History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
It required that there should be two ministers in the county of Westchester, one of whom should have care of Westchester, East Chester, Yonkers and the Manor of Pelham, and the other of Rye, Mamaroneck and Bedford, and that fifty pounds should be raised for each of the incumbents ; and also whatever sum might be necessary for the maintenance of the poor, which amounts were to be levied by the wardens and vestrymen, for whose election the act also provided.' It appears that the Governor took the deepest interest in the spiritual welfare of the colony. He was a man of great earnestness and promptness, and made himself felt to the general advantage. The Indians, in their appreciation of him, styled him Cayenguirago, or the "great swift arrow." What he counseled and did reached directly the difficulty. The necessity for his anxiety as to religion will appear from the strictures upon our county, contained in a letter of Colonel Heathcote, written in 170-1, --
" I first came among them . . . about twelve years ago. I found it t)ie most rude and lipatlienisli country I ever saw in my whole life, which called themselves Christians, there being not so much its the least marks or footsteps of religion of any sort. Sundays were only times set apart by them for all manner of vain sports and lewd diversion, and they were grown to such a degree of rudeness that it was intolerable. I liaving then command of the militia, sent an order to all the captains . . . that in case they would not in every town agree among themselves to appoint readers and to pass the Sabbath in the best manner they could . . . that tlie captains should every Sunday call their companies under arms and spend the day in exercise." -