Document: Ordinance against goats running at large in New Amsterdam

Whereas previously strong complaints have been made about the great damage caused by the goats and other animals in and about this city both on the fortress and the gardens as well as on other cultivated fruits and trees, for which there has been issued a repeated prohibition against keeping any goats here; nevertheless, we find that some goats have been brought back here who not only ruin all the fruit trees they can reach, but also destroy the burghers’ gardens, and devastate the seeded fields; and for which strong complaints have been made to the honorable lord director general and councilors of New Netherland, who have therefore deemed it advisable for this purpose to renew hereby, in shortened form, the formerly published ordinance, and at the same time to warn all those who have any goats running here this side of the Fresh Water[1] to herd and pasture the same on the other side of the Fresh Water; also to lock them up at night in a bam or stable so that the aforesaid goats can do no more damage to the crops and trees, on pain of seizure and forfeiture of any goats found this side of the Fresh Water, after posting of this, for the benefit and use of the poor. Thus done at the session of the honorable lord director general and councilors held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra.