52                                HISTORY   ©F
 

CHAPTER VI.

How the people of the east country were suddenly
afflicted with a diabolical evil—and their judi¬
cious measures for the expiration thereof.

Having thus provided for the temporary secu¬
rity of New-Amsterdam,and guarded it against
any sudden surprise, the gallant Peter took a
hearty pinch of snuff, and snapping his fingers,
set the great council of Amphyctions, and their
champion, the doughty Alicxsander Partridg, at
defiance. It is impossible to say, notwithstand¬
ing, what might have been the issue of this af¬
fair, had not the council been all at once involv¬
ed in sad perplexity, and as much dissention
sown among its members, as of yore was stirred
up in the camp of the brawling warriors of
Greece.

The council of the league, as I have shown in
my last chapter, had already announced its hos¬
tile determinations, and already was the mighty
colony of New-Haven and the puissant town of
Pyquag, otherwise called Weathersfield—fa¬
mous for its  onions and its witches—and the