And when the arbiters produced divers memorials, points and persons to prove the truth of what was written, their statements were either entirely rejected or a part of what came to light was suppressed.

And what was more, the other persons who had riiediteed two letters were prevailed upon and obliged by high authority and severe menaces as also by fair promises, not to divulge what would be communicated to them, to revoke what had been written, or at least in order to give it another appearance to declare they had been bribed to subscribe it and had been mis-

110 EXTRACTS FROM A WORK

informed, not knowing what they subscribed, but having only

done it at the earnest entreaties of some who persisted in -

subscribing it and still maintained their signature.

So director Stuyvesant passed sentence against Joachim Pietersz and Cornelis Melyn, whom he charged with having accused, by libellous letters their legitimate governor and chief director Kieft, in a clandestine and lying way; with having censured and calumniated him, the which he and his counsil desiring to prevent in the well ordered commonwealth of New Netherland, and executing justice in the name of their High Mightinesses the states General, His Highness the Prince of Orange, and the General chartered West India Company, condemned Joachim Piertsz Kuyter to a banishment of three consecutive years and a penalty of a hundred and fifty guilders, one third for the fiscal, one third for the poor and one third for the church. Cornelis Melyn was charged in his sentence with 'more crimés and punished more severely, (because Kieft had formerly flattered himself that he should have a part with him in Staten Island, and finding himself deceived, he had been obliged to make other conditions with other persons ; and Kieft