OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 37 



nation, a capitulation was signed [August 27, IGO-l] and, immediately 

 afterwards, a force was despatched to reduce Fort Orange. In honor of 

 the duke of York, the city of New Amsterdam received the name of New 

 York, and Fort Orange that of Albany. The greater part of the inhabi- 

 tants submitted cheerfully to the new government, and Governor Stuy- 

 vesant retained his property and closed his life in New York." 



Matters being thus arranged at New Amsterdam, the reduction of the 

 colony on the Delaware having been determined. Sir Eobert Carre with 

 two frigates, the Guinea and the "William and Nicholas," and the troops 

 not needed at New York, sailed thither and accomplished his mission 

 with the expenditure of two barrels of powder and twenty shot. The 

 capitulation took place on October 1, 1664 and stipulated that "the bur- 

 gesses and magistrates submitting to his majesty should be protected in 

 their persons and estates; that the present magistrates should be con- 

 tinued in office, that permission to leave the country within six months 

 should be given to any one desirous so to do ; that all persons should 

 enjoy liberty of conscience as formerly ; tliat any person taking the oath 

 of allegiance should become a free denizen and enjoy all the privileges of 

 trading into any of his majesty's dominions, as freely as any Englishman." 



The whole country being thus reduced without bloodshed. Colonel 

 Nichols, by virtue of a commission of the duke of York,^ assumed the 

 government of New York, and on November 3rd was commissioned by 

 his colleagues, Cartwright and Maverick, to proceed to Dela^yare-' "to 

 take special care for the good government of said place, and to depute 

 such officer or officers therein as he shall think lit, for the management 

 of his majesty's affairs, both civil and military, until his majesty's pleasure 

 be further known." 



New Amstel was now called New Castle.^ " The capture of New York 

 and its dependencies led to an European war between Great Britain and 

 Holland,* ending in the treaty of Breda, at which the right of the former 

 to their newly acquired territories in America was acknowledged." 



"Colonel Nichols governed the province for nearly three years with 

 justice and good sense. He settled the boundaries with the Connecticut 

 colony, which, yielding all claim to Long Island, obtained great advan- 

 tages on the main, pushing its line to Marmaroneck river, about thirty 

 miles from New York: he prescribed the mode of purchasing lands from 

 the Indians, making the consent of the governor requisite to the validity 

 of all contracts with them for the soil, and directing such contracts 'to be 

 entered in the public registry: he incorporated the city of New York, 

 under a mayor, five aldermen and a sheriff [1G65] and, although he re- 

 served to himself all judicial authority, his administration was so wise 

 and impartial, that it enforced universal praise. 



1 Gordon. 2 Reg. Pemis.— I. 37. ^ Hazard. 4. July 31, Kit];. 



