In the time of Thomas Dongan, afterward the Earl of Limerick, the third Governor of New York, Charles the Second died, the Duke of York succeeded as James the Second, and his Lord Proprietorship merging in the Crown, New York thenceforward became a Royal Province, governed directly by the King through his appointed Governor. Though a Roman Catholic himself, and his Governor, Dongan, was of the same religion, James, as King, acted promj)tly, and without hesitation, and gave Dongan the most pointed, and strongest possible, " Instructions " to establish the Church of England in New York. A King of England by the law of England could not do otherwise. But the thoroughness of James's action under the circumstances is very surprising. His " Instructions" to Dongan bear date May the 29th, 1686. They not only established the Church of England, but also placed it under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and are in these words :

"31. You shale take especial care that God Almighty bee devoutly and duely served throughout yo' Government: the Book of Common Prayer as it is now established, read each Sunday and Holyday, and the Blessed Sacrament administred according to the Rites of the Church of England. You shall bee careful that the Churches already builtt here shall bee well and orderly kept and more built as y'' Colony shall, by Gods blessing bee improved. And that besides a competent maintenance to be assigned to y" Minister of each Church, a convenient House bee built at the Comon charge for each Minister, and a competent Proportion of Land assigned him for a Glebe and exercise of his Industry.