Document: Commission of Nicholas Bayard to be secretary of the province

Commission of Nicolas Bayard to be Secretary to Governor Colve.

The Honorable Council of War over a squadron of ships at anchor in the North river of New Netherland, on the behalf of their High Mightinesses the Lords States-General of the United Netherlands, and his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, &c.

To all those who shall see these or hear them read, Greeting:Whereas it is highly necessary to appoint and commission a good and proper person to serve the Honorable Anthony Colve, Governor-General here as Secretary and Register of the Province of New Netherland, we therefore, on the good report made to us of the fitness and capacity of Nicolas Bayard, Secretary of the city of New Orange, and late Clerk in the time of the West India Company's government here, have commissioned and qualified, do hereby commission and qualify said Nicolas Bayard to be Secretary and Register to the aforesaid Governor Colve, to execute the duties of said office and whatever thereunto appertains, and further to pay attention to and perform everything as a good and faithful Secretary is officially bound to do by the oath hereunto by him taken, furthermore ordering and commanding all our officers, justices, and magistrates, together with burghers and inhabitants of this Province, and all whom these may in any wise concern, to acknowledge the above named Nicolas Bayard as such, for such have we considered to be for the public interest. All, however, subject to the approval and rejection of our Lords Principals.

Dated Fort Willem Hendrick in New Netherland, this 20th of August, Anno 1673.

[ Note in the Original. The above commission was omitted to be entered at its date, which, therefore, is done here. ]