September. hath been to exorbitantly managed by somm though the wellfare of the 1651. Collonies in many Respects is deeply conserned and hazarded wee shall add what strength wee may to the sensers allreddy made That if no other consideracions will @vaile selfe consernments may deterre Though wee haue not vnderstood that any from vs hath been transported to Barbadoes or Verginia the great enconuenience wee lye vnder is from that mischevius trad of Guns powder and shott Carried on by ffrench Duch and Sweads with Indians and Temtations arising to som of ours therby which hath occasioned many to vrge to a setting open that trade amongst our selues Conseiuing that as the case stands the best way to put a Checke to ye Currant it now Runs soe strongly in but wee haue been slow heerin nor dare wee yet set open such a dore yet could bee willing to vnderstand from you what Interpretacion you conceiue would bee made by ye State there if Restreints vpon the aformencioned Considerations should for a time bee taken of Wee vnderstand Mr Eaton hath at larg written vnto you about theire just title to Considerable parts of land on both sides Delaware bay and Riuer how they were formerly desturbed in theire trade and planting by force and other vnlawfull practises both of Duch and Sweads youer selfe may Remember *and hee hath aquainted you with a late vnneighborly and iniurius Carriage of the Duch Gouer when at least 50 of Newhauen Jurisdiction were on theire way to plant there but were stayed Imprisoned and forced to Returne with great lose to those enteresed in that designe; and hath desired youer healpe in procureing a pattent; These things by a peticion from those conserned in ye late lose and disapointment haue been Recomended to our Consideracon Wee are Justly sensable of the dishoner put vpon the English Nation by this vniust afront of our duty to p'serue y English title to soe Considerable place as Delaware and that a Just Repaire and satisfaction bee made to those soe wronged both in their psons and estates and from you desire enformacon what esteeme the old Pattents for that place haue with the Parliament or Counsell of State where there hath been no Improvement hetherto made by the Pattentees whether the Parliament hath graunted any late Pattents or whether in graunting they Reserue not libertie and encurragement for such as haue or shall plant vppon theire formerly duly Purchased lands as allsoe how any engagement by the Collonies against the Duch vpon the formencioned occasion willbee Resented by the Parliament of which wee desire enformacion by the first Vpon occasion of som former letters written by Mr Winthorpe somtimes Gov of the Massachusets and som other Majestrates of that Jurisdiction *231 September. *232 1651. to procure and settle free trade between the English and French in these parts of America Monsieur Dalliboust Goun of New France sent Mr Gabriell Derwellets as his agent about october i650 to treat with the Massachusetts and Plym: Collonies about a league offenciue and deffenciue but being enformed that the 4 English Collonies are confederate and that all treaties and leagues conserning warr or peace with others naighboring Nations or Collonies are now *now Referred to the Consideracon and conclusion of y Comissioners who meet yearely in September and the next yeare in course in New haven, hee then Returned but himselfe Mons' Godfrey were after sent to Boston with Comissions from ye said Governer and Counsell of New France and with letters from them to y Comissioners of the vnited Collonies, dated June 20. i65i wherin they complayne of ye Iniurius Treacherus dealing of y Mohaukes in making hostile assaults vpon them and theire Naighbor Indians without cause and contrary to agreement and leagues of peace; from Boston Mr Derwelletes as Agent both from the French Collonie and from the French and Kenebeck Indians; of which som of them are (as hee afeirmeth) baptised Christians and other Chatechumeni or learners in that way wrote to the Comissioners of Conecticot and Newhaven desiring that the Comissioners would meet at Boston (but that was Inconvenient) hee alsoe gaue severall arguments to pswade the English Collonies to joyne with them in a warr against the Mohaukes as that ye warr is just they breaking solomme leagues made for peace; and managing theire warrs with much Crueltye It is a holy warr for defence of converted Indians and encurragement of Chatechuminis who are psecuted and Cruelly handled when taken by the Mohaukes as proffessers and frinds to the Christian Religion It is of common Consernment the Inroades of the Mohaukes tending to the destruction at least to the great desturbance of the Trade wherin both French and som of the English both of Massachusets and Plym: are Intersed and that themselues haue no Convenient Passage to carry on a warre ågainst yo Mohaukes the way being long and full of difficulties by land and no passage by water not soe much as for a loaden Cannooe Wherfore in the name both of the French Governor Counsell of the Indians aforsaid hee desireth the Collonies to joyne in warr and in theire names promiseth a due Consideracon and allowance for charge; or that the French may have libertie to take vp Volenteers in the English Jurisdiction; and bee furnished with victailes for that service at least that they may pase through the *the Collonies by water and land as occation may require To these letters such answare was Returned by all the Collonies as might haue stopt all further proceedings but It seems by theire Comissions or Instructions they were jnioyned to treat with the *233 September. Comissioners and from them Joyntly to Receive theire answare soe that they 1651. came allong with the Massachusets Comissioners to Newhaven and p'sented three Comissions one from the French Governor a 2cond from the Counsell of New France and a 3d by which Mr Gabriell Drwellets was sent to publish the doctrine of ye Christian faith amongst the Indians; hee againe allsoe opened the case betwixt the French (c and the Mohaukes and Improved his abillities to the vtmost to pswade the Comissioners that the English Collonies might Joyne in the warr against the Mohaukes; at least that they would pmitt volenteers and afford passage through theire Jurisdictions or take the Converted Indians and Chatachumini vnder theire protection which being graunted hee offered Treatye about settleing a free trad betwixt the English and French in these parts of america; The matters ppounded being of weighty Consernment were seriusly considered and answare was Returned to the French agents by word of mouth and to the Governer and Counsell of New France in writting according to the tennure of the ensueing letter and Conclusions enclosed being Translated into Latine Most Illustrious Sir and much Hono'ed Gentlemen Wee have received youer seuerall letters pused youer Comissions p'sented by youer honered agents and seriusly Considered what hath been by them either in writing or by Conference propounded Conserning those Iniurius and hostele attempts made by som of the Mohaukes vpon som of youer Naighboring easteren Indians of which (as wee are enformed) som are Converted to the Christian faith and others are willing to bee taught and may in time prove Desiples to our saveing lord and Master as such wee pittey them but see not how wee can protect or afford the healp desired without exposing the The smaler English plantations and our owne Naighboring Indians of which some allsoe professe Christianitie) to danger Wee giue due Credite to youer Deputies and can conceive you may have Just grounds for a warr but wee haue yet noe cause of Just quarrell with the Mohaukes nor is it safe for vs to engage in a controversy which wee neither doe nor haue means satisfyingly to vnderstand, the Mohaukes neither being in subiection to nor in any Confeaderacon with vs; Wee are free to hold a naighborly corespondency with you and would have settled a free Comerce betwixt ye English and French Collonies but youer agents thought it either vnseasonable tell mater were Composed betwixt the Mohaukes and youer Indians or els propounded such Restrictions as would haue taken away all conveniency and freedom from the trade what hath hindered our p'sent Closure (the 26 VOL. I. *234 1651. enclosed writing will shew, but if a fitter oppertunitie bee offered wee shall not bee wanting to contribute to a more satisfying Issue, in the meane time wee Rest September 6 165i September. New hauen Sti: Angli: An answare to the ppositions p'sented by the honered French agents to the President and Comissioners for the English vnited Collonies Vpon due consideracon and Respecte to what the honered Deputies from the Illustrivs Gout of New France haue enformed and vpon experience our selves haue had of the Insolency and treachery of som of the Barbarians wee can conseaue and graunt that the French and those Easteren Indians may have Just grounds to theire owne satisfaction for a warr against the Mohaukes The English looke vpon all such Indians as Receive the yoake of Christ with another eye then vpon others that Worship the Diuell The English desire by all Just meanes to keep peace If it may bee) with all men even with these Barbarians *The Mohaukes liveing att a distance from the Sea haue littel entercourse in these parts; but in the warr the English had with the Indians 14 or 16 yeares sence the Mohauke shewed a reall Respecte and have not sence donn any knowne hostele actes against them The English engage not in any warr before they have full and satisfiing euedence that in all Respects and consideracons it is Just and before peace vpon Just tearmes hath ben offered and Refused The Mohaukes are neither in Subiection nor in league with the English soe that wee can neither Require any accoumpt of theire warrs or other proceedings nor haue wee meanes to enforme our selves what they can say for themselves if all other considerations were cleared To make warr with the Mohaukes may endanger our Naighbor Indians of which diuers professe christianitie and the Rest doe rather expect Just protection from vs then that wee should expose them by our voulentary Inroadeing the Mohaukes Though the English in these Jurisdictions are free to pforme all Naighbourly offices of Righteusnes and peace towards the French Collonie, yet they foresee they can neither pmitt volenteers or Avxiliarye forces to bee taken vp against the Mohaukes nor that the French or Easteren Indians to pase through the English Jurisdictons to envade them; but they shall expose both the Christian and other Indians and some of the smaler English plantations to danger. The English are much vnsatisfied with that mischeuivs trade the French and Duch haue had and still continew selling guns powder and shott to all the Indians of which wee have daily complaints and by which the Indians are animated and apte to grow ensolent not onely against Indian Converts and Chatechumini but against the Christians of Europe If the English Collonies were assured of the Justice of this warre and engaged with the French to prosecute against the Mohaukes yett wee haue noe such short and convenient passage either by water or land to approach them as may bee had by hudsons Riuer to and beyand Ourania fort which is in the Duch Jurisdiction *They hope the Ancient peace and amity betwixt England and France wilbee continued and confeirmed which they both desire and as fare as lyes in them shall by all due meanes Reddilye promote They conceiue that the honered Deputies haue power and authoritie at p'sent to agree and settle a free Comerce betwixt the English and French Collonie in these parts, But if the said Deputies vpon Reasons knowne to themselves see cause to limitt the English Collonies to such Restrictions or Rather prohibitions as the vnpriuilidged French are vnder that they may not trad till they haue first procured a pticulare lycence from the Gov and Counsell of New France at least till they haue Issued the p'sent diferences and settled peace with the Mohaukes; A fitter Season for these Treaties must bee attended which the Comissioners shall Reddyly Improue when it is p'sented The English Collonies as in the 2cond Article are Reddy vpon a fitt opportunitie to shew due Respect to all true Converted and Christian Indians and much more then to others; but while they live at such a distance from the English Jurisdictions they neither may promise nor can afford them any protection to Secure them from Danger; Reverent Sir, A Petition and Letter from Mr Eliot dated Sep- latter Wee haue Read and considered both youer petition and letter dated the 34 p'sent by which wee Conceiue youer hope continueth that the Indians doe Really Imbrace the Gospell a work (if true) worthy of due encourragement but the honer of Christ and of the Collonies in the 2cond place Requireth that all Christian prudence bee vsed to Judge aright of the Indians Scope and aime in theire profession least they should onely follow Christ for loaues and outward aduantage Remaining enimies to the yoak and gouerment and sensuring our *our slightnes and aptnes to bee deceiued nor is this caution altogether 1651. September. ΙΟ 11 *236 12 *237 |