[The director general and councilors of New Netherland, to all those who see, or hear this read, greetings.[i]
Whereas it is seen and found by experience that our previously enacted and] frequently [ renewed ordinances and ] edicts [ against the desecration ] of the Lord’s Sabbath; against [ tapping and ] setting buffets after the ringing of the evening bell at nine o’clock; against the sale of strong drink, either wine, beer or distilled spirits to wilden in houses, or out of yachts, barks, sloops, canoes, or on shore along the rivers; against exporting or importing diverse merchandises, either outside of or within this province without these having been duly declared, at which arise many frauds and smuggling; against non-anchoring, discharging or loading of any ships, yachts or barks, beyond the gates and walls of this city, and the hoist erected for that purpose, and disembarking and boarding the ship after sunset and before sunrise; against driving and galloping with wagons, carts or sleighs, all [ of which ] and more other well-meant and enacted and repeatedly renewed placards, by lapse of time, have all fallen into disuse and neglect; they are not observed and obeyed according to the tenor thereof in any way. Therefore, the director general and councilors still comprehending the necessity of them, hereby ordain, command and renew:
First, that no person, of whatever rank or nation he may be, shall, [ within this province ] on the Sabbath or Lord’s day of rest, [ commonly called Sunday by us, or during divine service, entertain any company, or ] be allowed to buy and sell, give or receive, [ directly or indirectly, ] on the said day under whatever pretext, [ any wine, beer, or strong drink in any tavern, or ] perform or carry on any trade or business, much less go or ride for pleasure in boats, carts or wagons, on the penalty and fine heretofore affixed thereto, and last renewed and proclaimed here in front [ of the city hall ] on the 26th of October 1656.[ii]
Secondly, no person shall, directly or indirectly, within this province under any pretext whatsoever, sell, give, or offer to any wilden any wine, beer, or strong drink, either on land or water, from houses, yachts, barks, boats or canoes; which, that it may be the better prevented, no person shall be permitted, in accordance with the previously enacted and renewed ordinance, dated as aforesaid, namely 26 October 1656, to embark, or take with him any wine, beer, or strong drink, in any bark, boat or canoe, not even for his own provision, unless he has previously declared the same with the officer of the place where he embarks it, and that in its true quantity and quality, on pain of forfeiting what is concealed and five times the value thereof, he remaining bound to exhibit on his return a receipt of delivery of the declared and embarked liquors, in conformance with the ordinance thereupon enacted and renewed as aforesaid, dated 26 October 1656.
[ Thirdly, the director general and councilors hereby renew, ordain and command that no person shall ship or embark, ] much less [ carry out of or within this ] province, [ any goods or merchandises, of whatsoever nature they may be, ] without declaring the true quality and quantity thereof, and having them inspected according to the [ entry ] by the fiscal [cercher] or any other official by the director general and councilors, authorized, or hereafter to be authorized, for that purpose. In like manner, also, no goods or merchandise coming in from outside shall be discharged neither here nor elsewhere within this province, unless their true quantity and quality has been declared as before, on pain of forfeiting the concealed goods; in case the undeclared or concealed goods are found to be contraband, five times the value in addition. In order to prevent all pleas of ignorance, the director general and councilors sufficiently warn everyone that, in conformity to superior orders to discover fraud and smuggling, they will exercise, and cause to be exercised, stricter care and attention in the searching and examining of ships, barks and yachts, both at this place and also during sailing up and down the rivers, when and where they shall think proper, and the opportunity shall present itself.
Fourthly, the director general and councilors renew and ordain that the common roadstead and [anchoring place for all ships, yachts, ketches, sloops, barks etc. shall be on the East River between the hoist and the Capske; on the North River in front of and near the beavers’ trail;[iii] at which roadstead and anchorage all ships,] yachts, ketches, sloops, and barks, weather, wind and tide permitting, shall come to anchor and remain lying there during their unloading and loading, without directly or indirectly unloading or loading any goods beyond the gates of this city; and that by daylight, between sunrise and sunset, before and after which no goods or merchandises shall be discharged or taken on board, or any boats or scows may go to or leave the vessel, except by special permission, upon the fine formerly enacted therefor.
Fifthly, the director general and councilors renew and ordain that no person shall, on the arrival of any ships, whether from the fatherland or elsewhere, dare to go on board immediately upon their arrival, either while yet under sail or lying at anchor, before or until the fiscal or a deputy of the director general and councilors has been on board, and the letters are received and delivered to the lord general, on the penalty of twenty-five guilders. And, whereas by such untimely boarding and delivering of letters, many mistakes occur and many complaints are made that letters and manifests are lost, the director general and councilors [ ordain that neither the skippers nor the supercargoes shall deliver any letters except such as belong to the director general and councilors, to any person, before and until a ] proper [ list is made of the letters brought with them whether at sea or in port, in order to be sent according to said list to the right man or owner. For the trouble of ] making out the list and numbering, [ the ship’s ] supercargo may demand and receive three stivers for each letter.[iv]
Sixthly, and for this time lastly, the director general and councilors ordain that no person shall gallop or drive within the gates and walls of this city with any wagon, cart or sleigh, and no driver shall sit on such wagons, carts or sleighs whether drawn by oxen or horses, but walk alongside the same, and if he shall be caught and found sitting or standing thereon, he shall pay a fine of one pound Flemish, and be prohibited from using such wagon, cart, or sleigh and the draft animals thereof for six weeks.[v]
In order that everything may be the better known, practiced and observed, and that no person may plead ignorance henceforth in this regard, the director general and councilors hereby order and command that this shall be published and posted everywhere that publication is usually made, and thereafter observed and executed without any favor or respect of persons, as we [find such to be for the good of the country, and for the welfare and greater tranquility of the good inhabitants.
Thus done and renewed in the session held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 12th of June 1657.] Published and posted on 13 June.
