Document: Petition of burgomasters and schepens for the establishment of two cattle fairs annually in New Amsterdam

[several lines lost] The honorable [burgomasters and schepenen] of the city of Amsterdam in N: Netherland show [ with due reverence ] the increase of the burghers and inhabitants [ of this city, by whom ] annually a large quantity of [ meat ] is being consumed, and that the beginning of a [ good ] trade is made by them by both the buying and selling of lean as well as fat animals as time offers the opportunity. Therefore, burgomasters and schepenen, observing as much as possible the prosperity and flourishing of this place and its inhabitants, the place being the capital under your honors’ government, request your honors to favor this place annually with a fat as well as a lean cattle market where all animals, oxen, cows, calves, sheep, hogs, goats, and bucks are brought to market to the great convenience of burghers, inhabitants, and those of Fort Orange who otherwise, and up to now with great trouble, annually had to buy and fetch these at the ferry at Long Island as well as elsewhere, which, at this time of year, wind and weather don’t very well allow [ one ] to do. And because this cannot happen very well without a stipulated time, according to which farmers who bring some animals to market have to regulate themselves, the petitioners propose that the time that the lean animals would be brought to market commences on the first of May and ends on the last of that month, and the time that the fat [ animals ] would be expected at the market commences on the 20th of October and ends on the last of November, during which time no stranger within this city [several lines lost] order being [ ] requesting your honors [ ] to order and direct [ the ferryman ] with his chapaen [i] [ whereby ], instead of twenty, he shall receive twenty-five stivers for ferry money for each piece that he takes across, on condition that the unsold animals can be ferried back free of charge; but all of this we commend to your honors’ paternal wise care in the interest of this city and its inhabitants. Trusting in which, we are and remain your honors’ subservient subjects, the burgomasters and schepenen of this city of Amsterdam in N: Netherland (lower stood), by order of the lords burgomasters and schepenen of the aforesaid city (:was signed:) Johannes Nevius secretary (was dated). Done in Amsterdam in N: Netherland, the 28th of November 1658.

Having received and read the above request, it is resolved that the request is granted, provided the petitioners can move the ferryman, as far as it concerns him, to agree with this. Done in Amsterdam in N: Netherland the 28th of November 1658.