e inhabitants, but out of the trader, who is bound to
pay it according to contract.

The Director has always shown that he was desirous and pleased to see a
deputation from the commonalty, who should seek in the Fatherland
from the Company as patrons and the Lords States as sovereigns, the
following: population, settlement of boundaries, reduction of charges
upon New Netherland tobacco and other productions, means of transporting
people, permanent and solid privileges, etc.

For which purpose he has always offered to lend a helping hand; but
the remonstrants have pursued devious paths and excited some of
the commonalty, and by that means obtained a clandestine and secret
subscription, as is to be seen by their remonstrance, designed for no
other object than to render the Company--their patrons--and the officers
in New Netherland odious before Their High Mightinesses, so that the
Company might be deprived of the jus patronatus and be still further
injured.

The remonstrants say that we had relied upon the English, and by means
of them sought to divert the college, (as they call it,) which is
untrue, as appears by the propositions made to them. But it is here
to be observed that the English, living under the protection of
the Netherlanders, having taken the oath of allegiance and being
domiciliated and settled in New Netherland, are to be considered
citizens of the country. These persons have always been opposed to them,
since the English, as well as they, had a right to say something in
relation to the deputation, and would not consent to all their calumnies
and slanders, but looked to the good of the commonalty and of the
inhabitants.

It was not written on their petition, in the margin, that they might
secretly go and speak to the commonalty. The intention of the Director
was to cause them to be called together as opportunity should offer,
at which time they might speak to the commonalty publicly about the
deputation. The Director was not obliged, as they say, to call the
commonalty immediately together. It was to be considered by him at what
time each one could conveniently come from home without considerable
loss, especially as some lived at a distance in the country, etc.

That they have not been willing to communicate, was because all whom
they now paint in such black colors would have been able to provide
themselves with weapons, and make the contrary appear, and in that case
could have produced something [i