Therefore, in order to complain of the abovementioned frivolous, unfounded judgment, as well as to institute his further action which he hath against the abovenamed Secretary, the petitioner humbly applies to your High Mightinesses, respectfully requesting that you would be pleased to appoint time and place for the said Secretary to appear and to hear such demand and conclusion as your petitioner shall make against him as principal, and as attorney, as the same shall then be found requisite. Wherefore the petitioner, most respectfully, and with all humility, prays that your High Mightinesses will be pleased to help him, for once, to the speedy expedition of his good right, and to take into consideration that your petitioner hath now groped such a length of time,

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V, 349

since the year 1643, in tins labyrinth without any error or fault of his, for the advancement of the public interests, being, in the meanwhile, obliged to neglect, for so long a time, his private affairs and family, being burdened with six children, and to encounter, to his excessive cost and great injury, all sorts of vexation and trouble in iiis private affairs, on account of a public matter so entirely just ; therefore the petitioner will respectfully expect your High Mightinesses' favorable postil and speedy conclusion, inasmuch as the time for returning back draws nigh. Which doing, &c.

(Tn the margin was:) The States General of the United iNetherlands have, upon previous deliberation, placed this with the papers annexed, in the hands of Mess" van Aertsbergen and other their petition, High Mightinesses' Deputies for the West India Company's aff'airs, to inspect and to examine them, and to hear and understand the petitioner and Secretary van Tienhoven, who is at present here at the Hague, again and again, and to make a report on the whole matter to their High Mightinesses.