Document: Ordinance against exporting goods without a permit

Whereas the director general and council of New Netherland are informed and learn, that the ordinances and edicts heretofore enacted and frequently renewed against the bringing on board and embarking of goods and merchandises without the knowledge of the fiscal or his deputy, are not observed as they ought to be, whereby the honorable company is subjected to serious loss of revenue, wherein, then, it is necessary to provide. Therefore, the director general and council of New Netherland hereby order that the above-mentioned ordinances and edicts be held in stricter observance, and, further that no man, of whatever condition he may be, shall attempt to load any goods or merchandises, however named, in any barges, boats, scows or other craft, in order to transport them on board of the return ships or any other vessels, before and until the same are duly recorded with the fiscal or his substitute, and a permit to load them be obtained, on pain of confiscation of such goods as shall be found shipped without a proper permit. Let everyone be warned hereby and take heed against loss.

Done at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 24th of August 1657.