HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 287 horses.' The same thing occurred repeatedly afterwards, and they also took up the hogs and cows belonging to the Fort, and even frequently sold some of them, ^^« English seii our for damages as they say. Protests have been made against all these acts and each of them in particular, but they were mocked at; sundry very severe letters were written to their Governors in Latin on this subject, minute or copy whereof remains with the Company's officers, who can furnish a fuller account of this affair; but all opposition was vain; for they having now a smack of the

excellence and convenience of this river, and remarking the difference between the land there and that more easterly, ' will not consent to o go back, nor easily The English love ' J ll,j la^j^ win jjnil

submit to their High Mightinesses' protection unless respectfully invited thereunto, "o'easuy go back, which it was desirable might have happened from the first.

OF THE DUTCH TITLE TO THE FRESH RIVER.

In the beginning, before the English were ever spoken of, our people, as we find it written, first carefully explored and discovered the northern parts of New Netherland and some distance on the other side of Cape Cod. And even planted an ensign " on, and took possession * of Cape ^ Cod. Anno 1614, our traders O" v<^°p^e ant took possession of not only trafficked at the Fresh river, but had also ascended it before any English LoughuSerawi °'"" people had ever dreamed of coming there; the latter arrived there for the first time in the year 1636, after our Fort Good Hope had been a long time in existence, and almost all the land on both sides of the river had been bought by our people from the Indians, which purchase took place principally in the year 1632 and ;