Cape Council of Policy
586
1678-07-06
Minute details
- Entry number
- 586
- Date
- 1678-07-06
- Year
- 1678
English translation
In deliberation it having been determined that during the age of the late Noble Lord Governor his said Nobility had already suggested to the present Council whether it should not be docked again in the Bay of St. Augustine by the hooker the Quartel to prosecute the slave trade on the island of Madagascar, and consequently to send her there in the middle of this month, on which subject the Council then further reflected and considered that with such a decision it would be deprived of a small vessel in loco for once, since nevertheless the Noble The Lords Majors in the Country, by this constitution of wartime, are very happy to see and also always desire to keep one or other small ship at hand, to be able to serve for the transfer of important items to India from time to time, except that during the distribution of the crew that the Noble Lords Majors intend to send to India this year, no such vessel is listed that could serve here as a replacement. So, by unanimous vote, it is mostly in the service of the E. Company. The decision to deport slaves there for this time and postpone them until further notice was considered appropriate, especially since it was also suspected that the youngest English ship indicated here had departed there, having arrived there before us and having sailed with the best and most of the booty.
As has also been considered, as the Noble Majors have specifically allowed them to remain at the Cape at this time, it would be necessary and in good conscience, Her Highness. Considering the situation here and the absence of the Noble. The late Lord Governor advises to send advice by express mail from here to the fatherland, but, noting that we do not have a vessel at hand for this purpose, it has been deemed appropriate to postpone this and await a later opportunity.
Since the order for distributing supplies on a per-salary basis has already been fully issued, and the garrison urgently requires this to preserve their bodies from the cold, the late Lord Governor, who in his lifetime had already given order to this effect, inserts: It has been decided that the aforementioned distributing will proceed next Monday with the necessary care, yet to the extent that those who are with the E. Compe. to be as sparing as possible in the rear to keep the E.C.S. out of harm's way, while also giving all his goods to the common company, as well as to the officers, and that they are not yet in favor of their respective rights.
The skipper of the Quartel corner, along with a crew chief, who landed here, informed us that his absence and the absence of the aforementioned corner had sometimes caused some strife and difficulty among the officers, as a result of which everything was not proceeding properly. It was therefore decided, in order to prevent all misfortune and disorder on the aforementioned corner, which could occasionally lead to greater disaster, to dismiss the skipper from his command ashore here, and that, having first arranged for the proper transport of his projected replacement, he would go to the corner to take his place, although at any time, if the service of the E.C.O. so requires, he could be properly utilized ashore in the event of an emergency.
Regarding all incidents and matters, the police must exercise greater caution and consultation for the benefit of the E.Compe. To be able to deliberate, it was decided, by common consent, to increase the Council to a full five persons and to appoint a member from the Council of Justice who was deemed to have the most capacity. Consequently, the cashier, Sr. Joannes Ravensbergh, was appointed to sit in the Council, along with the other members present, alongside the merchant Martinus van Banchem.
Next, noting what times of war we are currently experiencing, we cannot, therefore, be reassured that no European enemies will be visited at any time, especially since rumors have been circulating for some time, according to the letter from the Noble Majors in the Country, that the King of France was seeking this place. attack all possible would have been made, therefore seriously recommending us to be in every possible position of defense so as not to be surprised unexpectedly. The Council has unanimously deemed it highly necessary and has decided to direct the work of the new fortification and everything that depends on it in principle to take everything that can serve as a defense in hand with the means and power at hand, meaning the closing of the bulwarks, raising the ramparts, deep of the moat and the appropriation of bedding beneath the canon and beyond, which the fort cannot be considered to be in a proper state of defense, leaving all projected houses in their entirety until further notice (except those that have already been started and need to be completed), or at least until the arrival of an absolute head.
The Fliet Strijen [the Dutch army] has now come to a proper end for 43 days and the people have been properly refreshed, as well as the impotent patients in the hospital, mostly recovered, except for a few who will have to remain here. It has been agreed that this base will be given its due tomorrow.
While this meeting was still ongoing, the privileged innkeeper Tobias Marquart entered, indicating and demonstrating with good reasons how difficult and disadvantageous it was for him to maintain his farm in the countryside, called d' Brandenburger, since he had as much to do with his business here at the fort as he could see, except that, since he also had no great knowledge of it, the work had to be entrusted primarily to slaves, who in his absence would deal with it at their own discretion, on the condition that he be allowed to sell it to good people, being proper farmers; This request, having been noted and noted that the purchases are those that brought the private goods of the ship Tijdoor, which, according to the order of the Royal Dutch Company, must be offered everywhere, except for those issuing them for legitimate colonies, with which they believe they will be able to sufficiently meet the cost. The requester's authority is therefore granted, provided that he does not have the power to transport inheritably such animals to which the Company has the usual servitude, but only on such conditions as they grant.
He is thus arrested in the Fort de Goede Hoop on the day and year aforesaid.
[Signed:] CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] I present A. DE MAN, Secrts.
As has also been considered, as the Noble Majors have specifically allowed them to remain at the Cape at this time, it would be necessary and in good conscience, Her Highness. Considering the situation here and the absence of the Noble. The late Lord Governor advises to send advice by express mail from here to the fatherland, but, noting that we do not have a vessel at hand for this purpose, it has been deemed appropriate to postpone this and await a later opportunity.
Since the order for distributing supplies on a per-salary basis has already been fully issued, and the garrison urgently requires this to preserve their bodies from the cold, the late Lord Governor, who in his lifetime had already given order to this effect, inserts: It has been decided that the aforementioned distributing will proceed next Monday with the necessary care, yet to the extent that those who are with the E. Compe. to be as sparing as possible in the rear to keep the E.C.S. out of harm's way, while also giving all his goods to the common company, as well as to the officers, and that they are not yet in favor of their respective rights.
The skipper of the Quartel corner, along with a crew chief, who landed here, informed us that his absence and the absence of the aforementioned corner had sometimes caused some strife and difficulty among the officers, as a result of which everything was not proceeding properly. It was therefore decided, in order to prevent all misfortune and disorder on the aforementioned corner, which could occasionally lead to greater disaster, to dismiss the skipper from his command ashore here, and that, having first arranged for the proper transport of his projected replacement, he would go to the corner to take his place, although at any time, if the service of the E.C.O. so requires, he could be properly utilized ashore in the event of an emergency.
Regarding all incidents and matters, the police must exercise greater caution and consultation for the benefit of the E.Compe. To be able to deliberate, it was decided, by common consent, to increase the Council to a full five persons and to appoint a member from the Council of Justice who was deemed to have the most capacity. Consequently, the cashier, Sr. Joannes Ravensbergh, was appointed to sit in the Council, along with the other members present, alongside the merchant Martinus van Banchem.
Next, noting what times of war we are currently experiencing, we cannot, therefore, be reassured that no European enemies will be visited at any time, especially since rumors have been circulating for some time, according to the letter from the Noble Majors in the Country, that the King of France was seeking this place. attack all possible would have been made, therefore seriously recommending us to be in every possible position of defense so as not to be surprised unexpectedly. The Council has unanimously deemed it highly necessary and has decided to direct the work of the new fortification and everything that depends on it in principle to take everything that can serve as a defense in hand with the means and power at hand, meaning the closing of the bulwarks, raising the ramparts, deep of the moat and the appropriation of bedding beneath the canon and beyond, which the fort cannot be considered to be in a proper state of defense, leaving all projected houses in their entirety until further notice (except those that have already been started and need to be completed), or at least until the arrival of an absolute head.
The Fliet Strijen [the Dutch army] has now come to a proper end for 43 days and the people have been properly refreshed, as well as the impotent patients in the hospital, mostly recovered, except for a few who will have to remain here. It has been agreed that this base will be given its due tomorrow.
While this meeting was still ongoing, the privileged innkeeper Tobias Marquart entered, indicating and demonstrating with good reasons how difficult and disadvantageous it was for him to maintain his farm in the countryside, called d' Brandenburger, since he had as much to do with his business here at the fort as he could see, except that, since he also had no great knowledge of it, the work had to be entrusted primarily to slaves, who in his absence would deal with it at their own discretion, on the condition that he be allowed to sell it to good people, being proper farmers; This request, having been noted and noted that the purchases are those that brought the private goods of the ship Tijdoor, which, according to the order of the Royal Dutch Company, must be offered everywhere, except for those issuing them for legitimate colonies, with which they believe they will be able to sufficiently meet the cost. The requester's authority is therefore granted, provided that he does not have the power to transport inheritably such animals to which the Company has the usual servitude, but only on such conditions as they grant.
He is thus arrested in the Fort de Goede Hoop on the day and year aforesaid.
[Signed:] CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] I present A. DE MAN, Secrts.
Original Dutch transcription
In deliberatie geleijt sijnde dat bij leefftijde van den Edle.Heer Gouverneur saliger sijn welgemelte Edle. den presenten Raadt al hadde in bedencken gegeven off men niet den hoecker de Quartel tot vervolgh van den slavenhandel op ‘t eijlandt Madagascar in de baaij St. Augustijn weeder behoorde aan te leggen en gevolghlijck medio deser maant derwaarts te senden, op welck subject den Raadt dnu39 nader gereflecteert en geconsidereert sijnde dat wij bij sodanige besendingh t’ eene mael van cleen vaartuijgh in loco soude wesen ontbloot, daar nogtans d’ Edle. Heeren Majores in ‘t Patria bij dese constitutie van oorloghtijden seer gaarne saege en ooc begeren altoos ‘t een of ander scheepje aan de handt te houden, om tot overportingh van importante advisen na India in tijt en wijle te connen dienen, behalven dat bij de repartitie van d’ equipagie die de Edle. Heeren Majores voorneemen sijn desen jaare na India te doen, geen soodanigen deen vaertuijgh staat genoteert, om alhier tot remplacement te connen dienen, Soo is met eenparigheijt van stemmen ten meesten dienst van de E. Compa. goet gevonden de besendingh om slaven na derwaerts voor ditmael te staken en tot nader opportuniteijt uijt te stellen, te meer dewijl mede gegist wert, dat ‘t jongst alhier aangewesen Engels scheepje na derwaarts vertrocken, ons aldaer te voor gecomen en met de best en meeste buijt doorgegaen sal wesen.
Gelijck dan oock geconsidereert sijnde, dewiji de Edle.Heeren Majoores haar in dese tijden bijsonderlijck aan de Caap laten gelegen sijn, off ‘et niet nodigh en raetsaem soude wesen haar hoogh EdIe. van den toestandt alhier en de afflijvigheijt van den Edle. Heer Gouverneur saliger per een expres bodemtje van hier adroitture na ‘t vaderlandt advis te geven, doch daertegen aangemerct wij daartoe geen vaartuijgh althans aan de handt hebben, goet gevonden is, hiervan te supersedeeren en nader gelegentheijt af te wagten.
Dewijle d’ ordinarij tijt om verstreckingh op reecq. van soldij te doen reets ten vollen is verscheenen en ‘t guarnisoen om haar lichamen voor de koude te preserveeren sulcx hoognodigh vereijst, invoegen de Edle. Heer Gouverneur saliger in sijn leven tot het effect van dien al hadde ordre gegeven, So is verstaan de gemelte verstreckingh aanstaande Maandagh voortganck te laten neemen met die omsichtigheijt nochtans dat aan d’ geene die bij d’ E.Compe. ten achteren staan soo spaersaem als eenigsints doenlijck sij, sal werden verstreckt om de E.Comps. buijten schade te houden, excuserende voorts alle sijne goederen aan d’ gemeene maats te geven als eenlijck aen d’ officieren en dat noch niet ten sij op haer respective reeck. in voordeel staan.
Den schipper van den hoecker de Quartel en met een40 equipagiemeester alhier aan landt, ons te kennen gegeven hebbende hoe dat door sijn afwesen en absentie van den gemelte hoecker onder de officieren somwijlen al eenige twist en moeijelijckheijt was ontstaan, waardoor alles niet na behoren was toegaande, Soo is verstaan om alle onheijlen en wanordre op den gemelte hoecker voor te komen en waaruijt bij tijt en wijle grooter onheijl soude connen resulteren, hen41 schipper van sijn bewindt alhier aan landt t’ ontslaan en dat alvoorens behoorlijck transport aan sijn geprojecteerde vervanger gedaen hebbende, op den hoecker sal gaen sijn plaets becleden, konnende des echter altoos, den dienst van de E.Comp. sulcx vereijschende, aan landt bij voorval wel werden gebruijckt.
Omme over alle voorvallen en saacken van Politie met de meerder omsichtigheij[t] en overlegh ten dienst van de E.Compe. te connen delibereeren, is met gemeen advis van stemmen verstaen den Raadt tot het complete getal van vijff persoonen te brengen en een lidt uijt den Raadt van Justitie die g’oordeelt wert daartoe wel de meeste capaciteijt te hebben te assumeeren, sijnde gevolglijck daartoe g’eligeert den cassier Sr.Joannes Ravensbergh om nevens de verdere presente leden voortaan in Rade in sessie te nemen naast denondercoopman Martinus van Banchem42
Vervolgens in opmerckinge genomen wat tijde van oorlogh wij althans noch beleven en dat gevolglijck ons oock niet connen geruststellen van geen Europiaansche vijanden d’ een of ander tijt besocht te werden, te meer dewijl de geruchten al eenigen tijt sijn geweest, volgens ‘t aanschrijven van de Edle.Heeren Majores in ‘t Patria dat bij den coningh van Vranckrijck om dese plaats te attacqueren al toelegh soude sijn gemaeckt, ons derhalven serieuselijck recommandeerende in alle mogelijcke postuir van deffentie te wesen om niet onverwacht overvallen te werden, Soo is bij den Raadt met eenparigheijt van stemmen hooghnodigh geoordeelt en ter neder gestelt, het werck van de nieuwe fortificatie met het geen daaraan dependeert ten principale daarheen te dirigeeren om alles wat eenigsints tot deffentie kan dienen met de middelen en de macht die aan de handt hebben naarstelijck bij der handt te neemen, verstaande daarmede het afsluijten van d’ bolwercken, ophogen der walgangen, diepen van d’ gracht en approprieeren van beddingen onder ‘t canon en soo voorts buijten ‘t welcke ‘t fort niet can gesegt werden in rechten staat van tegenweer te wesen, latende inmiddels alle geprojecteerde woonhuijsen in haar geheel tot nader opportuniteijt (except die geen die reets begonnen en nodigh om te voltrecken sijn) off wel tot d’ comste van een absoluijt hooft uijtgestelt.
De fluijt Strijen sijn behoorlijck43 leghdagen ten eijnde geloopen en ‘t volcq behoorlijck ververscht sijnde, mitsgaders de impotenten in ‘t hospitael meest alle gereconvaliseert, behalven noch eenige weijnige die alhier sullen moeten overblijven, Soo is verstaan dien bodem op morgen sijn depesche te geven.
Staande dese vergaderinge noch binnen getrede[n] sijnde den gepriviligeerden herbergier Tobias Marquart, te kennen gevende, en met goede redenen demonstrerende, hoe moeijelijck en nadeelich hem viel ‘t aanhouden van sijn ten platten lande gelegen bouwereij, genaamt d’ Brandenburger , mitsdien met sijn neeringe hier aan ‘t fort so veel te doen hadde als afsien conde, behalven dat ooc daarvan geen groote kennis hebbende, ‘t werck ten principalen op slaven most laten aancomen, die bij sijn absentie daermede nae eijgen believen omsprongen, Mitswelcken versoeckend[e] hem mocht werden vergunt deselve aan goede luijden, rechte lantbouwers sijnde, te vercoopen; welck versoeck dan aengemerct en daerbesijden geleth sijnde dat d’ coopens sijn d’ geen die de particuliere goederen van ‘t schip Tijdoor hebben aangebracht, d’ welcke nae d’ ordre van d’ E.Comp. overal d’ handt moet werden geboden, behalven haer ooc voor rechte coloniers uijtgevende, daermede meenen genoechsaem aen d’ cost te sullen connen geraecken, Soo is des versoeckers instantie toegestaen, mits daerbij niet en sal vermogen erflijc te transporteeren sodanige beesten waerop d’ Compe. de gewone servituijt heeft, maer wel op sulke conditie als hun die sijn vergunt.
Aldus g’arresteert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoop ten dage en jaare voors.
[Signed:] CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] Mij present A. DE MAN, Secrts.
Gelijck dan oock geconsidereert sijnde, dewiji de Edle.Heeren Majoores haar in dese tijden bijsonderlijck aan de Caap laten gelegen sijn, off ‘et niet nodigh en raetsaem soude wesen haar hoogh EdIe. van den toestandt alhier en de afflijvigheijt van den Edle. Heer Gouverneur saliger per een expres bodemtje van hier adroitture na ‘t vaderlandt advis te geven, doch daertegen aangemerct wij daartoe geen vaartuijgh althans aan de handt hebben, goet gevonden is, hiervan te supersedeeren en nader gelegentheijt af te wagten.
Dewijle d’ ordinarij tijt om verstreckingh op reecq. van soldij te doen reets ten vollen is verscheenen en ‘t guarnisoen om haar lichamen voor de koude te preserveeren sulcx hoognodigh vereijst, invoegen de Edle. Heer Gouverneur saliger in sijn leven tot het effect van dien al hadde ordre gegeven, So is verstaan de gemelte verstreckingh aanstaande Maandagh voortganck te laten neemen met die omsichtigheijt nochtans dat aan d’ geene die bij d’ E.Compe. ten achteren staan soo spaersaem als eenigsints doenlijck sij, sal werden verstreckt om de E.Comps. buijten schade te houden, excuserende voorts alle sijne goederen aan d’ gemeene maats te geven als eenlijck aen d’ officieren en dat noch niet ten sij op haer respective reeck. in voordeel staan.
Den schipper van den hoecker de Quartel en met een40 equipagiemeester alhier aan landt, ons te kennen gegeven hebbende hoe dat door sijn afwesen en absentie van den gemelte hoecker onder de officieren somwijlen al eenige twist en moeijelijckheijt was ontstaan, waardoor alles niet na behoren was toegaande, Soo is verstaan om alle onheijlen en wanordre op den gemelte hoecker voor te komen en waaruijt bij tijt en wijle grooter onheijl soude connen resulteren, hen41 schipper van sijn bewindt alhier aan landt t’ ontslaan en dat alvoorens behoorlijck transport aan sijn geprojecteerde vervanger gedaen hebbende, op den hoecker sal gaen sijn plaets becleden, konnende des echter altoos, den dienst van de E.Comp. sulcx vereijschende, aan landt bij voorval wel werden gebruijckt.
Omme over alle voorvallen en saacken van Politie met de meerder omsichtigheij[t] en overlegh ten dienst van de E.Compe. te connen delibereeren, is met gemeen advis van stemmen verstaen den Raadt tot het complete getal van vijff persoonen te brengen en een lidt uijt den Raadt van Justitie die g’oordeelt wert daartoe wel de meeste capaciteijt te hebben te assumeeren, sijnde gevolglijck daartoe g’eligeert den cassier Sr.Joannes Ravensbergh om nevens de verdere presente leden voortaan in Rade in sessie te nemen naast denondercoopman Martinus van Banchem42
Vervolgens in opmerckinge genomen wat tijde van oorlogh wij althans noch beleven en dat gevolglijck ons oock niet connen geruststellen van geen Europiaansche vijanden d’ een of ander tijt besocht te werden, te meer dewijl de geruchten al eenigen tijt sijn geweest, volgens ‘t aanschrijven van de Edle.Heeren Majores in ‘t Patria dat bij den coningh van Vranckrijck om dese plaats te attacqueren al toelegh soude sijn gemaeckt, ons derhalven serieuselijck recommandeerende in alle mogelijcke postuir van deffentie te wesen om niet onverwacht overvallen te werden, Soo is bij den Raadt met eenparigheijt van stemmen hooghnodigh geoordeelt en ter neder gestelt, het werck van de nieuwe fortificatie met het geen daaraan dependeert ten principale daarheen te dirigeeren om alles wat eenigsints tot deffentie kan dienen met de middelen en de macht die aan de handt hebben naarstelijck bij der handt te neemen, verstaande daarmede het afsluijten van d’ bolwercken, ophogen der walgangen, diepen van d’ gracht en approprieeren van beddingen onder ‘t canon en soo voorts buijten ‘t welcke ‘t fort niet can gesegt werden in rechten staat van tegenweer te wesen, latende inmiddels alle geprojecteerde woonhuijsen in haar geheel tot nader opportuniteijt (except die geen die reets begonnen en nodigh om te voltrecken sijn) off wel tot d’ comste van een absoluijt hooft uijtgestelt.
De fluijt Strijen sijn behoorlijck43 leghdagen ten eijnde geloopen en ‘t volcq behoorlijck ververscht sijnde, mitsgaders de impotenten in ‘t hospitael meest alle gereconvaliseert, behalven noch eenige weijnige die alhier sullen moeten overblijven, Soo is verstaan dien bodem op morgen sijn depesche te geven.
Staande dese vergaderinge noch binnen getrede[n] sijnde den gepriviligeerden herbergier Tobias Marquart, te kennen gevende, en met goede redenen demonstrerende, hoe moeijelijck en nadeelich hem viel ‘t aanhouden van sijn ten platten lande gelegen bouwereij, genaamt d’ Brandenburger , mitsdien met sijn neeringe hier aan ‘t fort so veel te doen hadde als afsien conde, behalven dat ooc daarvan geen groote kennis hebbende, ‘t werck ten principalen op slaven most laten aancomen, die bij sijn absentie daermede nae eijgen believen omsprongen, Mitswelcken versoeckend[e] hem mocht werden vergunt deselve aan goede luijden, rechte lantbouwers sijnde, te vercoopen; welck versoeck dan aengemerct en daerbesijden geleth sijnde dat d’ coopens sijn d’ geen die de particuliere goederen van ‘t schip Tijdoor hebben aangebracht, d’ welcke nae d’ ordre van d’ E.Comp. overal d’ handt moet werden geboden, behalven haer ooc voor rechte coloniers uijtgevende, daermede meenen genoechsaem aen d’ cost te sullen connen geraecken, Soo is des versoeckers instantie toegestaen, mits daerbij niet en sal vermogen erflijc te transporteeren sodanige beesten waerop d’ Compe. de gewone servituijt heeft, maer wel op sulke conditie als hun die sijn vergunt.
Aldus g’arresteert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoop ten dage en jaare voors.
[Signed:] CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] Mij present A. DE MAN, Secrts.