Cape Council of Policy
350
1666-03-22
Minute details
- Entry number
- 350
- Date
- 1666-03-22
- Year
- 1666
English translation
After we had settled and resolved some questionable matters this afternoon on our journey between the chiefs of the flute ship, the Goude Leeuw, moored here, Commander Wagenaer subsequently presented the Council with a certain ecclesiastical order regarding infant baptism here, and read it aloud, consisting of the following document.
"Extract from a certain letter written by the Honorable Governor-General and the Honorable Lords of the Council of India, to the Commander and Council of this fortress dated 25 January 1900." 1664.’
‘We have been informed by Mr. Pieter Overtwater, and also by the preacher Petrus Casier, how you… They were somewhat embarrassed about the matter of having slave children born there baptized, as they did not know how they should properly conduct themselves in this matter. There had previously been some dispute at the church meeting on this point, namely whether slave children born of unbelieving parents should be incorporated into Holy Baptism or not, and after previous communication with the Classis in the fatherland, it was understood that yes, and that in such a way, namely, that such children may be baptized according to the Christian faith, whether of the person with whom they reside, whether they are their lords or not, provided that they commit themselves to bringing such a child or children into the Christian religion, this being principally based on the example of the patriarch Abraham, by whose faith all those of his family were circumcised, and this has been observed here for a long time. Yes, also with regard to the slave children of the Reverend Compe., who established schools for this purpose, so that such baptized children, when they come of age, may be instructed in the Christian religion. Your E. may also arrange this regulation there, so that this Holy work may henceforth continue there, as is happening here, in which You, the E., will do well in a Christianly and well-conducted manner.
By which order, the Reverend Joan van Arckel, late, first sent-out and legally appointed minister over this congregation here, for a period of five months, all children who were baptized were brought, without distinction as to whether they were descended from faithful Christian or non-believing pagan elders, or not, who received Holy Baptism. Among them, the oldest Compton slave children were later kept in school and there daily educated in the knowledge of God, just as the preacher Joannes de Voocht did after his death, as we recently took ashore from the ship Constantia at his pleasure, and appointed him in the late van Arckel's place until the promised permanent preacher from the homeland would appear here.
And in view of what we saw yesterday after the conclusion of the afternoon sermon, which was delivered here in the hall, the Voocht was done, we saw with astonishment that a second preacher, who was present with us at that time, and a co-auditor of the Voocht, named Philippus Baldeus6 (who landed here on the 6th of this month from Ceylon on the ship Venenburch, in order to return to the homeland with it) completely deviated from this order, and did not act as usactly as had always been introduced here; but seemed to refuse baptism to certain Comps. to indicate to the slave child that he understood that work better than any of us, or at least that he wanted to reproach us with it, how careless and irregular we must have been for so long in the performance of such holy actions here: for just as yesterday in full church assembly two children, namely, one born of Christian German parents, and the other begotten of a slave girl, were presented for holy baptism, he, Baldeus, gave the first in due form with the sprinkling of water, and thereupon gave the blessing of Holy Baptism; But he deliberately and contemptuously rejected the other slave child, even though his E. should have previously asked the Commander, or at least an elder or deacon, what method had been used in this work with us up to that point. He knew well that at that time one or more such slave children were being brought to the church for that purpose.
So it is that the aforementioned Commander has now seriously considered this matter to the Council, and each of them has questioned whether we should act according to the change or innovation that was announced yesterday. E. Baldeus has sought to introduce in the celebration of the Holy Baptism, in the future it should be arranged as follows, or to remain with our aforementioned old order, in view of which it is not only with the advice of the Church Council to Batavia; but also with that of the Classis in the fatherland, our peace of mind has been greatly strengthened, where after the foregoing careful consideration we here unanimously understand and decide that we will henceforth, according to the good order once given, regulate ourselves and inform the minister the Governor that his E. will allow the Holy work to continue, and next Sunday, that the deceased slave child, and all others who might come to request it, will each receive their baptism, provided that this our resolution will be shown to the aforementioned Baldeum (sic), and with a notification that if his E., in careful summary of the frequently mentioned baptismal order, some serious defects or something that is in conflict with the general Should the Reformed Church Order in these lands encounter some conflict, and should it nevertheless be remedied or removed with little difficulty, as indicated by him, we will always accept this and remain grateful for it, thereby demonstrating in every way that we promote and seek to maintain the desired harmony and peace here, both in ecclesiastical and political matters.
Thus done and resolved, in the Fort of Good Hope, on the date and year as before.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAH. GABBEMA. 1666.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] CORN. THE CRETSER. Secrets. 22.3.1666.
"Extract from a certain letter written by the Honorable Governor-General and the Honorable Lords of the Council of India, to the Commander and Council of this fortress dated 25 January 1900." 1664.’
‘We have been informed by Mr. Pieter Overtwater, and also by the preacher Petrus Casier, how you… They were somewhat embarrassed about the matter of having slave children born there baptized, as they did not know how they should properly conduct themselves in this matter. There had previously been some dispute at the church meeting on this point, namely whether slave children born of unbelieving parents should be incorporated into Holy Baptism or not, and after previous communication with the Classis in the fatherland, it was understood that yes, and that in such a way, namely, that such children may be baptized according to the Christian faith, whether of the person with whom they reside, whether they are their lords or not, provided that they commit themselves to bringing such a child or children into the Christian religion, this being principally based on the example of the patriarch Abraham, by whose faith all those of his family were circumcised, and this has been observed here for a long time. Yes, also with regard to the slave children of the Reverend Compe., who established schools for this purpose, so that such baptized children, when they come of age, may be instructed in the Christian religion. Your E. may also arrange this regulation there, so that this Holy work may henceforth continue there, as is happening here, in which You, the E., will do well in a Christianly and well-conducted manner.
By which order, the Reverend Joan van Arckel, late, first sent-out and legally appointed minister over this congregation here, for a period of five months, all children who were baptized were brought, without distinction as to whether they were descended from faithful Christian or non-believing pagan elders, or not, who received Holy Baptism. Among them, the oldest Compton slave children were later kept in school and there daily educated in the knowledge of God, just as the preacher Joannes de Voocht did after his death, as we recently took ashore from the ship Constantia at his pleasure, and appointed him in the late van Arckel's place until the promised permanent preacher from the homeland would appear here.
And in view of what we saw yesterday after the conclusion of the afternoon sermon, which was delivered here in the hall, the Voocht was done, we saw with astonishment that a second preacher, who was present with us at that time, and a co-auditor of the Voocht, named Philippus Baldeus6 (who landed here on the 6th of this month from Ceylon on the ship Venenburch, in order to return to the homeland with it) completely deviated from this order, and did not act as usactly as had always been introduced here; but seemed to refuse baptism to certain Comps. to indicate to the slave child that he understood that work better than any of us, or at least that he wanted to reproach us with it, how careless and irregular we must have been for so long in the performance of such holy actions here: for just as yesterday in full church assembly two children, namely, one born of Christian German parents, and the other begotten of a slave girl, were presented for holy baptism, he, Baldeus, gave the first in due form with the sprinkling of water, and thereupon gave the blessing of Holy Baptism; But he deliberately and contemptuously rejected the other slave child, even though his E. should have previously asked the Commander, or at least an elder or deacon, what method had been used in this work with us up to that point. He knew well that at that time one or more such slave children were being brought to the church for that purpose.
So it is that the aforementioned Commander has now seriously considered this matter to the Council, and each of them has questioned whether we should act according to the change or innovation that was announced yesterday. E. Baldeus has sought to introduce in the celebration of the Holy Baptism, in the future it should be arranged as follows, or to remain with our aforementioned old order, in view of which it is not only with the advice of the Church Council to Batavia; but also with that of the Classis in the fatherland, our peace of mind has been greatly strengthened, where after the foregoing careful consideration we here unanimously understand and decide that we will henceforth, according to the good order once given, regulate ourselves and inform the minister the Governor that his E. will allow the Holy work to continue, and next Sunday, that the deceased slave child, and all others who might come to request it, will each receive their baptism, provided that this our resolution will be shown to the aforementioned Baldeum (sic), and with a notification that if his E., in careful summary of the frequently mentioned baptismal order, some serious defects or something that is in conflict with the general Should the Reformed Church Order in these lands encounter some conflict, and should it nevertheless be remedied or removed with little difficulty, as indicated by him, we will always accept this and remain grateful for it, thereby demonstrating in every way that we promote and seek to maintain the desired harmony and peace here, both in ecclesiastical and political matters.
Thus done and resolved, in the Fort of Good Hope, on the date and year as before.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAH. GABBEMA. 1666.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] CORN. THE CRETSER. Secrets. 22.3.1666.
Original Dutch transcription
Nadat wij desen achtermiddach eenige questieuse saken voorgevallen op deuijt3 reijs, tusschen de opperhooffden van ‘t alhier ter rheede leggende fluijtschip de Goude Leeuw , getransigeert en afgehandelt hadden, heeft den Commandeur Wagenaer daer op den Raedt verthoont, en deselve voorgelesen seeckere kerckelijcke order, nopende een kinderdoop alhier, bestaende in dit navolgende geschrift.
‘Extract uijt seeckere missive geschreven bij d’ Ede. Heer Gouvernr. Generael, ende d’ E.E. Heeren Raden van India, aen den Commandr. ende Raedt deser fortresse sub dato 25en Januanj Ao. 1664.’
‘Ons is door d’ heer Pieter Overtwater, en oock den predicant Petrus Casier4 voorgedragen ende te kennen gegeven hoe UE. hun enichsints verlegen vondt in ‘t stuck van de slavenkinderen, die ginder geboren worden, te laten doopen, als niet wetende hoe sich eijgentlijck daerinne sullen hebben te gedragen, hier is tevoren bij de kerckelijcke vergaderinge over dat poinct, al eenige disputatie gevallen, te weten off slavenkinderen van ongelovige ouders geboren zijnde, een H. doop mochten ingelijft worden, dan niet, ende is na voorgaende communicatie mette Classis in ‘t vaderlandt verstaen van ja, en dat op dusdanigen wijse, te weten, dat alsulcke kinderen op ‘t Christengelove, van degeene, daer se bij inwonen, ‘t sij het hun lijffheeren zijn, ofte niet, wel mogen werden gedoopt, mits dat deselve haer verbinden, sodanich kindt, off kinderen in de Christelijcke religie op te trecken, sijnde dit ten principalen gefundeert, op het exempel van den patriarch Abraham, op wiens gelove, alle die van sijnen huijse waren, besneden wierden, en is sulcx hier een lange wijle aldus in observantie geweest, Ja oock selver omtrent de slavenkinderen van d’ E. Compe., die daertoe schoolen opgerecht heeft, om sodanige gedoopte kinderen, wanneer se tot hare jaren comen, in de Christelijcke religie te laten onderwijsen, des U E. ginder na desen regul oock wel mogen schicken, latende dit H. werck in dier vougen voortaen aldaer, gelijck hier geschiet mede sijn voortgangh nemen, waer aen U E. Christelijck en wel doen zult.5 ‘
Op welcke order den Eerwaerdigen Joan van Arckel zaliger eerste uijtgesonden en wettich gestelde predicant over dese Gemeente alhier, voor den tijt van 5 maenden, alle kinderen die ten H. doop gebracht wierden, sonder onderscheijt ‘t zij die van gelovige Christelijcke off ongelovige heijdensche ouderen gesproten waren off niet, den H. doop heeft laten genieten, waer van de outste Comps. slavenkinderen, naderhant ter schoole gehouden, en aldaer in de kennisse Godts dagelijcks onderwesen sijn, gelijck na sijn overlijden oock alsoo gedaen heeft, den predicant Joannes de Voocht als die wij onlangs geleden van ‘t schip Constantia met sijn believen aen landt genomen, en in do. van Arckels plaets zaliger soo lange gestelt hebben, totdat de belooffde permanente predicant uijt ‘t vaderlant hier souw verschenen wesen.
Ende ten aensien wij gisteren na ‘t eijndigen van de achtermiddaechs predicatie, die hier in de zael bij gemelte do. de Voocht gedaen wiert, met verwonderingh hebben gesien, dat een tweede predicant, die, die tijt, nevens ons present, en een mede auditeur van do. de Voocht was, genaemt Philippus Baldeus6 (sijnde op den 6en deser per ‘t schip Venenburch van Ceijlon alhier aengelandt, om voorts daermede naer ‘t vaderlant te retourneren) heel buijten dese order tradt, ende niet soo usact als hier alberijts ingevoert was, te werck gingh; maer scheen met ‘et weijgeren van den doop aen seecker Comps. slavenkint te kennen te geven, dat hij dat werck beter als ijmant van ons allen verstonth, off dat ten minsten ons daermede heeft willen verwijten, hoe onvoorsichtich en ongeregelt wij dus langh in het plegen van alsulcke heijlige actien alhier mosten geleeft hebben: want soo als gisteren in volle kerckelijcke vergaderingh twee kinderen, te weten, een dat van Christelijcke Duijtsche ouderen geboren, en het ander dat bij een slavinnen gewonnen was, ten heijligen doop gepresenteert wierden, heeft hij dne. Baldeus het eerste in behoorlijcke form met de besprengingh des waters, en daer over te geven Zegen den H. doop geniete laten; maer het ander slavenkindt heeft hij met goeden voorbedacht versmadelijckerwijs van hem afgewesen, daer sijne E. nochtans alvoren den Commandeur, ofte ten minsten een ouderlingh off diaken, had behooren te vragen, wat methode in dat werck bij ons, tot noch toe was onderhouden geweest, nadien hij wel wist, dat op dese tijt een off meer alsulcke slavenkinderen tot dien eijnde in de kercke stonden gebracht te werden,
Soo is ‘t dat als nu voorn. Commandr. den Raedt in serieus bedencken gegeven, en een ijder van deselve daer op affgevraecht heeft, off wij ons na de veranderingh off nieuwicheijt, die gisteren meergemte. E. Baldeus in ‘t celebreren des H. Doops heeft soecken in te voeren, in ‘t toecomende alsoo behoorden te schicken, off bij onse voorsz oude order te blijven, ten aensien deselve niet alleen met het advijs van den Kerckenraedt tot Batavia; maer oock met dat van de Classis in ‘t vaderlandt, t’ onser gerustheijt crachtich versterckt bevonden, waer op nae voorgaende accurate overwegingh hier in eenparich verstaen, en gearresteert is, dat wij ons voortaen, na die eens gegeven goede order reguleren, en den predicant de Voocht aenseggen sullen, dat sijn E. dat H. werck sijn voortganck sal laten nemen, en aenstaende Sondach, dat wegh gewesen slavenkindt, en alle ander, die daerom soude mogen comen versoecken, ijder sijn doopsel te laten genieten, mits dese onse resolutie alvoren veelgemelten Baldeum(sic)sal gethoont, en met eenen aengedient werden, dat bij aldien sijn E. bij aendachtige resumtie der dickmaels genoemde dooporder eenige grove defecten off ietwes dat met de algemeene Sinodiale Gereformeerde Kerckenorder in dese landen eenichsints strijdich vinden mochten en echter op sijn aenwijsen met cleijne moeijte conde geremedieert off wegh genomen werden, wij ons hierin altijt geseggelijck vinden laten, en daer voor danckbaer blijven sullen, om daermede allesints te doen blijcken, dat wij de gewenste eendracht, en vreede soo wel in kerckelijcke als politicque saken alhier te bevorderen, en alsoo t’ onderhouden soecken.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert, in ‘t Fort, de Goede Hoope, ten dage ende jare als vooren.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAH. GABBEMA. 1666.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER. Secrets. 22.3.1666.
‘Extract uijt seeckere missive geschreven bij d’ Ede. Heer Gouvernr. Generael, ende d’ E.E. Heeren Raden van India, aen den Commandr. ende Raedt deser fortresse sub dato 25en Januanj Ao. 1664.’
‘Ons is door d’ heer Pieter Overtwater, en oock den predicant Petrus Casier4 voorgedragen ende te kennen gegeven hoe UE. hun enichsints verlegen vondt in ‘t stuck van de slavenkinderen, die ginder geboren worden, te laten doopen, als niet wetende hoe sich eijgentlijck daerinne sullen hebben te gedragen, hier is tevoren bij de kerckelijcke vergaderinge over dat poinct, al eenige disputatie gevallen, te weten off slavenkinderen van ongelovige ouders geboren zijnde, een H. doop mochten ingelijft worden, dan niet, ende is na voorgaende communicatie mette Classis in ‘t vaderlandt verstaen van ja, en dat op dusdanigen wijse, te weten, dat alsulcke kinderen op ‘t Christengelove, van degeene, daer se bij inwonen, ‘t sij het hun lijffheeren zijn, ofte niet, wel mogen werden gedoopt, mits dat deselve haer verbinden, sodanich kindt, off kinderen in de Christelijcke religie op te trecken, sijnde dit ten principalen gefundeert, op het exempel van den patriarch Abraham, op wiens gelove, alle die van sijnen huijse waren, besneden wierden, en is sulcx hier een lange wijle aldus in observantie geweest, Ja oock selver omtrent de slavenkinderen van d’ E. Compe., die daertoe schoolen opgerecht heeft, om sodanige gedoopte kinderen, wanneer se tot hare jaren comen, in de Christelijcke religie te laten onderwijsen, des U E. ginder na desen regul oock wel mogen schicken, latende dit H. werck in dier vougen voortaen aldaer, gelijck hier geschiet mede sijn voortgangh nemen, waer aen U E. Christelijck en wel doen zult.5 ‘
Op welcke order den Eerwaerdigen Joan van Arckel zaliger eerste uijtgesonden en wettich gestelde predicant over dese Gemeente alhier, voor den tijt van 5 maenden, alle kinderen die ten H. doop gebracht wierden, sonder onderscheijt ‘t zij die van gelovige Christelijcke off ongelovige heijdensche ouderen gesproten waren off niet, den H. doop heeft laten genieten, waer van de outste Comps. slavenkinderen, naderhant ter schoole gehouden, en aldaer in de kennisse Godts dagelijcks onderwesen sijn, gelijck na sijn overlijden oock alsoo gedaen heeft, den predicant Joannes de Voocht als die wij onlangs geleden van ‘t schip Constantia met sijn believen aen landt genomen, en in do. van Arckels plaets zaliger soo lange gestelt hebben, totdat de belooffde permanente predicant uijt ‘t vaderlant hier souw verschenen wesen.
Ende ten aensien wij gisteren na ‘t eijndigen van de achtermiddaechs predicatie, die hier in de zael bij gemelte do. de Voocht gedaen wiert, met verwonderingh hebben gesien, dat een tweede predicant, die, die tijt, nevens ons present, en een mede auditeur van do. de Voocht was, genaemt Philippus Baldeus6 (sijnde op den 6en deser per ‘t schip Venenburch van Ceijlon alhier aengelandt, om voorts daermede naer ‘t vaderlant te retourneren) heel buijten dese order tradt, ende niet soo usact als hier alberijts ingevoert was, te werck gingh; maer scheen met ‘et weijgeren van den doop aen seecker Comps. slavenkint te kennen te geven, dat hij dat werck beter als ijmant van ons allen verstonth, off dat ten minsten ons daermede heeft willen verwijten, hoe onvoorsichtich en ongeregelt wij dus langh in het plegen van alsulcke heijlige actien alhier mosten geleeft hebben: want soo als gisteren in volle kerckelijcke vergaderingh twee kinderen, te weten, een dat van Christelijcke Duijtsche ouderen geboren, en het ander dat bij een slavinnen gewonnen was, ten heijligen doop gepresenteert wierden, heeft hij dne. Baldeus het eerste in behoorlijcke form met de besprengingh des waters, en daer over te geven Zegen den H. doop geniete laten; maer het ander slavenkindt heeft hij met goeden voorbedacht versmadelijckerwijs van hem afgewesen, daer sijne E. nochtans alvoren den Commandeur, ofte ten minsten een ouderlingh off diaken, had behooren te vragen, wat methode in dat werck bij ons, tot noch toe was onderhouden geweest, nadien hij wel wist, dat op dese tijt een off meer alsulcke slavenkinderen tot dien eijnde in de kercke stonden gebracht te werden,
Soo is ‘t dat als nu voorn. Commandr. den Raedt in serieus bedencken gegeven, en een ijder van deselve daer op affgevraecht heeft, off wij ons na de veranderingh off nieuwicheijt, die gisteren meergemte. E. Baldeus in ‘t celebreren des H. Doops heeft soecken in te voeren, in ‘t toecomende alsoo behoorden te schicken, off bij onse voorsz oude order te blijven, ten aensien deselve niet alleen met het advijs van den Kerckenraedt tot Batavia; maer oock met dat van de Classis in ‘t vaderlandt, t’ onser gerustheijt crachtich versterckt bevonden, waer op nae voorgaende accurate overwegingh hier in eenparich verstaen, en gearresteert is, dat wij ons voortaen, na die eens gegeven goede order reguleren, en den predicant de Voocht aenseggen sullen, dat sijn E. dat H. werck sijn voortganck sal laten nemen, en aenstaende Sondach, dat wegh gewesen slavenkindt, en alle ander, die daerom soude mogen comen versoecken, ijder sijn doopsel te laten genieten, mits dese onse resolutie alvoren veelgemelten Baldeum(sic)sal gethoont, en met eenen aengedient werden, dat bij aldien sijn E. bij aendachtige resumtie der dickmaels genoemde dooporder eenige grove defecten off ietwes dat met de algemeene Sinodiale Gereformeerde Kerckenorder in dese landen eenichsints strijdich vinden mochten en echter op sijn aenwijsen met cleijne moeijte conde geremedieert off wegh genomen werden, wij ons hierin altijt geseggelijck vinden laten, en daer voor danckbaer blijven sullen, om daermede allesints te doen blijcken, dat wij de gewenste eendracht, en vreede soo wel in kerckelijcke als politicque saken alhier te bevorderen, en alsoo t’ onderhouden soecken.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert, in ‘t Fort, de Goede Hoope, ten dage ende jare als vooren.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAH. GABBEMA. 1666.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER. Secrets. 22.3.1666.