Document: Petition of Michiel Tadens that his sentence of banishment may be commuted to a fine

To the highly esteemed lord director general and lords councilors in New Netherland.

Michiel Tadens, prisoner, shows with all due humility that he understands that their esteemed honors would have resolved, because of the petitioner’s crime of having sold brandy to the Indiaen, to banish him publicly from this province, which will lead to his and his family’s total ruin; therefore, it is such that he, the petitioner, most humbly is turning to your most highly esteemed honors with the humble request that their highly esteemed honors, in keeping with their customary loving kindness, out of mercy, and not according to the law, for this time, rescind the planned banishment of his person, trusting with his whole heart that their esteemed honors never have been inclined to the ruination of any of their subjects; requesting and praying to their highly esteemed honors that the planned banishment might be changed to a monetary punishment at the discretion of their esteemed honors, because banishment would lead to the total ruin of him, petitioner, his wife, and children, besides the infamy with which he, being still young, would have to live; and whereas he, petitioner, has lived here in this land for 14 to 15 years, and without boasting, has always comported himself as a quiet and peaceful inhabitant, except for this mistake, praying once more from his whole heart that their highly esteemed honors, for the above mentioned reasons shall be pleased for this time, out of mercy for him, petitioner, not institute the first example, promising, and [ ready ] to confirm such under oath, [ ] for the rest of his days to make such a mistake, or if he does otherwise, to suffer the most severe punishment, praying therefore most humbly that their highly esteemed honors be pleased to consent to his, petitioner’s, request, which doing I remain, Your highly esteemed honors most humble subject (was signed:) Michiel Tadens.