RegisterofPSVol2

Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642 – 1647 ׀ 148
directors and a warrant from the council here granted to me, inspected your ship and discharged
some goods and found a large quantity of powder and guns, which had not been entered with the
Company and which were not mentioned on the manifest. And whereas these goods are
contraband and would apparently be sold to the Indians, which is forbidden on pain of the gallows,
this is a matter of serious consequence, as more fully appears from my complaint in the suit
thereof.
As to the allegation that I ought to confiscate others ships, which come here without a permit from
the Company, I have done my best therein, but that the skipper, like a rascal, in spite of the
attachment, sailed away, I could not prevent. However, I have not neglected to prosecute my
case against him and even obtained a judgment of confiscation of his ship and cargo wherever he
may be found.
And whereas you are continually carrying on business with private traders and take them with
you up the river, which is expressly against your master’s orders, as the said honorable patroon
sent this ship to this country for the purpose of keeping the free traders out of his colony,
wherein we are willing to co-operate, just as we have always been ready to assist the colony of
Renselaerswyck, as from time to time has been manifest and will also be acknowledged by the
people, whom even in the early part of the winter we supplied with a sloop and 75 pounds of
powder, although there was nothing we could spare less than powder on account of the perilous
war we are waging with the Indians; so that we do not, as you assert, seek to affront Mr. Van
Renselaer, but on the contrary try to assist him and to advance his colony. And whereas you
yourself, therefore, are frustrating and defeating his laudable purpose by taking private traders
with you into the colony, although a yacht has been offered to you by our director, without
expense to the patroon, I declare that it will be impossible to prevent other private traders from
sailing thither and that I disclaim all responsibility for it. I also deny that any damage has been
caused to you by my men in inspecting the ship. If you think that you have any cause of action
against me, you can seek redress from the courts; I am willing. Furthermore, I protest against all
trouble, mischief, damage and loss which may result herefrom. Done the 22nd of March, at
Manhatans, in Fort Amsterdam, 1644.
Cornelio vander Hoykens, fiscal
I, Pieter Wyncoop, will answer this when I arrive in the colony of Renselaerswyck.
Gysbert op Dyck, witness
New Netherland Research Center New Netherland Institute