Document: Answer of the court to the proposals from the three Mohawk Castles

On June 22, 1657, there appeared again the sachems, or chiefs, of the Mohawk castles, who asked the court for an answer to their propositions made on the 16th of this month.[1] Upon which request the court gave the following answer:

As to the first proposition, concerning the horses, the answer is that they have no horses of their own, but if they [ the Indians ] are willing to pay for them, they will try to persuade some people to accommodate them. As to lodging their women and children in the event of an emergency with the Sinnekens, they are ready to do so for the sake of their old friendship, but they hope that it will not be necessary.

As to the second proposition, about the request for cannon, the answer is that the cannon do not belong to them, but to their superiors, who have given them to them for their defense, so that they can neither give them away nor loan them without their consent. They will write about it to the director general and await his reply.

As to the third proposition, about renewing the old friendship between us and them, the answer is that they are ready to maintain it and thank them for the favorable disposition which they show toward us.