Cape Council of Policy
557
1677-10-04
Minute details
- Entry number
- 557
- Date
- 1677-10-04
- Year
- 1677
English translation
Presentibus omnibus.
After the ordinary prayer to God Almighty, the surveyor from Hottentot Holland, Sergeant Lourens Visser, having appeared in council, reported to the Honourable Governor how the Inquisition, which had later been visited by some Hottentots in the same country, had discovered that the Hottentot nation called Hosiquas (with which the E.C. Company had made a fairly good exchange last year), appeared again, approximately 50 miles from here at the old location, as promised, with the intention (apparently) of making an exchange with the Company. And since the E.C. Company free choice for the presence of cattle for slaughter is that in the event that such and similar occasions do not serve themselves properly, otherwise (neglecting that forethought) it would ultimately lead to great damage to the mother and young cattle, as well as to remain unstable to the ongoing and upcoming Comps. multitude of expensive ships after inflicting their own serious surprise on the ice, except that this nation has rarely come so close, so is this good occasion and the scarcity of the Comps. present cattle, considering the need and great want of these poor inhabitants the utmost respect and (according to their well-given order in Eden) unanimously approved said expedition so as to be of convenience to the E.Compe. that the poorest inhabitants who are inclined to plough, are to be allowed to undertake first, with a number of 10 of the Company's servants and 10 equal liberties who must provide for their own food, among which, on behalf of the E.Comp., the aforementioned sergeant from Hottentot Holland, Lourens Visser (having been given the necessary merchants' gear) will lead the game, without any of the accompanying libertines. Those who will have to oppose the same, or in case of disobeying any imposed service, will be liable for such penalty as they will later find to be due, given the importance of the matter. The said exemption of the poorest and most needy, up to a number of 20 persons, will be appointed by the Citizens' Council, to further advance the plough and to get it back on its feet.104 Measured: one-third of all the coarse cattle that the E. Company (if successful) will come to exchange for such a sum as the said cattle the E. Company will incur, including the expenses.
And since much coarse cattle has been omitted in that passage105, and the E. Company and the freedmen are therefore very much needed, both for their slaves and otherwise (given that very little fish is caught). Therefore, at the suggestion and request of the Citizen Councils, it was also deemed acceptable to send 10 to 12 freedmen out with a sea-cow shooting expedition, and the Citizen Councils Joannes Valckenrijck and Harmen Gresnight showed themselves willing to also bring a load of that animal, adding to this, in order to have better supervision over the freedmen and when they also believe everything will proceed more carefully.
They are also arrested in Rade due to the great need for cattle (as mentioned above) and because of the proximity of the Hottentot leaders (Goennema). Jeronimus Cruse, with ten men and the necessary merchants, was to be sent there immediately to obtain a good quantity of slaughterable cattle and sheep (to reinforce the Company's existing livestock and to supply the expected heavy return fleet), in exchange, so as to ensure that the Company's slaves were always kept in good condition and in good supply.
And also, having seen the Company's sick slaves in the hospital, a lb. was sent to us by our Dutchmen (without distinction). meat in addition to vegetables have enjoyed daily and on top of that abundant provision (which is done for her refreshment) she comes to sin, and provides for it (because she notices that it is much better to be in the hospital on discharge than outside while doing her duty), It was also (after we had served the advice of the doctor and master of the hospital) found to be acceptable, especially since, as we are not yet provided with suitable cattle for slaughter, we should henceforth add half a dozen instead of a lb. of meat, with which it was judged (still enjoying the ordinary vegetables) that she can sufficiently subsist; In addition, the aforementioned doctor and master were instructed to pay close attention to those who are pregnant with feigned illness and who will only have to perform their duties through laziness, fearing their loss. They should endeavor to continue this work for the E. Company.106
And since we read from the letter of May 11th, 2007, from the authority of the General N. Patented E. Company107, that the designs of the French (who were alleged to be The fact that our Lords Majors had already caused some concern to themselves at the Cape, not that their Lordships feared that we would not offer them the necessary resistance, but that, arriving so unexpectedly, they would find us in some state of unpreparedness, and thus possibly cause them great embarrassment; and since their Nobility did not fully anticipate that the King would come to rest with such a fleet for the second time, much less to send it to the Cape or the East Indies, and yet they wrote that these were things that could happen, they recommended that their Nobility. that in case of a sudden attack, we should be on our guard, to strengthen the garrison a little more (which we judge to be insufficiently strong yet), and also to prepare ourselves as a whole as if we were attacked.109 The Governor had already begun this long ago, and after careful deliberation, along with his Council, it was determined and decided that it would be most necessary to begin first, and to bring the still-short guards, with their ramparts, into a proper defensive position to have a suitable passage, as well as to have as many suitable ribs cut to the riverbed and planks laid out for it as were necessary. Likewise, the newly negotiated warehouse also has to be constructed in a hurry. Orders have also been given to make ice cubes at the smithy as beacons, to store Cape skins (to fill the firing frames), and to generally provide everything necessary for the defense of the fort. As, in that regard, it has also been approved and decided in Rade to brick up the ordinary, passable gate (as soon as possible) and to erect the new one currently under construction on the sea side, as well as to have the smith and carpenters (to be present at the work) enter this fortress with their own hands, and also, after the 15th of this month (when the ransom will have been issued), to have as much rice as possible brought in here and to have everything here and not to leave it as plunder to bolster an invading enemy (God forbid), above all, no less consideration will be given to the first opportunity to get all the equipment inside, for the storage of which all the provisions were applied daily.
Furthermore, it has been deemed very necessary to continue to adhere to our previous decision of … 111 and the free Cornelis Adrijaensen, Lourens Cornelissen, Gerrit Janssen alias the farmer and the widow of the citizen Gerrit Dircxse Verweij de novo absolutely to charge that their houses here located under the fortress must be demolished from this month at the latest, the measure of delay having been deliberately assigned to these poor people so that in the meantime they could come to their story to be able to fortify themselves from there with suitability and to settle elsewhere, as has already happened from some in advance112, the deaconry is also expressly recommended to urge their advance (as much as can be suffered), to compensate these people who are suffering damage and in need for the loss of their demolished house (which requires) some assistance to lend.
Eindelijck is also still under arrest. to have the cattle grazing on Robben Island brought back here (because the suitable wind might finally come to an end in this monsoon, and we should not be deceived in our good intentions), as well as the cattle from Dassen Island belonging to the privileged tear-burner and freeman Willem van Dieden, and to provide a little sympathy for their damage (which they will suffer as a result), it has been agreed (because the return fleet is also imminent and for the relocation of which much mercy is needed) to take all of them (except some for the owner according to his own opinion) for the E. Compe. at such a price as according to the appraisal of two persons from the A political council and two citizen councils will be deemed worthy, provided that the E. Compe. will also bear the burden (so that some might die).
And in this case, if any enemy here seemed to want to launch an attack on this fortress and was indeed of the opinion that they wanted to land, it was also unanimously resolved to order the boss or another man, along with some of the most loyal servants, to go inland over the mountains to Captain Claes, both with the Compe.'s cattle and horses, as well as the freemen's cattle, in order not to feed or provide the enemy with anything other than our own needs.
Finally, all the freemen were arrested and confiscated from their homes, as well as from the E. Compe. (which was judged to be of great importance and to be of great help to the enemy) in that case and on to be set on fire, or detonated, with the object (ensuring that everything is done properly and neither too early nor too late) not to die later and to be planned to have everything ready in a hurry before the enemy comes near.
Thus arrested and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year mentioned above.
[Signed:] J. BAX g. v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM, Rt. Sects.
After the ordinary prayer to God Almighty, the surveyor from Hottentot Holland, Sergeant Lourens Visser, having appeared in council, reported to the Honourable Governor how the Inquisition, which had later been visited by some Hottentots in the same country, had discovered that the Hottentot nation called Hosiquas (with which the E.C. Company had made a fairly good exchange last year), appeared again, approximately 50 miles from here at the old location, as promised, with the intention (apparently) of making an exchange with the Company. And since the E.C. Company free choice for the presence of cattle for slaughter is that in the event that such and similar occasions do not serve themselves properly, otherwise (neglecting that forethought) it would ultimately lead to great damage to the mother and young cattle, as well as to remain unstable to the ongoing and upcoming Comps. multitude of expensive ships after inflicting their own serious surprise on the ice, except that this nation has rarely come so close, so is this good occasion and the scarcity of the Comps. present cattle, considering the need and great want of these poor inhabitants the utmost respect and (according to their well-given order in Eden) unanimously approved said expedition so as to be of convenience to the E.Compe. that the poorest inhabitants who are inclined to plough, are to be allowed to undertake first, with a number of 10 of the Company's servants and 10 equal liberties who must provide for their own food, among which, on behalf of the E.Comp., the aforementioned sergeant from Hottentot Holland, Lourens Visser (having been given the necessary merchants' gear) will lead the game, without any of the accompanying libertines. Those who will have to oppose the same, or in case of disobeying any imposed service, will be liable for such penalty as they will later find to be due, given the importance of the matter. The said exemption of the poorest and most needy, up to a number of 20 persons, will be appointed by the Citizens' Council, to further advance the plough and to get it back on its feet.104 Measured: one-third of all the coarse cattle that the E. Company (if successful) will come to exchange for such a sum as the said cattle the E. Company will incur, including the expenses.
And since much coarse cattle has been omitted in that passage105, and the E. Company and the freedmen are therefore very much needed, both for their slaves and otherwise (given that very little fish is caught). Therefore, at the suggestion and request of the Citizen Councils, it was also deemed acceptable to send 10 to 12 freedmen out with a sea-cow shooting expedition, and the Citizen Councils Joannes Valckenrijck and Harmen Gresnight showed themselves willing to also bring a load of that animal, adding to this, in order to have better supervision over the freedmen and when they also believe everything will proceed more carefully.
They are also arrested in Rade due to the great need for cattle (as mentioned above) and because of the proximity of the Hottentot leaders (Goennema). Jeronimus Cruse, with ten men and the necessary merchants, was to be sent there immediately to obtain a good quantity of slaughterable cattle and sheep (to reinforce the Company's existing livestock and to supply the expected heavy return fleet), in exchange, so as to ensure that the Company's slaves were always kept in good condition and in good supply.
And also, having seen the Company's sick slaves in the hospital, a lb. was sent to us by our Dutchmen (without distinction). meat in addition to vegetables have enjoyed daily and on top of that abundant provision (which is done for her refreshment) she comes to sin, and provides for it (because she notices that it is much better to be in the hospital on discharge than outside while doing her duty), It was also (after we had served the advice of the doctor and master of the hospital) found to be acceptable, especially since, as we are not yet provided with suitable cattle for slaughter, we should henceforth add half a dozen instead of a lb. of meat, with which it was judged (still enjoying the ordinary vegetables) that she can sufficiently subsist; In addition, the aforementioned doctor and master were instructed to pay close attention to those who are pregnant with feigned illness and who will only have to perform their duties through laziness, fearing their loss. They should endeavor to continue this work for the E. Company.106
And since we read from the letter of May 11th, 2007, from the authority of the General N. Patented E. Company107, that the designs of the French (who were alleged to be The fact that our Lords Majors had already caused some concern to themselves at the Cape, not that their Lordships feared that we would not offer them the necessary resistance, but that, arriving so unexpectedly, they would find us in some state of unpreparedness, and thus possibly cause them great embarrassment; and since their Nobility did not fully anticipate that the King would come to rest with such a fleet for the second time, much less to send it to the Cape or the East Indies, and yet they wrote that these were things that could happen, they recommended that their Nobility. that in case of a sudden attack, we should be on our guard, to strengthen the garrison a little more (which we judge to be insufficiently strong yet), and also to prepare ourselves as a whole as if we were attacked.109 The Governor had already begun this long ago, and after careful deliberation, along with his Council, it was determined and decided that it would be most necessary to begin first, and to bring the still-short guards, with their ramparts, into a proper defensive position to have a suitable passage, as well as to have as many suitable ribs cut to the riverbed and planks laid out for it as were necessary. Likewise, the newly negotiated warehouse also has to be constructed in a hurry. Orders have also been given to make ice cubes at the smithy as beacons, to store Cape skins (to fill the firing frames), and to generally provide everything necessary for the defense of the fort. As, in that regard, it has also been approved and decided in Rade to brick up the ordinary, passable gate (as soon as possible) and to erect the new one currently under construction on the sea side, as well as to have the smith and carpenters (to be present at the work) enter this fortress with their own hands, and also, after the 15th of this month (when the ransom will have been issued), to have as much rice as possible brought in here and to have everything here and not to leave it as plunder to bolster an invading enemy (God forbid), above all, no less consideration will be given to the first opportunity to get all the equipment inside, for the storage of which all the provisions were applied daily.
Furthermore, it has been deemed very necessary to continue to adhere to our previous decision of … 111 and the free Cornelis Adrijaensen, Lourens Cornelissen, Gerrit Janssen alias the farmer and the widow of the citizen Gerrit Dircxse Verweij de novo absolutely to charge that their houses here located under the fortress must be demolished from this month at the latest, the measure of delay having been deliberately assigned to these poor people so that in the meantime they could come to their story to be able to fortify themselves from there with suitability and to settle elsewhere, as has already happened from some in advance112, the deaconry is also expressly recommended to urge their advance (as much as can be suffered), to compensate these people who are suffering damage and in need for the loss of their demolished house (which requires) some assistance to lend.
Eindelijck is also still under arrest. to have the cattle grazing on Robben Island brought back here (because the suitable wind might finally come to an end in this monsoon, and we should not be deceived in our good intentions), as well as the cattle from Dassen Island belonging to the privileged tear-burner and freeman Willem van Dieden, and to provide a little sympathy for their damage (which they will suffer as a result), it has been agreed (because the return fleet is also imminent and for the relocation of which much mercy is needed) to take all of them (except some for the owner according to his own opinion) for the E. Compe. at such a price as according to the appraisal of two persons from the A political council and two citizen councils will be deemed worthy, provided that the E. Compe. will also bear the burden (so that some might die).
And in this case, if any enemy here seemed to want to launch an attack on this fortress and was indeed of the opinion that they wanted to land, it was also unanimously resolved to order the boss or another man, along with some of the most loyal servants, to go inland over the mountains to Captain Claes, both with the Compe.'s cattle and horses, as well as the freemen's cattle, in order not to feed or provide the enemy with anything other than our own needs.
Finally, all the freemen were arrested and confiscated from their homes, as well as from the E. Compe. (which was judged to be of great importance and to be of great help to the enemy) in that case and on to be set on fire, or detonated, with the object (ensuring that everything is done properly and neither too early nor too late) not to die later and to be planned to have everything ready in a hurry before the enemy comes near.
Thus arrested and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year mentioned above.
[Signed:] J. BAX g. v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM, Rt. Sects.
Original Dutch transcription
Presentibus omnibus.
Na ‘t ordinaris gebedt tot God almachtigh, in Raden verschenen sijnde den opsiender uijt Hottentots Hollandt , den sergeand Lourens Visser, berichtende aan de Edlen Hr. Gouverneur hoe dat in ervaringh gecomen is door den inquisitie die den selven lantwaart in door enige Hottentots heeft later doen dat die Hottentots Natie Hosiquas genaamt (waarmede de E.Compag. voorleden jaar een tamelijcke goede ruijlinge heeft gedaan) wederom ongevaer 50 mijlen van hier op de ouwde plaats volgens haar belofte sijn verschenen met die intentie (soo ‘t schijnt) met de Compag. een ruijlinge aan te willen gaen, Ende aangesien de E.Comp. vrij destituijt voor present van vee om te slachten is dat ingevalle sich met sodanige en diergelijcke voorcomende gelegentheden niet en quame te dienen, andersints (die voorsorge verwaarlosende) op ‘t laest genootsaeckt souwden wesen tot groote schade ‘t moer en jongh vee aan te tasten, als mede onbestendigh comen te blijven om de gaande en comende Comps. menigte costelijcke schepen na den eijsch hare nootsakelijcke vervarssinghe toe te brengen, behalven dat dese natie seer selden soo nabij is comende, soo is dese goede occasie en de schaarsheijt van ‘s Comps. presente vee, item de behoeftigheijt ende ‘t groot gebrecq van dese arme ingesetenen ten hoogsten in achtinge genomen ende (achtervolgens haar Eden. wel. gegeven ordre) eenparich goetgevonden geseijde lanttocht soo tot gerieff van de E.Compe. als de armste ingesetenen die tot de ploegh geneg[en] sijn, per eersten te laten ondernemen met een getal van 10 ‘s Comps. dienaers en 10 gelijcke vrijheden die haar eijgen kost moeten besorgen, waar onder wegens d’E.Comp. als hooft den meergemelden sergeant uijt Hottentots Hollant Lourens Visser (hem de vereijschte coopmanschappen mede gegeven sijnde) ‘t gesach sal voeren, sonder dat enige der medegaande vrijl. haerluijden tegens denselven sullen hebben te opposeeren, ofte in cas van enigen opleggende dienst ongehoorsamen, op sodanige poene als na wichtigheijt van saken naderhandt sullen bevinden te behoren, sullende geseijde vrijl. van de armste en behoeftigste tot een nomber van 20 personen van de Burgerraden opgegeven sijnde tot meerder voortgangh van de ploegh en om de selve op de been te brengen)104 gemeten een derde van al ‘t groff vee, ‘t geen d’ E. Compagnie (bij goet succes) comt te ruijlen, tegens sodanigen tanto als geseijde vee de E.Compe., de oncosten daar onder gerekent sijnde, sal comen te staan.
Ende vermits in die passasie105 veel groff wilt sich is onthoudende, en de E.Compe. en de vrijluijden da[a]rom seer benodight sijn, soo voor hare slaven als anders (ten opsichte altans seer weijnigh visch gevangen wordt) Soo is ‘t op de voorstellingh en ‘t versoecq van de Burgerraden mede noch goet gevonden 10 a 12 vrijluijden met eenen uijt zeekoijeschieten te laten gaan, en de Burgerraden Joannes Valckenrijck en Harmen Gresnight haar wel genegen tonende om mede een vracht van dat animaal te halen, daar bij te voegen als om te beter toesicht op de vrijluijden te hebben en wanneer oocq meenen alles wel omsichtiger in sijn werck sal gaan.
Sijnde mede in Rade noch gearresteert om de groote behoeften van vee (als voren wert aangeroert) en ter sake van de dicht bij gelegentheijt van de oversten der Hottentots Goennema) den leuijt. Jeronimus Cruse met tien man ende vereijschte coopmanschappen per eersten daer heen te laten trecken om van den selven (tot versterckinge van ‘s Comps. presente vee en vervarssinge van de verwacht werdende sware retourvloot) soo van slachtbare runderbeesten als schapen een goede quantiteijt sien in te ruijlen om altijt te maken in dier vougen in noot uijt verlegentheijt en in goeden voorraat te sijn.
Ende mede ingesien sijnde ‘s Comps. slaven sieck in ‘t hospitaal leggende, nevens onse Hollanders (sonder onderscheijd) een lb. vleijsch beneffens de groente ‘s daags hebben genoten ende op die overvloedige besorginge (die tot refrischement van haarl. wordt gedaen) maar comen te sondigen, en daarop leveren (vermits wel vermercken het vrij beter met leeghgaan in ‘t hospitaal te hebben, als buijten in ‘t doen harer dienst), Soo is mede (nadat ons van ‘t advijs van den doctor en meester van ‘t hospitaal gedient hadden) goetgevonden, te meer alsoo oocq niet als te wel versien sijn van bequaem vee om te slachten, deselve voortaan in de plaatse van een lb. vleesch een halff do. toe te leggen, waermede geoordeelt wert (de ordinaire groente daar noch bij genietende) deselve genoegsaem te cunnen bestaan; werdende daerbenevens gelast aan den doctor en meester voormelt wel naeuwkeurigh te moeten letten op alsulcke die met geveijnsde sieckte swanger gaan en maar eenelijck door luijcheijt uyt vrese van haren dienst te sullen moeten doen) daar in trachten tot een last der E.Compe.106 te continueeren.
Ende aangesien wij lesen uijt den brieff van den 11en Maij ao. stantij van de gen. N.Geoctroijeerde OO. Compag.107 dat de desseijnen der Fransen (die voorgegeven wierden op de Caap te leggen108 onse Hren.Majores selfs al in enige becommeringe hadden gebracht, niet dat haar Eden. beducht waren dat wij haar de vereijschte wederstandt niet souwde hebben geboden, maar dat se ons soo onverwacht op ‘t lijff comende, in enige ongereetheijd souwde hebben gevonden, en soo doende mogelijck in grote verlegentheijd comen te brengen; en vermits haar Edlen. niet wel vermoeden dat dien Coninck sodanigen vloot voor de tweede mael sal comen uijt te rusten, veel min om die na de Caap of de Oostindien te senden, en nochtans schrijven het dingen te sijn die gebeuren connen, Soo recommandeeren Haar Edlen. effter dat niet mancqueren souden bij schielijcken overval op onse hoede te sijn, ‘t guarnisoen (soo oordeelen noch niet bestendigh genoegh te sijn) een weijnigh meer te verstercken, als mede ons in ‘t geheel daar na aan te stellen als off souwden overvallen werden.109 Soo is door den Heere Gouverneur daar van al langh een begin gemaeckt en nevens sijnen Raat na rijpe deliberatie vast gestelt en besloten ‘t nootsakelijckste aldereerst aan te vangen, en de noch mancquerende guardijnen met haar walgangh in behoorlijck postuijr van defensie te brengen om een bequame doorgangh te hebben, mitsgaders soo veel bequame ribben tot de beddingh te laten kappen en plancken daer toe aan te besteden, als comen te benodigen. Insgelijcx oocq ‘t nieuwe onderhande sijnde packhuijs in der ijl te vervaerdigen, Sijnde wijders oocq al ordre gegeven om beij de smits ijsers tot vuerbaken te maken, Caapsche huijden (om in de schietmantjes te vullen) te bewaren &a. in ‘t generael voort alles te besorgen wat tot defensie van ‘t fort benodight is.
Gelijck dan mede ten dien eijnde noch goetgevonden en in Rade gearresteert is de ordinaire doorganckelijcke poort (soo ras doenlijck) toe te metselen ende de nieuwe onderhanden sijnde aan de zeekant op te maken, alsmede de smits, timmerluijden (om bij de wercken te sijn) binnen dese fortresse met haren ommeslach te doen trecken, mitsgaders oocq na den 15en deser (als ‘t ransoen sal uijtgegeven sijn) soo veel rijs als doenlijck hier binnen te laten brengen en alles hier binnen te hebben en niet ten proijebuijten110 tot stijvinge van een overvallende vijand (dat Godt verhoede) te laten, sullende voor al mede oocq niet minder gedacht worden bij de eerste opportuniteijt om alle de equipagiegoederen binnen te krijgen, tot welckers berginge dagelijcx mede alle debvoiren werden aangewendt.
Verders is mede voor seer nootsakelijck aangesien te blijven persisteren bij ons voorgaande besluijt van den …111 en de vrijl. Cornelis Adrijaensen, Lourens Cornelissen, Gerrit Janssen alias de boer en de wed van den borger Gerrit Dircxse Verweij de novo absoluijt te belasten dat hare huijsen hier onder de fortresse gelegen van dese maandt ‘t alderlangste moeten afbreken, sijnde die arme luijden expres de maat van uijtstel soo langh toegemeten, om dat tussen wijl tot haar verhael conden komen om van daer met bequaemheijt te kunnen verschanssen en elders ter neer te setten, gelijck al van enige in voorraetis112 geschiet, werdende mede de diaconij expres gerecommandeert haar verschot (soo veel lijden can) in te manen, om dese schade lijdende en gebreckige luijden over ‘t derven harer afgebroke huijsinge (sulcx vereijsschende) enige behulpsaemheijt ter leen toe te brengen.
Eijndelijck is mede noch gearresteert ‘s Comps. op ‘t Robbeneijlandt weijdende vee al voort met eenen (vermits de bequame wint daar toe in dit mousson op ‘t laetst mocht comen te ontschieten, en in onse goede intentie niet mochten comen bedrogen te raken) daar van aff herwaarts te laten halen, mitsgaders oocq ‘t vee van ‘t Dasseneijlandt van den gepriviligeerden traanbrander en vrijborger Willem van Dieden, ende om desselfs schade (die daermede sal comen te lijden) een weijnigh te soulagieeren, soo is daar op goetgevonden (vermits de retourvloot mede op handen en tot refrischementvan dienveelveegenodight is113 deselve alle (uijtgesondert enige voor den eijgenaer na sijn eijgen sin) voor d’ E. Compe. te nemen tegens sodanigen prijs als volgens taxatie van twee persoonen uijt den Politijcquen Raat en twee Burgerraden sullen bevinden waardigh te sijn, mits dat den E. Compe. mede den last (soder enige onder weegh quamen te sterven) sal dragen.
Ende in cas enigh vijand alhier op dese fortresse enige attacque scheen te willen doen, en wel van meninge te sijn te willen landen, soo is mede eenparigh geresolveert den baes of wel een ander met enige der trouwste knechts (alvorens lantwaart in over ‘t gebergte bij capitain Claes ordonneeren te gaen114 soo met ‘s Comps. vee en paerden als der vrijluijden vee te samen, omme den vijand vooral van ons eijgen nodruft niet te spijsigen noch te stijven.
Gelijck mede ten alderlaeste noch is gearresteert en vastgestelt alle de vrijluijden hare huijsen soo oocq van de E.Compe. (‘t geene geoordeelt wert in de weegh te staan en den vijand tot versterckingh te kunnen dienen) in dien ‘t en op aan comt, in den brandt te steken, off doen springen, sullende (op dat alles ordentelijck en niet te vroegh noch te laat geschiede) ‘t selve noch nader overleijdt en beraamt worden om alles in der ijl vaardigh te hebben, eer den vijand te na compt.
Aldus gearresteert en geresolveert in ‘t fort d’ Goede Hoop ten dage en jare voors.
[Signed:] J. BAX g. v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM, Rt. Sects.
Na ‘t ordinaris gebedt tot God almachtigh, in Raden verschenen sijnde den opsiender uijt Hottentots Hollandt , den sergeand Lourens Visser, berichtende aan de Edlen Hr. Gouverneur hoe dat in ervaringh gecomen is door den inquisitie die den selven lantwaart in door enige Hottentots heeft later doen dat die Hottentots Natie Hosiquas genaamt (waarmede de E.Compag. voorleden jaar een tamelijcke goede ruijlinge heeft gedaan) wederom ongevaer 50 mijlen van hier op de ouwde plaats volgens haar belofte sijn verschenen met die intentie (soo ‘t schijnt) met de Compag. een ruijlinge aan te willen gaen, Ende aangesien de E.Comp. vrij destituijt voor present van vee om te slachten is dat ingevalle sich met sodanige en diergelijcke voorcomende gelegentheden niet en quame te dienen, andersints (die voorsorge verwaarlosende) op ‘t laest genootsaeckt souwden wesen tot groote schade ‘t moer en jongh vee aan te tasten, als mede onbestendigh comen te blijven om de gaande en comende Comps. menigte costelijcke schepen na den eijsch hare nootsakelijcke vervarssinghe toe te brengen, behalven dat dese natie seer selden soo nabij is comende, soo is dese goede occasie en de schaarsheijt van ‘s Comps. presente vee, item de behoeftigheijt ende ‘t groot gebrecq van dese arme ingesetenen ten hoogsten in achtinge genomen ende (achtervolgens haar Eden. wel. gegeven ordre) eenparich goetgevonden geseijde lanttocht soo tot gerieff van de E.Compe. als de armste ingesetenen die tot de ploegh geneg[en] sijn, per eersten te laten ondernemen met een getal van 10 ‘s Comps. dienaers en 10 gelijcke vrijheden die haar eijgen kost moeten besorgen, waar onder wegens d’E.Comp. als hooft den meergemelden sergeant uijt Hottentots Hollant Lourens Visser (hem de vereijschte coopmanschappen mede gegeven sijnde) ‘t gesach sal voeren, sonder dat enige der medegaande vrijl. haerluijden tegens denselven sullen hebben te opposeeren, ofte in cas van enigen opleggende dienst ongehoorsamen, op sodanige poene als na wichtigheijt van saken naderhandt sullen bevinden te behoren, sullende geseijde vrijl. van de armste en behoeftigste tot een nomber van 20 personen van de Burgerraden opgegeven sijnde tot meerder voortgangh van de ploegh en om de selve op de been te brengen)104 gemeten een derde van al ‘t groff vee, ‘t geen d’ E. Compagnie (bij goet succes) comt te ruijlen, tegens sodanigen tanto als geseijde vee de E.Compe., de oncosten daar onder gerekent sijnde, sal comen te staan.
Ende vermits in die passasie105 veel groff wilt sich is onthoudende, en de E.Compe. en de vrijluijden da[a]rom seer benodight sijn, soo voor hare slaven als anders (ten opsichte altans seer weijnigh visch gevangen wordt) Soo is ‘t op de voorstellingh en ‘t versoecq van de Burgerraden mede noch goet gevonden 10 a 12 vrijluijden met eenen uijt zeekoijeschieten te laten gaan, en de Burgerraden Joannes Valckenrijck en Harmen Gresnight haar wel genegen tonende om mede een vracht van dat animaal te halen, daar bij te voegen als om te beter toesicht op de vrijluijden te hebben en wanneer oocq meenen alles wel omsichtiger in sijn werck sal gaan.
Sijnde mede in Rade noch gearresteert om de groote behoeften van vee (als voren wert aangeroert) en ter sake van de dicht bij gelegentheijt van de oversten der Hottentots Goennema) den leuijt. Jeronimus Cruse met tien man ende vereijschte coopmanschappen per eersten daer heen te laten trecken om van den selven (tot versterckinge van ‘s Comps. presente vee en vervarssinge van de verwacht werdende sware retourvloot) soo van slachtbare runderbeesten als schapen een goede quantiteijt sien in te ruijlen om altijt te maken in dier vougen in noot uijt verlegentheijt en in goeden voorraat te sijn.
Ende mede ingesien sijnde ‘s Comps. slaven sieck in ‘t hospitaal leggende, nevens onse Hollanders (sonder onderscheijd) een lb. vleijsch beneffens de groente ‘s daags hebben genoten ende op die overvloedige besorginge (die tot refrischement van haarl. wordt gedaen) maar comen te sondigen, en daarop leveren (vermits wel vermercken het vrij beter met leeghgaan in ‘t hospitaal te hebben, als buijten in ‘t doen harer dienst), Soo is mede (nadat ons van ‘t advijs van den doctor en meester van ‘t hospitaal gedient hadden) goetgevonden, te meer alsoo oocq niet als te wel versien sijn van bequaem vee om te slachten, deselve voortaan in de plaatse van een lb. vleesch een halff do. toe te leggen, waermede geoordeelt wert (de ordinaire groente daar noch bij genietende) deselve genoegsaem te cunnen bestaan; werdende daerbenevens gelast aan den doctor en meester voormelt wel naeuwkeurigh te moeten letten op alsulcke die met geveijnsde sieckte swanger gaan en maar eenelijck door luijcheijt uyt vrese van haren dienst te sullen moeten doen) daar in trachten tot een last der E.Compe.106 te continueeren.
Ende aangesien wij lesen uijt den brieff van den 11en Maij ao. stantij van de gen. N.Geoctroijeerde OO. Compag.107 dat de desseijnen der Fransen (die voorgegeven wierden op de Caap te leggen108 onse Hren.Majores selfs al in enige becommeringe hadden gebracht, niet dat haar Eden. beducht waren dat wij haar de vereijschte wederstandt niet souwde hebben geboden, maar dat se ons soo onverwacht op ‘t lijff comende, in enige ongereetheijd souwde hebben gevonden, en soo doende mogelijck in grote verlegentheijd comen te brengen; en vermits haar Edlen. niet wel vermoeden dat dien Coninck sodanigen vloot voor de tweede mael sal comen uijt te rusten, veel min om die na de Caap of de Oostindien te senden, en nochtans schrijven het dingen te sijn die gebeuren connen, Soo recommandeeren Haar Edlen. effter dat niet mancqueren souden bij schielijcken overval op onse hoede te sijn, ‘t guarnisoen (soo oordeelen noch niet bestendigh genoegh te sijn) een weijnigh meer te verstercken, als mede ons in ‘t geheel daar na aan te stellen als off souwden overvallen werden.109 Soo is door den Heere Gouverneur daar van al langh een begin gemaeckt en nevens sijnen Raat na rijpe deliberatie vast gestelt en besloten ‘t nootsakelijckste aldereerst aan te vangen, en de noch mancquerende guardijnen met haar walgangh in behoorlijck postuijr van defensie te brengen om een bequame doorgangh te hebben, mitsgaders soo veel bequame ribben tot de beddingh te laten kappen en plancken daer toe aan te besteden, als comen te benodigen. Insgelijcx oocq ‘t nieuwe onderhande sijnde packhuijs in der ijl te vervaerdigen, Sijnde wijders oocq al ordre gegeven om beij de smits ijsers tot vuerbaken te maken, Caapsche huijden (om in de schietmantjes te vullen) te bewaren &a. in ‘t generael voort alles te besorgen wat tot defensie van ‘t fort benodight is.
Gelijck dan mede ten dien eijnde noch goetgevonden en in Rade gearresteert is de ordinaire doorganckelijcke poort (soo ras doenlijck) toe te metselen ende de nieuwe onderhanden sijnde aan de zeekant op te maken, alsmede de smits, timmerluijden (om bij de wercken te sijn) binnen dese fortresse met haren ommeslach te doen trecken, mitsgaders oocq na den 15en deser (als ‘t ransoen sal uijtgegeven sijn) soo veel rijs als doenlijck hier binnen te laten brengen en alles hier binnen te hebben en niet ten proijebuijten110 tot stijvinge van een overvallende vijand (dat Godt verhoede) te laten, sullende voor al mede oocq niet minder gedacht worden bij de eerste opportuniteijt om alle de equipagiegoederen binnen te krijgen, tot welckers berginge dagelijcx mede alle debvoiren werden aangewendt.
Verders is mede voor seer nootsakelijck aangesien te blijven persisteren bij ons voorgaande besluijt van den …111 en de vrijl. Cornelis Adrijaensen, Lourens Cornelissen, Gerrit Janssen alias de boer en de wed van den borger Gerrit Dircxse Verweij de novo absoluijt te belasten dat hare huijsen hier onder de fortresse gelegen van dese maandt ‘t alderlangste moeten afbreken, sijnde die arme luijden expres de maat van uijtstel soo langh toegemeten, om dat tussen wijl tot haar verhael conden komen om van daer met bequaemheijt te kunnen verschanssen en elders ter neer te setten, gelijck al van enige in voorraetis112 geschiet, werdende mede de diaconij expres gerecommandeert haar verschot (soo veel lijden can) in te manen, om dese schade lijdende en gebreckige luijden over ‘t derven harer afgebroke huijsinge (sulcx vereijsschende) enige behulpsaemheijt ter leen toe te brengen.
Eijndelijck is mede noch gearresteert ‘s Comps. op ‘t Robbeneijlandt weijdende vee al voort met eenen (vermits de bequame wint daar toe in dit mousson op ‘t laetst mocht comen te ontschieten, en in onse goede intentie niet mochten comen bedrogen te raken) daar van aff herwaarts te laten halen, mitsgaders oocq ‘t vee van ‘t Dasseneijlandt van den gepriviligeerden traanbrander en vrijborger Willem van Dieden, ende om desselfs schade (die daermede sal comen te lijden) een weijnigh te soulagieeren, soo is daar op goetgevonden (vermits de retourvloot mede op handen en tot refrischementvan dienveelveegenodight is113 deselve alle (uijtgesondert enige voor den eijgenaer na sijn eijgen sin) voor d’ E. Compe. te nemen tegens sodanigen prijs als volgens taxatie van twee persoonen uijt den Politijcquen Raat en twee Burgerraden sullen bevinden waardigh te sijn, mits dat den E. Compe. mede den last (soder enige onder weegh quamen te sterven) sal dragen.
Ende in cas enigh vijand alhier op dese fortresse enige attacque scheen te willen doen, en wel van meninge te sijn te willen landen, soo is mede eenparigh geresolveert den baes of wel een ander met enige der trouwste knechts (alvorens lantwaart in over ‘t gebergte bij capitain Claes ordonneeren te gaen114 soo met ‘s Comps. vee en paerden als der vrijluijden vee te samen, omme den vijand vooral van ons eijgen nodruft niet te spijsigen noch te stijven.
Gelijck mede ten alderlaeste noch is gearresteert en vastgestelt alle de vrijluijden hare huijsen soo oocq van de E.Compe. (‘t geene geoordeelt wert in de weegh te staan en den vijand tot versterckingh te kunnen dienen) in dien ‘t en op aan comt, in den brandt te steken, off doen springen, sullende (op dat alles ordentelijck en niet te vroegh noch te laat geschiede) ‘t selve noch nader overleijdt en beraamt worden om alles in der ijl vaardigh te hebben, eer den vijand te na compt.
Aldus gearresteert en geresolveert in ‘t fort d’ Goede Hoop ten dage en jare voors.
[Signed:] J. BAX g. v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM, Rt. Sects.