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and taken their goods from them without any just grounds for so doing, how can I expect but thatyou will use them as you threaten ; You say also in your letter, that the King of England has noright to the five nations on this side the lake. I would willingly know if so, whose subjects they arein your opinion, You tell me of your haueing had Missionaryes among them, itt is a very charitableact, but I suppose and am very well assured that giues no just right or title to the Government ofthe Country—Father Bryare writes to a Gent: there that the King of China never goes any wherewithout two Jessuits with him: I wonder why you make not the like pretence to that kingdome :you also say you had many Missionaryes among them att my comeing to this Government, in thatyou have been missinformed for I never heard of any, butt the two Lamberuills who were at Onon-dages, and were protected by me from the Insolencys of the Indians, as they desired of me, and asby letters in which they gave me thanks appears, but when they understood your intentions theythought fit to goe without takeing leave : butt their sending there was as I afterwards found for someother end than propagating the Christian Religion as was apparent by some letters of theirs directedto Canada , which happened to come to my hands—
Now you have mist of your unjust pretensions—you are willing to refer all things to our Masters,I will endevor to protect his Majestys subjects here from your unjust inuasions until I hear from theKing my Master who is the greatest and most glorious monarch that ever set on a Throne and woulddo as much to propagate the Christain faith as any Prince that hues and is as tender of wronging thesubjects of any Potentate whatever, as he is of suffering his owne to be injured—
Itt is very true that I have eat a great deale of the bread of France and have in requittal com-plyed with my obligations in doing what I ought and would prefer the service of the French kingbefore any, except my owne, and have a great deal of respect for all the people of quality, of yournation which engages me to aduise Mons r Denonuille to send home all the Christians and Indiansprisoners the King of England’s subjects you unjustly do deteine, this I thought fitt to answer toyour reflecting and provoking letter,a true coppy.
GOV. DONGAN TO THE LORD PRESIDENT.
[Lontl. Doc. V.]
My Lord—Since writing my other Letter some messages have come to my hands from Albany oftheir apprehensions of the French , which obliges me to carry up thither two hundred men, besidesthe Garrison @ go and stay there this Winter, and to get together five or six hundred of the fivenations about Albany @ Schonectade which will be a great charge but I see no remedy for itMy Lord it is a great misfortune for this Governm 4 that there are so few of his Maty* natural bornsubjects, the greater part being Dutch, who if occasion were, I fear would not be very fitt for serviceI am sending to the further Indians to try if I can make a Peace between them @ the Sennekesand also to the Christian Indians about Canada who have a mind to come, I will do what is possiblefor me to save the Government against the French til I have further orders from your Lodp JudgePalmer has more papers to show your Lodp that came from Albany , by those he carries with himyour Lodp may perceive the grounds I have for my proceedings
I am your Lodps most obed‘
and Humble Serv 1
Tho Dongan