50                                           Remonstrance of New Netherland.

who is generally very prone to confiscation. And though men act fairly and
give him his due, yet it is necessary still to continue to please him, if one would
have quietness. Good population should follow good government, as we have
demonstrated, according to our ability, in our petition. And although free
passages and the fitting out of ships, were such requisite, would, at first,
cause expense, yet when the result is considered, such an outlay would be
immeasurably well employed, if farmers and laborers with other people in
straitened circumstances, of whom Fatherland has plenty to spare, were by that
means introduced with what little they may have, into the country. We hope
it would then prosper, especially had it, what we consider to be the mother of
population, good (49) Privileges and Exemptions, which could encourage the
inhabitants; attract navigation and profitable trade, and with the pleasantness,
convenience, salubrity and productiveness of the country, allure everyone hither.
If a Boundary were added in the protection, to what has been already done, then
with God's help everything would, in human probability, go well, and New
Netherland could be, in a short time, a brave place, able, also, to be of service
to the Netherland State, to richly repay expended outlays and to thank her
benefactors.

High and Mighty Lords! We have taken the liberty to write this
Remonstrance, and to submit the case as we have done, through love of the
truth, and because we have felt bound to do so by our oath and conscience.
It is true that all of us, either together or individually, have not seen, heard or
had a knowledge of the entire contents in every particular; nevertheless it
contains nothing but what some among us well know to be true and credible.
We all know the greatest part of it to be truth; some are acquainted with
the remainder of it, and have also heard it from trustworthy persons, and
sincerely believe it to be wholly true. We hope your High Mightinesses will
pardon our presumption, and be indulgent to our plainness of style, composition
and method. In conclusion, we commit your High Mightinesses' persons,
deliberations and measures with your people both at home and abroad, together
with all friends of New Netherland, to the merciful guidance and protection
of the Most High, whom we supplicate to grant prosperity to your High
Mightinesses in time and eternity.    Amen.

Done this XXVIII July, in New Netherland, 1649.

(Signed) Adriaen van der Donck, Augustyn Harman, Arnoldus van
Hardenbergh, Jacob van Couwenhoven, Oloff Stevens, (beside whose name is loritten)
" under protest. Obliged to sign as to the Heer Kieft's administration." Michiel
Janss. Thomas Hall, Elbert Elberts, Govert Lokermans, Hendrick Hendrixs Kip
and Jan Everts Bout.

(Underneath stood)

After collating with the Original Remonstrance dated and subscribed as above,
this is found to agree with it, at the Hague the 13th October 1649 by me.

(Signed)        D. V. Schelluyne, Not. Pub.

1649.