Document: Resolution to repair the fortifications and how to pay for it

In consideration of the rumors and threats to which this province and especially its capital city are exposed, the director-general and council have deemed it highly necessary to consider all possible means of defense for the protection of this city and the fort, and to fortify for this purpose, besides the works constructed last year, other places in the city; erecting some inner works to retreat behind, if necessity should require, so that we would be able to give up the larger outer works whether because we and our subjects are too weak to man them or because of strong enemy pressure. Whereas the director-general and council know by experience that the good inhabitants of this city cannot alone bear the heavy burdens from a disruption of navigation and trade without receiving just compensation, and that the countrypeople, who number the most, can hardly be called from their plantations without considerable damage and loss of time; therefore, the director-general and council, together with the mayors and schepens, have deemed it most suitable to contract for the work on a daily basis or to have it done as quickly as possible, for which the necessary funds have to be found. Thus, for the better defense of these places, the director-general and council are compelled to keep here and to collect the tenths of all the goods and merchandise to be sent to the fatherland this summer or the just value thereof, for compensation and payment. For the security of the creditors involved in this, the director-general and council hereby promise that, in case the same is not satisfied and paid within a year, the value thereof, both here and in the fatherland, shall be balanced off against the recognition duties, for which the director-general and council obligate themselves as securities, in addition to pledging the property of the honorable Company. Thus done at the session of the honorable director-general and high council (present: the mayors and schepens of this city) held in New Amsterdam in New Netherland, 13 June 1654; signed: P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, C. van Werckhooven, La Montangne, Cor. van Thienhoven.[1]

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 5.