I, Jorgen Iversen, His Majesty the King of Denmark and Norway, and the West
India Company's Governor of the Island of St. Thomas, find it right and proper to
proclaim this ordinance for the honor of God, and the good of the country.

 1. Every person who speaks Danish is bound to attend service every Sunday in
Christian's fort when the drum beats, and on failure of doing so is to pay a fine of
twenty-five pounds of tobacco.

 2. Persons of all other nations are bound to attend service every Sunday
afternoon at the same place, under the same penalty.

 3. Every householder shall encourage his servants to be pious, and have
morning and evening prayers; and if he allows them to do work on Sunday which
might have been done on Saturday, or if he occupies servants of other people in his
employ, he is, for every offence, to pay fifty pounds of tobacco.

 4. For the defence and good of the country, every householder shall keep in his
house for himself and every man in his service, a sword with belt, and a gun with
sufficient powder and ball; and also each householder shall have two pounds of
powder, or more if he pleases. Every person neglecting this duty shall pay one
hundred pounds of tobacco.

 5. When the drum beats (save on Sunday for service), every man shall let his
neighbor know it, and all shall hold themselves in readiness to be at the fort with their
arms, when a gun is fired at the flag-staff.

 6. If (and God forbid it) an enemy should come unexpectedly, then the person
who first observes it (if in the day) is to fire three shots, and inform his neighbor; who, in
his turn, is to inform his neighbor, and so in succession, as quickly as possible. If at
night, he is to fire one shot, and his neighbors are to do the same, and keep
themselves ready for defence.

 7. No person shall fire a gun after sunset, or make any noise, unless he
 observes some treachery from enemies, in which case all must attend armed at the
 fort. If in the day-time the drum is beaten, three shots fired, and the flag hoisted, it is the
 signal of alarm; if at night, and the owner of an estate fires a gun, it shall be an alarm;
 and if at night three shots are fired at the fort, every honorable warrior must go to the
 fort, armed, and there assist with life and blood.

 8. Every Saturday afternoon when the drum beats, all persons who can use a
 gun shall meet at the parade ground fully armed. Any person absent, in favorable
 weather, shall forfeit every time twenty-five pounds of tobacco, which is to be paid at
 the end of the year for the benefit of those who meet regularly.