Document: Answer to David Ferara's petition

After various discussions between the director general and councilors, and the burgomasters of this city, as previously stated, the following written reply was made to the petition of the aforesaid Jew, Davidt Ferera:

Having received the second petition of Davidt Ferera, Jew, in which he appears not to be inclined to pursue his obtained appeal, but only requests moderation and mitigation of the judgment pronounced by the burgomasters and schepenen of this city. In consideration of his long detention from which upon offered security, he might and also should have been released, the director general and councilors order that the detained Davidt Ferera, with regard to that, shall be released from his detention and set free. Regarding the judgment: whereas it seems to the director general and councilors some exceptions regarding the unofficial order of the burgomasters and schepenen, which ought to have been made by the marshal or at least by the court messenger, the director general and councilors declare, before the judgment in case of appeal is annulled or confirmed that the parties first and foremost review the proceedings and the attendant exceptions as arranged by the director general and councilors; or, in order to expedite and conclude the proceedings with less expense that the parties each select an arbiter for compromise, for which a third will be appointed, the lord La Montagne, in case the arbiters are unable to come to an agreement. Thus done at the session of the honorable lord director general and councilors held in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 26th of July anno 1656.

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 8.