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The directors of the West India Company, chamber at Amsterdam, have covenanted and agreed with Adriaen Blommert that he shall be at liberty to sail with a certain ship called Prins Mourits from here direct to New Netherland, situated within the limits of the charter^[1], without previously touching at any other place, and there to discharge and dispose of his laden goods as he shall think best; on condition that on conveying there inland from one place to another, whether it be within the Company's jurisdiction, or to the English, he shall pay all such internal duty as is already imposed thereon in this country, as well as that which may be imposed by the governor and council there before the arrival of the ship; that he shall be bound to bring all his goods into the storehouses of the Company here, to be there inspected and, being stamped with the Company's mark, to convey them on board, having first promptly paid to the Company sixteen per cent of the true value of the aforesaid goods, over and above the custom house fees.^[2]

Also, that he remains bound, on arriving there, to discharge all his goods into the Company's warehouses at the Manhatans, without removing them or any of them again on board out of the warehouses there and promptly to pay there to the director one per cent of the true value thereof, bringing with him a proper receipt for the payment. Furthermore, he must come with his ship and return cargo to this country to the place whence he departed and discharge the goods into the Company 's warehouse and pay to the chamber here eight per cent of all the return cargo and goods for the homeward voyage, in addition to the custom house fees. All on pain of forfeiting the ship and goods in case the above mentioned Adriaen Blommert or any of his men shall be found to have acted contrary hereto, and with this reservation also, in order to prevent all future differences with one another, that in case it should happen that the cargo which he takes with him could not be wholly disposed of in New Motherland and he be obliged to proceed to the English Virginias, he shall then be bound to pay to the Company here on all the tobacco procured in trade in New Netherland, the English Virginias or else where, as import duty on said tobacco, one and one quarter stivers per pound, in addition to the eight per cent duty hereinbefore mentioned. Likewise, he shall be bound to take on board a supercargo who according to his rank shall be accommodated in the cabin at their expense, his wages remaining at the charge of the Company. All on the penalty aforesaid and submission to all courts and judges. All signed with his own hand, honestly and in good faith, at Amsterdam, this 3d of October anno 1644. Was signed: Adriaen Blommert.

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References

Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 2, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.