[43] Penhallow, 17, 18 (ed. 1859). There was a previous meeting of conciliation between the English and the Abenakis in 1702. The Jesuit Bigot says that the Indians assured him that they had scornfully repelled the overtures of the English, and told them that they would always stand fast by the French. (_Relation des Abenakis_, 1702.) This is not likely. The Indians probably lied both to the Jesuit and to the English, telling to each what they knew would be most acceptable. [44] See "Count Frontenac," 371. [45] Bourne, _History of Wells and Kennebunk_. [46] The above particulars are drawn from the _History of Wells and Kennebunk_, by the late Edward E. Bourne, of Wells,--a work of admirable thoroughness, fidelity, and candor. [47] On these attacks on the frontier of Maine, Penhallow, who well knew the country and the people, is the best authority. Niles, in his _Indian and French Wars_, copies him without acknowledgment, but not without blunders. As regards the attack on Wells, what particulars we have are mainly due to the research of the indefatigable Bourne. Compare Belknap, i. 330; Folsom, _History of Saco and Biddeford_, 198; _Coll. Maine Hist. Soc._, iii. 140, 348; Williamson, _History of Maine_, ii. 42. Beaubassin is called "Bobasser" in most of the English accounts. [48] The careful and well-informed Belknap puts it at only 130. _History of New Hampshire_, i. 331. [49] Charlevoix, ii. 289, 290 (quarto edition). [50] Penhallow, _Wars of New England with the Eastern Indians_. [51] Doddridge, _Notes on Western Virginia and Pennsylvania_. [52] On this affair, see the note of Elisha Plaisted in Massachusetts Archives; _Richard Waldron to Governor Dudley, Portsmouth, 19 September, 1712_; Bourne, _Wells and Kennebunk_, 278. CHAPTER IV. 1704-1740. DEERFIELD. Hertel de Rouville.--A Frontier Village.--Rev. John Williams.--The Surprise.--Defence of the Stebbins House.--Attempted Rescue.--The Meadow Fight.--The Captives.--The Northward March.--Mrs. Williams killed.--The Minister's Journey.--Kindness of Canadians.--A Stubborn Heretic.--Eunice Williams.--Converted Captives.--John Sheldon's Mission.--Exchange of Prisoners.--An English Squaw.--The Gill Family. About midwinter the governor of Canada sent another large war-party against the New England border. The object of attack was an unoffending hamlet, that from its position could never be a menace to the French, and the destruction of which could profit them nothing. The aim of the enterprise was not military, but political. "I have sent no war-party towards Albany," writes Vaudreuil, "because we must do nothing that might cause a rupture between us and the Iroquois; but we must keep things astir in the direction of Boston, or else the Abenakis will declare for the English." In short, the object was fully to commit these savages to hostility against New England, and convince them at the same time that the French would back their quarrel.[53]