Document: Answer to the protest of the merchants for not being permitted to proceed to Holland

Following is the decision made on the above petition:

It seems strange to the director general and councilors of New Netherland that the subjects protest against their lawful authorities concerning a resolution [ ] beneficial to the country in an urgent situation, made with the unanimous consent of the burgomasters of this city, for which disrespect the director general [ ]

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[ ] for this time [ ] a fine of 25 guilders [ ] and hereby [ ] the secretary [ ] now nor afterwards to the underwritten [ ] be obeyed before each [ ] shall pay the aforesaid fine [ ] closer reiteration of the resolution [ ] to be deprived of men, the director general [ ] that no one shall depart for the present time [ ] who has been in the country at least twelve months, the others are to [ ] according to the resolution until further notice.

Thus done at the session of the honorable director general and councilors held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, ady ut supra; present: a burgomaster and the president of the schepens. (Was signed:) P. Stuy- vesant, Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne, Cor. van Tienhoven.

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source: New York State Archives. New Netherland. Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809. Volume 6.