versed in the Dutch language, who is
favorably inclined to go and dwell there. Your petitioners
are assured that he knows more than four hundred families,
who, provided they were defended and secured there by your
Royal Highness, and that of the High and Mighty Lords
States-General, from all violence on the part of other
potentates, would depart thither, with him, from this
country and from England, to plant, forthwith, everywhere
the true and pure Christian religion; to instruct the
Indians of those countries in the true doctrine; to bring
them to the Christian belief; and likewise, through the
grace of the Lord, and for the greater honor of the rulers
of this land to people all that region under a new
dispensation; all under the order and command of your
princely Highness and of the High and Mighty Lords
States-General.

"Your petitioners have also learned that His Britannic
Majesty is inclined to people the aforesaid lands with
Englishmen; to destroy your petitioners' possessions and
discoveries, and also to deprive this State of its right to
these lands, while the ships belonging to this country,
which are there during the whole of the present year, will
apparently and probably be surprised by the English."

The petitioners therefore prayed that the request of Mr. Robinson
might be favorably regarded; that the contemplated colony should be
taken under the protection of the Dutch government, and that two ships
of war should be sent out for the defence of the infant settlements.

The Dutch government was then upon the eve of a war with Spain, and
all its energies were demanded in preparation for the conflict. They
therefore quite peremptorily refused to entertain the petition of the
New Netherland Company. Thus the destination of the Puritans was
changed. Though they were not encouraged to commence their colonial
life at New Netherland, still it was their intention when they sailed
from England, to find a home somewhere in that vicinity, as England,
as well as Holland, claimed the whole coast. A note, in the History of
New Netherland, by E.B. O'Callaghan, contains the following
interesting statement upon this subject:

"Some historians represent that the Pilgrims were taken
against their will to New Plymouth, by the treachery of the
captain of the Mayflower, who, they assert, was bribed by