[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] Hitherto and until we receive further information from your HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 601 Honors, we decline their proposal, inasmuch as we know not whether it would be well or ill received. I only request your Honors to take this matter into your further consideration, and to communicate to us your opinion thereupon by the earliest opportunity, etc. Appe?idix 8. Received 28 January, 1656. Secret. Extract of the letter of Gerrit Bicker, Commandant of Fort Casimier, to Petrus Stuy vesant, Director General in New Netherland, without date and signature. Yesterday, the 7"" June, your Honor's very welcome letter was handed to me by Lourens Hansen, to which this shall serve as answer. On the last of May, I descried a sail, but not knowing what it was, sent Adriaen van Tienhoven in company with some free men to ascertain the particulars; who unexpectedly returned hither on the next day about two hours before the ship, with intelligence, that she was a Swedish vessel full of people with a new Governor, and that he will have this place and fort, as it stood on ground belonging to the Crov^n, as they alleged; about an hour after this news, came Captain Swen Schote with the ship's boat and about twenty soldiers, who on coming up, I welcomed as friends, judging that if he wished to attempt anything, he would at least give notice. But on the contrary, he made his men come quickly in with him, and at the