But whatever the pernicious consequences of these theological disputes might he, they certainly contributed to the more speedy population of America. The pro ceedings against Mrs Hutchinson excited no little dis gust in the minds of those who adhered to her senti ments. A party of these withdrawing from the commu nion of their brethren, joined themselves to the disciples of Williams, who was banished from Salem in the vear 1634 ; and purchasing from the Indians an island in Nar raganset-bay, they gave to it the name of Rhode Island, and settled there. The colony of Connecticut owes its origin to the dissensions between Hooker and Cotton, two favourite preachers in Massachusetts; and those of New Hampshire and Maine, chiefly to the separation of Wheelwright, a proselyte of Mrs Hutchinson, from the rest of the community in the same province.
These new establishments exposed the English to great dangers from the Indians, by whom they were surrounded. The Pequods, an ancient and martial tribe, were the first who Look the alarm. Relinquishing their former animosities, they proposed to the Narragansets that they should unite against the common enemy ; whose numbers became every day more formidable, and whose progress threatened them both with indiscrimi nate ruin. But such was the love of reN enge, or the want of foresight on the part of the Narragansets, that, instead of joining with the Pequods in defence or their country and their freedom, they communicated the pro posal which had been made to them to the governor of Massachusetts-bay ; and united with him against the Indians whom it was the English interest to oppose. The Pequods, exasperated rather than discouraged, took the field, and laid siege to Fort-Saybrooke. Captain Tenderhill w as despatched to its relief ; and it was agreed by the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut, that they should march next year into the country of the enemy, and put a final termination to their hostilities. The troops of Connecticut were first in motion. But the colony of Massachusetts was divided about the covenant of works and the covenant of grace : It was found, that some, both of the officers and men who were to fight its battles, were yet under the cove nant of works: the others therefore declared, that the blessing of God could not rest on the arms of such as differed from them on this metaphysical question; and it was not till after much alarm, and many changes, that they were sufficiently pure to begin the war. In the mean while, the troops of Connecticut were obliged to advance against the enemy. The Indians were posted on a rising ground, not far from the head of the river Mystic, and had fortified themselves with pallisadoes; the only method of defence with which they were ac quainted. They had been deceived by the movement of the English vessels from Saybrooke to Narraganset; and, imagining that the expedition was abandoned, had given themselves up to riot and security. At the break
of day, while the Indians were overpowered with sleep, the colonists approached ; and had not the savages been alarmed by the barking of a dog, their surprise and de struction would have been complete. They instantly raised the war-cry, and flew' to such arms as they pos sessed. But though their courage was great, they were speedily discomfited by the discipline and bravery of the Europeans. The English shot at them through the palisadoes, forced their way through the works, and set fire to their huts. Many of the women and children perished in the flames, The confusion and terror be came general, and scarcely any of the party escaped. This blow was followed by others equally effectual. The troops of Connecticut being reinforced at length by those of 141assachusetts, they pursued the enemy from one retreat to another; and in less than three months, the Pequods were so completely extirpated, that their very name as a trbe was lost. A few individuals, who es caped the general carnage, were incorporated with the neighbouring Indians.
In consequence of this decisive campaign, which was marked by cruelties, required neither by good policy nor by necessity, the English enjoyed a long tranquillity in all their colonies.
Immediately after the termination of the war, New haven was settled.
The number of emigrants from England still con tinued to increase. Multitudes, driven from their coun try by the oppression of its rulers, found safety andTro tection in the colonies of America. Charles I. alarmed at the diminution of his subjects at home, issued a pro clamation, by which the masters of ships were lorbiuuen to carry passengers to New Eng,and wanout his per mission ; a mandate, which, though it was often disre garded, operated in one instance with a full and latal effect. Sir Arthur flasleng, OilVer Cromwell, John Hampden, and others of the same principles, had hued some ships to carry them to America : and the king laid an embargo on the vessels just when they were ready to sail. By this means, he forcibly detained in England the persons who afterwards disturbed his tranquillity, in volved the nation in a ciNil war, overturned the throne, the monarch himself to the seai.old. The order of.Chavles was utterly insufficient to stop the pro gress of emigration. In the year 1 638, above three thousand persons, choosing rather to incur the displea sure of the king, than remain under the tyranny of his government, embarked for New England, and were gladly received by the planters. Enraged at this con tempt of his authority, Charles issued a writ of quo war ranto against the corporation of Massachusetts-bay, and its patent was declared to be forfeited. But as the trou bles of his reign were approaching, he was prevented from attending to the situation of the colonies in the Western World.