st
their consent. Yet, especially on the northeast side of New Netherland
this has been not at all regarded or observed by the English living to
the eastward; for notwithstanding possession was already fully taken by
the building and occupation of Fort Good Hope, and there was no neglect
from time to time in warning them, in making known our rights, and in
protesting against their usurpation and violence, they have disregarded
all these things and have seized and possessed, and still hold, the
largest and best part of New Netherland, that is, on the east side
of the North River, from Cape Cod, (by our people in 1609 called New
Holland, and taken possession of [if we are correctly informed] by the
setting up of the arms of their High Mightinesses,)(1) to within six
leagues of the North River, where the English have now a village called
Stamford, from whence one could travel now in a summer's day to the
North River and back again, if one knows the Indian path. The English
of New Haven also have a trading house which lies east or southeast of
Magdalen Island, and not more than six leagues from the North River, in
which this island lies, on the east bank twenty-three and a half leagues
above Fort Amsterdam.(1) This trading post was established for no other
purpose than to divert the trade of the North River or to destroy it
entirely, for the river is now quite free. They have also endeavored
several times, during eight or nine years past, to buy of the Indians
a large quantity of land, (which would have served more than any other
thing to draw off the trade), as we have understood from the Indians;
for the post is situated not more than three or four leagues from the
eastern bounds of the colony of Renselaerswyck.

(1) See De Laet, p. 37, supra. The words in square brackets
appear in the manuscript, but not in the printed pamphlet.

(2) Magdalen Island is in the Hudson near Annandale. It
appears that the nearest post to the lower Hudson possessed
hitherto by the New Englanders was that which the New Haven
people established in 1646 on the Housatonic near the
present Derby, Connecticut; and that their nearest post to
the upper Hudson was that which Governor Hopkins, of
Connecticut, set up in 1641 at Woronoco, now Westfield,
Massachusetts.

This and similar difficulties these people now wish to lay to
our charge, all under the pretence of a very clear conscience,
notwith