Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 8 October 1643

Whereas Adriaen vander Donck, officer of Renselaerswyck, on the 6th of November 1642, seized on the bark of the patroon of said colony, coming from Fort Amsterdam, some goods belonging to Jan Laurensz, the duty on which was paid in Holland, which goods the said Jan Laurensz, had put on board the said yacht to be discharged at Fort Orange and to be delivered to his partner trading there, and whereas Officer Verdonck sold said goods on his own authority, without the consent of the court there, as appears by the certificate on the 5th of March 1643, for which reason Verdonck was summoned by the fiscal general of New Netherland to appear in person before the director and council of New Netherland to answer for this violation and infringement of the law and liberty of New Netherland, after which summons by reason of his failure to appear default was entered against him and for greater precaution he was formally summoned for the second and third times.

Therefore, we, the director and council, having heard the complaint and demand of the fiscal and considered the consequences of the case, have declared the aforesaid Verdonck contumacious and in contempt of court and hence condemn him to restore the goods seized by him or the value thereof according to the pliantiff's invoice, with the damage thereto, estimated at fifty, say sixty guilders, and in addition a fine of 100 guilders and the costs of the suit; hereby enjoining and prohibiting him from doing such things 6gain on pain of being discharged from his office and of being arbitrarily punished. Thus done in council in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 8th of October 1643.