At the time of King Philip’s War the general courts of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth reserved the privilege, not only of disposing of captives as slaves, but also of taking these slaves away from their owners and giving them their liberty if such action seemed advisable. In March, 1679, the Massachusetts general court made reparation in money to the master of an Indian slave, when for some reason the court freed the slave.[1081] The Plymouth general court, June 3, 1679, ordered the release of a certain Indian woman and her husband upon the payment by the woman’s brothers of £6 in New England silver money.[1082] The same order provided in the case of a “younger Indian” that he should remain with his master until twenty-four years old, and then be given his freedom.[1083] Like action was taken in 1714 when the owner of an Indian slave petitioned the Massachusetts general court for the payment of £25, “the prime cost which he paid for an Indian boy lately called out of his hands to be returned to the Indians at the time of the late pacification, besides charges in keeping and clothing of him and for doctors”.[1084] Just prior to Church’s expedition in King Philip’s War, furthermore, as a military measure to prevent conspiracy among the Indians in the colony and their union with the warring tribes, Massachusetts decreed that any Indian servant discovering any dangerous plot or conspiracy of Indians should be emancipated, and his master be paid out of the public treasury a reasonable price for his services.[1085]