Cape Council of Policy
150
1658-04-20
Minute details
- Entry number
- 150
- Date
- 1658-04-20
- Year
- 1658
English translation
The chiefs of the fluytschip De Meese communicated to us and revealed the further confession of the persons Gillis Huijglot of Rijsel, Jan Robbertsz of St. Niclaes, Phillips Pottje of Rijsel, and Adriaen Leveillje of St. Serrevijnberrij, soldiers all on Thursday. flute documents, in which they allegedly confessed, according to their own account, namely that on the 7th of March, during the night, they intended to kill some people and then take them over the ship.
Whereupon today the taxman, together with a commissioner from the fort council and the skipper of the flute ship Elburch, moored here, were sent to the aforementioned flute de Meese: to question the aforementioned confessors (sitting on the same day at Mees by its chiefs) on this matter, and to hear other documents, etc.
These commissioners, returning ashore, reported that No one in the world could have obtained even the slightest evidence or proof against them, never mind the amount of evidence one would rely on to initiate any further proceedings or torture.
Also, the aforementioned persons, except for Huijglot, explicitly deny their confessions and say they had made the aforementioned Confession out of fear of torture, just as Huijglot had once been shot in the thumb with a screw by the ship's board, even though he still remembered the pain and still had the mark on his left thumb: to confess that he had stolen something, etc.
And although the aforementioned Huijglot, as far as he is concerned, has openly confessed to the fact today before the said commissioner, without nevertheless wanting to say whether the others are also guilty or not, and that the other three continue to persist in their denial as aforesaid: as well as their excuse also alleging to be entirely innocent and innocent in the matter, such that due to a lack of further evidence as aforementioned, one finds no foundation for proceedings to torture, much less for condemnation. In addition to winding up that cloak, much work is attached to it, as well as to seeking further evidence among the ship's crew. The Meuse whistles, which would necessarily have to be removed before further proceedings could be initiated with the aforementioned individuals. This would mean that the whistle would have to be suspended for a while, to the great disservice of the E. Compe.
The Council of this fortress has therefore considered the matter closely, preferring the service of the E. Compe. (consisting of the timely debriefing of these two ships) for some private dubious matters & such, after consultation of the matters, it has been approved by the aforementioned accused persons, as closed as they arrived here by the Meuse and are still on board, to let them sail to Batavia, but for the utmost safety of that ship it is understood to be fair that on the other side Elburch will pass at least three times as strong as the people being there, because but the day after tomorrow, if God's weather and wind permit, both493 will stand together to depart, and according to that, arriving together or a little after the others at Batavia. The crew could also be present there, so that further information could be obtained there. Keeping them ashore here and the crew departing with the aforementioned flute could not be met with torture, which the Council cannot find clear evidence of. Therefore, it is understood that the aforementioned detainees, along with the documents, are to be allowed to cross Elburch by flute and to report everything to their Honor in Batavia.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] JAN VAN BEMMEL.
494
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Whereupon today the taxman, together with a commissioner from the fort council and the skipper of the flute ship Elburch, moored here, were sent to the aforementioned flute de Meese: to question the aforementioned confessors (sitting on the same day at Mees by its chiefs) on this matter, and to hear other documents, etc.
These commissioners, returning ashore, reported that No one in the world could have obtained even the slightest evidence or proof against them, never mind the amount of evidence one would rely on to initiate any further proceedings or torture.
Also, the aforementioned persons, except for Huijglot, explicitly deny their confessions and say they had made the aforementioned Confession out of fear of torture, just as Huijglot had once been shot in the thumb with a screw by the ship's board, even though he still remembered the pain and still had the mark on his left thumb: to confess that he had stolen something, etc.
And although the aforementioned Huijglot, as far as he is concerned, has openly confessed to the fact today before the said commissioner, without nevertheless wanting to say whether the others are also guilty or not, and that the other three continue to persist in their denial as aforesaid: as well as their excuse also alleging to be entirely innocent and innocent in the matter, such that due to a lack of further evidence as aforementioned, one finds no foundation for proceedings to torture, much less for condemnation. In addition to winding up that cloak, much work is attached to it, as well as to seeking further evidence among the ship's crew. The Meuse whistles, which would necessarily have to be removed before further proceedings could be initiated with the aforementioned individuals. This would mean that the whistle would have to be suspended for a while, to the great disservice of the E. Compe.
The Council of this fortress has therefore considered the matter closely, preferring the service of the E. Compe. (consisting of the timely debriefing of these two ships) for some private dubious matters & such, after consultation of the matters, it has been approved by the aforementioned accused persons, as closed as they arrived here by the Meuse and are still on board, to let them sail to Batavia, but for the utmost safety of that ship it is understood to be fair that on the other side Elburch will pass at least three times as strong as the people being there, because but the day after tomorrow, if God's weather and wind permit, both493 will stand together to depart, and according to that, arriving together or a little after the others at Batavia. The crew could also be present there, so that further information could be obtained there. Keeping them ashore here and the crew departing with the aforementioned flute could not be met with torture, which the Council cannot find clear evidence of. Therefore, it is understood that the aforementioned detainees, along with the documents, are to be allowed to cross Elburch by flute and to report everything to their Honor in Batavia.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] JAN VAN BEMMEL.
494
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Original Dutch transcription
Bij d’ opperhooffden van ‘t fluijtschip de Meese aen ons gecommuniceert ende verthoont sijnde seeckere confessie van de persoonen Gillis Huijglot van Rijsel, Jan Robbertsz van St. Niclaes, Phillips Pottje van Rijsel, ende Adriaen Leveillje van St. Serrevijnberrij, soldaten alle op do. fluijte bescheijden waerbij deselve volgens eijgen hantteijckeninge souden hebben beleden namentlijcq dat sijluijden op den 7en Maert passado des snachts eenige persoonen meenden om den hals te brengen, ende haer dan voorts meester van ‘t schip te maecken,
Waerop heden den fiscus met gecommitteerde uijt den Raedt van ‘t fort ende den schipper van ‘t hier ter rheede leggende fluijtschip Elburch aen verhaelde fluijt de Meese gesonden wesende: om verhaelde confessanten (op do. Mees door derselver opperhooffden g’apprehendeert sittende) hierop te verhooren, ende na ander bescheijden te vernemen &a.,
Welcke gecommitteerdens weder aen landt comende ende rapporteerende, dat van niemandt ter werelt eenige de minste attestatien off blijck t’ haren laste hadden cunnen becomen, altoos nergens na soo veel als waer op men gefondeert soude sijn tot eenige vordere proceduijren off torture te comen.
Item oock dat bovengenoemde persoonen excepto Huijglot voorgemelte hare confessien wel expresselijck ontkennen ende seggen voorsz Confessie hadden gedaen uijt vreese van pijningen, gelijcq hem Huijgiot door den scheeps-raedt eens met een schroef op den duijm was geschiet, als noch die pijne in versscher memorie hebbende ende ‘t teijcken daervan aen de linckerduijm noch gethoont: om te belijden dat ijetwes gestolen had &a.
Ende alhoewel voorsz Huijglot voor soo veel hem aengaet ‘t feijt heden voor gemelte gecommitteerde opentlijcq heefft bekendt, sonder nochtans te willen seggen offer d’ andre mede schuldigh aen sijn off niet, ende dat die andre drie by hare ontkenninge blijven persisteeren als vooren geseght: mitsgaders t’ haerder verschooninge oocq allegeren gansch onnosel ende onschuldigh in de saecke te wesen, sulcx men door manquement van nader bewijs als voorsz geen fondament vindt om tot torture te procederen, veel min tot condemnatie, Invougen aen dat cluwen aff te winden veel wercx vast sij, als oocq om nader blijcken te soecken onder ‘t scheeps-volck van do. fluijt de Meese daer men se nootsaeckelijck van daen soude moeten halen eer men tot verder proceduren met de bovengemelte persoonen souden cunnen comen, Ende ‘t welcke soude veroorsaken dat men daeromme do. fluijt tot grooten ondienst van d’ E. Compe. noch een wijle moeste ophouden,
Soo is bij den Raedt deser fortresse de sake op ‘t naeuwste ingesien prefererende den dienst van d’ E. Compe. (bestaende jegenwoordigh in het tijdigh affdespecheeren deser twee scheepen) voor eenige particuliere dubieuse questien &a., na overlegh van saecken goetgevonden voornoemde aengeclaegde persoonen, soo geslooten als se per de Meese hier gecomen, ende noch aen boort sijn, te laten na Batavia varen, doch om de meeste gerustheijt van dat schip verstaen billicq te wesen dat op d’ andre fluijt Elburch wel 3 mael soo stercq van volcq wesende sullen overgaen, dewijle doch overmorgen Godes weer ende wint toelatende, beijder493 te gader staen te vertrecken, ende volgens dien gesamentlijcq off weijnich na den andren op Batavia comende do. scheeps-volcq daer sal cunnen mede present wesen, om nader informatie aldaer genomen te cunnen worden, dat hier deselve aen landt houdende ende ‘t scheepsvolcq met verhaelde fluijte vertreckende, niet soude cunnen geschieden als met torture, waertoe te comen, den Raedt niet can vinden claer bewijs genoech te sijn, Soo is gelijcq voorsz verstaen de gemelte gedetineerdens met de bescheijden t’ haren laste per de fluijt Elburch te laten overvaren ende alles te renvojeren aen haer Ed. tot Batavia.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] JAN VAN BEMMEL.
494
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Waerop heden den fiscus met gecommitteerde uijt den Raedt van ‘t fort ende den schipper van ‘t hier ter rheede leggende fluijtschip Elburch aen verhaelde fluijt de Meese gesonden wesende: om verhaelde confessanten (op do. Mees door derselver opperhooffden g’apprehendeert sittende) hierop te verhooren, ende na ander bescheijden te vernemen &a.,
Welcke gecommitteerdens weder aen landt comende ende rapporteerende, dat van niemandt ter werelt eenige de minste attestatien off blijck t’ haren laste hadden cunnen becomen, altoos nergens na soo veel als waer op men gefondeert soude sijn tot eenige vordere proceduijren off torture te comen.
Item oock dat bovengenoemde persoonen excepto Huijglot voorgemelte hare confessien wel expresselijck ontkennen ende seggen voorsz Confessie hadden gedaen uijt vreese van pijningen, gelijcq hem Huijgiot door den scheeps-raedt eens met een schroef op den duijm was geschiet, als noch die pijne in versscher memorie hebbende ende ‘t teijcken daervan aen de linckerduijm noch gethoont: om te belijden dat ijetwes gestolen had &a.
Ende alhoewel voorsz Huijglot voor soo veel hem aengaet ‘t feijt heden voor gemelte gecommitteerde opentlijcq heefft bekendt, sonder nochtans te willen seggen offer d’ andre mede schuldigh aen sijn off niet, ende dat die andre drie by hare ontkenninge blijven persisteeren als vooren geseght: mitsgaders t’ haerder verschooninge oocq allegeren gansch onnosel ende onschuldigh in de saecke te wesen, sulcx men door manquement van nader bewijs als voorsz geen fondament vindt om tot torture te procederen, veel min tot condemnatie, Invougen aen dat cluwen aff te winden veel wercx vast sij, als oocq om nader blijcken te soecken onder ‘t scheeps-volck van do. fluijt de Meese daer men se nootsaeckelijck van daen soude moeten halen eer men tot verder proceduren met de bovengemelte persoonen souden cunnen comen, Ende ‘t welcke soude veroorsaken dat men daeromme do. fluijt tot grooten ondienst van d’ E. Compe. noch een wijle moeste ophouden,
Soo is bij den Raedt deser fortresse de sake op ‘t naeuwste ingesien prefererende den dienst van d’ E. Compe. (bestaende jegenwoordigh in het tijdigh affdespecheeren deser twee scheepen) voor eenige particuliere dubieuse questien &a., na overlegh van saecken goetgevonden voornoemde aengeclaegde persoonen, soo geslooten als se per de Meese hier gecomen, ende noch aen boort sijn, te laten na Batavia varen, doch om de meeste gerustheijt van dat schip verstaen billicq te wesen dat op d’ andre fluijt Elburch wel 3 mael soo stercq van volcq wesende sullen overgaen, dewijle doch overmorgen Godes weer ende wint toelatende, beijder493 te gader staen te vertrecken, ende volgens dien gesamentlijcq off weijnich na den andren op Batavia comende do. scheeps-volcq daer sal cunnen mede present wesen, om nader informatie aldaer genomen te cunnen worden, dat hier deselve aen landt houdende ende ‘t scheepsvolcq met verhaelde fluijte vertreckende, niet soude cunnen geschieden als met torture, waertoe te comen, den Raedt niet can vinden claer bewijs genoech te sijn, Soo is gelijcq voorsz verstaen de gemelte gedetineerdens met de bescheijden t’ haren laste per de fluijt Elburch te laten overvaren ende alles te renvojeren aen haer Ed. tot Batavia.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] JAN VAN BEMMEL.
494
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.