[Footnote 2: Augustin Herrman was a Bohemian of Prague, who had served in Wallenstein's army, had come out to New Netherland in 1633 as agent of a mercantile house of Amsterdam, and had become an influential merchant. A man of varied accomplishments, he made for Lord Baltimore a fine map of Maryland, and received as his reward the grant of Bohemia Manor.]

Acknowledged before me, CORNELIS VAN TIENHOVEN, Secretary.

Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period — Part 24

_5. Affidavit: the Capture of the Tabasco. July 25 (N.S.), 1649._[1]

Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period — Part 24

[Footnote 1: New York State Archives, Dutch Manuscripts, vol. III., p. 44.]

Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period — Part 24

Wy ondergeschreven (alle t'samen gevaren hebbende met d'fregat de _la garce_ daer Capetain op is Willem Albertsz Blaeuvelt, gecruyst hebbende inde West Indisch) attesteeren, getuigen ende verclaren in plaets ende belofte van Solemneelen Eede, des noots synde, hoe dat waer ende waerachtich is, dat wy verovert hebben inde reviere van Tabasko een bercke genaemt _Tabasko_ vande Spanjaerde, welcke spanjaerden ons niet vermaende van eenige vreede noch treves die tusschen den Coninck van Spanje ende haere H. Mo. gemaeckt soude syn geweest, noch dat wy van geene vreede geweeten noch gehoort hebben. Alle t'welcke wy ondergeschreven verclaren alsoo waer ende waerachtich te weesen, presenteerende t'selve, des noots synde, altoos met Eede te verifieeren. Ady desen 25en July a'o 1649. N. Amst.

dit ist [X] marck van HENDRICK ARENTSZ, Luytenant. KEMPO SYBADA. RAIPH CLARCK. dit merc _eese_ is gestelt by ANTONY DE MOEDES, Spaenjaert.

We the undersigned, having all voyaged together in the frigate _La Garce_, of which Willem Albertsz Blaeuvelt is captain, having cruised in the West Indies, testify, witness, and declare, in place and under promise of solemn oath if need be, that it is true and certain, that we captured from the Spaniard, in the river of Tabasko,[2] the bark named _Tabasko_, which Spaniard did not notify us of any peace or truce concluded between the King of Spain and their High Mightinesses, nor had we known or heard of any peace.[3] All which we the undersigned declare to be true and certain, offering also if need be to verify it under oath. This 25th of July, 1649, in New Amsterdam.

[Footnote 2: A river of southern Mexico, flowing into the Gulf of Campeche; in all but its lower portion it is now called the Grijalva.]