Page:Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions.djvu/2

Rh III. All such shall be acknowledged patroons of New Netherland as shall agree to plant there a colony of 50 souls, upwards of 15 years old, within the space of four years after they have given notice to any Chamber of the Company here or to the commander or council there, one fourth part within one year and the remainder within three years after the sending of the first, making together four years, to the full number of 50 persons, to be shipped hence, on pain, in case of wilful neglect, of being deprived of the privileges obtained. But they are warned that the Company reserves to itself the island of the Manhattes.

IV. From the very hour they make known the situation of the places where they propose to settle colonies, they shall have the preference over all others to the free ownership of such lands as they shall have chosen: but in case the location should afterwards not please them or they should find themselves deceived in the selection of the land, they may, after memorializing the commander and council there, choose another place.

V. The patroons, by their agents, may, at the place where they wish to settle their colonies, [fix] their limits [so that the colony shall] extend four leagues along the coast or one side of a navigable river, or two leagues along both sides of a river, and as far inland as the situation of the occupants will permit; with the understanding that the Company retains for itself the ownership of the lands lying and remaining between the limits of the colonies, to dispose thereof when and at such time as it shall think proper, but no one else shall be allowed to come within seven or eight leagues of them without their consent unless the situation of the land thereabout be such that the commander and council for good reasons shall order otherwise; always observing that the first occupants are not to be prejudiced in the right they have obtained,