110 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

detailed as a minute-man, and was bound to obey any warning, “at a moment's notice.” Any person who might discover an enemy at night was required to fire his gun three times, to warn his next neighbor, who was to do the same; and any firing of guns at night, except as signals, was prohibited, under strong penalties. Several military officers were also chosen.1

Subsequent alarms, of invasion by the English, occasioned similar calls upon tile Dutch towns of Long Island, which were all responded to with the same alacrity. Of the divers troubles which now surrounded Stuyvesant's government it is needless for us to speak. Suffice it to say, that the English colonies were full of disaffection and plottings, while the Dutch were somewhat alienated by the Director’s former arbitrary dealings; and, on every hand, disorganization threatened the colony. At this critical juncture came welcome news of peace between England and Holland; and shortly after, Stuyvesant, having learned wisdom from his past experience, and wishing to counterbalance tile political preponderance of the English towns, determined to reward the loyalty of Breuckelen, Amersfoort and Midwout, by enlarging their municipal privileges. Two schepens were added to the two which Breuckelen already possessed; and David Provoost the former commissary of Fort Hope, was appointed her first separate schout or constable. Similar additions were made to tile magistracy of Amersfoort and Midwout; and a superior “district court” was also organized, of delegates from each town-court, together with the schout. To this court, which existed in this form till 1661, was intrusted authority to regulate roads, build churches, establish schools, and enact local laws. It was also, to a limited extent, a court of record.2 By the creation of this court, these towns became entitled, under the Dutch law, to the rights of jurisdiction and representation, which had been so absolutely denied them by the Director-General in 1653, “for under the feudal law it was the fief, whether manor or town, that was entitled to be represented, and not the people; and no delegation could exist without a local court from which it could emanate.”

Previously to this time, also, the Dutch inhabitants of Long Island

1 Col. Rec., v. 240,242.

2 New Amsterdam Rec., i. 376-407.