Document: Protest of Pieter Wyncoop, supercargo of the Wapen van Rensselaerwyck, against the fiscal for unloading the vessel

I, Piter Wyncoop, supercargo on the ship called ’t Wapen van Renselaerswyck, in charge of the goods laden therein, and on behalf of the honorable patroon Kiliaen van Renselaer, do protest against the honorable Van der Hoykens, fiscal, on account of the injury and violence done to me in unloading the ship, as if the patroon aforesaid must be affronted, which greatly tends to inflict shame, reproach and damage upon the honorable patroon, who is the oldest patriot of the country. I say, one ought to unload and confiscate such ships as come here without commission and do their trading and thereby bring New Netherland and its officers into disrepute, but not a patroon who stakes so much on his colony and on New Netherland. Therefore, I say once more, I, Piter Wyncoop, protest against you, the honorable Van der Hoykens, fiscal, and demand from the honorable director and council of New Netherland satisfaction for the loss and violence committed in unloading the ship ’t Wapen van Renselaerswyck. Done at Manhatans, this 18th of March anno 1644.

The fiscal answers that he has followed his orders and instructions and has used no violence.

Pieter Wyncoop
Cornelio van der Hoykens
Willem de Key
Ysebrant Clasen
Cornelis van Tienh[ oven ]