collect the preacher's salary, in order to stir up delinquent contributors.

Choice of Church Masters.

Since the Charter expressly says that the Consistory shall choose the Church Masters, and from the beginning they were only so chosen, and since, for some reason, this practice has been two or three times altered by a former Consistory, Resolved, according to right, that henceforth the Church Masters shall have no voice in the choosing of Church Masters.

N. B. Hereupon, the Consistorial Assembly went on with the change, and in the absence of the existing Church Masters, chose itself new Church Masters.

-Lib. B. 31.

COMMISSION OF LORD CORNBURY AS GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.

As to Religion:

Sept. 9, 1701

Wee doe by these presents authorize and empower you to collate any pron (person) or prons (persons) to any Churches or Chapells, or other ecclesiastical benefices within our said province or dependencies aforesaid, as often as that any of them shall happen to be void.— Dix's Trinity Ch. i. 137.

[See Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 883-4, 1152. According to Cornbury himself, his Commission was dated July 5, 1701. See below May 3, 1702.]

1701

PETITION OF THE QUAKERS OF QUEENS Co. REGARDING THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE.

To the Honorable John Nanfan Esq., Governor & Commander in chief of the
Province of New Yorke etc.

The humble petition of Samuel Haight, John Wey & Robt. Field on behalf of
themselves and the rest of the ffreeholders of Queens County of the persuasion
& profession of the people called Quakers.

Sheweth Unto your Honour that lately in the elecon of Representatives to assist in generall assembly in Queens County the petitioners above named and others of their profession have been interruped and deprived of their right & priviledge

1701

of voting by the Justices of said County or some of them & others appointed witnesses to the elecon upon pretence & coluor of not having taken the oaths notwithstanding their having signed the declaracon appointed the people of that persuasion by act of Parliament.

There being another eleccon to be had in said County in a few days that the peticoners may enjoy their right & priviledges and to prevent controversy for the future.

They therefore humbly pray to have your honours opinion whether they being qualified other-ways to vote for representatives in such eleccons are legally barrd & precluded from doing thereof by their not swearing and as in duty bound etc. Samuel Haight. John Way. Robert Ffield. October 3, 1701.

In Consistory, unanimously Resolved, That those who will not pay any Domine's money, if they have a pew in the church, shall lose the pew, and it shall be granted to one who does pay Domine's money.

On the 30th of October, 1701, in the morning, a letter signed by Mr. Brandt Schuyler was handed to Do. Du Bois, touching the election of Mr. Nicholas Roosevelt for elder in our congregation. A true copy whereof runs as follows:

Mr. Du Bois:- I find myself constrained to apprise you, that Mr. Nicholas Roosevelt, although bound by solemn oath as alderman of this place, to maintain, according to his best knowledge and conscience the rights and privileges of the inhabitants, has, notwithstanding, allowed himself on the 28th of Sept last, when he was entrusted with the gathering of the votes for alderman, etc., to return himself as alderman, though he knew, in his conscience, that not he, but I, had the plurality of votes, as can be shown and approved, clear as the sun by different affidavits and examinations made on inquiry before the mayor of the city. Yet this same Roosevelt is by some of his own, now lately chosen, and twice published, for elder in the Church of God for the coming year. Therefore I could not omit, the more as being solicited thereto by many members, to bring this to your notice, that the Church of Christ is by this extraordinary, unrighteous and altogether sinful proceeding, sadly reproached, and many of its mem

bers greatly offended: to the end that by your prudent and pious action, this reproach and offence may be obviated and removed. I remain, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

Brandt Schuyler. Lib. B. 31, 32.

The Consistory having seen and read a certain paper, addressed to Mr. Du Bois, signed-Brandt Schuyler, containing some. reasons against the confirmation of brother N. Roosevelt, as elder of this congregation, and having maturely considered the case, declare that they have no mind to decide, nor even to discuss, in their Assembly, any political disputes; but on the contrary, themselves to obey, as is proper, the authorities and powers, according to God's command. Besides, since we are informed that the said Mr. Nicholas Roosevelt is justified by the Rulers of this City, in the matter in which he is blamed in this paper, we cannot perceive that it offered any hindrance to his confirmation; and this, the more, since this accusation is made by a person who has involved himself in a political dispute, which does not concern the church. It therefore can by no means weaken the honor, reputation or Christian life of Mr. Roosevelt, or give any one substantial reason to take offence at his advancement to ecclesiastical office, or to reproach the same, unless maliciously. Wherefore the Consistory, having duly considered all these things, firmly, Resolved to proceed, in the name of the Lord with his ordination to the office to which he was lawfully chosen.

In the name and authority of the Consistory,

CHURCH OF NEW YORK.

Gault. Du Bois.

-Lib. B. 33, 35.

After calling on the name of the Lord, it was unanimously Resolved, That the resolutions which sometime since were made and confirmed, should be presented to the persons of the coming

1701

1701

Consistory, and the inquiry made, if they would be pleased to subscribe the same, for a mutual bond of unity, and the execution of that which has been determined to the edification of the congregation: viz.,

1. That the Treasury of the Elders and Deacons make one Treasury, without prejudice, however, to the care of the poor. 2. That Do. Du Bois be recognized as our lawful Pastor and Teacher.

3. That hereafter, the elders, at least once a year, and as much oftener as they shall think proper, shall go with the bellringer when he collects the minister's salary, in order to stir up the non-payers and the unwilling contributors.

4. Whereas the Almighty took out of this world our reverend and godly Pastor and Teacher, Do. H. Selyns,* on the ...... of the last month; (Sept.); after calling on the Lord's name, the Old and the Ruling Consistory were assembled to deliberate on what ought to be done for the edification of God's Church, since Do. Du Bois was called only for a second minister.

The Consistory now in office having weighed all this, has in Christian Assembly, after the advice given by the Old Consistory was considered, Resolved, To request Do. Du Bois, in case it should be judged expedient, to delay somewhat the call of another minister in place of the deceased; and so long as he is alone here, to render the service alone. And to animate him the more to this, we promise him yearly, at this time, a present of thirty pounds, until another minister is here, in love. Meanwhile, we promise to lighten his labors, as soon as possible, by calling another minister, in place of the departed Do. Selyns.

* See Hon. Henry C. Murphy's Anthology of New Netherland for an excellent Biography of Selyns. He puts his death in July, 1701, but these Minutes seem to place it in September, 1791. The following is found in a Dutch Biographical Dictionary:

Selyus (Selijns) Henry, preacher of New Amsterdam on Manhattan in North America. He returned to Holland in 1664, and settled at Amsterdam, where he practised the writing of poetry. Jacob (James) King, and subsequently J. J. Van Voorst had in their possession from his hand, a manuscript entitled "New Amsterdam Ecclesiastical Affairs". See van der Aa, N. B. A. C. Woordenboek. From van der Aa's Biographisch Woordenboek.

N. B. The above Resolution being proposed to Do. Du Bois, he agreed to accede to the request of the Consistory, with the blessing of the Lord, according to his ability.

Gualt. Du Bois.

We, the undersigned, incoming Elders and Deacons, recognize the above Resolutions as necessary, wholesome and promise to follow and help to maintain the same.

1701

Mr. Johannis Lydius minister, Anthony van Schaick and Hendk. van Rensselaer elders, in ye behalfe of the Church Wardens of the Reformed Netherdutch Congregation of Albany, doe appear and verbally sett forth how that in Collecting of money for ye Ministers Sallary several of said Congregation do refuse to contribute any more thereto, alleadgeing that they have no settled place in ye Church to sett on and hear ye word of God.

Doe therefore Request that ye Mayor, Aldermen and Commonality will be pleased to permitt them to appoint persons to goe round by ye Inhabitants of this Citty and others in ye County belonging to said Congregation, to see what money can be voluntarily procured for ye enlarging of said Church for ye more accommodation.

The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonality taking ye above request into Consideration, doe graunt ye same, Provided such summe or summes of money as so shall be procured be employed for ye use aforesaid and none else.- Munsell's Annals of Albany, Vol. iv. p. 146.

PETITION OF THE PROTESTANTS OF NEW YORK TO KING WILLIAM

III.

To the Kings most Excellent Majesty:

City of New York, 30 December 1701.

The humble Petition and address of Your Majesties Protestant subjects in your
Plantation of New York in America.

Most Dread Soveraign: We, your Majesty's Protestant Subjects in Your Plantation of New York in America, having too many reiterated Informations of our being calumniated and misrepresented to your Majesty, with hearts full of grief, Loyalty, and the highest duty and regard to your Majesty, humbly pray the Freedom to acquaint your Majesty.

That as soon, as we knew of your Majesties happy accession to the Crown, we entertained the joyful tidings with hearts full of alacrity, blessing Almighty God for our great deliverer.

And as we cannot still without Dread and Horror reflect upon the ruine and calamities that were likely to swallow us up, when your Majesty brought us deliverance: so we are Influenced with a lively and gratefull sense, that our Religion and Liberties are in the greatest safety under your auspicious Reign.