Charles Orr, ed., History of the Pequot War: the contemporary accounts of Mason, Underhill, Vincent and Gardener (1897)

Read in the archive.org full text (October 2026; research/mcmillan/Frost_Underhill_Bowne_Feake.md). Reprints Capt. John Underhill’s own account, Newes from America (London, 1638), of the attack on the Pequot fort at Mystic in May 1637 (pp. 80-81):

“Captain Mason entering into a wigwam, brought out a firebrand, after he had wounded many in the house. Then he set fire on the west side, where he entered; myself set fire on the south end with a train of powder. The fires of both meeting in the centre of the fort, blazed most terribly, and burnt all in the space of half an hour … Many were burnt in the fort, both men, women, and children … It may be demanded, Why should you be so furious? (as some have said). Should not Christians have more mercy and compassion? … Sometimes the Scripture declareth women and children must perish with their parents. Sometimes the case alters; but we will not dispute it now. We had sufficient light from the word of God for our proceedings.”