The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion - Deliverance of John Williams

Imprimatur, J. Dudley.

THE Redeemed Captive, Returning TO ZION.

THE History I am going to Write, proves, That Days of Fasting & Prayer without REFORMATION, will not avail, to Turn away the Anger of God from a Professing People; & yet Witnesseth, How very advantageous, gracious Supplications are, to prepare particular Christians, Patiently to suffer the Will of God, in very trying Public Calamities. For some of us moved with fear, set apart, a day of Prayer, to ask of God, either to spare, and save us from the hands of our Enemies, or to prepare us to Sanctify, and Honor Him in what way soever, He should come forth, towards us. The Places of Scripture from whence we were entertained, were Gen. 32. 10, 11. I am not worthy of the least of all the Mercies, and of all the Truth which thou • ast shown unto thy servant 〈◊〉 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my Brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the Mother with the Children. [In the forenoon.] And Gen. 32. 26. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh: and he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. [In the afternoon.] From which we were called upon to spread the causes of fear, relating to our own Selves, or Families before God; as also, how it becomes us with an undeniable importunity to be following God, with earnest Prayers for His blessing, in every condition. And it is very Observable; how GOD ordered our Prayers, in a peculiar manner to be going up to Him; to prepare us with a right Christian Spirit, to undergo, and endure Suffering Trials.

Not long after, the Holy, and Righteous God, brought us under great Trials, as to our Persons and Families, which put us under a necessity, of spreading before Him in a Wilderness, the distressing dangers and calamities of our Relations; Yea, that called on us notwithstanding seeming present frowns, to resolve by His Grace not to be sent away without a blessing. Jacob in wrestling has the hollow of his Thigh put out of joint; and it is said to him, Let me go: yet he is rather animated, to an Heroical Christian resolution to continue earnest, for the blessing, than discouraged from asking.

ON the Twenty-ninth of February 1703, 4. Not long before break of day, the Enemy came in like a Flood upon us; our Watch being unfaithful▪ an evil whose awful effects, in a surprisal of our Fort, should bespeak all Watchmen to avoid, as they would not bring the charge of blood upon themselves. They came to my House in the beginning of the Onset, and by their violent endeavors to break open Doors, and Windows, with Axes, and Hatchets, Awaken'd me out of Sleep; on which I leapt out of bed, and running toward the door, perceived the Enemy making their entrance into the House: I called to awaken two Soldiers; in the Chamber; and returned towards my bedside, for my Arms: the Enemy immediately brake into the Room, I judge to the number of Twenty, with Painted Faces, and hideous Acclamations. I reached up my hands to the Bed-tester, for my Pistol, uttering a short Petition to God, For Everlasting Mercies for me & mine, on the account of the Merits of our Glorify'd Redeemer; Expecting a present passage through the Valley of the shadow of Death: Saying in myself, as Isaiah 38. 10, 11. I said, in the cutting off my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years. I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the Living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the World. Taking down my Pistol, I Cockt it, and put it to the breast of the first Indian who came up; but my Pistol missing fire, I was seized by Three Indians, who disarmed me, and bound me Naked, as I was in, my Shirt, and so I stood for near the space of an hour: binding me, they told me they would carry me to Quebeck. My Pistol missing fire, was an occasion of my Life's being preserved: Since which I have also found it profitable to be crossed in my own Will. The judgment of God did not long slumber▪ against one of the Three which took me, who was a Captain, for by Sun-rising he received a Mortal Shot▪ from my next Neighbors house; who opposed so great a number of French & Indians as Three hundred, and yet were no more than Seven men in an Ungarison'd house.

I cannot relate the distressing care I had for my dear Wife, who had lien-in but a few Weeks before, and for my poor Children, Family, and Christian Neighbors. The Enemy fell to riffling the house, and entered in great numbers into every room of the house. I begged of God, to Remember Mercy in the midst of Judgment: that He would so far restain their Wrath, as to prevent their Murdering of us: that we might have Grace to Glorify His Name, whether in Life or Death; and as I wa • able committed our State to God. The Enemies who entered the House were all of them Indians and Marqua's, insulted over me a while, holding up Hatchets over my head, threatening to burn all I had; but yet God beyond expectation made us in a great measure to be Pityed: for though' some were so cruel and barbarous as to take, & carry to the door, Two of my Children and Murder them, as also a Negro Woman; yet they gave me liberty to put on my Clothes, keeping me bound with a Cord on one arm, till I put on my Cloths to the other; and then changing my Cord, they let me dress myself, and then Pinioned me again. Gave liberty to my dear Wife to dress herself, & our Children. About Sun an hour high, we were all carried out of the house, for a March, and saw many of the Houses of my Neighbors in Flames, perceiving the whole Fort, one house excepted, to be taken. Who can tell, what Sorrows pierced our Souls, when we saw ourselves carried away from God's Sanctuary, to go into a strange Land, exposed to so many Trials? the journey being at least Three hundred Miles we were to Travel; the Snow up to the Knees, and we never inur'd to such hardships and fatigues▪ the place we were to be carried to, a Popish Country. Upon my parting from the Town they fired my House & Barn. We were carried over the River, to the foot of the Mountain, about a Mile from my House, where we found, a great number of our Christian Neighbors, Men, Women & Children, to the number of an hundred, Nineteen of which were afterward Murdered by the Way, and Two starved to Death, near Cowass, in a time of great Scarcity or Famine, the Salvages underwent there. When we came to the foot of our Mountain, they took away our Shoes, and gave us, in the room of them Indian-Shoes, to prepare us for our Travel. Whilst we were there the English beat out a Company, that remained in the Town, and pursued them to the River, Killing and Wounding many of them; but the body of the Army, being Alarm'd, they repulsed those few English that pursued them.

I am not able to give you an account of the number of the Enemy Slain, but I observed after this fight, no great insulting Mirth, as I expected; and saw many Wounded Persons, and for several days together they buried of their party, & one of chief Note among the Macqua's. The Governor of Canada, told me, his Army had that Success with the loss but of Eleven men, Three French-men, One of which was the Lieutenant of the Army, Five Macqua's, and Three Indians: but after my Arrival at Quebeck, I spake with an English man, who was taken the last War, and Married there, and of their Religion; who told me, they lost above Forty, and that many were Wounded: I replied the Governor of Canada said, they lost but Eleven men: He answered, 'tis true, That there were but Eleven killed out-right at the taking of the Fort, but that many others were Wounded, among whom was the Ensign of the French; but said he, they had a fight in the Meadow, and that in both Engagements, they lost more than Forty. Some of the Soldiers, both French and Indians then present told me so (said he) adding, That the French always endeavor, to conceal the number of their Slain.

After this, we went up the Mountain, and saw the smoke of the Fires in the Town, and beheld the awful desolations of our Town: And before we marched any farther, they killed a Sucking Child of the English. There were slain by the Enemy of the Inhabitants of our Town to the number of Thirty-eight, besides Nine of the Neighbouring Towns▪ We Travel'd not far the first day; God made the Heathen, so to Pity our Children, that though they had several Wounded Persons, of their own to carry, upon their Shoulders, for Thirty Miles, before they came to the River, yet they carried our Children, uncapable of Travelling, upon their Shoulders, and in their Arms. When we came to our Lodging place, the first Night, they dugg away the • now, and made some Wigwams, cut down some of the small branches of Spruce-trees to lie down on, and gave the Prisoners some-what to eat; but we had but little Appetite. I was Pinioned, and bound • own that Night, and so I was every Night whilst I was with the Army. Some of the Enemy who brought drink with them, from the Town, fell to Drinking, and in their Drunken fit, they killed my Negro man, the only dead Person, I either saw at the Town, or in the Way. In the Night an English Man made his escape: in the Morning I was called for, and ordered by the General to tell the English, That if anymore made their escape, they would burn the rest of the Prisoners. He that took me was unwilling to let me speak with any of the Prisoners, as we March'd; but on the Morning of the Second day, he being appointed to guard the Rear, I was put into the hands of my other Master, Who permitted me to speak to my Wife, when I overtook her, and to Walk with her to help her in her Journey. On the Way we discoursed of the happiness of them who had a right to an House not made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens; and God for a Father, and Friend; as also, That it was our reasonable Duty, quietly to submit, to the Will of God, and to say, The Will of the Lord be done. My Wife told me her strength of body began to fail, & that I must expect to part with her; Saying, She hoped God would preserve my Life, and the Life of some, if not of all of our Children, with us; and commended to me, under God, the care of them She never spake any discontented Word as to what had befall'n us, but with suitable expressions justified God, in what had befall'n us. We soon made an halt, in which time my chief Surviving Master came up, upon which I was put upon Marching with the foremost, and so made to take my last fare-well of my dear Wife, the desire of my Eyes, and companion in many Mercies and Afflictions. Upon our Separation from each other, we asked for each other, Grace sufficient, for what God should call us to: After our being parted from one another, she spent the few remaining Minutes of her stay, in Reading the Holy Scriptures; which she was wont Personally every day to delight her Soul in Reading, Praying, Meditating of, and over, by herself, in her Closet, over and above what she heard out of them in our Family Worship. I was made to Wade over a small River, and so were all the English, the Water above Knee-deep, the Stream very Swift; and after that, to Travel up a small Mountain, my Strength was almost spent, before I came to the top of it: No sooner had I overcome the difficulty of that ascent, but I was permitted to sit down, & be unburthened of my Pack; I sat pitying those who were behind, and entreated my Master, to let me go down, and help up my Wife, but he refused, and would not le • me stir from him. I asked each of the Prisoner (as they passed by 〈◊〉 ) after her, and heard that i • passing through the abovesaid River, she fell down and was plunged over Head and Ears in the Water after which she travelled not far, • or at the Foot 〈◊〉 this Mountain, the cruel and blood thirsty Salvage who took her, slew her with his Hatchet, at one stroke; the tidings of which were very awful: and y • t such was the hard-heartedness of the Adversary, that my Tears were reckoned to me as a reproach. My loss, and the loss of my Children was great, our hearts were so filled with Sorrow, that nothing but the comfortable hopes of her being taken away in Mercy, to herself, from the evils we were to see, feel and suffer under; (and join'd to the Assembly of the Spirits of just men made perfect, to rest in Peace, and joy unspeakable, and full of glory; and the good pleasure of God thus to exercise us,) could have kept us from sinking under, at that time. That Scripture, Job 1. 21.— Naked came I out of my Mothers womb, and Naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord: Was brought to my Mind, and from it, That an Afflicting God was to be Glorifyed; with some other places of Scripture, to persuade to a Patient bearing my Afflictions.

We were again called upon to March, with a far heavier Burden on my Spirits, than on my Back, I begged of God, to Over-rule in His Providence, that the Corpse of One so dear to me, and of one whose Spirit, He had taken to dwell with Him in Glory, might meet with a Christian burial, and not be left for Meat, to the Fowls of the Air, and Beasts of the Earth: A Mercy that God graciously vouchsafed to grant. For God put it into the hearts of my Neighbors, to come out as far as she lay, to take up her Corpse, recarry it to the Town, and decently to bury it, soon after. In our March they killed another Sucking Infant of one of my Neighbors; and before Night, a Girl of about Eleven years of Age. I was made to Mourn, at the Consideration of my Flocks being so far a Flock of Slaughter, many being Slain in the Town, and so many Murdered in so few Miles from the Town; and from fears what we must yet expect, from such who delightfully imbrued their hands in the blood of so many of His People. When we came to our lodging Place, an Indian Captain from the Eastward spake to my Master about killing of me, and taking off my Scalp. I lift up my heart to God, to implore His Grace, and Mercy in such a time of need; and afterwards I told my Master, if he intended to kill me, I desired he would let me know of it, assuring him that my Death after a promise of Quarter would bring the guilt of blood upon him. He told me he would not kill me: We laid down and Slept for God Sustained and kept us. In the Morning we were all called before the chief Sachems of the Macqua's, and Indians, that a more equal distribution might be made of the Prisoners, among them: at my going from the Wigwam, my best Clothing was taken away from me. As I came nigh the Place appointed, some of the Captives met me, and told me, they thought the Enemies were going to burn some of us, for they had peeled off the bark from several Trees, and acted very strangely. To whom I replied, They could act nothing against us, but as they were permitted of God, and I was persuaded, He would prevent such Severities. When we came to the Wigwam appointed, several of the Captives were taken from their former Masters, and put into the hands of others: but I was sent again to my two Masters, who brought me from my House.

In our fourth days March the Enemy killed another of my Neighbors, who being nigh the time of Travail, was wearied with her Journey. When we came to the great River, the Enemy took Slayes to draw their Wounded, several of our Children, and their Packs; and Marched a great pace. I Travelled many hours in Water up to the ankles: near Night I was very Lame, having before my Travel wronged my anckle-bone and sinews: I thought, so did others, that I should not be able to hold out to Travel far. I lift up my Heart to God (my only refuge) to remove my Lameness, and carry me through with my Children and Neighbors, if He judged it best; however I desired God would be with me in my great Change, if He called me by such a Death to Glorify Him: and that He would take care of my Children, and Neighbors, and bless them; and within a little space of time, I was well of my Lameness, to the joy of my Children, and Neighbors, that saw so great an alteration in my Travelling.

On the Saturday, the Journey was long and tedious; we travelled with such speed, that four Women were tired, and then Slain by them who led them Captive.

On the Sabbath Day we rested, and I was permitted to Pray and Preach to the Captives. The place of Scripture spoken from, was Lam. 1. 18. The Lord • s righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment: • ear, I pray you, all people, and behold my Sorrow: my virgins and 〈◊〉 men are gone into captivity. The Enemy who said to us, Sing us one of Zion's Songs; were ready some of them, to upbraid us, because our Singing was not so loud as theirs. When the Macqua's and Indians were chief in power, we had this revival in our bondage; to join together in the Worship of God, and encourage one another to a Patient bearing the Indignation of the Lord, till he should plead our cause. When we arrived to New France we were forbidden Praying one with another, or joining together in the Service of God.

The next day, soon after we Marched, we had an Alarm; on which many of the English were bound: I was then near the Front, and my Masters not with me; so I was not bound. This Alarm was occasioned by some Indians shooting at Geese that flew over them, that put them into a considerable consternation, and fright: but after they came to understand they were not pursued by the English, they boasted, That the English would not come out after them, as they had boasted before, we began our Journey in the Morning. They killed this day Two Women, who were so faint they could not Travel.

The next day in the Morning, before we Travelled, one Mary Brooks, a pious Young Woman, came to the Wigwam where I was, and told me She desired to bless God, who had inclined the heart of her Master, to let her come to take her farewell to me. Said she, by my falls on the Ice yesterday I wronged myself, causing an Abortion this Night, so that I am not able to Travel far; I know they will kill me today: but (says she) God has (Praised be His Name) by His Spirit with His Word, strengthened me to my last encounter with Death: and mentioned to me some places of Scripture so seasonably sent in for her support. And (says she) I am not afraid of Death, I can through the Grace of God, cheerfully submit to the Will of God. Pray for me (said she) at parting, That God would take me to Himself. Accordingly she was killed that day. I mention it to the end, I may stir up all in their Young Days, to improve the Death of CHRIST by Faith, to a giving them an holy boldness in the day of Death.

The next day we were made to Scatter one from another into smaller Companies; and one of my Children carried away with Indians, belonging to the Eastern parts. At Night my Master came to me, with my Pistol in his hand, and put it to my breast, and said, Now I will kill you, for (said he) at your House you would have killed me with it if you could. But by the Grace of God, I was not much daunted, and whatever his intention might be; God prevented my Death.

The next day, I was again permitted to Pray with that Company of Captives with me, and we allowed to Sing a Psalm together. After which, I was taken from all the Company of the English, excepting two Children of my Neighbors, one of which a Girl of four years of Age, was killed by her Maqua Master, the next Morning, the Snow being so deep, when we left the River, that he could not carry the Child and his Pack too.

When the Sabbath came, one Indian staid with me, and a little Boy Nine years old, whilst the rest went a hunting. And when I was here, I thought with myself, that God had now separated me from the Congregation of His People, who were now in His Sanctuary where He Commandeth the B •• ssing, even Life forever: And made to bewail my Unfruitfulness under, and Unthankfulness for such a Mercy. When my Spirit was almost over-whelmed within me at the consideration of what had passed over me, and what was to be expected; I was ready almost to Sink in my Spirit. But God spake those Words with a greater efficacy then man could speak them, for my strengthening and support: Psal. 118. 17. I shall not die, but live: and declare the works of the Lord. Psal. 42. 11. Why art thou cast down, O my Soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Nehem. 1. 8, 9. Remember I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy Servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the Nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen, to set my Name there. Those Three places of Scripture, one after another by the Grace of God, strengthened my Hopes, that God would so far restrain the Wrath of the Adversary, that the greatest number of us left alive, should be carried through so tedious a Journey. That though' my Children had no Father to take care of them, that Word quieted me to a patient waiting to see the end the Lord would make, 〈◊〉 19. 11. Leave thy fatherless Children, I will preserve them all • ve, and let thy Widows trust in me. Accordingly God carried them Wonderfully through great Difficulties and Dangers. My youngest Daughter, Aged Seven years, was carried all the Journey, & looked after with a great deal of Tenderness. My youngest Son, Aged Four years, was Wonderfully preserved from Death; for though they that carried him, or draw'd him on Sleyes, were tired with their Journeys, yet their Salvage cruel Tempers, were so over-ruled by God, that they did not kill him, but in their pity, • he was spared, and others would take care of him; so that four times on the Journey he was spared, and others would take care of him, till at last he arrived at Mont-Royal, where a French Gentlewoman pitying the Child, redeemed it out of the hands of the Heathen. My Son Samuel, and my Eldest Daughter were pitied, so as to be drawn on Sleyes, when unable to Travel. And though' they suffered very much through Scarcity of Food, and tedious Journeys, they were carried through to Mont-Royal. And my Son Stephen about Eleven years of Age, Wonderfully preserved from Death, in the Famine whereof three English Persons died, and after Eight Months brought into Shamblee.

My Master returned on the Evening of the Sabbath, and told me, he had killed five Mo • se. The next day we removed to the place where he killed them. We tarried there three days, till we had roasted and dried the Meat. My Master made me a pair of Snow-shoes, for (said he) You cannot possibly Travel without; the Snow being knee-deep. We parted from thence heavy laden; I Travelled with a burden on my back, with Snow-shoes Twenty-five Miles the first day of wearing them; and again the next day till afternoon; and then we came to the French River. My Master at this place took away my pack, and draw'd the whole load on the Ice: but my bones seemed to be misplaced, and I unable to Travel with any speed. My feet were very sore, and each Night I wrung Blood out of my Stockings, when I pulled them off. My Shins also were very sore, being cut with Crusty Snow, in the time of my Travelling without Snow-shoes. But finding some dry Oak-leaves, by the River banks, I put them to my Shins, and in once applying of them, they were healed. And here my Master was very kind to me, would always give me the best he had to Eat; and by the goodness of God, I never wanted a Meals Meat, during my Captivity; though' some of my Children and Neighbors, were greatly Wounded, (as I may say) with the Arrows of Famine, and Pinching want; having for many days nothing but Roots to live upon, and not much of them neither. My Master gave me a piece of a BIBLE; never disturbed me in Reading the Scriptures, or in Praying to God. Many of my Neighbors also, found that Mercy in their Journey, to have Bibles, Psalm-books, Catechisms, and Good Books, put into their hands, with liberty to use them; and yet after their Arrival at Canada, all possible endeavors were used, to deprive them of them. Some of them say, their Bibles were demanded by the French Priests, and never re-delivered to them, to their great grief and sorrow.

My March on the French River was very sore, for fearing a Thaw, we Travelled a very great pace; my Feet were so bruised, and my joints so distorted by my Travelling in Snow-shoes, that I thought it unpossible to hold out. One Morning a little before break of day, my Master came & awakened me out of my Sleep, Saying, Arise, Pray to God, and Eat your Breakfast, for we must go a great way today. After Prayer, I arose from my knees, but my feet were so Tender, Swoln, Bruised, and full of Pain, that I could scarce stand upon them, without holding on the Wigwam. And when the Indians said, You must run today; I answered, I could not run: My Master pointing out to his Hatchet, said to me, Then I must dash out your Brains, and take off your Scalp. I said I suppose then you will do so, for I am not able to Travel with speed. He sent me away alone, on the Ice. About Sun half an hour high, he overtook me, for I had gone very slowly, not thinking it possible to Travel Five Miles. When he came up he called me to Run; I told him I could go no faster; he passed by without saying one Word more: So that sometimes I scarce saw anything of him for an hour together. I Travel'd from about break of day, till dark, never so much as set down at noon to Eat Warm Victuals; Eating frozen Meat, which I had in my Coat Pocket, as I Travel'd. We went that day Two of their days Journey, as they came down. I judge we went Forty or Forty five Miles that day. God Wonderfully supported me, and so far renewed my Strength, that in the afternoon I was Stronger to Travel than in the forenoon. My Strength was restored and renewed to admiration. We should never distrust the care and compassion of God, who can give Strength to them who have no might, and power to them who are ready to faint.

When we entered on the Lake the Ice, was very rough, and uneven, which was very grievous to my feet, that could scarce endure to be set down on the Smooth Ice, on the River; I lift up my cry to God in Ejaculatory requests, That He would take notice of my State, and some way or other relieve me. I had not Marched above half a Mile, before there fell a Moist Snow, about an inch and half deep, that made it very soft for my feet, to pass over the Lake, to the place where my Masters Family was. Wonderful favors in the midst of trying Afflictions! We went a days Journey from the Lake, to a small Company of Indians, who were a hunting; they were after their manner kind to me, and gave me the best they had, which was Moose-flesh, Ground-nuts and Cramberrys, but no Bread: For Three Weeks together I eat no Bread. After our stay there, and undergoing difficulties in Cutting of Wood, and suffering from Louziness, having Louzy old Clothes of Soldiers, put upon me, when they stripped me of mine, to Sell to the French Soldiers in the Army.

We again began a March for Shamblee, we stayed at a branch of the Lake, and feasted Two or Three days on Geese we killed there. After another days Travel, we came to a River where the Ice was thaw'd, we made a Cannoe of Elm-bark, in one day; and arrived on a Saturday near noon at Shamblee, a small Village, where is a Garison, & Fort of French Soldiers. This Village is about Fifteen Miles from Mont-Royal. The French were very kind to me: A Gentleman of the Place, took me into his House, and to his Table; and lodged me at Night on a good Feather-bed. The Inhabitants, and Officers were very obliging to me, the little time I stayed with them, and promised to Write a Letter to the Governor in Chief, to inform him of my passing down the River. Here I saw a Girl taken from our Town, and a young Man, who informed me, that the greatest part of the Captives were come in, and that Two of my Children were at Mont-Royal; that many of the Captives had been in, Three Weeks before my arrival: Mercy in the midst of Judgment! As we passed along the River towards Sorel, we went into an House where was an English Woman of our Town, who had been left among the French in order to her Conveyance to the Indian Fort. The French were very kind to her, and to myself, and gave us the best Provision they had; and she Embarkqued with us to go down to St. Francois Fort. When we came down to the first Inhabited House at Sorel, a French Woman came to the River side, and desired us to go into her House, and when we were entered, She compassioned our State, and told us, She had in the last War been a Captive among the Indians, and therefore was not a little sensible of our difficulties. She gave the Indians something to eat in the Chimny corner, and spread a cloth on the Table for us with Napkins; Which gave such offense to the Indians, that they hasted away, and would not call in at the Fort. But where▪ ever we entered into Houses, the French were very Courteous. When we came to St. Francois River, we found some difficulty by reason of the Ice; and entering into a Frenchmans House, he gave us a loaf of Bread, and some Fish to carry away with us; but we passed down the River till Night, and there Seven of us Supped on the Fish▪ called Bull-be • d or Pout, and did not eat it up, the Fish was so very large.

The next Morning we met with such a great quantity of Ice, that we were forced to leave our Cannoe, and Travel on Land. We went to a French Officers house, who took us into a private Room, out of the sight of the Indians, and treated us very Courteously. That Night we arrived at the Fort called St. Francois; Where we found several poor Children who had been taken from the Eastward, the Summer before, a sight very Affecting, they being in habit very much like Indians, and in Manners very much Symbolizing with them. At this Fort lived two Jesuits one of which was made Superior of the Jesuits at Quebeck. One of these Jesuits met me at the Fort Gate, and asked me to go into the Church, and Give God Thanks for preserving my Life, I told him I would do that in some other Place. When the Bell rang for Evening Prayers, he that took me, Bid me go; but I refused: The Jesuit came to our Wigwam, and Prayed a short Prayer; and invited me to Sup with them; and justified the Indians in what they did against us: Rehearsing some things done by Major Walden, above Thirty years ago; and how justly God retaliated them in the last War, and inveighed against us for beginning this War with the Indians. And said, We had before the last Winter, and in the Winter been very Barbarous, and Cruel in burning and killing Indians. I told them, That the Indians in a very Persidious manner, had committed Murders on many of our Inhabitants, after the Signing Articles of Peace: and as to what they spake of Cruelties, they were undoubtedly Falsehoods, for I well knew, the English were not approvers of any inhumanity, or barbarity towards Enemies. They said, An English man had killed one of St Casteen's Relations, which occasioned this War: for, say they, The Nations in a general Counsel, had concluded not to engage in the War, on any side, till they themselves were first molested, and then all of them as one, would engage against them that began a War with them; and that upon the killing of Casteens Kindsman, a Post was dispatched to Canada, to advertise the Maqua's, and Indians, that the English had begun a War. On which they gathered up their Forces, and that the French joined with them, to come down on the Eastern Parts; and that when they 〈◊〉 near New-England, several of the Eastern Indians, told them of the Peace made with the English, and the satisfaction given them from the English for that Murder. But the Macqua's told them, it was now too late; for they were sent 〈◊〉 and were now come, and would f • ll on them, if without their consent they made a Peace with the English. Said also, That a Letter was show •• them sent from the Governor of Port-Royal, which he said, was taken in an English Ship, being a Letter from the Queen of England, to our Governor, Writing how She approved his designs, to Ensnare and deceitfully to seize • on the Indians; so that being enraged from that Letter, and being forced as it were, they began the present War. I told them the Letter was a Lye forged by the French.

The next Morning the Bell Rang for Mass: My Master bid me go to Church: I refused: he threatened me, and went away in a rage. At Noon the Jesuits sent for me, to dine with them; for I eat at their Table all the time I was at the Fort. And after Dinner, they told me, the Indians would not allow of any of their Captives staying in their Wigwams, whilst they were at Church; and were resolved by force and violence to bring us all to Church, if we would not go without. I told them it was highly unreasonable so to impose upon those who were of a contrary Religion; and to force us to be present at such Service, as we Abhorred, was nothing becoming Christianity. They replied, They were Salvages, and would not hearken to reason, but would have their Wills: Said also, If they were in New-England themselves, they would go into their Churches to see their Ways of Worship. I answered, th •• case was far different, for there was nothing (themselves being judges) as to matter or manner of Worship, but what was according to the Word of God, i • our Churches; and therefore it could not be an of fence to any man's Conscience. But among them there were Idolatrous Superstitions in Worship: they said, Come and see, and offer us Conviction, of what is Superstitious in Worship. To which I answered, That I was not to do Evil that Good might come on it; and that forcing in matters of Religion was hateful. They answered, The Indians were resolved to have it so, & they could not pacify them without my coming; and they would engage they should offer no force or violence to cause any compliance with their Ceremonies.

The next Mass, my Master bid me go to Church: I objected; he arose and forcibly pulled me out by Head and Shoulders out of the Wigwam to the Church, that was nigh the do •• So I went in and sat down behind the door, and there saw a great confusion, instead of any Gospel Order. For one of the Jesuits was at the Altar, saying Mass in a Tongue Unknown to the Salvages, and the other, between the Altar & the door, saying and singing Prayers among the Indians at the same time; and many others were at the same time saying over their Pater Nosters, and Ave Mary, by tale from their Chapelit, or Beads on a String. At our going out we smiled at their Devotion so managed; which was offensive to them: for they said, We made a Derision of their Worship. When I was here, a certain Salvagess died; one of the Jesuits told me, She was a very holy Woman, who had not committed One Sin in Twelve years. After a day or two the Jesuits asked me, What I thought of their Way, now I saw it? I told them, I thought Christ said of it, as Mark. 7. 7, 8, 9. Howbeit, in vain do they Worship me, teaching for doctrines the Commandments of men. For laying aside the Commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots, and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full we • • e reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep 〈◊〉 own tradition. They told me, They were not the Commandments of men, but Apostolical Traditions, of equal authority with the Holy Scriptures. And that after my Death, I would bewail my not Praying to the Virgin Mary; and that I should find the want of her Intercession for me, with her Son; judging me to Hell for asserting, the Scriptures to be a perfect rule of Faith: and said, I abounded in my own sense, entertaining explications contrary to the sense of the Pope, regularly sitting with a general Council, explaining Scripture, and making Articles of Faith. I told them, It was my Comfort that Christ was to be my Judge, and not they at the Great Day: And as for their censuring and judging of me, I was not moved with it. One day a certain Salvages • taken Prisoner in Philip's War, who had lived at Mr. Buckleys at Wethersfield, called Ruth, who could speak English very well; who had been often at my House, but was now proselyted to the Romish Faith, came into the Wigwam, and with her an English Maid, who was taken the last War, who was dressed up in Indian Apparel, could not speak one word of English, who said she could neither tell her own name, or the name of the place from whence sh • was taken. These two talked in the Indian Diale •• with my Master a long time; after which my Master bad me • ress myself; I told him I would not he commanded me several times, and I as often refused. Ruth said, Mr. Williams you know the Scripture, and therefore act against your own light for you know the Scripture saith, Servants obey your Masters; he is your Master, and you his Servant. I told her she was ignorant, and knew not the meaning of the Scripture, telling her, I was not to disobey the Great God to obey any Master, and that I was ready to suffer for God if called thereto: On which she talked to my Master, I suppose she interpreted what I said. My Master took hold of my hand to force me to Cross myself, but I struggled with him, and would not suffer him to guide my hand, upon this he pulled off a Crucifix from his own neck, and bad me Kiss it; but I refused once and again; he told me be would dash out my brains with his Hatchet if I refused. I told him I should sooner choose death then to Sin against God; then he ran and catched up his Hatchet, and acted as though' he would have dashed out my Brains; seeing I was not moved, he threw down his Hatchet, saying, he would first bite off all my nails if I still refused; I gave him my hand and told him, I was ready to suffer, he set his teeth in my thumb nails and gave a gripe with his teeth, and then said, no good Minister, no love God, as bad as the Devil; and so left off. I have reason to bless God who strengthened me to withstand; by this he was so discouraged as never more to meddle with me about my Religion. I asked leave of the Jesuits to Pray with those English of our Town that were with me, but they absolutely refused to give us any permission to pray one with another, and did what they could to prevent our having any discourse together.

After a few days the Governor de • audrel, Governor in Chief, sent down two men with Letters to the Jesuits, desiring them to order my being sent up to him to Mont-Royal, upon which one of the Jesuits went with my two Masters, and took me along with them, as also two more of Deerfield, a man and his Daughter about Seven years of Age. When we came to the Lake, the Wind was tempestuous & contrary to us, so that they were afraid to go over; they Landed and kindled a fire, & said they would wait a while to see whether the Wind would fall or change. I went a side from the Company among the Trees, and spread our case with the temptations of it before God, and pleaded that He would order the season so, that we might not go back again, but be furthered on our Voyage, that I might have opportunity to see my Children and Neighbors, and converse with them, and know their state. When I returned, the Wind was more boisterous, and then a second time, and the Wind was more fierce; I reflected upon myself for my unquietness, and the want of a resigned will to the Will of God. And a third time went & bewailed before God my anxious cares, and the tumultuous workings of my own heart, beg'd a Will fully resigned to the Will of God, and thought that by the Grace of God I was brought to say Amen, to whatever God should determine, Upon my return to the Company, the Wind was yet high; the Jesuit and my Master said, come we will go back again to the Fort, for there is no likelihood of proceeding in our Voyage, for very frequently such a Wind continues three days, sometimes fix; after it continued so many hours, I said to them, the Will of the Lord be done; and the Cannoe was put again into the River, and we embarqued. No sooner had my Master put me into the Cannoe, and put off from the Shoar, but the Wind fell, and coming into the middle of the River, they said, We may go over the Lake well enough: and so we did. I promised, if God gave me Opportunity I would stir up others to Glorify God in a continued persevering, committing their straights of heart to Him; He is a Prayer bearing God, and the Stormy Winds obey Him. After we passed over the Lake, the French where ever we came were very compassionate to us.

When I came to Mont-Royal, which was Eight Weeks after my Captivity; the Governor de' Vaudrel redeemed me out of the hands of the Indians, gave me good Clothing, took me to his Table, gave me the use of a very good Chamber; and was in all respects relating to my outward man, courteous and charitable to admiration. At my first entering into his House, he sent for my two Children, who were in the City, that I might see them; and promised to do what he could to get all my Children & Neighbors out of the hands of the Salvages. My change of Dyet after the difficulties of my Journey's, caused an alteration in my Body: I was Physic'd, Blooded, and very tenderly taken care of in my Sickness The Governor redeemed my Eldest Daughter out of the hands of the Indians; and she was carefully tended in the H • spital, until she was well of her Lameness; & by the Governor provided for with respect, during her stay in the Country. My youngest Child was redeemed by a Gentlewoman in the City a the Indians passed by. After the Indians had been at their Port & discoursed with the Priests, they came back and offered to the Gentlewoman a man for the Child alle • ging that the Child could not be profitable to her, but the man would, for he was a Weaver, and his service would much advance the design she had of making cloth: but God over-ruled so far that this Temptation to the Woman prevailed not for an exchange; for had the Child gone to the Indian Fort, in an ordinary way it had abode there still, as the rest of the Children carried thither do. The Governor gave orders to certain Officers to get the rest of my Children out of the hands of the Indians, and as many of my Neighbors as they could. After Six Weeks a Merchant of the City obtained my Eldest Son, that was taken to live with him: he took a great deal of pains to persuade the Salvages to part with him. An Indian came to the City (Sagamore George of Pennacook ) from Cowas • , and brought word of my Son Stephen's being near Cowass, & some Money was put into his hand for his Redemption, and a promise of full satisfaction if he brought him; but the Indian proved unfaithful, and I never saw my Child till a year after. The Governor ordered a Priest to go along with me to see my youngest Daughter among the Macqua's, and endeavor her 〈◊◊〉 with him; he was very courteous to me, and from his Parish which was near the Macqua▪ Fort, he wrote a Letter to the Jesuit to desire 〈◊〉 to send my Child to see me, and to speak with them that took her, to come along with it. But the Jesuit wrote back a Letter, That I should not be permitted to speak with, or see my Child, if I came that my labor would be lost; and that the Macqua's would as soon part with their hearts, as my Child. At my return to the City, I with an heavy heart carried the Jesuits Letter to the Governor, who, when he read it, was very angry, and endeavored to comfort me, assuring me, I should see it, and speak with it; and he would to his utmost endeavor its ransom: Accordingly he sent to the Jesuits who were in the City, and bid them improve their interest for the obtaining the Child. After some days, he went with me in his own Person to the Fort. When we came thither, he discoursed with the Jesuits: after which my Child was brought into the Chamber where I was. I was told I might speak with her, but should be permitted to speak to no other English Person there. My Child was about Seven years old; I discoursed with her near an hour; she could Read very well, and had not forgotten her Catechism; and was very desirous to be redeemed out of the hands of the Macqua's, and bemoaned her State among them, telling me how they profaned God's Sabbath's: and said, She thought that a few days before they had been mocking the Devil, and that one of the Jesuits stood and looked on them. I told her, she must Pray to God for His Grace every day; She said, She did as she was able, and God heipt her: but says she, They force me to say some Prayers in Latin, but I dont understand one word of them, I hope it wont do me any harm. I told her, she must be careful she did not forget her Catechism, and the Scriptures, she had learnt by heart. She told the Captives after I was gone, as some of them have since informed me, almost everything I spake to her; and said, She was much afraid she should forget her Catechism, having none to instruct her. I saw her once a few days after in the City, but had not many Minutes of time with her, but what time I had, I improved to give her the best advice I could. The Governor labored much for her redemption, at last he had a promise of it, in case he would procure for them an Indian Girl in her stead. Accordingly he sent up the River some hundreds of Leagues for one, but it was refused, when offered by the Governor: he offered them an hundred pieces of Eight for her Redemption, but it was refused. His Lady went over to have begged her from them, but all in vain; its there still; and has forgotten to speak English. Oh! that all who peruse this History would join in their servant requests to God, with whom all things are possible, that this poor Child, and so many others of our Children who have been cast upon God from the Womb, and are now Out-cast ready to perish, might be gathered from their dispersions, and receive Sanctifying Grace from God! When I had discoursed with the Child, and was coming out of the Fort, one of the Jesuits went out of the Chamber with me, and some Soldiers, to convey me to the Cannoe. I saw some of my poor Neighbors, who stood with longing expectations to see me, and speak with me, and had leave from their Salvage Masters so to do. I was by the Jesuit himself thrust along by force, and permitted only to tell them some of their Relations (they asked after) were well in the City, and that with a very audible voice; being not permitted to come near to them. After my return to the City I was very Melancholy, for I could not be permitted so much as to Pray with the English, who dwelt in the same house. And the English who came to see me, were most of them put back by the Guard at the door, and not suffered to come & speak with me. Sometimes the Guard was so strict that I could scarce go aside on necessary occasions without a repulse; and whenever I went out into the City (a favor the Governor himself never refused when I ask it of him) there were spies to watch me, and to observe whether I spake to the English. Upon which I told some of the English, they must be careful to call to mind & improve former Instructions, and endeavor to stand at a further distance for a while, hoping that after a short time I should have more liberty of conversing with them. But some spies sent out, found on a Sabbath Day more then Three (the number we by their order published were not to exceed together) of us in Company, who informed the Priest; the next day one of the Priests told me, I had a greater number of the English with me, and that I had spoken something reflecting on their Religion. I spake to the Governor that no forcible means might be used with any of the Captives respecting their Religion; he told me, He allowed no such thing. I am persuaded that the Governor if he might act as himself, would not have suffered such things to be done as have been done, and that he never did know of several things acted against the English.

At my first coming to Mont-Royal, the Governor told me, I should be sent home as soon as Captain Battiss was returned and not before; and that I was taken in order to his Redemption. The Governor sought by all means to divert me from my Melancholy Sorrows, and always showed a willingness for seeing my Children. And one day I told him of my design of walking into the City; he pleasantly answered, Go with all my Heart. His Eldest Son went with me as far as the door & saw the Guard stop me, he went in and informed his Father, who came to the door and asked, Why they affronted the Gentleman going out? They said, It was their Order: But with an angry countenance he said, His Orders were that I should not be stopped. But within a little time I had my orders to go down to Quebeck. Another thing showing that many things are done without the Governors consent, though' his Name be used to justify them, ( viz. ) I asked the Priest, after I had been at Mont-Royal two days, leave to go and see my youngest Child; he said, When ever you would see it tell me, and I will bring it to you; for, says he, The Governor is not willing you should go thither. And yet not many days after when we were at Dinner, the Governors Lady (seeing me sad) spake to an Officer at Table, who could speak Latin, to tell me, That after Dinner I should go along with them and see my two Children. And accordingly after Dinner I was carried to see them; and when I came to the house I found three or four English Captives, who lived there, and I had leave to discourse with them. And not long after the Governors Lady asked me, to go along with her to the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 one of my Neighbors Sick there.

One day one of the Jesuits came to the Governor, and told the Company there, That he 〈◊〉 saw such Persons as were taken from Deerfield. Said he, The Macqua's will not suffer any of their Prisoners to abide in their Wigwams whilst they themselves are at M • ss, but carry them with them to the Church, and they cant be prevailed with to fall down on their knees to Pray there, but no sooner are they returned to their Wigwams, out they fall down on their knees to Prayer. He said, They could do nothing with the grown Persons there; and they hundred the Children's complying. Where-upon, the Jusuits counseled the Macqua' s to Sell all the grown Person • from the Fort; a stratagem to seduce poor Children. Oh Lord! Turn the Counsels of these Ahitcphels into foolishness, and make the Counsels of the Heathen of none effect!

Here I observed, they were wonderfully lifted up with Pride, after the return of Captain Montin • g from Northampton with News of Success: they boasted of their Success against New-England. And they sent out an Army as they said of Seven hundred men, if I mistake not, Two hundred of which were French, in company of which Army went several Jesuits; and said, They would l • y des •• e all the places on Connecticut River. The Superior of the Priests told me, Their General was a very Prudent and Brave Commander of undaunted Courage, and he doubted not but they should have great Success. This Army went away in such a boasting, triumphant manner, that I had great hopes God would discover and disappoint their designs: our Prayers were not wanting for the Blasting such a Bloody design. The Superior of the Priests said to me, Dont flatter yourselves in hopes of a short Captivity; for, said he, There are two young Princes contending for the Kingdom of Spain; and a Third, that care was to be taken for his Establishment, on the English Throne. And boasted what they would do to Europe; and that we must expect not only Europe, but in New-England the Establishment of Popery. I said, Glory not, God can make great changes in a little time, and revive His own Interest, and yet Save His poor afflicted People. Said he, The time for Miracles is past; and in the time of the last War, the King of France was as it were against all the World, and yet did very great things, but now the Kingdom of Spain is for him, and the Duke of Bavaria, and the Duke of Savey, &c. and spake on a lofty manner of great things to be done by them: and having the World as I may say in subjection to them.

I was sent down to Quebeck in Company of Governor de Ramsey, Governor of Mont-Royal, and the Superior of the Jesuits, and ordered to live with one of the Council; from whom I received many favors for Seven Weeks. He told me, It was the Priests doings to send me down before the Governor came down; & that if I went much to see the English, or they came much to visit me, I should yet certainly be sent away where I should have no converse with the English. After my coming down to Quebeck, I was invited to Dine with the Jesuits, and to my face they were civil enough. But after a few days a young Gentleman came to my Chamber, and told me, that one of the Jesuits (after we had done Dinner) made a few Disticks of Verses & gave them to his Scholars to Translate into French: he showed them to me. The import of them was,

I knew at the reading of them what he aimed at, but held my Peace, as though' I had been ignorant of the Jesuits intention. Observing this reproaching Spirit, I said in my Heart, If God will bless, let men curse if they please; and I looked to God in CHRIST the Great Shepherd to keep his scattered Sheep among so many Romish Revenous Wolves, and to remember the reproaches where with his Holy Name, Ordinances, and Servants were daily reproached. And upon an observation of the time of these Verses being composed, I find that near the same time the Bishop of Canada with Twenty Ecclesiastics were taken by the English, as they were coming from France, and carried into England as Prisoners of War.

One Sabbath day Morning I observed many Signs of approaching Rain, a great moisture on the Stones of the Hearth & Chimny-jams. I was that day invited to Dine with the Jesuits; and when I went up to Dinner, it began to Rain a small dri • ling Rain: The Superior told me, They had been Praying for Rain that Morning: And l • , (says he) It begins to Rain. I told him, I could tell him of many instances of God's hearing our Prayers for Rain. However in the afternoon there was a general Procession of all orders, Priests, Jesuits and Friars, and the Citizens in great Pomp, carrying (as they said) as an holy relique, one of the bones of St. Paul. The next day I was invited to the Priests Seminary to Dinner; Oh, said they, we went in Procession Yesterday for Rain, and see what a Plentiful Rain followed. I answered, we had been answered when Praying for Rain, when no such Signs of Rain, and the beginnings of Rain preceeded, as now with them, before they appointed or began their Procession, &c. However, they upbraided me, That God did not approve of our Religion, in that He disregarded our Prayers, and accepted theirs. For (said they) We hear you had days of Fasting and Prayer before the Fleet came to Quebeck; God would not regard your Prayers, but heard owes, & almost in a miraculous way preserved us when assaulted, and refused to hear your Fast-day-Prayers for your Preservation, but heard ours for your Desolation, and our Success. They boasted also of their King, and his greatness, and spake of him as though' there could be no Settlement of the World, but as he pleased; reviling us as in a low & languishing case, having no King, but being under the Government of a Queen: And spake as though' the Duke of Bavaria would in a short time be Emperor. From this day forward God gave them to hear sorrowful Tidings from Europe: That a War was commenced against the Duke of Savoy, and so their Enemies increased. Their Bishop taken, & Two Millions of Wealth with him. News every year more distressing and impoverishing of them; and the Duke of Bavaria so far from being Emperor, that he is dispossess'd of his Dukedom; & France so far from being strengthened by Spain that the Kingdom of Spain like to be an occasion of the Weakning and Impoverishing their own Kingdom: they themselves so reporting. And their great Army going against New-England turned back ashamed; and they discouraged and dishearten'd, and every year very exercising fears & cares, as to the Salvages who live up the River. Before the return of that Army, they told me, We were led up & down and Sold by the Heathen, as Sheep for the Slanghter, and they could not devise what they should do with us, we should be so many Prisoners, when the Army returned. The Jesuit told me, It was a great Mercy that so many of our Children were brought to them, and that now especially since they were not like speedily to be returned, there was hope of their being brought over to the Romish Faith. They would take the English Children born among them, and against the consent of their Parents Baptize them. One Jesuit came to me and asked, whether all the English at Lo • et, (a place not far from Quebeck where the Salvages lived) were Baptized? I told him they were. He said if they be not, let me know of it, that I may Baptize them, for fear they should die and be damned, if they died without Baptism. Says he, When the Salvages went against you, I charged them to Baptise all Children before they killed them: such was my desire of your E • rnal Salvation though' you were our Enemies. There was a Gentleman called Monsier de Beauville, a Captain, the Brother of the Lord Intendant, who was a good friend to me, and very courteous to all the Captives; he • ent me an English Bible, and when he went to France gave it me.

All means were used to seduce poor Souls.

I was invited one day to Dine with one of 〈◊〉 Note, as I was going, met with the Superior of the Jesuits coming out of the House, and he came in after dinner; and presently it was propounded to me, if I would stay among them and be of their Religion, I should have a great and honorable Pension from the King every year. The Superior of the Jesuits turned to me, and said,

I answered, Sir, If I thought your Religion to be true, I would embrace it freely without any such offer, but so long as I believe it to be what it is, the offer of the whole World is of no more value to me than a Blackberry; and manifested such an abhorrence of this proposal, that I speedily went to take my leave and be gone. Oh! Sir (said he) set down, why in such a hurry, you are alone in your Chamber, divert yourself a little longer, and fell to other discourse, and within half an hour says again: Sir, I have one thing earnestly to request of you, I pray pleasure me! I said, let your Lordship speak; (said he,) I pray come down to the Palace tomorrow morning, and honor me with your Company in my Coach to the great Church, it being then a Saints day. I answered ask me anything wherein I can serve you with a good Conscience, and I am ready to gratify you, but I must yet ask your excuse here; and immediately went away from him. Returning unto my Chamber, I gave God thanks for his upholding o • me, and also made an enquiry with myself, whether I had by any action given encouragement for such a temptation. Not many days after, and a few days before Governor de' Vaudrel coming down, I was sent away Fifteen Miles down the River, that I might not have opportunity of converse with the English. I was courteously treated by the French, and the Priest of that Parish; they told me he was one of the most Learned men in the Country; he was a very ingenious man, zealous in their way, but yet very familiar. I had many disputes with the Priests who came thither, & when I used their own Authors to confute some of their Positions; my Books borrowed of them were taken away from me, for they said, I made an ill use of them. They having many of them boasted of their Unity in Doctrine and Profession, were loath I should show them from their own best approved Authors, as many different Opinions, as they could charge against us. Here again, a Gentleman in the presence of the Old▪ Bishop and a Priest, offered me his House, and whole Living, with assurance of Honor, Wealth and Employment, if I would embrace their ways. I told them, I had an indignation of Soul against such offers on such terms, as parting with what was more valuable than all the World; alleging, What is a man profited if he gain the whole World, & lose his own Soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul? I was sometimes told, I might have all my Children if I would comply, and must never expect to have them on any other terms; I told them, my Children were dearer to me than all the world, but I would not deny Christ and his Truths for the having of them with me; I would still put my trust in God who could perform all things for me.

I am persuaded that the Priest of that Parish where I kept, abhorred their sending down the Heathen to commit Outrages against the English, saying, it was more like committing Murders, than managing a War. In my Confinement in this Parish, I had my undisturbed opportunities to be humbly imploring Grace for ourselves, for Soul and Body, for His protecting presence with New-England, and His disappointing the bloody designs of Enemies; that God would be a little Sanctuary to us in a Land of Captivity, and that our Friends in New-England, might have Grace to make a more thankful and fruitful improvement of means of Grace than we had done; who by our neglects find ourselves out of God's Sanctuary.

On the Twenty-first of October, 1704. I received some Letters from New-England, with an account that many of our Neighbors escaped out of the desolations in the Fort, and that my Dear Wife was recarried and decently Buried. And that my Eldest Son who was absent in our desolation, was sent to College and provided for; which occasioned Thanksgiving to God in the midst of Afflictions, and caused Prayers even in Canada, to be going daily up to Heaven for a Blessing upon Benefactors, showing such kindness to the desolate and afflicted. The consideration of such crafty designs to ensnare young ones, and to turn them from the Simplicity of the Gospel, to Romis • superstition, was very exercising; sometimes they would tell me my Children, sometimes my Neighbors were turned to be of their Religion. Some made it their work to allure poor Souls by flatteries and great promises, some threatened, some offered abusive carriages to such as refused to go to Church and be present at Mass; for some they industriously contrived to get them Married among them. A Priest drew up a Compendium of the Romish Catholic Faith, and pretended to prove it by the Scriptures, telling the English, that all they required was contained in the Scriptures, which they acknowledged to be the Rule of Faith and Manners; but it was by Scriptures horribly perverted and abused. I could never come to the sight of it, (though' I often earnestly entreated a Copy of it) until I was a Shipboard for our Voyage for New-England; but hearing of it, I endeavored to possess the English with their danger of being cheated with such a pretence. I understood they would tell the English that I was turned, that they might gain them to change their Religion; these their endeavors to seduce to Popery were very exercising to me▪ And in my Solitariness I drew up these following Sorrowful, Mournful, Considerations, though' unus'd to, & unskillful in Poetry, yet in a plain style for the use of some of the Captives, who would sometimes make their secret Visits to me, which at the desire of some of them, are here made public.

THE Hearts of some were ready to be discouraged & sink, saying, They were out of sight, and so out of mind. I endeavored to persuade them, we were not forgotten, that undoubtedly many Prayers were continually going up to Heaven for us. Not long after came Capt. Livingston, and Mr. Sheldon, with Letters from His Excellency our GOVERNOUR, to the Governor of Canada, about the Exchange of Prisoners; which gave a revival to many, and raised expectations of a return. These visits from New-England to Canada so often, greatly strengthened many who were ready to faint; and gave some check to the designs of the Papists to gain Proselytes. But God's time of deliverance was not yet come, as to some particular Persons, their Temptations & Trials were increased; and some abused because they refused a compliance with their Superstitions. A young Woman of our Town met with a new Trial. For on a day, a French man came into the room where she was, and shown her his Beads, & boasted of them, putting them near to her; She knocked them out of his hands on the floor; for which she was beaten, and threatened with Death, and for some days imprisoned. I pleaded with God His over-ruling this first Essay for the deliverance of some, as a pledge of the rest being delivered in due time. I improved Capt. de Beauville who had always been very friendly, to intercede with the Governor for the return of my Eldest Daughter; and for his purchasing my Son Stephen, from the Indians at St. Francois Fort; and for liberty to go up and see my Children and Neighbors at Mont-Royal. Divine Providence appeared to a moderating my Affliction, in that Five English Persons of our Town were permitted to return with Capt. Livingston, among whom went my Eldest Daughter. And my Son Stephen was redeemed and sent to live with me: he was almost quite Naked, and very Poor; he had suffered much among the Indians. One of the Jesuits took upon him, to come to the Wigwam and Whip him, on some complaint that the Squaws had made, that he did not Work enough for them. As to my Petition for going up to Mont-Royal to see my Children, and Neighbors, it was denied; as my former desire of coming up to the City before Capt. Livingstons coming was. God granted me favor as to Two of my Petitions, but yet brought me by His Grace to be willing, that He should glorify. Himself in disposing of me and mine as He pleased and knew to be most for His glory: And almost always before any remarkable favor, I was brought to lie down at the foot of God, and made to be willing that God should govern the World, so as might be most for His own Honor, and brought to resign all to His holy Sovereignty. A frame of Spirit when wrought in me by the Grace of God, giving the greatest content and satisfaction; and very often a fore-runner of the Mercy asked of God, or a plain demonstration, that the not obtaining my request was best for me. I had no small refreshing, in having one of my Children with me for four Months▪ And the English were many of them strengthened with hopes, that the treaty betwixt the Governments would issue in opening a do • r of escape for all.

In August, Mr. Dudley and Capt. Vetch arrived, & great encouragements were given as to an Exchange of all in the Spring of the year: and some few again were sent home; among whom I obtained leave to send my Son S •• phex. Upon Mr. Dudley's and Capt. Vetch' s Petitioning, I was again permitted to go up to Quebeck; but disputing with a Mendicant •• yar, who said, He was an English-man sent from France, to endeavor the Conversion of the English at Quebeck; Who arrived at Canada whilst our Gentlemen were there: I was by the Priests means ordered again to return to Chat •• uvich • , and no other reason given, but because I • discoursed with that Priest, and their fear I should prevent his success amongst the Captives. But God showed His dislike of such a Persecuting Spirit: for the very next day which was September 20 O. S. October 1st N. S. the Seminary, a very famous building, was most of it burnt down; occasioned by a Joyners letting a Coal of fire drop down among the Shavings. The Chapel in the Priests Garden, and the Great Cross were burnt down; the Library of the Priests burnt up: This Seminary and another Library had been burnt but about Three years before. The day after my being sent away by the Priests means from Quebeck at first, there was a Thunder-Storm, and the Lightning struck the Seminary in the very place where the fire now began.

A little before Mr. Dudley' s arrival, came a Soldier into my Land-lords house Bure-foot, and Bareleg'd, going on a Pilgrimage to Saint Anne. For said he, My Captain who died some years ago appeared to me, and told me, he was in Purgatory; and told me I must go a Pilgrimage to Saint Anne, doing Penance, and get a Mass said for him, and then he should be delivered. And many believed him, and were much affected with it; came and told •• e of it, to gain my Credit of their devised Purgatory: the Soldier told me, The Priests had counseled him to undertake this Pilgrimage. And I am apt to think, ordered his calling in at my Lord-lords, that I might see and speak with him. I laughed at the conceit, that a Soldier must be pitch • upon to be sent on this errand; but they were much displeased, and lamented my obstinacy, in that I would not be reclaimed from a denial of Purgatory, by such a Miraculous Providence.

As I was able, I spread the case before God, beseeching of him to disappoint them of their expectations, to Proselyte any of the Captives by this Stratagem; and by the goodness of God it was not very Serviceable: for the Soldiers Conversation was such, that several among the French themselves judge+ed it to be a Forgery. And though the Captain spoken of was the Governors Lady's Brother, I never more heard any concernment or care to get him out of Purgatory.

One of the Parish where I lived, told me, That on the Twenty-second of July, 17 • 5. He was at Quebeck, at the Mendicant Friars Church, on one of their Feast Days, in honor of a great Saint of their Order, and that at Five a Clock Mass in the Morning, near Two hundred Persons present. A great Grey Catt brake or push'd aside some Gla • s, and entered into the Church, and passed along it near the Altar, and put out Five or Six Candles, that were burning; and that no one could tell which way the Catt went out: and he thought it was the Devil.

When I was in the City in September, I saw two English Maids who had lived with the Indians a long time. They told me, that an Indian had died at the place where they were; and that when sundry of his Relations were together in order to his burial, the Dead arose, and informed them, That at his Death he went to Hell, and there he saw all the Indians that had been Dead since their embracing the Pepish Religion; and warned them to leave it off, or they would be Damned too, and lay down Dead again. They said, the Indians were frightened, & very Melancholy; but the Jesuit to whom they told this told them, It was only a delusion of the Devil to draw them away from the true Religion; Adding, That he knew for certain that all those Indians who had been Dead spoken of by that Indian, were in Heaven, only one Squaw was gone to Hell who died without Boptism. These Maids said also, That many of the Indians much Lamented their making a War against the English, at the instigation of the French.

The Priests, after Mr. Dudley' s going from Canada, was ready to think their time was short, for gaining English Proselytes, and doubled their diligence and wiles, to gain over Persons to their Perswasion. I improved all opportunities I could, to Write to the English, that in that Way I might be Serviceable to them. But many or most of my Letters treating about Religion were intercepted, and burnt. I had a Letter sent down to me by order of the Governor, that I had a liberty of Writing to my Children and Friends, which should be continued; provided I Wrote about indifferent things, and said nothing in them about the points in controversy between them and us: And if I were so hardy as to Write Letters otherwise, they should endeavor to prevent their being delivered. Accordingly, I found many of them were burnt. But sometimes notice would be given to the English, that there were Letters written, but that they were burnt; so that their Writing was somewhat useful though' never perused by the English, because they judged those Letters condemned Popery. Many of our Letters Written from New-England, were never delivered, because of some expressions about Religion in them. And as I said before, after Mr. Dudley' s departure from Quebeck, endeavors were very vigorous to seduce. Some were flattered with large Promises, others were threatened, and beaten, because they would not turn. And when two English Women, who had always opposed their Religion were sick in the Hospital: they kept with them Night and Day, till they died; & their friends kept from coming to visit them: after their death they gave out, that they died in the Romish Faith, and were received into their Communion. Before their Death Masses were said for them; & they buried in the Church-yard with all their Ceremonies. And after this, Letters sent into all parts to inform the English, that these two Women turned to their Religion, before their Death, and that it concerned them to follow their Example, for they could not be more obstinate than these Women were in their Health, against the Romish Faith, and yet on a Death bed embraced it. They told the English who lived near, That our Religion was a dangerous Religion to die in. But I shall hereafter relate the just grounds we have to think these things were falsehoods.

I was informed, there was an English Girl bid to take and wear the Cross, and Cross herself: She refused; they threatened her, and sh • wed her the Cross, At length, She had her choice, either to Cross herself, and take the Cross, or be Whipt, she chose to be Whipt▪ and they took up her Clothes, and made as though' they would correct her; but seeing her choosing indeed to suffer rather than comply, they desisted and tied the Cross about her Neck. Some were taken & shut up among their Religious, and all sorts of mean▪ used to gain them.

I received a Letter from one of my Neighbors, wherein he thus bewails.

The same Person with another English man last Spring, obtained leave of the Governor General, to go to the same Fort on the same errand, & carried Letters from the Governor to the Jesuits, that he might be permitted to speak with his Children. The Letter was delivered to the Jesuits; who told him, his Son was not at home, but gone a Hunting. Whenas he was hid from them, as he heard afterward, so the poor man lost his labor a second time. These men say, that when they returned to Mont-Royal, one Laland, who was appointed as a spy, always to observe the motions of the English, told them, that one of the Jesuits had come in before them, and had told the Governor that the Lad was gone out a Hunting. And that the English man who accompanied this poor man, went out into the Woods in hopes of finding the Lad; and saw him, but the Lad run away, and that he followed him & called after him, but he would not stop; but holding but a Gun threatened to shoot him down, if he followed him, and so he was discouraged, and turned back. And says Laland, You will never leave going to see your Children & Neighbors, till some of you are killed. But the men told him, it was an absolute lie, let who would report it; for they had neither seen the Lad, nor did they go into the Woods to search after him. They judge this was told to the Governor, to prevent any English for the future going to see their Children and Neighbors. Some of ours say, they have been little better than absolutely promised, to have their Children who are among the Salvages, in case they themselves would embrace Popery. And that the Priests had said, They had rather the Children should be among the Indians, as they did, than be brought out by the French, and so be in a readiness to return for New-England.

A Maid of our Town was put into a Religious house among the Nuns, for more than two years, and all sort of means, by flatteries, threatenings, and abusive carriages used to bring her to turn. They offered her Money, which when refused, especially the latter part of the time, they threatened her very much; sent for her before them, commanded her to Cross herself. She refused, they hit her a box on the Ear; bid her again, still she refused. The ordered a rod with Six branches full of knots to be brought; and when she refused, they struke her on the hands, with their renewing their Commands; and she stood to her refusals, till her hands were filled with Whales, with the blows. But one said, Beat her no more, we will give her to the Indians, if she wont turn. They pinched her Arms till they were black & blue; and made her go into their Church, and because she would not Cross herself, struke her several blows with their hands on her face. A Squaw was brought in and said, She was sent to fetch her to the Indians: but she refused; the 〈◊〉 went away and said, She would bring her Husband with her to Morrow, and 〈◊〉 should be carried away by force. She told me, She remembered what I told her one day, after the Nuns had threatened to give her away to the Indians; that they only said so to affright her, that they never would give her away. The Nuns told her, She should not be permitted anymore to speak to the English; and that they would afflict her without giving her any rest, if she refused: but God preserved her from falling. This poor Girl had many Prayers going up to Heaven for her daily, and by name, because her Trials were more known to some of the English, than the Trials of others, who lived more remote from them.

Here might be an History by itself, of the Trials and Sufferings of many of our Children, and Young ones, who have been abused, and after Separation from grown Persons, made to do as they would have them.

I shall here give an account of what was done to one of my Children, a Boy between Fifteen and Sixteen years of Age, Two hundred Miles distant from me, which occasioned grief and sorrow, that I want Words to utter; and yet kept under such awe, that he never d • rst Write anything to me, for fear of being discovered in Writing about Religion. They threatened to put him to the Indians again, 〈◊〉 he would not turn; telling him, He was never bought out of their hands, but only sojourned with them, but if 〈◊〉 would turn, he should never be put into their hands anymore. The Priests would spend whole day • s in urging of him. He was sent to School to learn to Read and Write French; the School-master sometimes flattered him with Promises, if he would Cross himself, then threatened him if he would not. But when he saw flattering Promises of rewards, and threatenings were ineffectual, he struke him with a stick he had in his hand; and when he saw that would not do, he made him get down on his Knees about an hour, and then came and bid him make the sign of the Cross, and that without any delay; he still refused. Then he gave him a couple of Strokes, with a Whip he had in his hand; which Whip had three Branches and about twelve great knotsty'd in it. And again bid him make the Sign of the Cross; and if it was any Sin, he would bear it himself: and said also, You are afraid you shall be changed if you do it: but (said he) You will be the same, your Fingers wont be changed. And after he had made him shed many Tears, under his abuses and threatenings, he told him, He would have it done: And so thro' Cowardice and Fear of the Whip, he made the Sign. And did so for several days together with much ado, he was brought to Cross himself. And then the Master told him, He would have it done without his Particular bidding him. And when he came to say his Lesson and Cross'd not himself, the Master said, Have you forgot what I bid you do. No Sir, said he, Then the School-master said, Down on your Knees; and so kept him for an hour and half, till School was done: and so did for about a Week. When he saw this would 〈◊〉 do, 〈◊〉 took the Whip, What wont you do it (said he) I will make you: and so again, frighted him to a compliance. After this, Commanded him to go to the Church: when he refused, he told him, he would make him. And one Morning sent four of the biggest Boys of the School, to draw him by force to Mass. These, with other severities and witty stratagems were used; and I utterly ignorant of any attempt made upon him, to bring him to change his Religon. His fear was such, that he never durst Write any of these things, least his Letters should fall into their hands, and he should again be delivered to the Indians. Hearing of an opportunity of Writing to him by one of the Parish where I was, going up to Mont-Royal, I Wrote a Letter to him, and had by him a Letter from my Son; which I shall here insert.

I Have her transcribed the Letter in the very words of it without the least alteration: the same for substance was sent to several other Captives. When I had this Letter, I presently knew it to be of Mr. Meriels composing; but the Messenger who brought the Letter, brought word that my Son had embraced their Religion. Afterwards when some blamed him for letting me know of it, because (they said) they feared my Sorrow would shorten my days. He told me, he thought with himself that if he was in my case, he should be willing to know the worst, and therefore told me as he would have desired to have known if in my place. I thank'd him, acknowledging it a favor to let me know of it: But the News was ready to Over-whelm me with Grief and Sorrow. I made my complaint to GOD, and Mourned before Him; Sorrow and Anguish took hold upon me. I asked of God to direct me what to do, and how to Write, and find out an opportunity of conveying a Letter to him; and committed this difficulty to his Providence. I now found a greater opposition to a Patient, Quiet, Humble, Resignation to the Will of God than I should otherwise have known, if not so tried. Here I thought of my Afflictions and Trials; my Wife and Two Children killed, and many of my Neighbors; and myself, so many of my Children and Friends in a Popish Captivity, separated from our Children, not capable to come to them to instruct them in the Way they ought to go; and cunning crafty Enemies, using all their subtlety to insinuate into Young ones, such Principles as would be pernicious. I thought with myself how happy many others were, in that they had their Children with them, under all advantages to bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Whilest we were separated one from another, and our Children in great Peril of Imbracing damnable doctrines. Oh! that all Parents who Read this History would Bless God for the advantages they have of Educating their Children; and faithfully improve it! I Mourned when I thought with myself that I had one Child with the Macqua's, a second turned to Popery, and a little Child of Six years of Age, in danger from a Child to be instructed in Popery; and knew full well that all endeavors would be used to prevent my seeing or speaking with them. But in the midst of all these God gave me a secret hope, that He would magnify His Power and free Grace, and disappoint all their crafty designs. When I looked on the right hand and on the left, all refuge failed, and none shown any care for my Soul. But God brought that Word to uphold me; Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think. As also that, Is anything too hard for God? I Pray'd to God to direct me; and Wrote very short the first time, and in general terms, fearing least if I should Write about things in controversy, my Letters would not come to him. I therefore addressed him with the following Letter.

WHat I mournfully Wrote, I followed with my poor Cries to God in Heaven to make effectual, to cause in him a consideration of what he had done. God saw what a Proud heart I had, & what need I had to be so answered out of the Whirlwind, that I might be humbled before Him. Not having any answer to my Letter for some Weeks. I Wrote the following Letter, as I was enabled of God, and sent to him by a faithful hand; which by the blessing of God was made effectual for his good, and the good of others, who had fallen to Popery; and for the establishing and strengthening of others to resist the Essays of the Adversary to Truth. God brought good out of this evil, and made what was designed to promote their interest, an occasion of shame to them.

GOD who is gloriously Free and Rich in His Grace to vile Sinners, was pleased to bless poor & weak means for the recovery of my Child so taken, and gave me to see, that He did not Say to the House of Jacob, Seek you me in vain. Oh! that every Reader would in every difficulty make Him their Refuge; He is an hopeful stay. To alleviate my Sorrow, I received the following Letter in answer to mine.

THis Priest Mr. Meriel, has brought many Letters to him and bid him Write them over and send them, and so he has done for many others. By this as also by Mrs. Stilsons, saying, She does not think that either of these Women did change their Religion before their Death; she affirms also, that oftentimes during their Sickness, whilst they had the use of their reason, they protested against the Romish Religion and Faith. Its evident that these Women never died Papists, but that it was a wily Stratagem of the Priests to advance their Religion; for Letters were sent immediately, after their death, to use this as a persuasive argument to gain others. But God in His Providence gave in farther Conviction of their fallaciousness in this matter.

For the last Summer, one Biggilow of Marlborough, a Captive at Mont-Royal, was very Sick in the Hospital, and in the judgment of all with a Sickness to Death. Then the Priests and others gave out, that he was turned to be of their Religion, and taken into their communion: But contrary to their expectation he was brought back from the gates of Death, and would comply with none of their rites: saying, that whilst he had the use of his reason, he never spake anything in favor of their Religion. And that he never disowned the Protestant Faith, nor would he now. So that they were silenced and put to shame. There is no reason to think that these two Women were anymore Papists than he; but they are Dead and cannot speak. One of the Witnesses spoken of in the fore-mentioned Letter, told me, she knew of no such thing, and said Mr. Meriel told her, that he never heard a more fervent and affectionate Prayer, than one which Esther Jones made a little before her Death. I am verily persuaded, that he calls that Prayer to God so full of affection and confession, the confession made by her of the Sins of her whole Life. These two Women always in their health, and so in their Sickness, opposed all Popish Principles, as all that knew them can testify, so long as they could be permitted to go and speak with them. One of these Women was taken from the Eastward, and the other, namely Esther Jones from Northampton.

In the beginning of March 1706. Mr. Sheldon came again to Canada, with Letters from His Excellency our GOVERNOUR, at which time I was a few days at Quebeck. And when I was there, One Night about Ten a Clock, there was an Earthquake, that made a report like a Cannon, and made the Houses to tremble: It was heard and felt many Leagues, all along the Island of St. Laurence, and other places. When Mr. Sheldon came the second time, the Adversaries did what they could to retard the time of our return, to gain time to seduce our Young Ones to Popery. Such were sent away who were judged ungainable, and most of the Younger sort still kept. Some still flattered with Promises of reward; and great Essays to get others Married among them. One debauched, and then in Twenty-four Hours of time Published, taken into their Communion & Married; but the poor Soul has had time since to lament her Sin & Folly, with a bitter cry; and asks your Prayers, that God of His Sovereign Grace would yet bring out of the horrible Pit, she has thrown herself into. Her Name was Rachael St • rer of Wells.

In ▪ April, one Zebediah Williams of our Town died: he was a very hopeful and pious young man, who carried himself so in his Captivity, as to edify several of the English; and recover one fallen to Popery, taken the last War; though' some were enraged against him on these accounts; yet even the French where he Sojourned, and with whom he Conversed, would say he was a good man: One that was very Prayerful to God, and Studious and Painful in reading the holy Scriptures. A man of a good understanding, a desirable Conversation: in the beginning of his last Sickness he made me a Visit (before he •• ent to the Hospital at Quebeck ) to my great satisfaction, and our mutual consolation and comfort in our Captivity. As he had several times before, living not above two Miles from me over the River, at the Island of St. Laurence, about Six Weeks or Two Months. After his Death, the French told me, Zebediah was gone to Hell and Damned: For, said they, He has appeared since his Death (to one Joseph Egerly, an English man, who was taken the last War) in flaming fire, telling him, he was Damned for refusing to embrace the Romish Religion, when such pains were used to bring him to the true Faith, and for being instrumental to draw him away from the Romish Communion, forsaking the Mass; and was therefore now come to advertise him of his danger. I told them, I Judged it to be a Popish Lye: Saying, I bless God our Religion needs no lies to uphold, maintain, and establish it, a • theirs did. But they affirmed it to be true, telling me, how God approved of their Religion, and Witnessed miraculously against ours. But I still told them, I was persuaded his Soul was in Heaven, and that these reports were only devised fables to seduce Souls. For several Weeks they affirmed it, telling me, that all who came over the River from the Island affirmed it to be a truth. I begged of God to blast this Hellish Design of theirs, so that in the issue it might be to render their Religion more abominable, and that they might not gain one Soul by such a stratagem. After some weeks had passed in such assertions, there came one into my Landlords House, affirming it to be a truth reported of Zebediah, saying, Joseph Egerly had been over the River, & told one of our Neighbors this Story. After a few hours I saw that Neighbor, and asked him whether he had seen Egerly lately; he said yes, What News told he to you? None said he. Then I told him what was affirmed as a truth; he answered, Egerly said nothing like this to him, and he was persuaded he would have told him, if there had been any truth in it. About a week after this, came one John Boult from the Island of St. Laurence, a Lad taken from Newfoundland, a very serious sober Lad of about Seventeen years of Age; he had often before came over with Zebediah to visit me. At his coming in, he much lamented the loss of Zebediah, and told me, that for several weeks they had told him the same Story, affirming it to be a truth, and that Egerly was so awakened by it, as to go again to Mass every day, urging him; since God in such a miraculous way offered such conviction of the truth of their Religion, and the falsehood & danger of ours, to come over to their Religion, or else his damnation would be dreadfully aggravated. He (said he) could have no rest for them day and night; but (said he) I told them their Religion was contrary to the Word of God, and therefore I would not embrace it; & that I did not believe what they said. And says he, to me, one day I was sitting in the house, and Egerly came in, and I spake to him before the whole Family (in the French Tongue, for he could not speak much English ) and asked him of this Story, he answered, it's a great falsehood, saying, he never appeared to me, nor have I ever reported any such thing to anybody; and that he had never been at the M • ss since Zebediah' s death. At the hearing of which they were silenced and put to shame; we blessed God together, for discovering their wickedness, and disappointing them in what they aimed at, & prayed to God to deliver us and all the Captives from delusions, and recover them who had fallen, and so parted. After which I took my Pen and wrote a Letter to one Mr. Samuel Hill, an English Captive, taken from Wells, who lived at Quebeck, & his Brother Ebenez • r Hill to make a discovery of this lying Plot, to warn them of their danger, and assure them of the falsehood of this report; but the Letter fell into the hands of the Priests, and was never delivered. This Egerly came home with us, so that they gained nothing but shame by this stratagem: God often disappoints the crafty devices of wicked men.

In the latter end of Summer, they told me they had News from New-England by one who had been a Captive at Boston, who said that the Ministers at Boston had told the French Captives, that the Protestant Religion was the only true Religion; and that as a confirmation of it, they would raise a dead person to life before their eyes for their conviction; and that having persuaded one to feign himself dead, they came and prayed over him, and then commanded him in the Name of Christ (whose Religion they kept pure) to arise, they called and commanded, but he never arose; so that instead of raising the Dead, they killed the Living; which the bereaved Relations discovered. I told them, it was an old Lye and Calumny against Luther and Calvin new vamped, and that they only change the persons and place: but they affirmed it to be a truth; I told them I wondered they were so fond of a faith propagated, and then maintained by lying words.

We were always out of hopes of being returned before Winter, the season proving so cold in the latter end of September, and were praying to God to prepare our hearts, with all holy submission to his Holy Will, to Glorify his Holy Name in a way of passive Obedience in the Winter. For my own part, I was informed by several who came from the City, that the Lord Intendant said, if More returned and brought word that Battis was in Prison, he would put me into Prison, and lay me in Irons. They would not permit me to go into the City, saying, I always did harm when I came to the City, and if at any time I was at the City, they would persuade the Governor to send me back again.

In the beginning of last June, the Superior of the Priests came to the Parish where I was, and told me, he saw I wanted my Friend Captain de Beauville, and that I was ragged. But says he, your obstinacy against our Religion discourages from providing better Cloaths; I told him it was better going in a ragged Coat, than with a ragged Conscience.

In the beginning of last June, went out an Army of Five Hundred Maqua's and Indians, with an intention to have fallen on some English Towns down Connecticut River, but lighting on a S • alac • ok Indian, who ran away in the night, they were discouraged; saying, he would alarm the whole Country: about Fifty as some say, or Eighty as others, returned: Thus God restrained their Wrath.

When they were promising themselves another Winter, to draw away the English to Popery, came News of an English Briganteen a coming, and that the Honorable Capt. Samuel Appleton Esqr. was coming Ambassador, to fetch off the Captives, and Capt. John Bonner with him. I cannot tell you how, the Clergy and others labored to stop many of the Prisoners, to some Liberty, to some Money, and yearly Pensions were offered, if they would stay. Some they urged to tarry at least till the Spring of the year, telling them it was so late in the year, they would be lost by Shipwrack if they went now; some younger ones they told, if they went home they would be Damned and burn in Hell forever, to affright them; day and night they were urging of them to stay. And I was threatened to be sent aboard, without a permission to come ashoar again, if I should again discourse with any of the English who were turned to their Religion; at Mont-Royal especially all crafty endeavors were used to stay the English. They told my Child, if he would stay, he should have an honorable Pension from the King every year, and that his Master, who was an old man, and the richest in Canada, would give him a great deal; telling him if he returned he would be poor, for (said they) your Father is poor, has lost all his Estate; it was all burnt. But he would not be prevailed with to stay; and others were also in like manner urged to stay, but God graciously brake the snare and brought them out. They endeavored in the Fall of the year, to have prevailed with my Son to have gone to France, when they saw he would not come to their Communion anymore. One Woman belonging to the Eastern parts, who had by their persuasions, Married an English Captive taken the last War, came away with her Husband, which made them say, they were sorry they ever persuaded her to turn to their Religion, and then to Marry. For instead of advancing their Cause by it, they had weakened it, for now they had not only lost her, but another they thought they had made sure of. Another Woman belonging to the Eastward, who had been flattered to their Religion, to whom a Bible was denied, till she promised to embrace their Religion, and then had the promise of it for a little time, opening her Bible whilst in the Church and present, at Mass, she read the fourth Chapter of Deuteronomy, & received such conviction whilst reading, that before her first communion she fell off from them, and could never be prevailed with anymore to be of their Religion.

We have reason to bless God, who has wrought deliverance for so many, and yet to pray to God for a door of escape, to be opened for the great number yet behind, not much short of an Hundred, many of which are Children, and of these not a few among the Salvages, and having lost the English Tongue, will be lost and turn Salvages in a little time, unless something extraordinary prevent.

The Vessel that came for us, in its Voyage to Canada struck on a Bar of Sands, and there lay in very great hazard for four Tides, and yet they saw reason to bless God for striking there; for had they got over that Bar, they should at midnight in a Storm of Snow have run upon a terrible ledge of Rocks.

We came away from Quebeck, October Twenty five, and by contrary Winds and a great Storm, we were retarded, and then driven back nigh the City, and had a great deliverance from Shipwrack, the Vessel striking twice on a Rock in that Storm. But thro' God's goodness we all arrived in safety at Boston, November Twenty one, the number of Captives Fifty seven, two of which were my Children. I have yet a Daughter of Ten years of Age, and many Neighbors, whose Case bespeaks your compassion, and prayers to God to gather them, being Out-casts ready to perish.

At our arrival at Boston, we found the Kindnesses of the Lord in a wonderful manner, in God's opening the hearts of many, to bless God with us and for us, wonderfully to give for our supplies in our needy state. We are under obligations to praise God, for disposing the hearts of so many to so great Charity, and under great bonds to pray for a blessing on the Heads, Hearts and Families of them, who so liberally and plentifully gave for our relief. It's certain, that the Charity of the whole Country of Canada, though moved with the doctrine of merit, does not come up to the Charity of Boston alone, where notions of merit are rejected; but acts of Charity performed out of a right Christian Spirit, from a Spirit of thankfulness to God, out of Obedience to God's Command, and unfeigned Love and Charity to them that are of the same Family and Household of Faith. The Lord grant, that all who devise such liberal things, may find the accomplishment of the promises made by God, in their own persons and theirs after them, from Generation to Generation.

I Shall Annex a short account, of the troubles beginning to arise at Canada. On May Sixteen, arrived a Cannoe at Quebeck, that brought Letters from Mesyppa, written the May preceeding, giving an account that the Plague was there, and that One hundred & Fifty French in a very little time had died of it; & that the Salvages called the Lezilouways were very turbulent, & had with their Arrows wounded a Jesuit in Five places, and killed a French-man that waited on him. In July News came, that the Nations up the River were engaged in a War one against the other, and that the French living so among them, and Trading with them, were in great danger, that the Mitchel-macquina's had made War with the M ••• mies, and had killed a Mendicant F • yar, and three other Frenchmen, and eleven Salvages at a place called the Straits, where they are settling a Garison and Place for Traffick; the Mitchel-macquina's had taken sixteen French-men Prisoners, and burnt their Trading Houses. These tidings made the French very full of perplexing troubles; but the Jesuits are endeavoring to pacify them, but the troubles when we came away, were rather increasing then lessening; for the last Letters from the French Prisoners at Mitchel-macquina report, that the Salvages had sent out two Companies, one of an Hundred and Fifty, another of an Hundred and Sixty, against the Salvages at the Straits, and they feared, they would engage as well against the French as the Indians.

Signal favors to be Publish'd, for the Praise of God the Giver.

THE Infinitely Wise disposer of all things, who aims at His own Glory, in the Governing of Rational Creatures, doth sometimes bring Persons into the depths of distress, and then magnify his Power & Grace in raising them up out of their afflictions: and in many respects by such things, He has a design of advancing His own Honor & Glory in the World. We find in the context, a Person in a very doleful distress'd condition: he seems to be forsaken of God, and made a Possession and dwelling Place of Evil Spirits, deprived of all human comforts & delights, made to possess Sorrow and Pain to such a degree, as to be a common Subject, or Theme of discourse for all men to relate doleful things about. And afterward, God in very remarkable & wonderful works of Power and Mercy not only gives release from his sorrowful Possession, but he is S •• ting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, & in his 〈◊〉 mind. Now this was done for the declarative and manifestative Glory & Honor of God. For when this man for whom such great things had been done, Petitions Christ that he may abide with Him, to hear from Him, and Pay his respects to him; he receives commandment, to be glorifying the Power & Mercy of God, in declaring to others what great things God had done for him.

1. A Subject of great Mercy; or a person spoken of for whom God had done great things, bestowed eminent Mercies.

2. A particular and special command from Christ, to be glorifying God in relating to others, what Mercies he had been the Subject of.

3. His obedience to the great command of Christ: he went and published the great things done for him by Christ; so that from the command of Christ, & his obedience to it, for which he is commended, you may observe this Doctrinal Conclusion.

The holy Scriptures in many places confirm this Truth. See Exod. 12. 25, 26, 27. And it shall come to pas • , when ye be came to the land, which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your Children shall say unto you, What mean you by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the Houses of the Children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, & delivered our houses. Exod. 13. 8, 10. And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me, when I came forth out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this Ordinance in his season from year to year. Psal. 78. • , 4. Which we have heard and known, and our Fathers have told us; we will not hide them from their Children, showing to the Generation to come the Praises of the Lord, and his Strength, & his wonderful works that he hath done. In the prosecution & handling of this Truth, Consider,

1. They who have had Mercies, have had them from God. God is the bestower and giver of all our good things: All our Mercies come to us by a Divine Providence, and ordering; not by casualty and accident, neither are they of our own procuring and purchasing, or others, so as to exclude the providential disposing of God. 'It is God who returns the Captivity of Zion, Psal. 126. begin. When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then said they among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad: turn again our Captivity O Lord. The very Heathen, acknowledge the good things bestowed upon, and done for the Church, to be from God; and God's own People acknowledge Him for the Mercies granted, and humbly supplicate Mercies from Him for the future. 'It is God who gathers the outcasts of Israel: 'tis He who takes away the Captives of the Mighty, the Prey of the terrible: Who contends with them that contend with us, & saves our Children. 'It is God who disperseth and gathers again: Therefore the Psalmist, Psal. 103. begin. Calls upon his Soul to bless the Lord, and not to forget all his benefits; and saith, 'tis God who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who heal • th all thy discases: Who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies, & 〈◊〉 Sometimes, God in a more immediate and extraordinary way and manner, confers blessings and mercies, sometimes in a more ordinary and mediate way; but his Providence is to be acknowledged in all: not one single Mercy comes to us, without a commission from that God by whom our very Hairs are numbered.

2. It well becomes those who have had eminent Mercies, to be showing to others what great things God hath done for them. Therefore you find the holy Psalmist calling upon others, to give a listening ear, whilst he makes a Narration of the Salvations he had from God, Psal. 66.16. Come and hear all you that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul.

1 st. Reason. Because God aimed at the advancement of His Own Honor and Glory, in the giving and dealing out of these Mercies. God makes and disposeth all things for His own Honor and Glory. All Works of Providence, are some way or other to advance the Honor & Glory of God in the World. The glory of His Power, Wisdom, Mercy, Justice and Holiness, are some way or other advanced in a declarative and manifestative way and manner. Now it well becomes us, to fall in with the design of God, and in an active manner to be giving Him Glory. That God designs to have Glory given to Him, is evident from, Psal. 50. 15. And 〈◊〉 upon m • in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Exod. 7.5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the Children of Israel from among them. God has a design to magnify His Power, Mercy and Covenant Faithfulness, in the eyes of the World.

2 d. Reas. Because God has given us direct precepts, and positive Commands, in this Way to be Glorifying of Him. God is our Lord and Law-giver, and He requires that among other ways of showing forth His Praises, we do it by rehearsing His Praise worthy Acts, to the Children of Men. So that in Obedience to God, and answering that High & Noble end we were made for; its requisite that in this way we glorify God. Its enough, that the great God who hath taken us into Covenant Relation to Himself, has enjoined us, to show forth His Praises in rehearsing to others the Salvations, and Favors we have been the Subjects of. The fore-mentioned Scriptures, with many others that might be enumerated, sufficiently demonstrate, that God calls for our thankful acknowledgments in this Way; and upon the account of this being so agreeable to the revealed and preceptive Will of God, the Psalmist expresseth himself, as in Psal. 145.4, 5, 6. One Generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy Majesty; and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness: and shall sing of thy Righteousness. Verse 10, 11, 12. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy Saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom; and talk of thy power. To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts 〈◊〉 and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

3 d. Reas. Because hereby they will stir up others to bless God with them, and for them. A truly gracious Soul finds by experience, that he can do but a little in Glorifying God, finds how far he falls short of the rule of duty, in so reasonable a Service as Glorifying God. And being enlarged in desires that the glory due to God might be given Him, doth call upon others to joy • with him in this Heavenly Service of Praising God; and therefore tells them what great things God has done. Psal. 34. 2, 3, 4, 6. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him; and saved him out of all his troubles. When 〈◊〉 told his Father in law Jethro, the great things 〈◊〉 had done for Israel, he Glorifies God on their behalf, Exod. 18. 8. &c. And Moses told his Father in 〈◊〉 all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travel that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel: whom he had delivered ou • of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed 〈◊〉 the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Praraoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods 〈◊〉 for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them. By this means thanks will be given to God by many: as many have been Praying to God for them, so many will be praising and blessing God with them and for them.

4 th. Reas. Because hereby they will oftentimes be advised and counseled, how to improve such Mercies to the Glory of God. We are conscious to ourselves of so much blindness, ignorance, and darkness, that we cannot but own it a great thing to be in a way for the best counsel, what to do with our Mercies, and what and how to return to God for them. Now the publishing the great things done by God for us, put others in a capacity to be advising and telling of us, what temptations we may expect to meet with, and what will be needful on our part to avoid temptations, and how to over-come; they will be counseling us, how to be in a way, of rendering to the Lord according to the benefits done unto us: what Duties God looks for the performance of, and directions how to do duty. In a word, we may be counseled how to order our whole Conversation, so as God may have Glory, and our good purposes of honoring and glorifying God with our Mercies, established. Pr •• . 20. 18. Every purpose is established by counsel. When Moses had told Jethro what great things God 〈◊〉 done for Israel, he saith, Exod. 18, 19. Heathen 〈◊〉 unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and 〈…〉 with thee, &c.

5 th. Reas. Because hereby they will be instrumental to put others upon trusting God, making Him their hope and refuge in an Evil Day. Others will be excited, to a seeking refuge under the shadow of his Wings, Psal. 44. beg. We have heard with our ears; O God, our fathers have told us, what work then didst in their days, in the times of old. How thou didst drive out the Heathen, &c. And then it is said, Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Thro' thee will we push down our enemies: through thy Name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. In God we boast all the d • y l •• g. Others that have heard, will say, such and such an one was thus exercised, and God appeared for them, and put songs of praise to the Lord into their mouths, we will commit our Case to God too; we will both hope and quietly wait for God's Salvation too. Your telling others, how you have found God a Prayer-hearing God, will encourage them, Prayer-wise to be committing their distressed & difficult cases to Him. What an honor to be instrumental to any Souls comfort, and God's honor; agreeable to this is that, Psal. 78. 5, 6, 7. Which he commanded our fathers • that they should make them known to their Children. That the Generation to come might know them, even the Children which should be born: who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope 〈◊〉 God, and not forget the works of God: but 〈◊〉 his Commandments.

6 th. Reas. Because the Works of God towards them, have been very wonderful. The Psalmist often speaks of the Works of God as marvelous; they are wonderful if we consider, how God Timed the Mercy; when their feet well nigh slipped, when they could see no way of escape; as with the Children of Israel at the Red-sea. How very wonderful and marvelous was the work of God, in putting by the wicked purpose of H • man against Mordeca • and the Jews? If we consider how God kept from falling, by making them pass a right judgment on their ways and His ways, as Psal. 73. Yea appearing to save them, when with Jonah they were saying. They were cast out of God's sight. All refuge seemed to fail, none showing any care for their soul; even then God made good his word on which he had caused them to hope, as Psal. 142. per totum. The Works of God are marvelous, if we consider the way and manner of ushering in the mercy, the instrument • that were made use of, and how He disappointed the counsels of the Crafty.

7 th. Reas. Because 'tis a good evidence, that they regarded and took notice of the Works of God in Mercy, and would not forget His wonderful works towards them. For hereby, they put others under advantages to put them in mind, what favors they have received from God.