Document: Proclamation against the sojourn of strangers within the city of New Orange

The Council of War this day resolved to refuse all strangers [ admission ] into this city, to which end the following Proclamation is ordered published:

Whereas it is found that many strangers are daily passing in and out this city of New Orange, without giving any account of themselves or their business, or whence they come or whither they go, which at this conjuncture of time ought no wise be tolerated nor allowed in a well governed city. In order then to prevent and obviate the same in future, We, the Commanders and Honorable Council of War of this our newly recovered Province of New Netherland, do order and direct, that all strangers who have not taken the oath of allegiance nor obtained any license from us, shall depart within 24 hours after the publication hereof, from this city and its jurisdiction, and that from this time forward no one but our faithful subjects only shall presume to enter this city of New Orange until they have previously obtained our license to that effect, on pain and penalty to all those who shall be found within this city and its jurisdiction, contravening this our order, of being considered enemies of our State, and, consequently, treated as spies and disturbers of its public peace. And that this, our order, may be more effectually enforced, we have to interdict and forbid all inhabitants of this city of New Orange, in their houses to entertain, lodge or give beds to any strangers or outside people of what Nation soever they may be, before furnishing the names of those strangers and outside people, and of the places of their abode, to the Schout of this city before the going down of the sun, under a fine of six hundred guilders, in Beaver, for each person that will by them be entertained contrary to this our order, and in addition, according to the circumstances of the case to be arbitrarily punished as an example to others; and the Officer of this city is further required and charged to pay strict attention that this our order be executed according to its tenor, and to deliver to the Officer in the Fort, every evening before drum-beat, the names of the outside people with which he will be furnished. Let everyone be warned hereby and take heed of damage.

Dated Fort William Hendrick, as above.