PATROONS AND LORDS OF THE MANOR 45
the Director-General at New Amsterdam. It is
true, Peter Minuit, the first important Director,
was removed in 1632 by the Company for unduly
favoring the patroons; and Van Twiller, another
Director and a nephew of Van Rensselaer by
marriage, was not disposed to antagonize his
relative; but when Van Twiller was replaced by
Kieft, and he in turn by Stuyvesant, the horizon
at Rensselaerswyck grew stormy. In 1643 the
patroon ordered Nicholas Coorn to fortify Beeren
or Bears Island, and to demand a toll of each ship,
except those of the West India Company, that
passed up and down the river. He also required
that the colors on every ship be lowered in passing
Rensselaer's Stein or Castle Rensselaer, as the fort
on the steep little island was named.
Govert Loockermans, sailing down the river one
day on the ship Good Hope, failed to salute the flag,
whereupon a lively dialogue ensued to the follow*
ing effect, and not, we may be assured, carried on
in low or amicable tones:
Coorn: "Lower your colors!"
Loockermans: "For whom should I?"
Coorn: "For  the  staple-right  of  Rensselaers-
wyck."
Loockermans:  "I lower my colors for no one