wicked; which governor and council, now, or hereafter to be, appointed by the Company, shall take cognizance, in the first instance, of affairs appertaining to the freedom, dignity, domain, finance and rights of the General West India Company ; of the complaints which any one, as well strangers, neighbors of the aforesaid countries as inhabitants thereof, may make in cases of privilege, innovation or disuetude of customs, uses, statutes or descents ; with power to declare the same corrupt and to abrogate them as vicious, if such should be found equitable ; of matters appertaining to minor children, widows, orphans and other unfortunate persons who complain first to the Council in order to obtain justice ; of all contracts or obligations; holding prerogative jurisdiction, of personal property, possession of benefices, fiefs, of crimen lesae majestatis, of religion, and of all criminal cases and excesses being prescribed and unchallenged ; and may by prevention receive all persons to be purged of matters brought in accusation against them there, and generally take cognizance of, and administer law and justice in every case afiecting the dignity of the Company. Thus done by the Committee of the General Incorporated West India Company in the Hague the

The States General of the United Netherlands having seen and considered the preceding Freedoms and Exemptions, have approved and ratified, as their High Mightinesses do hereby approve and ratify the same. Requiring and ordering the Director and Council of New Netherland to regulate and conduct themselves agreeably thereunto. Done at the Assembly of the aforesaid States General, etc.