Decennium luctuosum. An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…

But our Sloops were sorely incommoded, by a Turn of the Creek, where the Enemy could lie out of danger, so near 'em, as to throw Mud aboard with their Hands. The Enemy was also privileged with a Great Heap of Plank, lying on the Bank and with an Hay•Stock, which they Strengthened with Posts, and Rails; and from all these places, they poured in their Vengeance upon the […] while they so placed Smaller parties of their Salvages, as to make it impossible for any of the Garrisons, to afford 'em any relief. Lying thus, within a Dozen yards of the Sloops, they did with their Fire Arrows, diverse times desperately set the Sloops on Fire: but the brave Defendants, with a Swab, at the End of a Rope, ⟨p. 91⟩tied unto a Pole, and so dipped into the Water, happily put the Fire out. In brief the Sloop• gave the Enemy so brave a Repulse, that at Night they Retreated: when they Renewed their Assault, finding that their Fortitude would not assure the Success of the Assault unto them, they had recourse unto their Policy. First, an Indian comes on, with a Slab, for a Shield, before him; when a Shot from one of the Sloops, pierced the Slab, which fell down, instead of a Tombstone with the Dead Indian under it: on which, as little a Fellow as he was, I know not whether some will not reckon it proper to inscribe the Epitaph, which the Italians use to bestow upon their Dead Popes; When the Dog is Dead, all his Malice is Dead with him. Their next Stratagem was This: They brought out of the Woods, a kind of a Cart, which they Trimmed, and Rigged, and Fitted up into a Thing, that might be called, A Chariot: whereon they built a platform, shot-proof in the Front, and placed many men upon that platform. Such an Engine they understood how to Shape, without having Read, (I suppose) the Description of the Pluteus in Vegetius! This Chariot they pushed on, towards the Sloops, till they were got, it may be, within Fifteen yards of them; when, lo, one of the Wheels to their Admiration Sunk into the Ground. A Frenchman Stepping to heave the Wheel, with an Helpful Shoulder, Storer Shot him down; Another ⟨p. 92⟩Stepping to the Wheel, Storer with a well placed Shot, sent him after his Mate: So the Rest thought, it was best let it stand as it was.

But our Sloops were sorely incommoded, by a Turn of the Creek, where the Enemy could ly out of danger, so near 'em, as to throw Mud aboard with their Hands. The Enemy was also priviledged with a Great Heap of Plank, lying on the Bank and with an HayStock, which they Strengthened with Posts, and Rayles; and from all these places, they poured in their Vengeance upon the while they so placed Smaller parties of their Salvages, as to make it impossible for any of the Garrisons, to afford 'em any relief. Lying thus, within a Dozen yards of the Sloops, they did with their Fire Arrows, diverse times desperately set the Sloops on Fire: but the brave Defendents, with a Swab, at the End of a Rope,