Translation
Declaration of Jan Francen that Abraham Planck tore off a placard posted on the gate of Fort Amsterdam
[ Before ] me, Cornelis van Tienh[ oven ][ , secretary ] residing in New Netherland for the Chartered West India [ Company ], appeared Jan F[ ra ]ncen from Rotterdam, soldier, aged about 24 years, who at the request of Cornelis van [ der ] Hoykens, fiscal, testifies and attests, as he hereby does, in place and with promise of a solemn oath if need be, that it is true and truthful that he on last Monday, the seventh of April, stood as a sworn soldier on guard in Fort Amsterdam where he, the sentinel, saw Abraham Planck tear off the placard which was posted on the gate of the fort, as he, Planck, was going out of the fort. All of which the deponent declares to be true and truthful. Thus done the 12th of April anno 1642, in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.