To all those who shall see these presents or hear them read. Greeting. Be it Known, Whereas We understand it would be honorable, serviceable and profitable to this Country, and for the promotion of its prosperity, as well as for the maintenance of seafaring people, that the good Inhabitants should be excited and encouraged employ and occupy themselves in seeking out and discovering Passages, to Havens, Countries and places that have not before now been discovered nor frequented and ;

being informed by some Traders that they intend, with God's merciful help, by diligence, labor, danger and expence, to employ themselves thereat, as they expect to derive a handsome profit therefrom, if it pleased Us to privilege, charter and favor them, that they alone might resort and sail to and frequent the passages, havens, countries and places to be by them newly found and discovered, for six voyages as a compensation for their outlays, trouble and risk, with interdiction to all, directly or indirectly to resort or sail to, or frequent the said passages, havens, countries or places, before and until the first discoverers and finders thereof shall have completed the aforesaid six voyages Therefore, We having duly weighed the aforesaid :

matter and finding, as hereinbefore stated, the said undertaking to be laudable, honorable and

6 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCPIPTS. serviceable for the prosperity of the United Provinces, And wishing that the experiment be free and open to ail and every of the Inhabitants of this country, have invited and do hereby invite, alland every of the Inhabitants of the United Netherlands to the aforesaid search, and, therefore, have granted and consented, grant and consent hereby that whosoever any new Passages, Havens, Countries or Places shall from now henceforward discover, shall alone resort to the same or cause them to be frequented for four voyages, without any other person directly or indirectly sailing, frequenting or resorting, from the United Netherlands, to the said newly discovered and found passages, havens, countries or places, until the first discoverer and finder shall have made, or cause to be made the said four voyages, on pain of confiscation of the goods and ships wherewith the contrary attempt shall be made, and a fine of Fifty thousand Netherlands Ducats, to the profit of the aforesaid finder or discoverer.