[Text is continued in NYC-RNA_V1_038,039, 040, 041. Presented complete here for continuity. NAHC]
The Director General and Council of New Netherland to All, etc. Know ye, that it has been found by daily sad experiences, that formerly issued and several times renewed ordinances and proclamations against the desecration of the Lords Sabbath, the unseasonable tapping on the same day and at night after the guard has been mounted or the bell has been rung, the dangerous, yea damnable sale of or treating with wine, beer and strong waters, the baking and sale of coarse as well as small or white bread, are not, as was the good intention of the Director General and Council and as circumstances require it, regarded and obeyed to the insult of God's honor, to the injury and disturbance of the peace and rest of the inhabitants, as well as to the disregard of the position and authority of the higher and lower officers of this Province. The said Director General and Council therefore, wishing in obedience to their official duties and because it is necessary, to provide against these evils, renew with amplifications their former ordinances and proclamations and hereby forbid: First, that anybody shall on the Lord's day of rest, by us called Sunday, do the usual work of plowing, sowing, mowing, carpentering, woodsawing, forging, bleaching, hunting, shooting, or anything else, which on other days may be a lawful occupation, under the penalty of one pound Flemish, payable by each person [so offending], much less shall any idle and forbidden exercises and plays, excessive drinking bouts, the visiting of taverns and saloons, dancing, playing cards, backgammon or ticktack, ball, ninepins, pleasureboating, driving about in carts or wagons be carried on before or during divine service under a double fine; nor shall any tavern keeper or tapster keep open his place or sell to any one any brandy, wine, beer, or other liquor before or during the sermon, directly or indirectly under a penalty of 6 fl. for each guest, and each person, found drinking during said time shall pay a fine of 3 fl.; said tavernkeepers and tapsters shall also not be allowed to sell any drinks on Sundays or other days at night after guardmounting or bell ringing under the like penalty, except to his servants, boarders, or on public occasions with the consent and by order of the Magistrates. Second. Concerning the very dangerous, damaging and damnable selling or giving of wine or beer or liquor to savages or natives of this country, by which alone almost all the harm has come or at least is threatened and feared, wherever a drunken Indian is seen, the Director General and Council also renewing with additions their former ordinances, ordain and hereby command, that nobody, whatever his position or business may be, shall sell, exchange, give, fetch or cause to be fetched in or out of the house, on land or water, from any yacht, ship, boat or canoe, cart or wagon, by whatever name it may be called, directly or indirectly any beer, wine, brandy or other strong waters to any Indian under the penalty of 500 fl and besides arbitrary bodily punishment as well as banishment from the country. To promote and maintain the general peace and rest of the good inhabitants of this Province in their ships, and to discover any contravention of this order, all the higher and lower officials, free and salaried employees of the Company and the inhabitants of this Province are, on their oaths, admonished, required and charged to assist in discovering this so dangerous and damnable selling or giving of wine, beer and liquors or in default, when it is found, they knew of and did not report such sales to Indians, they are to pay one half of the fine. Furthermore, the Director General and Council aforesaid being credibly informed of the sutlering and selling of wine, beer and liquors along the river by yachts, barks, scows, ships and canoes, going up or down, hereby not only strictly forbid such sutlering and selling, but also ordain and command, that no skipper, master of a bark, of a scow or of a canoe nor any free or bound inhabitant of whatever name, nation, position, or occupation shall henceforth either for himself or for anybody else in any kind of vessel load and take as freight any beer, wine or strong water in large or small casks, not even in cans, demijohns or bottlecase, before first reporting the true quantity thereof to the Officer* of the place, where such wine, beer or liquor is shipped and loaded and receiving from said Officer a certificate, stating the quantity and quality of the casks or other vessels with wine etc to be taken along and the name of the consignee: be is bound to return the receipt of the consignee and the proper certificate of the Officer at the place, where it has been countersigned by the receiver of the goods, all under the penalty of losing the concealed wine etc and a fine of 500 fl. for the first time and confiscation of his yacht, bark, scow etc the second time.*Schout or Sheriff. Third. As regards the baking and selling coarse and white bread, both not of proper weight nor at the fixed prices, the Director General and Council renew and amplify their former order on this subject, ordaining and commanding, that all bakers and other inhabitants, who make it their business to bake or sell bread, be it to Christians or savages, shall be held, as well for the advantage of the Christians as for the sake of the profits arising from it, to bake once or twice a week coarse as well as white bread for Christians and Indians at the following weights and prices:
COARSE BREAD MUST WEIGH:
A double loaf 8 lbs and be sold at 14 stivers the loaf.
A single loaf 4 lbs and be sold at 7 stivers the loaf.
A half loaf 2 lbs and be sold at 3-1/2 stivers the loaf.
WHITE BREAD MUST WEIGH:
A double loaf 2 lbs and be sold at 8 stivers the loaf.
A single loaf 1 lbs and be sold at 4 stivers the loaf.
A half loaf ½ lbs and be sold at 2 stivers the loaf.
If it is found, that bread lighter in weight is sold without the previous knowledge, order or consent of the Magistrates or at a higher price, such bread is to be confiscated and besides a fine of 25 pounds Flemish shall be levied for the first time, double the amount for the second time and for the third offense 600 fl. with absolute closing of the business. Further the bakers and people, who make it their business to sell coarse or white bread to Christians and Indians, shall not be allowed to mix sifted out bran in large or small quantities with the coarse bread, but bake such bread from flour as it comes from the mills nor shall they bake different kinds of bread for Christians and Indians, as it has formerly been specified, under the same penalty as above, the decision resting on the judgment of the respective Courts, each in their jurisdiction, and of such persons, who assume to be experts in bread.Fourth. Having been informed of and considering, that frauds may occur as well in the tapping as in the baking business and excuses be made to cover them, because so far no guild nor certain number is known, therefore to prevent such frauds, the Director General and Council ordain, that henceforth no one shall be allowed to do business as tapster or baker, unless he has first addressed himself to the Magistrates, under whose jurisdiction he lives and has received from them a license for the business, which all tavernkeepers and bakers must have renewed quarterly, beginning on the first of November next, paying therefor for the behoof of the respective Courts one pound Flemish and notorious and insolent transgressors are to be suspended from business. The above specified fines are to be applied one third for the Officer, who makes the charge, one third for the church or the poor and one third for the public weal and that all this may be better known, observed and carried out and nobody may pretend ignorance the Director General and Council hereby order and charge, that these presents shall be published and affixed at the usual places of such publications and after having been thus affixed be carried out and observed without grace or favor or consideration of the offenders position, for thus we have decreed it for the service of the Fatherland and the peace of our good inhabitants here. Thus done etc., October 26, 1656.
