the balance of the payment of the passage of the said Jews, for which each is bound in soudant." "Whereas, their goods sold thus far by vendue, do not amount to the payment of their obligations, it is, therefore, requested that one or two of the said Jews be taken as principal which, according to the aforesaid contract or obligation, cannot be refused. Therefore he hath taken David Israel and Moses Ambrosius as principal debtors for the remaining balance, with request that the same be placed in confinement until the ac count be paid." Jan exhibited the bonds of the Jews sealed with their big red seals and argued at length in an admirably technical manner of contract and covenants and judgments, quite con founding with learning the crowd of fellow citizens, and forcing even the Schout himself to admit;hat there was reason in his argu ment. The poor Jews sat silent and dis heartened all through his long speech, and when he had finished had never a technicality to answer back. They could only implore the mercy and the charity of the Court. And now hearken unto the judgment of the Most Worshipful Court: "The Court having weighed the petition of the plaintiff and seen the obligation wherein each is bound in solidiitn for the full payment, have consented to the plaintiff's request to place the aforesaid persons under civil ar rest (namely with the Provost Marshal) until they shall have made satisfaction." A condition was added at the suggestion of Herr Cornelis van Tienhoven, subtle and wise Schout; and note, too, the craft of this wily Dutchman who was keeper of the public moneys: "Provided, that he, la Motthe, shall pre viously answer for the board, which, is fixed at 1 6 stivers per diem for each prisoner and is ordered, that for this purposes 40-50 guilders, proceeding from the goods sold, shall remain in the hands of the Secretary, together with the expenses of this special
court. Done in Xev Amsterdam in New Netherlands." The sale was progressing slowly. In spite of the sale of their goods, of the cleverness of Jan, and of the decree of Court and of imprisonment, the Jews still could not pay their debts. Captain de la Motthe was anx ious to be off, the wind was holding fair, and the St. Catrina was ready to sail. Some of the Jews were still in prison. Autumn was almost over, and the October frosts brought dismal suffering to them all. Many lacked food. Some even had not proper shelter against the cold. It was bad enough for the men, but even worse for the women and children. Starved, weary and sick the situa tion was desperate, but there still survived an indomitable determination to struggle and strive again where they had failed so often before. Solomon Pietersen once more went to the sailors of the St. Catrina and moved their pity with tales of the woe and the suffering of the Jews, and persuaded them to wait until their return for payment of the balance of the passage money. No doubt Captain de la Motthe had had his share in full, so he was content to let his crew do what they pleased about the rest. At any rate, on the twenty-sixth day of October. 1654, "Solomon Pietersen appeared in Court and exhibited a declaration from the attorney of the sailors, relative to the balance of the freight of the Tews, promising to Avait until the arrival of the ships from Patria. Where fore he requests to receive the monies still in the Secretary's hands for Rycke Nun es. whose goods were sold, over and above her own freight debt, in order to obtain with that money support for her. Whereupon was endorsed: Petitioner Solomon Pieter sen as attorney was permitted to take, under security, the monies in the Secretary's hands." So begins the history of the Jews in New York, and thus ends in an act of kindness and charity this ancient tale of struggle and law.
