their subsequent nomination and their actual submission to their High Mightinesses, had been rendered null & void. We then, after having treated them to the best in our power, permitted them to go on shore in the ship of Lieut. Quirynsen. Towards evening we again hoisted sail and anchored before Silvester's; towards evening at a signal, Silvester sent his son with a boat on board, to carry the Commissioners on shore, who staid that night with him.

7th Nov In the morning, the Commissioners of Connecticut delivered us a copy of their commission as follows:

"Whereas by divers Reports & Informations wee are given to Vnderstand that there are some forces Expected spedily from New Yorke at the Eastern End of Long Island to force and Constrayne the People there to take the oath of Obedience to the States generall & Prince of Orange; Wee have thought it Expedient to desire & Empower you Samuel Willis Esq & Capt John Winthrop or Either of you to take such necessary attendance as you Judge meet & forthwith to goe over to the said Island or Shelter Island & treat with such forces as there you shall meet & doe your Endeavor to divert them from using any hostility against the said People & from Imposing uppon them letting them know if they do proceed notwithstanding it will provoke us to a due Consideration what wee are Nextly oblidged to doe, Dated at Harford Octobr 22th 1673.

And further delivered us a copy of the Letter which was sent by the Court of Connecticut to the Governor, Anthony Colve, and requested that we should abandon our voyage and not proceed further in persuading the English of Easthampton, Southold or Southampton to take the oath, whereunto we answered that we were in duty bound to execute our commission and so departed from Silvester's Island. In the mean while those of Connecticut hoisted the King's Jack at their mainmast which was permitted them as they were Commissioners.

About 10 o'clock the Connecticut gentlemen rowed up towards Southall in the boat belonging to Silvester's ship, with the King's Jack in the stern, when the Commissioners immediately followed in a boat they had borrowed from Capt" Silvester, with the Prince's flag also in the stern; arrived at 2 o'clock in the afternoon about Southold, when they heard the drum beat and the trumpet sounded, and saw a salute with muskets whenever the Connecticut gentlemen passed by. Meanwhile the water being low and the tide on the turn, the boat being slowly dragged along by the sailors, the Commissioners were obliged to land. Approaching somewhat nearer, they discovered a troop of cavalry riding backward and forward, four of whom advanced towards us, and when they reached the Commissioners, offered them their horses, on which these mounted, ascended the heights, where they met Capt Winthrop and Esquire Wyles with a troop of 26 or 28 men on horseback, and so they rode on together towards the village, on reaching which they found a company of about sixty foot men in arms. After tarrying a few moments, they marched into the village to the house of one Mr. Moore, where dismounting from their horses, they were invited to enter. After having been a little while in the house, Mr. Steenwyck requested that the inhabitants of the village might be convoked to communicate to them the cause of their arrival, also the commission of the Governor, to

which those of Connecticut answered, that the inhabitants of that village of Southold, being subjects of his Majesty of England, had nothing to do with any orders or commission of the Dutch, and then said to the inhabitants, Whosoever among you will not remain faithful to his Majesty of England, your lawful Lord and King, let him now speak, to which not one of the inhabitants made answer. Mr. Steenwyck replied thereupon, that they were subjects of their High Mightinesses the States-General and his Highness the Prince of Orange, as appeared by their colors and constable's staff, by the nomination of their Magistrates, presented by them to the Governor, and by the election subsequent thereon; he further requested that these elected persons might be called, of whom Thomas Moore appeared, but Thomas Hudsingsen absented himself, and could not be found. When the election of Governor Colve was communicated to said Moore, he would not accept it; saying, that he had nothing to do with it; then Isaack Aernouts, who had been already sworn in as Sheriff of the 5 easterly villages on Long Island was asked, who declared that he had already resigned his office as Sheriff, because it was not in his power to execute that office, having been already threatened by the inhabitants that they would plunder his house. Mr. Steenwyck again asked the people, most of whom were present, if they would remain faithful to their High Mightinesses and take the oath? But not one person answered; signifying plainly enough by their silence that they would not. Then orders were given to read to them the commission of the Governor, which being perceived by the Committee from Hartford, they said, as before, that the inhabitants of that place, being subjects of his Majesty of England, had nothing to do with a commission of the Dutch. So that after many discussions pro and con., we took up our commission and papers after having entered due protest and resolved to depart out the village. On leaving the place, some inhabitants of Southampton were present; among the rest one John Couper, who told Mr. Steenwyck to take care and not appear with that thing at Southampton, which he more than once repeated; for the Commissioners, agreeably to their commission, had intended to go thither next morning; whereupon Mr. Steenwyck asked, what he meant by that word Thing, to which said John Couper replied, the Prince's Flag; then Mr. Steenwyck inquired of John Couper, if he said so of himself, or on the authority of the inhabitants of Southampton. He answered, Rest satisfied that I warn you, and take care that you come not with that Flag within range of shot of our village. When taking leave of the Connecticut gentlemen they asked us to what village we intended to go first to-morrow morning, and they assured us that they should be there, as they intended to be present at every place the Commissioners should visit. Entered the boat and rowed again toward Schelster Island, and resolved not to visit the other two villages, as we clearly perceived that we should be unable to effect anything, and rather do more harm than good. Arrived about ten in the evening at Sylvester's Island where we passed the night.

8th Wednesday. The wind being S. E. we set sail again about 12 at noon, with the ebb, towards New Orange. When the sun being yet about an hour high, passed Plum-gut with a spanking breeze. Saw two sails; spoke one, belonging to Aghter Kol, they who passed N. Orange a day after us.

9th In the morning at day-break, we had Onkeway on our beam; about north of us, espied a mizzen sail ahead, near the White Stone, when it became very calm, so that we were compelled to row, and arrived by dark at Deutel bay, whence the Commissioners traveled by land to New Orange, and arrived about eight in the evening at Fort William Henry, delivering a report VOL. II.

83

of their transactions to Governor A. Colve. The ship the Zeehond anchored in the harbor about midnight.

Proclamation for a day of Humiliation and Thanksgiving.

Trusty & Welbeloved,

Concidering the Manifold Blessings & favours wch the Bountifull & Merciful god hath bene pleazed graciously to Bestow uppon this Province and the Inhabitants thereof amongst wch is to be Esteemed beyond all others the free & pure worshipp of god wch Blessing together wth all others ought Not only to drawe & oblidge us to dutifull thanckfulnesse but also to meeknesse & Rependance because of our Manifold sins & Transgressions to the End the sd Blessings & favours of our god may be Continued towards us & this People & Country be free from this weldeserved Wroth & Indignation, Know Yee therefore that wee have thought it Necessary & do by these Presents order & Proclaime an universall day of fast humiliation & thancksgiveing web shall be held win this Province on the first wednesday on every mounth & begunn on the first wesnesday of the next ensuing month of Decemb' being Second day of the sd Month, & soo Alsoo uppon Every first wednesday of ye month thereunto Ensuing; And to the End the gd day of humiliation & thankxgiveing may bee the better put in practice & due Execution, Wee do hereby strictly prohibite & forbid on the sd day of humiliation Thankxgiving all manner of Labour & exercizings of hunting ffisshing gaming Excesse in drincking and the Lyke & all Inkeepers & ordinaris not to Retayle any Licquors or drinke uppon Penalty of Corporal Punishment, To the true p'formance of wch wee do hereby stricktly order & Comand all Magistrates officers & Justices of this Province & prolecute against the Transgressions according to the Tenn': thereof and to Cause this Proclamation to bee published in due time & place, Soo wee Recommand you to the Protextion of the Almighty godt;

Whereas some difference has arisen between Mr. Jno. Berry and Mr. William Sandford, both of whom requested that it may be referred to the court of the Schout and Magistrates of the town of Bergen, which request being considered by the Governor, the same is for the present granted and allowed.

Done Fort Willem Hendrick this 19th 9ber, 1673.

Capt Cornelis Ewoutsen is hereby ordered at sight hereof to proceed with all speed in his snow and sail through Hellgate to the Cape of Nantucket, or to the place where the small craft Expectatie lies, now lately commanded by Capt" Vonck, and exert every effort to have the said vessel brought hither, but at the same time to take care, if it were judged impossible, not to put his snow in any danger, being on that account recommended to be always very careful. He will likewise be particular not to detain nor in any wise damage any vessels he may fall in

with belonging to New England, but allow them to pass unmolested after having visited them and seen their papers. But if it be impossible to save the Expectatie or she be considered in sufficient safety, he shall then return hither as speedily as possible, and if he think he can come back outside and meeting some of the enemy's ships he will try to master and bring them in, but he is to take good care that no goods, papers nor clothing belonging to the crew be plundered; but in case said little craft, contrary to our supposition, may have been taken by any one, be he who he may, he shall then endeavor to recover it, or to destroy it if its recapture be impossible, in which case he shall attack, capture or endeavor to destroy all English boats and craft whencesoever they may be.

Done Fort Willem Hendrick, this 16th 9ber, 1673.

Whereas some persons do presume to passe from this place towards New England & also Returne from thence w1hout haveing any Passe or Licence so to doe; his honn' ye gouern' hath therefore thought fitt to order & authorize Mr. John Hoit Magestrate of the Towne of East Chester uppon the maine not to suffer any Person or persons whatsoever to passe or repasse through the sd Towne to or from New England; Except they can produce a Legall passe or Licence from authority for the same, and for soe doeing this will be unto the sd Magestrate a Sufficient Warrant & Discharge.

Dated at fort Wm Hendrick 16th 9ber, 1673.

(: Signed :)

By order of his honn' the gouern'
N. BAYARD Secrets.

Jone Lattine, widow of the late Richard Lattine, residing at Hempstead, representing by petition that her deceased husband had, whilst living, made over all his estate on his children by a former marriage, who now appropriate everything without allowing her to retain anything for her necessary support, requesting that she may obtain legal relief.

Ordered, That the Magistrates of the town of Hempstead be recommended strictly to examine into the Petitioner's complaint, and on finding it founded, to extend good right and justice to her.

Commandant Draeyer is by letter written to and ordered to put a stop to all correspondence with the Jesuit (Jusuyt) and Frenchmen from Canada, whether runaways or others. See Letter Book.

Schout Jacob Strycker reports, that he hath found on inquiry that the towns of Gravesend, Amersfoort, Breuckelen, Utreght and Boswyck, are not in arrears to the county rates of the late English Government, but that Midwout was found to be still in arrears, according to the accounts delivered in, fl. 130, 7. Wampum value.

The Governor hath, from the nomination made by the Magistrates of the town of Utreght, selected Jan Gysbertse van Meteren as Magistrate in the place of Jan Thomassen, now lately deceased.

Commandant Peter Alricx in the South river is ordered by letter, in case Capt. John Carr had not submitted according to his request and come to reside within the government, to seize his estate by virtue of the declared confiscation, and by the first opportunity to send hither account and inventory thereof.

Mons

Last Night I Received your letter of the first of 9ber wch I will not Call Impertinent, because it suits your owne fancy-The Expresse mentioned came no further then fayrefield wch may be about halfe waij but had one Come heather wth the least Schroule Vnder your hand though more Insignificant he should not have been deteined the least minute by Confinement as we heare Mr John Bankes hath beene since his arrival there whoe (you may in answer to your querie agayne be Informed hereby) was the Messenger sent wth that letter (whereof you have now Returned a Coppy :) Subscribed by our Secretary by order as there asserted, wch if w1hout passion, you shall some tymes again peruse may appeare to Importe very pertinent & Needful promonitions for the preventing a Confluence of Evill Consequences, That wax upon the usuall place of sealed letters was Impressed wth a faire Coath of armes wch if broken or defaced its yet vnknowne to vs heere by what abuse or accident & that it was not Cloase sealed was no other then, as we had the letter from those sea Commandrs when they were wth you this is all at present from him whoo is, Sr Yours as you repate him

I yesterday received your letter of the 31st October, old style, wherein seeing that the aforesaid of the 21st of said month handed by John Bankes was from you, I answer: I am very well aware how the subjects of their High Mightinesses and the inhabitants of open hamlets and villages ought to be treated, but I also well know that I am not obliged to account to you in the premises. It is sufficiently notorious and can also appear by their written requests that the inhabitants of the East end of Long Island have submitted and declared themselves subjects of their High Mightinesses, delivering up their colors, constables' staves, making nominations for Schout Magistrates and Secretaries, whereupon their election also duly followed; furthermore we have been requested by their deputies to excuse the elected magistrates from coming hither to take the oath, but as it was necessary to send Commissioners thither in order to bring the people under oath, that they too may be qualified to administer the same to the magistrates in like manner, which we were pleased to grant them and which would undoubtedly have been complied with by them had not some evil disposed persons gone from you and dissuaded them. I am here to maintain the right of their High Mightinesses and his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, my Lords and Masters; therefore give little heed to your strange and threatening words, knowing to put with God's blessing and the force entrusted to me, such means into operation as will reduce rebels to due obedience, and to make those who uphold them in their unrighteous proceedings to alter their evil designs. Regarding what you write, that I am led, by barbarous motives, to molest the Dutch open villages, but that the English scorn such unchristian designs; 'tis known throughout the entire world in what a humane manner we treat our conquered enemies whereunto your nation is no stranger both in the last and in the present war, our fleets having had plenty of opportunities to cause great damage, yea ruin to whole countries, but have exhibited no inclination thereto, which was not