bouwery, four consecutive years. We can well understand, that the traders going there and returning again with their barter bring little profit to the inhabitants, but the remedy proposed by you to prevent it is in our opinion as impracticable, as the preceding, principally in the infancy of a newly opened country, whose growth must be promoted rather by encouraging and unlimited privileges, than by prohibitions and restrictions, for to constrain people to engage in building houses or in farming, who have often neither the means nor the inclination to do it, is repugnant, and to compel them to remain, servile and slavish. However to benefit the inhabitants as much as possible we have thought it would be convenient and less dangerous for the increase of the country to prepare and pass the following order, to wit: that henceforth no traders coming there shall be allowed to sell or take into the interiors any goods as abovesaid, unless they keep a public shop there: by this measure not only the barterings to a large extent will be prevented, but these traders will also be compelled to contribute to the ordinary and extraordinary taxes, which our inhabitants now pay. You will therefore act accordingly and before we leave this subject let us warn you against passing, much less publishing hereafter any more such or similar orders or rules, before having consulted our opinion in regard to them, for that we consider necessary for the interest of the Company and this government.

We are not pleased with the assertion of the authorities of the Colony of Renselaerswyck, that even in time of need and war they are not obliged to assist; we consider it entirely unfounded, unreasonable and unfair, for under such circumstances, nobody, whatever privileges and exemptions he may have obtained, should be spared or excused, as the daily occurrences in our country here now sufficiently teach us. What further concerns the running expenses for salaries of the civil, ecclesiastical and military officers, the maintaining of the fortifications erected and remaining for the support and protection of the community, it is only just and fair, that, as the royalties and revenues of the Company there are not sufficient, the inhabitants help in bearing the expenses, as it is done in all other well governed countries and cities.

We are at present engaged in examining the question whether tithes should be exacted from the Colony of Renselaerswyck, so that you may expect our opinion concerning it by the first opportunity: but as van Twiller and others pretend, that some more land has been granted there, which is not yet subject to tithes, we have deemed it necessary to direct and recommend to you, that you cause the Secretary, (we hope Tienhoven has the fullest information on this subject), to make an examination and send us speedily a correct and detailed statement of the parcels of land, granted there from time to time since the beginning with a specification of the conditions, that we may so much better and surer govern ourselves accordingly.

We have decided absolutely to deny the request made by some of our inhabitants, adherents of the Augsburg confession, for a preacher and free exercise of their religion, pursuant to the custom hitherto observed by us and the East India Company, on account of the consequences arising therefrom, and we recommend to you also not to receive any similar petitions, but rather to turn them off in the most civil and least offensive way and to employ all possible but moderate means in order to induce them to listen and finally join the Reformed church and thus live in greater love and harmony among themselves.

We have been pleased to see the zeal of several of our inhabitants of a new village on Long Island for the Reformed religion and that it may not cool, we have resolved upon their representation to contribute in the beginning 600 fl yearly and are looking about here for a fit and pious teacher or minister: we have also notified the reverend Classis here, so that you and the people may expect him by the first opportunity. We are hereby reminded, that now and then complaints

are made to us of the inconveniences and troubles, to which Domines Johannis Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius are unreasonably exposed there by the irregular and scanty payment of their respective salaries. We are astonished to hear, that even the former has to claim an arrear of several thousand guilders, although you had made a special agreement with him, that his salary should be paid there, while the other has been sent to you on the same condition: as this has always been your proposition, based upon so good and fair reasons, and was really necessary, as stated before, it surprises us, that you take no better care to place these men above want. To prevent this in future, we deem it requisite to charge you herewith and seriously recommend, that you satisfy the demands of these persons as best you can there, so that no further complaints are made to us.

We should have stopped here and closed our letter, if we were not frequently embarrassed by not having the general and special account books; we have mentioned this in our previous letters and as we cannot wait any longer, being kept entirely ignorant and blindfolded in regard to the expenses and revenues of the Company there, because to our great astonishment no books of account have been sent over for several years, we have considered it highly necessary to charge and command most earnestly, that you send over speedily by the first ship not only the missing books and accounts, but henceforth also cause to be made a correct and detailed statement of the expenses and revenues, entered there from time to time to be sent to us promptly and without delay every year, that we may act accordingly.

With the ships sailing from here to New Netherland (this sails from Rochelle) we intend to send you a detachment of soldiers, ammunition of war and other necessaries urgently needed there and as three are already loading and two or three are reported to intend taking freight for New Netherland, you may expect all very soon.

ORDER DIRECTING THE MAGISTRATES OF GRAVESEND TO PRODUCE THEIR CHARTER IN PROOF OF

CERTAIN ASSERTIONS MADE BY THEM.

Ultimo March, 1654 at New Amsterdam.

The Magistrates and inhabitants of Gravesend having written a certain letter to the Hon" Director-General, the following answer was sent to them:

ble

It is resolved regarding the within letter, that the Magistrates and inhabitants of Gravesend must prove by their patent or at least by an authenticated copy thereof their right, both to nominate and elect their Magistrates and to continue them in office during their own pleasure. Enacted at the session of the Director-General and Council, on the date as above.

ORDINANCE AGAINST PIRATES AND VAGABONDS AND REQUIRING STRANGERS TO REPORT AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THEMSELVES. PASSED APRIL 8, 1654.

(Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 155.)

ORDINANCE OF THE DISTRICT COURT AT BREUCKELEN ETC., FOR THE BETTER DEFENSE OF THE DUTCH TOWNS ON LONG ISLAND, APPROVED APRIL 8, 1654.

(See Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 159.)

COMMISSION APPOINTING SECRETARY VAN TIENHOVEN AND BURGOMASTER CREGIER TO GO AS ENVOYS TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW HAVEN.

Anno 1654, New Amsterdam, on the 8th of April.

Petrus Stuyvesant, on behalf of their Noble High: Might: the Lords States General of the United Netherlands and of the Noble Lords-Directors of the Priv. West India Company, Director General of New Netherland, Curaçao, Bonayro, Aruba and dependencies, with the Honorable Council, to all who shall read this or hear it read Greeting:

Know ye, that in pursuance of the directions of our principals we have only endeavored and aimed at, as we still are aiming at a continuation of our former intercourse, commerce and peace with our Christian neighbors and co-religionists without regard to any unexpected diferences and deporable misunderstandings between our respective Governments in Europe. For this reason we have already a long time ago addressed several friendly missives to the neighboring Governors, but meanwhile some rovers and pirates have turned up,-we do not know under what authority, or whose commission, who during last summer have uttered threats and committed several hostile acts, invasions and attacks upon the good inhabitants in the country, Dutch as well as English, on land and sea, robbing and plundering William Harck and Jochim Petersen Kuyter, stealthily taking away a vessel belonging to John Tobyn, stealing and leading off 9 or 10 horses from the village of Amersfoort on Long Island and 3 or 4 negroes sent out to recapture and bring back some fugitive negroes. Having suffered these and other hostilities at the hands of the said robbers and pirates not only last year, but also again quite recently in the person of William Harck, when they added many threats of fire and massacre to be inflicted upon other good inhabitants of this Province,

We, the Director-General and Council, believe ourselves compelled by our official position and its duties, upon the repeated complaints of our good subjects, to prevent them by all honest and admissible means, as far as we can and to protect our good subjects against all such rovers, pirates and thieves.

Therefore the Director-General and Council have resolved to have them pursued, attacked and captured either on land or on water, as well by means of power, entrusted to us by God and our Sovereigns, as by the weapons and own defensive means of our good subjects, without however being inclined or intending to give thereby to our Christian neighbors any cause for offense, much less to commit any hostilities against them.

In order to inform and assure hereof the neighboring Governors, Lieutenant-Governors and Magistrates, we have considered it necessary and advisable to appoint and send as envoys to our next neighbor, the Honble Theophilus Eton, Governor of New-Haven, the Councillor and Fiscal of New Netherland Mr. Cornelis van Tienhoven and Mr. Martin Cregier, Burgomaster and Captain of one of the Citizens' Companies of this City of New Amsterdam, who are to inform and advise the said Honble Governor and his Council, as well as all, whom it may concern, of our real and sincere intentions in equipping and making ready some yachts for the protection of the commerce on the rivers and waters between us and our neighbors and in commanding our good subjects, Dutch and English, to keep order and good watch and be ready for all emergencies. All this is intended for and aims at the protection of our good inhabitants in the open country without any thought of doing injury or damage to or molesting, much less committing any acts of hostility against our neighbors. If it should happen that in the pursuit of these robbers and pirates some of our far off living subjects or of our neighbors might be damaged in their cattle, houses or vessels, which we will not hope and against which we have given strict orders, then we engage ourselves to give prompt and just satisfaction therefor, as soon as we are informed of it.

Regarding the capture and detention of one Thomas Baxter, formerly the leader and captain of these robbers and pirates, in whose name and pretended authority the above related robberies and thefts were committed partly by himself, partly by his accomplices, our aforesaid deputies are especially authorized and directed to inform the said Honble Governor of it and ask for his wise counsel and aid as to how the stolen property may be recovered, also to speak with him concerning the abduction of Captain Cregier's negroes protected by a safe-conduct of the said Honorable Governor and kidnapped within his own jurisdiction. They are further to consult with his Honor concerning the flight and recapture of a certain Jan de Jongh and finally to propose and ask for a continuation of the former intercourse, commerce and neighborly friendship.

We, the Director-General and Council promise herewith to approve, confirm and ratify all that in this respect shall have been done, covenanted and contracted by our deputies, the Honble Messrs. Cornelis van Tienhoven and Martin Cregier.

Given at our meeting at New Amsterdam, this 8th of April 1654.

P. STUYVESANT.

NICASIUS DE SILLE, LAMONTAGNE, C. VAN WERCKHOVEN.

ORDER DIRECTING A RESIDENT OF BREUCKELEN TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, FOR REFUSING TO SERVE AS MAGISTRATE.

Anno 1654, April 9th, New Amsterdam.

Whereas Jan Eversen Boot, an inhabitant and owner of real estate in Breuckelen, on Long Island, has at the election of Schepens in the village of Breuckelen also been elected Schepen by the Director-General and Council, which office he refused to accept, saying he would rather remove to Holland, than undertake such duties, whereupon at the time the Director-General replied "If you will not accept to serve as Schepen for the welfare of the village of Breuckelen with others, your fellow-residents, then you must prepare yourself to sail in the ship "King Solomon" for Holland agreeably to your own utterance,"

Therefore the Honble Director-General and High Council, in consideration of the obstinacy of the said Jan Eversen Bout and the subsequent disorders, which could arise therefrom, have directed their Fiscal Cornelis van Tienhoven, to inform the said Jan Eversen by the Sheriff David Provoost, that he must leave.

Thus done etc.

P. STUYVESANT.

N. DE SILLE, LA MONTAGNE, C. VAN WERCKHOVEN.

PASSPORT FOR THE ENVOYS TO NEW HAVEN.

The bearers hereof, namely the Honble Cornelis van Tienhoven, Councillor and Fiscal of New Netherland and his Honor Martin Cregier, Burgomaster and Captain in the trainbands of this City, are deputed and commissioned by the Director-General and Council of New Netherland to go as Agents in behalf of this Province to the Honble Governor Theophilus Eton at New Haven and so much farther as the occasion may require. Therefore all Christian Governors, LieutenantGovernors and Magistrates of the neighboring Colonies are hereby requested, to receive and acknowledge the above said parties as such, and to allow them to go and come according to the laws of nation with the yacht and the persons under their command and their property, which we promise under similar circumstances to do also.

Done at New Amsterdam, 14th April 1654.

ORDER ON A PETITION OF THE AUTHORITIES AT FORT ORANGE, RELATING TO LIMITS OF JURISDICTION, LANDS GRANTED TO THE PATROON AND APPOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES.

The following decision was given upon a petition sent to the Director-General and Council by the Commissary and Magistrates of Fort Orange and Beverwick Village dated the 16th March 1654.

As to the first point the Director-General and Council resolve, that in due time the Noble Lords-Directors shall be communicated with, in order to hear their advice. In the meantime permission is given, that the Court of the Colony shall have jurisdiction, as heretofore and until further orders from the Fatherland have been received, within the limits of Fort Orange and Beverwyck Village, except that they shall not issue summons or make arrests within these limits, unless they have first asked for permission to enter upon the territory, and then their duties shall be performed by the regular Court messenger of Fort Orange and Beverwyck Village.

The Director-General and Council consider the second, third, fourth and fifth points reasonable and proper; pertinent orders and documents shall be made for this purpose in due time and sent to the Court.

Concerning the sixth point, it is the opinion of the Director-General and Council, that the lands granted to the Patroon or Patroons under the Exemptions must remain at their disposal until further orders from the Lords-Directors. The Director-General and Council refuse therefore