Translation
Power of attorney from William de Key to Jeronimus La Croix, Jr, to collect money from the West India Company
Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Willem de Key, late supercargo on board the Neptunes, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses, appoints and empowers, as he does hereby, Jeronimus La Croix, the younger, residing at Amsterdam, to demand and collect in his name from the honorable directors of the Chartered West India Company, chamber at Amsterdam, the sum of one hundred and sixty-six guilders, five stivers, earned by him on the ship Neptunes, Jan Symonsz, master; which aforesaid sum being received from the above mentioned directors by La Croix, he is empowered to execute a discharge, acting therein as he, the principal, could or might do, were he present, [ the principal promising to ] hold valid what shall be transacted and performed herein by the attorney. To this end[1] the original record hereof is signed by Willem de Key and the witnesses hereto invited. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 20th of September A°. 1644[2].