Document: Answer of director and council to the remonstrance of the merchants of New Amsterdam

Reply to the foregoing by the director and council.Let it serve as a reply that when last Friday the petitioners were summoned to appear in person at the session, the director-general and council directed them to prove specifically the leakage, and produce substantial reasons why they could not sell their goods for the prices fixed by ordinance, and whether 120 percent above initial cost for necessary goods and merchandise, which are subject to little or no decay, was not sufficient at the present time. As no attention has been paid to this in the present petition, the director-general and council order the petitioners again to demonstrate and prove specifically by which goods and merchandise they find themselves most injured, and by which the petitioners have suffered the most losses at sea and leakage; also, on what goods and merchandise they cannot afford a charge of 120 percent for the same reasons. Thus done in council. Present were: the director-general. Dr. Nicasius de Sille, Mr. Werckhoven, Mr. La Montangnie, Fiscal Cornelis van Thienhoven. 25 November 1653 in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland; below stood: By order of the director-general and council;

Cornelis van Ruyven