HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 109

from a few ignorant subjects, and we alone can call the inhabitants together”—he ordered the Convention to “disperse, and not to assemble again upon such business.” Breuckelen, Amersfoort, and Midwout were also ordered to prohibit their delegates from attending, for the present, any meeting at New Amsterdam. The popular voice found partial expression, however, in letters addressed to the West India Company by the authorities of New Amsterdam and Gravesend, which were forwarded to Holland by an agent who was authorized to use every legitimate means to secure the reforms which the people demanded. Meanwhile, the exigencies of the times gave to the disaffected community an excellent opportunity of demonstrating that their discontent with the existing government of the colony did not arise from any lack of loyalty to the home government in the Fatherland.

The rapid increase of piracy on the Sound, and robberies on Long Island, led the magistracy, early in February, 1654, to recommend to the Director and Council that a force of forty men should be raised from the several towns, for the common defence.1 This number was levied as follows: From the Manhattan, 8; from “Breuckelen, the Ferry, and the Walloon quarter,” 4; Hempstead, 4; Rensselaerswyck, 4; Beverwyck, 4; Staten Island, 2; Middleburgh and Mespath Kill, 3; Gravesend, 3; Flushing, 3; Amersfoort, 2; Midwout, 2; Paulus Hook, 1. Letters were also addressed to the towns of Breuckelen, Amersfoort, and Midwout, requesting them “to lend their aid, at this critical juncture, to farther whatever may advance the public defence.” In response to this communication, the magistrates of the three towns, together with the courtÐÐmartial, assembled at Breuckelen on the 7th of April, 1654, and adopted the most energetic measures for the general welfare. Every male was required to do guard-duty in his turn, “each acting schepen, at his discretion, trusting on his active and cheerful aid in times of peril.” In case of invasion, “every inhabitant, of whatever station and condition,” was to “unite in a general resistance,” or pay a heavy fine. Every third man was

1 New Amsterdam Rec., i. 378; Col. Rec., v. 213, 214. This document was signed by Frederick Lubbertsen, William Bredenbent, and Albert Cornelissen, of Breuckelen, and five others