from their subjects, who must say what you please, are, in my opinion of no value and, as I, therefore, conclude, of no force in law. In case, then, all the documents proceedings and declarations, or one or any of them, which are to be used in law against me, are detained from me ; and in case they are refused me, and copies of the papers and documents are not furnished, as heretofore has been the case, I declare that I am deprived of, and excluded from the right

and proper means of justice and legal evidence, against rules and order to you well known. In like manner I do declare null, void, and of no effiict all acts, proceedings, affidavits and declarations whereof I have not obtained copies here, and of which use shall hereafter be made against me, being utterly unworthy of consideration on account of the suspicion of being acknowledged in bad faith and, thirdly, against you, Petrus Stuyvesant, Director, individually, ;

and against all the members of the Court generally, do I protest for and on account of all damage and losses already suffered or yet to arise, from the omission and neglect of orders and instructions to do what is right and their High Mightinesses command and expressly ;

order you, in case you do not repent, to wit, sincerely and indeed, and not in fine phrases, as has hitherto been your case. Dated Manahatans, New Netherland, this 29"' July, 1649. (Signed) Cornelis Melyn.