HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 207

majesties subjects.” Subsequently, upon his confession of error, he was released, on payment of a smart fine.1

The following year, 1694, was also characterized by a continuance of the same troubles between the people and their rulers, as we have mentioned in the previous year; and Yolkert Brier, Constable of Brookland, was fined £5 and costs of court, amounting to £1, “for tearing and burning an execution directed to him as constable,” by Justice Hegeman. He afterwards petitioned the Governor for a remission of his fine, in words as follows:

To His Excellency,—The humble peticon of Volkert Brier, inhabitant of the towne of Broockland, on the Island of Nassau.

“May it please your Excellency your peticoner being fined five pounds last Court of' Sessions, in Kings County for tearing an execucon directed to him as Constable, Your peticoner being ignorant of the crime, and not thinking it was of force when he was out of his office, or that he should have made returne of it as the lawe directs, he being an illiterate man could not read said execucon nor understand any thing of lawe: humbly prays yr Excellency yt you would be pleased to remit said fine of five pounds, yr peticoner being a poor man and not capacitated. to pay said fine without great damage to himself and family. And for yr Excellency yr peticoner will ever pray, &c.”2

“At a Court of Sessions ffor Kings County, November 12, 1695. Ordered that the Constable of every towne within Kings County shall every Sunday or Sabbath daye tayke lawe ffor the apprehendinge off all Sabbath breakers, and that they or their deputyes goe with their staves each Sabbath daye in and about theire respective towns during their time of servitude as Constable, and searche all ale-houses, taverns and other suspected places ffor all propbaners and breakers off the Sabbath day, & then to apprehend and bring them before any one of his Majesties Justices of the County aforesaid, too bee punished accordinge to lawe.

“Ordered that ffor every neglect or default, the constable shall pay a ffine of six shillings.

“Ordered that Mad James bee kept by Kings County in general, and that the deacons off each towne within the sayde county doe fforthwith meete together and consider about their proporcons ffor maintenance of sayd James.”

1 Ct. Sessions Rec., Old Road Book, p. 14.

2 Ibid., pp. 25, 26