<2> Nevertheless, the remonstrance of the Eight Men, October
28, 1644, _N.Y. Coll. Doc._, I. 209, did cause the reform of
the system of provincial government and the recall of Kieft.

The Directors here, though far from their masters, were close
by their profit. They have always known how to manage their
own matters very properly and with little loss, yet under
pretext of the public business. They have also conducted
themselves just as if they were the sovereigns of the country.
As they desired to have it, so it always had to be; and as
they willed so was it done. "The Managers," they say, "are
masters in Fatherland, but we are masters in this land." As
they understand it it will go, there is no appeal. And it
has not been difficult for them hitherto to maintain this
doctrine in practice; for the people were few and for the
most part very simple and uninformed, and besides, they needed
the Directors every day. And if perchance there were some
intelligent men among them, who could go upon their own feet,
them it was sought to oblige. They could not understand at
first the arts of the Directors which were always subtle and
dark, so that these were frequently successful and occasionally
remained effective for a long time. Director Kieft said
himself, and let it be said also by others, that he was
sovereign in this country, or the same as the Prince in the
Netherlands. This was repeated to him several times here and
he never made any particular objection to it. The refusing
to allow appeals, and other similar acts, prove clearly that
in our opinion no other proof is needed. The present Director
does the same, and in the denial of appeal, he is also at
home. He likes to assert the maxim "the Prince is above the