» Book of Indian Deeds, Alb. warrant for survey, Lib. i., 88.

46 HISTORY OF THE

governor's fees on this occasion amounted to three hundred pieces of eight.

Over the extensive forests of Cortlandt (celebrated for their fat venison,) the lord of the manor was constituted, '-the sole and only ranger, to have and enjoy all the benefits and perquisites, (fcc. that of right doth belong nnto a ranger according to the statutes and customs of the realm of England."

The lords of Cortlandt also enjoyed the extraordinary privilege of sending a representative to the provincial assembly.

The whole manor was held by the feudal tenure of paying therefor yearly to the Crown, upon the feast day of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, the rent of forty shillings.

THE ROYAL CHARTER.

Gulielmus Tertius Dei Gratia, Angliae, Scotiae, France et Hiberniae, Rex, fidei defensor, &c. &c.

" To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting : Whereas, our loving subject, Colonel Stephanus Van Cortlandt, one of the members of our Council of our Province of New York, &c., hath by his petition presented unto our trusty and well beloved Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor-in-chief of our said Province of New York and territories depending thereon in America, &c., prayed our grant and confirmation of a certain parcel and tract of land situate, lying and being upon the east side of Hudson's river, beginning on the north line of the manor of Phillipsburg, now in the tenure and occupation of Frederick Phillips, Esq., one of the members of our said Council, and to the south side of a certain creek called Kightawanck Creek, and from thence, by a due east line, running into the woods twenty English miles, and from the said north line of the manor of Phillipsburgh upon the south side of the said Kightawanck Creek, running along the said Hudson river northerly as the said river runs into the north side of a high hill, which high lands, commonly called and knov^'n by the name of Anthony's nose, to a red cedar tree, which makes the southernmost bounds of the land now in the tenure and occupation of Mr.