100 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON

and contact with the universities, the pedagogue
was invited to turn to a rude settlement in the
primeval forest, where the Bible, the catechism,
and the concordance formed the greater part of
the literary wealth at his disposal, and to take
up the multiple duties of sexton, bell-ringer, pre-
centor, schoolmaster, consoler of the sick, and
general understudy for the domine. In return for
this he was to receive scanty wages in either cash or
public esteem.

What hardships were experienced by these early
schoolmasters in New Netherland we may under-
stand by reading the Reverential Request written by
Harmanus Van Hoboocken to the burgomasters and
schepens that he may be allowed the use of the hall
and side-chamber of the Stadt-Huys to accommo-
date his school and as a residence for his family,
as he has no place to keep school in or to live in
during the winter, for it is necessary that the rooms
should be made warm, and that cannot be done
in his own house. The burgomasters and schepens
replied that "whereas the room which petitioner
asks for his use as a dwelling and schoolroom is out
of repair and moreover is wanted for other uses it
cannot be allowed to him. But as the town youth
are doing so uncommon well now, it is thought