Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University
Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University
(1591-1631), a director from Dordrecht, submitted a formal request that all three be permitted to attend, even though they would collectively be entitled to only two votes. 79 This request was rejected by the other assembled delegates on the grounds that it violated the terms of the charter, but all three Maas delegates were permitted to remain at the meeting. The same was not true at the next meeting, held in March of 1624, and the conflict became increasingly acrimonious thereafter. The representatives of the States General— Hendrick Feyt, Johan van der Meer, and Nicholas Schaffer—had already consulted on the matter the previous week and concluded that the Maas could only appear with two delegates, but the disruption the dispute caused to the meeting’s progress became so severe that they shifted strategies again and again to try to find a resolution. 80 Their methods included putting the question to a majority vote, asking a subcommittee to make a recommendation, and requesting the delegates to consult with their principals. Finally, when the Maas delegates refused to attend unless all three were admitted, the representatives of the States General resorted to sending the chamber keeper to the delegates’ private accommodations to execute a formal summons. 81 None of these methods worked, as De Witte and his colleagues held stubbornly to the position that the charter spoke only of votes, not delegates, and that their principals would not permit them to negotiate on this point. 82 Failing to gain approval, they were instructed to leave the meeting—a prospect that contained within it the thinly veiled threat that the chamber would withdraw its capital from the company altogether. Separately, De Witte made a proposal on behalf of his own city, Dordrecht, to deliver an investment of 500,000 guilders in exchange for 79 NA 1.05.01.01 inv.nr. 1, entry for October 10, 1623. 80 NA 1.05.01.01 inv.nr. 39, entry for March 13, 1624. 81 NA 1.05.01.01 inv.nr. 1, entries for March 16-March 25, 1624. 82 Ibid., entry for March 22, 1624. 119
1/10 of the equipagie and two directors in the Heren XIX. 83 This was obviously unacceptable to the other delegates, and the matter was finally turned over to the States General. De Witte and Philips Doubleth, the company's new Ontvanger Generaal (Receiver General) and later Ontvanger Generaal for the United Provinces as a whole, represented the chamber of the Maas; Albert Coenraeds Burgh and Jeremy Waelens represented Amsterdam and Zeeland, respectively. 84 No resolution was reached in that body either, but by September the States General had become so tired of the issue that they acquiesced to the Maas’ request. Henceforth the Maas was permitted to send three delegates to each meeting of the Heren XIX. 85 There were similar problems within the other two chambers not discussed here: Groningen was only partially successful in its efforts to incorporate Friesland, with whom it nominally shared a chamber, and Amsterdam was bombarded by letters from newly-elected directors in Leiden, Haarlem, Utrecht, and Deventer, each of whom desired a seat in the Heren XIX. But the main point should be clear enough: the Heren XIX was neither simple nor simply assembled. It had to be constructed, delegate-by-delegate, from amongst diverse and often competing constituencies in more than two-dozen Dutch cities. This process—begun in 1622, but not complete until the end of 1624—expanded the board's membership beyond the proposed nineteen members and created an entirely new forum in which merchants, investors, and the representatives of the States General would meet to craft policy for the new company. 83 Ibid., entry for March 27, 1624. 84 NA 1.05.01.01 inv.nr. 39, entry for May 3, 1624. On Philips Doubleth, see "Philips Doubleth" in Molhuysen, Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, vol. 7, 378-379. 85 See the cover pages to the minutes of the Heren XIX for 1633-34 (NA 1.10.69 inv.nr. 542), 1642 (NA 1.01.05 inv.nr. 9411), and 1645 (NA 1.01.07 inv.nr. 12564.17). 120
- Page 79 and 80: crucial role that he played in its
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1/10 of the equipagie and two directors in the Heren XIX. 83 This was obviously unacceptable to<br />
the other deleg<strong>at</strong>es, and the m<strong>at</strong>ter was finally turned over to the St<strong>at</strong>es General. De Witte and<br />
Philips Doubleth, the company's new Ontvanger Generaal (Receiver General) and l<strong>at</strong>er<br />
Ontvanger Generaal for the United Provinces as a whole, represented the chamber of the Maas;<br />
Albert Coenraeds Burgh and Jeremy Waelens represented Amsterdam and Zeeland,<br />
respectively. 84 No resolution was reached in th<strong>at</strong> body either, but by September the St<strong>at</strong>es<br />
General had become so tired of the issue th<strong>at</strong> they acquiesced to the Maas’ request. Henceforth<br />
the Maas was permitted to send three deleg<strong>at</strong>es to each meeting of the Heren XIX. 85<br />
There were similar problems within the other two chambers not discussed here:<br />
Groningen was only partially successful in its efforts to incorpor<strong>at</strong>e Friesland, with whom it<br />
nominally shared a chamber, and Amsterdam was bombarded by letters from newly-elected<br />
directors in Leiden, Haarlem, Utrecht, and Deventer, each of whom desired a se<strong>at</strong> in the Heren<br />
XIX. But the main point should be clear enough: the Heren XIX was neither simple nor simply<br />
assembled. It had to be constructed, deleg<strong>at</strong>e-by-deleg<strong>at</strong>e, from amongst diverse and often<br />
competing constituencies in more than two-dozen Dutch cities. This process—begun in 1622, but<br />
not complete until the end of 1624—expanded the board's membership beyond the proposed<br />
nineteen members and cre<strong>at</strong>ed an entirely new forum in which merchants, investors, and the<br />
represent<strong>at</strong>ives of the St<strong>at</strong>es General would meet to craft policy for the new company.<br />
<br />
83 Ibid., entry for March 27, 1624.<br />
84 NA 1.05.01.01 inv.nr. 39, entry for <strong>May</strong> 3, 1624. On Philips Doubleth, see "Philips Doubleth" in Molhuysen,<br />
Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, vol. 7, 378-379.<br />
85 See the cover pages to the minutes of the Heren XIX for 1633-34 (NA 1.10.69 inv.nr. 542), 1642 (NA 1.01.05<br />
inv.nr. 9411), and 1645 (NA 1.01.07 inv.nr. 1<strong>25</strong>64.17).<br />
120
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