Document: Minute of the appearance of farmers on Manhattan Island excusing themselves from paying the tenths

[several lines lost] Backer [ ] Tomas [ ] Stille, Augustinus Heermans, Egbert Woutersen, [ Dir ]ck Siecken, Jan Vinge, Joris Homs, Pieter vande Linde, Cornelis Arisz. The aforestated persons, all having farms or plantations on this island of Manhatans, appearing upon summons at this session, are informed of the order of the lords directors that the long-overdue tenths must be paid this summer, and they are given notice to leave the tenths standing in the field.

After the proposition was made they responded, because of the recent encounters with the Indiaenen, they had suffered great losses, sown their seed this year at great expense and danger to their lives, and that they had sown so little that it would scarcely cover the costs expended therein. Therefore they request to be excused. Dated as above.