Whereas the Reverend M^ petrus Van Driesen of the County of Albany having represented unto me the necessity of erecting and building a publick meeting house for the Indians in the Mohawk Country in the County of Albany in order for the more commodious and frequent assembling of themselves togetlier for the Solemn worship of God w^h might be a meanes of bringing over as well tlie Indians there as those in ye adjacent parts to ye knowledge of tlie principles of the Christian religion & has therefore made application to me for my lycence & for that purpose now for the furtherance of w^h good Design I do by virtue of the powers and autlioritys unto me granted by virtue of his Majesty s Lre^ patent under the great Seal of Great Brittain Give and grant unto the said petrus Van Driesen full

916 PAPERS RELATING TO ALBANY

Joliannis Lydius had done whereupon with the advice of the Consistory the same has been agreed to and performed to them untill now Excepting the time that M^' Andrews ministredto them

Tlie Petition"" iinding himself in Conscience thronged and moved to continue with them in the doctrine of the true knowledge of God if yet at some time the Lord might give them Repentance as by meanes of the same ministracon thro' the blessing of the most high has been done to Our fore Fathers --

Wherefore the Petition'' in all Dutyfull manner Turns himself to yo»" Excy and yo"" Honor's with Eequest to hold his pei-son as Becomended and to assist him in his services which are both heavy and chargeable according to the nature of the Indians as allso the Interpreter he makes use of at his own Cost.