New Netherland thus discover’d, invited many Merchants to settle a firm Plantation there; to which purpose they obtain’d Letters Patents in 1614. granted them by the States in the Hague, That they might onely Traffick to New Netherland; whereupon they earnestly prosecuting the Design, sent out Adrian Block and Godyn, who discover’d several Coasts, Isles, Havens, and Rivers.
The Countrey, as they said, being then void, was therefore free for any body that would take possession of it: Notwithstanding which pretence, they were scarce warm in their Quarters, when Sir Samuel Argal, Governor of Virginia, having first spoil’d the French in Accadie, as we said, disputed the Possession with these also. And although they pleaded Hudson’s Right (who by Commission from King James, and upon an English Account, had lately discover’d those Parts) and pretended they had not onely bought all his Cards and Maps of the Countrey, but all his Interest and Right also, and had fully contented him for all his Pains and Charges in the Discovery; yet the said Hudson being an English-man, and acting all that he did by Commission from the King of England, upon Debate it was concluded, That the Land could not be alienated after Discovery without the King of England’s consent, especially it being but a part of the Province of Virginia, already possess’d by the Subjects of England: So that they were forc’d to wave that Title, and the Dutch Governor submitted his Plantation to His Majesty of England, and to the Governor of Virginia, for and under him: Upon which Terms for a good while they held it. Afterwards, upon confidence, it seems, of a new Governor sent from Amsterdam, they not onely fail’d to pay the promis’d Contribution and Tribute, but fell to fortifie themselves, and to entitle the Merchants of Amsterdam to an absolute Propriety and Dominion of the Country, independent of any other; building Towns, as New Amsterdam; raising Forts, as Orange Fort, near the Branch of the Nordt River, which they call Hell-Gate. Complaint whereof being made to King Charles, and by his Ambassador represented to the States, they disown the business, and declare by Publick Instrument, that it was onely a private Undertaking, viz. of the West-India Company of Amsterdam. Whereupon a Commission was granted to Sir George Calvert, made Lord Baltimore in Ireland, to Possess and Plant the Southern parts thereof, lying towards Virginia, 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 second time seem willing to compound; and for the Sum of two thousand 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 soon after follow’d, they not only go back from their first Propositions, and make higher Demands, but also most mischievously (as some report) furnish the Natives with Arms, and teach them the use of them, as it may be thought, expecting to use their help upon occasion, against the English.
After His Majesties Restauration, His Majesty being truly inform’d of his just Pretences to all that Usurp’d Territory call’d New Netherland, (the same having been formerly part of New England) and of how great prejudice to the Act of Navigation, and how dangerous Intruders the Dutchmen are generally upon other Princes Dominions, what mischief might ensue to all our English Plantations in time of War, if the Dutch were permitted to strengthen themselves in the very heart of His Majesties Dominions, being Masters of one of the most commodious Ports and Rivers in America: His Majesty resolv’d to seize upon the same, as his undoubted Right, and in May 1664. having design’d four Commissioners to the perfecting of Affairs in New England, Collonel Richard Nichols, Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright, and Samuel Mawrick Esquires, with three Ships of War to convey them to Boston: The matter was so order’d, that the same Ships serv’d for the reducing of the Town and Fort of New Amsterdam, upon conditions, advantageous to His Majesty, and easie to the Dutch.
Now begins New Netherland to lose the Name, for His Majesty having conferr’d by Patent upon his Royal Highness the Duke of York and Albany, all the Acquisitions made upon Foraigners, together with Long-Island, the West end whereof was wholly setled and Peopled by Dutch-men; his Royal Highness impower’d, by Commission as his Deputy-Governor, Colonel Nichols, Groom of his Bed-chamber, to take the Charge and Direction of Reducing and Governing all those Territories; it was by him thought fit, to change some principal denominations of Places, viz. New Netherland into York-shire; New Amsterdam into New York; Fort-Amscel into Fort-James; Fort-Orange into Fort-Albany; and withal, to change Burgomasters, Schepen, and Schout, into Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriff, with Justices of the Peace; so that all the Civil Policy is conformable to the Methods and Practise of England, whereas New England retains only the name of Constable in their whole Rolls of Civil Officers.
It is plac’d upon the neck of the Island Manhatans, looking towards the Sea; encompass’d with Hudson’s River, which is six Miles broad; the Town is compact and oval, with very fair Streets and several good Houses; the rest are built much after the manner of Holland, to the number of about four hundred Houses, which in those parts are held considerable: Upon one side of the Town is James-Fort, capable to lodge three hundred Souldiers and Officers; it hath four Bastions, forty Pieces of Cannon mounted; the Walls of Stone, lin’d with a thick Rampart of Earth; well accommodated with a Spring of fresh Water, always furnish’d with Arms and Ammunition, against Accidents: Distant from the Sea seven Leagues, it affords a safe Entrance, even to unskilful Pilots; under the Town side, Ships of any Burthen may Ride secure against any Storms, the Current of the River being broken by the interposition of a small Island, which lies a Mile distant from the Town.
About ten Miles from New York is a Place call’d Hell-Gate, which being a narrow Passage, there runneth a violent Stream both upon Flood and Ebb; and in the middle lie some Rocky Islands, which the Current sets so violently upon, that it threatens present Shipwrack; and upon the Flood is a large Whirlwind, which continually sends forth a hideous roaring, enough to affright any Stranger from passing farther, and to wait for some Charon to conduct him through; yet to those that are well acquainted, little or no danger: It is a place of great Defence against any Enemy coming in that way, which a small Fortification would absolutely prevent, and necessitate them to come in at the West end of Long-Island by Sandy Hook, where Nutten Island forces them within the Command of the Fort at New York, which is one of the best Pieces of Defence in the North parts of America. It is built most of Brick and Stone, and cover’d with red and black Tyle, and the Land being high, it gives at a distance a pleasing prospect to the Spectators. The Inhabitants consist most of English and Dutch, and have a considerable Trade with Indians for Beaver, Otter, and Rackoon-Skins, with other Furrs; as also for Bear, Deer and Elke-Skins; and are supply’d with Venison and Fowl in the Winter, and Fish in the Summer by the Indians, which they buy at an easie Rate; and having the Countrey round about them, they are continually furnish’d with all such Provisions as is needful for the Life of Man, not onely by the English and Dutch within their own, but likewise by the adjacent Colonies.
Manhattans River.
The Manhattans, or Great River, being the chiefest, having with two wide Mouths wash’d the mighty Island Watouwaks, falls into the Ocean. The Southern Mouth is call’d Port May, or Godyns Bay. In the middle thereof lies an Island call’d The States Island; and a little higher the Manhattans, so call’d from the Natives, which on the East side of the River dwell on the Main Continent. They are a cruel People, and Enemies to the Hollanders, as also of the Sanhikans, which reside on the Western Shore. Farther up are the Makwaes and Mahikans, which continually War one against another. In like manner all the Inhabitants on the West side of the River Manhattan are commonly at Enmity with those that possess the Eastern Shore; who also us’d to be at variance with the Hollanders, when as the other People Westward kept good Correspondency with them.
On a small Island near the Shore of the Makwaes, lay formerly a Fort, provided with two Drakes and eleven Stone Guns, yet was at last deserted.