Document: Sentence of Cornelis Willemsen van Linde

The honorable director-general and high council have seen the criminal charge made on 1 September of this year 1654 by Cornelis van Thienhooven, fiscal of New Netherland, and in this capacity, plaintiff against Cornelis Willemsz van Linden from the Velue in Gelderland, presently a prisoner. In his charge, the fiscal accuses the aforesaid prisoner with breaking and entering which was committed by Cornelis Willemsz during the night between the 13th and 14th of August around two o'clock. It was at this time when the bonfires were burning in celebration of the peace and alliance between the states of Holland and England. The fiscal has confirmed this accusation in full session with depositions; also, the prisoner has voluntarily confessed, without pain or bonds, that he willfully sneaked to the residence of Govert Loockermans, where he broke a window and climbed into the house through the opening; he was then chased and seized by Govert Loockermans who put him in jail. Whereas breaking and entering must be punished with all due vigor, according to the customs of our fatherland, and cannot be tolerated or endured in countries where justice flourishes, but must be punished as an example to others; therefore, the aforesaid honorable director-general and council, administering justice in the name and on behalf of their noble High Mightinesses, the lords States-General of