The mischiefs which followed this deed of murder, massacre and other additional abominations, that Director Kieft, of his own motion, permitted at the time to be perpetrated on the innocent and guiltless Indians, which must startle the Christian heart that hears of them, may be fully seen in the original letter to the Nineteen.' The Eight chosen men were not aware that they had, in thus acting, committed any offence, but hoped that the most favorable construction would be placed on it by the Directors, who, however, the petitioners find did, on the contrary, take the letter in the worst part, and accordingly sent it by the new Director Stuyvesant, back to New Netherland to Director Kieft. The consequence of this was, that the aforesaid Kieft determined to proceed very severely against the Eight chosen men, especially against both the Petitioners, and had them prosecuted by the Fiscal, so that Director Stuyvesant, to gratify the aforesaid Kieft, hath banished the petitioners for some years from the country as they would not contradict the truth, and persisted in their previous writings. The Petitioners then turned unto Us, requesting, imploring, praying, for God's sake, that We would please to protect them in their rights, that they may be able to return to their poor, desolate wives and children, and be established in their previous condition on their lands, and in case the

'Supra, p. 100. -- Ed.

;

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : IIL 251

Petitioners have given offence by any improper papers, tending to injure New Netheriand or tiie pulilic vpeal (wiiich they in no way desired), they submit themselves here to such punishment as We shall find appropriate; but it will appear, on the contrary, that the Petitioners had no other aim in their writings than the promotion of the public good and the wished for peace in New Netheriand, and the removal of the inhuman cruelties, tyranny and misgovernment which the servants of the West India Company, and especially Director Kieft, inflicted from time to time on the Natives of New Netheriand; the consequence whereof is,