1663.

BOOK why they had not sent in, as usual, their annual nominaVI. tion. They had called the people together for that purpose, (they replied,) but the latter refused to act, as they had been summoned by Hartford. Why, then, had they not communicated the letters they had received six months ago? Why had they actually appointed two persons to represent their village in Hartford? They confessed they had erred, and prayed forgiveness. They were discharged, and letters were sent forbidding the settlers to obey any orders from Hartford, or to send delegates thither. Richard Mills, the Connecticut emissary, now in prison, June 9. was liberated on swearing not to do anything, "written or printed," either in or out of the province, against the Dutch government. He some time after went to Virginia.' Connecticut persisted, notwithstanding, in its determination to reduce Eastdorp, and for this purpose sent Captain John Talcott, one of the magistrates of the colony, with a mounted force of sixteen or eighteen men, over to WestJuly 20. chester, who absolved the settlers from their allegiance to

the Dutch; dismissed the magistrates; appointed others in their stead, and finally made themselves masters of the whole place.'

Now, all this time John Bowne continued doggedly in jail, and refused to pay his fine. He was one of those men who, strong in their innocence, seem determined to try issues with their persecutors; and "as he continued obstinate and pervicacious," he was warned that he should be sent across the seas if he did not submit. But this threat had no effect on the Quaker convert, and at the appointed Jan. 8. day he was put on board the Fox-an ominous name!—and shipped for Holland, whither Stuyvesant also wrote, complaining in strong terms to the Directors of the man, as a disturber of the peace, who "obstinately persisted in his refusal" to pay the fine which had been imposed on him,

1 Alb. Rec. xxi., 80, 93-95, 103, 141, 143.

• Aitzema, iv., 112. Trumbull, i., 257, says Talcott was sent " to lead the inhabitants to the choice of their officers." He keeps the armed posse carefully out of sight, as well as the other violences of the Connecticut emissary. Sending sixteen or eighteen armed men into a retired hamlet, is rather a suspicious mode of teaching people how to vote.

66

JII.

and was now banished "in the hope that others might be CHAP. discouraged." Should this example fail of salutary effect, the Director-general expressed his determination to have 1663. recourse to "more severe prosecutions." But before he could put this threat into execution, retributive justice. brought to his own lips the bitter chalice from which he had obliged so many others to drink. Judith Varleth, his brother-in-law's sister, lay imprisoned in Hartford on charge of being a witch,' and Stuyvesant found himself obliged to implore in her behalf that forbearance and mercy which he knew not to extend to others. Punishment, to a hightoned mind even worse than this, now awaited him. Bowne in due season "manifested his case to the West India Company." They were not disposed to take offence at our manners or the like, neither one word against me in particular, nor one word tending to the approval of anything that was done against us." On the contrary, a dispatch was transmitted by the Directors at Amsterdam to Gov- April 16. ernor Stuyvesant, severely censuring the course he had pursued. "In the youth of your existence you ought," said they, "rather encourage than check the population of the colony. The consciences of men ought to be free and unshackled, so long as they continue moderate, peaceable, inoffensive, and not hostile to the government. Such have been the maxims of prudence and toleration by which the magistrates of this city have been governed; and the consequences have been, that the oppressed and persecuted from every country have found among us an asylum from distress. Follow in the same steps, and you will be blessed."

The persecution of the Quakers under the Dutch ceased from this time, but not its evil consequences. The affections of the people were forever alienated; for what incentive is there to love a government which violates the most sacred rights?

1 This lady was sister to Maria Varleth, who married successively Johannes van Beck, Paulus Shrick, and (April, 1664,) William Teller of Schenectady. Alb. Rec iv., 427; xviii., 221; xx., 199, 208, 213, 217-220, 230-233, 263, 291; Besse, ii., 237

BOOK

VI.

CHAPTER IV.

Alexander D'Hinoyossa succeeds Alrichs at New Amstel-Changes in consequence-Lord Baltimore sends an agent to Holland to support his pretensions to the Delaware-The West India Company resist his claims-Apply for protection to the States General-Renewed efforts to colonize the South RiverEnlargement of the charter of New Amstel-New civil list-Private merchants admitted to take stock in the city's colonie-Disagreements between D'Hinoyossa and Beekman-Consequent disorders-The former visits Holland-Mennonists propose emigrating to the South River-Their peculiar rules-Obtain a grant of land at the Whorekill-The whole of the South River surrendered to the city of Amsterdam-Further emigration-D'Hinoyossa appointed Director over the Delaware, and Beekman commissioned Sheriff of Wiltwyck.

WHEN Vice Director Alrichs perceived his last hour approaching, he appointed, in conformity to his instruc1660. tions, Alexander D'Hinoyossa his successor, adjoining unto him Gerrit van Sweringen and Cornelis van Gezel as councillors, to administer the government of the city's colonie on the South River, until otherwise ordered. He enjoined them, at the same time, in feeling terms, and made them promise, as he took their hands in his, to perform their duty uprightly, and act in good faith towards each other. The scene was moving, and touched the heart of the lieutenant, who expressed himself in kindly terms towards the dying man, praised his administration, hoped that God might yet spare him, and voluntarily promised that he should ever be foremost in the defence of his honor and reputation. The breath, however, was scarcely out of the Vice Director's body, when these promises were forgotten. For, the next night, whilst yet the corpse occupied the chamber of death, D'Hinoyossa and Van Sweringen employed themselves examining the papers of the deceased; then called the magistrates together, read to them the instructions Alrichs had received, besides the letters sent to him from Holland, and loudly accused him of having violated the major part of

IV.

his superiors' commands. Had he been still living, his CHAP. life and property would have been forfeit. D'Hinoyossa concluded his attack, by expressing his determination to 1660. seize all his effects for the use of the city, and called on the Schepens to approve under their signature these proceedings. The magistrates, however, refused to concur. Some of the acts which D'Hinoyossa had declared illegal, had been those of the court in which they sat. They were, consequently, compromised as having participated in such judgments, or orders, and could not, therefore, be expected to condemn themselves. "They should prefer being dismissed from office, to declare an honest man a villain." They were discharged accordingly. D'Hinoyossa followed this by arraigning Van Gezel, Alrichs' executor and heir, on a charge of mutiny, on the ground that he caused the Schepens to refuse obedience to his orders, and finally removed him from the office of councillor and colonial secretary; seized his property; placed a bailiff in his house; threatened to transport him to Fatherland, and denied him all access to the books, papers and accounts of the deceased Director. To avoid all further persecution, Van Gezel was obliged to remove to Altona, where Jan. 30. he placed himself under the protection of Commissary Beekman, and subsequently appealed for justice to the Director-general. Jan Prato was appointed his successor in the council, and Pieter Alrichs commissary at the Whorekill.'

In the mean time, Lord Baltimore, dissatisfied with the issue of the conference at Patuxent, between his officers and the Dutch commissioners, sent Capt. James Neale April 20. to Holland, to enquire if the West India Company authorized the occupation of the country on the south side of Delaware bay; if so, to demand its surrender in his name; and should such be refused, to protest against them on the ground of illegal possession. This was, however, of no avail, and its renewal was thereupon ordered. A formal June 7. claim for the surrender of New Amstel was then sent

1 Alb. Rec. xvii., 33, 38; xxiv., 360-365.

Ang. 23.

BOOK in to the Directors, who were at the same time expressly VI. informed that should they persist in retaining possession 1660. of that place, all possible and lawful means would be used by the proprietor to defend his rights, and reduce the Dutch to his obedience. "That all the world may see and acknowledge that nothing but what is right and just is intended," Capt. Neale offered, at the same time, to negotiate for the termination of this business in a peaceable and friendly manner, on reasonable and honorable terms. Aug. 29. The matter was referred to the Assembly of the XIX., who, with very little delay, drew up their reply.

Sep. 1.

They expressed great surprise that Lord Baltimore should put forth such claims. They had been for a long series of years in lawful possession of the country in question, without any pretension being made thereto, either by his lordship or any one else. They were now resolved to retain that possession, and to defend their people, their rights and immunities, against every person whomsoever. They hoped, they added, that Lord Baltimore would consider well before he acted as he threatened. If, however, he should proceed to execute violent measures, then it was their duty to say, that the West India Company, under the protection of their High Mightinesses, would employ all the means, with which it was provided by God and nature, to preserve its possessions, protesting themselves innocent of all the Christian blood which might be shed in such a struggle.'

New Netherland being thus threatened at both extremities-from the north and from the south-at a moment, too, when it was about to be in a position not only to sustain itself, but to reimburse its proprietors their heavy outlays, Nov. 5. now exceeding ten tons of gold,' the XIX. voted an address to the States General, requesting that their ambassadors in England be instructed to complain of those encroachments; to demand of his Majesty to order Lord

1 Alb. Rec. iv., 354; viii., 292–302; Hol. Doc. ix., 111-126, 175-177; Lond. Doc. iv., 175-177.

2" Al verre over de Thien Tonnen gouts comen te bedragen," equal to 1,000,000 gl.