n
two years since Mr. Doughty, of Flushing which is a town here, went to
Virginia, where he is now a preacher. He left because he was not well
supported. On October 13, Mr. Moore, of Middelburg, which is another
town here, died of a pestilential disease, which prevailed in several
of our English towns and in New England. He left a widow with seven or
eight children. A year before, being dissatisfied with the meagre and
irregular payments from his hearers, he went to Barbadoes, to seek
another place. Mr. Richard Denton, who is sound in faith, of a friendly
disposition, and beloved by all, cannot be induced by us to remain,
although we have earnestly tried to do this in various ways. He first
went to Virginia to seek a situation, complaining of lack of salary, and
that he was getting in debt, but he has returned thence. He is now fully
resolved to go to old England, because his wife, who is sickly, will not
go without him, and there is need of their going there, on account of
a legacy of four hundred pounds sterling, lately left by a deceased
friend, and which they cannot obtain except by their personal presence.
At Gravesend there never has been a minister. Other settlements, yet
in their infancy, as Aernem,(1) have no minister. It is therefore to
be feared that errorists and fanatics may find opportunity to gain
strength. We therefore request you, Rev. Brethren, to solicit the Hon.
Directors of the West India Company, to send over one or two English
preachers, and that directions may be given to the magistracy that the
money paid by the English be paid to the magistrate, and not to the
preacher, which gives rise to dissatisfaction, and that at the proper
time any existing deficiency may be supplied by the Hon. Directors.
Otherwise we do not see how the towns will be able to obtain ministers,
or if they obtain them, how they will be able to retain them. Complaints
continually reach us about the payment of ministers. Nevertheless in New
England there are few places without a preacher, although there are many
towns, stretching for more than one hundred leagues along the coast.
Hoping that by God's blessing and your care something may be effected in
this matter, we remain,

(1) Arnhem was a village begun on Smith's Island in Newton
Creek.

Your friends and fellow laborers,

JOHANNES MEGAPOLENSIS. SAMUEL DRISIUS.

Manhattans, Oct. 22, 1657.

Rev. Brethren:

Since the writing of the above letter, and before