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
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crucial role th<strong>at</strong> he played in its deliber<strong>at</strong>ions demonstr<strong>at</strong>e the importance of scholarship, as well<br />
as practical experience in trade, to the management of the WIC. 82<br />
Once the letters of credential for these and the other deleg<strong>at</strong>es had been examined and<br />
approved, the company’s charter was read aloud, complete with the various amendments. 83 Only<br />
then did the meeting begin in earnest. The first order of business was to always read the letters<br />
and other documents received since the previous meeting, beginning with the generale<br />
missiven. 84 Whereas the previous week the directors in the Zeeland chamber had turned first to<br />
the secret documents, by this time the inform<strong>at</strong>ion these contained was well-enough known th<strong>at</strong><br />
the Heren XIX began with the formal cover letter and proceeded swiftly to two separ<strong>at</strong>e reports<br />
th<strong>at</strong> had not been shared in advance. All three documents were read aloud—most likely by the<br />
lawyer for the Zeeland chamber, Simon van Beaumont—so th<strong>at</strong> everyone assembled could be<br />
fully apprised of wh<strong>at</strong> had taken place. Reading the documents filled the entire afternoon session<br />
with wh<strong>at</strong> a contemporary in another context complained sounded like an “endless drone.” 85<br />
The first of the two reports, composed by Gysbert de Witte and Jan van Hoogstr<strong>at</strong>en,<br />
provided a detailed account of their trip to Bahia and their discussions with the Portuguese<br />
governor, António Teles da Silva. 86 Although the trip had taken place in February, this report<br />
offered valuable first-hand inform<strong>at</strong>ion on the st<strong>at</strong>e of affairs in Portuguese-controlled Brazil and<br />
provided an opportunity to assess Da Silva’s involvement in the revolt. De Witte and<br />
Hoogstr<strong>at</strong>en indic<strong>at</strong>ed th<strong>at</strong> they had been warmly received by the governor and had been<br />
<br />
82<br />
De Laet, Suiker, verfhout & tabak; Kees Zandvliet, Mapping for Money: Maps, plans, and topographic paintings<br />
and their role in Dutch overseas expansion during the 16th and 17th centuries (Amsterdam: B<strong>at</strong>avian Lion<br />
Intern<strong>at</strong>ional, 1998).<br />
83<br />
There is no record of a prayer having been delivered, though this would be highly unusual in the Dutch Republic.<br />
Van Vree, Meetings, Manners, and Civiliz<strong>at</strong>ion, 152.<br />
84<br />
NA 1.01.07, inv.nr. 1<strong>25</strong>64.17, fol 2.<br />
85<br />
Ibid., fol. Van Vree, Meetings, Manners, and Civiliz<strong>at</strong>ion, 157.<br />
86<br />
NA 1.05.01.01, inv.nr. 60, Rapport gedaen aende Ed: Heeren van den hoogen en Secreten Raede in Brasil van<br />
[de] Besongnes gevallen over de poincten ons by de gemelte Heeren mede gegeven om inde Bahia met syn<br />
Ex[cellen]tie Antonio Teles da Silva en andersints te verhandelen. D<strong>at</strong>ed April 3, 1645.<br />
68