CHAP. V. him of all his property; but the commanders told him that, on paying his debts, he might leave the country with1673. in six weeks. With touching simplicity the ruined LoveLovelace's lace wrote to Winthrop: "I am now intending for England, Winthrop. With all the conveniency I may, unlesse prevented. Al

15 August.

letter to

and and

bany is surrendered on the same termes this did, which was too lean and poor for persons of Honour. However, they would willingly frame some excuses, and shoulder the blame and burthen from one to the other. Some shelter themselves under the shields of my absence, which, though (it is confes't) it proved unfortunate, yet the means that were afforded them to a handsomer resistance and prudent managery can plead no excuse. To be brief-it was digitus Dei, who exalts and depresses as he pleases, and to whom we must all submit. Would you be curious to know what my losses might amount to-I can in short resolve you. It was my all which ever I had been collecting; too greate to misse in this wildernesse."*

No sooner had the Dutch commanders established themselves in the metropolis than the nearest six Long Island Long Isl towns-Midwout, Amersfoort, Brooklyn, New Utrecht, Staten Isl. Bushwick, and Gravesend, together with Staten Island, and towns. submitted to their authority. These towns were chiefly settled by rejoicing Hollanders. Upon their nomination, August. Jacob Strycker, of Brooklyn, was appointed schout, and Francis de Bruyn, of New Utrecht, secretary of the district; from each of the six towns, of which four persons 15 August. named by them were made schepens. Peter Biljou was appointed schout, and two others schepens of Staten Island.†

8

18

3

But the other towns of Long Island and Westchester showed no disposition to submit to the Dutch. They were August. therefore summoned to send deputies to New Orange, with their constables' staves and English flags, in place of which they would be furnished with the prince's colors as soon as 14 August. possible. The commanders, in a proclamation, declared Proclama that although the fort and city on Manhattan Island had "surrendered themselves without any Capitulation or Articles," yet that no harm would be done to any of the in

tion of Evertsen

and

Binckes.

* Col. Doc., ii., 578, 583, 587, 603, 685; iii., 198, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 200; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxx., 86, 87; MSS. Trumbull Papers, xx., 104, 108; Hist. Mag., i. (ii.), 298; ante, 206. + Col. Doc., ii., 573, 577, 580, 586, 643.

1673.

habitants of New Netherland who should submit to the CHAP. V. Dutch government. Each town was required to send two delegates to the fort, authorized to take the oath of allegiance, and bring with them their English colors and constables' staves, "whereupon they shall be considered and governed, without respect of nations, as good and faithful subjects;" but, if they refused, they would be forcibly subdued.*

Officers ap

Long Isl

The fact that Lovelace was in the hands of the Dutch commanders added emphasis to their summons. Westchester, Eastchester, and Mamaroneck promptly sent dele- 28 August. gates, and magistrates were selected from their nomina- pointed on tions. The five Long Island towns-Flushing, Jamaica, and. Middelburg, Oyster Bay, and Hempstead-upon the petition of their delegates, were granted the usual privileges, but with a warning not to take up arms against the present Dutch government, as some of them had "formerly done, contrary to honor and oath," against that of Stuyvesant. From their nominations, William Lawrence, of Flushing, was chosen to be schout, and Carel van Brugge secre-August. tary of the district, and three schepens were selected for each of the five towns. At the same time Captain William Knyff and Lieutenant Jeronymus de Hubert were sent August. with Ephraim Hermann, a clerk in Secretary Bayard's of fice, to administer the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants. of the neighboring towns, which was readily taken by all except the Quakers.+

ern towns

But the five towns in the East Riding were not disposed to submit to the Dutch commanders. On receiving their proclamation, Southampton, "struck with amazement," sent to Hartford "for their advice or help." Connecticut, however, would not encourage the "poore towne" to stand out The Eastalone. She was about to send messengers to New Or- on Long ange on her own affairs, which had suddenly come to a not submit critical point. John Selleck, of Stamford, going in a Dutch auketch to Long Island, was captured by a Dutch cruiser. thority. Another sloop was taken, but, being neglected by her captors, was retaken on the "Sabbath day following." The August.

* Col. Doc., ii., 572, 573; iii., 202; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxx., 87; Wood, 96.

† Col. Doc., ii., 580, 581, 582, 589, 591, 592, 596; Val. Man., 1850, 520, 521; ante, vol. i., 719, 723, 724, 726, 730, 733.

Island will

to the

cut letter

to the Dutch

ers.

CHAP. V. General Court met at Hartford; a military committee was organized; and troops were ordered to be ready. James 1673. Richards and William Rosewell were also sent with a letAugust. Connecti- ter to the Dutch commanders, which, with "amazing absurdity," lectured them for treating "His Majesty's subcommand- jects" in time of war, as Charles the Second had treated the colonists of Holland in time of peace, nine years before; inquired their "further intentions;" and declared that the United Colonies of New England would defend their sovereign's authority "in these parts." The Connecticut 14 August. delegates delivered this letter to the Council of War at New Orange, and explained verbally that their colony would not molest the Dutch province if nothing hostile was done against her by New Netherland. They were courteously asked to put in writing what they had to say; but they declined to do this, because "such written negotiations might be turned to the worst use by any disaffected person of their colony." The Connecticut messengers Answer of were then handed a reply, with which they returned to command- Hartford. In soldier-like style, the Dutch commanders answered that it was "very strange" that their enemies should object to the results of war; that the Republic of the Netherlands had commissioned them to do all manner of damage to its enemies, in consequence of which the neighborhood of the Hudson River had been reduced to obey Dutch authority; and they declared that, as the vil lages east of Oyster Bay "did belong to this Government,” they would be likewise subjected, and prompt punishment would be visited on all "those that shall seek to maintain the said villages in their injustice.”*

the Dutch

ers.

In the mean time, deputies from Southampton, Easthampton, Southold, Brookhaven, and Huntington had met 14 August. at Jamaica, and drawn up a paper, in which, after stating that they had not heard from their governor, Lovelace, who was "peaceably and respectfully entertained" in the fort, they asked the Dutch commanders to allow them, upon their submission, to retain their ecclesiastical privileges, and enjoy several other particular liberties. On

* Mass. H. S. Coll., xxx., 87; xxxvii., 570, 571; Col. Rec. Conn., ii., 181-183, 204, 208, 561, 562; Plymouth Col. Rec., x., 3S7, 388; Col. Doc., ii., 584, 586, 602, 606; iii., 201, 203; Trumbull, i., 323, 324; Grahame, i., 421; Thompson, i., 153, 154; Palfrey, iii., 120; ante, 24, 25.

Long Isl

gates at

ange.

reaching New Orange, the deputies met the Connecticut CHap. V. messengers, whom they found were "shy and cautious" 1673. about giving advice. But Captain Nathaniel Sylvester, of Shelter Island, who had come from Hartford with Rich- and deleards and Rosewell, advised his Long Island neighbors "by New Orall means" to submit to the Dutch government. The delegates accordingly "declared to submit themselves to the obedience of their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange." Upon this their petition was granted in all points, except that in regard to appointing officers and sending deputies they should have the same privileges enjoyed by the Dutch towns, and that their request to buy whaling tools in New England could not “in this conjuncture of time be allowed." The next day they 15 August. were directed to nominate for approbation a schout and a secretary for the district, and four magistrates for each town, who should be "only such as are of the Reformed Christian Religion, or at least well affected to it.”*

16

18

28

Shelter Isl

Nathaniel Sylvester now asked for a confirmation of the 18 August. privileges which Nicolls had granted to Shelter Island in 1666. It was found, however, that the heirs of his deceased brother Constant, of Barbadoes, and Colonel Thomas Middleton, who lived in England, were part owners. Their share was accordingly confiscated, and Sylvester bought it August, of the Dutch authorities for five hundred pounds "in this and. country's provisions." Upon his giving a bond for this payment, Shelter Island was duly conveyed to Sylvester, 18 August, with all the usual privileges. David Gardiner, who had early offered his submission, was likewise, on his personal promise of obedience, confirmed in the possession of his 20 Septem. island, with "the same privileges and pre-eminences that Gardiner's may be granted to the other subjects of this Government.”+

1 October.

Island.

Upon the return of their deputies from New Orange, the five eastern towns of Long Island, having " duly weighed" their circumstances, and found that they must follow their "neighbour townes in submitting to the Dutch Govern- 28 August. ment," nominated magistrates, and sent their discarded En- Submission glish flags and constables' staves to Fort Willem Hendrick. ern towns.

* Col. Doc., ii., 583, 584, 586; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxx., 87.

+ Col. Doc., ii., 587-590, 622; Thompson, i., 155, 367; Wood, 9; ante, 90, 107.

7 Septem.

of the East

1673.

Officers ap

CHAP. V. From these nominations the Council of War chose Isaac Arnold, of Southold, to be schout, and Henry Pierson, of 29 August. Southampton, to be secretary of the five towns, and two 8 Septem. from each town to be magistrates. A petition for a modipointed. fication of the oath from some of the more scrupulous inhabitants was at the same time presented, which the council promptly granted, and instructed Schout Arnold to give notice that it would be administered by commissioners to be sent for that purpose. Nevertheless, the five towns were very reluctant to acknowledge the Dutch authority; 29 August. and Southampton felt constrained to address a declaration Southamp- to all his British majesty's subjects in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Plymouth, or elsewhere, "to take off an aspersion cast upon us, as though we should freely submit to this foreign government."*

8 Septem.

ton address.

22 August.

1 Septem.

named

burg.

Albany named Willemstadt.

Delegates from Albany and Esopus had meanwhile apKingston peared at the fort, and received prompt satisfaction. The Swanen- name of Kingston was changed to "Swanenburg," after Evertsen's flag-ship; but the names of Hurley and Marbletown were not altered. Albany was ordered to be called "Willemstadt," and its fort was named "Nassau." A garrison was directed to be maintained, and presents made to the five Iroquois nations, "in order to prevent the designs and undertakings of our enemies the French." Schenectady was to observe the regulations established by 25 August. Stuyvesant and Nicolls. Jeremias van Rensselaer was al4 Septem. lowed to enjoy his previous privileges for a year, upon conlaerwyck. tributing three hundred schepels of wheat; but was required to obtain a new grant from the States General.†

Rensse

named

Col."

Dutch authority was quietly re-established over New New Jersey Jersey, the name of which was changed to "Achter Col." "Achter The very day that Evertsen and Binckes began their sesAugust. sions at Fort Willem Hendrick, delegates came to them from Elizabethtown, Newark, Woodbridge, and Piscataway, to treat for a surrender. They were partisans of James Carteret, and opponents of Berry, the acting gov

* Col. Doc., ii., 601, 602; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxx., 86-88; Hist. Mag., i. (ii.), 298; Col. Rec. Conn., ii., 212, 563; Wood, 96.

† Col. Doc., ii., 559, 592-597; Doc. Hist., iii., 60; Val. Man., 1852, 431. Van Rensselaer was ordered to account to Joanna de Laet, wife of Schepen Jeronymus Ebbing, for the tenth part of the colony, which she had inherited from her father, John de Laet. The next year she sold her interest to Van Rensselaer: Col. Doc., i., 406, 407, 519, 534; ii., 549–561, 596, 597; Val. Man., 1855, 521; Barnard's Sketch, 109, 132; ante, vol. i., 204, 535.