Document: Orders to the fiscal in regard to the seizure and unloading of a ship

[several lines lost] put in at the [ ] with the ship or goods [ ] damage or harm should come to their [ ] merchants’ or ship’s goods, to report it promptly; afterward, he [ would ] complain how showing it after going to his masters [ ] shall think [ ] whereby he still poses that also his crew [ ] might [ ] be on board the ship in order to help unload the same [ ] that he [ still ] did [ not ] want to take supervision of the ship or cargo, but let the ship lie [ at anchor ] and wanted to leave it [ ] together and let the ship be unloaded by whomever wanted to do it. Meanwhile, protesting over the damage and loss to follow as a result for his masters [blank] all of which we, the undersigned, having duly considered and contemplated, have, in order to prevent further damage, resolved and decided to let the ship unload, partly by the ship’s crew and partly by Negroes or workers hired thereto at the expense of the Company, and together with the head [ officer ] and the fiscal to maintain and have maintained proper supervision of it, both in the hold by the supercargo and together with him the clerk of the [ province ] or commissary [remainder illegible].

[several lines lost] Thus done and decided on 11 June anno

1657 in Fort Amsterdam in N. Netherland.

P. Stuyvesant Nicasius de Sille

C.V. Ruyven[i]

[several lines lost] bearer [ ] and before as slander [ ] small seal of the Company [ ] in addition or maybe [ ] Company [ ] may be counterfeited [ ] to order freemen and sailors to go ashore as well, except for the skipper or stuerman, and one to two common seamen at the most together with the skipper or stuerman; and your honor is required for this coming night to remain on the ship, and together with the officials of the Company, who hereby are sent to your honor, to maintain and have maintained such supervision as the situation and order of the lords directors signify and to encourage the supercargo to do his duty; and above all to be mindful that the officers of the Company are not tempted by strong drink. Fare [ well ] in Amsterdam in New Netherland, dated 10 June 1657.

Your dear friend,

P. Stuyvesant

Lord fiscal, as it grows dark and it may be too late for the passengers to arrange lodgings, can your honor excuse them; only not to let those who are ashore come back on board and not to hinder those who want to go ashore, but to keep track and have kept track of the arrival that [ the rest ] directly no boats, scows or canoes [ ] come ashore [ in? ] vessels or [ at a? ] distance [ from ] the fort.

P. Stuyvesant[ii]