ENGLISH   COLONIAL   POLITY  AND   JUDICIAL
ADMINISTRATION,  1664-1776.
 

IHE first constitution of New York, as an Englisli province,
consisted of (1) tlie patent of Charles II. to his brother the
Duke of Tork, dated March 12/22, 1664 (that is, three
months before the expedition for the subjugation of New
Netherland set sail); (2) the Duke's com¬
mission to Colonel Richard Nicolls, as his
deputy governor; (3) Colonel NicoUs's
proclamation to the inhabitants of Long
Island, from New Utrecht Bay, dated
August 18/28, 1664 ; and (4) the articles of
surrender exchanged eleven days there¬
after. The habendum clause of the patent
is the same as in all the colonial patents.
The   English plantations in America and
 

SEAL OF THE DUKE OF YORK.

elsewhere (including the
Channel Islands and Ireland,
as a conquest), belonged to
the king's private domain or
demesne. He chose to con¬
sider all his American pos¬
sessions as attached to his
own Eoyal Manor of East
Greenwich, in the county of
Kent. Over these outlying
acres of American soil he ex¬
ercised entire control, like
any otlier lord of a manor,
and hence could, at his pleas¬
ure, devise them by will, or
grant them by deed.' The
rale of their government was

It liluasure was taken away by I Anne, c. 8, passed in
n Ireland by William 111.
 

DUTCH COUETSHIP.
 

1 Tile  riglit to alienate crown lands   by  grant
consequence of tbe improvident alienations of land