USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 63
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Attached to the letter are three post-scripts. The first is a greeting to my wife. The second expresses a request that I should be of service to the bearer of her letter on occasion, and that one Roland might return to her. This Roland was an English boy, as other captives told us, fourteen years of age. He had been cap- tured six years before by the French savages, at a place in New England called York, and ransomed by Mons. Pachot, and kept in the house to assist, and to be companion to their children. Peace having at length been restored, Col. Schuyler and Mr. Del- lius reclaimed, by their special commission, all captives taken dur- ing the last war. On such an occasion, therefore, Mons. Pachot must also deliver up this Roland. But, as it was said that his parents and near relatives had been murdered by the savages, at the same time that he was captured, she was hoping that he would come back to her. Therefore she writes: " je vous prie de me dire des nouvelles de Rolan, si par votre moien je pourrois de re- voir, je vous en serais tres obligee ; il y a maintenant bien des occa- sions de la faire, je I aime tous jours ". The third postscript refers to a kind of business relation and correspondence which this Mrs. Pachot would like to establish with some merchants of Albany, etc.
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This letter, therefore, much more than refutes all the slanderous, and deliberate lies, and the manufactured and malicious deductions of Bellomont.
[The Friendship of Dellius toward Jesuits.]
Answer to he Furthermore, he accuses me of being an inciter and promoter of charges of faction and division. Assertions and accusations are not proofs. friendship Herein he measures another man's cloth with his own yard-stick. mproper This is first like what Ahab said to Elijah. The reply of that prophet applies well to Bellomont. He is the one who has troubled (lit. set in an uproar) the country and the church of that whole Province. In all his actions he follows that pernicious policy, " divide et impera ".
He then continues again thus with his hear-say: " I was told before I left England, that I must not put confidence in Dellius, because he maintained a correspondence with the Jesuits of Can- ada, and was suspected of leaning towards their religion ". Now he wants to prove this, indirectly, by a copy of an intercepted letter from a Jesuit of Canada, written to one of their mission- aries, in which this Jesuit speaks in extravagant terms of the friendship of Dellius.
In view of what he says: " that he was warned not to put faith in me "- how comes it then that he commissioned me, together with Col. Schuyler, to negotiate certain business of the Province of New York with the Governor of Canada, and to look out for his Majesty's interests. He calls Col. Schuyler and me, in his letter dated at New York, April 22, 1698, to Count Frontenac the Gov- ernor-General of Canada, " tous deux gens de condition et de merite, pour vous marquer l estime que j ay pour une personne de votre rang ", etc.
His allegation that " I was inclined to the Popish religion ", I do not think deserves a reply from me. I am so far from having given any ground for this suspicion, which he alleges to have against me, that on the contrary, in the time of the late King James, when all controversial preaching against Popery was forbidden,
with Tusuits.
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for more than four months, both on Sundays and weekdays ; never- theless, I preached on that controversy in the church of Albany, and held special exercises for my members and growing youth. This was in order to arm the people against the seductions of three English Jesuits, Smith, Gage and Harrison, who could speak both French and Dutch, and who had been sent out by King James, from England, and resided at Albany during that period.
As to the intercepted letter in which he says that a Jesuit men- tions me twice, etc., he makes an error by at least one; for it is three times ; but in hear-say, one can easily miss one time. Here follows a copy :
(This letter was from Rev. Father Lamberville to the Rev. Father Milet. The English alone is given in Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 714.)
a Quebec 6 May 1690
Quebec, May 6, 1690.
Mon R. P.
My Rev. Father :-
Dominus misereatur tibi et mittat May the Lord have pity on you, tibi auxm de suo sp. ut possis corde and send you aid from on high, that magno et animo volente in lege ejus ambulare die ac nocte, quoniam ppt. gloriam nois (nominis) ejus mortifi- caris tota die; nam ppt. charitatem tuam magnam in indos, et ppt. salu- tem aiarum (animarum) captivus fac- tus es. cum enim ab illis vocatus es,
you may be able with a strong heart and willing mind to walk day and night in his law, since you daily mor- tify yourself for the glory of his name; for you have become a prisoner on account of your great charity, towards the Indians, and for the salva- ut orares ad Dominu pro aegrote inda, tion of souls; for when you were tunc ab illis captus es, et haec tuae cau captivitatis;
called by them to pray to the Lord for a sick squaw, they then took you prisoner, and this is the cause of your captivity.
probe scis enim et notr testis e Deus, You are aware that God is our wit- ness, that as long as we have had intercourse with the Indians, we had no other intentions than the salvation of souls, and the existence of peace, as well with the English as between qd quamdiu constatis sumus cum In- dis, aliud nihil quam salutem aiarum (animarum) et pacem cum Anglis tu et cum Gallis et Indis intendimus Verum Daemonis arte factum e et in- vidia ut oia [omnia] insterentur in the French and Indians; but it has perditionem aiarum (animarum) quas Christus suo redemit sanguine,
happened that they are turned, by the artifice of the devil and by envy, to the destruction of those souls which Christ has redeemed with his own blood.
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We pray that he may quickly con-
oremus cum et Anglos Gallosque con- ciliat cito, eosq. ab oi [omni] belloru ciliate the English and French and nequitia liberat, miseramus ad te p. free them from the wickedness of wars. eum qu vocatur l'outarde papyrum et We send you by him who is called pulverem, quo aqua mixto conficeras L'Outarde, paper and powder, which atramentum, siqu. posses ad nos cum when mixed with water, will make bona venia Indorum scribere, ink. Thus by permission of the In- dians, you will be able to write to us.
item vestes qt operireris et nummâ
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We also send you clothes to cover aurium ad emendum aliquam oper- you, and golden coin for the purchase turam laneam aut libialia, aut aliud of a woolen, or any other cloak, or quo indigeres vestimentum, sed nihil garment you may need. But we have ad nos relatum e, nisi qd Doms. Dell, no news, except that Domine Dellius, minister Albaniensis, vir caeteroqu the minister at Albany, an honest honestissimus et nôt (noster) amicus, man and well disposed towards us, dixerit militi gallo, apud maquenses told a French soldier, a prisoner among the Mohawks, that he had seen the indos captivo, qd. ipse viderit eas, quas ad te scripsimus literas, easque letters we wrote you, and that bad in malam partem ab eo fuisse inter- construction had been put on them. pretatas:
si tibi per Indos licuerit illum alloqm, contestari poteris nihil an quam tale communicate with him through the Indians, you may assure him that we
a nobis excogitatum fuisse cum ab- horremus ab hujus flagitius; caetercen never entertained any such thought, oro te, ut si videris Dominu Dell as we abhor crimes of this nature. minister Albaniensis, aut ad eum But I request, should you see Domine scripseris, salutes ea meo noîe; nam Dellius, minister at Albany, or write etsi bellum sit Gallos inter et eos Anglos, qm. stant a parte Regis An- gliae tamen amico semper au sumus cum Domino Dell utpote quo bello sed paci studemus,
If you have any opportunity to
to him, that you make him my re- spects. Although there may be war between the French and those Eng- lish who are opposed to the King of England, nevertheless we always en- tertain the same friendly dispositions towards Domine Dellius, inasmuch as both of us desire peace not war.
Farewell. We pray God, that all dissensions being soon at an end, we
vale, oramus Deum, ut compositis cito dissidiis omb. te sospitem iterum com- plectamur haec, summa votarum e may again embrace you in safety. iterum vale et salve a tuo apud Indos
This is the sum of our prayers. olim socio et vicino, oês te selutant. Again farewell. From your old com-
panion and neighbor among the In- dians. All salute you.
A mon Reverend Pere, Pere Millet, de la Compie de Jesus A. Ounei 8t
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The superscription of the letter was:
" A mon Rev. P. Millet, de la comp. de Jesu C., a ouest." The letter was not signed, but from the handwriting was sufficiently well known to be from the Jesuit Jean de Lamberville.
This letter as well as the other will serve to refute these things; for there is nothing in it from which with the shadow of a reason anything can be deduced to my injury.
De Lamberville deplores the misfortune of the Jesuit Millet which befell him at Katarokhoey, (Cataraugua), alias fort de ville's let- Frontenac. Some savages came to him and begged him to go to visit a sick Indian woman to pray for her. When they got him be- yond the reach of the guns, they bound him and carried him cap- tive to Oneida. The rumor of this having reached Canada, they sent him thence some gold, for purchasing certain necessities, and also some paper, and a certain powder for making ink. Every- thing, however, was taken away from the bearer on the way; but the letter and the powder were brought to Albany. I translated the letter word for word. But certain ones, actuated by very great wickedness, insisted that the powder was poison, which had been sent by the Jesuits from Canada to poison our Indians. My re- monstrances were of no avail. They experimented with it on a dog; and although it had no effect, nevertheless many insisted that it must be so. And although I proclaimed the great danger to which this captive Jesuit would be exposed by reason of such a report, if it should come to the ears of the savages, and that I would not be responsible for it; yet it gave cause, through misunderstand- ing, for that Jesuit, de Lamberville, to say that I had interpreted the letter with an evil design. What has reference to the saluta- tion, etc., is too petty to refer to.
[Bellomont's second allusion to the land grants. ]
And his gall was not yet spewed out. Although I am no Jesuit, yet I must pass for one, for he forges the resemblance in his own
Explana- tion of de Lamber- ter.
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brain. This land patent of Dellius lies very heavy on his stomach ; and as he cannot well digest it, he brings it up again, and says that it (this tract of land) is certainly twice as large as the province of Holland, and contains a million English acres.
Bello- mont, in- accurate in his al- lusions. Patriotic design of Dellius in securing another tract.
He does not refer hereby to that grant of the land of the Mak- vassen (Mohawk) Indians, in which I am a partner only to the extent of one fifth ; but to another tract, which I possess alone and which constitutes the separation, in the north of this Province, between the English and the French governments. Even were this grant one fourth less than it is, it were all the same to me. Its great extent is only for the purpose of extending the dominion of the King of England ; or at least to make it (the territory) indis- putable as between him and France, which latter lays claim to it on her part. Bellomont points to this territory as a proof of the great cupidity of Dellius. He seems to forget his own cupidity here. Let him only think of that sum of one hundred thousand pounds sterling which he expects, by agreement, from the pirate, (captain) Kid. I myself have seen the contract between him and Kid. This without doubt, will be investigated in the next Parlia- ment.
But under the grass of that land, another snake lies hidden with Bellomont. It is not so much the extent of the territory, nor the multitude of the acres; for there are other grants which are still larger and twenty times more valuable. This tract (of Del- lius) consists of forests, mountains, and cliffs, and is unfit for cul- tivation. Besides it is far from Albany, even as the Magistrates of Albany certified last year over their own hands, because Bellomont made so much noise about it. But because masts (timber for masts) stand upon that land - this being the only thing that could be of value - he (Bellomont) would like to have it for him- self. He tried to establish a commission for that very purpose in England, as appears even from the newspapers, for he has written in them about it. And as I am advised from New York he has already caused about thirty masts to be cut on that land since my
Reason of Bello- mont's al- lusion to this tract.
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leaving. Is he not like Ahab who would thus rob Naboth of his vineyard ?
[The testimonials in behalf of Dellius.]
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charges against Bello- mont, and
method of
! them.
His angry eye cannot bear the light of the testimony of the The members of the Albany church. I hear, says he, that Dellius has brought with him a very comprehensive certificate from certain his members of his congregation, as to his great piety, and unwearied meeting labor in the work of his ministry, even as if he were a very saint; and that this is signed by sixty persons, (hands). But he adds by way of interpolation - " just as I myself would lack no signatures (hands) so long as I could write;" just as if I had put down those names myself. But here he contradicts himself very shamelessly ; for how could I have counterfeited the signatures (hands) or names of so many ? and how could he say that the " Honest Dutchmen " of Albany informed him that the testimonia were signed by about sixty persons (hands). Is not his expression "Honest Dutch- men " a mere phrase of his ? Inasmuch as he, nevertheless, thinks, that if it were worth the pains, he would undertake to get there five times the number of signatures (hands) to certify that Dellius was a son of Belial, etc.
That Bellomont is ingenious to a superlative degree in the in- vention of sly tricks appears from an incident which occurred before my departure from that Province. There were drawn up testimo- against him between thirty and forty articles, and sent to England. Now in order to pass for a better man at Court, (than these charges represented), a certain paper was drawn up by himself or some of his creatures, in which he was extravagantly praised. A goodly number of simple-minded persons were made to sign this under this special pretext: that the paper had no concern with Bellomont, but that each one signed it in order to signify thereby his fealty to his present Majesty. This these simple-minded people gladly did, without any further examination, especially those who did
Bello- mont's reference to the
nials in favor of Dellius.
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not understand the English language. In this manner he secured a large number of signers. In order further to swell it, also boys signed it of eleven and twelve years, until at last the thing was discovered. Whether he would succeed so well in his undertaking (to get five times the number of signers) against me, I cannot so readily believe.
Other sinister proceed- ings of Bello- mont.
That one thing should be stated and resolved on, and the oppo- site be noted down, and even formally written out, (protocol- leeren), is likewise part of his policy. Col. Bayard and Col. Minvielle, when they were both yet members of the Royal Council in that Province, found this to be so, and caused their protest against such a course to be recorded. He seems therefore to be an adept at sinister intrigues, and manages them in a masterly manner.
That he calumniates Dellius as a son of Belial, etc., is a suffi- cient evidence that his corrupt mind does nothing but throw slime and mud. But I am not the only one (that has suffered). In a certain anonymous and slanderous writing, printed at Boston shortly after his arrival in New York, of which he is regarded as the author - at least to him and no one else the printed copies were sent - he calls all the Protestant ministers of this Province, in order to justify Leisler's proceedings against them, Baal's priests, Popish trumpets, Jacobites, and men disaffected towards the King and his government ; and whatever else the spirit of slan- der urged him to say ; so that it is not surprising that he employs such like vituperative terms (against me).
In passing I can say at least this, about all the ministers, myself included ; that we during Bellomont's administration, as well as during those of the preceding Governors, subscribed the Associa- tion (Fraternity of Loyal Men) and took the usual oaths for the protection of the King's person and government. This was not the act of Jacobites. Besides, what person of the Reformed Faith, and especially what minister (of that faith), would not show the
The loy- alty of the ministers to Wil- liam III.
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highest esteem, love, fealty and reverence, for a Prince who has been so blessed an instrument, in the Almighty's hand, for the preservation of Protestant interests. My prayer shall always as- cend to God for his preservation, and that God would grant, that the shadow of his gracious scepter may always serve as a refuge of the oppressed, and as an asylum for God's persecuted church.
tions to his " Ho1 est Dutch men ".
Before he concludes his letter, he speaks yet again of his " Hon- Excep- est Dutchmen ", who constitute more than two thirds of the popu- lation, and who were greatly oppressed under the last administra- tion. But among these " Honest Dutchmen " Bayard and Dellius must not be reckoned, as they were in collusion with the late Gov- ernor, (Fletcher), in order to tyrannize over their brethren, the " Honest Dutchmen ".
The many addresses from the inhabitants - both from church officials and from the civil officers in the Province, and even from his so-called " Honest Dutchmen "- to this very worthy Governor (Fletcher) ; and the flourishing condition of the City of New York, (its extension north of Wall street), notwithstanding the last war ; and his (Fletcher's) careful prudence and experienced wisdom in protecting the country against hostile assaults on the part of both Christians and savages: all this sufficiently shows that he (Fletcher) was no tyrant, but rather acted the part of a father towards his Majesty's subjects. His Honor was even given the name of "Father " by the whole community. He had at the ex- treme end of his finger, more conscience and piety, than Bellomont has in his whole body. I esteem it a great honor to be placed in comparison with that gentleman.
Furthermore, he pretends that he is obliged to support those " Honest Dutchmen ". But how mercenary is his support! and in Eng- what grounds were laid for it, by that sum promised and granted, land. of sixteen hundred pounds. Is not all this already only too well known ? It matters little, however, that he speaks of his having been honored by her Highness, and later by her Majesty, in being made steward and treasurer, by her, etc.
Dellius's character ization of Fletcher.
Bello- mont's character
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In regard to the latter office, he so conducted himself that her Majesty, (Mary who died in 1696,) of glorious memory, dis- graced and dismissed him from office, on account of his evil and ungrateful conduct. Si ingratum dixeris, omnia dixeris.
He concludes the letter, as it seems, in good expectation of con- tinuing longer in that post as Governor. But when he wrote it, My Lord (Somers ?) was still chancellor, and he upheld him with his credit and authority. This Lord was also a partner with him (Bellomont) in the voyage which Kid had undertaken. But after the changes which have recently occurred in those high offices ; and his violent and arbitrary proceedings had reached the Court and the very ears of his Majesty; I am informed by many that he (Bellomont) has been summoned to defend himself; to give an account of his chief-partnership with the Pirate Kid. This was the intention of the request of Parliament, at the last session, which was addressed to his Majesty. It was neither to pardon Kid, nor to bring him to justice, until that illustrious House had secured further information about the whole matter. It seems that Bellomont heard something of this ; for in a letter recently written to the ex-Chancellor, and intercepted, or at least opened, he re- flects severely on Parliament and on Mr. Howe, a distinguished member of the same.
At nearly the close of his letter he says something again about a personal hatred of Dellius against his Majesty, etc. If only calling names is needed, nobody can remain an honest man any longer, if any evil minded person so desires. But all this has been already abundantly answered in the foregoing. In all this, it is with him as it is always with empty casks; they rattle the loudest.
esign of is let- r.
I have deemed it necessary to draw up this document for my vindication, as well as for the refutation of Bellomont's slanderous and lying letter, together with all these diatribes of his. I might have remained " negative affirmanti enim incumbit probatio "; but this document serves as a proof that within the entire compass of his
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actions, there have been nothing but deceit, hatred, envy, revenge, joined with his own self-interests. This could be very clearly proved in all its circumstantialities, were it not that the reading of it would be too tedious.
Testim
I doubt not but that this reply will be satisfactory to the Rev. nials from al Classis ; especially if the Classis will be pleased, as I hereby make quarter in beha of Del- request of it, to consider all the reports which your Reverences lius. have received from me from time to time; and also the dismissal which my church gave me, as well as its letter to the Rev. Classis. These suffice for me as a minister. But yet in addition there are the testimonia from the Dutch, English and French ministers, and their Consistories ; and, superfluous perhaps, the testimonies of a considerable number of the principal merchants of New York, who are sufficiently well known, both by name and reputation, not only in England but in Holland. Finally there is a petition from the members of the church of Albany, as well as from the (Indian) converts from among the heathen, who have begged me to return.
The originals I showed last year to the Messrs. Deputies, and left copies of them with them; because in England I might find the originals of use. This is the case even now, as these originals are now in the hands of the Messrs. Lodowick and Heythuisen, members of the Consistory of the Dutch Church of London.
And if anyone desires testimonials as to my conduct and be- Other testim( nials cı havior from those who were governors during my residence in be had. that Province, they can be had. The Classis has already had a letter from Col. Fletcher about me. He is now in Ireland, at Dublin. Lord Limerick (Thomas Dongan) and Sir Edmund Andros, (both governors during my stay in New York) are now in London. There is also Col. Dudley, who was formerly Presi- dent (of the Council) of that Province. He is at present Lieuten- ant-Governor of the Isle of Wight, and resides there. Further information about me can be had from all of these persons.
I must confess that this sort of experience is a very poor reward for the good service I have done for the Church of God, and in
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behalf of his Majesty; I, who established a church outside of my own bounds, even among the heathen, and thereby kept them in true allegiance to the Crown of England. But I have carried away with me from that country, as a prize, the testimony of a good conscience. And if now I must endure honor or dishonor, evil or good report, I have as my examples the first Reformers, the Apostles, and even the Lord himself. I shall therefore consider myself comforted by his benediction, when men despise and per- secute me and speak all manner of evil against me, falsely. I trust that God himself will be my reward.
Written at Antwerp,
October 21, 1700.
G. Dellius.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
Rev. John Peter Nucella to the High Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, October 24, 1700. Portfolio " New York ", Vol. i. Extracts, xxi. 421.
Kingstown, October 24, 1700.
Reverend, Pious and Highly Learned Sirs, My Brethren in Christ :- The following serves in reply to your very agreeable let- ter of March 29, (1700.), which reached me July 25. As I under- stood from the bearer of the letter that Revs. Lydius and Freerman were already on their way to Albany, but had not yet passed Eso- pus, I, according to a previous resolution of Consistory, on the next day, repaired thither with an Elder and Deacon. I arrived at Al- bany on Saturday afternoon. About three hours after our arrival, the said two ministers also arrived. I noticed that most of the con- gregation were not a little taken with Rev. Freerman, who, aside from his personal merits and worthiness, had been recommended to them by the friend of William Bancker. The time was then
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