На главную страницу


March 12/22, 1663/4
CHARLES the Second, . . . [&c.] . . . Know ye that we . . . Do Give and Grant unto our Dearest Brother James Duke of York his Heirs and Assigns All that part of the maine Land of New England beginning at a certain place called or known by the name of St Croix next adjoining to New Scotland in America and from thence extending along the Sea Coast unto a certain place called Petuaquine or Pemaquid and so up the River thereof to the furthest head of the same as it tendeth Northwards and extending from thence to the River Kinebequi and so Upwards by the Shortest course to the River Canada Northward And also all that Island or Islands commonly called by the several name or mimes of Matowacks or Long Island situate lying and being towards the West of Cape Cod and the Narrow Higansetts abutting upon the main land between the two Rivers there called or known by the several names of Connecticut and Hudsons River together also with the said River called Hudsons River and all the Land from the West side of Connecticut to the East side of Delaware Bay and also all those several Islands called or known by the Names of Martin's Vinyard and Nantukes otherwise Nantuckett. . . . And the said James Duke of York doth . . . covenant and promise to yield and render unto us . . . of and for the same yearly . . . forty Beaver skins when they shall be demanded or within Ninety days after And We do further . . . Grant unto . . . James Duke of York his Heirs, Deputies, Agents, Commissioners and Assigns by these presents full and absolute power and authority to correct, punish, pardon, govern and rule all such the subjects of us . . . who may from time to time adventure themselves into any the parts or places aforesaid or that shall or do at any time hereafter inhabit within the same according to such Laws, Orders, Ordinances, Directions and Instruments as by our said Dearest Brother or his Assigns shall be established . . . So always as the said Statutes Ordinances and proceedings be not contrary to but as near as conveniently may be agreeable to the Laws, Statutes & Government of this Our Realm of England And saving and reserving to us . . . the receiving, hearing and determining of the Appeal and Appeals of all or any Person or Persons of in or belonging to the territories or Islands aforesaid in or touching any Judgment or Sentence to be there made or given And further that it shall . . . be lawful . . . for our said Dearest Brother his Heirs and Assigns by these presents from time to time to nominate, make, constitute, ordain and confirm by such name or names stile or stiles as to him or them shall seem good and likewise to revoke, discharge, change and alter as well all and singularGovernors, Officers and Ministers which hereafter shall be by him or them thought fit and needful to be made or used within the aforesaid parts and Islands And also to make, ordain and establish all manner of Orders, Laws, directions, instructions, forms and Ceremonies of Government and Magistracy fit and necessary for and Concerning the Government of the territories and Islands aforesaid so always as the same be not contrary to the laws and statutes of this Our Realm of England but as near as may be agreeable thereunto. . . .

Historical Summary

THE province of New Netherland, granted to the Duke of York, brother of Charles II., in March, 1663/4, was not surrendered to the English until the following August. By the treaty of Breda, in 1667, the English occupation was confirmed. On the renewal of the war between England and the United Netherlands, in March, 1672/73, New York was retaken by the Dutch, and a general act of confiscation was passed, including in its scope property of the King and of the Duke of York; but the treaty of Westminster, in 1674, providing for a mutual restoration of conquests, reestablished the English control. To remove any doubt as to the validity of the grant of 1664, and other grants made under it, due to the temporary occupation by the Dutch, a second grant was made June 29/July 9, 1674, in terms only verbally different from the first.



Source:
Original Sources http://www.originalsources.com