"Not satisfied," writes O'Callaghan,
"his persecutors had him lifted up. The negro again beat him
until he fell a second time, after receiving, as was
estimated, one hundred blows. Notwithstanding all this, he
was kept, in the heat of the sun, chained to the
wheelbarrow, his body bruised and swollen, faint from want
of food, until at length he could no longer support himself
and he was obliged to sit down.
"The night found him again in his cell, and the morrow at
the wheelbarrow, with a sentinel over him, to prevent all
conversation. On the third day he was again led forth,
chained as before. He still refused to work, for he 'had
committed no evil.' He was then led anew before the
director-general, who ordered him to work, otherwise he
should be whipt every day. He was again chained to the
barrow and threatened, if he should speak to any person,
with more severe punishment. But not being able to keep him
silent, he was taken back to his dungeon, where he was kept
several days, 'two nights and one day and a half of which
without bread or water.'
"The rage of persecution was still unsatiated. He was now
removed to a private room, stripped to his waist, and then
hung up to the ceiling by his hands, with a heavy log of
wood tied to his feet, so that he could not turn his body. A
strong negro then commenced lashing him with rods until his
flesh was cut in pieces. Now let down, he was thrown again
into his loathsome dungeon, where he was kept ten days, in
solitary confinement, after which he was brought forth to
undergo a repetition of the same barbarous torture. He was
now kept like a slave to hard work."
His case eventually excited so much compassion that Stuyvesant's sister interfered, and implored her brother so importunately that he was at last induced to liberate the unfortunate man. Let a firm Quaker resolve that he will not do something, and let a Governor Stuyvesant resolve that he shall do it, and it is indeed "Greek meeting Greek."
Henry Townsend, of Jamaica, ventured to hold prayer-meetings in his house, in defiance of the ordinance against conventicles. The governor sentenced him to pay a fine of eight pounds and to leave the province within six weeks, under pain of corporeal punishment. This sentence was followed by a proclamation, fining any one fifty pounds who should entertain a Quaker for a single night, and confiscating any vessels which should bring a Quaker to the province.
The inhabitants of Flushing, where Townsend had formerly resided, and where he was very highly respected, issued a noble remonstrance to Governor Stuyvesant against this persecution of their former townsman.
The remonstrance was drawn up by the town clerk, Edward Hart, and was signed by all the adult male inhabitants, twenty-nine in number. The memorial said:
"We are commanded by the law of God to do good unto all men.
The law of love, peace and liberty, extending in the state
to Jews, Turks and Egyptians, forms the glory of Holland. So
love, peace and liberty extending to all in Christ Jesus,
condemn hatred, war and bondage. We desire not to offend one
of Christ's little ones under whatever form, name or title
he may appear, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or
Quaker. On the contrary we desire to do to all as we could
wish all to do to us. Should any of those people come in
love among us, we cannot lay violent hands upon them. We
must give them free ingress and egress into our houses."
This remonstrance was carried to New Amsterdam by Tobias Feake, and presented to the governor. His indignation was roused. Feake was arrested and committed to prison. The sheriff was sent to Flushing to bring Hart and two of the magistrates, Farrington and Noble, to the presence of the enraged governor. It was a fearful thing to fall into his hands when his wrath was inflamed. They were imprisoned for some time, and were then released upon their humbly imploring the pardon of the governor, expressing their deep regret that they had signed the remonstrance and promising that they would sin in that way, no more. The town itself was punished by the prohibition in future of all town meetings, without the permission of the governor. Indeed the mass of the settlers were no longer to decide upon their local affairs, but a committee of seven persons was to decide all such questions. All who were dissatisfied with these arrangements were ordered to sell their property and leave the town.
It is not necessary to continue the record of this disgraceful persecution. The governor was unrelenting. Whoever ventured to oppose his will felt the weight of his chastising hand.
New Amsterdam consisted of wooden houses clustered together. The danger from fire was very great. The governor imposed a tax of a beaver skin, or its equivalent upon each householder to pay for two hundred and fifty leather fire buckets and hooks and ladders, to be procured in Holland. He also established a "rattle watch" to traverse the streets from nine o'clock in the evening until morning drum-beat.