his Majesty's councils and Lieut. Genl. of his armies, both in the Islands and mainlaind of South and North America, as well by sea as by land, to fight and destroy the Mohawks, which probably they would have accomplished, had not the mistake of their guides caused them to take one road for the other, came down to Quebec to solicit peace as well in their own name as in that of the Mohawks by ten of their Ambassadors, by name Soenres, Tsoenserouanne, Gannoukouenioton, Asaregouenioton, Asaregouaune, Tsendiagou, Achinnhara, Togoukouaras, Oskaraquets, Akouehen, And after having communicated by the mouth of their Orator and Chief Soenres, the object of their Embassy by ten talks expressed by as many presents, and having handed to us the letters from the officers of New Netherland, have unanimously requested, acknowledging the force of his Majesty's arms and their weakness and the condition of the forts advanced towards them, and moreover aware that the three upper Iroquois Nations have always experienced great benefit from the protection which they formerly received from the said Lord the King, that his Majesty would be pleased to extend to hem the same favour by granting them the same protection, and receiving them among the number of his true subjects, demanding that the Treaties formerly made as well by the said Nations as by theirs, have the same force and validity for that of the Mohawks, who have required of us to solicit this with great importunity, as they should have themselves done by means of their Ambassadors had they not been apprehensive of bad treatment at our hands, ratifying on their part all the said reaties in all their points and articles, which have been read to them in the Iroquois tongue by Joseph Marie Chaumont, priest, member of the Society of Jesus; adding, moreover, to all the said articles what the protest effecting in good faith what they offered by their said presents, especially to restore all the Frenchmen, Algonquins and Hurons whom they hold prisoners among them of what condition and quality they may be, and as long as any are detained there, even on the part of the Mohawks, to send families from among them to serve, like those of other nations as the most strict hostages for their persons and dispositions to the orders of those who shall in this Country have authority from the said Lord the King whom they' acknowledge from this time as their Sovereign; demanding reciprocally among all other things the restoration to them in good faith, of all those of their Nation who are prisoners at Quebec, Montreal and Three Rivers, that French families and some Black gowns, that is Jesuits be sent them, to preach the gospel to them and to make known to them the God of the French whom they promise to love and adore; also that trade and commerce be open to them with New France, by the Lake du Saint Sacrement, (L. George) with the assurance on their part that they will provide in their country, a sure retreat as well to the said families as to the trading merchants, not only by preparing cabins to lodge them in, but also by assisting to erect forts to shelter them from their common enemies the Andastaeronnons and others. And that the present Treaty, made on their part in ratification of the preceding, may be stable and known unto all, they have signed it with the separate and distinctive marks of their Tribes, after which what they solicited from the said Lord the King was granted to them in his name by Messire Alexandre de Prouville, Knight, Lord de Tracy member of the King's Councils, &c. (as above) in the presence and assisted by M. Daniel de Remy Siegneur de Courcelles, King's Councillor, &c., &c., and of M. Jean Talon also Councillor, &c. who have signed with the said Lord de Tracy; and as Witnesses, François le Mercier, Priest, Member and Superior of the Society of Jesus at Quebec and Joseph Marie ̈1 Chaumont likewise Priest and Member of the said Society, Interpreters of the Iroquois and Huron languages. Done at Quebec the 12 July, 1666. ACTE OF POSSESSION BY SIEUR DU BOIS IN THE NAME OF THE KING (OF FRANCE) OF THE FORTS TAKEN FROM THE IROQUOIS. In the year 1666, the 17th day of Octob., the King's troops commanded by Messire Alexander de Prouville Knight, Lord de Tracy Lieut. General of His Maties Naval armies both in the Islands and Continent of South and North America as well by sea as by land, aided by Messire Daniel de Remy Knight, Seigneur de Courcelles, Governor and Lieut. General for the King in New France, being drawn up in battle array before the Fort of Andaraque, Jean Baptiste du Bois Esqrs Sieur de Cocreaumont and de St. Morice, Commandant of the Artillery of the army, presented himself at the head of the army by order of Mons. Lord de Tracy and deputed by M. Jean Talon, King's Councillor in his State and Privy Councils, Intendant General of Justice, Police and Finance in New France, for the review and direction of the Supplies of the Troops, who declared and said that at the request of Mons Talon he took possession of said Fort and of all the lands in the neighbourhood as far and in as great a quantity as they may extend, and of the other four forts which have been conquered from the Iroquois in the name of the King, and in token thereof hath planted a Cross before the doors of said forts and near this hath erected a post and to these hath affixed the King's arms, of which and of all the above the said Sieur de Bois has required acte of the undersigned Royal Notary commanded in the said army for His Majesty's service. Done at the aforesaid Fort of Andaraque the day and above written, in presence of Messire Alexander de Chaumont, Knight Seigneur of said place, Aid de Camp of his Majesty's armies, and of Hector d'Andigny, Knight of Grande Fontaine, Captain of a Company of Infantry in the Carignan Regiment, of the Nobleman Antoine de Contrecour Cap" of a Company of Infantry in said Regiment, of Francois Massé, Sieur de Wally, Jean du Gal Esqrs Sieur du year Fresne Major of Canada, Jean Louis Chevalier du Glas Lieut of a Company of said Regimt, Rene Louis Chartier Esq', Sieur de Lobiniere Lieutenant of a Militia Company from Quebec, Dominique le Feure Esq', Sieur de Quesquelin Lieutenant in said Regiment, Witnesses undersigned with the said Seigneur du Bois and the Notary. Signed, Chaumont, le Chevalier de Grand Fontain, de Contrecour, du Gal, Wally, Chevlier du Glas, du Guesclin, Rene Louis Chartier, Lobiniere, du Bois and du Guet Royal Notary. GOV. NICOLLS TO CHEV. TRACY, AT QUEBEC. [Lond. Doc. II.] Monsieur, I was in some measure surprized in february last with the newes of so considerable a force of forreiners under the co mând of Monsieur de Courcelle so farre advanct in these Hi Maties Dominions without my Knowledge and Consent, or the least notice given of yr intentions to any of His Maties Colonies then in amity with the French Nation: although yr proceedings heerin were not conformable to the practise in Europe, yet al. my officers both Military and Civill soone resolu'd to succour anu releive your Campe with such meane provisions as the Country affords [and] from a small village could bee expected and as they have in all former times been very affectionate with Christian Charity to ransome or by any other meanes to convey divers French prisoners out of the hands of their barbarous Enemies so also their Intentions towards you is manifest in their letter of the 20th March last wherein their purpose was to give you a speedy notice that the Maquaes were at last wrought upon to treat of peace if you on your parts were so disposed, but it seems (by sad accident intervening,) you are pleas'd to lay a greater burder. upon them than they deserve after their sincere affections to your peace. To both yr Letters directed to the Captain and Commis saries at Albany themselves will returne answer but hearing that you had Emploied Le Sr. Couture with yr Letters I tooke a suddaine Resolution to have discourse with him to wch purpose I came hither but find that he is return'd without the Knowledge of the Capt. or Commissarie. I could have wisht that hee had staid for mee, or that I could wait his coming for I now want the opportunity of enlarging myself to him and by him to y'selfe with how much Integrity I shall constantly attend the European Interest amidst the heathen in America as becomes a good Christian, provided that the bounds and limits of these His Majesties of Englands dominions be not invaded or the Peace and Safety of his subjects interrupted, In all other points I shall be found to entertaine yr Correspondence with Mutuall Civility and respect the rather because the Reputation of yr honour hath spread itself in all these parts of the world, as well as it is known in Europe, whereof I can beare some Testimony, when I had the honour to attend my master his R. H. the Duke of York and Albany a few yeares in the french army, and now that I serve the same Master in his interest in this part of the World, I should count my selfe very fortunate in an opportunity at least to acknowledge some part of yr great civilities to my Master and all his Servants in their low estate and condition of Exile, The Memory whereof obligeth me (a reasonable time and good occasion concurring) to give you certain proofe with how much truth I am, Sir, 20th Aug: St: Vet: Yor Most affte. Servant RICHARD NICOLLS. In fort Albany 1666. A Monsieur, Monsieur Le Chevalier et Seigneur de Tracy Lt. Generall Du A Quebec. |