TRADERS AND SETTLERS 19

guarded by forts. Late in 1614 or early in 1615,
therefore, Fort Nassau was planted on a small
island a little below the site of Albany. Here the
natives brought their peltries and the traders
unpacked their stores of glittering trinkets, knives,
and various implements of which the Indians had
not yet learned the use. In 1617 Fort Nassau was
so badly damaged by a freshet that it was allowed
to fall into ruin, and later a new stronghold and
trading-post known as Fort Orange was set up
where the city of Albany now stands.

Meanwhile in 1614 the States-General of the
United Netherlands had granted a charter to a
company of merchants of the city of Amsterdam,
authorizing their vessels "exclusively to visit and
navigate" the newly discovered region lying in
America between New France and Virginia, now
first called New Netherland. This monopoly was
limited to four voyages, commencing on the first of
January, 1615, or sooner. If any one else traded
in this territory, his ship and cargo were liable to
confiscation and the owners were subject to a
heavy fine to be paid to the New Netherland
Company. The Company was chartered for only
three years, and at the expiration of the time a
renewal of the charter was refused, although the