Document: Opinion of councillor De Sille on the petition of burgomasters and schepens of New Amsterdam

[several lines lost] and councilors, I say as follows [ ] that the aforesaid gentlemen make mention of the staple right of all of New Netherland [ ] it should be only on the island Manhattan, being a colony of the lords directors and that the Schotse merchants ought not to be permitted to pass through this place without having paid the staple right. In the 9th article of the Dortse [ staple right ] [i] is written:

That all staple goods, being merchandise coming from above Dort etc., shall be sold there whether it be wholly or by parcels,[ii] both by those from outside as well as within the aforesaid city of Dort.

If then the petitioners understand it in this way, it is worth considering, as our lords directors consider it as their colony whether the staple right shall belong to the Company or the city.

And also, subject to correction, I say that such Schotsen or small traders ought not to be allowed, before our firmly-established inhabitants, to go off to the south or to Fort Orange before they, Schotsen, had offered for one month with open doors or shop their merchandise for sale, so that our inhabitants are not passed by such sneaks and cheats, who up to now have provided little benefit to the inhabitants of this country but passed and sailed by our merchants, paying nothing, while on the contrary our inhabitants are subject to all burdens and watches and on top of that are undermined by these people in their livelihood. Therefore, I say that no foreigner ought to keep shop before they have paid the burgher right and in addition transport no merchandise unless the Schotse have waited out their month and paid the staple right on all such goods they have brought from Holland. [several lines lost] general and councilors.

Nicasius de Sille and the lord councilor [ ].