A History of New York (54 page)

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Authors: Washington Irving

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39
Both the gibbets as mentioned above by our author, may be seen in the sketch of Justus Danker, which we have prefixed to the work.—EDITOR.
40
Haz. Collect. S. Pap.
41
Certain of Wilhelmus Kieft's Latin letters are still extant in divers collections of state papers.
42
The old welsh bards believed that king Arthur was not dead but carried awaie by the fairies into some pleasant place, where he shold remaine for a time, and then returne againe and reigne in as great authority as ever.—HOLLINGSHED. The Britons suppose that he shall come yet and conquere all Britaigne, for certes this is the prophicye of Merlyn—He say'd that his deth shall be doubteous; and said soth, for men thereof yet have doubte and shullen for ever more—for men wyt not whether that he lyveth or is dede.—DE LEEW. CHRON.
43
See the histories of Masters Josselyn and Blome.
44
Haz. Col. Stat. pap.
45
Quum prorepserunt primis animalia terris, Mutum ac turpe pecus, glandem atque cubilia propter, Unguibus et pugnis, dein fustibus, atque ita porro Pugnabant armis, quæ post fabricaverat usus. Hor. Sat. L. i. S 3.
46
In an antique view of Nieuw Amsterdam, taken some few years after the above period, is an accurate representation of this wall, which stretched along the course of
Wall-street,
so called in commemoration of this great bulwark. One gate, called the
Land-poort
opened upon Broadway, hard by where at present stands the Trinity Church; and another called the
Water-poort,
stood about where the Tontine coffee house is at present—opening upon
Smits
Vleye, or as it is commonly called Smith fly; then a marshy valley, with a creek or inlet, extending up what we call maiden lane.
47
Haz. Col. S. Pap.
48
New Plymouth record.
49
Mather's hist. N. Eng B. 6. ch. 7.
50
Ballad of Drag. of Want.
51
“——as soon as he rose,
To make him strong and mighty,
He drank by the tale, six pots of ale,
And a quart of Aqua Vitæ.”
52
Domine Hans Megapolensis, treating of the country about Albany in a letter which was written some time after the settlement thereof, says, “There is in the river, great plenty of Sturgeon, which we christians do not make use of; but the Indians eate them greedilie.”
53
This was likewise the great seal of the New Netherlands, as may still be seen in ancient records.
54
Besides what is mentioned by the Stuyvesant MS. I have found mention made of this illustrious Patroon in another manuscript, which says: “De Heer (or the Squire) Michael Paw, a dutch subject, about 10th Aug. 1630, by deed purchased Staten Island. N. B. The same Michael Paw had what the dutch call a colonie at Pavonia, on the Jersey shore opposite New York, and his overseer in 1636, was named Corns. Van Vorst—a person of same name in 1769, owned Pawles Hook, and a large farm at Pavonia, and is a lineal descendant from Van Vorst.”
55
So called from the Navesink tribe of Indians that inhabited these parts—at present they are erroneously denominated the Neversink, or Neversunk mountains.
56
I. E. The
Winding Bay
, named from the winding of its shores. This has since been corrupted by the vulgar into the
Wallabout,
and is the basin which shelters our infant navy.
57
De Vriez, makes mention in one of his voyages of
Corlears Hoek,
and
Corlears Plantagie,
or
Bouwery;
and that too, at an earlier date than the one given by Mr. Knickerbocker—De Vriez, is no doubt a little incorrect in this particular. EDITOR.
58
The formidable fortress and metropolis to which Mr. Knickerbocker alludes, is at present a flourishing little town called Christiana, about thirty seven miles from Philadelphia, on your route to Baltimore.—EDITOR.
59
This castle though very much altered and modernized is still in being. And stands at the corner of Pearl Street, facing Coentie's slip.
60
In a work published many years after the time of which Mr. Knickerbocker treats (in 1701. By C. W. A. M.) it is mentioned “Frederick Philips was counted the richest Mynheer in New York, and was said to have
whole hogsheads of Indian money or wampum;
and had a son and daughter, who according to the Dutch custom should divide it equally.” EDITOR.
61
We find very curious and wonderful accounts of these strange people (who were doubtless the ancestors of the present Marylanders) made by master Hariot, in his interesting history. “The Susquesahanocks”—observes he, “are a giantly people, strange in proportion, behavour and attire—their voice sounding from them as if out a cave. Their tobacco pipes were three quarters of a yard long, carved at the great end with a bird, beare, or other device, sufficient to beat out the braines of a horse, (and how many asses braines are beaten out, or rather men's braines smoaked out and asses brains haled in, by our lesser pipes at home.) The calfe of one of their legges was measured three quarters of a yard about, the rest of his limbs proportionable.” Master Hariot's Journ ... Purch. Pil.
62
This Luyck, was moreover, rector of the Latin school in Nieuw Nederlandt, 1663. There are two pieces of verses to Ægidius Luyck in D. Selyn's MSS. of poesies, upon his marriage with Judith Van Isendoorn. Old MS.
63
Now called Blooming Dale, about four miles from New York.
64
For certain of the particulars of this ancient negociation see Haz. Col. State Pap. It is singular that Smith is entirely silent with respect to the memorable expedition of Peter Stuyvesant above treated of by Mr. Knickerbocker. EDITOR.
65
A corruption of Top-paun; so called from a tribe of Indians which boasted 150 fighting men. See Ogilvie. EDITOR.
66
Smith's History of N. Y.

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