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diff --git a/old/nwnth10.txt b/old/nwnth10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0975454 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nwnth10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7274 @@ +Project Gutenberg Narrative New Netherland, by J.F. Jameson, Ed. + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This Project Gutenberg Etext Prepared by Tony Adam +Anthony-adam@tamu.edu + + + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF "NEW NETHERLAND" + + + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "MICHAELIUS" + + + +Reference material and source. + +Michaelius, Reverend Jonas. "Letter of Reverend Jonas +Michaelius, 1628." In J. Franklin Jameson, ed., Narratives +of New Netherland, 1609-1664 (Original Narratives of Early +American History). NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909. + + + +INTRODUCTION + +THE established church in the United Netherlands was the +Reformed Church. Its polity was that of Geneva or of +Presbyterianism. The minister and ruling or lay elders of +the local church formed its consistory, corresponding to the +Scottish or American kirk session. The next higher power, +administrative or judicial, resided in the classis, consisting +of all the ministers in a given district and one elder from +each parish therein, and corresponding to the presbytery. It +had power to license and ordain, install and remove ministers. +Above this body stood the provincial synod, and above that +the (occasional)national synods. In 1624 the synod of North +Holland decreed that supervision over the churches in the +East Indies should belong to the churches and classes within +whose bounds were located the various "chambers" of the East +India Company. The same rule was applied in the case of the +West India Company's settlements. Under this rule the first +minister sent out to New Netherland was placed under the +jurisdiction of the Classis of Amsterdam, since the colony +was under the charge of the Amsterdam Chamber. Many extracts +from the minutes of that classis, and what remains of its +correspondence with the ministers in New Netherland, are +printed in the volumes published by the State of New York +under the title _Ecclesiastical Records, State of New York_ +(six volumes, Albany, 1901-1905). From 1639, if not earlier, +a committee of the classis, called "Deputati ad Res Exteras," +was given charge of most of the details of correspondence +with the Dutch Reformed churches in America, Africa, the East +and foreign European countries. + +As mentioned by Wassenaer, "comforters of the sick," who were +Ecclesiastical officers but not ministers, were first sent +Out to New Netherland. The first minister was Reverence +Jonas Jansen Michielse, or, to employ the Latinized form of +his name which he, according to clerical habit, was accustomed +to use, Jonas Johannis Michaelius. Michaelius was born in +North Holland in 1577, entered the University of Leyden as a +student of divinity in 1600, became minister at Nieuwbokswoude +in 1612 and at Hem, near Enkhuizen, in 1614. At some time +between April, 1624, and August, 1625, he went out to San +Salvador (Bahia, Brazil), recently conquered by the West +India Company's fleet, and after brief service there to one +Of their posts on the West African coast. Returning thence, +He was, early in 1628, sent out to Manhattan, where he arrived +April 7. It is not known just when he returned to Holland, +but he appears to have been under engagement for three years. +In 1637-1638 we find the classis vainly endeavoring to send +him again to New Netherland, but prevented by the Company, +which had a veto upon all such appointments in its dominions. + +About half a century ago the following precious letter of +Michaelius, describing New Netherland as it appeared in its +earliest days to the eyes of an educated clergyman of the +Dutch Church, was discovered in Amsterdam, and printed by +Mr. J.J.Bodel Nijenhuis in the _Kerk-historisch Archief_, +part I. An English translation of it, with an introduction, +was then privately printed in a pamphlet by Mr. Henry C. +Murphy, an excellent scholar in New Netherland history, who +was at that time minister of the United States to the +Netherlands. This pamphlet, entitled _The First Minister of +the Dutch Reformed Church in the United States_ (The Hague, +1858), was reprinted in 1858 in _Documents relative to the +Colonial History of the State of New York_, II. 757-770, in +1881 in the _Collections of the New York Historical Society_, +XIII, and in 1883, at Amsterdam, by Frederik Muller and Co., +who added a photographic fac-simile of full size and a +transcript of the Dutch text. In 1896 a reduced fac-simile +of the original letter, with an amended translation by +Reverence John G. Fagg, appeared in the _Year Book_ of the +(Collegiate) Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New York +City, and also separately for private circulation, and in +1901 the Dutch text with Reverend Mr. Fagg's translation +was printed in _Ecclesiastical Records_, I. 49-68, which +also contains a photographic fac-simile of the concluding +portion of the manuscript. Another is in _Memorial History_, +I. 166. The original is in the New York Public Library +(Lenox Building). Reverend Adrianus Smoutius, to whom the +letter was addressed, was an ultra-Calvinist clergyman, who +led a stormy life, but from 1620 to 1630 was a minister of +the collegiate churches of Amsterdam, and as such a member +of the classis under whose charge Michaelius served. + +For many years this letter of August 11, 1628, was supposed +to be the earliest extant letter or paper written at +Manhattan. But a letter of three days earlier was recently +discovered, which Michaelius wrote on August 8 to Jan Foreest, +a magistrate of Hoorn and secretary to the Executive Council +(Gecommitteerde Raden) of the States of the Province of +Holland. This letter mentions epistles also sent to two +clergymen in Holland and to the writer's brother. It was +printed by Mr. Dingman Versteeg in _Manhattan in 1628_ (New +York, 1904). All these letters were presumably prepared to +be sent home on the same ship. The two which are extant +parallel each other to a large extent. That which follows, +though second in order of time, is intrinsically a little +more interesting than the other. Mr. Fagg's translation +has in the main been followed. + + + +LETTER OF REVEREND JONAS MICHAELIUS, 1628 + +The Reverend, Learned and Pious Mr. Adrianus Smoutius, +Faithful Minister of the Holy Gospel of Christ in his +Church, dwelling upon the Heerengracht, not far from the +West India House at Amsterdam. By a friend, whom God +Preserve. + +The Peace of Christ to You. + +Reverend Sir, Well Beloved Brother in Christ, Kind Friend! + + +THE favorable opportunity which now presents itself of +writing to your Reverence I cannot let pass, without +embracing it, according to my promise. And, first to +unburden myself in this communication of a sorrowful +circumstance, it pleased the Lord, seven weeks after we +arrived in this country, to take from me my good partner, +who had been to me, for more than sixteen years, a virtuous, +faithful, and altogether amiable yoke-fellow; and I now find +myself alone with three children,<1> very much discommoded, +without her society and assistance. But what have I to say? +The Lord himself has done this, against whom no one can +oppose himself. And why should I even wish to, knowing that +all things must work together for good to them that love +God? I hope therefore to bear my cross patiently, and by +the grace and help of the Lord, not to let the courage fail +me which in my duties here I so especially need. + +<1> Two daughters and a son, Jan, whom he had placed in the +house and custody of skipper Jan Jansen Brouwer. + +The voyage was long, namely, from the 24th of January till +the 7th of April, when we first set foot upon land here. Of +storm and tempest which fell hard upon the good wife and +children, though they bore it better as regards sea-sickness +and fear than I had expected, we had no lack, particularly +in the vicinity of the Bermudas and the rough coasts of this +country. Our fare in the ship was very poor and scanty, so +that my blessed wife and children, not eating with us in the +cabin, on account of the little room in it, had a worse lot +than the sailors themselves; and that by reason of a wicked +cook who annoyed them in every way; but especially by reason +of the captain himself,<1> who, although I frequently +complained of it in the most courteous manner, did not concern +himself in the least about correcting the rascal; nor did he, +even when they were all sick ,given them anything which could +do them any good, although there was enough in the ship: as +he himself knew very well where to find it in order, out of +meal times, to fill his own stomach. All the relief which +he gave us, consisted merely in liberal promises, with a +drunken head; upon which nothing followed when he was sober +but a sour face; and he raged at the officers and kept himself +constantly to the wine, both at sea and especially here while +lying in the river; so that he daily walked the deck drunk +and with an empty head, seldom coming ashore to the Council +and never to Divine service. We bore all with silence on +board the ship; but it grieves me, when I think of it, on +account of my wife; the more, because she was so situated +as she was--believing that she was with child--and the time +so short which she had yet to live. On my first voyage I +roamed about with him a great deal, even lodged in the same +hut, but never knew that he was such a brute and drunkard. +But he was then under the direction of Mr. Lam,<2> and now +he had the chief command himself. I have also written to +Mr. Godyn<3> about it, considering it necessary that it +should be known. + +<1> "Evert Croeger, with whom, prior to this, I had made +long voyages, but never before did I know him well."--Letter +of August 8 to Jan Foreest. +<2> Admiral Jan Dirckszoon Lam, who in 1625 and 1626 was in +command of a Dutch squadron on the west coast of Africa. +<3> Probably Samuel Godyn, a prominent director of the company. + +Our coming here was agreeable to all, and I hope, by the grace +of the Lord, that my service will not be unfruitful. The +people, for the most part, are rather rough and unrestrained, +but I find in almost all of them both love and respect towards +me; two things with which hitherto the Lord has everywhere +graciously blessed my labors, and which in our calling, as +your Reverence well knows and finds, are especially desirable, +in order to make our ministry fruitful. + +>From the beginning we established the form of a church; and +as Brother Bastiaen Crol<1> very seldom comes down from Fort +Orange, because the directorship of that fort and the trade +there is committed to him, it has been thought best to choose +two elders for my assistance and for the proper consideration +of all such ecclesiastical matters as might occur, intending +the coming year, if the Lord permit, to let one of them +retire, and to choose another in his place from a double +number first lawfully proposed to the congregation. One of +those whom we have now chosen is the Honorable Director<2> +himself, and the other is the storekeeper of the Company, Jan +Huygen,<3> his brother-in-law, persons of very good character, +as far as I have been able to learn, having both been formerly +in office in the Church, the one as deacon, and the other as +elder in the Dutch and French churches, respectively, at +Wesel.<4> + +<1> Sebastian Janszoon Krol came out to New Netherland in 1626 +as a "comforter of the sick" at Manhattan, but before long +went up to Fort Orange, where he was chief agent for the +company most of the time to March, 1632. Then, on Minuit's +recall, he was director-general till Wouter van Twiller's +arrival in April, 1633. +<2> Peter Minuit, born of Huguenot parentage in 1550 in Wesel, +west Germany, was made director general of New Netherland in +December, 1625, arrived in May, 1626, bought Manhattan Island +of the Indians that summer, and remained in office till +recalled early in 1632. In 1636-1637 he made arrangements +with Blommaert and the Swedish government, in consequence of +which he conducted the first Swedish colony to Delaware Bay, +landing there in the spring of 1638, and establishing New +Sweden on territory claimed by the Dutch. During the ensuing +summer he perished in a hurricane at St. Christopher, in the +West Indies. +<3> Probably the ame as Jan Huych, comforter of the sick. +<4> Jan Huyghens was deacon of the Dutch Reformed church at +Wesel in 1612; and probably Minuit was elder in the French +church there. + +At the first administration of the Lord's Supper which was +observed, not without great joy and comfort to many, we had +fully fifty communicants--Walloons and Dutch; of whom, a +portion made their first confession of faith before us, and +others exhibited their church certificates. Others had +forgotten to bring their certificates with them, not thinking +that a church would be formed and established here; and some +who brought them, had lost them unfortunately in a general +conflagration, but they were admitted upon the satisfactory +testimony of others to whom they were known, and also upon +their daily good deportment, since one cannot observe strictly +all the usual formalities in making a beginning under such +circumstance. + +We administer the Holy Supper of the Lord once in four months, +provisionally, until a larger number of people shall otherwise +require. The Walloons and French have no service on Sundays, +otherwise than in the Dutch language, for those who understand +no Dutch are very few. A portion of the Walloons are going +back to the Fatherland, either because their years here are +expired, or else because some are not very serviceable to the +Company. Some of them live far away and could not well come +in time of heavy rain and storm, so that they themselves +cannot think it advisable to appoint any special service in +French for so small a number, and that upon an uncertainty. +Nevertheless, the Lord's Supper is administered to them in +the French language, and according to the French mode, with a +sermon preceding, which I have before me in writing, so long +as I can not trust myself extemporaneously.<1> If in this and +in other matters your Reverence and the Reverend Brethren of +the Consistory, who have special superintendence over us here, +deem it necessary to administer to us any correction, instruction +or good advice, it will be agreeable to us and we shall thank +your Reverence therefor; since we must all have no other object +than the glory of God in the building up of his kingdom and the +salvation of many souls. I keep myself as far as practicable +within the pale of my calling, wherein I find myself sufficiently +occupied. And although our small consistory embraces at the +most--when Brother Crol is down here--not more than four persons, +all of whom, myself alone excepted, have also public business to +attend to, I still hope to separate carefully the ecclesiastical +from the civil matters which occur, so that each one will be +occupied with his own subject. + +<1> That is, to preach extempore in French. + +And though many things are mixti generis, and political and +ecclesiastical persons can greatly assist each other, nevertheless +the matters and officers proceeding together must not be mixed +but kept separate, in order to prevent all confusion and +disorder. As the Council of this place consists of good people, +who are, however, for the most part simple and have little +experience in public affairs, I should have little objection +to serve them in any difficult or dubious affair with good +advice, provided I considered myself capable and my advice +should be asked; in which case I suppose that I should not do +amiss nor be suspected by any one of being a polupragmov or +allotrioepiskopos.<1> + +<1> I Peter iv. 15; a meddler or "busy-body in other men's +matters." + +In my opinion it would be well that the Honorable Directors +should furnish this place with plainer and more precise +instructions to the rulers, that they may distinctly know +how to conduct themselves in all possible public difficulties +and events; and also that I should some time have here all +such _Acta Synolalia_, as have been adopted in the synods of +Holland; both the special ones of our quarter,<1> and those +which are provincial and national, in relation to ecclesiastical +difficulties; or at least such of them as in the judgment of +the Honorable Brethren at Amsterdam would be most likely to +be of service to us here. In the meantime, I hope matters +will go well here, if only on our part we do our best in all +sincerity and honest zeal; whereunto I have from the first +entirely devoted myself, and wherein I have also hitherto, by +the grace of God, had no just cause to complain of any one. +And if any dubious matters of importance come before me, and +especially if they will admit of any delay, I shall refer +myself to the good and prudent advice of the Honorable Brethren, +to whom I have already wholly commended myself. + +<1> I.e., acts of the synod of North Holland. North Holland +was not at this time a province, but merely a part of the +province of Holland, the chief of the seven United Provinces. +The national _Acta_ would probably be those of the six +fundamental synodical conventions of 1568-1586 and the Synod +of Dort. + +As to the natives of this country, I find them entirely savage +and wild, strangers to all decency, yea, uncivil and stupid as +garden poles, proficient in all wickedness and godlessness; +devilish men, who serve nobody but the Devil, that is, the +spirit which in their language they call Menetto; under which +title they comprehend everything that is subtle and crafty and +beyond human skill and power. They have so much witchcraft, +divination, sorcery and wicked arts, that they can hardly be +held in by any bands or locks. They are as thievish and +treacherous as they are tall; and in cruelty they are +altogether inhuman, more than barbarous, far exceeding the +Africans.<1> + +<1> He had served on the west coast of Africa; see the +introduction. + +I have written concerning this matter to several persons +elsewhere, not doubting that Brother Crol will have written +sufficient to your Reverence, or to the Honorable Directors; +as also of the base treachery and the murders which the +Mohicans, at the upper part of this river, had planned against +Fort Orange, but which failed through the gracious interposition +of our Lord, for our good--who, when it pleases Him, knows how +to pour, unexpectedly, natural impulses into these unnatural +men, in order to prevent them. How these people can best be +led to the true knowledge of God and of the Mediator Christ, +is hard to say. I cannot myself wonder enough who it is that +has imposed so much upon your Reverence and many others in the +Fatherland, concerning the docility of these people and their +good nature, the proper principia religionis and vestigia legis +naturae which are said to be among them; in whom I have as yet +been able to discover hardly a single good point, except that +they do not speak so jeeringly and so scoffingly of the godlike +and glorious majesty of their Creator as the Africans dare to +do. But it may be because they have no certain knowledge of +Him, or scarcely any. If we speak to them of God, it appears +to them like a dream; and we are compelled to speak of him, +not under the name of Menetto, whom they know and serve--for +that would be blasphemy--but of one great, yea, most high, +Sackiema, by which name they--living without a king--call him +who has the command over several hundred among them, and who +by our people are called Sackemakers; and as the people listen, +some will begin to mutter and shake their heads as if it were +a silly fable; and others, in order to express regard and +friendship for such a proposition, will say Orith (That is good). +Now, by what means are we to lead this people to salvation, or +to make a salutary breach among them? I take the liberty on +this point of enlarging somewhat to your Reverence. + +Their language, which is the first thing to be employed with +them, methinks is entirely peculiar. Many of our common +people call it an easy language, which is soon learned, but +I am of a contrary opinion. For those who can understand +their words to some extent and repeat them, fail greatly +in the pronunciation, and speak a broken language, like the +language of Ashdod.<1> For these people have difficult +aspirates and many guttural letters, which are formed more +in the throat than by the mouth, teeth and lips, to which +our people not being accustomed, make a bold stroke at the +thing and imagine that they have accomplished something +wonderful. It is true one can easily learn as much as is +sufficient for the purposes of trading, but this is done +almost as much by signs with the thumb and fingers as by +speaking; and this cannot be done in religious matters. +It also seems to us that they rather design to conceal +their language from us than to properly communicate it, +except in things which happen in daily trade; saying that +it is sufficient for us to understand them in that; and +then they speak only half sentences, shortened words, and +frequently call out a dozen things and even more; and all +things which have only a rude resemblance to each other, +they frequently call by the same name. In truth it is a +made-up, childish language; so that even those who can best +of all speak with the savages, and get along well in trade, +are nevertheless wholly in the dark and bewildered when +they hear the savages talking among themselves. + +<1> An allusion to Nehemiah xiii. 24. + +It would be well then to leave the parents as they are, and +begin with the children who are still young. So be it. But +they ought in youth to be separated from their parents; yea, +from their whole nation. For, without this, they would +forthwith be as much accustomed as their parents to the +heathenish tricks and deviltries, which are kneaded naturally +in their hearts by themselves through a just judgment of God; +so that having once, by habit, obtained deep root, they would +with great difficulty be emancipated therefrom. But this +separation is hard to effect. For the parents have a strong +affection for their children, and are very loth to part with +them; and when they are separated from them, as we have +already had proof, the parents are never contented, but take +them away stealthily, or induce them to run away. Nevertheless, +although it would be attended with some expense, we ought, by +means of presents and promises, to obtain the children, with +the gratitude and consent of the parents, in order to place +them under the instruction of some experienced and godly +schoolmaster, where they may be instructed not only to speak, +read, and write in our language, but also especially in the +fundamentals of our Christian religion; and where, besides, +they will see nothing but good examples of virtuous living; +but they must sometimes speak their native tongue among +themselves in order not to forget it, as being evidently a +principal means of spreading the knowledge of religion through +the whole nation. In the meantime we should not forget to +beseech the Lord, with ardent and continual prayers, for His +blessing; who can make things which are unseen suddenly and +opportunely to appear; who gives life to the dead; calls that +which is not as though it were; and being rich in mercy has +pity on whom He will; as He has compassionated us to be His +people; and has washed us clean, sanctified us and justified +us, when we were covered with all manner of corruption, calling +us to the blessed knowledge of His Son, and out of the power +of darkness to His marvellous light. And this I regard so +much the more necessary, as the wrath and curse of God, resting +upon this miserable people, is found to be the heavier. +Perchance God may at last have mercy upon them, that the +fulness of the heathen may be gradually brought in and the +salvation of our God may be here also seen among these wild +savage men. I hope to keep a watchful eye over these people, +and to learn as much as possible of their language, and to +seek better opportunities for their instruction than hitherto +it has been possible to find. + +As to what concerns myself and my household affairs: I find +myself by the loss of my good and helpful partner very much +hindered and distressed--for my two little daughters are yet +small; maid servants are not here to be had, at least none +whom they can advise me to take; and the Angola slave women<1> +are thievish, lazy, and useless trash. The young man whom I +took with me, I discharged after Whitsuntide, for the reason +that I could not employ him out-of-doors at any working of +the land, and in-doors he was a burden to me instead of an +assistance. He is now elsewhere at service among the farmers. + +<1> Slavery was introduced into New Netherland two or three +years before this, a number of negroes, some of them from +Angola, having been imported in 1625 or 1626. + +The promise which the Honorable Directors of the Company had +made me of some morgens or acres of land for me to sustain +myself, instead of a free table which otherwise belonged to +me, is void and useless. For their Honors well knew that +there are no horses, cows, or laborers to be obtained here +for money. Every one is short in these particulars and +wants more. I should not mind the expense if the opportunity +only offered, for the sake of our own comfort, although there +were no profit in it (the Honorable Directors nevertheless +remaining indebted to me for as much as the value of a free +table), for refreshment of butter, milk, etc., cannot be +here obtained; though some is indeed sold at a very high +price, for those who bring it in or bespeak it are jealous +of each other. So I shall be compelled to pass through the +winter without butter and other necessities, which the ships +do not bring with them to be sold here. The rations, which +are given out here, and charged for high enough, are all hard +stale food, such as men are used to on board ship, and +frequently not very good, and even so one cannot obtain as +much as he desires. I began to get considerable strength, +by the grace of the Lord, but in consequence of this hard +fare of beans and gray peas, which are hard enough, barley, +stockfish, etc., without much change, I cannot fully recuperate +as I otherwise would. The summer yields something, but what +is that for any one who does not feel well? The savages also +bring some things, but one who has no wares, such as knives, +beads, and the like, or seewan, cannot come to any terms with +them. Though the people trade such things for proper wares, +I know not whether it is permitted by the laws of the Company. +I have now ordered from Holland almost all necessaries; and I +hope to pass through the winter, with hard and scanty food. + +The country yields many good things for the support of life, +but they are all too unfit and wild to be gathered. Better +regulations should be established, and people brought here +who have the knowledge and implements for seeking out all +kinds of things in their season and for securing and gathering +them. No doubt this will gradually be done. In the meanwhile, +I wish the Honorable Directors to be courteously enquired of, +how I can best have the opportunity to possess a portion of +land, and (even at my own expense) to support myself upon it. +For as long as there is no more accommodation to be obtained +here from the country people, and I shall be compelled to +order everything from the Fatherland at great expense and +with much risk and trouble, or else live here upon these poor +and hard rations alone, it will badly suit me and my children. +We want ten or twelve more farmers with horses, cows and +laborers in proportion, to furnish us with bread, milk products, +and suitable fruits. For there are convenient places which +can be easily protected and are very suitable, which can be +bought from the savages for trifling toys, or could be occupied +without risk, because we have more than enough shares which +have never been abandoned but have been always reserved for +that purpose. + +The business of furs is dull on account of the new war of the +Maechibaeys<1> against the Mohicans at the upper end of this +river. There have occurred cruel murders on both sides. The +Mohicans have fled and their lands are unoccupied and are very +fertile and pleasant. It grieves us that there are no people, +and that there is no order from the Honorable Directors to +occupy the same. Much timber is cut here to carry to the +Fatherland, but the vessels are too few to take much of it. +They are making a windmill to saw lumber and we also have a +gristmill. They bake brick here, but it is very poor. There +is good material for burning lime, namely, oyster shells, in +large quantities. The burning of potash has not succeeded; +the master and his laborers are all greatly disappointed. + +<1> Mohawks. + +We are busy now in building a fort of good quarry stone, which +is to be found not far from here in abundance. May the Lord +only build and watch over our walls. There is good opportunity +for making salt, for there are convenient places, the water +is salt enough, and there is no want of heat in summer. Besides, +what the waters yield, both of the sea and rivers, in all kinds +of fish; and what the land possesses in all kinds of birds, +game, and woods, with vegetables, fruits, roots, herbs and +plants, both for eating and medicinal purposes, and with which +wonderful cures can be effected, it would take too long to tell, +nor could I yet tell accurately. Your Reverence has already +obtained some knowledge thereof and will be able to obtain from +others further information. The country is good and pleasant, +the climate is healthy, notwithstanding the sudden changes of +cold and heat. The sun is very warm, the winter is fierce and +severe and continues fully as long as in our country. The +best remedy is not to spare the wood, of which there is enough, +and to cover one's self with rough skins, which can also easily +be obtained. + +The harvest, God be praised, is in the barns, and is larger +than ever before. There ha been more work put on it than +before. The ground is fertile enough to reward labor, but they +must clear it well, and till it, just as our lands require. +Until now there has been distress because many people were not +very industrious, and also did not obtain proper sustenance +for want of bread and other necessaries. But affairs are +beginning to go better and to put on a different appearance, +if only the Directors will send out good laborers and exercise +all care that they be maintained as well as possible with what +this country produces. + +I had intended and promised [to write] to the Honorable +Brethren, Rudolphus Petri, Joannes Sylvius and Domine +Cloppenburg, who, with your Reverence, were charged with the +superintendence of these regions;<1> but as this would take +long and the time is short, and my occupations at the present +time many, your Reverence will please to give my friendly and +kind regards to their Reverences, and to excuse me, on condition +that I remain their debtor to fulfill my promise--God willing-- +the next time. Be pleased also to give my sincere respects to +the Reverend Domine Triglandius, and to all the Brethren of +the Consistory<2> besides, to all of whom I have not thought +it necessary to write particularly at this time, as they are +made by me participants in these tidings, and are content to +be fed from the hand of your Reverence. If it shall be +convenient for your Reverence or any of the Reverence Brethren +to write to me a letter concerning matters which might be +important in any degree to me, it would be very interesting +to me, living here in a wild country without any society of +our order, and would be a spur to write more assiduously to +the Reverend Brethren concerning what may happen here. And +especially do not forget my hearty salutations to the beloved +wife and brother-in-law of your Reverence, who have shown me +nothing but friendship and kindness above my deserts. If +there were anything in which I could in return serve or gratify +your Reverence, I should be glad to do so, and should not be +delinquent in anything. + +<1> This duty had been committed to them by the synod of North +Holland. The preachers named in the text were all at this +time active in Amsterdam; Sylvius and Triglandius since 1610, +and Johannes Cloppenburg since 1621. +<2> Of Amsterdam. + +Concluding then herewith, and commending myself to your +Reverence's favor and to your holy prayers to the Lord, + +Reverence and Learned Sir, Beloved Brother in Christ, and +Kind Friend: + +Heartily commending your Reverence and all of you to Almighty +God, to continued health and prosperity, and to eternal +Salvation, by His Grace. + +>From the island of Manhatas in New Netherland, this 11th of +August, Anno 1628, by me, your Reverence's very obedient +servant in Christ, + +JONAS MICHAELIUS. + + + + +END PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "MICHAELIUS" + + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "NOVUM BELGIUM" + + + +Reference material and source. + +Jogues, Father Isaac. "Novum Belgium, 1646." In J. Franklin +Jameson, ed., Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664 (Original +Narratives of Early American History). NY: Charles Scribner's +Sons, 1909. + + + +INTRODUCTION + +At some time before his death in 1800, Father Jean Joseph +Casot, the last of the old race of Jesuits in Canada, seeing +his order about to expire under the restrictions then imposed +by the British government, and determined that all the materials +for its history should not perish by reason of his death, made +a selection from among its papers, and placed the portion thus +preserved in the custody of the Augustinian nuns of the Hotel +Dieu of Quebec. There they remained safe till in 1843 they +were restored to the Society, then revived and under the charge +of Father Martin, as superior of the Jesuits in Canada. Among +these papers was the following, in which Father Jogues, at the +time of his last sojourn in New France, described New Netherland +as he had seen it three years before. + +Father Martin presented a transcript of the document, accompanied +with an English translation, to the regents of the University of +the State of New York. The translation was then published, in +1851, in volume IV. of O'Callaghan's _Documentary History of +the State of New York_ (pp. 21-24 of the octavo edition, pp. +15-17 of the edition in quarto). The French original was +printed for the first time in 1852 in an appendix to Father +Martin's translation of Bressani's _Breve Relatione_. In 1857, +Dr. John Gilmary Shea printed in the _Collections of the New +York Historical Society_, second series, III. 215-219, a +translation which, after revision by the present editor, is +printed in the following pages. Dr. Shea made separate +publication of the French text in his Cramoisy series in +1862, and in the same year published another edition of original +and translation. Both likewise appear in Thwaites's _Jesuit +Relations_, XXVIII. 105-115. Dr. Thwaites also gives a +facsimile of the first page of the original manuscript which +Father Jogues wrote at Three Rivers, with hands crippled by +the cruel usage of the Mohawks. + + + +NOVUM BELGIUM, BY FATHER ISAAC JOGUES, 1646 + + +NEW HOLLAND, which the Dutch call in Latin Novum Belgium,--in +their own language, Nieuw Nederland, that is to say, New Low +Countries--is situated between Virginia and New England. The +mouth of the river, which some people call Nassau, or the Great +North River, to distinguish it from another which they call the +South River, and which I think is called Maurice River on some +maps that I have recently seen, is at 40 deg. 30 min. The +channel is deep, fit for the largest ships, which ascend to +Manhattes Island, which is seven leagues in circuit, and on +which there is a fort to serve as the commencement of a town +to be built here, and to be called New Amsterdam. + +This fort, which is at the point of the island, about five +or six leagues from the [river's] mouth, is called Fort +Amsterdam; it has four regular bastions, mounted with several +pieces or artillery. All these bastions and the curtains were, +in 1643, but mounds, most of which had crumbled away, so that +one entered the fort on all sides. There were no ditches. For +the garrison of the said fort, and another which they had built +still further up against the incursions of the savages, their +enemies, there were sixty soldiers. They were beginning to +face the gates and bastions with stone. Within the fort there +was a pretty large stone church,<1> the house of the Governor, +whom they called Director General, quite neatly built of brick, +the storehouses and barracks. + +<1> See De Vries, p. 212, supra, and the _Representation of +New Netherland_. + +On the island of Manhate, and in its environs, there may well +be four or five hundred men of different sects and nations: +the Director General told me that there were men of eighteen +different languages; they are scattered here and there on the +river, above and below, as the beauty and convenience of the +spot invited each to settle: some mechanics however, who ply +their trade, are ranged under the fort; all the others were +exposed to the incursions of the natives, who in the year 1643, +while I was there, actually killed some two score Hollanders, +and burnt many houses and barns full of wheat. + +The river, which is very straight, and runs due north and south, +is at least a league broad before the fort. Ships lie at anchor +in a bay which forms the other side of the island, and can be +defended by the fort. + +Shortly before I arrived there, three large ships of 300 tons +each had come to load wheat; two found cargoes, the third +could not be loaded, because the savages had burnt a part of +the grain. These ships had come from the West Indies, where +the West India Company usually keeps up seventeen ships of +war. + +No religion is publicly exercised but the Calvinist, and orders +are to admit none but Calvinists, but this is not observed; for +besides the Calvinists there are in the colony Catholics, English +Puritans, Lutherans, Anabaptists, here called Mnistes,<1> etc. + +<1> Mennonistes, Mennonites. + +When any one comes to settle in the country, they lend him +horses, cows, etc.; they give him provisions, all which he +returns as soon as he is at ease; and as to the land, after +ten years he pays in to the West India Company the tenth of +the produce which he reaps. + +This country is bounded on the New England side by a river +they call the Fresche River,<1> which serves as a boundary +between them and the English. The English, however, come very +near to them, choosing to hold lands under the Hollanders, +who ask nothing, rather than depend on the English Milords, +who exact rents, and would fain be absolute. On the other side, +southward, towards Virginia, its limits are the river which +they call the South River, on which there is also a Dutch +settlement,<2> but the Swedes have one at its mouth extremely +well supplied with cannons and men.<3> It is believed that +these Swedes are maintained by some Amsterdam merchants , who +are not satisfied that the West India Company should alone +enjoy all the commerce of these parts.<4> It is near this river +that a gold mine is reported to have been found. + +<1> Connecticut. +<2> Fort Nassau, at the mouth of Timber Creek. +<3> He probably means Fort Nya Elfsborg, on the Jersey side +of Delaware Bay, below Salem. +<4> The reference is to aid rendered by Samuel Blommaert, an +Amsterdam merchant, formerly a director of the Dutch West India +Company, in fitting out the first Swedish expedition in 1637, +and in engaging Peter Minuit to command it. Blommaert's letters +to the Swedish chancellor, Count Axel Oxenstjerna, thirty-eight +in number, 1635-1641, letters of great importance to the history +of New Sweden, have just been published in the _Bijdragen en +Mededeelingen_ of the Utrecht Historical Society, vol. XXIX. + +See in the work of the Sieur de Laet of Antwerp, the table +and chapter on New Belgium, as he sometimes calls it, or the +map "Nova Anglia, Novu Belgium et Virginia."<1> + +<1> De Laet, _Histoire du Nouveau Monde, table of contents, +bk. III. ch. XII., and map. + +It is about fifty years since the Hollanders came to these +parts.<1> The fort was begun in the year 1615; they began to +settle about twenty years ago, and there is already some +little commerce with Virginia and New England. + +<1> An exaggeration. There is no evidence of Dutch visits +before Hudson's. + +The first comers found lands fit for use, deserted by the +savages, who formerly had fields here. Those who came later +have cleared the woods, which are mostly oak. The soil is +good. Deer hunting is abundant in the fall. There are some +houses built of stone; lime they make of oyster shells, great +heaps of which are found here, made formerly by the savages, +who subsist in part by that fishery. + +The climate is very mild. Lying at 40 2/3 degrees there are +many European fruits, as apples, pears, cherries. I reached +there in October, and found even then a considerable quantity +of peaches. + +Ascending the river to the 43d degree, you meet the second +[Dutch] settlement, which the tide reaches but does not pass. +Ships of a hundred and a hundred and twenty tons can come up +to it. + +There are two things in this settlement (which is called +Renselaerswick, as if to say, settlement of Renselaers, who +is a rich Amsterdam merchant)--first, a miserable little fort +called Fort Orenge, built of logs, with four or five pieces +of Breteuil cannon, and as many pedereros. This has been +reserved and is maintained by the West India Company. This +fort was formerly on an island in the river; it is now on the +mainland, towards the Hiroquois, a little above the said island. + +Secondly, a colony sent here by this Renselaers, who is the +patron. This colony is composed of about a hundred persons, +who reside in some twenty-five or thirty houses built along +the river, as each found most convenient. In the principal +house resides the patron's agent; the minister has his apart, +in which service is performed. There is also a kind of bailiff +here, whom they call the seneschal,<1> who administers justice. +All their houses are merely of boards and thatched, with no +mason work except the chimneys. The forest furnishing many +large pines, they make boards by means of their mills, which +they have here for the purpose. + +<1> The schout. + +They found some pieces of ground all ready, which the savages +had formerly cleared, and in which they sow wheat and oats for +beer, and for their horses, of which they have great numbers. +There is little land fit for tillage, being hemmed in by hills, +which are poor soil. This obliges them to separate, and they +already occupy two or three leagues of country. + +Trade is free to all; this gives the Indians all things cheap, +each of the Hollanders outbidding his neighbor, and being +satisfied provided he can gain some little profit. + +This settlement is not more than twenty leagues from the +Agniehronons,<1> who can be reached by land or water, as the +river on which the Iroquois lie,<2> falls into that which +passes by the Dutch; but there are many low rapids, and a fall +of a short half league, where the canoe must be carried. + +<1> The Mohawks. +<2> Mohawk River. + +There are many nations between the two Dutch settlements, +which are about thirty German leagues apart, that is, about +fifty or sixty French leagues.<1> The Wolves, whom the Iroquois +call Agotsaganens,<2> are the nearest to the settlement of +Renselaerswick and to Fort Orange. War breaking out some years +ago between the Iroquois and the Wolves, the Dutch joined the +latter against the former; but four men having been taken and +burnt, they made peace. Since then some nations near the sea +having killed some Hollanders of the most distant settlement, +the Hollanders killed one hundred and fifty Indians, men, women +and children, they having, at divers times, killed forty +Hollanders, burnt many houses, and committed ravages, estimated +at the time that I was there at 200,000 l. (two hundred thousand +livres).<3> Troops were raised in New England. Accordingly, +in the beginning of winter, the grass being trampled down and +some snow on the ground, they gave them chase with six hundred +men, keeping two hundred always on the move and constantly +relieving one another; so that the Indians, shut up in a large +island, and unable to flee easily, on account of their women +and children, were cut to pieces to the number of sixteen +hundred, including women and children. This obliged the rest +of the Indians to make peace, which still continues. This +occurred in 1643 and 1644.<4> + +<1> One hundred and fifty English miles. +<2> The Mohicans. +<3> Livres tournois or francs, worth two or three times as +much as francs at the time. +<4> See _The Journal of New Netherland_. + +>From Three Rivers in New France, August 3, 1646. + + + + +END PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "NOVUM BELGIUM" + + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "JOURNAL OF NEW NETHERLAND" + + + +Reference material and source. + +"Journal of New Netherland, 1647." In J. Franklin Jameson, +ed., Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664 (Original +Narratives of Early American History). NY: Charles Scribner's +Sons, 1909. + + + +INTRODUCTION + +AN account of the great Indian war which so desolated the +province of New Netherland, and of some other actions of +Kieft's administration, written from his point of view or +that of his supporters, must be regarded as an important +piece of evidence. It is the more to be welcomed because +on the whole our evidences for New Netherland history come +mainly from opponents of the provincial administration and +of the West India Company. The archives of the company +disappeared almost completely many years ago, the bulk of +them having apparently been sold as waste paper not many +years before Brodhead went to Holland upon his memorable +search. Of Kieft's papers, we may suppose that the greater +part were lost when the Princess was shipwrecked on the Welsh +coast in September, 1647, and the deposed director and all +his possessions were lost. + +The document which follows was found by Broadhead in the +Royal Library of the Hague. It is still there and is +designated No. 78 H 32. I has an outside cover forming a +title-page, with ornamental lettering, but it is not the +"book ornamented with water-color drawings" which Kieft is +known to have sent home. A photograph of the first page, +which the editor has procured, does nothing to show the +authorship, for it is written in the hand of a professional +scrivener. Mr. Van Laer, archivist of the State of New York, +assures the editor that it is not the hand of Keift or that +of Cornelis van Tienhoven, the provincial secretary.<1> But +that it was either inspired by Kieft, or emanated from one +of his supporters, is plain not only from its general tone +but from its citations of documents. Of the documents to +which its marginal notes refer, some of those that we can +still trace are noted in the archives of the Netherlands as +"from a copy-book of Director Kieft's." The rest, or the +original copy-book, may have perished with him. + +<1> Mr. J.H. Innes tells me that it resembles that of Augustin +Herrman. + +The piece was first printed in 1851, in the _Documentary +History of the State of New York_, IV. 1-17. It was printed +for the second time in 1856, in _Documents relating to the +Colonial History of New York_, I. 179-188. For the present +issue this early and imperfect translation has been revised +with great care by Dr. Johannes de Hullu of the National +Archives of the Netherlands, who has used for this purpose +the original manuscript in the Royal Library. + + +JOURNAL OF NEW NETHERLAND, 1647 + +Journal of New Netherland, 1647, described in the Years 1641, +1642, 1643, 1644, 1645 and 1646. + +Brief Description of New Netherland. + + +NEW NETHERLAND (so called because it was first frequented and +peopled by the free Netherlanders) is a province in the most +northern part of America lying between New England (which +bounds it on the northeast side) and Virginia lying to the +southwest of it. The ocean washes its whole length along a +clean sandy coast, very similar to that of Flanders or Holland, +having except the rivers few bays or harbors for ships; the +air is very temperate, inclining to dryness, healthy, little +subject to sickness. The four seasons of the year are about +as in France, or the Netherlands. The difference is, the +spring is shorter because it begins later, the summer is +warmer because it comes on more suddenly, the autumn is long +and very pleasant, the winter cold and liable to much snow. +Two winds ordinarily prevail: the N.W. in winter and the +S.W. in summer; the other winds are not common; the N.W. +corresponds with our N.E. because it blows across the +country from the cold point as our N.E. does. The S.W. is +dry and hot like our S.E. because it comes from the warm +countries; the N.E. is cold and wet like our S.W. for similar +reasons. The character of the country is very like that of +France; the land is fairly high and level, especially broken +along the coast by small rocky hills unfit for agriculture; +farther in the interior are pretty high mountains (generally +exhibiting great appearance of minerals) between which flow +a great number of small rivers. In some places there are even +some lofty ones of extraordinary height, but not many. Its +fertility falls behind no province in Europe in excellence of +fruits and seeds. There are three principal rivers, to wit: +the Fresh, the Mauritius and the South River,<1> all three +reasonably wide and deep, adapted for the navigation of +large ships twenty-five leagues up and of common barks even +to the falls. From the River Mauritius off to beyond the +Fresh River stretches a channel that forms an island, forty +leagues long, called Long Island, which is the ordinary +passage from New England to Virginia, having on both sides +many harbors to anchor in, so that people make no difficulty +about navigating it in winter. The country is generally +covered with trees, except a few valleys and some large +flats of seven or eight leagues and less; the trees are as +in Europe, viz. Oak, hickory, chestnut, vines. The animals +are also of the same species as ours, except lions and some +other strange beasts, many bears, abundance of wolves which +harm nobody but the small cattle, elks and deer in abundance, +foxes, beavers, otters, minks and such like. The birds which +are natural to the country are turkeys like ours, swans, +geese of three sorts, ducks, teals, cranes, herons, bitterns, +two sorts of partridges, four sorts of heath fowls, grouse or +pheasants. The river fish is like that of Europe, viz., carp, +sturgeon, salmon, pike, perch, roach, eel, etc. In the salt +waters are found codfish, haddock, herring and so forth, also +abundance of oysters and clams. + +<1> Connecticut, Hudson and Delaware. + +The Indians are of ordinary stature, strong and broad shouldered; +olive color, light and nimble of foot, subtle of mind, of few +words which they previously well consider, hypocritical, +treacherous, vindictive; brave and obstinate in self-defence, +in time of need right resolute to die. They seem to despise +all the torments that can be inflicted on them without once +uttering a sigh--go almost naked except a lap which hangs +before their private parts, and on the shoulders a deer skin +or a mantle, a fathom square, of woven Turkey feathers or +peltries sewed together. They now make great use of duffel +cloths, blue or red, in consequence of the frequent visits of +the Christians. In winter they make shoes of deer skins, +manufactured after their fashion. Except their chiefs, they +have generally but one wife whom they frequently change +according to caprice; she must do all the work, as well corn- +planting as wood-cutting and whatever else is to be done. +They are divided into various nations. They differ even in +language, which would be altogether too long to be narrated +in this short space. They dwell together in tribes, mostly +of one consanguinity, over which commands a chief who is +general and is generally called Sackema, possessing not much +authority and little advantage, unless in their dances and +other ceremonies. They have no knowledge at all of God, no +divine worship, no law, no justice; the strongest does what +he pleases and the youths are master. Their weapons are the +bow and arrow, in the use of which they are wonderful adepts. +They live by hunting and fishing in addition to maize which +the women plant. + + +By Whom and How New Netherland was peopled. + +The subjects of the Lords States General had for a considerable +time frequented this country solely for the purpose of the fur +trade. Then, in the year 1623, the Chartered West India Company +caused four forts to be erected in that country--two on the +River Mauritius and one on each of the other [rivers]; the biggest +stands on the point where the Mauritius River begins, and the +other one,<1> mentioned heretofore, which their Honors named New +Amsterdam; and six and thirty leagues upwards another called +Orange. That on the South River is called Nassauw and that on +Fresh River, the Good Hope. The Company has since continually +maintained garrisons there. In the beginning their Honors had +sent a certain number of settlers thither, and at great expense +had three sawmills erected, which never realised any profit of +consequence, on account of their great heaviness, and a great +deal of money was expended for the advancement of the country, +but it never began to be settled until every one had liberty +to trade with the Indians, inasmuch as up to this time no one +calculated to remain there longer than the expiration of his +bounden time, and therefore they did not apply themselves to +agriculture. Yea, even the colony of Renselaerwyck was of +little consequence; but as soon as it was permitted, many +servants, who had some money coming to them from the Company, +applied for their discharge, built houses and formed plantations, +spread themselves far and wide, each seeking the best land, and +to be nearest the Indians in order thus to trade with them +easily, others bought barks with which to trade goods at the +North and at the South, and as the Lords Directors gave free +passage from Holland thither, that also caused some to come. +On the other hand, the English came also from both Virginia and +New England. Firstly, many servants, whose time with their +masters had expired, on account of the good opportunity to plant +tobacco here, afterwards families and finally entire colonies, +forced to quit that place both to enjoy freedom of conscience +and to escape from the insupportable government of New England +and because many more commodities were easier to be obtained +here than there, so that in place of seven farms and two or +three plantations which were here, one saw thirty farms, as +well cultivated and stocked with cattle as in Europe, and a +hundred plantations which in two or three [years] would have +become well arranged farms. For after the tobacco was out of +the ground, corn was thrown in there without ploughing. In +winter men were busy preparing new lands. Five English colonies +which by contract had [settled] under us on equal terms as the +others. Each of these was in appearance not less than a +hundred families strong, exclusive of the colony of Rensselaers +Wyck which is prospering, with that of Myndert Meyndertsz<2> +and Cornelis Melyn,<3> who began first, also the village New +Amsterdam around the fort, a hundred families, so that there +was appearance of producing supplies in a year for fourteen +thousand souls, without straining the country, and had there +been no want of laborers or farm servants twice as much could +have been raised, considering that fifty lasts of rye and fifty +lasts of peas still remained over around the fort after a large +quantity had been burnt and destroyed by the Indians, who in a +short time nearly brought this country to nought and had well +nigh destroyed this good hope, in manner following-- + +<1> East River, apparently. +<2> The colony of Hackensack, belonging to Meyndert Meyndertsen +van Keren and others. +<3> Cornelis Melyn's colony embraced all Staten Island except +De Vries's plantation. + + +The Causes of the New Netherland War and the Sequel thereof. + +We have already stated that the cause of the population of +New Netherland was the liberty to trade with the Indians. +We shall now prove that it also is the cause of its ruin, +producing two contrary effects, and that not without reason +as shall appear from the following. + +This liberty then which in every respect should have been +most gratefully received, of which use should have been made +as of a precious gift, was very soon perverted to a great +abuse. For every one thought that now the time had come to +make his fortune, withdrew himself from his comrade, as if +holding him suspect and the enemy of his gains, and sought +communication with the Indians from whom it appeared his +profit was to be derived. That created first a division of +power of dangerous consequence, in opposition to Their High +Mightinesses' motto<1>--produced altogether too much +familiarity with the Indians which in a short time brought +forth contempt, usually the father of hate--not being +satisfied with merely taking them into their houses in the +customary manner, but attracting them by extraordinary +attention, such as admitting them to the table, laying +napkins before them, presenting wine to them and more of +that kind of thing, which they did not receive like Esop's +man, but as their due and desert, insomuch that they were +not content but began to hate when such civilities were not +shewn them. To this familiarity and freedom succeeded +another evil. As the cattle usually roamed through the +woods without a herdsman, they frequently came into the +corn of the Indians which was unfenced on all sides, +committing great damage there; this led to frequent complaints +on their part and finally to revenge on the cattle without +sparing even the horses, which were valuable in this country. +Moreover many of ours took the Indians into service, making +use of them in their houses and thus, whilst they were being +employed, laying open before those Indians our entire +circumstances; and sometimes becoming weary of their work, +they took leg-bail and stole much more than the amount of +their wages. This freedom caused still great mischief, for +the inhabitants of Renselaerswyck who were as many traders +as persons, perceiving that the Mohawks were craving for +guns, which some of them had already received from the English, +paying for each as many as twenty beavers and for a pound of +powder as much as ten to twelve guilders, they came down in +greater numbers than was their wont where people were well +supplied with guns, purchasing these at a fair price, thus +realizing great profit; afterwards they obtained some from +their Heer Patroon for their self-defence in time of need, as +we suppose. This extraordinary gain was not kept long a +secret, the traders coming from Holland soon got scent of it, +and from time to time brought over great quantities, so that +the Mohawks in a short time were seen with firelocks, powder +and lead in proportion. Four hundred armed men knew how to +use their advantage, especially against their enemies +dwelling along the river of Canada,<2> against whom they have +now achieved many profitable forays where before they derived +little advantage; this causes them also to be respected by +the surrounding Indians even as far as the sea coast, who +must generally pay them tribute, whereas, on the contrary, +they were formerly obliged to contribute to these. On this +account the Indians endeavored no less to procure guns, and +through the familiarity which existed between them and our +people, they began to solicit them for guns and powder, but +as such was forbidden on pain of death and it could not +remain secret in consequence of the general conversation, +they could not obtain them. This added to the previous +contempt greatly augmented the hatred which stimulated them +to conspire against us, beginning first by insults which they +everywhere indiscreetly uttered railing at us as Materiotty +(that is to say) the cowards--that we might indeed be +something on water, but of no account on land, and that we +had neither a great sachem nor chiefs. + +<1> Eendracht maakt macht, union makes strength. +<2> Father Jogues speaks more than once of the ill effects +of the Dutch practice of selling fire-arms to the Indians. + +[Here two pages are wanting.] + +he of Witqueschreek living northeast of the island Manhatans, +perpetrated another murderous deed in the house of an old +man,<1> a wheelwright, with whom he was acquainted (having +been in his son's service) being well received and supplied +with food, pretending a desire to buy something and whilst +the old man was taking from the chest the cloth the Indian +wanted the latter took up an ax and cut his head off, further +plundering the house, and ran away. This outrage obliged +the Director to demand satisfaction from the sachem, who +refused it, saying that he was sorry that twenty Christians +had not been murdered<2> and that this Indians had only +avenged the death of his uncle who, it was alleged, had been +slain by the Dutch twenty-one years before. Whereupon all +the commonalty were called together by the Director to +consider this affair, who all appeared and presently twelve +men delegated from among them<3> answered the propositions, +and resolved at once on war should the murderer be refused; +that the attack should be made on [the Indians] in the +autumn when they were hunting; meanwhile an effort should +be again made by kindness to obtain justice, which was +accordingly several times sought for but in vain. + +<1> Claes Smits Rademaker. +<2> "Note A [in the original]. Capt. Patricx letter 21 August +1641." I do not find this letter in print. Captain Patrick, +formerly a soldier under the Prince of Orange, was one of the +early members of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, but had +left that colony in 1639 and settled with his Dutch wife at +Greenwich. Concerning his death, at the hands of a Dutch +Trooper, see Winthrop, II. 153-154, in this series. +<3> "Note B. Their answer and resolution dated the 29th August, +1641." This document, "from Director Kieft's copy-book," is +in _N.Y. Col. Doc._, I. 415. + +The time being come many difficulties were alleged and +operations were postponed until the year 1642, when it was +resolved to avenge the perpetrated outrage. Thereupon spies +looked up the Indians who lay in their dwelling-place +suspecting nothing, and eighty men were detailed under the +command of Ensign Hendrick van Dyck and sent thither. The +guide being come with the troops in the neighborhood of the +Indian wigwams lost his way in consequence of the darkness +of the night. The ensign became impatient, and turned back +without having accomplished anything. The journey, however, +was not without effect, for the Indians who remarked by the +trail made by our people in marching that they had narrowly +escaped discovery, sought for peace which was granted them +on condition that they should either deliver up the murderer +or inflict justice themselves; this they promised, but without +any result. + +Some weeks after this Miantonimo, principal sachem of Sloops +Bay,<1> came here with one hundred men, passing through all +the Indian villages<2> soliciting them to a general war +against both the English and the Dutch,<3> whereupon some of +the neighboring Indians attempted to set our powder on fire +and to poison the Director or to inchant him by their devilry, +as their ill will was afterwards made manifest as well in fact +as by report. Those of Hackingsack, otherwise called Achter +Col, had with their neighbors killed an Englishman, a servant +of one David Pietersen, and a few days after shot dead in an +equally treacherous manner a Dutchman, who sat roofing a +house in the colony of Meyndert Meyndertz,<4> which was +established there against he advice of the Director and will +of the Indians, and which by the continual damage which their +cattle committed caused no little dissatisfaction to the Indians, +and contributed greatly to the war. The commonalty began then +to be alarmed, and not without reason, having the Indians daily +in their houses. The murderers were frequently demanded, +either living or dead, even with a promise of reward; they +always returned a scoffing answer laughing at us. Finally, +the commonalty, very much displeased with the Director, +upbraided him for conniving with the Indians, and [declared] +that an attempt was making to sell Christian blood;<5> yea, +that the will of the entire commonalty was surrendered to him, +and in case he would not avenge blood they should do it +themselves, be the consequences what they might. The Director +advised Pacham the sachem,<6> who interested himself in this +matter, warning him that we should wait no longer inasmuch as +no satisfaction had been given. + +<1> I.e., of the Narragansetts. +<2> "Note C. The English Manifest, Page 2." This means that +now rare pamphlet, _A Declaration of Former Passages and +Proceedings betwixt the English and the Narrowgansets_ (Cambridge, +1645), published by order of the Commissioners of the United +Colonies. See its text, and the particular passage here referred +To, in _Records of Plymouth Colony_, IX. 50. +<3> "Note D. Capt. Patricx letter dated 2 Jan'y, 1642." I have +nowhere seen this letter. +<4> "Note E. The order in the Director's letter and in the +deposition thereupon." See De Vries, p. 215, supra. +<5> "Note F. Resolve of the 12 delegates dated 21 Jan'y, 1642." +See _N.Y. Col. Doc., I. 414-415. +<6> Of the Haverstraw Indians. + +Meanwhile God wreaked vengeance on those of Witquescheck without +our knowledge through the Mahicanders dwelling below Fort Orange, +who slew seventeen of them, and made prisoners of many women and +children. The remainder fled through a deep snow to the +Christians' houses on and around the island Manhatens. They were +most humanely received being half dead of cold and hunger; they +supported them for fourteen days, even corn was sent to them by +the Director. A short time after, another panic seized the +Indians which caused them to fly to divers places in the vicinity +of the Dutch. This opportunity to avenge the innocent blood +induced some of the Twelve Men to represent to the Director that +it was now time, whereupon they received for answer that they +should put their request in writing which was done by three in +the name of them all,<1> by a petition to be allowed to attack +those of Hackingsack in two divisions--on the Manhatens and on +Pavonia. This was granted after a protracted discussion too +long to be reported here, so that the design was executed that +same night; the burghers slew those who lay a small league from +the fort, and the soldiers those at Pavonia, at which two places +about eighty Indians were killed and thirty taken prisoners. +Next morning before the return of the troops a man and a woman +were shot at Pavonia who had come through curiosity either to +look at or plunder the dead; the soldiers had rescued a young +child which the woman had in her arms. + +<1> "Note G. Their Petition dated 24th Feb. 1643." _N.Y. Col. +Doc._, I. 193. Its true date was February 22. + +The Christians residing on Long Island also requested by +petition<1> to be allowed to attack and slay the Indians +thereabout; which was refused, as these especially had done +us no harm, and shewed us every friendship--(yea, had even +voluntarily killed some of the Raritans, our enemies, +hereinbefore mentioned). Yet notwithstanding<2> some Christians +attempted secretly with two waggons to steal maize from these +Indians, out of their cabins, which they perceiving endeavored +to prevent, thereupon three Indians were shot dead, two houses +standing opposite the fort were in return forthwith set on +fire. The Director knowing nought of this sent at once some +persons to enquire the reason of it. The Indians showing +themselves afar off, called out--"Be ye our friends? ye are +mere corn stealers"--forth with behaving as enemies. This +induced one of the proprietors of the burnt houses to upbraid +therewith one Maryn Adriaenzen, who at his request had led the +freemen in the attack on the Indians, and who being reinforced +by an English troop had afterwards undertaken two bootless +expeditions in the open field. Imagining that the Director +had accused him, he being one of the signers of the petition +he determined to revenge himself.<3> With this resolution he +proceeded to the Director's house armed with a pistol, loaded +and cocked, and a hanger by his side; coming unawares into the +Director's room, he presents his pistol at him, saying, "What +devilish lies art thou reporting of me?" but by the promptness +of one of the bystanders, the shot was prevented, and he +himself immediately confined. A short time after, Marine's +man and another entered the fort, each carrying a loaded gun +and pistol. The first fired at the Director who having had +notice withdrew towards his house, the balls passing into the +wall alongside the door behind him; the sentinel firing +immediately on him who had discharged his gun, brought him +down. Shortly afterwards some of the commonalty collected +before the Director, riotously demanding the prisoner; they +were answered that their request should be presented in order +and in writing, which about 25 men did; they therein asked the +Director to pardon the criminal. The matters were referred to +them to decide conscientiously thereupon, in such wise that +they immediately went forth, without hearing parties or seeing +any complaints or documents. They condemn him in a fine of +five hundred guilders, and to remain three months away from +the Manhatens, but on account of the importance of the affair +and some considerations, it was resolved to send the criminal +with his trial to Holland, which...<4> + +<1> "Note H. Their petition and the answer thereto, dated 27 +Feb. 1643." Printed in _N.Y. Col. Doc._, I. 416-417. +<2> "Note I. Contains the information thereupon." +<3> "Note K. His trial therefor." +<4> Gap in manuscript. + +In this confusion mingled with great terror passed the winter +away; the season came for driving out the cattle; this obliged +many to desire peace. On the other hand the Indians, seeing +also that it was time to plant maize, were not less solicitous +for peace, so that after some negotiation, peace was concluded +in May Ao. 1643 [more] in consequence of the importunity of +some than because it was generally expected that it would be +durable. + +The Indians kept still after this peace, associating daily +with our people; yea, even the greatest chiefs came to visit +the Director. Meanwhile Pachem, a crafty man, ran through +all the villages urging the Indians to a general massacre. To +this was added moreoever that certain Indians called Wappingers, +dwelling sixteen leagues up the river, with whom we never had +any the least trouble, seized on a boat coming from Fort Orange +wherein were only two men, and full four hundred beavers. This +great booty stimulated<1> others to join them, so that they +seized two boats more, intending to overhaul the fourth also, +from which they were driven off with the loss of six Indians. +Nine Christians including two women were murdered in these +captured barks, one woman and two children remaining prisoners. +The other Indians, so soon as their maize was ripe, were +likewise roused, and through semblance of selling beavers +killed an old man and an old woman, leaving another man with +five wounds, who however fled to the fort in a boat with a +little child on his arm, who in the first outbreak had lost +father and mother, and now grandfather and grandmother, being +thus twice through God's merciful blessing rescued from the +hands of the Indians, before it was two years old. Nothing +was now heard but murders, most of which were committed under +pretence of coming to put the Christians on their guard. + +<1> "Note M. Their acknowledgement made before the English +16 January, 1643, English style." + +Finally they took the field and attacked the farms at Pavonia. +There were here at the time two ships of war and a privateer +who saved considerable cattle and grain. Nevertheless it was +not possible to prevent the destruction of four farms on +Pavonia, which were burnt, not by open force, but by stealthily +creeping through the brush with fire in hand, thus igniting +the roofs which are all either of reed or straw; one covered +with plan was saved at that time. + +The commonalty were called together; they were sore distressed. +They chose eight, in the stead of the previous twelve<1>, persons +to aid in consulting for the best; but the occupation every one +had to take care of his own, prevented anything beneficial being +adopted at that time--nevertheless it was resolved that as many +Englishmen as were to be got in the country should be enlisted, +who were indeed now proposing to depart; the third part of these +were to be paid by the commonalty; this promise was made by the +commonalty but was not followed by the pay. + +<1> "Note N. Resolve of 13 Sept'r 1643." _N.Y. Col. Doc._, I. +194. + +Terror increasing all over the land the Eight Men assembled, +drew<1> up a proposal in writing wherein they asked that +delegates should be sent to the north, to our English neighbors, +to request an auxiliary force of one hundred and fifty men, for +whose pay a bill of exchange should be given for twenty-five +thousand guilders, and that New Netherland should be so long +mortgaged to the English as security for the payment thereof. +One of the most influential among the Eight Men had by letter<2> +enforced by precedents previously endeavored to persuade the +Director to this course, as they had also a few days before +Resolved<3> that the provisions destined for Curacao should be +unloaded from the vessels and the major portion of the men +belonging to them detained, and to send the ships away thus +empty. This was not yet agreed to nor considered expedient +by the Director. + +[Here four pages are wanting.] + +[An expedition was despatched consisting of ---- regular +soldiers] under the command of the sergeant,<4> forty burghers +under their Captain Jochem Pietersen,<5> thirty-five Englishmen +under Lieutenant Baxter,<6> but to prevent all confusion, +Councillor La Montagne<7> was appointed general. Coming to +Staten Island, they marched the whole night, finding the houses +empty and abandoned by the Indian; they got five or six hundred +skepels of corn, burning the remainder without accomplishing +anything else. + +<1> "Note O. Dated 6th Octob. 1643." +<2> "Note P. Dated 9th March, 1643." +<3> "Note Q. In their resolution 30th September, 1643." +<4> Pieter Cock. +<5> Jochem Pietersen Kuyter, one of the Twelve Men and of the +Eight Men. +<6> George Baxter, an exile from New England, now English +secretary under Kieft. The number of English colonists in New +Netherland, especially on Long Island, was rapidly increasing. +<7> Dr. Johannes la Montagne, a Hugeunot physician, who with +Kieft constituted the council of the province. + +Mayane, a sachem, residing eight leagues northeast of us, +between Greenwich (that lies within our jurisdiction) and +Stantfort,<1> which is English,--a bold Indian who alone dared +to attack with bow and arrows three Christians armed with guns, +one of whom he shot dead--whilst engaged with the other, was +killed by the third Christian and his head brought hither. It +was then known and understood for the first time, that he and +his Indians had done as much injury, though we never had any +difference with him. Understanding further that they lay in +their houses very quiet and without suspicion on account of +the neighborhood of the English, it was determined to hunt +them up and attack them, and one hundred and twenty men were +went thither under the preceding command. The people landed +at Greenwich in the evening from three yachts, marched the +entire night but could not find the Indians, either because +the guide brought this about on purpose, as was believed, or +because he had himself gone astray. Retreat was made to the +yachts in order to depart as secretly as possible. Passing +through Stantfort some Englishmen were encountered who +offered to lead ours to the place where some Indians were. +Thereupon four scouts were sent in divers directions to +discover them, who at their return reported that the Indians +had some notice of our people by the salute which the +Englishmen gave us, but without any certainty, whereupon +five and twenty of the bravest men were at once commanded to +proceed thither to the nearest village. With great diligence +they made the journey, killing eighteen or twenty Indians, +capturing an old man, two women and some children, to exchange +for ours. The other troops found the huts empty, and further +came hither with the yachts. + +<1> Stamford. + +The old Indian captured above having promised to lead us to +Wetquescheck, which consisted of three castles, sixty-five +men were despatched under Baxter and Pieter Cock, who found +them empty, though thirty Indians could have stood against +two hundred soldiers since the castles were constructed of +plank five inches thick, nine feet high, and braced around +with thick balk full of port-holes. Our people burnt two, +reserving the third for a retreat. Marching eight or nine +leagues further, they discovered nothing but some huts, which +they could not surprize as they were discovered. They came +back having killed only one or two Indians, taken some women +and children prisoners and burnt much corn. Meanwhile we +were advised that Pennewitz,<1> one of the oldest and most +experienced Indians in the country, and who in the first +conspiracy had given the most dangerous advice--to wit, that +they should wait and not attack the Dutch until all suspicion +had been lulled, and then divide themselves equally through +the houses of the Christians and slaughter all these in one +night--was secretly waging war against us with his tribe, +who killed some of our people and set fire to the houses. It +was therefore resolved to send thither a troop of one hundred +and twenty men. The burghers under their company, the English +under the Sergeant Major Van der Hyl<2> (who within a few days +had offered his services and was accepted), the veteran +soldiers under Pieter Cock, all under the command of Mr. La +Montagne, proceed hence in three yachts, land in Scouts Bay +on Long Island,<3> and march towards Heemstede<4> (where there +is an English colony dependent on us.) Some sent forward in +advance dexterously killed an Indian who was out as a spy. +Our force was divided into two divisions--Van der Hil with +fourteen English towards the smallest, and eighty men towards +the largest village named Matsepe,<5> both which were very +successful, killing about one hundred and twenty men; of ours +one man remained on the field and three were wounded. + +<1> Chief of the Canarsee tribe, in western Long Island. +<2> John Underhill, whose unctuous piety and profligate life +have an important place in Winthrop and other New England +historians. With Captain John Mason he had the leading part +in the crushing of the Pequots in 1637. Banished from +Massachusetts and restored, this amusing reprobate had gone +to the Dutch, "having good offers made him by the Dutch governor +(he speaking the Dutch tongue and his wife a Dutch woman)," but +had now settled at Stamford. Later he lived at Flushing and at +Oyster Bay, where he died in 1672. +<3> Now called Manhasset Bay. +<4> Now Hempstead, Long Island, where early in 1644 Robert +Fordham and other English from Stamford had formed a colony +under New Netherland jurisdiction. +<5> Mespath, now Newtown, Long Island. +<6> Stamford. + +Our forces being returned from this expedition, Capt. Van der +Hil was despatched to Stantfort,<1> to get some information +there of the Indians. He reported that the guide who had +formerly served us, and was supposed to have gone astray in +the night, had now been in great danger of his life among the +Indians, of whom there were about five hundred together. He +offered to lead us there, to shew that the former mischance +was not his fault. One hundred and thirty men were accordingly +despatched under the aforesaid Genl Van der Hil and Hendrick +van Dyck, ensign. They embarked in three yachts, and landed at +Greenwich, where they were obliged to pass the night by reason +of the great snow and storm. In the morning they marched +northwest up over stony hills over which some must creep. In +the evening about eight o'clock they came within a league of +the Indians, and inasmuch as they should have arrived too +early and had to cross two rivers, one of two hundred feet +wide and three deep, and that the men could not afterwards there +rest in consequence of the cold, it was determined to remain +there until about ten o'clock. The order was given as to the +mode to be observed in attacking the Indians--they marched +forward towards the houses, the latter being set up in three +rows, street fashion, each row eighty paces long, in a low +recess protected by the hills, affording much shelter from the +northwest wind. The moon was then at the full, and threw a +strong light against the hills so that many winter days were +not brighter than it then was. On arriving there the Indians +were wide awake, and on their guard, so that ours determined +to charge and surround the houses, sword in hand. They demeaned +themselves as soldiers and deployed in small bands, so that we +got in a short time one dead and twelve wounded. They were also +so hard pressed that it was impossible for one to escape. In a +brief space of time there were counted one hundred and eighty +dead outside the houses. Presently none durst come forth, +keeping within the houses, discharging arrows through the holes. +The general perceived that nothing else was to be done, and +resolved with Sergeant Major Van der Hil, to set the huts on +fire, whereupon the Indians tried every means of escape, not +succeeding in which they returned back to the flames preferring +to perish by the fire than to die by our hands. What was most +wonderful is, that among this vast collection of men, women and +children not one was heard to cry or to scream. According to +the report of the Indians themselves the number then destroyed +exceeded five hundred. Some say, full seven hundred, among +whom were also twenty-five Wappingers, our God having collected +together there the greater number of our enemies, to celebrate +one of their festivals in their manner, from which escaped no +more than eight men in all, and three of them were severely +wounded. + +The fight ended, several fires were built in consequence of +the great cold. The wounded, fifteen in number, among whom +was the general, were dressed, and the sentinels being posted +the troops bivouacked there for the remainder of the night. On +the next day, the party set out very early in good order, so +as to arrive at Stantfort in the evening. They marched with +great courage over that wearisome range of hills, God affording +extraordinary strength to the wounded, some of whom were badly +hurt; and came in the afternoon to Stantfort after a march of +two days and one night and little rest. The English received +our people in a very friendly manner, affording them every +comfort. In two days they reached here. A thanksgiving was +proclaimed on their arrival. + +[The remainder is wanting.] + +<1> Stamford. + + + + +END OF PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "JOURNAL OF NEW NETHERLAND." + + + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND" + + + + +Reference material and sources. + +Adriaen van der Donck, The Representation of New +Netherland, 1650. In J. Franklin Jameson, ed., +Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664 (Original +Narratives of Early American History). NY: Charles +Scribner's Sons, 1909. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The fussy incompetence of Kieft and the disastrous results +of the Indian war he had aroused led at last to his removal, +and in May, 1647, a new director-general arrived, Petrus +Stuyvesant, who had made a good record as governor of Curacao +in the West Indies. Stuyvesant, the last of the Dutch +governors, was a man of character, brave, honest, capable and +energetic; but he was proud, headstrong and tyrannical, and +had such high notions of a governor's prerogative that from +the first he conceived a prejudice against the opponents of +Kieft, and presently Kuyter and Melyn were condemned to severe +punishment for attempting to bring the latter to justice. + +The new director-general was bent on pursuing a vigorous policy +toward encroaching English and Swedish neighbors, on repressing +the high claims of the patroon's officers at Rensselaerswyck, +on putting the province in good condition for defence, on +suppressing illegal trading, especially the supplying of fire- +arms to the Indians, and on regulating with a strong hand all +the doings of his small body of subjects. But such a policy +costs money, and to obtain it by taxation he found himself +compelled in August, 1647, like many another arbitrary ruler, +to summon reluctantly the representatives of the people. +Carefully as the functions of the Nine Men were limited, they +constituted a permanent element in the governmental system, as +the Twelve Men and Eight Men had not. It was inevitable that +sooner or later they should become the mouthpiece of popular +discontent, which was rapidly increasing under the unprosperous +condition of the province and the burdensome taxes, customs +and other restrictions imposed upon its economic life. + +In December, 1648, the board was partly renewed. One of the +new members, Adriaen van der Donck, a lawyer from Breda, who +from 1641 to 1646 had been schout for the patroon at +Renssellaerwyck, soon became the leading spirit of the new +board. Their sense of popular grievances increasing, they +planned to send a deputation to the mother country to +remonstrate. Stuyvesant opposed, arrested Van der Donck, +seized some of his papers, and expelled him from the board. +Nevertheless, a bold memorial to the States General was +prepared, and was signed on July 26, 1649, "in the name and +on the behalf of the commonalty of New Netherland," by Van +der Donck and ten others, present or former members of the +board of Nine Men. In this memorial, which is printed in +_Documents relating to the Colonial History of New York_, I. +259-261, the representatives request the Dutch government to +enact measures for the encouragement of emigration to the +province, to grant "suitable municipal [or civil] government, +...somewhat resembling the laudable government of the +Fatherland," to accord greater economic freedom, and to +settle with foreign governments those disputes respecting +colonial boundaries and jurisdiction the constant agitation +of which so unsettled the province and impeded its growth. + +The following document accompanied the memorial, bearing date +two days later, July 28, 1649, and was signed by the same +eleven men. It is considered probable that Adriaen van der +Donck was its main author. Its first part, descriptive of +the province, reads like a preliminary sketch for his +_Beschryvinge van Nieuw-Nederlant_ ("Description of New +Netherland"), a very interesting work published at Amsterdam +six years later (1665, second edition 1656), and of which a +translation appears in the _Collections of the New York +Historical Society_, second series, I. 125-242. + +With respect to the remaining, or political portion of its +contents, it is only fair for the reader to remember that +it is a body of ex parte statements, and should be compared +with those made on behalf of the administration by Secretary +van Tienhoven in his _Answer_, the document immediately +following this. Stuyvesant, whatever his faults of temper-- +love of autocratic power, lack of sympathy with the life of +a community already far from austere, vindictiveness even-- +conceived of his province as a political community, not +solely as a commercial possession, and honestly tried to +govern it with an eye to its own best interest. The directors, +moreover, could truthfully say that many of their narrowest +actions were prescribed by their instructions from the West +India Company. While the States General were often capable +of taking a statesmanlike view of New Netherland, and as it +lost control of the former found itself involved in greater +and greater financial embarrassments, which made it increasingly +difficult to do justice to the latter. We may also set down +on the credit side of the account that though the administration +was slow to concede representative institutions to the province, +it did not a little to organize local self-government, Kieft +granting village rights, with magistrates and local courts of +justice, to Hampstead in 1644, to Flushing in 1645, to Brooklyn +in 1646, while Stuyvesant bestowed such rights on a dozen towns +during his seventeen years' rule and gave New Amsterdam a +somewhat restricted municipal government in 1653. + +Of those whose signatures follow Van der Donck's at the end +of the _Representation_, Augustin Herrman was a Bohemian of +Prague, who had served in Wallenstein's army, had come out to +New Netherland in 1633 as agent of a mercantile house of +Amsterdam, and had become an influential merchant. A man of +various accomplishments, he probably made the drawing of New +Amsterdam which is reproduced at the foot of Van der Donck's +map in this volume. Later he made for Lord Baltimore a fine +map of Maryland, and received as his reward the princely estate +of Bohemia Manor. Arnoldus van Hardenberg, another merchant, +had been a victim of judicial oppression by both Kieft and +Stuyvesant. Jacob van Couwenhoven had come out in 1633 and +resided at first at Rensselaerswyck; he was afterward of note +as speculator and brewer in New Amsterdam. Oloff Stevensz +van Cortlant had been store-keeper for the Company and deacon +of the church; later he was burgomaster of New Amsterdam. +Michiel Jansz and Thomas Hall were farmers, the latter, the +first English settler in New York State, having come to +Manhattan as a deserter from George Holmes's abortive expedition +of 1635 against Fort Nassau on South River. Elbert Elertsz +was a weaver, Hendrick Kip a tailor. Govert Loockermans, on +the other hand, brother-in-law to both Couwenhoven and +Cortlandt, was the chief merchant and Indian trader of the +province, often in partnership with Isaac Allerton the former +Pilgrim of Plymouth. Lastly, Jan Everts Bout, a farmer, had +formerly been superintendent for Pauw at Pavonia. Characterizations +of these men, by an unfriendly hand, may be seen at the end +of Van Tienhoven's _Answer_ to this _Representation_. + +Three of the signers, Van der Donck, Couwenhoven and Bout, +were deputed to go to the Netherlands and present the +_Representation_ to the States General, while Stuyvesant sent +Secretary van Tienhoven to counteracat their efforts. The +Voluminous papers which both parties presented to their High +Mightinesses were referred to a committee, which in April, +1650, submitted a draft of a reformed and more liberal government +for the province. The delegates caused their _Representation_ +to be printed, in a pamphlet of forty-nine pages, now very +rare, under the title, _Vertoogh van Nieu-Neder-Land, Weghens +de Ghelegentheydt, Vruchtbaerheydt, en Soberen Staet desselfs_ +(Hague, 1650), i.e., "Representation of New Netherland, concerning +its Location, Productiveness and Poor Condition." Much discussion +was aroused. "The name of New Netherland," wrote the Amsterdam +chamber of the Company to Stuyvesant, "was scarcely ever +mentioned before, and now it would seem as if heaven and earth +were interested in it." So effective an exposition of the +colony's value and of its misgovernment could not fail to awaken +consideration and sympathy. Nevertheless, the company, aided +by the _Answer_ which Van Tienhoven submitted in November, 1650, +were able to ride out the storm, and to temporize until the +outbreak of the war of 1652-1654 with England put a new face on +colonial affairs. A few concessions were made--the export duty +on tobacco was taken off, and a municipal government allowed to +New Amsterdam, now a town of 700 or 800 inhabitants (1653). But +no serious alteration in the provincial government resulted. +"Our Grand Duke of Muscovy," wrote one of Stuyvesant's subordinates +to Van der Donck, "keeps on as of old." Disaffection among the +Dutch settlers never ceased till the English conquest, though on +the other hand the English settlers on Long Island were much +better disposed toward Stuyvesant's government, and were treated +by him with more favor. + +Van der Donck's two companions returned to New Netherland before +long. He, however, remained in the old country until the summer +of 1653, occupied with the business of his mission, with legal +studies, taking the degree of doctor of laws at he University of +Leyden, and with the preparation of his _Beschryvinge van Nieus- +Nederlant_. The States General gave him a copyright for it in +May, 1653, but the first edition was not published till 1655. In +that year the author died, leaving to his widow his estate, or +"colonie," which he called Colendonck. The name of Yonkers, +where it was situated, perpetuates his title of gentility +(Jonkheer van der Donck). + +The original manuscript of the _Representation_ is still preserved +in the archives of the Netherlands, and a translation of it was +printed in 1856 in _Documents relating to the Colonial History +of New York_, I. 271-318, and reprinted in _Pennsylvania Archives_, +second series, V. 124-170. A translation of the printed tract, +the text of which differs but very slightly from that of the +manuscript, was made by Hon. Henry C. Murphy and printed in +1849 in the _Collections of the New York Historical Society_, +second series, II. 251-329. It exists also in a separate form +as a pamphlet, and, combined with the _Breeden Raedt_, in a +volume privately printed in an edition of 125 copies by Mr. +James Lenox. It is this translation which, revised by Professor +A. Clinton Crowell, is printed in the following pages. + + + + +THE REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND, 1650 + +The Representation of New Netherland concerning its +Location, Productiveness, and Poor Condition. + +AMONG all the people in the world, industrious in +seeking out foreign lands, navigable waters and trade, +those who bear the name of Netherlanderse, will very +easily hold their place with the first, as is sufficiently +known to all those who have in any wise saluted the +threshold of history, and as will also be confirmed by +the following relation. The country of which we propose +to speak, was first discovered in the year of our Lord +1609, by the ship Half Moon, of which Hendrik Hutson was +master and supercargo--at the expense of the chartered +East India Company, though in search of a different +object. It was subsequently called New Netherland by +our people, and very justly, as it was first discovered +and possessed by Netherlanders, and at their cost; so +that even at the present day, those natives of the +country who are so old as to recollect when the Dutch +ships first came here, declare that when they saw them, +they did not know what to make of them, and could not +comprehend whether they came down from Heaven, or were +of the Devil. Some among them, when the first one +arrived, even imagined it to be a fish, or some monster +of the sea, and accordingly a strange report of it spread +over the whole land. We have also heard the savages +frequently say, that they knew nothing of any other part +of the world, or any other people than their own, before +the arrival of the Netherlanders. For these reasons, +therefore, and on account of the similarity of climate, +situation and fertility, this place is rightly called New +Netherland. It is situated on the northerly coast of +America, in the latitude of 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 degrees, +or thereabouts, coast-wise. It is bounded on the northeast +by New England, and on the southwest by Virginia. The +coast runs nearly southwest and northeast, and is washed by +the ocean. On the north is the river of Canada, a large +river running far into the interior. The northwest side is +still partially unknown. + +The land is naturally fruitful, and capable of supporting +a large population, if it were judiciously allotted according +to location. The air is pleasant here, and more temperate +than in the Netherlands. The winds are changeable, and blow +from all points, but generally from the southwest and +northwest; the former prevailing in summer, and the latter +in winter, at times very sharply, but constituting, nevertheless, +the greatest blessing to the country as regards the health of +the people, for being very strong and pure, it drives far +inland or consumes all damps and superfluous moisture. The +coast is generally clean and sandy, the beach detached and +broken into islands. Eastward from the North River lies Long +Island, about forty leagues in length, forming a fine wide +river, which falls at either end into the ocean, and affording +a very convenient passage between the shores which is protected +from the dangers of the sea by a great number of good bays and +other places of anchorage, so that vessels even in winter can +readily pass east and west. Towards the south approaching +the South River, there are several inlets, but they are muddy +and sandy, though after proper experiments they could be used. +Inside these again there are large streams and meadows, but +the waters are for the most part shallow. Along the seacoast +the land is generally sandy or gravelly, not very high, but +tolerably fertile, so that for the most part it is covered +over with beautiful trees. The country is rolling in many +places, with some high mountains, and very fine flats and +maize lands, together with large meadows, salt and fresh, all +making very fine hay land. It is overgrown with all kinds of +trees, standing without order, as in other wildernesses, +except that the maize lands, plains and meadows have few or +no trees, and these with little pains might be made into good +arable land. + +The seasons are the same as in the Netherlands, but the +summer is warmer and begins more suddenly. The winter is +cold, and further inland, or towards the most northerly part, +colder than in the Netherlands. It is also subject to much +snow, which remains long on the ground, and in the interior, +three, four and five months; but near the seacoast it is +quickly dissolved by the southerly winds. Thunder, lightning, +rain, showers, hail, snow, frost, dew and the like, are the +same as in the Netherlands, except that in the summer sudden +gusts of wind are somewhat more frequent. + +The land is adapted to the production of all kinds of +winter and summer fruits, and with less trouble and +tilling than in the Netherlands. It produces different +kinds of woods, suitable for building houses and ships, +whether large or small, consisting of oaks of various +kinds, as post-oak, white smooth bark, white rough bark, +gray bark, black bark, and still another kind which they +call, from its softness, butter oak, the poorest of all, +and not very valuable; the others, if cultivated as in +the Netherlands, would be equal to any Flemish or Brabant +oaks. It also yields several species of nut wood, in +great abundance, such as oil-nuts, large and small; walnut +of different sizes, in great abundance, and good for fuel, +for which it is much used, and chestnut, the same as in +the Netherlands, growing in the woods without order. +There are three varieties of beech--water beech, common +Beech, and hedge beech--also axe-handle wood, two species +of canoe wood, ash, birch, pine, fir, juniper or wild +cedar, linden, alder, willow, thorn, elder, and many other +kinds useful for many purposes, but unknown to us by name, +and which we will be glad to submit to the carpenters for +further examination. + +The indigenous fruits consist principally of acorns, some +of which are very sweet; nuts of different kinds, chestnuts, +beechnuts, but not many mulberries, plums, medlars, wild +cherries, black currants, gooseberries, hazel nuts in great +quantities, small apples, abundant strawberries throughout +the country, with many other fruits and roots which the +savages use. There is also plenty of bilberries or blueberries, +together with ground-nuts and artichokes, which grow under +ground. Almost the whole land is full of vines, in the wild +woods as well as on the maize lands and flats; but they grow +principally near to and upon the banks of the brooks, streams +and rivers, which are numerous, and run conveniently and +pleasantly everywhere, as if they were planted there. The +grapes comprise many varieties, some white, some very fleshy, +and only fit to make raisins of, others on the contrary juicy; +some are very large and others small. The juice is pleasant, +and some of it as white as French or Rhenish wine; some is +a very deep red, like Tent,<1> and some is paler. The vines +run much on the trees, and are shaded by their leaves, so +that the grapes ripen late and are a little sour; but with +the intelligent assistance of man, as fine wines would +undoubtedly be made here as in any other country. In regard +to other fruits, all those which grow in the Netherlands +also grow very well in New Netherland, without requiring as +much care to be bestowed upon them as is necessary there. +Garden fruits succeed very well, yet are drier, sweeter, and +more agreeable than in the Netherlands; for proof of which +we may easily instance musk-melons, citrons or watermelons,<2> +which in New Netherland grow right in the open fields, if +the briars and weeds are kept from them, while in the +Netherlands they require the close care of amateurs, or +those who cultivate them for profit in gardens, and then +they are neither so perfect by far, nor so palatable, as +they are in New Netherland. In general all kinds of +pumpkins and the like are also much drier, sweeter and more +delicious, which is caused by the temperateness and amenity +of the climate. + +The tame cattle are in size and other respects about the +same as in the Netherlands, but the English cattle and swine +thrive and grow best, appearing to be better suited to the +country than those from Holland. They require, too, less +trouble, expense and attention; for it is not necessary in +winter to look after such as are dry, or the swine, except +that in the time of a deep snow they should have some +attention. Milch cows also are much less trouble than they +are in Holland, as most of the time, if any care be requisite, +it is only for the purpose of giving them occasionally a +little hay. + +The wild animals are principally lines,<3> but they are few; +bears, of which there are many, elks and deer in great numbers, +some of which are entirely white, and others wholly black. +The savages say that the white deer are of very great +consequence in the estimation of the other deer, and are +exceedingly beloved, regarded and honored by the others, but +that the reverse is true of the black deer. There are various +other large animals in the interior, but they are unknown to +the Christians. There are also wolves, dangerous only to +small cattle, beavers, otters, weasels, wild cats, foxes, +raccoons, minks, hares, musk-rats, about as large as cats, +pole-cats and squirrels, some of which can fly. There are +also ground-hogs and other small animals, but they are for +the most part, as we have said, not known to the Christians. + +<1> A deep-red Spanish wine. +<2> The original has water-limoenen, water-citrons, for the +watermelon, little known in Dutch gardens at this time, was +regarded rather as a citron than as a melon. +<3> Panthers. + +Of birds this country is by no means without its share. +There are great numbers of birds of prey, as eagles of two +kinds--the bald-headed, which has the head, tail and +principal wing-feathers white, and the common kind; hawks, +buzzards, sparrow-hawks, crows, chicken-hawks, and many +others, yet all are birds of prey and capable of being +trained and used for hunting, though they differ somewhat +in shape from those in the Netherlands. There is also a +bird which has its head like a cat, and its body like a +large owl, colored white.<1> We know no name for it in the +Netherlands, but in France it is called grand duc, and is +esteemed very highly. + +<1> The cat-owl or great barred own, bubo Virginianus. It +is not white, but neither is the grand duc, the European bubo. +Van der Donck, in his _Beschryvinge_, says, "of a light ash +color." + +The other birds found in this country are turkies, the same +as in the Netherlands, but they are wild, and are plentiest +and best in winter; several kinds of partridges, some +smaller than in the Netherlands, others larger, curlews, +wood and water snipes, pheasants, heath-hens, cranes, herons, +bitterns, multitudes of pigeons resembling ringdoves, but a +little smaller; quails, merlins, thrushes, shore-runners, +but in some respects different from those of the Netherlands. +There are other small birds, some of which sing, but the +names of most of them are unknown to us, and would take too +long to enumerate. Water fowl are found here of different +kinds, but all very good and fit to eat; such as the swans, +similar to those in Netherlands and full as large; three +kinds of geese, gray geese, which are the largest and best, +bernicles and white-headed geese, ducks of different kinds, +widgeons, divers, coots, cormorants and several others, +but not so abundant as the foregoing. + +The river fish are almost the same as in the Netherlands, +comprising salmon, sturgeon, twelves, thirteens,<1> shad, +carp, perch, pike, trout, roach, thickhead, suckers, +sunfish, eel, nine-eyes or lampreys, both much more +abundant and larger than in the Netherlands, besides many +other valuable fish which we are unable to name. + +<1> Striped bass and drum-fish. + +In the salt water are caught codfish, haddock, weakfish, +herring, mackerel, thornbacks, flounders, plaice, sheepshead, +blackfish, sea-dogs, panyns and many others; also lobsters, +crabs, great cockles, from which the Indians make the white +and black zeewant, oysters and muscles in great quantities +with many other kinds of shell-fish very similar to each +other, for which we know no names, besides sea and land +tortoises. + +The venomous animals consist, for the most part, of adders +and lizards, though they are harmless or nearly so. There +are snakes of different kinds, which are not dangerous and +flee before men if they possibly can, else they are usually +beaten to death. The rattlesnakes, however, which have a +rattle on the tail, with which they rattle very loudly when +they are angry or intend to sting, and which grows every +year a joint larger, are very malignant and do not readily +retreat before a man or any other creature. Whoever is +bitten by them runs great danger of his life, unless great +care be taken; but fortunately they are not numerous, and +there grown spontaneously in the country the true snakeroot, +which is very highly esteemed by the Indians as an unfailing +cure. + +The medicinal plants found in New Netherland up to the +present time, by little search, as far as they have come to +our knowledge, consist principally of Venus' hair, hart's +tongue, lingwort, polypody, white mullein, priest's shoe, +garden and sea-beach orach, water germander, tower-mustard, +sweet flag, sassafras, crowfoot, platain, shepherd's purse, +mallows, wild marjoram, crane's bill, marsh-mallows, false +eglantine, laurel, violet, blue flag, wild indigo, solomon's +seal, dragon's blood, comfrey, milfoil, many sorts of fern, +wild lilies of different kinds, agrimony, wild leek, blessed +thistle, snakeroot, Spanish figs which grow out of the +leaves,<2> tarragon and numerous other plants and flowers; +but as we are not skilled in those things, we cannot say +much of them; yet it is not to be doubted that experts +would be able to find many simples of great and different +virtues, in which we have confidence, principally because +the Indians know how to cure very dangerous and perilous +wounds and sores by roots, leaves and other little things. + +<2> Probably the prickly pear. + +It is certain that the Indigo silvestris grows here +spontaneously without human aid. It could be easily +cultivated if there were people who would undertake it; +at least, the other species would grow very well and +yield a good profit. We have seen proof of this in the +colony of Renselaerswyck, though it was all sown too late +and upon a barren rock where there was little earth. It +came up very well, but in consequence of the drought turned +very yellow and withered, and was neglected; nevertheless +it was evident that if it were well covered it would succeed. +Madder plants also would undoubtedly grow well both in +field and gardens, and better than in Zeeland. + +There may be discovered casually or by little search, +different minerals, upon some of which tests have been +made according to our limited means, and which are found +good. We have attempted several times to send specimens +of them to the Netherlands, once with Arent van Corenben +by way of New Haven and of England, but the ship was +wrecked and no tidings of it have ever been received.<1> +After that Director William Kieft also had many different +specimens with him in the ship the Princess, but they were +lost in her with him.<2> The mountains and mines +nevertheless remain, and are easily to be found again +whenever it may be thought proper to go to the labor and +expense. In New England they have already progressed so +far as to make castings of iron pots, tankards, balls and +the like out of their minerals, and we firmly believe all +that is wanting here is to have a beginning made; for there +are in New Netherland two kinds of marcasite, and mines of +white and yellow quicksilver, of gold, silver, copper, +iron, black lead and hard coal. It is supposed that tin +and lead will also be found; but who will seek after them +or who will make use of them as long as there are not +more people? + +<1> Arent Corssen. Van der Donck says that he and Kieft +saw an Indian painting his face with a shining mineral. +They had it assayed, and it proved to contain gold. Arent +Corssen, sent to Holland with a bag of it, embarked early +in 1646 in the "great ship" of New Haven, Captain George +Lamberton, for whose return into the harbor as a phantom +ship, months afterward, see Cotton Mather's _Magnalia_, +I. 84 (ed. of 1853), and Longfellow's poem, "The Phantom +Ship." + +<2> In August, 1647, some months after Stuyvesant's +arrival, Kieft sailed for Holland. With him sailed his +enemy Domine Bogardus, and the chief victims of his and +Stuyvesant's persecution, Kuyter and Melyn. The ship +was wrecked on the Welsh coast. Kieft was drowned; his +opponents escaped. + +Fuller's earth is found in abundance, and [Armenian] bole; +also white, red, yellow, blue and black clay very solid +and greasy, and should be suitable for many purposes; +earth for bricks and for tiles, mountain-chrystal, glass +like that of Muscovy,<1> green serpentine stone in great +abundance, blue limestone, slate, red grindstone, flint, +paving stone, large quantities of all varieties of quarry +stone suitable for hewing mill-stones and for building +all kinds of walls, asbestos and very many other kinds +applicable to the use of man. There are different paints, +but the Christians are not skilled in them. They are +seen daily on the Indians, who understand their nature +and use them to paint themselves in different colors. If +it were not that explorers are wanting, our people would +be able to find them and provide themselves with them. + +<1> Mica. + +Of the Americans or Natives, their Appearance, Occupations, +and Means of Support. + +The natives are generally well set in their limbs, slender +round the waist, broad across the shoulders, and have +black hair and dark eyes. They are very nimble and fleet, +well adapted to travel on foot and to carry heavy burdens. +They are foul and slovenly in their actions, and make +little of all kinds of hardship; to which indeed they are +by nature and from their youth accustomed. They are like +the Brazilians in color, or as yellow as the people who +sometimes pass through the Netherlands and are called +Gypsies. The men generally have no beard, or very little, +which some even pull out. They use very few words, which +they consider well. Naturally they are very modest, +simple and inexperienced; though in their actions high- +minded enough, vigorous and quick to comprehend or learn, +be it right or wrong, whenever they are so inclined. They +are not straightforward as soldiers but perfidious, +accomplishing all their enterprises by treachery, using +many strategems to deceive their enemies, and usually +ordering all their plans, involving any danger, by night. +The desire of revenge appears to be born in them. They +are very obstinate in defending themselves when they +cannot run, which however they do when they can; and they +make little of death when it is inevitable, and despire +all tortures which can be inflicted upon them while dying, +manifesting no sorrow, but usually singing until they are +dead. They understand how to cure wounds and hurts, or +inveterate sores and injuries, by means of herbs and +roots, which grow in the country, and which are known to +them. Their clothing, both for men and women, is a +piece of duffels or leather in front, with a deer skin or +elk's hide over the body. Some have bears' hides of which +they make doublets; others have coats made of the skins +of raccoons, wild-cats, wolves, dogs, otters, squirrels, +beavers and the like, and also of turkey's feathers. At +present they use for the most part duffels cloth, which +they obtain in barter from the Christians. They make +their stockings and shoes of deer skins or elk's hide, +and some have shoes made of corn-husks, of which they +also make sacks. Their money consists of white and black +zeewant, which they themselves make. Their measure and +valuation is by the hand or by the fathom; but their corn +is measured by deontas, which are bags they make themselves. +Ornamenting themselves consists in cutting their bodies, +or painting them with various colors, sometimes even all +black, if they are in mourning, yet generally in the face. +They hang zeewant, both white and black, about their heads, +which they otherwise are not want to cover, but on which +they are now beginning to wear hats and caps bought of the +Christians. They also put it in their ears, and around +their necks and bodies, wherewith after their manner they +appear very fine. They have long deer's hair which is +dyed red, and of which they make rings for the head, and +other fine hair of the same color, to hang from the neck +like tresses, of which they are very proud. They frequently +smear their skin and hair with difference kinds of grease. +They can almost all swim. They themselves make the boats +they use, which are of two kinds, some of entire trees, +which they hollow out with fire, hatchets and adzes, and +which the Christians call canoes; others are made of bark, +which they manage very skilfully, and which are also called +canoes. + +Traces of the institution of marriage can just be perceived +among them, and nothing more. A man and woman join +themselves together without any particular ceremony other +than that the man by previous agreement with the woman gives +her some zeewant or cloth, which on their separation, if it +happens soon, he often takes again. Both men and women +are utterly unchaste and shamelessly promiscuous in their +intercourse, which is the cause of the men so often changing +their wives and the women their husbands. Ordinarily they +have but one wife, sometimes two or three, but this is +generally among the chiefs. They have also among them +different conditions of persons, such as noble and ignoble. +The men are generally lazy, and do nothing until they +become old and unesteemed, when they make spoons, wooden +bowls, bags, nets and other similar articles; beyond this +the men do nothing except fish, hunt and go to war. The +women are compelled to do the rest of the work, such as +planting corn, cutting and drawing fire-wood, cooking, +taking care of the children and whatever else there is to +be done. Their dwellings consist of hickory saplings, +placed upright in the ground and bent arch-wise; the tops +are covered with barks of trees, which they cut for this +purpose in great quantities. Some even have within them +rough carvings of faces and images, but these are generally +in the houses of the chiefs. In the fishing and hunting +seasons, they lie under the open sky or little better. +They do not live long in one place, but move about several +times in a year, at such times and to such places as it +appears best and easiest for them to obtain subsistence. + +They are divided into different tribes and languages, +each tribe living generally by itself and having one of +its number as a chief, though he has not much power or +distinction except in their dances or in time of war. +Among some there is not the least knowledge of God, and +among others very little, though they relate many strange +fables concerning Him. + +They are in general much afraid of the Devil, who torments +them greatly; and some give themselves up to him, and +hold the strangest notions about him. But their devils, +they say, will have nothing to do with the Dutch. No +haunting of spirits and the like are heard of among them. +They make offerings to the Devil sometimes, but with few +solemnities. They believe in the immortality of the soul. +They have some knowledge of the sun, moon and stars, of +which they are able to name many, and they judge tolerably +well about the weather. There is hardly any law or +justice among them, except sometimes in war matters, and +then very little. The nearest of blood is the avenger. +The youngest are the most courageous, and do for the most +part what they please. Their weapons formerly were the +bow and arrow, which they employ with wonderful skill, and +the cudgel, but they now, that is, those who lives near +the Christians or have many dealings with them, generally +use firelocks and hatchets, which they obtain in trade. +They are exceedingly fond of guns, sparing no expense for +them; and are so skilful in the use of them that they +surpass many Christians. Their food is coarse and simple, +drinking water as their only beverage, and eating the +flesh of all kinds of animals which the country affords, +cooked without being cleansed or dressed. They eat even +badgers, dogs, eagles and such like trash, upon which +Christians place no value. They use all kinds of fish, +which they commonly cook without removing the entrails, +and snakes, frogs and the like. They know how to preserve +fish and meat until winter, and to cook them with corn- +meal. They make their bread of maize, but it is very +plain, and cook it either whole or broken in a pestle +block. The women do this and make of it a pap or porridge, +which some of them call Sapsis,<1> others Enimdare, and +which is their daily food. They mix this also sometimes +with small beans of different colors, which they plant +themselves, but this is held by them as a dainty dish +more than as daily food. + +<1> Probably a misprint for sapaan. For the next word, +the manuscript has Duundare. + +By whom New Netherland was first Possessed and what its +Boundaries are. + +That New Netherland was first found, claimed and possessed +by Netherlanders, has already been stated; but inasmuch +as a dispute has arisen, not only with the Swedes (which +is of little moment) but especially with the English, +who have already entered upon and seized a great part +thereof, it is necessary to speak of each claim in +particular and somewhat at large. But because this +matter has been treated upon by various ingenious minds +in its length and breadth, and as those claims are so +absurd as to require only a few reasons in answer to +them, we will be as brief as in any wise practicable. + +After Their High Mightinesses, the Lords States General, +were pleased, in the year of our Lord 1622,<1> to include +this province in their grant to the Honorable West India +Company, their Honors deemed it necessary to take into +possession so naturally beautiful and noble a province, +which was immediately done, as opportunity offered, the +same as in all similar beginnings. Since the year of our +Lord 1623, four forts have been built there by order of +the Lords Directors,<2> one on the south point of the +Manhatans Island, where the East and North Rivers unite, +called New Amsterdam, where the staple-right<3> of New +Netherland was designed to be; another upon the same +River, six-and-thirty Dutch miles [leagues] higher up, +and three leagues below the great Kochoos<4> fall of the +Mohawk River, on the west side of the river, in the colony +of Renselaerswyck, and is called Orange; but about this +river there a been as yet no dispute with any foreigners. +Upon the South River lies Fort Nassau and upon the Fresh +River, the Good Hope. In these four forts there have +been always from the beginning to the present time some +garrisons, although they are all now in a very bad +condition, not only in themselves but also as regards +garrisons. + +<1> 1621. +<2> Heeren Majores, the managers or directors of the Company. +<3> Staple-right is a privilege granted to the inhabitants +of a place, whereby the masters of vessels or merchants +trading along their coasts are compelled to discharge their +cargoes there for sale, or else pay duties. +<4> Cohoes. + +These forts, both to the south and north, are so situated +as not only to close and control the said rivers, but also +to command the plantations between them, as well as those +round about them, and on the other side of the river as +far as the ownership by occupation extends. These the +Honorable Company declared they owned and would maintain +against all foreign or domestic powers who should attempt +to seize them against their consent. Yet, especially on +the northeast side of New Netherland this has been not at +all regarded or observed by the English living to the +eastward; for notwithstanding possession was already fully +taken by the building and occupation of Fort Good Hope, +and there was no neglect from time to time in warning them, +in making known our rights, and in protesting against their +usurpation and violence, they have disregarded all these +things and have seized and possessed, and still hold, the +largest and best part of New Netherland, that is, on the +east side of the North River, from Cape Cod, (by our people +in 1609 called New Holland, and taken possession of [if we +are correctly informed] by the setting up of the arms of +their High Mightinesses,)<1> to within six leagues of the +North River, where the English have now a village called +Stamford, from whence one could travel now in a summer's +day to the North River and back again, if one knows the +Indian path. The English of New Haven also have a trading +house which lies east or southeast of Magdalen Island, and +not more than six leagues from the North River, in which +this island lies, on the east bank twenty-three and a half +leagues above Fort Amsterdam.<1> This trading post was +established for no other purpose than to divert the trade +of the North River or to destroy it entirely, for the +river is now quite free. They have also endeavored several +times, during eight or nine years past, to buy of the Indians +a large quantity of land, (which would have served more +than any other thing to draw off the trade), as we have +understood from the Indians; for the post is situated not +more than three or four leagues from the eastern bounds of +the colony of Renselaerswyck. + +<1> See De Laet, p. 37, supra. The words in square brackets +appear in the manuscript, but not in the printed pamphlet. +<2> Magdalen Island is in the Hudson near Annandale. It +appears that the nearest post to the lower Hudson possessed +hitherto by the New Englanders was that which the New Haven +people established in 1646 on the Housatonic near the +present Derby, Connecticut; and that their nearest post to +the upper Hudson was that which Governor Hopkins, of +Connecticut, set up in 1641 at Woronoco, now Westfield, +Massachusetts. + +This and similar difficulties these people now wish to lay +to our charge, all under the pretence of a very clear +conscience, notwithstanding King James, of most glorious +memory, chartered the Virginia Companies upon condition +that they should remain an hundred miles from each other, +according to our reckoning.<1> They are willing to avail +themselves of this grant, but by no means to comply with +the terms stipulated in it. + +<1> The hundred miles of the Virginia patent of 1606 were +English miles. + +All the islands, bays, havens, rivers, kills and places, +even to a great distance on the other side of New Holland +or Cape Cod, have Dutch names, which our Dutch ship-masters +and traders gave to them.<1> These were the first to +discover and to trade to them, even before they had names, +as the English themselves well know; but as long as they +can manage it and matters go as they please, they are +willing not to know it. And those of them who are at the +Fresh River have desired to enter into an agreement and to +make a yearly acknowledgement or an absolute purchase, +which indeed is proof positive that our right was well +known to them, and that they themselves had nothing against +it in conscience, although they now, from time to time, +have invented and pretended many things in order to screen +themselves, or thereby to cause at least delay. + +<1> An exaggeration, yet the number of such names is +considerable, as may be seen by consulting the appendix to +Asher's _Bibliography of New Netherland_. + +Moreover the people of Rhode Island, when they were at +variance with those of the Bay,<1> sought refuge among the +Dutch, and sojourn among them. For all these things, and +What we shall relate in the following pages, there are +Proofs and documents enough, either with the secretary of +the Company or with the directors. + +<1> Massachusetts Bay. The most conspicuous instance is +Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. + +In short, is it just this with the English, they are +willing to know the Netherlanders, and to use them as a +protection in time of need, but when that is past, they +no longer regard them, but play the fool with them. This +happens so only because we have neglected to populate the +land; or, to speak more plainly and truly, because we have, +our of regard for our own profit, wished to scrape all the +fat into one or more pots, and thus secure the trade and +neglect population. + +Long Island, which, on account of its convenient bays and +havens, and its good well situated lands, is a crown of +the province, they have also seized at once, except on the +west and two Dutch villages--Breuckelen and Amersvoort,<1> +not of much importance--and some English villages, as +Gravesande, Greenwich and Mespat, (from which<2> the people +were driven off during the war, and which was afterwards +confiscated by Director Kieft; but as the owners appealed +therefrom, it remains undecided.) There are now a very +few people in the place. Also, Vlissengen, which is a +pretty village and tolerably rich in cattle. The fourth +and last village is Heemstede, which is superior to the +rest, for it is very rich in cattle. + +<1> Brooklyn and Flatlands. +<2> I.e., from Mespath or Newtown. Gravesend had been +settled by Lady Deborah Moody, Greenwich in 1639 by Captain +Daniel Patrick and Robert Feake, Mespath by Francis Doughty +in 1642, Flushing and Hempstead by other English in 1645 and +1644. + +As we are now on the subject of Long Island, we will, because +the English claim it, speak of it somewhat particularly. The +ocean on the south, and the East River on the north side of +it, shape this island; and as we have said, it is, on account +of its good situation, of its land, and of its convenient +harbors, and anchoring places, a crown of New Netherland. The +East River separates it from Manathans Island as far as the +Hellegat. It is tolerably wide and convenient; and has been +inhabited by our freemen from the first, according as +opportunities offered. In the year 1640 a Scotchman, with +an English commission, came to Director William Kieft. He +laid claim to the island, but his pretension was not much +regarded; for which reason he departed without accomplishing +anything, having influenced only a few simple people. +Director Kieft also afterwards sent and broke up the English +who wished to begin a settlement at Oyster Bay, and thus it +remained for a long time.<1> + +<1> James Farrett, as agent for Lord Stirling, made grants +at Oyster Bay to a company of men from Lynn, who began a +settlement there. Stirling had received a grant of Long +Island from the Council of New England in April, 1635. + +In the year 1647, a Scotchman came here, who called himself +Captain Forester,<1> and claimed this island for the Dowager +of Sterling, whose governor he gave himself out to be. He +had a commission dated in the eighteenth year of King James's +reign, but it was not signed by His Majesty or any body else. +Appended to it was an old seal which we could not decipher. +His commission embraced the whole of Long Island, together +with five leagues round about it, the main land as well as +the islands. He had also full authority from Mary, dowager +of Sterling, but this was all. Nevertheless the man was +very consequential, and said on his first arrival that he +came here to see Governor Stuyvesant's commission, and if +that was better than his, he was willing to give way; if +not, Governor Stuyvesant must yield to him. To make the +matter short, the Director took copies of the papers and +sent the man across<2> in the Falconer; but as this vessel +put into England, the man did not reach Holland, having +escaped there, and never troubling the captain afterwards. +The English have since boasted of this very loudly, and +have also given out that he had again arrived at Bastock,<3> +but we have not heard of him. It is to be apprehended that +if he came now, some new act would be committed, for which +reason it would be well to hasten the redress of New Netherland. + +<1> Andrew Forester, of Dundee. +<2> Across the ocean. +<3> Boston. + +Of the Fresh River. + +After Fort Good Hope, begun in the year 1623,<1> on the Fresh +River, was finished, some time had elapsed when an English +bark arrived there. Jacob van Curler, factor of the Company, +by order of Director Wouter van Twiller, protested against +it, but notwithstanding his protest they did, a year or two +afterwards, come there with some families. A protest was +also made against them; but it was very manifest that these +people had little respect for it, for notwithstanding frequent +protests, they have finally seized and possessed the whole of +the Fresh River, and have proceeded so far in their shameless +course as, in the year 1640, to seize the Company's farms at +the fort, paying no regard to the protests which we made. +They have gone even still further, and have belabored the +Company's people with sticks and heavy clubs; and have forcibly +thrown into the river their ploughs and other instruments, +while they were on the land for the purpose of working, and +have put their horses to the pound. The same things happened +very frequently afterwards. They also took hogs and cows +belonging to the fort, and several times sold some of them +for the purpose, as they said, of repairing the damage. +Against all these acts, and each one in particular, protests +were repeatedly made, but they were met with ridicule. +Several sharp letters about this were written in Latin to +their governors; of which letters and protests, minutes or +copies remain with the Company's officers, from which a much +fuller account of these transactions could be made. But all +opposition was in vain, for having had a smack of the goodness +and convenience of this river, and discovered the difference +between the land there and that more easterly, they would +not go back; nor will they put themselves under the protection +of Their High Mightinesses, unless they be sharply summoned +thereto, as it is desirable they should be at the first +opportunity. + +<1> A misprint for 1633. The narrative below relates to the +English settlers at Hartford, founded in 1635. See De Vries, +pp. 203, 204, supra. + +Of the Right of the Netherlanders to the Fresh River. + +To speak from the beginning, our people had carefully +explored and discovered the most northerly parts of New +Netherland and some distance on the other side of Cape Cod, +as we find it described, before the English were known here, +and had set up our arms upon Cape Cod as an act of possession. +In the year 1614 our traders<1> had not only traded at the +Fresh River, but had also ascended it before any English +had ever dreamed of going there, which they did first in the +year 1636, after our fort, the Good Hope, had been a long +time in esse and almost all the lands on both sides the river +had been purchased by our people from the Indians, which +purchase took place principally in the year 1632. Kievets- +hoeck<2> was also purchased at the same time by one Hans den +Sluys,<3> an officer of the company. On this cape the States' +arms had been affixed to a tree in token of possession; but +the English who now possess the Fresh River have torn them +down and carved a ridiculous face in their place. Whether +this was done by authority or not, cannot be positively +asserted; it is however supposed that it was. It has been +so charged upon them in several letters, and no denial has +been made. Besides they have, contra jus gentium, per fas +et nefas,<4> invaded the whole river, for the reason, as +they say, that the land was lying idle and waste, which was +no business of theirs and not true; for there was already +built upon the river a fort which continued to be possessed +by a garrison. There was also a large farm<5> near the +fort, belonging to the Dutch or the Company. Most of the +land was bought and appropriated and the arms of their High +Mightinesses were set up at Kievets Hoeck, which is situated +at the mouth of the river, so that everything was done that +could be done except that the country was not all actually +occupied. This the English demanded in addition, just as +if it were their right, since they were in greater numbers, +to establish laws for our nation in its own purchased lands +and limits, and direct how and in what manner it should +introduce people into the country, and if it did not turn +our exactly according to their desire and pleasure, that +they have the right to invade and appropriate these waters, +lands and jurisdiction to themselves. + +<1> Adriaen Block. +<2> Saybrook Point. Kievit, or kiewit, is the bird pewit. +<3> Hans Eencluys in the manuscript, according to _N.Y. Col. +Doc._, I. 287. +<4> "Contrary to the law of nations, regardless of right +or wrong." +<5> Brouwerye, brewery, in the printed pamphlet, but +bouwery in the manuscript. + +Of the Roden-Berch,<1> by the English called New Haven, and +other Places of less Importance. + +The number of villages established by the English, from New +Holland or Cape Cod to Stamford, within the limits of the +Netherlanders, is about thirty, and they may contain five +thousand men capable of bearing arms. Their cattle, cows +and horses are estimated at thirty thousand; their goats +and hogs cannot be stated; neither of them can be fully known +because there are several places which cannot well pass for +villages, but which nevertheless are beginnings of villages. +Among all these, Roden-Berch, or New Haven, is the first. +It has a governor, contains about three hundred and forty +families, and is counted as a province or one of the members +of New England, of which there are four in all.<2> + +<1> Red Hill. +<2> I.e., of the United Colonies of New England, the +confederation formed in 1643. + +This place was begun eleven years ago, in the year 1638, and +since then the people have broken off and formed Milford, +Stratford, Stamford and the trading house before spoken of, +etc. + +Director Kieft has caused several protests to be drawn up, +in Latin and in other languages, commanding them by virtue +of his commissions from the Lords States General, His +Highness the Prince of Orange and the Most Noble Directors +of the Chartered West India Company, to desist from their +proceedings and usurpations, and warning them, in case they +did not, that we would, as soon as a fit opportunity should +present, exact of them satisfaction therefor. But it was +knocking at a deaf man's door, as they did not regard these +protests or even take any notice of them; on the contrary +they have sought many subterfuges, circumstances, false +pretences and sophistical arguments to give color to their +doings, to throw a cloud upon our lawful title and valid +rights, and to cheat us out of them. General Stuyvesant +also has had many questions with them, growing out of this +matter, but it remains as it was. The utmost that they +have ever been willing to come to, is to declare that the +dispute could not be settled in this country, and that they +desired and were satisfied that Their High Mightinesses +should arrange it with their sovereign. It is highly +necessary that this should be done, inasmuch as the English +have already seized, and are in possession of, almost half +of New Netherland, a matter which may have weighty +consequences in the future. It is therefore heartily to +be desired that Their High Mightinesses will be pleased to +take this subject into serious consideration before it +shall go further, and the breach become irreparable. + +We must now pass to the South River, called by the English +Delaware Bay, first speaking of the boundaries; but in +passing we cannot omit to say that there has been here, +both in the time of Director Kieft and in that of General +Stuyvesant, a certain Englishman, who called himself Sir +Edward Ploeyden, with the title of Earl Palatine of New +Albion, who claimed that the land on the west side of the +North River to Virginia was his, by gift of King James of +England,<1> but he said he did not wish to have any strife +with the Dutch, though he was very much piqued at the Swedish +governor, John Prins, at the South River, on account of some +affront given him, too long to relate. He said also that +when an opportunity should offer he would go there and +take possession of the river. In short, according to the +claims of the English, it belongs to them, and there is +nothing left for the subjects of Their High Mightinesses +--one must have this far, and another that far, but they +all agree never to fall short. + +<1> Plowden claimed under a patent from the viceroy of Ireland +under Charles I., June, 1634. The history of his shadowy +principality of New Albion is best accounted by Professor +Gregory B. Keen in Winsor's _Narrative and Critical History +of America_, III. 457-468. The best account of the Swedish +colony in the South River is by the same writer, ibid., IV. +443-500. + +Of the South River and the Boundaries there. + +As we have now come to speak of the South River and the most +southerly portion of New Netherland, we will, although this +is well performed by others, relate everything from the +beginning, and yet as briefly as is practicable. The +boundaries, as we find them, extend as far as Cape Henlopen, +many miles south of Cape Cornelius, to the latitude of +thirty-eight degrees. The coast stretches, one course with +another, west-southwest and west, and although this Cape +Henlopen is not much esteemed, it is nevertheless proper +that it should be brought to our attention, as very important, +not only in regard to the position of the country, but also +as relates to the trade with the Indians at the South River, +which the English and Swedes are striving after very hard, +as we will show. If the boundaries of this country were +settled, these people would conveniently and without further +question be ousted, and both the enjoyment of the productions +of the land and the trade be retained for the subjects of +Their High Mightinesses. + +Of the South Bay and South River. + +The South Bay and South River, by many called the second +great river of New Netherland, is situated at the latitude +of 38 degrees 53 minutes. It has two headlands or capes-- +the more northerly bearing the name of Cape May, the more +southerly that of Cape Cornelius. The bay was called New +Port-May, but at the present time is known as Godyn's Bay. +These names were given to the places about the time of +their first discovery, before any others were given them. +The discovery, moreover, took place at the same time with +that of the North River, and by the same ship and persons, +who entered the South Bay before they came to the North +Bay, as all can read at length in the _Nieuwe Werelt_ of +Johannes de Laet. + +At the same time that the forts were laid out on the +North and Fresh rivers, since the year 1623, Fort Nassau +was erected upon this river, which, in common parlance, +is called the South River. It was the first of the four, +and was built with the same object and design as all the +others, as hereinbefore related. It lies on the east bank,<1> +but it would have done as well on the west bank, fifteen +leagues up the river. The bay runs for the most part +north and south; is called New Port-May or Godyn's Bay; +and is nine leagues long before you come to the river, and +six leagues wide, so that from one shore you cannot see +the other. On account of certain bars it is somewhat +dangerous for inexperienced navigators, but not so for +those who are acquainted with the channels. This bay and +river are compared by its admirers with the river Amazon, +that is, by such of them as have seen both; it is by everyone +considered one of the most beautiful, and the best and +pleasantest rivers in the world of itself and as regards its +surroundings. Fourteen streams empty into this river, the +least of them navigable for two or three leagues; and on +both sides there are tolerably level lands of great extent. +Two leagues from Cape Cornelius, where you enter on the +west side, lies a certain creek, which might be taken for an +ordinary river or stream, being navigable far up, and +affording a beautiful roadstead for ships of all burdens. +There is no other like it in the whole bay for safety and +convenience. The main channel for navigation runs close by +it; this place we call the Hoere-kil. From whence this +name is derived we do not know;<2> it is certain that this +place was taken and colonized by Netherlanders, years before +any English or Swedes came there. The States' arms were +also set up at this place in copper, but as they were thrown +down by some mischievous savages, the commissary there very +firmly insisted upon, and demanded, the head of the offender. +The Indians not knowing otherwise brought a head, saying it +was his; and the affair was supposed to be all settled, but +some time afterwards, when our people were working +unsuspectingly in their fields, the Indians came in the +guise of friendship, and distributing themselves among the +Dutch in proportionate numbers, surprised and murdered them. +By this means the colony was again reduced to nothing; but +it was nevertheless sealed with blood and dearly enough +bought. + +<1> Fort Nassau stood at the mouth of Timber Creek, opposite +the present site of Philadelphia. +<2> Harlot's creek, from the behavior of the Indian women. +The story below is that of the short-lived colony of +Swanendael, 1631-1632. + +There is another kill on the east side called the Varckens +Kil,<1> three leagues up from the mouth of the river. Here +some English had settled, but Director Kieft protested +against their proceedings, and drove them away, assisted +somewhat by the Swedes, who agreed with him to keep out the +English. The Swedish governor, considering an opportunity +then offered to him, caused a fort to be built at this place, +called Elsenborch,<2> and manifests there great boldness +towards every one, even as respects the Company's boats or +all which go up the South River. They must strike the flag +before this fort, none excepted; and two men are sent on +board to ascertain from whence the yachts or ships come. +It is not much better than exercising the right of search. +It will, to all appearance, come to this in the end. What +authority these people can have to do this, we know not; +nor can we comprehend how officers of other potentates, +(at least as they say they are, yet what commission they +have we do not yet know,) can make themselves master of, +and assume authority over, lands and goods belonging to +and possessed by other people, and sealed with their +blood, even without considering the Charter. The Minquas- +kil<3> is the first upon the river, and there the Swedes +have built Fort Christina. This place is well situated, +as large ships can lie close against the shore to load +and unload. There is, among others, a place on the river, +(called Schuylkil, a convenient and navigable stream,) +heretofore possessed by the Netherlanders, but how is it +now? The Swedes have it almost entirely under their +dominion. Then there are in the river several beautiful +large islands, and other places which were formerly possessed +by the Netherlanders, and which still bear the names given +by them. Various other facts also constitute sufficient +and abundant proof that the river belongs to the +Netherlanders, and not to the Swedes. Their very beginnings +are convincing, for eleven years ago, in the year 1638, one +Minne-wits,<4> who before that time had had the direction +at the Manathans, on behalf of the West India Company, +arrived in the river with the ship Kalmer-Sleutel [Key of +Calmar], and the yacht Vogel-Gryp [Griffin], giving out to +the Netherlanders who lived up the river, under the Company +and Heer vander Nederhorst, that he was on a voyage to the +West Indies, and that passing by there, he wished to arrange +some matters and to furnish the ship with water and wood, +and would then leave. Some time afterwards, some of our +people going again, found the Swedes still there but then +they had already made a small garden for raising salads, +pot-herbs and the like. They wondered at this, and inquired +of the Swedes what is meant, and whether they intended to +stay there. They excused themselves by various reasons and +subterfuges, but some notwithstanding supposed that such +was their design. The third time it became apparent, from +their building a fort, what their intentions were. Director +Kieft, when he obtained information of the matter, protested +against it, but in vain. It was plainly and clearly to be +seen, in the progress of the affair, that they did not +intend to leave. It is matter of evidence that above +Maghchachansie,<5> near the Sankikans, the arms of Their +High Mightinesses were erected by order of Director Kieft, +as a symbol that the river, with all the country and the +lands around there, were held and owned under Their High +Mightinesses. But what fruits has it produced as yet, other +than continued derision and derogation of dignity? For the +Swedes, with intolerable insolence, have thrown down the +arms, and since they are suffered to remain so, this is +looked upon by them, and particularly by their governor, +as a Roman achievement. True, we have made several protests, +as well against this as other transactions, but they have +had as much effect as the flying of a crow overhead; and it +is believed that if this governor had a supply of men, there +would be more madness in him than there has been in the +English, or any of their governors. This much only in +regard to the Swedes, since the Company's officers will be +able to make a more pertinent explanation, as all the +documents and papers remain with them; to which, and to +their journals we ourselves refer. + +<1> Hog Creek, now called Salem Creek, where New Haven men +settled in 1641 at or near the present site of Salem, New +Jersey. +<2> Fort Nya Elfsborg, 1643-1654, a little further down +the Delaware River. +<3> Christina Creek; the fort was in what is now Wilmington, +Delaware. +<4> Peter Minuit. +<5> Apparently within the present bounds of Philadelphia, +where Andries Hudde, acting under orders from Kieft, +purchased land and set up the arms of the States General +in September, 1646. The Sankikans occupied northern New +Jersey, with an important village at or near Trenton. + +The English have sought at different times and places to +incorporate this river which they say is annexed to their +territory, but this has as yet been prevented by different +protests. We have also expelled them by force, well knowing +that if they once settled there, we should lose the river +or hold it with much difficulty, as they would swarm there +in great numbers. There are rumors daily, and it is +reported to us that the English will soon repair there with +many families. It is certain that if they do come and +nestle down there, they will soon possess it so completely, +that neither Hollanders nor Swedes, in a short time, will +have much to say; at least, we run a chance of losing the +whole, or the greatest part of the river, if very shortly +remarkable precaution be not used. And this would be the +result of populating the country; but the Directors of the +Company to this day have had no regard to this worth the +while, though the subject has been sufficiently brought +before them in several documents. They have rather opposed +and hindered this; for it has been with this matter as with +the rest, that avarice has blinded wisdom. The report now +is that the English intend to build a village and trading +house there; and indeed if they begin, there is nobody in +this country who, on the Company's behalf, can or apparently +will, make much effort to prevent them. Not longer ago than +last year, several free persons,<1> some of whom were of our +own number and who had or could have good masters in +Fatherland, wished to establish a trading house and some +farms and plantations, upon condition that certain privileges +and exemptions should be extended to them; but this was +refused by the General, saying, that he could not do it, not +having any order or authority from the noble Lords Directors; +but if they were willing to begin there without privileges, +it could in some way be done. And when we represented to +His Honor that such were offered by our neighbors all around +us, if we would only declare ourselves willing to be called +members of their government, and that this place ran a +thousand dangers from the Swedes and English, His Honor +answered that it was well known to be as we said, (as he +himself did, in fact, well know,) and that reason was also +in our favor, but that the orders which he had from the +Directors were such that he could not answer for it to them. +Now we are ignorant in these matters, but one thing or the +other must be true, either it is the fault of the Director +or of the Managers,<2> or of both of them. However it may +be, one shifts the blame upon the other, and between them +both every thing goes to ruin. Foreigners enjoy the country +and fare very well; they laugh at us too if we say anything; +they enjoy privileges and exemptions, which, if our +Netherlanders had enjoyed as they do, would without doubt, +next to the help of God, without which we are powerless, +have enabled our people to flourish as well or better than +they do; ergo, the Company or their officers have hitherto +been and are still the cause of its not faring better with +the country. On account of their cupidity and bad management +there is not hope, so long as the land is under their +government, that it will go on any better; but it will grow +worse. However, the right time to treat this subject has +not yet come. + +<1> Persons who came to New Netherland, not as colonists +under the patroons, or as employees of the West India Company, +but on their own account. +<2> I.e., of the governor (director-general) of New Netherland +or of the directors of the company. + + +Of the Situation and Goodness of the Waters. + +Having given an account of the situation of the country and +its boundaries, and having consequently spoken of the +location of the rivers, it will not be foreign to our purpose +to add a word as to the goodness and convenience of the +waters; which are salt, brackish, or fresh, according to their +locality. There are in New Netherland four principal rivers; +the most southerly is usually called the South River, and the +bay at its entrance, Godyn's Bay. It is so called not because +it runs to the south, but because it is the most southerly +river in New Netherland. Another which this lies south of or +nearest to, and which is the most noted and the best, as +regards trade and population, is called Rio Montanjes, from +certain mountains, and Mauritius River, but generally, the +North River, because it reaches farthest north. The third is +the East River, so called because it runs east from the +Manathans. This is regarded by many not as a river but as a +Bay, because it is extremely wide in some places and connects +at both ends with the sea. We however consider it a river +and such it is commonly reckoned. The fourth is called the +Fresh River, because the water is for the most part fresh, +more so than the others. Besides these rivers, there are +many bays, havens and inlets, very convenient and useful, +some of which might well be classed among rivers. There are +numerous bodies of water inland, some large, others small, +besides navigable kills like rivers, and many creeks very +advantageous for the purpose of navigating through the +country, as the map of New Netherland will prove. There +are also various waterfalls and rapid streams, fit to erect +mills of all kinds upon for the use of man, and innumerable +small rivulets over the whole country, like veins in the body; +but they are all fresh water, except some on the sea shore, +(which are salt and fresh or brackish), very good both for +wild and domestic animals to drink. The surplus waters +are lost in the rivers or in the sea. Besides all these +there are fountains without number, and springs all through +the country, even at places where water would not be expected; +as on cliffs and rocks whence they issue like spring veins. +Some of them are worthy of being well guarded, not only +Because they are all (except in the thickets) very clear and +pure, but because many have these properties, that in the +winter they smoke from heat, and in summer are so cool that +the hands can hardly be endured in them on account of the +cold, not even in the hottest of the summer; which circumstance +makes them pleasant for the use of man and beast, who can +partake of them without danger; for if any one drink thereof, +it does him no harm although it be very warm weather. Thus +much of the proprietorship, location, goodness and fruitfulness +of these provinces, in which particulars, as far as our little +experience extends, it need yield to no province in Europe. +As to what concerns trade, in which Europe and especially +Netherland is pre-eminent, it not only lies very convenient +and proper for it, but if there were inhabitants, it would be +found to have more commodities of and in itself to export to +other countries than it would have to import from them. +These things considered, it will be little labor for intelligent +men to estimate and compute exactly of what importance this +naturally noble province is to the Netherland nation, what +service it could render it in future, and what a retreat it +would be for all the needy in the Netherlands, as well of +high and middle, as of low degree; for it is much easier for +all men of enterprise to obtain a livelihood here than in +the Netherlands. + +We cannot sufficiently thank the Fountain of all Goodness +for His having led us into such a fruitful and healthful +land, which we, with our numerous sins, still heaped up +here daily, beyond measure, have not deserved. We are also +in the highest degree beholden to the Indians, who not only +have given up to us this good and fruitful country, and for +a trifle yielded us the ownership, but also enrich us with +their good and reciprocal trade, so that there is no one in +New Netherland or who trades to New Netherland without +obligation to them. Great is our disgrace now, and happy +should we have been, had we acknowledged these benefits as +we ought, and had we striven to impart the Eternal Good to +the Indians, as much as was in our power, in return for what +they divided with us. It is to be feared that at the Last +Day they will stand up against us for this injury. Lord of +Hosts! Forgive us for not having conducted therein more +according to our reason; give us also the means and so direct +our hearts that we in future may acquit ourselves a we ought +for the salvation of our own souls and of theirs, and for +the magnifying of thy Holy Name, for the sake of Christ. +Amen. + +To speak with deference, it is proper to look beyond the +trouble which will be incurred in adjusting the boundaries +and the first cost of increasing the population of this +country, and to consider that beginnings are difficult and +that sowing would be irksome if the sower were not cheered +with the hope of reaping. We trust and so assure ourselves +that the very great experience of Their High Mightinesses +will dictate better remedies than we are able to suggest. +But it may be that Their High Mightinesses and some other +friends, before whom this may come, may think strange that +we speak as highly of this place as we do, and as we know +to be true, and yet complain of want and poverty, seek +relief, assistance, redress, lessening of charges, population +and the like, and show that the country is in a poor and +ruinous condition; yea, so much so, as that without special +aid and assistance it will utterly fall off and pass under +foreign rule. It will therefore be necessary to point out +the true reasons and causes why New Netherland is in so +bad a state, which we will do as simply and truly as +possible, according to the facts, as we have seen, experienced, +and heard them; and as this statement will encounter much +opposition and reproach from many persons who may take +offence at it, we humbly pray Their High Mightinesses and +all well wishers, who may chance to read this, that they +do not let the truth yield to any falsehoods, invented and +embellished for the purpose, and that they receive no other +testimony against this relation than that of such impartial +persons as have not had, either directly or indirectly, any +hand therein, profited by the loss of New Netherland, or +otherwise incurred any obligation to it. With this remark +we proceed to the reasons and sole cause of the evil which +we indeed have but too briefly and indistinctly stated in +the beginning of our petition to Their High Mightinesses. + + +Of the Reasons and Causes why and how New Netherland is so +Decayed. + +As we shall speak of the reasons and causes which have +brought New Netherland into the ruinous condition in which +it is now found to be, we deem it necessary to state first +the difficulties. We represent it as we see and find it, +in our daily experience. To describe it in one word, (and +none better presents itself,) it is *bad government,* with +its attendants and consequences, that is, to the best of +our knowledge, the true and only foundation stone of the +decay and ruin of New Netherland. This government from +which so much abuse proceeds, is twofold, that is; in the +Fatherland by the Managers, and in this country. We shall +first briefly point out some orders and mistakes issuing +from the Fatherland, and afterwards proceed to show how +abuses have grown up and obtained strength here. + +The Managers of the Company adopted a wrong course at first, +and as we think had more regard for their own interest than +for the welfare of the country, trusting rather to flattering +than true counsels. This is proven by the unnecessary +expenses incurred from time to time, the heavy accounts of +New Netherland,<1> the registering of colonies--in which +business most of the Managers themselves engaged, and in +reference to which they have regulated the trade--and finally +the not peopling the country. It seems as if from the first, +the Company have sought to stock this land with their own +employees, which was a great mistake, for when their time +was out they returned home, taking nothing with them, except +a little in their purses and a bad name for the country, in +regard to its lack of sustenance and in other respects. In +the meantime there was no profit, but on the contrary heavy +monthly salaries, as the accounts of New Netherland will show. + +<1> In 1644 the Bureau of Accounts of the West India Company +reported that since 1626 the company had expended for New +Netherland 515,000 guilders, say $250,000. At the time of +the report the company was practically bankrupt. + +Had the Honorable West India Company, in the beginning, sought +population instead of running to great expense for unnecessary +things, which under more favorable circumstances might have +been suitable and very proper, the account of New Netherland +would not have been so large as it now is, caused by building +the ship New Netherland at an excessive outlay,<1> by erecting +three expensive mills, by brick-making, by tar-burning, by +ash-burning, by salt-making and the like operations, which +through bad management and calculation have all gone to +nought, or come to little; but which nevertheless have cost +much. Had the same money been used in bringing people and +importing cattle, the country would now have been of great +value. + +<1> A ship of eight hundred tons, built in the province in +1631. + +The land itself is much better and it is more conveniently +situated than that which the English possess, and if there +were not constant seeking of individual gain and private +trade, there would be no danger that misfortunes would press +us as far as they do. + +Had the first Exemptions been truly observed, according to +their intention, and had they not been carried out with +particular views, certainly more friends of New Netherland +would have exerted themselves to take people there and make +settlements. The other conditions which were introduced +have always discouraged individuals and kept them down, so +that those who were acquainted with the business, being +informed, dared not attempt it. It is very true that the +Company have brought over some persons, but they have not +continued to do so, and it therefore has done little good. +It was not begun properly; for it was done as if it was not +intended. + +It is impossible for us to rehearse and to state in detail +wherein and how often the Company have acted injuriously +to this country. They have not approved of our own country- +men settling the land, as is shown in the case of Jacob +Walingen and his people at the Fresh River, and quite +Recently in the cases at the South River; while foreigners +Were permitted to take land there without other opposition +than orders and protests. It could hardly be otherwise, for +the garrisons are not kept complete conformably to the +Exemptions, and thus the cause of New Netherland's bad +condition lurks as well in the Netherlands as here. Yea, +the seeds of war, according to the declaration of Director +Kieft, were first sown by the Fatherland; for he said he had +Express orders to exact the contribution from the Indians; +Which would have been very well if the land had been peopled, +But as it was, it was premature. + +Trade, without which, when it is legitimate, no country is +prosperous, is by their acts so decayed, that it amounts to +nothing. It is more suited for slaves than freemen, in +consequence of the restrictions upon it and the annoyances +which accompany the exercise of the right of inspection. We +approve of inspection, however, so far as relates to contraband. + +This contraband trade has ruined the country, and contraband +goods are now sent to every part of it by orders given by the +Managers to their officers. These orders should be executed +without partiality, which is not always the case. The +Recognition<1> runs high, and of inspection and confiscation +there is no lack; hence legitimate trade is entirely diverted, +except a little, which exists pro forma, as a cloak for +carrying on illicit trading. In the mean time the Christians +are treated almost like Indians, in the purchase of the +necessaries with which they cannot dispense. This causes great +complaint, distress and poverty: as, for example, the merchants +sell those goods which are liable to little depreciation at a +hundred per cent. and more profit, when there is particular +demand or scarcity of them. And the traders who come with +small cargoes, and others engaged in the business, buy them up +from the merchants and sell them again to the common man, who +cannot do without them, oftentimes at a hundred per cent. +advance, or higher and lower according to the demand. Upon +liquors, which are liable to much leakage, they take more, and +those who buy from them retail them in the same manner, as we +have described in regard to dry wares, and generally even more +cunningly, so that the goods are sold through first, second +and sometimes third hands, at one and two hundred per cent. +advance. We are not able to think of all the practices which +are contrived for advancing individual and private gain. Little +attention is given to populating the land. The people, moreover, +have been driven away by harsh and unreasonable proceedings, +for which their Honors gave the orders; for the Managers wrote +to Director Kieft to prosecute when there was no offence, and +to consider a partial offence an entire one, and so forth. It +has also been seen how the letters of the Eight Men were +treated, and what followed thereupon;<2> besides there were +many ruinous orders and instructions which are not known to us. +But leaving this at present, with now and then a word, at a +convenient point, let us proceed to examine how their officers +and Directors have conducted themselves from time to time, +having played with the managers as well as with the people, as +a cat does with a mouse. It would be possible to relate their +management from the beginning, but as most of us were not here +then and therefore not eye-witnesses, and as a long time has +passed whereby it has partly escaped recollection, and as in +our view it was not so bad then as afterwards when the land +was made free and freemen began to increase, we will pass by +the beginning and let Mr. Lubbert van Dincklaghen, Vice Director +of New Netherland, describe the government of Director Wouter +van Twiller of which he is known to have information, and will +only speak of the last two sad and dire confusions (we would +say governments if we could) under Director Kieft, who is now +no more, but the evil of it lives after him; and of that +under Director Stuyvesant which still stands, if indeed that +may be called standing which lies completely under foot. + +<1> Export duty. +<2> Nevertheless, the remonstrance of the Eight Men, October +28, 1644, _N.Y. Coll. Doc._, I. 209, did cause the reform of +the system of provincial government and the recall of Kieft. + +The Directors here, though far from their masters, were close +by their profit. They have always known how to manage their +own matters very properly and with little loss, yet under +pretext of the public business. They have also conducted +themselves just as if they were the sovereigns of the country. +As they desired to have it, so it always had to be; and as +they willed so was it done. "The Managers," they say, "are +masters in Fatherland, but we are masters in this land." As +they understand it it will go, there is no appeal. And it +has not been difficult for them hitherto to maintain this +doctrine in practice; for the people were few and for the +most part very simple and uninformed, and besides, they needed +the Directors every day. And if perchance there were some +intelligent men among them, who could go upon their own feet, +them it was sought to oblige. They could not understand at +first the arts of the Directors which were always subtle and +dark, so that these were frequently successful and occasionally +remained effective for a long time. Director Kieft said +himself, and let it be said also by others, that he was +sovereign in this country, or the same as the Prince in the +Netherlands. This was repeated to him several times here and +he never made any particular objection to it. The refusing +to allow appeals, and other similar acts, prove clearly that +in our opinion no other proof is needed. The present Director +does the same, and in the denial of appeal, he is also at +home. He likes to assert the maxim "the Prince is above the +law," and applies it so boldly to his own person that it +confutes itself. These directors, having then the power in +their hands, could do and have done what they chose according +to their good will and pleasure; and whatever was, was right, +because it was agreeable to them. It is well known that those +who assume power, and use it to command what they will, +frequently command and will more than they ought, and, whether +it appear right or not, there are always some persons who +applaud such conduct, some out of a desire to help on and to +see mischief, others from fear; and so men still complain +with Jan Vergas de clementia ducis, of the clemency of the +duke.<1> But in order that we give nobody cause to suspect +that we blow somewhat too hard, it will be profitable to +illustrate by examples the government of Mr. Director Kieft +at its close, and the administration of Mr. Director Stuyvesant +just prior to the time of our departure. We frankly admit, +however, that we shall not be able to speak fully of all the +tricks, because they were conducted so secretly and with such +duplicity and craft. We will nevertheless expose some of +their proceedings according to our ability, and thus let the +lion be judged of from his paw. + +<1> Juan de Vargas, the chief member of the Duke of Alva's +"Council of Blood," who complained that the duke's methods +were too lenient. + +Casting our eyes upon the government of Director Kieft, the +church first meets us, and we will therefore speak of the +public property ecclesiastical and civil. But as this man +is now dead, and some of his management and doings are freely +represented by one Jochem Pietersz Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn,<1> +we will dispose of this point as briefly as we possibly can. + +<1> Stuyvesant, soon after his arrival, at the instance of +Kieft, condemned Kieft's chief opponents, Kuyter and Melyn, +for lese-majesty, and banished them, forbidding them to appeal. +On reaching Holland, however, after their dramatic escape from +the shipwreck of the Princess, they appealed, and secured a +reversal of their condemnation. + +Before the time that Director Kieft brought the unnecessary +war upon the country, his principal aim and endeavors were +to provide well for himself and to leave a great name after +him, but without any expense to himself or the Company, for +this never did anything remarkable for the country by which +it was improved. Thus he considered the erection of a church +a very necessary public work, the more so as it was in +contemplation to build one at that time at Renselaers-Wyck. +With this view he communicated with the churchwardens--of which +body he himself was one--and they willingly agreed to and +seconded the project. The place where it should stand was +then debated. The Director contended that it should be placed +in the fort, and there it was erected in spite of the others, +and, indeed, as suitably as a fifth wheel of a wagon; for +besides that the fort is small and lies upon a point of land +which must be very valuable in case of an increase of population, +the church ought to be owned by the congregation at whose cost +it was built. It also intercepts and turns off the southeast +wind from the grist-mill which stands close by, for which +reason there is frequently in summer a want of bread from its +inability to grind, though not from this cause alone. The mill +is neglected and, in consequence of having had a leaky roof +most of the time, has become considerably rotten, so that it +cannot now go with more than two arms, and it has been so for +nearly five years. But to return to the church--from which +the grist-mill has somewhat diverted us--the Director then +resolved to build a church, and at the place where it suited +him; but he was in want of money and was at a loss how to +obtain it. It happened about this time that the minister, +Everardus Bogardus, gave his step-daughter in marriage; and +the occasion of the wedding the Director considered a good +opportunity for his purpose. So after the fourth or fifth +round of drinking, he set about the business, and he himself +showing a liberal example let the wedding-guests subscribe +what they were willing to give towards the church. All then +with light heads subscribed largely, competing with one another; +and although some well repented it when they recovered their +senses, they were nevertheless compelled to pay--nothing could +avail to prevent it. The church was then, contrary to every +one's wish, placed in the fort. The honor and ownership of +that work must be judged of from the inscription, which is in +our opinion ambiguous, thus reading: "1642. Willem Kieft, +Director General, has caused the congregation to build this +church."<1> But whatever be intended by the inscription, the +people nevertheless paid for the church. + +<1> The inscription was in existence till 1835. This third +church stood near what is now called the Bowling Green. The +inscription, though susceptible of misconstruction, is not +really ambiguous. Its proper interpretation is: "1642, +Willem Kieft being Director General, the congregation caused +this church to be built." + +We must now speak of the property belonging to the church, +and, to do the truth no violence, we do not know that there +has ever been any, or that the church has any income except +what is given to it. There has never been any exertion made +either by the Company or by the Director to obtain or establish +any. + +The bowl has been going round a long time for the purpose of +erecting a common school and it has been built with words, but +as yet the first stone is not laid. Some materials only are +provided. The money nevertheless, given for the purpose, has +already found its way out and is mostly spent; or may even +fall short, and for this purpose also no fund invested in +real estate has ever been built up. + +The poor fund, though the largest, contains nothing except +the alms collected among the people, and some fines and +donations of the inhabitants. A considerable portion of this +money is in the possession of the Company, who have borrowed +it from time to time, and kept it. They have promised, for +years, to pay interest. But in spite of all endeavor neither +principal nor interest can be obtained from them. + +Flying reports about asylums for orphans, for the sick and +aged,<1> and the like have occasionally been heard, but as +yet we can not see that any attempt, order or direction has +been made in relation to them. From all these facts, then, +it sufficiently appears that scarcely any proper care or +diligence has been used by the Company or its officers for +any ecclesiastical property whatever--at least, nothing as +far as is known--from the beginning to this time; but on the +contrary great industry and exertion have been used to bind +closely to them their minions, or to gain new ones as we +shall hereafter at the proper time relate. And now let us +proceed to the consideration of what public measures of a +civil character had been adopted up to the time of our +departure, in order to make manifest the diligence and care +of the Directors in this particular. + +<1> Seventeenth-century Dutch towns abounded in institutions +of this sort. + +There was not at first, under the government of Director +Kieft, so much opportunity as there has since been, because +the recognition of the peltries was then paid in the +Fatherland, and the freemen gave nothing for excise; but +after that public calamity, the rash war, was brought upon +us, the recognition of the peltries began to be collected in +this country, and a beer-excise was sought to be established, +about which a conference was had with the Eight Men, who were +then chosen from the people. They did not approve of it as +such, but desired to know under what regulations and upon +what footing it would take place, and how long it would +continue. Director Kieft promised that it should not continue +longer than until a ship of the Company should arrive with a +new Director, or until the war should be at an end. Although +it was very much distrusted by all, and therefore was not +consented to, yet he introduced it by force. The brewers who +would not agree to it had their beer given over to the soldiers. +So it was enforced, but it caused great strife and discontent. + +>From this time forward the Director began to divide the people +and to create factions. Those who were on his side could do +nothing amiss, however bad it might be; those who were opposed +to him were always wrong even if they did perfectly right, and +the order to reckon half an offence a whole one was then +strictly enforced. The jealousy of the Director was so great +that he could no bear without suspicion that impartial persons +should visit his partisans. + +After the war was, as the Director himself said, finished-- +though in our opinion it will never be finished until the +country is populated--every one hoped that this impost would +be removed, but Director Kieft put off the removal until the +arrival of a new Director, which was longed for very much. +When finally he did appear,<1> it was like the crowning of +Rehoboam, for, instead of abolishing the beer-excise, his +first business was to impose a wine-excise and other +intolerable burdens, so that some of the commonalty, as they +had no spokesman, were themselves constrained to remonstrate +against it. Instead however of obtaining the relief which +they expected, they received abuse from the Director. +Subsequently a written answer was given them, which the +Director had, as usual, drawn up at such length and with such +fulness that plain and simple people, such as are here, must +be confused, and unable to make anything out of it. Further +attempts have accordingly been made from time to time to +introduce new taxes and burdens. In fine it was so managed +in Director Kieft's time, that a large yearly sum was +received from the recognition and other sources, calculated +to amount annually to 16,000 guilders,<2> besides the +recognition which was paid in the Fatherland and which had +to be contributed by the poor commonalty; for the goods were +sold accordingly, and the prices are now unbearably high. In +Director Stuyvesant's administration the revenue has reached +a much higher sum, and it is estimated that about 30,000 +guilders<3> are now derived yearly from the people by +recognitions, confiscations, excise and other taxes, and yet +it is not enough; the more one has the more one wants. It +would be tolerable to give as much as possible, if it was +used for the public weal. And whereas in all the proclamations +it is promised and declared that the money shall be employed +for laudable and necessary public works, let us now look for +a moment and see what laudable public works there are in this +country, and what fruits all the donations and contributions +have hitherto borne. But not to confuse matters, one must +understand us not to refer to goods and effects that belong +to the Honorable Company as its own, for what belongs to it +particularly was never public. The Company's effects in +this country may, perhaps, with forts, cannon, ammunition, +warehouses, dwelling-houses, workshops, horses, cattle, boats, +and whatever else there may be, safely be said to amount to +from 60,000 to 70,000 guilders,<4> and it is very probable +that the debts against it are considerably more. But passing +these by, let us turn our attention to the public property, +and see where the money from time to time has been used. +According to the proclamations during the administration of +Director Kieft, if we rightly consider, estimate and examine +them all, we cannot learn or discover that anything--we say +anything large or small--worth relating, was done, built or +made, which concerned or belonged to the commonalty, the +church excepted, whereof we have heretofore spoken. Yea, +he went on so badly and negligently that nothing has ever +been designed, understood or done that gave appearance of +design to content the people, even externally, but on the +contrary what came from the commonalty has even been mixed +up with the effects of the Company, and even the Company's +property and means have been everywhere neglected, in order +to make friends, to secure witnesses and to avoid accusers +about the management of the war. The negroes, also, who came +from Tamandare<5> were sold for pork and peas, from the +proceeds of which something wonderful was to be performed, +but they just dripped through the fingers. There are also +various other negroes in this country, some of whom have been +made free for their long service, but their children have +remained slaves, though it is contrary to the laws of every +people that any one born of a free Christian mother should +be a slave and be compelled to remain in servitude. It is +impossible to relate everything that has happened. Whoever +did not give his assent and approval was watched and, when +occasion served, was punished for it. We submit to all +intelligent persons to consider what fruit this has borne, +and what a way this was to obtain good testimony. Men are +by nature covetous, especially those who are needy, and of +this we will hereafter adduce some few proofs, when we come +to speak of Director Kieft's government particularly. But +we shall now proceed to the administration of Director +Stuyvesant, and to see how affairs have been conducted up +to the time of our departure. + +<1> Stuyvesant arrived from Holland by way of the West Indies +in May, 1647. +<2> Equivalent to $6,400. +<3> $12,000. +<4> From $24,000 to $28,000. +<5> A bay on the coast of Brazil, where the Dutch admiral +Lichthart defeated the Portugese in a naval engagement, in +September, 1645. + +Mr. Stuyvesant has almost all the time from his first arrival +up to our leaving been busy building, laying masonry, making, +breaking, repairing and the like, but generally in matters of +the Company and with little profit to it; for upon some things +more was spent than they were worth; and though at the first +he put in order the church which came into his hands very much +out of repair, and shortly afterwards made a wooden wharf, +both acts very serviceable and opportune, yet after this time +we do not know that anything has been done or made that is +entitled to the name of a public work, though there has been +income enough, as is to be seen in the statement of the yearly +revenue. They have all the time been trying for more, like +dropsical people. Thus in a short time very great discontent +has sprung up on all sides, not only among the burghers, who +had little to say, but also among the Company's officers +themselves, so that various protests were made by them on +account of the expense and waste consequent upon unnecessary +councillors, officers, servants and the like who are not known +by the Managers, and also on account of the monies and means +which were given in common, being privately appropriated and +used. But it was all in vain, there was very little or no +amendment; and the greater the endeavors to help, restore and +raise up everything, the worse has it been; for pride has +ruled when justice dictated otherwise, just as if it were +disgraceful to follow advice, and as if everything should come +from one head. The fruits of this conduct can speak and bear +testimony of themselves. It has been so now so long, that +every day serves the more to condemn it. Previously to the +23rd of July 1649, nothing had been done concerning weights +and measures or the like; but at that time they notified the +people that in August then next ensuing the matter would be +regulated. The fiscaal would then attend to it, which was +as much as to say, would give the pigeons to drink. There is +frequently much discontent and discord among the people on +account of weights and measures, and as they are never +inspected, they cannot be right. It is also believed that +some of easy consciences have two sets of them, but we cannot +affirm the fact. As to the corn measure, the Company itself +has always been suspected, but who dare lisp it? The payment +in zeewant, which is the currency here, has never been placed +upon a good footing, although the commonalty requested it, +and showed how it should be regulated, assigning numerous +reasons therefor. But there is always misunderstanding and +discontent, and if anything is said before the Director of +these matters more than pleases him, very wicked and spiteful +words are returned. Those moreover whose office requires +them to speak to him of such things are, if he is in no good +fit, very freely berated as clowns, bear-skinners, and the +like. + +The fort under which we are to shelter ourselves, and from +which as it seems all authority proceeds, lies like a molehill +or a tottering wall, on which there is not one gun-carriage or +one piece of cannon in a suitable frame or on a good platform. +>From the first it has been declared that it should be repaired, +laid in five angles, and put in royal condition. The +commonalty's men have been addressed for money for the purpose, +but they excused themselves on the ground that the people were +poor. Every one, too, was discontented and feared that if the +Director once had his fort to rely upon, he would be more +cruel and severe. Between the two, nothing is done. He will +doubtless know how to lay the blame with much circumstance +upon the commonalty who are innocent, although the Director +wished to have the money from them, and for that purpose +pretended to have an order from Their High Mightinesses. Had +the Director laid out for that purpose the fourth part of the +money which was collected from the commonalty during his time, +it certainly would not have fallen short, as the wine-excise +was expressly laid for that object. But it was sought in a +thousand ways to shear the sheep though the wool was not yet +grown. In regard, then, to public works, there is little +difference between Director Kieft and Director Stuyvesant, +for after the church was built the former was negligent, and +took personal action against those who looked him in the eye. +The latter has had much more opportunity to keep public works +in repair than his predecessor had, for he has had no war on +his hands. He has also been far more diligent and bitter in +looking up causes of prosecution against his innocent +opponents than his predecessor ever was. + + +The Administration of Director Kieft in Particular. + +Sufficient has been said of what Director Kieft did in regard +to the church and its affairs, and in regard to the state, +such as buildings and taxes or revenue. It remains for us +to proceed to the council-house and produce thence some +examples, as we promised. We will, in doing so, endeavor to +be brief. + +The Council then consisted of Director Kieft and Monsieur +la Montagne. The Director had two votes, and Monsieur la +Montagne one; and it was a high crime to appeal from their +judgments. Cornelis vander Hoykens sat with them as fiscaal,<1> +and Cornelis van Tienhoven as secretary,<2> and whenever any +thing extraordinary occurred, the Director allowed some, whom +it pleased him--officers of the company for the most part-- +to be summoned in addition, but that seldom happened. +Nevertheless it gave discontent. The Twelve Men, and afterwards +the Eight,<3> had in court matters neither vote nor advice; +but were chosen in view of the war and some other occurrences, +to serve as cloaks and cats-paws. Otherwise they received no +consideration and were little respected if they opposed at +all the views of the Director, who himself imagined, or +certainly wished to make others believe, that he was sovereign, +and that it was absolutely in his power to do or refuse to do +anything. He little regarded the safety of the people as the +supreme law, as clearly appeared in the war, although when the +spit was turned in the ashes, it was sought by cunning and +numerous certificates and petitions to shift the blame upon +others. But that happened so because the war was carried too +far, and because every one laid the damage and the blood +which was shed to his account. La Montagne said that he had +protested against it, but that it was begun against his will +and to his great regret, and that afterwards, when it was +entered upon, he had helped to excuse it to the best of his +ability. The secretary, Cornelius van Tienhoven, also said +that he had no hand in the matter, and nothing had been done +by him in regard to it except by the express orders of the +Director. But this was not believed, for there are those +who have heard La Montagne say that if the secretary had not +brought false reports the affair would never have happened.<4> +There are others also who know this, and every one believes +it to be so; and indeed it has plausability. Fiscal van der +Hoytgens was not trusted on account of his drinking, wherein +all his science consists. He had also no experience here, +and in the beginning frequently denounced the war as being +against his will. So that the blame rests, and must rest +only upon the Director and Secretary Tienhoven. The +Director was entrusted with the highest authority, and if +any body advised him to the land's ruin, he was not bound +to follow the advice and afterwards endeavor to shift the +burden from his own neck upon the people, who however +excuse themselves although in our judgment they are not all +entirely innocent. The cause of this war we conceive to +have been the exacting of the contribution, (for which the +Director said he had the order of the Managers,)<5> and +his own ungovernable passions, which showed themselves +principally in private. But there are friends whom this +business intimately concerns, and as they have already +undertaken it, we will leave the matter with them and +proceed to cite one or two instances disclosing the +aspiration after sovereignty. Passing by many cases for +the sake of brevity, we have that of one Francis Doughty, +an English minister, and of Arnoldus van Herdenberch, a +free merchant. But as both these cases appear likely to +come before Their High Mightinesses at full length, we +will merely give a summary of them. This minister, Francis +Doughty, during the first troubles in England, in order to +escape them, came to New England.<6> But he found that he +might, in conformity with the Dutch reformation, have +freedom of conscience, which, contrary to his expectation, +he missed in New England, he betook himself to the protection +of the Dutch. An absolute ground-brief<7> with the privileges +allowed to a colony was granted to him by the Director. He +had strengthened his settlement in the course of one year by +the addition of several families, but the war coming on, they +were driven from their lands with the loss of some men and +many cattle, besides almost all their houses and what other +property they had. They afterwards returned and remained a +while, but consuming more than they were able to raise, they +came to the Manathans where all the fugitives sojourned at +that time, and there Master Doughty officiated as a minister. +After the flame of war was out and the peace was concluded-- +but in such a manner that no one much relied upon it--some +of the people again returned to their lands. The Director +would have been glad, in order that all things should be +completely restored, if it had pleased this man likewise to +go back upon his land; but inasmuch as the peace was doubtful, +and he had not wherewith to begin, Master Doughty was in no +haste. He went however, some time afterwards, and dwelt +there half a year, but again left it. As peace was made, +and in hope that some others would make a village there, a +suit was brought against the minister, and carried on so +far that his land was confiscated. Master Doughty, feeling +himself aggrieved, appealed from the sentence. The Director +answered, his sentence could not be appealed from, but must +prevail absolutely; and caused the minister for that remark +to be imprisoned twenty-four hours and then to pay 25 guilders. +We have always considered this an act of tyranny and regarded +It as a token of sovereignty. The matter of Arnoldus van +Herdenberch was very like it in its termination. After +Zeger Theunisz was murdered by the Indians in the Beregat,<8> +and the yacht had returned to the Manathans, Arnoldus van +Hardenbergh was with two others appointed by the Director +and Council curators over the estate, and the yacht was +searched. Some goods were found in it which were not entered, +whereupon the fiscaal went to law with the curators, and +claimed that the goods were confiscable to the Company. The +curators resisted and gave Herdenberch charge of the matter. +After some proceedings the goods were condemned. As he found +himself now aggrieved in behalf of the common owners, he +appealed to such judges as they should choose for the purpose. +The same game was then played over again. It was a high +crime. The fiscaal made great pretensions and a sentence was +passed, whereof the contents read thus: "Having seen the +written complaint of the Fiscaal vander Hoytgens against +Arnoldus van Hardenberch in relation to appealing from our +sentence dated the 28th April last past, as appears by the +signature of the before-named Sr. A. van Hardenberch, from +which sentence no appeal can be had, as is proven to him by +the States General and His Highness of Orange: Therefore the +Director General and Council of New Netherland, regarding the +dangerous consequences tending to injure the supreme authority +of this land's magistracy, condemn the before-named Arnold van +Herdenberch to pay forthwith a fine of 25 guilders, or to be +imprisoned until the penalty be paid; as an example to others." +Now, if one know the lion from his paw, he can see that these +people do not spare the name of Their High Mightinesses, His +Highness of Orange, the honor of the magistrates, nor the words, +"dangerous consequences," "an example to others," and other such +words, to play their own parts therewith. We have therefore +placed this act by the side of that which was committed against +the minister Doughty. Many more similar cases would be found +in the record, if other things were always rightly inserted in +it, which is very doubtful, the contrary sometimes being observed. +It appears then sufficiently that everything has gone on rather +strangely. And with this we will leave the subject and pass on +to the government of Director Stuyvesant, with a single word, +however, touching the sinister proviso incorporated in the +ground-briefs, as the consequences may thence be very well +understood. Absolute grants were made to the people by the +ground-briefs, and when they thought that everything was right, +and that they were masters of their own possessions, the ground- +briefs were demanded from them again upon pretence that there +was something forgotten in them; but that was not it. They +thought they had incommoded themselves in giving them, and +therefore a proviso was added at the end of the ground-brief, +and it was signed anew; which proviso directly conflicts with +the ground-brief, so that in one and the same ground-brief is a +contradiction without chance of agreement, for it reads thus in +the old briefs: "and take in possession the land and the valleys +appertaining of old thereto," and the proviso says, "no valley +to be used before the Company," all which could well enough be +used, and the Company have a competency. In the ground-briefs +is contained also another provision, which is usually inserted +and sticks in the bosom of every one: to wit, that they must +submit themselves to all taxes which the council has made or +shall make.<9> These impositions can be continued in infinitum, +and have already been enforced against several inhabitants. +Others also are discouraged from undertaking anything on such +terms. + +<1> Cornelis van der Huygens was schout-fiscaal (sheriff and +public prosecutor) of New Netherland from 1639 to 1645. He +was drowned in the wreck of the Princess in 1647, along with +Kieft. +<2> Cornelis van Tienhoven was a figure of much importance in +New Netherland history. An Utrecht man, he came out as book- +Keeper in 1633, and served in that capacity under Van Twiller. +In 1638, at the beginning of Kieft's administration, he was +made provincial secretary, and continued in that office under +Stuyvesant, supporting with much shrewdness and industry the +measures of the administration. His endeavors to counteract +this _Representation_ of the commonalty of New Netherland are +described in the introduction, and are exhibited in the piece +which follows. +<3> The Twelve Men were representatives chosen at the request +of Kieft, to advise respecting war against the Weckquasgeeks, +by an assembly of heads of families convened in August, 1641. +They counselled delay, but finally, in January, 1642, consented +to war. When they proceeded to demand reforms, especially +popular representation in the Council, Kieft dissolved them. +After the Indian outbreak of August, 1643, the Eight Men were +elected, also at the instance of Kieft, and did their part +in the management of the ensuing warfare; but they also, in +the autumns of 1643 and 1644, protested to the West India +Company and the States General against Kieft's misgovernment, +and demanded his recall. +<4> This is intended to connect Kieft's massacre of the +refugee Tappaans at Pavonia, February 25-26, 1643, with a +previous reconnaissance of their position by Van Tienhoven. +<5> Demand of tribute which Kieft made of the river Indians +in 1639 and 1640. +<6> Reverend Francis Doughty, Adriaen van der Donck's father- +in-law, came to Massachusetts in 1637, but was forced to +depart on account of heresies respecting baptism. He is +reputed one of the first, if not the first, Presbyterian +ministers in America. Further details regarding him, from +an unfriendly pen, may be seen in Van Tienhoven's reply, post. +The conditions on which he and his associates settled at +Mespath (Newtown) may be seen in _N.Y. Col. Doc._, XIII. 8; the +Patent, in O'Callaghan's _History of New Netherland_, I. 425. +<7> Conveyance. +<8> Shrewsbury Inlet. +<9> Mr. Murphy cites the clause, from a ground-brief or patent +issued in 1639. After describing the land conveyed, it is +declared to be "upon the express condition and stipulation that +the said A.B. and his assigns shall acknowledge the Nobel Lords +Managers aforesaid as their masters and patroons under the +sovereignty of the High and Mighty Lord States General, and +shall be obedient to the Director and Council here, as all good +citizens are bound to be, submitting themselves to all such +taxes and imposts as have been or may be, hereafter, imposed +by the Noble Lords." + + +The Administration of Director Stuyvesant in Particular + +We wish much we were already through with this administration, +for it has grieved us, and we know ourselves powerless; +nevertheless we will begin, and as we have already spoken of +the public property, ecclesiastical and civil, we will consider +how it is in regard to the administration of justice, and +giving decisions between man and man. And first, to point as +with a finger at the manners of the Director and Council. As +regards the Director, from his first arrival to this time, his +manner in court has been to treat with violence, dispute with +or harass one of the two parties, not as becomes a judge, but +as a zealous advocate, which has given great discontent to +every one, and with some it has gone so far and has effected +so much, that many of them dare bring no matter before the +court, if they do not stand well or tolerably so with the +Director. For whoever has him opposed, has as much as the sun +and moon against him. Though he has himself appointed many of +the councillors, and placed hem under obligation to him, and +some pretend that he can overpower the rest by plurality of +votes, he frequently puts his opinion in writing, and that so +fully that it covers several pages, and then he adds verbally, +"Monsieur, this is my advice, if any one has aught to say +against it, let him speak." If then any one rises to make +objection, which is not easily done, though it be well grounded, +His Honor bursts out immediately in fury and makes such gestures, +that it is frightful; yea, he rails out frequently at the +Councillors for this thing and the other, with ugly words which +would better suit the fish-market than the council chamber; and +if this be all endured, His Honor will not rest yet unless he +has his will. To demonstrate this by examples and proof, though +easily done, would nevertheless detain us too long; but we all +say and affirm that this has been his common practice from the +first and still daily continues. And this is the condition and +nature of things in the council on the part of the Director, +who is its head and president. Let us now briefly speak of the +councillors individually. The Vice Director, Lubbert van +Dincklagen,<1> has for a long time on various occasions shown +great dissatisfaction about many different matters, and has +protested against the Director and his appointed councillors, +but only lately, and after some others made resistance. He +was, before this, so influenced by fear, that he durst venture +to take no chances against the Director, but had to let many +things pass by and to submit to them. He declared afterwards +that he had great objections to them, because they were not +just, but he saw no other way to have peace, as the Director +said even in the council, that he would treat him worse than +Wouter van Twiller had ever done, if he were not willing to +conform to his wishes. This man then is overruled. Let us +proceed farther. Monsieur la Montagne had been in the council +in Kieft's time, and was then very much suspected by many. He +had no commission from the Fatherland, was driven by the war +from his farm, is also very much indebted to the Company, and +therefore is compelled to dissemble. But it is sufficiently +known from himself that he is not pleased, and is opposed to +the administration. Brian Newton,<2> lieutenant of the soldiers, +is the next. This man is afraid of the Director, and regards +him as his benefactor. Besides being very simple and inexperienced +in law, he does not understand our Dutch language, so that he +is scarcely capable of refuting the long written opinions, but +must and will say yes. Sometimes the commissary, Adrian Keyser, +is admitted into the council, who came here as secretary. This +man has not forgotten much law, but says that he lets God's +water run over God's field. He cannot and dares not say +anything, for so much can be said against him that it is best +that he should be silent. The captains of the ships, when +they are ashore, have a vote in the Council; as Ielmer Thomassen, +and Paulus Lenaertson,<3> who was made equipment-master upon +his first arrival, and who has always had a seat in the council, +but is still a free man. What knowledge these people, who all +their lives sail on the sea, and are brought up to ship-work, +have of law matters and of farmers' disputes any intelligent +man can imagine. Besides, the Director himself considers them +so guilty that they dare not accuse others, as will appear +from this passage at Curacao, before the Director ever saw New +Netherland. As they were discoursing about the price of +carracks, the Director said to the minister and others, "Domine +Johannes,<4> I thought that I had brought honest ship-masters +with me, but I find that I have brought a set of thieves"; +and this was repeated to these councillors, especially to the +equipment-master, for Captain Ielmer was most of the time at +sea. They have let it pass unnoticed--a proof that they were +guilty. But they have not fared badly; for though Paulus +Lenaertssen has small wages, he has built a better dwelling- +house here than anybody else. How this has happened is +mysterious to us; for though the Director has knowledge of +these matters, he nevertheless keeps quiet when Paulus +Lenaertssen begins to make objections, which he does not +easily do for any one else, which causes suspicion in the +minds of many. There remains to complete this court-bench, +the secretary and the fiscaal, Hendrick van Dyck,<5> who had +previously been an ensign-bearer. Director Stuyvesant has +kept him twenty-nine months out of the meetings of the +council, for the reason among others which His Honor assigned, +that he cannot keep secret but will make public, what is +there resolved. He also frequently declared that he was a +villain, a scoundrel, a thief and the like. All this is +well known to the fiscaal, who dares not against him take the +right course, and in our judgment it is not advisable for +him to do so; for the Director is utterly insufferable in +word and deed. What shall we say of a man whose head is +troubled, and has a screw loose, especially when, as often +happens, he has been drinking. To conclude, there is the +secretary, Cornelius van Tienhoven. Of this man very much +could be said, and more than we are able, but we shall select +here and there a little for the sake of brevity. He is +cautious, subtle, intelligent and sharp-witted--good gifts +when they are well used. He is one of those who have been +longest in the country, and every circumstance is well known +to him, in regard both to the Christians and the Indians. +With the Indians, moreover, he has run about the same as an +Indian, with a little covering and a small patch in front, +from lust after the prostitutes to whom he has always been +mightily inclined, and with whom he has had so much to do +that no punishment or threats of the Director can drive him +from them. He is extremely expert in dissimulation. He +pretends himself that he bites when asleep, and that he shows +externally the most friendship towards those whom he most +hates. He gives every one who has any business with him-- +which scarcely any one can avoid--good answers and promises +of assistance, yet rarely helps anybody but his friends; but +twists continually and shuffles from one side to the other. +In his words and conduct he is shrewd, false, deceitful and +given to lying, promising every one, and when it comes to +perform, at home to no one. The origin of the war was +ascribed principally to him, together with some of his friends. +In consequence of his false reports and lies the Director was +led into it, as is believed and declared both by the honest +Indians and Christians. Now, if the voice of the people, +according to the maxim, be the voice of God, one can with +truth say scarcely anything good of this man or omit anything +bad. The whole country, save the Director and his party, +cries out against him bitterly, as a villain, murderer and +traitor, and that he must leave the country or there will be +no peace with the Indians. Director Stuyvesant was, at first +and afterwards, well admonished of this; but he has nevertheless +kept him in office, and allowed him to do so much, that all +things go according to his wishes, more than if he were +President. Yea, he also says that he is well contented to +have him in his service, but that stone does not yet rest. We +firmly believe that he misleads him in many things, so that he +does many bad things which he otherwise would not do; in a word, +that he is an indirect cause of his ruin and dislike in the +country. But it seems that the Director can or will not see it; +for when it was represented to him by some persons he gave it +no consideration. It has been contrived to disguise and manage +matters so, that in the Fatherland, where the truth can be +freely spoken, nobody would be able to molest him in order to +discover the truth. We do not attempt it. Having established +the powers of the Council, it is easy to understand that the +right people clung by each other, in order to maintain the +imaginary sovereignty and to give a gloss to the whole business. +Nine men were chosen to represent the whole commonalty, and +commissions and instructions were given that whatever these +men should do, should be the act of the whole commonalty.<6> +And so in fact it was, as long as it corresponded with the +wishes and views of the Director. In such cases they +represented the whole commonalty; but when it did not so +correspond, they were then clowns, usurers, rebels and the +like. But to understand this properly it will be best briefly +to state all things chronologically, as they have happened +during his administration, and in what manner those who have +sought the good of the country have been treated with injustice. + +<1> Lubbertus van Dincklagen, doctor of laws, was sent out as +schout-fiscaal of New Netherland in 1634, quarrelled with Van +Twiller, and was sent back by him in 1636. In 1644 he was +Provisionally appointed as Kieft's successor, but Stuyvesant +was finally made Director, and Van Dincklagen went out with +him as vice-director and second member of the Council. He +opposed some of Stuyvesant's arbitrary acts, supplied the three +bearers of this _Representation_ with letters of credence to the +States General, was expelled from the Council by Stuyvesant in +1651, and died in 1657 or 1658. +<2> An Englishman who had served under the company several years +at Curacao. +<3> Ielmer (said to =Ethelmar) Tomassen was skipper of the +Great Gerrit in 1647, when Stuyvesant made him company's +storekeeper and second in military command; in 1649 and 1650, of +the Falcon. Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift was captain in the +West India Company's service from at least 1644. In 1647 +Stuyvesant made him superintendent of naval equipment. In the +first municipal government of New Amsterdam, 1653, he was made +a schepen (magistrate and councillor), later a burgomaster. +<4> Reverend Johannes Backerus, minister for the Company at +Curacao from 1642 to 1647, was transferred to Amsterdam when +Stuyvesant came out, in order to fill the vacancy left by +Reverend Everardus Bogardus, minister at Manhattan from 1633 +to 1647, who, after long quarrelling with Kieft, had gone +home in the same ship with him, the ill-fated Princess. +<5> Ensign Hendrick van Dyck came out in 1640 as commander +of the militia; again with Stuyvesant in 1647 as schout-fiscaal. +In 1652 Stuyvesant removed him from that office. His defence +of his official career, a valuable document, may be seen in +_N.Y. Col. Doc._, I. 491-513. +<6> See the introduction. + +His first arrival--for what passed on the voyage is not for +us to speak of--was like a peacock, with great state and +pomp. The declaration of His Honor, that he wished to stay +here only three years, with other haughty expressions, caused +some to think that he would not be a father. The appellation +of Lord General,<1> and similar titles, were never before +known here. Almost every day he caused proclamations of +various import to be published, which were for the most part +never observed, and have long since been a dead letter, +except the wine excise, as that yielded a profit. The +proceedings of the Eight Men, especially against Jochem Pietersz +Cuyffer and Cornelis Molyn, happened in the beginning of his +administration. The Director showed himself so one-sided in +them, that he gave reason to many to judge of his character, +yet little to his advantage. Every one clearly saw that +Director Kieft had more favor, aid and counsel in his suit +than his adversary, and that the one Director was the advocate +of the other as the language of Director Stuyvesant imported +and signified when he said, "These churls may hereafter +endeavor to knock me down also, but I will manage it so now, +that they will have their bellies full for the future." How +it was managed, the result of the lawsuit can bear witness. +They were compelled to pay fines, and were cruelly banished. +In order that nothing should be wanting, Cornelis Molyn, when +he asked for mercy, till it should be seen how his matters +would turn out in the Fatherland, was threatened in language +like this, as Molyn, who is still living, himself declares, +"If I knew, Molyn, that you would divulge our sentence, or +bring it before Their High Mightinesses, I would cause you +to be hung immediately on the highest tree in New-Netherland." +Now this took place in private, and may be denied--and ought +not to be true, but what does it matter, it is so confirmed +by similar cases that it cannot be doubted. For, some time +after their departure, in the house of the minister, where +the consistory<2> had been sitting and had risen, it happened +that one Arnoldus van Herdenbergh related the proceedings +relative to the estate of Zeger Teunisz, and how he himself +as curator had appealed from the sentence; whereupon the +Director, who had been sitting there with them as an elder, +interrupted him and replied, "It may during my administration +be contemplated to appeal, but if any one should do it, I +will make him a foot shorter, and send the pieces to Holland, +and let him appeal in that way." Oh cruel words! what more +could even a sovereign do? And yet this is all firmly +established; for after Jochem Pieterz Cuyffer and Cornelis +Molyn went to the Fatherland to prosecute their appeal, and +letters came back here from them, and the report was that +their appeal was granted, or would be granted, the Director +declared openly at various times and on many occasions, as +well before inhabitants as strangers, when speaking of +Jochem Pietersz Cuyter and Cornelis Molyn, "Even if they +should come back cleared and bring an order of the States, +no matter what its contents, unless their High Mightinesses +summon me, I should immediately send them back." His Honor +has also always denied that any appeal was or could be taken +in this country, and declared that he was able to show this +conclusively. And as some were not willing to believe it, +especially in matters against the Company or their chief +officers, a great deal which had been sought out in every +direction was cited, and really not much to the purpose. +At the first, while Director Kieft was still here, the +English minister,<3> as he had long continued to service +without proper support and as land was now confiscated, +prayed that he might be permitted to proceed to the Islands,<4> +or to the Netherlands; but an unfavorable answer was always +given him, and he was threatened with this and that; finally +it resulted in permission to leave, provided he gave a promise +under his hand, that he would not in any place in which he +should come, speak or complain of what had befallen him here +in New Netherland under Director Kieft or Stuyvesant. This +the man himself declares. Mr. Dincklagen and Captain Loper,<5> +who then had seats in the council, also say that this is true. +One wonders, if the Directors act rightly according to their +own consciences, what they wished to do with such certificates, +and others like them, which were secretly obtained. The +Honorable Director began also at the first to argue very +stoutly against the contraband trade, as was indeed very +laudable, provided the object was to regulate the matter and +to keep the law enforced; yet this trade, forbidden to others, +he himself wished to carry on; but to this the people were not +willing to consent. His Honor said, and openly asserted, that +he was allowed, on behalf of the Company, to sell powder, lead +and guns to the Indians, but no one else could do so, and that +he wished to carry their resolution into execution. What the +resolution of the Company amounts to, is unknown to us,<6> but +what relates to the act is notorious to every inhabitant; as +the Director has by his servants openly carried on the trade +with the Indians, and has taken guns from free men who had +brought with them one or two for their own use and amusement, +paying for them according to his own pleasure, and selling +them to the Indians. But this way of proceeding could amount +to nothing, and made little progress. Another plan was +necessary, and therefore a merchant, Gerrit Vastrick, received +orders to bring with him one case of guns which is known of, +for the purpose, as it was said, of supplying the Indians +sparingly. They set about with this case of guns so openly, +that there was not a man on the Manathans but knew it; and it +was work enough to quiet the people. Everybody made his own +comment; and, as it was observed that the ship was not inspected +as others had been before, it was presumed that there were many +more guns, besides powder and lead, in it for the Governor; but +as the first did not succeed, silence was therefore observed in +regard to the rest; and it might have passed unnoticed, had not +every one perceived what a great door for abuse and opportunity +the Director so opened to all others, and to the captain and +merchant, who were celebrated for this of old, and who were now +said to have brought with them a great number of guns, which +was the more believed, because they went to the right place, +and on their return were dumb as to what they did. This begat +so much discontent among the common people, and even among +other officers, that it is not to be expressed; and had the +people not been persuaded and held back, something extraordinary +would have happened. It was further declared that the Director +is everything, and does the business of the whole country, +having several shops himself; that he is a brewer and has +breweries, is a part owner of ships, a merchant and a trader, +as well in lawful as contraband articles. But he does not mind; +he exhibits the orders of the Managers that he might do so, and +says moreover that he should receive a supply of powder and lead +by the Falconer for the purpose. In a word, the same person +who interdicts the trade to others upon pain of death, carries +it on both secretly and openly, and desires, contrary to good +rules, that his example be not followed, and if others do +follow it--which indeed too often happens secretly--that they +be taken to the gallows. This we have seen in the case of +Jacob Reyntgen and Jacob van Schermerhoren, against whom the +penalty of death was asked, which the Director was with great +difficulty persuaded to withdraw, and who were then banished +as felons and their goods confiscated.<7> The banishment was, +by the intervention of many good men, afterwards revoked, but +their goods, which amounted to much (as they were Scotch +merchants<8>), remained confiscated. We cannot pass by +relating here what happened to one Joost Theunisz Backer, as +he has complained to us of being greatly maltreated, as he +in fact was. For the man being a reputable burgher, of good +life and moderate means, was put in prison upon the declaration +of an officer of the Company, who, according to the General and +Council, had himself thrice well deserved the gallows, and for +whom a new one even had been made, from which, out of mercy, +he escaped. Charges were sought out on every side, and finally, +when nothing could be established against him having the +semblance of crime, he was released again, after thirteen days +confinement, upon satisfactory bail for his appearance in case +the fiscaal should find anything against him. Nothing has as +yet been done about it. After the year and a day had passed +by, we have, as representatives of the commonalty, and upon +his request, legally solicited, as his sureties were troubling +him, that the suit should be tried, so that he might be punished +according to his deserts if he were guilty, and if not, that +he might be discharged. But there was nothing gained by our +interposition, as we were answered with reproachful language, +and the fiscaal was permitted to rattle out anything that came +in his mouth, and the man was rendered odious beyond all +precedent, and abused before all as a foul monster. Asked he +anything, even if it were all right, he received angry and +abusive language, his request was not complied with, and justice +was denied him. These things produce great dissatisfaction, +and lead some to meditate leaving the country. It happened +better with one Pieter vander Linden, as he was not imprisoned. +There are many others, for the most of them are disturbed and +would speak if they durst. Now the Company itself carries on +the forbidden trade, the people think that they too can do so +without guilt, if they can do so without damage; and this +causes smuggling and frauds to an incredible extent, though +not so great this year as heretofore. The publishing of a +placard that those who were guilty, whether civilly or +criminally, in New England, might have passport and protection +here, has very much embittered the minds of the English, and +has been considered by every one fraught with bad consequences. +Great distrust has also been created among the inhabitants on +account of Heer Stuyvesant being so ready to confiscate. There +scarcely comes a ship in or near here, which, if it do not +belong to friends, is not regarded as a prize by him. Though +little comes of it, great claims are made to come from these +matters, about which we will not dispute; but confiscating has +come to such repute in New Netherland, that nobody anywise +conspicuous considers his property to be really safe. It were +well if the report of this thing were confined to this country; +but it has spread among the neighboring English--north and +south--and in the West Indies and Caribbee Islands. Everywhere +there, the report is so bad, that not a ship dare come hither +from those places; and good credible people who come from +thence, by the way of Boston, and others here trading at Boston, +assure us that more than twenty-five ships would come here from +those islands every year if the owners were not fearful of +confiscation. It is true of these places only and the report +of it flies everywhere, and produces like fear, so that this +vulture is destroying the prosperity of New Netherland, +diverting its trade, and making the people discouraged, for +other places not so well situated as this, have more shipping. +All the permanent inhabitants, the merchant, the burgher and +peasant, the planter, the laboring man, and also the man in +service, suffer great injury in consequence; for if the +shipping were abundant, everything would be sold cheaper, and +necessaries be more easily obtained than they are now, whether +they be such as the people themselves, by God's blessing, get +out of the earth, or those they otherwise procure, and be sold +better and with more profit; and people and freedom would bring +trade. New England is a clear example that this policy succeeds +well, and so especially is Virginia. All the debts and claims +which were left uncollected by Director Kieft--due for the most +part from poor and indigent people who had nothing, and whose +property was destroyed by the war, by which they were compelled +to abandon their houses, lands, cattle and other means--were +now demanded; and when the people declared that they were not +able to pay--that they had lost their property by the war, and +asked My Lord to please have patience, they were repulsed. A +resolution was adopted and actually put into execution, +requiring those who did not satisfy the Company's debts, to +pay interest; but the debts in question were made in and by +the war, and the people are not able to pay either principal +or interest. Again, the just debts which Director Kieft left +behind, due from the Company, whether they consisted of monthly +wages, or were for grain delivered, or were otherwise lawfully +contracted, these the Director will not pay. If we oppose this +as an unusual course, we are rebuked and it has to be so. We +have by petition and proper remonstrance effected, however, so +much, that the collection of the debts is put off for a time. + +<1> Myn Heer Generael is hardly what would be meant in English +by "Lord General"; it is most like Fr. Monsieur le General. +<2> The church session, in the Reformed Church, consisting of +minister, elders and deacons. +<3> Francis Doughty. +<4> The West Indies. +<5> Jacob Loper, a Swedish naval captain in the Dutch service, +who had married the eldest daughter of Cornelis Molyn. +<6> Mr. Murphy quotes an apposite passage from a letter which +the company had written to Stuyvesant on April 7, 1648: "As +they [the Indians] urge it with such earnestness, that they +would rather renew the war with us than be without these +articles, and as a war with them, in our present situation, +would be very unwelcome, we think the best policy is to +furnish them with powder and ball but with a sparing hand." +<7> These sentences were imposed in July, 1648. +<8> Peddlers. + +Besides this, the country of the Company is so taxed, and is +burdened and kept down in such a manner, that the inhabitants +are not able to appear beside their neighbors of Virginia or +New England, or to undertake any enterprise. It seems--and +so far as is known by us all the inhabitants of New Netherland +declare--that the Managers have scarce any care or regard for +New Netherland, except when there is something to receive, for +which reason, however, they receive less. The great extremity +of war in which we have been, clearly demonstrates that the +Managers have not cared whether New Netherland sank or swam; +for when in that emergency aid and assistance were sought from +them--which they indeed were bound by honor and by promises +to grant, unsolicited, pursuant to the Exemptions--they have +never established any good order or regulation concerning it, +although (after all) such a thing had been decreed and commanded +by Their High Mightinesses. Neither have they ever allowed the +true causes and reasons of the war to be investigated, nor have +they attempted to punish those who had rashly begun it. Hence +no little suspicion that it was undertaken by their orders; at +least it is certain that their officers were chosen more from +favor and friendship than merit, which did not make their +matters go on better. But this is the loss and damage for the +most part of the stockholders. Many of the others doubtless +knew well their objects. In a word, they come far short in +affording that protection which they owe the country, for +there is nothing of the kind. They understand how to impose +taxes, for while they promised in the Exemptions not to go +above five per cent., they now take sixteen. It is a common +saying that a half difference is a great difference, but that +is nothing in comparison with this. The evasions and objections +which are used by them, as regards merchants' goods, smuggling +and many other things, and which the times have taught them, +in order to give color to their acts, are of no force or +consideration. They however are not now to be refuted, as it +would take too long; though we stand ready to do so if there +be any necessity for it. These and innumerable other +difficulties, which we have not time to express, exist, tending +to the damage, injury and ruin of the country. If the +inhabitants or we ourselves go to the Director or other +officers of the Company, and speak of the flourishing condition +of our neighbors, and complain of our own desolate and ruinous +state, we get no other answer from them than that they see and +observe it, but cannot remedy it, as they follow the Company's +orders, which they are compelled to do, and that if we have +any thing to say, we must petition their masters, the Managers, +or Their High Mightinesses, which in truth we have judged to +be necessary. It is now more than a year since the commons- +men deemed it expedient, and proposed, to send a deputation +to Their High Mightinesses. The Director commended the project +and not only assented to it but urged it strongly. It was put +well in the mill, so that we had already spoken of a person to +go, but it fell through for these reasons: When it was proposed, +the Director desired that we should consult and act according +to his wishes; which some who perceived the object would not +consent to, and the matter therefore fell asleep. Besides, +the English, who had been depended upon and who were associated +in the affair, withdrew till the necessity of action became +greater, and the Nine Men were changed the next year,<1> when +Herr Stuyvesant again urged the matter strongly, and declared +that he had already written to the Company that such persons +would come. After the election of the Nine Men, and before +the new incumbents were sworn in, it was determined and resolved +verbally, that they would proceed with the deputation, whatever +should be the consequences; but it remained some time before +the oath was renewed, on account of some amplification of the +commission being necessary, which was finally given and recorded +and signed; but we have never been able to obtain an authentic +copy of it, although the Director has frequently promised and +we have frequently applied for it. + +<1> December, 1648. + +As the Company had now been waited upon a long while in vain, +promising amendment from time to time but going on worse, a +determined resolution was taken by the commons-men to send +some person. They made their intention known to the Director, +and requested that they might confer with the commonalty; but +their proposition was not well received, and they obtained in +reply to their written petition a very long apostil, to the +effect, that consultation must be had with the Director, and +his instructions followed, with many other things which did +not agree with out object, and were impracticable, as we think. +For various reasons which we set down in writing, we thought it +was not advisable to consult with him, but we represented to +his Honor that he should proceed; we would not send anything to +the Fatherland without his having a copy of it. If he could +then justify himself, we should be glad he should; but to be +expected to follow his directions in this matter was not, we +thought, founded in reason, but directly antagonistic to the +welfare of the country. We had also never promised or agreed +to do so; and were bound by an oath to seek the prosperity of +the country, as, according to our best knowledge, we are +always inclined to do. + +In the above mentioned apostil it says, if we read rightly, +that we should inquire what approbation the commonalty were +willing to give to this business, and how the expense should +be defrayed; but the Director explained it differently from +what we understood it. Now as his Honor was not willing to +convene the people however urgent our request, or that we +should do it, we went round from house to house and spoke to +the commonalty. The General has, from that time, burned with +rage, and, if we can judge, has never been effectually appeased +since, although we did not know but that we had followed his +order herein. Nevertheless it was perceived that the Nine +Men would not communicate with him or follow his directions +in anything pertaining to the matter. This excited in him a +bitter and unconquerable hatred against them all, but +principally against those whom he supposed to be the chief +authors of it; and although these persons had been good and +dear friends with him always, and he, shortly before, had +regarded them as the most honorable, able, intelligent and +pious men of the country, yet as soon as they did not follow +the General's wishes they were this and that, some of them +rascals, liars, rebels, usurers and spendthrifts, in a word, +hanging was almost too good for them. It had been previously +strongly urged that the deputation should be expedited, but +then [he said] there was still six months time, and that all +that was proper and necessary could be put upon a sheet of +paper. Many reports also were spread among the people, and it +was sought principally by means of the English to prevent the +college of the Nine Men from doing anything; but as these +intrigues were discovered, and it was therefore manifest that +this could not be effected, so in order to make a diversion, +many suits were brought against those who were considered the +ringleaders. They were accused and then prosecuted by the +fiscaal and other suborned officers, who made them out to be +the greatest villains in the country, where shortly before +they had been known as the best people and dearest children. +At this time an opportunity presented itself, which the +Director was as glad to have, at least as he himself said, as +his own life. At the beginning of the year 1649, clearly +perceiving that we would not only have much to do about the +deputation but would hardly be able to accomplish it, we +deemed it necessary to make regular memoranda for the purpose +of furnishing a journal from them at the proper time. This +duty was committed to one Adriaen vander Donck, who by a +resolution adopted at the same time was lodged in a chamber +at the house of one Michael Jansz. The General on a certain +occasion when Vander Donck was out of the chamber, seized this +rough draft with his own hands, put Vander Donck the day after +in jail, called together the great Council, accused him of +having committed crimen laesae majestatis, and took up the +matter so warmly, that there was no help for it but either +the remonstrance must be drawn up in concert with him (and +it was yet to be written,) or else the journal--as Mine Heer +styled the rough draft from which the journal was to be +prepared--was of itself sufficient excuse for action; for +Mine Heer said there were great calumnies in it against Their +High Mightinesses, and when we wished to explain it and asked +for it, to correct the errors, (as the writer did not wish to +insist upon it and said he knew well that there were mistakes +in it, arising from haste and other similar causes, in +consequence of his having had much to do and not having read +over again the most of it,) our request was called a libel +which was worthy of no answer, and the writer of which it +was intended to punish as an example to others. In fine we +could not make it right in any way. He forbade Vander Donck +the council and also our meetings, and gave us formal notice +to that effect, and yet would not release him from his oath. +Then to avoid the proper mode of proof, he issued a proclamation +declaring that no testimony or other act should be valid unless +it were written by the secretary, who is of service to nobody, +but on the contrary causes every one to complain that nothing +can be done. Director Kieft had done the same thing when he +was apprehensive that an attestation would be executed against +him. And so it is their practice generally to do everything +they can think of in order to uphold their conduct. Those +whose offices required them to concern themselves with the +affairs of the country, and did so, did well, if they went +according to the General's will and pleasure; if they did not, +they were prosecuted and thrown into prison, guarded by soldiers +so that they could not speak with any body, angrily abused as +vile monsters, threatened to be taught this and that, and +everything done against them that he could contrive or invent. +We cannot enter into details, but refer to the record kept of +these things, and the documents which the Director himself is +to furnish. From the foregoing relation Their High Mightinesses, +and others interested who may see it, can well imagine what +labor and burdens we have had upon our shoulders from which we +would very willingly have escaped, but for love of the country +and of truth, which, as far as we know, has long lain buried. +The trouble and difficulty which do or will affect us, although +wanting no addition, do not grieve us so much as the sorrowful +condition of New Netherland, now lying at its last gasp; but +we hope and trust that our afflictions and the sufferings of +the inhabitants and people of the country will awaken in Their +High Mightinesses a compassion which will be a cause of rejoicing +to New Netherland. + + +In what Manner New Netherland should be Redressed. + +Although we are well assured and know, in regard to the mode of +redress of the country, we are only children, and Their High +Mightinesses are entirely competent, we nevertheless pray that +they overlook our presumption and pardon us if we make some +suggestions according to our slight understanding thereof, in +addition to what we have considered necessary in our petition +to Their High Mightinesses. + +In our opinion this country will never flourish under the +government of the Honorable Company, but will pass away and +come to an end of itself without benefiting thereby the Honorable +Company, so that it would be better and more profitable for them, +and better for the country, that they should divest themselves +of it and transfer their interests. + +To speak specifically. Provision ought to be made for public +buildings, as well ecclesiastical as civil, which, in beginnings, +can be ill dispensed with. It is doubtful whether divine worship +will not have to cease altogether in consequence of the departure +of the minister, and the inability of the Company. There should +be a public school, provided with at least two good masters, so +that first of all in so wild a country, where there are many +loose people, the youth be well taught and brought up, not only +in reading and writing, but also in the knowledge and fear of +the Lord. As it is now, the school is kept very irregularly, +one and another keeping it according to his pleasure and as long +as he thinks proper. There ought also to be an almshouse and an +orphan asylum, and other similar institutions. The minister who +now goes home,<1> should be able to give a much fuller explanation +thereof. The country must also be provided with godly, honorable +and intelligent rulers who are not too indigent, or indeed are +not too covetous. A covetous chief makes poor subjects. The +manner the country is now governed falls severely upon it, and +is intolerable, for nobody is unmolested or secure in his property +longer than the Director pleases, who is generally strongly +inclined to confiscating; and although one does well, and gives +the Heer what is due to him, one must still study always to +please him if he would have quiet. A large population would be +the consequence of a good government, as we have shown according +to our knowledge in our petition; and although to give free +passage and equip ships, if it be necessary, would be expensive +at first, yet if the result be considered, it would be an +exceedingly wise measure, if by that means farmers and laborers +together with other needy people were brought into the country, +with the little property which they have; as also the Fatherland +has enough of such people to spare. We hope it would then +prosper, especially as good privileges and exemptions, which we +regard as the mother of population, would encourage the +inhabitants to carry on commerce and lawful trade. Every one +would be allured hither by the pleasantness, situation, salubrity +and fruitfulness of the country, if protection were secured +within the already established boundaries. It would all, with +God's assistance, then, according to human judgment, go well, +and New Netherland would in a few years be a worthy place and +be able to do service to the Netherland nation, to repay richly +the cost, and to thank its benefactors. + +<1> Reverend Johannes Backerus. + +High Mighty Lords! We have had the boldness to write this +remonstrance, and to represent matters as we have done from +love of the truth, and because we felt ourselves obliged to +do so by our oath and conscience. It is true that we have not +all of us at one time or together seen, heard and met with +every detail of its entire contents. Nevertheless there is +nothing in it but what is well known by some of us to be true +and certain;--the most is known by all of us to be true. We +hope Their High Mightinesses will pardon our presumption and be +charitable with our plainness of style, composition and method. +In conclusion we commit Their High Mightinesses, their persons, +deliberations and measures and their people, at home and abroad, +together with all the friends of New Netherland, to the merciful +guidance and protection of the Most High, whom we supplicate +for Their High Mightinesses' present and eternal welfare. Amen. + +Done this 28th of July in New Netherland, subscribed, "ADRIAEN +VANDER DONCK, AUGUSTIJN HERMANSZ, ARNOLDUS VAN HARDENBERGH, +JACOB VAN COUWENHOVEN, OLOFF STEVENSZ" (by whose name was +written "Under protest--obliged to sign about the government +of the Heer Kieft"), "MICHIEL JANSZ, THOMAS HAL, ELBERT ELBERTSZ, +GOVERT LOKERMANS, HENDRICK HENDRICKSZ KIP and JAN EVERTSBOUT." +Below was written, "After collation with the original remonstrance, +dated and subscribed as above, with which these are found to +correspond, at the Hague, the 13th October, 1649, by me;" and was +subscribed, + +"D. v. SCHELLUYNEN, Notary Public." + + + + +END PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND" + + + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "VAN TIENHOVEN'S ANSWER" + + + + + +Reference material and sources. + +Cornelius Van Tienhoven, Answer to The Representation of New +Netherland, 1650. In J. Franklin Jameson, ed., +Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664 (Original +Narratives of Early American History). NY: Charles +Scribner's Sons, 1909. + + +INTRODUCTION + +The origin and value of the following document have been +sufficiently described in the introduction to that which +precedes. Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of the province +under Kieft and Stuyvesant, had been sent by the latter to +Holland to counteract the efforts of the three emissaries +whom the commonalty had sent thither to denounce the existing +system of government. Working in close co-operation with the +Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, he played a +skilful game, and succeeded in delaying and in part averting +hostile action on the part of the States General. The piece +which follows is his chief defensive recital of the acts of +the administration, and as such has much value. + +Van Tienhoven had the reputation of a libertine, and conducted +himself as such while in Holland, finally escaping to New +Netherland in 1651 with a girl whom he had deceived, though he +had a wife in the province. Yet Stuyvesant retained him in +his favor, promoted him in 1652 to be schout-fiscaal of New +Netherland, and used him as his chief assistant. After a +disastrous outbreak, however, understood to have been caused +by his advice, the Company ordered Stuyvesant to exclude him +from office; and presently Van Tienhoven and his brother, a +fraudulent receiver-general, absconded from the province. + +The manuscript of Van Tienhoven's _Answer_ was found by +Brodhead in the archives of the Netherlands, and is still +there. Two translations of it, differing but slightly, have +been printed, the first in 1849 by Henry C. Murphy, in the +_Collections of the New York Historical Society_, second series, +II. 329-338, the other in the _Documents relating to the +Colonial History of New York, I. 422-432. The former, revised +by comparison with the original manuscript at the Hague by +Professor William I. Hull, of Swarthmore College, appears in +the following pages. + + + +ANSWER TO THE REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND, BY CORNELIS +VAN TIENHOVEN, 1650 + +A Brief Statement or Answer to some Points embraced in the +Written Deduction of Adrian van der Donk and his Associates, +presented to the High and Mighty Lords States General. +Prepared by Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of the Director +and Council of New Netherland. + + +IN order to present the aforesaid answer succinctly, he, Van +Tienhoven, will allege not only that it ill becomes the +aforesaid Van her Donk and other private persons to assail +and abuse the administration of the Managers in this country, +and that of their Governors there,<1> in such harsh and general +terms, but that they would much better discharge their duty if +they were first to bring to the notice of their lords and +patrons what they had to complain of. But passing by this +point, and leaving the consideration thereof to the discretion +of your High Mightinesses, he observes preliminary and generally, +that it could as easily and with more truth be denied, than by +them it is odiously affirmed. + +<1> In New Netherland. Van Tienhoven prepared this answer in +Holland. + +Coming then to the matter, I will only touch upon those points +as to which either the Managers or the Directors are arraigned. +In regard to point No. 1, I deny, and it never will appear, +that the Company have refused to permit our people to make +settlements in the country, and allow foreigners to take up +the land. + +The policy of the Company to act on the defensive, since they +had not the power to resist their pretended friends, and could +only protect their rights by protest, was better and more prudent +than to come to hostilities. + +Trade has long been free to every one, and as profitable as +ever. Nobody's goods were confiscated, except those who had +violated their contract, or the order by which they were bound; +and if anybody thinks that injustice has been done him by +confiscation, he can speak for himself. At all events it does +not concern these people. + +As for their complaining that the Christians are treated like +the Indians in the sale of goods, this is admitted; but this +was not done by the Company, nor by the Directors, because (God +help them) they have not had anything there to sell for many +years. Most of the remonstrants, being merchants or factors, +are themselves the cause of this, since they are the persons +who, for those articles which cost here one hundred guilders, +charge there, over and above the first cost, including insurance, +duties, laborer's wages, freight, etc., one and two hundred +per cent. or more profit. Here can be seen at once how these +people lay to the charge of the Managers and their officers the +very fault which they themselves commit. They can never show, +even at the time the Company had their shop and magazines there +well supplied, that the goods were sold at more than fifty per +cent. profit, in conformity with the Exemptions. The forestalling +of the goods by one and another, and their trying to get this +profit, cannot be prevented by the Director, the more so as the +trade was thrown open to both those of small and those of large +means. + +It is a pure calumny, that the Company had ordered half a fault +to be reckoned for a whole one. + +And, as it does not concern the inhabitants what instructions +or orders the patroon gives to his chief agent, the charge is +made for the purpose of making trouble. For these people would +like to live without being subject to any one's censure or +discipline, which, however, they stand doubly in need of. + +Again it is said in general terms, but wherein, should be +specified and proven, that the Director exercises and has +usurped sovereign power. + +That the inhabitants have had need of the Directors appears by +the books of accounts, in which it can be seen that the Company +has assisted all the freemen (some few excepted) with clothing, +provisions and other things, and in the erection of houses, and +this at the rate of fifty per cent. advance above the actual +cost in the Fatherland, which is not yet paid. And they would +gladly, by means of complaints, drive the Company from the +land, and pay nothing. + +It is ridiculous to suppose Director Kieft should have said +that he was sovereign, like the Prince in the Fatherland; but +as relates to the denial of appeal to the Fatherland, it arose +from this, that, in the Exemptions, the Island of the Manhatans +was reserved as the capital of New Netherland, and all the +adjacent colonies were to have their appeal to it as the Supreme +Court of that region.<1> + +<1> Art. XX. + +Besides, it is to be remarked, that the patroon of the colony +of Renselaerswyck notified all the inhabitants not to appeal +to the Manhatans, which was contrary to the Exemptions, by +which the colonies are bound to make a yearly report of the +state of the colony, and of the administration of justice, to +the Director and Council on the Manhatans.<1> + +<1> Art. XXVIII. + +The Directors have never had any management of, or meddled +with, church property. And it is not known, nor can it be +proven, that any one of the inhabitants of New Netherland has +contributed or given, either voluntarily or upon solicitation, +anything for the erection of an orphan asylum or an almshouse. +It is true that the church standing in the fort was built in +the time of William Kieft, and 1,800 guilders were subscribed +for the purpose, for which most of the subscribers have been +charged in their accounts, which have not yet been paid. The +Company in the meantime has disbursed the money, so that the +Commonalty (with a few exceptions) has not, but the Company +Has, paid the workmen. If the commonalty desire such works +As the aforesaid, they must contribute towards them as is +Done in this country, and, if there were an orphan asylum and +Almshouse, there should be rents not only to keep up the house, +But also to maintain the orphans and old people. + +If any one could show that by will, or by donation of a living +person, any money, or moveable or immoveable property, has been +bestowed for such or any other public work, the remonstrants +would have done it; but there is in New Netherland no instance +of the kind, and the charge is spoken or written in anger. +When the church which is in the fort was to be built, the +Churchwardens were content it should be put there. These +persons complain because they considered the Company's fort +not worthy of a church. Before the church was built, the +grist-mill could not grind with a southeast wind, because the +wind was shut off by the walls of the fort. + +Although the new school, towards which the commonalty has +contributed something, is not yet built, the Director has no +management of the money, but the churchwardens have, and the +Director is busy in providing materials. In the mean time a +place has been selected for a school, where the school is +kept by Jan Cornelissen. The other schoolmasters keep school +in hired houses, so that the youth, considering the circumstances +of the country, are not in want of schools. It is true there +is no Latin school or academy, but if the commonalty desire it, +they can furnish the means and attempt it. + +As to what concerns the deacons' or poor fund, the deacons +are accountable, and are the persons to be inquired of, as +to where the money is invested, which they have from time to +time put out at interest; and as the Director has never had +the management of it, (as against common usage), the deacons +are responsible for it, and not the director. It is true +Director Kieft being distressed for money, had a box hung in +his house, of which the deacons had one key, and in which all +the small fines and penalties which were incurred on court +day were dropped. With the consent of the deacons he opened +it, and took on interest the money, which amounted to a pretty +sum. + +It is admitted, that the beer excise was imposed by William +Kieft, and the wine excise by Peter Stuyvesant, and that they +continued to be collected up to the time of my leaving there; +but it is to be observed here, that the memorialists have no +reason to complain about it, for the merchant, burgher, farmer +and all others (tapsters only excepted), can lay in as much +beer and wine as they please without paying any excise, being +only bound to give an account of it in order that the quantity +may be ascertained. The tapsters pay three guilders for each +tun of beer and one stiver for each can of wine,<1> which they +get back again from their daily visitors and the travellers +from New England, Virginia and elsewhere. + +<1> The stiver was the twentieth part of a gulden or guilder, +and equivalent to two cents, the guilder being equivalent to +forty cents. + +The commonalty up to that time were burdened with no other +local taxes than the before mentioned excise, unless the +voluntary gift which was employed two years since for the +continuation of the building of the church, be considered +a tax, of which Jacob Couwenhoven,<1> who is one of the +churchwardens, will be able to give an account. + +<1> Couwenhoven, it will be remembered, was one of the +delegates from the commonalty then in Holland. + +In New England there are no taxes or duties imposed upon goods +exported or imported; but every person's wealth is there +appraised by the government, and he must pay for the following, +according to his wealth and the assessment by the magistrates: +for the building and repairing of churches, and the support +of the ministers; for the building of schoolhouses, and the +support of schoolmasters; for all city and village improvements, +and the making and keeping in repair all public roads and +paths, which are there made many miles into the country, so +that they can be used by horses and carriages, and journeys +made from one place to another; for constructing and keeping +up all bridges over the rivers at the crossings; for the +building of inns for travellers, and for the maintenance of +governors, magistrates, marshals and officers of justice, and +of majors, captains and other officers of the militia. + +In every province of New England there is quarterly a general +assembly of all the magistrates of such province;<1> and there +is yearly a general convention of all the provinces, each of +which sends one deputy with his suite, which convention lasts +a long time. All their travelling expenses, board and +compensation are there raised from the people. The poor-rates +are an additional charge. + +<1> A loose statement, only so far correct, that each New +England colony had several sessions of its magistrates each +year, sometimes monthly sessions, while their legislative +assemblies ("general courts") were commonly held more than +once a year. Van Tienhoven's general contention is correct, +that government in New England was far more elaborate and +expensive than in New Netherland; but New England had in 1650 +a population of about 30,000, New Netherland hardly more than +3,000. The annual meeting mentioned in the next sentence is +that of the Commissioners of the United Colonies, in which, +however, each colony was represented by two deputies, not one. + +The accounts will show what was the amount of recognitions +collected annually in Kieft's time; but it will not appear +that it was as large by far as they say the people were +compelled to pay. This is not the Company's fault, nor the +Directors', but of those who charge one, two and three hundred +per cent. profit, which the people are compelled to pay +because there are few tradesmen. + +It will not appear, either now or in the future, that 30,000 +guilders were collected from the commonalty in Stuyvesant's +time; for nothing is received besides the beer and wine +excise, which amounts to about 4,000 guilders a year on the +Manhatans. From the other villages situated around it there +is little or nothing collected, because there are no tapsters, +except one at the Ferry,<1> and one at Flushing. + +<1> The hamlet on the East River opposite Manhattan; the +village of Bruekelen stood a mile east of the river. + +If anything has been confiscated, it did not belong to the +commonalty, but was contraband goods imported from abroad; +and nobody's goods are confiscated without good cause. + +The question is whether the Honorable Company or the Directors +are bound to construct any works for the commonalty out of +the recognition which the trader pays in New Netherland for +goods exported, especially as those duties were allowed to +the Company by Their High Mightinesses for the establishment +of garrisons, and the expenses which they must thereby incur, +and not for the construction of poor-houses, orphan asylums, +or even churches and school-houses, for the commonalty. + +The charge that the property of the Company is neglected in +order to procure assistance from friends, cannot be sustained +by proof. + +The provisions obtained for the negroes from Tamandare were +sent to Curacao, except a portion consumed on the Manhatans, +as the accounts will show; but all these are mattes which do +not concern these persons, especially as they are not +accountable for them. + +As to the freemen's contracts which the Director graciously +granted the negroes who were the Company's slaves, in +consequence of their long service: freedom was given to them +on condition that their children should remain slaves, who +are not treated otherwise than as Christians. At present +there are only three of these children who do any service. +One of them is at the House of Hope,<1> one at the Company's +Bouwery, and one with Martin Crigier, who has brought the +girl up well, as everybody knows. + +<1> Near Hartford, Connecticut. The company's bouwery, or +farm, next mentioned, was the tract extending between the +lines of Fulton and Chambers Streets, Broadway and the North +River. Martin Cregier was captain of the militia company. + +That the Heer Stuyvesant should build up, alter and repair +the Company's property was his duty. For the consequent loss +or profit he will answer to the Company. + +The burghers upon the island of Manhatans and thereabouts +must know that nobody comes or is admitted to New Netherland +(being a conquest) except upon this condition, that he shall +have nothing to say, and shall acknowledge himself under the +sovereignty of Their High Mightinesses the States General and +the Lords Managers, as his lords and patrons, and shall be +obedient to the Director and Council for the time being, as +good subjects are bound to be. + +Who are they who have complained about the haughtiness of +Stuyvesant? I think they are such as seek to live without +law or rule. + +Their complaint that no regulation was made in relation to +sewan is untrue. During the time of Director Kieft good +sewan passed at four for a stiver, and the loose bits were +fixed at six pieces for a stiver.<1> The reason why the +loose sewan was not prohibited, was because there is no coin +in circulation, and the laborers, farmers, and other common +people having no other money, would be great losers; and had +it been done, the remonstrants would, without doubt, have +included it among their grievances. + +<1> Kieft's regulation was adopted April 16, 1641. In +Connecticut and Massachusetts, in 1640 ad 1641, the legal +valuations varied from four beads to the penny (or stiver) +to six beads. + +Nobody can prove that Director Stuyvesant has used foul +language to, or railed at as clowns, any persons or +respectability who have treated him decently. It may be +that some profligate has given the Director, if he used any +bad words to him, cause to do so. + +That the fort is not properly repaired does not concern the +inhabitants. It is not their domain, but the Company's. They +are willing to be protected by good forts and garrisons +belonging to the Company without furnishing any aid or assistance +by labor or money for the purpose; but it appears they are not +willing to see a fort well fortified and properly garrisoned, +from the apprehension that malevolent and seditious persons +will be better punished, which they call cruelty. + +Had the Director not been compelled to provide the garrisons +of New Netherland and Curacao with provisions, clothing and pay, +the fort would, doubtless, have been completed already. + +Against whom has Director Stuyvesant personally made a question +without reason or cause? + +A present of maize or Indian corn they call a contribution, +because a present is never received from the Indians without +its being doubly paid for, as these people, being very covetous, +throw out a herring for a codfish, as everybody who knows the +Indians can bear witness. + +Francis Doughty, father-in-law of Adrian van der Donk, and an +English minister, was allowed a colony at Mestpacht, not for +himself alone as patroon, but for him and his associates, +dwelling in Rhode Island, at Cohanock and other places, from +whom he had a power of attorney, and of whom a Mr. Smith<1> +was one of the principal; for the said minister had scarcely +any means of himself to build even a hovel, let alone to +people a colony at his own expense; but was to be employed +as minister by his associates, who were to establish him on +a farm in the said colony, for which he would discharge +ministerial duties among them, and live upon the profits of +the farm. + +<1> Richard Smith, a Gloucestshire man, settled early in +Plymouth Colony (Taunton). Removing thence on account of +religious differences, he settled in what is now Rhode Island, +where he became a close friend of Roger Williams. Between +1640 and 1643 he made the first permanent settlement in the +Narragansett country, at Cawcamsqussick (Wickford), where he +had for many years his chief residence and where his house +still stands. His extensive trading interests brought him +to Manhattan, where for some years he had a house. + +Coming to the Manhatans to live during the war, he was permitted +to act as minister for the English dwelling about there; and +they were bound to maintain him without either the Director or +the Company being liable to any charge therefor. The English +not giving him wherewith to live on, two collections were made +among the Dutch and English by means of which he lived at the +Manhatans. + +The said colony of Mespacht was never confiscated, as is shown +by the owners, still living there, who were interested in the +colony with Doughty; but as Doughty wished to hinder population, +and to permit no one to build in the colony unless he were +willing to pay him a certain amount of money down for every +morgen of land, and a certain yearly sum in addition in the +nature of ground-rent, and in this way sought to establish a +domain therein, the others interested in the colony (Mr. Smith +especially) having complained, the Director and Council finally +determined that the associates might enter upon their property +--the farm and lands which Doughty possessed being reserved to +him; so that he has suffered no loss or damage thereby. This I +could prove also, were it not that the documents are in New +Netherland and not here. + +There are no clauses inserted in the ground-briefs, contrary +to the Exemptions, but the words nog te beramen (hereafter to +be imposed) can be left out of the ground-briefs, if they be +deemed offensive. + +Stuyvesant has never contested anything in court, but as +president has put proper interrogatories to the parties and +with the court's advice has rendered decisions about which +the malevolent complain; but it must be proven that anyone +has been wronged by Stuyvesant in court. + +As to what relates to the second [Vice Director] Dinclagen, +let him settle his own matters. + +It can be shown that Brian Newton not only understands the +Dutch tongue, but also speaks it, so that their charge, that +Newton does not understand the Dutch language, is untrue. +All the other slanders and calumnies uttered against the +remaining officers should be required to be proven. + +It is true that in New Netherland it was commonly stated in +conversation that there was no appeal from a judgment in New +Netherland pronounced on the island of Manhatans, founded on +the Exemptions by which on the island of Manhatans was +established the supreme court for all the surrounding colonies, +and also that there had never been a case in which an appeal +from New Netherland had been entertained by Their High +Mightinesses, although it had been petitioned for when Hendrick +Jansen Snyder, Laurens Cornelissen and others, many years ago, +were banished from New Netherland.<1> It would be a very +strange thing indeed if the officers of the Company could +banish nobody from the country, while the officers of the +colony of Renselaerswyck, who are merely subordinates of the +Company, can banish absolutely from the colony whomever they +may deem advisable for the good of the colony, and permit no +one to dwell there unless with their approbation and upon +certain conditions, some of which are as follows: in the +first place, no one down to the present time can possess a +foot of land of his own in the colony, but is obliged to take +upon rent all the land which he cultivates. When a house is +erected an annual ground-rent in beavers must be paid; and +all the farmers must do the same, which they call obtaining +the right to trade. Where is there an inhabitant under the +jurisdiction of the Company of whom anything was asked or +exacted for trade or land? All the farms are conveyed in fee, +subject to the clause beraemt ofte nog te beramen, (taxes +imposed or to be imposed.) + +<1> Hendrick Jansen the tailor was throughout Kieft's +administration one of his bitterest and most abusive opponents, +and was several times prosecuted for slander. In 1647 he +sailed on the Princess with Kieft and was lost. Lourens +Cornelissen van der Wel was a sea-captain, and also prosecuted +by Kieft. + +The English minister Francis Doughty has never been in the +service of the company, wherefore it was not indebted to him; +but his English congregation are bound to pay him, as may be +proven in New Netherland. + +The Company has advanced the said minister, from time to time, +goods and necessaries of life amounting to about 1100 guilders, +as the Colony-Book can show, which he has not yet paid, and he +is making complaints now, so that he may avoid paying it. +Whether or not the Director has desired a compromise with +Doughty, I do not know. + +Director Stuyvesant, when he came to New Netherland, endeavored +according to his orders to stop in a proper manner the contraband +trade in guns, powder and lead. The people of the colony of +Renselaerwyck understanding this, sent a letter and petition to +the Director, requesting moderation, especially as they said +if that trade were entirely abolished all the Christians in the +colony would run great danger of being murdered, as may more at +large be seen by the contents of their petition. + +The Director and Council taking the request into consideration, +and looking further into the consequences, resolved that guns +and powder, to a limited extent, be sparingly furnished by the +factor at Fort Orange, on account of the Company, taking good +care that no supply should be carried by the boats navigating +the river, until in pursuance of a further order. It is here +to be observed that the Director, fearing one of two [evils] +and in order to keep the colony out of danger, has permitted +some arms to be furnished at the fort. Nobody can prove that +the Director has sold or permitted to be sold anything contraband, +for his own private benefit. That the Director has permitted +some guns to be seized has happened because they brought with +them no license pursuant to the order of the Company, and they +would under such pretences be able to bring many guns. The +Director has paid for every one that was seized, sixteen guilders, +although they do not cost in this country more than eight or +nine guilders. + +It is true that a case of guns was brought over by Vastrick, by +order of Director Stuyvesant, in which there were thirty guns, +which the Director, with the knowledge of the Vice Director and +fiscaal, permitted to be landed in the full light of day, which +guns were delivered to Commissary Keyser with orders to sell +them to the Netherlanders who had no arms, in order that in time +they might defend themselves, which Keyser has done; and it will +appear by his accounts where these guns are. If there were any +more guns in the ship it was unknown to the Director. The +fiscaal, whose business it was, should have seen to it and +inspected the ship; and these accusers should have shown that +the fiscaal had neglected to make the search as it ought to have +been done. + +Jacob Reinsen and Jacob Schermerhorn are Scotch merchants +(pedlers) born in Waterland, one of whom, Jacob Schermerhorn, +was at Fort Orange, the other, Jacob Reintjes, was at Fort +Amsterdam, who there bought powder, lead and guns, and sent +them up to Schermerhorn, who traded them to the Indians. It +so happened that the Company's corporal, Gerit Barent, having +in charge such of the arms of the Company as required to be +repaired or cleaned, sold to the before named Jacob Reintjes, +guns, locks, gun-barrels, etc., as can be proven by Jacob +Reintjes' own confession, by letters written to his partner +long before this came to light, and by the accusations of the +corporal. The corporal, seduced by the solicitation of Jacob +Reintjes, sold him the arms as often as desired, though the +Latter knew that the guns and gun-barrels belonged to the +Company, and not to the corporal. There was confiscated also +a parcel of peltries (as may be seen in the accounts) coming +chiefly from the contraband goods (as appears from the letters). +And as the said Jacob Reintjes has been in this country since +the confiscation, he would have made complaint if he had not +been guilty, especially as he was sufficiently urged to do so +by the enemies of the Company and of the Director, but his own +letters were witnesses against him. + +Joost de Backer being accused also by the above named corporal +of having bought gun-locks and gun-barrels from him, and the +first information having proved correct, his house was searched +according to law, in which was found a gun of the Company which +he had procured from the corporal; he was therefore taken into +custody until he gave security [to answer] for the claim of the +fiscaal. + +As the English of New England protected among them all fugitives +who came to them from the Manhatans without the passport +required by the usage of the country, whether persons in the +service of the Company or freemen, and took them into their +service, it was therefore sought by commissioners to induce the +English to restore the fugitives according to an agreement +previously made with Governors Eaton and Hopkins, but as +Governor Eaton failed to send back the runaways, although +earnestly solicited to do so, the Director and Council, according +to a previous resolution, issued a proclamation that all persons +who should come from the province of New Haven (all the others +excepted) to New Netherland should be protected; which was a +retaliatory measure. As the Governor permitted some of the +fugitives to come back to us, the Director and Council annulled +the order, and since then matters have gone on peaceably, the +dispute about the boundaries remaining the same as before.<1> + +<1> Theophilus Eaton, governor of New Haven 1639-1658, and +Edward Hopkins, governor of Connecticut seven times in the +period 1640-1654. The recriminations and retaliations alluded +to took place in the winter of 1647-1648. Two months before +the date of this Answer, Stuyvesant had arranged with the +Commissioners of the United Colonies at Hartford a provisional +Agreement as to boundaries between English and Dutch on Long +Island and on the mainland; but the treaty was not ratified +by the English and Dutch governments. + +Nobody's goods have been confiscated in New Netherland without +great reason; and if any one feels aggrieved about it, the +Director will be prepared to furnish an answer. That ships +or shipmasters are afraid of confiscation and therefore do +not come to New Netherland is probable, for nobody can come +to New Netherland without a license. Whoever has this, and +does not violate his agreement, and has properly entered his +goods, need not be afraid of confiscation; but all smugglers +and persons who sail with two commissions may well be. + +All those who were indebted to the Company were warned by the +Director and Council to pay the debts left uncollected by the +late William Kieft, and as some could, and others could not +well pay, no one was compelled to pay; but these debts, +amounting to 30,000 guilders, make many who do not wish to +pay, angry and insolent, (especially as the Company now has +nothing in that country to sell them on credit,) and it seems +that some seek to pay after the Brazil fashion.<1> + +<1> The recent conquest of the company's province of Brazil +by the Portuguese had enabled many debtors there to avoid +paying their debts. + +The memorialists have requested that the people should not +be harassed, which however has never been the case, but they +would be right glad to see that the Company dunned nobody, +not demanded their own, yet paid their creditors. It will +appear by the account-books of the Company that the debts +were not contracted during the war, but before it. The +Company has assisted the inhabitants, who were poor and +burdened with wives and children, with clothing, houses, +cattle, land, etc., and from time to time charged them in +account, in hopes of their being able at some time to pay +for them. + +If the taxes of New England, before spoken of, be compared +with those of New Netherland, it will be found that those of +New England are a greater burden upon that country than the +taxes of New Netherland are upon our people. + +The wine excise of one stiver per can, was first imposed in +the year 1647. + +The beer excise of three guilders per tun, was imposed by +Kieft in 1644, and is paid by the tapster alone, and not the +burgher. + +The recognition of eight in a hundred upon exported beaver +skins does not come out of the inhabitants, but out of the +trader, who is bound to pay it according to contract. + +The Director has always shown that he was desirous and +pleased to see a deputation from the commonalty, who should +seek in the Fatherland from the Company as patrons and the +Lords States as sovereigns, the following: population, +settlement of boundaries, reduction of charges upon New +Netherland tobacco and other productions, means of transporting +people, permanent and solid privileges, etc. + +For which purpose he has always offered to lend a helping +hand; but the remonstrants have pursued devious paths and +excited some of the commonalty, and by that means obtained +a clandestine and secret subscription, as is to be seen by +their remonstrance, designed for no other object than to +render the Company--their patrons--and the officers in New +Netherland odious before Their High Mightinesses, so that +the Company might be deprived of the jus patronatus and be +still further injured. + +The remonstrants say that we had relied upon the English, +and by means of them sought to divert the college, (as they +call it,) which is untrue, as appears by the propositions +made to them. But it is here to be observed that the English, +living under the protection of the Netherlanders, having +taken the oath of allegiance and being domiciliated and +settled in New Netherland, are to be considered citizens of +the country. These persons have always been opposed to them, +since the English, as well as they, had a right to say +something in relation to the deputation, and would not +consent to all their calumnies and slanders, but looked to +the good of the commonalty and of the inhabitants. + +It was not written on their petition, in the margin, that +they might secretly go and speak to the commonalty. The +intention of the Director was to cause them to be called +together as opportunity should offer, at which time they +might speak to the commonalty publicly about the deputation. +The Director was not obliged, as they say, to call the +commonalty immediately together. It was to be considered +by him at what time each one could conveniently come from +home without considerable loss, especially as some lived +at a distance in the country, etc. + +That they have not been willing to communicate, was because +all whom they now paint in such black colors would have been +able to provide themselves with weapons, and make the contrary +appear, and in that case could have produced something [in +accusation of] some of them. And since the Director and those +connected with the administration in New Netherland are very +much wronged and defamed, I desire time in order to wait for +opposing documents from New Netherland, if it be necessary. + +As to Vander Donk and his associates' report that the Director +instituted suits against some persons: The Director going to +the house of Michael Jansen, (one of the signers of the +remonstrance,) was warned by the said Michael and Thomas Hall, +saying, there was within it a scandalous journal of Adrian +van der Donck; which journal the Director took with him, and +on account of the slanders which were contained in it against +Their High Mightinesses and private individuals, Van der +Donck was arrested at his lodgings and proof of what he had +written demanded, but he was released on the application and +solicitation of others. + +During the administration both of Kieft and of Stuyvesant, +it was by a placard published and posted, that no attestations +or other public writings should be valid before a court in +New Netherland, unless they were written by the secretary. +This was not done in order that there should be no testimony +[against the Director] but upon this consideration, that most +of the people living in Netherland are country and seafaring +men, and summon each other frequently for small matters before +the court, while many of them can neither read nor write, and +neither testify intelligibly nor produce written evidence, +and if some do produce it, sometimes it is written by some +sailor or farmer, and often wholly indistinct and contrary +to the meaning of those who had it written or who made the +statement; consequently the Director and Council could not +know the truth of matters as was proper and as justice +demanded, etc. Nobody has been arrested except Van der Donk +for writing the journal, and Augustyn Heermans, the agent of +Gabri, because he refused to exhibit the writings drawn up by +the Nine Men, which were promised to the Director, who had +been for them many times like a boy. + +Upon the first point of redress, as they call it, the +remonstrants advise, that the Company should abandon and +transfer the country. What frivolous talk this is! The +Company have at their own expense conveyed cattle and many +persons thither, built forts, protected many people who were +poor and needy emigrating from Holland, and provided them +with provisions and clothing; and now when some of them have +a little more than they can eat up in a day, they wish to be +released from the authority of their benefactors, and without +paying if they could; a sign of gross ingratitude. + +Hitherto the country has been nothing but expense to the +Company, and now when it can provide for itself and yield +for the future some profit to the Company, these people are +not willing to pay the tenth which they are in duty bound to +pay after the expiration of the ten years, pursuant to the +Exemptions to which they are making an appeal. + +Upon the second point they say that provision should be made +for ecclesiastical and municipal property, church services, +an orphan asylum and an almshouse. If they are such +philanthropists as they appear, let them lead the way in +generous contributions for such laudable objects, and not +complain when the Directors have endeavored to make collections +for the building of the church and school. What complaints +would have been made if the Director had undertaken to make +collections for an almshouse and an orphan asylum! The +service of the church will not be suspended, although Domine +Johannes Backerus has departed, who was there only twenty- +Seven months. His place is supplied by a learned and godly +Minister who has no interpreter when he defends the Reformed +Religion against any minister of our neighbors, the English +Brownists.<1> + +<1> Referring to Reverend Johannes Megapolensis, who had been +persuaded to remain in New Netherland and assume pastoral care +of Manhattan. + +The foregoing are the points which really require any answer. +We will only add some description of the persons who have +signed the remonstrance and who are the following: + +Adrian van der Donk has been about eight years in New Netherland. +He went there in the service of the proprietors of the colony +of Renselaerswyck as an officer, but did not long continue such, +though he lived in that colony till 1646. + +Arnoldus van Hardenburgh accompanied Hay Jansen to New Netherland, +in the year 1644, with a cargo for his brother. He has never to +our knowledge suffered any loss or damage in New Netherland, but +has known how to charge the commonalty well for his goods. + +Augustyn Heermans came on board the Maecht van Enkhuysen,<1> +being then as he still is, the agent of Gabrie<2> in trading +business. + +<1> "Maid of Enkhuizen." +<2> Peter Gabry and Sons, a noted firm of Amsterdam. + +Jacob van Couwenhoven came to the country with his father in +boyhood, was taken by Wouter van Twiller into the service of +the Company as an assistant, and afterwards became a tobacco +planter. The Company has aided him with necessaries as it +is to be seen by the books, but they have been paid for. + +Olof Stevensen, brother-in-law of Govert Loockmans, went out +in the year 1637 in the ship Herring as a soldier in the +service of the Company. He was promoed by Director Kieft +and finally made commissary of the shop. He has profited in +the service of the Company, and endeavors to give his +benefactor the world's pay, that is, to recompense good with +evil. He signed under protest, saying that he was obliged +to sign, which can be understood two ways, one that he was +obliged to subscribe to the truth, the other that he had +been constrained by force to do it. If he means the latter, +it must be proven. + +Michael Jansen came to New Netherland as a farmer's man in +the employ of the proprietors of Renselaerswyck. He made +his fortune in the colony in a few years, but not being +able to agree with the officers, finally came in the year +1646 to live upon the island Manhatans. He would have come +here himself, but the accounts between him and the colony +not being settled, in which the proprietors did not consider +themselves indebted as he claimed, Jan Evertsen came over +in his stead. + +Thomas Hall came to the South River in 1635, in the employ +of an Englishman, named Mr. Homs, being the same who intended +to take Fort Nassau at that time and rob us of the South +River. This Thomas Hall ran away from his master, came to +the Manhatans and hired himself as a farmer's man to Jacob +van Curlur. Becoming a freeman he has made a tobacco +plantation upon the land of Wouter van Twyler, and he has +been also a farm-superintendent; and this W. van Twyler +knows the fellow. Thomas Hall dwells at present upon a +small bowery belonging to the Honorable Company. + +Elbert Elbertsen came to the country as a farmer's boy at +about ten or eleven years of age, in the service of Wouter +van Twyler, and has never had any property in the country. +About three years ago he married the widow of Gerret +Wolphertsen, (brother of the before mentioned Jacob van +Couwenhoven,) and from that time to this has been indebted +to the Company, and would be very glad to get rid of paying. + +Govert Loockmans, brother in law of Jacob van Couwenhoven, +came to New Netherland in the yacht St. Martin in the +year 1633 as a cook's mate, and was taken by Wouter van +Twyler into the service of the Company, in which service +he profited somewhat. He became a freeman, and finally +took charge of the trading business for Gilles Verbruggen +and his company in New Netherland. This Loockmans ought +to show gratitude to the Company, next to God, for his +elevation, and not advise its removal from the country. + +Hendrick Kip is a tailor, and has never suffered any injury +in New Netherland to our knowledge. + +Jan Evertsen-Bout, formerly an officer of the Company, +came the last time in the year 1634, with the ship Eendracht +[Union], in the service of the Honorable Michiel Paauw, and +lived in Pavonia until the year 1643, and prospered tolerably. +As the Honorable Company purchased the property of the Heer +Paauw, the said Jan Evertsen succeeded well in the service +of the Company, but as his house and barn at Pavonia were +burnt down in the war, he appears to take that as a cause +for complaint. It is here to be remarked, that the Honorable +Company, having paid 26,000 guilders for the colony of the +Heer Paauw, gave to the aforesaid Jan Evertsen, gratis, long +after his house was burnt, the possession of the land upon +which his house and farmstead are located, and which yielded +good grain. The land and a poor unfinished house, with a +few cattle, Michiel Jansen has bought for eight thousand +guilders. + +In brief, these people, to give their doings a gloss, say +that they are bound by oath and compelled by conscience; +but if that were the case they would not assail their +benefactors, the Company and others, and endeavor to deprive +them of this noble country, by advising their removal, now +that it begins to be like something, and now that there is +a prospect of the Company getting its own again. And now +that many of the inhabitants are themselves in a better +condition than ever, this is evidently the cause of the +ambition of many, etc. + +At the Hague, 29th November, 1650. + + + + +END OF PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT "VAN TIENHOVEN'S ANSWER." + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF "BOGAERT." + + + +Letter of Johannes Bogaert to Hans Bontemantel, 1655. In J. +Franklin Jameson, ed., Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664 +(Original Narratives of Early American History). NY: Charles +Scribner's Sons, 1909. + + +INTRODUCTION + + +THE chief military exploit of Director Stuyvesant was the +conquest in 1655 of the Swedish settlements on the Delaware +River. New Sweden had been founded in 1638 by a party of +settlers under Peter Minuit, sent out by the Swedish South +Company, with private help from Dutch merchants. The history +of this little colony belongs to another volume of this series, +but some account of its absorption in New Netherland should +find a place in this. + +At first the Dutch and Swedes on the Delaware, the former with +their Fort Nassau on the east side, the latter with their three +forts, Nya Elfsborg on the east side, Christina and Nya Goteborg +(New Gottenburg) on the west, dwelt together in amity. But +competition for the Indian trade was keen, conflicting purchases +of land from the Indians gave rise to disputes, and from the +beginning of Stuyvesant's administration there was friction. +This he greatly increased by proceeding to the South River with +armed forces, in 1651, and building Fort Casimir on the west +side of the river, near the present site of Newcastle, and +uncomfortably near to Fort Christina. In 1654 a large +reinforcement to the Swedish colony came out under Johan Rising, +who seized Fort Casimir. But the serious efforts to strengthen +the colony, made by Sweden in the last year of Queen Christina +and the first year of King Charles X., were made too late. The +Dutch West India Company ordered Director Stuyvesant not only +to retake Fort Casimir but to expel the Swedish power from the +whole river. He proceeded to organize in August, 1655, the +largest military force which had yet been seen in the Atlantic +colonies. The best Dutch account of what it achieved is +presented in translation in the following pages; the Swedish +side is told by Governor Rising in a report printed in the +_Collections of the New York Historical Society_, second series, +I. 443-448, and in _Pennsylvania Archives_, second series, +V. 222-229.<1> + +<1> Rising's dates are given according to Old Style, Swedish +fashion, Bogaert's according to New Style, as customary in the +province of Holland. + +Of Johannes Bogaert, author of the following letter, we know +only that he was a "writer," or clerk. Hans Bontemantel, to +whom the letter was addressed, was a director in the Amsterdam +Chamber of the West India Company, and a schepen (magistrate) +of Amsterdam from 1655 to 1672, in which last year he took a +prominent part in bringing William III. The letter was first +printed in 1858 in _De Navorscher_ (the Dutch _Notes and +Queries_), VIII. 185-186. A translation by Henry C. Murphy +was published the same year in _The Historical Magazine_, II. +258-259, and this, carefully revised by the present editor, +appears below. For a history of New Sweden, see Professor +Gregory B. Keen's chapter in Winsor's _Narrative and Critical +History of America, IV. 443-488. + + +LETTER OF JOHANNES BOGAERT TO HANS BONTEMANTEL, 1655 + +Noble and Mighty Sir: + +Mr. Schepen Bontemantel: + +THIS is to advise your Honor of what has occurred since the +5th of September, 1655, when we sailed with our seven ships,<1> +composed of two yachts called the Holanse Tuijn (Dutch Frontier), +the Prinses Royael (Princess Royal,) a galiot called the Hoop +(Hope), mounting four guns, the flyboat Liefde (Love), mounting +four guns, the yacht Dolphijn (Dolphin), vice-admiral, with four +guns, the yacht Abrams Offerhande (Abraham's Offering), as +rear-admiral, mounting four guns; and on the 8th arrived before +the Swedish fort, named Elsener.<2> This south fort had been +abandoned. Our force consisted of 317 soldiers, besides a +company of sailors.<3> The general's<4> company, of which +Lietenant Nuijtingh was captain, and Jan Hagel ensign-bearer, +was ninety strong. The general's second company, of which +Dirck Smit was captain, and Don Pouwel ensign-bearer, was +sixty strong. Nicolaes de Silla the marshal's company, of +which Lieutenant Pieter Ebel was captain, and William van +Reijnevelt ensign-bearer, was fifty-five strong. The major's +second company, which was composed of seamen and pilots, with +Dirck Jansz Verstraten of Ossanen as their captain, boatswain's- +mate Dirck Claesz of Munnikendam as ensign-bearer, and the +sail-maker Jan Illisz of Honsum as lieutenant, consisted of +fifty men; making altogether 317 men. The 10th, after +breakfast, the fleet got under way, and ran close under the +guns of Fort Casemier, and anchored about a cannon-shot's +distance from it. The troops were landed immediately, and +General Stuijvesant dispatched Lieutenant Dirck Smit with a +drummer and a white flag to the commandant, named Swen +Schoeten,<5> to summon the fort. In the meantime we occupied +a guard-house about half a cannon-shot distant from the fort; +and at night placed a company of soldiers in it, which had +been previously used as a magazine. The 11th, the commander, +Swen Schoeten, sent a flag requesting to speak with the +General, who consented. They came together, and after a +conference the said commander surrendered Fort Casemier to +the general, upon the following conditions: + +<1> Six are named below. The seventh (or first) was the +"admiral" or flag-ship De Waegh ("The Balance"), on which the +writer sailed. The Hoop was a French privateer, L'Esperance, +which had just arrived at New Amsterdam and was engaged for +the expedition. +<2> Nya Elfsborg. +<3> Rising states the total number of the force as 600 or 700. +<4> I.e., Stuyvesant's. In the military organization of that +day, one or two companies were usually given a primary position +as the "general's own" or "colonel's own." Of the persons +mentioned below, Nicasius de Sille was a member of the Council, +and De Koningh was the captain of De Waegh. +<5> Sven Schute. + +First, The commander, whenever he pleases and shall have the +opportunity, by the arrival of ships belonging to the crown, +or private ships, shall be permitted to remove from Fort +Casemier the guns of the crown, large and small: consisting, +according to the statement of the commander, of four iron +guns and five case-shot guns, of which four are small and one +is large. Second, Twelve men shall march out as the body- +guard of the commander, fully accoutred, with the flag of +the crown; the others with their side-arms only. The guns +and muskets which belong to the crown shall be and remain at +the disposition of the commandant, to take or cause them to +be taken from the fort whenever the commander shall have an +opportunity to do so. Third, The commander shall have all +his private personal effects uninjured, in order to take +them with him or to have them taken away whenever he pleases, +and also the effects of all the officers. Fourth, The +commander shall this day restore into the hands of the General +Fort Casemier and all the guns, ammunition, materials, and +other property belonging to the General Chartered West India +Company. Done, concluded and signed by the contracting +parties the 11th September, 1655, on board the ship De Waegh, +lying at Fort Casemier. (Signed) Petrus Stuijvesant, Swen +Schuts.<1> + +<1> This agrees with the official text in _N.Y. Col. Doc._, +XII. 102. + +The 13th, was taken prisoner the lieutenant of Fort Crist[ina], +with a drummer, it being supposed that he had come as a spy +upon the army, in consequence of the drummer's having no +drum. The 14th, the small fleet was again under sail with +the army for Verdrietige Point,<1> where they were landed. +The 15th, we arrived at the west of Fort Christina, where we +formed ourselves into three divisions; the major's company +and his company of sailors were stationed on the south side +of the creek, by the yacht Eendraght (Union), where the +major constructed a battery of three guns, one eight-pounder +and two six-pounders; the general's company and the field +marshal's were divided into two. The marshal threw up a +battery of two twelve-pounders, about northwest of the fort. +The general placed a battery about north of the fort, opposite +the land entrance, one hundred paces, by calculation, from +the fort, and mounting one eighteen-pounder, one eight- +pounder, one six-pounder, and one three-pounder.<2> + +<1> On Augustin Herrman's excellent map of Maryland and +Delaware, "Virdrietige Hoeck" (Tedious Point) appears as a +name of a promontory about where Marcus Hook, Pa., now is. +Rising, however, reports the Dutch as landing at Tridje Hoeck +("Third Point"), just north of Christina Creek. +<2> For a plan of the siege, derived from that made by the +Swedish engineer Linstrom, see Winsor, _Narrative and Critical +History of America_, IV. 480. + +The 17th, the flyboat Liefde returned to the Manhathans with +the Swedish prisoners. From the 17th to the 23rd nothing +particular happened. Then, when we had everything ready, the +governor of the fort received a letter from our general, to +which our general was to have an answer the next day. The +same day an Indian, whom we had dispatched on the 13th to +Menades, arrived, bringing news and letters to the effect +that some Dutch people had been killed at Menades by the +Indians;<1> which caused a feeling of horror through the +army, so that the general sent a letter immediately to the +fort, that he would give them no time the next morning. Then +Then the general agreed wit the Swedish governor to come +together in the morning and make an arrangement. The general +had a tent erected between our quarter and their fort, and +there an agreement was made, whereby the governor, Johan +Risingh, surrendered the fort on the 24th of September, upon +the conditions mentioned in the accompanying capitulation.<2> +On the 28th of September the general left with the ships and +yachts, and we were ordered to remain from eight to fourteen +days, and let the men work daily at Fort Casemier, in the +construction of ramparts.<3> + +<1> A hundred were killed, a hundred and fifty taken prisoners. +<2> _N.Y. Col. Doc., XII. 104-106. +<3> Fort Casimir was made the seat of Dutch administration on +the South River. In 1657 it was named New Amstel, and the +colony there was taken over by the city of Amsterdam. + +The 11th of October, Governor Rijsingh and Factor Elswijck, +with some Swedes, came on board, whom we carried with us to +Menades. We ran out to sea for the Menades on the 12th, and +on the 17th happily arrived within Sandy Hook. On the 21st +we sailed for the North River, from Staten Island, by the +watering-place, and saw that all the houses there, and about +Molyn's house,<1> were burned up by the Indians; and we +learned here that Johannes van Beeck, with his wife and some +other people, and the captain of a slave-trader which was +lying here at anchor with a vessel, having gone on a pleasure +excursion, were attacked by the Indians, who murdered Van +Beeck and the captain, and took captive his wife and sister. +We found Van Beeck dead in a canoe, and buried him. His +wife has got back. The general is doing all that lies in +his power to redeem the captives and to make peace. Commending +your Honor, with hearty salutations, to the protection of the +Most High, that he will bless you and keep you in continued +Health, I remain your Honor's + +Obedient servant, + +JOHANNES BOGAERT, +Clerk. + +Laus Deo, Ship De Waegh (The Balance), + The 31st October, 1655. +Hon. Mr. Schepen Bontemantel, + Director of the Chartered West India Company, + at Amsterdam. + +<1> The house of Cornelis Melyn, on Staten Island. + + + +END PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF "BOGAERT." + + + + +BEGIN PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF "LETTERS OF THE DUTCH MINISTERS" + +Reference material and sources. + +Johannes Megapolensis, Samuel Drisius, and Henricus Selyns, +Letters of the Dutch Ministers to the Classis of Amsterdam, +1655-1664. In J. Franklin Jameson, ed., Narratives of New +Netherland, 1609-1664 (Original Narratives of Early American +History). NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909. + +INTRODUCTION + +THE Dutch clergy of the Reformed Church, as has already been +mentioned in a previous introduction, were men whose observations +we must value because of their intelligence and their acquirements; +and they also had a point of view which was to a large extent +independent of the Director General and other civil officials. +Hence the series of their reports to the Classis of Amsterdam +is worthy of much attention. In the absence of a continuous +narrative of high importance for the years from 1655 to 1664 +it has been deemed best to make use for those years of certain +of these clerical letters. + +Of their authors, Domine Megapolensis has been already treated, +in the introduction to his tract on the Mohawks. He remained +at New Amsterdam through the period of the English conquest, +and died there in 1669. The Reverend Samuel Drisius (Dries) +was born about 1602, of Dutch parents, but was throughout his +earlier life a pastor in England, until the troubles in that +country caused him to return to the Netherlands. Since he +was able to preach not only in Dutch but also in English and +even in French, it was natural that the Classis should send +him out to New Netherland in response to the urgent requests +made for assistance to Megapolensis, especially in dealing +with the non-Dutch population at New Amsterdam. He began his +pastoral service there in 1653, and continued throughout the +remainder of the period represented by this book. In 1669 he +is reported as incapacitated by failing mental powers, and he +died in 1673. Domine Henricus Selyns was examined as a +candidate for the ministry in 1657, ordained by the Classis in +1660, called to Breukelen and inducted there in that year. He +returned to Holland in 1664, before the surrender, but came +back to New York in 1682 as minister of the Collegiate Church, +and died there in 1701. + +John Romeyn Brodhead, at the time of his remarkable mission +to the Netherlands (1841), included in his endeavors a search +for Dutch ecclesiastical papers bearing on New Netherland. The +letters which follow were among those which he found in +Amsterdam, in the archives of the Classis. In 1842 they were +Lent, in 1846 given, by the Classis to the General Synod of the +Reformed Dutch Church in America. To this material large +Additions were made by a further search carried out in 1897- +1898, by the Reverend Dr. Edward T. Corwin, acting as agent of +that church, who is responsible for the translations which +follow. An account of all this ecclesiastical material, under +the title "The Amsterdam Correspondence," was printed by him +in 1897 in the eight volume of the _Papers of the American +Society of Church History_. He edited the material for +publication in the first volume of the series called +_Ecclesiastical Records, State of New York_, published by the +state in 1901. The letters which follow are taken, with slight +revision, from various pages (from page 334 to page 562) of +that volume. + + +LETTERS OF THE DUTCH MINISTERS TO THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM, +1655-1664 + +Rev. Johannes Megapolensis to the Classis of Amsterdam +(March 18, 1655). + +Reverendissimi Domini, Fratres in Christo, Synergi observandi:<1> + +I FEEL it my duty, to answer the letter of your Reverences, +dated the 11th of November, [1654].<2> + +We have cause to be grateful to the Messrs. Directors<3> and +to your Reverences for the case and trouble taken to procure +for the Dutch on Long Island a good clergyman, even though it +has not yet resulted in anything. Meanwhile, God has led +Domine Joannes Pelhemius<4> from Brazil, by way of the Caribbean +Islands, to this place. He has for the present gone to Long +Island, to a village called Midwout, which is somewhat the +Meditullium<5> of the other villages, to wit, Breuckelen, +Amersfoort and Gravesande. There he has preached for the +accommodation of the inhabitants on Sundays during the winter, +and has administered the sacraments, to the satisfaction of +all, as Director Stuyvesant has undoubtedly informed the +Messrs. Directors. + +<1> Most Reverend Masters, Brethren in Christ, Venerable +Fellow-Workers. +<2> _Ecclesiastical Records, State of New York_, I. 331. +<3> Of the West India Company. +<4> Reverend Johannes Theodorus Polhemus or Polhemius, born +about 1598, was in early life a minister in the Palatinate. +Driven thence by persecutions in 1635, he was sent to Brazil +in 1636 by the Dutch West India Company, and remained there, +minister at Itamarca, till the waning of the company's fortunes +in that country and the loss of Pernambuco compelled his +retirement. In 1654 he went thence to New Netherland, and +became provisionally minister of Midwout, the first Dutch +church on Long Island. From 1656 to 1660 he was minister of +Midwout, Breukelen and Amersfoort, from 1660 to 1664 of Midwout +and Amersfoort, from 1664 of all three churches again. He died +in 1676. +<5> Middle point. Midwout is now Flatbush; Amersfoort is +Flatlands. + +As to William Vestiens, who has been schoolmaster and sexton +here, I could neither do much, nor say much, in his favor, to +the Council, because for some years past they were not satisfied +or pleased with his services.<1> Thereupon when he asked for +an increase of salary last year, he received the answer, that +if the service did not suit him, he might ask for his discharge. +Only lately I have been before the Council on his account, and +spoken about it, in consequence of your letter, but they told +me that he had fulfilled his duties only so-so<2> and that he +did little enough for his salary. + +<1> Willem Vestiens or Vestens, schoolmaster, of Haarlem, "a +good, God-fearing man," was sent out in 1650 as schoolmaster, +sexton, and "comforter of the sick." In 1655 he asked to be +transferred to the East Indies, and was replaced at New +Amsterdam by Harmanus van Hoboken. +<2> Taliter qualiter. + +Some Jews came from Holland last summer, in order to trade. +Later some Jews came upon the same ship as Dr. Polheymius;<1> +they were healthy, but poor. It would have been proper, that +they should have been supported by their own people, but they +have been at our charge, so that we have had to spend several +hundred guilders for their support. They came several times +to my house, weeping and bemoaning their misery. When I directed +them to the Jewish merchant,<2> they said, that he would not +lend them a single stiver. Some more have come from Holland +this spring. They report that many more of the same lot would +follow, and then they would build here a synagogue. This +causes among the congregation here a great deal of complaint +and murmuring. These people have no other God than the Mammon +of unrighteousness, and no other aim than to get possession of +Christian property, and to overcome all other merchants by +drawing all trade towards themselves. Therefore we request +your Reverences to obtain from the Messrs. Directors, that +these godless rascals, who are of no benefit to the country, +but look at everything for their own profit, may be sent away +from here. For as we have here Papists, Mennonites and Lutherans +among the Dutch; also many Puritans or Independents, and many +atheists and various other servants of Baal among the English +under this Government, who conceal themselves under the name +of Christians; it would create a still greater confusion, if +the obstinate and immovable Jews came to settle here. + +<1> Refugees from Brazil, who retired after the capture of +Pernambuco by the Portugese, in January, 1654. The number of +Jews who settled in New Amsterdam became considerable. The +West India Company in 1655 repressed all attempts of Stuyvesant +and his Council to expel or oppress them. +<2> Jacob Barsimson seems to have been the one Jewish merchant +then there. + +In closing I commend your Reverences with your families to the +protection of God, who will bless us and all of you in the +service of the divine word. + +Your obedient + +JOHAN. MEGAPOLENSIS. + +Amsterdam in New Netherland the 18th of March, 1655. + + +Addressed to the Reverend, Pious and very Learned Deputies +ad res Ecclesiasticas Indicas, in the Classis of Amsterdam. + +Revs. J. Megapolensis and S. Drisius to the Classis of Amsterdam +(August 5, 1657). + +Reverend, Pious and Learned Gentlemen, Fathers and Brethren in +Christ Jesus: + +The letters of your Reverences, of the 13th of June 1656, and +of the 15th of October of the same year have been received. +We were rejoiced to learn of the fatherly affection and care +which you show for the welfare of this growing congregation. +We also learned thereby of the trouble you have taken with the +Messrs. Directors, to prevent the evils threatened to our +congregation by the creeping in of erroneous spirits; and of +your Reverences' desire, to be informed of the condition of +the churches in this country. + +We answered you in the autumn of the year 1656, and explained +all things in detail. To this we have as yet received no reply, +and are therefore in doubt, whether our letters reached you. +This present letter must therefore serve the same end. + +The Lutherans here pretended, last year, that they had obtained +the consent of the Messrs. Directors, to call a Lutheran pastor +from Holland.<1> They therefore requested the Hon. Director +and the Council, that they should have permission, meanwhile, +to hold their conventicles to prepare the way for their expected +and coming pastor. Although they began to urge this rather +saucily, we, nevertheless, animated and encourage by your +letters, hoped for the best, yet feared the worst, which has +indeed come to pass. For although we could not have believed +that such permission had been given by the Directors, there +nevertheless arrived here, with the ship Meulen<2> in July last, +a Lutheran preacher Joannes Ernestus Goetwater,<3> to the great +joy of the Lutherans, but to the special displeasure and +uneasiness of the congregation in this place; yea, even the +whole country, including the English, were displeased. + +<1> There were Lutherans at Manhattan at the time of Father +Jogue's visit (1643), and they are called a congregation in +1649. In 1653 they petitioned to have a minister of their own +and freedom of public worship. Stuyvesant and the ministers +were disposed to maintain the monopoly of the Reformed (Calvinistic) +Church. In 1656 he forbade even Lutheran services in private +houses; but the Company would not sustain this, though they +upheld him in sending Gutwasser back to Holland in 1659. +<2> "The Mill." +<3> Johann Ernst Gutwasser. + +We addressed ourselves, therefore, to his Honor the Director- +General, the Burgomasters and Schepens of this place,<1> and +presented the enclosed petition. As a result thereof, the +Lutheran pastor was summoned before their Honors and asked +with what intentions he had come here, and what commission and +credentials he possessed. He answered that he had come to serve +here as a Lutheran preacher, but that he had no other commission +than a letter from the Lutheran Consistory at Amsterdam to the +Lutheran congregation here. He was then informed by the Hon. +authorities here, that he must abstain from all church services, +and from the holding of any meetings, and not even deliver the +letter which he brought from the Lutherans at Amsterdam without +further orders; but that he must regulate himself by the edicts +of this province against private conventicles. He promised to +do this, adding however that with the next ships he expected +further orders and his regular commission. In the meantime, +however, we had the snake in our bosom. We should have been +glad if the authorities here had opened that letter of the +Lutheran Consistory, to learn therefrom the secret of his +Mission, but as yet they have not been willing to do this. + +<1> New Amsterdam had received a municipal constitution, of +about the type usual in the Netherlands, though somewhat less +liberal, in 1653. + +We then demanded that our authorities here should send back +the Lutheran preacher, who had come without the consent of the +Messrs. Directors, in the same ship in which he had come, in +order to put a stop to this work, which they evidently intended +to prosecute with a hard Lutheran head, in spite of and against +the will of our magistrates; for we suspect that this one has +come over to see whether he can pass, and be allowed to remain +here, and thus to lay the foundation for further efforts; but +we do not yet know what we can accomplish. + +Domine Gideon Schaats<1> wrote to you last year about the +congregation at Rensselaerswyck or Beverwyck, as he intends +to do again. We know nothing otherwise than that the +congregation there is in a good condition; that it is growing +vigorously, so that it is almost as strong as we are here at +the Manhatans. They built last year a handsome parsonage. +On the South River, matters relating to religion and the +church have hitherto progressed very unsatisfactorily; first +because we had there only one little fort, and in it a single +commissary, with ten to twenty men, all in the Company's +service, merely for trading with the Indians. Secondly: In +the year 1651 Fort Nassau was abandoned and razed, and another, +called Fort Casemier, was erected, lower down and nearer to +the seaboard. This was provided with a stronger garrison, +and was reinforced by several freemen, who lived near it. + +<1> Minister at Rensselaerswyck since 1652. + +But the Swedes, increasing there in numbers, troubled and +annoyed our people daily. After they had taken Fort Casemier +from us, they annoyed our countrymen so exceedingly, that +the South River was abandoned by them. However in the year +1655 our people recovered Fort Casemier, and now it is held +by a sufficiently strong garrison, including several freemen, +who also have dwellings about. One was then appointed, to +read to them on Sundays, from the Postilla.<1> This is +continued to this day.<2> The Lutheran preacher who was sent +there was returned to Sweden. + +<1> Book of Homilies. +<2> Reverend Peter Hjort, pastor at Fort Trinity. + +Two miles from Fort Casemier, up the river, is another fort, +called Christina. This was also taken by our people, at the +same time, and the preacher there<1> was sent away, with the +Swedish garrison. + +<1> Reverend Matthias Nertunius. + +But because many Swedes and Finns, at least two hundred, live +above Fort Christina, two or three leagues further up the +river, the Swedish governor made a condition in his capitulation, +that they might retain one Lutheran preacher,<1> to teach these +people in their language. This was granted then the more +easily, first, because new troubles had broken out at Manhattan +with the Indians, and it was desirable to shorten proceedings +here and return to the Manhattans to put things in order there; +secondly, because there was no Reformed preacher here, nor any +who understood their language, to be located there. + +<1> Reverend Lars Lock or Lokenius, preacher at Tinicum from +1647 to 1688. + +This Lutheran preacher is a man of impious and scandalous +habits, a wild, drunken, unmannerly clown, more inclined to +look into the wine can than into the Bible. He would prefer +drinking brandy two hours to preaching one; and when the sap +is in the wood his hands itch and he wants to fight whomsoever +he meets. The commandant at Fort Casimir, Jean Paulus Jacqet, +brother-in-law of Domine Casparus Carpentier,<1> told us that +during last spring this preacher was tippling with a smith, +and while yet over their brandy they came to fisticuffs, and +beat each other's heads black and blue; yea, that the smith +tore all the clothing from the preacher's body, so that this +godly minister escaped in primitive nakedness, and although +so poorly clothed, yet sought quarrels with others. Sed hoc +parergicos. + +<1> Carpentier was a Reformed minister whom the Dutch had +established at Fort Casimir. Jacquet was vice-director on +the South River, 1655-1657. +<2> But this incidentally. + +On Long Island there are seven villages belonging to this +province, of which three, Breuckelen, Amersfoort and Midwout,<1> +are inhabited by Dutch people, who formerly used to come +here<2> to communion and other services to their great +inconvenience. Some had to travel for three hours to reach +this place. Therefore, when Domine Polheymus arrived here +from Brazil, they called him as preacher, which the Director- +General and Council confirmed. + +<1> Brooklyn, Flatlands and Flatbush. +<2> To New Amsterdam. + +The four other villages on Long Island, viz., Gravensand, +Middleburgh, Vlissingen, and Heemstede<1> are inhabited by +Englishmen. The people of Gravensand are considered Mennonites. +The majority of them reject the baptism of infants, the +observance of the Sabbath, the office of preacher, and any +teachers of God's word. They say that thereby all sorts of +contentions have come into the world. Whenever they meet, +one or the other reads something to them. At Vlissingen, they +formerly had a Presbyterian minister<2> who was in agreement +with our own church. But at present, many of them have become +imbued with divers opinions and it is with them quot homines +tot sententiae.<3> They began to absent themselves from the +sermon and would not pay the preacher the salary promised to +him. He was therefore obliged to leave the place and go to +the English Virginias. They have now been without a preacher +for several years. Last year a troublesome fellow, a cobbler +from Rhode Island in New England,<4> came there saying, he +had a commission from Christ. He began to preach at Vlissingen +and then went with the people into the river and baptized them. +When this became known here, the fiscaal went there, brought +Him to this place, and he was banished from the province. + +<1> Gravesend, Newtown, Flushing and Hempstead. +<2> Reverend Francis Doughty. +<3> As many opinions as men. +<4> William Wickenden. The schout of the village was fined +fifty pounds for allowing him to preach in his house. + +At Middleburgh, alias Newtown, they are mostly Independents +and have a man called Johannes Moor,<1> of the same way of +thinking, who preaches there, but does not serve the sacraments. +He says he was licensed in New England to preach, but not +authorized to administer the sacraments. He has thus continued +for some years. Some of the inhabitants of this village are +Presbyterians, but they cannot be supplied by a Presbyterian +preacher. Indeed, we do not know that there are any preachers +of this denomination to be found among any of the English of +New England. + +<1> John Moore, formerly minister at Hempstead; died this year, +1637. + +At Heemstede, about seven leagues from here, there live some +Independents. There are also many of our own church, and +some Presbyterians. They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard +Denton,<1> a pious, godly and learned man, who is in agreement +with our church in everything. The Independents of the place +listen attentively to his sermons; but when he began to baptize +the children of parents who are no members of the church, they +rushed out of the church. + +<1> Reverend Richard Denton (1586-1662), one of the pioneers +of Presbyterianism in America, was a Cambridge man, who came +over with Winthrop in 1630, and was settled successively at +Watertown, Wethersfield and Stamford. His differences with the +Congregational clergy of New England had led to his withdrawal, +and since 1644 he had been at Hempstead. + +On the west shore of the East River, about one miles beyond +Hellgate, as we call it, and opposite Flushing, is another +English village, called Oostdorp, which was begun two years +ago. The inhabitants of this place are also Puritans or +Independents. Neither have they a preacher, but they hold +meetings on Sunday, and read a sermon of some English writer, +and have a prayer.<1> + +<1> Oost-dorp ("East Village") is the present Westchester. +"After dinner [Sunday, December 31, 1656] Cornelis van Ruyven +went to the house where they assemble on Sundays, to observe +their mode of worship, as they have not as yet any clergyman. +There I found a gathering of about fifteen men and ten or +twelve women. Mr. Baly made a prayer, which being concluded, +one Robert Basset read a sermon from a printed book composed +and published by an English minister in England. After the +reading Mr. Baly made another prayer and they sang a psalm +and separated." (Journal of Brian Newton et als., to Oostdorp, +_Doc. Hist. N.Y._, octavo, III. 923) + +Such is the condition of the church in our province. To this +we must add that, as far as we know, not one of all these +places, Dutch or English, has a schoolmaster, except the +Manhattans, Beverwyck, and now also Fort Casimir on the South +River.<1> And although some parents try to give their children +some instruction, the success if far from satisfactory, and we +can expect nothing else than young men of foolish and +undisciplined minds. We see at present no way of improving +this state of affairs; first, because some of the villages are +just starting, and have no means, the people having come half +naked and poor from Holland, to pay a preacher and schoolmaster; +secondly, because there are few qualified persons here who can +or will teach. + +<1> Harmanus van Hoboken at New Amsterdam, Adriaen Jansz at +Beverwyck (Albany), and since April of this year Evert Pietersen +at Fort Casimir. Two years later (1659) the company sent over +Alexander Carolus Curtius, "late professor in Lithuania," to be +master of a Latin school in New Amsterdam. + +We can say but little of the conversion of the heathens or +Indians here, and see no way to accomplish it, until they are +subdued by the numbers and power of our people, and reduced to +some sort of civilization; and also unless our people set them +a better example, than they have done theretofore. + +We have had an Indian here with us for about two years. He can +read and write Dutch very well. We have instructed him in the +fundamental principles of our religion, and he answers publicly +in church, and can repeat the Commandments. We have given him +a Bible, hoping he might do some good among the Indians, but it +all resulted in nothing. He took to drinking brandy, he pawned +the Bible, and turned into a regular beast, doing more harm than +good among the Indians. + +Closing we commend your Reverences to the gracious protection of +the Almighty, whom we pray to bless you in the Sacred Ministry. + +Vestri et officio et effectu,<1> + +<1> Yours both officially and actually. + +JOHANNES MEGPOLENSIS. +SAMUEL DRISSIUS. + +Amsterdam, in New Netherland, + the 5th of August, 1657. + + +Revs. Megapolensis and Drisius to the Classis of Amsterdam +(October 25, 1657). + +Brethren in Christ: + +Since our last letter, which we hope you are receiving about +this time, we have sent in a petition in relation to the Lutheran +minister, Joannes Ernestus Gutwasser. Having marked this on its +margin, we have sent it to the Rev. Brethren of the Classis. We +hope that the Classis will take care that, if possible, no other +be sent over, as it is easier to send out an enemy than afterward +to thrust him out. We have the promise that the magistrates here +will compel him to leave with the ship De Wage. It is said that +there has been collected for him at Fort Orange a hundred beaver +skins, which are valued here at eight hundred guilders, and which +is the surest pay in this country. What has been collected here, +we cannot tell. Our magistrates have forbidden him to preach, +as he has received no authority from the Directors at Amsterdam +for that purpose. Yet we hear that the Hon. Directors at +Amsterdam gave him permission to come over. We have stated in a +previous letter the injurious tendency of this with reference to +the prosperity of our church. + +Lately we have been troubled by others. Some time since, a +shoemaker,<1> leaving his wife and children, came here and +preached in conventicles. He was fined, and not being able to +pay, was sent away. Again a little while ago there arrived here +a ship with Quakers, as they are called. They went away to New +England, or more particularly, to Rhode Island, a place of +errorists and enthusiasts. It is called by the English themselves +the latrina<2> of New England. They left several behind them +here, who labored to create excitement and tumult among the +people--particularly two women, the one about twenty, and the +other about twenty-eight.<3> These were quite outrageous. After +being examined and placed in prison, they were sent away. +Subsequently a young man at Hempstead, an English town under the +government, aged about twenty-three or twenty-four years,<4> was +arrested, and brought thence, seven leagues. He had pursued a +similar course and brought several under his influence. The +magistrate, in order to repress the evil in the beginning, after +he had kept him in confinement for several days, adjudged that +he should either pay one hundred guilders or work at the +wheelbarrow two years with the negroes. This he obstinately +refused to do, though whipped on his back. After two or three +days he was whipped in private on his bare back, with threats +that the whipping would be repeated again after two or three +days, if he should refuse to labor. Upon this a letter was +brought by an unknown messenger from a person unknown to the +Director-General. The import of this, (written in English), +was, Think, my Lord-Director, whether it be not best to send +him to Rhode Island, as his labor is hardly worth the cost. + +<1> William Wickenden, of Rhode Island. +<2> Sink. +<3> Dorothy Waugh, afterward whipped at Boston, and Mary +Wetherhead. +<4> Robert Hodgson, who had come on the same ship with the +preceding. A contemporary Quaker writer attributes his release +to the intercession of Stuyvesant's sister, Mrs. Anna Bayard. +Persecution of Quakers and other sectaries in New Netherland +was continued by Stuyvesant, and finally culminated in the +case of John Bowne, of Flushing, a Quaker, who has left us an +interesting account of his suffering, printed in the _American +Historical Record_ I. 4-8. Banished from the province and +transported to Holland, Bowne laid his case before the directors +of the West India Company, who reproved Stuyvesant by a letter +in which they said (April 16, 1663): "The consciences of men +ought to remain free and unshackled, . . . This maxim of +moderation has always been the guide of the magistrates in +this city; and the consequence has been that people have flocked +from every land to this asylum. Tread thus in their steps, and +we doubt not you will be blessed." + +Since the arrival of De Wage from the South River [the Director?] +has again written to Joannes Ernestus Gutwasser to go away. On +this he presented a petition, a copy of which herewith transmitted, +as also a copy signed by several of the Lutheran denomination. +We observe that it is signed by the least respectable of that +body, and that the most influential among them were unwilling to +trouble themselves with it. Some assert that he has brought with +him authority from the West India Company to act as minister. +Whether dismission and return will take place without trouble +remains to be seen. + +We are at this time in great want of English ministers. It is +more than two years since Mr. Doughty, of Flushing which is a +town here, went to Virginia, where he is now a preacher. He +left because he was not well supported. On October 13, Mr. +Moore, of Middelburg, which is another town here, died of a +pestilential disease, which prevailed in several of our English +towns and in New England. He left a widow with seven or eight +children. A year before, being dissatisfied with the meagre and +irregular payments from his hearers, he went to Barbadoes, to +seek another place. Mr. Richard Denton, who is sound in faith, +of a friendly disposition, and beloved by all, cannot be induced +by us to remain, although we have earnestly tried to do this in +various ways. He first went to Virginia to seek a situation, +complaining of lack of salary, and that he was getting in debt, +but he has returned thence. He is now fully resolved to go to +old England, because his wife, who is sickly, will not go +without him, and there is need of their going there, on account +of a legacy of four hundred pounds sterling, lately left by a +deceased friend, and which they cannot obtain except by their +personal presence. At Gravesend there never has been a minister. +Other settlements, yet in their infancy, as Aernem,<1> have no +minister. It is therefore to be feared that errorists and +fanatics may find opportunity to gain strength. We therefore +request you, Rev. Brethren, to solicit the Hon. Directors of +the West India Company, to send over one or two English preachers, +and that directions may be given to the magistracy that the +money paid by the English be paid to the magistrate, and not to +the preacher, which gives rise to dissatisfaction, and that at +the proper time any existing deficiency may be supplied by the +Hon. Directors. Otherwise we do not see how the towns will be +able to obtain ministers, or if they obtain them, how they will +be able to retain them. Complaints continually reach us about +the payment of ministers. Nevertheless in New England there are +few places without a preacher, although there are many towns, +stretching for more than one hundred leagues along the coast. +Hoping that by God's blessing and your care something may be +effected in this matter, we remain, + +<1> Arnhem was a village begun on Smith's Island in Newton Creek. + +Your friends and fellow laborers, + +JOHANNES MEGAPOLENSIS. +SAMUEL DRISIUS. + +Manhattans, +Oct. 22, 1657. + +Rev. Brethren: + +Since the writing of the above letter, and before sealing it, +we have learned from the Hon. Directors and the fiscaal, that +Joannes Ernestus Gutwasser is not to be found, that his bedding +and books were two days ago removed, and that he has left our +jurisdiction. Still it is our opinion that he remains concealed +here, in order to write home, and make his appearance as if out +of the Fatherland; and to persevere with the Lutherans in his +efforts. We therefore hope and pray that you may, if possible, +take measures to prevent this. + +SAMUEL DRISIUS. +Oct. 25, 1657. + +To the Rev. Learned, etc. +the Deputies ad res Indicas +of the Classis of Amsterdam. + + +Rev. J. Megapolensis to the Classis of Amsterdam +(September 28, 1658). + +Rdi. Patres et Fratres in Christo:<1> + +In a preceding letter of September 24, 1658,<2> mention was +made of a Jesuit who came to this place, Manhattans, overland, +from Canada. I shall now explain the matter more fully, for +your better understanding of it. It happened in the year +1642, when I was minister in the colony of Rensselaerswyck, +that our Indians in the neighborhood, who are generally called +Maquaas, but who call themselves Kajingehaga, were at war with +the Canadian or French Indians, who are called by our Indians +Adyranthaka. Among the prisoners whom our Indians had taken +from the French, was this Jesuit,<3> whom they according to +their custom had handled severely. When he was brought to us, +his left thumb and several fingers on both hands had been cut +off, either wholly or in part, and the nails of the remaining +fingers had been chewed off. As this Jesuit had been held in +captivity by them for some time, they consented that he should +go among the Dutch, but only when accompanied by some of them. +At last the Indians resolved to burn him. Concerning this he +came to me with grievous complaint. We advised him that next +time the Indians were asleep, he should run away and come to +us, and we would protect and secure him, and send him by ship +to France. This was done. After concealing him and entertaining +him for six weeks, we sent him to the Manhattans and thence to +England and France, as he was a Frenchman, born at Paris.<4> + +<1> Reverend Fathers and Brothers in Christ. +<2> _Ecclesiastical Records, State of New York_, I. 432-434. +<3> Father Jogues; see earlier entries. +<4> Father Jogues was born in Orleans. + +Afterward this same Jesuit came again from France to Canada. +As our Indians had made peace with the French, he against left +Canada, and took up his residence among the Mohawks. He indulged +in the largest expectations of converting them to popery, but +the Mohawks with their hatchets put him to a violent death. +They then brought and presented to me his missal and breviary +together with his underclothing, shirts and coat. When I said +to them that I would not have thought that they would have +killed this Frenchman, they answered, that the Jesuits did not +consider the fact, that their people (the French) were always +planning to kill the Dutch. + +In the year 1644 our Indians again took captive a Jesuit,<1> +who had been treated in the same manner as to his hands and +fingers as the above mentioned. The Jesuit was brought to us +naked, with his maimed and bloody fingers. We clothed him, +placed him under the care of our surgeon, and he almost daily +fed at my table. This Jesuit, a native of Rouen,<2> was +ransomed by us from the Indians, and we sent him by ship to +France. He also returned again from France to Canada. He +wrote me a letter, as the previously mentioned one had done, +thanking me for the benefits I had conferred on him. He +stated also that he had not argued, when with me, on the +subject of religion, yet he had felt deeply interested in me +on account of my soul, and admonished me to come again into +the Papal Church from which I had separated myself. In each +case I returned such a reply that a second letter was never +sent me. + +<1> Father Giuseppe Bressani (1612-1672). +<2> Of Rome, in fact. + +The French have now for some time been at peace with our +Indians. In consequence thereof, it has happened that several +Jesuits have again gone among our Indians, who are located +about four or five days' journey from Fort Orange. But they +did not permanently locate themselves there. All returned to +Canada except one, named Simon Le Moyne. He has several times +accompanied the Indians out of their own country, and visited +Fort Orange. At length he came here to the Manhattans, +doubtless at the invitation of Papists living here, especially +for the sake of the French privateers, who are Papists, and +have arrived here with a good prize. + +He represented that he had heard the other Jesuits speak much +of me, who had also highly praised me for the favors and +benefits I had shown them; that he therefore could not, while +present here, neglect personally to pay his respects to me, +and thank me for the kindness extended to their Society. 1. +He told me that during his residence among our Indians he had +discovered a salt spring, situated fully one hundred leagues +from the sea; and the water was so salt that he had himself +boiled excellent salt from it.<1> 2. There was also another +spring which furnished oil. Oleaginous matter floated on its +surface, with which the Indians anointed their heads. 3. There +was another spring of hot sulphurous water. If paper and dry +materials were thrown into it, they became ignited. Whether +all this is true, or a mere Jesuit lie, I will not decide. I +mention the whole on the responsibility and authority of the +Jesuit. + +<1> Father Le Moyne made this discovery while sojourning among +the Onondagas in 1654. + +He told me that he had lived about twenty years among the +Indians. When he was asked what fruit had resulted from his +labors, and whether he had taught the Indians anything more +than to make the sign of the cross, and such like superstitions, +he answered that he was not inclined to debate with me, but +wanted only to chat. He spent eight days here, and examined +everything in our midst. He then liberally dispensed his +indulgences, for he said to the Papists (in the hearing of one +of our people who understood French), that they need not go to +Rome; that he had as full power from the Pope to forgive their +sins, as if they were to go to Rome. He then returned and +resided in the country of the Mohawks the whole winter. In +the spring, however, troubles began to arise again between our +Indians and the Canadians. He then packed up his baggage, and +returned to Canada. On his journey, when at Fort Orange, he +did not forget me, but sent me three documents: the first, +on the succession of the Popes; the second, on the Councils; +and the third was about heresies, all written out by himself. +He sent with them also, a letter to me, in which he exhorted +me to peruse carefully these documents, and meditate on them, +and that Christ hanging on the Cross was still ready to receive +me, if penitent. I answered him by the letter herewith +forwarded, which was sent by a yacht going from here to the +river St. Lawrence in New France.<1> I know not whether I +shall receive an answer. + +Valete, Domini Fratres, Vester ex officio,<2> + +JOANNES MEGAPOLENSIS +1658, Sept. 28. + +<1> One of the fruits of Father Le Moyne's visit to New Netherland +was that the Dutch obtained from the governor of Canada permission +to carry on trade, except the fur trade, on the St. Lawrence. +<2> Farewell, brethren; yours officially. + + +Rev. Henricus Selyns to the Classis of Amsterdam +(October 4, 1660) + +Reverend, Wise and Pious Teachers: + +We cannot be so forgetful as to omit to inform you concerning +our churches and services. While at sea, we did not neglect +religious worship, but every morning and evening we besought +God's guidance and protection, with prayer and the singing of +a psalm. On Sundays and feast-days the Holy Gospel was read, +when possible. The sacrament was not administered on shipboard, +and we had no sick people during the voyage. God's favor brought +us all here in safety and health. Arrived in New Netherland, we +were first heard at the Manhattans; but the peace-negotiations at +the Esopus,<1> where we also went, and the general business of +the government necessarily delayed our installation until now. +We have preached here at the Esopus, also at Fort Orange; during +This time of waiting we were well provided with food and lodging. +Esopus needs more people, but Breuckelen more money; wherefore I +serve on Sundays, in the evenings only, at the General's bouwery,<2> +at his expense. The installation at Brooklyn was made by the +Honorable Nicasius de Sille, fiscaal,<3> and Martin Kriegers, +burgomaster,<4> with an open commission from his Honor the +Director-General.<5> I was cordially received by the magistrates +and consistory, and greeted by Domine Polhemius. We do not preach +in a church, but in a barn; next winter we shall by God's favor +and the general assistance of the people erect a church. + +<1> The Indians of Esopus had broken out in hostilities in the +autumn of 1659. The next summer Stuyvesant went there, after +some defeats of the tribe, and made peace formally, July 15, +1660. A congregation had lately been formed there, which called +Domine Harmanus Blom to be its pastor. +<2> Stuyvesant's Bowery, or farm, acquired by him in 1651, lay in +the present region of Third Avenue and Tenth Street. Near the +present site of St. Mark's Church he built a chapel for his +family, his negro slaves, some forty in number, and the other +inhabitants of the neighborhood. +<3> Of New Netherland. +<4> Of New Amsterdam. +<5> For this letter of induction, see _Ecclesiastical Records_, +I. 480. + +The audience is passably large, coming from Middelwout, New +Amersfort, and often Gravesande increases it; but most come +from the Manhattans. The Ferry, the Walebacht, and Guyanes,<1> +all belong to Breuckelen. The Ferry is about two thousand +paces across the river, or to the Manhattans, from the Breuckelen +Ferry. I found at Breuckelen one elder, two deacons, twenty +four members, thirty one householders, and one hundred and +thirty-four people. The consistory will remain for the present +as it is. In due time we will have more material and we will +know the congregation better. Cathechizing will not be held +here before the winter; but we will begin it at the preaching +service there. It will be most suitable to administer the +Lord's Supper on Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide and in September. +On the day following these festivals-days a thanksgiving sermon +will be preached. I might have taken up my residence at the +Manhattans, because of its convenience; but my people, all of +them evincing their love and affection for me, have provided +me a dwelling of which I cannot complain. I preach at Breuckelen +in the morning; but at the Bouwery at the end of the catechetical +sermon. The Bouwery is a place of relaxation and pleasure, +whither people go from the Manhattans, for the evening service. +There are there forty negroes, from the region of the Negro +Coast, besides the household families. There is here as yet no +consistory, but the deacons from New Amsterdam provisionally +receive the alms; and at least one deacon, if not an elder, +ought to be chosen there. Besides myself, there are in New +Netherland the Domines Joannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius +at New Amsterdam; Domine Gideon Schaats at Fort Orange; Domine +Joannes Polhemius at Middelwout and New Amersfort; and Domine +Hermanus Blom at the Esopus. I have nothing more to add, except +to express my sincere gratitude and to make my respectful +acknowledgements. I commend your Reverences, wise and pious +teachers, to God's protection, and am, + +Yours humbly, + +HENRICUS SELYNS, Minister of the Holy Gospel at Breuckelen. + +>From Amsterdam on the Manhattans, +Oct. 4, 1660. + +<1> Wallabout and Gowanus. + + +Rev. Henricus Selyns to the Classis of Amsterdam +(June 9, 1664). + +Very Reverend, Pious and Learned Brethren in Christ: + +With Christian salutations of grace and peace, this is to +inform you, that with proper submission, we take the liberty +of reporting to the Very Rev. Classis the condition and welfare +of the Church of Jesus Christ, to which your Reverences called +me, as well as my request and friendly prayer for an honorable +dismission. + +As for me, your Rev. Assembly sent me to the congregation at +Breuckelen to preach the Gospel there, and administer the +sacraments. This we have done to the best of our ability; and +according to the size of the place with a considerable increase +of members. There were only a few members there on my arrival; +but these have with God's help and grace increased fourfold. + +Trusting that it would not displease your Reverences, and would +also be very profitable to the Church of Christ, we found it +easy to do what might seem troublesome; for we have also taken +charge of the congregation at the General's Bouwery in the +evening, as we have told you before. An exception to this +arrangement is made in regard to the administration of the Lord's +Supper. As it is not customary with your Reverences to administer +it in the evening, we thought, after conference with our Reverend +Brethren of the New Amsterdam congregation, and mature +deliberation, that it would be more edifying to preach at the +Bouwery, on such occasions, in the morning, and then have the +Communion, after the Christian custom of our Fatherland. + +As to baptisms, the negroes occasionally request that we should +baptize their children, but we have refused to do so, partly on +account of their lack of knowledge and of faith, and partly +because of the worldly and perverse aims on the part of said +negroes. They wanted nothing else than to deliver their +children from bodily slavery, without striving for piety and +Christian virtues. Nevertheless when it was seemly to do so, +we have, to the best of our ability, taken much trouble in +private and public catechizing. This has borne but little +fruit among the elder people who have no faculty of comprehension; +but there is some hope for the youth who have improved reasonably +well. Not to administer baptism among them for the reasons +given, is also the custom among our colleagues.<1> But the most +important thing is, that the Father of Grace and God of Peace +has blessed our two congregations with quietness and harmony, +out of the treasury of his graciousness; so that we have had no +reason to complain to the Rev. Classis, which takes such things, +however, in good part; or to trouble you, as we might have +anticipated. + +<1> The enslaving of Africans having at first been justified on +the ground of their heathenism, the nation that to baptize them +would make it unlawful to hold them in bondage was frequent +among owners in the seventeenth century, and operated to deter +them from permitting the Christianizing of their slaves. "I +may not forget a resolution which his Maty [James II.] made, +and had a little before enter'd upon it at the Council Board, +at Windsor or Whitehall, that the Negroes in the Plantations +should all be baptiz'd, exceedingly declaiming against that +impiety of their masters prohibiting it, out of a mistaken +opinion that they would be ipso facto free; but his Maty persists +in his resolution to have them chisten'd, wch piety the Bishop +[Ken] blessed him for." Evelyn, _Diary_, II. 479 (1685). + +Meanwhile, the stipulated number of years, pledged to the West +India Company, is diminishing; although the obligation we owe +to them who recommend us<1> naturally continues. Also, on +account of their old age, we would love to see again our +parents, and therefore we desire to return home. On revolving +the matter in my mind, and not to be lacking in filial duty, I +felt it to be proper to refer the subject to God and my greatly +beloved parents who call for me, whether I should remain or +return home at the expiration of my contract. + +<1> The classis. + +As we understand, they are, next to myself, most anxious for +my return, and have received my discharge from the Hon. Directors, +and have notified the Deputies ad Causas Indicas thereof, which +has pleased us. We trust that we shall receive also from your +Reverences a favorable reply, relying upon your usual kindness. +Yet it is far from us to seem to pass by your Reverences, and +give the least cause for dissatisfaction. I have endeavored to +deserve the favor of the Rev. Classis by the most arduous services +for the welfare of Christ's church, and am always ready to serve +your Reverences. + +It is my purpose when I return home, when my stipulated time is +fulfilled, to give a verbal account of my ministry here, and the +state of the church, that you may be assured that any omissions +in duty have been through ignorance. + +Domine Samuel Megapolensis<1> has safely arrived, but Domine +Warnerus Hadson,<2> whom you had sent as preacher to the South +River, died on the passage over. It is very necessary to supply +his place, partly on account of the children who have not been +baptized since the death of Domine Wely,<3> and partly on +account of the abominable sentiments of various persons there, +who speak very disrespectfully of the Holy Scriptures. + +<1> Reverend Samuel Megapolensis, born in 1634, studied three +years at Harvard College and three at the University of Utrecht. +In 1662 he was called by the classis of Amsterdam to the +ministry in New Netherland, and ordained by them. In 1664, +having meanwhile studied medicine at Leyden, he went out to New +Netherland, and was minsiter of Breukelen from that time to +1669, when he returned to Holland. He died in 1700 as pastor +emeritus of the Scottish church at Dordrecht. +<2> Elsewhere called Hassingh. +<3> Reverend Everardus Welius, minister of New Amstel from +1657 to 1659, died in the latter year, leaving without pastor +a church of sixty members. + +In addition there is among the Swedes a certain Lutheran preacher, +who does not lead a Christian life.<1> There is also another +person, who has exchanged the Lutheran pulpit for a schoolmaster's +place. This undoubtedly has done great damage among the sheep, +who have so long wandered about without a shepherd except the +forementioned pastor, who leads such an unchristian life. God +grant that no damage be done to Christ's church, and that your +Reverences may provide a blessed instrument for good. + +<1> Lokenius's wife ran away from him, and he too hastily married +another before obtaining his divorce. The person next alluded to +is probably Abelius Selskoorn, a student, who for a time had +conducted divine service at Sandhook (Fort Casimir). + +In view of the deplorable condition of New Netherland, for the +savages have killed, wounded and captured some of our people, +and have burnt several houses at the Esopus, and the English, +with flying banners, have declared our village and the whole of +Long Island to belong to the King:<1> therefore the first +Wednesday of each month since last July has been observed as a +day of fasting and prayer, in order to ask God for his fatherly +compassion and pity. The good God, praise be to him, has +brought about everything for the best, by the arrival of the +last ships. The English are quiet, the savages peaceful; our +lamentations have been turned into songs of praise, and the +monthly day of fasting into a day of thanksgiving. Thus we +spent last Wednesday, the last of the days of prayer. Blessed +be God who causes wars to cease to the ends of the earth, and +breaks the bow and spear asunder. Herewith, Very Reverend, +Pious, and Learned Brethren in Christ, be commend to God for +the perfecting of the saints and the edification of the body +of Christ. Vale. + +Your Reverences' humble servant in Christ Jesus, + +HENRICUS SELYNS. + +Breuckelen, in New Netherland, +June 9, 1664. + +<1> The boundaries between New England and New Netherland had +always been in dispute. The English population on Long Island +grew, an encroached upon the Dutch towns at the west end; and +the towns in that region which were partly English, partly +Dutch in population were of doubtful allegiance. The graceless +Major John Scott, coming to the island with some royal authority, +formed a combination of Hempstead, Gravesend, Flushing, Newtown, +Jamaica and Oyster Bay, with himself as president, and then +proceeded (January, 1664), at the head of 170 men, to reduce +the neighboring Dutch villages. Some account of the affair, in +the shape in which it reached the Dutch public, may be seen in +the extract printed at the end of this letter. + +[The following account of the English encroachments upon Long +Island has not been previously translated. It may serve as a +summary of the events, or at least of the version of them which +came before the Dutch public soon after. It is derived from +the _Hollantze Mercurius_ of 1664 (Haerlem, 1665), being part 15 +of the _Mercurius_, which was an annual of the type of the modern +_Annual Register_ or of Wassenaer's _Historisch Verhael_, whch +preceded it. The passage is at page 10. + +In New Netherland the English made bold to come out of New +England upon various villages and places belonging under the +protection of Their High Mightinesses and the Dutch West India +Company even upon Long Island, setting up the banner of Britain +and proclaiming that they knew of no New Netherland but that +that land belonged solely to the English nation. Finally their +wisest conceded, since thus many troubles had arisen about the +boundary, that representatives of both nations should come +together upon that subject. This was carried out in November +last. The Dutch commissioners went to Boston, where they were +received by four companies of citizens and a hundred cavalrymen. +There they were told that the commissioners on the English side +could not arrive to treat of the matter for eight days.<1> +Meanwhile the English incited three or four villages to revolt +against their government. But all those that were of divided +population, like those of Heemstede and Gravesande, refused to +accept the English king but said that they had thus far been +well ruled by Their High Mightinesses and would so remain, +though they were English born. Afterward Heemstede was also +subdued but Vlissingen held itself faithful, and some places +remained neutral, while the commissioners were detained and +finally came again to Amsterdam without having accomplished +anything. Meanwhile also the savages of Esopus played their +part, having made bold at a place on the river to attack two +Dutchmen and cut off their heads.<2>] + +<1> The journalist here confounds Stuyvesant's visit to Boston +in September, 1663, to meet the Commissioners of the United +Colonies of New England, with that which his envoys, Van Ruyven, +Van Cortlandt and Lawrence, made to Hartford in October, to +confer with the General Assembly of Connecticut. His date of +November is wrong for both. The attempt to revolutionize the +English villages on Long Island had taken place in September; +their internal revolt occurred in November. Stuyvesant was +obliged to acquiesce. The "Combination" of the English towns +under the presidency of Major John Scott and his attempt to +win the Dutch towns from their allegiance, took place in +January and February, 1664. Stuyvesant was again unable to +make effectual resistance, but made a truce with Scott for +twelve months. +<2> After three years of peace at Esopus, the Indians again +broke out in hostilities in June, 1663, resulting in the +slaughter of twenty-one settlers and the captivity of forty- +five others. Three successive expeditions, under Burgomaster +Martin Kregier, in July, September and October, destroyed the +forts of the Indians, broke down their resistance, and released +most of the captives. Captain Kregier's journal of these +expeditions is printed in O'Callaghan's _Documentary History_, +IV. 45-98. + + +Rev. Samuel Drisius to the Classis of Amsterdam +(August 5, 1664). + +The Peace of Christ. + +Reverend, Learned and Beloved Brethren in Christ Jesus: + +I find a letter from the Rev. Classis, which I have not yet +answered; and a good opportunity now offering itself by the +departure of our colleague, Domine Henricus Selyns, I cannot +omit to write a letter to your Reverences. We could have +wished, that Domine Selyns had longer continued with us, both +on account of his diligence and success in preaching and +catechizing, and of his humble and edifying life. By this he +has attracted a great many people, and even some of the negroes, +so that many are sorry for his departure. But considering the +fact that he owes filial obedience to his aged parents, it is +God's will that he should leave us. We must be resigned, +therefore, while we commit him to God and the word of His grace. + +Concerning the places in which he has preached, especially the +village called Breuckelen, and the Bouwerie, nothing has been +decided yet; but I think that the son of Domine Megapolensis, +who has recently come over, will take charge of them, as he +has not been sent by the Directors to any particular place. + +The French on Staten Island would also like to have a preacher, +but as they number only a few families, are very poor, and +cannot contribute much to a preacher's salary, and as our +support here is slow and small, there is not much hope, that +they will receive the light. In the meantime, that they may +not be wholly destitute, Director Stuyvesant has, at their +request, allowed me to go over there every two months, to +preach and administer the Lord's Supper. This I have now +done for about a year. In the winter this is very difficult, +for it is a long stretch of water, and it is sometimes windy, +with a heavy sea. We have, according to the decision of the +Classis, admitted the Mennonist, who is quite unknown to us, +to the communion, without rebaptism;<1> but last week he and +his wife removed to Curacao in the West Indies, to live there. +The preacher, sent to New Amstel on the South River, died on +the way, as we are told. Ziperius left for Virginia long ago.<2> +He behaved most shamefully here, drinking, cheating and forging +other people's writings, so that he was forbidden not only to +preach, but even to keep school. Closing herewith I commend +the Rev. Brethren to God's protection and blessing in their +work. This is the prayer of + +Your Reverences' dutiful friend in Christ, + +SAMUEL DRISIUS. + +New Amsterdam, +August 5, Anno 1664. + +<1> In a letter of October 4, 1660, Drisius had consulted the +classis on the question whether a well-behaved young man +residing in New Amsterdam, formerly one of the Mennonites and +baptized by them, might be admitted to the Lord's Supper without +rebaptism. The classis, by letter of December 16, 1661, ruled +that according to the practice of the Dutch churches, his +Mennonite baptism was to be regarded as sufficient. +<2> Michael Ziperius and his wife came from Curacao in 1659, +hoping to receive a call in New Netherland. The classis warned +Drisius against him. + + + +The Rev. Samuel Drisius to the Classis of Amsterdam +(September 15, 1664).<1> + +To the Reverend, Learned and Pious Brethren of the Rev. Classis +of Amsterdam: + +I cannot refrain from informing you of our present situation, +namely, that we have been brought under the government of the +King of England. On the 26th of August there arrived in the +Bay of the North River, near Staten Island, four great men-of- +war, or frigates, well manned with sailors and soldiers. They +were provided with a patent or commission from the King of Great +Britain to demand and take possession of this province, in the +name of His Majesty. If this could not be done in an amicable +way, they were to attack the place, and everything was to be +thrown open for the English soldiers to plunder, rob and pillage. +We were not a little troubled by the arrival of these frigates. + +<1> There is another translation of this letter in _N.Y. Col. +Doc._, XIII. 393-394. + +Our Director-General and Council, with the municipal authorities +of the city, took the matter much to heart and zealously sought, +by messages between them and General Richard Nicolls, to delay +the decision. They asked that the whole business should be +referred to His Majesty of England, and the Lords States General +of the Netherlands; but every effort was fruitless. They landed +their soldiers about two leagues from here, at Gravezandt, and +marched them over Long Island to the Ferry opposite this place. +The frigates came up under full sail on the 4th of September +with guns trained to one side. They had orders, and intended, +if any resistance was shown to them, to give a full broadside on +this open place, then take it by assault, and make it a scene of +pillage and bloodshed. + +Our Hon. Rulers of the Company, and the municipal authorities of +the city, were inclined to defend the place, but found that it +was impossible, for the city was not in a defensible condition.<1> +And even if fortified, it could not have been defended, because +every man posted on the circuit of it would have been four rods +distant from his neighbor. Besides, the store of powder in the +fort, as well as in the city, was small. No relief or assistance +could be expected, while daily great numbers on foot and on +horseback, from New England, joined the English, hotly bent upon +plundering the place. Savages and privateers also offered their +services against us. Six hundred Northern Indians with one +hundred and fifty French privateers, had even an English commission. +Therefore upon the earnest request of our citizens and other +inhabitants, our authorities found themselves compelled to come +to terms, for the sake of avoiding bloodshed and pillage. The +negotiations were concluded on the 6th of September.<2> The +English moved in on the 8th, according to agreement. + +<1> See the remonstrance which the inhabitants addressed to +Stuyvesant, _N.Y. Col. Doc._, II. 248. +<2> Articles of capitulation, ibid., 250-253, and Brodhead, +_History of New York_, I. 762-763. + +After the surrender of the place several Englishmen, who had +lived here a long time and were our friends, came to us, and +said that God had signally overruled matters, that the affair +had been arranged by negotiations; else nothing but pillage, +bloodshed ad general ruin would have followed. This was +confirmed by several soldiers who said that they had come here +from England hoping for booty; but that now, since the matter +turned out so differently, they desired to return to England. + +The Articles of Surrender stipulate that our religious services +and doctrines, together with the preachers, shall remain and +continue unchanged. Therefore we could not separate ourselves +from our congregation and hearers, but consider it our duty to +remain with them for some time yet, that they may not scatter +and run wild. + +The Hon. Company still owes me a considerable sum, which I hope +and wish they would pay. Closing herewith, I recommend your +Honors' persons and work to God's blessing and remain, + +Your willing colleague, + +SAMUEL DRISIUS. + +Manhattan, September 15, 1664. + + + + +END PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF "LETTERS OF THE DUTCH MINISTERS" + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Narrative New Netherland, by J.F. Jameson, Ed. + diff --git a/old/nwnth10.zip b/old/nwnth10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b55fb00 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nwnth10.zip |