Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 18-25 May 1648

In council the honorable general stated that Fiscal van Dyck had given a promise of good and better behavior, which the honorable council jointly hope will come to pass. Thereupon it was unanimously resolved to allow the fiscal to continue for the present in his office on condition that he will in the future conduct himself as a good, faithful and vigilant fiscal should and ought to do, in default whereof, if he act contrary hereto, he shall be dismissed from his office. This 18th of May in council. Present: the honorable director general, L: van Dincklagen, second. La Montagne, Briant Nuton, etc.

Govert Aertsen appeared in council and requested a certificate of the honorable director general and council, to be shown to the magistrates in New England, that his name is Govert Aertsz and not Govert Loockmans, the more so as he went some time ago to Rhode Island with his sloop, where he was threatened to be put into prison, it being said that he was Loockemans, and Captain Clercq had told him, Govert Aertsen, that Lookmans had sold powder and lead there to the Indians and that they would have confiscated his sloop for that reason had he been Lookmans. Resolved in council to grant Govert Aertsz a certificate of identity, according to the aforesaid petition, this 25th of May anno 1648, in New Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Having seen the petition of the officers of the Burgher guard in regard to the issuing of a regulation about the musketry, whereby they remonstrate that there is a lack of guns among the citizens; therefore, the burghers must provide themselves with fire arms, for which purpose two or three months time is allowed them. Meanwhile the burghers who have no guns shall be provided out of the Company's magazine on condition that they shall keep the same clean and neat and return them in good condition when they are called in. Furthermore, a suitable guard house for the summer shall be provisionally built for them. This 23d of May anno 1648.

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 York (Colony). Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809-78. Volume 4, page 385.