ABSTRACT
New York so called from our present gracious Sovereign when Duke of York, formerly named New-Netherlands, being part of that New-England which the Dutch on[c]e possessed, it was first discovered by Mr. Hudson, and sold presently by him to the Dutch without Authority from his Sovereign the King of England in 1608. The Hollanders in 1614. began to plant there and called it New-Netherlands,but Sir Samuel Argall Governor of Virginia routed them, after which they go leave of King James to put in there for fresh water in their passage to Brasile, and did not offer to plant till a good while after the English were setled in the Country. In 1664. his late Majesty King Charles the Second sent over four Commissioners, to reduce the Colonies into bounds that had before incroached upon each other, who marching with 300 Redcoats to Manhadees or Manhataes took from the Dutch, their chief Town then called New-Amsterdam, now New-York and Aug. 29. turned out their Governor with a Silver Leg, and all the rest but those who acknowledged / subjection to the King of England, suffering them to enjoy their Houses and Estates as before; thirteen daies after Sir Robert Car took the Fort and Town of Aurania now called Albany, and twelve daies after that the Fort and Town of Arosapha, then Dela-ware Castle man’d with Dutch and Sweeds. So that now the English are Masters of three handsom Towns, three strong Forts and a Castle, without the loss of one man, the first Governor of these parts for the King of England was Colonel Nichols 25 one of the Commissioners; This Country is blessed with the richest soyl in all New-England; I have heard it reported from men of Judgment (saies my Author) that one Bushel of European wheat hath yeilded an hundred in one year.
