Document: Arrest of judgment pronounced by the court of New Amsterdam against John Adams for slander of Mrs. Beeckman

The director general and councilors of New Netherland having taken closer consideration of the often submitted petition of all the military officers and common soldiers for and in favor of Jan Adams, former steward [bottelier], as well as the satisfaction that the commissary Van Brugge and all the officials of the Company have had in the service as steward of the aforesaid Jan Adams, more than this has been the case in any before his time [several lines lost] hereby allow [ ] for the period of six consecutive months in order to justify or provide satisfaction for the injurious dispute and besmirching of the housewife of Willem Beeckman, as is said will be pronounced, hereby order the lord Nicasius de Sille, in his capacity as schout, to delay the pronounced sentence against the aforesaid Jan Adams concerning that subject pronounced by the burgomasters and schepenen of this city not to trouble the aforesaid Jan Adams about it during the granted time, but to let him peacefully enjoy the tenure thereof just as is appropriate. Thus done at the session of the honorable lord director general and councilors of New Netherland held in Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 27th of March anno 1657.