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Whereas daily experience hath shown that, notwithstanding previously published Orders and Proclamations, great damage is done to the fortifications of this city by cattle, and particularly hogs, which run and are kept in herds along the public streets, and also cause great stench and filth within this city, which, being infected therewith, serious sickness is engendered in consequence; to prevent and obviate which, as much as possible, I have, therefore, thought it necessary to interdict and forbid, three days after the publication hereof, the running of any hogs, be they big or little, within this city along the public streets; but they shall run and be confined in inclosed and fenced places; also, the allowing of horses or cows to feed within the walls of this city, or to go along the public streets without a person to drive them to and from pasture, under the penalty of the forfeiture of the hogs which will be found after said time, within this city's walls along the public streets; and in case any horse or cow shall be found along the public streets without a keeper, the owner thereof shall, for each time his cattle be taken up, be fined in a penalty of twenty-five guilders. Wampum value, which fine, if not forthcoming and paid within 24 hours, said horse or beast shall be publicly sold by the officer and the aforesaid fine paid and made good from the proceeds of such sale; and the officer of this city is required and commanded to take care that these presents be duly executed, without distinction of persons, as I have considered the same to be for the advantage of this city and its inhabitants. Done Fort Willem Hendrick, this 16th April, 1674.

(Signed),

A. Colve.

References

Translation: O'Callaghan, E.B., trans./ed., Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New-York, vol. 2 (Albany: Weed, Parsons: 1858), pp. 569-730 (vol. 23, pp. 1-270 only).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.