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By His Excellency William Shirley Esq. Captain General and Governour in Cheif in and Over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.

A Declaration of War against the Cape Sables & St John's Indians.

Whereas the Indians inhabiting his Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia commonly called the Cape Sables Indians, who have submitted themselves to his Majesty's Government by solemn Treaty with the Governour of Commander in Chief of his Majesty's said Province of Nova Scotia, did sometime in the Winter last past, in the Port of Jedoure, in a Treacherous & cruel manner, murder drivers of his Majesty's English Subjects, belonging to a fishing Vessel owned & fitted out by his Majesty's subjects of this Province, & did Seise the seize the said Vessel, with the Goods & Effects belonging thereto: And whereas the said Cape Sable Indians, with the Indians of the St John's Tribe, who have likewise submitted themselves to his majesty's Government, by solemn Treaty with the Commander in Cheif of this Province, have in a hostile manner joined with the French King's Subjects, his Majesty's Declared Enemies, in Assaulting his Majesty's Fort at Annapolis Royal, & the Garrison posted there, divers of whom they have slain; & have likewise killed a Master of a Sloop belonging to this Province, while he was assisting that Garrison in providing Fenel? for them; and the said Indians have also for divers Months past, ,in an hostile manner bloch'd up the said Fort, & kept the Garrison upon conitnual Alarms; Bu all which the said Indians have openly declared their Rebellion against his Majesty, & their Hostility against this Majesty's good Subjects. I do therefore with the Advice of his Majesty's Council