Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, Vol. I — Passage 55
[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] Mason, instructed his Ambassador to apply to the Lords States General to prevent the departure of certain ships that were preparing to go to the said country, and to forbid the intrusion of their subjects into that plantation; for, then they answered, that they knew nothing of that enterprize, which was likewise very probable, because the said Ambassador after informing himself more particularly of the matter, certified his Majesty by those letters, that it was only two companies of Amsterdam merchants, who, whithout the knowledge or advice of the said Lords States, had begun to trade between the 40"' and 50"" degrees, within the limit of his Majesty's plantation in the said country of Virginia, and had given to those places the name HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : I.