Van Elslandt, upon arriving at the English settlement, was met by eight or nine armed men, to whose commander he delivered the writ. The latter said: "I can not understand Dutch. Why did not the fiscaal, or sheriff, send English ? When he sends English, then I will answer. We expect the determination on the boundaries the next vessel. Time will tell whether we shall be under Dutch government or the Parliament; until then we remain here under the Commonwealth of England.'' Notwithstanding this defiant behavior, the Dutch director-general was reluctant to act severe-

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

next proceedly in the matter, and nearly a year elapsed before the consider ations ings were taken, which were based quite as much upon the desire affecting the character of the English settlement as upon council, by The director and to vindicate Dutch territorial rights. at English the that declared 1656, 6, a resolution adopted March fugithe ng shelteri and ging encoura " of guilty Westchester were tives from this province," and also of keeping up a constant correOn these grounds, spondence with the savage enemies of the Dutch. and also to defend the rights of the Dutch against territorial usurpations, an expedition, commanded by Captains De Koninck and Newton and Attornev-General Van Tienhoven, was sent secretly to Westchester. On the 14th of March this party made its descent upon the village, and, finding the English drawn up under arms, prepared for their resistance, overpowered them, and apprehended twenty-three of and m Amsterda New from s fugitive were number, some of whom conwere captives the All colonists. English fide bona others the veyed to Manhattan Island, where the Dutch runaways were confined in prison and the English settlers placed under civil arrest and The next day Attorney-General Van Tienlodged in the City Hall.