Document: Ordinance empowering the court of New Amsterdam to take cognizance of criminal offenses punishable by branding and whipping

The director general and councilors of New Netherland[i], in amplification of the instructions given and granted to the schout, burgomasters and schepenen of the city of Amsterdam in New Netherland, do permit and authorize the aforesaid court to pass sentence and carry out, to the extent of branding and whipping inclusive, in all cases of misdemeanor and criminal offenses of a minor character, and execute the same, unless the condemned person appeals, which he shall be bound to do within the space of twenty-four hours after the sentence is pronounced, and, in case, after the revision of the proceedings, the sentence pronounced by the court aforesaid is confirmed by the director general and councilors, or something will be changed, the same shall be carried out on the prisoner by the schout, burgomasters and schepenen. Thus done and engrossed in the session of the director general and councilors, held in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 21st of December anno 1656.