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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the Virginia Governor's Council
Virginia. Council
November 03, 1716
Volume 02, Page 247

[B. P. R. O. B. T. Virginia. Vol. 60.]
JOURNAL OF VIRGINIA COUNCIL.

November 3rd 1716.

On reading at this Board sundry letters from Co11 Eden Governor of North Carolina signifying that he hath declared war against the Saraw Indians & desiring the assistance of this Government for cutting off that nation it appearing to this Board by the aforesaid letters that the occasion of the war which the government of North Carolina have thought fit to enter into with the Saraws is grounded upon a rencounter between some of the inhabitants of that Province and a party of Indians supposed to be Saraws wherein the English were the Aggressors and attacked the Indians first without any provocation given on their part. This Board are of opinion that it is not advisable for this Government to assist in a war so unjustly begun & especially considering that the Saraws are under a treaty with us (by the consent & approbation of the governmt of South Carolina) & have the public faith for their safe passage into this government for concluding a peace And therefore the Council do approve of the Answer which the Governor hath already given to Co11 Eden on this occasion as agreeable to the sense of this Board.