William Klobery and his assistants, with the ship, the William, whereof William Trevor was master, did in the past year 1633, In the month of April, come to the North River, in New Netherland, [opposite the island] of the Manhattes, in order to exchange his [merchandise] up that river for peltries and other [products.] And that under the feigned pretense that said river and adjacent country were in, and of, the Domain of his Majesty of Great Britain.

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94 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. Without, however, holding, as far as is known to us, or being willing to exhibit, when demanded, by our agents, his Majesty's Instruction or Commission, which he might have for that purpose. Nevertheless, it is sufficiently notorious to all the world, and he, Jacob Elkens himself knows best of all, having been employed, even before the year 1614, in the service of those who then had your High Mightinesses' grant to trade, exclusively, to that river and the surrounding places. That said river and adjacent countries had been discovered in the year 1609, at the cost of the East India Company, before any Christians had ever been up said river, as Hudson testified, who was then in the service of said Company, for the purpose of discovering the northwest passage to China. And that your High Mightinesses' grant hath conferred, from that time down, on divers merchants, the exclusive trade in peltries there. Likewise, that one or more little forts were built, also under your High Mightinesses' chief jurisdiction, even before the year 1614, and supplied with people for the security of the said trade Further, that after these countries had passed into the hands of the incorporated West India Company, not only were the above named forts renewed and enlarged, but said Company purchased from the Indians, who were the indubitable owners thereof, the Island of the Manhattes, situate at the entrance of the said river, and there laid the foundation of a city.