Part One, Language, Chapter 1, Beware of Any Linguist Summary and Analysis

King Philip's War was prompted by the disappearance and murder of John Sassamon, a Christian Indian minister from Namasket, a Christian Indian town. After visiting Plymouth and the governor, Josiah Winslow, to tell the colonists that Philip planned a war, Sassamon disappeared. His body was found in February. The colonists suspected Philip and had a meeting with him, which ended without conclusion. A witness later came forward and identified three men as the killers: Mattashunannamo, Tobias and his son Wampapaquan, three of Philip's chief counselors. The three men were put on trial and were judged guilty by a jury of English and Indians. They were executed on June 8th. Philip was so angry he swore revenge upon the English. Within three days, June 11th, the Wampanoags were...