request, restored to them the English colors which they had so carelessly abandoned.

At the appointed hour, the sachems and principal men assembled bearing their English flag, but Wiwurna they had left behind, "because," they said, practicing a little diplomatic fiction, "he has behaved himself so unproperly yesterday."

This time Querebemit was their orator, and he expressed the sorrow of the people for their former rude carriage, and prayed for forgiveness, adroitly reminding his excellency, that he had himself said, that "if anything should happen amiss it should be rectified."

The governor assenting to this, Querebemit confirmed in behalf of his people the former agreements relative to English settlement on the Kennebec, and said, that they desired them to settle as far up the river as they had ever settled, and in token of their sincerity presented a belt of wampum to the governor, with the statement that they desired to live in peace. To this the governor replied, that the English would not begin a quarrel, and the savage orator reiterated fervently the hope that "by the favor of God" they might "always live in Peace and Unity;" a sentiment to which the governor made response We pray the same."

"If any of our People," continued Querebemit, should happen to be out in Cold and Stormy Weather, we desire the English to shelter them. We shall always do the same for the English, and God Almighty hears us say it." "It is doing like Christians," exclaimed the governor, and Querebemit presenting another belt of wampum, again repeated, "What I have said God Almighty hears:" and responded Shute, "We say the same, what is done is done in the presence of God."

Shute now called the attention of the savages to some of their "miscarriages," but Querebemit's mind was evidently averse to dwelling upon the past, being occupied with thoughts of future advantages, and he became voluble on the theme of liberal supplies of provisions and ammunition; a trading house, and Mr. Minot, "a good natur'd Man" to manage it; "Interpreter Jordan," "a good Lock Smith," and so forth. These were all requested and readily promised by the complacent governor. To the treaty made at Portsmouth several articles were added, and that every thing might be understood, the treaty was read to them by Jordan, article by article, "And they all readily & without any Objection Consented to the whole.”

The additions made to the treaty at Portsmouth were as follows:

66

George Town on Arrowsick Island in His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, the 12th Day of August, 1717, in the Fourth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France & Ireland, K. J. N. G., Defender of the Faith, &c.

We the Subscribers being Sachems and Chief Men of the several Tribes of Indians belonging to Kennebeck, Penobscot, Pigwacket, Saco, and other the Eastern Parts of His Majesty's Province aforesaid, having had the several Articles of the foregoing Treaty distinctly Read and Interpreted to us, by a Sworn Interpreter, at this time, Do Approve of, Recognize, Ratify and Confirm all, and every the said Articles (excepting only the Fourth and Fifth Articles, which relate to the Restraint, and Limitation of Trade and Commerce which is now otherwise managed.)

"And whereas some rash & inconsiderate Persons amongst us, have molested some of our good fellow Subjects the English in the Possession of their Lands, and otherwise ill-Treated them, We do Disapprove & Condemn the same, and freely Consent that our English Friends shall Possess, Enjoy, & Improve all the Lands, which they have formerly Possessed, and all which they have obtained a Right & Title unto: Hoping it will prove of mutual & reciprocal Bene

fit & Advantage to them & us, that they Cohabit with us.

"In Testimony, and Perpetual Memory whereof We have hereunto set our Hands & Seals, in behalf of our Selves, & of the several Tribes of the Indians, that have delegated us to appear for, and Represent them the Day and Year afore mentioned."

This instrument was signed by twenty of the sachems and principal savages, and was witnessed by several English gentlemen and young Indians of note in their tribes, after which "the Sachems and Chief Men came with great respect & offered his Excellency their hands; one of them declaring that they Desired the Peace might continue as long as the Sun & Moon should endure." The conference then closed as usual with presents to the savages and dancing by the young men of the tribes present.1

The establishment of a Protestant missionary at Arrowsic to teach the savages in the vicinity, or who

1 On the return of the governor to Massachusetts, a report of the conference was made public in a pamphlet having this imprint: BOSTON: printed by B. Green, Printer to His Excellency the GOVERNOR & COUNCIL. And sold by Benj. Eliot, at his shop below the Town house, 1717. It has been reprinted in the Collections of the Me. Histor ical Society, vol. 3, pp. 359-375.

resorted there, was enough to intensify the animosity of Ralé against the English, and the savages, understanding the situation, took delight in adding fuel to the flame. Although Ralé well knew the deceptive character of the savages, for "Nothing," he says, is "more dissembling than an Indian's News; he will tell pleasing News for drink or a better bargain," he accepted as true the idle tales, which they carried to him respecting the preaching of the Protestant missionary, and he wrote him what he denominates, "une lettre honnête," stating, in the words used by the savages at the conference a few days before, that his "Christians knew how to believe the truths which the Catholic Faith teaches, but knew not how to dispute about them," and he accompanied his letter with a "memorial of about a hundred pages," in which he says: "I proved by Scripture, by tradition, & by theological reasons the truths which he had attacked by stale enough pleasantries."

Baxter, when he received Ralé's letter, was on the point of returning to Boston. The manner in which he met the priest's unwarranted attack, compares well with what we know of the dignified character of the The cause to which he had devoted his life, and for which he toiled until death arrested his labors, was too important in his estimation to permit him to

man.