and under which they had always lived, and was based on fealty, homage, and manorial rights, as fixed by the Roman law, with which alone they were acquainted, and which under the West India Company was established as the law of New Netherland, and governed it till its conquest by the English in 1664. The articles of this " petition" numbers five and six, are in these words (The whole is in French, and this is the translation) :

"VI. Whether he (His Britannic Majesty) would "grant them a township or territory, in a radius of " eight English miles, or say, sixteen miles in diameter, "which they might improve as fields, meadows, vine- " yards, and for other uses; which territory whether "conjointly or severally, they would hold from his "Majesty upon fealty and homage; no others being "allowed to dwell within the bounds of the said "lands, unless they shall have taken letters of citi- "zeuship; in which territory they would reserve to "themselves inferior manorial rights; and whether it " might be permitted to those of their number who "are entitled to maintain the rank of noblemen, to " declare themselves such.

" VII. Whether they would be permitted in the "said lands to hunt all game whether furred or " feathered, to fish in the sea and the rivers, to cut "heavy timber, as well for ship building as for com- " merce, at their own will ; in a word, whether they "could make use of all things either above or beneath "the ground, at their own pleasure and will, the royal "rights reserved; and whether they could dispose of " all things in trade with such persons as may be per- "raitted them.