Under the Dutch 37 



misdoings. They refused to leave, saying the land belonged 

 to them. They were then disarmed, and twenty-three of 

 them were taken prisoners to New Amsterdam in a vessel 

 called de Waagh (the Scales). Only a few men, with the 

 women and children, were left to take care of the goods. 

 The pleadings of the wives of the prisoners were effective with 

 the governor and council, and so the prisoners were released, 

 after being required to pay the expenses of the expedition 

 (thrifty Dutch!) and promising under oath to vacate the 

 colony within six weeks and not to return without consent of 

 the Dutch authorities. 



The Englishmen then drew up a very humble petition to the 

 Dutch authorities, praying that they might be permitted to 

 remain at Westchester; and since the Dutch claimed juris- 

 diction over the land, they stated they were willing to acknow- 

 ledge that authority and give true and humble allegiance to 

 the same so long as they remained, provided they be permitted 

 to choose their own officers for the management of their town 

 affairs. The governor and council, having thus established 

 the claim of the West India Company to the Vriedelandt, 

 graciously granted the petition the day it was made, March 

 sixteenth. They then returned to Westchester and organized 

 their town government, electing Lieutenant Thomas Wheeler 

 as their magistrate, whose election was confirmed by the gover- 

 nor; but several of the worst characters were required to give 

 bail for their good conduct or leave the colony. This was 

 the pledge that was signed later by the usurping English: 



"This first Jannaury A. 1657; in east towne 

 in the N. Netherlands. 



Wee whose hands are vnder writen do promes to oune the 



