[ Noble, very worshipful, very learned, wise and prudent, honorable director general in New Netherland. ] [i]
Very worshipful sir.
Pursuant to the resolution adopted by your honor on the 29th of November [sic][ii] last past at Breuckelen in our session, the delegates from Midwout and Amesfoort being present, that those of Midwout were to contribute to the yearly salary of the reverend d o . Polhemius ƒ400, those of Breuckelen ƒ300, and those of Amesfoort also ƒ300. Because we were weighing and considering this very carefully so that thereafter we would inform and let your honors know our resolution, we, your honors’ humble servants, those of the court of Breuckelen, report and submit to your honors the impossibility to contribute the aforesaid yearly 300 guilders, because this sum cannot well be found from such a weak and impoverished community, many members of which have suffered great losses and damages in the times of war, surprises by the wilden and otherwise, which have disabled them. With the best of will some cannot raise [what they would like to contribute; nor has the said d o . Polhemius ever been called or engaged by us as pastor, but he has intruded here against our wishes, desiring to preach in the public street in the open air; on account of which the house of] the commissioner Joris [ Dircksen ] here in Breuckelen, was provisionally [ given him to avoid giving offense to anyone. ] The common burghers and inhabitants of Breuckelen as well as subjects say that for such meager and unsatisfactory service as they have had hitherto, even if they could, they would not resolve to contribute anything, for he comes here only every other week on Sundays in the afternoon, offering only a prayer instead of a sermon, so that at times we hardly can grasp and understand little, and when we think that the sermon or prayer, whatever it be called, is just beginning, it is already over, so that he gives little edification to the congregation. It has happened to us only on the Sunday before Christmas, the 24th of December last, that in place of a sermon, which we had expected to have, we only listened to a prayer, so short that it was over before we realized it; it was also nearly evening, before he, Polhemius, came, so that he had really not much time and was compelled to break off and stop abruptly to [ return home, and this was all the edification—little enough—which we have had during the Christmas holidays. We maintain therefore that we shall enjoy the same, if not more edification by appointing ] someone of our midst to read a sermon from a book of homilies [huys postille] every Sunday, than we have hitherto received by the sermon or prayers of said d o . Polhemius. We do not intend, however, by this our suggestion and explanation anything to the dishonor of the said Polhemius or to the injury of his good reputation, but say only that his great age is the cause of this and that his faculties are evidently not what they were formerly; we see also clearly that Polhemius is not deficient in good will, but as he has not been called by us, we cannot well conclude to contribute to this aside from our inability further explained and submitted to your honors. Although we, of the court of Breuckelen, resolved to give something towards the salary of the said Polhemius, the congregation here cannot come to such a resolution. There are many who cannot give or make any contribution and who sooner would need some help for their support; there are besides many farms unoccupied and vacant, for instance that of Mr. Poulis, located at the [the one of Frerick Lubbertsen on the strand, while a very simple and poor man lives on his other bouwery who is also unable to give anything, and Lodwyck lives upon the poor bouwery while his lot is vacant, the same as] Pieter [ Cornelissen’s, Elbert Elbertsen’s, the land of Black Hans, Grabiels land ], Pieter Mallemocque,[iii] Pieter [ Manist, Jean Martyn ], and others, more of whom there is quite a number. From the foregoing your honors may well consider and conclude what can be given and raised here, and even if everyone would be assessed by us and put on the tax list, nobody will be able to resolve to contribute anything for such slender services as we have so far enjoyed. We finally submit with due respect that whereas those of Midwout alone have engaged Polhemius without our knowledge or communication, we are very willing and well satisfied that those of Midwout shall enjoy the services of the aforesaid d o . Polhemius alone; if the aforesaid Polhemius wishes again to perform the service and prayer instead of a service here as formerly, we do not want to commit ourselves to that, only, that out of benevolence, voluntarily and of our free will, we would be willing to give him something, just as there are some among us here who are well inclined to him, although we do not enjoy his, Polhemius’s, services. Closing herewith, we commend your honors to the merciful protection of the Almighty and with wishes for a happy New Year besides a blessed and prosperous [administration until the end, and commending ourselves to your honors’ good favor we are and remain,
Your honorable worship’s humble servants The magistrates of Breuckelen, Albert
Cornelissen], Jores Dircks, Willem [ Bredenbent ]. Lower stood:
By their order
Pieter Tonneman, secretary.
Done in Breuckelen the day[iv] of January anno 1657.
