Thirdly, that those who, contrary to express orders and prohibition, have undertaken to sell and barter articles of contraband, such as guns, pistols, powder and lead to the Aborigines, and thus exposed themselves, with all those who actually reside, or hereafter may come to New Netherland, to the imminent danger of being suddenly attacked, massacred and driven ofT, shall be punished for the excesses herein committed, especially for what occurred during the war, when subjects of this State dared to strengthen their enemies by the sale of prohibited articles of contraband. And whereas this evil has now reached that stage that the trade in the aforesaid contraband goods cannot easily be cut short or forbidden, without evident danger of new war and trouble between the subjects of this State and the Aborigines, the Council of New Netherland shall be notified, and ordered to take care that none of the aforesaid articles

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HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 389

of contraband shall be hereafter traded and sold either by colonists or other inhabitants, except with its knowledge and by its order, the guns to be eiiarged at 6 guilders, the pistols at 4 guilders, the pound of powder at six stivers, all for the benefit of the public interests there; so as in time, when it can, in their opinion, be safely done, to forbid the trade altogether, under heavy penalties to be thereunto enacted.

4.

Fourthly, whereas their High Mightinesses learn that the people of New Netherland either are not obliged, or have themselves forgotten to possess and make use of arms necessary for their own defence, therefore, the inhabitants generally, shall be bound each to provide himself with a good gun and the requisite powder and lead, and be enrolled and formed into companies, have the said guns stamped and inspected, with a prohibition against the sale of such stamped guns, on pain of himself or family being deprived thereof.