The twenty-seveuth article of the charter of 1629 is in these words, -- " The Patroons and Colonists shall in particular and in the speediest manner, endeavour to find out ways and means whereby they may support a minister and school-master, that thus the service of God and Zeal for religion may not grow cool, and be neglected among them ; and that they do for the first, procure a comforter of the sick there." The charter of 1640 speaks much more strongly and directly : -- " And no other Religion shall be publicly admitted in New Netherland except the Reformed, as it is at present preached and practiced in the United Netherlands ; and for this purpose the company shall provide and maintain good and suitable preachers, school-masters and comforters of the sick." By these provisions of the two charters was the Reformed Church of the Netherlands, the national established church of the Dutch Republic, made the established church of New Netherland. And as such it remained until the seizure of the province by the English in 1664. It was re-established at the recapture by the Dutch, nine years later, and only ceased as " the Establishment" |on the surrender of the province to Sir Edmund Andros, for the King of England, pursuant to the treaty of Westminister, on the tenth of November 1674. On this occasion the Dutch Governor, Colve, sent certain "articles " to Andros to which he required answers before surrendering, " for the satisfaction of the Dutch Government and for the greater tranquillity, of the good People of this Province." These related mainly to the settlement of debts, the validity of judgments during the Dutch administration, the maintenance of the titles of the owners ot landed property to its possession, and the position of the established church.