Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan

“ Wherefore, having duly weighed the matter, We the Director and Council of New Netherland, hereby charge and command all our Inhabitants, whose lands lie contiguous to Indian plantations, to take due care of their Horses, Cows, Hogs, Goats and Sheep, and prevent them, by fences or otherwise, damaging the corn of the Indians, on pain of making good the damage, and of incurring the penalty, payable to the Fiscal, according to the Edict published on the 15th March last. Let every one be warned and take heed against loss. ”

“ Whereas many complaints are daily made by the Indians that their Corn hills are trampled under foot and uprooted by Hogs and other Cattle, and consequently great damage is done when the Maize is growing, whence it will follow that the Maize will be dear at the time of the Harvest and our good people suffer want, the Indians be incited to remove and to entertain feelings of hatred against our Nation, and thus through our perverseness, combine the one with the other, which we are most expressly ordered by the Honble Lords Directors to prevent ”

“ Should it happen, which God forbid, that any mischief occur either from enemies or traitors at night, the people will be notified by the discharge of three cannon fired in quick succession; and if by day, means will be found to give warning to every one, who is commanded thereupon to repair instantly to his Corporal at the place appointed and then to adopt such measures as the exigency of the case shall require, on pain of being fined Fifty guilders. ”