Stilwil's Soldiers out of a small house they occupied--he said, he had hired it, though he had, notwithstanding, neither possession of nor procuration for it, I gave him for answer, that I should remove them on condition that he, asa magistrate, would have them billetted in other houses as the men could not lie under the blue sky, and as they had been sent here by the Chief government for the defence of the Settlers. But he made no answer to this ; and so there are other ringleaders and refractory people in this place. Meanwhile the convoy which was ready to conduct the provisions, was dismist each to its own post until fur- - ther orders. Atnoon I went with atroop of Dutch and Indians to the New Village where the Heer de Decker himself was ; met with

SECOND ESOPUS WAR. 53

no interruption. A party was also out with the reapers. Inthe evening Jan Davets and the 5 Mohawks returned from the Esopus Indians--they brought with them a female prisoner ; they would not at present release any more prisoners, evinced great fierceness and repeatedly threatened to kill them, both the Mohawks and Jan Davets told--them they should not release any more prisoners unless they should secure peace thereby, and that Corlaer and Rentslaer should come to their fort, and bring goods with them to conclude peace and to redeem the prisoners ; said that they must be within ten days in their fort to conclude peace ; said, that they demanded a truce during that time. Jan Davets also informed us, that he had seen but 4 prisoners in the fort, and that the others were scattered far and wide ; says, there ares about 30 warriors in the fort, and that the others dwelt without here and there ; they also said they were determined to make a stand in the fort, whereupon we have resolved to go in search of them on the first opportunity.