Document: Letter from William Beeckman to director Stuyvesant

Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise and Prudent Lord:

My Lord, while among the Swedes today, settling disputes concerning land claims of the Finns, I heard in passing at New Leyden[1] that Mr. Jacop Swens has dispatched an Indian to Mr. Huygens. I cannot omit informing you that Gerret van Sweringen has only been (temporarily) discharged from the office of schout, having committed the offense in this capacity, but continues as councillor because he committed nothing in that capacity.

I am told that Joris Floris has given a deposition on behalf of Schout van Sweringen stating that he heard our soldiers strongly vilify him, the schout, and taunt him with their swords. The aforesaid Joris Floris is not only the schout's partner in exploiting some lowlands, duck marshes and trade, but he also lives only 60 to 70 paces from the schout's house where he supposedly heard all of this; therefore, the deposition of Matthys du Brull, who lives next to the schout, refutes the above, and the deposition of the messenger, Gerrit de Groot, is also sufficiently refuted. Mr. d'Hinojosse (who firmly maintains his support of the schout) has sent these depositions for the schout to the fatherland, but apparently not ours which are not sworn to. When Mr. d'Hinojosse called all the deponents together, it was found that they were prepared to do it, but then nothing was done. It is sufficiently apparent from our depositions that the deceased gave the schout no offense, which is also confirmed by the schout's statement that he had shot an innocent man and did not mean to hit him. Therefore, I consider it very strange that such a man can be continued and respected as a magistrate. With this I shall conclude, referring you to my last letter for further information,[2] and in the meantime I pray that God may preserve you in continuous health, prosperity and an agreeable administration, remaining forever.