Document: Answer of Mr. Van Renselaer to Johannes de Decker's protest

[several lines lost] the lord commies at Fort Orange, regarding what [ ] was given [ ] in order to [ ] in custody the disobedient tappers [ ] tappers and [ ] to bring them there.

Upon summons Jan Baptista van Renselaer personally appeared at the session; the foregoing was carefully read aloud word for word and asked whether it had happened thus; whereupon he answered, yes, there having occurred various pro and con arguments about it between the lord director general and councilors and the aforesaid Renselaer; finally, the aforesaid Renselaer requested that the well-known tappers in question not be assailed; that he stood in their stead, promising furthermore to satisfy the impost master of the tappers excise, as it is understood by impartial parties that they pay the excise and post sufficient security for whatever the director general and councilors had to claim against the tappers in question, with regard to the excise on wines and beers until such time he receives a directive on this matter from the fatherland. Whereupon he departed the session, saying that he would submit his response in writing to the director general and councilors. Dated as above.