Document: Petition of burgomasters and schepens of New Amsterdam on which the ordinance on citizenship was issued

Following is the petition upon which the above act was granted.[i]

Copy.

To the honorable lords the honorable director general and the lords councilors of New Netherland.

Honorable lords.

Whereas your honors have been pleased to favor this city of Amsterdam in New Netherland with the privilege of small and great burgher right; therefore, we, burgomasters and schepenen of the same city, thankfully acknowledging such for the common good and welfare, request your honors’ explanation [ to ] whom belong [for the present the small, and whom the great burgher right; and request that your honors would be pleased to confer on the schout, burgomasters and schepenen, who have formerly been in the government of this city, and are now in office, and who] shall be elected [ to this office from those nominated for the present year, and their ] descendants, the privilege of the great burgher right. Awaiting your honors’ favorable disposition hereon, we remain (written below) your honors’obedient burgomasters and schepenen of the city of Amsterdam in New Netherland. (below was written) By order of the same (and signed) Jacob Kip, secretary (dated in the margin) Done this 31 January 1657 at the session in the city hall at Amsterdam in New Netherland.