Skip to content
GenDatabase
Sign in

Cape Council of Policy

455

1672-02-19

Back

Minute details

Entry number
455
Date
1672-02-19
Year
1672

English translation

Written by the Noble Lords Directors at the Amsterdam Chamber in a private letter to the late Commander Hackius dated 8 September anno passa, and upon his death, by his widow to the Lieutenant and First Councillor Sr. Breitenbach having been delivered up and opened, we would have liked to inform how Her Honor had heard that some enormous fraud had been committed in favor of the E. Compe by the captains of the ship Sparendam, which sailed from Texel last year on the 13th of October, in the taking over from a certain galliot (exploited deliberately for that purpose and their followers) under English a large quantity of barrels containing liquor, wines and brandies, and that Her Honor had likewise intimated in passing that there was an intention to practice the same on the ship 't Wapen van der Gouw, wherefore by 68 letters the late Commander was seriously informed of the aforementioned. to have the soil carefully inspected upon its arrival, and to have all the aforementioned to give advice both to Batavia and to Ceylon, as the same ship Gouda arrived on the 12th of July 69. On the day after, two members of the Council had them join them there and were specifically questioned about the matter, who, having returned with a report of sufficient knowledge of such practices on that coast, decided resolutely in the evening meeting on Sunday of the 13th (especially since the matter could not endure any further delay), to authorize the provisional fiscal Hendrick Crudop, who had served that office for so long, together with two members of the Council, to effectively conduct the investigation the following morning, which The commissioners, having joined them for that purpose by going up through the gate there, appeared on land again the following morning with the report that they had found there 47 oxheads of French and 36 cellars of brandy belonging to private individuals, which had also been brought ashore that same day and stored in the Company's warehouses. However, because a Mr. Pieter Denijn had also come over on the same soil, according to the letter from the Honourable. Gentlemen in the Fatherland dated 15th May 1671, instead of the fiscal Granaat to take over the fiscal office here,70 but because he from several sufficient reasons seemed to be suspect in the case, and the order that had been given to him to request his stabilisation had not been respected, the installation was for the time being placed under surveillance, however because the aforementioned investigation could not suffer any postponement, the visit to be made was, as stated, delegated to the provisional fiscal Crudop; After the inquiry was conducted on board, that evening, at the meeting, a certain insinuation of protest was made in his name, by the bailiff in the presence of witnesses, in which he was greatly affected by the vilipendie and was unfavorable to him in the aforementioned matter, and that this was done officially and qualitatively, and that no one could be authorized to bring the goods before him, therefore considering what had been done and what was yet to be done by anyone more than him to be null and void, etc.

To which, after a lecture was taken, the answer was given in Raade, that the aforementioned Mr. Denijn was to appear at the meeting the following morning at nine o'clock and to hear such a response as would be given there. Following the aforementioned Denijn's appearance, a copy of the response to his request was sent to the house, also to be understood in Council, to associate this disagreement and dissent with the designated Council of Justice of the Castle Colombo, and with the Arms of Ter Veer now passing there, to advocate and request reinforcement of the Council.

The subsequent Council of Justice, mentioned that evening, having been requested for this purpose by a certain clerk of this Secretary, served in response that the Council would again report on his behalf that their message71 had been received, without providing any positive report. Whereupon the next day the first clerk again sent to his board to reiterate the same request, finally agreed to represent himself at the meeting at ten o'clock. As such, the session of the late Commander being attended was occupied, consequently by Sr. Breitenbach first presented the reasons and motives which had prevented the Council from installing Mr. Pieter Denijn in his capacity for so long, citing distinct testimonials against him. Denijn admitted:

Item: How there was great dissent and disagreement on the ship Gouda between the military and sailors, principally, regarding the acquisition of private property as certificates of this seemed to be accumulating, which, in order to prevent all disasters, had to be fortified. Furthermore, the extreme necessity that burdened us due to the need for medicine, as no medical chests had been sent to us from the country for two years, and that far back then, [72] and even before that, more than 50 of our own garrison, in addition to the 100 impotent ships from the ships, were hampered in the hospital.

As well as the enormous demands placed on this residence by some of the shippers stationed at sea regarding masts, sides, topmasts, ropes, and other equipment. And then it was asked whether it would be inappropriate for these ships to be inspected by commissioners, or whether it was even necessary, if complaints were made, so that We were then obliged to do so to the best of our ability, and would attempt to accommodate it, but noting the contrary, that it would be more suitable for the return fleet, for the purpose of which such materials were specifically sent.

Similarly, since this place was very sparsely supplied with provisions by this strong garrison, it was not necessary to strictly observe the order of our Lords Superiors in monitoring the ships' consumption, so that we could then make arrangements on shore for what they, primarily those short voyages, might lack to assist us with.

Having meticulously annotated these matters in a chart, the meeting immediately adjourned, with the promise made to the aforementioned Council of Justice that he would present them again at the meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. and assist the instituted matters in mediating and deciding as best he could.

Having therefore appeared at the aforementioned time and day, he first proposed that he could not understand why the deputy councilors, Willem van Dieden, garrison accountant, Jan Wittebol, shopkeeper and surveyor, and the fiscal and sub-merchant Hendrick Crudop, were suspected in the case against Mr. Denijn, who would be present there, whereupon his motives were asked, to reject such, which at the age of the late Hr. Commander,73 under solemn oaths had been assumed to such dignity in extraordinary circumstances,74 replied that it was understood that way by him without being obliged to give any reasons to anyone. But on the repeated saying of him E. Vermeulen that something singular and special had to be proposed to the ordinary Council, which would not like to be revealed to the Extraordinary, but would remain secretive among them, this was agreed to under those conditions; But, as his session resumed as before in the aforementioned cathedra, Lieutenant Sr. Breitenbach brought His E. to meet him, stating that the Council, primarily concerned with the case of Mr. Pieter Denijn, had sought his presence to strengthen their weak college. He had never considered refusing His E. the presence, but in no way intended to imply that the vacant position of the late Commander, which had been vacant for so long, would be occupied by him, or by the Commissioner from India or Governor and Council Extraordinary of India, the Rev. Mr. Isbrand Goske, one of whom was met daily.

Whereupon His E. replied that, according to Indian custom, that place had come to him through the affiliation of the E. Commander, but that it would supersede it, therefore having taken a seat on another chair next to it, the matter of Mr. Pieter Denijn began again to urge that the latter should by all appropriate means establish himself in his capacity and dispose of the plan, without bringing the matter into a figurative lawsuit; Having thus extended the matter in its length and breadth, the morning had passed, the time wasted, and the other recommended points had not even been touched upon; at last it was finally resolved by proposal that a commissioner from the Council, together with two deputy skippers, and two other commissioners together with the surgeon here on board, should, after hearing of the alleged necessity, also procure some remaining medicines. These commissioners then joined them on board and were treated there with all scorn and contempt, and, without having observed or effected anything, returned that afternoon. They were then brought on board by the aforementioned. Vermeulen, who had brought the flag from the fatherland to this place,75 and who still remained stationed at his paresse, in respect of this residence, and76 raised a white flag from behind and fired a canon shot as a usual signal of the same gathering.

the discussion, which struck the Council in loco as very strange and absurd, immediately called a meeting to deliberate on this matter and other matters of the Company's interest with the others, as such consultations, according to the maxim of India, are nowhere observable, but tend to great disrespect and oppression of the Council in loco and consequently of the E. Company, and as a matter extremely odious after all kinds of suspicious unrest, whereupon the Council having gathered, was in accordance with the aforementioned lieutenant Sr. Breittenbach proposed and subsequently demonstrated this matter, so long ago in the Council of the aforementioned Van der Meulen, as was otherwise met by the respective chiefs of the ships stationed at the wharf, and subsequently submitted for questioning.

I. The Council was indeed required to appoint such a person who could not demonstrate the slightest burden of commission concerning this place, indeed whose name was not even spelled in so many letters, and who, instead of serving the Council with deliberation and consultation, proceeds with nothing but extravagant discourses, and only attempts to promote Mr. Pr. Denijn, indeed, to that end, ex authoritate the Council, attempting to legislate, rejecting the previously admitted Councils, and advancing with the Comps. concerning matters of this residence, and iteratively presented to him, not interfering in any way, to admit it any longer in Council, and to refuse to do so with good manners and sufficient justification, especially since it is found that all the matters submitted to him in secret, after the meeting had adjourned, are sufficiently known to everyone, and therefore great suspicion must be placed on Vermeulen.

Whereupon it has been agreed, resolved, and decided that since the aforementioned Council of Justice Van der Meulen, without our authorization and the least knowledge, has not failed to consider, against all practicable observance in vilipendie of the Council of this place, on his own private behalf, to summon the ship's officers here from the ship to Council and to hold consultations with them, also with the Comps. He has no interest and wishes to remain silent, but only with matters outside his jurisdiction, in which he seems partly quite passionate and suspicious, to henceforth refrain from presenting himself at meetings, and to allow proper insinuation, based on the authority and reasons for which he has suffered a public consultation here at the court, as if it were under higher jurisdiction, regarding which he would have to attend the meeting tomorrow at 8 o'clock and purge himself there.

Furthermore, as the preferred time for the refreshment and laying days here is almost over, it is decided that, being once again sailing alongside the other ships, it will have to make sail as soon as possible and depart for its designated location.

II. It was deemed unnecessary and entirely expedient and decided that, in order to henceforth promote such disrespect for the Council, the hitherto Extraordinary Councillors Willem van Dieden and Jan Wittebol, in the future, should attend the meeting at all times in all matters arising, which is also so decided.

III. Would it not also be advisable to have those soldiers from Gouda transferred to another ship, who have collectively come to complain to the ship's officers that they are being daily subjected to intolerable trampling, with threats that the tortures suffered at sea would be doubled, and in principle to those who have granted us certifications of the fraud committed on that ship? To prevent all calamities and to ensure that the aforementioned seabed sails more calmly and peacefully, it has been decided that all military personnel from the aforementioned Gouda should be transferred first to the ship Amersfoort, also destined for Ceylon, etc., and on the other hand, to allay all bitterness and discord through such a change.

IV. If it would not be fitting for commissioners from the Council to ask the ship's officers who were on the point of departure whether any were ready to depart from here, and that all deputies would have to resort to this, it has been decided that this would be entirely necessary, since some already seem to be seeking the ship's leave. V. Shouldn't one once again send some envoys ex authoritate to the Netherlands in the name of the Council, to earnestly recommend that everyone send their provisions to the country so that our poverty can be strengthened by calculating the most necessary provisions for the benefit of the Holy See? And likewise once more with medicine.

Both of these matters being deemed as necessary as anything in the world, partly because this garrison is quite numerous and one cannot be assured of an unexpected attack at this juncture, as when the lack of medication would make soldiers discouraging, and moreover, because the surgeon declares that several have died prematurely due to a lack of medication, especially of purgatives and laxatives, an act of authorization will be given to the aforementioned delegates to be nominated, in order to gain such repudiation in this case as is expressed herein.

Finally and finally, because during the paresse of this alderman various irregularities were committed by some, and due to the difference between these two fiscals no close regard was given to it, which in time would therefore burst out and erode in a disorderly household, it was further asked which of both should henceforth be authorized for that office, in order to prevent all irregularities and to uphold justice; whereupon it was unanimously decided that the long-standing fiscal Hendrick Crudop would be authorized to do so, at the time and insofar as the lawyer Mr. Pieter Denijn will have purged himself beforehand and thwarted the sufficient suspects, which were posed at his expense, either until the arrival of a higher and more qualified minister, either from India or the fatherland, especially since he repeatedly requested Denijn, yesterday and today, in a Council meeting, to confirm his stabilization in that position of the Reverend Mr. Vermeulen, and recused the other Council members. Van der Meulen, after several debates on the matter in Council, finally responded that he did not wish to decide on this matter, nor have anything further to do with it.

Thus done and resolved in the Fortress of Good Hope on the day and year aforesaid.

[Signed:] C. v. BREITENBACH.

[Signed:] D. FROIJMANTEAU.

[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.

[Signed:] W. VAN DIEDEN.

[Signed:] J. WITTEBOL. 24/2 1672

80

[Signed:] Present to me, as having admitted to this. J. PRAETORIUS

Original Dutch transcription

Aengesien d’ Edle. Heeren Bewinthebberen ter Camer Amsterdam bij particuliere missive aan den Commandeur Hackius zaliger in dato 8en Septembris anno passa geschreven, en bij sijne aflijvigheijt, door desselfs weduwe aan den luijtenant en eerste Raad Sr. Breitenbach overgelevert en geopent sijnde, ons hadden gelieven te bedeelen, hoe Haer Edle ter ooren was gecomen dat enige enorme fraudulentien tot praejudicie van d’ E. Compe bij de opperhoofden van ‘t schip Sparendam , in den voorleden jare op 13en Octobris uijt Texel gelopen, waren gepleegt in ‘t overnemen uijt zeker galjoot, (expres daertoe g’exploicteert en hun gevolgt) onder Engelant eene groote quantiteijt fustagien met mom, wijnen en brandewijnen, ende dat Haer Edle. insgelijx van ter zijden aangedient, dat men voornemens was diergelijx te te practiseren aan ‘t schip ‘t Wapen van der Gouw , weshalven bij ged.68 letteren den heer Commandeur zaliger wel ernstelijk wierde g’injungeert voorn. bodem bij desselfs arrivement nauwkeurigh te doen visiteren, ende van alle ‘t voors. so nae Batavia als nae Ceijlon advijs te geven, gelijk dan ook ‘t zelve schip Gouda op 12en hujus69 g’arriveert wesende ‘s daegs daeraen twe leeden uijt den Raat hun derwaerts hebben laten vervoegen en bedecktelijk nae die saeke ondervraegen, d’welcke met het rapport van genoegsame kennisse, dat zulx aan die bodem gepleegt, wederom te rugge verschenen wesende, heeft men in de avontvergaederinge op Sondagh daeraen, sijnde 13en voors., (te meer dewijle die saeke geen langer uijtstel conde lijden) resolutoir verstaen, den provisionelen fiscael Hendrick Crudop, dus lange dat officium bedient hebbende, nevens 2 leden van den Raat te authoriseren, omme aanstaande morgen ‘t ondersoek effectivelijk te doen, welke gecommitteerdens sigh dan ook tot dien eijnde met het opgaen van de poort derwaerts vervoegt hebbende, ‘s volgenden morgens wederom aan lant sijn verscheenen met bericht, dat door hun aldaer aan particulieren bevonden 47 oxhoofden Fransche en 36 kelders do. brandewijnen, dewelke ook dien eijgensten dagh aan lant gebracht en in ‘s Comps. pakhuijsen geborgen sijn; Doch dewijle per deselvige bodem mede overgekomen was eenen Mr. Pieter Denijn, omme, volgens ‘t aanschrijven van d’ Edle. Heeren in ‘t Patria dato 15en Maij 1671, in plaats van den fiscaal Granaat ‘t officie van fiscaal alhier waar te nemen,70 maer omdat deselve uijt verscheijde suffiçante redenen in die saeke suspect scheen te wesen, ook d’ ordre die hem was gegeven omme sijn stabilissement te versoeken niet en hadde geacht, wierde d’ installeringh voor alsdoen nogh in surcheantie gestelt, egter om dat het voors. ondersoek geen uijtstel conde lijden, is, als verhaalt, de te doene visite aan den provisionelen fiscaal Crudop gedefereert gebleven; Nae welke gedaane enqueste aan boort, is ‘s avonts ter vergaederinge uijt sijn Denijns naem, door de gerechtsboode in praesentie van getuijgen, overhantreijkt sekere insinuatie van protest, waarbij sijn persoon grootelijx doleerde over de vilipendie en ongelijk hem ter saake voors. en dat officie en qualiteijtshalven aangedaan, en dat niemant tot die aanhalinge der goederen konde g’authoriseert werden als sijn persoon, achtende dierhalven ‘t gedaane en ‘t nog te doene van jemant meer als hem, voor nul en onwaerden &a.

Waerop in Raade, nae genomen lecture, tot antwoort is gediendt, dat gemelde Mr. Denijn den aanstaanden dagh ‘s morgens te negen uijren soude hebben te compareren ter vergaederinge, en aldaer aanhoren sodanige antwoort als daerop soude gegeven werden; welken volgende voors. Denijn gecompareert zijnde, is zulx daerop gevolgt, en van d’ antwoort t’ sijnen versoeke copia t’ huijs gesonden, ook vorders in Raade verstaen, om die oneenigheijt en dissidie t’ assopieren den gedesigneerden Raat van Justitie des Casteels Colombo , ende met het Wapen van ter Veer alsnu derwaers overgaande, tot versterkinge van den Raat t’ advoceren ende te versoeken.

Welken volgende des avonts gemelde Raat van Justitie door seker clerck deser Secretarie hiertoe versocht sijnde, heeft deselve tot antwoort gediendt, dat den Raat uijt zijnen naem wederom soude rapporteren, dat hare bootschap71 hadde ontfangen, sonder eenige positive bescheijt te geven, waerop ‘s anderen daags nochmaels door den eerten klerq aen desselfs boort om ‘t selve versoek t’ reitereren gesonden zijnde, heeft eijndelik toegeseijt sijn persoon te sullen tegen thien uijren ter vergaederinge representeren; Gelijk dan ook gecompareert wesende, de sessie van den Commandeur saliger heeft g’occupeert, gevolgelijck door Sr. Breitenbach voor eerst voorgedraegen, de redenen en motiven, welke den Raat hadden gepermoveert omme duslange den Mr. Pieter Denijn in sijn qualiteijt niet t’ installeren, hem beroepende op distincte getuijgschriften advers hem Denijn beleijt:

Item. Hoe datt’ er seer groote dissentie en oneenigheijt op ‘t schip Gouda tussen de militaire en zeeluijden, principaal, so over ‘t aanhaelen der particuliere goederen als daervan verleende attestatien scheenen te rijsen, dewelke, om alle onheijlen voor te komen, nootsaekelijk dienden verschanst te werden. Verder d’ extreme nootsaekelikheijt die ons druckte wegens behoeftigheijt der medicamenten, also ons sedert twee jaren herwaerts geene medicinale kisten uijt ‘t Patria toegesonden, daerbij, dat langen tijtherwaerts72 en voor alsnoch met meer dan 50 van ons eijgen guarnisoen, behalven nogh bij d’ 100 impotenten van de schepen in ‘t hospitael belemmert waren:

Alsmede de enorme eijschen bij sommige der ter rhede leggende schippers aan dese residentie van masten, wangen, stengen, touw-werk en andere equippagies gedaan, Ende daerop gevraegt, off ‘t niet dienstigh soude wesen, dat deselve schepen door gecommitteerdens wierden gevisiteert, off de noot ook sodaenigh was, als men wel klachtigh viel, so jae, dat wij dan naer ons vermogen tot zulx gehouden waeren, en souden trachten t’ accomoderen, doch ‘t contrarie bespeurende, dat deselve beter voor d’ retourvloot, tot welken eijnde diergelijke materialen wel bijsonderlijk overgesonden wierden, souden te passe comen.

Insgelijx, dewijle dese plaatse gants sober bij dit starke guarnisoen met levensmiddelen versien, off men niet met alle vigeur d’ ordre van d’ Hren. Superioren behoorde te mainteneren in ‘t nasien der consumtien van de schepen respective, omme alsdan aan lant staat te kunnen maeken, wat deselve, principalijk die korte voijagien gehat hebben, conden ontberen omme ons daermede t’ adsisteren.

Welke saaken Sijn E. punctuïlijk op een chartabelletje g’annoteer[t] hebbende, is de vergaederinge doenmael gescheijden, met toesegginge bij genoemde Raat van Justitie gedaan, dat morgen aanstaande te 9 uijren, sigh wederom ter vergaederinge soude presenteren, en de g’institueerde saaken sodanigh helpen bemiddelen en decideren als op ‘t gevoegelijkste conde geschieden.

Gelijk dan ook ter voorn. tijt en dage verschenen wesende, vooreerst geproponeert heeft, niet te kunnen verstaan dat d’ g’adjungeerde Raaden Willem van Dieden guarnisoenboekhouder, Jan Wittebol winkelier en lantmeter, nevens den fiscaal en ondercoopman Hendrick Crudop, als suspect in d’ sake tegens Mr. Denijn, daerbij praesent souden sijn, waerop hem de motijven afgevraegt wesende, dat de sulke, dewelke bij leeftijde van d’ E. Hr. Commandeur saliger tot sodanigen waardigheijt bij extraordinairevoorvallen73 onder solemnele eeden waren g’assumeert, te rejecteren,74 Repliceerde, dat hetselve dus bij hem wierde verstaen sonder gehouden te zijn daervan eenige redenen aen ijemanden te geven, Doch op ‘t iteratijff seggen van hem E. Vermeulen dat ijets singuliers ende speciaels d’ ordinarie Raden te proponeren hadde, ‘t welk niet gaern aen d’ Extraordinarie g’openbaert, maer bij hun lieden gesecreteert soude blijven, is sulx onder die conditie voor als doen g’accordeert; Maer, alsoo sijne sessie wederom als voorheen nam in de vooren g’allegeerde cathedre, wierde van den lieutenant Sr. Breitenbach Zijn E. tegemoet gevoert, dat den Raadt sijn persoon principalijk de saeke van Mr. Pieter Denijn concernerende hadden tot versterkinge van haer swacke collegie versogt, en noijt gedachten gehat, Sijn E. de praeseance weijgeren, doch in generleij maniere te verstaan, dat de vacante plaatse van den Commandeur saliger door hem soude werden g’occupeert, dewelcke duslange open gestaan of voor den Commissaris uijt India off Gouverneur en Raat Extraordinaris van India d’ E. Hr. Isbrand Goske, welker een van beijden daegelijx wert tegemoet gesien.

Waerop Sijn E. heeft gerepliceert, die plaatse, volgens d’ Indische usancie hem toe te comen bij affijvigheijt van d’ E. Commandeur, dogh dat daervan soude supersederen, dierhalven sitplaats op een andere daeraen naest volgende stoel genomen hebbende, heeft al wederom de saake van Mr. Pieter Denijn beginnen t’ urgeren dat denselven doch op alle gevoegelijcke middelen souden in sijn qualiteijt vestigen en de plano afdoen, sonder die sake in een figuerlijk proces te brengen; Welke materie so in ‘t lange en brede g’extendeert hebbende, was de voormiddag verlopen, de tijt onnut versleten, ook d’ andere gerecommandeerde poincten niet eens aangeroert; eijndelijk wierde op ‘t laast bij voorslagh geresolveert dat een gecommitteerde uijt den Raat nevens twe g’adjungeerde schippers, en twe andere gecommitteerdens nevens den chijrurgijn alhier aan boort nae de gepretendeerde nootsakelijkheden souden vernemen, ook eenige overschietende medicamenten sien te procureren: Welke gecommitteerden hun daerop aan boort vervoegt en aldaer met alle hoon en smaat bejegent werdende, sijn, sonder ijets geobtineert en g’ efectueert te hebben ‘s naemiddaegs wedergekeert: Werdende vast daerop aan boort van den voorn. Vermeulen, dewelke de vlagge uyt ‘t vaderlant tot hier toegevoert,75 en op sijn paresse, ten respecte deser residentie, alsnogh gedefereert bleef, en76 witte vlagge van achteren op gehaalt en daerbij een canonschoot gedaan tot een gewoonlyk teken eender vergaederinge, ‘t welk den Raat in loco al seer vreemt en ongerijmt voorkomende, hebben ook aanstonts bijeencomste doen beleggen omme diesaangaande, en andere saeken ‘s Comps. interesse concernerende, met den anderen te delibereren, also diergelijke raatsplegingen nae de maxime van India nergens observabel, maer streckende is tot groote disrespect en vilipendie van den Raat in loco en bij gevolge van d’ E. Compe., ende als een sake uijttermaten odieus nae alderhande verdachte onlusten smakende, waerop dan den Raat bij een gekomen wesende, is ingevolge door den voorn. lieutenant Sr. Breittenbach die sake geproponeert en daernevens gedemonstreert, ‘t gunt ons duslangh in Raatspleginge van geseijde Van der Meulen, als andersints door de respective opperhoofden der ter rhede leggende schepen was ontmoet, ende daerop in omvrage gegeven.

I. Off den Raat wel gehouden was sodanigen persoon dewelke de minste last off commissie dese plaatse concernerende, niet can demonstreren, jae wiens naam in so menigvoudige becomene missiven niet eens wert gespelt en dewelke den Raat, in plaats van met overlegginge en raatspleginge te dienen, niet anders, als met extravagante discourssen ophout, en alleenlijk tracht de promotie van Mr. Pr. Denijn, jae, tot dien eijnde ex authoritate den Raadt tracht wetten te stellen de voorheen g’admitteerde Raaden rejecterende, ende sigh vorders met ‘s Comps. saken dese residentie rakende, en hem iterativelijck voorgedraegen in geenen deele bemoeijende, langer in Rade t’ admitteren, en daertegen met goet fatsoen en tot suffiçante verantwoordinge niet conde abandonneren, te meer, also men ondervint, dat alle ‘t gunt hem in secreet wert voorgedraegen, nae ‘t scheijden van de vergaederinge, bij elk een genoegsaem bekent is, en dierhalven groote suspicie op hem Vermeulen te nemen is.

Waerop eenhellingh is verstaen, geresolveert en besloten, dat dewijle voorn. Raat van Justitie Van der Meulen sonder onse authorisatie en d’ minste kennisse, sigh niet ontsien heeft, tegens alle practicabile observantie in vilipendie van de Raat deser plaatse op sijn eijgen prive de scheepsofficieren alhier van de rhede in Raade bij een te doen roepen en raatspleginge met deselve te houden, oock77 sigh met ‘s Comps. interesse niet en wil misteren, maer eenelijk met saken, die buijten sijn judicature, en warin deselve ten deele vrij gepassioneert en verdacht schynt te wesen, voortaan van sijn personeele comparitie in bijeenkomsten te eviteren, en daerneven gerichtelijk laten insinueren, uijt wat hoofde authoriteijt en redenen hij heeft dorven onderstaen een publijcque raatspleginge alhier op d’ rhede, als onder hoger jurisdictie leggende, te bestaen, waerover deselve sigh tegens morgen te klocke 8 uijren ter vergaederinge soude hebben te vervoegen en aldaer te purgeren.

Mitsgaeders alsoo den gepraefigeerden tijt der ververs- en leghdaegen alhier bijnae78 omgecomen, dat deselve wederom seijlrhede sijnde nevens d’ andre schepen, so haast mogelijck sal hebben zeijl te maken en nae zijne gedestineerde plaatse vertrecken.

II. Off niet voor nodigh en gants dienstigh aangesien en g’oirdeelt wiert, dat, om sodanige kleijnachtinge van den Raat voortaan te praevenieren, de tot nogtoe Extraordinarie Raaden Willem van Dieden en Jan Wittebol in toecomende tot naeder ordre, t’ allen tijde de vergaderinge souden hebben bij te woonen in alle voorvallende saken, ‘t welk insgelijx sodanig verstaan is.

III. Off het ook niet raadsaam soude wesen, dat men die soldaten van Gouda op een ander schip liet overgaen, dewelke gesamentlijck over d’ scheepsofficieren sijn comen klagen, dat daegelijx onverdraegelijck van deselve werden getravailleert, met dreijgementen dat de geledene tormenten, in zee gekomen zijnde, aan deselve nogh souden verdubbelen, en principael diegene, dewelke ons certificatien van de gepleegde fraudulentien op die bodem hebben verleent? Waerop eenhelligh om alle onheijlen voor te komen, en om genoemde bodem dies te geruster en vrediger te doen vaeren, is goet gevonden dat men alle de militaire persoonen van geseijde Gouda metten eersten daervan sal laten overgaen op ‘t schip Amersfoort , mede naer Ceijlon gedestineert &C., e contra omme door sodanige changeringe alle bitterheijt en tweedragt te benemen.

IV. Off ‘t niet betamelijk zoude wesen, dat men door gecommitteerdens uijt den Raat de ter rhede leggende sche[e]psofficieren liet afvraegen, of bijnae vaerdigh waren van hier te vertrecken, en dat tot zulx alle debvoir souden hebben aan te wenden, waerop goet gevonden, zulx gants nootsaekelijck te wesen, dewijle sommige al schijnen ‘t lietje van verlangen op te soeken.

V. Off men niet andermael ex authoritate naer boort diende te senden eenige gesanten uijt den naam van den Raat, omme wel ernstigh aan te bevelen dat ijder zijne consumtien sal hebben aan lant te senden op dat onse armoed uijt haren overvloet bij calculatie ten hoog nodigsten dienste van d’ E. Compe. wat gesterkt werde; en diergelijx nogmaels met d’ medicamenten. Zijnde beijde dese saken so hoogh nodigh g’oirdeelt als ijets ter werelt, eensdeels dewijle dit guarnisoen vrij talrijk en men niet versekert can wesen van eenen onverwachten overval bij dit gewrichte van tijden, als wanneer d’ ontbeernisse van medicamenten discouragieuse soldaten soude maken, dat meer is, dewijle de chijrurgijn verclaert, verscheijde, bij mancquement, insonderheijt van purgantia en laxantia ontijdigh zijn comen te sterven, sullende aan de voors. te nomineren gedeputeerdens een acte van authorisatie werden medegegeven, omme in cas van repudiatie sodaenigh daerin te vervaren als bij deselve g’expresseert staat.

Eijndelijk ende ten laasten, dewijle bij d’ paresse van dese schepen verscheijde moetwilligheden bij sommige zijn gepleegt, en hangende den verschille tussen dese twe fiscaalen geen nauwe achtinge daer op gegeven, welk metter tijt sodoende wel in een ongeregelde huijshoudinge soude uijtspatten en erumperen, Wierde vorders gevraegt, wien van beijde men diende tot dat officie voortaen t’ authoriseren, omme alle ongeregeltheden voor te comen ende d’ Justitie te hanthaven; waerop eenhelligh is verstaan, dat den duslang gewesenen fiscaal Hendrick Crudop tot zulx sal werden g’authoriseert, ter tijt en wijle, dat den advocaat Mr. Pieter Denijn sigh alvoorens sal hebben gepurgeert, ende verijdelt de suffisante suspicien, dewelke t’ sijnen laste werden geposeert, off wel tot de komste van een hooger en gequalificeerder minister, ‘t zij uijt Indien off79 ‘t vaderlant, te meer, dewijle hij Denijn gistern en vandaegh iteratijff in vergaederinge van Raade zijn stabilissement in die functie van d’ E. Hr. Vermeulen, eenelijk heeft versocht en de andere Raden gerecuseert, daerop geseijde Van der Meulen, naer verscheijde debatten daerover in Rade gevallen, eijndelijck tot antwoort heeft gediendt, dat hij die sake niet woude decideren, noch daermede voorts te doen hebben.

Aldus gedaan ende geresolveert in d’ Fortresse de Goede Hoope ten dage en jare voors.

[Signed:] C. v. BREITENBACH.

[Signed:] D. FROIJMANTEAU.

[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.

[Signed:] W.VAN DIEDEN.

[Signed:] J. WITTEBOL. 24/2 1672

80

[Signed:] Mij present, als tot sulx g’admitteert sijnde. J. PRAETORIUS