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Honorable, Wise, Rigorous Gentlemen.

Trusted Gentlemen. This is to inform your honors, that we have received your honors' letter of the 4th of May and that we are pleased to learn of your honors' anxiety and great affection for us. We have to report that, although we have done our best to apprehend the murderer we are mockingly refused by the Indians and as to the seller of the brandy the Indians refer us to no one, but to many, now Peter then Paulus. But it is evident that not only for the sake of selling their stock of beavers they all keep near Fort Orange, where as the make of the brandy keg proves, the coopers have hardly sufficient time, to supply the demand by these people. The Indians have, as we previously communicated to your honors, set fire to the cowshed, the pigsty and then the dwellinghouse of Jacop Adryaensen and not being satisfied compelled us here, to plow for them, taking upon refusal a firebrand and holding it under the roofs of the houses, to set fire to them; they use great violence every day, which we are not capable to relate to your honors, and derisively say that if they kill a Christian or more, they can pay for it in sewant and we have so far been obliged to carry out their wishes; further, your honors are well acquainted with this fine country and know that there are 990 skipples of seed grain in the ground, that our residences and chattels are here also and that between 60 and 70 Christian people live here and attend divine service on all the proper days and that we maintain our reader at our own expense. Therefore we believe, that your honors would regret sincerely, if so many innocent souls should be so wretchedly murdered and driven away by the cruel Indians and it looks very much like it, (which the good and almighty God may prevent). We hope, your honors will consider that it is useless to cover the well, after the calf has been drowned; for the common rabble of the Indians do not pay any attention to their chiefs now and the latter have no more authority over them and we are obliged to remain in our houses, as the Indians would immediately attack us, as soon as we began to stir about, and set everything on fire, so that we are in such a distress, that we dare not turn about or move. Therefore we most humbly request your honors, our faithful masters, for help and the assistance of about 40 to 50 men. Christ did not desert us, but assisted and saved us and gave his own blood for us, Christ has gathered us in one sheepsfold, therefore let us not desert each other, but rather help each other to alleviate our sufferings and if it may please your honors, our faithful masters, let some of the honorable council come here quickly with the desired assistance, (but arriving here at the strand, please keep the men quiet and close to the bank and inform us of the arrival) and take a look at the situation here and if it doesnot seem advisable to your honors and worth the trouble and expense, then we leave all to your honors' discretion. While we expect your honors' speedy assistance we commend the honorable council of New Netherland to the protection of God Almighty and remain,

Great Aesopus
the 18th of May Anno 1658.

[ ADDRESSED: ]

To the Wise, Prudent, Rigorous Gentlemen,
the Council of New Netherland in the city of Amsterdam.

By the yacht of Jacop Coppen, which God may guide.

References

A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.