USA > New York > History of the state of New-York : including its aboriginal and colonial annals, vol. pt 1 > Part 34
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* In allusion to Argall's expedition against Port Royal, see p. 348.
t In the language of a contemporary of Gov. Minuit and Gov. Brad- ford :- " If any tax me for wasting paper with recording these small mat- ters, such may consider, that small things in the beginning of natural or politic bodies, are as remarkable as greater, in bodies full grown." Tho- mas Dudley, the first deputy governor of Massachusetts. in an cpistle to
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The reader's fancy will follow the bark through the East river,* into the great bay of the island of sheils.f and as it boldly swept over the bay, or cautiously glided along its shores, skirted by thousands of wigwams, ; he will picture the wild and joyful gesticulations of the Indians, as they gazed ' upon the fantastic arrangements of the little vessel, or listen- ed to the deep notes of the trumpeters.
·
Arrived in safety at Manomet, § the secretary despatched to Governor Bradford a letter, || announcing his arrival, spe- cifying the articles that comprised his cargo, and requesting some mode of conveyance to Plymouth. His request was
" my very good lady, the Lady Bridget Countess of Lincoln," dated Bos- ton, 1631, and published in " Massachusetts, or the first Planters," &c. Boston, 1696, p. 22
* Oost rivier, called also Helle Gadt rivier.
i Long Island Sound.
¿ See Trumbull's Hist. of Connecticut, I. ch. 3.
¿ North side of Cape Cod.
|| Addressed to " Monsieur Monseigneur, William Bradford, Gover- neur in Nieu Plemeuen.
" After the wishing of all good unto you, this serves to let you under- stand, that we have received your (acceptable) letters, dated the 14th of last month, by John Jacobson of Wiring, who besides, by word of mouth, hath reported unto us your kind and friendly entertainment of him : for which cause (by the good liking and approbation of the Director and Council) I am resolved to come myself in friendship to visit you, that wc may by word of mouth friendly communicate of things together ; as also to report unto you the good will and favour that the Honourable Lord of the authorised West Indian Company bear towards you ; and to show our willingness of your good accommodation, have brought with me some cloth of three sorts and colours, and a chest of white sugar, as also some seuwan, &c. not doubting but, if any of them may be serviceable unto you, we shall agree well enough about the prices thereof. Also, John Jacobson afore- said, hath told me that he came to you over land in six hours, but I have not gone so far this three or four years, wherefore I fear my feet will fail me ; so I am constrained to entreat you to afford me the easiest means, that I may, with least weariness, come to congratulate with you : so leaving other things to the report of the bearer, shall herewith end ; remembering my hearty salutations to yourself and friends, &c. From aboard the bark Nassau, the 4th of October, 1627, before Frenchman's point.
Your affectionate friend. ISAAC DE RAZIER.
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granted. A boat was sent to Manonscusset," and Razier " honourably attended by a noise of trumpeters,"f was usher- ed into fort Plymouth. Here he was kindly entertained se- veral days. The meeting was not merely one of commercial speculation and heartless formality. It was the first meeting, in the solitude of the new world, of the friendly colonists of two allied European nations. It was the joyful meeting of kindred as well as friends, for the wives and little ones of some of the pilgrims had also their birth-place in Holland. 'Though the rigid simplicity of puritan costume and manners, the simple salutation, for instance, of goodman and goody, were in direct opposition to the high-sounding titles, formal stateliness and warlike decorations of the Dutch, yet the very spirit of amity consecrated the intercourse upon this novel oc- casion.
When the Dutch departed, they were accompanied to Ma- nomet by the Plymouth people, by whom articles of their merchandise were purchased, particularly the seawan, which was then introduced into New England, and became the me- dium of profitable trade with the Eastern Indians.} Such was the harmony of the first communication between the two colonies, that the Dutch offered their assistance against the French, if needed ; urged their friends to abandon the bar- ren spot on which fate had cast them, and remove to the fer- tile banks of the Fr sh river.§ The adoption of this advice might have perpetuated that good feeling, which, though af- terwards supplanted by contention and bitterness, was for
** On the south side of Cape Cod.
¡ Gov. Bradford's letter book.
Versche rivier-the Connecticut.
# Dr. Chalmers (Political Annals) says that Razier brought peltry and purchased corn. Hence it is inferred the Dutch had made little progress in agriculture. The conclusion is true, though the premises are not. It is doubtful whether Plymouth raised corn enough for domestic consump- tion. "But whatever were the honey in the mouth of that beast of trade, there was a deadly sting in the tail. For it is said they first brought our people to the knowledge of rampempeng; and the acquaintance therewith occasione !! the Indians of these parts to learn the skill to make it, by which
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New Netherland.
years the foundation of repeated intercourse and profitable commerce. The Dutch frequently went to Manomet, exchang- ed their linens and stuffs for tobacco, which trade was ex- tremely advantageous to the people of Plymouth, until the Virginians found out the Dutch colony, and drove them from this market by underselling them in tobacco.'*
The West Indian Company also enjoyed immediately the salutary fruits of this commercial interchange, for the year af- ter it commenced, (viz. 1 628) Governor Minuit, without the necessity of any fresh imports that year, exported to the Am- sterdam department more furs than at any other prior period. i.
The carnestness of Governor Bradford and his Council, in advising the Dutch to clear up their right to settle in the land, evinces the light in which the former viewed that right, and their ignorance of any previous remonstrance upon the sub- ject. It has, however, been affirmed that Sir Ferdinando Gorges, one of the patentecs of the New England charter of 1620, had remonstrated (in 1624) to King James, against the occupation of the Hudson, and that the States General, by their Ambassador, disclaimed it as merely a private undertaking of their West Indian Company.} It might admit inquiry-
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as by the exchange of money, they purchased store of artillery, both from the English, Dutch, and French, which hath proved a fatal business to those that were concerned in it. It seems the trade thereof was at first, by strict proclamation, prohibited by the king. ' Sed quid non mortalia pectora cogis-Auri sacra fumes !' The love of money is the root of all evil," &c. Hubbard. Hist. New Eng. Mass. Hist. col. V. 100.
* Mr. Baylies, extract. MS. Hist. of Plymouth.
f Viz. 6951 bcavers, 731 otters and other skins, valued at 61,075 guil- ders, or $25,447 912 cents.
# This is put about the period of the meeting of the English parliament, in February, 1624. See Belk. Biog. vol. I. 369-375. But the loose man- ner in which the complaint is told, without any authority cited, and parti- cularly the reply which it is said the States made, viz. that if a settlement ou the Hudson had been made it was without their order, as they had only erected a company for the West Indies, are circumstances which throw a suspicion over the statement. The grant to the company extended as far north as Newfoundland. Perhaps this story is confounded with one of a si. milar kind in the time of Charles I.
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whether the English charter, in its constructive application, embraced that river ; for though it extended nominally to the fortieth degree, it contained an exception in favour of the pos- session of any Christian prince or state. The Hollanders in 1620 had the possession. The policy of King James, not, perhaps, very liberal on this subject, was pacific, and he pro- bably preferred that the river should be settled upon by the Dutch rather than by the Spaniards or French, both of whom claimed the country. He was, if we credit English statements, aware that the Dutch had begun a settlement, and, perhaps, he caused the proviso in the great charter, as a tacit acquies- cence. If therefore the remonstrance was made, no efficient interposition was obtained, nor was any regard paid to it by the West Indian Company : their measures with respect to New Netherland were not to be overawed by remonstrance or varied by conflicting title, but proportioned to the success of their arms, consequently to the amplitude of their resources, and the adaptation of the province to a lucrative investment of ca- pital. This year they achieved a victory over the enemy so de- cisive, so complete, so unexampled in the magnitude of its trophies and advantages, as not only to enrich the members of the company, but tend directly to the establishment of per- manent colonization in New Netherland. In September (1628) Admiral and General Peter Pieterzen Heyn captured in the bay of Mautanzas a fleet of twenty vessels laden with silver, gold and other precious articles, valued at more than
twelve millions of guilders. * This was the famous Spanish silver fleet. The company during this and the preceding year took one hundred and four prizes from the Spaniards and Portuguese. Profit had augmented to fifty per cent. The treasure now poured upon the bosom of the society was so infatuating, that the States General found it necessary to
* 5,000,000 dollars. De Laet (Ilist. West In. Co book V.) says 11,509,524 guilders, exclusive of musk, ambergris, bezoar and other pre- cious articles in great quantity, besides the cargoes of two galleons and one small prize.
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New Netherland.
interpose some rules of government over foreign conquests,* not leaving them to the arbitrary whim and caprice of the conquerors or naval commanders, and on the other hand found it not very difficult to persuade the company, to their own ruin ultimately, to turn their operations expressly for the . . advantage of the Republic, and commence a " prince-like in- stead of merchant-like war."f But at this particular crisis, the interposition of their High Mightinesses, for the benefit of transmarine conquests and colonies, accompanied by a de- cree, authorising the different departments of the company to appoint a council of nine persons, who should be entrusted with the management of the whole, i was the foundation of the . appointment of commissioners over the affairs of New Nether- land, and of the adoption by the college of XIX. of a charter of Liberties and exemptions for patroons, masters and private individuals who should plant colonics in New Netherland, or import thither any neat cattle. These privileges and exemp- tions were adopted in the spring of 1629, and recorded in the book of resolutions of the department of XIX. §
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A knowledge of the provisions of this charter is not only necessary for understanding perfectly the civil basis on which the colony of New Netherland was erected, but the charter merits attention as an object of curious political speculation. It discloses the peculiar notions of an armed mercantile socie- ty with regard to colonization. While it secured the right of
* Lambrechtsen, Kort Verhael, &c.
¡ De Witt.
# Lambrechtsen, on authority of the great Placard Book-Groot Pla, kaatboek, II D bl. 1235.
§ Lambrechtsen says they are to be found in the Notules of that depart- ment, March 10. 1623, (old style)-but in a deed from Gov. Kieft to Ex- Governor Van Twiller, in 1638, of a tobacco plantation at Sapokanickan, (Greenwich in the city of New-York), the date of the grant of the liber- ties and exemptions is cited to have been the 7th of June, 1629. Perhaps as they were not published till 1630, they underwent modifications after they were first adopted, previously to their being finally confirmed as a charter,
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History of New-York.
the Indians to the soil, and enjoined schools and churches, it scattered the seeds of servitude, slavery, and aristocracy. While it gave to freemen as much land as they could cultivate, , and exempted colonists from taxation for ten years, it fettered agriculture by restricting commerce and prohibiting manu- factures.
New Netherland. 389
CHAPTER V.
Charter of Liberties and Exemptions of 1629 .*
Privileges and Exemptions for the Patroons, Masters, or Particular Per- sons who shall settle any Colony or bring cattle therein, in New Ne. therland, considered for the service of the General West-India Company in New Netherland, and for the advantage of the Patroons, Masters, and Particular Persons. i
1.
THAT such members of the said company, as may be in- clined to settle any colony in New Netherland, shall be per- mitted, with the ships of this company going thither, to send three or four persons to inspect into the situation of the country, provided, that they with the officers and ship's com- pany, swear to the instrument of conditions (articles) so far as they relate to them ; and paying for provisions, and for passage, going and coming, six stuyvers§ per day : and such as desire to eat in the cabin, twelve stuyvers, and to be subor- dinate, and to give assistance like others, in cases offensive and defensive : and if any ships be taken from the enemy,
* Translated, New-York, 8th May 1762, by Abraham Lott, junior, Renselacrwyck MSS.
t The charter was published at Amsterdam the next year, with the fol- lowing title prefixed :-
Vrybedeu by de Vergaderinghe van de Negenthiene van de Geoctroy- eerde West-Indische Compagnie vergunt aen allen den ghenen | die cenighe Colonien in Nieuw-Nederlandt sullen planten. In het licht ghegheven, &c. &c. T' Amstelredam, Door Marten Jansz Brandt, &c. Anno 1630.
Liberties or Privileges, granted by the Assembly of Nineteen of the Authorized West-India Company, to all such as shall or may settle or plant any colony* in New Netherland. Published with a view to make koown what profits and advantages result to colonists and their Patroons and Mas- ters, as also to others, who settle colonies in New Netherland.
¿ Twelve and a half cents.
* The wurd Colony here made use of in the Dutch, signifies as much as the word Manor in Englien ; and so it does generally throughout these conditions.
VOL. I.
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they shall, pro rata, receive their proportions with the ship's company, each according to his quality ; that is to say, that the colonists eating out of the cabin shall be rated with the sailors, and such as eat in the cabin with those of the companies' men as eat at table, and receive the lowest wages. II.
Though in this respect, shall be preferred such persons who have first appeared, and desired the same from the com- pany.
III.
That all such shall be acknowledged Patroons of New Ne- therland, who shall, within the space of four years, next after they have given notice to any of the chambers, (or colleges) of the company here, or to the commander or council there, undertake to plant a colony there of fifty souls, upwards of fifteen years old, one fourth part within one year, and within three years after the sending of the first, making together four years, the remainder to the full number of fifty persons, to be shipped from hence, on pain, in case of wilful neglect, of being deprived of the privileges obtained; but it is to be observed that the company reserve the island of the Man- katles to themselves.
IV.
That from the time that they make known the situation of the places, where they propose to settle colenies, they shall have the preference to all others, of the absolute property of such lands as they have there chosen ; but in case the situa- tion should afterwards not please them, or that they should have been mistaken as to the quality of the land, they may, after remonstrating the same to the commander and council there, be at liberty to choose another place.
V.
That the Patroons, by virtue of their power, shall and may be permitted, at such places as they shall settle their colonies, to extend their limits four miles* along the shore, that is on one side of a navigable river, or two miles* on each side of a
Sixteen English miles.
i Eight English miles.
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New Netherland.
river, and so far into the country as the situation of the occu- piers will permit, Provided and conditioned, that the com- pany keep to themselves the lands lying and remaining be- tween the limits of colonies, to dispose thereof, when, and at such time as they shall think proper, in such manner that no person shall be allowed to come within seven or eight miles* of them, without their consent; unless the situation of the land thereabout were such, that the commander and council for good reasons should order otherwise ; always observing that the first occupiers are not to be prejudiced in the right they have obtained, other, than unless the service of the com- pany should require it for the building of fortifications, or something of that sort ; remaining, moreover, the command of each bay, river, or island, of the first settled colony, under the supreme jurisdiction of their High Mightinesses the Staats General and the Company : but that on the next colony's be- ing settled on the same river or island, they may, in conjune- tion with the first, appoint one or more council, in order to consider what may be necessary for the prosperity of the co- lonies on the said river and island.
VI.
That they shall for ever possess and enjoy all the lands ly- ing within the aforesaid limits, together with the fruits, rights, minerals, rivers, and fountains thercof : as also the chief command, and lower jurisdictions, fishing, fowling, and grinding, to the exclusion of all others, to be holden from the company as an eternal inheritage, without its ever devolving again to the company, and in case it should devolve, to be re- deemed and repossessed, with twenty guilderst per colony to be paid to this company, at their chamber here, or to their commander there, within a year and six weeks after the .ame happens ; each at the chamber where he originally sailed from. And further, that no person or persons whatsoever, shall be privileged to fish and hunt, but the patroons, and such as they shall give liberty : and in case any one should in time prosper so much, as to found one or more cities, he shall have power and authority to establish officers and magistrates there,
# 98 or 32 English miles. i A guilder was 20 stivers, or 35. 4d. currency.
1
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and to make use of the title of his colony, according to his pleasure, and to the quality of the persons.
VII.
That there shall likewise be granted to all Patroons who shall desire the same, Venia Testandi, or liberty to dispose of their aforesaid heritage, by testament.
VIII.
That the Patroons may, if they think proper, make use of all lands, rivers, and woods, lying contiguous to them, for and during so long time as this company shall grant them to other Patroons or Particulars.
IX.
That those who shall send persons over to settle colonies. shall furnish them with proper instructions, in order that they may be ruled and governed conformably to the rule of go- verment made, or to be made by the assembly of nineteen, as well in the political as judicial government ; which they shall be obliged first to lay before the directors of the respec- tive colleges.
X.
'That the Patroons and Colonists shall be privileged to send their people and effects thither, in ships belonging to the company, provided they take the oath and pay to the company for bringing over the people, as mentioned in the first arti- cle ; and for freight of the goods five per cent. ready money, to be reckoned on the prime cost of the goods here: in which is, however, not to be included, such creatures and other implements as are necessary for the cultivation and im- provement of the lands, which the company are to carry over without any reward, if there is room in their ships. But the Patroons shall, at their own expense, provide and make places for them, together with every thing necessary for the support of the creatures.
XI.
That in case it should not suit the company to send any ships, or that in those going there should be no room ; then the said Patroons, after having communicated their intentions.
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ew Netherland. ..
and after having obtained consent from the company in wri- ting, may send their own ships or vessels thither ; provided, that in going and coming they go not out of their ordinary course ; giving security to the company for the same, and ta- king on board an assistant, to be victualled by the Patroons and paid his monthly wages by the company ; on pain of do- ing the contrary, of forfeiting all the right and property they have obtained to the colony.
XII.
That as it is the intention of the company to people the island of the Manhattes first, all fruits and wares shall, for the present, be brought there, that arise upon the north river, and lands laying thereabouts, before they may be sent else- where : excepting such as are from their nature unnecessary there, or such as cannot, without great loss to the owner thereof, be brought there. In which case the owners thereof shall be obliged to give timely notice in writing, of the diffi- culty attending the same to the company here, or the com- mander and council there, that the "same may be remedied as the necessity thereof shall be found to require.
XIII.
That all the Patroons of colonies in New Netherland and of colonies on the island of Manhattes, shall be at liberty to sail and traffic all along the coast, from Florida to Terra Neuf, provided, that they do again return with all such goods as they shall get in trade, to the island of Manhattes, and pay five per cent. for recognition to the company, in order, if pos- sible, that after the necessary inventory of the goods shipped be taken, the same may be sent hither. And if it should so happen that they could not return, by contrary streams or otherwise, they shall in such case not be permitted to bring such goods to any other place but to these dominions, in or- der that under the inspection of the directors of the place where they may arrive, they may be unladen, an inventory thereof made, and the aforesaid recognition of five per cent. paid to the company here, on pain, if they do the contrary, of the forfeiture of their goods so trafficked for. or the real value thereof.
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XIV.
That in case of the ships of the Patroons, in going to, coming from, or sailing on the coast, from Florida to Terra Neuf, and no farther, without our grant should overpower any of the princes of the enemy, they shall be obliged to bring, or cause to be brought, such prince to the college of the place from whence they sailed out, in order to be reward- ed by them : the company shall keep the one third part thereof, and the remaining two thirds shall belong to them, in consideration of the cost and risk they have been at, all ac- cording to the orders of the company.
XV.
That it shall also be free for the aforesaid Patroons, to traffic and trade all along the coast of New Netherland and places circumjacent, with such goods as are consumed there, and re- ceive in return for them, all sorts of merchandises that may be had there, except beavers, otters, minks, and all sorts of peltry, which trade the company reserve to themselves. But the same shall be permitted at such places where the company have no factories, conditioned that such traders shall be obli- ged to bring all the peltry they can procure to the island of Manhattes, in case it be at any rate practicable, and there de- liver to the director to be by him shipped hither, with the ships and goods ; or if they should come here, without going there, then to give notice thereof to the company, that a pro- per account thereof may be taken, in order that they may pay to the company, one guilder for each merchantable otter and beaver skin ; the property, risk, and all other charges, remaining on account of the Patroons or owners.
. XVI.
That all coarse wares that the colonists of the Patroons there shall consume, such as pitch, tar, weed ashes, wood, grain, fish, salt, hearthstone, and such like things, shall be brought over in the company's ships at the rate of eighteen guilders per last,* four thousand weight to be accounted a last, and the company's ship's crew shall be obliged to wheel, and bring the salt on board, whereof ten lasts make a hundred. And in case of the want of ships, or room in the ships, they may
* $7 50 for two tons.
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in ships of their own order it over at their own cost, and enjoy in these dominions, such liberties and benefits as the company have granted : but that in either case they shall be obliged to pay, over and above the recognition of five per cent. cighteen guilders for each hundred of salt, that is carried over in the company's ships.
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