We were much wondered, that you according to order and your duty, have not presented unto us your nomination of your new magistrates for this present year, being now four months past that this thing should be done, the reason wherefore being unknown to us, we have purposely sent and ordered the bearer, Resolve Waldron our substitute sheriff, (schout) for to inquire after the grounds and reasons thereof, which you are to give unto him in

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 1G5

writing, and send either your present magistrates to give us more fully information. So after our love, I shall rest,

Your loving friend and Governor, Done in Fort Amsterdam, inscribed,

N. Netherland, P. Stuyvesant.^

9 May, 16G3.

The same day Sheriff Waldron conducted tlie two magistrates, William Belts and Edward Waters, to Governor Stuyvesant, " who were asked, why they neglected to present to the Director General and Council in conformity to custom and orders, a new nomination of magistrates ? Their answer was, tjiat they in due time, when the nomination ought to have been made, called the inhabitants together, and requested them to nominate new magistrates for the ensuing year, who decHned to do so at two different times, because they had been summoned by those of Hartford in Connecticut colony, as clearly appears by the following English documents^ conveyed to them for this purpose, by the aforesaid colony, with the declaration of the aforesaid village, in the form of a letter to the Director General. Being further questioned why they did not communicate the aforesaid orders and letters of Connecticut colony, so as they ought to have done, and as other English villages actually did at the past instance, now more than half a year past, and now above it, had actually de novo, appointed two of their village to go and assist in the aforesaid order, on the stated day, at Hartford.