Document: Writ of appeal from a judgment of the court of New Orange in the case of the fiscal vs. Van Deventer

Anthony Colve, Governor-General of New Netherland, for their High Mightinesses the Lords States-General of the United Netherlands and his Serene Highness the Prince of OrangeTo all who shall see these presents or hear them read, Greeting, make known:Whereas Mr. Willem Knyff, Fiscal of this Province, hath complained that the Schout of this city of New Orange has been necessitated to institute suits before the Court of said city, on and against Dirck Janse van Deventer, alias Smit, on account of the affronts and threats offered and made to Lieutenant Carel Quirinsen when commanding officer of the guard, whereupon the Court aforesaid did in like manner pronounce judgment on the l7th January last, whereby said Fiscal, as conservator of the laws of this Province, finds himself most gravely prejudiced, because said Court did not comprehend the case according to its justice or merits, praying, therefore, that an appeal be granted in the case. You are, accordingly, hereby commissioned to summon, in the name of the supreme government, the said Dirck Janse van Deventer to appear at the next meeting of the Governor-General and Council of New Netherland, which shall be holden in Fort Willem Hendrick on the 15th day of this current month of February, to answer the complaint to be by the appellant then and there lodged against the Deft. with intimation to those of said Court also on the same day to come or to send an attorney to witness the annulment, approval, correction or modification of said judgment as shall be found to be according to law; further commanding in the name of said supreme government to suspend the execution of said judgment until parties shall be heard and it be ordered otherwise; leaving copies hereof both for the behoof of the Defendant as of those intimated, and reporting to me your proceedings. Done Fort Willem Hendrick, this 14th February, 1674.