Document: Oath of office of Nicolas Verleth, collector

Follows the oath sworn at the meeting by commies Nicolaes Verleth: I promise and swear in the presence of the Almighty that I will be faithful to the honorable high and mighty lords States General of the United Netherlands, the lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, and their director general and councilors already appointed here now or to be appointed later, and that I will faithfully perform the office entrusted to me of collector of the recognition fees on goods exported to the North and Virginia, both in recording and collecting the said recognition fee without making arrangements or dissimulating with anyone for favors, gifts or prestige of persons; that upon orders, or in the absence of the fiscal, examining the departing ships, I will do this in all sincerity, and having found any error or deceit, [ I will not keep ] anything thereof secret or, on my own authority [several lines lost] and [ immediately ] be guided by [ the instructions ] and orders [ already ] given to me [ or ] to be given later. So truly help me God Almighty.