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July [ 28 ],

The council (the honorable director exempted), to wit, Bastiaen Crol, Johannes La Montangne, Willem Cornelisz Oldemarckt and Captain Jan de Fries, having carefully weighed and with due deliberation examined the evidence as to the slander uttered by Laurens Cornelisz to the detriment of the honorable Director Willem Kieft, do find that inasmuch as Laurens Cornelissen persists in his statement that he received a box of pearls from the honorable director, but can not prove the same here, it is proper according to law that he, Laurens Cornelissen, shall in court beg forgiveness of God, the court and the aforesaid director, and acknowledge that he has spoken falsely; or, in case of refusal, he shall be banished from this country until he prove at Amsterdam that he brought over pearls for the honorable director. Having proved the same there, this sentence shall be annulled.

Laurens Cornelissen still persists in his statement and appeals from the sentence to Amsterdam, protesting against loss and damage.

The sentence shall remain intact, notwithstanding the appeal.

The above named council having seen the foregoing sentence provisionally pronounced by associates invited for the purpose in the matter of smuggling committed by Laurens Cornelisz, skipper of the Maecht van Enckhuysen:

Therefore, we order absolutely that the goods which are in the hands of the fiscal shall remain confiscated and that the defendant in addition shall pay a fine of fl. 20 in cash.

The fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Laurens Cornelisz, defendant, on account of adultery committed with Hillegont Joris.

Ordered that Laurens Cornelisz shall immediately take his oath that he is not guilty of adultery.

Laurens Cornelisz having taken the oath that he is not guilty, the complaint of the fiscal is dismissed.

August 2, 1644

I, Philip de Truy, court messenger of New Netherland, being authorized by the honorable director general and council of New Netherland, do summon you, Nicolaes Coorn, commander of Beeren Island, on behalf of Willem de Key, attorney for Govert Loockmans, to appear here in Fort Amsterdam six weeks from this date and there to hear the complaint against you which Willem de Key, as attorney of the aforesaid Loockmans, is to present to the court. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 2d of August 1644. Thus sent and signed by the court messenger and the secretary by order [ of the court ].

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.