LANCASTER COUNTY. 167 



My good friends and brothers, I give you the same 

 counsel, and earnestly desire that yO'U will follow it 

 since it will make you a happy people. I give you this 

 advice, because I am your true friend, but I much fear 

 you hearken to others who never were nor never will be 

 your friends. You know verj' well that the French have 

 been your enemies from the beginning, and though they 

 were at peace with you about two and twenty years 

 ago, yet by subtle practices they still endeavor to ensnare 

 ycu. They us'^ arts and tricks, and tell you lies to 

 deceive you, and if you would make use of your own 

 eyes, and not be deluded by their Jesuits and Luter- 

 preters, you would see this yourselves; for, you know, 

 they have had no goods of any value, these several 

 years past, except what has been sent to them from the 

 English, of New York, and that is now all over. They 

 give fair speeches instead of real services, and as for 

 many years they attempted to destroy you in war, so 

 they now endeavor to do it in peace; for when they 

 persuade you to go out to war against others, it is only 

 that you may be destroyed yourselves, while we, as 

 your true friends, labor to prevent, because we would 

 have your numbers increased that you may grow strong, 

 and that we may be all strengthened m friendship and 

 peace together. 



As to what you have said of trade, I suppose the 

 great distance at which you live from us has prevented 

 all commerce between us and your people. We believe, 

 those who go into the woods and spend all their time 

 upon it, endeavor to make the best bargains they can for 

 themselves; so, on your part, you must ^alie care to 

 make the best bargain you can with them, but we hope 

 our traders do not exact, for we think that a stroud coat, 

 or a pound of powder is now sold for no - more buck- 



