Document: Ordinance|Director General and Council against brawling in New Amsterdam

The Director General and Council daily learn to their regret, that their former ordinance, relating to quarrelling, fighting, and beating each other, is not observed and obeyed, agreeably to their good intentions, but that some reckless persons transgress it for the sake of a single insulting word, because of the smallness of the fine, imposed by the former ordinance. This is proved by the fact, that some people do not hesitate, to say even in the presence of the Officer: "Oh, it costs only one pound Flemish in wampum." To prevent this and further accidents from such quarrels, the said Director General and Council hereby strictly forbid the making of noise on the streets, quarrelling, hitting each other, because such things can only cause provocation and trouble, even murder, under the penalty, that the transgressor hereof shall pay as fine for a simple blow with the fist 25 fl. and if he causes blood to flow four times as much and if it happens in the presence of the Officer, of a Burgomaster or Schepen double the amount to be applied as is proper. Let everybody heed this and guard against loss.
Thus done etc., December 25, 1657.