And although these persons had always been his good and cherished friends, and he had even a short time before, esteemed them the honestest, most capable, most intelligent and most virtuous of the country,! ygj ^s soon as they did not follow his wishes, they were this and that, some of them rascals, liars, rebels, usurers; in a word, hanging was almost too good for them. Heretofore, the expediting the deputation had been earnestly pressed ; now, it was time enough six months hence, and a sheet of paper could contain all that was proper or necessary to be stated. Various reports were also varmu» efforts

set afloat among the people, and an effort was made, principally through the B„ard from lu pur-

' The words of their Commission. Ed.

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816 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. were discovered, and when it was perceived that this labor would be vain, an attempt was made to create a diversion by instituting personal actions against some who were considered the bell-wethers. ^ Accusations were made against them and they were prosecuted by the Fiscal and the other subordinate officers, who made them out to be about the biggest villains in the country, where they had shortly before been recognized as the best of persons and most deserving children. To accomplish that, an opportunity now offered which (to use the

Director's own words) was as precious to him as his own life. In the beginning of the year 1649, we clearly saw and perceived that not only should we have considerable to do as regarded the delegation, but that we should with difficulty accomplish it; we therefore considered it necessary to make out a series of