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To the highly esteemed lord director general and the lords high councilors of New Netherland.

Makes known with all humility Dirck Smidt, ensign, detained, having seen the lord fiscal’s charge and judgment against his person to which he, petitioner, has responded and now [      ] with humility to make known to your highly esteemed honors by petition that according to the judgment of the lord fiscal he, petitioner, has given offense without the petitioner having had the intention to give offense through mischief or disobedience; that he, petitioner, was informed by others that with regard to the wilden everyone was free to trade what was his; and taking advantage of the opportunity to acquire some beavers as repayment of my debt, I had no idea that it would be taken so seriously by the lord fiscal; that concerning the snaphance sold by Hendrick den tambour, in the South River, his, petitioner’s, wife, took it along for the soldier out of convenience, as can be seen in the deposition about it; what concerns the sword, their esteemed honors be pleased to consider that he, petitioner, is completely innocent therein, as the sword was not worth picking up; on the other hand he, petitioner, did not sell the sword but the wilt took up the same, laying down the piece [ of beaver ] for it and left the house. Thirdly, that he, petitioner, immediately told it to the lord fiscal, who ordered him, petitioner, to bring the same to the secretary’s office, which he, petitioner, has done. Whereas he, petitioner, has unknowingly committed an offense, the petitioner turns most humbly to your highly esteemed honors with the reverent request that your esteemed honors be pleased to forgive him, petitioner, this time out of compassion and to reject the judgment of the lord fiscal and to release him, petitioner, out of his detention out of mercy, and promising [      ] for justice’s sake, to have sold by him or others to the wilden such goods be it directly or indirectly; and, whereas he, petitioner, has honorably served the honorable Company for xVII years and (without boasting) has done good service, and [ wishes ] to continue in his service until the last drop of his blood, assuring your highly esteemed honors that he, petitioner, shall hereby perform his duty during his service in such a manner that your highly esteemed honors shall have cause not only to keep him, petitioner, on but, opportunity presenting itself, to promote him. I pray most humbly that your highly esteemed honors be pleased in their customary loving kindness to consent to this, his humble petition. Which doing I remain,

Your highly esteemed honors’ most humble subject and servant (was signed) Dirck Smit.

References

Translation: Gehring, C., & Venema, J. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 8, Council Minutes, 1656-1658 Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press: 2018.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.