The death of King William followed The in March, 1702, and Anne was declared his successor. successor to the throne.

war which followed, and which was known in Europe as the war of the Spanish succession, was called in America, Queen Anne's war. It continued until the peace at Utrecht,

New

York scarce knew of its existence, 1713. The the was province put in condition for defense. although Indians, who had hitherto been the principal contestants and April

n,

principal

sufferers in these wars,

were at peace.

The Five

Nations refused to break their treaties by attacking the Abenaquls

who had espoused the cause of France, while the Abenaquis in make war upon the Five Nations. But while New York escaped, New England was ravaged with ruthless

turn refused to

hand. Casco, Wells, Deerfield, and Haverhill, were given to fiame and sword ; the aged and those of tender years shared the fate of the vigorous and manly ; death hung on the frontiers ; the prowling Indian seemed near every farm house.

" There

of battles like

those of

is,"

says

Bancroft,

" no tale

to tell

Blenheim, or Ramillies, but only one sad narrative of rural The Indians stealthily approached towns dangers and sorrows. in the heart of Massachusetts, as well as along the coast, and

on the southern and western frontiers. Children, as they gamboled on the beach ; reapers, as they gathered the harvest ;

THE INDUN TRIBES

.mowers, as they rested from using the scythe ; mothers, as they busied themselves about the household, were victims to an