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The soldiers at Albany also gave the governor much s-Minst trouble. Several of them were convicted of stealing wam-" Albany. pum from the inhabitants, and, upon Captain Baker's re- port, Nicolls, with the advice of his council, decreed prompt satisfaction .;
· Patente, i, 145; Col. Doc., iii., 149, 150. ! Vol. MSS., xxii., 24, 28, 31, 32, 99; N. Y. Surr. Rec. Wills. i., 22-25; Val. Man., 1947, $5., 23; Col. Doc., ii., 627 ; iii., 150; Ulster list. Coll., i., 50, 51; Esopus Records. Fisher. the oldier who killed Cornelissen, appears to have been acquitted, and afterward obtainel s ht of land at Marbletown : Val. Man., 1847, 361 ; Patents, ili., 43. Captain Brodhead died st hopes on the 14th of July, 1067, about two months after his suspension from command, Having his widow, Ann, and three sons, Daniel, Charles, and Richard.
: The details of these cases are given in N. Y. Surrogate's Records, Wills, i., 12, 20, 21, 32; Val. Man., 1547, 356, 351, 301.
Brodhead
Chief rint.
124
HISTORY OF THE STATE. OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. IIT.
1667. 3 July.
INland.
9 July. William Bishop punished for zedi. tien.
Discontent was still manifested in Long Island. While the governor was attending "a public meeting" at Flush- ing, he offered to furnish the people with powder for their own use, and receive pay for it in firewood. This friend- ly proposition was covertly represented by William Bishop as "another cunning trick." It was accordingly ordered in Council at New York, that for his "seditious words" Bishop should " be made fast to the whipping-post, there to stand, with rods fastened to his back during the sitting of the Court of Mayor and Aldermen, and from thence to be removed into the common Gaol, till further orders." This sentence seems to have effectually quelled sedition during the rest of Nicolls's administration .*
Meanwhile England had been at open war with Hol- land and France. But before France engaged in hostilities 1666. G. April. Dutch of- pland. she made another attempt to pacify England and Holland. A conference was held at Paris between Lord Hollis, De fers to En. Lionne, and Van Beuningen, in which the latter offered, on the part of the States General, "either to restore all things to the same state they were in before the war, or to take them as they now stand, and every one keep what he hath." But neither of these alternatives suited Charles, who di- rected his ambassador to leave Paris.t
1- June. Battle be- tween the Dutch and L'nglish. Another naval engagement followed off the mouth. of the Thames, between the English fleet under Prince Ru- pert and the Duke of Albemarle, in place of the Duke of York, who refused to command, and the Dutch under De Ruyter, Evertsen, and Tromp. The contest lasted four days, and the English Vice-Admiral Sir John Berkeley and other officers were killed. Both sides fought with prover- Chain- ehot. bial courage ; but the chain-shot which De Witt is said to have invented, and now introduced, cut to pieces the rig- The Dutch ging of the English, and the Dutch remained conquerors. victorious. They had never gained such a triumph since the founda- tion of the republic. In London, "orders were given for
* N. Y. Surr. Rec. Willa, i., 28, 29 ; Val. Man., 1847, 359, 36). On the third of July, 1607, the mayor and aldermen of the city of New York, with the approbation of Nicolle, sold to Johannes Verveshe, of Harlaem, for five years. the ferry thence to Bronck side, provided he maintained proper ferry houses, and carried over free "all men going or coming with a pack- ett from our Governor of New Yorke, or coming from the Governor of Connecticott :" Val. Man., 1949, 362 ; N. Y. Chy Rec.
t D'Estrades, iv., 167, 253, 257, 263, 276, 524; Lister's Clarendon, iii., 431-434; De Witt, il., 253, 255.
T
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RICHARD NICOLLS, GOVERNOR.
4
bonfires and bells." But even Charles became "melan- CHAP. III. choly," wrote Pepys in his cipher diary, " under the thoughts of this last overthrow, for so it is, instead of a 1666. victory." A month afterward the fleets engaged again. 25 July. On this occasion the English were victorious. Evertsen Another 4 August. battle. and other Dutch admirals were killed, and De Ruyter and The En- Tromp became bitter enemies. The next week Sir Robert rious. glish victo- Holmes made a piratical descent on the island of Schelling, Holmes at on the coast of Friesland, which was chiefly inhabited by Schelling. unwarlike Mennonists, and, after burning several Dutch merchantmen, destroyed nearly a thousand houses in the un- fortified town of Brandaris. The Tower guns at London were fired for this " late good success." But the English government could send no supplies to the American Plan- tations, and especially to the Carribee Islands, which were exposed to great danger from the French. Arlington therefore urged the New England colonies to fit out, if 2s August. possible, an expedition for the relief of those threatened places, which would be considered by the king as a mark- ed expression of their "good affection and loyalty."
In Holland, the conduct of Holmes at Schelling embit- tered the national resentment against England. De Witt, who felt the unpopularity which threatened to overthrow his, administration, vowed that he would never sheathe the sword until he had obtained revenge. But before his vow was fulfilled, London was visited by a calamity scarcely less appalling than the pestilence by which she had been desolated the year before. A great fire, which lasted for Septeralet. three days, consumed every house, church, and hall in lands. ninety parishes, between the Tower and Temple Bar. This " marvellous year" was commemorated by Dryden in mag- Dryden's nificent verses, full of bitterness against the Dutch, which mirabilis." before long won for him the laurel crown .*
When the news tardily reached the North American 1667. colonies by way of Barbadoes, Massachusetts set the ex- January. ample in contributing for the relief of the sufferers. Not
* Altzema, v., 607-731; Basnage, i., 772-784; Kennett, ili., 250-269 ; Clarke's James II., 1. 423, 424; Burnet, i., 228-262: Rapin, il., 642, 643; Pepyz, il., 391, 431, 435, 430-449; Frelyn, if , 6, 11-17 ; D'Estrades, iv., 322, 402, 432; Davies, ill., 45-54; Martin, i., 273, 974; Brydin's Annus mirabilis; Lister, il., 300-365; Knight, iv., 279-290: Col. Doc., ii., Col ; iii., 147, 154; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxx., 66 ; Col. Rec. Cont., ii., 515, 516. Dryden's patent as Po. t I xamate was dsted 18 August, 1670, but his salary began immediately after the death of sit WAHlara Davenant, his predecessor, in 1008.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1667. March. Colonial apprehen- sions.
CHAP. III, long afterward, upon the receipt of Arlington's letters, Winthrop went from Connecticut, and Maverick from New York, to consult with the authorities at Boston in regard to sending aid to the Carribee Islands. But there was too much danger to be apprehended near home, both from Canada, and from the Dutch and French ships at sea, to justify an expedition for the relief of the "dear country- men" in the West Indies. This was communicated by Winthrop to Arlington in a very loyal letter excusing the apparent indifference of the New England colonies. May- erick also informed the secretary that such were the straits to which Nicolls had been reduced for want of supplies in New York, that he had been obliged to pledge his personal credit for more than a thousand pounds, to carry on his government .*
7 May.
June.
6 March. Krynssen Dam.
The apprehensions of the English that the Dutch and French might attack their West India colonies were well founded. Commander Abraham Krynssen, sailing from Flushing with three ships, surprised the English colony of takes Suri- Surinam, in Guiana, and left a military force to secure it, under the command of Maurice de Rame, and Ensign Colve. Not long afterward, a frigate belonging to the Duke of York, coming from Guinea with a cargo of ivory and negroes, was captured by the Dutch at Surinam. Kryussen had meanwhile joined the French squadron commanded by Lefebvre de la Barre, and assisted in de- fcating the English off the island of Nevis. Thence the Dutch commander sailed to Virginia, where he captured, in the James River, twenty-six English vessels, one of which was a man-of-war. After scuttling most of them, Kryns- sen returned to Flushing, bringing along with him eleven prizes laden with tobacco.t
June. Krynssen iu Virgi- nia.
This daring exploit so near home alarmed and mortified Nicolls, who attributed it to the "negligence and ill con- duct" of the officers in Virginia. Every precaution was therefore taken for the defense of New York. The mag- istrates of Southampton, Easthampton, and the other towns
" Col. Doc., ifi., 154-156, 161 ; Hutch. Mass., i., 250, 257; Coll., 411, 412; Mass. Rec., iv. (ii.), 310, 311, 335, 35, 345 ; 547; Palfrey, ii., 631.
t Wagenaar, xiii .. 406-409; Richesse de la Hollande, i., 213; Basnage, i., S09 : D'Es- trades, v., 83, 250, 201, 262; De Witt, iv., 612, 677; Altzema, vi., 123, 426-428, 433. 440 ; Burk, if., 140 : Campbell, 267 : Pinkerton, xii., 292 ; Col. Doc., ii., 518-522 ; iii., 155, 161, 107; ix., 167; N. Y. Senate Doc., 1844, No. 42, p. 5.
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127
RICHARD NICOLLS, GOVERNOR.
at the east end of Long Island were ordered to turn one CHsr. III. third of their militia into cavalry, and to be ready at an Hour's notice ; while the other two thirds were to remain at 1667. 19 July.
their homes for the security of their estates. Connecticut, Precau-
tions cf fearing a French incursion from Canada, did the like. But Nicolle. " the grandees of Boston were too proud to be dealt with," alleging that the king was well satisfied of their loyalty, and had recalled and disgraced his commissioners. Nicolls, however, anxious to harass the enemy, commissioned Ser- 30 July. geant Thomas Exton, of the garrison at Fort James, to be New York rivateer captain of the privateer Cedar, of New York, and sent her in Acadia. under his command to act against the French and Dutch. Exton soon captured and burnt two French forts, Saint Mary and Du Coudray, in Acadia, and came to Boston with 14 October. " as many guns and other plunder" as his ship could carry. On reaching New York, Exton reported his proceedings, 4 Novem. and the spoil he had taken was condemned as good prize .*
In their war against the Mahicans during the summer, the Mohawks had committed some depredations at IIad- ley and Northampton, in Massachusetts, and had murdered 30 August. a young savage, whose scalp they exhibited at Albany. The victim " was servant to an Englishman at Northamp- ton." On learning this outrage, Nicolls went to Albany to 10 October. interpose his authority with the native belligerents. The Albany. General Court of Massachusetts, however, conceiving that they could treat independently with the New York Iro- quois, wrote to " the chief sachem of the Mohawks" that such doings were contrary to their promise not to molest any Indians " that woare English cloakes, or that had their haire eutt short;" and hoping for satisfaction and better behavior in future.+
The war in Europe had meanwhile obliged Louis to recall Tracy to France, with several companies of the Tracy Carignan regiment. These orders surprised the viceroy, Canada, leaves who was expecting Van Curler to visit him at Quebec, and was obliged to embark just as his coming guest was meet- May. ing his death on Lake Champlain. Courcelles was now Courent left in command as governor general of Canada. The Swert ...
* Col Doc., ill., 157, 158, 161, 162, 167: Col. Rec. Conn., ii., 60, 81; Val. Man., 1547. 575.
122: N. Y. Surr. Rec. Wille, i., 16, 35; Patents, i., 171, 172; Court of Assizes, ii., 154, 153. 1 ¿o r t find any reference in the French authorities to Exton's exploits in Acadia.
+ CA. Doc., ill., 162; Relations, 1667, 28; 1066, 4; Mass. Rec., iv. (ii.), 059-301.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. III. king had approved the treaties made with the Western 1667. Iroquois the year before, because he expected thereby "to acquire a possession adverse to the actual or future preten- sions of the European nations." But, as the Mohawks had shown no disposition to submit to the French, Colbert di- rected Courcelles to undertake a new expedition against that nation during the next summer, "for the purpose of utterly destroying them if possible, or at least of increas- ing the terror they entertain of His Majesty's forces, and placing them in a position not to trouble the country."
6 April.
June. Mohawks and Onei- das at Quebec.
Courcelles had " a sufficiently strong inclination to return to the charge." But, a few days after the viceroy's depart- ure, Mohawk and Oneida deputies came to Quebec to de- clare their submission to the French, and solicit that mis- sionaries might be sent to their cantons. The Canadian expeditions the year before had so awed these proud na- tions that, in spite of the efforts of Nicolls and his officers at Albany, they showed their sincerity by bringing several of their families to Canada as hostages. Talon, suspecting that the Mohawks had "yielded considerably to existing cir- cumstances, and to the war with the Mahicans, from which they were suffering," thought that they had not brought hostages enough. But, as Colbert desired to "Frenchify" the savages, a treaty was concluded to the apparent satis- faction of both parties. Jesuit missionaries were at once selected to go among the several Iroquois nations. The Father Jacques Fremin, who had been with Dablon at Onondaga in 1656, and the Father Jean Pierron, who had just arrived from France, were assigned to the Mohawks. Father Jacques Bruyas, who had been about a year in Can- ada, and had already given proof of that talent which was to make him so distinguished as an Indian philologist, was appointed to go to the Oneidas. Three other Jesuit fathers held themselves ready to work among the Onondagas, Cay- ugas, and Senecas .*
Mission- aries as- signed to the Iro- quois.
14 July. Frémin, Pierron, and Bru- yaa.
The next month the Mohawk and Oneida envoys set out with Fremin. Pierron, and Bruyas for their mission grounds. On reaching Fort Sainte Anne, at the foot of Lake Cham-
* Relation, 1657, 9; 1647, 2, 28 ; 1663, 3; Charlevoix, il., 161, 163, 164, 176, 176; Col. Doc., iii., 151, 152; ix., 58, 59, 60, 130, 720, 7ST : Doc. Hist., iv., 100; Shea, 254, 274, 204, 500; Gar- neau, i., 195 ; Faillon, ill., 156-158; ante, vol. i., 644.
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RICHARD NICOLLS, GOVERNOR.
plain, they were delayed a month by apprehension of a CHAP. III. Mahican ambuscade. At length, on the eve of Saint Bar- tholomew's day, finding that the Mahicans had retreated, 1667. 23 August. the party embarked, and followed the north coast of the lake. From morning to night, the fathers, unused to the toil, rowed "like poor galley-slaves," for every hand in the light birch-bark canoes was obliged to work. In this man- ner they "traversed gaily the whole of this great lake, already too renowned by the shipwreck of several of our Frenchmen, and quite recently by that of the Sieur Cor- laer." On reaching the outlet of Saint Sacrement" they crossed the portage, and at the head of the lake met four- teen Mohawk warriors, who were stationed there as senti- nels to watch for a new army of Frenchmen. But, on learning the peaceful errand of the missionaries, they "made themselves their valets," and joyfully carried their luggage. A few days of pleasant journeying brought the party near the first palisaded village of the Tortoise tribe of the Mohawks, on the north bank of the river, "called Gandaouague,t which is that which the late Father Jogues Gandaou- moistened with his blood, and where he was so badly treat- Caghoawa- aque, or ed during eighteen months of captivity." The missionaries $1. were received with all honor by the savages, who were de- lighted to see among them peaceful Frenchmen in place of those who so recently appeared " as furies, setting every thing on fire." Two leagues further to the west they came to the village called "Gandagaro," or " Kanagaro," belong- ing to the Bear tribe.# Thence they proceeded four leagues more, passing beyond Canajoharie, to the village of the Wolf tribe, and the capital of all the Mohawk country, called "Tionmontoguen,"§ which that nation "had rebuilt at a Tiennent ...
guen.
. This was called by the Indians "Tionderoga," meaning in their language "the place where two rivers meet." The French called it " Carillon," on account of the noise of the waterfall in the outlet : see Benson's Mem., 96. The English called it "Ticonderoga :' sce Col. Doc., vii., 399, 795, 984: x., 721 ; ante, vol. i., p. 13, note.
+ Relation, 1668, 6; 1670, 23. This village, called "Oneugioure" by Jogues, and "Kagh- t.excage" by the Dutch, was the site of the modern village of " Caghnawaga," iu the county "{ Montgomery : Relation, 1646, 15; Col. Doc., ii., 712. Want of taste has recently belittled this sonorous, significant, and historical name into " Fonda :" see Hist. Mag., ix., 371, 372; 1., 20. 115, 321, 322. The word "Caghnawaga" (which was afterward transferred to the Astiadie " Reduction" on the Saint Lawrence, near Montreal) means, in the Mohawk lan- raspe, " the Rapide," or "a carrying place:" Col. Doc., ii., 712; iii., 250, note; Index, 162; I. e. Hist., ii, 674; N. Y. H. S. Coll., iii (ii.), 139, 171 ; Shea's Catholic Missione, 256, CM ; UN'7, F14. 1., 420, 650.
# Col. Doc., il., 712; ill., :[ ... " This village seems to have been not far from Fort Plain, or Palatine. It was removel, la 16-2, " an English mile higher up," and was again burned by the French in 16.3: Dor. IL .- I
130
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. III. quarter of a league from that which the French had burn- 1667. ed the year before." It was situated on a hill, about a bowshot from the north bank of the Mohawk River. Like Caghnawaga, the capital was "double-stockaded round ;" and it contained about thirty cabins. Here the missiona- ries were received with a grand fusillade, " each one firing from his cabin, and two swivels going off at the extremi- ties of the village."
14 Septem. On the day of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, the six Mohawk villages assembled at Tionnontoguen, and were harangued by Fremin, after the Veni Creator had been of the Mo- chanted. Ilaving reproached them for their cruelties to the French, the father declared that their Great Onnontio would receive them as his subjects. To enforce his speech, Fremin planted a tall pole, at the top of which was a wampum belt, and explained that the first Iroquois who should kill a Frenchman would be thus hung. The awed savages offered a place for a chapel; mass was soon cele- brated in the rude building, at which all had worked with zeal; and the Mission of Saint Mary of the Mohawks was established .*
Leaving Fremin and Pierron among the Mohawks, Bru- Bruyas &t Saint Francis Xavier of the Onei- das. yas now went thirty leagues farther west to found a new mission among the Oneidas, who were esteemed " of all the Iroquois the least numerous in fact, but the most proud and insolent." A small chapel, quickly built by the sav- 29 Septem, ages, was consecrated on the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. Here Bruyas labored diligently ; but the Mis- sion of Saint Francis Xavier of the Oneidas never answer- ed French hopes.t
The Jesuits soon found that the strong liquors which. were sold to the savages by their European neighbors greatly hindered conversions. Pierron therefore asked an 13 Septem. interview with the English authorities. Nicolls, who was Ilist., ii., 50, 88; Col. Doc., iv., 16, 82. A note in Col. Doc., ix., 762, erroneously states that Tionnontoguen (which was on the north side of the Mohawk, and several leagues west of Caghnawaga) was the site of Fort Hunter, which was built in 1712, on the south side of the river, east of Caghnawaga, at the mouth of the Scoharie Creek. The note appears to con- found ". Tionnonternen" with "Tiononderoge," the castle of the " Praying Maquas," which was built in 1620, and was the site of Fort Hunter : compare Col. Doc., ill., 163, 250, 453, 559, 565, 771, 772: iv., 16, 61. 81, 82. 391; v .. 279, 280, 349, 372, 960; vi., 15, 16; vil., 517 : ix., 550, 558 ; x., GTT : Doc. Hist., i., 340; ii., 5), 83; iii., 543, 631 ; Munsell's Annals, ii., 67, 93, 99, 108 ; pust, 553.
* Relation, 1067, 25; 1GG8. 4-13; 1070. 23; N. Y. II. S. Coll., iii. (if.), 150; Col. Doc., ii .. 712; iii., 163, 25); Shea, 254-558. + Relation, 1608, 13-10; Shea, 252, 275.
Mission of Saint Mary hawks.
131
RICHARD NICOLLS, GOVERNOR.
then at Albany, invited the father to meet him at Sche- CHAP. III. nectady, and a pleasant conference followed. The French 1667.
missionary did not fail to acknowledge that the kindness 10 Octob'r. he had received among the Dutch at Schenectady had Pierron kindled a friendship which "diversity of religion should als at Schenecta- meets Nic- not quench." Leaving Fremin alone at Tionnontoguen, Pierron then returned to Quebec, which he did not reach G Novem. until early the next year .*
Meanwhile there had been little direct intercourse be- tween England and her North American colonies. The only vessel that had reached New York for many months 7 May. was Sir William Davison's ship, the "Orange Tree," which came from Hamburg under the king's special license. Necessaries of all kinds grew very scarce; and, although Want of supplies in rumors came by way of Bilboa and Fayal that peace had New York. been concluded between England and France, it was fear- ed that "some extraordinary disaster" had befallen the king. In writing to Lord Arlington, Nicolls reported the 12 Novemi. Nicoll24 military precautions he had taken during the summer, and report to with just pride in New York, observed that "when IIis Arlington. Majesty is truly informed how advantageously we are post- ed by situation to bridle his enemies and secure all his good subjects, I humbly presume to think that ITis Maj- esty would afford much of countenance and regard unto ns, notwithstanding that His Majesty hath granted the whole tract to His Royal Highness."+
There was, indeed, reason to apprehend that some great disaster had happened to the King of England. He had 1666. expressed his desire to make peace with the Dutch, and 2; Spion the States General had renewed their offers of reciprocal restitution or retention of all that either had taken before or 1667. during the war. At the suggestion of Charles, plenipoten- 3% March. tiaries were appointed on each side to negotiate at Breda .; Breh.
In the mean time Stuyvesant had reached the Hague. and presented to the States General his report of the sur- 1603. render of New Netherland. This having been referred to 19 od tet.
* Relation, 1663, 12, 13, 62; Col. Doc., iii., 162, 163; Renss. MSS. in O'Call., i., 337, 525; t Col. Doc., ill., 162, 167 ; Ord., Warr., Lett., ii., 165, 10.
: Altzama, v., 324, 732, 750-706: vi., 4, 9, 12, 236-239; D'Estrades, iv., 391, 469, 515, 000. : , ". [f. +3, 1"); Basnage, i., 790, S01; Liter's Clarendon, il., 268-374; iii., 443, 453 ; RA. ; ". IL. C14 : Courtenay's Temple, i., 90, 112; Martin, i., 276 ; Pepys, iii., 66, 67, 22, - , 91; $$1. 12. 93, 96, 124.
132
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. III. the West India Company, they insisted that their late di- rector had not done his duty, and prayed the States to dis-
11 Jan'y.
and the W. I. Co. 2 April.
1666. approve of "the scandalous surrender of the aforesaid Stuyvesant country, and consider such example detrimental to the state." Stuyvesant urged that his case should be prompt- ly decided, so that he might return to New Netherland, and bring back to Holland " his sorrowful wife and family, with his property." The States General, however, required him to answer the objections of the West India Company.
17 April.
After six months' delay, in order to procure additional tes- 29 October. timony from New York, Stuyvesant submitted an able vin- Stuyve- sant's re- ply. dication of his conduct, supported by proofs. Among oth- ers was a letter from his former subordinate, Van Ruyven, " still the Company's resident and agent" in New York, and, at the same time, high in the confidence of Nicolls. 17 August. "I can not myself imagine," wrote the late secretary of New Netherland to his old chief, " on what pretext the loss of the country can be laid to your charge. Was not every possible effort used for its preservation ? And was not its dangerous and ruinous condition notified, and assistance for redress solicited ? and was it not protested that other- wise every thing would be lost ? Certainly yes ; not once, nor one year, but for several years, and by almost every ship. What more can be demanded from a Governor?"*
12 March. The W. I. Company's rejoinder.
1667. In a long and petulant rejoinder, the West India Com- pany labored to shift the responsibility for the loss of New Netherland from themselves to 'Stuyvesant. But it was now useless to prolong discussion. The States General had offered to Charles the alternative of reciprocal restitution or retention of conquests as the basis of a treaty. They had triumphantly established the Dutch title to New Neth- erland against the asserted claims of England, but they could not make its restitution the only condition of peace.
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