Cape Council of Policy
4
1652-03-29
Minute details
- Entry number
- 4
- Date
- 1652-03-29
- Year
- 1652
English translation
Since those of the Reijger and Hope were quite far off here for a few days, sailing south of us, and here on the Drommedaris (having not been able to reach a fixed height for 3 or 4 days), it is estimated that there is enough width to reach the Cape on an easterly course,
So the chief merchant Riebeeck consulted the skippers and skippers. to bring the aforementioned ships aboard to ascertain the differences in width and length beneath them, and, in consultation with the council's general advice, to make a firm decision and devise a course by which the Cape can be approached together, so that ultimately they will not encounter each other.
The aforementioned skippers and skippers of the Reijger and the Hope, having come aboard at that point, also found their height at noon last, with the others mostly at 34 degrees of pure width, corresponding to the average length of all the skippers and skippers. Averaging at 22.5 degrees, it has been understood and unanimously determined that all possible means will be employed to reach the pure latitude of 34 degrees 20 minutes, and at that altitude (5 to 6 minutes not included), in God's name, to land at the land of Cabo de Boa Esperance, for which the Almighty will grant us his Holy guidance and good fortune. Amen.
Thus done and resolved in the ship the Drommedaris on the day and year as above.6
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.
So the chief merchant Riebeeck consulted the skippers and skippers. to bring the aforementioned ships aboard to ascertain the differences in width and length beneath them, and, in consultation with the council's general advice, to make a firm decision and devise a course by which the Cape can be approached together, so that ultimately they will not encounter each other.
The aforementioned skippers and skippers of the Reijger and the Hope, having come aboard at that point, also found their height at noon last, with the others mostly at 34 degrees of pure width, corresponding to the average length of all the skippers and skippers. Averaging at 22.5 degrees, it has been understood and unanimously determined that all possible means will be employed to reach the pure latitude of 34 degrees 20 minutes, and at that altitude (5 to 6 minutes not included), in God's name, to land at the land of Cabo de Boa Esperance, for which the Almighty will grant us his Holy guidance and good fortune. Amen.
Thus done and resolved in the ship the Drommedaris on the day and year as above.6
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Dewijle haer die van den Reijger ende Hope eenige dagen herwaerts vrij te louffwaert om de suijdt van ons affgieren, ende alhier op de Drommedaris (in 3 a 4 dagen geen vaste hooghte hebbende cunnen becomen) na gissinge gemeent wordt, zuijer breete genoegh te hebben om met een Oosten cours de Caep aen te doen,
Soo is den oppercoopman Riebeeck te rade geworden de schippers ende stuijrln. van de voorsz scheepen aen boort te laten comen omme te vernemen nae de differentien in de breete ende langhte onder deselve wesende, ende bij middel van overeencominge met gemeijn advijs van Rade een vast besluijt te maecken ende sodanige cours te beramen waerop de Caep gesamenderhandt sal mogen aengedaen worden, opdat men nu in ‘t laetste niet van malcanderen comen te geraecken.
Gemelte schippers ende stuijrl. van de Reijger en de Hope ten dien eijnde dan aen boort gecomen wesende: mitsgaders deselve hare dese middagh noch laest bevonden hooghte metten anderen meest schaers op 34 gr. zuijer breete accorderende ende de middellanghte van alle de schippers ende stuijrl. gemiddeleert op stijff 22 1/2 gr., Is verstaen ende eenpaerigh vast gestelt alle mogelijcke debvoiren aen te wenden om op de zuijer breete van 34 gr. 20 min, te geraecken, ende op die hooghte (5 a 6 minuten onbegrepen) in Godes naeme ‘t landt van Cabo de Boa Esperance gecombineert aen te doen waer toe den Almogende ons sijn H. geleijde ende goede voorspoet wil verleenen. Amen.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t schip den Drommedaris ten dage ende jare als boven.6
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.
Soo is den oppercoopman Riebeeck te rade geworden de schippers ende stuijrln. van de voorsz scheepen aen boort te laten comen omme te vernemen nae de differentien in de breete ende langhte onder deselve wesende, ende bij middel van overeencominge met gemeijn advijs van Rade een vast besluijt te maecken ende sodanige cours te beramen waerop de Caep gesamenderhandt sal mogen aengedaen worden, opdat men nu in ‘t laetste niet van malcanderen comen te geraecken.
Gemelte schippers ende stuijrl. van de Reijger en de Hope ten dien eijnde dan aen boort gecomen wesende: mitsgaders deselve hare dese middagh noch laest bevonden hooghte metten anderen meest schaers op 34 gr. zuijer breete accorderende ende de middellanghte van alle de schippers ende stuijrl. gemiddeleert op stijff 22 1/2 gr., Is verstaen ende eenpaerigh vast gestelt alle mogelijcke debvoiren aen te wenden om op de zuijer breete van 34 gr. 20 min, te geraecken, ende op die hooghte (5 a 6 minuten onbegrepen) in Godes naeme ‘t landt van Cabo de Boa Esperance gecombineert aen te doen waer toe den Almogende ons sijn H. geleijde ende goede voorspoet wil verleenen. Amen.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t schip den Drommedaris ten dage ende jare als boven.6
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.