[ Noble, worshipful, honorable, very learned, wise and prudent, your honors the director general and councilors of New Netherland. ] [i]
My lords:
We respectfully submit as our answer to the decision made by the general and high councilors on the 16th of January of this year 1657, by which we were to find means to supply the amount of ƒ300 yearly for the salary, promised without our knowledge by those of the courts of Midwout and Amesvoort to the reverend dominee Polhemius, that we of the court of Breuckelen still do not know that we have ever promised or agreed to pay anything, but requested in the meantime to gather information and make a calculation whether it was feasible and means might be found; that we fear and apprehend, it cannot be done in so weak and impoverished a congregation as ours and one with so many servants [onderhoorigen] intermixed therein. It was not our intention or thoughts to be constrained thereto by the director general and councilors. Therefore, not desiring to oppose the director and councilors herein, we have resolved at last to collect and contribute the imposed ƒ300, how or wherever we might be able to collect it, on condition that from the expiration of the first year of d o . Polhemius’ engagement, which is on the 7th of April 1657, we shall be excused for this and the following years, unless in the meantime we should hear of improvements and favorable changes for the general good and that of these lands, which God may grant; if we would learn [ such ] here or from our patria, as hope, then we would make a further agreement with d o . Polhemius and promise to deliver on the said condition, to which we have bound ourselves above, but without, as above stated, engaging ourselves permanently for subsequent and further years. [ Closing herewith we commend your honors to the gracious protection of God, wishing a prosperous and happy administration until the end and commend ourselves to your honors’ good favors, with ] which we, meanwhile, are and remain,
your honors’ humble servants,
the schepenen of the court of Breuckelen, was signed,
Albert Cornelissen Jooris Dircksen
The mark X of Jooris Rapallhe Willem Breedenbent
By their order,
Peter Tonneman, for this, secretary.
