The position of the Dutch Church as an Established Church, was the reason why it was so particularly guarded, and provided for, in the Articles of Capitulation of 1664, and again in the special articles of surrender formulated by Governor Colve, and carried into effect by the English Governor Andross, in 1674, no other church being mentioned or referred to in either. And to this circumstance is owing the fact, that it was in consequence of these provisions in both sets of articles, that during the entire existence of New York as an English Province, the Dutch Church was ever treated with greater favor than any other church dissenting from the Church of

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

England; and that between these two churches a cordial relation ever existed, and one which has been maintained down to this day, when both churches are flourishing, each with a name slightly changed, under a new political dominion, to a degree which was impossible under either of the dominions of old.

The change from the Dutch system of government and laws to that of the English, was very gradual indeed. It was no part of the policy of the Duke of York to make changes other than what might be absolutely necessary. All that he insisted upon, at first, was, that he should be acknowledged as Lord Proprietor of the Province under the Patent from his brother King Charles the 2d, of 1652. The prudence, skill and wisdom of Richard Nicolls, his Deputy Governor, after much objection and opposition, which he completely and gently overcame, effected this; and between the 20th and 25th of October, 1664, hardly five weeks after the surrender, all the former Dutch ofiicials, and nearly three hundred of the male inhabitants of New York, including Stuyvesant, van Cortlandt, van Ruyven, van Rensselaer and Beekman, took the oath of allegiance to Charles the 2d and the Duke of York, as the lawful Sovereign, and the lawful Lord Proprietor of New York.