ſurers cannot be accurately aſcertained from any ſources now at command. But great numbers of Philip's people were ſold as ſlaves in foreign countries. In the beginning of the war Captain Moſeley captured eighty, who were confined at Plymouth. In September following one hundred and ſeventy-eight were put on board a veſſel commanded by Captain Sprague, who ſailed from. Plymouth with them for Spain. Drake, 224.
Theſe proceedings were not without witneſſes againſt their injuſtice and inhumanity. The Apoſtle Eliot's earneſt remonſtrance is a glorious memorial of his fearleſs devotion to reaſon and humanity—to which neither rulers nor people of Maſſachuſetts were then inclined to liſten.
"To the Honorable the Governor and Council, ſitting at Boſton this 13t. of the 6t, 75, the humble petition of John Eliot, Sheweth that the terror of ſelling away ſuch Indians unto the Ilands for perpetual ſlaves, who ſhall yield up ymſelves to your mercy, is like to be an effectual prolongation of the warre, and ſuch an exaſperation of them, as may produce we know not what evil conſequences, upon all the land. Chriſt hath ſaide, bleſſed are the mercyfull for they ſhall obtain mercy. This uſeage of them is worſe than death … it ſeemeth to me, that to ſell them away for {[ls}}laves is to hinder the inlargement of his [Chriſt's] kingdom … to ſell ſoules for money ſeemeth to me a dangerous merchandize. If they deſerve to die, it is far better to be put to death under godly governors, who will take religious care, that meanes may be uſed, that they may die penitently. … Deut. 23: 15–16.
