6.

In the taking of informations, he shall exert himself honestly and legally to scrutinize matters to the utmost, with all their circumstances, to establish in writing the truth thereof in the strictest and purest manner, noting therein, as well the points of defence of the prisoners and accused persons, as the accusations against them ; provided always that what most concerns the interest of the Company therein must first of all be inquired into.

So far as I have taken information, I have, without boasting, acted honestly and legally therein; the informations, among others, taken by me against Cornells van Tienhoven, who hath brought from Holland to this country a young woman named Lysbeth Hoochvelt, under promise of marriage, and had carnal conversation with her, both in Holland and on board of ship, notwithstanding he has here a married wife and against the skipper of the Wattrhond, in ;

which Tienhoven and the above named Lysbeth came over together, for having opened the sugar prize rather freely. This, the Director, the Minister Megapolensis and the Director's needy Councillors have endeavored and sought to oppose in every way and by all sinister practices, and so well were their mouths sweetened out of the said sugar prize, that Tienhoven is become so sweet to them that they cannot taste any bitterness in him, for to uphold his

character they have made him Fiscal; but the poison now making itself manifest in this sweetness, it appears that they will experience a heavy and severe purgation. I hope God will yet punish the presumption of the notoriously wicked, and the oppression of the innocent and guileless. In other cases where the interests of the Hon"" Company were concerned, such as, among the rest, that of Cornelis Melyn and the ship the Forluyn, I must take the