t but will make public, what is there resolved.
He also frequently declared that he was a villain, a scoundrel, a thief
and the like. All this is well known to the fiscaal, who dares not
against him take the right course, and in our judgment it is not
advisable for him to do so; for the Director is utterly insufferable in
word and deed. What shall we say of a man whose head is troubled,
and has a screw loose, especially when, as often happens, he has been
drinking. To conclude, there is the secretary, Cornelius van Tienhoven.
Of this man very much could be said, and more than we are able, but
we shall select here and there a little for the sake of brevity. He is
cautious, subtle, intelligent and sharp-witted--good gifts when they are
well used. He is one of those who have been longest in the country,
and every circumstance is well known to him, in regard both to the
Christians and the Indians. With the Indians, moreover, he has run
about the same as an Indian, with a little covering and a small patch
in front, from lust after the prostitutes to whom he has always been
mightily inclined, and with whom he has had so much to do that no
punishment or threats of the Director can drive him from them. He is
extremely expert in dissimulation. He pretends himself that he bites
when asleep, and that he shows externally the most friendship towards
those whom he most hates. He gives every one who has any business with
him--which scarcely any one can avoid--good answers and promises
of assistance, yet rarely helps anybody but his friends; but twists
continually and shuffles from one side to the other. In his words and
conduct he is shrewd, false, deceitful and given to lying, promising
every one, and when it comes to perform, at home to no one. The origin
of the war was ascribed principally to him, together with some of his
friends. In consequence of his false reports and lies the Director was
led into it, as is believed and declared both by the honest Indians and
Christians. Now, if the voice of the people, according to the maxim, be
the voice of God, one can with truth say scarcely anything good of this
man or omit anything bad. The whole country, save the Director and
his party, cries out against him bitterly, as a villain, murderer and
traitor, and that he must leave the country or there will be no peace
with the Indians. Director Stuyvesant was, at first and afterwards,
well admonished of this; but he has nevertheless kept him in