The Meffenger from Ganada had brought Letters, and fome medicinal Powder, for the Jefuit Milet, who refided at Oneydo. Thefe Letters and the Powder were delivered to the Interpreter from Albany to be carried thither, that the Contents of them might be made known to the Sachems of the feveral Nations. The Jefuit was prefent all this while in their Council.

Then the Interpreter was defired to speak what he had to fay from their Brethren at Albany. He told them, that a new Governor was arrived, who had brought a great many Soldiers from England. That the King of England had declared War against France, and that the People of New-England were -fitting out Ships against Canada. He advised them, that they should not hearken to the French, for when they talk of Peace, faid he, War is in their Heart, and defired them to enter into no Treaty but at Albany, for the French, he faid, would mind no Agreement made any where elfe.

After this they had Consultations for fome Time together, and then gave the following Answer by their Speaker.

Brethren, our Fire burns, at Albany. We will not fend Dekanafora to Cadarackui. We adhere to our old Chain with Corlear; we will prosecute the War with Yonondio, and will follow your Advice in drawing off our Men from Cadarackui. Brethren, we are glad to hear the News you tell us, but tell us no Lies...

2

Brother Kinfbon, we hear you defign to fend Soldiers to the eastward against the Indians there; but we advise you, now to many are united against the French, to fall immediately on them. Strike at the Root, when the Trunk fhall be cut down, the Branches fall of Course..

Gorlear and Kinfbon, Courage! Courage! In the Spring to Quebeck, take that Place, and you'll have

your

your Feet on the Necks of the French, and all their Friends in America.

After this they agreed to the following Anfwer to be fent to the Governor of Canada.

1. Yonondio, you have notified your Return to us, and that you have brought back thirteen of our People that were carried to France, we are glad of it. You defire us to meet you at Cadarackui next Spring, to treat of the old Chain; but Tonondio, how can we trust you, after you have acted deceitfully fo often? Witness what was done at Cadarackui; the Ufage our Messengers met with at Utawawa, and what was done to the Senekas at Utawawa. This was their Anfwer; however, they fent a Belt with this, which always fhews a Difpofition to treat.

2. Therhanfera, Oghuesse and Ertel, do you obferve Friendship with us, if you have not, how come you to advise us to renew Friendship with Yonondio, they sent them likewise a Belt?

3. Tawerahet, the whole Council is glad to hear, that you are returned with the other twelve. Tonondio, you must fend Home Tawerahet and the others this very Winter, before Spring, and we will fave all the French that we have Prifoners till that Time.

4. Yonondio, you defire to speak with us at Cadarackui: Don't you know that your Fire there is extinguished? It is extinguished with Blood, you muft fend Home the Prifoners in the firft Place.

5. We let you know that we have made Peace with the Wagunhas.

6. You are not to think, that we have laid down the Axe, becaufe we return an Answer; we intend no fuch Thing: Our Far-fighters fhall continue the War till our Countrymen return.

7. When our Brother Tawerahet is returned, then will we speak to you of Peace.

As

As foon as the Council broke up, their Refolu tions were made publick to all their People, by the Sachems of their feveral Nations.

Two Sachems were fent to Albany, by their general Council, to inform their Brethren there of their Refolutions, and to bring back the Contents of the Letters fent from Canada to the Jefuit.

As foon as they arrived, one of the Mohawks, that had been fent from Albany to the Council, delivered the Wagunha Belt, and repeated over diftinctly all the Articles agreed to with that Nation, and referred to the Onondaga Speaker, being one of thofe fent by the Council of Albany, to recite the Answer to the Governor of Canada. He rifing up, repeated over the whole, as before fet down, and added, The French are full of Deceit; but I call God to witnefs, we have hitherto ufed no Deceit with them; but how we shall act for the future, Time only can difcover. Then he affured the Brethren, that the Five Nations were refolved to prosecute the War, in Token whereof he prefented

Quider with a Belt, in which three Axes were represented. Perhaps by this Representation only three Nations joined in sending it, the Cayugas and Oneydoes being more under the Influence of the Jefuit Milet, who lived among them intirely, according to their Manner of Life, and was adopted by the Oneydoes, and made one of their Sachems. The Letters from Canada to him were read; they contained nothing but common News and Compliments.

The Mohawk Meffengers, that had been sent from Albany, had carried with them Goods to fell at the general Council. This was taken Notice of at the general Council, and gave the Indians a mean Opinion of the People of Albany, and particularly of

Peter Schyler, Mayor of Albany.

Peter

Peter Schyler; for it is exceedingly fcandalous among the Indians, to employ a Merchant in publick Affairs; Merchants (I mean the Traders with the Indians) are looked upon by them as Liars, and People not to be trufted, and of no Credit, who by their Thoughts being continually turned upon Profit and Lofs, confider every Thing with that private View. As this made a Noife at Albany, by its giving the Jefuit an Opportunity of fetting the Meffengers from Albany in an ill Light, Peter Schyler cleared himself by Oath, of his having any Intereft directly or indirectly in thofe Goods, and fent a Belt back with his publick Juftification. The Mohawk Meffengers had refused to take the Goods, as being fcandalous to the Business they went on; but were perfuaded, by being told that the Goods belonged to Quider.

The Magiftrates of Albany advised the Sachems, to fend the Jefuit Prisoner to Albany, where he might be kept fecurely, without having it in his Power to do Mifchief, but they could not prevail. The Indians were refolved to keep all the Means of making Peace in their own Hands.

CHA P. IV.

The French furprife Schenectady. The Mohawks Speech of Condoleance on that Occafion.

T

HE Count De Frontenac being defirous, as before obferved, to raise the drooping Spirits of the French in Canada, by keeping them in Action, and engaging the moft daring of them, in Enterprizes that might give Courage to the reft, had fent out three Parties against the English Colonies, in Hopes thereby to leffen the Confidence which the Five Nations had in the English Affiftance, now that England had declared War against France. The Party fent against New-York was commanded by Monfr.

Monfr. De Herville, and was ordered to attempt the furprising of Schenectady, the nearest Village to the Mohawks: It confifted of 150 French Bushlopers or Indian Traders, and of as many Indians, the most of them French Converts from the Mohawks, commonly called the Praying 'Indians, fettled. at a Place near Montreal, called Cahnuaga. They were well acquainted with all that Part of the Country round Schenectady; and came in Sight of the Place the 8th of February 1689-90.

The People of Schenectady were at that Time in the greatest Security, notwithstanding that they had Information from the Indians, of a Party of French, and French Indians being upon their March that Way. They did not think it practicable, in that Seafon of the Year, while it was extremely cold, and the whole Country covered with Snow. Indeed Europeans will hardly think it poffible, that Men could make fuch a March through the Wil derness in the fevereft Frofts, without any Covering from the Heavens, or any Provifion, except what they carried on their Backs.

Tho' the People of Schenectady were informed in the Evening before the Place was furprifed, that feveral fculking Indians were seen near the Place, they concluded, that they could be only fome of the neighbouring Indians; and as they had no Officer of any Efteem among them, not a fingle Man could be perfuaded to watch in fuch severe Weather, tho', as the French owned afterwards, if they had found the leaft Guard or Watch, they would not have attempted the Place, but have furrendered. themselves Prisoners; they were fo exceedingly diftreffed with the Length of their March, and with Cold, and Hunger: But finding the Place in fatal Security, they marched into the Heart of the Village, without being difcovered by any one Perfon; then they raised their War Shout, entered VOL. I.

G

the