But duly considering that that nation cannot be easily removed from the lands of which they have, for so long a time been in usurped possession, and that it were unwise in the Company, unless driven thereto by extreme necessity, to come to contention or hostilities with that nation, inasmuch as they are much stronger in point of numbers than our people, the Directors therefore, regardless of our well-founded pretensions, would deem it more necessary to agree with that nation even to the extent of assenting to the Provisional Boundary concluded by our Director with them at the Meeting of the Colonies at Herfort, in the year 1650, as is to be seen by the despatch dated 2G"' November, from which it can be noted, that the only condition mutually agreed to, is, that they will no longer encroach on each other; this was so stated on account of the straits our nation find themselves in at present in that country. Neither can we omit on this occasion to remark the great importance to the Commonalty and subjects of those countries, of the trade to the Barbadoes, and other circumjacent places, which trade was prosecuted by our nation many years ago with great profit, until the English by direction and order of its present government, went thither with a powerful fleet, and reduced those Islands partly by force and partly on terms, and contrary to capitulations and promises, would oblige the inhabitants there not to trade with any, except themselves. All which is in direct opposition to the conditions agreed upon as aforesaid, which plainly set forth that those inhabitants shall be at liberty to trade with all nations and particularly with ours, as they also try to do, up to this time, with all the ships that arrive there from these parts, whenever no English ships are on the coast, or our cruizers happen forcibly to keep the English ships in check.