Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

Stellingwerf, who sat in the States of Holland the day the letter was read there, and who kept his
usual meticulous notes, recorded that Maurits
clarified in good conscience, and fulfilling his duty to advise, that if men persisted by the contrary
resolution [to close the trade] there was no question that the Company would be ruined. He was
therefore of the advice that the trade must be opened, except for a few items that should be kept
for the Company. 117
There was no further discussion that day, but six days later, on March 23, Stellingwerf recorded
that Maurits' letter was discussed again and that, “the Gentlemen from Dordrecht, Delft, and
Rotterdam, who had instructions contrary to this advice, asked to have a copy [of the letter] in
order to communicate the same with their principals.” 118 Having only recently dispatched to
Brazil such an eminent figure as Maurits, to ignore his advice on this important question must
have seemed inconsistent with the long-term goal of stabilizing the colony and increasing trade.
On March 26, a committee within the States of Holland reported that they had met with the
Heren XIX, with the result that,
We find that a majority now stands in favor of open and free trade, that only Zeeland is against
and that those from Groningen and the Maas are inclined to hear a proposal for an
accommodation, which also has been [drafted], laying out that the trade would be opened, but that
reserved for the Company would be the trade in Brazilwood, ammunition, and blacks, and also a
few [delegates] urged that linen and some other small items [also be reserved for the
Company]. 119
117 Stellingwerff and Schot, Particuliere Notulen van de Vergaderingen der Staten van Holland, 1620-1640. Entry
for March 17, 1638. “Is geleesen zeecker missive van den 16en januarii geschreeven bij graeff Maurits ende eenige
raeden uyt Brasijl op ‘t subject van den handel ende negotie aldaer te stabiliseren, wat best weesen soude […]
Verclaeren in goeden gemoede te ghaen ende haer advijs te sullen diennen tot haer descharge in cas men bij
contrarie resolutie persisterende de Compagnie daerdeur so sij nyet en twijffelen moght werden geruineert. Zijn
daerom van advijs dat men den handel behoort open to stellen behalven alleen van eenige weynigh spetien die men
aen de Compagnie soude houden.”
118 Ibid. Entry for March 23, 1638. “[…] verclaerden de heeren van Dordrecht, Delfft, Rotterdam voor deesen
contrarie dit advijs gelast geweest te zijn ende daerom alvoren copye daeruyt te moeten hebben om ‘tzelve met haer
principalen te communiceren ende naerder last in te brenghen.”
119 Ibid. Entry for March 26, 1638. “[…] bevinden dattet meerendeel tot openen ende vrijstellen van den handel
verstaen, doch dat Zelant met allen ijver daertegens is ende dat die van Groningen ende van de Mase geneegen sijn
om voorslaegen van accommodatie te hooren, welcke voorslaegen oock gedaen zijn ende daerop loopen dat men den
handel wel soude opstellen, maer dat men aen de Compagnie geslooten souden houden den handel van ‘t
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