Furthermore, all persons are hereby notified that no one shall undertake to sail with boats or other vessels to Fort Orange, the South river or Fort De Hoop without a permit from the honorable director and, coming thence, bringing with him clearances from the commissaries residing at the aforesaid places on the part of the Company; and in case it be found that any one has been at the places above named without order as aforesaid, such vessel and the goods laden therein shall be confiscated for the benefit of the Company and the person shall in addition be fined such sum as according to the merits of the case shall be deemed proper.
And all our dear and faithful commissaries who are in authority at the places where these presents are sent are ordered and commanded to post the same in the usual place. In order that every one may know the contents thereof and guard himself against loss.
Thus done and published in Fort Amsterdam, this 31st of March Anno. 1639.
On Thursday, being the 7th of April anno 1639
Ulrich Lupoldt, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Hans Steen, corporal, defendant. Plaintiff demands that the defendant be punished as a whoremonger ought to be punished, as at the guardhouse he has committed fornication according to the testimony of the following persons who, being on duty at the guardhouse, saw and heard as follows:
Balthasar Lourens from Hadderslee,[1] aged 23 years, soldier, declares that Hans Steen about three weeks ago lay with an Indian woman at the guardhouse.
Hans Fredrickx from Swynsont,[2] aged 20 years, soldier, declares in court that about three weeks ago Hans Steen, being with him on duty at the guardhouse, lay on the bunk with an Indian woman, the two being almost far enough apart for a man to have lain between them. Secondly, that on the voyage hither he hid a small brandy keg for Hans Steen in his chest, without knowing what was in it.
Hans Noorman from Dronten,[3] aged 20 years, soldier, declares that about two months ago he lay with Hans Steen in the guardhouse when an Indian woman came and laid her down on the other side of the said Steen, covering the said Hans Steen with her blanket. He has also seen here on shore a small keg, which according to his estimate contained two or three pounds of powder.
