UNIVERSITY

OF

CALIFORNIA

THE HINCKLEY PAPERS.

THOMAS HINCKLEY TO HIS WIFE.

BOSTON, 10 February, at night, 1675-6.

DEAR LOVE, Since my last enclosed, which I broke up to signify to thee not to expect my coming home this week, Job, the other Indian spy, sent out as I heretofore wrote, is last night returned to Captain Gookins, and informs that the Narraganset are got to the Quebaug Indians, four hundred of them and three hundred of the other, as I mentioned heretofore; and informs that six of Eems his children, the owner of the house burnt at Sudbury (of which before), are with the Indians; and the Indians intended the morning of this day, three hundred of them, to fall upon Lancaster, alias Nashuway. Post was sent by Captain Gookins and Mr. Danforth last night, midnight, for eighty troops and forty foot thereabout and at Marlborough, to hasten to Lancaster for their relief; but whether they came time enough, is not yet known. A post came thence to-day to inform a great many Indians were at Lancaster bridge, and the smoke of some houses fired there appeared to him as he came. The good Lord fit us for his pleasure, and help us not only to do something near a reformation, but make us thorough in it, that he may not only bring us only near a deliverance as he hath seemed many times to do, but thorough to it. I long to be with thee; but it cannot yet be: though I hope to be

་

with thee next week. Meanwhile, I desire and hope God's gracious presence will be with thee, far better than mine, to support and carry thee through any present trials and difficulties. Continue prayers for him that cannot forget thee, but remain, Thine, T. H. Respects to all friends. Haste. I am, through mercy, in health; being glad to hear of thine last Lord's Day.

THOMAS COOPER AND OTHERS TO THOMAS HINCKLEY AND OTHERS.

REHOBOTH, April 14, '76.

HONORABLE AND BELOVED SIRS, -We have received your friendly lines, and, according to our opportunity and ability, consulted your courteous tender made therein, of what accommodations as to houses and else it hath pleased God still to continue with you, that we, that are several of us houseless and our other substances wasted, might have acceptance and entertainment amongst you. Our conclusion is, your motion at this time brings with it a testimony of your sympathy with us in our distressed and bereaved state; and that room we have had in your hearts, though at a distance, by your expressed willingness to open your hands and houses to us, if God call us to come nearer to you. We therefore return you as hearty thanks as if we were in a capacity to entertain your motion, and should make the utmost use of what is tendered to us by your undeserved bounty; yet, having cast our thoughts in this important matter, we do generally accord in this, — that it seems most advisable for us yet here to abide, and that upon these grounds: 1. The interest of Christ amongst us, which should bear the most sway with us in all our considerations and motions, will, we doubt, be much jeoparded hereby. God having here given the ark of his presence its settled abode this several years in peace and

quietness, till we by our sins have disturbed the same, we rather at this time would say (by way of allusion to David's determination in time of public commotion), Let the visible tokens of God's wonted presence and favor abide in its proper place; and let us, with humble prayers and tears, wring out our complaints to God, who only can give us the comfortable and settled enjoyment of such things as formerly, which he will do if we find favor in his sight. If otherwise he have no delight in us, lo, here we are: let him do with us as seemeth him good. We add hereto that reproach we shall be like to expose God's name and our own to amongst the blasphemous heathen, who will much embolden themselves hereby to get more ground of us. 2. As to our outward interests, our removal will be circumstanced with many inconveniences. 1. Respecting the considerable quantity of English grain which we now have in the ground, having cast in the more, that we might, by the blessing of God, have some relief from an early harvest: this, upon a removal, we must give up as lost. 2. We foresee, that in probability, before any competent settlement amongst yourselves can be accomplished by us, much of the season of our planting will be past. 3. Our removal cannot be effected without some observation by the enemy; which, should God permit him to improve, would expose us to as much hazard as our present stay. This is the sum of our thoughts. But admit you should discern an invalidity in such arguments as these for our stay, and still lovingly attempt the clearing of the way for us to minister relief to us in our sufferings: what will you do with our sins? Should we bring them with us? Will not both yourselves and us be endangered thereby? And how can we find in our hearts to do you this great discourtesy? Were the plague upon our bodies, you and we should deem it argument enough to forbid our motion, and cause us humbly and silently to sit under the engraving of a "Lord, have mercy upon us," affixed to posts of all

with thee next week. Meanwhile, I desire and hope God's gracious presence will be with thee, far better than mine, to support and carry thee through any present trials and difficulties. Continue prayers for him that cannot forget thee, but remain, Thine, T. H. Respects to all friends. Haste. I am, through mercy, in health; being glad to hear of thine last Lord's Day.

THOMAS COOPER AND OTHERS TO THOMAS HINCKLEY AND

OTHERS.

REHOBOTH, April 14, '76.

HONORABLE AND BELOVED SIRS, -We have received your friendly lines, and, according to our opportunity and ability, consulted your courteous tender made therein, of what accommodations as to houses and else it hath pleased God still to continue with you, that we, that are several of us houseless and our other substances wasted, might have acceptance and entertainment amongst you. Our conclusion is, your motion at this time brings with it a testimony of your sympathy with us in our distressed and bereaved state; and that room we have had in your hearts, though at a distance, by your expressed willingness to open your hands and houses to us, if God call us to come nearer to you. We therefore return you as hearty thanks as if we were in a capacity to entertain your motion, and should make the utmost use of what is tendered to us by your undeserved bounty; yet, having cast our thoughts in this important matter, we do generally accord in this, that it seems most advisable for us yet here to abide, and that upon these grounds: 1. The interest of Christ amongst us, which should bear the most sway with us in all our considerations and motions, will, we doubt, be much jeoparded hereby. God having here given the ark of his presence its settled abode this several years in peace and

us.

quietness, till we by our sins have disturbed the same, we rather at this time would say (by way of allusion to David's determination in time of public commotion), Let the visible tokens of God's wonted presence and favor abide in its proper place; and let us, with humble prayers and tears, wring out our complaints to God, who only can give us the comfortable and settled enjoyment of such things as formerly, which he will do if we find favor in his sight. If otherwise he have no delight in us, lo, here we are: let him do with us as seemeth him good. We add hereto that reproach we shall be like to expose God's name and our own to amongst the blasphemous heathen, who will much embolden themselves hereby to get more ground of 2. As to our outward interests, our removal will be circumstanced with many inconveniences. 1. Respecting the considerable quantity of English grain which we now have in the ground, having cast in the more, that we might, by the blessing of God, have some relief from an early harvest: this, upon a removal, we must give up as lost. 2. We foresee, that in probability, before any competent settlement amongst yourselves can be accomplished by us, much of the season of our planting will be past. 3. Our removal cannot be effected without some observation by the enemy; which, should God permit him to improve, would expose us to as much hazard as our present stay. This is the sum of our thoughts. But admit you should discern an invalidity in such arguments as these for our stay, and still lovingly attempt the clearing of the way for us to minister relief to us in our sufferings: what will you do with our sins? Should we bring them with us? Will not both yourselves and us be endangered thereby? And how can we find in our hearts to do you this great discourtesy? Were the plague upon our bodies, you and we should deem it argument enough to forbid our motion, and cause us humbly and silently to sit under the engraving of a "Lord, have mercy upon us," affixed to posts of all