Document: Petition of burgomasters and schepens of New Amsterdam in support of the merchants' request to trade with foreign countries

The burgomasters of the city of New Amsterdam in New Netherland show your honors with all humility how a certain humble plea was brought into their court, signed by some of the burghers and inhabitants, here enclosed, and how they were requested to petition your honors to please lend them a helping hand. And whereas we do not doubt your honors’ good inclination for the benefit of the burghers and inhabitants, being assured that your honors don’t have in mind anything but the well-being and prosperity of this province and justnow-budding place and its good burghers and inhabitants, we request your honors to support the inhabitants herein and to help them, and that through your honors’ authority and recommendation to the lords directors as patrons of this province and city, they, petitioners, will be allowed by their honors to undertake whatever is best for this place. Relying thereon, we remain, your honorable lords, your honors’ subjects, the burgomasters of the aforementioned city. (lower stood) By order of the honorable lords burgomasters of the aforementioned city (was signed) Joannes Nevius, secretar. (Dated in the margin) in Amsterdam in New Netherland, 11 September 1658.[i]