The Examination of Andries Casparus & Cornelius Claese van den Bergh, both Dutchmen, taken before his Excel∣lency Benj. Fletcher, Governour, who have made their escape from Canada, who were Prisoners there, and have been 32 days by the way.

THe said Cornelius Claese van den Bergh was taken at Canactagiere in July 1691▪ a little before the Mayor, Peter Schuyler went to Canada, and Andres Caspares who was gone out with some of our River Indians last fall to hunt, and withal to see how the far Natians, called, the Turchtuicks lived, was taken last March by a party of Turchtuicks and Davaganhaes, and brought to a Castle where said Indians lived, and was there to be burnt and eat by said Indians, from whence he run away that very day he received his cruel Sentence, and was sixteen days in the Woods, and came to a place where Monsieur Tontys People were making a Fort, and the said Mons. Tonty and Mons. La Free brought him to Canada.

The said Prisoners say, that the French informed them, that there were ten Ships come from France with Provision and Amunition, but no men, scarce so many as could sail their Ships, that they had brought 120000 pound of Flower, and 160000 pound of Pork, also some great Guns, and two Morter Pieces.

That there is a Fort built below Quebeck, in a narrow Passage where Ships must pass; the French spoke of two Forts (but an English man told him only of one Fort) and twelve Guns in each Fort. They had 1600 Souldiers three year ago, of which 1000 are killed and taken; this is besides 200 Inhabitants who are killed.

The said Cornelis has lived all this while at the Governour of Mont Royal his House, called Monsieur d'Cellier, & judges there are about 400 men in Mont Royal with Souldiers and all, altho' the said Monsieur d' Cellier often told them, they had 700 men there.

The Inhabitants seem to be much wearied of the War, and cry much for Peace, and pray that God would turn the Prince of Orange's heart, and incline him to make Peace, for it is his fault that all these Miseries are come upon them.

There is a man come over with those Ships to be Mons. d' Cellier's Cock, who says, that the English had fallen upon the French Fleet unawares, and done them some damage, and pursued them to Brest, and if they had come but a quarter of an hour sooner, they had taken Brest, and all the Province of Brittanine

The French have lost this Summer 37 French and 70 Indians at one time, going up the Falls to Ottawawa, and at a second time they lost 30 French the same way, and often times smaller Parties killed by our Indians.

The said Andres Casparus says further, that when he came to the French House, after he had escaped from the Indians, the French tyed h•m two dayes, but he being so lean and mager, having had no food all that time, but 11 Eggs he found in a Turkies Nest, and 6 Swan eggs he found in another place, so that the French did unty him. About eight days after Monsieur Tonty came (who is in the manner of a Governour among them) and he went down with said Tonty to Ottawawa, which was 200 Leagues from that place; the said Tonty depatched about 25 or 30 great Page  8 Canows full of Beaver to Canada; and after they had been two days from Ottawawa, they met one Monsieur de Lille, who had been out a skulking upon the great River▪ and had taken two Prisoners, who told that 300 of our Indians lay at a carrying place on the great River, waiting for the Ottawawa Company, and 200 were near Mont Royal Island upon the same design. They stopt said Company till M. Tonty sent for them back, and resolved to go to Canada with 200 men Indians and French without Beavers, in which Company the said Andres Casparus came, being reckoned 300 Leagues between Ottawawa and Canada. As soon as the said Andries came to Mont Royal, M. Tonty delivered him to the Governour of Mont Royal, who put him in Prison four days, and then released him to work in his House; but as soon as he got out, consulted with his Comrade Cornelis to run away, which they did accordingly. After they had been about a moneth or five weeks together in said M. d' Celliers house, the said Andries says, he saw a great prodigious Quantity of Beavers at Ottawawa; an Inhabitant of Canada, called Jaques de Tallie, told him, he had 3000 Beaver of his own there, and that there was as many Beavers now in Ottawawa as would load 200 Canows to Canada, and each Canow generally holds nine or ten hundred Beavers▪ which the said Andries doth credibly believe to be true, there being none gone from thence to Canada in a great while.

There is a Fort at Ottawawa burnt by accident this spring, where Mons. la Free had the Command, wherein was great store of Beavers and Peltry, and several Goods and Merchandize.

This is the Account the said two Prisoners gave at Albany the 4th of October, 1692. and is entred down from their Mouthes, by his Excellency's Command.