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Response to the propositions of the honorable lord director general P. Stuyvesant read aloud and submitted in written form to the honorable high councilors on the 10th of November 1655 at the session in Fort Amsterdam.

Concerning the first [ point ]: that if the war is found to be warranted, whether we then have sufficient strength to carry it out without the requisite garrisons. If yes, that it must then be begun with the warning and advice of the heads of all our villages, colonies, and inhabitants of this province, or to wait for the answer to the general letter sent to our superiors.

Concerning the second: that this second [ point ] has already been answered in the first.

Concerning the third: that if it has to be undertaken in a timely manner without waiting for the aforesaid answer, then everything has to be provided for first and secured so that the outcome can be anticipated.

Concerning the fourth: that the advice must be put on the table uniformly, and after reading the same out loud and recording it in the minutes, to express reasons for the advice orally so that a salutary resolution may be drafted uniformly from it.

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[      ]to consider the condition and the [      ] and where it is or [      ] remains [      ] and that lacking, then to think of some manner and means of subsidies and to dispense them with ordinances and with good intentions through the director general and councilors, to be signed uniformly with the submitted recommendations.

Concerning the sixth: refers to the tenths or morgen [      ] duty on weighing, milling; increasing of the tappers’ excise on wine and beer; on grinding, homed [      ] and duties on chimneys and soap.

Concerning the seventh: if the Curasao horses are caught, that two or three of them should be employed here in the service of the Company as cart horses, because they are urgently needed and they shall obviate the great expenses that the Company suffers for daily want of them; furthermore, to sell the remaining horses, and to apply the money or proceeds from them wherever it shall be deemed most useful.

Concerning the last: with a postponement of war with the natives that they [ the natives ] be forbidden for the time being not only entry to the island but also the city and principally the fortress; also, to forbid all settlers from giving them any shelter; and [ to punish ] the sale or giving of brandy to them with the gallows. However, to provide them, namely, the Indians, with a trading place outside of or next to the city, which shall be properly decided upon; and to complete work on our Fort Amsterdam as quickly as possible, both on the soldiers’ quarters and on the gates, and to provide them with locks and enclosures, and other necessities such as provisions, munitions of war for defense and subsistence in case of any surprise attacks that might befall us; and to demand that the Indians return our captive Christians, or, by refusal thereof, to take as many of their nation prisoner as we shall deem necessary to gain the release of ours. Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland, ady ut supra. (Was signed:) Nicasius de Sille.

References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 6, Council Minutes, 1655-1656 (Syracuse: 1995). A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.