The Remonstrance
of the
Inhabitants of Flushing, Long Island,
Against the Law Against Quakers
and Subsequent Proceedings

1. The Remonstrance of Flushing: This is a transcription of the document, currently housed in the archives of New York State.
2. Subsequent proceedings by Stuyvesant: Decrees and actions resulting from receiving the Remonstrance. Transcriptions of original documents.

Right Honorable. You have been pleased to send up unto us a certain Prohibition or Command, that wee shoulde not receive or entertaine any of those people called Quakers, because thay are supposed to bee by some seducers of the people; for our parte wee cannot condem them in this case, neither can wee stretch out our hands against them to punish, bannish or persecute the, for out of Christ, God is a consuming fire, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the handes of the liveing God; wee desire therefore in this case not to judge least wee be judged, neither to Condem least wee bee Condemed, but rather let every man stand and fall to his own. Maister wee are bounde by the Law to doe good unto all men, especially to those of the Household of faith; and though for the present wee seeme to bee unsensible of the law and the Lawgiver; yet when death and the Law assault us; if we have (not) our advocate to seeke, who shall plead for us in this case of Conscience betwixt God and our own soules; the powers of this world can neither attack us neither excuse us, for if God justify who can Condem, and if God Condem there is none can justifye; and for those Jealowsies and suspitions which some haue of them that they are destructive unto Magistracy and Ministry that cannot bee; for the Magistrate hath the Sword in his hand and the Minister hath the Sword in his hand as witnesse those tow great examples which all Maiestrates and Ministers are to follow M(oses) and Christ; whom God raised up Maintained and defended against all the Enemies both flesh and spirit, and therefore that wich is of God will stand, and that which is of Man will (come) to noething: and as the Lord hath taught Moses, or the Civill power, to give an outward libertie in the State by the Law written in the heart designed (for) the good of all and can truly judge who is good and who is evill, who is true and who is false, and can pass definitiue sentence of live or (death) against that man which rises up against the fundamental law of the States Generall, soe (he) hath made his Ministers a savor of life unto (life?), and a savor of death unto death.

The law of loue, peace and libertie in the states extending to Jews, Turks and Egyptians, as they are considered the sonnes of Adam, which is the glory of the outward State of Holland; so loue, peace and libertie extending to all in Christ Jesus, Condems hatred, warre and bondage; and because our Savior saith it is impossible but that offence will come, but woe be unto him by whom they Commeth, our desire is not to offend one of his little ones in whatsoever forme, name or title hee appreares in, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or Quaker; but shall be glad to see anything of God in any of them: desireing to doe unto all men as wee desire all men should doe unto us, which is the true law both of Church and State; for our Savior saith this is the Law and the Prophets; Therefore if any of these said persons come in loue unto us, wee cannot in Conscience lay violent hands upon them, but give them free Egresse into our Towne and howses as God shall preswade our Consciences; and in this we are true subjects both of the Church and State; for wee are bounde by the law of god and man to do good unto all men, and evill to no man; and this is according to the Pattent and Charter of our Towne given unto us in the name of the States Generall which we are not willing to infringe and violate but shall hold to our pattent and shall remaine your Humble Subjects the inhabitants of Vlishing; written the 27th of December in the Yeare 1657 by mee.

Edward Heart,
Clericus.

Transcribed by Frank Mitchell from "Ecclesiastical Records of the State of New York" published by the State under the supervision of Hugh Hastings, State Historian. James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1901, Albany NY, Page 412 & 413. Photocopies provided by James W. Johnson, Dec 1996.

[ The Flushing Remonstrance ] [ Remonstrance Results ] [ A Remonstrance Profile ] [ Early Quaker History ]

[ Home ] [ Thorn/e Family Special Pages ] [ William Thorne ] [ John Thorne ] [ Joseph Thorne ] [ Samuel Thorn/e ] [ Thomas Thorn ] [ Elnathan Thorn ] [ Nathaniel Thorn ] [ John Thorn ] [ Solomon P. Thorn ] [ Four Generations of Thorns ] [ J. Richard Thorn ] [ The Thorn/e Family Crest ]