HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 601 Honors, we decline their proposal, inasmuch as we know not whether it would be well or ill received. I only request your Honors to take this matter into your further consideration, and to communicate to us your opinion thereupon by the earliest opportunity, etc.

Appe?idix 8. Received 28 January, 1656. Secret.

Extract of the letter of Gerrit Bicker, Commandant of Fort Casimier, to Petrus Stuy vesant, Director General in New Netherland, without date and signature.

Yesterday, the 7"" June, your Honor's very welcome letter was handed to me by Lourens Hansen, to which this shall serve as answer. On the last of May, I but not knowing what it was, sent Adriaen van descried a sail,

Tienhoven in company with some free men to ascertain the particulars; who unexpectedly returned hither on the next day about two hours before the ship, with intelligence, that she was a Swedish vessel full of people with a new Governor, and that he will have this place and on ground belonging to the Crov^n, as they alleged about an hour after this fort, as it stood ;

news, came Captain Swen Schote with the ship's boat and about twenty soldiers, who on coming up, I welcomed as friends, judging that if he wished to attempt anything, he would at least give notice. But on the contrary, he made his men come quickly in with him, and at the point of the sword, demanded the surrender of the river and of the fort. Though I complained, I could, with difficulty obtain respite enough to send two Deputies on board to demand of the Governor his commission and a little time for consultation ; but before the messengers had got on board, two shotted guns were fired over the fort, as a signal ; whereupon the people immediately were deprived of their side arms, and aim was taken to fire at them, because they did not surrender their pieces, which were immediately torn from their shoulders; and the guns at the bastions were forthwith manned; the messengers returning, brought word that he would not give an hour's delay, and that he had his commission on board the ship and that we should soon see its bullets; and the soldiers were forthwith driven out the fort and their property detained as well as mine, and I could scarcely induce him, by prayer, not to be turned out naked with wife and children and all the property in this ;