Noble, Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discrete Lord:
My Lord, your most welcome letter of 27 December '59 was handed to me last night by Mr. Hudden. Carman, by whom you intended to send more details, has not arrived yet. This afternoon I received a letter from Mr. d'Hinojosse who informs me that he has hired an Indian to send to you with the next tide. This serves to inform you that I dispatched an Indian to you on the 25th of last month, and I hope that he has arrived.
Since then I have been informed of the murder of three Indians, one of them a Minquaes. It was committed on the farm of Mr. Alrichs, deceased, by his two servants whom Mr. D'jnojosse took into custody on the 26th of last month. This affair will certainly cause us some trouble here because it is said that the Indians intend to take vengeance on the people of New Amstel. I was there yesterday and found that the people who were living outside of town had fled to houses near the fort. I was informed of many complaints against Mr. d'Hinojosse; among them that he is supposed to have said that he was not willing to contribute anything to this affair or murder but that it would have to be paid by the community, and that it mattered little to him whether the Indians made war or not. I inquired whether I might meet someone who had heard him say these things, but found that it was only hearsay. I shall try as much as possible to urge Mr. D'jnojosse to make the most civil and amicable accommodation feasible. Meanwhile, I await your orders and advice.
I have just now received a letter from the schout, van Dyck, whom I had requested to come to New Amstel with the magistrates, when the Indians gathered there to discuss the murder, since they were better acquainted with the nature and customs of the Indians than we newcomers. They excused themselves because the request did not come directly from the director and council of New Amstel; also, the Indians above (as they write) have told them that they should not concern themselves in this affair since the people of Sand Hoeck or New Amstel were not of their people. I replied that they should come here tomorrow, if possible, for a conference, and that it would be unjustifiable to refuse the urgent need and request for assistance in order to prevent bloodshed.
Cornelis van Gezel came here to Altena on the 30th of last month, escaping from Mr. D'jnojosse who had ordered him [ ] to declare under oath, on the fine of 25 guilders, what goods Mr. Alrichs, deceased, had left behind. He says that he was consequently so disturbed and insulted that he could not bear it there any longer. On the 31st D'jnojosse had a large mirror and painting taken from his house, apparently to cover the penalty of 25 guilders for not appearing.
Herewith is enclosed an unaddressed letter from Mr. D'jnojosse. He sent an apology that he had no time to write the address. Once again he is without equal. In this letter he wants to know whether van Gezel was here and whether he was trying to go overland to Manhattan; which he would consider a grave act since van Gesel must still render his accounts of the public auctions, orphans and magazine, of which he was in charge for six or eight weeks. When van Gezel heard this, he returned there at once. I was also informed in the same letter that he and the council had ordered a day of prayer and fasting to be held on the first Wednesday of every month. While copying this, I received a letter overland from Mr. van Gezel, asking whether I could rescue him from Mr. D'jnojosse's persecution because D'jnojosse said that if he went to Altena and refused to respond to his summons, he would bring him back by force. I answered that I would refer his grievance to you and in the meantime I would protect him until a reply came. In conclusion, since it grows late, I wish to commend you to God's protection and remain, after wishes for a long life and a prosperous administration.
Willem Beeckman
Jan Scholten
Petrus Stuyvesant
