The people of Plymouth and of Boston, too, were in a great fright when they heard of this. They knew that Roger Williams was the only white man in that region who had any influence with the Indians, and they sent to him, begging him to go to the Narragansett camp and ask the Narragansetts not to join the Pequots.
Many men would have refused to go into a horde of raging savages, to procure the safety of their enemies. But Roger Williams was too noble to refuse; though he knew that his life would be in the utmost danger, for some of the bloodthirsty Pequots were then with the Narragansetts.
He promptly went to the Indian camp, and spent three days in the wigwams of the Sachems, though he expected every night to have the treacherous Pequots “put their bloody knives to his throat.”
But the Narragansetts were strong friends of the honest pastor. They listened to his counsel. And in the end, they and another tribe, the Mohicans, joined the English against the Pequots.
Thus it was chiefly due to Roger Williams, that the Colonists were saved from the scalping knives of the Indians.
II
Years of peace and prosperity existed in Providence plantations. The Colony grew. No man interfered with another man’s religion. Those in the other New England Colonies, who did not want to be forced to accept the creed of the Puritans, came to the Colony of Roger Williams.
He was their principal pastor. He was so kind, gentle, and good, that everybody respected and loved him. His people were his children. He had brought them together, and spent his time working for their good; and they looked on him as their best friend.
Charles Morris (Arranged)