Document: Letter of the town clerk of Heemstede to Petrus Stuyvesant

Sir.

After our humble and dutifull respects, Wee haue according to youre honors directions sent vnto the Indians and haue vsed all perswading meanes to haue the Sagamoore and others of them to Lay out our Lands, and to giue Sattisfaction for the Iniuries don vs But wee can gett no sattisfactory answere, onely they brought vs some of theire dogs, and they killed them, but haue reserued some of the best, Contrary to their Agreement, soe that wee are still like to suffer, yf some speedy coorce be not taken for remedy Therefore wee humbly desire your Acistance, that according to oure Agreement with them in your honors presence wee may haue Justice. And since they haue denyed to grant vs righte, In soe much that wee are still in danger to be spoiled & ruinated by them, yf it may stand with youre honors lyking & Approbation, wee haue taken A resolution to Craue your honors Ayd, that wee may be Able to Compell them, And therevnto desire some quantity ofpowder and Lead with some flint, for the use of the towne, And allsoe yf your honor please to sende vs men, wee desire some 40 Souldiers with their Comander, the bringer hereof Mr. Hicks is able to sattisfy your honor in all matters Concerning the particulars. Thus with desiring God Allmighty to preserve your honor with much health And happines wee are

Hemsteede the 30th of Jany. Ao. 1658. stilo novo.

[ ADDRESSED: ]

To the Rt honorable and our very noble Gouernor Pieter Stuyvesant, Gouernor and Captn. Generall of the New Netherlands these present att Mannatens.

John James