Translation
Lease from Michel Picet to Tonis Cray of a house near the fort on Manhattan Island
[ I ], Teuni[ s ] Cr[ ay ][ , acknowledge that I have hired from ] Michil Picet his house [ situated near ] Fort Amsterdam on the [ island of Manhattan ], for the term of one year commencing next Monday, being the 30th of August, [ for ] which I, Tonis Cray, shall pay as rent the sum of forty guilders, to wit, twenty guilders down next Monday when the lease commences, and the remaining twenty guilders when the year shall have expired; on condition that if Teunes Cray does not pay the twenty guilders next Monday, this contract shall be null and void. Also, if necessity require it, on account of enemies, Indians, or other untoward circumstances, Michil Picet shall be allowed to lodge in said house with his family and baggage, free and without objection from Tonis Cray, without deduction of rent. Likewise, Tonis Cray shall at his expense be bound to erect a stockade in the rear of the house, to lay in wood. Tonis Cray shall also plaster the house and make the roof tight, once, at his own expense. Thus done in good faith, the 28th of August anno 1643.