But
the English in their death-warrant voluntarily offered to protect
Uncas from the consequences of Miantonomo's death. This was in 1643,
and thus did the English observe the treaty of peace made seven years
before under circumstances of extraordinary solemnity. Miantonomo died
the victim of rivalry, jealousy and fear, yet with a spirit so heroic
that he scorned to ask the precious boon of life from those whom he had
served rather than wronged. His death was the seed of the war of 1675,
--for how, under these circumstances, could Canonchet, his son and
successor, be other than the enemy of the English, the ready and
efficient ally of Philip.

But aside from particular incidents in the relations of the English to
the Indians there were three ever-operating causes of hostility.

1st. The mutual disposition of the English and the Indians to traffic
with each other. The colonies passed the most stringent laws for the
suppression of this traffic, or to make it a monopoly in their own
hands, and the government at home issued two or more proclamations.
These laws and proclamations had no great practical value, and the
Indians were constantly supplied with spirits, clothing, munitions and
weapons of war, either by the English, French, or Dutch. Thus trade
furnished an occasion for hostility, and the means of gratifying the
spirit of war.

2nd. There was a universal tendency in the people and governments of
the colonies to acquire land.

There was, however, a settled purpose on the part of the company in
England and the governments here to make this spirit conform to the
principles of honor and justice. In the company's letter of
instruction of April 17, 1629, Endicott and his Council were told that
"If any of the savages pretend right of inheritance to all or any part
of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you to endeavor to purchase
their title, that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion." And in
a second letter of the 28th of May following, the same injunction is
imposed upon the settlers. Attempts were made to pursue the course
pointed out by the company, and a penalty of five pounds per acre was
imposed upon any person who should receive an Indian title without the
consent of the government. Governor Winslow, in 1676, writes thus: "I
think I can clearly say, that before the present trouble broke out, the
English did not possess one foot of land in this colony but what was
fairly obtained by hone