Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 6 June 1641

[1]On Thursday, being the 6th of June 1641

Whereas the English on the Fresh river of New Netherland commit great depredation and violence against our people there and are not satisfied with usurping and cultivating the lands which were bought and paid for and taken possession of by our people, but in addition come at night end sow with grain the land which our people plow, haul away to their houses the grass which our people mow, come with clubs and mattocks and barbarously treat our people when they are plowing, dig out our fine looking peas and plant Indian corn instead, forcibly take away our horses, cows and hogs and let some of them die of hunger, cut the traces of our plow to pieces and throw the latter into the river, and surround our house with palisades so that one can scarcely get out of it on the land side;

Therefore, all of this having been considered by us and whereas the same is tending to the injury and contempt of our supreme government and the honorable West India Company, whose jurisdiction and authority we are charged to maintain, we have resolved to send thither Dr. Johannes la Montagne, councilor of New Netherland, with 50 soldiers and some sloops, in order to fortify our house De Hoop[2] and to prevent the repetition of such hostilities as the English have wickedly committed against our people and to maintain our soil and jurisdiction.

Cornelio van[ der ] Hoykens, fiscpl, plaintiff, vs. Uldrich Lupholt, defendant. Plaintiff demands that the Company be paid and that satisfaction be made as soon as possible. Defendant presents a certain humble petition instead of an answer. Having seen the humble petition of Ulrich Lupholt requesting that he may be reinstated in the service of the Company and acknowledging the offenses committed by him, with promise of better and satisfactory comportment, he is ordered to satisfy the honorable Company and to make reparation, provided that provisionally he shall receive his rations until the arrival of the ships.

Cornelio van[ der ] Hoykens, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Maryn Adriaensz, defendant, for slander. Defendant asks forgiveness from the honorable director for the offense committed by him before Port Amsterdam, whereupon his offense is graciously forgiven him for the sake of his wife and children.