The ship on which they sailed was called the Fama.  It went from Stockholm to Goetheborg, and there took in its freight.  Along with this went two other ships of the line, the Swan and the Charitas, laden with people, and other necessaries.  Under Governor Printz, ships came to the colony in three distinct voyages.  The first ship was the Black Cat, with ammunition, and merchandise for the Indians.  Next, the ship Swan, on a second voyage, with emigrants, in the year 1647.  Afterward, two other ships, called the Key and the Lamp.  During these times the clergymen, Mr. Lawrence Charles Lockenius and Mr. Israel Holgh, were sent out to the colony....

The voyage to New Sweden was at that time quite long.  The watery way to the West was not yet well discovered, and, therefore, for fear of the sand-banks off Newfoundland, they kept their course to the east and south as far as to what were then called the Brazates.  The ships which went under the command of Governor Printz sailed along the coast of Portugal, and down the coast of Africa, until they found the eastern passage, then directly over to America, leaving the Canaries high up to the north.  They landed at Antigua, then continued their voyage northward, past Virginia and Maryland, to Cape Hinlopen.  Yet, in view of the astonishingly long route which they took, the voyage was quick enough in six months’ time,—­from Stockholm on August 16, 1642, to the new fort of Christina, in New Sweden, on February 15, 1643.

The Swedes who emigrated to America belonged partly to a trading company, provided with a charter, who for their services, according to their condition of agreement, were to receive pay and monthly wages; a part of them also went on their own impulse to try their fortune.  For these it was free to settle and live in the country as long as they pleased or to leave it, and they were therefore, by way of distinction from the others, called freemen.  At first, also, malefactors and vicious people were sent over, who were used as slaves to labor upon the fortifications.  They were kept in chains and not allowed to have intercourse with the other settlers; moreover, a separate place of abode was assigned to them.  The neighboring people and country were dissatisfied that such wretches should come into the colony.  It was also, in fact, very objectionable in regard to the heathen, who might be greatly offended by it.  Whence it happened that, when such persons came over in Governor Printz’s time, it was not permitted that one of them should set foot upon the shore, but they had all to be carried back again, whereupon a great part of them died during the voyage or perished in some other way.  Afterward it was forbidden at home in Sweden, under a penalty, to take for the American voyage any persons of bad fame; nor was there ever any lack of good people for the colony.