The articles of capitulation expressly provided that "the Dutch here shall enjoy the liberty of their consciences in divine worship and church discipline." Noue but Protestant ministers were allowed to ofticiate within the government, but difference of judgment was allowed to all who professed Christianity. The English made the maintenance of the ministry and poor a chief care of their admininistration, and their laws and edicts relating thereto are multifarious. They appointed overseers for each parish to levy assessments for the building of churches, the payment of the clergy and the maintenance of paupers, and while they tolerated other forms of faith, they compelled every person to pay the rates of the

I church " whereof lie doth or may receive benefit."

I Governor NicoUs expressed the exact obligation in

472d

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the order that " every township is obliged to pay their minister according to such agreement as they shall make with him, and no man to refuse his proportion, the minister being elected by the major part of the householders inhabitants of the town." It was the original scheme of the English that in each parish a church "should be built in the most convenient part thereof, capable to receive and accommodate two hundred persons," but this was found impracticable, for in 1655 it was provided that such churches should be built within three years afterward, and to that end a town rate or tax was authorized to begin that year. In default of payment of the church rates by towns or individuals, a summary process was authorize<l for the collection of the assessments and subscriptions.