698 A. E. McKhiley local officers to the person of the governor, it will be best to glance first at the conditions therein. The articles of capitulation, already quoted, confirmed the civil magistrates in their positions, and granted them the right of making new elections at the close of their terms. There was, therefore, no compulsory change in the personnel of the city government, but several changes took place voluntarily on the part of the incumbents ; one of the city magistrates left for Europe,' another resigned his position," and the schout of the neighboring hamlet of Harlem refused to perform the duties of his office. ■' No advantage appears to have been taken by Nicholls of these oppor- tunities to place Englishmen in office ; but the vacancies were filled, if at all, in the old Dutch manner. In the meantime the local offi- cers, schout, burgomasters and schepens, continued to hold their courts, appoint arbitrators, and adopt local measures ; and no change appears in their manner of holding meetings or in the extent of their jurisdiction. In February, 1665, the terms of the officers expired, and in their customary way, they presented in nomination to the governor the names of persons to fill the offices for the ensuing year ; whom he, following the habit of the Dutch directors, confirmed.^ Thus there appears no formal change in the govern- ment of the city. Yet Nicholls was making' his influence felt. In October, 1664, he had required both city magistrates and inhabitants to take an oath to obey all commands issued by the King of England, by the Duke of York, or by any of his governors or officers.^ And early in the next spring he ordered the city to find quarters for one hundred soldiers ; but the burghers refused to take them into their houses, and after a long controversy, the city authorities yielded so far that they ordered a tax for the support of the soldiers. •" Perhaps as a result of this quarrel over the quartering of soldiers, or it may be as the outcome of a policy already adopted by Nicholls, in June 1665 the old Dutch forms were superseded by the titles of an English corporation, and the Dutch officers were set aside to make room for Englishmen. On June 12, Nicholls appeared in the 1 Records of New Amsterdam, V. l6o. ^Iliid., 166. sRiker, History of Harl;m, 239-240.
- Records of New Amsterdam, V. 183-184. The new officers were all Dutchmen.
5 Records of New Amsterdam, V. 142 ff. ; N. Y. Col. Doc, III. 74-77. The oath is as follows : " I sweare by the name of Almighty God, that I will bee a true subject, to the King of Great Brittaine, and will obey all such commands, as I shall receive from His Majestic, His Royall Highnesse James Duke of Yorke, and such Governors and Officers, as from time to time are appointed over me, by His authority, and none other, whilst I live in any of his Maj"" territoryes ; So helpe me God." Records of New Amsterdam, V. 208-220.
