Document: Letter from William Beeckman to director Stuyvesant

Noble, Honorable, most Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discrete Lord:

I sent a report to you on the 3rd of this month by Andries Hudden.[1] He intended to sail to Meggeskesiou and promised to forward the letter by an Indian at once. The people, whom you reported were inclined to leave with Karman, have returned altogether; two of them have gone to Maryland. I hear that they have met Mr. Moor and are now apparently back at Manhattan. When Jan Scholten and Jan Tomissen were locked up in a dark powder- hole, Lieutenant Hinojosse shouted out: "There they sit, now let them go to van Ruyven for help; we are the rulers here and do what we want, we shall teach them to run away!? They have examined them and many others, asking whether van Ruyven and Captain Crieger had not advised them to go to Manhattan and whether they had been so inclined before the commissioners came here. Reynier van Heyst has also been questioned. They offered him the halberd, so to speak, so that he would fall.[2] It appears that they are in this manner looking for some venom from the people to use against your commissioners. Michael Carman, so. I am told, runs great danger; his wife has secretly deposited her goods with trusted people. They consider him an embezzler. In general, they are harassing the people considerably.

On the 26th of last month the schout and magistrates proposed at the ordinary session that I should impose a tax of five or six guilders on each household of the Swedish or Finnish nation, or as much as may be required in a year for necessary costs and expenses; these would, according to calculations, amount to about 400. I replied that they should give me all the household names. I await your instructions in the next letter as to how I am to act in this matter. Domine Welius was buried yesterday. He passed away on the 10th day of his sickness. Last Monday night I once again suffered an attack of burning fever and pressure in the chest with heavy pains in the sides, so that I am very miserable. For the first three days and nights I discharged nothing but bloody phlegm which was horrible to see. It weakened me so much that I could hardly walk. I hope that God may grant me some life for the sake of my wife and little children. I shall carry out your further orders in the most civil manner whenever the need arises and keep you out of danger. I understand that Mr. Hinojosse shall go in two months at the latest to Holland by way of Virginia with remonstrances for the mayors of Amsterdam. I wish to remind you of my previous letters and close by commending you God's protection with wishes for a prosperous administration; I remain after greetings.

Willem Beeckman