Translation
Answer of the director granting the petition of the burgomasters and schepens to summon delegates
Decision on the above petition.
Although the director-general and council could
cite various important reasons, having already verbally offered some objections
yesterday in full session to the mayors and schepens, why such a meeting and such
separate remonstrances which exclude the director-general and council are viewed with
disfavor; and although they have had a painful experience of the jealousies, troubles
and quarrels arising therefrom during the time of the former director, Kieft,[1] and also of the present
director-general, which are (may God improve matters) not yet laid aside. However,
having no greater desire than the safety, welfare and progress of the country, the
peace and harmony with and among all the subjects, without regard to nationality, and
in order to prevent a charge being made before God and the lords-superiors of being
too inflexible in enforcing their authority, orders and instructions, the
director-general and council have, with regard to the petition of the mayors and
schepens, decided that, in the presence of two deputies from the high council, they
be allowed, together with commissioners from the respective colonies and
jurisdictions of New Netherland who are authorized thereto with proper credentials
and instructions from their superiors, to draw up a remonstrance, after due
consideration of the country's present dangerous situation, addressed to the
lords-superiors concerning the country's needs and condition, with the provision that
the resolutions and acts passed by the last provisional general assembly, to the
shame of its members, thereby not be prejudiced or infringed upon except by unanimous
consent. Done in council at Fort Amsterdam, 3 December 1653, in New Netherland; was
signed: P. Stuyvesant, N. de Sille, La Montagne, C. van Werckhoven, Cor. van
Thienhoven; below stood: By order of the honorable director and gentlemen of the
council; and was signed: Cornelis van Ruyven, secretary. Still further below
stood: