and Country, a Famine enfuted; and this I find has CHA P. often happened in Canada, where all the Men, fit XIII. to bear Arms, have been employed in fuch like Expeditions. If the Oneydoes had not timely furrendered themselves, the Count had not been able to have carried Home the leaft Token of a Victory. And all that can be faid for this Enterprize is, that it was a kind of heroick Dotage.

The Influence that the Jefuit Milet had obtained over the Oneydoes was fuch, that fome Time after this, thirty of them deferted to the French, and defired that he might be appointed their Pa

ftor.

In the following Winter the Mohawks, with the Governor of New York's Privacy, fent one to the Praying Indians with two Belts, and he carried two Prifoners with him. By the firft Belt he asked, whether the Path was entirely fhut up between their two Countries; and, by the fecond, demanded the Reftitution of a Prifoner the Praying Indians had taken: But his real Defign was, to learn the State of their Country, and what Defigns were forming. Notwithstanding the Influence and Artifice of the French Priests over thefe Converts, they ftill retained an Affection to their Countrymen ; for which Reason the Count de Frontenac entertained a Jealoufy of thefe Intercourfes, and threatened to put to Death any that fhould come in that Manner again; but the Meffenger had the Satisfaction of difcovering the diftreffed Condition of Canada by Famine.

A Party of the French was fent out in the Winter, to make some Attempt upon the English Settlements near Albany; but fome Mohawks and Sealkock Indians meeting with them, before they reached the Settlements, they were intirely routed. The commanding Officer, one du Bau, and two others, faved themfelves from the Fury of the IndiO

ans

CHA P. ans, by running to Albany; the reft were either XII. killed or perished in the Woods, fo that not one Man of this Party got back to Canada.

It was much easier for the French to fet the Praying Indians upon the English, against whom it is poffible many of them had perfonal Animofities, that made them go over to the French, than to fight their Countrymen. Several of them came this Winter skulking about Schenectady and Albany; and being well acquainted with the Country, and fpeaking likewife the Mohawk's Language, by which they fometimes deceived the Inhabitants, they furprifed fome of the Inhabitants, and carried away their Scalps.

The Five Nations, to fhew that the Count de Frontenac's Expedition had no Way difcouraged them, fent out feveral Parties against Canada. Öne of them met with a Party of French upon St. Laurence River, near Montreal. The French were routed, and their Captain killed. As foon as this was heard at Montreal, Repentigni was fent out after them with a confiderable Party of French, Nepicirinien Indians and Praying Indians; but this Party was likewife defeated, and the Captain, with many of his Men, killed.

Thus the War was continued till the Peace of Refwick, by fmall Parties of Indians, on both Sides, haraffing, furprifing, and fcalping the Inhabitants near Montreal and Albany.

Some Time this Year the chief Sachem of the Dionondadies (whom the French call the Baron) went to Quebeck, pretending a ftrong Attachment to the French, but really to conceal the Treaty of Peace that he was on the Point of concluding with the Five Nations; for which Purpofe he had fent his Son with nineteen Belts to the Senckas. The Subftance of whofe Commiflion was as follows:

The French have for many Years confounded CHA P. our Refolutions, and deceived us, but now we are XII. refolved to break all their Artifices, by ftopping our Ears. We come now to unite with you, while the French know nothing of the Matter. The Commandant at Miffilimakinak has told us many Lies, he has betrayed us, and made us kill one another, but we are firmly refolved never to hearken to him any more. The Peace was accordingly firmly concluded, notwithstanding all the Oppofition the French could make. The French Authors fay, the only Reason that induced the Dionondadies was, that the English fold them Goods cheaper than the French could.

Some Time before the News of the Peace arrived, the French at Montreal being informed that a Party of the Five Nations were difcovered near Corlear's Lake, fent out a Captain with a Party of Soldiers and Indians, who being well experienced in the Manner of making War with Indians, marched through the thickeft Woods, and by the leaft frequented Places, fo that he discovered the Enemy, without being discovered. He furprised that Party, killed feveral, and took one Prifoner. The Utawawas being then trading at Montreal, the Count de Frontenac invited them to a Feaft to be made of this Prisoner, and caufed him to be burnt publickly alive at Montreal, in the Manner of which I have already given two Accounts from the French Au

thors.

CHAP.
XIII.

CHAP. XIII.

The Conduct which the English and French obServed, in regard to the Five Nations, immediately after the Peace of Refwick.

S

OON after the News of the Peace of Refwick reached New-York, the Governor fent an Exprefs to Canada, to inform the Governor there of it, that Hoftilities might cease. The Five Nations having an Account of the Peace earlier than they had it in Canada, took Advantage of it, in hunting Bever near Cadarackui Fort. The Governor of Canada being informed of this, and believing that the Five Nations thought themselves fecure by the general Peace, refolved to take his laft Revenge of them. For this Purpose he fent a confiderable Party of Adirondacks to furprise them, which they did, and killed several, but not without Lofs of many of their own Men. The Lofs of one of their greatest Captains at that Time gave the Five Nations the greatest Affliction. After he was mortally wounded, he cried out: "Muft I, who have made "the whole Earth tremble before me, now die by the Hands of Children ?" for he defpifed the Adirondacks.

A Difpute at this Time arofe, between the Government of New-York and Canada, about the French Prisoners which the Five Nations had in their Hands. The Earl of Bellamont, then Governor of New-York, would have the French receive thofe Prisoners from him, and directed the Five Nations to bring them to Albany for that Purpose. The French, on the other Hand, refused to own the Five Nations as fubject to the Crown of Great-Britain, and threat

ened to continue the War against the Five Nations, CHAP. if they did not bring the Prifoners to Montreal, XIII. and deliver them there. The Count de Frontenac fent fome of the Praying Indians with a Meffage to this Purpose, and to have all the French Allies included in the general Peace.

The Messenger on his Return told the Count, publickly in Presence of several Utawawas, that the Five Nations refufed to include feveral of his Allies, but were refolved to revenge the Injuries they had received. The Utawawas were exceedingly difcompofed at hearing this, and the Count, to recover their Spirits, affured them, that he never would make Peace without including all his Allies in it, and without having all their Prifoners reftored. At the fame Time he made Preparations to attack the Five Nations with the whole Force of Canada.

The Earl of Bellamont being informed of this, fent Captain John Schuyler (of the Militia) to tell the Count, that he had the Intereft of the King his Mafter too much at Heart, to fuffer the French to treat the Five Nations like Enemies, after the Conclufion of the general Peace; for which Reafon he had ordered them to be on their Guard, and had furnished them with Arms and Ammunition; that he had ordered the Lieutenant-Governor, in Cafe they were attacked, either by the French or their Allies, to join them with the regular Troops; and that, if he found it neceffary, he would raife the whole Force of his Government in their Defence.

The

This put a Stop to the French Threatening, and both Sides made Complaint to their Mafters. two Kings ordered their refpective Governors to be affifting to each other, in making the Peace effectual to both Nations, and to leave the Difputes, as to the Dependency of the Indian Nations, to be de termined

0 3