09.04.2013 Views

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

By the second week in December, Amsterdam had consented to the subsidy and only<br />

Delft, Rotterdam, and Haarlem were still opposed. 114 Shortly after De Laet made his impassioned<br />

speech in the St<strong>at</strong>es of Holland on November <strong>25</strong>, 1645, Specx began drawing up and revising<br />

estim<strong>at</strong>es for the cost of sending this force and held meetings with potential candid<strong>at</strong>es to lead<br />

it. 115 Both men, on behalf of the WIC, reached out to critical power brokers in The Hague. On<br />

December 7, De Laet and two other directors met with Johan Maurits to discuss military<br />

prepar<strong>at</strong>ions; three days l<strong>at</strong>er Specx met with Constantijn Huygens, Secretaris to the Prince of<br />

Orange, to discuss commissions th<strong>at</strong> were still awaiting the Prince’s sign<strong>at</strong>ure. Huygens<br />

explained the delay and agreed to speak with the Prince concerning “means to raise troops<br />

following the intentions of the St<strong>at</strong>es General.” 116 Separ<strong>at</strong>ely, the company's board sent<br />

deleg<strong>at</strong>ions or letters to Willem Frederick, Stadholder of Vriesland, Jacob C<strong>at</strong>s, Raadpensionaris<br />

of the St<strong>at</strong>es of Holland, and Cornelis Musch, Griffier to the St<strong>at</strong>es General. And present <strong>at</strong><br />

nearly every meeting was either Hendrik van der Capellen or his brother, Alexander, who would<br />

come to play an increasingly visible role coordin<strong>at</strong>ing the levy of troops. 117 De Laet and Specx’s<br />

texts, in other words, were m<strong>at</strong>ched by their active roles in lobbying and planning for military<br />

action, and almost certainly served as the basis for their respective discussions with these<br />

influential individuals. In the end this was a success: on December 19, 1645 the St<strong>at</strong>es of<br />

Holland approved the subsidy of 700,000 guilders, virtually ensuring its approval in the St<strong>at</strong>es of<br />

General and thus the disp<strong>at</strong>ch of a relief fleet to Brazil.<br />

























































<br />

114 St<strong>at</strong>en van Holland and Westvriesland, Gedrukt Resoluties, entry for December 16, 1645; NA 1.05.01.01, inv.nr.<br />

2*, entry for December 19, 1645.<br />

115 These included Sigismond Schoppe as commander of the land forces. NA 1.05.01.01, inv.nr. 2*, entries for<br />

December 2 and 4, 1645.<br />

116 Ibid., entries for December 7 and 10, 1645.<br />

117 Ibid., entries for December 2, 4, 7, 8, and 14, 1645. On Alexander van der Capellen, see W.J. van Hoboken, Witte<br />

de With in Brazilië, 1648-1649. (Amsterdam: Noord-Hollandsche Uitg. Mij., 1955).<br />


 <strong>25</strong>9

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!