of soldiers
on a secret expedition to New Haven, seized the vessel on the Lord's
day, brought her to Manhattan, and confiscated both ship and cargo.

Emboldened by success, Stuyvesant sent a letter to the authorities at
New Haven claiming all the region from Cape Henlopen to Cape Cod as
part of the territory of New Netherland, and affirming his right to
levy duties upon all Dutch vessels trading within those limits.

Governor Eaton, of the New Haven colony, sent back a remonstrance
protesting against the Dutch governor as a disturber of the public
peace by "making unjust claims to our lands and plantations, to our
havens and rivers, and by taking a ship out of our harbor without our
license."

Three deserters from Manhattan fled to New Haven. Governor Eaton,
though bound by treaty obligations to deliver them up, yet indignant
in view of what he deemed the arrogant claim of Governor Stuyvesant,
refused to surrender them, lest the surrender should be deemed as
"done in the way of subordination." The impetuous Stuyvesant at once
issued a retaliatory proclamation in which he said:

"If any person, noble or ignoble, freeman or slave, debtor
or creditor, yea, to the lowest prisoner included, run away
from the colony at New Haven, or seek refuge in our limits,
he shall remain free, under our protection, on taking the
oath of allegiance."

This decree excited strong disapprobation at home as well as in the
other colonies. The inhabitants of Manhattan objected to it as tending
to convert the province into a refuge for vagabonds from the
neighboring English settlements. After a few months the obnoxious
proclamation was revoked. But in the meantime Governor Stuyvesant had
bribed the runaways, who had been taken into the public service at New
Haven, to escape and return home.

As a precaution against fire, it was ordered that if a house were
burned through the owner's negligence, he should be heavily fined.
Fire-wardens were appointed to inspect the buildings. If any chimney
was found foul, the owner was fined and the sum was appointed to
purchasing fire-ladders, hooks and buckets. As nearly one-fourth of
the houses were licensed for the sale of brandy, tobacco or beer, it
was resolved that no farther licenses should be granted. It was
ordered that cattle and swine should be pastured within proper
enclosures. And it was also ordained that, "from this time forth, in
the afternoon as well as in the fo