None
Ende hoewel onse cleyne Raed der Kercke, bestaende ten hoogsten (als de Breeder Crol hier beneden is) niet meer dan wt 4 personen, de alle (mij alleene wtgesondert) oock politycque bedieningen hebben, soo verhope ick hochtans de voorval- lende kerckelijcke dingen van de borgerlijcke sorgfuldelijck te onder- loons are going back to the Father land, either because their years here are expired, or else because some are not very serviceable to the company. Some of them live far away and could not well come in time of heavy rain and storm, so that it is not advisable to ap point any special service in French for so small a number, and that upon an uncertainty. Nevertheless, the Lord's Supper was administered to them in the French language, and according to the French mode, with a discourse preceding, which I had before me in writing, as I could not trust myself extempo raneously.* If in this and in other matters your Reverence and the Honorable Brethren* of the Con sistory, (at Amsterdam,) who have special superintendence over ue here, deem it neces sary to administer to Subjection us any correction, in- to xninis- struction or good ad- ters at vice, it will be agree- Amster- able to us and we will dam. thank your Reverence therefor; since we must have no other object than the glory of God in the building up of his kingdom and the salvation of many souls. I keep myself as far as practicable within the pale of my calling, wherein I find myself sufficiently occupied. And although our small Consistory embraces at the most — when Consistory: Brother Crol is down Michaelius, here — not more than Crol, four persons, all of Minuit, whom, myself alone Huyg-hens. excepted, have also public business to attend to, I still * Namelijk, om voor de vuist in net Fransch te prediken. * That French. is to preach extempore in * Named near the end of this letter. OF THE STATE or NEW YOKE. 55 scheyden, opdat elck geoccupeert blijve met sijn eygen subject. hope to separate carefully the ecclesiastical from the civil matters which occur, so that each one will be occupied with his own subject. 1628 CIVIL MATTERS. Bnde hoewel vele dingen sijn mixti generis, ende de politycque ende kerckelijcke personen malcan- deren grootelijcx connen dienen, BOO moeten nochtans te samen gaende dingen ende ampten niet vermengt maer onderdscheyden werden, om alle verwerringen ende brodderijen te verhoeden. Bnde alsoo den Raedt deser plaetse be- staet uyt goede luyden, die nochtans de meeste part eenvoudigh sijn ende weynich geoeffent in poli tycque dingen, soo ist dat ick wel cleyne swaricheyd maken soude hun in enige sware ofte dubieuse dingen met goede advysen te dienen, mids dat ick mijselven eerst enichsins capabel kende ende daertoe versocht wierde; in welcken gevalle ick niet en achte dat ick yet soude misbeuren ofte oock bij yemand in suspitie comen van een kwaaddoener, often als een die zich met eens anders doen bemoeit, te wesen. Tware mijns bedunkens gansch oorboir, dat de Heeren Bewyntheb- beren dese plaetse voorsagen met duydelijcker ende naerder Instruc- tien voor den Regeerders, opdat se mochten bescheydelijck weten, hoe sij sich in alle voorcomende bur- gerlijcke swaricheden ende gaval- len hadden te reguleren: gelijck mede dat mij alhier eens mochten geworden al sulcke Acta Synodalia, als in de Hollandsche Synoden, soo Particuliere onses quartiers, als And though many things are mixti generis, and political and ecclesiastical persons can greatly assist each other, nevertheless the matters and offices belonging to gether must not be mixed but kept separate, in order to prevent all confusion and disorder. As the Council of this place consists of good people, who are, however, for the most part simple and have little experience in public affairs, I should have little objection to serve them in any serious or du bious affair with good advice, pro vided I considered myself capable and my advice should be asked; in which case I suppose that I would not do amiss or be suspected by any one of being a busy-body in other men's matters.* (1 Pet. 4: 15.) In my opinion it is very expe dient that the Honorable Directors of this place should furnish plain and precise instructions to their Governors that they may distinctly know how to conduct themselves in all possible public difficulties and events; and also that I should have all such ACTA SYNODALIA, as are adopted in the Synods of Holland; both the special ones re lating to this region, and those which are provincial and national, * Quoted in Greek. 56 ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS 1628 Provinciale ende Nationale, over alle kerckelijcke swaricheden ge- stelt zijn, ofte ten minsten die na het oordeel der E. E. Broederen tot Amsterdam ons hier aldermeest zouden connen te pas comen. Ou- dertusschen soo hope ick, dat de zaken hier wel gaen sullen, soo wij slechs aen wederzijden ons beste doen in alle oprechticheyd ende goeden yver; waertoe gelijck ik mij van eersten aen ganschelijck overgegeven hebbe, alsoo en hebbe ick oock tot noch toe door des Heeren genade geen billijcke oor- zake om over yemand te clagen. Ende soo mij hier enige dubieuse dingen van enigen gewichte sullen voorvallen, insonderheid als de saken enich wtstel connen lijden, soo sal ick mij refereren een der E. E. Broederen goede ende voor- sichtige advysen, aen de welcke ick mij alreede ganschelijck recom- mandere. in relation to ecclesiastical points of difficulty; or at least such of them as in the judgment of the Honorable Brethren at Amsterdam would be most likely to be of serv ice to us here. In the meantime, I hope matters will go well here, if only on both sides we do our best in all sincerity and honest zeal; whereunto I have from the first entirely devoted myself, and wherein I have also hitherto, by the grace of God, had no just cause to complain of any one. And if any dubious matters of im portance happen to me, and es pecially if they will admit of any delay, I shall be guided by the good and prudent advice of the Honorable Brethren, (the Consist ory at Amsterdam), to whom I have already wholly commended myself. THE NATIVES. Wat aengaet de natie deses Lands, die vynd ick gansch wild ende woest, vreemd van alle borger- lijcke sedicheyd, jae onbeleeft ende bot als tuynstaken, in alle boo- sheyd ende godloosheyd gelijck als gepromoveert, verduyvelde men- schen, die niemand anders dan den Duyvel dienen. wesende die Geest, dien sij op hare sprake Menetto noemen: gelijck sij mede onder dien tytel begrijpen alles wat subtyl ende geestich is ende beyde men schelijck vernuft ende crach- ten te boven gaet. Sij gaen met vele tooverijen, waerseggingen, besweeringen ende snoode consten om, soo datse bijna in genige banden ofte sloten en sijn te houden. Sij sijn soo diefachtich As to the natives of this country, I find them entirely savage and wild, strangers to all decency, yea, uncivil and stupid as garden poles, proficient in all wickedness and godlessness; devilish men, who serve nobody but the devil, that is, the spirit, which, in their lan guage, they call Menetto; under which title they com prehend everything that Their is subtle and crafty Character, and beyond human skill and power. They have so much witchcraft, divination, sorcery, and wicked tricks, that they cannot be held in by any bands or lock*. They are as thievish and treach erous as they are tall; and in cruelty they are altogether in- OF THE STATE OF YORK. 57 1628 ende verradisch als sij groot zijn: ende in wreedheyd sijnse gansch onmenschelijck ende meer dan Barbarlsch ende gaen d'Africanen daerin al verde te boven.* Ick hebbe dies aengaende aen verscheydene personen elders ges- chreven, niet twijfelende of de Breeder Crol sal daervan aen UWE. ofte immers aan de Heeren Bewyndhebberen genoech gesch- reven hebben: gelijck oock van het snoode verraed ende de moorderijre die de Mahicans aent oppereynde deser Riviere tegens het fort Oran- gien voorgenomen hadden,* doch is hun misluckt door een genadige bestieringe des Heeren ons ten goede: de welcke als het hem ge- lieft, in dese onnatuyrlijcke men- schen onversiens natuyrlijcke bewe- gingen weet te storten om haer doen te beletten. Hoe men nu best dese luyden tot de ware ken- nisse Godes ende des Middelaers Christi soude connen aenleyden, is qualijck te seggen. Ick en can mij selven niet genoech verwonde- ren wie TJWerE. ende velen an- deren int Vaderland soo vele op de mouwe gespeldt mach hebben, belangende de geseggelijckheyd de ser lieden, en den goeden aerdt, de gevoechlijcke principia religionis ende vestigia legis naturae die bij haer souden sijn: in de welcke ick human, more than barbarous, far exceeding the Africans.* I have written concerning these things to several persons elsewhere, not doubting that Brother Crol will have written sufficient to your Reverence, or to the Honorable Directors; as also of the base treachery, and the murders which the Mohicans, at the upper part of this river, had planned against Fort Orange, f but, by the gracious interposition of the Lord, for our good — who, when it pleased him, knows how to pour, unexpectedly, natural impulses into these un natural, men, in order to prevent them — they did not succeed. How these Difficulties people can best be of their led to the true knowl- conversion. edge of God and of the Mediator Christ, is hard to say. I cannot myself wonder enough who it is that has imposed so much upon your Reverence and many others in the Fatherland, concern ing the docility of these people and their good nature, the proper prin cipia religionis and vestigia legis naturae which should be among them; in whom I have as yet been able to discover hardly a single good point, except that they do not speak so jeeringly and so scof- fingly of the godlike and glorious * Hij kon dit uit eigene ondervinding, in Africa opgedaan, getuigen. * Brodhead spreekt ook hiervan niet: alleen dat in het voorjaar ran dit jaar 1628, digt bij het fort Oranje vijande- lijkheden waren uitgebroken tusschen de Mahicans, ook elders Mohicanen ge- heeten, en de Mohawks, waarbij de eerstgenoemden verslagen en verjaagd zijnde, naar Connecticut River geweken waren. L. 1. 113 en hier onder in het vervolg des briefs. * He could testify as to this from his own experience, obtained in Africa. * Brodhead does not speak of this; only that in the spring of 1628, close by Fort Orange, animosities had broken out between the Mahicans, elsewhere called Mohegans, and the Mohawks, so that the first named, smitten and pursued, betook themselves to the Connecticut river. L. 1. 113 and toward the sequel of this letter. 58 ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS 1628 tot noch toe schaers een enich goed point hebbe connen bemercken, wtgenomen dat se van de godde- lijcke ende glorieuse majesteyt hares Scheppers soo spottelijck ende versmadelijck niet en spreken, als d'Africanen wel durven doen. Doch 't can wesen omdat se van hem noch soo sekere kennisse niet en hebben ofte oock wel gansche gene. Als wij tot him van God will en spreken, het schijnt hun een droom te sijn: ende wij sijn genoot- saekt dat te doen onder den name, niet van Menotto dien sij kennen ende dienen (want dat ware een Laster), maer van enigen grooten, jae den alderoppersten Sackiema* met welcken name sij — sender Coningh levende — heten den genen die over enige hondereen onder hun hebben te gebieden, die van de onsen Sackemakers genaemt wer- den, het welcke sij lieden hoorende BOO sullen sommige beginnen te grijnen ende het hoofd te schudden als over een coude fabel, ende andere om met eeren ende vriend- schap uyt een sulck propoost te comen, sullen seggen Orith, dats goed. Nu, wat middel om dit volck ter salicheyd te ontginnen, ofte een heylsame bresse daeronder te maken? Ick neme verloff om in dit point wat wijdluf tiger met Uwe E. te discoureren. Hare tale die het eerste is bij hun te besigen, dunckt, mij gansch vreernbd. Vele onder ons gemeyne volck hetense gemeynelijck een lichte tale die haest geleert is: ick ben van een andere opinie. Want degene die hare woorden enigsins verstaen ende naspreken connen, die feylen grootelijck in pronun- tiatie ende radebraken se gelijck majesty of their Creator as the Africans dare to do. But it is be cause they have no certain knowl edge of Him, or scarcely any. If we speak to them of God, it ap pears to them like a dream; and we are compelled to speak of him, not under the name of Menetto, whom they know and serve — for that would be blasphemy — but- of one great, yea, most high, Sack iema* by which name they — living without a king — call him who has the command over several hundred among them, and who by our people are called Sackemakers; and as the people listen, some will begin to mutter and shake their heads as if it were a silly fable; and others, in order to express re gard and friendship for such a proposition, will say orith, that is, good. Now, by what means are we to make a salutary breach for the salvation of this people? I take the liberty on this point of enlarg ing somewhat to your Reverence. Their language, which is the first thing to be employed with them, methinks is entirely peculiar. Many of our Their common people call it langTiage. an easy language, which is soon learned, but I am of a con trary opinion. For those who can understand their words to some ex tent and repeat them, fail greatly * Sackiema, later in de Noord-Ameri- kaansche werken steeds Sachem ge- noemd. * Sackiema; subsequently in North American works always called Sachem. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 59 1628 de sprake Asdod.* Want dese natie heeft sware aspiratie ende vele litterras gutturales die meer in de kele dan door den mond, tanden ende lippen geformeert worden, hetwelcke onse popelf ongewent signde, op sijne wijse een groven slach daerinne slaet ende meynt sijne dingen noch wonder wel gedaen te hebben. 'Tis waer, men can lichtelijck soo vele leeren als genoech is om te handelen, maer dit geschiedt bi jeans soo vele int wijsen met duym ende vingeren als door spreken; net welcke in zaken van religie soo niet soude connen geschieden. Oock soo schijnt bet dat se hare tale voor ons liever occulteren, dan behoorlijck mede- deylen, ten sij dan in dingen die In den dagelijckschen handel te passe com en; seggende dat bet genoecb is dat wij ben daerinne verstaen connen: ende dan spreken se nocb maer halve redenen, afge- cortede woorden ende noemen dick- wils een douzijne dingen ende noch meer; jae al wat met malcanderen slecbts eenige rouwe gelijckenisse beeft noemen sij dickwils al met e"nen name. In sumrna 't is een gemaeckte kyndische tale: soo dat «elfs degene die best van alien met den Wilden connen spreken ende In bandel seer wel te rechte comen, nocbtans gansch blind staen ende gelijck als met baeuis$ sljn, als sij de Wilden allene onder mal canderen hooren spreken. in the pronunciation, and speak a broken language, like the language of Ashdod.* For these people have difficult aspirates and many gut tural letters, which are formed more in the throat than by the mouth, teeth and lips, to which our peoplef are not accustomed, and making a bold stroke at which they imagine that they have accom plished something wonderful. It is true one can learn as much as is sufficient for the purposes of trading, but this occurs almost as much by signs with the thumb and fingers as by speaking; but this cannot be done in religious matters. It also seems to us that they rather design to conceal their language from us than to properly communi cate it, except in things which happen in daily trade; saying that it is sufficient for us to understand them in that; and then they speak only half sentences, shortened words, and frequently call out a dozen things and even more; and all things which have only a rude resemblance to each other, they frequently call by the same name. In truth it is a made-up, childish language; so that even those who can best of all speak with the* savages, and get along well in trade, are nevertheless wholly in the dark and bewildered^ when they hear the savages talking among themselves. * Hij doelt op Nehemia xiii:24. t Verwant met gepeupel. ? Baeuis (sic). Kan het ook in ver- band staan met het Fransche bijv. naamwoord esbahi? * He alludes to Neb, 13:24: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, . .. t People — popel, connected with ge peupel, — populace, mob. t Bewildered — baeuis (sic). Can this word stand in connection with the French adjective esbahi? 60 ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS 1638 Wei, of men dan d'oude in haer wesen liete ende aen den kinder- kens die noch jongh sijn, begonne. Tzij alzoo. Maer sij moesten van joncks op van haren ouderen af- gesondert werden, jae van hare gansche Natie: Want, sonder dit, soo souden se de heydensche grillen ende duyvelryen terstond soo ge- went sijn als d'oude, die doch van selfs door ©en rechtveerdich oordeel Godes in hare herten geknedet sijn van naturen: soo dat se eens diepe wortelen gecrengen hebbende door gewoonte, gansch swaerlijk daer- van souden eijn aftebrengen. Doch dese afsonderinge is qualijck te doen. Want d'ouders hebben hare kinderen hertelijck lief, ende souden seer noode daeraf scheyden, ende als het geschiedt (want men heeft er al prouve af) soo en sijn d'ouders nimmermeer te degen gerust, ende nemen se weder steels wijse wech, ofte maken dat se van selfs ont- loopen. Nochtans dies weege mo- este men uyt, al soude men enige costen daertoe aenwenden, orn de kinderen door gaven ende onder goede beloften met danck ende wille der ouderen te becomen, om de selve onder de hand van enich welervaren ende godsalich school- meester te bestellen, daer se moch- ten geoeffend werden, niet alleen- lijck in onse tale te spreken, te lesen ende te schrijven, maer oock voornemelijck in de fundamenten onser Christelijcker religie, ende daer beneffens daer sij niet dan goede exempelen enes deugtsarnen levens en zagen; mids dat se noch- tans somtijds onder malkanderen hare moederlijcke tale spraken om de selve niet te vergeten, als ap- parentlijck een voorneme middel sijnde om de kennisse der Religie onder de gansche Natie uytte- breiden. Ondertusschen en moeste men niet vergeten den Heere om It would be well then to leave the parents as they are, and begin with the children who are still young. So be it. But they ought in youth to be separated from their parents; yea, from their whole na tion. For, without this, they would forthwith be as much accustomed as their parents to heathenish tricks and deviltries, which are kneaded naturally in their hearts by themselves through a just judg ment of God; so that having once, b~y habit, obtained deep root, they would with great diffi culty be emancipated Duty of therefrom. Nevertheless, although it would be attended with some expense, we ought, by means of presents, and promises to obtain the children, with the gratitude and consent of the parents; in order to place them under the instruc tion of some experienced and godly schoolmaster, where they may be instructed not only to speak, read, and write in our lan guage, but also especially in the fundamentals of our Christian re ligion; and where, besides, they will see nothing but the good ex ample of virtuous living; but they must sometimes speak their native tongue among themselves, in order not to forget it, as being evidently a principal means of spreading the knowledge of religion through the whole nation. In the meantime we should not forget to beseech the OF THE STATE OF NEW YOKE. 1628 sljnen zegen te soliciteren met vie- rige ende geduyrige gebeden, die doch dingen die ongesien sijn, haest gesien ende gelegen can maken, die den dooden net leven geeft ende roupt hetgene dat niet en is als of net ware ende daertoe rijck sijnde in barmharticheyd hem ont- fermt wiens hij wil: gelijck hij sich onser ontfermt heeft om sijn volck te wesen, als wij te voren niet ontfermt ende sijn volck niet en waren, ende heeft ons, als wij met een gelijcke sop aller verdor- ventheden overgoten waren, afge- waseen, geheyligt ende gerechtveer- digt, ons roupende tot de zalige kennieee sijns Soons, ende uyt de macht der duysternisse tot sijnen wonderbaerlijcken lichte. Ende dit achte ick soo vele te noodiger als de toorn Godes ende vloek te swaerder Is, de welcke tot noch toe op de«e elendige natie bevonden wordt te leggen. Magschien of hem God noch ten eynde ont- fermde, opdat de volheyd der hey- deneu allenskens inconem mochte ende het heyl onses Godes oock al- hier gesien mochte werden onder dese wilde ende woeste menschen. Ick hope een sorgfuldige ooge over dese luyden te houden ende soo vele van hare tale te leeren als doenlijck sijn sal, ende te prac- tizeren op betere gelegentheden haerder onderwij singe dan men tot noch toe heeft connen vynden. Lord, with ardent and continual prayers, for His blessing; who can make things which are unseen suddenly Prayer, and opportunely to Sovereignty appear; who gives of God. life to the dead; calls that which is not as though it were; and being rich in mercy has pity on whom He will; as He has compassionated us to be His peo ple; and has washed us clean, sanc tified us and justified us, when we were covered with all manner of corruption, calling us to the blessed knowledge of His Son, and from the power of darkness to His mar vellous light And this I regard so much the more necessary, as the wrath and curse of God, resting upon this miserable people, is found to be the heavier. Perchance God may to that end have mercy upon them, that the fulness of the hea then may be gradually brought in, and the salvation of our God may be here also seen among these wild savage men. I hope to keep a watchful eye over these people, and to learn as much of their lan guage as will be practicable, and to seek better opportunities for their instruction than hitherto it has been possible to find. His SUPPORT. Wat nu mij selven belangt ende mijne huishoudinge: ick vynde mij door het verlies van mijne goede ende behulpsame parture seer ontrijft ende verlegen. Want mijn twee dochterkens sijn noch cleyn; dienstmaegden en sijn hier niet te becornen, immers gene die men mij As to what concerns myself and my household: I find myself by the loss of my good and helpful partner very much hindered and distres- House- sed — for my two keeping. little daughters are yet small; maid servants are 62 1628 ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS raden soude in te nemen: d'An- goolsche slavinnen sijn oock die- fachtige, luije ende ontijdige vod- den. Den jonghman dien ick met mij nam, hebbe ick na Pinxteren weder laten gaen, om dies wille, dat ick hem buyten'shuys tot ge- nich landwerk en conde besigen ende binnens buys mij meer be- swaerde, dan verlichtinge aen- brachte; hij dient nu elders bij de boeren. De belofte die mij de Heeren Meesters der Comp. gedaen hedden van enige mergens ofte gemeten lands te doen hebben om mij daerop te geneeren ende dat in de plaetse van een vrije tafel die mij anders- sins toebehoorde, is gansch nietich ende ijdel. Want bare B. E. wisten immers selve wel dat alhier geen peerden noch koeijen noch arbeyds- lieden om geld te necomen sijn. Want elck heeft in desen noch te cort ende roept om meer. De costen soude ick mij ontsien,* soo de ge- legenheyd slechts viele: ende dat om ons eygen gerijf, al waert schoon datter geen voordeel op liepe (behoudens nochtans dat d'E. E. Meesters mij schuldich blijven soo vele als de weerde van een vrije tafel) want hier en is gene verversschinge van boter ende melck etc. te crijgen, hoewel het tot gansch dieren prijs vercocht (werdt), want de lieden die het halen ofte bespreken sijn jaloers over malcanderen. Dus sal ick den wynter moeten overbrengen sonder boter ende andere noodige dingen, die de schepen niet mede en brengen om hier verkocht te werden. Ende het randzoen dat hier wtgedeelt werdt ende hooge genoech aenge- schreven, is al harde oude cost, ge- not here to be had, at least none whom they advise me to take; and the Angola (female) slaves are thievish, lazy, and useless trash. The young man whom I took with me, I discharged after Whitsuntide, for the reason that I could not em ploy him out-of-doors at any work ing of the land, and in-doors he was a burden to me instead of an assistance. He is now elsewhere at service among the farmers. The promise which the Honorable Directors of the Company had made me of some acres or surveyed lands for me to make myself a home, instead of a free table which otherwise belonged to me, is void and use- Unable yet less. For their Hon- to farm. ors well knew that there are no horses, cows, or labor ers to be obtained here for money. Every one is short in these par ticulars and wants more. I should not mind* the expense if the op portunity only offered, for the sake of our own comfort, although there were no profit in it (the Honorable Directors nevertheless remaining indebted to me for as much as the value of a free table), for refresh ment of butter, milk, etc., cannot be here obtained; though some is indeed sold at a very high price, for those who bring it in or be speak it are jealous of each other. So I shall be compelled to pass through the winter without butter and other necessities, which the ships do not bring with them to be sold here. The ra tions, which are given Food, out and charged for high enough, are all hard stale food, as they are used to on board * Ontsien is hier zoo veel als ge- troosten. * Not mind — ontzien, treat gently; is here the same as getroosten — bear patiently. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 63 1628 lljck men te schepe plach te ge- bruycken: oock dickwils niet seer goed ende noch en can men 't tot sijnen wille niet genoech becomen. Ick begonde vrij wat stercte te crijgen door des Heeren genade, maer door dit harde voedsel van boontgens, graeuw erwten die hard genoech zijn, gort, stockvis etc. sender vele vernleuwinge, doet dat ick niet geheel can becomen, ge- lijck ick anders wel soude. De somer geeft wel yet, maer wat ist voor yemand die niet en heeft aen hem selven? De Wllden brengen oock wel sommige dingen, maer die gene waren en heeft, als messen, coralen ende diergelijcke ofte seeu- wan,* die en can niet te rechte comen. Ende hoewel de lieden sulcke dingen verhandelen voor eerlijcke waren, soo en weet ick noch niet of het him al vrij staet na de wetten der Comp. Ick hebbe nu wt Holland meest alle noodige dingen ontboden: ende verhope den wynter met harden ende schralen cost noch overtebrengen. Het land geeft vele goede dingen tot den leeftocht, maer sij sijn al te ongereedt ende wild te soecken: daer moeste beter ordre gesteit werden, ende luyden sijn die ver- stand ende gereedschap hadden oin alles in sijn behoorlijck saysoen optesoecken, te vangen ende bijeen te brengen: gelijk ongetwijffelt al- lenskens sal geschieden. Onder- tusschen soo wilde ick wel den B. E. Heeren Bewynthebberen beleef- delijck gevraegt hebben, hoe ick best de gelegenheyd sal connen heb ben om een parti je lands te beslaen ship, and frequently not very good, and even so one cannot obtain as much as he desires. I began to get considerable strength by the grace (favor) of the Lord, but in consequence of this hard fare of beans and gray peas, which are hard enough, barley, stockfish, etc., without much change I cannot fully recuperate as I otherwise would. The summer yields something, but what of that for any one who has no strength? The savages also bring some things, but one who has no wares, such as knives, beads, and the like, or seewan,* cannot come to any terms with them. Though the people trade such things for proper wares, I know not whether it is permitted by the laws of the Company. I have now ordered from Holland most all necessaries; but I expect to pass through the winter with hard and scanty food. The country yields many good things for the support of life, but they are all too unfit and wild to be gathered. Better regulations should be established, as doubtless will gradually be the case, so that people who have the knowledge and implements for seeking out all kinds of things in their season shall secure and gather them. In the meanwhile,! wish the Honorable Directors Need of to be courteously en- land, quired of, how I can have the opportunity to possess a * Seeuwan, eene soort van walvisch- baard of balein, in den rtiilhandel destijds aldaar gebruikelijk en bij de inboorlingen zeer gewild. Zie A.v.d. Donck, Reseller, van Nieuw-Nederlant, 2de dr. Amst. 1656. bl. 56, 57. * Seewan — a sort of whale fin or whale bone, very useful in the barter of those times, and with the natives much in demand. See Vander Donck's Description of New Netherland, 2nd ed., 1656, 56, 57. 64 ECCLESIASTICAL KECORDS 1628 ende mij selven daerop (oock tot mijnen costen) te geneeren? Want soo lange hier nlet meer van gerief bij den landlieden te crijgen is ende ick genoodzaeckt soude wesen tot hooge costen met vele moeyten ende peryckel alles wt het Vaderland te ontbieden ofte hier op dit enckel sober ende hard rantzoen te leven: dat soude mij ende mijne kinderen gansch slecht bevallen. Ons ont- breken noch 10 ofte 12 boeren met peerden, koeijen ende arbeydslieden naer advenant om onsselven te bedroopen van brood, suyvel ende behoorlijcke verversschinge. Want hier sijn nabij gelegene plaetsen, die licht sijn te beschermen ende seer bequaem: die men oock den Wilden om een geringe snuyster- inge soude connen afcoopen, ofte oock Bonder peryckel innemen: dewijle wij daerop meer dan ge- noechsame actien op liebben de welcke nooyt afgedaen en sijn ge- worden, maer met sulken insicht altijd gereserveert. portion of land, and at my own ex pense to support myself upon it. For as long as there is no more accommodation to be obtained here from the country people, I shall be compelled to order everything from the Fatherland at great expense and with much risk and trouble, or else live here upon these poor and hard rations alone, which would badly suit me and my children. We Need of want ten or twelve farmers, farmers with horses, cows and laborers in proportion, to furnish us with bread and fresh butter, milk and cheese. There are convenient places which can be easily protected and very suitable, which can be bought from the sav ages for trifling toys, or could be occupied without risk, because we have more than enough shares which have never been cleared but have been always reserved for that purpose. CONDITION OF THE COLONY. De negotie in de vellen* valt slap ende dat van wegen een nieuwe oorloge der Maechibaeys tegen de Mahicans aent oppereynde van dese riviere. Daer vallen wreede moor- derijen tusschen beyden. De Ma hicans sijn vluchtich; ende hun lant staet open, seer vruchtbaer ende plaisierich: het jammert ons alleen dat men geen volck, noch ordre en heeft van de Heeren Meesters om het selve te besetten. Men velt hier vele houts om na 't Vaderland te voeren, maer de schepen sijn te weynich om vele te laden. Men maeckt enen meulen The business of furs* is dull on account of the new war of the Maechibaeys (Mohawks) against the Mohicans at the upper end of this river. There have occurred cruel murders on both sides. The Mohicans Wars, have fled and their Industries, lands are unoccupied and are very fertile and pleasant. It grieves us that there are no peo ple, and that there is no regulation of the Honorable Directors to oc cupy the same. They fell much wood here to carry to the Father land, but the vessels are too few * Bevervellen. The bearer-skins. or THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 65 1628 te wynde* om hout te sagen; ge- lijck wij oock al enen meelmolen hebben. Men backt hier steneh doch sij vallen gansch slecht. Om calck te branden isser goede stoffe namelijck oesterschelpen bij menichten. De potaschbrandinge en succedeert niet ende de meester met sijne arbeydslieden sijn ar- beydslieden sijn alle grootelijcx verabuseert.t Men is besich met een forteresse te bouwen van goede berghstenen, die niet verde van hier bij menich ten leggen. De Heere bouwe slechts mede, ende sij de wachter op onse muyren. Men siet hier goede commoditeyt om sout te rnaken: want daer sijn gelegene plaatsen, het water is sout genoech ende 'ten onbreeckt niet aen hitte in den somer. Yoorts wat de wateren al geven van vele soorten risch beyde in zee ende in de rivieren: wat het land al heeft van gevogelte, wild ende bosschagien, van eerdvruchten, boomvruchten, wortelen, gewassen, cruyden soo om te eten als medicinale ende met de welcke wonderlijcke curen gewrocht connen werden, soo (sou) gansch langh vallen om te ver- halen, ende ick en soude 't soo geheel pertinent alsnoch niet con nen doen. Uwe E. heeft daer af ten deele al kennisse gecregen ende sal wt andere noch meer be- scheyds connen vernernen. Het land is goed ende playsierich, de lucht is gesond niet tegenstaende de subyte veranderinge van coude ende hitte. De sonne is gansch heet, de wynter fel ende strenge ende duyrt ruym soo lange als in to take much of it. They are mak ing a windmill* to saw the wood and we also have a gristmill. They bake brick here, but it is very poor. There is good material for burning lime, namely, oyster shells, in large quantities. The burning of potash has not succeeded; the master and his laborers are all greatly disappointed. f We are busy now in building a fort of good quarry stone, which is to be found not far from here In abundance. May the Lord only build and watch over our walls. There is good opportunity for mak ing salt, for there are convenient places, the water is salt enough, and there is no want of heat in summer. Besides, as to the waters, both of the sea and rivers, they yield all kinds of fish; and as to the land, it abounds in all kinds of game, wild and in the groves, with vegetables, fruits, roots, herbs and plants, both for eating and medicinal purposes; and with which wonderful cures can be effected, which it would take too long to tell, nor could I do justice to the tale. Your Reverence has already obtained some knowledge thereof and will be able to obtain from others Climate. further information. The country is good and pleasant, the climate is healthy, notwith standing the sudden changes of cold and heat The sun is very warm, the winter is strong and severe and continues fully as long as in our country. The best rem edy is not to spare the wood, of Wlndmolen. D. i. vinden zich bedrogen. * Meulen te wynde — windmolen, wind mill, y t Verabuseert — vinden zich bedrogen — find themselves defrauded. 66 ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS 1628 onse landen. De beste remedie is geen hout te sparen: want 't isser genoech, ende sich wel te decken met ruyge vellen, die men oock tot sijn gerief licht can becomen. Den oogst is Gode loff in de schuyre ende beter geslaegt dan ooyt te voren: daer was oock wat meer toe gedaen dan te voren. De grond is vruchtbaer genoech om den arbeyd te beloonen, maer men moet hem wel suyveren, alle deugt doen ende cultiveren, gelijck onse landen ook vereysschen. Het heeft tot noch toe veel te arger gegaen omdat vele lieden niet seer arbeyd- saem en waren ofte oock haren behoorlijcken nooddruft niet en cregen bij gebreck van brood ende toespijse. Dan het begint nu alles bet te gaen ende het siet nu geheel uyt een ander ooge: soo de Meesters slechts goede arbeyders senden ende op alle dingen ordre geven om hem met die dingen die dit land selve geeft ten besten te geneeren. which there is enough, and to cover one's self with rough skins, which can also easily be obtained. The harvest, God be praised, it in the barns, and is larger than ever before. There has been more work put on it than before. The ground Harvests. is fertile enough to reward labor, but they must clear it well, and till it, just as our lands require. Until now there has been distress because many people were not very industrious, and also did not obtain proper sustenance for want of bread and other neces saries. But affairs are beginning to put on a better appearance, if only the Directors will send out good laborers and exercise all care that they be maintained as well as possible with what this country produces. His RELATION TO THE CHURCH or HOLLAND. Ick hadde wel voor, ende oock belooft (te schrijven) aen de E. E. Broederen Rudolphum Petri, Joan- nem Sylvium, ende aen D. Cloppen- burgium, die neffens Uwe E. met de besorginge deses quartiers was belastet;* doch alsoo dit langh soude vallen, den tijd cort is ende mijne occupatien voor dees tijd vele, soo sal Uwe E. gelieven mijne vriendelijcke ende beleefde groeten- isse aen hare E. E. te doen ende I had promised (to write) to the Honorable Brethren, Rudolphus Petri, Joannes Sylvius and Domine [Joannes] Cloppenburg, who, with your Reverence, were charged* with the superintendence of these regions; but as this would take long and the time is short, and my occupations at the present time many, will your Reverence be pleased to give my friendly and kind regards to their Reverences, * Belastet. Dit was dus door de Noord-Holl. Synodus aan eenige Am- sterdamsche predikanten opgedragen. — De in den tekst genoemde predikanten waren alien destijds nog te Amsterdam werkzaam; Sylvius en Triglandius sints 1610, Petri sints 1612, en Cloppenburg sints 1621. * Belastet — charged, burdened. This duty had been thus committed to cer tain Amsterdam preachers by the Synod of North Holland. The preachers named in the text were all at this time active In Amsterdam; Sylvius and Triglandius since 1610, Petri since 1612, and Clop- penfcurg since 1621. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 67 1628 mij te excuseren, mids dat ick haren schuldenaer blijve, om mijne belofte de naeste reyse (soo God wil) te vervullen. Wilt oock mijne hertgrondelijcke groetenisse doen aen E. D. Triglandium ende voorts alle de Broederen des Kercken- raeds, aen welcke alle ick voor dees tijd niet noodich en achte bijscon- derlijck te schrijven, als die van mij gemaeckt werden participanten in dese tijdingen, ende geerne tevreden sijn uyt Uwer E. hand geaest te werden. Soo 't Uwer E. gelegen sal zijn ofte yemand der E. Broederen om herwaerds aen mij een letterken te schrijven van dingen daeraen mij enigsins mochte gelegen zijn: het soude mij (hier levende in een woest land, buyten alle tgeselschap van onse orden) gansch vermakelijck sijn, ende een spore om den E. E. Broederen, van alles dat hier soude mogen voor- vallen, des te vlijtiger overte- schrijven. Doch vooral en dient niet vergeten dat mijne hertelijcke groete geschieden aen Uwer E. be- minde huysvrouwe ende swager dewelcke mij niet dan alle vriend- schap ende deugt (oock boven mijne weerde) bewesen hebben. Soodaer yets ware waerin ick hen ende Uwer E. wederomme conde dienen ofte gratificeren, het soude mij van herten lief zijn ende ick soude mij in genige dingen willen te nooden maken.* Hiermede dan eindigende, ende mij selven in Uwer E. gunste ende godsalige gebeden tot den Heere bevelende: Eerweerde Welgeleerde Heere, beminde Br. in Christo ende goed- gunstige vriend, and to excuse me, on condition that I remain their debtor to fulfill my promise — God willing — the next time. Will you, also, give my sin cere respects to the Reverend Domine Triglandius, and to all the Brethren of the Consistory (at Am sterdam) besides, to all of whom I have not thought it necessary to write particularly at this time, as they are made by me participants in these tidings, and are content to be fed from the hand of your Reverence. If it shall be conveni ent for your Rever ence or any of the Correspond- Reverend Brethren to ence. write to me a letter concerning matters which might be important in any degree to me, it would be very interesting to me, living here in a wild country with out any society of our order, and would be a spur to write more as siduously to the Reverend Brethren concerning what may happen here. And especially do not forget my hearty salutations to the beloved wife and brother-in-law of your Reverence, who have shown me nothing but friendship and kind ness above my deserts. If there is anything in which I can in return serve or gratify your Reverence, I shall be glad to do so, and shall not be delinquent in anything.* Concluding then herewith, and commending myself to your Rever ence's favor and to your holy pray ers to the Lord. Reverend and Learned Sir, Be loved Brother in Christ, and Kind Friend: * Beteekent schieten? dit: willen te kort * Willen te nooden maken: — This means — to be willing to fall short — in nothing. 68 ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS 1628 Soo wil ick Uwe E. ende alien Heartily commending your Rev- den uwen den Almogenden God in erence and all of you to Almighty genaden tot een langduyrige voor- God, to continue health and pros- spoed ende gesondheyd ende tot perity, and to eternal salvation, by een eeuwige zalicneyd van herten His Grace, bevolen hebben. From the island of Manhatas in Wt het Eyland van Manhatas New Netherland, this llth day of desen lln Augusti Ao. 1628, in August, Anno 1628, by me, your Nieuw-Nederland, bij mij Uwer E. Reverence's very obedient servant in Christo gansch dienst willige. in Christ. JONAS MICHAELIUS. JONAS MICHAELIUS. REV. JONAS MICHAELIUS. From Van der Aa's Biographical Dictionary. — Michaelius, Jonas, cousin (neef) of the following, born in 1577, probably at Hoorn, allowed himself to be inscribed as a Member of the Uni versity (Academic-burgher, or citizen of the University) at Ley- den. He became pastor at Nieuwbokswoude in 1612, and at Hem in 1614. Ten years later in 1624, he sailed with the fleet of Piet Heyn, to San Salvador in Brazil, where he had been appointed as the permanent minister. The next year, when we (the Dutch) had to vacate again this strong point, the Reformed minister left also with the Dutch. In 1625, or in the beginning of 1626, we find him laboring in Guinea, at the fort St. George del Mina, (d'Elmina). In 1627 he returned to the Fatherland. In Janu ary, 1628, he sailed with his wife and three children to ISTorth America and became the first minister of the Dutch Reformed Church at Manhattan or New Amsterdam, subsequently called New York. Thence he wrote on August 11, 1628, an important letter to Adrian Smoutius, minister in Amsterdam. This letter was communicated by Mr. Bodel Mjenhuis to the Archives (Archief) of Profs. Kist and Moll, Part I, pp. 365 et seq. It seems that about the year 1633 he returned again to the Father land or removed as minister, to Virginia.* In 1637 and 1638 * This is plainly an error in Van der Aa. There could have been no reason for his going to (the present state of) Virginia, where there were no Dutch; but the term Virginia is frequently employed, as inclusive of New Netherland. The extracts given below in this work abundantly show this. See such extracts. See also Henry C. Murphy's remarks on Rev. Jonas Michaelius in Col. Docs. N. Y. ii. 759-761. 