Document: Answer of Peter Adriaensen to the complaint of the fiscal

The lord director general and high councilors of New Netherland [three lines lost]

With regard to the indictment of the lord fiscal, the defendant replies in all truthfulness that he has never opposed the placards of your honors. However, living under the jurisdiction of the colony Renselaerswijck he followed the orders of those of the court there, under which he belongs and to which he is subject, and who did not understand that he, defendant, was obliged to allow the measurement of his wines and beers sold in the aforesaid jurisdiction, and the payment of the claimed excise thereof; also, to make appearance upon citations of the lord fiscal and summons of the commies Johan de Deckere. Therefore, the lord fiscal must hereby realize that if such errors have been committed, they were not done by the defendant, but rather by those of the aforesaid court against which the defendant was not contravening, but rather by having followed the orders of his authorities there. Hereby concluding that the lord plaintiff’s claim and decision against the defendant be done and taken as arbitrary and pecuniary and he, the defendant, be released from confinement. (Written below:) Your honors’ obedient servant; (Was signed:) Pieter Adriaensz.

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[ ] to refer this [ ] de Sille in order to [ ] Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland [ ] 1656.