Document: Complaint of the fiscal against Nicolas Lange Velthuysen

Whereas Nicolaes Velthuysen, in the council room, in the presence of the honorable lords director general and councilors, did not hesitate to accuse the ensign, Dirck Smith, of being an oath breaker and thief for having broken open a chest, which the ensign had in his keeping and from which he kept some goods, which he, Nicolaes, himself was accused by the ensign to have opened in his presence; yet both acknowledge that the same was opened in their presence, the one accusing the other, but neither has a witness. Also, it is known that this Velthuysen is said to have sold strong drink to the wilden and commonly engages in debauchery with soldiers at his house, which is a reason that the soldiers remain impoverished [naakt en bloot] and are unable to advance themselves. Therefore, the fiscal by virtue of his office concludes from the above that the aforesaid Nicolaes Velthuysen will be deprived of the Company’s weapons and must leave this country for patria with the first ship. Done 13 September 1656 (was signed) Nicasius de Sille.