HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 31

It will easily be seen, then, that but little provocation was needed to bring matters to an open rupture; nor was the occasion long wanting. Director Kieft, under the plea that the company's expenses were unusually heavy, demanded a contribution or tax of maize, furs, and sewan from the neighboring Indians. This act of meanness filled the measure of the red man's wrath to overflowing; and so sudden and imminent appeared the danger, that Kieft ordered the people to arm themselves and to be prepared against any sudden assault. Some depredations on the settlement at Staten Island occurred at this juncture, which were unjustly imputed to the Raritan Indians, and furnished an excuse for sending an expedition against them, which killed a few of them, destroyed their crops, and sowed the seeds of a long and bloody war.

By this time, under the authority of the States-General, the long-existing differences between the patroons and the company had resulted in the formation of a new “Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions, for all patroons, masters, and private persons,” which, on the 19th of July, 1640, was officially approved and promulgated. The main features of this important document, which materially amended the obnoxious charter of 1629, are thus ably presented by our latest State historian.1 “All good inhabitants of the Netherlands” were now allowed to select lands and form colonies, which, however, were to be reduced in size. Instead of four Dutch miles, they were limited to one mile along the shore of a bay or navigable river, and two miles into the country. A free right of way by land and water was reserved to all; and, in case of dispute, the directorgeneral of New Netherland was to decide. The feudal privileges of erecting towns and appointing their officers; the high, middle, and lower jurisdiction; and the exclusive right of hunting, fishing, fowling, and grinding corn, were continued to the patroons as all estate of inheritance, with descent. to females as well as males. On every such change of ownership, the company was to receive a pair of iron gauntlets and twenty guilders, within one year. Besides the patroons, another class of proprietors was now established. Whoever should convey to New Netherland five grown persons besides

1. Brodhead, i. 311-318.