GOV. NICOLLS' ANSWERS TO THE SEVERALL QUERIES RELATING TO THE LANTERS IN THE TERRITORIES OF HIS R. HS THE DUKE OF YORKE IN AMERICA. [Lond. Doc. II.] 1st. The Governour and Councell with the High Sheriffe and ̈ the Justices of the Peace in the Court of the Generall assizes haue the Supreame Power of making, altering, and abolishing any Laws in this Government. The Country Sessions are held by Justices upon the Pench, Particular Town Courts by a Consable and Eight Overseers, The City Court of N. Yorke by a Mayor and Alderm.en. All causes tried by Juries. 2nd. The Land is naturally apt to produce Corne & Cattle so that the severall proportions or dividents of Land are alwaies allowed with respect to the numbers of the Planters, what they are able to manage, and in vt time to accomplish their undertaking, the feed of Cattell is free in commonage to all Townechipe, The Lots of Meadow or Corne Ground are peculiar to each Planter. 3rd. The Tenure of lands is derived from his R. H. who gives and grants lands to Planters as their freehold forever, they paying the customary rates and duties with others towards the defraying of pu`lique charges. The highes Rent or acknowledgment to his R_H.s will bee one penny pr acre for Lands purchasel by his R. H., the least two shillings sixe pence for each hundred acres, whereof the Planters themselves are purchasers from the invans. 4. The Governour gis iberty to Planters and out and buy lands from the ladyans where it pleaseth best the Planters, but the seating of Towns together is necessary in these parts of America, especially upon the Maine Land. 5. Liberty of Conscience is graunted and assured with the the same Provisoe exprest in the Queerie. 6. Liberty of ffishing and fowling is free to all by the Patent. 7. All Causes are tried by Juries, no Lawes contrary to the Lawes of England. Souldyers onely are tryable by a Court Marshall, and none others except in cases of suddain invasion, mutiny or rebellion, as his Maties Lieutenants in any of his Countries of England may or ought to excrcise. : 8th. As to this point there is no taxe, toledge, Impost or Custome payable upon the Planters upon Corne or Cattle the Country at present hath little other product, the Rate for publicke charges was agreed unto in a generall Assembly, and is now managed by the Governour his Councell and the Justices in the Court of Assizes to that onely behoofe. 9th. The obtaining all thes priviledges is long since recomênded to his R. H.s as the next necessary encouragement to these his Territories, whereof a good answer is expected. 10th. Every man who desires to trade for ffurrs at his request hath liberty so to doe. ANSWERS OF GOV. ANDROS TO ENQUIRIES ABOUT NEW YORK; 1678. [Lond. Doc. III.] Answers to the Inquires of Plantacóns for New Yorke. 1. The Governor is to have a Councill not exceeding tenn, wth whose advice to act for the safety & good of the country, & in every towne, village or parish a Petty Court, & Courts of Sessions in the Severall precints being three, on Long Island, & Townes of New Yorke, Albany & Esopus, & some smale or poore Islands & out places; and the Generall court of assizes composed of the Governor & Councill & all the Justices & magistrates att New York once a yeare, the Petty courts Judge of five pounds, & then may appeale to Sessions, they to twenty pounds & then may appeale to assizes to ye King, al sd courts as by Law. 2. The court of Admiralty hath been by speciall comîssion or by the Court of Mayor & Aldermen att New Yorke. 3. The cheife Legislative power there is in the Governor with advice of the Councell the executive power Judgemts given by ye courts is in the sheriffs & and other civil officers. 4. The law booke in force was made by the Governor & Assembly att Hempsted in 1665 & since confirmed by his Royall Highnesse. 5. The Militia is about 2000 of wch about 140 horse in three troopes the foote formed into companyes, most under 100 men each all indifferently armed with fire-armes of all sizes, ordered & exercised according to Law, and are good fire men, one standing company of Souldiers with gunners & other officers for the fforts of New Yorke & Albany alwayes victualled in October & November for a yeare. 6. Forteresses are James fforte seated upon a point of New Yorke towne between Hudson's River & ye Sound, its a square with stone walls, foure bastions almost regular, and in it 46 gunnes mounted & stores for service accordingly. Albany is a smale long stockadoed forte with foure bastions in it, 12 gunns, sufficient agt Indians, and lately a wooden redout & out worke at Pemaquid wth 7 gunns, s'd Garrisons victualled for a yeare, wth sufft stores. 7. There are no privateers about or Coasts. 8. Our Neighbours westward are Mary land populous and strong but doe not live in townes, their produce tobacco, Northwest the Maques &c. Indians ye most warr like in all the Northern Parts of America, their trade beavers & furrs. Northward the ffrench of Canada trade as wee with our Indians; Eastward Connecticut in a good condicon & populous, their produce provisionn of wheate, beefe & porke, some pease, or South bounds the Sea. 9. Wee keepe good Correspondence with all or neighbours as to Civill, legall or judiciall proceedings, but differ with Connec |