these lands, while the ships belonging to this country,
which are there during the whole of the present year, will
apparently and probably be surprised by the English."

The petitioners therefore prayed that the request of Mr. Robinson
might be favorably regarded; that the contemplated colony should be
taken under the protection of the Dutch government, and that two ships
of war should be sent out for the defence of the infant settlements.

The Dutch government was then upon the eve of a war with Spain, and
all its energies were demanded in preparation for the conflict. They
therefore quite peremptorily refused to entertain the petition of the
New Netherland Company. Thus the destination of the Puritans was
changed. Though they were not encouraged to commence their colonial
life at New Netherland, still it was their intention when they sailed
from England, to find a home somewhere in that vicinity, as England,
as well as Holland, claimed the whole coast. A note, in the History of
New Netherland, by E.B. O'Callaghan, contains the following
interesting statement upon this subject:

"Some historians represent that the Pilgrims were taken
against their will to New Plymouth, by the treachery of the
captain of the Mayflower, who, they assert, was bribed by
the Dutch to land them at a distance from the Hudson river.
This has been shown, over and over again, to have been a
calumny; and, if any farther evidence were requisite, it is
now furnished, of a most conclusive nature, by the petition
in behalf of the Rev. Mr. Robinson's congregation, of Feb.
1620, and the rejection of its prayer by their High
Mightinesses.