Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

for their continual failure to contribute to the war effort. The personal resources of the directors
were now exhausted, the report continued, and the company’s access to credit nearly gone.
While the company was well managed and could expect great profits in the future—not only in
Brazil, but in Guinea and Angola—at present the coffers were empty. It was now time for the
States General to step in provide what, in time of war, the company on its own could not: money
enough to outfit a fleet of twelve warships and to recruit and equip 1,500 fresh soldiers to join an
existing force of 2,700 soldiers in Brazil for a period of six months. 100 If this support was not
forthcoming, the report warned, “We cannot be responsible for telling our children that we let
these beautiful colonies slip away.” 101
The next step, once this rhetorical framework and its associated budget had been
approved, was to approach the two wealthiest and most powerful provincial assemblies in the
Republic, the States of Holland and the States of Zeeland. Delegations were selected for each. In
the meantime, the representatives of the States General were “requested to use their good offices
and all means at their disposal to reinforce these intentions of the company, both in their public
and their private capacities.” 102 Since round-trip travel to The Hague would require at least four
days, during which time the meeting would continue, delegates to address the States of Holland
100 By the terms of the charter, in the case of military conflict the States General was to provide 16 ships to assist the
company. The States General also agreed that, "if it should happen that the country should be greatly eased of its
burdens and that this Company should be put to the heavy charge of war, we have further promised, and do promise,
to increase the aforesaid subsidy [of 1 million guilders] in such manner as the situation of this country will permit
and the affairs of the Company shall require." Articles 40 and 41. Rensselaer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts,
109-111. The translation is by Alan H. Strong.
101 NA 1.01.07, inv.nr. 12564.17, fol. 4v. “In alle gevallen en is niemmandt onbekent & is mede by verscheyde
gelegentheden gededoceert over groote nutticheyt die den handel dewelke gedreven wordt in de limiten van het
westindsiche octroy dese geuneerde provintien ys toebrengende soo dattet ons bedruckers een misslach soude wesen
niet verantwordelen voor de naecomelingen dat mensulcken schoone conqueste soo soude laete verlooven gaen. /
Siende dan dat het gevaer dicwils nu daer is & veel licht grooter als wy noch apprehendeeren soo duncht de
commissaerissen dat men op t spoodicht behoort te sollicitteren by haer ho: mo: & de respective provintien die nu
vergadert syn dat haer gelieven op t spoodichst tot comste ter minste te voorsien met seven tonnes gouts om sich
daer mede in desen hooch dringende noot te behelpen.”
102 Ibid., fol. 5. “oock de aenwesende heeren gecommitt[eerd]e van hare ho: mo: versocht met alle goed officien de
Intentie van de comp. te seconderen het welcke by hare Ed: aengenomen ys te does met alle middeln redennen ende
motiven al omme soo int publicq als in het particulier.”
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