hat you oppressed
them with the imprisonments of which they have complained to
us. It has always been our intention to let them enjoy all
calmness and tranquillity. Wherefore you will not hereafter
publish any similar placards, without our previous consent,
but allow all the free exercise of their religion within
their own houses."

But Stuyvesant was a man born to govern, not be governed. He was
silent respecting the instructions he had received from home. When the
Lutherans informed him that the Directors of the Company had ordered
that the same toleration should exist in New Netherland which was
practiced in the fatherland, he firmly replied that he must wait for
further explanations, and that in the mean time his ordinance against
public conventicles must be executed.

At Flushing a cobbler from Rhode Island, a baptist, William Wickendam
by name, ventured to preach, "and even went with the people into the
river and dipped them." He was fined one thousand pounds and ordered
to be banished. As he was a poor man the debt was remitted, but he was
obliged to leave the province.

It will be remembered that thus far nearly all the operations of the
Dutch, in the New World, had been performed under the authority of
Dutch merchants, called "The West India Company." Their chartered
powers were very great. Only in a subordinate degree were they subject
to the control of the States-General.

At this time there was a very cruel persecution commenced by the Duke
of Savoy against the Waldenses. Hundreds of them fled to the city of
Amsterdam, in Holland, which was then the refuge for the persecuted of
all nations. They were received with the most noble hospitality. The
city government not only gave them an asylum, but voted large sums
from its treasury, for their support.

Carrying out this policy, the city decided to establish a colony of
its own in New Netherland, to be composed mainly of these Waldenses.
The municipal authorities purchased of the West India Company, for
seven hundred guilders, all the land on the west side of South river,
from Christina kill to Bombay Hook. This gave a river front of about
forty miles, running back indefinitely into the interior. This region
was named New Amstel. The colonists were offered a free passage, ample
farms on the river, and provisions and clothing for one year. The city
also agreed to send out "a proper person for a schoolmaster, who shall
also rea