390
Presents, That I Richard Nicolls , Deputy Govern 1- to his Royall Highnesse, the Duke of York, byvirtue of his Mat tieS Letters Pattents, bearing date the 12 th day of March in y e 16 th yeare of hisMa tiea Reigne, Do ordaine, constitute and declare, that the Inhabitants of New Yorke, New Harlem,w th all other his Ma ties Subjects Inhabitants upon this Island, commonly called & knowne by theName of the Manhattans Island, are and shall bee for ever accounted, nominated and Established, asone Body Politique and Corporate under the Governm 1 of a Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffe, and I doby these P’sents constitute and appoint for one whole year, commencing from the date hereof, andending the 12 th day of June w ch shall be in the yeare of our Lord 1666; M r Thomas Willett to beeMayor, M r Thomas Delavall, M r Oloffe Stuyvesant, M r John Brugges, M r Cornelius Van Ruyven &M r John Lawrence to bee Aldermen, & M r Allard Anthony to be Sheriffe; Giving & Granting to themthe said Mayor and Aldermen, or any four of them, whereof the said Mayor or his Deputy, shall beealwayes one, and upon Equall division of voyces, to have always the casting and decisive voyce, fullpower and authoritye to Rule & Governe as well all the Inhabitants of this Corporacon, as any Stran-gers, according to the Generali Lawes of this Governm 1 and such peculiar Lawes as are, or shall bethought convenient & necessary for the good and Welfare of this his Ma ties Corporacon; as also toappoint such under officers, as they shall judge necessary, for the orderly execution of Justice; andI do hereby strictly charge and command all persons to obey & execute, from Time to Time, all suchwarrants, orders & Constitutions as shall be made by the said Mayor and Aldermen as they willanswer the Contrary at their utmost Perills; And for the due administracon of Justice, according tothe ftorme and manner prescribed in this Commission, by the Mayor, Aldermen & Sheriffe, ThesePresents shall bee to them, & every of them, a sufficient Warrant and discharge in that behalfe;Given under mv hand and seale at ffort James in New Yorke this 12 th day of June 1665.
Rich Nicolls
BENCKES AND EVERTSEN’S CHARTER. 1673.
[ New Orange. Rec. ]
The Commanders and Honble Council of War in the service of Their High Mightinesses the LordsStates General of the United Netherlands and his Serene Highness the Lord Prince of Orange, etc.Health !
Whereas We have deemed it necessary, for the advantage and prosperity of Our City New Orange,recently restored to the Obedience of the said High and Mighty Lord States General of the UnitedNetherlands and his Serene Highness the Lord Prince of Orange, to Reduce the form of Governmentof this City to its previous character of Schout, Burgomasters and Schepens as is practised in all theCities of our Fatherland, to the end that Justice may be maintained and administered to all goodInhabitants without Respect or Regard to Persons; Therefore We, by virtue of our Commission, inthe names and on behalf of the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands and his Serene Highness the Lord Prince of Orange, have elected from the Nomination exhibited bythose in office as Regents of this City for the term of one current year,
As Schout Anthony de Millt.
Johannes Van Brugen,As Burgomasters Johannes de Peyster,
Egedius Luyck.Willem Beeckman,Jeronimus Ebbyng,
As Schepens \ Jacob Kip,
Louvverens Vander Spiegel,Geleyn Verplanck.