exact
of them satisfaction therefor. But it was knocking at a deaf man's door,
as they did not regard these protests or even take any notice of them;
on the contrary they have sought many subterfuges, circumstances, false
pretences and sophistical arguments to give color to their doings, to
throw a cloud upon our lawful title and valid rights, and to cheat us
out of them. General Stuyvesant also has had many questions with them,
growing out of this matter, but it remains as it was. The utmost that
they have ever been willing to come to, is to declare that the dispute
could not be settled in this country, and that they desired and were
satisfied that Their High Mightinesses should arrange it with their
sovereign. It is highly necessary that this should be done, inasmuch as
the English have already seized, and are in possession of, almost half
of New Netherland, a matter which may have weighty consequences in
the future. It is therefore heartily to be desired that Their High
Mightinesses will be pleased to take this subject into serious
consideration before it shall go further, and the breach become
irreparable.

We must now pass to the South River, called by the English Delaware Bay,
first speaking of the boundaries; but in passing we cannot omit to say
that there has been here, both in the time of Director Kieft and in
that of General Stuyvesant, a certain Englishman, who called himself
Sir Edward Ploeyden, with the title of Earl Palatine of New Albion, who
claimed that the land on the west side of the North River to Virginia
was his, by gift of King James of England,(1) but he said he did not
wish to have any strife with the Dutch, though he was very much piqued
at the Swedish governor, John Prins, at the South River, on account of
some affront given him, too long to relate. He said also that when an
opportunity should offer he would go there and take possession of the
river. In short, according to the claims of the English, it belongs
to them, and there is nothing left for the subjects of Their High
Mightinesses--one must have this far, and another that far, but they all
agree never to fall short.

(1) Plowden claimed under a patent from the viceroy of
Ireland under Charles I., June, 1634. The history of his
shadowy principality of New Albion is best accounted by
Professor Gregory B. Keen in Winsor's _Narrative and
Critical History of America_, III. 457-468. The best
account of the