The latter, however, carry on a friendly trade with our Nation. 40.

The ships confiscated in New Netherland are the St. Fitter, during the administration of William Kieft; the :st. Beninjo, and the ship the Prins van Denmarcken, by Director Stuyvesant and Council, because the first had not observed his contract, and had articles of contraband ;

the other had come without license and without paying either duties or convoy, to trade within the limits of the charter granted to the Company by their High Mightinesses.

41.

Director Stuyvesant was so informed by Thomas Hall and Michiel Jansen, co-petitioners ; information having been given of the Journal he seized it, and is ready to communicate extracts therefrom. 42.

In consequence of housekeepers and other common people in New Netherland coming frequently before the court, with declarations drawn up by this or t'other sailor, and those

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 343 who had signed the declarations as deponents, when heard thereon, frequently asserting that the declarations were drawn up quite contrary to their meaning, it was ordered that no declarations should be of any force in that country unlessdrawn up by tlie Secretary or some other public persou qualified thereunto, but by no means with any such view as the petitioners represent.

43.

The Company's negroes, taken from the Spaniards, being all slaves, were, on account of their long services, manumitted on condition that tlieir children serve the Company whenever it pleased. Of all the children, no more than three are in service, viz., one, which Stuyvesant has with him on the Company's bouwerie one at the house, the Hope; one wench with ;