Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the
second, by the grace of God of England, Scottland, France, and Ireland
King, Defender of the Faith, etc., at the Citty Hall of New Yorke in
America, A speciall Court of Oyer and Terminer was holden by Vertue of
this following Commission, Viz.

Thomas Dongan Lieutt. and Governour, and Vice Admirall under his
Royall Highnesse of New Yorke and Dependences in America.

_Whereas_ his Royall Highnesse James Duke of Yorke and Albany, Earle
of Ulster, etc., Lord high Admirall of Scottland and Ireland, and the
Dominions and Islands thereof, As also Lord high Admirall of the
Dominions of New England and Virginia, Barbados, St. Christophers,
Antego, New Yorke in America, etc., hath by his Commission dated at
St. James the third day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1682 and
in the 34th yeare of his Ma'ties Reigne constituted and made mee his
Vice Admirall of New Yorke, and the Maritime ports and Islands
belonging to the same, and hath authorized and impowered mee to
appoint a Judge, Register, and Marshall of a Court of Admiralty
there;[2] I do therefore hereby make and appoint You Lucas Santen
Esq., Judge of the said Court, and William Beekman, Deputy Mayor, John
Lawrence and James Graham, Aldermen of the Citty of New Yorke, Mr.
Cornelis Stenwyck, Mr. Nicholas Bayard, Mr. William Pinhorne, and Mr.
Jacob Leysler, and you or any six of you, to hear and determine of any
or all Treasons, Felonys, Robberys, Piracys, Murders, Manslaughters,
Confederacys, breaches of trust, Imbezleing goods, or other
Transgressions, contempts, Misprissions and Spoyles whatsoever, done
or committed within the Maritime Jurisdiction aforesaid, on board the
Ship _Camelion_ of London, Nicholas Clough commander, and I do also
appoint Will. Nicolls to bee Register, and John Collier to bee
Marshall of the said Court, and this Commission to bee of Force during
the time of this Tryall only. Given under my hand and seale this 15th
day of September, 1683, and in the thirty fifth yeare of the Reigne of
our Soveraigne Lord Charles the second, by the Grace of God, of
England, Scottland, etc. King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

THO. DONGAN.

[Footnote 2: Governor Dongan's commission of vice-admiralty "in the
usual forme", October 3, 1682, is recorded in the Public Record
Office, London, C.O. 5:1182, p. 40. James, duke of York, was Lord High
Admiral from 1660 to 1673; he was proprietor of the province of New
York from 1664