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Resolution drawn up this 18th of May 1644 at Fort Amsterdam on Curaçao.

Whereas about 450 souls from the Marnahon^[1] (all Company’s servants) came to us quite unexpectedly between the 2nd, 3rd and 5th of April without any food supply, for which reason they declared that they had to leave their places; and since this time we have had to provide for them out of our stores, diminishing our food supply, as it will diminish daily more and more. Therefore, we have taken note of the long period of time before we would be supplied again from the fatherland with more necessities or sustenance, and in order not to experience our previous situation and famine again, as we have done already for the three past years; also, in order to stretch our food supply as much as possible, we have presently decided to send the majority of the personnel (who came here with commander Wiltschut’s^[2] squadron from the Marnahon and unneeded here at this time) to Nieuw Nederlandt aboard the ship Den Blouwen Haen, hoping that they shall be able to provide some service there for the Company, and if not, then to be allowed to obtain the return passage and salary in the fatherland (which we cannot extend here), and to allow the commander Wiltschut with some personnel, upon his request, to sail from here with the dogger,^[3] in which some of his men came here, to Pharnambuco where he states he has responsibilities to take care of. Thus done and concluded at the place, day and year as given above.

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References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., Curaçao Papers, 1640-1665 (New Netherland Research Center and the New Netherland Institute: 2011).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.