[ ] answers.[i] The director
general [ and councilors ] still adhere to their [ postil, ] oral and written answer, dated the 6th of September, granted to the petitioner on exhibiting their high mightinesses’ order, namely: that the Negroes in question were brought here by one Geurt Tijsen, under a lawful and proper commission from lord Chevallier du Poincy, lieutenant general of the king of France, of the American islands, and hereditary governor of St. Christopher, and in virtue of that commission sold here to diverse inhabitants of this province, who also paid for it at once, and the director general and councilors cannot see fit to take away again from the purchasers the Negroes that have been bought and paid for dear enough, and to restore them to the petitioner, without that the petitioner or the seller makes restitution of the payment to the purchasers and present proprietors. Whether Geurt Tijsen and Jan van Campen [ be one and the same person ] is unknown to the director general and councilors [and is immaterial. The exhibited commission signed by Monsr. du Poincy, was, in express words, granted to Geurt Thysen. What number of Negroes were brought and sold here by] said Geurt Tijsen, [ who has been here only once; ] also what cash, wrought or unwrought silver and other merchandise were both previously and afterwards taken under said commission by ditto Geurt Tijsen, remains also unknown to the director general and councilors. If the petitioner meanwhile thinks he has any further pretension and right to the sold and paid-for Negroes in the exhibited list, or for any other specified goods and monies, whereunto he requests our provisional attachment, he can proceed therein according to the tenor of the law, as his good judgment may determine. Further, if the petitioner, according to the tenor of this, his written remonstrance, can exhibit any evidence or proof that Jan van Campen, Geurt Tijsen or Pieter, their lieutenant, are within this government, or can be reached by the director general and councilors, so as to be sent over, pede ligato, pursuant to the order of their high mightinesses aforesaid, he can give notice thereof at the secretary’s office or the session, as he [ can ] [ bring to the secretary’s office the matross or seaman mentioned in this, his remonstrance, to be examined and heard there before commissioners, to the end that pertinent report may be made to their high mightinesses in the premises. ]
Thus done, at the session of the honorable director general and councilors of New Netherland, held in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, the 31st of October, anno 1656.
