spiseth the Beetle Fiy; yet notwithstanding we do undauntedly con-
tinue on our purpose of pursuing our own right, by just arms and
righteous means, and doe hope without scruple to execute the express
commands of our superiors." ^* To show that this last sentence was
not a mere empty menace, he concluded his letter by intrepidly pro-
testing against the whole council, as a horde of squatters and inter-
lopers, inasmuch as they held their meeting at New Haven, or the
Red Hills, which he claimed as being within the province of the New
Netherlands.

Thus end the authenticated chronicles of the reign of William the
Testy--for henceforth, in the troubles, the perplexities, and the con-
fusion of the times, he seems to have been totally overlooked, and to
have slipped forever through the fingers of scrupulous history. In-
deed, for some cause or other which I cannot divine, there appears to
have been a combination among historians to sink his very name into
oblivion, in consequence of which they have one and all forborne even
to speak of his exploits. This shows how important it is for great
men to cultivate the favor of the learned, if they are ambitious of
honor and renown. "Insult not the dervise," said a wise caliph to
his son, "lest thou offend thine historian;" and many a mighty man
of the olden time, had he observed so obvious a maxim, might have
escaped divers cruel wipes of the pen, which have been drawn across
his character.

It has been a matter of deep concern to me, that such darkness and
obscurity should hang over the latter days of the illustrious Kieft--
for he was a mighty and great little man, worthy of being utterly
renowned, seeing that he was the first potentate that introduced into
this land the art of fighting by proclamation, and defending a coun-
try by trumpeters and windmills--an economic and humane mode of
warfare, since revived with great applause, and which promises, if it
can ever be carried into full effect, to save great trouble and treasure,
and spare infinitely more bloodshed than either the discovery of gun-
powder, or the invention of torpedoes.

It is true, that certain of the early provincial poets, of whom there
were great numbers in Nieuw Nederlandts, taking advantage of the
mysterious exit of William the Testy, have fabled, that like Romu-
lus, he was translated to the skies, and forms a very fiery little star,
somewhere on the left claw of the crab; while others, equally fanci-
ful, declare that he had experienced a fate similar to that of the good
King Arthur; who we are assured by ancient bards, was carried
away to the delicious abodes of fairy land, where he still exists, in
pristine worth and vigor, and will one day or another return to re-
store the gallantry, the honor, and the immaculate probity which
prevailed in the glorious days of the Round Table. ^†

-139-