"having for the stricter observance thereof, with the preadvice of the Minister of the Gospel, deemed it expedient that a sermon shall be preached from the sacred Scriptures, and the usual prayers and thanksgivings offered from this time forward in the afternoon as well as the forenoon," etc., and forbid all tapping, fishing, hunting, and business during divine service.
26 October, 1656.—Repeating their complaints, they enact an ordinance against performing on Sunday any work, such as ploughing, mowing, building, etc., and, as they term it,
"much less any lower or unlawful exercise and amusement. Drunkenness, frequenting Taverns or Tippling-houses, Dancing, Playing ball, Cards, Trick-Track, Tennis, Cricket or Nine-pins, going on pleasure parties in a boat, car or wagon, before, between or during Divine Service," and forbidding the sale of liquor "before, between or during the sermons," etc.
12 June, 1657.—They forbid all persons, "of what nation or rank he may be," to entertain any company on Sunday or during divine service.
18 November, 1661.—They forbid all work on Sunday under "the penalty of £1 Flemish for the first time, double as much for the second time, and four times double as much for the third time." (Silent as to the fourth time.)
And they forbid all entertainments in taverns, and any giving away or selling any liquor.
10 September, 1663.—The director-general and council of New Amsterdam passed an ordinance against which the burgomasters and schepens of New Amsterdam rebelled, and which they refused to enforce, for the reason that it was "too severe and too much in opposition to the Freedoms of Holland."
That law extended the former laws to the whole of Sunday from sunrise to sunset, and in addition prohibited any riding in cars or wagons, any roving in search of nuts or strawberries, and the "too unrestrained and excessive playing, shouting and screaming of children in the streets."
16 June, 1641.—They began by securing to all Englishmen who might settle with them "the free exercise of Religion."
16 November, 1644.—They granted to the town of Hempstead the power of using and exercising "the Reformed Religion with the Ecclesiastical discipline thereunto belonging."