The English people outside of the Province of New Netherland, laboring under the same difficulties as our inhabitants, have proposed to make with our Director a league, to help each other in time of need or trouble and whereas they are much stronger in numbers than our people, they propose to bring into the field two men against one from our side provided that they also have a double voice in deciding on the legality or illegality of injuries done or war to be commenced.

A committee of their High: Might: have last year provided with safe-guards all the indecent complainants, who came here from New Netherland, and relying thereon they now, on their return there, believe themselves authorized to commit all kinds of disorders by instigating evil-minded persons against the Director and the Company's officers.

The Vice-Director, Lubbert van Dincklage, countenances these quarrelsome fellows as much as possible; therefore the Directors had decided to recall him by the last ships, that he might answer for his actions. But before our letters reached there, he had gone to Staten Island and joined Cornelis Melyn, the principal actor in these strifes and quarrels, who notwithstanding the protests of the Directors was last year provided with "surete de corps" and allowed to return there. Upon the Island they have established a government according to their own notion, also a judicial court: we prefer to be silent on the point, under whose direction and authority this is done.

The honorable committee of their High: Might: have sent without knowledge of the Directors as Notary Public to New Netherland one Dirck van Schelluyn, who there calls himself authorized by their High: Might: and as such a movement is directly against the orders of the Company, the Directors feel themselves much aggrieved by it.

The said honorable committee of their High: Might: have appointed as Captain of the train bands in New Amsterdam one Jacob van Couwenhoven, one of the deputies, who last year came hither as complainants without cause: we say without cause, as according to the last letters received, both the aforesaid communities have had no knowledge of it and in fact protest against their action.

The inhabitants of New Netherland say, that if the government here could be persuaded to abolish the duty on tobacco grown there, the people would be encouraged to raise more of it, as the soil there is better adapted to it than in the Caribean Islands; they think, that by such a step not only the greater part of the English and French trade to these islands could be secured for us, but also that even the English of Virginia would send their return freights of tobacco mostly by way of New Netherland.

It must be considered, that in Zeeland and we believe also in some other provinces except Holland tobacco is not subjected to the impost of the tobacco duty and it may be presumed, that, even if the produce of New Netherland were exempted, the tax upon tobacco could still be farmed out, as now only a small quantity comes from there.

The said Directors find themselves very much embarrassed and inconvenienced by the colonies granted in former times with too extensive privileges and exemtions, which have made their owners so overweening, that some of them went so far in misusing their privileges as to believe, that they could prevent and forbid inhabitants of New Netherland to trade within their colonies; this is contrary to the law of nature, especially as understood in this country and by this people.

Whereas most of the preceding facts are considered to be of such nature, that the Directors as a body cannot resolve or give orders thereon,

Therefore they very respectfully request your honorable Worships' wise counsel and advice and thus doing etc.

Delivered the 13th day of February 1652.

This matter has been considered in a conference held with the following members of the Council on the 14th day of February 1652, Messrs. Spiegel, Van Hoorn and Blaeuw.

The Council of this city has thereupon resolved as follows on the 15th:

EXTRACT FROM THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM.

February 15th 1652.

A committee of the Council having been appointed to examine a representation made by the Directors of the W. I. Co., wherein they ask for the honorable Council's decision and advice, as to what to do in regard to some difficulties, which they complain, they encounter in the administration of New Netherland and the said committee having reported their remarks thereon,

Resolved to advise the Directors as follows: First. The officers of the Company in New Netherland must resist with all proper force and means the violence and invasions of the savages, who, they say, have for some time past murdered their subjects, captured children and stolen cattle and for this purpose they may enter into and make a league in such manner, as they deem most beneficial for their own safety and reputation.

The committee are of opinion, that no deputy of their High: Might: has the right to grant safe-guards, by which evil-minded persons, as mentioned in the remonstrance of the Directors, might gain an advantage over them and under the cover of which they can withdraw themselves from the allegiance and jurisdiction of the Company: it is contrary to the charter, which places the management of the Company's affairs in general into the hands of the Assembly of the XIX, while that of New Netherland, by resolution of the XIX, has been entrusted to the Department of Amsterdam; therefore, notwithstanding a safe-guard has been granted, proceedings, as authorized by law, may there be instituted against Dincklagen, Cornelis Melyn, Dirck van Schelluyne, Jacob van Couwenhoven and all others, who either avail themselves of these safeguards or else do not comply with the rules and orders of the Company: should such proceedings be deemed improper, then the aforesaid persons shall be sent over here as prisoners (pede ligato), if they do not come willingly, to be examined and to answer for their actions:

The Council, being specially inclined to promote the colonization of New Netherland, would learn with great pleasure, that their Noble High: Might: are willing to exempt tobacco, at least that grown in New Netherland and coming thence, from the duty and tax of the farmer and finally :

The Lords-Burgomasters or their representatives at the Hague will assist with their good offices and all possible means the Directors of the West India Company, Department of Amsterdam, in their efforts to uphold their charter and in the consideration of the preceding points and will advocate their cause before the Supreme Government.

GERARD HULST.

LETTER FROM DEPUTY-GOVERNOR GOODYEAR OF NEW HAVEN TO DIRECTOR STUYVESANT ON TRADE
BETWEEN THE COLONIES.
Honored St.

My last was to desire you that my loving ffriend Mr. Isack Alerton might not suffer for any

Curtisie hee hath shewed to vs in the Bargine of the Shipp wherin hee stands Ingaged. I hope that small matter that yet Remaynes vnpayd being aboute 400. 0. od guild's you will see Just Cause to alow for the vse of my shipp. Alsoe therein I haue desired you to consider of gunns hee bought at an excessive Rate & prouisions bought for the men which Come in the shipp vnto all which I referr you to my former letter.*_

Now theese are to aquaint you that your Secretary aquainting mee wth a desire you had of some prouisions (and my owne desire being to settle a trade wth you if I might upon a Just & equall way of dealing) If you please to write a few lynes of what you desire I hope I shall furnish you wth such a quantity as shall amount to what is by Ensigne Briant propounded or wthin a 100′ of it; only I desire you to send for what you shall want as speedily as you may; & the tyme of you paym' in Coats or skins Beau's at Mr. Briants prise by him propounded. It will answer my occasions any time before the first of August next; S', I hope if you & I doe once Enter to deale each wth other that wee may doe pleasure to on & anosher; I should have made a voyadge to you for to haue procured a discharge to Mr. Alerton, but that I have many occasions heare that Requier my presents. Thus with my loue & reall respects to yourselfe & wife I Rest in haste You' very ffriend to my power

Newhaven,

25th ffebr 1651 (1652).

To the w❜full Peter Stuyvesant theese p'sent.

at Manhattes.

STEPHEN GOODYEARE.

AFFIDAVIT OF MICHAEL BERGIER, THAT CORNELIS MELYN LANDED CONTRABAND GOODS AT STATEN ISLAND, WHERE HE FORTIFIED HIS HOUSE AND MAINTAINED A GUARD OF RARITAN INDIANS. To-day, the 8th of February in the year sixteen hundred and fifty-two, before me Henrick Schaeff, Notary Public admitted by the Court of Holland and residing at Amsterdam, and before the subscribed witnesses appeared Michiel Bergier of Angouleme, about 22 years old, a servant of Yonker Johan van Waveren, late Schepen of this City, who in true words, instead of an oath, at the request of the Lords Directors of the West India Company here testifies, declares and deposes: It is true, that in the summer of the year 1650, he, the witness, was engaged by Cornelis Melyn, a freeman of New Netherland, as his servant; that in the month of August of the same year he sailed with him in the ship "Nieuwnederlantse Fortuyn," skipper Daniel Michielsen; that after remaining a long time in England they arrived in the said year at the Red Island under the jurisdiction of New England, where the said Melyn purchased some provisions of little importance selling a part of the freight, as brandy, duffels and other goods to the English; that from there they sailed in the same ship to Staten Island, where he landed secretly at night and the tide not serving a number of kegs with powder and blocks of lead, weighing 150 pounds the block, also a chest with muskets, which he, the affiant, had himself cleaned and put in order. That the Director of New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant, having been informed thereof, some time later ordered the said ship to be attached and brought up to Manhattans Island, where proceedings towards its confiscation were instituted; he, the affiant, has understood, that in the end it was confiscated. He further declares, that the said Cornelis Melyn was several

*Not preserved.-B. F.

* * *

of the

times legally summoned to appear, but he refused and did not obey the summons and that fearing he might be arrested for his refractoriness and for his aforesaid misdemeanors, he provided and strengthened himself upon Staten Island, where he resides with 117 to 118 Raritan and Southern Indians each armed with a musket, to defend him against the Director. He deposes further from his own knowledge, that by order and direction of the said Cornelis Melyn he, the affiant, with said Indians remained in the woods for several days and offers, after the foregoing deposition had been read to him to confirm it under oath in the presence of Yonker Nicolas van Waveren and Jan van Wyck, both residing in this City, who had been requested to act as witnesses and who with deponent and me, the Notary, have signed the record hereof: quod attestor. (Signed) H. SCHAEFF, not. publ.

Follows the act of verification:

We the Burgomasters and Administrators of the City of Amsterdam certify to all whom it concerns, that Michael Bergier of Angouleme about 22 years old has appeared before us upon a summons to testify to the truth at the request of the Directors of the W. I. Company and that being duly sworn he declared, deposed and said, that the foregoing affidavit, read to him by the Secretary, was true and he persisted in this declaration, so help him God Almighty!

In witness whereof the seal of this city has been hereto affixed the 13th day of February 1652. (Seal) (Signed) GERARD HULST.

AFFIDAVIT OF THE REV. WILHELMUS GRASMEER, THAT CORNELIS MELYN INCITED THE NAYACK AND OTHER INDIANS AGAINST DIR. STUYVESANT, ETC.

had

To-day, the 14th day of February A° 1652 appeared before me Hendrick Schaeff, Notary Public admitted by the Court of Holland and residing at Amsterdam, and before the undersigned witnesses the Rev. Wilhelmus Grasmeer, lately a minister of the gospel in New Netherland, whence he returned last November in the ship" Hoff van Cleeff," who being in this city, deposes and says at the request of the Directors of the Priv. West India Company, that a long time after Cornelis Melyn, a freeman of New Netherland, whom witness knows well, had arrived in New Netherland in the ship "Nieu Nederlantsche Fortuyn" on her last voyage, he, witness, heard the Manhattans Indians of New Netherland, living at Nayack, a place on Long Island directly opposite Staten Island, frequently say, that the said Cornelis Melyn had made them believe and declared to them, Director Petrus Stuyvesant would, as soon as he had built a wall around Fort Amsterdam, come to kill them, namely the savages, whereupon the said savages fled and came armed to Gravesend, which belongs under the jurisdictien of the aforesaid Company; there relying upon their arms they were guilty of many misdemeanors and using force insulted and injured the inhabitants by beating and kicking them. Being interrogated by the inhabitants, why they did so, they answered, because Cornelis Melyn had told them, that Director Stuyvesant would come to kill them; this, witness says, he heard from the inhabitants and knows, that on account of it they made complaint to the said Director and Council of the insolence, turbulence and attacks of the savages, requesting to be protected against them. He, witness, knew this from hearing and seeing it every day, being then in New Amsterdam, also that many savages of different tribes, Raritans as well as Manhattans, have come several times to his, witness', house, also into the house of the aforesaid Director, in fact into every house on Manhattan Island and said, what he, witness,

himself heard several times, that the aforesaid Melyn had bribed the savages to come and murder the Director. In consequence of this and of other threats the Council resolved, that the Director should not go out of the city of New Amsterdam unless accompanied by four armed men, which this witness has seen done daily up to the time of his departure and believes is still done. He declares further, that he knows very well, that the said Melyn has several times been duly summoned to appear before the Director and Council and to testify regarding the abuses and smuggling practised on the last voyage of the aforesaid ship, which summons he always refused to obey and he did not appear. Witness offers to confirm the foregoing if necessary under oath.

Done at Amsterdam in presence of Eryn Pietersen van Seventer and Jan Mast, citizens, as witnesses. HENRY SCHAEFF, Not. Public.

ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE ERECTION OF BUILDINGS WITHIN 600 PACES OF FORT ORANGE. Wednesday, the 5th of March 1652.

The Director General and Council of New Netherland to all, who shall see, read or hear this read Greeting:

Know ye, that we have before now several times informed and warned the Commander at the Colony of Rensslaerswyck, not to shut in and obstruct the Honble Company's Fort Orange with new buildings and houses, whereas the said Fort's liberty is generally estimated to be 600 geometrical paces* or 1200 steps, about a peterero shot distance. This order and warning has been communicated to the said Commander and to the Court of the Colony on the 23d of July 1648 by his Honor, the Director-General as well orally as in writing with this verbal request, as stated in the written propositions, not to allow the erection of any more new buildings within the liberty of the said Fort, unless he, the Commander, had previously obtained and could exhibit a special order or at least consent either from their High: Might:, our sovereigns, or from the Lords Directors of the Priv. W. I. Company as masters and owners of the Province of New Netherland: for outside of the said limits of the Fort's liberty above and below the Fort there are lots and places, more suitable for building purposes. Although these orders have been several times communicated to the said Commander by our respective Commissaries and by our letters, he has paid no attention to them, yet for the sake of accommodation and neighborly intercourse between the Fort and the dwellings of the Colony and in order to be in a better position to assist each other in time of need, we allowed ourselves to yield to the request of respectable and peaceful inhabitants so far, as to suspend provisionally after an ocular inspection until further orders from the Lords Directors their right to said limits, reserving the right to pull down the houses, if hereafter necessity demanded or the Honble Directors ordered such proceedings. The aforesaid Commander not being satisfied with that, has propriá autoritate, without recognizing any higher prerogative in this Province, gradually begun to distribute the lots nearer to the Fort not only on a quit-rent, but, we are informed by good authority, also in fee simple, which is an absolute sale; so that for the maintenance of the privileges of the Fort and of the Honble Company and their * A geometrical pace-5 feet. Encycl.