Cape Council of Policy
479
1672-11-30
Minute details
- Entry number
- 479
- Date
- 1672-11-30
- Year
- 1672
English translation
Although by resolution of the 27th Passado (for reasons) it was established to delay the execution of the projected design on the island of St. Helena until the arrival of the ship Hellevoetsluijs, we nevertheless find it incumbent upon us, given her prolonged delay, that the aforementioned feat cannot be postponed any longer. Accordingly, it is decided in Council, reinforced by the respective skippers of the ships moored here, after precise consideration of Our Honor. The Gentlemen Principals have resolved to proceed with the aforementioned design until the 10th of the following month, December, and to use for this purpose first the ships Vrijheijt, Polsbroeck and Cattenburgh with the addition of the whistle 't Vliegent Swaentje, with which the respective heads of those ships with the military force projected thereto (under God's blessing) they deem sufficient to carry out the aforementioned. To bring the operation to the desired end, it was also decided to form a preliminary armed force of 330 men, namely 180 soldiers and 150 sailors, divided into six properly equipped banners with a full complement of chief officers, in addition to a captain, lieutenant, and standard-bearer, namely a sargeant, three corporals, and other officers as required for each company. While at sea, the soldiers and sailors must be trained daily to handle their weapons.
And since the aforementioned Her Honors. We have been asked to appoint such a chief and other officers as they deemed appropriate for the execution of this commission. Therefore, (all things considered) we have appointed Jacob de Geus, skipper of the Vrijheijt and, for this, proven bravery, as skipper-commander, at the recommendation of the aforementioned Her Honor, His Eminence, as chief witness of the exploit, both at sea and on land, as well as Coenraed Breijtenbach, provisional captain, as head of the militia, and Sergeant Pieter Daeij, provisionally ensign, to attend the Council as Secretary. It was also decided to embark all train supplies, ammunition of war and other kinds (as much as could be spared from here) in 't Vliegende Swaentje, along with ƒ6,600 in cash and 8 loads of rice to be used for maintaining the train. Since we are unable to provide any other supplies from our meager reserves here, such as the rice and 20 barrels of bacon, for the subsistence of the settlements there upon capture of the aforementioned island, it was therefore decided to authorize the skipper, commander, and his E. Council (if necessary) to attack the Batavian cargo ship and to report there as and when necessary, provided that proper records are kept of everything.
It has also been considered good practice to bring the cash, along with some boxes of mirrors and sheets from the aforementioned ships, ashore here for greater security, and that a small payment box amounting to ƒ6,600 will be given to them for use in emergencies.
Furthermore, in consideration of our aforementioned Naval forces might encounter some ships on the island of St. Helena, which, knowing their powerlessness, capped anchor and preceded them, or whether they would pursue them and see if they could be captured. After careful deliberation, it was unanimously resolved not to undertake such an undertaking, but first and foremost to conquer the island and not to frustrate the Royal Netherlands Company's intention by any pursuit.
Finally, on the flying of the flags that Zeeland had adopted according to the Royal Netherlands Company's custom. As the Presidency Chamber arrives, having duly taken note, it is unanimously resolved, in view of the fact that the skipper, commander, already on the ship Vrijheijt, as the main ship, has been instructed, to fly the flag of the main topmast, Zuijt Polsbroeck of the foretopmast, and Cattenburgh of the topmast.100
Thus arrested and resolved in the Fortress of Good Hope, date as above.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKE.
[Signed:] ALBERT VAN BREUGEL.
[Signed:] JACOB DE GEUS.
101
[Signed:] CONRAD VON BREITENBACH.
[Signed:] JAN BARTELSEN.
[Signed:] JAN BARTELSEN.
102
[Signed:] J. COON.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP. In R. and Secrt.
And since the aforementioned Her Honors. We have been asked to appoint such a chief and other officers as they deemed appropriate for the execution of this commission. Therefore, (all things considered) we have appointed Jacob de Geus, skipper of the Vrijheijt and, for this, proven bravery, as skipper-commander, at the recommendation of the aforementioned Her Honor, His Eminence, as chief witness of the exploit, both at sea and on land, as well as Coenraed Breijtenbach, provisional captain, as head of the militia, and Sergeant Pieter Daeij, provisionally ensign, to attend the Council as Secretary. It was also decided to embark all train supplies, ammunition of war and other kinds (as much as could be spared from here) in 't Vliegende Swaentje, along with ƒ6,600 in cash and 8 loads of rice to be used for maintaining the train. Since we are unable to provide any other supplies from our meager reserves here, such as the rice and 20 barrels of bacon, for the subsistence of the settlements there upon capture of the aforementioned island, it was therefore decided to authorize the skipper, commander, and his E. Council (if necessary) to attack the Batavian cargo ship and to report there as and when necessary, provided that proper records are kept of everything.
It has also been considered good practice to bring the cash, along with some boxes of mirrors and sheets from the aforementioned ships, ashore here for greater security, and that a small payment box amounting to ƒ6,600 will be given to them for use in emergencies.
Furthermore, in consideration of our aforementioned Naval forces might encounter some ships on the island of St. Helena, which, knowing their powerlessness, capped anchor and preceded them, or whether they would pursue them and see if they could be captured. After careful deliberation, it was unanimously resolved not to undertake such an undertaking, but first and foremost to conquer the island and not to frustrate the Royal Netherlands Company's intention by any pursuit.
Finally, on the flying of the flags that Zeeland had adopted according to the Royal Netherlands Company's custom. As the Presidency Chamber arrives, having duly taken note, it is unanimously resolved, in view of the fact that the skipper, commander, already on the ship Vrijheijt, as the main ship, has been instructed, to fly the flag of the main topmast, Zuijt Polsbroeck of the foretopmast, and Cattenburgh of the topmast.100
Thus arrested and resolved in the Fortress of Good Hope, date as above.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKE.
[Signed:] ALBERT VAN BREUGEL.
[Signed:] JACOB DE GEUS.
101
[Signed:] CONRAD VON BREITENBACH.
[Signed:] JAN BARTELSEN.
[Signed:] JAN BARTELSEN.
102
[Signed:] J. COON.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP. In R. and Secrt.
Original Dutch transcription
Alhoewel bij resolutie van den 27 passado (om redenen) vastgestellt zij met de uijtvoeringh van ‘t geprojecteerde dessijn op ‘t eijlant St. Helena tot d’ aencomst van ‘t schip Hellevoetsluijs te vertoeven, Soo vinden ons nochtans door desselfs langh achterblijven genootdruckt ‘t voors. exploict niet langer uijt te stellen, Ingevolge is in Rade, versterckt met de respective schippers der hier ter rheede leggende scheepen, naer exacte overweginge van onse Ed. Heeren Principalen haer ordre geresolveert ‘t voorgemelde desseijn jegens 10en der aenstaende maent December te laten voortgaen, en daer toe vooreerst te gebruijcken de scheepen Vrijheijt , Polsbroeck en Cattenburgh met bijvoegingh van ‘t fluijtje ‘t Vliegent Swaentje , waer mede haer dan de respective hoofden dier scheepen met de daer toe geprojecteerde crijgsmacht (onder Gods Segen) sufficant oordeelen om voorgem. exploict ter gewenschter eijnde te brengen, en is oock goetgevonden tot vooraengetogen krijgsmacht uijt te maken 330 coppen te weten 180 militaire en 150 matroosen t’ saemen verdeelt in ses vaendels behoorlijck met complete hooft officieren buijten een capteijn en luijtenant en een vaendrager versien, namentlijck voor ijeder comp. een sargeant, 3 corporaels en vordere officiers naer vereijsch en dat in zee zijnde de soldaten en matroosen dagelijcks tot het handelen van haer geweer sullen moeten bequaem gemaeckt werden.
Ende dewijl meergemelte Haer Edls. aen ons hebben gelieven te deffereren dat tot uijtvoeringh deser commissie soodanigh opperhooft en verdere vereijste officieren hadden te stellen, als daer toe souden bequaemst oirdelen, Soo hebben (alles wel overwogen zijnde) tot schipper commandeur daer toe g’ eligeert Jacob de Geus, schipper op de Vrijheijt en, om voordesen beproeffde blijcken van dapperheijt, als op de recommandatie van welgemelde Haer Edle. Zijn E. tot opperbelijder van de exploict, soo te water als te lande gestelt, mitsgaders tot hooft der militie Coenraed Breijtenbach als provisioneel capteijn, en als vaendrigh bij provisie den sargeant Pieter Daeij om daernevens den Raat als Secretaris bij te woonen.
Soo is mede gearresteert alle treijnsbehoeften, ammonitie van oorlogh als anders (soo veel bequaemelijck van hier connen gemist werden) te embarqueren in ‘t Vliegende Swaentje nevens ƒ6600 in contant en 8 lasten rijst omme tot onderhoudingh van den treijn gebruijckt te werden, en vermits niet machtigh sijn uijt onsen soberen voorraet alhier eenige ande[re] vivres als den rijs en 20 vaten speck bij veroveringh van gemelde eijlant tot onderhout van de besettelingen aldaer medete geven,99 Soo is goet gevonden den schipper commandeur en Sijn E. Raet te authoriseren (des noot zijnde) ‘t Batavisch cargasoen te mogen aentasten en sich daer van naer gelegentheijt te dienen, mits van alles behoorlijck aenteekeningh houdende.
Is oock verders goet gevonden, de contanten nevens eenige cass[en] spiegels en laekenen uijt d’ voors. scheepen tot beeter verseeckerheijt alhier aen lant te lichten, en dat hunlieden, om in voorvallende gelegentheden te mogen gebruijcken, medegeven sal werden een kistje pajement beloopende ƒ6600.
Wijders in bedenckingh gegeven sijnde bij aldien onse voors. navale macht op ‘t aendoen van ‘t eijlant St. Helena eenig[e] scheepen aldaer mochten rescontreren, die haer onmachtigh kennende, d’ anckers cappende, voorgingen, of men deselve soude vervolgen en sien te bemachtigen, is daer op nae rijpe overlegginge, eenstemmigh geresolveert sulcx niet te ondernemen, maer eerst en voor al ‘t eijlant te vermeesteren en met geen najagen d’ E. Compe. van haer voornemen te frustreren.
Eijndelijck op ‘t voeren der vlaggen, die Zeelant volgens costume der E. Compe. als presidiale Camer toecomt, reguart genomen zijnde, is daer op eenparigh geresolveert, ten aensien den schipper commandeur reets op het schip de Vrijheijt , als het capitaelste, is bescheijden, Zijn E. de vlagge van de groote stengh, Zuijt Polsbroeck van de voorstengh, en Cattenburgh van de kruijsstengh te laten waijen.100
Aldus gearresteert ende geresolveert in d’ Fortresse de Goede Hoope datum als boven.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKE.
[Signed:] ALBERT VAN BREUGEL.
[Signed:] JACOB DE GEUS.
101
[Signed:] CONRAD VON BREITENBACH.
[Signed:] JAN BARTELSEN.
102
[Signed:] J. COON.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP. In R. en Secrt.
Ende dewijl meergemelte Haer Edls. aen ons hebben gelieven te deffereren dat tot uijtvoeringh deser commissie soodanigh opperhooft en verdere vereijste officieren hadden te stellen, als daer toe souden bequaemst oirdelen, Soo hebben (alles wel overwogen zijnde) tot schipper commandeur daer toe g’ eligeert Jacob de Geus, schipper op de Vrijheijt en, om voordesen beproeffde blijcken van dapperheijt, als op de recommandatie van welgemelde Haer Edle. Zijn E. tot opperbelijder van de exploict, soo te water als te lande gestelt, mitsgaders tot hooft der militie Coenraed Breijtenbach als provisioneel capteijn, en als vaendrigh bij provisie den sargeant Pieter Daeij om daernevens den Raat als Secretaris bij te woonen.
Soo is mede gearresteert alle treijnsbehoeften, ammonitie van oorlogh als anders (soo veel bequaemelijck van hier connen gemist werden) te embarqueren in ‘t Vliegende Swaentje nevens ƒ6600 in contant en 8 lasten rijst omme tot onderhoudingh van den treijn gebruijckt te werden, en vermits niet machtigh sijn uijt onsen soberen voorraet alhier eenige ande[re] vivres als den rijs en 20 vaten speck bij veroveringh van gemelde eijlant tot onderhout van de besettelingen aldaer medete geven,99 Soo is goet gevonden den schipper commandeur en Sijn E. Raet te authoriseren (des noot zijnde) ‘t Batavisch cargasoen te mogen aentasten en sich daer van naer gelegentheijt te dienen, mits van alles behoorlijck aenteekeningh houdende.
Is oock verders goet gevonden, de contanten nevens eenige cass[en] spiegels en laekenen uijt d’ voors. scheepen tot beeter verseeckerheijt alhier aen lant te lichten, en dat hunlieden, om in voorvallende gelegentheden te mogen gebruijcken, medegeven sal werden een kistje pajement beloopende ƒ6600.
Wijders in bedenckingh gegeven sijnde bij aldien onse voors. navale macht op ‘t aendoen van ‘t eijlant St. Helena eenig[e] scheepen aldaer mochten rescontreren, die haer onmachtigh kennende, d’ anckers cappende, voorgingen, of men deselve soude vervolgen en sien te bemachtigen, is daer op nae rijpe overlegginge, eenstemmigh geresolveert sulcx niet te ondernemen, maer eerst en voor al ‘t eijlant te vermeesteren en met geen najagen d’ E. Compe. van haer voornemen te frustreren.
Eijndelijck op ‘t voeren der vlaggen, die Zeelant volgens costume der E. Compe. als presidiale Camer toecomt, reguart genomen zijnde, is daer op eenparigh geresolveert, ten aensien den schipper commandeur reets op het schip de Vrijheijt , als het capitaelste, is bescheijden, Zijn E. de vlagge van de groote stengh, Zuijt Polsbroeck van de voorstengh, en Cattenburgh van de kruijsstengh te laten waijen.100
Aldus gearresteert ende geresolveert in d’ Fortresse de Goede Hoope datum als boven.
[Signed:] ISBRAND GOSKE.
[Signed:] ALBERT VAN BREUGEL.
[Signed:] JACOB DE GEUS.
101
[Signed:] CONRAD VON BREITENBACH.
[Signed:] JAN BARTELSEN.
102
[Signed:] J. COON.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP. In R. en Secrt.