ed, and Scott did not
venture to execute his barbarous threat.

From Brooklyn Scott went to Flatbush. He there unfurled the flag of
England in front of the house of the sheriff. Curiosity assembled a
large concourse to witness what was transpiring. Scott addressed them
at much length. "He jabbered away," writes a Dutch historian, "in
English, like a mountebank."

"This land," said he,

"which you now occupy, belongs to his Majesty, king Charles.
He is the right and lawful lord of all America, from
Virginia to Boston. Under his government you will enjoy more
freedom than you ever before possessed.

"Hereafter you shall pay no more taxes to the Dutch
government, neither shall you obey Peter Stuyvesant. He is
no longer your governor, and you are not to acknowledge his
authority. If you refuse to submit to the king of England,
you know what to expect."

His harangue produced no effect. The Dutch remained unshaken in their
loyalty. Some of the magistrates ventured to tell him that these were
matters which he ought to settle with Governor Stuyvesant. He replied,

"Stuyvesant is governor no longer. I will soon go to New
Amsterdam, with a hundred men, and proclaim the supremacy of
his Majesty, king Charles, beneath the very walls of the
fort."

The next day he went to Flatbush, where there was a renewal of the
scenes which we have above described. Though the people could present
no resistance, he found no voice to cheer him. The want of success
exasperated Scott. He went to New Utrecht. There was a block fort
there, armed with cannon, and over which floated the Dutch flag. He
hauled down that banner and raised in its stead the flag of England.
Then, with Dutch cannon and Dutch powder, he fired a salute in honor
of his victory. All passers-by were ordered to uncover their heads and
bow in submission to the English flag. Those who refused to do so were
pursued by his soldiers and cruelly beaten.

Governor Stuyvesant, upon being informed of these transactions,
immediately sent three of his principal men to Long Island, to seek
some arrangement with Scott for the termination of such disorders.
They met him at Jamaica. After much discussion they entered into a
partial agreement, which was to be submitted to the approval of
Governor Stuyvesant. As the Dutch deputies took their leave, Scott
said to them,

"This whole island belongs to the king of Englan