We therefore, hereby forbid them calling any manner of assemblage or meeting, except by our express order, on pain of being punished as disobedient subjects. Done in fort Amsterdam, this eighth of February, 1642, in New Netherland. By order of the Hon*"'* Director and Council of New Netherland, (Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary.

Ex-Director Kieft to Director Stuyvesant.

To Myn Heer General and the Hon"^ Council.

O. Whereas Jochem Pietersen and Cornelis Melyn have sent some Hon""^ gentlemen. letters to Holland to the Directors, in the name of the Eight men amongst others, one dated ;

28"- October, 1644, containing nothing but libels and lies. To point out all these here, would take up too much space. I shall enumerate only some few:

1.

First: they say, we could bring into the field 400 men on the arrival of the Blue Cock, and that we neglected the opportunity to attack the Indians.

204 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 2.

Secondly: that they have not been able to obtain a single man for defence.

3.

That no care is taken any more of the country.

4.

That princely power was usurped. 5.

That the Eight men received foul taunts and reproaches when assembled, and that they scarcely dare open their mouths. 6.

That they conceded our proposal of the excise.

7.

That the little Book treating of the war, contained as many lies as lines.

That the Indians were previously like lambs, and that men were seized with a rash hankering for war, and by an accursed act had murdered the Indians.