Document: Letters from Messrs. Noble and Farrington to the director and council, pleading ignorance of the law against Quakers

[Vnto ye Noble and Reuarent Lords ye Director Generaull & his Counsell

An answer unto my Lord Fiscaull Nick. De Cella] in ye wch we doe not [ acknoledg orselves giltie at ] lest ignorant.[i]

My Lords for subscribing ye writin prsented unto ye by or skout Tobias ffeake we did conceive it toe

be for ye best as in a way of petition to yor Honr wch if wanting in matter of forme, yet in or honnest intents we soe understoud ye substance to be; xxxxxxxxx toe know if yt liberty

might be granted wch was desired, Concerning wch we exspectted yor Honners answer ye or nay wth wch we should have bin fully satisfied, & where as ye ffiscall saith we were bound to ye Contrarie by patten or plicadoe published by yor Honner & yor Councell we doe affirme we never saw any such plicadoes nor never knew them, but for yor

Honners perticuler writing an order Concerning ye Quakers we have procicuted unto or powers:

as for ye Artikels wch ye ffiscaull is pleased toe caull or Charter if any thing be in them, we never red them but ar ignorant of them;

but for or patten wch we call or Charter we have hard red, & we doe Conceive it grants us libbertie of Consience: wthout molistacion either of Maiest rat or Minnester & if we are in ye darke therein we desier yor Honner toe derect us and wee shall ever subscrib our selves yor humble servants

New Amsterdam N Netherlands marke X Januaris ye 9th 1658 William Noble

Edward ffarrington