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On the 15th of September 1643

Jochim Pitersz, Barent Dircksen, Abraham Planck, that is to say, Abraham Pitersz, Isaack Allerton, Tomis Hal, Gerrit Wolphersz and Cornelis Melyn, being chosen by the commonalty, appeared before the council and requested that Jan Damen, who was also chosen with them by the inhabitants, may be excluded from their meeting because Jan Damen had signed a certain petition in the name of the commonalty. Jan Damen protests against the aforesaid persons.

In council, each of the aforesaid said seven persons having also cast his vote, it is resolved to commence war against the Indians, either by force or by strategy; that is to say, against the Indians who are our enemies, and leave those on Long island undisturbed so long as they do not show any hostility. And it is further thought advisable, if any of the Long island Indians can be prevailed upon to secure the heads of the murderers, to take steps to that effect.

Permission is granted by the select men to have the freemen enroll as many soldiers as can conveniently be done. Every Saturday afternoon these men shall appear here to discuss what is to be done and if five of them are present, whatever shall be decided by them shall be held valid.

29th of September 1643

Whereas Jochim Gerritsz Blenck, skipper of the ship Fortuyn, having taken on a cargo of wine at the Canary Islands, claims to have sailed from there to the West Indian Islands and thence to New England and from there to have come hither and anchored at Fort Amsterdam without passport or permission from the honorable directors of the West India Company, being come, as he said, for want of water and victuals, for which reason he presented a petition to the director and council of New Netherland praying for permission to sell 3 or 4 pipes of wine to pay his pilot and to buy necessaries, on condition that he would pay duty to the Company, be was allowed to do so without prejudice to any claim that the honorable directors might set up against him in the fatherland.

Nevertheless, the said Jochim Gerritsz refused to pay the duty, but set sail and anchored far beyond the ordinary roadstead, between the fort and Staten Island, where he is said to have discharged a quantity of wine into the bark of Mr. Isaack Allerton, an Englishman, for which reason the honorable fiscal, assisted by the secretary of this province, went on board Jochim Gerritsz ship and there formally protested against him and issued an attachment against him and his ship and ordered him to return to the ordinary roadstead, declaring that they would proceed against him according to law in case he refused and failed to appear. But instead of appearing, he set sail by night without obeying the court, which, being a matter of grave consequences which ought not to be tolerated in places where justice is administered, therefore, wishing to provide therein and taking into consideration the demand and conclusion of the fiscal, after having examined the papers in the sloop and other documents and weighed the consequences thereof, we have declared the above mentioned Jochim Gerritsen Blenck in contempt for refusing to obey the orders of the court and for usurping the rights of the Company, wherefor we condemn him, as we hereby do, to pay a fine of 300 guilders, one-third for the benefit of the Company, one-third for the fiscal, and one-third for the poor, and moreover we have confiscated the above mentioned ship and her cargo for the benefit of the honorable directors and condemn the defendant to pay the costs of the proceedings.

Oath taken by the English officers and soldiers

We promise and swear allegiance to the High and Mighty Lords the States General, the Prince of Orange, the Chartered West India Company and the honorable director general and council of New Netherland, to risk life and limb for them and in the country's service and furthermore to obey the honorable director as faithful officers and soldiers are bound to obey their commander. So truly help us God Almighty.

References

Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 4, Council Minutes, 1638-1649 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.