Chap. II. <tA M ET^I C A. ^ 



baffador reprefented to the States, they difown the bufinefs, and declare by Publick 

 Inftfument, that it was onely a private Undertaking, W*j« of the Weft-India Com- 

 pany oiAmfterdam. Whereupon a Commiflion was granted to Sir George Calvert, 

 made Lord Baltimore in Ireland, to Poflefs and Plant the Southern parts thereof, lyin* 

 towards Ftrginia, by the name of Mary-land . and to Sir Edmund Loyden, to Plant the 

 Northern parts towards New England, by the name of NoVa Albion : Which makes 

 the Dutch the fecond time feem willing to compound . and for the Sum of two 

 thoufand and five hundred Pounds, they offer to be gone, and leave all they had 

 there. But taking advantage of the troubles in England, which then began to appear, 

 and foon after follow'd , they not only go back from their firft Propofitions, and' 

 make higher Demands, but alfo moft mifchievoufly (as fome report ) furnifii 

 the Natives with Arms, and teach them the ufc of them, as it may be thought, ex- 

 pecting to ufe their help upon occafion, againft the E?jglifb. 



After His Majefties Reftauration , His Majefty being truly inform'd of his juft 

 Pretences to all that Ufurp'd Territory call'd New Netherland, ( the lame having 

 been formerly part of New England) and of how great prejudice to the Acl: of Na- 

 vigation, and how dangerous Intruders the Dutchmen are generally upon other 

 Princes Dominions, what mifchief might enfue to all our Engltfi Plantations in 

 time of War , if the Dutch were permitted to ftrengthen themfelves in the very 

 heart of His Majefties Dominions, being Matters of one of the moft commodious 

 Ports and Rivers in America : His Majefty refolv'd to feize upon the fame, as his 

 undoubted Right, and in May 1664. having defign'd four Commiflioners to the 

 perfecting of Affairs in New England, Collonel Richard Nichols, Sir Robert Can, 

 George Qartwright, and Samuel MaVrick Efquires, with three Ships of War to convey 

 them to Bofton : The matter was fo order'd, that the fame Ships ferv'd for the re* 

 ducing of the Town and Toxt of N^eTf Jmfterd am, upon conditions, advantageous 

 to His Majefty, and eafie to the Dutch. 



Now begins New Netherland to lofe the Name, for His Majefty having conferr'd 

 by Patent upon his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York and Albany, all the Acquifiti. 

 ons made upon Foraigners , together with Long-lfland , the Weft end whereof 

 was wholly fetled and Peopled by Dutch-men ; his Royal Highnefs impower'd, by 

 Commiflion as his Deputy-Governor, Colonel Nichols, Groom of his Bed-cham- 

 ber, to take the Charge and Diredion of Reducing an-d Governing all thofe Terri- 

 tories-it was by him thpught fit,to change fome principal denominations of Places, 

 yi% New Netherland into Tork-jhire-, New Amfterdam into New York-, Fort-Amfcel into Fort* 

 James*, Fort-Orange into Fort*Albany ; and withal, to change Burgomafters, Schepen, and 

 Schout, into Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriff, with Juftices of the Pface ; fo that all 

 the Civil Policy is conformable to the Methods and Praftifc of England, whereas 

 2{ew England retains only the name of Qonftabk in their whole Rolls of Civil Offi- 

 cers. 



It is plac'd upon the neck of the Ifland Manhatans, looking towards the Sea • en- 

 compafs'd with Hudjons River, which is fix Miles broad ; the Town is compact 

 and oval, with very fair Streets and feveral good Houfes ; the reft are built much 

 after the manner of Holland, to the number of about four hundred Houfes, which 

 in thofe parts are held confiderable : Upon one fide of the Town is James*Fort, 

 capable to lodge three hundred Souldiers and Officers . it hath four Baftions, forty 

 Pieces of Cannon mounted . the Walls of Stone , lm d with a thick Rampart of 

 Earth ; well accommodated with a Spring of frefh Water, always furnifli'd with 

 Arms and Ammunition, againft Accidents : Diftant from the Sea feven Leagues, 

 it affords a fafe Enhance, even to unskilful Pilots ; under the Town fide, Ships of 



T any 



