First and only edition of a rare ordinance, printed in Delft. The ordinance, promulgated 19 May 1544, tried to reduce or at least prevent a further rise in crime in Holland and even in other parts of the Holy Roman Empire, by addressing the negligence of officers in enforcing the law. It notes that crime rates - from murders to fraud and other, smaller incidents - are rising in Holland and across the Holy Roman Empire because officers of the law are failing to do their jobs, in the eyes of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and other, lower ranking officials like the stadtholders in the Low Countries. The present ordinance addresses problems concerning the enabling fraudulent behaviour towards creditors of any kind, authorities too readily issuing letters permitting deferment of payment, resulting in an exorbitant volume of unpaid debts. In total, the ordinance contains 40 rules and regulations, mainly for officers of the law but also for criminals and others profiting from the lack of law enforcement, decreed and published with the intent of bringing down crime rates and reminding officers of their duties. The printer, Simon Jansz. in Delft, printed the ordinance in two issues, the present for Frans Duyck Pietersz. in the Hague and the other with his own imprint (Typ. Batava 5796 (2 copies)).
With contemporary marginal annotations and underlining of the text in pen. The second flyleaf is the older front wrapper with an inscription in brown ink on the back: "19 Mei 1544", along with an old catalogue clipping and a few pencilled bibliographical notes. With edges of the leaves slightly frayed, slight browning throughout (mostly around the edges), but overall in good condition. Petit, Pamfletten 1 (1882), 71; STCN 119453460 (2 copies) (cf. 831527528: Delft issue); Typ. Batava 5797 (4 copies) (cf. 5796: Delft issue); USTC 421160 (same 4 copies, 1 listed as if it were 2) (cf. 421163: Delft issue); not in Knuttel; Kress; Van der Wulp.