[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] destroyed the cattle; they would let the little brewery of their Dutch friends stand, although they longed for the copper kettle to make barbs for their arrows.1 The Dutch were thrown into great consternation and fled to Fort Amsterdam for protection, with bitter upbraidings on their lips against the director. He met them defiantly at first, and professed to have been controlled by the wishes of Andriaensen; but the latter denied the assertion, and carried his determination to escape the popular condemnation into an attempt upon the life of the director.2 But the accumulating evidences of desolation brought ruler and people to repentance. For that mercy which he had refused to extend to the helpless Indians, Kieft besought the people to ask of the Most High, and to that end appointed a day of fasting and prayer, in his proclamation confessing that the calamities which had overtaken them was doubtless owing to the sins which he and his people had committed. While the latter humbled themselves before God, they had little charity in their hearts for the direct author of their calamities, and asked one another, u Did ever the Huke of Alba do more evil in the Netherlands ? " Matters assumed a more favorable aspect in the spring.