"The Lord in mercy toward his poor churches, having thus destroyed
these bloody, barbarous Indians, he returns his people in safety
to their vessels, where they take account of their prisoners. The
squaws and some young youths they brought home with them; and
finding the men to be deeply guilty of the crimes they undertook
the war for, they brought away only their heads."

Such retribution seemed just and right, but its effect on Puritan
character was hardly softening, and was another unconscious factor
in that increasing ratio of hatred against all who opposed them,
whether in religious belief, or in the general administration of
affairs. In these affairs every woman was interested to a degree
that has had no parallel since, unless it may be, on the Southern
side during our civil war. Politics and religion were one, and
removal to Ipswich had not deadened the interest with which they
watched and commented on every fluctuation in the stormy situation
at "home," as they still called England, Cotton taking active part
in all discussions as to Colonial action.

It was at this period that she wrote the poem, "A Dialogue between
Old England and New," which holds the political situation at that
time. Many of the allusions in the first edition, were altered in
the second, for as Charles II. had then begun his reign, loyalty
was a necessity, and no strictures upon kings could be allowed.
The poem, which is rather a summary of political difficulties, has
its own interest, as showing how thoroughly she had caught the
spirit of the time, as well as from the fact that it was quoted as
authority by the wisest thinkers of the day, and regarded with an
awe and admiration we are hardly likely to share, as the