straggler ffrenchmen amongst them, but those Jesuits who are very good men and very quiet and yet if his honor shall please, they will send them away allso: and that none hath had any land from them and they are resolved never to sell or give them any, or any others except the People of this Goverm, that they were sent for by the Governor of Canada, who told them they should make a peace with all the Indians and that the Governor took their axe, and threw it into the water, but did not bury it because if it had been buried it might have been taken up again, and that nothing shall come to their ears but they will acquaint this Government with it, and expect the same from this Govern ment. They allso say the Governor of Canada promised them to have free passage up all Rivers and Creeks, and said they should suffer all other Indians to have the same, and the Governor took them as his children and told them they should be all of the ffrench Religion. That all their Land is under the Goverm of His Royall High that there has been some stranger at Albany to buy the Susquehannah River, but they have considered and will not sell it to them except by the particular leave of His Hono! The Governor desired them to make up the Difference amongst themselves about Susquehannah River in a civil and peaceable way that being done to send word to the Governor and that then he will give them further orders about it. The Sachem spake for himself That one Arent Van Corlaer bought all Schannectadi and payed them for it, but now there be some who have bought only the Grasse and pretend to the Land allso, they say allso that they have bought the first flatt, but that is not so, for it belongs to Acques Cornelistin, who is to have it and none else, for he is of their people and it is his Inheritance, that there is writings made of a sale of Land, but it was never sold but only the Grasse, that it may be som Drunken fellows may have made some writings without their knowledge. That they have only bought the grasse and are now going to live upon it, but they ought to pay for the Land as well as the grasse, and that they had given some to that woman Hillah and another Leach who have the propriety of it, the other have only the grasse. That now he has declared this matter he desires notice may be taken of it, and says that blame shall never come upon him, as to be found in a lye, that they came down in an open boat, and suffered much cold therefore desires a sloop-upon which it is granted The Governor desires of them as they are friends, not to trade with the ffrench or any other nation, excepting the Province and the Indians who live afar off as the Octogymists and other remote Indians, as well to the Southward as the Northward, and that they will give them free passage to come through their Countries to Trade hither, and that the Governor would be very gladd for them to bring one or two of the most considerable of them hither, and that they will use all their Endeavors to perswade them to Trade with this Government, and to send an answer as soone as may be what the remote Indians, and particularly the Octogymists say to them. That no Christians be amongst them or Trade with them but such as have a passe from the Governor under his Seal of which he will give the impression, and that they are to give notice of what is done here to all the other nations who are friends to them, that they when they bring their friends from Canada, the Governor desires it may be in a civil quiet way; and not by force or in a war-like manner. That all on the side of the lake of Canada, belongs to the Governmt of New York, and that the Governor desires that they may be all acquainted with it, and expects their submission. That if the Governor have any occasion for Land near their Castles, when a Castle may be built or for a greater conveniency of trade with them, that the Governor may have it paying for the same. That the Governor as yet knows nothing of any hurt the ffrench intends them, and therefore desires them not to be alarmed, and that if the Governor knows any thing the ffrench design against them he will give them early notice. That it is the custom of this Government and amongst Christians when they sell the grasse to sell the Land allso, and if they be not payed for the Land they shall be, and that the People of Shannectadi say they sent Acques to purchase the Land in the name of their Town, and that Acques bought it in his own name, and they sent also one Kemel to purchase it for the Towne, the Indians told them that Acques had bought and paid some part of the payment, and they desired them to pay Acques that monie back, and the Towne should have it, which the Towne did, and Acques was satisfied, it is the custom of this place to do justice amongst ourselves if Acques have a better Title than they for it then he shall have it. No 56. At a council at ffort James in New York June [26th 1684.] Present The Governor Cap' A. Brockholls M: S. V. Cortlandt A Letter from the Governor of Canada being read, answered as follows: Sir: Yours dated the 15th I received the 23d of S. V. of this Instant and am very sorry that I did not know sooner of this misunderstanding between you and the Indians that so I might (as really I would) have used all just measures to prevent it. Those Indians are under this Government as doth appear by his Royall High his Patent from his majesty the King of England and their submitting themselves to his Govern as is manifest by records, his R" Highnesses Territories reach ing as far as the River of Canada and yet notwithstanding the People of y' Govern' come upon the great Lake as allso on this Side of both Lakes, a thing which will scarcely be believed in England. I desire you to hinder them from so doing and I will strictly forbidde the People of this Province to go on your side of the Lakes this I have hinted that there may be no occasion on your part, as there shall not undoubtedly of mine to break that desireable and fair correspondence between two Kings our masters. I am so heartily bent to promote the Quiet and tranquillity of this Country and yours, that I intend forthwith to go to Albany on purpose, and there send for the Indians and require of them to do what is just in order to a satisfaction to y pretences; if they will not I shall not unjustly protect them, but do for your Govern all that can reasonably be expected from me, and in the mean time to continue and preserve a good amity between us, I think it convenient and desire that no Acts of Hostility be committed, such differences are of so weighty a concern that they are most proper to be decided at home and not by us. mt I do assure you sir that no body living hath a greater desire that there should be a strict friendship betwixt the subjects of this Governm! and yours than I have and no body more willing upon all occasions justly to approve myself Sir y humble servt. THOS. DONGAN [N: 57.] At a Council August 30th 1686. The Governor gave presents to the Indians, for which they thanked him, after their manner, and he said to them, Brethren :-I am very glad to see you here, the Business I sent for you is to acquaint you that the great King of England my master hath ordered me to let you know that he looks upon you as he does upon the rest of his Children and subjects in America, and that he will be a loving father to you and with all expects that as you have put yourselves under his protection as Children and Subjects so you are not to make either war or Peace either with Christians or Indians before you shall first acquaint me with it, he being allways ready to protect his subjects provided they begin not the warr without his consent and approbation and therefore I am sorry to hear that some of the Brethren are gone to Cadaracqua for to treat or Trade with the ffrench which is contrary to the promise they made me at Albany contrary to the obedience which children owe to their parents; besides do the Brethren think that it is out of fear to them, that the ffrench do not warr against them? they have thousand men for one of the Brethren, and it is only for fear of disobliging the Great King of England who is your King allso. I do again renew and confirm wh' I said to you at Albany towit that you shall not make warr against the ffrench untill they have began a warr against you my meaning is that you shall not meddle with them untill they come with force to disturb the Brethren in their Country, but if the French do them any injury let me know it, and I will take all possible care that the Brethren have due satisfaction. The great and weighty concern is that the remote Indians called Dionondadies, some of whom you have taken prisoners last year have a mind to bury the Hatchetts with the Brethren and an inclination to enter into y same friendshipp both in Peace and warr, as the five nations of the Brethren have wth us I know it will be of great advantage to strength to the Brethren and us also and therefore desire that you will send a Sachem of each nation and two from the Sineques and some of Albany whom I will commission for yo purpose |