He went in person, with some officers, to the chamber of Van Der Donck, when he was absent, seized his papers, and then caused him to be arrested and imprisoned.

The Vice Director, Van Diricklagen, accompanied by a delegation from the people, protested against these proceedings, and demanded that Van Der Donck should be released from captivity and held on bail.  Stuyvesant refused, saying that the prisoner was arrested, “for calumniating the officers of government; that his conduct tended to bring the sovereign authority into contempt.”  Van Der Donck was punished by banishment from the council and from the board of Nine Men.

Just before this, two prominent men, Kuyter and Melyn, demanded an appeal to the people in reference to some act of Kieft’s reckless administration.  Stuyvesant took the alarm.  If the people could judge of Kieft’s administration, his own might be exposed to the same ordeal.  Convening a special council, he said,

“These petitioners are disturbers of the public peace.  If we grant their request, will not the cunning fellows, in order to usurp over us a more unlimited power, claim even greater authority against ourselves, should it happen that our administration may not square in every respect with their whims.  It is treason to petition against one’s magistrate whether there be cause or not.”

The unfortunate petitioners were now arraigned on various charges.  The Governor and his subservient Council acted both as prosecutors and judges.  The prisoners were accused of instigating the war with the savages, of counselling the mortgaging of Manhattan to the English, and of threatening Kieft with personal violence.  The case was speedily decided and sentence was pronounced.  Stuyvesant wished Melyn to be punished with death and confiscation of property.  But the majority of the Council held back the Governor’s avenging hand.  Still he succeeded in sentencing Melyn to seven years’ banishment, to a fine of three hundred guilders, and to forfeit all benefits derived from the Company.  Kuyter was sentenced to three years’ banishment and to a fine of one hundred and fifty guilders.  They were also denied the right of appeal to the fatherland.

“If I were persuaded,” said the Governor, “that you would divulge our sentence, or bring it before their High Mightinesses, I would have you hanged at once, on the highest tree in New Netherland.”

Again he said, with characteristic energy, “If any one, during my administration, shall appeal, I will make him a foot shorter, and send the pieces to Holland and let him appeal in that way."[7]

Melyn and Kuyter being sent to Holland as criminals, did appeal to the home government; their harsh sentence was suspended; they were restored to all the rights of colonists of New Netherland, and Stuyvesant was cited to defend his sentence at the Hague.  When Melyn returned to Manhattan with these authoritative papers, a great tumult was excited.  Anxious that his triumph should be as public as his disgrace had been, he demanded that the Acts should be read to the people assembled in the church.  With much difficulty he carried his point.  “I honor the States and shall obey their commands,” said Stuyvesant, “I shall send an attorney to sustain the sentence.”