RECORDS

OF THE

City of New Amsterdam

IN NEW NETHERLAND.

EDITED BY

HENRY B. DAWSON,

And Published by Permission of the Common Council of

THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

II i

VOL. I.

MORRISANIA, N. Y.:

1867.ONE HUNDRED COPIES PRINTED,
NUMBERED AND SIGNED

BRADSTREET PRESS.TO THE

Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty

OF THE

CITY OF NEW YORK,

This edition of the ancient Records of the Municipality,
published by their permission,

IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.

Morrisania, N. Y., 1866,69

[Original, 52 * Translation, 74, 75.]

TTTHEREAS, the Director General and the

»» Councillors of New Netherland, to their
sorrow, do daily observe that their former issued
Orders, enacted against quarreling, fighting, strik-
ing and smiting, are not practised, observed, and
executed, according to their good intent and
meaning, as it is becoming • but, by some frolic-
some persons, for the utterance of one word, it is
contemned and trodden under foot, on account of
the trifling fine in the aforesaid premises, as it is
sufficiently evident; and, Whereas, some persons
do not hesitate to twit the Officers that it is not
more than One Pound, Flemish, in Seawant;

Therefore, being desirous of preventing further
accidents resulting from such fighting, The Direct-
or General and the Councillors do, by these Pres-
ents, [75] peremptorily interdict and forbid any
Street riots and quarrels, much more the beating
and striking of one another, which can occasion
nothing else than bitterness, calamities, yea,
homicide, under the penalty of the transgressors7
paying, for One single blow with the fist, Twenty-
five Guilders ; and in case blood shall be drawn,
Four times as much; and in case such shall hap-
pen in the presence of the Officer, Burgomasters,
or Schepens, a double fine, to be applied as the
Law directs.*

Let every one bo warned hereof, and take heed
of damage.

Thus done at Fort Amsterdam, this 25th day of
December, Anno, 1657.

* Vide, Order dated May 31, 1647, and the numerous Orders
regulating Taverns.—H. B. D.^70

[Original, 53-55 ; Translation, 75-79.]

rphe Director General and the Councillors of
JL New Netherland, by daily experience, have
seen and observed that the foregoing Orders and
Proclamations have not been regarded accord-
ing to the good intent of the same; but that,
notwithstanding the repeated renovations there-
off, many large and spacious lots, even in the
best situated parts of this City, remain unim-
proved, and by the possessors and owners are
held in reserve, either for greater profit or for
their pleasure, and thereby this City is checked
in its population, extension of business, and con-
sumption, and, also, in the style of building,
whereto new-comers might be encouraged in
case such persons [76] could procure a lot, in an
eligible place, for a reasonable price :

In conformity with the Proclamations, hereto-
fore issued,* the neglectors, if not countenancers,
in holding in reserve so many large and spa-
cious lots, either for their profit or pleasure, be-
cause, by the before-issued Proclamations, no
penalty, fine, or forfeiture was incurred by such
neglect or omission; and, since the possessors and
owners have held the lots for years, without any
burdens, reserving them for greater profit or
using them at their pleasure for orchards and
gardens, whereby the building and population
are retarded, and, consequently, the increase of
the Commerce, Consumption, and Prosperity of
this City, contrary to the benevolent intention
and meaning of their High Mightinesses, the
Directors of the Privileged Company, Lords
and Patroons of this Province, as the first donors
and grantors of these lots for this purpose; that

* Vide, Orders dated July 25, 1647, and December 15,
1648.— H. B. D.71

for the scattering the population, increasing the
number of inhabitants, the Commerce, the Con-
sumption, and the Prosperity of the City, these
lots Bhould be built upon, as expressed in the
granted Ground-briefs, together with the conse-
quent stipulation and submission of such costs as
shall be established by well-qualified persons, or
by those daily authorized; For the observance
and execution of the Bame, the Director General
and the Councillors aforesaid, having long be-
fore this, through their sworn Surveyor, with the
assistance of this City, at the arrangement of the
streets, sur[77]veyed the vacant and unimproved
lots, and found some hundred lots within the walls
of this City, vacant and unimproved; that these
lots, according to the good intent and meaning
of their High Mightinesses the Directors afore-
said, and in conformity with the former-issued
Proclamations, may be the sooner built upon, it
being certainly disorderly to possess such large
and spacious lots, either for profit or pleasure,
without being subject to any burden ; and that
those disposed to build may be accommodated
with lots at a reasonable price, the Director
General and the Councillors, in amplification of
the before-issued Proclamations, by these Pres-
ents, do Ordain that all vacant and improved lots,
as they have long since been surveyed and laid
out by the Surveyor of the Director General and
the Councillors,after the Publication and Affixing
of these Presents, shall be taxed and appraised,
first of all by the Possessor and Owner, himself,
that he may not hereafter complain of the under-
valuation ; and that as long as the owners shall
retain the lot or lots, or shall let them lie with-
out having suitable and tenantable houses built
thereon, he shall, yearly, in two installments,pay
the fifteenth penning, One-half on May-day and72

the other half on the Fair-day of this City, the rev-
enue to be applied to the Fortification of this City
and its repairs; and the Burgomasters are here-
by authorized and command[78]ed, after the publi-
cation of these Presents, to summon the owners of
these lots, without any respect of persons, to ap-
pear before them at the Council-house of this
City, to attend to the taxation, and by their Sec-
retary to make a record thereof, as the Law di-
rects, and to place the revenue in the care of their
Treasurer; and, in case of opposition or refusal,
in a Christian manner to amend such. Such lots
to be appraised according to their value and the
situation of the place, Provided however, that it
be left to the option of the Possessor and Owner,
whether the lots appraised by the Burgomasters
shall appertain to themselves, by their paying
the aforesaid Fifteenth Penning, or, otherwise,
to give them over, at that price, to the Burgo-
masters, for the behoof of the City : in the same
manner, also, on the other hand, it is left to the
option of the Burgomasters aforesaid, to take the
lots at the appraisal of the owners, on account of
the City, and to offer them for sale at that price,
to other admirers who are disposed and prepared
to build, in case the owner, himself, will not or
is not able to build in conformity with the fore-
going Proclamation, or to leave them in the pos-
session of the owner, until they shall have been
built upon by him or by others, when the im-
posed [79] tax, laid for weighty reasons on un-
improved lots, shall cease.

And the better to promote immigration, and
the prosperity and the strength of this city, the
Director General and the Councillors do Ordain
and Command, that, from this time forward, by
and within the walls of this city or its gates,
within the jurisdiction of the same, no Dwelling-73

houses shall be permitted to be built, before all
the lots herein aforesaid shall have been suitably
built upon.

Thus done in the Session of the Director Gen-
eral and the Councillors, at the Fort Amsterdam,
this 15 day of January, Anno, 1658.

P. Stuyvesant,

C. V. Ruyven, Sec^

[Original, 56; Translation, 79, 80.]

TT7 HEREAS, the Director General and the
* » Councillors of New Netherland have not
only been informed, but have, themselves, seen
and remarked, that some persons, after the Pub-
lication and Proclamation of their Banns of Mat-
rimony for the third time, do not further the
consummation of their marriage, as is becoming,
but are putting off the same, from time to time,
not only for weeks but for months, which is di-
rectly in contravention of and contrary to the
excellent order and custom of our Fatherland :
Therefore, being desirous of making provision in
the premises and for the purpose of preventing,
for the time to come, all the injury and irregu-[80]
larity flowing therefrom, the Director General
and the Councillors aforesaid do hereby Ordain,
that all persons whose Banns have been pub-
lished, after the third Proclamation shall have
been made and no lawful impediment occurring,
shall cause their Marriage to be solemnized at
the longest within One month after the last Pro-
clamation, or, within the said term, to appear
and render in his reasons for his refusal, as it
behooves him; and this under the penalty of
Ten Guilders for the first week after the expira-
tion of the aforesaid month, and for the succeed-74

ing weeks, Twenty Guilders for each week, until
the time he shall have made known the reason of
his refusal.

Furthermore, no male and female shall be
permitted to cohabit, before they shall have been
lawfully married, in the penalty of One hundred
Guilders, or as much less or more as their cir-
cumstances shall he found to warrant.

Such persons may be amerced anew every
month by the Officer, according to the order and
customs of our Fatherland.

Thus done, in the Session of their High Mighti-
nesses the Director General and the Councillors,
held at Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland,
this 15th day of January, Anno, 1658.

P. Stuyvesant

C. Van Ruyven, Sec*.

[Original, 60-62; Translation, 85-90.]

HHHE Director General and the Councillors of
-i- New Netherland To all persons who shall
see or hear these presents read, Greeting :

Be it known, that they (notwithstanding the
reduction of the value of the Seawant at the
General Compting-house, from Six to Eight
White, and from Three to Four Black Seawants
for one Stuyver] through the Remonstrance of
the Burgomasters and Schepens of this City,
as well by the information of others, have come
to the knowledge of the great, excessive, and
intolerable high price of necessary commodities
and family articles, through the abundance of
the Seawant in trafficking for Beavers, which
have been driven up to Sixteen Guilders and up-
wards for one Beaver, according to whioh prioe
all family commodities and the common daily75

necessaries take the same course, so much so
that the Shopkeepers, Mechanics, Brewers, Bak-
ers, Tapsters, and common Grocers make a differ-
ence of Eighty, [86] Ninety, nay, even One hundred
per cent, whether they sell their labor or their
goods for Beaver or for Seawant, the Director
General and the Councillors aforesaid have been

induced and persuaded, by the particular request
of the Burgomasters and Schepens of this City,
to permit the Seawant to pass agreeably to the
foregoing reduction of the Compting-house, to
wit; in place of Six, Eight White, and instead
of Three, Four Black Seawants, for one Stuyver;
Yet, Whereas, from past experience, not the
imaginary but the probable result will be, that,
through this reduction, the complaints concerning
the high prices or the disproportion betwixt the
payments in Beaver and Seawant will not be
remedied; but, on the contrary, we have a right
to presume that the Trader, for the greater num-
ber of Seawants for the Stuyver he receives, the
greater length of the hand or of the fathom he
will have to give for the Beaver, and, conse-
quently and necessarily, the high prices must
continue for such necessaries as Beer and Bread,
and will be justified under the cloak of the great
disproportion betwixt the Seawant and the Beaver:
The which, for the time to come, to remedy and
prevent, as far as it is practicable, The Director
General and the Councillors cannot [87] devise any
better expedient or means than what they have
repeatedly declared, to wit: an absolute traffio
upon the principle, to sell and buy according to
value and quality of the article, to barter and
exchange by the measure or the Guilder, as the
parties, the Buyer and Seller, can agree; and
that the payment in Seawant, above Twenty
Guilders, by right shall not be valid unless by76

written contract or by the agreement of the par-
ties it appears to be quite otherwise. Yet, as
much as the Seawant, though the deficiency of
ready money and for the daily necessaries of the
family, must serve between the Buyer and the
Seller, the Director General and the Councillors
have come to the conclusion not to reduce the
Seawant, but the necessaries, such as Bread, Beer,
and Wine; and to fix them according to the
worth of the Beavers, as the common market
price is among their associates.*

Wherein the Director General and the Council-
lors Order and Command the Bakers, Brewers,
Tapsters, and other retail-dealers, not to sell the
Bread, Beer, and Wine at a higher price than
the price established by the Director General and
the Councillors, and, also, by the respective
subordinate rulers, each in his own jurisdiction,
with the Consent of the Director General and the
[88] Councillors: Wherein, to prevent the too
great clamor and noise about the high prices,
and to establish some order concerning the neces-
sary family articles,—Bread, Beer, and Wine—
which should be regulated and reduced according
to other things, the Director General and the
Councillors, with the communication and advice
of the Burgomasters of this City, have deter-
mined, resolved, and ordained, and, by these
Presents, they do Ordain, that the Brewers, Taps-
ters, Bakers, and other Shopkeepers and Common

* The Currency was a subject which seems to have thrust
itself into the Council Chamber at New Amsterdam quite as
often and with quite as cool a welcome as in more modern
times, it has come before the Congress of the United States ;
and we are not inclined to yield to the latter body any more
credit in its management of the subject than I am disposed to
yield to the Dutch, two hundred years ago.

The reader, by turning to Orders dated November 30, 1647 ;
Hay 30, and September 14, 1650, will find other Legislation on
the subject.—H. B. D.77

Grocers, shall sell daily, necessary, family com-
modities to the Buyer at Three different prices,
to wit: Silver money, Beavers, or Seawants, as
by the present provisions, throughout the Prov-
inces, it has been reduced ; to wit: Eight White
or Four Black, for one Stuyver; in conformity
with which standard the Brewers shall deliver
One Barrel of good Beer for Ten Guilders, in
Silver money, according to the Holland value of
Fifteen Guilders in Beavers, the Beaver at Eight
guilders to Twenty-two Guilders in Seawants—
Eight White or Four Black for One Stuyver:
the Small Beer, Three Guilders in Silver, Four
and a half Guilders in Beaver, and Six Guilders
in Sea want.*

189] THE TAPSTERS.

By the Vdan.f Six Stuyvers in Silver money;
Nine Stuyvers in Beavers; and Twelve Stuyvers
in Seawant.

By the Can, for French wine. Eighteen Stuy-
vers in Silver money; Twenty-four Stuyvers in
Beavers; Thirty-six Stuyvers in Seawant.

By the Can, for Spanish Wine. Twenty-four
Stuyvers, in Silver money; Thirty-six Stuyvers
in Beavers ; Fifty Stuyvers in Seawant.

By the Oill,for Brandy-wine. Five Stuyvers in
Silver money; Seven Stuyvers in Beavers; and
Ten Stuyvers in Seawant.f

THE BAKERS.

The Coarse Wheat Loaf of Eight pounds weight.
Seven Stuyers in Silver money; Ten Stuyvers in
Beavers; and Fourteen Stuyvers in Seawant.

* Vide, Orders dated November 19, 1653 (App. XXVII.), No-
vember 29, 1655 (App. LXXXII.), etc.—H. B. D.
t About two quarts.—Translator.

t Vide, Orders dated June 5, 1651 (App. XITI,), November
19. 1653 [App. XXVIII.), November 2J, 1655 (App. LXXXII.),
etc.—H. B. D.

1278

The Bye Loaf of Eight pounds weight. Six
Stuyvers in Silver money; Nine Stuyvers in
Beavers; and Twelve Stuyvers in Seawant.

The White Loaf of Two pounds weight. Four
Stuyvers in Silver money ; Six Stuyvers in Bea-
vers ; and Eight Stuyvers in Seawant.*

[90] Thus done, resumed, and approved, in the
Session of the Director General and the Council-
lors of New Netherland, held at Fort Amster-
dam, in New Netherland, this 11th day of No-
vember, 1658.

Signed by P. Stuyvesant and the Councillors.

C. Y. Ktjyven, Secy.

[ Original, 64■ Translation, 91, 92.]

rpHE Director General and Councillors of New-
-L Netherland &c.

Whereas, daily, there are great complaints
and clamours, that the Posts, Rails, Pales, and
other Fencings around Grain-land and Gardens,
made with great expense, trouble, and labor of
the Inhabitants, for the preservation of their
sowing and planting, are stolen by night and by
day, in which, if there be no seasonable provision
made, it is to be feared that what has been sown
and planted and what may yet be sown and
planted will be wholly trodden down and de-
stroyed by the Cattle, through the deficiency of
fencing, and for the next year there will be no
grain reaped from the acre; to prevent which, [92]
the Director General and the Councillors aforesaid,
with the advice of the Burgomasters and Schep-
ens of this City, desirous of making provision
herein, as far as is practicable, Do by these

* Vide, Orders dated June 5, 1651 (App. XIII.), November
19, 1653 (App. XXVII.), etc.—H. B. B.79

Presents, peremptorily warn all and every one,
of whatever state ana condition he may be, and
peremptorily command that, from this time
forth, no person shall strip any Gardens, Sow-
ings, or Plantations, of Posts, Rails, Pales,or other
Fencing, under the penalty, on the conviction of
any person of having wholly or partially strip-
ped away any fencing; for the First offence, of
being Whipped and Branded, and for the Second
offence, of being punished with the Cord until
death ensues, without any reserve or respect of
persons. And if, after this date, any person who
knows of any robbing of fields or gardens of
Posts, Rails, Clap-boards, and such like, will give
information thereof, he shall receive honor, and
his name will be concealed.*

Let every one take warning.

Thus done at Fort Amsterdam, in New Neth-
erland, this 9th day of October, 1655. Revived
the 30th day of December, 1658. At the Stadt-
house of the city of Amsterdam in N. Nether-
land this 7th day of January, Anno, 1659.PREFATORY NOTE.

Oar friend, the venerable Clerk of the Common Council of
the city of New York, in hie letter communicating the action
of that body concerning the proposed publication of portions of
its ancient records in the successive numbers of The Historical
Magazine, has referred very briefly to the great interest which
attaches to those time-stained volumes, and their great import-
ance to both the student and the statesman. They are the ear-
liest existing memorials, in its archives, of the beginnings of
the commercial metropolis of America; the earliest internal
evidences of Government in that primitive community which
laid the foundation of New York’s present and future great-
ness ; and, in the lessons which the men of that early period
have sent down to us, there is much to be gathered which will
make us both wiser men and more useful citizens.

In its earlier days, although New Amsterdam was considered
and called a city, it was not different in its character and gov-
ernment from the other settlements of New Netherland. The
Commonalty had no voice in its government; there were within
it none of the municipal officers or institutions which distin-
guished the cities of Father-land from its country towns ; and
the Director-general and Council of the infant Colony, who
exercised at once Executive, Legislative and Judicial functions,
were its only law-givers. Peter Minuit of Wesel, Wouter
Van Twtler of Nieuwkerke, Willem Kieft and Petrus
Stutvebant, may therefore be considered as successively the
earlier heads of the City Government in New Amsterdam,
and the Orders and Proclamations of the Directors-general and
Councils of New Netherland, relating thereto, as its Ordi-
nances, until February, 1653, when the administration of the
Schout, Burgomasters and Schepens, which had been granted
to the Commonalty, gave to it, to some extent at least, the
appearance of a self-governed municipality.

The existing records of the Corporation extend no farther
back than the last of May, 1647, when Petrus Stutvebant
was the widely-known and respected Director-general; but of
its transactions from that time until the present, there is an
unbroken record, save only where a single volume, of a com-
paratively recent period, has been abstracted from the archives.

In the following pages, which have been carefully copied
from the Translations made by Doctor Westbrook and com-
pared with the original, the pages of each series of volumes
are noted, in order that they may be referred to by students at
a distance; and illustrative Notes have been added where they
can serve to illustrate the Text or render it more useful.

Morrisania, N. Y., 1667.

H. B. D.IN COMMON COUNCIL.

Resolved, That permission is hereby given to Henry B.
Dawson, Editor of The Historical Magazine, to make copies
of and to publish in that work, from time to time, such por-
tions of the ancient Records of this Corporation and such of its
papers on file as, in his opinion, shall serve to illustrate the
early history of this State and City, and the character and
habits of the inhabitants, provided the same shall be done un-
der the direction and supervision of the Clerk of the Common
Council; and that the said Records shall not be removed from
the Clerk’s Office.

Adopted by the Board of Aldermen, December 6, 1866.

Adopted by the Board of Councilmen, December 10, 1866.

Approved by His Honor the Mayor, December 13,1866.

D. T. Valentine,

Clerk of the Common Council.Office of the Clerk of the Common Council, j
New York, January 2d, 1867. (

Henry B. Dawson, Esq.

Editor o/The Historical Magazine :

Sir : At the same time that I communicate to you the action
of the Common Council, authorizing the use by you of its an-
cient records and papers, and the publication of portions of
them in your work, I take pleasure in complying with your
request that 1 should furnish some account of our early Dutch
Manuscript Records, so far as they hare come under my ob-
servation.

When I first became connected with this office, now more
than forty years ago, these ancient Dutch Records were scat-
tered throughout the public offices, some being in the Register’s,
some in the Surrogate's, some in the County-Clerk’s, and
others of them in this office.

They were not very attentively cared for, having been with-
out readers for probably a century or more. No attempt had
been made to translate them ; and of the history of New Amster-
dam and of the times in which lived and acted the revered
fathers of our City and State, which ha3 since been so fully re-
vealed, so large a portion was not supposed to lie hidden in
these dusty, unbound, and forbidding volumes. They were as
unpromising to the searcher among the relics of the past as
were the sterile mounds in Assyria to the eye of the traveler,
who little supposed that beneath them lay the most ancient relics
of the Historic period. Indeed there were but few who could
decipher the ancient form of manuscript in these old Records;
and when to this difficulty were added the great changes in the
Dutch Language, caused by the lapse of two centuries, it is
obvious that the difficulties of translation were not easily over-
come.

A few years after I took charge of this office, still held by
me, I commenced the publication of short historic sketches in
the small Manual,then annually published for the use of the Cor-
poration Officers. To these were added some curious pictorial
representations of old buildings and scenes of interest in early
times in our city.

The project seemed to meet a public want, and great encour-
agement was held out by our citizens for a more extended ex-
amination of our early history, which could be presented for
2X.

the delectation of the intellectual palate of our citizens in this
form of publication to greater advantage than any merely pri-
vate historical research could promise.

Stimulated by these assurances of public interest, I urged
the authorities to make provision for the translation of these
vagrant volumes, and was met with alacrity by the appropria-
tion of a sufficient sum to secure the translation of a few of
them. These were principally the records of the Burgomasters
and Schepens, which were translated about the year 183S, by
Doctor Westbrook.

They were found to be full of interesting particulars of our
early history, and were carefully digested and studied in un-
folding the gradual progress of the city in that early stage of
its history ; and a few years afterwards, other volumes, em-
bracing the proceedings and records of other tribunals, were
added, which were translated by Doctor 0 Callaghan. These,
and others subsequently translated by him, embraced, in all,
several volumes.

The last translations were made last year (1866), consisting
of the records of Transfers of Titles of Real Estate, which were
made by John PauldiDg, Esq.

All these volumes have been, by Legislature authority, made
a part of the archives of my office; where the originals are de-
posited with due regard to their preservation, and the transla-
tions are open to public inspection.

Truly, yours,

D. T. Valentine,

Clerk of the Common Council.“BURGOMASTERS AND SCHEPENS.
“ Volume I.

“ From May, 1647, to September, 1654.”

Part I.

ORDERS OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AND
COUNCIL OF NEW NETHERLAND.RECORDS.

[Original, 1, 2; Translation, 1-3.]

PETRUS STUYYESANT, Director General of
X New Netherland, Curacoa, etc., and the Is-
lands of the same, Captain and Commander of the
Company’s ships and vessels cruising in the West
Indies, to all persons to whom these Presents
may or shall come, or who may or shall hear
them read, Sendeth Greeting :

Whereas we have observed and remarked the
insolence of some of our inhabitants who are in
the habit of getting drunk, of quarrelling and
fighting, and of smiting each other on the Lord’s
Day of Rest, of which, on the last Sunday, we
ourselves witnessed the painful scenes and of
which we also came to the knowledge, by re-
port, in defiance of the Magistrates, to the con-
tempt and disregard of our person and authority,
to the great annoyance of the neighborhood, and
finally, to the injury and dishonor of God’s holy
laws and commandments, which enjoin upon
us to honor and sanctify him on this holy Day of2

Best, and which proscribe all personal injury
and murder, with the means and temptations
that may lead thereunto :

Therefore, by the advice of His Excellency
the Director General and our ordained Council,
here present, to the end that we may as far as it
is possible and practicable, take all due care, and
prevent the curse of God instead of his blessing
from falling upon us and our good inhabitants,
We do, by these Presents, charge, command, and
enjoin upon all Tapsters and Inn-keepers, that,
on the Sabbath of the Lord, commonly called
Sunday, before two of the clock in the [2] after-
noon, incase there is no preaching, or, otherwise,
before four of the clock in the afternoon, they
shall not be permitted to Set, nor Draw, nor
Bring out, for any person or persons, any VVines,
Beers, or Strong-waters of any kind whatsoever
and under whatever pretext, excepting only to
persons travelling and to the daily boarders who
may from necessity be confined to their places of
abode, under the penalty of being deprived of
their occupations and, in addition thereto, in the
penalty of Six Carolus Guilders for each person
who, during that time, may or shall have run up
a score for any Wine or Beer in their houses.
And, furthermore, we do hereby forbid all Inn-
keepers and Tapsters whatsoever to keep their
houses open for common company, or to Tap or
Deal out, on said day, or on any other day in the
week, after the ringing of the bell in the evening,
which shall take place about nine of the clock,
any Wines, Beers,or Strong-waters, excepting to
all the members of their families, travellers, and
boarders, under the same penalty. And to the
end that we may take all due care to prevent all
rash drawing of knives, all fightings and per-
sonal injuries, and all catastrophes resulting from8

the same; Therefore, -with the praiseworthy
approbation of the High, Wise, and Honorable
Councillors of the city of Amsterdam fin New
Netherlands] by these presents, We do Proclaim
and Ordain tnat all persons who shall rashly or
in anger draw, or who shall have drawn any
knife or dagger against another person, shall, in
such case, be fined in the penalty of One hundred
[3] Carolus Guilders; or, in case of their failure
in the payment of the same, they shall be put to
the most menial labor, with bread and water for
their subsistence; or, in case any person shall
have been wounded thereby, the penalty shall be
Three hundred Carolus Guilders, or, an addi-
tional half-year’s confinement to the most menial
labor, with bread and water for their subsistence.

We do also command our Fiscaal, our Lieuten-
ant, our Sergeants and Corporals, and every one
of our citizens and inhabitants, as well as the

* In the original Dutch, the words equivalent to “in New
“ Netherland ” do not appear ; and they are inserted here only
because the Translator seems to have understood the term
“ City of Amsterdam,” as referring 10 this city, and added the
words in question, to establish that interpretation.

We do not believe, however, that he was correct in this view
of the subject. The City of Amsterdam, in Fatherland, as will
be seen in various parts of these Records and in other contem-
porary writings, controlled, to some considerable extent, the
Government of New Amsterdam, in New Netherland ; and
there is good reason to suppose t^at the demoralization which had
prevailed there, under Van Twyler and Kieft, had attracted
the attention of the Home Government, and induced it to give
especial authority to the newly-appointed Director General to
take the stringent measures, for the correction of the abuses,
which are contained in this Order. The reference to the supe-
rior authority of “ the High, Wise, and Honorable Councillors
“ of the City of Amsterdam,” in this first Order, was well cal-
culated, therefore, to give weight to Siuyvesant's opposition
to the wrong-doers ; and it serves, also, to illustrate how far,
in the beginning of his Administration, at least, he was willing
to recognize and obey the superior authority of his official su-
periors, in Holland.—H. B. D.4

Soldiers, on all occasions, with all due zeal, and
activity, and fidelity, to take measures that all
such persons be pursued and apprehended, so
that they may be proceeded against and dealt
with as the Law directs. Done in Fort Amster-
dam, this last day of May, Anno, 1647.*

* This Order was the first, concerning New Amsterdam,
which was promulgated by Director General Stuyvesant, who
had arrived in tha'. port less than ihree weeks before; and it
is highly important to the historical student, in illustrating
not ouiy the condition of the ColoDy at the close of Kieft's ad-
minis'ration, but of the different policy which was immediately
inaugurated by the sturdy and unflinching Director General
who had just entered on the discharge of his duties.

The mismanagement of Van Twyler and Kieft is generally
kuown ; but the actual condition of the city and its vicinity is
nowhere so evident as in the means which were found neces-
sary to correct the abuses which prevailed there, and in the de-
termination, requiring even an exhibition of the superior au-
thority of the Home Government to strengthen it, with which
those means were necessarily employed by the new Govern-
ment.

The great body of the inhabitants, partaking of the vices of
both their Civil and Ecclesiastical leaders, appear to have
given way to the most intemperate habits; and faction being
opposed to faction, and even the Church affording only an ex-
ample of intemperance and violence, there need be little sur-
prise that the infant community, beyond the influences which
had restrained the passions of its members while they were
yet in the Fatherland, and surrounded by the bad examples,
and encouraged by the looseness of the restraints which were
presented by both the Church and the State, had become in the
highest degree demoralized. In Stuyvesant, however, the
State had found a different representative, while the Church
was also about to be purged of its badness by the resignation of
its intemperate Pastor, the Domine Bogardus. Keeping in
sight, both for his own support and for the condemnation of the
wrong-doers, the respect which was due to the Magistracy, the
right of protection which was due from the State tn its law-
abiding subjects, and the Supreme authority of *• God's holy
‘•laws and commandments.” the Director General boldly
breasted the torrent of vice which was rapidly overwhelming
the city ; and in the Order which is the subject of these remarks
he inaugurated a new policy of Government, and laid the
foundation of that peculiar greatness, in New Amsterdam,
which, to this day, distinguishes New York from all other cities
in Christendom.6

[Original, 2; Translation, 3,4.]

TTTHEREAS His Excellency the Director Gcn-
» » eral and the Honorable the Council have
been credibly informed that certain individual
Traders, engaged in the Southern Trade and sail-
ing under the License of this Government, are in
the praclice of going into the interior and enter-
ing the Maquaas country, whereby the regular
traffic is ruined and, in addition thereto, the priv-
ileges of those Traders who remain with their
cargoes, at the usual places of doposite, are
greatly damaged or entirely lost; and, moreover,
by such [4] means, the good understanding with
the Indians may be interrupted and they may bo
stirred up to murder and put to death such and
6uch persons, whereby these districts of country
are put in constant danger of being brought into
difficulty and war:	Therefore, to the end that

we may, in the most effectual way, guard the in-
terest and honor of the West India Company, wo
have forbidden and interdicted, and we, do by
these Presents, from this time, forbid and inter-
dict, every one of our Inhabitants from having
the hardihood to go into the interior with any

But it was not at me for this purpose that the Order in the
text is important to the student of the history of New York.

Coming in conflict with the interests of a large and influen-
tial body of the Burghers, as well as with the passions of
another and still larger body of the inhabitants, there is little
doubt that to this identical Order may be traced the begin-
ning of that steady and powerful internal opposition which the
Administration of Director General Stuyvesant encountered in
New Xc'herland. and which was seen m >st distinctly during
the last week of ids official career ; and in it, also, may be seeu
an evidence of the peculiar courage an l sturdy 'tevolion to
duty, regardless of consequences, which distinguished that
much-abused officer above most others of his time, and added
a dignity to his actions, which neither the opposition of open
enemies nor the ridicule of professed friends have been permitted
to tarnish, much less to oonceal.—H. B. D.

8G

cargoes or any other merchandize ; but they shall
leave them at the usual places of deposite, and
there wait for traffic. Done at Fort Amsterdam,
in New Netherland, on the 18th June, Anno.
1647.

[ Original, 3 ; Translation, 4—6.]

TTFUEREAS, there is a continual practice of

» » selling much strong drink to the Indians,
whereby these districts of Country are exposed
to imminent dangers : and Whereas it behooves
us, promptly, to take measures to prevent the
same :	Therefore, we, the Director General and

the Council of New Netherland do hereby for-
bid and interdict, from this time forth, all Tap-
sters and all other inhabitants, from Selling,
Dealing out, or Bartering, in any way or under
any pretext whatsoever, to the Indians, any Wine,
Beer, or Strong drink, and from [5] permitting
the same to be fetched by the mug, directly or
indirectly, even though it may be through the
third or fourth person, under the penalty of Five
hundred Carolus Guilders and the farther re-
sponsibility for all the misdemeanors that may
result therefrom.

All persons are hereby also warned and for-
bidden against trespassing upon the Orchards,
Fields, and Gardens, Provided they shall be
found in fence or planted with fruit-trees; and
every one who shall have trespassed upon any
Fields, Gardens, or Orchards in fence or in fruit,
shall be fined One hundred Guilders and, in addi-
tion thereto, be liable to pay actual damages.

All the inhabitants of New Netherland are
hereby charged and commanded to set off and to
put into good fence all their Plantations, so that7

the Cattle therein may he kept from committing
trespass; which Cattle, whether they be Horses,
Kine, or, in a special manner, Goats and Hogs,
must he taken care of, or otherwise disposed of,
that they cannot commit any trespass. To this
end, the Fiscaal, Van Dyck,* shall build a Pound,
in which the Cattle shall be detained until the
damage shall have been made good and the fees
of the officer paid. Let every one take warning
and look out for costs. Done at Fort Amster-
dam, in New Netherland: [G] Present, His Ex-
cellency the Governor General, the former Di-
rector General Kieft, the Honorable Dinck-
lage,f Mons. la Montagne, the Captain Lieu-

* Hendrick Van Dyck, the Fiscaal of the Colony, seems to
have come to New Netherland as an Ensign in the Company’s
military service, in 1639 ; and, in 1612. he commanded an ex-
pedition against the Weohquae^queeks, who had offended Kieft.
During the following year (October 6, 1613), he was wounded
in one of the forays by the Indians, which followed the short
Peace of April 22d ; and, soon after, it is evident that he re-
turned to Holland.

He was appointed to the important office of Schout fiscaal of
the Co'.ODy, in 1616 ; and, in that capacity, he accompanied
Stuyvesant to New Netherland, in the following year ; but be
seems to have very soon lost, if he ever possessed, the respect
as well as the confidence of the Director General. In his turn,
he seems very soon to have been in the front rank of those
who opposed Stuyvesant; and, in March, 1652, he was summa-
rily removed from office, and returned to Holland.

He was a man of dissipated habits, negligent of his official du-
ties, untrustworthy in matters of State, ami of questionable per-
sonal Integrity ; and he was succeeded in his office as Schout-
fiscaal by Cornells Van Tienhoven, the profligate Secretary of
the Colony.—H. B. D.

t Lubbertus Van Dinoklaqe, “an honorable man and Doc-
“ tor or Laws,” succeeded Conrued Notelman as Schout fiscaal
of the Colony in 1633 ; but, in consequence of h s opposition to
Van Twyler s conduct, he was dismissed from that office in the
summer of 1636, and returned to Holland.

He seems to have been a constant suppliant before the au-
thorities, in Father-land, for a redress ot his grievances and
the recovery of his salary, which had been withheld from him,8

tenant Newton, Paulus Leentlersen, Jacob Loper,*
Solomon Teunissen and John Claessen Bol, on
the first day of July, Anno, 1G47.

\The following Orders of the Director and
Council, for the government of the Inhabitants of
New Amsterdam, and not recorded in the Archives
of the city, ‘properly belong in this place. In
order, however, that the early Records of the city
may be presented unbroken to our readers, they
have been transferred to the “ Appendix tu Part I.,;
of this volume :

I.	Imposing an excise duty on wines and
liquors. Made July 4, 1647.

II.	Prohibiting the export of furs until the
duties shall have been paid. Made July 4,1647.

III.	Designating the anchorage ground in the
port of New Amsterdam, etc. Made July 4,
1647.—II. B. D.]

until the nominal removal from office, in December, 1644, of
Director Kiefi, when he was ordered back to New N'etherland
as its Vice or Provisional Director—a post he seems never to
have really occupied, notwithstanding a Commission was issued
in the following May.

in July, 1U46, when Stuyvesant really superseded Kieft as
Director Geueial, Van Diucklage went with him, and, at the
period in question, was the Vit e-Director and First Councillor
of the Colony, lie subsequently became opposed to Stuyve-
sant’s adminDtrution and was imprisoned hy the indignant
Director Cem-ral, afier which he tetired to Staten island as the
agent of the Dai on Van der Capelleu.

On the failure of the Damn’s adventure, in company with
Cornells and Jacob Melyu, Van Diucklage removed to New
Haven, wh»re. in April, 1657, he became a citizen.

He was married to Margarella, daughter of Rev. John
Hanius, by whom he had nine children, and died early In the
year 165b.—H. D. D.

* Jacob Loper had been a Captain-lieutenant In Curacoa.
His wife was Cornelia, daughter of Cornells Melyn of Staten
Island.—H. D. D.9

[Original, 4; Translation, 6.]

"¥T7’IIEREAS, in times past, all free Merchants
VV in New Netlierland, for soino time back,
have been in the habit of paying, monthly, the
duties on all Peltries procured here, in trade,
and of shipping them to Father-land when op-
portunities offer : Therefore, it is by Council
deemed very necessary to establish a regular
duty, so that overy one may have the opportu-
nity of knowing what the Law requires them to
pay ; with respect to which it is determined that
the following shall be the established Tariff:
For every Beavcr-skin exported, Fifteen Stivers—
Two halves for One, anti Three thirds for Two
whole Beaver-skins.* For every Otter-skin and
Beaver-skin, Fifteen Stivers. For every skin of
an Elk, Fifteen Stivers. As the other Peltries
are of less value, the duty shall be as the case
may require. Done in Council: Present, the
Director General Petrus Stuyvesant, the former
Director General William Kieft, the Honorable
Dincklage, Mons. la Montague, Lieutenant New-
ton, the Equipage-master Paulus Leendertsen,
Jan Claessen Bol,f this 23rd July, Anno, 1047.

* By an order of Director-Oeneral Kieft, dated “21 June,
“ A® 1644,” an excise ot Ooe Guilder, subsequently mode Fif-
teen S'ivcrs was imposed “on each merchantable beaver pur
“chased within our limits aDd brought here to the fort,'1 for
the purpose of ineetiDg the expenses of the existing War
with the Indians.

This, the first excise on peltries in New Netherland, seems to
have been agreed to by the Eight men of the city, under the
circumstances; al'hough the lhrector promised it should be
only a temporary measure.

By this Order, the excise was continued over.—H. B. D.

f Jan Ciaessen Bol was Ihe commander of Ihe Company’s
ship Swol, winch came over with Stuyvesant; and he returned
to Uoliuud, after remaining in the Colony only a few weeks.
—H. B. D.10

[Original, 4, 5 • Translation, 7, 8.]

‘TT7'IIEREAS, both by correct information
» » and our own knowledge, we have re-
marked the disorderly practice, both now and
formerly, of building and erecting Houses and of
extending House-lots far beyond their lawful
limits, and of putting up Hog-pens and Privies
along the Public Road and Streets, neglecting
and omitting to make suitable improvements
upon the Lots given and granted to them, To
prevent this for the future, it is resolved by the
Director General Petrus Stuyvesant and their
Excellencies the Councillors, to appoint three
Surveyors of Buildings—His Excellency Lubbert
\ an Dincklage, the Equipage-master Paulus Leen-
dertsen,* and the Secretary Cornelis Van Tien-
hoven—whom we do hereby authorize and em-
power to condemn all impropriety and disorder
in Buildings, Fences, Palisades, Posts, and Rails,
and in future to forbid it; for that purpose, to
order and warn, from this time forward, all and
every one of our subjects, within or around the
city of New Amsterdam, who are disposed to
build, plant, settle, or enclose with palisades, that
no one shall continue in the practice of the same
nor undertake to do it, without the knowledge,
consent, and inspection of the aforesaid Survey-
ors of Buildings, in the penalty of Twenty-five

* Paulub Leendertzen Van der Grist was the commander
of the West India Company’s ship Great Gerrit, and came to
New Nether and with Muyve>ant, in 1647. He was appointed
EquipHge-masler, or Navy-agent, of the Colony ; entered into
trade; was Schepen in 1653—4 ; Burgomaster in 1657-8, 1661
and 1664 ; and returned to Europe in 1671.

He lived on the West side of Broadway, near where Trinity
Church now stands; and his place of business was in Peail,
near Broad-street. O’Callaqhan’s Notes to Colonial Docu-

ments.—H, B. D.11

Carolus Guilders and of removing whatever they
may have built or set up. We do also hereby warn
and give notice to all and every one who may
heretofore have received the grant of Iluuse-lots,
within nine months from this time, to improve
their Lots [8] by building suitable and convenient
houses, according to Order, or, in default thereof,
the unimproved lots shall revert to the Patroon
or Landlord, or to whomsoever they may have
belonged and who may have conveyed the same.
Thus done in Council at Fort Amsterdam:
Present, Ilis Excellency Director-General Kieft,
His Excellency Diucklnge, Mons. la Montagne,*
Lieutenant Newtonf, Paulus Leendertsen, Equip-
age Master, Jan Claessen Bol, this 25th of July,
Anno, 1647.

\The following Orders, etc., properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of the
city, will be found in the “ Appendix to Part I.”
of this volume :

* Doctor Johannes la Moxtagne, a learned Huguenot, ar-
rived in New Neiherland early in 1H37, and was called to the
Council, by Kieft, in March, 1638, where he continued until
September, 1656, when he was appointed Vice Director of Fort
Orange, in the place of De Decker, who was about to return to
Father-land.

He married, successively, Rachel Morijour and Agrltta Fillis,
widow of Arent Corssen ; by the first of whom he had John,
Rachel, Maria, Jesse and William ; by the latter he had no
children.—H. B. D.

t Lieutenant Brian Newton was an Englishman, who had
been employed by the Company some twenty years, and held
office under Stuyvesant in Curacoa.—O’CALLAQHAN’slVewiVetA-
erland, ii., 19, 20.

In company with Nicholaes Varleth, in 1660, he was sent on
a mission to Virginia, and entered into a Treaty of Amity and
Commerce with the General Assembly of that Colony.

In September, 1661, he requested permission to resign his
Commission and return to Holland ; and in July, 1662, he was
duly discharged. It is probable that he returned to Europe
soon after.

He resided at Flatlands, L. I.—H. B. D.12

IV.	Instructions to the Nine Men, September
25, 1647.

V.	Propositions of the Director General con-
cerning hres nml a school, in New Amsterdam,
November 11, 1647.

VI.	Order concerning work on Fort Amster-
dam, made, November 22, 1647.

VII.	Notice, concerning Wampum, November
30, 1647.—II. B. D.]

[ Original, 5; Translation, 8, 9.]

VTTIIEREAS, it has come to the knowledge
W of Ilis Excellency the Director General
and their Honors the Councillors, that in and
about the city of New Amsterdam there are
Brewers who are in the practice of Tapping and
Selling Beer by the 6mull measure, whereby it
may happen and come to pass that those neigh-
bors who obtain from them their Beer and pay
the Excise may not be accommodated when they
shall be tapped dry:	Therefore, by the afore-

said, Ilis Excellency the Director General and
the Councillors, agreeable to the order and prac-
tice in Holland, this has been forbidden ; and by
these Presents it is Ordained and Interdicted [9]
that no Brewer in and around the city shall be
permitted to Tap and Sell Beer by the half-pot
or small measure; and that no Brewer shall bo
permitted to Brew Beer, or procure it to be done
for him by others, in the penalty of forfeiting all
such Beer aud all such stock on hand as shall
happen to be in the houso of 6aid Brower or
Tapper; and, in addition thereto, ho shall be18

admonished not to do so any more. Done this
12th January, 1648.

[Original, 6 ; Translation, 9,10.]

TTTHEREAS, it has come to the knowledgo
» » of His Excellency the Director General
of New Netherland, Curacoa, etc., and the Islands
of the same, and their Excellencies the Council-
lors, thatcertain careless Persons are in the liahit
of neglecting to clean their Chimnies, by sweep-
ing, and of paying no attention to their Fires,
whereby, lately, fires have occurred in two
houses; and Whereas, the danger of fire is greater
as the number of houses increases here, in New
Amsterdam ; and Whereas the greater number of
them are built of Wood and covered with Reeds,
together with the fact that some of the houses have
Wooden Chimnies, which are very dangerous:
Therefore, by the very prompt and excellent Di-
rector General and their Honors the Councillors
it has been deemed [10J advisable and highly ne-
cessary to look into this matter; and they do
hereby Ordain, Enact, and Interdict that, from
this time forth, no Wooden or Platted Chimnies
shall be permitted to be built in any Houses be-
tween the Fort and the Fresh-water; and that
those already standing shall be permitted to re-
main during the good pleasure of the Fire-
wardens :

And, to the end that the foregoing Order may
be duly observed, the following persons are ap-
pointed, to wit: From the Council, the Commis-
sary, Adriaen Keyser*; andfrom the Commonalty,

* Adriaen Keyser came to New Netherland as Secretary,
subsequently was appointed Commissary, and still later the
Vendue master.—H. B. D.

414

Thomas Hall*, Martin Crygierf, and George
Woolsey4 who, in their turn shall visit all the
houseB in this city, wheresoever they may stand or
be situated, between the Fort and the Fresh-water ;
and they shall inspect the Chimnies, whether
they bo kept clean by sweeping. And as often
as any shall be discovered to be foul, the Fire-
wardens aforesaid shall condemn them as foul;
and the owners shall immediately, without any
gainsaying, pay the fine of Three Guilders for
each Chimney thus Condemned as foul, to be ap-
propriated to the maintainance of Fire-ladders,
llooks, and Buckets, which shall be provided
and procured the first opportunity.^ And in case

* Thomas Hall was a farmer who had emigrated to the South
river, In 1035 ; but, in 1647, he had resided several years in New
Netherland. He had been Jacob Van Curler’s overseer, at Flat-
lands ; but, at the period in question he was largely engaged in
the cultivation of tobacco, on his own account, and possessed
considerable real estate, on Manhattan Island.

He was one of the Fight men of the city, in 1643 ; one of the
Nine men, in 1649 ; and a Select-man, in 1650; and he was
very much respected, notwithstanding he was, probably, some-
what engaged in illicit trade.—H. B. D.

t Martin Cryqieb wj.s a noted Inn keeper in New Amster-

against the Indians. He was, also, one of the first Burgomas-
ters of New Amsterdam; and at the termination of the Dutch
authority in the Colony, he retired to the valley of the Mo-
hawk, where, at Canastagione, now Niskayune, he died in the
early part of 1713. O'Callaghan's New Netherland, ii., 554.
—H. B. D.

t George Woolsey was from Yarmouth, England, and in the
employ of Isaac Allerton, a merchant of New Amsterdam. He
owned a plantation at Long Island, but it is not known that he
lived there.—H. B. D.

This is the earliest minute, on the Records of the city, con-
cerning a Fire Department. It will be seen that, although two
fires had lately occurred, there was no apparatus in the city,
at the date of this Order, for either extinguishing fires or ar-
resting their progress.—H. B. D.15

the house of any person shall be burned or be on
fire, either through his own negligence or his
own fire, he shall be mulcted in the penalty of
Twenty-five Guilders, to be appropriated as afore-
said.

Done, passed, and published, at Fort Amster-
dam, this 23rd January, 1648.

[The following papers, properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of the
city, will be found in the “ Appendix to Part I.”
of this volume:

VIII.	Ordinance further regulating the fur-
trade. Made January 29, 1648.

IX.	Order, responsive to a petition of the Nine
Men. Made February 18, 1648.

X.	Ordinance regulating trade and navigation.
Made March 10,1648.—H. B. D.]

[Original, 7-9 • Translation, 11-16.]

DETRUS STUYVESANT, Director General of
-t New Netherland, Curacoa, etc., and their Ex-
cellencies the Councillors, to all to whom these
Presents may or shall come, or who may hear
them read, Greeting:

Whereas, it has come to our knowledge that
our former Proclamations, issued against un-
seasonable and intemperate Drinking, both at
night and on the Rest Day of the Lord, to the
scorn and derision of our persons and Nation,
have not been observed and executed according
to our intent and meaning; which Proclama-
tions, by these Presents, we do renew, ordain, and
enact, so that, from this time forth, they shall
continue to be in force, maintained, and carried10

out with a stricter observance and execution, ac-
cording to the obvious tenor and meaning thereof.
In the meanwhile, the occasion and the reasons
why these our good Regulations and well-meant
Proclamations have not been observed according
to the tenor and meaning of them, are the follow-
ing, to wit:	The kinds of business and the easy

profits flowing therefrom divert and seduce many
trom their primitive Calling, Trade, and Busi-
ness ; and they devote themselves to Tapping, so
much so that almost one full fourth part of the
city of New Amsterdam have become Bawdy-
houses, for the sale of Ardent Spirits, Tobacco, and
Beer, whereby very many do not only neglect and
abandon their honest handicraft and business,
but, also, the common man and the Company’s
[12] servants, in a great measure, are allured •
ana, what is still worse, the youth, even from
their childhood, noticing the unbecoming con-
duct of their parents, are consequently drawn off
from the path of Virtue unto all idleness and into
what are concomitants—Cheating, Smuggling,
and Frauds, in the clandestine sales of Beer and
Brandy to the Indians and Natives, although
both daily experience and God teach us better,
because therefrom we cannot but apprehend
fresh animosities betwixt them and us. And, in
addition to all this, it happens that some honest
Inns, established and supported for the use and
benefit of the Traveller, and Stranger, and the In-
habitants—who honestly and righteously pay their
Taxes and Excise, and are in the possession of suita-
ble Houses, or do hire them—have to bear the
greater part of the burdens, whereby these Tav-
ern-Keepers are in a great measure interrupted
in their licensed and lawful calling and business,
being ready in these premises, to make provision
according to the exigency of the case and the im-17

mergency of the [	], Therefore, we the

Director General and the Councillors aforesaid,
on the subject of the Tapsters and Inn-Keepers,
do Ordain and Enact the following Regulations
and By-LawB:

I.

In the first place, from this time forth, there
shall be no new Tavern, Inn, or Retail Grocery
made or established, without the special [13] ap-
probation and consent of the Director General
and the Councillors, unanimously agreed to and
permitted.

II.

The Inns, Taverns, and Retail Groceries that
are already in the city, may be permittedto con-
tinue at least for the four following years: yet,
in the meantime, they shall be held under the ad-
ditional obligation to employ themselves in some
other honest business in these places, together
with suitable and honest sureties living under tho
guardianship and supervision of this city of New
Amsterdam, each one in conformity with his
state, quality, and condition, according to the
Order and Regulations made by the Director and
Council, with the advice and approbation of the
Surveyors of Buildings.

III.

That the Inn-Keepers and Tapsters to whom
we have granted yet four years, at least, who
shall wish, for sufficient reasons, to change their
business, after they shall have laid aside this their
former business of Tapping, shall not be per-
mitted to transfer the same to any other person
nor yet, to this intent, Rent nor Sell their houses18

and dwellings to any other person, without the
previous advice, and full consent, and approba-
tion, of the Director General and Councillors.

IV.

Item. The Inn-keepers and Tapsters, from
this time forward, shall not be permitted to Sell,
nor [14] Mix, nor Hand out to the Indians or
Natives, any Beer, Wine, Brandy, or Waters,
although it may be through the first, second, or
third person that the Natives are supplied there-
with, under the penalty of the forfeiture of their
business and arbitrary correction, at the discre-
tion of the Court.

Y.

Item. They shall be obliged, for the prevention
of all Fightings and Mischiefs, actually to report
to the Officer, in case any one shall be injured or
wounded in their houses, under the penalty of for-
feiture of their business and One Pound, Flemish,
for every hour after the injury or wound shall
have been inflicted and during which time the
Tapster or Inn-keeper shall conceal it.

VI.

The Proclamations heretofore issued against
all unseasonable Night-tippling and Drunk-
drinking on the Sabbath, shall be fulfilled by
the Inn-keepers, with strict regard and observ-
ance, to wit: That, in the evening, they shall
not keep Tavern after the ringing of the Bell,
nor, on the Sabbath, Sell nor Deal out any Beer
or Waters to any one (the Traveller and the
Boarder alone excepted) before three of the
clock in the afternoon, when there is Divine
Service, under the penalty fixed by Proclamation.10

VII.

Item. They shall be obliged not to receive
into their houses or cellars any Wines, Beers, or
Ardent Spirits, directly nor indirectly, before
[15] the receipt of the Invoice and the possession
of the Bill, under the penalty of the forfeiture of
their particular Business, Beers, and Spirits, and
an exemplary fine, besides, at the discretion of
the Court.

VIII.

Finally. All Inn-keepers and Tapsters who
may be minded to continue their Business, shall
within the time of eight days after the publica-
tion and affixing of these presents, address and
give in their persons and their names to the Di-
rector and Council, and there solemnly promise,
punctually to fulfil all things whatsoever that,
on the subject of Tapsters and Inn-keepers, have
been ordered or hereafter may be ordered, in all
their particulars, and to conduct themselves hon-
estly in their business, as become loyal and hon-
est subjects. Done at our session at Fort Am-
sterdam, this 10th March, Anno, 1648.

[Original, 10 ; Translation, 15, 16.]

A PPEARED before the Council, Adriaen
-tiDircksen,* Martin Crygier,f Jan Jansen

*Adbiaen Dibcksen had been a Pilot of the port and an
Assistant Commissary of Fort Amsterdam.—H. B. D.

t Martin Cbtoixb undoubtedly kept his Tavern on what is
now called Broadway, opposite the Bowling-green.—H. B. D.30

Schepmoes,# Jan Snediger,f Philip Geraerdij,t
Sergeant Daniel Litscho, Gerrit Douman, Hen-
drick Smithy Cornelis Volckertsenji Abraham
Pietersen,^ George Rapaelje, and Pieter Andries-
sen, all Inn-keepers and Inhabitants of this city
of New Amsterdam, who have given in their
names and persons and whom [16] their Excel-
lencies the Director General ana the Councillors
do hereby Publish, in pursuance of the Proclama-
tion issued on the subject of Tapsters and put up
in tho Market, they having, on their honor, pro-
mised to obseive said Proclamation, in all its
meaning. Dated the 16th March, Anno, 1648,
at New Amsterdam, in New Netherland.

[Original, 10; Translation, 16, 17.]

VTT'HEREAS, by their High Mightinesses the
VV Director General and tho Councillors of

* Jan Jansen Schepmoes had been a resident of the Colony
since 1638, having come over, in that year, in the Dolphin.—
H. B. D.

t Jan Snedioeb probably kept house in Pearl-street, near
the Fort. He was one of the Select-men of the city, and about
1652, he appears to have removed to Flatbueh, L. I.—H. B. D.

t Pbilip Gebaerdij was the Landlord of the City Tavern.—
H. B. D.

Hendrick Smith was probably Hendbice Jansen Smith,
who lived on what is now known as Broadway.—H. B. D.

II Cornelis Volckertsen undoubtedly kept his tavern on
the Great Highway, now Broadway.—H. B. 1).

IT Abraham Pieterben's tavern was subsequently closed, by
Order of the Director General and Council, dated the twenty-
third of July, 1648, in consequence of the murder there of
Gerrit Jausen Clomp by Johannes Koodenborch.—Council
Minutes, iv , 398-102.

Pietersen had been Miller before he became Tavern-keeper ;
and, within a month after the closing of his Tavern, he was
re-appointed to the same place (Council Minutes, iv., 413.)
In 1658, he obtained permission to erect a water-mill at the
Kolch. He was one of the Eight men of the city, in 1643 ; and
his daughter, Maritje, married Thomas Jansen Mingal.21

New Netherland, it has been daily seen and ob-
served that the Goats and Hogs are in the habit
of daily committing great damage in the Or-
chards, Plantations, and other Productions, here
and about Fort Amsterdam, not only to the dis-
couraging of the cultivation of fine Orchards and
Gardens, but, also, to many great and particular
damages:

Therefore, their High Mightinesses the Direc-
tor General and the Councillors, desirous of mak-
ing provision in the premises from this time
forth, do Ordain and Enact that, between the
Fort New Amsterdam,* or thereabout, and the
Fresh-water, no Hogs nor Goats shall be pas-
tured or kept, except within their own inclos-
ures. Care must also be had, that the Goats do
not get out of their inclosures • and that they do
no damage to any one. Also, that Goats shall
not be pastured beyond the Fresh-water, without
a Herds-man or Keeper under the [17] penalty—
in case the Goats shall be found outside their
inclosure, or on this side of the Fresh-water, or,
on the other side of the Fresh-water, without a
Herds-man or Keeper—of their being attached
by the Fiscaal and of being declared, by their

* It is evident that the Translator, in this place, has mis-
understood the in ent of the Order and misinterpreted its
meaning.

The “ Fort Amsterdamin the original, has been correctly
translated in the Preamble of this Order ; but the words “for-
“ ticatie Nieuw Amsterdam ” in the original, which have
been here rendered “ Fort New Amsterdam,” clearly iudicale
something else than the Fort at the lower end of the city, where
“ the orchards and plantations ” referred to were not to be
found.

We submit, therefore, that it would have been a more cor-
rect rendering of the original if the Translator had Baid, in-
stead ot “between Fort New Amsterdam and the Fresh-
“ water,” as in the text, “ between the outer defences of New
“ Amsterdam or their vicinity, and the Fresh-water.”—
H. B. D.

622

High Mightinesses, to he forfeited. Be each
one hereby warned, that he suffer no damage.
Done on the 10th of March, 1648, and suspended
and published on the 16th of March, at New
Amsterdam, in New Netherland.

[Original, 11; Translation, 17-19.]

PETRUS STUYVESANT, in behalf of their
-t High Mightinesses the States General of the
United Netherlands, His High and Mighty Lord
the Prince of Orange, and their High Mighti-
nesses the Gentlemen Directors of the General
Privileged West India Company, Director Gen-
eral over New Netherland, Curacoa, &c. and the
Islands of the same, together with their High
Mightinesses, the Councillors:

Whereas, we have seen and observed that, not-
withstanding our Decrees and Ordinances hereto-
fore issued concerning the keeping and sanctify-
ing the Holy Sabbath, according to the holy
command of God, it has not been observed ac-
cording to our intent and meaning ; and, Where-
as, the Sabbath, in various ways, has been pro-
faned and desecrated, to the great scandal, offence,
and reproach of the Community and the neigh-
boring strangers who frequent these places, and
to the villifying and contemning of God’s Holy
[18] Word and our Ordinances flowing therefrom,
Therefore, we the Director General and the
Councillors aforesaid, for the purpose of averting,
as much as lies in their power, the dreaded wrath
and punishment of God, through this sin and
other mis' emeanors, from themselves and their
subjects, Do, by these Presents, Decree, Renovate,
and Amplify our former Proclamations and Or-
dinances ; having for the better observance of the23

same, with the approbation of the Minister of
God’s Word, Ordained that, from this time
forth, in the afternoon as well as in the forenoon,
there shall be preaching from God’s Word and
the usual exercises of Christian prayer and
praise; requesting and charging, for that pur-
pose, all their Officers, Subjects, and Vassals, to
frequent and attend the same; forbidding, in
the meanwhile, during Divine Service, in con-
formity with our previous Proclamations, all
Taverning, Fishing, Hunting, and other usual oc-
cupations, handicrafts, and professions, whether
in Houses, Cellars, Shops, Ships, Sloops, or in
the Streets and Markets, under the forfeiture of
such wares, merchandise, or property, or the re-
demption of the same with the sum of Twenty-
five Guilders, until otherwise ordered, to be ap-
plied for the benefit of the Poor and the Church ;
and, furthermore, One pound, Flemish, in case
either buyers or sellers, the hirers or the hired,
who may transgress [	] to be applied,

one half to the officers the other half at the dis-
cretion of the Court. Furthermore, we do hereby
Enact and Forbid, that no one Bhall, on the fore
part [19] of the day, give himself up to foolish
drinking and other excesses, to the scandal and
offence of others, under the penalty, in case any
one be thus found, of being chastised by our
Fiscaal or any of the higher or lower officers, at
their discretion. Done and, after the resump-
tion, agreed to and published on the 29th April,
1648, at New Amsterdam in New Netherland.

[Original, 12; Translation, 19,20.]

TTTHEREAS, by daily experience, it has been
VV seen and observed that, notwithstanding it24

has been forbidden several times, by former Pro-
clamations, that any one should Tap, Hand out,
Mingle, or Sell through a third or fourth person,
directly or indirectly, any Strong Drink, to the
Indians or natives of this Country, we must daily
see before our eyes that the Indians are running
about, through the Manhattans, in a state of in-
toxication ; and that the inhabitants, living with-
out, experience great vexation from the drunken
Indians, whereby, as formerly, fresh animosities
and wars are to he apprehended: Therefore, His
Excellency, the Director General and the Honor-
able the Councillors have resolved, once more,
to enact the former Proclamations, and hereby pe-
remptorily to forbid, and we do by these Presents
peremptorily forbid, the Handing out, the Min-
gling, or the Selling of any Strong Drinks, by
whatever name or mark they may be known;
and in case any person, after this date, shall be
convicted of these offences, though it should be,
even, through the information of the Indians
themselves—to whom, for weighty reasons, credit
shall be given [20] in this case,—he shall, over
and above the penalty established by former
Proclamations, be arbitrarily punished without
any dissimulation, since it is far better that such
evil-disposed persons should be punished than
that the Country and Community in general
should suffer damage through them. Done on
the 13th May, Anno, 1648, at the Session in Fort
Amsterdam, in New Netherland.

[Original, 13 ; Translation, 20, 21.]

TXTHEREAS, by their High Mightinesses the
» » Director General and the Councillors, it
has been noticed and observed, with great con-25

cevn, that many of the Scotch Merchants and
small traders who, from time to time, have come
out of their country with the ships, are doing or
aiming at nothing else than, by their undersell-
ing and manner of trading, to destroy Trade,
selling their goods very rapidly, giving Eleven
to Twelve Guilders in loose seawaut for one
Beaver, and having sold out, going with their
ships whence they may return the same year,
without leaving or doing any benefit to the Coun-
try, to the injury of the inhabitants, who, by their
freehold and birth, are obliged to bear all the
burdens:

Therefore, for the purpose of preventing such
destroyers of Trade, it is deemed advisable and
necessary for New Netherland and the inhabit-
ants thereof, to Enact and Ordain that, from this
time forth, all Scotch merchants and small deal-
ers who come from their country with vessels, with
the intention of trading here with Christians or
Heathens, at wholesale or retail, shall not be per-
mitted to carry on the least trade in the land, ex-
cept [21] in case they shall have had a residence
here, in New Netherland, three following and
succeeding years; and, furthermore, they shall
be compelled, within one year after their Privi-
lege and Opportunity, to erect a decent and
habitable Tenement in this city of New Amster-
dam. All traders and others who are in posses-
sion of one habitable Tenement, and who have
resided three years in the place, shall be permit-
ted to Trade, and not otherwise, (the Merchant or
Schipper of their High Mightinesses’s vessels
alone excepted), Provided, the same shall not be
permitted to have any shop on the land. Done in
the presence of His High Mightiness the Director
General, His Excellency Dincklage; Mons. la
Montagne, Brian Newton, and Paulus Leendert-26

sen, on the 18th September, Anno, 1648, at New
Amsterdam.

[Original, 14; Translation, 21.]

13 Y His High Mightiness the Director General
-*3 and their Excellencies the Councillors of
New Netherland, the Fire-wardens are charged
and ordered to prevent all accidents by fire in
this city of New Amsterdam ; to visit all around;
to see whether every one keeps his Chimneys
clean by sweeping ; and, in case any one is found
to be deficient, immediately to demand the pen-
alty of Three Guilders, which shall be appropri-
ated agreeably to the Proclamation, on this sub-
ject, published on the 21st January, 1648. Done
and Ordained in Session, at Fort Amsterdam, on
the 28th September, 1648. Present, His High
Mightiness the Director General, L. Van Dinck-
lage, la Montagne, Brian Newton, Paul: Leen-
dertsen.

[Original, 14; Translation, 22.]

TT7'HEREAS, there are daily complaints made
W by the Indians and Natives, to their High
Mightinesses the Director General and the Coun-
cillors that some of the Inhabitants are in the
habit of setting the natives at work, of availing
themselves of their labor, and of letting them go
off unpaid after the work has been done ; and as
the refusal to pay the Indians for their labor is
contrary to the right of all people, for which
reason the Indians are threatening, in case they
are not satisfied and paid, that they will take
their pay by resorting to other unbecoming
measures:27

Therefore,for the timely and possible prevention
of all mischief, their High Mightinesses the Di-
rector General and the Councillors do hereby
warn all inhabit? its who are indebted to the In-
dians for their dailv wages or otherwise, to pay
the same without any gainsaying ; and, in case of
the employment of the Indians for the future,
they shall be under the same obligation, or the
statement or complaint of the Indians—to whom,
for reasons in the case, credit shall be given—to
make payment therefore, under such a fine as,
according to the occasion, shall be deemed right.
Done in Session and Published on the 28th Sep-
tember, 1648, at New Amsterdam : Present, His
High Mightiness the Director General, L. Vau
Dincklage, la Montagne, B. Newton, Paulus
Leendertsen.

[ Original, 15; Translation, 23.]

TTTHEREAS their High Mightinesses the Di
VV rector General and the Councillors do daily
notice and observe that by some of the inhabi-
tants of New Netherland, the servants of the
Honorable Company, and others of their domes-
tics, whenever the same run away from their
Lords and masters, and also those, from without,
who come from our near neighbors, are harbored
at their homes and in their houses, whereby it is
caused that many servants, whenever they serve
unwillingly, have the means and the way given
to them for running away, which occurs daily;
and that their High Mightinesses the Director
General and the Councillors may make all pos-
sible and practicable provision to prevent such
things, their High Mightinesses the Director
General and the Councillors do, by these pres-28

ents, advertise and warn every person to give
no harbor or lodging to any of the servants,
whether of the Honorable Company or of any
other persons living here or elsewhei’e, at tho
longest, no longer than twenty-four hours; and
in case any one shall be found to have acted
contrary to this he shall forfeit One hundred and
fifty Stivers as satisfaction, which shall be appro-
priated as the Prosecutor, to whom it is due,
shall direct. Done, in Session, this 6th October,
Anno, 1618: Present. His High Mightiness the
Director General: L. Van Dincklage, B. New-
ton, Paulus Leendertsen.

[Original, 16; Translation, 24.]

TTTHEREAS their High Mightinesses the Di-
* * rector General and the Councillors of New
Netherland, by Proclamation, have long ago ad-
monished the Community in general to improve
their house-lots by building on the Island of
Manhattans, which before now have been surveyed
as Plantations, and the more so since these lots
have been built on by some of the Inhabitants;
and Whereas, certain persons are desirous of
building and have no place near this, that is
suitable for building a house on, Therefore, by
the considerate and excellent the Director Gene-
ral and the Councillors it is deemed advisable to
make known to every one, for the last time, for
the improvement of their house-lots to erect
suitable buildings; and in default thereof, that
their Excellencies the Director General and Coun-
cil shall point out to such persons as may be in-
clined to build houses in this city of New Am-
sterdam, suitable sites for that purpose and award
to the present actual settlers a reasonable com-29

pensation for the same, at the discretion of
the Surveyors of Buildings.*

It is also hereby farther advertised, in case
any one feels inclined to build, he shall be
pleased to give in his name to the Secretary,
upon which having been done the Order shall he
issued accordingly. Done, published, and affixed,
in Session, on the 15th December, Anno, 1648, at
New Amsterdam, in New Netherland. Present:
The Director General: His Excellency Dinck-
lage, La Montagne, Brian Newton, and Paulus
Leendertsen.

[The following Orders, properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of
the city, may be found in the “ Appendix to Part
“ I.” of this volume :

XI.	Notice of the reduction of the duty on
tobacco, April 21,1649.

XII.	Ordinance relative to writings to be used
as evidence. Made May 8,1649.—H. B. D.]

[Original, 17 ; Translation, 25, 26.]

n^HEIR High Mightinesses the Director Gene-
ral and the Councillors of New Netherland
having daily noticed that their Order, heretofore

* The Surveyors of Buildings heTe referred to, were Lub-
bert Van Dincklage, Paulus Leendertsen Van der Grist, and
Cornelia Van Tienhoven, whose appointments were made by
Order of the Director General and Council, dated the twenty*
fifth of July, 1647.

By the same Order, the Grantees of House-lots In New Am-
sterdam were ordered to improve such lots within nine months
orsuff'-r the penalty of forfeiture; hence the Government, In
using the peremptory tone of this Order, was fully warranted
by the Supreme Law of the Province.—H. B. D.

630

made and ordained, on the subject of Measures
and Weights has not been well observed by some,
whereby the good inhabitants have been greatly
defrauded, Therefore, their High Mightinesses
the Director General and the Councillors do
hereby give notice to all the great and the small
Dealers, together with the Bakers, and all others

who sell aught by the Ell-measure or by weight,
in selling and in buying to make use of the just
Amsterdam Ell, weight and measure; and, that
all things may be transacted in an orderly man-
ner, the Director General and the Councillors do,
by these Presents, advertise all the inhabitants
and traders, between this date and the first day
of August next ensuing, to provide and procure
for themselves, just Amsterdam Ells, weights, and
measures; and that in the meantime those that
may, for the present time, have any weights, shall
bring the same to the Warehouse of the Compa-
ny, in Fort Amsterdam, for the purpose of having
them weighed and measured, so that, for the time
to come, no one of our subjects shall suffer loss
therefrom; and that all things may be regarded
and observed with greater zeal by all and each
one, our Fiscaal, Hendrick Van Dyck, is hereby
charged and authorized, after the expiration of
the first day of August next ensuing, to inspect
all weights and measures, as often as he shall
think proper; and in case any shall be found using
unjust ells, weights, or measures, he 6hall pay
such fine as in the premises may have been estab-
lished in Father-land. Let every one be hereby
warned and keep himself from harm.* [26J

* On the fifteenth of December, 1644, the Board of .Accounts
“ Reported and Advised ” the Assembly of the Company to pro-
vide, “that the Amsterdam measures, ell and weight shall be
“ used throughout the entire country.” It is not clear, how-
ever, that this recommendation was adopted—if adopted, it31

Done in Session, on the 17th July; resumed and
affixed, the 19th July, Anno, 1649, at New Am-
sterdam, in New Netherland.

[Original, 18; Translation, 26, 27.]

The Director General and the Councillors of
New Netherland, to all and each one that may
read these presents or hear them read, Send
Greeting:

Whereas, with great concern we have noticed
and observed that the foregoing Ordinances
made against frauds and smuggling, which have
been Ordained concerning the Beers given out by
the Tapsters and Inn-Keepers;* *1 also, that not-

certftlniy, was not enforced—until the arrival of Stuyvebaut
in the Colony ; and although this Order recites a previous Or-
der on the same subject, it i3 positively slated in the Remon-
strance of the Deputies of the New Netherland, addressed to
the States General on the twenty eighth of July, 1049, by
Adriaen van der Donck and others, that this was the Jirst is-
sued on the subject. Their language was: “ Not a thing had
“been done concerning Weights and Measures and the like,
‘‘ previous to the 23d July, of the year 1649, at which time the
“ people were notified that an Order on the subject would be
“ issued the ensuing August, which the Fiscaal would then en-
“ force—this was as much as to say: ‘ Water the Pigeons.’ ”

On the twenty-seventh of the succeeding January, (1650) the
West India Company presented an Answer to the Remon-
strance referred to. in which the particular subject now UDder
consideration was thus alluded to: “ We are not aware of any
“ other but the Dutch ell, measure and weight being in use ;
“andan Order was issued, last Summer, that all the inhabit-
“ ants should bring their weights into the Company's ware-
“ house, to be stamped anew there.”—H. B. D.

* Vide Orders of Director Kieft, dated June 2B, 1614, and
July 4, 1647 ; and the Order of Director Stuyvesantand Council,
dated March 10, 1648, etc.

This Excise, which was the only Tax levied on the Colonists,
originated in the necessities arising in the General War with
the Indians, in 1644; and it was imposed, as a temporary ne-
cessity, with the consent of the Eight men chosen by the Com-
monalty, on the twenty-eighth of June, in that year.

It was openly resisted at the beginning, and Kieft was ob-32

withstanding our forgoing Ordinances, some few
of the Inhabitants make it a business to Tap and
Brew at the 6ame time, whereby not only the
customary duty has been defrauded but, also,
other Tapsters who make that their only busi-
ness, have been injured in their profession,* *
Wherein, in conformity with the General Order
from Father-Land, and willing to apply the rem-
edy, We ordain and order, by these Presents,
that no inhabitant following the business of
Brewing *	*	*	*	*

nor by the small measure, excepting at
meal-time, Tap, Sell, nor hand out, any Beers,
Wines, or Waters, not even to Boarders nor to
those whom they may pretend are boarding with
them, under which pretense we have observed
great frauds have been practised.f To prevent
both the one and the other, We do moreover
ordain that, from this time forth, no Beers nor
any Wines, shall be moved out of the cellars of
any Brewery or Warehouse, nor be lodged in the
houses of the Tapsters, except they shall have
first been given in at the office of the Secretary,
and the Sledgemen or Carriers of the same shall
have brought [27] back a Bill of Delivery, signed

liged to employ force in executing it, notwithstanding the
urgency of the situation and the promise of the Director that
“ it should continue only, until the arrival of a Company's ship,
“a new Director, or the end of the war.” At a later period, it
was avoided whenever it could be done, as the Ordinances show ;
yet it is said to have produced, yearly, in Stuy vesant’s time, not
less than Four Thousand Guilders, in this city alone.

* Vide Order of the Director General and Council, dated Jan-
uary 12, 1648, which, “agreeable to the order and practice in
“ Holland,’’ denied to Brewers the privilege of Tapping and Re-
tailing the Beer which they brewed.

t As the Excise was paid, one half by the Tapster the other
half by the Brewer, it will be seen that the Government held no
check over the business when both branches were followed by
the same person. Hence the necessity of the Order of January
12, 1648, as well as that of this Re-issue of it.—H. B. D.33

by the First Clerk of the Secretary, which Bill
shall be shown and exhibited on the same day
at was brought and signed, to our Fiscaal, Hen-
drick Van Dyck, or to the person whom the Fis-
caal shall have substituted in his place, during
his absence. We do insist upon every one and
all the Brewers, not to deliver any Beers, nor
give them to any Sledgemen or Beer-carriers, until
they shall have first shown a Bill of De-
livery, in the penalty of forfeiting the Beers and
Wines, and all the utensils, whether they be
Horses, Sledges, or any other instruments where-
by the same may be removed, and an arbitrary
correction of those who may be accessory there-
to.* Done, and after the resumption agreed to, in
our Session, at Fort Amsterdam, on the 8th No-
vember, Anno, 1649, signed by,

P. Stuyvesant
L. Van Dincklage
II. Van Dyck
La Montagne
Brian Newton

[ Original, 19; Translation, omitted.] f

fT'HE Director General and Councillors of New
-L Netherland to all who shall read these pres-
ents or hear them read.

Considering the abundant complaints presented
to us by many of our inhabitants concerning the
poor quality of the large bread and the right
weight of the white bread, with other than which
the good people cannot with the ordinary cur-

* Vide Order of Director General and Council, dated March
10, 1648, Section vii.—H. B. D.

t This Ordinance was overlooked by the Translator, Doctor
Westbrook, and we have been favored with this translation of
it, by John Paulding, Esqr.—H. B. D.34

rency be accommodated by the bakers, the cause
and foundation of which is understood to be that
the Indians or natives of the country seek the
white bread in preference to the black and pay
the bakers for the same with perfect Sea want,
which our inhabitants from want of perfect sea-
want cannot do in their purchase.

The consequences of which is that from the in-
clination of greater profit the Indians and bar-
barous natives are better accommodated than the
Christians. In consideration of which the Di-
rector General and Councillors with a view to
the best service of the community according to
their best ability as occasion affords, do ordain
and command by these presents, that for the fu-
ture no baker shall bake any white bread or
cakes for sale, or permit the same to be baked,
nor shall sell the same to either Christians or
natives, on penalty of forfeiture of all that shall
be baked and of fifty carolus guilders from such
as fail to comply. Excepting nevertheless that
no inhabitant shall be prohibited by these pres-
ents, to bake or have baked a sufficiency of white
bread for their ordinary and proper meals as
their occasion shall require, provided they ob-
serve in other respects the orders of the court.

Interdicting and forbidding likewise as we do
by these presents, interdict and forbid the public
sale and consumption of white bread and cakes
either to the Indians or to the inhabitants, and
for the purpose of condemning the frauds and in
respect to the ordinary bread, and in order that
neither the Indians nor the Inhabitants shall be
injured by inferior weight the above mentioned
Director General and Councillors order that those
following the business of baking bread shall
hereafter bake the same of pure wheat or pure
rye, as it comes from the mill, of the weight of85

five, four and two pounds, at a price in conformity
with the orders that shall from time to time be
announced by the court for the purchase of grain.

This done resolved and established at our
meeting this 8th November 1649.

Was under written

P. Stuyvesant
L. Van Dincklage
H. Van Dyck
La Montagne
Brian Newton

[ Original, 20; Translation, 27, 28.]

rpHE DIRECTOR and the Councillors of New
-L Netherland having remarked the scarcity of
the crops of the past year; and also that there is
a great complaint among our good inhabitants,
that already they have scarcely a subsistence of
Bread for themselves and their children, to be
had of the Bakers, and the apprehension is that
if there is not a seasonable interposition, there
will be a farther deficiency of Bread-corn and a
greater advance in price :

Therefore, [28] by these Presents, it is ordained
by the Director and Councillors, that from this
time forth, until our farther Order and a greater
supply of Grain, no Brewer shall be permitted to
Malt or Brew any Wheat, under the penalty of
the forfeiture of the Malted Wheat and arbitrary
correction. And, furthermore, by these Presents,
they do interdict and forbid that any Wheat, Rye,
or Baked Bread shall be transported out of the
Province of New Netherland until the time when,
by our more exact estimate of the quantity of
Grain and the yearly necessary consumption,36

our necessary consent to such transportation shall
be given. Done and approved in our Session,
this 8th November, 1649. Undersigned by

P. Stuyvesant
L. Van Dincklage
H. Van Dyck
La Montagne
Brian Newton.

[Original, 21; Translation, 28, 29.]

TT7"HEREAS the Director and Councillors of
VV New Netherland have been informed, that
in and concerning the selling of real estate, such
as Houses and Gardens, House-lots, and other
lands, there are practised various clandestine
abuses and frauds, to the great injury of older
creditors:

Therefore, the Director and Councillors of
New-Netherland, by these Presents, do charge
their Secretary and, in his absence, the first
Clerk, not to pass nor sign any transport of Real
estate [29] until, at the stated Court-day, it shall
have been examined and approved by the Direc-
tor and Councillors; Declaring, by these Pres-
ents, all Contracts and Transports null and void
which, after this date, shall have been passed
without their approbation and ratification, or
signatures. Done and approved in Session at
Fort Amsterdam, this 7th of February, Anno.
1650. Was undersigned by

P. Stuyvesant
L. Van Dincklage
H. Van Dyck, Fiscaal.,
La Montagne.37

[Original, 21 ; Translation, 29.]

^T'HE Director General and the Councillors
J- have granted the request of the Bakers, and
they have the privilege, for the accommodation of
the Community, of baking White Bread (but no
Cakes nor Cracknels) Provided they shall bake
the White Bread so as to conform in weight with
tbe order of the Father-land. Furthermore, the
Bakers are charged and interdicted, that they
shall bake the common Bread of naught else
than pure Wheat and Rye flour, as it comes from
the mill, so that the community may be pro-
tected against complaints concerning the poverty
and leanness of the common Bread. Dated this
14th April, Anno. 1650, at the Session at Fort
Amsterdam.*

[Original, 22• Translation, 30,31.]

TT'HE Director General and the Councillors of
-L New Netherland, to all persons who may see
these Presents, or hear them read, Send Greet-
ing.

Whereas, with great concern, we have ob-
served, both now and for a long time past, the
depreciation and corruption of the loose Seawant,
among which there are current many that are not
perforated and half-finished ; and others made of
Stone, Bone, Glass, Muscle-shells, Horns, and
even of Wood; and broken ones, whereby occa-
sion is given for repeated complaints from the
inhabitants, that they cannot go with such Sea-
want to the Market, nor yet procure for them-
selves any commodity, not even a mean White-
loaf of Bread, nor a Can of Beer, at the Mer-

* This Order modified that which had been issued by the Gov-
ernor and Council on the eighth of November, 1619.—H. B. D.

738

chants’, the Bakers’, or il.c Tapsters’,for the loose
Seawant, Wherein, according to our best ability,
desirous of making provision in this emergency,
We have resolved and determined, for the
furtherance of business and the general good,
that, from this time forth, no loose Seawant shall
be current, nor be a lawful tender, except that the
same shall be strung on one string, as the general
custom has been heretofore. For the purpose of
preventing the introduction and the circulation
of all clumsy and unperforated Seawant; for the
purpose of making a difference betwixt the com-
mercial Seawant and the strung Seawant; and in
order to prevent all misunderstanding for the
time to come, the Director General and Council-
lors aforesaid do hereby ordain that the com-
mercial Seawant [31] shall be current and be a
lawful tender, as formerly, to wit: Six White or
Three Black Seawants for one Stiver; and, or
the other hand, the base strung Seawant shall
pass, Eight White or Flour Black for one Stiver.
We Ordain, by these Presents, and charge all
persons, to regulate themselves according to the
tenor of these Presents; and in case of refusal,
to abandon their Trade and Business; and the
Fiscaahis ordered, by these Presents, after the
publication of the same, to affix these and to pub-
lish them every where it may be necessary, and
to make use of every means to have the same
acted upon and executed.* Done, resumed, and

* Vide Order of Director Kieft and Council, dated November
30, 1647, on this subject.

As early as 1634, Wampum had become, “in a manner, the
“ currency of the country, with which the produce of the inte-
“ rior was paid for” ; and, many years after, (1649) the value
of it seems to have been very uncertain.

Stuyvesant seems to have had no desire to meddle with the
currency of the country, even when requested by the Select-
men ; and it was made a subject of formal complaint against89

approved at our Session at Fort Amsterdam, this
30th May, Anno, 1650, in N. Netherland.

[Original, 23; Translation, 31, 32.]

fT'HEIR High Mightinesses the Director Gene-
-L ral and the Councillors of New Netherland,
to all persons who may hear, see, or read these
Presents, Send Greeting.

Whereas, experience has shown that this fort-
ress, formerly in tolerable state, has been, in a
great degree, trodden down by the Hogs, and
Goats, and Sheep; and in conformity with the
order of their High Mightinesses, the Gentle-
men Directors, our Lords, our Superiors, and
Patroons, men are now employed in repairing and
restoring the same ; and it is to be apprehended
that as before, it may again become damaged
and trodden down by the Goats, the Sheep, the
Hogs, or some other Cattle; Therefore, their
High Mightinesses the Director General [32] and
the Councillors, by these Presents do warn all
and every one of the Inhabitants of this place,
that, in conformity with our former Proclama-
tions,* that they shall not suffer to run at large
without a Herdsman or Driver, except within their
own inclosures, any Hogs, Sheep, Goats, Horses,

him, to the Home Government, by Adriaen van der Donck and
others, in July, 1649.

Van Tienhoven, in his defence of the Administration, in 1650,
said '‘the reason for not prohibiting unstringed wampum
‘‘was, because no money was in circulation, and mechanics,
“ farmers, and the rest of the Commonalty, having no other
“ currency, would suffer serious loss.”

Stuyvesant, in the Order before us, evidently made the first
advance to a contraction of this currency ; and we cannot but
admire the moderation of his measure.—H. B. D.

* Vide Order of the Director General and Council, dated July
1, 1647, and March 16, 1648.—H. B. D.40

or Kine, between this place and the Honorable
the Company’s farm, [Bouwerij.y* to the end of
their High Mightinesses Pasture-ground, at pres-
ent occupied by Thomas Hall,f nor between the
house of Mr. Isaac Allerton,^ in the penalty of
Six Guilders, for the first offence; for every
Horse, Kine, Hog, or Sheep that may be found
within the aforesaid limits for the second time,
double fine • and for the third time, the whole
shall be confiscated, to be appropriated at pleas-
ure. Done, approved, and published, on the
27th of June, Anno, 1750, at New Amsterdam in
New Netherland.

[Original, 24 • Translation, 32, 33.]

^PHE Director General and the Councillors of
J- New Netherland, to all persons who shall
hear, see, or read these Presents, Send Greeting :

* “ The Company’s farm,” subsequently known as “ The
“ Duke’s farm” and “The King’sfarm,” extended from the pres-
ent line of Broadway to the North river, and from the southern
line of Fulton to a line between Warren and Chambers-streets,
on the North.—H. B. D.

t Thomas Hall having been already noticed by us, it re-
mains only for us to remark, in this place, that he lived, in
1650, “on a little bowery belonging to the Company.” It is
not now very clear to us where that “bowery” was. but we are
Inclined to think it was on the present line of Chatham-street or
that of the Bowery.—H. B. 1>.

t Isaac Allerton, one of the celebrated Pilgrim fathers of
New England, arrived at Plymouth, in the Mayflower, in 1620;
and was one of the richest of the Colonists and, for three years,
the Assistant of the Colony and itschief Magistrate.

He removed to New Amsterdam at an early date; entered
into business with Govert Loockcrman, a thriving merchant
there, under the firm of Allerton & Loockerman ; and was
widely respected throughout the Colony.

He was one of the Eight men chosen by the Commonalty, and
died in 1659.

He probably lived where he had bought property in April,
1647, on “ the strand ” of the East river, not far from the pres-
entline of Beekman-street.41

Whereas, by the daily complaints of the inhab-
itants, we are informed that our foregoing Order
and Proclamation concerning the base strung
Seawant, issued for the accommodation and pacifi-
cation of the inhabitants, under the date of the
thirtieth of May, 1650, are not observed and
executed according to our good intention and
meaning, but that on the contrary such payment
has been refused and rejected, even for [33] tri-
fling articles by Shop-keepers, Brewers, Bakers,
Tapsters, Mechanics, and Day-laborers, to the
great confusion and discommoding of the Inhab-
itants in general, there being at present no other
Specie, with which they can accommo-
date one another in the articles of their
small daily commerce ; Therefore, once more, for
the accommodation and pacification of the In-
habitants, being desirous of doing whatever is
practicable, the Director and Councillors, by
these Presents, do Ordain and Decree that, in
conformity with our former Proclamations, the
base strung Seawant shall be current, and shall
be received by every one, without any distinction
or exception, inpayment for small and daily ne-
cessary commodities in house-keeping j and that,
on the other hand, the sum of Twelve Guilders
or under shall be paid all in base strung Sea-
want- from Twelve to Twenty-four Guilders,
half and half, that is to say, half base and half
good strung Seawant; from Twenty-five to Fifty
Guilders, one-third base strung and two-thirds
good strung Seawant; and in larger sums agree-
ably to tbe agreement between the buyer and
seller, under the penalty of Six Guilders for the
first time’s refusal and resisting of these Pres-
ents ; for the second offence, Nine Guilders; and
for the third offence, Two Pounds, Flemish, and
a prohibition from his Handicraft and Business,42

in conformity with our former Proclamations.
Done and approved in our Session of the Director
General and the Councillors, this 14th of Sep-
tember, Anno, 1650, at New Amsterdam in New
Netherland.

[The following Orders, properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of
the city, may be found in the “ Appendix to Part
“ I.” of this volume .-

XIII. Ordinance regulating the assize of bread
and the price of wine, brandy, &c. Issued June
5, 1651.

XIY. Order appointing Messrs. Kuyper, van
der Grist, and Cornelison to the Board of Nine
Men. January 30, 1652.

XV.	Ordinance regulating the business of the
wind-mill and the toll to be paid for grinding.
Issued February, 1652.

XVI.	Ordinance regulating the driving of
carts, wagons, and sleighs. Issued June 27,

1652.

XVII.	Ordinance against boarding ships ar-
riving at New Amsterdam before the same are
entered. Issued June 27, 1652.

XVIII.	Ordinance reducing the duty on furs.
Issued September 4, 1652.

XIX.	Ordinance against runners trading in
the Mohawk or Seneca country. Issued Septem-
ber 30, 1652.

XX.	Ordinance against firing at partridges or
other game within the limits of New Amster-
dam. Issued October 9, 1652.

XXI.	Appointment of Jacob Kip to be the
Secretary or Clerk of the Burgomasters and
Schepens of New Amsterdam. January 27,

1653.43

XXII.	Ordinance regulating the inspection of
tobacco. Issued February 18, 1653.

XXIII.	Resolution to build a weigh-house in
New Amsterdam, and to regulate Weights and
Measures. Passed February 26, 1653.

XXIV.	Approval of propositions by the city
authorities. March 14 and 17, 1653.

XXV.	Ordinance imposing a new duty on
Wines and Liquors. Issued March 26, 1653.

XXVI.	Ordinance amending the excise law.
Issued August 18,1653.

XXVII.	Ordinance fixing prices of goods
sold in New Amsterdam. Issued November 19,
1653.

XXVIII.	Petition of the city authorities con-
cerning the excise on Beer and Wine in New
Amsterdam, and the action thereon. November
25, 1653.

XXIX.	Remonstrance against the ordinance

issued on the nineteenth instant, and the action
thereon. November 22, 25, and 28, and Decem-
ber 24, 1653.	.

XXX.	Petition of the city authorities concern-
ing the Convention of Towns, and the action
thereon. November 29 and December 3,1653.

XXXI.	Petition of the city authorities con-
cerning the election of their successors, and the
action thereon. January 27 and 28, 1654.

XXXII.	Ordinance imposing duties on certain
goods. Issued January 28, 1654.

XXXIII.	Petition of the city authorities con-
cerning a municipal revenue; and the action
thereon. February 19 and 23, 1654.

XXXIV.	Petition of the city authorities con-
cerning English privateers, and the action
thereon. February 19 and 23, 1654.

XXXV.	Answer to the Municipal Remon-
strance concerning the plucking the goose on44

the Bacchanals of Ash "Wednesday. February
26,1654.

XXXVI.	Ordinance against harboring rob-
bers and pirates. Issued April 8, 1654.

XXXVII.	Letter from the city authorities con-
cerning the case of Peter Cock, and the action
thereon. February 19 and April 30, 1654.

XXXVIII.	Order coucerning lewd women in
New Amsterdam. Issued May 23, 1654.

XXXIX.	Order concerning the ministers’ sal-
aries. Issued June 1, 1654.

XL. Proposals to the city authorities concern-
ing the defences of New Amsterdam, and their
action thereon. June 13, 1654.

XLI. Pledge, on the same subject, offered to
the city authorities, and their action thereon.
June 13, 1654.

XLII. Order concerning the defences of the
Colony, issued June 14, and the action of the
city authorities thereon, June 15, 1654.

XLIII. Ordinance regulating the ferry. Is-
sued July 1, 1654.

XLIV. Ordinance concerning removals of per-
sons and property from the city in cases of
alarm. Issued July 7, 1654.

XLV. Ordinance concerning the circulation of
false alarms. Issued July 11, 1654.

XLVI. Ordinance directing the impounding of
Goats and Sheep. Issued July 11, 1654.

XLVII. Order appointing Jacques Cortelyou
to be Schout of New Amsterdam, and his de-
clension. July 21, 1654.

XLVIII. Resolution concerning the past con-
duct of the city authorities. Passed July 21,
1654.

XLIX. Order to the city authorities concern-
ing a return of the revenues and expenditures.
Passed August 2, 1654.45

L. Ordinance regulating the Weigh-house and
Scales. Issued August 10, 1654.

LI. Resolution concerning the excise of the
city. Passed August 13, 1654.

LII. Ordinance regulating the duties of the
Provost-marshal. Issued August 20.

L1II. Ordinance imposing a tax on horned cat-
tle and land. Issued August 24, 1654.

LIY. Ordinance concerning the sale of liquor
to Indians. Issued August 28, 1654.

LY. Resolution and letter from the city au-
thorities on various subjects, and the action there-
on. August 10 and 31, and September 16,1654.

LVI. Remonstrance of the city authorities con-
cerning the excise, and the action thereon. No-
vember 23 and 25, 1654.

LVII. Proceedings on being informed of the
Director-general’s intention to go to Curacoa.
December 8, 1654.

LYIII. Appointments and promotions in the
Burgher Companies. December 17,1654.

LIX. Ordinance against breaking or stealing
clapboards, fences, firewood, etc. Issued Decem-
ber 31,1654.

LX. Appointment of the Burgomasters and
Schepens of New Amsterdam, and their oaths of
office. January 31 and February 2, 1655.

LXI. Appointment of Dirck Van Schelluyne
to be Marshal of the Courts in New Amsterdam,
and his commission, instructions, and oath of office.
February 6, 1655.

LXII. Table of fees for deed of real estate.
February 23, 1655.

LXIII. Orders concerning sheet-piling of the
City Ilall. Issued February 23, 1655.

LXIV. Order concerning the transfer of the
City Hall. Issued March 2,1655.

846

LXV. Appointment of P. W. Van Couwenho-
yen to be City Surveyor. March 2,1655.

LXVI. Ordinance concerning the inspection of
tobacco. Issued March 10, 1655.

LXVII. Appointment of Schoolmaster and
Church-clerk of New Amsterdam. March 23,
1655.

LXVIII. Appointment of Tobacco Inspector
at New Amsterdam. April 13, 1655.

LXIX. Appointment of Firewardens for the
city. April 13,1655.

LXX. Ordinance imposing a duty on negroes
exported. August 6,1655.

LXXI. Order concerning North-river boatmen.
August 28, 1655.

LXXII. Resolution concerning Jewish militia-
men. August 28, 1655.

LXXIII. Ordinance for the preservation of
fences. Issued October 11, 1655.

LXXIV. Resolution empowering the Burgo-
masters to raise money for public purposes.
Passed October 11,1655.

LXXV. Ordinance concerning persons going
into the country. Issued October 16,1655.

LXXVI. Order authorizing the Burgomasters
to raise money for public purposes. Passed Oc-
tober 16, 1655.

LXXVII. Ordinance concerning intercourse
with the Indians. Issued October 18, 1655.

LXXVIII. Petition of the city authorities con-
cerning Orphan-masters in New Amsterdam, and
the action thereon. October 18 and 19, 1655.

LXXIX. Ordinance concerning goats running
at large. Issued November 5, 1655.

LXXX. Appointment of Commissioners for
laying out the streets in New Amsterdam. No-
vember 10,1655.47

LXXXI. Ordinance concerning the tavern ex-
cise. Issued November 29, 1665.

LXXXII. Ordinance fixing the price of Beer.
Issued November 29, 1665.

LXXXIII. Order concerning the price of li-
quors in New Amsterdam. Issued November
29, 1665.

LXXXIV. Order concerning the price of beer
in New Amsterdam. Issued November 30,1665.]

[ Original, 28 ; Translation, 36, 37.]

rpHE Director General and the Councillors of
J- Now Netherland to all Persons who shall
hear, see, or read these Presents, Greeting.

Whereas experience has shown and taught us
that on New-Year’s Days and on May days, from
the firing of guns, and planting May-poles, and
drunken drinking, there have resulted unneces-
sary waste of powder, much drunkenness, and
other insolent practices, together with other la-
mentable accidents and bruises that generally
arise therefrom, Therefore, in order to prevent
these, it is hereby expressly ordered, by the Di-
rector General and the Councillors, that, from
this time forth, within this Province of New-
Netherland, on the New-Year and May-days,
there shall be no firing, nor May-poles planted;
nor shall there be any beating of the drum ; nor
shall there be on the occasion, any Wines, Bran-
dywines, or Beer dealt out; and, in order to pre-
vent all such accidents and injuries, there shall
he a fine of Twelve Guilders for the first offence :
Twenty-four Guilders for the second offence ; and
arbitrary correction for the third offence; the
One-third for the Officers, One-third for the Poor,
and the remaining One-third for the Prosecutor.48

We do, by these Presents, com[37]mand all the
Subaltern Courts in this Province, to Proclaim
these Presents, in all their public places, and to
affix them there ; and promptly to execute them.

Done in the Fort Amsterdam, in New Nether-
land, this last day of December; Anno 1655.

Signed by order of their High Mightinesses
The Director General and the Councillors
of New-Netherland.

C. Y. Ruyven, Secretary.

[Original, 29,30; Translation, 37-39.]

TT7"HEREAS painful experience has, from time
» * to time, taught us concerning the separated
habitations at the outside end, (plainly against
the order and benevolent intention of the Honor-
able the Company and their Chief Magistracy,
the Councillors) of the even land, in several
hovels and places, there are perpetrated many
and various murders, killing of persons, de-
struction of cattle, and the burning of houses,
both now and formerly committed by the In-
dians or natives of this land, all which might
have been prevented, through the help of God,
if the good inhabitants of this Province, in their
form of Towns, Neighborhoods, and Hamlets, had
settled down close to one another, after the man-
ner of our near neighbours of No w-England, who,
in consequence of their combination and living
close to one another, have never been exposed to
as manifold and general catastrophes as we
have, together with our countrymen : to be as-
cribed in the first, to the righteous correction of
God for our Sins, and then to the Indians, tempted
thereto by the separated (38] residences of the
outside people, so that it is not practicable for49

them, from time to time, to come to the help of
one another, on account of the distance of their
residences : It is impossible for the Director Gen-
eral and the Councillors to provide each sepa-
rate outside habitation with a safe-guard, There-
fore, concerning the foregoing calamities, mur-
ders, damages, and destruction of different per-
sons, farms, and Plantations, and also the last,
the notorious damage and drawback upon this
country and the good inhabitants themselves, it is
hereby Decreed,—and since what has already
happened, is to be apprehended and expected
again—that as the good inhabitants,by their own
experience and that of one another, may become
wiser and more cautious, and conduct themselves
agreeably to good order, as they are bound to do,
by making close settlements, in suitable places,
in the form and manner as by the Director Gen-
eral and the Councillors, or by their appointed
Agents, shall be pointed out to the inhabitants,
until their High Mightinesses, the Director Gen-
eral and the Councillors shall be endued with
power from God and their High Mightinesses,
better to support and to protect their subjects :
That this may be better practised and executed
for the time to come :

Therefore the Director General and the Coun-
cillors do, by these Presents, not only give warn-
ing to their good subjects, but they do also Or-
dain and Command them, to settle close to one
another in the form of Villages, Neighbour-
hoods, and Hamlets, by the ensuing Spring, so that
they may be the better protected, supported, and
[39] defended against all assaults and rencount-
ers from the Savages, both by themselves and the
trusty military force of the Director General and
the Councillors; at the same time warning all per-
sons, who contrary to these Presents, shall, from60

this time forth, remain on their separated Planta-
tions, that they will do it at their own risk, without
the Director General and the Councillors coming
to their relief; and, in addition thereto, they shall
he mulcted, yearly, in the penalty of Twenty-five
Guilders for the public benefit.

The Director General and the Councillors do
furthermore order, for the purpose of preventing
all sudden fires, that, from this time forth, no
Houses shall be covered with Straw or Flags;
nor any Chimneys he built of Clap-boards or
Wood.*

Thus done, resolved, resumed and approved, in
the Fort Amsterdam, in New-Netherland, on the
18th of January 1656.

Signed by P. Stuyvesant and the Councillors,
and underneath by

C. V. Ruyven, Secretary.

[Original, 31; Translation, 39-41.]

rpHE Director General and the Councillors of
J- New-Netherland, to all persons who shall
hear, see, or read these Presents, Greeting, Know
Ye:

Whereas, every day, there have been com-
plaints of various kinds referred to them, which
are confirmed by experience, both now and for-
merly, that, under the notion and name of the
Indians, Horned cattle, Hogs, and other animals,
on the Plains, have been seized, slaughtered, and
offered for sale bv Christains, or at least by those
who go under [40] the name of Christains ; to pre-
vent which, as far as it is practicable, they do, by
these Presents, premptorily interdict and forbid,

* Vide Order of the Director General and Councillor!, dated
January 23, 1648.—H. B. D.61

that, from this time forth, neither in this City
nor in any other Towns, Villages, or Hamlets,
nor in the Plains belonging to this Province,
6hall any Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Goats, or Sheep,
be permitted to be slaughtered, not even by the
owner himself, unless the owner, first, on the
same day he intends to slaughter, shall have
given in such creature as his own, whether it be
Kine, Hog, Goat, or Sheep, to the magistrate of
the respective place to which he belongs, or to
such persons whom the magistrate shall have ap-
pointed in his respective place for that purpose,
and from him have obtained a Slaughter-certifi-
cate : The owner shall be obligated, for the bene-
fit of the Public, to pay to the magistrate, or to
the existing Receiver appointed for that purpose,
from One Stuyver to a Guilder, for every creature,
his own, Kine, Hog, Goat, or Sheep, aocording to
the established value of the same, in case of any
dispute by the magistrate in his jurisdiction or
by his substitute, which money, in each City,
Town, or Hamlet, shall be preserved until a time
of need, for the support and protection of the com-
mon cause and Town, to be used and expended,
as follows; For Soldiers’ or Corps’ necessary
ammunition, as the occasion shall demand. The
fines for the violation of these Presents shall be
appropriated and applied as follows ; viz.:—One-
third to the Prosecutor, One-third to the Officers,
and One-third for the benefit of the common
cause, as aforesaid.

Thus done, in the Fort of Amsterdam, in New-
Netherland, the 18th day of January, 1656.

Was undersigned by P. Stuyvesant ; under
tho Ordinance of Their High Mighti- [41]
nesses the Director General and the Coun-
cillors of New-Nether land, and attested by
C. V. Ruyven, Secretary.62

[The following Orders, properly belonging in
this place, bvt not recorded in the Archives of
the city, may be found in the “ Appendix to Part
“ I.” of this volume :

LXXXV. Petition of tbe city authorities con-
cerning the nomination of their successors in
office, and the action thereon. January 18,1656.

LXXXVI. Petition of the city authorities con-
cerning inspection of Weights and Measures, and
the action thereon. January 18, 1656.

LXXXV1I. Appointment of a Firewarden.
January 18, 1656.

LXXXYIII. Ordinance concerning the export-
ation of Peltries. Issued January 27, 1665.—
H. B. D.]

[ Original, 32, 33 ; Translation, 41-43.]

TTTHEREAS, the Director General and the
* V Councillors of New-Netherland have been
credibly informed and advised, that not only here
and within this Province there have been held
Conventicles and Assemblies, but, also, that cer-
tain unqualified persons, in Buch Assemblies, have
presumed to exercise the Profession and Preach-
ing of God’s Holy Word, without their having
been thereunto called or appointed by Ecclesias-
tical or Temporal Authority : which is directly
contrary to, and militating against, the Estab-
lished Political and Ecclesiastical Order of our
Fatherland, since, by this kind of Assemblies,
many Mischiefs, Heresies, and Schisms are prop-
agated. To prevent this, the Director General
and the Councillors aforesaid, Do, by these Pres-
ents, absolutely and peremptorily forbid all such
public or private Conventicles or Assemblies as
are without the wonted (and only allowed by63

God’s word) reformed and appointed Assembly
of the Reformed Religion, in conformity witn
the Synod of Dort, here, in this land, in our
Fatherland, and in other Reformed Churches,
observed and followed; under the penalty of
One hundred Pounds, Flemish, to be incurred by
all those persons who, in such public or private
Assemblies, without the wonted and authorised
Assembly, whether on the Sunday or on any
other day, being unauthorized, shall presume to
exercise the profession of Preaching, Prelection,
or Singing; and [42] Twenty five Pounds, alike
Flemish, to be incurred, over and above, by
every male and female, married or single, who
may be found in such Assembly; without the
Director General and the Councillors’ intending
hereby any prejudice to any Patent heretofore
given by them, or any lording over the conscience,
or prohibiting the reading of God’s holy word,
or the domestic praying and worship of each
one, in his family; but all public and private
Conventicles and Assemblies, whether in public or
private houses, without the aforesaid wonted
and established Reformed Divine worship : And,
that this may be hereafter better observed and
executed, and that no one may plead ignorance
thereof, the Director General and the Councillors
do hereby order their Fiscaal, together with the
subaltern magistrates and Schouts, to Proclaim
these Presents, and to cause them to be Pro-
claimed, every-where, and against the transgres-
sors of these Presents, to cause the penalties to
be inflicted, the more so because, by such con-
duct, we promote the honor of God, advance the
Reformed Religion, the tranquillity of our com-
mon Country, and also its Union and prosperity,
as it behooves us.

Thus done, Resolved, and approved, in the
954

Fort of Amsterdam, in New Netherland, on the
1st day of February, Anno, 1656.

This Order of their High Mightinesses the
Direotor General and the Councillors of
New-Netherland was undersigned by P.
Stuyvesant.

Attest

C. V. Ruyven, Seo.

[The following Orders, properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of
the city, may be found in the “ Appendix to Part
“ I.” of this volume :

LXXXIX. Petition of city authorities for au-
thority to raise money for publio purposes, and
the action thereon. February 1, 1656.

XC. Appointment of Burgomasters and Schep-
ens for ensuing year. January 31 and February
2, 1656.

XCI. Order concerning a burial-place for Jews.
Issued February 22, 1656.

XCII. Petition of the city authorities concern-
ing Orphan Masters, and the action thereon.
February 25,1656.

XCIII. Minutes, and other papers, concerning
the survey of the city. February 25,1656.

XCIY. Petition of the city authorities concern-
ing protection from the Indians, and the action
thereon. March 3, 1656.

XCV. Ordinance imposing certain duties on
furs exported. Issued April 4, 1656.

XCVI. Ordinance against smuggling, and im-
posing duties on furs and liquors. Issued April
27,1656.

XCVII. Ordinance obliging all articles over65

twenty-five pounds to be weighed at the Weigh-
house. Issued April 27, 1656.

XOVIII. Ordinance regulating the Weigh-
house. Issued April 27, 1656.

XCIX. Order concerning the payment of the
excise. Issued April 29, 1656.

C. Ordinance concerning the currency in which
certain duties were to be paid. Issued May 18,
1656—H. B. D.J

[Original, 34; Translation, 44.]

rpHE Director General and the Councillors of
-i- New Netherland, with the advice of the
Burgomasters and their High Constables, by
these Presents, do make known and they do give
warning, that from this time forth, no persons
shall be permitted, between this and the Fresh-
water, to harbor at night, any Indian, under the
penalty of Twenty-five Guilders for each offender,
who, without permission from the Director Gen-
eral or the Secretary, signed, shall harbor any
Indian in the night.

Thus done in Fort Amsterdam, in New Neth-
erland, this 29th of May, Anno, 1656.

This Order of their High Mightinesses the
Director General and the Councillors of
New Netherland was signed by P. Stuy-
VESAltT.

C. V. Ruyven, Secy.

\The following Orders, properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of
the city, may be found in the “ Appendix to Part
«* I.” of this volume:

Cl. Ordinance concerning advances to soldiers.
Issued June 3,1656.56

CII. Petition of city authorities concerning
the Sheriff of the city, and the action thereon.
June 7,1656.

CIII. Ordinance amending the excise law.
Issued June 7, 1656.

CIY. Appointment of Nicasius de Sille to he
Sheriff of the city. June 26, 1656.

CY. Ordinance concerning the payment of
tenths. Issued June 27,1656.

CVI. Ordinance concerning the collection of
duties on exports. Issued June 27,1656.—H. B. D.]

[Original, 35 • Translation, 44-46.]

rpHE Director General and the Councillors of
J- New-Netherland, by these Presents, do make
known to all, that information has been given
them by certain Indians, that two, three, or four
Indians from Tappan’s were harboring some evil
design, and had given them to understand that
they intended to murder some particular Chris-
tians, on the flats ; And, Whereas the Director
General and the Councillors have not been able
to ascertain towards what place or against whom
their aim is, much less whether this should be
the general design of the Nation, and particu-
lar] y since it is of the Tappan Nation and other
Indians the warning has been given, the Director
General and the Counr45]cillors can neither Or-
dain nor apply a remedy in any other way than,
by these Presents, to revive their former Orders
and Proclamations, to wit: That those persons
who are living without, in separate habitations,
shall withdraw into the nearest Village or Ham-
let, and make a combination, in the penalty here-
tofore established in the premises : In the mean-67

time, that they warn each other to be on their
guard; and not to frequent the woods, or the
road without being armed, and always in com-
pany of at least two, three, or four, so as to he
able to resist these Bush-men: and, further, to
prevent such separate murders and homicides,
the Director General and the Councillors, with
the advice of the Burgomasters of this City
cannot now, as they could not formerly, devise
any other or better expedient than what has
already been repeated; and to interdict and to
forbid that no Indian with a gun or any other
weapon shall be admitted into any fortified place,
nor into the flat lands, nor into any Village or
Hamlet, nor into any house, under the penalty of
forfeiting such weapon, which weapon, on the
complaint of the inhabitants, may and shall be
taken away by the Schouts, Marshals, or, in
their absence, by any of the Magistrates, to wit,
eleven days after the Proclamation and Affixture
of these Presents, or after the Indians shall have
received the knowledge of this Order and warn-
ing ; And the Director General and the Council-
lors do, by these Presents, command their sub-
jects to give the Indians the knowledge of these
[46] Presents, in the Indians tongue, in their
most civil and most acceptable manner, as it is
the advice of the Director General and the Coun-
cillors, and of tho Burgomasters aforesaid, with
the intent and design of preventing all injury
between the Christians and the Indians.

Thus done, in the Session of their High Might-
inesses the Director General and the Councillors,
in Fort Amsterdam, in New-Netherland, on the
lnst day of July, 1656.

Was signed by P. Stuyvesant, and attested by
C. V. Ruyven, Secy.58

[The following Orders, properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of
the city, may be found in the “ Appendix to Part
“ I.” of this volume:

CVII. Ordinance concerning the importation of
articles contraband of war. Issued August 11,
1656.

CVIII. Ordinance concerning the anchorage
ground before the city. Issued August 24,1656.

CIX. Ordinance regulating the fees payable at
the public store. Issued September 6, 1656.—
H. B. D.]

[Original, 36; Translation, 46, 47.]

fT'HE Director General and the Councillors of
J- New Netherland, to all persons who shall
see these Presents, or hear them read, Greeting :
Whereas, now and then, the people from with-
out are in the habit of bringing into this City
different commodities, such as Veal, Pork,
Butter, Cheese, Turnips, Roots, Straw, and
other products of the land, for the purpose of
selling them; and it frequently happens, par-
ticularly here at the Strand, that they are obliged
to tarry long and to lodge, to their great damage,
for the reason, because the community, or, at
least, the greater part, especially those who live
away from the Strand, are not aware that such
commodities have been brought for sale, not alone
to the discommoding of the Burghers but also to
the notorious injury of the enterprising man from
without, who frequently has to lose more in his
time than the [47] profit on his commodities will
warrant. Therefore, for the purpose of making
provision in the premises, the Director General
and the Councillors aforesaid, by these Presents,69

do ordain that from this time forth, here in this
City, Saturday shall be the Market-day ; and
that market shall be held at the Strand, at or
around the house of Mr. Hans Kierstede,
where after him, every one who has any thing to
buy or to sell, shall be permitted to enter.*

Thus done, in the Session of their High Might-
inesses the Director General and the Councillors,
held in Fort Amsterdam, in New-Netherland, on
the 12th of September, 1656.

Signed by the Director General and Councillors
of New-Netherland.

Attest

C. V. Ruyten, Secy.

[The following Orders, properly belonging in
this place, but not recorded in the Archives of
the city, may be found in the “ Appendix to Part
“ If of this volume :

CX. Petition of city authorities for leave to
impose certain taxes, and the action thereon.
September 20, 1656.

CXI. Ordinance concerning the officers and
soldiers of the Director-General’s Company. Is-
sued September 20, 1656.

CXII. Ordinance concerning the rate at which
beavers shall be received in payment for duties.
Issued September 27,1656.—H. B. D.]

* Doctor, or rather, “ Surgeon Hans Kibbstede, had been
an old servant of the West India Company, and was in New
Amsterdam as early as 1638.

Several years after, he purchased the ground adjoining the
Company’s Stores, on the Strand of the East river-now the
East line of Pearl street, between Whitehall and Moore, where
this first Market was established by law, as above provided.

Dr. Kierstede died in 1665 or 6.

This Market is fully described in Colonel De Toe’s Interesting
Market Book, 35-44.—H- B. D.60

[Original, 38-41; Translation, 48-55.]

The Director General and Councillors of New-
Netherland, to all persons who shall hear or read
these Presents, Greeting:

Be it known, that by daily and painful experi-
ence they have learned that the Orders and Pro-
clamations repeatedly issued and repeatedly re-
vived against the profanation of the Lord’s day
of rest,* the unlawful Tapping, on that day,f in the
night, after the placing of the watch on the ring-
ing of the bell,]: against the dangerous, yes, dam-
nable, Sale or Dealing out of Wines, Beers, and
Brandy-waters,$ against the Baking and selling
of both the coarse and the small white Loaves of
Bread,|| are not regarded, observed, maintained,
nor yet executed, according to the benevolent in-
tention of the Director General and the Council-
lors, and as necessity imperiously demands, to
the dishonoring of God, to the manifest injury and
disturbance of the peace and tranquillity of the in-
habitants ; and also to the great contempt of the
authority of the higher and the subaltern Magis-
trates of this Province; Therefore, the Director
General and the [49] Councillors aforesaid being
desirous to make all necessary provisions for
said offices and duties, do hereby Resolve, Revive,
and Amplify their aforesaid issued Ordinances
and Proclamations, interdicting and forbidding :

* Vide Orders of the Director General and Councillors, May
31, 1647. March 10, and April 29, 1648.—H. B. D.

t Vide Orders of the Director General and Councillors, May
31, 1647, March 10, and April 29, 1648.—H. B. D.

$ Vide Orders of the Director General and Councillors, May
31, 1647 ; March 10, 1648.—H. B. D.

Vide Orders of the Director General and Council, March 10,
1646, and November 8, 1649.—H. B. D-
II Vide Orders of the Director General and Council, Novem-
ber 8, 1649, April 14, 1650, and June 5, 1651—H. B. D-61

In the First place, that on the Lord’s day of
rest, usually called Sunday, no person shall be al-
lowed to do the ordinary and customary labors of
his calling, such as Sowing, Mowing,Building,Saw-
ing wood, Smithing, Bleeching, Hunting, Fishing,
or any works allowable on other days, under the
penalty of One Pound, Flemish, for each person,
so offending; much less any idle or unallowed
exercises and sports, such as Drinking to excess,
frequenting Inns or Tap-houses, Dancing, Card-
playing, Tick-tacking, Playing at ball. Playing
at bowls, Playing at nine-pins, taking jaunts in
Boats, Wagons, or Carriages, before, between, or
during, Divine Service, under the penalty of
a double fine (Two Pounds, Flemish); and par-
ticularly, no Innkeeper nor Tapster shall be
allowed, before, nor between, nor during, Divine
Service, to follow his customary business nor
undertake to Tap, Hand out, Give out, or Sell, any
Brandy-wines, Beers, or Ardent Spirits, directly
or indirectly, under the penalty of Six Guilders, to
beforfeitedby every Innkeeper or Tapster, for each
person; and every one of such persons as shall be
found drinking at the aforesaid times, shall for-
feit also Three Guilders. No Innkeepers nor Tap-
sters shall be allowed, on Sunday or any other
[50] day, to follow his business, nor to continue
Tapping, Selling, or Handing out any Wines,
Beers, Brandy-wines, or Liquors, to any person,
after the setting of the Watch or the ringing of
the Bell, under the same penalties; domestic,
barley-laws, and public matters, authorized by
the consent and by the Order of the Magistrate
alone excepted.

In the Second place, respecting the very dan-
gerous, injurious, and damnable Selling, Giving
out, and Dealing out by Wines, Beers, or Ardent
spirits to the Indians or natives of this land,
1062

whereby almost all the calamities occur, at least
are threatened and encouraged, whenever the In-
dians become intoxicated, the Director General
and the Councillors do revive and amplify their
former issued Proclamations and by these
Presents, they do Interdict and Command, that no
person, whatever his rank and profession may be,
shall be allowed to Sell, Exchange, or Deal out
to any Indians any Wines, Brandy-wines, or
Strong liquors, nor hand them, nor fetch them,
nor cause them to be fetched, without, or within,
or about the house, on the land or on the water,
whether in Sloops, Barks, Boats, or Canoes, on
Carriages, or Wagons, of whatever name, directly
or indirectly, under the penalty of Five Hundred
Guilders, and, in addition thereto, arbitrary cor-
poral punishment and also banishment out of the
country.

That these things (for the greater increase and
maintenance of the public tranquillity and peace
of the good inhabitants of this Province) may be
better detected, all the High and Lower Officers,
the voluntary or impressed [51] Servants of the
Company, and the inhabitants of this Province,
in behalf of their duty and obligations, are ad-
monished, required, and commanded to assist in
preventing, detecting, and prosecuting this dan-
gerous and damnable Selling or Dealing-out any
Wines, Beers, or Brandy waters; or, in case of
their failing in these, to pay one half of the
pecuniary tine, in case it shall be found, after
this, that they have had the knowledge of such
Selling or Dealing out of Wines, Beers, or Strong
liquors to any Indians, without giving informa-
tion of the same.

* Vide Orders of the Director General and Councillors, July
1, 1647, March 10, and May 13, 1648, and August 28, 1654—H.
B. D.63

Fubthebmore the Director General and the
Councillors having been credibly informed and
advised concerning the Huckstering and Retail-
ing of Wines, Beers, and Spirituous liquors, at and
around the River, out of the ascending and de-
scending Sloops, Boats, Barks, Vessels, and Ca-
noes, do not only interdict and forbid, by these
Presents, all such Huckstering and Retailing,
but they do Ordain, Enact, and Command that
no Schippers, nor any persons propelling Barques,
Canoes, or Boats, nor any other free or slave in-
habitant, of whatever name, rank, or vocation
he may be, from this time forth, shall be per-
mitted, whether for himself or any other person,
in any Sloop, Boat, Canoe, or any other Vessel,
to embark, lade, or take away Wines, Beers, or
Ardent Spirits, in greater or smaller vessels, or
even in Cans, Jugs, or Flask-cases, without hav-
ing given in the same, as to the just quantity to
the Officer of the place, where the Wines, Beers,
and Spirituous liquors, in wholesale or retail,
shall [52] be embarked, shipped, or laded, and
shall have procured from the said Officer, a Bill
or Certificate for Delivery, wherein shall be con-
tained the quantity and the quality of the Casks
and the other vessels, stating for whom the
Wines, Beers, or the Spirituous liquors, have been
shipped, and to whom they have been consigned;
and bring back a suitable Bill or Certificate of
Delivery to the particular persons, from the Offi-
cer of the place where the same shall have been
delivered and from the Receiver himself, signed
by them ; and all this under the penalty of for-
feiting the smuggled Wines, Beers, or Spirituous
liquors, and the fine of Five hundred guilders for
the First time; for the Second, the forfeiture of
the Barque, Yacht, Boat, or Canoe, in addition
to the above penalty.64

In the Third place. Concerning the Baking
and the Selling of the Coarse and the White Bread,
both, neither at the proper weight nor yet at the
established price : The Director General and the
Councillors aforesaid, by these Presents, reviv-
ing and amplifying their former issued Orders on
that, do Ordain and Command that all Bakers and
all others, inhabitants, who make it their business
to Bake or Sell Bread, whether to Christians or
Barbarians, shall be obligated (for the accommo-
dation of Christians as well as for the sake of profit,
and to do the same for the Indians,) at least once
or twice a week, to bake both Coarse and White
loaves of Bread, both for Christians and Indians,
at the established weight and price, as follows :
[53]

The Coarse Loaf shall weigh,

One double Loaf, 8 lb., Price, in money, 14
Stuyvers each.

One single do., 4 lb., Price, in money, 7 Stuy-
vers each.

One half do., 2 lb., Price, in money, 3£ Stuyvers
each.

The White Loaf shall weighs

The double Loaf, 2 lb., Price in money, 8
Stuyvers each.

The single do., 1 lb., Price in money, 4 Stuy-
vers each.

The half do., ^ lb., Price in money, 2 Stuyvers,
each.

The Bread that is lighter or without the
knowledge, order, and consent of the Subaltern
Court, lighter in weight or too dear in price,
shall be forfeited; and, in addition thereto, there
shall be a penalty of Twenty-five Guilders for the
First offence; double that penalty for the Second65

offence ; and, for the Third offence, Six hundred
Guilders, together with the absolute prohibition
from following that business.

Furthermore : No Bakers nor any one who
follows the business of making Coarse or White
Bread, shall be permitted to sell any Bread made
of Sifted Bran, whether at wholesale or retail,
to Christians or Indians • but the Bakers of
Coarse Bread may make their Coarse Bread of
the ground grain, as it comes from the Mill; nor
shall they make any other sort of Bread, whether
for Christians or Indians, than as before specified,
under the penalty as aforesaid; the choice thereof
resting in the Judicature of the respective Courts,
each in its own jurisdiction, and in such persons,
who on account of their better knowledge of
Bread, shall be pleased to undertake it.—

[54] In the Fourth place : The Director
General and the Councillors having been further
informed, and having well considered, that as in
the subjects of Tapping, so also in Baking, there
are practised many frauds; and, consequently,
there are attempts to cover the same under the
pretence of Custom, because, up to this time,
there has not been any Company or certain num-
ber of them acknowledged: Therefore, for the
purpose of preventing these, as far as it is prac-
ticable, the Director General and Councillors do
Ordain and Command that, from this time forth,
no person shall follow the business of Baking
or Tapping without first having made applica-
tion to those of the Magistrates in the respective
jurisdictions, and having procured from the same,
or their authorized Agents, a License for that
business, which License shall be renewed by the
Innkeepers and the Bakers, quarterly, commenc-
ing from the first day of November next ensuing,
and every time paying therefor to the behoof of66

the respective Courts, One Pound, Flemish, under
the penalty of suspension from the business, by
notorious and wilful neglect—

The foregoing specified Fines and Penalties
shall be appropriated, One third to the Officer
who shall bring the prosecution; One third for
the Church or the Poor; and the remaining One
third for the benefit of the Public; and, that the
same may be the better known, practised, and
executed, and that no person, for the time to
come, may pretend ignorance, the Director Gen-
eral and [55] the Councillors do, bjr these Pres-
ents, Ordain and Command, that in the usual
places of publication, these Presents shall be
Published and Affixed ; and that, after the publi-
cation thereof, they shall be observed and exe-
cuted, without any favor, grace, or reserve, or
respect of person, since we have deemed this
necessary to the good of the Country in general,
and particularly to the welfare of the Inhabit-
ants.

Thus done, revived, and amplified, in the Ses-
sion of the Director General and the Councillors
of New Netherland, at Fort Amsterdam, on the
26th of October, 1656.

Signed by P. Stuyvesant,

Attest:

C. V. Ruyven, Secretary.

[ Original, 51, 52; Translation, 72-74.]

^T^HE Director General and the Councillors of
-A- New Netherland To all persons who shall
see or hear these presents read, Greeting :

They give notice, that for the purpose of pre-
venting all calamities by fire, they have long
since condemned all Flag roofs, Wooden and Plat-67

ted chimneys, within this City ;* and, also, to that
end, have appointed Firewardensf and Inspectors
of Buildings,]: which Statutes and Ordinances the
Director General and the Councillors aforesaid
have repeatedly published and renewed; yet,
unto the present time they have been by many of
the Inhabitants carelessly or obstinately neg-
lected, either because the penalty and fine therein
established is too trifling or because the penalties
have not been inflicted and collected; which
neglects have all along occasioned several ca-
lamities and accidents by fire, and more such are
to be apprehended, yea, even the entire destruc-
tion of this City, in regard to the buildings
which are now daily going up, so that it is ne-
cessary to make provisions in the case, To which
end, the Director General and the Councillors
aforesaid have not only judged it to be right and
necessary to revive their former enactments and
Proclamations, but, also, to amplify and amend
them, wherein they were deficient, or to cause
them to be promptly executed. To that end, the Di-
rector General and the Councillors aforesaid [73]
do Ordain that all flag roofs, wooden chimneys,
hay-barracks, and hay-stacks shall be taken down
and removed, within the term of Four months
after the publication of these Presents, under the
penalty of Twenty-five Guilders for each and
every month,—and the penalty shall be promptly
executed,—for every house, small or great, hay-
barrack, or hay-stack, or wooden chimney,
within the walls of this City, after the expiration

* Vide, Orders dated January 23, 1648 ; and January 18,
1656 —H. B. D.

t Vide, Orders dated January 23, and September 28, 1648 ;
April 13, 1655 (App. LXIX) and January 18, 1656 (App.
LXXXV1I.)—H. B. D.

£ Vide, Orders dated July 25, 1647; and December 15,
1648.—H. B. D.68

of the Four months aforesaid, to the inclusion of
hen-houses and hog-pens: the fines to be appro-
priated, One-third to the officer who shall en-
force the law and Two-thirds to the behoof of the
City; and if, in the mean time, in any such
chimneys or houses, any fire shall take place, a
four-fold fire penalty shall be paid for it, to wit:
One hundred Guilders, to be appropriated accord-
ing to the Proclamations heretofore issued.

Whereas, furthermore, in all well-regulated
Cities and Corporations it is customary that Fire-
buckets, Ladders, and Hooks are in readiness at
the corners of the streets and in public houses,
for the time of need, and these things are here
more necessary than ever before, through the
paucity of stone houses and the abundance of
wooden-buildings within this City, erected by
one and the other, the Director General and the
Councillors do Ordain and Authorize, in these
premises, the Burgomasters of this City, either
personally or by their Treasurer, to promptly
demand for every house, whether small or large,
One Beayeb, or Eight Guilders, in Seawant, [74]
according to the established price, for the pur-
pose of ordering, from the revenue of the same,
by the first opportunity, from Fatherland, Two
hundred and fifty leathern Fire-buckets ; and out
of the surplus to have made some Fire-ladders
and Fire-hooks : and, in addition to this, once a
year, to demand for every Chimney, One Guilder,
for the support and maintenance of the same.*

Thus done in the Session of the Director Gen-
eral and the Councillors, held in Fort Amster-
dam, in New Netherland, this 15th day of De-
cember, Anno, 1657.

C. Y. Ruyven,
Secretary.

* Vide, Order dated January 23, 1648.—H. B. D.Era

•^ET^ERi^

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARYYALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY