Translation
Answer of director and council to the remonstrance of the merchants of New Amsterdam
Reply to the foregoing by the director and council.
Let it serve as a reply that
when last Friday the petitioners were summoned to appear in person at the session,
the director-general and council directed them to prove specifically the leakage, and
produce substantial reasons why they could not sell their goods for the prices fixed
by ordinance, and whether 120 percent above initial cost for necessary goods and
merchandise, which are subject to little or no decay, was not sufficient at the
present time. As no attention has been paid to this in the present petition, the
director-general and council order the petitioners again to demonstrate and prove
specifically by which goods and merchandise they find themselves most injured, and by
which the petitioners have suffered the most losses at sea and leakage; also, on what
goods and merchandise they cannot afford a charge of 120 percent for the same
reasons. Thus done in council. Present were: the director-general. Dr. Nicasius de
Sille, Mr. Werckhoven, Mr. La Montangnie, Fiscal Cornelis van Thienhoven. 25 November
1653 in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland; below stood: By order of the
director-general and council;