Mr Wells thereupon s¢ he did not know that he meaning Grout would do so for he had not seen him before he went down & only had heard he had gone down the River, perhaps that may be his Business, surely (says he) If I had desired that such a Thing should be done, I should not advised you, not to go that way, (or to that purpose) This deponent further says that he has not the least reason to believe, that any such thing was intended by sd Wells, As Grout he is sure knew before he left Whiting, and the Prisoners, at Hinsdale, that Whiting intended not to go thro': the Massechusetts Bay, but across the Woods to Albany. This Depot further says, that s¢ Wells advised him, & his s¢ Brother, to go with Whiting, & be obedient to him & not to attempt any Escape, that the doing it would be greatly to the Prisoners Disadvantage, & never s4 any thing Contrary to the Deponent or to

654 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

any other Person as he knows of, that as to a Number of People following Whiting, & others this Deponent, had not the least expectation of such a thing, and cannot guess what moved the people to it unless it was this, that when Whiting moved off with the Deponent & his said Brother he rode on Horseback, & the Prisoners went on Foot, they did not Travel so fast as he inclined to ride, upon which he told this Deponent, & his s4 Brother, that unless they traveled faster he would tie them together with Ropes or Straps, and throw them across his Horse, atid carry them that way, or tie them to the Tail of his Horse. What makes this deponent believe these threats Occasioned the people to Assemble, and follow as afores4 is this, that when they came to Mr Stockwell, where Whiting & the Prisoners lodged, & found the Prisoners had not been used in the Manner threatned as afores¢