92 LA BAKRE AXD THE IROQUOIS. [1684. 



the Miamis. " Onontio," said their orator, " calls 

 us his children, and then helps our enemies to 

 knock us in the head." They were somewhat 

 disturbed at the prospect of La Barre's threatened 

 attack ; and Dongan seized the occasion to draw 

 from them an acknowledgment of subjection to the 

 Duke of York, promising in return that they should 

 be protected from the French. They did not hesi- 

 tate. "We put ourselves," said the Iroquois 

 speaker, " under the great sachem Charles, who 

 lives over the Great Lake, and under the protection 

 of the great Duke of York, brother of your great 

 sachem." But he added a moment after, " Let your 

 friend [King Charles) who lives over the Great 

 Lake know that we are a free people, though 

 united to the English." ] They consented that the 

 arms of the Duke of York should be planted in 

 their villages, being told that this would prevent 

 the French from destroying them. Dongan now 

 insisted that they should make no treaty with 

 Ouontio without his consent ; and he promised that, 

 if their country should be invaded, he would send 

 four hundred horsemen and as many foot soldiers 

 to their aid. 



As for the acknowledgment of subjection to the 

 king and the Duke of York, the Iroquois neither 

 understood its full meaning nor meant to abide by 

 it. What they did clearly understand was that, 

 while they recognized Onontio, the governor of 

 Canada, as their father, they recognized Cor- 



1 Speech of the Onondagas and Cayugas, in Colden, Five Nations, 63 

 (1727). 



