Document: Petition of the burgomasters to regulate contact with the Indians and have a guard patrol the streets during church service

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To the honorable lord director general and the lords councilors of New Netherland.

The burgomasters of this city of Amsterdam in New Netherland show with all due respect how acts of insolence of the Indians is seen daily with great regret and shame, which they commit within this city by drinking themselves drunk and otherwise. This cannot be prevented unless your honors, follow the custom of our neighbors in New England and Virginia (who at various times have suffered great massacres under the guise of friendship and as a friend coming into their houses and villages, as we did here last 15 September) whereby the barbarians have killed hundreds suddenly without reason. We respectfully request, for the public welfare and better security of this city, that your honors would be pleased to renew the placard made regarding the Indians drinking to excess, and to enforce it against the Indians as well as those who sell them the brandy. Also, that your honors may make an ordinance prohibiting Indians from coming into this city from this time on. except to a place designated by your honors, in order to trade their goods, unless they be emissaries of the chiefs. [1] Also, that no burghers or country people shall receive them in their houses, or shelter them overnight, upon severe penalty to be enacted by your honors. This being done, we trust that these treacherous and deceitful heathens, who in the best times of peace and without warning have caused the most suffering by murder and mayhem on us and our neighbors, be frustrated in any designs they may practise as heretofore, and although there be a loss of ordinary freedom, our nation shall live in more security; provided always good watch be kept, especially on Sunday during divine service. Requesting that your honors will take this into consideration, and grant us a response in the margin hereof, (dated) 1656 the 3d of March, at Amsterdam in New Netherland. (Was signed:) Oloff Stevensz, Allard Antony.

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source: New York State Archives. New Netherland. Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809. Volume 6.