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L. H. J.
Liber No. 46
May 10
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we would send to all the Nations in Alliance with us to do the same
and accordingly the Indians did send to all their Friends and Allies
and particularly to the Indians about the Lakes and in the places
where we live, requesting they would not engage on either side; and
they all stood Neuter, except the French praying Indians, who, tho'
they promis'd were not so Good as their words. This is the first thing
we have to say to our Brethren; and we hope they will receive this
in good part, and be willing to hear what we have further to say.
Brethren When the Indians received the first Message from the
English, they thought the English and French would fight with one
another at Sea, and not suffer war to be made on the Land but some
time after the Messengers were sent by all the English to Onondago,
to tell us that the French had begun the War on the Land in the
Indian Counties, and had done a great deal of mischief to the En-
glish and they now desired their brethren the Indians, would take
up the Hatchet against the French, and likewise prevail with their
Allies to do the same. The old men at Onondago however refunded
to do this, and would adhere to the Neutrality and on their declaring
this, the English sent other Messengers again and again, who pressed
earnestly that the Indians would take up their Hatchet, but they
were still denied by the old men at the fire at Onondago who unwill-
ing to come into the war, sent message after message to Canada and
Albany to desire both parties would fight it out at sea. At last the
young Indians, the Warriors and Captains consulted together and
resolved to take up the English Hatchet against the will of their old
people, and to lay their old people aside as of no use but in Time of
Peace. This the young Warriors have done, provoked to it by the
repeated applications of our Brethren the English, And we now come
to tell you, that the French have hard Heads, and that we have
nothing strong enough to break them; we have only little sticks and
Hickories, and such Things, that will do little or no Service against
the hard Heads of the French; we therefore present this Belt, to
desire that we may be furnished with better weapons; such as will
knock the French down, and in token that we are hearty for you
and will do our best, if you will put better arms into our hands, we
give you this Belt. Here they gave a belt of seven rows.
Brethren, When once we, the Young Warriors engaged we put a
great deal of Fire under our Kettle and the Kettle boiled high and
so it does still. Meaning they Carryed on the war briskly that the
Frenchmens heads might soon be boiled, but when we look about
us to see how it was with the English Kettle, we saw that the Fire
was almost out, and that it hardly boil'd at all, and that no French
mens heads were like to be in't This truly Surprizes us, and we are
come down on purpose to know the reason of it. How comes it to
pass that the English who brought us into the war, will not fight
themselves. This has not a good appearance, and therefore we give
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