.MTAxNg.NjcyOTA

38

to get away but could not certenly relate what number of the enimy there were or whether they had carried their freinds, the people captvated were for the most unarmed; about 50 men & 150 women & children, the enimie Indians as we afterward particularly understood were about 300 all wel Armed; who declared to our chtian Indians (ammong whom they had some kindred) And got with them quietly then they would spare their lives. otherwise, they would take away all their corne, & then they would be famished; And further they argued with them. If we do not kill you & that you goe to the English againe they will either send you all to some Iland Island as the Naticke Indians are where you wil be in danger to bee starved with cold & hunger, & most probable in the end bee all sent out of the country for slaves; these kind of Arguments used by the enimy & our frends inability to defend themselves, together with their feare of hard measure from the English; wherof some of them had late experience , for among these were the eleven Indians that were so long imprisoned at Boston & tryed for their lives upon a pretended murder don by them at Lancaster above mentiond wherof they knew themselves inocent & were aquited But they smarted so much in and About the matter that they were in feare of further sufferings: upon these considerations many of them at last were inclined In this strait of two evils to choose the least as it to them appered, & to accompany the enimy to their quarter under their promise of Good usage & protection: and perhaps if English men & good chtians too had beene in ther case & under like temptation