Document: Proclamation|Director General and Council obliging small traders to reside in New Netherland for three consecutive years

WHEREAS the Honble Director General and Council have seen and learned, that many of the Scottish merchants and small traders, who from time to time come over in the ships from the Fatherland, do not nor intend to do anything else, but to injure trade with their underselling, by selling their goods quickly, giving 11 or 12 fl. in loose wampum for a beaver and having sold out returning in the ships, on which they came in the same year, without any benefit to the country, to the injury of the inhabitants, having houses and lots and bearing all burdens,—Therefore, to prevent such injury to the trade, it has been deemed advisable and useful for New Netherland and its inhabitants and it is ordered, that henceforth all merchants, Scots and small traders, who come over in the ships from the Fatherland and intend to trade here, be it with Christians or with heathens, in retail or wholesale, shall not be allowed to do any business in the country, unless they remain here in New Netherland for three consecutive years and besides build here, in the City of New Amsterdam, a decent burghers dwelling house, each according to his means: all traders and others, who engage to trade in a burghers house and remain three years shall be admitted, but not otherwise, (the supercargo or skipper of the ships of our Masters alone excepted), provided however, that they may not open a shop ashore. Thus done, present the Honble General, the Honble Dincklagen, Mons' la Montagne, Brian Nuton and Poulus Leendersen, this 18th of September, 1648, at New Amsterdam.