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Dutch colonial council minutes, 16-26 November 1643

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Ordinance framed by the honorable director and council according to which all the Company 's servants and freemen shall have to regulate themselves while on duty in the Burger guard[1]

1. If any one on duty in the Burger Guard take the name of God in vain, he shall forfeit for the first offense 10 stivers, for the second offense 20 stivers, and for the third time 30 stivers.

2. Whoever on the Burger guard speaks ill of a comrade shall forfeit 30 stivers.

3. Whoever comes fuddled or intoxicated on guard shall for each offense forfeit 20 stivers. Whoever is absent from his watch, without lawful reason, shall forfeit 30 stivers.

4. After the watch is duly performed and daylight is come and the reveille beaten, whoever discharges his gun or musket without orders of his corporal, shall forfeit one guilder. The

16th of November 1643.

On the 19th of November

Manuel of Gerrit de Reus and big Manuel declare in court at the request of the fiscal that Jan Selis cut the cow of little Manuel with a chopping knife, producing a large wound, and that old Jan drove many cows and horses into the swamp; which they have confirmed by oath in court.

On the 26th of November

The fiscal, plaintiff, vs. old Jan Selis, for having chased and wounded cattle, especially little Manuel's cow. Jan Selis is condemned to pay the owner for the damage which was done to the animal and is forbidden on pain of banishment to injure any persons or cattle and is condemned to pay a fine of fl. 25 to the fiscal and costs.

The fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Borger Jorisen, for payment of duty. Ordered that Borger Jorisz within 14 days shall pay the duty to the fiscal on all that he has conveyed from and to the North since he began to trade; and he is forbidden to depart or come ashore without first entering everything correctly with the fiscal, on pain of confiscation of the sloop and goods.

Notes

Revised from Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 35.

References

Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 4, Council Minutes, 1638-1649 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.