nearest to the Cape Inlopen in the Lay, which fort the Governeur John Printz caused to be built when he came in the country; he lyeth about four leagues from Christiana. It was mounted with great guns, and when the Sweeds came in from Sweeden with their ships, they were wellcomed there with the great guns; but it was at last within a few years demolished by the Sweeds, for they could not live there by reason of the multitude of musketoes that was there, and when they went from thence, they called it Muskeeteburgh. Passaiung, was the commander Swen Skute's donation, and under that was Korsholm fort situated. But after Governeur John Printz went to Sweed land, it was quitted by the Sweeds, and afterwards burnt and ruined by the Indians. Manaijung, that is, Skoolkill fort, this was a handsome little fort built of loggs with sand and stones, filled up betwixt the loggs, and pallisadoes cut very sharp towards the top; he laid four miles from Christiana; east he was mounted with great guns, as well as the other forts. The forts are all situated by the water side. Chinsessing* was called the new fort. This was no fort, but good strong log houses, built of good strong hard hickory, two stories high, which was a fort good and strong enough to secure themselves from the Indians. For what signifieth a fort when the people therein boast of the strength of the place, and do not crave for God's assistance. And there lived five freemen who plough, sow, plant, and manure the land, and they lived very well there, for the governeur had settled them there. Karrahung stream or water mill; by this place is a strong stream, and hath extraordinary conve The township is now called Kingsess. niences to build mills there, and the government caused a mill to be built there. [Here are two leaves torn out of the printed history.] to repair their forts, they had not money to go through with as they should have done, and besides the Swedish ships that were sent for to bring them relief were in their journey to America, by the Spaniards hindered, which was done in favour to the emperor and the king of Poland, as the famous Doctor Johannes Loccenius relates in his history, page 556; and with this occasion the Dutch did not sit idle but envied the Sweeds. However it happened that the few Dutch that seated by Virginia and New Sweeden, they raised in opposition against the Sweeds, seeking to get their forts again as they formerly had, which difference was, in the year 1654, reconciled by the governor, John Rysing, with the Dutch commander, Peter Styvesant; but for all that the Dutch broke their faith and promises, and in the following year, the 30th of August, from the north river, Manhattan or New Amsterdam, so called, with seven ships and vessels, they being about 600 or 700 men aboard, these vessels under the command of the aforesaid Styvesant, and without any just cause or provocation given by the Sweeds, in the south river or New Sweedland, they unjustly attacked. They took first their quarters the first night at Elsburgh, where they took some freemen prisoners, the next day they sailed, then sailed by the Holy Trinity fort, and landed up at the point,* and there they made an entrenchment, and presently went to the fort and demanded up the fort, with abundance of threatenings what he would do; and Swen Scute, after some treaty with the enemy, the Dutch, with Now Gloucester Point. J. M. and in a fraudulent way got the fort, and contrary to what was promised, caused the officers in the fort to be put in arrest, and carried all the soldiers aboard of the vessel, securing all places with soldiers, they taking down the Sweed's flagg and put up their own. Since Styvesant for such a small price had gotten the fort, which was a key for New Sweeden, and was well provided with men and ammunition, then the 2d of September they besieged Christiana, together with the town, Christiana harbour, as the ingenier laid out; and then they went and destroyed New Gottenburgh, together with the housing that were without the fort, with their plantations, plundering the inhabitants of what they could come at, killed their cattle. Therefore the Sweeds after 14 days siege, proposing several ways that he should not treat them after a hostile manner, but all would not do, and they were obliged to surrender the fort for want of powder and ammunition. But with this accord, that all the great guns that belonged to the crown and the company they should again be restored, and there was an inventory taken of them. Then the Sweeds marched out of the fort, with their arms, flying colours, drums and pipes, and burning matches, and the Dutch they then took possession of the fort, tore down the Sweedish flagg, and put up the Dutch colours. The officers and the principal people were taken in arrest, and carried to Manhaten or New Amsterdam, and from thence to Holland, but the common people submitted themselves under the Dutch and remained in the country. Which governor John Rysing and Peter Lindstrom gives a further and exacter relation of. END OF VOLUME II. |