Cape Council of Policy
41
1654-01-17
Minute details
- Entry number
- 41
- Date
- 1654-01-17
- Year
- 1654
English translation
Yesterday, having arrived before us, all the ship's officers of the ship Vreede, who had been questioned under oath on every article of a certain memorial (as they so called) kept by the sargeant, instinctively questioning points, as also again delivered and recorded to them, and from it, as the oral statements of each one, more and more noticing the very great disorder and irregularities on that ship, principally among the chief officers, in which redress is necessarily required, and yet because the curtness of the time is quite long, work is to fall: to all the questions and the arisen to deal with the unrest finally and properly, the late Compes. returned the ship so costily, to the great detriment of the E. Compe. should stop, since we have to expect a lot of bad weather here every day, as when the world cannot be justified, as the past two days have shown bad weather sufficiently and which is fully known to us by experience, and at present the disease of the said ship is recovering freely every day, as well as the scurvy being completely swept away from the ship by the cool and mush from the garden, as it is completely swept away from the people, In addition the skipper declares that within 3 or 4 days he will be able to depart sufficiently, So after various deliberations it was understood to stop the aforementioned procedures, and all to send the documents and papers120 under the cover of our letter to the Honourable General and Councillors of India to Batavia121 to be brought there, on their order, before the Council of Justice or otherwise, as appropriate.
And to ensure, however, that the said ship (still full of unrest and perhaps some concealed conspiracy, especially among the chief officers) might nevertheless arrive safely in peace and in good order by God's guidance, and not, like the ship West Vriesland, remain hidden from its voyage due to disorderly management, nor also encounter such misfortunes from the said disagreements as would be feared (given that no one else but the present and their order is appointed), is, after careful consideration, in the greatest interest and peace of mind of the said Company. it was also agreed to temporarily remove the chief pilot, sargeant, second pilot and constable from their serving duties as the principal force of this party from here to Batavia, in order to sail across without any noise. Likewise, the sub-merchant Willem Born, because the difficulties between him and the sick-comforter have principally revealed the outbreak of all disagreements, in addition to the privacy of the cabin and its sleeping places, which will be arranged in such a way that at night and at all times they can remain separated from each other, to which end the Commander of this fortress will join him on board on Monday next, with God's permission, to establish the necessary order. This separation, as mentioned above, will also be specially observed during the voyage, as also the Chief Surgeon Wollevens because of his incompetence. The usual treatment of his superiors is also to be observed, and his dining area at the cafeteria will remain private, but food and drink will be provided for him, his wife, and his children in his room as appropriate. And since it has also been noticed once and sufficiently that there are quite a few who are more concerned with the aforementioned provisionally excluded persons, as well as with their governing skipper, who are also free to fear, from which (on departing from this ship to Batavia) the previous fire of disagreement might well flare up again, and some might revolt against their skipper in the future, and consequently they may ultimately fare well, if God so directs, through bad foresight they have not yet served as an example to the lake. ship West Friesland, so that the last error might be far worse than the first, to no small damage and interest of the E. Compe., so to prevent all such, and to maintain good order, as well as to help the skipper in his office and entrusted position (having already been somewhat deprived) to keep the malicious in check and under duress, understood as the chief merchant Jacob Reijniers. Our present person, the second person of this fortress, is to command the supreme command, with absolute power and authority: to also rule as the formal supreme head, to preside in all consultations, to administer justice, and furthermore to ensure the utmost tranquility and security on that ship for its preservation.
And for this purpose, all the more respect for In order to be able to have the people, the same was hereby added, at the discretion and approval of the Lord General and Council of India, the qualification of merchant, with 54 guilders, effective today.
And in place of the aforementioned provisionally discharged chief steersman, the skipper (of the galiette Rode Vos, moored here) Elbert Cornelis Kes was appointed on the aforementioned ship Vreede: to act as second skipper during the voyage in the chief steersman's place; together with the remaining third guard, 124, in the second steersman's place, and the sailmaker Pieter Jacobs. from Amsterdam in the third quarter, if found suitable in the previous examination, with a reward of 24 guilders per month, so that the guards, generally with trusted persons, would also be properly observed during this journey and all deception would be avoided; as well as that Compe's ship and goods, through God's guidance and assistance, would be brought safely to Batavia, peacefully and in good order, to which end the same Almighty God will grant his gracious blessings, help, and assistance. Amen.
And when a senior officer is required over the soldiers, Corporal Harman Verwer is assigned to the provisionally discharged sargeant's position, and, to ensure that all is well, his dining room is also assigned to the cabin, all at the discretion and approval of the High General and Council of India, as required.
Furthermore, it is noted that the galiot, the Roode Vos, remaining here in the river, is carrying out the transfer of skipper Elbert Cornelis Kes, and that no one else remains but the second mate Jan Sijmons to temporarily fill the skipper's position. Therefore, after the aforementioned examination and suitable finding, it was approved to allow the gunner Cornelis Jansz van Holsteijn of the aforementioned ship, the Vreede, to transfer to the galiot as second mate and to take charge of that position, for a reward of 30 guilders per month, effective today.
Thus done and resolved at Fort de Goede Hoope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1654.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARDENBERCH. 1654.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V. BURGH, Secrets.
And to ensure, however, that the said ship (still full of unrest and perhaps some concealed conspiracy, especially among the chief officers) might nevertheless arrive safely in peace and in good order by God's guidance, and not, like the ship West Vriesland, remain hidden from its voyage due to disorderly management, nor also encounter such misfortunes from the said disagreements as would be feared (given that no one else but the present and their order is appointed), is, after careful consideration, in the greatest interest and peace of mind of the said Company. it was also agreed to temporarily remove the chief pilot, sargeant, second pilot and constable from their serving duties as the principal force of this party from here to Batavia, in order to sail across without any noise. Likewise, the sub-merchant Willem Born, because the difficulties between him and the sick-comforter have principally revealed the outbreak of all disagreements, in addition to the privacy of the cabin and its sleeping places, which will be arranged in such a way that at night and at all times they can remain separated from each other, to which end the Commander of this fortress will join him on board on Monday next, with God's permission, to establish the necessary order. This separation, as mentioned above, will also be specially observed during the voyage, as also the Chief Surgeon Wollevens because of his incompetence. The usual treatment of his superiors is also to be observed, and his dining area at the cafeteria will remain private, but food and drink will be provided for him, his wife, and his children in his room as appropriate. And since it has also been noticed once and sufficiently that there are quite a few who are more concerned with the aforementioned provisionally excluded persons, as well as with their governing skipper, who are also free to fear, from which (on departing from this ship to Batavia) the previous fire of disagreement might well flare up again, and some might revolt against their skipper in the future, and consequently they may ultimately fare well, if God so directs, through bad foresight they have not yet served as an example to the lake. ship West Friesland, so that the last error might be far worse than the first, to no small damage and interest of the E. Compe., so to prevent all such, and to maintain good order, as well as to help the skipper in his office and entrusted position (having already been somewhat deprived) to keep the malicious in check and under duress, understood as the chief merchant Jacob Reijniers. Our present person, the second person of this fortress, is to command the supreme command, with absolute power and authority: to also rule as the formal supreme head, to preside in all consultations, to administer justice, and furthermore to ensure the utmost tranquility and security on that ship for its preservation.
And for this purpose, all the more respect for In order to be able to have the people, the same was hereby added, at the discretion and approval of the Lord General and Council of India, the qualification of merchant, with 54 guilders, effective today.
And in place of the aforementioned provisionally discharged chief steersman, the skipper (of the galiette Rode Vos, moored here) Elbert Cornelis Kes was appointed on the aforementioned ship Vreede: to act as second skipper during the voyage in the chief steersman's place; together with the remaining third guard, 124, in the second steersman's place, and the sailmaker Pieter Jacobs. from Amsterdam in the third quarter, if found suitable in the previous examination, with a reward of 24 guilders per month, so that the guards, generally with trusted persons, would also be properly observed during this journey and all deception would be avoided; as well as that Compe's ship and goods, through God's guidance and assistance, would be brought safely to Batavia, peacefully and in good order, to which end the same Almighty God will grant his gracious blessings, help, and assistance. Amen.
And when a senior officer is required over the soldiers, Corporal Harman Verwer is assigned to the provisionally discharged sargeant's position, and, to ensure that all is well, his dining room is also assigned to the cabin, all at the discretion and approval of the High General and Council of India, as required.
Furthermore, it is noted that the galiot, the Roode Vos, remaining here in the river, is carrying out the transfer of skipper Elbert Cornelis Kes, and that no one else remains but the second mate Jan Sijmons to temporarily fill the skipper's position. Therefore, after the aforementioned examination and suitable finding, it was approved to allow the gunner Cornelis Jansz van Holsteijn of the aforementioned ship, the Vreede, to transfer to the galiot as second mate and to take charge of that position, for a reward of 30 guilders per month, effective today.
Thus done and resolved at Fort de Goede Hoope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1654.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARDENBERCH. 1654.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V. BURGH, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Op gisteren voor ons hebbende aenlant laeten comen alle de scheepsofficieren van ‘t schip de Vreede , die op ijder articul van seecker door den sargeant gehouden memoriael (bij haer soogenaempt) dinstinctelijck vraeghpointswijse, als oock noch andermael op hun overgelevert ende geteijckent verthoogh onder eede sijn verhoort, ende daer uijt als de mondelinge verclaringen van ijder een, meer ende meer bemerckende de seer groote disordres ende irreglementen op dat schip principaelijck onder de hoofftofficieren wesende, waerinne nootsaeckelijck redres vereijchst wort, ende nochtans vermits de cortheijt des tijts vrij langh werck staet te vallen: omme al de questien en de opgeresene onlusten na behooren finalijck aff te handelen, de wijle Compes. soo costelijcken retourschip daer door tot alte grooten schade van d’ E. Compe. souden moeten ophouden, vermits hier dagelijckx veel quaet weer hebben te verwachten, als wanneer niet ter werelt can uijtgereght worden, soo aen de verleden 2 dagen quaet weer genoeghsaem gebleecken ende ons bij ervaringe volcomentlijck bekent is, Ende jegenwoordigh de siecken van ‘t gemelte schip dagelijckx vrij reconvaliseren, mitsgaders ‘t scheurbuijck heeltemalen119 door de cool ende moescruijden uijt den thuijn crijgende, van ‘t volcq als t’ eenemael uijt lijff wegh gevaeght wort, Invougen den schipper verclaert binnen 3 à 4 dagen genoeghsaem sal cunnen vaerdigh wesen te vertrecken, Soo is na verscheijden deliberatien verstaen, de vordere proceduren te staecken, ende alle de stucken ende decumenten120 onder couverte van onse missive d’ Ed. Hr. Generael ende Raden van India tot Batavia toe te steuijren121 omme aldaer op derselver ordre bij den Raet van Justitie offte andersints verder geprocedeert te worden als na behooren.
Ende omme echter te versorgen dat gemelte schip (noch vol onrust ende misschien wel eenige bedeckte conspiratie wesende, insonderheijt onder de hoofftofficieren) evenwel des niet te min met ruste ende in goede ordre door Godes geleijde behouden mochte over comen, ende niet gelijck ‘t schip West Vrieslant door onordentlijcke regeringe van sijne te doene reijse versteecken te blijven, nochte oock tot sodanige ongelucken uijt de gemelte oneenicheden te geraecken gelijck (geen ander als de jegenwoordigh noch sijnde ordre gestelt wordende) te vresen soude wesen, Is na goet overlegh ten meesten dienste ende gerustigheijt van de opgemelte Compe. mede goetgevonden, den opperstuijrman, sargeant, onderstuijrman ende constabel als de principaele uijt crachte deses provisionelijck van hier tot Batavia buijten haere bedienende ampten te stellen: omme sonder eenigh gesagh over te varen. Insgelijcx oock den ondercoopman Willem Born, de wijle uijt de moeijten tusschen hem ende den sieckentrooster den uijtbarst van alle oneenicheden sigh principalijck g’openbaert hebben, nevens oock privatie van de caijuijt ende der selver slaepplaetsen die soodanigh sullen verordonneert wordendat des nachts122 ende bij ontijde altijt van den anderen mogen gesepareert blijven, ten welcken eijnde sigh den Commandeur deser fortresse Maendagh aenstaende met Godes toelatinge sal aen boort vervoegen: omme daerinne de vereijsschende ordre te stellen, op welcke separatie als voorsz geduijrende de voijagie oock bijsonderlijck sal gelet worden, gelijck mede den opperchirurgijn Wollevens om sijn inobediente bejegeninge aen desselffs overicheijt doorgaens gepleeght, oock van sijn eetplaetse aen de caijuijtstaeffel gepriveert sal blijven maer voor hem, vrouw ende kinderen in sijn camertjen eeten ende drincken beschafft als na behooren.
Ende dewijle oock t’ eenemael ende genoeghsaem bemercken datter nochal veel sijn die ‘t meer met de gemelte provisioneel buijten bedieningh gestelt wordende personen houden als met hunnen regerenden schipper invougen oock al vrij te duchten sij, daer uijt (van dese rheede na Batavia scheijende) ‘t voorige vuijr van oneenicheijt wel weder mochte ontfoncken, ende eenige tegen haren schipper anderwerff revolteren, ende dienvolgens ten laeste wel gaen als Godt betert door quade toeversight noch jonghst exempel hebben aen ‘t meergem. schip West Frieslant , soo dat de laetste dwalingewel123 erger mochte vallen als d’ eerste tot geen cleijne schaede ende intrest van d’ E. Compe., soo is tot voorcominge van alle sulcx, ende onderhoudinge van goede ordre, als oock omme den schipper in sijn ampt ende toevertrouwt gesagh (al eenighsints ontroofft sijnde geweest) te helpen maineteneren, de quaetwillige in toom ende onder dwangh te houden, verstaen, den oppercoopman Jacob Reijniers. onsen jegenwoordigen 2en persoon deser fortresse daerop ‘t oppergesagh te bevelen, met absolute macht ende authoriteijt: om oock als formeel opperhoofft te regeren, in alle raetspleginge te presideren, Justitie te administreren ende wijders te doen sulckx tot meeste ruste ende eenigheijt op dat schip tot behoudenisse van ‘t selve sal bevonden te behooren.
Ende omme ten dien eijnde dan oock te meer ontsagh voor ‘t volcq te mogen hebben wert denselven ter discretie ende approbatie van d’ Hr. Generael ende Raden van India bij desen oock toegevoeght de qualite van coopman met 54 gl. ‘s maents heden ingaende.
Ende in de plaetse van den als vooren provisionelijck gedechargeerden opperstuijrman, den schipper (van ‘t hier ter rheede leggende galijot de Rode Vos ) Elbert Cornelis. Kes op gemelte schip de Vreede gestelt: omme aldaer als tweede schipper geduijrende de reijse den opperstuijrmans plaetse te becleeden: mitsgaders den noch in wesen blijvende derdewaeck124 in d’ onderstuijrmans stede, ende den seijlmaecker Pieter Jacobs. van Amsterdam in des derdewaecks plaetse, als daer toe bij voorgaende examinatie bequaem bevonden sijnde, onder belooninge van 24 gl. ‘s maents, op dat oock de wachten doorgaens bij vertroude persoonen geduijrende dese reijse souden mogen na behooren waergenomen ende alle misleijdingh: mitsgaders Compes schip en goet door Godes geleijde ende hulpe doch met ruste ende in goede ordre behouden op Batavia gebracht worden, waertoe den selven Alvermogende sijnen genadigen zeegen, hulpe ende bijstant wil verleenen, Amen.
Ende de wijle datter oock nootsaeckelijck een hoofftofficier over de soldaten vereijscht, soo wort den Corporael Harman Verwer dat gesagh in des provisionele gedechargeerden sargeants plaetse gedefereert, ende om te meer gesagh te hebben sijn eetplaetse oock in de caijuijt verordonneert, alles ter discretie ende approbatie van d’E. Generael ende Raeden India als voor haelt.
Wijders gemerckt op ‘t hier ter rheede blijvende galijot de Roode Vos met ‘t oversetten van den schipper Elbert Cornelis Kes voorsz niemant anders blijfft als eenlijck den onderstuijrman Jan Sijmons omme daer ‘t schippersampt bij provisie te becleden, Soo is na voorgaende examinatie ende bequaem vindinge goetgevonden den schieman125 Cornelis Jansz van Holsteijn van ‘t gemelte schip de Vreede op do. galijot voor onderstuijrman over te laten gaen ende die plaetse te laten waernemen onder een belooninge van 30 guldens ‘s maents heden ingaende.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1654.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARDENBERCH. 1654.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.
Ende omme echter te versorgen dat gemelte schip (noch vol onrust ende misschien wel eenige bedeckte conspiratie wesende, insonderheijt onder de hoofftofficieren) evenwel des niet te min met ruste ende in goede ordre door Godes geleijde behouden mochte over comen, ende niet gelijck ‘t schip West Vrieslant door onordentlijcke regeringe van sijne te doene reijse versteecken te blijven, nochte oock tot sodanige ongelucken uijt de gemelte oneenicheden te geraecken gelijck (geen ander als de jegenwoordigh noch sijnde ordre gestelt wordende) te vresen soude wesen, Is na goet overlegh ten meesten dienste ende gerustigheijt van de opgemelte Compe. mede goetgevonden, den opperstuijrman, sargeant, onderstuijrman ende constabel als de principaele uijt crachte deses provisionelijck van hier tot Batavia buijten haere bedienende ampten te stellen: omme sonder eenigh gesagh over te varen. Insgelijcx oock den ondercoopman Willem Born, de wijle uijt de moeijten tusschen hem ende den sieckentrooster den uijtbarst van alle oneenicheden sigh principalijck g’openbaert hebben, nevens oock privatie van de caijuijt ende der selver slaepplaetsen die soodanigh sullen verordonneert wordendat des nachts122 ende bij ontijde altijt van den anderen mogen gesepareert blijven, ten welcken eijnde sigh den Commandeur deser fortresse Maendagh aenstaende met Godes toelatinge sal aen boort vervoegen: omme daerinne de vereijsschende ordre te stellen, op welcke separatie als voorsz geduijrende de voijagie oock bijsonderlijck sal gelet worden, gelijck mede den opperchirurgijn Wollevens om sijn inobediente bejegeninge aen desselffs overicheijt doorgaens gepleeght, oock van sijn eetplaetse aen de caijuijtstaeffel gepriveert sal blijven maer voor hem, vrouw ende kinderen in sijn camertjen eeten ende drincken beschafft als na behooren.
Ende dewijle oock t’ eenemael ende genoeghsaem bemercken datter nochal veel sijn die ‘t meer met de gemelte provisioneel buijten bedieningh gestelt wordende personen houden als met hunnen regerenden schipper invougen oock al vrij te duchten sij, daer uijt (van dese rheede na Batavia scheijende) ‘t voorige vuijr van oneenicheijt wel weder mochte ontfoncken, ende eenige tegen haren schipper anderwerff revolteren, ende dienvolgens ten laeste wel gaen als Godt betert door quade toeversight noch jonghst exempel hebben aen ‘t meergem. schip West Frieslant , soo dat de laetste dwalingewel123 erger mochte vallen als d’ eerste tot geen cleijne schaede ende intrest van d’ E. Compe., soo is tot voorcominge van alle sulcx, ende onderhoudinge van goede ordre, als oock omme den schipper in sijn ampt ende toevertrouwt gesagh (al eenighsints ontroofft sijnde geweest) te helpen maineteneren, de quaetwillige in toom ende onder dwangh te houden, verstaen, den oppercoopman Jacob Reijniers. onsen jegenwoordigen 2en persoon deser fortresse daerop ‘t oppergesagh te bevelen, met absolute macht ende authoriteijt: om oock als formeel opperhoofft te regeren, in alle raetspleginge te presideren, Justitie te administreren ende wijders te doen sulckx tot meeste ruste ende eenigheijt op dat schip tot behoudenisse van ‘t selve sal bevonden te behooren.
Ende omme ten dien eijnde dan oock te meer ontsagh voor ‘t volcq te mogen hebben wert denselven ter discretie ende approbatie van d’ Hr. Generael ende Raden van India bij desen oock toegevoeght de qualite van coopman met 54 gl. ‘s maents heden ingaende.
Ende in de plaetse van den als vooren provisionelijck gedechargeerden opperstuijrman, den schipper (van ‘t hier ter rheede leggende galijot de Rode Vos ) Elbert Cornelis. Kes op gemelte schip de Vreede gestelt: omme aldaer als tweede schipper geduijrende de reijse den opperstuijrmans plaetse te becleeden: mitsgaders den noch in wesen blijvende derdewaeck124 in d’ onderstuijrmans stede, ende den seijlmaecker Pieter Jacobs. van Amsterdam in des derdewaecks plaetse, als daer toe bij voorgaende examinatie bequaem bevonden sijnde, onder belooninge van 24 gl. ‘s maents, op dat oock de wachten doorgaens bij vertroude persoonen geduijrende dese reijse souden mogen na behooren waergenomen ende alle misleijdingh: mitsgaders Compes schip en goet door Godes geleijde ende hulpe doch met ruste ende in goede ordre behouden op Batavia gebracht worden, waertoe den selven Alvermogende sijnen genadigen zeegen, hulpe ende bijstant wil verleenen, Amen.
Ende de wijle datter oock nootsaeckelijck een hoofftofficier over de soldaten vereijscht, soo wort den Corporael Harman Verwer dat gesagh in des provisionele gedechargeerden sargeants plaetse gedefereert, ende om te meer gesagh te hebben sijn eetplaetse oock in de caijuijt verordonneert, alles ter discretie ende approbatie van d’E. Generael ende Raeden India als voor haelt.
Wijders gemerckt op ‘t hier ter rheede blijvende galijot de Roode Vos met ‘t oversetten van den schipper Elbert Cornelis Kes voorsz niemant anders blijfft als eenlijck den onderstuijrman Jan Sijmons omme daer ‘t schippersampt bij provisie te becleden, Soo is na voorgaende examinatie ende bequaem vindinge goetgevonden den schieman125 Cornelis Jansz van Holsteijn van ‘t gemelte schip de Vreede op do. galijot voor onderstuijrman over te laten gaen ende die plaetse te laten waernemen onder een belooninge van 30 guldens ‘s maents heden ingaende.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1654.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARDENBERCH. 1654.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.