Since the year 1623 the Incorporated West India Company caused four Forts to be erected in that Country--Two on the River Mauritius and one on each of the other [rivers]; the biggest stands on the Point formed by the Mauritius river and the other mentioned heretofore ; their Honors named it New Amsterdam ; and six and thirty miles upwards another called Orange that on the South river is Nassaw and that on Fresh River, the Good Hope, the Company hath since continually maintained garrisons there; In the beginning their Honors had sent a certain number of Settlers thither, and at great expense had three Sawmills erected, which never realised any Profit of consequence, on account of their great charge, and a great deal of money was expended for the advancement of the country, but it never began to be settled until every one had liberty to trade with the Indians, inasmuch as up to this time no one calculated to remain there longer than the expiration of his bounden time, and therefore did not apply themselves to Agriculture. Yea, even the Colonie of Renselaerwyck was of little consequence but as soon | as it [the trade] was opened, many Servants, who had prospered under the Company, applied for their discharge, built houses and formed plantations, spread themselves broad and wide, Each seeking the best land, and to be nearest the Indians in order thus to trade with them advantageously, others bought Barks' with

6. JOURNAL OF NEW NETHERLAND.

which to trade goods at the North and at the South, and as the Lords Directors gave free passage from Holland thither, that also caused many to come: On the other hand, the English came both from Virginia and N. England. Firstly, divers Servants, whose time with their masters had expired, on account of the good opportunity to plant Tobacco here--afterwards Families and finally entire Colonies, forced to quit that place both to enjoy freedom of conscience and to escape from the Insupportable Government of N England and because many more commodities were easier to be obtained hére than there, so that in place of Seven Bouweries and Two @ three plantations which were here, men saw thirty Bowweries, as well cultivated and stocked as in Europe.