Document: Answer of the town of Southampton, refusing to swear allegiance to the Dutch government

Octob the first 1673. At a Towne Meeting of ye Towne of Southampton vpon occasion of gentlêm: from Manhatans Island that Came as Report goeth to Administer an Oath of Allegiance to ye Inliabitans of ye said Towne.

The Townes Answer is as followeth.1st That whereas some debate hath formerly been betweene the deputies of this Towne & the dutch generall at the Manhatos Concerning Some Articles between the said dutch generall & this Towne & the other foure Easterns Townes of Long Island which said Tearmes or Articles (But some of them being granted and others Semingly granted now by their pretended body of Laws, are overthrowne Therefore wee Cannot but feare them & soe are not willing to trust them any further2dly And whereas the oath of allegiance theij saij wee shall take wee Vtterly deny any other Souveraigne Lord over us then his Most Sacred Majesty’s of England & therefore cannot in Conscience Sweare to any foraine Power.Notwithstanding wee the Inhabitans of ye said Towne and our Neighbours the dutch both on ye Manhatos Island & on ye West End of this Island haveing formerly lived as Loving Neighbors and friends, yet also now is our desire that the same may still Continue, and wee doe promise and Engage our Selves that we will in no waye disturbe or Molest them Soe Long as wee are not Molested by them nor any other from or vnder them Vnlesse Called thereunto by his Majesty’s Power of England.