[Illustration:  Stuyvesant Leaving Fort Amsterdam.]

When the English war-ships sailed up the bay, the town was ill-protected, and the people had no desire to resist, for Stuyvesant and the West India Company had been most strict, and they hoped to be more free under English rule.  Stuyvesant, with scarcely a supporter, stood firm and unyielding.  He had no thought of submitting to superior force.  “I would rather be carried out dead,” he exclaimed.  But when at length he realized that he was absolutely alone, and that there were no means of defence for the city, he surrendered.

On this same morning of September 8, 1664, Stuyvesant, with his head bowed sadly, marched at the head of his soldiers out of Fort Amsterdam, with flags flying and drums beating.  And the English soldiers, who had landed, and were waiting a little way off, entered the fort with their flags flying and their drums beating.

So the city of New Amsterdam became the city of New York, and the province of New Netherland became the province of New York, and Fort Amsterdam became Fort James—­all this in honor of James, Duke of York, who now came into possession.

Stuyvesant went to Holland to explain why he had surrendered New Netherland.  But he came back again, and years after he died in the little Bouwerie Village which he had built.  In St. Mark’s Church to this day may be seen a tablet which tells that the body of the last Dutch Governor lies buried there.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VII

New York under the English and the Dutch

So now the conquered province had come into the possession of the Duke of York, and Colonel Richard Nicolls, who was in command of the English soldiers, took charge.  This first English Governor appeared anxious to make all the people his friends.  He made Thomas Willett Mayor, and Willett being very popular, all the citizens rejoiced, and said the new Governor was a fine man.  During three years Colonel Nicolls humored the people so much that they were well satisfied.  At the end of that time he had grown tired of the new country, and asked to be relieved.  The people were really sorry when he returned to England and Francis Lovelace took his place.

Governor Lovelace did not get along so well.  He was a man of harsh manner, who did not have the patience or the inclination to flatter with fine promises.  Lovelace wanted everyone to understand that he was master.  Very soon, when the people said they thought they should have the right to control their own affairs, the Governor told them that he did not think it was best for them to have too much to do with the governing of the city.  But he did some things that pleased the people.  For one thing, he brought about the custom of having merchants meet once a week at a bridge which crossed Broad Street at the present Exchange Place.  There is no bridge there now, but in those days it was necessary, for Broad Street was a ditch which extended from the river almost to Wall Street.  But though the ditch has been filled up, and the bridge is gone, the locality has ever since been one where merchants have gathered.