None felt these humiliating circumstances more painfully than Pometacom, or king Philip of Mount Hope, as he was called by the colonists, chief of the Pocanokets, and son of that Massasoit who had welcomed the pilgrim fathers, and ever shown himself their firm friend. Already, in 1670, suspected of hostile intentions, he had been compelled to give up his fire-arms, to pay a heavy fine, and acknowledge the supremacy of the English. By some writers it has been asserted, that Philip had for several years been labouring to effect a union of the tribes for the purpose of a war of extermination on the English; but this was never proved. Others say, so far from having hostile designs, that he received the news of the first Englishman who was slain with a sorrow which forced tears from his eyes; and that the ardour of his young men alone compelled him into the war against his own judgment. Be this as it may, however, a converted Indian, who, on account of some misdemeanour, had fled to Philip, returned after a while to his former friends, and perhaps to ingratiate himself, accused Philip of a murderous plot. In June of the following year, 1675, this man was killed, and three Indians, taken up and tried on suspicion of the murder by a jury half English and half Indians, were condemned and executed. This roused the whole tribe, and Philip sending away the women and children for protection to the Narragansetts, the chief of whom was Canonchet, the son of Miantonomoh, who was burning yet to revenge the death of his father, plundered some houses near Mount Hope, and shortly after made an attack on Swanzey, where several people were killed. Speaking of this war, Bancroft very justly says: “Frenzy prompted the rising of the Indians. It was but the storm in which the ancient inhabitants of the land were to vanish away. They rose without hope, and they fought without mercy. For them as a nation there was no to-morrow.” The whole country was in a state of alarm, and the troops of Plymouth and Boston marched into the enemies’ country, and advancing to Mount Hope, the residence of Philip, who had retreated with his warriors or their approach, several Indians were killed. As yet, the Narragansetts were quiet; but it being suspected that they favoured the designs of Philip, the English forces proceeded into their territory and compelled Canonchet to sign a treaty of peace.