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Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

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The Hague; Wolter Schonenborch, former burgemeester of Groningen; and Karel Roorda, son of<br />

an influential leader of the Dutch revolt and deputy to the St<strong>at</strong>es General from Vriesland. 63 Their<br />

collective accredit<strong>at</strong>ion insured th<strong>at</strong> the interests of each province were represented during the<br />

meetings of the Heren XIX. Notably, none of these deleg<strong>at</strong>es was actively involved in trade.<br />

By contrast, the deleg<strong>at</strong>es who represented the company’s five chambers were<br />

predominantly merchants. Leading the deleg<strong>at</strong>ion from Zeeland, and present throughout the<br />

proceedings, were Jan Louys and David Baute (1588-1657). 64 Almost nothing is known about<br />

Jan Louys: a resident of Middelburg and member of the city's reformed church, his name appears<br />

in company records for the first time in 1633, when he was appointed as a director. 65 During the<br />

verhoging (literally “augment<strong>at</strong>ion”) organized to raise additional priv<strong>at</strong>e capital for the<br />

company between 1636-1637, he subscribed for 3,200 guilders. 66 This implied an initial<br />

investment of 9,600 guilders, easily enough to cross the 4,000 guilders threshold required to be<br />

eligible for a directorship. Beyond this the records are silent, save a short entry in the records of<br />

the Middelburg orphanage. 67 When Louys’ wife died in 1635, the influential city magistr<strong>at</strong>e<br />

Pieter van Essen accompanied him to register a new guardian for his remaining children. For this<br />

responsibility he selected Marten Halewyn, a merchant from Amsterdam and brother of a<br />

director in the Amsterdam chamber of the WIC. These scant details suggest th<strong>at</strong> Louys was a<br />

wealthy merchant with many years service to the company and good connections within<br />

























































<br />

63 "Jacob Veth" in Repertorium van ambtsdragers en ambtenaren 1428-1861.<br />

http://www.historici.nl/Onderzoek/Projecten/Repertorium/app/personen/6804. Accessed April 12, 2012.<br />

"Carel van Roorda" in Repertorium van ambtsdragers en ambtenaren 1428-1861.<br />

http://www.historici.nl/Onderzoek/Projecten/Repertorium/app/personen/4202. Accessed April 12, 2012.<br />

64 Louys and Baute signed the invit<strong>at</strong>ions to <strong>at</strong>tend the meeting and chaired the committee within the Zeeland<br />

chamber to draft the agenda. NA 1.05.01.01, inv.nr. 26.<br />

65 NA 1.01.04, inv.nr. 5753.<br />

66 NA 1.05.01.01, inv.nr. 77, entry for September 9, 1636.<br />

67 Zeeuwsarchief, 10, inv.nr. 155a Weeskamer Middelburg, Journael begghinende met xiiii Feb 1633 Inden xxviii<br />

September 1639, entry for April 4, 1635.<br />


 63

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