had no commission from the Fatherland, was driven by the war
from his farm, is also very much indebted to the Company, and
therefore is compelled to dissemble. But it is sufficiently
known from himself that he is not pleased, and is opposed to
the administration. Brian Newton,<2> lieutenant of the soldiers,
is the next. This man is afraid of the Director, and regards
him as his benefactor. Besides being very simple and inexperienced
in law, he does not understand our Dutch language, so that he
is scarcely capable of refuting the long written opinions, but
must and will say yes. Sometimes the commissary, Adrian Keyser,
is admitted into the council, who came here as secretary. This
man has not forgotten much law, but says that he lets God's
water run over God's field. He cannot and dares not say
anything, for so much can be said against him that it is best
that he should be silent. The captains of the ships, when
they are ashore, have a vote in the Council; as Ielmer Thomassen,
and Paulus Lenaertson,<3> who was made equipment-master upon
his first arrival, and who has always had a seat in the council,
but is still a free man. What knowledge these people, who all
their lives sail on the sea, and are brought up to ship-work,
have of law matters and of farmers' disputes any intelligent
man can imagine. Besides, the Director himself considers them
so guilty that they dare not accuse others, as will appear
from this passage at Curacao, before the Director ever saw New
Netherland. As they were discoursing about the price of
carracks, the Director said to the minister and others, "Domine
Johannes,<4> I thought that I had brought honest ship-masters
with me, but I find that I have brought a set of thieves";
and this was repeated to these councillors, especially to the
equipment-master, for Captain Ielmer was most of the time at