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defigned to have revenged on you, but at the CHA P. "Defire of Sir Edmond Androfs, then Governor

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general of this Country, we defifted from deftroying you, and fent our Agents, Colonel Wil"liam Kendal, and Colonel Southley Littleton, to "confirm and make fure the Peace, that Colonel Courfey of Maryland included us in, when he firft "treated with you. We find, that as you quickly forgot what you promised Colonel Coursey, fo you "have wilfully broke the Covenant-chain which you promised our Agent, Colonel Kendal, fhould "be kept more ftrong and bright, if we of Virginia would bury, in the Pit of Oblivion, the Injury then done us; which, upon Governor Androfs's Interceffion, and your Submiffion, we were willing to forget: But you not at all mind"ing the Covenant then made, have every. Year "fince, come into our Country in a war-like Man"ner, under Pretence of fighting with our Indi"ans, our Friends and Neighbours, which you "ought not to have done, our Agent having inclu"ded them likewife in the Peace. You not only "deftroyed, and took feveral of them Prifoners, "but you have alfo killed and burnt our Chriftian "People, destroying Corn and Tobacco, more than

you made Ufe of, killed our Horfes, Hogs, and "Cattle; not to eat, but to let them lie in the "Woods and ftink: This you did, when you were "not denied any Thing you faid you wanted.

"I muft alfo tell you, that, under the Pretence "of Friendship, you have come to Houfes at the. "Heads of our Rivers (when they have been for"tified) with a white Sheet on a Pole, and have

laid down your Guns before the Fort; upon "which, our People taking you for Friends, have "admitted your great Men into their Forts, and "have given them Meat and Drink, what they de"fired. After the great Men had refreshed them

felves, and defiring to return, as they were let out

"" of

III.

CHAP." of the Fort-gates, the young Men commonly rushed III. "into the Fort, and plundered the Houses, taking "away, and deftroying all the Corn, Tobacco, and

Bedding, and what else was in the Houses. When "they went away, they generally alfo took feveral "Sheep with them, and killed several Cows big with "Calf, and left them behind them cut to Pieces, and flung about, as if it were in Defiance of us, and in "Derifion of our Friendship. Thefe, and many

more Injuries that you have done us, have caused "me to raise Forces, to fend to the Heads of our "Rivers, to defend our People from thefe Out66 rages, till I came to New-York, to Colonel Thomas Dongan, your Governor-general, to defire him, as we are all one King's Subjects, to affift me in warring againft you, to revenge the Chriftian "Blood that you have fhed, and to make you give full Satisfaction for all the Goods that you "have deftroyed: But by the Mediation of your "Governor, I am now come to Albany to fpeak "with you, and to know the Reafon of your break

6.

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ing the Covenant-chain, not only with us and "our neighbour Indians, but with Maryland, who "are great King Charles's Subjects; for our Indians "have given King Charles their Land; therefore I, "the Governor of Virginia, will protect them, as

your Governor, under the great Duke of York and "Albany, will henceforth you, when the Chain of Friendship is made between us all.

"Now I have let you know, that I am fenfible "of all the Injuries you have done us, and by the "Defire of your Governor-general, I am willing "to make a new Chain with you for Virginia, Ma"ryland, and our Indians, that may be more ftrong "and lasting, even to the Word's End; fo that we may be Brethren, and great King Charles's Chil❝dren.

" I pro

III.

"I propofe to you, first, That you call out of CHA P. "our Countries of Virginia and Maryland, all your "young Men or Soldiers that are now there.

"Secondly, That you do not hinder or moleft our "friendly Indians from hunting in our Mountains, it "having been their Country, and none of yours; "they never go into your Country to disturb any " of you.

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Thirdly, Though the Damages you have done " our Country be very great, and would require à great deal of Satisfaction, which you are bound "to give; yet we affure you, that only by the "Perfuafions of your Governor, who is at a vaft "deal of Trouble and Charge for your Welfare, " which you ever ought to acknowledge, I have pafs'd it by and forgiven you; upon this Conditi66 on, that your People, nor any living among you, "for the future, ever commit any Incurfions upon "our Chriftians or Indians living among us, or in "Maryland.

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"For the better Confirmation of the fame, and "that the Peace now concluded may be lafting, I "propofe to have two * Hatchets buried, as a fi"nal Determination of all Wars and Jarrings be"tween us; one on behalf of us and our Indians, " and the other for all your Nations united together, "that ever did us any Injury, or pretended to war "against our Indian Friends, or those of Mary"land.

"And that nothing may be wanting for Confir"mation thereof (if you defire it) we are willing "to fend fome of our Indian Sachems, with an A66 gent, next Summer, about this Time, that they may ratify the Covenant with you here, in this prefixed Houfe, where you may fee and speak "together as Friends.

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All Indians make Use of a Hatchet or Axe, as an Emblem to exprefs War.

"That

CHAP.

III.

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"That the Covenant now made between us, in "this prefixed House, in the Prefence of your Go"vernor, may be firmly kept and performed on your Parts, as it always has been on ours; and that 66 you do not break any one Link of the Covenantchain for the future, by your People's coming "near our Plantations; when you march to the "Southward, keep to the Feet of the Mountains, " and do not come nigh the Heads of our Rivers, "there being no Bever-hunting there; for we shall

not for the future, though you lay down your "Arms as Friends, ever truft you more, you have "fo often deceived us."

The next Day the Mohawks anfwer'd firft by their Speaker, faying:

"We muft, in the firft Place, fay fomething to "the other three Nations, by Way of Reproof, for "their not keeping the former Chain, as they "ought; and therefore we defire you, great Sa"chem of Virginia, and you Corlaer, and all here "present to give Ear, for we will conceal nothing "of the Evil they have done." [Then turning to the other Nations.] "You have heard Yesterday "all that has been faid; as for our Parts, we are "free of the Blame laid on us; we have always "been obedient to Corlaer, and have fteadily kept "our Chain with Virginia, Maryland, and Boston; "but ye are ftupid and brutish, and have no Un

66

derstanding, we must stamp Understanding into you. Let the new Chain made Yefterday be care"fully preserved for the future. This we earneftly recommend to you, for we are ready to cry "for Shame of you; let us be no more afhamed on "your Account, but be obedient, and take this "Belt, to keep what we fay in your Memory.

"Hear now, now is the Time to hearken; the "Covenant-chain had very near flipt, by your not keeping

2

keeping it firmly. Hold it faft now, when all for- CH A P "mer Evils are buried in the Pit.

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"You Oneydoes, I fpeak to you as Children; be no longer childish, or void of Understanding. "You Onondagas, our Brethren, you are like "deaf People, that cannot hear, your Senfes are "covered with Dirt and Filth.

"You Cayugas, do not return into your former "Ways. There are three Things we must all ob"ferve.

First, The Covenant with Corlear. Secondly, "the Covenant with Virginia and Maryland. "Thirdly, with Boston. We must ftamp Under"ftanding into you, that you may be obedient; "and take this Belt for a Remembrancer."

Then Gadianne, the fame Mohawk Speaker, turning to my Lord, faid:

"We are very thankful to you, great Sachem of "Virginia, that you are perfuaded by Corlear, our "Governor, to forgive all former Faults. We are

..

very glad to hear you, and fee your Heart foft"ened. Take these three Bevers as a Token.

"We thank the great Sachem of Virginia for faying, that the Axe fhall be thrown into the Pit. "Take these two Bevers, as a Token of our Joy "and Thankfulness.

"We are glad that Affarigoa* will bury in the "Pit what is paft. Let the Earth be trod hard "over it; or rather, let a ftrong Stream run under "the Pit, to wash the Evil away out of our Sight "and Remembrance, and that it may never be digged up again.

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Affarigoa, you are a Man of Knowledge and "Understanding, thus to keep the Covenant-chain bright as Silver; and now again to renew it, and

* The Name the Five Nations always give the Governor of Virginia.

E

"make

III.