Apart from the exclusive trade of the coast of Africa, from the tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope, and of the coast of America, from the Straits of Magellan to the extreme North [Terra Nova or Newfoundland], this Company was authorized to Ibrm alliances with the chiefs of the Indian tribes, and obligated to advance the settlement of their possessions, encourage population, and do everything that

s I. O'Call., Appendix " B," 408. * I. Col. Uist. N. Y., 22-27.

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

might promote the interests of those fertile countries and increase trade.

To protect its commerce and dependencies, the Company was empowered to erect forts and fortifications; to administer justice and preserve order; maintain police, and exercise the government generally of its transmarine affairs ; declare war and make peace, with the consent of the States-General ; and, with their approbation, appoint a Governor or Director- General, and all other officers, civil, military, judicial, and executive, who were bound to swear allegiance to their High Mightinesses, as well as to the Company itself.

The Director-General and his Council were invested with all powers judicial, legislative, and executive, subject, some supposed, to appeal to Holland; but the will of the Company, expressed in their instructions, or declared in their marine or military ordinances, was to be the law of New Netherland, excepting in cases not especially provided for, when the Roman Law, the imperial statutes of Charles V., the edicts, resolutions, and customs of Patria -- Fatherland -- were to be received as the paramount rule of action.'