utie!"nueBoa?dor The Dircctors of the Company trading to New Netherland, situate in latitude 4vited'herrf°r fhc ffom 40 to 45 dcgrecs, between New France and Virginia, reverently represent i2Fe™i62o. (Sign- that they, the petitioners, have, as discoverers and first finders of said countries, i62i». traded thither nov? several years, in virtue of a certain general Charter from the High and Mighty Lords States General, dated the lO"" March 1G14; that they, also, have delivered to their High Migiitinesses their written report, with a map of the situation and usefulness of said countries. And wiiereas the petitioners' Cliarter has expired, so that every one is now at liberty to trade there, they have again sent thither two ships, in order to preserve the reputation of said trade; some vessels liave been likewise sent by other traders exclusive of the Company. Now it happens, that there is residing at Leyden a certain English Preacher, versed in the Dutch language, who is well inclined to proceed thither to live,

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 23

assuring the petitioners tliat lie lias the means of inducing over four Iiundred families to accompany him thither, both out of this country and England, provided they would be guarded and preserved from all violence on the part of other potentates, by the authority and under the protection of your Princely Excellency and the High and Mighty Lords States General, in the propagation of the true, pure Christian religion, in the instruction of the Indians in that country in true learning, and in converting them to the Christian Faith, and thus, through the mercy of the Lord, to the greater glory of this country's government, to plant there a new Commonwealth, all under the order and command of your Princely Excellency and the High and Mighty Lords Stales General. And whereas they, the petitioners, have experienced that his Majesty of Great Britain would be disposed to people the aforesaid lands with the English nation, and by force to render fruitless their possession and discovery, and thus deprive this State of its right, and apparently with ease surprize the ships of this country which are there, and are ordered to remain there the whole year; wherefore, they, the petitioners, pray and request that your Princely Excellency may benignly please to take all the aforesaid into favorable consideration, so tliat, for the preservation of this country's rights, the aforesaid Minister and the four hundred families may be taken under the protection of this country, and that two ships of war may be provisionally despatched to secure to the state the aforesaid Countries, inasmuch as they would be of much importance, whenever the West India Company is established, in respect to the large abundance of timber fit for ship building &c., as may be seen by the accompanying report.