Document: Ordinance|Director General and Council requiring parties to marry after publication of their banns

The Director General and Council of N.N. are not only informed, but also notice, that some persons do not proceed with the solemnization of their marriage as they ought to, even after the bans have properly been proclaimed three times, but delay it from time to time, not only for weeks, but even for months, which is quite contrary to the good order and customs of our Fatherland. To prevent the irregularities arising from such delays, the Director General and Council herewith order, that all persons, who have their bans proclaimed three times and against whose marriage no legal opposition exists, shall solemnize it within at least a month after the third proclamation of the bans or else to appear before the proper authorities and give the reasons for not doing so, all under the penalty of 10 fl. fine for the first week after expiration of said month and 20 fl. for each following week, until they have reported the reason of their disobedience.
Furthermore no male and female shall be allowed to keep house together like man and wife, before they have legally been married, under a fine of 100 fl. or as much more or less, than their position admits and all such persons shall be amerced anew by the Officer every month, according to the orders and customs of the Fatherland.
Thus done etc., January 15, 1658.