The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Sedgwick, Catharine. Hope Leslie: Or, Early Times in the Massachusetts. Digireads.com, 2012.

Hope Leslie: Or, Early Times in the Massachusetts began with Volume I and the introduction of William Fletcher under the care of his uncle in England. Fletcher had fallen in love with his cousin, Alice Fletcher, but he also subscribed to Puritanism. Upon his uncle’s ultimatum, Fletcher denied his earthly love in exchange for religious integrity. He agreed to marry an orphan under the care of Mr. Winthrop, Martha, and their family set out for Massachusetts in 1630. Shortly after moving to the Connecticut River in 1636, Governor Winthrop sent Mr. Fletcher the two children of the Pequot chief, Magawisca and Oneco, as servant captives. Mr. Fletcher also learned that his former love, now Alice Leslie, had died on the ship to New England, and he needed to fetch her children in Boston.

Alice’s children, Alice and Mary Leslie, were renamed Hope and Faith Leslie. Hope and her tutor remained with Fletcher in Boston for a few months while Faith, their aunt, Mrs. Grafton, and Oneco were at home with the family. There, Everell and Magawisca formed a unique friendship. A woman from another tribe, Nelema, brought a warning of death. Magawisca explained to Everell the English massacre of her tribe. Soon after, her father, Mononotto, and his Mohawk allies killed Mrs. Fletcher and her youngest children, capturing Everell and Faith hours before Mr. Fletcher’s return. The group traveled to a village in the Housatonic. There, Mononotto planned to enact his vengeance for the murder of his eldest son, Samoset, by sacrificing Everell. Magawisca escaped her guard, scaled the rockface, and sacrificed one of her arms in exchange for Everell’s life.

Seven years later, Hope Leslie wrote a letter to Everell, who had departed for England five years prior. When Master Cradock was poisoned by a rattlesnake, she invited Nelema to Bethel to heal him. Despite his recovery, Nelema was tried for witchcraft and sentenced to death. Hope took her opportunity to help Nelema escape, and the latter insisted she would see her sister again. In response to her insolence, powerful friends persuaded Mr. Fletcher to send Hope to Governor Winthrop in Boston.

The following spring, in 1643, Everell returned to Boston on the same ship as Sir Philip Gardiner and his ex-lover, Rosa, disguised as Roslin, his page. Esther, Governor Winthrop’s niece and Hope’s friend, was already in love with Everell, having almost died from shame five years prior. Taking into account Hope’s family wealth, Mr. Fletcher was persuaded to insist that Everell marry Esther, the pinnacle of religious femininity. After a week of strange behavior, Hope entered the cemetery alone at night the close of Volume I.

Volume II began with Magawisca arriving disguised at Governor Winthrop’s mansion. She and Hope secretly set this meeting in the cemetery, where they set another date for Hope to meet with her sister five days later. On the designated day, Hope had arranged for an outing to the governor’s garden on a secluded island. She stayed behind to meet her sister with Magawisca, Oneco, and Mononotto. While Hope pleaded with them to stay ashore, they were ambushed by Chaddock’s crew, who captured Magawisca and Faith. Oneco then took Hope as his prisoner as a storm ensued. Hope escaped Oneco and more crew members until she duped one to bring her to safety. Rosa found Hope and brought her to safety.

Sir Philip had followed Hope and eavesdropped on her conversation with Magawisca in the cemetery, alerting the governor soon after. Hoping to learn more about the tribes banding together, Governor Winthrop took Magawisca as his prisoner. Sir Philip visited Magawisca in jail to give her the means of escape in return for her discretion in transporting Rosa against her will. Magawisca refused, and while Sir Philip was distracted, she noticed Everell and Digby attempting to save her.

At her trial, Magawisca attempted to reveal that Sir Philip was a Catholic disguised as a Puritan to discredit him, which postponed her trial. Everell and Hope formed a plan to free her, which Jennet overheard and divulged to Sir Philip. That evening, Hope persuaded Master Cradock to accompany her to the jailhouse. There, she disguised Magawisca as Master Cradock, left her tutor in Magawisca’s place, and duped Barnaby Tuttle into allowing Magawisca to escape. Meanwhile, Sir Philip formed a plan with Chaddock to intercept and abduct Hope. When the crew returned with their captive, Rosa threw a lantern on a barrel of gunpowder and blew up the ship in an attempt to save herself and Hope.

Earlier that night, Oneco disguised himself as a sailor to gain entry into Governor Winthrop’s mansion and save his wife, Hope’s sister. When they attempted their escape, Jennet stopped them. Oneco threatened her, forcing her to follow them to the shore. Jennet thought Chaddock and his men would save her, but they took her back to the ship and to her death. After Hope and Magawisca left the jail, Everell accompanied them to the shore where Digby waited with a canoe and said their goodbyes. The explosion averted attention from Hope and Everell’s mission. Later, Governor Winthrop discovered Sir Philip’s truth in his forgotten letters and had mercy on Hope and Everell. Esther gave them both a letter giving her blessings for them to marry, which they eventually did.