly's protest. An. dross, addressing himself to the captain, inquired his name.

"My name is Bull, sir," replied the captain. "Bull!" said he: "it is a pity your horns are not tipped with silver." If by this expression he meant to convey the idea that the captain might have been