Captivity and Restoration
M >>
Mrs. Mary Rowlandson >> Captivity and Restoration
The Twentieth Remove
It was their usual manner to remove, when they had done any
mischief, lest they should be found out; and so they did at this
time. We went about three or four miles, and there they built
a great wigwam, big enough to hold an hundred Indians, which
they did in preparation to a great day of dancing. They would
say now amongst themselves, that the governor would be so angry
for his loss at Sudbury, that he would send no more about the
captives, which made me grieve and tremble. My sister being not
far from the place where we now were, and hearing that I was
here, desired her master to let her come and see me, and he was
willing to it, and would go with her; but she being ready before
him, told him she would go before, and was come within a mile or
two of the place. Then he overtook her, and began to rant as if
he had been mad, and made her go back again in the rain; so that
I never saw her till I saw her in Charlestown. But the Lord
requited many of their ill doings, for this Indian her master,
was hanged afterward at Boston. The Indians now began to come
from all quarters, against their merry dancing day. Among some
of them came one goodwife Kettle. I told her my heart was so
heavy that it was ready to break. "So is mine too," said she,
but yet said, "I hope we shall hear some good news shortly." I
could hear how earnestly my sister desired to see me, and I as
earnestly desired to see her; and yet neither of us could get an
opportunity. My daughter was also now about a mile off, and I
had not seen her in nine or ten weeks, as I had not seen my
sister since our first taking. I earnestly desired them to let
me go and see them: yea, I entreated, begged, and persuaded
them, but to let me see my daughter; and yet so hard-hearted
were they, that they would not suffer it. They made use of
their tyrannical power whilst they had it; but through the
Lord's wonderful mercy, their time was now but short.
On a Sabbath day, the sun being about an hour high in the
afternoon, came Mr. John Hoar (the council permitting him, and
his own foreward spirit inclining him), together with the two
forementioned Indians, Tom and Peter, with their third letter
from the council. When they came near, I was abroad. Though I
saw them not, they presently called me in, and bade me sit down
and not stir. Then they catched up their guns, and away they
ran, as if an enemy had been at hand, and the guns went off
apace. I manifested some great trouble, and they asked me what
was the matter? I told them I thought they had killed the
Englishman (for they had in the meantime informed me that an
Englishman was come). They said, no. They shot over his horse
and under and before his horse, and they pushed him this way and
that way, at their pleasure, showing what they could do. Then
they let them come to their wigwams. I begged of them to let me
see the Englishman, but they would not. But there was I fain to
sit their pleasure. When they had talked their fill with him,
they suffered me to go to him. We asked each other of our
welfare, and how my husband did, and all my friends? He told me
they were all well, and would be glad to see me. Amongst other
things which my husband sent me, there came a pound of tobacco,
which I sold for nine shillings in money; for many of the
Indians for want of tobacco, smoked hemlock, and ground ivy. It
was a great mistake in any, who thought I sent for tobacco; for
through the favor of God, that desire was overcome. I now asked
them whether I should go home with Mr. Hoar? They answered no,
one and another of them, and it being night, we lay down with
that answer. In the morning Mr. Hoar invited the Sagamores to
dinner; but when we went to get it ready we found that they had
stolen the greatest part of the provision Mr. Hoar had brought,
out of his bags, in the night. And we may see the wonderful
power of God, in that one passage, in that when there was such
a great number of the Indians together, and so greedy of a
little good food, and no English there but Mr. Hoar and myself,
that there they did not knock us in the head, and take what we
had, there being not only some provision, but also trading-
cloth, a part of the twenty pounds agreed upon. But instead of
doing us any mischief, they seemed to be ashamed of the fact,
and said, it were some matchit Indian that did it. Oh, that we
could believe that there is nothing too hard for God! God
showed His power over the heathen in this, as He did over the
hungry lions when Daniel was cast into the den. Mr. Hoar called
them betime to dinner, but they ate very little, they being so
busy in dressing themselves, and getting ready for their dance,
which was carried on by eight of them, four men and four squaws.
My master and mistress being two. He was dressed in his holland
shirt, with great laces sewed at the tail of it; he had his
silver buttons, his white stockings, his garters were hung round
with shillings, and he had girdles of wampum upon his head and
shoulders. She had a kersey coat, and covered with girdles of
wampum from the loins upward. Her arms from her elbows to her
hands were covered with bracelets; there were handfuls of
necklaces about her neck, and several sorts of jewels in her
ears. She had fine red stockings, and white shoes, her hair
powdered and face painted red, that was always before black.
And all the dancers were after the same manner. There were two
others singing and knocking on a kettle for their music. They
kept hopping up and down one after another, with a kettle of
water in the midst, standing warm upon some embers, to drink of
when they were dry. They held on till it was almost night,
throwing out wampum to the standers by. At night I asked them
again, if I should go home? They all as one said no, except my
husband would come for me. When we were lain down, my master
went out of the wigwam, and by and by sent in an Indian called
James the Printer, who told Mr. Hoar, that my master would let
me go home tomorrow, if he would let him have one pint of
liquors. Then Mr. Hoar called his own Indians, Tom and Peter,
and bid them go and see whether he would promise it before them
three; and if he would, he should have it; which he did, and he
had it. Then Philip smelling the business called me to him, and
asked me what I would give him, to tell me some good news, and
speak a good word for me. I told him I could not tell what to
give him. I would [give him] anything I had, and asked him what
he would have? He said two coats and twenty shillings in money,
and half a bushel of seed corn, and some tobacco. I thanked him
for his love; but I knew the good news as well as the crafty
fox. My master after he had had his drink, quickly came ranting
into the wigwam again, and called for Mr. Hoar, drinking to him,
and saying, he was a good man, and then again he would say,
"hang him rogue." Being almost drunk, he would drink to him,
and yet presently say he should be hanged. Then he called for
me. I trembled to hear him, yet I was fain to go to him, and he
drank to me, showing no incivility. He was the first Indian I
saw drunk all the while that I was amongst them. At last his
squaw ran out, and he after her, round the wigwam, with his
money jingling at his knees. But she escaped him. But having
an old squaw he ran to her; and so through the Lord's mercy, we
were no more troubled that night. Yet I had not a comfortable
night's rest; for I think I can say, I did not sleep for three
nights together. The night before the letter came from the
council, I could not rest, I was so full of fears and troubles,
God many times leaving us most in the dark, when deliverance is
nearest. Yea, at this time I could not rest night nor day. The
next night I was overjoyed, Mr. Hoar being come, and that with
such good tidings. The third night I was even swallowed up with
the thoughts of things, viz. that ever I should go home again;
and that I must go, leaving my children behind me in the
wilderness; so that sleep was now almost departed from mine
eyes.
On Tuesday morning they called their general court (as they call
it) to consult and determine, whether I should go home or no.
And they all as one man did seemingly consent to it, that I
should go home; except Philip, who would not come among them.
But before I go any further, I would take leave to mention a few
remarkable passages of providence, which I took special notice
of in my afflicted time.
1. Of the fair opportunity lost in the long march, a little
after the fort fight, when our English army was so numerous, and
in pursuit of the enemy, and so near as to take several and
destroy them, and the enemy in such distress for food that our
men might track them by their rooting in the earth for ground
nuts, whilst they were flying for their lives. I say, that then
our army should want provision, and be forced to leave their
pursuit and return homeward; and the very next week the enemy
came upon our town, like bears bereft of their whelps, or so
many ravenous wolves, rending us and our lambs to death. But
what shall I say? God seemed to leave his People to themselves,
and order all things for His own holy ends. Shall there be evil
in the City and the Lord hath not done it? They are not grieved
for the affliction of Joseph, therefore shall they go captive,
with the first that go captive. It is the Lord's doing, and it
should be marvelous in our eyes.
2. I cannot but remember how the Indians derided the slowness,
and dullness of the English army, in its setting out. For after
the desolations at Lancaster and Medfield, as I went along with
them, they asked me when I thought the English army would come
after them? I told them I could not tell. "It may be they will
come in May," said they. Thus did they scoff at us, as if the
English would be a quarter of a year getting ready.
3. Which also I have hinted before, when the English army with
new supplies were sent forth to pursue after the enemy, and they
understanding it, fled before them till they came to Banquang
river, where they forthwith went over safely; that that river
should be impassable to the English. I can but admire to see
the wonderful providence of God in preserving the heathen for
further affliction to our poor country. They could go in great
numbers over, but the English must stop. God had an over-ruling
hand in all those things.
4. It was thought, if their corn were cut down, they would
starve and die with hunger, and all their corn that could be
found, was destroyed, and they driven from that little they had
in store, into the woods in the midst of winter; and yet how to
admiration did the Lord preserve them for His holy ends, and the
destruction of many still amongst the English! strangely did the
Lord provide for them; that I did not see (all the time I was
among them) one man, woman, or child, die with hunger.
Though many times they would eat that, that a hog or a dog would
hardly touch; yet by that God strengthened them to be a scourge
to His people.
The chief and commonest food was ground nuts. They eat also
nuts and acorns, artichokes, lilly roots, ground beans, and
several other weeds and roots, that I know not.
They would pick up old bones, and cut them to pieces at the
joints, and if they were full of worms and maggots, they would
scald them over the fire to make the vermine come out, and then
boil them, and drink up the liquor, and then beat the great ends
of them in a mortar, and so eat them. They would eat horse's
guts, and ears, and all sorts of wild birds which they could
catch; also bear, venison, beaver, tortoise, frogs, squirrels,
dogs, skunks, rattlesnakes; yea, the very bark of trees; besides
all sorts of creatures, and provision which they plundered from
the English. I can but stand in admiration to see the wonderful
power of God in providing for such a vast number of our enemies
in the wilderness, where there was nothing to be seen, but from
hand to mouth. Many times in a morning, the generality of them
would eat up all they had, and yet have some further supply
against they wanted. It is said, "Oh, that my People had
hearkened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways, I should soon
have subdued their Enemies, and turned my hand against their
Adversaries" (Psalm 81.13-14). But now our perverse and evil
carriages in the sight of the Lord, have so offended Him, that
instead of turning His hand against them, the Lord feeds and
nourishes them up to be a scourge to the whole land.
5. Another thing that I would observe is the strange providence
of God, in turning things about when the Indians was at the
highest, and the English at the lowest. I was with the enemy
eleven weeks and five days, and not one week passed without the
fury of the enemy, and some desolation by fire and sword upon
one place or other. They mourned (with their black faces) for
their own losses, yet triumphed and rejoiced in their inhumane,
and many times devilish cruelty to the English. They would
boast much of their victories; saying that in two hours time
they had destroyed such a captain and his company at such a
place; and boast how many towns they had destroyed, and then
scoff, and say they had done them a good turn to send them to
Heaven so soon. Again, they would say this summer that they
would knock all the rogues in the head, or drive them into the
sea, or make them fly the country; thinking surely, Agag-like,
"The bitterness of Death is past." Now the heathen begins to
think all is their own, and the poor Christians' hopes to fail
(as to man) and now their eyes are more to God, and their hearts
sigh heaven-ward; and to say in good earnest, "Help Lord, or we
perish." When the Lord had brought His people to this, that
they saw no help in anything but Himself; then He takes the
quarrel into His own hand; and though they had made a pit, in
their own imaginations, as deep as hell for the Christians that
summer, yet the Lord hurled themselves into it. And the Lord
had not so many ways before to preserve them, but now He hath as
many to destroy them.
But to return again to my going home, where we may see a
remarkable change of providence. At first they were all against
it, except my husband would come for me, but afterwards they
assented to it, and seemed much to rejoice in it; some asked me
to send them some bread, others some tobacco, others shaking me
by the hand, offering me a hood and scarfe to ride in; not one
moving hand or tongue against it. Thus hath the Lord answered
my poor desire, and the many earnest requests of others put up
unto God for me. In my travels an Indian came to me and told
me, if I were willing, he and his squaw would run away, and go
home along with me. I told him no: I was not willing to run
away, but desired to wait God's time, that I might go home
quietly, and without fear. And now God hath granted me my
desire. O the wonderful power of God that I have seen, and the
experience that I have had. I have been in the midst of those
roaring lions, and savage bears, that feared neither God, nor
man, nor the devil, by night and day, alone and in company,
sleeping all sorts together, and yet not one of them ever
offered me the least abuse of unchastity to me, in word or
action. Though some are ready to say I speak it for my own
credit; but I speak it in the presence of God, and to His Glory.
God's power is as great now, and as sufficient to save, as when
He preserved Daniel in the lion's den; or the three children in
the fiery furnace. I may well say as his Psalm 107.12 "Oh give
thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth for
ever." Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath
redeemed from the hand of the enemy, especially that I should
come away in the midst of so many hundreds of enemies quietly
and peaceably, and not a dog moving his tongue. So I took my
leave of them, and in coming along my heart melted into tears,
more than all the while I was with them, and I was almost
swallowed up with the thoughts that ever I should go home again.
About the sun going down, Mr. Hoar, and myself, and the two
Indians came to Lancaster, and a solemn sight it was to me.
There had I lived many comfortable years amongst my relations
and neighbors, and now not one Christian to be seen, nor one
house left standing. We went on to a farmhouse that was yet
standing, where we lay all night, and a comfortable lodging we
had, though nothing but straw to lie on. The Lord preserved us
in safety that night, and raised us up again in the morning, and
carried us along, that before noon, we came to Concord. Now was
I full of joy, and yet not without sorrow; joy to see such a
lovely sight, so many Christians together, and some of them my
neighbors. There I met with my brother, and my brother-in-law,
who asked me, if I knew where his wife was? Poor heart! he had
helped to bury her, and knew it not. She being shot down by the
house was partly burnt, so that those who were at Boston at the
desolation of the town, and came back afterward, and buried the
dead, did not know her. Yet I was not without sorrow, to think
how many were looking and longing, and my own children amongst
the rest, to enjoy that deliverance that I had now received, and
I did not know whether ever I should see them again. Being
recruited with food and raiment we went to Boston that day,
where I met with my dear husband, but the thoughts of our dear
children, one being dead, and the other we could not tell where,
abated our comfort each to other. I was not before so much
hemmed in with the merciless and cruel heathen, but now as much
with pitiful, tender-hearted and compassionate Christians. In
that poor, and distressed, and beggarly condition I was received
in; I was kindly entertained in several houses. So much love I
received from several (some of whom I knew, and others I knew
not) that I am not capable to declare it. But the Lord knows
them all by name. The Lord reward them sevenfold into their
bosoms of His spirituals, for their temporals. The twenty
pounds, the price of my redemption, was raised by some Boston
gentlemen, and Mrs. Usher, whose bounty and religious charity,
I would not forget to make mention of. Then Mr. Thomas Shepard
of Charlestown received us into his house, where we continued
eleven weeks; and a father and mother they were to us. And many
more tender-hearted friends we met with in that place. We were
now in the midst of love, yet not without much and frequent
heaviness of heart for our poor children, and other relations,
who were still in affliction. The week following, after my
coming in, the governor and council sent forth to the Indians
again; and that not without success; for they brought in my
sister, and goodwife Kettle. Their not knowing where our
children were was a sore trial to us still, and yet we were not
without secret hopes that we should see them again. That which
was dead lay heavier upon my spirit, than those which were alive
and amongst the heathen: thinking how it suffered with its
wounds, and I was no way able to relieve it; and how it was
buried by the heathen in the wilderness from among all
Christians. We were hurried up and down in our thoughts,
sometime we should hear a report that they were gone this way,
and sometimes that; and that they were come in, in this place or
that. We kept inquiring and listening to hear concerning them,
but no certain news as yet. About this time the council had
ordered a day of public thanksgiving. Though I thought I had
still cause of mourning, and being unsettled in our minds, we
thought we would ride toward the eastward, to see if we could
hear anything concerning our children. And as we were riding
along (God is the wise disposer of all things) between Ipswich
and Rowley we met with Mr. William Hubbard, who told us that our
son Joseph was come in to Major Waldron's, and another with him,
which was my sister's son. I asked him how he knew it? He said
the major himself told him so. So along we went till we came to
Newbury; and their minister being absent, they desired my
husband to preach the thanksgiving for them; but he was not
willing to stay there that night, but would go over to
Salisbury, to hear further, and come again in the morning, which
he did, and preached there that day. At night, when he had
done, one came and told him that his daughter was come in at
Providence. Here was mercy on both hands. Now hath God
fulfilled that precious Scripture which was such a comfort to me
in my distressed condition. When my heart was ready to sink
into the earth (my children being gone, I could not tell
whither) and my knees trembling under me, and I was walking
through the valley of the shadow of death; then the Lord
brought, and now has fulfilled that reviving word unto me:
"Thus saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine
eyes from tears, for thy Work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord,
and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy." Now we
were between them, the one on the east, and the other on the
west. Our son being nearest, we went to him first, to
Portsmouth, where we met with him, and with the Major also, who
told us he had done what he could, but could not redeem him
under seven pounds, which the good people thereabouts were
pleased to pay. The Lord reward the major, and all the rest,
though unknown to me, for their labor of Love. My sister's son
was redeemed for four pounds, which the council gave order for
the payment of. Having now received one of our children, we
hastened toward the other. Going back through Newbury my
husband preached there on the Sabbath day; for which they
rewarded him many fold.
On Monday we came to Charlestown, where we heard that the
governor of Rhode Island had sent over for our daughter, to take
care of her, being now within his jurisdiction; which should not
pass without our acknowledgments. But she being nearer Rehoboth
than Rhode Island, Mr. Newman went over, and took care of her
and brought her to his own house. And the goodness of God was
admirable to us in our low estate, in that He raised up
passionate friends on every side to us, when we had nothing to
recompense any for their love. The Indians were now gone that
way, that it was apprehended dangerous to go to her. But the
carts which carried provision to the English army, being
guarded, brought her with them to Dorchester, where we received
her safe. Blessed be the Lord for it, for great is His power,
and He can do whatsoever seemeth Him good. Her coming in was
after this manner: she was traveling one day with the Indians,
with her basket at her back; the company of Indians were got
before her, and gone out of sight, all except one squaw; she
followed the squaw till night, and then both of them lay down,
having nothing over them but the heavens and under them but the
earth. Thus she traveled three days together, not knowing
whither she was going; having nothing to eat or drink but water,
and green hirtle-berries. At last they came into Providence,
where she was kindly entertained by several of that town. The
Indians often said that I should never have her under twenty
pounds. But now the Lord hath brought her in upon free-cost,
and given her to me the second time. The Lord make us a
blessing indeed, each to others. Now have I seen that Scripture
also fulfilled, "If any of thine be driven out to the outmost
parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee,
and from thence will he fetch thee. And the Lord thy God will
put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them which hate
thee, which persecuted thee" (Deuteronomy 30.4-7). Thus hath
the Lord brought me and mine out of that horrible pit, and hath
set us in the midst of tender-hearted and compassionate
Christians. It is the desire of my soul that we may walk worthy
of the mercies received, and which we are receiving.
Our family being now gathered together (those of us that were
living), the South Church in Boston hired an house for us. Then
we removed from Mr. Shepard's, those cordial friends, and went
to Boston, where we continued about three-quarters of a year.
Still the Lord went along with us, and provided graciously for
us. I thought it somewhat strange to set up house-keeping with
bare walls; but as Solomon says, "Money answers all things" and
that we had through the benevolence of Christian friends, some
in this town, and some in that, and others; and some from
England; that in a little time we might look, and see the house
furnished with love. The Lord hath been exceeding good to us in
our low estate, in that when we had neither house nor home, nor
other necessaries, the Lord so moved the hearts of these and
those towards us, that we wanted neither food, nor raiment for
ourselves or ours: "There is a Friend which sticketh closer
than a Brother" (Proverbs 18.24). And how many such friends
have we found, and now living amongst? And truly such a friend
have we found him to be unto us, in whose house we lived, viz.
Mr. James Whitcomb, a friend unto us near hand, and afar off.