Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

with the WIC presumably did not go unrecognized; when in early September the States General
assembled a delegation to attend the upcoming meeting of the Heren XIX in Middelburg,
Schonenborch was one of the five individuals they chose. 87 In fact, Schonenborch did not attend
the opening session of the meeting, held on September 9, because he had been detained at the
military camp near Eekelo, where Frederik Hendrik was personally leading the campaign against
Spanish troops in Flanders. 88 But this may actually have enhanced the legitimacy of
Schonenborch's candidacy to serve as President in Brazil, especially given the tenor of the news
that had just arrived from the colony and the growing recognition—both within the company and
at the States General—that the chief responsibility of the new council would be to crush the
Portuguese rebellion. It might also be noted that Schonenborch's candidacy would have helped to
assuage Groningen's ongoing protest about Daniel Alberti, the province's overlooked candidate
for the position of councilor, and served as the replacement for Bernard Julsinck, who had
refused. Taken together, and under the circumstances, these factors must have proven quite
compelling to the delegates assembled in Middelburg.
On September 19, after only three days of formal deliberation, the committee of the
Heren XIX reported that they had communicated their offer to Schonenborch and given him
several days to consider and discuss it with his family. 89 Eight days later the same committee
reported that he was already on his way from Eekelo, eager to see the instructions and to learn
more about the conditions of the offer. At this point the committee was thanked for its efforts and
its work was suspended. Van der Cameren proposed, and the full meeting of the Heren XIX
approved, the immediate dispatch of De Laet and Jan Louys to meet Schonenborch and to
87 NA 1.01.07 inv.nr. 12564.17, Secrete notulen van de afgevaardigden van de WIC aan de vergadering van deer
Heren XIX, entry for September 9, 1645.
88 Ibid.
89 Ibid., entry for September 19, 1645.
164