Merchants of the City of Hoorn, owners of the ship named the Fortuyn, wherof Cornelis Jacobssen May was skipper ; all now associated in one company, have respectfully represented to us, that they, the petitioners, after great expenses and damages by loss of ships and other dangers, had, during the present year discovered and found, with the above-named five ships, certain New Lauds situate in America, between New France and Virginia, the seaooasts whereof lie between forty and fortyfive degrees of Latitude, and now called New Netherland : And whereas We did, in the month of March last, for the promotion and increase of commerce, cause to be published a certain General Consent and Charter, setting forth, that whosoever should thereafter discover new havens, lands, places or passages, might frequent, or cause to be frequented, for four voyages, such newly discovered and found, places, passages, havens, or lands, to the exclusion of all others from visiting or frequenting the same from the United Netherlands, until the said first discoverers and finders shall, themselves, have completed the said four voyages, or caused the same to be done within the time prescribed for that purpose, under the penalties expressed in the said Octroy, &c., they request that we should accord to them due Act of the aforesaid Octroy in the usual form :

" Which being considered, We therefore in Our Assembly having heard the pertinent Report of the Petitioners, relative to the discoveries and findings of the said new Countries between the above-named limits and degrees, and also of their adventures, have consented and granted, and by these presents do consent and grant, to the said Petitioners now united into one company, that they shall be privileged exclusively to frequent, or cause to be visited, the above newly discovered lands, situate in America between New France and Virginia, whereof the seacoasts lie between the fortieth and fortyfifth degrees of Latitude, now named New Netherland, as can be^een by a Figurative Map hereunto annexed, and that for four voyages within the term of three years, commencing the first of January, sixteen hundred and fifteen next ensuing, or sooner, without it being permitted to any other person from the United Netherlands, to sail to, navigate, or frequent the said newly discovered lands, havens, or places, either di-