Whereas experience hath demonstrated and taught that, besides an unnecessary waste of powder, much Drunkenness and other insolence prevail on New Year’s and May Days, by firing of guns, planting May poles and carousing; also other deplorable accidents such as wounding, which frequently arise therefrom. In order to prevent these in future, the director General and Council expressly forbid from this time forth all firing of Guns . . .on a penalty of 12 guilders for the first offense; double for the second offense, and for the third an arbitrary correction . . .