It was also provided that all persons should be allowed to travel for the purpose of inhabiting in New Albion, and to carry all goods, wares and merchandize, to be shipped and transported, without any imposition, subsidy or custom, only with a license from the King's Treasurer; so also, all goods and merchandize whatsoever, from the province might be taken to any part of the kingdom, and disposed of without the payment of any tax, subsidy, or custom whatsoever, provided however, that this immunity should only continue for the space of ten years. Furthermore, no imposition, custom, or taxation should be imposed at any time hereafter upon the tenants or inhabitants of the province or any lands, tenements, goods or chattels, or in, or upon, any goods or merchandize within the province."

The Earl Palatine exerted himself to effect a settlement of his province. It is indeed said in the patent, that the said isle and region had already been "amply and copiously peopled with five hundred persons," but if such a population existed at that time the particulars of its history are entirely lost. But there is evidence that at an early period after the charter was given, an attempt was entered upon to establish a colony. An association was formed composed of Lords, Baronets, Knights, Merchants and Planters, in all, forty-four persons, and this company engaged by indenture to send out "three thousand able trained men," and settle them upon the Palatine's domain. In the year 1641, the Earl made an attempt to carry out the projected plan, and for its better success, attended the enterprize in person. He conducted a company into the province, though it would seem that but à small part of the promised number of men, were in actual attendance. Either from the

'Sce New Albion Patent in Hazard's Collections. Penington, a late writer, in an article given in the Memoirs of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, vol. 4, has attempted to discredit this instrument, representing it as spurious, or at least as open to doubt and suspicion. But this writer exhibits, on most occasions, a singularly sceptical temper; he resolutely disputes what most other authorities readily admit. The instrument in question is vague, and sometimes incorrect, in description, and it seems to have suffered from a most faulty translation, but it contains such evidences of authenticity, and is supported by so much collateral proof, that it cannot be wholly rejected.

smallness of his force, or from some other cause, the Earl did not succeed in his endeavours to establish a settlement; but he remained in the country, and engaged in exploring his province. The whole extent was divided into several manors, and these being dignified with well chosen names, served to give titles to each member of the Earl Palatine's family."

Almost at the same time with the arrival of the Earl, a company of persons entered the province, with a view to effect a permanent settlement therein. This was the body sent out by the New Haven Colony to take possession of the lands upon the Delaware that had been purchased by Captain Turner, as has heretofore been mentioned. They were instructed to act in close connexion with the mother colony; they were to plant the lands and engage in trade, and were also to establish churches in gospel order and purity.

The company consisting of near fifty families, sailed in a vessel belonging to one Lamberton, a merchant of New Haven, and Robert Cogswell was commander. They touched at Fort Amsterdam on their voyage, and the authorities at that place became thus apprized of the nature of the object they had in view, Governor Keift was too much alive to the movements of the English, to allow him to look with indifference upon the present attempt, and he at once protested against it." The English Com

Plantagenet's New Albion, Barclay's Sketches, Mickle's Reminiscences. "[Protest.] "I, William Keist, Director General, in behalf of the High and Mighty Lords of the States General of the United Provinces, of his Highness of Orange, and the Noble Lords Directors of the Privileged West India Company, residing in New Netherland, make known to you, Robert Cogswell and your associates, not to build nor plant on the South River, lying within the limits of New Netherland, nor on the lands lying along there, as lawfully belonging to us, by our possessing the same long years ago, before it was frequented by any Christians, as appears by our forts which we have thereon, and also the mouth of the rivers scaled with our blood, and the soil itself, most of which has been purchased and paid for by us, unless you will settle under the Lords, the States and the noble West India Company, and swear allegiance and become subject to them as the other inhabitants have done. Failing whereof we protest against all damages and losses that may accruo therefrom, and desire to be holden innocent threof."

mander replied that it was not their intention to settle under any government, if any other place could be found, but that should they settle within the limits of the States General, they would become subject to the government. The company then proceeded. They finally reached a place which they selected for a settlement not far from the Delaware, on a small stream called Varcken's Kill.8

Whether these settlers were at all aware of the rights and claims of the Earl Palatine of Albion, at the time they entered the province, is unknown. But finding him in the country as the holder of a grant from the English Crown, they were ready to submit to his rule, and hence upon being visited by persons commissioned by the Earl, they swore fealty to him, as the Palatine of Albion."

But the company had not long been settled in their new situation before they found themselves in need of the aid and protection which their present ruler was in no condition to give.

Their settlement had been observed by Jan Janssen Van Ilpendam, the Dutch Commandant, who resided on the Delaware at Fort Nassau, and information of what was passing was soon transmitted to the Director at Fort Amsterdam. Keift immediately ordered that two vessels should be prepared and despatched to the Delaware, with orders to visit the English and to reduce or disperse the colony. This order was speedily obeyed; the Dutch made an entrance upon the settlement, took possession of the goods, burned the houses, and detained a number of the people as prisoners.

The Swedes who were established upon the Delaware gave aid and assistance to the Dutch in this attack upon the English colony.10

* Otherwise called Hog Creek, now Salem Creek.

* Plantagenet's New Albion, Barclay's Sketches, Mickle's Reminiscences. The English account of these proceedings is as follows: "That by their agents they had duly purchased of the Indian Sachems and their companions, several tracts or parcels of land on both sides of the Delaware Bay or River, to which neither the Dutch or the Swedes had any just title, yet without any legal protest or warning Monsere Keift, the Dutch Governor, sent armed men in 1642, and by force and in an hostile way burnt their trading houses, seized and for some time detained the goods in it, not suffering their servants so much as to

After a period, an attempt was made from another direction, for the purpose of establishing a colony within the province of New Albion.

The storm of political agitation was now arising in England, and its violence had already become such as to shake the State and the Throne. The minds of men were ill at ease, and such as were disposed to seek tranquillity and peace, rather than to share in the danger, the glory, and the guilt of the coming strife, were anxious to find an asylum in some distant land. A number of "Knights and Gentlemen" who were thus disposed, associated together and chose one of their company to visit the English plantations in America, and select a place for a settlement. The individual chosen for this purpose was Beauchamp Plantagenet. He proceeded at once upon his errand, and after extensive travel in the several colonies, finally fixed upon the province of New Albion. He made application to the Lord Governor then in the country, and obtained under the seal of the province, a grant of ten thousand acres of land. This tract was called the Manor of Belvill. Some time afterwards, Plantagenet returned, in order to attend the removal of his companions, and nearly at the same time, the Earl Palatine also departed from the province, being obliged to return to England for aid and supplies."1 Upon their

same.

take a just inventory of them; he also seized their boat, and for a while kept their men prisoners. That the said Dutch Governor compelled Mr. Lamberton, their agent, to give in at the Manhattans, an account of what beavers he had traded within New Haven limits at Delaware, and to pay recognition for the That John Johnson, (Jan Janssen Van Ilpendam,) the Dutch agent, with the Swedes Governor at the Delaware, charged Mr. Lamberton, as if he had plotted with the Indians, to cut them off. A capital crime, for which they imprisoned and tried him, but could bring no proof to satisfy themselves who both accused, and sat as judges, yet they set a fine upon him, for trading within New Haven limits there." Hazard's Register, vol. 1, p. 17.

This statement is hardly correet in regard to the want of any protest against the proceedings, the protest has been given.

"In Winthrop's History it is stated, that in 1648 Sir Edmund Ployden arrived at Boston, on his way to England, and that he had been in Virginia seven years. It is possible that the Earl may really have been in Virginia during his visit, though a considerable part of the period of his sojourn was spent in his own province. See upon this point, and also for general remarks respecting Now Albion, King's Discourse before the New Jersey Historical Society.

CHAPTER V.

NEW NETHERLAND, NEW ALBION, AND NEW SWEDEN.

WILLIAM KEIFT was appointed as the successor of Van Twiller on the 28th of March, 1638.

The New Director was possessed of a good degree of activity and vigor, and the situation in which he was placed called for the exercise of his best capacities and powers. In addition to the unfavorable condition of affairs at the time of his coming to the province, he soon became embroiled with the native tribes. The harmony that had so long subsisted between the Indians and the Dutch, was suddenly broken; in the indulgence of a temper which was sometimes ardent to the verge of imprudence, the Director pursued a quarrel arising from the act of a single individual, until there' arose a general war. Much property was lost, and many lives were sacrificed, in the course of a protracted contest. Besides these internal disorders, difficulties were increasing from without. The English settlers in New England were constantly advancing. Under the influence of forms of government which gave an equal measure of liberty to all, these colonists were inspired with life and activity, and in consequence were continually seeking to widen the field of action, and enterprize. In their efforts for this purpose, a scrupulous attention to form, was not always exhibited. If the limits of particular patents were thought too narrow, they urged on their own behalf the rights of the great England Company, or claimed to have a sufficient warrant as the servants of the King. The claims of the Dutch were no further regarded, than merely prudential reasons required. The very year of the arrival of Director Keift, a company had formed a settlement at a place which the Dutch called Roodeberg,