Esteemed, Wise and most Noble Lord, My Lord Pieter Stuyvesant, Greetings.
Whereas on the 28th of October of this year the Soopus sachems or the rightful owners of a certain piece of land, well known to your honor, namely the large piece about which your honor had spoken, came to me and presented me with the same piece on the same day as compensation for what they had done and perpetrated, saying thereby that they now hoped to have no distress and that the soldiers ought now to lay down their arms and now ought to live as good friends, and that it is not always their fault but also of those who sold them the drink; further, that they now are very ashamed before other Indians who might reproach them for giving their land away to the Dutch out of fear; on the other hand, saying that they now had satisfied the General and would see what this large gift might mean to our sachems, whether he would give them more gifts, whereby they would then see that they were beyond doubt and danger, and having done this they would then make him another gift of land, as is a custom among them, which would then be a sign of lasting peace, and would then do us every favor, whereby they could be of service to us whether it be providing a good beaver trade or something else. However, in order to make it so that everything is taken care of, they would go in the spring, or this winter, out beaver hunting; they would then bypass Fort Orange and bring the trade to us; and so that we are not lied about, but may rely upon our words, as our sachem now might do and shall also see that after this time we shall cause no more harm to the Dutch, whether to their livestock or otherwise, as a token that they have bestowed the land to the Lord General, with the condition that they request and would like to see that it be built upon immediately so that they can be accommodated with everything, unlike, they say, the deceased Johan de Bulter did, who haggled for the land and then left it empty. They have no desire for such at all but desire to have it built upon so that when many Dutch came, they could see that we tried to live in friendship; they would like to see the plowing proceed and no soldiers.
Furthermore, my Lord General, according to Christian custom one is obliged to present them again with some gifts after they have made such nice promises, which can easily happen, as one says in the proverb, a child's hand is quickly filled; my lord would also be able to fill their hands easily, upon which they have their heart set, and say, as before your honors see good will there so that they determine to forgive and pardon their mistakes. We replied that they would have something either in the spring or this fall, and otherwise might the last mistake easily be worse than the first. Furthermore, the three of us were in the countryside on the 29th and saw the indications how and what they propose that they would like for themselves several plantations, about 3 to 4; it is of little importance whether for a piece of cloth or two each as they will be completely rid of the place there. Herewith we commending your honor to the protection of the Almighty, I am and remain your faithful servant and subject,
Great Soopus,29 October 1658.
This conference took place with dry lips. To think how reverently we sat here with this king; nevertheless, I hope my lord shall think of his servants and treat us to good food and drink, which we also would do, if the matter were finished.
Dated as before.
Jacob Jansen Stoll
Jacob Jans Stoll
Thomas Chambers
Derck Smidt
