Document: Letter from Messrs. Van Ruyven and Crieger to director Alrichs

Honorable, Wise and Prudent Lord:

My Lord, your letter dated the 9th of this month,[1] sent overland by an Indian, was received by the director-general on the 18th. Although the present dangerous situation, in which the director- general, council and the whole country now find themselves because of the Indians, did not allow the sparing of any troops, nevertheless, upon your earnest and urgent correspondence and request for soldiers, provisions and gunpowder, and since you had no more than eight private soldiers, two cadets and one sergeant there, and especially since the citizens were few and not inclined to fight because the city (as you relate) has violated and diminished their conditions; furthermore, that you were living at the mercy of some threatening neighbors (whose claims and demands are totally capricious); it was resolved and decided on the same day by the aforesaid director-general and council (in order to demonstrate to you and the whole world how much we are concerned with the preservation of this South River, which has been now possessed by the Chartered West India Company for over 36 years) to dispatch me to your place with a relief force of some 60 soldiers commanded by the valiant Captain Marten Crieger. After passage, this resolution was put into effect so quickly and with such fervor that everything required for such an expedition was made ready in less than three days. We set sail from Manhattan on the 23rd of this month in three barks and arrived here on this date. You are hereby notified thereof in order that upon receipt of this you may be pleased to come to us at Fort Altena in person or to send a deputy, provided that he be of suitable knowledge and qualification in order to help us deliberate and consider such orders and means as shall be judged necessary and expedient for the maintenance and defense of this superb South River and especially of the colony of New Amstel. After cordial greetings, we commend you to God's protection. Remaining, Honorable, Wise, Prudent and very Discrete Lord, My Lord,

Done in the South River of New Netherland aboard the yacht, Zee Baers, under sail between the forts New Amstel and Altena, 28 September 1659.

(Was written below)

My Lord:

Whereas Lieutenant d'Hinojossa together with other persons came aboard before this letter was sealed and dispatched, informing us that you were indisposed, we have decided to come to anchor before Fort New Amstel and visit you in person.

[ Endorsement: ] No.9. A letter from the commissioners of the lord general and council of New Netherland to the lord Jacob Alrichs in which they inform him of their arrival.

C:V: Ruyven
Marten Crieger
C:V: Ruyven