Document: Secret resolution of the Amsterdam Chamber of the W. I. Company

It has been noticed in the letters coming over to the commissioners and directors from the City's colony on the South River of New Netherland that two boats with fourteen Englishmen came near Cape Hinloopen, where they were attacked by the Indians and ransomed by Director Alrichs; they were brought to the City's colony where they were sheltered. This will be a cause for concern if the same Englishment come to settle there or increase in numbers, so that that nation which presently, though without any sufficient cause, lays claim to the South River or adjoining lands, and tries to intrude there and by one opportunity or another to usurp the aforesaid place as has happened on the border of New England. Therefore, it has been decided that in order to prevent this, Director-General Stuyvesant shall be instructed to take care to issue orders to Director Alrichs that the aforesaid persons, who are said to be fugitives, if they left their government without permission and papers, be sent back there again; or if they shall be freemen, to get rid of them in the most proper and decent manner (without, however, being offensive to them); and under no circumstances ever to admit anyone of the English nation there again, much less encourage them to come there.

E. van Seventer