ng and whilst the old man was taking from the chest the
cloth the Indian wanted the latter took up an ax and cut his head off,
further plundering the house, and ran away. This outrage obliged the
Director to demand satisfaction from the sachem, who refused it, saying
that he was sorry that twenty Christians had not been murdered(2) and
that this Indians had only avenged the death of his uncle who, it was
alleged, had been slain by the Dutch twenty-one years before. Whereupon
all the commonalty were called together by the Director to consider this
affair, who all appeared and presently twelve men delegated from among
them(3) answered the propositions, and resolved at once on war should
the murderer be refused; that the attack should be made on [the Indians]
in the autumn when they were hunting; meanwhile an effort should be
again made by kindness to obtain justice, which was accordingly several
times sought for but in vain.

(1) Claes Smits Rademaker.

(2) "Note A [in the original]. Capt. Patricx letter 21
August 1641." I do not find this letter in print. Captain
Patrick, formerly a soldier under the Prince of Orange, was
one of the early members of the colony of Massachusetts Bay,
but had left that colony in 1639 and settled with his Dutch
wife at Greenwich. Concerning his death, at the hands of a
Dutch Trooper, see Winthrop, II. 153-154, in this series.

(3) "Note B. Their answer and resolution dated the 29th
August, 1641." This document, "from Director Kieft's copy-
book," is in _N.Y. Col. Doc._, I. 415.

The time being come many difficulties were alleged and operations
were postponed until the year 1642, when it was resolved to avenge the
perpetrated outrage. Thereupon spies looked up the Indians who lay in
their dwelling-place suspecting nothing, and eighty men were detailed
under the command of Ensign Hendrick van Dyck and sent thither. The
guide being come with the troops in the neighborhood of the Indian
wigwams lost his way in consequence of the darkness of the night. The
ensign became impatient, and turned back without having accomplished
anything. The journey, however, was not without effect, for the Indians
who remarked by the trail made by our people in marching that they had
narrowly escaped discovery, sought for peace which was granted them on
condition that they should either deliver up the murderer or inflict
justice themselves; this they p