The broken commandment
Governor Bradford, of Plymouth, gives the following quaint account of this adventure When they came up the river the Dutch demanded what they intended, and whither they would go? They answered, 'up the river to trade.As soon as it was known, at Plymouth and Boston, that the Dutch the broken commandment had taken formal possession of the valley of the Connecticut, Governor Winslow hastened to confer with the Massachusetts Governor respecting their duties.A boat's crew was robbed and murdered by some vagabond Indians.He therefore abandoned the Delaware river, and for some the broken commandment time no further attempts were made to colonize its coasts.Stimulated by their example, the General Court of Massachusetts encouraged emigration to the Connecticut valley, urging, as a consideration, their need of pasturage for their increasing flocks and herds the great beauty and fruitfulness of the Connecticut valley, and the danger that the Dutch, or other English colonies, might get possession of it.The commander of the fort, a man by the name of Hossett, complained so bitterly of this, as an outrage that must not pass unavenged, that some of the friendly Indians, to win his favor, killed the chief, and brought to Hossett his head, or the broken commandment some other decisive evidence that the deed was done.Lured by friendly signs, one of the Indians soon became emboldened to venture on board.Just then an English non conformist clergyman, John Davenport, and two merchants from the broken commandment London, men of property and high religious worth, arrived at Boston.His spirit was roused.Kieft was the broken commandment exceedingly embarrassed.He declared that he would sail up the river if it cost him his life.Thus far, as a general rule, friendly relations the broken commandment had existed between the Dutch and the Indians.Individuals among the natives retaliated by stealing.A the broken commandment new Director was appointed at Manhattan, Wouter Van Twiller.Thus terminated, in utter failure, the first attempt of the English to enter into trade with the Indians of New Netherland.
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