Copy
To the honorable lords, the honorable lords councilors and appointed burgomasters and old schepen of this city of Amsterdam in New Netherland.
My lords,
It is well known to your honors and the entire community of this province that for some time now many complaints have been made to your honors and me, ex officio, concerning larceny and burglary, to which some of the good inhabitants, to their detriment, are susceptible. Upon such knowledge and complaints, I have tried as much as possible, pursuant to my charge and duty, to discover the burglars and thieves; after proper investigation I found that the person of Hans Breyer, presently a prisoner, both in his confession and through the testimony of others, as appears in the attached papers before your honors, has misled young boys, and urged and encouraged them commit larceny, as follows here in the bill of particulars:
1. It was learned from him and affirmed by the confession of Pieter Woutersz, his accomplice, that he had broken into the roof of Jan Vinje’s brewhouse and that Pieter Woutersen climbed through it. While he stood guard Pieter Woutersz [ ] the malt [ ]
2. That Hans Breyer [ ] stole during the night [ ] Jan Garbou and other people [ ] Breyer being on the ship de Peereboom [ ] at the service of his [ ] to have the watch and supervision [ ] rightfully should not be sold [ ] had stolen [ ] room [ ] and munitions [ ] sold to others, and cunningly deprived the sailors of some smuggled wine, having [ appropriated ] it for himself without informing your honors or the officer of so doing.
3. Also, that he left his quarters and assigned place in Fort Amsterdam during the night, and in the company of Jan Garbou stole some chickens at Sergeant Daniels’ and in Smits Valey.
4. Also, the aforesaid Hans Breyer fetched Pieter Woutersz from his work and directed him to steal a gun from the house of Tomas Marichal, which gun he rolled in the mire at the strand, saying that it had been lost by the Indians.
And whereas all his accomplices, being thieves (as is he, the prisoner) declare that he, Hans Breyer solicited them for thievery, and they confess to have committed larceny with him by breaking into houses, stealing of malt, kettles and chickens; it is thus for this reason that I, ex officio, the aforesaid Hans Breyer, being previous to his confinement a cadet in the lord general’s company, in die service of the country, and not to injure the citizens in their persons or possessions by breaking into their houses and by robbing and stealing of their possessions, turn to your honors and request that the aforesaid Hans Breyer, being a soldier who has acted contrary to his oath and duty, and who has seduced other young soldiers and tried to seduce [ ]
[several lines lost]
[ ] be punished [ ] [ ] an example so that [ ] [ ] satisfaction [ ] the citizen [ ] [ ] frequently happens, which in these parts of the world is deemed highly necessary so that everyone may possess his property in peace, and the authorities and the honorable militia are not blamed.
Ady ut supra in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. (below was written:) Your honors etc. (and was signed:) Cornelis van Thienhoven.
