THE DIRECTORS 81

Although the case of New Amsterdam was now
hopeless, Stuyvesant yet strove for delay. He
sent a deputation to Nicolls to carry on a parley;
but Nicolls was firm. "When may we visit you
again?" the deputation asked. Nicolls replied
with grim humor that he would speak with them
at Manhattan. "Friends are welcome there/'
answered Stuyvesant's representative diplomati-
cally; but Nicolls told them bluntly that he was
coming with ships and soldiers. "Hoist a white
flag at the fort/5 he said, "and I may consider
your proposals."

Colonel Nicolls was as good as his word and, to
the consternation of the dwellers in New Amster-
dam, the fleet of English frigates, under full sail
and with all guns loaded, appeared before the walls
of the useless old Fort Amsterdam. Stuyvesant
stood on one of the angles of the fort and the gun-
ners with lighted matches awaited his command
to fire. The people entreated him to yield. "Re-
sistance is not soldiership," said one of them. "It
is sheer madness." Stuyvesant, who with all his
faults was a brave soldier, felt to the quick the
humiliation; but he saw also that resistance meant
only useless bloodshed. At last he submitted, and
the English vessels sailed on their way unmolested,