Copy.
To the lords, the honorable lord director general and honorable lords councilors of New Netherland.
Jacob Kip makes known with all reverence how he, petitioner, was solicited and commissioned as secretary of this city by your esteemed honors in February of 1656 and because he, petitioner, has taken care of the same office now for about the fifth half year (without boasting) with all loyalty and [ has ] not found therein such benefits as he had hoped, which he was granted and given as a prospect for accepting the same; so that in the meantime he has been forced, in order to maintain and support his family honestly, to take up some other means, such as a small shop and otherwise, in the hope that the same office might in time grow better; and, as until now he finds no improvement, but decline in all parts, such as the benefit of office of auctioneer for the citizenry [several lines lost] of the burgomasters [ ] and eleemosynary, father[ s ] that, for which was [ ] by your honors; also, that he, petitioner, now for about two and a half years’ time has not received a stiver of his yearly granted salary, for which reason and why he, petitioner, finds himself forced to take up another trade as a supporter of his family, the ruin of which he will do his best to prevent; therefore, he has resolved to return the same office to your honors, as he hereby does, with the request that your honors be pleased to authorize one or more to whom he shall have to deliver his books and papers that are in the secretary’s office, and after completion of the same to let him dispose of his remaining salary, about which he has no doubts. (written below) remain your honors’ humble subject (and signed) Jacob Kip (dated in the margin) Done this 12 June 1657, Amsterdam in New Netherland.
After due deliberation the above request was decided: The director general and councilors are unaware that the petitioner [several lines lost] order in the presence of the lord Nicasius de Sille, in his capacity as schout, and the oldest burgomaster, to deliver to the secretary of the director general and councilors, Cornelis van Ruyven, his city books, protocols, and whatever pertains thereto, the originals thereof, and according to his instructions, authentic copies, which having been done, his promised salary shall be placed at his disposal. Dated as above.
