Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discreet Lords:
My Lords, your letter dated the 6th of this month arrived on the 14th by way of Claes Janssen Ruyter. I was pleased to hear of your good health. We shall dutifully obey the order for a day of prayer and fasting at the proper time.
I have received no news of the ship de Bever. I hope that God has granted it a safe journey.
My last letters to you were dated the first and 7th of this month. I hope that you have received them.
On the 10th of this month Mr. d'Hinojosse sent me the enclosed documents, to which I responded. On the 11th he informed me through the messenger that he had the ship's manifest and if I wanted it that I could get it. I replied that I would have needed it immediately since now most of the private goods have already been unloaded. Nevertheless, I requested it. About 2 or 3 hours later I sent one of our soldiers for it. He was told that it would be copied; and I received it on Monday, the 13th. In the meantime, I had received a list on the 11th from the supercargo which had been taken from the list or records kept by the pilot while loading the ship. Therefore, I have not been able to perform my duty to investigate smuggling because Mr. d'Hinojosse withheld the general manifest from me until almost all the private goods had been unloaded. Although not much merchandise has been unloaded here, it is my opinion that it was his duty to inform me immediately upon arrival that he was in possession of the manifest.
They offer the City's warehouse or magazine which is at present completely unsuitable and unsound; it is also filled with hay, straw, cattle and sheep so that the goods would not be secure at all. It is also presently not possible to hoist goods into the magazine through the high wall; instead, Mr. d'Hinojosse has to haul the City's goods a considerable distance from there with oxen and wagons because there are no draymen to be found. Therefore, the sailors have to transfer everything out of the boat into the beach; consequently, the unloading makes little progress. Also, since their arrival, the weather has been very unpredictable with storms, winds, frost and blizzards, so that because of the ice flow it was necessary on the 17th to haul the ship to the wall.
It has been reported that the Hoerekil will be abandoned and the City's soldiers here will be discharged.
The City's surgeon, Willem Rasenborgh, has been discharged, inasmuch as he told us that he was leaving the service on the 4th of this month. I await your orders whether I should henceforth employ the City's [ surgeon ], or Dr. Tymen Stodden since both have offered their services.
The Sinnekus are still at war with the Minquasen. These River Indians are in such a state of fear that they have not hunted as usual this winter, causing a poor trade.
Herewith goes Domine Aegidius Luyck together with your letters and private letters from Holland, since the skipper still does not want to depart.
I shall send you my account book with the ship, de Purmerlander Kerck.
In the meantime, I commend you to God's protection, remaining, after wishing you a long life and peaceful administration,
