Document: Extract from a letter of Director General Stuyvesant to Governor Winthrop

Holding Institution
Document ID
NYSA_A1810-78_V11_06e
Description

New Amsterdam. Letter. Director Stuyvesant to gov. Winthrop; defends himself against the charges of inciting the Indians; endeavors to make peace between the Mohawks and English, &c. [1648]

Document Date
1648-04-03
Document Date (Date Type)
1648-04-03
Document Type
Document Type Unlinked
Letter
Full Resolution Image

Translation
Translation

[ I am on myne owne parte trulie griued that my reall intentions of mutuall amitie and good will are for present (by theire misconstruing my actions and some unkinde passages) in parte obstructed and being likewise wounded in my reputation in a high degree by theyre scandalous reportes raised and Credit given to them of my indeauours to raise the Mohocke Indians against the English th[ere, it being soe farre from the rules and principles ] of Christianitie and Charitie, so[ e much as to have a thought thereof, much more to put in pr ]actise such a divilish and [ wicked device; but according to my bownden duty to God and ] my neighbour, att my being att [ our fort of Aurania I reallie indeavoured ] to establish a frrme peace, not only betwixt [ the Mohocks and all the Indians there ] and us heere (but likewise as I then declared my selfe to them) betwixt them and my brethrenl the English and French; which was for present well [ accepted of them. ] [ ] I only instance this passage that you may know any reallity [ ] you, and what an unworthy requitall I have had from your Com[ ]igh in a letter of myne to Mr: Eaton, I desired that all altercatio: on either [ ] but a joynt indeavour in us both for reconciling all differences att our meeting [ ] eany other appointed tyme) with your honoured selfe, and the worthy Gov[ ]th whose replie was (amongst many other passages,) this of my raising the [ ] for Christianities safer place; later and [ ]on I shall passe by this and other [ ]eived and readilie allowe all requisit meanes, you in your wisdom shall present[ ] Convenient for the reuniting us in the bonds of Christia. love and firendlie neighb[ ]sio: whereof I shall waite your farther Answere and rest

Reallie obliged your unworthy but [ ] Friend

Aprill 3d 1648 st: no:

post scriptSir whereas you are pleased to request there may be no further provocatio: betwixt those of Newhaven and us heere I shall referre my selfe to your wisdom, that Course may be taken by your meanes that it may noe further be extended on theyre partes, in respe[ ] have suffered allready toe much under the burthen of it.

Your Ser:

P: Styvesant
P: Sty:

References

From the collections of the New York State Archives, Albany, New York.  https://www.archives.nysed.gov/  

Translation link see: http://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=tei/A1810/NYSA_A1810-78_V11_06e.xml

Published bound volume is also available: Translated in: Correspondence, 1647-1653, trans. and ed. Charles T. Gehring ("New Netherland Documents Series") (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2000).

Copyright to the published bound volume is held by the Holland Society of New York.
A complete copy of this publication is available on the
New Netherland Institute website.

Location
Modern Location
Locations (Unlinked)
Massachusetts|Connecticut
To Party 1
To Party 1 Text Unlinked
Governor Winthrop
From Party 1
From Party 1 Text Unlinked
Petrus Stuyvesant
From Party 1 Entity
From Party 1 Entity Role
Related Ancestors (Unlinked)
Mohawk Indians
Document Location