History of the State of New York, Vol. I (1609-1691)
The tendency of these and similar reports, with the exhibition of the writs of mandamus dragged through the mud amongst a people who, on the score of possession, are indifferently disposed towards us, we respectfully recommend to your High Mightinesses' prudence and wise consideration, assured that the falsehood of the exonerated individual, in all this matter, will be fully exposed. Should he, contrary to public report and advisory letters, deny this to your High Miglitinesses, his previous words and deeds in Mr. Kiefl's time -- the mutinous and insulting service of the
mandamus on us publicly in the church on the b"" of March, in presence of the entire population of the Manhatans and adjacent villages, then assembled on the public affairs of the country, who, therefore, adjourned, leaving the business untransacted, to the great disparagement of authority and of our commission, and so shaped that massacre and bloodshed might have been the result, had we not converted ourselves from the highest to the lowest, and permitted the indecent service of the summons -- Nay, ere we could draw up an answer, he handed in his unfounded demand, in writing, on the 20"' of the same month, and renewed it on the 25"" of June -- his illegal practice of collecting frivolous and secret certificates -- his
reports, authenticated in our presence and that of the Council, that the Hon''''^ Company was bankrupt -- that your High Mightinesses had spoken very contemptuously of the Board of Directors, as being unworthy or unfit to govern your High Mightinesses' possessions that -- the supreme and secret Council of Brazil were imprisoned and had sent little bags with thousands of pistoles to this one and that of your High Mightinesses-- these and similar disparaging, insulting acts and expressions, seen and heard by myself and many others, give a semblance of truth to the public reports and advices from New England.