[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] captives who had formerly received their instruction. Missions 1 Bancroft, in, 122. attended his preaching at Albany, but 2 Domine Megapolensis, who came without understanding a word that he over in 1643, under an agreement with said. The claim that he was -the pre-Van Rensselaer, made some effort to decessor of Eliot, has very little founda-learn the Mohawk language, with a tion, and none whatever in the aid which view to preach to them in their castles, but the government extended to him. Brod-without much success. A few Indians head, i, 375, 376. 168 THE INDIAN TRIBES to the Oneldas and Senecas speedily followed; chapels sprang into existence, and long before the English obtained possession of New Amsterdam, the solemn services of the Roman church were chanted in the heart of their future province. The pos session of these privileges, however, was not destined to be permanent. The Oneidas murdered three Frenchmen (1657), and the French retaliated by seizing Iroquois. Two years later the missionaries had abandoned the country, and the French and the Five Nations were again at war. Finding success hope less without stronger military support, the aid of the king of France was invited, and scarcely had the English succeeded in planting the flag of St. George on the walls of Fort Orange, ere the colony of New France was protected by a royal regi ment, and Courcelles, a veteran French soldier, established as its governor. The missionaries now renewed their work, and