424 ERONTENAC ATTACKS THE OXONDAGAS. 



a safe escort. The two envoys demanded of Fron- 

 tenac, at the same time, that he should deliver to 

 them all the Iroquois in his hands. To give up 

 Iroquois prisoners to Bellomont, or to receive 

 through him French prisoners whom the Iroquois 

 had captured, would have been an acknowledg- 

 ment of British sovereignty over the five con- 

 federate tribes. Frontenac replied that the earl 

 need give himself no trouble in the matter, as the 

 Iroquois were rebellious subjects of King Louis ; 

 that they had already repented and begged peace ; 

 and that, if they did not soon come to conclude it, 

 he should use force to compel them. 



Bellomont wrote, in return, that he had sent 

 arms to the Iroquois, with orders to defend them- 

 selves if attacked by the French, and to give no 

 quarter to them or their allies ; and he added that, 

 if necessary, he would send soldiers to their aid. 

 A few days after, he received fresh news of Fron- 

 tenac' s warlike intentions, and wrote in wrath as 

 follows : — 



Sir, — Two of our Indians, of the Nation called Onondages, 

 came yesterday to advise me that you had sent two renegades 

 of their Nation to them, to tell them and the other tribes, except 

 the Mohawks, that, in case they did not come to Canada within 

 forty days to solicit peace from you, they may expect your march- 

 ing into their country at the head of an army to constrain them 

 thereunto by force. I, on my side, do this very day send my 

 lieutenant-governor with the king's troops to join the Indians, 

 and to oppose any hostilities you will attempt ; and, if needs be, 

 I will arm every man in the Provinces under my government to 

 repel you, and to make reprisals for the damage which you will 

 commit on our Indians. This, in a few words, is the part I will 



