Document: Letter from Stephen Goodyear to Director Stuyvesant

[ ]sterdam; I cant propound [ ] and Greate Coste by that shipp which [ ] and had not Mr. Alerton overprest mee w[ ] Arguments to proceed and Isue the Bargaine I h[ ] it and Returned home; But I have since trewly [ ] the Cause of his emest pressing mee to it; [ ] had I then seeme 10 tymes the valew of the shipp [ ] not have prevalyld with mee in that desyne; Now sir I desire you if you please to take [ ] thoughts and serious Consideration, the trew State of things, as they stand betwixt us, you may Consider the deare peniworth of which Mr. Alerton tum trewly Informe you very few of the things espetially the Rigging and sayles proving usfull but the sayles not at all to that purpose; But what I shall propound in this thing is that you wilbee pleased to give a Just satisfaction for the use of my shipp, which without my knowledge and altogeather agaynst my will you did make a man of warr and did Imploy her to our harbor to bring your souldiers and munition to the end you might posses your selfe of Mr. Westemhous[ ] the shipp by force, now sir I conceave you having attayned your prise I conceave: it Resonable that according to the Admiralty of England and I suppose holland that the shipp have her proportion; according to a Just account; But I conceave that not being to be donn I hope you will give mee a bountifull satisfaction wherin you had soe greate a profitt; Its knowne I beare not contention espetially with naybors and [ ]

[ several lines lost]

[ ]ed already payd you;

Sir I have an other thing to propound [ ] Alerton brings into mee an account of, a g[ ] asundered for our name at which I cannot but [ ] you tye it to bee payd in Bever, I thinke y[ ] looke upon mee as to deale very hard by soe th[ ] I should sett such a prisse and pay upon ord[ ] selfe bought and had it brought to new h[ ] Boston at 13s 6d; I had not sent to your parts that I heard you had some to spare and would affo[ ] mee ag[ ] peniworth, I pray sir use me in the [ ] as a naybour

Another proposition is concerning 20£ Mr. Alerton brings in uppon account for the shipps provision I cannot but wonder at 20£ when she came from fort Amsterdam as I was Informd in 2 or 3 days I hope you will take thease things into your Cerious though[ ] and that these things will not be placed with me that weare in a greate measure to answer your souldiers and mariners for your desyne; sir I thought good to Informe you of thease things being perswaded that your principles the west India Company nor yet your selfe desire to make advantages upon others losses and thus sir with my Respect and love to you I so committ you to God and Rest

New haven27th January 1651

[ IN THE MARGIN: ]

[ ... ] shall be pleasend to deliver my Covenant Canceld to Mr. Alerton [ ] your love in it (and I hope some opertunity may) present wherin I may Realy [ ] If not but that you shall sease it and Recover I hope it will not [ ] my dew upon it; alsoe I desire you if [ ]ay get that I may not pay any more then 20d [ ] the provisions Mr. Alerton disburst.

Stephen Goodyeare Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source:New York State Archives. New York (Colony). Council. Dutch colonial administrative correspondence, 1646-1664. Series A1810-78. Volume 11, document 23, page 1, side 1.