keepers' Excise on the distinct promise, that your Worships would then provide means and take care, that the ministers of the gospel should be paid their salaries. Besides this, we gave your Worships our ammunition, material and engineers' tools, you promising to pay for them or return them, which we now need ourselves, so that we cannot go on with the repairs of the fortifications, as the circumstances require. It must further be feared, that in case of an attack, the outer works not having been properly repaired, our own ordnance, taken to the outer works last year against our wishes and advice and thereby increasing our difficulties instead of adding to our safety, may be turned against us.

We repeat therefore our request, that, if the outer works cannot be repaired and made defensible, as your Worships state, the ordnance be brought back from there and taken to a place, where if it can be of no use, it can neither do damage to the Fort, which with God's help we intend to defend and protect for the honor of our Nation so long, as God shall give us his blessing for the undertaking.

I further demand that pursuant to your duty and promise the small arms and engineers' tools, which we loaned, be returned or paid for, that we may enlist and arm some more soldiers for the better defense of this Government, with which we are entrusted, and the Fort. I also demand, that the preachers be paid their past due salaries from the time, when your Worships have collected the Tavernkeepers' Excise granted provisionally to your Worships under that condition. We rely hereupon and in case of non-compliance with our requests we shall hold ourselves blameless before God and the world for all possible disasters, which may befal us and our good subjects, remaining New Amsterdam,

June 8th 1654.

Your Worships' well-meaning friend
P. STUYVESANT.

COUNCIL MINUTE. PLANS OF THE ENGLISH; RENEWED PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE. We have again heard yesterday some probable sounding rumors and news, told by an Englishman to several of our subjects, among others to Govert Loockermans, Pieter Wolfertsen, Jacob van Couwenhooven and Jacques Corteljou, tutor to Mr. van Werckhooven's son, who reported the same to us, to wit, that the English at the North recruit soldiers, giving 25 to 30 guilders per month and that three large ships were to come into the Bay or to the Cape to cut off our retreat; also that soldiers in boats should land near Hellegat, preceded by a ketch to demand the surrender of the Fort and offer us many good conditions; that the country people on Long Island should remain in possession of their property without molestation; in view of which the Englishman had advised Pieter Wolfertsen to take whatever property he wished to preserve and keep over to Long Island, where he thought, it would be safest,-all this has been told by the Englishman with woeful face and tears in his eyes, so all the men report, while he requested that his name might not be mentioned promising to inform the Honble Director-General and Council by day or night whenever he had obtained further news.

Although some of these news are unimportant and unfounded, we the Director-General and Council nevertheless believe, that we ought not be caught napping or neglecting any thing. We consider it our duty to make immediately all preparations for the defense and protection of this City and especially of the Fort, which it is in our power to make, in the following manner:

First, it is considered absolutely necessary, that besides the repairing and strengthening of the Fort the old moat be deepened and gabions set up there, after which the City Tavern must be fortified with breast works and ramparts, on which 2 or 3 light pieces of artillery can be planted. As to the outer works, made last year, which not only we, but also everybody else thought, it was impossible to man and defend with so few soldiers, unless all the country people came in, which we are assured they will not do, we have decided, that the cannons taken there last year must be brought away, that they may not be turned and used upon us, the more so as the works, especially the angles are completely destroyed and no repairs are made because, as the Burgomasters and Schepens pretend, it is impossible for the small number of citizens to do anything without the assistance of the country-people and even if repaired it would be impossible to defend them, unless as was said above the farmers come in. Hence it is necessary to fortify a smaller portion and to hear hereupon the opinion of the Burgomasters and Schepens, asking them to give a prompt and definite answer, whether they will assist with the community and help defending this place for the honor of our Nation, as long as God shall please to give us his blessing. Thus done etc., New Amsterdam, June 13th, 1654.

P. STUYVESANT.
NICASIUS DE SILLE, C. VAN WERCKHOVEN,
LA MONTAGNE, COR. VAN TIENHOVEN.

PROPOSITIONS MADE BY THE HONble DIRECTOR-GENERAL AND HIGH COUNCIL TO THEIR WORSHIPS THE BURGOMASTERS AND SCHEPENS OF THIS CITY OF NEW-AMSTERDAM, WHICH WERE DELIVERED

TO THEM IN WRITING.

A.

The Burgomasters and Schepens answer to the 1st point They are willing to help according to their means in strengthening and defending this City of N. A.

:

The first question is, whether the Burgomasters and Schepens are resolved and willing, even though the country people should not come, to help in strengthening, maintaining and defending to the last for the honor of our Nation and Sovereigns these places specially, to wit first the whole City, that becoming too much the smaller fortified part of it and finally the Fort. We, the Director-General and Council, by our signatures hereto affixed promise and solemnly swear before God to do it. So help us God Almighty.

They agree on the 2d point,

that such an order is necessary and if any one within the jurisdiction of this Court is found to be unwilling, they will assist to the best of their power in compelling him, which it is the

duty of other Courts under

2.

Whereas the Director-General and Council find the proposition repeatedly made by the Burgomasters and Schepens, that the country people should also take a hand in repairing, putting up and defending the fortifications, to be just and equitable, therefore the DirectorGeneral and Council are inclined to order it by a public mandamus, as the farmers may judge for themselves, that it is only just and fair to help in fortifying and repairing this City in return for the services and expeditions rendered and made 3 or 4 times last year by the community in behalf of the country people; the more so, as such assistance is as much for their own safety and freedom, as for the safety and freedom of the community. If however it should happen, that the country people remain obstinate and refuse, which the Director-General and Council hope will not be the case with all, will the Burgomasters and Schepens help to punish all who disobey, according to law?

your Honors' authority to do

also.

Thirdly. They will use all

possible diligence and means to go to work, after having passed

good and proper resolutions as to the mode of repairing the works.

Thus done at the meeting, held in the City-Hall of New Amsterdam, June 13, 1654.

ARENT VAN HATTEM. By order of Burgomasters and Schepens.

JACOB KIP, Secretary.

3.

Finally, will they, with the Director-General and Council, begin to go to work punctually next Monday and persuade and induce the community of this City, as far as they can, to do the same.

Thus done etc., at New Amsterdam, June 13th, 1654.

PLEDGE SUBMITTED BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO THE BURGOMASTERS ETC., ENGAGING THEMSELVES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC DEFENSE, WHICH THEY DECLINE TO SIGN.

We, the Burgomasters and Schepens are fully aware of and understand the necessity of thinking of and providing for some general measures, by which the expenses, already incurred or hereafter to be incurred for the defense and maintenance of this and other cities, places, forts and of the Province, might be defrayed and paid.

Therefore we declare, that whenever the Director-General and Council shall deem the time to have come, we will contribute our share, like other good and faithful subjects, to the best of our means and circumstances with the other inhabitants of this Province.

Done at New Amsterdam, June 13, 1654.

The foregoing pledge was given at the meeting of the Director-General and Council by the Burgomasters and most of the Schepens, but they refused to sign it, because, as they said, their Board was not complete.

ORDER ON A PETITION OF SURGEON VARREVANGER FOR MEDICINES.

Jacob Hendricksen Varrevanger showed by his petition, that the term of his engagement had expired some time ago and that for some years past he had imported at his own expense from Holland all his medicines. He requests therefore, that some compensation may be given to him for the use of his medicaments. After due consideration the Director-General and Council direct, that the Commissary shall credit to the said Mr. Jacob 12 fl per month, from the 1st of July 1652, in his account for use of his medicines and to increase his salary. Thus done etc., New Amsterdam, June 13, 1654.

RESOLUTION TO REPAIR THE FORTIFICATIONS AND PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENSES BY DUTIES ON

EXPORTED GOODS.

In consideration of the rumors and the dangers, by which this Province and specially its capital New Amsterdam is threatened, the Director-General and Council have deemed it highly necessary,

to deliberate upon all possible means of resistance, for the protection of this City and the Fort, and to fortify for this purpose, besides the works erected last year, other places in the City, erecting some inner works, to retreat behind, if necessity should demand, that we should give up the larger outer works either because we and our subjects are too weak to man them or if the enemy should press too hard and overpower us.

As the Director-General and Council know by experience, that the good inhabitants of this City cannot bear the heavy burdens and do the work, unless receiving fair compensation for the same, navigation and all other means of earning their living being shut off, and that the country people, who number the most, can hardly be called from their plantations without considerable loss of time and disadvantage, therefore the Director-General and Council with the Burgomasters and Schepens have judged it most suitable, to do the work by day laborers. This requires however some ready money and therefore the Director-General and Council are compelled to impose for the better defense of this place for this year a toll of one tenth on all the goods and merchandises, which shall be sent to the Fatherland during this summer or to retain its value. The Director-General and Council promise in regard to the return of or payment for this tenth and for the insurance of the creditors, that if the tenth has not been returned or paid within a year, its value shall be set off against the regular duties here and in the Fatherland, for which the Director-General and Council engage themselves as securities besides pledging the property of the Honble Company.

Thus done etc at New Amsterdam, June 13, 1654.

P. STUYVESANT.

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

ORDER DIRECTING ALL SHERIFFS ETC TO ENGAGE LABORERS FOR THE WORK ON THE FORTIFICATIONS.

The Director-General and High Council have taken into serious consideration the daily rumors of danger, by which this Province and especially this our capital and residence, the City of New Amsterdam and its Fort, is, if not threatened, at least warned. They deem it therefore their duty, to advise upon all possible measures and carry them immediately into effect, by which this City and Fort might be defended and kept against an attack of the enemy for the honor of our Nation and Sovereigns.

Under these circumstances the Director-General and Council have found it absolutely necessary, not only to repair the works erected last year, but also after repairing and strengthening the Fort to build some new inner lines of fortifications, so that one may be protected by the other and if necessary we can retreat from one to the other. This should be done the sooner the better and to do it diggers and laborers are required.

We therefore call upon and command hereby all Schouts, Burgomasters, Schepens Commissaries and Magistrates of the inferior Courts in this Province, upon sight and publication hereof to use all diligence and to hire or command out of every village, colony or hamlet some good diggers and laborers to come each provided with a spade and an axe promptly on Tuesday next to this City of New-Amsterdam, where they are to help making and repairing such works, as the Director-General and Council or their deputies shall direct, under the condition that

the laborers shall receive two guilders a day in grain, beavers or wampum to be paid weekly. Any one, who has been called upon or commanded by his respective Magistrate and does not report promptly or refuses to come shall be fined for each day of his absence (sickness and feebleness excepted) One pound Flemish.

Thus done and enacted by the Director-General and High Council at Our Residence, NewAmsterdam in New Netherland June 14, 1654.

P. STUYVESANT.

NICASIUS DE SILLE, C. VAN WERCKHOVEN,
LA MONTAGNE, COR. VAN THIEN HOVEN.

LETTER FROM MERCHANTS OF NEW-AMSTERDAM TO THE DIRECTOR ETC APPROVING OF THE TOLL ABOVE MENTIONED AND OFFERING THE REVENUES OF NEW-AMSTERDAM AS A PLEDGE for the

REPAYMENT.

Noble, Very Worshipful Gentlemen.

To the Noble Very Worshipful Director-General and High Council of New Netherland.

The distressing rumors of danger threatening this Province and especially this capital of New-Amsterdam have troubled us now for some time and after your Honble Worships had demonstrated to us verbally and in writing their good and earnest intentions of making all possible resistance and defense at your Honble Worships' meeting, on the 13th inst. where the Burgomasters and Schepens of this City were present, we have examined the matter to the best of our ability and assure your Honble Worships now, remembering the good example given us by our forefathers in what they did in time of need for the defense and protection of their Fatherland and themselves, that we are quite willing to do the same, and venture our lives and property.

We have learned by the aforesaid written resolutions of your Honble Worships, that the Director-General and High Council have found themselves compelled to appropriate and levy for the better defense of this place during one year only the tenth of all goods and merchandises, to be exported to the Fatherland during this summer, or its value.

1. Considering the premises and acknowledging that there is periculum in mora, we agree, as far as we are concerned, with your Honble Worships' aforesaid resolution, under this restriction and reservation however, that the moneys and goods, which we have advanced for the repairs of the fortifications and the tenth levied as above on goods and merchandises to be shipped this summer, shall be promptly repaid and returned within a year pursuant to your Honble Worships' resolution.

2. We are further quite satisfied with your Hone Worships' promise of paying or refunding either by a setting off against the duties or otherwise, as we do not fear, that your Honble Worships, seeing our willingness, will disappoint us.

3. We cannot accept your Honble Worships' further offer of security, by reimbursement through the duties paid in Holland, but we expect in place of it from your IIonble Worships and the said Burgomasters and Schepens a special bond and mortgage on the revenues and income of this City, as already fixed or hereafter to be fixed.