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land, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting: KNow ye, that we for divers good Causes and Considerations us thereunto moving, have of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge, and meer Motion, given and granted, and by these Presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, Do give and grant unto our dearest Brother JAMES, Duke of York, his Heirs and Assigns, all that Part of the main Land of New-England, beginning at a certain Place called or known by the Name of St. Croix, next adjoining to New Scotland in America; and from thence extending along the Sea Coast unto a certain Place called Petuaquine or Pemaquid, and so up

the River thereof to the farthest head of the same as it tendeth Northward; and extending from thence to the River of Kenebeque, and so upwards by the shortest Course to the River of Canada Northward. And also all that Island or Islands, commonly called by the several Name or Names of Matowacks or Long-Island, scituate, lying and being towards the West of Cape Codd and the Narrow-Higansetts, abutting upon the main Land between the two Rivers there, called or known by the several Names of Conecticut or Hudsons-river; together also with the said River called Hudson's River, and all the Lands from the West side of Conecticut, to the East side of Delaware Bay. And also all those several Islands called or known by the Names of Martin's Vineyard and Nantukes or otherwise Nantukett; together with all the Lands, Islands, Soiles, Rivers, Harbours, Mines, Minerals, Quarries, Woods, Marshes, Waters, Lakes, Fishings, Hawkings, Huntings and Fowling; and all other Royalty's Profits, Commodities and Hereditaments to said several Islands, Lands and premises belonging and appertaining, with their and every of their Appurtenances; and all our Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Benefit, Advantage, Claim and Demand of, in or to the said Lands and Premises, or any Part or Parcel thereof, and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Remainders; together with the yearly and other the Rents, Reveuues and Profits of all and singular the said Premises, and of every Part and Parcel thereof; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all and singular the said Lands, Islands, Hereditaments, and Premisses, with their and every of their Appurte nances, hereby given and granted, or herein, before mentioned to be given and granted unto our dearest Brother JAMES Duke of York, his Heirs and Assigns forever; to the only proper Use and behoof of the said JAMES Duke of York, his Heirs and Assigns forever; to be holden of us, our Heirs and Successors, as of our Mannor of East Greenwich

in our County of Kent, in free and common Soccage, and not in Capitie, nor by Knight service yielding and rendering. And the said JAMES Duke of York, doth for himself, his Heirs and Assigns, Covenant and Promise to yield and render unto our Heirs and Successors, of and for the same yearly and every Year, Forty Beaver Skins when they shall be demanded, or within Ninety Days after. And we do further of our special Grace, certain knowledge and meer Motion, for us, our Heirs and Successors, give and grant unto our said dearest Brother JAMES Duke of York, his Heirs, Deputies, Agents, Commissioners and Assigns, by these Presents, full and absolute Power and Authority to correct, punish, pardon, govern and rule all such the subjects of us, our Heirs and Successors, as shall from time to time adventure themselves into any the Parts or Places aforesaid; or that shall or do at any time hereafter inhabit within the same, according to such Laws, Orders, Ordinances, Directions and Instruments as by our said dearest Brother, or his Assigns, shall be established; and in defect thereof, in Case of Necessity, according to the good Directions of his Deputy's, Commissioners, Officers or Assigns respectively; as well in all Causes and Matters Capital and Criminal, as Civil both Marine and others; so always as the said Statutes, Ordinances and Proceedings be not contrary to, but as near as conveniently may be, agreeable to the Laws, Statutes and Government of this our Realm of England; and saving and reserving to us, our Heirs and Successors, the Receiving, Hearing and Determining of the Appeal and Appeals of all or any Person or Persons of, in or belonging to the Territories or Islands aforesaid, in or touching any Judgment or Sentence to be there made or given. AND further, that it shall and may be lawful to and for our said dearest Brother, his Heirs and Assigns, by these presents from time to time, to nominate, make, constitute, ordain and confirm, by such Name or Names, Stile or Stiles, as to him or them shall seem good, and likewise to revoke, discharge, change and alter as well all and singular Governor's, Officers, and Ministers which hereafter shall be by him or them thought fit and needful to be made or used within the aforesaid Parts and Islands; And also to make, ordain and establish all manner of Orders, Laws, Directions, Instructions, Forms and Ceremonies of Government and Magistracy fit and necessary for and concerning the Government of the Territories and Islands aforesaid; so always that the same be not contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this our Realm of England, but as near as may be agreeable thereunto; and the same at

all Times hereafter to put in execution or abrogate, revoke or change, not only within the Precincts of the said Territories or Islands, but also upon the Seas in going and coming to and from the same, as he or they in their good Discretions shall think to be fitest for the good of the Adventurers and Inhabitants there. AND We do further of our special Grace, certain Knowledge, and meer motion, grant, ordain and declare, that such Governors, Officers, and Ministers as from Time to Time. shall be authorized and appointed in manner and form aforesaid, shall and may have full Power and Authority to use and exercise Marshall Law in Cases of Rebellion, Insurrection and Mutiny, in as large and ample Manner as our Lieutenants in our Counties within our Realm of England have or ought to have, by force of their commission of Lieutenancy, or any Law or Statute of this our Realm. AND We do further by these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, grant unto our said dearest Brother JAMES Duke of York, his Heirs and Assigns, that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said JAMES Duke of York, his Heirs and Assigns, in his or their Discretion from Time to Time, to admit such and so many Person or Persons to Trade and Traffique unto and within the said Territories and Islands aforesaid, and into every or any Part and Parcel thereof; and to have, possess and enjoy any Lands or Hereditaments in the Parts and Places aforesaid, as they shall think fit, according to the Laws, Orders, Constitutions and Ordinances by our said Brother, his Heirs, Deputies, Commissioners and Assigns from Time to Time to be made and establish'd by Virtue of, and according to the true intent and meaning of these Presents; and under such Conditions, Preservations and Agreements as our said Brother, his Heirs or Assigns shall set down, order, direct and appoint and not otherwise. as aforesaid. AND We do further of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge, and meer Motion for Us, our Heirs and Successors, give and grant unto our said dearest Brother, his Heirs and Assigns, by these Presents, that it shall and may be lawful to and for him, them or any of them, at all and every Time and Times hereafter, out of any our Realms or Dominions whatsoever to take, Lead, Carry and Transport in and into their Voyages, and for and towards the Plantations of our said Territories and Islands, all such and so many of our loving Subjects or any other Strangers, being not prohibited or under restraint, that will become our loving Subjects and live under our Allegiance, as shall willingly accompany them in the said Voyages; together with all such Cloathing, Implements, Furniture and other

Things usually transported, and not prohibited, as shall be necessary for the Inhabitants of the said Islands and Territories, and for their Use and Defence thereof, and managing and carrying on the Trade with the People there; and in passing and returning to and fro, yielding and paying to us, our Heirs and Successors, the Customs and Duties therefor due and payable, according to the Laws and Customs of this our Realm. AND We do also for us, our Heirs and Successors, grant to our said dearest Brother JAMES Duke of York, his Heirs and Assigns, and to all and every such Governor or Governors, or other Officers or Ministers as by our said Brother, his Heirs or Assigns, shall be appointed; to have Power and Authority of Government and Command in or over the Inhabitants of the said Territories or Islands, that they and every of them shall and lawfully may from Time to Time, and at all Times hereafter forever, for their several Defence and Safety, encounter, expulsè, repell and resist, by Force of Arms as well by Sea as by Land, and all ways and means whatsoever, all such Person and Persons as without the special Licence of our said dearest Brother, his Heirs or Assigns, shall attempt to inhabit within the several Precincts and Limits of our said Territories and Islands. And also, all and every such Person and Persons whatsoever, as shall enterprize or attempt at any Time hereafter the Destruction, Invasion, Detriment or Annoyance to the Parts, Places or Islands aforesaid or any Part thereof. AND LASTLY, Our Will and Pleasure is, and we do hereby declare and grant, that these our Letters Patents, or the Inrollment thereof, shall be good and effectual in the Law to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever, notwithstanding the not reciting or mentioning of the Premises or any Part thereof, or the meets or Bounds thereof, or of any former or other Letters Patents or Grants heretofore made or granted of the Premises, or of any Part thereof, by us or of any of our Progenitors, unto any other Person or Persons whatsoever, Bodies Politick or Corporate, or any Act, Law or other restraint, incertainty or imperfection whatsoever to the Contrary in any wise notwithstanding; altho' Express mention of the True Yearly Value or certainty of the Premises, or any of them, or of any other gifts or grants by us, or by any of our Progenitors or Predecessors heretofore made to the said JAMES Duke of York, in these Presents is not made or any Statute, Act, Ordinance, Provision, Proclamation or Restriction, heretofore had, made, enacted, ordained or provided, or any other Matter, cause or thing whatsoever to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwith

standing. IN WITNESS whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent. Witness ourself at Westminster, the Twelfth Day of March, in the Sixteenth Year of our Reign. By the KING, Howard." The description of the country conveyed by this grant is quite indefinite, and it will be noticed that it had no western boundary. So little, in fact, was known of the great West which lay beyond, that not accurate western boundary could have been given. It included some parts of the continent which it was not in the power of Charles to grant, but that made little difference to the careless monarch. It did include, however, that part which the Dutch claimed, and in that was to be found the modern States of New York and New Jersey. It would seem from the subsequent conduct of the duke relating to his domain thus given him, that he did not really claim any part of New England, although the description appears to have covered all of the country. east of the Connecticut River and west of Nova Scotia, or New Scot land. The grant not only conveyed land but it conferred on the grantee and his "heirs and assigns," governmental powers, both civil and military, of the fullest and most ample nature, such powers as the king alone possessed.

Charles added to this grant the means for the recovery of the country from the Dutch. In the middle of April, following the date of the deed to York, three British vessels sailing under the flag of England, two with fifty guns each, the other with forty guns, left England with six hundred soldiers and the necessary number of sailors, for the purpose of putting the duke in possession of the debatable country. This small fleet reached New Amsterdam on the 28th day of August succeeding. Col. Richard Nicolls, who had been appointed governor by the Duke of York of the country conveyed to him by the king, accompanied by Sir Robert Carre, was in command. He instantly invested the town and peremptorily demanded its surrender from the Dutch governor, the redoubtable Peter Stuyvesant. The demand was made not only for the forts, but for the town adjoining and its dependencies. Stuyvesant was a brave soldier and a doughty leader and he was determined not to yield without a struggle. He called together his council and the burgomasters of the town, and represented to them that the English meant mischief, and insisted that there was only one course to pursue, and that was to make instant prepartions for defense. But the English commander in his demand had announced the terms upon which he was willing to receive the sur

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