Document: Ordinance|Director General and Council to prevent New Year and May Day disruptions

The Director General and Council of N.N. to All etc.  We have learned by experience, that on New Years Day and Mayday the firing of guns, the planting of Maypoles and the intemperate drinking cause, besides the useless waste of powder, much drunkenness and other insolent practices with sad accidents of bodily injury and to prevent this in the future the Director General and Council strictly forbid within the Province of New Netherland, the firing of guns on New Years and Mayday, the planting of Maypoles, the noisy beating of drums and the treating with wine, brandy or beer and they do so, to prevent further mishaps, under a fine of 12 fl. for the first time, double the amount for the second time and arbitrary correction for the third offense, to be divided 1/3 to the officer, 1/3 to the poor and 1/3 for the informer. We hereby also order all inferior Courts in the Province to publish and affix these presents at the usual place and to carry out this order.
Thus done etc.

December 31 1655. Signed: C. van Ruysen, Secry.