PENN, William

To the Kings of the Indians in Pennsylvania, October 18, 1681

There is one great God and Power that hath made the world and all things therein, to whom you and I and all People owe their being and wellbeing, and to whom you and I must one Day give an account, for all that we do in this world: this great Power God hath written his law in our hearts; by which we are taught and commanded to love and help and do good to one another, and not to do harm and mischief one unto one an 'other another : Now this great God hath been pleased to make me concerned in yr parts of the world, and the king of the Country where I live , hath given unto me a great Province therein, but I desire to enjoy it with your Love and Consent, that we may always live together as neighbors and friends , else what would the great God say to us, who hath made us not to devour and destroy one another but live soberly and kindly together in the world. Now I would have you well to observe, that I am very sensible of the unkindness and Injustice that hath been too much exercised towards you by the People of these Parts of the world, who have sought themselves, and to make great Advantages by you, rather than be examples of Good Justice & goodness unto you, which I hear, hath been matter of Trouble to you, and caused great grudgings and animosities, sometimes to the shedding of blood, which hath made the great God Angry. but I am not such a man, as is well known in my own Country: I have great love and regard towards you, and I desire to win Winn and gain your Love & friendship by a kind, just and peaceable life; and the People I send are of the same mind, & shall in all things behave themselves accordingly; and if in anything any shall offend or your People, you shall have a full and Speedy satisfaction for the same by an equal number of honest men on both sides that by no means you may have just occasion of being offended against them; I shall shortly come to you myself.