Document: Letter from gov. Colve to William Lawrence and Charles Bridges

Capt. Knyff and Lieutent Malepart.On the urgent request of those of Heemstede, I have excused them from coming hither and consented that you on your return from the East end of Long Island shall administer the oath of allegiance to such of the inhabitants as have not yet taken it, which is hereby recommended to you. Whereupon relying, I remain

Mr. William Lawrence & Mr Charles Bridges:I have here Inclosed Sent You the Instructions for your selfe & the Magistrates off the townes in Your Precincts, off which You are to Lett Each off them have a Copy; to the End theij may regulate them selve accordingly. You are alsoo required to Cause this Inclosed order off arrest to be Published in all the said townes, and to order the severall Clarkes for to returne an acct off the arrested goods found in Each towne; to the End I may have generall acct thereofFrom Your Selves; and Whereas I am Credibly Informed that a Certaine Person hath bene in the towne off hemstead declaring that he had order from those off Connecticott to raise men for theire accts in the said towne etz, and the Like Seditious Words tending to Meuteny, uppon which I Signifyed my displeasure to the Magistrates who made their Excuse that it Was done in a Private house & ordinary and that the Person was departed before they heard off it; I have therefore thought it necessary to acquaint you thereoff and withall to recommend unto you for to make a strict Enquire unto that buissenesse and to Examine for what reasons the Person in whoes house it Past did Nott give Imediate Notice thereoff Unto their Magistrates Nott Else for the Present but that I am

Pursuant to the above, the Provisional instruction for the Schout and Magistrates of the towns lying within his district, as it is hereinbefore registered under date, is by order of the Governor sent to Schout William Laurence, in the English language, with the Proclamation seizing on all goods and effects belonging to the King of England and his subjects, which was issued by Commanders Jacob Benckes and Cornelis Evertsen, dated 18th of August last.