To the Honorable Lords Cornells van Ruiven and Marten Kriegier, commissioners of the Honorable Lord Director-General of New Netherland, etc.:
Honorable Lords, you can sufficiently deduce from the dispatching to your place in 1655 of such a considerable ship, de Waeg, Captain Coning with soldiers, as well as provisions and munitions that the Honorable most Esteemed Lords-Mayors of the City of Amsterdam have interested themselves in the welfare, prosperity and restitution of the Honorable Chartered West India Company, and have taken the same to heart. By the above means, this river was brought again under the control of the Honorable West India Company; and afterwards, according to the agreement made between the Company and the aforesaid Lords-Mayors, by the dispatching in so few years of so many people, ships etc., and in addition the spending of so much money for the establishment of the colony of New Amstel. Consequently, Manhattan and the surrounding places have now for the last two or three years increased more in population and trade than during the previous thirty years. It is then not unusual that the Director-General and Council of New Netherland consider it their bounden duty, concerning the submitted request of this administration and Vice-Director Willem Beekman, to resist, according to obligation, the English nation which has hostile designs and intends to bring under their control the West India Company's districts as well as this colony and the lands along this river; because the Chartered West India Company, or the ministers on its behalf, are obligated to protect us as well as other colonies and villages, for which reason our superiors as well as every"private party pay taxes and other duties on their merchandise and goods shipped over. ?
Therefore, it seems strange to us that urgent recommendations and admonitions, verbal and written, are cast before us at all times, hours and at every opportunity for the mustering and maintenance of the 40 or 50 troops provided by the City; and harsh reproaches for not promoting it in the way which you proposed, to wit: by buying the necessary soldiers with double rations and an abundance of money, as you claim we are obligated to do; adding thereto that you had foreseen and determined the causes (however incorrect) with these words: "For it was well-known beforehand that you would not get anyone because all the inhabitants and the few soldiers who still continue in the City's service are discontent with this colony's administration and are dissatisfied for reasons best known to you." For which this serves as a reply: that you would have no knowledge of incorrectly assumed discontent or dissatisfaction unless you had not given inducements and occasions to have knowledge of unsubstantiated complaints, both verbal and written, and had not lent a sympathetic ear to all reports; taking pleasure in gathering together all that might be detrimental, lies or truth, in order to slander this colony; and then sending everything to Director-General Stuyvesant without the least knowledge or awareness on our part. Regarding these actions, we say that you have not considered your duty. We, therefore, complain of and protest against all the damages, costs and losses among the inhabitants which you have already caused in this matter and other things yet to be related hereafter, and against all we have suffered and shall suffer in the future as a result; this will be related accordingly. You do say that it is our duty to maintain in readiness the 40 or 50 men provided by the City but do not prove it in any way. We hereby categorically deny it for the already stated reasons as well as for the following: First, that this was never recommended or ordered by our superiors; secondly, that we brought with us no other soldiers than for defense against the Indians and for the administration of justice but not for defense against our neighbors, English or Swedes; because our superiors made an agreement with the West India Company for land free and clear, upon which there were no claims or demands. Indeed, we clearly know that the intention of our superiors is that the soldiers' terms should expire when any number of citizens in this colony would be willing to protect themselves; inasmuch as the West India Company is obligated to protect us against all common enemies and possible enemies, and in the event of non-protection we are to demand satisfaction for all damages and losses suffered. You also say that it is absurd that the director-general and council should protect this place; depriving their own place, which is more important, of needed soldiers. We respond to this by saying that this place is no less worthy of protection than your place, as are others which the Company [ ] in New Netherland; if you consider this colony not to be [ ], the Company's land extends nevertheless from Fort Altena till further up the river. If the Company or their ministers think that it does not warrant protection or assistance, then we must also think the same; and if this colony belongs to us and not to you, and we have to protect it ourselves, it is strange that a company of soldiers was marched so freely into our fortress without the permission, knowledge or notification of the director, and once inside assumed total command: ordering our soldiers to and from watch, issuing the order or parole and letting it simply be brought to the director by a sergeant; and would have even taken possession of the fort's keys if the person who had them had acquiesced. Moreover, this was all done without the knowledge or awareness of the director to whom his lords and superiors have entrusted everything according to commission and instructions; also, contrary to the letter addressed by the lord general to the director and Vice-Director Willem Beekman, as well as your letter given to us upon your arrival. Nevertheless, it must be understood that should more soldiers be required for the protection of this river, then it should, in any case, be the proper business of the Company to provide them, or at least as many as the City does, because the Company's districts from Altena to Mekkeksjouw are certainly twice as large as the district belonging to the colony of the city of Amsterdam. With reference to the fortress in the Hoerekil or Sikonesse (although it does not concern you and we are also not obligated to give any reasons for it) you use these words: "Probably built more for private use than for the good of the country." For this remark we hereby desire further explanation and clarification, because it is not enough to spew our every bad thing, making honest people suspected by their lords and superiors without foundation or cause; more so since you are clearly aware that nothing has been done contrary to the orders of the lords superiors. Therefore, we demand satisfaction for this and all other previously related misdeeds committed against us; if you fail to do this, we protest as we have already done before.
Furthermore, since it has pleased you upon alleged but nevertheless uncertain grounds to protest against us for not maintaining the 40 or 50 City's soldiers, we reply thereto by saying that we could do nothing more than has been done till now. We are also unaware that we promised to recall the garrison from the Hoere Kil, as you state, but we did call up some soldiers according to your advice. They were ordered up but because of some unexpected occurrence remained there. It would be most difficult to procure the soldiers with double rations, as you suggest, since we have not the least order from our superiors to do so; but rather we claim, as previously stated, that the Company is obligated to protect us, and to the extent that you have protested against us for not maintaining the 40 or 50 City's soldiers, we likewise shall protest in the event of non-protection on behalf of our lords patroons and all interested parties, for all damages and losses already suffered and might suffer hereafter so that we may report this at the proper time if we are conquered by the English or brought under their control. We desire for certain reasons at this time to disregard arguing about why the soldiers prefer to be commanded by the Company's officials rather than the City's, and the suggestions regarding this to arrange things this way or that; but, if it is deemed necessary, we shall answer more extensively. It could also be so that there are some soldiers employed from our colonists who would prefer to serve under the Company's officials than under those of the City in order to escape their debts in this way, since they have been promised passage from here without hindrance. We will probably have to be satisfied with your advice for the garrisoning of this fortress and the one at Altena. We shall help, according to our capacity, to defend this place and colony against the English with the small force we have here and that which can be brought up. from the Hoerekil (which area we leave to the absolute command of the director-general and council).
You say, among other things, "See, this place has such a bad name that the whole river would barely be able to cleanse it; and may God grant that it remains here and not be cried out in the fatherland to the detriment of the whole province." To these words we say: God grant that those who wish such things and even invoke God's name about it, may consider whether they themselves are not the cause of such outcries; for how else are the godless lies cried out to the detriment of this administration and place if not by those who induce the citizens and soldiers to talk and then urge them to petition against their grievances which they supposedly have with their lawful authorities, or to take their part in our presence regarding unjust cases; advising others to appeal judgments made four or five months ago. After thus having given them cause, they then, without the least consideration, put all the foul falsehoods down on paper in the worst possible light, and then take them in hand with promises of assistance and action on them, sending everything to the director-general at Manhattan and then further to Holland. All this done without informing us in the least, just as such similar papers were sent to the fatherland on the recently departed ships. By such actions both citizens and soldiers scorn their lawful authorities and appeal to one or another lord who give them cause and occasion to rebel against their authorities. This happens to us so much every day that it must be complained of to God. It is thus appropriate that the actions of such people should no less be cried out in the fatherland and no less be cleansed by the sea than the previously claimed injustices should be washed off by this river.
Since the English are our true enemies (so it seems), we thought that they had caused us trouble, but now we find the need to have more assistance against our common friends, in order to restore peace, than we requested from Manhattan against our aforesaid enemies. Since they obviously came as enemies, one was always on guard, and they have had less influence on the minds of the common people, but those who came as friends were trusted people without fear. Their statements were, therefore, taken according to appearances but not according to the truth; more so when they were listened to and most affably assented to in all things good and bad, and their sides taken therein. By such means the seed of unrest was sown in their minds. This has produced nothing more than aversion and contempt for, and rebellion against their authorities. Consequently, it shall cause nothing more than the total ruin of this colony and its inhabitants. Your discourse about the colonists remaining here four years, has been answered for us by you so that a reply is unnecessary, for we are not yet aware that anyone else shall leave this colony according to the orders of our superiors. Also, there have never been more than two who have offered money to depart. Therefore the council decided that none should depart for the fatherland except for urgent reasons (which these were not); and it is obvious that had it been granted to them, they would not have been at all ready with their money. It would serve neither us nor our superiors to advance them passage costs, provisions and a year's subsistence, and then when the year is up to let them go; depriving the City thereby of their advances. This is the case and has been lately demonstrated to you by a certain Wouter Schaep who weekly earned a good wage in the City's service as long as he was here. He was readily given a round-trip permit to buy some provisions at Manhattan. From there he left for the fatherland aboard the ship, de Trouw, with a passport from the lord general himself; this according to the declaration of Marten Krieger. In addition, when the people are there at Manhattan, they have every occasion and opportunity to run away much easier to the English in the north than from here to the Virginias; the West India Company had sufficient proof of this three or four years ago. But since it is so certain that the City can expect no losses from those who leave for Manhattan, then the West India Company or the lord general can simply become security for such people according to your suggestion about people under bail, or by default of bail, under promise and oath not to leave this province before payment is made. For, if it is thereby certain for the Company. It would not be so strange if the Company posted such security since their districts would become populated as a result. But no one here ever gave this any notice, only seeking to put the City on nothing more than slippery ice with such advice. That one is not allowed to leave without previously making payment or posting bond is truly .not as slavish and odious for free people as has been depicted but consistent with divine, human and natural law. For, where does anyone have more right than to be assured of money lent; especially, when one has to demand such from [ enemies ] as we have experiences [ them mostly to be ], showing their appreciation to the city of Amsterdam and the administration here by having done and still doing more damage with their vulgar tongues and pens than any open enemy could or would do. Concerning your statement that there are numerous complaints about the misery, poverty and wretchedness caused by refusing to allow departure within four years without previously paying, we reply that our reasons and motives for not allowing anyone to depart otherwise are every more numerous. Also, may the lords be pleased to know that not all the complaints are credible (although they have been completely believed and the people's sides been taken therein by you), even If there were many of them, because otherwise if they were certain and true, then we would be able to show you whole books of complaints made from time to time against the administration at Manhattan, and never believed to be true by us. Your advice about preventing the people from falling further into poverty and debt, and not letting them die of hunger, according to rumor (as you state) and apparently considered to be the truth by you, because you say that it does not agree with the duties of a Christian, and with the additional pronouncement of further troubles which would result therefrom; we respond to this by saying that since the matter or such accusations have not yet been proved, therefore, your advice about it can not be carried out; and that such scandalous complaints, disseminated to the detriment of this administration and the city of Amsterdam, shall neither now nor ever be proved. They are but nothing other than calumnies and blasphemies. Therefore, the people who express them to you should be punished and in no way be listened to, much less embraced as being truthful; and that would agree with the duties of a Christian (as you say) while we must now deduce the opposite from your manner of writing and daily discourses, since you resolutely state that the people should be treated better in order to keep them here, and the like, laying the blame fully on the administration; truly a strange manner of action. Certainly you have seen from time to time how unsuccessful the people were in the one [ or the other case ] in which they professed to have great cause to complain. This you sufficiently noticed on the first day of your arrival concerning a certain Jan Theunisz, who had so much to say but when he was interrogated, had to confess that he had been paid by the City on every occasion and had nothing to complain about. Nevertheless, he was till so audacious to say in your presence the defense of this place but that this was the business of the soldiers; and [ notwithstanding he was asked ] to enlist as a soldier and would be given a year's work at four guilders a day, provided that he would receive his ration and two guilders daily, and stand guard. The balance would then remain to reduce his debt. They were surely good conditions but he still turned them down flatly. Moreover, he later offered himself as a soldier in the service of the West India Company in order to go to Manhattan. Therefore it appears that they are not inclined to pay the City but only cheat it. Thus it would be found with each and every colonist when confronted and convinced with reasoning.
But suppose that all the complaints were true and that the common man was not at fault, then the blame would nevertheless have to lie somewhere else than with the City or its officials and, so it seems, with the country itself; since the people have in a short period of time drawn, some more some less, 3,4,5,6,7, or 800 guilders per family from the magazine. If they could not put themselves on their feet with this and progress to the extent that they could earn their own living, then the city of Amsterdam could complain that it has been deceived to invest so much money in such a land, and that it will derive no other benefits therefrom. This could be corroborated and confirmed by your advice that the people should be allowed to leave for Manhattan since there is no work or nothing to earn here and consequently they cannot support themselves, for otherwise, according to your statement, they will only fall into increased misery or debt to the City. Well, what kind of country is this then? According to this it would be better for the City if we decided to leave this terrible place, and the sooner the better. But no, we think otherwise, as it also is in truth, that there is work and something to be earned here, as there always has been and still is, and that a living can be made here by work as well as at Manhattan. However, as has been said before, it is the fault of the people themselves who will do nothing. This can be proved to a certain extent by the fact that there is no firewood although twelve guilders have been offered for 100 sticks. In addition, as long as this colony had been in existence, it has lacked nothing else but an industrious population which could never be obtained as is indisputably known to everyone. But so as not to blame the few good and industrious people, it should be noted that God Almighty has visited and punished all of New Netherland, but especially this colony, since its establishment, [ with ] various plagues, such as intemperate air and excessive [ rains ], which has caused poor harvests of every kind of food stuffs for man and fodder for beasts. Consequently, there is a great scarcity of one thing or another, as well as unhealthiness, maladies and sicknesses of hot and pestilent fevers, and other languishing maladies of which many have died. Although most all inhabitants of New Netherland have been visited by them, none so much and severely as our settlers, which is so sell-known and can be shown by the proclamations of days of fasting and prayer issued in regard to them from time to time. Such occurrences have caused us more hardships than the other old settlers who apparently were more able to endure bad times, for this colony has been oppressed and trampled by the aforesaid hardships like a plant in its early stages of growth. Therefore, if anyone who has been industrious and diligent, and has been oppressed by the aforesaid hardships and consequently has reason to complain, desiring therefore to leave for Manhattan, they may be assured that what has happened to them here can also, if God pleases, be expected there, since we understand that many newcomers there, even without having been subjected to the aforesaid difficulties, already have to be assisted by the deaconry. It is also worthy of consideration that recently when the agriculture began to show some promise, it was followed by the threat of a destructive war which has obstructed and turned everything upside down. We hoped that this would be settled by your arrival and accompanying assistance but we find, on the contrary, that it has caused us more unrest than the English have done.
Furthermore, we object to the excuses made for the rogues and scoundrels who have, contrary to honor and oath, run away to their own ruin, and we object to the remark that the bad intentions of such scoundrels ought to have been indulged and consent given to them in everything without reason or grounds. This does not conform to the law of reason and justice, because by so doing it would be more or less like putting Jan Hagel[1] in power and deposing the master. We leave it then to all righteous people to judge whether we are worthy and deserving of the accusations of maladministration, and for having caused our superiors and the West India Company damages and losses, as you have been doing so severely.
Several years ago, people from New England had equipped themselves to invade this river, but when they passes Manhattan on their way to this place, they were restrained and hindered by the authority and power of the lord general, as is well-known.[2]
Also, last year the governor of Maryland requested assistance from the English in New England to seize this river but it was refused because the aforesaid governor is a papist, according to your explanation.
Thus it is evident that the attempts and intentions of the English to invade this river are nothing new but have been in their minds for a long time. Therefore, the outrageous actions committed here recently by the English were not caused by the runaways, for which an attempt has been made to pin the blame on us, but proceeded on their alleged rights after it had been deliberated some seven months by the English, according to their own declaration.
The proposal to hire 10 or 20 colonists to work at Manhattan, in place of leaving as many soldiers at Fort Altena because they refuse to be commanded by the City's officials, we regard as nothing more than a pretext to leave this place and thus be freed from their debts, and to cheat the City. You heard two or three persons in our presence declare that this was their intention. But if they are so urgently needed for the service of the country, then they can be employed as proposed, provided that they first pay their debts to the City or at least give sufficient security.
Concerning the lord general's request to dispatch the galiot to the fatherland for instructions: we think, subject to correction, that there are suitable opportunities to send letters quickly and safely on ships sailing to Amsterdam and Rotterdam by way of the Virginias or even New England; secondly, it would be very dangerous this time of year to have the galiot make such a trip; thirdly, we have also considered whether the galliot, which has considerable cargo space and good defense, can be spared at this critical time; fourthly and finally, assuming that the galiot is sent to the fatherland, we are apprehensive, since the sailors' terms of enlistment expire in the spring, it would probably stay in the fatherland and we would consequently be deprived of it.
The reason Sergeant Bernard Stordeur has been instructed to obey only from the director and the captain-lieutenant is because when Captain Marten Krieger wanted to enter the fort with his company (not even the director had been informed of this but thought that he would take up quarters in the citizen's guardhouse, as had been arranged) he ordered the sergeant to open the gate of the fort, which the sergeant dared not do. Instead he reported it to his captain-lieutenant who then reported it to the director. In the meantime, the captain repeated the same order so that the sergeant had to open the gate without having received orders from any of his previously known officers, but only the improper order from the captain who then entered with his soldiers. Afterwards he also ordered the sergeant frequently concerning guard duty as well as relieving and countermanding our sentries; all this without orders or Instructions from the director, indeed without giving any notice at all. Therefore, it was necessary to order the sergeant not to obey any commands, as stated above; so it certainly has not been wrongfully done, and it is also not a daughter of the oath ordered by the most esteemed Lords-Mayors but a son of reason and justice.
Concerning the oath desired by you: we have nothing against it; and if we had not yet taken an oath, and the lords superiors had placed this one before us, we would have taken it; but since we [ ] is good and consistent with the conceived oath, we find it unnecessary to take this second oath as if the first one was wrong, more so since the lords-superiors and commissioners (among whom there were also two directors of the West India Company) were sent the form of the oath according to the instructions of the city of Amsterdam which was given in the presence of the schout and schepens. We received in reply that it was as it ought to be. Therefore, it seems strange to us that you make such harsh statements about it to us, namely, that all those who refuse to take your conceived oath should be put aboard a ship~at once and returned to the fatherland. "
Honorable Lords, this is what we decided to give in reply to your deductions dated the 9th of this month. Since they have given us so much cause for discontent, this has run on longer than desired. After cordial greetings, we commend you to God's protection and remain,
...taking pleasure in gathering together all that might be detrimental, lies or truth, and then sending this[3] to Director- General Stuyvesant without your knowledge; that we [ ] doing have not considered our duties, about which you complain and protest against us; further, that a company [ of soldiers ] was marched so freely into your fort (so you call it) without permission, knowledge or notification, and assumed total command: ordering the soldiers to and from watch, issuing the order or parole, even taking possession of the keys to the fort if the one who had them had acquiesced (as you say); that we are the reason that the [ misery ] of this place is being cried out in Holland (you say) for how else are the godless lies cried out to the detriment of this administration and place than by those who induce the citizens and soldiers to talk, and then urge them to complain about their grievances which they supposedly have against their lawful authorities or to speak for them in your presence concerning unjust cases, even advising others to petition for appeals on judgments made four or five months ago, whereupon they put many [ ] untruths down on paper which are [ ] accepted with promises [ of assistance ] and action on them; sending [ everything ] to the director-general at Manhattan [ and then further ] to Holland. Consequently, the soldiers [ ] scorn their authorities and they have given them occasion to rebel against their authorities. You continue with calumnies by saying: "We thought that the English,(as it seems) our true enemies, would have caused us trouble but now we find the need for more assistance against our common friends (in order to restore peace again) than we requested from Manhattan against our aforesaid enemies." Furthermore, you say that we provided the common man with a good and sympathetic audience in everything, and took their parts therein, by which means the seed of unrest was sown in their minds, which has produced nothing more than aversion and contempt for, and rebellion against their authorities; consequently, this shall cause nothing more than the total ruin of this colony and its inhabitants, and that we have caused more trouble than the English, etc. These are your own [ expressions ].
Now that we begin to see and understand your method of operation, your accusations do not seem so strange to us. Why should we, who are officials of the Company and totally dedicated to its service, be spared when you do not hesitate in handling our lords-masters so roughly with [ unwashed ] hands? All the more, since you think nothing of accusing your own employers, the most esteemed Lords-Mayors of the city of Amsterdam, of not [ keeping ] their promised conditions, but saying that they have broken and curtailed them etc., according to [ ] of your letter to the director-general and council of New Netherland dated 9 September. However, it now appears that you are saying that the colony shall fail and be lost if it is not provided for in time; pinning the blame for it on the Company or on the lord director- general and council or on minor officials. We must confess that we have been deceived in our opinion and had expected more discretion from you, at the least not going beyond the bounds of truth. But, we have found the contrary because you have no scruple of picking up things and throwing them in our faces, with accusations which could never be proved in eternity, since we have never even considered these things, much less practiced them. Your actions also suggest that many of the complaints which have been referred to us by this and [ that one ] about your improper treatment, are not completely without foundation as you have till now tried to make us believe. Since you think nothing of accusing us brazenly of things which we have never considered, then you shall have less difficulty denying those things charged by this or that person. The long and broad accusations made against us by you, we find to consist of the following points: First, that we are the cause of the discontent which has arisen between you and the good inhabitants. Secondly, that we have [ ] them cause to rebel against their authorities. Thirdly, you declare us to be enemies [ ] the words common friends [ ] saying that more assistance is needed [ ] English because [ ]. Fourthly, that we are furthermore the cause of the total ruin of this colony and its inhabitants.
We protest in the presence of God, who knows our thoughts, that these things are nothing but calumnies and false accusations to blame us for what you shall shortly be the cause (if something is not done soon). Consequently, we consider ourselves affronted, injured, scorned and slandered to the highest degree; and we shall take action on it against you (as soon as the situation in the country permits) so that it may serve as an example to others.
But, before we close this, we shall demonstrate from your own mouth, and in case you should deny it, from your own letters and documents, how abusively you have tried to pin the blame on us for the discontent which has arisen between you and the good inhabitants. The major reasons, which you give for why we are the cause of the discontent which has arisen, are these: that we have encouraged people to refer many unfounded complaints to us, and have taken pleasure in them; that we have amiably given the common man a ready audience and support in everything, and urged them to petition their grievances, advising that they should try to appeal judgments made four or five months ago. As a result many foul untruths were put down on paper and taken up by us with promises to help them. All of which were sent to the lord general and [ ] Holland...
J. Alrichs
Cornells van Gezel
