Document: Answer of the director granting the petition of the burgomasters and schepens to summon delegates

Decision on the above petition.Although the director-general and council could cite various important reasons, having already verbally offered some objections yesterday in full session to the mayors and schepens, why such a meeting and such separate remonstrances which exclude the director-general and council are viewed with disfavor; and although they have had a painful experience of the jealousies, troubles and quarrels arising therefrom during the time of the former director, Kieft,[1] and also of the present director-general, which are (may God improve matters) not yet laid aside. However, having no greater desire than the safety, welfare and progress of the country, the peace and harmony with and among all the subjects, without regard to nationality, and in order to prevent a charge being made before God and the lords-superiors of being too inflexible in enforcing their authority, orders and instructions, the director-general and council have, with regard to the petition of the mayors and schepens, decided that, in the presence of two deputies from the high council, they be allowed, together with commissioners from the respective colonies and jurisdictions of New Netherland who are authorized thereto with proper credentials and instructions from their superiors, to draw up a remonstrance, after due consideration of the country's present dangerous situation, addressed to the lords-superiors concerning the country's needs and condition, with the provision that the resolutions and acts passed by the last provisional general assembly, to the shame of its members, thereby not be prejudiced or infringed upon except by unanimous consent. Done in council at Fort Amsterdam, 3 December 1653, in New Netherland; was signed: P. Stuyvesant, N. de Sille, La Montagne, C. van Werckhoven, Cor. van Thienhoven; below stood: By order of the honorable director and gentlemen of the council; and was signed: Cornelis van Ruyven, secretary. Still further below stood: