[Text is continued in NYC-RNA_V1_060, 061, 062. Presented complete here for continuity. NAHC]
The Director General and Council of New Netherland to All etc. Greeting!Know ye, that notwithstanding the former reduction of wampum at the public Counting House from 6 to 8 in white and 3 to 4 in black beads for the stiver, we are still informed by the remonstrance of the Burgomasters and Schepens of this City and the reports of others of the excessively great and unbearable dearness of the necessary commodities and articles, used in the house, caused by the abundance and depreciation of wampum, which by the scarcity of beavers has been run down to 16 and more guilders for the beaver, thereby affecting all household commodities and necessaries to such a degree, that shopkeepers, tradesmen, brewers, bakers, tapsters and chandlers charge 80, 90, even 100 per cent, whether they dispose of their work or their goods for beaver or wampum. This has induced the Director General and Council, at the request of the Burgomasters and Schepens, to allow wampum to pass at the Company's office according to the formerly mentioned proclamation at the rate of 8 instead of 6 white and 4 instead of 3 black beads for the stiver, but as past experiences have taught us, it is not only to be feared, but also very probable, that this reduction will not stop the complaints and the dearness nor change the disparity between beaver and wampum in payments, while it may be presumed on the contrary, that the traders will give the more fathoms or strings of wampum for a beaver, the more beads they receive for a stiver. We must also dread, that the high prices for goods, even of the most necessary commodities, such as beer and wine, shall continue and be excused by the pretext of too great a disparity between beavers and wampum. To prevent and remedy this as much as possible the Director General and Council see no better means or expedient, than to declare once more, as they have already done several times, to wit, that wampum is only merchandize, bought, sold or bartered by the measure or for a guilder, as parties may agree and that a payment in wampum in sums above 20 fl. shall not be held valid in law, unless a written agreement or acknowledgment of the parties convinces the judge. But in as much as wampum must be current for want of ready money and for the daily household necessities between man and man, purchaser and seller, the Director General and Council think, that henceforth not wampum, but the commodities as bread, beer and wine must be reduced and go up or down in price following beaver, as the general market may demand it. Therefore they direct and order, that bakers, brewers, tapsters and other retailers shall not sell bread, beer or wine at higher prices, than those fixed by the Director General and Council, also by the respective lower jurisdictions with the knowledge of the Director and Council.
Therefore to prevent any further clamors and complaints over the high prices and to regulate the price of commodities, like bread, beer and wine, which in time to come may be changed and lowered, the Director-General and Council have, by and with the advice of the Burgomasters of this City, resolved and now ordain, that the brewers, bakers, as well as shopkeepers and chandlers shall sell daily household commodities at three prices, to wit for silver, beaver or wampum, as the latter has at present been reduced all over the Province, to wit 8 white or 4 black beads for a stiver and according to this order the brewers shall deliver the barrel of good beer for 10 fl. in silver, Holland value, for 15 fl. in beavers, the beaver at 8 fl., for 22 fl. in wampum, 8 white or 4 black beads for the stiver, small beer at 3 fl. in silver, 4½ fl. in beavers and 6 fl. in wampum. The tapsters shall sell the vaan* at 6 stivers in silver, 9 in beavers, 12 in wampum; the pot of French wine at 18 st. in silver, 24 in beavers and 36 in wampum; the pot of Spanish wine at 24, 36 and fifty respectively; the quartern of brandy at 5, 7 and 10 resp.*Two quarts.The bakers shall charge for coarse wheat bread, the loaf weighing 8 lbs., 7 stivers in silver, 10 in beavers, 14 in wampum; for rye bread of the same weight 6, 9 and 12 resp.; for white bread in 2 lbs. loaves, 4, 6 and 8 resp. Thus done etc. November 11, 1658.
