Instructions for the valiant Captain Frederick de Coninck, Captain Lieutenant Brian Nuton, and the lord fiscal Cornelis van Tienhoven, commissioned to go to Westchester, pursuant to the resolution of the honorable lord director general and councilors dated 6 March 1656, and there to execute their orders.
1
They are to proceed tonight with the designated detachment of soldiers to Vreedlant in order to occupy the houses of the English who have settled there on the honorable Company’s land, and to order them to depart with all their moveable goods and livestock.
2
If they are not disposed to break up and depart at once, the English are to be made to depart, if it is possible, willingly or unwillingly; and if they show any opposition by shooting or other resistance, to oppose force with force, and according to the instructions of the honorable lords superiors, to move against the usurpers as against an enemy.
3
The houses are to be demolished, except for 3 or 4 for sheltering goods and soldiers; the most prominent fugitives and criminals, who have fled there, are to be brought here as soon as possible.
4
They shall be allowed to leave, according to their discretion, some of the less prominent men to watch over the goods, and to command them to remove all their property and livestock from there within 3 days, on pain of being prosecuted accordingly.
5
They are to prevent any thievery, plundering, and similar activity, as much as possible; and strictly forbid the soldiers from doing so.
6
If they encounter Indians, which is not hoped for, they are to defend themselves, defensively or offensively, as the situation requires.
Done at our session held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra. Was signed: P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne.
