Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

And Maurits offered another argument for free trade—one tailored to a major concern within the
States General: imposing monopoly would make the Portuguese bitter and eager to fight for their
old freedoms. If they were more disposed to the Dutch, instead of its enemies, the colony would
require fewer soldiers for its defense. Within a general framework of free trade, however,
Maurits recommended that the company reserve for itself certain goods, “which are the most
marketable,” in order also to prosper from the trade. 111
Maurits' letter arrived on March 17 and was read the same day in both the States of
Holland and the States General. Its effect was immediate and powerful—less perhaps for the
arguments it contained than for the fact that Maurits, rather than anyone else, had made them. At
this point discussions within the Heren XIX had been deadlocked for almost a month, despite
having relocated to The Hague, at the States General's insistence, “so that there in the presence of
the government it is possible to unravel [the question of free trade to Brazil] and bring an end to
the dispute.” 112 Not surprisingly, Zeeland, which was scheduled to host the meeting, objected, on
the grounds that meeting in The Hague was inconsistent with the company's charter. But the
States General held firm: since the charter derived its power from them they had the authority to
temporarily suspend its terms. 113
blijuen ende verwilderen, haer ingenios stil laeten staen, als onder den gesloten handel alleen hare arbeyt voor
anderen te doen ende in gelijcker slavernie voor die Compagnie te arbeyden als hare negros voor haer in molens
arbeyden.”
111 Ibid., 69. “dat die Compagnie eenige specie van coopmanschappen, die de courantste sijn, aen haer behouden
ende soo het nodich ware, bij de voor desen aen de Compagnie verbleuene noch eenige andere bijuoegende, soo dat
de cracht van negotie den particulieren niet gans benomen werde, want soo soude men beyde de intensien mogen
erlangen, de Compagnie soude bij de negotie connen prospereeren.”
112 Stellingwerff and Schot, Particuliere Notulen van de Vergaderingen der Staten van Holland, 1620-1640. Entry
for February 19, 1638. “[…] omme aldaer in presentie van de regeringe dezelve questie te desmeleren ende een
eynde van te maecken is ‘t doenlijcken.”
113 Ibid.
204