Cape Council of Policy
356
1666-12-16
Minute details
- Entry number
- 356
- Date
- 1666-12-16
- Year
- 1666
English translation
Whereas we, not only from various rumors from private persons, learned that we arrived here on the French ship St. Jean, under the authority of the Vice-Royal of Madagascar, Monsignor de Mondevergue, but also from his commissioners, among others, through discourse, had received instructions from their King to erect a stronghold in the port of Saldanha, if it seemed fit there, and thus to take possession of it, which we did indeed oppose verbally, and made them understand that that place was in our possession, as if it were becoming our free possession daily on Comps. Name and under its protection, navigated, frequented, and maintained according to its granted commissions, consequently they could not claim that place for themselves without reducing the E. Compe. in their right of ownership; but since we have no residence or permanent settlement there, we remain concerned that we will be able to sufficiently maintain our possession in Europe. Therefore, for greater peace of mind and security, it has been unanimously decided and understood that the seven men already embarked in the Bruijt should be lifted again, reinforced with four soldiers, and that the voyeur Wederholt, as head, should be sent there, provided the opposite situation prevails, with the order that the voyeur Wederholt and another five men should remain at the watering place and prepare the mines,28 of which we intend to erect a fortification, to which end, with the freeman's boat, the Bruijt, its tools and victuals will follow for six to eight weeks, dividing the remaining Six men, two and two, on Jutland, Marcus, and Schapen Eijlantje, stationed in the bay, without interfering in the least with what the French might be doing there. Let us receive any news of their adventures, so that we can report on them as and when appropriate, and to do so as we deem appropriate.
Thus done and resolved, in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year prescribed.
[Signed:] CORN. VAN QUAELBERGH.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER.
[Signed:] JOHANNES COON.
Thus done and resolved, in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year prescribed.
[Signed:] CORN. VAN QUAELBERGH.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER.
[Signed:] JOHANNES COON.
Original Dutch transcription
Overmits wij, niet alleen uijt verscheijden geruchten van particuliere personen, bescheijden op het Franse schip St. Jean , onder ‘t gesag van den Vice-Roij van Madagascar , Monsr. de Mondevergue27 12en deser hier aengecomen: maar oocq uijt desselffs gecommitteerdens onder anderen bij discours verstaan, dat last van haren Coningh hadden, om in de bhaeij van Saldanha , soo ‘t daar bequaam vonden, een vastigheijt op te werpen, en alsoo daar van possessie te nemen, ‘t welck wij wel bij monde tegengegaen, en haer te verstaan gegeven hebben, hoe dat die plaets in possessie bij ons was, als werdende dagelijcx van onse vrijel. op Comps. Naam en onder haar protexie, bevaren, gefrequenteert, en volgens haar verleende Commissien gemaintineert, gevolgelijck en conden zijlieden die plaats niet onder sich slaan, sonder d’ E. Compe. in hun recht van eijgendom te vercorten; maar aengesien wij aldaer geen residentie, off vaste besettingh en hebben, dienvolgende beducht blijven, off wij tegens haar onse possessie in Europa , al genouchsaam souden connen mainteneren, Soo is met eenparige stemmen, tot meerder gerustheijt en versekeringh, goet gevonden en verstaen, de alrede gescheepte 7 man in d’ Bruijt weer te lichten, en versterct met 4 soldaten, en den zargeant Wederholt, als hooft, te lant mits de contrarie wint, derwaerts te zenden, met die ordre dat den zargeant Wederholt met noch 5 man, aen de waterplaats sullen blijven, en de mijnen maken,28 van een vasticheijt op te willen werpen, waer toe, met de vrijmansboot, de Bruijt , haar gereetschap en victualie voor 6 a 8 weken volgen sal, verdelende de resterende 6 man twee en twee op ‘t Jutten , Marcus , en Schapen Eijlantje , in do. bhaeij leggende, sonder haar in ‘t minste te bemoeijen met ‘t geen de Francen daar mochten in ‘t werck stellen, latende ons maar t’ elckens bericht van hun wedervaren toecomen, om ons daar van, na tijts gelegentheijt, te connen dienen, en sulcx te doen als bevinden te behoren.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert, in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoop ten dage ende jare voorschreven.
[Signed:] CORN. VAN QUAELBERGH.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER.
[Signed:] JOHANNES COON.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert, in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoop ten dage ende jare voorschreven.
[Signed:] CORN. VAN QUAELBERGH.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM SCHUT.
[Signed:] CORN. DE CRETSER.
[Signed:] JOHANNES COON.