Ah, yes, through the discovery of a countryman of yours, Henry Hudson, who sailed under our flag, we own the country from the Great South River to the Great North River, where, I am told, the climate is healthful and pleasant, and the land rich and bountiful. CARVER And what do you propose to us? KIEFT My company is prepared to furnish you land upon which to found a colony, and capital to carry you and your people there and support you until you have made yourselves self-supporting. ROBINSON And for this you would expect of us--what? KIEFT Some small share of your profits. CARVER Yes, and what else? KIEFT Nothing, except that you should live under the Dutch flag and make our claim to the land secure. CARVER Your offer is generous, Master Kieft. ROBINSON And you make no other conditions than those you mention? KIEFT None, I assure you. ROBINSON Can you offer them in writing so that our people may consider them? KIEFT Indeed, yes, if you are interested, my company will make you a written offer within a fortnight. ROBINSON We are interested, Master Kieft, very much so. KIEFT Good. You shall receive our conditions as soon as I can arrange it. Good day! ROBINSON Good day, sir, and thank you. CARVER Jehovah has heard our prayer. The way is open. Mayhap-- ROBINSON Is it not a generous offer? CARVER Generous? Aye, but still-- ROBINSON Well? CARVER I like it not. ROBINSON Indeed, and why not? CARVER Why should the Dutch West India Company make us such a generous offer? ROBINSON Why indeed, but that we may establish for them a colony in the New World? CARVER Aye, a colony that will give them a stronger hold upon disputed land. ROBINSON Do you think the land is disputed? CARVER I know but little of the New World. I know not even where the Great North River or the Great South River may be, but only this I know: King James and his Virginia Company would take it much amiss, that having a patent to lands in Virginia, we turned to the Dutch and settled under their flag. ROBINSON And what has King James ever done for us but persecute us, drive us from our homes, and make of us pilgrims upon the face of the earth? CARVER Aye, but I am an Englishman. I had looked with joy upon our emigration to America, because I had hoped we could once again live under British rule. ROBINSON Many of our company have felt the same; but if we cannot go except under the Dutch flag, still we must go. CARVER Aye. ROBINSON The hand of Jehovah leads us; we must follow. ANNOUNCER So the offer of the Dutch West India Company was received and in due course of time the provisions were put into writing. The Pilgrim company discussed the offer from every angle. All of them would have preferred to settle under the British flag, if it could have been arranged, but because more than six months had passed and they had not found anyone who could finance them, they felt that the Dutch offer should be accepted.