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[several lines lost] presently [      ] of the honorable lord director [ general and councilors ] misbehaved and exceeded the moral law, and [ without ] having reason for it, on the [      ] challenged [ him ] to a fight, and within [ this ] city got into a sword fight with one Harmen Hendricx van Barnevelt, soldaet, from whom he himself received a wound in the hand. His sword accidentally being broken, he requested from the said Harmen Hendricx van Barnevelt, that if he were an honorable soldier he would lay down his sword. Having done this, the prisoner attacked the said Barnevelt again with the handle and stump of his sword, by which he doubtlessly would have injured and harmed him, had he not been prevented from doing so by passers-by, and from which further disasters, yes, manslaughter could have resulted. Having done this instead of comporting himself as an honorable drummer should, it pleased him, prisoner, on the following 24th of June, in the evening after having stood guard, to go outside of the fort, and with great ranting and raving knock on a burgher’s house, beating with his sword on the door and on the windows,^[i] thus making street noise, for which he was taken prisoner by the burgher guard, against whom [several lines lost] [  therefore, as an example ] to others he deserves to be punished severely; yes, that the honorable lord director general and the stern council of war, having heard the prisoner’s own confession and the fiscal’s demand, and having paid attention to everything that is relevant in the matter, performing justice in the name of the honorable high and mighty lords States General of the United Netherlands and the honorable lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, chamber Amsterdam, condemned the aforesaid prisoner, as they hereby condemn him, to a fine of 6 months’ wages, to be properly applied, and further, that he shall perform sentry’s work for six months, and during that time he shall not receive more than a sentry’s monthly wages and boarding money. If during that time he exceeds the moral law again and misbehaves, his arms shall be taken from him and he shall be banned from the Company as an example to others. Thus sentenced and condemned in Fort Amsterdam in N: Netherland. Dated as above.

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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.