The exact text, which, by the title, can be assumed to have prohibited, restricted, or otherwise regulated the trade of powder, lead, and guns, has been lost to history, but the source has the following note:

NOTE.—On the 4 April, 1652, the Directors at Amsterdam transmitted to the Director and Council of New Netherland, a printed Ordinance to the above effect, the execution whereof was strictly enjoined. It is not among the Records, and seems, indeed, not to have been very strictly enforced, for the Directors at Amsterdam on the 6 June, 1653, say:

“We have seen that you have been obliged, at the written request of those of Fort Orange and of the Colonie of Renselaerswyck, to connive somewhat in regard to the Edict enacted about contraband Goods. You ought to deal herein with a sparing hand, and take good care that through this winking no more ammunition be sold to the Indians than each one has need of for the protection his house and for obtaining the necessaries of life, so that this cruel and barbarous Nation may not be able, at any time, to turn and employ their weapons against ourselves there.”