Glass ^^ "-^f . 
 

 THE DISCOVERY OF THE HUDSON RIVER. 
 
 BY JAMES GRANT WILSON, D. C. L. 
 
 143'' 
 
 t*'v.ci ny 
 
•HgWY 
 
:; THE DISCOVERY OF THE HUDSON RIVER. 
 
 ,' By James Grant Wilson. D. C. L. 
 
 To the residents of the Second City of the World, and of the 
 most important and populous State of our Union, the most 
 important event in the history of American discovery next to 
 that of the Continent itself by '' the World-seeking Genoese," is 
 the discovery of New York Bay, and the exploration of the Hud- 
 son River. Indeed, apart from this local interest, the account of 
 Henry Hudson's voyage in the Half-Moon is so full of romantic 
 incident that we never weary of its repetition, but turn to it with 
 cever enduring pleasure. Yet historical exactness compels us to 
 ask the question : Were the English captain and his Dutch com- 
 panions the first of European navigators to look upon the beauti- 
 ful prospect of our bay and river, of forest-covered Manhattan, 
 and the noble Palisades? All can heartily sympathize with 
 Irving's sentiments when, expressing his indignation against those 
 writers who sought to deprive Columbus of the glory of his dis- 
 covery, he said: *' There is a certain meddlesome spirit which 
 in the garb of learned research goes prying about the traces of 
 history, casting down its monuments and marring and mutilating 
 its fairest trophies."' 
 
 Although there is ample evidence for believing that Henry 
 Hudson was preceded in the discovery of the river that bears his 
 name, by Giovanni de Verrazano, an Italian, at the time (1524) 
 in the service of France, and also a year later, by Esteban Gomez, 
 a native of Cadiz, sailing under the flag of Spain, also that Hud- 
 son was not entirely ignorant of the existence of the river it is 
 
 .supposed he looked uj)0u as the original explorer, three cen- 
 10 
 
146 [Assembly 
 
 tiiries ago in September, 1909, still we max cling with consider- 
 able reason to the impression of our ancestors. And although it 
 is even possible that the Northmen and other ancient navigators- 
 mav have seen the beautiful bay and river hundreds of years ago^ 
 the discovery made by Henry Hudson possesses over the others 
 who may have caught a glimpse of their waters, the great advan- 
 tage of having been carefully made, and circumstantially reported ; 
 also of having never been lost sight of from the date of its occur- 
 rence to the present day; of bearing fruit immediately in trading 
 voyages begun the very next year ; in temporary settlements upon 
 the banks of the magnificent river within five years after it had 
 thus become known to the world, and finally, in regular colo- 
 nization and permanent occupation by a civilized people through 
 a period of almost three centuries. It will therefore never lose 
 its historical importance and significance, and hence we shall 
 ever be justified in regarding with deepest interest the arrival 
 of Hudson and the Half-Moon in (September, 1G09. 
 
 Henry Hudson was born, and baptized, in London, during the 
 latter half of the Sixteenth Century. He Avas a citizen of the 
 English Metropolis, occupied a house there, and belonged to a 
 family that counted among its numbers another Henry Hudson., 
 believed to be his grandfather, who was an alderman of London, 
 and one of the founders, with Sebastian Cabot, of the Muscovy 
 or Russian company, w^hich was intended to promote the discovery 
 of a northerly passage to China. From its establishment in 1555 
 till 1607, when our explorer first appears upon the scene as a 
 Captain in its service, various Hudsons were prominent in the 
 counsels of the Muscovy Company, or engaged in its explorations. 
 Educated in the Company's service and familiar with its aims, 
 Henry Hudson was entirely devoted to the problem of a northerly 
 
Ko. 74.] • 147 
 
 passage to China, and the varions discoveries that he made wei'e 
 the outcome of this original idea. Of his four voyages of which 
 anything is known, the first tT\'0 were made for the Miisco\n,^ 
 Company, while the fonrth and last was set on foot by Sir Thomas 
 Smith. Senior Governor of the Mnscovy Company. The journal 
 of Hudson's first recorded voyage contains the earliest known 
 incident in the life of the celebrated mariner, and indicates his 
 religious feelings, also illustrating the devout spirit of the age. 
 Purchas records "Anno 1007, April the nineteenth, at St. Ethe- 
 burge in Bishop's Gate Street, did communicate with the rest of 
 the parishioners these persons, seamen, purposing to goe to sea 
 foure days after for to discover a passage by the Nortli Pole to 
 Japan and China.'' Then follow eleven names beginning with 
 " Henry Hudson, master,'' and ending with his son, "John Hud- 
 son," a boy. The HopeAvell of sixty tons, associated with the gal- 
 lant Sir Martin Frobisher's last voyage, twenty-nine years before, 
 was now under Hudson's command, and in her he tried the 
 eastern coast of Greenland, following the ice barrier around and 
 up to about 82° North. Having reached the neighborhood of 
 Spitzbergen without finding an entrance, he sought once more 
 to penetrate into Davis Strait by the north of Greenland by Lum- 
 ley's inlet and the " furious overfall.'' Again frustrated by ice, 
 he returned to England, arriving in the Thames the middle of 
 September. Hudson attained a higher degree of latitude than 
 any previous navigator, he was the first to observe the ameliora- 
 tion of the temperature in his northern progress, and to suggest 
 the existence of an open polar sea, and by his recommendations, 
 laid the foundations of the English whale fisheries in the vicinity 
 of Spitzbergen. In this voyage he was influenced by the map 
 of Molineux or Wright, issued by Hakluyt in 1000, which Coote 
 
148 • [Assembly" 
 
 identified with the " New Map," referred to by Shakespeare in 
 "Twelfth Night." 
 
 Hudson's second voyage for the Muscovy Company for the 
 " finding a passage to the East Indies by the Northeast," began on 
 22nd April, 1G08, and he had with him his son John and Robert 
 Juet, who accompanied him in his two later voyages and finally 
 most basely conspired against him. On June 3rd he reached 
 the northern point of Norway and eight days later was in 
 latitude 75° 24' N., between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla. Striv- 
 ing in vain to pass to the northeast of the latter, and " wide of 
 hope of a northeast passage (except by the Vaygats, for which 
 I was not fitted to trie or prove)," he resolved, July 6th, to use 
 all means to sail to the northwest, once more hoping to pass what 
 Captain Davis named Lumley's inlet and the furious overfall. 
 But, having made little headway on Aug. 7th, he returned to 
 England, arriving on the 26th. 
 
 The Muscovy Company having temporarily abandoned the 
 quest, and turned its attention to the whale fisheries which Hud- 
 son had suggested, he was at liberty to accept a commission from 
 the Dutch East India Company to command an expedition in 
 search of a Northeast passage. Just a.s the explorer had signed 
 the contract, 8th January, 1609, at Amsterdam, an invitation 
 arrived from France desiring him to undertake a similar voyage 
 and ofifering much more liberal terms. An existing copy of Hud- 
 son's contract shows that he signed his name Henry Hudson, and 
 that in the body of the instrument he was also named Henry (and 
 not Hendrick) Hudson; also that an interpreter was required, 
 as he did not understand Dutch. It appears from this document 
 and abstract of instructions, that the directors agreed to furnish 
 a vessel of about sixty tons to " search for a passage to the North, 
 
No. 74.1 140 
 
 around by the north side of Nova Zembla." If he discovered " the 
 passage good and suitable for the Companv to use," the directors 
 declared that in addition to his pay, they would reward him in 
 their discretion. Hudson received important advice from his 
 friends Jodocus Hondius, engraver and map maker, the celebrated 
 geographer Rev. Peter Plancius, and from the latter also, trans- 
 lations of Barentson's voyage memoranda in 1595, the treatise of 
 Ivar Bardson Boty, which had belonged to Barentsou, and also 
 the log-books of George Waymouth. He also had with him certain 
 letters " which his friend John Smith had sent him from Vir- 
 ginia and by which he informed him that there was a sea leading 
 into the western ocean, by the north of the English Colony." 
 
 Hudson sailed from Amsterdam on 4, April, 1600, in the Half 
 Moon of about eighty tons, manned by a mixed crew of Dutch and 
 English sailors. Robert Juet, who had been his mate in the 
 previous voyage, now acted as his clerk and fortunately kept the 
 invaluable journal of the voyage preserved in the third volume of 
 Purchas. The discoverer's own Journal, which DeLaet had 
 before him when he wrote the '' Nieuwe Werelt," has disappeared, 
 together with such documents as Hudson forwarded to the Dutch 
 East India Company. He doubled the Cape of Norway May 5th, 
 directing his course along the northern coasts toward Nova 
 Zembla. But he there found the sea as full of ice as in the jtre- 
 ceding year, so that he abandoned hope of effecting anything. 
 This and the cold, to which some of the crew were unaccustomed, 
 caused dissensions, upon Avhich Hudson decided to sail for the 
 coast of America to the latitude of 40° ( an idea suggested by 
 Capt. John ^:?mith's maps and letters), or to direct the search to 
 Davis Strait. Abandoning the latter course, he soon after landed 
 on the coast of Canada to replace his foremast with a new one cut 
 
150 [Assembly 
 
 from the virgin forest. From this point the Half-Moon kept on 
 along our coast southward until Cape Cod was reached, when 
 Hudson stood out to sea not reaching land until arriving in 
 Chesapeake Bay. Thence he coasted northward until Wednes- 
 day, 2, September, 1609, at five o'clock in the afternoon, they cast 
 anchor in a '' great lake of water, as we should judge it to be." 
 To the northward were seen high hills " a very good land to fall 
 in with, and a pleasant land to see.'' Tbe hills were the Nave- 
 sinks, and the lake was the Lower Bay. 
 
 Here the Half-Moon remained for about ten days shifting her 
 position and sending out boats to sound tbe broad expanse of 
 waters, and dealing distrustfully with the Indians that flocked 
 around the ship in their canoes. At length Hudson proceeded 
 into the opening between the " small steep hills," described by 
 Verrazano, and went on for two leagues, which, if measured 
 exactly from the Narrows, would have brought the Half-Moon 
 about opposite the Battery; and now begins the familiar and fre- 
 quently told story of Hudson's ascent, past the site of Albany, 
 and descent of the grand river that immortalizes his name, and 
 commemorates his exploit. The Half-Moon passed out of Sandy 
 Hook on October -1th, and as Juet concluded his Journal : " We 
 continued our course toward England without seeing any land by 
 the way, all the rest of the month of October," and on November 
 7th arrived at Dartmouth. The authorities no sooner ascertained 
 whence the Dutch Ship, with an English captain had come, than 
 they detained both. Eventually Hudson was permitted to send 
 his Reports to the Directors of the East India Company, and the 
 Half-Moon arrived at Amsterdam in July, 1610, but it is uncertain 
 if he sailed with her. 
 
 The following year in June, 1611, the explorer closed a life of 
 heroic adventure amid the very regions that had tempted him so 
 
"No. 74.] 151 
 
 often to daring endeavors. The manner of his death was 
 barbarous, being set adrift with his son bv his mutinous crew 
 amid the ice fields of Hudson's Bay. in an open boat; vet it was 
 not perhaps ay inappropriate close to a career such as his, and in 
 this respect resembled that of the Dutch Arctic explorer Barent- 
 son, whose exploits doubtless contributed to arouse Hudson's 
 ambition. 
 
 In the words of Bancroft: ''What became of Hudson? Did 
 lie die miserably of starvation? Did he reach land to perish from 
 the fury of tlie natives? Was he crushed bet^^een ribs of ice? 
 The returning ship encountered storms, by which, it is probable, 
 Hudson was overwhelmed. Alone, of the great mariners of that 
 day, he lies buried in America; the gloomy waste of waters which 
 bears his name, is his tomb and his monument." 
 
 Jiiet-s Journal of Hndson's Voyage. 
 
 As before stated the journal of Hudson's voyage was kept by 
 his secretary, Robert Juet of Limehouse. Following is the por- 
 tion TV'hich covers the period beginning just before his entry into 
 New York Harbor and ending with his departure therefrom for 
 Europe : 
 
 The fii^st of ^^eptemher (1609), faire weather, the wind variable 
 l>etweene east and south; we steered away north northwest. At 
 noone we found our height to bee 39 degrees, 3 minutes. Wee had 
 soundings thirtie, twentie-seven, twentie-foure, and twentie-two 
 fathomes, as wee went to the northward. At sixe of the clocke 
 wee had one and twentie fathomes. And all the third watch, till 
 twelve of tlie clocke at mid-night, we 'had soundings one and 
 twentie, two and twentie, eighteene, t\\'0 and twentie, one and 
 twentie, eighteene, and two and twentie fathoms, and went sixe 
 leagues neere hand north northwest. 
 
152 [Assembly 
 
 The second, in the morning, close weather, the winde at the' 
 south in the morning; from t^'elve untill two of the clocke we 
 steered north north-west, and had sounding one and trventie 
 fathoms ; and in running one glasse we had but sixteene fathoms^ 
 then seventeene, and so shoalder and shoalder untill it came to 
 twelve fathoms. We saw a great fire, but could not see the land ;. 
 then we came to ten fathoms, whereupon we brought our tackes 
 aboord, and stood to the eastward east southeast, foure glasses. 
 Then the sunne arose, and wee steered away north againe, and 
 saw the land from the west by north to the north-west by north,, 
 all like broken islands,* and our soundings were eleven and ten 
 fathoms. Then wee looft in for the shoare, and faire by the shoare 
 we had seven fathoms. The course along the land we found to be 
 northeast by north. From the land which we had first sight of, 
 untill we came to a great lake of water, as wee could judge it 
 to bee, being drowned laud, which made it to rise like islands,, 
 which was in length ten leagues. The mouth of that land hath', 
 man}' shoalds, and the sea breaketh on them as it is cast out of 
 the mouth of it. And from that lake or bay the land lyeth north 
 by east, and wee had a great streame out of the bay; and from 
 thence our sounding was ten fathoms two leagues from the land. 
 At five of the clocke we anchored, being little winde, and rode in 
 eight fathoms water; the night was faire. This night I found 
 the land to hall the compasse S degrees. Far to the northward oflT 
 us we saw high hills. For the day before we found not above 
 2 degrees of variation. This is a very good land to fall with, and 
 a pleasant land to see. , 
 
 The third, the morning mystie, untill ten of the clocke; then it 
 cleered, and the wind came to the south south-east, so wee- 
 
 * Sandy Hook. 
 
No. 74.] 153 
 
 weighed and stood to the northward. The land* is very pleasant 
 and high, and bold to fall withall. At three of the clock in the 
 after-noone, wee came to three great rivers. So we stood along 
 to the northermost, thinking to have gone into it, but we fonnd 
 it to have a very shoald barre before it, for we had but ten foot 
 water. Then Ave cast about to the southward, and found two 
 fathoms, three fathoms, and three and a quarter, till we came la 
 the souther side of them ; then we had five and sixe fathoms, and 
 anchored. ►So wee sent in our boate to sound, and they found 
 no lesse water then foure, five, sixe, and seven fathoms, and 
 returned in an houre, and a halfe. So wee weighed and went in,, 
 and rode in five fathoms, oze ground, and saw many salmons, and 
 mullets, and raves, very great. The height is 40 degrees, 30' 
 minutes. 
 
 The fourth, in the morning, as soone as the day was light, wee 
 saw that it was good riding farther up. So we sent our boate to 
 sound, and found that it was a very good harbour, and foure and 
 five fathomes, two cables length from the shoare. Then we 
 weighed and went in with our ship. Then our boate went on laud 
 with our net to fish, and caught ten great mullets, of a foote and 
 a halfe long a peece, and a ray as great as foure men could hall 
 into the ship. So wee trimmed our boate and rode still all day. 
 At night the wind blew hard at the north-west, and our anchor 
 came home, and wee drove on shoare, but tooke no hurt, thanked 
 bee God, for the ground is soft sand and oze. This day the people 
 of the country came aboord of us, seeming very glad of our com- 
 ming, and brought greene tobacco, and gave us of it for knives and 
 beads. They goe in deere skins loose, well dressed. They have 
 yellow copper. They desire cloathes, and are very civill. They 
 
 * Staten Island. 
 
154 [Assembly 
 
 have great store of maize, or Indian wheate, whereof they make 
 good bread. The countrev is full of great and tall oake. 
 
 The fifth, in the morning, as soone as the day was light, the 
 wind ceased and the flood came. So we heaved off onr ship againe 
 into five fathoms water, and sent onr boate to sound the bay, and 
 we found that there was three fathoms hard by the souther 
 shoare. Our men went on land there, and saw great store of men, 
 women, and children, who gave them tabacco at their coming on 
 land. So they went up into the woods, and saw great store of very 
 goodly oakes and some currants. For one of them came aboord 
 and brought some dryed, and gave me some, which were sweet 
 and good. This day many of the people came aboord, some in 
 mantles of feathers, and some in skinnes of divers sorts of good 
 furres. Some women also came to us with hempe. They had red 
 copper tobacco pipes, and other things ef copper they did weare 
 about their neckes. At night they went on land againe, so wee 
 rode very quiet, but durst no trust them. 
 
 The sixth, in the morning, was faire weather, and our master 
 sent John Colman, with foure other men in our boate, over to 
 the north-side to sound the other river, being foure leagues from 
 ns. They found by the way shoald water, two fathoms; but at 
 the north of the river eighteen and twentie fathoms, and very good 
 riding for ships ; and a narrow river to the westward betweene two 
 ilands. The lands, they told us, were as pleasant with grasse and 
 flowers and goodly trees as ever they had seene, and very sweet 
 smells came from them. So they went in two leagues and saw an 
 open sea, and returned; and as they came backe, they were set 
 upon by two canoes, the one having twelve, the other fourteene 
 men. The night came on, and it began to rayne, so that their 
 match went out. and thev had one man slaine in the fight, which 
 
:N.i. 74.] 155 
 
 was an Englishman, named John Colman, with an arrow shot 
 into his throat, and two more hurt. It grew so darke that thej 
 could not find the ship that night, but labored to and fro on 
 their oares. They had so great a streame, that their grapnell 
 would not hold them. 
 
 The seventh^ was faire, and by ten of the clocke they returned 
 aboord the ship, and brought our dead man with them, whom we 
 carried on land and buryed. and named the point after his 
 name, Colmans Point. Then we hoysted in our boate. and raised 
 lier side with waste boords for defense of our men. So we rode 
 still all night, having good regard to our watch. 
 
 The eight, was very faire weather, wee rode still very quietly. 
 The people came aboord us. and brought tabacco and Indian wheat 
 to exchange for knives and beades, and offered us no violence. So 
 we fitting up our boate did marke them, to see if they would make 
 any shew of the death of our man ; which they did not. 
 
 The ninth, faire weather. In the morning, two great canoes 
 came aboord full of men ; the one with their bowes and arrowes, 
 and the other in shew of buying of knives to betray us ; but we 
 perceived their intent. Wee tooke two of them to have kept 
 them, and put red coates on them, and would not suffer the other 
 to come neere us. So they went on land, and two other came 
 aboord in a canoe; we tooke the one and let the other goe; but 
 hee which wee had takcTi, got up and leapt over-boord. Then we 
 weighed and went oft' into the channell of the river, and anchored 
 there all night. 
 
 The tenth, faire weather, we rode still till twelve of the clocke. 
 Then we weighed and went over, and found it shoald all the mid- 
 dle of the river, for wee could find but two fathoms and a halfe 
 iind three fathomes for the space of a league ; then wee came to 
 
156 [Assembly 
 
 three fathomes and foiire fathomes, and so to seven fathomes^ 
 and anchored, and rode all night in soft ozie ground. The bank 
 is sand. 
 
 The eleventh was faire and very hot weather. At one of the 
 clocke in the after-noone wee weighed and went into the river, 
 the wind at south-west, little winde. Our soundings were seven,, 
 sixe, five, sixe, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, thirteene, and four- 
 teeue fathomes. Then it shoalded againe, and came to five fath- 
 omes. Then wee anchored, and saw that it was a very good 
 harbour for all windes, and rode all night. The people of the 
 country came aboord of us, making shew of love, and gave us 
 tabacco and Indian wheat, and departed for that niglit; but we 
 durst not trust them. 
 
 The twelfth, very faire and hot. In the after-noone, at two of 
 the clocke, wee weighed, the winde being variable betweene the 
 north and uorth-Avest. So we turned into the river two leagues 
 and anchored.* This morning, at our first rode in the river,, 
 there came eight and tAventie canoes full of men, women and 
 children to betray us; but we saw their intent, and suffered none 
 of them to come aboord of us. At twelve of the clocke they de- 
 parted. They brought with them oysters and beanes, whereof wee 
 bought some. They have great tabacco pipes of yellow copper, 
 and pots of earth to dresse their meate in. It floweth southeast 
 by south within. 
 
 The thirteenth, faire weather, the wind northerly. At seven of 
 the clocke in the morning, as the floud came wee weighed, and 
 turned foure miles into the river. The tide being done wee 
 anchored. Then there came foure canoes aboord; but wee suffered 
 none of them to come into our shi]>. They brought great store 
 
 * About opposite the Battery. 
 
:N'o. 74.] 157 
 
 of very good oysters aboord, which we bought for trifles. In the 
 night I set the variation of the compasse, and found it to be 
 13 degrees. In the after-noone we weighed, and turned in with the 
 floud, two leagues and a halfe further, and anchored all night; 
 and had five fathoms soft ozie ground ; and had an high point of 
 laud, which shewed out to us, bearing north by east five leagues 
 off us. 
 
 The fourteenth, in the morning, being very faire weather, the 
 wind south-east, we sayled up the river twelve leagues, and had 
 five fathoms, and five fathoms and a quarter lesse; and came 
 to a streight betweene two points,* and had eight, nine, and ten 
 fathoms ; and it trended north-east by north, one league ; and wee 
 had twelve, thirteene, and fourteene fathomes. The river is a 
 mile broad ; there is very high land on both sides. Then we went 
 up north-west, a league and a halfe deepe water. Then north- 
 east by north, five miles; then north-west by north, two leagues 
 and anchored. The land grew very high and mountainous. The 
 river is full of fish. 
 
 The fifteenth, in. the mornnig, was misty, untill the sunne arose; 
 then it cleered. So wee weighed with the wind at south, and ran 
 up into the river twentie leagues, passing by high mountaines. 
 Wee had a very good depth, as sixe, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, 
 and thirteene fathomes, and great store of salmons in the river. 
 This morning our two savages got out of a port and swam away. 
 After wee were under sayle, they called to us in scorne. At 
 night we came to other mountaines, which lie from the rivers side. 
 There wee found very loving ])eople. and very old men : Where 
 wee were well used. Our boat went to fish, and caught great 
 «tore of verv good fish. 
 
 * Between Stony and Veri)lanck points, according to Moulton's computation (History of 
 Iifew York). 
 
158 [Assembly 
 
 The sixteenth, faire and very hot weather, lu the morning our 
 boat went againe to fishing, but conld catch but few, by reason 
 their canoes had beene there all night. This morning the people 
 came aboord. and brought ns eares of Indian corne, and pom- 
 pions, and tabacco ; which wee bought for trifles. We rode still 
 all day, and filled fresh water; at night wee weighed and went 
 t^'o leagues higher, and had shoald water so wee anchored till day. 
 
 The seventeenth, faire sun-shining weather, and very hot. In 
 the morning, as soone as the sun was up, we set sayle, and ran up 
 sixe leagues higher, and found shoalds in the middle of the chan- 
 nell. and small ilands, but seven fathoms water on both sides. 
 Toward night, we borrowed so neere the shore, that we grounded ; 
 so we layed' out our small anchor, and heaved off againe. Then 
 we borrowed on the banke in the channell, and came aground 
 againe; while the floud ran we heaved off againe, and anchored all 
 night.* 
 
 The eighteenth, in the morning, was faire weather, and we rode 
 still. In the after-noone our masters mate went on land with an 
 old savage, a governor of the countrey ; who carried him to his 
 house, and made him good cheere. 
 
 TJie nineteenth, was faire and hot weather; at the floud, being 
 neere eleven of the clocke, wee weighed, and ran higher up two 
 leagues above the shoalds, and had no lesse water than five 
 fafhoms; wee anchored, and rode in eight fathomes. The people 
 of the countrie came flocking aboord, and brought us grapes and 
 pompions, Avhich wee bought for trifles. And many brought us 
 bevers skinnes and otters skinnes, which we bought for beades, 
 knives, and hatchets. So we rode there all night.f 
 
 * Probably a few miles below the spot where Albany now stands. 
 tEither where Albany now stands, or its immediate neighborhood. 
 
No. 74.] 159 
 
 The tH-entietJi, in the morning, was faire weather. Our masters 
 mate with foure men more went up with our boat to sound the 
 river, and found two leagues above us but two fathomes water, 
 and the channell very narrow ; and above that place, seven or 
 eight fathomes. Toward night they returned; and we rode still 
 all night. ' 
 
 The one and tiventiefh was faire weather, and the wind all 
 southerly; we determined yet once more to go farther up into 
 the river, to trie what depth and breadth it did beare; but much 
 people resorted aboord, so wee went not this day. Our carpenter 
 went on land, and made a fore-yard. And our master and his 
 mate determined to trie some of the chief e men of the countrey, 
 whether they had any treacherie in them. So they tooke them 
 downe into the cabbin and gave them so much wine and aqua vitae, 
 that-they Avere all merrie : and one of them had hi« Avife with them, 
 which sate so modestly, as any of our countrey women would doe 
 in -a strange place. In the ende one of them was drunke, which 
 ha<l beene aboord of our ship all the time that we had beene there: 
 and that was strange to them ; for they could not tell how to take 
 it. The canoes and folke went all on shoare ; but some of them 
 came againe, and brought stropes of beades; some had sixe, 
 seven, eight, nine, ten; and gave him. So he slept all night 
 quietly. 
 
 The two and twentieth was faire weather; in the morning our 
 masters mate and foure more of the companie went up with our 
 boat to sound the river higher up. The people of the countrey 
 came not aboord till noone; but when they came, and saw the 
 savages well, they were glad. So at three of the clocke in the 
 after-noone they came aboord, and brought tabacco, and more 
 beades, and gave them to our master, and made an oration, and 
 shewed him all the countrey round about. Then they sent one of 
 
160 [Assembly 
 
 their companie on land, who presently returned, and brought a 
 great platter full of venison dressed by themselves; and they 
 caused him to eate with them ; then they made him reverence and 
 departed, all save the old man that lay aboord. This night, at ten 
 of the clocke, our boat returned in a showre of raine from sound- 
 ing of the river; and found it to bee at an end for shipping to goe 
 in. For they had beene up eight or nine leagues, and found but 
 seven foot water, and uneonstant soundings. 
 
 The three and ticentiefh, faire weather. At twelve of the clocke 
 wee weighed, and went downe two leagues to a shoald that had 
 two channels, one on the one side, and another on the other, and 
 had little wind, whereby the tyde layed us upon it. So there 
 wee sate on ground the space of an houre till the floud came. Then 
 wee had a little gale of wind at the west. So wee got our ship 
 into deepe water, and rode all night very well. 
 
 The foiire and tiuentieth was faire weather: the winde at the 
 north-west, wee weighed, and went downe the river, seven or 
 eight leagues; and at halfe ebb wee came on ground on a banke of 
 oze in the middle of the river, and sate there till the floud. Then 
 wee went on land, and gathered good store of chest-nuts. At ten 
 of the clocke we came off into deepe water, and anchored. 
 
 The fire and twenlieth was faire weather, and the wind at south 
 a stiflfe gale; we rode still, and went on land to walke on the 
 west side of the river, and found good ground for corne and other 
 garden herbs, with great store of goodly oakes, and walnut-trees, 
 and chest-nut trees, ewe trees, and trees of sweet wood in great 
 abundance, and great store of slate for houses, and other good 
 stones. 
 
 The si.rc and fircnticfJt was faire weathei". and the wind at south 
 a stitfe gale; wee rode still. In the moining our carpenter went on 
 
Ko. 74.] lUl 
 
 land, with our masters mate and foure more of our companie, to 
 cut wood. This morning, two canoes came up the river from the 
 place where we first found loving people, and in one of them was 
 the old man that had lyen aboord of us at the other place. He 
 brought another old man witli him, which brought more stropes of 
 .beades and gave them to our master, and shewed him all the 
 countrey there about as though it were at his command. So he 
 made the two old men dine with him, and the old mans wife: for 
 they brought two old women, and two young maidens of the age 
 of sixteene or seventeene yeares with them, who behaved them- 
 selves very modestly. Our master gave one of the old men a 
 knife, and they gave him and us tabacco. And at one of the 
 clocke they departed downe the river, making signes that wee 
 should come downe to them ; for wee were within two leagues of 
 the place where they dwelt. 
 
 The seven and twentieth, in the morning, was faire weather, 
 but much wind at the north ; we weighed and set our fore top- 
 sayle, and our ship would not flat, but ran on the ozie banke at 
 half ebbe. We layed out anchor to heave her oft', but could not. 
 ■So wee sate from halfe ebbe to halfe floud; then Avee set our fore- 
 sayle and mayne top-sail, and got downe ' ixe leagues. The old 
 man came aboord, and would have had * ,i anchor, and goe on land 
 to eate with him : but the wind being faire, we would not yeeld to 
 his request; so hee left us, being very sorrowfull for our departure. 
 At five of the clocke in the after-noone, the wind came to the south 
 south-west. So wee made a boord or two, and anchored in four- 
 teene fathomes water. Then our boat went on shoare to fish right 
 against the sliip. Our masters mate and boatswaiue, and three 
 more of the companie, went on land to fish, but could not finde a 
 
 .good place. They took foure or five and twentie mullets, breames 
 11 
 
I«j2 [Assembly 
 
 bases, and barbils; and returned in an houre. We rode still all 
 night. 
 
 The eight and ticentieth, being faire weather, as soone as the day 
 was light, wee weighed at halfe ebbe, and turned downe two 
 leagues belowe water; for the streame doth runne the last quarter 
 ebbe : then we anchored till high water. At three of the elocke 
 in the after-noone, we weighed, and turned downe three leagues, 
 untill it was darke: then wee anchored. 
 
 The nine and tiventieth was drie close weather; the wind at 
 south, and south and by west; we weighed early in the morn- 
 ing and turned downe three leagues by a lowe water, and anchored 
 at the lower end of the long reach; for it is sixe leagues long. 
 Then there came certaine Indians in a canoe to us, but would not 
 come aboord. After dinner there came the canoe with other 
 men, whereoff three came aboord us. They brought Indian wheat,, 
 which we bought for trifles. At three of the elocke in the after- 
 noone wee weighed, as soone as the ebbe came, and turned downe 
 to the edge of the mountaines, or the northermost of the moun- 
 taines, and anchored: because the high land hath many points, 
 and a narrow channel 1, and hath manie eddie winds. So we 
 rode quietly all night in seven fathoms water. 
 
 The thirtieth was faiie weather, and the Avind at south-east a 
 stiffe gale betweene the mountaynes. We rode still the afternoone. 
 The ])eoi»le of the countrey came aboord us and brought some 
 small skinues with tlieni, Avhich we bought for knives and trifles. 
 This is a very pleasant place to build a towne on. The road is 
 very neere, and very good for all windes. save an east north-east 
 winde. The mountaynes look as if some metall or minerall were 
 in them. For the trees that grow on them were all blasted, and 
 some of them barren, with few or no trees on them. The people- 
 
No. 74.] 103 
 
 brought a stone abooid like to an emery, (a stone used by glas- 
 iers to cut glasse), it would cnt iron or Steele: yet being bruised 
 small, and water put to it, it made a color like blacke lead glister- 
 ing: it is also good for painters colours. At three of the clocke. 
 they departed, and we rode still all night. 
 
 The first of October, faire weather, the wind variable betweene 
 the west and the north. In the morning we weighed at seven of 
 the clocke with the ebbe, and got down beloAv the mountaynes, 
 which was seven leagues. Then it fell calnie and the floud was 
 come, and wee anchored at twelve of the clocke. The people of 
 the mountaynes came aboord us, wondering at our ship and 
 weapons. We bought some small skinnes of them for trifles. 
 This after-noone, one canoe kept hanging under our sterne with 
 one man in it, which we could not keepe from thence, who got 
 up by our rudder to the cabin window, and stole out my pillow, 
 and two shirts, and two bandeleeres. " Our masters mate shot at 
 him. and strooke him on the brest. and killed him. Whereupon 
 all the rest fled away, some in their canoes, and so leapt out of 
 them into the water. We manned our boat, and got our things 
 againe. Then one of them that swamme got hold of our boat, 
 thinking to^verthrow it. But our cooke tooke a sword, and cut off 
 one of his hands, and he was drowned. By this time the ebbe was 
 come, and we weighed and got downe two leagues ; by that time 
 it was darke. So we anchored in foure fathomes water, and rode 
 well. 
 
 The second, faire weather. At break of day wee Aveighed, the 
 winde being at north-west, and got downe seven leagues ; then the 
 floud was come strong, so wee anchored. Then came one of the 
 savages that swamme away from us at our going up the river 
 with many other, thinking to betray us, but wee perceived their 
 
164 [Assembly 
 
 intent, and suffered none of them to enter our ship. Whereupon 
 two canoes full of men, with their bowes and arrowes shot at us 
 after our sterne : In recompence whereof we discharged sixe 
 muskets, and killed two or three of them. Then above 
 an hundred of them came to a point of land to shoot 
 at us. There I shot a falcon at them and killed two of 
 them; whereupon the rest fled into the woods. Yet they manned 
 oft' another canoe with nine or ten men, which came to meet us. 
 So I shot at it also a falcon, and shot it through, and killed one of 
 them. Then our men with their muskets killed three or foure more 
 of them.* So they went their way ;' within a wile after we got 
 downe two leagues beyond that place, and anchored in a bay, cleere 
 from all danger of them on the other side of the river, where we 
 saw a very good piece of ground : and hard by it there was a cliffe, 
 that looked of the colour of a white greene,t as though it were 
 either copper or silver myne and I thiuke it to be one of 
 them, by the trees that grow upon it. For they be all burned 
 and the other' places are greene as grasse; it is on that side of the 
 river that is called Manna-hatta.| There we saw no people to 
 trouble us: and rode quietly all night; but had much wind and 
 raine. 
 
 The third, was very stormie; the wind at east north-east. In 
 the morning, in a gust of wind and raine, oui' anchor came home, 
 and we drove on ground, but it was ozie. Then as we were about 
 to have out an anchor, the wind came to the north north-west, 
 and drove us off againe. Then we shot an anchor, and let it fall 
 in foure fathomes water, and weighed the other. Wee had much 
 wind and raine, with thicke weather ; so we roade still all night. 
 
 * This scene is believed to have taken place from the mouth of Spuyten Duyvil Creek to 
 Fort Washington Point. ,^ , , , , , , . , . , . 
 
 t The cliff was probably Castle Point, Hoboken, and the bay was the indention north of 
 the point. . • e ij f 
 
 t Juet's location of Maniia-hata on the .Jersey side opens up an interesting held for specu- 
 lation. It suggest.'^ that either he made a mistake in applying the name, or that his Dutch 
 successors did, for the latter applied it to New York Island. 
 
No. 74.] 165 
 
 The fourth, was faiie weather, aud the wind at north north- 
 west; wee weighed and' came out of the river, into which wee had 
 ruBne so farre. AYitliin a while after, wee came out also of the 
 gi'eat mouth of the great river, that runneth up to the north-west, 
 borrowing upon the norther side of the same, thinking to have 
 deepe water : for we had sounded a great way with our boat at 
 our first going in. and found seven, six, and five fathomes. So we 
 came out that way, but we were deceived, for we had but eight foot 
 and an halfe water: and so three, five, three, and two fathomes 
 and an halfe. And then three, foure. five, sixe, seven, eight, nine 
 and ten fathomes. And by twelve of the clocke we were cleere 
 of all the inlet. Then we took in our boat, and set our mayne-sayle 
 and sprit-sayle, and our top-sayles, and steered away east south- 
 east, and south-east by east off into the mayne sea ; and the land 
 on the souther side of the bay or inlet did beare at noone west 
 and by south foure leagues from us. 
 
 The fifth was faire weather, and the wind variable betweene 
 the north and the east. Wee held on our course south-east by 
 easti At noone I observed and found our height to bee 39 degrees, 
 30 minutes. Our comriasse varied sixe degrees to the west. 
 
 We continued our course toward England, without seeing any 
 land by the wa^-, all the rest of this moneth of October, and on 
 the seventh day of November, stilo novo, being Saturday, by the 
 grace of Ood we safely arrived in the range of Dartmouth, in 
 Devonshire, in the yeere 1(501). 
 
 Henry llttdson's Contract. 
 The contract between Henry Hudison and the Dutch East India 
 Company, under which the famous navigator made his voyage of 
 1009, is an interesting document in more respects than one, 
 
106 [Assembly 
 
 and tlie American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society has 
 been at some pains to present an authentic copy of it. 
 
 The whereabouts of the original document, if still in existence, 
 is not knoAvn. According to the authorities of the Royal Archives 
 at The Hague, it was lost more than a hundred years ago. But 
 fortunately, while it was available, it was copied by Mr. Peter 
 Van Dam, Advocate of the Dutch East India Company froui 
 1652 to 1706, and appended to his manuscript history of the 
 Company which is in the Royal Archives. This history, which 
 was written between 1693 and 1701, has never been printed, 
 and his copy of the Hudson contract has never been reproduced 
 in fac simile before, we believe. We also give a rendering of the 
 documeut in types, as nearly as the Dutch script can be ^o repre- 
 sented, parallel with a translation. 
 
 A few words of explanation may give a clearer understanding 
 of some of the expressions used in the document : 
 
 '• The Chamber of Amisterdam " refers to one of the six branches 
 into which the Dutch East India Company was divided. These 
 six branches were located in different parts of the country, each 
 of them managed by its own board of directors. They were called 
 the Chambers of Amsterdam, Zeeland, Delft, Rotterdam, Hoorn 
 and Enkhuizen. From these chambers was chosen a general 
 Council of Seventeen. Although Hudson's contract was with the 
 Amsterdam Chamber only, it is to be presumed that it was rati- 
 fied by the general council. 
 
 '* The ten ^ears account " refers to a provision of the charter 
 of the East India Company which i-equired it to keep an account 
 of each decade's operations. At the end of each ten years, any 
 stockholder could witlidraw his capital if he chose to do so. 
 
 The manuscript says '• omtrent dertigh lasten," about thirty 
 lasts. The company, however, placed at Hudson's service its 
 
No. 74.] 1G7 
 
 " little ship or yacht " the *' Halve Maeu," or Half Moon, which 
 its records show had a capacity of 40 lasts, or 80 tons. No model 
 of this vessel exists, either in The Hague or Amsterdam, and the 
 Director of the Royal Museum at Amsterdam says he does not 
 know where one can be found. The oldest ship model actually 
 preserved in tlie Royal Museum dates from 1647. A diligent 
 search in the Holland art galleries has also failed thus far to 
 reveal an authentic contemporary painting of this historic vessel. 
 "We can form a reasonably accurate idea of the appearance of the 
 Half Moon, however, from the references to its rigging in Juet's 
 Journal and Van Meteren's *' Historie der Nederlanden," aud from 
 knowledge of the Dutch type of that period. It was a short 
 thick-set vessel, about one-third as wide as it was long, with a 
 high stern cabin, and moderately high forward works. It had 
 a bowsprit, a foremast with a foretopmast, a mainmast with a 
 maintopmast, and in the stern a mizzenmast. As to its sails — 
 any picture representing the ship with a triangular jib or stay-sail 
 in an anachronism. The jib had not yet been invented. In its 
 place, the Half Moon had a " spritsail," a form of sail now 
 obsolete. It was a square sail hanging from a yard slung across 
 the bowsprit, its lower corners confined by ropes running back 
 TO the hull. Its foresail (alluded to by Hudson as the " fc^i-e- 
 course,") foretopsail, mainsail (maincourse) and maintopsail, 
 were also square sails, hanging from their respective yards, with- 
 out looms, their lower corners being confined by roi>es. The 
 nii/Lenmast was rigged with a latteen sail which Hudson called 
 his " missen-course." A latteen sail is a triangular sail hung 
 from a yard which slants across the mast at an angle of about 
 45 degrees. The ship also had an equipment of " bo^nnets," which 
 "wei-e supplementary sails designed to be laced to the principal 
 
168 [Assembly 
 
 sails in order to enlarge their area. The Hon. Henry C. Murphy., 
 formerly United States Minister to the Netherlands, apparently 
 labored under some misapprehension when, in his valuable bro- 
 chure entitled " Henry Hudson in Holland,-' (printed in 1859), he 
 said that " the masts were rigged with gaffs half way down like 
 a sloop." A careful study of contemporary prints and maps indi- 
 cates that fore-and-aft sails with gaffs had not then been devised, 
 although they liegin to appear in il lustrations of the latter half 
 of the century.* 
 
 *• Longitudine " in the I>utch text we have rendered " longi 
 tude " in the English text; but '' folloAV the longitude" in this 
 case does not mean " follow the meridian." The word " longi- 
 tude," which signifies literally " length,'' came into uise among 
 early geographers to express distance east and west, because 
 ihej believed the earth was longest in that direction. For in- 
 stance, Marco Polo speaks of being '^ the first traveller to trace 
 a route across the whole longitude of Asia." In the present case^ 
 the expression " follow the longitude " obviously means to continue 
 along the lengthwise direction (or eastward) from Nova Zembla. 
 
 It is interesting to note th'at in this document, written by 
 Dutch lawyers, in the Dutch language, in the Dutch citv' of 
 Amsterdam, Henry Hudson's name appears twice, and that in 
 both the body of the instrument and the signature the Christian 
 name is written " Henry," not " Hendrik." As before stated, the 
 document here reproduced in facsimile is a copy of the original,^ 
 
 * There is a model of Hudson's ship, the Half Moon, in the United States National Museuim 
 at Washington, but "there is little probability t)iat it closely approximntes the ship it is intended 
 to represent," says Mr. Richard Rathbun, Assistant Secretary in charge of the Museum. "It 
 represents a shi|) of the seventeenth century, carrj-inn three square sails on the foremast and 
 one on the bowsprit, aHcl a latteen sail on the mainmast. It has only two masts. The ends 
 of the ves.sel are substantially alike; they are excessively full — almost square; the bottom 
 is nearly flat and extends the entire length, there lieing no nm and practically no upward 
 slope to the bow. There is a deep waist on the main deck, a toijgallant forecastle; a high 
 quarter deck; the quarter deck V)ulwark extends abaft the deck, forming a sort of pink, through, 
 which the rudder head passes. The bowsprit is formed of two pieces of timber joined at their 
 outer ends and separates! where they meet the stern, thus acting as a vertical support to eacb 
 other." 
 
( 
 
 f^o>^x4r><x:KCt t^^tt Jie^ t/Li^ ,/• : ^d/cyn 
 
 j (r/yr>, '':/';. ,, V /-,.-.. 
 
 .U- K< , ^'; , /i\ .-,,// , / ,ir.i 
 
 '-««</ 1 i ' C • ' ( 0» <C '.;,/' 
 
 "'■» ' / , ■ J .^ ' • . ■ > , , , < ,,y,;, . ., 
 
 ' I - , /m /< ( /Ji c/-> «/'f /< ; < ^ 
 
 ■'(r ,-,, ''; ;af <'V>^> '.V .; ) .^//i/f >»/ -'U^ 
 
 / , -^ '. •/ '■' I 
 
 ' ' , ./ - , >'•>.' . ; '/m ■ T/^w /'(': • '. 
 
 • •'•P K . > • ..■ <^i 1 X ■■< , , , ■ /,/• 
 
 / i 'i-^ /. I .yf^Jcx * l.t .• ,,,t A: i ■ ■: 'A'. /<<.'<; -k,-(... 
 
 I '"01 A ; ' i fU '^rtx ..; .^/'.■«>'/^> '■<>>»' '> . : <■ ^ 
 
 ' T * C . if.' '',',' ^ <■;'/ V'/'X ("/<'. I f<\i^ tnit"< ' r 
 
 ■ • < I '■( '■ J t y I U_ f ■■ ■ • c H {• n O y \ ^ U r f y f , 
 
 -1 ' t J <r 
 
 
 HENRY HUDSON'S CONTRACT WITH THR DUTCH EAST INDIA 
 
 COMPAN\' IN i6oy. 
 Facsimile of copy of original iiT^trument in Peter Van Dam's manuscript 
 
 History of the East India Company in the Royal Archives of Holland. 
 See Appendix B. 
 

 Ury </(!'> i >'CtO-K /'"■• » /•/<< r/<V ;>> iK- <;>*>< , i' i<0y^tir< 
 
 /.-'.»■» I M OC ry\xi>f >' ■ X' ■ ^/■>^ '' JL C ■» Q Kif'Htl'C , 1 On C >^ 
 
 < L ( ><■ # ( ^ * ) ■( K a f < ' < ♦ (. / *3r-f <•< 'X ' ' / ' ' ^ > '^ 
 
No. 74.] 
 
 169 
 
 and the English *' y '' in Hudson's signatnrie is represented by 
 its Dutch equivalent " ij/' as in the word " lanuarij " for 
 " January."' 
 
 In the translation we have followed the common practice of 
 representing the Dutch "1"' by "J," as in " Jodocus/' etc. 
 
 The assistance of " Jodocus Hondius as interpreter " is further 
 proof of how good an Englishman and how poor a Dutchman 
 Hudson was, and emphasizes the propriety of Governor Higgins' 
 official decision in lOOO. apropos of the Hudson Tercentenary^ 
 that Hudson should be called " Henry." 
 
 Dirck van Os and Johan Poppe, the other two signers of the 
 contract, were directors of the Amsterdam Chamber of the East 
 India Company. 
 
 It is perhaps needless to add that the spelling in the old Dutch 
 text differs in many respects from modern Dutch spelling. 
 
 Contract met Henri j Hudson. 
 
 Op heden Den 8 lanuarij int' 
 laar onses Heereu Een Duij- 
 sent Ses Hondert en negen Sijn 
 met malkanderen geaccordeert 
 en overkomen De Itewintheb- 
 beren vande Oost-Indische 
 Compe : vande Camer van Am- 
 sterdam vande tienjarige 
 Reeck^: ter eenre, En ^Ir Hen- 
 rij Hudson, Engelsman, geas- 
 sisteert met lodocus Hondius 
 ter andere sijde, In maniere 
 navolgende. Te weten : Dat de 
 voor^z. : Bewinthebberen metten 
 eersten sullen equipperen een 
 scheepken of laght. van omtrent 
 dertigh lasten waar mede de 
 voorn: Hudson omtrent den 
 
 Contract iciiJi Henry Hudson. 
 
 On this day, the Sth of Jan- 
 uary, in the year of our Lord, 
 one thousand six hundred and 
 nine, the Directors of the ten- 
 years' account of the Chamber 
 of Amsterdam of the East India 
 Company on the one part, and 
 Mv. Henry Hudson, English- 
 man, assisted by -Jodocus Hon- 
 dius, on the other part, have 
 agreed and covenanted with 
 each other in the manner fol- 
 lowing, to wit: That the afore- 
 said directors at the first oppor- 
 tunity shall equip a small shij)= 
 or yacht of about thirty lasts,, 
 well-provided with men. provi- 
 sions and other daily necessa- 
 
170 
 
 [Assembly 
 
 eersten van April, van volck, 
 vivreis, en andere nootlijckliedeu 
 wel voorsien isal seijlen oni pais- 
 sagie te soeeken door t' noordeu, 
 benoorden Nova. Sembla om, en 
 S'oo lange de Longitndine vervol- 
 gen, dat hij sal konnen seijlen 
 Zuijdwaart tot op de hooglite 
 van Sestigh graden, en soo veel 
 kennisse van Landen sien te 
 bekomen als souder merckelijck 
 tijt verlies sal konnen geschie- 
 den en ist' doenlijck stracks 
 weder om keeren^ oni aan de 
 Bewinthebberen te doen ge- 
 trouwelijek rapport en relaes 
 van sijn reijse, en Overgeveu 
 sijn lournalen, Coursen, kaer- 
 ten, en alles wat hem op de 
 reijse wedervaeren is, sonder 
 iets aghter te Iiouden, op wel eke 
 aanstaende reijse de Bewintheb- 
 beren aan den voorsz : Hudson 
 sullen betalen soo tot sijn uijt- 
 riis tinge op de voorsz: reijse. 
 als tot onderhout van sijn vrouw 
 en kinderen, de somme van 
 Aght Ilondert Gulden, en jnge- 
 valle (daar Godt voor sij) hij 
 in een jaar niet wederomme hier 
 te lande, of hier omtrent en 
 quame te arriveren, sullen de 
 Bewinthebberen nogh aan sijn 
 Huijsvrouwe betalen twee Hon- 
 dert g^ : Courant, en als dan 
 aan hem eri sijne erv'en niet 
 vorder gehouden sijn, Ten waere 
 hij daer na nogh nioghte komen 
 te arriveren^ ofte dat hij biu- 
 
 ries, wherewith the aforenamed 
 Hudson shall sail about the 
 first of Ajtril to seek a north- 
 erly passage around the north 
 side of Nova Zembla, and so 
 long follow the longitude [or, 
 that direction] that he shall Ije 
 able to sail southward to the 
 latitude of sixty degrees, and 
 try to become as well ac- 
 quainted with the lands [seen] 
 as shall be possible witJiout con- 
 siderable loss of time; and, be it 
 feasible, immediately to return 
 in order to give to the Direc- 
 tors a faithful report and rela- 
 tion of his voyage, and hand 
 over his journals, courses', 
 charts, and [account of] every- 
 thing that has befallen him on 
 the voyage, without holding 
 anything back. For which in- 
 tended voyage the Directors 
 shall i)ay to the afore- 
 said Hudson, as well to- 
 ward his outfit for the 
 aforesaid voyage as to the 
 support of his wife and 
 children, the sum of 800 guild- 
 ers. And in case (which God 
 forbid) he should not return to 
 this country here or hereabouts 
 within a year, the Directors 
 shall pay besides to his wife 200 
 guilders current money, and 
 thereupon shall not be bounden 
 further to him and his heirs; 
 unlesvS thereafter he should 
 still arrive, or that he 
 
No. 74.] 
 
 171 
 
 nens' jaars gekomen waar, ende 
 de passagie goet ende bequaern 
 datse Compe : wederomme soude 
 gebruijcken, gevonden liadde, 
 In welcken gevalle de Bewint- 
 liebberen aan den voorn : 
 Hudson voor siijne peineiilen, 
 nioeijten, en konste sullen re- 
 compenseren tot liaere diseretie, 
 waer mede d^in voorn : Hudson 
 te \Teden is, Ende jngevalle de 
 Bewintbebberen goetvonden als- 
 dan deselve reijse te vervolgen 
 en continueren, is met den 
 voorn : Hudson geaccordeert en 
 verdragen dait bij bier te Lande 
 sijn woomstee met vrouw en 
 kinderen sal nemen, en bem van 
 niemant anders a Is vande 
 Comp^: laten gebruijcken, en 
 dat tot redelijckbeijt en discre- 
 tie vande Bewintbebberen die 
 bem oock van den selven vor- 
 dereu dienst alsdan in alle 
 billijekbeijt en redelijckbeijt 
 beloven te vergenoegen en Con- 
 tenteren. Alles sonder argb of 
 list. In kennisse der waerbeijt 
 «ijn bier van gemaeckt twee 
 Contracten van eenen teneur. 
 en bij beijde partijen onder- 
 teijckent, als mede bij lodocus 
 Hondius, als tolck en getuijge. 
 Datum als boven, was geteeck- 
 €iit, Dirck van Os, I : Poppe, 
 Henrij Hudson, lager stont, Bij 
 mij lodocus Hondius als 
 getuijge. 
 
 were come witbin tbe year 
 and bad found tbe pas- 
 sage good and convenient 
 for tbe Oompany to use again; 
 in wbicb case, tbe Directors 
 sball recompense tbe afore- 
 named Hudson for his perils, 
 labors and science in their dis- 
 cretion; wherewith the afore- 
 named Hudson is content. 
 And in case the Directors there- 
 upon deem it good to repeat 
 and continue the same voyage, 
 it is covenanted and agreed 
 with the aforenamed Hudson 
 that he shall take up his 
 residence here in this coun- 
 try with his wife and chil- 
 dren, and accept employment 
 with no one other than 
 the Company, and that in 
 the judgment and discretion 
 of the Directors, who also 
 promise in such case to 
 satisfy and content him in all 
 equity and fairness for the 
 same further service. All 
 without deceit or fraud. In 
 witness of the truth are 
 hereof made two contracts of 
 one tenor, and by both parties 
 undersigned, as well as by 
 ^lodocus Hondius as interpreter 
 and witness. Dated as above. 
 Was signed, Dirck van Os, 
 J : Poppe, Henry Hudson. 
 Lower stood. By me, Jodocus 
 Hondius, as witness.* 
 
 *We are indebted to Prof. A. J. F. van Laer. the accomplished Dutch scholar and Librarian 
 of Manuscripts in the New York State Library at Albany, for his courtesy in verifying our trans- 
 lation.