Document: Order to the fiscal to inquire respecting goods removed from the house of Cornelis Steenwyck by John Laurens

Lord fiscal,

Standing on the wall behind my house yesterday, about 4 or 5 o’clock, I saw that 2 or 3 pieces of duffel, [ and ] 2 or 3 large packs of beavers were loaded out of the house of Mr. Cornelis Steenwijck onto the cart with the sorrel horse, which cart was followed by Jan Lourens, English merchant, until across the bridge, but I don’t know whether it was brought outside of the gate; your honor shall inquire about that. If it is true, it is explicitly against the edict, and the beavers can be confiscated. Therefore, regarding this matter, I request your honor to proceed to the house of the aforesaid Jan Lourens to make a proper investigation, to seize and claim the beavers and pelts found in his house in quantity and quality for the right of the Company and maintenance of the edicts, [ and ] to proceed properly. Amsterdam in N: Netherland, the 19th of July, 1658.

Was signed, P: Stuyvesant.