A

approach so near, as to throw handfuls of mud on
board, without being exposed themselves.
stack of hay, and a pile of plank, were also places
of security, whence they could pour showers of
balls upon the sloops; while their great numbers
allowed them to place parties of men to prevent
any assistance from the garrison. Several times.
they set the sloops on fire, by shooting burning ar-
rows, but by the vigilance of the crews, under
Capt. Storer and Capt. Gcuge, they were extin-
guished. Resistance was so formidable, that they
again returned to the garrison, and again they as-
saulted the sloops. Various and bold were their
stratagems. On a pair of wheels they built a plat-
form, with a raised front that was bullet proof.
This, loaded with French and Indians, was push-
ed towards the sloops; the terrific machine of
death, advanced slowly; it proceeded by the side
of the channel, bursting with smoke and fire, till
within fifteen yards of the sloop; one wheel sinks
in the mire; a Frenchman steps to lift the wheel;
Storer levels his gun, and he falls; another takes
his place, and again Storer takes aim, and he falls
by his fellow. Soon the tide rises, and over-
turns their rolling battery; the men are exposed
to the deadly fire of the sloops, and fall or fly in ev-
ery direction.

Their next project was to build a kind of fire ship, eighteen or twenty feet square, loaded with **combustible substance; this raft of fire they guid

ed as near the vessels as they dared, and the tide directed the blazing pile directly toward the trembling sloops. Never were men in a more awful situation. In this moment of distress, they cried unto God, and he heard them. To the amazement of all, the wind suddenly changed, and with a fresh gale drove the floating destruction on shore, so shattered, that the water broke in, and extinguished the fire. Thus, after alternately attacking the garrison and vessels for forty eight hours, exhausting their strength, expending their ammunition, losing one of their French commanders, and a number of their men, they sullenly retreated, having killed one man, and a number of cattle, and taken one prisoner; him they tortured, and killed in the most terrible manner.

This summer, a formidable stone fort was built at Pemaquid, called William Henry. Early in the summer of 1693, major Church received the command of the troops in the eastern country, with orders to raise 350 more. He surprised and took a party of the enemy not far from Wells; then marched to Pemaquid, Taconet, and Saco, but found no enemies. At Saco, he ordered a fort to be built. About this time, the Indians alarmed Quabaog, or Brookfield, and killed a number of persons, but they were pursued, most of them killed, their captives and plunder retaken. The Indians had now become tired of the war; they had some serious fears respecting the Maquas, and

sued for peace, which was willingly granted them. A treaty was signed, May 11, 1693.

In 1691, the general court employed two of their members, with Sir Henry Ashhurst, and the Rev. Dr. Mather, to solicit the restoration of their charter. In this they were disappointed, but a new charter was given, including the colony of Plymouth, Province of Maine and Nova Scotia, with all the country between Nova Scotia and Maine to the River St. Lawrence; also Elizabeth Islands, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, in the government of Massachusetts. But the peo

ple were greatly disappointed in their new charter. Many of their invaluable privileges were taken from them. They no longer chose their governors, secretary, or officers of admiralty. The militia was under the controul of the governor. A house of representatives was not mentioned. To levy taxes, grant administrations, prove wills, and try capital offenders, was the office of the governor and council. But in the true spirit of their native independence, the first act of the legislature, in Massachusetts, after receiving the charter, contained the following clause: "No aid, tax, tollage, assessment, custom, loan, benevolence, or imposition whatsoever shall be laid, assessed, imposed, or levied on his majesty's subjects, or their estates, on any pretence whatever, but by the act and consent of the governor, council, and representatives of the people, assembled in general

court."

CHAP. XXIII.

Witchcraft.

It was now seventy two years since the

first settlement of Plymouth. During this period, making their own laws and choosing their own rulers, New England had established regulations for promoting learning and religion, not equalled perhaps in any nation. In 1643, there were thirty six churches in New England; in 1650, there were forty, which contained 7750 communicants;* and though the philosophist points the finger of derision at the pious founders of these republics, the history of man does not present any people adopting wiser measures, or productive of more permanent blessings. No where is knowledge more generally diffused, no where are morals more correct, religion more pure, or the inhabitants more independent and happy.

But the fairest day has its cloud. Sir William Phips, the first governor under the new charter, found the province in a deplorable situation. An Indian war was wasting the frontiers. An agitation, a terror of the public mind in the greater. part of Essex county, like a tornado, was driving the people to the most desperate conduct. In the tempest of passion, a government of laws, trial by jury, all the guards against oppression, were too feeble to protect the person, or property of

Dr. Stiles' M. S.

the most loyal subject. The pillars of civil government were shaken to their foundation, by the amazing power of supposed witchcraft. In the beginning of 1692, the Rev. Samuel Paris, of Salem village, now Danvers, had a daughter aged 9, and a niece aged 11, "who were distressed with singular distempers." The means used by the physician being ineffectual, he gave it as his opinion, that "they were under an evil hand.” The neighbours immediately believed that they were bewitched. An Indian servant and his wife, privately, made some experiments "to find out the witch." The children being informed of this, immediately complained of Tituba, the Indian woman, that she pinched, pricked, and tormented them. They said she was visible to them, here and there, where others could not see her. Sometimes they would be dumb, and choked, and have pins thrust into their flesh. Mr. Paris, being deeply affected with the distress of his family, invited a number of his brethren in the ministry to visit him, and give their advice. They advised him "to wait on the providence of God, and to be much in prayer." Accordingly, two or three private fasts were kept at his house, at one of which several ministers came and joined with him. After this, there was a public fast in the village, and afterward in several congregations in the neighbourhood; and finally, the general court appointed a fast through the colony,“ to seck the Lord, that he would rebuke Satan." Still the