IN THE POSSESSION of the American Antiquarian Society is a manuscript, 'Captan Perse & his coragios Company,' one of the earliest American epic poems. It was inspired by King Philip's War (1675-1676), the second major confrontation between the colonists of New England and the Indians.

The author was Philip Walker, an English immigrant who came to America in his early teens with his mother, who was known as Widow Walker. What part of England they came from is not known. She was one of the first settlers of the town of Rehoboth or Seaconk, her name being on the list of those who in 1643 gave in the value of their estates for a pro rata division of the lands (hers was £50). Philip's name first appears in a deed bearing his signature dated at Rehoboth in 1653. In 1659 his occupation was that of a weaver. He also was a saw-mill owner and came to be the second wealthiest man in Rehoboth. Official positions held by him included those of surveyor, constable, deputy to Plymouth, and deacon of the church led by Samuel and Noah Newman. Walker served as a private soldier in King Philip's War, advanced what was for him a large amount of money to help finance it, and suffered serious personal losses. Right after Captain Pierce's defeat on March 26, 1676, the Indians attacked Rehoboth, burning fortyhouses and thirty barns. Since at the tune of his death in 1679 Walker left a house unfinished, his home may have been one of those burned by the Indians. Although he did not take part in Pierce's battle, the name of John Walker, who was probably his cousin, appears on the list of the dead compiled by Noah Newman. Thus, when Walker speaks of 'us that loose our dearest frinds', he is talking about himself. We can see why the battle moved him to write a poem; it was probably written in 1676, shortly after Pierce's defeat.

Walker's poem survives in a paper manuscript of ten folios ….(rest of introduction deals with the poem, language, influences, etc.).
 
 
 
 
 

It ffell vnlucky that thi march wos soner
then the apoynted time to that meroner' (marooner--buccaneer)
in thy picaring thou Lackst thos muskitters (pickeering-scouting)
and his Experianc gaynd mongst Buckanners

Which are a Ruged Cru of hunting rouers (crew)
much Like thes sauag sneking brutish grouers, (hunters in the woods)
(glossed by Walker)

But man Euents cannot at all fforse (foresee)
It is the eternall gods propritee
ffor t twas decreed by that Eternal power (it was)
that gaue them being to fixe that fatal ower (hour)

That orders men & times & ends & all
Efittiant Cases Epidemicall (causes)
not as the ould Philosiphers beleue (old)
prodiggious planits il Efectts doe giue

Thay did Like Hectters whoea well deserue that name
Now ly Intered in the bed of ffame
Whoea lost there Blud not much vnlike to marters
by disaduantage with these helish Tarters

In ffighting for ther Cuntry & ther ffrinds
haue dun ther dooea mad hear ther final Ends (due-obhgation)
meethinks ther vallour should owr harts prouoke
To take reueng ffor such a dredfull stroke

Stought hartts stood too t till Last disdaynd to [fly]
such ods has mad the Rooges er since mor shy
who haue no cas to brag of victtory (cause)

But glue it out thay neuer so wear bangd (were defeated)
I hoape in time thayl all be shot or hangd

Tis sed at york there is a scarlet dyer (dyer-one who is liable to suffer]
If t bee a ridl antiant ffames a lyer (fame is)
Itt may bee fferd weer hudwinkt in a trance
as wos owr vergin qucene by Imps from france [Queen Elizabeth]

ffor maters ffrane as if that Dragon beste [frown]
were hither flone to make his helish nest
with opn jase Intending to deuour (jaws)
that child of grace Lord god upone him shour (shower)

The vials of thy wrath apear for thine
Lett all the pours of heuen & earth Combin[e] (powers)
Let hell know it is Curbd by pours deuine

Show now thi self Lord in owr habitations
who hast so scatterdly disposd owr stations
& giues vs Corig spent vs from thee
for thers no other help or place to fflee

Lett shops & crops & men of all Estates
sett hartt & hand to fight without debats
ffor non thers now can thinke ther safe securd
how er suplyd within owr owne Imurd
Improue the vtmost depending creturs can
Leue the suckses to him that ruls Each man (success)

Though what hers spoke is but a singl notion
& Like a drop lett ffall into the otion (ocean)
Yit my aduice If I might hered bee (heard)
Tis t to make a uertu of nesesitee

Arme & Incorig owr Indins whot wee Can
a theef reuers may proue an honist man:
The Boston Ilanders Capcod Monhegon
ffor honer profitt smaI thayl fight winnegon (winnegon = well)

This represents approximately 1/10 of the entire remaining poem.
 

Here is my "translation" for those who find Philip's interesting spelling a little difficult to read (I have put question marks after words I am not sure of):
 

Captain Pierce and His Courageous Company

It fell unlucky that the march was sooner
Then the appointed time to that marooner
In thy scouting thou lacks those musketeers
And his experience gained amongst buccaneers.

Which are a rugged crew of hunting rowers
Much like these savage sneaking brutish growers

But man events cannot at all foresee
It is the eternal gods property
For it was decreed by that eternal power
That gave them being to fix that fatal hour

That orders men and times and ends and all
Efficient causes epidemical
Not as the old philosophers believe
Prodigious planets ill effects do give

They did like Hectors who well deserve that name
Now lie interred in the bed of fame
Who lost there blood not much unlike to martyrs
By disadvantage with these hellish Tartars

In fighting for their country and their friends
Have done their due made hear their final ends
Me thinks their valor should our hearts provoke
To take revenge for such a dreadful stroke

Stout hearts stood too till last disdained to fly
Such odds has made the Rooges? ever since more shy
Who have no cause to brag of victory

But give it out they never were so banged
I hope in time they'll all be shot or hanged

Tis said at york there is a scarlet dyer
If to be a riddle ancient fame is a liar
It may be ferd? we're hoodwinked in a trance
As was our virgin queen by imps from France

For maters frown as if that dragon best
Were hither flown to make his hellish nest
With open jaws intending to devour
That child of grace Lord God upon him shower

The vials of thy wrath appear for thine
Let all the powers of heaven and earth combine
Let hell know it is curbed by powers divine

Show now thy self Lord in our habitations
Who has so scatteredly disposed our stations
And gives us courage spirit us from thee
For there's no other help or place to flee

Let shops and crops and men of all estates
Set heart and hand to fight without debates
For none there's now can think they're safe secured
How ever supplied within our own Imured?
Improve the utmost depending creatures can
Leave the success to him that rules each man

Though what here is spoke is but a single notion
And like a drop let fall into the ocean
Yet my advice if I might heard be
'Tis to make a virtue of necessity

Arm and encourage our indians what we can
A thief reverse may prove an honest man
The Boston Islanders, Cape Cod, Mohegan
For honor profit small they'll fight winnegon.

HOME