Benjamin Fletcher our said Cap : Generall and Governor in Chief or our Province of New York and the Territorys Depending thereon in America and Vice Admiral of the same, our Lieu' and Commander in Chief of the Militia and of all the forses by Sea and by Land within ourCollony of Connecticut and of all the Forts and places of strength within the same, in Council at our fort in New York the Seventeenth day of June in the Ninth Year of our Reign Anno Domini 1()97.

Benjamin Fletcher.

By his Excelys. Command, David Jamison D. Sec'y.^

The earliest movement of Stephanus van Cortlandt towards obtaining the Lands of the Manor, was to take out, pursuant to the law of the Province,'^ a License to purchase them from the Indians, in order to extinguish the Indian title. This instrument, from the original among the van Cortlandt papers, is in these words :

License from Gov. Andros. "By The Governor: H Whereas application hath been made unto mee by divers persons for lands at Wyckerscreeke, or ad-

> Recorded in Book of P;iteiitfi No. 7, Ijeguii in ir>95, pp. 105-170. -Explaiued above iu tbis esaay.

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

jacent parts, on the east side of Hudson's River, the which have not yet been purchased of the Indyan Proprieto". These presents are to authorize you, Co" Stopliiiniis van Oortlandt, Mayor of this City, if fitting opportunity sliall present, to treat with, and agree for, any part of the said Land for wh*"'' there may be present occasion of settlement, or for the whole, with the Indyan Sachems or Proprieto". Tlic payment whereof to be made publicly at the Fort or City Ifall.