Translation
Order to imprison Claes Bordingh
In council, present: the lord director-general [ ] Mr. de
Sille, Mr. C. van Werckhoven and La Montagne [ ] .
Cor. van
Thienhoven, fiscal, by virtue of his office, plaintiff against [ Claes ] Bordingh, defendant; the plaintiff submits his
written complaint that on [ ] November 1653, in his official
capacity, he had discovered some contraband goods in the defendant's yacht named het Juffroutien; namely, a keg of gunpowder and some staves of
lead, which he requests be confiscated according to the ordinance, and that the
defendant declare from whom he had bought the same or [ ] . The
defendant acknowledges that the plaintiff found the gunpowder and lead in his yacht,
unloaded it and brought it to shore; also, that it had come to this country aboard
one of the present ships, de Coninck Salomon or Gelderse Blom; and he says that he is not obligated to say from
whom he had bought it.
He is asked once again from whom he bought it; he answers
as before.
The defendant remaining obstinate, in spite of verbal commands and
serious warnings, and stating in abusive language that he would not say from whom the
confiscated goods were bought, the honorable director-general and high council order
that he be locked up in the council chamber until evening in order to consider the
matter, and by further disobedience the plaintiff is permitted and authorized to take
him then into custody and to persuade him as much as he sees fit. Done in Amsterdam,
New Netherland, 8 December 1653.