On the following conditions the director general and councilors of New Netherland intend, according to the praiseworthy customs and ordinances of our fatherland, to farm out to the highest bidder the excise on wine and beer for the coming year in this city of New Amsterdam’s juridiction on the tavernkeepers [ ], namely:
He who is farmer of the aforesaid [ ] shall receive from the tavernkeepers and tappers, living within the jurisdiction of this city of New Amsterdam, for excise on wine and beer to be consumed by them in the coming year, as follows:
The lease shall begin on the morning of the first of December and terminate in 1656 on the first of December.
The farmer shall be obligated to pay each quarter one equal fourth part of the promised impost, and to post two sufficient sureties for the amounts promised by him.
Warnaer Wessels has been publically made farmer of the aforesaid excise, on all the foregoing conditions, for the sum of five thousand and thirty guilders pledged.
Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra. In witness whereof signed by them.
Today Isarel Bensen Valck has taken the following oath administered by the honorable fiscal Cornelis van Tienhoven, and has been appointed provost marshal:
I promise their high mightinesses, the lords states general of the United Netherlands as my highest authority and the honorable lords directors of the chartered West India Company, under the direction of the honorable Petrus Stuyvesant, director general of New Netherland, Curasao, Bonayro etc., to be loyal and faithful, and to obey, heed, and observe to the letter the instructions already given to me or to be given, together with the commands of the lord director general aforesaid or of his successor, as a good and faithful provost marshal is obliged and beholden to do;
SO TRULY HELP ME GOD ALMIGHTY.
