TRADERS AND SETTLERS 21

was far from improbable at this time, when the
twelve years' truce with Spain was at an end, the
Company was to be assisted, if the situation of
the country would in any wise admit of it, "with
sixteen warships and four yachts, fully armed and
equipped, properly mounted, and provided in all
respects both with brass and other cannon and
a proper quantity of ammunition, together with
double suits of running and standing rigging, sails,
cables, anchors, and other things thereto belonging,
such as are proper to be used in all great expedi-
tions." These ships were to be manned, victualed,
and maintained at the expense of the Company,
which in its turn was to contribute and maintain
sixteen like ships of war and four yachts.

The object of forming this great company with
almost unlimited power was twofold, at once
political and commercial. Its creators planned
the summoning of additional military resources to
confront the hostile power of Spain and also the
more thorough colonization and development of
New Netherland. In these purposes they were
giving expression to the motto of the House of
Nassau: "I will maintain."

Two years elapsed between the promulgation of
the charter and the first active operations of the