Passing over several minor abuses, in order to come to the tyrany which ruins the whole country, you must know that Governor Kieft had for a long time secretly intended to begin a war with the savages of New Netherland, because they had refused, on reasonable grounds, to give him a certain contribution, alleging they were not obliged to give it to the director, or to the Dutch :

1. Not for the sake of the soldiers, since they did them no service, in case of war with other tribes ; for that they crept, together like cats upon a piece of cloth and might be killed a thousand times over, before news could be got to the fort, which was at a great distance from them ; still less that they could be delivered or seconded in time by its soldiers.

2. Further, that they had allowed us to remain peaceably in their country, that they had never demanded a recompense from us, and that, for that reason, we were under obligations to them, and not they to us.

3. Item, that when our nation, having lost a ship there had built a new one, they had supplied them with victuals and all other necessaries, and had taken care of them for two winters, till the ship was finished ; consequently we were under obligation to them, not they to us.

4. For that reason they asked why they should supply us with maize for nothing, since they paid as much as we asked, for every thing they came to purchase of us.