Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 7-14 November 1641

On the 7th of November anno 1641

Pieter Cock, plaintiff, vs. Jan Eversen Bout, defendant, for slander. Plaintiff demands that the defendant prove the slanderous words uttered by him about the plaintiff. The defendant gives for answer that the statements made by the plaintiff are mostly lies and requests that the plaintiff produce reliable witnesses, offering to substantiate whatever he may have said. Case adjourned.

On the [ 14th ] [1] of November

Whereas the director of Curaçao, Jan Clasen van Campen, in his letter dated the 11th of October 1641, which arrived here by the ship Witte Valck on the 18th of November, writes earnestly requesting us to send said ship back to him with provisions as they are very much in need of them and can no longer send their ships out to sea for lack of provisions, it is resolved in council to aid them and to purchase from the skipper his lading of salt in order to keep the salt trade in the hands of the Company; furthermore to agree with the skipper of the said Valck in the most profitable way about the freight of as many provisions as may be brought together to take the same to Curaçao.

Paulus Jansen from Vlissingen, plaintiff, vs. Maryn Adriaensz and Fynhout, defendants. Jan Damen and Cornelis Tonissen are requested to settle the matter between the parties and if they cannot come to an agreement the referees are to submit their opinion to us in writing.

Cornelis van[ der ] Hoykens, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Jan Habbesz,[2] defendant, for theft. The plaintiff produces depositions by four witnesses from which it appears that the defendant stole a bed sheet from a bed stead in the city tavern.[3] Defendant answers that he was drunk and does not know about the sheet; he is therefore granted till this afternoon to refresh his memory and if he remains headstrong he is to be put to the torture.