University of Virginia Library

3. CHAPTER III.
THE GOVERNOR'S DAUGHTER.

All these important measures for the
safety and defence of the town and Province
were carried into execution during
the day; thus showing that Jacob Leisler
carried to his responsible position an
energy and ability that could not have
been looked for from a mere merchant.
Still he felt that this ability was not so
much in himself as forced upon him by
the exigencies of the time. He felt that
he was inadequate to the high office
which had been thrust upon him; and
resolved so soon as he placed the affairs
of the Province in a safe position, at once
to surrender the reins of government to
abler and more experienced hands.

There were other men in the Province
who were every way capable, and perhaps
far better fitted for so high a post,
than Jacob Leisler. His fitness lay in
the fact that he, being a Hollander by
birth, represented the great majority of
the people, who were of Dutch extraction;
and also in his influence as a merchant,
his wealth, and his being of the
middle class of society, and thus nearer
to the people. He had made himself
what he was by industry and integrity;
and the people felt that he was one of
them. There were other Dutch gentlemen
of wealth in the Province and in the
town, such as the Stuyvesants, the Liv
ingstones, the Bayards, the Courtlandts;
but they were what were termed `court-men,'
that is aristocrats. And besides
Courtlandt, who was the Mayor at the
time of Nicholson's flight, was a Roman
Catholic. The two former, though protestants,
were not popular with the masses.
Jacob Leisler was therefore the man
of their hearts.

His elevation, therefore, could not fail
to create a third party, headed by these
men. Their envy and jealousy were aroused
to see a man raised from the middle
ranks, with the investure of a power
and authority that British noblemen had
hitherto held. Hence while Jacob Leisler,
yielding to the wishes of the majority,
was fortifying his position, and taking
measures to keep the province in government,
until a commissioned Governor
should be sent over by King William,
Bayard, Livingston and others, though
protestants like himself, and adherents to
the King, were secretly assembled in the
elegant mansion of Col. Bayard, which
was situated amid beautiful gardens facing
the Hudson, half a mile north of Trinity
Church, and plotting a plan to prevent
this accession of a mere merchant
to the supreme rule in the province.

Ignorant of this conspiracy, Jacob
Leisler passed the day in establishing order
and the outline of government; and
so closely had he given himself to these
fatiguing duties that the day had nearly
closed before he felt at liberty to quit the
citadel and seek his own abode.

At length, when he went forth from
the fortress for this purpose, the most
perfect order prevailed. But few persons
were seen on the green, and these perfectly
peaceable and without arms; and
he even saw several of the Roman Catholic
citizens walking abroad; for after he
had established order in the town he had
issued a proclamation that every Roman
Catholic, who would wear upon his hat

a yellow ribbon, in token of adherence to
the Prince of Orange, should be unmolested,
and retain all the privileges of citizenship.
Many of the catholics of the
humbler class had done this, and in every
direction the Orange badge met his eyes,
though not in great numbers, but sufficient
as he thought to assure him that
he would have no serious difficulty with
this portion of his fellow citizens.—
The more influential portion of the catholics,
however, appeared not in the
streets, and especially the Mayor Courtlandt
and his Council, to whom Leisler,
about noon, had sent a formal messenger,
courteously calling upon them to acknowledge
the authority of William and Mary.
To this message Courtlandt sent back a
reply in these words:

`It is a question whether we should
have felt it our duty to recognise a Governor,
commissioned by the usurper himself.
You will, therefore, not expect us
to acknowledge the authority of an usurper
under an usurper. We defy your
power, and shall resist to the best of our
ability.'

To this firm refusal to recognise him,
Leisler made no other reply than proclaiming
amnesty and friendship to every Roman
Catholic who would wear the Orange
ribbon. This proved to be a sagacious
policy; for among the Romans
were many whose interests were paramount
to their love for the church, and
who felt no compunctions of conscience
in following the dictates and promptings
of the former.

Jacob Leisler did not leave the fort
to go to his house, where Bertha was
anxiously waiting his return, without a
suitable body-guard. This consisted of
eight men well armed, exclusive of Slems
Van Vow, who walked by his side, a belt
girded about his waist, or rather across
his abdomen, holding a brace of Spanish
pistolets, while in his hand was grasped
the formidable terror-inspiring foe which
had excited the merriment of Bertha Leisler.

As the new Captain-General or Governor
passed along the streets in the direction
of his habitation, he was cordially
and respectfully greeted by all passersby,
also by the citizens, who, with their
families, were gathered at that evening
hour upon their stoops. Every man felt
that the merchant had taken upon himself
the control of affairs wholly to oblige
them, and not from any personal ambition.
They understood the difficulties of
his position, and felt that he should command
both their reverence and sympathy,
as well as he had won their confidence.

The Governor acknowledged the kind
respect of his fellow-citizens with a smile,
and occasionally stopped to exchange a
word with some more substantial citizen,
who rose from his stoop to do him honor
as he walked by, with his guard tramping
behind. As they came near Maiden
lane, where he dwelt, a man passed him,
and as he did so, jostled Slemns, rudely
and rebelliously remarking, that `he
would wear no devil's livery to please any
man; and he who laid hands upon him
would come off the worst.' With these
words he was moving on.

`That fellow is a Catholic; I well
know him,' cried the burgomaster. `Ten
men follow him, and seize him and hold
him fast till I cut him down for daring to
insults the Governor's excellencies, and
rub against me, the Governor's sons-in-laws.'

Four of the guard were about to turn
back after the bold Papist, who was well
known to be a fearless, reckless bravo;
but Jacob Leisler said calmly,

Hold, soldiers! Let him pass on his
way. It is better I should receive a few
words, than that the peace of the town
should be broken, as it will be if there is

any collision with the Papists. It becomes
us to be moderate and forgiving,
if we would sustain our authority.'

`But the fellows have now yellows
ribbon, most excellent Governors!' cried
Slems, looking fiercely after the man,
who had stood still a few yards off, and
looked back, as if waiting them and defying
them.

`Peace, Mynheer Burgomaster,' said
Jacob Leisler. `That man would not
have done this, if he had not others to
sustain him at hand. Let it pass. This
shows me, however, that we must be on
the watch, for the conduct of this man
proceeds not from himself, but from instigators.'

`Do you thinks so, Governors?' demanded
Slens, with alarm.

`Yes,' answered the Governor, as they
walked forward; `I have no doubt that if
I should give orders to arrest that man,
that a hundred Catholics would, as it
were, rise out of the ground to aid him
with their arms.'

`Let us quicken our march, good
Mynheer Leisler, for it is getting late,
and the fair Bertha will weary waiting
for you.'

With these words the burgomaster
walked rapidly forward, looking carefully
about him, as if expecting an enemy at
every step. Jacob, however, walked at
the same pace, and at length came to
the door of his mansion. Bertha, who
had been standing upon the stoope, eagerly
observing him as he approached, and
only prevented by maidenly propriety, in
the presence of so many men about, from
bounding forward to meet him, now
threw her arm about his neck and welcomed
him with the greatest joy.

`Thanks to God, dear father, that I
see you home in safety after this day's
dangers!'

`Heaven bless you, little one!' he
said with parental affection, as he return
ed her kisses with one upon her bright
brow.

`And now, Berthas, have you no welcomes
for me?' said the burgomaster,
smiling with that imperturable self-satisfaction
that never deserted him.

`Put away that dreadful sword,' she
said, with a mischievous light in her
mirthful eye. `How can you alarm a
maiden with coming near her in such
a warlike guise?'

`Bless me! I forgots, lovey; for being
so used to wars, I knew not that I
had it in my hand! I know womens are
timid; they have nerves. I have nones.
Take this swords, two of you, and keeps
it so that none of the boys shall finger it.
Stand back, youngsters, and come not
so near the excellent Governor's presence.
`Now, light of my eyes,' he cried,
turning round with his arms extended, as
if he would fold his bride elect to his
heart; but to his surprise she had vanished
into the house, taking her father
with her.

`Soldiers!' said Slems, in no wise discomfited,
and addressing the body-guard,
who were a fine-looking set of soldiers,
commanded by Sergeant Graff, `you will
remains without here untils orders from
his excellencys. You will see that no
Papist goes past without the Orange ribbons.
You will disperse these boys, who
seem to have no fear of the great warlike
doings that has been done this days, but
laughs in the faces of warlikes captains.'

With these words the burgomaster entered
the house, passing through a file of
young girls, the daughters of the principal
Dutch citizens in the neighborhood,
who, with an indefinable sort of sympathy,
had gathered at her house, as if she
could extend to them that protection and
countenance which her influential father
was conferring upon the town and province.
Their manner had very much
changed towards Bertha since the accession

of her father to the supreme rule in
the colony had become known. They restrained
their former frank familiarity,
and kept it under by an air of respect
that had no other effect upen her than to
make her experience a painful feeling of
restraint. The burgomaster also experienced
the same sensations of awe when
he entered the parlor and beheld Bertha
seated by her father's side. He seemed
to realise all at once that there sat the
Governor of the province and the daughter
of the Governor of the province.—
Then came the idea that to this daughter
of the Governor he, Slems Van Vow,
burgomaster, was betrothed in marriage
prospective. Hereupon he began to realise
fully the dignity of his own elevation
as prospective son-in-law to the Governor
of the province.

With these feelings swelling in his
bosom, he entered the room where sat
Jacob Leisler and Bertha interchanging
alone their grateful congratulations; not
upon his elevation, for he coveted it not,
and she thought not of it as elevating her
above the maidens of the land; for Bertha
had no pride nor selfishness. She
loved her father with alll her heart, and
as cordially despised, if she could despise
what she could laugh at, the self-satisfied,
vain, and ridiculous fat little burgomaster,
to whom her father, with singular
and unaccountable weakness was strongly
attached and coveted for his son-in-law.
To prevent offending, or rather grieving
her father, the light hearted maiden received
the attentions of the young citizen,
making up her mind that she would so
demean herself in his presence that he
would be happy to cry a-mercy and beg
Jacob Leisler to absolve him `from all
ambitions towards his daughter.'

But Slems was of a composition not
easily affected by wit raillery, laughter
or ridicule. He had not delicacy of perception
sufficient to take or comprehend
an inuendo. He never saw a double meaning
in words. He was unable to draw
an inference the most palpable He stood
upon the broad basis of his own low
Dutch platform, and saw every thing upon
the same level. Every thing was to
him as it seemed. Bertha appeared to him
to be very much pleased with him, for
she laughed at every thing he said, and
was always merry in his company. But
he was too matter-of-fact to see that he
was the cause and object of her mirthfulness;
that she looked upon him, not as a
dignified lover, as he conceived himself
to be, but in the light of an over grown,
good-natured poodle, too large to pet yet
not too ludicrous in its attempts at puppy
antics, to afford amusement.

More than a year had the burgomaster
been a diligent and devoted suitor of the
beautiful maiden, spending every Sunday
evening regularly at her house; but
always she was sure to be provided with
a fun-loving lass from her acquaintance,
so that, if we may credit Slems' account,
the evenings went off merrilys and wit
great pleasurables. Never had she met
him alone; and as he was by no means
an individual of great courage either in
love or war, he doubtless felt it a great
relief to have a third person present, to
keep him in countenance; for in the end
he knew she was to be his vrow, this being
a settled matter, and so courting
alone was quite a superfluous agitation
of his nervous system Every Sunday,
therefore, Slems would go to the merchant's,
sit the evening and looking at
Bertha in that sort of pleased selfish way
which a purchaser of a very fine animal
who was not to be delivered to him till a
certain day, would walk over to gaze by
the hour upon it and congratulate himself
in his bargain. There is no question
but that Slems loved the maiden, so far
as he was capable of loving, and that any
thing which should prevent the marriage,

which was to take place the nineteenth
of June, would touch his heart grievously.
Jacob Leisler would also take such
an event severely, as he felt that Mynheer
Van Vrow, though not gifted by nature
with extraordinary talents, was a
young gentleman of good character, fair
temper, and of handsome substance, and
better calculated, in his belief, to render
his daughter happy through life, than any
of the gay gallants of the former royal
governor's suit who used to hang around
her steps and boldly compliment her upon
her beauty.

`I congratulates you, fair daughters of
the governor,' said Slems as he entered
the parlor; and bowing with respect to
both. `I feel honored by my intimacys
with the familys of such distinguished
peoples; I never expected, Mynheer Leisler
to be the son-in-law of the ruler of
the Province.'

`You need not congratulate me, my
good burgomaster,' answered Jacob Leisler,
`I am, it is true, invested with the
power in the land, but until it is confirmed
by the new King, I am little better
than an usurper. Still the reins must be
in some one's hands, and as the citizens
have placed them in mine, I do not feel
at liberty to lay them down. I shall act
for the King to the best of my ability.'

`I feel, dear father,' said Bertha, `that
this is an unfortunate day for you. I
would rather the people had placed the
authority in some other hand. You have
fierce spirits and bold to contend with
already. If rumor speaks the truth, there
is, besides the catholics, a strong Protestant
party forming against you, headed
by the Mayor Courtlandt and colonel
Bayard.'

`Most brave Governors, give me the
authoritys, and I will at once and commands
Sergeant Graffs to go and arrests
these traitors, and put them into confinements
in the citadels. Fear not, lovely
Bertha. I will stand between thy father
and danger.'

`If you stood near him with your sword
in your hand, I fear you would do him
more harm than his foes,' answered Bertha,
with a smile.

`We can't take any steps against our
own religious friends, though they politically
oppose us,' answered the Governor.
`We must conciliate. With my consent
there shall be no civil broil. Now, good
burgomaster, if you will remain without
with the guard until I come, you will oblige
me, as I desire some private conference
with my daughter.'

`Allow me to salutes thee, fair Berthas!'
said the young burgomaster approaching;
`it will inspires me with valors!'

`You need no inspiration, Mynheer;
you would be dangerous with more courage
than you have.'

`That is a rare compliments to me. I
know I am a brave mans, and all I desires
is that I may have some occasions
in these bloody times to show you that I
can protects beauty.'

The burgomaster then bowed as low
as his little round paunch would permit,
and making a military salute with his
hand to the Governor left the room, and
walked to the street door. Around it
were assembled men and boys in great
numbers, some armed, a few having the
yellow ribbon in their hats. All were
gazing at the house, or at the small guard
of soldiers which were drawn up before
the door. They were quiet, and only
seemed waiting to see their Governor
again. A few of the men had swords
buckled to their sides, and one or two on
the skirts of the crowd leaned upon muskets;
for all had not yet returned their
arms to the beckets above their mantelpieces,
from which they had taken them
down in the morning.

`Dear father,' said Bertha, as soon as

the burgomaster left her alone with him,
now that you have restored peace to the
town, and established an outline of government
do, I implore you, send in at
once your resignation.'

`To whom shall I send it. There is
none in power to receive it.'

`To any one. To Col. Bayard; he
is a protestant and friend of the new
reign.'

`True; but he is an English partisan.
He and his friends are opposed to the
Dutch population. They are, too, in the
minority. If I should surrender the authority
to him, the people who invested
me with it, would wrest it from him by a
revolution, and I should be the first victim!
No; I can only surrender it to the
masses from whom I received it.

`Do it at once!' she cried earnestly.

`At the risk of anarchy and confusion
without parallel. They would perhaps
refuse to accept it, for they fairly forced
me to assume the power; or if they accepted
it it would be to quarrel for the
precedency among themselves till riot
and misrule would reign. There are,
perhaps, certain circumstances, which
combined, render me the most suitable
person just at this crisis to take this heavy
responsibility. I have assumed it, and
therefore, I must maintain it, let what be
the issue. For wisdom to rule I look to
the Ruler over all.'

`This is painful.' You will be exposed
to the malice of your enemies, both Papal
and protestant. But if you feel that
it is your duty, and that you can serve
your country by continuing in power until
a Governor arrives, I will no longer
object.'

`Thanks, sweet daughter. I feel that
to resign now, when all men seem to look
to me, would be treacherous.'

`Then, sir,' she said, after a moment
of reflection, `if such is your decision, I
beg you will, without delay, send an ad
dress to the throne of William and Mary,
acknowleding their power, and submitting
yourself to their authority and pleasure.
State the circumstances of the revolution
of this day, which has thrust the
government upon you, and assure their
majesties of your loyalty and humble devotion.
This step, taken at once will,
may be, get you the royal ear and favor
in advance of the protestant party headed
by Colonel Bayard and Mr. Livingston,
who will no doubt send news at once to
England, and so represent and color the
doings of to-day, that you will be looked
upon by the King as a rebel instead of a
useful and faithful servant of the crown.'

`My daughter, your words are full of
wisdom and experience. With such a
councillor I shall govern safely. What
you say is likely to prove true. My enemies
will not let slip the earliest occasion
to do me an injury, as you have said. I
will prepare it this night and despatch it
by the first ship.'

`Nay, sir! wait not for a ship to sail
from this port. Once a month a ship
goes to London from the town of Boston.
It lacks but five days to the day of her
departure. Bayard will have letters, if
not a messenger, in that ship to inform
against you. You must have an address
on board also.'

`It shall be done. I will despatch a
private postman on horseback by dawn
with my pacquet to the King.'

`Oh, that I were a youth, sir; I would
not only be its post-bearer but sail with
it in the ship, and in person reach the
King before all others, and lay it at his
feet!'

`You are a noble girl, Bertha. The
address shall be sent, and by a trusty
messenger,' answered her father, with
decision.