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Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Nicolaes Coorn, 38 years of age, Hans Kirstede, about 32 years of age, Jan Jacobsz, about 30 years of age, and Gysbert op Dyck, 37 years of age, who on the requisition of Cornelis van der Hoykens, fiscal, jointly attest, testify and declare, in place and with promise of a solemn oath if need be and required, that they, the deponents, on the evening of the 15th instant, were invited with their wives to the public tavern of Philip Gerritssen, innkeeper, where about an hour after supper there came in Jan Onderhil with his lieutenant, Bacxter, and the drummer, to whom the above mentioned Philip Gerritssen said: “Friends, I have invited these persons here with their wives; I therefore request that you will betake yourselves to another room where you can be furnished with wine for money.” They finally did so after many words. Having been gone a short time, said Jan Onderhil and his company, who had then been joined by Tomas Willet, invited some of our, the deponents’, company, to have a drink with them, which was done. Gorge Bacxter, by Onderhil’s orders, came and requested that op Dyck would please to come and join them, which he refused. Whereupon he, Onderhil, and his companions with drawn swords knocked to pieces all but three of the mugs which hung from the shelf in the tavern, as may be seen by the marks which remain in the shelf and by the cuts and hackings in the posts and doors; furthermore endeavoring by force, having drawn swords in their hands, to come into the room where the invited guests were. This was for a long time resisted by the landlady with a leaded bludgeon and by the landlord by keeping the door shut, but finally Jan Onderhil and his aforesaid companions, in spite of all opposition, came into the room, where he made many unnecessary remarks, Captain Onderhil having his sword in his right hand and the scabbard in the left, the blade about a foot out of the scabbard, which said Jan Onderhil, holding his sword as described, said to the minister: “Clear out of here, or I shall strike at random.”^[1] Presently, some English soldiers came likewise, to assist him, we suppose, whereupon the above mentioned Onderhil and his companions became guilty of gross insolence, so that the fiscal and the guard were sent for and, these having arrived, the English and the above mentioned Onderhil were ordered to depart. They refused to do this, saying to the minister: “If the director comes here, ’tis well; I would rather speak to a wise man than to a fool.”^[2] And in order to prevent further and more serious mischief, yes, even bloodshed, we broke up our pleasant party before we had intended. All of which we declare to be true. Done this 17th of March anno 1644, in Fort Amsterdam.

References

Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 2, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.