.MTAxNQ.NjcxMzc

their secret messenger to the Christian Indians that the English designed in the conclusion to destroy them all or send them out of the country for bond slaves, and indeed if the conscientious and pious rulers of the country had not acted contrary to the minds of sundry men, this last might have proved true. 1675, September 7. The council gave orders to Lieutenant Thomas Henchman of Chelmsford to send outing Indian messenger two with a safe conduct to Wannalancet (3), Sachem of Naamhok (4), who with some few others related to him had withdrawn into the woods for fear and quarter about Pengoog (9); this Sachem being a wise man and true to the English and a great lover of our nation presuming the English were highly provoked against all Indians, he thought it best prudence to withdrew far into the country until the wars were abated, and accordingly decided about 6 weeks before. The messengers sent could not meet him but they sent their message to him but he could not be prevailed with to return but travelled up into the woods further afterward, and kept about the head of Connecticut River all winter, where was a place of good hunting for moose, deer, bear, and other such wild beasts, and came not near either to the English or his own countrymen our enemies. And now I am speaking of this Sachem Wannalancet, I shall mention a few things concerning him that are of remark, declaring his honesty, love and fidelity to the English. This man is the eldest son living of the ancient and great Sachem, living upon Merrimack river, called Passaconaway, who lived to a very great age, for I saw him alive at Pawtucket when he was about 120 years old. This old

(1) The letter sent by the Governor at this time was as follows - and a copy of it is on file at the state house (See Book of Indians ii) (2) Pennakook. Concord New Hampshire (3) I have been very full on the life of this chief in the Book of Indians as also that of his father Passaconconaway (4) Same as NanmKeag, Amoskeag, ?