Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lords:
My Lords, your letter of 25 October was received by me on the first of this month. I was distressed that not the least necessities for the purchase of foodstuffs was sent, nor any instructions from where we should get them. I had bought some cattle and hogs for slaughter to be paid for in this month of November with duffels, blankets, linen and brandy or anise water, for which I am now embarassed. Therefore, I suggest that you send the requested [ items ] by way of Reyner Pieters (who I am told is to come here before winter). Presently I have no need of shoes, because I have taken care of the most needy.
Abelius Zetskoorn has as you informed me, been called by those of the Augsburg Confession to the colony of New Amstel, with the consent of the director and council there, subject to the approval of the honorable Lords-Mayors. Since residing there, he has been here only once (last Pentecost Monday) in the Company's district, when he preached at Tinnaconck at the request of the Swedish magistrates; they offered him then a salary equal to Domine Laer's, desiring to hire him principally as a schoolmaster, but the people at New Amstel were not willing to release him. Concerning your information that he has been administering baptisms; it is untrue. I await your further orders in this matter.
After persistent requests and lamentations, I had to discharge Mr. Andries Hudde in October so that he could go to Maryland. He departed with his family on the first of November for Apoquenamingh, and on the 4th of this month died there of a high fever.
My Lords, I am sending you herewith, according to your orders, six men, three of whom I enlisted here on your orders at f16, light money per month, and because of the bad rumors about the Indians. The garrison here presently consists of ten men.
We cannot obtain any other information from these Indians than that the Christians are prisoners near the Menissingh. When I was upriver by the Swedes last week, the Swedish magistrates told me that the chief, Erwehongh, and others had gone up above Meggeckesjouw at the urgent request of some chiefs there to contribute for the assistance of the Esopus Indians. However, Peter Kock said that the chief, Erwehongh, has specifically ordered him to tell me that they would undertake nothing against the Dutch, but would, on the contrary, try everything to arrange a peace.
In conclusion, I commend you to God's protection, remaining, after wishes for a long life and prosperous administration.
