The occasion of my undertaking what is here presented, was a letter which I received from a worthy person, who upon the perusal of that brief historical account of the war with the Indians in New England, published the last summer, importuned me to write the story of the Pequot War. Taking his motion into consideration, it came into my thoughts, that it would be a service and benefit for posterity, if all other general troubles which have happened by the Heathen in this land, were recorded and made known; and the rather, in that as to those first motions and commotions there are very few that know any thing of them. Therefore I set my self to make enquiry into those matters, and shall for the satisfaction of the Reader, give him an account where and from where I obtained, what light and information touching these Indian troubles, I have been any wayes able to arrive to.
Such books as I had by me, that relate any thing of these affaires I have been willing to revolve. For example, Johannes de Laet his Description of America, written in Latin; also several of Captain Smith his books; and a relation of the discovery of New England, published by the President and Council of New England, Anno 1622. And the Relation or journal of the first planters in Plymouth together with several letters which some of them wrote to England, soon after their first coming into this countrey; and Mr. Winstow (then whom hardly any one that has deserved more eminently from New England) his good news from New England, published Anno 1624, which relations are in the hands of but few in this countrey, and therefore I have been the larger in excerping things out of them. They are epitomized in Purchase his Pilgrims lib. 10, who declares that he had by him a description of the voyage made by Captain H[illegible]h[illegible]m to Sag[illegible]dehoc, and the written journals of Mr. Ral[illegible]igh Gilbert, and of Mr. Harly, and Captain Hobson, who were in this land before any English plantation was settled therein. I doubt not but in those scripts a more full and particular account is given, of the first concerns with the Indians here. But I could not come by the sight of them, nor do I know certainly whether those things are extant. I have also perused Sir Ferdinando Gorges his narration of original undertakings here. Moreover I have read a large manuscript of Governor Bradford's (written with his own hand) being expressive of what the first planters in this countrey met with, whether from the Heathen or otherwise, from the year 1620 to the year 1647. As for the Pequot troubles, the world is beholding to the industry of Mr. John Allyn of Hartford (as is in the subsequent Relation acknowledged) for what is thus made public, respecting the great commotions which then happened. Only I have been willing to add some particulars out of a manuscript narrative of the Pequot war, which I lately met with in Reverend Mr. Davenport's library, as also what Mr. Johnson, or Mr. Morton (out of Mr. Bradford's manuscript) has heretofore noted. Touching the Narragansets, I have searched the public records of the Colonies, and from there excerped the substance of what is here related, as to former troubles from them, or by their means procured. The Relation concerning Alexander and his brother Philip, wherewith this Narrative is concluded, I received from the present Honourable Governor of Plymouth (who succeeds his blessed Father, as in place, so in spirit) and from the faithful Secretary of that Colony. I am sensible that there is a reality in that which Erasmus does (after his manner) wittily express: Adeo nunc in omnes et omnia grassatur comitata furiis [illegible] ut non sit tutum ullum emittere librum, nisi satellitio munitum; therefore I thought it necessary to give this particular account of the authors from whom I received my information, respecting passages insisted on. Nor shall I seek for any other guard against those, whose genius is to calumniate endeavours of this kind.
I am not altogether ignorant of what is commonly and truly observed, namely, that those histories which are partly chronological are the most profitable; and that they that undertake a work of this nature, should go by the prescript of that so much celebrated verse,
Quis, Quid, vbi, Quibus auxiliis, Cur, Quomodo, Quando, which I have endeavoured to remember. Nor has that maxim been wholly forgotten, Stylus Historicus quo simplicior eo melior. And I may expect that ingenuous readers will act according to that which a learned man in his Historica layeth down as a theorem: Historici legantur cum moderatione et venia, h. e. cogitetur viris non posse ut in omnibus circumstantiis sint Lyncei. I have done what I could to come at the truth, and plainly to declare it, knowing that that is (as useth to be said) the soul and sun of history, whose property is [illegible].
As for what concerns the story of the late war with the Indians, there are who have propounded, that some meet persons might be improved in the several Colonies, to collect what of moment has happened in each Colony since this war broke forth. When Cassiodorus compiled a history out of the collections of Socrates, Theodoret, Sozomen, it was of great use in after ages, bearing the name of Historia Tripartita; if such a course as has been intimated should be attended, and the design finished, a complete history may [illegible] be composed out of those collections, which I know not but that it may deserve the name of Historia Tripartita, and be no less beneficial to posterity, than some others have been. In the mean time, the Reader must be satisfied with what is already extant.
This following Relation was written near upon a year ago; since which a Reverend Author has emitted a narrative of the troubles which have happened by the Indians in New England, whose pains and industry does (in my judgment) deserve acknowledgment. Nevertheless it has been thought needful to publish this; considering that most of the things here insisted on, are not so much as once taken notice of in that narrative. And although the Pequot war be therein described (and that, as to the substance of the story, truly and impartially) it is not so fully done as is here to be seen. If this endeavour shall contribute any light or help in writing a history of New England, I hope they whose hearts are upon seeking out and declaring the works of God in the generation which he cast them into, will accept of my labor, however mean and inconsiderable. I shall add no more, but pray that the blessing of heaven may be upon undertakings of this nature.
Boston N. E. Sept. 14. 1677. Increase Mather.
