Document: Order confiscating the four New England ships brought in by capt. Ewoutsen

At a Council holden in Fort Willem Hendrick, 30th November, 1673.

The Governor-General and the Honorable Council of War having taken into further consideration the attachment dated 26th instant, placed on the four English ketches and their cargoes brought in here from New England by Captain Cornelis Ewoutse, and finding that said ketches belong to subjects of England actually in open war against our state, whose subjects under the command of one Captain Thomas Dudson, now lately in New England, have captured from us in the neighborhood of Nantucket and there carried off a certain flyboat named the Expectatie, which was last commanded by Captain Martin Vonck, Therefore, we, in virtue of our commission, find ourselves obliged all the said four ketches named the Providence, of Salem, whereof Richard Hollingworth was the last owner and Commander; item, the ketch named the Neptune, of Piscattaway, David Kelles, Commander, and the property of Richard Cotts; item, the ketch named the Nightingale, of Salem, John Ingersol, Commander, belonging to John Graftin; item, the ketch named Friends Supply, of Boston, Thomas Bearch, owner and Commander, to declare subject to confiscation and forfeiture, as we do hereby confiscate said four ketches, with all their masts, sails, anchors, cables, appurtenances and their cargoes belonging to the subjects of the King of England, for the behoof of our Lords Majors, to dispose thereof from now henceforth as shall be considered most advantageous for our Lords Principals. Done as above.