High and Mighty, moreover, that we also certainly understand that many are equipped in that Northern department for the West Indies; and we therefore request you, High and Mighty, to be pleased, through the said Lords of the North Quarter, also so to provide, for reasons aforesaid, that the same be prevented and abandoned. Which hoping we shall. High and Mighty Lords, commend you, High and Mighty, to the protection of the Most High. Your High Mightinesses most obedient servants, The Commissioners at the Assembly of the Nineteen of the Incorporated West India Company, now in session in Amsterdam. Amsterdam, this 30"" March, 1624. (Signed) Henr: Feith. '

Received 2 April. Jan Gysbreght.

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HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 31

Agents of the West India Company at Hoorn, to the Assembly of the XIX. [ From the MS. received as an Appendix by the States General Royal Arcliivea, Hague. ; File Went Indie. ]

Honorable, Worthy, Wise and right Prudent gentlemen and friends. Whereas we repaired tiiis morning to the meeting of the Directors of this city, and, after sundry conversations, explained to their Honors that we understood that a certain shi'p was fitting out here with design to go to the Virginias under French commission, intending to take along good carpenters and shipwrights to construct a store, houses and ships there in order to be employed elsewhere within the limits of the charter. This then appearing to be a matter of great consequence, we both deemed it proper to wait on the Magistrates of Hoorn, as we did forthwith, and after e.xplanatory introduction, requested them, as Judges and administrators of the laws, to maintain us against this contravention of the charter, and its amplification. Whereupon they answered, that we might certainly rely on them, and they resolved, with our previous advice, to summon the Skipper, who was busy taking out his ship, and about to sail forthwith, to demand of him an inventory thereof, and of all that is, or will be received on board.