Free 1633:The Danish Scheme by Eric Flint Page A

the word  here  . As the turmoil started to settle, he spoke up. "I think the captain has something to add."
    "Thank you,  Mijnherr . New Amsterdam is a wonderful city, but it is undefendable. Any force that is sent will have naval support  and  troops. The frontier forts at home work because the Spanish only attack from one direction. Here, an attacker can land troops on one side of the town, sail around the island and land troops at a second site, and then bombard the fort from a third. The  Friesland  and the Rotterdam  cannot and will not be tied down to defend a city that cannot be saved." Tjaert tried to drive that point home as hard as he could. These tight fisted patroons would never  pay  enough to match the prize money his crews could make raiding the French and English. Raiding also hurt the enemy a lot more!
    "But what choice do we have?" exclaimed a patroon in the back of the crowd. "I'll do whatever I must to defend my home, but I need to know what that is!"
    "I'm glad you asked." De Groot's smile looked a lot like the one the mouse saw on the cat that had caught it. "Your house is near Orange?"
    The patroon just nodded yes.
    "While New Amsterdam is undefendable, the colony  is  defendable, but only upriver. If any fortifications are to be built, the effort must be made there. I've spoken with a number of traders and took the Friesland  to scout the site in person. About twenty-five miles north, there is a spot along the river that's ideal for a fort. It's on high ground and could be defended from water attack with a log boom. Our fregätten  are offensive weapons. We can do more good raiding the French and English shipping than sitting at anchor. We will work out of New Amsterdam and will fight if the enemy appears while we're in port, but the colony must be prepared to abandon the city if a large force appears."
    Three merchants were immediately on their feet shouting for recognition. The Director General cut them off. "I understand your concern. We cannot possibly abandon the city now. It's the dead of winter. Captain, you must reconsider."
    Tjaert just stared at him.
    Van Rensselaer stood up. "If I might make a suggestion." Everyone turned to Kiliaen, because he had given no indication to that point where he stood. "Wouter is right. It is the dead of winter." He turned to face de Groot and gave a slight wink that went unnoticed by the group. "Captain de Groot, shipping off the Banks is slim this time of year. One ship should be more than enough to handle what's there. The other one can stay in port, finish refitting, and act as an additional defense for the colony. They can trade places by spring and we would be able to finish refitting both your ships completely, at our expense.” Wouter winced when he realized what that statement meant to his purse. “Then, when the shipping season resumes, you both could cruise for prizes." He clasped his hands on the table. "In the meantime, construction of the fort you suggested could be started. Since it will benefit my manor upriver, I'd be willing to supply the land and pay for the work through the winter. We could revisit the issue in the spring. Who knows? We may even get good news and find our fears were unfounded. If the French never come, we keep our expenses down. I also think an embassy to our investors back home would be in order. After all, the charter does require them to help in our defense."
    The city merchants nearly fell over themselves in support. Tjaert and Kiliaen looked at each other and nodded. Their plan had gone exactly as they had hoped. Tjaert would get his base for raiding and Kiliaen a base if the French ever came and possibly men, guns, and money to bolster defenses around his lands. It would also cover up his nephew’s misappropriation of the fort’s building funds.

Chapter 7
    December 1633, Copenhagen  
    Luke sighed as he, John Barrow, and Factor Bamberg entered the shop of Gammel Bundgaard. Three fruitless weeks of