I doe by virtue of the power and authority to me given by his Ma'y s Letters Patents under the Greate Seale of England, hereby impower you or any two of you to treat conferr and consult with the Five Indian Nations of the Maquaes Oneydes Onondages and Sinnekes who have hitherto been faithful to my Master his Majesty of Great Brittain, France & Ireland & c and to hold a correspondence with them pursuant to such instruccons as you shall from time to time receive from me, so as by y r endeavours they may be confirmed in their fidelity and allegiance. And from time to time you are hereby required to give a constant and minute account of all yo r proceedings to me & his Ma"'" Council for the province of New-Yorke, and I doe hereby supersede vacate make null any former warr 1 or commission granted in this behalfe. Given under my hand and seal att Albany the tenth day of August .

in the 8 th year of his

Ma^ reigne

Anno Dmi 1696. Ben. Fletcher.

(Copy)

The Instructions.

Instruccons for Major Peter Schuyler one of his

M y at

eS

Council for the Province of New-Yorke,

Mr. Godfrey Dellius Maj r Dirck Wessels and the May r of Albany for the time being, commissionated

by me in my absence to conferr with the Five Indian Nations for his Ma{ y e3 service pursuant to the s 1' Commission.

To send out trusty and faithfull Indians with one or two Christians that understand the Indian Language to the Castles of the Sinnekes Cayouges and Onnondages who are fled, to acquaint them that upon the first news I had of the French Invasion I came up to their reliefe and assistance. That att my arrival! at Albany I had Intelligence the French were retreated out of their country.