William Elliot Griffis

“ NEW YORK province, conquered as a fief of the English Crown, was a feudatory principality, while the proprietor was a duke; but when the Duke of York became sovereign, New York was the Crown’s land, — a province with provincial government. Was, then, the claim of the new owner by right of prior discovery, or by conquest? If the former, then the Dutch had been only trespassers on English soil, and the English legal system, with all its inheritances from feudalism, would at once prevail. This would make life intolerable to freeborn republicans. ”

“ In July, 1674, the Duke of York recommended Nicholas to Governor Andros for a “living” in one of the Dutch churches. This meant an invasion of the rights of the Dutch Church, as guaranteed by treaty, and, besides, Nicholas had no credentials, not having received ordination in Holland. The full story of the successful resistance of this attempted invasion by the English State Church is told in the Ecclesiastical Records published by the State of New York. These show that the claim that the Anglican Church was established in New York was an absurdity. ”

“ A high authority has declared that the “civil administration of the Dutch left its permanent impress on the customs, laws, and civilization of New York and New Jersey ... Dutch jurisprudence founded on Roman law was superior to the contemporary feudal law introduced by the English.” The Dutch legislation concerning police, property, inheritances, and status shows a highly civilized state of society. The laws relative to the public records of legal instruments were in advance of contemporary English law. ”