I.

down, that they were to be "elected," and to constitute a CHAP. "court similar to that which exists in this city." Stuyvesant retained their appointment in his own hands, and 1653. gave them early to understand, that their existence did not in any way diminish the power and authority of himself and Council "to make ordinances or publish particular interdicts even for New Amsterdam."

On the feast of Candlemas, or the 2d of February, 1653, Feb. 2. the Director-general issued a proclamation, appointing Arent van Hattem and Martin Krygier burgomasters; Paulus Leendertsen van der Grist, Maximilian van Gheel, Allard Anthony, Willem Beekman and Pieter Wolfertsen van Couwenhoven, schepens. The city was, however, not allowed a Schout of its own: Cornelis van Tienhoven, the Company's Fiscaal, was commissioned to act as the city's sheriff. A similar infraction of the city privileges was committed on the appointment of Secretary. "Ever since Amsterdam had burgomasters, the city secretary was appointed by them." This rule was, however, no precedent for Stuyvesant. He nominated Jacob Kip clerk to the board, at a salary of two hundred and fifty guilders ($100) a year.' In the transaction of public business, the burgomasters and schepens sat at first together, and performed the same duties. They constituted a court of sessions "for the hearing and determining differences and disputes between parties as far as it may be practicable." Yet their jurisdiction was

1 Alb. Rec. vi., 54, 60. Jacobus Kip was born in Amsterdam, 16th May, 1631, and married, the year following his appointment to the above office, Maria La Montagne, (8th March, 1654,) then in her seventeenth year. He was appointed Schepen of New Amsterdam in 1659, and filled that office also in 1662, 1663, 1665, 1673, and 1674. The family had a farm of 150 acres on the East River, on what is still known as Kip's Bay. Jacob erected on this farm a house, in 1655, which was rebuilt in 1696; it was for a short time, during the Revolution, Washington's head quarters. Five generations of the family have been born here. As everything in this transitory world must pass away, sooner or later, scarcely a vestige is left of the Kip mansion, the Corporation having ordered the opening of Thirty-fifth st., on the line of which it stood. Like many other families of New York, the Kips were divided in politics at the period of the Revolution, and Samuel Kip became a captain in Col. Delancey's regiment of Loyalist Rangers. He was severely wounded in a skirmish with the Whig forces in Westchester Co., yet survived the war several years. That portion of Nassau st., N. Y., between Ann and Spruce sts., was originally called "Kip st.," after one of this family.

BOOK not well defined. They tried actions for the recovery of V. debt, for defamation of character, for breaches of marriage 1653. promise, and prosecutions for assault and theft, and commit

ted to prison for contempt of court. They summoned before them parents and guardians accused of withholding their consent, without sufficient cause, to the marriage of their children or wards, and if they thought proper, obliged the former to withdraw their opposition to the desired union. It was their province also to grant passports to those who were leaving the city, either for another country, or another part of the province. The proceedings before this court were in writing. Witnesses were examined on interrogatories, and from its decisions in certain cases an appeal lay to the Director-general and Council. Its regular sessions were held once in two weeks, or oftener, as occasion required; the court opening at nine o'clock in the morning and adjourning at noon. The absent magistrates were fined six stivers for the first half hour, twelve for the second, and forty stivers if absent during the whole meeting. As the attendance of farmers was inconvenient during the season of harvest, there was a vacation for three weeks, commencing about the middle of July. There was also a short intermission during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The annual installation of the new magistracy was opened with a long and solemn prayer, in which the blessing of the Most High was invoked on their deliberations and on their acts.'

This new power in the government came into existence at an important crisis in public affairs. The parent state was at war with that country to which the English colonies were most closely connected, and it was important to maintain peaceful relations with these powerful neighFeb. 26. bors. The Council immediately resolved to write to New England and Virginia, to express to those governments the sincere esteem which the authorities of New Netherland and the West India Company entertained towards them, and to propose a continuance of peaceful com

1 New Amsterdam Rec.

I.

Mar. 13.

mercial intercourse.' The Director-general not only com- CHAP. municated to the Burgomasters the letters of the Directors, but informed them of certain preparations then making 1652. in New England, but whether offensive or defensive was not known, in view of which it was unanimously determined that the citizens should from this date mount guard every night at the city tavern and court-house, and that the fort should be thoroughly repaired.' But as this could not contain all the inhabitants, and as all the houses could not be defended, it was determined, further, to enclose the principal part of the city with palisades and a breastwork to be thrown up from a ditch three feet wide and two feet deep. Within these defences all the people were to retire, with their goods and families, in case of imminent danger. The city magistrates were at the same time ordered to devise ways and means to defray the expenses attendant on these precautionary measures. They proposed to raise six thousand guilders, to be collected from Mar. 15. the commonalty when the defences should be completed. In the mean time the money was to be borrowed from the wealthier portion of the citizens.' Allard Anthony, one of 1 Alb. Rec. ix., 57.

The names of those enrolled in this guard, will be found in Appendix E.

3 The following are the names of these citizens, and the sums they respectively loaned

The Hon'ble Werckhoven,

Gl.

Gl.

V.

BOOK the schepens, was dispatched to Holland, in the course of the summer, to obtain from the Chamber at Amsterdam 1653. further aid, at this critical conjuncture.

June 5.

Owing to the excessive cultivation of tobacco, the inordinate pursuit of the fur trade, and the increase of immigra tion for the last two years, a scarcity of food now became imminent. In order to prevent this, and in view of the danger with which the country was threatened through the war with England, the export of breadstuffs was prohibited; tobacco planters were ordered to set as many hillocks of corn as they did of tobacco, and the consumption of grain by brewers and distillers was strictly forbidden. Finally a proclamation was issued appointing, until otherwise ordered, the first Wednesday of every month to be observed as a day of general fasting and prayer.'

1 Alb. Rec iv., 122, 165; vi., 58–67, 69, 71-73; vii., 323-325, 328; viii., 96, 97, 286.

CHAPTER II.

Excitement in New England on hearing of the war-Rumors that the Dutch had bribed the Indians to cut off the English-Proceedings of the United Colonies in consequence-Issue a manifesto-Stuyvesant disclaims all knowledge of the plot-Calls for an investigation-Commissioners appointed by the United Colonies -Their proceedings-Quit the Manhattans suddenly-Capt. John Underhill raises the standard of rebellion on Long Island-His seditious address--Flies to New England-Stuyvesant writes to the United Colonies in vindication of his government-Result of the enquiries into the plot-Connecticut and New Haven insist on hostile proceedings against the Dutch-Massachusetts opposes their demand-First instance of nullification-New Haven applies to Cromwell for assistance-Rhode Island commissions Dyer and others-Underhill seizes Fort Good Hope, and sells it-Thomas Baxter turns pirate-Embassy to Virginia-De Sille, Van Ruyven and others appointed to office.

II.

THE news of the war excited naturally some anxiety in CHAP. New England, as to the policy which the Dutch would pursue in America. This feeling soon assumed a graver 1653. character, especially in the more western colonies, in consequence of intelligence communicated to Governor Haines of Connecticut, by Uncas, a Mohegan chief, that Director Stuyvesant was stimulating the Indians of Narragansett to cut off the English. Information of a similar nature was communicated by other Indians to the people of Stamford, Mar. 27. under the jurisdiction of New Haven, who were assured "that the Dutch Governor did earnestly solicit, about a month previously, the Indians in these parts to kill all the English."

The Governors of Connecticut and New Haven were never very friendly to General Stuyvesant, and were consequently open to entertain accusations even founded on looser evidence than this, against men whom they regarded with jealousy and suspicion, particularly when they recollected that they had already gravely wronged those whom they now suspected. An extraordinary session of the Commissioners of the United Colonies was