What damage New Netherland hath suffered in consequence of the aforesaid unlawful and unnecessary War, which brought it to the brink of ruin -- and how much innocent blood, as well of heathens as of christians and even of sucklings, hath been unnecessarily and barbarously shed, your noble Mightinesses will be able to ascertain from the annexed Points and Articles,' which I present to you, not from any particular object I might have against Cornelis van Tienhoven, but that your noble Mightinesses may have a foundation for the inquiry as to what constituted the cause of the country's ruin. The few inhabitants that may still be in New Netherland have all along hoped that their High Mightinesses would have passed some

' This document is without name or date; 'tis almost certainly by Adriaen van der Donok. -- J. A. dk Z. ' For these points and articles, see post, p. 409. Ed.

396 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. animadversion on those wlio were the authors of the aforesaid mischiefs. Knowing that the abovenamed Tienhoven is not only one of the principal authors thereof, but that he actually hatii sojourned some time here in Fatherland, those people, if they see him arrive yonder from Fatherland without being either censured or corrected as the joint author of the aforesaid mischiefs, will not only wholly despair and probably in desperation depart thence, perceiving that no blame follows in a case so grave, so notorious and familiar to the entire country ; but the aforesaid Tienhoven will in consequence be encouraged to aid in strengthening the rule over the inhabitants still there, tanquani bellicas, but more stringent, according to the lust and appetite of the rulers, as has already unreasonably happened. In order not to deprive the inhabitants there wholly of heart, and to afford the abovemenlioned Tienhoven [an opportunity to defend himself,] as well as [to furnish] your Mightinesses particular information and knowledge of the truth of the inhuman transaction there, your Mightinesses might hear the aforesaid Tienhoven, and cause him to answer the annexed interrogatories.