N00725:17
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 savages, 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
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.
The History is indeed of no very Fine Thread; and the Readers, who every where Fish for nothing but Carps, and who Love, like Augustus to Tax all the World, may find Fault enough with it. Nevertheless, while the Fault of an Untruth can't be found in it, the Author pretends, that the famous History of the Trojan War it self, comes behind our little History of the Indian War; ⟨p. 8⟩For the best Antiquaries, have now confuted Homer; the Walls of Troy were it seems, all made of Poets Paper; and the Siege of the Town with the Tragedies of the Wooden Horse, were all but a piece of Poetry.
The History is indeed of no very Fine Thred; and the Readers, who every where Fish for nothing but Carps, and who Love, like Augustus to Tax all the World, may find Fault enough with it. Nevertheless, while the Fault of an Untruth can't be found in it, the Author pretends, that the famous History of the Trojan War it self, comes behind our little History of the Indian War; ⟨p. 8⟩For the best Antiquaries, have now confuted Homer; the Walls of Troy were it seems, all made of Poets Paper; and the Siege of the Town with the Tragedies of the Wooden Horse, were all but a piece of Poetry.
And if a War between Us, and an Handful of Indians, do appear no more than a Batrachomyomachie, to the World abroad yet unto us at home, it hath been considerable enough, to make an History. Nor is the Author afraid of promising, that of all the Thirty Articles which make up this History, there shall not be One, without something in it, that may by our selves be justly thought Considerable.
Should any Petit Monsieur complain (as the Captain, that found no himself in the Tapestry Hangings, which Exhibited the Story of the Spanish Invasion in 1588.) that he don't find himself mentioned in this History, the Author has his Apology. He has done as well and as much as he could, that whatever was worthy of a mention, might have it; and i this Collection of Matters be not complete, yet he supposes it may be more complete, than any one else hath made; and now he hath done, he hath not pulled up the Ladder after him; others may go on, as they please, with a completer Composure.