that he should send to Patuxet the three Englishmen he had, and not kill them: also that he should not spoil the pale and houses at Wichaguscusset; and that his messenger should either bring the English, or an answer, or both; promising his safe return.

65. This message was delivered, and the party would have returned with an answer, but was at first dissuaded by them, whom afterwards they would, but could not persuade to come to us. At length, though long, a woman came and told us, that Obtakiest was sorry that the English were killed, before he heard from the governour; otherwise he would have sent them. Also she said, he would fain make his peace again with us; but none of his men durst come to treat about it, having forsaken his dwelling, and daily removed from place to place, expecting when we would take further vengeance on him.

66. Concerning those other people, that intended to join with the Massachuseuks against us, though we never went against any of them; yet this sudden and unexpected execution, together with the just judgment of God upon their own guilty consciences, hath so terrified and amazed them, as in like manner they forsook their houses, running to and fro like men distracted, living in swamps and other desert places, and so brought manifold diseases amongst themselves, whereof very many are dead; as Canacum, the sachim of Manomet; Aspinet, the sachim of Nauset ; and Ianough, sachim of Mattachiest. This sachim in his life, in the midst of these distractions, said the God of the English was offended with them, and would destroy them in his anger and certainly it is strange to hear how many of late have, and still daily die amongst them; neither is there any likelihood it will easily cease; because through fear they set little or no corn, which is the staff of life, and without which they cannot long preserve health and strength. From one of these places a boat was sent with presents to the governour, hoping thereby to work their peace; but the boat was cast away, and three of the persons drowned, not far from our plantation. Only one escaped, who durst not come to us, but returned; so as none of them dare come amongst us.

67. The month of April being now come, on all hands

VOL. VIII.

M 2

we

And because there was no

we began to prepare for corn. corn left before this time, save that was preserved for seed, being also hopeless of relief by supply, we thought best to leave off all other works, and prosecute that as most necessary. And because there was no (31) small hope of doing good, in that common course of labour that formerly we were in; for that the governours, that followed men to their labours, had nothing to give men for their necessities, and therefore could not so well exercise that command over them therein, as formerly they had done; especially considering that self love wherewith every man, in a measure more or less, loveth and preferreth his own good before his neighbours, and also the base disposition of some drones, that, as at other times, so now especially would be most burdenous to the rest; it was therefore thought best that every man should use the best diligence he could for his own preservation, both in respect of the time present, and to prepare his own corn for the year following; and bring in a competent portion for the maintenance of publick officers, fishermen, &c. which could not be freed from their calling without greater inconveniences. This course was to continue till harvest, and then the governours to gather in the appointed portion, for the maintenance of themselves and such others, as necessity constrained to exempt from this condition.

68. In the midst of April we began to set, the weather being then seasonable, which much encouraged us, giving us good hopes of after plenty. The setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God, for our further chastisement, to send a great drought; insomuch as in six weeks after the later setting there scarce fell any rain; so that the stalk of that was first set began to send forth the ear, before it came to half growth, and that which was later, not like to yield any at all, both blade and stalk hanging the head, and changing the colour in such a manner, as we judged it utterly dead. Our beans also ran not up according to their wonted manner, but stood at a stay, many being parched away, as though they had been scorched before the fire. Now were our hopes overthrown, and we discouraged, our joy being turned into mourning.

(31) The word no appears to be an errour of the press.

69. To

69. To add also to this sorrowful estate in which we were, we heard of a supply that was sent unto us many months since, which having two repulses before, was a third time in company of another ship three hundred leagues at sea, and now in three months time heard no further of her; only the signs of a wreck were seen on the coast, which could not be judged to be any other than the same.

70. These and the like considerations moved not only every good man privately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience, and so to humiliation before him; but also more solemnly to humble ourselves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer. To that end a day was appointed by publick authority, and set apart from all other employments; hoping that the same God, which had stirred us up hereunto, would be moved hereby in mercy to look upon us, and grant the request of our dejected souls, if our continuance there might any way stand with his glory and our good. But, O the mercy of our God! who was as ready to hear, as we to ask: For though in the morning, when we assembled together, the heavens were as clear, and the drought as like to continue as ever it was; yet our exercise continuing some eight or nine hours, before our departure, the weather was overcast, the clouds gathered together on all sides, and on the next morning, distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain, continuing some fourteen days, and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say, whether our withered corn, or drooping affections, were most quickened and revived: Such was the bounty and goodness of our God. Of this the Indians, by means of Hobbamock, took notice; who being then in the town, and this exercise in the midst of the week, said, It was but three days since sunday; and therefore demanded of a boy, what was the reason thereof. Which when he knew, and saw what effects followed thereupon, he and all them admired the goodness of our God towards us, that wrought so great a change in so short a time; showing the difference between their conjuration, and our invocation on the name of God for rain; theirs being mixed with such

storms

storms and tempests, as sometimes, instead of doing them good, it layeth the corn flat on the ground, to their prejudice; but ours in so gentle and seasonable a manner, as they never observed the like.

71. At the same time Captain Standish, being formerly employed by the governour, to buy provisions for the refreshing of the colony, returned with the same, accompanied with one M. David Tomson, a Scotchman, who also that spring began a plantation twenty-five leagues north-east from us, near Smith's isles, at a place called Pascatoquack, where he liketh well. Now also heard we of the third repulse that our supply had, of their safe, though dangerous, return into England, and of their preparations to come to us. So that having these many signs of God's favour and acceptation, we thought it would be great ingratitude, if secretly we should smother up the same, or content ourselves with private thanksgiving for that, which by our private prayer could not be obtained. And therefore another solemn day was set apart for that end; wherein we returned glory, honour, and praise, with all thankfulness, to our good God, which dealt so graciously with us; whose name for these and all his other mercies towards his church and chosen ones, by them be blessed and praised, now and evermore. Amen.

72. In the latter end of July, and the beginning of August, came two ships with supply unto us; who brought all their passengers, except one, in health, who recovered in short time; who, notwithstanding all our wants and hardship, blessed be God! found not any one sick person amongst us at the plantation. The bigger ship, called the Anne, was hired, and there again freighted back; from whence we set sail the tenth of September (32). The lesser, called the Little James, was built for the company at their charge. She was now also fitted for trade and discovery to the southward of Cape Cod, and almost ready to set sail; whom I pray God to bless in her good and lawful proceedings.

(32) Mr. Winslow went in this ship to England, as agent for the colony, and there published this Narrative. (Belkn. Biog. II. 299.) To it he subjoined an account of the manners and customs, the religious opinions and ceremonies of the Indians; which is inserted in the Appendix to the IId. vol. of Belknap's Biography.

MEMOIRS OF THE REV. DR. THACHER.

IT is one of the regulations of the Historical Society to collect an account of the life and writings of their members as they leave the present sublunary state. Several worthy members have died since the publication of our seventh volume, of whom biographical Notices have been given in these pages. When this volume was nearly finished, the death of Dr. Thacher was announced by a vessel from Georgia, a character of him was written in the newspapers, and an Eulogy delivered in the Church of Brattle-Street by Mr. Emerson, but it was judged proper by the Committee to present some Memoirs of so distinguished a member in this volume of our Collections. The short notice which we had, and the few leaves which are spared for the purpose must be our apology, if the account be not sufficiently marked with the lines of his character; or the documents be not complete enough to make the Memoirs worthy the publick acceptance.

PET

ETER THACHER, D. D. was the son of Oxenbridge Thacher, Esq. of Boston, a lawyer of eminence, who died in the midst of his reputation and usefulness. His amiable moral character is remembered by the present generation, and his name frequently mentioned in terms of very high esteem.* Dr. Thacher was his eldest son,

thirteen

* O. Thacher graduated at Harvard College, A. D. 1738. He died July 8th, 1765, aged 45, at that time one of the four representatives in the General Court for the town of Boston. He was a learned man, and a good writer. He published two pamphlets, one, 1760, On the Gold Coin. Another, 1764, The sentiments of a British American, occasioned by Act to lay certain duties in the British colonies and plantations.

He was the son of O. Thacher, Esq. who was many years one of the Selectmen of Boston, and representative to the General Court. This gentleman removed to Milton, his native place, was several years representative from that town, and died, A. D. 1772, ætat. 93 years. He graduated 1698, and for many years his name was in the catalogue, as the first among the living. He was son of the Rev. Peter Thacher of Milton, who graduated A. D. 1671, and was pastor of Milton church, near forty-seven years. He died A. D. 1727, ætat. 77.

Dr. Cotton Mather preached his funeral sermon, which was reprinted A. D. 1796, with an excellent sermon, upon the death of Mr. Robbins, by his greatgrandson the Rev. Thomas Thacher of Dedham.

This Peter Thacher married a daughter of John Oxenbridge, pastor of the