An earnest exhortation to the inhabitants of New-England, to hearken to the voice of…

Not many days after this Letter was written, the English received a sadder rebuke of Providence, then any thing that hitherto had been. For September 18. Captain Lothrop (a godly and courageous Commander) with above seventy men were sent to be as a Guard to some that were coming from Dee•-field with Carts loaden with Goods and Provision, to be removed to Hadly, for security: But as they were coming, the Indians, whose cruel Habitations are the dark […] of the Earth, lo•ked in the Swamps, and multitudes of them made a sudden and frightful assault. They seized upon the Carts and Goods (many of the Soldiers having been so foolish and secure, as to put their Arms in the Carts, and step aside to gather Grapes, which proved dear and deadly Grapes to them) killed Captain Lothr•p, and above threescore of his men, stripped them of their clothes, and so left them to lye weltering in their own Blood. Captain Mosely who was gone out to range the Woods, hearing the Guns, hasted to their help, but before he could come, the other Captain and his men were ••ain, as hath been expressed. Nevertheless he gave the Indians Battle: they were in such numbers, as that he and his company were in extreme danger, the Indians endeavouring (according to their mode of fighting) to encompass the English round, and then to press in upon them with great numbers, so to knock them down with their Hatchets. In the nick of time Major Treat, with above an hundred men, and threescore of Unkas his Indians came in to succour those that were so be s•t with the Enemy, whereupon the Enemy presently retreated, and […] coming on, there was no pursuing of them. In this fight, but few of Captain Mosely's men were slain: How may Indians were killed is unknown, it being their manner to draw away their dead men, as fast as they are killed, if possibly they can do it; yea, they will venture their own lives for that end, which they do out of policy, that so their Enemies may think, that few or none of them are killed, when nevertheless they have lost many. I am informed that some of the Indians have reported, that they lost ninety six men that day, and that they had above forty wounded, many of which dyed afterwards. However, this was a black and fatal day, wherein there were eight persons made Widows, and six and twenty Children made Fatherless, all in one little Plantation, and in one day;