Whereas a Certain Letter of Jacob Leysler dated ye 28th day of Decemb Last at N: Yorke hath been Read in the Convention, wherein he writes y* he Jacob Leysler hath Received orders from King William for ye takeing care of this Government and accordingly Commissionated Jochim Staas to take into his Possession fort Orange and Orders free Elections for a mayor and Aldermen whom he hath Signified to ye s^ Staas, It is therefore thougt Convenient by ye convention now met together that Richd Pretty Esq^ high SherrifFe of ye Citty and County of Albanie doe Repare to Jochim Staas, and Demand if any such orders from our Souveraign Leidge Lord King William be sent to him as Jacob Leysler mentions in his Letter, Being Desyreous to see them that we may Conform and Behave our Selfs accordingly ; Since y*" Preservation of ye Peace of our Souveraign Lord King William

VOL. II. 10

146 ADMINISTRATION OF

as it is a duty Incumbent upon us, So it is our only aim to have ) e same kept Inviolable in these Dangerous times --

Signd P'^ Schuyler Mayor

Dirk Wessels Justice Marte Gerritse Justice Liv: Van Schaik Justice

of y« Peace Evert Banker assistant

The high SherifFe R: Pretty Esq^ Returns from Jochim Staas and says that he hath Deliverd him ye message & y* said Jochim Staas comes Presently

Jochim Staas appears in y® Convention and says he doth not Intend to answer y® Convention by writeing but by Discourse, alledgeing that he might be Ensnared by writeing, upon which the Gent" did Insist, that if he had any Lawfull Authority Devolved from our Souveraign Lord King William upon Jacob Leysler, that he would be pleased to show itt, they were willing to Obey, and notwithstanding ye orders were not Directed to Mr Leysler yet they were willing with all cheerfullnesse to Obey such orders as were Comprehended in said Letters, but cannot obey Cap* Leysler a&Leift gov Except his Maj* hath made him soe, upon which Jochim Staas Replyed y* we knew well eneugh y® King's Letters were Directed to Cap* Nicholson and in his absence to such as for y* time being take care for y® Preserveing y® Peace and administring the Laws in their Maj^^ Province of New Yorke, and further said Lett ye Bell be Rung and Lett all ye People come Together and then he would show what he had to show, Whereupon y* gent" of ye Convention Replyed that they were not willing to Runn into Confusion to Convein ye People before they knew what to Publish or Declare to them ; and withall Desyred Since he acknowledged to have a Proclamation for ye Proclaimeing of there Majes King and Queen of England Scotland France and Irland &* which of Scotland hath not hitherto been done here, that they might have there Majes Proclamation to Proclaim there s'* Majes accordinly, and they would cause the Companies come in arms, & doe it with what Solemnity the Place could afford, but ye s^J Jochim Staas answered y* ye Proclamation was sent to him, & he would Obey Orders