Classic Poem

Anno Dom. 1662.

When he Obtained for the Colony of Connecticut His Majesty's Gracious Charter.

The English Settlements when thus begun,
Were blest and prospered in their carrying on.
Churches Embody, Heaven they address,
For Preservation in the Wilderness.
The Heathen they Invite unto the Lord,
And teach them the good Knowledge of his word.
Heav'n heard their Pray'rs & their labour Crown'd,
With Health & Peace with all their Nei'bors round.

Thus all Succeeded well until the Sun,
Had near one time his Annual Circle run,
When Great Sasacus rose in Impious Arms,
And fill'd the Land with Mischiefs and Alarms.

But since I've mention'd Great Sasacus Name,
That Day so much a Terrour where it came:
Let me in Prosecuting of my Story,
Say something of his Pride and Kingdoms Glory.
Of the brave Pequot Nation he was Head,
And with such Conduct had their Armies led,
That by the Power of his Martial Bands,
He had Subjected all the Neigbouring Lands.
Upon the Vanquish'd he would Exercise
The most Inhumane Acts of Cruelties.
By which, and by his often Victories,
He grew so dreadful to his Enemies
That weaponless they fell before his Feet,
For Pardon and Protection to Intreat.

Great was his Glory, greater still his Pride,
Much by himself and others Magnify'd.

He hears the English in the Eastern Parts,
Are of such Stoutness and Resolved Hearts,
That they will do no Homage to the Throne
Of any Sov'reign Prince, except their own.
This suiteth not with his Ambitious Breast,
He'll have their Homage too amongst the rest.
And Such of them as fall within his Power,
He like an Hungry Lion doth Devour.

He Norton , Stone , and Oldham , doth Surprise,
Then Murthers them and all their Companies;
Seiseth their Goods, and them for Presents sends,
At once to Comfort and Confirm his Friends.

Their Death's the Massachusetts doth Resent,
And Endicott is with an Army sent;
Who tho' he Wisely did the War Pursue,
And did what a brave General could do:
Yet he return'd again without Success,
And Pequots kept Insulting Ne'rtheless.
So Great a Work, and Mighty was it found
To fix Your English on that distant Ground.

Mean while the English of that Colony,
On whose account I'm here in Agency,
Entred the River and Possess'd the same,
Paying no Defference to his dreadful Name.

This high affront the Tyrant deep Resents,
And Vows to Ruinate their Settlements.
His Priests, his Captains, and Great Men of War.
He calleth to Consult on this Affair,
Who being met, the Case to them Relates,
And thus the Wretch on us Recriminates.

My Noble Captains and Wise Counsellers,
You know how that of Old our Ancestors,
By their known Liberties and Ancient Laws,
Were well allow'd to Marry many Squaws.

Their way of Worship was to Dance and Sing,
By the Religious rules of Powawing ,
Their Gods always accepted their address,
And Crown'd their Arms with Glorious Success.
Then was the Pequot name Greatly Renown'd,
And terrible to Neighbouring Nations round.
These Rules and their Estate so prosperous,
They handed down unblemished to us:
And we have been as prosperous in our days,
In following their long approved ways.

But there's of men a most Audacious Brood,
Lately come hither from beyond the flood,
Who teach us other Doctrines to believe,
Than ever our Fore-fathers did receive.
These tell the Indians they have got no Eyes,
But as for they themselves are very Wise.

They Preach there is no other God but One,
Him whom your Fathers Worshipt, he is none.
Their way of Worship was a Cursed way,
They Serv'd the Devil in their Antick Play.
'Tis very like they now are all in Hell,
Where they in Fire & Brimstone Roar & Yell.
And you for following the steps they tread,
Are like enough so to be Punished.
Unless for what is past you soon Repent,
And turn you from those ways to full Intent.
You must not have so many handsome Wives,
That don't consist with Mortifyed lives.
And we allow no such Pluralities,
Therefore forsake them, pity not their Cryes.
The Sabbath you must keep, yea Fast and Pray,
And watch your Wicked hearts both Night & Day .
And when all this is done you must complain,
All stands for nothing till you'r Born again.

Now shall we all at once be rul'd by them,
And so our Fathers and our Gods Contemn?
Shall we at once forsake our pleasant Wives,
That so we may live Mortified lives?
Shall we yield them the Empire we command,
And humbly wait upon them Cap in hand?
Or shan't we rather curb them now betimes,
And make them feel the folly of their crimes?

Speak freely . On the Honour of a Prince,
I'll hear as freely and without Offence.

Then an old Panime rose to ease his breast,
And thus his deep resentments he Exprest;
Such Horrid words such sayings Blasphemous,
Comes from no Tongue but the most Impious.
All Nations yet have ever Honoured,
The sacred Name and Mem'ry of the dead.
No men till these dare ever yet despise,
And trample on Immortal Deities.
No Strangers yet; Till conquest gave them cause,
Dare once Prescribe to Native Princes Laws.
Which shews their Blasphemy and Insolence,
Is Great and doth Surpass all Presidents.
Our Laws, our Empire, and Religion too,
Are safely, Sir , deposited with you.
And you have kept them safely hitherto,
As 'tis your duty and your praise to do.
Suffer them not to keep Insulting thus,
Nor put such Impositions upon us.
But arm your Warriours, Let us try the odds,
'Twixt them and us, 'twixt theirs and our Gods.
For much I fear Impending Vengeance,
Will ruin us unless we drive them hence.

This said, One of his Chiefest Warriours rose,
And thus his Mind did to his Prince disclose;
If they are so Audacious while a few,
When grown a Multitude what will they Do?

Therefore 'tis my advice to Arm and Try,
The Quarrel with them in their Infancy.
Sure now if ever we may well Succeed,
Whilst Warlike Sasacus doth us Lead:
Whose very Name and Martial Policy,
Has always Gain'd us half the Victory.

To what he said they all agreed as one:
Now is the Trumpet of Defiance blown
War with the English Nation is Proclaim'd,
(Their Priests their Martial men greatly Enflam'd)

A Bloody Host is sent to Say-Brook Fort,
To Plunder, Kill, and cut the English short.
Where they Arriv'd and Diverse Murthered,
Then round the English Fort Beleaguered.

Another Army Cross the Land is sent,
With Fire and Sword to kill the Innocent.
At Wethersfield they lay an Ambuscade,
And a sad Slaughter of the People made.
Others they took and them in Captive Led,
Unto their Forts there to be Tortured.

Thus from our Peace most suddenly we are
Wrapt up in the Calamities of War.
So have I sometimes in the Summer seen,
The Sun ascending and the Skie serene.
Nor Wind nor Cloud in all the Hemisphere,
All things in such a perfect Calmness were.
At length a little Cloud doth up arise,
To which the nitrous sulphiry Vapour flys.
Soon a dark mantle over Heaven spread,
With which the Lamp of day was darkened.
And now the Clouds in tempest loud contend,
And rain and dreadful Lightning downward send.
With which such loud and mighty Thunders broke
As made Earth tremble & the Mountains smoke,
And the Convulsive world seem drawing on,
Apace to her own Dissolution
The awfulness of which amazing Sight,
Greatly did Earths Inhabitants affright.
Ev'n so those Halcyon days that were with us,
Were soon turn'd into Times Tempestuous.
Mischief on Mischief every day succeeds,
And Every Mischief Greater Mischief breeds
The Numerous Nations all the Country ore,
Who had appeared Friendly heretofore,
Seeing the Pequots had, the War begun,
And well Succeeded in their carrying on.
Calling to mind their former Victories,
The English Men grew Abject in their Eyes.
Some at the first the Pequot Armies joyn'd
And all the rest but of a Wavering mind.
Waiting but for an opportunity,
To Murther us by Force or Treachery.
No Confidence in any we repose,
Our seeming Friends we find our real Foes.
Fears never to behold the morning Light,
Encumbered our Natural rest each night.
Nor had we place of Refuge to Repair,
Only to the Most High in Heaven by Prayer,
To whom was offered up the Sacrifice,
Of Broken Hearts and Penitential Cryes.

A Council met at Hartford who Conclude,
We must Subdue the Foe, or be Subdued,
And that the Gangreen still would further stray,
'Till the Infected Limb be cut away.
And thereupon they Ordered and Decreed,
To raise our utmost Forces with all Speed.
This Resolution publisht and declar'd,
Ninety brave Combatants in Arms appear'd.
This was the Sum of all our Infantry,
Yet scarce a Tithe unto the Enemy.
But what they wanted in their Multitude,
'Twas hop'd their Resolution would make Good.

These were the Men, this was the little Band,
That durst the force of the new World withstand.
These were the men that by their Swords made way ,
For Peace and Safety in America .
And these are those whose Names fame hath Enrol'd ,
Fairly in brightest Characters of Gold.

The Army now drawn up. To be their Head
Our Valiant Mason was Commissioned.
(Whose Name is never mentioned by me,
Without a special Note of Dignity.)

The Leader March't them to the River side,
There to Embark his Army on the side;
Where lay our little Fleet to Wait upon
Our Army for their Transportation
(Going on board Oraculous Hooker said,
Fear not the Foe, they shall become your Bread.)

'Twas here that Uncass did the Army Meet,
With many stout Mohegans at his Feet.
He to the General goes, and doth Declare,
He came for our Assistance in the War.

He was that Saggamore whom great Sasacus's rage
Had hitherto kept under Vassalage.
But weary of his great Severity.
He now Revolts, and to the English fly.
With Chearful Air our Captain him Embraces,
And him and his Chief Men with Titles Graces;
But over them Preserv'd a Jealous Eye,
Lest all this might be done in Treachery.

Then down the River with their Fleet they stood
But stranding often on the Flats and Mud.
Uncass Impatient of such long delays,
Stood forth and freely to the General says,
Suffer me and my Men to go on shore,
We are not us'd to Shipping, Sails and Oar.
I'l Range the Woods to find the Enemy,
Where they in their close Ambushments may lie.
And unto you at Say-Brook will repair
And so attend your further Orders there.

Consented to, they Land Immediately,
And Marching down soon met the Enemy:
And Showers of Arrows on them he bestows,
Swifter than ever flew from Parthian Bows.

At length the Pequots left the Field and Fled,
There Leaving many of their Fellows Dead.

The News of this our Forces greatly Chears,
And turn'd to Confidence our Jealous Fears.
Coming to Say-Brook, Uncass on them Waits,
Whose good Success our Men Congratulates.

Here Captain Underhill with our Army join'd
And being favoured with a Lucky Wind,
All hast on Board, and soon forsake the Shoar;
With the rough Winds, both Sails & Tackle roar.
Their Oaken Oars, they in the Ocean steep,
And Cuff the foaming Billows of the Deep.
Swiftly thro' Tides & threatning Waves they scud,
Plowing the pavement of the briny Flood:
So fetch't about a Compass on the Sea,
And Landed in the Narraghansetts -Bay
And marching thro' that Country soon they met,
The Narraghansett Prince, proud Ninegrett .

To whom the English says, We Lead these Bands,
Arm'd in this manner thus into your Lands,
Without design to do you Injury,
But only to Invade the Enemy,
You who to the Expence of so much blood,
Have long time born their evil Neighbourhood,
Will bid us welcom; and will well Excuse,
That we this way have took our Rendezvouze.

Quoth Ninegrett , Your War I well approve,
And so your March Souldiers I always Love:
But sure Sasacus is quite unknown to you,
Else had you never hoped with so few,
One of his smallest Captains to Suppress,
Much less to storm him in his Fortresses.
Never believe it: In these Castles are,
Brave Captains and Couragious men of War.
All men have found it so that yet have try'd.
To whom the English thus in short reply'd;
Their Strength & Courage doth not us affright,
'Tis with such men we use and chuse to Fight.
Our Army Marching unto Nayantick goes,
Lying just in our Progress towards the Foes.

The news of this our march Fame doth transport,
With speed to great Miaantinomohs Court.
Nor had that pensive King forgot the Losses,
He had sustain'd thro' Sasacus 's Forces.
Chear'd with the news, his Captains all as one,
In humble manner do address the Throne,
And press the King to give them his Commission
To join the English in this Expedition.
To their request the chearful King assents,
And now they fill and form their Regiments,
To War: a Co-hort which came marching down
To us who lay Encamp'd before the Town.

Their Chiefs go to our General, and declare
What's their Intention and whose men they are.
We come, say they, with heart and hand to join,
With English men upon this brave design;
For Pequots pride allows them no Content
Within the sphere of their own Government:
Without Essays to wrong their Brethren
And ravish Freedom from the Sons of men,
Which makes this work most needful to be done,
To stop their measureless Ambition.
But sure the War that you intend to make
And manage thus must come from your mistake.
Can these Un-arrowed White men, such a few,
So much as hope the Pequots to Subdue?
Yes hope you may while fatal Ignorance,
Keeps back the knowledge of their Puissance.
But if you come to be Engaged once,
You'l Learn more wit by sad Experience.
But happy you: who thus your selves Expose,
To be the Prey and Triumph of your Foes.
Thrice happy you to be preserved thus,
From your Destruction and such Deaths by us:
And since our Numbers and our Feathers show,
Us men, as well & better men than you,
We hope it will offend not you nor yours,
The chiefest Post of Honour should be ours.

Mason Harrangues them with high Compliment ,
And to confirm them he to them Consents.
Hold on bold Men, says he as you've began:
I'm Free and Easie, you shall take the Van.

And in this order Marching on they went
Towards the Enemy till the day was Spent.
And now Bright Phaebus had his Chariot driven,
Down from the Lofty Battlements of Heaven,
And weary put his tired steeds to rest,
Chearing himself on blushing Thetis breast.
But lest the horrid Darkness of the Night,
Should quite Eclipse the Glory of his light:
Fair Cynthia towering up did well Embrace,
Her Brothers light into her Orbed face.

The Indians still kept up their boasted flame,
Till near the Enemies Fortresses they came.

But as we always by Experience find,
Frost bitten Leaves will not abide the wind.
Hang Trembling on the limbs a while they may,
But when once Boreas roars they fly away,
To hide themselves in the deep Vales below,
And to his force leave the exposed bough.

So these who had so often to their harms,
Felt the great power of Sasacus 's Arms,
And now again just to Endure the same,
The dreadful sound of great Sasacus 's Name,
Seem'd every Moment to attack their Ears
And fill'd them with such heart amazing fears,
That suddenly they run and seek to hide,
Swifter than Leaves in the Autumnal Tide.
The Narrhagansetts quite the Service Clear,
But the Mohegan followed in the Rear.

Our Men perceives the Allies all are gone,
And scarce a Pilot left to lead them on:
Caused an Alta , and then from the Rear,
Summons's such Indians as were there.
At last after long waiting for the same,
Up Trusty Uncass and Stout Wequash came,
Of whom the General in strict Terms demands,
Where stands the Fort , & how their Judgment stands,
About the Enter-prise? And what's the Cause,
They left their Post against all Martial Laws?

To which we had this Answer from a Prince,
The Enemies Fort stands on yond Eminence;
Whose steep Ascent is now before your Eyes:
And for my Judgment in the enterprize,
Fain would my willing Heart hope for Success,
Fain would my eager Tongue such hopes express.
But Knowledge of the Foe such hope deny's,
And Sinks my Heart in deep Despondencies.
You cannot know the Danger of your case,
Not having yet beheld a Pequots Face.
But sad Experience hath Instructed me,
How Dreadful and Invincible they be,
What mighty Battles often have they won,
And cut down Armies like the Grass that's Mown.
And my Heart rues this day because I fear,
Those Lions will your Lambs in pieces tear.
When once they are Engag'd, 'tis hard to get,
A Dispensation from them to Retreat.

Sir , Be Advis'd before it be too late,
Trust not too far your Evil-boding Fate,
Great pity tis to lose so brave an Host;
And more that such a General should be lost.
Then steer another course: thrust not your selves
To certain ruin on these dangerous shelves:

Here stop't, and on the English fix'd his Eye,
With care Expecting what they would reply.
Brave Mason who had in his breast Enshrin'd,
A Prudent and Invulnerable mind;
Weighing the case & ground whereon they stood,
The Enemy how hard to be subdu'd:
How if the Field should by the Foe be won,
The English Settlements might be Undone.
His little Army now was left alone,
And all the Allies Hopes and Hearts were gone.
These and all other things that might Disswade,
From an Engagement having fully weigh'd:
But looking on his Chearful Soldiery,
True Sons of Mars , bred up in Brittanny ;
Each firmly bent to Glorify his Name
By Dying bravely in the Bed of Fame,
In his New Countrys Just Defence, or else
To Extirpate these Murtherous Infidels;
This rais'd his Tho'ts his Vital Spirits Clear'd,
So that no Enemy on Earth he Fear'd.
And now resolv'd the City to Invade;
He to the tho'tful Prince this Answer made;

You say, My Men han't yet a Pequot seen;
'Tis true, yet they e're now in Wars have been,
Where mighty Captains & brave Men have shed,
Their Blood, while roaring Canons Ecchoed,
Yet they Undaunted Resolute go on
Where dying springs make Sanguine Rivers run.
Out-braving Danger mount the highest Wall,
Yea Play with Death it self without appal;
Nor turn the Back till they have won the Day,
And from the mighty torn the Spoils away;
And do you think that any Pequots face
Shall daunt us much, or alter much the case?
The Valour of our Foes we always prize,
As that which most our Triumph Glorifies.
Their Strength & Courage but allurements are,
To make us more Ambitious of the War.
Then don't Despair, but turn you back again
Encourag'd, & Confirm your Heartless Men,
And hinder them in their Intended Flight;
Only to see how English Men will Fight,
And let your Eyes themselves be Judges then
'Twixt Us & Pequots , which are better Men.

Down bow'd the Prince, down bow'd this trembling 'Squire;
Greatly the Gen'rals Courage they Admire.
Back to the Rear, with speedy hast they went,
And call the Captains of their Regiment;
To whom the Prince doth in short terms declare ,
English or Pequots must go hunt white Deer.
No Counsel can the General's wrath asswage,
Nor calm the fury of his Martial rage.
His men are all resolved to go on,
Unto the Pequots Ruin, or their own:
Then we our selves will stand in sight and see
The last Conclusion of this Tragedie.
Mean while the General his Oration makes,
And with his Army thus Expostulates;

There's such a Crisis now in Providence,
As scarce has been since time did first Commence,
Fate has determin'd that this very Day,
Shall try the Title of America :
And that these hands of ours shall be the hands,
That shall subdue or forfeit all these Lands.
If this days work by us be once well done,
America is for the English won:
But if we faint and fail in this design,
The numerous Nations will as one combine
Their Countries Forces and with Violence
Destroy the English and their Settlements.

Here we are Strangers, and if we are beat,
We have no Place for Safety or Retreat.
Therefore our Hands must be Preservatives,
Of our Religion, Liberties and Lives.
I urge not this as Motives from Despair,
To which I know you utter Strangers are.
Only to shew what great Advantages,
Attends your Valour urging the Success.
Mov'd with Despair the coward Fights & Storms,
But your brave Minds have more Angelick forms
Your high born Souls in Brighter orbs do move
And take in fair Ideas from Above.
Minding the Laurels that the Victor wears,
And great Example of your Ancestors.
I know you can't their Mighty acts forget,
And yet how often did they them repeat?
What did that ever famous Black Prince do,
At first at Cressey , after at Poictou ?
Bravely he led the English Squadrons on,
Bravely they Fought till they had took King John .
Bravely he did his Fathers Message bear,
To save his Life and Honour in the War.
For in that Fight he rais'd the English Fame,
Above the Grecian or the Roman Name.
And with what Force and Martial Puissance
Did great King Henry claim the Crown of France
He like a Gamester play'd his tennis Balls,
Like Bolts of Thunder over Paris Walls.
How Lion-like he led his British Bands,
Tho' few in number through the Gallick Lands
To Agin-Court , then Fac'd his mighty Foe,
And gave his Multitude the Overthrow;
Where e're his Generals came they did Advance
The English Ensigns on the Towers of France :
Until that Nation rendered up to him
Their Heiress and Imperial Diadem.
And when of late King Philip did Attempt,
Quite to Subvert the British Government;
And for that end sent out his mighty Fleet,
Whom Howards, Seymore , & bold Drake did meet,
And meeting took or sunk into the main
The wealth , the hope , the power & pride of Spain .
By such Exploits, the English Glory went
Throughout from Britain to the Orient :
And there too soon 'twas bounded by the Seas
And limited from the Antipodies .
Nought of their worth in the new world was told,
Nor more could be expressed in the Old.
Then Fame it self dull and inactive grew
For want of other Business to Pursue.
But Fate which long hath Destinated you,
To prove the Stories of th' old World i'th' New ,
Shipt you on Board & with full gales hath sent
You forth from Britain to this Continent;
And by this Foe gives Opportunity
Here to evince the English Bravery.
And give the World Assurance that we be,
Sons of those mighty Men of Britannie .
'Tis true, our Enemies are hard to tame,
The more the Danger is the more's the Fame,
But they are Strong, Immur'd, a Multitude:
The more's the Honour when they are Subdu'd.
But they are Valiant, us'd to overthrow,
What Glory 'tis to Conquer such a Foe?
Their very Name hath made our Allies run,
Oh how will this adorn the Field when won!

Leave the Success to Him whose boundless Powers
Will doubtless bless so just a War as ours.
Then let's not give the sence of Danger place,
But Storm the Enemies Fortress in the face.
So shall the Line of your high Praises run
The same in time and Circle with the Sun:
And Happy Albion shall for ever Glory,
Her distant Sons did here make good her Story.

No more he said, then thro' the Regiment
Was heard a softly Murmur of Consent.