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Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discreet Lords:

My Lords, your letter dated the 9th of this month was received by me on the 20th. I shall carry out your recommendations concerning the affair with Maryland.

On the 2nd of this month five Minquaes chiefs arrived at Altena with their retinue. They said that they had something to say about the celebrated murder; whereupon the Swedish magistrates together with Mr. Huygen and Jacop Swens as interpreter requested to come to Altena. On the 6th of this month the chiefs lamented with a great show of regret that, upon our complaint and information, they had found out that the murder was committed by a young Indian belonging to them who is a captured Sinnacus. They told us further that as long as there have been any Christians here it cannot be shown that their nation has ever committed any acts of violence against them; on the contrary, they have always shown them friendship and have always let themselves be employed as mediators in disputes between the Christians and other Indians, to which they still consider themselves obligated. They also said that they had formed a good alliance and friendship with you and would maintain it forever. In addition they said that about three years ago one of their nation was murdered by our Christians which they did not act upon to the full extent (because of their love for the Christians), and they trust that we will also consider this affair in a like manner since it was done without their knowledge and to their great regret. They said further that they could have let the matter pass in silence but were moved through their strong friendship towards us to make this known so that we would not suspect them; with many other expressions in their manner of speaking, however, not worth relating here.

We intended to inform them of the punishment for murders according to our laws but feared that they might embaress us by noting that the murderers at New Amstel had not been punished; therefore, we omitted saying anything. Furthermore, we recommended that they exercise all their power, as well as admonish the Indian, so that this will not happen again in the future, and that we would inform you of what they had said. As is their custom at such talks they laid before us a gift consisting of about 110 lbs. of elk hides which we countered with a like value upon their departure on the 9th of this month.

The aforesaid chiefs also said among other things that 800 Black Minquaes were expected shortly for their assistance and that 200 of the aforesaid nation had already come in. They are firmly resolved to attack the Sinnecus this coming spring and go visit their forts. Therefore, they requested that we Christians not be negligent in furnishing them with materials of war, for which they would pay.

My Lords, when Claes de Ruyter arrived, Mr. Huygen presented himself to me and showed me a certain protested bill of exchange which Mr. La Grange had given to Miss Printz. Therefore, a special meeting was requested which took place here yesterday out of deference to Mr. La Grange who cannot move because of an injury to his leg and could not be transported to Altena. The aforesaid gentlemen immediately appealed the decision.

In closing, I wish to remind you of the requested necessities for the garrison together with some salt, remaining, after commending you to God's protection and wishes for a happy New Year.

Your devoted and trusted servant.
Willem Beeckman

In haste,
Tinnacunck or New Leyden,
23 December 1662

[ Addressed: ] Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discreet Lords. My Lords Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General and Council of New Netherland, Curaçao etc. Residing in Fort Amsterdam on Manhattan.

By Claes de Ruyter

Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise and Prudent Lord:

My Lord, I went to Tinnacunck on the 21st of this month at the request of Mr. Huygen. I did my best to settle the dispute over the protested bill of exchange by way of agreement, but I could not bring them together.

From time to time Mr. Swenson and Mr. Hendrick Huygen have complained to me about the spoiling of ripe grain and other things; however, when I was at New Leyden I could only see that Mr. La Grange was attending to everything well, except for the mowing of the grain for which he employed only one mower and later two. In the meantime, it was completely destroyed by the rain and by cattle which broke in, and the grain fell overripe to the ground. Also, the land on the north side of the house is unsown and the fence is in total disrepair. For further details on this I refer to Mr. Huygen's letter because the tide is coming in and I would like to be home before dark; therefore, in brief, I should mention that neither we nor the Company are trusted with an ox if we do not pay cash.

In closing, I commend you and your family to God's protection, and remain, after wishes for a long and continuous administration together with cordial greetings.

References

Translation: Gehring, C. trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vols. 18-19, Delaware Papers: Dutch Period, 1648-1664 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1981).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.