least to bring its subjects there under their government. These means consisted in debauching and inciting them, and endeavoring to seduce them from the oath they have taken and by which they were bound to the Company; as is sufficiently apparent, among the rest, by a certain seditious and mutinous letter written by one John Onderhill, copy whereof is annexed under Letter D.

Letter D.

Whereupon it followed, on the 9th March, 1655, when the difficulties here between England and Netherland had long been adjusted, that some seditious Englishmen, among whom were George Baxter and James Huybert, inhabitants of this State and under the Company, did, in the town of Gravesend, on Long Island, publicly, and before all the world, declare themselves subjects of the Government or Republic of England, to that end setting up its arms there; as can be seen by the annexed copy under Letter E.

Letter E.

Notwithstanding these mutinous subjects knew, for a certainty, that the State or Government of England had not a shadow of claim in the world to this village of Gravesend, which was lying, with Heemstede, Amersfort, Breuckelen, Flushing and some others, on Long Island; as can be clearly enough seen by the supplicatory and humble letters which the aforesaid English and Magistrates of the villages aforesaid, and particularly Gravesend and Heemstede, have, from time to time, addressed to the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, as their Lords and Patroons, whereof some copies are annexed under Letter F.

Letter F.

And although this attempt did abort through the foresight of the Company's officers, yet that nation did not long lie still, but, as was their custom, continued to encroach on and in our lands and jurisdiction, and, among others, on the aforesaid Long Island, which, although protested against, yet have those who had squatted there dared to give a very strange and serious answer (which was not the first time); as can be seen from the two copies of Protest and Answer annexed under Letter G.

Letter G.

By these strange and unheard-of proceedings of the English, the Company's officers in that country were greatly embarrassed, being apprehensive that such insufferable action and boldness might be encouraged; wherefore they then have communicated these things, from time to time, to the neighboring Governors of New England, by way of complaint, and besought them that such hostile action and insufferable usurpation be not countenanced, but rather opposed, by them as good neighbors and allies were bound and holden to do.

Whereupon many excuses were made, but not such as could remove the presumption to the contrary; which was more confirmed and strengthened when advice was received that they had sent thence, by way of Boston, to Old England, one James Grover, one of George Baxter and James Huybert's accomplices, and the very man who had set up the arms of the Republic of England in the village of Gravesend.

Which James Grover afterwards came there, in the year 1657, bringing with him a letter from the pretended Protector, Oliver Cromwell, addressed to the English inhabitants of Long Island, which he afterwards presented to the Magistrates of the village of Gravesend, belonging, as already stated, to the Company's jurisdiction, to be opened and read; as is to be seen by two copies of letters written by the Company's officers there and annexed under Letter H. Letter H. This could not tend to any other purpose than to dissuade and seduce the inhabitants of this State and Company from the obedience and oath they had taken and were owing to the same.

From this mode of proceeding, it clearly appears that such usurpers and mutineers were backed up and encouraged even by the English home government.

Which support and encouragement then have so countenanced and emboldened those of New England, that, notwithstanding they dispossessed and shoved the Company from the entire Fresh river, as also from the Eastern part of Long Island, yet, not satisfied with that, they have cast their eyes on the North river, in the neighborhood of a place called Wapping's kill, situate between Forts Amsterdam and Orange, with a view to dispossess the Company, in time, of it; nay, at least to draw off the beaver trade. But not being well able to effect their purpose without the knowledge and consent of the Company's officers, they requested of them free passage, under color of planting a Colonie there, maintaining that it could not be refused them, in regard, particularly (as they say), that the aforesaid selected place, according to a certain patent granted by the illustrious King Charles I., was within the resort of Massachusets Colony. And, although it be objected thereto and clearly and plainly shown that, even admitting such patent to have been granted, it could not take away the power and authority of the High and Mighty Lords States-General of the Free United Netherlands, whose subjects first discovered that country of America, and particularly the North river, and also had taken possession thereof afterwards, under charter from their High Mightinesses, as heretofore set forth, being long before the illustrious King Charles' father succeeded to the kingdom, which first happened in the year 1625. Notwithstanding this, we learn by the last despatches received from New Netherland that that nation at the North still remain disposed, with or without consent, to plant a Colonie on the North river aforesaid.

About the same time, and in the latter part of the aforesaid year 1659, news arrived here that some other Englishmen in the South, from a place called the Province of Merrilant, situate in Chesapeak bay, between the South river and Virginia, have had the presumption to demand, by fire and sword, not only the fortress called New Amstel, lying on the aforesaid South river, where the worshipful government of the city of Amsterdam have established and included their Colonie, but and of a consequence, also the aforesaid entire river, with bold and intolerable menaces, founding their right on a certain patent or grant which the illustrious King Charles I. had also given to Cecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, who is residing here in Old England. This unheard of and hostile mode of summons took the Company's officers there greatly by surprise, having never expected any pretence or claim from that quarter, which also could not be put forth with any sort of foundation, it being a place within the resort of the Province of New Netherland, the possession of this South river, being itself sealed with the blood of their High Mightinesses' subjects; for the Company having, in its infancy, planted a Colonie called the Whorekill, and erected a small fort there on the west side of the bay, within the South Cape, they were all, in course of some time, murdered and slain by the Indians.

And afterwards, in the year 1623, as hereinbefore stated, the West India Company caused Fort Nassau to be erected 15 @. 16 leagues up the river on the east bank (which was maintained with a constant garrison until the year 1650, when it was removed thence, and the river downwards on the west bank was included where the fortress New Amstel is now standing); in like manner, also, some time after, downwards on the west bank a redoubt, called Rivers, or Bevers rede, was erected on the Schuylkill; by that means, having purchased from the natives many and divers lands, in order to hold the possession with quieter conscience, the Company meant, as it doth still mean, to have its possession in that quarter so strengthened, that its right thereto is incontrovertible.

In order, then, to maintain that right, as much as possible, against such evil-minded neighbors, the Company's officers were not only obliged, at a great expense, to secure the possession of said Fort New Amstel, with a force of 70 and more soldiers, but they have also, for peace sake, to prevent further mischief, resolved on an Embassy to the Governor and Council of Merrilant, to dissuade and deter them, if possible, from their so unrighteous design, and accordingly to furnish them a clear and precise explanation of the incontrovertible right their High Mightinesses and the Company were having to said river, with further offer, irrefragably and forever to fix the boundary between the Province of Merrilant and New Netherland, by Commissioners to be appointed on both ides, or else, in case of disagreement, to refer the matter to the respective Sovereigns in Europe; and if all this were refused, generally to protest against all damages, costs and losses which already had been suffered, and would still accrue, as can be seen in its length and breadth, in the copy of the Declaration or Manifest, politely drawn up by the aforesaid Ambassadors, and delivered over to the said Governor and Council of Merrilant, annexed under Letter I.

Letter I.

And such Embassy and explanation of matters, in like manner, ought to have made them, when sufficiently convinced, to desist from their design, as less stubborn and more peaceable neighbors would have done; yet have they continued persistent in their previous claim, viz', that the fortress and Colonie of New Amstel, and, of a consequence, the entire South river, was lying within the jurisdiction of the Province of Merrilant, according to the pretended patent or charter granted to the above named Baron Balthasar More.

After which, also, did the aforesaid Baron now recently, and namely, on the viith June, 1660, send unto the Directors of the Incorporated West India Company at Amsterdam, a translation of the aforesaid patent or grant, in confirmation of the claim put forth by him and his in that quarter, and accordingly demanding submission and obedience of the aforesaid place and inhabitants of New Amstel, or, in case of refusal, protesting against said Company and declaring that he, at a more convenient time, shall and will reduce the aforesaid Colonie under his authority and obedience.

Which came upon the Directors with so much the greater surprise, as it can be clearly proved even by the aforesaid patent or grant, that their High Mightinesses and the Company's subjects have been the first possessors of the South river, for the date of the aforesaid patent is June, 1632,

And that it was obtained on fraudulent or at least on ignorant pretences, for the aforesaid patent states, among other things, in substance: That the Baron of Baltimore was petitioning his Royal Majesty for permission to transport, at his own expense, a considerable Colony of the English nation to a country or territory in the hitherto uncultivated and unplanted parts of America, although inhabited in some parts thereof by certain savage people, possessing no knowledge of Almighty God.

Ergo, not in a place which was already possessed, planted and cultivated, by other free nations and Christians, being subjects of their High Mightinesses, the Lords States-General, on a charter thereto specially granted, and that so many years before, as already so clearly and conclusively demonstrated.

King Charles the First, of illustrious memory, being likewise of too generous and too just a nature to give away and present to his subjects, lands and places already possessed and governed by other free nations and his allies, and over which, consequently, no disposition in the world appertained or belonged to him.

Unless such be claimed, on the ground that the English nation have had a settlement prior to and before the Netherlanders, about that part of America, to wit, in Virginia.

If that have weight, the Dutch nation must, we think, be altogether preferred, being considered, as in former times, namely vassals and subjects of the King of Spain, first finder and founder of this new American world, who, by the conclusion of the peace, hath made over to the United Netherland Province, all his right and title to such country and domains as they should conquer, in process of time, in Europe, America, etc.

The French having been the second followers and discoverers of this Northern part of America, who are come there in the year 1524.

The English came there, for the first time, many years after.

But deeming such claim and forced argument unnecessary, they are of opinion (with submission) that they have deduced and proved clearly and plainly enough, that their High Mightinesses and the West India Company's subjects have been the first discoverers and possessors, not only of the South river, but also of the North river and Fresh river, all lying within the limits of New Netherland, as hereinbefore laid down and described.

Therefore, the Directors cannot doubt but their High Mightinesses will maintain the Company, and cause it to be supported in its so righteous possession, and will accordingly exert every means, and have the same employed, that, on the one side, the English of the South, namely the Baron Baltimore, may desist and cease from his unjust pretension to the fortress. or Colonie of New Amstel and the South river, and on the other, that those of the North, or New England, be prevented and hindered, not only from settling and taking possession of the North river, but, and chiefly be constrained to restore the entire Fresh river and lands lying on both sides thereof, together, also, with a part of Long Island, all by them both forcibly and unrighteously usurped, so that the Company may finally succeed in reaping the fruits and benefits promised, if it be left in peaceable possession of its New Netherland conquests that stand the Company in so dear, having cost it many tons of gold before they were brought to such a state.

Lette A.

Grant of the States-General to Gerrit Witsen, and others, of an exclusive right to trade to New Netherland for three years; dated 11th October, 1614.

[Omitted, being a triplicate of Document I., 11. ]

Letter B.

Condition and Agreement entered into between Commissary Jacob van Curler and the Chiefs of Sickenames, on the 8th of June, 1633, as follows:

The aforesaid Curler, and the sachem named Wapyquart or Tattoepan, chief of Sickenames river, and owner of the Fresh river of New Netherland, called, in their tongue, Conettecuck, have amicably agreed for the purchase and sale of the tract named Sickajoock, a flat extending about one league down along the river and one-third of a league in width to the high land and beyond the kill upwards, being a flat extending to the next adjoining little stream, on condition that all tribes might freely, and without any fear or danger, resort to the purchased land for the purposes of trade; and whatever wars might arise between them and others, may be waged or carried on without any of them entering on our said territory. It is further expressly

conditioned by this contract, and assented to by the aforenamed chief, that the Sequeen should dwell with us, all at the request, and to the great joy of the Sequeen Altarbaenhoot, and all interested tribes. This has taken place, on the part of the Sequeen, with the knowledge of Magaretinne, chief of Sloop's Bay. The chief of Sickenames is paid for the said land by Jacob Curler one piece of duffels, twenty-seven ells long; six axes, six kettles, eighteen knives, one sword-blade, one shears, and some toys. All which was signed by Jacob van Curler, Fredrick Lubbersen, Gillis Pieters, Claes Jans Ruyter, Domingo Dios, Barent Jacobs Cool, and Pieter Louwerensen.

Anno 1633, on the 8th June, by Jacob Curler, Commissary in the service of the West India Company, was purchased, by order of the Director and Council of New Netherland, from the chief of Sickenames, with free will and consent of the inhabitants there, all that flat land, about one league long across through the wood on the river, and about one-third part of a league broad, and a musket-shot over the kill where the said Curler, by orders aforesaid, has commenced building the trading-house called The Hope, situate on the Fresh river of the New Netherland; with express condition, on the part of the purchaser and seller, that all tribes of Indians shall be permitted to come freely thither to trade with us; and that the enemies of one or the other nation shall not molest each other on the purchased tract; which conditions were agreed upon and concluded to the great satisfaction of the Indians, especially of the Sequeen, all which occurred in the presence of all the Company's servants then there present.

PROTEST.

The Director and Council of New Netherland hereby give notice to William Holmes, Lieutenant and trader, acting on behalf of the English Governor of Plymouth, at present in the service of that nation, that he depart, with all his people, forthwith from, and break up his settlement on, the lands lying on the Fresh river, continually traded upon by our nation, and at present occupied by a fort, which lands have been purchased from the Indians and paid for. And in case of refusal, we hereby protest against all loss and damage which the Incorporated West India Company may sustain. Thus done at Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, this xxyth October, 1633, in presence of the underwritten witnesses. And the above named Lieutenant gave a written answer to the same, that he could give no writing, as he was appointed there and must remain until further orders from the Governor and Council of New Plymouth; also, that he was there and intended to remain, in the name of the King of England, whose servants they were. (Signed), Jacob van Curlier, Frederick Lubbertsen, Carel Fransen.

Anno 1633, 16th September. After long admonition to desist from their undertaking, we have expressly forbid them to pursue any trade above our fortification, much less to erect a house, as the river belongs to us, in virtue of our frequent resort and possession taken of the ground; but they have even continued.

Anno 1663,' the 25th of April. The English on the Fresh river have sowed corn in our ground during the night, against which we have frequently protested. In the afternoon we undertook to sow barley therein, but finding it planted, turned back, and one of our people

'Sic. 1643.-ED.