Document: Petition of Isaac de Foreest for leave to conclude a contract with Jacob van Couwenhoven

To the highly esteemed lord director general and councilors of New Netherland.

Isaacq de Foreest, burgher and inhabitant of this city, reverently makes known that he is in negotiation with Jacob van Couwenhoven, brouwer, regarding purchase of all the strong beers that he, Couwenhoven, aforesaid, shall be able to brew in the [ ] of a whole year in order by such means to [ ] the tappers, who are now inconvenienced with the beers and the levying of the impost as, he, petitioner, remained security for it, and promote as much as possible the [ facilitating ] of the tappers, [ ]. He requests therefore that your honors be pleased to allow that he, petitioner, without committing fraud, be allowed to deliver and trade the same beers free and unhindered to the tappers and elsewhere, where it is convenient for him, so that such a well situated brewery as is that of Couwenhoven does not remain empty but by these means the man and his family can honestly earn their livelihood, which otherwise could easily go to ruin. Such a reasonable request I trust shall not be refused but rather favored and confirmed. Thus doing I remain your honors’ faithful subject.

(was signed) Isaacq de Foreest.

Done in Amsterdam in New Netherland,

the 21st of December 1656.

The above petition, being received at the session, was decided in favor of the petitioner. Dated 21 December 1656.