In colonial New York it was customary to discriminate between the free natives of the colony and those brought from the Spanish West Indies. On December 5, 1679, it was voted at a council meeting that “all Indians here are free and not slaves, except such as have been formerly brought from the Bay of Campeachy and other foreign parts”, some of whom were slaves in the colony. Concerning such foreign Indians the act provided: “But if any shall be brought hereafter within the space of six months, they are to be disposed of as soon as may be, out of the government, but after the expiration of six months, all that shall be brought here from these parts shall be free”.[1259] On April 20, 1680, a decree of governor and council repeated this resolution as a formal order.[1260] Apparently no immediate attention was given to the enforcement of the law. Later some action regarding the matter was taken when the council, October 11, 1687, ordered that certain Spanish Indians brought from the Bay of Campeachy and sold as slaves in the colony should be set free.[1261] On July 30, 1688, the council again took up the question of foreign Indians. It was resolved “that all Indian slaves within this province subject to the King of Spain, that can give an account of their Christian faith and say the Lord’s Prayer, be forthwith set at liberty, and sent home by the first conveyance, and likewise them that shall hereafter come to the province.”[1262] On the same day the council rejected a petition of the owner to retain in the colony an Indian slave purchased outside the colony and brought to New York.[1263]