Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord:
Your most welcomed letter of the 2nd of this month was delivered to me on the 8th by Mr. Cornelis van Gezel who intends to spend some time here at Altena.
I have been informed of the number of houses and lots which Mr. van Gezel has in the colony; I cannot find out whether they have been bonded or conveyed to anyone.
I am glad to hear that the ship, de Bever, is safely in. However, I am not happy to hear that a conflict is feared between the Netherlands and England. I hope that God will prevent this because it would fall heavily on us here (since we are exposed to the English as if we were standing before a door). I shall act according to the tenor of your letter.
The discharged persons await their passports, accounts and outstanding wages. There are six or seven men here who request to be released at once. I request that the garrison here be strengthened before the discharge.
I also need two anckers of brandy or distilled liquor to use in exchange for corn next month for the garrison, because it is more easily obtained for liquor than for other goods.
I have been informed that our Lords-Mayors are sending a ship with farmers; they would like us to mix some of them among the Swedish and Finnish nation here.
In closing, I commend you to God's protection and remain, after wishes for a prosperous administration and a long life,
Your most devoted and faithful servant,Willem Beeckman
Altena,7 August 1661.
[ P.S.: ] My Lord, today at New Amstel I received a letter from my brother in The Hague who informed me that there would probably be new troubles between our country and England. The king of England has supposedly formed a strong alliance with Portugal and is to marry the Infanta of Portugal; he attempts to hinder the herring catch. The high authorities there have proclaimed a day of prayer and fasting because of the threatening misfortune. I hope that God will grant us his blessings. Amen.
[ Addressed: ] Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and Discreet Lord. My Lord Petrus Stuyvesant, Director- General of New Netherland, Cura?ao etc. residing in Fort Amsterdam on Manhattan.
