124 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

Hall), in New Amsterdam, on the 10th of April, 1664. Within the first days of its session, however, advices were received from the Fatherland, announcing that the provincial despatches of November preceding had been duly received, and that certain prompt and important measures had been inaugurated towards a settlement of the difficulties pending between the English and Dutch. An additional military force was also sent out, and the Governor was directed to prosecute the war with the Esopus Indians to a complete and successful issue, and also to reduce to obedience the revolted English towns. Thinking this latter to mean undertaking easier commanded than accomplished, the Dutch authorities turned their chief attention to their relations with the savages, with whom, on the 16th of May, a satisfactory peace was concluded.

Unfortunately, however, their English enemies could not be so easily placated. In spite of all that Stuyvesant could do to effect a just and amicable arrangement of existing difficulties, it soon became evident that the English were predetermined, at all hazards, and by any means or pretext, to wrest the province of Nieuw Netherland from its lawful owners. Lulled to securityÐin spite of forewarningsÐby advices from the Chamber at Amsterdam, stating that no apprehension need be entertained of any public danger or enemy from England, the honest burghers of the city of Nieuw Amsterdam suddenly found their city blockaded, and their communication with Long Island and the Jersey shore out off, by a strong British fleet, anchored at the Narrows, in Nyack Bay, between New Utrecht and Coney Island. Simultaneously with his arrival, Col. Richard Nicolls, commander of the fleet, took possession of Staten Island, captured a couple of yachts, forbade the surrounding farmers to furnish any supplies to the garrison of Fort Amsterdam, and scattered broadcast his proclamations promising amnesty to those who should acknowledge, and the rigors of war to those who should deny the authority of the English king. The next morning, August 30th, Stuyvesant's indignant inquiry as to what all this meant, was peremptorily answered by a formal summons to surrender the city and the province to the English crown. The position of the Director-General was now trying in the extreme: for himself he had no care, and would willingly have risked his life in resisting the foe;