Cape Council of Policy
342
1665-08-26
Minute details
- Entry number
- 342
- Date
- 1665-08-26
- Year
- 1665
English translation
Inherited from Her Honor. The Lords Directors of the United Netherlands Patented East Indian Company. our principals, for various pressing reasons, have made it particularly important to them to this southernmost point of Africa, the Cabo Bonna Esperance, and in view of this, have not only understood to strengthen the garrison for the time being with a good number of men, but have also decided, because of the insufficiency of the old Fort to further secure this place, to deploy more powerful means of defense here, with the concept of such a remarkably strong and spacious fortress, that subsequently, upon the arrival of a powerful European enemy, there will be no more need to fear it, this being the same end for them, the said Ede. Intention that in place of the current four-point earthen fort, in accordance with the project and submitted illustration, a new five-point fortress would be built around the old fort, and which, under the new project, is intended to remain in existence until the new fortification is completed, in order to then be further dispositioned, considering that in those folds, as is true, in several respects it would be considerably more convenient than if it were moved to another location, but with the aforementioned Ede in mind. Regarding the situation, we did not have such knowledge as the work48 required, only a preliminary49 was made to ensure that the western mountains could not damage the fort, much less cover it with cannon. The aforementioned ordinance was done in that way, with the stipulation, however, that if the contrary were to be found, in such a case the new Fort would be positioned so much further east that it could remain outside the reach of cannon, recommending, in the same end, primarily in choosing the most suitable situation, where such important and expensive work would be taken into account, not to commit any mistakes, a matter to which particular attention is to be paid. And which is therefore with Commander Isbrant Good heavens, since the same arrival, it has also been taken into serious notice by the E. Commander Zacharias Wagenaer, without however being able to see or find a way to get her to Ede. given order, on either side promptly and to the letter, firstly, and in view of the fact that the new work around the old fort cannot be carried out properly, because of the western mountains, which are no further than 67 Rhine rods from the present fortress, and from which not only is the top of the square of the bulwarks reached, but also far below the level, damaged by cannon, but can even be shot at by muskets, besides that on that side, because of the heavy, hard cannons placed there, the moat cannot be made without great difficulty and prolonged labor, in addition to which not one of the citizens' stone houses would be able to remain standing, and Necessarily, in addition to the Comp., beautiful new water barriers, corn mill, potbakery, etc., as well as a good portion of the garden would have to be demolished.
And on the other side, eastward, the area was also not large enough that the new area, according to the intention of the E.E. Lords Majores, could be moved so far away from the mountains and heights that it would remain entirely outside the canon.
Such and that her Ede. order, in the beginning of the new fortress, since it was not possible nor advisable to delay any longer, the Council was assembled, assisted by the skipper and merchant of the ship Middelburch, Item two provisional vendors, and a sergeant of this garrison to consider with the others what would be most useful to us in this situation of affairs for the General East Indian Company. will be done, subsequently everything that might be relevant having been precisely plotted and considered, as no more suitable opportunity could be found elsewhere on this subject, it was unanimously approved and resolved to found the new fortification directly in the middle of the plains here, where the beacons had previously been provisionally set for this purpose, so that the gradually rising heights and mountains will all converge equally to the southeast and west, a place where not only a desired ditch of the required depth and width can be dug with little difficulty, but also so many and sufficient wells that in the event of a siege one need not be subject to a lack of water, except that in addition, the current watercourses coming from the Tafelberg will be used just as well as the old fort, being with a It is understood and determined that work on the western bulwark should begin first, and that a 20-foot wide berm should be left at the foot until further consultation, because this (when completed) can best help defend the old fort to the rear, and the front of the new hornwork, and can also be defended in turn. It has also been deemed entirely advisable, from now on, to undertake no other work, as it is essential and for the sake of good fortune. All the people, both craftsmen and others who are in any way lacking and can be employed, will be employed to burn lime and break heavy stone, so that the new building can make the necessary progress.
And especially the E. Commander Zacharias Wagenaer with the dispatch of the timely arrived express hoeckerboots to Batavia, Ceijlon, Choromandel, Bengal, and Zuratta as a relief of the people for reinforcement of this guarantee, and all further necessary precautions against the unexpected attack of a European enemy, including this fortress and otherwise, in accordance with the order of the Lords Majores, has already fulfilled its obligations for some time before the arrival of the Commander Isbrant Godsken, provided that his E. has now been restored to such a constitution of health that he himself finds himself completely sufficient, the required service of the E. Company It has been determined, after careful deliberation, that the Reverend Commander Godsken, who is no longer able to perform his duties here in the service of the Reverend Company, will be able to depart again with the ship Middelburgh, especially since the Reverend Wagenaer has declared that, should his replacement, Cornelis van Qualbergen, delay the arrival of the return fleet, which is scheduled to depart from Batavia this year 1665, he is nevertheless willing to await its arrival with full contentment.
Thus done and resolved at Fort de Goede Hope on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKEN.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1665.
[Signed:] PR. PIETERSEN.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS. According to his written advice in remembrance of the point.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM CLEMENT.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] JOHANNT (JOHANNES) COON.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ V. GREUNING.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER. Secrets. 1665.
And on the other side, eastward, the area was also not large enough that the new area, according to the intention of the E.E. Lords Majores, could be moved so far away from the mountains and heights that it would remain entirely outside the canon.
Such and that her Ede. order, in the beginning of the new fortress, since it was not possible nor advisable to delay any longer, the Council was assembled, assisted by the skipper and merchant of the ship Middelburch, Item two provisional vendors, and a sergeant of this garrison to consider with the others what would be most useful to us in this situation of affairs for the General East Indian Company. will be done, subsequently everything that might be relevant having been precisely plotted and considered, as no more suitable opportunity could be found elsewhere on this subject, it was unanimously approved and resolved to found the new fortification directly in the middle of the plains here, where the beacons had previously been provisionally set for this purpose, so that the gradually rising heights and mountains will all converge equally to the southeast and west, a place where not only a desired ditch of the required depth and width can be dug with little difficulty, but also so many and sufficient wells that in the event of a siege one need not be subject to a lack of water, except that in addition, the current watercourses coming from the Tafelberg will be used just as well as the old fort, being with a It is understood and determined that work on the western bulwark should begin first, and that a 20-foot wide berm should be left at the foot until further consultation, because this (when completed) can best help defend the old fort to the rear, and the front of the new hornwork, and can also be defended in turn. It has also been deemed entirely advisable, from now on, to undertake no other work, as it is essential and for the sake of good fortune. All the people, both craftsmen and others who are in any way lacking and can be employed, will be employed to burn lime and break heavy stone, so that the new building can make the necessary progress.
And especially the E. Commander Zacharias Wagenaer with the dispatch of the timely arrived express hoeckerboots to Batavia, Ceijlon, Choromandel, Bengal, and Zuratta as a relief of the people for reinforcement of this guarantee, and all further necessary precautions against the unexpected attack of a European enemy, including this fortress and otherwise, in accordance with the order of the Lords Majores, has already fulfilled its obligations for some time before the arrival of the Commander Isbrant Godsken, provided that his E. has now been restored to such a constitution of health that he himself finds himself completely sufficient, the required service of the E. Company It has been determined, after careful deliberation, that the Reverend Commander Godsken, who is no longer able to perform his duties here in the service of the Reverend Company, will be able to depart again with the ship Middelburgh, especially since the Reverend Wagenaer has declared that, should his replacement, Cornelis van Qualbergen, delay the arrival of the return fleet, which is scheduled to depart from Batavia this year 1665, he is nevertheless willing to await its arrival with full contentment.
Thus done and resolved at Fort de Goede Hope on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKEN.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1665.
[Signed:] PR. PIETERSEN.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS. According to his written advice in remembrance of the point.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM CLEMENT.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] JOHANNT (JOHANNES) COON.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ V. GREUNING.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER. Secrets. 1665.
Original Dutch transcription
Aengesien Haer Ede. d’ Heeren Bewinthebberen van de Vereenichde Nederlantse g’octroijeerde Oost-Indische Compe. onse principalen, haer om verscheijde pregnante redenen bijsonder hebben laten gelegen wesen, aen desen zuijdelijcxsten houck van Africa d’ Cabo Bonna Esperance, ende ter dier insichten niet alleen verstaen, het guarnisoen voor aff met goet aental volck te verstercken, neen maer oock insgelijcx beslooten, overmits d’ insufficance van het oude Fort tot meerder verseekeringe deser plaets, alhier crachtiger middelen van defentie in ‘t werck te stellen, met het begrijpen van sodanigen aensienlijcken stercke roijale fortresse, dat namaels bij overcomste van een machtigen Europiaensen vijant, daer voor niet meer en sullen behoeven te duchten, zijnde dan ten selven eijnde haer gemelte Ede. intentie, dat in plaets van het jegenwoordige aerden fort met vier punten, in conformite van het project en overgesonden affbeeltzel, een nieuwe Fortresse met vijff punten sal werden gemaect, rontsom het oude fort heen, ende het welck beneden het nieuwe voorwerck verstaen is, soo lange in wesen te blijven, totdat de nieuwe Fortificatie sal voltrocken zijn, om als dan daer over nader te werden gedisponeert, oirdelende in dier vougen gelijck waer is, om verscheijde insichten al vrij commodieuser soude wesen, dan wanneer het op een ander plaets sal werden verleght, maer aengemerct hare gemelte Ede. rakende de situatie sodanige kennisse niet en hebben gehad, als wel ‘twerck48 vereijscht heeft, is alleen op een presupoost49 dat de westelijcke gelegen bergen, het fort niet en conden beschadigen, veel min met canon bestrijcken, d’ vooraengetogen ordonnantie in dier vougen geschiet, onder stipulatie nochtans, dat soo indien ‘t contrarie mochte werden bevonden, in sulcken gevall het nieuwe Fort soo veel oostelijcker sal werden affgesteken, dat het buijten ‘t bereijcken van canon blijven kan, recommanderende ten selven eijnde, voornamelijck in het verkiesen der bequaemste situatie, daer sodanigen emportant en costelijck werck sal werden bij der handt genomen, geen misslach te committeren, een zake wesende daer op insonderheijt te letten staeth, Ende het welck derhalven bij den Commandeur Isbrant Godsken t’ sedert der selver aencomste, soo oock daer bevooren door den E. Commandeur Zacharias Wagenaer met allen ernst in opmerckinge genomen is geweest, sonder echter nochtans middel te cunnen sien off uijt te vinden, om haer Ede. gegeven ordre, aen d’ een off d’ ander zijde prompt, en na de letter te voldoen, eerstelijck en ten opsicht dat het nieuwe werck om het oude fort niet wel can werden gebracht, uijt oorsake van de westelijcke bergen, welcke niet verder dan 67 Rijnlantse roeden van d’ jegenwoordige fortresse afgelegen zijn, en van waer niet alleen bereijct: maer oock verre beneden ‘t waterpas de bovencant van ‘t pleijn der bolwercken door canon beschadicht, neen maer selffs oock van musquetten can werden beschooten, behalven dat aen dien kant, vermits d’ aldaer leggende sware harde clippen, niet dan met overgroote moeijten en langh durenden arbeijt, de gracht te maken is, daer bij dan oock niet eene van alle de borgers steene-huijsen soude cunnen blijven staen, en nootsaeckelijck beneven Comps. schoone nieuwe waterschortinge, coornmeulen, potbackereije &a. mitsgaders een goet gedeelte van de thuijn soude moeten werden afgebroocken-
Ende aen d’ ander zijde oostwaerts was oock de vlacte van sodanige groote niet, dat het nieuwe begrijp na d’ intentie der E.E. Heeren Majores van de bergen en hoochten soo verre conde afgeleijt werden, om allesints buijten ‘t bereijcken van ‘t canon te blijven.
Oversulcx ende dat haer Ede. ordre, in ‘t beginnen van de nieuwe fortresse, niet vermochten noch geraden conden vinden langer te traineren, is den Raedt vergadert, g’adsisteert met schipper en coopman van ‘t schip Middelburch , Item twee provisionele vendrichs, en wachtmeester deses guarnisoens om met den anderen t’ overwegen wat ons in dese gelegentheijt van zaken ten meesten dienste der Generale Oost Indische Compe. sal te doen staen, dienvolgende dan alles wat ter materie dienen mochte exactelijck gepondereert, en geconsidereert hebbende, dewijl hier omtrent nochte elders bequaemer gelegentheijt was uijt te vinden, met eenparige stemmen goetgevonden en geresolveert, de nieuwe fortificatie te funderen recht ten midden van d’ hier zijnde vlacten, waer de bakens bevorens ten dien insichte bij provisie affgesteeken zijn geweest, sodanich dat Zuijtoost en westwaerts de langsame opgaende hoochtens en bergiens allesints even naer comen zal, een plaetse sijnde daer niet alleen met wijnich moeijte een gewenschte gracht van vereijschte diepte en breete, maer oock soo veele en genoechsame putten te graven zijn, dat men bij belegeringh geen gebreck van water sal behoeven subject te wesen, behalven dat daerenboven van de jegenwoordige waterloopiens uijt de Tafelbergh affcomende, even soo wel als aen ‘t oude fort sullen gedient wesen, sijnde met eenen verstaen en vast gestelt, aen het westelijcxte bolwerck eerst begin te maken, ende aen den voet tot nader overlegh een berm te laten van 20 voeten breete, omdat hetselve (voltrocken wesende) het oude fort achterwaerts, en d’ voorkant ‘t nieuwe hoornwerck best can helpen defenderen, ende oock weder gedefendeert worden, waerbij dan oock geheel dienstich geoordeelt is, van nu voortaen, geen andere wercken bij der hant te nemen, als uijt hoogen noot en om bouvallicheijt voor te comen, ende dat alle het volck soo wel ambachtslieden als andere die eenichsints gemist en uijt te maken zijn, sullen werden geemploieert, tot calck branden, en breecken van sware steen, ten eijnde het nieuwe gebouw de vereijschte voortganck nemen mach.
Ende nademael den E. Commandeur Zacharias Wagenaer met het affsenden der tijdige aengecomene expresse houckerboots na Batavia, Ceijlon , Choromandel , Bengalen , en Zuratta als ‘t lichten van volck tot versterckinge deses guarnisoens, Item alle verdere noodige voorsorge tegen d’ onverwachte overcomste van een Europiaense vijant, soo aen dese fortresse en andersints, in conformite van d’ ordre der Heeren Majores al geruijmen tijt bevoorens d’ aencomste van den Commandeur Isbrant Godsken t’ eenemael voldaen heeft, mitsgaders sijn E. tegenwoordich weder in soodanige constitutie van gesontheijt herstelt is, dat sich selven volcomen sufficant bevint, de vereijschenden dienst van d’ E. Compagnie alhier waer te nemen, Soo is naer rijpe deliberatie van zaecken verstaen, en gearresteert dat den E. Commandeur Godsken, ter zaken voor sijn E. alhier ten dienste van d’ E. Compagnie niet meer te verrichten is, met het Schip Middelburgh well weder sal cunnen vertrecken, te meer alsoo den E. Wagenaer verclaerde bij aldien desselffs vervanger Cornelis van Qualbergen langer mochte comen te traineren, als de comste van de retourvlooth die desen jare 1665 van Batavia herwaerts te vertrecken staet, evenwel genegen is met volle contentement derselver overcomste aff te wachten.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKEN.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1665.
[Signed:] PR. PIETERSEN.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS. Volgens sijn schriftelijck advis ten reguarde van de punt.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM CLEMENT.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] JOHANNT (JOHANNES) COON.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ V. GREUNING.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER. Secrets. 1665.
Ende aen d’ ander zijde oostwaerts was oock de vlacte van sodanige groote niet, dat het nieuwe begrijp na d’ intentie der E.E. Heeren Majores van de bergen en hoochten soo verre conde afgeleijt werden, om allesints buijten ‘t bereijcken van ‘t canon te blijven.
Oversulcx ende dat haer Ede. ordre, in ‘t beginnen van de nieuwe fortresse, niet vermochten noch geraden conden vinden langer te traineren, is den Raedt vergadert, g’adsisteert met schipper en coopman van ‘t schip Middelburch , Item twee provisionele vendrichs, en wachtmeester deses guarnisoens om met den anderen t’ overwegen wat ons in dese gelegentheijt van zaken ten meesten dienste der Generale Oost Indische Compe. sal te doen staen, dienvolgende dan alles wat ter materie dienen mochte exactelijck gepondereert, en geconsidereert hebbende, dewijl hier omtrent nochte elders bequaemer gelegentheijt was uijt te vinden, met eenparige stemmen goetgevonden en geresolveert, de nieuwe fortificatie te funderen recht ten midden van d’ hier zijnde vlacten, waer de bakens bevorens ten dien insichte bij provisie affgesteeken zijn geweest, sodanich dat Zuijtoost en westwaerts de langsame opgaende hoochtens en bergiens allesints even naer comen zal, een plaetse sijnde daer niet alleen met wijnich moeijte een gewenschte gracht van vereijschte diepte en breete, maer oock soo veele en genoechsame putten te graven zijn, dat men bij belegeringh geen gebreck van water sal behoeven subject te wesen, behalven dat daerenboven van de jegenwoordige waterloopiens uijt de Tafelbergh affcomende, even soo wel als aen ‘t oude fort sullen gedient wesen, sijnde met eenen verstaen en vast gestelt, aen het westelijcxte bolwerck eerst begin te maken, ende aen den voet tot nader overlegh een berm te laten van 20 voeten breete, omdat hetselve (voltrocken wesende) het oude fort achterwaerts, en d’ voorkant ‘t nieuwe hoornwerck best can helpen defenderen, ende oock weder gedefendeert worden, waerbij dan oock geheel dienstich geoordeelt is, van nu voortaen, geen andere wercken bij der hant te nemen, als uijt hoogen noot en om bouvallicheijt voor te comen, ende dat alle het volck soo wel ambachtslieden als andere die eenichsints gemist en uijt te maken zijn, sullen werden geemploieert, tot calck branden, en breecken van sware steen, ten eijnde het nieuwe gebouw de vereijschte voortganck nemen mach.
Ende nademael den E. Commandeur Zacharias Wagenaer met het affsenden der tijdige aengecomene expresse houckerboots na Batavia, Ceijlon , Choromandel , Bengalen , en Zuratta als ‘t lichten van volck tot versterckinge deses guarnisoens, Item alle verdere noodige voorsorge tegen d’ onverwachte overcomste van een Europiaense vijant, soo aen dese fortresse en andersints, in conformite van d’ ordre der Heeren Majores al geruijmen tijt bevoorens d’ aencomste van den Commandeur Isbrant Godsken t’ eenemael voldaen heeft, mitsgaders sijn E. tegenwoordich weder in soodanige constitutie van gesontheijt herstelt is, dat sich selven volcomen sufficant bevint, de vereijschenden dienst van d’ E. Compagnie alhier waer te nemen, Soo is naer rijpe deliberatie van zaecken verstaen, en gearresteert dat den E. Commandeur Godsken, ter zaken voor sijn E. alhier ten dienste van d’ E. Compagnie niet meer te verrichten is, met het Schip Middelburgh well weder sal cunnen vertrecken, te meer alsoo den E. Wagenaer verclaerde bij aldien desselffs vervanger Cornelis van Qualbergen langer mochte comen te traineren, als de comste van de retourvlooth die desen jare 1665 van Batavia herwaerts te vertrecken staet, evenwel genegen is met volle contentement derselver overcomste aff te wachten.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKEN.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1665.
[Signed:] PR. PIETERSEN.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS. Volgens sijn schriftelijck advis ten reguarde van de punt.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM CLEMENT.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] JOHANNT (JOHANNES) COON.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ V. GREUNING.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER. Secrets. 1665.