August 6th, 1671
Current Map of Plymouth
Team Members:
Hannah DiPilato and Griffin Morrill
Description: In August of 1671, John Elliot wrote this piece asking for peace and mercy on behalf of the Praying Indian tribe. He asks as an intercessor between the two parties due to his religious authority because there are plans to attack the tribe even though they have done nothing wrong.
We the poor Church of Natik, hearing that the honored rulers as good people of Plimoth as pressing, arming of soldiers to you to war against the Missoghonoog Indians; for wt cause we know not. Though yi yet pray not to God, yet we hope wt will or we do mourn and pray for yr as desire greatly yt yi may not be destroyed, especially because we have not heard yt yr have done anything worthy of death . Therefore we do stand there honor two brothers Antony and William, who we formally honor messengers to yoe [smudge]. We request John Soassamon to joyn wth ym. And this trust we comit unto you honor dear brother, as beloved:
- To get to Missoghonoog Indians or who else may be concerned my quarrel tell that we the poor Church of Natik. Send these to subjects wch we intreat them to obey the first is [illegible] 20 . 10 [illegible]. Where we see as it is the duty of Plimtoh, to offer [illegible] before yei war upon you. So it is your duty to offer, accept, and desire peace as we pray you for, Gods sake, as for your souls sake, obey this word of God. The 2 text is 1 Cor. 6.1.2.3.4.5.6. where God commandeth and with yr to whom differences asrise among people [illegible] ought to put their differences to millions of others. And therefore we do exhort you to obey this word of God and whatsoer differences are betwixt you as the English of Aquidneck or betwixt you as [scratched out illegible] Plimoth. Refr them all to the judgement of the rulers of the Massachusetts as wt ever yei judge do you obey, lay down your lives as all yt you have at their feet.
If they of Missoghonoog believe and accept this honored exhorition tell ym yt the Church hath [illegible] sent you to the governor to tell him, the Church hath done and how acceptable it is to you and yt you do obey both those words of God, you desire peace, and desire to refer the whole matter, to the judgement of the government of Massachusetts.
- When you come to the Governor tell him the Church hath sent you to be mediators of peace, in the behalf of the Missoghonoog Indians, or any other of their neighbors. Tell him yt they yield willing obedience to both those texts of scripture. And therefore tell him that the poor Church of Natik both doth beseech him and all the rest of the Magistrates, for God’s sake who is the God of peace, as for Christ, his sake who is the king of peace as honor great peace maker in heaven yt yei would accept this offer, and submission unto peace and unto yt instituted way of making as establishing of peace, and to pressing as arming of soldiers as marching, against ym yt are desirous of peace. We beseech you to consider what comfort it will be to kill or to be killed when no capital sin hath been committed or defended by ym (that we heard off).
And we request you honor beloved brethren to be steady in your emotions, we shall endeavor to follow you [illegible] honor prayers and long to hear of a happy peace that may open a clear door for this passing of the gospel among those peoples, thus commending you to God in prayers, and doe send you forth upon this great service of peace making, oh is eminently the flower of glory of Christ his kingdom.
Natik August of 6th John Eliot
1671 wth the consent of the church
From M : Elliot and
Natick [illegible]
[illegible] G : 71
Aug. 6. 1671
No. 72
“Conjectural Plan of the Fortified Town of Plymouth, 1622.” The Plymouth Colony Archive Project, www.histarch.illinois.edu/plymouth/fortplan.html.