The opinion of the before mentioned deputies being heard, it is, after divers discourses between the members from Amsterdam and other Chambers, concluded and resolved, inasmuch as some Clergymen are about to return home from Brazil, that they be permitted to return, and that the number of those who shall remain there be limited to nine persons, to wit: one for each ninth part, to be distributed by the President and Supreme Council among the principal places where the hearers are most numerous, and their services shall be most advantageous. And that the smaller places shall be served by precentors, comforters of the sick, and schoolmasters who shall offer up public prayers, read aloud from the old and new testament, from printed sermons, and tune the psalms. But inasmuch as the Amsterdam Ciiamber maintains, at its charge, seven of the aforesaid clergymen, besides one in Curagao, one in New Netherland and one in Loando, making 10 in all; on the other hand, Zealand and the Maese have only one; Zealand and North Holland is to send one, and Stadt en Landen^ hath sent one by the last ship; it is resolved that the

' In 1594, Prince Maurice reduced the city of Groningen and united the Ommelanden, or surrounding rural districts, to it aa one province. Martinet. Beschryving der Nederlanden, II., 148. The province of Groningen was hence aometimee called Btadt en Landen ; city and country. -- Ed.

164 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. Supreme government in Brazil shall be bound herein to make an equal repartition of those