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. On all which

(Endorsed) Petition of the Directors of the Company trading to New Netherland. 12 February, 1620.

Resolution of the States General on the Report of the Board of Admiralty respecting the foregoing Petition.

[ From the Eegisler of Eesolutions of the States General, in the Archives at the Hague. ]

Wednesday, the 26"" February 1620. Folio 63. The Deputies present from the Board of Admiralty have presented to their ^'§^^ Mightiuesses, iu Writing, its opinion on the petition presented by the New''" Netheriand Company. Dircctors of the Company trading to New Netherland, hereinbefore inserted ; and insoriion. ^i,g aforesaid opinion being read, and considered, it is resolved, before disposing thereof, that his Excellency shall be consulted and his opinion obtained.