THE INDIAN TREATY HELD AT LANCASTER. 57 



" We assure you our People, who are numerous, courageous, and have 

 arms ready in their Hands, will not suffer themselves to be hurt in their 

 Lives and Estates. 



"But, however, the old and Wise People of Maryland immediately 

 met in Council, and upon considering very coolly your rash Expressions, 

 agreed to invite their Brethren, the Six Nations, to this place, that they 

 might learn of them what Eight they have to the land in Maryland; and 

 if they had any, to make them some reasonable Compensation for it. 

 Therefore the Governor of Maryland hath sent us to meet and treat with 

 you about this Affair, and the Brightening and Strengthning of the 

 Chain which has long subsisted between us; and as an Earnest of Our 

 Sincerity and Good wall towards you, We present you with this Belt of 

 AVampum." 



On which the Indians gave the Jo-hah. 



"Our Great King of England and his Subjects have alwise possessed 

 the Province of Maryland free and undisturbed from any Claim of the 

 Six Nations for above One hundred Years past, and your not saying any 

 thing to us before convinces us you thought you had no Pretence to any 

 Lands in Maryland, nor can we yet find out to what Lands or under what 

 Title you make your Claim. For the Sasquehannah Indians, by a Treaty 

 above ninety years since (which is on the Table and will be Interpreted 

 to you). Give and Yield to the English Nation, their heirs and assigns 

 forever, the Greatest part (if not all) of the Lands we possess from 

 Patuxent River on the Western, as well as from Choptank River on 

 the Eastern side of the Great Bay of Chesapeak, and near Sixty Years 

 ago you acknowledged to the Governor of new York at Albany, ' That 

 you had given your Lands and Submitted yourselves to the King of 

 England.' 



"We are that Great King's Subjects, and we Possess and enjoy the 

 Province of Maryland by virtue of His Right and Sovereignty thereto. 

 Why then wdll you stir up any Quarrel between you and ourselves, who 

 are as one man under the Protection of that Great King? 



" We need not put you in mind of the Treaty (which Ave suppose you 

 liave had from Your Fathers) made with the Province of Maryland near 

 Seventy Years ago, and renew'd and Confirmed twice since that time. 



"By these Treaties w^e became Brethren; we have alwise lived as such, 

 and hope alwise to continue so. 



" We have this further to say, that altho' We are not satisfied of the 

 Justice of your Claim to any Lands in Maryland, yet we are desirous in 

 shewinc^ Our Brotherly kindness and affection, and to prevent (by any 

 reasonable way) every misunderstanding between the Provmce ot Mary- 

 land and you our Brethren of the Six Nations. 



"For this Purpose we have brought hither a quantity of Goods for Our 



