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Cape Council of Policy

834

1687-07-02

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Minute details

Entry number
834
Date
1687-07-02
Year
1687

English translation

In the presence of all the members except Mr. Johs. van Keulen and Sr. Ludoviq van der Stel.

The Reverend Commendeur, having presented and read in Council the petition of the Citizen Council and the chief officers of the citizenry of this city, in which they express their love and sincere passion for the welfare of the common good, humbly requested that their subordinate troops be brought in proper armor, under stricter military discipline and capable commanders, as soon as possible. Thus, His E., after receiving the advice of the Eighth Council, the laudable zeal of the petitioners is urgently needed, supported with exuberant thought and impeccable loyalty, and by a unanimous vote from their superiors, the Citizen Council elected Theunis Dirkz van Schalkwijk,38 as lieutenant, and the former Citizen Council member Jan Dirkz de Beer,39 as standard-bearer, Guilliaum Eems.40

Christian Jansz Hoesem[^41] as sergeants.
Jan Vlok[^42]
Hendrik Muller[^43]
Gerrit Victor[^44] as corporals.
Joris van Stralen[^45]
Jan Stevensz Botma[^46]
Christian Jansz Hoesem[^47] as sergeants. Jan Vlok[^48]
Hendrik Muller[^49]
Gerrit Victor[^50] as corporals.
Joris van Stralen[^51]
Jan Stevensz Botma[^52]
Godfrid Meijhuijsen53 as recorder, Guiliaum Frisnet54 as drummer, and a second drummer would still have to be invented.

All the aforementioned Her representatives and servants will persevere in her position year after year without fail, to better foster the mutual love and fear between her and the Rock Squads, and to avoid the unnecessary costs, numerous difficulties, and dangerous mishaps that accompany the changes, should they wish to be released from their duties, or should they wish to relocate to Stellenbosch or elsewhere, when the nearest and most capable person will appear in the vacant position.

If necessity requires the citizenry to move here to the Castle, the resigned Citizens' Councils, as they have found them there without any defects at the time, will be ready to serve on all occasions. All those who are currently free or are expected to be free in the future will have to furnish themselves with a proper rifle after three months, on penalty of twenty-five guilders.

Anyone who misses their appearance, parade, or march will forfeit one Flemish pound.

On the first of November each year, the Citizens' Councils, along with the officers of the free resident assembly, will convene to collect the fines and to dispose of them at their discretion, in accordance with communication from the Honorable Commissioner.

On the last day of November, the citizens of this city will march in full force and, eight days prior, will practice their artillery every day at four o'clock in the afternoon. Anyone who fails to appear will forfeit half a guilder to the drill master each time.

And finally, the free citizens of this city will be permitted in the future to use and sound their drums while they are keeping watch outside the Fort.55

Thus arrested and confined in the Castle of Good Hope. Year and day as above.

[Signed:] S. v. STEL.

[Signed:] ANDS. DE MAN.

[Signed:] DOMINIQUE DE CHAVONNES.

[Signed:] J. v. KEULEN.

[Signed:] L. v. STEL.

[Signed:] CORNELIS PTZ LINNES.

[Signed:] J. H. BLUM.

[Signed:] My praesente J. G. DE GREVENBROEK, Secrets.

Original Dutch transcription

In tegenwoordigheid van alle de leden behalven mr. Johs. van Keulen en sr. Ludoviq van der Stel.

D’ E.Heer Commendeur, vertoond en gelesen hebbende in Rade ‘t versoek-schrivt der Burgerraden en hoofd officieren der burgerie te deser stede, waarbij sij hun lievde en geproevde drift tot welstand des gemeene bestens te kennen geven, met ootmoedig versoek hun onderhorige manschap in behoorlijke wapenrustinge onder strenger krijgs-tugt en bekwame gesaghebbers op ‘t spoedigste mogte gebragt werden, So heeft sijn E., na ingenomen advijs des Achtb. Raads, der versoekers loflijken ijver hoognodig geAgt met uijtbundige sugt en onbesproke trouw t’ onderschragen, en eenpariger stemme uijt hun over-reikt dubbel getal der voorgedragen bevelhebberen tot capitain verkosen den Burgerraad in der tijd Theunis Dirkz van Schalkwijk,38 tot lieutenant den oud Burger-Raad Jan Dirkz de Beer,39 tot vaandrager Guilliaum Eems.40

Christian Jansz Hoesem[^41] } tot sergeants.
Jan Vlok[^42]
Hendrik Muller[^43]
Gerrit Victor[^44] } tot corporals.
Joris van Stralen[^45]
Jan Stevensz Botma[^46]
Christian Jansz Hoesem[^47] } tot sergeants.
Jan Vlok[^48]
Hendrik Muller[^49]
Gerrit Victor[^50] } tot corporals.
Joris van Stralen[^51]
Jan Stevensz Botma[^52]
Godfrid Meijhuijsen53 tot monsterschrijver, Guiliaum Frisnet54 tot tamboer, sullende nog een twede trommeslager uijtgevonden moeten werden.

Alle welke voors. gesaghebbers en bediende in haar ampt jaar op jaar sonder te verwisselen sullen volharden, om de onderlinge liefde en ‘t ontsag tusschen haar en de Rotsgesellen beter te doen beklijven, en om d’ onnodige kosten, veelvoudige moeijte, en gevaarlijke misvallen die de veranderingen medeslepen t’ ontgaan, ‘t en ware sij versogten van hun dienst ontslagen te wesen, of dat sij begeerden na Stellenbosch of elders heen te verhuijsen, als wanneer de naadste en bekwaamste in de ledige plaats sal optreden.

Als ‘t de nood komt te vereijschen om de burgerie hier binnen ‘t Casteel te doen trekken, so sullen so wel d’ afgetrede Burgerraden, als die in der tijd haar bij deselve sonder enig manquement laten vinden, om in alle voorvallende gelegentheden ten dienste vaardig te staan.

Alle diegene, die bereids vrij zijn of in ‘t toekomende hun vrijdom staan ‘t erlangen, sullen na verloop van drie maanden hun van behoorlijk geweer hebben te versien, op poene van vijfentwintig guldens.

Diegene die syn wagt, parade of optrek versuijmd, sal een pond Vlaams verbeuren.

Den eersten November jaar op jaar sullen de Burger-Raden in der tijd nevens d’ officieren der vrije ingesetenen vergadering beleggen, ten einde om de boeten in te samelen, en van deselve na goed-dunken met communicatie van den E.Hr. Commendeur te disponeren.

Den laatsten November sullen de burgers deser stede in vollen geweer optrekken, en hun acht dagen te voren dag op dag ‘s namiddags ten vier uuren in de wapenhandeling oeffenen, sullende diegene die in gebreke blijvt daar te verschijnen t’elkens an den drilmeester een halven gulden verbeuren.

En eindelijk sal an de vrijburgers hier ter stede in ‘t toekomende vergund werden, ten tijde sy de wagt buijten ‘t Fort houden, haar trommel te mogen gebruijken en roeren.55

Aldus geärresteerd en besloten in ‘t Casteel de Goede Hoop. Jaar en dag als boven.

[Signed:] S. v. STEL.

[Signed:] ANDS. DE MAN.

[Signed:] DOMINIQUE DE CHAVONNES.

[Signed:] J. v. KEULEN.

[Signed:] L. v. STEL.

[Signed:] CORNELIS PTZ LINNES.

[Signed:] J. H. BLUM.

[Signed:] Me praesente J. G. DE GREVENBROEK, Secrts.