Document: Letter from the director and council of Renselaerswyck to the director and council of New Netherland

Reply to the above by those of the Colony of Rensselaerswyck.

To the summons of 16 April 1654 read aloud and submitted to the court of Rensselaerswyck on the 30th of the same month by Mr. Joannis Dyckman, assisted by Rutgert Jacobsz and Jacob Schermerhorn, we reply as follows:

We have written to our lords-superiors concerning the first summons of the honorable director-general and high council of New Netherland dated April 1652, but have received no answer, which we expect shortly. Concerning the last letter on the question of determining the boundaries, in which we were described as being unwilling, we have also written to our superiors for instructions.

As the matter now stands, we refer to and claim benefit of the 26th article of the exemptions of New Netherland:[99] however, wishing to avoid any cause for differences during these dangerous and sorrowful times, and considering that no man can be judge in his own case, we herewith state to your honors, the director-general and high council of New Netherland, that we are willing to submit the dispute over the boundaries to the decision and findings of our superiors on both sides in the fatherland, which we believe can be done suitably. By such means we (who are small in numbers) shall be allowed to live in peace and harmony with the others in this country. Done at the session of the colony of Renselaerswyck, 2 May 1654; and was signed: J an Baptist van Renselaer, Johan de Hulter, B. van Slechtenhorst, Arent van Curler, Johan van Twiller, Cornelis van Nes, G. Swart, officer; below was written: In my presence; and was signed: Anthonyo de Hooge, secretary.