Document: RESOLUTION to raise the siege on fort on St. Martin

Resolution drawn up in the encampment before St. Martijn.

Whereas we, the undersigned director and officers, have now continued the seige on the fort on the island of St. Martin 28 days, hoping (as was our intention) to seize the same, because we understood from the two prisoners, whom we took the first day, that they had little food; therefore, we intended to starve them out, not being able to gain any advantage by bombardment and storming, except to consume gunpowder, lead and balls, and to place the soldiers in a dangerous and lethal situation. Even this has miscarried because last night the enemy was assisted by a bark which now lies behind the fort and has been unloading the entire morning. Therefore, we the undersigned realize that the recent resupply of the fort gives us no chance to capture the same and it is to be feared that if they receive more relief of food and soldiers every day from Puerto Rico and other places, with us being only three hundred strong on land, both soldiers as well as sailors, and they having about two hundred men in the fort, then it could result in a bad ending, with them being able to land troops on all sides of the island without our knowledge and cut us off; also, our recently enlisted personnel and volunteers have laid down their arms today because of some discontent over their ensign. Whereas they will neither be satisfied with him nor obey his commands, we have unanimously decided and resolved to withdraw this coming night; also, to take everything which we can and whereas we are not able to retrieve the five metal and one small iron pieces located on the hill, we shall spring them if it is possible. Thus done and resolved at the encampment on the island of St. Martijn, 16 4/1644; was signed:

Jacob Lopper
Jan Claessen Small
Roger Johnson
Jan Sijmonsen
Jan Claessen
Jacob Matthijsen van Riethoven
Q. P van Seventer
Pieter Pietersen
Pouwelus Leenders
Willem Cornelissen Oudemarckt

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections], Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement]