It is the opinion of the Council that there being no assistance of men from the neighbouring Colonies and a small summe of money sent from Virginia and Maryland to assist in the many great charges this Province is put to upon the alarms of the enemy it being harvest time and many of the South of the Province already listed to recruit the Companyes it will be very grievous to take the people from their labour and hardly possible there is likewise no money to answer the charge thereof :

Do therefore advise that a letter be wrote to the Indians to give them encouragement and to acquaint them the King of England has sent them some presents & desire them to be watchfull.

At a Council held at his Matys ffort in New Yorke the 31 st day of July 1696. Present his Excell

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Benjamin Fletcher etc

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Cortlandt

Nich Bayard His Excell

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Gab Monvielle

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Caleb Heathcote )

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did communicate to the Council intelligence from the frontiers that the enemy are

upon their march that the Indians of the five Nations have sent to call for assistance of Christian rce and did expresse his readynesse to go to Albany His Excell did desire their opinion what is to be done being there's no money in the Coffers It is the opinion of the Council that there may be men found upon the frontiers that upon encouragement will march to the Indian Country if there were a fund to answer the charge thereof :