tended by a great number of their Indians. These sang the A. D. 1698, songs of peace; though then in mourning for Madockawando and "several other Sachems of the east"—who had lately fallen victims to "the grievous unknown disease, which," according to Doct. Mather," consumed them wonderfully." They said, Frontenac told them, there was to be war no longer, and all prisoners must be released; and they had resolved to fight no more. In the parley, the Commissioners insisted upon a return of all the prisoners, and a removal of the resident missionaries at Penobscot, Norridgewock, and Androscoggin; lest a treaty, if made, would be violated as heretofore through their instigation. They replied, the white prisoners will be free to go home, or stay with their Indian friends; but the good Missionaries must not be driven away. ratified at A. D. 1699. The Commissioners from Massachusetts, Col. Phillips and A treaty Major Converse, taking passage from Boston in the Province Mare-point. galley, met the Sagamores of Penobscot,* Kennebeck, Androscoggin and Saco, at Mare-point [now in Brunswick]; and on the 7th of January, 1699, signed and ratified the treaty of August 11, 1693, with additional articles. They cast many reflections upon the French, and confessed their own follies and offences to be great; saying, 'we do most humbly throw ourselves ' upon the king's Majesty and mercy, and ask his pardon and 'protection. We renew our allegiance to him, and promise to fulfil every article in the recited treaty.'-All the prisoners present were then exchanged; among whom was Bomaseen, and the rest were to be restored in the spring.† Great numbers of scalps had been, from time to time, carried to Canada, for which the French government gave considerable premiums. the war. In this long and bloody war, which lasted ten years, all the Incidents of tribes eastward of the river Merrimack, inclusive, without excepting even the Mickmaks, were partakers, either of self-will or through the influence of the French. The Sokokis and Anasagunticooks were the most forward to commence hostilities, and the Canibas, the most reluctant, to make peace. War is always a *Those of Penobscot not expressed but included.—2 Neal's N. E. p. 559–561.-2 Math. Mag. p. 556-7. + Bomaseen and two others were on board the galley, who were not to be restored till the English captives were delivered.-5 Mass. Rec. p. A.D. 1699. heavy tax upon the population of the Indians. Losses. Fights, fatigue, famine and sickness, occasion wastes which the natural increase among them in seasons of tranquillity never repair. For scalps and plunder they chiefly received arms and ammunition from the French-not unfrequently provisions and wages, and always encouragement. Yet the Indians, on the whole, gain nothing by war, and the English lose everything but their character. If the people in Maine had some public garrisons, several stockaded forts, and a great number of fortified houses constructed of timber, shot proof to musquetry, with flankers at opposite angles, and also exterior entrenchments;-these could not withstand a long siege, a few of them only remaining undemolished. They afforded tolerable asylums for the inhabitants; but were uncomfortable dwelling-places for families; so much were the people crowded when within the walls. Many resigned their possessions to the destroyers, and departing, returned no more. All the towns and settlements, except Wells, York, Kittery and the Isles of Shoals, were overrun;* and an untold number of domestic animals, was destroyed by a rapacious enemy. More dwellinghouses, in proportion to other losses, were, however, left unconsumed and standing, than in the former war-though now tottering in ruins. About 450 people were either murdered, killed in battle or died of their wounds;+ and as many as 250, were, during the war, carried into captivity; some of whom perished of famine, hardships or disease. A few however, who were captured in their childhood, becoming attached to the society of the savages, chose to remain with them, and never would leave the tribes.I *Assacombuit, himself a bloody warrior, it is said, had killed and taken in this war 150 men, women and chidren." † 2 Mather's Magnalia, 558.--But he and Neal, [2 vol. N. E. 544-562] are too low. By enumeration our loss was more than 700. C An Anecdote.-Several Indian women, suffering with hunger in the late war, and seeing horses upon the peninsula of Casco, requested their husbands, to shoot a few of them, for wc, said they, want some roast meat.' One, driven into a corner, was caught, which a young Indian wished to have the pleasure of riding. The mane and tail were clipt and twisted into a halter, and the savage mounted. Fearful of being thrown, he had his feet tied fast together under the body of the horse; when the unbroken animal being let go, galloped off with such furious speed, that both were presently out of sight, and nothing was ever found of either, except one of the rider's limbs, which the Indians buried in Capt. Brackett's cellar. APPENDIX. No. 1. LETTERS PATENT TO SIEUR DE MONTS, LIEUTENANT GENERAL OF ACADIA AND THE CIRCUMJACENT COUNTRY, NOVEMBER 8, 1603. [Translated from L'Escarbot's History of New-France.] HENRY, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre :To our dear and well beloved the Sieur de Monts, Gentleman in ordinary of our Bed-Chamber, Greeting.-As our greatest care and labor, since our accession to this Crown is, and always has been, to maintain and preserve it in its ancient dignity, greatness and splendor; to extend and enlarge, as far as lawfully may be done, the boundaries and limits thereof; We, being long informed of the situation and condition of the country and territory of Acadia; -moved hereunto above all things by a peculiar zeal, and a devout and firm resolution, which we have taken with the aid and assistance of God, the Author, Distributor and Protector of all Kingdoms and States; to cause to be converted, brought over and instructed in Christianity, and in the belief and profession of our Faith and Religion,-the people who inhabit that country, at present a barbarous race, atheists, without Faith or Religion; and to draw them from the ignorance and infidelity wherein they now are. Having also from the reports of Captains of vessels, pilots, merchants and others, who a long time ago have visited, frequented and trafficked with the people who are found there, long understood how profitable, convenient and useful may be to us, to our States and subjects, the possession, residence and occupancy of those places, for the great and apparent benefit which will accrue from the great frequentation and connection with the people there, and the traffick and commerce which may by this means be safely carried on and negotiated. We, for these causes, fully confiding in your great prudence, and in the knowledge you possess of the quality, condition, and situation of the said country of Acadia; from the divers voyages, travels and visits you have made into those parts, and others, neighboring and circumjacent,-assuring ourself that this our resolution and intention being made known unto you, you will be able attentively, diligently, and not less courageously and valorously to execute, and bring to the perfection we desire; we have expressly appointed and established,-and by these presents signed with our own hand, we do appoint, ordain, make, constitute and establish you, our Lieutenant General, to represent our person in the country, territory, coasts and confines of Acadia, from the 40th, to the 46th degree,—and within this extent, or any part thereof, as far inland as may be practicable, to establish, extend and make known our name, power and authority,—and thereunto subject, cause to submit and obey, all the people of the said land, and circumjacent country; and by virtue hereof, and by all other lawful ways, to call, instruct, move and stir them up to the knowledge of God, and to the light of the christian faith and religion; to establish it there, and in the exercise and possession of it, to maintain, keep and preserve the said people, and all others inhabiting said places; and in peace, quiet and tranquillity to command there, as well by sea as by land; to order, determine and cause to be executed every thing which you shall judge can and ought to be done to maintain, keep and preserve the said places under our power and authority, by the forms, ways and means prescribed by our ordinances. And for your assistance in the premises, to appoint, establish and constitute all necessary officers, as well in affairs of war, as in justice and policy, in the first instance, and from thence in future to nominate and present them to us for our approbation; and to give such commissions, titles and grants as shall be necessary. And as circumstances shall require, yourself, with the advice of prudent and capable persons, to prescribe under our good pleasure, laws, statutes and ordinances, (conformable to ours as far as may be) especially in such matters and things as are not provided for by these presents; to treat, and effectually contract peace, alliance and confederation, good friendship, correspondence and communication with the said people, and their princes, or others having power and command over them; to maintain, keep and carefully observe the treaties and alliances you shall stipulate with them, provided they on their part faithfully observe' them; and in default thereof to make open war against them, to compel and bring them back to such reason as you shall judge fit for the honor, obedience and service of God, and the establishing, upholding and preserving our said authority among them; at least to visit and frequent them by yourself and all our subjects, in all security, liberty, frequentation and communication; to negotiate, and traffick there, amicably and peaceably; to grant them favors and privileges, and bestow on them employments and honors. Which entire power above-said, we also will, and ordain, that you have over all our said subjects, and others who shall remove and inhabit there, to traffick, and trade, and reside in the said places; to hold, take, reserve and appropriate to yourself what you shall wish, and shall see to be most convenient and fit for your rank, condition and use. To parcel out such parts and portions of said lands,-to give and attribute to them such titles, honors, rights, powers and faculties as you shall see fit, according to the rank, condition and merits of the people of the country or others; especially to people, cultivate, and cause the said lands to be settled the most speedily, carefully and skilfully that time, places and conveniences will permit; to this end, to make, or cause to be made the discovery and examination, of them, along the extent of the seacoasts, and other countries of the main land, that you shall order and prescribe, within the said limit of the 40th degree to the 46th or otherwise, as far as may be done along the said seacoasts, and into the main land; carefully to search after and to distinguish all sorts of mines of gold and silver, copper and other metals and minerals; to dig for and collect them, and purify and refine them for use; to dispose of, as we have directed in the edicts and regu lations that we have made in this kingdom, the profit and emolu ment thereof, by yourself, or by those you may appoint for that pur pose,-reserving unto us only the tenth part of the produce of the gold, silver and copper,-appropriating to yourself our portion of the other metals and minerals, to aid and relieve you in the great expenses, which the said charge may bring upon you. Meantime, for your safety and comfort, and for that of all our subjects, who shall go to those parts, and shall dwell and traffick in the said lands, as generally all others, who shall place themselves under our power and protection, we authorize you to build and construct one or more forts, places, towns, and all other houses, dwellings and habita tions, ports, havens, retreats and lodgements that you may consider proper, useful and necessary to the execution of the said enterprize; to establish garrisons, and soldiers to protect them; and to employ, for aid in the aforesaid purposes, vagabonds, idle and dissolute persons, as well from the towns as from the country,-and also those condemned to perpetual banishment or for three years at least, beyond our realms-provided this be done by the advice and consent, and by the authority of our officers. Besides the preceding (and that which is elswhere appointed, directed and ordained to you by the commissioners and authorities given you by our very dear cousin the Sieur de Danville,* Admiral * Anville is an error in Hazard's copy--for it appears from history, that Charlos Montmorenci, Duc de Danville, was at that time Admiral of France. |