Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

emphasized the considerable sums invested in the company and the potential repercussions for
ordinary shareholders if the colony were to be lost. This was a message tailored to the cities of
Zeeland, where anti-Iberian sentiment required little encouragement, and where public
institutions and small shareholders may have made up a larger share of total investment. 111 The
delegation warned that the company was in danger of going under completely: “We whole-
heartedly cry out, ‘Help us,’” they apparently said, “‘or we shall perish.’” If no action was taken,
all that would be left would be “the tears of widows, orphans, and other miserable, dejected
persons” who had placed their faith in the company. 112 Immediately after the delegation
departed, the States of Zeeland resolved—over initial opposition from the smaller, inland cities
of Goes and Zierkzee—to fulfill their obligations for 1635, with monies collected by the 500 th
penny. 113 A few days later, after receiving another delegation from the company and a letter from
the Prince of Orange, the cities began negotiations to pay their respective portion of the subsidies
for 1636 and 1637. 114 If the sum itself was small, it nevertheless represented an important vote of
confidence.
Scholars have long noted that Amsterdam was skeptical of the enormous costs of
expanding and defending Dutch Brazil, and they have equally pointed to Zeeland’s continuing
support for the company and its colony. 115 The analysis here, based on the circulation of
information about the revolt, suggests that Amsterdam was in fact isolated in initially opposing
111
Ibid., 181-182.
112
Resoluties van de Staten van Zeeland, entry for September 16, 1645. “Dogh over het geene voorby is,
genoegsaem tot Onse descharge gebleken zynde, dat Wy allenthalven, met solicitatien, de gedreygende [threatened]
swarigheden hebben voor d'oogen gestelt, zulcx, dat nu staende allenlyck te sien op 't gene voor de handt is,
genootdruckt werden volmondigh uyt te roepen, helpt Ons, of Wy vergaen, ende dadelyck te bethoonen tot die
perplexiteyt gebraght te zyn, dat, in plaetse van woorden, vreesen, voortaen niet zullen hebben uyt te storten, dan
tranen van Weduwen, Weesen, ende andere miserable bedruckte Persoonen, Geinteresseerde in de Compagnie, en U
Ed. Mog. Onderdanen.”
113
Ibid.
114
Ibid., entry for September 22, 1645.
115
Boxer, The Dutch in Brazil, 1624-1654; Van Hoboken, “The Dutch West India Company: the Political
Background of Its Rise and Decline”; Van Dillen, “De West-Indische Compagnie, het Calvinism en de Politiek”;
Kluiver, De Souvereine en Independente Staat Zeeland.
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