Document: Protest against certain parties who have settled without authority at Matinnekonck, or Martin Gerritsen's bay, L. I.

[I, Cornelis van Tienhoven, as fiscal of the province of New Netherland ex officio legal guardian of the] authority [ and jurisdiction, by commission of their high ] mightinesses the lords states [ general of the United Netherlands and the lords directors of the Chartered ] West India Company, lords [ and patroons of New Netherland ] conferred [ upon and entrusted ] to their honors Petrus St[ uyvesant ][ , director general, and the high ] council of New Netherland, have been ordered by the aforesaid lords [ director general and ] high councilors to come to you here at your place and [ to inform ] and make known to you that you and all concerned have settled within the boundaries of [ New Netherland ] upon lands purchased by the Dutch nation from the native owners and proprietors, paid for and occupied by them a long time and named by the subjects of New Netherland. Therefore, in the name and on behalf of the aforesaid high mightinesses, the lords states general and the honorable lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, I give notice to you that upon this aforesaid land you do not continue to build, clear land, feed cattle, but in [left blank] days after the serving hereof depart from the jurisdiction of New Netherland with all your people, servants, slaves, furniture, livestock, implements, and everything that you your nation have brought here, on pain that, if you or any of yours after the date of the aforesaid time are found here contrary to this order, I, ex officio, shall proceed against you and those whom it may necessarily concern, meanwhile I protest against all damages, misfortune, mishaps, and tragedies likely to arise herefrom, declaring before God and the world to be innocent thereof. Thus etc.[1]