Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 6 November 1642

The 6th of November

There appeared In court Philip Gerritsz from Haerlem, tavern keeper, who declares at the request of the honorable fiscal that on the 27th of October last he heard Hendric, the tailor, say many words at the house of Burgert Jorisz, but that in truth he does not know what there is of the matter, as he did not stand still but went back and forth. Declares that he knows nothing else.

There appeared in court in Fort Amsterdam, Jan Damen, aged 35 years, who at the request of Cornelio van[ der ] Hoykens, fiscal, attests, testifies and declares, as he does hereby, that on the 27th of October last at the house of Burger Jorisz he heard Hendrick Jansen, the tailor, who was quite intoxicated, say, "The director is a rascal and the woman who gave birth to the director is a whore," for which the deponent berated the aforesaid Hendrick, saying: "Hendrick, do not say that; she is an honorable woman, I have been at her house." All of which the deponent declares to be true and truthful and that he has done this to testify to the truth as everyone is requested to; also, that this is done without any personal hatred or favor and to no one's benefit or injury. Which the deponent has confirmed in court before the honorable director general and council, to be the truth, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 19th of November, anno 1642.