A88924:91
Decennium luctuosum An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…
Decennium luctuosum An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath had with the Indian salvages, from the year, 1688. To the year 1698. Faithfully composed and improved. [One line of quotation in Latin]
printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1699
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
ARTICLE VIII. A Little Account of the Greatest Action, that ever New England Attempted.
I have Read or Heard, That when the Insufferable Abuses, which the English Nation suffered from the Abbeys, were in the Parliament complained of, the Total Dissolution of those Abbeys, was much forwarded, by a Speech of a Gentleman in the House of Commons, to this purpose; That his own House had been much annoyed by Rooks building in a Tree, near unto it, and that he had used many ineffectual ways to disturb, and disroost these mischievous Rooks: until at Last, he found out an infallible way to be delivered from the Rooks, and that was to cut down the Tree that Lodged 'em. The Distresses into which New-England was now fallen, made this very comparison to be thought of. The Indian Rooks grievously infested the Country; and while the Country was only on the Defensive Part, their Men were Thinned, their Towns were Broken, and their Treasures consumed, ⟨p. 59⟩without any Hope of seeing an End of these Troublesome Tragedies. The French Colonies to the Northward, were the Tree, in which those Rooks had their Nests; and the French having in person first fallen upon the English of New-England, it was thought that the New-Englanders might very justly take this Occasion, to Reduce those French Colonies under the English Government, and so at once take away from all the Rooks for ever, all that gave 'em any Advantage to Infest us. Accordingly, a Naval Force, with about Seven Hundred men, under the Conduct of Sr. William Phips, was dispatched away to L'accady, and Nova Scotia. This Fleet, setting Sail from New-England, April 28. 1690. in a Fortnight Arrived at Port-Royal, and Sir William having the Fort Surrendered unto him, took Possession of that Province, for the Crown of England. But this was only a step towards a far greater Action! There was no Speech about the Methods of Safety made, which did not conclude, with, a, Delenda est Carthago. It was become the concurring Resolution, of all New-England, with New-York, that a vigorous Attack should be made upon Canada, at once, both by Sea, and Land. A Fleet of Thirty Two Sail, under the Command of Sr. William Phips, was Equipped at Boston, and began their Voyage, Aug. 9.