Text of document:
The humble petition of Richard Mills, to the Hon. High Court of the Manhattas, held 9th of June, 1663, showeth: --

That whereas, your honors have continued anger against me about some writings that were in my custody, I owne unto your honors that I did not well to embrace the receipt of, though thereunto importuned, my proper calling being to act in another sphere, and doe see cause to blame myself for undertaking to keep them; and as for Richard Ponton, his carrying them away, I assure your honors that I never gave order to him or any others, measure soe to do; neither did I acquaint him directly or indirectly where I should hide them. I so doing, prepared that I might be sure to have them when forced to send for them, which I can freely take my oath unto when called hereunto, wherefore I humbly beseech your honor's wrath towards me may be purified, and freedom to me granted, soe as that I may proceed in my lawful calling, the short time I have to stay in these parts, being bound for Virginia in September next, humbly crave pardon for what I have done amiss. I remain your honor's petitioner and prisoner,

RICHARD MILLS

Source: Council Minutes, Volume 10, Part 2, New York State Archives.
[Note: Many documents were damaged in a fire in the New York State Library in 1911. However, the original Dutch documents survived, with various degrees of fire damage, and are now stored in the New York State Archives. The New Netherland Project, under the leadership of Dr. Charles Gehring, is translating, transcribing, and publishing all Dutch documents in New York repositories relating to New Netherland.]
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